An Island of Bulls and China shops [CalaXKegare]

Of all the places in the Living Realm Cala had visited so far the Island of Crete was by far one of the most....historic. Even in their Sealed Form, masquerading as a Shingami, Cala could almost feel the sheer weight of the spiritual and historic energy of the place. A sort of mysticism that lay over the older parts of the island where ancient sagas, some of the oldest of mankind, had been told, forged and fabricated about.

That sense of ancient, almost primal history was very captivating for Cala, who actually found themselves on a guided tour of the ruins of Knossos. A place that, according to myth, was founded by Daedulus himself and was one of, if not THE oldest city in all of Europe. Something about learning history was almost addicting to Cala, as if they were scratching a mental itch that was otherwise almost impossible to reach.

Of course one could hardly talk about Crete without mention of the legend of the minotaur and it was with an inquisitive hum that Cala studied the ancient, preserved bronze bust of a bull-headed man. Wondering if, perhaps, the ancient creature of myth and legend was a primordial interpretation of a Hollow by people who didnt know what they were. It made sense to Cala, at least, as an Arrancar. Though the idea of being viewed as a monster OR a demigod were highly unsettling to them in either case.

What a damn relief.

There was something ...freeing about Kegare's new outlook. No damn company to look after, that shit would be finalized soon enough. She was almost FREE. For the first time in what felt like ....forever. She smirked to herself and let out a soft sigh, shaking her head and staring out across the little island she'd found herself on. A soft little sigh escaped her as she walked down the street. IT was relaxing to say the least, to FEEL that it was almost over. and of course... whew..... what was THAT?~

IN any other individual, the dull trickle of hollow energy might have been a concern. But she felt it....off in the distance, and could FEEL the shift in demeanor of those in the city. Cautiousness. A pure hollow, weak? Or something like that. One could never tell with Hollows. But that was fine by her~

She hummed quite happy to herself before vanishing in a blur of motion, promptly speeding her way toward where she felt it, and peering for a moment as she surveyed the landscape. It was on the south end of the city itself, but she couldn't quite see it yet. That didn't matter. She held her hand out, and her Atma Vatou crackled into being. A ripple of spiritual energy forming into her Spear. "Aright little guy, come on out." She cooed out softly, frankly not expecting them to hear her or anything. If nothing else, it was an expression of excitement in the woman. Eyes darting around as she noticed a sleek frame slipping between the alleyways. It wasn't just rampaging, it was one of those sneaky types...That was fine by her. Meant less damage to the area itself. She started to stalk her way through the streets with a smile on her face, humming as she looked for the damn thing. Keeping her wits about her. And for good reason.

The air around the sky started to distort ever so slightly. Several more hollows peeking in on the situation from the safety of the garganta realm.

Cala continued studying the bust for a moment or two more before they continued to walk along with their tour group, actually having an odd bit of fun seeing the lost and forgotten past of human history like this. Peering back in time by proxy was quite.... stimulating, at least mentally, and Cala was tempted to use what little funds they had left to purchase a disposable camera to take pictures. Hmmm. Maybe Igen or Ariadna would like to see them? Cala frowned a soft motion as they remembered that they and Igen had not ended up getting one of those... cells that let you keep in contact after all and sorely wished they could contact their friend to ask him.

Being almost forcibly pulled from their sadness by a crackling of spiritual energy very nearby Cala's head perked up and their teeth grit in instinctual defensiveness. The soft, almost cooing voice of a woman nearby made Cala almost want to hide, especially considering how that voice seemed to be the source of that crackling of spiritual energy. However, Cala took one step before stopping, now that Cala was aware the briefest glimmer of another Hollow's energy perked Cala's senses and they gasped quietly. Biting their lip and looking around intently for a moment, before feeling their true self beginning to break to the surface.

Cala clasped a hand over their mouth and, backing away into a more secluded spot, once within the shadows of a nearby ruin Cala would kneel and draw in a shaky breathe. Their hands clutching at their raven hair as that obsidian ash began to spill from their eyes and mouth, flooding out in a deluge as they coughed and whimpered in pain. Their mask painfully spreading down over their eyes as the sockets flooded with ash and choked the light from their vision. Their hair grew wild and lengthened, their nails lengthened to claws, and their spiritual energy rippled more powerfully. The guise of Shinigami being discarded as Cala assumed their Base Form.

Once transformed Cala stood, unsteadily at first, before sighing a low, heavy breathe dragging their now-clawed hands down their mask. A low, contemplative hum leaving them as their Pesquisa now more easily honed in on the other Hollow, Cala's head jerking to the side in it's direction as they drew Ceniza and used Sonido to elevate themselves onto a nearby rooftop. Crouching there atop the building Cala tilted their head and simply.... perceived, their arm twitching, snapping out quickly, before a Bala formed at the tip of each of their fingers, before they threw the small spheres of spiritual energy toward where they sensed the Hollow once the other Hollow was in an isolated position. A low, almost eager murmur being breathed past Cala's lips.

"Time to hunt....."

The sudden crackle of another spiritual pressure PROMPTLY caught her attention. and as Kegare spun around, she almost got ready to throw her spear .That is,.....until she saw where those blasts of energy went?!

The crackle of Bala peppering the city where that hollow was. Wait, the arrancar was fighting the thing? And also wrecking the city, SHIT.

IN that very moment, suddenly realizing it was being targeted, that slinking thing suddenly LEAPT from the ground! The sides of the alley crumbling as it tore its way up , leaping back and forth between both buildings before finally it BURST from between them! Brick and mortal flying up with it as it twisted in the air, it's tail swiveling to point in Cala's direction, a thin bead shining before a cero BLARED out in response! It wasn't all that powerful, if nothing it would scuff the arrancar more than anything as the Jaguar HOWLED out!

"You attack your brrrretheren?!" It snarled out! Clearly indignant!

And all at once, the skies warped and crackled. No less than six more of the prowling felines leapt from the air and crashed into the rooftops all around. A sudden hail of Ceros firing from them as they all aimed to pop Cala and send him crashing into the city below!

Shit. the sudden sensation of more hollows hit KEgare all at once. Shitshitshitshit! She didn't have time to do much else. Aiming straight up into the air, she LAUNCHED her spear! That thing promptly popping apart into four segments which then arced...slowly spreading apart, before plowing into four corners around the city. IT wouldn't likely be noticed by the hollows or the arrancar, but she was setting up her Pillar of Cruel Hubris. And at the very same time, a sword crackled into her hand. Not quite an atma Vatou. Not a PROPER one at least. Just a blade made for fighting. Her powers wouldn't do much against Hollows. They were creatures free of anything like regret.

But for now? She just had to stay her ass down between the buildings as she raced toward the nearest hollow landing. She'd have to trust in that Arrancar to draw all the aggro. Her eyes darted up to the nearest one, it was snarling and sliding down the side of the building to get down to the street below.

Kegare let out a hiss, sucking her teeth in irritation before she promptly whistled out, attempting to draw it's attention before she picked up a brick that had been jarred free, opne of those bala having landed nearby. And promptly CHUCKED IT with her full strength.

The hollow turned just in time for the brick to THWACK into it's side, causing it to HISS out and stumble on it's descent! Losing it's footing on the side of the building and THWAP it went against the sidewalk before it dragged itself up onto its feet and SNARLED at her, It seemed on the sturdy side, she'd have to work quick. If all went well, the arrancar would get all the attention, enough for her to sneak around and take out at least a few of them before they did too much damage. That was the plan at least!

In this form Cala was much, much less excitable than they were around their friends. Combat did not scare them and as the Hollow leapt into the air Cala could sense it's Cero building up. Raising a hand Cala formed an oval of Fade on their palm roughly the size of a shield and as the Hollow's Cero struck the obsidian mass of Fade the spiritual energy was drank in greedily. Funneling back enough energy to recharge what Cala expended on the cluster of Bala they had used.

As the other Hollows emerged Cala tilted their head curiously at the first Hollow referring to them as brethren. How oddly....full of comraderie. If Cala would have had the time they would have questioned the other Hollow but as the others charged their Cero Cala withdrew their Fade and activated their Sonido. Beginning to move off the building when the first Cero struck and as they came to rest on the building the first Hollow had landed on Cala idly noted the light scratching and burning to their greyed flesh. The first Cero had caught them before they could move, and the wounds were in the process of healing slowly, and Cala moved forward briskly toward the first offending Hollow, brandishing Ceniza with silent, deadly intent. The one advantage about losing their sight to enhance their Pesquisa is that now that they were aware of the other Hollows and what their energy felt like they would be able to keep adept track of all of them so long as they stayed within a reasonable distance.

The first strike Cala sent against the first of the engaged Hollows was a burst of Bala from their free hand, more to force a reaction from it that anything else, only to follow up with a vertical slash from their blade when the Bala were reacted to. Though Cala was far from strong they aimed the strike so as to slash into the beings neck at a downward angle, to hopefully bite into the throat and chest if they were successful.

Kegare wasted no time in charging toward the hollow that was on the street. Her blade gleaming in the sunlight as that sensation coursed through the entire section of the city. It wasn't a HUGe area, but hopefully it would be enough to enclose most of the fight.

The hollow bared it's teeth her way and promptly YOWLED loudly. She hald expected a cero to blare in her direction, but instead she simply closed in. No energy? What was it doing? She streaked in and SLASHED! It's head reared back, avoiding the blow across it's mask as her balde swept across it's chest instead, splashing the streets with blood as the creature STAGGERED back!

IT was then that she FELT that sudden spike in energy, her eyes widening and she turned just in time to see a cero roar in from the side! "SHIT!" She hissed, raising that blade in an attempt to block before the wave of energy simply blasted the area, sending her into a wall with a THUMP, gritting her teeth as she felt the hot BURN of heat along her back. She'd avoided a direct hit, but the explosion had still seared her! Not to mention being thrown into the wall! She could already hear that damn hollow scampering off. Picking her blade back up off the ground, she doggedly rushed down the alleyway after it, bleeding just a little as she did.


- - - -


The sudden assault by Cala caught the hollow's attention for sure! Not only that strange......stuff he was using to absorb the blast, but also those erratic movements! The sudden barrage of balla peppering the hollow he was closing in, on causing it to stagger back! Hot little bloody welts forming along it's body! Those eyes gleamed behind it's mask, and just as he was about to execute that slash, a loud YOWL would rign out from the distance. And in an instant, that hollow suddenly opened it's mouth! A cero BLARING to life in it's maw before...it turned! Snapping it's head to the side, aiming elsewhere as it FIRED!

As a result of that sudden movement, rather than it's throat and chest, Cala's blade sliced down the beast's shoulder, causing a hot spray of blood. But the creature didn't even yowl out! And of course, Cala would potentially be blindsided by the Cero which roared in from his left! Even through the dust, that yowl had been enough for the hollows to pin their targets! First a Cero, and then two more plowed in, aiming to slam into Cala from other angles as the Hollows began moving! The pack splitting into two groups!

One of them split off and seemed to head in the direction that the first had fired a cero into. The other two promptly were prowling toward Cala from behind. Forcing him to choose between doubling down and trying to deal more damage to the hollow infront of him or bouncing before he was suddenly sandwiched between three hollows!

In this form Cala felt a visceral approval, a primal applause, from their success in battle. Not enough to call happiness or joy, but a cold, pragmatic satisfaction at successfully defending themselves they could not put into words. Though the slash to the creature's shoulder was not what they intended, Cala quickly followed through with the attack and, sensing the Cero coming in from their left, circled around the Hollow they had slashed to their right while in the same motion, calling forth more Fade in a grasping coil around the slashed Hollow's throat and tail, attempting to bodily pull them into the path of the other Cero. This would cause the slashed Hollow to act as an impromptu obstacle to the Cero if the Hollow firing it adjusted to hit Cala, as well as simply moving Cala out of the way if they didn't.

As this happened, the movement and the grab, Cala also charged their own Cero and targeted one of the two Hollows that had circled around them. Now on the opposite side of where they had been when slashing the Hollow, and facing those two while draining the injured Hollow, they were able to directly convert the Hollow's energy into their own and fire off a Cero more powerful than the norm, tearing the rock of the street beneath it asunder as it flew. That void of a core surrounded by swirling light as it launched out at one of the flanking Hollow.

Cala, of course, would keep the Fade twisting and manipulating the first Hollow's body to make aiming a Cero at them incredibly difficult even aside from the leeching of it's energy, and to make sure it would not continue to be a problem they would deliver a swift, precise stab at the creature's throat. Aiming to put it down even if it was already fading away and burying it's body in Fade to fully absorb it's power as they did so, collapsing onto it from both ends and staring down the two Hollows that had once been flanking them, the tingle of energy still upon Cala's lips as small tendrils of Fade crept up their legs to feed them the stolen energy more quickly. Cala's voice was low, devoid of anger, but just a bit breathy with exertion.

"Come, show us what passes for fury amongst you. We will be sure to smother it from existence."

Cala would lick their fangs, their primality increasing as the hand not wielding Ceniza flexed it's claws. Cala had been surprised before but now, now they were more than prepared and their wounds had healed completely from the initial surprise attack. Assuming the Hollows didn't have any more of their number, or any other tricks, as things were Cala felt a pragmatic confidence that their Sealed Form would find nigh on impossible against enemies such as these.

Kegare RACED after the Hollow, her eyes darting around for a moment before she caught sight of it, her reikaku promptly zeroing in on that spiritual pressure as she turned, bolting down a different alley way to cut them off. Her own speed, normally enough to overtake most things, actually seemed to struggle! She hissed, and then promptly vanished, a burst of speed to flick forward, appearing in the hollow's path, about to strike, when she suddenly sensed something behind her.

She JERKED! Moving to the side and grunting as a second Jaguar Hollow crashed down from the roof and CRATERED the ground below, crunching up the stone beneath as the second hollow promptly moved in, quick to move in behind it's ally as it promptly began charging a Cero. before turning around and sweeping it's aim! Rather than firing at Kegare, the hollow fired through the building behind them! Blowing clean through the supports and causing the building to start falling towards them! The entire six story building promptly leaning over before starting to fall toward KEgare! Both hollows promptly bolted to either side. Each of them charging another cero! Clearly they expeced her to try and dodge out of the building, but they were by the water! The only way to go would be out into the open air behind her, an easy target to fire at.

Well, there was another option.

Gripping her blade, she tisked, and then BOLTED toward the collapsing building and LAUNCHED herself up! Slashing through a window as the hollows fired after her! Burning lines through the building after her!


- - -


The sudden spin and slash with that weapon towards the hollow from Cala was a deadly one! The Hollow this time wasn't focusing on elsewhere. And now with it's attention on Cala, it promptly wrenched itself to the side! Avoiding that grapple from the fade and leaping to the side! That Cero would then slam into the Fade itself, no doubt feeding him energy, but not probably blocking as much as he would have liked! The blast possibly seeping through to scorch the Arrancar's body. All whilst a long, sharp tail from the fleeing hollow WHIPPED out! Aiming to slash at Cala's side with a surprisingly sharp tip, hoping to cut into the arrancar's side as it backed off. Though not unscathed, those slashes would still rake it's body and it would clearly be having trouble moving as it scampered away.

The other two hollows raced in to support their ally, which was bleeding quite profusely! It seemed that these hollows didn't have any regeneration at least. All the same, as they noticed that oncomming Cero, the two promptly attempted to jump to either side! One of them being scorched by that powerful blast as it BLARED out! Shredding one of it's hind quarters and causing it to SCREECH out!

And then Cala would suddenly feel his footing starting to shift! A loud Cero from down below bellowed out, as a Cero from one of the hollows fighting down below shredded the bottom of the building, which was now starting to fall over! But the Hollows weren't going to let Cala just jump off! The injured one started charging another cero, this time, the energy glowing a deep DARK color in it's mouth as the other two closed in. Those sharp tails flailing around, whipping through the air in sharp slashes! Rather than lunging, they were giving quick, darting little strikes from range with their tails, clearly not wanting to get caught up in that Fade stuff! Clearly they had deemed him a very big threat, enough to be very careful, especially with Cala having carved up one of them fairly well, having barely avoided a finishing blow.

So focused were they, that they didn't sense something coming up through the building. But Cala would. he would get PLENTY of time to sense KEgare slashing her way up through the building. A Sudden gelaming FLASH from the floor as a blade swept up and cleaved into one of the hollows from below! Cutting into it's legs and stomach in a flash before Kegare burst up from beneath it, ramming her shoulder into it and aiming to launch it off of the falling rooftop! Cala would see the other hollow briefly drop it's guard, suddenly turning it's attention to the new arrival, and opening itself up to him.

But he would only get just a moment to capitalize on it! The very building they stood on would CRASH into the ground on the lower levels, as the upper levels would promptly break off and tumble off the cliffside on the edge of the city! Suddenly the Ocean would be up above them, all remaining combatants now upside down on a falling rooftop plummeting toward the water. A few moments to fight before they would all be plunged into the water. Who knew how well these hollows could fight in the water!

Cala, now lightly singed from the partially blocked Cero, bared their small fangs at the Hollow in question. Their attention narrow to the two more aggressive Hollows covering for their partner and Cala could, on some small level, appreciate the tactics being displayed by the other Hollows. It was a manner of combat not entirely unlike what they usually partook in, though Cala had always lacked partners to perform it with, they were nonetheless capable of fighting multiple enemies, or handling rapid attacks, with a fair amount of ease. While lacking an advantages having actual eyesight would grant them Cala would able to keep stable, active attention on the flurry of whipping, stinging tail stabs. Focusing vaguely in their general direction instead of each attack individually, nonetheless, Cala found a few of the stabs reaching them despite their warding flashing of Ceniza. Quickly understanding they could not simply block every stab Cala instead leaned into one of the stabs, letting it bite particularly deep and draw blood, before Cala's free hand whipped up, attempting to grab the tail with said hand while slashing to sever it with their blade and tugging it free.

Cala's attention stayed only partly on the other individual fighting the Hollows and, sensing her coming onto the now crumbling rooftop with them, Cala made conscious efforts to keep their footing. Thankfully recent training with Lukas had all but perfectly prepared them for this kind of precise footwork and, noting the Hollow that dropped it's guard, lashed out with all but instinctive precision at the other Hollow, aiming a vertical slash at it's exposed neck before their practiced steps carried them toward Kegare. Standing near Kegare now Cala's senses roamed over the hybrid and, inspecting her for the briefest moment before Cala raised their head to face the 'floor' of the building they stood on, now facing up toward the cliff, and blew a small hole on it with a Bala. One big enough for them to fit through as Cala took note of this individual being appreciably stronger than them, and, merely remarked in a quick, low tone.

"We do not.... enjoy water."

Moving up through the hole they had created Cala would briefly offer Kegare a hand through the same hole before, whether she joined them or not, launched themselves up onto the cliff-face so as to avoid falling into the ocean. Their Fade lashing out in a series of leg-like tendrils from their back to stabilize them as they landed with their blade raised, ready to defend themselves should the Hollows attempt to capitalize on their brief leap. Their surplus of energy gathered from the Hollow earlier now being used to further fuel their Pesquisa to a tiny degree of higher acuity, doing their best to keep a more holistic view of the now-expanded battlefield.

Cala's gambit paid off fairly well! Taking those hits, slashing off the hollow's tail, and keeping pace with the barrage of attacks from both hollows kept him from taking too many hits, or any that would be too dire. And him capitalizing on the sudden arrival of Kegare would pay off. His lunge toward the other hollow as Kegare slashed into it's belly would catch his enemy off guard and that blade would pry open the beast's throat, a sudden cascade of red as the building it self toppled over the cliff and began falling toward the ocean.

The hollows were still reeling from the attack, but to Kegare's surprise, she turned to see Cala suddenly blowing a hole in the side of the cliff before offering her a hand. She frowned, peering at him for just a moment, but didn't take it. Watching as he sped off before turning her attention to the hollows. They were definitely on their last legs and she snorted, gritting her teeth as she held her blade out in front of her. Reiryoku wrapping around the blade in a bundle. It was practically like using Kido back in the old days. She PUSHEd off of the roof itself, launching herself "up" toward the ocean rushing in from below, before she executed one fell SLASH. That reiryoku arcing along her blade before cleaving through the building itself, a loud FWASH sounding as the building was cleanly separated into two, creating an opening before they CRASHED into the water below. Kegare making a little splash before those halves of the buildings plowed into the ocean, slamming the hollows into the water and then into the rocky reef in the depths, crushing them on the spot.

There was a brief moment of swirling water and the current of being pulled by the sinking buildings, but Kegare soon righted herself, and finally popped up from the water, panting just a little before she leapt up and drew her blade, looking around as she stood along the surface of the water, cautious as she waited to see if any of the hollows were still around.

But none of them surfaced, and off in the distance, she could sense the disappearance of the other hollows, likely running away from sensing the loss of their comrades. Damn. She hated letting stragglers run off. But well...they had killed most of them at least. She sighed, her shoulder slumping just a little as she reached up and wrung her hair out, allowing her blade to dissolve into nothing. Maybe swords weren't quite her jam. They didn't quite...have the same FEEL as the Spear. Maybe she should focus on weapons with long handles? She'd worry about that later. For the time being, she jumped up and made her way to the top of the cliff, looking around for that arrancar from before. Surely they wouldn't run off too?