Vermithor Style

### User(s):

Vermithor D. Laena, Vermithor D. Viserys, Vermithor D. Rhaena, Vermithor D. Vhagar, Vermithor Dojo Students

### Fighting Style Focus:

Swords; Stances

**Vermithor Style** is a unique style where the practitioner wields a single sword and takes different stances to prioritize different styles of attacks. There are direct hit attacks, ranged projectile attacks, or acrobatic and aerial attacks. The Vermithor Style is world famous and one of the strongest swordsmanship styles to ever exist. The most infamous practitioners are the members of the Vermithor Family.

## Description

The **Vermithor Style** is focused on creatures and an ancient mythical Vermithor who combined graceful agility, precision, and feints and misdirection for their attacks. Armed with a lightweight ergonomic sword, or in the case of Vhagar two swords, they use techniques emphasizing attributes other than strength. The practitioner excels in utilizing feints and misdirection as a defining element of their fighting style, employing subtle movements to distract, confuse, or disorientate opponents. Likewise, their movements allow their adversaries to remain off balance and unadaptable to their fighting style, employing a final strike when necessary. This allows the user to deliver strategic attacks and exploit openings and opportunity attacks.

This particular style proves especially effective against larger opponents, or slower ones. By relying on their agility and precision, the practitioner can evade and outmaneuver their adversaries. Then, with said attributes they can slowly overcome their adversaries with efficient blows. Because of the way this fighting style is broken down into different stances, each one focusing on different attributes, the utilization of footwork is crucial. By controlling their footwork they can leverage their momentum to maintain balance, enhance their agility, and maximize attack impact despite not focusing on power. The style encompass three distinctive stances, each drawing inspiration from mythical creatures.

The swords used in this style can be held in any grip the practitioner finds comfortable and ergonomic. The flexibility allows them to adapt their grip to different situations and capitalize on advantages offered by the various stances. The lightweight and ergonomic design of the sword(s) involved often help maximize the stances efficiency as well. Through this, they can seamlessly transition between offensive and defensive maneuvers to enhance their techniques and fluidity.

## Techniques

The following are a list of techniques that have been seen being used with the Vermithor Style. They are not limited to just Vhagar, as other members of his family have been depicted utilizing attacks. While there is no specific way to tell which stance is being used unless you know the footwork, it's easy to categorize them once you do. The techniques used will be sorted into the three different stances that they fall under.

### Dragon's Wing Stance Techniques

The following list of techniques belong to the **Dragon's Wing Stance** (竜翼の構え, *Ryūyoku no Kamae*). This stance requires the practitioner to stand with their feet shoulder-width apart and holding the sword diagonally across their body. This allows them to emphasize fluid movements and quick strikes. This stance allows for a swift transition to defensive and offensive maneuvers.

* **Vermi-Slash** (ヴァーミ切る, *Vu~āmi Kiru*, literally meaning "Vermi Cut"): First Vhagar locks onto his opponent before having his feet shoulder-width apart and holding the sword diagonally across his body. He then dashes forward quickly in a zigzag motion, getting faster as he delivers a powerful slash toward his target's side. This technique forces his body to move beyond his normal speed temporarily, leaving red streaks of his opponent's blood as he strikes his target. This technique was first used by Vhagar to defeat Golatzar. It is considered a **Stage 3** Technique for Vhagar, and unused by anyone else.
* **Rosa Lion** (薔薇獅子, *Bara Shishi*, literally meaning "Rose Lion"): First Rhaena has her feet shoulder width apart as she holds the sword diagonally across her chest, dashing toward her target with full speed. Then, just before she's about to hit her target the sword gains a pinkish hue as she delivers a slice toward her opponent. This was first used by Rhaena in addition to Busoshoku Haki to strengthen the attack, in an effort to defeat Golatzar. It is considered a **Stage 2** Technique for Rhaena, and unused by anyone else.

### Serpent's Coil Stance Techniques

The following list of techniques belong to the **Serpent's Coil Stance** (蛇のとぐろの構え, *Hebi no Toguro no Kamae*). This stance requires the practitioner to have their feet close together with the sword held in front of them. This allows them to focus on precise strikes and accuracy, exploiting the smallest of openings from their opponent with calculated and controlled movements.

* **Kōsetsu** (降雪, *Kōsetsu*, literally meaning "Snowfall" or "Tiger Cut/Fog"): Vhagar takes a single step forward with his feet close together as he waits for his opponent to get close to him. Then, when they are close he quickly raises his sword up and swings it down in front of him toward his opponent. This technique's first use, though unsuccessful, was against Mihawk wherein Vhagar attempted to counter his attack, causing Snow Flower to shatter. Its first successful use was against Whisper wherein Vhagar successfully stopped his attack and defeated his opponent. It is considered a **Stage 3** Technique for Vhagar, and unused by anyone else.

* **Snakes' Food** (蛇の食べ物, *Hebi no Tabemono*, literally meaning "Snake Food"): First, Rhaena spins her body and moves her sword in front of her. Then, she brings her feet together and analyzes her target before dashing forward in a quick burst to deliver a precise slash right through her opponents side. When Rhaena first used this attack, she coated her sword in Busoshoku Haki to make it much stronger, while also attacking numerous people with it. It is considered a **Stage 2** Technique for Rhaena, and unused by anyone else.

### Phoenix's Flight Stance Techniques

The following list of techniques belong to the **Phoenix's Flight Stance** (鳳凰飛行構え, *Hōō no Hikō no Kamae*). This stance requires the practitioner to have a staggered foot placement and the sword above their head. This emphasizes aerial and ranged attacks, while also focusing on acrobatic movements. This allows for ranged attacks and more acrobatically based attacks for unexpected and weirdly angled strikes.

* **Veronica Daggers** (ベロニカ短剣, *Beronika Tanken*, literally meaning "Veronica Daggers"): Vhagar raises his sword above his head and staggers his feet before delivering three vertical slashes toward his target. This technique was first used against Golatzar. It is considered a **Stage 3** Technique for Vhagar, and unused by anyone else.

* **Snow Return** (雪戻る, *Yuki Modoru*, literally meaning "Snow Back/Return")^: Snow Flower first informs Vhagar not to dodge and shows him a vision of movements while unknowingly forcing his Kenbunshoku Haki to activate, showcasing how to perform it and enhancing his awareness of his surroundings. Then, the movements she shows Vhagar is to raise his sword into the sky and bring the sword down, while twisting it. When Vhagar performs it he must first wait for an attack targeting him that is not physical, such as an air slash or something else. Then, Vhagar performs the movements just as the attack is about to hit him. This causes the attack to stop and then deflect with twice the power and speed toward the originator. This technique was first used to counter Lynx's **Spin Crossbone Slash** attack. It is considered a **Stage 3** Technique for Vhagar, and currently unused and unable to be used by anyone other than the owner of Snow Flower.
	+ Vhagar has attempted this technique with Ace, and is not able to perform the movements fully but can still somewhat use the technique. It is just most effective and has a higher chance of success when used with Snow Flower.

* **Ten no Sakabi** (天の叫び, *Ten no Sakebi*, literally meaning "Cry of Heaven")\*: First Ace absorbs Water, typically whenever Vhagar produces it thanks to his Devil Fruit. Then, Vhagar raises Ace above his head carefully to go for an overhead strike, before having Ace release the water as he swings it down toward his target. This forces Ace to release all of the water onto his target and heavily amplifies the initial damage. This technique was first used after Vhagar realized Ace was absorbing and leaking Water from Vhagar's body, resulting in Vhagar defeating Golatzar during the North Blue War. It is considered a **Stage 3** Technique for Vhagar, and currently unused and unable to be used by anyone other than the owner of Ace.

* **Fuego Tatsumaki** (火災竜巻, *Kasai Tatsumaki*, literally meaning "Fire Tornado"): First Rhaena staggers her feet and brings her sword above her head, spinning around and leaping into the air. Then, she rapidly shakes the sword to heat it up, allowing the air to gain friction and spark as she delivers a slash in the air aimed at her target. This results in a massive tornado of wind to burst into flames as it heads toward her target. This was first used in an effort to kill Golatzar by Rhaena. It is considered a **Stage 2** Technique for Rhaena, and unused by anyone else.

* **Dragon Block** (龍守備, *Ryū Shubi*, literally meaning "Dragon Defense"): First Rhaena unsheathes her sword and raises it above her head in a reverse grip. Then, as her feet stagger she brings the sword down while flipping it to slash the air. This allows her to release a shockwave of wind that takes the shape of a dragon, flying forward and splitting into sharp winds. This attack was first used by Rhaena to defend herself and Vhagar from incoming arrows during the Snow Flower Trials. It is considered a **Stage 2** Technique for Rhaena, and unused by anyone else.

### Team Combination Techniques

The following are techniques that use an individual known technique to use a technique involving a practitioner of the Vermithor Style and other people. Currently only one technique has been shown:

* **Gum Gum Lancer de Fer Yuki-Modoru** (ゴムゴム鉄投げ雪戻る, *Gomu Gomu Nage Tetsu Yuki Modoru*, literally meaning "Rubber Rubber Iron Throwing Snow Back"): Hestuser extends his leg out as Athermos stretches one arm toward it to grab on. Athermos also stretches his other arm out toward Vhagar, which Vhagar grabs and concentrates. Hestuser then uses Lancer de Fer, spinning around while leaping into the air, throwing his foot out while pulling up Athermos and Vhagar, giving the duo momentum. As soon as that momentum is reached Athermos uses Gum Gum Throw, with his body being thrown forward as he pulls and throws Vhagar toward the target, letting go of Vhagar at the very last moment. Then, Vhagar moves in a very specific way for his **Yuki-Modoru** technique by twisting his sword and raising it up, letting Ace absorb any element present(if any), before then releasing the absorbed element while trying to redirect the targets attack. This combination was first used in an effort to deflect Torrent's 1,000 Wave Torrent to no avail.

## History

### Past

At some point the Vermithor Family developed this swordsmanship style based on the three mythical creatures of a Phoenix, a Serpent, and a Dragon.

### Shokupan Island Arc

When Vhagar first broke Snow Flower against Mihawk, Vhagar was temporarily unable to use this swordsmanship style entirely.

### North Blue War Arc

After acquiring Ace, Vhagar was then able to use the Vermithor Style once more, though was unable to use certain techniques.

### Shadows of the North Blue Event

After Snow Flower was repaired, Vhagar was able to switch between Ace and Snow Flower once more, though seems to be most effective with this style when using Snow Flower.

## Trivia

* It is currently unclear who specifically developed the Vermithor Style or why the three mythical creatures chosen were a Dragon, an unspecified Serpent, and a Phoenix.
* Techniques with a carrot(^) mean they can only be done with Snow Flower.
* Techniques with an asterisk(\*) mean they can only be done with Ace.
* Interestingly, while most of Vhagar's attacks are said in Japanese with a blend of English, Rhaena uses a blend of Spanish, Japanese, and English for her attack names.