Post by Bixir on Feb 18, 2023 19:54:57 GMT
“What is a heart?”
Name:
Ulquiorra Cifer
Gender:
Male
Race:
Arrancar
Canon/OC:
Canon
Visual Appearance:
Physical Description:
Ulquiorra is a lean thing, lacking the overbearing physique many Arrancar have in spades. He stands tall though narrow in frame, imposing more in how he carries himself than his outright physicality. His appearance is also starkly different from most Arrancar, human-like only in his humanoid figure. Ulquiorra’s skin is a gruesome image of pale alabaster skin leaking with putrid-green energy, concentrating around his face. Ulquiorra is without a question the most blatantly inhuman of all the Espada in appearance. Ulquiorra’s Hollow hole is located on his sternum, and what remains of his Hollow mask rests on the side of his head, resulting in the likeness of a demonic half-helm.
Clothing/Misc. Items:
Ulquiorra’s attire as an Espada is nondescript. He wears the standard white jacket and hakama, with a black slash wound tightly about his waist. He is utilitarian about his uniform, serving as nothing more or less than his uniform as an Espada. Ulquiorra has no miscellaneous items to speak of, spartan enough as he is.
Sexuality:
Asexual
Goals:
Ulquiorra is pointedly nonplussed among the Espada in his desires, what little there is. He has no interest in the immaterial, and chides the living for believing in such things. As a Hollow grown into one of the most powerful Espada, Ulquiorra has struggled to come to terms not only with his own existence, but existence as a whole. In spite of Ulquiorra’s apparent fixation on materialism, he has no interest in wealth or necessarily becoming stronger. What else is there, but the material of the self, the soul? Maybe one day, Ulquiorra Cifer will understand. He does not expect to, but the yearning remains nevertheless.
General Personality:
In a word, Ulquiorra Cifer is aloof. He is a stoic, callous figure contrasted with his Espada brethren, never seeming to raise his voice, always in control of the situation no matter what may be happening. Even for an Espada he is a cold creature, refusing to believe in the idea of human emotions, unable to understand how humanity has thrived so. Ulquiorra is cunning and sharp, though seldom speaks, believing his words to be wasted on most of those around him. The Fourth Espada raises his voice only when he believes that something needs to be said, or if he believes that those present are worthy of his words, rare as that is.
As one of the leading Espada, Ulquiorra is unsurprisingly ruthless, completely devoted to Aizen’s cause as one of his most dependable followers. Although he does not seem to be motivated or inspired by much, Ulquiorra will not tolerate insubordination, or worse, unnecessarily callous behavior. He will not hesitate to repudiate his fellow Arrancar for crude behavior, particularly if it imperils Lord Aizen’s carefully laid plans. Ulquiorra has an honorable heart, however brooding, and will accept setbacks and even defeat with a reservation one would think Hollows incapable of.
History:
The creature, white and solitary, was born in a world of murky blackness. It was a shallow, fearful existence, to look around oneself and see naught but the void, ever looming over any brightness in the pale realm of Hueco Mundo. Whatever understanding this thing might have had prior to such a life did not matter. It wandered for a time that could not be measured, its very living defined by an insatiable wanderlust through a world that seemed to spurn it at every corner. There was nothing to know for one incapable of knowing, but the knowledge that there were predators and prey; and it was surely no predator.
Gradually, this Hollow began to develop a semblance of a consciousness amid the primal instincts of its brethren. What was it? How did it know as it did? The ability to ask these questions only grew, as the Hollow, still without name or identity, shambled through the wastes, no less curious to himself. Eventually, the Hollow came to a great tree, standing lonesome in this wasteland where no life should be found. It was white, pale as the moon itself, and covered in sickly spines. It was a beautiful, impossible thing; the Hollow never thought that there was anything else like it in Hueco Mundo. It was white and strange, empty… empty like the Hollow. At last having found some solace in this unknowing place, the Hollow came to rest in the tree, impaling itself against the spines and partially destroying its mask. This betrayal of reason cemented the Hollow’s transformation into something greater than itself, greater than the means of any ordinary Hollow. In time, the former Hollow defined itself as Ulquiorra Cifer. Its own being.
Ulquiorra would not understand until he crossed paths with the likes of Sosuke Aizen what he had become, and what it may mean, for him and fellow Hollowkind. He remained distant from Hollows, wanting little to do with their feral ways. He was Ulquiorra Cifer, and monsters were beneath him. It did not matter that he looked like a monster just the same, or killed with the same indifference. One’s understanding of these things was all the difference for Ulquiorra. When Ulquiorra stumbled across the palace of Las Noches itself, he became fascinated with the Hollow King’s court, what little there was to it. How such power was collected, only for it to stagnate, and wither. It would seem that this was the height of his species’ greatness. Ulquiorra wanted no part in it. And yet, it seemed that this nothingness was his fate as well; he cursed it so.
This limbo concluded with Ulquiorra being approached by Aizen in the forlorn wastelands far from Las Noches. The offer was simple enough, fitting for a simple longing. Ulquiorra joined the Espada without a second thought, as its fourth ranking member. His new brothers and sisters were a quaint, curious sort, many of whom disgusted him to no end. Nnoitra was needlessly brutish. Yammy was little different, as was Grimmjow. Szayelaporro was vain like a man, and doubly arrogant. Those Ulquiorra might have found court with, such as Harribel, Baraggan himself, or even Sosuke Aizen, he kept distant from. As similar as they were, Ulquiorra was not drawn to them in any way. Even as an Espada, he was a solitary creature, mired in his listless existentialism.
These distances aside, there was the occasional clash, not necessarily of ideologies - the Arrancars, enlightened as they were, remained poorly tribal - though of similar wants and needs. While Barragan would often rant and ramble in Aizen’s absence on his former kingship of Hueco Mundo, Harribel was the only Espada that seemed to bear an interest in acting upon her desires for her kind. Ulquiorra was not inclined to agree with her sentiments, a disconnect that came to blows in their early exchanges. Harribel would not tolerate a freshly made Arrancar spouting insolence, least of all one that did not seem interested whatsoever in pursuing agency from the man that had only brought them about as pawns in his game. Ulquiorra held his own, much to Harribel’s surprise and chagrin, remaining apathetic to these interactions. For as much as Harribel seemed to care about her fellow Arrancar and the apparent plans of Aizen and his associates from Soul Society, Ulquiorra failed to see any better ideas from one who prided herself on independence. What did the Third Espada have that gave her these insights that he himself could not see?
The Fourth Espada has maintained this diligence in the years since, waiting at his lord’s call should he ever have use of him. Any existence of this, by its very nature, will surpass anything that he might have amounted to before. Anything lying beyond the reach of Hueco Mundo is of interest to Ulquiorra Cifer; but then, the mortal realm may prove just as meaningless.
Faction:
The Arrancar
Rank:
Fourth Espada
Physical Abilities:
Hand-to-Hand Combatant
As skilled as Ulquiorra is with his Zanpakuto, he seldom uses it to battle opponents. He relies on unarmed prowess to engage most of his targets, using a combination of Sondio and Cero techniques to keep them off-balance if not destroying them in the process. However, Ulquiorra’s true attacks with this approach to combat is using his claws to impale opponents, tending to go for the heart for a quick, efficient kill.
Swordsman
In the times where Ulquiorra deems an opponent worthy of battling with his Zanpakuto, the Fourth Espada’s skill with a blade becomes readily apparent. He wields his blade single-handed, seeming to favor precision over brute strength. In this respect Ulquiorra fights a little more like a duelist than a warrior, defeating opponents with finesse and skill that most Espada don’t bother with with their garish, oversized instruments.
Superhuman Strength
Though not as strong as some of the more brutish Espada, Ulquiorra possesses an incredible amount of strength as an Arrancar. He is able to punch through stone with little effort and can send his opponents flying away with a single strike.
Perceptive
One of Ulquiorra’s characteristics that makes him a cut above many of his fellow Espada is his intellectual persuasion. He has highly keen senses, and can pick up on details that many of the Espada either refuse to acknowledge or are incapable of making sense of in the heat of battle. Ulquiorra’s analytical mind allows him to take in numerous factors and can quickly formulate strategies to use this information to his advantage. This is often used outside of combat as well, allowing Ulquiorra to manipulate others if they aren’t careful. Though he is nowhere near the likes of Aizen, Ulquiorra is a dangerous manipulator in his own right.
Hollow Powers:
Regeneration
All Espada gain the ability of regeneration, and can regrow their limbs within moments after losing them in combat, as well as other vital organs. Most Espada eschew this ability in exchange for even more strength, though Ulquiorra is the only Espada to have retained his regenerative abilities. This is especially useful when used in conjunction with his Solita Vista technique.
Solita Vista
By removing and crushing one of his eyes, Ulquiorra may reveal to others events that he has seen and felt. The dust created by the crushing of the eye creates a visual image that plays back the events in question; due to his regenerative abilities, Ulquiorra regains the lost eye in a matter of seconds.
Sonido Master
Ulquiorra is a master of the Sonido, and can effortlessly teleport numerous times in the midst of battle without any sign of slowing down. He is also incredibly agile by his own right, arguably the fastest of all the Espada.
Cero
Ulquiorra fires his Cero from his fingers, with little flair beyond the devastating effects of the Cero themselves. He is able to channel his Cero extremely quickly compared to other Espada, and while his Cero are green, the most common color of Cero, they are no less dangerous for it. They have incredible range, capable of blasting opponents through obstacles over great distances.
Bala
A lesser Hollow technique, similar to Cero where the user’s spiritual pressure is hardened and released from the user’s fist like a high-impact bullet. Ulquiorra’s Bala is red, capable of blasting massive holes through two unseated Shinigami.
Enhanced Hierro
Espada-level Arrancars have exceptionally durable skin, reinforced by their spiritual pressure. Ulquiorra’s case is one of the most powerful among the Espada, allowing him to take on some of the most powerful Shinigami and Vizard attacks that would eviscerate other Arrancar, while leaving little more than a scratch on Ulquiorra.
Enhanced Penquisa
All Arrancar possess Penquisa, the ability to sense spiritual pressure. Ulquiorra’s heightened sense allow him an extreme version of this ability, able to immediately discern how powerful an opponent is. Ulquiorra is also able to perceive the flow and concentration of one’s spiritual energy, which makes it impossible for Ulquiorra to be deceived by someone attempting to conceal their true power. Ulquiorra can also distinguish a Vizard’s power from a Shinigami’s, being able to sense the Hollow presence within them.
Dampened Reiatsu
Ulquiorra’s spiritual pressure is so dense that he is forced to dampen some of his power in concentrated areas or he risks doing tremendous collateral damage when he fights. As a result, his Resurrección, Murcielago, is sealed unless he is able to release it in an open, barren area where he won’t have to concern himself with destroying Las Noches in the process. This concern need not apply if he is fighting on Earth or in Soul Society.
Descorrer
All Espada-class Hollows are capable of summoning Gargantas, dark portals that can transport themselves (and a number of passengers) between Hueco Mundo and Earth, Soul Society, or even the Dangai.
Resurreccion:
Murciélagoo
Ulquiorra’s Resurrección Zanpakuto is Murciélago, a typical-seeming katana with a dark green hilt and sheath. The guard of the blade is curved on both ends, with a single line bisecting them to give the illusion of a sinister eye. As far as the Espada Zanpakuto go, Murciélago is one of the more simplistic designs, resigned to the simple purpose of killing that Ulquiorra is content with.
Murciélago is released with the command “Enclose”: Upon activation, the blade releases a torrent of black and dark green energy, reflecting his own appearance as it showers around him in an acid rain. Ulquiorra’s released form transforms him into an even more grotesque creature, as a second horn grows to join the remains of his Hollow mask, both of which extend to become full protrusions upon a reformed bony helm that resemble a demonic creature. Massive black wings sprout from Ulquiorra’s back, allowing him to soar through the air with incredible speed as if he was himself a gargoyle. His robe becomes more pronounced, completely covering his body in a more elegant appearance. Ulquiorra’s pale, unsettling features intensify, as the lines upon his face become broader and more triangular. His nails extend to frightening lengths, losing any semblance of humanity as he embraces the likeness of a gothic horror.
Resurrección Abilities:
Luz de la Luna
Green energy javelins that Ulquiorra can generate with his Reiatsu. Given his staggering spiritual pressure, he can generate these weapons ad infinitum. While Ulquiorra can use them as an alternative to his Zanpakuto, he prefers to use them as ranged projectiles.
Greater Speed
Ulquiorra’s speed reaches an even higher level while Murciélago is active. To an untrained eye, it might appear as if Ulquiorra is using a Sonido when he is simply moving that quickly with Murciélago; put another way, Ulquiorra is able to keep up with a Hollow-Masked Vizard.
Greater Hierro
Ulquiorra’s Hierro becomes even more powerful, to the point that a Vizard’s fully-powered attack will have no effect on him whatsoever.
Greater Reiatsu
Ulquiorra’s Reiatsu is no longer dampened in his Murciélago form. As such, the sheer presence of his spiritual pressure coalescing in the area is too great for many to tolerate, resulting in an effect where they act as if the gravity is several times heavier.
Cero Oscuras
A Cero with colors inverse to Ulquiorra’s normal Cero, black with a green outline. Cero Oscuras is massive, capable of engulfing hundreds of targets in a single attack. The blast force is enough to obliterate a Vizard’s Hollow Mask, as well as leveling the majority of a city’s landscape. Ulquiorra specifically refers to this technique as “our Cero”, emblematic of his affinity for Las Noches and his estranged kin.
Segunda Etapa
Ulquiorra harbors a secret second Resurrección transformation that he may activate if he believes that it is necessary to destroy his opponent. Resurrección: Segunda Etapa is Ulquiorra’s greatest secret, having kept it even from Aizen himself. He is the only Espada to have achieved a second Resurrección transformation. His bat-like qualities become even more pronounced, ripping apart his robes entirely as he grows a new set of secondary black wings, and his legs become covered in a thick black hide that assist him in flight. A thick, black ooze begins to droop from Ulquiorra’s Hollow hole, directly down his torso. His horns become longer and more demonic in appearance, while his eyes further stain his face with their tar-like complexion. Ulquiorra also develops a prehensile tail, appearing very similar to a devil’s tail, sharply pronged at the tip.
Overwhelming Reiatsu
The degree of increase in Ulquiorra’s Reiatsu between his first and second Resurrección transformation is magnitudes greater than releasing Murciélago. Ulquiorra refers to Segunda Etapa as “True Despair” because the sheer density of his Reiatsu in this form is enough to instill overwhelming despair in those in the area. At this point of power, the Reiatsu can hardly be described as Reiatsu anymore, but a presence of indescribable power.
Latigo
Ulquiorra’s new prehensile tail can be used as a weapon, to lift, strange, strike or impale his victims. Though Ulquiorra has never needed to use Segunda Etapa, his personal preference is to strangle an opponent before disemboweling them with his enormous claws.
Lanza del Relámpago
Ulquiorra’s most powerful technique, which is in itself a more powerful version of his Murciélago technique, Luz de la Luna. The javelin is more intensely illuminated by the spiritual pressure Ulquiorra puts into this attack. When the javelin is thrown, the impact explosion dwarfs the Las Noches fortress in height, akin to releasing a nuclear strike. It is for this reason that Ulquiorra only tries to use Lanza del Relámpago as a long-range attack, as he is likely to harm himself if he tries to use it at a close-range.
Rp Sample
The pulsing, beating thing. Its color at odds with the creature holding it. That same color stained the grassy pool that this bout had started and ended in, now a dark stain in the soil. This was more familiar, more clear to him. Yet as he beheld the mystery he clutched in his hands, there remained the burning question; he could not leave this place until he tempted fate.
The Arrancar’s teeth sank into the fleshy, pulpy remnant. A small tear, nearly ripping the thing in half with his force. He chewed, slowly and solemnly as he attempted to savor and understand. The look of confusion persisted. It would not be today; would that day ever come?
The unfinished morsel was deposited where it had been ripped out, in the gaping hole in the Shinigami’s chest. The Fourth Espada peered into that hole, not unlike his own… How many more would it take for him to know that thing?
