>>39422294
And then it moves. It phases through the structure at a blinding speed. You have enough wit left to phase downwards, under your room, and onto the first floor. It gives you time, and confuses the monster just enough for it to bury its claws in the wooden floor where you used to stand rather than in your flesh. It follows you into the living room, crawling around on all fours. The room is far too small for it to even stand upright in, but it has shown that it can simply change the terrain with brute force.

In all the destruction you manage to perceive the sharp noise of shattering glass. You glance at its source and, in the dark, see Paul. Your brother looks shocked and terrified, and yet he sees neither you nor the gray-skinned monstrosity.

But it does see him. It blurs forward, neglecting you, and lifts its oversized arm up; it phases through the ceiling, leaving it unharmed. Before the limb is brought down, it feels as though time has stopped.

...

>Try to push Paul out of the way.
>Attack it while its back is turned; try to kill it before it kills Paul.

>>39422310
>>Try to push Paul out of the way.

>>39422310
>Try to push Paul out of the way.

Captcha: Mpreg
NO CAPTCHA! NOT PAUL!

>>39422310
>Try to push Paul out of the way.
SHIIIIIT

>>39422310
>>Try to push Paul out of the way.

>>39422310
I was getting worried there, good to see you.
>Attack it while its back is turned; try to kill it before it kills Paul.

>>39422310
>Try to push Paul out of the way.

>>39422310
>Try to push Paul out of the way.

>>39422294
So, what the fuck is up with this white creepy piece of shit?

>>39422448
That's no way to talk about Clarissa! I know she's Russian but still. Some Russians aren't creepy.. sort of.

>>39422448
It was Yuuko, she's Vaizard.

>>39422310
Voting over, writing!

>>39422488
...worry

>>39422294
So most likely old bastard is a separate entity from creepy mask Hollow, but what's the connection? Doubt it's coincidental that it arrived now.

>>39422355
>>39422357
You lunge after it and dash to its front. You are forced to understand something you refused to accept - you will never make it in time. The instance it will take Clay Bone to bring down its arm is something you will never overcome with your meager speed.

You raise your sword in an attempt to stop the attack; you are not quick enough to even dash under it before it's too late. The sword bites through the side of its arm, but at that point, it is already over. In a desperate rage, you scream, drive the blade up through the wound you caused, and prepare to slash at the arm again. And yet even that is useless - before you finish the swing, it thrusts itself at you, shoving you with its shoulder.

You are flung aside and collide with a kitchen counter. If your back had a spine, it would have probably bent a clean ninety degrees from the point of impact, so great was the force. The pain is awful, but your spiritual body holds; even if you recovered something resembling strength in the last few days, that one hit must have stolen even those miniscule amounts.

...No, it's just the numbing pain. You can still feel a little bit of strength remaining in your battered limbs. Your eyes regain their vision; the beast is not looking your way. Its hateful glare is directed at a young man.

At first, you are relieved to see him still alive. You then wonder how he survived - his eyes are looking, but they still don't see.

You lift yourself up. In the time it takes you to do so, Clay Bone raises and drops its clawed hand once more. Only the floor is crushed by the motion. Paul strafes to the side. His glasses barely hold on his ears because of the speed with which he moves. You spot one of his arms reach for the kitchen desk and take an object. The kitchen knife is swung, but it is nowhere near the best.

And yet, one of its arms drops in a flash of light. The beast shrieks, and blood sprays across the floor in ludicrous amounts.

(1/2)

>>39423054
This is nonsense. You give up on comprehending it, and take the chance to leap forth and stab it through the mask. Your sword claims an eye, and you manage to hop away before it grabs you in its confusion. You don't kill it, but it gives ground.

You turn to Paul, who has collapsed. His body is shaking and convulsing in what seems to be agony. You don't know what the cause of this might be; there is no time to figure it out, and there is no option to ask. But you suppose that beggars can't be choosers.

At the very least, it seems that the Hollow has its priorities straight now - its one uninjured eye is glaring at you, and only at you, with seething hate. Perhaps now that your brother is unconscious, it doesn't think of him as a threat. So when he was awake, it must have.

The fight will continue. You can't fight it head on, and must come up with a tactic.

...

>Lure him to Naoko's house. It's far, but it might be worth it if you last that long.
>Lure him into small alleyways, where his size will be a detriment.
>Keep fighting him here; rely on Kimiko to assist you.

>>39423054
Paul pls

>>39423084
>>Lure him to Naoko's house. It's far, but it might be worth it if you last that long.

>>39423084
>Lure him into small alleyways, where his size will be a detriment.

>>39423084
>Lure him to Naoko's house. It's far, but it might be worth it if you last that long.

>>39423084
>Keep fighting him here; rely on Kimiko to assist you.
'sup with Paul there?

>>39423084
>Lure him to Naoko's house. It's far, but it might be worth it if you last that long.

>>39423084
>Lure him to Naoko's house. It's far, but it might be worth it if you last that long.

>>39423084
Voting over, writing!

Well at least this should make it a bit easier to fight it. Two arms are better than one,

Wonder if we'll see the hell gate for the first time. Not that we know if this hollow did anything horrible in life.

>>39423822
Wouldn't be too strange. Definitely expecting Shenanigans from now on either way.

>>39423101
>>39423117
With a shriek, the Hollow further emphasizes its rage. It moves forth to eat you whole with its jaws, but you dash to its weakened side and stab your sword through its temple. The sharp tip makes a cut along the mask of bone, but the blow is not fatal. In the first place, going for those kinds of blows is meaningless if the Hollow is able to simply restore itself.

Rather than staying close, you run away. Kimiko has said it before, but actually fighting it rubs her point in - you will never defeat a real Hollow on your own. Not even now, when its entire left side has been decimated into uselessness by the lack of both eyesight and an arm. You'll need help, and there is someone who has promised you exactly that, and who is more than capable of carrying out that promise.

You run, not caring for walls or any other obstacles in your path. Out on the streets, you hear a low whistle up in the air. The elephant sized beast took a mad leap to the skies, piking down at you like missile. You jump; its claws and mass crush the asphalt you were standing on. Clay Bone's claws slide across the surface which they bit into, and trailing their arc with dust and stones, strike you from below, throwing you higher.

The huge razors were blunted by the rocky ground from which they emerged, and you were not cut into pieces. You slide across the wall of a building to break your flight, and then dash right through the very same wall as your vision is blocked off with its massive torso. Its hand smashes through with such ease that it might seem as if there was nothing there, but obscuring yourself from it allows you to survive.

You keep running.

(1/2)

>>39423897
Fear for your own life drives you through the growing fatigue. There is nothing even remotely brave about this - you are struggling for your life, fighting tooth and nail just to not die. You are stalling for time. The fact that it's been mangled so badly is the only reason you survived this long. But even that time is running out - the eye will soon heal due to its accursed regeneration, and that just might be the end for you. Losing even that seemingly minor advantage could mean your death.

When you start losing track of how close or far you are from the place you are trying to lure it to, you hear a strange noise. Like a falling star, a blue orb flies through the air and collides with the Hollow's torso. The volume of its roar alone disperses the cloud of smoke that's been created by the orb's explosion. A chunk of its torso is gone, as if the hole present in its heart has been widened with brutal burns to encompass the lower part of its belly.

Clay Bone keels over, forced to its knees, holding itself upright only with its lone remaining arm. For once, it looks more vulnerable than you. You don't know how long it might take Naoko to fire off another shot, but on the other hand, there is no guarantee that it is not dangerous even in this miserable state.

...

>Deliver the finishing blow.
>Stay clear.

>>39423919
>Deliver the finishing blow.

>>39423919
>Deliver the finishing blow.
It must be us!

>>39423919
>Stay clear.

>>39423919
>Deliver the finishing blow.

>>39423919

>Deliver the finishing blow.

We've got the purifying sword magic, let's do this.

>>39423919
>Stay clear.

>>39423919
>Deliver the finishing blow.
If there's foul play, let's make sure it doesn't target Naoko.

I'm surprised our luring approach worked this well. Hopefully it doesn't STOP working.

>>39423919
>Stay clear.

>>39423954
>>39423938
But Zanpakuto's seem to be the only thing it's immune to. It's not regenerating from whatever the fuck Paul did. And Naoko seems to be able to really inconvenience it.

>>39423919
>Deliver the finishing blow.

>>39423919
>Deliver the finishing blow.
No more hesitation or doubt clouding our judgement right? This thing will escape or regenerate, let's kill it now while we can.

>>39424090
That's kinda bizarre. Is there anything in canon that could explain it?

>>39423919
Voting over, writing!

>>39424134
It's an experimental hollow developed by Aizen?

He created one that was flat out able to dissolve someone's Zanpakuto once a night.

>>39424196
I'm kinda hoping we stay away from Aizen shenanigans this quest.

>>39424220
How long were you under the impression that this whole quest hasn't been Aizen's shenanigans?

>>39424243
There are no real indications for or against it except that Aizen is a big bad in canon and therefore quite possibly here. But on the other hand things have already diverged from canon, so.

>>39423919
>deliver the finishing blow

>>39424220

Maybe Aizen is a big good in this quest instead.

Captain-Commander Aizen.

>>39424885
That could be fun. Especially if he's still got the same bullshit plans, just on the right side this time.

>>39424885
What's wrong with Aizen? I'm following that other bleach quest now and he hasn't done anything in that so far.

File: Spittake.gif (889 KB, 320x224)

889 KB GIF

>>39424885

>>39424952
Go read/watch fucking bleach if you want to know

Will this madness finally be over?

Is Paul okay? Did we accidently leave him dead to hollowify?

>>39425135
Paul is RIP.

>>39425135
Paul is kill

>>39425135
>>39425172
>>39425191
Worry about ourselves. Even if it went limp, I'm not sure our human body could survive all that rubble.

>>39425212
Oooh. We are kill.

>>39425228
Who isn't kill?
We are kill
Paul is kill
Aiko is kill
Kimiko was always kill
Naoko is kill inside

>>39425256

All started because Kimiko is a pretty shit shinigami. She should have called for backup a while ago. Clarrissa is no super special strawberry.

>>39425256
Our body is deader than a doornail. If Paul survived, then he'll wind up in morning as us and Aiko are dead among the rubble.

>>39425372
>Local honor-student arrested this morning for the murder of his sister and her friend - sources say it was a crime of passion. Find out more about the crazy love-triangle after these ads!

>>39423932
>>39423938
With a mighty shout you run, brandishing your blue-hilted sword. For once, fear seems to mix with the ever-present loathing. It tries to lift its massive hand, but you stomp on it and pin it to the ground; the monster can't lift even your weight. Still screaming, you pierce its mask with a stab, ruthlessly aiming at the eye. You pull the blade out, and thrust again. And again. And again, and again. Its awful shriek bloats out your own, but you don't feel the smallest semblance of pity.

It stops moving; the many holes leak blood like tears, tarnishing the white mask with red. A savage death for a savage being. You step back and away from the slain monster, feeling completely worn out.

But the monster doesn't fade and move on to a better world. Its mask dissolves like clay, and it molds itself back into a proper shape. The massive burn in its torso heals, as well as the wounds you've caused. The detached arm remains an angled stub, and even that does not seem to bleed or hurt. Even if only one of its arms remain, even if Naoko demolishes its flesh over and over, even if you keep dishing out those 'final' blows - it's all meaningless if this thing doesn't die.

Another blue arrow soars through the sky. Clay Bone swings its massive arm at the projectile, causing another explosion. Its hand is mangled into a gory mess; all but one of the massive claws fly aside, separated from the limb. You simply stand there and observe. What's the point of fighting this thing?

But even as a seemingly immortal being, it feels pain and comprehends fear. Perhaps its bestial mind is too feeble to understand its own invulnerability. It tears open a portal through reality with its gigantic maw, and takes its leave before Naoko causes it any more torment.

This stupid fucking thing. It just keeps appearing out of nowhere, messing you up and leaving. Your luck isn't infinite - once it runs out, bruises will be the least of your concerns; you'll die.

(1/2)

>>39425435
And there is seemingly nothing you can do - that's the worst fucking part.

You heave a sigh, feeling both tired and relieved. With your legs and shoulders as heavy as lead, you turn around to find Naoko.

She's standing on the frame of her window up above, about a city block away. She's still in her white pajamas. The sight of that makes you laugh. You can't really tell from this far away, but you think Naoko's smiling, too.

The girl's smile abruptly fades, as does your cheer. A pitch black limb shoves her from behind; even from this far, you can see her eyes nearly bulge out from her skull due to both pain and shock. She is flung off the window frame, and falls from the fifth floor. You lose sight of her body over the smaller buildings.

Your heart starts beating like it's gone mad. You run, screaming her name. The fatigue is forgotten about, drowned out in desperation.

Halfway there, another Hollow cuts off your path. It emerges from seemingly nowhere, blurring into your field of view without the tiniest warning, and then simply stands within your sword's reach, waiting for you to act.

The pitch black humanoid towers over you with at least eight feet of height; his proportions resemble Clay Bone's with his awfully long arms reaching down below the knees. They are much thinner, and even then, almost as wide as your head.

From underneath its pale mask comes a menacing growl - failed attempts at suppressing an amused, sadistic cackle.

It is waiting for you to do something.

...

>Fight it.
>Keep running to Naoko.

>>39425477
>Keep running to Naoko.

>The massive burn in its torso heals, as well as the wounds you've caused. The detached arm remains an angled stub, and even that does not seem to bleed or hurt.
What if the reason we can't hurt it is because it's Aiko?

>>39425477
>keep running to Naoko

>>39425477
>Keep running to Naoko.

>>39425435
Can't stab this one's mask. We have to decapitate it or something instead. You don't necessarily have to cut through the mask to kill a hollow.

>>39425477
>keep running to Naoko

>>39425477
>Fight it.

>>39425477
>>Fight it.

>>39425489
It's because we're using a fucking zanpakuto. It didn't heal until you chucklefucks decided you had to be a big shot.

Imbeciles.

>>39425477
>Keep running to Naoko.
Fuck fuck fuck

>>39425568
That doesn't seem particularly more likely to me.

>>39425477
>Fight it.
Either Naoko is okay with some Quincy magic/ally doing a save, or she's already dead. Either way, I'd rather not give it a free shot.

>>39425610
The other possibility is that breaking its mask is what triggers the healing process, and as long as we don't do that, we might be able to destroy it through attrition.

>>39425648
Might be most likely.
I didn't really see any pattern in what damage it healed, assuming it can't regenerate limbs but just heal wounds though it looks like any damage was pointless after we hit it.

>>39425477
Voting over, writing!

>towers over you with at least eight feet of height
This means he's eight feet tall, not eight feet taller! Should have made that clearer, sorry!

>>39425682
I forget, has it ever done that full restore thing twice in one fight? Because that could be why it retreats, because it can only do that trick once a day or something.

>>39425752
Doesn't matter, could be 8 miles and we'd climb up there and decapitate it. When we have time anyway.

>>39425753
I can't remember, might be on to something there though.

>>39425489
>>39425502
You step back, keeping the tip of your sword warily pointed at the humanoid. It doesn't do anything. It stands still. Instead of fighting, you run past it. You keep yourself aware, warily glancing over your shoulder, staying prepared in the case that it decides to strike at your back.

It doesn't move; you don't hear a single footstep, and you don't feel the smallest disturbance. And yet the instance you let it out of your peripheral vision, you hear a voice right by your ear.

"She's dead," It's the gleeful voice of a male. The tone makes it seem like the Hollow can barely hold itself back from squealing in utter joy. "I broke her spine and pushed her out of a window."

"You piece of shit!" You swing your sword at the pale mask looming over your shoulder. It takes the edge of your sword onto its palm; the weapon does it no harm.

"Like this."

It feels like a speeding train hits you in the back. His limbs might be smaller, but there is at least as much strength in them as in the beast you've fought before. Worse yet, all of the pain is compressed to a much smaller area; it is a miracle that his fist didn't simply go through. You are flung forward god knows how many meters, and your vision blacks out.

"See? She had no chance!" The Hollow erupts into a vicious cackle. It seems to grow louder as he watches you hopelessly struggle against the pain and try to get back up to your feet. If you had a spine, it'd be broken. And thinking that just makes your attempts more desperate. "Well, if you want to see her so much, I can just take you there. Your face should be fun to look at!"

He grabs you by the hair and begins pulling, dragging you across the ground. Even though that thing is cackling, even though it's grabbing you and causing you this much pain - it feels as though it's not even there. There is an unnatural lack of presence. No, a complete absence of it.

(1/2)

>>39426843
The asphalt cuts at your skin. You fade out of consciousness when the pain becomes too much, but never for long. Eventually, the Hollow stops.

"Ah, it's you. I was going to come after you next, but it seems that you've grown impatient!" It laughs again. He lifts you up by the hair and tosses you forward.

Something - or someone - softens your fall. You're laid down on the ground, but the person is letting your head rest on their hand. The other hand is kept under your back. Your vision gradually returns. The injured point is slowly being ridden of pain.

"I don't know why it's letting us do this..." Kimiko whispers. "But we need to think of a plan while we can."

...

>"I'll fight it, and you shoot it with magic. I'm killing that fucker."
>"Naoko can't be dead. I don't believe it. Let's get to her. Then we can win."
>"Let's run away."
>Other. (Write-in).

>>39426872
>>"Naoko can't be dead. I don't believe it. Let's get to her. Then we can win."

>>39426872
>"I'll fight it, and you shoot it with magic. I'm killing that fucker."

>>39426872
>"Naoko can't be dead. I don't believe it. Let's get to her. Then we can win."

>>39426872
>"I'll fight it, and you shoot it with magic. I'm killing that fucker."

>>39426872
>"Naoko can't be dead. I don't believe it. Let's get to her. Then we can win."

>>39426872
>"Naoko can't be dead. I don't believe it. Let's get to her. Then we can win."

>>39426872
>"I'll fight it, and you shoot it with magic. I'm killing that fucker."

>>39426872
>"I'll fight it, and you shoot it with magic. I'm killing that fucker."
This fukken hollow...

>>39426872
>>"Naoko can't be dead. I don't believe it. Let's get to her. Then we can win."

>>39426872
>>"Naoko can't be dead. I don't believe it. Let's get to her. Then we can win."

>>39426872
Voting over, writing!

>>39426903
>>39426924
"Naoko can't be dead. I don't believe it. Let's get to her. Then we can win."

You can barely hear your own voice. That can't be a good sign. Kimiko looks worried.

"Okay. When you feel that you can run, lead the way."

Her reply is hesitant; she doesn't seem to hold much faith in your plan.

"That's so cute. Reminds you of the good old times, doesn't it, Clarissa?" The Hollow laughs. Its voice feels like poison, and its words like daggers. "Sitting on Aiko's lap while she caresses your hair. Whispering lovey-dovey crap to one another! Ah, it always made me want to rip your throats out right there and then."

You try to turn towards it, but Kimiko holds you still. She shakes her head.

"He's trying to provoke you. Don't listen. Don't respond to it."

You want to scream and cut it into pieces. You want to quarter that filthy thing for even mentioning her name. For trying to talk like it knows her.

But Kimiko's eyes are begging you to bear with it. You have a plan; perhaps one that's doomed to fail, but it's better than nothing.

The girl takes her hand away from your back. The pain is still enough to numb your senses, but you think you can move. Kimiko takes your hand and helps you stand.

"Are you going to run?" The Hollow continues. "Running away proved to be such an effective method for the two of you so far! Might as well keep it up!"

Its cackle echoes through the empty streets.

You run, but you're not running away. You're running so that you can reunite with a friend, not so that you can escape.

It lets you do that. Why doesn't it just stop you?

"I guess it's no wonder you're friends with that Naoko girl. As killers, it's probably easy for you two to relate. But does she know about your secret, Clarissa? I should have told her before she died. I wonder how she'd take to it. She seems to believe you to be a saint. I wonder what she'd say if I told her that you killed a loved one in a fit of petty rage?"

(1/2)

>>39427146
So what were people hoping to accomplish with their vote, and what do they think will happen?

>>39428666
We're fucked on our own and really, really hoping she's not dead.

>>39428644
Hmmm, wonder what's up with this Hollow.

>>39428688
Well I think it's Aiko and she doesn't see herself as such. If it's not then.. how fast did Paul go hollow? I mean I don't know if we had other friends that died...

>>39428719

Nah, this Hollow's male. Narration mentioned as such earlier.

>>39428719
Talking about Aiko somewhat negatively and in third person though. And Paul didn't know much about Aiko right?

>>39428644
It can kill both you and Kimiko if it whimsies it. A single strike for each is all it'd take.

"How nice does it feel to be able to take your anger out on someone and not need to deal with the consequences, Clarissa?"

Just what point is there to play with food before eating it? Why doesn't he just end this all?

"And that Shinigami is just so happy to take her place. It's hard not to notice how she follows you around everywhere like an obedient puppy. Throwing everything away for a violent murderer, and only because she's too spoiled to understand that there isn't anything more to life than what she has experienced!"

Kimiko has to take the lead; your legs are feeling weak. She keeps your trembling hand from slipping out of grasp.

"And you are too happy to just give away her place! It's like she's still there, isn't it, Clarissa? It must feel fantastic!"

It's hard to see the road. Must be the tears. It's a good thing Kimiko is leading the way.

"'Substitute Shinigami'." It scoffs at the title.

You finally find her. She's leaning against a wall, supporting her back on it. There is a pool of blood a little bit further away; must be where she has dropped. As she turns towards you, her eyes wander above, towards the lamp posts. Blue light shines in Naoko's hands, and she propels a blast forwards; she helplessly drops on her side from the sudden movement, her face contorting in pain.

The Hollow blurs in front of her. Your heart burns and you make a dash at him, swinging your sword with a mad scream. It discards you with a backhanded, uncaring smack, and yet even that little is enough to toss you aside. Your sword left only a small scratch on its forearm. You stumble and fall. The Hollow does not do anything to Naoko, who doesn't even have the strength to sit herself upright. Instead, it moves to take place between the three of you.

(2/3)

>"Sitting on Aiko's lap while she caresses your hair. Whispering lovey-dovey crap to one another! Ah, it always made me want to rip your throats out right there and then."
Can't be Aiko unless she had some VERY dissociative disorders.

>>39428783
"WHO'S THE SUBSTITUTE FOR WHO, HERE?" It relishes its own deranged cackle, as if devouring and enjoying it like a tasty meal. "I SPENT SO MUCH TIME WATCHING! I NEVER THOUGHT THAT THE WAIT WOULD PAY OFF LIKE THIS! THIS IS GOING TO BE THE GREATEST BANQUET!"

Its shriek is mad, and its motives vile and incomprehensible.

"NOW, WHO SHALL I START WITH FIRST?"

...

>Protect Kimiko.
>Protect Naoko.
>Cut loose

>>39428822
...
Well, neither of those look too great.
But what's this, a spoiler?
>Cut loose

>>39428822
>>Protect Kimiko.
>>Protect Naoko.
>>Cut loose

>>39428822
>Cut loose

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38 KB JPG

>>39428822

>Cut loose

What could possibly go wrong?

>>39428783
Seems its ability is counter-attack or something. It only strikes if attacked, and its strike is more powerful. It might be weak if it attacks first.
This is all just speculation though.

>>39428822
>Cut loose

>>39428822
>Cut Loose

>>39428736
>>39428719
I think this hollow was following us before we killed Aiko.

Also, he's smart, stealthy, and spooky, but maybe it's a wuss?

>>39428822
>Protect Kimiko

>>39428822
I don't understand the third option?

>Cut Loose

Dammit mushroom I want to select the upper two but don't believe they have a chance...

>>39428822
>Cut loose
FUUUUUUCK YOUUUUU

>>39428822
>Protect Naoko.

>>39428822
>Cut loose
Well fuck i guess we did have an inner hollow....

The jaw goes first, by the way. That way it can't run its mouth any more.

File: he's been waiting for thi(...).png (319 KB, 817x817)

319 KB PNG

>>39428822
Ending thread for tonight, I'm up too late again! Next thread will begin with the most voted option!

Next thread will be announced on twitter:
https://twitter.com/Mushroomgami

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

Thanks for reading!

>>39429144
Thanks for running!

>>39429144
Thanks for running you cliffhanger bastard.

>>39428869
I'm not sure Clarissa is mentally capable of choosing who to live. In these dire circumstances, our best bet may well be to leave them all BEHIIIIIIIND

>>39429144
Thanks for running, and, AAAAAAAJHHHHHHVBBVBBBHHFHHHHHNNZMHTFJFSGTXCFUCKINGFUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHK

>>39429144
Thanks for running man! Tonight was mostly confusing combat stuff but still fun enough.