THE CACKLING SPECTER

SKILL TREE

SPIRITUAL POWER ^GREAT

The seventh Espada, born with a potential destined for greatness, unlocked a vast majority of his latent power through centuries of feeding, achieving a level of superiority that could only be matched or conquered in Hueco Mundo by his fellow ranked members in the El Renacimiento. The spiritual pressure of the cackling specter is said to inject heavy torment and fear into the heart of his enemies, the weight of his malicious presence being enough to force an insufficient opponent to the ground without a choice... and yet, the demonic entity still hasn't reached the absolute malevolence that he eagerly desires. The dangerous Reiatsu of this monster radiates with a light-teal color.

SWORDSMANSHIP - LARGE SCYTHE ^MASTER

While the style of weaponry as is unorthodox as it may be, the former African clansman was trained during his early years of childhood on the manipulation of a polearm, which proved to be advantageous in the afterlife once he removed his mask and sealed his true identity within the form of a scythe. The master of torment has since furthered his training and became extremely fluid with the maneuverability of his bladed polearm, receiving a multitude of techniques that enabled him to stand toe-to-toe against enemies with smaller weaponry. The extensive armament is not to be mistaken for a hindrance, as for Malik's speed, proficiency, and deadly intent has led to much bloodshed by the carve of his weapon.

HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT ^PRACTITIONER

Unfortunately, the progression of his training with a scythe led to a deficiency in other areas, specifically his ability to fight without his blade... in hand-to-hand combat. The lack of understanding martial arts in the form of utilizing one's own body caused him to become highly dedicated to his superhuman abilities and the chaotic maneuvers of his scythe. The arrogant handling of the Zanpakuto remains intolerable of attempting to master this field, although he is still capable of administering a few decent blows. Ultimately, he is not a complete idiot and exhibits some form of knowledge on how to defend himself in such a situation, but this is without a doubt Malik's greatest fighting weakness.

AGILITY - SONIDO ^MASTER

Due to his rapid growth and training with utilizing his large scythe in combat, the fiendish assassin has become terrifyingly nimble, having earned a rank of speed that can only be rivaled by few Arrancar. The art of "Sonído" is nothing more than a precise thought process for him, being capable of navigating a tremendous distance in the blink of an eye. Forced to maximize his agility due to his malevolent, predatory obsession, Malik does not boast to be the fastest amongst the Espada, but his undying hunger cannot be seized, and the potential to reach a level beyond that any Hollow had ever attained is surely on the horizon.

Fantasma (ファントムのダンス, Spanish for "Phantom Dance"): Through extensive adaptability, the Nbedele clansman has even pushed his mastery of Sonído a step further, being capable of shifting from one position to another with such velocity that a momentary afterimage is left in his place, enabling the hyper-demon the chance to initiate an unforeseen assault on his prey if necessary. The technique can be explained simply as a precise "burst" of acceleration, rivaling that of teleportation, that deceives the watcher's eye, forcing them to believe that the cackling specter is still in the same location for a maximum of three seconds. The ethereal remains cannot perform any physical tasks, but can be extremely useful for diversion, evasion, and landing critical blows.

SPIRITUAL CONTROL ^EXPERT

The scythe-wielder possesses a considerable amount of Reiryoku, hence the reason for his seat in the ten Espada, but his ability to exert and control his Reiatsu is not what causes him to be feared. However, Malik has exhibited decent knowledge on the limits of his capabilities and the foundation of controlling his spiritual techniques, although his restraint is known to fluctuate when extremely stressed or undergoing one of his spontaneous "psycho-killer" episodes. The adept proficiency means the cackling specter understands the advantages of manipulating his spiritual energy and is capable of suppressing it considerably with relative ease. Dexterous but still in need of further advancement, Malik's spiritual control is certainly adequately frightening.

PERCEPTION ^MASTER

Judicious and eerily calculating, the natural-born hunter utilizes a sharp mind and flawless senses that enable him to remain a prime contender on the battlefield. With multiple centuries under his belt, the soul-feeding reaper had adapted and honed his six senses into a set that can hardly be easily countered, and is extremely necessary for his predatory appetite. Consequently, the expeditious techniques he created required both great mental precision and haste, and this menacing compassion was relentless. Through his eyes, most of his opponents exist in a snail-like world, hardly posing a threat to the speed demon. To Malik, nothing is truly invisible, being capable of sensing most Reiatsu quite easily... his surroundings are ultimately his own domain.

MASTER ASSASSIN

A prowess that was naturally inherited due to his constant, unorthodox hunting and impeccable speed, the cackling specter has come to be known for exploiting the blind spots of his prey, utilizing silent maneuvers and critical strikes that would debilitate even the fiercest of enemies if caught off-guard. Through manipulating the advantages of his surroundings and remaining ethereal and remarkably fast in his movements, many prey have fallen victim before his scythe. Unlike a normal practitioner in the art of assassination, the advancement of his senses and instincts alone enabled him to become a master of the form, hence the reason the scythe-wielder was given such a title.

TECHNIQUES

Cero (虚閃, Spanish for "Zero"): The technique, also known as "Hollow Flash", is an elementary and universal ability for most beings of the Hollow race. While the other Espada have been shown to release the destructive force from their mouth or hands, Malik prefers summoning the powerful blast of concentrated energy from his functional eye. The beam spans a couple meters wide, light-teal in color, and is capable of damaging buildings and even Vice Captains with ease.

Gran Rey Cero (王虚の閃光, Spanish for "Grand King Zero"): A variation of it's predecessor Cero, this technique is much greater in strength and a signature move for an Espada member. To create this form, Malik bites the tip of his index finger until blood is drawn, allowing it to pour lightly into his throat. Through fusing the blood with a mass of concentrated energy in his throat, not only is the beam color changed to a dark-violet tint, but the force of the blast is amplified tremendously when released from his mouth, becoming faster, stronger, and larger in size; not many have survived this technique.


Infierno (地獄火, Spanish for "Hellfire Flash"): A technique claimed to replicate the flames of hell themselves, the summoning of the technique is quite similar to that of his Gran Rey Cero, except requiring the intense spiritual energy present in his core. Upon initiation, a spiraling orb of flaming energy gathers in his stomach, the hue tainted with an intense violet. The deadly flames then rise from his chest toward his throat, becoming routed and condensed, before exploding into a massive wave from Malik's mouth. The strangely-colored flamethrower's release is akin to that of his Gran Rey Cero, due to being concentrated with immense spiritual energy, except the destructive force is substituted with a different effect. The hellish flames do not cause vast explosive damage, but upon coming into contact with another spiritual being, the flames cause the being to feel excruciating pain instead. Unlike normal flames, the heat does not cause immediate, high-degree burns, and would most likely kill the affected target from extreme mental distress before anything else. Lastly, the violet flames cannot be extinguished by normal means, and require either an equally-powerful ability to counter it, or else complete evasion is the best decision.

Caja Negación (反膜の匪, Spanish for "Negation Box"): The prison created for the sole purpose of trapping and punishing their own Fracción, the dark-purple box is small and easy for transportation. The restricting device possesses strong binding fields that replicate the same as those of a normal Negación; however, upon inserting the cube into the Hollow hole of the target, the prisoner immediately becomes completely engulfed in an ivory light, before collapsing upon itself and becoming wiped from existence. For those considered unworthy of death, Malik prefers to utilize this method instead, the torment of being imprisoned in an empty, alternate dimension satisfying his demented rationality.

Miedo (動商人, Spanish for "Fear Monger"): Through the centuries, the demonic specter has forged a technique that allows him to relish in the torment of his prey to a higher degree. Once the simple word is uttered, a menacing, invisible wave is radiated from his body in the form of a sphere, capable of affecting those within a moderate distance. The surge causes a mental disturbance in those affected, forcing a specific amount of fear to hinder their movements, depending on their spiritual level. This technique is nigh-useless against those greater than Malik in strength, but those of equal stature and below are certainly vulnerable, and can become easily incapacitated if not capable of defying the threatening aura.

Pesadilla (悪夢, Spanish for "Nightmare"): The cackling specter has become obsessed with his ideals and the thought of inflicting terror in the mind of his prey, which in response caused his fear-inducing abilities to evolve along with his physiology. The advanced stage of Miedo, this strenuous technique enables him to release an extensive field of negative energy around him that expands upon the debilitating effects of it's predecessor, forcing those within a moderate range to become afflicted. Spiritual beings far beyond Malik's level notice the aura but receive little to any fear within them; spiritual beings near Malik's level are certainly affected, the negative energy causing them to believe death is imminent, slowing their reaction time and power reasonably... although, with time, it can be overcome; spiritual beings far beneath Malik undergo the most deadly effects, the fear wrecking their feeble minds to a point where unconsciousness is practically definite, if not completely mind-shattered. The nightmare and illusions vary depending on the target, and can be tampered with at Malik's discretion.

Muerte de la Marioneta (死の操り人形, Spanish for "Death's Puppetry"): The cackling specter utilizes this technique for lacerating his prey from a distance, requiring nothing but the movement of his finger and concentration. Upon creating a telekinetic link between his mind and his Zanpakuto, Malik releases the large scythe into mid-air, sustaining levitation with the manipulation of his mind. Furthermore, the bladed polearm is capable of entering an intense, rapid spin (like a saw). Through the directional gesture of his index finger, the airbourne blade can achieve flight and slice through a distant target with ease.

RESSURRECCIÓN

Zanpakutō Name: Tártaros (永遠の地獄, Spanish for "Eternal Hell", Kanji for "Blade of Suffering")

Zanpakutō Form: The abnormal weapon of the Septima Espada comes in the form of a large scythe, the metal shaft of the polearm extending to an impressive 63 inches, completely drenched in a white color, ebony lacing throughout it's frame. The lengthened handle is narrow and light in the hands of it's creator, requiring hardly any effort to manipulate it. The bladed portion is massive and perpendicular to the snaith; the base, which is mounted at the upper end, extends upward by another 26 inches before curving outward toward the ground for a terrifying 47 inches of deadly steel. The base of the blade increasing the length of the polearm itself to a maximum of 89 inches, the range of the shaft and the fang-like design of the blade permits Malik the ability to carve through his opponents without a doubt in his mind, never seen to be absent from the holster on his back.

Release Phrase: "Mutilate, Tártaros."

Resurrección Form: The activation of the transformation requires a specific phrase and ritual, with Malik thrusting the sharpened point at the lower end of his scythe into the ground before him. With the Zanpakuto injected, and the release command announced, Malik spreads his arms outward to accept the forthcoming event; meanwhile, blue flames spawn from the crack of the rooted scythe, traveling along the ground in a stream that appears somewhat sentient, creating a ring of blue flames around him. Once the revolution is complete, the earth beneath Malik erupts immediately with the burst of the blue flames, creating an eleven-foot-wide engulfing sphere around it's master. While the blaze appears to incinerate him to death, the opposite is actually in effect; the intense flames sheathe the inner metamorphosis, the cackling specter's clothing and epidermis burning into nothingness, revealing the true skeletal form of the menace. The bony structure gleaming with a darkened tint, multiple bone-like protrusions develop from his frame, the most noticeable being the crown made from talons around his head, the additional mouth that overlaps the previous one, and two massive horns that extend from each side of his skull. Furthermore, an orb of blue flames has replaced the connection between his upper and lower half, becoming settled right in the middle of his stomach. From within the hellish flames, Malik's skeletal hand retrieves the planted Zanpakuto, causing a spontaneous reaction that forces Tártaros to mutate into a bone-like, charcoal-stained replica of it's former construction. Afterward, the wildfire extinguishes itself, crawling from the massive sphere into the epicenter of Malik's flaming core, designating the glorious metamorphosis is complete.

High-Speed Regeneration: While in his transformed state, Malik has amplified his desire for tormenting his opponents through slowly closing the gap between himself and immortality, being capable of healing moderate and below injuries with intense acceleration. The ability requires a few moments of concentration for any damage that could potentially become a serious problem, such as limb regeneration and deep lacerations; however, minor wounds seem to have hardly any effect, immediately reversing themselves without a second thought. The reconstruction, while powerful, can become the greatest weakness of his transformed state, requiring an immense amount of energy if overused and could force him to believe that he is truly immortal in certain situations. Critical and life-threatening injuries, such as vital organs or decapitation, are not protected, and would indefinitely lead to his death.

Granirábol (偉大な木の怒り, Spanish for "Great Tree Wrath"): Through sacrificing movement and becoming a vulnerable target on the battlefield, Malik created a technique based on the amplification of power alone, enabling him to turn the tables on his opponent if necessary. To initiate the technique, Malik thrusts the needle-like base of his Zanpakuto into the ground, becoming rooted with the earth. Without hesitation, the planted scythe immediately generates thousands of dark-tint bones from the end, rapidly spreading and rooting through the surrounding area. While Malik remains in contact with the Zanpakuto, he is capable of mentally controlling the blade-like roots at whim, forcing them to perform miscellaneous tasks, such as mimicking tendrils, constricting the opponent, or even gathering into a durable shield. The velocity of the bone growth is quite nimble, and when coupled with the vast amount created, the technique could potentially dominate the field.

Ruina Cárcel (ソウル刑務所, Spanish for "Soul Prison"): Once the sadistic entity's patience level has pushed him far enough to activate his Ressurección, the pleasure of death is no longer an opportunity he wishes to grant... instead, Malik possesses a swirling orb of blue flames at his core that is not just for show. The sphere, concentrated with great spiritual energy, is nothing less than a demonic prison for Malik to seal the minds and souls of his defeated victims for eternal damnation. To activate the ritual, Malik must have assured domination through either beating his prey to near-death or knocking them unconscious, and is extremely unsuccessful in the heat of battle. The weakened state of the prey enables him to initiate the spell; an ethereal, large claw extends out from the flaming sphere and grasps the target's head, gradually absorbing their soul into his prison. Within a few moments, the ritual would be complete, and the prey's soul becomes trapped within his realm of torment until the end of his own life. Upon losing one's soul, escape is useless, and can only be achieved through an outside force defeating Malik and releasing them from the prison.