Personal Information
Name :: Kurogane Hotaru
Age
248; Appears to be around 19 years of age.
Appearance
Eye Colour: Deep red
Hair: Black and long, reaching her hips.
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 125 lbs
Attire: Hotaru prefers to keep her appearance somewhat refined. While she can be seen wearing casual clothes, in the event of working missions or being on duty within the Hideout she adopts a militaristic "uniform" with white and gold jacket, black shorts, stockings and white boots.
Personality
Hotaru is, for lack of better terminology, full of herself and a bit antagonistic. She knows that she has skills which she has sown to near perfection and how to use them to get her way. She feels no reason to ever really play the role of the good girl, preferring to use her strength or intelligence to fulfill any goals while toying with her opponents mentally. In normal situations she merely tolerates the presence of others unless they have proven themselves to have earned her respect, but even then she doesn't show such cheerful emotions like excitement openly. In fact Hotaru hates people who are openly cheery or energetic, leading to a bit of an unfriendly rivalry with Rin Takemura in particular. She looks down on most people which is often reflected in her language and enjoys a good bloody fight more than anything. In fact she takes a bit too much enjoyment just out of inflicting harm which has others considering her to be a true sadist. Hotaru also is someone who will go all out when she is enjoying battle, finding a true victory to lie in killing her opponents.
Powers & Abilities
Zanjutsu Master: Hotaru is a master of swordsmanship, possessing flawless precision and performing lethal attacks with little effort. All of her strikes are powerful with equally impressive speed behind them. She can perform attacks with perfect precision and stop them in an instant. Her skill in swordsmanship is great enough that she rarely requires even her Shikai in battle. Her swordplay is at a level of skill that would be expected of a Captain.
Hiryūsen (飛龍閃, Flying Dragon Flash): After assuming a Battōjutsu stance, one rotates one's body rapidly and then stops, aiming the sheath at one's target. The force shoots the sword's grip out of the sheath like an arrow, allowing one to strike a target outside of one's zone. As a Battōjutsu move, it can be assumed that the sheath can then be used as a melee weapon in a second strike.
Ryūkansen (龍巻閃, Dragon Coiling Flash): Most often used as a counterattack against a thrust or charge, one sidesteps a forward-moving opponent and moves past them. In doing so, one spins in a full circle, adding momentum and centrifugal force to the strength of the sword swing, which is then aimed at either the opponent's back or the back of the neck.
Ryūkansen ● Tsumuji (龍巻閃・旋, Dragon Coiling Flash: Whirl): One of the variations of Ryūkansen, Ryūkansen Tsumuji is a direct attack rather than a counter, and involves a more forward direction of spinning, such as in a drilling motion like a torpedo.
Ryūkansen ● Arashi (龍巻閃・嵐, Dragon Coiling Flash: Storm): A variation of the normal Ryūkansen, this technique places the swordsman is in a full rolling somersault slash while attacking.
Kuzuryūsen (九頭龍閃, Nine-Headed Dragon Flash): A dashing attack that uses Shinsoku (Godspeed) to simultaneously strike all nine vital spots on the foe's body from a normal kendō stance, as each of these nine points are the main targets for different swordstyles. It is said to be undodgeable and nearly unblockable. The strength of the move's "nine heads" will differ greatly depending on the strength of the user.
Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki (天翔龍閃, Flash of the Heavenly Flying Dragon): Hotaru's secret ultimate technique is a powerful Battōjutsu technique. Though its form is that of any other Battōjutsu strike, it differs in that - while a normal strike is performed by drawing the katana from its sheath while stepping forward with the opposite foot - this strike adds yet another step mid-draw with the foot adjacent to the sheath. This endangers the user by possibly putting the adjacent leg into the free sword's path and draws one even closer to an opponent than usual for the sake of boosting both the power and the speed of the swing. Additionally, this is a two-step move and, if its secret should be anticipated and the strike itself blocked or dodged, the second step comes immediately into effect. The immense force of the enhanced draw cuts the air in front of it and creates a powerful vacuum in its wake as the deflected air rushes back into place. Any opponent to deflect or dodge the first swing will automatically be subject to this vacuum and inexorably pulled closer to the user, all the while this vacuum creates intense winds powerful enough to overwhelm and catch their opponents off balance. With the great amount of force being applied to this technique, a missed swing leads naturally into an accelerated spin of such centripetal force. The added momentum of the spin in addition to the pulling force of the vacuum on both side results in a second strike that greatly dwarfs the first in power.
Keen Intellect: Hotaru has shown herself to be very intelligent. She is also knowledgeable in the history and proceedings of the world. Her intelligence allows her to compensate for her own weaknesses better, also when opposed by a more powerful opponent and adapt to a battle situation with greater ease. When pressed into a dangerous situation, she can rely on her brains to figure out an effective approach.
Master Manipulator: Hotaru has shown herself to be a very crafty and cunning woman. She is able to deceive and manipulate others around her in different ways for a variety of purposes. She has a great talent for analyzing and observing everything in her presence, allowing her to quickly understand a person's pattern of thinking and better manipulate them. Her plans with others often involve long term strategies where she moves other people around like pieces on a chessboard and ensuring they play the part she intended for them. Her most elaborate schemes to get people to do what she wants is often premeditated many steps in advance. She is also a cunning provocateur, very adept at finding people?s mental weak spots and then provoking them with petty discussions and word plays. Despite this she is extremely well able to hide her true demeanor, even making the people closest to her believe she is the total opposite of what she really is.
Keen Strategist: Her skill at battle tactics is profound, as leading officer she regularly sends the troops to engage in battle, be it smaller or larger threats.
Master Tactician: She has shown herself to be a masterful and flexible tactician, capable of adjusting seamlessly to any given combat situation, if not planning out events well in advance. She understands the strengths, weaknesses and mannerisms of her enemies, and creates strategies to achieve victory; this includes preparing traps or leading her enemies along complex battle plans so she can even deal with enemies stronger than herself. Like this Hotaru can prepare victory many steps in advance and even incorporate her enemies and their plans into her grand scheme. Regardless of her own powers or those of others, Hotaru always remains a tactically cautious.
Great Reiatsu: Hotaru boasts a great amount of Reiatsu. It is enough to induce fear into those with only an average amount, causing them to slow down considerably. She can exert large amounts of it with considerable effect and empower her attacks making it harder to block her strikes or undo her defenses to those who are of lesser power.
Great Speed: Hotaru has demonstrated great speed and keen reflexes in battle. Even when caught by surprise from an enemy's attack, she can react in time to skillfully dodge or counter the assault. Offensively, she can keep up a quick and rapid assault which forces most opponents on the defense, as she leaves no openings in his attacks.
Great Endurance: Hotaru has incredible physical stamina, allowing her to endure the hardships of battle for a great length of time without slowing down. Only when utilizing constant high speed movement for an extended amount of time will she start showing signs of fatigue. Even with several wounds she can keep on fighting without significant physical hindrance.
Hohō Expert: Hotaru excels in Shunpo. Though not particularly versed in its various techniques, she is proficient enough in the technique itself to keep up with and even surprise high-level Shinigami with her speed. She can even keep up with those of master level for an indeterminate amount of time. She is also very quick at close-range, being able to perceive and dodge swift sneak attacks and come out unscathed.
Kidō Expert: Hotaru excels at Kidō, being able to cast powerful spells up to #79, while not requiring a full incantation up to #63. She can use multiple spells in conjunction with each other, creating a unique way in which to attack and incapacitate her opponents. In this way, she can make common spells all her own. She can use a single Kidō technique on two separate targets at once. She can use high-level Kidō in rapid succession without incantations and still retain considerable control and power. She has great skill in using various spells in unique combination, even using multiple spells at the same time. However, she requires incantations when using high-level spells simultaneously.
Reiraku (Spirit Threads): by closing her eyes he can visualize the Reiatsu sources of those around her in a very wide area. They are represented by ribbons, where white ribbons are your average Plus Soul. Any other is colored Red however and by grabbing them Hotaru unveils that person's level of power and location. This takes a moment of full concentration.
Zanpakutō
殺気 Sakki - Thirst for Blood: Hotaru's zanpakuto takes the sealed form of a standard, traditional katana. There are no special frills to it. It has a pretty standard-issue tsuba and hilt. The hilt wrappings and sheathe are both blood red in color.
Shikai: Its Release Command is Fukusuru - Submit. Upon release, Hotaru's zanpakuto undergoes a drastic change in appearance. No longer steel and navy, her shikai splits the blade into two separate blood red swords. The length of the blades remains the same, but with thicker and more jagged looking blades they are a far cry from the typical steel one would expect. They are identical to each other and almost appear as if they've long ago been died in the blood of her victims.
➀ 血判 Keppan - Seal of Blood: Every time the Shikai cuts, blood from the inflicted wound is placed under its curse which causes the blood to spread from the wound and solidify to hinder the movement of the injured opponent via binding. The greater the wound, the greater the amount of blood chains to hinder Hotaru's target. Additionally, Hotaru seems to have greater control over the blood of those exerting less power than she, allowing the bindings to become much more dense and difficult to remove. With the control over the blood spilled, Hotaru is also able to manipulate the bindings to deal further damage to her opponent by causing the blood to solidify in a thorny fashion, potentially spreading the curse as well. However to do that exerts more power on her part.
Bankai: 心血 Shinketsu - Heart's Blood: Upon bankai release, Hotaru's blades from shikai melt, their new bloody form spreading along her body to make its new shape in skimpy red leather and black fishnet. Replacing the blades are now bladed gauntlets on her arms, and a iron cross strapped upon her back. Just in front of her circle what appear to be four eyes in a red ring, all closed until made relevant. Some of her black hair has also been turned red, her twin tails becoming loose upon speaking the True Name.
➀ Hyperspeed Combat: Hotaru takes all the Bankai's power and compressed it into a small compressed form to perform high speed combat. This speed enhanced Shunpo and attack speed to above what is ordinarily possible for a Shinigami; even a fast one. Dozens of speed clones can be created to confuse and dazzle opponents as well.
➀ Increased Cutting Power: As another effect of being a condensation type, the Reiatsu being condensed within the weapon makes each attack from 心血 Shinketsu - Heart's Blood deal extra heavy damage and capable of more easily damaging opponents.
➀ 血液銀行 Ketsuekiginkou - Blood Bank: Any time Hotaru's Bankai draws blood from an opponent's body, the four eyes floating around Hotaru absorb the spilled blood, and they do so with enough force to pull out more blood than the wound would normally produce! Every time this happens, one of the eyes is filled, and opens as a result. Each eye that opens gives Hotaru's body a Reiryoku-enforced film of the opponent's blood to lessen the damage she takes. This ability stacks until all four eyes are wide open, at which point all attacks toward her deal only half the amount of damage they normally would, unless Hotaru finds herself completely outmatched in terms of power.
➀ 血祭り Chimatsuri - Bloodbath; Victimisation: At the cost of one blood eye, and thus part of her resistance to incoming damage, Hotaru unleashes a powerful beam of concentrated energy. This uses blood absorbed from the opponent in addition to a bit of Hotaru's own blood as a catalyst, and targets the enemy whose blood Hotaru had sealed in the now-closed eye. If she wishes, Hotaru may sacrifice additional eyes to multiply the power of the blast and also increase its ability to hunt down its target.
➀ 輸血 Yuketsu - Blood Transfusion: A regeneration ability that uses blood stolen from the opponent over the course of Hotaru's Bankai. By closing two of the four eyes, Hotaru may heal all minor injuries on her person in a single turn. If she sacrifices three of them, she may regenerate moderate injuries, up to deep gashes or fractured bones. By choosing to seal all four eyes, Hotaru becomes able to regenerate limbs with stolen blood! This ability takes its toll on Hotaru as well though, as in exchange for recovering her injuries, not only does her Bankai lose its power, but she must utilize an amount of Reiryoku equivalent to the amount of her body being healed as well. If she regenerates too much at once, or even over time, she could very easily use up all of her energy in the process.
Hollowfication
Hollow Mask: Hotaru's vizard mask takes the shape of a blood red butterfly mask. Her face is not totally obscured by it, though it does serve its purpose. While one solid color there is some detailing that spreads from the eye holes for the mask, the wings stretching beyond her temples. Her eyes, when masked are a color well-fitted to the woman: blood red irises with black sclera.
Hotaru can hold her mask for a total of 28 turns.
Power Augmentation: While Hotaru is wearing the mask, her Hollow powers supplement her Shinigami powers, giving her an increase in Reiatsu which is enough to equal most Shikai on its own. Coupled with her own Reiatsu she becomes a more dangerous foe while coupling her Hollow powers to her other ones.
○ Immense Strength: while Masked she is strong enough to stop even powerful attacks, when the opponent is weakened even stopping their releases with a single hand and likely end the fight with a single swing. Likewise she can also inflict tremendous damage with her bare hands, even to releases of weaker opponents. Her strength is described as being ?scary?, a fearsome weapon in its own right which can dictate the conditions of battle. She can fend of huge weapons with only one hand and easily cleave highly durable armor with a single strike.
○ Augmented Durability By significantly increasing her Hollow Reiryoku for an instance, Hotaru can deflect heavy attacks to her body while she himself is relying on Reiryoku alone. Although being a rapid incline in raw power it is precisely steered towards the impact site, nullifying the incoming energy with a direct opposite energy. Although this can stop heavy sword hews and even diminish high level Kido and Cero it does exact a heavy toll on the her Mask, lowering the number of turns she can still hold it by 5 or it will break immediately after.
○ Hollow Combat: When Hotaru fights with her mask on, her fighting style becomes more instinctive than practiced. The Hollow mask makes Hotaru more ruthless, akin to the battle style of a Hollow. Throughout the duration of the Hollowfication, Hotaru displays less concern for injuries to her person, even ignoring grievous wounds to continue fighting.
○ Cero: Hotaru can fire a powerful blast of concentrated spiritual energy at a target. She can fire a standard Cero, taking the shape of a projectile or a beam. It requires considerable loading time, making it unwieldy in a direct confrontation. Her Cero can deal heavy damage to anyone even when not completely loaded. As an explosion however, it can deal greatly enhanced damage when suffered point blank.
○ Extended Duration: After having achieved domination of her Hollow, Hotaru has the ability to hold her Mask for an extended duration of time. This allows her to fight Masked for much longer amount of time than normally possible!
○ Mask Re-Summon: When her Mask is broken or runs out of time, Hotaru can summon it again. It will then only last for 7 turns.
Second Form
After being Hollowfied for 10 posts, the mask starts to change its shape. In this form the size of the mask expands, and the mask gains black markings in addition to the blood red coloring. When this happens she is deeply Hollowfied and can no longer access Shikai or Bankai.
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