Novo Animus

[Kishimoto Kyo]

Please read the Rules thread before reading this one.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With all of this talk about how our characters are weak at the beginning, you've probably noticed already that the Dark Warlords are going to be powerful, even this early. Your first thought might be "How the heck do we beat them? O.o" That's where the Novo Animus come in.

The Novo Animus are major sources of power for each individual person, usually taking the form of a characteristic of the person. Novo Animus are the reflection of people's souls projected into the physical world. They only appear, however, when that power is most needed. Fighting, battles, and war are just a few ways for them to appear, but not all of them will appear at such a time. Sometimes, they appear naturally, or have to awakened through other means. Ancient and nearly forgotten, no one knew it existed but with the recent events, they will appear once again. Before the Emperor was killed, none existed, but after the Dark Emperor rose to power, they began to appear across the land like wildfire. Each Novo Animus is unique to each person, with there being five powerful forms to each Novo Animus, each one being more powerful than the last.

• Zuichi (First form) - The first form of a Novo Animus, called Zuichi, can be brought out in a number of ways, either through their desire, need, or some various requirement. If someone is in danger, and are about to die, their need for a weapon or a way to save themselves or someone else will manifest into that form. However, even if that requirement is fulfilled, the person must will it to appear it, often through pure emotion. That is what the Novo Animus is, the purest wish someone wants at the peak of emotion. The Novo Animus could appear as a weapon, or a piece of clothing, or an item, depending on the person. That form is a reflection of their personality, and their soul. If one is a sword, it is for battle, or it could be one for tradition, whatever the person finds that it represents most about themselves. It could be it does not have a meaning at all, just a form best suited for that person. Once manifested, it will stay with that person for as long as they shall live.
• Sekando (Second form) - Sekando, it is a form achieved through further pure need, sometimes through conflict, and it is the form where the Novo Animus begins to show its true abilities. However, each Novo Animus has a name unique to them, and only be figuring it out can one unleash their power. Every Novo Animus is a spirit, both apart and together with their user, both a union and a binding, both a blessing and a curse. It is a contract. To communicate with their Novo Animus is to become stronger with them, and to learn their name is to become stronger together. They must work together to fulfill their wishes, there is no road inbetween. One cannot be over the other, only as one can they be truly powerful. To learn their name, they have to be let into the mind of their Novo Animus, and talk to them, in their world. Once their name is learned, one just needs to simply make a request. Speaking this request initiates this second form, and gives the user even more power than before. The appearance is altered, and the new powers are gained. In Sekando, it is aligned with both personalities of the person and the Novo Animus, sometimes even their deeper instincts and carries with it abilities they can use. Once energy is exhausted, or the person ceases fighting, the Novo Animus can return to its Zuichi form. This happens throughout all forms, regardless.
• Tora (Third form) - While most people are capable of reaching their second form, some increase their training, communicate with their Novo Animus daily, and are able to go further, achieving their third Novo form, Tora. Unknown to most people, to achieve this third form of power, they have to enter the mind of their Novo Animus and fight them on their terms. Whether or not they defeat them sometimes does not matter, it is merely the effort, but there are those who require to be defeated, before such power can be released. When it is over and the Novo Animus allows the use of their Tora form, their new form's name is revealed and their new request in order to unleash it. Once it has been reached, the Sekando form can be skipped entirely to enter Tora. From here, the abilities from the second form are carried over and are increased, sometimes changed in some way, and new abilities are learned. The appearance of the Novo may change, along with a small change to the person's physical appearance. From Sekando to Tora, their power is drastically increased, and are capable of fighting several Sekandos at once without difficulty.
• Yosumi (Fourth form) - Some can acquire their Tora form, but very few have been able to test themselves, to drive themselves far enough and live to tell about it, to release their fourth Novo form, the Yosumi. To acquire this powerful form, they have to enter a deep trace and meditation, delving deep into the confines of their soul. To disturb them will cause them to be lost in themselves, never to return back to the conscious living, forever in a coma. Usually it requires a great amount of noise, or otherwise forceful means to disturb their trace, but others may find that a soft whisper can do just as well. No one really knows what happens in their soul when they begin their trace, or when they leave it. All that is left is the knowledge of this new power, and their ability to use it. Some say they face themselves, or a past regret; others say that they face their Novo Animus again; and others still say that maybe something else happens, something so changing, it's why people never remember what happened when they leave. Once it is over, a new name is learned, and another request, sometimes longer than the others, and the Yosumi is released. Abilities from the last form are carried over, drastically increased, and new abilities appear. The appearance of the Novo changes again and the form of the person changes as well. Once released, their power increases several times fold, with only another Yosumi, or several Tora, having any chance of defeating them.
• Godaiyou (Fifth form) - Almost everyone can achieve their Zuichi, most their Sekando, others their Tora, and only very few ever get a taste of the power of their Yosumi form. But what about the fifth form, the Godaiyou? While all of the Dark Warlords have achieved their Yosumi form, only the Dark Emperor, Yandel Admir, has succeeded in obtaining his Godaiyou. Some say it's a power strong enough to destroy entire armies, and bring kingdoms to their knees. Others say the sheer power drives people mad and destroys whole cities. And some say that it's a power that makes one a god. Whatever the rumors, whatever people may think, no one knows how you reach it. No one else has acquired that kind, that peak of power...yet.

For all Dark Warlords, they are able to reach their Yosumi form, but Yandel has seal their Sekando, Tora, and Yosumi forms, allowing them free access to only their Zuichi form until he lets them. This is because of their immense power, and because if worse comes to worse, their power could end up destroying one of the already shattered pieces of the Viscus Minuo. It is uncertain if this would happen, but he doesn't want to take any chances. Plus, with their already known experience and power, their first form is quite enough to take care of most of their problems at present until something else occurs.