Dead Dragon's Dance

SHIRYUU NO MAI the dead dragon’s dance

The Dead Dragon’s Dance is the ultimate forbidden technique of the Seiryuu clan, and part of the reason they survived the destruction of the Seireitei one thousand years ago. It has since been forgotten about by the majority of the clan, and is not spoken of even in the highest brass. The Central 46 ruled that this technique was forbidden due to what it does to the shinigami that utilizes it, as well as the power boost that comes. Sasuga learned this technique from his great granduncle, who was in turn sanctioned by the Central 46.

In reality, to call the Dead Dragon’s Dance a technique is erroneous. It is better considered to be a ritual and a state of being. It essence, it kills the user. This is done by performing a ritual in which a kidou seal is placed over the soul sleep and soul chain of the Seiryuu in question. The heat of their body is then removed and sealed within. Without this heat, the body naturally dies, however the kidou seals keep the soul attached to the spiritual body. This renders the user lame, blind, mute, and deaf. From there, the user must learn to regain their senses and to move their body through manipulating the reishi and reiryoku.

After performing this ritual, the Seiryuu is drastically changed. Their blood, skin, and breath is all cold. No molecular process go on, and thus any poison, virus, toxin, etc does not work on them. Illusions fail, as the senses do not exist in the traditional sense. Their senses, with the exception of the sixth, can be turned off or enhanced at will. Lastly, freezing the body does little to stop them.

The two seals which contain the heat can be accessed to draw the heat out. This allows the Seiryuu to manipulate the heat to perform feats such as breathing fire, wrapping their limbs in flame, or melting metal with a touch. This heat is constantly absorbed from the spiritual body, and thus never runs out; however, using it too much weakens the seals. As a result, if the Seiryuu uses their heat manipulation abilities excessively in a single fight, their body is returned to life. The shock of sudden heat and life flooding the body sends the Seiryuu into a comatose state. Attempting to perform the Dead Dragon’s Dance afterwards is impossible, as the soul cannot handle the shock of it a second time. Thus, the Seiryuu would die.

Lastly, any wounds suffered by the Seiryuu cannot be healed by any type of medicine, surgery, or kaidou. The only means of restoring damage to add heat to the destroyed area, which brings the cells back to life. As a result, the Seiryuu who uses the Dead Dragon’s Dance achieves an ability similar to high-speed regeneration. In this aspect it exceeds the hollow ability, as it is able to heal any wound, even damage to the organs and the brain. The only way to kill a Seiryuu who has performed the Dead Dragon’s Dance is to drain the totality of their spiritual power, complete disintegration, breaking the kidou seals, or the destruction of the soul chain and soul sleep. Any other wound, even decapitation, is not fatal.