Götzendämmerung [Act IV]

It might have been enough to break most people, the dramatic end to the Duvalier Gala combined with the news that one's partner had vanished during a dangerous operation. Yet Alastair found himself oddly fortunate for the fact that he had never had a moment to simply stop and contemplate what had happened. He had not stopped moving since the day the hole had emerged, and he would be damned if today was the day that his demons finally caught up to him.

His strike team plans had been delayed by events in Europe, a frustrating shame that he could only truly blame himself for causing. Whether it had always been decided that Claudia would meet her end that night or he had forced her rivals into such a position by twisting the knife with his own hand, it had set back the Vandenreich's efforts considerably because there was never going to be a smooth transition of power. Now, just as Alastair was to be entrusted with one organisation, another had fallen into his lap.

The paperwork was stacked high upon a makeshift desk that he had made in Coordinator Hellian's hospital room, which was as close to an office as he had been able to secure amid the ongoing logistical nightmare that was dealing with the loss of the forward operating base.

When the ground itself began to shake, the tremors of an incoming storm looming suddenly on the horizon, everything else fell to the wayside. No matter his personal feelings, no matter his impending responsibilities, or his hopes for the future, if they could not stop the monsters here then there would be no point in anything else. They needed to win, he needed to win.

A raucous cry went up from the Sternritter under his command as he emerged from the hospital, the mere presence of their red-haired Administrator enough to galvanise the hearts of his soldiers as they surged forth to meet this latest oncoming threat. He had no more words of inspiration for them, it was only orders that flew from his lips as Alastair bid them to do their duty knowing that many of them might not see another dawn, all the while rushing towards one of the many calamities that loomed over the horizon.

Alastair found himself drawn to this one in particular, for reasons he could not quite place. It seemed familiar and yet he was sure that he would recall having met such a being before. That did not stop him from drawing back the string of his great bow and launching the first attack, brilliant orange arrows streaking across the battlefield towards the crawling behemoth. A series of pinpoint attacks that probed its giant frame for any sign of weakness whilst also seeking to draw its attention.

The presence of another strong, unaffiliated, Arrancar did not exactly come as a surprise to Alastair, he had read the reports concerning the attack on the hole in quite some detail and the conclusion seemed to be that it was drawing in strong Hollow creatures like a beacon. Perhaps that was where Reida had ended up, though for her sake he hoped not. Still, seeing the crimson arrow fly not in his direction but that of the monster brought a moment's pause to his initial judgment.


As he approached, Alastair locked onto him with a dour gaze. Those rust-orange orbs assessed the newcomer for any sign of impending deceit or treachery, whilst simultaneously conveying his own dry intensity in what little time they had to share before the monster began its counterattack. Finding none, it appeared that the Quincy had elected to acknowledge this informal alliance for his aim did not shift from the original target.

"A monster of this size must burn up in a prolonged fight. The land will suffer but we must at least try to exhaust it."

The gigantic ball of energy that surged towards them was far too powerful for Alastair to even contemplate attempting to absorb or deflect it, perhaps with true coordination they could have done it together but it was far too soon to burden his comrade with such selflessness. Instead, with the slightest of nods, Alastair broke away from the approaching attack with a hasty Hirenkyaku. Even still, the wave of nauseating heat that followed in the attack's wake left a ringing in his ears and a tenderness to his exposed skin.

Darting through the rubble, orange arrows continued to pepper the Uroboros as he continued to track the behemoth and deny it a proper chance to rest and recuperate. All the while, his skin began to glow a vibrant blue as Blut Vene began to course through his veins. A precaution, but one that might just save his life if he was caught off guard.

Bathed in the ichorous green glow from the vast ball that the monstrous creature summoned, the rubble of the fallen city looked more akin to something out of a cartoon. The danger, though, was anything but fictional; to Alastair, it was a call to action. Little in his immediate environment could feasibly be considered cover from such a wide-reaching attack, so he seized upon the opportunity whilst the beast was focusing and swerved from his encirclement. His spirit weapon dissipated, if only for a moment, as a pair of vibrant orange wings seemed to burst from his back and began to fight against that verdant light that threatened to envelop him.

The burst of power that flowed into Alastair as he entered the Vollstandig state nullified any pretence of taking the creature unawares, but he banked just a little upon having earned some indifference. His so-called ally had not yet fled, so perhaps he would make something more of this opening but they could hardly be as coordinated as a proper military unit. Throwing himself into the line of fire was likely to be as much of a hindrance to them as it was a benefit, yet Alastair did not falter as he soared forth and made to stare the beast down eye to eye.

From his back, as he flew, the Carrington Blade slid free of its sheath and once more bathed in the desert sun. The rippling patterns that ran along the length of the alloyed blade had grown all too familiar in his hands of late, and perhaps he was guilty of taking just an iota of comfort in that weight, but it would have to serve him well this day. Raising the weapon high, he made to simply carve along the midriff of the Hollow, so that he might momentarily split her open, only to then dart upwards and continue to cut as he attempted to use that vast size against his foe by placing himself right on top of her.