BladeX

Naruto: Revival

Kaba Joukaku

As Kaba continued his trek towards the exit, he had begun to relax slightly. Somehow he had made considerable progress through the vast forest without encountering any other participants. The two scrolls he already possessed hung by his right hip, covered by a hand ready to defend them at any time. There was no way he was going to fail this phase after being fortunate enough to receive somewhat of a head start thanks to his former Iwagakure comrade.

Almost suddenly there was a shift in the air. Kaba's skin began to crawl as something clearly nefarious was about to rear it's head upon Konoha. Like clockwork, a series of loud explosions rang in Kaba's ear. Realizing the sounds came from the direction of the village, he scaled the nearest tree and focused his gaze towards Konoha. Kaba attempted to process the sudden destruction that befell his home village and parts of the forest, but he was quickly interrupted with more immediate chaos.

"Damn, water AGAIN??" Kaba shouted, clearly frustrated. After the first phase of the exams he didn't want to see another drop of water for at least a week, but there it was. As he cursed the sudden flood that began to overtake the forest, Kaba wondered if this was also apart of the exam to test their reaction to unforeseen events. His doubt was quickly erased as bloodcurdling screams rang in his ears. People were actually in trouble, and seemingly in pain. Why was this suddenly happening?

From his new perch, Kaba began scanning the area to locate where exactly the water was coming from, uncaring if he was noticed by a possible exam enemy that wanted his scrolls. It was clear the exam was just an afterthought. Kaba quickly deduced that the sudden onslaught of water was a technique being used by someone, as a large number of water sharks began to appear as well. Before he could even locate the culprit, his attention was stolen by a strange man he'd never seen before, who seemingly floated in the sky overlooking the area. The mysterious figure began to lower to the ground below and unexpectedly more destruction followed.

Kaba could see other trees and vegetation falling in the ancient forest, while the area had quickly turned into something of a natural disaster. At this moment a sense of trepidation flooded Kaba's body just like the water had flooded the forest. His pain from earlier had subsided due to the swift adrenaline that rushed through him all of a sudden. The tree that he temporarily used becam victim to the rushhing floods that swept the area and succumbed the gravity. Fortunately Kaba kept his balance while trying to figure out his next plan of action. But there was no time to even think because again the forest was targeted with another deadly assault. A myriad of weapons appeared from overhead and forcefully rained upon the forest. The sound of more trees falling, and even screams from unknown persons filled the air. Kaba was quick to defend himself with a simple barrier, and none of the deadly weapons reached him. As the assault subsided he almost wanted to panic, but quickly figured this situation would be a great time to prove himself to the village. He deserved to become a leader in Konoha.

Kaba began to make his move, happening upon one of the culprits suddenly, Sebun. Quickly, he concealed himself behind a fallen tree, seemingly clear of any immediate danger. He wondered if this was good luck or bad luck? He was able to locate one of the attackers, but clearly these new foes were extremely powerful. Kaba never wanted to doubt himself, but he wasn't sure if he'd be able to defeat one of them. The least he could do was try, it was his duty. He could only hope another ally appeared to level the playing field. From his new point of refuge, Kaba created a shadow clone that would suddenly dart 10 meters to his right and appear before the new foe so as not to reveal Kaba's current hiding spot. The clone quickly threw two kunai, fitted with explosive tags, at Sebun. Taking the culprit head on was not ideal for Kaba, so he would try and gather as much info on the stranger before attempting to formulate a plan to come out victorious.

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Interacting with:

@ZeroXposure

Naruto: Revival

Kaba Joukaku

It had finally finished. The trio's struggles had come to an end, and they had finished victoriously but not without a price. They moved on to the next phase of the exam, appearing in a forest. Kaba's entire body ached, he could barely lift a muscle in his current state. Luckily he had protected his body with a barrier just before taking the worst of the now-deceased Sea King's assault. As a result, Kaba only suffered a few fractured bones and a painful ache throughout himself. Seeing medical-nin greet the group was a relief. Kaba sighed, hoping they could at least renew his body to a point where he could advance and defend himself.

He looked over to check on the others. Bumu's true form seemed to reveal itself, and Koma seemed to be in the best shape of any of them. Kaba did not move nor talk as he was being healed. He listened closely as the Hokage's words rang through his ears, informing him of the stipulations of the current phase of the Jounin Exams. He was understandably discouraged. How would a weakened Kaba retrieve an extra scroll? Either way, there was no way he would duck out of the exams. If he was going to fail, it would be from a fair defeat. And as if a god was watching over him, he received a second scroll from Koma.

Kaba's eyes widened, unsure if he was being pranked or not. And before he could even ask Koma her reason, she withdrew. Kaba's shock could not be translated into words - he was speechless and completely thankful. "Koma... I don't understand why you did this, but I won't ever forget it. I hope to work alongside you once again in the future." Kaba examined both his scrolls, a new wave of confidence sweeping his pain filled body. Fortunately, he was a man of determination. He would not allow Koma's sacrifice to go to waste, and he would not allow his wretched grandfather to be right about him. He waved off the medical-nin, ready to enter the fray. He could move now, and had regained a small amount of his chakra back. In his current state, it would be incredibly unlikely he would be able to win a head to head matchup with another. But Kaba could at least protect himself and use his brain. He already had 2 scrolls, he just needed to make it to the finish with the key items still intact.

As insurance, Kaba pulled two explosive tags from his pouch and in a poof of smoke he suddenly had two fake scrolls to fool possible enemies. Kaba would tie and strap the other two scrolls onto his torso. There they would be hidden under his garments. He placed the faux scrolls in his equipment pouch, hoping that he would not even need to use them. Before venturing into the wilderness, Kaba formed a multitude of hand seals and placed his right hand over the scrolls that were now hidden on his body. He applied a seal to both that would prove to be perfect for his situation. A safeguard. Kaba hoped he avoided running into a Hyuuga or someone else proficient in fuinjutsu. He entered the forest without looking back, activating Barrier: Canopy Method Formation in about a 25 yard area around himself. This way he'd hopefully notice someone else before they notice him. Kaba quickly moved, avoiding branches and leaves as to not create sound to draw attention. He was unsure if he could make it to the end without confrontation, but would move along as if he could.

Naruto: Revival

Kaba Joukaku

It seemed Kaba was a step too slow. The King moved swiftly to intercept Kaba's path to the Queen's domain. Assuming that the Sea King planned on protecting her from Kaba's advances, Kaba readied a defense. This trial was becoming dire, as Kaba felt himself almost near his limits. He knew the others were probably hanging by a thread as well so there was no time to waste. But to Kaba's surprise the King did the last thing the group would've ever expected. Within a flash, the Queen's body suddenly went limp. As life left her body, it seemed that a certain feeling escaped the area as well.

The undead army that had become quite a nuisance began to fall one by one, and the feeling that escaped the kingdom earlier was replaced by a heavy sense of fear and desperation in the next moment. Kaba was stunned as the King murdered his own Queen and consumed her blood, effectively increasing his own power. The shock was apparent on Kaba's face. This King was insanely terrifying. If he was capable of savagely killing his assumed lover for power, imagine what he would do to them given the chance!

At that moment, Kaba could've accepted defeat, but he calmed himself. All they needed was to retrieve the scroll. He had fought all his life, and things weren't going to end at the hands of some lame fish. If the King needed to murder his own Queen to become strong enough to defeat the trio, they were clearly doing something right. Kaba wanted to play things conservatively to save his energy and chakra for the next stage of the exam but it became apparent that they would need one final push to get out of this situation. There would be no point in conserving his power if they didn't even make it to the next stage.

Without a second of delay Kaba decided it was time to finish the horrid Fish King. Chains, originally intended to seal the Queen, shot forth from his body aiming towards the King just after he drained his former lover's body dry. The chains would wrap around both of the King's arms and legs. Kaba aimed to restrain him just long enough for his comrades to finish the job. His technique was powerful enough to contain the most violently powerful beasts - and it was one he hoped to not have to use in this capacity. However, Kaba needed to ensure victory and progress to the next module of the exam to give himself a fighting chance. As he poured his power into controlling the beast before them, he would signal to Bumu and Koma to use the opening to get the job done. He knew they were struggling, but he also knew the two wouldn't fail.

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Interacting with:

@Reflection@Syn@GlitchyBugger

Naruto: Revival

Kaba Joukaku

'Hm?' It seemed the queen had caught on to Kaba's attack and attempted to flee to safety. She sic'd her electric eels on the young shinobi, and barricaded herself inside of a giant clam that was once a throne. Kaba smirked, a new wave of confidence overtaking his body. The queen had set her own trap. He had also taken the time to notice that the attacks from the lesser enraged sea creatures seemed to intensify the moment the queen had noticed him. Suddenly, things began to piece themselves together - it was now clear to Kaba that the queen had some sort of control over the relatively weak, but greatly hindering sirens and such.

He quickly glanced over, also noticing that the creatures sacrificed themselves to protect their king. Clearly the two were not invincible, even in their own domains. The trio was at a clear disadvantage, but it would not prevent them from their expected outcome of victory. Swiftly, Kaba brought his right hand up, forming a single hand seal as the eels neared. The tiny barrier he had threw towards the queen suddenly halted. 'Out of my way!'

The cube pulsated and not a moment later expanded, swallowing both of the nuisances. Both eels would be engulfed in total darkness, but their ability to use electric discharges as a sort of radar system would alarm the creatures that they were not alone. Inside of the barrier Kaba left a single clone of his own, which almost immediately would detonate as soon as the creatures realized they were now trapped. The barrier would rapidly dissipate as unrecognizable remains of the eels slowly sank to the sand below.

Meanwhile, Kaba still had other obstacles to clear before he could continue moving towards his objectives. The undead army seemed to be using one another in a futile attempt to reach him. The small army was not particularly dangerous by themselves, but given the situation also coupled with the sheer number of foes they did make things extremely difficult. But the aspiring Jounin did not earn the nickname of 'The Wall' for no reason. Almost effortlessly, he created a barrier below him which would deliver a severe electric shock to the group of enemies attempting to reach him. The shock would travel between all the foes who had come into contact with the first victim of Kaba's, sending them back to their watery graves, hopefully permanently this time. As for the projectiles, one managed to catch just the top of his left shoulder, leaving a not-so-deep flesh would that would need to be addressed later. A small amount of blood shrouded around the area, but the pain did not prevent Kaba from deflecting the rest of the projectiles, even launching some of them back at his attackers. His own adrenaline allowed him to ignore his injury for now as he rushed towards the queen's new fortress.

After what seemed to be years, but was actually only a few seconds, Kaba arrived at the clam, effectively dispatching any and all obstacles. He would not attempt to reach the queen inside, but would instead neutralize and entrap her. Kaba was not sure if his deductions regarding the queen's control over the army were accurate, but for his and his comrades' sake, he hoped so... In the blink of an eye, chains moulded from his own chakra shot from hands and enveloped the clam several times. Adamantine Sealing Chains. It was a technique he had secretly learned from an Uzumaki shortly after becoming a chunin. Kaba was not sure how the queen's power worked, but aimed for her control over the creatures to be interrupted or blocked due to his seal, keeping them from shielding the pesky king in hopes Bumu and Koma could retrieve the true scroll without further issue.

Kaba turned his attention to the two, hoping his sealing of the queen would actually help. Due to the technique, he couldn't leave the clam's side, and was only able to provide assistance from a distance. He considered creating a shadow clone, but still wanted to preserve the rest of his chakra for the next phase of the exams, granted they actually made it out alive. It was now up to Koma and Bumu, who both seemed more than capable of getting the job done now that they presumably had one less thing to worry about.

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Interacting with:

@Reflection@Syn@GlitchyBugger

Naruto: Revival

Kaba Joukaku

Kaba impatiently awaited a positive response from his teammates, but it would never come. The grin that painted his face before, had suddenly formed into a look of worry. Kaba's skin began to crawl as he had clearly triggered something that he shouldn't have. He would quickly feel a grainy feeling in the hand where he once held what he thought was the scroll they needed. He rapidly recognized that he held a fake. Why would they keep a fake scroll in their shrine? Where would the real one be?

As Kaba began questioning what was occurring he would unexpectedly begin to gasp. He grabbed at his neck, feeling his gills disappearing and studied his hands as the webbing began to also retract. Just a moment ago the feeling of success had embodied him, and now everything was falling apart. Kaba almost began to panic until he noticed the oxygen tanks that had just appeared for them. Oddly lucky, but he wouldn't wonder further. He wasted no time putting the reserve oxygen to use. He wasn't sure if the tank was full or not, but fortunately he was able to use one of his clan's signature techniques to store the oxygen for extended periods of time. If he somehow lost the tank, he'd still be able to breath a bit longer than humanly possible.

Unfortunately, the group would still be at a movement disadvantage. Kaba continued to study what he had seemingly cased. The sand beneath began to shift and creatures horrifying enough to make someone freeze emerged. There were too many too count. Their saviors from before had also appeared, transformed into something terrible. On top of the new threat, the queen herself seemed to make an unexpected change. Rage clearly fueled her new look and she was now out for blood.

Just when Kaba began to accept the fact that the group would probably be doomed, another terror appeared. A King. The power that suddenly filled the area was enough to cause Kaba to tremble. Why was this happening to them? They were supposed to have advanced by now. Worst of all Kaba began to think that he would need to shoulder the blame. 'Move' Kaba tried to convince his body to obey his mind but it was to no avail.

That was until he saw it. His eyes expanded as he begrudgingly recognized the body that the King had seemingly ravaged. It was their would be fourth member, Akimichi. The sight caused a sense of urgency to flood the young shinobi's body, powering his will. If any of his other team members were to become victims, he would have their blood on his hands. 'MOVE!' Without delay, Kaba would begin to make his mark. He noticed another scroll with the King, but knew rushing in would be near impossible. They needed to deal with the horde of foes that suddenly filled the area. He noticed that the Queen and King had focused much of their attention towards Bumu, who had already taken the time to create a group of clones, which would be a perfect distraction for Kaba later.

Kaba was no expert at swimming, but started to make his way towards the queen with a look of determination and conviction in his eye. He recognized Koma's assault upon the kind, hating that he could no longer communicate with his comrades through normal means. Any of the creatures who attempted to impede his path would most likely have been fried to the bone by a Kaba's quick barriers. As he closed in on the queen, Kaba formed a few hand seals as a small cube of chakra formed in his right hand. He wasted little time in launching the projectile directly at the queen, ready to activate it once in range. Normally, a projectile being thrown under water would find a hard time making it to it's target, but luckily Kaba could remotely control it using his own chakra. It would weave around any creatures that attempted to intercept it to save their queen, and it would chase her to it's max range if she were to attempt to avoid it. Kaba was counting on her not even noticing his attack.

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Interacting with:

@Reflection@Syn@GlitchyBugger

Naruto: Revival

Kaba Joukaku

Kaba nervously chuckled when Bumu was grazed by the Queen's trident. Maybe he was wrong all along, and maybe his actions would cost them. If so, he'd sincerely apologize later but that was largely unimportant. It seemed as if the Queen saw through Bumu's initial trick and they had been doomed from the beginning. Regardless, there was no time to contemplate if they had made the right moves. A small army of various sea creatures charged the trio on the command of their leader. Kaba stood his ground, ready to defend them and lay waste to their new foes. Except Koma grabbed his attention, prompting Kaba to follow her as she swam upwards. It seemed as if Bumu had became quite infuriated with the Queen's words and planned to retaliate.

Blindly trusting Bumu to take care of the enemies, Kaba turned his focus back upon the scroll. Shortly after reaching the top, they received extra concealment due to Koma's handy genjutsu. He figured that it would now be fine to use his chakra without the water eating away at his techniques. He nodded as Koma ensured to give him cover so that he could retrieve what they came for. "Be ready to bolt once I grab the scroll. No telling how many more goons the fish lady might call!"

With that said, he bolted towards the pillar, attempting to draw as little attention as possible. As he neared the pillar, he noticed that the scroll was embedded into it in a way that would make it impossible for him to just grab it. The pillar was quite large, but it would prove to be no problem for the motivated chunin. Their goal was right before him, nothing would slow him.

Now in front of the pillar, Kaba raised his right arm which suddenly became encased in a chakra laden barrier. He struck the pillar in several vital points, causing the structure to collapse. The words 'Suijin' harmlessly drifted into the sand below as it was broken off upon impact. Kaba had recognized the name as the water god himself but it would not deter him from their purpose. It seemed incredibly important to the naiad community, but it was just a roadblock and Kaba had no time to consider feelings that may have or may not have been falsely generated. Due to Kaba's quick assault, the scroll was freed from the pillar, and he now grasped it firmly. His face lit up with a smile. It seemed as if the group had been down there for years, and they finally got what they came for, or so he hoped.

Kaba hesitated for a moment, initially not wanting to draw attention to his whereabouts, but he had realized that the large pillar being destroyed would probably draw scrutiny of the fish people anyways. "Koma! Bumu! I have it!" Now it was time to escape this fortress. Kaba frantically began searching for an escape route so that they could avoid the immediate danger, uncertain that things would be simple from here on out.

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Interacting with:

@Reflection@Syn@GlitchyBugger

Naruto: Revival

Kaba Joukaku

As they entered the astounding palace, Kaba's eyes glossed over. His belief that they were stuck in a genjutsu somehow engineered by the proctors of the exam began to strengthen. While continuing on, a voice rang out to him and only him. It seemed as if the others were experiencing their own distortion. Again, somehow his grandfather seemed to enter his mind. My only surviving grandchild, and yet such a worthless weakling. Hmph..... You will never surpass me, BOY'

Kaba sucked his teeth and smacked his forehead. He knew he could only take so much before his 'other self' took over. He wanted to hurry and retrieve the scroll. After regaining his composure, he resumed in taking in his exceptional surroundings. In all his years he had never heard of a place like this, but maybe that was due to his own ignorance. And that ignorance finally convinced him that this was no doubt the results of an illusory technique.

Eventually, the trio would enter a building that somehow loomed larger than the other structures. It certainly drew their attention. Despite the amazing structures they had witnessed, none compared to the beauty that appeared upon them in the temple. Kaba fawned as the 'Queen' of this water temple spoke. Her voice alone was enough to make Kaba swoon. He hadn't even paid any attention to the soldiers that seemed to be guarding something. "Yeah, guys we're definitely being tricked." Kaba whispered to his teammates. "No such beauty actually exists in the real world." Kaba kept his gaze on the queen, barely listening to Bumu as he offered disguised tags to the fish people.

Even though he had been lost in his own gaze, Kaba at last noticed the pillar and embedded inside was a scroll - THAT scroll! Kaba's goals came back in focus. He admittedly thought what they were experiencing was amazing, but was ready to proceed with the exams. Before the queen could even respond to Bumu, Kaba waved the fox down. "I'm sure you two have noticed the pillar. I have a strong feeling that we are trapped in a genjutsu. Let's not waste time here." He turned his attention back to the queen and addressed her in an almost sarcastic tone. "No doubt you're pretty cute and this is a neat little trick, but we're kind of in a rush. We NEED that scroll!" He swiftly pointed in the pillar's direction. "I appreciate the help-" Kaba used air quotes as he spoke, not believing he was addressing true royalty. Not usually would he be disrespectful to others, but Kaba truly feared no consequences and it might cost him this time. His own confidence may screw the team, but his doubt was nonexistent."-BUT I have to take that, sorry." Kaba began moving in the direction of the pillar, unsure of the reactions of the fish people, but still un-intimidated.

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Interacting with:

@Reflection@Syn@GlitchyBugger

Naruto: Revival

Kaba Joukaku

As they neared the darkness, Kaba could feel himself grow weaker. He was nearly out of oxygen and his vision had begun to blur. 'Heh....So this is how it ends, eh? All my training and I'm gonna end up fucking drowned.' Kaba closed his eyes, and in that same exact moment his grandfather's arrogant voice entered his mind. 'Don't be a failure all your life...DO NOT DISGRACE US' His eyes quickly flashed open and to his surprise it seemed as if the trio was no longer alone. Slowly, Kaba made out the figures of multiple female like silhouettes. As his eyesight came to focus, one of the figures approached him, brushing against his neck.

In shock Kaba stood still, not knowing what he should expect from these foreign creatures. As he looked on in astonishment, he suddenly realized that he hadn't passed out yet for some reason. The shock prevented him from realizing that he had somehow grown gills and could breathe. Energy rushed back into his body as the oxygen began to flow in again. This was a dream, it had to be. This was certainly not the afterlife Kaba had envisioned. He began to study the creatures that had seemingly saved him, causing a barrage of confusion to enter his mind. What were these strange creatures? Were they actually stuck in a genjutsu? Had their bodies actually even been transported from the arena, or was it all just an illusion after all?

Though his mind was racing, Kaba stayed speechless. He turned to survey his teammates' reactions as the sea creatures seemingly tried to communicate with them. They emanated an almost otherworldly sound that gave Kaba chills. Quickly thereafter, one of the creatures grabbed Kaba's hand as to instruct him to follow along. They were led deeper into the unknown darkness, knifing through the water that had previously given them issues as if they were floating through the air. As the trio was led further, Kaba finally began to calm. He took notice to the changes in body, unsure whether to freak out or be amazed. He certainly wouldn't complain, as this new body was perfect for their current environment, but he definitely didn't want to stay a fishman forever.

Eventually, they would approach a light, and upon entering said light Kaba would find himself stunned once again. As he took in the group's new surroundings he felt a strange feeling enter his body. He was amazed to a level that he had never experience once in his life. There were more creatures to observe and even what seemed to be male versions of the beautiful sea maidens that had saved their lives. Noticing the gesture made by the naiads, Kaba stared at what seemed to be the entrance to the insane underwater structure currently presented to the three Jounin hopefuls. He almost felt like rushing in, but understood that it would be better to confer with Bumu and Koma, though it seemed as if Bumu was attempting to conversate with their saviors. Expecting Bumu's question to be ignored due to the fact it seemed the naiads could not speak their language, Kaba turned his attention towards talking with his two comrades before making any other decisions. "Well this was...unexpected haha. Whatever those things were, I don't think they meant us harm. They saved our lives. I think we should enter this...place. Cautiously of course-" But before Kaba could finish his words, Koma began swimming towards the entrance. Apparently nothing else needed to be said. He quickly caught up with her, mind racing once again as they approached the entrance.

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Interacting with:

@Reflection@Syn@GlitchyBugger

Naruto: Revival

Kaba Joukaku

Kaba confidently smirked as his team approached what they originally thought to be the surface. But alas, they had been thrown another curveball. In an unexpected twist, the group never breached water, it was almost like they were warped to their starting point once again. 'What in the hell...is this possibly an illusion?' - he thought to himself. No amount of training could have prepared him for this predicament, and there was much time to react due the fact Kaba wasn't fortunate enough to be born with gills.

He sensed as his barrier was rapidly reaching it's breaking point, and before it did Kaba took in a large breath of air. He braced himself as water suddenly engulfed him and his team, opening his eyes a few moments later. His vision was limited but he was able to make out his comrades who were close by. Bumu seemed to garner assistance from Koma as they headed in the opposite direction. Kaba would definitely not win any underwater races, but he could get to his destination usually. The only problem was that there were no immediate opportunities to take in oxygen to avoid passing out and downright drowning. He was pleasantly surprised at how in sync the trio was despite the circumstances. Kaba's first instinct was to also swim downwards if going up would not let the escape this odd sea. He closely followed Koma and Bumu as they headed towards the darkness, praying that luck would finally be on their side.

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Interacting with:

@Reflection@Syn@GlitchyBugger

Naruto: Revival

Kaba Joukaku

As the group's plan began to materialize, the ceiling finally gave in. Water began to rush in at an alarming rate. Kaba, feeling confident in his barrier, did not let his resolve be shaken. That was until the water actually made contact. Kaba's knees almost buckled from impact. "Whew...Guys, this water isn't normal. Either we are deeper than I anticipated or there are special properties that cause chakra to be drained. My barrier is weakening..." Kaba chuckled a bit. Of course the water wasn't normal, this exam was not one for novices.

Sweat began rolling down his temple as the water surrounded the team. He looked at the explosive tags littered at the bottom of the first barrier. He calmly nodded and smirked at the other two."This is nothing...Let's get ready -" Before he even completed his sentence he had formed the smaller secondary barrier around the trio, this one cone shaped. He made sure to leave a small opening for Koma and despite not being used to working with each other, their actions were perfectly synced. The group was shot upwards while the first barrier began to dissipate. He looked forward while they flew through the odd water praying that the surface was near. Due to the strange properties of the water, there was a small chance the barrier would make it to the top intact and with that in mind, Kaba braced to hold his breath.

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Interacting with:

@Reflection@Syn@GlitchyBugger