[Spirit Class 6] Habaki Koga

○ Name: Habaki Koga ○ Alias: ▕ Stray Dog ▕ Butcher of the New Tree District ▕ Bastard Child ○ Age: 300 ○ Birthday: ...When? ○ Gender: Male ○ Race: Shinigami (Not one of those Horned Bastards) ○ Affiliation: Gotei United, 8th Division Pending. ○ Alignment: Lawful Neutral ○ Marital Status: Single ○ Ideal Mate: Someone who won't steal my shine. ○ Special Skill: How do you feel about butchers? ○ Nationality: Japanese ○ Sexual Orientation: Fightsexual ○ Height: 6"3 ○ Hair Color: Blonde ○ Eye Color: Amber

A simple man with a simple desire, carrying himself by one immutable law in life that defines who he is at the core of his personality - competition as a means of self-improvement. There it is. That’s Koga in a nutshell. Wait, you want more? Fine, fine. We need to fill in a few more gaps before we can call it a personality, anyway, right? Whatever. Let's get this over with. In all honesty, Koga isn’t as bare-bone as he puts on, though discovering such a fact requires a committed approach beyond what he’s willing to allow regarding his comfort level.

On the surface, he exhibits all the makings of a rebellious bastard, a rabble-rouser who frequently gets a kick out of causing chaos. He only adheres to rules well enough to stay out of trouble, avoiding situations that compromise his endgame. He doesn't value anyone's opinion if they choose to approach him passively.

Truth be told, physical force is often required to get a point across. To him, passive behavior is sinful. Why listen to someone without a bark behind their bite? Superiority ain't shit without conviction behind it. Titles only mean something when one proves their worth. An intense approach, to be sure, but in his mind, everything is earned, not given. That includes his loyalty and respect.



Born in the Zaraki District, Koga was the only child of a criminal who led a ragtag group of bandits. Infamously referred to as “Stray Dogs”, they earned their keep in life by robbing and stealing from anyone who dared to venture out into the slums. Most of them barely remembered their names while others were simply castaways who wandered out and proved themselves in contests of strength. In a way, Koga didn’t particularly care about any of their names. The only person that ever mattered was his mother. He didn’t know what her real name was, and she didn’t belong to any family worth remembering. As it turned out, she was simply a vagrant who slept around and had a bastard child, and slowly but surely grew attached to him. Since he was already tied to her hip, he didn’t care. From an early age, he had learned that it was useless to fret over small stuff like that.

For a while, the only routine that occupied his life was robbing and stealing from any welp that foolishly traveled further outward into the Rukongai. This became a routine for the group over the years. Reaching young adulthood, an age where his body filled out exceptionally well, he displayed impressive strength for a combatant, leading him to be promoted to second in command in their ragtag group.

As a matter of course, this “promotion” threw him into the heat of battle more than he had ever experienced as a child. Where he once robbed those weaker than him, using his trickery and deceit to pull one over others in the past, he now found himself fighting for his life to survive against far more capable individuals. At first, it was pretty frightening gambling with his life for scraps, yet it also brought him an odd sense of indescribable entertainment.

As one who made a living off of robbing others as a kid, it was new territory for him, but he quickly adapted to it with ease. In time, he had become so deeply engrossed in the adrenaline that each battle welcomed, and the thrill of competition and violence. In time, Koga found himself dreaming of this foolish thought of becoming a living legend. Not for anything stupid like glory or someone’s acceptance, but a single, selfish desire.

Of course, there were only so many opponents he could reasonably face in the Zaraki district if he wished to take that ambition seriously. Capping out as some above-average criminal didn’t sit right with him. Time and again, that singular thought kept gnawing away at his conscience. And over time, something else settled into his soul. Emptiness. He realized that this path of crime would only lead to two results—a pathetic death at the hands of the law or another urchin fighting for scraps. Whatever the result, he wanted no part of it.

He wanted out. And so, he broached the subject with his mother. His request was simple; to step down from this way of life and pursue something beyond this district. That was his intent. It was easier said than done, but he couldn't wait any longer. Abruptly, he announced his intention to leave the Zaraki district in favor of trying his luck at enrolling in Shino Academy. The obvious result was anger, his mother accusing him of cowardice, promptly telling him to never show his face in their part of the district again. For Koga, that was the expected reaction, and he accepted those terms without hesitation.

After all, anything was better than remaining here, where his potential would always be capped. To him, the ideal transition lay in stepping beyond attaining real glory. Naturally, in the following days, closing the door on that chapter of his life proved difficult. Adorned in little more than rags, with each travel, the man stood out like a sore thumb.

As such, he ended up with his fair share of run-ins with the law. But he was a persistent bastard at heart and kept at it. Through a process of trial and error, and failing the entrance exam on his first attempt, Koga finally managed to enroll in Shino Academy. Much like his time traversing the peaceful districts, he found difficulty in adapting to his surroundings, but since he hardly gave a damn, he simply took to his classes with a madman’s zeal.

His first year was a mixed bag. There was no sugarcoating it. Students and teachers alike certainly believed he’d flame out at first. For a time, Koga thought the same, too. But, at some point during the second half of his first year? He no longer gave a damn. Instead of pushing himself to learn what he struggled with, he instead chose to adapt to what helped him develop into a physical powerhouse in the first place - his prowess with a weapon and his bare hands.

His studies were focused primarily on refining his technique and adapting to Zanjutsu at first. That proved to be the breakthrough he needed as he exceeded expectations, displaying impressive results with each practice. In the years that followed, he applied the same approach. Adapt to the basic principle, study and refine what he understood best, and take it from there.

As a result, he became an exceptional student, which made his teachers all the more willing to invest in him during his time in the Academy. Most of his teachers had come to learn that Koga was an aggressively eager student. He was the first to every class, and the last one out. To him, he wanted to leave no stone unturned, and there was no shortage of thrill on his part for sticking it to anyone who doubted him.

His multi-year curriculum felt like a blur considering how fast they went by, but he passed with flying colors, and in four years no less. No one would have dared call him a prodigy in the end, but his ability to adapt and refine technique made him something closer to a genius in his own right. One chapter passed, and the next began shortly after. Since he didn't want to go in to a division without a truly developed skillset, he decided to take a few more years to learn and develop his Shikai. Fully prepared for a new chapter, Koga was ready for part two of the story.

He joined the combat division during Kenpachi’s era of captaincy since it felt like a natural fit. He was not welcomed with open arms initially, but that didn’t matter to him one bit. He was already familiar with what that felt like. He simply treated the hostility as another obstacle to overcome. Day in and day out, he fought any and everyone who stepped in his way, and although he was clearly out of their league at the time, he even dared to challenge the likes of Ikkaku, Yumichika, and even Kenpachi himself. He wanted to prove himself to anyone in that division until he earned his stripes. For a while, this was arguably the best period of his life. Constant battle with his fellow men, foolishly vying for the title of the strongest and fighting under the banner of a man he considered one of the strongest in the Gotei.

Intense training under the combat division was each day was extrenous and exhausting, and there wasn't one day he could remember that he wasn't going off to the healing division to have his wounds treated, and yet, that was merely the tip of the iceberg. When tasked with missions in the Living World that required the combat division's influenced, and largely because he had Shikai, he was tasked with fighting a variety of dangerous hollow. To drive home his need to prove that he belonged in that division, and partly so he could always have a fun war story to tell, he would even go well beyond hollow and fight Arrancar, though those rarely ended in his favor depending on his opponent of choice during those turbulent periods. In other words, compared to what he endured in the Rukongai, his life in the Gotei consistently drove him to his limits to an overwhelming degree, but as always, he endured. He always endured.

Of course, much like all good things in life, the band of men and women he had come to respect all eventually seemed to go their separate ways–most of them, at least. During a time of great upheaval in the Soul Society - namely the era where the entire Gotei disbanded - Koga experienced a period where he didn't quite know where his next chapter would lead He had no idea where his captain had ended up, those who admired him didn’t particularly enjoy the eleventh anymore as a result, and… for the first time, Koga felt that sense of emptiness return. Since he wasn’t the type to run away from duty like a coward, he persisted, but he didn’t particularly enjoy those who came in afterward.

It was interesting, sure, but it wasn’t his ideal version of the combat division. At some point, he decided to take an extended break from the division himself. In that time, he returned to the Zaraki district. Hell, he even reunited with and bonded with his mother again, but the emptiness still remained. Koga found himself stir-crazy that he couldn't bite his teeth and earn his keep in the division he essentially grew up with. Since he was still technically a member of the Gotei, he was still more than free to join another division somewhere down the road. And so, he set another game plan into action.

Refine the nature of his Zanpakuto, Sensouya, his Reiryoku, and his physical prowess. When he was finished? Return to the Gotei with renewed vigor. For several years, training encompassed the whole of his time. An occasional return to the academy there, a fight with a strong Shinigami here, and so forth. Eventually, he decided on a new challenge. It would be easy for him to return to the combat division, but easy was never the name of Koga’s game. Besides, he didn't like the new guys that came in. It was more than time for him to transfer elsewhere.

He was only satisfied when everything was difficult for him, and so, with no desire to return to the combat division, he decided to transfer to the recently formed eighth division. It was a new division with foreign faces, a captain he didn’t imagine he would get along with, and he had an opportunity to prove himself again. It hardly fit anything he was typically used to, but it was precisely because of that, that Koga intended to prove everyone wrong again. After all, a legend had to be versatile, right? The next phase of his story was set to begin.



» Adaptive Combatant: The true merit of Koga’s fighting prowess is found primarily in adapting to and studying combat situations on the fly. Though he is well-equipped and capable of, employing with several patterns and techniques, he often relies solely on a purely ambitious trial-by-fire approach. This unorthodox method exchanges finesse in lieu of resilience, sheer might, and a touch of ingenuity. If he loses his sword, he’ll fight with his fists. If his fists are broken, he’ll strike with his legs. Observational by nature, Koga uses his battle-honed instincts to consistently examine his opponent and act on any opportunity that presents itself in the heat of battle, ferociously exploiting any misstep or weakness in his enemy’s stratagem. In his words, anything goes in a fight. It ought to be noted that he is quite skilled as a result of his experience, and that any reliance on wild and unpredictable technique is purely his own personal choice.

» Martial Prowess: Despite his personal philosophy, Koga nevertheless acknowledges the importance and meaning of his formal training in the Academy enough to devote himself to refining his martial skills. In order to win, there are countless times when he will rely on technique to attain victory, where he accepts the value of martial prowess and its impact in battle. Thus, adhering to his “win at all costs” mentality, viewing his formal skills as a second option(or first in some cases), he displays an impressive repertoire of techniques that contradict his so-called “patterns are for losers” philosophy. Furthermore, Koga excels impressively well in the realm of Zanjutsu, commonly showcasing a multitude of Kendo techniques he has retained well after his time at Shino Academy. Though far from the realms of legends, he is nonetheless a gifted fighter worth his weight in gold with the blade.

Furikodō [振り子道, "Way of the Pendulum"]: The most basic of stances and forms in Zanjutsu, taking large inspiration from Kendo, so much so that the stance is one-for-one from chudan. The legs are slightly spread out, with the left foot being slightly behind the right, the left heel slightly raised. The hips are straight forward, shoulders are relaxed, and both hands grip the sword with the blade tilted downward slightly, held in front of them. As reflective of the name, the stance is meant to balance offense and defense, allowing for the user to use simple, fluid movements that seek to push an opponent off-balance and break their posture while being able to readjust and break away, should they need to switch to defense.

Shuradō [修羅道, "Way of Carnage"]: A favored style of those in the Combat Division, as the name suggests, this style tends to forgo any direct defense in exchange for immense pressure. Taking after the jodan stance in Kendo, noted as the most aggressive style, the user holds their weapon above their head with the tip pointed backward and the blade facing upward. The left foot is set in front of the right, with the back arched slightly forward, allowing for quick movements to generate forward momentum. Strikes with this stance either have tremendous power, like Ryodan and Suikawari, or a rapid flurry of blows like Senmaioroshi to break an opponent's guard and weaken their posture, with defensive movements mostly being brief pivots to dodge and avoid, rather than block or deflect. The essence of this style revolves around constant movement and relentless attack.


Ryōdan [両断, Bisection]: A technique highly favored by Koga for its simplicity, Ryodan is executed by generating momentum through a two-handed swing, the velocity of the strike enough to cut a properly unguarded enemy in half. It finds a high degree of usage in Koga’s repertoire for that reason alone.

Suikawari [西瓜割, Watermelon Splitting]: Another simplistic technique that is valued in his array of sword techniques, Suikawari is a two-handed overhead slash that cleanly cuts the opponent’s head in half. There isn’t much complication to it other than that, but that simplicity is precisely why he values it so extensively. Cut head in two. Simple, easy, effective.

Kabutowari [兜割, Helmet Splitter]: The product of extensive research and a self-fulfilling need to challenge one’s swordplay to its fullest extent, Kabutowari is a technique that is fundamentally rudimentary in its execution. Much like Suikawari and Ryodan, it involves a two-handed approach from an overhead stance. Much of the power is generated by how much momentum and velocity is gathered in the forward motion.

Whether such motion is accomplished through shunpo or the wielder’s natural speed is largely inconsequential. At the apex of their charge, the sword is shot forward in an overhead cleave with the intent of cutting through an opponent’s defenses. The strike expands beyond cutting the enemy in two, aiming to cut through armor and energy that acts as armor with merciless abandon.

» Tremendous Strength: Before he learned a technique of any kind, Koga relied exclusively on his physical strength to guide him in life. His body is the result of several years of staking his life to survive, a frame hardened and tempered to such a degree that it is likened to a piece of refined steel blessed with the gift of motion. Koga is capable of lifting and pushing back objects or enemies that are larger than him by a considerable margin. Of course, that only describes the physical composition of his body. When he chooses the target of his offense, Koga can strike with such force that he releases pressurized gales of wind in the wake of each swing. On impact, especially at full momentum, each hit is comparable to having a bomb set off against one’s chest, the explosive force of his attacks enough to send those of lesser constitution and durability flying several meters backward if their defense proves insufficient.

» Enhanced Durability: Simply put, Koga can take a hit. On the surface, that sounds like a typical boast, but it is undeniably true. He almost prides himself on being hit, all so he can strike back just as hard. His body is built for prolonged combat. His stamina is incredibly unique in that he can reasonably keep driving his body forward until every ounce of energy has been expended. A fierce shot might rattle him, sure, but he is a bold and foolish man who will shrug it off to return the favor.

The act of striking him in general is akin to swinging one’s fist against a large piece of steel. Those of lesser strength might well find themselves reeling in pain attacking him directly. From an external standpoint, he has trained his body to such a degree that even projectiles find difficulty in penetrating his skin at first contact.

» Immense Spiritual Power: Perhaps his most unique function above all, Koga possesses a tremendous reserve of reiryoku. It isn’t some immense thing that hinders the way he operates in battle, but it stands out to a degree that one would be hard-pressed, without dedicated effort, to miss his approaching frame. Functionally, his spiritual energy causes him to stick out like a sore thumb, eliminating the possibility of a stealthy approach in battle.

Despite this, Koga has discovered an ideal way to make good use of his spiritual energy through the principle of energy emission. Since much of his offense requires him to fight at close range, he has cultivated a ranged method of emitting and releasing his energy in considerable bursts, focusing energy on his fists and or zanpakuto to cut his enemies down in passing in the form of destructive shockwaves. In the modern day, as a result of his training and his vastly improved skill in energy control, Koga can limit his spiritual pressure to enough of a degree that he isn't hampering himself or those around him.



» Zanpakuto Name: Sensouya [戦争屋, Warmonger]

» Zanpakuto Spirit Summary: An imposing spirit who invokes an air of superiority and intimidation, Sensouya is a spirit whose appearance is hidden behind several layers of bandages. A vain individual by nature, he purposely makes everything difficult for his wielder, believing that any measure of his power ought to be earned through grueling effort.

His arrogance is boundless, a stark contrast to his flawed appearance and the harsh world he occupies, but he is nevertheless agreeable to Koga’s whims if it means he can revel in the glory of defeating a worthwhile opponent. As such, he only showcases the full extent of his power against those he views as worthy foes. Anything less hardly rouses him into action.


» Inner World: In comparison to the haughty spirit that occupies it, Koga’s world is a warped, though visually accurate, representation of humble beginnings in the slums of the Rukongai. It is a dark and dreary slum defined by several roughshod huts and the fleeting images of those he spent his days with in the past, namely the nameless members of his old gang. The view here inspires nothing, but it’s precisely because of this uninspired world that Koga can often find himself at peace even in the most trying times. To him, it is home. Familiar.

» Sealed Zanpakuto Appearance: A roughly kept katana, shows undeniable signs of battle damage and misuse. Both sides bear marks of rust, the back of it gouges from various encounters; along with bite marks. Yet, the edge is sharp and clean, untouched.

» Sealed Power: N/A



Shikai Release Phrase: "Grind(To crush something into a powder or paste), Sensōya."

» Shikai Release Action: In accordance with the release phrase, the user must resheath the Zanpakuto, then bite on the base of their scabbard and forcibly rip it off of the weapon. On doing so, Koga's sword and scabbard shift, breaking apart into howling clouds of Reiryoku.

» Shikai Appearance:

» Shikai Ability: When the howling clouds of reiryoku vanish, a large hammer, equalling Koga's height appears within his hand. As a whole, his shikai relies on the principle of propulsion. When released, Koga is able to channel raw Reiryoku or Kido into the small, furnace-like attachment to the hammer, presenting him with a wide variety of actions.

One example of this versatility is that he can use the weapon's propulsive attachment to increase the momentum of his swings, allowing both harder hitting, faster attacks - with the potential to employ elemental trails if he uses it in conjunction with Kido.

Furthermore, this propulsion ability also allows him to find and create openings and surprise attacks, by using the propulsive force of the furnace-like attachment to push opponents away to gain some breathing room. In addition, when using the propulsive nature of the hammer on a personal degree, he can use the hammer to increase his own mobility by channeling reiryoku as a means of pushing himself forward around the battlefield.



Not Yet Achieved.



None at this time.



General Skills

• Durability: Adept
  
• General Speed: Beginner
  
• Strength: Adept
  
• Martial Skill: Advanced
  

Racial Skills

• Hoho: Beginner
  
• Kido: Beginnner
  
• Zanjutsu: Adept
  
• Hakuda: Beginner
  

Will Skills

• Willpower: Adept
  
• Mental Deduction: Beginner
  
• Focus: Adept