Unison Device (ユニゾンデバイス Yunizon Debaisu), also known as a "Unity-Type Device" (融合型デバイス Yūgōgata Debaisu) or a "Unity Knight" (融合騎 Yūgō Ki), is a Device form developed only by Belka that has taken the design ideology of the Mid-Childan Intelligent Device to extremes. Unison Devices possess their own wills and, given a complete human form and sentience, can "unite" (that is, physically merge) with their masters to provide mana control and assistance according to circumstances.
Functionality
Unison Devices vastly outperform other forms in response speed and in the volume of mana handled; however, users suitable for Unison (referred to as "Lords", regardless of their gender) are rare, and much work is required to fine-tune and ensure compatibility of each specific user. Furthermore, since Unison Devices can cause loss of consciousness and other effects during Unison, they have emergency countermeasures set up that are not dependent on the host's awareness, allowing even solitary users to employ these Devices, enhancing mana usage. However, at times, a Unison Device may "take over" the user and operate autonomously, causing a "Unison accident" (融合事故 Yūgō jiko), therefore such Devices have never been manufactured in large numbers.[1]
During a successful Unison, striking hair or pupil color changes become apparent, and it will sometimes even change the color of the Knight Armor/Clothing the Lord is wearing at the time. However, whether the appearance after Unison is more similar to the Lord or the Device depends on whether the Lord can manage the Device. In the event that a Lord cannot handle it, he or she will lose all control and completely take on the appearance of the Device.[1]
During regular Unison, the mage can always initiate telepathic contact with their Unison Device. However, in the case that the host loses consciousness or the Device for any other reason has to assume full control over their shared body, it creates a so-called "Internal Space" (内部空間 Naibu Kūkan, likely a pocket dimension), where its master can communicate with it in safety and even recuperate.[2]
A distinct trait of Unison Devices that sets them apart from every other Device type seems to be that they possess their own Linker Cores,[3] allowing them to cast spells of their own (instead of just tapping into their master's mana). For the same reason, Unison Devices can be graded on the mage rank scale and even use Devices of their own (e.g. Reinforce Zwei's Book of the Azure Sky).
Like Familiars, Unison Devices can conserve energy by reducing their size, usually staying at about a foot in height (unlike familiars, their apparent age and build do not change).[4] The original Reinforce has never displayed this ability - presumably she is capable of it but her enormous energy reserves render it unnecessary.
In the end of Reinforce's storyline of Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's Portable: The Battle of Aces, Hayate Yagami somehow trades roles with her and becomes Reinforce's "Unison Device" of sorts, boosting Unison Reinforce's power to gargantuan levels. Since The Battle of Aces is set in an alternate continuity, however, it is unclear if such Unison would be possible in the main one.
Known Unison Devices
Known Lords
"Lord" is the title of a knight who is the master of a Unison Device. In a more general sense, it can refer to any practitioner who is suited for Unison.
| Magic system | Mage rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Zest Grangeitz | Ancient Belka | S+ (Air) |
| Signum | Ancient Belka | S− (Air) |
| Vita | Ancient Belka | AAA+ (Air) |
| Hayate Yagami | Ancient Belka | SS (Synthetic) |
See also
References
- ^ a b Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's, DVD Vol.4 booklet (translation).
- ^ Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's, DVD Vol.5 booklet (translation).
- ^ Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS Sound Stage 3, Track 8. Hayate: "My Linker Core is melded with the original Reinforce, and Rein's Linker Core is born from my own Core..."
- ^ Reinforce Zwei appears at normal human size in StrikerS Sound Stage 01, and Agito does so in ViVid chapter 16.
External links
- Unison Device on the Japanese Nanoha wiki