The Syndicate - Kai Isurugi

History
Kai’s family is unique among many reasons. For one, they are a family of swordsmen and swordswomen. They’ve trained in a unique style of swordsmanship that blends Iaido and Kendo into a powerful, straightforward style with plenty of room for personalization. This Seven-fold Blade Art is based on seven distinct sword swinging techniques, with additional techniques built upon these basic strikes. The Isurugi Family also wields a unique energy known as “Origium,” though it is separate from the main universal energy of this reality. Through a pair of legendary Origium Blades, the Isurugis wield this unique energy in a wild dance of sword slashes and high-speed combat.

While the Origium Blades and all of its related techniques are passed on in secrecy to the next Isurugi generation, the Isurugi Seven-fold Blade Arts are publicly taught at a dojo. Many choose to specialize in one of the seven strikes and build their own fighting style around that, but Kai is adept at all seven strikes. When Kai and his older brother Jin received the Origium Blades, Jin proposed a duel to test their might. Kai accepted, and the two engaged in some simple sparring, or so Kai thought. What Jin really wanted was both Origium Blades, and he would kill his own brother to take it. For an undisclosed amount of time, Jin has been working with a rogue faction within the underground Syndicate, and he needs both Origium Blades to unlock their secrets and achieve immense power. When Kai learned of this through their duel, he grew disgusted with his brother and began fighting to the death rather than a simple spar. Their parents tried to separate them, but Jin murdered mother and father in cold blood, pointing his blood-covered sword at Kai saying "You're next."

Horrified, Kai ran away and began living as a vagabond, training with his sword as the only way of remembering his parents. As he grew up on the streets, he began using his skills as an assassin. He would earn the moniker “Seven” for swinging his sword only seven times to defeat an opponent, and for the seven silver stripes on his makeshift armor. This armor he scraped together was made of incoherent bits and pieces, offering him meager protection and storage for his sword while he trained to enhance his speed through Origium energy. It was around this time that the Syndicates took notice of him, sending one of their agents to watch his progress to see if he would be worthy of joining their ranks.

Personality
Kai is a serious, ruthless individual who stops at nothing to finish his mission. He’ll make any sacrifice he needs to get the job done, and he’ll do so in a manner that leaves him as intact as possible. To keep others out of danger, Kai works alone and prefers to be alone. If forced to work with other people, he does prioritize others’ lives over his own. Kai seldom talks about his own past and family, lest he bring back the trauma he endured at a young age. Even if it seems like he doesn’t care about anyone, he does have people’s best interests at heart. He isolates himself to keep others safe, especially in his line of work.

Powers/Abilities

 * Origium Energy Manipulation - The Isurugi Family is adept at manipulating an unknown energy named “Origium” through the use of a specific pair of swords. Kai received the Crimson Origium Blade, which he wields with an Origium coating to enhance its cutting power; he can also direct Origium to flow through his body for enhanced speed and/or strength. It can be projected as an energy slash, or fired as an energy beam after shifting his arms into a certain position. Any and all powers derived from Origium require Kai to have one of the Origium Blades on his person to use.
 * Origium Ray (オリジウム光線) - By crossing his arms with his left arm aligned horizontally in front of his vertical right arm in a +-shape, Kai can channel the Origium energy into a powerful energy beam. His suit's gauntlets are designed to focus the Origium Ray's energy once the arms have been aligned.


 * Sub Energy Manipulation - Kai’s body can harness other energies derived from Origium, allowing him to use the powers of his ancestors and merge them with other energies to create something that better suits Kai’s fighting style. As of right now, he cannot use this power since he has yet to understand the truth of Origium energy itself.


 * Seven-fold Blade Arts: Seven Slugger Strikes - Kai’s variation of the Seven-fold Blade Art focuses more on the Iaido side of the sword style. He strikes hard and fast, blitzing his foes with quick, precise strikes at high speeds. More often than not, Kai uses each basic strike in the Blade Arts in tandem with his speed to quickly end confrontations. Rarely does he ever get to show off his true swordsmanship. When he does, he fights without any hesitation. Each strike has a purpose, no movement is wasted. He can go on the defensive if need be, allowing his enemies to become overconfident in themselves before quickly and brutally turning the tables against them and winning. The “Seven Slugger Strikes” are actually Kai’s signature sword strikes, powerful enough to end a confrontation with just these seven attacks chained together. These Seven Slugger Strikes are the foundation of the Seven-fold Blade Arts, though Kai has turned them into lethal strikes.
 * Slugger 1: Helm Splitter - A powerful overhead strike, perfect for beginning a combo.
 * Slugger 2: X-Down - Two downward diagonal slashes, starting from Kai’s upper right to lower left, then from his upper left to lower right.
 * Slugger 3: X-Up - An inverse of the previous move, featuring two upward diagonal slashes performed with a reverse grip starting from Kai’s lower right to upper left, then lower left to upper right.
 * Slugger 4: Twin Horizontal - A double horizontal slash performed with a reverse grip, the first from the right followed by another to the left.
 * Slugger 5: Piercer - A rapid barrage of stabs at breakneck speeds followed by one final thrust.
 * Slugger 6: Crucifix - A downward vertical slash immediately followed by a leftward horizontal slash.
 * Slugger 7: Judgement - The final strike of Kai’s style. It’s a rapid barrage of high-speed sword slashes too fast for the eye to perceive.

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Transcendence
Kai gains access to Origium Transcendence (オリジウム超絶) after a near-death experience with his brother, learning the truth behind the mysterious power their family wields. Origium comes from their ancestor O-50, whose descendents channeled this transcendental power to ascend past the physical limits. Each Origium descendent bears a fragment of O-50’s original power; by physically manifesting this fragment within them as a Transcendental Familiar, the user can merge with their inner power and enter a Transcended state of enhanced strength, speed, and power. Due to Kai’s unique use of Origium’s sub-energies and his personal Familiars, his Transcendence State birthed an incredible powerful variant of Origium energy that proved to be far greater than any previous energy derived from it.

Kai’s Transcendence Familiar, named Zero, is a silver humanoid figure with black and red armor. It has thin silver legs ending in pointed platforms instead of feet, as it hovers around rather than walking. Its black armor covers its silver body, with said armor attached to its forearms, legs, chest, and back. Red detailing runs throughout its arms and legs in vector-shaped patterns. Like its master, Zero features segmented silver armor on its shoulders and thighs. However, it also features an overlapping silver carapace on its chest with an angular, pointed design.

To achieve Transcendence, Kai merges with his armor and his Transcendence Familiar to generate one new being. He adopts his Familiar’s name in this form, becoming the Origium Warrior Zero. In this state, he wields Supreme Origium in a wide variety of styles in addition to wielding all of the sub energies he previously used. Instead of metal Crest Slashers, Zero creates the Origium Slasher constructs that act just like the Crest Slashers when influenced by the Hurricane mask. These Origium Slashers respond directly to Zero’s mental commands and will act on their own to defend him to the best of their abilities. The Origium Blade gains an Origium coating on its blade when Kai uses it in this state, allowing it to cut through nearly anything; only Origium constructs or attacks can successfully defend against Zero’s power.

In this state, Kai’s body transforms into a mass of pure Origium while his armor and the Familiar’s armor combine to form a new armor. His armor takes on a black body that pulsates with dark orange energy featuring dark silver blade-like gauntlets and greaves with orange glowing claws; an orange crack running through the center of the chest and ending at the top of the abdomen; a ring of dark red energy running from the collar bones similar to some depictions of an oni; a dark red jinbaori coat with white flame-like patterns all over and seven silver slashes on the back; an extended ridge collar on the back of its neck; dark silver thigh armor leaving the inner thigh exposed; and the new Origium Zero Mask on its face. This Origium Zero Mask resembles Kai’s Sperion mask with the addition of two horns on its forehead, though the left horn has been broken off; glowing red eyes; and cracks around the horns that reach down past his eyes and end above the mouthplate. Its eyes now glare at everything despite the normal mask staring blankly ahead. A ring of dark red energy surrounded by Origium Slashers floats behind him at all times, all capable of disconnecting and launching themselves as projectiles if needed.

If Kai enters his Supreme Transcendence state, his standard Transcendence form simplifies itself. He becomes a silver- and red-bodied figure wearing dark silver gauntlets and greaves; the rings and jinbaori remain; and he has several light-yellow hexagonal crystals embedded in his gauntlets, knee armor, and the center of his chest. A ring of pale yellow energy surrounds the crystal on his chest, and his mask’s cracks are smoothed over. Its horns are replaced by two Crest Slashers embedded in the mask itself, with a yellow hexagonal crystal embedded in the mask’s forehead as well.-->

Equipment

 * Crimson Origium Blade: Ketsueki (血液) - Kai’s signature weapon: a straight-bladed katana lacking a proper hand-guard. It has a dark red blade with a black hilt wrapping. Aside from providing Kai with access to Origium Energy, it also bears the will and power of an unknown powerful entity, reflecting its desire to protect others and help those who cannot help themselves.
 * Artificial Origium Blade: Zero Slugger - After joining with the Syndicate, he commissioned the creation of the Zero Slugger, an artificial Origium Blade prototype using advanced technology to improve its cutting ability. The weapon is lightweight despite being made of ultra-durable, ultra-sharp alloy. It’s held in a metallic sheath that channels Kai’s Origium energy into enhancing the sword’s cutting edge, drawing from Ketsueki's power to do so.
 * Crest Slasher - Initially, they were just a set of throwing knives Kai had purchased from somewhere. When he joined the Syndicate, he requested a custom set of knives using the same alloy and Origium energy sharpening technology used in the artificial Origium Blade. These new Slugger Knives are stylized Kukri knives resembling demonic horns. Kai carries six pairs of these new Slugger Knives on him at all times; three pairs holstered in the segmented thigh armor, one pair sheathed in his gauntlets, and one pair sheathed on each of his boots.

Motorcycles
Kai owns two motorcycles as his personal mode of transport. The first bike, shown above, is an abandoned police-issue sports bike he repurposed after finding it in a junkyard. He’s had it retuned to his specifications, with some Origium energy conduits of his own designed installed for speed boosts. Sadly, the bike’s frame is strong enough to withstand the speed boost for long, and will break once it exceeds a certain speed limit.

The second bike, shown below, is the bike he created after joining the Syndicate. It features a completely custom frame with shifting panels and enhanced Origium Speed Conduits. It can move faster, receive greater Speed boosts, and maneuver through areas with extreme finesse. The back of the seat hides a stronger Origium booster for even more speed, using its own pre-charged Origium supply. The shifting panels allow for air-braking and increased maneuverability, and they can hide extra Slugger Knives if desired.

Proto Suit
Kai’s first suit, made mostly of miscellaneous armor scraps cobbled together. It features segmented armor plating on its thighs, shoulders, and upper arms. Armored gauntlets and knee-high boots protect his hands and feet while in combat, with a thin red undersuit made of an unknown spandex-like material infused with Origium energy to increase its durability and flexibility. The helmet features a set of glasses hidden under its visor, with an integrated HUD system measuring the suit’s power output, durability, and Kai’s current speed. Its belt features a place for holding Kai’s Zero Blade on its waist, and its core is optimized for enhancing Kai’s speed and strength. It’s fairly primitive and does what Kai needs it to: protect and enhance.

Zero Suit Ver. 1
Kai extensively upgraded his suit after joining the Syndicate, using its massive pool of immense resources to essentially recreate his suit from scratch. Its red undersuit is now made of a flexible, metallic alloy with major design refinement, streamlining, and updates. Its arms are covered in a thin, lightweight blue armor with silver segmented shoulder armor. Its legs feature red armor and segmented thigh armor, with black armor on the sides of the torso and silver chest armor. A small hexagonal core on the suit’s chest plate glows when the suit has power, and will flash red if the suit’s running low on power.

The alloy used in his new sword is also featured throughout the Zero suit as well, providing increased defenses and enhancing Kai’s strength and superspeed. The helmet from the prototype suit has been refined, with the visor and glasses becoming a single component. When Kai removes the visor from the helmet, the top half of the mask and mouthplate retracts to reveal his face. The visor features an updated HUD, retaining its previous information displays in addition to weapons’ statuses and a streamlined design.

Like its previous iteration, this suit’s core is dedicated to enhancing Kai’s strength and speed. After submitting himself to multiple different tests to the Syndicate, Kai upgraded his suit again to better channel his Origium energy. The gauntlets have been redesigned to feature hidden ports that allow Kai to fire a more focused and powerful Origium Ray. Energy conduits throughout the suit channel the Origium energy into further enhancing his speed and strength.<!--

An updated version of this suit, Ver. 1.7, provides compatibility with the Combat Mask system and enhances the Origium conduits. Ver. 1.7 essentially “modernizes” the Ver. 1 suit so it can keep up with Ver. 7. Kai keeps this variant as a back-up in the event that Ver. 7 is unusable in any manner.

Zero Suits Ver. 2-6
Ver. 2, codenamed “Strong Corona,” emphasized power and greater Origium manipulation. It featured a gold, red, and silver color scheme with upgraded Origium conduits and a strength crystal in the core.

Ver. 3, nicknamed “Luna Miracle,” revolved around high-speed, non-lethal options. Its Origium conduits focused on speed, with a blue and purple color scheme. It has Origium projectors that release non-lethal projectiles from Kai’s hands.

Ver. 4 was the first suit that began incorporating the Combat Mask system. Since the Zero mask was the only one available to Kai at the time of this suit’s creation, the Ver.4 suit focused on Origium manipulation and swordsmanship. Its color scheme returns to red and silver, and it features a number of hidden blades.

Ver. 5 began experimenting with modular armor plating, incorporating smaller bits of armor while using the Combat Masks to generate more armor. At this time, Kai had access to the Zero and Stobium Masks, which allowed him to experiment with creating armor from the masks. Not much external armor was generated, but the trials proved successful.

Ver. 6 was a refinement of its previous iteration, creating more space for modular armor and enhancing the Combat Masks’ outputs. This version switched to the dark silver undersuit, though it retained extensive red and blue details that the External Combat Armor would fit over. Kai also created the Hurricane Mask just in time to test with this suit as well.

Zero Suit Ver. 7
The latest iteration of the Zero Suit, nicknamed “Seven” since it’s the seventh upgrade of the suit. This is the pinnacle of Kai’s research and experimentation with the Combat Masks, balancing the masks’ External Combat Armor with the suit’s armor. Based on a dark silver undersuit, the Seven Suit features red markings on its chest seemingly outlining the design for the breastplate, with blue markings outlining the segmented armor on the suit’s shoulders and thighs. A strap on the left hip holds his masks in a compact state. Black combat boots feature minor red and blue details that outline areas for armor placement. Its previous hexagonal power core has been retrofitted to further augment strength and speed, though it features a smaller and less noticeable design embedded in the center of the chestplate. Its Origium energy conduits have been refined, allowing it to act as an emergency power supply if the need arises. Thigh holsters hold Kai’s Sol and Luna pistols, prototype Origium firearms optimized for hitting hot and hard or with quick tracking respectively. His Crest Slashers retain their prior sheaths, and his back armor has two small joints for holding his dual Origium Blades.

The helmet has gone through yet another redesign, retaining the angular visor-glasses HUD component and black armored helmet missing the mask component. However, this new visor is designed to fit underneath an external, swappable mask. These Combat Masks feature fragments of power crystals embedded in their structure and are imbued with immense Origium energy, allowing them to generate solid energy armor over the base suit and summon Origium Familiars. It features a secondary, armored visor that fits over the helmet’s visor; these two synchronize once the mask is equipped. Different Combat Masks generate different armor patterns depending on the crystals embedded in it and the mask’s design. Currently, Kai has three of these Masks, though he wishes to develop one mask for each of his Energies. Each mask is stored in two separate components, each one holding a different energy within it. Technically speaking, this would allow Kai to mix and match different energies to create new masks, but they’ve proven to be incompatible outside of their given fusions. The two components slot onto either side of Kai’s mask like headphones before he taps them and they release the energy needed to generate the mask.

Mask List: -->
 * Sperion (スペリオン) - A sleek, basic Mask that further focuses Kai’s Origium and Sperion energy manipulation and swordsmanship. He can use this energy to enhance his sword strikes, or discharge it as a mid-range projectile.
 * The Familiar it generates is a dark red humanoid with silver sword-like limbs. Its arms are large swords that can be dismissed to reveal human hands, while its legs remain blade-like. Its face is just like the Mask it comes from, with a red glow in its eyes and red energy running through its body like veins. A silver triangular chestplate contains a hexagonal crystal glowing red, seemingly the Familiar’s core.
 * The armor it provides is similar to the way its Familiar looks. Silver, blade-like armor attaches to the forearms and shins, with a triangular armor plate forming over his chest. Red energy flows through each armor plate.
 * Stobium (ストビューム) - A horned Mask with fire-like patterns containing fire-manipulating crystals. It’s been infused with Kai’s Stobium energy for maximum pyrokinetic capabilities. This allows Kai to manipulate and absorb flames within a 3-meter radius, using it to empower or attack as needed.
 * Its Familiar is a black humanoid with crimson red armor that glows with the intensity of a raging fire. Cracks in the familiar’s skin glow in sync with the armor’s heat, with the mask it comes from acting as its face. It has human hands that can produce fire, and growls quietly when summoned.
 * Its Armor is colored and shaped like fire. Flame-like armor attaches to his wrists and shins, with dark silver chest armor featuring burning flames surrounding the suit’s core.
 * Emerium (エメリウム) - A sleek, lightly-armored Mask with spikes on it resembling the updated Crest Slashers much like the suit’s first official iteration. Telekinetic and Aerokinetic crystals embedded in its construction allow Kai to manipulate the Crest Slashers at high speeds without the need to hold them. They have a range limit of 5 meters with this mask, and will always return to Kai.
 * Its Familiar is a blue and green humanoid figure without legs and silver armor reminiscent of Kai’s Crest Slasher. Instead of legs, a set of skirted armor plates extend from the hips with a green aura binding them together. It has light amounts of silver armor attached to its blue body, with its corresponding mask on its face. It has no armament of its own, instead relying on Kai’s Crest Slashers for its weapons since the Mask is dedicated to manipulating them.
 * Its corresponding Armor is silver and sharp, with blade-like greaves and forearm armor extending to a sharp point at the joints. Green and blue spirals of energy surround this armor, with a segmented chestplate where the energy spirals are most concentrated.
 * Zedcium (ゼットシウム) - A dark silver oni mask with two horns and jagged red eyes. Its right horn is broken off, and black-red energy cracks run down from the horn’s base. This mask is specifically designed for channeling Zedcium energy and is incapable of using any other energy. Due to the Zecium’s mysterious nature, Kai risks going berserk and attacking everything in sight without discrimination.
 * Its familiar is a black and red humanoid demon with large black claws and tribal patterns on its body. It passively radiate Zedcium energy, sparking whitish blue and black-red energy as it moves. The body has a very muscular physique, bearing a muscular torso and bulkier arms. What appears to be remnants of a samurai’s armor are worn by the familiar, with a jinbaori torn to shreds draped around its shoulders.
 * Its corresponding armor adds a large amount of extra armor, covering the whole suit in this black-and-red armor. This armor is bulky and segmented, but provides incredible strength. Zedcium energy sparks off of the armor occasionally.
 * Galaxanadium (ガラクスナディウム) - A silver mask with a blue anchor-like design where the two pointed ends form the mask’s visor overlayed on a yellow X design. Designed to channel Galaxandium energy, the mask is capable of pacifying enemies through repeated punches, or releasing electric discharges from the user’s hands.
 * Its Familiar is a highly futuristic red and gray humanoid with blue crystals on its forearms and shins, a yellow X-shaped core in the center of its chest, and segmented armor covering its entire body.
 * Its corresponding armor simply grafts the crystals and x-patterns onto Kai’s suit, augmented further by the segmented armor design the familiar has.
 * Trinitium (トリニティウム) - Similar to the Galaxanadium mask, the Trinitium Mask is silver with a yellow V on the forehead, a yellow X across the entire face, and a blue anchor-like design on top of the yellow designs, with said anchor’s hooks forming this mask’s visor. This mask exclusively channels Trinitium and its component energies: Ginganadium, Victorium, and Xanadium. Ginganadium can channel a pacifying effect; Victorium boasts incredible defensive properties; and Xanadium wields immense offensive power Trinitium merges all three of these aspects into a powerful composite energy.
 * Its Familiar is a silver- and red-bodied humanoid with silver shoulder armor bearing six upward-pointing spikes and a unique armored carapace with an X design, a V nestled in the center of this X, and the anchor running straight through this. It bears yellow crystalline armor on its forearms and shins, with blue crystals running down and diagonally across the chest armor. Its thighs and pelvis region are black with red vector-shaped patterns pointing downwards.
 * Its corresponding armor simply adds all of the armor the Familiars wears to Kai’s suit.
 * (Supreme) Origium Zero ((スプリーム)オリジウムゼロ) - This mask’s appearance and its corresponding Familiar are described under the Transcendence section. It appears exclusively when Kai uses Origium Transcendence, where he channels the full power of his heritage throughout his entire being. Under certain circumstances, Kai can evolve further and reach a Supreme state that supercharges Origium Transcendence’s already-incredible power. Unlike other masks, Origium Zero cannot be actively used outside of Kai’s Transcendence state.

Trivia/Miscellaneous

 * TBA