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「閃撃の撃墜王」 (Sengeki no Gekitsui-ou)
“Ace of Flashing Strikes”
Oh boy where do we even start this week. Answers? Return to the present? Nina effectively putting Lynn down for the count? Oh we got it all. Well, except for the whole origins of Alcia part mind you, but sometimes it’s good splitting up the carnage.
While all the theorycrafting concerning Licht’s transformation and descent into madness hearkened towards interesting tangents for our albino voyeur, reality proved less than imaginative. As cutie pie Nina indicated at the start no change would be forthcoming: Licht successfully powered up, went on a killing spree, and became that which he vowed to break from. Of course, there’s always the possibility the response was stronger in the original timeline—i.e. Tokikaze and/or some others could’ve easily died without Jail and friends to assist—but we pretty much got the same outcome as before. Except for Nina really showing what’s she made of in the final quarter. Love, sexy times, and baby making? Three hundred year wait or not, you know full well that memory is going to stand the test of time.
The really interesting part this week though lay outside of physical desire. The Count mechanism has now been largely revealed, with it—ironically enough—being a binding contract made to a particular conviction for the purpose of acquiring Althing-bestowed power. It’s fairly easy to know how it works in practice given previous reveals—i.e. higher the Count, the better the hyperspeed output—but Schmerman’s talk does raise two prominent questions: how do the other Counts emerge from this arrangement, and what happens when this Count goes to zero? The other Counts are basically assigned, randomized, and mean nothing in the face of shounen powerup for example, while this Count is personally chosen and accepted. Personally I’d wager the other Counts are a fully intentional part of Alcia’s design to bake in those Malthusian population carrying capacity principles being espoused like mad—i.e. create a Darwinian “survival of the fittest” environment—but considering Schmerman’s own history and how it compares to the present I’m a little hesitant to think that’s all there is to Plunderer’s modern day world.
There’s at least one more twist waiting in the wings for Plunderer, and the only question is how further it upsets the status quo. Well, that and how a big a family Hina has in mind, but I think we won’t have to wait long for answer on that one.
Preview
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I suspect Tokikaze to actually be one of the original survivors. Ichinose, Suda and Genji are probably KIA like most of the other class members. Tokikaze was one of the ones (perhaps THE one) that turned on the power. Without that event, Rihito would’ve died. Really think Tokikaze is an Ace. He has a connection with the two confirmend ones and suspicously looks like the one in full samurai gear. There is a problem with this theory though. According to Schmerman’s story, the tortoise (Rihito?) killed the hare (Tokikaze/Doan?).
Also think the major difference is in the contract for his count. Number of enemies killed on behalf of his friends. If everyone is dead and Tokikaze also an ace, I really don’t think the latter part matters. It would actually mean kill stealing from Tokikaze. XD
Waiting in anticipation for the next episode. Wonder who the black uniformed person that Licht slashed is?
Not sure on the Count contract to be honest, I could see it being the same as we know the likes of Sunohara are still alive and kicking. The goal of that contract is to simply monopolize all the killing, no reason Licht cannot continue trying that even after everyone else becomes an Ace 😛
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Hey there! I know I’m late to this discussion, but this episode is giving me mixed feelings.
I mean I’m shocked (in a good way) that Captain Enemy is using mind games, turning Licht to do the unthinkable way to end a battle. It’s a good impact that the world isn’t nice to these innocent/pure-hearted kids.
What gave me mixed feelings is the way they should’ve given MORE IMPACT when they’re WITNESSING TRAGEDY that’s happening in front of their eyes. e.g. More close-up on Hina’s Despaired Face or anyone from Class A looking horrified, furrowing their eyebrows more, at what Licht has done…
Also, the BGM sounds too victorious theme-like when Hina and present-day heroes are leaving the past behind. I imagined the other BGM where Pelmo got sent to the Abyss and that should’ve been suitable for Licht’s despairing and heartbreaking oath.
Nevertheless, am going to keep up since next one is about the origins of their future country, Alcia.
I think the lack of impact is probably down to adaptation speed. The anime has been pretty clear about going for speed over faithfulness (just need to look at the animation for a big tell), so I’m not too surprised by the stylistic choices. Considering what it could’ve been though I’m not complaining too much, this is is honestly on the better side of recent adaptations all things considered XD