Killer Mantle

Killer Mantle
Killer Mantle as it appears in Aria of Sorrow.
Abilities	Quick evading and counterattacking techniques
Type(s)	Poltergeist
Origins	Japanese urban legend
Appearances	Aria of Sorrow

The Killer Mantle is an enemy in Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow. It is a cape which appears to be possessed by an evil force.

Origins

The Killer Mantle may be based on the Aka Manto, or "Red Cape", a Japanese urban legend. Aka Manto is described as a male spirit, ghost, or yōkai, who haunts public or school bathrooms. It is often said to haunt female bathrooms specifically, and in some versions of the legend, he is said to haunt the last stall in such bathrooms. The spirit is said to wear a flowing red cloak and a mask which hides his face.

According to legend, if a person is sitting on a toilet in a public or school bathroom, Aka Manto may appear and will ask them if they want red paper or blue paper. Depending on the version of the story, the spirit may ask them to choose between a red cloak and a blue cloak, or between a red cape and a blue cape. If they choose the "red" option, they will be lacerated in such a manner that their dead body will be drenched in their own blood. If the individual chooses the "blue" option, the consequences range from that person being strangled, to all of the person's blood being drained from their body.

If an individual attempts to outsmart Aka Manto by asking for a different color of paper, cloak or cape, it is often said that they will be dragged to an underworld or Hell as a result. In some versions, choosing a "yellow" paper, cloak or cape will result in the occupant's head being forced into the toilet. Ignoring the spirit, or replying that one does not want or prefer either kind of paper, is said to make the spirit go away. In some accounts, rejecting both options and running away from Aka Manto will also result in the individual's survival, although sometimes Aka Manto will simply block the exit.

Description

This enemy simply floats around the room, only occasionally brandishing a small curved dagger and lunging toward Soma. Its soul, a Bullet-type, grants the Astral Veil ability, which switches an enemy's HP and MP, making it the most dependable way to defeat an Iron Golem (which has 9,999 HP but only 1 MP), and is also an instant kill against Red Minotaurs. It can be a double-edged sword, however, as magic-inclined enemies can end up with 9,999 HP and low MP.

Enemy Data

No. Name JPN HP MP EXP 86 Killer Mantle 200 999 345 Attack Defense Tolerance Weakness Time Stop 44 35 - Flame Location Common Drop Rare Drop Soul The Arena - Ramen Astral Veil Description "An evil cloak that assaults humans."

Enemies affected by Killer Mantle

Enemy Data: Killer Mantle
Image	Name - Game Description	Statistics	Items	Location	Notes
	17. Tiny Devil (Mini Devil) - Aria of Sorrow				[ edit ]
	This demon is quite terrifying, despite his small size.	Strong: Darkness Weak: Holy HP: 20 MP: 999 Exp: 8 Atk: 15 Def: 0	Rare Drop: Mind Up Soul: Tri-Cutter	Castle Corridor, Chapel, Study, Underground Reservoir
	22. Minotaur (jpn) - Aria of Sorrow				[ edit ]
	This mixture of man and bull possesses superhuman powers.	Weak: Sword, Poison, Curse HP: 200 MP: 40 Exp: 60 Atk: 25 Def: 12	Common Drop: Battle Axe Rare Drop: Meat Strip Soul: Fighter's Power	Study, Dance Hall	Weapons: Minotaur Axe (Axe Chop)
	23. Student Witch (Witch Apprentice) - Aria of Sorrow				[ edit ]
	A witch-in-training. Can sometimes land her broomstick without crashing.	Weak: Sword, Poison, Stone HP: 80 MP: 999 Exp: 28 Atk: 15 Def: 10	Common Drop: Mind Up Rare Drop: Cream Soda Soul: Cat's Run	Study, Inner Quarters
	29. Catoblepas (jpn) - Aria of Sorrow				[ edit ]
	This ox-like beast's breath turns living things to stone.	Weak: Sword, Poison, Curse HP: 200 MP: 10 Exp: 40 Atk: 27 Def: 20	Rare Drop: Milk Soul: Stone Breath	Castle Corridor, Study, Dance Hall	Abil: Attack petrifies.
	35. Wooden Golem (Wood Golem) - Aria of Sorrow				[ edit ]
	A man-llike[sic] figure built of wood and animated by magic.	Weak: Flame HP: 250 MP: 1 Exp: 200 Atk: 29 Def: 30	Rare Drop: Grapes Soul: Healing Forest	Dance Hall
	38. Lilith (jpn) - Aria of Sorrow				[ edit ]
	Sucks away your soul as you dream. Appears as a beautiful woman.	Strong: Darkness Weak: Sword HP: 220 MP: 999 Exp: 60 Atk: 30 Def: 30 Timestop: Unaffected	Common Drop: Pendant Soul: Wisdom of Abstinence	Inner Quarters, The Arena
	43. Witch (jpn) - Aria of Sorrow				[ edit ]
	She is so thrilled to have become a witch.	Strong: Flame Weak: Sword, Poison, Stone HP: 180 MP: 4,000 Exp: 75 Atk: 25 Def: 20	Common Drop: Melon Rare Drop: Gabolg Soul: Magic Shield	Inner Quarters
	49. Devil (jpn) - Aria of Sorrow				[ edit ]
	A creature spawned from the deepest abyss of hell.	Strong: Darkness Weak: Holy HP: 300 MP: 1,000 Exp: 200 Atk: 38 Def: 30	Common Drop: Skull Necklace Rare Drop: High Mind Up Soul: Devil Form	Floating Garden, Clock Tower
	50. Imp (jpn) - Aria of Sorrow				[ edit ]
	A tiny demon who loves mischief.	Strong: Darkness Weak: Holy, Stone HP: 52 MP: 999 Exp: 60 Atk: 29 Def: 20	Common Drop: Mind Up Soul: Imp Familiar	Inner Quarters, Floating Garden, Underground Reservoir	Abil: Can make Soma only attack for a period of time.
	52. Gorgon (jpn) - Aria of Sorrow				[ edit ]
	An ox-llike[sic] creature with hardened skin of iron.	Weak: Sword, Poison, Curse HP: 320 MP: 1 Exp: 95 Atk: 35 Def: 45	Common Drop: Meat Strip Rare Drop: Milk Soul: Body of Silver	Floating Garden, Underground Reservoir	Abil: Attack petrifies
	54. Golem (jpn) - Aria of Sorrow				[ edit ]
	A man-llike[sic] figure molded out of soil and animated by magic.	Strong: Everything HP: 200 MP: 1 Exp: 180 Atk: 40 Def: 40 Timestop: Unaffected	Rare Drop: High Potion Soul: Great General's Power	Floating Garden, Clock Tower
	69. Slime (jpn) - Aria of Sorrow				[ edit ]
	A creature whose body is made up of a gelatinous substance.	Strong: Sword, Water Weak: Flame HP: 200 MP: 1 Exp: 200 Atk: 42 Def: 30	Soul: Bound Slime	Underground Reservoir, Chaotic Realm	Abil: Physical contact causes poison.
	73. Arc Demon (jpn) - Aria of Sorrow				[ edit ]
	Uses the powers of darkness to wreak havoc upon the world.	Strong: Darkness Weak: Holy HP: 500 MP: 2,000 Exp: 400 Atk: 46 Def: 35 Timestop: Unaffected	Rare Drop: High Mind Up Soul: Magic Back	Inner Quarters (past Chronomage), Underground Reservoir, The Arena
	78. Alura Une (jpn) - Aria of Sorrow				[ edit ]
	An Une raised on warm blood.	Weak: Flame HP: 800 MP: 1 Exp: 400 Atk: 53 Def: 50	Rare Drop: Melon Soul: Guardian Alura Une	Underground Cemetery (after beating Legion), Forbidden Area
	81. Flesh Golem (jpn) - Aria of Sorrow				[ edit ]
	A man-llike[sic] figure built from the body parts of corpses. Animated by magic.	Weak: Sword HP: 2,000 MP: 1 Exp: 400 Atk: 47 Def: 25	Common Drop: Rotten Meat Rare Drop: Spoiled Milk Soul: Demon Stomach	Underground Reservoir
	89. Red Minotaur (jpn) - Aria of Sorrow				[ edit ]
	A red Minotaur that grew stronger during a recent trip to hell.	Weak: Sword, Poison, Curse HP: 929 MP: 30 Exp: 1,000 Atk: 58 Def: 50	Common Drop: Battle Axe Rare Drop: Tasty Meat Soul: Mega Twister	The Arena, Top Floor	Weapons: Minotaur Axe (Axe Chop, Axe Toss Up (during Horn Charge))
	96. Succubus (jpn) - Aria of Sorrow				[ edit ]
	This enticing beauty is really a nightmare in disguise.	Strong: Darkness Weak: Sword HP: 550 MP: 3,000 Exp: 360 Atk: 54 Def: 40 Timestop: Unaffected	Common Drop: Heart Pendant Rare Drop: Pudding Soul: Death Touch	The Arena, Top Floor, Chaotic Realm
	98. Stolas (jpn) - Aria of Sorrow				[ edit ]
	An aged, wise owl.	Strong: Darkness Weak: Holy HP: 1,500 MP: 9,999 Exp: 1,500 Atk: 70 Def: 40	Drop: High Potion Soul: God's Wisdom	Top Floor, Chaotic Realm	Abil: Summons Red Minotaurs, Skeleton Knights, or Dead Crusaders.
	102. Iron Golem (jpn) - Aria of Sorrow				[ edit ]
	A man-llike[sic] figure made of iron and animated by magic. Extremely tough.	Strong: Everything HP: 9,999 MP: 1 Exp: 500 Atk: 70 Def: 255 Timestop: Unaffected	Soul: Tireless Spirit	Top Floor, Chaotic Realm
	103. Demon Lord (jpn) - Aria of Sorrow				[ edit ]
	This dark king rules over most of the demon population.	Strong: Darkness Weak: Holy HP: 1,800 MP: 9,999 Exp: 3,000 Atk: 78 Def: 45 Timestop: Unaffected	Common Drop: Mana Prism Rare Drop: Demon's Mail Soul: Dark Inferno	Chaotic Realm
	105. Flame Demon (jpn) - Aria of Sorrow				[ edit ]
	A fiend born from the hell fires.	Strong: Flame, Darkness Weak: Water, Holy HP: 500 MP: 5,000 Exp: 400 Atk: 55 Def: 35 Timestop: Unaffected	Rare Drop: Laevatain Soul: Hellfire	Underground Cemetery, Forbidden Area

Item Data

Item Data: Killer Mantle
Image	Name - Game   Type - Users Description	Attributes / Consume	Statistics / Sell	Found	Notes
	Ramen (jpn) - Aria of Sorrow   Food - Soma				[edit]
	Noodles floating in a broth made from pork bones.		HP +500 Sell: $400	Rare Drop: Killer Mantle
	Killer Mantle - Astral Veil - Aria of Sorrow   Bullet Soul - Soma				[edit]
	Ability to swap HP and MP of enemies.	Consume: 19 MP	199 ATK	Rarity: 13 Drop: Killer Mantle	Effect: Swaps HP and MP of an enemy (useful against Iron Golem).

Gallery

Killer Mantle's enemy list entry from Aria of Sorrow.

Trivia

• According to Shutaro Iida, programmer of Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, the provisional name of the Killer Mantle during development was "Mr. Donovan".