Garuda

Garuda is a shikigami used by Yuki Tsukumo and is connected to her innate technique, Star Rage.

Description
Garuda is a long white cursed spirit with a unique appearance. It has a long, serpent-esque body with sections that are covered with bone-like columns. This same material comprises Garuda's head, which is complete with two eyes and a bird-like bill. It also possesses eight wings that levitate around its body and enable flight.

Garuda can have virtual mass added to it using Star Rage, as it's the only thing affected by the cursed technique other than the user. Star Rage transforms Garuda into a cursed tool that the user can use in battle. Garuda can also act and fight independently regardless of whether Star Rage is active as well.

Usage
Garuda is primarily an aid to Yuki in battle and is not relied upon as her only source of offense. When Yuki saved several sorcerers from Uraume's Ice Formation, Garuda destroyed the ice holding everyone as well as the incoming ice from the curse user's attack.

For Yuki's initial move in her fight with Kenjaku, Garuda folded itself into a ball on her command. Then Yuki kicked Garuda through the head of Kenjaku's special grade divine curse. Garuda's support made Yuki confident she could defeat Kenjaku if both their techniques were brunt out by a domain clash. While Yuki was injured, Garuda fought independently against Kenjaku with thrusting strikes from its tail. It also supported Yuki's assault by wrapping itself around the curse user to weigh him down with its virtual mass.

Star Rage was weakened due to Yuki's injuries and healing herself allowed Kenjaku to escape Garuda's grasp. Yuki used Garuda's bill as a handle and swung the cursed tool around at her opponent, violently tearing through the environment. Using Gaurda as a mid-range weapon allowed Yuki to observe Kenjaku's attacks from a distance and strategize accordingly. She discovered a time lag in his gravity manipulation technique and attacked with Garuda to exploit it. They also effortlessly ripped through any cursed spirits Kenjaku summoned to buy time as well.

Trivia

 * Garuda refers to the Hō-ō (Japanese) / Fènghuáng (Chinese), a firebird present in numerous Eastern mythologies. It is the Eastern equivalent to the Western Phoenix, although they are not the same kind of creature, and are instead associated with fire, the sun, and the imperial or royal family. In addition, it is also a reference to the divine bird of the same name found in Hindu and Buddhist mythology, where it is the mount or personal creature of the Hindu god, Vishnu.