Anubis

Anubis (アヌビス神, Anubisu-shin, lit. "God Anubis") is the former Stand of Caravan Serai, and a tertiary antagonist featured in the third part of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series, Stardust Crusaders, specifically the "Anubis" story arc. It is also a member of the Egypt 9 Glory Gods, a group of Stands representing ancient Egyptian deities. Anubis is a Stand that is bound to an ancient sword, granting it the ability to possess the body and mind of whoever wields the blade. This possession forces the wielder to become Anubis' user, essentially turning them into a puppet for the Stand to use as it sees fit. As it repeatedly clashes with the Joestar Group, Anubis learns from its failures, adapting and evolving with each defeat to become an increasingly formidable opponent. APPEARANCE Anubis appears as an approximate interpretation of the mythological Anubis it is named after, featuring a humanoid body with the head of a dark-colored canid, reminiscent of a jackal or dog. The Stand is bare-chested, exposing its torso, but dons a headdress known as a Nemes, which was worn by ancient Egyptian nobility. In the anime adaptation, Anubis also sports armbands adorning its arms. Anubis is inextricably linked to an ornate Shamshir-style sword, a curved and double-edged blade with an elaborate, jewel-encrusted cross-guard. This imposing weapon is accompanied by a matching scabbard, further accentuating Anubis' regal and intimidating appearance. COLOR SCHEMES JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is renowned for its variation in color schemes across different media adaptations, making the canon status of the following information uncertain. Anime Adaptation: Skin: Anubis' head is depicted as a dark gray, while its humanoid body has a brown complexion. Outfit: The Stand wears a golden yellow Nemes headdress, complemented by striking blue armbands adorned with golden fringes. Sword: Anubis' sword features a dark brown scabbard, a dark gray handle, and opulent golden decorations embellished with vibrant red jewels. PERSONALITY Following the demise of its original user, Caravan Serai, Anubis pledges its undying loyalty to DIO, both out of gratitude for being freed from its prison and in recognition of DIO's overwhelming power. As a Stand bound to a sword, Anubis is relentlessly aggressive, solely fixated on the thrill of battle and the satisfaction of claiming lives. It revels in combat, meticulously studying its opponents' techniques to improve itself, confident in the knowledge that it will never be caught off guard by the same move twice. Anubis is notorious for its cunning manipulation tactics, often luring potential users by flattering them as the greatest swordsmen in the world. However, it remains utterly ruthless, abandoning its current host without hesitation if they prove too weak or if a more powerful individual presents itself as a suitable vessel. The sword-bound nature of Anubis allows it to blend in as an innocent object, making it all the more dangerous and persistent in its pursuit of targets like Polnareff and Jotaro. Even in the face of defeat, Anubis refuses to concede, absorbing the abilities of its opponents and evolving to surpass them. Despite suffering a crushing blow from Jotaro that shattered most of its sword into harmless shards, Anubis remained defiant, unwavering in its conviction that it would never succumb thrice. However, its unflinching devotion to DIO remains a constant, as The World has demonstrated an existence beyond Anubis's comprehension, cementing its loyalty to the one being it can never hope to surmount. As a servant of DIO, Anubis shares the proclivity for gloating when the tide of battle turns in its favor, a trait that ultimately led to its downfall against Jotaro Kujo. In moments of desperation, when the situation spirals out of its control, Anubis descends into a flustered and comically panicked state. Its final moments exemplify this, as it forgets its own abilities while being hurled towards the Nile, fruitlessly attempting to coax fish and crabs into making contact, only to drive them away in the process. As it sank to the depths of the river, Anubis could only lament its solitary fate. Anubis embodies the ancient Egyptian deity of the same name, the god of death in Egyptian mythology. Its unyielding nature, unwavering loyalty, and insatiable hunger for battle make it a formidable foe, a testament to the enduring legacy of the pharaohs it serves. ABILITIES Anubis is an exceptionally dangerous battle-oriented Stand, possessing a multitude of powers that make it a formidable foe in direct combat. Its abilities support it in a variety of ways, growing more potent the longer it engages in battle. While Anubis requires possession of an individual to actively fight, once it takes control of its unwitting host, the sword-bound Stand is capable of matching the likes of Silver Chariot and Star Platinum in close quarters combat. Even in its base form, the blade is razor-sharp, as demonstrated by Chaka's ability to effortlessly cleave through solid stone pillars. Resilience is yet another hallmark of Anubis, as even when the physical sword is shattered, the Stand persists within the largest remaining fragment, retaining its full might. No matter how badly damaged the blade may become, Anubis continues to pose a significant threat to its enemies. MIND CONTROL Anubis exerts absolute dominion over whoever draws the sword, regardless of their mental fortitude. When unsheathed, the blade emits an ethereal, entrancing light that begins to influence the wielder's thoughts. Slowly but surely, Anubis's voice resonates within their mind, urging them to unleash the sword's power upon all who stand in their path. Eventually, the possessed individual is completely consumed by Anubis, transforming into a mere vessel for the Stand to control as it sees fit. Not even other Stand users are immune to this effect, as Anubis is capable of subjugating them and their Stands alike. Once Anubis abandons its host, however, they are released from its control, as evidenced by Polnareff regaining his senses after being freed. In addition to controlling its puppets, Anubis also enhances their swordsmanship abilities, transforming them into masterful warriors. Polnareff, in particular, became a formidable swordsman under the influence of Anubis, though his inexperienced wielding of the blade allowed Jotaro to exploit his newfound abilities in tandem with Star Platinum. Conversely, part of Jotaro's struggle against Anubis stemmed from Polnareff's extensive sword fighting background, allowing him to leverage that skill set against Jotaro and Silver Chariot. SELECTIVE INTANGIBILITY As a cursed sword, Anubis possesses the unique ability to render its blade intangible at will. This allows it to slice through opponents while simultaneously passing through solid objects, such as stones, walls, and even living creatures, without causing any discernible damage. For example, when Polnareff sought refuge behind a stone column, Anubis effortlessly slashed him, leaving both the column and Polnareff's clothing unscathed. It even displayed the capacity to cut a person's hand, preventing them from drawing the sword, even when the blade was still sheathed within its scabbard. MEMORY BANK One of Anubis's deadliest attributes is its eidetic memory, which enables it to remember every attack launched against it and develop countermeasures on the fly. This makes it incredibly dangerous to face Anubis more than once, as any tactics used against it become practically useless upon subsequent encounters. Combined with its mind control abilities, Anubis can relentlessly assault its victims, wearing them down by continuously adapting to their attacks until they have none left to employ. As the battle progresses, Anubis grows increasingly powerful, as both Jotaro and Polnareff observed during their respective confrontations with its possessed wielders. The speed of Silver Chariot's techniques, in particular, became so rapid under Anubis's influence that even Star Platinum struggled to keep pace, prompting Jotaro to acknowledge it as the fastest Stand he had encountered up to that point. SELECTIVE DRAWING Anubis wields an uncanny ability to dictate who can draw the sword from its sheath. The blade remains firmly planted unless it is being wielded by someone it desires to possess. Even three grown men, exerting all their might, are incapable of extracting the sword when Anubis does not wish to be drawn. This power extends to multiple hosts simultaneously, as demonstrated when Anubis took control of several rats concurrently, though the extent of this ability with regard to humans remains unknown. Remarkably, Anubis can also move itself to a limited degree without a host, as evidenced by its ability to resheath itself after its user's defeat and strike another victim while still embedded within a previous host's chest. HISTORY BACKGROUND • Anubis was created around 500 years before the events of Stardust Crusaders when its original user, Caravan Serai, forged the sword it is bound to. • 500 years later, DIO discovered Anubis in a museum. Impressed by The World's overwhelming power, Anubis pledged its loyalty to DIO and was deployed to Egypt to intercept DIO's enemies on their way to his mansion. STARDUST CRUSADERS (1989) • A farmer named Chaka found Anubis and drew the sword out of curiosity, becoming possessed. The possessed Chaka challenged Polnareff, who defeated him after a struggle and took the sword. • Later, a barber named Khan picked up the sword and also became possessed but was defeated by Jotaro. Despite the blade being broken in two by Star Platinum, Anubis remained active. • Polnareff himself fell victim to Anubis when he accidentally unsheathed the sword while struggling with a policeman. With Polnareff as its host, Anubis gave Jotaro a tough fight, especially when it influenced Polnareff to use its sword alongside Silver Chariot. However, Jotaro tricked Anubis into leaving itself vulnerable, shattering the hilt and freeing Polnareff from its control. • Surviving in the other half of the sword, Anubis possessed a child who attempted to ambush the weakened Jotaro and Polnareff. The child tripped over Iggy, causing the sword to phase through a wall and land in a cow that eventually dropped it into the Nile River. Stranded at the bottom of the river, Anubis called out to nearby fish and crabs for help, but to no avail, leaving it to rust. Grandiosity: Anubis often displays an inflated sense of self-importance, viewing itself as the greatest swordsman in the world. Lack of empathy: Anubis shows little concern for the well-being of its hosts or its victims, using them merely as means to an end. Sensitivity to criticism: Anubis becomes defensive and aggressive when faced with opposition or defeat, refusing to admit weakness. Traits suggestive of antisocial personality disorder: Disregard for others: Anubis consistently disregards the rights and feelings of others, manipulating and controlling its hosts without remorse. Impulsivity: Anubis acts on its impulses, engaging in reckless and irresponsible behavior, such as indiscriminately attacking anyone in its path. Lack of guilt: Anubis shows no genuine guilt or remorse for its actions, even when causing harm to innocents. Traits suggestive of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder: Preoccupation with rules and order: Anubis is rigidly focused on its mission to serve DIO and defeat his enemies, adhering strictly to its own code of conduct. Perfectionism: Anubis strives for perfection in combat, relentlessly studying its opponents' techniques to improve itself and avoid making the same mistake twice. Difficulty delegating: Anubis is reluctant to rely on others, preferring to control its hosts directly rather than allowing them autonomy. Traits suggestive of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Re-experiencing traumatic events: Anubis may re-experience past defeats or humiliations, driving its relentless pursuit of power and vengeance. Hypervigilance: Anubis maintains a heightened state of alertness and readiness for combat, always anticipating potential threats. Emotional numbing: Anubis may experience a diminished range of emotions, particularly in relation to empathy or compassion for others.