DEMONIC CYTOKINE: FLASHPOINT

Sero would watch as the city in the sky shifted. He would feel it move beneath him and hear the strain of metal and alarmed screams. The smell of smoke pouring into the air filling his senses but distantly. He could taste the difference in the air now that an act of violence had occured in their precious man made heaven. He wondered how had they not foreseen this? An atrocity where it would wound them the most. Besides that how had he been powerless to stop it? Perhaps he had been thinking about it too thoroughly. He was not very good at preventing things terrible from happening. Short of being the reason they shouldn't. What Sero did and he did well was avenge. He would always turn his claws on the enemy of humanity. Despite not being human himself the enemy of humanity usually included them. People were simple to take apart. A limb here...their lungs punctured. Their flesh rendered. It was more of a challenge to find new ways to kill them really. However today this abomination hated by so many of these humans would not be fighting other humans for them. Today a monster was going to help fight another monster.

So he had moved towards the location these humans fled from. Cold blue eyes intent on moving forward as the crowd parted around him. Even panicked and fleeing their fear they still felt his presence. Instinctively herding around him to avoid getting to close. He had no need to change his own path. A straight line towards this power he felt. It felt so familiar. He would cross barefoot along under a pass as the island shuddered. He realized something as his white robes lifted a little around him. They were falling...Not too quickly but he felt lighter on his feet certainly. Almost as if he could jump easier. An oddity. Whatever had caused this disturbance had done so at the danger to the emporium. It made sense for the humans to evacuate. The fall would likely kill many of them if they did not...though it could not kill him. He would survive this even if the entire emporium came upon his head. He would find his freedom again and then kill those responsible...for now his attention was drawn to that strange power. Growing ever stronger and stirring something within him. Something menacing in nature. Something he had spoken to before..

Sero would emerge to a section that was already demolished and abandoned by the emporium and its inhabitants. Here his eyes stared up at this flying fortress of a monster. It appealed to him within but he could not ascertain why. Its massive power was greater than his own...he could physically feel that. He had not often felt outclassed at a mere glance but there was a pressure here. Blue eyes studied this impossible creature a moment before his calm returned. He knew there was more to it. His right hand would raise as he concentrated. The creature within him reaching out through him. It wanted to put a stop to this...he could feel that much but how....His hand would shift slowly from one end of the image before him and then to the other. Slowly coming to a stop and Hovering there as he closed his eyes. The others fighting it already were a distraction. But he reached. He could feel a chakra like the one within him...fueling it....empowering it...endlessly cycling raw chakra into this creature. It was not yet aware of Sero but he found something...in its abdomen there was something vital....something he could do something about. His blue eyes opened as he now contemplated how to actually get there.

The engines of Kitsuki's Quantum Meruit flight suit roared as she sped towards the floating island. Kit, Zizz, Rei, and Katsumi were fast approaching the smoking landmass and as they got closer, the full horror of the Indaina Kujira came into view. Just as Rei's analysis predicted, the beast was a Bijuu with wholly unnatural qualities. Zizz who was now clinging to Kit's shoulder began to flex her wings at an even greater intensity as the group stared down at the gargantuan demon.

ⴰ ⴱⵉⵊⵓⵓ ⵛⵔⴻⴰⵜⴻⴷ ⴱⵢ ⵎⴰⵏⴽⵉⵏⴷ.....

Zizz would have said more in Mende but she eyed the blob suspiciously. The creature was smart enough to recognize and reproduce her signals. She didn't want the glop eavesdropping on her conversation. The Angel fumed at the chastisement it had received earlier. Rei claimed that it had lacked guidance in the past and that she should try to understand his perspective before judging him. She knew he was right. Her creators had told her that the reason they had paired Angels with hosts was so that their overriding drive for justice could be tempered with the mercy and perspective of other sentient beings. They were not designed to be unilateral judges of the universe, but merely messengers and assistants to those who could serve the greater good. Unlike a Bijuu which sought to control the host or break free from the shackles of their will, Angels willingly subordinated themselves to their host and allowed their power to be directed as the host saw fit. Kit had told her to play nice with Rei and Katsumi and so she would, but that didn't mean she was going to take his words at face value.

So instead of using Mende she took to communicating to Kitsuki in a way that the beast could not read. The two were fully in-sync now that she was fully awakened and so an entire conversation could pass between them with a single thought. While on their journey, they agreed that they'd need to look for Okane last. There were people on the Emporium that needed to be evacuated, the Bijuu which needed to be fought and of course the wicked opportunists who would try to commit several year's worth of crimes on the once peaceful city.

"Okay guys we're here!" Kitsuki announced. The Princess folded her wings and dive bombed towards the city. They had entered the stratosphere for most of the journey so as to avoid being seen by the beast or its controllers. As they sped towards the smoking buildings, they could see Xenobeats wreaking havoc below. They were like a sea of black ants consuming the city. They clung to buildings, chased down civilians and attacked the ninja brave enough to take them on. Looming above it all was the artificial Bijuu, roaring in defiance as it battled Emporium's bravest. A few shinobi were trying to hit its weak points and from her Angel's eye view, Kit could spy several things: a sea of black flames coating its spine, a white haired alien surrounded by a set of disturbingly still shinobi, and a lone warrior creating corpse mountains of Xenobeasts.

ⴰⵍⵍ ⵜⵀoⵙⴻ pⴻopⵍⴻ....ⵡⴻ ⵀⴰⵠⴻ ⵜo ⵀⴻⵍp ⵜⵀⴻⵎ ⴽⵉⵜ! ⴳo!

She tightened her grip on her cane and began to bob and weave around buildings. She occasionally struck the insectoid aliens with her cane while still holding Katsumi in her gelatin form. She looked for a good place to land while keeping an eye out for those in need. Their course of action would partly depend on Zizz and Rei's strategy. The two sisters weren't particularly gifted in that area. The Reibi appeared to have intricate knowledge of the beast. It wasn't entirely surprising given how intelligent it was. Few people could understand Mende and fewer still could translate it so fluently.

"What's the play Rei?" Kit called out using the being's name. Whatever tension existed between their team needed to be diffused. There were bigger things happening right now than a couple of entities' petty feuds. As she flew, she spied a familiar form standing on a roof top alone with his hand outstretched.

No. Fucking. ⵡⴰⵢ

Rei had listened in carefully, but was not going to respond to the angel, at Katsumi’s request.  Their priority was this monstrosity in front of them, and whatever quarrels they had, they could conquer later when this was dealt with.  The feeling of flight, though, was one that Katsumi and Rei both were going to remember distinctly; the sheer freedom of it.  The speed.  It was something that was absolutely amazing and they would have to see about replicating.  Considering that she could transform her body, it wasn’t outside the realm of possibility to have wings of some sort, but that was some experimentation for a later date.  They then dive bombed towards the city, and she could make out the ninja who were on site doing their best in their own ways.  She noted one group that was holding off wave after wave of the xeno beasts while a massive number of civilians were being evacuated, and was happy to see ninja from all villages banding together and fighting this common enemy.

As the woman swooped low, intent on killing a few of the Xenobeasts, a tendril of slime emerged from the bottom of Katsumi’s body, wrapping around a Xenobeast underneath them.  There was a series of ugly bone-rending crunches as the slime enveloped the struggling creature for a moment and consumed it like a wet noodle.  “Organic.  Blood is somewhat acidic.  They hold Chakra as well.  Tough exoskeleton, but nothing problematic.  Based on what I have seen, there are a series of weakpoints that will bring this down if enough are eliminated.  In this area is something that is feeding this thing Bijuu Chakra, which is something we are uniquely equipped to handle.  However, your strength is needed elsewhere.  The creature has a self-defense mechanism that can spawn creatures infinitely and will eventually overrun everyone here.  It is near the tail area, the spot we saw glowing red from above.”

The shift to Katsumi was quick and concise as she tracked the gaze of her younger sister to a man standing off to the side by himself.  She didn’t know who he was right off, but she knew a Kiri ninja when she saw it.  “Maybe I can get that guy to help me find the thing?  He’s from our village I think, and we are gonna need all the help we can get.  Let’s set down there, eh?”  Katsumi didn’t know what bad blood they had, but she wasn’t going to let that get in the way from meeting someone new and getting their help in bringing this thing down.  They didn’t have time to bring up drama when they had people dying around them.

[1]

WC: 472
TWC: 472

Kitsuki and Zizz were barely listening to Rei. Most of their attention was on the individual standing on the rooftop and engaging with the Inadina Kujira that hovered above them. The young man was the infamous cult leader that had deeply entrenched himself into shinobi society. Sero had gone from living on the outskirts of Kiri to leading two of the village's most prominent clans. The only thing darker than his influence over national politics was that aura he projected. Just thinking about their first encounter in his cave disturbed her. He appeared to be interfacing with the Indaina Kujira somehow and immediately she assumed the worst.

Kit was vaguely aware that Katsumi had wanted to be dropped near him but her instincts spoke against. Still, she needed to find out what Sero was doing here and if his intentions were to help rather than hurt.

"I know him. He's from Kirgakure but he's usually anything but helpful"

Sero would be able to hear the deafening roar of Kitsuki's flight suit as she approached. She tossed her gelatinous sister onto the roof but continued to hover 6 feet above them while she eyed Sero. The jinchurikki's monstrous aura was like an eternal toxic presence. It kept her alert and on edge at all times.

"What are you doing here Sero?" Kitsuki didn't think he was behind this attack but she couldn't be sure of it. If he was here to help then that she could abide by that but leaving her sister alone with him was a risk that she wasn't sure she could take.

Sero would lower his hand as cold blue eyes turned to an approaching sound. He stood his ground but it was true he was far more alert. Given who was approaching he had to be. The woman he had met in the cave who pointed an arrow at him. Who surrounded him with a team and threatened him. He had been alone then and so very weak. Now however it was clear that he had risen significantly in power. Not even attempting to hide the Jinchurikee chakra he had. Nor would he know how to. Still just like before his eyes never blinked and he stood very still as the flying woman and her passenger approached. Of course he knew who she was now but he would not bow to her. Not even a salute. For she was not Sayuri. She was just a possible threat to him at all times. Waiting for him to slip up and pounce. She had waited for years now and even now with all his service she doubted him. His sense of duty given for free and no money to control him. Which meant no amount of money could bribe him. Between that thing in the sky and that woman...she felt like more of a threat.

Eyes wouldn't do more than shift a moment to the landing individual she had dropped off before returning to Kit. A part of him was tempted not to provide her with an answer. Just to stoke those fires of paranoia she had towards him. A moment of silence hung in the air except for the sounds of her flight. In hover mode it didn't seem too loud but it amused him that she chose to hover just out of reach. The battle continuing with the kaiju in the background. However there was too much to be done to play these games with her. The beast within him seemed to surge his energy towards the creature. Almost desperate for him to help destroy it. Even if the five tails didn't react to the creature Sero would be intent on doing his own damage to it. It was a danger to too many innocents as it was. Spawning creatures and given life at the expense of anyone left on the falling island...they didn't have time...So Sero would respond in his usual monotone voice. Though it carried easily to his guests.

"The emporium is a place that accepts those from all walks of life. Even if their leaders can not. I was here for the festival and investigating some disturbing rumors regarding Kumogakure. However as of now I intend to destroy that creature for the crimes committed by it. Do you intend to attempt to prevent this action?"

The amount of disdain in Kitsuke's voice was a bit disheartening.  She had heard that tone before, born of bad experiences and interactions with a particular individual, something she had heard all too much, but from people who hadn't bothered to give her a chance.  All they saw was a failure when it came from her parents, unable to perform the most basic of Jutsu.  Disdain from her temporary team she had been assigned when the war broke out, even when they were under attack from the enemy.  Even dying, they cursed her, as they blamed Katsumi for them being targetted and ambushed as though she had somehow chosen for that all to happen simply by existing.  While it was frustrating to hear that sort of tone from Kit, it was very possible that she had a good reason, and that would be the focus, but on that same token, she would form her own opinion for herself.  Just like she would want others to do for her.

Sero.  That name rang a bell.

While not a super high priority at the moment, Rei began to dig through their combined memory to discover who this person was.  Kitsuke dropped her and stayed hovering, and the beach ball slime bounced once off the surface and then transformed almost instantly into her proper form.  Dressed in her normal outfit, she listened for a moment to the two talking and then stepped forward.  "We don't have time for this.  Whatever quarrel you two got?  It can wait until we get back to the village.  This fucking thing is killing people and is gonna do a whole helluva lot more if we just stand around glaring at each other."  She didn't want to step on toes... hell, who was she kidding.  She loved to step on toes... but not Kitsuke's, but the fact of the matter was that they all had a job to do and they weren't going to be able to do it like this.

She turned towards Kitsuke first, her blue eyes prominently locking onto her sister's.  She didn't have a single ounce of military authority over Kitsuke, but she was her older sister, and that should hold a little bit of weight at least to her words.  "Tail Section.  Big red dot.  Me, Rei, and this guy will take care of whatever is here."  She waited a moment to get some full acknowledgment from her sister, and then turned towards Sero.  "Katsumi Kurahasa, her elder sister.  You ready to kill this thing?"  It wasn't even a doubt in her mind either.  A simple fact, laid out, as though it was already done.  The confidence she carried herself with was not something born out of arrogance either; she simply didn't see a way that they failed.

[2]
WC: 507
TWC: 978

Kitsuki bristled with annoyance as Sero criticized her. He claimed he was "investigating" Kumogakure when the Indaina Kujira attacked. He added that his intention was to help destroy the monster. When he asked Kit if she intended to stop him, she didn't reply. Instead, she gave him a cold stare. She did not trust him. She did not trust the company he kept. "We don't have time for this.  Whatever quarrel you two got?  It can wait until we get back to the village.  This fucking thing is killing people and is gonna do a whole helluva lot more if we just stand around glaring at each other." Katsumi's words cut through the tension like a knife through butter. Kit wasn't use to taking orders these days but in the past she had always followed her big sister's lead. That was because most of the time her instincts were right. Sero had stated his intention was to help take down this Bijuu and given his unique power set, he just might be an invaluable ally in the war against it. If he was lying and his aims were to help the beast or take advantage of the chaos, then Kat would handle him. The Angelic Princess matched Kat's gaze and nodded.

She's right there's no time to argue. We need to take whatever help we can get and sort out the details later.
ⵔⵉⴳⵀⵜ. ⵜⵀⴻⵔⴻ ⴰⵔⴻ ⵍⵉⵠⴻⵙ ⴰⵜ ⵙⵜⴰⴽⴻ. ⵙⴰⵠⵉⵏⴳ ⵜⵀⴻ ⵉⵏⵏoⵛⴻⵏⵜ ⵛoⵎⴻⵙ ⴱⴻⴼoⵔⴻ pⵓⵏⵉⵙⵀⵉⵏⴳ ⵜⵀⴻ ⵡⵉⵛⴽⴻⵜ ⴰⵏⴷ ⵉ ⵙⴻⴻ ⴰ ⴱⵉⴳ ⵔⴻⴷ ⴱⵓⴱⴱⵍⴻ ⵜⵀⴰⵜ ⵏⴻⴻⴷⵙ ⴱⵓⵔⵙⵜⵉⵏⴳ.


For once, Rei and Zizz were on the same page. The energy source at the bottom of the Catalyst's tail appeared to be guarded by a shield of some kind. A shield that only someone as strong as Kitsuki could break through. The Angel slowly hovered away from the building but not before replying to her sister.

"Okay, I'll take care of the tail and help thin this herd but I'll send Zizz to check in on you occasionally." The implication was obvious: Kitsuki still didn't trust Sero. In case the jinchurikki was a bit dense, she looked him in the eye and said: "Do what you can to help. You hurt her or anyone else and you'll answer to me."

With the warning provided, Kitsuki jetted off in the direction of the Quark Transmodifer. Her rate of acceleration increased as she aimed for the bright red construct housed at its abdomen. She didn't know who summoned this beast or what its goals were but she was going to make it regret attacking Okane's city.

This is going to hurt you a lot more than its going to hurt me!

3 Posts of Flight

[Exit]

Katsumi smiled gently towards Kitsuke and Zizz, knowing that the threat that was issued was not hollow.  “You think I’m weak or somethin’?” she said, joking for a moment.  The next thing to speak was Rei, who spoke to Zizz directly mentally.  ⵜⴰⴽⴻ ⵛⴰⵔⴻ, ⵍⵉⵜⵜⵍⴻ ⴰⵏⴳⴻⵍ.  ⵡⴻ ⵛoⵏⵜⵉⵏⵓⴻ oⵓⵔ ⴷⵉⵙⵛⵓⵙⵙⵉoⵏ ⵙooⵏ.  Everything said, she watched Kitsuke take off, and then turned towards Sero, shaking her head a little bit while looking at the ground.  Whatever bad blood they had, she wasn’t going to let it affect her own judgment.

Shit had hit the fan, and now the sky was falling.

There was an absolute mountain of stuff that needed to be sorted through before she could say that she was going to be at peace with anything that had happened so far.  Why had Kitsuke not searched for her in three years?  Why was she left there to be tormented by her own ravenous hunger, but unable to die from it, for so long?  What was the purpose of her surviving the encounter and now that she was free, what was she going to do next?  The questions piled up, but there were no good answers.  But before she could really start to dig into finding answers to those questions, something had happened up here and it required both of their attention directly and without delay.  She could recall, perfectly, this floating island as it had traveled across the land constantly, sometimes flying directly overhead, but being too high up, she had been unable to form any kind of signal to get someone’s attention there.  Now it was under attack by a monstrosity that was nigh unimaginable.

We aren’t trying to die after just getting free, right?
Of course not… but there is something odd about this creature.  Like myself, they seem to be some sort of artificial Bijuu.
Alright… why are we going after it again?
If we do not, it is quite likely it will destroy this world.
That strong huh?  Intelligent?
Unknown… but instinctive certainly.  Malice radiates from it.  I doubt it will become friendly.
Well shit… let’s go save the planet.
Quite.

The conversation with her entity had happened in a fraction of a second, and she looked towards Sero and gave him a smile.  “Little sisters… am I right?” she said, chuckling.

[3]
WC: 444
TWC: 1,422

Kit would threaten him again and his brow would furrow. He was growing rather tired of her threatening him every time they met. He had done nothing but good for the village and she still spearpointed the campaign against him. Even as she left he would glare after her in silence. She was an impossible woman but at least she listened to reason when it came from someone other than himself. He wouldn't miss her if she died here. Still he would do nothing to contribute to her death short of her attacking him. She at least tried to do good by here people...other than him of course...so he didn't really consider him her people...he was Sayuris. Sero would watch her sisters loud and obvious approach in silence. His cold eyes watching her with her background being the great beast. If nothing else her timing to gain trust was as best it could be given the situation. However somehow Sero felt like all three were connected....as if fate was weaving them together and this beast could not be undone without all the parts to the puzzle. Still she was so very casual with him. His hands rose to fold into themselves before deep sleeves covered them. He would not be caught unprepared for a close range encounter. By the look of her she knew her way around a sword. They prefered keeping combat at close range more often than not. Where as Sero was a good mid to long range combatant. Though not a poor close range one either. If it came to that though he had devised countermeasures to close range combat and even inherited some top tier versions. Still he did not move his chakra yet. Did not move his fingers. He was letting her closer....letting her take her ground...if she were truthful though...if she really was just here for that...which was an arguable case to be had....he would do no good smiting her.

Still before he could answer a roar erupted from the great beast. Its scales would fly off as it flapped its massive wings and begin crashing into the emporium. Small little things... about the size of a young adult. Spheres of scales that rained down and with a crash scattered about the surface all around the creature. However each of these scales housed chakra. With another cry from the beast the scales would crack and out would pop four claw like legs....before it would open in the center and a single eye would appear with crab like claws. It would look around for a moment before by the dozens they would start hunting people. Launching at C rank speeds and cutting down anyone they could find. Scale hunters like murderous crabs. Sero would not hesitate to this new threat. He would merely turn his cold blue eyes back to the girl. His voice calm despite the sudden chaos and bloodshed.

"I wouldn't know...there are none like me."

As he spoke his hands within his sleeves began their hidden movements. His chakra surging into his spine and creating bone at the base of it. Rat, dog, tiger, scorpion and finished with snake. Two of the crabs would spot him and turn. Rushing at him before launching into the air. Beant on tearing him apart. Yet Sero did not seem to move. Instead he took the attacks head on. However the crabs would pass through him. A nearly black murky version of him only temporarily broke where they had cut. He would mutter a word..."Pests" before a fifteen meter long bone tail covered in blades would slice through both of them at B rank speed rending them both to bits. His blue eyes returning to the woman...and how she intended to contribute. There was a great deal between them and the target.....and wide scale jutsu may catch others in its wake.

Katsumi turned her sapphire eyes towards the man named Sero, and despite knowing that he was under some level of scrutiny from her sister, she openly didn't care about that and seemed impartial from the get-go.  There was no hesitation in addressing him.  “Heya!  Feels like somethin’ important is around here, ya know?  Can you feel it?” she asked, only realizing afterward she might need to give some kind of introduction, regardless of the crisis and the basics that had been given.  No time like the present to make a good first impression.  “Name’s Katsumi.  This thing’s gotta go.  Can ya give me a hand?” she asked, basically asking for a temporary alliance with the man so they could figure out what it was they could wreck, and why their entities were able to sense that it was here.

Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to talk to strangers?
Oh, now you are using human phrases against me?
There are a few gems of insight your race has made.  Regardless, this person could be a threat.  Your sister and Zizz both seem on guard.
Or they could help us deal with this damn thing.  There is no way one doesn’t see the ‘common enemy’ bullshit with something this big.
True, but be wary.  I do not trust him, and neither should you.
Oh no, I ain’t getting buddy buddy, but we gotta take this thing down, and we aren’t strong enough to do it.
True.

Takara stayed out of range of a quick strike but approached the man quietly before taking a moment to look around.  She could feel it… something was nearby.  Something that she could instinctively feel was something she could deal with.  “Somethin’s here… but where the hell is it?” she asked out loud.

While not reacting outwardly, inside her own mind Katsumi was rolling her eyes, while Rei analyzed the man carefully.  He was considering her as a threat, something that the entity wished Katsumi would do but knew that commenting on it would be absolutely pointless.  After all, this was simply a part of who Katsumi was; forthcoming, blatantly and brutally honest, and very open about giving someone the benefit of the doubt.  It was actually a part of her strategy; if the person took the bait and tried to take advantage, she would know more about their character right off the gate, and would be able to handle them appropriately… she hoped.  It was a risky endeavor sometimes like in high danger scenarios like the one they were currently in, but he understood the strategy behind it as well, and thus didn’t argue the point.  A part of it believed she only came up with the strategy because she didn’t want to change her ways, but there was no evidence to back that up, and she had proven its effectiveness many times.

Katsumi then watched quietly as he put his bloodline and other abilities to great use, noting his combat style and nodding as she was slightly impressed by it.  She had already assessed these numerous creatures and determined that they were no threat to her, and that meant that she was not going to have to worry about them attacking her.  As if to prove her point, one opportunistic crab decided now was a pretty good time to try to clamp its vicious claws into her midsection, trying to cut into her abdomen deeply, something that made her roll her eyes more literally this time.  There was a sickening crunch as the claws penetrated her ‘flesh’, clamping down on something that was non-solid, but the crunch wasn’t from Katsumi, but the crab.  Her body was still hungry from the years of imprisonment, and these creatures provided both sustenance from biomass and from chakra, meaning that they were the perfect meal.  Hell, if she could, she would eat this entire damn entity one bite at a time, but a part of it was mechanical and that meant it wasn’t much use to her.

Reference Image:

The crab’s claw seemed to all but vanish into a blueish flesh, as though her body was sucking inward, the carapace easily crushed with her natural strength as her body consumed the crab completely, sucking it up as though it was nothing more than a delicious snack.  As the last of it vanished, Rei once more began to speak.

These creatures are largely organic in nature and house a decent amount of chakra.  It would be very beneficial to consume as many as we can.
Oh really?  I mean, I can do that.
Excellent.  I will devote most of my focus and attention on analyzing them for anything useful.  I can already determine based on what I found that this is a response to use being near an organ that is utilizing 8-Tails Bijuu chakra.  We need to infuse it with Bijuu or Demon chakra, and then do a significant amount of damage to it.  I believe our friend can help with that.
Alright fine, but you are explainin’ that shit.  Too much for me.
As you wish.

The internal conversation happened in an instant, not even taking time on the outside that was noticeable, but as Katsumi turned towards her new ally, for the moment, her right eye shifted from the sapphire blue to a ruby red, and a completely different voice emerged that sounded neither male, nor female, but definitely didn’t belong to Katsumi.  “I am Rei, an entity that is merged with Katsumi.  Upon analysis of the creature, I have determined there is an organ nearby that can be overloaded and then destroyed by Bijuu related chakra.  Unless you are capable of doing such, I highly recommend you focus your attention elsewhere, but if you are capable, I will clear a path and handle any of those creatures we encounter, and you conserve your chakra for the task.”

Then Katsumi was behind the wheel again, seamlessly.  “These things are nothin’ but crab-cakes… and I’m starvin’.”  She grinned ear to ear, but this time there was no warmth in the smile, but instead, it was more akin to bearing fangs.  This was the smile of a predator in a field full of prey.  Without even the use of Chakra, Katsumi was off like a bolt of lightning, moving at base B-Rank speed to the first enemy, putting a hand on it and letting it spread unnaturally large as a blue slime-like substance engulfed and almost instantly consumed one of the crabs.  Then another.  Then another.  And she would continue to cut a wide swath of free-roaming area as she led her ally towards the organ she had discussed, having an all-you-can-eat crab buffet along the way.  Even the one that Sero had killed was consumed, not a scrap left behind.

[4]
WC: 1,280
TWC: 2,702

Sero would glance at the woman a moment before observing her consuming these things with a body much like his own. Another Hozuki? There were few of the clan who were of any notable level. Being the head of the clan allowed him to know this. However this liquification appeared more hostile. Consuming the flesh of these creatures with ease. Cold eyes would observe her and consider avoiding allowing her any closer. If need be he would burn her away to cinders if she were attempting to trick him. Perhaps she too was a creation of this monstrosity. Still she would change her voice...speaking to him from within. So there were more than appearances at play here. Whatever this power was it had information. Or so it claimed. It suggested he focus his attention elsewhere if he could not do anything with Bijuu chakra. Almost as if telling him to get out of its way. This Rei however opened to the possibility that if he were capable they would clear a path. Cold eyes observed her a moment before glancing back to this bijuu powered creature. This power he was drawn to. Drawn to destroy by the entity within himself.

"Do as you wish. If gluttony is your sin and these creatures do not taint you....than eat your fill. I am heading for the creature itself. If you don't keep up. I will leave you behind."

With that warning Sero would continue with hand signs. He did not need to conserve strength. As he would accomplish his goals within moments. As he formed hand signs he observed the sections of the heavenly emporium breaking off. Almost like steps spread out up to the creature. One of its larger scales dropped onto one of these directly below it. Dog, Tiger, monkey, Dragon, Ox, Ram and snake at the end as he focused his energy into another jutsu. Holding two at once now. As he finished the larger scale would spread out its crab like body. Much too large to be agile on its own. But that wasn't its purpose. From its eye a red ball of energy began to form in front of it. After a couple of seconds the ball would turn into a thick beam of energy. Cutting through the heavenly emporium in a line leaving a burning path behind it. The beam rising to cut across Sero and Katsumi at once. However Sero did not move.

Instead the beam would kick up a massive amount of dust as it seemed to cut right through where Sero was standing. Cutting off view a moment before the dust surged outwards. There Sero stood with a skeletal armor across his person with focused amplification on it. Cold blue eyes looked through the holes in the skull helmet before his hand raised to brush out a little bit of fire across his chest. He would glance down at it before his tail would whip out. B rank speed thanks to his focused amplification on it as well. It was a chakra drain between the two amplified jutsu but it had a point. Even as the smaller crabs began to charge them as a horde his tail would smash into a wall a full fifteen meters away at its full length before it used it for leverage. Yanking Sero at B rank speed along and moving up towards the main body. The beam firing again but once more deflected by his armor. Hardly slowing him down as he smashed through the small crabs and the chakra beam in his path. A being of destruction with a goal in mind.

Heh… Gluttony as a Sin?  That certain fit the way that Rei was always so ravenously hungry.  And it wasn’t just with eating things either, but he constantly hungered for knowledge.  Constantly curious.  Always looking at things from a perspective that no normal person ever could.  Some people, including Katsumi originally, considered Rei to be evil because it ate people, something that almost any normal person would consider completely insane, but over the course of the three years they were imprisoned, she got to know the creature very closely, and knew that it wasn’t Rei’s fault for that.  Everything obeyed the food chain, pure and simple, and Rei was a Pseudo Bijuu, one that was designed to hunt and consume creatures with biomass and chakra.

That meant that humans were its primary food source, and it didn’t know any better at the time.

No, Rei wasn’t evil, but he also wasn’t good.  He was a pure Neutral, completely void of any opinion that defied logic, without a hint of malicious intent, but also without the conscience that humans typically adorned.  After many conversations, out of respect for Katsumi, Rei no longer consumed people unless it had her explicit consent, but it was also something that was not completely abolished.  That, and it relied heavily on the fact that she was able to eat regularly as well; during their imprisonment, they had consumed people once again, but only because they were so ravenously hungry that all sense of logic had faded and made way for pure instinct.  At that time, Katsumi’s consciousness had to retreat from the pain to safeguard her from going completely insane, leaving the instinct to act on its own accord.

Some unfortunate Kiri ninja, and the ANBU that were sent to investigate their disappearance, had met that unfortunate fate.  Katsumi would be making a formal apology to their families if she could find them, once she returned to Kiri.  She didn’t expect their forgiveness, but it was all she could do for them now.  That, and take down this thing that was likely going to be a major threat to her home if it got away.  Her ally told her to basically keep up, and she couldn’t help herself.  “You got it!  Let’s get up there and do some damage!”  That was about the time that Rei decided to take a split second and have a bit of conversation with her.

This man is more than he appears.  Looking at his abilities I have a strong theory of who it is.
Oh yea?  What’cha got?
Sero Jaakuna.  Before the war, he had become the clan leader for both the Kaguya and the Hozuki, leading two clans at the same time.
WHAT?!  Are you serious?!  Holy Shit!!
Quite, but I don’t suggest you engaging in conversation with him with that level of surprise or disdain for manners.  I know it is your way, but I think respect is in order.
Yea yea, I gotcha… still, holy hell.  He can probably tank this entire thing by his damn self.
Doubtful.  The entity is far too powerful.
Come on Rei.  Exaggeration.
I realize that now.  Even after all this time, your mannerisms are still confusing at times.
You’ll get there slimeball, positive of that.  Also, might wanna hoist the colors so he knows we are on the same team, yea?

Katsumi darted from target to target, consuming them utterly, before something far more powerful dropped down and fired what could only be described as a freaking laser at them.  Katsumi saw the path and dodged it, positive it was stronger than she was durable, and not wanting to get hit by it.  Then the man began to charge, encompassed in powerful bone armor and Katsumi protected his flanks, dealing with the crabs that were trying to converge on all sides.  They were consumed rapidly, no room for decorum or manners, and as they charged at the thing firing at them, she head Rei chime in once more.  She didn’t use a headband, but proudly displayed on her back and hips were a set of white symbols that indicated that she was a Kirigakure Ninja.

The likelihood of this being Sero Jaakuna is 98%.

She spoke as they charged upwards.  “I’ve been kinda missing in action for a few years, but you’re Sero Jaakuna, Clan Leader for our village, right?”  It was less of a question at this point, but there wasn’t really a great time.  As they charged forwards, Katsumi waited until the laser paused, and then leaped past him and reared back for a powerful punch to the eye directly, her natural strength so great that it crushed the eye completely and her fist moved inwards, expanding into the blue slime that quickly sucked up the massive crab and consumed it.  “Oooh… that one had a lot of chakra.  Delicious.  You comin’?” she teased, never having been one for proper manners when addressing people during combat.  Her battle lust had sunk in at this point, and she was simply having fun.  That being said, she also was not ascending as fast as she could; he was a lot more durable than she was to be honest, and she wasn’t about to try to face tank anything if more of those big crabs showed up.

[5]
WC: 973
TWC: 3,675

Sero would glance at her as she obliterated the laser crab that had been attempting to punch through his armor. Most of the work for annihilating everything in their way was being done by this little girl. Her defense certainly made any melee combat with her to her advantage. Which was a suitable ability here. Still this wouldn't do to drag it out very long. She might do well consuming chakra but holding this defensive jutsu and the tail for him for offense was draining. Even as she inquired if he was who she thought he was he would let both jutsu crumble away from him. She had dealt with all the immediate threats of laser and now he wasn't concerned with anything else around them. He intended to figure out how she consumed things like that and inflict it upon his own enemies. In due time however. For now he would answer her.

"It is not a name many reflect kindly on, especially your sister, but it is mine. Yes let us continue on our mission."

His voice was cold as he shifted his eyes to the sky. Above them by only about forty more meters. There were stones along the way. Left behind sections of buildings. He wasn't sure however how much of a window they would have if they even punched through its abdomen. So he opted to get a little closer. He would move at what was likely a slow pace for most but a comfortable one from destroyed section of building to the next as he progressed upwards. Finally twenty meters under it he would gaze up at its mass. The stench of machines hanging about it as he took a deep breath. Quickly he would form hand seals. After all they could likely jump from there. Still he had something in mind to punch through. Rat → Snake → Horse → Snake → Dog would be formed as an S rank wind technique erupted from his mouth. Blades of air repeatedly striking the massive abdomen in the same spot until its blood spewed forth. There was a roar of pain it let out before the blood cleared and it became obvious there was a chamber there. Housing that power source. He could hear it calling out to him. He could feel the beast inside of him stirring to destroy it. Still, he would glance to the young woman before looking back to the massive damage he had managed temporarily to the thing’s abdomen.

"Soon we will destroy the source of its power...I am heading there now but it will fight back...keep anything it produces off of me. "



Name: Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves
Rank: S
Activation Cost: 30
Range: 0 - 250 m.
Speed: S+
Element: Wind
Skill: Ninjutsu
Classification: N/A
Requirements: N/A
Parent Technique: Wind Release: Vacuum Wave
Hand Seals: Rat → Snake → Horse → Snake → Dog
Description: The user takes a deep breath and exhales several blades of wind at different angles, by rapidly moving their head in various directions. Its power can be dramatically increased when utilized in conjunction with extreme suction, such as that generated by the Baku. This jutsu is efficient enough to even cut through Susanoo's defense.
Weaknesses: N/A

Katsumi’s eyes narrowed a little bit at the mention that not many people tended to act kindly towards him; she had been looked down on most of her life because of her previous inability to really accel with any sort of Jutsu, and had been forced to fight her way to being someone that was respected.  To have someone who was the Clan Leader in her village for not just one, but TWO clans and was still regarded poorly was something that really chapped her ass.

I believe I know why.
Oh?  Do tell.
I have been suppressing an aura that he emits from touching your consciousness.  I will allow you to experience it.  You tend to learn best that way.

The effect was immediate; she felt like she was cornered, trapped and being hunted.  She felt her bones crack, break and puncture her internal organs for a moment, something that caused her to clutch her shirt with both hands and open her mouth for a moment like she was in pain, and after a moment or two, she was able to stop her vision from shaking as much.  A few more moments and she stopped being hunched over looking like she was in pain, rapidly acclimating to the sensation.  When was the last time she felt that kind of fear?

When you first met me.

And the entity was exactly right.  The last time that Katsumi had been legitimately scared for her life, like she was nothing but a tasty snack that was literally being hunted, it was when Rei had been almost loosed as they were fusing it with her body.  Desperate for freedom, Rei had turned destructive, and only through some very careful jutsu that went completely over her head was he sealed within Katsumi.  In the time it took her to recover, he had ascended quite a bit, and she noticed that she only felt it when she got close, but now it was a matter of pride, and she purposely got closer to him as she caught up as he prepared his next jutsu.  Just before he fired it, she made a single comment.

“Whatever the baggage is, I don’t give a damn about that.  Not even this aura thing that’s goin’ on when I get close.  I’ve been shit on my whole life because I’m different, so I make it a point to make any judgment calls about people for myself.  And so far?  You are cool in my book.  Creepy as fuck, but cool.”  There it was, raw and unfiltered Katsumi in her natural habitat.  He issued some orders, to which she nodded, and got ready to defend him against anything else that could have come upon them.  Anything that came after them was going to find out real quick that Katsumi was the type to protect her friends and allies to the death from all comers.

[6]
WC: 520
TWC: 4,195

Sero would listen to her words for a moment. She was unique in how she approached him. No real fear of his capabilities. She felt his aura and was comfortable around him. His blue eyes regarded her a moment longer as the creatures ‘ blood ‘ rained down around them. Already its massive wound was about to close. His eyes shifted to the wound before he adjusted his stance. He wasn’t very physically strong but that kind of launch would be simple enough. Such a short distance was something even a genin could do. So as she nodded to him in confirmation to the plan he was off. Flying through the air and using debris falling from the creature he could take steps for himself. Still barely managing to make it into the creature. The wound wouldn’t remain open for long so he would need to make it quick.

Inside the beast was dark. Like the cave he had begun his journey in. Only it was much warmer here. Almost hot to the touch. Internal temperatures for such a creature were likely to be much higher than those of the average person. However it didn’t do much to slow the progress of Sero as he stepped along a path almost as if it were set out for him. The bijuu within him surged and seemed to almost beg him to keep pressing forward. He followed the sensation until a red light could be seen ahead. There in the center was a glowing red orb that pulsed like a heartbeat. This was what he was meant to destroy. This was the chakra core of this huge beast. Yet he only felt the sensation of needing to touch it.

So Sero would step up to the core. His right hand raised before placing his palm on it. As soon as he did he winced in pain as veins seemed to stretch out from his hand. It was attempting to pull chakra from him. However his inner beast was waiting for this. Black chakra would fill those veins in his hand and plunge fifty bijuu chakra into the core. The beast would scream outside before the core would crack from the sheer force of the bijuus chakra poured into it. Yet there was more to finish this beast. He let his hand fall to his side as he felt almost drained from the encounter. But the Bijuu within him wasn’t done. It whispered to him about its ability...it needed to finish this...so Sero would feel the whispers until he understood enough to form one hand seal.

Horse.

With that Sero would exhale out a thick mist much different from the hidden mist technique. Already it began to burn the walls. The core cracking once more. It’s energy wouldn’t remain contained for long. He had used the strongest version of the jutsu he could and now he felt drained. But he had to escape. So he would turn and flee the mist filled core. Running and leaping out the remaining space in the wound. Turning to liquid to escape as it was barely the size of a child now. The mist did its work and even as he landed on a nearby platform the abdomen would swell with red energy as a dull explosion could be heard within. The core was destroyed. But still the beast would not fall. Instead it responded by showering the entire area with hundreds of crabs and a dozen of the larger laser crabs. Sero however seemed to waver a moment. The efforts he had gone through taking a toll on him.



Name: Skilled Mist Technique
Rank: B
Power: Varies
Activation Cost: (1,3,5,10,15,25)
Upkeep Cost: (1,3,5,10,15)
Range: 20 meter area in an open area
Speed: B
Element: Boil
Skill: Ninjutsu
Classification: Clan Technique
Requirements: N/A
Parent Technique: N/A
Hand Seals: Horse
Description: The user creates a cloud of mist which they release from their mouth. The mist is very acidic in nature, with the acidity of the mist being adjustable to the user's whims. This is represented by a change in the power of the technique, with costs being adjusted to the power currently chosen. The mist corrodes anything in contact with it, quickly if the user has increased the power of the technique. Having Con two or more tiers greater than the technique used makes the user unaffected. Having Con one tier greater than the technique used debuffs Con by -1 tier after one round of exposure, gives 1st degree burns after two rounds of exposure, begins eating the muscle through the skin in the third round, and completely dissolves all organic matter on the fourth round. Having equal Con to the level of technique used dissolves gives 1st degree burns after one round of exposure, begins eating the muscle through the skin in the second round, and completely dissolves all organic matter on the third round. Having Con one tier lower than the technique used melts off the flesh and begins eating at the muscle after one round of exposure. and completely dissolves all organic matter on the second round. Having Con two tiers lower than the technique used completely dissolves all organic matter on the first round of exposure. This rubric also applies to material hardness. When escaping from the mist the victim suffers a -1 tier Con penalty for as long as they were in the mist (minimum of two posts). For items the hardness of the material is treated as -1 rank less for as long as it was exposed (minimum of two posts). The user can increase and decrease the power of the technique at will after the technique has been used

Katsumi noticed how the wound was already starting to heal.  Granted, it was a bit slow at first glance, but when you considered the size of the creature compared to the size of the wound, it was actually pretty fast.  The dark-skinned woman didn’t dodge any of the falling blood as they moved, instead opting to simply absorb it instead, continuing to fuel the train that was her body with that delicious chakra and biomass.  Without hesitation, she followed him up inside the depths of the beast, keeping her focus on the sides and where they came from; she could already see a large number of the crabs gathering where they came from, but didn’t appear to be following them just yet.  Darkness swallowed them whole, but it was considerably warmer, but nothing that bothered the Genin very much.  A red light towards the end of the tunnel indicated that they had gotten where they needed to go, and Katsumi made her way to the most natural chokepoint she could.

She had been tasked with guarding him, but from what?  She couldn’t really make out what the little crabs were doing, but that wasn’t really a concern.  None of them really posed a real threat to either of them, and they didn’t seem to be coming in after them, so she would wait on that until after they got out of here.  Katsumi felt more than witnessed Sero manipulating the core, and then the moment that she noted that he was using a powerful Jutsu, took a moment to ensure that she was out of range.  She didn’t know the technique, but it looked like not only was it an elemental variation which would hurt her quite a bit, but it looked damn painful if she was honest, but it also looked like it had drained him considerably.  That meant, in not so many words, she was up to bat.

As they descended, Katsumi dashed forward more so; she wanted to make sure that Sero had a safe landing zone… and that was when she noticed what all the damn little crabs had been up to.  There were a dozen of the big laser beam ones, but they weren’t opening fire just yet; they seemed to be protecting a large mass of the smaller ones that were doing something else.

That can’t be good.
Quite.  It appears they are combining with one another somehow.  Fascinating…
No, not fascinating.  Bad.  Very bad.  Whatever they turn into can’t be good for us.
Indeed.  Apologies.  This is a unique function for these creatures, and not something they were originally designed to do.  Because of our combined capabilities, they seem to be trying to force an evolution of some kind.  It would be in our best interest to stop them before they finish.
Kinda figured.  Confirmation didn’t help.  Too many big crabs to make quick work of them.  We gotta do this right or we are toast.
Then I recommend we do it right the first time.  Let us get to work.

Katsumi landed well before Sero amidst two of the laser crabs, both of which were charging their beams and aiming towards her, disregarding the other Kiri ninja as this one appeared to be the more dangerous threat.  With a quick feint, she pretended to move directly towards the thriving mass of smaller crabs, which prompted them both to fire in an effort to intercept, Katsumi using their protective nature against them.  With a spin, she tackled one outright on the right side, her arms wrapping around it partially liquifying as she essentially ate through the creature.  She would have to worry about cleanup later, because the other ones were already firing the lasers at her, completely disregarding their fallen comrade who wasn’t quite dead yet.  More than likely these things were instinctive, and had no sense of comradery, only what they had been ordered to do.

Katsumi bobbed and weaved, tucked and rolled as the landscape around her exploded with the force of the lasers that continuously rained.  She had to feint, double back, and remain completely unpredictable, but after the first half a minute, three of the large laser crabs lay either in pieces where she had chewed through them, or in cinders where she had ensured their lasers hit the crabs instead of her, utilizing them as human shields.  It was taking too long though, and she knew it.  Rei spoke in her mind about the progress in evolution the little crabs were making, and the bigger ones were doing a hell of a job keeping her away from them.  Another half a minute, and the large crabs had been reduced to half, but now had Katsumi on the ropes.  Sero would be safe to land now; she had adequately drawn all their attention, but as she continued to dodge their lasers which were getting slowly more accurate, she noticed the mass behind them starting to rise into a hideous centipede like creature with massive scythe like claws.  The large, almost skeletal head turned and glared at them both; it would be joining the fray very soon.

[7]
WC: 905
TWC: 5,100

Sero would fall but he seemed to fall slower than his counterpart. Already she was landing well before him and clearing out a landing space. He should be grateful to her for all her assistance...however her connection to her sister left a foul taste in his mouth. The woman had been a thorn in his side since he left the hospital and he couldn't help but find even the thought of her irritating. Still this one was useful and seemed to reserve judgement for the time being. He had used a significant amount of chakra up to that point though less than perhaps half of his overall.

Blue eyes would take in the scene of the fight between the lasers and the girl who used her opponents tactics against them to dwindle the numbers while reserving energy. He had to take back his earlier opinion of her being a little obnoxious and simple though he hadn't stated it. When it came to battle she had good instincts. The tactic was good given their situation. Any wide range attacks endangered other parties attacking the beast. Taking on a mass of enemies without caution would drain chakra too quickly to be effective.

From his point of view even as he landed the combination of their enemies into a single creature was perhaps very fortunate. Sure there were a few enemies still engaging Katsumi but none were left to endanger him. Their focus was on the one destroying them. His blue eyes shifted up to the kaiju flying above them. Taking in the shadow as he felt out for the core. His mist had done its job and destroyed it...its chakra reserves were far from endless now. Others were doing a great deal of damage to it as well. If nothing else this was an enemy to unify them. If there was a danger they could not ignore they would have to fight together....Though he wouldn't allow it its freedom even if he had to finish this himself.

The sound of a building crumbling brought his attention to the fully formed centipede as it seemed to eye the both of them. His cold eyes looking back to it before he folded his hands calmly in front of himself. The sleeves hiding his hands once more. He was not afraid of these creatures. Though he was not certain about Katsumis limits either. So he would speak to her in a calm tone.

"Do you think you can handle the newest threat to us or would you like me to destroy it?" It wasn't an insult to her. Far to monotone and void. He was simply inquiring if she needed help. After all he could kill it with either of his clans secret ultimate techniques.

Katsumi mentally cursed at the fact that she hadn’t been able to eat through these enemies in time in order to stop their so called evolution.  She had put a time constraint on herself, and she hadn’t met the deadline, even if the only person who would ever know that was Katsumi herself.  And Rei, but that was because she was merged with the damn entity and literally everything she thought was open for him to read like a book.  At first, that had been exceptionally discomforting, but over the three years it was something that she had come to accept.  At first, she had tried to partition her thoughts and hide them from Rei, and was actually able to be somewhat successful with this, but quickly found that there was a problem; the entity was a glutton for knowledge.  Any time she hid something, Rei would pester her to the absolute edges of her sanity, guessing around and trying to figure out what it was that she was trying to hide.  This led to a massive philosophical debate that lasted weeks without rest about the value of privacy that Katsumi cherished versus the freedom of information that Rei felt like they should share.  The result was that they would share everything, but that included Rei too.  The next week after this, Rei went into explicit detail about everything from the time of it’s first awakening to the present day, and they talked for a good while about everything that was inside that, everything extracted and analyzed.  But that made little mental goals like this embarrassing because someone other than Katsumi knew about it, and she was sure after this was all said and done and they did their little After-Action Review, she was going to be tormented for it.

But it wasn’t without reason.  The larger crabs were concentrating their firepower in almost perfect intervals, staying at range and keeping the woman from getting close.  Lacking any real ranged options, at least yet, she was unable to advance and had been dancing around avoiding getting shot.  That was when she finally saw the break she needed to turn the tide, but before she could get to it, she heard Sero asking if she needed assistance.  At first, she was going to have a witty retort, but stalled that once she processed how he had said it; he wasn’t necessarily being sarcastic, but actually just asking a question.  So as she rolled to the right to try to get into position on the next phase of her plan, she gave him her reply.  “Dunno yet.  Haven’t seen what it can do.  Tell you what though; if it starts shooting the lasers?  Jump in.  I can handle physical stuff pretty well but that shit will hurt a lot if it hits me, and they are going to be a lot stronger than these bastards pretty sure.  Although if you wanna kill some of these things so I can get to the Hell Centipede I wouldn’t object to that either!”

A jump and a slide and finally she was in position.  Already another beam was charging and aimed at her new location, but she didn’t leave this time.  Instead, she stomped, hard into the ground, upturning a large, thick boulder and elevating it above the surface.  She then lifted her other leg, and then struck the boulder, launching it with extreme speed and force towards the crabs.  Two of them fired their lasers, shattering the boulder, but that only served the purpose that Katsumi wanted, as they were now being pelted by shrapnel flying at them and a large cloud of dust and debris.  Before they could respond properly, Katsumi leaped forward into the dust, not caring the in the slightest.  Three of them were outside the cloud, and another three inside, where the sound of massive crunching began to ring out despite the lack of being able to see anything inside.  The others, hearing this, began to charge their lasers again, preparing to blind fire into the dust cloud in an attempt to destroy Katsumi.

Meanwhile, the massive Hell Centipede reared up, but turned towards Sero.  Apparently, it was a bit more intelligent as well, knowing that Katsumi wasn’t the only target here, but didn’t attack just yet, but instead seemed to be analyzing him.  Waiting for Sero to make a move.

[8]
WC: 755
TWC: 5,855

Sero would listen to her words but he made no move to comply. He would conserve energy for now and since he focused in Ninjutsu for the time being that meant letting her handle the enemy. If anything posed a threat to himself or her he would of course step in. For now though he was content as an observer. She was handling them with a fair amount of ease it seemed. HIs cold blue gaze shifted beyond her to the creature almost fully formed nearby. He wanted to see if she could get to it before it managed to take its full shape. It wasn't far after all. Well within his range if he wanted to snipe at it from where he was.

That said his ninjutsu was mostly used to cover a wide area. Most of it was to be used in an outdoors setting. Not within the confines of the city. Besides he was almost entertained by this girls display. Though it appeared she didn't have much in the way of ranged options. Was she focused entirely in close quarters combat? Useful but narrowing down your focus so much made you exceptional in that category but lacking in its opposing factor....ranged combat.

Still it appeared she would not make it in time. Her form was excellent but she still did not push through before the creature designed to put them down reared its head. It seemed confident as it shifted its gaze to Sero. Its body writhing behind it before it would seem to study him. A measure of intelligence? Or was it actually reacting to its own instincts? Sero would slowly turn his gaze on the creature. To it the world would become very small. As if this one creature before it was coming to tear it apart so soon after its birth. To the creature Sero would seem like some menacing force it could not comprehend. So as it studied him madness set in. It had to strike first. To demolish him. However its mouth would open and within it small particles of chakra would begin to gather. Aiming at Sero.

"A pity. You met the conditions set forward for me to eliminate you."

It was charging a laser. Sero would within his sleeves calmly form three hand seals. Rat, Snake, and bird. The laser would fire and the ground would split in its path. Far stronger than the previous lasers from its smaller kin. Leaving the ground molten in its wake. With that much heat it would be a danger to a hozuki. However the impact would be caught up in a whirl of dust and debris right before it would hit Sero. The city would shake from the mix of the impact and the jutsu Sero had performed. A massive bone skeleton standing sixty meters tall would rise over most of the buildings around them. If it reached upwards it would be able to touch the kaiju. At the center of its chest was Sero like a heart in an empty rib cage. The spine emerging from his own back. He had made this colossal creature. Still the centipede knew little other than it needed to kill him. Its head would lift as it began charging again.

"Insect....know your place."

With that a massive right arm would lift to the sky as Sero lifted his own right arm. Mimicking him as Sero calmly looked down at the creature. The shadows of the skeleton hiding his upper face but not those shining...cold...blue eyes. The beam would fire as the hand would come down. Forcing its way right through the second beam as it slammed down and crushed the centipede like a person would a bug annoying them. The ground around the impact heaving in a wave like water as the island shuddered.

Jutsu used:

He didn’t move right away, so Katsumi assumed that he was only going to jump in if it was necessary, and that was perfectly fine with her.  She had worded it that way so that she didn’t come off as giving him any type of orders, as that would be disrespectful especially considering he was a dual clan leader in her village, but she also left the option for him to choose to sit it out.  The wide, predatory smile on her face made it very clear that she was enjoying this quite a bit.  The back and forth, testing her skills, fighting, winning.  The nice little side effect where she could idly consume what she as fighting and it was doing a good measure to satiate her endless hunger was an added bonus, but there was not even a hint of Rei being displayed right now; this was all Katsumi.  Before her imprisonment she enjoyed a good fight, but she hadn’t realized just how much she missed it until now; every part of her was absolutely thrilled with the prospect of pushing her limits.  She still hadn’t used a speck of chakra, only using her base skills, but if she had enhanced herself, it would only serve to make the fight less interesting.  Giving herself a handicap, when she knew it was safe to do so, meant that this was far more fun, and she could practice the practical skills needed in a real fight without putting herself in danger, and without holding herself back like she would need to in a spar.

The dark-skinned Genin didn’t know what the centipede was doing, as she was still dealing with the current targets, but for the moment, that was fine.  Sero was paying attention, and she was fairly certain it still wasn’t strong enough to force her hand in regards to enhancing herself just yet, so she largely ignored the creature for the moment.  There were only three of them left, after all, which were blindly now preparing to fire into the cloud of dust while backpedaling.  One didn’t make it away in time, grabbed by the leg and dragged into the cloud of dust, kicking and chittering for dear life before another marrow-snapping crunch noise could be heard.  The remaining two locked onto the sound and fired their lasers again, but Katsumi had already moved.  The dust was starting to settle, and there wasn’t even blood or broken bits of carapace on the ground from her assault, as though their companions simply hadn’t existed in the first place.  Upon seeing this, the two remaining crabs did some kind of roar, and the glow from their ‘eye’ increased.  Was that a ‘rage mode’ of some sort?  Katsumi wasn’t certain, but she held off on her initial attack, curious what they had in store.  Instead of firing a powerful beam, they now were firing much smaller bolts of laser energy, but at a far more rapid pace, able to fire almost a dozen in just a couple of seconds.

It appears that they have forced another evolution, although this one is less impressive than the hell centipede.
Yea, but I still don’t think we wanna get hit by these chakra bolts.
Quite.  That does give me an idea for a technique though.  I will analyze them further once you have consumed them.
Ooooh, I like the sound of that.  Something we can figure out for this fight?
Perhaps.  It could take more time than that though, although I am also detecting another sector of this beast where our skills will be put to good use.
Perfect.  Tell me about it in a bit.  Fight now, chat later.  Let me enjoy this.
As you will.  Carry on.

Katsumi was once more dodging with supernatural proficiency, showing that her skills had not waned with her imprisonment in the slightest.  She hadn’t been hit once by these things, and continued to evade them ever so perfectly.  Making a few moves, she actually managed to get closer towards the middle of them, relying on the fact that they were enraged, she hoped, and not thinking clearly or strategically.  Both of them moved slightly backwards, ensuring they were out of reach, but kept firing their bolts, and by the time they realized what she was up to, it was too late.  Their bolts struck each other in an effort to hit Katsumi, temporarily stunning them, and she dashed to the right and slid low, getting almost completely underneath one of them and then standing up, the edges turning to a blue slime color as she rapidly consumed the crab with another satisfying crunch.  Turning towards the last one, she had a ear to ear predatory smile on her face as she stood up fully.

“Do you guys feel fear?” she said, curious but not waiting for an answer, but simply marching towards the creature.  The reply from the crab was almost instant; it tried to back up, but hit a chunk of a building and was stopped.  Then it opened fire yet again, doing the only thing it could now that it was cornered, but this time, Katsumi didn’t dodge.  She had noticed that these bolts were a lot weaker in power compared to the beam, sacrificing the damage dealing capabilities to drastically increase the speed in which they could be shot.  The first barrage of bolts hit Katsumi’s skin and fizzled, doing very minor damage, and she simply continued to march towards the crab.  The further intimidate the creature, she began to grow in size as well, normally being six feet tall, with each step she grew until she was a small giantess standing at roughly twelve feet, towering over the crab and it’s feeble attempts to hurt her.  That was when she truly got her answer to the question, as the crab stopped firing all together and scrambled as best it could to get up and over the wall, away from her.  Without hesitation, Katsumi’s hand snatched out, grabbing the crab and ripping it off the wall, and then holding it over her for a moment, watching the little legs rapidly swinging in an effort to get away.

And then she dropped it directly into her mouth, which consumed the creature whole, her mouth growing supernaturally large to do so for just a moment.  Once that was finished, she turned to watch Sero take care of his opponent, noting the massive bone demon thing that he had created to do so, and whistled in a way to show she was impressed as she shrank back down to normal size.  Watching him splatter the centipede through that much more powerful laser, she couldn’t help but smile at the thought of fighting him one day.  Nothing serious, just a spar, but it would be an absolute blast.  Unlike a lot of people, Katsumi didn’t care if she won or lost so long as she didn’t die.  Once it was finished, she walked towards the kill, and looked up at him.

“That skeleton technique is absolutely bad ass!  Oh, and I know this is gonna be super gross, but I need to clean this up.”  The woman wasn’t asking for permission; she wasn’t going to let this go to waste unless he wanted to take a small sample with him back to the village for whatever reason.  Not waiting for a response, she moved to the middle of the gory mess, and then held her hands out to her sides, and her fingers extended, reaching to the outer rim of the mess and then systematically working her way inwards, sweeping back and forth, the blue tendrils consuming the creature in its entirety, unless he wanted a piece of it.  In less than a minute, the massive gory mess that had been the centipede’s corpse was gone, not even a splash of blood remaining.  “Slimey… yet satisfying.”  It was a simple statement that seemed to suit the situation.

Man, that was fun!
I am glad you are enjoying stretching your legs, but based on the analyzed creatures, I have more locations that will likely be important for you both to go to.  They are separate though, so you will likely be parting ways here.
Awww man!  This dude is pretty awesome.  Dunno why Kit seems to have beef.  Might have to sort that out.  We definitely gotta fight him sometime.
That is fine, but for the moment, the beast must be the priority.
Yea yea, I hear you.  You wanna tell him or should I?
I will handle the logistics, you deal with the socialization.
Cool beans.

The voice changed back to the androgynous one.  “Based on my studies of these creatures, there are more locations that require our assistance.  If you have any skill with Chemistry, there is one location that would be very vulnerable to such.  If you possess that skill, I can give you what I know in the details.  We have to go to another area that will require someone who can fit in spaces that are too tight for normal humans.”  Almost seamlessly, with only a slight pause, Katsumi’s voice came out afterwards.  “But we gotta link up after this shit is all said and done.  I wanna try fightin’ you, and I think you’re a pretty solid dude.  Dunno what the hell happened between you and Kitsuke, but she ain’t me, and maybe if I figure out what the hell the deal is and squash it.  Even if not, we can be friends even if Kit doesn’t wanna get buddy buddy, you know?”  She was hoping for a favorable reaction to all this, and flashed him a very warm smile.

[9]
WC: 1,738
TWC: 7,593

Once the area was cleared of enemies all immediate threat to them was gone. He would release the jutsu as the bones would peel away and fall to the earth like falling ash. Slowly turning to nothing as they would appear almost as snow falling from a clear sky aside from the Indiana Kaiju. Cold blue eyes would take in their surroundings as he glanced back up to their main target. The wound he had caused was already virtually gone but he no longer felt that limitless chakra presence he had felt before. It was still potent before but its connection to him was simply gone. He would stand there on the ground as the last of his jutsu faded. Having lowered him as it did. His right hand would raise as he flexed it into a fist a couple of times....a vision of the being within him hanging from a bird cage over a lake of blood would flash before him. Blue eyes watching him as his own watched it. He felt closer to knowing its name now...closer to controlling it...to dominating it. However his thoughts would be broken as the girl spoke to her in that odd speech again. Before switching to the girls overly friendly tone.

His cold blue eyes would shift to her. She was so comfortable being human and yet so close to becoming him. She wasn't a Hozuki as far as he knew yet shared the traits of the hydrification. Had she somehow stolen the ability? Or had Kitsuki done as she pleased and weaponized her own sister? Still Sero would shake his head before replying to the inquiry. He did not need to know how she obtained his power...if anything it appeared to be something he could replicate. Her sin of gluttony.

"I do not fight without intent to kill. Even training with me includes some danger of ending in death. That said you would be well suited to join the nightmare brigade. Seek me out at the Hozuki compound if it interests you. That said...your sibling has done nothing but threaten me and my freedom from the day I met her. I serve the village through lady Sayuri because only she has understood my value. Kitsuki would see me imprisoned or killed. When someone aims their arrow at you the moment they meet you...it sours future relations. However I do not fear her for I am not the evil being she paints me to be. I will go regain chakra now and be ready should I be needed. Farewell sin of Gluttony."

With that Sero would turn and seem to glide along the broken battlefield with no corpses left to mark it. All of them consumed by her ability but the blood that stained everything seemed to swirl in dozens of thin tendrils around him. Spiraling upwards and into his torso as he consumed the liquids as he passed. By the time he faded from sight there was no blood or bodies left. Only the destruction they had endured and dealt out to the surroundings.

exit thread
9 x 15 = 120 exp

Katsumi watched carefully as the Jutsu he used crumbled into dust, noting that despite the damage that had been done by them both, the Kaiju didn’t seem all that much weaker in her opinion.  She didn’t have sensory, so she couldn’t say that for absolute certain, but it was certainly how it felt to her, so that was what she was going to stick with.  The dark-skinned Genin definitely had more things that she could damage to try to continue to bring this thing down, but it was going to require a lot more work… but hell, only the things that were really difficult felt satisfying to complete.  Nothing that was super easy left much in the way of feeling accomplished in the slightest.

When Sero finally did speak, she frowned just a little bit.  Fighting with only the intent to kill meant that you couldn’t fight them again, and if doing so with training, you actually wind up hurting the village because you are taking away their manpower.  Hearing about this Nightmare Brigade though, that was an interesting prospect, but she couldn’t outright say she would be able to dedicate herself to it without finding out more information.  She would try to get some from Kitsuke, and then do her own research, since she knew that her sister’s perspective of Sero was less than amazing.  Sero only confirmed this, and according to him, she had absolutely no basis for the dislike, which didn’t sound quite right.  She would have to inquire further about this later, when they weren’t dealing with a giant mecha-bijuu.  She waited until he was completely finished before  speaking herself a reply in his direction.

“Yea well, I think yer plenty valuable as is.  Hell, this would have been a shit-ton harder if you hadn’t been here to help.  Might not even been able to accomplish it, you know?  I’ll look you up when I get back to the village, maybe you can give me the pitch on this Nightmare Brigade.  Gotta know what I’m walkin’ into before I just jump headfirst in.  And I’mma do some diggin’ on why the hell Kit has it out for you, because that shit doesn’t sit right with me.  Your aura is a little unsettlin’ if you never experienced it before, but doesn’t really both me to be honest.  I gotta get after my own crap, so happy hunting, and see you back home, eh?”  She gave him a half-hearted salute with another wide smile, and then turned back towards where she thought she might be able to find this gravity matrix.  The sin of Gluttony.  That fit Rei, sure… but what was her sin if there was one?  Probably Pride.  Sure as hell wasn’t Lust.  Greed fit Rei too, honestly.  Sloth?  Nah, not a chance.  Not Envy either.  Wrath?  Oh, well, yea that was probably one of them too.  Pride and Wrath, combined with Greed and Gluttony.

[EXIT]
[10]
WC: 517
TWC: 8,110

+5 to Bond for training 8k words.
10 Posts x 25 EXP = 250 EXP - (Bonus for Angel's Don't Die Reward + 3 RPers)