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3 new series to finish out 2021. First is Ayashimon by Yuuji Kaku of Jigokuraku. The underworld seeks a successor for the Enma Syndicate, a front in the human world appearing as a yakuza group. Maruo Kaidou, a superhumanly strong teen looking for work, is given an opportunity by Urara, who seeks to take over, but is challenged by other groups, one of which Maruo beats up and then makes a contract of loyalty to Urara, heading to Kabukicho where the ayashimon (their word for youkai) gather
Next is Protect Me Shugomaru/Mamoru Shugomaru by Daiki Ihara. The daughter of the esteemed Ojo family is beset by assassins and the 5th son of the family’s guardian clan, Shugomaru Tekko, is prepared to do so, though he’s very enthusiastic and often backfires in his attempts. Thankfully, he shows his capacity by defeating an assassin, though the main threat, Skull, still is at large, the comedic dynamic what could keep the series going.
And lastly is Doron Dororon by Gen Oosuka, creator of Golem Hearts. Mononoke terrorize the world after appearing 50 years ago. Our lead, Dora Sasaki, made a promise to his mother to become a samurai after graduating high school. But he finds he has no supernatural energy, unable to enter the warrior corps. Later, he teams up with a weaker transforming mononoke that was stopping a powerful one from attacking humans. The partnership seems likely to continue, even though Dora feels like he’s betraying his mother in a way, since she was killed by a mononoke and she wanted him to be a samurai, yet he failed in that endeavor so far.
World Trigger 214-215
We get the basic rules for the simulation battles explained and Osamu’s group does a practice test with the software, meant to simulate encounters, which will be done each day for about 16 minutes per match, 10 in total.
The first round of matches begin, the challenges accounted for by Osamu’s group, though they don’t expect to be able to win handily. However, we also see Mizukami is seemingly going up against Osamu’s group on his own, having a grasp of the software and strategy to an exceptional degree
Ayashimon 1-3
Maruo Kaidou is looking for a way to use the immense strength he’s trained since he was young, but it’s so much that he keeps getting fired. But a girl being chased by yakuza, who turn out to all be ayashimon (essentially youkai), viewing him as a mere human. He manages to defeat them, the girl, Urara, hiring him as a bodyguard of sorts while she seeks to take over the Enma Syndicate in Kabukicho, Shinjuku
Urara explains that they need to get into Shinjuku stealthily, coming up against Hashihime, a guardian that once served under Kioh, the previous head of the Enma Syndicate. After Maruo beats her, during which we learn that Urara is Kioh’s illegitimate child trying to get revenge (suspecting foul play with his death), we’re told about the four major groups in Shinjuku and the need to learn rules about an honorable duel.
Maruo and Urara look for a potential target so they can take over their base, but get into a fight with one that’s scrapping for a fight, Inokuma Nyudo. Their strength seems like it might be a challenge, especially with emitting fire, but Maruo unleashes a powerful attack he thought up a name for, unable to even finish it before defeating Inokuma
Neru Way of the Martial Artist 17-18 (END)
Neruma is revealed to be the son of a corporate president (likely next in line to inherit the family business), but his mother ties back to his grandfather who trained him. And she did talk to him occasionally, unaware of where he is now, Neruma frustrated at this. He runs away, Hizuki discussing why her son likely rebelled, raised by his grandfather while she pursued her career and mirroring how Neruma is choosing his own path as she did against her parents’ wishes. The two bond over rice balls, agreeing that martial arts is the better path for Neruma.
5 years pass and Neru and Akebi have a fight again, the others at various places, some sticking around in martial arts and others moving into civilian life. And the series concludes there, Neruma grateful that Akebi found him, likely planning to introduce her to his grandfather.
An unfortunate ending that I didn’t see coming, only when the flash forward happened did I have that sinking feeling and was found to be true, sadly. The problem may have been the subject matter or how complex it felt with the school setting and such
Red Hood 18 (END)
Gepetto holds off Debonair, the other Hunters assisting her. Velou is given a rifle, meant to take down the sorcerer and counter the degradation of the world via his own negating powers. The book is destroyed and Gepetto defeated, leaving Velou (with the original Red Hood from the book’s scrivener) and Grimm, along with the other Hunters, to address the werewolf problem without the overarching destiny the book had.
An unfortunate conclusion, but still a common trend with series ending earlier than even would be fair, generally 4+ months of content permitted and then axed if they aren’t popular enough with readers. New series are on the horizon, supposedly, about 3 new ones and the author of Golem Hearts, which I covered back in 2017-2018, is rumored to return.
4 Knights of the Apocalypse 38-40
As Percival and Donny revert more immediately to infantile mentality, Anne and Nasiens are slower, Ard explaining that varies by individual. However, Percival still possesses immense strength even as a baby (his Apocalypse Knight heritage?), Ard only intending to kill him. We see that he hesitates, especially as Anne reminds him of his own daughter who perished in the Holy War. The demon elder deduces that Ard is at the Crystal Grotto because of rumored links to the afterlife. And even if Ard’s magic is affecting the elder, he reveals he’s over 3000 years old, so it would take days to revert him to an infant, preparing to explain that he’s neither demon nor human, something else (possibly Gowther, given his posing?)
We see that it is Gowther, one of the Seven Deadly Sins and he manages to talk Ardbeg down by showing an illusion of his daughter from his memories of her. He agrees to negate the spell, explaining that Arthur approached him, promising to revive his daughter. But now he wishes to help, even taking a blow from a spear targeting Percival, Gowther saving him while Ard gets Anne out of danger, but is impaled
Gowther, enraged by the threatening of Percival by the Chaos Knight Tamdhu, sends a bolt of magic back, his Invasion Jack power convincing the knight he attacked his friends under mind control, one of his friends killing him as they move to find their targets. Anne is able to tell even Gowther is lying when he tells her that Ard left, weeping at the realization that he died saving her.
Dr. Stone 218-221
Chrome has a moment of inspiration, suggesting they make the rocket two way by launching it in interlocking pieces separately and then assemble it in space. Senkuu and Xeno agree it’s possible, but would require much more work. A vote is held, Sai revealing to himself later that it was actually unanimously in favor of 2-way and Senkuu explains that they must start the basic form of the internet to link the world together for this project
The first step is acquiring eucommia elastomer, a resin like rubber that allows the creation of the lines that connect countries via internet infrastructure. And with addition of early technology of the television, the engineers can share their designs via the network and start producing the parts, while Senkuu’s group starts deciding who will be on the crew
After testing that pushes Senkuu (though it’s mostly an offscreen struggle) and others and tests their skills, it’s determined that, even though Tsukasa may be better in some elements, by his recommendation, Kohaku is chosen as the warrior, Ryusui and Senkuu decided to be the pilot and scientist.
We see the preparation for the pilot aspect, including devices that will be able to counter the Medusa’s petrification in the form of a watch with a delayed release of revival fluid and a net-grenade launcher. But while Ryusui seems like the best candidate, the need for better marksmanship alongside piloting makes Ryusui approach the petrified Stanley to consider him instead
My Hero Academia 332-334
Switching New Order to apply to the Tiamat missiles, Star redirects them to empower her punch, but even this immense explosive force that impacts the earth’s crust is avoided by Shigaraki, who uses his Decay on the earth to soften the blow. And it seems like he will take her Quirk, getting a hand on her before she can react
Star manages to initiate a rule on New Order itself as Shigaraki absorbs it, unable to stop herself from decaying. And that new rule makes New Order lash out and rebel against all of Shigaraki’s other Quirks, forcing him to try and give it to someone else. But the American forces continue their assault, New Order seemingly managing to damage or destroy some of All For One’s Quirks and another explosion resulting from the combined efforts
Shigaraki escapes, but fails to transfer New Order, since the struggle led to the Quirk destroying itself and is eliminated by All For One. This leads to a delay of at least a week according to All Might, the search continuing as the students, especially Deku, prepare to take down the Villain.
Fire Force 289-293
Shinra and Sho continue and fail to hit Haumea, seemingly fated to not be struck. And the anger felt by Shinra is seen as instinctive, though reflecting a possible conflict between how he views himself as a savior, a hero, and his true feelings of wanting to kill Haumea. And she deals a lethal blow, saying Shinra’s death will lead to salvation
Haumea’s attack is healed by Huang, who gained an Adolla Link to Shinra, though she appears to be consumed by his flames. And the Evangelist’s power is emphasized by Haumea again, that she will not lose and that a final flame of despair will be lit. As the evacuations seem to be going well, a Doppelganger of Captain Obi appears and fatally wounds Obi, which sends Shinra over the edge
Shinra’s rage reaching a boiling point pushes the Cataclysm to an end and even as Benimaru manages to create a temporary placation of the people in Asakura, the whole world is consumed, turning into a black sun
In spite of the despair, Shinra is encouraged by Arthur, who has managed to survive, recovering his body and utilizing Excalibur to knock some sense into the devil. Shinra acknowledges he is indeed a hero, the world’s hope, but his mother, in her demon form, appears from Adolla’s flames
We see a flashback of Shinra, his mother and Sho all spending time together, emphasizing the bond they have while viewing a solar eclipse. As things return to the present, Haumea reveals Shinra’s mother is the Evangelist’s Doppelganger, changing the whole situation
One Piece 1031-1033
Yamato pushes forward past Drake, Apoo and even the Numbers to try and get to the armory by another path, since the Performance Hall is too crowded with Big Mom empowering herself with the Soul Soul Fruit’s abilities, posing a new challenge to Kidd and Law. Sanji, rejecting Germa’s science, smashes the suit capsule and tells Zoro via transponder snail to kill him if he’s not in his right mind after they defeat Kaidou and Big Mom, unleashing a stronger attack on Queen
Drake and Apoo decide to attack CP0 together, while the flame monster Kazenbo continues to move downward. Zoro begins to unlock Enma’s power while King continues to show techniques seemingly linked to their species’ special talents (related to Enel and other winged races?). And Komurasaki appears before Orochi as he looks in the adjacent room after hearing shamisen.
As Zoro fights King, Sanji learns from Queen that the Tobi Roppo is indeed a member of the extinct Lunarians (related to Enel, since the Skypeians are distinct), able to survive in any natural environment. Zoro’s attacks seem to do nothing, Enma still going out of control, while Zoro realizes the old man in his village rumored to have been a samurai indeed was Shimotsuki Kozaburo, having left Wano 50 years ago and the forger of Enma and other great blades
Black Clover 312-315
Morris’ magic, enhanced by Lucifugus, allows him to counter Vanessa’s Fate manipulation, but we see that not only has Gray’s Transformation Magic been qualified by Owen to be more like Transmutation Magic (translated as Fortification because the kanji can technically mean something akin to that), but Gordon has also improved his Curse Magic to enhance Henry’s curse, the entirety of the Black Bulls arriving to save Yami
After Yami remembers how he not only brought the Black Bulls together, but he himself found a place to belong, we see Morris seemingly beaten and the Black Bulls all ready to help him. Meanwhile a door is opening nearby, the Underworld gates seemingly still progressing according to plan
The second level opens up, the “ultimate devil” Lucifero moving into a giant form by combining the lower level devils into a massive body. But the Black Bulls, undeterred, combine their efforts to increase the hideout in size, able to fight on equal terms.
Even with all the efforts of the Black Bulls, even Mereoleona and Fuegoleon fighting against the assault separately, it seems like Lucifero’s magic power is overwhelmingly powerful. But we see Asta in the distance, preparing to step in to help
