dem0nzlust
New member
Mō kōgeki (猛攻撃; The Onslaught) / Konton no Keshin (混沌の化身; Chaos Incarnate) / Kyōi (脅; The Menace) / Saigai of Jūbantai (災害 十番隊; Calamity of 10th Division) / Kijin no Sairai (鬼人の再来; Second Coming of the Demon)
Character Name: Shoumetsu (Carnage) Takahiro (of great value)
Actual Age: 250
Physical Age: Adult in early 40's
Race: Soul Born
Birthday: March 29
Gender: Male
Height: 6’3
Weight: 200 lbs
Blood Type: O+
Affiliation: Gotei 13/ Seireitei/ Soul Society/Rukongai 80 - South
Profession: Shinigami
Title: Vice-Captain, 10th Division Zanjutsu Instructor
Position: Lieutenant
Division: 10th
Previous Division: 11th
Partner(s): Shizuka Hyouzoku, Izanagi Kiyoshi, Shusuke Kiyoshi
Previous Partner(s): Hiroka Ikari
Base of Operations: Seireitei/Soul Society
Notable Features: Shoumetsu's body is covered with scars from his many years of battling, and wears them all like a badge of honor. Besides that, those who stare into his eyes get more of the sense they are staring into the eyes of a beast than a man. Over the nine month period his hair grown longer but became constant nuisance of getting in his way. With the helpful advice of Sango, Shoumetsu then started to use his Lt badge as hair tie and way to keep it safe.
Personality: Shoumetsu usually maintains a laid-back and observant personality although he is a battle-loving individual. He doesn't care if people like him or hate him for what he does and he has a high level of confidence in himself, despite being flawed in various ways. It has been stated that he has a monstrous killing intent and that Shoumetsu is a born killer capable of showing no mercy during combat by his peers within Soul Society. Experiencing violence and deaths all around him almost daily, Shoumetsu didn't want to become a mindless killer like them and since then vowed to become Shinigami who only killed those who caused pain and suffering to those who didn't wish to fight. As a result of his upbringing, he grows excited in many ways to meet any new people he deems worthy of fighting or anyone with the potential to be a good fighter and entertain him in the future and will avoid killing them for them to grow to their full potential (to improve the pleasure of killing or fighting them later). He also has a habit of smiling during a fight, as this is his way of showing his respect to, particularly strong opponents. He is the type of person that tries to turn any activity he does into some method of learning or training exercise even if it’s something as simply delivering a message from one place to another, but he wholeheartedly believes that the best learning experience happens when your life's on the line. At certain times Shoumetsu can tend to display a high level of arrogance and twisted mindset but foremost he always has some control over his feelings never acting out in pure rashness. His former sensei speculated his madness roots from his secret obsession of trying to find a way to give Enshōjo real life outside the zanpakuto inner world after the tragic loss of his sister. Over the years as Shoumetsu grew and learned from experiences he finally was able to let go of that desire. Coming to peace with the loss of his younger sister now his only drive is to constantly surpass his limits, challenging death until he becomes well known for his swordsmanship.
Relatives: Younger Sister; Meilin Takahiro (deceased)
Reiryoku Level: Great Spiritual Power
Shoumetsu is the literal definition of somebody raised by his environment and condition growing up that helped define a lot of key characteristics about who he is. He is somebody who got to where he is from his power alone because he was not born gifted besides his instincts of survival. He is a soul born who had nothing special that made him stand out like the other souls that lived within the rukongai district he grew up in. Born with average level reiryoku like any other, except he never let them hold him back from getting stronger. Every scar on Shoumetsu's body represents a fight to the death he managed to survive or end up victorious in that only fueled his growth further. Taken in by his sensei off the rukongai streets who simply saw a kid with potential that harbored a dwelling of chaos inside of his soul. His sensei taught him how to properly center himself and turn that darkness inside of him into a power. Through meditation he learned not only how to bring stillness to his mind, but also taught him how to understand his inner energy. Not stopping there he continued to train nonstop to become stronger physically and spiritually. He holds himself with the teachings of a true swordsman believing that one should never lose control over their emotions. After wearing his special training weights for 100 years his spiritual power has improved and became more refined with the fruits of his efforts paying off.
Sensing Reiryoku: Master
The one thing Shoumetsu prized higher than his zanjutsu training was his ability to track and hunt. Whether it was something he had an affinity to learning or a result of his broken psyche closely related to a beast to cope and survive; hunting his prey is something he prioritized. Whatever the reason may be, Shoumetsu trained and honed it harder than he did with his zanjutsu training, finding this more important than mastering his zanjutsu with both fighting styles he uses doing a lot about responding and reading his opponents moves. His kendo instructor helped him realize what good is all his power and reflexes if he couldn't properly keep track of his adversary's movement, and defeated him in combat by masking his reiatsu. Even before Shoumetsu began his training within the academy to learn how to sense reiryoku he was skilled at tracking down people through normal means and even made a living out of it working for gangs in the rukongai to track down people of interest for them with many giving him nicknames like "hound of war". At least this is what he will tell those who ask why he prioritized his training in this over zanjutsu but the real reason was much simpler.
Shoumetsu is always on the for stronger opponents and enemies to fight to test his current power level against theirs either for his personal growth or to help them realize theirs for his amusement. A large majority of the time when people see him just meditating peacefully they are quite often mistaken wrong on what is going on in his head. During Shoumetsu time spent training he is constantly trying to feed his borderline addiction of seeking out strong people each time trying to expand it out further than last time. The moment he finds somebody of interest he tends to track them down for a while and closely analyze his newfound prey to engage them soon even if it leads to him being defeated, he takes all he learned from that encounter then finds a new target until he believes grew strong enough to defeat them. In some instances, this leads to Shoumetsu staying up countless nights without sleep doing nothing but trying to seek out prey for him to play with, and when he gets the chance to go to the world of the living he will find the highest building within the vicinity than try to detect as many spiritual presences he can in the hopes one of strong magnitude would appear. This relates to the same reason why the only high-level bakudo he bothered to learn was Bakudo #58 Kakushitsuijaku; a kido purpose for locating people. Outside of him trying to seek strong opponents a part of his dark nature he tries to keep hidden is how much he enjoys causing his opponents to despair, and tends to quench this hunger by allowing hollow to flee for their lives just so he can relish in hunting them down. Reflective of his zanpakuto nature, once he gets somebody within his sights he will eventually be drawn to them. Over the 100 years, Shoumetsu pushed the range of his spiritual sensing further, able to detect people reiraku over a much vast area. This is mainly attributed to him in between his other training sessions heading to 2nd division barracks to practice trying to detect the reiatsu presence of shinigami going and leaving through the area. Through his constant training both modern and traditional Shoumetsu developed a unique extra sensory when he is using Musuo by attuning his body to the environment around him. When facing enemies who prefer to hide their spiritual powers, he instead utilizes his sense of touch to identify the position of enemies by feeling small disturbances in the air, and using his blades to pick up noticeable or subtle tremors through the ground.
Reiryoku Control: Mastered Control
Through intense training in the Kung Fu principles of "inner strength" Shoumetsu learned to calm his mind and control his reiryoku throughout his body effortlessly. As a result through his spiritual training Shoumetsu can easily redirect his spiritual energy through his body to enhance certain physical attributes though he mainly uses burst during his Zanjutsu attacks to create an enhanced variation of Hakkei that increases the destructive power behind his attacks. His skill with manipulating his reiryoku is greatly shown by being able to concentrate his spiritual energy through his blade, and refining it. After spending the time to study previous Captains and Kenpachi of the 11th division records he learned other ways on how to apply his reiryoku. His main use of reiryoku is using it to focus through his body to allow for him to catch blades without taking any damage and channeling his spiritual energy into the blade of his zanpakuto to make powerful energy waves. Dodging attacks from Shoumetsu is dangerous because he can send out a wave of his spiritual energy follow up after it, which can open them up to other strikes. Since developing his special fighting style "Dance of the Drunken Immortals" he has learned a great deal about harnessing his inner spiritual energy and reiatsu that it has now become a core part of his fighting style allowing him to demonstrate an explosive amount of force within seconds going from relaxed to full-powered blows by performing a certain practice of breathing while constantly pushing how long he could fully exert his spiritual energy at maximum before falling victim to exhaustion. Thanks to the condensed training weights that required him to cycle his energy throughout his body just to move about normally, he can fully use his “inner strength” to accomplish superhuman feats. Forming a complete unison with his zanpakuto spirit, he can use multiple energy techniques and kido continuously without exhausting his reiryoku.
Reiatsu: Master
Reiatsu Colors: Golden with an orange outline
Reiatsu Type: Elemental-ElectricShoumetsu continuously undergoes what some may consider ancient or forgotten by conducting his physical conditioning under waterfalls when he gets the chance to get used to the feel of pressure asserted on him while trying to fight. Understanding fully that one's blade is as sharp as his mind, he spends countless hours meditating and practicing control over his mind to always keep a calm mind in battle. While within the walls of the Seireitei he picked up a particular habit of trying to learn the locations of where people are training but chooses those with high reiatsu for best outcome just sitting in their pressure trying to see how long he can endure it or manage to resist it using his own. When neither is possible he is known to harass the unseated members in his squad to release their reiatsu around him while he conducts his training. By releasing his reiatsu outward then condensing it around his body he uses it as a way to slow his opponent’s movements down that is within the close quarters of him. He can use his reiatsu to amplify the destructive power of his attacks similar to Kenpachi Zaraki by generating powerful shock waves using his reiatsu focused on his blade combined with his sheer strength. After his training he created a unique way to use his reiatsu to enhance his skill in zanjutsu. By condensing reiatsu around his Zanpakuto in rhythm with his breathing creating a fluctuating vacuum bubble of pressure which allows for even faster unsheathing and sheathing at blinding speeds for his Iaido techniques. Shoumetsu describes this utilization of his reiatsu as the “heartbeat” of the universe.
Despite Shoumetsu's violent nature and sometimes unorthodox way of thinking, his reiatsu effects reflects how he is internally most of the time, which is a wave of calmness often what he refers to as the calm before the storm. Even when he is exerting his spiritual pressure that calmness remains, eventually making them self-destructive by removing their fears from prolonged exposure. Strangely he is able to do the exact opposite if he pleases by letting his abnormal killing intent flood out of his body. Killing Intent is simply the user exuding pure killing intention, and having it affect their opponent, themselves, and others around them, up to the point of paralyzing them with fear. When the killing intent is particularly strong, it can even give the victim visions of their own gruesome death. Through mental training Shoumetsu learned how to use his monstrous killing intent, sending it outwards at will make it feel like they are drowning in quicksand accompanied by freezing in place unable to move. In the same sense, he can control his killing intent by completely suppressing it, to prevent his opponent from discovering it, thus hiding one's motives and preventing one from being tracked by such emotions. Due to him being able to cause fear and remove fear with his reiatsu many describe this duality as representation of two sides of magnetic spectrum although both can be equally as dangerous in their own right.
Zanjutsu Level: Master Swordsman
Shoumetsu has become very adept at the use of his dual kodachi fighting with the gracefulness of Chinese Kenpo so once he manages to get close within his opponents' space he moves around the battlefield in a deadly dance. When on the offensive his fluid motions are much more fierce dance employing flurry of rapid strikes with feints that can come off unorthodox to the untrained eye, but at keen examination with his training of inner strength every slash he makes is precise and controlled power in it with very little of his movements wasted. On the other hand when he is fighting defensively with the fighting style revolving around using his opponents' strength against them, redirection, and counterattacks while keeping the flowing graceful movement of Chinese Kenpo in perfect balance. He can perform a powerful flying slash that cuts down a person along with the building despite the short range of the blade, a further testament to his improved skills in swordsmanship. Over his 100 years of training with Hiroka, Jin, and Izanagi he made it a personal goal of his to master the art of the sword and that's exactly what he did. He has taken his zanjutsu to an entire new extent practicing with multiple types of weapons but holding his swords peculiarly and uniquely. More often than employing his hands, Shoumetsu would wield his blades in and between various parts of his body. As strange as it seems, he is extremely skilled with these blades and this fighting style which he adopted. The most dangerous aspect of this style is the unpredictability of his movements, easily catching his opponents by surprise. He can spin like a buzz-saw, or else employ a series of unrelenting attacks switching the locations as well as the blades with which he attacks, leaving no openings. Easily weave or combine hakuda and kido effortlessly into the mix. Shoumetsu wishes for nothing more than to become the fastest blade in all of Soul Society so he tirelessly hone his mastery over battoujutsu and Iaido Jutsu until this dream is realized and isn't afraid to cut anybody down in the process who tries to ruin his dreams.
Shoumetsu is a master of Iai (居合 meaning "Mental Presence and Immediate Reaction"), a style of swordsmanship that emphasizes drawing, striking the enemy, and re-sheathing the sword as a single coherent motion. Everything is to be performed extremely swiftly. Rooted in the concept of ichi no tachi, or to strike in a single blow, practitioners of this style use a combination of immense speed and agility, battōjutsu, and acquired, observation-based pseudo-clairvoyance that permits a practitioner to anticipate an opponent's movements. Both offensive and defensive maneuvers are executed with minimal movement to increase a practitioner's ability to counter-attack and conserve energy. As such, made with efficiency and spareness of exertion in the face of warfare scale battles yet with powerful and coordinated movements to easily fell threats in long and undetermined periods of time. The style commonly has the user keep one hand on the sheath at all times and stresses two-step attacks to ensure that the practitioner is never off guard while executing said attacks and allows the user to use the sheath as a shield to block attacks. Practitioners are also trained in honing their senses and to recognize movement, as well as to react in kind with their opponent's emotional disposition to efficiently fend them off accurately, a process in short that utilizes two minds at work in unison with his zanpakuto spirit. During his rigorous training, Shoumetsu learned to control his body at will, letting him perform various feats such as his sense, turning off his color acuity to augment his motion perception and control the amount of energy used in each of his muscles. He can use his great insight to analyze and steal his opponent's techniques, then he improves by integrating it into his swordsmanship. He can grasp most styles or techniques after a minute to surpass them, and it isn't limited to sword styles, but it applies to others.
He is uniformly gifted with the use of his twin swords in shikai form utilizing them in a fluid motion. His fighting style within Shikai remains closely the same when fighting with his kodachi, however, his constant awareness of his environment starts to show. He is extremely perceptive, able to quickly recognize the patterns and mistakes that his opponents make, which gives him an edge. In battle, while his preference is to concoct strategies based on the deduction of his opponents' fighting abilities and style, his natural battle instincts are also highly tuned. He is capable of slashing another person's head off in just an instant, relying only on impulse. He utilizes Hakkei more in his Shikai, building up momentum with every attack while using this constant state of movement to magnetize objects quickly with sleight of hand tricks to misdirect his opponent. Shoumetsu does not go out of his way to broadcast his zanpakuto's abilities. Instead, he uses it only to make very subtle changes of movement for his own weapons and his opponent's weapon to affect the course of a battle. This sometimes can give him the psychological edge of appearing to be invincible in the eyes of most people. In his Bankai despite his increased control over magnetism Shoumetsu will try to use it with magnetic style swordsmanship preferring to kill or defeat his opponent with his own hands and not some ability.
Kaiten Kenbu (回天剣舞, Revolving Heaven Sword Dance) - It involves Shoumetsu rapidly spinning around three times, while holding the kodachi backhand, to slash the opponent thrice in an instant.
Kaiten Kenbu Rokuren ("The Dance Of The Wheeling Sword Six Successions") - The attack involves Shoumetsu gripping his kodachi backhand, then slashing the opponent six times in rapid succession, from both sides (it relies on confusing the opponent on the direction from which each subsequent strike is going to come). It's basically Kaiten Kenbu but done with two kodachi, the key difference being that the unpredictability of where it strikes first puts the opponent at a disadvantage.
Daini: Onigaeshi (The Second: Demon Return) - Shoumetsu performs a forward slash with his entire sword down to his opponent with the might of his entire body similar to the Zanjutsu technique Ryodan. Even if it was dodged, he can retrace his steps with another swing flying from the target's blind spot. The first slash increases the destructive power of this slash thanks to the previous movement and by pushing the sword's hilt with his right hand. The immense force of the enhanced slash cuts the air in front of it and creates a powerful vacuum in its wake as the deflected air rushes back into place.
Shirahadori - A defensive move in which the user grasps or catches an enemy's blade with his bare hands, Shirahadori is a difficult and acquired skill, but is also the only move shared between all five hundred schools of kenjutsu.
Iai: Sanmai Oroshi (Iai: Three-Piece Filleting) - He cuts the target into three pieces with one swing. The true power of this technique is in a single instant Shoumetsu performs Hitotsume: Nadegiri at high-speed with all three of the attacks retaining full power. When performing this technique in tandem with his prosthetic arms he can use a six-fold variation utilizing both his kodachi or two swords.
Narukumi: Shidensen (Rumbling God: Purple Lightning Flash) - is one of Shoumetsu's signature techniques where he focuses his enhanced hakkei and speed into one singular explosive action. He starts this technique in the Iai stance walking toward his opponent and requires for him to be within close range to execute. Entering into Musuo Shoumetsu suppressing his physical and emotional blocks. If one can grasp the ultimate Musuo, then they become able to use pure power without being influenced by things like emotions. Thus increasing one's power in every way, allowing one to use their true strength. The process requires one to get into the right Musuo state and then maintain that state as much as they can, in other words in the Musuo state one's senses are heightened to an unbelievable level. He then delivers an incessant barrage of slashes from different angles to overwhelm his opponent at blinding speeds in a circular pattern. He unleashes them at such fast speeds that countless afterimages are created. Once his technique is performed he will keep cutting down enemies faster than his thoughts and react faster than his conscious mind until his perceived threat is killed.
Ikazuchi Kata: Sanzen Sekai (雷電型 Form of Thunder and Lightning: Three Thousand Worlds) - is one of Shoumetsu strongest zanjutsu techniques in his arsenal revolving around faster dance tempo rhythm. Most, if not all, known techniques and forms involve utilizing blinding speeds to close in with swift and insanely fast movements to overwhelm the opponent instantly. The movements of this dance focus on channeling strength into his legs and maximizing the output of every single muscle and blood vessel in them. The moment he unsheathes his blade(s) Shoumetsu performs an Iaido advanced variation of Senmaioroshi doing 100 quick sword slashes within a second, leaving his opponents in pieces. He primarily uses this technique while dashing past the opponent, but has also shown a stationary version in which he slashes everything around himself. When combined with his technique Daisan: Kamikaze for a long-range version he creates countless streams of compressed air at his opponents that cut until nothing remains and every trace of the body is erased. When his restraints are removed using his prosthetic arms he can double the number of slashes performed, and in Bankai is only when he can do 1000 or more depending on how many blades he creates on his body.
Kamui Kata: Daibutsu Giri (Form of Divine Majesty: Great Buddha Cutter) - is the strongest technique he is capable of performing and is considered the pinnacle of his skills as a swordsman. The first step required for him to perform this technique is entering into the ultimate state of Musuo where his thoughts and actions are turned into a blank slate concentrated on complete eradication of anything he perceives as a threat. Shoumetsu focuses all his energy and strength on this one single powerful attack. The true power of this attack is it combines Hitotsume: Nadegiri, Agitowari, Shin Battō Ryu: Kōshi Ken, Ryodan, and Daini: Onigaeshi strengths for a devastating attack. This attack can be done with a sheathed or drawn sword initiated with Shoumetsu slashing vertically upwards with blinding speed, and immediately following it with Ryodan either overkilling or following up the attack cutting down on his target with tremendous amounts of power. The shockwave created demolishes a large radius of his surroundings and the slash itself leaves behind a huge crater in its wake slicing through anything in its path. After performing this technique it leaves Shoumetsu feeling extremely exhausted, and depending on his condition like his entire body hurts just to move.
Hohō Level: Shunpo Expert
With Chinese Kenpo being the base from which a lot of his fighting styles and techniques are derived, in the beginning didn't put much training in Shunpo, but physical conditioning. Undergoing extreme training with his former Sensei from the Rukongai District who taught him most of what he knew, and only honed in those skills more within Shinō Academy. Shoumetsu's talent relies on his reflexes and burst of speed to counter. Though what he lacks in Shunpo he makes up for with his own physical attributes relying on his leg strength and if needed spiritual energy to contend with users of Shunpo. Through sheer strength his natural acceleration more than made up for his lack of Shunpo, allowing him to move fast enough to instantly close a huge gap of space between him and his opponent, and even seemingly disappear. Because Shoumetsu doesn’t rely on Shunpo to achieve high-speed movements his use of Shukuchi provides him a unique unorthodox style of fighting that is not present amongst other shinigami. It doesn’t just allow for him to move at high speeds to avoid attacks but to attack at higher speeds and with greater power. The principle of this move was to kick off the ground at least ten times in the blink of an eye. By kicking the air Shoumetsu can propel himself through the air with tremendous force and easily change his path at the last minute by creating a reishi platform to kick off. When using both his arms and legs to accelerate himself at greater speeds creating sonic booms behind him, and is capable of keeping pace with skilled Shunpo users. With both, his zanpakuto geared for close combat he learned to utilize his speed in a strategic way that allows for him to perform a burst of high-speed movement in a single moment to slip into his opponents’ space or attacks then take advantage of the moment within seconds. With his natural speed already impressive Shoumetsu still felt there was room for improvement so trained to learn the basics of Shunpo, however, he still relies on shukuchi and only uses Shunpo for sudden bursts of speed or movement. After joining the ranks of the 10th division and with his confrontation against Max he decided to request training from his Captain Shizuka.
Understanding the value of just not reacting to opponents actions, it pays off being to outpace them and keep up with them in terms of speed. Currently, without the weights retaining no longer reducing his speed without the use of Shunpo, his prowess in Shukuchi easily rivals that of Shunpo Practitioner with little exertion. Instinctively during training with Captain Shizuka to improve his Shunpo skills began to blend with his high-speed movement technique. Shoumetsu later came to call this method Furumassuru Shunpo (Full Muscle Flash Step). Combining his monstrous leg strength to what is best described as power walking adding in his movement technique to kick off the ground as Shunpo giving him remarkable increase in speed, although he is still not able to defeat masters in a race, but he has better chance at keeping up with them and engaging his enemies in aerial combat in more agile graceful way without needing reishi platforms. This all thanks to his constant pushing his body passed its breaking point even to points where his body did break, to hone his reflexes reaction time causing his muscles to become abnormally flexible to perform strenuous maneuvers in a split second normally cause tears in ligaments to most shinigami. He is able to perform two or three actions in the amount of time that it would take for a seasoned fighter to make a single one. This lets him perform actions at a much faster rate than most shinigami, dodge attacks aimed at him, then he retaliates at almost the same moment.
Known Techniques:
Shukuchi / Kuoho Haiho / Speed Clones / Senka
Hakuda Level: Master Hakuda Combatant
Shoumetsu, former Sensei, has taught him various types of Chinese Kenpo, although mostly learned the soft forms of Kenpo: Baguazhang and Taichi. Because of this, he has grasped the Kung Fu principles of "Inner Strength", which he uses with Hakkei to cause internal damage to his opponents. Because of the nature of his zanpakuto both in Shikai and its sealed state revolving around being in his opponent’s space in close quarters combat he honed his ability to handle himself with hakuda and the martial arts already knows equally as important. This allows him to easily transition to zanjutsu and hakuda in a very fluid way though his skill within zanjutsu is more refined than hakuda, he is still able to handle his own when not wielding his zanpakuto. To this extent whenever Shoumetsu does engage in a fight or battle he will try to refrain from drawing his zanpakuto as long as possible to improve within Hakuda unless the situation calls for him to go all out from the very start. Although over the hundred years of physical conditioning he did with the new and improved 11th division barracks, Shoumetsu became a stronger unarmed combatant knowing times it is not always optimal to use his zanjutsu, and since the awakening of his Bankai, he had to adapt to changing up how he fought while it's active. Relying heavily on his physical prowess for everything he does through extremely harsh training most wouldn't even dream of putting their bodies through, but doing so helped him achieve an immense degree of strength. With a single strike, he can send his opponents flying through buildings, or attack with such ferocity to perform feats like kicking with such lethal force it can cut his target and punch his fist through the opponent's chest. Still compared to Zanjutsu and Kido, Hakuda is the least trained of the three but never gives up on trying to improve his fighting prowess in it.
Constantly trying to strive to become stronger, in the time he’s been Lt of the 10th division he has come to better refine his unarmed fighting skills. He is confident in engaging multiple opponent(s) in close quarters fighting using his Chinese Kenpo style of Hakuda to move in the flow of his opponents using their power against them, and mixing techniques from zanjutsu to create lethal strikes. Although Chinese Kenpo is a soft form of martial arts, Shoumetsu can easily go on the offense with a serious powerful chained combo striking rapidly and little to no clear openings in his attacks. Because of the monstrous strength Shoumetsu possesses somebody he gets caught on this brutal onslaught of attacks trying to take it head on blocking will soon find themselves on the wrong end receiving fractures, broken bones, and internal injuries because of his unique style of fighting with Hakkei to focus his physical strength to concentrated blows disrupting his opponents spiritual power flow by forcing his energy into them like rippling tremors upon contact.
Known Techniques:
Taketonbo / Raioken / Kagamibiraki / Tessho / Ikkotsu / Sandbag Beat / Oni Dekopin / Tsukiyubi / Sokutsu
Kido Skill Level: Kidō Expert
Unlike most of those in the 11th squad, Shoumetsu did take interest in kido, although instead of trying to learn multiple he focused all his training in the art solely on a few specific ones. He harbors little interest in trying to learn other types of kido unless it serves as some purpose to help him track down his prey or compliment his zanjutsu skills. Since he dedicated his focus and efforts on learning the small kido in his arsenal, he is able to cast them with potent proficiency and weave them together to produce interesting results. Seeing the benefits that bakudo can provide firsthand by two Captains in the Togabito fight, he returned to the academy to learn a couple more kido to add to his repertoire. He is capable of using these spells like another extension to his sword weaving them together flawlessly even to the extent of using: Eishōhaki (詠唱破棄, Incantation Abandonment; Viz "Destruction Chant"), Nijū Eishō (二重詠唱, Twofold Incantation; Viz "Double Destruction Chant"), and Kōjutsu Eishō (後述詠唱, Spoken-After Incantation). However, his main interest in kido mastering is on how to channel the raw energy of the kido into his swords in order to exponentially increase his destructive power, and eventually be able to cut through anything in his path. After receiving his newly reforged Zanpakuto after the Naruki City incident against Max, he has come to build a greater connection with his spirit. Through this connection he discovered how to utilize his Shikai with perfect tandem with his kido, using Enshojo spiritual energy to be imbued into the spells cast through his Zanpakuto. His most favored spell to use is Haen, and when combined by his fast swordsmanship he can send out barrages of the hado in a relentless attack against his enemies.
Known Spells:
Bakudo & Barriers
Sentan Hakuja / Bakudō #9. Hōrin / Bakudo #37 Tsuriboshi / Bakudo #58 Kakushitsuijaku / Bakudo #63 Sajo Sabaku / Chocolate Bar Slider
Hado
Hado #1 Sho / Hado #4 Byakurai / Hado #7 Tsuruzi Raiden / Hado #12 Fushibi / Hado #32 Okasen / Hado #54 Haen / Hado#57 Daichi Tenyo / Hado #63 Raikoho / Hado #78 Zangerin / Hado Hyoga Seiran / Kongobaku
Skills and Abilities
Shin Battō Ryu: Kōshi Ken (True Unsheathed Blade Style: Photon Sword): A technique he developed with the use of his spiritual power control which allows him to focus his energy around his blade, then refines it into one centimeter in width making it paper-thin. This makes it barely noticeable or undetectable while giving the blade an extra 2 inches of reach which could make barely evading fatal, and enhancing his weapon's sharpness, or could extend the spiritual blade to the length of a katana (70 cm) though it becomes more visible. Since gaining a better understanding of kido after his hundred years of training, his technique evolved into the next stage. The power of the sword varies with Shoumetsu's will: the more energy he puts into the sword, the sharper and sturdier it gets imbued with pure kido, and because of this it makes casting kido from the blade much easier and his energy wave attacks far stronger.
Culinary Expertise: Self-taught since childhood Shoumetsu is an exceptional culinary artist of great skill, possessing immense knowledge and the capability of preparing almost any kind of delicious food with a strong sense of the aesthetics of cooking. He cooks with amazing speed and dexterity, particularly in his use of knives. His sense of taste is also not lacking. Often, he can deduce the qualities of aspects (i.e. ingredients, and method of cooking and preparations) involved in a prepared dish in a very short period.
Sleight of Hand Expert: Due to Shoumetsu upbringing on the streets of Rukongai, he learned to do what he needed to survive and care for his sister, learning pickpocketing skills, and a little bit of sleight of hand tricks. It is because of this dexterity he wields his weapons with a great amount of skill easily able to juggle blades in different hands and pull feints that can end up shifted into actual powerful attacks. This is done by knowing how to shift his weight into attacks using his hakkei to give them explosive power in his strike. Shoumetsu learned to turn everything he learned in his life into something that can be applied to his fighting style for very unpredictable yet dangerous techniques. He also uses deceptive tactics in his daily life and battles to trick his opponents into pulling fast maneuvers on them.
Musou (Thoughtless): Since Shoumetsu was a child he grew up in harsh area where the creed was survival of the strongest mentality is the only way to live. Upon meeting his Sensei Nanashi within the Rukongai who taught him how to better fend for himself and protect his little sister the training he went through daily was beyond abnormal to give him high pain tolerance and physical conditioning. One of his daily training regimens was a much extreme version Shaolin monks use of continuously subjecting themselves to pain. He had his bones constantly cleanly broken and his muscles torn to teach him how not to allow pain to become a hindrance. Now whenever somebody is capable of making him experience pain, he sees that as a testament of their strength and enters a nearly frenzied state seeing who can inflict the most pain on the other. In this state his spiritual power gradually keeps increasing the more pain he suffers, or until one of them falls defeated. Musuo is not a fighting style but best described as a state of mind that led through the penumbra of the bloodlust, requiring the user to enjoy the fight and relish the satisfaction of winning. In battle, Shoumetsu's combat prowess and capabilities are greatly increased as his inhibitions are loosened from his moral considerations, but this in turn also spurs him to access more pragmatic primal instincts, and even vicious tactics, including unrestrained and maiming blows at his greatest might without discrimination. He is capable of getting stronger through his damage intake and anger buildup. This is because of his undying will to continue to fight regardless of what happens. Instead of succumbing to the damage he receives, Shoumetsu gets an increase in his physical attributes refusing to admit defeat with an indomitable will displaying extraordinary increase of growth, and adaptability to turn the tables quickly on opponent despite his extreme injuries and exhaustion. While Musou is about harnessing an indomitable resolve to win no matter what, he discovered utilizing the opposite can accomplish a greater state of mind. By completely suppressing his emotional reactions one can enter into Ultimate Musou making his mind become hollow with absolutely no sense of drive, hatred, anger, fighting spirit, animosity or even bloodlust despite being in mid-battle against an opponent. In this state Shoumetsu has perfect control over his actions with each one performed at its complete potential, and doesn’t concern himself with thoughts of ally and foe just killing whatever gets in his way.
Superhuman Strength & Reflexes: He possesses superhuman physical strength, and frequently spends his time at 11th lifting incredibly large and heavyweights to keep growing stronger. With the modifications made to their barracks spending over 100 years training in a building completely weighted, Shoumetsu felt even still that wasn’t enough. This further led him to go to extreme measures getting a special weight sealing device made by the 12th division while magnetizing all his weights with Shikai to be repealed in whatever direction he wanted to go. When given the chance he performed these intense regiments under the spiritual pressure of Jinnosuke and Hiroka. His strength plays a large role in his abilities as a swordsman, as his strikes possess a great amount of power and range in their cutting ability as well as create a powerful shock wave with a single slash. Thanks to his strength, Shoumetsu is capable of clashing equally with superhumanly large and powerful opponents and can send normal opponents flying away with ease. Through amassing all of his bodies' vigor and stamina as well as ignoring his natural survival instincts, he can bring out his full power, lasting months in battle not suffering any debilitation despite having multiple wounds in his body and rarely any signs of pain (much like a berserker). Another testament to his strength is his ability to catch an opponent's attack with his bare hands without suffering any damage and ram them through multiple buildings. This drive to become even stronger doesn’t just stem from his own natural desire, but after experiencing firsthand the immeasurable might of the Captain Commander one-shot the togabito. Shoumetsu spent a large amount of his time trying to emulate that very punch down to its speed, precision, and power; all in hopes to use that very same strength to knock its original user on his ass. He possesses sharp intuition towards incoming danger, using tremendously quick reflexes to make last-second evasions to immediately counter after. With his fighting styles both heavily using counter techniques, Shoumetsu constantly put his life on the line in combat training and actual combat to enhance his sense of awareness. Even when his eyes struggle to keep up with people who move faster than him he honed himself to react instinctively to attack on reflex without having to judge or react; as such, he will attack anyone he thinks is the enemy, regardless of whether or not he knows they are the enemy. With continued use of this ability, Shoumetsu's speed increases, as does his ability to counter and dodge.
Hakkei (脂肪強, roughly translated as "explosive/raw power"): The purpose of Hakkei is to allow the fighter to use their energy explosively with the least amount of actual physical movement possible. In essence, it is the "strike without striking" causing the muscles within the body to generate the energy and deliver the force of the attack without actually carrying out the attack. That energy then penetrates deep inside the body resulting in damage to the internal organs but leaving the surface untouched. In doing so, the user can attack with immense force even if he is extremely limited in space, allowing him to attack with great strength no matter the situation. This is the fundamental technique Shoumetsu uses a large majority of his hakuda and zanjutsu fighting style. Since childhood, he spent his time doing physical conditioning, and upon the training of his Sensei Nanashi he was ordered to punch stone, and metallic structures inches away from it until either he was able to destroy or leave a deep dent into it. Once, joining the Seireitei gained greater insight into spiritual power on how it can be used for different uses to weave that knowledge to enhance his use of Hakkei.
Equipment
Denreishinki X
He carries a sake gourd with him worn around his neck believing sweets and a fine kill is always most enjoyable with good sake. The gourd is decorated in brown lacquer carved in relief to reveal layers of lighter brown and green lacquer beneath and with an all-over design of insects on flowers and leaves and roundels of geometric, wave, and cloud patterns, interior red lacquer, Guri lacquer stopper with red silk cord. 8½in. (21.6cm.) high. A Reiatsu bell is attached to the sake gourd silk cord.
Push Daggers: Two small simple blades designed for easy concealment on his person made from Sekkiseki (殺気石, Spirit Reducing Stone; Viz "Lethal Presence Rock").
Zanpakuto Name: Enshōjo (lit. fate hindering woman)
Zanpakuto Appearance: Enshōjo in its sealed state Shoumetsu zanpakuto is a pair of dual kodachi, a sword that is described to act as a shield because its lightweight makes it easy to block with. When in their saya, they appear to be part of a single sheathed sword, one blade appearing to be the hilt, while the second blade is stationed opposite the first and blends in with the saya itself, giving it the impression of being a nodachi. The blades of both kodachi are 28.5 cm and Shoumetsu typically wears it like a typical nodachi across his back with a chain strap that is connected to the actual sheath where both weapons are housed. On some occasions, he tends to just carry it around in his hands casually but always puts on the ruse that it's a nodachi until he draws the blade(s). For the hundred years, he no longer uses the nodachi saya for its deception but instead wears both kodachi in separate sheathes on his hip.
Zanpakuto Spirit: Enshojo appears to be a young beautiful woman with deer ears and antlers constantly releasing an electrical discharge. She wears a dual-colored kimono in black and white with a fur collar decorated with designs of lightning along with it. Enshojo and Shoumetsu have a unique relationship with each other where they have more of a yin-yang mentality. However, Enshojo tends to act more like the elder, constantly scolding him for misuse of her, pointing out his weaknesses in a harsh manner, like not harnessing her power properly when he loses in fights or ends up sustaining a lot of damage but always caring for his growth. On the other hand, Shoumetsu treats her like a fragile woman knowing it gets under her skin and often gets them in a small fight with one another. When people are killed by her blade she treats it like a euphoria rush encouraging for the bloodshed of their enemies wanting to savor the battle and never-ending it quickly if it could be helped.
Inner World: Enshojo Zanpakuto's inner world takes the appearance of terrain full of rocky spires, that take a multitude of shapes. The ground is constantly covered in a light fog and the trees in the terrain all lack leaves and is made out of various metals from gold, mercury, and iron. Each of the trees gives off a crackling electric discharge keeping the entire atmosphere feeling magnetized constantly switching from being drawn downwards into the ground or repelled into the air. Shoumetsu believes that Enshojo can stop this but when asked about it she only chuckles or ask why he is nagging so much about it, and mocking if he is too weak to handle it.
Release Phrase: "Dance in the madness"
Shikai: Upon activation both of the kodachi emits a bright electrical discharge transforming into a pair of swords, each with slim and straight double-edged blades. Both blades also have an upward-curved bladed prong near the tip of one side of the blade and another one near the base of the blade's other side.. Furthermore, Shoumetsu can use these weapons to deviate enemy attacks, allowing him to close the distance between himself and his enemy in a flash and attack them instantly.
Shikai Special Ability: Enshōjo's special ability allows for Shoumetsu to manipulate and control magnetic fields. By making physical contact with his Zanpakuto, a static discharge is created doing no physical harm but leaves the target magnetized. The magnetism increases in strength over time and is passed onto whatever object they come into contact with, causing those objects to be attracted to them (regardless of if they are metallic or not) - thus making their body into a magnet. This ensures the user’s attacks are almost always assured to hit as the blades become naturally attracted and drawn towards the opponent. Once something has become magnetized, Shoumetsu can choose to change the polarities at will either repelling or attracting opposite magnetic poles, making it difficult to predict and versatile.
Jibashi (Electromagnetic Murder)
Shoumetsu can release powerful blasts or a pulse of magnetic field energy from his Zanpakuto, which he can use to pull or push targets away. In either application, the zanpakuto becomes coated in a golden pulsating light. Condensing his Reiryoku into a controlled mass until it reaches its releasing point. Upon its exertion to repel or attract a target, it launches into a caustic destructive wave of rippling force. Eroding and dismantling anything in its path until it makes its mark. A soul being struck by this ability would feel their entire body be confined and restricted to its core. Almost as if all of their cells were under the complete submission of their soon to be master Enshojo. Which would just be secretly the Zanpakuto leaving a lingering static discharge within the essence of their body. The purpose of the lingering static discharge is to completely lock whatever the opponent touches on their repelling or attraction. The strength and duration of the static cling adhesive effect are determined by how strong the magnetic field around them becomes, making this ability almost an essential follow up to being struck by the Zanpakuto in its released state in general.
Aianmeiden Sutanpīdo (Iron Maiden's Stampede)
Shoumetsu stabs his Zanpakuto into the ground and generates an electromagnetic field that rapidly expands out in all encompassing, sweeping repulsion that expands over a mile wide radius. Within seconds magnetizing everything it sweeps through on the surface and underground. This causes them to all come rushing in from multiple directions to bombard with a strong force and ultimately crush/impaling them in the process. Each object that hits the target increases the magnetic field for all others causing them to accelerate making each subsequent one more dangerous than the next. The electromagnetic field can also act as a barrier providing defense in the process that repels physical attacks away while magnetizing them, and clashing with energy attacks. The magnetic force will gradually become stronger, to the point where objects continually attracted to the person will either overwhelm or simply impale them. Small objects will be influenced first, until the magnetism can increase to the point where larger and more massive objects will be attracted.
Piasu tengoku warutsu (Piercing Heavenly Waltz)
One of Shoumetsu's deadliest techniques is one that beautifully compliments his zanjutsu skills. Once he manages to magnetize a person(s) , reiryoku is where the real fun begins for him. After his target is marked he can propel one of his swords toward the target at tremendous speed with a thrusting attack. He ultimately turns them into a devastating spear that pierces through nearly everything in his way and can be used to shatter through enemy defenses. He can perform a more lethal version of this attack in combination with spinning the blades to turn them into buzzsaws that cut instead of pierce, or by giving rotation to the propelled sword to amplify its piercing turning into drill attack. Because of the strong synchronization he shares with Enshojo and his dextrous mastery with blades, no matter how fast the swords are moving he can safely catch them out of the air. Since the dual zanpakuto are one in the same as long he keeps one of the swords wielded he always knows the exact location of where the thrown zanpakuto is. This perfect unison of swordsmanship and spirit bond is what allows for Shoumetsu to make this ability so strong performing endless sword juggling dance with his opponent where the wrong mistake can easily lead to their end.
Bankai: Enshojo Kaminari-kei (Fate-Hindering Woman, Thunder Prison)
Bankai Special Ability: Upon his Bankai release, Enshojo Kaminari-kei generates on the outskirts of the perimeter, a halo of electrically charged spheres. The spheres serve as one of the anchors of the Zanpakuto, the creation and stability of this Bankai. If potentially destroyed, Shoumetsu’s control will falter completely. Also relinquishing the Bankai at the same time. These spheres essentially form the “cage” of the “prison” made from Shoumetsu’s power. Being the warden of this prison, Shoumetsu can perceive the world around himself as patterns of magnetic and electrical energy including the natural bio-electromagnetic auras given off by living beings. This also means, everything that encompasses this ring is under the complete utilization and control of the Warden. Whether it’s the magnetic forces of attraction or repulsion, any and everything is subject to his ability. To physical objects, Reiryoku, Reishi, and everything in between. Shoumetsu has a god-like amount of power when in his own domain, and this power reflects within the armor he adorns, for this enables the Bankai as a whole. While the domain focuses on the complete magnetic properties of attraction and repelling. The armor itself, focuses on the polarity of anything that comes close to Shoumetsu as a whole. Constantly emitting a magnetic charge, by aligning his polarity with said object, can make it so the object is passively being repelled from the armor as a whole. Causing the armor to never touch what’s it aligned to magnetically. In this same breath, Shoumetsu can choose the opposite route. Instead of the aligning polarities, it can also be made to differ. Causing the armor and by proxy Shoumetsu, to be attracted to whatever he deems. All in all forming a deadly arsenal, forming a deadly arsenal, where Shoumetsu’s attacks can be attracted to his opponent. While his opponent’s attack will be repelled. Making the cage and the armor the the most pinnacle form of home-court advantage. Shoumetsu torturing and diminishing his prey within this prison, to ensure a slow and long death within their tenure within his Bankai.
Personal Relationships:
Yasu Yugure - The infamous glutton he dealt with alongside with Hiroka in the academy. Their friendship originally wasn't even what one would call it in the beggining. Dealing with her persistently asking or stealing his food in the Academy, eventually the two of them formed a rough friendship. As the days progressed this turned into a more solid friendship with the trio becoming close group of friends. Despite the three going there seperate ways their friendship remains and occassionally he still delivers her experimental dishes cooked knowing she eats anything.
Shizuka Hyouzoku - His first time encountering Shizuka dates back during the invasion of the Togabito in the World of the Living where he witnessed the end results of their fight before the now Captain Commander showed up. It was only fitting that these two would once again meet on the battlefield for grand scale fight against another powerful foe. However, this time they fought on the battlefield to the very end against the God-King himself gaining one another respect. Accepting the opportunity to fight alongside him as his Lt, they will soon pave their way making an strong dynamic synergy. Since joining 10th division whenever he gets the chance without fail, Shoumetsu will try to provoke and taunt his Captain inner hollow to get him to either too hollowfy or don his Vizard mask.
Tosu Shohei - Upon his transference to entire new division after practically living in the 11th division barracks since he left the academy, his intergration into the 10th division wasn't easy at first. Trying to get an proper understanding of the people he would now be surrounding himself around Tosu proven one of the more difficult to guage. His chill demeanor made the transition go smoother and adjust to how things were ran there. To this day he is still an mysery to him, but he can tell their is more to him then meets the eye and is curious to see what exactly that is.
Shusuke Kiyoshi - Just like most of his long lasting friendships blossomed from randomly attacking someone just because he wished to fight and see how strong they were. When Shusuke was an Lt for 9th division this was no exception for him. The two clashed blades with one another as equals and even though he is unsure what caused for him to lose his Lt position and become an part of the 10th division, one thing is for certain he will not let that potential go to waste. Knowing a great deal about inner turmoil he plans to help Shusuke awaken his and become one of his long term sparring partners.
Sango Tsutsui - While Tosu helped him adjust to his new life in the 10th division, Sango played an equally integral role helping with his new position. As an 3rd seat in the 11th division before Kenpachi Hageshi reign as the Captain, he had basic understanding from having to take care of things in Lt. Jinnosuke absence. He formed a bit of give and take relationship with Sango with her keeping him in line to get his task done and not allowing him to slack even when he just wants to pretend the paperwork is nonexistent. Although, once all the work is done the two find themselves sharing a drink with one another to celebrate days hard work or when they are alloted some free time.
Masahiko Kuchiki - His first initial thought for him wasn't of anything particular noteworthy. Although over time he came to realize his potential and became impressed with his swordsmanship skill. With a bit more refining of his technique, he could feel that Masahiko become an true force to be reckoned with. Curious on how he will grow with little more guidace, he took him in as his first disciple to teach his technique Musou too but failure is not the option because to quit means to forfeit ones life once he invests in someone.
Izanagi Kiyoshi - The two of them known each other since academy days and managed to match well with one another except when it came to their training ethics. When it came to training to improve oneself they were the complete opposites. Shoumetsu turned almost every single activity he did into some kind of training regiment while Izanagi rather lounged and slept the day away. He does not believe in weak friends because they will just die too easily, so he is determined to beat the laziness out of Izanagi so he can grow stronger and proudly stand side by side with him in battle knowing he can fully well handle himself.
Likes: Art of Misdirection, Cooking, Fighting, Training, Upsetting his Zanpakuto Spirit, Sweets with good sake, Strong Opponents, The thrill of the hunt/Hunting, Dango Shops
Dislikes: Tomatoes, Being Bored, Symmetry
Hobbies: One of the main things Shoumetsu loves more than fighting is trying out different kinds of sweets, then attempting to recreate them or even experiment with making them better with different flavors.
Favorite Food(s): Strawberry Shortcake, Hishi Mochi, Mitsumame, Ichigo daifuku, Dango (loves all of them), Mochi, Parfait, Yakisoba, Kabayaki
Seretei Communication Column:
The Battle Scar Bazaar
Attachments
Last edited:
