Bond of Blood [Masteries #1-2]

To begin, we start with Fellow Recruits, this is a minor step-- an introduction to his innate skill if you will. Erek has only recently awakened his spiritual powers, with minimal lessons from Mei Rowan, and is still struggling with practically anything to do with reishi. Yet-- despite this, when he is pressed by a more spiritually skilled opponent, Erek's instincts take over in order to protect him-- and that comes in the form of his blut activating unconsciously and lashing out with tremendous power. This is to introduce how innately connected Erek is to blut on an instinctual, and subconscious level.

From there, we begin to delve into something more advanced in the shape of actually learning the details of this ability he has begun to integrate into himself-- and this rears it's head in A Study in Blood, in which he begins to take his first real steps in consciously utilizing blut. From this point, we see the immense latent potential he has-- as within moments, he's not only managed to activate the technique but rapidly begin to experiment in far greater capacities-- even beyond his own teacher, such as focusing the energy to specific points of his body to amplify the defense in one area, at the cost of weakening others-- something that usually requires refined control, and yet he manages it within minutes of officially learning the technique.

This connection to his control regarding his blood, and flowing reishi through his body is emphasized further by the official discovery and utilization of his blut-based regenerative capabilities. This takes another step forward in Ancient Blood and Blood Ties, where through a dedicated study of blut and repeated practice, his skill has grown to even higher standards-- and with it so has his knowledge. So much so that he is capable of helping Freyleif not only increase her own skill in blut, breaking down her walls-- but also assisting in the creation of her ability "Bloteiður" which is based heavily on his own regenerative capabilities and his own knowledge of blut, and natural human biology.

From here, he begins to incorporate new concepts-- combining science with the "magic" that he is now capable of, his control over his regeneration, and body-- all amplifying as he begins to work into the theory crafting of finding a way to "fix" the forbidden technique that he studied while in the library.

This, is where we begin to dive into a unique aspect that goes well beyond just standard "Mastery", Erek has already shown tremendous control, skill, and instinctual usage of his Blut that with only a bit of training has already caused it to become second nature-- if it wasn't already in his initial spar with Dresden. Instead, we find that in his intense battle in the thread False White Knight, that Erek puts his theories and ideas to the test. Pushed to his limits, without a way to survive the overwhelming odds-- he risks a test without any previous attempts being made.

Taking a technique that supposedly killed the user to use-- forbidden, and long seen as obsolete-- and perfecting it. Blutkreislauf as he later names the technique-- requiring perfect control of the reishi flooding in, and out of the body-- infusing it into every organ, vein, and artery at once. Forcing the reishi to literally bond to his body, initially rupturing veins, damaging his form and forcing him to rely on his regeneration to counter it-- combining the science he had learned with the technique as he battled, forcing a high-speed evolution to his combat style, and the technique itself-- to either perfect it there, or die trying. The initial technique that led to the idea based on the idea of channeling all reishi into the veins and main arteries, infusing tremendous raw power with durability-- causing the veins to rupture from too much flow.

However, due to his extensive knowledge and understanding of the body-- and the circulatory system-- Erek creates a loophole, he creates something entirely new. The ability to utilize both blut vene, and blut arterie at once by instead distributing the reishi through the entire circulatory system beforehand. Reinforcing the body, and following every wave of reishi perfectly through the body using a mental map of his circulatory system as a basis. Enhancing the durability of his entire body-- inside, and out-- down to his very organs. Once more showing that pin point control-- but on a far greater level. Relying on this technique in order to not only to overwhelm his feral opponents but endure the battle that would have otherwise cost him his life.

Finally, in the climax "Hell and Back" we come to the point of Erek facing his greatest threat-- an opponent that is far too strong for him to deal with, releasing her power and wrath on the entire castle and surroundings. Unable to defeat her, and barely able to hold her back-- he is forced to activate his technique once more, and this time with far less drawback. Though the technique is not perfected, the damage he withstands is almost completely empty, regenerated within seconds of it happening unlike in his battle with Shinku. It is here that he expresses just how far his skill over his blut has evolved-- relying entirely on it as a crutch to overpower and clash with the Queen due to her inferior combat skills.

He suffers almost no damage from this technique, and in the end, it stops harming him altogether-- the technique itself completely bonding to him, showing how effortlessly he is able to activate and deactivate the ability in order to utilize it in combat. Only the damage that Freyleif dealt to him-- that should have been far more, and yet due to his blut's power was far from lethal-- managed to remain even after consistent usage of the technique that had nearly killed him to utilize against Shinku. The final step to proving that he pushed himself well beyond the normal limits of blut-- enduring blows from someone immensely more powerful than him, as well as overpowering her through its raw power boost.

Blutkreislauf (Circulatory System)
Special Blut Technique; Forbidden Class

Skills: Requires Master Blut Vene/Arterie, Expert Reishi Manipulation, and explicit training in its usage.
Flavor: Generally a Quincy is only capable of utilizing Blut Vene, or Blut Arterie one at a time- this is due to the excessive limitation imposed on the user by how refined the focus must be on the proper flow of reishi through the bloodstream. However, Blutkreislauf bends this rule by taking up immense focus in order to channel reishi through the user's entire circulatory system- this includes veins, arteries, and even their internal organs focusing on not only enhancing defensive power but also doping using the reishi to greatly amplify their physical capabilities. However, Quincy are, in the end, mortals- their bodies are not designed to withstand such an overwhelming amount of raw reishi being constantly channeled through their internal organs and circulatory system without any break or balance. Due to this, usage of this technique causes at first minor damage to the circulatory system, such as ruptured veins in the limbs- however the longer the technique is used the more serious the damage becomes. Eventually, this can even lead to key organs or arteries rupturing from the overflow of reishi in their system. As such, only the most skilled users of blut and reishi control are capable of even using the technique, and it's forbidden to use unless in the direst of circumstances due to the risks involved.

Effect: This allows the user to utilize both Blut Vene, and Blut Arterie at the exact same time.

Limitations:

• While active this will deal Minor level damage to the individual's circulatory system per posting round due to the extreme stress placed on it while this is active.
• Activating, and reactivating (should it be ended early) this technique causes the user to instantly take moderate level damage to their circulatory system due to the abuse.
• After this technique is ended, the user will take Menial level damage to their circulatory system every time they utilize Blut Vene or Arterie.

Special:

• The damage to the Circulatory System caused by this technique, or its after-effects can be treated and healed as per usual with a skilled enough healer.
• If this is used by a Grandmaster then all self-inflicted damage caused by the activation, reactivation, and maintenance of this technique is removed.

Activation Time: 1 Action
Cooldown: N/A