Shikai
Shikai Release Command: Fukitobasu (吹き飛ばす, literally meaning "Blow Off")
Shikai Appearance: Same with sealed appearance.
Shikai: Shikkyaku no Kaze is an elemental Zanpakutou and the element it controls is air. Aside from that, it also has property over energy which allows Eldridge to possess energy based techniques as well. The main power of Shikkyaku no Kaze gives his user the control of the air and the winds. Air is said to be the element of freedom, and with creativity and right usage it can become a strong ally, especially when combined with the energy aspect. Eldridge has demonstrated several ways of using this, such as but not limited to; decreasing the air resistance around him and making it easier for him to maneuver while increasing his initial speed, creating an air sprout to levitate, condensing the air itself to create a direct pulse of almost solid wind for offensive purposes. Being an elemental Zanpakutou, Shikkyaku no Kaze’s and Eldridge’s spiritual pressure form in the shape of winds. This makes the winds blow instead of giving Eldridge a glowing appearance when he releases his reiatsu, while also giving him partial access to his Wind and Air Manipulation powers in his sealed stated.
Wind Manipulation:
It activates itself after Shikai is activated. With this power the user can create, control, and manipulate the winds as well as the air using very little reiatsu. It is not an attack but with enough creativity and the right usage it can be used offensively.
Kazekiri (風切り, literally meaning "Wind Cutter"):
Kazeyūheki (風流壁, literally meaning "Wind-Style Wall"):
Shinkūgyoku (真空玉, literally meaning "Vacuum Sphere"):
Shikai Appearance: Same with sealed appearance.
Shikai: Shikkyaku no Kaze is an elemental Zanpakutou and the element it controls is air. Aside from that, it also has property over energy which allows Eldridge to possess energy based techniques as well. The main power of Shikkyaku no Kaze gives his user the control of the air and the winds. Air is said to be the element of freedom, and with creativity and right usage it can become a strong ally, especially when combined with the energy aspect. Eldridge has demonstrated several ways of using this, such as but not limited to; decreasing the air resistance around him and making it easier for him to maneuver while increasing his initial speed, creating an air sprout to levitate, condensing the air itself to create a direct pulse of almost solid wind for offensive purposes. Being an elemental Zanpakutou, Shikkyaku no Kaze’s and Eldridge’s spiritual pressure form in the shape of winds. This makes the winds blow instead of giving Eldridge a glowing appearance when he releases his reiatsu, while also giving him partial access to his Wind and Air Manipulation powers in his sealed stated.
Wind Manipulation:
It activates itself after Shikai is activated. With this power the user can create, control, and manipulate the winds as well as the air using very little reiatsu. It is not an attack but with enough creativity and the right usage it can be used offensively.
- Air blast: A more offensive move involving a direct pulse or jet of almost solid wind from the hands, feet, or sword. The force of the attack is generated more from the user's own power, rather than assisted by momentum. This direct blast can reach further with greater accuracy, and is used to inflict greater damage.
- Air manipulation: By using circular, evasive movements, user builds up massive momentum; this build up of energy is released as massive power. It also allows for wind-based counter-attacks that knock opponents off-balance, mimicking the sudden directional shifts of air currents. Attacks vary from simple gusts of wind to miniature tornadoes and cyclones, maintaining the circular theme.
Kazekiri (風切り, literally meaning "Wind Cutter"):
- Description: Kazekiri is an offensive technique that combines brute force and keen precision. At the instant of the slash or the swipe, the Zanpakutō or the limb (depending on which one is being used), uses the Air Manipulation to manipulate and enhance pre-existing air currents. After the air is sharpened and compressed during the swing or the swipe, it's released from the tip of the blade or the limb, magnifying the slash attack, which then flies forward. The wind flows out of the blade in different shapes as it fires in the arc of the sword’s swing but the slash usually takes the form of a crescent-shaped structure of compressed air or the shape of a wave. Kazekiri is a powerful technique with great force, capable of creating large-scale damage and destruction or slicing through multiple targets located a significant distance from the user, causing grievous injuries to those hit. Eldridge has used this technique in several different manners, such as striking the ground to create an omnidirectional blast to knock away incoming attacks or slashing at the ground to upturn it and crush everything in its path. This technique can also be charged up by adding reiatsu to it and can produce more damage. Additionally, Kazekiri is often seen being used as a ranged attack, though it's also possible to utilize it in short range by keeping the technique intact around the sword, limb or hand without releasing it.
- Mechanics: Kazekiri's most outstanding feature is the fact that it uses the existent air to form itself. This allows Eldridge to use spiritual pressure not to create or form the technique, but enhance it instead. This makes Kazekiri effective since the same amount of reiatsu can be used for a stronger attack. As Eldridge has elemental reiatsu and is able convert it into air itself, even if there is no air around (which is hardly possible) there is still a way for Kazekiri to be utilized.
- History: Before getting an Asauchi specially created for his blood, this technique was known as Koroshi no Kaze. Unlike Kazekiri, Koroshi no Kaze didn't make use of the already existent winds. Instead, it used only the spiritual pressure channeled inside the sword, which was deemed to be pretty inefficient in terms of depleting Eldridge's reiatsu reserves quickly over prolonged use.
- Trivia: Kazekiri is performed by making reiatsu as sharp and thin as possible. Its name is actually a reference to this quality, as it's so sharp that it can cut even the wind itself.
Kazeyūheki (風流壁, literally meaning "Wind-Style Wall"):
- Description: Kazeyuuheki is a defensive technique that lets Eldridge create a barrier. The barrier can be created either in front of the sword or a limb. Creating it in front of the sword results in a barrier without a stationary shape: it looks as if it has a rounded outline but the edges seem to constantly move like the winds. It is greater than Eldridge himself, both in height and width. Choosing to apply the technique in front of a limb, however, results in a more solid-looking barrier. In such sets of circumstances, a hexagonal-shaped barrier forms in front of the said limb. The barrier is smaller than Eldridge, but still relatively bigger than the limb he uses it with. This actually allows him to freely switch between offense and defense, allowing him to even use the shield to attack an opponent with a sharp tackle. He can also be seen using the barrier to parry an attack and proceed with a counter with his sword.
- Mechanics: Like Kazekiri, Kazeyuuheki also uses the existent air to form itself and spiritual pressure to strengthen and enhance it. Both types of the shields are created by compressing the already existing winds, enhanced by reiatsu. They only protect the direction that the barrier is facing. Yet, Eldridge can turn and face his opponent or the attack in the direction that it is coming from and block it, not to mention that he is able to move around with the shield active.
- History: Before learning about his true Zanpakutou, Eldridge used an incomplete form of this technique called Kaze no Tate. Unlike Kazeyuuheki, Kaze no Tate didn't make use of the existent winds at all. It used reiatsu instead. It also concentrated the power of the technique at a single point rather than distributing it evenly, making it rather easier to break. Kaze no Tate also required Eldridge to remain motionless in order to function better.
- Trivia: Eldridge thinks of this technique as a great wall standing between him and his enemies, preventing them from advancing any further. This is a reference to the technique's name.
Shinkūgyoku (真空玉, literally meaning "Vacuum Sphere"):
- Description: Shinkuugyoku is a neutral technique that is based on the concept of nullification. Eldridge rotates his sword facing it in opposite direction, engulfing his blade, legs or arms (depending on how he uses it) with a large wind. Afterwards, he aims towards his target and releases it. The wind forms a spinning circle of wind. Upon contact with a target, it envelops the target with tornado-like intensity. Shinkuugyoku is not only dangerous, but can disorient an opponent trapped within it. If a limited source of spiritual pressure is hit, such as a projectile (a Soukatsui for example), the technique absorbs the reiatsu stored inside and transfers it to Eldridge, thus nullfying the incoming attack. If a living and potential source of spiritual pressure is hit (a source that can produce reiatsu to be exact), the technique absorbs 10% of the target's reiatsu and transfers it to the user.
- Mechanics: Shinkuugyoku is quite unique among other techniques, since it's set to be activated at a certain time, which is in fact the moment it hits its intended target. It uses pre-existing air to form its wind just like the other techniques, but waits until it receives a further reiatsu enhancement. With these pre-programmed actions, the technique uses a small amount of spiritual pressure from the first source it makes contact with to activate itself. Afterwards, it starts functioning as it ought to and transfers the reiatsu from the same source to Eldridge. This way, he can conjure the technique and use it without having to use his own spiritual pressure. The only risk is the possibility of Shinkuugyoku missing its target. In that case, Shinkuugyoku uses Eldridge's reiatsu only and gives him a temporary exhaustion, as if he had been exposed to prolonged activity. Eldridge is also able to manipulate the size and range of the aforementioned wind. But doing so will have an influence on the overall usefulness of Shinkuugyoku, as making it bigger decreases the amount of spiritual pressure that can be absorbed from a target. At one point the amount of reiatsu required to activate Shinkuugyoku surpasses the amount that is transferred, due to its size. This makes the technique use Eldridge's reiatsu and make him feel the fatigue, even if it hits its target successfully.
- History: Gensoku no Kaze, the name of the former version of Shinkuugyoku, was incapable of transferring reiatsu stored up in projectile-type attacks. Not only that, but its usage in Bankai would block his access to his ultimate technique. This was caused by how abnormally Gensoku no Kaze functioned, as it would alter Eldridge's reiatsu pathway system. With Eldridge learning and mastering the true nature of this technique, these obstacles were lifted.
- Trivia: Shinkuugyoku is often referred as the technique that resembles a void because of its concept of nullification. This is also a hint to its name, since vacuum defines a space that is entirely devoid of matter.