I hope that everyone’s in good ‘spirits’, because it’s time for another update! ...You’re not fans of puns, are you? Oh, well; there are worse ways to begin these things. Before we get to the main part of this update, I would like to illustrate the convenience of Free Battles by telling you how the party has changed after the three or four I went through since the last update.
- Matsuri levelled up four times
- Seigen levelled up once
- Ukitake levelled up once
- Aizen levelled up once and learned the ‘Res SP ATK 1’ skill from upgrading his sword
- Fujimaru levelled up five times and gained extra mobility
- Kaien levelled up four times and gained the Soeigeki skill in addition to extra mobility
- Four Steamed Buns and three Ointments were dropped by enemies
- Seigen maxed his Affinity with the twins and gave us another evasion-boosting Squad 5 Emblem
Quite a difference, isn’t it? Moving on, when I start the plot-mandatory battle, everyone (save for a suspiciously absent Seigen) comments on the immense pressure they can sense. Then, Retsu Unohana, captain of Squad 4 and an expert at medical treatment, teleports into the scene and tells us that she’s here to help us out. At least four groups of Hollows then teleport onto the battlefield, but the group closest to the party is instantly wiped out when Seigen warps onto the field. As Captain Suzunami tells everyone that he will maintain the front line, Aizen warns us about new waves of attacks. After a brief tutorial on Area Abilities, which is something that Unohana can use, the battle begins.
- Player’s Side
- See the previous update, plus the changes listed above
- Unohana, Non Com, LV 13, Minazuki LV 01, can use Minazuki and Keikatsu
- Enemy’s Side
- Frog Head, Speed, LV 07 (x2)
- Frog Head, Power, LV 07
- Frog Head, Tech, LV 07
- Screamer, Speed, LV 04 (x3)
- Familiar, Speed, LV 04 (x3)
- Familiar, Tech, LV 04 (x2)
With my recently upgraded party, I am able to mop the floor with these Hollows. The two Screamers tried to escape from Seigen’s section of the map to Matsuri, Fujimaru, and Kyoraku’s, but Seigen hunted them down before the twins could lay a hand on them. It was all over with in 4 turns...at least, the first wave was. Right after Seigen kills the second runner (the last enemy on the field at the time) and gains a level, another wave of Hollows appears on the field, including Mad Eater! After taunting the twins and telling them that he’ll eat them, the battle resumes, with the following additions on the enemy’s side:
- Screamer, Speed, LV 04
- Screamer, Speed, LV 06
- Screamer, Tech, LV 04 (x2)
- Screamer, Tech, LV 06 (x2)
- Screamer, Power, LV 07 (x4)
- Mad Eater, All, LV 08
Since Seigen was off to the side of the battlefield due to his hunt, Aizen leads the charge against Mad Eater, who is currently one level lower than either of the Kudo twins. The two top dogs of Squad 5 reunited when it came time to take down the boss, took off 8/9 of its HP with two team attacks while receiving less than 200 HP of damage combined, and then killed Mad Eater when his turn came up. Again, he somehow flees the battlefield before he gets sliced to pieces. The battle is officially over on the eighth turn, and since I performed 10 support attacks, I receive 13 experience points.
After battle, when everyone else has left, the Kudo twins are talking about how it looks like things are calming back down. Suddenly, Mad Eater pops back into the picture, glad that the twins are finally alone. Moreover, since they cannot even use Shikai yet, he can easily take care of them without his own reinforcements. While the twins are prepared to fight for their lives, their blows seem to bounce off Mad Eater. After a few more taunts from Mad Eater, Kaien steps in and unleashes Nejibana, knocking Mad Eater back. This convinces him to run away with his tail between his legs for real this time, right after telling his ‘matching mini-morsels’ that he’ll be back again one day.
The Kudo twins are upset that they were not a match for Mad Eater, and Kaien tells them that they will not stand a chance until they become true Soul Reapers and unleash their Zanpakuto. Kaien wonders what kind of power their Zanpakuto will have once they are released. We then cut to a short while later, where the twins are thanking Unohana for helping them with her healing abilities. Apparently, Konoka had asked her to take care of them, and Retsu says that Konoka’s as worried about them as if she was their mother. Matsuri then asks where Captain Suzunami is, and Unohana tells them that he is still keeping watch and tending to the injured.
Fujimaru: “He was the first one in, and now he’s the last one to leave?”
Unohana: “That’s the kind of man Captain Suzunami is.”
Matsuri: “Wow.”
Fujimaru: “Gee.”
The scene now switches to that evening, when the twins are accompanying Seigen home. He says that the twins should not have waited for him, but Fujimaru tells him that they couldn’t relax if they knew he was still working. Suzunami tells them that they do not have to worry about that, but the twins want to help any way they can. Kaien’s a good role model, but they want to be just like Seigen someday, which causes him to smile. Konoka’s waiting for the family outside of the squad station, which surprises the twins. She explains that, since they were so late, she decided to wait there for them. Seigen apologizes, and the twins tell her that Unohana took good care of them, and of Seigen’s awesomeness on the battlefield. After their tales of Seigen’s heroism starts to embarrass him, especially after Konoka tells him that some of the other members of Squad 5 are catching him in a relaxed moment, though she thinks that Seigen should look relaxed all the time.
Seigen: (eyes wide open, which looks kinda goofy) “All the time?! I don’t think I could manage that.”
Matsuri: “Gee, Lady Konoka shows up and the brave, dashing captain of the battlefield just fades away!”
Seigen: (face back to normal) “That’s just the way it is with big sisters and little brothers.”
Matsuri: “And you, Lady Konoka! You send Lord Seigen off shopping...and get him to massage your shoulders!”
Fujimaru: “You’ve got quite a bit of power there!”
Konoka: “You think so?”
Seigen: (smiling) “That’s just the way it is with big sisters and little brothers.”
With that, Chapter 4 comes to a close. As the next chapter begins, Fujimaru’s glad that he and Matsuri are finally allowed to go on patrol without Kaien assisting them, though Matsuri says that this is just because that last battle left the squad short-handed. Just when Fujimaru starts tempting fate by saying that they’re in a safe district and nothing ever happens in peaceful places like it, the ninja girl from a few chapters ago pops out of nowhere with a cut on her arm. She identifies herself as Soi Fon of the Guards, under the direct control of the Chief of the Punishment Force, and she needs the twins to go on a rescue mission. Her unit was caught in a surprise Hollow attack, and Chief Yoruichi Shihoin was wounded trying to hold them off and shielding the inexperienced Soi Fon from them. Fujimaru says that he’ll go right there while Matsuri and Soi Fon call for reinforcements, but Matsuri doesn’t want him to go by himself, and Soi Fon tells them that she can get the reinforcements by herself if it means that they can save Lady Yoruichi faster. Matsuri tells Soi Fon to contact Squad 5 when she reaches the Seireitei, since Captain Suzunami can respond faster than anybody.
There’s a brief cut to Seigen being informed by Soi Fon of Yoruichi’s predicament, and that the twins are going to try and save her. Seigen leaves the squad and Soi Fon’s medical treatment in Aizen’s hands, hoping he and anyone that can keep up with him gets there before the twins are in serious danger. After a party preparation screen, we cut to the purple-haired Yoruichi holding off some Hollows near a bridge. Mad Eater’s there, asking if she’s going to run, but Yoruichi replies that she couldn’t take him down if she ran. In addition, she thinks to herself that retreating would leave the town unprotected. Thankfully, the twins pop up just in time, and after some more banter with Mad Eater about how they can still accomplish things even though they still have a lot to learn, the battle begins!
- Player’s Side
- Matsuri Kudo, Power, LV 09, Asauchi LV 03 (cannot be upgraded further right now)
- Fujimaru Kudo, Speed, LV 09, Asauchi LV 03 (cannot be upgraded further right now)
- Guest’s side
- Yoruichi, Speed, LV 13, Hakuda LV 01 (has 123/408 HP at the battle’s start)
- Enemy’s Side
- Frog Head, Speed, LV 06 (x2)
- Frog Head, Speed, LV 07 (x3)
- Familiar, Power, LV 03
- Familiar, Speed, LV 06
- Familiar, Speed, LV 07 (x2)
- Familiar, Tech, LV 06
- Familiar, Tech LV 07 (x2)
- Mad Eater, All, LV 09
Save for the LV 06 enemies, every enemy is close to Yoruichi at the battle’s start. This isn’t as much of a problem as it sounds, since the girl floats like a butterfly and stings like an entire swarm of bees, and can take care of all of the Hollows down there without getting knocked out.
Matsuri’s the first to attack a foe, and even though it’s a Speed-type Familiar three levels below her, she remarks that this is a tough situation. Fujimaru tells her that normal attacks just will not work, and out of nowhere, a strange glow asks the twins where their faith is. The twins are puzzled by this and wonder where the voice is coming from, but it doesn’t tell them. Meanwhile, Yoruichi has no clue what’s going on. Nothing happens when Fujimaru does his thing, but when Matsuri gets attacked on the enemy’s turn, Fujimaru tells her to pull back. The voice returns and asks them if they don’t believe, and tells them that they are not fighting alone. The twins come to a realization simultaneously: it must be their Zanpakuto! However, it seems odd to both of them that they’re hearing the same voice...
When Yoruichi gets attacked, it turns out that her injury is worse than she thought, and she can’t move from her spot. But she can hold her own, and tells the twins to prioritize on what’s in front of them. After another enemy attacks, Yoruichi starts worrying that she won’t be able to help the twins, but Matsuri tells her that they’ll find a way, which makes Yoruichi happy. By the end of the turn, Yoruichi has killed 2 of the 4 enemies that attacked her, reduced the others to critical condition, and still has 96 HP left. The only two enemies on Yoruichi’s part of the battlefield that don’t move towards her are Mad Eater and the Power-type familiar, the former because he’s a boss, and the latter because he only has three movement.
The next turn, when Matsuri tries another attack that she presumes won’t work, Fujimaru tells her to stand back and let him try. The strange glow asks what they are afraid of, and asks them if there’s any need to fear. It tells the twins to discard what they don’t need, find what’s necessary, put their minds together, and look forward. It then fades away again, leaving the twins puzzled as to what their Zanpakuto wants from them. After both twins have made their moves, Yoruichi gets to attack one of the Frog Heads that tried to kill her last turn and bashes its face in with her fists and feet. On the enemy’s turn, 3 of the 4 Hollows that attack Yoruichi die, and she’s left with 46 HP. By the time turn 3 begins, there are no more enemies in the Kudo twins’ way. Yoruichi asks if they can still go on, and when they say that they’re fine, Mad Eater decides that now’s a good time to summon six Speed-type Shrieker Hollows (three at LV 07, three at LV 08) right next to the twins. What comes next is a long piece of dialogue that I feel I must reproduce in all of its hammy glory, copyright and liveblog length be darned.
Mad Eater: “I’m very cautious, you see! Heh heh heh!”
Familiar Voice: “Being cautious is a good thing.”
Mad Eater: “Huh?!”(Seigen and Kaien appear on the battlefield) “You!”
Fujimaru and Matsuri: “Captain!”
Suzunami: “Fujimaru! Matsuri! Good for you for hanging in there for so long!”
Matsuri: “I wish we could have done more, but we’re still too weak!”
Suzunami: “Don’t lament lack of power, Matsuri.”
Matsuri: “Huh?”
Suzunami: “Each individual’s strength is limited. And individual strength is nothing compared to the combined strength of trusted allies.”
Yoruichi: “That’s right. What we’re trying to defend here is too big for one person alone. And I don’t mean that the strong should use the weak as a shield. The strong must be a shield for the weak, protecting them and giving them time to grow.”
Fujimaru: “Lady Yoruichi...”
Suzunami: “And that is what separates us Soul Reapers from the Hollows.”
Mad Eater: “What long-winded speeches you have. Think you have all the time in the world, do you?”
Suzunami: “We do.”
Yoruichi: “That’s right.”
Mad Eater: “Grrrrr!”
So, now Suzunami and Kaien have joined the Player’s side of the fight, and the four overleveled Soul Reapers easily take care of the reinforcements while Yoruichi takes care of the last Hollow that was foolish enough to think it could stand a chance against her. After that, the twins and Suzunami start heading towards Mad Eater in order to take him down, while Kaien heads south and uses Keikatsu to heal Yoruichi for the experience. Mad Eater doesn’t start moving until Turn 5, which is also the same turn that the twins unleashed their Team attacks against him and won the battle. Fujimaru, Matsuri, and Kaien levelled up once during this escapade, for the record.
Before Mad Eater escapes from us for the third time, he mentions that our victory will be short-lived, and that Arturo will take care of them all soon enough. The twins don’t know who Arturo is, though Yoruichi is notably alarmed. After he’s gone, Yoruichi thanks Seigen and the twins for their help, though Seigen tells her that she should be praising the fleet-footed Soi Fon. The twins say that there’s no need to thank them, and then Yoruichi realises that she hasn’t properly introduced herself.
Yoruichi: “I’m Yoruichi Shihoin, Commander of the Stealth Force and Chief of the Punishment Force.”
Soi Fon: (appears out of nowhere) “Lady Yoruichi!”
Yoruichi: “Soi Fon! What are you doing back here?
Soi Fon: “I am a guard! Standing at your side is my duty, Lady Yoruichi! Now please come with me for treatment.”
Yoruichi: “Never mind that now. More importantly, I’d like to thank you. You saved me with your quick action-“
Soi Fon: “Please! The last thing I deserve is gratitude! Because of my deplorable lack of skill, I put you in danger. Please punish me, Lady Yoruichi.”
Yoruichi: “Punish you? Ha ha ha! I’m not going to punish you, silly thing!”
The twins then thank Soi Fon for sending backup, but Soi Fon is offended because backup wouldn’t have been needed if her actions hadn’t led to Lady Yoruichi being injured. She then goes on about Lady Yoruichi being faster than the wind and capable of leaping between shadows instantaneously, how she’s called the ‘Goddess of Flash’ for her speed, and that her beauty and strength are unsurpassed. Oh, and while Soi Fon’s saying all of this, her character portrait’s background turns from angry shades into pink hearts. Yoruichi then tells her that Soi Fon’s probably giving away too much info about their undercover operation, which startles Soi Fon and causes the twins to laugh.
With no more Hollows in the area, everyone then heads back to the Seireitei. At the squad station, Matsuri apologizes for taking action without permission, but Aizen tells her that their decision turned out to be the right one, and that surviving against Hollows that pinned down the Punishment Force is worthy of praise...and a day off. As for Captain Suzunami, a battle like that wasn’t enough to be considered as ‘work’ for him, and he wants the twins to go home early. Once the twins leave, Aizen tells Seigen that something about the reports on yesterday’s attacks concerned Yamamoto, and that an emergency meeting will be held. We now have access to Free Time, where we can view the following events:
- Aizen: Aizen’s Book (4 AP, Chest)
- Kaien: Kaien’s Blade (3 AP)
- Urahara: Urahara’s Invention (2 AP)
- Young Rukia: A Small Gift (3 AP, Chest)
- Young Gin: Gin’s Curiosity (3 AP, Chest)
- Young Momo: Something Yummy! (1 AP, Affinity +)
- Seigen: The Captain’s Trust (2 AP, !)
- Konoka: Konoka’s Encouragement (3 AP, !)
- Urahara: Urahara’s Compliments (2 AP, !)
- Yoruichi: Visiting Yoruichi (4 AP, Chest)
- Unohana: In Thanks for the Treatment (2 AP)
- Soi Fon: Soi Fon’s Anguish (2 AP, Affinity +)
There are twelve spaces between the beginning and the goal, and something major is going to happen in Chapter 06, so don’t feel as though you have to pick the temporary events for the heck of it. I eagerly await your votes, and hope that you all have a wonderful day!
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