Äs Nödt

is a Quincy and a member of the Vandenreich's Stern Ritter with the designation "F".

Appearance
Äs has long, dark hair and dark eyes with visibly light pupils. His attire is a variation of the Stern Ritter's typical white uniform, consisting of the order's signature hooded cloak and a knee-length trench coat, as well as black boots. Äs wears a dark mask which obscures the lower half of his face and features five spikes running down its center, he also has dark fingernails.

The Thousand-Year Blood War arc
Upon receiving the orders of Yhwach, Äs and the other Stern Ritter gather at the Gate of the Sun before traveling to the Seireitei in order to participate in the conquest of Soul Society.

Once there, Äs and the other Stern Ritter create pillars of blue flames prior to engaging the Shinigami in battle. Indiscriminately massacring numerous lower-ranking Shinigami, who are unable to injure him, Äs is intercepted by Lieutenant Renji Abarai. As Äs effortlessly blocks Renji's strikes with his bare hands, they are interrupted by the arrival of another Stern Ritter and Captain Byakuya Kuchiki. When his hand is severely cut by Byakuya, Äs is berated by his ally for allowing his Blut to be broken so easily. After Äs' comrade is neutralized, Byakuya activates his Bankai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, only for it to be stolen by Äs' medallion.

Wounding Byakuya in the ensuing battle, Äs asks if he is aware how, rather than being poisoned, he has been infected by fear. Commending the captain's resilience in not dying instantly like most, Äs explains the fear-inducing ability of his Spirit Weapon, which causes victims to doubt everything and lose control of all rational thought. After receiving a blow to the chest, an uninjured Äs declares that despite Byakuya's remarkable willpower, his heart was already stricken by fear towards him. Striking the motionless captain, Äs describes how, unlike "fear that comes from reason", "true fear" is instinctive, and so cannot be escaped. Evading Byakuya's subsequent assault, Äs, activating the stolen Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, attacks, causing Byakuya to fall amidst a torrent of blood.

As Byakuya lies heavily injured, Äs tells him it was obvious he could not win against his Bankai with only Shikai. When Renji attempts an ambush from behind, Äs negates the strike with Blut. Moving to attack as well, Byakuya, overwhelmed by Senbonzakura Kageyoshi's blades, is smashed into a wall, grievously wounding him. When an enraged Renji is stopped from releasing his Bankai, Äs chastises his ally for not waiting, as they could have stolen it as well. With his ally surprised by this, Äs tells him he should go home and review the daten their leader had provided.

When Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto confronts Yhwach, Äs, NaNaNa Najahkoop, and Buzzbee ambush the captain-commander from above. Before they can attack however, Yamamoto effortlessly scorches them with his Ryūjin Jakka. Äs survives this attack, and is later present when Yhwach names Uryū Ishida as his successor. Like the other Stern Ritter, he expresses shock over the announcement.

Equipment
Medallion: Äs possesses a round, unnamed device which is roughly the size of a person's palm and has the Vandenreich insignia etched onto its surface. When activated, the device is capable of stealing a currently released Bankai in the immediate vicinity, as evidenced when Äs used it to take Byakuya Kuchiki's Senbonzakura Kageyoshi. The medallion's owner can use the stolen Bankai's power at will.

Powers & Abilities
Reishi Absorption: As a Quincy, Äs can absorb spiritual energy from the atmosphere, combining it with his own spiritual energy to form weapons and use different techniques.


 * An advanced Quincy technique which grants one inhuman defensive and offensive capabilities by making Reishi flow into the user's blood vessels.


 * While Äs' defensive form of Blut is strong enough to negate even the attacks of Lieutenant Renji Abarai's Shikai, it is not absolute, and can be torn using sufficient power, as evidenced when Byakuya Kuchiki's Senbonzakura managed to cut Äs' hand.

Spirit Weapon
Reishi Thorns: Using his abilities as a Quincy, Äs can concentrate both spirit energy and particles in order to transform them into weapons. His favored weapon manifests in the form of several luminous thorns floating in close proximity to his person, which are used to viciously impale victims, as they can even pierce the body of a captain-class Shinigami with ease.


 * Fear Manipulation: Despite their considerable attack strength, the true power of these thorns or "arrows" lies not in their offensive capability, but instead in their ability to induce limitless fear in those who are struck. Just a single wound is enough to inspire a deep-seated fear towards Äs, causing victims to doubt everything and lose control of all rational thought, and even see visions of their deepest fears. While this would typically result in instantaneous death due to a person's heart being unable to bear such intense shock, an individual's experience and willpower can be used to resist this fear to an extent, though Äs is confident all would succumb to it eventually.

Quotes

 * (To Byakuya Kuchiki) "Fear can be overcome through experience. Those who know battle often come to believe this. "Fear that comes from reason" is kind. It can be conquered through force of will or through experience. It is possible to suppress such reasoned fear by severing it at its source. But true fear is without reason. It is not an emotion, but an instinct. True fear occurs without reason, without bounds. It is like a swarm of insects crawling up the body. We cannot escape from our instincts."

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