Divine Mirror



The Divine Mirror (神鏡; onyomi: Shinkyō) is an ancient relic which drives the plot of Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate. Sometime before the events of the first game, the mirror was originally used by the Heavenly Emperor to seal demons plaguing the mystic realm. But when its surface cracked, the evil spirits trapped inside found release and resulted in the birth of Orochi. It was eventually stolen by Tamamo who used its powers for her own ends.

During the first part of the sixth chapter, the mirror's magic entraps the heroes within a replica of the dimensional world where reflections of their comrades attack them. The reflections themselves are identical to their real-life counterparts, though they are said to be hollow on the inside. Tamamo uses these impostors to sow discord among the various factions until the mystics Shennong and Kaguya intervene. Although time travel is impossible while inside the mirror, the heroes are able to find an exit through one of the cracks left on the relic. Their escape causes the mirror to shatter and lose its powers.

Fearing that the seal placed on Tamamo may break once more, the Resistance Army agreed that the mirror should be used to imprison her permanently. The quest to obtain the artifact leads them back to a time when it was still owned by the Heavenly Emperor. Though the heroes fail to prevent the mirror from being damaged, the Heavenly Emperor is able to restore it once Orochi and his miasma have been banished from the vicinity. Using the repaired relic on Tamamo the first time forces her to unveil her true form. After being used to seal the vixen for good, it is finally returned to the mystics.

Clearing the true ending of Ultimate allows players to participate in alternate versions of certain battles where the Divine Mirror can be used to detect impostors early on. By completing these stages, Kyūbi and her scenarios will be unlocked.

The item is clearly inspired by the legend behind sacred mirrors displayed in Shinto shrines. The stories state that mirrors serve as a physical vessel for spirits, serving as an interface between the mortal and spiritual planes. Its function in-game is also based on the Chinese belief that mirrors ward off evil spirits by reflecting their hideous appearance back at them. The back of the Divine Mirror is also engraved with all 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, further reinforcing its role in Asian mythology.