Kaiju No. 9 is the main antagonist of the Kaiju No. 8 manga and anime. As one of the numbered kaiju, he first appears at a Defense Force testing site, where he brings other defeated kaiju back to life. From that moment on, he becomes a persistent danger, orchestrating assaults, resurrecting more monsters, and pursuing greater strength to challenge the Defense Force.
Appearance[]
Kaiju No. 9 initially had a gaunt appearance, being a tall, thin kaiju with a set of jagged teeth exposed. His head appears to have a set of two protuberances stacked onto each other. Underneath his head are small, sunken eyes that are not visible sometime. Because of his shapeshifting abilities, he is able to replicate the appearances of his consumed victims.
He later gains a more significant bulk in appearance as well as darker skin after going through his first evolution.
Upon absorbing an Ant-Type Kaiju, Kaiju No. 9's top half remains relatively the same from prior, but his lower half becomes that of an Ant-Type Kaiju, with his body being directly fused to the kaiju. Later upon absorbing the powers of Kaiju No. 2, Kaiju No. 9 grows in mass, becoming a giant, muscular kaiju, in addition to gaining a large tail and a new set of six eyes.
Personality[]
Kaiju No. 9 presents himself as calm and composed, yet beneath that exterior lies a ruthless and destructive nature. His true goals remain shrouded in mystery, but his actions make it clear that he harbors a strong desire to bring down the Defense Force and cause widespread devastation. Upon discovering Kafka Hibino's transformation into Kaiju No. 8, he becomes fixated on acquiring that same power.
Unlike most kaiju, No. 9 is capable of speech, hinting at a higher level of intelligence. He’s shown to be exceptionally cunning, using his shapeshifting ability to impersonate others and seamlessly infiltrate human society. His tactical mind shines in combat situations—he once used decoys of himself to keep Kafka, Kikoru Shinomiya, and Gen Narumi occupied, while he launched a surprise attack on Isao Shinomiya by slipping undetected into the base.
Abilities[]
As a Daikaiju, Kaiju No. 9 is recognized as one of the most formidable and dangerous monsters in Kaiju No. 8, boasting an official resilience rating of 8.5. His relentless attacks and continuous evolution have made him a critical threat to the Defense Force, with Isao Shinomiya warning against underestimating his danger.
Brilliant Intellect: No. 9 possesses an extraordinary intellect, demonstrated by his ability to simultaneously win twelve games of chess against human opponents—an experiment to gauge their cognitive capabilities. Director General Keiji Itami compares No. 9 to a virus, constantly evolving and adapting during combat.
Finger Projectiles: He can launch powerful, bullet-like projectiles from his fingers, capable of piercing deep into flesh, tearing off large chunks of tissue, and even penetrating durable materials like metal or other kaiju hides—including that of Kaiju No. 8.
Assimilation and Shapeshifting: No. 9 can absorb other beings and mimic their appearance. This allows him to blend in with humans for reconnaissance and manipulation. He has also merged with other kaiju, such as Ant-Type creatures, and assimilated Kaiju No. 2 by taking over the Numbers Weapon 2 armor and gauntlets. In combat, he can morph parts of his body—like generating extra limbs—to overwhelm opponents, as seen during his clash with Reno Ichikawa.
Enhanced Physical Power: Following his first body molt, he became significantly more durable and powerful. After absorbing Kaiju No. 2, his strength increased even further, enabling him to fight evenly against the might of Kaiju No. 8.
Barrier Generation: In his encounter with Reno Ichikawa and Iharu Furuhashi, No. 9 created a massive, invisible field that blocked communication signals and trapped them within a sealed zone.
Duplication: He can spawn multiple copies of himself for tactical advantage. These clones are not just puppets—they possess individual thought processes and identities, even referring to one another as “Beta” and “Gamma,” suggesting a high level of autonomy.