Character Name: Zhou Fēng
Actual Age: 274
Physical Age: Late 20’s
Race: Soul Born
Birthday: February 12th
Gender: Male
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 175 lbs
Blood Type: A+
Affiliation: Soul Society / Shino'o Academy /
Profession: Shinigami
Title: Seated Member
Position: Fourth Seat - Shino'o Academy Instructor - WOTL Chaperone
Division: Third Division (三番隊, sanbantai; "Squad 3")
Previous Division: Second Division (二番隊, Nibantai; "Squad 2")
Base of Operations: Soul Society / Seireitei / Third Division Barracks / Shino'o Academy
Notable Features: Zhou is six feet tall. When he was younger, he was unnaturally unnoticed and not paid attention to due to his height alone, not needing to mask himself to the extent that his previous captain does. Upon first glance, though past his greyish blue eyes, lies a vast emptiness that most would find disturbing. Donning a poker face and bearing unapproachable mannerisms, most tend not to engage Zhou in conversation. Dark blue hair, a noticeable trait within the Fēng clan, hangs over his head as his skin has a keen apricot hue. He is generally seen wearing an altered Shinigami uniform to fit his fighting style. His body is rather toned, detailed, and etched with carefully sculpted muscle that is proof of his rigorous training.
Personality: Throughout Zhou’s life, Zhou went through multiple changes that shaped the Shinigami that he is today. As a child, Zhou had multiple expectations from his parents which caused Zhou’s social growth to be heavily stunted. Displaying emotion and being friendly isn’t something that Zhou learned during his youth. Instead, amiable traits were something that he saw but rarely partook in. Needless to say, Zhou was a loner, spending time honing his skills and abilities rather than being around souls his age. Even to this day, Zhou has a poker face and is mostly seen as unreadable. Zhou is rather straight-forward and direct, rarely holding his tongue if he’s asked to give an opinion, no matter how sensitive the situation is. Although Zhou has a strong sense of duty and cares about his family’s honor. Most of what he strives to accomplish has to do with making sure that his clan is not tarnished in the slightest by his actions. Almost like a molded figure, Zhou attempts to be what his clan and his superiors designed for him to be. Zhou is rather intelligent, taking solace in activities like cleaning and cooking as they are straight-forward tasks and have an organized structure about them. Zhou can’t stand being in a place of disarray, and wouldn’t mind taking his off-day cleaning the entire barracks if it meant that filth was nowhere near him.
Growing up, Zhou was awkward, tending to do most tasks by himself, (a way of life that carries on even to this very day), but darkness flooded Zhou once he had begun taking tasks while being in the Onmitsukidō. Rather than seeing himself as an individual, he saw himself as a tool. Sure, previously he knew exactly how important it was for him to obey authority, but at the very least he had some semblance of individuality. With the underlying darkness that dwelled within the Onmitsukidō, one relied on success to a much greater extent and Zhou was not exempt. Even he swiftly learned that treading over fallen comrades was what was expected of him. Still, Zhou felt empathy for his fallen comrades -- even feeling physical sickness in some instances due to their demise. There were days Zhou regretted listening to his mother and father, but the chains of responsibility in the form of his clan, the Gotei 13, and the Onmitsukidō bound him and dragged him from one place to the next. Symptoms of survivor's guilt began to show, and Zhou placed all his efforts into being the tool that everyone he held dear desired him to be. Zhou was hurting, but he did not understand how to display these emotions nor was he allowed to. Just as he performed as a child, he placed his emotions into his craft.
The most dynamic change in Zhou came from his time in the PIT. Here, the trainer brought multiple emotions buried within Zhou to the surface, manipulated them, and continued to twist and contort Zhou's perspective. With the amount of physical, mental, and emotional pain he endured, Zhou was broken after the years of perpetual punishment. After all of the years of struggling to be the model society had designed for him, he was met with this training as his reward. At first, his anger was targeted toward his trainer, then it manifested to the entirety of the Onmitsukidō. Soon enough, the blistering hatred for the entirety of the Seireitei blossomed with the lingering question, “Why should I have to endure this for the sake of people that I will never meet [humans]?” His anger continued to grow, like a disease outstretching to every trainer that entered into the PIT for training. Whether it was jealousy for not having to endure such a struggle, the people who assisted in his decisions towards being in the Onmitsukidō, or for those responsible for his torture, Zhou felt immense hatred. He wanted nothing more than to destroy the very foundation that his life stood on. His anger swelled and swelled until finally, negative emotions were soon directed towards him. Soon, it all boiled down to, just as the other examinees of the PIT, wanting to die.
When Zhou subconsciously activated his Shikai, he also subconsciously locked away those feelings. Sealing them away allowed him to not only pass the intense training regiment, but he was also able to become stronger in some ways. Not being bound to different empathetic weaknesses, for example, survivor's guilt, allowed for him to become a perfect soldier. He no longer felt pain the way it was meant to be perceived. He no longer felt fear. His dreams and aspirations were buried alongside the negativity. In his mind, they were all of the same category -- unnecessary and unwarranted. With these very important parts of him locked away, he was able to be what his parents, trainers, and his leaders wanted him to be. Without being able to empathize with others, Zhou visualized everyone as "sacks of meat." Without a dream or vision, Zhou devoted himself to following commands without question or remorse -- minus the feelings he perceived concerning his training. He was able to attain the ability to torture without any of the side effects a moral person would. Without fear or pain, he had no value for his life and he devalued fun and pleasure. Desensitizing himself led to love, hatred, and concern for others to be watered-down and meaningless. The darkness that flooded within him took reign. At one point, Zhou didn't see the difference between slicing raw beef for dinner and the soul he had killed an hour before that. Zhou didn't know how to feel about the stark difference he had made within his training. With fear and pain subsiding, so did his resentment.
From fighting to discerning situations, Zhou can make decisions leading to beneficial outcomes most of the time. Although he was capable of making sound decisions, following orders led to him doing several things on primitive levels. He is very professional and is rarely seen partaking in immature activities. He displays a high level of maturity and keeps a level, rational head despite what is going on around him. Zhou is also one that would rather do missions by himself rather than having to rely on others. Due to his strict training, he often feels like there are potential factors that would limit him from being able to perform his very best -- those factors being incompetent subordinates. Zhou also doesn’t have trust for anyone, he stakes his claim in the law of the land and will do what is best for the land that he has given up emotions for. With a corrupted moral compass weighing in favor of direction and order, Zhou has a keen dislike for any-and-all things having to do with hollows, disruption of balance within the Seireitei or the human world, and anything of that nature. It is rare for Zhou to get angry or even have a strong opinion on multiple manners. As he’d rather watch and listen, he doesn’t like divulging too much information about himself or his division. Being deemed as cold, straight-forward, and ruthless with his mannerisms, he tended to fit right in along with the second division's dynamic.
Time passed, more specifically, one hundred years. During this time, Zhou’s personality blossomed more, but the weight of his own self-inflicted “blessing” continued to haunt him. Learning a lot from the once lieutenant, now Captain Yasu, Zhou took a lot of his time developing himself, but he still has a long way to go before facing the entirety of his fears and becoming more of a Shinigami rather than a tool. Zhou is still direct, apathetic, and still has his cold demeanor, but now one can see at the very least a smirk from the male now and then. Zhou is more open than he was before, beginning to speak his mind rather than holding his thoughts, passions, and emotions on the inside. He has become more confident and can hold a conversation rather than simply being a one-dimensional stone. Each day, each interaction and each decision affects Zhou differently than the average Shinigami, having an impact on his overall self. Continuing to be shaped and molded, Zhou finds more and more of himself, growing not only in strength but in spirit.
A number of events happened within the passing months. With Zhou growing with event after event, Zhou’s very self began to be more evident. With already being direct, Zhou had more of an aloof nature to him in regards to relationships and what he genuinely meant to people, but he was more prone to engaging with people. He has now shown the ability to have a conversation about something other than work and he’s able to actually display facial emotions. Zhou’s usually more laid back, but has taken a liking to The Clown’s antics. With this, Zhou usually has more of a sadistic nature to him, and derives pleasure from causing some form of mischief – although his mischief is nothing comparable to that of Asahi’s. Usually, Zhou can be found honing his skills when he’s not running errands for Honoka. Despite his respect for authority, Zhou sometimes gives a smart remark when he’s told something he doesn’t want to do – showing just how much he’s blossomed over the given time. Zhou is usually blunt and brutally honest, not sparing one’s feelings in the slightest despite how much he understands how much it might hurt others. Despite how much he has grown, there are times where his automatonic vibe still lingers – but at the very least, one can see those scarred lips crack a smirk.
Relatives: He is a member of the Fēng clan.
Reiryoku Level: Great Spiritual Power ——— Sensing Reiryoku: Expert
Unlike most exceptionally gifted individuals, Zhou’s spiritual power wasn’t menacing from birth. There was absolutely nothing that stood out about his overall power. With this, his mother and father thought that it was best to hone his physical abilities to assure a successful future for their son. With the concept that even a small stream can become a mighty river, Zhou’s power swelled from consistently being placed in predicaments where his life was on the line -- where he had to overcome death time and time again. With his willpower maturing and growing, so did his Reiryoku. Within his time in the Onmitsukidō, his overall spiritual power was way more honed and refined in comparison to his days within the academy. Each time Zhou was placed in a position where he had to make a decision that changed his life, Zhou noticed an incredible inner change within him. As he is a constantly growing and evolving individual, one could say that his current level is merely a tease for his true inner strength.
Due to Zhou’s time in Onmitsukidō, one of the various training methods he was taught was sensing Reiryoku. Being aware of the subtle differences in his surroundings as well as picking up even the smallest of hints that there is someone in his midst is something that he was forced to hone even when taking the test to be a part of such a prestigious group. Constantly being tested and driven to tell where an enemy was, even having to give somewhat of a precise location was something done daily to cultivate the Shinigami needed to not only protect their comrades but to ensure that any missions could be completed successfully. With his intelligence, natural ability to perform mundane tasks, and being somewhat of a perfectionist, this came rather easily to Zhou, even though he is not amongst the best sensors in the Seireitei. Zhou can pinpoint most specific locations where spiritual presence is detected, even when the pressure is being subdued.
Reiryoku Control: Great Control
Akin to his training in the Onmitsukidō revolving around the ability to sense Reiryoku, Zhou was forced into learning how to manipulate his Reiryoku to be hidden as well as to emerge when it was ultimately needed. Just like his Zanpakutō, his Reiryoku was indeed a weapon that constantly needed to be trained and polished to survive in the harsh environments he was currently engaged in. Being naturally talented, Zhou was able to have a fine grip on his ability to control his spiritual power to the point where one could even question if Zhou was anything -- if he was even there, but just as quickly, use that same power to defend or increase his overall attack power without any sort of hesitation – as if his reiryoku were another part of his body. One could look at him, and not even know he was around. Although his skills were not honed in areas such as Kido, his abilities blossomed involving the ability to stay hidden and utilize his Zanpakutō’s abilities to a high degree, using minimal spiritual power for worthwhile results. Zhou tends to conserve his reiryoku, but has the ability to continue focusing and building up his power in order to unleash greater attacks – the only drawback being the amount of time needed for a grandiose spiritual technique in order to usually combat those of greater spiritual power than he.
Reiatsu: Expert
Zhou’s reiatsu is symbolic of his personality. From the very hue to its shape, the spiritual pressure is rather dense, dark, and heavy. Due to the number of burdens that he has faced in the previous years, the number of explicit missions where numerous comrades have died, and the expectations that consistently weigh on him can be witnessed through the amount of pressure he exerts when his Reiatsu is seen or used.
Zhou can exert his spiritual pressure for a surplus of uses, rising and falling faster than eyesight can even comprehend. Zhou’s reiatsu is unique as even if it’s displayed, there’s no way to truly tell its intent. There’s no fear, no hatred, or no killing intent whenever his reiatsu is exerted. This is because his will coincides with duty. There’s no malice or intent, making his very power and presence questionable. Even to experienced beings that aren’t Shinigami, one can tell that Zhou’s reiatsu carries no evil or ill-will within it. The pure resolve to solely keep organization and order is the feeling his spiritual pressure generates. With this, Zhou’s reiatsu, even though it can be blatantly exerted, one would more than likely not feel threatened even if their reiatsu isn’t on par with his own. Instead, it’s almost a fickle trick that could ensnare prey to their doom.
Lock Down
At first, Zhou’s reiatsu was simply malleable pressure that fluctuated with uses in ways Reiatsu was previously used for. Being trained and honed as an assassin, his spiritual pressure sharpened to the degree of amplifying lethal attacks, or to be used in some defensive countermeasure. With time passing, and Zhou discovering more of himself, shaking and rattling the very metaphorical chains that ensnared his true self, Zhou’s reiatsu has the ability to affect the environment around him, by literally “locking space.” This concept is a new development, but the overall control with Zhou’s spiritual pressure is not. Since Zhou spent a number of years training and honing his overall control of his reiatsu, utilizing the ability to manipulate the environment instead was an easy task to do. Just like Zhou is able to mask his pressure at a moment’s notice, Zhou’s spiritual pressure is able to span out over vast distances with ease. When this occurs, the space around any given thing can become what one can describe as solidified. There is no visual cue, or anything other than the feeling of Zhou’s reiatsu. With the possibility of this being used as a means for capturing a given thing, this ability also has a means of defense – Zhou able to affect the space around him to form invisible barriers that can be used to halt attacks of any kind.
Reiatsu Colors: Mint Green
Reiatsu Type: Standard
Zanjutsu Level: Expert Swordsman ——— Hohō Level: Shunpo Master
Zhou has a firm grasp on how to utilize his weapon to accommodate his overall fighting style. Within his duration within the second division, he had extensive training which led to experience being one with his weapon. Maturing from a simplistic state of simply seeing the blade as a weapon itself, Zhou is one with his blade. With this knowledge, his abilities are rather formidable. He can utilize his overall natural speed, and even his height to pull off rather quick attacks, building his momentum and kinetic energy for devastating techniques such as rotating himself in a circular motion while reverse gripping his Zanpakutō to attack, defend, and move all in one motion – able to practically become a swirling blur in one’s vision. After significant time and training with his Zanpakuto, Zhou became more adept at using his weapon, with one hundred years to train, his swordsmanship grew to the point of being able to use his weapon to readjust, attack, defend parry, and block in order to perform tasks that he used to only rely on speed for due to his weaker composition. With his older and stronger body, Zhou is able to use his strength and speed to move his weapon with the ability to remove any part of a given body with ease.
Zhou’s speed is probably one of the reasons why he was able to survive as long as he did. With just how naturally fast he is, Zhou can utilize Shunpo to a high degree. Being trained with weights on his body was the first step, consistently bearing down on such a small frame to build muscle and endurance, in turn, Zhou’s speed was consistently improving on a day-to-day basis. Zhou can move great distances utilizing only one leg rather than both and is even hard to detect with the natural or spiritual eye. Even standing still in one instance could mean life or death for an opponent due to just how fast Zhou’s body can move from one point to the other by simply generating an afterimage of him standing in the previous spot. Zhou’s ability to force his body to go from 0 to 100 is what makes his fighting style and his overall lethality wanted by the Second Division.
Zhou’s reaction speed is another ability to take note of. Zhou’s able to consistently move, readjust, and dodge given attacks even when he seems to be in a dire situation. Being able to dodge close calls is something that most would deem as luck, but when it happens repeatedly, especially in the case with someone as small as Zhou, it can be seen as a testament to his ability. With this ability, it tends to trigger a number of his opponents, especially those that tend to use their size against him. Honing his reaction time, Zhou’s able to fool most enemies into believing that they caused some sort of damage to him, only for his true ability to shine that much more.
At a normal pace, Zhou’s able to move from a genuflect, into appearing to fade from existence without even a slight change in demeanor, only to appear in an entirely different area miles away in what would seem to be a blink of an eye. Even when he’s trying to slow down for others to keep an out for him, the very air around his body bends to his will, forcing it into submission as gravity itself cannot restrict him from moving at such uncanny speeds. Zhou can move across the surface of any liquid, and his shadowless movements are simply some of the benefits of being able to access such tremendous speeds. Being able to appear standing in one spot, but already be within striking distance, strike, and appear not even moving to the naked eye is just one of the nifty tricks he can utilize due to his ability with Shunpo.
Zhou can utilize two of the three known Hohō techniques at an elite level, him able to generate multiple speed clones. Being able to move from one clone to the next at speeds incomprehensible to the natural eye, he almost appears to be able to strike an opponent in nine different locations simultaneously -- displaying his overall prowess with only nine copies of himself. With Utusemi, Zhou displays effortlessly how to deceive opponents into believing they had struck the blue-haired individual. The visual is so real that it practically forces someone's senses to fully accept that they had landed whatever attack they originally intended for him, only for them to be blindsided by one of his many attacks.
Known Techniques: Speed Clones, Utsusemi
Hakuda Level: Master Hakuda Combatant ——— Kido Skill Level: Kidō Specialist
Physically, Zhou was at a tremendous disadvantage when it came down to hand-to-hand combat. With being so short and having a lack of reach, one might assume that Zhou is the typical punching bag or the subject that was bullied for an extended time. In most cases, one would be right about someone appearing so short and potentially defenseless, but in Zhou's case, it is far from the truth. Growing up, Zhou's training consisted of honing his body to a high level, continuously pushing his body to stomach-turning limits for a soul his age. Everything Zhou possessed, he worked for. In this instance, Zhou practiced in a number of different climates, honing a style that he created to perfectly suit him due to his size. This fighting style known as Wave Kata consists of two main points that gave Zhou the advantage in a number of fights, allowing for his small appearance to fool anyone. Practicing in water and on trees, Zhou spent the day in and day out perfecting his overall skill. The full potential Zhou exemplifies comes from dealing with physically stronger opponents.
The fighting style that Zhou created relies on speed, momentum, and the ability to read others to a high degree, causing this methodology of fighting to suit him quite well, especially with his training. Zhou’s fighting style bears no stance, instead, it’s based on being able to rapidly adjust his build to suit the situation at hand. Zhou’s skill extends to using every single part of his body, muscle, and appendage, to fight to the fullest degree. Although waiting to strike is the preferred strategy, and blocking is not what he usually utilizes, Zhou’s fighting style has not been seen and heard of throughout the Soul Society, instead, it’s a rather new, and ever-evolving style due to the different fighting styles that he will face. Having to constantly change and adjust causes this style to not only be difficult but can seem unreliable. Zhou utilizes his Hakuda to not only overcome this challenge, but be able to fight against all types of fighters -- Zanjutsu-based, Kidō-based, and Hakuda based.
Due to the amount of time of rigorous training, Zhou’s physical ability extends to being able to fight while unconscious. His body can naturally react, and utilize his destructive style all while he is unconscious of what is going on around him. This goes in tandem with his ability to sense Reiryoku as well as the overall tenacity Zhou possesses.
With one hundred years passing, Zhou’s body grew to the point where he literally no longer had to only rely on utilizing speed and momentum in order to fight against others. With his growth, Zhou’s own physical strength and durability did too. Regardless of his growth, his Wave Kata only grew from there. With being presented with a challenge from his Elder before, Zhou decided to take the time to truly learn the extent of his body, and what it truly meant to be a Hand-to-Hand combat master. Although his skills were great, there was still room for development and improvement as there always was. At first, Zhou’s solution was to learn Shunkō, pushing his very body to the limit, following the route that Soi Fēng did. Rather than expound upon his abilities using something such as Kido, Zhou elected to take a route that no one else could travel – something that only he could do: Wave Kata.
At first, Wave Kata only extended to manipulating momentum in order to use vibrations to cause a significant amount of internal damage. Well, with Zhou’s skills progressing in the manner that they were, on par with his own knowledge of his body, Zhou began to take this practice, theorize its limits, and test the limits thereof. The results came with brutalistically disgusting results. The first step of this was Zhou literally training his breathing – him able to utilize oxygen within his body and take full and utter control of his breathing to the point where his strength, stamina, mental processes, and even his speed, skyrocketed. Although his training in breathing was done to some degree, Zhou learned to control his breathing without even thinking about it, boosting his already powerful physical and mental prowess. This breathing also recuperates the body, allowing for things such as muscle fatigue, potential cramps, and damage to his body to be healed faster due to the overdrive his body is going through. The second part of his training caused for Zhou literally to be able to control the rate of his heart beat. Although he hasn’t fully mastered this part of his training, Zhou can increase his heart’s cardiovascular output: forcing his blood to pump through his body at an immensely fast level. This causes Zhou's skin to turn red. This increase of blood moving through the body causes an increase of speed.
With both his breathing and his heart rate manipulation, the amount of power Zhou physically possesses is one that is rarely seen – the breathing not only strengthens his body, but rejuvenates it to the point where it greatly minimizes the drawbacks of manipulating his heart. Thus, Zhou’s Hakuda takes on a level that focuses solely on the body rather than utilizing any sort of Kido. When utilizing hakuda while utilizing this perfected form of breathing, Zhou can move his arms and legs that distorts space itself, literally causing for shockwaves and the such to tear terrains asunder, combat or even potentially destroy high level Kidō based applications, and even go as far as to vehemently decimate reishi constructs with little to no hesitation. With this power combined with Zhou’s fighting style, Zhou can send his vibrations through the air which can literally decimate even a reiryoku protected body with the immense force that is driven from each attack. With such precise, quick, and powerful movements, the very kinetic energy is forced to produce heat. This heat that Zhou can generate from using his body in such a fashion has the potential to cause third degree burns to his skin as it’s not a spiritually based emission – burning his clothing is literally what’s expected when this level of Hakuda is utilized. This heat can be felt from his long range attacks. With these feats, Zhou doesn’t have to touch someone with his body to cause damage. Instead, the effects of his body in motion can cause severe external damage due to the amount of speed and strength his body now utilizes. If it wasn’t for Zhou’s training, this increase of strength would consistently leave Zhou’s muscles torn and his bones, hence why training his breathing was a focal point of his training.
Zhou’s ability to use Kidō has not been trained and honed as much as his other abilities. Despite his lack of training in Kidō, Zhou has enough reiryoku control to perform a number of lower-level Kidō techniques with ease. Although one won’t see him performing techniques that would end someone’s career with a single invocation, he is a bakudo practitioner. Generally, his bakudo aids him with his hakuda style to complement his zanjutsu style. Zhou has to recite incantations to use the given techniques that he has already trained and honed. Zhou is also able to manipulate the Kidō he has learned now to alter the standard shape while upholding the strength of the technique. For instance, Hainawa’s bright, robust usual look can be more slender or even be altered to be as thin as strings on a violin.
Known Techniques: Wave Kata (See Below)
Known Spells: Kyokkō, Hōrin, Hainawa
Akin to his training in the Onmitsukidō revolving around the ability to sense Reiryoku, Zhou was forced into learning how to manipulate his Reiryoku to be hidden as well as to emerge when it was ultimately needed. Just like his Zanpakutō, his Reiryoku was indeed a weapon that constantly needed to be trained and polished to survive in the harsh environments he was currently engaged in. Being naturally talented, Zhou was able to have a fine grip on his ability to control his spiritual power to the point where one could even question if Zhou was anything -- if he was even there, but just as quickly, use that same power to defend or increase his overall attack power without any sort of hesitation – as if his reiryoku were another part of his body. One could look at him, and not even know he was around. Although his skills were not honed in areas such as Kido, his abilities blossomed involving the ability to stay hidden and utilize his Zanpakutō’s abilities to a high degree, using minimal spiritual power for worthwhile results. Zhou tends to conserve his reiryoku, but has the ability to continue focusing and building up his power in order to unleash greater attacks – the only drawback being the amount of time needed for a grandiose spiritual technique in order to usually combat those of greater spiritual power than he.
Reiatsu: Expert
Zhou’s reiatsu is symbolic of his personality. From the very hue to its shape, the spiritual pressure is rather dense, dark, and heavy. Due to the number of burdens that he has faced in the previous years, the number of explicit missions where numerous comrades have died, and the expectations that consistently weigh on him can be witnessed through the amount of pressure he exerts when his Reiatsu is seen or used.
Zhou can exert his spiritual pressure for a surplus of uses, rising and falling faster than eyesight can even comprehend. Zhou’s reiatsu is unique as even if it’s displayed, there’s no way to truly tell its intent. There’s no fear, no hatred, or no killing intent whenever his reiatsu is exerted. This is because his will coincides with duty. There’s no malice or intent, making his very power and presence questionable. Even to experienced beings that aren’t Shinigami, one can tell that Zhou’s reiatsu carries no evil or ill-will within it. The pure resolve to solely keep organization and order is the feeling his spiritual pressure generates. With this, Zhou’s reiatsu, even though it can be blatantly exerted, one would more than likely not feel threatened even if their reiatsu isn’t on par with his own. Instead, it’s almost a fickle trick that could ensnare prey to their doom.
Lock Down
At first, Zhou’s reiatsu was simply malleable pressure that fluctuated with uses in ways Reiatsu was previously used for. Being trained and honed as an assassin, his spiritual pressure sharpened to the degree of amplifying lethal attacks, or to be used in some defensive countermeasure. With time passing, and Zhou discovering more of himself, shaking and rattling the very metaphorical chains that ensnared his true self, Zhou’s reiatsu has the ability to affect the environment around him, by literally “locking space.” This concept is a new development, but the overall control with Zhou’s spiritual pressure is not. Since Zhou spent a number of years training and honing his overall control of his reiatsu, utilizing the ability to manipulate the environment instead was an easy task to do. Just like Zhou is able to mask his pressure at a moment’s notice, Zhou’s spiritual pressure is able to span out over vast distances with ease. When this occurs, the space around any given thing can become what one can describe as solidified. There is no visual cue, or anything other than the feeling of Zhou’s reiatsu. With the possibility of this being used as a means for capturing a given thing, this ability also has a means of defense – Zhou able to affect the space around him to form invisible barriers that can be used to halt attacks of any kind.
Reiatsu Colors: Mint Green
Reiatsu Type: Standard
Zanjutsu Level: Expert Swordsman ——— Hohō Level: Shunpo Master
Zhou has a firm grasp on how to utilize his weapon to accommodate his overall fighting style. Within his duration within the second division, he had extensive training which led to experience being one with his weapon. Maturing from a simplistic state of simply seeing the blade as a weapon itself, Zhou is one with his blade. With this knowledge, his abilities are rather formidable. He can utilize his overall natural speed, and even his height to pull off rather quick attacks, building his momentum and kinetic energy for devastating techniques such as rotating himself in a circular motion while reverse gripping his Zanpakutō to attack, defend, and move all in one motion – able to practically become a swirling blur in one’s vision. After significant time and training with his Zanpakuto, Zhou became more adept at using his weapon, with one hundred years to train, his swordsmanship grew to the point of being able to use his weapon to readjust, attack, defend parry, and block in order to perform tasks that he used to only rely on speed for due to his weaker composition. With his older and stronger body, Zhou is able to use his strength and speed to move his weapon with the ability to remove any part of a given body with ease.
Zhou’s speed is probably one of the reasons why he was able to survive as long as he did. With just how naturally fast he is, Zhou can utilize Shunpo to a high degree. Being trained with weights on his body was the first step, consistently bearing down on such a small frame to build muscle and endurance, in turn, Zhou’s speed was consistently improving on a day-to-day basis. Zhou can move great distances utilizing only one leg rather than both and is even hard to detect with the natural or spiritual eye. Even standing still in one instance could mean life or death for an opponent due to just how fast Zhou’s body can move from one point to the other by simply generating an afterimage of him standing in the previous spot. Zhou’s ability to force his body to go from 0 to 100 is what makes his fighting style and his overall lethality wanted by the Second Division.
Zhou’s reaction speed is another ability to take note of. Zhou’s able to consistently move, readjust, and dodge given attacks even when he seems to be in a dire situation. Being able to dodge close calls is something that most would deem as luck, but when it happens repeatedly, especially in the case with someone as small as Zhou, it can be seen as a testament to his ability. With this ability, it tends to trigger a number of his opponents, especially those that tend to use their size against him. Honing his reaction time, Zhou’s able to fool most enemies into believing that they caused some sort of damage to him, only for his true ability to shine that much more.
At a normal pace, Zhou’s able to move from a genuflect, into appearing to fade from existence without even a slight change in demeanor, only to appear in an entirely different area miles away in what would seem to be a blink of an eye. Even when he’s trying to slow down for others to keep an out for him, the very air around his body bends to his will, forcing it into submission as gravity itself cannot restrict him from moving at such uncanny speeds. Zhou can move across the surface of any liquid, and his shadowless movements are simply some of the benefits of being able to access such tremendous speeds. Being able to appear standing in one spot, but already be within striking distance, strike, and appear not even moving to the naked eye is just one of the nifty tricks he can utilize due to his ability with Shunpo.
Zhou can utilize two of the three known Hohō techniques at an elite level, him able to generate multiple speed clones. Being able to move from one clone to the next at speeds incomprehensible to the natural eye, he almost appears to be able to strike an opponent in nine different locations simultaneously -- displaying his overall prowess with only nine copies of himself. With Utusemi, Zhou displays effortlessly how to deceive opponents into believing they had struck the blue-haired individual. The visual is so real that it practically forces someone's senses to fully accept that they had landed whatever attack they originally intended for him, only for them to be blindsided by one of his many attacks.
Known Techniques: Speed Clones, Utsusemi
Hakuda Level: Master Hakuda Combatant ——— Kido Skill Level: Kidō Specialist
Physically, Zhou was at a tremendous disadvantage when it came down to hand-to-hand combat. With being so short and having a lack of reach, one might assume that Zhou is the typical punching bag or the subject that was bullied for an extended time. In most cases, one would be right about someone appearing so short and potentially defenseless, but in Zhou's case, it is far from the truth. Growing up, Zhou's training consisted of honing his body to a high level, continuously pushing his body to stomach-turning limits for a soul his age. Everything Zhou possessed, he worked for. In this instance, Zhou practiced in a number of different climates, honing a style that he created to perfectly suit him due to his size. This fighting style known as Wave Kata consists of two main points that gave Zhou the advantage in a number of fights, allowing for his small appearance to fool anyone. Practicing in water and on trees, Zhou spent the day in and day out perfecting his overall skill. The full potential Zhou exemplifies comes from dealing with physically stronger opponents.
The fighting style that Zhou created relies on speed, momentum, and the ability to read others to a high degree, causing this methodology of fighting to suit him quite well, especially with his training. Zhou’s fighting style bears no stance, instead, it’s based on being able to rapidly adjust his build to suit the situation at hand. Zhou’s skill extends to using every single part of his body, muscle, and appendage, to fight to the fullest degree. Although waiting to strike is the preferred strategy, and blocking is not what he usually utilizes, Zhou’s fighting style has not been seen and heard of throughout the Soul Society, instead, it’s a rather new, and ever-evolving style due to the different fighting styles that he will face. Having to constantly change and adjust causes this style to not only be difficult but can seem unreliable. Zhou utilizes his Hakuda to not only overcome this challenge, but be able to fight against all types of fighters -- Zanjutsu-based, Kidō-based, and Hakuda based.
Due to the amount of time of rigorous training, Zhou’s physical ability extends to being able to fight while unconscious. His body can naturally react, and utilize his destructive style all while he is unconscious of what is going on around him. This goes in tandem with his ability to sense Reiryoku as well as the overall tenacity Zhou possesses.
With one hundred years passing, Zhou’s body grew to the point where he literally no longer had to only rely on utilizing speed and momentum in order to fight against others. With his growth, Zhou’s own physical strength and durability did too. Regardless of his growth, his Wave Kata only grew from there. With being presented with a challenge from his Elder before, Zhou decided to take the time to truly learn the extent of his body, and what it truly meant to be a Hand-to-Hand combat master. Although his skills were great, there was still room for development and improvement as there always was. At first, Zhou’s solution was to learn Shunkō, pushing his very body to the limit, following the route that Soi Fēng did. Rather than expound upon his abilities using something such as Kido, Zhou elected to take a route that no one else could travel – something that only he could do: Wave Kata.
At first, Wave Kata only extended to manipulating momentum in order to use vibrations to cause a significant amount of internal damage. Well, with Zhou’s skills progressing in the manner that they were, on par with his own knowledge of his body, Zhou began to take this practice, theorize its limits, and test the limits thereof. The results came with brutalistically disgusting results. The first step of this was Zhou literally training his breathing – him able to utilize oxygen within his body and take full and utter control of his breathing to the point where his strength, stamina, mental processes, and even his speed, skyrocketed. Although his training in breathing was done to some degree, Zhou learned to control his breathing without even thinking about it, boosting his already powerful physical and mental prowess. This breathing also recuperates the body, allowing for things such as muscle fatigue, potential cramps, and damage to his body to be healed faster due to the overdrive his body is going through. The second part of his training caused for Zhou literally to be able to control the rate of his heart beat. Although he hasn’t fully mastered this part of his training, Zhou can increase his heart’s cardiovascular output: forcing his blood to pump through his body at an immensely fast level. This causes Zhou's skin to turn red. This increase of blood moving through the body causes an increase of speed.
With both his breathing and his heart rate manipulation, the amount of power Zhou physically possesses is one that is rarely seen – the breathing not only strengthens his body, but rejuvenates it to the point where it greatly minimizes the drawbacks of manipulating his heart. Thus, Zhou’s Hakuda takes on a level that focuses solely on the body rather than utilizing any sort of Kido. When utilizing hakuda while utilizing this perfected form of breathing, Zhou can move his arms and legs that distorts space itself, literally causing for shockwaves and the such to tear terrains asunder, combat or even potentially destroy high level Kidō based applications, and even go as far as to vehemently decimate reishi constructs with little to no hesitation. With this power combined with Zhou’s fighting style, Zhou can send his vibrations through the air which can literally decimate even a reiryoku protected body with the immense force that is driven from each attack. With such precise, quick, and powerful movements, the very kinetic energy is forced to produce heat. This heat that Zhou can generate from using his body in such a fashion has the potential to cause third degree burns to his skin as it’s not a spiritually based emission – burning his clothing is literally what’s expected when this level of Hakuda is utilized. This heat can be felt from his long range attacks. With these feats, Zhou doesn’t have to touch someone with his body to cause damage. Instead, the effects of his body in motion can cause severe external damage due to the amount of speed and strength his body now utilizes. If it wasn’t for Zhou’s training, this increase of strength would consistently leave Zhou’s muscles torn and his bones, hence why training his breathing was a focal point of his training.
Zhou’s ability to use Kidō has not been trained and honed as much as his other abilities. Despite his lack of training in Kidō, Zhou has enough reiryoku control to perform a number of lower-level Kidō techniques with ease. Although one won’t see him performing techniques that would end someone’s career with a single invocation, he is a bakudo practitioner. Generally, his bakudo aids him with his hakuda style to complement his zanjutsu style. Zhou has to recite incantations to use the given techniques that he has already trained and honed. Zhou is also able to manipulate the Kidō he has learned now to alter the standard shape while upholding the strength of the technique. For instance, Hainawa’s bright, robust usual look can be more slender or even be altered to be as thin as strings on a violin.
Known Techniques: Wave Kata (See Below)
Known Spells: Kyokkō, Hōrin, Hainawa
Skills and Abilities:
Poison Aversion
During his training within the PIT along with other training in the Onmitsukidō, Zhou was forced to ingest and was injected with different poison. Overtime, Zhou grew an immunity for most known poisons within the Seireitei.
Interrogation Master
Being a subject of torture for a number of years in practically every way imaginable with the basis of physical, mental, and emotional torture being the lessons he was taught first hand. As someone from a somewhat disguised clan, (due to their notable reputation, pride, and even the distinguished legend Sui Fēng herself) Zhou was chosen to undergo training that every other trainee chosen for the training was unable to endure. With his experience being tortured, with time honing different techniques torturing others, and sealing away certain emotions hindering him from fully empathizing and sympathizing with others, he can fully utilize his explicit training to benefit the Seireitei.
Master of the Human Anatomy
Being taught to torture and being tortured others did have some merits. Upon learning more about his own body, Zhou learned every aspect of the spiritual body from mere subjects as pressure points, generic weak spots, bone structure, and generic density, where one bleeds out the fastest, what parts of the body triggers the most pain, the structure of the nervous system -- all of it.
High Perception
Zhou’s time in the torture division, as well as his time in his youth, allowed for him to read people to the utmost degree. He can see past the exterior shells and into their minds based on even minimal actions. Almost akin to his captain’s ability to read reiatsu, but a washed-down version thereof, Zhou can read people’s intentions, tell if one is lying, and point out and even predict character attributes just from appearance and spending less than one minute with that given character with near 100 percent accuracy. This also assists in fighting bouts as Zhou can predict different moves that may arise from a given opponent.
Flexibility and Master Acrobat
Zhou’s body can bend, contort, alter, and move, unlike most normal bodies. He can do simple tricks like lift either one of his legs above his head, and slam his heel down at immense speeds in the form of a guillotine kick, but just as simple as he’s able to do that, Zhou’s able to wiggle, and writhe out of the tightest of spaces, and perform a variety of speedy vaults, back-flips, and entertaining motions that assists him in normal experiences.
High-Level of Intelligence
Zhou’s ability to naturally adapt to his surroundings, come up with solutions to the most stressful of problems, and have keen insight into the world around him is proof of his intelligence. If speed is his left hand, his intelligence is his right hand. Although he tends to be rather silent and reclusive, he always has some sort of plan or idea. Zhou’s ability to retain and mentally process information is at genius levels, hence why he can learn different techniques and adjust quickly to situations. He is a master at chess, shogi, and counting cards, but will never brag about it.
Denreishinki X
Kunai
Zhou usually carries around four kunai on his person that holds poison coated on each blade to induce paralysis. These are standard kunai in weight, shape, width, and length.
Smoke Bombs
Zhou carries four smoke bombs on his person that induce coughing and can be rather poisonous to inhale. The poisonous effects include illusions, the inability to breathe due to the inflammation of the throat, and coughing up blood.
Signature Techniques:
Wave Kata (波形 Lit. Wave Form) : A difficult style of fighting that relies on countering, positioning, speed, and precision. Utilizing Wave Kata is a skill that can't be observed and copied using the natural eye. The user minimizes their movements and focuses on openings and using their opponent's strength and speed against them. Wave Kata can be shown by forcibly using the opponent's momentum against themselves or tricking the opponent into thinking they made a successful attack through other visual or physical methods. Although this makes Wave Kata formidable, the true secret of Wave Kata is the ability to strike past objects, affecting what's inside of something and not the outside. By using powerful vibrations upon physical contact with a given object, the user can send vibrations to the innermost parts of the body, bypassing the outer layer. These vibrations vary in effect, but for the most part, the vibrations can cause contractions in certain areas, break bones, cause internal bleeding, all while the outside of the body remains unaffected. Wave Kata is a physical technique relying on pure skill, speed, and precision; it doesn't need Reiryoku to utilize.
Wave Kata: Mugen no Kokyū (波形: 無限の呼吸 Lit. Wave Form: Limitless Breathing):
This is the style of breathing that Zhou has created and honed to use subconsciously in order to drastically increase his body’s physical strength, rejuvenation, and speed, but also his mind’s thought processes (processing information, concentration, and even the speed in which his mind sends signals to the rest of his body.) – thus one’s overall fighting power.
Wave Kata: Akai Tsuki no Tōshi (波形: 赤い月の闘志 Lit. Fighting Spirit of the Blood Moon):
This technique created by Zhou manipulates one’s own heartbeat in order to increase the heart’s cardiovascular output – increasing one’s overall movement speed (velocity, acceleration, torque.). Blood flows through the body faster than what one normally would experience. This increase in blood flow results in the skin’s pigmentation to redden. This does not come without fault though as this technique manipulates heartbeat and blood flow, both potentially causing blood vessel damage, hemorrhaging, hallucinations, and heart failure. A single deep cut can potentially cause profuse bleeding while utilizing this technique.
Zanpakutō Name: Shujin Kagi (主人鍵) lit. “Master Key”
Zanpakutō Appearance: In Shujin Kagi's sealed state, Shujin Kagi takes the form of a standard thin Chinese saber. The handle is 35 centimeters while the length of the blade is 55 centimeters. The width of the blade is around 5 centimeters at its widest. The silk wrap has a gray color, securely around the handle of the blade along with a gold butt-cap and guard.
In both instances, Shujin Kagi is worn on Zhou’s back, being diagonal as the sheath is attached to his clothing most of the time and has a blue exterior along with gold designs along the ends of the piece.
Zanpakutō Spirit: Shujin Kagi appears around her early thirties with small, eccentric eyebrows, perfect eyelashes, and a rather domineering look within her piercing eyes. Her hair hangs down the length of her back. She is usually wearing fine garments, but her outfit changes each time Zhou visits her. She has a golden hue that surrounds her as if she's emitting a radiant light. She is a female spirit appearing around the age of her early 30s. She is rather stubborn and is a kleptomaniac. She enjoys taking things away, seeing it as a game more so than anything. Whatever is "sealed", she has a firm grasp on, bounding up and taking hold thereof. She claims it as her own and praises Zhou for giving her a gift. She dislikes having what she took released from her, seeking to gain it back a majority of the time. When it comes to unsealing anything, Shujin Kagi can be upset with Zhou, as it seems as if she's giving something away instead of taking things. Even with her attitude, she abides by Zhou's request. She is a rather uptight, fickle key that has a strong disdain for those she sees as beneath her, but she has a warm spot for Zhou and will do what he requests from her. She does what she can to protect Zhou from hurting and Zhou believes that since he did not have material items growing up, she is a manifestation of his "wants and desires."
Inner World: Currently, Zhou's realm looks akin to a dark hallway bearing dim lighting with a surplus of doors on the left and right side of him. With a narrow passageway, each door reveals an important event or memory to him. At this point, the floor seems to grow longer with each step Zhou takes. There is a longing to go forward to complete a seemingly never-ending journey.
Release Phrase: "Open, Shujin Kagi."
Poison Aversion
During his training within the PIT along with other training in the Onmitsukidō, Zhou was forced to ingest and was injected with different poison. Overtime, Zhou grew an immunity for most known poisons within the Seireitei.
Interrogation Master
Being a subject of torture for a number of years in practically every way imaginable with the basis of physical, mental, and emotional torture being the lessons he was taught first hand. As someone from a somewhat disguised clan, (due to their notable reputation, pride, and even the distinguished legend Sui Fēng herself) Zhou was chosen to undergo training that every other trainee chosen for the training was unable to endure. With his experience being tortured, with time honing different techniques torturing others, and sealing away certain emotions hindering him from fully empathizing and sympathizing with others, he can fully utilize his explicit training to benefit the Seireitei.
Master of the Human Anatomy
Being taught to torture and being tortured others did have some merits. Upon learning more about his own body, Zhou learned every aspect of the spiritual body from mere subjects as pressure points, generic weak spots, bone structure, and generic density, where one bleeds out the fastest, what parts of the body triggers the most pain, the structure of the nervous system -- all of it.
High Perception
Zhou’s time in the torture division, as well as his time in his youth, allowed for him to read people to the utmost degree. He can see past the exterior shells and into their minds based on even minimal actions. Almost akin to his captain’s ability to read reiatsu, but a washed-down version thereof, Zhou can read people’s intentions, tell if one is lying, and point out and even predict character attributes just from appearance and spending less than one minute with that given character with near 100 percent accuracy. This also assists in fighting bouts as Zhou can predict different moves that may arise from a given opponent.
Flexibility and Master Acrobat
Zhou’s body can bend, contort, alter, and move, unlike most normal bodies. He can do simple tricks like lift either one of his legs above his head, and slam his heel down at immense speeds in the form of a guillotine kick, but just as simple as he’s able to do that, Zhou’s able to wiggle, and writhe out of the tightest of spaces, and perform a variety of speedy vaults, back-flips, and entertaining motions that assists him in normal experiences.
High-Level of Intelligence
Zhou’s ability to naturally adapt to his surroundings, come up with solutions to the most stressful of problems, and have keen insight into the world around him is proof of his intelligence. If speed is his left hand, his intelligence is his right hand. Although he tends to be rather silent and reclusive, he always has some sort of plan or idea. Zhou’s ability to retain and mentally process information is at genius levels, hence why he can learn different techniques and adjust quickly to situations. He is a master at chess, shogi, and counting cards, but will never brag about it.
Denreishinki X
Kunai
Zhou usually carries around four kunai on his person that holds poison coated on each blade to induce paralysis. These are standard kunai in weight, shape, width, and length.
Smoke Bombs
Zhou carries four smoke bombs on his person that induce coughing and can be rather poisonous to inhale. The poisonous effects include illusions, the inability to breathe due to the inflammation of the throat, and coughing up blood.
Signature Techniques:
Wave Kata (波形 Lit. Wave Form) : A difficult style of fighting that relies on countering, positioning, speed, and precision. Utilizing Wave Kata is a skill that can't be observed and copied using the natural eye. The user minimizes their movements and focuses on openings and using their opponent's strength and speed against them. Wave Kata can be shown by forcibly using the opponent's momentum against themselves or tricking the opponent into thinking they made a successful attack through other visual or physical methods. Although this makes Wave Kata formidable, the true secret of Wave Kata is the ability to strike past objects, affecting what's inside of something and not the outside. By using powerful vibrations upon physical contact with a given object, the user can send vibrations to the innermost parts of the body, bypassing the outer layer. These vibrations vary in effect, but for the most part, the vibrations can cause contractions in certain areas, break bones, cause internal bleeding, all while the outside of the body remains unaffected. Wave Kata is a physical technique relying on pure skill, speed, and precision; it doesn't need Reiryoku to utilize.
Wave Kata: Mugen no Kokyū (波形: 無限の呼吸 Lit. Wave Form: Limitless Breathing):
This is the style of breathing that Zhou has created and honed to use subconsciously in order to drastically increase his body’s physical strength, rejuvenation, and speed, but also his mind’s thought processes (processing information, concentration, and even the speed in which his mind sends signals to the rest of his body.) – thus one’s overall fighting power.
Wave Kata: Akai Tsuki no Tōshi (波形: 赤い月の闘志 Lit. Fighting Spirit of the Blood Moon):
This technique created by Zhou manipulates one’s own heartbeat in order to increase the heart’s cardiovascular output – increasing one’s overall movement speed (velocity, acceleration, torque.). Blood flows through the body faster than what one normally would experience. This increase in blood flow results in the skin’s pigmentation to redden. This does not come without fault though as this technique manipulates heartbeat and blood flow, both potentially causing blood vessel damage, hemorrhaging, hallucinations, and heart failure. A single deep cut can potentially cause profuse bleeding while utilizing this technique.
Zanpakutō Name: Shujin Kagi (主人鍵) lit. “Master Key”
Zanpakutō Appearance: In Shujin Kagi's sealed state, Shujin Kagi takes the form of a standard thin Chinese saber. The handle is 35 centimeters while the length of the blade is 55 centimeters. The width of the blade is around 5 centimeters at its widest. The silk wrap has a gray color, securely around the handle of the blade along with a gold butt-cap and guard.
In both instances, Shujin Kagi is worn on Zhou’s back, being diagonal as the sheath is attached to his clothing most of the time and has a blue exterior along with gold designs along the ends of the piece.
Zanpakutō Spirit: Shujin Kagi appears around her early thirties with small, eccentric eyebrows, perfect eyelashes, and a rather domineering look within her piercing eyes. Her hair hangs down the length of her back. She is usually wearing fine garments, but her outfit changes each time Zhou visits her. She has a golden hue that surrounds her as if she's emitting a radiant light. She is a female spirit appearing around the age of her early 30s. She is rather stubborn and is a kleptomaniac. She enjoys taking things away, seeing it as a game more so than anything. Whatever is "sealed", she has a firm grasp on, bounding up and taking hold thereof. She claims it as her own and praises Zhou for giving her a gift. She dislikes having what she took released from her, seeking to gain it back a majority of the time. When it comes to unsealing anything, Shujin Kagi can be upset with Zhou, as it seems as if she's giving something away instead of taking things. Even with her attitude, she abides by Zhou's request. She is a rather uptight, fickle key that has a strong disdain for those she sees as beneath her, but she has a warm spot for Zhou and will do what he requests from her. She does what she can to protect Zhou from hurting and Zhou believes that since he did not have material items growing up, she is a manifestation of his "wants and desires."
Inner World: Currently, Zhou's realm looks akin to a dark hallway bearing dim lighting with a surplus of doors on the left and right side of him. With a narrow passageway, each door reveals an important event or memory to him. At this point, the floor seems to grow longer with each step Zhou takes. There is a longing to go forward to complete a seemingly never-ending journey.
Release Phrase: "Open, Shujin Kagi."
Shikai: When in Shikai form, Shujin Kagi takes the appearance of a unique spear. The length of the pole is around 1.6 meters (~5.2 feet), and the blade is around 0.5 meters (~1.64 feet). The silk, seeming to carefully clothe the pole of the spear, mimics the hue of the sheath. The width of the blade extends to being as far as seven inches. The guard that is once simplistic and gold, changes its hue and form to that of a lock, becoming a little lighter in saturation, yet still retains a powerful appearance. Although the guard is seen on one side, the other side holds a navy blue wrapping akin to the spear’s pole.
Shikai Special Ability: With Zhou's Shikai active, he holds the ability to seal and unseal the abstract, the physical, and the spiritual by striking (an) object(s) with his zanpakutō. Abstract concepts (such as emotions, potential, and memories) can be locked away or brought to the surface with his ability by pressing the hilt of his zanpakutō against the forehead of an individual. Physical aspects, i.e. the movement or usage of different parts of the body can be sealed by touching the body with his zanpakutō. More specifically, if Zhou's zanpakutō makes contact with a certain place on the body, the joint, muscle, or even limb can be subjected to being "locked"; The respective parts will be unable to move depending on the amount of reiryoku and the amount of concentration Zhou exerts. For instance, a mere finger could be grazed and if not enough reiryoku is placed into the attack, only the finger’s movement would be locked. With enough power, the entire arm or even body itself could be forced to remain stationary. Needless to say, this also depends on the amount of reiatsu exerted by the opponent at a given time or even the overall reiryoku of the opponent. The effects are ever-changing, forcing Zhou to constantly adapt to his unique ability.
Spiritual aspects, such as spiritual abilities (everything and all things revolving around reiryoku, reishi, or reiatsu) can be "sealed" if Zhou's zanpakutō connects with the given spiritual aspect. Although no one has lived to witness the feat, Zhou's ability with his Shikai can be assumed to lock away zanpakutō spirits themselves, thus halting their connection with their respective owners. This feat can be done by either continuously connecting with another zanpakutō, or by placing a seal on the zanpakutō.
All that is locked away bears a sealed marking in the shape of a lock. Invisible to all, but Zhou initially, Zhou can will the visibility for his victims. While his Shikai is active, he can seal and/or keep a given thing unsealed for as long as he wills it so, unless the individual(s) breaks through his seal(s) or forces whatever he unseals closed by exerting enough spiritual pressure, willing the lock or unlock to be released, or by sealing his zanpakutō.
Personal Relationships:
Honoka Oki: With Honoka rising the ranks and becoming captain, Zhou tends to look after her, making sure that not only her work is properly done, but making sure the affairs of the Academy are in order. This is due to how laid back Honoka is concerning affairs at different points in time.
Asahi Kujiyashiki: Just as much of a problem as he’s a solution, Asahi is someone that Zhou has spent enough time with to understand that there may be something this gremlin is up to and keeps a keen eye on him from time to time. Zhou recognizes Asahi as an asset as both a teacher and a formidable seated member of the 3rd division.
Nana Nokoribi: One of his old teachers back at the Academy. With Nana fixated more towards Zanjutsu, there are times where the two bicker about which fighting style is better.
Likes: Secretly enjoys detective and romance novels to predict the ending before he gets to said ending, clean environments
Dislikes: Being called short, Having the ending of any given thing ruined
Hobbies: Cooking, Reading, Sightseeing, Meditation
Favorite Food(s): Rice, Bean cakes, Chicken
Voice Actors: Japanese: Tomokazu Seki English: Kaiji Tang
Theme Song: Switched: True Colors
Born to emotionally devoid parents, Zhou grew up devoted to duty. The honor came from following instructions directly, with not an ounce of creativity. Even within his early youth, discipline was instilled in him. His mother's touch was as firm as his father's. Each directive given to Zhou was to be performed with the utmost perfection. There was no such thing as "going above and beyond." This concept brought about potentially destructive results. The command was either fulfilled or unfulfilled. With such black and white principles, there was no room for having a voice or opinion. Instead, his morality was morphed into what his superiors deemed to be moral. The "gut" feeling that one might have about a given instance was foreign. Even picking out casual attire was not in his arsenal. A soldier as such operated as a capable body, and his unique discipline was exemplified during his duration in the Shin'ō academy.
Despite being somewhat talented, nothing struck out in particular with Zhou. He made sure to always follow directives with the intent of perfection. Because of his ingrained obedience, he never displayed much of his personality. Due to his lack of enthusiasm and following orders as commanded, he never showed what kind of person blossomed underneath the stoic exterior. Displaying high levels of skills throughout his time at the academy brought Zhou to graduate right at the fifty-year mark. Upon graduation, though, he immediately was sent to face a challenge that his father and mother had trained him forever since he could remember -- The entrance exam for the Onmitsukidō.
When Zhou was a young soul, most endearing parents cared about the emotional side of raising their youth by giving their young affection. Instead of warm hugs, inspiring words, or even an ounce of concern for his well-being, Zhou repeatedly heard the words "Again”, “Faster”, or “I expect more tomorrow." With each passing day, Zhou's father made sure his body was honed, whereas Zhou's mother concerned herself with Zhou's mind. The two of them nurtured a warrior. To Zhou, their treatment was affection. When he was sent to take the test to be a member of the Onmitsukidō, Zhou too saw this as affection. The test was no easy feat, but regardless, Zhou was expected to pass the test. Trying did not exist. Both of his parents drilled into Zhou that failure was not an option. Being fully aware of what it meant to fail the test, Zhou passed, but in his mind only by sheer luck. As a member of a clan bearing a lower hierarchy, Zhou witnessed numerous members of clans of the same ranking as the Fēng clan fail the test. Instead of having pride in passing this test, he simply measured the feat as a responsibility he was created to do.
As a member of Onmitsukidō, Zhou was tasked with various missions. Some missions required simple surveillance. Others required heads to fly and blood to be shed. Nonetheless, Zhou completed every task that was required of him, without a single question or seemingly any regard. Years passed until finally Zhou was transferred to the Interrogation unit. Word had been spoken about the Fēng clan member who never failed a mission and survived even the harshest of trials. One higher-ranking member within the unit wanted to see Zhou's abilities for himself. Upon testing Zhou's physical, mental, and spiritual abilities, he decided to train Zhou himself on how to be a member of the interrogation unit, and he only took Zhou under his wing.
During three years, Zhou experienced every physical, mental, and emotional torture method known to the Seireitei. Zhou's day-to-day experiences altered during his duration within the PIT. The PIT stood for "Private Interrogator Training." Within those walls, no one could hear the vile screams, the pleas for help, or the cries for mercy. Instead, most found solace in potential death. Every single one of the Interrogator's subjects in the past did not survive the PIT. Either they needed to be killed due to their minds being lost, or they had managed to kill themselves. Of course, Zhou was not told this information. Instead, he was subjected to torture every single day for three years. The first-year - physical. The second-year - psychological. The third-year - emotional. The PIT was designed to keep subjects alive no matter what sort of pain they faced. Consistently healing his body, but not relieving the pain was how Zhou was able to live through the first year. For the second and third years, the PIT mesmerized Zhou. For different periods, he was forced to watch loved ones die in a plethora of ways, he was forced to witness betrayal from any angle of his life, he was forced to watch everything he did fail, he was forced to be nothing. In short, he was broken. Zhou had gone through lifetimes of suffering. Each fear Zhou had discovered and hadn't was exposed to him repeatedly. Zhou was mentally destroyed by the middle of the third year. Although lost, Zhou did have his Asuchi alongside him, and that was his "key." In the middle of the third year, the broken Zhou was taken away from the abuse and appeared in a world unfamiliar to him. Inside of a place absent of color, structure, or being, Zhou momentarily escaped from the pain, the torture, and the horror the PIT had on him. Moments after wondering exactly where he was, a voice akin to a child called out to him. Zhou could barely make out what was being said, but mid-sentence, Zhou finally did hear the voice offering to take away his pain. At first, Zhou believed it to be yet another illusion. Willing to give his very life at this point, Zhou accepted the offering, at the cost of who he truly was. Sealing away his dreams, ambitions, pain, fear, and in ways, parts of his will, Zhou had reawakened, displaying a contrast to himself previously. All of the pain, resentment, and anguish he had felt subsided. All that remained was his clear head, his devotion to his duty, and what was left of his personality. Zhou became the first successful experiment, and also was the first step in discovering his Shikai.
Harboring no resentment, Zhou gained the art of torture within his arsenal, perfecting his newfound talent. Lacking emotional pain, he felt no empathy for those he tortured. Although he never explored beyond the scope of his instructions, he displayed a promising future in the field. Part of the need for PIT was to cultivate one emotionally strong enough to torture any subjects without any discrimination. As part of the interrogation division, Zhou became a shoo-in for his ability and was sought after by a number of those who were rather tough to break. Despite the number of people he tortured, showing no bias to age, sex, or beliefs, Zhou seemed to be the same as he was the day he passed the PIT exam.
It wasn't until his later years that Zhou was able to consciously activate his Shikai. After a number of missions, tribulations, and assignments, Zhou finally was in tune with his Zanpakutō to the point where he was finally able to access his world. The layout looked akin to a dim hallway, structured with doors on both sides of him. Zhou walked through the hallway, opening different doors. Each door held a different memory. Each room was carefully constructed, organized to the letter. There was nothing out of place. Zhou saw the place as a sanctuary where he was able to relate to -- a feeling he forgot. Despite exploring as many doors as he could, he found that he could never reach the end of the hallway. Zhou examined endless doors, but it felt like none of them mattered. There was a door beyond his reach. It seemed as if no matter how many steps he took, he could never reach the door that mattered most. Finally, someone exited one of the doors appearing behind Zhou. Zhou took the opportunity to question the familiar being and found out numerous things, such as their name and where exactly he was. Zhou then described the feeling that he experienced about there being more. The spirit explained that the place was ever-growing and ever-changing. Each experience added to the structure of the world. That's when Zhou noticed that the hallway was getting longer. Zhou wondered if he could ever reach the place that called to him the most, but he settled with exploring the world, with Shujin Kagi, the spirit, as his guide. Throughout Zhou's time within his realm, Shujin Kagi always referred to him as the Gatekeeper. It wasn't long before Zhou was able to manifest Shujin Kagi, activating his Shikai.
With numerous experiences, during the time within the Onmitsukidō, Zhou was finally drafted into the second division as the fourth seat and the one in charge of the interrogation team.
Once granted, he became the most awkward Hakuda teacher one could ever fathom, at first that is. He tended to be rather strict, blunt, and heartless within his sessions, refusing to remotely think of allowing someone to pass if they didn't display a certain level of aptitude. It wasn't until he began talking to a number of students and feeling the pride that came with being a teacher that he began to blossom. He learned more about himself, gaining a sense of what made him happy -- assisting others and pushing them forward. Even though he has a harsh teaching method, Zhou continues to push those he can to their limits but not to the degree he was pushed. Learning the difference between breaking one down to be a tool, and building one up to be of great strength, Zhou's intense teaching methodologies are used to create powerful Hakuda combatants for the Soul Society.
Becoming acclimated in the 3rd Division was not without its issues, but there blossomed a number of relationships that Zhou ultimately would have not had. From training with Asahi Kajiyashiki, becoming acquainted with Honoka Oki, and consistently training with students, Zhou’s very self became more cultivated and grew significantly. With nine months of growth, there was a lot he learned and aspired to do. Not only teaching students, Zhou began training himself. With the world of the living being in shambles due to the recent events and with him being someone that eventually would take the students out into the world of the living, training was paramount. Something that would have normally taken decades to train and perform, took Zhou months. This was because of Zhou’s Zanpakutō. With Zhou’s ability to unlock his body’s potential, a conceptual ability specifically attributed to Shujin Kagi, Zhou was able to literally force his body’s abilities to planes of ability that most couldn’t fathom and force his body to heal itself at a rapid rate. With this methodology of training, Zhou’s progression wasn’t a miracle by any means. Instead, it was simply the byproduct of what his Zanpakutō could do for him – utilizing the supplementary applications thereof. With his body naturally adjusting to being in a consistent state of being unlocked while training day in and day out, Zhou began to be able to tap into his trained state without needing to utilize Shujin Kagi. With the inspiration from the games that Zhou watched at a later time, he studied various techniques and abilities from its participants. With this inspiration paired with the brutal beat-down from his clan, Zhou became stronger than before for those around him.
Character Appearance:
Last edited:
