SPELLBOUND/Metrics

## Plot Summary

***The Magus Manor***

* Kurome Kuchiki is first seen at the Kuchiki Clan training grounds where she is focusing on improving her Kido prowess. Lost in her thoughts she struggles with the decision of her pursuit of power.
* Minamoto Kuchiki casts a spell and enters the training grounds. He nearly surprises her with his arrival and is delighted to see her again. He recounts a rumor of her training session with her subordinates and other members of divisions in order to improve their fighting capability. Curious about her skill he declares that he wishes to see it.
* Embarrased by the praise, Kurome rebuffs his compliments then asks him whether or not her love of Kido, and her choice to pursue it is the right path.
* Minamoto's answer surprises her as he professes that as long as she remains true to herself then any path to power is acceptable, and encourages her to do as many as she deems necessary. Emboldened by his answer Kurome is ready to battle.
* However Minamoto proposes a challenge game instead. The game is structred as follows; one will initiate the challenge by casting one spell. The other must then assert control over the incoming spell, modify it in some fashion and return the spell to the caster. This back and forth goes until one is unable to defend themself properly. Intrigued by the game, Kurome accepts his offer.
* Minamoto begins the challenge by silently casting a *Shakkaho* spell. Kurome not wanting to disappoint, arrests the incoming *Shakkaho* by casting a *Hainawa* spell to first restrict its movement and then casts a *Tsuzuri Raiden* to empower it with lightning before returning the newly modified spell at Minamoto.
* He then casts two Seki's on each hand and holding his hands above and below manages to take hold of the oncoming spell. Adding on to the initial Hainawa imbedded in the spell, three more tendrils are produced. As he finishes his spell he completes a spin before hurling the spell at Kurome, the tendrils reaching out towards her from the spell in an attempt to ensnare her and ensure the empowered spell hits its mark.
* Undeterred Kurome quickly prepares a defense by casting *Tsuriboshi* whose own ropes latched on to the *Hainawa* tendrils from the incoming spell negating their effect. From there the empowered lightning infused *Shakkaho* was caught by the rubbery net giving Kurome a moment to focus on her next attack.
* Summoning her will, Kurome then cast a powerful *Tenran* and imbued the spell into the *Shakkaho* and creating what Minamoto dubbed a "hellstorm" as this fiery gale force tornado that contained within the calm of the storm an orb of fire and lightning which infused the entirety of the storm before shooting the spell at Minamoto.
* Minamoto is very pleased with her effort and rewards her with one of his own. He then releases his reiatsu to alter the atmospheric pressure to impede the hellstorm launched by Kurome. He then casts the binding spell *Rikujōkōrō* to bind the hellstorm, which works but the spell strains under the onslaught. The hellstorm reacts as if it was a near living thing lashing out in an attempt to free itself and continue forward. Minamoto then casts a *Gochūtekkan* which he couples with the Kido technique *Kōjutsu Eishō* (Spoken-After Incantation) further increasing its power.
* The *Gochūtekkan* is then weaved into the *Rikujōkōrō* to suppress the hellstorm entirely.
* From there Minamoto simultaneously casts *Haien* in one hand and *Soren Sokatsui* in the other using the Kido technique *Nijū Eishō* (*Twofold Incantation*) before fusing them into one spell. He then approaches the bound hellstorm, casts binding spells on himself to brace, and then infused the combined Haien and Soren Sokatsui into the hellstorm before launching the newly empowered *Haien-Soren Sokatsui-Tenran-Hainawa-Tsuruzi Raiden-Shakkaho* at Kurome.
* Kurome prepares her defense, and uses the incantation for Sajo Sabaku to not lose any power to temporarily halt the maelstrom. She then combined that with Tozansho to halt the spell. However at this time the spell has gotten out of control and Kurome looks to Minamoto for aid.
* Appearing beside her, Minamoto assists the binding using a spell kido spell combination consisting of Geki to restrain the nuclear hellstorm, followed by a Hyapporankan, which had hurled into in the air, followed by a Horin which he then used to connect all one hundred silver rods into a binding like net that then slammed into and bound the nuclear hellstorm. However rather than assist Kurome any further, Minamoto expressed that it was now up to her to finish this as it was still currently her "turn" in their game.
* Frustrated at his lack of support Kurome steeled herself for the finale. In a grand show of kido prowess, Kurome cast Dachi Tenyo erecting four pillars to slam into the binding prism, folding them to contain the inevitable destruction. Once the spell had begun its chain reaction and started to change form, she then cast an empowered Tenran which split into four distinct funnels to separate the spell further. Finally using the last of her spiritual energy Kurome cast a full powered Kuyo Shibari in the sky which was capable of not only siphoning the power of the maelstrom but also prevent any further destruction in the Kuchiki Clan residence. Collapsing onto the ground in exhaustion Kurome wonders aloud if that was enough.
* Minamoto is immensly pleased with the result, and with the Kuchiki clan members in attendance, they collectively bow their heads in recognition of Kurome's prowess and talent and fully acknowledge her. Minamoto expresses his pride, and informs her that the Kuchiki now see her as he has always seen her. They then retreat into the compound to rest after a long battle of magic.