Chapter 186: >>283324609Chapter 187
>>283344086What is this "where is my sword" nonsense?Is that supposed to be funny? It's so stupid and out of tone.
>>283344480Thank you, OP.That's one ugly-ass weapon Taisei's got. I'm it's about to be unceremoniously destroyed.
>>283344480thank opsama
>>283344224Looks pretty cool
>>283344299You'd think the Gokadoin would know better than to help the family that made nuekirimaru
>>283344243What a beauty >>283344429That thing looks like ass>>283344480Thanks OP Tsucutecute's cute as always
>>283324976I don't mind Itaku becoming a more major character. I like him better than some of the Nura clan regulars.>>283344701They're acting like an old married couple.
>>283344429mall ninja
>>283344102Itaku clearly didn't like the joke.
>>283344480Thank you for posting.
Let's try to keep this one alive a little longer.
First time reader following along. I have to admit I keep reading mostly out of inertia at this point, storywise the manga has become very... stale. Big boss on the horizon, we have to get stronger. Mooks enter, get dispatched. The powerups and new techniques also feel rather random, but this has been case since the beginning, eally. Any revelations we got for a while feel underwhelming.Every character other than Rikuo and Tsurara feels underutilized somehow - Kuro and Itaku are trying, but their contributions fall flat - and the ending of the last arc just made me give up on the human cast members completely. Time to admit that the author had no plan for them in mind. Art is still the highlight, but I guess there's been less wow effect since the midpoint of the 100 Stories arc. The stylish crowd scenes feel more cluttered now.So yeah, I'm getting a very mid-to-late Bleach feeeling overall. I recall the ToC ratings of Nura fell off sometime before the cancellation. Was it somewhere around this point? Maybe immediately after Kyoto, even?
>>283355867Honestly those are all completely fair criticisms. The main cast was already bloated but the real issue was trying to have separate human and yokai casts instead of condensing it down into one by bringing the humans into the fold after the Shikoku arc since they'd all been exposed to yokai by the end of that arc.I think the turning point for the series was the flashback section with Rihan because before that the buildup to the Hundred Stories arc was pretty good with the little urban legend side stories. It just felt like we got everything major early on from the flashback: it fleshed out the main villain, we saw why the grudge against the Nura clan developed, we got the backstory to another ally, etc. The present day section had its moments but all we really got was Rikuo fighting the underdeveloped henchmen leftovers and some cool art because his dad got the lion's share of the good stuff. The arc just felt mishandled in hindsight.All that said, I'm still really enjoying the manga.
blogposting time>>283356740>the real issue was trying to have separate human and yokai casts instead of condensing it down into one by bringing the humans into the fold after the Shikoku arc since they'd all been exposed to yokai by the end of that arc.Yes, yes, yes, all of this. In a manga where ostensibly the main personal conflict of the MC is finding balance between his human and yokai sides, the author just threw out a half of the equation and decided to pay it lip service instead. The way Matoi was described was just asking for development of the human side. Kek no, Rikuo will just get a training montage in his human form for two chapters, we're done. Looked cool tho.This is Shinigami takeover of the story all over again. Except we only get Ichigo and Rukia actually doing stuff. I like Rikuo and Tsurara just fine, but, why?tbc
>>283356740>I think the turning point for the series was the flashback section with Rihan because before that the buildup to the Hundred Stories arc was pretty good with the little urban legend side stories. Also agreed. Changing the pace from the epic scale conclusion of Kyoto to short local stories with a horror flavor felt like a good move at the time. The Rihan story was really exciting, but it honestly tied up the main emotional premise from the beginning of the arc, that being Kurotabo's guilt...>The present day section had its moments but all we really got was Rikuo fighting the underdeveloped henchmen leftovers and some cool art because his dad got the lion's share of the good stuff....and the fact that Rikuo's part brought absolutely nothing new to Kurotabo's arc beyond retreading Rihan's statements made the entire climax emotionally hollow.Frankly, the best part of the present day part was the Kubinashi fight to protect Rikuo's mom. Because it actually brought something new to the narrative, expanded the clan's backstory and actually took advantage of setting the story arc over two time periods. Because Wakana was only present in the modern day and intrinsically tied to both Rihan and Rikuo. Plus Kubinashi getting to fight in a way considerably different to the MC. A breath of fresh air.Now that I'm thinking about it - why in the world did we see so little of Rikuo's mom at the beginning, with the whole conflict about day/night sides balance?!
>>283350494>They're acting like an old married couple.OK, I accept that this would be what the author was going for. But it still doesn't fit the characters or the scene at all.
>>283356954>...and the fact that Rikuo's part brought absolutely nothing new to Kurotabo's arc beyond retreading Rihan's statements made the entire climax emotionally hollow.I don't think that part could be helped. Kuro's past was wrapped up neatly in the flashback and finding out that the Hundred Stories were still operating in the present day really just served to open old wounds but didn't undo any of his development. Having it all done in the past did unfortunately make him feel unnecessary in an arc that he's deeply involved with though.>why in the world did we see so little of Rikuo's mom at the beginningI think they really just couldn't figure out how to involve Wakana.If she gets captured by the enemy like Kana, the clan comes off as extremely incompetent.If she successfully takes part in the fighting, the yokai suddenly aren't as much of a threat and the onmyoji jobbers come out looking even worse.If she participates in tactical planning, Nurarihyon and the other clan leaders that all have several hundreds of years of experience between them look even worse than the onmyoji would.She can't really help out with resolving Rikuo's balance either since Rihan was her only real connection to the yokai world and we already know that he had no problem reconciling both of his halves from an early age and she met him near the end of his long life when his only problem was depression. Part of me thinks she was originally supposed to die with Rihan but they changed their minds for whatever reason.
>>283344429Those are beyblades aren't they
>>283358471>I don't think that part could be helped. Kuro's past was wrapped up neatly (...) Having it all done in the past did unfortunately make him feel unnecessary in an arc that he's deeply involved with though.Honestly, no other way than starting the story with a different hook. Or rewriting the Rihan flashback with Kuro having unfinished business still.Or maybe just lean into him wanting to protect Torii in the present day. Seriously, anything.>I think they really just couldn't figure out how to involve Wakana.>Part of me thinks she was originally supposed to die with Rihan but they changed their minds for whatever reason.Yeah, that's the thing. Why involve her at all at this point. Just have Rikuo as full on orphan raised by his grandpa. Wakana being a background decoration at the start of manga feels even weirder after this chapter. You'd think her chippy attitude would come up earlier on, given how many issues Rikuo faced so far.>She can't really help out with resolving Rikuo's balance eitherI just think that Rikuo's human side got shafted very hard by the narrative and comes off solely as a weakness. Characters saying that it gives him more appreciation towards teamwork or being a requirement for Matoi just falls flat the way those issues got presented. Without Wakana, the classmates are the only connection to humanity Rikuo has, and they got done hard as well. We get very little human perspective in the entire story. Endless yokai wank.>If she gets captured by the enemy like Kana, the clan comes off as extremely incompetent....I think they already do anyway. At least there is some justification with them becoming complacent following Rihan's death.>If she successfully takes part in the fighting, the yokai suddenly aren't as much of a threat and the onmyoji jobbers come out looking even worse.This ship has sailed kek. Now let's see how Akifusa jobs for the nth time next chapter.
>>283359829...I know I am coming across very negative, but I honestly don't think the manga is actively bad or stupid. But the plot development has been falling on the disappointing side of stock/generic for a while now.
>>283344480She really likes daydreaming
>>283359522lol that would be funny
>>283344243Wow, I don't think we've had a cute girl introduced in a while.
lil bump
Chapter 188
>>283367116That's just an awful place to get pushed into a wall
>>283367169I was wondering how it worked I guess it's like a chainsaw scythe
>>283367187>Impure ayakashiHe's one to talk
>>283367213There sure are a ton of bodies for a sacred mountain
>>283367227That's really cute
>>283367262Looks like everyone brought their little helper spirits
>>283367287Fancy but I think a regular ice wall would've done the same
>>283367313Guess a wall wouldn't have matteredStill Tsurara a cute
>>283367332Nice Ryuji got better I think last time he used it he needed some time to set up the technique
>>283367346I don't think Rikuo's taking the fight too seriously if he's copying Itaku by putting a sword in his mouth
>>283367421So that's what the hagun skeletons used to look likeThanks for the dump
>>283367262just as I was wondering if team tsurara was ever going to do something
>>283367421Thank you for posting, OP.
>>283365195Literally the bespectacled qt 2 chapters ago.
>>283370524Osakabehime's not really my cup of tea but yeah I suppose you're right
>>283367227https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWgvGjAhvIw
>>283367421Thanks OP
>>283368697Trust the plan
