A basic idea, though one that I personally find intriguing.
The concept goes something like this: Zangetsu has the ability to take the powers of other beings and add them to it's own arsenal. This is accomplished by absorbing trace amounts of spirit energy released by others, subjecting it to a kind of distillation process, and then integrating it into Ichigo's own spirit energy.
Some points of potential interest include:
~ The absorbed powers are not totally identical to the powers of the original user. This could be done any number of ways, with the distillation process being the obvious justification for the change.
~ It may only be able to absorb the powers of other Zanpakuto, or it might be able to go further than that. Being able to absorb the powers of nonshinigami, or even the unique powers possessed by Hollows, are both possibilities.
~ The distillation process may make the powers weaker, equivalent, or possibly even stronger than the original source, though that depends not just on how those powers work, but also how powerful the author wants Ichigo to become.
Taking the above three points into account, the term 'steal' or 'copycat' might not really do what Zangetsu does justice. Though it could very well simply copy other people's abilities, that would get somewhat boring and predictable after awhile, and wouldn't be too terribly interesting. So making use of the distillation to change details is pretty much a must.
So, that being said, it could be more accurate to say that Zangetsu does not actually steal powers, but uses traces of other beings spiritual powers to create powers that are similar to the original, but not identical.
In my mind, I see the distillation process as making the powers involved 'simpler.' Complex effects would be dumbed down and unique attacks would either be simplified, changed to be more in-line with Ichgio's technique, or dropped entirely.
However, a point I'd like to make, and what I think makes the concept interesting, is that making a power simpler doesn't necessarily make it weaker. Some of it's stronger points might end up being dropped, but so too would the weaknesses. In a few cases, simpler might even result in a power that is wholly superior to the original.
One example might be Hitsugaya. His power has a time-limit (we think), potent special attacks, and relies on liquid in the atmosphere to function.
If Ichigo absorbed Hit's power, the distillation might remove the timelimit (Pro), dumb down the special attacks (Con), and nix the complicated weakness (huge Pro).
Thus, once Zangetsu is done integrating the samples of Hit's spiritual energy, it would develop the ability to freely create, shape, manipulate, and control ice (and to a degree, water) at-will. Zangetsu's ice abilities would not be as technically advanced as Hit's powers, as it would possess weaker and more simplistic special attacks, but it's simplicity would lend it a greater strength in the realm of ice than Hyrinmaru, as it would not be limited by pre-existing moisture, and would not possess a time limit or activation restriction.
Thus, Ichigo doesn't necessarily copy the technique. In fact, to an outside observer, it probably wouldn't be apparent that Zangetsu had absorbed Hyrinmaru's powers. The process that Zangetsu uses to derive and integrate new abilities would make it appear not so much as a copy of Hyrinmaru, as another Zanpakuto with a powerful affinity for ice.
In fact, unless Zangetsu or Ichigo told someone else about it, it might be very difficult for an outsider to realize exactly what was going on. If Zangetsu's simplification just produces similar powers, it could be quite some time before someone intelligent, insightful, or clever puts all the pieces together.
To further complicate this is the fact that Ichigo isn't really in prolonged contact with other Shinigami, aside from fighting against them or being around them casually. If the setting were different, such as Ichigo being a trainee in the Shinigami Academy, it would be easier for someone to notice that the new powers Ichigo is developing are very similar to the individual powers of those around him.
But, Ichigo is a renegade. A free agent, who operates outside of the typical Shinigami system. Thus, barring something unusual, it could take the Shinigami, along with the people around Ichigo himself, a long time to realize what's actually going on.
Before I wrap up the tl;dr, I have one final point I'd like to throw out there to consider: The factor of the actual deriving process itself.
~ How long does it take Zangetsu to distill and derive new powers from samples absorbed by others? Depending on the length of time, the divergence could take place fairly early, or begin midway through the story.
~ Is the deriving process all that Zangetsu can do (i.e. his power), or a new ability that Zangetsu develops as Ichigo's connection with him deepens? This is actually important, because if it is Zangetsu's only power, then it would mean that the canon powers of Zangetsu came from someone else. And seeing how there was only really one Shinigami that Ichigo has been in initial contact with, that makes the list of suspects extremely short:
~ Does the actual process of deriving happen as it goes along, or in chunks? This is important, because it dictates how the story flows. If it's a constant passive thing, then the story itself could start fairly early, and simply diverge when Ichigo first starts manifesting abilities that are not his own.
However, if it functions in chunks, then it could be used to explain why Old Man Zangetsu retreated back from a position of control and allowed Hichigo to take his place. In canon, the reason is Ichigo is developing his Hollow powers more than his Shinigami ones, but in this setup, it could be that Old Man Zangetsu has retreated to integrate the new powers acquired during the Soul Society Arc.
Which means that he's going to come back, and when he does, he'll be bearing a whole lot of gifts.
Thoughts?
The concept goes something like this: Zangetsu has the ability to take the powers of other beings and add them to it's own arsenal. This is accomplished by absorbing trace amounts of spirit energy released by others, subjecting it to a kind of distillation process, and then integrating it into Ichigo's own spirit energy.
Some points of potential interest include:
~ The absorbed powers are not totally identical to the powers of the original user. This could be done any number of ways, with the distillation process being the obvious justification for the change.
~ It may only be able to absorb the powers of other Zanpakuto, or it might be able to go further than that. Being able to absorb the powers of nonshinigami, or even the unique powers possessed by Hollows, are both possibilities.
~ The distillation process may make the powers weaker, equivalent, or possibly even stronger than the original source, though that depends not just on how those powers work, but also how powerful the author wants Ichigo to become.
Taking the above three points into account, the term 'steal' or 'copycat' might not really do what Zangetsu does justice. Though it could very well simply copy other people's abilities, that would get somewhat boring and predictable after awhile, and wouldn't be too terribly interesting. So making use of the distillation to change details is pretty much a must.
So, that being said, it could be more accurate to say that Zangetsu does not actually steal powers, but uses traces of other beings spiritual powers to create powers that are similar to the original, but not identical.
In my mind, I see the distillation process as making the powers involved 'simpler.' Complex effects would be dumbed down and unique attacks would either be simplified, changed to be more in-line with Ichgio's technique, or dropped entirely.
However, a point I'd like to make, and what I think makes the concept interesting, is that making a power simpler doesn't necessarily make it weaker. Some of it's stronger points might end up being dropped, but so too would the weaknesses. In a few cases, simpler might even result in a power that is wholly superior to the original.
One example might be Hitsugaya. His power has a time-limit (we think), potent special attacks, and relies on liquid in the atmosphere to function.
If Ichigo absorbed Hit's power, the distillation might remove the timelimit (Pro), dumb down the special attacks (Con), and nix the complicated weakness (huge Pro).
Thus, once Zangetsu is done integrating the samples of Hit's spiritual energy, it would develop the ability to freely create, shape, manipulate, and control ice (and to a degree, water) at-will. Zangetsu's ice abilities would not be as technically advanced as Hit's powers, as it would possess weaker and more simplistic special attacks, but it's simplicity would lend it a greater strength in the realm of ice than Hyrinmaru, as it would not be limited by pre-existing moisture, and would not possess a time limit or activation restriction.
Thus, Ichigo doesn't necessarily copy the technique. In fact, to an outside observer, it probably wouldn't be apparent that Zangetsu had absorbed Hyrinmaru's powers. The process that Zangetsu uses to derive and integrate new abilities would make it appear not so much as a copy of Hyrinmaru, as another Zanpakuto with a powerful affinity for ice.
In fact, unless Zangetsu or Ichigo told someone else about it, it might be very difficult for an outsider to realize exactly what was going on. If Zangetsu's simplification just produces similar powers, it could be quite some time before someone intelligent, insightful, or clever puts all the pieces together.
To further complicate this is the fact that Ichigo isn't really in prolonged contact with other Shinigami, aside from fighting against them or being around them casually. If the setting were different, such as Ichigo being a trainee in the Shinigami Academy, it would be easier for someone to notice that the new powers Ichigo is developing are very similar to the individual powers of those around him.
But, Ichigo is a renegade. A free agent, who operates outside of the typical Shinigami system. Thus, barring something unusual, it could take the Shinigami, along with the people around Ichigo himself, a long time to realize what's actually going on.
Before I wrap up the tl;dr, I have one final point I'd like to throw out there to consider: The factor of the actual deriving process itself.
~ How long does it take Zangetsu to distill and derive new powers from samples absorbed by others? Depending on the length of time, the divergence could take place fairly early, or begin midway through the story.
~ Is the deriving process all that Zangetsu can do (i.e. his power), or a new ability that Zangetsu develops as Ichigo's connection with him deepens? This is actually important, because if it is Zangetsu's only power, then it would mean that the canon powers of Zangetsu came from someone else. And seeing how there was only really one Shinigami that Ichigo has been in initial contact with, that makes the list of suspects extremely short:
~ Does the actual process of deriving happen as it goes along, or in chunks? This is important, because it dictates how the story flows. If it's a constant passive thing, then the story itself could start fairly early, and simply diverge when Ichigo first starts manifesting abilities that are not his own.
However, if it functions in chunks, then it could be used to explain why Old Man Zangetsu retreated back from a position of control and allowed Hichigo to take his place. In canon, the reason is Ichigo is developing his Hollow powers more than his Shinigami ones, but in this setup, it could be that Old Man Zangetsu has retreated to integrate the new powers acquired during the Soul Society Arc.
Which means that he's going to come back, and when he does, he'll be bearing a whole lot of gifts.
Thoughts?
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