WSR 12-1 + 12-8-14

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Sorry about the delay last week: I was at a con, the only excuse I can really use when the blog is late. I don't have another until April 2015, so you shouldn't have to worry about not getting these on Saturday as usual until then.

One Piece took an unexpected break, apparently because Oda was doing some research: not as good an excuse as being sick or such, but interesting as to what he was looking into.

And there’s a slight delay with Magi 250, so I’ll cover that next week along with the next one (unless it’s on break again?)

Hi Fi Cluster 12-13

Peta is helping Kandera with the investigation, since they think Landscape Mole will start gathering other Hi Fi Loaders to initiate his real plan. There was a rumor that someone is picking up a Hi Fi at a nearby port, so they think a stake out is the best plan.

A strange looking taxi appears, Shanon driving. Peta scans with Insight and notices there’s a Hi Fi, the group giving chase. A barricade is up ahead, but Shanon initiates the Hi Fi and the car changes shape, jumping over the police.

The group wants to give chase, Ekusa in particular suggesting they should just shoot its tires out.  But Peta says they should be careful, because he saw that there are two Hi Fi Loaders in the car. Kandera thinks this connects with the intel they got: it suggests they’re also dealing in Hi Fi Loaders along with Labels.

Peta qualifies that the other Loader is a young girl, about 6 years old, Miri saying that means they can’t be rash about this. The chapter ends as Shanon tells the young girl that it won’t be much longer, to just stay quiet.

 

Kandera starts to tell Heckt to move the motorcycles in their way, but another smoke bomb explodes in front of them, Shanon thinking they’ve been delayed. But the explosion, possibly an actual bomb, having destroyed the top of the car, still didn’t faze Kandera, having driven through it to continue pursuit.

Shanon starts driving in reverse, machine guns appearing from the car that fire on Kandera’s vehicle. He gives the wheel to Miri, deflecting the bullets as best he can with his Hi Fi. 

As Shanon’s about to crash into other cars, he activates his Hi Fi, managing to dodge them effectively. Peta uses his Hi Fi to analyze Shanon’s Label. It’s based on Ludwig von Beethoven, allowing him to use sound perception to be aware of the space around him and drive with that kind of skill.

Peta has a plan, Heckt stopping the car with his hands, Shanon using thrusters to get away. But Ekusa manages to adjust gravity so he can attack from an otherwise impossible location. But Shanon activates a weapon to fire at Ekusa.

Meanwhile, Peta is on a scooter, getting in range to rescue the girl. But as he reaches in, she wakes up and starts screaming, activating her Hi Fi in the process, which causes an explosion.

After using Insight, Peta tells Miri the code, which reveals it’s Alfred Nobel’s Hi Fi, the power to blow things up, the chapter ending on this revelation.

Seven Deadly Sins 106-107

We resume with Meliodas’ objection to the award. But he qualifies it’s actually from people behind him.

It’s 3 of the 6 vassals to Denzel, Hendricksen’s assistant. They’re all at least Platinum rank, which makes them pretty powerful, most likely, though one is Diamond, as strong as Gilthunder. They say they want to test the strength of the Seven Deadly Sins by fighting their captain, since they were stationed outside the kingdom at the time of the invasion. Bartra allows them to do so, but Hawk interrupts, saying that one of the knights’ power is around 860.

Gowther notes that there’s a power eye on a necklace Hawk’s wearing, flashing back to Merlin explaining the ability of the item, Balor’s Power Eye, which is to analyze the power level of someone.  It measures magical ability, physical strength and mental composure. Together, it makes up the power level. 145 is around a Holy Knight apprentice, while 300 is the minimum to be a Holy Knight in Liones, which is only one standard compared to other kingdoms, like Camelot, for instance.

Hawk asks what his power level is, Merlin saying it’s 3000 (which is probably a lie, since Merlin is apologizing in her head, as if she did it on purpose, for some reason)

Back in the present, Meliodas takes on the first, Dogget. beating him fairly quickly. But Dogget responds that with that level of strength he experienced, Hendricksen must’ve been fairly weak. He says they only got that rank because Zaratras died and they were under him (as apprentices?).

Meliodas responds that if Dogget had been Great Holy Knight, he’d have been eliminated instantly. While he didn’t agree with what Hendricksen and Dreyfus did, he admired them before that as Holy Knights with conviction, which Dogget doesn’t have in his estimation.

Dogget attacks again, Meliodas blocking the attacks and breaking most of Dogget’s fingers in the process. Dogget rushes at Meliodas as he claims he should go back to being an apprentice, but the Dragon’s Sin knocks him away easily with a headbutt.

The chapter ends as the other two knights say Meliodas is truly powerful, Hawk using Balor’s Eye to see that Meliodas’s Power Level is well over 3000, stronger than what Merlin said Hawk’s was.

The involvement of power levels smacks of Dragon Ball, but the division into three stats makes me interested as to how each is related to the other (and it’s like Dungeons and Dragons, which this series has an interesting correlation to with the medieval fantasy setting). Meliodas has about 2000~ Spirit, and only about 300~ magical power, meaning his major advantage is his conviction and concentration (which makes sense with his Full Counter ability).

But Meliodas’ physical attribute is over 3x that of the minimum rank for a Holy Knight in Liones. It makes you wonder how everyone else matches up. King and Merlin probably have greater Magic compared to Meliodas or Ban, but weaker Strength. Diane may have especially low Spirit, but fairly high strength, though Meliodas seems to have about as much as her, if not more. Maybe her stats are more balanced?

The other two present members of the Six Knights of the Azure Sky say they’ve seen plenty and don’t need to fight Meliodas any further. They leave, Hawk noticing their power levels, about 1700 and above, confident that Meliodas could’ve beaten them.

But Gowther says power levels are only a rough estimate and can vary depending on circumstances. Hawk asks how he knows, Gowther explaining he already has it loaded in his body. Hawk sees Gowther’s power level is about 3100, Gowther saying Hawk’s is only 30. Hawk is shocked when he sees Diane’s is also over 3000, Merlin explaining every Sin has over 3000 power level. Hawk is paralyzed with disbelief that Merlin’s is over 4000, almost 5000 at 4700.

Meliodas is told by Elizabeth that Bartra wants to speak with him later, the captain leaving with Hawk. They run into Griamor, Hauser and another Holy Knight (looks like Gilthunder).

Hauser confirms Meliodas’ suspicion that Dreyfus was acting inconsistently, attacking and killing Holy Knights, but also fighting against Hendricksen with Griamor, who thinks there’s some mistake.

Merlin shows up, saying they need to see both sides of the situation and figure out the meaning behind this, leaving them with that wisdom. Hawk observes the three Holy Knights’ power levels, Hauser and Gilthunder over 1900 each and Griamor over 1500.

 

Meliodas says they shouldn’t think too hard, calling them the Three Misfits, which makes Griamor remember when they played pranks, scolded by Zaratras and Dreyfus, but protected by Hendricksen.

Hauser says he wants to find the truth, Gilthunder telling them to come with him to Dreyfus’ room.

Meanwhile, Bartra thanks the group for bringing peace to Liones, but says the threat of a Holy War has become greater now. He saw a new prophecy with his power, Vision, saying that in the kingdom to the south a new threat will appear.

Merlin figures out it’s Camelot, the chapter ending as we see the massive beast, as large as a mountain, bearing down on the kingdom, Arthur looking as if he will fight it.

World Trigger 85-86

Osamu steps up to the podium as Shinoda and the others are worried about his injuries. He admits he was the trainee who used a Trigger and that he is willing to take questions.

Shinoda says that the matter is closed and they don’t need to question him, but the reporters insist, Osamu saying it’s fine.

Someone asks Osamu what he thinks of the possibility of information leaking about trainee Triggers not having Bail Out function, Osamu thinking that a Rad could’ve been nearby, since it was an abnormal gate. He says it’s possible, reporters immediately saying he’s trying to soften the blow on himself. But Osamu says he would’ve used the Trigger even if he knew the information would’ve been disseminated, because the situation was that dire.

Another reporter says that Osamu could’ve just waited until he was an agent and then saved his friends. But Osamu responds that sometimes people have to make split second decisions and he did what he thought was right and doesn’t regret it, especially since people’s lives were on the line. He says he can’t be a hero, because he can’t make a decision that everyone will be pleased with.

The press continues to assault him, saying they can’t just overlook his actions because he was a novice, claiming he doesn’t have any guilt.

One reporter says the major issue is what Osamu is going to do to make up for this. Osamu responds that he’ll save them all, because it’s the right thing to do, not because people tell him he must.

People wonder if that means going to the Neighbor world. Karasawa confirms to Yuma that the away missions with agents are top secret. Kido interjects, saying that Border has been experimenting with unmanned missions to the Neighbor world, as if to confirm that Border is working towards saving people in the Neighborhood, even though they’ve already been doing manned missions to increase Trigger intel and development.

Their plan is to initiate a recovery mission eventually, eventually starting a qualification exam. Osamu can go if he meets the requirements, sent off by Kido to continue recovery.

Afterwards, Kasumi tells Osamu that, while she initially opposed him entering Border six months ago, seeing everyone supporting him makes her think it might’ve been a good thing, that he’s found something he’s meant to do. Yuma says that now they really have to step it up to get to A Rank.

The chapter ends as the B Rank wars start at the beginning of February.

We flashback to Rindo telling Osamu and Yuma they want to promote Chika to B Rank, particularly Kinuta. This will involve transferring the points Osamu and Yuma earned after the invasion. This isn’t usually done, but Border wants to protect Chika, since her high Trion levels are very valuable to Border and they want her to be able to Bail Out if necessary. Yuma will still have to work his way up, but he says that won’t be an issue.

The Rank Wars are starting for the C Ranks,Yuma and Chika not sharing the same outfit yet, meaning Yuma still stands out.

Kido runs into Osamu and asks if he has anything to say about the press conference: Osamu only says that if they try to do that with Yuma or Chika, he won’t forgive them. Kido says only Rindo and Shinoda weren’t aware of this and would’ve opposed it, so he’ll remember that. He encourages Osamu to work hard as he leaves.

The B Rank wars start, Osamu one of the commentators, since he’s still recovering from his injuries, though he’ll be participating soon.

We get an explanation of the process: you have three groups of 7, fighting in 4 or 3 person teams. You get a point for eliminating other team members and 2 bonus points for surviving until the end. The top 2 B Rank teams get a spot in the A Rank wars. Also, the top performing teams from the C Rank qualifiers get bonus points, meaning Tamakoma likely has some bonus points already.

Osamu’s team is at a severe disadvantage with only 2 members, but he’s not worried. Yuma immediately takes out a whole team with his skills, the other team hiding in the building. Since they’re Shooters, they’re preparing an ambush that’s difficult to counter.

Usami asks Chika to make a shot at the building, Chika managing to virtually take it out, exposing the team.

Yuma then quickly eliminates them as well, the first match ending within only a few minutes, shocking the commentators. Tamakoma-2 squad moves up to 12th place, indicating they were actually on the low end of the competitors. But their next opponents are Arafune and Suwa squad, who are in the top echelon of B rank. The chapter ends with this upcoming battle on the horizon.

Magi 249

Gyokuen manages to deflect Seiryuu and Kokuhyou’s attacks away. Hakuryuu says he isn’t doing this for his father, but the Left and Right Generals say that they are following their hearts because they saw Hakuryuu fighting against Gyokuen, who they know has taken the empire away from the rightful successors like Kouen.

The three attack together and break Gyokuen’s sword, saying that she lacks conviction. But she picks up Hakuryuu’s spear, saying that they lack true faith, hinting at Il Illah and her belief in him as Arba in Alma Torran. 

Gyokuen’s counterattack is massive and direct, knocking the three away with a relentless barrage. She says Solomon has corrupted everyone so they cannot hear Il Illah’s voice or see him. She severely wounds Seiryuu and Kokuhyou as they beg Hakuryuu to do something for their country.

Hakuryuu attacks Gyokuen from behind in a rage. His assault is shocking to Gyokuen, his true strength, unbound by Phenex, allows him to break the spear. Gyokuen stabs him, but he lunges forward, biting her throat, truly desperate to satisfy his vengeance for his brothers.

She bleeds greatly from the wound, but the others have fallen, Judar retreated because he can’t fight directly. Gyokuen manages to stand up, holding the blood back with her hand, but barely. The chapter ends as we see that this fight is still not quite over yet.

One Piece 770

Luffy tries to stop Bellamy from fighting, but the Spring Man persists, attacking Luffy with Armament Haki.

Meanwhile, Zoro and Pica’s battle continues, Zoro getting a slight advantage, but then surrounded by Doflamingo’s men. Orlumbus throws one of his men like a bowling ball, knocking away the soldiers with Killer Bowling to support Zoro, leaving Pica to him.

Pica starts to take over the plateau itself, his laugh making Zoro comment on how absurd it is, which enrages the Stone Man.  He attacks, causing more destruction than he’s aware of, Dellinger telling him he should be aware that others are fighting in the vicinity. Dellinger is knocked away by Ideo and Baby 5, through her usual misunderstanding, thinks Sai needs her.

 

Machvise leaves the defeated Hajrudin to target Zolo. The giant thinks about his goal to become the king of his race, frustrated at his inability to repay his debt to Usopp for saving him. As Machvise jumps with the force of 10000 tons, Hajrudin attacks with Gungnir, his resolve allowing him to knock the Weight Man away into the Birdcage, soundly defeating him.

The chapter ends as Zoro thanks the giant, saying the cage will be gone when he wakes up.

Toriko 304-305

Sani is approached by the Iai Aye from before, holding an umbrella over him as the rain pours down. The Iai Aye points at one of the severed limbs, Sani realizing it’s part of Coco’s Poison Doll. But Toriko’s arm seems to be real, Sani taking everything with his Satan Hair.

The Iai Aye guides Sani to where Coco is. Coco is healed with Satan Vomit giving him back his poison. He explains that he saw the shadow of death on his legs, so he immediately made the fake legs before they were attacked by Bambina.

With the Iai Aye pointing again, Coco notices Toriko and the others’ electromagnetic waves, indicating they’re still alive somewhere.

As the group finds Toriko, we’re told that they weren’t hopeful, but merely courageous, having to build themselves up after their sound defeat by the Monkey King.

The group, having collected themselves, asks Kaka what happened. She says it was pure luck that the Iai Aye found them and that they even survived. But she explains there was no fight, the Monkey King was just playing.

First it was playing Hide and Seek, closing its eyes to count, screaming as if to ask if everyone was hidden. Then it played a game from Japan called Acchi Muite Hoi, where it points in a direction to predict where someone will look. It twisted Zebra’s head off with the force of its hand pointing, but Coco had made a Poison Doll ahead of time. It played Hiza Kakkun, trying to knock Coco down by kicking the back of his knees and arm wrestled with Toriko, ripping off his right arm (second time he’s lost that arm, maybe third if we count the Nightmare Heracles fight)

After Bambina saw Sani had his eyes closed (in the split second of blinking), it thought Sani was seeking in Hide and Seek, so it left to hide. Kaka released the Sandoriko’s pollen and the Monkey King’s sneeze caused the blast that knocked everyone away. Komatsu was safe because the Denshark dove underground immediately.

Kaka says that there’s a reason Bambina taught Enbu to the monkeys on the continent, Coco thinking it’s because it wants more playmates that won’t outright die in the process. Kaka speculates they might be able to survive if they learned Enbu.

The group rests for a while, Komatsu having another episode, quickly healed by the group’s efforts. They notice Komatsu’s hungry as well, Toriko demanding Enbu training from Kaka. Kaka wonders if it’s courage motivating Toriko, but he says it’s appetite as the chapter ends.

Kaka begins to explain Enbu’s basic technique, which is “Warding Off Power”. But she says it’s done with every cell, which is difficult, since each Gourmet Cell has slight differences in appetite. Each cell has a will, which isn’t always in alignment with the brain’s orders, so the training can only begin once they can control all of those myriad cells and their wills.

Coco asks why this is relevant to the Enbu’s initial skill, Kaka saying it’s because you have to have unified recognition to understand the power you receive into your body. With that unification, you can ward off power much better, since the energy isn’t wasted, not unlike Food Honor in the digestion of food. This includes warding off gravity, which is why Bambina and others could walk around so easily in 100G mountain; even in the outer areas with 10x normal gravity.

With gravity, there are cells that resists and cells that go with the flow to make it go easily past them. Once all the cells perceive it as no threat, they make it so it’s warded off all the time.  Coco compares it to becoming like a bowl that filters everything through it instead of accepting everything.

To start their training, Kaka gives everyone a BB Pillbug, which has an amazing defense mechanism which makes it quick, heavy or light depending on the situation. Their goal is to be able to adjust to its changing properties by juggling them, also being aware that it expels poison that is caustic unless you let go within 0.1 seconds. If you can juggle 3, you’ve gotten the fundamentals down, like the Iai Aye that helped Sani.

Zebra says he won’t do it, leaving the group, while Toriko, Sani and Coco have difficulties. Coco thinks that the way to do this is to take each cell’s individual judgment of weight and unite them so they can react fast enough to adjust with the changing heaviness or lightness.

Kaka says they only have about 2 days to master the basics, taking into account their talent and skill. They won’t be able to master the secret techniques, but normally it takes months to even get the grasp of the basics, so they have no time to lose.

Kaka emphasizes this isn’t about defeating Bambina, but playing with him to get the PAIR fruit. The chapter ends as we see Bambina is still playing Hide and Seek.

Bleach 608-609

Juhabach observes Ichibei’s Ichimonji, noting there’s no reiatsu from it. The fight begins, the Quincy King perplexed that he cannot slice through the ink, the form even seeming to vary, resembling a brush at times and a blade at others.

Juhabach notes that even if that’s the same sword that cut his power in half, he can restore that. He begins to use his own blade, but the name disappears from his speech. Ichibei explains that anything covered in the ink of Ichimonji loses its name. Anything without a name loses its real power, and the Quincy Cross is also covered in the ink.

But Juhabach says he’ll steal Ichibei’s power with the power in his body, using Sankt Altar. It seems like he didn’t, Ichibei still standing. But the Soul Reaper leader says he did get it stolen, but Juhabach simply cannot use it. The power he stole is [Black] (the brackets are in the translation, meaning it’s specific), which enables him to control anything black. The chapter ends as he seems to drench Juhabach in black

This chapter is definitely similar to the last few, with Ichibei’s more mystical powers bewildering many fans. But I like the idea, albeit controlling black feels a bit too similar to Shunsui’s Irooni in some respects.

The chapter begins as Ichibei says he will give Juhabach a new name, since being covered in Icihimonji’s ink removed his previous name. He then unveils his Bankai: Shinuchi Shirafude Ichimonji. Before Bankai was a term, he was in the generation that had the first evolved Zanpakutou.

Juhabach’s new name is Black Ant, making his power that of a meager insect. Ichibei emphasizes that this is the sheer distance of power between them, preparing to stomp him. He slams him down and then finishes him by smashing him between his hands.

But Juhabach opens his eyes, commenting that he can still see. He appears behind Ichibei, blasting a beam through his chest.

The words written on him by Ichimonji’s Bankai disappear as Jugram explains the nature of Juhabach’s Schrift, A, which allows him to understand anything from any perspective, making him all but undefeatable. The chapter ends as we see the name of this power, Almighty, the kanji apparently meaning All Knowing.

Fairy Tail 411-412

Marde Guile notes how Memento Mori is the ultimate Curse, brief panels showing Jiemma, Sting and Rogue all unconscious after their fight.

But suddenly, a pile of dirt in the center breaks apart and reveals Gray and Natsu survived, Gray’s body starting to turn black. Marde Guile says Gray was starting to become part demon himself and that managed to block the Curse.

Gray collapses after saying this is all he can do, believing that Natsu can finish this.

Natsu, enraged at Gray’s sacrifice, strikes Marde Guile with even greater force than before, knocking the demon back. Marde Guile is shocked, seeing Natsu’s new form, revealing he’s using Dragon Force. He then utilizes the ultimate technique of Igneel, Crimson Lotus Phoenix Blade.

Marde Guile is severely wounded, but still able to recover. As he moves to finish Natsu off, Natsu signals to Gray, who fires Destruction Bow of the Ice Demon Zero, striking the demon lord. 

As Marde Guile disappears, he comforts Kyouka, the plot returning to the present with Face activating as the chapter ends.

Marde Guile crashes to the ground, not quite dead yet. Gray deactivates his Demon Slayer powers, going to get END’s book and destroy it. But Natsu says he made a promise with Igneel to recover it, the two about to stand off and fight for it.

Face’s activation interrupts this, everyone’s magic power getting drained. Marde Guile says that once the magic is gone, END will be revived and conquer humanity, powerless without magic.

Natsu despairs at his powerlessness, but Igneel brings Acnologia down, encouraging everyone to keep fighting.

Ichiya and Blue Pegasus are flying towards Face, having failed to damage it with their cannon. But suddenly something crashes through the pillar, destroying it. Wendy feels Grandeeney’s presence, Gajille feeling Metalicana, Sting and Rogue also sensing their masters. 

The dragons begin to destroy all the Face pillars, the chapter ending on everyone amazed at their power in spite of Face’s activation