Myaku Power System Compendium
Myaku is a structured elemental energy system rooted in the rhythm of the user's blood flow and heartbeat. Each practitioner channels one of five classical elements (Fire, Water, Air, Earth, or Electricity) through their blood's pulse – no one can wield more than one element, and there are no exotic abstractions like time or space manipulation. Accessing Myaku power comes from one of three sources: a Tenkei (a genetic awakening of latent ability), a Pact (a corrupted contract with a Tenshi, or supernatural entity), or an Artifact (a relic infused with elemental Myaku). Despite the different sources, all Myaku users must obey the same physiological rules: their heart's rhythm and pulse waveform drive the energy. Mastery depends on precise bodily control – modulating one's pulse rate, shaping the waveform of one's heartbeat energy, and maintaining strict rhythm control to harness the element. This emphasis on rhythm and flow makes the system feel grounded and learnable, almost akin to a science of oscillations and resonance. However, Myaku power comes at a bodily cost: using it "burns" the user's blood as fuel. Pushing too far can lead to blood burnout, a state similar to severe hypovolemic shock where muscles cramp, perception warps, and hallucinations or blackouts can occur . Thus, every technique carries risk, and elite Myaku users are as much strategists and endurance athletes as they are sorcerers.
Technique Typology
All known Myaku techniques can be categorized by their function and tactical role, each category leveraging pulse/waveform logic in unique ways. Myaku techniques are essentially applications of waveform modulation: by altering the frequency (heartbeat speed), amplitude (intensity of pulse), and shape of one's blood-energy wave, a user can produce various effects. Below is a typology of technique categories and how they operate within the rhythm-based framework:
Offensive Techniques
Offensive Myaku techniques focus on attacking and damaging a target, using pulses as directed elemental strikes. Offense typically involves sharp, high-amplitude bursts or accelerated pulse rhythms to generate powerful output. By spiking their heart rate or forcing a sudden "beat" of energy, users release elemental forces outward. For example, a Fire user can perform a rapid "Crimson Surge", sending a pulse of flame in a concentrated blast timed to a heartbeat peak. In waveform terms, offensive techniques often use waveform resonance to maximize impact – aligning consecutive pulse waves to constructively amplify power . An offensive pulse is like a transient shockwave: a quick crescendo of energy that can shatter defenses or injure opponents. The logic is comparable to striking on the beat in music – timing the attack when one's pulse-wave is cresting. Because these moves strain the heart, skilled fighters learn to deliver strong pulses in controlled bursts, rather than going full throttle continuously. Common offensive sub-types include: Pulse Blasts (single high-impact shots), Rhythmic Barrages (series of hits following a tempo to overwhelm an enemy), and Piercing Waves (high-frequency, focused pulses that penetrate defenses). Each relies on precise rhythm management – too slow and the power dwindles, too arrhythmic and the energy disperses before hitting the target.
Defensive Techniques
Defensive techniques use Myaku to protect, absorb, or deflect incoming harm. They often involve steady or reactive pulse patterns that counteract or buffer an opponent's waveform. In practice, defensive Myaku use can resemble creating an elemental shield or dampening field tuned to the frequency of the threat. For instance, an Earth user might employ "Stone Shell Rhythm", drumming a slow, strong heartbeat that projects a stable earth barrier in sync with their pulse to block attacks. Defensive waveform logic centers on destructive interference: by generating a pulse equal and opposite to an incoming wave, the defender cancels it out . This is the idea behind Pulse Cancellation (detailed later) – match the enemy's energy frequency but flip the phase, so their wave crest meets your wave trough and nullifies the impact. Another defensive approach is Myaku Conduction, an advanced method where the user channels incoming energy through a conductive medium (their body or the environment) to harmlessly disperse it. Just as a grounded wire can redirect electricity by direct contact , a Myaku user can touch or entangle an incoming elemental attack and guide its energy away. These methods require impeccable timing and pulse control; the defender's heartbeat must synchronize with the threat in the split-second of impact. Defensive techniques put emphasis on consistency and timing over raw power – a perfectly timed gentle pulse can defuse a massive attack. Masters of defensive Myaku often have extremely disciplined heart rates and can even modulate their blood pressure in response to danger, creating rhythmic buffers (layers of pulses that progressively dampen an attack's energy before it reaches the body).
Disruptive Techniques
Disruptive Myaku techniques are those aimed at throwing an opponent off-balance, undermining their rhythm or interfering with their ability to wield Myaku effectively. Instead of direct damage, the goal is to break the enemy's flow. Because Myaku usage is so tied to heartbeat and concentration, even a slight rhythmic disturbance can compromise a technique. Disruptive tactics often involve irregular or syncopated pulses – deliberate off-beat bursts or waveform "noise" introduced into the fight. For example, an Air element user might generate a subtle "Flutter Pulse": a series of faint air vibrations at an arrhythmic cadence that infiltrates the opponent's space and perturbs their breathing and heart rate. This can induce momentary arrhythmia or loss of concentration in the target. A Water user might use micro-pulses in the moisture around an opponent's body to create a "blood ripple" effect – a tiny oscillation in the opponent's blood flow that causes dizziness or throws off their timing. Disruptive techniques leverage waveform principles like beat interference (creating two nearly similar frequencies that produce a pulsing beat pattern). The result is the opponent's own pulses begin to "beat against" an imposed rhythm, causing a disorienting oscillation. These techniques require finesse: the disruptive pulse must be subtle enough to avoid being blocked, yet resonate strongly enough to affect the target's internal rhythm. In summary, disruptive Myaku is the art of misalignment – introducing chaos to an enemy's orderly pulse, whether by Rhythm Overlap (forcing your rhythm onto theirs momentarily) or Pulse Feints (sending false signals that make them anticipate the wrong timing).
Support Techniques
Support techniques use Myaku in non-damaging ways to assist oneself or allies, enhance the environment, or provide utility in combat. They often involve pulse alignment with external rhythms – syncing one's energy with another person or with ambient elemental forces. For instance, a user can perform pulse linking with an ally by matching heartbeats, thereby sharing vitality or stabilizing each other's Myaku flow. Two comrades whose pulses are in phase sync can combine their elemental powers more effectively, as their waves add constructively into a stronger unified wave . Support also includes enhancement buffs: e.g. an Electricity user might send a mild current through an ally's nervous system in time with their heartbeat to sharpen reflexes (like a defibrillating drum that quickens their step), or an Earth user could use a slow pulse through the ground to steady allies' footing and bolster their stamina (grounding their wavering heartbeats to a stable bass rhythm). Environmental synchronization is another support facet – aligning one's pulse to the natural frequency of the surroundings. A Water user near a body of water can sync with the lapping waves or currents, effectively expanding their range by conducting Myaku through that water. An Air user might attune to the wind's existing gust pattern to carry signals or conceal movements. These techniques feel almost like scientific fieldwork: users must detect and match frequencies in real time. Support Myaku also covers sensory and communication applications. Through Rhythmic Echolocation, an Earth or Air user can send out a probing pulse (vibration or air pressure wave) and read the returning echoes to detect unseen objects or the heartbeats of hidden foes. And by modulating their pulse into a specific pattern, users can even send coded signals (akin to Morse code via elemental flashes or vibrations) to allies. All support techniques share a common thread – coherence and alignment. Instead of overpowering or negating, they link rhythms to strengthen, heal or coordinate, emphasizing the collaborative "harmony" aspect of Myaku.
Healing Techniques
Healing with Myaku – often referred to as Restoration – is a highly advanced and specialized branch of support. These techniques channel one's lifeforce and elemental energy inward or into others to mend injuries and restore vitality. Healing is fundamentally about waveform harmony within the body. The healer must tune their pulse to a calming, steady frequency and then gently introduce that waveform to the damaged target (often via touch or close proximity). The rhythmic energy stimulates cell activity, knits tissue, and can even restart faltering heartbeats. For example, a Water-affinity healer might use "Tidal Renewal", a slow oscillating pulse of water Myaku that hydrates cells and encourages blood flow to regenerate wounds. An Earth healer uses a deep, slow heartbeat like a drum to promote sturdiness – sealing fractures and reinforcing bone marrow production. Fire-based healing is rarer (fire is aggressive), but a master could cauterize wounds and induce a controlled fever to boost metabolic healing rate. Electricity can restart a stopped heart or stimulate nerves (similar to defibrillation), while Air can oxygenate and soothe. All healing techniques come at a steep cost to the user: since Myaku directly consumes blood, a healer is effectively sacrificing their own vitality to jump-start someone else's. Pulse-wise, they often enter a trance-like control, lowering their own heart rate to borderline death-like levels to spare blood while outputting energy. Only the most elite with ironclad physiological control can perform major Restoration without killing themselves. Minor uses include clotting inducement (using tiny pulses to accelerate coagulation of blood) or pain easing (a gentle waveform that interferes with pain signals), but true regenerative healing in battle is as rare as it is revered. It is said that when Restoration is performed, the healer's heartbeat can sometimes synchronize with the patient's, forming a temporary shared rhythm – a phenomenon called a bleed echo, where the healer's pulse echoes in the other person's bloodstream to effect repairs.
Element-Specific Techniques
While the underlying Myaku principles are universal, the expression of techniques varies greatly with each element. The nature of an element influences the "waveform" characteristics of its Myaku – much like different instruments playing the same musical score in unique ways. Below, we outline how each element manifests offensive, defensive, and other techniques, highlighting the differences in pulse logic and style:
Fire Myaku
Fire-element users wield Myaku as heat, flames, and explosions. Fire Myaku techniques tend to be high-frequency and high-amplitude – think of a rapid, pounding heartbeat that fuels bursts of heat. Offensively, Fire pulses produce incendiary blasts and combustive waves. A Fire user's offensive waveform might be irregular and staccato, spiking with each heartbeat. For example, a basic Fire attack could be a "Heartbeat Flare", where each pulse sends out a flash of flame, and a combo of quick heartbeats yields a machine-gun spray of fireballs. Compared to, say, an Air offensive waveform, the Fire waveform is chaotic and saw-toothed – it rises sharply with explosive force. Defensively, Fire Myaku can form heat walls or fiery auras that burn up incoming attacks. A Fire defender might surround themselves in a pulse-ignited barrier – with each heartbeat, a ripple of flame emanates, evaporating water attacks or melting incoming projectiles. This requires fine pulse timing to ensure the flames peak precisely when the enemy's strike arrives. Disruptively, Fire can induce thermal turbulence: by heating the air and space around an opponent in arrhythmic bursts, a Fire user creates mirage-like distortions and shockwaves that throw off aim and rhythm (the opponent may feel their own heart race irregularly from the heat stress). As support, Fire Myaku is less gentle, but it can invigorate – a controlled warm pulse can snap an ally out of shock or bolster their courage (adrenaline spikes with a quickened heartbeat). Fire's elemental personality is aggressive and consuming, so its Myaku techniques often risk burning out the user quickly; Fire masters learn to modulate intensity by interspersing strong beats with softer ones to avoid literally overheating their blood.
Water Myaku
Water-affinity users channel Myaku in fluid flows, water manipulation, and pressure control. Water Myaku waveform is typically smooth, sinuous, and adaptive – analogous to a sine wave with rolling highs and lows. Offensively, Water techniques can hit hard but often do so by continuous force rather than sudden impact. A Water user might unleash a "Waveform Crush", where a sustained rhythmic pulse sends forth a surging wave or high-pressure jet that grinds the target over several heartbeats. The offense waveform for Water is usually lower frequency than Fire – a steadier ebb and flow matching a calmer heartbeat – but it can be just as deadly, exerting constant pressure like ocean waves eroding a cliff. Defensively, Water excels at redirection and absorption. A classic move is "Aqua Aegis": the user syncs their heartbeat to an attack's rhythm and converts that energy into a fluid motion, literally flowing around the impact. If struck by a blunt force, a Water barrier might ripple, dispersing the force outward (much like water in a bowl dissipates the energy of a dropped object). Because water naturally finds a way to conform, Water Myaku defenses often encase and smother enemy attacks – for instance, wrapping a torrent around a fire blast to douse it. Disruptive uses of Water include blood disruption: since human bodies are largely water, an advanced Water Myaku fighter can send tiny pulses through humidity or liquid in the opponent's bloodstream to induce vertigo or muscle spasms. Even a small change in inner ear fluid pressure via a "Myaku Ripple" can unbalance a foe. Support-wise, Water is highly valued: a Water user can heal by promoting blood circulation and hydration (their pulse can literally stimulate another's blood flow). They can also create conductive links – using water as a medium to connect allies' Myaku, allowing synchronized group techniques. In general, Water techniques feel graceful and flowing, yet hide immense force. Water users often have a meditative pulse control, able to slow their heartbeat dramatically and then ramp it up in a controlled swell, mirroring the adaptable nature of water.
Air Myaku
Air-element Myaku is expressed as wind, pressure changes, and sometimes sound or vibrations in the air. Air techniques are characterized by high agility and precision, often using high-frequency, low-amplitude waves – think of a hummingbird-fast heartbeat but each beat is gentle. Offensively, Air users deploy cutting gusts and concussive shockwaves. A technique like "Sonic Slice" might involve a quick double-pulse that sends out a razor-thin blade of compressed air, virtually invisible and extremely fast. Compared to a Fire attack, an Air offensive waveform might be more oscillatory – e.g. a rapid oscillation creating ultrasonic vibrations that can rattle or slash the target. Air's strength lies in speed and coverage: an Air Myaku burst can hit multiple targets by expanding as a wide pressure wave, or pinpoint a single target with focused, needle-like jets. Defensively, Air users create buffer zones and redirection currents. By continuously modulating their pulse, an Air user can maintain a cushion of swirling air that can deflect physical projectiles or dilute elemental attacks (spreading a flame attack thin so it loses potency, for example). An advanced defense is vacuum flicker – a momentarily timed pulse that expels air and creates a split-second vacuum pocket, causing certain attacks to falter (flames suffocate without oxygen, sound-based strikes get nullified in a vacuum, etc.). However, this requires split-second heartbeat control to pulse at the exact moment the attack arrives. Disruptive Air techniques often involve sound and breath: manipulating sound waves via Myaku to produce disorienting tones or even messing with an opponent's breathing rhythm. A subtle whisper pulse – a barely audible rhythmic whooshing – can psychologically unsettle or even lull an enemy's heart into matching that slower pattern (making them drowsy or unfocused mid-fight). Support uses include enhanced mobility (using pulses to create updrafts or bursts of wind that can lift or propel allies) and communication (using the air as a medium for transmitting coded pulsations or even spoken words over distance like a radio). The Air element's style is flexible and elusive – Air Myaku users have perhaps the finest degree of pulse modulation, capable of rapidly shifting from calm to intense and back, mirroring how wind can be still one moment and gale-force the next. Battles with Air users often feel like fighting a ghost: their rhythm is hard to pin down, as they consciously introduce variances and syncopation in their pulse to stay unpredictable.
Earth Myaku
Earth-element users manifest Myaku as control over earth and stone, vibrations through the ground, and even gravity-like pressure. Earth Myaku techniques are typically low-frequency, high-amplitude – akin to a deep, thudding heartbeat with immense force behind each beat. Offensively, Earth users excel at shockwaves, tremors, and solid strikes. A hallmark attack might be "Seismic Stomp", where the user syncs a powerful heartbeat with a foot strike, sending a pulsing quake through the ground that erupts under the target. The waveform for Earth offense is often a square wave or spike – energy builds up during the beat interval and then releases in a flat, overwhelming push. This can shatter structures or unbalance opponents (imagine the ground jolting in a heartbeat-like rhythm). Defensively, Earth Myaku provides fortification. Earth users can harden their aura into a rock-like shield by maintaining a steady, drum-like pulse. For example, "Granite Guard" involves a slow heartbeat where each beat reinforces the user's skin or an earthen armor layer with Myaku, making them extremely resilient as long as the rhythm doesn't falter. Earth defenses can also involve vibration absorption: because earth can dampen vibrations, an Earth user might absorb an impact by letting their body or the ground vibrate in resonance with the attack (spreading the energy out). Disruptively, Earth users target an enemy's balance and stance. By sending underground pulses – subtle tremors timed off-beat – an Earth fighter can destabilize footwork or even interfere with the inner ear (similar to Air, but through ground vibration). An advanced Earth disruptor might even induce arrhythmia by delivering a well-timed pulse through the ground when the opponent's foot touches down, momentarily jolting their body and heart rhythm. Support-wise, Earth provides stability and endurance. An Earth user can use Myaku to strengthen allies' bodies (a pulse that increases bone density or muscle firmness temporarily) or anchor allies against forced movement (by syncing their heartbeat to a slow, immovable rhythm that resists being knocked away – essentially granting steadfast poise). Earth Myaku can also be used to sense vibrations for tracking, effectively acting as a radar when the user attunes their pulse to echo through the ground and listen for disturbances. The Earth style is steadfast and forceful: not the fastest, but once an Earth user's rhythm momentum builds, it's like a metronome of doom – each beat hits harder than the last, and breaking their rhythm is exceedingly difficult due to their natural stability.
Electricity Myaku
Electricity-element Myaku users harness lightning, bio-electric currents, and electromagnetic effects through their pulse. Electricity Myaku is inherently high-frequency – often the user's heart rate runs faster than normal and the energy waveform is spiky and erratic, much like a jagged lightning bolt on an oscilloscope. Offensively, this translates to lightning strikes, chaining arcs, and nerve attacks. An Electricity user can perform techniques like "Thunder Pulse", where a quick triple-heartbeat sends out a trio of lightning bolts in rapid succession, or "Volt Lance", a focused beam of electricity that travels instantaneously along a conductive path drawn by the user's blood energy. The offensive waveform for Electricity is often irregular and complex: unlike Fire's single big spike, Electricity might be a rapid oscillation or a burst of many micro-pulses clustering together. This can overwhelm targets by sheer volume of hits or by bypassing defenses (a thin lightning bolt might slip through cracks or around shields). Defensively, Electricity users employ electromagnetic fields and conductivity. By elevating their heart rate and generating a constant electric aura, an Electricity user can form a "Static Shield" – a field that ionizes the air and repels incoming metal objects or even deflects other elemental attacks slightly via magnetic or electrostatic force. They can also ground themselves to channel away harmful currents (much like lightning rods). A very skilled defense is neural neutralization: emitting a precise electrical pulse that interferes with the electrical signals of an incoming technique – for instance, disrupting the plasma stability in a fireball or scrambling the water's polarity in a water jet, causing the attack to fall apart before hitting. Disruptive techniques of Electricity target the opponent's nervous system and muscle control. A quick jab of electric Myaku at the right rhythm can cause muscles to spasm or nerves to misfire (imagine forcing the opponent's heart to skip a beat or a limb to twitch). One feared move is "Arrhythmic Shock", a technique where the user sends a subtle electric pulse timed to hit between heartbeats of the foe – it can induce cardiac arrhythmia or at least a moment of lightheadedness, exploiting the body's electric signals. Support from Electricity includes stimulating allies (giving an ally a small shock to jolt their alertness or negate an enemy's stun effect) and enhancing signals (electrically carrying communication pulses over long distances or through obstacles, essentially acting as a living radio transmitter). Electricity Myaku is volatile and fast – users must carefully regulate a near-constant stream of micro-pulses. Their combat style often involves sudden flurries of action followed by pauses to recharge. The element's high-frequency nature means Electricity users live on a razor's edge of control: a heartbeat too fast can send their voltage out of control, while too slow a beat loses the charge. Elite lightning manipulators are thus known for lightning-fast reflexes and a certain unpredictability, mirroring the capricious nature of electricity itself.
Elite Technique Showcase
At the highest tiers of Myaku mastery, practitioners develop complex techniques that push the boundaries of what's physically and theoretically possible with pulse manipulation. These elite techniques often combine multiple basic principles (offense, defense, disruption, etc.) and require near-perfect timing and understanding of waveform logic. Below are some showcase examples of such advanced techniques:
Complex Waveform Stacking: An expert can layer multiple Myaku pulses of differing frequencies simultaneously – essentially "stacking" waveforms to create a composite effect. This is analogous to playing multiple notes in a chord instead of a single note. By stacking waves, a user can achieve effects that a single-frequency pulse couldn't. For example, a master Fire user might overlay a low-frequency throbbing heat wave with a high-frequency searing vibration, the combination causing a target's defenses to respond at the wrong frequency and buckle. Waveform stacking requires splitting one's heartbeat or controlling auxiliary pulses (some masters learn to treat different muscle groups or even different chambers of the heart as separate oscillators). The result is multi-layered attacks or defenses that are extremely difficult to predict or counter – an opponent might cancel one frequency only to be struck by the other. It mirrors the principle of Fourier synthesis in physics: any complex wave can be made by adding simpler waves. In battle, a stacked technique might first resonate with a target (weakening it) and then strike at a new rhythm that the target isn't tuned to handle.
Timing-Based Inversion (Phase Flip): This elite technique involves seizing an opponent's own Myaku waveform and inverting its phase or timing to turn the tables. If an enemy launches a powerful pulse attack, a master could deliberately sync to it and then reverse the rhythm at the last possible moment. This "phase flip" can reflect the attack or cause it to collapse on itself. It's akin to matching the frequency of an oncoming wave and then shifting 180° out of phase to achieve destructive interference , but done in a dynamic, active way. For instance, suppose an Electricity user fires a lightning pulse; a defending Water master might match the electrical frequency with a water vibration, then suddenly phase-invert their pulse – the lightning's energy is not only negated but could be forced to rebound as a shock back to the attacker. Timing-based inversion is extremely hard – it's basically countering an attack after it's already in motion by exploiting perfect rhythm manipulation. Even a 0.1 second timing error means failure. In narrative terms, it's the equivalent of catching a sword swing with bare hands by clapping exactly on the blade's rhythm – dramatic and awe-inspiring when executed.
Redirection Pulse: Rather than simply nullifying an incoming attack, top fighters can redirect the energy entirely using a specially modulated pulse. In this technique, the defender doesn't cancel the enemy's waveform but grabs hold of it by enveloping it in their own oscillation, then alters its trajectory or target. Imagine an Air master encountering a fireball – they emit a spiraling air pulse that wraps around the fireball like a cocoon, then with a twist of heartbeat cadence, sling the fireball off course (or even fling it back at the caster). The key is creating a secondary wave that interlocks with the original attack's wave (synchronizing just enough to latch on, like matching step with someone to catch their fall) and then phase-shifting or frequency-tweaking to carry the attack elsewhere. Redirection is closely related to Myaku Conduction: the user might momentarily conduct the foe's energy through their own aura or an extended medium (like a water whip or metal weapon charged with their pulse) before releasing it. High-level Earth users have been seen catching lightning strikes and sending the current into the ground safely – a mix of conduction and redirection. This technique highlights the scientific feel of elite Myaku combat: it's all about vectors and waveguides, treating energy like something that can be routed through circuits.
Myaku Conduction (Defensive Channeling): A hallmark defensive art for masters, Myaku Conduction is the practice of using one's body or a prepared conduit to safely channel incoming energy away without harm. It takes the concept of conductivity and applies it to the human body augmented by Myaku. For example, an Electricity-element master can let a lightning attack hit them, but by aligning their pulse and making their muscles and veins momentarily "conductive" (synchronized to the attack's frequency), they route the electricity through a single path (perhaps down their arm and out through a grounded foot) rather than letting it disperse and damage organs. The same can be done with other elements: a Water user might conduct a fire attack's heat into a pool of water by grabbing the opponent's flaming fist, literally carrying the heat away through their blood which they cool via rapid circulation. Conduction is extremely advanced because the user must not absorb the energy into their own system (which would cause injury); instead they become a temporary extension of the environment or an elemental lightning rod. In combat, conduction might look effortless – an elite stands calm as an attack seems to vanish upon touching them – but internally it's a high-wire act of channeling deadly force through one's blood pulses at high speed. Even the slightest lapse in rhythm could mean the energy spikes in a sensitive organ rather than flowing out, with fatal results. Masters often train this by gradually exposing themselves to stronger energies while maintaining a biofeedback loop with their pulse.
Restoration (Healing Mastery): At elite levels, Restoration goes beyond standard healing; it verges on the miraculous. A top healer can perform feats like regenerating a lost limb or purging deadly toxins by using their own life-force in complex pulses. One advanced Restoration technique is "Resonant Transfusion", where the healer synchronizes heartbeats with the patient (pulse alignment at an intimate level) and then sends a cascade of harmonic pulses through the patient's body. These pulses can restart a failing heart, stimulate rapid cell division, and even temporarily replace lost blood with Myaku energy. Essentially, the healer's blood rhythm instructs the patient's body to "remember" its healthy state, akin to how a strong oscillator can entrain a weaker one . Some legends speak of Heaven's Choir – a team of healing Myaku masters who could harmonize together to resurrect someone, though at terrible cost to themselves. Elite Restoration also covers cleansing techniques: for instance, an Earth healer might use a deep pulse to break kidney stones or an Electricity healer a precise shock to kill bacteria or cancerous cells, effectively performing internal surgery with waveform precision. The complexity is such that these techniques are treated like high science – with calculations of pulse frequency, wavelength, and body resonance. Only a handful of living users can do full-scale Restoration in combat conditions, as it requires split-focus: one must maintain their own life while granting life to another, walking a razor's edge between two heartbeats.
Heaven's Possession: This is a forbidden pinnacle technique stemming from the Pact source of Myaku. Through a dangerous ritual – often involving a drug or blood sacrifice – a user invites a Tenshi (angelic or higher-dimensional being) to temporarily take control of their body, unleashing otherworldly power. In Heaven's Possession, the user's heartbeat and even personality are overridden by the Tenshi's rhythm. This results in an astonishing surge of Myaku output: because the Tenshi doesn't suffer human limits, it can push the blood-fueled energy beyond normal burnout thresholds for a short time. Elementally, the user often exhibits a far more potent version of their element (a possessed Fire user might burn white-hot, a Water user could control volumes of water far beyond their normal range, etc.). The waveform logic of this technique is intriguing – it's essentially an external "conductor" (the Tenshi) imposing a new frequency and pattern on the user. The user's heartbeat might triple in rate and beat in an unnatural steady cadence like a war drum, regardless of fear or pain, indicating the possession. Combat during possession is almost unfair: the possessed fighter can perform techniques that look like absolute elemental mastery, and they often exhibit inhuman strategic insight (as if the being has vast knowledge of Myaku theory). However, this comes at dire cost. The human body is not meant to sustain a Tenshi's rhythm; it's described as trying to play a delicate instrument with a raging river – the rhythms don't naturally mesh. Blood burnout is almost guaranteed afterward – many die or are left comatose once the Tenshi departs. The technique is also morally frowned upon, since Pact-based possession taints the soul. In effect, Heaven's Possession is the ultimate ace card: it will win a confrontation decisively through sheer overpowering logic (the Tenshi might, for example, perform waveform calculations and counters at a speed no human could), but it's literally selling one's body for victory. Elite users only consider this when no other hope remains.
These elite techniques show how Myaku combat at the top level resembles an advanced science or competitive strategy game. Fighters must understand not just their own moves, but the underlying logic of every exchange. They manipulate frequencies, phases, and amplitudes of their pulses like a mathematician manipulating variables in an equation or a musician modulating notes in a complex composition.
Counterplay and Theoretical Combat
When two master-level Myaku users clash, the battle becomes a chess match of rhythms and pulses – a contest of who can out-think and out-sync the other. Just as in advanced mathematics or theoretical strategy games, every action has a counter, and every feint can be met with an inversion or redirection. Elite fighters treat combat like proving a theorem: each technique poses a "problem" and the opponent must find a "solution" under high pressure. The flow of combat is determined by how well each combatant can adapt their waveform on the fly, exploit weaknesses in the opponent's rhythm, and maintain their own stability under assault. Key concepts and tactics in this high-level counterplay include:
Pulse Cancellation: As mentioned, this is a core defensive maneuver where a user times their pulse to directly cancel out an incoming Myaku wave. By emitting a wave of equal amplitude and opposite phase to the enemy's attack, they achieve destructive interference at the point of contact, momentarily reducing the net energy to zero . For example, if a Water master is hit with a flame pulse, they might send a precisely inverted water pulse that meets the flame – the heat and the cool cancel in a hiss of steam rather than an explosion. Pulse Cancellation requires intimate knowledge of the opponent's frequency; often, fighters gauge each other with small exchanges to "read" the frequency of an attack before attempting cancellation. It's a bit like tuning an instrument to hit the exact negating note of the enemy's song. Too early or too late, and the interference will be partial, meaning some of the attack still lands. Masters sometimes layer multiple cancellation pulses in rapid succession if the opponent's attack has a complex waveform, peeling away each layer of the attack like nullifying different overtones of a sound. This tactic exemplifies how battles feel grounded in physics – the audience might not see anything flashy at the moment of cancellation, just two attacks seeming to disappear against each other, but behind that is exquisite timing and knowledge of wave behavior.
Rhythm Overlap: This is an aggressive counter-technique where one fighter tries to overlay their own rhythm onto their opponent, forcing the opponent into the initiator's timing. In practice, a user might deliberately synchronize a part of their pulse with the enemy's pattern – not to cancel it, but to momentarily join and dominate it. For instance, an Earth user with a very dominating slow beat might impose a heavy pulse through the ground right as an Air user is trying a quick maneuver. If done right, the Air user's heartbeat and breathing might involuntarily slow for a second, thrown off by the intrusion of the stronger rhythm. Rhythm Overlap can also be used offensively: two fighters might momentarily align their pulses, but one leads the rhythm and then introduces a variation that the other cannot follow, causing the opponent's next move to falter. It's comparable to dancers where one forces the other to follow their lead – if the lead suddenly switches tempo, the follower stumbles. In Myaku terms, by overlapping rhythms, one can create openings: your opponent might find their technique slightly delayed or accelerated not on their own accord, messing up their aim or defense timing. High-level examples include deliberately syncing to an opponent's signature attack rhythm during the fight, essentially "learning the song" of their power, and then playing a disruptive note through Rhythm Overlap to throw the whole performance into disarray.
Logic Looping: In protracted battles, savvy combatants may employ what's colloquially called logic looping – setting up a sequence of exchanges that trap the opponent in a repetitive cycle. This is a bit abstract, but think of it like manipulating the rules of engagement. For example, Fighter A uses a technique X which almost always forces a predictable counter Y from Fighter B (because Y is the logical way to avoid X's damage). When Fighter B performs Y, Fighter A is ready to immediately do X (or a variant of it) again, or another move Z that Y is weak against. Essentially, Fighter B gets caught in a pattern: X -> forced Y -> A counters with Z; B responds with something -> A back to X, and so on. The "logic loop" is that B is reacting on a beat set by A, circling through a set piece of moves that A prepared. Each loop strains B further (consuming their blood and stamina) while A remains relatively safe and in control of the tempo. In waveform terms, A has created a rhythmic loop that B is dancing to. The advanced strategic element here is anticipating the opponent's counters so thoroughly that you can plan a loop that is hard to break. Breaking a logic loop usually requires doing something illogical or risky – essentially breaking rhythm intentionally (like deliberately taking a hit or using an unorthodox move that surprises A out of their script). Fighters liken it to being caught in a musical canon or fugue where the same theme repeats; one must introduce a new discordant theme to escape. Only very analytical fighters can pull off logic looping, since it demands a deep read of the opponent's habits and perhaps a psychological edge to predict their "if X then Y" decisions. But when it works, it's like watching a proof lock into place – the opponent's options diminish each cycle, until they either collapse from strain or make a blunder that A can exploit to end the fight.
Rhythmic Feints and Misalignments: Just as important as concrete counters are the mind games of Myaku combat. Elite users employ pulse feints – intentionally altering their heartbeat for a moment to fake a technique charge-up, baiting the opponent to react to an attack that never comes or to commit a defense prematurely. For example, a Fire user might double-quick their pulse as if gathering energy for a big flame blast; a vigilant opponent senses this spike and throws up a defense, but the Fire user then instantly drops their heart rate, nullifying the attack and conserving energy while the opponent's defensive move is wasted (and perhaps leaves them momentarily open). Misalignment tactics involve doing the unexpected in terms of timing: an experienced enemy might expect you to counter at a certain beat – instead you delay your response by half a beat or come one beat early, in essence syncopating your combat rhythm. These off-beat tactics break the symmetry of the fight and can catch even a veteran off guard, much like a drummer inserting an off-beat hit that throws off a dancer. However, using them too often can backfire if the opponent adapts to the new pattern. The best fighters mix regular rhythm with irregular surprises, never letting their pattern be too easily read. There's also flow-breaking, which is more brute-force: delivering a jarring move that has no graceful lead-up, purely to shatter the established flow. An analogy is a sudden key change in music – the opponent momentarily doesn't know the scale of the fight and might falter, giving a chance for a decisive blow.
Adaptation and Phase Sync Battles: When two elites know these tricks, fights often escalate into battles of adaptation speed. One might see a rapid series of exchanges where both are adjusting their pulse frequencies and phases second by second, trying to find a winning synchronization. Sometimes both fighters briefly fall into sync – a dangerous moment, as it means any attack could be amplified by constructive interference. In such cases, either they break away quickly or one intentionally shifts phase to attempt a cancellation. An observer with keen senses might notice moments where the two combatants' heartbeats audibly align or alternate like dueling drums. In those instants, whoever asserts control over that shared rhythm gains the upper hand. Advanced combat thus involves feeling out the "resonant frequency" of the duel – each pairing of fighters has a unique dynamic. If the two get locked into an even rhythm, the fight can become a slugfest where each exchange is bigger than the last (since neither can cancel easily without breaking the mutual timing). Some fighters will avoid matching rhythms at all costs against a stronger opponent, keeping their heart intentionally out-of-sync (even to the point of fighting with a mild arrhythmia) so that the opponent can never fully get a read on their pattern to overlap or loop logically. This is risky (it strains the user), but highlights the strategic depth: sometimes a mathematically inferior pattern (messy, arrhythmic fighting) is chosen because it denies the opponent an easy "solve" or prediction. It's analogous to throwing randomness into an equation so your opponent cannot find a stable solution.
In summary, high-level Myaku combat is a battle of wits, will, and waveform. Every elite clash is like an elaborate proof with both fighters constantly testing hypotheses ("Will this combo break their defense? What if I invert the phase now?") and refuting each other's theorems ("They canceled my wave, so next I'll feint cancellation and actually reinforce instead"). It's physical, but also intellectual – a dance of elemental forces governed by rhythmic laws. Victors are decided not merely by raw power, but by who better understands the theory behind the power and can exploit it under extreme pressure. This is why a duel between two top Myaku users feels like watching two master mathematicians racing to solve an equation – each step logical yet creative, each counter building on the last – until one error or brilliant insight tips the balance.
Diagram: Visualization of wave interference analogous to Myaku pulse interactions. (A) shows constructive interference – two waves in phase (red and blue) align peak-to-peak, adding up to a stronger wave (dashed line). (B) shows destructive interference – the red wave's peaks align with the blue wave's troughs (180° out of phase), cancelling out into a flat line . Elite Myaku users apply these principles, amplifying allied pulses by syncing rhythms or nullifying enemy attacks by flipping phase.
Terminology Glossary
Finally, here is a glossary of key in-universe terms and concepts related to the Myaku system:
Myaku: Literally meaning "pulse" (as in a heartbeat). Refers to the elemental energy channeled via blood flow and pulse rhythm. Myaku is both the energy and the art of using it – akin to "magic" in this world, but rooted in physiological rhythm. For example, one might say "she infused her blade with Myaku" or "Myaku circulation" to denote using pulse energy.
Tenkei: One of the three Myaku sources. A Tenkei is a genetic or innate awakening to Myaku ability. Those with Tenkei typically have a natural affinity to an element from birth, and their power often first manifests under stress or at a certain age when their heartbeat synchronizes with the element intuitively. Tenkei users often have an easier time mastering basic control (since it's in their blood), but they must train hard to refine their raw talent.
Pact: Another source of Myaku, involving a deal with a Tenshi that grants power. A Pact is considered "corrupted" because it usually subverts the natural order – the user wasn't born with it but forced it via an otherworldly contract. Pact users might gain dramatic power quickly (sometimes even a unique twist on their element), but their Myaku signature often carries a taint or instability due to the Tenshi's influence. Side effects like abnormal pulse rhythms or intrusive thoughts are not uncommon.
Artifact: The third Myaku source, where an individual uses a relic or external object infused with elemental Myaku. Artifacts essentially act as an external heart, generating a rhythm the user can sync with to wield the element. For instance, a sword containing Fire Myaku might throb in the wielder's hand; by aligning their pulse to it, they can ignite the blade. Artifact users need to maintain synchronization with the relic – a misalignment can cause the artifact to sputter or even backlash. While artifacts can allow even non-awakened people to use Myaku, true mastery still demands training, and one is often limited by the artifact's built-in capabilities.
Pulse Modulation: The skill of consciously controlling one's heartbeat and blood flow pattern to alter Myaku output. This includes speeding up or slowing down heart rate, adjusting the force of each beat (which changes blood pressure amplitude), and even altering the "shape" of the pulse wave (for example, making a heartbeat have a sharp spike vs a plateau). Pulse modulation is the fundamental technique behind all Myaku use – beginners learn basic breathing and heart rhythm exercises, while masters can achieve extraordinary feats like extra heartbeats between normal beats or split-second pauses on command.
Waveform Shaping: A term describing how a Myaku user shapes the form of their energy wave. Just as an electronic signal or sound wave can be sine, square, sawtooth, etc., a Myaku waveform can be smooth, jagged, pulsed in bursts, etc. Different shapes have different effects (smooth continuous waves for steady pressure, sharp spikes for impact, etc.). Waveform shaping goes hand-in-hand with element affinity: e.g., Water users favor smooth sinusoidal waves, while Electricity users often produce sharp, spike-like waveforms. Mastery of waveform shaping means a user can tailor an attack or defense's profile optimally for the situation (e.g., broad waveform to cover area vs. narrow spike to pierce).
Pulse Alignment: The act of synchronizing one's pulse with an external rhythm or another source. This can be done intentionally (to sync with an ally or an environmental frequency) or it can happen involuntarily (if a strong external rhythm imposes itself, like intense music or the rhythmic aura of a powerful enemy). Pulse alignment is crucial for cooperative techniques (e.g., two users aligning pulses to fuse their powers) and for certain counters (aligning with an enemy's attack as a first step to cancel or redirect it). It's akin to tuning two instruments to the same pitch. When pulse alignment occurs, Myaku energy flows between the sources more easily – allies literally "resonate" together, and even an enemy's technique can be predicted more easily if you've aligned to its pattern.
Phase Sync (Phase Synchronization): A more specific form of alignment focusing on the phase of waves. Two users might have the same pulse frequency (heartbeat rate), but phase sync means their heartbeats are beating at the same time (peaks coinciding). Phase sync is often momentary and is used to maximize constructive interference or unity of action. For example, a team might count down to strike at the same time – their pulses phase-sync for that moment, yielding a combined attack whose power is the sum of both pulses hitting together . Outside of combat, phase synchronization can happen naturally (people's heartbeats can synchronize with music or with each other in close social situations ). In Myaku terms, achieving phase sync intentionally is a high-level coordination tactic. Conversely, being out-of-phase with an opponent can be beneficial defensively (so that you're never an easy target for full power hits).
Waveform Collapse: This term has two meanings in context. Offensively, a user might cause a waveform collapse in a target – essentially disrupting an opponent's sustained technique so that its structured wave breaks down into chaotic, harmless energy. For instance, hitting a sustained Water torrent with a precisely tuned jolt could collapse the smooth flow into turbulent droplets, dissipating it. Defensively or internally, waveform collapse refers to a failure state when a user loses control of their Myaku flow. If one's pulse modulation falters under stress or injury, the carefully maintained waveform of energy can collapse – the result is often an abrupt loss of the technique and a shock feedback to the user. It's analogous to an electrical circuit shorting out. A collapsed waveform can even "backfire," as the energy, no longer properly channeled, might surge through the user's body causing internal damage or intense pain. Training in Myaku includes learning to recognize early signs of instability (small irregularities in the pulse rhythm) and stabilizing them before a collapse occurs.
Bleed Echo: A phenomenon where residual pulse energy lingers after heavy Myaku use, akin to an "echo" of one's heartbeat in the environment or in one's own body. When a user performs a particularly intense technique, the elemental energy and the blood that fueled it can leave a kind of imprint. For example, after a powerful Lightning Myaku attack, a faint tingling electric rhythm might hum in the air for a few moments – that's a bleed echo. In the user's body, a bleed echo might manifest as a continued throbbing in the veins or a secondary pulse felt in the earlobes or fingertips even after the heart has slowed, reflecting the strain. In combat, bleed echoes can be a double-edged sword: an opponent might detect them and glean that the user is fatigued or which technique was just used (sensitive fighters can "hear" these echoes of enemy pulses). Some elite fighters have learned to mask or fake bleed echoes – for instance, pretending to be more tired than they are by willfully creating a ghost pulse even when they're holding energy in reserve. The term also evokes the idea of one's lifeforce reverberating – a reminder that Myaku use leaves traces on the world and the body.
Blood Burnout: A dangerous condition resulting from overusing Myaku beyond one's physical limits. Because Myaku literally consumes the user's blood (metabolizing its components to generate energy), excessive use can lead to severe loss of vital essence. Symptoms include: pallor (as if anemic), muscle cramps from electrolyte imbalance, dizziness, arrhythmia (the heart struggling to maintain output), and even hallucinations or fainting as the brain is starved of oxygen and nutrients . In-universe, it's understood as the user "burning up their blood" to the point the body is in shock. Minor burnout might recover with rest and fluids (and perhaps healing aid), but major burnout can cause lasting organ damage or death. Long-term overuse of Myaku can also cause chronic conditions – scarring of blood vessels, a condition akin to arrhythmic heart disease, or a weakened immune system. Thus, even the strongest fighters are wary of pushing into burnout unless absolutely necessary. Tactically, some desperate fighters intentionally flirt with blood burnout for a temporary boost (the classic last stand where a hero overclocks their heart for one final strike), but this is extremely risky and often considered a suicidal move unless aided by a healer or an artifact that can stabilize them.
Myaku Conduction: An advanced defensive concept (and also a specific technique as described earlier) where one channels Myaku energy through a medium rather than directly opposing it. It can be thought of as making oneself part of the opponent's circuit to divert the energy. Conduction in Myaku terms usually requires physical contact or a prepared conductive path (like a wet ground for water attacks, a metal rod for electricity, etc.). The user synchronizes just enough with the incoming energy to let it flow through them (or alongside their own energy) and out to a safe location. Importantly, true conduction means not absorbing the energy's effect – e.g., conducting heat away without getting burned, or electricity without being shocked. This concept underscores many defensive teachings: "be the path of least resistance" is a saying among Earth and Water defenders. It's also employed in teamwork: one ally might conduct an attack to another who is better able to neutralize it (like a relay baton handoff of dangerous energy).
Restoration: The umbrella term for healing techniques using Myaku. It implies restoring the body's natural rhythm and integrity. A Restoration specialist often has a calming aura – their very pulse can induce others nearby to slow their heart and breathe easier. Terminology-wise, Restoration covers everything from minor first-aid Myaku applications (coagulating bleeding, numbing pain) to major life-saving interventions (regrowing tissue, restarting hearts). In world-building, Restoration knowledge is a formal discipline, blending medicine and Myaku theory. It's noted that Restoration does not violate the "no non-elemental" rule: healers must work through elemental means (like using water for blood flow, earth for bone, etc.), not by pure abstract healing magic. Hence, Restoration techniques often have element-flavored names and approaches, even though the goal (healing) is universal.
Heaven's Possession: A last-resort forbidden technique where a user yields control to a Tenshi for a short period, as described in the showcase. The terminology highlights the duality: "Heaven" (a supposedly divine source) but "Possession" (as in a demonic or external control). In scholarly texts, it's sometimes classified under Corrupt Myaku Arts due to its Pact origins. The possessed state is recognizable by an altered pulse – observers note that someone under Heaven's Possession may have a heartbeat that sounds doubled or not entirely human (some say it's like two hearts beating, the user's and the entity's, in overlapping rhythms). Many cultures in-world forbid its use, and it's often accompanied by ritual components (sigils, blood oaths, or specialized drugs to induce the trance necessary for the Tenshi to enter). Despite its dangers, the sheer power unleashed means it remains a tantalizing temptation for those who seek victory at any cost.
Pulse Cancellation: (Also covered earlier in counterplay.) This term specifically refers to the destructive interference tactic of nullifying an enemy's attack via an opposite-phase pulse. In training, students practice pulse cancellation by, for example, clapping in time with a partner but intentionally off-beat to cancel the sound, or by creating ripples in a tub of water and learning to send a counter-ripple to flatten the surface. By mastering these analogies, they learn to apply it to actual Myaku attacks. Pulse Cancellation is considered a fundamental defensive theory – it's one of the first truly advanced concepts a Myaku fighter learns when moving beyond basic blocking. Some fighters specialize in it to such a degree that they're nicknamed "Nullifiers" or Void Hearts, referencing their ability to make attacks seemingly vanish.
Rhythm Overlap: A combat strategy where one imposes or synchronizes their rhythm with another's to gain control, even if briefly. This term is used both in offense (to describe combination attacks where one fighter's pulses ride on another's to increase damage) and in a manipulative sense (as described, to disturb an enemy). In Myaku academies, sparring drills sometimes involve a game of establishing rhythm: one fighter claps or stomps a rhythm and the other tries to overtake it with a rhythm of their own – a tug-of-war of tempos. The winner of a rhythm overlap in a spar usually ends up dictating the pace of the mock fight. Thus, a common instructor's advice is "Find the enemy's rhythm, then make it yours." Overlap can be dangerous too – if you overlap with an opponent who has more raw power, you might just amplify their attack instead of weakening it (like two singers harmonizing, the stronger voice can carry the weaker one).
Logic Looping: A term for trapping an opponent in a repetitive counter sequence. In narrative, it's sometimes called a "death loop" or "rhythm lock". When someone says "he's caught in a logic loop," it means the fighter cannot escape a pattern of responses set by the opponent. Recognizing one is in a loop is key; often an external observer notices it before the person trapped does. Breaking a logic loop often requires an external stimulus (a friend yelling to snap you out of it, or some environmental change) because by design it is like a hypnotic dance of death. Some high-end technique scrolls describe logic looping in mathematical terms, mapping out decision trees and showing how one can prune all of an enemy's viable options down to one losing move that repeats. This concept underscores how intellectual high-tier fights are – it's not just strength, but strategy and foresight.
Phase Inversion: A phrase often used interchangeably with timing-based inversion – basically flipping the phase of one's pulse relative to another. If someone says "invert your phase," they mean switch from matching an opponent's rhythm to mirroring it (their peak to your trough). This is crucial for moving between overlap (matching phase to ride a wave) and cancellation (opposing phase to nullify). Phase inversion can also refer to certain advanced artifact uses – e.g., an artifact that normally resonates with its user might have a mode where it inverts phase to push back against the user's energy, effectively acting like a feedback loop (this can be used as a training mechanism to strengthen one's pulse stability). In combat slang, pulling off a perfect phase inversion at the last moment of a clash is sometimes called "flipping the beat" on someone.
Entraining (Entrainment): Not explicitly listed above but implied in many concepts, entrainment is when one rhythmic system falls into sync with another. In Myaku, this can happen unintentionally – e.g., a weaker-willed fighter's heartbeat might start matching the stronger combatant's pulse due to stress or the ambient energy, which usually spells doom for the former as they've essentially been taken over rhythmically. Entrainment can be used positively among allies (heartbeats syncing up to fight in unison) or negatively as a subtle attack (some Tenshi or artifact effects try to entrain the user to a harmful rhythm). The entrainment effect is why emotion and morale matter: a panicked heart is erratic and can't entrain easily to allies (breaking team coherence), whereas a disciplined heart can even resist being entrained by an enemy and maintain its own beat.
This concludes the comprehensive overview of the Myaku power system. By structuring energy around pulses and elemental rhythms, Myaku creates a scientific yet mystical martial art, where battles are won by those who can think and feel in terms of waveforms and patterns. Every clash is a symphony and a science experiment combined – a true test of tactical acumen, physiological control, and creative application of elemental principles. With this compendium, one can appreciate how a Myaku warrior is not just a brawler but a strategist and a scholar of rhythm, proving that in this world, understanding the theory is what truly wins fights, not just raw power.