#technique which is holding him back and fueling his rage more in a cycle

[t-u-i-t-c]

"Man, nobody likes a sore loser."

[royaltealovingkookiness]

Tbh Zuko still isn't the best firebender out there but what's unique about Zuko is that he firebends by using different katas from other elements. I know this has been said numerous times but like the last agni kai, Zuko probably concluded that he couldn't win against Azula using firebending moves because she'd know how to repel them so Zuko mostly moved like a waterbender or airbender. I always love those details.

Zuko using other elements in his bending is definitely important, but not the whole picture.

One of the points of the finale is to show that “being the best bender” is meaningless as a concept. (I mean from the fights we see, certainly Ozai looks like the strongest firebender, but does that make him the best firebender?) Every bending has its strength and weaknesses - what matters is knowing your own element, but also the other elements. Then there is creativity, strategy, teamwork, adaptability, heart (and luck) that will decide a fight.

But let’s talk about Zuko’s bending in the last Agni kai (or honestly anytime post-dragons). Because it shows exactly how far he’s come. Since he doesn’t rely on rage anymore to fuel his fire, he becomes much calmer and focused. His breathing is perfectly controlled the whole time.

And we hear it time and time again, both from Iroh (”No! Power in firebending comes from the breath. Not the muscles. The breath becomes energy in the body. The energy extends past your limbs and becomes fire”) and Jeong-Jeong how breathing is the basis of firebending.

It’s difficult to keep breathing under control when relying on anger and rage, as both emotions cause short, staccato breaths. (I think also this is why Azula’s breathing is so off in that fight - she’s full of anxiety, which typically causes shallow breath).

Zuko now with proper breath control is able to integrate all the things he already knows: the rock-solid basics Iroh drilled into him, combined with the unique moves he integrated into his own bending by fighting (and later training with) the other elements. 

In The Southern Air Temple in the Agni kai against Zhao, the camera focuses a lot on Zuko’s breathing and footwork. He heaves, he slides, he’s unable to find his footing, his defense is wobbly. Iroh keeps reminding him of his basics. (“Remember your firebending basics, Prince Zuko. They are your greatest weapons.”) 

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Now compare this to the last Agni kai, where the camera again focuses on his foot - it’s even in the final pencil-test - it’s such an important detail. His foot barely slides at the onslaught of the comet-fuelled firewall Azula unleashes on him. His defense is absolutely rock-solid, his footwork is precise.

Zuko for most of the fight doesn’t do anything special, but lets Azula attack and tire herself out, while he just holds his ground and dispels the attacks (which probably still takes considerable energy, but looks less fancy)

And she unleashes all her greatest hits - but these moves are something that Zuko knows (even if he can’t reproduce all of them) and can anticipate and counter. 

And this is where the other elements come in.  

“Is important to draw wisdom from many different places. If we take it from only one place, it becomes rigid and stale. Understanding others, the other elements, and the other nations will help you become whole. […] It is the combination of the four elements in one person that makes the Avatar so powerful. But, it can make you more powerful too. You see, the technique I am about to teach you is one I learned by studying the waterbenders.”

Zuko fights patiently - defending against the big attacks and waiting for the right moment (earthbending principle) to counter-attack. 

We see a couple of fancier, new moves integrated into his bending and from Azula’s startled reaction it’s clear that they surprise her - like this earthbending-like power move,

or this airbending-like twist (although Ozai also has something similar, so it could be proper firebending move)

or this move which is a bit more wave-like then normal firebending (and almost catches Azula).

But in the end - the winning move? It’s the same move Zuko uses to turn the fight around against Zhao. It’s the move he uses to get up when he’s beaten in Zuko Alone - it’s the move born out of learning to get up after his failures.

Zuko’s fighting style in the last Agni kai proves Iroh’s teaching methods right. With good basics he has all the building blocks he needs to improve and develop his own style at his own pace when he’s ready, when his control is enough to go to the next step.

But in the end, Zuko doesn’t have the killer instincts to push on his advantage. When Azula goes down, he doesn’t go after her like Zhao did with him, but waits for her to get up. 

And just a final word about the lightning redirect. When Zuko learns that move in Bitter Work, Iroh taught it to him to give him something that can counter Azula’s lightning. And despite Azula’s trick, Zuko does manage to redirect a comet-powered lightning mid-jump - not perfectly, but enough to avoid deadly damage. It’s only the second time in his life he did that move…so it takes considerable skill.

But the move he goes down with not only proves how good a firebender he is, but it shows that he’s grown past this need to prove himself through his bending. Trying to beat Azula doesn’t matter as much as saving a life. He’s grown past beyond this destructive competition of who is the better bender in the family, because at the end of the day, that doesn’t define a person’s worth.

And it all comes to a circle, where he finally redirects that lightning to the sky:

You’ve always thrown everything you could at me! Well, I can take it! And now I can give it back!

Being born into a family where bending might was always measured by the destruction fire could cause, Zuko returning to the true way, to use his bending to save someone (”fire is life”) is what breaks the cycle of abuse and violence in his own family in a way that beating Azula could never have. 

Sure, Zuko may not be the most powerful firebender in terms of sheer firepower, but how he bends during that fight is everything fire is supposed to be about.

[nadziejastar]

Someone on tumblr( I forgot who) pointed out how Saix’s (Isa’s?) weapon is possibly what causes his berserk state. The berserker nobodies are limp as they are dragged by their weapons and their journal text seems to imply the weapon controls them. You are dragged around by the claymore when you use it in his KHII boss fight. Also, in KHIII, Saix just stays in place holding his head if you knock him out of berserk mode. Thoughts on this?

No. VII - ‘Demoniac Dancing in the Moon’

Kingdom Hearts II

A berserker. A high-ranking Nobody. Its attacks are hard to read as it is dragged around by a cursed hammer.

Attacks from the front will only be parried by its hammer. Knock it down to make it let go of the hammer. Then pick up the hammer to unleash a flurry of attacks with Berserk.

This is a great subject. It is ridiculous enough that Saïx kept all his free will as a vessel. But especially as a vessel in his berserk state! I mean, come on. That makes no sense at all. His berserk state is heavily inspired by Norse mythology and there’s kind of a lot to say about this subject. Since his berserk state is such an important aspect of his character, I’m sure there was a lot of thought put into it from a story perspective. I think that being a berserker is what inspired his name and abilities, even back in KH2 before they had a full backstory thought up for him. The Berserker Nobodies carry a cursed hammer, which was inspired by Mjolnir (“Smasher” or “Crusher”), the hammer of Thor.

Enemy File

The Organization’s No. VII. Usually cool and calm, he turns into a berserker when he grips his giant blade in combat.

Dodge his attacks as you watch for a rare opening. After taking damage, he will revert to his normal self, making him more susceptible to attack. Finish him quickly.

I would say that Saïx’s Claymore is cursed as well, and inspired by the Norse ice rune “Isa”. It’s the rune of stagnation and constriction. It governs self-control and the ego. But if it’s cursed (it has a Recusant’s Sigil on it), I’d say it constricts self-control and self-awareness in the wielder. The one he wields in the final battle might do something to trigger a trance, keeping Saïx stuck in a specific memory of the past to continually stay in his berserk state. There most likely was a story connection with his Claymore, but it obviously is never going to see the light of day. But I have a theory of what the story might have been.

Saïx’s weapons named “New Moon” (No Gear), “Werewolf” (Skill Gear), and “Berserk” (Brave Gear) all have the same shape, and are all a reference to his berserk state. I think it’s meaningful that Xemnas, Vexen, and Axel all have weapons of the same shape in those three specific weapon categories, too. I think it means that their stories were connected to Saïx’s berserk state.

The Fool: innocence, new beginnings, free spirit, spontaneity

Ace of Swords: new ideas, breakthrough, clarity, sharp mind, mental clarity, success

No Gear is the first weapon type you start out with. It’s represented by “The Fool” in Luxord’s deck, the very first Major Arcana. It’s shaped like the Minor Arcana the Ace of Swords. I think it represents the characters’ past.

Ansem’s Report 2

It is my duty to expose what this darkness really is. I shall conduct the following experiments:

Extract the darkness from a person’s heart.

Cultivate darkness in a pure heart.

Both suppress and amplify the darkness within.

The experiments caused the test subject’s heart to collapse, including those of the most stalwart. How fragile our hearts are! My treatment produced no signs of recovery. I confined those who had completely lost their hearts beneath the castle.

Xemnas’ weapon is called “Merciless”, and I think it refers to his actions during the experiments. Vexen’s is “Tester Zero” and I think it refers to the fact that none of the initial subjects survived to become successful vessels. Saïx’s wepon is called “New Moon”, which is the first phase of the lunar cycle, where the moon is invisible and covered in darkness. It’s the phase immediately after the waning crescent phase, the shape on Isa’s jacket. Axel’s is called “Ashes”, which is the state of the Phoenix after its self-immolation. I think these names were referring to them becoming the new test subjects. I think Saïx’s Berserk State was the key to him getting possessed by Xehanort in the first place, and I’ll explain why.

Odin- A shape-shifter, he makes men mad or possessed with a blind raging fury. He produces the battle panic called “battle-fetter”. Three different frenzies or madness are his gifts to humankind: the warrior in battle, the seer in trance, and the poet in creativity. Subtle, wily, mysterious and dangerous, he often ignores pacts made in honor with humans. Odin married Erda/Jörd, with whom he had a son, Thor.

Berserkers in Norse mythology, were feared warriors who purportedly fought in a trance-like fury. They were described as “Odin’s men” and were often described as fighting together in bands of twelve or thirteen. In battle, they were seized with an uncontrollable madness for bloodshed. The berserker would use various physical techniques to get himself into an adrenaline high, and would then apply further techniques of religious ritual to become possessed by a spirit such as a wolf, a bear, or even Odin himself.

Xehanort: I swore I would survive...and be there to see what awaited beyond the Keyblade War! And now it is your darkness that shall be the ark that sustains me!

This is what I think the apprentices were trying to do with the subjects of the experiments. They wanted them to be filled with so much hate and rage (darkness) that they would be in a state where Xehanort could easily possess them, like Odin would possess a berserker. This is basically what Xehanort did to Terra. All of the subjects’ hearts collapsed, though, so it didn’t work. I think this is what they were originally trying to doing with Isa, but something else happened.

Saïx: Do you know what happens to those who lose their true purpose? Inevitably, they destroy themselves.

There are basic techniques to enter a berserker trance. First, meditation and prayers are uttered to Odin, as the object of contemplation. Odin is said to bring about the trance. He is said to gift the berserker “önd”. It is generally translated as something along the lines of “divine inspiration” or “inspired mental activity.” Ecstasy and states of heightened awareness and passion were divine gifts associated with önd. It is essentially a power that is so utterly compelling, it overwhelms and connects one’s being to its core. It’s the type of power that can move someone to write the most beautiful poetry, or fuel the fury of the warrior in the heat of battle. It’s similar to the way Xehanort views the power of darkness.

This concept is very important to Saïx’s Berserk State. I’m sure that Xehanort planned to serve as the figure of Odin for Isa during the experiments, like he did with Terra. Xehanort was Terra’s önd. He was angry and single-mindedly focused on him at the moment of his possession. And Xehanort did successfully possess Isa, too. But if anything, I think Lea was actually Isa’s önd. The keychain of Lea’s Keyblade even bears Odin’s Cross, another sun symbol. And Axel’s Pandora Gear, “Prominence”, is shaped like both Odin’s Cross, and the swastika. Both are sun symbols in Norse mythology. Prominence itself refers to red plasma extending from the Sun’s surface. Saïx’s Pandora Gear is “Crocea Mors”, Latin for “Yellow Death”, and is shaped like his Claymore. I think these weapons were a reference to the final battle.

Key Concepts: gifts, giving, taking, trade, sacrifice, process of exchange, balance, compensation, equilibrium, law of reciprocation, altruism, the gravity of equals and opposites, generosity, hospitality, honor

Psi: gratitude, forgiveness, appreciation

Energy: Exchanged powers, sacrifice, dissolution of barriers through gifting

I even think they tried to make Crocea Mors look X-shaped like the Gebo rune. It also fits too perfectly with the Recusant’s Sigil. The Gebo rune is called the rune of love and forgiveness. Gebo symbolizes the meeting between two beings, whether through the exchange of love, affection, or friendship. Its name means “the giver”, and “generous”.

Xaldin: That is no ordinary rose. To him, at least, it seems to hold more value than anything else in the castle. You saw the room. It was in tatters–save one corner.

Roxas: Maybe that’s why he’s been fighting the Heartless. He wants to protect the rose?

Xaldin: Of course. Some strange power surrounds it… The Heartless are drawn to it.

Roxas: Then his fight is far from over…

In essence, the act of entering the berserker trance is simply a matter of simultaneously being in a deep meditative state and raising up an enormous amount of “wod”. One one level wod means “fury”, and it is an experience of that emotion. A large part of the process of going berserk is by working up rage. In part it means “possessed”, which of course refers to the experience most berserkers have of becoming possessed by some sort of spirit.

Hyperventilation is practiced, as this increases adrenaline as well as super-oxygenating the blood, so that there is an enormous reserve of fuel in the body ready for use. Growling is also performed, to sympathetically bring out the animal within. Acts that bring about pain are performed, such as drawing long shallow cuts upon the body. The pain brings about adrenaline. These acts would also be seen as a sacrifice to Odin, as this would continue the process of merging with him.

The objective is to build up adrenaline by moving large muscle groups, and to merge this physical process with the internal, spiritual one. This high adrenaline state creates “wod”. Dancing, leaping about, or pacing like an animal is also done. The berserker must dance with Odin, who brings the animal within out. This might be one meaning of Saïx’s Japanese title, “Demoniac Dancing in the Moon”. At some point during this process, the simple rage and adrenaline will change over into something else. Then the berserk trance is entered into. And I believe the purpose of the Beast being paralleled to Axel in Days was all playing into the backstory of Saïx and his Berserk State.

Xion: Whoa…

Roxas: So he has been fighting the Heartless. 

Xion: Apparently. If he’s taking the Heartless on himself, he must have a good reason.

Roxas: Like what?

Xion: Like…maybe he has something he wants to protect.

Roxas: Hmm…

Xion: Let’s call it a day, Roxas. Axel’s probably waiting.

Roxas: Yeah.

Once a certain critical threshold of stress is reached (and it can be any kind of stress: mental, physical, or emotional, though a mixture works best) the berserker enters the trance, which is a type of unitary state.

“Unitary state” is a term from neuroscience that describes an unusual state of physiology. The researchers who studied it described it as a stress response. It’s an evolutionary adaptation that all people have to one degree or another, though some are capable of it much more than others. When stress occurs, a person’s sympathetic nervous system is aroused. This is the half of the nervous system that is responsible for “fight or flight” matters. When the stress is extreme, that half of the nervous system is near overload. Once a certain critical threshold is reached the brain instinctively does some desperate things in an attempt to stop the overload. This does several things.

One is to increase the length of time adrenaline stays in the bloodstream. Another is to allow a greater than usual level of adrenaline to be tolerated before its debilitating side effects (loss of coordination, shakes, bad judgement) show up. The length of time the sympathetic nervous system dulls or eliminates the sensation of pain increases too, as does the level of pain that can be tolerated.

Roxas: You remember the castle’s master, Xion?

Xion: Yeah, the beast we saw.

Roxas: Well, you were right. He does have something he wants to protect. Something he cares about.

Xion: Really?

Roxas: Yeah, but Xaldin says that’s a weakness.

Xion: Why would caring about something be a weakness?

Roxas: I dunno. I didn’t get it either.

Xion: I hope Axel comes home soon.

The other thing the desperately stressed brain does is awaken the parasympathetic nervous system. This is the other half of the nervous system— the half responsible for healing, resting, relaxing, and balancing. Because these things are the opposite of the actions of the sympathetic nervous system (revving up, tensing, focusing, energizing) it is very difficult for the body to do both at once, and so usually when one is active, the other is shut down.

But in extreme circumstances, such as the stress that triggers the unitary state, the two of them find a way to be active at the same time. This allows the natural healing of the parasympathetic nervous system to have access to the great energy of the sympathetic nervous system. It enables that healing and balancing to permit the stress of an active sympathetic nervous system to be endured for much longer times, and at much greater levels, than normally possible. This state also synthesizes the functioning of all the different parts of the brain, making it function as one. Such supreme focus is never possible in a normal state.

Xehanort: You see how powerless you are to save them? Savor that rage and despair. Let it empower you!

Terra: You will pay, Xehanort! Was my Master–no, my father, Eraqus not enough for you? Leave my friends alone!

This faster mental processing is at least partially caused by elevated adrenaline levels, increased electrical energy in the nervous system, suppression of activity in the forebrain, and reliance upon the much faster processes of the hindbrain. Mind, body, and spirit functioning as one increases this processing speed by increasing the amount of physical resources being pumped into the processing parts. There are more parts of the brain than usual, powered by more parts of the body than usual, working to process each and every thought/reaction. This higher reaction speed makes the berserker more capable of mounting an effective defense to any attack as well as becoming quick enough to take advantage of small weaknesses in an opponent’s defense.

It also allows for the highly aggressive fighting style of the berserker to be safely performed. While many think that berserkers just pressed their attacks madly with no thought for defense, in reality they were taking advantage of their extraordinary reflexes to make attack and defense one. By immediately reacting to the flaws and weaknesses in the opponent’s defenses (mental, physical, and spiritual) berserkers are able to make attacks that do not allow the opponent any line of attack himself. Attack and defense are done in one motion.

Xaldin: Trust no one. Feed your anger! Only anger will keep you strong.

This creates a highly energetic, furious, aggressive attack style; one that is continuous for long stretches of time. This circumvents a weakness many other martial arts are prone to: that of waiting, reacting, and backing up. Wod amplifies strength. There is also an increase of strength, due both to the elevated adrenaline, and the increased coordination the body moves with. After all, less wasted energy means more energy available to be put into action. The increased resistance to pain may also contribute to this, as more energy can be put into action if there are fewer unpleasant consequences to it.

In the berserk trance, all the hair on the body will begin to stand on end. The pulse gets very rapid at this point as well. The muscles bulge and the body’s tissues and flesh swell from the increased blood pressure. The face flushes quite red. This is the height of the berserk state. The parasympathetic nervous system kicks in, in response to the enormous stress the body and mind are under. There is a feeling of ecstasy. There are visions strong enough to completely block out physical sight, even though the eyes are open. The berserker becomes the wolf or bear.  

Because it is the ultimate synthesis of sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system—of right and left brains—it causes the experience of inspiration. It is the unitary state that gives rise to the eureka moment. With the force of the whole brain behind it, the fury of the berserker trance becomes a transcendental emotion. Adrenaline levels shoot through the roof, for adrenaline is the body’s primary response to either fighting or fleeing. This is why I don’t think it was a bad thing that Lea was overpowered during his final battle. Lea and Kairi were at a huge disadvantage. It’s only natural. They were supposed to be completely outmatched.

“Good. That saves us some time.” Saïx promptly hurled the Claymore at him, but Roxas deflected it easily, a fluid motion unlike anything Saïx had seen from him before.

In that instant of hesitation, Roxas charged. Saïx blocked the sweep of the Keyblade. It brought back those long-ago days when there had been some pleasure in fighting. The Claymore slammed into Roxas…

And he recalled things from long, long ago.

When the unitary state is entered with an intent in mind, then the person seems to learn something important. They can pay attention to how things felt, how things happened, to a sufficient degree to allow the state to be duplicated in the future. Emotion becomes pure. There is hatred rather than anger, joy and ecstasy rather than happiness, love is indescribably transcendant, and there is terror rather than fear. The parasympathetic nervous system tries to heal and re-balance the body. And because of the state the body is in, the parasympathetic nervous system has access to all that incredible energy. It is actually capable of healing strains, pains, etc. with remarkable speed.

The muscles relax and there is a feeling of “settling back in” a little. There is a feeling like the berserker is a riverbed through which a torrent of emotion and power rushes. Anything the berserker looks at the berserker becomes, attains a unitary state with. This increases the correctness, the rightness of the berserker’s responses and reflexes. Hand-eye coordination improves. If the berserker is sparring with an opponent there is an increased accuracy as to anticipation of the opponent’s next move. The berserker is in a strange state of “raging control”. The mind is relaxed, focused, and pure, and the pure emotions provide a fuel for rapid processing.

In the novel, when Saïx fights Roxas, he starts recalling things from long, long ago. And he also says it brought back the days when there was pleasure in fighting. I think Saïx gradually mastered the use of his berserk state over time, and was remembering how things felt in the beginning. I think this ecstatic type of unitary state is the one that Terra entered during the times he used the power of darkness, and also the type I think Saïx—as a vessel of Xehanort—had perfected the use of during combat.

Beast: Xaldin… that’s his name. He came from the darkness… He…used my anger to control me. He took all my sorrow, my sadness, my pain—and turned it all into rage. There was nothing I could do… I could no longer see the truth.

But reservoirs of wod are not limitless, and expending it in striking or moving drains the berserk, making him or her unable to call upon it again for some variable time. After the trance comes the fatigue. It is proportionate in length and intensity to the length and intensity of the trance. After all, that energy all has to come from somewhere. The muscles will be knotted in agony. The berserker will often be too weak to stand. A depression sometimes sets in, sometimes getting severe.

There is an emotionally “frayed” feeling, and a short temper. Sometimes the pain in the body is so severe it will trigger another, lighter trance just to cope with the pain. The berserker slowly “comes down” to a more normal state over time. I’m sure this is why Saïx holds his head when he loses grip of his Claymore in battle. He’s not only in severe pain, but probably not even aware of his surroundings.

“A serene and self-possessed boy who always has time for a quick quip at his best friend Lea’s expense.”

“Cool, collected, and mature beyond his age. He’s good friends with Lea.”

The unitary state is a possible reaction to great stress. A more common one is simply shutting everything down in a panic. It needs a deep meditative state, or hypnotic trance, and this state needs to be kept even when massive amounts of adrenaline and wild emotions are coursing through you. If you cannot remain in meditation during such circumstances then you cannot deliberately enter this state. I think Isa was capable of this type of extended meditation. 

“I’ll bring him back to our side. Let me—”

“That’s enough.” Saïx turned his head, giving Axel a sidelong look over his shoulder. “Traitor.”

Axel scowled darkly.

“I’m going. You know, don’t you, that you won’t stop me except by force? And even if you tried, you would fail.” 

Saïx went on his way. Memories informed him that he hated this kind of thing.

But…I don’t think Isa was someone who would enter into a berserk state very easily. I think the adjectives used to describe him were very important. He’s cool, collected, serene, and self-possessed. He’s calm, peaceful, and in control of himself and his emotions. Doesn’t sound like a person who would be prone to strong fits of rage—especially berserk rage.

Xaldin: Our work here is done, Roxas. The beast’s weakness is clear.

Roxas: It is?

Xaldin: To hold something dear is to let it hold you. His heart is captive to it. And that makes it his weakness.

Roxas: Captive…? I don’t get it.

Xaldin: Nor should you. You have no heart to love with. Let’s not linger here.

One top of that, we have Saïx’s Mystery Gear. Since it has the waning crescent moon symbol on it, this weapon is clearly supposed to represent Isa’s personality, rather than Saïx’s personality. Unlike Terra’s Keyblade which looks a lot like Aced’s bear Keyblade, Isa’s weapon has a rabbit on it. That’s the LAST animal spirit that you would want to be possessed by as a berserker. They aren’t big or strong like bears. Rabbits are soft, gentle, and timid. They get eaten by wolves (that was probably the idea, actually). To get a person like Isa into a berserk state, you would have to do something drastic. I think VERY strong feelings were evoked in Isa, but they weren’t rage or hatred.

Roxas: That still doesn’t explain what love is… Is love fighting to protect what’s most important to you? Where does its power come from?

Even berserkers with natural talent can generally only enter the berserker trance in response to some great external stress. It is difficult to attain these states of mind with no experience of them, and no experience of them is where everybody starts. Most berserkers need an initiation to gain control over entering and exiting the state at will. So, a ritual is held involving the deliberate creation of a stressful situation, with the intent to go berserk.

One day, a man came to take me from the prison. I could not see him for the darkness, save that he wore an eyepatch.

In order to have sufficient stress to really trigger this specific type of unitary state there needs to be some genuine danger. It is very difficult to handle the high levels of stress the entrance into the berserker trance requires. So I’d say for Isa to first enter this state, he was put into a very dangerous life-or-death situation. I don’t think the apprentices would have had much luck triggering a berserk state in Isa by fueling anger or hatred in him. If anything, I think they were probably frustrated at his lack of rage and hatred. I think it was only by threatening not just his life, but Lea’s life, that the berserk state was able to be triggered. Isa was not a capable or experienced fighter like Terra or Riku were. He wasn’t even physically able to defend either himself or his friend.

Xemnas: Our experiments creating Heartless were attempts to control the mind, and convince it to renounce its sense of self.

There is another type of unitary state besides the ecstatic one. This is the one that I think Isa entered into. This kind results in an experience in which there is neither sense of self nor of anything else at all, even space or time. A great darkness, like the deepest part of night, arises from within. The fire burns itself, the ego, and the world out. The brain shuts off the forebrain and certain other parts. This not only reduces the overload of the nervous system, but it has some other effects as well. The forebrain is the part of the brain that describes things, names them, compartmentalizes them, and analyzes them. In short, the part of the brain prone to “overthinking”. It also shuts off the part that distinguishes what the self is and what the rest of the world is. So, the person will literally have no sense of self.

Once this part of the brain goes offline the person in the unitary state simply perceives everything purely and directly. They react by instinct, which is the fastest sort of reaction. And because the “thinking” parts of the brain are shut off, there is less danger of taking the wrong action in response to the outside world. There is no danger of thinking wrong about something if there is no possibility of thinking about it at all. I think Isa was in such a state of fear and panic that he lost all sense of self and just went into a desperate and blind survival mode. And he was able to hold the state for a long time, most likely due to his strong desire to protect his friend. Because he had no sense of self at the time, I think he was turned into a vessel. He wasn’t consumed by darkness and hatred. He wasn’t possessed by the spirit of a bear or a wolf. He was consumed with love, and possessed by the spirit of a rabbit. Which is why his weapon has a heart traveling to the moon.

Magician: resourcefulness, power, inspired action, willpower, desire, creation, manifestation

Ten of Swords: failure, collapse, defeat, painful endings, betrayal, loss, crisis

Skill Gear is “The Magician” in Luxord’s deck and it is shaped like the Ten of Swords. I think it represents the experiments, including the “initiation ritual” for Isa’s Berserk State.

Am I alive? I awoke in a cell, alone until the researchers came with their tests and their prodding to uncover my identity. I had no answer to offer them. Four friends, and a key…that is the sum total of my memory. I could not even recall my name. I was simply called “X” there.

Saïx’s weapon is called “Werewolf”. Xemnas’ weapon is called “Sanction”. To “sanction” means to deal a penalty that acts to ensure compliance or conformity. I think this refers to Even as well as Lea and Isa. Perhaps even to Ansem. After Isa was taken from the cell by Braig, I think he was so traumatized and mentally damaged that he lost all of his memories before Ansem the Wise found him. The only thing he could remember was his friend, but not even his name.

Yukari Ishida: “Xion’s original name, “No. i”, was named after a “non-real” figure in mathematics for expressing imaginary numbers.

Vexen’s is named “Product One”. I think this refers to “Subject X” possibly being renamed “Product One” once he became the first successful vessel of the experiments. Xion was named “No.i”. It stood for “imaginary”. I have a theory that Vexen became so focused on the Replica Program because he was so traumatized by the experiments. He never wanted to see another child share Isa’s fate. But I want to do a separate post on Vexen’s arc later.

Secret Report 4: Experiments of the Heart – Notes on Subject X, Excerpt 2

Subject’s memories have not returned, and our conversations remain less than lucid. My pilot studies used a handful of subjects, but none possessed the fortitude to endure them. Ultimately, all suffered mental collapse. I knew it would be a heavy blow to lose a subject as unique as she. Upon discovering the tests I’ve been conducting, my master demanded that I cease my work immediately and destroy what research I have compiled. Worse still, he ordered the release of my remaining subjects. She is gone. Where is Subject X now? Has “wise” Master Ansem hidden her away? Whatever the case, I will not be deterred.

Axel’s is called “Doldrums”, which is a state or period of inactivity, stagnation, or depression. It’s possible that Lea actually was released along with the other remaining subjects, but he refused to leave the castle because he didn’t know where Isa was. I think Lea was very worried about him after he disappeared, but felt totally helpless, since he had no idea where he was. I would guess that this is when he developed his chronic extreme anxiety, his habit of worrying too much about his friends, and his insomnia.

Day 150: Dealing with Xion

As expected, the Duplicate is starting to show its limits. The Program showed promise, but a puppet is just a puppet: something to be toyed with until it breaks. I am utterly at a loss as to what Roxas and Axel see in that thing. How best to dispose of it merits my consideration going forward.

I think after Isa was possessed, he had memories (subconscious or not) of being called “broken”. I definitely think Saïx hates Xion because she reminds him of the way he was treated. He wrote this in his report on Day 150 ~Fear~. The day Roxas asks Axel if there’s anything he can’t bear to lose.

Death: end of cycle, beginnings, change, metamorphosis, transition, transformation

Ace of Swords: new ideas, breakthrough, sharp mind, mental clarity, success

Brave Gear is “Death” in Luxord’s deck and it is shaped like the Ace of Swords. I think it represents the final battle.

Xehanort: “X”… A most ancient letter. Some say “kye,” but the meaning is the same. Death… A letter that spells endings.

The Death card is probably the most misunderstood of all the cards in the Tarot deck. It’s generally a very positive card, ironically. It represents a time of significant transformation, change and transition. You need to transform yourself and clear away the old to bring in the new, opening the door to a broader, more satisfying experience of life. Saïx’s is called “Berserk”. Axel’s weapon is named “Blaze”. Xemnas’ weapon is called “Aggression”. Vexen’s weapon is called “Researcher”. I think Even, along with Ienzo, was probably supposed to be vital for decoding Ansem’s research data that he left in Sora’s heart.

Beast: …Belle… Get back inside… It’s too dangerous…

Belle: I’m taking you with me.

Beast: No… I have to stop…those things…

Belle: But they’re gone. You don’t have to fight any more.

Whatever the emotions are, whatever is in the mind, at the moment that mind and body make the transition into the unitary state, sets the tone and nature of the experience of the unitary state. Unitary states created by intensive religious ritual often result in a vision of or the experience of hearing the voice of the practitioner’s god. When the ritual is designed to work up furious emotions and is concentrated upon an enemy or some other danger, the berserker rage results. Unitary states created by the stress of a life and death emergency tend to give you a burst of reflexes and the skills of a professional race car driver.

The point is, the object of the berserker’s attention becomes his entire world, and everything else vanishes. But reflexes are rapid enough that the unexpected can still be expeditiously dealt with. There is a feeling of being more awake than ever before, of being AWAKE!!! Everything is as it should be, everything is in its right place. I think this is why Isa was able to stop attacking during the final battle. He entered into his berserk trance not out of anger or rage, but with a single-minded a desire to protect Lea. Xemnas misjudged him and the situation. If his Claymore really did keep him in his trance by making him relive memories of the past, then it makes sense that he’d be able to stop himself from harming Lea—the one person he was trying to protect. The one who triggered his berserker trance in the first place. His “önd”.

“And we still haven’t found out where Axel went?” said Xaldin.

Saïx scowled with displeasure at the name.

I think this is probably why Saïx reacted with such rage after Axel left. He must have known that Isa’s biggest fear was never seeing Lea again.

“Kairi!” Axel shouted again as the girl struggled against Saïx’s hold. He readied his chakrams to hurl at Saïx when a powerful shock wave hit him.

“Traitors like you deserve to lose everything,” Saïx said.

Axel grunted and collapsed to his knees in pain from the direct hit. After only one strike, he felt his consciousness fading. His vision was going black. He couldn’t even tell whether he saw Saïx disappear with Kairi into the dark portal or whether that was only his own eyes closing.

Is this how I get turned into a Dusk…?

Now that I think about it, that scene was probably written to be similar to Isa’s scene where he went to the Realm of Sleep. Personally, I think Isa witnessed Lea lose his heart.

“What are you doing here?” The Claymore materialized in Saïx’s hand. “Foul traitor—”

“No, Saïx,” said Xigbar, glaring hard at Axel.

“What have you come for?” With rage barely contained under every word, Saïx stalked toward Axel.

He was SO angry at Axel.

“What are you saying…? Vile traitor!” The great Claymore took shape at Saïx’s back.

And he constantly called him a traitor.

“…Pathetic!” The Claymore moved to block Axel’s strike, while Saïx himself didn’t even twitch.

This is a pretty overwhelming disadvantage, Axel thought. Well, I knew that before we started fighting. I can’t win against Saïx with my own strength.

Still, he refused to hesitate. He had to force this path open.

He wanted…to find hope—the hope that Sora and Riku had.

Saïx gave him a cruel grin. “You will lose everything!”

Saïx always said that Axel would “lose everything” when he tried to kill him. I definitely think it was referring to how Lea meant everything to Isa and he felt like he’d lose everything if he lost him. Either Saïx felt such rage because he knew how hard he tried to protect Lea as a human and is enraged by his betrayal (and his ability to grow a heart), or Isa’s heart was afraid of losing Lea (his true purpose) a second time, and Saïx was reacting to that fear with rage. Or a combination of the two.