Shining bright, crashing hard

            Cartilage popped  between his teeth as Nazomi sat up abruptly. Swaying where he on his knees he could feel the flutter of another presence nearby, a sensation almost overwhelmed by the bliss he felt. He looked but he didn't open his eyes to see, merely took a small aside from the narcotic joy that had carved itself into his features to acknowledge someone had wandered into his late lunch. The corners of his lips twitched in what was almost a smile before they parted, yielding to the shudder that had been clawing along his nerves for what felt like far too long. It touched the need again, the Hunger unsatisfied when there was still more left.

            His company could wait.

            Forgetting them in the half second it took to lunge back down on the remains, he did more than gnash and chew. He consumed, with all that he was he devoured what remained of the shell. It was...an unnecessary act. It was the soul that nourished him, the screaming thing that pressed against his skin with a face, featured muted against his flesh until it faded to where it belonged. But the corpse, the blood, the meat, bone, and marrow all sang in their special way until he tore into them to placate their begging. He swallowed each with maw and power, deigning to let whichever touched first to have its portion.

            By the time he finished there wasn't much left but the stain of what used to be a man, the tatters of clothing, and what viscera that had escaped his hunger.

            Now he could play host for a bit. Stumbling to his feet he half-shambled out of the ditch still wearing the same pleased mask that he had when peering up before. This time he opened his eyes, drowsy and unfocused as they may have seemed, then felt his smile spread a bit wider. He was still drunk on the feeling, even if he found his company suddenly curious. Such a little one to have that sort of strength coming off her, after all.

            Oh but he was such a mess for company! His suit, much of his chest in fact, was a few shades darker from having indulged himself so feverishly. Dark red where it had soaked into the white of his shirt. His face wasn't much better, of that much he was sure. The heat of blood spilled was still making his skin tingle. The best that the Arrancar could do to make himself presentable was wipe as much as possible on his sleeve. At best he removed the gory mask he'd given himself, but smeared far too much of it into his lips and chin. No matter, it was just another way to keep the high riding just a bit longer. A flick of his tongue or chewing on his fingertips would just be another way to keep enjoying it until something else caught his interest.

            "Are you lost, little one?" He looked somewhere to his side, not at anything in particular but it felt necessary even if he wasn't sure why. The smell of copper was still too intoxicating to really do much but let out another near laugh and a shiver. The tone in his voice still remained a distant one even as he started rambling again.

            "Don't you know the story of Little Red Riding Hood?" Someone snickered. It might have been Nazomi but he wasn't sure. Instead he wobbled while he walked, stalking his company from what little distance there was to get a sense of her. A smell. Something like water. Cool and gentle to his senses. A soft shake of his head allowed him to focus just a little bit better than he had. "Not the Disney version, but the real story where she gets eaten allllllllll up." He snapped his mouth at her in a mock bite then forgot where he was again, distracted by the ghosts of a thought.

            "So maybe you should turn instead of going any further into the woods, little one. You might not like what you find." Or he paused, flashing a wide wolfish smile. "Or what finds you."

            What big teeth he had. 

===============================

Word Count: 701

GP Gained: 14

If it hadn't been for the awkwardly placed limbs she had just seen out of the corner of her eyes, Kasumi might have mistaken the sounds she heard for something else but.. chewing. Too afraid to look, Kasumi froze in one place, feeling how the sweat was suddenly covering her whole body. Something was obviously feasting in that ditch on the remains of some unfortunate human. Feeling her stomach twist she backed off, covering her mouth with her hand in the process. As her foot hit a chunk of concrete she forced her body to turn in order not to fall. It was then that her eyes met the sight of a humanoid figure. But the way its face was covered in blood, eyes closed, seemingly sniffing the air- there was nothing human about it. The beast returned to its meal, ripping pieces of flesh from the bones, gobbling it down with the crimson liquid soaking its front. Either he hadn't felt her presence or didn't care about it. Whatever it was, Kasumi should have used that very moment to get away.

But she stayed.

Anger and disgust mixed inside of her body, and she felt a burning sensation coming from deep within, opening her mouth to scream at the creature she didn't find any sound passing her lips. There were no words of hate. Instead, her stomach had suddenly decided to empty itself spilling the previously eaten daifuku all over the floor in front of her feet. Tears shot towards her eyes and Kasumi tried to stop herself from puking for the second time in a row but another convulsion of her stomach caused her to gag again. A sour taste remained on her tongue while she created some melting snow in the palms of her hands, rubbing it over her mouth and chin in an attempt to get rid of the slime that gave her a filthy feeling. Luckily it froze and fell on the ground together with the bits of strawberries that's been clinging to her cheek. Using her sleeve to wipe off anything that might have been there after her quick refreshment Kasumi's eyes darted up when the stranger spoke.

She couldn't help but to shiver when he smiled. A piece of her wanted to leave, to try and forget the things she had seen. But then he would kill more humans, more innocent people. Gritting her teeth Kasumi balled her hands into fists. It was the first time in her life that she saw one of them feeding on something else but a soul. She didn't even know that they actually ate people like this.

“..filthy cannibal.”

Having gathered enough courage to spit out the words she started to tap into her energy. This one she had to kill. He was worse than the ones she had met before. Something about him felt.. insane. Long green hair, yellow poisonous eyes. A snake. One not to be trusted. Taking another step back she tried to create some space between them. Her muscles tightened and she felt a rush of adrenaline pass through her veins. For now her mind should rest and allow her body to take care of this.

“Maybe you're mistaken, thinking that you're the wolf here.”

Disgust was seeping through her words. She tried to sound threatening but barely anyone ever viewed the 12 year old as a threat. Lately Kasumi had been working on that. Hunting down beasts like him before tearing them to shreds. All they did was howl before disintegrating, vanishing without a trace in this world. And that's exactly the kind of fate that awaited him. Feeling her energy rise Kasumi allowed the silvery blue reiatsu to pour out, wrapping itself around her skin.

Hebi-

how ironic.

As the first snakes of reiryoku caressed the ground Kasumi was already dashing forward. Her blue eyes burned bright with hate as she came to a stop at his side and turned, using her right foot to try and hit the man's jaw. After all the encounter she has had, Kasumi had figured that you either had to crush their mask or their head- both would be an even better option.

“Die!”

Her body ached as she pushed the energy out, feeling its biting cold all around her.

|Words: 715 - GP 14 - TGP 31|

Edit;

Action 1:

Activate Hebi

Rank: Master

- 6 stamina

= 112

>Flavor: A divergence of Shunko going by the name 'Hebi' aka 'Snake' that can be used by the humankind. It allows the user to manifest their reiatsu and use it to strengthen their skin, bones and muscles while adding to their reaction speed by tickling the nerves. It engulfs Kasumi’s body in strings of reiatsu that crawl and curl around her body like snakes. Some of them are detached from her body- those can be used to ‘burn’ an opponent or target with damage equal to her power.

>Stamina Cost & Effect:

Master 6 - stamina The power of physical strikes + 60

>Limitations (If Any): None

>Casting Time: Instantly

>Duration & Cool Down [Idem to Shunko]:

Master: Grants a Hebi-based technique slot. Both Hakuda and Zanjutsu are now affected by this skill. Removes restrictions from Hanki.

 

 

Action 2:

Hakuda kick

Rank: Master

- 1 stamina

= 111

+ 3 [Master: Whenever a Hakuda combat action is expended, you regenerate 3 Stamina. Gain a bonus unarmed technique slot and a Hardened Area.]

= 114 stamina

Stats of kick:

Power: 73 + 60 = 133

Precision: 88

Stamina: 118 – 7 + 3 = 114

How cute.
 
            Breathing in the chill that struck him before she did, the Arrancar held his breath waiting to gauge for himself just what she might be capable of. And to the child's benefit it was as he expected. Strong. Not quite enough to do what she had intended it seemed, but enough that he would have to take her seriously. After all, even prepared for the momentary numbness and searing pain that followed it, it was so bothersome when someone broke his neck. There was the uncomfortable way his flesh twisted, bunching up as the muscle tore and crushed his windpipe from the force. Or that his spine pressed up and closer to the surface from where it had been fractured from the kick. It was a perfectly awful sensation that he reveled in with a death rattle that croaked past his shuddering lips.
 
            All of that might have been to her benefit if Nazomi hadn't simply grasped suddenly at the at his own throat and chin, veins pulsing with dark that bulged against the flesh, and forced everything back in place with a well placed twist. Oh the Black Blood helped; thousands of tiny angry hands that flowed through his body tugging, wrenching things back into the form they belonged before furiously scraping against skin in an effort to seep into it, hardening, enhancing his body against further harm for the time being. He coughed once, his voice more ragged and coarse for the effort but that would fade after a few more attempts to clear it. But he rather liked how it added a bit more color to his voice.
 
            "Ahem. A cannibal is someone who eats their own. So yes, I am but not for this. This? This is just because I really wanted to."  He grinned, spitting something red that had been blackened by bile to the ground. Lazily glancing back to his company he grinned with razor-wire, stretched with various unseemly popping noises erupting from joints and bone alike. He had warned her which was more merciful than he had been with brunch, but then again he always felt more benevolent once he'd sated a need or his hunger. Having done both must have made him positively saintly.
 
            Enough at least to play nice for the time being.
 
            "See, the problem is that you think you're the hunter. But in the original story there isn't one, did you know that?" He smiled a bit, putting his hands in his pockets and swaying where he stood. My, how uneducated children were about the classics. Such a pity. At least that was something he could do. Teach. Impart a small bit of knowledge on a simple young girl. "Little Red Riding Hood gets gobbled up and the story sort of just..." And not one to let such a straight line pass him by, Nazomi tilted forward a bit with a soft giggle rolling past his lips.
 

"....ends."

            Pressure erupted around the Arrancar. It came as a crushing force that tore into the ground, pressing so hard into it that it heaved up great chunks of it only for them to evaporate under the hungry hateful force of his will. It came to a crescendo as he straightened himself again, back arched, head tilted back as he exhaled something between a satisfied breath and a cackle. When the merry madman eased back on his heels, surveying the devastation of what he had done. Respectable for something he hadn't put his full effort into, but then again that had been part of the point. These little interactions always did marvelous things for him; if it was over too fast it would be absolutely crippling to his morale.
 
            "Ah youth, always so impetuous. I suppose you think you can break me because you're used to dealing with pups and those weaker than yourself." Almost disappointed by the thought, Nazomi shook his head. Through that subtle motion the act became a small ripple of life all it's own. Out of Nazomi stepped another him, a Counterpart that quite politely picked the pocket watch from his person and cupped his hands over it. As his Counterpart opened his hands he held in each the shimmering forms of weaponry still resolving themselves into their butcher's knife and a meat cleaver. Rolling the handle of the knife between his fingers, the Counterpart grinned all the more furiously, stepping towards the girl with all the malicious joy that the original watched with.  
 
            "We did warn you, didn't we?" Nazomi chimed in his lazy stroll back to the ditch. All this effort was making him a might peckish still.
 
            "That we did." The Counterpart inserted itself into the conversation with a sigh that quickly became a twitch of a smile.
 
            "We're the wolves here, little one. And now we've seen you." Oh a finger! He scooped up the discarded little thing, prying a ring from it which he quickly shoved in his pocket. They always tasted better when he didn't have to crack his teeth on such stupid little mementos.
 
            "And neither of us are as patient as the wolf in the story." Nazomi popped the discarded finger into his mouth, gnashing it between his teeth, but the crunching of it came from his Counterpart, who eagerly challenged the girl with a mocking motion of his weapons.
 
            "But at least we had the decency to be up front about what we are"
 
========================================================
Word Count: 907
GP Gained: 18
 
Combat Data
 

High-Speed Regeneration
[20 Stamina, Instant, Two-Round Cooldown]
Heals a wound completely. May affect up to a Moderate wound, increasing by one rank for each rank in Regeneration after this is unlocked.

 
Master Rank Regeneration, lets me heal fully heal my severe wound. (Moderate at intermediate, Major at Advanced, and Severe at Master)
 
Followed By:
 

Corpse Flesh
Level: Sealed+
Relevant Skills: Regeneration
Technique Type: Spiritual
Information: Nazomi's regenerative abilities have always been a bit odd for one of his kind, but no expression of it more so than the Black Blood. It's alive, in it's own right, knitting back together his harms acting without the conscious will that would otherwise be necessary. And amongst its uses is that it swells to the site of the wound it seeks to repair, making his body far more pliant and resistant to harm for a time.
Effect: Reduces the tier of wound caused by an opponent's next successful attack if used in conjunction with the Regeneration skill and increases the user's Defense by +5 per rank of the last wound regenerated for the duration. Lasts a number of turns equal to Regeneration's rank
Limitation: This may only affect the first attack taken after regenerating a wound; if that wound was instantly regenerated, the duration is shortened by one round
Casting Time: Action Modifier
Duration: Prolonged
Cooldown: One Turn
Cost: 6 Stamina + 1 Stamina per wound rank

 
Wound Rank Reduction against first attack that hits
+30 Defense for 4 Rounds (reduced from 5 due to instant regen)
12 Stamina
 
First Action:
 

Ruin
Levels: Sealed+
Relevant Skill: Hollow Evolution
Technique Type: Spiritual
Information: It can be expressed in any number of ways but the result is always the same. Anything standing in close proximity to Nazomi or where gestures finds itself contending with a force every bit as hungry and destructive as he is, ripping asunder anything that falls under its weight as if it had never existed in the first place. And it's a wonderful way to make an entrance.
Effect: Acts as an AoE that originates around Nazomi or can be launched at an opponent, spreading from the site of impact up to close range. Acts at +10 Power Per rank in Hollow Evolution.
Special: Alternatively the technique can be cast without the boost to conserve stamina
Casting Time: Single Action
Duration: Instant
Cooldown: One Turn
Cost: 5 + 2 per rank in Hollow Evolution

Unboosted Version.

Rank: Master

Power: 80

Precision: 80

AoE attack

5 Stamina

Second Action:

 
Shattered Images
Level: Sealed+
Relevant Skill: Master Hollow Evolution
Technique Type: Spiritual
Information: It's difficult to describe to someone else what it feels like. It's capturing an instant, a moment of himself and reproducing it, split off to chase after the path he did not choose. They are him in the most simplified terms. He shares their sight, their senses, but they are distinctly different enough to pursue uncomplicated goals tasked to them. They lack his full arsenal and are far more fragile than the Arrancar but make up for this by being able to project his thoughts through them or casually switching places with them through a small effort of will to keep his foes guessing. And when destroyed they offer a parting gift for those too close.
Effect: Nazomi can create up to two clones, each clone having his reiatsu equal to his distributed as desired upon creation. Release bonuses are carried over but remain the same as on Nazomi. Clones cannot use supplement skills but can make use of any universal or racial skill at equal rank and are destroyed on a moderate wound. Clones can use basic attacks based around his power, weapon, or unarmed proficiencies but not attack techniques. When destroyed a clone collapses into a small black hole, damaging any opponent within melee range for 3 Stamina. This AoE operates at the clone's base power.
Special: Once per turn Nazomi can switch places with a clone at a cost of 2 stamina.
Limitation: Cooldown activates once all clones are destroyed; Nazomi cannot create another clone while one remains on field.
Casting Time: Single Action
Duration: Prolonged
Cooldown: Two Turns
Cost: 5 Stamina per clone per turn.

 

1 Clone Created

Clone Stats as Follows

Power: 100 (90 +10 from Release Bonus)

Precision: 60 (50 + 10 from Release Bonus)

Defense: 90 (70 + 20 from Release Bonus)

Speed: 30

5 Stamina upkeep

Summary:

Unwounded

Clone Unwounded

Current Stats:

Power: 80 (70 + 10 from release bonus)

Precision: 80 (70 +10 from release bonus)

Defense: 80 (30 + 20 from Release Bonus + 30 from Buff)

Speed: 70

2 Turns until High Speed Regeneration can be used again

1 Turn until Ruin can be used again

42 Stamina Spent

84/126 Stamina Remaining

Gotcha! - As her foot connected Kasumi felt how the adrenaline was rushing through her veins, making her more than excited about the kick. The snapping sound of bones indicated that her kick did have some effect. Avenging someone had never felt this good before; every fiber in her body was currently cheering and burning. With a push back Kasumi landed on the ground with silver spilling all around her. A smug expression was glued to her face as her eyes studied the damaged Arrancar. For a moment she expected him to fall, to hit the ground and start to disintegrate. The blow should have been enough..The grin evaporated when she realized that he was like one the other Hollow she had fought, he was able to heal himself. Unlike Lissandra, this one did it was quicker. Before her widening eyes the bones cracked back into place, flesh shifting beneath the skin till everything about the man looked as if the hit had never taken place. Too fast, he had done this way too fast to her liking. Back then the Hollow had been wounded throughout the evening. Kasumi had even felt bad about it. But that was only because Lissandra had been different from this one. Not as 'kind' as the wolf-like creature, but still civil and understanding.

This one.. wasn't. Not with his shirt soaked with blood. Besides, it was too late now to even consider. Judging by his grin he wouldn't talk. A vague feeling of having made a mistake was creeping up the girl's spine. If he had been angry she wouldn't have minded it as bad as his laughter. The fact that her kick had amused him made her feel nauseous. That together with his previous deeds, or perhaps she just hadn't gotten over the bile taste still lingering on her tongue. Tensing Kasumi narrowed her eyes while listening to his little monologue. Suddenly the air changed and just a fraction of a second later energy tore through the ground, crushing everything on its path. Shocked by the display Kasumi jumped back manipulating the silvery reiatsu into a wall of ice. As the forces collided she could see the barrier scatter.

Shit!

The child came to a stop while sliding over some of the cracked concrete a dozen yards away from the barrier's place. Her arms were in front of her face in an attempt to defend herself from whatever was coming but nothing more than a gush of wind and sand got to her. Blinking, Kasumi nervously moved her hands in order to see what had happened. Pieces of ice were melting on the ground at the edge of what appeared to be a small crater. Putting effort into keeping her hands from shaking Kasumi kept quiet. She had never felt such power being directed against her. This was getting dangerous. It was then that another Arrancar appeared to her horror. For a moment Kasumi thought that she had hit her head without having noticed it. How could there be?.. where did he? ..

A twin!

But she hadn't seen him before, she hadn't even felt his presence! Slowly another idea bloomed as her eyes widened in understanding. This had to be clone. Could it really be? Was this some sort of technique or a unique power? The weapons in the clone's hands gave off a bit of a shimmer. Was it a knife? Kasumi's heart beat against her chest while her eyes weren't sure where to look. Two opponents were one too many. If just his energy cracked concrete and blew away her ice then she was in big trouble. She had to get rid of the other one. Jumping away from the original she made her way to the clone's side. Her stomach turned when she noticed him chewing on something, something that had looked like a finger before it had disappeared in his mouth. Forcing herself to ignore the disgust, Kasumi pushed through, balling her right hand into a fist. If she didn't act then it might be her finger that he would end up chewing on. There was plenty of fear but Kasumi still aimed. Hebi sizzled around her as her fist made its way towards the clone's temple. She hoped to crash his skull, hoped that he wouldn't regenerate like the other one, hoped that a copy would be weaker than the original. So much hope and so little time.

“The story ends when the wolves get shot.”

She tried to sound calm, but her voice appeared strained.

|Words: 759 – GP 15 – Tgp 46|

Combat data

Upkeep Hebi -6 stamina = 108

Action 1

Barrier = Mur

Name: Mur

Relevant skill: Mortal power

Release available at: Basic

Stats involved: Power and precision

Flavor:

Manipulating her ice into a wall or a screen, Kasumi uses it to defend herself from harm. Either a reiryoku blast or a sword, the ice protects Kasumi by forming a dense shield between her and the incoming attack. Whenever its shattered the wall still weakens the attack- because some of the force was taken for breaking through the ice.

Effect: Acts as a dedicated blocking technique at +10 Power and Precision Per rank

Special: Alternatively, Kasumi can maintain the barrier by paying the cost at the beginning of each turn. The barrier can be maintained for a number of turns equal to her power skill's rank. Using the special inflicts a two turn cool down that begins when the barrier is broken or can no longer be maintained.

Limitations (If Any): None

Casting Time: Single action

Duration: Instant

Cool Down: None

Cost: 2 Stamina per rank

 

Rank: Advanced

Stamina: - 8 = 100

Stats

power: 73 + 40 = 113

precision: 88 + 40 = 128

Vs 100 / 100

Blocks at equivalent = no damage taken

Action 2

Ikkotsu

2 Stamina per rank in Hakuda, Single Action

A powerful single-fisted punch that operates at +10 Power and Precision per rank in Hakuda.

 

Rank: Master

Stamina: - 10 + 3 = 93

Stats

Power: 73 + 60 + 50 = 183

Precision: 88 + 15 + 50 = 153

Stamina: 93/118

A wave of satisfaction- again; but she should have known this time that the sweetness was poisoned. This wasn't some average Hollow, this madman was an Arrancar of another caliber. While the bones cracked Kasumi twisted. She tried to see what the other half would do. To her big surprise he didn't move to stab her in the back, instead, a somewhat amused grin seemingly played around his lips. There was something wrong with this whole scenario. Her target hadn't even moved or tried to block her attack. The Arrancar had accepted his death, and Kasumi didn't understand why until the creature dug his fingers into his own flesh, ripping it open. Jumping back Kasumi coughed. The sight was making her sick again, black bloody organs. To rip yourself open like that, it was sick, disgusting. Kasumi didn't understand why someone would do such a thing. Another leap back and she could feel the subtle shift in the air. Without hesitation the child formed another barrier in front of her. It wasn't a second too early because a sudden wave of energy burst from the remains of the Arrancar's twin. Now it was more than obvious that she had ran into his trap with her eyes wide open. Such foolishness to display in a battle! Kasumi kicked herself mentally, growling inside at her own stupidity as the shock wave collided with her barrier, shattering it into a thousand tiny pieces. There were some scratches, more panic than pain really- but enough to make her aware of her nasty situation.

Her attacks didn't get through. For now, she could keep his from harming her, but her only defense was the ice. If he somehow would manage to get past that things would get ugly real fast. Directing her orbs of blue at the Arrancar, her mind spun and turned in order to find some way to beat him. Feet carried her a little distance back. The attacks, just like the defense was taking its toll on her and Kasumi felt her energy vanishing- way quicker than she would want to admit.

This was bad.. so bad.

Perhaps he was right, perhaps she wasn't strong enough to handle him. But she couldn't possibly give up now. He would catch her and eat her.. turn her into white bones after feasting upon her flesh. A shiver ran through her body, Kasumi wished that she had never followed those damned traces. Nothing good had come from that; she hadn't been able to save anyone. With her hand clenched into a fist the kid poured more energy into her legs. Only cowards ran her head screamed, but her instincts told her to get away while she still could. It mattered not, as her senses sharpened she felt the danger, tiny hair stood straight on the back of her neck – as if being pulled at by a magnet. Hebi happily sizzled around her, kissing the rubbish beneath her feet when the attack was released. Barely visible, a gentle blurring of space, as if someone had touched the wet paint that this world was created with. One might have missed it if it wasn't for the evident damage that it caused on its way towards Kasumi. The creature, the Arrancar, he wasn't afraid of destruction. Something told Kasumi that he even looked pleased while his powers erased things from existence.

“You'll just die starving then!”

Her words were practically swallowed up by the explosion that followed when Kasumi's Hebi wrapped leg crashed into the beam. Pulling out as much energy as she could, Kasumi felt it run through her veins, soak her flesh and bones in order to protect her limb from a horrible outcome. God damn it, she still needed that leg. Sizzling flames of white hit the ground, more concrete cracked as the Arrancar's powers tried to push through. A hard explosion seemed to tear through space itself when a wave hit the highway above them, causing a part to fall down upon the two fighters. With a quick jerk to the right Kasumi pushed off with reishi beneath her feet, escaping the tons of dirt, stones and pieces of metal. Her feet met the green grass and her eyes watched it blacken because of Hebi's presence. Dust covered the area, but Kasumi knew that it would settle down soon enough. Then, the Arrancar would still be there. She had to be ready to take him on. It was his move, she was at a disadvantage.

Think! Think Kasumi!

|Words: 754 – GP 15 – Tgp 61|

Upkeep Hebi -6 stamina = 87

Action 1

Barrier = Mur

Name: Mur

Relevant skill: Mortal power

Release available at: Basic

Stats involved: Power and precision

Flavor:

Manipulating her ice into a wall or a screen, Kasumi uses it to defend herself from harm. Either a reiryoku blast or a sword, the ice protects Kasumi by forming a dense shield between her and the incoming attack. Whenever its shattered the wall still weakens the attack- because some of the force was taken for breaking through the ice.

Effect: Acts as a dedicated blocking technique at +10 Power and Precision Per rank

Special: Alternatively, Kasumi can maintain the barrier by paying the cost at the beginning of each turn. The barrier can be maintained for a number of turns equal to her power skill's rank. Using the special inflicts a two turn cool down that begins when the barrier is broken or can no longer be maintained.

Limitations (If Any): None

Casting Time: Single action

Duration: Instant

Cool Down: None

Cost: 2 Stamina per rank

 

Rank: Advanced

Stamina: - 8 = 79

Stats

power: 73 + 40 = 113

precision: 88 + 40 = 128

Vs 120 / 120

Blocks at equivalent = no damage taken

Action 2

Jarnbën

Rank: Master

Name: Järnben

Relevant skill: Hakuda

Release available at: Hakuda Basic

Stats involved: Power and precision

*) A powerful kick that operates at +10 Power and Precision per rank in Hakuda.

Pumps more energy through Kasumi's tissue, Kasumi her muscles to work harder and her bones and skin to become more resistant. This greatly adds to the power and precision of the kick.

*) 2 stamina per Hakuda rank

Action: Single action

Rank: Master

 

Stamina: - 10 + 3 = 72

Stats

Power: 73 + 60 + 50 = 183

Precision: 88 + 15 + 50 = 153

VS 130/130

Blocks at advantaged = no damage taken (?)

Stamina: 72/118

            "Will I now..." Bolts of blackened energy faded out with a slow crackle, the angry desires that had birthed them all but howling at the choice to go unsatisfied. Whatever his face had been, the sheen had all but been scrapped away to reveal the emptiness in the madman's expression. All but his eyes. In them was a spark of interest, of hellish want finally pushing its way past everything else to declare with clarion authority what it was he intended to do now.
 
            This child, interesting as she was, had made her choice. Uninformed, pointless as the decision may be, she had declared her role in the story. She did so without knowing her lines or the reasons behind it. There had been no rehearsal. But here they were now, thrown together with no time for the pleasantries of preparation. With no other choice then he would share his stage with her more seriously; honor the performance as any actor worth their salt might. The child did not know the secrets of Nazomi's trade; but ever determined to remedy such ineffectuality he would teach her.
 
            And the scars would be suitable reminders in the future.
 
            "Haven't you figured it out yet?" Absently he licked at his fingertips, too taken by the change she had provoked to even enjoy the narcotic bliss that it had conjured before. Still he flashed a grin filled with razor-wire. If that would not do any longer then he would have to substitute another sort of drug in its place to restore what she had wasted with her interruption.
 
            Oh, but that was getting ahead of himself. The business of teaching first and then the merry madman would be free to indulge in whatever seemed fit.
 
            "So strong for someone so small, yet I think I have a reasonable gauge of your ability now." His smile stretched enough that it might well have torn into his cheeks with how many wicked teeth Nazomi flashed at the child. He laughed, once, before his face settled into something more curious. Eyes shut, a gentle smile, an ease in his posture as he approached. It never looked right covered with that much blood but he did his best to be disarming about it anyways.
 
            "I haven't been trying to hurt you." There were a number of implied things that went along with that, none of which he felt were worth being a poor sport over by announcing them. He kept the same gentle demeanor and tone, the smirk never leaving his face even as he opened his eyes again. He'd wanted her to see; the way the dull steel of his irises began to swirl with a piercing blue as deep and crystalline as ice. Such a pretty color, really. It should have been a indicator for what the child could do but his interest had not peaked before this moment.
 

"Little Freak"

            It was his voice but more. A voice, feminine, bitter, and unsynchronized with his own joined it, the words lilting after his own. The attempt caused a twitch in his arms, a spasm of muscle that reacted ever so delightfully as he watched for her reaction. This was close enough; center stage was the only place for the lead in their little story. And from there he would press the wound until it ruptured or the scarring proved too thick to tear back open.
 
            "Everyone that tries to play family with you dies. And is it any wonder? It's all your fault for being born cursed." A curt grin and with a surge of memory so deep and ugly that Nazomi should not have been so delighted, he added to the thought. "A murderer from birth. How quaint." Just to keep pushing he giggled, a childish sounding thing that was more forced than intended but would serve just as well. He covered his smile with the back of his hand as he climbed the rubble that his deflected attack had caused to come tumbling down, small pieces of debris already being drawn into the air around him as the gathering swell of power.
 
            "So maybe this time..." Nazomi floated from the odd perch he'd given himself, feet dangling just above the pile in lazy fashion as the ground ruptured, larger chunks of what had already been torn out in his previously restrained attempt rising to join the small scatterings of concrete and dirt. Dark coils of energy snapped at the air, evaporating what it touched bit by bit, until an invisible sphere of will coalesced around  the Arrancar, growing larger and obliterating more cast-off every time it pulsed with hateful life.
 

"Just die."

            The sphere erupted on all sides with a horrific noise that swallowed up anything that lacked the will to resist it so completely it was as if it had never been. The sound muffled his cackling even as it tore apart the ground and sky around him with contemptible ease, slicing through a massive chunk of the highway above almost too neatly for the destruction it caused when it reached the height of its swell. So much life simply...gone, felt as it waned the moment his will had touched it and almost palpable enough to taste before it had been erased. Odd, but only worth noting as he hadn't found flesh amongst the things he had felt through the connection with his power. Just what had the little one done now?
 
            Landing on the blighted ground with a soft step, Nazomi could feel her still even if the haze of steam and dirt obscured his immediate view. A sweep of his hand and the Will to remove it would have been enough, but that was nowhere near as fun as leaving it could be. Where would she approach? Would she run given the chance or would she still insist on her role being that of the hunter when so obviously unfit for it? The surprise would be in finding out, it seemed.
 
            "Come out, come out wherever you are, child. I have such big teeth to show you.~"
 
=================================================
Word Count: 1016
GP Gained: 20
 
Combat Data:
 

Flipped on my Mad Insight Skill. That's a +15 Bonus to my speed. 
 
Just using one action this round. 
 
Action 1:
 

Ruin
Levels: Sealed+
Relevant Skill: Hollow Evolution
Technique Type: Spiritual
Information: It can be expressed in any number of ways but the result is always the same. Anything standing in close proximity to Nazomi or where gestures finds itself contending with a force every bit as hungry and destructive as he is, ripping asunder anything that falls under its weight as if it had never existed in the first place. And it's a wonderful way to make an entrance.
Effect: Acts as an AoE that originates around Nazomi or can be launched at an opponent, spreading from the site of impact up to close range. Acts at +10 Power Per rank in Hollow Evolution.
Special: Alternatively the technique can be cast without the boost to conserve stamina
Casting Time: Single Action
Duration: Instant
Cooldown: One Turn
Cost: 5 + 2 per rank in Hollow Evolution

Actually boosting it this time. 

Master Rank

130 Power AoE (70 base + 10 Release bonus + 50 from boost) that affects up to intermediate range. This is a special hug. Enjoy~

15 Stamina

You got an opening now, give it a shot. 

Summary:

His grins made her sick, whether it was for his sharp teeth -which he so gladly showed off, or his blood painted face that caused the nausea, she wasn't certain. Another shiver wrecked her body; she suddenly felt cold. Kasumi never felt cold, freezing temperatures were like a family to the white haired child; this wasn't right. And then, another shiver, this time a lighter one, still unusual, it wasn't even night yet, this made no sense. Kasumi took a step back not feeling safe with the Arrancar closing in on her. Goosebumps covered her arms leaving her skin bumpy, her palms were sweaty. She hadn't been cold ever since – oh.. Then it hit her- she was just tired. The reason that she had been shivering was because of her body's energy loss. Her muscles were starting to burn and ache from the effort that she was putting her limbs through, Hebi faltered for a second – the energy danced and faded, then reignited, Kasumi's gaze fell upon the Arrancars cold eyes and she gritted her teeth trying to hold her ground. She had to end this as soon as possible, if not, this would be her last fight.

He had hardly begun? No, it couldn't be, he was bluffing – he had to. If this creature hadn't even tried to hurt her then this would be the end of her for sure. And Kasumi refused to go down like this. There had to be a way to stop this hungry beast, a way to ensure her survival.

        Little.. little freak?

Tears stung at the corners of her eyes as Kasumi gasped for air. She hadn't heard those words in a long time. So why were they back now? Why did they sound so much like.. so feminine like.. like.. mom? She was right, always had been right when she said that Kasumi had been cursed. That's why they kept her at a distance- that's why they locked her up. All of it was because she was the problem, she was the cursed one. She caused Alexandra to die by being around her!

The kid gagged. She hurt again, the physical pain wasn't coming from the overpressure this time, it was coming from deep within. Painfully her heart convulsed with every sob that she tried to hide. Her vision was being hindered by the drops of salty liquid that kept on flowing. With the back of her hand Kasumi rubbed her eyes, taking another jump back hoping to escape this nightmare. However her weak attempt at fleeing was futile when the invisible bomb exploded. Crossing her arms in front of her she quickly summoned the ice – hoping to protect herself like the last time, but the energy wave was quicker. The ice burst, disintegrating while the transparent wall of energy hit Kasumi sending her flying backwards.

More pain, she felt something crack – her arm, the arm she had used to protect her face with, its bones were scattered. She screamed – a short hysterical sound before another wave of pain hit her like a brick wall. An awful realization that screaming hurt too! Every breath that she took caused her heavily bruised ribs to move, sending jolts of agony through her beaten body. She coughed loudly, trying to turn around, but soon realized that the pain in her arm was too much for her to bear. Every breath, every little motion caused her to cringe. She had to encase the arm, had to protect the broken bones, had to try and keep it from hurting so incredibly much- just enough to move, to attack or to flee. To get away. To live.

Ice wrapped itself around her right arm, the strings of silvery blue made room for a layer that cooled the bruising while keeping the bones from shifting. This was a mess, a horrible mess. Kasumi wished that someone was here, Weylin, Tenko, Kiriko, it mattered not- someone to help her not to die. But perhaps she deserved it, like her mother had said- she was born cursed, born a murderer. Maybe now was the time to pay for what she was.

Nononono

this wasn't why she had spent hundreds of hours training.

This wasn't why she had learnt Hebi- wasn't why she had honed her skills with the white haired Quincy. She couldn't disappoint people she hung around, couldn't hurt them by being weak and giving up.

Coughing up some blood the child got up to her knees. More ice replaced parts of Hebi, covering her ribs and the swollen shoulder. Tatters of Hebi maintained – protection from whatever would come. Unless.. could she still? With a growl filled with pain Kasumi turned. One last shot- could she do it? Could she get to this demon? A step forward, she stumbled through the dust. His voice blurred out the pain, anger poured into her veins – run run run, flooowwwww - it went through her skin, evaporating into the sizzling strings of Hebi.

It wasn't like she was confident. Kasumi was scared, and angry beyond reasoning. He, this monster, he was to blame for her pain, for these broken bones, these bruises on her body! He, and only he, was responsible for the bones in that ditch, for the blood of some human that hadn't been able to protect himself. This filthy Arrancar, he thought to have won. She couldn't let him.

Desperation,

there really wasn't anything else except from desperation that turned into anger. She wasn't strong enough, she wasn't the hunter, there was no hunter – he was the predator and she was the prey. Kasumi saw it now, clear like glass. However, it didn't change anything about the fury that boiled over. If this was in vain, then so be it.

Green light burst from beneath her feet as she moved forward, teeth clenched, fists frozen- Hebi drained her beyond her imagination. The pain was everywhere, it was as if she was burning. Kasumi jumped, high, hopefully this last kick would help her, would do something – some damage! Her foot shot out towards what she thought to be his right shoulder, the threads covering it shimmered with power as the silvery reiatsu pumped through the strings.

She fell.

The ground was hard, the pain was a torture, her eyes closed and her foot felt fractured. Was this the end?

|Words: 1058 – GP 21 – Tgp 82|

Upkeep Hebi – 6 stamina = 66

Action 1: Mur

 

Name: Mur

Relevant skill: Mortal power

Release available at: Basic

Stats involved: Power and precision

Flavor:

Manipulating her ice into a wall or a screen, Kasumi uses it to defend herself from harm. Either a reiryoku blast or a sword, the ice protects Kasumi by forming a dense shield between her and the incoming attack. Whenever its shattered the wall still weakens the attack- because some of the force was taken for breaking through the ice.

Effect: Acts as a dedicated blocking technique at +10 Power and Precision Per rank

Special: Alternatively, Kasumi can maintain the barrier by paying the cost at the beginning of each turn. The barrier can be maintained for a number of turns equal to her power skill's rank. Using the special inflicts a two turn cool down that begins when the barrier is broken or can no longer be maintained.

Limitations (If Any): None

Casting Time: Single action

Duration: Instant

Cool Down: None

Cost: 2 Stamina per rank

Rank: Advanced

Stamina: - 8 = 58

Power: 113

Precision: 128

Vs 130/130 Rank Master

- Fatal would reduced by two ranks = Major wound taken

Action 2: Järnben

 

Name:  Järnben

Relevant skill: Hakuda

Release available at: Hakuda Basic

Stats involved: Power and precision

*) A powerful kick that operates at +10 Power and Precision per rank in Hakuda. 

Pumps more energy through Kasumi's tissue, Kasumi her muscles to work harder and her bones and skin to become more resistant. This greatly adds to the power and precision of the kick.

*) 2 stamina per Hakuda rank

Action: Single action

Rank: Master

Stamina: - 10 + 3 = 51

Power: 73 + 60 + 50 = 183

Precision: 88 + 15 + 50 = 153

Stamina: 51 / 118 

             The scene played out in snapshots.
 
            Mighty in her desperation, she rushed him. Frozen tears, battered form, and she still turned whatever doubt might have been there before into power to fuel the strike. That was the instinct that so many forgot to shed, to cast off in their worst moments to become a being greater than they had begun as. She glowed with the fury of her decision and came to take his head, as was the right she had finally earned by showing the Arrancar more than the overconfidence of her previous displays. Spared such bluster he found some delight in sharing his stage with her finally, the pleasure of the change evident in the grin that carved its way into his face. There was importance in that; in everything that had changed in such a short time.
 
            But he would give her nothing.
 
            The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more.
 
            Lashed out as she might have he did not simply gift her the harm she would have done him. Pleased as he might have been with her, Nazomi's body shuddered like ripples on the surface of water before the air very simply swallowed him up. The child finished her arc, fell, meeting the unforgiving ground with a mewl that might have broken his heart if there had been one for it to plead to. Instead the moment passed with a flicker of seconds that were easily forgotten. The fabric of the world shimmered well past her, the way opening seamlessly as Nazomi stepped back onto the decimated soil his power had razed, able to better appreciate it now that the slight fog his fun initially wrought had dissipated.
 
            Ah, but couldn't leave her to think that this story could end any other way now.
 
            Such sweet misery was in her notes. Agony that had been inflicted on her by his hand somehow made it easier to pick through what she was made of. For the little one he would do something special to ease the troubles that she would be subjected to. He would take away her ability to fight. To do that was easy enough, her poor mind wasn't made to defend against what he could do.
 
             All it took was a convincing act, a wave of his hand, and from there he merely had to construct a believable fantasy for the child, one he poured through her senses until it seemed the truth. Through the pain that already decimated her tiny body he built upon with visions of vaporous energy piercing through her wounded arm and foot. A flourish of his finger brought another bolt down through her shoulder, then another, and another, until he was certain there was barely enough in the child to allow her to remain conscious.
 
            "Do you see now, dear child?" A quiet but not unfamiliar feeling was in his voice, one he had deign used in some time. Even spoken softly as they were, the words were unyielding. Even Hunger trembled in the wake of what was rising in his chest; of Need deeper than most stirring from its discontent at the prospect of finally beginning, even if only possibly, to be met.
 
            The ground shook.
 
            Again he turned to her with a slip of will that wiped the ground bare of the refuse, drawing two small smooth posts up from the depths carved just so by his desire alone. A section of highway concrete, flat and smooth, snapped far too cleanly from the rest. It floated, in no great hurry, until it was close enough to settle gently upon the stone foundation that the Merry Madman had made for it. He watched, if only from underneath the brim of his hat as he tended to the table he'd fashioned with a small cloth.
 
            "Have you eaten meat before, child?" Quizzical as it may have sounded, Nazomi showed no overt interest, instead tending to cleaning the table with a hum from time to time. It was enough to watch what her reaction might be if she ever thought to drag herself up from where she had fallen.
 
            "Consider if you would, what someone had to do so you might eat." The cloth settled to the side when he raised the butcher knife that had set idly in his other hand, aching to be used. Fingertips touching the back of the blade made it sing with a growing tension that made the metal glow and grow until it resolved itself into the shape of a cleaver.
 
            A smile made of razor-wire.
 
            "And that's what I'm going to do to you." Blurring through the stone table, Nazomi made his approach finally with a steady gait, flipping his favored tool between his fingertips.
 
            Grin and amusement alike bled out of him.
 
            "Only I'm not nice enough to slit your throat first."
 
=============================================
Word Count: 814
GP Gained: 16
 
Combat Data: 
 

​
Blink
[Single Action, 10 Stamina, 5 Turn Cooldown]
One of the more interesting abilities within Nazomi's purview is the ease with which he can change locations. Sometimes it feels like being light, flitting through the air faster than can be seen. Other times its the world slipping and sliding past him until finally settling on the sole image he chooses to step into. Either way, much like the story creature for which his powers are named after he can appear or disappear in the blink of an eye and reappear elsewhere. But the Cheshire Cat never used its talents to slit someone's throat. Allows Nazomi to Teleport, dodging or moving with automatic success.
Special: If teleporting to an opponent's melee range Nazomi gains a wound increase to any attack immediately following Blink for an additional 6 stamina.

10 Stamina, not using the special. No need.

Action 2:

​
Gaslighting:
[Single Action, 6 Stamina per turn, Two Round Cooldown]
It's easy enough to drive someone mad with the right tools, make them believe something as if it were their own truth. Used the right way to pry memories away or slip in insidious thoughts and what ifs and it is often a matter of time. And when the need calls for it? Convincing a victim's own body that it's being torn apart works equally well; happily using their own perceptive abilities against them to make the wounds even more convincing. Check Mad Insight  vs opponent's Reiatsu Perception Skill. If Equivalent or higher they suffer a wound at base power vs defense, adjusted for release bonuses, each turn. If an action is used each turn after, +5 power may be added to the wound for each rank in RP the opponent has for an increased cost of 1 stamina per rank. These wounds are, however, illusionary. If Mad Insight is broken at any point before the illusion ends the damage is undone. Gaslighting can be maintained for a number of turns equal to Mad Insight's rank. Wound ranks act as normal with the opponent collapsing or dying having endured enough trauma to convince the brain to react accordingly. 

6 Stamina

Master Rank Mad Insight vs Advanced Reiatsu Perception: Advantaged check in my favor. 

80 Power (70 base + 10 Release Bonus) vs 30 Defense. Would hit at Superior.