Hengen Muso

The Hengen Muso Style (変幻無双流) is a legendary fighting style that relies on manipulating life force in combat.

Overview
The Hengen Muso Style is a fighting style that was born out of the desire to save the world without having to rely on the Heroes. It is said to have never lost on the battlefield. The last practitioner, Elrasla Grilaroc, said that the style was no longer needed in this world and planned to take it with her to the grave. However, after being helped by Naofumi she decided to pass on the legend for the sake of the world.

To understand Hengen Muso and life force, it usually takes about 10 years of training in the mountains although a naturally talented person could do it in a month. Naofumi was able to discover a shortcut by using the difficult-to-acquire life-force water and the「Aura」spell to stir up the person's energy. Once a person's energy is stirred, it becomes easier to feel and use life force. Despite the difficulty humans and demi-humans have to understand life force, some monsters like Filo automatically use it. Experienced fighters may also subconsciously use it without even knowing. Even though anyone can learn the superficial techniques of Hengen Muso, only those with a special aptitude can master it at a deeper level.

There is no specific weapon associated with Hengen Muso Style; it does not require a medium, but anything can be used as a medium. Hengen Muso can be used to enhance weapons, magic, and skills. However, each attack style uses life force slightly differently. For example, life force can be used to enhance the eyes to see flows of power. Learning to use life force can be difficult for Heroes due to interference from their weapons.

History
The inventor of the Peerless Transformation Style was an adventurer who wanted to overcome danger without relying on the Heroes, so he founded the School.

It's a legendary style that is said to have never lost on the battlefield. The style has left its mark on the histories of countries around the globe. Just like the Four Summoned and Seven Star heroes. However, half a century ago, internal discord caused the death of a majority of its practitioners, and those left all swore to never pass it on. The Hengen Muso style was brought to ruin through internal discord caused by a prodigy who concluded that he was the one worthy of ruling the world, a way of thought forbidden by the school's teachings.

The last remaining practitioner said that the style was no longer needed in this world, and planned to take it to the grave with her. But after being helped by Naofumi, she decided to pass on the legend for the sake of the world. Eventually, Rishia became the heir to the Hengen Muso style.

The defense techniques of Hengo Muso have been long forgotten until S'yne taught her world's defensive techniques to Naofumi, Atla, and Rishia.

Life force
Life force is the basis for Hengen Muso and is entirely different from magic or Heroes' SP energy. Like magic, every person has life force in their bodies. Some, however, have more talent than others in manipulating it like Rishia and Atla. Rishia was said to be able to learn most, if not all of it - having a talent found only once every 100 years. Atla has the innate talent and perceives the world around her through sensing life force.

When someone can control life force, they can nullify defense-ignoring and defense-rating attacks.

Peerless Activity
Peerless Activity is the time period in which life force is actively being used. Eclair is only able to use it in bursts while attacking or avoiding while Rishia excels at maintaining peerless activity for an extended period of time on a low level, but she can also use it in powerful bursts. In essence, it acts as an ‘Overdrive’ skill, giving the user a boost to their abilities for a certain time.

Muso Activation
A technique for sucking in life force from the air as a sort of a boost skill. Maintaining Muso Activation for long periods is dangerous, as the body cannot sustain it indefinitely. Muso Activation artificially creates something similar to SP, which can increase the effectiveness of Magic.

Legendary Heroes
The Four Legendary Heroes all have irregular life force flows which prevent them from using the entirety of Hengen Muso, though they can counter Hengen Muso if they train their life force properly. However, once they learn the Energy Boost power-up method of the Legendary Weapons, they gain a new energy called EP. This EP can enhance the heroes' skills and magic and can even replicate the「Muso Activation」ability. This EP power can be used to combine magic, the weapon's SP power, and life-force to create Liberation-class magic.