[CJ] An Imperfect Art

[KeotsuEclipse]

I am no longer asking.

Spoiler: General Command Arts

(Kamei Gigei: Kougenjin) Command Art: Mirage Blade

Spoiler

Rank: A
Type: Offensive
Range: Short-Long
Chakra Cost: 30
Damage: 60
Description: Unlike other Kenjutsu shockwaves which are generally large, Kougenjin is a relatively small shockwave that’s size is the same as the blade length of the sword used to launch it. Sacrificing power for speed and quantity, Mirage Blade travels at speeds comparable to same ranked Fire jutsu. an incredible pace, relative to the user’s rank; Mirage Blade, when used by a Sannin, would be about twice as fast as a shockwave fired from the Samurai Sabre Technique, though its destructive force is obviously much less. A large amount of chakra is focused inside the user’s blade in the form of a constant flow – though normally the chakra could envelope the sword, here the chakra creates a shell on the inside of the blade, allowing the chakra to rebound infinitely and resonate with itself. When the user slashes their sword, it releases a portion of this chakra in the form of a white, rippling shockwave; thus the name Mirage Blade. Mirage Blade also carries the properties of the blade used to fire it, as well as its size; this means that if the blade used to fire Mirage Blade is sharp enough, Mirage Blade will pass through solid objects by slicing them in half and continuing on, much like a Wind element jutsu would.

Spoiler

*Three shockwaves can be fired per use.
*This jutsu may be only be used 3 times per match.
*Useable and taught by Keotsu only.

(Kamei Gigei: Rekkyōdan) Command Art: Violent Mirror Severing

Spoiler

Type: Offensive
Rank: S
Range: Short-Long
Chakra Cost: 40
Damage: 80
Description: A technique based upon the premises of two of Keotsu's other Command Arts - his signature shockwave Kougenjin, and a Prayer technique known as Zekkyōdan, Rekkyōdan aims to push the principles of these attacks to their absolute limits. The user will gather chakra around their blade, coating in it a glass like layer; swinging the blade breaks the high tension layer of chakra and projects it forward, like the fragments of a broken mirror. The user can control the spread over the shattered attack, allowing it to cover either wide area to affect multiple opponents, or focus it into a tight cone to strike an individual adversary. No matter the scope of the area covered by the attack, though, the technique always launches 80 individual shockwaves.

Spoiler

*Note: Can be used up to three times per turn, with a cooldown of turns equal to the number of times it was used.
*Note: Launches 80 shockwaves with a single use. These shockwaves are not enhanced individually with boosts or augmentations; instead, the boost is applied to the entirety of the technique.

Spoiler: Prayer Series Command Arts

(Kamei Gigei: Saisho no Inori: Hikaru Aki Hasira) Command Art: First Prayer: Shining Autumn Pillar

Spoiler

Rank: A
Type: Offense/Supplementary/Defense
Range: Self
Chakra: 30 ( - 10 per turn )
Damage: N/A
Description: The first of the “Prayer” series of the Command Arts, Hikaru Aki Hashira, often called “Aki-gamae (autumn stance)” by its users, is a Kenjutsu stance instead of an actual attack. It is a variation of the Waki-gamae in that the user holds their blade at waist level, parallel to the ground, whether in its scabbard or not, a position best suited for quick-draw strikes. The user focuses their chakra throughout their entire body in a steady stream while in this stance, increasing their physical strength by 20 damage as well as their speed by double. This increase in ability comes about from the chakra augmenting the muscles naturally, instead of forcefully, essentially putting the body in a natural “peak” condition. This chakra also coats the user’s blade and allows the counter-offensive nature of Aki come through. Whether sheathed or not, the user can swing their blade and dispel an incoming attack by disrupting it. This allows the user to negate techniques of equal chakra and lower. The method of blocking attacks is based upon the concept of an immovable pillar.

Spoiler

*The First Prayer can only shield the user from attacks of equal or lower chakra cost.
*This Jutsu lasts 3 turns each use and can only be used 3 times each, requiring a break of equal time.
*Blocking an attack counts against one of the three allotted moves in a turn.

(Kamei Gigei: Fukutsu no Inori: Gokumonken) Command Art: Prayer of Fortitude: Prison Gate Sword

Spoiler

Rank: A
Type: Supplementary/Defense
Range: Self
Chakra: 30
Damage: N/A
Description: A refinement of the First Prayer: Hikaru Aki Hasira, this technique expands the ability of the First Prayer. Where as Shinning Autumn Pillar is locked only to the user’s weapon, and forces them to stand in a specific stance, this technique covers the entirety of the user’s body and transfers the defensive ability of it. This allows the user to fight unhindered by having to remain in one stance, while also allowing the effects of the First Prayer to extend to their entire body. Besides this saturation, Gokumonken provides one extra effect: techniques that would be destroyed by the First Prayer’s effect can instead be reflected back at the opponent, taking the place of the First Prayer’s defensive ability, but still counting as an additional move per turn.

Spoiler

*Cannot be used unless the First Prayer is active.
*This technique does not last as long as the First Prayer; However, this technique when triggered can be used once per turn on techniques of equal chakra and lower.
*Can only be used twice in a battle.
*Reflecting attacks back counts as a move per turn, and is bound by the limitations of the First Prayer's abilities of defense.

(Kamei Gigei: Dai ni no Inori: Zekkyōdan) Command Art: Second Prayer: Broken Mirror Severing

Spoiler

Rank: S
Type: Offensive/Defensive
Range: Short-Mid
Chakra: 40
Damage: 80
Description: The second in the “Prayer” series of Command Arts, Zekkyōdan differs in its working depending on if the user’s blade is being resheathed or drawn, though in both cases the move is a strange type of Battōjutsu, meaning that it involves multiple cuts. In the event that the sword is being sheathed, there is a quick flash as the blade’s guard meets the top of the scabbard, during which a chakra burst creates a countless number of cuts in a 360 degree short-range dome around the user; this being the defensive variant of the move. When unsheathing the blade, however, the affect is “launched”; that is, when the blade is unsheathed, a cyclone of chakra is shot forward, with the chakra inside the cone-like structure acting as tiny knives, shredding that which they come into contact with; this is the offensive variant of the move.

Spoiler

*Cannot be used unless the first “Prayer” has been activated.
*Can only be used once per turn.
*Due to needing to reset their stance, this move cannot be used back-to-back, even between turns, meaning another technique must be used in between uses.
*Due to how this technique operates, this is not purely a Kenjutsu technique, being a Ninkenjutsu.

(Kamei Gigei: Dai san no Inori: Sōgenmu) Command Art: Third Prayer: Twin Phantasms

Spoiler

Rank: B
Type: Supplementary
Range: Short-Long
Chakra Cost: 20
Damage: N/A
Description: The Third in the “Prayer” series of Command Arts, Sōgenmu is a type of Shadow Bunshin developed specifically for sword users. The user will coat their body in a layer of chakra, creating a rainbow colored doppelganger. This doppelganger mimics every attack the user makes, down to even the launching of shockwaves and the amount of force behind an attack. At first, the doppelganger fluctuates only slightly around the user, making it appear as if the user is surrounded by some sort of haze. As time progresses, and the phantasm becomes more unstable, the user can “slide” and “rotate” the doppelganger away from them; though it will still mimic the user’s moves exactly, it will remain a set distance from the user. This changing in orientation allows the user to use the doppelganger to maximum effect.

Spoiler

*Cannot be used unless the first “Prayer” has been activated.
*Follows all rules for Shadow Clones and variations.
*Every jutsu that the clone uses counts as an additional move per-turn. This technique also counts as a Ninjutsu.
*The distance the clone can move is as follows: T1: Short; T2: Between Mid-Short; T3: Mid; T4: Between Mid-Long; T5: Long.

(Kamei Gigei: Saigo no Inori: Tenshōha) Command Art: Final Prayer: Heaven’s Illumination Conquest

Spoiler

Rank: Forbidden
Type: Offensive
Range: Short-Long
Chakra: 50
Damage: 90 ( -15 to user )
Description: The final “Prayer” of the Command Arts, Tenshōha is also the only offensive Prayer to not directly attack with the user’s sword. though it still falls into the Kenjutsu category due to needing the user’s sword to activate. Breaking the semi-crouching stance attained by the first Prayer, the user will stand and focus their chakra into their blade. By sheathing their blade, the user activates the technique. Their chakra will be unleashed in a powerful burst, calling forth a massive pillar of energy from the Heavens that descends upon the battlefield. Falling with incredible strength, the pillar has enough force to level the terrain completely and leave nothing but dust in its wake, though the after-effects of the jutsu seem to encourage the growth of life in the area. The user, at the epicenter of the blast, takes 15 damage.

Spoiler

*Can only be used if the first “Prayer” was used and ends the effects of the first “Prayer” end.
*Can only be used once.
*No other Prayer can be used in the same and next turn.
*This is a Non-elemental blast.

 

[Imperfect]

Okay, so the struck out content is clearly what was removed with Mandatory Edits. Sad to see some of it, but they don't seem to have been absolutely destroyed.

Mirage Blade used to have wording that said it had the same effects of the blade it was cut with. As cool as that was, I see why it was axed given that we have reality cleaving swords these days... A-Rank ranged slash that moves at Fire Release speeds. Not the best, but not the worst either. Solid simple slash.

Rekkyodan is nice. Basically like Goku Black's attack where he throws shards of energy at the enemy, though these don't blow up, but I'm picturing it appearing the same way. The second note strikes me as something that was edited, to prevent abuse from passive sources of buffs, but dunno that for a fact. Makes sense all things considered, and is still a solid S-Rank offense all things considered.

Shining Autumn Pillar is a three in one combo, technically making it a State by current rules, meaning it can't be layered with, or used during a Mode or another State. +20 and x2 speed is okay, but the reflect being limited to 30 Chakra and below hurts this. It's not as though you won't come across techniques that low, but chances are anything you'll be fighting that has Chakra these days will be boosted, giving it a +10, meaning this can counter, at best, a boosted B-Rank. It was probably a menace back in the day, but has been pushed more towards hinderance than help with the current meta punishing Customs that provide more than one boost.

Prison Gate Sword takes Autumn Pillar and not only lets you perform it with your whole body, but also reflecting that exact same attack back, rather than simply dispelling it. It still suffers from the relatively lower Chakra when compared to the current meta, but has it's uses.

Zekkyodan having two applications based on whether you have the sword unsheathed or undrawn is cool, making the sheathing of the blade defensive while the unsheathing is offensive is very much symbolic of those very actions. Drawing one's sword is very much indicative of a desire to fight, while putting it away is a sign that you are done fighting. Very nice technique.

Twin Phantasms is also really cool. The requirement to have Autumn Pillar active with the aforementioned problem of it counting as a State doesn't kill this, but it does really hurt to see. Even if it was a one or the other type of deal, it would be infinitely easier to justify activating it, because stuff like this is really cool. You make a doppelganger of yourself who, at the cost of a move, replicates your techniques, including the force behind them which I presume to mean it would include boosts from a physical source. I do see a potential problem here though, that being this technique doesn't actually have a listed duration, while Autumn Pillar only lasts for 3 turns. It says it needs to be used once Autumn Pillar does, but does that mean after you activate it, you don't need to keep Autumn Pillar active? Clearly the last note says they can last at least 5 turns, but that's in relation to specifying how far they can travel from the user after that time has elapsed, and not how long it actually lasts. Despite this, having this kind of clone at your disposal is really nice.

And then we have Tenshoha. You sheathe the blade, an inherently defensive action, but that does the most of any Prayer we've seen so far. This isn't telegraphing a desire to stop fighting, but stating bluntly that you are finished with the fight whether they like it or not. Chakra is expelled from the blade as you sheathe it, and it's released in the form of a pillar that descends on the target. This, in tandem with my earlier speculation on how Doppelganger interacts with Autumn Pillar, is really important. Could you pop Autumn Pillar and Phantasms in one turn, then Tenshoha in the next? Have the Ganger also perform Tenshoha, get technically two of them off? Tenshoha deactivates Autumn Pillar, but it doesn't affect any other potentially active Prayers, and Twin Phantasms doesn't say it's deactivated by Autumn Pillar not being active, only that using it requires Autumn Pillar to be active, and essentially implies it outlasts Autumn Pillar with the duration. You get the benefit of the Twin Phantasm forever, and you rid yourself of the limitations of Autumn Pillar, while attacking your opponent with two high damage attacks from above.