Elpis

Elpis, "The Orphic Veineline" is the antiheroic protagonist of BioMassCore's storyline. He serves as an assassin and combat medic of the international military crusaders known as the "Tannin Jaegers", within the sacred aerospace group titled the Talon Regime that uses guerilla tactics to keep mutant threats under control, stopping misuse of lifestream and liberating life together while recruiting them together to undermine various factions. He willingly converted himself into a cyborg through conditioning his body into conversion as a way to compensate for a genetical misfunction via scientific means when being inspired by his idol, utilizing restructured gear-like cells and molecules contained in his Exonaut suit.

He lives with his human daughter, Birdy and his oath sister, Lyra who leads the Tannin Jaegers. A special division of Ultfinites administrating races of alien mutants labeled Fermials while he is under an enigmatic figure known as Lucius Verde whom understands more of his hollow forms than Elpis could know himself.

Elpis is often set onto missions involving the hunt of Ultfinites, Armigers or Nosoimones, making him believe that the hope he was destined in the future to find is twisted. A twisted hope he wishes to carry out onto others by achieving his wish for freedom by breaking out of what restrains him, and it is this humanly freedom he believes he can ascend to for the sake of forcefully protecting those he cares for. Engrossed in the idea of a place known as the "promised land" that he believes has answers to his means after sensing it in his failures of incantations due to his genetical misfunction during a plague.

- Personality -

Elpis is a stern and realistic person, shaped by his upbringing and experiences. He rarely shows his emotions to others, as he was taught to suppress his right to think and feel. He has a hard time comprehending emotional concepts like happiness, which he sees as colors or chemicals that he cannot perceive. Finding pain to be how he finds pain to be proof that he's alive. He is driven by his quest for truth and his right to think, which makes him resentful of his superiors who try to stop him. However, he does not want to harm them, as he believes they are still the key to his goals. Elpis has a deep fear and hatred of mutation, which he views as a disease that makes neo-gens look abnormal. He feels guilty when he sees Ultfinites who have some rationality, as he thinks they are wasting their lives and being forced into simple-mindedness by the plague. He does not seek to harm anyone, but he feels compelled to do so in situations that he considers experiments from the "Monad". He is determined to pursue his goals and explore the world, even when it is difficult. He has different ways of dealing with those he does not respect: he may mock them with his realism, or he may ignore them. He may act this way to defend himself or others, or to express his displeasure with someone who interferes with his leadership, like Lightstreak. Elpis can be very blunt and sometimes insensitive, as he prefers to solve problems directly and by himself. He often puts himself in danger, either out of defiance or out of a desire to feel free. Becoming enveloped in the thought of stimulating control with him without anyone else suffering the burden. Even willing to take a decent amount of injuries to get through something.

Elpis tries to be fair and insightful with others, but he also has a morally grey dilemma. He is willing to rebel against his superiors and lie for his own benefit, if he thinks they are wrong or unjust. He does not follow any standard moral code, but his own. However, he is afraid of being taken advantage of by strangers, so he acts formally and cautiously around them. He does not care about his heritage or his past, because they are too painful and complicated for him. He only cares about his goals and the people he loves. Elpis wants to achieve more than his current situation, such as dealing with Ritsueto who he met in the Genesis War. They have different reasons for feeling like failures, and Elpis wants to surpass Ritsueto. Elpis has synesthesia, which means he sees colors when he hears sounds. He associates bright colors with his false happiness, and black and white colors with his father's fate and a simpler time. He also sees purple and magenta colors as signs of tragedy and plagues, especially when he hears the names of his parents. He wants to see black and white colors more often, because he thinks they represent peace and purity. He tries to cleanse himself of his impurities by gaining spiritual awareness, which he believes can be achieved through his destination, the promised land.

Elpis has grown loyal to Lyra and Birdy, who has a lilac color in his synesthesia. Lilac is the color of spirituality, purity, and grace, which are the qualities that Elpis longs for. He also has different feelings about the Beta-Candidates based on their colors in his Ciphers. For example, he feels nostalgic and conflicted about Craven, who has a color of looking forward and backward. However, he hates the color of his tech, Indigo, which he sees as a parasite that he needs to get rid of. He also doubts his own identity and free will, and he calls himself a "blank sheet" or "uncolored". He wants to break free from the expectations of society and find his own purpose and purity.

- Relationships -

• • Lyra: Due to her being somewhat older, Lyra attempts to constantly steer him in the right direction she sees fit. The two contrast in behavior due to Elpis being taken in by a group of bandits and rejecting his heritage, thus forgetting his second and last name. Though this part of him can make Lyra frustrated, she still persists to do what she can for him even if he’s not in interest at the time due to how much she cares enough for him. Both equally view each other with a portion of stubbornness within themselves, occasionally mediating between a positive or negative way. Elpis doesn’t like her opportunism, and Lyra dislikes his self-denial. She eases up to Elpis the most due to her willing to lay down her life for him.

• • Birdy: Elpis met Birdy when she was looking for her mother, and she quickly decided to partner up with Elpis due to his knowledge. Albeit he didn't know how to feel about her at first. He began to feel empathy towards her, lamenting the loss of child innocence. Making him more heavy-handed with the people that Birdy sees due to the potential danger they could have. Seeing anything related to neo-gens or the Tidal Cataclysm as a risk on his or her way of living thus attempts to condition her out of her habits. These habits being a result of her naturally open response to the Nosoimones or Ultfinites around her. The two of them share fake names, with Birdy's name being chosen by Elpis due to her nature being like that of a bird. Yet as part of that, he sees her caged by the circumstances she's in and doesn't know if she can be able to handle it properly. Birdy herself is unaware of what Elpis does in his works with the Talon Regime, feeling something off regardless of the beneficial means. Elpis himself feels similarities of Birdy to Lilynette, fearing that if he cannot have freedom to preserve against the diseased world around him, his circumstances will fall upon him. Causing Birdy to believe if he wants to see his goals meet, he must be able to relinquish it with others. Wanting him to be able to accept more within the life they're bound to share.

• • Lilynette/Shidarena: TBA

• • Astaroth Lagriemelex/Nachash: A constant thorn in his side, Nachash is always seeking to test Elpis' limits and capabilities. Whether it be his snarky remarks, his ominous offerings or vague sense of guidance. Claiming he's wanting for Elpis to only respond through instinct to get better. Even if he clearly doesn't know how to wipe away the maniacal attitude. Despite treating him as nothing more than a fly that can never be swatted, Elpis occasionally is thankful to have Nachash on the times he proves to be beneficial. This usually being in exchange for Nachash having total control over a situation. Something that Elpis will attempt to twist to his own benefit when necessary.

• • Lucius: TBA

• • Seirya: TBA

• • Lightstreak: Elpis has to prove himself worthy to the rest of the team, especially to Lightstreak, who considers himself a better candidate. Lightstreak is a brilliant strategist and a loyal soldier, who follows his own rules and always keeps his promises. He learned his skills from his mentor and his former partner, Minerva, who were both exemplary officers in the Armigers. He has a strong sense of patriotism and a desire to win the war by outsmarting the enemy. He is obsessed with planning his next moves and setting up his own "traffic" to achieve his goals. However, this also makes him arrogant and dismissive of others' opinions. He acknowledges Elpis' strengths and potential but can't help himself when thinking on his weaknesses and flaws. Elpis recognizes Lightstreak's talents and achievements and admires his dedication and loyalty. He does not let Lightstreak's hostility or criticism get to him and instead challenges him to improve himself and work together for the common good. He believes that Lightstreak can be more than just a soldier and that he can help him achieve his vision for a better world.

• • Coraline: TBA

• • Larasu: TBA

• • Daiyu: Elpis views Daiyu as a fascinating and intriguing person, but also as a dangerous and unpredictable one. He admires her skills and her courage, but he distrusts her brutality and her admiration for Ritsueto. Yet that never stops him from helping her keep her hopes up. He wants to learn more about her and her background, but he also wants to keep his distance from her and her emotions. He also wants to communicate with her better and more effectively, which he thinks are important and meaningful. Often enjoying her company but doesn't impose on her or himself.

• • Daibo: Elpis had always been a skeptic, a realist who knew the harsh realities of life. He had seen too much pain and suffering to believe in fairy tales and happy endings. He had learned to rely only on himself, and to keep his emotions in check. He did not need anyone else, or so he thought. Daibo was different. He was a dreamer, a hopeful soul who saw the beauty and wonder in everything. He had a heart of gold, and he wanted to share it with others. Elpis finds Daibo naive, and he thinks he can act too recklessly. Not believing in his optimistic outlook so much, though he wouldn't snap at him. Daibo, on the other hand, finds Elpis intriguing and mysterious, and he wants to get to know him better. He thinks Elpis is smart and brave, and he admires his dedication and determination. He tries to cheer him up and make him laugh, and he hopes to break through his cold and aloof exterior. He does not give up on him, even when he is met with indifference.

• • Gerda: TBA

• • Beta-Candidates: TBA

• • Ritsueto: Elpis dreads Ritsueto's presence. Seeing him as a representation of everything that's plaguing the world. His arrogance, the code that the Obyrith live up to, etc. Due to Ritsueto believing all life is simply an emanation off the base matter, he sees someone like Elpis as going against the path of his god through his technology. While Elpis thinks that Ritsueto's god would never be satisfied with him regardless of what he does, because he already has everything. And is simply overcompensating for an issue that he can't handle by doing it for a lost cause rather than executing the central issue. Thus Elpis' constant chasing of freedom is the foil to Ritsueto's objective and totalitarian visions over the world. Ritsueto challenges Elpis' standards, claiming that they are unrealistic and unsustainable, and that he is hiding his true self from the world. Elpis senses that Ritsueto is also haunted by the past, and wonders if he is fighting for the wrong reasons. But he cannot afford to sympathize with him, as their goals are irreconcilable. Their fate is uncertain, as they continue to fight each other.

- History - Origin -

• • Strange.. This specimen should have an analog disc of him somewhere. Could he be hiding something?

• • There must be some reason for this man's potential.

• • I concur, but his name doesn't even appear anywhere on our data libraries. It might not even be his real one.

• • No matter, I need to find as much as I can of him if he's going to be with us.

• • As I'd expect you would.

- Abilities (Astral Indigo) -

Elpis uses a highly advanced system known as Astral Indigo. A fusion of biochemical modulation, atomic manipulation, and bio-nanotechnology. His Ciphers operate through a hyper-adaptive molecular forge embedded in his body's reactor linked to his heart through thermonuclear pulses, utilizing programmable nanites, bioelectronic catalysts, and controlled atomic reactions to manifest specific elemental effects and engineer, weaponize, reconstruct, and control matter at an atomic scale. This is to compensate for a genetical misfunction hindering any ability development through a plague. Exonaut is linked to Elpis' arc reactor which helps Elpis' respiratory system and keeps it stabilized through the air around him, depending on his veins. The arc reactor sends atomic energies across the Exonaut, empowering it as a transmutated armor of organic technology. This organic technology involves how it's frame is restructured to attach to Elpis' body via his DNA and respiratory system flowing with charged cells made from 31 miniature asterisps as silvery Quinteseeds, helping supply his arc reactor. It is through these Quinteseeds that Elpis is able to use his main means of mobility, bio-warping. Which allows him to quickly transport toward a direction of a reasonable distance with helix-like trails that create a tailwind of atomic particles, disassembling Exonaut at a molecular level as veiny string that later reassembles when he reaches his destination.

A core function within Exonaut is to quickly distort objects and organism into reformation via their atoms and cells, often used for a previous state or into a naturally converted state of their matter. Reversing flow to destroy abnormality across the body through reconfiguration of cells or atoms with an atomic stimulation that damages DNA of infectious cells. Causing a radioactive mark on where it was done, but supernatural abilities such as restoring life cannot be done with this. As well as how this can be negated by people that warp life in a harmful manner like Ritsueto, or those who can use nuclear force and are stronger. With the power to atomize, Elpis can break down matter into its constituent atoms, manipulating them at a fundamental level. This ability allows him to disintegrate objects, turning them into a state of atomic particles. Moreover, Elpis possesses the capability to trigger fusion reactions. Unleashing raw, controlled energy, enabling him to devastate opponents or manipulate his environment at will. On the flip side, Elpis also possesses the power to induce fission reactions. This ability allows Elpis to break apart matter into smaller materials, effectively disintegrating targets or structures with precision and force.

Quinteseeds move in a geometric formation when generating and are contained within charged slots of lifestream with altered blood pressure and propulsion linked to the intravenous exoskeleton of Exonaut stabilizing Elpis in synchronization. Thus generating various nanite-like alchemical technology through Elpis commanding their formations in configurations of reactionary properties for the atomic energy. These configurations are based upon the matter flow of veins with oxygen, which Elpis reads with atoms to disassemble and reconfigure with a symbiotic bond. Increasing blood flow through inducers, flowing lymphs throughout his prehensile cardiovascular system transfusing blood and veins for the Exonaut to alter various things through energy with a bio-topological bind, Such as compressing into atomic bursts caused by a powerful thrust into surfaces, spiralling rays, atomic bullets firing in a wide-spraying range from fusion orbs (Which release their compression so far that the deposited beam can burn up ectoplasm) or diving while coated in an "anchor-drill" of energy streams reflecting in upward trajectory via threaded tendrils of spiralling helix-cords. A key strength of Elpis is his surgical capabilities, deeply analyzing the atomic structure of tissues, organs and other biological materials during surgical procedure. Enabling him to make precise adjustments and corrections at the smallest scales, ensuring that he's on point. Such as sculpting tissues, removing tumors and repairing damaged organs with meticulous attention to detail. Through his Exonaut, he can accelerate healing processes for smaller wounds and reduce recovery times. However, he can only perform abilities like these if he understands enough during a situation and requires careful management through not rapidly transmutating, due to how it builds up more harm that could require a breathing rehearsal.

• • Various elemental weaknesses affecting Elpis will put his Quinteseeds into a silenced status, temporarily restricting the usage of spells

• • Elpis is resistant to poisons due to his arc reactor and is unable to drown in water

- Weapons -

Exonaut Alean: A bodily armor of restructured molecules and is the "peak of Elpis' craft" He projects into this form with a link and always tries to force abilities onto this armor by his conscious projected into his arc reactor's ore linked to his pendant to prevent bodily stress. Using mutant chain-like fibers known as serge to keep Elpis bound and keep his instincts high by wrapping around his veins. This armor is activated by Gestalt's unsealing, with Nachash bound to the exoskeletal spine. Elpis' serum dose was modified so that the crucial undersheath of Exonaut is supercompressed and stored in the hollows of his bones. Directly wired toward his brain to allow him to control it via a Quinteseed interface. It can restructure cells and molecules of Nosoimones to forcefully cure them with atomic energy that pulses through nerves and veins.

Exonaut has the capacity to absorb smaller particles as fuel. By assimilating and utilizing various particles as a power source, Elpis can sustain his energy levels and amplify his control over atomization, fusion, and fission processes.

• • Elpis uses fusionism and fissionism on Exonaut with various Ciphers in reconfigurations through the chemicals in armor's transmutated frame.

Chiron Strata: A bio-organic horse hoverbike Elpis rides during missions on-road for faster travel via augmentation of his legs. Has turbines on the side linked to Elpis to boost in sync with him. Elpis' AiX Bulwark can be infused with the engine of Chiron to act as it's battering engine block

- Playstyle and Moveset Plan -

• • Unpredictability, strategy, agility and flexibility are Elpis' strong-suits, as his attacks have a wide range and are often rapid, making him move sharply for hit-and-run. His attacks are based upon pressuring enemies through attack set-up and grappling them. Though he deals medium damage at best and has to follow up his attacks with unique ones to not break his combo, along with how Gestalt's whip deals poisonous damage to debuff enemies with each hit during follow-ups or held moves for grab finishers upon weakening them. While the dagger on the revolver can be used in conjunction with standard melee. Though, he cannot attack consistently when moving due to his evasive nature. Coupled with the fact that Elpis' illness causes him to take more damage from enemies, leading to him losing more health through the more damage he takes thus makes it his risk demanding more use for his kit. Relying on his grapples and finishers to heal, granting more efficient Ouroboros Vial absorption and faster nexeratic stacking. 

• • Elpis' Atomic Gauge fills with combos and grapples/finishers, accumulating Ouroboros Vials (Stacks of atomized tincture) through utilizing a held hit combining basic attacks and special charges with Driver Tail or executing enemies to convert a portion of the gauge. These Vials shift based on what Cipher Elpis is currently using, storing nexeratics with a Driver Tail attack.  Ouroboros Vials can be consumed by utilizing Quark Basilisk before an attack, continuous combos or held executions to accumulate mixtures of buffs on himself and his weapon for mixed follow-ups that are done in different combinations. Causing the mercury on Gestalt to excite and split into atoms to spread Cipher-based damage and will be affected by chaining element-inducing moves that affect his basic moves (Such as Ouroboros Cross, Overflown Tail, Basic Combos, etc) 
  • Using multiple different Vials in succession can cause a Chain Reaction, enhancing Gestalt’s form. While multiple of the same Vial can be stocked to form an Ouroboros Ring, creating an amplified nexeratic for follow-up extensions at the cost of a full Gauge being charged. These extensions different levels via the Flow Chain, enhancing Elpis' charges and nexeratics with extended hitboxes, enabling him to varying Ascension Finishers at max rank.
  • Speed / grab buffs are in the form of orange nexeratics, projectile / point-multiplying buffs are blue nexeratics, guard-breaking / critical buffs are red nexeratics, defense / stun buffs are purple nexeratics, health / item buffs buffs are green nexeratics. Using any nexeratic puts different layers on Elpis' health, and using all at once can only be done when Elpis creates an Ouroboros Ring. Each Vial can store up to 5 nexeratics at a time. 

• • However, Elpis cannot affect enemies that are buffed. The less health an enemy has left, the more energy that will be used for efficient attacks. Matching nexeratics can be beneficial and more are gained through a combo of attacking the enemies tactically as they are aggressive and progress in stats. 

Gestalt Calibur: Elpis' swordstaff, Gestalt, is a remarkable weapon that can bend and twist like a snake through a jointed whip mechanism on it's hilt that alters it's attacks when transforming it, utilizing conductive fangs on it's sides. These fangs are powered by a miniaturized atomic reactor to provide a high output of radioactive emission and vibrating particles that causes air pulses. Cipher shifts the chemical properties of the blade, capable of cutting through most material and absorbs atoms that are stored for powerful attacks upon fusing or dividing them, affecting molecular bonds. The blade can extend and retract into a whip-like sword of liquid mercury contained within a magnetic field that can ensnare, disarm, or incapacitate enemies with flexible multi-hitting and fast attacks coated in liquid mercury channeled through the hilt. Its properties allow it to be both pliable and heavy when engaging multiple enemies at once by shifting it's density and cracks with a resonant energy that disrupts the molecular structure of anything it strikes. The whip injects bio-phasic neurotoxic compounds inside its chain segments that inhibits nervous system responses in biological enemies and corrodes conductive materials in synthetic ones. Neural disruptors embedded in the whip’s segments target weak points, amplifying internal damage through applying micro-pulses of adaptive enzymes that target structural vulnerabilities, making enemies more susceptible to further attacks.

Crafted from an advanced metal that is both lightweight and incredibly durable, Gestalt combines the melee thrusts of a sword with the versatility of a staff. It's barbed chain segments (Quinteseeds) are micro-accelerator nanites that directly interface with the biological system, and utilizes Elpis' arc reactor to coat the whip in superheated plasma. They can shoot off into the enemy and can be retracted back using a charged attack, detonate vibrational spikes with it's fangs, binding enemies together like atoms, sharpen into a drill, harden into ballistic flails, or fissioning the whip to extend in multiple dagger claws. Elpis prefers to utilize rotational attacks such as twist and turns that are akin to a snake via Nachash's incorporation, holding Gestalt downward rather than wielding it properly. Gestalt can change its shape and function according to the Cipher, the code that Elpis uses to activate different modes. Gestalt can also combine with other weapons of the Tannin Jaegers to create powerful attacks.

The metallic sheens on Gestalt are able to conduct atomic energy, allowing Elpis to channel different chemicals for elemental reactions that shift the blade's density through charging for heavier melee attacks with it's nexeratics. Charging long enough causes the atomic energy to spread into gaseous mist that poisons nearby targets with radiation, changing the charge attack based on Elpis' direction and allows him to cancel out moves. Mid-charging converts into a faster attack, and charging to attack weakened enemies does a special execution. However, Gestalt has a finite limit of how much energy it can channel.

• • Quark Basilisk Charges per Vial Stocks when activating charged attacks and follow-ups:
• Level 1 - Atomic Friction
  Nexeratics Stored per Vial: 3
  Basic attacks gain nexeratic properties                                                  Increased attack range via Gestalt’s whip
  Grappling weaker enemies in a row grants items and more points          Full charges causes stored nexeratics to detonate their effects
  Level 2 - Transmutative Acceleration
  Cipher Stored per Vial: 6     
  Gestalt stacks damage with chain explosions during combos and adds up different reactions when hitting weakpoints before grabbing. 
• Charged attacks bind enemies, alllowing to perform extended hits with grapples.                                                                                
  Level 3 - Omni-Molecular Fangs
  Cipher Stored per Vial: 9
  Max Ouroboros Ring Activation, causing Cipher layering with enhanced nexeratic stacking. Gestalt reshapes mid-combo, altering its reach and properties dynamically.                                                  
• Allows instant follow-ups after a held special attack / stock combo of charged hits, preventing delay. At the end of a series of charged attacks using nexeratics, Elpis can charge a final slash based on the Driver Tail he's using. 
• Elpis uses portions of his Tincture stacks to split Gestalt into multiple shorter micro-chain whips that he dual-wields for raw multi-nexeratic damage and Driver Tail-linking attacks with high recovery, enhancing his basic attacks with attacks from previous Ciphers upon activating an Ouroboros Ring. The Ouroboros Ring is an elemental-boosting move that costs Elpis' Climax Gauge to create an amplification field. Ranging from an electric storm, a whirlwind drill that continuously drags enemies, an ice dome of vibrational spikes slowing enemies, etc.

- Basic Attacks -

• • Overflowing, Hemorrhagic Dagger and Overflown Tail: (A) 4-slash combo of sword and dagger cuts, either slashing straight-forward or slashing in a swipe while kicking. First slash is horizontal, second slash twists vertically for a third sweep and the last slash has Elpis coil Gestalt behind his back into an enemy. The last slash is chargeable with varying levels of damage that delivers a devastating mark that can be extended for a follow-up. (B) Pausing in the middle of his combo causes Elpis to perform a heavy curve twisting Gestalt backwards for a launching slash, allowing for combo extension and mixes in projectile shots before Elpis rushes at an enemy with quick stabs and a chargeable pierce that grabs enemies. (C) Elpis' third combo has him charge up a previous stab in combination with Driver Tail, making him do quick twisting cuts and sweeps as he whirls Gestalt's whip before doing an anchor-drill slash from the ground. Elpis can mix in different finishers after 2 hits, 3 hits or 4 hits for combo extension via Ouroboros Cross for alternate combos.
  • Sky Eater Combos: Elpis' mid-air combo has a quick series of 3 dual slashes and twists, which can be held for him to continuously whip up to 3 times. Upon pausing after 2 hits, Elpis splits his whip into chain segments attached to grab an enemy then causes a chain reaction of atomic explosions with a quick flash of mercury as he does a spin-cut. Holding the attack button condenses the whips for a plunging attack. 
  • Overflown Tail: Combo finisher variations based on Driver Tail usage when charging an Ouroboros Vials. Quickdraw Heat does a rapidly retracting flail hit, Harmonic Leaper drills into locked enemies, Swarm implodes out a flood of cold spikes, Particle Dispersal performs ?, ? (Iaso) performs (TBA), Diamondback Rattlesnake performs a chakram shield throw that Elpis catches to smash enemies with lightning and interrupt their attacks, and Mercurial uses Elpis' dagger for a grab attack. Works in mid-air.
  • Overflown Tail - Spiral Rancor: A 3-slash combo of a shoulder bash and rapid cyclical kicks with Gestalt being held via Elpis' leg as he swings forward, ending with a butterfly kick twisting Gestalt's blade over to slam onto opponents. The 3 hits thrust, pull back then kick upward with a flipping whip. Charging the last hit makes Elpis spin while holding onto Gestalt, continuously jabbing at enemies with the whip near it before performing a butterfly kick. This can be continuously done for Elpis to spin Gestalt's whip on his leg, extending saws off of Gestalt for nexeratic-based damage. This can cancel into any ground attack, spreading poisonous damage.
  • Vivisecting Curse: Elpis can perform a swift slash hitting back and forth to enemies far away from him or close to him based on input but has slower recovery. Charging it causes a burst of twisting cuts as Elpis uses wires off of Gestalt to atomically dash across enemies, slashing an enemy when his radar lights up through his lock-on
  • Ouroboros Cross: 2 held cross slashes from Elpis' whip and dagger that are meant to link into another combo from a Cipher, adding up constant damage by twisting against an enemy to trip them during a combo before a follow-up. Such as a revolving slam and outward swing from Agryo, a rocket chainblade punch from Interior, a multi-stocked shot from Caduceus that causes stun, a double spinning forward slash from Agryo with poisoned drills reaching up to mid-air, a thrown shield from Diamondback reflecting attacks with lightning shocks, etc. This allows to repeat certain attacks that have follow-ups or hold them before the follow-up. Ouroboros Cross can be charged to use a portion of the Climax Gauge and increase nexeratics for nexeratic-infused tendrils after a certain amount of attacks in a combo or be held for a Mercurial stance that utilizes Elpis' nexeratics in an Ouroboros Ring for a special grab or a launch. 
  • Gains properties based on last nexeratic used:
    
    • Orange : Spins twice as fast, dealing quadruple damage in a short burst.
    • Blue: Fires out three cutting waves.
    • Red: Gestalt detonates mid-spin to mark enemies, dealing AoE slash explosions.
    • Green: Allows instant cancel into a dodge or another attack.
    • Purple: Blocks and counters enemy attacks during the spin.
    • Yellow: Enemies drop extra Vials on hit.

  • When consuming 3-5 different Vials in quick succession activates a Cipher Reaction that overloads Gestalt's energy field with each attack releasing a charged hit matching the absorbed Vials for a short duration. Every attack leaves a delayed secondary explosion and can be held for Gestalt to fracture into multiple chains for enemy-sweeping hits.

    • Gaia Massacre: Spell card where Elpis wildly flails Gestalt's whip back and forth before it returns to him, setting off atomic fire that drags to his path with multi-directional shots from PB-Railbuster before holding his weapons in unison upward and slamming them downward for a devastating blastwave
    • Subatomic Bond: Transfers atomic energy to whatever is linked through Gestalt's wire from a Tango move. This link can cancel into other attacks and stack nexeratics.
    • Fusion Tango: Attaches whip segments to 2-5 enemies causing them to slam into each other exploding. Throwing out these segments before an enemy attacks grants Gestalt multi-joints in an AoE attack that can be done on ground and mid-air. Holding it makes Elpis do a rolling slam that closes the joints in and out.
    • Grafted Prion: During a delayed attack or cooldown, Elpis performs an omni-directional dagger hit with debuffs via Quark Basilisk, triggering hit multiplication. Changes based on directional input. These can be done continuously before a finisher.
    • Suture: When grabbing an enemy mid-combo, Elpis can hold the input to twist Gestalt into a serrated hook infused with his cyborg arm, launching the enemy into a multi-stage finisher:
      
      • Atomic Friction – Elpis locks an enemy down with his sword and binds the enemy with it's chains, dealing damage over time. When countering, Elpis hits the enemy with his dagger.
      • Transmutative Acceleration – Elpis slashes multiple times, causing chain reactions based on the current nexeratic type, expanding his whip to suspend the enemy.
      • Omni-Molecular Fangs – Elpis twists Gestalt in a full-circle execution, sending out multi-hits with a pulsed stream of whips.
    • Elpis launches grabbed enemies with a launching kick as he slashes into them with his dagger
    • Acidic Moult: In mid-air, rolls forward with a somersault kick and double whip swing in a fan-like motion that closes in to send out explosive mercury.  Follow-up does a turning dagger and sword slash that extends out the whip segments for a wide projectile.
    • Stellar Annihilation: Gestalt's whip fires a rotating stream of bolts forward penetrates enemies and terrain when tagged, the Quinteseeds will home for a direct shock as a whip missile and the streams can pass through walls. Can be enhanced via nexeratics into firing a surface-level spiralling beam that then splits into three swirling lances homing at the target, coming from a dragonic mouth firing 3 atomic balls that then emit drill beams that shield Elpis. Works in mid-air. 
    • Miasmic Stamp: Can hold attack to unleash a 180 whip swing with wide sweeping range and damage that sprays out explosive atoms, having 4 quick charged follow-up whip slashes that go forward with multiple slams. The end will launch Elpis and the enemy into mid-air with a bouncing whip. 
    • Divecracker: Elpis slams his sword down from the air to the ground with a diagonal kick makes a small stunning wave as he splits Gestalt's whips in both directions. Upon landing from mid-air, does a charged follow-up where Elpis performs a kick attack as he scrapes the ground with his blade, leaving radioactive trails on the ground.
    • Exothermic Viper: Does a low slash then a spinning launch that sends enemies and Elpis into mid-air by the end of his staff. Charging it makes him cast multiple whip-blasts from his blade before spinning upward. Held follow-up to this is a heavy whip attack extending Gestalt to slam the enemy back down in an arcing corkscrew motion, while light input does a rotor-like slash of daggers against aerial enemies. 
    • Coiled Helix: Stretches whip toward enemies or grapple points with an attack that changes and close or far ranges. Elpis can hit enemies from far away with a leaping dagger slash of high recoil or hold to snatch enemies mid-combo through Gestalt to extend his juggles through redirection whether from ground or mid-air. Is able to perch on points such as enemies or cliffs and hold on walls/roofs to prepare takedowns, sending out a snakehead from Gestalt to hit enemies when attacking. 
    • Follow-up to Coiled Helix can be a dodge (Wind Break) or a bounce that causes Elpis to recoil back. Charging does a dagger pierce that injects a nexeratic discharge that can be continuously followed with nexeratic charges to raise multi-hits. If Elpis successfully lands 3 continuous grapples in a short time, he grabs the enemy by their face and pulses them, overloading Gestalt's molecular structure with a chain reaction hitting multiple enemies at once and causing poison build-up.
    • Elpis swings across the area with his whip. He can also use enemies to swing over them and/or pull them for a heavy slash with great knockback.
    • Stomps on downed enemies when on ground, drops on enemies for a neck-snapping attack when in mid-air. Causes a multi-piledriver when grabbing enemies. Can affect enemies differently when they're nearly dead, utilizing them as nexeratic enhancements through extracting parts of them or altering them for different benefits with a short minigame.
    • Atomic Cut: Elpis uses Quark Basilisk to charge a shot from Anaconda and an atomic blast from Gestalt, releasing a cross shot. Charging the follow-up causes Elpis to do a grab on staggered enemies or multiple whip-shots that can be repeated with available nexeratics, transforming the blast into a multi-hitting pulse of multiple projectiles with constant damage. Cancels out charged attacks with ranged-melee attacks that splits into multiple slashes of radioactive decay, such as splitting projectiles into multiple orbs that explode. Can be used during the middle or end of move delay / cooldown. 
    • Quark Basilisk: Quickly charging Elpis' sword swing during a combo, before, or after an attack allows to access Charges (Via Vials) to alter Gestalt's molecular structure for extended whip-wave attacks with multi-hitting properties and multiple delayed explosions to corrode enemies with an extended hitbox. Releasing it multiple times in a row performs a nexeratic-infused attack. Elpis' held attacks are heavier, staggering enemies with aftershocks of decaying pulses after a hit, and uses follow-up whip attacks of delayed blasts that can cancel into each other via Ciphers to cause chain reactions. This converts matching nexeratics into an amplified Ouroboros Ring, allowing for multiple follow-up attacks during a held attack. Orange nexeratics performs an anti-air leap that crashes into the ground with rolling flails, green nexeratics blasts pilebunker jets to dash-jump, etc. 
    • Forward Charge: The blade becomes serrated and hardened, executing Hadean Fang
      Downward Charge: Gestalt liquefies, forming a fast-dripping whip that coats enemies with a radioactive mist during Miasmic Stamp
      Upward Charge: Gestalt splits into a double-helix formation during Exothermic Viper
    • Aerial Version of Quark Basilisk
    • A special version of Quark Basilisk that consumes a full Atomic Gauge for a nexeratic-infused attack tied to the current Cipher.
    • Does a dunking punch and then a shoulder bash. Charging it does a follow-up atomic wave of radioactive chains.
    • Fluid Slither: Slides down and is able to shoot at the same time to get past obstacles. Stopping Elpis' slide causes him to enter a flipping kick that hits low and then sweeps enemies.
    • Wind Break: Dodge with an evading whip slash that can cancel. After dodging, Elpis swiftly attacks an enemy with a backstab. Dashes / Dodges can be cancelled with a quick rotational slash that causes Elpis to turn around or flip over an enemy with a twisting dagger slash, helping avoid incoming damage. When the dodge is held on time, Elpis performs a slithering motion of rapid shots then a pulsed dagger and sword slash that can be done 2-5 times as long as there's enemies hit by the attack, making Elpis hit from behind the enemy for a grab and use a potential charged shot follow-up that varies with nexeratics.
    • Hadean Fang: Chargeable sword thrust dashing towards enemies with a spiralling whip twist. This thrusting dash can deflect projectiles and happens twice. If the attack key is pressed on-time the enemy is contacted to a certain amount, Elpis can unleash a barrage of dagger and sword strikes rather than a thrust before slamming an atomic blast and an explosive shot upon palming the enemy. Can be cancelled with Exothermic Viper. Holding it causes Elpis to send his whip at his target before dashing or sweep away enemies with his whip rapidly upon continuous inputs (After hitting with the thrust)
    • Vaulting Crawl: When on a wall, Elpis can do short attacks to reach enemies that are either on the wall or away from him. Doing a finisher makes Elpis kick flip off.
    • Air Taunt / Sorrowful Jormungandr: Elpis says "It's time for punishment!" as he performs an aerial Driver Tail. This coats his dagger in bloody mercury, causing poisonous damage over time and chains finishers quicker. Causes a different reaction based on Ciphers.
    • Caustic: Creates a nexeratic marker in front with dagger, hitting enemies' weakpoints via follow-ups involving dagger and sword or Ciphers. Held attacks generate atomic explosions based on nexeratics upon follow-ups that disrupt enemies to extend reach. Marked enemies are grabbed with a quick whip execution, leaving them vulnerable to elemental damage or can be hit by Ascension Finisher. Hitting a marked enemy with charged attacks does a special move that causes nearby enemies to take secondary damage by causing delayed detonations that expands based on Ouroboros Vial count, extending combos via critical damage.
    • Lock-on marked dashes causes Elpis to thrust into enemies multiple times in a row with nexeratic-infused slashes based on how many marks he's placed onto them. The first one absorbing damage but the damage absorption decreases with each bio-warp dash following it. Having different attacks on enemies that Elpis dashes into depending on the amount of tags, ranging from attacking backwards with 2 tags to a finisher with max tags.
    • Silver Flash: Activates Quark Basilisk on marked enemies for high speed dual-wield attacks to fully charge the mark and detonate. The more marks accumulated, the greater range and chain reactions. Elpis generates a Vaporizing Shroud cloak that restrains enemies for finishers, making mercury-stacking cloak-waving attacks add up automatically through extensions, cancels and finishers with rapid stabs. As well as adding an enhancement to other Ciphers such as making Interior attacks explode, Caduceus attacks cause instant freeze, Diamondback attacks drag in enemies from anywhere when charging, etc.
    • Vascular: If an enemy's affected by multiple nexeratic marks, Elpis' grab performs a dismembering slash that causes his Ouroboros Vial to explode, causing splash damage based on stored nexeratics.
    • Nucleic Catalyst: A charged version of Caustic Blade that can be done multiple times to mark enemies with nexeratics for constant debuffs and will detonate when Elpis performs a charged attack on the enemy.
    • Mercurial: A sword stance that adjusts angle and direction of attacks for easy aim to dismember limbs/weakpoints for multi-kills/finishers, to cause enemies to become staggered in rapid damage temporarily with trails of mercury. Attacks will be imbued with a charged effect with liquid mercury coating Gestalt, and chaining a different amount of charges after 2, 3, 4, or 5 attacks causes atomic reactions in a marked space. Holding these charges then quickly releasing for continuous inputs uses tincture stacks to accumulate spatial damage in quick combos, extensions, or finishers affecting the duration. Using this at the end of a move spews out a snake-like trail of burning mercury, raising it's effects with how high the Climax Gauge is and can be done 3 times in a row, adding up charges for spell cards and Ultimate Attack's debuffs
    • Constriction: Wraps bio-mechanical wires around enemies to hold them, restricting them to pummel them up close, perform finishers or throw them into others. Can grab enemies from mid-air or aerial enemies and slam them down. Gives a held follow-up attack for snatches, using the edge of Gestalt to suspend enemies in wires with a rotational spin before before batting them away with a barehand attack.
    • Death Slammer: Can finish off enemies with a quickly-timed whip grab either with Gestalt, either throwing them forwards or backwards afterwards. Can charge for a Quark Basilisk version. Marked enemies will instantly die when their health is poisoned upon Elpis' grab, dropping nexeratics. 
    • ?: Aerial Version of Death Slammer that can be charged for a Quark Basilisk version, where Elpis axe kicks an enemy and elbows them downward.
    • Myo-Devourer: Charges up for a wide-ranged whip attack hitting enemies all around Elpis with a multi-directional segment whip before casting those segments together in a swirling mass of atomic explosions upon detonating multiple segments, whether on ground or mid-air. The whip's damage can bounce across nearby enemies and extends range with delayed explosive trails when used in a combo via Quark Basilisk. Using this during a grab pulses the grabbed enemy with a delayed explosion.
    • Fibril Assassin: Rapidly cross-slashes with dagger and swordwhip with charged projectiles and a flurry of quick, low-damage attacks, before performing a multi-directional finishing slash with his whips in a timed 3-hit combo. Charged follow-up has him past an enemy with a spinning sword and dagger cut, holding longer slams with his whip. The high hit count staggers enemies and generates nexeratics upon hitting marked enemies. This can be done with held shots or after Caustic to create nexeratic effects when held, boosting stun and changing when used as a combo-ender. Works in mid-air.
    • Reach: Stretches out whip to hit enemies far away, whether on ground or mid-air with a held stream of projectiles on the chain. On ground, it serves as an anti-air that hits upward, while in mid-air it pulls in enemies by hitting downward.
    • Humoral Ordinance: Retracts whip, pulling in enemies with an atomic shockwave. This can pull multiple enemies at once by spreading barbed segments as chain-net traps. Holding it causes the shockwave to radiate, pulsing nearby enemies with constant damage then does a follow-up slash that causes it to explode.
    • ?: Is able to perform a guard-breaking hit that disarms weapon-wielding enemies that wield weapons or reach items that are far away with it's whip pull. Can use wires to grab obstacles or enemies throw. Follow-up attack causes Elpis to charge at enemies with a dagger attack with a held shot for high knockback. 
    • Ascension Finisher - Forbidden: Elpis connects his shorter whips together as chains that bind multiple enemies at once for a series of heavy continuous slashes from all angles before bursting them into atoms.
    • Revenge: If Elpis gets knocked down, he can twist his blade like a staff to hold himself for recovery and perform a counterattack
    • Elpis' Ultimate Attack is Death's Approach, where he unleashes fang-like extensions on Gestalt's hilt and uses the blade like a dagger, using both in conjunction like whipping claws with a wide range on it's attack.

• 

  Twisted Anaconda: Elpis' secondary arm, a revolver infused with a flute dagger that shifts form and is used in pair with Gestalt Calibur. The revolver is able to fire out rapid shots due to Elpis' neural interface with Exonaut commanding the suit to make bundle scrap together through atomic fusion to fire radioactive bullets. It's dagger is based on the tooth of a snake, having fast short-ranged attacks that stacks poison.

  • ?: 3-shot combo. Works in mid-air, pausing does a wave shot.
  • Arc Spray: Fires an elevating spread of high diffusion from down to up quickly, with range increasing based on how high Elpis' Climax Gauge is, building up stun. Can be used in mid-air. Doing it continuously makes Elpis spin out revolver shots while slashing. 
  • Firing a shot during a throw or a dash makes it automatically detonate, causing extra damage.
  • Splicer: Charges up a multi-hitting orb shot that is then struck with a dagger slash to send out rapid multi-projectiles. The orb will build up stun on enemies by contact. Works in mid-air.
  • Ascent: Fires off curved shots as Elpis launches upward, hitting enemies around him. After a melee launch, Elpis fires into launched enemies before blasting them away with a timed charge with a dagger combo.
  • Blood-flaying Drift: Rapid dart shots can be held after melee attacks to boost damage, counters or dodges. Releasing makes Elpis fire a railgun rifle shot as he slides around, increasing stun by leaving behind a toxic mist.
  • Spins while firing out beam shots. Works in mid-air.
  • Elpis dual-wields Twisted Anaconda and Railbuster for extra charges. He's able to fire out separate shots for them. Continuous attacks does cross shots as Elpis strafes across enemies.
  • Releases gaseous wave shots of miniature compounds during nexeratic-infused attacks, leaving behind gaseous swarms. Functions during lock-on, allowing Elpis to disperse rapid wave shots then do a chargeable finisher with a beam that drops on enemies hit.
  • Dosage: Creates a charged dose shot that changes based on how much charge Elpis has in his revolver, marking his Ouroboros Vials before he fires out a nexeratic burst of rapid shots. Light Dose slows enemies and weakens enemies, Medium Dose applies poisonous stacks and item drops, and Lethal Dose causes an explosive AoE scattering damage onto nearby enemies.
  • Fires enhanced shots on stunned / downed enemies. Continuous inputs with a timed grab leads to Elpis doing a special finisher.
  • Throws Twisted Anaconda's dagger before it fires a wave shot.

AiX Bulwark: An energized techno-shield of Elpis used to compensate for weak stamina in melee, passively wielded in unison with PB-Railbuster and sometimes Gestalt. Compacted within a satellite dish-like shape for attachment on Elpis' back. When used, it can store charges of energy within it's cartridges to redirect it after analyzing it into an Ex Arm. It is equipped with jets on it's angular ends for Elpis to engage into a high-speed attack charging his shield into opponents while covered in an X-shaped orb aura of code. It's laser cannon is used within the Hygeia Cipher, only shortly used normally as a quick cannon blast. Commonly used for parries with Elpis turning his arm sideways with Bulwark and Gestalt.

• • If Elpis performs his parry while moving, it causes him to do a swift step along with multiplying points scored. However, he cannot parry in the middle of an attack and his parry doesn't work on heavy attacks like beams. Parries with well thought-out follow-ups against opponents could put them in a dazing stagger

PB-Railbuster: A rifle-crossbow with a shotgun-like maw that charges atomic particles from the ore within Elpis' heart reactor in helix-like directions as cross waves of high diffusion and compressed air, utilizing infected darts as ammo. These darts convert dealt damage to enemies into health, and is very useful when Elpis is moving due to it's high firing rate that can go through terrain and obstacles. Charged shots deal more stun and knockback at close range, while the rifle function can tag targets with a lock-on after sending a Quinteseed signal via a thrown dart tagging those nearby when far away, increasing range. When charging shots, the maw becomes bigger and becomes an angled mechanical projectile bio-cannon resting on Elpis' shoulder either emitting an missile spray or a wide atomic beam and is plugged to Elpis' back via it's bent tail. The horns' energizing growth indicates the charge levels while PB-Railbuster increases in size expanding on Elpis' arm. Having the capability of causterizing Nosoimones through it's angular aim.

• • ?: 3-shot combo with spread shots. Works in mid-air.
  • Intro-Scope: Tags enemies with darts by hitting them with finishers or dashing into them makes Elpis fire a stream of homing Quinteseed shots or manually-activated blasts when focusing on an enemy through lock-on. Lock-on also reveals hidden objects, directing rapid projectiles when charging after dashing into objects or enemies. Elpis can hold his charge while locking on to slow down before unloading shots rapidly, mixing shots with melee, etc. These rapid shots can be fired up to 3 times.
  • Repeater: Fires rifle darts that pass through enemies, damaging all targets in a straight line and electrifies them, building up a chain reaction that can deal more damage to subsequent foes. After hitting multiple times, the bullets can be charged for a burst debuffing enemies caught in it's blast.
  • Doom Rift: Fires off a held shot after a melee attack that creates a shockwave warp that can be followed with stocked shots to create consecutive shots that hit enemies rapidly while sweeping them in.
  • Skyhook: Elpis fires off shots of compressed air while above, sending away enemies while moving him in any direction. Works for dashes.
  • Fires off bouncing shots with splash damage that create marked enemies/areas for support fire upon doing a finishing shot on time, but will bounce against guarding enemies. Works in mid-air.
  • X Disintegrator: Charged shots with increasing knockback based on how high Elpis' Climax Gauge is. First charge fires a standard anchor-drill blast, second charge fires a spiraling helix-shaped ray that passes through enemies, third charge fires a bouncing harpoon shot that locks multiple enemies by sweeping them in, fourth charge shot can be fired off multiple times with an explosive AoE, and final charge is a finisher. Stocked shots will fission out the larger charged shot into smaller projectiles that spread damage.
  • Continuously pumps out charged shots, making Elpis fire in multiple directions. Works in mid-air.
  • Elysium Reaver: Leaves behind a trap that causes area denial when detonated. Up to 6 can be used.
  • Can mix different elemental shots with stocked charges to add up effects that also alter the trajectory and damage. Ouroboros Vials affect the charge levels, stocked shots, and elemental effects of Railbuster.

Ciphers: Sub-device gadget implants within Elpis that transplants memories of the past within Elpis and mimics genetical codexes of the old age. It is able to see through the memories of users from the past and future. Ciphers reconfigure the Synchro-Gear mechanism flowing energy in Exonaut to allow usage of tincture-slotted nexeratics and a portable mobile terminal in the form of a Necronomicon Tome containing spells in the form of data cards.

The terminal is equipped with a signaling artificial brain data-emulated through a prototype. Ciphers contain cathode raytubes within their cores serving as transmuational adaptors.

• • When selecting a Cipher, Elpis' attacks for Gestalt are altered, allowing him to freely switch to the Cipher mid-combo and utilizes each Cipher as different gadgets that enhance his playstyle. Only 5 Ciphers can be chosen during a mission

Aratus Cipher (Grey): Elpis' default Cipher that's balanced and focuses on the sword form with charged propulsions to set up extension or huge damage, emphasizing maximization of melee power. Affects charged shots with roaring waves that amplify attacks. Applies mercurial poison to Elpis' attacks, and will increase both Elpis' health and points with how many kills he's gaining through using poisonous attacks along with nexeratics he gains. But will lose it when not properly following any special moves. Mercurial's held Quintseed attacks pass through enemies with continuous damage. Changes it's composure during charges, and during Ouroboros Ring.

Interior Cipher (Orange): This Cipher is capable of one-on-one combat on enemies and utilizing continuous attacks combined with agility and knockback, enhancing ground combat through charging attacks easier. It has more follow-ups that can either finish off an enemy or keep them down. Elpis' form of alchemical technology usage in this Cipher is melting, degrading solids and enemies down to liquids thus altering Elpis' moves in powerful focused attacks that sweeps enemies with damage building up in close proximity. The prosthesis flail-claws contain plasma cores of superheated ferrofluid encased in a magnetic lattice that triggers localized thermonuclear ignition upon striking, creating explosive heat dispersal similar to thermobaric implosions. By modulating atomic spin rates, Interior can generate instantaneous heat surges, causing its flails to ignite air particles into plasma arcs. This allows Elpis to perform combustion strikes that superheat impact zones, vaporizing solid matter upon contact. Elpis has enhanced grabs with this Cipher. Key combinations melting enemies builds up molecular heat and speed based on multiplied points from the Flow Chain.

• • Driver Tail - Quickdraw Heat: Elpis can extend and retract Gestalt's attacks for more damage by either pausing his charges or using cancels in the middle of his attacks that are chargeable, sweeping enemies and causing potential knockback through speeding up atomic particles to deliver kinetic impacts with permanently fused nexeratics. When charged hits land on grabbed enemies, Elpis can continuously extend his attacks into rapid hits such as Serpentine Cascade that releases any built up damage on that enemy as critical knockback with high stun as follow-ups before having to charge up again. Charging it at the end of an attack causes Elpis to stab downward and pull back up to send an enemy away.
  • Barbed Ringtails: Gestalt extends 2-3 flails outward in a twirling claw/kick combo that goes from side to side around an enemy before Elpis flips over with a timed explosive flail slam where he pulls back an explosion afterward to leave trails of flame.
  • Earthbound: Mid-air version of Barbed Ringtails. Can be done in mid-air, with Elpis revolving downward with a heavy swing.
  • Morningstar Braid: 2 flail-like swinging tendril spin attacks swiping enemies extending reach that can have the last attack modified. This swinging spin attack is somewhat defensive against projectiles and has a follow-up swirl that works for extension before exploding with cursed trails. This can be held for a whipping slash upward or downward with Gestalt that fits into any combo, using double inputs makes it extend.
  • Hooks to the ground with flails before Elpis swings across the area with a large sweep. Changes based on if the enemy's close or far.
  • Crossed Paths: Activates the claws to close in two flails inward and crush enemies with a powerful energy blasts.
  • Rave Nerve: Can hold attack while running and release to do a spinning flail slash while rushing, allowing to destroy any obstacles in the way while boosting speed
  • Serpentine Cascade: Charge fires a short rapid burst of uninterrupted fist shots in the gauntlets, damaging guarded enemies with slithering waves of fire. Has vertical shotgun-styled charged shots that damages enemies while charging, firing out an explosive shot that can be aimed anywhere. When charged shots are fired, Elpis can use the shot key again for when the shot makes contact for it to make a burst.
  • Neutron Compression: Compact nexeratic matter by squeezing atoms tightly, releasing immense energy and releases stocked charges in a powerful burst to get past enemies and obstacles. Can cause chain reactions.
  • Radioactive Shower: Rapidly punches with flails to spray flames on ground, whirling around trails of flames. Being able to aim upward, forward or downward. Held attack in the middle of a mid-air 5 slash combo leads to a rapid attack on the ground slamming enemies back with a wide slash sending a charged plutonium core into the ground blasting enemies below with chains of mercury.
  • Claw: Elpis detaches a flail arm off of Exonaut, kicking it toward enemies like a rocket. Can be used after an attack for a quick charge with Elpis hopping over with it for Driver Tail effects. 
  • Nova Eruption: Spell card where Elpis claps his hands together to make an atomic orb that absorbs projectiles to increase it's size before Elpis throws it into an opponent, exploding for heavy damage. Orbs can be held to place them onto ground or mid-air, damaging nearby enemies and can detonate them to fire out a rubble blast.

Caduceus Cipher (Blue): This Cipher uses a tailed stun-axe variation of Gestalt with PB-Railbuster. The axe-barrel uses a hyper-cooled Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC) reaction, pulling thermal energy from its surroundings to instantly drop temperatures to near-absolute zero. Upon impact, supercooled nitrogenous compounds form pseudo-ice fractals, which expand explosively inside enemy tissues or structures, causing instantaneous brittle fracturing and molecular destabilization. Being ranged with usage of multi-directional rapid projectiles that decelerate molecules, bending the trajectory of shots and sets up critical damage on enemies. It can send oscillating wave projectiles when charging melee by strumming at perfect timing in multitudes of directions such as a spin making a shot divide into shards of ice sent across the area.

Elpis' form of alchemical technology usage in this Cipher is freezing, solidifying various substances through it's waves for either platforming or stagnating both attacks and enemies. Utilizes Quinteseeds that explode, splitting and crawling along floors upon hitting a surface.

• • Swings axe with Quinteseeds imbued for 5 slashes before casting down a beam. When pausing, Elpis rapidly throws around Quinteseeds with a swiping slash that twists Elpis to crush any enemies behind him, sending a destructive wave in the form of shards on both sides. Doing this continuously causes Elpis to spin his legs for a swirling kick while standing on the edge of Podalirius.
  • Kelvin: Raises 2 long-ranged trail of ice that intersect with ice-infused axe strikes. Can be held to increase the duration, creating an AoE of crystal pillars from the ground then from above. Works in mid-air.
  • Swaying: Can "freeze" enemies or projectiles as platforms via swinging an axe extension and can hold them for taunts.

• • Imprisoned: Charges stocked shots to mix with melee attacks before unloading to fire off a freezing dome. The freezing dome converts tinctures and restores previous nexeratics, slowing down enemies caught inside and will cause Elpis' attacks to deal critical damage as long as it hits the dome before exploding. The restored nexeratics can be used in an arranged combo to charge up cards, finishers and Ultimate Attack.
  • Modular Segment: Gestalt detaches segment of it's whip to split into smaller weapon extensions. This segment can be used as a remote-controlled projectile, a detonated chain-net trap, a repositioning grapple point, or a decoy. Whip snaps to send out remote-controlled projectiles that pierces through armor with shots of Anaconda / Railbuster. Can be charged for increased range, damage, and to stock multiple shots at once while doing melee attacks. Using this at the end of melee attacks sends out wider projectiles.
  • Force Reflect: Places interconnected fields that will redirect the next attack or projectile to the destination, whether on ground or mid-air when comboing spell cards, extending shots. Placing these on the ground or the wall sets up traps to petrify enemies when Elpis activates an Ouroboros Ring. Elpis can place a field in front to keep an enemy in from behind or in front of them, then freezes them when activating Imprisoned. 
  • Arsenic Rain: A continuous shot on launched enemies with shots of compressed air. Rapidly fires on enemies in mid-air while firing out beams then compressing an atomic orb that blasts a snake-like trail. Can be used after an attack to continuously fire a large orb. 
  • Places down Elpis' Gestalt to switch attacks while it serves as a damage zone of ice. Elpis can use his Ouroboros Ring to freeze enemies caught in it, leaving them open for instakill finishers.
  • Driver Tail - Crackling Swarm: Explodes Quinteseeds to spray out venomous mercury, creating a stunning flash that stops enemies from moving and causes them to be blinded with counters or charged hits with chain-nets attacking them. Holding causes it to be continuous to keep juggling enemies to charge a finisher. Throwing multiple of the same Quinteseed at once causes a larger burst by connecting them and can be used at the end of a move to create an area. But using Ciphers to shift the Quinteseed causes a chain reaction in shaped formations to modify pieces of an area. Attacks will become more powerful when done continuously.
  • Drops Quinteseed on enemies from above, below, or around them.
  • Hunter's Enmity: Rolls toward an enemy with a quick rushing Quinteseed knive. Can sweep in Quinteseeds before the roll to close in on the enemy from both sides, bouncing off them when blocked but will stun them when hit and make them vulnerable to follow-ups.
  • Places Quinteseed in mid-air.
  • Devourer's Festival: Positions Quinteseed knives in front, then turns to position them behind as well. Can position upward to hit aerial enemies, but will position downward when done in mid-air.
  • Crescendo: Throws out 3 Quinteseed knives in a wide arc whether on ground or air while doing a wild slash, and can lock-on to throw them rapidly but is focused on enemies only. Quinteseed knives will split into 5 mercurial shots that expand into orb bundles when hitting a surface. These can be used to thrust Quinteseed knives, causing spore bags to grow on enemies.
  • Crosses Quinteseed knives for a grab-styled AoE finisher that's timed, piercing into enemies and sending them into mid-air.
  • Stocks 3 shots that spread outward, travelling long distances and can be mixed with melee attacks for evasiveness or for Elpis to hold dodges to position for charged shots before Elpis raises his blade to strike nearby enemies that are lined up in an explosive field that forms a triangle. When charging, Elpis creates a cluster field of projectiles around Elpis to fend off any shots from indirect enemies, being sent toward them when released.
  • Tomahawk: Can spin the axe tip toward enemies, heavily damaging them and can be used after using a thrown lock-projectile to send a detonated storm of Railbuster projectiles to enemies nearby, splitting a projectile of Railbuster to the same amount of enemies that are locked on thus increasing the damage. Charging it holds Gestalt in front of Elpis whether for ground and air, whipping it at enemies rapidly. Using this in mid-air makes Elpis use the hilt of Gestalt in a vertical uppercut with an upward spiralling anchor-drill slash, ending with a downward heavy slash upon attacking again.
  • A slower double axe hit on ground. Does a 3-hit revolving swing from mid-air, making a strummed wave be sent in front of enemies.
  • Prima Tide: Fires at the ground to create a frozen zone, sending waves of mercury at enemies that sweep them and weaken defenses. Sending 2 of them then charging causes a large geyser. Grapple points above can be pulled and chained to this attack to drop freezing mists from above.
  • Rolls Gestalt across the ground before slamming it for a double spread blast of Quinteseed projectiles or vertically spins it to latch on an enemy with it's whip. Charging it causes Gestalt's whip to bounce in a flail-like form, spiraling the blast outward in a swirling cluster that fires with increased speed and is more flexible. Can be used during launch combo.
  • Mid-air slash makes Elpis spin down into the ground, stabbing the edge of gunbladed Gestalt for a short blast to enemies near or dealing heavy damage to the enemy he landed on. This spin can deflect projectiles.
  • Ammunition Hive: Mid-air shot with Elpis sending whip missiles in a downward parabola and pushes Elpis to potentially get him into high ground.
  • Gamma Lense: A charge that sends beams that reach outward, hitting all enemies near Elpis with a poisonous blast
  • Sets up automatic Quinteseed attacks after moves, creating follow-ups. Can be cancelled for Elpis to create larger effects with Ouroboros Vials.
  • Makes Quinteseeds synchronize with Elpis. Shots will be sent through fields and nodes to redirect their range.
  • Quinteseeds are switched to attack on their own. When Elpis commands them, they will restore Climax energy while giving Elpis extra ice damage. Multiple Quinteseed attacks can be done based on how high Elpis' Flow Chain is.
  • Elpis manually controls his Quinteseeds
  • Quinteseeds are sent to target aerial enemies or grounded enemies.
  • Sends a long-ranged multi-hit combo with crafted Quinteseed formations. Quinteseeds form in different shapes for melee attacks, such as surrounding singular enemies pushing them back with automatic attacks unless parried.

Diamondback Cipher (Purple): A strategic Cipher that increases crowd control, having counterattacks and ambushes through a Karma Meter for every amount of damage negated from an enemy that Elpis holds as he sits still after a combo to extend attacks and reflect back stun via his nexeratics, sending out lightning toward countered enemies through damage zones that will act on their own upon higher Karma. Even transferring damage into spell cards, but will be limited in usage. Utilizes a shell-like gunblade bow-shield augmentation of Railbuster and Bulwark in the style of a scaled ballista infused with a shielded structure charged from a bio-mechanical organ to project an permeable field. This permeable field ionizes atmospheric particles with it's graphene-tuned supercapacitors, creating a controlled electromagnetic field that discharges high-voltage arcs on contact. Absorbing, storing, and redirecting kinetic energy into stored electrostatic charges that can be re-released as targeted lightning bolts and self-sustaining arcs. Generates neural feedback pulses upon successful parries, disrupting synaptic transmissions in biological foes or overloading circuits in synthetic enemies.

Doubles Elpis' defense and can absorb attacks when attack based on the rhythm of an opponent's movement. The shield is formed with the more perfect parries surging more atoms to the organ to absorb more attacks doing small damage by contact until the shield has enough atoms to become a spinning shield shredding enemies, pushing them away with harder impact upon rushing into them, or can be used to ricochet the shield into a rolling motion in an orbit. Parries under the shield gives Elpis a short amount of health and energy. Elpis is immune to sharp materials with this Cipher and can perform a recoil dash staggering enemies by contact. Is able to disarm enemy weapons and use it as pickups.

• • Driver Tail - Rattling Buckler: A stance for grounded and aerial parries, deflecting projectiles and damaging enemies that come near it. Counterattacks use Bulwark to detonate a shock projectile, can be charged for a counter grab. Sends out electric shocks in melee attacks after counters, adding up stun equal to the damage reflected at the enemy. Purple nexeratics can make Bulwark have a secondary durable layer, allowing it to unleash a small energy burst minimalizing the defense in an AoE that can be strengthened with more matching purple nexeratics, causing more stun and recoil that can be used for mobility.
  • Static Bash: Shield dive from mid-air that causes an explosion of mercury tendrils shocking enemies
  • Scutum Frenzy: Rush combo with lightning-infused attacks on Gestalt's sections before ending with an overhead AoE slash. Purple nexeratics allows to throw a cube-altered Quinteseed from Bulwark energy bursting in a shot while engaging in a high-speed dash in an air-to-ground combo or ground-to-air combo. The finisher makes Elpis split the ground with lightning damage zones as he pierces through with his shield, charging into enemies. 
  • Ionized: Fans out and slashes with ring-like spinners in both hands, cutting up enemies caught inside with seals. This can be done continuously to launch Elpis into an enemy for a powerful bash and a chargeable pulse. Cancels out guards.
  • Merciful Cleaver: Elpis grabs an enemy to use them as an electrified shield, and he can also grab them while downed. Afterward, he throws them into multiple enemies. This can be used after Alberich Saucer for Elpis to leap above with Bulwark through tendrils and slam down with electric domes in an extensive attack, swinging across the area with atomic trails before leaning downward for an upward kick that swings multiple weapons at once after throwing darts that erupt waves of poison upward.

• • Zanber Galient: Elpis calls out lightning on Gestalt before sending it out in a split wave of lightning that hits in all directions to mark the ground with damage zones, shocking enemies to push them back before sending currents upward. This causes enemies hit by the lightning to be damaged with high stun. Can be held forward, upward, or downward from mid-air.
  • Siren Tango: Sets up a grenade decoy that self-destructs on enemies that come to it, allowing Elpis to do an electric attack infused with mercury afterward
  • Aspis Reversal: Elpis immediately recovers when an enemy attacks or tries to grab him, having a potential electric counterattack that leaves them open for finishers. Deflects an enemy attack with an electrified Gestalt, increasing damage based on how close it is and blasting them away in any direction. Going forward makes Elpis launch the enemy, while side inputs are used for mobility and back input is a grab.
  • Splits Bulwark and continuously claps it's halves together, spreading out shockwaves that cage in enemies and slowly crushes them. Makes Bulwark extend out saws from it's rim to cause multi-hitting stun.
  • Nano-scale Firmament: Creates a dome that damages enemies who contact it, serving as a safe-zone for Elpis deflecting the attacks of enemies by using gravity on them, turning Elpis' slashes into rift-like atom cuts that make enemies lighter upon forming an Ouroboros Ring with a thrown Bulwark's arc. Disrupting weapons' atomic structure thus rendering enemy attacks to be weaker. This can also create a wall platform with Bulwark that catches in enemies, restricting them while Elpis can platform over them and collapse the walls.
  • Can ride Bulwark to surf across enemies, leaving trails of lightning in his past before Elpis rolls off the enemy. Going forward stops the attack with Bulwark being kicked toward an enemy before bouncing back to Elpis
  • Has a flipping shot before slamming downward with a heavy blast from Railbuster/Bulwark. Pausing or holding makes Elpis throw Bulwark in a circle around him.
  • Dissonance: Creates electric orbs. Charging it makes Elpis sends out electrified lances, slicing enemies caught inside.
  • Geomagnetism: Dashes forward while throwing Bulwark to push enemies away. Dodges pulls in enemies with Bulwark. Both require timing an input for it to push or pull, otherwise Bulwark will stay on the enemy causing constant damage on them.
  • Crimson Prism and Thunderbolt Fission: Elpis absorbs the shot into his shield and fire it back as an atomic ball emitting an anchor-drill pulse. He can also convert absorbed attacks into health, energy or an item. PB-Railbuster has less range in Hygeia as a cannon of high diffusion working for ground and mid-air with shots simply bursting upon contact, leaving a short mist that will induce an elemental reaction on enemies that touch it. Nexeratics allows Elpis to blast an energy burst in the form of a beam with big range, reshaping Railbuster into a dragonic maw. Triggers fission reactions to create waves of destructive force.
  • Sonic Wail: Can cause shockwave bursts as projectiles through detonating after attacks, causing claps with Bulwark that sweeps with extensive whirls such as after throwing it, increasing with Karma. Works in mid-air.
  • Tectonic: Throws Bulwark in an enhanced arc as a forcefield before returning to Elpis on ground or mid-air. The arc can be formed by throwing out connected orbs before throwing, raising it's stun. Allowing to bounce across multiple enemies at once and be comboed to pull or push enemies.
  • Enhances shield-bash with a recoil that can be used to push against heavy objects. Recoil has defensive properties allowing Elpis to safely collide with and bounce away from hazards, having a cooldown consuming energy when used. 
  • Detonates thrown Bulwark to cause an electrified blast, sending out projectiles. Works in mid-air
  • Alberich Saucer: Causes Bulwark to bounce back and forth from enemies and platforms through parries or dodges as a sonic disc, increasing the damage and stun with each bounce that restrains enemies with Elpis' cloth to not attack or move while multi-projectiles are sent. Can be thrown in mid-air. Holding it longer causes it to lock enemies or points in place before Elpis dashes into them.

Agryo Cipher (Green): Elpis' form of alchemical technology usage in this Cipher is nexeratic restoration, having key combinations that can reverse the state of something. Useful for restoring energy or health due to how it causes items to spawn more frequently at the cost of nexeratics. This Cipher forms a jet anchor-drill that uses a hyper-rotational design to create an artificial low-pressure vacuum, accelerating air molecules for compression. By spinning his drill at high RPM with adjusted aerodynamics, Elpis multiplies the force of his impact for supersonic bursts, propulsion and rotational slashes. It's moves can be used as extensions to Elpis' dagger attacks. 

This Cipher focuses on health and exploiting the energy-health exchange of enemies, regaining lost stats through retaliating against enemies well to weaken them. Making it easier to access spell cards during stylish combos. Strategizes healing through different elemental reactions due to how Elpis' health can be lost easier to stronger enemies. This Cipher emphasizes usage of nexeratics to enhance Elpis' moves of anchor-drill for high-impact hits, enhanced wall-jumps, camouflaging, attacks during movement, etc. Elpis' moves leave trails of mist and fissures on the ground with his bio-warping mechanic to make him step quicker to enemies for certain actions such as stabbing the gunblade's edge into them and sending them away with a missile. Having air-dashes and anchor-drill moves that can be used in mission progression as a utility, such as turning machines within a surface causing objects to move and elevate, interacting with the environment for unique attacks, or using anchor-drills to tunnel through certain parts of a mission, enlarging and boosting Elpis towards a direction as he passes through a barricade. Anchor-drills lock onto nearby enemies upon first hit to make Elpis automatically dive in on them with a warp dash to cause recoil damage. Is very effective against weaker and smaller enemies, as Elpis is able to immobilize them with his combo set-ups to finish them off with anchor-drills thus gaining the most out of his nexeratics.

Picking up items causes them to divide into lesser items of certain nexeratics. Items with matching nexeratics can be crafted into an enhancement. Attacks generate additional tincture stacks and boosts Flow Chain speed. Is limited in passive items, needing to sacrifice them in exchange of newer ones picked up.

• • Razor Skin-shed: Sliding attacks are quicker roll sweeps that can be cancelled with a launching jump to get over enemies and throw down a projectile mid-jump or do a close-ranged attack after leaping over them. It could either serve as a follow-up to dodging, parrying or another attack to deceive enemies with a quicksilver afterimage that can be held for quick bursts of wind on marked enemies. Holding it sends an anchor-drill twister at enemies while back-flipping, sweeping enemies. 
  • Is able to hover in mid-air to use wide-reaching aerial drill slashes. Enemies below Elpis are hit by his jetstream exhausts.
  • Elpis throws out his anchor-drill and divekicks with Chiron Strata
  • Uses Chiron Strata as a damaging platform to cancel off of to reposition Elpis with an anchor-drill boost upwards, sideways, forward, backwards or downwards. Can pogo off enemies with an exxpanded anchor-drill, sending out a projectile each time he spins.
  • Sidewinder Rush: Elpis spins into enemies in an anchor-drill for a limited time, slowly descending. Constantly attacking enemies left and right in mid-air while spinning makes Elpis elevate. Can't work against stronger-leveled enemies and bosses will attempt to block it, causing the player to have to try a different tactic to overwhelm. Works in mid-air. Doing it twice in a row makes enemies become marked. 
  • Cyclone Eater: Elpis' aerial combo is upgraded with his repelling Miasmic Stamp, which has arcing slashes when done continuously on ground and air. Charging in the middle of a mid-air combo causes following slashes to be curved, attacking multiple targets as he spins tendrils upside-down with his drill in a multi-swinging whirl that traps enemies. But simply holding the final slash in either combo variation causes the enemy to be slammed down.
  • Follow-up attack during delay combos with jetstreams forming trails on Gestalt in the form of talons. Using it as a follow-up after heavy attacks makes it sweep enemies in longer, while lighter attacks do a continuous pierce.
  • Duplicating Touch: Duplicates nexeratics, items or spell cards to stock them. an merge different items or spell cards together to create new items with enhanced properties, or altered elements.
  • Rides on a downed enemy via Chiron Strata. Can be cancelled with a slide kick.
  • Holds dash during an attack for Elpis to use Chiron Strata to leave an anchor blast of wind to increase range.
  • Freed Thrasher: Elpis can stop his dash with a grab, pulling enemies with his tendrils and swinging them over him in mid-air as a smash down
    
  • Revenge Bail: Can recover out of damage and grabs through jumps that cause damage, throwing out small anchor-drill.
  • Venomous: Palm blast that pushes away enemies or moves around Elpis in a direction whether on ground or mid-air through an anchor-drill, boosting jump or dash distance. Charging it leads to Elpis doing a double blast forming a vortex then following it with a wave slash that spreads jetstream mist in his direction sweeping any enemy nearby.
  • Hits enemies out of mid-air with a drill.
  • Clings to a wall before doing talon-like slashes into an enemy.
  • Driver Tail - ?: A secondary gauge that's accumulated through charges. When full, the damage Elpis receives is reduced by 50%, turning a portion of his health into white when hit. This white health can recover through Elpis attacking enemies.
  • Pestilent Torment: Can inject non-boss enemies with a device that causes them to attack their own allies temporarily, and any health/energy lost from those enemies can either be given to Elpis or allies with nexeratics.
  • Harmonic Leaper: Charging a dash into a bio-warp when an enemy is behind causes spiralling tailwinds to blow them away, going through walls while Elpis moves in any direction. Used to quickly move and reach high places. Tailwinds could guide various things into Elpis' direction.
  • Air-dashes are diagonal, allowing Elpis to bounce off his walls and slow his descent.
  • Held spin with anchor-drills being sent out like tornadoes. Works in mid-air, making Elpis do a slam downward.
  • Continuous inputs makes Elpis do a rapid spin combo before slashing into the enemy with drills from both sides that then cross for him to do a spinning rotor slash. This can be done during a basic attack to boost range and stun.
  • Tailwind Crucifix: Cancelling out of an attack string continuously makes Elpis do an anchor-drill combo. Can be used during a spell card or Ultimate Attack.
  • Pulsed Vein: Heavy revolving dive in mid-air letting Elpis fall to the ground at an accelerated rate by using an anchor-drill. Can be held for Elpis to bounce off an enemy.
  • Sweeps enemies with an anchor-drill windmill. Holding it sends them away with a whip attack
  • Anchor-drill is sent to rapidly pierce into an enemy. This can be charged on time for Elpis to do a rapid thrust with it. Works in mid-air.
  • Drops a drill on an enemy from above, causing drills to cover the ground in the form of a ribcage. Can send enemies back down to the ground from mid-air. Lock-on shots sends an anchor-drill onto enemies when far away, shooting while backing up after a 3-slash of Gestalt.
  • Extends and retracts out multiple pincer-like strikes from anchor after lunging down low, reaching higher then closes in with a drill thrust. Ends with a shot of compressed air.
  • Lap Sprint: Can spawn Chiron Strata to ride as a vehicle any time, using nexeratics. 
  • Rides on Chiron Strata with an anchor-drill toss
  • Circles around the enemy with anchor-drill, causing ring trails to close in on them before slashing inwards in a launch
  • Drills into an enemy. Repeating it causes multi-hits on ground and mid-air akin to a scythe before charging to explode. In mid-air, Elpis dashes into aerial enemies with a held 3-slash that sweeps via an anchor drill.
  • Spins on grabbed enemies with Chiron Strata, tossing them upward
  • Nibelung's Rotting Maw: Charged lunge onto enemies to drain 1.2% of their health passing each second to regenerate his energy until they have no more, killing them to drop nexeratics unless they're hit again while latched if the player doesn't need the health or is already full. Can serve as a counterattack grab to enemies coming toward Elpis, causing them to be infected with his curse and buffs subsequent charged attacks. Works in mid-air

Chryso Cipher (Red): Attacks use a nexeratic cube-resonator of "gold" with the staff portion of Gestalt, using nanostructured materials that adjust their lattice structures and increase the mass density of matter, amplifying light strokes of it's serrated edges. Utilizes bio-warping and guard-breaking moves with critical damage and environmental interaction, deconstructing stage pieces to reshape into destructive / supportive constructs. These moves can be used as cancels / extensions to Elpis' sword attacks. This Cipher sets up stun and multiplies points on the Flow Chain, using a taunt stance. Requires long and risky preparation for devastating attacks that could potentially be 1-hit kills through critical effects that improves the flow of combat when executed.

• Cytosurgical Amputation: A combo of pokes and wide hits using pulsed trails off of the staff to bash enemies. Holding the last input makes him twist Gestalt’s chain segments to extend the reach, slashing in a crescent sweep.
• Purged Gambit: Elpis moves forward while swinging before doing a hook-styled attack that fires out radioactive pulses that can be continuously done to boost critical multiplication before doing a held hit.
• Clinical Excision: Splits the staff and grinds through enemies with spiked extensions before causing an Ouroboros Vial detonation when held or causes a delayed multi-slash.
• Maddening Stannum: Emits a soundwave that causes radial damage to break down enemy formations or deal stun based on their proximity. Can be used in taunts to affect enemies' points dropped. Grabbed enemies succumb to critical damage, being dragged to walls. Timing a cancel with it 3 times makes Elpis do a sequence of soundwaves that cause tremors to be left behind.

• Resonant Vitrum: Nexeratic cube attack for Elpis that alters his combos with follow-up cancels based on how many attacks are done to chain different subsequent moves that affect the Flow Chain. Charging makes an explosive formation of gold. Cancelling creates a gold explosion, infusing nexeratic properties that will expand upon consecutive cancels.
• Sulphuric Castigation: Elpis leaps and jackhammers the ground with his staff's pulsed charge, creating multi-damaging quakes that sends out debris at enemies. Upon releasing, Elpis sends out branch-like pillars that send out a spread of projectiles. Cancelling makes the pillars shift to sweep enemies back and forth.
• Mesmerizing Dischord: A taunt on knocked down enemies that transfers damage if an enemy attacks during it. Can turn enemies docile, nullifying their damage and leaving them vulnerable to finishers.
• Hydragyrum Blossom: TBA
• Fluid Stannum: TBA
• Chtonic Ferrum:
• Landslide Cuprum: TBA
• Plumbum Ligature: TBA
• Incision: TBA
• Records in attacks from other Ciphers for 6 moves when on a high Flow Chain rank.
• Vivisection: Downward slash sending a vertical scythe-like attack that can be done in reverse with Elpis doing a revolving kick. 
• Driver Tail - Last Rite: A secondary gauge that's accumulated via charges. When full, Elpis reduces enemy defenses and health, and Elpis' attacks will spread infectious damage across multiple enemies at once with auto-charges. Turns lost health into critical boosts, and Elpis will be unable to die if he's on low health. Critical attacks cause enemies to explode upon death, extending element duration.
• Bloodborne: Charges an Ouroboros Vial to gain multiplication effects from Flow Chain based on how much marks are on an enemy, expanding Elpis' range through making him swing his nexeratic totem resonator with grabs and throws, crippling enemies when performing grapples. Whip moves pull back the nexeratic to extend. Using nexeratics and cards consecutively makes Elpis do a slamming attack with his staff, gaining special points that mixes in nexeratics to affect his moves. This can be activated as an Ouroboros Ring to orbit Elpis and repel enemies, protecting him from death until it's taken down, causing a spread of poison to go out and hit enemies. Holding makes a follow-up using nexeratics and another Ouroboros Vial.

- Trivia -

Gestalt Calibur was originally named "Bane of Destruction", but this became the name of Perseus' Harpe.

Elpis was going to have a string-related ability to reference the idea of Spaghettification to work well against Ritsueto

Nachash being bound to the spine of Exonaut is a reference to the Kundalini

Elpis was formerly going to be a Devil Hunter that assisted Lin, being equipped with a rocket arm and an AWP rifle. He was linked to an entity named Stardust who calms him down and served as his Ultimatrigger that allowed him to fuse with others. Stardust was going to be linked to a "Stardust Head" from a Cerberus. This form was expanded upon as a separate consciousness from Alean that acts more calm and rational than him.

Elpis was originally going to be the leader of the Tannin Jaegers. This was changed for Lyra to be in the position for a more dynamic direction.

Elpis and Ritsueto share many thematic parallels with each other:

• • Elpis, with his black attire and focus on truth and self-perception, represents a quest for purity and understanding. His synesthetic perception of colors ties him to his past, emotions, and aspirations for spiritual awareness. On the other hand, Ritsueto’s white attire and emphasis on stability and adaptation showcase a commitment to collectivism and strength amid challenges.

• • Elpis' stoic demeanor and obsession with uncovering the truth reflect his struggle with emotional complexity, happiness, and mutation. In contrast, Ritsueto's charismatic yet passive-aggressive nature, rooted in his heritage and innate abilities, demonstrates his adaptability and fearlessness. Both characters exhibit loyalty towards those they care for, integrating personal relationships into their overarching goals and identities.

• • The snake-themed twisting, bending, and rotating nature of Elpis' design contrasts with Ritsueto's fish-themed movement akin to flowing water, suggesting two distinctive approaches to maneuvering and adapting to challenges. Both fish and snakes occupy different environments within the ecosystem. Fish are primarily aquatic creatures, thriving in water bodies like rivers, lakes, and oceans. On the other hand, snakes are terrestrial and can be found in various habitats such as forests, grasslands, deserts, and swamps. Fish and snakes have distinct physical characteristics. Fish have sleek, streamlined bodies designed for efficient movement in water, equipped with fins and scales. Snakes, on the other hand, have elongated bodies, scales, and venomous fangs in some species, facilitating their survival on land. Fish are agile swimmers that can move swiftly and change direction rapidly in water. Contrastingly, snakes are known for their slithering motion on land, utilizing their muscle contractions to move smoothly across various terrains. Fish represent emotions and adaptability while snakes represent cunning and flexibility.

• • While Elpis embodies logic, courage, and self-improvement through understanding and purifying impurities, Ritsueto represents adaptability, strength, and a strive for stability and dominance. Their contrasting ideals and abilities provide a rich narrative tapestry that explores themes of truth-seeking, control, balance, and personal growth amidst adversity.

• • Elpis' Gestalt being able to be activated through a harp handle constrasts with how Drazenith's hilt can simply be used like a flute

Various sound cues such as a hidden path or damaged terrain being hinted at causes Elpis to spark a certain color

Elpis, Ritsueto, and other player characters have poses when completing a mission

Agryo and Chryso Ciphers are named after terms referring to Chrysopoeia and Agryopoeia

Elpis originally was going to be able to perform executions on weakened enemies and slash when moving. This was passed to Ritsueto instead. There are more mechanics scrapped from Elpis' Ciphers such as:

• • Ciphers originally being called Spectrum Modshifts. Each Cipher was going to be named after a child of Asclepius, and have a unique form of health signified by different scar locations on Elpis' body. These scar locations would've been a reference to Dragon Marked for Death's Dragonblood characters.
  • Aegle was the default Cipher. Not much changed from it besides the possibility of Aceso being it's altered form during charges.

• • Panacea was the original version of Agryo. It used originally going to be able to camouflage underwater. It was also going to have a gliding hover and hook-like scythe attachments but the latter was changed for Aegle while the former was removed for balancing.

• • Podalirius was the original version of Caduceus, using a health regen mechanic and an axe-guitar.

• • Machaon was a scrapped Cipher that was originally going to use a gunblade that could alter shot trajectory and use a portal interface to explain how it warps. It went into several changes as the earth-based Cipher managing items until being scrapped.

• • Iaso was the original version of Chryso. It was going to have a move that combusts with an emerged smoke that's in the form of a screaming soul. Was a potential move accessed when gaining high combos.
  • Telesphorus was the original version of Interior, using a barehands moveset with the element of fire and focused on damage. Early on, it used defense and could charge a special shield.

• • Hygeia was the original version of Diamondback that was originally going to be a counter-based Cipher like Telesphorus as well but using afterimages. Utilizing grieves and kunai along with a unique taunt stance before Elpis became a dual-wielder.

• • Aceso and Akesis were a split Cipher themed after fish, utilizing different forms. Aceso was originally going to have a mechanic of if Elpis happens to die with a full gauge activated pre-death, he will immediately respawn as Astaroth using Akesis and he's put on a time limit to resurrect Elpis by collecting souls needed to rebuild a Rosa Cross tomb of him before turning into a Nosoimones if the time limit is met, forcing a reset of the mission if failing to do so. Akesis was originally going to have a mechanic in which it detaches Quinteseeds from Elpis to be set in different locations at the cost of having less defense. It also was going to have a dragging field pulling enemies toward Elpis when fully depowered down, manipulating phantasmic rapiers of rays to fire at enemies when aiming quickly. Akesis was later scrapped, yet the dual idea was kept for Iaso then Aegle before integrated into Elpis' default moves.

• • Enigmatic Telesphorus was going to have a crystallized Elpis being picked up by Exonaut to attack enemies but must be protected from not taking damage due to an increase in vulnerability. An idea inspired by Tainted Forgotten from The Binding of Isaac, similarly to how Enigmatic Akesis has traits from Tainted Jacob

• • Chao Feng was originally going to be in Aratus Cipher while Ba Xia was going to be in Panacea Cipher. This was changed for a more thematic fit.

• • Enigmatic Machaon was originally going to have Enigmatic Hygeia's ability. This was also changed for a thematic fit

Elpis' scarf is threaded with wing strands

The second name of Elpis' armor, "Alean" comes from the name of an old scrapped protagonist for BioMassCore whose premise would be having a bodily armor through infusing with an alien meant to protect Earth.

In his redesign from Alean, Elpis was going to be a nameless assassin simply referred to as the Historical Warrior. This was until the idea of Ophiuchuses were conceptualized.

Elpis' skill is meant to be based on the idea of a weak but smart rejuvenating powerless Armiger

Elpis' Ciphers are named after the children of Asclepius. Most of which were female, save for Podalirius and Machaon.

Exonaut's current design is intended to reference various aspects of greek clothing around the torso.

Exonaut helping Elpis' respiratory system and stabilizing with the air around him is based on how the god Aether rules the upper sky and how Aether is considered to be the essence breathed by gods.

Each Cipher's form is based on the Nine Sons of The Dragon

The molded scars on Elpis' chest are meant to be resembling of the Serpens constellation. This is a reference to Fist of the North Star's Kenshiro.

- Gallery -