Proto-fiend (神造魔人, Jinzou Majin)? is a unique race in Shin Megami Tensei V.
Overview[]
Demons in this race are artificially created by other gods by infusing the power of a divinity and using another god as a template for the resulting fiend. Depending on their purpose, they were created with specific duties.
Japan originally had three Proto-fiend model platforms created from the power left by Izanagi and his three children and have used these models for centuries.
- The Susano-o model was designed for combat purposes and mass produced using the full power of the Amatsu pantheon with the Japanese god of the sea and storms.
- The Tsukuyomi-model was designed for logistic purposes meant to govern the country using the power of the moon god currently in his identity as Hayao Koshimizu.
- and the lost singular Amaterasu model were designed to command both combat and logistic units and govern the country as leader of the Amatsukami until their Knowledge transformed into a new existence and the demon form was completely eradicated as a byproduct of the incident, the core for this lost Amaterasu model is now the Heavenly Keystone, which resides in Shinjuku along with any Amatsukami and Kunitsukami that didn't participate in the war. It is thusly implied that Tao Isonokami was the holder of Amaterasu's Knowledge, but her station as the Goddess of Creation overwhelmed Amaterasu's Knowledge.
Aogami is the only Proto-fiend mentioned in Shin Megami Tensei V, imbued with the power of the Japanese god of the seas and storms, Susano-o, meant to inherit the Amatsukami's full power. Amanozako, while a member of the Genma race, was created with the remains of an Aogami-type Proto-fiend by the Tengus to create a Great Tengu. The Canon of Vengeance route in Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance would confirm that Hayao Koshimizu is himself a Proto-fiend imbued with the power of Tsukuyomi, as well as explaining the absence of Amaterasu.
While there are no Proto-fiends that are summonable allies, there are Essences tied to both Aogami and Tsukuyomi, though the latter is exclusive to the Canon of Vengeance.