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| - Garian Shinjo and his allies moved with a level of haste at odds with his seven foot frame, gliding along the air like an ice skater instead of the giant he was. When he touched down on the grass, the light of the moon serving as the only illumination, he barely disturbed the grass beneath him. But a heavy set had dropped over his shoulders, as well as a cloud upon his mind and it all showed plainly on his face. Here he was possibly preparing to face something plucked straight from a legend with every chance of it being given physical form. What where his options? Cross blades with something his mother had used to scare him as a child? Scared him half to death with? And she had done a good job of it, too. Right now he was close to bolting in the opposite direction just by remembering the tales she had told him. Fear and unease were worn like a tight-fitting mask upon that youthful, but weather touched face. “Are you scared?” Garian asked of Shintai, noticing the youngsters’ trembling. The baby-faced member of the trio simply nodded, his previous gusto all but lost amidst the snows of fear. In the moonlight, in light of recent events, he looked too young to even be here. But Garian had to respect him all the same. “Well… I am too.” Garian said in reply to his young companion, smiling reassuringly and truthfully at the same time. It was a look one rarely got from Garian Shinjo. In all cases people viewed him as a first grade ass, with a love for fun at others expense and a complete disregard for safety. Those who maintained it were usually right as well. He was all of that, but much more as well. He could be sensitive and serious when the situation called for it, could inspire others with his words and actions; all the while keeping their spirits high with friendly banter and cutting remarks that kept everyone from falling into despair. Shintai knew the look and nodded his thanks, taking comfort in the seven foot giant’s presence. Even Nasu looked more relieved, his young face relaxing to show the noble baring he had all but exuded as an aura since their meeting. The chill on the air only increased, though. They had been moving for about two miles now in the direction of the company trying to raise this Hakyoku figure, and the closer they neared the chillier the air became. When the trio closed the final mile, coming to a stop at the crest of a hill overlooking the supposed ritual ground icicles could be seen hanging from trees all but devoid of life. The grass was frozen over, appearing strangely crystalline, the plant-life shimmering like a sea of stars with the vein attempt of outshining the beautiful clear night sky above. “We need to put a stop to this…!” Shintai began, tone and face highlighting his anger, but also his fear. His arms were trembling and Garian couldn’t really blame him for it. Nasu was even shivering, though whether his was routed in fear or simply cold was up for debate. “Don’t be a fool!” Garian’s reprimand sounded more like a whiplash, silencing the trio instantly. “You rush down there now and you will die. Look-“ he directed their gaze towards the surrounding hills that formed a slight dome around whatever ritual was being performed. The land was sunken from the use of so much Kidō energy being applied to it, causing it to dip as though a mighty fist had impacted its surface. All around them lay the Soulless. Backs erect and faces impassive, they were every inch the thrall the Kidō users had sought to create. This lot was different from the last, though. Not as… complete. They could be seen as prototypes. A precursor to what was now being mass produced somewhere unknown. “This is bad,” Nasu commented, drawing his zanpakutō silently. “I wonder what gave you that idea.” Garian replied snidely, still surveying the situation below and around with equal consideration. And people reckoned he never thought things through? They were mostly right, but this was a situation that demanded a change in approach. “Where’s Shintai?” Nasu asked, sounding worried. One minute he had been there, the next he was gone. On the far hill, approaching a group of the so-called Soulless was a figure all on his lonesome with the baby-face of Shintai Misuto, intent on being an idiot. “Come on!” Garian urged, moving with unnatural haste, Nasu quick behind. Shintai snuck up on his quarry, every inch the hunter and the Soulless he hunted every bit the prey. But something was wrong. He was fully visible from the other hilltops, but hidden from the Kidō users below; yet the Soulless he was sneaking up on turned to face him, seemingly aware of his attempt at an ambush. And they struck like vipers! It was completely out of sync in Garian’s eyes. There was no surprise. No hesitation. It was as if they could…… see what the others had seen. If that were true, if these things shared the same consciousness…! “Shintai!” Garian roared, closing the distance slower than he could have hoped. The scion of the Yuengiri swordsman barely had time to move they were upon him too quickly for any other though but flight to formulate. Desperately he fought, drawing the attention of one Kidō user – a red-haired elderly man obviously skilled, for he tied Shintai up in ropes of golden energy without muttering so much as a name or incantation! “Kill him,” Came the elderly mans words. Garian all but intoned the word “Shinsei”, causing a blast of spiritual energy to surround his advancing position and move with him. The light proved bright enough for the Soulless ready to kill Shintai to back up, blinded. Taking the initiative, Garian burst from that beam of light and set about his task of pulling Shintai’s bound body from the flames he’d all but hurled himself bodily into head first! “If we survive this,” Garian warned. “Then I will kill you!” In the light of the moon, Garian’s features were hidden behind a cascading amount of scarlet coloured hair, which all but hid his face from view. Even his clothing, previously of a black colouration with a T-shirt worn beneath was now a baggy fitting kimono style dress Shintai had never once seen before. He even appeared more statuesque than usual, if at all possible. And his wrath was terrible. The earth erupted beneath the feet of the opposing Soulless, showering the landscape with dirt and grass, as well as the limbs of the fallen. He was an unholy terror with good intentions… most of the time. And as he fought, every strike blasting craters into the floor and laying waste to the Soulless intent on claiming Shintai’s life, Nasu and the one Garian fought to safe were transfixed. Never before had they stood as still as they did now. If one passed now, they’d note with horror that a long fellow was killing things while two statues looked on, unmoving in times flow. It was a magnificent display on Garian’s behalf. Everywhere he struck, his large frame moving impossibly fast, the creatures known as the Soulless died. Even the Kidō users chanting unknown incantations to continue their ritual looked up in horror at the sight that was Garian Shinjo. With a heel kick that sent one of the Soulless flying backward, enlarged bones shattering upon impact, Garian turned and struck again. Finally the torrent of foes before him ceased and Garian leapt back and grabbed Shintai, intent to see his young companion to safety. “What did I tell you!?” Garian roared. “We know nothing about our foe, the means that give them this knowledge and you want to run off!? Don’t be a fool Shintai! I know you better!” It wasn’t often Garian spoke with such emotion lacing his tone; though when he did everyone around him knew it was needed and perfectly justified. “I’m sorry… I just saw red.” Shintai replied, avoiding his long-time friend’s heavy gaze. “We’ll kindly don’t anymore.” Garian slapped him hard on the shoulder. “Or I really will have to kill you.” “Can’t you discuss this later?” Nasu interjected, voice strained, but still every hair the noble. And for good reason, Garian saw when he raised his head. While he and Shintai had been talking, the Soulless on the surrounding hills had moved with a speed one would not expect from their almost corpse-like movements. And Nasu was holding them off alone, Kidō flying from his palm and blood flowing freely from the Soulless as his zanpakutō slashed those who came too close. Rushing forward with all the grace of an avalanche, Garian hit Nasu in the stomach gently with a palm thrust, moving him out of the way as he gathered energy about his other enclosed hand. Bringing the hand forward, Garian unleashed a massive wave of energy, sustaining it into a wave until he finally raised his hand; causing that silver-coloured wave to ascend into the heaves. As it winked from existence, he collapsed on one knee, hair slowly returning to its shortened state; his previous clothing appearing from beneath the kimono he shed like a snake might its skin. “Stop… them,” He said to his comrades, breathless. “Nasu, protect… Shintai,” And with that piece said, the seven foot giant slipped into unconsciousness. Not a one of the Soulless remained, safe the ashes from his energy wave.
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