Nine Armors, The

See also: Suzunagi's Armor, The Armor Poem

The nine armors created by Kaos from the shell of Arago's armor are:

**Troopers:** Rekka, Kongo, Korin, Suiko, Tenku

**Masho:** Doku, Gen, Oni, Yami

## The Nine Armors

### Origin

After defeating Arago in the late 900s CE, Kaos took his armor. In a fire ceremony of either Buddhist or Shinto origin (or an amalgamation), the armor was cast into the ritual fire and nine armors emerged. Kaos imbued each armor with a particular virtue. Five armors were elemental based and four armors were seasonal/spiritual based.

### Concealment

The armors were then given to nine powerful families within Japan to guard. The families were unnamed, so it is possible the armor changed families over the centuries.

Kongo went to China shortly after, but returned in the 1500s. Tenku's temple was destroyed in World War Two and the armor nearly set free. Otherwise, it is assumed the other armors remained dormant until choosing a bearer. The armors were stored and sealed in chests by Kaos as they awaited their true bearers.

### The Armor Gear

#### Storage

When not in use (as being worn by their wearers or as full armor) they are stored in a small, marble sized, crystalline orb (nicknamed "kanji orb" for its power to display the kanji imprinted within the armor by Kaos.) The proper name is **"Kokoro no Tama"**.

#### Undergear

The undergear provides it's wearer with increased mobility, speed and also light protection. It is on the undergear that the full armor forms, though it has been revealed that not all armors have a undergear (i.e. Mukala in Kikoutei Densetsu). While the Troopers undergear are dual colored (i.e. red and white for Rekka) those of the Masho are different. Their undergear is shades of a single one color.

Samurai Troopers" initially had a completely different storyline than what we see today. It was a martial arts animation, in which subarmor wearers fight each other, and the winner gets armor gear as a proof of their glory. Therefore, the original undergear was made of soft material, so that it can fit any body shape. The slits in the underarms are for elasticity and ease of movement. The shins on the feet are inspired by UWF shoes. The gear on the heel is very powerful when kicking a sobat. The undergear was a fighting uniform. That is why the Troopers and four Mashou share the same design.

#### Appearance

The armor themselves are not "true" sets of samurai armor (although their outline from a distance does resemble samurai armor). They appear to be solid sheets of metal instead of the little individual plates of metal sewn onto a backing.

While the armors appear (and sound) as if they were made of solid metal, [it seems likely] they are just pure energy transformed into solids. This is evident in every episode that the Troopers summon their armors, and especially in the final TV episode, in which they transform their armor back into pure energy to strike blows against Arago.

Unlike traditional armor, which must be put on piece by piece, the Troopers merely summon their armor to them, in a rather drawn out and flashy transformation sequence. There is no transformation sequence associated with the masho armor. This may serve to illustrate that the masho have had their armor long enough to feel comfortable with them and do not need the "flashier" display of the less experienced Samurai Troopers.

#### Mystical Attributes

The armor has the ability to protect its wearer from what can be termed as "environmental extremities" (i.e. deep space, underwater). This is accomplished by surrounding it's wearer in a sphere of protective energy. At times, the energy sphere remains visible, but at others it is unseen.

As the series progresses it becomes clear that the armor's true "magic" is in drawing power from its wearer and channeling it through their weapons. So that the true strength of the armor lies not in the armor itself but in the wearer. The armor and their abilities are also unusual in that if one of the Troopers losses faith in himself, then he cannot call his armor to him or use his powers.

### Controlling Virtues

Specific kanji are associated with each of the armors Kaos makes from Arago's discarded armor after Arago's initial defeat. The kanji are transferred to the Samurai Trooper (or Masho) who wears the armor. When the Troopers are in danger, or calling upon full energy levels available to them, the kanji symbols on their foreheads (which normally are invisible) glow. This effect can also act as an "emergency signal" to let all the other Troopers know that one or more of their numbers need help. In the second story line, each of the Troopers carry a small crystal ball (about the size of a large marble) in which their particular kanji glows, and which also seems to act as some sort of mystic focus for their powers.

### Samurai Armor

The armor designs are based on samurai armor.

* Helmet Crest - Maedate
* Helmet - Kabuto
* Nape guard (extended plates descending from the helmet) - Shikoro
* Forward brim on the helmet- Mabizashi
* Face guard - Menpo
* Throat guard - Tare
* Shoulder guard/pauldrons - Sode
* Forearm guard/vambrance - Oda Gote
* Hand guard - Tekko
* Cuirass - Do
* Thigh covers - Kusazuri
* Knee guard - Hiza Yoroi
* Shin guard/greaves - Suneate

## Gallery

Kaos reveals the new armorsWarriors comparison tableAragoS1.png
1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 The Nether Realm, The Armor Gear https://web.archive.org/web/20081231142013/http://nether-realm.net/tv/yoroi/yoroi.html. Archived December 31, 2008. Accessed May 30, 2022.
2. ↑ Urban Dictionary: A term used mostly by the Japanese for a jumping, spinning, back kick. Often seen in Japanese pro-wrestling, and sometimes in video games. Seen in: King of Fighters XI, No More Heroes, Godhand.

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Rolling%20Sobat
3. ↑ The Nether Realm, Forehead Kanji https://web.archive.org/web/20090428100743/http://nether-realm.net/tv/kanji/kanji.html. Archived April 28, 2009. Accessed May 30, 2022.