>>40110014
The girl shakes her head, as if to say that it wasn't needed. She helps you up to your feet. Pain spikes through your abdomen in response to movement, but you grit your teeth and bear it.

You... won't let that happen again. You're back to normal now. It'd be a stretch to say that you're 'calm', but you've calmed down enough. Now, it... it should be easier to find her.

You NEED to find her.

You glance over at Kurotsuchi's shady shop, and then up towards the building Naoko had previously spotted a Shinigami on. That death god is still there, a tiny dot that you can barely see even while straining your eyes. On your own, you'd never recognize it to be a person. You really can't help but feel impressed. Him getting found at all is a testimony to how good Naoko's sight is.

"What do we do, Clarissa?" Naoko asks after a pause. She's looking at the shattered sky. Trailing her gaze, it seems that the cracks have webbed further along the blue.

...

>"...I still think that we can only learn the things we need from the Shinigami. We just need to figure out how."
>"There might be something we can use in the shop. Let's break in and look."
>"Let's call Ren and look around town. We have to find Kimiko."
>Other. (Write-in).

>>40110038
>"Let's call Ren and look around town. We have to find Kimiko."
Welcome back.

>>40110038
>>"Let's call Ren and look around town. We have to find Kimiko."
Awww yiss time to substitute a shinigami again.

>>40110014
Thank fuck we got back to normal. Still suspicious of our explanation, but...

>>40110038
>"...I still think that we can only learn the things we need from the Shinigami. We just need to figure out how."
How indeed. I don't imagine going up to a random one and asking nicely would work?

>>40110038
>"Let's call Ren and look around town. We have to find Kimiko."

>>40110038
Voting over, writing!

I'm all for getting Ren in on this, but somehow I've not got a ton of hope for randomly searching town to work. I guess our next point of action is to search out another Shinigami and ask them?

>>40110445
Something like that. I'm sure we'll get some idea of what to do soon enough.

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>>40110156
"We need to find Kimiko. Let's call Ren and ask her to help us search. It'll be easier to look through the town with more people." You nervously mumble as you take out your phone.

"Ren?" Naoko mutters, lifting a brow.

"She knows what's going on. I saved her from a Hollow once, and... and she's got powers since then. Nothing that can help us find Kimiko, but..." You punch in the number after telling her something that barely qualifies as an explanation.

"Wait, Clarissa. How will we find her? There are many Shinigami around. Some of them might be female. What does she look like?"

The question makes you shiver, and you very nearly drop your phone. You know that you need to keep it together, but... it's hard. It feels like things just keep getting more hopeless.

She's right. Neither Ren nor Naoko know what she looks like. ...You don't know what she looks like, either. You can't even give them a description. A Shinigami would probably be easy to find under normal circumstances, what with how unique their appearance is, but there are god knows how many of them littered around right now.

Why did it have to be today, of all the goddamn days? Couldn't they have their night on the town some other fucking time?

You breathe in and out, slowly, trying to calm yourself down. You decide send another call to Kimiko before calling Ren, still desperately hoping that she picks up. Nothing but excruciatingly slow beeps. You're tempted to just throw the fucking phone away.

"...You don't know?"

Another completely logical question. It's driving you mad. You grit your teeth in order to not break out into another screaming fit. Naoko gives you a wary, uncertain look, and then comes closer. She places her hands on your shoulders. Her gaze turns firm and determined.

(1/2)

>>40110929
"Clarissa, we will find her. Even if we don't know what she looks like, she will recognize us. You're right - the three of us will cover more ground. It will work out." Her voice is as soft as ever, but the confidence is clear and feels genuine. You don't feel any calmer, but you feel... emboldened by her words. You nod and, with your hands still shaking, glance back down at your phone.

An animalistic roar suddenly pierces the air, only to just as abruptly stop midway. You recognize its origins immediately.

"Hollow." Naoko mutters in confirmation. After giving it some thought, she continues. "The Shinigami must have killed it."

But then you hear another roar. And one more joins it. They're distinctly different from each other, which must mean that they belong to separate Hollows. The girl takes up her cross and lets it hang freely by the chain. The pendant tilts and moves leftwards, rising up into the air slightly, pointing at a direction opposite to that of the shop.

"There seem to be a lot of them..." She says, scrutinizing the hovering item. It keeps changing the direction it's pointing at.

...

>Call Ren and proceed with your plan. The Shinigami have the situation handled.
>"...We should check it out. Lead the way, Naoko."
>Other. (Write-in).

>>40110953
>"...We should check it out. Lead the way, Naoko."
Ffffffff...
We could still call Ren, if only just to warn her.

>>40110953
>Call Ren and proceed with your plan. The Shinigami have the situation handled.

>>40110953
>"...We should check it out. Lead the way, Naoko."

>>40110953
>"...We should check it out. Lead the way, Naoko."
Things not going so great for our heroines.

>>40110953
Voting over, writing!

>>40111181
Damn responsibility, why did someone have to invent it, huh?
Hopefully it'll work as a distraction and Clarissa won't go insane again from Kimiko-separation.

>>40111248
Actually, a Hollow or two to let out her frustrations might be just what Clarissa needs. Just gotta hope they're not too strong.

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>>40111541
>Suddenly, a gillian.

>>40111788
plsno

>>40110999
>>40111090
"We should check it out. Lead the way, Naoko."

The other girl nods and runs off; you follow her. Is it a sense of responsibility that's driving you, or do you hope to find a clue through doing this? Perhaps it's both; at the moment, it matters little.

As the two of you dash through Karakura's streets, you lingering a bit behind because of your hurting gut, it's easy to spot the battles occurring above. They aren't battles, per se - whenever a Hollow crawls through a ripped hole in the air, its mask gets cut through from behind almost immediately. At most, the monsters get enough time to only glance around and let off their shrieks. The beast fortunate enough to get away from an immediate execution gets swiftly defeated in direct combat, overwhelmed by the combined efforts of two or more death gods.

That efficiency is certainly something to be envious of. It'd be unfair to even compare them to your own amateur attempts at imitating this kind of skill. If you were half as good as those swordsmen, Karakura would have been a much safer place during your watch.

But something is seriously wrong. The Hollows keep on coming. Kimiko mentioned that your week of duty was unfortunate enough to have the amount of Hollows that it did, but this is getting ridiculous. They're cropping out of everything and everywhere. Even if the Shinigami can dispatch lone Hollows with ease, they seem to have only so many people available. When their flanking tactics cease to function, they might be in trouble.

You know just how hard it is to fight them head on. The bastards are strong, tough, and have hidden tricks to them. You don't even know how you'd be handling this situation on your own, if that was what you had to do. For just a tiny bit, you're glad that they're here. Did they predict this? Is this why they came here in the first place?

(1/2)

>>40112096
"Clarissa." Naoko calls to you, startling you out of your thoughts. You're still too nervous, but you really can't help it. You really can't tell what the hell is going on. Naoko's pendant is pointing upwards, at the damaged sky, neglecting the nearby Hollows completely. You don't really know what that means. "I... think something is coming."

A man's loud swearing resonates up above, where the Hollows have grown thickest in their numbers.

"The Hollows aren't paying attention to us because we're hiding our spiritual powers. If we start fighting as well, we can make it easier on them." The girl mutters. You get what she's trying to say, although...

"...Hiding our powers?" You're a bit puzzled here. You're not hiding anything. Didn't Kimiko mention something along those lines? She's never taught you how to do it, though. She said there wasn't a need to it because... because you're weak enough for it to not make a difference...

Naoko returns your questioning expression.

"Uh, I mean, yeah... nevermind." You try to drop the subject. This conversation - this whole situation - is making you feel really... incompetent.

"But... if we help them, we'll be found. I think that would be bad for us, Clarissa."

And the alternative is to leave the Shinigami to their own devices and hope for the best. You cast your eyes back towards the menacing sky. You've been getting the feeling ever since you spotted the cracks. It's like something is trying to break through and come out into this world.

Naoko seems willing to go along with whatever you choose. She seems better at this whole spiritual thing than you, so it's pretty disappointing that she's being so indecisive. Well...

...

>Help the Shinigami.
>Don't reveal yourselves. Wait and prepare for whatever's coming.
>Other. (Write-in).

>>40112130
Shieet.
>I...I want to help. I'll probably have to approach them to find out what happened to Kimiko anyway. But, you might be in danger from them if you reveal yourself. Maybe you should stay back?"

>>40112130
>Help the Shinigami.
This will probably go poorly. But at least we might make a good first-impression?

>>40112130
>Don't reveal yourselves. Wait and prepare for whatever's coming.

>>40112130
>>Don't reveal yourselves. Wait and prepare for whatever's coming.
>>40110014

>>40112130
I mean, practically how much help can we even be? Clarissa might do a lot if she goes all out, but given her state of mind since the last time she did, I'm not feeling very excited about doing that to put it mildly. And besides that we're a drop in the bucket.

>>40112130
>Don't reveal yourselves. Wait and prepare for whatever's coming.
The hollows are attacking professionals, not helpless innocent mortals. Staying hidden allows us to better contribute against whatever comes through if it comes to that, and also protect the city without drawing attention to it.

>>40112130
Voting over, writing!

>>40112429
Well, here's hoping we did the right thing...
I'm scared.

>>40112449

Don't worry, when has Clarissa ever screwed up with the wrong choice?
.
.
.
OH...
Panic may be valid put that way. >>40110014

>>40112495
No need to make me feel even more apprehensive anon!
At least most of her poor decisions have been made outside of player control. The worst ones certainly.

The wait gets very tense...hopefully things haven't gone to shit.

>>40112250
"You're right. We'll stay put," You decide not to intervene, but take out the rabbit-headed candy toy. "We'd probably get in the way. I can barely fight a Hollow on my own, let alone ten of them."

Naoko lifts a brow, apparently confused at your words. "What do you mean? I felt your power back then. The whole town must have."

"I... don't know how it happened," You tell her the truth, and she seems even more confused. "I don't know if I can do it again, either."

Naoko nods, slowly. She probably doesn't get it, but, well, neither do you. She seems to have nothing else to add and goes quiet.

And now you wait. Something is about to happen, that much is clear. The neverending tide of Hollows is more like a calm before the real storm, as strange as that might seem. The sky is eerie, despite being tinted the purest blue you've seen in a while. Threatening, but subtly so.

"I'm changing, Naoko." You tell Naoko and pop the soul candy into your mouth, letting your spirit separate from your body; Chappy runs away. You reach for your side in something resembling a habit, but you don't find a sheathed sword. "...What the hell? Where is my sword?"

It... probably doesn't work that way for you, or something. You've had several dozens of them before. Maybe you can just... pull one out on a whim? You grasp at the air a few times, but it does absolutely nothing, except make you look kind of dumb. Naoko asks you what you're doing.

"Don't worry about it, I'll... figure it out." You try to assure you, but you're not entirely convinced yourself. Did you ever even pull out a weapon out of your own free will? You think you've always been in danger of some kind. So maybe that's the trick to it, somehow.

You continue waiting, completely unarmed, keeping your head tilted upwards. You're anxious. The air feels heavy. The heavens look like they're about to fall.

A pale hand claws its way through the sky.

(1/2)

>>40113819
>Happening.gif

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>>40113819
Gillian time!

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>>40113819
The massive hand slowly tears apart reality as if it were fabric. It rips open a hole through which it shows its hunched over head. The white mask's bared teeth make it look as if its mouth was sewn shut; the red eyes seem mindless and lacking in purpose. It spreads its hands wider to fit its gargantuan body through and into the human world.

If this Hollow's feet are on the same level as the ground, then that makes it larger than Karakura's tallest building. ...No, that is apparent even by just looking at its upper part. Its body is pitch black in color, as if coated in a dark cloak. The entrance expands of its own accord now, allowing the monster through. It takes a step forward.

It is silent and uncaring. It looks nowhere and at nothing, as if there isn't a thing in its sight that's worthy of attention, or perhaps it's incapable of taking an interest in anything in the first place. Even the footsteps, which you expected to wreak havoc upon the earth, carried with them an unnatural lack of sound and bore no impact. The regular people go on with their routines, completely oblivious to what was occurring.

...All Hollows were once living people. If you didn't know that, and if someone was to tell you that now, in front of this thing, you would never believe them. This is an abomination that is as far from 'human' as it can possibly be. It is completely alien. You don't think you could ever fully understand what it is, and the truth is, you don't wish to. Even a Hollow can be relatable, as they act in accordance with what once made them living people, for better or worse... but this...

If the last monster you've fought was 'no one', then this thing is 'nothing'. It is too far apart from the rest, and yet it's perhaps the most deserving of its title of 'Hollow'.

(2/3)

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>>40113896
It relentlessly continues in its path. It will cross the great distance between you in three more steps, but you can't muster the courage to move even a muscle. Is it even possible to destroy something like this? Can this thing be purified? How does one purify something so empty and devoid of anything?

"Clarissa. It's... strong." Even Naoko's voice is quivering. What an oppressive feeling. Just by walking, just by existing... it's terrifying.

"We..." You begin, interrupting yourself with coughing, choking on your own spit. Things like swallowing and breathing had briefly slipped your mind.

...

>"We have to stop it."
>"We run. Fighting it is suicide."
>Other. (Write-in.)

>>40113958
>"We run. Fighting it is suicide."

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>>40113958
>"We have to stop it."
I'm sure a bit of can-do attitude will save the day.
You gotta, like, bring it down to your level and stuff. Simple.

>>40113958
>"We have to stop it."
RIP Substitute Shinigami Quest 2015 - 2015. Ded by Hollow.

>>40113958
>"We run. Fighting it is suicide."

>>40113958
>"We run. Fighting it is suicide."

>>40113958
>"We have to stop it."
Where's your Shonen Power, anons?!

Anons please.
Someone new break the tie!

>>40113958
I feel like we should stay calm and see how other Shinigami can deal with it.

>>40114202
Well, they were already getting overrun. And if we get out of the way now, will it deal damage to the town before they can even get here?

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>40113958
1 is
>"We have to stop it."

2 is
>"We run. Fighting it is suicide."

Voting over, writing!

>>40114253
True, but I'm not sure if deciding to stop it would make Clarissa regain her determination that fast.

>>40114295
Decided by dice, huh.
Well, I guess we're suiciding! Been nice playing with you anons!

>>40114311
Uh nigger you blind? We're running not fighting

>>40114295
This is gonna be an excruciating wait...

>>40114299
Point.

>>40114339
Oh, I saw it as 1 for some reason.

>>40114344
This is metagaming, but Naoko saw a Captain standing in the sky, and despite Rukia freaking out and saying that the Royal Guard does this stuff, a Gillian doesn't seem to be much of a match for a Captain.

>>40114444
That's true, but you never know how fast they'll get here, especially since the normal Hollows are slowing them down.

>>40114490
Honestly, it sucks that Clarissa lost her way so easily, but I'm not sure what we can do about it. Like is her power specifically tied to picking fights way above her apparent weight class, and then surpassing whatever windmill she tilts at?

And what's the connection to her apparently killing Kimiko in a fit of completely inappropriate rage?

>>40114907
Guess we just gotta wait and see, anon!

>>40114444
So any guesses as to who it is?

>>40114963
They're blonde and maybe androgynous since Naoko had to look a bit closer to find out their gender, so I'd say either Shinji or Rose.

>>40114984
Someone who's read Bleach in the past 10 years better tell me whether that's good or bad.

>>40115008
Neutral. They're both characters who were touted as extremely powerful, but struggled against any real opponent and both got one-shot by the BBEG. Personality-wise they're practically blank slates, because they're too many degrees divorced from #1 Strawberry to warrant character growth.

>>40114984
Note that Urahara also has blonde hair. That could be a barrel of laughs.

>>40115042
>>40115090
Some interesting options, then. Hope they can bail us the fuck out anyway! Not sure how to flee fast enough from this thing.

>>40115008
Rose was 3rd division captain before Gin, and Shinji was in charge of 5th as well as Aizen's captain when he was still a lieutenant. Aizen screws them both over along with others. Shinji was always suspicious of him and tried to keep him at arm's length but still got had.

Rose is musically inclined and a bit foppish I guess, while Shinji is a bit of a trickster. this is reflected in their zanpakutos.

>>40115090
Also there's a SMALL chance that things have gotten fucked up enough for Kira to somehow become a Captain.

Let's hope not, that guy's a creep.

>>40114040
>>40114041
You step back. You can't muster the courage to fight this thing. Without that, it's worthless to even try. Naoko turns your way, but does nothing to stop you. Really, she looks almost relieved to see you retreating instead of trying to take it on.

"We... we need to get away. The... the Shinigami can take it." You hastily stammer, and the two of you make a run for it. It seems like the Hollow doesn't care about you, still; it never did. From its perspective, you must not even exist. Its size makes your speed largely irrelevant. Each sluggish step of its white booted foot shortens more distance than your frantic running. Naoko is holding herself back just so that you wouldn't get too far apart.

It probably doesn't even know that you're there. You should just cut a corner, and then you'll be-...

"Wait!" Naoko shouts and pulls you by the shoulder, breaking your sprint. Her free hand blurs through the air, colliding with... nothing. The gloved fist impacts an invisible wall. She somehow sensed it and stopped you from running into it.

"What the fuck is this?!" You scream in your panic. The abomination is rapidly approaching, and your escape route has been cut off. You kick at the solid air as hard as you can, but the only thing that gets damaged is your own foot.

"I think it's a spiritual barrier of some kind. The Shinigami must have put it up. Maybe to prevent this thing from walking too far." Naoko theorizes, and while that makes sense and all, you are stuck here with it. You need to get the hell out, fast.

"Can you break through, Naoko?" Right now, she's the only one with any kind of reliable strength, as you do not know how to use yours. The girl sternly looks the invisible barrier up and down, and then takes a stance. Wisps of light flicker around her fists; she must be readying a mighty blow.

Someone's voice echoes through the sealed off part of town, left unheard to the ears of the common folk.

(1/3)

>>40115694
...could be worse!

>>40115694
"If you have a power that can break through a barrier of that caliber, I suggest you use it on the Menos Grande, young ladies." The tone is casual and relaxed. You can't see the speaker as you turn to look around, but you can feel the smirk on the man's face.

"Who are you? Where are you?! Let us out, you crazy fucking idiot!" You receive no response. To make the situation even more dire, Naoko lowers her hands. She sets a palm against the invisible wall.

"I... can't break through something like this, Clarissa."

"Y-you didn't even try, Naoko!"

The girl shakes her head. "I'm... if the most I can do is 10, then this thing is 50."

"What the fuck does that mean? Look, it doesn't matter, we need to run. It doesn't care about us, so let's just hide!"

She shakes her head again. "If it gets stopped by this barrier, then it will probably focus on wiping out this area."

"You... you can't know that for sure, Naoko!"

The third party interjects again with further mockery. "No, no, she's quite right. It's not here just for a walk. It'll destroy the entire city unless you stop it."

"Fuck you! You're a Shinigami, aren't you? This is your stupid fucking magic, isn't it? So get out here and help us! It's your job to save people!"

"Well, its appearance here is your fault. You need to take responsibility for it." He smugly parries. That just made your eye twitch. The guy is just messing around while you're about to die. The Hollow is getting awfully close. It'll reach this boundary in just a few more steps.

(2/3)

>>40115576
>things have gotten fucked up enough for Kira to somehow become a Captain
Maybe if all of the canon cast of Captains were dead and/or banished and Kira somehow got swole they'd be desperate enough to take him.

>>40115733
Okay that's definitely Shinji.

>>40115733
"What the fuck do you mean? How is this my fault?"

"Things like that don't leave their natural habitat unless they sense something that could sate their hunger. A strong Hollow needs to eat strong souls to grow even more. That spiritual spike from last night worked like bait. Don't tell me you didn't feel it."

...Wait. Is he talking about your power? It... attracted this thing? All of those Hollows?

"Well, if you didn't feel it, that must mean that both of you were responsible for it, or, well, at least one of you was. Either way, you're in quite the pinch right now!" You swear he just chuckled here. The voice suddenly takes on grim, urgent notes. "I suggest you do it again, whatever it was. I certainly would like to see it with my own two eyes," The speaker pauses. "And don't worry about the consequences this time. My barrier will hold and not let a single particle through. Go as crazy as you like, young ladies."

You're not sure if you can repeat the previous night. And with Naoko around to see you at your most unrestrained... you don't know if you should even try.

...

>Take your sword.
>Try to cut loose again.

>>40115786
>ASSHOLE!
>Try to cut loose again.

>>40115786
>>40115762
Actually no wait, I think it might be Urahara. Shinji's an asshole as well, but I don't think he's that curious as a person.

>>40115801
Yep. pretty much.

>>40115786
>Take your sword.
Fuck this guy.

>>40115821
I think Shinji can be curious at times. He brought back a gramophone from the human world when it was new and innovative.

>>40115786
>Take your sword.
Changing my mind from >>40115797

As an option, that sounds a lot more certain than trying to cut loose on purpose. I think unless it's in spoiler text, trying to cut loose will just result in embarrassing ourselves. We've got to focus first and get in a better head space.

>>40115821
If it's any canon character, it's Urahara. He's the only blonde Captain who we know favors kido.

>>40115821
At least he's competent...of course, with this approach that might not be much help anyway.

>>40115786
>Take your sword.

>>40115786
>Try to cut loose again.

I'm impressed, we managed to tie it again.
Well, both of these seem sub-par so I guess it's not so bad.

>>40115786
>>Try to cut loose again.

Mad as hell, hormonal, confused american teenager.

He asked for it.

>>40115982
I deleted my cutting loose vote though. I decided taking our sword seems less wishy-washy.

>>40116036
Yeah I'm counting >>40115823 as a probable vote though. I don't see what other purpose the post would have.

>>40116032
Goddamnit why did you tie it again? Like I don't know, I don't think taking our sword is the safe option, while I feel like trying to cut loose would at best result in a roll with a high DC at worst result in embarrassing ourselves more. I could be misreading the situation, but I don't think "try" is the same as "do"

>>40116032
We aren't American for the last damn time, We're part Russian!

>>40116082
What kinda Ruskie name is Clarissa? Or Paul?

>>40116046
So what do you guys think either option will accomplish?

>>40116093
No real clue. Cut loose is retardo-clusterfuck, sword is crushing-mode? Cut loose is actually being able to stay alive, sword is RIP Clarissa and Naoko? Something else? Guess we'll find out next update!

>>40116046
I don't know, I feel like it shouldn't count since there's no way of knowing whether or not that person made a normal vote later.

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>>40115786
Ending thread for tonight, it's getting late for me! Next thread will begin with the most voted option!

Next thread will be announced on twitter:
https://twitter.com/Mushroomgami
Going to try it tomorrow, though!

If you have any feedback or questions, shoot them my way!

I think cutting loose won, if >>40115801 is a vote.

Thanks for reading!

>>40116143
Thanks for running!
And I dunno how that post wouldn't be a vote, you mean the one linked to it?

>>40116159
>>40116143
Yeah, my mistake! I meant >>40115823

Getting sleepy, huh!

>>40116143
Thanks for writing
It's a pity the threads always seem to gain steam towards the end, just as the final posts are coming out, but oh well. Maybe some anons are in bad timezones for the quest.

>>40116143
>>40116174
Well that's really disheartening because I suspect we just fucked up. Again. And now we need to wait to see how we fucked up.

>>40116192
Such is life questing on /tg/ anon!
But yeah, the wait will be quite bad this time. Hopefully Mushroom can run tomorrow.

>>40116186
>Maybe some anons are in bad timezones for the quest.
I feel like it's the other way around, really!

>>40116237
Nonsense, you run at a pretty crowded/normal time really.

>>40116237
I tend to oversleep so I always miss the first part of the threads.