THE VISORED APPLICATION Name: Shuuhei Yamada
Alias: Shuuhei does not go by any aliases or nicknames.
Real Age: 530 years (born in May of the year 1490 AD)
Phys. Age: Shuuhei appears to be in his early- to mid-twenties, and most people would likely guess he is in the 22 to 25 age range.
Gender: Male
Personality:
Key: Positive Neutral Negative
- Compassionate: Anyone who has known Shuuhei for any extended period of time will know that he is, above almost all else, compassionate towards others. This is likely a product of his relatively long life and the amount of death, destruction, and suffering he has seen, experienced, or otherwise been exposed to. These experiences have helped him gain an understanding of the hardships many people face and a desire to help ease the pain caused by these for as many beings as possible. He is the type to always be there for someone in their time of need, even if that means just listening or being there to console someone who is going through a difficult time. He is always there to help for anyone who may need it. This also means Shuuhei will put others before himself in most cases and do anything necessary to protect or otherwise help them in any time of difficulty. A compassionate nature may seem counterintuitive for a being who has spent the vast majority of his existence involved with the military, having been a samurai as a human and then a Shinigami after his death. However, it is actually because of this compassion that he tends to do exceedingly well in combat. This is because, as mentioned before, a part of his compassionate nature is a desire to protect. This leads him to view enemies not as threats to himself but threats to the ones he cares about and bringers of suffering, and thus not deserving of compassion or sympathy. Even when he must kill, Shuuhei prefers to give his enemies a fast death without pain or suffering and is as humane as possible even on the battlefield.
- Strong Sense of Empathy: Closely linked to his compassion for others is Shuuhei's sense of empathy. Like his compassion, he developed this over the course of his long and at times difficult life. As stated in the previous section, he carries a burning desire to shield others from suffering, death, destruction, and hardship to the greatest extent possible. His sense of empathy is the main reason behind this. Empathy is, of course, defined as the ability to feel what others would feel in any given situation, and is commonly referred to as "putting oneself in another's shoes." Most beings are capable of this to some degree, with those who are entirely incapable of it usually being defined as psychopaths or similar. For Shuuhei, this ability by far exceeds that of most other beings. As an example, seeing sadness in others will actually cause him to become sad. On the opposite side, seeing happiness in others can be enough to make his entire day. His empathy extends even further, though, to the point that seeing someone else injured physically is enough to cause him to almost feel the resulting pain felt by the victim, even if he is completely unharmed. Once again, it may seem that such a deep sense of empathy presents a conflict of interest for a being who has spent centuries engaging in combat. However, as stated previously, Shuuhei views his enemies as the cause of the pain and suffering he seeks to prevent, and even when he must kill, he does so as quickly and painlessly as is realistically possible.
- Well-Mannered: Having spent his human life in Japan, Shuuhei tends to follow most of the tradition and customs that he grew up with there. One of the key tenets of his culture, and perhaps the one Japan is known best for even in the 21st century, is politeness. Under most circumstances, Shuuhei takes extra care to ensure that he behaves politely towards all beings he interacts with, both in his words and actions. For example, he will refer to everyone he interacts with by their last name followed by a traditional Japanese honorific such as
"-san" or similar, almost without exception. The only time he will not do this is if the name of the being he is interacting with is unknown, and even then, he will make the best possible attempt at politeness. Along these lines, he also tends to avoid raising his voice, using curse words or vulgar terms, or engaging in any other type of speech that could cause offense or be perceived as disrespectful. He is careful with his actions in the same way, always taking care to maintain respectful posture for the situation he is in, keeping proper eye contact during conversations, and observing proper manners when eating in the presence of others.
- Ethical: When deciding his actions, Shuuhei does everything reasonably possible to do so according to what he believes to be proper ethics. Generally, he follows what human philosophers and scholars would refer to as the utilitarian school of thought. Usually, utilitarianism is defined as the idea that ethical behavior brings the greatest amount of "good," (happiness, pleasure, and similar positive feelings) and the least amount of pain or suffering, to the greatest number of people. Simply put, this means that he tries to act in the interest of the greater good whenever possible. This mentality is the result of the time he spent as a samurai in his human life and later as a Shinigami, both of which were occupations that required teamwork and putting oneself second to the greater good and the success of the mission. Shuuhei retains this mentality to this day, though now as a rogue, the main "mission" is survival. Despite this, as a result of his ethical thought processes, he also does his best to help others and solve problems whenever possible. Overall, Shuuhei makes an attempt to be sure that his decisions are guided by ethics and result in the least possible amount of pain, suffering, or hardship for anyone affected by them.
- Tolerant: Yet another trait born out of his past experiences is Shuuhei's high degree of tolerance towards others. This is actually a trait he developed more recently, as it only began to develop after his first temporary loss of control over his Inner Hollow. For a significant portion of his life, he actually held the same prejudices towards other races and organizations as his fellow Shinigami. This especially applied to anything related to Hollows, such as Arrancar or Vizards. Since becoming a Vizard himself, however, Shuuhei has come to realize that a being's race, presence of an Inner Hollow, or even their organizational membership do not define who they truly are. (though there are some exceptions to this when it comes to organizational membership) As a result, he is very open-minded and holds no prejudices about any race, and will not judge any being solely based on that. Instead, he forms opinions of beings based on their personality and actions. Similarly, he is very tolerant of the beliefs of others as well, unless said beliefs are based on prejudice or other biases based on preconceived notions. Even then, he would prefer to educate rather than discredit, judge, or shame anyone based on their beliefs. Overall, he is tolerant of the vast majority of beings and belief systems he encounters.
- Bushido Code: As we now know, Shuuhei spent the majority of his human life as a samurai in medieval Japan. Any description of a being who was once a samurai would be lacking if it did not mention the famous Bushido code of honor that all samurai were bound to uphold. Shuuhei was no different during his human life, and while death freed him from any obligation to continue following this behavioral code, he chose to continue adhering to it regardless. Some main parts of this code include the importance of honor over even life itself and loyalty to one's lord and superiors. While being honorable and loyal are generally positive traits for any being to have, they can have unforeseen negative effects as well. As an example, running from a fight is simply not an option for Shuuhei. Instead, he will stay and fight even to the point of his own death if he is allowed to do so. This applies even to a fight that he knows he cannot win, and therefore has a chance of getting him severely injured or even killed. Another issue is the psychological impact that the loyalty aspect of the Bushido code has had on him. For many years, this was the basis of his loyalty to the Gotei. However, upon becoming a Vizard, this was completely shattered and he was left in a state of depression and confusion that continues to this day. Since it has both helpful and detrimental effects, his adherence to the Bushido code is a neutral personality aspect.
- Calculating: In the vast majority of cases, Shuuhei tends to carefully analyze the situation and calculate his decisions before taking any type of action. Of course, there are many situations, such as in combat, where there is not enough time for this to be possible. Overall, he will not simply dive into a situation without first having sufficient knowledge of what is going on and developing a functional plan for what he will do about it. This can be helpful because it allows him to prepare properly for almost any possible event, and in dangerous situations, it has saved his life or prevented grievous injury on multiple occasions. It has also been helpful outside of combat situations. For example, deciding how to act in front of a particular person or group or what to say if questioned on something by a superior, along with other similar circumstances. That being said, this careful, calculating aspect of Shuuhei's personality can be a drawback at times. It can, for example, result in failure to act quickly enough in a time-sensitive situation or even prevent him from taking any action at all. Sometimes, it can also result in him overthinking a relatively simple problem and coming to the wrong solution.
- "Way With Words:" This trait is rather self-explanatory: Shuuhei has been known to have what most would describe as a "way with words." More simply, he always seems to know what to say and how to say it in a way to make everyone happy, no matter the situation. On Earth, this is a skill commonly seen in experienced politicians. He is very well-informed on most issues and when it comes time to argue or debate about something, he is always prepared with arguments and effective, logical reasoning. He can also be quite persuasive. In summary, he is a very proficient speaker. While this is very useful and would likely be seen by most as an entirely positive trait, it can also have some very negative effects. One of these is that it can lead to people incorrectly seeing him as manipulative and therefore forming a dislike or distrust for him. Additionally, while he makes an honest effort to avoid causing offense even in an argument as a result of his politeness, his logic can sometimes cause unintended offense if a controversial issue is being discussed.
- Asexual: For his entire existence, including his life as a human, Shuuhei has been entirely asexual. This is usually defined as a description for a person who derives no pleasure from any type of sexual activities, it goes a step further for Shuuhei. The previous description fully applies to him, but in addition, he has never once felt any type of attraction, even merely romantic, to another person. The closest type of relationship he has ever formed with anyone, either as a human or after, is that of friendship. This is neither positive nor negative for his life at present, though it can have both positive and negative effects on him in the future depending on the exact situation at hand. For example, it can result in him being viewed as "weird" by others if they happen to pick up on it. This was especially true during his human life in 15th and 16th century Japan, where those who knew thought there was something seriously wrong with him. Being asexual can also be helpful, though, as it prevents him from being at risk from any type of temptation or other troubles that can result from physical relationships.
- Stubborn: One of Shuuhei's major flaws is that he is extremely stubborn. Though some may argue that this stubbornness is actually perseverance and a refusal to give up despite challenges, and while it does have that effect, it has mainly resulted in trouble for Shuuhei. Therefore, it is listed here as a negative trait and viewed by him as such. A significant part of the reason why is the same reason why many people would argue it is in fact not a negative trait: the fact that he simply will not give up or change his mind in almost any situation. This was touched on previously as part of the section in which Shuuhei's adherence to the Bushido code was discussed. Even if faced with a fight that he knows he cannot win or a situation that he knows is completely impossible, he will simply refuse to give up. This can result in minor consequences, such as large amounts of wasted time on an impossible problem, or major ones up to and including his death. Similarly, this means that he is very unlikely to change his mind on anything or adjust his beliefs or ideas, even if they are proven wrong. There was one exception to this, which was becoming more tolerant of other races and organizations after becoming a Vizard. This demonstrates how stubborn Shuuhei can be, and how it requires a major event to result in him making any changes or giving up at something.
- Procrastinator: Another of Shuuhei's flaws is his tendency to procrastinate. When tasked with something he sees as being tedious, time-consuming, or otherwise annoying or unpleasant, he is very likely to put that task off as long as possible. This was particularly noticeable during his time as a low-ranking Gotei member shortly after graduating from the Academy, during which his tendency to put off the menial tasks he was often given proved to be an annoyance and hindrance to his fellow squad members and superiors alike. Though this improved as he spent more time in the Gotei and was trusted, little by little, with more important and "less boring" responsibilities, but it never entirely resolved itself and remain a problem for him to this day. Although it is true that this is a minor issue, if even one at all, as a rogue without obligations to any organization, it could become a problem later should he choose to join one.
- Paranoid: This particular trait is one that Shuuhei developed quite recently. Though he has always been cautious as a result of having spent the majority of his existence as a soldier of some sort, (either a samurai or a Shinigami) he never developed true paranoia until after becoming a Vizard. Unlike some, he did not become a Vizard willingly, but instead underwent the process as a result of contracting a soul-altering virus that resulted in the creation of an Inner Hollow. Like most Shinigami-turned-Vizard who find themselves in this situation, he ended up losing control of that Inner Hollow temporarily, resulting in him committing acts that led to him being forced to depart Soul Society. As this happened at the time of the original Gotei, Shuuhei was originally forced to go into hiding to preserve his own safety. As such, he quickly became quite paranoid and suspicious of anyone who could even maybe be a threat. Even now, he is extremely suspicious of any people he does not know well, even more so if they are spiritually aware or otherwise seem to be powerful. He constantly watches his back for any possible threats, always keeping his Reiatsu suppressed and his hand near the hilt of his Zanpakutō, ready to fight at a moment's notice. For this reason, he is often very tense and anxious in public or around new people or beings.
- ADHD: When Shuuhei was born in 1490, the condition now widely known as "attention deficit hyperactivity disorder," or ADHD, was not medically documented. Instead, his parents and those around him simply thought he had "trouble applying himself," or "a short attention span," or "too much energy." A modern doctor would have very little trouble diagnosing Shuuhei with ADHD. He suffers from all of its classic symptoms, including difficulty focusing on tasks and hyperactivity. Now that he knows he suffers from this, which he discovered during a visit to a human doctor on Earth recently, he suspects it was the reason for his procrastination as well. Unfortunately, though he was prescribed medication to help mitigate the effects of this condition, it does not work properly because Shuuhei is of course not actually a human. As a direct result, he still suffers from the full intensity of his ADHD most of the time. While this is only a minor issue at present, once again, it could become a serious problem should he become a part of an organization at a later time. His other flaws, when combined with this ADHD, can make life quite difficult for Shuuhei at times.
- Addiction-Prone Personality: Finally, it is important to note that Shuuhei is heavily inclined psychologically to be at higher than average risk for addiction. Specifically, this means addiction to substances, though it can also refer to an addiction to risky behavior intended to cause the production of adrenaline. If he were a modern human, Shuuhei would almost certainly participate in extreme sports for this reason. More problematic is his risk of addiction to substances. During his human life, there were not many opportunities to use what modern humans would consider to be "drugs," but there was plenty of alcohol. As this was medieval Japan, this usually meant sake. The same was true in Soul Society. In both places, he tended to drink quite heavily. Shuuhei never drank in amounts that would lead anyone to consider him an alcoholic, though. Rather, he was usually viewed as a person who "liked to have fun." Luckily, this has not caused him any embarrassment or other problems yet, nor has it led to an actual addiction. Nevertheless, he does still drink heavily to this day. Overall, Shuuhei is the type to become addicted to something easily and must always take care to avoid this as much as possible.
CHARACTER APPEARANCE Height: Shuuhei stands at 5 feet and 9 inches from the ground.
Weight: 150 pounds
Physical Traits: Overall, and especially in comparison to members of the numerous races of beings in existence, spiritual and otherwise, Shuuhei is not a being whose appearance causes them to stand out or makes them particularly noteworthy in any way. Most of his physical traits are average or very nearly so, and he does not possess any body modifications or other characteristics that could be seen as unique or interesting. Simply put, he looks very close what even most humans would consider to be "normal." While some might find such an average appearance boring, it does have its uses, especially for someone like Shuuhei who would prefer to avoid being noticed if at all possible.
The first of Shuuhei's "average" features is of course his height. He stands five feet and nine inches (5' 9'') off the ground, very near average height for a human male in his early- to mid-twenties, the age Shuuhei was at the time he was killed and his human life came to an end. If he stood on one of the scales humans often use to weigh themselves, (assuming such a device worked on a spiritual being) it would probably inform him that he weighs 150 pounds. For Shuuhei, this weight consists mainly of muscle and other lean tissues, and very little fat. After all, he spent many years as a part of what essentially amounted to a military organization, and was a soldier in his human life before that, meaning that he has always believed in the importance of exercise and staying in shape. However, over the past several years as a rogue, he has had both less exercise and less to eat. For these reasons, he is a textbook example of the ectomorph body type. As stated previously, this means he has very little fat and only some muscle. However, the lack of exercise has resulted in a loss of muscle definition, resulting in an overall appearance that most people would describe as "skinny."
The skin that lies over the physiological features described above is rather fair, as is common in people of East Asian descent such as Shuuhei, although it is not so light as to be properly called "pale." That being said, it is definitely light enough that if he were a modern human, doctors would likely advise him to use sunscreen outdoors and be cautious about spending too much time in the sun or under direct UV light. Very little body hair grows anywhere on his figure. His skin is not interrupted by any artificial marks, such as tattoos, nor is it disfigured by any notable natural ones such as birthmarks or moles. There is, however, one exception: scars. The reminders of countless battles tear across his skin in almost every region of his body that could have reasonably been reached by an enemy's blade. Most of these are rather small, but two are particularly large and noticeable. The first of these is a diagonal one stretching from just below his left collarbone to his right hip. It is a light brown line forming a straight, clean cut that is very similar in appearance to scars left by surgical operations. The only difference is that it is about an inch in width at its widest point rather than just a few centimeters. The second is a vertical line only two and a half inches in length and a few centimeters in width but much darker in color and covered by rough, hard scar tissue. This one is located just to the right of his sternum, and there is a corresponding scar of identical description on his back, clearly the result of being impaled by the blade of a katana. Both noticeable scars are from the night he lost control of his Inner Hollow, although the others are from all throughout his career.
For Shuuhei, as is the case with most humanoid beings, his defining characteristics, or the ones that set him apart from others, are the features of his head and face. First, of course, there is his hair. As he is originally of Japanese descent, this hair is a deep black in color. It has not been cut in years, and currently its ends reach nearly halfway down his back. While he normally leaves it alone and does not prefer any particular hairstyle, such long hair can become a nuisance, especially if it blocks the vision during battle. For this reason, he often keeps it tied together behind him. Besides this, Shuuhei's hair is often messy and as mentioned before, not in any identifiable style. Another important feature is of course the eyes. His eyes are usually a dark brown in color, although when he becomes angry or otherwise agitated, or involved in any situation causing him to use a significant amount of Reiryoku, they can temporarily become a dark blue in color, which happens to be the same color as his Reiatsu.
No description of a spiritual being would be complete without a description of their Reiatsu. In "appearance," Shuuhei's Reiatsu generally takes on a deep, dark blue color, although not quite so dark as to qualify as what is usually referred to as "navy blue." Instead, an observer would most likely state that the color of his Reiatsu is closest to that of the water in the open ocean during the day when one is looking directly down upon it. As with most spiritual beings, Shuuhei's Reiatsu also has a particular "feel" to it to those capable of Reiatsu perception. This feeling is generally described by those who have experienced it as a sensation similar to that experienced if the surrounding area is highly charged with static electricity. Those with more highly-attuned senses of Reiatsu perception may also note a smell of ozone, which is the smell commonly associated with the time immediately preceding or following a rainstorm. Shuuhei's Reiatsu also occasionally evokes an emotional response in some beings, which differs depending on whether he regards the person sensing his Reiatsu as a friend or a foe. To an ally, his Reiatsu brings on a sense of reassurance, confidence, calm, and sometimes even happiness. To an enemy, his Reiatsu is thick, heavy, and threatening, and generally brings on a sense of unease and even fear, mainly in those weaker than him.
Finally, there is his clothing. Though he has not been a member of the Gotei for several centuries, and has not been a true Shinigami for equally long, Shuuhei still wears the Shihakusho uniform most commonly associated with Gotei members. This, of course, consists of a black kimono and hakama, kept together at the waist with the standard white obi sash used by all Shinigami in most cases. This sash, besides keeping the uniform together, also helps to hold the sheathed katana and wakizashi that make up his dual Zanpakutō. He wears both of these weapons on the left side of his body for the most convenient use, as he is right-handed. On his feet, one can find the standard-issue Japanese-style socks and sandals that usually accompany the Shinigami uniform. Because of Shuuhei's long absence from Soul Society, among other reasons, this Shihakusho is in a state of disrepair. It is covered with countless small nicks, tears, and scrapes, as well as dark spots where it had been stained or splattered with blood. These stains, especially those caused by blood, are far more noticeable on the white obi sash around his waist, entire sections of which have turned red, grey, or brown with dirt and blood. Besides the Shihakusho, Shuuhei usually wears a long white silk scarf around his neck, with the ends often trailing one to two feet behind him. This scarf is in similar condition to the rest of his clothing, though it has fewer stains due to having been acquired well after the rest of his uniform.
In Gigai form, Shuuhei chooses to wear clothes that closely match the most current fashion for human males in the age group that he appears to belong to. This, of course, is intended to aid him in blending in and avoiding standing out as much as reasonably possible. As such, he has two main possible outfits to choose from depending on the weather, which fortunately does not vary much in the part of Earth where he currently lives. During the spring and summer months when it is warm, he prefers to wear a grey and black striped T-shirt, khaki colored shorts, and black low-top Converse shoes with dark blue laces. If the weather becomes particularly hot, he will replace the T-shirt with a black tank top. During colder weather, he will trade the shorts for a pair of dark blue denim jeans and the T-shirt for a red and black plaid flannel shirt, which he usually wears with all of the buttons fastened. In especially cold or rainy weather, he will sometimes wear a black, hooded sweatshirt instead.
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- Spoiler:
THE COMBAT INFORMATION
General Fighting Style: Having spent his human life as a samurai and being proficient in Zanjutsu, Shuuhei's fighting style is heavily reliant on the use of his swords. Besides these, he will not hesitate to use the powers of his Zanpakuto, along with Kido (his second best Shinigami fighting method) and Cero or Bala when wearing his mask. Shuuhei tends to avoid the use of Hakuda, and makes only limited use of Shunpo when absolutely necessary. For this reason, he prefers close-range fighting when possible. Overall, he tends to fight in the same way he did as a samurai years ago, incorporating his Shinigami and Hollow powers into this style. This means that he will fight the enemy up close, striking with his swords when possible and using his powers when he must. Shuuhei is likely to take any risk necessary to accomplish his goals, and is not afraid to take extreme risk to himself, up to and including the loss of his life.
Strengths:
- Experienced Swordsman: Because Shuuhei was a samurai in his life as a human, then went on to become a Shinigami, he has accumulated well over 500 years of experience in the use of a katana and wakizashi. These two swords were traditionally worn and used in combat by samurai at the time Shuuhei was living as a human, and they were the first (and only) weapons he was trained to use. It is actually partially for this reason that his dual Zanpakutō manifested as a katana and wakizashi in its sealed form rather than just two katana or some other form. This experience and the muscle memory it helped to build over time make Shuuhei quite proficient in wielding his two swords.
- Kido: During his time at the Academy, Shuuhei found that another area of the Shinigami arts at which he truly excelled was Kido. His ability to use both Hadō and Bakudo seemed to be near the top of his class. While he was by no means the best, he was certainly above average at the use of Kido even then. Over time, he has further honed this ability, even developing some Kido techniques of his own to aid him in fighting according to his morals and personal style.
- Cero/Bala: Because he did not become a Vizard by choice, Shuuhei tends to shy away from the extensive practice or use of any of his Hollow powers except for one. He recognized the usefulness of Cero and Bala from the time he first used these techniques, and chose to practice them to the exclusion of any other Hollow-related skills. As such, he has become very proficient in the use of Cero and Bala. In fact, he has even developed some techniques of his own utilizing this skill set.
Weaknesses:
- Shunpo: Unfortunately for Shuuhei, he was never particularly talented at Shunpo, the high-speed movement technique used by Shinigami and Vizards. At the Academy, he found that he was just slightly slower than the average student in his class. He was not downright terrible at it, but the use of Shunpo was definitely something Shuuhei viewed as a weakness when it came to combat skills. However, since then, he has made significant improvements in this area, but it still lags behind some of his better-trained skills.
- Hakuda: Now, here is an area in which Shuuhei could truly be said to be seriously lacking. Hakuda, the Shinigami form of unarmed combat, is something Shuuhei had almost no experience with prior to entering the Academy. As a human, he was entirely reliant on his swords in battle, having no need for kicks, punches, or similar. This showed at the Academy, where he consistently performed near the bottom of his class. In fact, he was once assigned extra Hakuda practice to ensure that he would even be able to graduate on time. After becoming a Shinigami, Shuuhei stopped using or even practicing Hakuda, so it remains at the level it was when he first graduated. This is one skill he simply does not use in battle.
- Other Hollow-related Abilities: As mentioned previously, Shuuhei did not become a Vizard by choice, nor is he particularly fond of having a Hollow inside him. Because of this, he tends to steer clear of using most Hollow powers that would otherwise be granted when using his mask. For the most part, he prefers to rely on his Zanpakutō and other Shinigami powers in combat. The only exception to this is, as stated in the Strengths section, Cero and Bala, which he uses only because he recognizes their usefulness and overall effectiveness.
Ability Name: Kogane Raikō - Muyubyou
Ability Description: This ability allows Shuuhei to perform very limited use of the powers of his Zanpakuto while it remains in a sealed state, hence the name of the ability, which literally translates to "sleepwalking." As such, there are four basic techniques Shuuhei is able to use via this ability.
- Kogane Raikō Hitotsukiri - Raika: This ability allows Shuuhei to infuse the blade of his weapon with an electric current. This results in a slight boost in the damage done by sword strikes along with mild to moderate electric shock and burns. However, it is risky to Shuuhei as well because it causes the blade of his sword to heat up, and he is not immune to the effects should he accidentally touch the blade. As such, it has a maximum duration of 3 posts before a 1 post cool down will be needed. This can only be done with the katana and is not usable with the wakizashi.
- Kogane Raikō Futatsukiri - Juudan: This ability is usable only with the wakizashi. Rather than relying on electric current in the blades or any other form of Kogane Raikō's power, this ability revolves around Shuuhei using his own Reiatsu to increase the usefulness of his sealed Zanpakuto. Here, he allows his dark blue Reiatsu to accumulate around the blade of his wakizashi, forming a cone-shaped projectile 2 feet long and an inch in diameter. These projectiles can be fired toward an opponent from the blade of the weapon. Upon impact, they will explode and causing roughly the same damage as a Hado in the low 30's range, such as Sokatsui. As this technique was developed based on his knowledge of primitive gunpowder weapons in medieval Japan, drawbacks include painful recoil and a "loading" time similar to what a primitive flintlock pistol would require. (1 post in this case) During this "loading," Shuuhei is relatively open to attack, and the projectile can be disrupted before it is prepared, negating it entirely. Also, only one of these can be fired at a time before a 1 post cool down is needed.
- Kogane Raikō San no Teisai - Hakai: This ability also utilizes the general ability to fortify Kogane Raikō's blades with Reiatsu or create Reiatsu projectiles. In this case, it is usable only with the katana. Just like the previous ability, this requires Shuuhei to allow Reiatsu to accumulate around the blade of his weapon, forming a sort of projectile. In this case, the projectile is of the exact same dimensions and shape as the blade of the katana. It requires 1 full post to prepare as well, and suffers from the same drawbacks as the previous ability during this loading period. Unlike that ability, while the resulting projectile can be fired from the blade of the katana, it can also be kept where it is and used to fortify the blade, adding power to any attacks performed with it. If this is done, it can be maintained for no more than 2 posts, at which point it will explode with as much force as if it were fired, endangering Shuuhei. If fired from the blade, which is done by swinging the katana in a slashing motion, the projectile will travel towards the opponent, maintaining the shape and size of a katana blade. Upon impact, it will explode with power equivalent to a low 50's level Hado, such as Haien. With such power, of course, comes serious drawbacks. Besides having the drawbacks of the previous ability, this cannot be used more than twice in a fight, and each use will decrease the duration of his mask by one post for the remainder of the fight, should he choose to use it. In addition, there is a 3 post cool down between uses.
ZANPAKUTO Inner World: If Shiryu and Jinryu, the two spirits that make up Shuuhei's Zanpakutō, can agree on anything at all, it is the importance of testing Shuuhei to be sure he is worthy and able to wield Kogane Raikō. Because of this, the inner world in which they reside is in itself a sort of test. It has three main sections. The first of these is intended to be a sort of entrance area. The second consists of a large lake, and the third and final area is made up of a rugged and difficult mountain with a traditional Japanese castle at its summit. Shuuhei must navigate all three of these areas before he can even encounter Shiryu and Jinryu to begin the tests they administer, or even to come into contact with them at all any time he enters his inner world.
The entrance area of the inner world is by far the smallest in size and most simple. It is a small, rocky beach at the edge of a vast, deep, blue lake. The shore of the lake in this area is mostly barren, with there being little actual soil for anything to grow. 40 to 50 meters from the water's edge, however, there is some available soil, and tall pine trees can be seen growing here. The ground is mainly slabs of dark granite, cracked in places by the extensive root systems of the nearby pines. In the cracks, small weeds grow, struggling to reach the sunlight. Around the edges of the lake, similar features can be seen, stretching all the way to the rugged, snowy peak of black stone at the lake's opposite edge. Closer to the water, all vegetation growth stops, and the only notable features are the rough granite slabs sloping steeply down into the dark waters of the lake. This is where Shuuhei would find himself immediately upon entering his inner world. One of the first things he would notice is a significant difficulty breathing. This is because the air pressure and oxygen content here is much lower than Shuuhei would have ever experienced before. It is equivalent to what one would find around 17,000 feet above sea level on Earth. This will provide quite the obstacle in the next two sections.
The second section of the world within Shuuhei's soul is the lake itself. This lake is not particularly large by the standards of lakes on Earth, but its size is more than enough to make it a challenging barrier to progress. From the lakeshore to the foot of the mountain representing the third and final area Shuuhei would have to traverse to reach Shiryu and Jinryu, it is about 3 miles. The sides of the lake are completely impassable, with the way blocked by sheer cliffs thousands of feet high. Their edges are perfectly smooth with no imperfections even down to the molecular level, making them thoroughly impossible to scale. Therefore, the only way forward is to swim to the opposite side of this lake. Its water is crystal clear, allowing 10 miles of visibility in any direction. The lake itself is meant to be as difficult to cross as possible. First, its edges slope steeply, with the bottom rapidly dropping away until reaching a uniform depth of 100,000 feet just a meter from shore. Because of its extreme depth, the water always appears to be dark blue despite its clarity. Depth of a body of water is no challenge to a strong swimmer, but cold is, and this lake is a bone-cracking -20 degrees Fahrenheit. How it remains liquid at this temperature is uncertain. This, together with the low oxygen content of this world's atmosphere, makes this swim a grueling and potentially dangerous ordeal.
The journey through this world does not end at the lake's opposite shore, though. Upon reaching that shore, Shuuhei would climb out onto another rocky beach. Unlike the shore in the entry area, this beach is covered in loose chunks of dark granite rock, ranging in size from pebbles to boulders larger than houses. Now, it is time to climb the rugged mountain atop which Shiryu and Jinryu reside. The lower slopes of this mountain are made up of the same boulder field as the shore. This section of the mountain is incredibly treacherous, with even the largest boulders being completely loose and often sitting in precarious positions, ready to fall at any time. There are no secure footholds for the same reason. Past this, the grade of the slope increases sharply, becoming near-vertical at some points, and the terrain changes to ice and snow. Here, the main hazards are slipping and falling on ice or through unstable snow into crevasses, some of which are thousands of feet deep with an array of tooth-shaped icicles waiting at the bottom. Finally, past the snow and ice fields, there is a spire of sheer, vertical, black stone 2,000 feet high that must be climbed to finally reach the summit. This requires a long and careful rock climb in which a single mistake or an instant of doubt will mean certain death. On top of this, the oxygen content and air pressure continues to drop with altitude, and at the mountain's summit, it is equivalent to an altitude of 25,000 feet on Earth.
After reaching the peak of the impossibly difficult mountain, a traditional medieval Japanese castle will come into view. The castle sits in the middle of a small pond which, somehow, remains in a liquid state, though small chunks of ice float in its waters. The lower outer walls of this castle extend into the waters of the pond, and they are constructed using stones that appear to have been cut from the nearby mountainside. The stone wall appears to be built in the style commonly seen in 15th century Japan. The upper walls are built of wood and painted a charcoal gray. The roofs, also built in the medieval Japanese style, are covered with similarly colored tiles. After traversing another field of smooth granite slabs, Shuuhei will come to a red wooden bridge leading over the pond and to the castle's main gate. This gate is heavy and thick, clearly designed to protect the occupants of the castle against something. It also appears to be constructed of solid gold with no imperfections so as to make climbing impossible. Upon being approached by Shuuhei, it will open of its own accord. This will grant him access to a courtyard that seems to be far too large for the castle in which it is located. The ceiling and far walls are too distant even to see. The floor is covered with black, square tiles, which once again appear to be made from the same stone as the mountainside nearby. It is in this massive, featureless courtyard that Shiryu and Jinryu rest.
Overview:
- Spoiler:
Castle:
- Spoiler:
Zanpakuto Spirit Appearance:
Kogane Raikō is a dual Zanpakutō and thus consists of two separate spirits. Overall, both of these spirits take the form of dragon-like entities that appear to represent some aspect of lightning or electricity. For the most part, these two spirits are very different in appearance, but they do have one characteristic in common: they are both approximately the same size. Both dragon-like spirits are 80 feet in length from snout to tail, and if they could be weighed, would most likely come in at around 15,000 pounds each. They also possess wingspans of 100 feet, with each wing being 50 feet in length and 20 feet in width at its widest point. Also, the hands and feet of each spirit are tipped with cruel (and dangerously sharp) talons usually reaching around 2 feet in length. Beyond these basic aspects of size, however, each spirt looks very different.
The first dragon-like spirit is named Shiryu, and it embodies the more defensive aspect of Shuuhei's power. Shiryu is represented by the wakizashi. He takes the form of a dragon with a mostly skeletal figure. In other words, the solid, physical parts of his body appear to be entirely bones or something very closely resembling them. These bones are dark grey in color and if one could touch them, they would feel very cold and have a texture distinctly like that of stone. The back of his neck, along with his back and tail, are covered in razor-sharp spines made of the same material. Each of these are 6 inches in width at the base and most are about a foot in length, though many are pitted, cracked, and chipped as though from the effects of battle. Upon his head sit two sets of horns made of this same material. These horns are helical in shape like a screw, and are a full foot in diameter at the base and 5 feet in length. His head takes the form of a dragon skull, entirely devoid of any flesh. His teeth are razor sharp as one would expect, with the larger ones reaching 6 inches in length and even the smallest ones reaching the size of shot glasses. Shiryu's wings are mainly composed of bone, but do have a few strips of gray material covering them that may have once been flesh. The spaces between the bones are filled entirely with a substance resembling plasma or electricity. This substance is a cold, light blue in color, and it crackles, buzzes, and flickers in a way similar to raw high-voltage current. Besides filling in the gaps between Shiryu's "bones," this plasma brings life to his eyes, which would otherwise be empty sockets in his skull 2 feet wide. This plasma is also Shiryu's main tool in combat. He can fire bursts of it from his mouth in the same way that a classic dragon would breathe fire. Its main use, however, is as a sort of "armor" to deflect any attempted attacks.
The other spirit making up Shuuhei's Zanpakutō is known as Jinryu. Jinryu embodies the more offensive aspect of his power, and is represented by the full-size katana. Where Shiryu was a skeletal form, Jinryu is a full-bodied golden dragon-like spirit, fully covered in flesh, scales, and other living tissues. The majority of his body is plated in thick, heavy scales. If they could be chemically analyzed, it would be found that they were in fact composed of actual gold. Each scale is 6 inches in diameter and 2 inches thick. Untold hundreds, if not thousands of these cover Jinryu's body, sealing off any potential weak spot. Like Shiryu, the back of his neck, his back, and his tail are coated in rows of sharp spines to guard against any attack from above. These spines are somewhat shorter, at around 8 inches in length, but also wider, being around a foot in diameter at their base. Jinryu does not have any horns on his head, but the entire head is covered in the same thick, golden scales as his body, granting him an equal level of protection. His teeth are less prominent than those of Shiryu, but are still quite intimidating at 4-6 inches in length, and are of course razor sharp. Jinryu's wings are fully covered in flesh, which takes the form of a wing membrane similar to those seen in bats. Unlike bats' wings, however, these wings are incredibly resistant to damage, and upon closer inspection seem to be covered in a layer of material resembling gold foil. There is a sort of "sail" similar to those found on some dinosaurs made of the same material protruding from Jinryu's back. This sail is 15 feet in height and very similar to the wings. In combat, Jinryu is capable of breathing bolts of a gold-colored plasma similar in appearance to golden lightning. This is his main method of attacking in battle.
- Spoiler:
Zanpakuto Spirit Personality:
Shiryu
- Calm: Shiryu is the source of the more defensive aspects of Shuuhei's powers, so it logically follows that he is calm by nature. He is very difficult to anger, even in scenarios that would drive the most rational or easygoing of normal beings into a fit of rage. No matter what is done or said by Jinryu or Shuuhei within the inner world, Shiryu will maintain his composure. Similarly, he is Shuuhei's voice of reason in situations where he begins to panic, become angry, or otherwise lose his own composure. While these are relatively rare, Shiryu is there to help when they do arise, always reminding Shuuhei to remain calm and approach whatever situation he is currently dealing with in a rational, calm, and collected manner. The same goes for any situation in which Shuuhei may be experiencing an excess of positive emotions, as these can lead to excessive celebration or lowering one's guard, both of which are dangerous. All in all, Shiryu remains incredibly calm and does his utmost to ensure Shuuhei does the same.
- Constructive: Another aspect of Shiryu's generally more rational personality is that he is not the type to give harsh or angry criticism. Instead, he gives Shuuhei constructive advice to help him work on his own flaws or address a problem. He is the spirit that is more willing to help Shuuhei work through a problem, and also the one to help him make up for and learn from his mistakes. Overall, he is the more helpful and patient of the two spirits, as well as the one who is always there for Shuuhei should he happen to need help or advice. He is also the more patient spirit when it comes to helping Shuuhei learn the abilities of his Zanpakutō, choosing to gently instruct him in its use.
- Reasonable: Of the two spirits that make up Shuuhei's dual Zanpakutō, Shiryu is by far the most reasonable. While many spirits wish to test their Shinigami, often in some form of combat, or put them through other types of trials designed to prove the Shinigami is worthy of wielding them, Shiryu is different. For Shiryu, what matters most is that a Shinigami is intelligent, mature, and powerful enough to use his powers properly. However, he knows that there are much more reasonable ways to test this than through brute force in combat. Shiryu prefers a test of intellect and maturity conducted through conversation, and determines strength through simply sensing Shuuhei's Reiatsu. Besides this, Shiryu is more reasonable in all other aspects of life. For example, he prefers calmly working through problems over panic, talking out differences over fighting, and if it comes down to it, immobilizing or incapacitating an enemy over outright killing them. Like Shuuhei, he is also more tolerant, and he encourages this and all of his traits in his Shinigami. The main source of conflict between Shuuhei and Shiryu is Shuuhei's stubbornness, as the more reasonable Shiryu is far more open to change.
- Protector: Being the defensive aspect of Kogane Raikō, Shiryu is the "protector." This means that he is the one most concerned with Shuuhei's safety. It is for this reason that he would prefer not to test Shuuhei's worthiness through combat. For the same reason, however, it is of the utmost importance to him that Shuuhei be powerful, mature, and intelligent enough. After all, these traits are most likely to keep someone safe and alive. In short, Shiryu is very concerned with Shuuhei's safety and looks to preserve it to the greatest extent possible.
Jinryu
- Aggressive: Jinryu is the embodiment of Shuuhei's offensive powers, and as such, it would simply not make sense for him to be anything other than aggressive. He is quick to anger, constantly on a hair-trigger, and prepared to attack at all times. To him, fighting and violence in general is the best answer to most if not all problems. He will often attempt to encourage Shuuhei to respond violently to a perceived insult or challenge. Even the slightest annoyance or inconvenience will drive him to attack the offender, pushing him into a state of rage from which he will often not emerge for days on end. In the worst cases, this can even make it difficult to wield the Zanpakutō, and for this reason, Shuuhei has learned to be very careful not to make Jinryu angry at him. On the other hand, this state of rage can be helpful if it is directed at an enemy Shuuhei is engaged in combat with. For the most part, however, this extreme aggression is somewhat problematic in this particular Shinigami-Zanpakutō relationship.
- Harsh: Where Shiryu was reasonable and constructive, Jinryu is incredibly harsh by nature. Some would refer to his manner of speech when dealing with Shuuhei's flaws, mistakes, or negative traits as "blunt" or "brutally honest." In other words, Jinryu calls things the way they are. He is very realistic, often to the point of being downright pessimistic. He is known to tell Shuuhei that he is unworthy of wielding his power or that he is "weak," and similar. Jinryu believes that this harshness is the best way to motivate Shuuhei to success, not constructive criticism, reasonably addressing flaws or talking through problems. When Shuuhei experiences failure, Jinryu will be the first to call him out on it.
- Demanding: Jinryu's expectations of Shuuhei are, to be brief, very high. He wishes to be wielded by only the most "worthy" Shinigami, and is willing to do anything he deems necessary to ensure this. As we know, should Shuuhei fail, he is not afraid to tell him in no uncertain terms how badly he failed and that he is not presently worthy. He will, in short, accept only the best from his Shinigami, not only in battle but in life itself. Jinryu simply will not stand for Shuuhei taking shortcuts, making excuses, or any other similar behaviors. It is here that we find the most significant point of conflict between these two beings, and that is Shuuhei's procrastination. This annoys Jinryu greatly and he hopes to one day put an end to that behavior.
- "The Test:" With his expectations as high as they are, it should not be surprising that Jinryu views himself as the main test for Shuuhei in terms of whether he is worthy of wielding Kogane Raikō. This was mainly evident while he was in the Academy attempting to attain Shikai, and then later during his training for Bankai. As a polar opposite of Shiryu, Jinryu believes that the only way to determine Shuuhei's worthiness is through combat. Furthermore, he believes said combat must genuinely involve a risk of death for Shuuhei for it to be a valid test. As such, he is not afraid to put Shuuhei in extreme danger when testing him, even though he is well aware that the death of his Shinigami would mean the end of his own existence as well. Even so, he believes that he must push Shuuhei to success at any cost, even if that means a serious risk of death for both him and Shuuhei. It is because of this that Shuuhei needed to pass two separate tests, one from each spirit, to gain both Shikai and Bankai.
Sealed Appearance: Kogane Raikō is a dual Zanpakuto and is therefore composed of two swords. In its sealed state, these weapons are a katana, or a standard size Japanese-style sword, and a wakizashi, or a short sword. Together, these resemble the two swords traditionally worn by samurai, which is one possible reason why Kogane Raikō's sealed form took on this appearance.
The katana is of normal size and dimensions for such a weapon. The tsuka, or hilt, is 8 inches in length and slightly over 2 inches in width, and is roughly cylindrical in shape as all katana hilts are. It is white in color but wrapped in black cloth, with the underlying white material only showing through small, diamond-shaped gaps in this cloth wrapping. The pommel is gold in color, though it is actually steel, and is engraved with an emblem vaguely resembling two dragon heads. This is also the part of the Zanpakutō that Shuuhei would use to perform a Konso when necessary. Moving up the length of the weapon, we come to the tsuba, or what many refer to as the cross guard. This piece is intended to both protect the hands and allow for better grip, a function this design does quite well. It is gold in color, though like the pommel, the actual material it is composed of is steel. This tsuba is roughly circular in shape, and it takes the form of an engraved Eastern-style dragon (the type commonly depicted in East Asian cultures) coiled around the tsuba and the base of the blade. On close inspection, it becomes clear that this dragon bears a very close resemblance to Jinryu, the spirit that this weapon represents. Last but most definitely not least, there is the blade. This key component of the katana is 3 and a half feet in length, about 2 inches in width, and approximately 1/8th of an inch thick except for its cutting edge, which is filed down to a razor-thin (and sharp) line. Similar to most weapons of its type, it is slightly curved. In terms of its dimensions, it is a normal katana blade. Its color, however, is unique, as this blade has taken on a bright golden hue. Finally, the sheath in which it is kept is constructed of bamboo wood similar to most katana sheathes, and is crafted to perfectly fit the dimensions of the blade it is meant to contain. It is mainly black in color, though it is crisscrossed by thin, bright yellow lines reminiscent of bolts of electricity.
The wakizashi, in terms of size and dimensions, is once again normal for its style of weapon. Its tsuka is 4 inches in length and just over two inches in width. It is made of unpainted bamboo wood and wrapped in white cloth. The wood's distinct light brown-yellow color is visible through the small, diamond-shaped gaps in the white cloth wrapping. Its pommel is of a silver color and fashioned of normal steel. Like the katana, its top is engraved with an emblem of two dragon heads. The tsuba is nearly identical in size and shape to that of the katana, as it is roughly circular and takes the shape of a dragon coiled around the tsuka and the blade's base. It is composed of the same material as well, being normal steel. However, it is now silver in color, and when examined closely, resembles Shiryu, the spirit represented by the wakizashi. The blade of this weapon is of a normal shape and size for a wakizashi. It is 13 inches in length, around 2 in width, and 1/8th of an inch thick, becoming progressively thinner towards the cutting edge. It, too, takes on the slight curve common to Japanese-style blades. In color, it is a brilliant silver, in stark contrast with the katana's golden blade. Its sheath is once again fashioned of bamboo wood, carefully crafted to be a perfect fit for the weapon kept inside. It is also painted black and crisscrossed with thin lines in a pattern similar to bolts of electricity, but these are a light blue color rather than yellow.
Sword 1:
- Spoiler:
Sword 2:
- Spoiler:
Zanpakutou Name: Kogane Raikō
Call Out Command: "Strike, Kogane Raikō!"
Release Actions: When releasing his Shikai, Shuuhei crosses his two blades just prior to speaking the release phrase. When he does so, he lifts both weapons to the height of his chest, holds them a foot from his body, and crosses them so that both blades intersect at the exact midpoint of the katana's blade. This forms an X shape directly in front of him.
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