If you enjoy this monthly blog, I also put out bi-weekly animated film reviews among other content. Check out my Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/kyoukasuigetsu) and Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/kyoukasuigetsu) to support my endeavors. Any contribution is appreciated, even sharing to friends.
Disclaimer: Scanlations and official sources both
have a place in the community, but buy official manga volumes to support the
author. If you can, also subscribe to Crunchyroll and/or Shonen Jump through
Viz Media to read chapters nearly simultaneous with Japan. Most of the series
covered can be found through legal means, so please encourage the industry that
gives us what we love
World Trigger was on break this month and Black Clover, Dr. Stone and Jujutsu Kaisen, along with One Piece, took breaks, so there’s slightly less content than usual
Neru Way of the Martial Artist 12-15
Neruma wants to challenge someone and most have rejected him. But he’s approached by Enkoji, #1 ranked in Tantojutsu. We learn he previously fought Ryuzen, cutting off a chunk of his ear. Enkoji offers a 2 on 2 match, he and his student against Ryuzen and Neruma. Ryuzen tells Neruma that he’s avoided fighting because of immense bloodlust when he was injured, but Neruma says him holding back means he’s still a martial artist and insists they have this match
The match, set at the “Moat”, involves a setup with curtains draped on strings like a maze and Neruma is approached by Momo and Enkoji in a tag team effort. Ryuzen appears to not be fighting, but he moves forward after a bit of time.
Momo poses a challenge to Neruma, able to bend the dagger he uses to fight with immense strength. Ryuzen arrives to support, facing off against Enkoji after demonstrating that his presence can be suffocating to Momo and Neruma unless he keeps it in check. But Enkoji persists in his obsessive fighting to bring out Ryuzen’s dark side, nicking Neruma’s neck with a blade
Neruma begins to realize how much one can enjoy a fight, his center especially stable because of his grandpa’s training. Ryuzen is pushed over the edge as Enkoji references his other roommate, but Neruma, remembering how he found an interesting link in Japanese with a word for “match” and “happiness”, that clashing through competition can inspire happiness, calls out to Ryuzen before he becomes too violent
Ryuzen vows to take down Enkoji in one move, discerned by the crowd as likely using a vital point strike. Meanwhile, Neruma manages to use his techniques to redirect Momo’s strength, almost like aikido, and knock him off balance. The vital point struck by Ryuzen is not as fatal as that which is the easiest to target but also the most risky for death, Enkoji defeated and Momo surrendering, since Neruma broke part of his foot. A bigger shock happens after the match, Neruma’s mother Hizuki, appearing on the scene and very angry at him for some reason
Red Hood 13-16
After Grimm says the Hunter’s Guild would accept anyone that has the skills, Velou, Bonkers and Porschen try to occupy her, though it seems like Grimm is stronger than they realized and willing to hurt them more than Debonair. She’s going up against not only Tylty, but Bonkers and several others brought to swarm her. Bonkers tells Tylty that he saw the situation before and how Tylty’s group fell apart because of lacking trust. Velou is the lynchpin of trust here and Bonkers argues they should try his plan
Tylty agrees to help, but only at the last minute for the exam’s time limit. With distractions and him freeing the others, they manage to occupy Grimm and Debonair until the end and everyone passes.
We see Cinderella and the mayor part ways and she seems to forget who Lycaon is, a letter magically appearing that tells her the mayor’s true plans. Back at the Ironworks, it’s put under quarantine to protect the book at the Citadel headquarters. And we learn more about the text in question, a tome that can alter reality, two pages stolen, affecting things like Grimm’s memory, Debonair recognizing this. But the mayor appears and takes Velou to where the book is, revealing he is well over 500 years old, having more involvement
The Mayor is revealed to be Ludwig Gepetto, a sorcerer that was part of the Hunter’s Guild before, stealing the pages and joining the List. Velou, actually a construct (like Pinocchio almost), has the ability to negate the book’s powers that determine reality. Ultimately he was meant to undermine that and lead the world to be free from the Hunter’s Guild and their domineering power.
We learn that the book has created an inevitable situation that cannot be easily solved with werewolves, since unlike dragons or other beasts, werewolves are intrinsically linked with humans in their potential to come about. But there is still potential to override this with other plans, since humanity is “replaced” each time they fail. Gepetto says they must instead bring an end to everything, viewing the purpose of essentially appeasing the readers, akin to gods, as fruitless. Debonair, Cinderella and Grimm all attack HQ, Gepetto going to stop them, while keeping Velou sealed away inside
4 Knights of the Apocalypse 33-37
While Donny and Percival enjoy food and drink from the village’s hospitality, Sin is recognized by the elder, taking him aside and seemingly knocking him unconscious. Anne and Nasiens are told about the village’s outer limits of a ring of stones and that there’s an idol at the center. While Ardd, the hunter that warned them, seems a bit suspicious, they go forward with the plan
Anne and Nasiens enter the village, Nasiens meeting up with Donny and Percival, the kid doing gouren wrestling with some of the residents and understanding their language. However, after Anne breaks the device, it’s revealed the villagers true forms as demons. But Ardd shows that he has his own agenda, intending to commit genocide for the sake of returning Britannia to humans
We learn Ard is actually Ardbeg, one of Arthur’s Holy Knights, intending to kill all demons, even those not loyal to the original clan from the Holy War. The village is sucked into a powerful artifact forged of Goddess Amber and Percival clashes with him, Ard discerning that Percival is one of the prophesied Knights of the Apocalypse and summoning his dog, Cernunnos.
Cernunnos almost eats Percival after he gets a bit cocky with chopping off his other horn, but Nasiens knocks the beast out with his Belladonna Mist. Ard flees, likely going to a crystal grotto nearby. The elder asks why Percival would still want to save those associated with the Demon Tribe, but he says that he doesn’t judge based on the past, being good not connected to one’s species. They head off to the cave, but Nasiens’ suspicions about Ard are confirmed when his magic activates, slowly making everyone younger
Dr. Stone 213-216
The computer intended to start calculations is brought over after we see Senkuu put together a TV, intended for use in testing the computer’s functionality via video games that Sai programs. But afterwards, Yoh and Gen are blasted by an unexpected wave from the Medusa device when they put it in a vacuum tube to reduce decay.
Thankfully, the wave only goes about 20 meters, Senkuu and Ryusui able to calculate based on its speed, proportional to its radius by prior observations. After being restored, Gen suspects some foul play, but they cannot be sure, removing the battery and keeping the Medusa under strict surveillance. The next step involves making a basic camera, not only to keep the Medusa secure, but also to apply it for a satellite project so they can find Why Man’s location on the moon
With solar panels to keep it powered, the satellite is launched, though there are several mistakes leading up to the success, much like how it was with rockets in the modern age.
The satellite allows the group to start creating a more accurate globe with Ryusui and Chelsea’s collaboration, in order to find more workers across the world for the rocket production. Chrome and Suika, along with Sai, see that there are some big obstacles for them as well in wanting a two-way spacecraft. Kohaku’s stellar vision allows them to find a spot changing on the satellite images broadcast back to earth and Why-Man is seemingly nearly exposed
My Hero Academia 328-331
We learn how Stain got the data during the Tartarus prison break’s chaos, All Might and Tsukauchi’s group discussing the link between All For One and Shigaraki as the successor, not unlike One For All’s vestiges and Deku as the successor. At the United Nations, the various other countries discuss the protocol about dispatching Heroes and how it’s more complicated with various Villain syndicates working in tandem with All For One. But America’s #1 Hero, Star and Stripe, who was trained by All Might in the past, has already headed out.
All For One is planning to take Star and Stripe’s Quirk, which will let him finish his ultimate plans much easier, which continue even beyond acquiring One For All. The Meta Liberation Army’s remnants idolize the League of Villains’ members, especially Spinner and Himiko, motivating them to establish a foundation for the future society. And Shigaraki meets up with Star and Stripe, now ready to move forward.
We learn Star’s Quirk is New Order, allowing her to add a new rule for any 2 things she touches (1 always herself) and seems to affect Shigaraki. But the fact that he and All For One are merging means it doesn’t work as planned, since he’s neither Tomura nor All For One anymore and an explosion results.
Star utilizes the full extent of her Quirk, unleashing immense attacks on Shigaraki, even a massive attack called Keuranos (Thunderbolt in Greek). And using her special authority, a contact called Agpar (resembling Ackbar, one of dozens of Star Wars’ references in the series) readies a series of ICBM called Tiamat.
Fire Force 284-288
Shinmon’s Doppelganger beats Kurono senseless, the Haijima employee thinking he stands no chance. The real Shinmon appears, recognizing that he’ll really have to try to beat someone that’s the embodiment of what people view as the strongest, the King of Destruction.
It seems like Shinmon’s doppelganger is especially powerful, creating a massive Nichirin around the planet, but paradoxically, the strength that he emits is apparently not the strength Shinmon has and he beats his doppelganger effortlessly.
Haumea’s eyes, having been hidden away to see the light of God, are seemingly whited out, almost physically blind. But she has seen the truth, that the Evangelist and God are the collective unconscious of humanity, their desire for stability. Paradoxically, though, this only leads to a continued spiral of despair and a desire for extinction, the ultimate salvation that Shinra must find an alternative to
Haumea claims death, even for her, is the only salvation ultimately, Shinra’s rage provoked when she reveals Iris and Inca both impaled and likely dead or dying. But Sho stops Shinra, saying they’re fighting for all of humanity and their hope. When they attack Haumea, even when utilizing their abilities to move at light speed, they cannot reach her somehow
One Piece 1027-1030
Yamato and Momonosuke struggle to try and keep Onigashima afloat with the same flame clouds that Kaidou created before, since him weakening means they also wane. They can’t tell Luffy, needing him to handle Kaidou. Meanwhile, Zoro continues to fight King, one of the last big fights along with Queen, and it seems like King is stronger than expected even against a weakened Zoro.
Momonosuke is left to try and activate his flame clouds, while Yamato goes to try and dispose of the explosives. Meanwhile, Sanji and Queen’s fight shifts in Queen’s favor as he shows off more of the Devil Fruit’s powers as a Zoan, plus modifications he’s done. Sanji is grievously injured, but because of the Raid Suit seemingly activating some of his latent abilities Judge enabled in his other children, Sanji is now much tougher than normal.
We see Sanji still struggle with the implications that he could become like his heartless siblings. Meanwhile, Killer manages to exploit a weakness in Hawkins’ Devil Fruit, slashing off an arm that Kidd doesn’t have, the damage not transferring. With the last straw doll dealt with, Hawkins unleashes a last ditch effort, but Killer slashes it down and the tarot cards turning on their user with the fate of loss and a new way forward, Kidd now able to fight Big Mom without Hawkins’ voodoo spell
We briefly see Apoo and the Numbers asking Drake to join them in taking down whoever loses in this clash between pirates and he’s not buying it. Yamato is heading to the armory to deal with the weapons, Orochi commanding Kanjuro, who’s nearly dead, to unleash the vengeful flames of the Kurozumi, manifesting a Kazenbo that moves to ignite the weapons. Meanwhile, Big Mom is pushing Kidd and Law back and they unleash their awakened Devil Fruits to weaken and magnetize her, all the metal in the area collapsing back to her.
Black Clover 308-311
Langris and Finral manage to get some advantage against Zenon, but his resistance to Langris’ Spatial Magic attack allows him to beat them. Yuno awakens and is devastated at the imminent loss that is going to happen. But he’s contacted by the spirit of Licht and Tetia’s child that died, gaining his own Spade grimoire, his Clover grimoire meant to have been the power of that half elf child’s soul all along
Yuno’s new magic, Star Magic, allows him to teleport between massive crystals of mana, which can also shoot lasers (so a more specific form of Light magic?). He and Zenon clash, still unclear who will win as Bell prepares Wind magic to assist.
Zenon is defeated, but the Advent of Qliphoth is still continuing, Morris revealed to have made a contract with Lucifero after Dante’s defeat, his magic, Modification Magic, able to defeat Dorothy’s Dream magic with the devil power enhancement. And Lotus, wounded, but trying to fight back for his family’s sake, is given assistance when Gordon, Gauche, Gray and Vanessa burst in.
No comments:
Post a Comment