Preta

Preta, or Gaki, is a demon in the series.

History
Preta (प्रेत in Sanskrit, Peta in Pali, Yidak (ཡི་དྭགས་) in Tibetan, E-gui (餓鬼) in Chinese, Gaki (餓鬼) in Japanese, usually "Hungry ghost" or "Hungry Ogre" in English) is a spirit that originates from Buddhist and Hindu texts. Generally, they are the spirits of greedy, jealous or corrupted people who have become, for their negative karma, demons with an insatiable appetite for a particular substance, that can vary from corpses to anything bizarre. In some Buddhism religions, Preta is the name of one of the Six Realms that represent the Six States of Rebirth. In the Chinese traditional religion, they are beings driven by intense emotional needs in an animalistic way. In the modern Japanese language, spoiled children are called "gaki," as a reference to this demon.

Preta are described as human-like spirits that are usually invisible to the human eyes depending on their mental state. They have sunken, mummified skin, narrow limbs, an enormously distended belly and a long, thin neck; their appearance, as so, reflect their state of insatiable hunger.

In Japanese art, they are represented with bulging stomachs and small mouths and throats or as balls of smoke or fire, and are shown, usually, licking spilled water in temples, accompanied by demons that represent their agony. They dwell in the wastes and in the deserts and usually have problems while dealing with their hunger and end up becoming even more hungry: someone can eat a little, but have difficulties in finding food or drinks or have problems swallowing food; some even find that what they eat seems to burst into flames or see the food they desire vanishing before their eyes.

In Hinduism, their body is composed of air and akaash (comparable to aether, black matter or space), and since they are missing three elements (fire, water and earth), physical intake and digestion is not possible for them. They usually suffer similar conditions to those in hell, but they can freely move instead of being confined in a subterranean world.

Preta are usually not seen by humans as a nuisance unless their hunger is for blood, though in some other traditions, they prevent others from satisfying their own desire. Many times, though, they are seen as beings to be pitied and, for example, in some monasteries monks leave them some offerings before meals; some Japanese Buddhists also dedicate a day to remember them, as they believe that such offerings and remembrances will, someday, free them from their endless pain.

Appearances

 * Shin Megami Tensei: Ghost Race
 * Shin Megami Tensei II: Haunt Race
 * Shin Megami Tensei: if...: Haunt Race
 * Shin Megami Tensei: 20XX: Haunt Race
 * Shin Megami Tensei: 20XX Devil's Colosseum: Ghost Race, Tutorial boss
 * Shin Megami Tensei NINE: Spirit Race, Boss
 * Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne: Haunt Race
 * Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE: Haunt Race
 * Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey: Haunt Race
 * Shin Megami Tensei IV: Ghost Race
 * Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse: Ghost Race
 * Shin Megami Tensei V: Haunt Race
 * Last Bible III
 * Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Haunt Race
 * Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers: Haunt Race
 * Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon: Frost Order
 * Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Lone Marebito
 * Giten Megami Tensei: Tokyo Mokushiroku: Haunt Race
 * Megami Ibunroku Persona: Haunt Order
 * Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner: Demon Class
 * Shin Megami Tensei: Synchronicity Prologue
 * Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2: Haunt Race

Shin Megami Tensei
A Preta is the very first demon that the protagonist actually encounters, where he attacks a civilian in the Kichijoji Mall and then proceeds to attack the protagonist, leaving the scene after inflicting substantial damage.

This event also leads the protagonist to obtain his first weapon in the game from the dead man's body, an "Attack Knife;" and his getting wrongly arrested (the fan translation specifies that he was framed by the police for the murder) that leads to his temporary incarceration and meeting the other main characters.

Shin Megami Tensei NINE
A Preta is fought at the end of Chapter 1. This is the first battle where the player can give orders.

Shin Megami Tensei: 20XX Devil's Colosseum
Gaki is faced as a boss in the tutorial maze. He is far higher leveled than in other games (level 16) and is used to explain Elemental-Based combat.

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
A team of three Pretas is fought in the Shinjuku Medical Center in order to retrieve an Annex Pass in order to exit the facility. They can also be found in Shibuya, Ginza and Kabukicho Prison.

Pretas are also kept by the Mantra Army to dispose of the bodies of those who lose in their trials.

Additionally, in the Labyrinth of Amala's Third Kalpa, there is a Shady Broker that sells a Preta with Almighty skills for 150,000 Macca behind a door that only opens to a demon of darkness. As such, the Demi-fiend must have a dark-aligned title before he can attempt to purchase this Preta.

Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE
Gaki can be contracted in Ueno, Suginami, Shinjuku Babel's docks area, Old Tokyo Metro, and the bronze level of Ichigaya Camp. It appears regularly as a tutorial boss and an enemy mob in Virtual Battle, Kuchinawa Cave, the Ichigaya Gold boss room, and some rooms in the Second Home instance. It also plays a central role in the Superficial Contract quest.

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
As an enemy, Preta sports the Macca Beam skill, which reduces the protagonist's total Macca by 20%.

Shin Megami Tensei IV
Preta can be found in Ueno. It can teach Flynn the Life Drain and Bad Company skills through its Demon Whisper. Preta is one of the demons needed to summon Kanbari through special fusion.

Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse
A Preta is responsible for instigating the events of King Frost taking over the spring in the Fairy Forest and trying to get the fairies to find the "treasure" hidden in the forest. After their idea of having a Jack Frost find the treasure failed, it reveals that it was ordered to find the treasure in the forest by some creepy god from the Divine Powers when questioned by Nozomi. Afterward, it runs off, fearing for its life.

Preta can be found within Kanda-no-yashiro. It can teach the Life Drain, Bad Company, Mudo and Mabufu skills through Demon Whisper. Preta receives a bonus to Darkness, Ice and ailment skills learned.

Shin Megami Tensei V
Preta is one of the first demons the protagonist can encounter in the Tamachi area of the Netherworld. The protagonist will also come across a group of three Pretas accosting a demon in a kimono, which will attack the protagonist when she calls to them for help. Once subquests become available, the protagonist can find a cave with a group of Pretas in Tamachi. The leader of the Pretas will ask the protagonist to look for a group of Pretas that went to scavenge for food, he asks the protagonist to find them and have them return... with food. A Preta in Mita will mention another that went to join a "goddess," with the quest marker updating to the location of Apsaras's cave in Hamamatsucho. The Preta here will give the protagonist the Sake and Dango Medley key item. With this, the quest can be completed. Returning to the Pretas' cave and giving them the food will result in them eating it, then quickly turning on the protagonist once they eat it all. After being defeated, they will give the protagonist the Haunt Talisman as an apology and the quest will be completed.

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
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