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Sakaala | |
Race | Arrancar |
Birthday | 31 December |
Age | 30 (Physical) 1200+ (Actual) |
Gender | Male |
Height | 201 cm (6'7") |
Weight | 91 kg (200 lb.) |
Aspect | Torment |
Professional Status | |
---|---|
Previous Partner | Kentarō Akiyama |
Base of Operations | Hueco Mundo |
Hollow Powers | |
Resurrección | Mantícora |
First Appearance | |
Story Debut | Crosscurrent |
Roleplay Debut | Worlds Apart |
"I'll find out what keeps you going... and I'll break it." |
Sakaala is an ancient male Arrancar. He was referred to as "The Scourge of Soul Society" (尸魂界の惨劇, sourusosaeti no sangeki) and "The Unfettered King" (自由な王, jiyūnaō) in the past.
Appearance[]
Sakaala is a very tall and lean, adult male of unclear ethnicity. While slender, he boasts toned, wiry muscles. In addition, the shade of his complexion is medium. With a diamond-shaped face, he is possessed of somewhat serpentine features and a perky nose. His platinum blond hair is rather long, with a few strands hanging loosely over his left eye, and the rest normally styled in a rope braid that reaches below his shoulders. His eyebrows are soft-angled and relatively thin. The colour of his eyes is cool grey. Notably, only Sakaala's left eye is visible in his base form. He is always seen clean-shaven.
The remnants of his Hollow mask linger on the right side of his face. They bear an uncanny resemblance to an opera mask, though with a single small horn protruding upward from above his eyebrow ridge. They cover about a half of his face, including the nose, though only a portion of the right cheek. The estigma on his face takes the form of four small, deep pink symbolic stars on his left cheek, arranged in a scattered formation. The location of his Hollow hole is slightly below the navel.
The usual attire of Sakaala is fairly extravagant. The only other piece of clothing upon the upper part of his body is typically a small vest made from white leather, adorned with some spikes and small chains. Usually, he keeps it unbuttoned. Moreover, he has rather tight-fitting trousers made from white leather as well, and shoes of similar make. Sometimes, he also wears a white hooded cloak.
Notably, Sakaala's appearance has changed slightly following his long stay in Hell. His complexion is now ashen, sickly pale, and his eye permanently sunken[1]. Moreover, there are thick chain patterns across the skin upon his chest, like a tattoo, that intersect in the middle[2].
Personality[]
Unfettered - that is one of the best terms one can use to describe the peculiar person that is Sakaala. Born of insanity, despair and trepidation, and with gargantuan power unlike any other Hollow of his time, he accepts no authority. There is no-one above him, everyone but a lowly worm in his eyes, and he does not tolerate rules or laws that could hinder his excesses. After all, he is a capricious man. Whenever he sets his sights on something, he pursues that goal with reckless abandon, to the exclusion of all else, and anything that dares stand on his path is immediately, ruthlessly removed.
Both during conversation and combat he exhibits a habit of gradually dismantling the views and fighting styles of his opponents. Every once in a while he indulges in a display of brute force, true, but generally prefers more subtle means of destroying others. More thorough. He lets the enemy act unhindered at first, so as to observe them, analyse them carefully and get to know them. Then, Sakaala will reveal his sadomasochistic approach to combat, tantalising and tormenting the opponent at nearly every step. He has the power to eradicate most of them with a single attack, sometimes he even alludes to that more or less subtly, yet normally he tends to point out and exploit their many flaws. They struggle, lash out at him viciously, attempt to determine his weaknesses or to beat him at his own game. All the while Sakaala himself acts with an apparent lack of effort, evades or blocks powerful strikes and deals heavy blows of his own casually, nonchalantly. Never to be shocked or worried, even at the precipice of alleged defeat - because to him, the outcome of any battle, the next victory, is inevitable, a matter of time dependent solely on his whim.
Self-absorbed, arrogant, condescending - Sakaala has displayed no shortage of negative traits during his long life. He treats people as objects, toys, tools. Persecutes them, abuses, exploits, tampers with them. He knows no bounds, there is nothing too extravagant for his taste, and he is inhumanly unflinching in his approach to whatever he finds worthy of his attention. Sakaala devotes his existence to enjoyment, and, as a Hollow, his definition of enjoyment tends to differ severely from that of ordinary Souls. He rapes, pillages and burns. There is nothing sacred to him, no words or actions that could prevent him from once again indulging in his dark desires.
And he is charismatic, drawing people like moths clinging to bright light, to his warped, twisted "cause". He has a way with words, the ability to speak of and present the atrocities he has committed as misinterpreted, that it is the Soul Society who paint him a villain. That he is a revolutionary instead, free from the chains and shackles of normal Souls, determined to bring them absolute freedom as well. Many follow him, intoxicated with the belief that they are no longer subject to any arbitrary restrictions, in truth, ignorant of the fact they have been manipulated and set on a course to utter destruction sooner or later. For Sakaala has a penchant for acting on impulse, and no-one is safe from his whims. Even in battle he will repeatedly address the enemy, manipulating them troughout the engagement. Perhaps, providing a hint or two so that they can fight him more efficiently and extend the duration of their existence for a little while longer. Perhaps, provoking or coercing them to unveil their special abilities, their trump cards, encouraging them to act on impulse or commit mistakes he is more than eager to exploit ruthlessly. Each battle is like a violent performance with Sakaala as both the director and the main protagonist of the play, acting out a preferably gripping story which unavoidably leads to his victory.
He is the epitome of vanity, relentlessness, immorality, ferocity, and extravagance. Among the many monsters that populated the ancient past of Soul Society he is one of the darkest, the topic of many an eerie legend or scary bedtime story even nowadays. For he is without fetters, and in his presence all fetters are undone, physical, mental, spiritual, leading downward a spiral of torment and madness. Ultimately, Sakaala is the apex predator of Hueco Mundo. He is no warrior, for he lacks a genuine cause to fight for, the intricacies and philosophy of martial arts or magic elude him. But he is a sophisticated predator, a superpredator, and combat is both his cause and philosophy. Not merely the people themselves but their worldviews, insecurities and flaws, his prey.
History[]
The Devourer of Hueco Mundo[]
Vicious. Ever since the day that single particular Soul did not transition to the Soul Society, perhaps in an attempt to exact revenge from beyond grave, or simply unable to accept that their worldly existence had come to an end, the being that would one day become Sakaala, the Unfettered King, was vicious. Assuming its beastly form, the now-Hollow continued his hostile existence, which either affected or was affected by stories of the mythical manticore. Unusually powerful, unusually intelligent, it was the bane of many men and women, forever hungry, unrelenting. But after many years of barely satiating its hunger everlasting with such minuscule amounts of spiritual energy, the Hollow eventually moved to Hueco Mundo, the sombre realm of much greater opportunities to such a nightmarish wraith.
The perpetual hunt continued. The Hollow paid no heed to the abominable, terrifying forms of its peers, their special abilities and power, their own animalistic drive to survive and grow stronger. For the Hollow was only concerned with its own agenda, its own development. So it pursued and killed, ruthless, unflinching, with brief periods of rest between day-long massacres, hours on end of constant bloodshed. After consuming each successive victim the Hollow grew stronger, tougher, faster, winding up the spiral of cannibalism with each feast. One day, there were many Hollows populating the white deserts of Hueco Mundo. But soon they became scarce, hunted down, little more than fodder to the voracity and ambition of that single specimen. Until a group of powerful Hollows assembled, with that specimen among them, to participate in one final struggle. They fought and devoured, emerging on top a pile of corpses only to drop dead and form a new peak. In the midst of that slaughter they transformed, hundreds of Hollows fusing into about a dozen of towering monstrosities known as Menos Grande.
The vicious Hollow suddenly became one amongst many tormented souls occupying a single vessel. But that status was short-lived. Self-centred, adamant, the Hollow immediately rose above its peers and asserted his dominance, crushed them under his heel to wrest control of that colossal body all for himself. They became fuel for his rage and determination, and the first action of that Gillian-class Menos was to pounce upon his closest peer and sink his teeth into its neck. Soon, from the dozen of newborn Menos Grande that single one remained, only to wander off back into the white expanse afterward. With the combined power of many other Hollows at his fingertips, there was barely any opposition to his incessant advance. It was only a matter of time until the Gillian reached the next stage of evolution and transformed into an Adjuchas. With a smaller, more sleek body, not unlike that of the original manticore-like Hollow, but more developed, exponentially more powerful. In whole groups the remaining Hollows were fleeing at his approach, but there was no respite, no mercy. Only death. They were cattle, and he was the butcher. In the end, the Adjuchas inevitably achieved the final stage of evolution and became a remarkable Vasto Lorde.
And everything changed.
All of a sudden, the Hollow realised he had reached a limit. After so many years of gruelling fight for survival, the inhuman ordeal he had persevered, the vicious cycle of cannibalism and evolution he had endured, he was at his limit. There was nothing else to achieve. Just the empty, lifeless plains and dunes around him. No more successes. No more power. For the first time in his long existence the Hollow despaired, realising that in climbing to the highest peak, he had nowhere else to go in the aftermath. He had accomplished his goal, and there was nothing else. Eventually, unable to accept that, that anything could be imposed on him by anyone or anything, the Vasto Lorde sank his claws into his Hollow mask, the grisly remains of his heart, and tore off a half of it to cast it onto the white sand in a gesture of vicious denial. And with that act he serendipitously came across the only way for him to progress once again. With his mask cracked, he underwent another change, acquiring a Human-like form and Shinigami-like powers, becoming an Arrancar.
In the meantime, concerned about the inexplicable purge of Hollows, the Shinigami sent a small squad to investigate the issue. After some time they came across a source of unbridled tremendous power, a single eerie lantern in the middle of an eternal lifeless night. They were outmatched and destroyed by the newborn hybrid. Nevertheless, in visiting that sombre realm they reminded the advanced Hollow of the existence of another realm. Previously, it paid little attention to those swordsmen, martial artists and mages pursuing his kind, dismissing them and occassionaly slaying them out of annoyance. But then, with Hueco Mundo nearly devoid of life, the Arrancar could move to another world, a world of endless opportunities, more fit to serve as a path for his never-ending progress. Thus, he manifested a dimensional portal with his newfound power and relocated to the Soul Society.
The first time he was confronted by the denizens of that realm, they demanded to know his identity. And, for the first time willing to actually interact with someone in a non-violent manner, the Arrancar mused about a name for himself, and replied: Sakaala.
The Scourge of Soul Society[]
For several years, Sakaala would travel across the spiritual realm, enamoured with the sheer variability Soul Society offered compared to the bleak and uninteresting Hueco Mundo. He had grown weary of co-existing, or rather exterminating fellow single-minded monsters who all shared a common goal. Instead, he observed the myriad different people inhabiting that world, their entertainment and daily hardships, their suffering and joy. Over time, he learnt much about them, about the laws and organisation that tied them. As such, he was also perplexed. In Hueco Mundo there were no rules, no authority, only survival of the fittest. But in Soul Society, weak mingled with strong, sought their assistance and protection. Everything and everyone was subject to order, restrained by morality, obeying commands. From the newborn child of a pair of beggars up to and including the respectable head of a Noble House, they were bound.
That led to an obvious conclusion - that he was unlike anyone else. With the remnats of his Hollow mask concealing a part of his face, colourful spots on his cheek, and a hole piercing the abdomen below his navel, he was a caricature of a Shinigami, bearing uncanny resemblance yet not quite the same. So he was treated with animosity, apprehension, disgust. People feared him, avoided or attacked him. In fact, they wanted to impose their arbitrary rules upon him, attempted to comprehend him through the prism of their limited perception, forcibly integrate him into that one giant community of eternal prisoners, or destroy him so that there would be no-one free amongst them, no-one truly free, exposing and highlighting their own metaphorical confinement solely through the fact of existing. But Sakaala paid no heed to their threats and warnings. He did as he pleased, forever unchained. He killed and abused with impunity, as no warrior who stood on his way proved able to stop him. There was no area he did not trespass, no rule he did not violate. In that world of duress and shaky order he was a force of pure chaos, unrestrained and unabated. He killed and ravaged with reckless abandon, relishing his unique status and unrivalled power.
There was only one source of concern: the Seireitei and its military, the Gotei 13. True, it had been decimated during the bloody war with the Quincy many years prior, and whole squads of rank-and-file Shinigami posed no threat to the Arrancar anyway. However, even though they were no longer the band of ruthless killers that composed the original roster, having settled into the roles of guardians of justice in a relatively peaceful world, each of the Thirteen Divisions was still led by a formidable warrior: a Captain. As incredibly powerful and reckless he was, Sakaala was not a fool. To duel Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto was to perform a spectacular suicide, and although no other Captain earned such grudging respect from him, to engage two or three at the same time was not a sensible idea either. As such, he took another approach. A death of a thousand cuts. He was the man-shaped plague of the Rukongai, elusive like a wraith, abrupt and decisive like death itself. With time, the scum and villainy of the Soul Society outskirts began following him, enchanted by his inhumanly unfettered nature, virtually worshipping his godlike might. And Sakaala did not mind, for why would he prevent others from finding pleasure in unchaining their shackles and letting their primal insticts guide them? With nary an effort on his part he managed to accumulate his own warband, a loose association of thieves, murderers, and lunatics, slowly but surely. Gradually, he was becoming an ever greater threat to the stability of the whole Soul Society.
There were few opponents worthy of his attention, and amongst them there was one particularly stubborn specimen: Third Division Captain Kentarō Akiyama. One of the few who was able to put up a good fight and survive their encounters, though not quite win any of them. Nevertheless, he piqued Sakaala's curiosity owing to his prowess, his attitude, his ideals. The Arrancar recognised Akiyama's disillusionment with the world he was forced to protect with his life. Ultimately, they clashed once more, and once Sakaala had got rid of nuisances accompanying the Captain, he began fighting with words in addition to actions. Soon, the resolve of his opponent wavered when the extent of corruption and hypocrisy of the Gotei 13 was revealed, their alleged lies uncovered to him. In the end, Akiyama accepted Sakaala's offer to join him and his "cause", the first and only time the Arrancar actively recruited someone. A decision that was half-pragmatic, seeing as he reforged one of his greatest enemies into his own second-in-commad, but also a display of his whimsical, curious disposition. For he wanted to discover how low could a former hero fall, and savour the misery of the latter's former close ones and allies forced to fight him to the bitter end.
Unfortunately for Sakaala, he had a way with words, but he could not resist indulging in his excesses. It was inevitable for Akiyama to discover the dissonance between the things Sakaala said, and the atrocities he committed on a daily basis, slaughtering and devastating mercilessly whilst claiming to merely uproot the hypocrisy of Soul Society and grant common people freedom. The truth was, the Arrancar never did anything for anyone else but himself. Others were tools, toys, pets to him, and he manipulated them with disturbing delight. His capricious nature, though, prevented him from following through any scheme or charade to the end, and Kentarō eventually saw through that ruse despite his own instability and doubts. He left suddenly to vanish without a trace. Annoyed, Sakaala decided the former Captain had to be punished appropriately for refusing to play along any more, depriving the Arrancar of his favourite pastime.
The obvious target was one of the high-ranking Noble Families, or rather, their estate. In order to lure Kentarō out and spite him at the same time, Sakaala and his warband demolished the estate. After all, the Arrancar knew of the intimate bond between his temporary comrade and one of the ladies of that house: Hitomi Akui. The woman herself decided to face him, as she was a powerful warrior in her own right, and challenged him with her Bankai. Alas, Sakaala had defeated many an esteemed Bankai user before, and in spite of her valiance Hitomi was unable to overcome him as well. She perished in battle, her body unceremoniously slumped on a pile of the numerous corpses of her servants, guardians, and family. In a cruel twist of fate Akiyama had already decided to return from his self-imposed exile, just in time to witness his last tie to Soul Society had been cut off mercilessly in his absence.
Sakaala welcomed his bygone comrade, elated and quick to mock him. Kentarō, on the other hand, was not amused. He struck the Arrancar so swiftly the latter did not have a chance to react. Members of the warband perished or fled as Akiyama finally unleashed his pent-up anger in a spectacle of earth-shaking devastation. Meanwhile, Sakaala recovered and faced the former Captain in cataclysmic battle. They clashed in an epic contest of wit, skill, spiritual power, and resolve. Their battle raged across the whole region, forests, wastelands and a mountain range, carving a wedge of utter devastation throughout the landscape. For a time Sakaala had control of the fight, as he had had so many times before, even in the wake of his opponent's blood-boiling fury. However, in his excess, as he gradually gained an even greater advantage and drove Kentarō further down the spiral of madness, he unwittingly became the architect of his own doom.
The infernal fire of rage he fanned within Akiyama cleansed the Hakudaka's mind of insecurities and doubt that had forever plagued him. With his inner conflict gone at last but a single goal remained: to exact vengeance on the one most responsible for his misery, the one who twisted and misguided him, the one who killed his beloved – Sakaala. In a display of indignation so profound that it allowed him to ascend beyond mortal limitations, Kentarō awakened his full power and used it to relentlessly pummel the Arrancar, blow after blow. For the longest time undefeated, always nonchalant and careless, Sakaala ultimately found himself cornered, overpowered, outmatched. Unable to regain control no matter what he did or said. But rather than flee or beg for mercy that would never be granted, he fought.
Maddened by accomplishing much more than he had hoped for, he fought until the bitter end. He gave it his all, landed more hits and inflicted more wounds than one could readily count, endured as many in return. Unleashed the full extent of his tremendous power and, inevitably, lost. Struck down by a mighty blow at his peak. His body was obliterated, his essence absorbed by Hell, where he would finally be punished for the uncountable crimes and atrocities he had committed throughout his violent life. The Scourge of Soul Society was no more.
The Tormentor of Hell[]
Bound and imprisoned for the first time in his existence, Sakaala suffered punishment reserved for the most heinous of Togabito. Not for long, however. Still possessed of enormous power and an undying drive to revel in absolute freedom, he forcibly unchained his shackles and destroyed his captors. Of course, he attempted to flee the horrible realm shortly afterward, only to find himself unable to. No portal or trick of spatial manipulation was enough to open an entry to the rest of the spiritual realms, a dimensional safeguard to render the ultimate prison truly inescapable.
Frustrated but curious, the Arrancar resolved instead to stay in Hell for the time being. To combat the Togabito, the Kushanāda, and the Yōkai, to explore its several vast levels, to challenge and disrupt the system. To roam freely the realm of eternal imprisonment, to punish the punished and the punishers themselves, to seek entertainment in a place of damnation. That satisfied him for a while. But he would remember the incomparably more abundant sources of enjoyment present in the Soul Society, ripe for the picking but inaccessible, and the man who dared defy and kill him. Every now and then he would attempt to escape, in vain. But he would remember, and he would try.
And, eventually, he succeeded.
Plot[]
Powers and Abilities[]
Advanced Nitōjutsu Master: There is no way a person such as Sakaala could have ever attended a kenjutsu, much less so zanjutsu, school owing to the sheer fact of being an evolved Hollow. Indeed, some of the ancient masters who had the misfortune to witness his fighting style at work noted that it was unlike anything they knew. That to draw parallels to any single combat system or form yielded little more than a passing resemblance, nothing to pinpoint as evidence of him possessing the knowledge of and favouring a school they were aware of. This means that, like any other self-made Arrancar from the days of yore, he must have developed his skill on his own. A logical conclusion no doubt, yet one difficult to accept given the exceptional, horrifying prowess he has displayed countless times across innumerable battlefields. Among others, Sakaala is noted for consistently wielding twin blades in combat. What appears to be a pair of identical khopesh, to be precise. He is seldom seen with just a single sword. Instead, whenever he goes to battle it is usually that nigh-inseparable pair that accompanies him, those elegant, deadly sickle-swords that have drawn enough blood to drown an entire country in a sea of crimson liquid. Any inherent difficulty of wielding two blades at the same time one could expect is nowhere to be found within his bladework. As if the khopesh are extensions of his limbs rather than independent objects, or even weapons at all. Extensions of his very being, the medium with which he can express his killing intent, manifest it in a palpable manner. For, in a matter of speaking, they are exactly that, a peculiar Zanpakutō split in two when the majority of Sakaala's power was sealed within. They are the terminus, the curved blades of Death's scythe reaping the lives of countless people. Arguably, the way he fights is perfectly adequate for such a peculiar person. In developing his combat style single-handedly he expresses himself on the battlefield through the outlet of his blades. He is vicious, dynamic, unrelenting. He performs acrobatic, physics-defying stunts in the midst of heated battle, conducts extended assaults unabated, showers his opponents with lightning-fast flurries of thrusts and slashes. There is seemingly no method to his moves, no pattern to predict, as if it were chaos guiding his hands, his blades, his mind. Switching stances, twisting his wrists, swaying and leaping about the enemies. Changing the grip, stopping abruptly at the most inconvenient of moments, performing outlandish transitions. Sometimes, letting go of his blades randomly or throwing them at his confused opponents, setting his teeth on one of the hilts to wield a sword with his mouth. Every part of his twin swords is a weapon, every move he performs is crippling, enfeebling, or the killing blow, any time, never pre-determined, ever-changing, but for the instant he requires to express his intent. Even with his pure skill alone he fell many an upstart hero, many a veteran or wise master. For he pays no respect to their ideals, their honour or accomplishments. Rather, he tears them apart like a wild animal, rends, shreds, dismembers and decapitates, carving a bloody swathe through entire armies and elite warriors alike, never to be stopped, a tempest of cleaving blades, a force of nature. The moment he draws his swords the fate of his enemy has been sealed, their death rendered inevitable, irrespective of their status or prowess, just a matter of time. A matter of Sakaala's whim, as it is for him to decide when to finish the battle and cut the thread of life with a single, nonchalant motion. With his unequalled proficiency in that single sword-fighting style he supersedes countless disparate schools with incredible specialised skill. For him to challenge a master swordsman is to toy with a puppet, completely aware of the metaphorical strings that determine their actions whilst being free of them himself, and more than eager to sever those of his enemy with astounding facility. Because the moment he draws his twin khopesh the borders between the man and the swords are undone, and there are virtually no limits to what he might achieve. Ultimately, just like him, his swordsmanship is unfettered.
Expert Unarmed Combatant: Notably, in spite of his heavy reliance on sword-fighting and spatial manipulation, Sakaala does occasionally employ unarmed combat moves in battle. Usually as a supplement to the former, however. Possessed of excellent physical fitness, as well as lightning-fast reflexes and considerable experience, he can skilfully weave in elbow strikes and a wide variety of acrobatic kicks whilst in the middle of a kenjutsu contest. As strong and abrupt as the swings of his twin blades, if not generally as lethal. Undeniably proficient in their performance, in the end they remain a mere addition to the amazing bladework. Enhanced Strength: In spite of his relatively slender frame, Sakaala is far from being a feeble combatant. The toned, wiry muscles he so likes to flaunt with his somewhat revealing clothing are not just for show. In fact, the amount of momentum behind his casual strikes is sufficient to demolish a large building, or numerous lesser opponents in one fell swoop. Brute force is never the primary focus of his combat style, but an important element nonetheless. Perhaps not as impressive as that one can expect of a seasoned Hakuda master, though not exactly lacking either. Deceptively subtle, swift thrusts pierce mid-level Kidō barriers, what appears to be a normal swing might cleave a Zanpakutō and its unsuspecting wielder in half. With the amount of effort put into his strikes the magnitude of his ferocious assaults increases substantially. At full capacity Sakaala has proven several times to be able to dent a Bankai, inflicting permanent damage to the evolved Zanpakutō and indulging in what he likes to describe as a "death of a thousand cuts". Which, as far as he is concerned, might transpire within a matter of moments. Enhanced Durability: More than that, frailty is not one of the traits associated with Sakaala either. Once again, a person who appears susceptible to damage on the basis of a lean, slightly lanky stature, proves surprisingly resistant to harm. With just the unaided toughness of his body Sakaala can weather vicious onslaughts, even a level of devastation sufficient to ravage a whole town. Few are the ways to get past his perdurable Hierro to strike directly at his flesh. But, in those rare instances, he is capable of weathering those severely diminished strikes almost unfazed, or endure what the opponent expected to be a killing blow only to retaliate shortly afterward. Whereas the less impressive of his two layers of defence, the toughness of his own body is remarkable nonetheless. Enhanced Endurance: Neither is Sakaala quick to exhaust himself despite the animalistic intensity characteristic of his fighting style. Many opponents who hope to witness the first signs of fatigue hinder his astounding performance are unable to survive long enough for that to occur. Needless to say, because of such a vicious and dynamic approach he requires ample stamina to maintain high performance in battle for an extended period of time. In truth, he is not genuinely indefatigable; if he were to rely solely on his physical fortitude, there would be opponents untiring enough to outlast him. Nevertheless, he is a highly competent fighter, resilient enough to successfully employ his ferocious combat style time and again. Immeasurable Reflexes: Among the most notorious traits of Sakaala is the way he acts during combat, or, in fact, in general. Careless, impetuous, bold. Forever laid-back, even as his opponent is fighting a desperate battle to the death. Casually, he belittles experienced warriors while they repeatedly attempt to hit him, in vain. Somehow, someway, his outlandish actions do not hinder his astounding performance. Nevertheless, someday, someone should be able to reach him whilst in the midst of his antics, finally catch him off-guard and strike him unexpectedly. Yet, there is only one notable instance known of such an event. One where a man of outstanding prowess, oftentimes perceived as a demigod himself was involved, one who had the ability to distort time and space. Other than that, Sakaala remains infamous as incredibly elusive. And there is a good reason he may act like that with impunity. For the power of spatial manipulation that permeates every aspect of his existence does indeed permeate every aspect of his existence. To the point that his entire nervous system, all receptors and neurons in his brain, are wreathed in minuscule, extremely subtle spatial distortions. Normally, individuals can act only as fast as the electrical impulses coursing through their bodies let them. However, with said micro-wormholes of sorts creating an overlay on his nervous system, Sakaala transcends its natural limitations. In consequence, he can effectively perceive enemy actions and words as they are transpiring to analyse them and react to them in what is, for all intents and purposes, a literal instant. To surprise him, to ambush or outpace him, is basically futile. Any response from him is either immediate, or, does not have to be. Master Tactician: In spite of gathering a sizeable warband, one that posed a considerable threat to the enfeebled Gotei 13 at one point, Sakaala is not a natural leader or general. He does not concern himself with strategy, logistics or convoluted plans to achieve any specific goal in well-defined stages. But that is the result of his self-absorbed nature, which shines with the eerie glow of a harvest moon once he is engaged in combat. To him, the vast majority of enemies he encounters might as well come to battle with chains and shackles weighing down their limbs and thoughts. They are slaves to moves, techniques, combat forms, codes, ideals, and assumptions, unable to keep up with his animalistic ferocity. To him, their movements are restrained and sluggish, telegraphed to the point of absurdity. So it is only natural for him to exploit their manifold openings, anticipate their obvious strikes, pierce through inelegant feints. Numerous times he was able to toy with veteran warriors, evade them narrowly and inflict pinprick wounds to wound their honour more than their flesh. For in addition to combat he is a master of psychological warfare as well, taunting, intimidating and shocking his opponents with nearly every move performed or a word spoken. Devious, unflinching, unpredictable, luring his enemies into a trap they cannot escape from, tantalising them with the prospect of victory that has never truly been within their reach. Highly Perceptive Combatant: Attention to detail is yet another aspect of Sakaala's extravagant personality that proves pertinent to his combat capacity. Somewhat amusingly, weak people might not exist altogether as far as he is concerned but, anyone strong enough to pique his curiosity is inevitably subject to thorough analysis. Their choice of garments, haircut, body language and face expressions, the way they speak and what they have spoken, the manner in which they handle themselves in battle. Those are all sources of valuable data. Sakaala has a penchant for determining everything he possibly can about such people only to meticulously, ruthlessly deconstruct them, circumvent every single of their strengths and extract their weaknesses, bring them into the spotlight and exploit them without mercy. In interaction with a person someone as arrogant and condescending as Sakaala has found intriguing there is virtually nothing that could possibly escape his notice, for every detail is of value. To get to know them to such an extent in such a short time is a remarkable skill. It is on the basis of gathering that information he can then predict their behaviour in battle, anticipate every single move and immediately recognise whenever something is amiss, out of the ordinary, to act accordingly. Strong Resolve: Sakaala has never been perceived as someone valiant, as that is a trait commonly associated with headstrong heroes rather than capricious and erratic villains. He is, however, for all intents and purposes, a nigh-dauntless entity. Born of fear, he knows no fear himself, instead he spreads it across the plains, highlands, villages, towns and cities of the Soul Society, casting a shadow of dread upon the spiritual realm with just his singular presence. There is no account of Sakaala ever succumbing to shock or displaying surprise in what was not an example of his usual histrionics and mind games. Taunts are invariably met with peals of laughter or acerbic retorts. Attempts at intimidation are completely in vain. He is unflinching, unstoppable, unswayedly pursuing his prey, his victims, no matter what they throw at him or tell him. Battles are like orgies to him, and he embraces every single aspect of them. He revels in torment and despair, draws pure joy from the misery of others, a devil. To prevail in a duel, to block his strikes and to wound him is to elate him, and even whilst balancing at the precipice of death he remains forever ardent and relentless, and has so throughout his entire abominable life up until the last exchange of blows that put an end to his reign of terror. Temporarily. Immense Spiritual Power: Every Hollow boasts an amount of spiritual power, however tiny, yet always superior to that of an ordinary Human. They use that energy to supply their special abilities and derive sustenance from consumption of said spiritual energy. They can grow, evolve, to become stronger. As Gillian, a composite abomination consisting of numerous minor Hollows, they are typically powerful enough to challenge a Seated Officer of the Gotei 13. The much more distinct, skilled and cunning Adjuchas might clash with Lieutenants. And, ultimately, those select few Hollows who prevail amongst the relentless plains of Hueco Mundo, endure the eternal struggle and accumulate sufficient energy, become the dreadful Vasto Lorde, who can be invariably and truthfully described as Captain-class, or greater, entities. Hueco Mundo is a land of monsters, and even among them there are particularly horrible specimens. Sakaala is one such specimen, the ultimate Hollow who was not satisfied with that idea of "ultimate" and decided to rip apart his mask to obtain the chance to evolve further still. And so he did, to the horror and despair of countless Souls throughout several centuries to come. Rank-and-file soldiers of the Gotei 13 are but specks of dust at his approach. High-ranking officers are but pebbles beneath his feet. Even Captains, mighty leaders of individual Divisions cannot truly compare, such is the extent of his colossal power. Save for perhaps the most talented or experienced among them; only a prodigy or seasoned veteran could hope to hold their ground and put up a good fight in a duel with the abnormal Arrancar, albeit can they hope to emerge victorious? For even the Founders of Thirteen Divisions had to be wary of him, in spite of their widely recognised status as the most dangerous generation of them all, vicious and unbridled[4][5]. Truly, Sakaala's power is exorbitant, his presence like a mountain looming above the horizon, so huge, intimidating, overwhelming to behold. Sky-high monolith so much greater than the mere mortal quivering at its foot. This renders it all the more bewildering that the colour of his spiritual pressure, as it manifests in the form of a pulsating spherical aura, is hot pink. Inappropriate yet horrifying all the same, as it forced numerous seasoned warriors to kneel before Sakaala, the Unfettered King.
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Bala (バラ, bara, Spanish for "Bullet"): One of the most basic techniques available to the Arrancar, a roughly spherical energy blast of pink colour. Not particularly powerful on its own, but exceedingly fast and easy to launch repeatedly or in a volley. In addition, in Sakaala's case, imbued with his ability to manipulate space in order to improve the inherent concussive properties of the projectile with gravitational ripples let loose with each and every detonation[3]. As such, it serves the rule of a potent suppression tool. Even if they avoid a direct hit most enemies end up knocked back, stunned. Their eardrums might rupture, their eyes implode, intestines reduced to a bloody pulp. Some can prove nimble or crafty enough to escape them altogether, their high speed notwithstanding. In that event, Sakaala assumes control of the Bala with the use of his spiritual pressure, guides them further toward the target, their trajectories wild and unpredictable, so that they can hit the mark regardless. Cero (セロ, sero, Spanish for "Zero"): Cero is an infamous technique commonly associated with Menos. The lowly Gillian-class frequently employ that beam of condensed spiritual energy to engage hardy targets at range. While higher forms of Hollows gradually develop more refinement in the usage of Cero, only Arrancar have displayed the ability to significantly alter the shape, form and properties of the spiritual beam. That is especially the case with Sakaala, whose unprecedented mastery of his signature power considerably affects that basic technique as well. Generally, most Hollows are somewhat limited in the employment of Cero, not straying too far from the default form and reliant on the explosive damage dealt on impact. However, as the Unfettered, Sakaala defies expectations with his own take on the technique. Perhaps most tellingly, his beam of pink energy seems to mercilessly carve its way through space whilst enveloped by visible ring-like distortions, a property evocative of Gran Rey Cero – a clear indication of its destructive potential. Notably, Sakaala is fond of unleashing the technique abruptly, without a warning, without any noticeable change in posture or quite the opposite, whilst assuming an awkward pose. Nor is the form of the Cero set in stone, for he might twist the beam, mould into other shapes or release it in a spherical explosion[7]. Its power is terrifying, capable of eradicating a town in one fell swoop. No gesture, no preparation time, just a brief, loud whizz, then nothing.
Enhanced Hierro (イエロ, iero, Spanish for "Iron"): All Arrancar display an innate defensive ability known as Hierro. The spiritual energy that leaks from their bodies in the form of spiritual pressure becomes naturally condensed, enveloping their bodies with a thick, invisible shroud. The effectiveness of that ability depends largely upon the amount of spiritual power the Arrancar in question has at one's disposal. So, it comes as no surprise that the distinct Hierro of Sakaala is a nigh-impenetrable defence under normal circumstances. If only on the basis of the sheer magnitude of his potential the spiritual force field protecting him at all times is extremely resistant to damage. More than that, Sakaala's Hierro is augmented with the ability of spatial manipulation, and thus capable of incessantly distorting space around his person. Multiple times the Arrancar needs not act when under attack, simply observing the enemy strikes dissolve into nothingness or pass by harmlessly with no effort on his part[7]. For the warped dimensional fabric protecting him does not let them reach him, introducing considerable artificial distance between him and the opponent imperceptible with the use of ordinary senses. In spite of being a constant effect that requires no conscious control from him, Sakaala can indeed alter the field as he sees fit. Condense, mould, or reinforce depending on the situation[6]. That is his primary means of defence, always available, extremely reliable, protecting him at all times from physical blows, sword strikes, and magical spells alike. A way for him to emerge unscathed from all but the most vicious of assaults, with nary an effort.
Enhanced Pesquisa (ペスキサ, pesukisa, Spanish for "Inquiry"): Arrancar are inherently combative spiritual entities, and no relevant skillset would be complete without a proper perception technique. Usually, they make use of Pesquisa, where the Arrancar in question emits a radiating pulse of spiritual pressure that allows them to pinpoint the location and estimate the general power level of all individuals within a certain proximity. Yet, as any ability reliant on spiritual pressure, it can be fooled with comprehensive illusions and other tricks that specifically alter or otherwise impair the Reikaku. Be that as it may, Sakaala does not limit himself to just an impulse of pure spiritual pressure, but also weaves in subtle gravitational ripples whilst attempting to discern the whereabouts of others. Said ripples, like a radar of sorts, allow him to precisely determine the actual physical positions of his enemies and potential targets. Habitually, Sakaala maintains his Pesquisa active at all times, if subtly, and focuses the skill when in need of more accurate information. Descorrer (デスコレール, desukorēru, Spanish for "Drawing Opening"): As an Arrancar, Sakaala can freely open a Garganta portal to travel across the spiritual realms. That grants him access to dimensional pathways between Hueco Mundo, the Living World, as well as the Soul Society. He requires neither focus nor a gesture to do so, meaning he can jump between the realms at whim. More than that, this supporting skill employed with such facility has considerable use in combat as well, for he is fully capable of exploiting the portals to either evade enemy strikes or send them away, somewhere, within an instant. Advanced Sonído Master: Instinctually, the Arrancar pounce upon their prey with alarming speed, their innate agility sufficient to keep up with Shunpo of the Shinigami and Hirenkyaku of the Quincy. All of them can naturally employ this technique, albeit with wildly varying degree of celerity, which depends on their individual power and overall proficiency. Sakaala is strong, but not the physically strongest. Durable, but not the toughest. Endurant, if not truly indefatigable. He is, though, and has always been, exceptionally nimble. One of the, if not the, most prominent expressions of the core aspect of his philosophy: freedom. His skill in Sonído is so outstanding that he seems to teleport rather than actually move, nary a flicker or sound to betray the exceedingly swift manoeuvre. As he has further honed his agility through countless battles and his typical antics, he recognised it as his main asset. The sharpest of senses struggle to keep up with his mercurial manoeuvres, overloaded with lingering sounds and uncountable afterimages. Quicker, and quicker. For he is the unbridled master of space, capable of travelling in all three dimensions with natural ease, all the while the fourth one barely keeps him constrained. As a result, so fast he is that with a genuine exertion, Sakaala can leave even a seasoned master of Shunpo in the dust.
Aspecto (アースペクト, asupekuto, Spanish for "Aspect"): At the time of his ascension from Vasto Lorde to natural-born Arrancar, Sakaala had the opportunity to seal his Hollow powers within the vessel of a sword, or rather twin swords, to regain an amount of humanity and conserve his energy. However, unlike most of his modern-day brethren, rather than let the process completely deprive him of his special ability whilst in the humanoid base form he instead opted to lock the majority of his vast spiritual power. This means that at all times he has got access to the full scope, if not the magnitude, of his ability to manipulate space. One might compare this state to a constant release-type Shikai. This proved instrumental in the process of developing and perfecting his distinct fighting style with a heightened emphasis on skill and ingenuity rather than brute force. The fruit of his labour is astounding resourcefulness. So that he can create portals to intercept energy blasts and Kidō spells, redirect or deflect them by twisting the fabric of space, summon barriers to protect him or cleave his enemies in twain with minute dimensional rifts, alter gravity, manipulate distance, compress, fold, and distort the plane of existence in ways better left undescribed. During roughly one thousand years of spiritual combat Sakaala has invented and practised a myriad techniques, so many in fact that one could liken the versatility of his fighting style to Kidō rather than zanjutsu. |
Mantícora (マンティコーラ, mantikōra, Spanish for "Manticore"): Sakaala's Zanpakutō assumes the form of twin khopesh: medium-length, ancient Egyptian sickle-swords with gently curved blades. They have got star-shaped guards with four arms each and hilts wrapped in cloth of Spanish pink colour. Somewhat interestingly, he does not carry them on his person, or at all. Rather, he summons them from an undisclosed location as needed and tends to promptly send them away once they have served their purpose[7]. Curiously, the blades have become noticeably more pointy and jagged following his stay in Hell, so that they resemble torture implements more than practical weapons[8].
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Statistics
Offence |
|
100/100 | |||
Defence |
|
90/100 | |||
Mobility |
|
100/100 | |||
Reiryoku |
|
100/100 | |||
Intelligence |
|
70/100 | |||
Strength |
|
80/100 | |||
Total |
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540/600 |
Trivia[]
- Sakaala was conceived as a foil and the nemesis of Tōsō.
- His battle theme is Blue Gender OST - Bluff.
- In Japanese, Sakaala would refer to himself with the informal pronoun ore (俺), which establishes a sense of masculinity and superiority, and might be considered rude under certain circumstances. Though there exists an even more arrogant ore-sama variant, Sakaala cannot be bothered to pronounce that each time he speaks and as such prefers the shorter version.
- Sakaala's Hollow hole is located in the sacral chakra, which is associated with creativity, emotions, and sexuality.
- The author's choice for his hypothetical voice actors are Unshō Ishizuka and Steven Blum, who voiced the Naruto character Zabuza Momochi in Japanese and English, respectively.
Appearances[]
Bleach Renascence[]
- Fists of Calamity! Two Grandmasters Collide! (Mentioned only)
- Unfettered
- Terrors of the Dunes
- Predators
- Rise/Fall (Flashback)
Obsolete[]
- Descending Despairs (Cameo)
- Worlds Apart
- Crosscurrent (Vision)
Battles[]
Participants | Chapter(s) | Result |
---|---|---|
Sakaala (Base) vs. Ashido (Base / Shikai) & Teruo Akui (Base / Shikai) | Hollow Haunters | Inconclusive |
References[]
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