((OOC: Note that I received 250 points from Alec's mission. This brings my total points to 338. This is also a 3-part training containing 3 posts which will total 1500 words (I hope).
Oh, I apologize to Sangre, Alec and Shinji for using your characters in this. They aren't REALLY the people but illusions Ryukurai conjured up. Without further ado: ))
Suman sat, his zanpakto across his lap. This was just another peaceful day in the Seiretei. but the peace outside did not reflect the turmoil in Suman's mind.
Since he'd first tried, he'd always feared achieving his bankai. If he tried again, Suman was likely to kill himself. And if he didn't, he'd never become a captain or even a shinigami of note. It was a horrifying and perplexing conundrum that Suman could not fix. He needed his one true friend in this situation; he needed Ryukurai.
And so, he entered the inner world of Ryukurai, a complex labyrinth of staircases and secret rooms. All of them were suffused with a dense black fog. But today Ryukurai had cleared an area of the inner world so they could talk face to face. Ryukurai looked regal, his black smog swirling around his legs, seeming to blend into his black robe from which his pale and sad face emerged. He looked at Suman with his black eyes, waiting for Suman to say something. As usual, he was being his silent and demure self.
"Ryukurai...we have achieved Bankai but once. Why can we not become more powerful?" Suman asked of his zanpakto, holding himself in a position of surrender. He didn't want to hit this wall. He wanted to surpass this barrier. He wanted to be unbeatable. He wanted to win.
"Suman-san...We do not get any stronger because there is fear and sadness in your heart." Ryukurai answered, putting a black claw directly over Suman's heart. Suman blinked before nodding slowly. He understood what Ryukurai meant; he was unwilling to move forward because he was afraid. Afraid of what that power would do to him. All this time, Suman thought he wanted bankai...but maybe some part of him did not want to?
"Suman-san, you cannot wield me to my full power if you fear me. You must trust in my power, in your power. And learn that your fear is nothing before your will." Ryukurai's voice echoed through the place as he walked slowly backwards into the fog. Suman stretched out a hand to try to find his friend but he was not visible, even to Suman.
"Your fear is represented in this fog. Step forth Suman-san, and forfill your dreams. Step forth, and face your fear." Ryukurai ordered.
Suman's brow beaded with sweat as he looked into the fog. What would he face? How long would he be alive for? What would Ryukurai do? Was he worthy of Bankai? All these questions raged about in his head. Suman was unsure what to do on any level. He didn't know what to do in any case.
Suddenly, the voice of his old master occurred to him;
'Do not think that fear is shameful. Any man that enters battle without fear is not fit to wield a sword. Remember that Suman. Remember to hold on to your fear because it means your still alive. Running from fear is shameful. Facing it is courage. Suman's eyes hardened and he took a step forward.
Suddenly, he was back in the Seiretei. He managed to squeeze off a
'what?' before a voice interrupted him;
"Yoh, Shinigami." A familiar voice greeted. Suman whirled round and saw Sangre Amo standing there, his sword on his shoulder. Suman's eyes widened before Sangre attacked him. Suman blocked the attack with Ryukurai, his eyes widening in fear. Sangre giggled evilly and looked Suman in the eye, drivign his sword home until it was a mere inch from Suman's chest.
"Your fear is blinding you, Shinigami! It's stopping you from using your full power! Stop thinking you'll kill me! That's the point of battle! Without that will you're cutting me with a dull sword!!" Sangre cackled, slicing Suman's chest. He looked down at the blood and breathed harder, panicking as he felt the blood slop out of his chest.
"Conquer your fear! Are you that weak of a Samurai?! Sangre demanded.
Suman's will snapped into place and he grasped Ryukurai in both hands, unleashing his spiritual pressure. The whole place shook with Suman's will. His eyes glowed blackly. Then, Suman rushed at Sangre, who returned the rush with gleeful abandon.
"I have the will of the Samurai! I will kill you if I have to!" Suman yelled
"Then do it!!" Sangre yelled, just as Suman drove his blade home.
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Suman awoke in a different part of the Seiretei. He looked around and saw Shinji facing Alec. Suman leapt to his feet and found that his zanpakto was missing. Suman panicked before he spotted it behind Shinji. Suman's eyes widened as he realised what he was supposed to do; He could leave Alec to Shinji or grab his zanpakto and run.
Suman had made up his mind before he'd even started moving; he was going to save Alec.
Suman ran at Shinji, firing off Hado No. 31 and drawing the Quincy's attention. Suman growled as he was shot in the leg, driving him to his knee. Shinji stood over him with a triumphant smile on his features.
"You should be a worthy opponent. But you're not even worth killing because of your fear. A soldier who's afraid of his own power doesn't deserve it!" Shinji told him. Suman growled, getting to his feet and pointing his finger at Shinji.
"I conquered...my fear. I am going to kill you Shinji. I am going to show you my true power." Suman growled, punching Shinji in the gut, falling back to his knees in the process. Shinji smiled and kicked Suman onto his back.
"You're weak, just like every other Shinigami!" Shinji roared, kicking Suman again then drawing his bow. Suman's lip was bleeding and his side was battered. A few of his ribs were broken too. But Suman was not too bothered about that. He was going to die now. He was going to die on his knees like a dog. At the hands of a boy he'd attempted to school in the ways of battle.
No. NO!Suman roared and got to his feet, staggering just as Shinji fired his bow, blowing him back to his knees. Suman ran, ran to get away from the calmly following Shinji. he was scared of Shinji; he didn't want to die. He didn't want to die!
Suman fell at Alec's feet, who was looking down at Suman. Suman reached out and grabbed his Yutaka, rubbing his mouth with his forearm. His eyes flinched in pain as his wounds burned.
Then, Alec turned away from Suman.
Suman got to his feet to follow before Shinji appeared before Alec and fired an arrow.
Suman jumped in the way of the arrow and used his body to block it. Suman screamed in pain and looked at Shinji, who was loading another arrow. Suman roared, barrel-rolling past Shinji and grasping his zanpakto.
"Demolish the light and Unleash the Madness, Ryukurai!!" Suman bellowed, unleashing his shikai. Suman then turned to face Shinji, crossing his blades. He stared at Shinji with a determination unseen in his eyes before.
"I will surpass you!""I'm captain level you idiot! You're never going to beat me with a whimpy Shikai!!" Shinji mocked him. Suman roared and drove at Shinji, attempting to stab the Quincy through the heart. But Shinji laughed mockingly and moved out of the way. Suman growled and made a side-slash. Shinji appeared behind him and drew his bow, unleashing the arrow a second later.
"Level is irrelevant! The will is the deciding factor!!" Suman roared, focussing all his spiritual power into one strike, splitting the arrow in two. Suman raced forward and sliced. The world turned to darkness once more.
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Ryukurai stood before him in a driving rain. Suman looked at his zanpakto calmly. He was injured from the other two fights but was not caring. Ryukurai was here for one reason and one reason only.
"Suman-san, the time has come. You have conquered your fear, now face your sword and defeat him!" Ryukurai roared, turning into a huge black metal dragon. Suman smirked and ran at the dragon, swinging his sword.
Thu Dec 10, 2015 8:47 pm by 
