The Blade Is Me

isola radiale || house 117

[galvanoblasts]

⠀⠀⠀⠀ALL she wanted to do was take the trash out like a normal person. There were a few pizza boxes too many, and everyone knows to clear out old food means you get more space for new food. She was in a damn good mood, in fact — still no sign of Mayuri, world's still her oyster, all that jazz; hell, she was whistling on her way to the trash bin. Whistling a tune that quickly died out once she lifted the bin's lid and happened to peer over it.

⠀⠀⠀⠀❛ You gotta be kidding me. ❜ Her tone was flat, but her grip on the bin had tightened to the point of denting it in. Right there — right next door — was the one 'human', the only 'human', she had a bone to pick with after all this time. Mostly because he kept slipping away every time she got remotely close. For a few long moments, they simply stared at each other in thick silence; she wouldn't have been surprised if a tumbleweed ambled on between them. When she finally decided to break that silence, there was more excitement in her voice than aggression — not that he'd find that remotely comforting.

⠀⠀⠀⠀❛ Well, well ! Look what the cat dragged in ! ❜

@hybridsalvation ——— you better watch out you better watch out you better watch out y

[hybridsalvation]

⠀⠀⠀His “return” to the city has been... normal, mostly? Nothing life-threatening or generally dangerous, just— the occasional annoying stunt here and there. He’s almost gotten into a normal routine again, such as right now; making his way down to the drop-off for trash now that his place was clean again. Yep, just another... ordinary day, with ordinary actions and ordinary............ meetings.

⠀⠀⠀Until now. One eye contact was enough to keep him locked in place for a short while. Out of fear? ... Not really— there is a bit of concern, but the major feeling rooting his feet to the ground, above all else... Awkwardness.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀“Uh—” A Quincy, from the Wandenreich... and one of the hotshots on top of it, Sternritter. This one in particular left a pretty decent impression— lightning fists, fiery words. ... Her arm seems normal. That’s good, right? Good for... her... ... If he can’t remember her name fast, this might escalate way too fast. Right now, he still looks as if he bumped into an “old friend” that’s come looking for money he borrowed months ago. He’s gotta regain his footing, fast—

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀“... Been a while, huh?” Ichigo needs to drag this out just a bit longer, surely her name will come back if he thinks harder on it.

[hybridsalvation]

⠀⠀⠀So we're dungeon crawling? That's pretty old school, he can dig it. Tossing out a Starter Call for the new event here, capped at 2 for now!

[hybridsalvation]

snowsleeves​:

            ❛   No,   ❜   SHE   retorts in a moment of lapsed judgment,  ❛   it’s somehow completely escaped my notice.   ❜   And just like that, the same exact result follows: another flower sprouts up from the crown of her head, obliviously reaching for the sun. Rukia’s eyes briefly shut as if that might will away her frustration with herself, exhaling so sharply that wisps of hair blow off her forehead.

            ❛   As best I’ve gathered, these flowers don’t enjoy lies. They’ve clearly never heard of sarcasm or irony, either.   ❜

     He didn’t even need to call her out on the smartass response— there goes another flower proudly sitting atop her Kuchiki head. It almost seemed to wiggle in smug pride from fulfilling its duty...

          “... So— that’s the issue now? ... Lie-detector flowers? Well— that’s creative, I guess?” ... And nothing sprouts, despite his lackluster tone of voice that borders on dismayed acceptance. Even that can be considered honest. The flowers on the Reaper sway once more.

[hybridsalvation]

     // @snowsleeves​  | A Crocus Among Us

          “Hey, uh... You notice the, uh— flower growing out of your hair? ... It might be more than one flower, actually—” It’s like her hair is a mobile flower pot, just walking around in pure ignorance of the miniature garden forming on top.

[hybridsalvation]

          “— You ever get a bad feeling that’s like... the weather’s suppose to be clear and sunny, but you just know a bad thunderstorm might show up?”

[hybridsalvation]

swordofdeath​:

random starter - @hybridsalvation​ 

Another eclipse recently happened as Fibonacci appeared, Unohana was merely wandering around the designated place. She wondered where the reiatsu coming from and it was indeed here. Perhaps she had never seen this guy for years after her death.

She remembered how he looked like before but he seemed different now, hair-wise.

“It’s a surprise to see you in this place, Kurosaki Ichigo.” She’s not really creeping him out as Yachiru.

     To think he would be back here... It’s so surreal— has he been “gone” for a while? It certainly didn’t feel that way, and yet... so much feels different. The faint, lingering traces of reiatsu he had gotten used to feeling every day— it’s like getting familiar with a certain color of paint for your interior walls, only to wake up and a completely different coat was there to greet the eyes.

     Not only that... Nearby— a different sort of familiarity. ... But— is it? It isn’t until a voice reaches his ears, and his eyes shift to see the source— that’s the moment a confusing realization dawns on Ichigo...

          “— You’re... Captain Unohana? Is that really you...?” There’s no mistaking it— a familiar face long lost, however... She’s changed up her appearance? ... Or is it more than that?

[hybridsalvation]

heavenshield​:

    no matter the place, the time, the world, Ichigo Kurosaki was not someone that Orihime could so easily forget or mistake.

 she missed him. even if it’s only been something close to a month in her time here, it did nothing to lessen the fact that she missed him. she missed all of her friends more than words could say, but Ichigo was someone that held a special place in her heart. he always would. there was no other that could take that place. it belonged to him and him alone. so is it any surprise then, that such a place beats with warmth? that her heart feels lighter? like a feather gliding in the summer breeze. it’s easy to find him. easy to pick him out in a city full of strangers. she could recognize him by touch and smell alone, would know him blind and at the ends of the world. after all– 

               he was her Ichigo. 

    “ Kurosaki-kun.” her cheeks hurt but she cannot stop the smile nor does she even want to. her voice is soft yet light, hands clasped together against her chest. he looked okay. he looked as she last remembered him. that was good. it may be strange that she’s acting like this– she doesn’t know of any discrepancies between their memories but that didn’t really matter, did it? as long as Ichigo was alive and okay then everything else could be faced head-on with ease. 

       “ You’re here. I mean– did you just get here?”

 @hybridsalvation​​

     So... Here again? It felt so odd— for Ichigo, he may as well have woken up from a really... really long sleep...  But as far as he can tell, a lot has changed. Too much has changed... New locations he doesn’t remember being there, stories of widespread events that he somehow missed? It all points to one thing: Ichigo has been away from his island for a long time... and now, he’s come back, picking up where he left off.

     How would this go around be different than before? ... Of course it would. Because this time around, there are more familiar faces around to greet him. And today, a radiant warmth was greeting him in earnest. Her bright smile is infectious, it manages to even tug at Ichigo’s lips ever so slightly.

          “Oh— Inoue? You’re here too?” There’s no mistaking this feeling, the unique reiatsu that belongs to one specific human... It gradually dawns on him that this is no trick— and he can feel at ease. “I’m surprised to see you here, but... I’m also glad. As for when I got here... Yeah— you could say I just got here... But it’s not my first time around.”

[hybridsalvation]

          “Wait— Pocky Day is here, too? ... That doesn’t even make sense— someone brought that over and got it to spread like wildfire.”

[hybridsalvation]

sterilesteel​:

     ❝   I never expected my own planet to be so small…   ❞   NIGHTINGALE   muses aloud, twirling the glowing makeshift earth — perhaps a bit smaller than a volleyball — between gloved fingers. She inspects it at first, marveling at how much more vivid it is compared to the territory lines on a globe… And eventually watches it float idly away, as if her interactions were little more than a bump in the air. 

          Sirius, one of the brightest and most recognizable stars, danced and bobbed just above her head. Incredible.   ❝   How mesmerizing… I cannot say I sense any magecraft. I wonder how it is the people in charge of this island accomplish such fantastical things…   ❞

@hybridsalvation​ ——— S.C.

     “Earth” continued to float away through the air, lazily swaying to and fro with nothing in the way to block its path. The teen watched to pass by with a peculiar brow raised in response, his gaze then shifting over to the nearby nurse tending to other stars. Japan certainly never had a sight like this to offer-- even the Soul Society hadn’t shown him anything quite like this. ... Then again, give Mayuri a day and enough interest in such a project...

     Never mind, better focus on the current feat at hand.

          “-- What, you don’t think it’s magic or something?“ Normally he didn’t give much stock to such notions, but... This island just lets anything happen without rhyme or reason. There’s not much room for doubt these days. “Well, I don’t sense anything weird about ‘em either... But so long as these stars don’t start blowing up on us, I guess we can just enjoy the sights for now.”

[hybridsalvation]

     Now that Ichigo’s back from the Death Dimension™, it’s time to throw him into the local SpiralFES. And wouldn’t you know it, tomorrow’s his birthday! How about an uncapped Starter Call to give him good vibes? Or maybe you wanna be That Guy who wants any excuse to be a prick? Not naming any names here.

[hybridsalvation]

     Now that Ichigo’s back from the Death Dimension™, it’s time to throw him into the local SpiralFES. And wouldn’t you know it, tomorrow’s his birthday! How about an uncapped Starter Call to give him good vibes? Or maybe you wanna be That Guy who wants any excuse to be a prick? Not naming any names here.

[hybridsalvation]

     haha shinigami goes woosh swoosh

[hybridsalvation]

ashedgrowl‌:

    “ So you say. Serious or not, you still have to be careful. Orihime and the others aren’t here to make sure you don’t push yourself. Neither are Rukia or Renji to knock some sense into you if need be. “

         he did have a penchant for pushing himself to the extremes if it meant saving and protecting anyone who needed it. she’s seen it multiple times herself. admirable as it was, she still feels the need to remind him.

     “ This isn’t like any war the Soul Society– or you – has dealt with before. There are enemies from other worlds here that never stop coming and there’s no way to know if our weapons would work on them. Most of the wards have been destroyed and the fighting has gone on for weeks now. I know you’re a very capable fighter– I’m not telling you this because I don’t think you can’t handle the fighting – but you need to be more cautious than usual, Ichigo. “

 it was rare for the Lieutenant to be so serious. Rangiku was one who enjoyed taking things easy but that did not mean she didn’t know when it was time to tuck that carefree, nonchalant attitude away when needed. 

             “ We don’t know how long this will last. “

     Ichigo was pretty confident in his powers now... Doubt was something he couldn’t allow to take root so easily. Doubt is what weakens his resolve. Uncertainty leads to ruin. It was a lesson engraved into his heart over countless battles and lessons... Even so, the Lieutenant was right. There was a fine line to cross between doubt and carelessness. If he were to just keep going all out in this fight, he’ll just tire out more quickly-- and like Rangiku pointed out, there would be no one here that can quickly restore his Reiatsu to battle capacity.

          “Yeah... You’re right. I’ll keep that in mind; the last thing I want is to be a burden.” He gave her a firm nod of acknowledgement, a relaxed sigh escaping his lips. There was no need to bear this burden all alone. So many people here were just as capable as he was... Ichigo will do his best to not overwork himself.

     ... Rangiku was a very impressive Lieutenant, but Ichigo just can’t help but break his focused expression for a moment, giving her a troubled look as he proceeded to tease her.

          “Sorry-- it’s just kinda weird to hear you talk so seriously.“ He didn’t mean any disrespect to her talents, but... It’s kind of hard to not have a double take moment. This is the same woman who tried to flash him some skin just to crash at his place rent free-- some things just can’t be forgotten.

[hybridsalvation]

spiritgates‌:

             ❛   Aries— !   ❜   EVEN   with the circumstances as they are… It felt amazing to have that familiar weight on her key ring. It felt so natural to call out a spirit’s name, even if she’s doing her best to use her magical energy sparingly. After all, she still had her limits… And who knew how long this onslaught of enemies would last. 

“I’m sorry if it’s too fluffy… !”  A familiar warning — but as per usual, the distraction was perfect. Just as the sudden influx of bright pink wool bounced the two women like a trampoline, it dissipated into a gas form that did nothing but confuse their enemies left behind — and irritate the living hell out of their throats. “Or too bou—n—cyyyyy~!!”  Aries adds, barely audible over Lucy’s own screeching as they were launched halfway across the Ward. When they finally landed, she’s pretty sure they left a crater in their wake — there was definitely plenty of smoke.

            ❛   No, that… That was great, really… !   ❜   The celestial mage assures, although she can’t help but rub at her lower back as she regains her bearings. What… was this feeling ?  Dread wasn’t quite the right word, but… She was suddenly intensely aware of a magical, spiritual presence — so intense that goosebumps rose on her arms quicker than she’s ever seen.   ❛   What is that… ?  No way — don’t tell me that’s an enemy !   ❜

       Even so, master and spirit sprinted straight for it — because, after all, what would happen if someone less capable encountered it instead ?  What if it already had someone cornered ?  Mired with worry, Lucy can’t help but call out in relief the moment she sees a familiar face.   ❛   Oh— Ichigo !!   ❜

       His head whips around, and two things immediately occur to her — the warning she had prepared dying before it even left her lips. One, she probably should’ve said more than just his name… And two, all that off-the-charts energy was coming directly from him. With a quick, stiff shake of the head, she decides to tuck that info away for later. 

           ❛   It’s Lucy —  how can we help ?!   ❜

          “-- Ah, it’s you...“ Lucy was certainly different this time around. The energy emanating from her body... It definitely wasn’t Reiatsu. This was entirely new to him-- was this magic? She had given him a general idea of what magic was like in her world... but to actually feel it first hand? It was a bit difficult to describe... But he can still sense that there was quite a lot coming from her. Whether or not how much energy she had was comparable to the same feeling with Reiatsu was hard to tell, but maybe he’ll get a chance to find out soon.

     Her companion was certainly odd too. Now she had a presence more similar to a spirit... yet once again, it seems her power was also tried to magic. That white creature that usually followed Lucy around... Plue, right? It was far too weak for Ichigo to get a good understanding of what “celestial spirits” were suppose to be like. But maybe now that can change.

     His train of thought is finally cut off by the roar of Hollows from the sky. Damn, he almost forgot...! His focus finally breaks away from Lucy, his Reiatsu once again flaring up to begin charging his blades. He has to be fast, to make sure not a single one would reach them!

          “Just hang tight--!“

[hybridsalvation]

jaegerbombed‌:

         Just like the time they fought against a mutual enemy, he didn’t have time to focus on challenging his rival because they had bigger problems to deal with. It’s annoying, but it can wait. He has already waited this long. Right, Kurosaki hadn’t been there for that battle. That the heroic Shinigami wouldn’t show up to deal with a threat like this colossal Hollow is surprising, but his friends weren’t there either. It didn’t take place in the Living World, anyway.

         “It was sealed into a zanpakuto.” He curtly explains. But onto the talk of a temporary truce, Grimmjow sneers. “Whatever, it’s not the first time.” He can recognize a bigger threat when he sees one. More than that, he’s familiar with this bastard’s power level. Even before, it had been a daunting enemy to face. Combined with the brat’s changing reiatsu, a brat he would compare to Kurosaki, fighting it had been a task for a group of Arrancar. But if this hollow doesn’t have its master, maybe it’s not quite the same.

         No way of knowing until he just takes the initiative to attack.

         Grunting in assent, he wastes no time launching himself up into the skies. Only then, does he immediately realize that, fuck, he can’t use desgarron. “What the hell-? They sealed my desgarron.” Perhaps the people in charge didn’t take too kindly to his destruction of Cotes Ward with multiple desgarrons and that’s why. But he would think that, in a time like this, they would want him to use his strongest attack to cut down a beast.

         “These assholes must not want my help,” he snarls, and digging his claws into his palm to draw blood, he resorts to blasting at the hollow with Gran Rey Ceros.

     The explanation was brief... but simple enough for Ichigo to get the gist of things. A Hollow sealed into a Zanpakuto... Sounds pretty impossible. Yet look at him-- wielding so many powers in just one body. Even Arrancar are just Hollows capable of wielding the power of Soul Reapers and Zanpakuto in their own unique way. Regardless, understanding what it was didn’t really matter. The simple fact remains: it was an enemy that they needed to take down.

     Grimmjow wasted no time before taking off again-- impatient as usual. But this time Ichigo follows suit, propelling himself through the air after him. He wasn’t going to get Grimmjow get a lead on him in this battle. They might be unable to duel... but maybe he can find a way to brag about kill counts later. That’s one way to get under the other’s skin if Ichigo manages to come out on top.

     His train of thought is cut off by the exclamation regarding Grimmjow’s trump skill. How was that even possible?! Ichigo at least could use Getsuga Tensho... but then again, even he recognized that its power was diminished. Apparently those Stars don’t want the whole island blowing up.

          “Great-- guess we gotta improvise!“ The Arrancar switched over to Ceros instead, while the Soul Reaper resumed his flight to flank the enemy monster by his right. The larger blade in his hand was starting to glow with power, He continued to climb higher into the sky, soon reaching a perfect angle to strike both a dense section of the mob and the creator itself.

          “Getsuga--” Zangetsu was finally brought down from above, a concentrated source of light appearing for the briefest of moments. And in one great flash, a mighty blast of his Reiatsu tore through the sky, the earth, and any Hollow in-between. “-- Tensho!!”

[hybridsalvation]

     // @wayefinder​  |  Security Breach: Part II

     This was bad... Way worse than he originally anticipated. There were powerful forces coming from all over the floating island, but there was one source that concerned Ichigo the most... One that was mixed with the power of both Soul Reapers and Hollows. This enemy hasn’t discovered Ichigo yet... another oddity to note. If his guess was correct, his enemy should have been smart enough to locate him almost instantly. ... Was he just the same as most other Hollows now? Barely functional beyond combat, imitations simply meant to destroy?

     It’s a concerning thought... And he knows he should locate that power to snuff it out soon enough. His Hollow powers were finally drawn out after so much fighting, so that should make things easier. Ichigo was currently resting up on the ruined streets, getting ready to take off once again... But just as he started to rise to his feet, a familiar face makes itself seen before him-- one he’s only seen once, but recent enough to still be clear in his memory.

          “Oh hey-- The girl from the other day. ... Don’t mind the horn-- I’m still the same as before. Just... Well-- tougher now.“

[hybridsalvation]

     // @clarentheir​  |  Security Breach: Part II

     Trying to survey the “invading island” hanging in the sky has been rather... surreal. Nothing seemed to match, nothing looked natural. Buildings of vastly different types were put together so carelessly... He even recognized structures similar to those found in Hueco Mundo-- it shouldn’t have been possible... yet the truth was there before his eyes. But more important, the density of Hollows and other types of monsters was more problematic up here. And since this place was entirely unwanted... there’s no need to hold back.

     Reiatsu billowed up to the sky as Ichigo charged in, leaving a trail of light wherever he went to slice down whatever monsters came at him. One flash through the sky meant cutting down dozens and dozens of enemies, all fading away before his feet even touched the ground. But now there were ground forces taking notice of him, all wanting to cut him down.

          ”... It’s never gonna end till they’re dead, huh?” They should know that a guy like him was leagues above them. Yet these things have no sense of self preservation, apparently. Even the most simple types of Hollows know when to retreat... These things were all imitations, weren’t they?