>>40216672
Buriichi time!

>>40216672
If the answer is cutting loose, then you... you need more. You need more of an... incentive, you suppose.

Your heart thumps.

If you die here...

...That's right. In your scrambling panic, you've momentarily forgotten the most important thing. You have all the incentive you need. All the drive, all the desire to survive.

...you'll never see her again.

Survival is mutual with this Hollow's death. If that's the case, you'll bring it down, no matter what.

You whip your arm to the side. As if the gesture served as a signal, blades blur through the air above you, streaking towards the Hollow's torso.

The giant raises its arm from underneath its black cloak and swats the projectiles aside. Its white hand isn't even scratched. It's not that the blades weren't sharp; they were simply too slow to pierce through. You need more power to harm it.

If your driving force is desperation, then you need to experience more danger. That seems... simple enough, especially right now, but you're worried that if your theory is wrong, you'll get killed.

The Menos has taken notice of you. Its eyes are directed your way, though they maintain their empty indifference. Its next step is swift. The pitch black creature now towers above you; if it had a shadow, you'd be completely hidden within it.

Its white booted foot is swung at you nonchalantly and trivially, as if about to kick a pebble out of the way.

Your eyes widen. Even something like this probably has enough strength to crush your bones. Your first instinct is to dodge, but you're... not sure. This... might be your chance to prove your assumptions.

...

>Move out of the way.
>Stop the attack.

>>40216692
>Stop the attack.
Moving sounds bad for some nebulous undefined reason.

>>40216692
>Move out of the way.

>>40216692
>>Stop the attack

Into the rabbit hole we go.

>>40216692
>Stop the attack.

>>40216692
>Stop the attack

Bravery, stupidity, or stubborness.

You decide

>>40216799
>>40216814
I'm sure only good things could come from this, anons!

Keeping us in here is one thing, but Naoko can't do much, she's just caught in the crossfire. Not a great first impression by this shinigami.

>>40216692
>Move out of the way.

>>40216692
Voting over, writing!

>>40216956
Oh boy, time for violence!
On who, I guess we're gonna find out.

>>40216835

Clarissa has only rarely made sane, smart choices the whole quest.

Her being player or QM driven has not stopped that.

Why start now?

>>40217030
Hey, she's been batting pretty well for a /tg/ quest MC while we're in control!
She's 0 for 2 on her own though...or maybe more like -10 for 2.

>>40216720
...This is such a horrible idea. Anxiety is certainly not helping your thinking at all. Even if danger does serve as the trigger to your abilities, then will it work when you're expecting to be saved? What if it's like a dream, where you wake up once you realize that you're in one?

...It's too late to dodge now. You extend your arms forward, thrusting against the Hollow's foot. Swords fly out in sync with the action, stabbing into the appendage.

You're going to stop it.

Your palms slam into the white tip of the massive shoe. With a grunt, your teeth press against each other. Bones creak; muscles and veins bulge and threaten to pop. The attack doesn't go past your outstretched limbs.

You've managed to keep your arms straight despite the strain, but your feet are starting to slide back along the ground. Just as Kimiko taught you, you stay yourself on air, supported by your own ability instead of the frail ground.

It has been stopped. Your arms hurt from the effort, but you've succeeded.

The projectiles must have taken some force out of the blow. Just a bit more effort on the part of the Menos and you wouldn't have been able to hold.

Do you feel stronger? No, not at all. You can barely feel your arms anymore, and that was from just a casual kick. The foot is riddled with swords, but you don't see any blood.

Now that you look at them, these weapons look bizarre, not at all like the traditional Japanese swords you've wielded and flung before. Most of them have a white edge and a black blade. Their shapes and forms are highly unusual, as if each weapon is trying to stand apart from the other.

Some of them aren't even swords. Some of them don't look like weapons at all; not practical ones, at least.

And yet somehow, they feel far more powerful.

You pull out the closest one with your sore arms. The Hollow hasn't bled yet, and you need to rectify that. Starting from the legs and working your way up is your best option right now.

(1/2)

File: cero.png (295 KB, 710x461)

295 KB PNG

>>40217863
As you take your swing, the Menos Grande blurs, much like the projectiles you've fired at him. It moves back with a low-pitched, booming sound, its speed literally blinding and impossible to track. Perhaps it's recognized you as danger and made distance. If it's trying to retreat, you don't think you should stop it from-...

Its mask splits at the mouth, jaws separating. The Hollow has opened its maw, giving way to an even darker void.

And that void then fills with crimson light. It exudes no heat, but if it did, it would have matched the sun itself.

"CLARISSA! GET AWAY!"

You hear Naoko's voice behind you, but she's not thinking straight. Not in a million years would you be able to dodge what was about to come.

Excitement grips your heart. It beats frantically, as if trying to escape from your chest. The intensity of it makes you feel like it really will happen unless you calm down. It feels like the friction alone will set your insides on fire.

...You don't know if that's good. You're certainly feeling 'more' than you have before, but perhaps it's only because you're witnessing your impending doom.

You know that you can't swallow, breathe or blink - that would take too long. Just how quickly is your heart beating if you can hear it even though time has seemingly stopped? This experience is driving you mad. It resembles what you've felt before, but there isn't enough of it to numb your resisting mind. That's why the intensity hurts and threatens to drive you mad.

You still can't tell for sure what is causing this. You don't know how to push it further, and whether or not you actually should. Just what is the trigger?

...

>Take the most powerful sword you can find and block with it.
>Try to force its maw to a close with your third barrage of swords.

>>40217918
>>Take the most powerful sword you can find and block with it.
Fuck, hope this is the right move.

>>40217918
>Take the most powerful sword you can find and block with it.

>>40217918
>Try to force its maw to a close with your third barrage of swords.

>>40217918
>Try to force its maw to a close with your third barrage of swords.

>>40217918
>>Try to force its maw to a close with your third barrage of swords.

Back blast for comical effect.

>>40217918
>Try to force its maw to a close with your third barrage of swords.
BLOW YOUR OWN DAMN FACE OFF!

>>40217918
>Take the most powerful sword you can find and block with it.

>>40218010
Now that would be hardcore.

Are being railroaded into Kimiko route or is it some shinigami magic?

>>40218111
I doubt we'll get a Kimiko the succubus route at least, anon.

>>40217918
>Take your most powerful sword and block it

>>40217918
Voting over, writing!

>>40218180
>Tie 4 seconds before closing
That's a nice move anon, Mushroom well tricked!

>>40218180
Or maybe not!

Extending voting by 5 more minutes!

Surely there is an enterprising anon not voted yet!

>>40217918
>Try to force its maw to a close with your third barrage of swords.

>>40217918
>>40218235
Voting over for sure now!

>>40217983
>>40217990
In order to survive, you can't let the Menos fire off its attack. You simply won't. You stretch your hand forwards and raise your hand. The weapons spawn as per your command and fly, their emergence hailed by ripples in the air, like miniature portals through which they must have emerged.

They spring up not from your hand, and not even from near you. They appear right below the Hollow's jaws. The black and white swords fly up into its chin, stabbing into the mask of bone. Their impact closes its gaping mouth, and the crimson orb explodes from the inside.

Smoke trails through the cracked teeth. The creature makes no sound, no wail of its own to signify pain; it most likely doesn't feel any.

It's just as expressionless as ever. It shows no fear or confusion.

As you take a step forward, it takes one back. You can't tell if that's just a coincidence, or if it's grown wary of you. Even if it can't feel pain, it must still be capable of recognizing danger.

You smirk. It's certainly not in the wrong for retreating, if that's what it's attempting to do. You could easily repeat this feat if it forced you to. It seems that you've been getting stronger, after all. Before, your projectiles couldn't even slow it down; now they seem capable of delivering damage.

The cracks in its mask of bone will most certainly heal given a bit of time. The swords had already fallen out of the wounds they've caused - the regeneration process mended the mask and pushed them away. The weapons are simply too small to kill it.

...Well, perhaps they're capable of doing it now. Maybe they can pierce all the way through its skull. There aren't many ways to find out, and they're all barely more than a gesture away.

(1/2)

File: MenosRetreats.jpg (27 KB, 640x480)

27 KB JPG

>>40219247
Your strained muscles no longer hurt. The thrill filling your body is more intense than one that can be caused by adrenaline alone. Your heart beats even faster now, but it hurts no longer. Power is flowing through and through, trying to fill every cell with ecstatic warmth.

The sensation is making you so giddy that you want to shriek. As you watch the fleeing Hollow, your heart fills with grief. You want it to stay for a little longer. Stay and let you rip it to shreds. It's leaving even though you've just gotten the power you've been so eagerly waiting for, spent so much effort and experienced so much fear to obtain.

You catch yourself walking towards it, chuckling. It must know that it doesn't stand a chance anymore, so it's running. It's probably not a good idea to let it go. After all, if it comes back or emerges somewhere else, you might not be around to tear it apart.

Your chuckle is growing louder, bit by bit. It's just really funny to watch this big and scary predator flee from what it must have thought to be easy prey; what it probably hadn't even considered as a worthwhile meal until now. What a coward. Now that you're on even ground, it just-...

...You're not on even ground. That's ridiculous. You're not even feeling as good as you had before, not yet, and you're so far above it already! Just that thought alone is so amusing that it makes you break out into a guffawing laughter.

The Menos Grande reaches out with its pale hand and grasps the air. Like fabric, it is torn aside. The cloaked Hollow covers itself in it, trying to take its leave.

...

>Let it retreat.
>Don't let it go. Finish it off.

>>40219296
>Don't let it go. Finish it off.

>>40219296
>Let it retreat
If we go FULL POWER and go for the kill...it'll just attract more.

>>40219296
>Let it retreat.

>>40219296
>Don't let it go. Finish it off.
>>40219323
Except that's not the case? The Captain put up a barrier that'll stop others from noticing our power. I mean don't get me wrong, we're definitely getting kind of crazy here, but we don't know how lame Gillains are in reality.

>>40219296
>Let it retreat.

>>40219413
We are not their monkey, we don't perform on their say so. That we got this far should be enough.

Do not count this as a vote, I already voted. This is just commentary.

>>40219443
It might go on to hurt other people though? It seems to be pretty evil so I don't really get your reasoning.

>>40219296
>>Don't let it go. Finish it off.

Nobody steps on a buidling in my town!

>>40219462
that's a fair perspective on the matter. Though it appears the matter continues deadlocked, moral quandary aside.

I consider you a worthy opponent in this debate and thank you for the disagreement.

>>40219510
I guess I don't really get why people wouldn't want to kill this thing. Is it just to be needlessly prissy? Think that it'll be the last straw to make us go really crazy?

>>40219296
>Don't let it go. Finish it off.

>>40219296
Voting over, writing!

>>40219533

Have yet to see an invading Hollow real do anything but cause trouble too.

>>40219533
Because we're under observation.

>>40219737
True, but it's not like they'll suddenly think we're not strong enough to finish the job.

Also I'm not sure of our odds against a shinigami captain.

>>40219789
>against a shinigami captain
Considering we can't even one-shot a Gillian, we have no chance at all. Gillians are what Lieutenants are for, and they do that shit at 1/5 power. A Captain is in another league entirely from even their Lieutenants.

>>40219875
>Gillians are what Lieutenants are for,
Actually it's Captains not Lt's for gillians

>>40219875
And that's before getting into things like tricksy shikai or bankai powers.

Tricksy fucking powers.

>>40219908
Not at all. Captains are explicitly stated in the manga to have no difficulty beating a Gillian. An Adjuchas is a better match for a *weak* Captain.

>>40219320
>>40219413
You grin, continuing your stroll towards it. You flick down two fingers.

The weapons fly at the Hollow's hands, the barrage spanning out all the way across the torso. They dig in all the way to their handles, and force the monster to lose its grasp. The ones aiming for the body are hidden underneath the black cloak. Blood can stain neither the dark nor the white fabric, as it appears to be completely absent. The lack of it is annoying, somehow. It feels like your attacks aren't doing anything, not causing the pain they should be.

That's just unsatisfying.

Its hand reaches out again, apparently intent on attempting to retreat again.

How desperate and unseemly. It's pissing you off.

You hasten your pace, breaking out into a sprint. The distance the Hollow created with its steps is disregarded in a moment. You plant your feet into the road, bend the knees, and send yourself into the air, far above the rooftops of Karakura Town.

The Menos raises its free hand, and the palm drops down on your head.

The speed is completely unbefitting of its size. Considering the amount of power packed into its limbs, it's simply unfair.

But you outmatch it in strength and swiftness; you are leagues beyond in both. In the brief amount of time it takes for the attack to occur, you had both fetched yourself a new sword and raised it above your head. In foolish wariness, you used both arms to stop the hand; a completely unnecessary effort.

This thing is not worth even one.

(1/3)

>>40221351
You don't budge from your position up in the air, standing on a platform of spiritual particles.

You push your strangely curved sword further into the pale flesh, and then twist it out with a violent shout. It unintentionally accomplished something ridiculous - the force of your blow spread out along a wider area and split off the hand. The detached part falls down onto the ground below.

Too caught up in rapture, you fail to realize that you've started laughing. If you so willed it, you think you could cut this monster up into so many pieces that you wouldn't have enough swords to match it. That obviously wouldn't be fun, though. You want to see what else you're capable of, and drag out this encounter for at least a few minutes more.

You hear the booming sound again, and the Menos darts away. Even with your godlike ability, the movement is tricky to keep track of. It feels strangely uniform, like a technique, rather than an inborn ability of a Hollow.

Well, it doesn't matter. The distance it made? You can achieve more in the same amount of time. There is no need for fancy skill here. A single jump forward, and that's all it takes - you're right before its cracked maw. You place a hand on its pointy nose. The laughter is growing wilder, your body all but numb from the maddening pleasure it's going through.

With a modicum of effort, you extend your arm. The Hollow's head is forced back, easily pushed away.

You really do shriek. It's hopelessly mad and shameless, even you can tell. But you can't bear your excitement anymore, and you don't see the need to. Besides, this situation is just too freaking funny.

You were afraid of this thing? You knew that you were this capable, and yet you were worried about your chances? Did you even for a moment think that the promise you've made was just out of desperation or unfound arrogance?

You are the strongest there is. It isn't a lie or an exaggeration.

(2/3)

>>40221404
The black obelisk loses its balance and falls, its massive weight finally affecting the real world. The road cracks and shatters underneath the Menos' torso. Cars are smashed; you can't tell if people are harmed. You find yourself wishing that you didn't care, as it's detracting from your bliss.

The worry fills your heart with panic and fear. You don't wish to bear responsibility for even more death. Your next gesture sends a rain of swords to crush the pale mask; they easily penetrate the thick bone, getting stuck somewhere inside. The monster's face looks like it's just endured a shotgun blast. Countless cracks ripple all across, torn black flesh giving way and splitting out onto the outside.

You immediately regret doing that. Its death spells the end of this pleasure, as there's nothing else to apply your godly powers on. They simply don't have a need anymore. You let out a wail, calling for more.

But there isn't anything else for you to kill. Past the invisible barrier, you can't see the Hollows or the Shinigami.

...This is so boring. Your power is wearing off, and with it, the incredible sensations. With the warmth leaving, the air becomes so cuttingly cold that it's making you sick. The gigantic Hollow below slowly dissolves into nothing, apparently undergoing purification. You... don't spot any bodies underneath. The damage has caused a commotion, but... you just really hope those parked cars were empty.

People aren't rushing to extract anyone from the vehicles, so maybe you've lucked out. Relieved, you let out a sigh.

"Are you there, Shinigami?" You call out. You did not intend to sound so frustrated, but you really can't help it.

(3/4)

>>40221436
"...It's a shame," The man's voice continues to echo out from somewhere, but he's still choosing to remain hidden. "The feeling your ability gives off is completely different. It seems that my hunch was wrong."

He declares it regretfully, his tone still coming off as casual. "Well, young lady. Who are you? Which Division are you from?"

...

>"I'm Clarissa. Karakura Town's Substitute Shinigami. And who the hell are you?"
>"Don't go off on weird monologues and then pretend you didn't have them. What was that about my ability?"
>"Quit fucking hiding."
>Other. (Write-in).

>>40221477
>"Don't go off on weird monologues and then pretend you didn't have them. What was that about my ability?"
>"Quit fucking hiding."

>>40221477
>"Don't go off on weird monologues and then pretend you didn't have them. What was that about my ability?"
>"Quit fucking hiding."

>>40221477
>"Don't go off on weird monologues and then pretend you didn't have them. What was that about my ability?"

>>40221477
>>"Don't go off on weird monologues and then pretend you didn't have them. What was that about my ability?"

Clarissa is murder mode is definitely div 11.

>>40221477
Voting over, writing!

>>40221507
>>40221537
"Don't go off on weird monologues and then pretend you didn't have them. What was that about my ability?"

You think you need to calm down a bit. You're all but barking at the guy. Well, it's not helping that he's being such a prick right now.

You hear a contemplating hum. "I can't say, young lady. The truth is, I have no idea what your power is about, unfortunately. I do wish I could tell you more, but I've never seen anything like the display you've put up just now."

Is he trying to compliment you? He sounds kind of cheerful, in a way. No, more... curious. In a way you don't like at all. He doesn't care about you, just the things you can do.

"There do exist prodigies capable of mustering great spiritual power in a time of crisis, but not to such extents. And this ability... well, it's certainly unheard of for a Shinigami to possess more than two Zanpakuto. Maybe three, perhaps."

He continues with his theory crafting, or something. You don't interrupt him because you're curious, too. Maybe his theories won't be as wrong as Kimiko's were.

"...Especially not ones that other Shinigami already claim as their own."

You look around, trying to find him. He sounds like he's examining the swords you've thrown out, so you're looking for them. "Where the heck are you? Come out."

"I don't think even a Bankai should be capable of doing this. You have something grand on your hands indeed, young lady. Perhaps my hunch was correct, after all."

He's throwing terms you don't know about, and doesn't bother to explain them; you're starting to get pissed again.

"I'm right here." He says. It's as though his voice finally decides on a direction that it's coming from, instead of just wandering about all over the place.

(1/2)

File: Urahara.jpg (25 KB, 640x480)

25 KB JPG

>>40222943
A man with messy blond hair, maybe in his late twenties or early thirties. His Shinigami uniform is covered by a white coat; a haori, or something. He's standing on a rooftop, a pair of your swords lying on the ground next to him. Must have been inspecting them.

"My name is Urahara Kisuke, captain of the 12th Division. I would really like to know more about you, young lady. You don't fit the description of the Shinigami in charge of this area, and I don't recall seeing your profile while I was preparing for this mission," He smiles, politely and warmly. "And I would most certainly remember someone as attractive as you."

...You don't really know how to answer him. Compliments and friendliness aside, he's still a Shinigami. You don't even know what you can tell him without putting Kimiko under fire. But it seems that you can't really wiggle your way out of it. You've basically been caught, despite your efforts to remain hidden.

You're not really worried or anything. You can just ignore this guy if you really wanted to. What would he do? Stop you? Call his friends to help him out? What a joke. No, you're only concerned about her.

At the very least, he seems clueless about what's really going on here. That's good.

...

>"I'm Clarissa. I'm... helping the local Shinigami out."
>"And what was your 'hunch'?"
>"...What do you know about the local Shinigami, Urahara Kisuke?"
>Other. (Write-in).

>>40222978
>"...What do you know about the local Shinigami, Urahara Kisuke?"

>>40222978
>"And what was your 'hunch'?"

>>40222978
>>"...What do you know about the local Shinigami, Urahara Kisuke?"

>>40222978
>"...What do you know about the local Shinigami, Urahara Kisuke?"

File: i keep forgetting what i (...).png (319 KB, 817x817)

319 KB PNG

>>40222978
Ending thread for tonight, it's getting really late! Next thread will begin with the most voted option!

Next thread will be announced on twitter:
https://twitter.com/Mushroomgami
I'll be trying to run one tomorrow, though!

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

Thanks for reading!

>>40223293
So where in the timeline are we and what went wonky?

>>40223390
The wonkiness started a little more than 110 years ago. The quest is taking place several years after the manga start, but most of the canon events never really took place.

>>40223293
Thanks for running!

>>40223390
A meaningless question. We're so far off the map that 'when' isn't even a factor. At most, this takes place post-series, but even that's unlikely.