The Guardian - Arc 1 [Exp Request]

Threads:

- A cheap ploy
- Misfortune Follows
- A helping hand
- The Shaman and the Stag

Your Story:

The first part is basically the same copy/paste from the Release Request with a final fourth thread to end the first arc.

Anatoly's search for power starts with A cheap ploy, with him meeting a Shinigami girl that he deems to be the perfect first subject for his ploy. At this point in time, desiring to become a great Shaman by getting himself a spirit guardian greater than any other, he decides that he wants to try and turn a Shinigami into one. Unknown to him, the Shinigami have a guardian of their own that dwells within them so instead of turning Nao into his own guardian he ends up bringing out Murat. Still not giving up, he attempts to use force to make him heed which ultimately fails as he is forced to undo the contract and let Nao return. However, by doing so he gains a part of her soul, unsure how or why that happened.

Not too long after, as he was seeking for someone who could at least clear some things that happened in his encounter with Nao, in Misfortune Follows Anatoly meets another Shinigami named Zenji. This wounded person did not seem like someone likely to survive the contract so he decides to use him to find out more about what happened with Nao and Murat. He finds out about the spirits that dwell inside the Shinigami and comes to a realization that it is probably impossible to turn one of them into his spirit guardian. However, at the same time, the gift that Nao had left him does bring about a different solution to his problems.

Finally, in A helping hand Anatoly finally finds a way to get what he wants. By tricking a Shinigami into believing that he was there to help him fight the Crow Hollows, he lets the man form a contract with him in order to get more power for a short while and takes a portion of his soul as tribute. But, that was not the only present he got. From this battle, a multitude of Crow Hollow would end up sealed in ice by a spell of Anatoly's and now that the battle was over, he would use them as well to finally obtain what he wanted. By using the souls he had stolen from the Shinigami Nao and Kisho, together with the remaining Crows, he would finally craft a spirit guardian of his own.

At that point the creature crafted from all those gathered souls would through sheer instinct reveal that it had obtained the power to transmit his thoughts to it's master, having gained it from the Crow Hollow that made most of it's body. This would also come with a conclusion as to what Anatoly's ture power is.

Finally, the conclusion of this Arc is the meeting with an Stag-looking Hollow which he has chosen to be his guide into Hueco Mundo. Oddly enough this creature offered him a deal that would benefit them both. Now that he has obtained his Guardian he had chosen to finally begin his quest to remove the spiritual threat onto the Human world and the Hollow realm was the first to start with.

In perfect time as well, the bounties on his head keep growing, his actions have been brought up to both the Soul Society and the Human Realm.

Anatoly up for experience!

We begin at five stars and add or remove based on notable additions or glaring omissions.
+0 - Writing - A bit stark at times as writing goes but Anatoly as a character is very strongly presented.
+1 - Story - Connected, a touch whacky at times, but undeniably attached to our setting. I think that Misfortune Follows is an odd one out, but it is connected to A Cheap Ploy well enough. I think some work in the middle to imply time passage would help but timelines can be tricky to manage. The direct connection here is a bit light, but the thematic connection is solid. I like The Shaman and the Stag as a 'to be continued' moment even if it's a touch brief.
+0 - Growth - I think Anatoly at the start is close to Anatoly by the end of this, but, he has grown his relationships, developed enemies and his power. I think I'm waiting for that growth to mean something to him personally but it's still a good material change to his existence.
+0 - Impact - You give quite a bit to Nao, your terrorism against the Seireitei seems like a nice build but I think this is more set up than pay off here. Still a very solid showing.

Congrats! This is a solid 6 STAR request! Go ahead and link this post to your profile and redeem for

4 Threads x 6 Star Rating = 480 EXP!