Accumulated informational bits from the thread on Spacebattles.
White for the fledgling, pale and bloodless, the first shell to crack
Blue for the weakling, single frail tail, hunger to drive him
Red for the warrior, hoarding his armor, awaiting fury and death
Green for the student, mastering two arts, until arms he can bear
Gold for the schemer, three aspects rising, ambition aflame
And black for the monster, who need not devour.
- Poetic stanza, found inscribed on a wall in the Romanus excavation site, estimated to be fifty years old, author unknown.
Stages of development are synchronized according to maturation of C-cell Variant B structures and surrounding support structures (see Dissection Notes)
Initial stage consists of seeding of pseudolymphlike nodes through vascular system and bone marrow, producing stable Variant A cells and a small quantity of Variant B
Development centers along spinal cord, four primary node clusters emerge, one develops quicker than others (environmental factors?). Increasing production of Variant B cells increases host intake requirements re: Variant A's for breakdown and expansion, this continues as stages develop
Initial expression of initial node cluster is restrained and immature. Maturity of initial node cluster coincides with increase in density of vascular/epidermal Variant B networks, laying groundwork for first stage full-body expression. In harsh conditions, incomplete networks are utilized to produce an incomplete form of this expression, which is unstable but at times necessary for escape or conflict. Second of the four node clusters (again, random) begins at this stage.
Maturation of secondary node cluster begins alongside completion of vascular/epidermal Variant B networks, allowing stable full-body expression. Development of tertiary node cluster begins afterwards, typically coinciding with period of high Variant A intake, or extreme environmental stress. Muscular networks of Variant B pseudolymphlike nodes begin to develop.
With incomplete muscular networks, large-scale structure formation is a possibility, albeit unstable. Once completed, large-scale structure expression stabilizes.
Current theory suggests megascale structure formation a possibility, but unlikely. Variant B cells too unstable to maintain such a state even in semi-stable forms such as seen in full-body/large-scale expression. Would have to somehow stabilize Variant B cells (Variant C?), while maintaining adaptive properties. Beyond current science.
Quarternary node cluster development and maturation appears to be final stage.
-Notes of [REDACTED] concerning C-cell development, Abnormality Case B
KI RATA
A surpassingly powerful style of martial art, Ki Rata is considered an extinct style at the time of writing, due to the circumstances behind its teachings.
Originally created (allegedly) by Arima Ali Zun, founder of the Sevenfold Kingdom, the art remained passed down through the Royal line throughout the centuries, only being taught to the heirs to the throne and a small number of individuals chosen specifically by the reigning monarch. While the heirs were allowed to pass the art to their own children and companions once they became ruler, those not of the Arima line were entirely forbidden from sharing the exercises and principles behind their training with others, enforced by the reigning monarch and punishable by swift and immoderate death. This resulted in a small, reclusive art, but one that has had undeniable effectiveness on the battlefield in the hands of its practitioners.
From what few glimpses of its use have been gleaned over the years, the following can be surmised about the art of Ki Rata: it relies heavily on breathing exercises as a means of internal focus and discipline, relies heavily on said discipline to use its techniques without inflicting severe harm to the user, and strikes are organized into levels of power called 'points', each additional point representing a hundredfold increase in power from an equivalently applied blow of the lower point. A one-point strike performed with one finger is sufficient to shatter stone, and there are tales of nine or ten-point strikes being used to wipe cities or islands off the face of the earth - likely exaggerations, but one can never tell.
However, for all the deadliness of the art, it was not sufficient to prevent the usurpation of Arima Zoss by his Councillors, nor his eventual earning of a bounty before vanishing into obscurity once more. With the reigning monarch gone, and the heir to the throne, Arima Zettai, having taken to wandering the earth as a vagabond swordswoman and noodle connoisseur after her part in the usurpation, the only known active practitioner of this art is Fleet Admiral Sengoku, having learned it as a young man from Zoss's father, Arima Zen. Sengoku has refused all requests to teach the art to others, citing the oath required of him, but has on occasion displayed his mastery of it in impeccable fashion - a six-point strike utilized during Golden Lion Shiki's assault on Marineford was responsible for bringing the man down to earth and within range of Garp the Hero.
Sadly, with no willing teachers or disciples of the art, it appears that Ki Rata shall be consigned to the history books once the Fleet Admiral retires or passes away.
- Excerpt from The Manual of Slaughter: A Thousand Killing Arts, a treatise by Priscus Verus, former Lord of the Red Sands. A manual concerning various combat techniques in both armed and unarmed styles, it was eventually banned worldwide for its political content - namely, the assertion of the existence of 'the greatest art', by the name of Krayu Mat, that according to the author originated in the Void Century and was utilized against the Twenty Kingdoms. The book was eventually destroyed via an organized effort by the World Government for violating their laws concerning even attempting to research that period of history, and Priscus Verus was killed by the Marine Admiral Akainu in a battle that turned a significant portion of the island of Tatakai's deserts into glass. Copies are alleged to survive in the libraries of Kaido and Charlotte Linlin, as well as the land of Mariejois.
