Back to the Fold [Shadow Fall Mission][FINISHED]

Styn gave a slight start as a large section of the weakened column collapsed behind him. Whatever game Uliquorra had been playing, it seemed that their venue must change, as remaining where they were was no longer an option. Wile the sense of impending death had faded somewhat, given the lack of spiritual pressure, the encounter itself was still extremely intense. The arrancar had a gaze that could pierce one through, an ancient sense of self that was utterly unlike anything the demon had ever encountered before.

Somehow Styn suddenly got the feeling that he had barely scratched the surface of the creature known as Uliquorra Cifer. How much of what he had said to the arrancar was his own will, and how much was the result of being played by a master manipulator? He had delivered the proposal, at this point his overall mission was complete. Styn felt like he had learned at least a few things of note, educated guesses really. And yet there was still the feeling of events out of his control.

He had been fishing there at the end, hoping the mention of possible resurrection would get some sort of reaction. Sadly the demon was not able to verify whether Uliquorra cared one way or another about some of the more lofty demon goals. He couldn't tell if the arrancar would welcome war with humanity or not. So little was known about the motivating factors of Aisen's entrance into Huecho Mundo all those years ago. Why had the hollows united under his banner? Perhaps only historic figures like the creature before him would be able to answer that question. Ultimately a problem for another day.

At Uliquorra's spoken response, Styn's heart rate accelerated. What was lacking in face and form was hinted at in the arrancar's words. Had he been dead then? What sort of powerful force could bring someone back from nonexistence after so many years had passed? Further thought was chased from the demon's mind by Uliquorra's sudden and immediate proximity. Breath caught on the inhale and held. He still wasn't used to how fast the creature could move. It wasn't even worth imagining how many different ways the arrancar could kill him.

Looking into Styn's eyes would reveal many things that Uliquorra might wish to know about the demon. While not fanatic, his belief and devotion to Shadow Fall were legitimate and heart felt. There was a recklessness that liked to laugh at danger, but Styn was no sociopath. He felt a great plethora of emotions, predominately fear and nervousness at the moment. Pride didn't seam very strong, and yet he was a creature that knew his own worth. Humility was for people who had nothing to be proud of, and if the sum of his deeds ended today, then Styn still would have accomplished a great mission. It was no mean feat to foster a meeting between Uliquorra and the leaders of Shadow Fall.

Fortunately, it was not assumed by all that his mission would end in failure or death, although that too would have told the organization something valuable. "Of course your grace," Styn said reaching into his pocket and depressing a button. Normally the call for a Kage Chokyo-shi was sent through a queue, but just this once Styn was given a much higher priority. Almost as soon as the connection was established a portal sprung into being. The twisted dark red depths of the gateway was but a hint to the source of demonic power.

The demon would have no further questions, feeling that he was already skating the edges of proper decorum. The arrancar's words sent another chill through him, but his nerves were so far out of whack it hardly registered. The threat was not to be taken lightly and the demon hoped that everything was in place as it was supposed to be. Now was not the time for unexpected occurrences. Styn would wait for Uliquorra to proceed him and then enter into the rift between worlds. Shadow Fall village lay on the other side, and if he hadn't managed to botch up the setup too badly, the beginnings a new, and profitable alliance.