The main army of the Earl of Millenium are creatures called AKUMA. AKUMA vary in size, appearance and abilities, depending on how evolved they are.

The AKUMA are constructed by the fusion of a human soul and a skeleton (the Build). But, that’s not all they require. When a person loses someone close to him or her, especially in a tragic incident, they are approached by the Earl and offered the chance to have their loved ones back. Those ignorant enough to accept the Earl’s offer give him the power to call back the souls of the dead and create the AKUMA. These souls are forever chained to their AKUMA constructs, condemned to serve the Earl for eternity. Often, their first kill is the very person who called them back, taking their form at the same time.

Because the AKUMA are also half-sentient, they can evolve to become Level II AKUMA (and above). The more an AKUMA evolves, the more powerful and “intelligent” it becomes. But, the human soul within the AKUMA worsens as it evolves, becoming nothing more than fuel for the AKUMA’s existence. The souls can be freed only if the AKUMA is destroyed (or exorcised) by Innocence. AKUMA destroyed by other means also condemn the souls within to destruction.

The Earl’s “name” to the AKUMA because he is responsible for creating them.

Sometimes, the Earl has a human conspiritor who contacts him with potential candidates to assist in creating AKUMA. These brokers, as they’re called, tend to work as care givers to place themselves near those who may be grieving for lost ones.

Unholy material used by the Earl to create his AKUMA army. The skeletons of the AKUMA (the Build) are made of Dark Matter.

The mechanical, lifeless skeleton created by the Earl for human souls to possess and become AKUMA. It is sometimes also referred to as a machine (機械 きかい).

Weapons of the AKUMA, as well as its blood, can infect living things with a poison that causes instant death and disintegration. The Exorcists (or those armed with Innocence) are immune to the virus, and can cleanse it from within. However, they are unable to do so for anyone else.