Noblesse Oblige.

We found out the the perpetrator who stabbed Starrk is Kyoraku Taichou. This week's chapter is the second showdown between Kyoraku and Starrk, except now Kyoraku's Katen Kyokotsu has gotten in the mood (similar to Ikakku's Bankai I guess). The following clash reveals some very interesting abilities of Katen Kyokotsu.


One of its skills is Kageoni, which allows Kyoraku to create a separate dimension in shadows which he can control. I basically picture the shadow as a portal; if he sticks anything in the shadow portal it will come out in some part of the shadow (seen above); similarly if he sends his whole body through the shadow he can instantly transport anywhere that the shadow falls upon (seen below).


Another skill is Takaoni which Kyoraku attempted on Starrk back in chapter 362. Starrk managed to parry the attack with his Cero gun before Kyoraku could pull it off though. Now we learn that whoever has higher elevation gains an advantage in attack power.

The last skill of Katen Kyokotsu that we discovered is Irooni. This power is confusing, please correct me if I understood it wrong. Kyoraku states that when you declare a color, you can only cut that and nothing else. At the same time, this color affects the declarer as well. The trick here is that if you have more risk to yourself from choosing a color (aka wear a lot of the color chosen, meaning you are easier to be hit), you will also inflict more damage to the opponent.


The part that confused me was the declaration of your color, like when you choose a color does it overwrite your opponent's color choice? At the moment I think each individual can choose their own color. This works with the higher risk-higher damage effect because if you were to plan ahead and wear all red to maximize damage by choosing red your opponent can counter by choosing red as well, which will allow him to cut you anywhere. When Starrk chose white and Kyoraku was wearing his white captain robe, Starrk dealt some serious damage to his back. However, Kyoraku took off his white haori and now he's wearing full black, which means Starrk has no where to cut and Kyoraku goes in for the kill at maximum attack power. Here comes the part that my theory doesn't work: in the picture, Kyoraku slashed Starrk across the chest, but Starrk isn't wearing any/much black in that location other than the shirt lining and his hollow hole (which is black from the shadow). So either I completely understood this ability wrong, or Kyoraku managed to cut Starrk in those tiny possibly-existent black locations because he's a pro swordsman like that. Finally, the last thing I don't understand about Katen Kyokotsu is that does it only work with swords? What if Starrk chose black and shot Kyoraku, would that do amplified damage from Irooni's effect?


Two things to note about Starrk:
1. His past was interesting, how he doesn't like being strong because it makes him lonely. But we should know that now we saw this flashback it means Starrk will either gain a power boost or is going to be defeated soon.

2. When Kyoraku attacks with Irooni, Starrk switches to an energy/Cero sword and no longer holds his dual guns. I was wondering what happened to the guns, because isn't that where Lilynette's soul is?