Progressive Comprehension - Shikai 3

"Are you too proud too call upon me for aid?" Called out a voice that echoed through Kurama's mind. Kuro's voice slowly began to fade away such as the Fourth Squad Officer's surroundings... "Master?" Kurama replied to the disembodied voice. "Do you not wish to utilize the abilities that I've imparted unto you?" continued the voice.

Kurama was soon able to see a familiar setting fading into view around him. He was atop one of the snow-cover mountains that existed in the inner realm. "No master, it is not a show of pride but rather my lack of will to continue. It is impossible to defeat such an opponent in these circumstances, even with a captain's assistance.", Kurama replied weakly.

"Alleged 'impossibilities' are opportunities for our capacities to be stretched." A familiar figure called out to him as it approached the lad. "Do you wish to live through this challenge?"

"Of course! But how can I defeat it? What could you possibly do to make such an offer of survival a reality?!" Kurama shouted at his mentor, fear had stricken the boy, causing his judgement as well as his trust in the bond between him and his zanpakuto to weaken.

"Without the trust and devotion that I deserve from you, I believe it will be impossible to show you anything at all..." Kurama lowered his head and began to recompose himself. "I apologize master, it will not happen again. If you have further knowledge to bestow upon me then I would greatly appreciate it..." A few minutes of silence passed as the two men sat, facing one another.

"You are forgiven. The knowledge you so desperately seek is one that is unlike you have ever tried before. It allows you, like your current enemy to move about in the form of your own element. It is both a great weapon and a great risk, a double-edged sword. If you are in this form, it is possible that you can be trapped should your element disappear from the field of battle, use it wisely..."

"I will master, please show me this ability." Kurama replied, looking his master in the eyes once more. It is hard to believe that only minutes earlier the bond between them had been tested for now it was stronger than ever.

"Empty your mind and spread your energy to every part of your body. Imagine your body spreading out, past the limits of solidity and becoming one with the element around you. The liquid that makes up such a large portion of your being crystallizes and becomes a loose collection of snow, your entire form, becoming the very ice that you wield as a weapon. Moving freely about as the winds toss and turn you only to become what you once were again. Keeping yourself in such a form is not hard, concentration is only slightly required. Be mindful however, should the element that you have joined yourself with be removed, you will be trapped in a kind of limbo until it is replenished..."

"I understand master..." Kurama cleared his mind as his master had instructed and imagined himself becoming one with the snow. "Now speak the words... Hyousetsu Katachi."

"Hyousetsu Katachi!" Kurama's body exploded into tiny shards of ice that broke down even further into a light powder that was immediately carried off by the winds that whipped around in this realm. He was able to observe so much more than before in this form since he was able to spread himself over a much wider distance. He could see around himself at all angles at once and was barely able to tell which particles of snow he was made up of... He soon condensed his body once more before his master and bowed low to the ground. "Thank you master, I never should have doubted you..."

[The realm slowly fades away as Kurama returns to the misty battle field...]


Call out phrase: Bow before the Frozen Sage!, Kurounin Aisu!

Description of released form: Kurounin Aisu transforms from its standard katana form to a nodachi or, what some refer to it as, a large nihontō. The blade shimmers a light blue and is cold to the touch. One would normally find holding such a freezing cold blade to be painful after about a minute or so but the icy tinge is not felt by the owner. The symbols "すべては氷である" are engraved on either side of the blade.


Abilities:

Ability 1: Aisu Shaddo (Rank 3 Required)

Description of ability: This is Kurounin Aisu's "Ice Barrage" technique. The blade essentially shatters into three dozen long, thin shards of ice that can be controlled by his owner. There are basically two ways to use this technique, the first being obvious. A barrage of ice shards strike at the foe, easily destroyable though can be reformed for another attack depending on the amount of spiritual energy the wielder has remaining. The second is a simple wall of ice, able to block low-leveled kidos and small energy attacks. It increases in power as the user grows in skill with the technique.

Ability 2: Touketsu Reiki (Rank 4 Required)

Description of ability: This is Kurounin Aisu's "Frozen Aura" technique. The area around Kurama begins to decrease severely in temperature. In a moist environment, it will begin to snow. As time passes, the snow will increase in downfall speed and thickness. Kurama can control the snow merely by thinking about it, not requiring verbal or somatic guidance. As long as there is moisture in the air, Kurama's spiritual energy slowly regenerates, allowing for his shikai to fuel itself. This will also increase the number of ice shards that appear as time passes.

Ability 3: Hyousetsu Katachi (Rank 5 required)
Description of ability: This is Kurounin Aisu's "Snow Shape" technique. Kurama will be able to transform into a mass of snow flurries that amounts to the same volume as his body. He can move freely around in the air without others being able to discern him from any other flake of snow. The snow does not take the actual shape of a human and can be spread over an area up to 30 meters wide. They can float freely in the air rather than be affected by gravity but in a windstorm or blizzard it would be virtually impossible to see this. Kurama may return to his human form at any time and repeat this technique so long as there is enough snow in the area to equal his initial volume. If all the snow flurries are melted, they will be replaced by surrounding reishi as long as the temperature remains cold. There is no way to kill Kurama in this state but very possible to keep him trapped in a kind of limbo if he has no way to refreeze the snow flurries that make up his body.

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