Rules of Engagement [closed | PRE-queen extermination]

Aodh had been in command of a patrol this morning, he didn't enjoy destroying Hollow but sometimes there was little choice. Unlike most Quincy the Irishman was fairly aware that those monsters had once been humans and in destroying them he was taking a Hollow out of the cycle. However he was also a member of the living and as such he prised human life and could not, would not, stand aside and allow innocent people to die at the hands of such creatures. He was not an immoral immortal, a Soul Reaper who let humans all over the world die at the hands of the beasts rather than allowing humanity to defend itself. However that was the Gotei summoned up. A Militaristic Dictatorship which set itself above all others and believed it had some sort of divine right to judge others by their standards as they propagated their propaganda about "The Balance" which another Soul Reaper had fully admitted he didn't believe to be real to Aodh.

A beep. Aodh pulled out his phone, an alert from another member of the patrol, one of their brethren was under attack by Shinigami.

The Quincy's expression darkened. He openly pressed for the Quincy to remain as neutral as possible against the overbearing spirits who intruded into the World of the Living. Responding to the Alert he told the other 4 Knights who made up the patrol to stay at range and now interfere unless summoned but to first finish eliminating the Hollow who had been preying on the innocents of the area. Putting the phone away he summoned Reishi to create a flow of spirit particles beneath his feet which propelled him at exceptional speed towards the incident.

He could sense him there, a flare of a stranger's Spiritual Power and the dampening of Fritz's. Fritz was a new member of the Order, this was in fact one of his first missions and Aodh had only spoken to him directly for the first time this morning. The young man had come in private to the Sternritter to admit that he was afraid, afraid to fight, afraid to be forced into killing even something as monstrous and repentantly evil as a Hollow. Aodh had told the boy everything would be well. He'd promised. Aodh had only issued the orders to form this patrol out of sheer necessity. A pack of Hollow had been hunting in the area and by the Order's best estimations over a dozen humans had died at the fangs of the beasts already. Quincy were supposed to be defenders, why else would they had developed these powers so many centuries ago? So they were defending.

'Apparently even self-defence isn't a good enough reason for those Genocidal Swordsmen'. he thought to himself with a mixture of anger and disgust. They came to his world and issued their self-absorbed decrees. He accepted their stupidity on many occasions but not now. Not when another Quincy's life was at stake.

A trickle of sweat dripped down the man's back. The Sanrei Glove made all Reishi Manipulation many times more difficult even for a master such as Aodh. In fact he was fairly certain he would be getting a lecture from Calendrea for going on this mission at all, everyone seemed to think that he was defenceless while wearing the Archery Glove but even weakened as he was Aodh was still many times stronger than the average Quincy. Besides he was a Sternritter, it was his duty.

He came to a stop quite suddenly. In front of him was a Soul Reaper dressed in their black archaic clothes. Aodh meanwhile was dressed in the modern blue uniform with white trim of the Quincy. The mortal's gaze shifted from Spirit to the terrified looking boy being held by the Shinigami's Sorcery.

"Please release him immediately." he demanded "You have no jurisdiction here. Return to your own world."

The silver cross hanging from Aodh's glove began to glow and a bow made of blue Reishi formed in his hand. This was not a request.

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WC: 673
Total WC: 673

“On who’s Jurisdiction,” Moriya response was dry, neutral. As the new comer, a fellow Quincy swooping down to save his fellow comrade, Moriya remained steadfast. Does he even know what he had done? Such grave and intentional action should be met with grave degree of punishment. He would’ve gone far to execute him on the spot, but not Moriya. Deep down, Moriya was kind. He understood the value of a life and the need of protecting them.


However… what if?


What if his prisoner was trying to defend himself? Theories and actions flooded into his mind, luring him into a conclusion, but not one solution that would satisfy him. He heaved, groaning that he was caught in a compromising position, one that could worsen the Shinigami’s relationship with the Quincy, then again… what relationship?

“There are no jurisdictions. Your comrade…” He paused, a moment of hesitation. He wished he hasn’t used the word that reminds his own. Regardless, he tarried on. “I have witnessed his action and his actions were clearly deliberate.
I am awaiting further response for what punishment would be suited for him.”


He knew that this was wrong. He was convinced that he was trying to defend himself, but… He cannot turn a blind eye from this. He had pledged his loyalty to Soul Society, and openly criticized the incompetent. He may be many things, but a hypocrite is not one.


This is the route that he must take, even if the road is laden with land mine.


The airs around the new arrival betray his appearance. Even with all of his gaudy white and blue uniform, the facial expression and the pores of his skin was expiring. The Grey haired Shinigami tried to gauge his strength, but there were energy left.


“Let’s not fight this. You are in no position to fight. Turn around and leave us to our jobs.” Just saying these words was adding fuel to the fire. His movement was restrained, but even so, he always had his hand on the hilt of the blade, even if it sheathed.


The air felt charged with the two squaring off, but he tried to mellow it down with little avail. With just a glimpse of the reinforcement’s facial expression, his eyes lead believe that he was not going anywhere without his comrade.

He know that. He turned, trying to convey his message to his comrade through the radio. He wanted to get out of here, but refused to intensify the scenario by requesting reinforcements. Instead, he fiddled with the knobs of the bulky radio held by the single trap slung over his right shoulder like a messenger bag. Now they can hear the dialogue between the two. Just in case…


“Anji, are you there? What’s the update on the permission? You’re not slacking off by reading that magazine?” He added emphasis on that. He wanted to cool the air, trying to ease the hostilities between them, but he knows…

He knows that it was futile.


[500 | 1108 ]

Aodh sighed sadly, it seemed the interloper did not plan to back down or release the poor boy. Aodh however would not, could not, throw the first blow although he knew the moment might come when he had to defend himself. It had happened before with Quincy and Shinigami and he feared that this particular interaction was heading that way too. As a Sternritter, as well as a voice of peace within the Order, Aodh had to try and avoid such conflict but as a military commander he could not abandon one of his men nor could he let the Genocidal Soul Reapers get their hands on one of his race.

"You are wrong Shinigami." he said "This place is under our protection. Humanity is under our protection. We will not allow humans to perish because of your unwillingness to protect us and I will not let them die because of your inflexible following of archaic dogma."

Aodh's icy gaze shifted to Fritz still trapped by the Shinigami's Sorcery. "Nor shall I allow you to hold this boy." he stated.

While the grey haired swordsman spoke into his bulky radio the Quincy utilised his race's variant of Hoho to dart towards the unjustly held prisoner. Aodh reached into his breast pocket and tore free a small silver tube, throwing the Gintō tube at the younger Quincy he whisper an incantation under his breath as his hand flicked through the air, trailing blue Reishi behind it. Blue liquid Reishi swirled around the binding causing the yellow triangles pinning the boy to shimmer, crack and finally fail completely as the Quincy spell burned away the imprisoning Bakudo.

Aodh turned slowly to face the Shinigami once more, being careful to keep himself between the possible enemy and Fritz as the Shinigami's imprisoning magic continued to burn away.

"Go once the spell is broken." he commanded over his shoulder. The terrified boy nodded wordlessly getting ready to flee at the words of his Sternritter. Aodh just hoped the Shinigami didn't try to push his capture of the boy.

"Now leave this world and return to your own Soul Reaper." he repeated calmly. The bow still glowing in his left hand. The Quincy didn't wish to use it but he knew that wishes did not always align with reality. Peace was often futile no matter how much Aodh wanted it to be other.

"You can not have the boy and you will not be enacting your overbearing laws on my people. Earth is for the living not Spirits." he continued. "Your propaganda will not be used here to justify your actions here. My people have suffered enough at the blades of your heartless dictatorship. Leave."

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WC: 448
Total WC: 1121



Actions:

Offensive

- Aodh casts a dispelling spell using Gintō - Kirchengebet: Journeyman and Spirit: 45 vs Bakudo: Journeyman and Spirit: 25. Counts as Advantaged Attacker and the Bakudo will be fully disintegrated on the next turn.

Oh, is that so? He knew that there’s a huge landmine on who does what on earth, but his and the Shinigami duty was clear: Protect all spirits and preserve the balance. He was an eyewitness to an action so grave that his Captain Commander demanded to subdue any Quincy for punishment. Slaying them was another option, but an action so messy and time consuming and he didn’t want to be caught in an act by other Quincy.

“I understand and your protection towards Humanity is warranted,” there’s a but, a big one. The hero Quincy protection was a mere drop - a dingy as better described - in the turbulent ocean compared to Shinigami. They protect humanity, a mere seven billion souls encased in fragile shell, but that’s nothing compared to un-fathomable amounts of souls that these death reapers guide. Competence or no, it is a task that not even his ill equipped group can dare partake. “Our responsibility is to protect souls, even souls trapped in hollows. You and your group lack the capability and the number to guide the dead.”

His voice was stern, calm even. He had so much practice in keeping a poker face, but deep down, he wonder. What if Shinigami should extend their wings to protect the humans as well? His hesitation missed his opportunity to respond against the hostile Quincy by breaking his bind of his captive.

“You should never have this power. Your existence is abnormal and dangerous, no propaganda, only an accursed end, a truth even.”

So he decided to not step down. He let out a heavy sigh. He can feel the air of hostility reached to his skin. No point trying to reason to him he thought once again. His forward foot was heavy; pushing down; ready to make his strike, but hesitation kept him rooted.

“Fine. I am tired of ignorance.” He bluntly replied, he can hear a distant paced smack of footsteps. A flash of surging blue lightning drowned the escape as Moriya delivers his response to all of the Quincy’s ignorance. He said ‘your Propaganda?’ Only propaganda there is the one that spouted the word. He felt like something was clutching onto piece of him as the tip of his two fingers spark and clash, threatening to rip it apart.

His expression was cold when he uttered the warring words.

“Hadou #4 Byakurai,” the coursing flash blinds the scene and the blue lightning streak across the street with all intention to shatter the honourable pleasantries of the duel. The balance tipped heavily towards the end.

[430 | 1534 ]

“I would say the same to you Soul Reaper. It is your lack of numbers and dedication to your duty that has allowed Hollow numbers to grow so vast. If your kind was fully capable of their own duty then we wouldn’t have to contest with such threats.” Aodh responded coldly. He was sick of the self-righteous Soul Reapers harping on about their self-imposed duty and authority. “You cannot just ask us to stand aside and let people die for some unsubstantiated belief of your people. Especially when we have had Soul Reapers themselves tell some of us that they themselves don’t believe in it or that there’s no proof that what you call the Balance is something that needs protected.”

Aodh began to turn away from the Reaper but when his voice became stern, when he admitted to being tired of ignorance it caused the Quincy to be filled with an uneasy feeling. Turning to look at the Spirit he saw the cold look in the spirit’s eyes as he pointed his fingers at him. Sparks danced along those two digits.

Fear and panic seized Aodh’s heart, he could predict what was coming for he had seen Shinigami Sorcery before. Grabbing a Ginto tube from his pocket he uncapped the contained and threw it into the air before him. Blue liquid spilled across the empty space between the two men.

“Show to man his violations, and reject the damned one!” Aodh yelled “ Spiegal-Spierre!”

Lightning tore it’s way towards Aodh but his own Quincy Magic had done it’s job. Where the liquid Reiryoku had spilled through the air it was now forming a mist in front of the Quincy before forming into what appeared to be a mirror. The Kirchengebet ward reflecting the lighting off into the air before the mirror shattered and the pieces drifted away, evaporating back into Reishi.

“And so you return to the typical path of your kind…” he stated coldly, calmly. There was no hate in Aodh but he was filled with disgust at the typical behaviour of these agents of Genocide. More than that however he was filled with disappointment. The peace was again in danger. The peace he fought so hard to maintain despite the Gotei’s apparently need to spark war.

For this encounter however the die had been cast and he had to do his best to simply survive.

Raising his still summon bow, a glowing blue construct of Reishi, was still I his left hand. He drew back the string causing a pale blue arrow of energy to blink into existence upon it. Drawing back the string he sighted the Shinigami down the shaft of the project, he drew upon Caidil Teagmháil to calm his racing heart. He had to put emotion aside for the moment. He had to act.

Releasing the string he let the arrow race from his bow and dart through the air aimed towards the Soul Reaper’s right shoulder.

“…committing murder.” he finished icily.

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WC: 497
Total WC: 1618

Words traded one another like turbulence, the environment was so hostile that if a plane slipped in between the two worlds, it would surely rock and dip into harm’s way. Lack of numbers, dedication? Moriya felt the Quincy’s words lash into his mind. Though it was true that there are questionable members among Gotei’s finest but he was sure that those miscreants are in the minority. He had to swallow a bitter pill that his Captain had given and continued to server the fourth as a lowly unseated rather than a seated member. He really wants to change things – flaws within the system so it could flow efficiently. A dry cog in the oil will surely break in time and a break within the military is a divide waiting to happen.

His noise itch as the surging stream of lightning clashed against the Quincy’s sudden field of mirror dissipating upon impact like water hitting the ground. He spied upon the mirror and a small glimpse of revelation beamed back at him.

“I look old and tired…”

The glimpse of telling grey hair confirms that it was him reflected to Moriya, but there was something off about the reflection, the look of time had ravened him, the weary fatigue under his eyes He began to wonder if he had applied enough make up. A shook of his head and a reaffirmation, he had concluded that the mirror is just as warped as the Quincy’s ill judgement.

“you speak as if you know a thing or two about committing murder,” Pot calling kettle black. He was aware of Quincy - as a whole, not just one – actions, but does he really aware of the gravity of the situation that are Hollows? Or maybe he doesn’t know about committing murder, if that the case, then…

“With your brethren, what will you do to the Hollows? Gather your men and women together to fight the evil that lurks in the desolate world?” He saw the warring Quincy notching up his energy arrow in retaliation. The Grey-haired Fox is glad that the street is empty, not even a whiff of toxic odour from transports. “go into their world and kill them all? Is that it?” his voice trails, his body lowered, priming the muscles in his legs, coiling and preparing for the launch towards danger with accurate evasion. He felt the charged heat from the light projectile searing across his flank. It was his first time that he came up close to a Quincy arrow. It was painful, his face scrunches as the searing heat bathed his skin.

How terrifying, were his thoughts. Who could imagine the intensity can be produced from flesh and blood, but his thought ends there, just thinking too much of it would only remind him of the searing laceration and burns from his right side of his upper torso and arm. The thought of pain briefly vanished from his mind as he wanted to say those following words:

“Let me know how your group do,” of course; He already knew how it going to be, and he just as easily say ‘that a bad idea and here’s why.’ But it’s better for the Quincy to fall than to stop them. Hollows are unfathomable creatures, they are endless and if both humanity and spirituals remains to exist, they too, will remain lurking in shadows like a dodgy attempt of a Steven King’s stylised novel.

However, he had noticed something was off…his voice seems so tired. The springy youthful energy was slowly corrupted with an air of tiredness but that swiftly sink back to his mind to the matters in tow. This Quincy helped his fellow comrade, who used their power to kill hollow. Just imagine how many souls were snuffed out was enough for him to get his blood boil.

A flurry of well executed slash with his sword leaves very little room for error. But the real question is this: What is this Quincy will do next?

[667 | 2201]

“All Quincy learnt what murder means many centuries ago. You where our teachers so in a way… thank you for the senseless slaughter we suffered from you Soul Society Thugs.” he replied chillingly “You helped wake us up to the real dangers in the world. Not just from the Hollow but from your murderous kind too.”

The Quincy felt a hate washing over him, stronger than nearly anything he’d ever felt. The calm and collected Quincy couldn’t help a sneer come to his lips at the fool’s words. He was born from the same stuff, the same world, the same ideals of all his murderous kind. Brainwashed by the military dictatorships which commands their blades to slaughter again and again in the name of their God Damned Balance. To slaughter for an unprovable ideal was disgusting. The things that mattered to Aodh where much more real. To protect not only his people but all mortals from the senseless slaughter at the hands of Spiritual Beings, to try and stop the endless deaths of mother and fathers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters. The Soul Reapers didn’t care, they had never cared, the lives of individuals didn’t matter to them. Hadn’t ever mattered in the slightest. They thought themselves so above it. They believe because of reincarnation that lives didn’t matter? They failed to recognise how much more important life could be to a mortal than the idea of their soul being reborn.

‘I would rather fight for my life, fight to survive and exist than me with a guaranteed end than die willingly with a promise of another life as someone else. Because that next person is not me but just the recycled output of my soul being reshaped.’ he thought to himself ‘That’s what’s wrong with Soul Reapers. Those of them who might have once been human themselves died and became something else. So detached from the beings they once where.’

Aodh’s eyes narrowed with a cold fury at the Shinigami’s words.

“Do with Hollow? Nothing.” Aodh sneered unable to hide his utter disgust for the other being “We chase off Hollow who attack humans, we hunt and kill those who continue to prey on innocents both Quincy and the powerless. We protect.” he shook his head “Invade other worlds? That is not something we Quincy do. No we leave that to the Hollow and you Soul Reapers. You are the ones who fail to remain where you belong. Constantly chasing one another into both your own realms while letting my world, the world of the living, get caught in the crossfire.”

Aodh shook his head “We do not want your interference. We do not need it. Begone.”

The man came in and Aodh frowned he leapt back, a burst of speed as he rode a wave of Reishi to try and escape the Shinigami’s attack. Much like the Soul Reapers and their Shunpo the Quincy had their Hirenkyaku. He tried to move back to avoid the slashing blade of his enemy completely but failed as the blade’s tip ripped through his chest. He opened his mouth in a silent scream as blood splattered from his wound causing the man to stumble back.

The injured Quincy used Hirenkyaku once again to put some distance between himself and the Soul Reaper however this time the technique came much more easily to him. In fact he was even able to use an imperfect Nachbild so a very temporary afterimage appeared before his foe.

The true location of the Quincy was several feet to the back and right of the swordsman. Drawing his bow he gritted his teeth. His first attack hadn’t been strong enough…. hadn’t been powerful enough. Damn this glove and the weakness it caused. If he was stronger, if he able to use his full strength then this fighter would be less of a problem. Less danger. He needed more power… more strength.

If he could suddenly move faster, utilise Hirenkyaku in a way more like before he put on the glove then why couldn’t he also use his bow like before? Sweat dripped down his forehead as he focused on pulling Reishi from the air as swiftly as possible he willed power into his bow and drawing it the man loosed a small volley of arrows at the Shinigami’s back. Pain ripped through his chest, the blood still running down the front of his ruined uniform which he tried to ignore as he attacked.

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WC: 746
Total WC: 2364