Pathetic Gambles in Shambles (Open/Las Vegas)

There was a change in the world, so acute that he could barely sense it, but something had arrived.

Alastair’s senses were finely tuned, years on the ground spent fighting hollows and demons alike had done that, though there was something even more alarming about this sensation. It felt so distant, so remote, that it must have come from someone or something of immense power to be picked up across the continent. Hollow in nature too, which was only a further cause for concern, but anything of this magnitude would garner a response.

He was already up and moving before the alarms started blaring. Preparing his gear, or at least as much of it as he had to hand, before racing to the transports. Information pinged to his mobile device at a rapid frequency detailing the estimated point of origin for the release of Reiatsu and the believed source, dockets he would have a little time to trawl through on the journey but that was never enough time to truly process what was being detailed within.

By the time he arrived at the ruins of Las Vegas, a monument to the failure of peaceful Hollow integration with the Living Realm, the pillar of yellow light that was Tier Harribel had already consumed much of the surrounding area. And towards that light flocked Hollows in numbers that he had scarcely seen before, crawling from every shadow that this broken city had once cast and crawling towards the light. Perhaps that was warning enough for most to stay away, for the danger was all too apparent, but Alastair was a moth drawn to a flame. His duty called him onwards, and so he would go.

Boots crunched against the arid ground as Alastair began his approach to the column of light, slowly releasing his own energy to both announce his own presence and ward off any lesser creatures from engaging him unless they felt truly brazen. He was still more like a single spot of Quincy heat against a whole canvas of cold Hollow vastness, though. So he pushed a little more heat into that call, enough to hopefully ping on Tier’s radar before he needed to do something drastic.

“Lady Harribel? What is the meaning of this? You are currently in America, land under the protection of the Vandenreich. Please explain yourself and your actions.”

Alastair called out into the sky, as loud a bellow as he could muster. What else was he to to but that? To reach out and see what would happen. Would the Arrancar attack him first, without warning, or would they be open to discussion? What little recent activities she had conducted on Earth had been mundane, innocent in nature. This did not quite register as the same thing. Maybe it was the vast amount of energy being exerted?

He would continue to walk and repeat himself, at least until it drew a response. Hopefully he was not too slow to draw his weapon if it came to a fight, there would be little room for errors in judgement then.

Solomon was no stranger to combat, having fought his fair share of duels in the past, but the idea of stepping into a city filled to the brim with hollows along with an Arrancar who once held the rank of Espada? Well, for a rookie, that was quite the tall order, given his inexperience. Still, as a voluntary first responder, it was his duty to answer the call and make his way towards the threat.

And of course, when duty called, he would always be there to answer, to aid his companions on the battlefield and offer nothing but his best. From the moment the alarms blared, he set out in immediate preparation, already suited within proper battle gear, his weapon held within a sheath at his waist.

His mobile phone granted him the coordinates and essential information as he hurriedly marched forward towards the transport area. Informed that there was another Vandenreich member - from a division he recently joined no less - who was currently on the scene, Solomon decided that in the scenario that the situation escalate and the threat of battle nears, a battlefield assistant may well come in handy.

Of course, he was effectively a rookie, and considering the energy he felt, he questioned how well he could aid his fellow member but that was merely a tinge of doubt attempting to dissuade him, a doubt cast towards the nether of his mind.

As he arrived on the scene, a grand display of spiritual pressure could be felt in the distance, an ominous pillar of yellow light emanating throughout the wastelands of a once-prominent city. Truly, it was unlike anything he had ever felt before. The sheer potency of spiritual pressure left him breathless, but he remained diligent.

Walking into what may well effectively be the Lion's Den, Solomon stepped forward, a wave of electrified reishi emanating around his entire form, serving as an area of denial towards lesser hollows that might strike at him in turn.

His hand gripped around the sheath of his spirit weapon - Keraunos - in preparation for an attack. No doubt, from the looks of it, Alastair was choosing to adopt a studious approach and gain intel as to why Harribel had decided to make such an entrance.

Solomon remained silent, knowing that there was no reason to interfere just yet, no purpose in distracting someone with far greater experience than his own. He stayed a few paces behind him so that he could act at a moment's notice and aid his fellow Sternritter if this escalated into a battle.

Her presence alone was suffocating enough to almost bring Alastair to choke. The reports had certainly not understated her power. But he could already sense the arrival of reinforcements, just one more Quincy at first, and that was plenty enough to steel his resolve. The flame, though near encased by Tier’s aura, burned on defiantly in spite of her. At least for now, anyway.

“I am not known for my humour. So please, illuminate me to the purpose of your actions. If they do not pose risk to innocent lives then perhaps a compromise can be reached.”

It was difficult enough to speak, but he forced himself to do so. It mattered not who Tier was, only what she wanted to do. If it was dangerous then he would have to stop her, and it certainly did appear dangerous. But his honour demanded that he give her the chance to explain. As far as he could tell, only those few savage hollows that broke formation had been harmed so far. That was something to note, at least.

“Besides, are we not all ‘dying races’? It is just the manner and the urgency that differ between us.”

"I speak of compromise because I do not wish to have to stop you, but if you believe yourself free to operate as you wish in these lands without any oversight or restraint then you are forcing my hand. Think what you will, but the Vandenreich exists to protect those in need from any others that would do them harm."

Was it natural that she would view him as her lesser, a footnote of insignificance against her vast torrent of power? It was true that he was hardly her equal, even Alastair was not naive enough to believe that he could triumph, but that was where his resolve found him again. Alastair was but one part of a greater organisation, one that it seemed Tier Harribel thought very little of, and therein lay his sole advantage. His grip upon the handle of Falke tightened, but he still did not draw the weapon.

"But you speak of these Hollows as your people? If your intent is to claim dominion over them and return to Hueco Mundo then I must ask what comes next?"

The pressure was rising, word by word, but she had not attempted to silence him already and so he would continue to press her until she forced him to stop or he got the information he wanted. The onlookers could no doubt sense this tension, as Alastair's heat began to claw away at her envelopment and push back that sensation of obliteration she wished to instil in him.

He too did not need to draw his blade, but perhaps it was the symbolism of what the gesture meant that led to Alastair producing his spiritual weapon behind him and pulling it over his shoulder. The orange blade hummed quietly with energy, his own power much less restrained than that which Tier responded with and yet still struggling to compare to it.

"You may wonder that elsewhere, Miss Harribel. This disturbance of the peace can go on no longer, disperse your energy and stand down. Whatever you are doing, it is dangerous and you have failed to offer any meaningful explanation."

He had never dropped her gaze from the moment she had first appeared before him, and that did not change as she levelled her sword in his direction. There was certainly doubt in his heart, a little bit of fear too, but the Sternritter knew well his duty. Others would come, and if they did not then he would manage with what resources he had because then they had to be enough.

"My name is Alastair Eisfluch. Now, please return to Hueco Mundo. Your presence in America will no longer be tolerated by the Vandenreich."