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And it does appear to be either demon or human. |
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Takemaru in his demon form, after his resurrection.
Specters, also called Shibito (屍人, lit. "corpse people"), are corpses reanimated by supernatural forces (e.g. magic or sacred jewel shards). Specters have cold, undead bodies and, to those with strong senses, the distinctive scent of death on them.
Creation
Specters can be created a number of ways, though most notably through the use of magic. As a result, various types of specters exist.
Creators
- Urasue: She was a yōkai sorceress who would raise the dead by creating clay-soldiers, with human bones baked into the aforementioned clay. Typically, these specters have bodies molded from the earth and bones found at their gravesite. These bodies must be sustained by the human souls of the dead if they are to remain reanimated. Due to being made of "clay," these types of specters do not normally bleed when injured and can be broken like objects made of clay. Though this may only apply to Kikyō as she only had a fragment of her original soul; thus it wasn't enough to animate her body alone.
- Shikon no Tama: The Sacred Jewel could revive and sustain the life of those who have died. Such individuals are apparently unique in that they are raised from the dead with their own original bodies rather than having imitation bodies. The Shichinintai and Kohaku are such examples of those revived by the Sacred Jewel.
- Since Kohaku had the shard of the Shikon Jewel, he had survived in the Underworld.
- Sō'unga: This sentient demonic force could bring the corpses of the dead or the recently deceased back to life, and take control of them. Sō'unga namely did so with the samurai Takemaru, reanimating his remains and offering him power. These aforementioned mindless corpses were filled with deadly, liquefied miasma which, when at Sō'unga's full power, enabled said specters to restore themselves from most kinds of damage.
- Jakotsumaru: The boar yōkai, son of Tōkotsu one of the Shikyō have collecting bones from humans and wolves, so he needs to revive his father, since Moroha, the daughter of Inuyasha and Kagome Higurashi have stolen the Red Rainbow Pearl from him.
- Kirinmaru: Since his daughter Rion has been killed by a vengeful hanyō named Sakasa, he refused to accept to her death then her soul has been trapped inside in this astral body and sealed her inside Mount Musubi and he used the Dream Butterfly and forced her to him in dreams for 600 years, until she had been saved as the thread of fate between her and Kirinmaru has been severed by Setsuna's Yukari no Tachikiri that causes Rion's Dream Butterfly to cut in half. After that, the cocoon has fallen apart and seen the on the dirt was Rion's soul made out from her bones and grave soil. But then out it, the projection of her father has come and tells her that it's dangerous for her to leave there, be good and go back inside the cocoon, that she must not leave Mount Musubi. He grab the spirit of Rion and forced her back inside and it move until she comes back to life.
Powers and Abilities
- Undead Physiology: Being reanimated corpses, the Specters have a mute physiology that compliments their undead nature. They do not breathe or sleep, and lacks a functional blood flow within their bodies due to their lack of natural vitality. Some also possess certain supernatural abilities possibly unique to them.
- Immortality: Being reanimated corpses, the specters do not age or get sick, being able to live forever as long as they feed on souls. Those resurrected by the Sacred Jewel do not need souls to remain live, as the power of the jewel keeps them intact.
- Enhanced Durability: As undead beings, Specters are immune to certain human fatalities, though can still be killed by physical impact if they are not careful.
- Enhanced Endurance: Although not necessarily inexhaustible, specters do not suffer the vices of exhaustion and pain like mortals do. As aforementioned, they require no sleep or traditional sustenance.
- Soul Absorption: Specters unsustained by the Sacred Jewel are capable of absorbing souls to increase their powers and prolong their residence on the mortal plane.
- Teleportation: Certain specters can teleport from one place to another. Only Kikyō has displayed such a power.
- Retention of Power: Even if they are undead, the specters will still retain the powers they had when they were alive, be it spiritual, magical or demonic.
Known specters
Trivia
- The term "Specter" is used in the English dub.
- As opposed to a specter like Kikyō, Rin and Jaken were resurrected in full and restored in perfect condition.
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