Earth Land, Ishgar, Kingdom of Fiore, Crocus.
July 6, x790.
"Hmm... From what I can tell, there are three fights going on right now." Brandish muttered to herself while surveying the battlefield with [Magic Power Detection]. "Two from Mermaid Heel Vs. Two from Quatro Cerberus, Two more from Quatro Cerberus Vs. The only two left from Sabertooth, and... Yeah, you couldn't pay me to try and get between those two speed demons. Oh, and the two remaining from Lamia Scale are over there, huh? Oh, wait... Lici is on her way to see them. I guess that only leaves two choices for me, then."
With that, Brandish stopped in place for a moment to think. She then recognized another magic power signature. Though, this one was weaker than usual.
"Oh, Marin is still in the game, too." Brandish said as she raised her eyebrows slightly. "But it looks like she's hurt. I guess I should go check on her before anything else."
Decision made; Brandish turned towards where she could sense Marin. Then, she vanished from where she stood. However, this was not a show of Brandish's impressive speed. Instead, it was an impressive application of magic that she came up with while brainstorming with Alfonzo, Elicia, and the other ladies living in the Mansion on the Lake.
Using her specialty magic, [Command T], Brandish spread her magic power in the direction she wished to travel. Then, she used [Command T: Reduction], to shrink the space between herself and her destination. And finally, Brandish stepped across the [Reduced] space before dispelling the [Reduction] spell and letting the space return to its normal size.
After her step, Brandish found herself in the backyard of a house. From what she could tell, it was nothing special. However, she could sense Marin's magic power covering a portion of the yard. Also, there was a higher concentration of her magic power underground, as well.
"Did she hide in the cellar?" Brandish asked herself as she approached the spot where she could feel Marin's magic power.
Yet, before Brandish could reach the spot in question, the area, which was covered in grass, started shifting. When it was done, instead of a patch of grass, there were a pair of wooden doors in its place.
"Just like I thought." Brandish said with a nod.
She then stepped forward before bending down and opening the cellar doors. With the doors open, Brandish looked down into the dimly lit cellar. At the bottom of the stairs, Marin was sitting against the wall with makeshift bandages wrapped around her injuries. Even so, she smiled up at Brandish.
"Hey, Brandi..." Marin said in a weak tone. "It's good to see you."
"*Sigh* You don't look like you're having the best time, Marin." Brandish said as she walked down the steps. "Just stay still, I'll [Reduce] your injuries. Still, that won't mean your completely healed. You just won't continue to get weaker."
"Thanks, Brandi, you're the best." Marin said, her smile widening.
"Honestly, it would be better if you just retired from the event to get some real medical attention." Brandish said as she placed her hands on Marin and started to manipulate the sizes of her injuries with [Command T]. "But I know what you're gonna say. So, I won't even suggest it."
"Yup... I wanna last to the end if possible." Marin said with a resolute nod.
"I know." Brandish replied.
The two continued to chat while Brandish worked. Then, when Brandish eventually finished, she stood up and turned around.
"Alright, this should last long enough for us to finish everything up." Brandish said as she started walking up the stairs. "So, just wait here. We'll take you to the infirmary to get those injuries checked properly when we're done."
"Yes, Ma'am." Marin said while playfully saluting.
Without turning around, a small smile appeared on Brandish's face. After that, it did not take long for Brandish to exit the cellar and close the doors. And once the doors were closed, they once again [Transformed], turning into a grassy ground.
"Alright, let's get going." Brandish said as she once again used [Command T] to shrink the distance between herself and her destination. She then took a step forward, arriving at her chosen battlefield.
*Clang!* *Clang!* *Clang!* *Clang!* *Clang!*
When Brandish arrived, she immediately heard the sound of weapons clashing. More pressing than that, however, was the fact that a [Fireball] was flying at her directly.
"[Command T: Reduction]." Brandish chanted as she raised her hand towards the incoming fireball.
With Brandish's chant, the [Fireball] rapidly reduced in size. Then, with little effort, Brandish, with her hand coated in her magic power, caught the miniature [Fireball] and examined it with a hint of interest.
At the same time, the fighting came to a temporary stop. Then, the wizards from the two sides leapt apart and warily looked at the newcomer.
"What did she just do?" Anko, the one who shot the [Fireball], asked while her gaze shifted between her attack and the wizard who just dealt with it.
"I'm not a hundred percent sure, but I really don't wanna fight her right now." Rangiku replied. "Especially after seeing how easily she dealt with Jura a few days ago."
While the ladies from Mermaid Heel were looking at Brandish with cautious gazes, their opponents, Ikkaku and Yumichika of Quatro Cerberus had different reactions.
"Yes! Another strong person to fight!" Ikkaku cheered while raising himself onto his toes to start dancing happily. "I've always loved this event. The fights just keep coming."
"*Sigh* Ikkaku, at least you never change." Yumichika added.
"Hmm... Well, this is interesting." Brandish said, ignoring all the chatter from the four wizards in front of her. "But you can have it back. [Command T: Expansion]."
With her chant, Brandish flung her arm, throwing the miniaturized [Fireball] towards Anko and Rangiku. Yet, while it traveled through the air, the [Fireball] quickly returned to its original size. However, it did not stop there, as it did not stop growing until it was at least four times its original size.
"What the...?" Anko exclaimed in surprise.
"Move!" Rangiku shouted before [Flash Stepping] out of the [Fireball's] flight path.
Reacting quickly to Rangiku's shout, Anko performed the [Substitution Jutsu], changing places with a pale used to draw water from the well on the property.
*Boom~~~~~~!*
As soon as the enormous fireball hit the pale, it exploded, engulfing the area in flames. In fact, it was so intense that even Ikkaku and Yumichika had to take some distance. However, that did not stop the newly started action, for long.
*Clang!*
Because as soon as Ikkaku got free of the intense heat, with Hōzukimaru in its Shikai state, he dashed towards Brandish.
"Hahaha! Fight me!" Ikkaku shouted as he thrust his Kikuchi Yari towards Brandish's shoulder. However, Brandish reacted almost lazily by reaching into her overcoat and pulling out her [Soul Armament], Hecatoncheires. Then, she parried the blade of Ikkaku's weapon.
However, Ikkaku, with an excited smile on his face, only spun the deflected weapon and slammed the butt of his spear towards Brandish's temple.
"You know, I'm not really one for proper dules." Brandish said in a bored tone as she took a step back to avoid the shaft of the spear. She then raised Hecatoncheires and tapped it against the shaft as it passed by. "[Command T: Reduction]."
"What the...?" Ikkaku exclaimed as Hōzukimaru shrunk to a size that could fit in one palm.
And if the slight wince in Ikkaku's expression was any indication, Hōzukimaru was just as confused as he was. Still, he did not have much time to be lost in his confusion.
*Bang!*
*Clang!*
Because as soon as Hōzukimaru shrunk, Brandish stepped forward. Then, with her right elbow, she struck Ikkaku in the butt of his chin. While doing so, she flipped Hecatoncheires, which was held in her right hand, into a reverse grip and blocked the kunai Anko swept at her.
*Bang!*
*Bang!* *Clatter!*
Then, with her left hand, Brandish followed up by landing a left hook on the right side of Anko's rib cage before pivoting on her front foot and lashing a roundhouse kick at both Ikkaku and Anko. And while Anko, though in pain from the body blow, was able to evade with the [Substitution Jutsu], Ikkaku took the full brunt of the kick across the side of his face. And with Brandish's body being strengthened with her magic power, he was sent flying before slamming into the ground and rolling until he hit a nearby house.
"I really don't like that little trick." Brandish grumbled while glancing at the broken flower pot Anko had just [Substituted] with.
"[Growl, Haineko]." Rangiku said, chanting her Zanpakutō's release command.
Hearing that, Brandish's attention was drawn to Rangiku. And when her eyes landed on the busty blonde, she saw the blade of Rangiku's sword breaking down into what appeared to be ash. Then, with a flick of Rangiku's wrist, the ash went flying in Ikkaku's direction.
"Damn, she's taking advantage of my hard... Um... well, I did something, I guess." Brandish muttered, too lazy to try and secure more points for her team.
Instead of trying to eliminate Ikkaku herself, she watched as Yumichika [Flash Stepped] between Ikkaku and the ash that was Rangiku's Zanpakuto, Haineko, with his left hand resting at the base of his blade. He then ran his hand along the blade as it started to glow in a white light.
"[Bloom, Fuji Kujaku]." Yumichika chanted.
In the next instant, Yumichika's Zanpakuto, Fuji Kujaku,'s blade chanted in shape, looking more like a khopesh than a katana, though, its cutting edge was on the opposite side of a traditional khopesh. On top of that, there was a hinge at the base of the blade that connected it to the hilt. And when Yumichika flicked his wrist, the blade spread into four identical, equally-spaced, blades.
"*Swoosh!* *Swoosh!* *Swoosh!* *Swoosh!*
Then, at high speed, Yumichika swung his weapon, whipping up the surrounding air, and disrupting the approaching ash.
"Come on, Ikkaku, you have to get it together quickly!" Yumichika shouted. "You know what happens if we're surrounded by Haineko."
"Uh... Just a moment." Ikkaku muttered in a daze. Clearly, Brandish's elbow strike and kick combo caused a concussion.
"You should just give up, Yumichika." Rangiku said smugly. "You can't save both of you. So, you should just escape and let him be eliminated."
"Not gonna happen, Rangiku." Yumichika shot back while continuing to try and disperse the ash.
"I feel like she forgot about me." Brandish muttered as she reached down and picked up a piece of the broken flower pot. "I guess I should remind her. [Command T: Expansion]."
As she chanted, Brandish threw the piece of the flower pot at Rangiku. However, contrary to Brandish's expectations, Rangiku had never forgotten about her. In fact, she made sure to keep her in her awareness at all times. Rather, she was hoping that Brandish would rush in to deal with her while she was paying attention to Ikkaku and Yumichika. Then, Anko would be able to sneak attack her. But...
"This isn't according to the script!" Rangiku shouted as a house-sized shard of a broken flower pot came flying in her direction.
"[Fire-Style: Fire Annihilation]." Anko chanted while performing a series of hand signs as she appeared between Rangiku and the giant, clay projectile.
A moment later, Anko took a deep breath before breathing a torrent of fire from her mouth that was big enough to engulf the entire shard. And thanks to the high temperature, the sound of clay cracking could be heard from the flames. However, before the shard could explode into shrapnel, it was incinerated by the flames.
"[Command T: Reduction]." Brandish's chant drifted into Rangiku's and Anko's ears from the other side of the torrent of flames.
In the next instant, the flames shrunk down, fitting nicely in the palm of Brandish's magic power clad hand, as she dashed forward, catching both Mermaid Heel wizards off guard. Yet, both had good enough reaction speeds to avoid her should they choose to. Unfortunately, Rangiku was determined to eliminate Ikkaku and Yumichika. So, that left Anko to deal with Brandish.
Unfortunately, because Rangiku was right behind her, that meant that using the [Substitution Jutsu] to avoid Brandish's attack was not an option. So, Anko ran through another set of hand signs.
"[Summoning Jutsu: Hidden Shadow Snake Hands]." Anko chanted as she raised her arms in Brandish's direction.
In the next instant, nearly two dozen snakes shot out from each of Anko's sleeves and stretched towards Brandish. Yet, although Brandish wore a mildly disgusted expression from seeing so many snakes together, she was more or less undeterred
"[Command T: Expansion]." Brandish chanted while raising the hand holding the miniaturized [Fire Annihilation] towards the incoming snakes.
*Poof!* x 44
The flames in Brandish's hands immediately expanded with her spell. They then clashed with the snakes Anko summoned. Unfortunately, there was no contest during the collision. Instead, as soon as the snakes made contact with the flames, they burst into clouds of smoke as they were unsummoned.
"Rangiku, hurry!" Anko shouted as she formed more hand signs. "I can't hold her much longer."
"I'm done." Rangiku said as she finally managed to get all the ash into position, despite Yumichika's best efforts. "[Neko Rinbu]."
"[Command T: Reduction]." Brandish chanted almost at the same time.
*Swoosh!* *Boom!*
With Rangiku's chant, the ash that had been spread around Yumichika and Ikkaku began to rotate around them at high speed, creating a tornado made of ash and destroying the house Ikkaku was leaning against in the process. Then, the tornado started shrinking in diameter, basically deciding the Quatro Cerberus wizards' fate in this event.
At the same time, Brandish, with the [Fire Annihilation] spell in her hand again, reached Anko before she could cast her next Jutsu. She then slammed the [Fire Annihilation] into Anko's abdomen while allowing it to return to its original size.
"Ahh~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!" Anko screamed in pain before she was engulfed in light and transported out of the arena.
A moment later, lights could be seen shining in the ash tornado.
"Good, I made it in time." Rangiku said. "Argh~~~~~~!"
Yet, less than a second later, Rangiku was also engulfed by the flames of the [Fire Annihilation] before being transported out of the arena.
A few moments later, the flames died out, leaving the entire area scorched.
"Well, there isn't much left to do." Brandish muttered. "I guess I'll go watch Lici fight those two from Lamia Scale."
Then, Brandish turned towards where she could sense Elicia, [Reduced] the size of the space between them, took a step forward, and disappeared from where she stood.