Summary:
Even as she’s surrounded, Wilhelmina escapes Orgone’s troops by running and jumping away. Orgone himself is kept busy when Tenmoku Ikko appears and inflicts a deadly blow. Back on the Tendou-kyuu, Shiro’s attack has finally ended, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Shana apologizes to the skeleton since it’s her fault for playing a joke on him and starting the whole mess. To complicate matters, Vine has made it to the top of the island and now threatens Shana. Though she’s not yet a Flame Haze, Shana quickly decides that she will become one. And fortunately for her, Wilhelmina strikes by throwing Vine off his motorcycle. To Shana’s delight, Wilhelmina thinks that it’s time for her to be a Flame Haze. Vine’s not done yet and repeatedly fires energy blasts at the pair, but Shiro jumps in the way to block them and allow for the two to escape.
While bandaging Shana, Wilhelmina reveals that she is indeed a Flame Haze contracted to Tiamat. The reason she didn’t tell Shana earlier was so that Shana wouldn’t have any preconceptions about being a Flame Haze so that she could decide on her own. Suddenly, something changes in the situation outside: Tenmoku Ikko arrives and cuts Shiro in half. As he approaches Vine menacingly, Wilhelmina explains to Shana that Tenmoku Ikko is searching for a strong Tomogara to fight – Alastor in this case. Shana decides to form a contract with Alastor, but first goes out to challenge the Misutesu. Tenmoku Ikko is interested at the proposition of fighting the Enpatsu Shakugan, so he carries Shana away. That leaves Wilhelmina to take care of Orgone, who’s apparently still around. She transforms into what appears to be a combat form, complete with a mask. Inside the building, Tenmoku Ikko clears away Orgone’s troops until they reach Alastor’s room. Shana and Alastor are ready to start, but Vine followed them in and shoots Shana with another blast. At her request, he’s cut in half by Tenmoku Ikko. Alastor urges her to quickly make the contract, but Shana doesn’t want Alastor to be hiding anything from her. He tells her about the secret Tenpa Jousai technique, which is how the previous Enpatsu Shakugan died. In turn, Shana admits that she had doubts about the Flame Haze’s great cause of fighting the Tomogara to protect the balance of the world. After exchanging their vows, Shana steps into the flame, taking it in and becoming the new Enpatsu Shakugan.

ED2 Sequence

ED2: 「紅(あか)の静寂」 (Aka no Seijaku) by 石田耀子 (Ishida Yoko)
I like the new ending, but it doesn’t quite have the same starting oompf that the last one did. But then again, this also isn’t the same type of song as Yowake Umare Kuru Shoujo, so it’s understandable. Like the last ending, this ending sequence shows artwork, including a character we haven’t been introduced to yet (Khamsin). They made good use of just one art piece.

Well I guess that solves the mystery of how Shana became a Flame Haze. There’s still some fighting left, and Tenmoku Ikko still has to give up his sword somehow. I think a lot more highly of Alastor and Wilhelmina after this episode, and I definitely want to know more about Shana’s predecessor. Wilhelmina’s masked form reminds me a bit of the main character from Kamen no Maid Guy, and it’ll be interesting to see if she has anything up her sleeves other than the deadly ribbons.
The animation quality seemed a bit lacking for the first half of this episode – Shiro in particular looked a lot different from last week – but I really enjoyed watching Shana becoming a Flame Haze at the end (very good lines to the end the episode on too). The only other thing that comes to mind is the question: is it normal to go running around with only bandages on? Because that’s exactly what Shana did…
I assume this arc will finish next week and then we’ll move back to the present with Yuuji and all. It’ll be good to hear from them again.

28 Comments

  1. Anyone else starting to get the feeling that there is going to be more than 26 episodes for Shana? I sure am, especially since the new ed didn’t start til ep15 and the new OP has yet to even start yet.

    Yuruke
  2. Agreed. The new ED started okay and then quickly became meh. As for the new OP, it’s by KOTOKO and every song I’ve heard from her has been consistently great so I have some hope for it.

    I’m looking forward to the next ep. It looks like they’re introducing Show Spoiler ▼

    , if that’s the guy with the white hair.

    Shinova
  3. I think both endings were great. No preferences, since I like both of them.

    And yes, the hooded dude is Khamsin. Merihim is the one with white hair….And he has been seen before already.

    So the episodes ends with the birth of the new Enpatsu Shakugan. Wonder what happens the next episode…=)

    F.A.I.T.H
  4. Personally, I don’t even know what was so great about the previous ED. I’m glad they changed it, but kinda sad to see they are going to change the OP too.

    I agree. I liked the OP better. The ED was cool, but I’m not too bothered that they changed it. However, the OP would have to be damn awesome for me to like it more than the current one.

    As for the episode itself, I haven’t read anything about the summary not to spoil myself. >.>

    Ale
  5. What is it with Japanese and Maid (uniforms)? They must really believe, or want, women to be subservient creatures. Wilhelmina is a typcial nanny/big sister kind of character, but the white frilly uniform is totally out of place and unnecessary. You know it’s an Otaku or Japanese “thing”.

    Dann
  6. All I have to say is, to you guys who say the new ending isn’t good or isn’t as good, “What the heck’re you smokin’?!” 😛 The new ED theme rocks! 😀 😀 😀 The old ED theme was good in its own right, and so is the new one! 😛 😀 Both songs fit the mood of the show, since while the first theme went with the more serious beginning mood with the tragic fate of Torches, and the new theme goes with the more light-hearted current mood. And the way the new theme started in the background as Shana became the Enpatsu Shakugan no Uchite was just beautiful. It just went so well. 😀

    I’m glad that they’re actually making this a three-parter though because I honestly thought there was too much stuff from volume 5 to cover in only two episodes as well.

    Shinji103

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