As the Vasto Lorde punches away, it believes that the numerous cero which coat its arms would succeed in catching the Fullbringer off guard. That the force behind these blows would be far superior to the simple punches that the Watchman expected, and would serve to render the jabs of his spear inadequate. Only, there were no jabs.
There is no thrusting motion, nor force to meet force. The armament spear, which acts independently of Watchman’s knowledge, appears right where it needs to be, at all times. With each Cero-clad punch, the spear simply appeared at exactly the point and angle that it needed to be. The tip of the spear would hold fast, not being blown back by force due to its spatial ability keeping it suspended, which means the entire momentum of Shizuka’s punches would collide against the singular point of the spear tip. Much like how paper can be crumpled in hand, and yet cut when given the right angle; how a sheet of metal might deflect a cut, and yet be pierced by a bullet; the concentration of force onto a singular point would succeed in penetrating the Vasto's hierro. Which renders the creature's actions akin to punching a knife over and over again, shredding the thing’s arms.
The cero that encompasses these arms would not be of much benefit. The outward pressure of the cero does not dull the momentum of Shizuka’s punch, because it is unable to move the spear from its transfixed point in space. There is no counter-thrust from Watchman, he simply stays still, appearing where he needs to be, unwavering, as he lets Shizuka do the work for him. Just as the spear appears in the right place, so too does it appear at the right angle. Already penetrating the Cero’s origin point, each blast launched would be severed in two by the Armament spear, splitting along the blade to be launched off in two new trajectories. The Ceros split away from Watchman, flying harmlessly through the air until they eventually phase out, none of which on a flight path towards the city. As they pass the armor, their spiritual power would once again prove unhindering to the Clad Armor, just as Shizukas shikai lightning had been, just as his superior cero had been. What’s more, the blurred flurry and speed of each punch meant that Watchman was teleporting to new locations at equally blurred and flurried speeds, meaning
there was never something tangible for the Cero to collide with beyond the moment that the spear had arrived, disappearing just as quickly as it had appeared.
The result would be as described, the mindless savage is free to release all of its rage, striking away relentlessly with no interruption or impending action. It moves with such furious speed that the distinction between fists becomes unclear, simply a wall of white meeting a wall of red. The Creature cannot be satisfied, having thrown such numerous attacks that after each one lands, it should blow a hole into every part of the hero’s body. With each punch thrown, crimson ichor erupts from the targeted area, until soon the two become separated by a wall of blood. No longer suspended by the onslaught, the curtain of blood finally falls to the ground, revealing that the fullbringer has disappeared, along with the Vasto Lorde’s arms. Yes, where once pillars of white moved at blinding speeds, encased in black lightning, now only bleeding nubs remain.
A black arc forms within the center of the creature’s vision, forming a circle which starts at the front of his head and ends at the back. The Creature, confident in its ability to manipulate Reiryoku, is seemingly able to sense this incoming attack, and yet only reinforces the Reishi plates beneath itself, refusing to budge an inch. This would prove to be its downfall. Was it not curious, that after fighting exclusively with the power of his Armament Spear, the Watchman would suddenly throw only a kick? After all, how had he even teleported to his new position? No, the kick was the encore, the black arc the prelude. Above the motionless Vasto Lorde, Watchman swings his spear, perpetuated by the immense physical strength of his Clad Type, as well as the leverage afforded by a full range of motion. The ignorant Vasto, who seemingly fails to perceive the spear as well as the arc of its after-image, does nothing to defend itself except manipulate its reiryoku to brace for impact from a kick, which lags far behind in comparison to the strike.
The proceeding cut is so clean, so swift and precise, that the Vasto is incapable of feeling it physically. However, there is something to be said about primal instinct. Though the Vasto’s lagging perception of time means that it still awaits the incoming kick, it would be able to feel in its gut that it had just been killed. That a spear had just sliced cleanly through the middle of its head. In this moment, suspended in time not to think, but only to feel, the Vasto’s head would surely soon split in two, and fall to the city below.
Yet, Shizuka’s does not.
Self Reflection
CRACK
Hero would be distinguished from villain, just as the Armament spear seems to have done. Rather than slice cleanly through Shizuka’s head, it would seem that the obsidian spear had cut only into the bone of his mask. Before coming into contact with the flesh of his head, the armament spear simply teleported to the other side, continuing the momentum of its swing. In this moment, the strength, speed, momentum, and spatial abilities of the spear, as well as the Vasto’s arrogance creating a lack of response, would all come together. The bone-mask that clads Shizuka’s skull, is served in two. The Lion-visage cut cleanly from Shizuka’s head. Now, the features of the Hollow’s host become exposed, revealing the black-sclera of his yellow eyes.
It is
now, that the summersault connects. The force of the kick was delivered with the
intent of shattering the reinforced-bone of the fully hollowfied Vasto Lorde’s Mask. Instead, it lands directly upon Shizuka’s exposed and vulnerable head. The force of this kick would have been enough to incapacitate the hollow, but now, it would completely shatter Shizuka’s skull, pulsing through his brain to let the vital organ rattle around what remains of the pieces. After this, Shizuka would have been sent hurtling through the air, but instead, he had proven his ability to manipulate reiryoku by reinforcing the plates beneath him, not intending to budge an inch or otherwise deflect the blow.
This means that there is nowhere for the downward force to be directed or dispersed but through Shizuka himself. The strength of this kick would be comparable to what Shizuka has experienced fighting Higen, the Clad-armor possessing a strengthening ability beyond Watchman’s physical build. The impact of this is then increased by the positioning of the kick, sending the full force downward from the vulnerable top of Shizuka’s skull. The shockwave of the kick creates a gust of air that blows back everything from Shizuka’s exposed head. It then moves through the shattered skull, concussing the brain and rendering Shizuka unconscious, before it is sent downward through the organs and spine. Where Once Shizuka might have been sent flying, by reinforcing his position, he has now essentially driven his car directly into a wall.
During the course of these events, the two had been moving at such top speeds, with such strong intent of ending each other, that even with his time-altering sensing capabilities, Watchman had not perceived the arrival of three new cosplayers. Not even a second passes following his knock-out kick, but Watchman is finally able to take his focus off of his poor opponent. Just who were these guys? They clearly possessed powers, able to stand in the air like the creature and himself. The way they had rushed in like a squadron reminded Justin of his experience as an Ace pilot. Even the greatest pilots needed wingmen, and it seems the green-haired guy’s had just arrived.
"Lieutenant Hyouzoku!"
Once more, a stranger clad in black samurai attire arrives in the sky. Having been shunpoing for the brunt of this altercation it would seem, he finally arrives at the worst possible moment. Shouting out, he at least reveals the Green Haired man’s name, Lieutenant Hyouzoku. By the rank, Captain Taimu now understands that they’re a military, and they don’t seem to be on the side of these Hollow aliens. Could they be allies? There is no time to tell, as a blue and black orb suddenly begins to spread out from the unconscious vasto. Looking at them however, the Hero had not been observing the unconscious form of the creature still beneath him. Unable to sense Spiritual power, or at least ignorant to the sensation, Watchman did not perceive the black and blue energy which creeps in to consume the Vasto’s complete form. No, it was the sudden darkening of the skies, the flashing of lightning brought on by the heavy reiatsu that Watchman could not feel. Looking down, foot still connected to the indent in Shizuka’s head, Watchman observes as the creature is suddenly engulfed in some new type of attack. It seems that the hollow that possesses Shizuka is not done fighting yet, even unconscious, in the midst of defeat, it uses the culmination of its energy in a last ditch effort to defeat the Watchman.
Self Destruction
It was hard to understand, hard to comprehend as well. Though the four skilled Shinigami who inhabited Naruki would be able to tell exactly what it is. The expansive jet black orb that sprouted corrupted lightning, would only expand further and further outwards. Completely synonymous with the dastardly effects of the Vasto Lordes reiatsu. It was no doubt that this was a spiritual attack of some sort. It’s nature unknown, but luckily, something had been done already.
Before, Watchman and Shizuka had been so high up in the human world’s atmosphere that the air had thinned, and their bodies began to ice over. This was the distance they fought from Naruki city. The purpose of this initial transportation, it seemed, was to protect the city from this attack specifically. Once again, Justin’s fullbring succeeded in placing down the most favorable path in space and time. Only now, the creature’s comrades had arrived, comrades whose lives may very well be taken by the inescapable spreading mass of this deadly attack. As such, foot still planted upon Shizuka’s head, spear still grasped firmly in hand, time resumes for Watchman. From the perspective of the onlookers, one second Shizuka has been kicked, the next his body begins to turn black, and the next it is gone. Instead, above the trio, a new cosmic body has joined the night sky.
Just outside of the planets atmosphere, a massive black orb eclipses the stars from the sky like a new moon of destruction. Detonating harmlessly in the safety of vacuum space, the size and scope of the blast would not matter, beyond a visual spectacle for the spiritually sensitive to observe. Once the detonation had reached its end, Shizuka had been placed close enough to still be pulled back to the Human World through gravity, allowing his unconscious form to descend from the night sky like a fallen angel. But what of the Watchman?
“Can he still be saved?”
Standing in the middle of the trio, Watchman’s voice announces his arrival before his presence can be felt. How long had he been standing there, looking up at the sky along with Tosu, Sango, and Kaisou? Equally as transfixed on the situation, the hero takes this moment to contemplate along with them, watching as the black orb detonates like one would watch a comet pass by. His boisterous and heroic voice, which echoes from his mask not unlike a vizard, carries with it a somber tone. The Watchman appears to be taking the recovery of Shizuka just as seriously and personally as his comrades. This is because the Hero feels guilty for the man’s current state. Though he had spent the night being dragged along by the machinations of his spear, he still had been given a chance to interact with this Lieutenant Shizuka. There was a reason the two had come together before all this, and perhaps if Justin had only tried harder, and not dismissed the man, perhaps his life could have been spared, perhaps it wasn’t too late.
Though he stands between the three assembled, as they prepare themselves and their shikais, Watchman seems to address Kaisou specifically. Though he knows nothing of the man, the spear had teleported Watchman to him immediately after teleporting Lieutenant Hyouzoku away. This means that like his initial meeting with Hyouzoku, there is a reason the spear took Watchman to this spot specifically. What Watchman did not know was that Kaisou is a healer. Ignorant to what a Zanpakuto even is, he has no concept that Kaisou’s grants him the ability to separate impurities. With this knowledge, he might surmise that there is a chance of both restoring the broken Lieutenant, and slowing the corruption of his current state, at least until his squadron can get him back to some real help.
Three super heated marbles fly by, one after the other, finally catching up to this height from their launch on the ground. With their original target long gone, they fly harmlessly into the night sky, and seemingly will be launched off planet indefinitely, offering no threat and being paid no mind. However, witnessing the lagging attack catch up, seeing the white-haired man standing aimlessly there where he had called out, and observing the three of these guys prepare for a suicide mission, made it clear that these guys needed some assistance. There is no doubt that the Hero stands where he does now because this is where he is needed most. Resolving himself to atone for his past mistake, Watchman’s conviction only strengthens. He refuses to give up on Hyouzoku, and is committed, like a true Hero, to helping those in need.