Atem

**Atem** (*Romaji*: **Atemu**; *Kana*: **アテム**; *German For*: **Breath**) is a martial art which was invented by Inuzuri Hotaru and Oe Kuniyuki during their 7 years of study and training in Heaven.

Though it may be compatible and stackable with Zankensoki, ultimately, it's distinct from Zankensoki.

## ***Core Techniques***

### *Basic Level*

* **Buno Kisoku** (*Kanji*: **武の気息**; *English*: **Martial Breathing**) - Is a maneuver where one uses pranayama to decrease the amount of carbon dioxide within one's body through a combination of maximizing the amount of carbon dioxide that one is exhaling and minimizing the amount of carbon dioxide that one is inhaling. Notably, because hemoglobin that is carrying less carbon dioxide is hemoglobin that is carrying more oxygen, this decrease of the carbon dioxide that is being carried by one's blood will increase the amount of oxygen being carried by one's blood. Ultimately, this maneuver is able to augment many if not most of one's physical capabilities.
* **Tōno Kisoku** (*Kanji*: **闘の気息**; *English*: **Combat Breathing**) - Is a maneuver where one uses pranayama to engage in breathing which is as gentle as diaphragmatic breathing yet also as powerful as clavicular breathing; by doing so, one is able to both maximize the amount of air that one is breathing and minimize the amount of effort that one must exert to breathe. Notably, by maximizing the amount of air that one is breathing, one is able to increase the amount of oxygen being carried by one's blood and thereby augment many if not most of one's physical capabilities.
	+ **Gokutōno Kisoku** (*Kanji*: **極闘の気息**; *English*: **Extreme Combat Breathing**) - Is a maneuver where one uses pranayama to engage in breathing which is ***NOT*** as gentle as diaphragmatic breathing, but in exchange, is far more powerful than clavicular breathing. By doing so, one will be able to exceed the maximum amount of air that one is able to breathe at the cost of both increasing the amount of effort that one must exert to breath and overexerting one's respiratory system. Notably, by exceeding the maximum amount of air that one is able to breathe, one is able to maximize the amount of oxygen being carried by one's blood and thereby augment one's physical capabilities to an extent that is vastly superior to Tōno Kisoku's augmentation of one's physical capabilities.

### *Intermediate Level*

* **Bushino Kisoku** (*Kanji*: **武士の気息**; *English*: **Warrior's Breathing**) - Is a maneuver where one uses reiryoku to energize and manipulate the carbon dioxide within one's bloodstream and then uses that carbon dioxide to expand one's capillaries and thus hasten one's blood flow. Notably, it's an abundance of carbon dioxide which expands one's capillaries and hastens one's blood flow rather than an abundance of oxygen. As such, contrary to popular belief, the expansion of capillaries and hastening of blood mandates a manipulation of carbon dioxide rather than a manipulation of oxygen. Ultimately, this maneuver is able to augment the potency of any Atem maneuver.
* **Eikyūno Kisoku** (*Kanji*: **永久の気息**; *English*: **Eternal Breathing**) - Is an achievement rather than a maneuver. It consists of adjusting one's habits and instincts from Eupnea to a combination of Buno Kisoku and Tōno Kisoku and thereby causing oneself to be applying and benefiting from both Buno Kisoku and Tōno Kisoku at all times. Notably, it's the mark of an Atem Expert.
* **Heino Kisoku** (*Kanji*: **兵の気息**; *English*: **Soldier's Breathing**) - Is a maneuver where, as one is breathing, one uses reiryoku to energize and individualize the reishi within the oxygen that one is inhaling. By doing so, as one's blood circulates through one's blood vessels and delivers that oxygen throughout one's body, one will be able to both emulate and perfect Blut in a manner which grants one the benefits of both Blut Arterie and Blut Vene.
* **Souno Kisoku** (*Kanji*: **僧の気息**; *English*: **Monk's Breathing**) - Is a manuever which consists of using one's reiryoku to energize the hormones released by the various glands into the bloodstream and thus increase their total chemical energy potential while precisely controlling their path. By doing this a user is able to maximize, minimize and even control biological functions precisely for their benefit in combat.

### *Advance Level*

* **Kanzeno Kisoku** (*Kanji*: **完全の気息**; *English*: **Perfect Breathing**) - Is a maneuver which combines Bushino Kisoku and Heino Kisoku. As such, it allows one to emulate Blut in a manner which grants one the benefits of both Blut Arterie and Blut Vene, and it allows one to hasten one's blood flow as well. Ultimately, this maneuver is able to augment one's athletic capabilities by a degree that is vastly superior to the augmentation provided by either Bushino Kisoku by itself or Heino Kisoku by itself.
* **Mahōno Kisoku** (*Kanji*: **魔法の気息**; *English*: **Magical Breathing**) - Is an advancement of Heino Kisoku. It consists of altering one's reiryoku in a manner which causes a World's reiatsu to interact with and transform one's reiryoku into a Magical spell. Subsequently, as one is breathing, one will use the Magical spell to energize and individualize the reishi within the oxygen that one is inhaling. By doing so, as one's blood circulates through one's blood vessels and delivers that oxygen throughout one's body, one will be able to both emulate Blut in a manner which grants one the benefits of both Blut Arterie and Blut Vene and enchant one's body with the Magical spell.
* **Ryūno Kisoku** (*Kanji*: **流の気息**; *English*: **Flowing Breathing**) - Is an improvement on Souno Kisoku and is maneuver where one uses one's breathing as a metronome and as a point to focus their mind on while performing Atem to perform combat meditation. By focusing on the process of breathing, in particular the special breathing of Atem one is able to enter a sort of trance even in combat that allows one to control and influence the release of hormones into the bloodstream in a placebo like manner while simultaneously entering a flow like state. By combining this technique with Souno Kisoku an Atem user is able to influence the entirety of their body selectively enhancing their natural attributes and abilities.
* **Zenshino Kisoku** (*Kanji*: **全身の気息**; *English*: **Full-Body Breathing**) - Is a maneuver where one assists one's circulatory system by infusing reiryoku into the oxygen within one's surroundings and then using that reiryoku's reiatsu to pull the oxygen into whatever part of one's body that needs oxygen at the moment. Notably, this maneuver is able to provide one with twice as much oxygen as Gokutōno Kisoku at the cost of but half as much effort as Gokutōno Kisoku's cost. As such, this maneuver is vastly superior to Gokutōno Kisoku.

### *Master Level*

* **Gokumahōno Kisoku** (*Kanji*: **極魔法の気息**; *English*: **Extreme Magical Breathing**) - Is a maneuver which combines Bushino Kisoku and Mahōno Kisoku. As such, it allows one to emulate Blut in a manner which grants one the benefits of both Blut Arterie and Blut Vene, and it also allows one to both enchant one's body with a Magical spell and hasten one's blood flow as well. Ultimately, this maneuver is able to augment one's athletic and magical capabilities by a degree that is vastly superior to the augmentation provided by either Bushino Kisoku by itself or Mahōno Kisoku by itself.
* **Gozenno Kisoku** (*Kanji*: 極禅の気息, *English:* **Extreme Meditative Breathing**) - Is a maneuver which combines Ryūno Kisoku and Bushino Kisoku. As such, it allows one to emulate Blut in a manner which grants one the benefits of both Blut Arterie and Blue Vene, enter a flow state, increase their blood flow and influence their bodily states by stimulating hormones and enhancing their chemical effects. Ultimately, this maneuver is able to augment one’s athletic and bodily capabilities by a degree that is vastly superior to the augmentation provided by either Ryūno Kisoku by itself or Bushino Kisoku by itself.
* **Zenhōno Kisoku** (*Kanji*: 禅法の気息, *English:* **Magical Meditative Breathing**) - Is a maneuver which combines Ryūno Kisoku and Mahono Kisoku. As such, it allows one to emulate Blut in a manner which grants one the benefits of both Blut Arterie and Blue Vene, enchant one’s body with a magical spell, enter a flow state and influence their bodily states by stimulating hormone release and enhancing their chemical effects. Ultimately, this maneuver is able to augment one’s magical and bodily capabilities by a degree that is vastly superior to the augmentation provided by either Ryūno Kisoku by itself or Mahono Kisoku by itself.
	+ **Mieno Kisoku** (*Kanji*: 三重の気息, *English:* **Triplicity Breathing**) - Is a maneuver which combines Ryūno Kisoku, Bushino Kisoku and Mahono Kisoku. As such, it allows one to gain the benefits of all 3 techniques, granting them a slew of benefits increasing their physical, magical and bodily capabilities by a degree that is vastly superior to the enhancements provided by the individuals techniques. Due to the amount of reiryoku infused into one’s own body using this technique is incompatible with most zankensoki techniques unless one’s reiryoku reserves are truly tremendous.
* **Zettaino Kisoku** (*Kanji*: **絶対の気息**; *English*: **Absolute Breathing**) - Is an achievement rather than a maneuver. It's mastery of Zenshino Kisoku, as it consists of being able to use Zenshino Kisoku with enough ease and haste and skill to bypass the need to use one's circulatory system to provide one's body with oxygen. Through Zettaino Kisoku, it's possible to forgo using one's breathing as a means of survival in favor of using one's breathing as naught but a weapon.

## ***Styles of Atem***

### *Inno Kisoku*

**Inno Kisoku** (*Kanji*: **陰の気息**; *English*: **Yin Breathing**) is one of the primary styles of Atem. It was invented by Inuzuri Hotaru.

It focuses on enchanting the body with magical spells; as such, its signature maneuver is the **Mahōno Kisoku**.

### *Yono Kisoku*

**Yōno Kisoku** (*Kanji*: **陽の気息**; *English*: **Yang Breathing**) is one of the primary styles of Atem. It was invented by Ōe Kuniyuki.

It focuses on augmenting the body's physical capabilities; as such, its signature maneuver is the **Kanzeno Kisoku**.

### *In'yono Kisoku*

**In'yōno Kisoku** (*Kanji*: **陰陽の気息**; *English*: **Yin-Yang Breathing**) is one of the primary styles of Atem. It was invented by Inuzuri Hotaru and Ōe Kuniyuki.

It combines augmenting the body's physical capabilities with enchanting the body with magical spells; as such, its signature maneuver is the **Gokumahōno Kisoku**.

#### **Enno Kisoku**

**Enno Kisoku** (*Kanji*: **炎の気息**; *English*: **Flame Breathing**) is a sub-style of the In'yōno Kisoku. It was invented by Inuzuri Hotaru.

It consists of using the **Gokumahōno Kisoku** in conjunction with the Zettaino Kisoku in order to both augment one's physical capabilities and enchant one's body with fire magic.

#### **Kenno Kisoku**

**Kenno Kisoku** (*Kanji*: **剣の気息**; *English*: **Sword Breathing**) is a sub-style of the In'yōno Kisoku. It was invented by Ōe Kuniyuki.

It consists of using the **Gokumahōno Kisoku** in conjunction with the Zettaino Kisoku in order to both augment one's physical capabilities and enchant one's body with magic which protects one's armor and weapons from damage and thus allows one to combat a Bankai-level foe with conventional armor and weapons.