A Bao A Qu

The A Bao A Qu is a creature from Malaysian mythology. It is benign and sits at the bottom of a tower called Vijaya Stambha. It has tentacles and its skin is similar to a peach. When a pilgrim enters and begins going up the tower, the A Bao A Qu follows it up. It starts out nearly invisible, then slowly gains more coloration and eventually begins to glow blue. It is said that it can only reach its full form if it follows someone all the way to the top of the tower, but no one has ever gotten there before turning back. When the pilgrim turns around, the A Bao A Qu goes back down reverting to its previous form.

Citations:

Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.

Rose, Carol. Giants, Monsters, and Dragons: An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend, and Myth. United Kingdom, Norton, 2001.