Akuma (TBT)

Akuma was a red colored demonic stickman who possesses typical demon powers such as soul stealing and blood magic. He was the tenth contender to sign up for the Blessed Tournament, after hearing that King Kage was going to be in the tournament. He goes up against the organizer, Arashi.

### Etymology

Akuma (あくま) is a japanese word meaning demon, similar to oni. Specifically, A monster that interferes with buddhist training, or a monster personifying evil who lures others into evilness (both according to google translate). The second meaning can reflect how Akuma tried to convince his brother, Akumu into becoming a demon like him (though this doesn't happen in TBT).

## Biography

Akuma and Akumu lived in the outskirts of Dortar, much like their MS counterparts. Akumu was successful in his magician tricks, and gets enough money to live in another place. The two brothers decide to head to the neighboring country, Arter. Unfortunately, their happy trip to finally live well-off lives were cut short by them bumping into the King of Arter, King Kage, who subjected the both of them to be demonized.

In Ringos, the two brothers were separated, with Akumu ending up in Saqar, the sixth ring, while Akuma ended up in Sair, the fifth ring. One day, they both re-emerged from Ringos, thanks to Arashi acquiring Kage's seal and breaking it, which unleashed a hoard of demons, which were promptly commanded back into Ringos, except for Akuma and Akumu, simply because they caught Arashi's eye. The brothers were completely demonized, except for Akuma, who fought on inside. They were systematically entered into the tournament by Arashi as the ninth and tenth contenders.

### The Blessed Tournament

During the tournament, Akuma was defeated by Arashi early on in bracket A4, and was cast into the losers' bracket. Akuma started to reawaken each passing moment, and was able to engage in conversation with Kessho, though very briefly. in the losers' bracket A34, He would go up against Kessho. He was almost ready to break free. Kessho discovered that Akuma's weak spot is his heart, to which Akuma responded by reawakening, becoming an unbound demon. Akuma then defeated Kessho. In the following bracket, C12, He would fight Kazan, though unbeknownst to Kazan, Arashi had employed Akumu to mess with Akuma, which led to his loss to the hands of Kazan, though Akuma knew better.

In the final bracket, Akumu was deployed to eliminate Akuma. The brothers fought and fought until one of them was defeated. Akuma threw Akumu into the volcano. Akuma, realizing what he'd done, dived in to attempt to save Akumu, but burned with him in the lava. After the Clarity was defeated, Akuma would re-emerge from the volcano, taking Kage into the volcano, and sending him to Ringos, where Kage becomes a bound demon, forever tortured by Akuma.

## Personality

Akuma was a lot more calmer than his MS counterpart, and seemed to be in better terms with his brother, Akuma. He also had an intense will, which eventually led him to being unbound as a Demon of Anger, like his MS counterpart. He displays a level of heroism when he dives in to save Akumu when he threw him into the lava due to his immense anger.

## Abilities

### Demon Physical Prowess

Due to becoming a demon, Akuma has greatly upgraded strength and speed, to the point where Sura believes he's flying whenever he charges at his foes. He can also break Kessho's crystals with his bare fists, something not seen in any other contender. Being unbound grants him even higher physical prowess.

### Soul Sapping

Akuma can manifest the souls of stickmen into physical forms, which makes them extremely vulnerable. This was only used to break Kage's soul.

### Blood Manipulation

Akuma can control the blood of his foes, making them nauseous or moving them forcefully. Akuma uses this to redirect Akumu's spirits somewhere else in the fight against Kazan.

### Demonization

Being an unbound demon, Akuma has the ability to demonize otherwise normal stickmen. This is shown when Akuma broke Kage's soul, turning him into a bound demon.

## Relations

### Akumu

Akuma seems to have had a better relationship with his brother than his MS counterpart. In the final bracket, he immediately regrets throwing Akumu into the volcano, and dives in to save him.

### King Kage

Akuma's "true motive" as uncovered by Kessho is to kill, or break Kage, showing a level of hatred not seen in his MS counterpart. Moreover, Akuma wants to take revenge on Kage for demonizing his brother and himself all those years ago, which he ultimately succeeds in.

### Arashi

It isn't known how Akuma feels about Arashi, since they have never directly interacted, but it can be deduced that Akuma doesn't think highly of Arashi.

### Kessho

Kessho talked to Akuma to prove that Akuma was a demon, to which Akuma proves. Later during their fight, Akuma thanks Kessho for his talk, as it aided him in becoming unbound.

### Kazan

Akuma thinks Kazan is naive, and uses that to his advantage, fearmongering Kazan. When Kazan wins, Akuma curses under his breath.

## Trivia

* 6 arms is a form that Akuma can achieve.