Asumu Godai

"Peace is a lie, it has always been a lie. Ever since the first man ever walked the earth, peace has been non-existant. To survive, one must fight and kill. To protect the ones that you hold most dear, you must fight and kill. So long as you are a Quincy, you will never know peace; your sole-purpose is to fight and kill, until the very day that your life gives out, and even in death, you will continue to do those same things. Do not believe those who would say that peace between the Quincy and Shinigami is possible, because it isn't. We are the chaos, and they are order; we will clash every time we face each other. It is simply nature...running it's course."

- Asumu to a group of Soldat


 * "A soul marred by death, hidden in darkness... and driven by fury." Blankslate

Asumu Godai (五大 あすム, Tomorrow's Nothing of the Five Elements) is a Gemischt Quincy, and was one of the original followers of Yhwach during the latter's rise from the Schatten and the eventual second war with the Shinigami.

Following the defeat of the Wandenreich, Asumu became a mercenary in the World of the Living calling himself "The Winter Knight", recruiting previous Wandenreich soldiers who had remained behind in Hueco Mundo during the war. He is currently under the employment of Vladislav Pudovkin, supplying him with weapons, soldiers, and vehicles for his causes.

Appearance
Asumu is a young man of average height and build; not particularly muscled, but not particularly scrawny either. Possessing fair skin and slender features, he also has stark-white hair that is medium length; his bangs frame his face, and there is a few strands covering his forehead, in addition to a large clump of hair in between his azure eyes.

When attending Wandenreich operations and attacks, Asumu wears a unique outfit combination, consisting of a collared white shirt with a blue tie, held together by a thick belt and covered by a short, white, button-up trenchcoat covered by a strap, and on the back of the trench coat he carries the star of the Wandenreich. Asumu wears rather baggy pants and white boots embroidered with the Quincy Cross. Over all of this, he often dons a dark longcoat with split coattails and a rather high collar. For his other, freelancing attire, Asumu wears a modified version of the basic Quincy clothing; a stark-white jacket with blue edges, a white shirt, black jeans with a silver belt—it should also be noted that another belt is tied around his right leg.

Asumu's casual attire is rather classy, showing much of his noble, higher status amoung others. He wears a dark, buttoned coat with a long tail on the right side, and a collar with a larger left side. There is a blue band on the left bicep of the coat, which also has blue, ornate scrollwork sewn into the left side of the upper back, and a blue lining. He wears light blue gloves on his hands, as well as striped blue dress slacks, with black socks and black leather shoes. When he is going into crowded areas outside of his home, he dons a black tribly hat with two curled sides. Finally, he wears his Quincy Cross around his neck. After the Wandenreich's defeat, Asumu's appearance changes to a degree. His most notable change is that his hair has extended down to his lower neck and is more messy than it was before. His attire has become more militarized, sporting a black jacket with several reinforced paddings over his biceps and abdomen, coupled with a pair of reinforced, black cargo pants that store a majority of his equipment. Having lost his right arm during a battle in Hueco Mundo, Asumu has neglected any actual treatment and opted for a mechanized prosthetic arm instead, one that enhances his Reishi control as well as his own physical strength and also holds his Bankai Capture Medallion. Finally, for a majority of the time, Asumu wears a face plate that covers his nose on down to his neck, along with a pair of goggles to conceal his identity and enhance his vision.

Personality
Asumu is generally seen as a well-mannered, and yet very straightforward individual who prefers getting straight to the point, rather than waste time performing idle tasks. Blunt and sometimes brutally honest, Asumu's focused nature has gained him both respect and distrust from most individuals that he has come into contact with. He believes that his involvement in petty social affairs or needless tasks will only wear down on his character, as well as force him to care for a particular issue that could distract him from his own goals or responsibilities. He believes having a clear mind is the key to achieving one's goals more than anything else.

However, despite his blunt demeanor, Asumu is a passionate and caring leader for his fellow Quincy, and he cherishes their lives more than any other being, even moreso than his own. He is one of the few Sternritter to actually hold a degree of respect and care for both his comrades and subordinates, despite what they may think of him in return. This doesn't reach degrees of obsession, of course, as he still retains a mostly calm and blunt attitude around his fellow Sternritter, but he loves the Quincy race as a whole, and would go to any lengths to protect and advance their interest.

A strong believer of comaraderie, Asumu holds the lives of those under his command in greater regard than his own life, and believes that all men in positions to lead should do the same. This was a primary factor that caused him to occasionally conflict with the mannerisms of both his fellow Stern Ritter and even Yhwach himself, as many of them including the latter simply disregard the lives of their subordinates for the sake of completing their goals. Asumu believes that simply throwing lives of lower-ranked soldiers on his team breaks morale quicker and causes those subordinates to question why they are even fighting. To that end, Asumu cherishes the lives of his fellow Wandenreich members greatly, going as far as to call them his "true" family.

Asumu has a unique view on the relationship between Shinigami and Quincy. He does not resent Shinigami like most of his fellow Quincy, but he believes that the conflict between the two races is one that cannot be avoided, nor stopped. As they are both complete opposites of each other, having different cultures, ideals, fighting styles, and effects on the balance of the universe, they will clash with each other no matter what circumstance proceeds them. In that regard, he treats the Shinigami as he would any other enemy. Oddly, however, he doesn't seem to mind associating with Shinigami for the sake of achieving similar goals. Of course, this won't last long, and if he finds it necessary, he will not hesitate to kill said Shinigami when his goals are met.

Following the Wandenreich's destruction and his subsequent revival as "The Winter Knight", Asumu has become less caring for the Quincy in particular and more towards humanity as a whole. Time working outside of a united Quincy community has caused him to realize that Quincy are more destructive than what they are good for, and that they were perhaps left better off as scattered remnants as opposed to a full on kingdom. This has led many to assume that Asumu's spirit in serving his people has been broken, thus causing him to regret many of the decisions that he had made prior to his service to Yhwach, such as leaving his wife and son behind in order to remain with the Sternritter and see their invasion through to the end. This also reflects his much more quiet demeanor, as he now only speaks when he finds it absolutely necessary.

Equipment
Quincy Crosses: Asumu carries two Quincy Crosses with him at all times. By condensing his own Spiritual Energy into them, he can create his two unique Spirit Weapons.

Bankai Capture Device (卍解キャプチャデバイス, bankaikyapuchadebaisu): This Bankai ensnaring device takes the appearance of a circular medallion with the Vandenreich's signature star insignia in it's middle. For most, the medallion is hooked to a chain that some often wear around their neck. Asumu carries it in a different fashion, having melded his medallion with one of his gloves and therefore allowing it to be used and whipped out easier. This device, as it's name would imply, is capable of stealing the Bankai of a Shinigami, dead or alive. After taking it away, Asumu can use the stolen Bankai for his own use, however, it's power is not as strong as when the Shinigami held it.

Powers and Abilities
Asumu Godai is without a doubt one of the most talented Quincy of his generation, as well as a very powerful being in his own right. His collective knowledge of various Quincy abilities, as well as his natural affinity for archery, swordsmanship, and hand to hand prowess, makes him a very formidible opponent against any sort of opposition.

Natural Abilities
Immense Spiritual Energy: Spiritually aware Humans, even Quincy, don't naturally project Spiritual energy that could gain the attention of the likes of Shinigami or Hollows. Generally, Quincy are much more notable for harnessing energy rather than projecting it, unlike Shinigami. However, like the Stern Ritter, and the Vandenreich as a whole, this is untrue, as they have proven that Quincy can easily reach the same level and calibur as even Captain-level Shinigami. Asumu is typically no exception to this revelation. He projects a level of Spiritual Pressure that is unheard of by Quincy standards, harnessing and controlling it with such a profound affinity and restraint. His Spiritual Pressure, as mentioned above, takes the form of a light blue shade of color, a symbol of maturity and righteousness, and it's exertion has a tendancy to make his opponents and his allies perspire in fear. Of course, as he makes it a habit to keep his power contained, Asumu rarely exerts such Spiritual Pressure unless the desire to show his dominance over his foe begins to take more and more hold of him. And like other humans, Asumu is not one to shy away from emotions when under duress. Often, enraging him will cause him to release this magnificent power in an uncontrollable amount, signifying his unyielding wrath being projected upon those foolish enough to provoke it.

Brilliant Intellect: Asumu also has a high level of intelligence, shown in his various fights against several foes. Unless he is consumed with rage or intense emotions, Asumu never lashes out foolishly at his opponent in a direct manner unless he has planned to do so beforehand. Each move he makes, unless one has had to have been thought up at the last minute during a surprise attack, is planned to the furthest detail that his mind can take him to. His pose, his currently held weapon, his opponent's weapon, the battlefield, the weather, climate, whether or not more battles are taking place around them; these are all factors and concepts that Asumu takes into accord throughout the battle. He uses whatever means needed to bring his foe down, using the terrain against them, as well as using a specialized Gintou to properly keep distance between his foe or bend the surroundings to his benefit. To him, a one on one battle with a formidible foe is similar in concept to a game of chess, believe it or not. Strategy, tactics, and planning must all be utilized in order for victory to be achieved. Sometimes, he will use a conversation between himself and his enemy, regardless of who started it, to his advantage. Using this as a means of stalling his foe, he ignores what words they say and uses this time to plan out how he will attack them next, which almost always takes place when the foe lets their guard down. Unless he is using it as a prideful demonstration of it's powers, Asumu almost always knows when to release his powerful Vollstandig. In a similar sense, unless he is wishing to use it for shock value as well as humiliation, Asumu always knows when to activate the use of a stolen Bankai, utilizing it's slightly ciphened powers for whatever situation that requires it's usage.


 * Multilingual: A particular talent of his that he picked up when studying with Hanzel, Asumu is fluent in at least three living foreign languages, those being english, german, and spanish. He learned quite alot of german during his time in the Vandenreich, as that was the primary language that he and his Soldyat would use to communicate with each other. This was a good advantage in their war with Soul Society as none of the Soul Reapers could make out what they were saying, and thus, were incapable of deciphering their strategies, and were easily overwhelmed. His skill in spanish also gives him an edge when fighting Arrancar. As their Zanpakuto names are mostly Spanish, Asumu can make a sometimes accurate guess on the nature and powers of an Arrancar's Reserreccion with just knowing it's name. Along with this, he has a particular interest in learning Latin, a now considered dead language. While he isn't totally fluent in it, he knows quite a good deal of it's basics. He would use this as a means to send encrypted messages to his allies, knowing that the Soul Reapers would be unable to properly make out what it meant.

Swordsmanship Expert: During his training in the Vandenreich with his mentor, Hanzel, Asumu learned how to properly fight with a sword, despite it not being his preferred method of fighting. With this, Asumu carries a great level of skill in sword fighting. Though one might consider it to be on the same calibur as a standard Captain level Shinigami's own skill, and despite the fact that it isn't his most prominant trait, Asumu is still a lethal foe when using a sword-like weapon. In most cases, he uses the Seele Schneider, a unique form of arrow, as his sword stand-in weapon. As he strikes, he takes hold of the weapon with both hands, gripping it tightly, and slashing at the opponent's form with great speed and force. His style of sword fighting is classified as Kendo, which he utilizes to great effect. He puts power into his strikes, making sure that each and any hit that he makes does some form of damage to his opponent, as well as put enough of his Blut-augmented strength to keep his arms stable and strong when defending against an opponent's oncoming blow. While he is talented in it, he does not use swordsmanship for long, and will almost always revert back to his preferred combat style: archery. Hand to Hand Expertise: As a backup from whenever he may be disarmed in a battle, Asumu carries knowledge of being able to fight with one's hands when no other weapon. When he was first brought into the Vandenreich's training program, Asumu was one of the many students who failed their first few sessions of training due to them being almost entirely unfamiliar with such arts, and as a result, they were all punished accordingly for their failures. Afterwords, Asumu realized that the Vandenreich did not accept failure on any level, and vowed to push his physical skills to their limits. With persistance, he passed his exams with moderate success, in which allowed him to enter the more advanced stages of hand to hand combat. More brutal training sessions with various tutors and instructors from these particular classes gave him a more than adequete grasp on how to properly use one's physical body to win their battles. While he was not the highest scoring in his class, he still passed exceptionally well. The primary form of martial art that he was taught during training was the popular and effective style known as Jujutsu, which is used by many modern militaries today. Despite this, and like his swordsmanship, Asumu does what he can to avoid fighting an opponent up close if he is at all capable of doing so. Even with a sword, it is not in his interest or better advantage to fight in close quarters, much less with his own two hands. Thanks to the power of his Blut Arterie, however, he can evenly match a Captain in some hand to hand prowess, but no further. Even against a Master of Hakuda, Asumu's better interest would be to simply stave them off until he can get at a better distance.
 * Shield Fighting: A term used to the style of weaponized fighting that Asumu uses when he only has his bow, Kosen no Tenbatsu, equipped. In many cases, a Seele Schneider can be inferior to the blade wielded by a Shinigami, the Zanpakuto, in their released states. A Spirit Weapon, however, excels much better, and can even surpass a Zanpakuto when used properly. Since his bow forms itself into a cross like shape, Asumu primarily uses it's form as a shield or even as a close range chakram.
 * Ittōsesshō (一刀殺生, "Killing the Sword/Blade"): As of right now, the only advanced Kendo technique that Asumu knows is the one called Ittosessho. This is a technique that he learned while training to become a Stern Ritter, as it was mostly required by them in order to properly battle a Captain level Shinigami. Ittosessho is a technique where the user gathers spiritual energy into their blades and slashes down upon their foe's defending Zanpakuto with such great force that the weapon is broken clean in two. As this is normally a technique used only by master Zanjutsu level Shinigami, most would think that a Quincy isn't capable of such a devestating attack. However, the Vandenreich once again proves it's ability to defy the impossible by giving their Stern Ritter advanced means to perform Ittosessho. In the case of the Seele Schneider, as used by Asumu, two factors must be applied. The first is that more Reishi from their surroundings must be gathered and implemented within the constantly moving rotation of Reishi already inside of the potent, chainsaw-like weapon. How much of it needs to be absorbed varies depending on the strength of the opponent that Asumu is facing. If too much is absorbed, the Reishi gathered could erupt from the Seele and spread out at a violent rate, possibly harming Asumu in the process. The second factor is the user's Blut Arterie, which increases their physical strength greatly. Most all of their strength must be put into this Blut variant, leaving little means for Asumu to defend himself against another attacker. When both of these are utilized, Asumu slashes down on the Shikai/Bankai and cuts the weapon clean in two. It should be noted that using this can cause Asumu to be low on stamina for a few minutes, which is why he only uses this as a finishing move, or in desperate situations.
 * Jujutsu Expert: During his time with the Vandenreich, at least, in his initiation program, Asumu was forced to learn the ways of martial arts and hand to hand combat, the most prominent being that of Jujutsu. A popular fighting style used by many modern military forces, Jujutsu is the practical art of using an opponent's balance to the user's advantage, consisting primarily of throws, grabs, and locks while also disarming an opponent of their weapon, leaving them completely vulnerable. Asumu is very potent in this art, though he is no master; he is capable of many advanced techniques in conjunction with his Blut Arterie to make his attacks and holds all the more unbreakable. His kicks and strikes, despite being rarely used, are all aimed directly at specific weak parts of the body, using a striking system known as "Atemi" ( 当て身), which deals in harming the opponent on both physical and mental levels by appearing to strike one area of the body, but quickly goes for another body part that the opponent has left exposed. Asumu also has a tendency to choke slam opponents who are close to him and are unable to respond to any of his attacks. This is due to his preference of immobilizing his opponent before striking them down with a death blow.

The Sharpshooter
The Sharpshooter (エンドレス シト (ス シャーウプシューター), Endoresu Shito (Su Shaaupushuutaa); Japanese for "Endless Sight"): Asumu's Epithet ability grants him the power to see things that no other human, or even a Quincy, could perceive. When using The Sharpshooter, Asumu's eyes glow with a bright blue aura, and then he can control how exactly his vision works. Because of this power, invisibility or even hiding in general is pointless, as he will always manage to see whatever or whoever it is that he is hunting. He can use this to see things at an incredible distance, which is his most commonly used variation of The Sharpshooter, but he is also known for using it in other ways as well. As a disadvantage, however, Asumu is only capable of using one variation at a time, and in order for him to switch functions of his vision, he needs to close his eyes for at least a few seconds, which is one of the few times that he can be vulnerable.
 * Heat Vision: Heightening his eyesight to see things which extreme body temperatures, Asumu can see all things that are affected by heat, which makes hiding behind most structures virtually pointless unless one is freezing themselves to death. This ability proved to be useless when he faced off against Bazz-B, as the latter coated the entire area around them with heat, which nearly blinded Asumu.
 * Aura Vision: Asumu's vision is altered to perceive the Spiritual Aura that is radiated from those who are Spiritually Aware or capable. This would normally be seen as a default power for Quincy, but for Asumu, it goes a level deeper. Beings who use deception, invisibility, shadows, or any form of cloaking will not be able to hide from Asumu once he activates this vision capability. The aura that they radiate in order to use these techniques becomes the one thing that gives them away to his line of sight.
 * Night Vision: A no brainer, Asumu is capable of seeing things in the dark with little to no light in his vicinity or possession. However, this also poses a great threat to his person: beings who would use the darkness to hide from him and attack him whenever he comes into vision will be able to spot the white glow of his eyes from a mile, causing this ability to be a double edge sword in some circumstances.
 * Multiple Vision: Arguably the most dangerous form of sight that Asumu possesses, and the most commonly used when in battle. This ability grants Asumu a nearly complete 360 degree field of vision, basically allowing him to see in all directions. With a form of vision such as this, the need for Spiritual sense becomes somewhat redundant, as Asumu is now capable of seeing anything that's coming towards him, whether it be from above, below, or behind. This power is especially effective when fighting multiple opponents at once, however, it's known weakness is that there is a single blindspot in this field of vision that one can find and exploit based on where Asumu is attacking.

Reiryoku Absorption & Manipulation: The most well known and dangerous power of any and all Quincy is their ability to absorb, merge, and manipulate Spiritual Energy from anywhere in their surroundings and using it as a form of weapon or defensive measure. So great is this talent that they perform, that no other spiritual race has ever been seen utilizing such control to the degree that the Quincy can use. They are superior to the average human because of this, and they are a more than a potent threat for Shinigami, Arrancar, and especially Hollows. When a very well trained and strong Quincy is within a realm such as Soul Society or Hueco Mundo, the possibilities for their powers are nigh endless. His knowledge in how the Spiritual energy around him flows is so great, it comes as natural to him as breathing. His grandfather's studies, his own independent studies, and his knowledge acquired from the Vandenreich has given him an incredibly perceptive and skilled means of absorbing and manipulating Reishi for his own use. This knowledge combined with his perceptive nature allows him to properly deduce what level of power that his foe is currently in, knowing whether or not they have properly achieved Bankai. He can also track his enemy's movements by keeping a feel out for their spiritual pressure, and can do this for at least two miles at a time, making it nigh impossible to surprise him unless one is using absolute caution and stealth.
 * Hirenkyaku Master (飛廉脚, "flying screen step/god step"; literally "flying bamboo-blind leg") Hirenkyaku is the Quincy's answer to Shunpo and Sonido used by Shinigami and Arrancar, respectively. In order to execute this advanced technique, the Quincy must place a great amount of Spiritual energy under their feet, and then moves them at high speeds, allowing them to practically "ride" the Spiritual Energy from one place to another over a short distance. Even with this in mind, those who use Hirenkyaku do not appear to be moving at all. Instead, they simply appear to go from one place to another with just a simple, light blue flash. Asumu's skill in this particular technique was very high, even in comparison to the other Stern Ritter. He moves with such deft speed, his person is almost seamless. The speed that his Hirenkyaku executes will often create a slightly tangible after-images of himself that is very useful for throwing off his opponent's attention. These after-images are brief, appearing for only a couple of seconds, which usually requires Asumu to make multiple flashing movements in order for the trick to work properly.
 * Kasaneawase Hirenkyaku (重ね合わせ飛廉脚, "Superposition of the Flying Screen Step/God Step"), An advanced and more deadly variation of Hirenkyaku that actually creates a tangible spirit clone of the user. Doing this requires Asumu to outline himself with a good amount of Reishi and then split it apart from himself using Hirenkyaku. Doing so creates an actual clone of himself that fights along side him and uses several of his own abilities. The clone is durable, but not as much as the original Asumu. Therefore, it can be destroyed with suffiecient force.
 * Platform Manifestation: Asumu can create a spiritual platform below his feet, that he can use form means of travel or entering a higher airspace. He has shown to be able to use this platform as a means of offense, being able to kick it at the opponent, and causes severe damage upon impact. To the opposite extreme, it can be used for defense, and can block all but the strongest of attacks.
 * Ransōtengai Mastery (乱装天傀, "heavenly wild puppet suit"; literally "disheveled paradise puppet"): Ransotengai is a high level technique used by Quincy who have exceled in the art of Reishi manipulation. This ability allows Asumu to control any broken or paralyzed limb, or his entire body for that matter, using specialized Reishi wires that are controlled by his brain. This allows him to move his body as if it were a puppet of sorts, with the Reishi wires acting as the strings and helping him move his body however he wishes. This is a highly advanced technique that only a few Quincy, even amoung the Stern Ritter know. Asumu demonstrated a very in depth, masterful understanding of Ransotengai in his battle with Seireitou Kawahiru. When the latter had created a massive energy construct, composed of the combined energy attacks that other warriors had used against him, Asumu was able to apply Ransotengai to control the colossus, and thus wrest control of it from it's original master, Seireitou. Asumu states that Ransotengai is operated by thought, not by movement, and that a truly skilled Quincy such as himself can use it to control his enemy as well. In order for this to be successful, the opponent must be stationary and distracted, as Ransotengai takes several seconds to prepare, but once the tendrils latch onto the foe, escaping is almost impossible. Asumu need only to think of what the foe could do, and he can turn them against their allies for his own use. As a drawback, this can only be maintained for a few minutes before the tendrils begin to weaken, and therefore give the foe a chance to escape.
 * Path Control: The skill of a marksman all depends on their knowledge of the projectile that they are releasing. When Asumu prepares a Heilig Pfeil, regardless of it's size or power level, he puts all of his thoughts into the arrow, feeling almost entirely in tune with it's very being, as if it were an extension of himself. Upon releasing the arrow, Asumu's mind controls where the arrow goes, making it a true weapon of thought, rather than brute strength. He can control it's speed, it's movement, it's angle, and make it virtually impossible for him to miss a target. For him, one arrow is so easy to control, it is as if he is "moving apart of his own body". However, if he is firing multiple arrows at once, then his amount of control becomes more restricted, as the barrage of arrows can only be altered to where they all move at a slight angle rather than have a complete change of direction all together.
 * Attack Negation: With the right amount of training and skill, along with a divine amount of luck, a skilled enough marksman can pinpoint exactly where an oncoming projectile will go and where it will hit, and possibly counter it with a projectile of his own. This is a task that would be considered utterly impossible by the standards of any human, but not to Asumu. A Heilig Pfeil, the ranged weapon of choice for every Quincy, is composed of Reishi, and Reishi is perfect to use for negation of oncoming Spiritual based ranged attacks. Asumu need only apply focus to his "target", and fire one of his potent arrows directly into the center of the oncoming attack. The Reishi of the Heilig Pfeil absorbs the energy that composes the other attack into itself, forcing it to enlarge and eventually implode on itself, since Reishi doesn't mix well with other sources of energy. While this may seem over-empowering, Asumu explains that each attack needs to be perfectly pinpointed into their exact weakest spots, and shot exactly in those spots. Therefore, it is not a tactic that Asumu employs very often, not unless he knows he has time to negate the oncoming attack.

Gintō Master: The Quincy's answer to the Shinigami's Kido, Gintō is a unique form of magic that harnesses a Quincy's abilities reconstructed absorbed reiatsu or the reishi stored inside of small silver tubes. Also like Kido, the Ginto family of spells are normally varied and serve a variety of different functions. However, as the Quincy race had been believed to be extinct for a long time, the knowledge of several Ginto spells had been lost along with them. Thankfully, however, Asumu's grandfather had kept several scrolls on these ancient Ginto, and therefore, was able to teach some of them to Asumu. Like most forms of magic, Gintō is implemented through an incantation, which serves to aid in the process of molding reishi into another form. So as long as energy around them exists, they are able to exert an influence on it, even when their own reserves have been depleted. As their name implies, Ginto are all stored inside of small silver tubes, each with the Vandenreich's star insignia on their front side. When he desires to use a particular spell, he simply recites the incantation, which primes the spell, and then pops the lid of the tube off of it's capsule and the spell is released. He is known to carry at least twenty five of these tubes with him at all times, concealing them within his two silver strap like belts on his waist and leg, as well as keeping several in his coat pockets. This allows him to keep various spells within mind for most of the battle. Blut Mastery (血装 (ブルート), burūto; German for "Blood", Japanese for "Blood Guise"): Until this technique was conceived, the Quincies all had the common weakness of not being able to properly defend themselves from oncoming melee attacks. In most every scenario, a single slash from a Shinigami's Zanpakuto, or a Hollow's claws would be a death blow for a Quincy; they lacked proper protection such as Hierro. However, with the rise of the Vandenreich, a new advancement in their ability to manipulate Reishi also rose with them. Calling it "Blut", the Quincy would begin to pour great amount of Reishi into their bloodstreams, which in turn bolsters the defensive capabilities of which ever limb that the Blut is being applied to. With this, the Quincy's ability to protect themselves, as well as increase their physical combat prowess, is drastically increased to the point to where they would be considered superhuman. Blut allows the Quincy to survive even the most horrific of wounds, such as a broken neck, and it also enables them to block and counter powerful physical or projectile based attack that no ordinary human could even dream to defend against. As a Stern Ritter, Asumu excels in the use of this technique, as it allows him to fight with fewer risks in battles, as well as not have to worry about being hit by surprise attacks all of the time. Blut is so advanced, that it actually comes into two variations. One of them increases the defensive properties of the Quincy, making it the most commonly used of the two. The other one increases their physical combat based ability, making them much more potent close ranged fighters. However, Blut has a serious weakness; these two variations cannot be used at the same time, as both of them require the use of two, seperate Reishi networks. Another dangerous side effect is that if the blood vessels are too loaded with Reishi, they could explode and kill the Quincy from the inside out.
 * Kaisakuhashi (界,裂橋, "World Lacerating Bridge"): This is a spell Asumu himself developed, this Ginto severs a small region of space within the interdimensional boundary that seperates the Living World from Hueco Mundo. By bending this tear and using it to connect to a point or locale across its dimension to another connected dimension, it creates a temporary bridge between the two planes, similar in effect to Garganta. Ordinarily this process can take several hours, however by using a material component---a Ginto infused with spiritrons from the home environment or its natives, the acceleration, formation and manifestation time of the bridge can be done within minutes to even moments. Alternatively, this technique can be used as a means of teleportating to locations within the same dimension, however due to the nature of the Dangai Precipice World, the timing of one's arrival can be off, either forward or even backward in time, making this technique somewhat dangerous as paradoxes can arise from misuse. Incantation: "In Limbo I tread, over snow white fields of sand. Anchored as its king, forever am I its guide, within these hands I form a bridge, for it is the key, my dawn, my sight."
 * Wachsamkeit (段平盗賊 Danbira Touzoku; German for "Vigilance", Japanese for "Sword Thief") Asumu's most common and favored Ginto spell within his arsenal. When activating Wachsamkeit, Asumu pulls out six Ginto tubes. When he activates the spell, citing it's incantation beforehand, he tosses the tubes into the air and each of them bursts in a display of silverish blue light. When the light clears, the tubes have all revealed to have unleashed condensed Reishi that manifests in the form of four, broadsword shaped arrows. Each of these potent weapons floats around Asumu's body like a set of guardians, vigilant, observant and ever ready to prevent any form of harm or hostility from reaching their master. The way Asumu utilizes these weapons is a good substitute for his own swordsmanship skill, which he prefers not to use unless he has to, as each of these weapons are not controlled by hand, but rather, by thought. By manipulating their Reishi make-up, Asumu can force these weapons to keep his foes at bay while he prepares other attacks. They are a good defensive measure as well, for when all four of them group together with their flat ends facing an oncoming attack, they act as one large shield to defend their master from such harm. At other times, he will use them as potent arrows to impale powerful foes several times over. It is his favored Ginto spell because it allows him to fight with both his favored form of combat, archery, while also managing to keep his foe at bay at that same time. Incantation: "Field of day, guide my path. Mountain of night, hide my tracks. Sun of dawn, grant my wish. And star of dusk, bestow upon me, thine will of God!"
 * Drängen (強 (フォース) Fōsu; Lit. "Force"): Drangen is a unique form of Ginto that is primarily used for fighting multiple enemies at once. By taking the Ginto tube and reciting the proper incantation, Asumu balls the tube into his fist and then thrusts it forward as if he were punching his foe. The tube then releases a great amount of Reishi in the form of a massive energy wave that plows through whatever lies in front of it. Like a tidal wave wiping out an entire village, nothing in front of Drangen is safe from it's maw. As mentioned above, this technique is very useful for taking down a large group of enemies, as the explosion released by this attack's impact can destroy a large portion of the area around it. However, he can still use it to great effect in one on one fights. One of his favored means of executing this spell is to use it when an opponent is getting closer to him. He extends his fist as if he is about to punch them, but they are instead blasted into oblivion with the energy wave that follows the move.
 * Wolke (緑杯ヴォルコル, vorukōru; German for "Cloud", Japanese for "Green Cup"): Wolke is a rather simple appearing Ginto spell in the eyes of most. Generally, the spell creates a large blast of concussive energy that is used primarily to cushion one's fall in order to prevent fall damage. However, in the hands of a master like Asumu, Wolke can be used for much more deadlier purposes. Primarily, Asumu forces the blast produced from the Ginto tube as an offensive weapon, using it's great concussive power to send opponent's reeling back at incredible speeds. This blast is not only capable of sending them a great distance away from him, but the sheer force that this blast projects is so powerful, it can break several bones in the foe's body, as well as cause extreme trauma to their muscle systems. With this in mind, Asumu's Wolke attack can break any foe coming within his range that isn't properly prepared for such a forceful attack. This technique also comes in handy to Asumu when an enemy fires a projectile based attack at him. Activating the spell, the concussive blast can actually send the oncoming attack right back at it's source to inflict serious damage. It is one of Asumu's favored spells to use.
 * Zerfall (崩壊 (ゼーパル), zeparu, Japanese and German for "Decay"): An advanced technique created primarily to disable the abilities of Quincy opponents, and particularly one of Asumu's favorites. Upon drawing a Seele Schneider, Asumu drops the liquid from one of his Ginto tubes onto it's glowing blade, and when it makes contact, the Seele's energy blade is consumed in a black fire. Despite it's appearance, this is not an augmentation of the Seele's brute strength, but rather, an enhancement to it's ability to "shred" the Reishi of an object that it touches and make it easier to absorb. Rather than weaken the energy, the fire created by this spell completely corrodes the Reishi surrounding it, which means that Asumu only uses it as a ranged attack. He can either fire the Seele from his bow, like normal, or he can swing the blade and release the fire as a crescent shaped wave, allowing him to corrode the Reishi surrounding his opponent and rendering their Reishi absorption powers far weaker than normal. He can also merge this ability with his Heiliges Feurer technique, creating a massive field of black fire that makes Reishi absorption for his foe all the more difficul
 * Blut Vene (静血装 (ブルート・ヴェーネ), burūto vēne German for "Blood Vein", Japanese for "Stilled Blood Guise") This is the defensive variation of Blut and is the most often used, at least in the case of Asumu. The Reishi pours into his blood veins at a great amount of quantity and speed, and therefore allows him to block oncoming blows with considerably little effort involved. Whenever a blow makes contact with a Blut Vene initiated area, the impact spot reveals a pattern of light blue blood veines, where the Reishi lies. As Asumu is a Stern Ritter calibur Quincy, he is capable of utilizing Blut Vene to it's upmost potential, with such great force involved in it's execution that it can actually protect him from a Bankai empowered attack when used at it's full power. However, as a side effect, Blut Vene reduces Asumu's speed by a fair margin, making it to where he has to use this attack when stationary, or stop any other action of his if an attack is coming towards him. If an opponent uses enough force behind an attack, the Blut Vene affected area can actually be torn and damage can be dealt to Asumu. Blut Vene's strength, Asumu's in particular, has saved him from many dangerous battles in the past. During his fight with Kensei Mugurama, Asumu took several bone crushing blows without much damage being dealt, and was even able to continue fighting against the physically empowered Captain. When he adopted the Stahlhaut technique as his primary form of defense, Asumu also managed to merge Blut Vene with Stahlhaut, giving him two layers of defense.
 * Blut Arterie (動血装 (ブルート・アルテリエ), burūto aruterieGerman for "Blood Artery", Japanese for "Moving Blood Guise"): This is the Blut variation that increases attack power; allowing Asumu's physical attacks, such as with his fists or Seele Schneider, are much more potent and deadly. With this variation active, Asumu doesn't have to worry about an enemy outclassing him in terms of physical strength; he can easily match their own strength (that is, if they aren't overwhelmingly powerful, like beings such as Juhabach) and quickly keep up with their own blows and strikes. Blut Arterie also gives Asumu much steadier aiming and stabilization of his Spirit Weapon, which allows his arrows to be much more accurate and on target.
 * Blut Enhanced Line of Sight: Blut is the key to a Quincy's survival; it is a power that can allow them to fight on par with super empowered beings, or creatures of much larger size than their own, and can even allow them to live for ages more than the average human. To a master of Blut, like Asumu, the application of one's Reishi knowledge to their real world abilities is seamless. Since he already uses Blut to enhance the rest of his physical capabilities, his eye sight should be no different. By implementing a small and steady stream of Reishi into the chords that attach to his eyes, Asumu can augment the reaction timing of his eyes, as well as their movement in tracking the path of a target. It is dangerous, of course, as Asumu could risk blinding himself if he attempts to keep track of numerous enemies at once, but it's benefits far outweigh it's own drawbacks. With this, a single enemy might as well consider standing still, as they will not be able to escape his line of sight; he will track them endlessly, and make it to where avoiding his arrow attacks becomes nigh impossible. However, while doing this, Asumu remains in place without moving from his spot, as moving can cause tension to build in his eye's veins and possibly blind him.

Spirit Weapons
Ebenholz and Elfenbein (黒檀と象牙 German, lit; Ebony and Ivory): Asumu's Spirit Weapons take the shape of mid to late 19th century Colt Revolvers, both with a Quincy star near the bottom of their handle. Ebenholz has a dark blue glow on it's handle, while Elfenbein has a traditional, light blue glow on it's handle. While these weapons are capable of firing Heilig Pfeil like other weapons, Asumu's Spirit Weapons are unique in that they can use Ginto tubes for ammunition, allowing him to fire off Ginto spells without the need for incantations.


 * Heilig Pfeil (神聖滅矢 (ハイリッヒ・ブファイル), Hairihhi Bufairu; German for "Holy Arrow", Japanese for "Destroying Arrow of Sanctity"): The standard ability for a Quincy, Heilig Pfeil are condensed Reishi that are fired from the Quincy's Spirit Weapons. Asumu's arrows are particularly smaller than traditional Heilig Pfeil, resembling small bullets as opposed to arrows. They are also very powerful, capable of killing a Numeros' level Arrancar with only two shots.
 * Klavier (クラヴィーア, Kuravīa; German for "Piano"): This is a variant of Heilig Pfeil in where Asumu can release a multitude of arrows from his Spirit Weapons. When preparing this attack, the three circles of the cross-like bow spin around rapidly, before releasing an onslaught of Heilig Pfeil. With his two new Spirit Weapons, he fires Klavier in a way similar to Cero Metralleta. As he points his gun at his enemy, four Reishi spheres appear around it's barrel before unleashing the storm of arrows upon his enemies.
 * Zurückprallen (はねる, Hanekaeru; German for "Ricochet "): Through his bow, Asumu is capable of releasing large blasts of spiritual energy from each of his pistols. The blasts are unique because they are under his manipulation, and, on command, he can make them burst, releasing Heilig Pfeil, a total of 100 from each blast, leading to 400 total arrows that rain down upon the opponent with great speed and force. With power such as this, Asumu can easily clear out an entire enclave of enemies without any trouble. The drawback to this, however, is that this attack gets progressively weaker and weaker as it is used multiple times.

Reishi Broadsword: During his time in the Wandenreich, Asumu learned the ability to summon a broadsword composed entirely of Reishi to use for melee combat, similar to Yhwach himself. Raising his hand to the sky, Asumu creates a massive bow in the air that fires a large, sword shaped arrow down to his position. He can then take it and use it as a powerful melee weapon. It has incredible cutting power, easily capable of cleaving through an Espada level Arrancar's Hierro when positioned right. He is only capable of using it once per day.


 * Explosive Properties: Asumu also has a unique, alternate function for the Reishi broadsword; he can actually change it's size before it is released and drop it down on his enemies like a bomb, and create a massive explosion capable of leveling entire city blocks.

Reishi Carbine: After becoming the Winter Knight, Asumu opted for a more militarized and modern arsenal. His current and most used Spirit Weapon takes the form of a modified and enhanced ACR rifle with a high-optic scope and grenade launcher. Fueled by Reishi, this rifle can fire several hundred Reishi-infused shells in seconds, easily blowing through most physical forms of armor and shelter with no difficulty, and the grenade attachment can deal even more damage, as the explosion that it's impact creates spreads Heiliges Feuer flames about, which can only empower Asumu further. This weapon can also blow through Kido barriers with enough power.

Quincy: Vollständig
Seraphiel (צו של אלוהים (オー-ダー オーフ ゴド), Seraphielu Hebrew; "He Who Sees God" Japanese for "Sight of God"): When releasing his Vollstandig, a massive column of blue Reishi is released from Asumu, forming into a large cross and shattering like glass before revealing his new state. In this form, Asumu gains several constructs made of Reishi, including detached angelic wings, and a halo. His pupils change into two bright cyan crosshairs, similar to modern military rifles, and his sclera become dark blue. He also has two cyan markings running down the sides of his face, as well as a marking on his chin. Asumu wears a white vest, split down the middle, the left side possessing three Bankai Sealing Devices. Armor appears on his left shoulder, sporting a cross-like design, which spreads across his chest, and gains a long white cloth that covers half of his lover body, covered in several line-like designs. Finally, his left hand is covered in a blue and black glove, in which he forms his Spirit Weapons, with the two bottom of his fingers exposed.
 * Reishi Dominance: When in Vollstandig, Asumu has absolute control of the Reishi in his surrounding area, and is capable of breaking it down for his own use at nearly three times his original speed. With that in mind, he is capable of manifesting his Spirit Weapons at much greater speeds than before, leaving little time for reactions. He has also demonstrated the ability to convert Kishi into Reishi while in this form, making him a deadly threat both in the Spirit World and the World of the Living.
 * Sklaverei (聖隷 (スクラヴェライ), Sukuraverai; German for "Slavery", Japanese for "Holy Slave"): A Vollstandig-exclusive ability in where Asumu not only breaks down Reishi, but enslaves it from any Spiritual source, from Spiritual buildings, Hueco Mundo's sands, and even the Spiritual makeup of his opponents. In the latter's case, Sklaverei allows Asumu to assume the form and capabilities of the one whose Reishi makeup has been enslaved. This extends to Hollows and Arrancar, however, in all cases, the Reishi he has enslaved is only temporary, and wears off after a few minutes.
 * Flight: Using his wings, Asumu is capable of flying or levitating in the air.
 * Enhanced The Sharpshooter: The Sharpshooter takes an immense spike in power when in Vollständig. Not only is Asumu's aim dramatically increased, to the point to where he can use all forms of vision enhancement as before, but the manner in which he can deploy his Heilig Pfeil becomes more versatile as well.
 * Foresight (フォレシト, Senken): When using Seraphiel, Asumu's "The Sharpshooter" ability is enhanced to a degree where Asumu can see the actions of his enemies before they even make them. Unlike his previous vision-based capabilities, Foresight is capable of being activated at will, and can even be stacked on top of previous vision abilities. How far Asumu can see depends on how long he keeps Foresight active; he can keep it going for a few seconds, enough time to anticipate an incoming attack, or he can keep it going for several hours at a time, making it to where he can see the events of an entire day unfold before him.
 * Enhanced Heilig Pfeil: When in Vollständig, Asumu's Heilig Pfeil also become more lethal. Using his Spirit Bow, Asumu can fire an arrow that equals the same strength and size as a full-powered arrow pre-Vollständig. At maximum power, a single one of Asumu's arrows can level a city block.
 * Licht Regen (光の雨 (リヒト・レーゲン), rihito rēgen; German for "Light Rain", Japanese for "Rain of Light"): Asumu gathers Reishi into both of his revolvers and then releases the gathered Reishi in a storm of arrows, similar to a gatling gun. Precision is exchanged for sheer firepower with this technique, which is capable of extensive levels of destruction depending on how much Reishi was absorbed earlier.
 * Bullseye (バルセー, Barusei): A technique in which Asumu fires a black orb of Reishi at his target, which proceeds to grow in size upon hitting them and trap them within it, living or not. This does no damage to the target, but the true function of Bullseye is revealed whenever Asumu fires a Heilig Pfeil. No matter which direction he aims, the arrows will always come back to the black orb and do damage to the target within. When the orb begins to shine with a white glow, one more Heilig Pfeil will cause the sphere to detonate and almost certainly obliterate the target within.
 * Marksman (マークスマン, Makusuman): In this attack, Asumu fires a Heilig Pfeil that is coated in electricity towards his target. Just before reaching this target, however, the arrow stops in middair and forms into a sphere, before firing Heilig Pfeil of it's own at the target. At this same time, Asumu can attack the target while the Heilig Pfeil orb is firing at them, giving him two avenues of attack.
 * Sixeye (シックセー, Sikkusei): Aiming his guns at his target, Asumu fires a burst of Reishi out in front of him that, when getting a couple of feet away from him, forms itself into a large C-shaped shield that covers Asumu's forward facing side. The shield is a blue tint, but clear, allowing Asumu to see through it, and it can block virtually all matter of energy based attack, but it is very fragile against melee attacks. Asumu can also fire his own arrows through his side of the shield, allowing him to openly fire on his targets without fear of being hit himself.
 * Deadeye (ヂデー, Didei): Asumu's most lethal attack is also his simplest. Aiming one of his pistols at his target, Asumu's two wings compress into energy and are absorbed into the gun, which nullifies Asumu's transformation. This compressed energy is then released in a powerful blast of energy, one that travels faster than most enemies can blink, and this blast completely obliterates nearly anything in it's path. As a consequence of using this attack, Seraphiel is deactivated.

Stolen Resurrección
Because of his status as a Gemischt Quincy, Asumu does not necessarily carry the means to combat Hollowfication, but he does not carry an extreme weakness to is as an Icht Quincy would. Therefore Asumu is fully capable of stealing an Arrancar's Resurrección form as he would a Shinigami's Bankai, provided he takes the necessary precautions beforehand.
 * Resurrección: Tiburón (皇鮫后 (ティブロン), tiburon; Spanish for "Shark", Japanese for "Imperial Shark Empress"): When activating Resurrección, the medallion on Asumu's torso area unleashes a black and violet burst of energy that surrounds him, before breaking apart to reveal his newly transformed state. He is adorned with Hollow-like armor, with shoulder pads, guantlets, knee-high boots, armored "tails" going from his upper back and stretching down past his legs, an a collar around his neck which stretches into a bone like chain that connects to his medallion. His weapon now becomes a large, tooth-shaped sword, of which he can change to either his left hand or right hand. While in this form, Asumu constantly radiates a dark violet aura.
 * Resurrección Special Ability: Tiburon grants Asumu both heightened physical abilities, Hollow powers, and the manipulation of water. The latter in this instance is also capable of controlling any substance that contains water, from ice to steam. Because the Hollowfied energy has been converted into a form that is not poisonous to Asumu, Tiburon also enhances some of his Quincy abilities.
 * Enhanced Strength: Tiburon enhances Asumu's physical capabilities beyond what his normal state is capable of. Not only can he block projectiles and physical attacks with greater resistance, but he can also hit his opponents with enough force to send them reeling through several buildings at a time.
 * Enhanced Speed: Tiburon also gives Asumu the ability to physically move at higher speeds than before. He can cover great distances during a battle within a manner of seconds, and he will sometimes mix this in with his Hirenkyaku, which gives him the ability to move at nearly three times his original speed while in Release form.
 * La Gota (戦雫 (ラ・ゴータ), ra gota; Spanish for "The Drop", Japanese for "War Drop"): By condensing large amounts of water into Tiburon's blade, Asumu can then fire the water out at his target in the shape as a shark tooth. He can also fire these blasts in rapid succession, and each are capable of destroying a house.
 * La Alma Gota (ラ アルマ ゴタ, Ra Aruma Gota; Japanese for "Spirit War Drop"): A unique variation of La Gota that Asumu created. By both infusing his sword with both water and Reishi, he can create a dual-functioning projectile. Firing the energized water bullet, it will first connect with it's target like a normal La Gota would, but the Reishi inside shoots out from the impact and causes extra damage while also hitting anything or anyone that was behind it. This is an excellent technique to use for both canceling an attack and damaging it's source at the same time.
 * Trident (トライデント, Toraidento): Asumu infuses his sword with violet Spiritual energy, and then slashes at the opponent, releasing a highly pressurized wave of mist at the opponent. It is an incredibly powerful attack; capable of cutting opponents in half and splitting an entire line of buildings in two. Asumu states that this is his favored attack while using this Release form.
 * Cascada (断瀑 (カスケーダ), Kasukeda; Spanish for "Waterfall", Japanese for "Cutting Waterfall"): Drawing in the moisture from the air around him, Asumu summons a massive surge of water above him and then slashes it down on his foe. The force is enough to flood an entire town, and Asumu can still manipulate the water the attack uses for other techniques.
 * Enhanced The Sharpshooter: While using Tiburon, Asumu can infuse his The Sharpshooter ability with it's power, allowing him to create various new attacks that blend the two powers together, and ones that he couldn't use previously in his other two forms.
 * Pressurization (プレスリザシーオン, Puresurizasiion): Pointing his sword at his desired target, Asumu begins to pressurize the moisture in the air between them, hardening them into a single line. He then fires a condensed Heilig Pfeil through the pressurized moisture, which then hardens in response to the arrow's movements, solidifying into a single beam of water that flies through the target's chest at the exact moment that the arrow does. Asumu primarily uses this as an execution attack, due to it's slow build up.

Appearances in other Media
Besides his appearance here, Asumu's most prominant appearance is on the Ultimate Crossover Wiki. There, he plays the role of a genetically engineered Saiyan who masquerades as a human businessman, and serves as a Deuteragonist for the storyline of Dragon Ball Ultima.

An alternate version of Asumu appears in the War of Four story arc authored by Blankslate, Mangetsu20, and Achrones150. He still serves as Stern Ritter "S" in the Vandenreich, but in this universe, the Vandenreich only exist several centuries after the Lost Substitute Shinigami Arc.

Trivia

 * According to the Author:
 * Asumu is based primarily off of several different characters that have inspired the author. The most notable of these is Marvel's "The Winter Soldier", whom Asumu's alternate alias' name is derived from.
 * Asumu's interests include writing, reading, and archery.
 * He has no set preferences of food, and will usually eat anything that doesn't smell bad. However, he only drinks water, and hardly anything else.
 * Despite his hardened nature, Asumu has an incredible fear of spiders.


 * The attacks in his Quincy: Vollstandig section are all named after firearms in the Resistance series of video games. Their functions are all similar to the secondary fire options of said firearms.
 * If this character were in the anime Asumu would be voiced by Daisuke Ono, who also voices Erwin Smith in Shingeki no Kyojin. His English voice actor is Benedict Cumberbatch.

Credits

 * All of his picture work belongs to Zanpakuto Leader.
 * The Bankai in the Stolen Bankai collection belongs to Blazekagayaku on Deviantart.