[BSD-RP] Soul Society: Southeast Seireitei

[Vesper]

Asahi was slightly confused by the reaction his bind had upon the Twelfth Division member. Rather than escalating to any aggressive response or even choosing a statement as a response, she instead just... laughed. At first the Clown couldn't help but tilt his head at the action but then began to laugh as well. He didn't care if this flurry of guffaws came from a place of finding the situation humorous or just anxiety born from the inability to move. In either case, the reaper laughed with her. The quirky nature of them both seeming to resonate even in this tense matter. The exchange ceased once Kai's hysteria broke off and became words.

”Hojiku-Zai!”

A command burst into the ether from the mouth of the Kasumiōji woman in that instant. Though that expression was followed with a continuation of her laughter as she struggled against the spell in effect.

”For more information on the specifics you’ll have to ask Kurotsuchi-san! This is his experiment after all, I’m but a humble observer and data collector!”

The additional statements came with the weakening of the bind placed on the Twelfth officer, something that did not escape Asahi's perception. Even with that knowledge, he did not try to reinforce it, nor attempt the use of another one. The fact of the matter was, would it even be worth it? Wasting the energy to have it eaten away in a period of time. It'd just be postponing the envitable. It wasn't outside of the realm of possibility to make use of Kidō once more, but for now, he'd avoid it. Some may be filled with a sense of worry or agitation when finding a plan go to waste, but it did not phase the Clown. Not only because he did not have the capacity for such sensations, at least not in a conventional manner, but also because his spell served it's purpose. Whether or not it held Kai in place wasn't the end game, it was simply keeping her here. If not only for enough time to acquire information from her. His search for answers would not come solely from a point of disarming the situation but also genuine curiosity.

Asahi had over many years made numerous toxins and elixirs that took on many forms and held different purposes. A majority of the tests he originally tried on himself but often found no results at all. Initially this was perceived as a failure, but later he confirmed that it was simply that his body's complicated make up from his afflicted blood completely negated their effects. He then employed other methods to run his trials. Some tests were certainly aligned with what could be considered immoral, the same extent that the Twelfth have been quick to apply. The difference here was that this was a matter on the ground he had a responsibility of overseeing, a place that also held the future of the Seireitei. Carelessly subjecting the fledglings to such experimentation and risking their wellbeing only could bring misfortune upon the organization. Any one of the souls in the building could become something special and therefore he found more valuable than most. Not to mention... it was REALLY fun to mess with those who had eyes still glazed with naïvety.

”But you seem curious and I like that! So let us recreate the scenario Nyuraku created, yes!?”

Kai's eagerness to adhere to Asahi's curiosity led to her bringing forth a portion of that same growing fleshy mass into the hall in which they presently resided. The Fifth Seat looked upon it with some odd excitement building in his stomach. The curiosity still remained even with the risks and the thoughts that circled his mind. His smile never faded from his visage for even a moment during it. He brought his non-dominant hand towards his maw and chewed upon the skin of his thumb. He had many questions but would have to narrow them down.

"Having consumed a sample of the experiment I can replicate its conditions to an almost 1:1 ratio! While Kurotsuchi-san and Feng-san have their fun with theirs, we shall have fun with our own!!”

The Clown gave no words but instead stood there watching the clump writhe and expand. Without making a single motion behind what he had already done a set of hornets drew inwards towards him and dug their stingers into his elevated arm. They drew out their own fill of his tainted ichor and then rushed their way directly for the newly spawned specimen. Unaware of how exactly it'd react to direct contact with his Shikai's hive, he commanded them silently to instead spray the obsidian substance upon it. In the first few seconds nothing transpired but then... the effect kicked in. An absolutely insane level of rapid necrosis became apparent. A small dose of his blood would prove to be fatal to most in mere seconds but for this target he had filled multiple of his insectoid friends with it. The corrupted fluid ate away at the cells that worked to replicate and grow the fleshy vessel they belonged to. If it kept restoring itself at the pace it was currently, it would overpower it and eventually dissolve it into something even more unrecognizable. And in the instance that it picked up the slack in defense of itself, it would be improbable for it to be able to combat the toxin in a way that'd allow for significant expansion. Likely being forced into a standstill as more and more of its cells became affected and ate away with their infection.

He had confidence in the effectiveness of his action, but still made sure to gain additional distance from the sprawling mass.



"That's a super cool trick! I do have a question that you may or may not be able to answer! Well... kinda a two parter."

Asahi expressed his interest loudly, still clearly maintaining his energetic personality. Given that she claimed to only be a collector of data and all, he was unsure if she could provide what he wanted. Though to know exactly what was a worthwhile piece of information meant that there was some level of expectation and knowledge to properly record the test. So even if she was not the best source of information, she may know just enough to fuel the Clown's inquiries. His eyes were not focused as much on the other Shinigami but instead it was on the blob that was being aggressively ravaged by an unprecedented level of rot. His right arm remained limp at his side but had a slight increase of Reiryoku trailing through it. It was nothing that was alarming but something that allowed for a future plan to take light, should it be needed.

"It seems as those exposed to your catalyst have undergone some form of cellular assimilation when proximity or... rather contact has been made. Is this some pathogen that is reinforcing and accelerating natural regeneration? And therefore the more cells it has to work with, the more extreme the results. Or is it something more aligned with the masses making use of the subject's spiritual energy to ultimately force some form of over tuned Kaido?"

Still as he spoke he did not avert his gaze from the poisoned flesh. If the need called for it, he'd take more extreme measures to contain that threat. Unlike his peer who was exchanging words with the other scientist, he sought a more direct solution. And with that solution would also come data that he could use for his own concoctions, as well as it could lead towards a deterrent in the future if they made an effort to take a swing at a redo of this experiment.

"Silly me... I didn't consider something. It is completely possible that it's both, eh? Typical cells are only capable of dividing so many times before they are brought to a standstill and die. So maybe the latter possibility acts as a way to breathe new life into the otherwise limited natural process."

His revelation added an extra twinkle to his eyes. Souls may have a significantly longer lifespan than those of the Living World but they too would succumb to age in their own way. Ultimately succumbing to their own time running out. These youthful trainees had a lot to give towards the process that was underhand, so they likely were picked with this in mind. Sure, they could have done this on literally anyone, but these youthful spirits may prove more lucrative to achieving their preferred result.

He physically had locked himself into a reactionary state that would retaliate against the experiment's expansion should his blood fail or become overcome by this dramatic rejuvenation. While mentally he dug his own metaphorical stinger into Kai, seeking to leech any clarification she could provide, hopefully creating a solution and also satiating his growing interest. A single play for answers that could prove lucrative on multiple fronts.

It was time for the starry-eyed shinigami to roll the die. A gamble thrown in with the game the pair had begun to play. Yet even if luck was on his side. Would his newly formed companion, Zhou, be up to the task of handling that which still existed in the originating classroom?

​

 

[DioNaraka]

Asahi was quick on his feet, or rather his mind, to act and take out the newly formed mass of flesh. Having a small group of his swarm sneak about to spray the mass with an unknown substance, a quite dangerous substance at that. All of this was going on without Kai’s knowledge, she didn’t even ponder the thought of someone doing such a thing to her newly sprouted creation. Asahi should have listened to her words more carefully, she said it is almost a 1:1 copy, meaning there are some discrepancies that vary from the original article. That discrepancy is what this mass is truly made of. To the senses of touch and sight it would appear to be flesh, no one can argue against this claim. Punch it or cut it and it would feel as if one is striking or slicing flesh, even a master swordsman or hand-to-hand combatant cannot tell the difference. What will shock them is when it reforms without fail, as if it is a gelatinous substance because, in truth, this duplication is nothing more than slime. The necrosis will happen as it should, however, the decayed flesh withers and reforms itself, the slime plays the part, acting as if it is truly flesh until the damage threshold for said flesh is reached and so it converts itself back into what it truly is.

The mass bubbles and shifts itself until the swarm of insects have completed their mission, or rather run out of the sprayable substance. The odd behavior of Namekujira catches Kai’s attention as she looks at it then back to Asahi with a joyous smile. In the next moment Asahi speaks and so far he has been quite intelligent with his questions so Kai is willing to give him her attention.

"That's a super cool trick! I do have a question that you may or may not be able to answer! Well... kinda a two parter."

Kai nods her head with eagerness, hopping on the mass of flesh she created and using it as a seat, then goes as far as to stop its growth for the time being it is her Zanpakuto afterall.

"It seems as those exposed to your catalyst have undergone some form of cellular assimilation when proximity or... rather contact has been made. Is this some pathogen that is reinforcing and accelerating natural regeneration? And therefore the more cells it has to work with, the more extreme the results. Or is it something more aligned with the masses making use of the subject's spiritual energy to ultimately force some form of over tuned Kaido?"

While asking his question Asahi kept his focus on the now still mass of flesh, where his colleague had failed in stopping anything with his words alone, Asahi had succeeded.

"Silly me... I didn't consider something. It is completely possible that it's both, eh? Typical cells are only capable of dividing so many times before they are brought to a standstill and die. So maybe the latter possibility acts as a way to breathe new life into the otherwise limited natural process."

Kai begins speaking the moment he stops.

”As I said before it is Hojiku-Zai! It is a regenerative serum that can regrow lost limbs or even heal minor injuries! So yes it is reinforcing and accelerating natural regeneration! You were spot on with that one! On the second part of your question you are incorrect! That mounting and building of Reiatsu you feel is a combination of all the subjects assimilated and fused into one on top of which it is being increased by the ever regenerating flesh!”

She throws her arms into the air as she exclaims her last sentence.

”Furthermore, I believe Kaido will have no effect on the mass because no one is injured. No one is physically hurt. If a caterpillar turned into a butterfly is there anything to heal? Of course not! It is the same creature, just taking a new form! No one in that lump is harmed, the students are such cry babies, shouting about drugs and the like. I’m sure once the experiment is concluded they shall be returned to their normal state!”

Asahi’s final question did not need to be addressed as it was already answered. Kai looked towards the original mass, watching as it grew and expanded then her head snapped bag towards the male she had been addressing.

”It's such a nice day! Let's take this class outside!”

Then, with unnatural movements, the mass Kai sits upon slithers towards the corridor blocked off by Asahi. The mass presses itself against it and uses the acidic properties of the slime to melt and consume the barrier. The insects on the other side would be met by a wall of flesh that they would have no way of flying around. Should they remain where they are, the wall of flesh would consume them and continue onward. The mass raced through the hallways with great speed, anyone caught in its path would be engulfed… Then spit out. There was no harm done to them but they would be mentally scared from the gross and horrifying experience of being consumed by a mass of flesh for a brief moment.

”Asahi! Why are you in the Third Division with these simpletons!? A curious mind like yours belongs in Twelfth!”

Kai shouts at Asahi who she assumes is following her through the halls as she rides atop the grotesque mass. Eventually the mass reaches a dead end in the hallway it is traveling down then eats its way through it. Flying outside and over the heads of a Fourth Division hazmat team about to go inside with the rest of their unit. Landing a safe distance away from them. Kai looks puzzled, wondering why they are even on campus with that equipment.

”I thought Nyuraku and Captain Nakamoto were good friends… Why would he send people here to disrupt his experiment?”

The confusion in her voice was genuine, she really had no clue why Captain Nakamoto would do such a thing to a friend, did he not trust Nyuraku to keep things tidy? To be honest he was already doing more than a good enough job at that in her opinion.

 

[Awkward Heals]

Around Junko there was nothing but silence. As if a collective breath was being held by not just her fellow squad members but the students and teachers as well. She could feel the many eyes that looked intently upon her, waiting for her next move. This had already been decided, although how exactly she was to go about her plan still eluded her. Any information at this stage was important, but most significantly would be any view into the inner workings of Nyuraku's bizarre way of thinking. He was most certainly a man of reason, though the situation before her begged to differ on that account. Why would any rational soul decide to inflict such misery on mere students? What could be...


Her head lifted abruptly from the slumped thinking position she had wound up in, eyes darting around her. The sights she had seen since entering were indeed disturbing. All the same, nobody was actually injured. If the man had wished for harm to come to them, the students would be easy enough prey for him. Pushing away her disdain for the forms some of the students now donned, she was left with only one solution.


Nyuraku had no intention of hurting anyone.


The sound of soft steps filled the hall, the small woman walking back and forth as she considered this information. If she was correct, then what would be the logical reason for behaving as he did? He had to believe it was not a bad action, but a necessary one. Medically, one may suffer due to the nature of their injury and how it must be dealt with. Scientifically..... An experiment? She could think of no other reason why such effects would be cast upon these unsuspecting souls. If not to cause them pain alone, rationally one would only inflict any type of injury or strange effects simply to test how they would react in the first place. Rants from students they had seen told a story of the very same man having been at the school releasing a strange substance not too long ago. She had dismissed such stories at face value, deeming them to be from the trauma they were enduring. If true, then such had happened before. Yet she had not been called in nor did any patients arrive at the hospital due to any type of exposure to a substance. Could he...reverse the effects? Was it only temporary? Whatever happened to be the case, it solidified Junko's line of thinking. Nyuraku was the key to ending this. But how to convince him? Surely he was happily gathering data---


Her train of thought derailed, a slight flex in an unknown person's reiatsu somewhere beneath them. And it was only getting closer.


In tune with the woman's every move, every head had swiveled in the direction she had looked. Those able to sense what she could were immediately warned, though the others had little time before they received their own answer. Down the hall the shinigami was travelling, coming closer to their location while being a floor below, simple wooden framed windows and doors rattling in their tracks and jambs. The sound grew louder as the source drew closer, Junko swiftly moving away from the center of the hallway, curious if the floor would perhaps collapse on its own or if something would break its way through.


"Move to the outer walls!"


Although her squad had followed her shift, she called out loudly to the students and teachers in the area. Awaiting the arrival from below, Junko was somewhat surprised that whatever was causing the commotion had pressed forward, launching outside of the building itself. A perplexed look on her face, for a moment Junko could only stare at the strange thing that seemed to be granting a ride to someone. Pressing her lips together, she repressed the urge to give chase. Currently, there was no merit in a pursuit. She trusted those by her side to handle themselves, evading the one who she could only assume was a member of Twelve. For now, she needed to focus on what she did know. Turning on her heel she began to move, quickly striding through the vast building to where she had felt Nyuraku's presence in the beginning. The destruction of the lower floor was not nearly as dramatic as one would have expected from all the racket that was made. Though clearly the strange thing that person had ridden had gone straight through walls rather than navigate its way through the halls.


"How does Nakamoto-Taichou enjoy dealing with..-"


Her mumbled rant was stopped by her realization. Though she hadn't seen them interact with her own eyes, her Captain did appear to have at least some type of fondness for the squad. And despite his warnings to Fourth of Nyuraku's strange appearance and behavior, he had never actually spoken badly of the man. It was a jump of an assumption from this to believe they could be friends, but perhaps they were on friendly enough terms. Perhaps it was why Junko and the rest of the hazmat squad had not received any interference. Regardless, it was time. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Junko put out a hand to those behind her. They needed nothing else to know to stay back. Moving forward, she entered the area to quite a bizarre sight. Nyuraku stood alone, appearing somewhat bored and irritated. Near him stood a man Junko assumed was an instructor, his Zanpakuto pressed firmly against one of the strange blobs of students so large it dwarfed all those she had witnessed before. Exhale. Junko removed her hood, bright eyes landing on Nyuraku with a large smile typical for her, though confusion blended in. She could only hope she had deduced the situation correctly and could say the right words to soothe the man. She didn't dare allow herself another glance to the instructor, certain her sympathy for his situation and those trapped within the being he seemed to be holding would show on her face.


"Ah, Nyuraku-san! I'm surprised to see you here, I had thought you'd be overseeing the Games. I can see the call for my services was unnecessary. Nakamoto-Taichou has been so busy with his forced participation in the Games he must have forgotten to inform me about your experiment,"


Pausing, Junko removed her phone from her sash. It appeared as though the first round was still not complete, leaving her Captain still unreachable. She clicked her tongue in disapproval.


"he appears to still be busy. Could we perhaps reschedule your testing when I can reach him? It seems everyone is getting a little overexcited over the situation. I think the process would be much smoother for you if he were present."

​

 

[GhostSnake]

The Hakuda instructor withdraws his zanpakuto, more confident this time in the strength of the spiritual lock he applied lasting longer. The Instructor's frustration towards the scientist becomes almost palpable, yet Nyuraku himself remains oblivious to the aggravation he has caused and is causing the man. Zhou has asked the man twice to resolve this issue, and twice has received tacit denial through seemingly being ignored by the man. It is unfortunate that, while Zhou has asked twice the method he had done so is a manner that goes over Nyuraku's head. So used to being an agent of the Onmitsukido, approaching the situation like a covert mission, carefully planning every word spoken, seeking the use of deception and misdirection the Instructor is incapable of perceiving the obvious. His reiatsu courses both through and around him, prepping the use of his spiritual power when Lieutenant Izumi enters the scene. Having just missed Nyuraku's colleague she prioritizes the scene before her, the one involving Kurotsuchi and Instructor Feng.

"Ah, Nyuraku-san! I'm surprised to see you here, I had thought you'd be overseeing the Games."

"Hmmm? Why would I bother with something as silly and idiotic as those games?"
​

Successfully drawing his attention, Nyuraku turns to address her in kind, confused on what would possibly make her believe he'd be interested in a game of mindless barbarism.

"I can see the call for my services was unnecessary."

"Naturally. Why, me and this specimen over here were just wondering why you all were here. I told him, what point was there in bothering Captain Nakamoto's people when I was right here and more than capable of resolving any ailments or abnormalities."

In his delusion, he remains ignorant that HE is the issue at hand, and falsely perceives him and Zhou having had anything that could actually be labeled as a discussion. Dismissing the Instructor's tangent and rambling while one sidedly speaking at his own leisure, Nyuraku has failed in an actual exchange of words between him and his fellow shinigami. His warped assessment of the situation causes him to perceive Lieutenant Izumi to be a woman of reason, echoing his own previous words, though for different reasons unbeknownst to him.

"Nakamoto-Taichou has been so busy with his forced participation in the Games he must have forgotten to inform me about your experiment,"

"IT'S JUST AS I THOUGHT. WHY WOULD MY PRECIOUS FRIEND PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING SO BENEATH HIM?! Really, what is the Commander thinking? For a remarkable physical specimen he sure is lacking in intelligence...though I suppose that such a thing is typical of those blessed with a physicality outside the norm, while the intelligent such as I w-"

"He appears to still be busy. Could we perhaps reschedule your testing when I can reach him? It seems everyone is getting a little overexcited over the situation. I think the process would be much smoother for you if he were present."

Reflexively reacting to Junko's words, he focuses only on the fact that Captain Nakamoto was forced into the games, missing the attempted deception in her words. There was no way Captain Nakamoto would have known about Nyuraku's decision to experiment as he himself hadn't left his lab to converse with anyone about it, not even Kai. He begins to go off on his own little tangent only to have it abruptly brought to an end by Junko's intervention. The Brainiac falls into silence, his saucer like eyes blinking out of sequence with one another. Folding his arms he lets out a disgruntled sigh before mumbling and then finally tossing his hands into the air.

"Oh fine! I don't understand why anyone would get worked up over something like an experiment. Do they not know who I am?! As if anything could go wrong on my watch! Though I did get to glean some unexpected bits, its impossible to account for every single variable you see. That's the beauty of science!"

As he speaks the man shuffles over towards the mesh of flesh, walking past Zhou Feng while reaching into his sterilized lab coat, retrieving a single syringe, its green liquid contents sloshing around inside the vial. He circles around the fleshy mountain, patting here and there, feet still shuffling about. It was practically impossible to determine where one student ended and where another began, and what place was actually vulnerable to damage and what place was safe.

Impossible for someone other than Nyuraku Kurotsuchi perhaps.

Coming back around he stops, glancing over his work before silently inserting the needle. With a push of his thumb he begins injecting the contents of the syringe into the mass of flesh. It seemed silly to observe, as the syringe was only so large and thus realistically what it contained shouldn't be enough to make it through every fused student. But-

'PLOP'

After nearly a minute and a half the fleshy blob begins to shake where it had once been still, thanks to the Instructor's Zanpakuto. A single student is expelled from the pile of flesh, dropping onto the ground, naked and curled into the fetal position, their body covered in a strange milky membrane.

'PLOP'
'PLOP'

Two more students are expelled, both naked and covered in the strange milky substance as well. The rate and frequency in which the students are expelled increases in pace, the mutated fleshy mass shrinking in size. With so many students it will take some time, but, it becomes clear that everyone would be freed. Nyuraku reaches down, retrieving yet another syringe, this one absent of anything inside. Going towards one of the milky puddles he retrieves a sample, bringing it up eye level with a Giddy expression. He sighs as he raises up to his hunched height.

"I suppose you'll want me to do the same for everyone else affected when these dullards released my fumes out into the open? Very well. Lieutenant Izumi, send my regards to Captain Nakamoto! If I have any progress I'll perhaps share them at the next Lieutenant's meeting. Until then I suppose....now, where in the world has Kai gone off to?"

Junko upon realizing that none of the students were actually harmed, accurately determines that it was because Nyuraku himself never meant to harm anyone. Though his experiment was just that...an experiment, and despite his abysmally low EQ, Nyuraku is a Shinigami of the Gotei 13, and places actual value in that. While Zhou relied heavily on deception and wordplay to try and bring the experiment to an end, what he failed to try was simple honesty. Had they simply told the man to stop and turn the students back, told him that he was currently causing more harm than good he would have (begrudgingly) ceased his experimentation to perhaps move elsewhere, somewhere it would be more appreciated...or simply save it for a more convenient time. Retrieving his little wagon housing the multitude of gadgets and gizmos he had brought along with him, he begins walking off, in search of Kai and any wandering affected subjects.

What's still concerning is something the man had said as if it were simple casual conversation. He told Junko that he would see her at the next Lieutenant's meeting. Did he intent on barging into the First Division at the time?! He was certainly mad enough to brazenly do such a thing or...could he be-

 

[Zhou_Feng]

With his last few words, Zhou was ignorant to exactly what had lit within him. The instructor’s gaze still bore a stoic look, but there seemed to be something knocking. It wasn’t something that he could hear, but it was something he could definitely feel. The repetitious knocking couldn’t have been his heart – or was it? Was it beating faster than before? Upon a brief examination, it seemed to be that it wasn’t. Instead, it was something different. Wondering the source of this feeling, he was briefly distracted, only for the two of them to be intercepted with Junko Izumi – the lieutenant of the 4th division. Without fail, the green-eyed shinigami began to act. Done through her words rather than her actions, she immediately took matters into her own hands through verbal interaction with Nyurakū.

Zoning out for a brief moment, the two interchanged words all the while Zhou was in his own mind, drifting off.

“My my… It seems like today… truly is a day of learning.”

The voice was sultry, but it trailed off as if there was something more it wanted to say. Zhou was silent as he could almost ‘feel’ something touching his shoulder. He didn’t look over in the slightest, but at the same time via his peripherals, he could visualize what seemed to be the manifestation of the female that he had grown quite acquainted with over the last one hundred years. With a lack of response on his end, Zhou remained quiet as the situation involving the students still was at a standstill, the three of them now there, as the two of them engaged in conversation concerning Captain Yū.

“Don’t ignore me. You called me out today for a reason, didn’t you? And now with you using your power…”

The being said with giggle, her voice trailing off as her elbows were placed over his shoulders, her arms dangling over the male’s chest. At this point, Zhou could practically feel her warm breath hitting against the side of his ear.

“You can feel that heat, don’t you? That lingering feeling residing in your chest? You tried so hard to remediate the situation… You tried to discuss it with this man over and over … Twice you’ve asked… What if something were to happen? What if they were to die because of your lack of ability to do anything…?”

Zhou’s grip was vice-like. His arm began to shake, but surprisingly, his facial expression did not change from that stoic, lackluster visage that he bore for as long as he could remember.

“Calm down, it’ll be fine. There’s nothing wrong with the students. Not to mention, there’s absolutely nothing you could’ve done in your own physical prowess to save them. I mean, you’re a ɹǝllıʞ. Your path is stained in 🆁🅴🅳 and your past will forever be a path you take. I was there; I’ve seen it all. Imagine failing at something that you’ve wanted to do. ”

Zhou looked to the side, spotting what seemed to be a syringe that the bug-eyed male retrieved from his lab coat. That is when something else had donned upon him: what if that Syringe had led to another monstrosity? What if upon usage, even more lives would’ve been placed at risk. Time itself seemed to slow down to an absolute stand-still. He wanted to move, but for some reason, he was held in place, similar to the blob of flesh that wasn’t too far away. Zhou’s spiritual pressure began to rise, it was more than what it was previously, pouring out of his very being as he stood there, a firm grasp on his weapon, his breathing uncontrolled. His mind is filled with images that didn’t affect him before, but now, were. After the syringe had seeped inside, after the infamous figure had pushed the contents into the being, Zhou knew there was absolutely nothing he could do. One might ask why his mind had changed within this time – It was because of the fact that Zhou was used to betrayal in different aspects of his life – trusting, being honest, the truth was that the world in his mind was a compilation of lies built upon a foundation of one truth: Duty.

“And this… This, Zhou, is…”

Anxiety.

Even though it definitely was not the first time, Zhou’s once controlled reiatsu seeped out, surrounding his entire body, but did so in an uncontrolled way. For some reason, Zhou was unable to move in the slightest. He wasn’t used to this, nor was he truly aware of what he was doing. The catalyst of him attempting to bring his emotions to the surface was something that was going to back-fire, but he hadn’t known just the severity of what he was asking for! He wanted to bring back something he had locked away more than a century ago. With his feelings and emotions having a part to play within his will – his very spiritual power, his essence, his reasoning, his being, it all stunted his growth severely. Like a geyser ready to erupt, the space around him literally began to become inaccessible, like a barrier that had been erected around his being. Although at first it was no more than an inch or two from his body, it began to spread like a disease to the surrounding space that occupied nothing. This effect was unrefined just as much as it was uncontrolled. There was nothing artistic in the creation whatsoever, but at the same time, one would at first surmise that this effect was something akin to paralysis. One didn’t feel fear, one didn’t feel pain, but the surrounding area around them was just inaccessible. Zhou literally began to hyperventilate, wanting to grab his chest, but unable to due to his own power stopping him from moving in the slightest. Beads of sweat raced down his forehead, his body unable to even shake like the natural response would have been. With the entirety of space being locked, the access to air, the access to be able to move the body in a normal function (chest rising and falling, movement of limbs, even blinking) was something that was deprived from everyone within a 5 yard radius. Despite the effects though, it was uncontrolled and unrefined. It was not on par with even the first lock he created on the blob of flesh that stood before them.

“This… This is exactly why you should’ve stayed in the Second Division. You should have done exactly what was required of you, and you shouldn’t have ventured off. You’re weak and you’re a liability to those around you. The only thing you’re persistent in doing is killing because that is what you were trained to do. Control your breathing and get yourself back under control. Just … let it all go and lock it all away.”

Space itself literally began to unseal, unraveling as the male was able to breathe normally once more. After this brief exchange that lasted no more than five seconds, Zhou collapsed onto one knee with his weapon falling to the ground, reverting from it’s Shikai state. He wasn’t sure what had happened, but the seeds of doubts began to flood his mind once more. Standing back up to his feet, he brushed himself off as he finally sheathed his sword, placing it where it originally belonged.

It may have not been evident to anyone else, even to Zhou himself, but the male had constantly been chasing something that he had a full experience with over and over again today – From his meeting with Asahi, feeling the effects of the smaller one’s reiatsu, then with the mixed feelings with Nyurakū. All of this came to a head, and led to a discovery of something that could have blossomed years and years prior. This self discovery was something that was subdued due to Zhou’s own ability taking hold of his very life.


“Gomen.”

Zhou finally said as the flesh began to shuffle back and forth before excreting a male from the grotesque blob. Zhou, picking himself up, didn’t even acknowledge what he had just done, other than the dry apology he had given the lot of them. In truth, Zhou didn’t know that his spiritual pressure affected them in the slightest due to his mind being distracted. In truth, it was more so concerning him not paying attention and collapsing onto the ground. After this, Zhou began to call members of the third to grab any spare towels for the students. With a display of his overall tenacity, Zhou swiftly removed himself from his position and like a flash Zhou began to alert the number of faculty on guard as to what to do.

In very little time, a number of third division’s members began assisting in wrapping up the students, providing them with care as some cried their hearts out, some were rather enthusiastic about what had transpired, others were grossed out because of how wet and slimy their bodies were. Regardless, with the situation being handled, it was a display that it was time for lectures to intensify as they didn’t know how to handle this challenge that was faced with them. Even with his disappearance from the scene currently, his mind was still fixated on how to make them even better – and the answer he concluded to was time in the world of the living.

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