[BSD-RP] Human World: Naruki City

[Shinigami]

Shizuka the Third Seat, Shizuka the Warrior...Shizuka the failure. Tangled in a Tug-o-War with the Togabito for the body of his comrade, he ignorantly finds solace when succeeding in keeping Kuro’s head from being crushed into the pavement below. It is a..meaningless victory. Though he succeeds in sparing Kuro’s skull, he also inadvertently succeeds in aiding the Togabito in its previous task of crushing the life out of the helpless Shinigami. Shizuka in his ignorance has become the Togabito’s accomplice.
"Carriage of thunder, bridge of a spinning wheel.....
The Hellspawn’s co-conspirator begins his chant as debris continues flying towards their magnetized target. Still lost in his confidence, misguided by false hope, the Teal Haired Shinigami makes his preparations, placing his faith on the shoulders of this stranger, this insect that offers its aid to another insect.
“Hmmnnn?”
The Togabito notices a difference in its grasp on the human pest. Where Martin the bug was meant to be captured while standing right beside him, as the debris continues rocketing towards the Hellspawn from all around, his grasp somehow falters instead? Strange. Shizuka continues his chant as the golden rope transforms into beams of light that launch their way towards the Togabito. They come to a violent halt, having seemingly met their mark, entrapping their target, leaving him to the mercy of the Assassin turned savior. The projectile of wind, previously launched by the Fullbringer, encased in the film to remove all friction continues its course as the mortal swings his blade. With both man and sword encapsulated in the film, their speeds appear to be faster than perhaps even the Togabito could contend with even if not ensnared by the shinigami’s spell. It seems that hope has finally won against despair—that all their pain, all their suffering had finally been rewarded. This..was the end. The debris continues to gather, forming a massive cocoon suspended in the air. The tomb of their hellborn prisoner.

The chain surrounding the captured Kuro trails all the way towards the ground. Shizuka, no doubt relieved, finds no resistance, only more and more slack as he moves to pull and recover his partner. Already greatly weakened, still the Shinigami attempts to funnel some of his own spiritual power into the mangled body of his comrade. Perhaps a subconcious act of penance for having helped crush him earlier. The shinigami’s blade is wedged between the chains, best he could manage while he focuses his power. His blade begins to grow brighter, and brighter...vibrating excitedly as the chains begin to lightly rattle in proximity to the sword. Finally, there is an explosion of force, a shockwave quieter and more subtle than the one previously produced by the Shinigami. The chains appear to unfurl from around Kuro, and Shizuka wastes no time in grabbing the body and darting away—distancing himself from the area as quickly as possible.
"Kuro.... Kuro... wake-"
With time to breathe, and time to now fully inspect his comrade his eyes are met with the horror that is Kuro’s body. Crushed, mangled and twisted, he realizes now that the damage done to Kuro is irreparable. Splintered and fractured bones pierce out at jagged angles from beneath torn flesh, blood continues to pool beneath his body, as it also spills profusely from his mouth, his ears, his nose and his eyes. It was impossible to tell just how many organs had been destroyed. Maybe if he rushed Kuro back to the Soul Society Fourth Division could-
SPLAAAAAAT
Instantly, without sign and seemingly without cause Kuro’s head is destroyed in an explosion of crushing force. His skull crushed as blood splatters every which way, including onto Shizuka with a sickening crunch. The blood momentarily gives form to something resting atop the now crushed skull of Kuro, its shape appears to be that of a hand, one formed into a fist.
The Hellish air continues to cackle, growing thinner...heavier. There is a rumbling and suddenly, an explosion of force, coming from the floating ball of debris, producing a shockwave enough to topple buildings as it ripples through the air. Broken and jagged pieces of debris are scattered about, flying through the air like bullets, piercing and puncturing through anything within their path. There exists no pattern to their uncharted course or path, and so it becomes impossible to predict their trajectory for one to dodge let alone block or deflect. It is thanks to Shizuka….there exists plenty of ammunition to cover every conceivable angle over a span of over thirty yards. Martin, the closest in proximity to the Togabito, is the one who finds himself at the greatest risk, while perhaps being the one most confused as to what is taking place, or..rather how these things are transpiring.
His attacks landed, this he was certain of—but, their connection was no victory for the Fullbringer. The bright light of the Shinigami’s spell matched with the constantly flying debris masked the fact that no blood had ever been drawn from the Togabito’s body. While the combatants, in their ignorance may believe this spoke volumes of the Hellspawn’s strength and durability, where they might believe perhaps he had some natural armor not unlike the hierro of the Arrancar, they would be incorrect on both accounts. Martin’s defense mechanism that he believed to be his greatest weapon and greatest shield, served only as his greatest error. The film, turning that which it encases frictionless, may offer them defense, and greatly enhance their movements...unfortunately for Martin...it was absolute. Being frictionless, the projectile, the blade, and Martin himself might have been safe from harm, but it simultaneously meant that he himself could not cause harm while in such a state. Absent of any friction the projectile slips harmlessly off the Togabito’s body just as Martin’s blade does.
Around the Togabito’s waist the Goldenrods of light still exist, yet closer inspection reveals a gap between both them and their mark. Flickering in and out of view are dozens of fingers, surrounding the Togabito’s body, acting as a bulwark against this unknown phenomenon, this..foreign thing that hovers around him. The rods of light are continuously pushed and shoved away, while the fingers belonging to the invisible hands clasp hold of them, clenching tighter, causing them to splinter as web like fractures spread across their surface.
Martin, still encased in his film of wind though safe from most forms of attack, finds his defenses, his speed, and his reflexes all simultaneously tested. Sharpened shrapnel launching itself at him at irregular angles, and at impossible speeds propelled from the force of the Togabito’s reiatsu. Shizuka, the farthest from the blast site, while safer than Martin, is not spared from the scattered shots, the debris and shrapnel turned projectiles threatening to turn his body and the lifeless body of Kuro into a pincushion, riddled with holes.
“Was that all? Are you done struggling now?”
The Togabito asks, his disappointment evident in his voice. With all that’s going on, the realization of another truth perhaps eludes Shizuka. The truth that, it is not him or his shockwave that freed Kuro, but rather the Togabito who released him into the care of Shizuka. Everything that Shizuka had struggled to achieve, was given to him. All this, for his already pointless hope in saving the life of an already condemned Kuro, could further be cruelly snuffed out. It seems that even with the aid of another, it's as if Shizuka still stands alone against this terrible foe.
Unfortunately for the defenders of Naruki, it seemed that their hope in surviving and defeating the enemy before them, was proportional to their strength. Weak.

 

[Shinigami]

Martin’s inexperience was obvious. He had forgotten one important factor. Vestitus-Clypheus is an ability meant for defence and not for offense - at least if used on a stationary target. To use it against a moving target is beyond stupid, due to having zero chances of hurting the enemy from how absolute it is as an ability.
That being said, Martin had forgotten about that fact. In his mind a scene of the Chain Top’s head having being removed and his going to Blacky and Boomy to check up on them. That scene would end up playing, just not now.
As Martin’s blade passed through the body of the enemy they would be left with a sense of wondering. Or at least that would be the case if the enemy had a semblance of understanding that screamed at them ”HOW AM I STILL ALIVE?!”. Martin would smile. He had made a mistake. He would not repeat it though.
He could witness how Chain Top moved. How Chain Top would react. Would this entity showcase a questioning look? Would it statter in uncertainty. Martin would really love to know. Alas, it was not the time for that.
’Slow.’
Martin still had time. He saw how the entity moved. It was like watching a slow video, as if someone had changed the settings of their MyBute videos to a speed of 0.25 where it was already slowed three or four times prior.
’Slow.’
Martin’s body currently was behind Chain Top. His legs were still pointing towards the sky and his head pointed to the ground. The wind blades had also passed through the body of Chain Top and their angle made them move towards the duo of Blacky and Boomy.
’Slow.’
Martin utilized one thing he had going for him. Momentum. He would pivot his body, turning in a full 360 degrees around him, the blade’s trajectory never changing. Its aim was still the head of Chain Top. The chokuto was still clad within the energy of wind, but not clad in the energy of the wind shield. This makes the blade feel less friction, but not not be frictionless - allowing it to be sharper and faster.

There would be a huge difference now though. Instead of continuously using the shield, Martin would stop it right before the blade slashed the head apart. He was sure that that would mean the end for this entity. He was sure that what was in his mind would play - this time for real, unlike before - a premature fantasy.
That Chain Top’s head would fly, blood splattering, while Martin would go nearby Blacky and Boomy to check up on them. He was sure. He knew he may be wrong. He knew it. At least these were his thoughts while doing the slash. He did not care what the result would end up being.
’Slow.’
He simply slashed the enemy. This time, no effects. Martin’s speed would drop, yes. But with him keeping the momentum, adding the pivot and also keeping the shield around him he would end up even faster. Heck, it was even possible that he ended up slashing twice before he even managed to re-activate his shield. It all depended on how fast he lost his momentum. Thankfully, he held the wind shield around him until the very last moment.

The tomb of the hellborn prisoner was formed at the same that Chain Top’s head was abruptly removed.
At that moment, the wind blades had long reached the duo of Blacky and Boomy. The wind blades would hit them - no damage resulting, as Martin’s shield had never stopped working on the wind blades, nor on Boomy. It is now, though, that the snakes would play their pivotal role. Their aim - unknown whether they could continue their function even with their user dead, would aim to crush Blacky. They would touch upon Kuro’s body, only for the same sensation to come from when they had come in contact with Martin. The wind blades - fully diminishing any new force formed by friction the moment both Blacky and Boomy reached the pavement, as well as remove any and all force that was applied by the chains and the snakes was forgone, resulting in a moment that could potentially be a moment of saving grace for Blacky. What is more, due to Boomy taking the full brunt of the damage, as well as his state being frictionless he ended up skidding away. He would continue doing so, unless he formed some kind of barrier of foothold to use in order to stand. Furthermore, his speed would continuously make him faster - his leaving from the battlefield a statement as of now. Was he a deserter? Mayhaps. Depends if you view desertion from outside forces and without it being my will as desertion. Martin did not see it as such at the very least.
Unknown whether the ensuing explosion would continue with Chain Top being dead, Martin’s reaction to that is simple. While the explosion is something fast, at the moment Martin’s speed is unprecedented having activated his Wind shield once more. His focus, the moment his eyes came upon the explosion - only moments after it occured - would see him appear beside it. One could scream at Martin for being an idiot. Why, why on earth, would he dive deep into the maws of a hellish attack like this.
Listen here
It is because Martin is like that. His job is to take lives, yes. He is a contract killer. But he is not an entity like Chain Top. He has sinned. But Martin wishes to retain his humanity, to still hold - within his heart - the hope that is still a human. And so, he knows that if the damage is allowed to occur as is, it will be a huge issue.
Martin moves his left and right hands forth. His chokuto now is clad in a green energy. It is vastly different to the white energy that existed right before.

While the energy before made Martin’s total presence feel as if he were light, now his presence was heavy. It was dense. Even his own Reiatsu emissions had been altered. The force produced by those was different. It felt like a wall. A moving wall, but hard. Nigh immovable.
Vestitus - Clypleus. An ability’s name that is shared between all aspects of Martin’s Fullbringing capabilities. This time though, unlike when it uses wind, the result is far different. In an area that is about three times the size of the explosion at the moment, a very small energy film is made. This film has a green-ish hue and is easier to see than the wind energy around Martin before. Still, it can be an easy miss if one is untrained.
The epxlosion occurs.
Fragments fly all over, as Martin now watches this happen in real time - his speed having slowed down enough for him to reach the same time spectrum as the one of real life. The force is strong, really strong. And Martin is defenceless as he...
.
.
.
B O O M
.
.
.
The sound of the explosion has occurred. The battlefield is still clad in dust, as well as the aftereffects of that spell. It is hard to see what has happened. Has Martin survived? That is unsure. Are Blacky and Boomy all right now that they had deserted the battlefield? Unknown.
After the dust has settled, about two minutes later, a quiet sound is heard. A leather shoe tapping onto pavement is what made the sound. More sounds follow. Small droplets of blood are seen onto the pavement, creating an amateurish attempt at a map.
Wind starts being gathered. A sonic boom is heard, as no entity remains on the battlefield - unless Boomy and Blacky return. One back is seen. Martin. He is alive, but damaged.
.
.
.
... is defenceless as he closes his eyes. His hands now lay on top of the film with the green hue in front of him. And his focus, upon what is about to occur.
’1’
Martin’s voice is heard within his mind.
’2’
His thoughts would be deafening, as his heart beats fast.
’3’
His time is almost up.
’4’
The first fragment is about to hit the film.
”NOW!”
Martin’s voice echoes - at least it would if not for the loud sound of the explosion hiding his voice. Martin’s energy is instantly stolen, a result from his contact with the film. The film he has formed is a barrier. Unlike the wind shield that Martin can utilize, the film that he has created is one that utilizes the element of Earth. It is not an absolute barrier, like the wind shield, but unlike the wind shield it allows to defend on a bigger scale. Specifically, it is not a defensive ability. On the contrary, it is an offensive one.It is similar to the prison of the hellspawn. But it is meant for a lot of targets - as its size is malleable. The bigger it is, the weaker it gets. At the moment, the film requires much expenditure from Martin’s Reiryoku reserves. What is strange though, is that the total size since the moment it had when it formed had grown smaller. Considerable so. And it continues doing so, the film becoming bigger and bigger in size while contracting - having a smaller radius. This ability is the ability to use the properties of Earth and entrap someone. It is a prison in other words, made of pure energy. It is also able of defending - or more precisely - keeping whatever is within it, inside it. It is a taxing ability. Martin knows it. And yet, he stands tall. He can feel how his barrier is losing power with each hit, but thankfully it is over. What is not over though, is that he needs to remove the barrier. To do so, he would be hit by the wave of energy that expanded the explosion - by heat.
Martin sighs and knows that he needs to do this.
And so, he disperses the barrier. At the same time, his chokuto radiates an energy colored blue.

This forces Martin to be hit with the heat - the blood trail is a result from that. Though, Martin’s survival is ensued as his hands move from being pointed forth - his fingers being the spots that bleed - and clapping them. Immediately a new energy forms, one that is soothing to the touch and greatly removes the harm from the heat, making it so that a breeze is what reaches Martin.
Water. It exists everywhere, in all forms. An element that allows one to live. Through the usage of Vestitus - Clypheus, Martin is able to use the element of Water to form a barrier of Water energy that makes all that come in contact with it move to the sides. Whether what comes in contact with the energy manages to pass it, depends on how strong it is. But, due to this being normal heat, Martin is more than capable of diminishing its danger - at least for him in regards to a point blank situation, as the heat will diminish within 5 steps away from Martin.
Martin then stands, breathing in and out. His eyes fall around the battlefield and he feels how this whole thing became a mess. And sadly, he knows this is not over. He has a sensation - a foreboding one - that there is more to come.
.
.
.
At least, these are the actions that Martin will do in the case the explosion continues as is. If not, then Martin would stand, his thoughts not changing but unlike before where he simply left - unsure if he would be able to find Blacky and Boomy - this time he would actively aim to find them, following the skidding trajectory of Boomy. His wishes is that Blacky is ok, the same for Boomy.
He would follow the skidding trail, as he moved fastly - flying around with the assistance of both his Bringer Light, as well as his wind shield. Once he came near, he would halt. He would land and gaze at the two, as his lips would part, his voice coming out.
"Are you all right?"

 

[Shinigami]

If this dastardly event proved anything to Shizuka, it was that he was not fit to lead anything at all. From his own members in division defying his orders, relying on the humans with high spiritual powers to help a shinigami matter, and allowing one of his own comrades to be massacred. He felt there was nothing positive going on, in his favor, and there was still no clear solution. Saving Kuro was his first priority, dashing away rapidly upon retrieving his body from the Togabito. One glance at his body told the entire tale on how tonight was going. Kuro was brave in all aspects, but was severely under matched in this fight. Bones from the inside protruding outside of his body, Shizuka underestimated the strength of the chain's grip, but then again realized in order to save him from ultimate death, he contributed as well with his own spell. As Shizuka danced backwards holding the body of Kuro, the wind blades that inherently missed the Togabito, trailed back towards the face of the Fullbringer and Shizuka. Completely evading everything and targeting both of the Shinigami as they were pulling back. Shizuka knew the attack was used for offense, and tried to subsequently dodge but was surprised when it vanished completely and bestowed a similar aura to Kuro who was in Shizuka's grasp. When placed upon them both, Shizuka found himself sliding endlessly on the street as he landed, completely befuddled on what was going on.
From deducing the events of Martin's assault on the Togabito, this wind, this essence. Provides an immaculate shield, one boosting the speed and velocity of any and everything enveloped, and also allowing things to slide off completely when trying to be touched. Kuro and Shizuka were now both enveloped in this wind, and putting some thought into it, the three were now invulnerable to the debris generated from Shizuka's Saigai, they could fight freely not worrying about the debris stabbing or tackling them from their backs. The abilities correlated well, now the Togabito was technically the one and only sole target of this technique, his movements to be completely restricted soon with mass of debris heavily he attracted. Pipes, lightposts, mangle up cars, were only a small portion of what was attaching to the Togabito. He was still oblivious to the strange phenomena, but soon he would find himself unable to move at all and encased completely in a dungeon of Shizuka's making.
"Kuro.... Kuro... wake-"
Shizuka briefly saw a glimpse of the figure trying it's hardest to penetrate the barrier of wind surrounding Kuro. Unbeknownst to the Togabito, who tried to follow up on his attack on Kuro, the young shinigami was enveloped in the same wind that the Fullbringer was composed in. His attempts to grab ahold of his already mangled body once more would be met with the same resistance he felt earlier. Shizuka while completely tilted by the Togabito's desperate attempt to add insult to injury, he still had to figure out why he was sliding backwards endlessly. Shizuka sighed to himself in frustration, all he wanted to do was end this dreadful night, but it seemed over and over again he was presented with something he had to overcome. Shizuka instinctively tried to rise into the air using a reishi platform, upon doing so he had found the solution to halt his sliding. By the time he had figured out though, he was a distance away from the battlefield, being put even behind the original crater he created. Taking one more look at Kuro's body, his eyes were bleak, his spiritual pressure was faint, and the injuries sustained pointed to his life being forfeit soon. Shizuka grimaced at the sight, his ineptitude to fight this being was the cause for this. It was time to hang it up, Shizuka's situation was not perfect himself. At this point with his strength sapped and his fatigue rising, his ability to use Bankai would be hindered. Something that was already temporary and unforgiving, would probably be only maintained for seconds at this point. He had no solutions, and he had Kuro's body in a safe place, far away from the Togabito. At this point he had no choice but to leave the fate of this encounter to the human. He brought out his Denreishinki, after placing his Zanpakuto in it's sheathe, reverting it back into it's unreleased state. Cracked and it's screen flickering, Shizuka still navigated thoroughly his device and opened the emergency chat. Only featuring two people, Fuyuko Kasumi and Captain Higen Kagayaki. He only needed to type one word, before closing out the phone.
"Need medic..... help"
Being out of the battlefield, it'd be reckless of him to try and join back in. He watched on from a considerably far distance as the fullbringer put his line. With both of Shizuka's abilities restricting, the Togabito's movement, he's basically a sitting duck once you bypass his spectral ability. He would just need something strong enough to -
BOOM
A massive explosion ensued at their location. The shockwave was able to be felt from even from the distance, they were at. The dust created made the battlefield barely visible. Did the Fullbringer potentially succeed in taking down the threat?

 

[Shinigami]

Humans, so desperate, so foolish, so intolerably weak. Martin in his rush to save the shinigami, to prove himself as a fighter, a fullbringer, and an assassin falls short. His eagerness and ignorance cause him to lose the advantage of a surprise attack the moment his frictionless blade had slipped harmlessly off the Togabito. This mortal man of flesh and blood, of hope and pride, of weakness and stupidity chooses to press on rather retreat. He uses his momentum, still suspended in the air upside down. His body moves to deliver a second swing. He’s learned from his previous mistake, and reduces the film that surrounds his precious sword. His focus and attention rests upon the Togabito, watching for any movement, any twitch as he continues to move, fully committed in this swing.
The Togabito does not appear to move, it is just as Martin had foresaw, with his speed and immediate follow up attack there was no conceivable way for the Togabito to physically react to such an attack. It was surely impossible for this Spawn from Hell to predict that Martin would continue his attack to deliver another. Martin perceives his sword swinging, perceives the blade cutting cleanly through flesh, the splattering of blood. The assassin, this man of focus and discipline has once more lost himself in the visions of his fantasy, the coping mechanism of perhaps all mortal men, the coping mechanism of the weak.
Fully committed in his swing, his speed increased to further strengthen the power behind his slash, Martin is unprepared for the unexpected and sudden stop of the blade along with the sudden and violent twist, forcing his wrists to bend and rotate a full 360 degrees snapping bone and tendons alike in one merciless motion, robbing the human’s ability to wield a sword or anything further for that matter, all while wrists continued to rotate at the guidance of the formless hand. Martin’s body already upside down, is forced to follow the movements of his wrists, helplessly being spun mid-air. While Martin had focused his attention on the Togabito, with his body invested completely in the sword slash he leaves himself victim to the invisible hand laying in wait where the mortal perceived to be the sinner’s blind spot, one of several spectral limbs lingering about. An invisible palm accepting the chokuto closer to the blade’s base allowed fingers to instantly and unexpectedly snap closed, breaking past the weakened and lowered film.
The Togabito remains unaware of Martin’s abilities, and remains uninterested in what they may be for that matter. With the Togabito not directly attacking Martin, the Fullbringer finds his shield, his barrier, his film useless as it is his firm and solid grip on his sword that is exploited. The phantom hand would pull while it continued its brutal twisting—removing the blade and perhaps, the hands holding them from the wrist up completely from the body that wielded them. Still suspended in the air with misshapen and mangled wrists he still lays within the path of the shrapnel and debris still rocketing towards the Togabito at every conceivable angle.
The wind blade that had slipped harmlessly off of the Togabito were forced off their course, lacking any ability to harm the sinner while in their frictionless state. Would Martin be able to focus enough to not only alter their trajectory once more, but to also save himself? If so then perhaps young Shizuka could find some peace in preserving his comrade’s head at the very least...if his newfound ally however was unable to handle such a task, the sight of Kuro’s head being crushed and splattered along the ground would be one forever ingrained in the shinigami’s mind. Kuro’s fate was long sealed either way. His mangled body bleeding profusely, multiple fractured bones snapped and splintered off through flesh and organs—a fate the hapless soul reaper had been forced to endure for what felt an eternity.

The floating prison of debris keeps the Togabito concealed from view along with the foolish Martin had he been unable to free himself from the Togabito, unable to avoid and push past the seemingly endless debris flying at him like bullets. There is a calm that befalls Naruki City. For a moment, there is peace.
RUUUUUMMMBLLEEE
The prison begins to shake, as the Hellish air continues to cackle, growing thinner...heavier. There is a rumbling and suddenly, an explosion of force, coming from the floating ball of debris, producing a shockwave enough to topple buildings as it ripples through the air. Broken and jagged pieces of debris are scattered about, flying through the air like bullets, piercing and puncturing through anything within their path. There exists no pattern to their uncharted course or path, and so it becomes impossible to predict their trajectory for one to dodge let alone block or deflect. It is thanks to Shizuka….there exists plenty of ammunition to cover every conceivable angle over a span of over thirty yards.
Around the Togabito’s waist the Goldenrods of light from Shizuka’s spell still exist, yet closer inspection reveals a gap between both them and their mark. Flickering in and out of view are dozens of fingers, surrounding the Togabito’s body, acting as a bulwark against this unknown phenomenon, this..foreign thing that hovers around him. The rods of light are continuously pushed and shoved away, while the fingers belonging to the invisible hands clasp hold of them, clenching tighter, causing them to splinter as web like fractures spread across their surface.
“Was that all? Are you done struggling now?”
The Togabito asks, his body veiled by smokey debris floating about like smoke, disappointment evident in his voice. Shizuka, toyed with and mocked throughout the battle rescinds himself to hopelessness and despair. He chooses to stay his hand, to remain from this battle where he only now has come to realize he is outmatched against an opponent well beyond the scope of his meager abilities. It was clear that the Togabito did not fear or care for any who had come to face him. Why then did he choose to remain, what did this Hellspawn hope to gain from destroying Naruki, and trampling the weak? For now, it seems both the defenders and citizens of Naruki could only pray for mercy, be it in the form of a miracle….or a quick and painless end.

 

[Shinigami]

Traversing the dangai was a feeling he was all-too familiar with. The infamous Captain’s responsibilities as a whole relied on his ability to safely travel between the realms, and complete the missions assigned to him and his Division Members. The Living Task Force had been short handed for a considerable duration, and the Captain’s own tribulations did not help the matter. Shizuka—as capable as he may be—can easily benefit from a guided hand. While most of the normal routines such as sending out patrols and assigning 10th Division members to their details in Naruki City was delegated to Third Seat Hyouzoku, It was Higen’s overseeing that truly made things run smoothly in the world he was bound to protect. It was not uncommon, for Captain Kagayaki or Lieutenant Kasumi to have their hands forced, and battle a powerful enemy that threatens both the humans and their Shinigami protectors. With this thought in mind, things felt extremely strange. The timing—perhaps happenstance—had aligned synonymously with the imminent threat those left behind in Soul Society were forced to face. To make manners worse, most of this had already begun to transpire before the Captains were free of their duties in the Meeting Hall.
They were given no time to process, no time to rest. The absence of Captain Kojima had not yet been fully addressed or understood by the Shining Captain. The imprisonment of his mentor, perhaps his friend, perhaps more—at a time where his insuperable strength and boundless wisdom was needed the most, had been an anchor to Higen’s mentality.
The Captain was at a disadvantage. There were a number of factors of which he was uncertain. Field Officer Yakimono was guilty of radio silence, at least to his knowledge. His placement in Naruki was for the prevention, or at least stall of situations of this scale. Higen thought of the scale, and even that was an unknown. He was unsure of the number of casualties, who all were present, and what exactly was the makeup of the enemy he was bound to face. His mind wanders, the silence in the Dangai leaving room for the array of thoughts which plagued him in preparation. The rumbling of his Denreishinki in his Hakama pocket fades out as white noise, a distraction that slowed him down in his travels. He paid it no mind, no message important enough to stop the Captain in his trek. Perhaps this was the stubbornness of the rock-headed Higen coming to surface, dead set on completing his mission no matter the coast. The gash on his back had ceased its bleeding completely, the small pain or lack thereof put to the back burner by a monstrous man capable of tolerating much more.
The Jigokucho’s flight had gone on unperturbed, yet it began to cease, fluttering in place, the cerebral connection between the Hell Butterfly and its keeper confirms what Higen had begun to suspect; their arrival.

Far above the streets of Naruki City a harmonious ringing is coupled by the immense spiritual pressure of the Captain who is unable to conceal it completely. The parquetted sliding doors of the senkaimon create an entrance, like a rift in the sky. Light protrudes from the now open doorway, gleaming through like a luminous ray of sunshine, splintering the ribbons of the rising sun along the horizon. Anyone below familiar with the Captain by any means, would find his presence to be a ray of hope. His silhouette manifests against the blinding light, revealing the shape of a savior. Higen himself cannot yet see, until it takes his first step, and then another—and what he sees is-
Devastation

In every direction there is destruction. The once beautiful and lush streets of Naruki find themselves reduced to rubble and ash. A massive crater lies at the epicenter of his area of arrival. Dirt and dust is kicked up everywhere creating a murky haze over the entire town turned battlefield. Smoke rises from many areas of the city, fires burn, cars have their metal stripped from them down to the chassis as what would be a normal traffic-filled morning has become a junkyard display. The sun peaks out from the east, and as Higen’s sapphire orbs shift to find it, something massive blocks its encroaching light.. something—
The Gate of Hell still towers over the city, pulling all it can grasp within its inescapable maw. The jaws of hell, fiery and indiscriminate, no cause or care for what it consumes. It exudes a torrid wave of heat, and an even more unsettling emission of Hellish energy. The spawn of such a void seems to be the culprit. Difficult to see at first, the settling dust and debris fall to the ground and create a cloud of dirt around him, around It. Through lapses of the dust a black robe can be made out, but what lacks the ability to ignore is its gargantuan pool of energy, an energy filled with and a product of despair. A few humans with a glimpse of spiritual power reside below, apparently. The paramedics tend to one, as best they could without getting into the crossfire. Another hides away in an alley of one of the only few remaining standing buildings. The final was in-close with the enemy, seemingly initiating an attempt at its life. Perhaps noticed last is the presence of Shizuka Hyouzoku. Higen’s own trusted third seat had been present, obviously dispatched as a sole disabler of such a threat, yet he’d allowed it to come to this. The amount of Reiatsu fulminating around him even in a weakened state tells Higen that the young Shinigami is without his limiter. His brow furrows a bit as perhaps only a second has passed, collecting all within his scope of vision and sensory. Even with no limiter, Shizuka had fallen short. Just what type of enemy were they truly up against?
Perhaps would needed to be evaluated was not Shizuka’s strength, that had been made so little by a dangerous enemy, but his weakness in the face of a conquerable foe. The measurable destruction of the city was enough to cause concern, but Shizuka’s current state combined with how little the destruction was In comparison to how it could’ve been had Shizuka chose to utilize his Bankai. Perhaps he was putting the lives of the humans into consideration. But what if Higen was unavailable to arrive by any means, any time soon. Was he willing to risk the many lives of those around him, in order to save his own and many more? These were the questions that needed to be asked, and inevitably answered when evaluating a Shinigami’s ability to maintain a position of leadership. What Higen begins to feel is faint, drowned out as background noise beneath the many signatures present. It flickers like the wick of a candle, lit dimly, waiting to fade. It is none other, than Kuro Yakimono. In Shizuka’s care, the young seventh seat finds himself at the mercy of fate, shakily drawing what may be his last breaths. The many things the Captain has seen today, conjures a numbness like no other. There is no apparent physical reaction. Nothing externalized to display his disappointment in Shizuka, or his grieving for Kuro’s life. This will not be like dismaying the Kototsu, not like seeing the Commander in a puddle of his own blood. Higen will not hesitate.
Throughout his brief moment of surveying the field of battle, he had already pulled a small talisman out of his Hakama pocket. It dangles in between his fingers connected to a golden rope. It takes shape of a massive gem, a bit brighter than sapphire yet in the shape of an intricate diamond. Energy seems to hum from It, radiating around Higen’s hand.

The different cuts of the stone begin to glow in their crevices, before the entire item both explodes into a burst of reiryoku, while concurrently vanishing. It reappears—however—as a translucent glowing green cube hovering directly above the location of the enemy. The cube, no larger than a shoebox, rapidly and exponentially expands. Its barriers passing through those present expands three-hundred yards in every direction. It forms a cage, as its walls solidify in a light green hue. The corners of the barrier glow vibrantly; whoever would try to escape, or enter the isolated cube would find it to be impassable. Within it lies the spawn of hell, Shizuka, what was left of Kuro, Martin, and Sukoshi as well. Just outside its walls the paramedics seek to relocate the fry cook, outside of harm’s way. Perhaps Higen should have made it so those who, quite obviously no longer had the will, or means to fight, were safely outside its confines. That was just it, he was unsure if it truly was safe. He’d rather have them close to him, within his range, able to protect them here. If there had been more than one enemy, and he had locked his allies outside and at said enemy’s mercy, things could only grow worse.
The field was set. Higen was sure that, even without his limiter a barrier such as this was necessary for protecting the rest of the city from his own efforts to quell the threat. Even with such a fine control of his zanpakuto and its abilities, the scale of its usage was sometimes far beyond that of expectancy. Higen’s eyes lock fully onto the black-robed figure. The now-confirmed Denizen of hell has his figured revealed more. Chains clasp onto and protrude from the enemy’s wrists—no doubt used for offensive and restraining maneuvers. Just what exactly was his motive here? Was this connected to the missing Captains, or even Yami’s mission? Just who.. or what was pulling the strings. Higen dare not relive the horrors of the creature that tormented him in his visions, free from his burdens of keeping it deep inside.
“Shizuka! I need to know any and everything about this enemy that you can tell me!
He screams valiantly while in motion. In a tuft of wind, the doors closing and vanishing behind him, Higen seems to vanish from his previous location. In a single stride, his figure bleeding from view, he closes the gap both in distance and altitude between himself and the assailant. His footing and weight is centered around a singular pivot with his right foot forward, resting on a reishi platform just seven feet behind and on-level with the Togabito.
“El-…”
The rest of his statement is rendered inaudible, said quietly yet drowned out by the sound of sharpening metal, and the cascading of ice and rock. In an instant, his presence itself is turned into a flashbang. His reiatsu spikes upward, and expands from his person in a blinding flash. From the outside looking in, the entirety of the green cube is consumed in a harsh light. Completely, and utterly erasing the vision of all present. Higen, needed not the luxury of sight. Years of training under Shobatsu’s tutelage—a man who in his blindness is more perceptive than any of them could have hoped to be—has made vision an additive, as opposed to a necessity. In the moment of the flash, Higen may have lost vision of the enemy before him, but does not lose their location for a single step. Even if concealing his reiryoku, the rattling of chains would reveal him should he move, and Higen’s body was prepared to make the necessary adjustments to follow him in any attempted evasion. At such a close distance, and even with his back turned, the Togabito would be in danger of having its sclera scorched completely—if it had a need for such a thing. Beneath that mask there still was a living soul, a living soul who had been using his sight to see, and attack Higen’s friends and allies.
In the cover of blinding light, Higen’s right arm quicky rears backward, His shoulder, bicep, and tricep simultaneously tighten—like a machine with working pistons, or a jack of some kind, the amount of force put into a single thrust of the arm is insurmountable. On the other end of the arm, his fingers are enclosed into his palm into a solid fist. It is within this blindness, within this flash, that perhaps the togabito does not even notice the gloves of cobalt wrapped around Higen’s hands. And it is in this same instant of Higen’s follow through, that the Togabito would too be unable to notice the crystals forming and expanding upon said fist, to form a fist of emerald around Higen’s arm that surpassed his entire torso in size. His left hand raises up to his side, as if on guard, and green energy begins to form first as a small layer around Higen’s skin. Towards his back, however, it is focused more prominently.
It was the mightiest of right hooks, enlarged and encapsulated in a bed of unbreakable crystal. The very force of the swing is enough to cause a vacuum of the air before them, pulling the spawn of hell, should he not choose to resist, even closer to his demise. It was aimed directly at his back, and once collided, shared enough force to shatter every bone in its body simultaneously. There was no time to waste, no more toying to be had. While discovering the monster’s motives would have been the more intelligent move, Higen planned to not leave a single piece of him remaining, making it very difficult to gather information from him. Perhaps the Shining Knight would play hero again, yet there was no expectancy of an easy path before him. And whilst he was one-hundred percent confident in his attack, in his own strategies, he was forcibly on an endless guard. Any information Shizuka could give him would surely help, but Higen could not rely on watching and waiting to defeat an enemy such as this.