- Location
- Denmark
- Pronouns
- She/Her
It's actually not that Lovecraftian.
Demiurge means more than in the Gnostic concept. It also means "creator" and Szayel was a creator who could only ever perceive the flesh; a true Demiurge.
Now You Feel Like Number None [Bleach Arrancar Quest]
- Thread starter Omicron
- Start date
- Users' Choice!
Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
Demiurge means more than in the Gnostic concept. It also means "creator" and Szayel was a creator who could only ever perceive the flesh; a true Demiurge.
Like Orihime said, the foundation of Syazel's entire world view is based upon inflicting cruelty (made apparent by how Yammynator v1.0 worked). Any attempt to 'redeem' his character would run headlong into that brick wall.
Also, that last part was pretty much the white mage casting Curaja on a zombie-type boss. It's also neat subversion of the 'Not my final form' trope, reverting the boss into a pitiful level 1 trash mob (it's even in a sorta-gelatinous/squishy biology).
Also, that last part was pretty much the white mage casting Curaja on a zombie-type boss. It's also neat subversion of the 'Not my final form' trope, reverting the boss into a pitiful level 1 trash mob (it's even in a sorta-gelatinous/squishy biology).
- Location
- The town gate.
Just... wow. There are words to describe what I just read. But it's apparently well over ten thousand of them, so none of that. 
I really do feel bad for Szayel here, though. He's horrible in so many ways, but it's also so easy to see how he ended up that way, and honestly, just about every single character we love in this used to be monsters. It's one of the central themes, that monsters can find humanity and redemption through it, but it requires that helping hand. It requires time and sacrifice, effort and tears and sweat and blood. And with everything Nemo had grown to care for and love... Szayel didn't get enough of that to fully make the break out. We get to see the hints of the potential, but in the end, he only finds betrayal yet again, closing the door in his face and leaving him to suicide via his own creation, the symbol of his friendship he had finally found and lost.
That said... well. Yammy. This can not end well. Somehow, I don't think that the thing that used to be the potential number 0 Espada is going to go down without a fight. His problem in canon was that for all his power, managing to eventually eclipse even Coyote, he had no control over it - it was too spread out, too dispersed, and wielded like a club. A very effective club for anything not a Captain, simply by the overwhelming power being overwhelming, but part of the sarcophagus was helping generate that power, and part was compressing it and controlling it for him. On the bright side, it probably isn't Coyote levels of "kill people by being near it." On the less bright side, that's just because it's a lot better contained than Coyote's power, unless even with the science he hasn't had time to build back up full power reserves in there.
I am looking forward to seeing just how bad it is, even if I'm dreading it a bit too.
I really do feel bad for Szayel here, though. He's horrible in so many ways, but it's also so easy to see how he ended up that way, and honestly, just about every single character we love in this used to be monsters. It's one of the central themes, that monsters can find humanity and redemption through it, but it requires that helping hand. It requires time and sacrifice, effort and tears and sweat and blood. And with everything Nemo had grown to care for and love... Szayel didn't get enough of that to fully make the break out. We get to see the hints of the potential, but in the end, he only finds betrayal yet again, closing the door in his face and leaving him to suicide via his own creation, the symbol of his friendship he had finally found and lost.
That said... well. Yammy. This can not end well. Somehow, I don't think that the thing that used to be the potential number 0 Espada is going to go down without a fight. His problem in canon was that for all his power, managing to eventually eclipse even Coyote, he had no control over it - it was too spread out, too dispersed, and wielded like a club. A very effective club for anything not a Captain, simply by the overwhelming power being overwhelming, but part of the sarcophagus was helping generate that power, and part was compressing it and controlling it for him. On the bright side, it probably isn't Coyote levels of "kill people by being near it." On the less bright side, that's just because it's a lot better contained than Coyote's power, unless even with the science he hasn't had time to build back up full power reserves in there.
I am looking forward to seeing just how bad it is, even if I'm dreading it a bit too.
Sinsystems
Patron Librarian
Wonderful chapter, now on the subject of the AU Manga I have been thinking about how it would show these various scenes and I think I have a rough idea.
Also side note I think it's fairly likely that the Rescue party will meet up with Nemo and Ichigo soon, namely because of how they mentioned needing new clothes and we all know that there is only one tailor in the area.
- Would the the Rukia and Hiyori fights, with the surprise Arrancar aid happening within the same chapter.
- Would be Nemo arriving at Ichigo with his sword and all that happened there explaining that the rebellion is happening, but will cut out before the fight with sadbat.
- Would be this fight.
- Would be the battle against Sadbat.
Also side note I think it's fairly likely that the Rescue party will meet up with Nemo and Ichigo soon, namely because of how they mentioned needing new clothes and we all know that there is only one tailor in the area.
- Location
- Brittany, France
- Pronouns
- He/Him
HOW DO YOU WORK SO FAST
I feel like I should add more hands?
it's gorgeous tho
- Location
- Brittany, France
- Pronouns
- He/Him
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pucflek
Verified simpleton
- Location
- Czech Republic
Then Aizen either hypnotoads him, or cuts him down. Yammy, for all his terrible might distilled by sarcophagus, does not stand among ranks of Vasto Lorde. He is, however, the perfect enemy for Nemo and her troupe of friends i guess.
- Location
- Albion
- Pronouns
- They/Them
What did he do, specifically?
- Location
- United States of America
Didn't kill his brother and then revealed Nemo was planning his death leaving him alone to give one final order to Yammy that allowed for him to attack Circucci and Nemo.
EDIT: Nevermind stupid half awake memory it was Shawlong that said it.
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Technically, Shawlong revealed it.
- Location
- United States of America
Yep I just re read it I just woke up I was going on bad memory my bad.
- Location
- Brittany, France
- Pronouns
- He/Him
It's also the reason Szayel committed suicide by proxy instead of coming back to haunt you, so...
Honestly, not even by proxy. Turning off your safeguard that's all that keeps a homicidal omnicidal rage-bot from killing you is even more self-murderous than bathing in blood and then jumping into a shark tank.
NSMS
Probably evil, unfortunately.
- Location
- A rapidly widening tear in the fabric of reality
Is it strange that I only found released Szayel weird and not creepy? That's not to say his released form was dull or badly written, to be clear (in fact I think it might be my favourite Ressureccion of the quest), but it's just not creepy to me.
Anyway, aside from that Omicron continues their excellent track record of making us feel sympathy for even the most horrible people when they die, Mysterious Stranger Chichimaru finally does something (and won't that moment provoke speculation from the AU!manga readers), and the Karakura team finally get a chance to show off what they've learnt. And they do not disappoint when they do- not only do they all show their individual growth, but they put on display something that is basically completely absent from Bleach itself, and hasn't honestly shown up too often in-quest either.
Teamwork.
The way they worked together here wasn't the tooth-clenched grudging cooperation of allies of convenience, or the clumsy or desperate flailing of a group who happen to be on the same side but have no experience working together, but actual honest-to-Cthulhu teamwork. Practiced tactics, each one of them knowing what the others will do and how to support one another, the whole works. It's really nice to see, especially when you contrast it with their relative lack of the same back when they fought Nemo. And honestly? Combined with everything else, I think that might make this my favourite fight scene of the quest.
Anyway, aside from that Omicron continues their excellent track record of making us feel sympathy for even the most horrible people when they die, Mysterious Stranger Chichimaru finally does something (and won't that moment provoke speculation from the AU!manga readers), and the Karakura team finally get a chance to show off what they've learnt. And they do not disappoint when they do- not only do they all show their individual growth, but they put on display something that is basically completely absent from Bleach itself, and hasn't honestly shown up too often in-quest either.
Teamwork.
The way they worked together here wasn't the tooth-clenched grudging cooperation of allies of convenience, or the clumsy or desperate flailing of a group who happen to be on the same side but have no experience working together, but actual honest-to-Cthulhu teamwork. Practiced tactics, each one of them knowing what the others will do and how to support one another, the whole works. It's really nice to see, especially when you contrast it with their relative lack of the same back when they fought Nemo. And honestly? Combined with everything else, I think that might make this my favourite fight scene of the quest.
Szayel found himself staring at the mountain's back as the mountain walked away without looking back. A shadowy hand covering his mouth silencing him and an arm around his chest holding him tight. A voice whispered in his ear as he lost conciseness, "to see what they build."
***
There's your happy end people.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
It's actually not that Lovecraftian.
Demiurge means more than in the Gnostic concept. It also means "creator" and Szayel was a creator who could only ever perceive the flesh; a true Demiurge.
A good point to bring out! I did remember the creation and that the Demiurge was supposed to be too wrapped up in the world, but I didn't phrase it even to myself well enough to take it all the way.
- Location
- Brittany, France
- Pronouns
- He/Him
The best fight scene in Bleach is Everyone vs Aizen, This Time With Teamwork, and the fact that he Momo's it is a travesty
In the same way that my tabletop background has influenced my view of flight as a superpower, it has influenced my view of numbers in combat. The Action Economy is a harsh mistress, and it requires a tremendous level of power to make up for having several opponents. A fight requires you to extend yourself, open your guard, make calculated choices of what moves to make, and when you can't punch someone without their friend knifing you in the chest because you stretched out your arm, your only hope is that you have knife-proof skin, which is how Bleach does it. Szayel starts winning against the girls not just because he unveils a form that has a counter for all their active powers, but also because he puts so much pressure on them that they actually lose coordination and he can take them out one by one once Orihime is temporarily out.
It's also hard to write well, because in order to properly sell the value of teamwork a fight has to be unrelenting to convey how an outnumbered fighter cannot afford any breathing room because even when one opponent steps back another steps in. This means the action is extremely busy and frantic in pace, as well as showing complex moves that still have to be believable and showcase the group's practice and trust.
Here is an excellent movie scene that shows how to do it, and why it's so hard.
In the first two minutes, you see one man fight three opponents, and the choreography really displays how he is individually superior to each of his opponents, able to form a counter to each attack, but it doesn't matter because he is not allowed to complete any of his moves, and each one opens him up to a counter for a free opponent, such that he takes more and more hits without causing lasting damage to the others.
Then at about 5 minutes in, the protagonist ups the ante by fighting ten people, and the only way the movie can sell this is by reverting to classic martial arts choreography and using the camera to try and hide that most of the ten are basically standing back and watching while only one or two people actually engage the hero. His openings are never exploited, he is allowed to finish each of his combos uninterrupted, and he disables disabling each opponent quickly instead of doing some damage but then being forced back by others and allowing them to stand back up and rejoin the fray like in the first scene.
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- Location
- somewhere over there.
- Pronouns
- They/It
To be fair, that's a pretty appropriate way to write something in the spirit of Lovecraft's work. The man was afraid of everything.
- Location
- The sixth circle of Hell (second on weekends)
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Oh, honey. No. He didn't care about Ilforte, who was of equal help in his enlightenment. He wouldn't have spared Cirucci by choice.
But he knew Nemo loved her. That's why she got to live. That's why he built in a deliberate exception for her in his monster's killing rage.
For Nemo.
Because Nemo was his friend.
Syazel's heartbreak reminded me of this, which is always a bit close to my heart, because goddamn Luppi is right. There's not a lot of pains worse than realizing someone you care about wasn't ever the person you thought they were. To have that as your only experience, your first brush with humanity, god. I'd probably have done exactly what he did.
T_T @Omicron reminding us that monsters are people too, at every turn, and even devils can be heartbroken.
Not sure if dumb or genius.
This is what its like to be around Orihime huh?
asdx
Superior Sword Fairy
- Location
- Texas.
I dunno, a large Centipede sludge man thing going while crawling on your shield is pretty fucking creepy if you ask me.
Argidoll
And hast thou slain the Jabberwocky?
- Location
- Dreamland
I've been intending to write a Szayel Route AU for so long, and statements like these make me want to actually do it.
How dare you motivate me. Now the thoughts of Dr Faustus/Frankenstein Szayel living a classically artistic romance with Nemo won't stop eating my brain.