Pneuma-less Shell

The **Pneuma-less Shell** (プネウマなき外殻, *Puneuma naki Gaikaku*?) is a Rosicrucian spiritual item, which produces random objects with specific symbolism that can be utilized for magic.

## Etymology

Pneuma (πνεῦμα) is an ancient Greek word for "breath", which is also used in certain religious and philosophical contexts to refer to the "spirit" or "soul".

## Appearance

The Pneuma-less Shell is a two-meter tall metallic sphere, with a wheel at its center. Its compact form is a small round flask, no larger than an eyedrop container, with multiple necks like a bagpipe and lined with thin lead foil.

## Principles

The Pneuma-less Shell has its origins in Rosicrucian alchemy, being derived from the **Philosopher's Egg** (哲学者の卵, *Tetsugakusha no Tamago*?), a vessel used in the production of the Philosopher's Stone, clues and signs for which the Rosicrucians have been said to hide in various places, such as in music and paintings. As well as the Philosopher's Egg, it is also related to the **Clear Coffin** (透明なる棺, *Toumei-naru Hitsugi*?).

The Pneuma-less Shell is described as a base metal still made by intentionally distorting the original egg, intended to produce random objects rather than the red Philosopher's Stone. The device's process is described as absorbing mystical power and mechanically decoding it before releasing the result in the world. Its random fluctuations are apparently such that not even those with considerable foresight or capability, such as Anna or Rosencreutz, can predict or control them.

While Anna uses it to add some randomness and entertainment to her battles, it is also meant to disturb her own rhythm and reduce her status. This is intended to mitigate a risk of careless mistakes resulting from immortality, strength or other means of evading death, as once someone eliminates death they can forget the fear of it, leading to others being able bring about their death without them realizing it (although not a fatal example, this has been compared to the Greek gods making many human mistakes from being unable to control themselves and giving in to pride or jealousy).

### Usage

When Anna Sprengel used the Pneuma-less Shell, the sphere manifested with the command **Incubate** (抱卵, *Hōran*?), causing a shockwave which knocked down objects and individuals in its vicinity. The metallic sphere hovered in the air and emitted a dull silver light. When she was done using it, Anna snapped her fingers to have it compress itself into the form of a small round flask with multiple necks and lined with thin lead foil.

When initially using it, Anna spoke the Pneuma-less Shell's name, invoking the Philosopher's Egg, Clear Coffin, and a spell which never strays far, even found hidden in music and paintings. Declaring that she did not seek the red stone, she had it show her a distorted result to entertain her with the unforeseen. Anna used it by spinning the central wheel, with the orb making a grinding noise similar to gears before opening up in a complex manner to dispense an item.

When Christian Rosencreutz made use of the Pneuma-less Shell, it was initially invoked apparently without a verbal command. Later, when cornered by Touma, he was able to mass-produce and remotely activate multiple Pneuma-less Shells, using a spell and device based around the symbol of the red rose. Grabbing this mother device, glowing red, out of thin air, Rosencreutz declared that the ruby's shine corresponded to the pure red of the rose, a female symbol paired to the cross that could produce anything, before ordering it to mass-produce monsters of death and destruction, filling the room with Pneuma-less Shells which then opened simultaneously.

### Products

Both Anna and Rosencreutz are capable of extracting the 'essence' of the produced items, associated with their history and traditions and applying them to produce potent effects. Anna's usage involved cases of the "world's oldest" and "first"s, with examples given by Anna in her explanation including the first projectiles being stones, the first smokescreens being dried grass, the first biological weapons being corpses, and the first blades likely being stone or bone. Rosencreutz's usage involved the world's oldest tools representing a specific type and cause of death, described by him as producing the greatest attack based on that origin, mentioning plant ropes that would squeeze and strangle, as well as stones and sharp blades that would slash and stab.

Known items with known symbolism/effects produced by the Pneuma-less Shell include:

Aside from these known items, Rosencreutz also produced unknown items for the oldest forms of drowning, poisoning, electrocution, hanging, decapitation, skewering and crushing, of explosive and mincemeat deaths, death from being buried alive, of deadly burning, gunshots and vibrations, as well as vigilante killings, vehicular homicide and karoshi.

## Chronology

### Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index

#### Christmas Day Arc

*Main article: Christmas Day Arc*
In the initial part of her battle with Misaka Mikoto and Shokuhou Misaki on Christmas Day, Anna Sprengel made use of the Pneuma-less Shell to provide herself with some entertainment as she fought, extracting symbolism from various "world's oldest"s for attacks.

## Gallery

The Pneuma-less Shell's design for *Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 02*.
## Trivia

* The Philosopher's Egg is one name associated with an aludel, an earthen subliming pot used in alchemy, also called the "Hermetic Vase". Some alchemical texts refer to the Philosopher's Egg as an egg-shaped glass crucible used in the creation of the philosopher's stone.