North God Style

“North God Kalman I used a sword, but there is no need to stick to the sword.”

North God Kalman II ^[1]

North God Style (北神流, Hokushin-ryū) is one of the three major schools of swordsmanship.

Characteristics[]

This main focus of this style is not on techniques or developing specialties, but rather a method on how to stay alive and approach a battle with the highest chance of winning. It relies heavily on the practitioner's adaptability and usage of one's surroundings. As a result, this style involves using a lot of tricks instead of refined techniques.

It is a utilitarian style of swordsmanship that includes non-sword fighting techniques such as first-aid and tracking, as well as the ability to fight while physically deficient. Owing to this, different factions of the North God Style that have different approaches to battle and practitioners have very disparate fighting styles. The practitioners could be dual-wielding swords, or using non-sword weapons like battleaxes and staves.

Due to their style that centers around adaptability of the situation and fighting using tricks, they are a hard counter for Water God Style because of most of their peculiar tricks are hard to parry or counter. While at the same time, this style is weak against Sword God Style due to the latter being a straightforward style that intends to finish off their opponents with 1 attack before being overwhelmed.

Many adventurers and mercenaries learn the North God Style for its versatility that is required on unpredictable battlefields and situations.

Known Techniques[]

Techniques of the North God Style are unique to their user except for a number of fundamental techniques.

Sword Throwing Techniques[]

MT-AN-S1-E05-GIF-05 — A North God Style sword throwing technique

Sword Throwing Techniques: When a North God Style Swordsman is cornered or rendered immobile, they will throw their sword. The sword is flung at high velocity with the blade whirling violently. This technique has enough impetus to even cut magic fireballs. During Eris' battle against Orsted, she uses another variant of sword throwing technique she witnessed from Auber once. She trained to draw a sword from the scabbard with one hand as fast as possible.^[2]

Used by an unnamed thug, Auber Corvette and Eris Greyrat

Four Legged Form[]

MT-AN-S1-E16-GIF-01 — Paul using Four Legged Form while dodging Rudeus' Rock Bullets in the Anime

Four Legged Form (四足の型 Yotsuashi no Kata, lit. "Quadrupedal Form"): The user charges using their arms and legs similar to a beast race, making them a smaller target compared to moving in two legs while drawing their weapon when closing the distance to attack their target.

Used by Paul Greyrat

Hazy Cross[]

Hazy Cross (朧十文字 Oboro Jūmonji): The moment both swords are swung and blocked, the user throws them away and draws the remaining sword to stop the enemy through a gap in the enemy's defense.

Used by Auber Corvette

Teardrop Bullet[]

Teardrop Bullet (落涙弾 Rakurui-dan): It involves throwing a bag full of powdered spices at the enemy.

Used by Auber Corvette

Ranks[]

There are seven ranks in the North God Style.

North God[]

The North God is the most powerful practitioner of the North God Style and leader of the school. Practitioners who are of Saintly level and above may call themselves a Saint, King, Emperor or God of the North God school. However, unlike the Sword God Style and Water God Style systems, the title of God rank can be assumed by more than one person as long as their strength and skills are approved by most of the practitioners of their faction. There are no clear qualifications for a practitioner to become a North God since the North God ranks have only been held by immortal swordsmen of the Kalman lineage.

Due to the different factions in the North God Style, Kalman III hates the techniques from outside his faction but after battling Rudeus, he changed his mind become versed in all the techniques of every faction that he now teaches his student.^[3]