So here’s a CRAZY little detail I just realized:
When you think about it, the mechanics of Ruby’s semblance (deconstructing and reconstructing herself at a molecular level) might actually function VERY similar to Salem’s immortality. ie: Everything she dies, Salem reconstructs herself at a molecular level just like Ruby does when she teleports.
I think it’s pretty clear looking at the flashbacks that Salem’s immortality most likely isn’t some kind of regeneration or healing factor. For one, it kind of goes against the idea of the ‘curse’ placed upon her by the gods. She’s meant to be effectively ‘locked in place’, unable to die. Not to mention, molecular reconstruction makes Salem’s Immortality all the more ‘Total’. The fact is, you can beat a Healing factor through sheer attrition, no matter how strong it is. Just look at the Homunculi from Fullmetal Alchemist. Even if something can regenerate from just a single cell, that won’t do them any good if they’re completely incinerated, which I think we can assume Salem tried herself.
But molecular reconstruction? You basically can’t beat that. Cut them apart, incinerate them, hell vaporize them? Doesn’t mean a damn thing if their very molecules are simply reassembling themselves every time they’re separated. We see in Jinn’s vision that Ozma reduced Salem to a charred smear on the ground, and she reformed from that.
So with that in mind, what if Ruby can do the same thing? When you think about it, Ruby is basically vaporizing herself every time she uses her semblance and is able to put herself, her clothing, Crescent Rose and anyone she brought with her back together perfectly without even realizing it.
Picture this: It’s the big climactic battle with Cinder. At a critical moment, Cinder finds an opening and slices Ruby’s arm clean off... only for that arm to suddenly burst into petals and reform on Ruby’s shoulder good as new.
Recently, we’ve been theorizing how Ruby’s semblance is a metaphor for her psychological baggage/trauma, but I think we’ve been ignoring the flipside: The fact that Ruby’s semblance could very well represent a metaphorical and LITERAL ability to bounce back from ANYTHING.