Crashing Waves and the Burning Abyss [Kanae, Tier]

No amount of Hierro could fend off Tosatsusha's acid for long. In Kanae's estimation, it would only take a little bit more to start turning this woman into a Salvador Dali painting, not that she knew who Salvador Dali was. As her Zanpakuto slashed downward and the Arrancar retreated, Kanae simply stopped her attack mid-swing. Such a thing was of little trouble for one as skilled as she, particularly when her and her Zanpakuto share such a bond they are practically as one. Kanae would not be taken advantage of in such simple ways, not against some Hollow woman.

Right away Kanae sensed the gathering of energy within Tier's palm, but it would not deter her. Now was the time to strike! With her weapon hidden away once more in its sheath Kanae sprinted forward in a break-neck pace Flash Step, intending to dodge the woman's attack at the last second. Then, the Arrancar did something odd: she turned her palm to face the sky and fired the Cero upward.

The reason she did so became clear when the full weight and power of the energy draped itself across the area, yet still Kanae would not be dissuaded. In a single fluid motion she lunged forward and dove past Tier, all the while staying low to the ground, and unleashed a Sazaeta upon her vulnerable body, a myriad of acid-laced slashes with her Zanpakuto so quick they all happen in a flash. Even with the heat of her foe's energy bearing down upon her body, singing her hair, skin, and clothes, Kanae would not back down.

Despite her best efforts, Kanae's foe did not simply fall into a heap of meat slabs at her feet. It seemed this one was made of tougher stuff than most. How she somehow remained only burned a bit from a full acid-coated Sazaeta left Kanae wondering if she had some special ability protecting her besides the Iron Skin Arrancar are known for. Perhaps this Arrancar was even more powerful than she expected? She contemplated how far she would have to go to defeat this woman.

Seeing the expulsion of energy coming, Kanae held her hand aloft in front of herself and quickly announced the casting of a spell "Bakudō #39: Enkōsen." Even as the ground was torn asunder around her, Kanae herself remained protected by a bulwark of yellow that acted as a glowing, spinning shield for her body. Though Kidō was by no means her specialty, and it was hardly the first tool in her arsenal Kanae would reach for, it was valuable to keep in her back pocket for times like this.

Though a temporary peace descended upon their battle, Kanae would not simply wait for this Arrancar to gather her thoughts and prepare an attack. Instead, she gripped Tosatsusha's handle tightly as the sword slumbered within its holder, and drew it swiftly, cleaving through the air with it.

Dantōdai Koroshi (断頭台殺し, Guillotine Beheading)

Timed perfectly, Kanae had silently released her Shikai and gathered acid along Tosatsusha at the same time. These actions coalesced into the release of a wide arc of glowing green acid that would rapidly fly through the air like a liquid executioner's blade seeking to slice cleanly through Tier. If her sealed acid wasn't enough, Kanae was quite confident this empowered version would do the trick. And should it not, she would adapt to that as well.

The power of Kanae's released Zanpakuto crashed down upon the Earth as a crippling weight. Spiritual Pressure radiated from her, multiple times denser and more overwhelming than it had been only moments prior. Aware of this Arrancar's strength, the Fourth's Captain was drawing Reiryoku from her Zanpakuto at a steady rate. She could sense the increase in strength Tier received from the rainwater drenching her body, though she also knew it wasn't on the level of an actual release; at this point, the advantage was her own.

It was clear whatever this woman's powers were, they were related to water in some way. Kanae's purple eyes remained trained on their target, working to suss out any potential weakness or vulnerability. A Dantōdai Koroshi being dealt with didn't concern her, for there were far more weapons in arsenal. Her right hand hovered just above her Zanpakuto's handle at her hip, patiently watching and waiting, ready to strike out like a viper. When Tier vanished in an act of Sonido, Kanae saw her every movement; yet she stood her ground, unwavering and motionless.

Dantōdai Koroshi - Nidosaki (断頭台殺し - 二度裂き, Guillotine Beheading - Double Cleave)

By the time Tier reappeared behind her, Kanae had drawn two blades, one from her hip, and another from the sheath strapped across her back. These twin swords, mirror images of one another, were both Tosatsusha, and from each a wide arc of powerfully corrosive acid spread forth in an X. The force behind them allowed the double slash to eat through and disperse her foe's energy attack before continuing on to hit Tier herself. Though the ground around her was unsteady, Kanae's thick Reiatsu safeguarded the earth directly beneath her. An annoyed, contemptuous look overtook her soft features as she looked on at Tier with vitriol burning in her eyes.

"Hmph. As she stared at the woman across from her, Kanae thus far remained unimpressed by her opponent. Arrancar, though evolved, are still just Hollows, and Hollows are mere chaff before her blade. This one would prove no exception. Still, it was hardier than other Hollows she'd destroyed, and back in her time a thousand years ago Arrancar were more a rarity than they seemingly are these days. Despite either of these realities, Kanae remained confident all it would take is a bit of effort to cleanse this creature as well. In the meantime, why not have a little fun?

"You think I'll fall for your little provocations, Hollow? Tsk tsk. Desperation is ugly, you know." As she spoke taunts of her own, Kanae placed the sword in her left hand back in it's sheath, causing it to vanish from sight. Then she did the same with the one in her right, though it remained visible. A small breath left Kanae's lips as her violet eyes closed, her entire body relaxing as if she weren't in the middle of battling a powerful Arrancar.

Kanae reached down and grabbed her Zanpakuto, sheath and all, and pulled it from its clip keeping it tethered to her hip. Thereafter she held it aloft, her right hand gripping the weapon's handle gently, her whole self as still as a statue. All was still, only the quiet pitter-patter of rain drops echoing out to disrupt the peaceful scene. Not all the rain hit the ground, though. Some began gathering around Kanae's weapon, drawn in my swirling Reishi surrounding it. It took only a few seconds for a figure eight of energy and water to form around Tosatsusha.

Saisenkō (切斬閧, Killing Stroke War Cry)

All at once everything changed from peace to chaos as the drums of war once again beat across the battlefield. Kanae's eyes shot open, her face contorted into one of pure rage with veins bulging across it. Her right foot planted into the ground, crushing and shattering what still remained beneath her. Tosatsusha had been brought back to her left hip as Kanae drew the sword forth and slashed, sending from it a crushing tidal wave of Reishi and water which fell upon its target like an ocean as sharp as any blade, leaving behind a narrow chasm in its wake.