Who is in Control? [Shura/Hakaishin (Mura)]

Wed Oct 30, 2024 3:26 pm

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The Gotei United was no more, the future of Soul Society was now more uncertain than ever. Shinigami and Soul alike looked for someone to lead them, someone who had the tenacity, strength, and most importantly, resolve. Who amongst them would take a stand to lead them through this uncertain time?

That was what Shura had resolved to become now, it was time to simply lock in harder than she had ever before. Her Brother might not've needed her direct protection anymore, but that didn't mean she had nothing to resolve herself towards. Kita had won her battle, Metatron had won his battle, but Shura had won her own. Hakaishin had finally acknowledged her, and now it was time to bring him to heel, to finally master her Bankai and there was only one way to do such a thing.

She'd taken the meditative pose as she had several times before, her Zanpakuto placed on her lap and eyes closed. One hand gripped the hilt of the blade, the other grabbing near the base of the sheath as she moved her mind to that inner world she knew so well.

But this time was different than before, rather than transporting herself to a barren wasteland with naught but an imposingly large tower before her, she was transported to an endless sea, swept underneath the waves and dragged down into depths unlike anything she'd previously seen before. Thankfully breathing was still easy enough to do, but as she looked around she couldn't help but find her surroundings entirely alien to herself.

What was Hakaishin up too? How was her Inner World changed so drastically? Questions upon questions that he would answer as she drew her Zanpakuto from its sheath and called out "HAKAISHIN! YOU KNOW WHY I AM HERE! IT'S TIME WE END THIS FARCE, TIME FOR YOU TO BE BROUGHT TO HEEL! Soul Society is in a level of danger equaled only to the Quincy Invasion. I need strength, Strength great enough to crush everyone underfoot! I know you're holding back, I know there is more to my Bankai!"

made by RR of DD, steal and i will sentence you to the true death!

Thu Oct 31, 2024 10:36 am

The water all around her was there for a reason. Confusion and doubt weren’t foreign concepts to Shura – rather, they were challenges that she’d overcome countless times before… but would one ever acknowledge their progress consciously? Or had she just kept moving on, forgetting the path she’d walked behind her…?

It used to be simpler than this! Destroy your enemy! That was the very purpose of Hakaishin (破壊神, Destruction Deity)… his one and only purpose. That was why water surrounded Shura right now – it was his current thoughts of her, his opinion of her current path and focus. And the water would only grow heavier and heavier, dragging Shura deeper into the dark depths.

Once the water felt like it’d crush her shoulders, a tower could be seen below – dimly lit by torches that could not burn out from being submerged underwater. The black, jagged fortress stood firm and proud, even in this sea of confusion, for there was no space for complexity here. Shura… her Zanpakutō had room to grow. But she’d have to make her way into the fortress, struggling against the weight of the makeshift ocean around her.

Hakaishin would wait for her at the center, just as always… the weight of the water around them would also affect him. He was visibly holding the water up with his hands, struggling with all of his might. It was simple as that… despite the struggle, a wicked grin was plastered on his red face.

Thu Oct 31, 2024 10:53 am

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There was no direct response from Hakaishin... How typical of him. The weight of the water around her was making it difficult to breathe but not impossibly so. When she saw that imposing tower underneath all this water she turned to move towards it, the waters only increasing in heaviness as she moved towards it. Even as she reached the tower she couldn't figure out what game Hakaishin was playing here, but as she entered the tower and saw Hakaishin things began to make a little more sense.

She kept her Zanpakuto drawn, the tip of the blade slowly grinding against the floor of the tower as she walked towards him. "Hakaishin..." Truth be told the longer she looked at him the less things made sense. She stopped only ten feet from the spirit, staring at him with a fierce determination in her eyes "What is going on, Hakaishin, why is this place so dramatically different than every other time I have visited?"

made by RR of DD, steal and i will sentence you to the true death!

Sat Nov 02, 2024 3:25 pm

Hakaishin, even in his struggles, could still draw his eyes towards her. His wielder… so full of worries, confusion, annoyance, and all sorts of unimportant blabbering. Bla bla bla, once upon a time, things were simpler… ohhhhhhh, and Hakaishin was a simple Zanpakutō. His greatest strength lied within that.

But with all this… thinking… Shura’s head was heavy with thoughts, and so was this damn water. “You’re thinking so damn much…” he grunted towards her, a frustrated grimace turning into a cackling grin, “I can barely recognize you… Kurata Shura. Thinking, thinking, thinking…”

Hakaishin’s arms, which were struggling to keep the water from crushing him… dropped. The water weighed on his shoulders, but he was able to draw his axes… two. Shura would recognize them quickly – those were her most valuable Bankai. It was as if Hakaishin had found the solution to the water… right in front of him. And he wasn’t sweet enough to verbally give her the explanation-

No, no, no… Hakaishin’s way of explaining things reflected Shura’s deepest core trait. One axe was swung up in the air, aiming to cleave her in half.

Sun Nov 03, 2024 9:33 am

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“You’re thinking so damn much…”

“I can barely recognize you… Kurata Shura. Thinking, thinking, thinking…”

What...? A look of confusion crossed her face, then she watched his arms fall to his sides, the water itself seeming to come down slightly but held back by his shoulders. Then came a gleam of metal and those signature axes were pulled out and one swinging towards her!

There was... no time to think, only time to act! The Zanpakuto she held in her hand snapped upwards between her and the axe itself, though the difference between the two was staggering. Shura was launched backwards from the force, smashing against the ground a dozen or so feet backwards though her recovery was swift. Her attention snapped back to Hakaishin, the explanation of what was going on, it seemed, would have to wait... Very well.

Who is in Control? [Shura/Hakaishin (Mura)] XdCwMT9

As she brought her foot forward into the ground, the energy enveloped her being as she launched herself forward with a spin, holding the axes by the chain as she aimed to bring them into the side of Hakaishin, using the momentum to increase both the speed and strength of the attack.

made by RR of DD, steal and i will sentence you to the true death!

Tue Nov 05, 2024 9:30 am

Yes… yes! Shura was tempted to wonder why he was attacking her, but there was no time for that. No need for that! She knew him better than that, so come! Attack! Don’t let debris stop you, and don’t let the water distract you! Draw those axes and tear apart what was right in front of you…

And Shura answered in full, charging towards Hakaishin with her Bankai. The beastly spirit giggled madly, but the heavy water allowed it to be hit on the side by Shura’s attack. Dark blood mixed with the water around them, forming a mist of bleeding that rapidly covered Hakaishin’s frame-

But only for a brief moment, before one of his axes were swung down with incredible speed. It was as if Hakaishin allowed her to land that hit, all just to get an opening. It didn’t even look like it hurt him too much – that plastered grin on his face spoke of a spirit who was having a high moment, riding the wave of ecstasy from feeling his own, warm blood splatter on his own face. Hakaishin didn’t let it stop him… Hakaishin wouldn’t let anything stop him from destroying the obstacle in front of him. Nothing.

If Nagoshi stood in the way, she’d die. Simple as that.

If the Noble clans stood in the way, die.

If Koga stood in the way, tear him in half.

If… even if Kenpachi-

These thoughts tried to invade Shura’s mind, too. It’d be shocking, especially given her opinions of these people – some of which she looked up to, nigh idolized… so why these impulsively hostile feelings towards them? Where did all this enmity come from? Or was it just violent impulses driving her spirit to seek the satisfaction he craved? To truly remove the enemy from existence?

Tue Nov 05, 2024 10:12 am

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Her spinning form met little resistance, so little in fact that the only resistance she did feel was Hakaishin's body itself being hit! But it... felt off this time. It didn't feel like she'd hit him so much as he wanted her to hit him, but why? Why would- no time to think as he yet again brought his axe to bear down upon her. Time itself seemed to almost slow in this instant for her, eyes locked onto the axe headed down for her.

If Nagoshi stood in the way, she’d die. Simple as that.

She wasn't a threat, she was just another obstacle...

If the Noble clans stood in the way, die.

They had shown their hand... Hitoshi showed she wasn't wanted or cared for, so why shouldn't she give them the same?

If Koga stood in the way, tear him in half.

He wouldn't... but... What if he did? What if he tried to stop her? He.... He should understand well the consequences.

If… even if Kenpachi-

Kenpachi Zaraki... The only Shinigami she respected, looked up too.... idolized... What if he stood against her? What response would be appropriate for such a scenario? There was only one response... Only one way that she could respond to such a thing.

He'll die.

Her body moved almost on its own, a burst of speed that moved her to the side, causing the axes to just narrowly miss her and slam into the ground. She had no time to think, no time to try and sus out why these thoughts crawled through her mind, she had time only to fight. She yanked on the chains in her hand, spinning as she did so to bring them into Hakaishin's back, and as she did they began to glow a bright golden hue.

"Hadō no Sanjyuni, Ōkasen"

A golden arc of energy would erupt from her blades, if they made contact it would only amplify the damage... But even if she missed, the arc itself was dangerous as well.

made by RR of DD, steal and i will sentence you to the true death!

Wed Nov 06, 2024 10:27 am

When she didn’t think… she acted. Acted on her deepest desires, without pause nor delay caused by pitiful thinking. Shura… how many years had you spent serving? How your blood boiled, begging to explode one day – you’d been holding something back all this time, haven’t you? Were you aware of this?

How… disturbed and restrained you must’ve felt. It was like a violent melody was bringing more and more of her inner sanctum out into the open. He’d make sure to hype her up until the very limit.

Hakaishin knew how their Bankai worked, so he twisted around rapidly and impeded Shura’s axes with his own. The clash sent sparks everywhere, each drowning under the water’s weight… but the weight was lessening. The surface was coming closer to them, and Shura’s mind was clearing up slowly. More.

More.

MORE!

The arc from her Ōkasen did the trick, actually visibly hurting and pushing Hakaishin back. There it was… the desperation to win. Shura was able to push him back with her Bankai now, she was able to hurt him in this place. Perfect… just perfect. “Hehe… hihihi… gihihihihi… hehehehehehe!” he giggled like an overjoyed kid who’d just opened their first Christmas presents.

Even from the cluster of heated bubbles from the Ōkasen, he walked towards Shura and began spinning one of the axes around over his head, increasing the spinning’s speed by every rotation. So much unbelievable weight from centrifugal manipulation of Reiryoku was weighing down on the axe’s blade, pushing the waters back and causing a vortex to rise. Unlike Shura’s attacks from before, all the focus was merely on that one axe… but she knew the technique. After all, the rise in Spiritual Pressure was very characteristic of her most powerful Bankai move.

The vortex rose in size and power, soon threatening to swallow the entire fortress, pushing the waters back and causing a void space to manifest in the center where Hakaishin was grinning. Spin, spin, spin! SPIN, SPIN, SPIN! Such a primitive thought, yet it was all he needed! All that was required to bring forth his true power!

What would Shura do in the face of this giant vortex?

Wed Nov 06, 2024 11:13 am

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A clash, sparks and Reiryoku flying around as if untamed, uncontrolled... unrestrained. This time her attack had landed but it was different from before, it wasn't simply 'allowed' to hit, she'd made it strike true! Then came a flash of memories all her own, memories of when she lived in the Rukongai... Memories of when she was the Head of Security for her Father's business.

Of course... Of course... How could she have been so blinded, so clouded as to forget? How had she allowed herself to forget who she was? So restrained... So weak... She bragged about her formative years so much, and yet in spite of that she had somehow forgotten. But these flashes weren't to last long, no just as the name implied they appeared and were gone in a flash, her attention dragged back onto Hakaishin as he began to spin the singular axe.

She both could and couldn't tell what he was doing, the telltale rise in pressure told her this was Tenbatsu... yet it didn't appear the same as it normally had. The energy normally dispersed between her blades was condensed to a singular blade, a blade that began to create its own vortex as it was spun. It was like something snapped inside of her, her hand beginning to mimic the same motion that he did as well as she began to speak, though her words weren't directed towards Hakaishin or even herself.

"Steel and shadow, bind and break, rend the flesh and shatter the spirit! Sever the world before me, and cast it into ruin."

Whether her actions replicated what Hakaishin was doing or not, a circle of yellow energy began to form at the edge of where her axes now spun next to her as she began yet another bit of Kido. Thinking about what Hakaishin was doing was pointless, it didn't matter what he was doing. She would make him kneel, she would force him to submit and unveil his full strength whether he wanted too or not, for the only other option was death.

By the end of the incantation the energy built up from the kido was immense in its own right, if her mimicking his motions did anything it was likely even higher than what one might've expected. But she wasn't going to simply allow Hakaishin to make the first move, and instead spun her entire body before slinging her axes forward.

"Hadō no Nanajyuhachi, Zangerin"

A similar arc erupted forth from her attack, except unlike her previous this one was both thinner and significantly more destructive and powerful.

made by RR of DD, steal and i will sentence you to the true death!

Sat Nov 09, 2024 10:22 am

Yellow rings? A mere obstacle in front of Hakaishin, and as any other obstacle, he wouldn’t rest until he’d make it wither away into the distant past by his hand. The yellow rings added much more power to her next attack as he watched Shura use the Zangerin as blade enhancers, but he wasn’t letting her land any more shots on him from now on. If she wanted to destroy Hakaishin – or the mere avatar of him that was right in front of her – he’d make her work for it… not that she could destroy him, anyways.

He embodied the one thing that Shura would never be able to destroy.

Her arc clashed with his vortex, the force of which blew away more of the water from the fortress and created a space where air could finally breeze through. Like a large bubble under the vast ocean, their powers clashing against each other was creating unrest on the surface, summoning whirlpools, crushing waves, and tsunamis. The more Shura fought… the clearer her mind became. Who thought that all Zanpakutō were these complex machinations? If Hakaishin embodied Shura…

Then he wasn’t complex. Her sakki (殺気), her thirst for blood, it was fundamentally as linear as any concept could be. She could play around and experiment with as many techniques and utilities as her heart desired, but Hakaishin was adamant to remind her exactly where her core lied.

The Zangerin was pushed back by the sheer, unbelievable force of Hakaishin’s vortex. She was free to copy him – by all means, he grinned widely at her, waiting for her to do exactly that. But woe to her, for every second she spent hesitating, the power of the vortex would increase with the speed of his spinning, space-rending axe…

"Spin, spin, spin spin spin…"

Who is in Control? [Shura/Hakaishin (Mura)]

Who is in Control? [Shura/Hakaishin (Mura)]

Re: Who is in Control? [Shura/Hakaishin (Mura)]

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Re: Who is in Control? [Shura/Hakaishin (Mura)]

Re: Who is in Control? [Shura/Hakaishin (Mura)]

Re: Who is in Control? [Shura/Hakaishin (Mura)]

Re: Who is in Control? [Shura/Hakaishin (Mura)]

Re: Who is in Control? [Shura/Hakaishin (Mura)]

Re: Who is in Control? [Shura/Hakaishin (Mura)]

Re: Who is in Control? [Shura/Hakaishin (Mura)]