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The Pygmies (小人 Kobito?) are a race of minuscule beings who are invisible natives of Earth.
In Dandadan, they serve as supporting antagonists during the Pygmy Princess Arc.
Physical Characteristics[]
The masks worn by the pygmies.
Pygmies are extremely small, being next to impossible for average size humans to detect. Much like the Serpos, they are all identical. Their bodies are cone-shaped with stick figure limbs and are depicted having teary eyes and a dark mustache.
For a majority of their debut, they wore a mask with round eyes, a petite nose, an open mouth lined with rows of teeth, and three ☰ trigram markings adorning the cheeks and forehead.
Psychological Characteristics[]
Pygmies have a strong desire to have their existence acknowledged by humans, and once acknowledged by a perceiver, they pledge their fidelity to them.
Inter-species Relationships[]
Pygmies are currently loyal to Kouki Yukishiro.
Overall Strength[]
A swarm of pygmies surrounding Kouki as seen from the perspective of a non-perceiver.
Small Size: Pygmies can leverage their diminutive size to their advantage. Their size renders them undetectable to individuals of average height, enabling them to move stealthy and observe without being noticed. Even a swarm of pygmies are shown to have no visibility whatsoever. In battle, their invisibility allows them to attack their opponents out in the open and make it difficult for them to counterattack.
While invisible to larger individuals, pygmies are visible to those of similar stature.
Immense Speed: Pygmies are remarkably fast, capable of executing their stitching ability to fasten materials securely in mere seconds. Combined with their diminutive stature rendering them nearly undetectable, opponents become too late to halt their swift sewing actions.
Resourcefulness: Pygmies are inventive in combat against larger opponents, frequently using items like cooking knives as projectiles with self-made catapults. Some pygmies also utilize tiny bows and toothpicks as arrows, which, despite their small size, can be significantly less deadly yet still cause discomfort to the individuals hit by them.
Special Abilities[]
| Stitching | |||
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| Strengths and Weaknesses | |||
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Utilizing their stitching ability to interlock objects to any surface, pygmies can limit their opponents' movements by anchoring them to the ground, furniture, or the clothing of others nearby. The stitches are seemingly harmless when applied to skin. They are strong enough to secure individuals of average size, as well as those endowed with yokai powers that augments their physical prowess. While no known weakness has been exploited, it should be noted that a sewing needle and thread is required to execute their ability. | |||
History[]
According to the folklore of a particular region, the pygmies were once humans until they were driven from the surface for being cast out as the socially weak. Consequently, their human physiology was altered, diminishing them to extremely small beings, and their existence became forgotten by the world. Moreover, their memories of their former selves were lost, leaving them with only a profound desire to be perceived by humans of the modern time.
After Kouki Yukishiro acquired the ability to see the pygmies from her blackmailer, the pygmies chose to cater to her every need, including her mission to steal Momo's power.
Synopsis[]
Current Saga[]
Pygmy Princess Arc[]
The pygmies launching an attack on Momo, Okarun, and Aira.
A pygmy observes Momo in the library and quickly departs to inform Kouki of her location after being spotted.[1][2] After Kouki lures Momo, Okarun, and Aira into an Empty Space classroom, following the History and Culture Research Club's pursuit of the girl, the pygmies initiate their assault on the trio, employing their stitching ability to hinder Okarun and Aira's movements and utilizing any available classroom items as weapons, such as knives, toothpicks, and desk burners. The pygmies' invisibility in combat is disrupted by Momo, whose diminutive stature enables her to detect them and alert Okarun and Aira about their maneuvers.[3] Although they succeeded in immobilizing Okarun and Aira by stitching them to the floor, making them vulnerable to a concentrated attack, the pygmies become unable to initiate it due to the concealed Kouki being within firing range behind them, a scenario orchestrated by Momo.[4]
Trivia[]
- The name "Pygmies" refers to a tribe of dwarfs told in Greek mythology.
- The pygmies setting Aira's hair on fire references the literary work Imagines, which recounts the Pygmies' assault on Heracles. In this tale, the Pygmy King orchestrates an attack on Heracles' head, employing fire for his hair, mattocks for his eyes, and I fancy as gates to fasten his nose and obstruct his breathing.
- Adding onto Kouki's surname, "Yukishiro", referencing the fictional character Snow White ("snow" (雪) (yuki) and "white" (白) (shiro)), the pygmies most likely are a nod to the seven dwarfs associated with Snow White.
References[]
- ↑ Dandadan Manga: Chapter 166, Page 19
- ↑ Dandadan Manga: Chapter 167, Pages 1-2
- ↑ Dandadan Manga: Chapter 171, Pages 5-19
- ↑ Dandadan Manga: Chapter 172
