Family Matters [Private]

The tense silence returned as Liam outed the source of his current foul mood. One of the many Gods of Death had accosted him for nothing more than the heritage he had never asked for. Because of a legacy he did not want, it seemed that Liam's mere existence was something that the Gotei 13 was not ecstatic about.

Hollows were one thing. They were simply mindless animals. It was something else for someone with a human face to go out hunting for your blood.

Liam heard movement behind him, the scraping of a chair across the floor as That Man stood up and made his way over to his son. He reached out to place a comforting hand on his son's shoulder, only to be shrugged off as the Neophyte Quincy began to walk out of the kitchen.

"I'm going to bed." For all his anxiety over the situation, Liam did not wish to share his thoughts with his caretaker. And while Albert could understand his son's less than pleasant thoughts of him, it still did nothing to soften the blow of his own flesh and blood rejecting comfort after such a trying experience.

Letting out a sigh, the elder Quincy turned out the lights. He knew why Liam had acted in such a way. The boy felt powerless in such a situation. Against an experience opponent, someone as raw as his soon would no doubt be rattled.

He would have to fix that.

Turning off the lights, Albert soon followed his son upstairs, already plotting and planning for how he would aid his son.

It took about an hour of constant try and dodging, but Liam had finally managed to mimic the same technique that Albert had been almost gleefully using against him. Apparently it was a technique called "Blut" and could boost a Quincy's durability or striking power severalfold when mastered. Depending on which variant of the technique was being used at that time.

It was one hell of a technique that was for sure. If he had such power beforehand. That last fight might have turned out differently.

At this current moment in time, Liam's revolver was drawn and was currently in a battle of will against the Old Man. With gun on one side, a more traditional looking Quincy bow on the other and a massive collision of a multitude of spirit arrows colliding in between them. Liam certainly had his work cut out for him.

He knew he couldn't hold his own against the older Quincy for long. His own volley of arrows was slowly failing, while Albert was keeping up with Liam with almost casual ease. With Liam's strength waning and Albert's remaining constant, the younger of the pair began to slowly lose ground. The arrows of the elder making their way through Liam's defence to strike the teen.

But he still held on. The power of his Blut Vene allowing him to deal with the weaker arrows in small numbers. But even then that soon began to wane. He simply could not keep up with Albert's unending barrage of arrows. With a sharp crack, Liam's bow dissolved as he lost the strength to keep it formed. He was then swiftly overwhelmed by the opposing barrage of spirit energy. While he could certainly take one or five arrows of such strength without much issue thanks to his newfound power. An onslaught of this magnitude seemed to be beyond him.

But that was quitter talk.

Even as the barrage overcame him, even as it tore his jacket and shirt to shreds. Liam did not give up. Instead he began drawing even more Reishi into his body. Attempting to bolster his defense to levels he had never achieved before. He would not be weak. He would not be helpless. He would take whatever the world threw and him and then throw it back twice as hard. He would not become one of the weak masses who simply stood there and took the abuse the world handed him. He would become strong. Stronger than anyone. All to ensure his own survival and the happiness of those he cared for.

With a defiant roar, Liam stood his ground against the seemingly unending volley of arrows. Noting with some satisfaction that a good number of them bounced off his hardened skin. Those that did not simply dissipated on contact with him. He could have sworn that he felt some stronger blasts of Reishi that did not feel like regular arrows collide with his chest. Chances are that the Old Man was sneaking in some stronger Reishi techniques into his volley to test the full limits of Liam's endurance.

And test it he did, never before did Liam feel his body pushed to such limits. It was a testament to both his own endurance and Albert's skill that no bones were broken in the onslaught. His skin and bones were as tough and unyielding as his will. He would not let something as small as That Man's attempts at breaking him suceed. He was better than that.

"I will surpass you." He growled out, dropping to one knee as he felt his strength slowly leaving him. But despite his waning body, his tone and spirit remained resolute. "I will surpass that ass of a Shinigami." His voice took a stronger tone as his anger bubbled forth to the surface. For that was the main reason he wished to get strong. To stop those who would persecute him for something as petty as his blood. Those blinded by old grudges and prejudice. Liam would put a stop to all of that foolishness.

"I will surpass everyone!" He roared, drawing deep into his reserve of inner strength. Forcing himself back up onto his feet. Finally finding his reason for why he would become involved in the politics of the spiritual world. "With these two hands of mine." He growled out, once again taking the full brunt of the volley head on. Gaining shallow cuts to his chest and arms for his trouble. "I will surpass any who dare threaten me or those I care about." He spread his arms out, fully intent on taking as many hits from the barrage as he can.

Eventually, the barrage ended. Revealing Albert with a slight smile on his face. "Well done. Take an hour break. I'll go check on lunch and get you a spare shirt." While his praise was brief, there was no denying the faint sense of pride in Albert's voice. For someone who was not even born with the ability to use Blut. Liam had progressed remarkably fast. Even for one who started his training so late in his life.

Finally collapsing to his knees, the younger Quincy was panting heavily. While he knew that every hardship he went through here only made him stronger. It didn't do anything to numb his aching body. But in spite of his pain, in spite of his wearyness. Liam grinned.

He was getting stronger. There was no doubt about that.

"Come on now. You can do better than that." Albert chided as his son dived under another one of his blasts. The elder Quincy's unused hand was brought up, a sphere of bright blue condensed Reishi began to form. The Schlagen rapidly forming as Liam's face paled at the idea of having to dodge another one of them. "If a filthy Hollow can do this. You are more than capable." With a contemptuous look on his face. The beam was fired. A blast rivaling the Cero of a Vasto Lorde tore through the arena. Eliciting a squeak from the younger of the pair as Liam dived to the side. Barely avoiding the blast that would have most likely killed him had he taken it head on.

"You wont make any progress if you keep running." He called out, activating his own Blut and spreading his arms out wide. "You've seen it work before. Now it's your turn."

It was probably a good thing that the difference in power between the two Quincies was so large. Because the grin that appeared on Liam's face would probably be downright terrifying had their strength been roughly equal.

He was going to enjoy this. Reishi began to coalesce in his open palm. Slowly at first, starting out at the size of a golfball. Before rapidly growing in size. First a tennis ball, then exploding into the size of a basketball. But unlike the smooth and controlled energy of Albert's Schlagen. Arcs of energy crackled off it as Liam struggled to keep the technique stable.

With a cry, the beam was shot forward. An angry unstable thing. Full of malice and intent to simply cause pain. There was no focus, no purpose. Just raw emotion, fully emulating the beasts from which the technique was copied and refined.

But raw emotion and intent was not the Quincy way. Reishi was shaped through thought and will. The mindless thrashings of a beast simply didn't mesh with the technique. It lost cohesion and faded before it even reached Albert.

The elder Quincy's lips pursed in disappointment. "That isn't how a Quincy fights." Once again, Albert's tone had taken on the same condescending tone that had been used in the past anytime Liam had failed in his training.

"Raw emotion wont get you anything. Except maybe losing your cool and getting yourself killed." His eyes narrowed. "Hate me if you will. I deserve that from you. But I ask that you dont let it take control. As much as you deny it. You are a Quincy, your rage burns brightest when col-."

FWOOM

All while Albert had been giving his little speech, one of Liam's hands was held behind his back. Slowly, gathering energy. The elder Quincy, so lost in his lecture, was unaware of the slowly growing sphere of power that was building up in Liam's hand.

One that was unleashed at point blank right into the Quincy's annoyingly smug face.

As the smoke began to clear, Liam's heart soared with joy. For looking at Albert now, the man had actually taken some noticeable damage. A far cry from the implacable force of nature the elder Quincy was at the start of the training session.

"How's that for hate?" Liam smirked, only to be surprised at the wry smile he received in return.

"Calm, dispassionate and calculated. Personally I'm glad you've finally started to pay attention."

There were simply far too many Ginto tubes lying around him for his liking. But despite his Reishi techniques being faster and more flexible. The Old Fart still insisted on teaching him some of these archaic techniques. Sure they were powerful. But they required far too much work for his liking. Both the chant and the scattered tubes were just too obvious. Maybe he could use them as traps. But for the most part. He found little use for such cumbersome techniques.

"Feel the wrath of battle and accept this sacred chalice - Haizen!"

Of course. It helped that they were an absolute bitch to learn and master. Just like right now. While Liam could accept that he was learning a rather advanced spell. It was still rather frustrating to see his tubes do nothing but glow slightly, no matter how hard he focused, no matter how much Reishi he channeled into the tubes. It simply refused to work. It was undeniably frustrating.

Flopping down to the ground, Liam let out a loud sigh as he stared up at the blinking lights overhead. What exactly was he doing wrong here? Was he simply not focused enough? Whatever it was, it could wait. He was simply too damned tired to deal with it right now. He'd pick it back up after a short nap.

"Feel the wrath of battle and accept this sacred chalice - Haizen!"

It had taken far too long. Longer than any other form of his training. Hell bringing his Blut to the level it currently is was an easier task. But after so many grueling hours of chanting and tossing tubes. He was finally making progress. The result was actually looking like something resembling the spell's final result.

While he would hesitated to call the blast of energy he produced either a beam or rectangular. It was a far more controlled result than his last few attempts. While the energy flickered now and again and mostly resembled a controlled explosion instead of a constant beam. It was a marked improvement over his previous attempts.

And even better. He hadn't ruined another shirt in over ten minutes! This was certainly a new record for him. Especially when working with a technique as troublesome, volatile and powerful as this one. If the Old Fart was to be believe (and Liam had little reason to mistrust him. He was fairly honest when it came to Quincy stuff.) this spell was on par with the Shinigami's Black Coffin spell. If this was to work for him. He'd be one step closer to achieving his goal.

Oh well then. One more attempt. One more final leap of faith. Maybe this was the time he would finally get this damn spell finished.

"Feel the wrath of battle and accept this sacred chalice - Haizen!"

Not long now.