The Duties Of A Knight.

[Adimus]

Berlin, Germany. Europe has seen both the worst and the best of of the War with the force known only as Hollows and Arrancar, self described so by the attackers of Man. When Europe was attacked, most of the cities and countries fell quickly, but the ones that did manage to stand and survive had grown to immense strength and unity, standing now not as cities, but as bastions of light and hope.

Berlin was one such place, and as the HQ for the Humans Military Might of Europe, the armies that grew there were ones of proud strength and capability. Franz Hernan Albert`, one of the White Knights from the Western Alliances Faction of the Jade Order, had been the head of a Noblemen House that funded and supplied one of these said armies. As a Knight, it was his duty to fight, protect, and if the need called for it, sacrifice himself to save those who cannot save themselves.

And as such was his duty, Franz now found himself at the head of a platoon of soldiers heading out into ruins that were once cities in search of survivors. Fully clad in his armor, and loaded with his group, they boarded the Helicopter that was to take them to a not-too-distant city ruin to make sure there weren't any survivors that were not already within the walls of Berlin.

"Get the guns heated Pilot, I have a feeling we are not alone." Franz said to the pilot of the heli, sensing something flying towards them. Upon looking out the window, Franz saw a hollow flying towards them preparing to ram the helicopter out of the sky. "Shit!" Franz yelled as he grabbed the minigun and unloaded into the hollow, shooting it down.

Right after that, a cero came flying at them from the ground, following by several more. The helicopter managed to dodge each one, but was grazed by one of the volleys and was forced to make the drop point early. Getting to near ground level, Franz and his platoon of knights and soldiers leaped out of the helicopter onto the ground, prepared to fight off whatever was coming their way, and for good measure at that. As soon as Franz hit dirt, a rush of hollows came running at them, of which Franz made quick work of by drawing his massive sword and slashing outwards a wave of fire, annihilating them all. "Good, Sgt., get your men together and take 1st Squad down that way about two clicks, I'll take 2nd Squad with me and head the opposite direction. 3rd Squad, secure and guard this area, we're gonna need it for when we have to get out of here. Report to me as soon as you find any survivors." Franz issued, and then set out with his squad to find out if anyone was still left in these ruins, be it human, shinigami, or otherwise.

[dizzyizzy]

Ten days.. Ten fucking days in this god forsaken land to finally make it to a crumbling city to meet few survivors. The place was crawling with hollows who sole purpose was to eat something. All humans she came across turned out to be cowards hiding in filth and shadows, and their screams had almost gotten her killed twice! ~Stupid brats... ~ she snorted kicking away the corpse of a slob who was blubbering over her for help! Help? Why should she help such lowly rodents?

"Can't even understand half these guys... Came over from the states in hopes of getting to Japan, thought going across the land would be faster and look where i'm at now?" she sighed talking to herself had some how kept herself feeling sane... it's when you start talking to other people that were not there did you become crazy. She sighed releasing her crossbow holding the cross to her chest as she placed the necklace back around herself. Dretta knew it was her Ranstengai that drew the horde of Hollows to the area, but it was not her fault these humans could not defend themselves! ~and now i have blood on my boots!~ she mentally swore as she stood up sliding the boot across the floor to remove the blood.

Hearing the gunfire made the woman glance out the glassless window toward the screams of hollows and roar of gunfire, "... sounds like smarter people are here" she murmured slowly edging away from the window moving over the corpse and slinking her way through the building.

[Adimus]

Moving along with his squad, Franz encountered several hollow. Letting his men take down most of them, Franz only fought when the riflemen couldn't kill the hollows fast enough, and took down the ones that could make it to them before the soldiers were killed.

Within his squad were 4 riflemen, standard within the army, and 2 fellow knights, but clad in a different suit of armor; Franz's was that of a commander's, whereas theres was basic infantry. The last member of the squad was a medic chaplin, clad in a normal uniform but had a red cross patch on his left arm. The only weapon he had wa sa basic human rifle with spirit infused rounds, and Franz made it a point to protect him. Slashing a hollow out of the air, and firing a ball of a flame at another to save the medic's life, Franz said "Watch yourself young one, no room for error to be made here." As they moved through the alleyways, Franz felt a spirit pressure of what seemed to be a quincy nearby, and not too far from that low level human survivors.

"Commander Albert`, we have heat signatures from what seem to be survivors nearby!" Said one of the tech soldiers. "Good, then let us be on our way then, and keep an eye out for a quincy, I feel that one is nearby. We might be able to get them to help us." Franz said as they were moving through the alley. Something still wasn't right, bu he didn't have time for that, since his job was to find and evac any survivors in the area.

[dizzyizzy]

Dretta moved through the building slowly exiting it as the human survivors, like rats, ran toward the safety that was offered to them. ~bleh... Maybe they'll all die together and save those gunmen the trouble~ she thought darkly as she walked out of the building pushing her shaggy, dark hair from her face. She had been in Germany for ten days, in berlin for two, and killed five people in that time; she was not a happy quincy to be around.

She pulled her Quincy cross back from her neck holding it as she summoned forth her crossbow. She could smell the stench of hollows nearby and with all the gumen swarming about for survivors she did not want to be one of the 'found'... They would hussle her back to their base for 'protection' and it would take her at least a few days to get out without getting shot! Dretta growled as she held up her crossbow peircing a Hollow's skull with an energy bolt, killing it instantly. The light of the crossbow lighting up the shadows of the area.

"God damn this whole euro-trash hole!" she shouted having a bit of a southern accent slip out, kicking a wall.

[Adimus]

Franz pressed forward towards the group of survivors and noticed the Quincy was near them as well. "Perhaps this one is guarding them?" he thought, and kept moving, letting his aura flow freely so that his men could be empowered by it and press forward faster.

Turning the corner Franz saw a hollow leap out to attempt an attack on him, but was quickly shot in the head by a beam of light. "What the?" He said as he looked around for whatever shot the bolt, and saw a woman standing with a crossbow that leaked spirit energy. "And you must be the quincy I felt earlier." He said while moving towards her. "I am Commander Franz Albert`, of the White Knights, of the Western Alliances. I am looking for survivors that may have been stranded out here and bring them back to Berlin." He said, trying not to sound hostile. Just then a group of low level humans came out of a building, escorted by the squad of men that Franz was with. "Civillians..." He said, "Fear not, we're here to protect you and get you out of here. Just stay in a close group and kept close to us, we'll get you out of here." he said, his accent showing through. "Ma'am," he said turning to the Quincy Girl, "What is your name, and can you please come with us, something tells me we will need all the help we could get. And no, I will not force you to hop into the helicopter along with us, however I must ask that you do not remain here, for this is a dangerous place to be in." Franz said extending his hand to shake hers.

Just then, a large explosion sounded off in the distance, and Franz heard the radio of 1st and 3rd squad saying that something large and powerful had shown up, and that it was time to leave. "It would seem out time here is short. I ask you again to come with me, and I advise you do for whatever is big enough to frighten these men into having to leave so soon surely must be powerful, so please, come with us and quickly at that." Franz said, clearly feeling a massive power signature nearby. Lord only knew what it could possibly be.

[dizzyizzy]

Dretta looked at the man that stood before her, actaully having to lean her head back to look at his face, ~well.. it seems radiation has done him well~ she thought raising a brow as he spoke, she couldn't help but smirk when he spoke of what sect he was from, "heh would have pegged him for a Belf actually" she muttered randomly to herself, but it was lost in an explostion. The man had offered her to go with him, his men, and the humans that have been following her, without her concent, to a base for protection yada yada.

Dretta did not want this crap; she hated getting help, hated normal humans, hated Europe, and at most as an American kind of hated getting help by a french guy that could easily be a basketball player.. which she hated that sport! ~Just suck it up for a little while~ She told herself as she clutched her crossbow tighter to calm herself. She would have to play nice to get out of this pit, where every hollow in a two hundred mile raitos was heading for!

The Quincy did a mocking curtsy, "Why my name is Alexandretta Heartstring, sir, but I do declare prefer Dretta" she shook his hand her voice having a more defined southern accent at the moment which she quickly switched from, "Look, i don't want to go with y'all, but if i don't i'll get swarmed by the hollows that are heading this way." ~i would have been fine if these humans did not follow me!~ She shrugged her shoulders her crossbow disappearing as she placed the cross back to her neck letting it dangle with the shard of Hollow mask. "Well. i never thought i'd say this; let us, 'get to da choppa'" she smirked as the ground shook, yeah something big was coming... hollows ranged from kitten size to Godzilla size easily! Personally Dretta wished to make a 'french retreating' joke but decided she did not want to get kicked out of da choppa!

[Adimus]

"We have what we came for, and now it's time to go. Regroup at the pick up zone!" Franz said to his platoon. He turned back to Dretta and said "I am glad to know you are coming with us, and I am sorry for any trouble this may cause. You will be able to go freely as soon as we are out of this mess."

As they moved through the area back to the pick up zone, more and more hollows appeared and grew stronger. The signs of this were bad, for it meant something much stronger was controlling these hollows and it wasn't far off, so this made Franz urge his men to move faster.

Once to the pick up zone, it became apparent that 2nd squad had been having a difficult time, and Franz made sure to relieve them of their burden by burning the hell out of the hollows that remained there. 1st Squad had also made it back to the zone in one piece, and had survivors as well. "King Raven 1, this is Commander Albert`, we are ready for evac over." Franz said to his heli, and within the span of 2 minutes it was there.

With Franz at the door he rushed and helped in the survivors, then his men, all that was left was Dretta and himself, and with them finally loaded into the chopper, they began to lift off. However the escape was not to be an easy one, for as soon as he made lift off, the being responsible for all the hollows being present and powerful made it's appearance: A foul and muscular looking arrancar showed up, clad in white robes and navy blue hair, his hole in the center of his chest.

"Now now, can't have my babies going hungry!" He said as he fired a cero off at the chopper, which Franz deflected with his aura. "Foul daemon, be gone from us at once, or face the wrath of the Light!" Franz ushered, but to little avail. The Arrancar fired off yet another round, this time Franz could not deflect fully, and it tipped the chopper, causing Dretta to fall out, and even though Franz went to catch her hand, he fell just short and Dretta fell to the ground. She seemed to have a rough landing, and despite the fall, was alright.

"No! I must go back, Pilot, take these civies out of here and send back up at once! I will destroy that creature, and help that woman, and be safe warriors!" Franz said before jumping out the chopper and landing. "Yes sir, and good hunting Commander! We shall be back for you I promise!" the pilot said.

Drawing his sword fully this time, and letting his aura go into full force, he stood his ground, full pose at battle ready. "Come daemon, my blade demands your blood to sate it's thirst." he was ready for a fight, and it had been awhile since he got to face off against a worthy opponent.

This was going to be fun.

<<<<<<<<<<<<BOSS FIGHT>>>>>>>>>>>>>Unknown Arrancar! VS. Franz and Dretta!

[dizzyizzy]

Dretta stood back as the panicking humans were rushed onto the helicopter. This whole situation was like a scene from an action film, it would be exciting if she wanted to be there, but she just wanted to get this over with, ~the longer I’m here the more I want to punt a baby~ she thought ruffling her hair up a bit, knowing she would need a bath soon. ~I'd kill an arrancar again just to get a shower, hell even a cold one!~ she thought, just keeping quiet.

She never really met up with these kinds of squads; human fighters actually hoping to fight against Hollows and the likes... Using weapons and trying to get as many ‘meta humans’ as possible to help in the fight. She had hear about them, so she was not surprised, but actually meeting them, and in great numbers, was a new experience. “Come on, come on get on the damn flying death trap” she stated through the buzzing of the machine. Dretta dusted herself off as she moved into the chopper, squeezing herself in on the edge. ~Flying sardine yay~ she thought her eyes narrowed.

“…Oh fuck me” she muttered as she noticed the Arrancar. The jolt of the blast causing her to fall out; she grunted landing in a crouch her Ranstengai actually bracing her fall, but to those not aware it would seem she had a ‘rough landing’. Dretta smirked standing up looking at the approaching arrancar, “heh, I wasn’t serious about killing you for a shower you know” she told the creature who she figured was only half listening or just did not hear her at all. She thought for a moment that the humans would leave her and she would have to take the arrancar along with at least fifty hollows out before dying, but she noticed the Frenchmen standing next to her, “thanks for staying to fight Frenchy” she chuckled pulling her cross out and having it transform into the light crossbow that illuminated the area.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<Ready? FIGHT!>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[Adimus]

Franz rushed at the Arrancar, fire building up around his sword. With one great leap he flew high into the air and bought the sword down with a resounding crash and flame erupted everywhere. The Arrancar just barely managed to draw his sword to block the attack, but was knocked off guard by the blow, which Franz followed up with a left hook and sent the arrancar flying backwards.

"That hurt you son of a bitch." He said getting back up, and then firing a cero at Franz, which he cut in half with ease. "You'll have to do better creature." Franz replied before shooting a fireball at the monsters, following it with another sword slash, of which the Arrancar also blocked, but this time much better. He followed up with a series of counter attacks, all of which Franz blocked and countered on his own.

When the Arrancar had had enough, he leapt back into the air and hovered there, declaring "That is ENOUGH human! You shall die here and now and your soul will feed my babies!" and with that the arrancar was engulfed in a blue sphere of energy, and when he was finished, he hung int he air, fully clad in a body armor of blueish tinge with blades on each joint. Six more blades hung in the air, each one with a different element written on it, and colored to match it, with a much larger seventh blade floating in conjunction of his right hand. "I hope you made peace with your false hopes and gods human, for your souls as good as mine!" He said rushing at Franz, who was in his guard pose, ready for the attack.

[dizzyizzy]

Dretta had taken a side step away as the men had their little tussle. "peh.." she grumbled holding up her crossbow watching them for a moment, "..." her eye twitched, ~i love it when i'm blantly ignored e.e i guess i'll be a light dessert after he eats the french fry~ she thought slightly bitter as she decided to get the bastards attention. But before she could do that the creature had transformed into his release state… and all the color drained from her face. “god damnit” she squeaked before shaking her head taking aim again.

“Smile you son of a-“ she fired off a bolt of light impaling the creature in the chest, she knew it would not cause too much damage but it was enough to get the thing’s attention. She had no idea how this guy would fight, the last one she fought was smaller and probably weaker.. the guy could easily be a numbered arrancar for all she knew! “Oi Franz or whatever, if I die I’ll totally haunt you” she declared firing off more quincy bolts at the arrancar while side running around. This way she was not in just one spot the whole time.

Dretta was not a big fighter, she killed on arrancar in her life, countless hollows too, but an arrancar took energy… she had not eaten today or slept in a few days, this was not a good time.

[Adimus]

Taking note of what just happened, Franz saw Dretta firing at the newly transformed arrancar floating above them. "If you have a problem with dying Dretta," Franz said summoning mana from the earth, "Then do not die, and stand back. I think that should solve your problem." And then Franz leaped at the Arrancar, attacking with full force. The arrancar in turn used two of it's new blades, attacking first with the one labeled 'water', then a second one labeled wind, and by lapping it on top of his main weapon, it seemed the arrancar could use those elements. He deflected Franz attack completely by first blowing the fires away, then freezing them over with the ice. "Oh come on little human, don't tell me thats all you have!" The Arrancar said while tossing a piece of the frozen fire around.

Franz simply looked at the arrancar and smiled before snapping his fingers. With the motion, the fire erupted strongly and brightly from it's ice prison, and lit the Arrancar on fire. "No, that wasn't all I had, and damn it, my fire is my own. Now die and be cleansed in fire!" Franz said making the flame even larger than before and then leaped in to deliver a kill shot. However, the fire was blown away again by the wind, but not frozen this time.

"Between you and the quincy girl's little stings, I clearly see you as a bigger threat. Well done Mortal. But I am sorry to say that we cannot continue with this fight. So to be blunt, I;m going to kill you now." He said, summoning all of his energies into one attack, and rushed towards Franz and Dretta. "DIEHUMANS!!!!!"

[dizzyizzy]

Dretta held her hand behind her back as Franz made his don't die comment, unclipping something from the back of her belt. ~Time to kill a bitch..~ she thought coldly as she held the small metal item. ~Took these off a dead quincy back in Spain... We're scattered all over the place and damnit this is the last one i have.. may never get another one til i'm in japan~ she thought as she slowly started to absorb the reitsu that was just pouring off the arrancar. The thing was so absorbed in the fight with the human it was down right ignoring her thinking she was not a threat.

She was always saw as an underdog because she was not a in your face fighter.. she was not flashy or had all the talk to go with a walk... Dretta was Dretta and damnit she was so sick of being over looked by a stinken hollow and some Tall ass French guy acting like he was Uther or some shit! "Not today damnit" she growled as moved around slightly from the fall of flames and such from the arrancar. She slowly pulled her arm infront of herself placing the abnormally large arrow on her crossbow the blade of the projectial swirling a bit like a chainsaw.

Her eye twitched when the Arrancar made the comment about her being no threat, "I'm not a threat? Bitch I'm a mother fucking Quincy with a god damn Seele Schneider!" she took aim with her Crossbow, firing off the weapon. Seeing as the Arrancar had made it clear most of its focus was on Franz and its guard was let down against the woman, it would not have time to react. "And thanks for releasing so much energy... now this will fucking hurt" she stated as the arrow made contact to the Arrancar's face blowing most of his upper torso off.

The woman glanced to the pally, "That my Good sir, is how you kill an arrancar, just like a zombie.... blow it up"

[Adimus]

Franz was slightly impressed by the display of power the woman just showed. "To kill a zombie, you eiher burn it entirely to ash," he said, pulling out the steele schnieder, "Or destroy the head. Blowing it up just makes a mess. And it would seem you did just that however." he finished as he ripped the hollows heart out and crushed it, completely finishing off the creature and having it's body dissolve. "Shame for him though, death from underestimating a human quincy girl. The helicopter will be back very soon. You may go wherever you wish, for I do not think this area will be troubled too much anymore. But please be careful, I know Quincies are rare, even more so with the War, so please do not get yourself killed, hate to see such a beautiful thing go to waste." Franz said wrapping his back up into his specially made sheath on his back. His armor was pretty banged up, but still intact, and his libram was still hanging onto him despite being knocked around.

When the King Raven came back for him, he loaded himself into the chopper, but before they left, he turned around and asked "Are you sure you do not wish to come with us? It'd be nice to have you around, and it'd be safer then places like this with civilians to worry about."

[dizzyizzy]

Dretta rolled her eyes a bit as he explained a more proper less messy way to kill zombies. ~If it’s dead it’s good~ she thought with a shrug. She was not the most subtle person. She looked around as she had her crossbow disappear placing the cross back to her necklace, she wished she could have gotten another piece of the hollow’s mask but there was nothing left. “damn” she chuckled pushing her hair from her face. Hearing his ‘beautiful’ comment caused her cheeks to pink up slightly, she did not feel that way at the moment and hearing it caught her off guard. ~damn French guys saying things like that, acting all smooth~ She chuckles nervously while walking back into a building grabbing her duffle bag that she left in there. She had learned to hide her stuff elsewhere then grab it on the leave.

She was thinking it over, thinking if she should head off to Japan or at the moment relax in comfort somewhere in this land? “….” She looked over as the helicopter descended and made her move to leave the area. But she stopped hearing him make the request again, “…” she thought it over quickly and moved to the chopper, “I will come with y’all” she stated as she got into the helicopter, “got nothing better to do anyhow” she admitted as she sat down placing her bag at her feet before relaxing, her legs seeming to go limp her energy signature weakening sharply.

"Thanks for the help by the way," she muttered, "you make a good distraction" she smirked winking at him jokingly.

[Adimus]

Franz smiled at her comments on coming along with him and being a good distraction. "I am pleased to know I can be a decent decoy when need be." He said with a chuckle. "Let us properly introduce each other now, I am Knight Commander Franz Hernan Albert`, of House Albert`, Western Alliance Faction of the Jade Order. it is a pleasure to have you along for the ride. Once we are int he city, you are free to do whatever you want, but I may have a job for you if you are up for the mercenary work. Need to take a trip to Japan for a few.....Extra supplies and activities." He said to her, the helicopter lifting off slowly into the air before departing into the horizon.

The battle was done, and both humans were allowed to live another day. Who knew what would happen next, or what would come of things. What was certain though, both their destinies had just only begun to unfold before them.

<><><><><VICTORY! BOSS DEFEATED!!!!><><><><> Level up!

{Achievement Unlocked! Messy, But Effective. Have Dretta defeat the arrancar via dismemberment or decapitation.}

{Achievement Unlocked! Tuggin` Mah Heartstrings! Assist Dretta in defeating the arrancar and get her back to Berlin safely!}