Onibi (Demon Fire) is a type of atmospheric ghost light in Japanese legend.
One of the types of youkai that is shaped like a fireball and is extremely dangerous. Onibi is a beautiful but deadly phenomenon. They look like small fireballs, usually blue or white (red and yellow onibi are less common), and occur in groups of twenty to thirty individuals. Onibi spheres can range in size from three to thirty centimeters and often hover at eye level. They appear in places surrounded by nature, grasslands, forests, watersides, graveyards — most often during the spring and summer months, and especially on rainy days.
According to folklore, they are spirits born from the corpses of humans and animals. It is not known what causes the onibi to be born; sometimes they show up and sometimes they don't. Intense grudges and malice can also create onibi. They are considered identical to the will-o'-the-wisps of English folklore.
Onibi doesn't generate much heat, but is dangerous in other respects. Because, they are youkai that live off of sucking the life force of humans and animals. Any living thing that comes close will be surrounded by dozens of Onibi orbs, the victim's life force is gradually drained by them. Soon, that creature was left with nothing but a dead husk on the ground. At night, onibi are often mistaken for lanterns in the distance, and people have disappeared into the woods to chase these ghostly lights. Visitors should be careful not to be led to their death by the fire demon.
Onibi are found all over Japan. In some areas, they display the faces and even voices of the victims they have drained of their life force. In Okinawa, the onibi is said to take the form of a small bird.
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