ALL INFORMATION WITHIN THIS PROFILE IS PROVIDED BY BLEACH WIKI. ELZEE RAZZ, ALL ARTWORK, AND ANYTHING PARTAINING TO THIS CHARACTER
IS CREATED WHOLEY BY CHRISTOPHER STOCKFISCH. INSPIRATION FOR THE BLEACH VERSION OF ELZEE RAZZ IS INSPIRED BY TITE KUBO & SHONIN JUMP.
Anything that looks like this is a direct quote from Bleach Wiki. This profile is nothing more than reference material to enhance my writing and to avoid too much deviation from Tite Kubo's original story.
S H I N I G A M I / B I O G R A P H Y
Shinigami (死神, "death god(s)"; Viz "Soul Reaper(s)") are a race of spiritual beings that act as enforcers and psychopomps who all share similar supernatural powers. Shinigami use their Zanpakutō to perform soul burials on Pluses and to fight Hollows. They can also use their Kidō to fight Hollows.
It has been nearly 40 years since Elzee Razz entered Soul Society. Since day one she has been alienated, having firebrick red hair, golden eyes, strange tattoos, extremely small figure, and even her accent is foreign and separates her from the common peoples of Soul Society. For those that know about the cultures of the world, it is easy to tell that she is far from Japanese descent. Her accent hints at a Northern American English dialect though very few scholars have spent any time to confirm this. A handful of years passed since the girl's arrival but within that time she quickly learned the languages and culture of Soul Society. Over the remaining years up to the current date she has worked towards joining the Shinigami Military. Her work history leading up to graduation has been sketchy though there is no doubt to her natural combat ability. Not only a natural combatant but she has proven to excel at planning ahead. Somehow knowing how out plan her enemies strategies. It was this exact cunning when she was picked up by the Sixth Squad. Though when not in uniform or when she falls out of regs Elzee Razz is extremely energetic and arguably hyper. Though with a short temper and not being afraid to speak her mind when feeling... excited she defends what she believes in fiercely and does not bend easily. Being stubborn and hot headed make for an ugly pair but this is generally avoided by anyone that knows her. When in a good mood Elzee is one of the most friendly people a person can be around, though say something she finds ridiculous and you may find yourself under her boot.
O V E R V I E W
They are souls with a high level of innate Spiritual Energy, recruited from the ranks of the residents and nobility of Soul Society. Their bodies are composed of Reishi instead of atoms. This means that just like most other types of spirits, they can only be seen by other spiritually aware entities, which excludes most Humans. Nevertheless, they are quite capable of influencing their environment. When souls with exceptional spiritual energy train their bodies, they reach the level of Shinigami. The most talented of them become affiliated with various organizations like the Gotei 13 and the Onmitsukidō. Sometimes, a Shinigami is born among the residents of the Rukongai, and in some rare cases from Seireitei.
Shinigami are the personification of death. Their job is to send spirits to the Soul Society (the afterlife) in order to maintain a balance of souls between it and the material world, and to exorcise evil spirits. Because of their duties Shinigami possesses supernatural abilities such as:
Longevity: While they can age and die of natural causes or as a result of physical injury as regular humans, Shinigami have extended life-spans and it is not uncommon for one to live for thousands of years.
Enhanced Endurance: While they can be injured and die like regular humans, it takes considerably greater injuries for the latter to occur than it would in regular humans.
Reiryoku: Shinigami also naturally give off Spiritual Energy, which varies greatly in magnitude with the strength of a Shinigami. Additionally, unlike humans, they do not have to eat anything to sustain themselves, though they engage in the act none the less as Shinigami and other spiritual beings only become hungry when they used too much Spiritual Energy within a short amount of time.
Kidō: The technique that Shinigami use to focus their Spiritual Energy into magic spells of various powers.
Hohō: A variety of techniques associated with movement, including jumping and shunpo (flash step).
Zanpakutō: The most prominent supernatural power possessed by a Shinigami is their Zanpakutō, a supernatural sword (which can be in the form of any kind of Japanese sword) generated from the Shinigami's soul. A Zanpakutō is a physical manifestation of this force concentrated into a blade. All Shinigami have a Zanpakutō, but not all of them carry one with them.
Shinigami operations are based out of the Soul Society, where departed human souls reside. Travel between the Human World and Soul Society is extremely limited and monitored, but some Shinigami are stationed in the human world to carry out their duties and therefore must often travel between the two.
It is also implied that Shinigami receive salaries, like workers in the real world.
Elzee Razz has lived in Soul Society for nearly 40 years, however she has not looked to have aged past the age of 17. Her small figure is well complimented with a young and perky body, the girl's curves and muscle look to be carved flawlessly from stone. However it should be noted that the tattoo's on her body took several decades to tastefully cover over half of her body. Though she looks as any other young adult, the tattoo's and piercings add a certain age to her appearance. On the same token her looks are extremely deceiving as Elzee's body is rather resilient to the more common Shinigami, able to take even more damage and expend more energy before succumbing. Another part worth noting is the spiritual pressure which illuminates this particular individual. It fluctuates as any other Shinigami though it seems a bit more chaotic and less controlled than any other. It seems as though she "bleeds" spiritual pressure as if there were an excess of energy within. It is guessed by her tutors that it is because of her strange spiritual pressure that Shingami Razz struggles with Kido. Even as she performs the correct motions and speaks the correct incitations the spells activate sloppily. Either being forced with too much energy, or not enough causing most of her spells to fail. Though where she lacks in spiritual control she was one of the better free form runners. If she were better skilled in Kido she might have been seated within Fifth Squad for the traditional delivery unit. The Zanpakuto which is adorned by all Graduated Shinigami, Elzee Razz's stood out differently than most other weapons. Instead of a traditional Katana she instead summoned/created a double-headed war-axe. Though the blade itself is sized down to better fit her small form, though not by much. Traditionally the weapon is roughly 3/4ths of it's typical size. It is pure black, heavily engraved and has a comfortable leather binding that is sewn in along the entire handle shaft.
A P P E A R A N C E
Most Shinigami appear like Humans, a notable difference being their mostly old-fashioned garments by 20th-21st century standards, and their Zanpakutō which is in most cases tied to their obi sash.
There are, however, a few Shinigami who are less Human-like in appearance. For example it seems that between Shinigami there are much greater variations in body-sizes than between Humans, as there are real giant-like entities (e. g. the four guards of the four gates to Seireitei) and ones with extremely small stature among them (e. g. Yachiru Kusajishi). This variation seems to occur not just between Shinigami, but also between regular dwellers of Soul Society, too.
Variations do not just occur in size but in overall appearance, too, the most notable example being Captain Sajin Komamura, who appears like an anthropomorphic canine.
Elzee Razz looks to be sculpted from stone or melded from steel. It is easy to see the woman's muscle structure even when she is not doing anything to flex her body and on top of that is well curved which perfectly compliments her athletic features. It would be easy to argue that her body is something out of a magazine edited into a certain false perfection though on closer inspection it becomes painfully easy that this girl lives for her health. Tattoo's tastefully cover over half of her dark golden skin and with firebrick red hair and golden eyes make Elzee an easy eye-catcher in almost any crowd. Not only that but it becomes easy to tell that she is comfortable in her body as she does very little to hide or even cover it.
Her hair is short and messy, with a long decorative wrapped braid which hangs freely just behind her left ear. The emblem of her squad is woven into the end of the cloth of the braid. A unique sort of corset fits over her bust and is intricately designed to show off her curvaceous figure and keep her bust securely in place during combat. The black casode which normally functions as a jacket is tucked in at her pelvis under the black sash though normally hangs freely about her waist. The black hakama's are extremely loose around the thighs and rump while being held firmly in place with the same style as the corset, from the knee down. Metal plates protect her knees and woven intricately into the fabrics around those joins are knee braces which help add support to her free-form styled combat and movement. Both the heels and toes are bare granting her a natural grip on any surface she can run across.
The same design as her corset and shin guards her gloves are intricately designed to give her wrists support and have metal plates which add a certain sting to Elzee's punch. The Katana is firmly placed horizontally across the small of her back and can be adjusted for easier and quicker drawing.
D U T I E S
Konsō (魂葬, Soul Burial): the process by which a Shinigami sends wandering Pluses (souls) in the living world and send them to their respective place. Either Soul Society if they are good in life, or to Hell if their life was full of evil acts (such as murders, theft, etc).
Konsō is performed by using the hilt of the Shinigami's Zanpakutō, tapping the soul on the head and transporting them to the afterlife.
Hollow Cleansing: When a Shinigami slays a Hollow (evil spirit) with their Zanpakutō, they cleanse their sins. Once this takes place, a Hollow will return to its former state as a Plus and is led into Soul Society. This is called sublimation. Souls that live in Soul Society are reborn again into the human world. Not all Hollows are sent to the Soul Society. Since Zanpakutō are only capable of cleansing sins committed after becoming a Hollow, Hollows that committed serious crimes when they were still Human are sent to Hell when they are slain.
Also, if they are destroyed by a Quincy, Hollows are completely vanquished and cannot ever return to the Soul Society.
Soul Governance: Shinigami are responsible for governing the flow of spirits between the Human World and Soul Society. This is commonly carried out by balancing the total number of souls by moving and managing them in the human world. All of the soul-related jobs are under their authority.
T R A I N I N G
Shinōreijutsuin (Spiritual Arts Academy): sometimes called the Shinigami Academy. The majority of training for individuals (that is, souls residing in the Soul Society) wanting to become Shinigami is done through the Shinigami Academy. It is a six-year academy, during which time its students learn how to use their Spiritual Energy properly, fight Hollows, and perform Soul Burials. While the exact date and details of its foundation are not specified, the academy seems to have been founded by Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto about 2000 years before the Bleach storyline.
Not much is known about the conditions, on which a dweller of the Soul Society is admitted to the Academy. One elementary requirement seems to be that the individual has to possess a certain, above-average level of Spiritual Energy, and has to be able to perform some basic feats using that. Becoming hungry seems to be a good sign in Soul Society for hopeful Shinigami candidates, because feeling hunger means that the person in question is capable of using up Spiritual Energy.
It is at the Spiritual Arts Academy where all the military forces of Soul Society are formally taught. While a majority of students are taken into the Gotei 13, there are those who have a special affinity for certain forms of combat that get taken in by the two more secretive and selective branches of the military, namely the Kidō Corps (excelling in Kidō) and the Onmitsukidō (excelling in Hohō and Hakuda).
The Shinigami Academy is one of two groups that is not under the jurisdiction of the Central 46 Chambers.
Lack in Kido training, and spiritual control Elzee's trainers put extra effort into her physical abilities, pushing her much harder than any of the student in her classes. This discipline shows in her body and combat ability. What she lacks for spiritual energy is made up with raw physical prowess and with practiced fluid motions, makes her fighting style look almost too natural to be called martial. With a variety of hand to hand styles interwoven into swordplay make Elzee by far one of the most deadly melee combatants from her graduating class. It was once said that Elzee Razz draws her blade to kill, even during simple sparing sessions. In short, she is deadly serious when it comes to personal combat.
C O M B A T
The cleansing of Hollows is very dangerous task, as most Hollows are no more than mindless monsters thirsty for devouring more and more souls, be it a Plus, a Human soul still in its body, or even a Shinigami. Moreover, Hollows who have some of their human consciousness remaining are even more dangerous, as they can be swift, strong and cunning adversaries, utilizing various tricks to avoid purification and catch their prey.
Taking these facts into consideration, Shinigami have to be highly trained in defending themselves and other spirits from being devoured, while being able to land a critical strike on the Hollow itself with their Zanpakutō.
Zankensoki: Basic Shinigami fighting techniques. Zan refers to sword fighting techniques. Ken refers to unarmed fighting techniques. So refers to moving techniques. Ki refers to Kidō. All of which require the controlled usage of a varying amount of Spirit Energy.
Elzee Razz focuses in on her endurance in any given fight, attempting to wear out her opponent before moving in and delivering combat finishing attacks. Though she is a tactician at heart Elzee puts a great amount of effort keeping her physical condition at it's best. Having a healthy body, she believes opens up even more opportunities to exploit her enemies weaknesses. Not only this but her physical resistances and endurance allow her room to take time and learn her opponent before moving in and attacking, though when she does so she has said to strike fear into even the most learned trainers. It was once said that she puts her entire soul into one attack, and this single attack has been planned from the second the weapons were drawn.
K I D O
Kidō are a type of sorcery used by Shinigami. They can be used for various purposes, such as healing, attacking, and restraining. Healing seems to be a more general skill, while attacking and binding require an incantation to be recited beforehand. Demon arts spells are divided into two major groups: destructive spells, used for direct attack, and binding spells, which are spells that restrain someone or have other effects. These forms of demon arts spells are performed by calling out a complicated and often long-winded incantation followed by the name of the spell, which causes an effect once the name has been recited. Lesser versions of the spells can be used by calling out the name alone, but their effectiveness is reduced when used in such a fashion.
Though it is limited and there is a 60% chance that the spell will fail. Elzee knows every known spell for her level of combat expertise.
Bakudou:
1. Restrain (Sai)
4. Crawling Rope (Hainawa)
8. Repulse (Seki)
9. Strike (Geki)
9. Disintegrating Circle (Hourin)
Hadou:
1. Thrust (Shou)
4. White Lightning (Byakurai)
H A N D - T O - H A N D _ C O M B A T
Hand-to-hand combat is not elaborated upon by the majority of Shinigami. The Onmitsukidō troops, however, especially those of higher ranks such as Suì-Fēng, are known to be well-trained in this field.
Despite having a fully functional and effective Soul Cutter Elzee Razz actually prefers to use hand to hand combat techniques which had been taught to her in place of extensive Kido. Using a mixture of body manipulation, grappling, and using her elbows and knees to make her opponents submit. Using her Soul Cutter is a last resort weapon and is used primarily against hollows only.
A G I L I T Y
Hohō (agility), like hand-to-hand combat, is not elaborated upon by every Shinigami. Flash steps (Shunpo), a movement technique that allows the user to move faster than the eye can follow, is implied to be part of this category, and most (though not all) Shinigami are able to perform it to some degree. Another skill, though not necessarily related, is the ability of some Shinigami to walk on air using spiritual power. By collecting and solidifying spiritual particles beneath their feet, Shinigami can gain traction on thin air to either freely move about or to stop themselves from falling.
As of this time Elzee is unable to use either her flash step or stand on air techniques. This is probably due to the chaotic nature of her spiritual pressure which disrupts more of the fine tune techniques Shinigami can normally use.
S W O R D S M A N S H I P
Zanjutsu (swordsmanship) is the most used form of combat among Shinigami, since their Zanpakutō is the most effective way of dispatching any given opponent. As the name suggests, it involves using a Zanpakutō and its various special abilities to attack an opponent. In addition to its basic form, each Zanpakutō has two enhanced forms: Shikai ("initial release") and Bankai ("final release"), which change the sword's form to unlock its potential and that of its user.
Elzee is equipped with a standard Katana though it is completely black and has a certain wickedness about it designed into it's steels and leathers. Weaving hand to hand combat with her swordsmanship make for an extremely deadly combo.
Z A N P A K U T O _ ( c u r r e n t _ s t a g e - a s a u c h i )
Zanpakutō are the trademark weapons of the Shinigami. Capable of cutting spiritual bodies, they are amongst the few weapons which can be used to combat Hollows. Each Shinigami carries a Zanpakutō, and each Zanpakutō is unique: as the swords are both reflections of a Shinigami's soul and power, and sentient beings unto themselves. The Zanpakutō's name is also the name of the living spirit that empowers the sword and lends its strength to the Shinigami who wields it. These beings can vary greatly in appearance and have their own distinct personalities which match their owner's. Normally, the Zanpakutō spirit can only be seen by its wielder. Otherwise, they dwell in their own "inner world", created within the minds of the Shinigami who wield them. As such, each Shinigami's inner world is drastically different from another Shinigami's and is unique to themselves. A Zanpakutō's spirit can bring its wielder into its inner world, though Shinigami can voluntarily achieve this simply by meditation.
A Zanpakutō's shape and abilities are based on their Shinigami's soul. Once a Shinigami learns his/her sword's name, they are able to communicate with one another and grow stronger together. Zanpakutō are born with their Shinigami and they die along with their Shinigami. Shinigami use them in battle as a reflection of their heart. When released, they can display a vibrant power. They are one with the Shinigami, and they share a Shinigami's conviction.
Asauchi (浅打ち; literally, "shallow hit"): The class of nameless Zanpakutō that all low-class Shinigami wield. Shinigami who are still in training - those who do not yet belong to any of the Gotei 13 - all wield generic Zanpakutō. Shinigami who are unable to communicate with their Zanpakutō, the "shallow hit", which refers to the grossly reduced power of a Zanpakutō whose wielder cannot connect with it properly.
Zanpakutō Facts
Because they are part of their owner's soul, a Zanpakutō cannot be replaced, though it will slowly regenerate if it is broken.
The Zanpakutō size reflects the amount of the swordsman's spiritual power.
If a Shinigami pierces the chest of a human with their Zanpakutō and channels their Reiryoku through it into the Human's body, it will transform that human into a Shinigami temporarily. The act does not have a high chance of viability even when the human in question has a high level of spiritual energy, and if the method does fail the human will die.
Every Zanpakutō has its own name.
A Zanpakutō can determine whether or not its wielder is worthy of its power.
Normally, even a broken Zanpakutō would return to its original state as its wielder recovered.
Zanpakutō have a true form.[9] This true form resides inside their Shinigami. A Zanpakutō has a mind, and a body that controls their powers. Shinigami are able to grow more powerful by communicating with them.
Zanpakutō possess their own reiatsu, which can be sensed as any reiatsu can and is identical to that of their wielder though with subtle differences.
Though rare, it is not impossible for more than one soul to be attuned to the same spirit. In such cases, ancient law of the Soul Society will not allow two beings to wield the same Zanpakutō, in which case, they must duel for ownership of the spirit, with the winner gaining it and the loser being sentenced to death.
No matter what form (or size) a Zanpakutō takes, it is always virtually effortless for its owner to wield because it is a part of its owner's soul.
Shinigami captains all consciously keep their Zanpakutō in a manageable size, otherwise they would be holding Zanpakutō the size of skyscrapers. Therefore, one cannot judge one's opponent's strength solely by the size of their Zanpakutō.
Obtaining A Zanpakutō
A wielder knows their Zanpakutō spirit very closely and vice versa. The connection is very deep, though in the beginning the connection is one sided with the wielder being unable to fully hear the spirit communicating with them. It is not uncommon for the introduction of the two (Shinigami and Zanpakutō spirit) to take place in the inner world while the prospective Shinigami sleeps.
A Zanpakutō is generated by its wielder upon the solidification of their Reiryoku into the sword's form. Commonly, when a Shinigami graduates from the training academy, he/she gains his/her own unique weapon. The process by which this happens has not yet been shown. What has been shown is that Ichigo Kurosaki, who was trained independently and in an unusual manner, gained his own Zanpakutō via a test of combat that required him to reach deep within and take hold of his own power in a way he never had before. Whether this is the same process other Shinigami go through is not yet known. At any rate, it is known that when a Shinigami obtains their own Zanpakutō, they learn its name and become able to "activate" it. This activated ability is called the "Shikai," the first of two levels of activation. When a Zanpakutō sword is changed into its Shikai form, what is actually being seen is the true form of the weapon.
Zanpakutō Control
Wielding a Zanpakutō is more than a simple matter of skill in swordsmanship. Since the swords themselves are alive, a Shinigami must obtain his or her sword's co-operation to truly maximize its performance. This can be done in a variety of ways, though it seems that the orthodox approach involves subjugating the sword; the Shinigami belonging to the Thirteen Divisions keep their swords sealed into the forms of ordinary katana and have strict rules about when and where they are allowed to release their true forms. Keeping a sword in its unsealed form all the time seems to be considered gauche, as a sign of carelessness and/or inexperience. The Shinigami also use certain phrases when they activate their swords, which appear to be necessary to release the seals keeping the swords' powers bound. These are always phrased as commands, further emphasizing the "subjugation" aspect of Zanpakutō control. Most swords have at least one, though some Shinigami use more than one to command their weapons.
It is not enough to simply know the name of one's Zanpakutō. If a wielder were to lend its power to its Zanpakutō then the weapon would become stronger. To fully use a Zanpakutō's power, a wielder must get to know its Zanpakutō's spirit.
Training
Jinzen (刃禅, Blade Zen): This method is the only way to carry on a proper conversation with one's Zanpakutō. One places their sword over their lap and takes a meditative pose and then forces their mind to become one with the Zanpakutō.
In this form, one can call out the true form of the powers of their Zanpakutō. This form is something that Soul Society has worked out over the thousands of years since its formation. It is entirely about speaking with one's sword. This advanced form of training is far different from attaining abilities by force. In this form it is about entering a state of calm to enter the inner world of the Zanpakutō and engage them there. In this state a wielder will have to fight their Zanpakutō spirit in order to attain access to new abilities, the Zanpakutō spirit does not want to teach these moves and engage the wielder in a battle the likes of which has never taken place before.
In this meditative state, one is so deeply entranced that even sustained wounds are ignored. Any form of injury sustained in the inner world while in this meditative state is reflective in the real world.
Mood & Communication
As stated, a Zanpakutō is a being unto itself and tends to be highly temperamental. Its mood is determined by how it is treated by its Shinigami as well as its overall personality. This allows a Shinigami to partially determine whether it will achieve its true power or not. For example, Yumichika Ayasegawa normally releases his Zanpakutō with the name Fuji Kujaku (Wisteria Peacock), even though its true name is Ruri'iro Kujaku (Azure Peacock), knowing that its favorite color is azure and that its least favorite is wisteria purple. He does this so that its true power is not seen. Since his Zanpakutō hates the nickname, it becomes moody and only releases a fraction of its power. This allows him to pass off his Zanpakutō as a simple melee-type rather than what it truly is, a Kidō-type, something that is unacceptable in the 11th Division due to an unspoken rule that all Zanpakutō in the 11th Division must be melee-types. Only when its true name is uttered does it achieve full potential.
Another major exception to just about all of the aforementioned rules, 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki, somehow failed to learn his sword's name. He ignored its living embodiment and preferred to use it simply as a tool, relying only on his own power. He never developed the control to seal his power, and thus also breaks the rule/tradition of keeping a Zanpakutō sword in a sealed form--his sword is always in its true form. Zaraki's immense personal strength not only made it possible for him to break these rules, but also to rise to the rank of captain. However, his neglect wasn't exactly good for the weapon, causing immense pain to its embodiment and damage to the sword itself.
Shikai
The Shikai (始解, Initial Release) is the second form (or first "upgraded" form) available to a Zanpakutō. To activate it, the Shinigami needs to learn the name of their Zanpakutō. This is not as easy as simply picking a name, as the living spirit of the Zanpakutō already has its own name. Therefore, the Shinigami must be able to communicate and harmonize with their Zanpakutō effectively, which requires being able to speak to the spirit within its world.
A Zanpakutō can change size and shape depending on the spiritual strength of the owner.
Achievement of the Shikai is a mark of control of a Zanpakutō, and it appears to be a requirement for advancement within the Shinigami ranks, as presumably most seated officers are capable of Shikai. It is also required in order to achieve the rank of lieutenant; as it is a requirement most captains look for. After first learning the Zanpakutō's name, the Shikai can be performed at will simply by speaking a command followed by the Zanpakutō's name. The commands vary between users and range from a simple imperative verb to a short poem. They often relate to the Zanpakutō's signature ability, or hint at the nature of its spirit. This step may be bypassed by expert Shinigami who have learned how to use their Bankai.
Constant-Release: In rare cases, a Zanpakutō, once released, will remain in that state indefinitely. This is due to the vast amount of spiritual energy the possessor has that cannot be finely controlled upon initial generation of their Zanpakutō, as such the Zanpakutō is described as a constant released form. The only known Shinigami with Full-Time Release Zanpakutō are Ichigo Kurosaki and Kenpachi Zaraki. By the nature of this type of Zanpakutō, a Shinigami with a constant release form does not need a release command nor is it necessary to even know their Zanpakutō's name. However, not knowing the name of one's Zanpakutō can put a Shinigami at a disadvantage in terms of power against those who do know their Zanpakutō's name.
Shikai Forms: Once the Shikai is activated, the Zanpakutō will change form to access whatever special abilities it is capable of. They almost always take on the form of a weapon of some kind, though the type of weapon can vary greatly among different Zanpakutō. One exception is Retsu Unohana's Shikai, which seems to take on the characteristics of an animal, rather than a weapon.
Special Abilities: Once the Shikai is activated, the Zanpakutō will change form to access whatever special abilities it is capable of. The special abilities of the Zanpakutō, like the Zanpakutō itself, have specific names that usually must be announced to fully activate the effect. As Ichigo's Zanpakutō, Zangetsu, explains, knowing the name of an attack and not knowing it makes a very drastic difference in the amount of power that attack utilizes. Some special abilities are automatically activated upon release.
Bankai
The Bankai (卍解, Final Release) is the second and final upgraded form of a Zanpakutō. To achieve Bankai, one must be able to materialize and subjugate their Zanpakutō spirit. Materialization means the opposite of getting dragged into the Zanpakutō's inner world. Instead the wielder needs to summon the Zanpakutō's spirit into the physical world. It usually takes 10 years or more to achieve, plus the experience needed to master it.
The power and forms of Shikai and Bankai are dependent on the Zanpakutō. They also vary according to the wielder's strength and training. But in general, one's power can grow 5 to 10 times greater. Only the strongest Shinigami can use it. It is also the ultimate technique of a Zanpakutō. Even the Four noble families, whose members are always exceptionally talented, have a member capable of Bankai only every few generations. Those who achieve Bankai always have remarkable roles in the history of Soul Society.
Ichigo Kurosaki and Kisuke Urahara are the only known individuals that have mastered Bankai through a far shorter, yet much more dangerous method. Using a special device created by Urahara, which forcibly materializes a Zanpakutō spirit (thus bypassing a large portion of the training), they were able to attain their Bankai within three days instead of the normal hundreds of years. After successfully testing the device and achieving Bankai, Urahara stated that training by using this method for more than three consecutive days could prove to be fatal, which is why Ichigo was also forced to achieve his own Bankai within three days.
Besides Ichigo Kurosaki, the only non-captain Shinigami known to have achieved Bankai are Renji Abarai (Lieutenant), who finalized his training at about the same time as Ichigo (although he did not use Urahara's device, but rather perfected it while Ichigo was training), and Ikkaku Madarame (3rd Seat), who did so through his own years of training.
Bankai Forms: After a Shinigami is able to materialize and subjugate their Zanpakutō's spirit, the Zanpakutō can assume its final and most powerful form. Unlike the Shikai, there is no command phrase to activate Bankai, though the user will usually say "Bankai" beforehand. A Zanpakutō's Bankai is often a manifestation of the spirit itself, usually creating a massive creature or a very powerful effect to aid the user in battle (Ichigo's Bankai is an exception, becoming more compact instead). The Bankai itself will receive a different name in addition to the ordinary Zanpakutō (for example Ichigo's Zangetsu becomes Tensa Zangetsu, Byakuya's Senbonzakura becomes Senbonzakura Kageyoshi). Certain Shinigami also change with their Zanpakutō, gaining clothing similar to what their Zanpakutō's spirit form looks like. Most Zanpakutō will also gain additional special abilities, or a more enhanced version of the usual one. Like with the Shikai, most of these abilities have an associated name. Maintaining the Bankai is taxing for the wielder, and it is difficult to maintain it for long periods of time for most Shinigami, with the exception of Ichigo, as it becomes more compact, thus allowing him to hold it for long periods of time.
Special Abilities: The power that comes with Bankai tends to be similar to the Shikai's ability/theme, but amplifies it to much greater levels of power and effect. Some simply increase the original ability, such as Byakuya Kuchiki's blade count multiplies greatly, Ichigo Kurosaki's Getsuga Tenshō becoming faster, far more powerful, and its color becomes black, or Sajin Komamura's, who instead of only generating pieces of the giant, summons the whole giant itself. While other Bankai follow the theme of the sword, such as Renji's remains whip-like while containing baboon and cobra features, or Mayuri summons a monster with the same face (j**ō) on his trident-esque sword, but kept the theme of poison that came from the monster's breath.
Weakness: A high enough level of spiritual energy can be used to disrupt the rhythm of a Bankai. The biggest flaw of Bankai lies in the overwhelming power it releases. Its power and form are often far beyond that of a normal weapon. This is the reason that in order for one to become capable of using it completely and effectively, one needs to train at least 10 years with Bankai. Any Bankai before that period of time has been reached should not be used in battle.
SEALED
In it's sealed form, Elzee's Zanpactou has a similar design to any normal Katana though it is vastly different having a more unique design giving it a certain wickedness. Though it looks different the blade still has the same weight balances, however the proportions are vastly different. Specifically the blade as more curve while the hilt is a bit longer with a straighter grip. There is no blade guard though there is a thick circular band which is large enough for two of her fingers to fit through while holding the blade choked up towards the blade with a single hand. This design seems to give the Katana a certain edge while being used with a single hand.
SHIKAI
"Lower your horns to protect! SHATTER! Buru, Hogosha!"
On command, the blade shatters into a handful of pieces and the shards mutate and alter shape covering her forearms in clawed and spiked gauntlets. The metal is completely black and from the elbow down not a single part is not covered with the unique weapon. As a whole the new styled weapon has no unique features other than the fact that she is able to grab onto most objects without endangering either hand. Razor sharp talons hook threateningly from each finger.
BANKAI
Eliminate the void, open your eyes! BANKAI!"
Upon command Elzee's entire body erupts into a sort of spiritual flame disintegrating her clothes, replacing her nude form with dark and twisted looking plates of metal that fuse to her very flesh. The plates cover just enough of her body to remain decent though it is just barely. Each arm and leg are entirely covered with the jet black metal while every finger and toe end with wicked talons. Her hair becomes much longer and flutters about as if it where made of flame. Each fills with black while the pupils glow a piercing white. Her teeth also become more savage and the girls ears become pointed. If this alone doesn't intimidate her foe, the sky crackles with energy and a giant eye tears it's way into the realm of existence.
The eye functions as nothing more than literally an eye in the sky, and in actuality the "eye" is nothing more than an orb of raw spiritual energy that takes the form of an eyeball. She is able to see all things that it can see as well as anything she herself can see. As for the special affects of her bankai, she becomes nothing short of a walking tank. All of her combat abilities nearly triple in effectiveness and the armored plates on her flesh, arms and legs are as hard as any soul cutter. The idea behind this form is to commit 100% of herself to the fight at hand allowing her a great chance at a direct and effect assault.
M I S S I O N _ A I D S
To aid in their missions, particularly when said missions involve more than simply dispatching a Hollow, Shinigami have a number of unique items to assist them in their duties. In addition, it should be noted that all Shinigami captains and lieutenants have their spiritual energy reduced by about 80% when they enter the human world by use of a spiritual limit, represented by a seal called the Gentei Reiin (限定霊印, "Soul-Limiting Symbol"), which resembles the symbol unique to their division, in order not to cause unnecessarily high damage while there.
In extreme cases, where their full power is needed, they can request a limit release. The command to release the seal is Gentei Kaijo (限定解除, "Limiter Release").
J I G O K U C H O
Jigokuchō are completely black butterflies that serve various purposes. They guide the Shinigami through the Senkaimon when travelling between the Soul Society and the Human World, thereby saving them from the inconvenience of passing through the Dangai. Jigokuchō are also used as messengers between Shinigami, often carrying important orders. It is implied that Jigokuchō are bred and taken care of by Shinigami in Seireitei, the latter task being carried out usually by new and inexperienced members of the Gotei 13. Jigokuchō, like the Shinigami themselves, are only visible to spiritually aware beings.
Elzee Razz typically keeps a few on hand to send out to varying locations, however during wartime she has dozens follow her about ready to send messages to varying objectives.
G I G A I
In certain circumstances, a Shinigami will need a way to stay in the human world for long periods of time, interact with the living, and/or recover their powers when the need arises, all of which they cannot do in spirit form. Thus, the Gigai was developed.
A R T I F I C I A L _ S O U L
Artificial souls, as the name suggests, are souls designed by Shinigami scientists to separate a Shinigami's spirit from a Gigai, should they be inhabiting one, or to evict stubborn spirits from their corpses if necessary. It is commonly called Soul Candy, as the Shinigami Women's Association complained that the name "Artificial Soul" was not cute and had it changed.
M E M O R Y _ R E P L A C E M E N T
In some cases, a human witnesses a Shinigami purify a Hollow or affect his surroundings in a significant way. To keep the incident a secret, Shinigami perform memory replacement with an item called Kikanshinki (記換神機, "Account-Replacing Spirit Device"). When used, a bird's head pops from the top of the device and produces a puff of smoke. The human it is used on is knocked unconscious and wakes up a while later with a new memory. However, the new memory that the human acquires is random and often based on the limits of what they will believe. For example, Ichigo's family merely believed they slept through a truck crashing into their house when it was used on them. Conversely, Orihime Inoue, who has a much more active imagination, believed that her house was attacked by a yakuza gunman.
S O U L _ P H O N E
A vital tool for any Shinigami stationed in the real world, this variation on a cell phone functions both as a regular phone and as a communication line with the Soul Society. It receives information about the time and exact location of a Hollow's emergence via a Global Positioning System (GPS). A Shinigami's kills are also recorded in the phone and can be used as currency (according to the bounty placed on each Hollow).
