An ancient Japanese stone believed to contain an evil demon has now cracked open.
What happened: The stone — named the “killing stone” — split in two, per The Guardian.
- It is believed to host a demon spirit.
- Japanese lore suggests that anyone who touches the rock will die.
- There’s the belief that “the stone continually spews poisonous gas,” according to The Guardian.
- The rock is located near the mountain region of Tochigi, which is outside of Tokyo.
Context: Per The Sun, legend says that the volcanic rock is home of the Nine-Tailed Fox, who “took the form of a beautiful woman” as a part of an assassination plan to kill Emperor Toba, who ruled Japan from 1107 to 1123.
What they’re saying: “I feel like I’ve seen something that shouldn’t be seen,” one Twitter user said.
- Some believers said that the rock might have split years ago because of rainwater, according to The Guardian.
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Our take: This immediately brought flashbacks to Rita Repulsa, the villain from “Power Rangers” who emerged from a rock on the moon.