"There is nothing other than the Truth.
As vast as the Heaven or the Earth may be, only the Truth can lead to righteous virtue.
The Truth dwells in the self and its understanding leads to enlightenment.
And the purest light radiates at its manifestation.
Hikari Ippō."
Vidya, The One True Way: Hikari Ippō
Type: Anti-Unit Mystic Sword
Rank: -
An unique sword technique, a
"sword of invincibility".
Like the Avidya Three-Stage Thrust and the Swallow Reversal, it is something that can be neither replicated nor inherited. As such, rank is meaningless.
It is more of a Skill than a Noble Phantasm, but it qualifies as the latter under some summoning systems. Essentially, it is nothing but Assassin's
"Mugai" Skill applied to the blade rather than the self.
In the Shinsengumi exist three swordsmen that have surpassed the realm of man and have invaded the territory of crystallized mystery with mere skill alone: Okita Souji, Nagakura Shinpachi and Saitou Hajime. It is said that the Nagakura described Okita as a
"sword of valor" and Saitou as a
"sword of invincibility".
Invincible - a blade that is not restrained by emotions, does not shake with doubt and ignores both the World and the will of the wielder himself. It is a perfect way to express Assassin's character, as well as the nature of this sword technique.
The sword
"disappears" from this world.
It can't interfere with it and it can't be interfered with.
The slash does not slice the air, emits no presence, produces no sound and can't be seen.
Outside of time and space, the instant in which the technique is initiated and the moment it ends are one and the same.
Due to its nature, it shouldn't be able to inflict harm.
However, the moment the sword is reintroduced to the world, the contradiction that the sword stopped existing and yet moved can't be understood.
Therefore, the
"void" left in reality is filled.
At its re-manifestation, the path that the blade
"should" have followed will be treated as
"it happened".
An imaginary attack that gives no answer, therefore the World itself must produce one. As such, absolute damage that can't be reduced or nullified will actualize on what it sliced through.
It is not a mere physical slash, but a technique that cuts down falsehood and deceit.
It denies impurity, smites evil, tears apart illusions and shatters fakes.
Although Assassin's "Mugai" can't achieve the Truth of self, this mystic technique is capable of such a feat.
Its trait of starting and ending at the same instant is such that it's physically impossible to avoid if the technique is initiated when the enemy is in range.
However, this advantage is limited by Assassin's short range: the cutting edge of his katana is two shaku and five sun long, roughly 75 centimeters.
Adding the length of his bent arms extends his range to maybe four shaku - 1,20 meters.
Moreover, it is not impossible to make a rough estimation of the blade's path before the technique is initiated, especially if one possesses prediction or analysis Skills.
There is the sword of infinity that acknowledges multiple possibilities and answers.
There is the sword of zero that scrapes everything off until only one answer remains.
There is the sword of valor that believes everything is one.
There is the sword of invincibility that produces a void that is filled with an imaginary, non-existent answer.
That is, Hikari Ippō.
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Evil Kills Evil: Uncertain Shadow
Type: Anti-Unit (Self)
Rank: D
A mental interference Noble Phantasm that obscures Assassin's existence.
When activated, it indiscriminately forces on all observers an
"uncertainty" as to whether Assassin is an ally or foe. His parameters, Skills and Noble Phantasms become inaccessible - but if prior knowledge of his identity or abilities was available before it activated, it won't be forgotten.
Enemies will hesitate from the sudden shift of perception and allies will be similarly confused. It essentially resets battle conditions, but it also allows Assassin to manipulate other people's knowledge with false information as long as he doesn't present contradictory statements.
The Noble Phantasm will permanently lose its effect on observers who witness Assassin taking offensive actions against someone they perceive as ally or enemy. Conversely, as long as he doesn't attack or is not witnessed, the mental interference will persist.
Despite sounding somewhat useful, it is a third-rate Noble Phantasm. It can only be activated once. It doesn't alter an individual's values, so Heroic Spirits who aren't willing to take any chances may attack Assassin regardless of the uncertainty. Moreover, since it applies to Assassin's Master as well, a catastrophic result may await if they aren't particularly trusting of him.
One would find it easier if his Mystic Sword technique were treated as his actual Noble Phantasm, with Evil Kills Evil being just a tool with limited usefulness.
A low-level crystallized mystery deriving from the suspicion of the masses who believed that Assassin's role as an executioner of traitors concealed his true identity as a spy for the Meiji revolutionaries. It is a concept further strengthened by the missions where his flawless infiltration into hostile groups, during which he faked - or perhaps deluded himself into believing - convictions that trampled on the oaths he had sworn as a member of the Shinsengumi so well that no one ever suspected him.
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Makoto no Hata: Flag of Sincerity
Type: Anti Army
Rank: D (B)
The Shinsengumi flag, with the word
"sincerity" printed on it. It's a Noble Phantasm shared by all members of the Shinsengumi that have become Heroic Spirits, although effectiveness varies with each member and the Class they are summoned in.
Within a limited range of the flag, members of the Shinsengumi can be summoned. They are independent Servants with no Noble Phantasms and E-Rank Independent Action. Their strength, face and personality is subject to the perception of the flag's user.
Because Assassin has been summoned in a Class that embodies his regrets, Makoto no Hata is considerably weaker and can only summon 5 members at most. As an Assassin he is the feared executioner of the Shinsengumi, so only his most intimate friends would answer his call - Okita Souji, Nagakura Shinpachi, Yamanami Keisuke and Toudou Heisuke.
Because the summoned members reflect Assassin's perception of them, they all occasionally glare at Assassin with accusation in their eyes.
If he were a Saber, the Noble Phantasm would regain its former glory.
Incidentally - when summoned by Okita Souji's flag - Assassin's appearance is that of a
"scary" Shinsengumi member. Although Okita arguably surpassed his skill in swordsmanship by a small margin, it is said that he wasn't someone she would want to fight and that she was wary of his
"sword of invincibility".
Ironically, her own Mystic Sword technique is actually a counter to his short range and would usually win, so her fear stems from their interpersonal relationship. The fear a kid would feel when an adult finds them stealing cookies from the jar, basically. Even though they have the same age.