Genres: fantasy Themes: fighting Objectionable content: Significant Plot Summary: Alka is an assassin for the Clan of the Sword. She’s on a journey to find the woman Jin Valel, who killed her master Hon. Jin is demon-like woman who controls the Energy of Chaos and kills without feeling - not unlike how Alka has learned to kill in her work as an assassin. On her journey, Alka encounters three strange women, each great warriors in their own right, and grapples with her slain master’s wish that she leave the life of an assassin behind. Number of episodes: 13 Vintage: 2014-04-03 Opening Theme: “Sayonara Usotsuki” by Mimimeme MIMI Ending Theme: “RAINBOW” by LEGO BIG MORL
It was sad to see the village destroyed. The Palam Empire wanted the land, but they also wanted Alka. Either was a good enough excuse to attack the village. At least Alka protected Morii and they survived, but now they live for revenge. Alka cuts her hair and tells Morii that she will “follow the Code”.
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The Palam Empire was also responsible for the death of Alka’s master, according to her. However, the empire has accused Alka of killing her master, and she is a wanted criminal. So, it seems that Alka was already looking for revenge before she ended up in the village. I like the way this one has started. I also love the beautiful scenery.
What a horrible town Alka has ended up in. And too many people are noticing her mark. But it’s funny that the bounty hunter that is after Alka didn’t recognize her. Hazuki even thought that Alka was a bounty hunter too!
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Alka is later confronted by another bounty hunter, but a couple more show up as well. Alka times things well and the other hunters take care of killing each other off. And a friend turns into an enemy when Hazuki goes after Alka as well. Hazuki is saved by Karen, and there is a lot more to Karen than meets the eye. Alka was sold out, but by whom? I bet it was that Lon guy! He seems the type. If he can’t make money one way, he’ll make it another.
Alka meets the leader of the Pleasure Gang, Loana. That gang’s name just makes me laugh. At least it interrupted her fight with Hazuki. And Alka finds out a little info about her enemies. Unfortunately, Loana plans to use Alka as bait to lure Jin Varrel to them. Loana wants revenge against Palam as well.
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They do take the bait, but the Pleasure Gang is no match for Ga Gante and Yoo Ran. Loana goes after Jin Varrel herself, but is saved from her Impurity by a subordinate. Alka goes after Jin Varrel next, and as good a fighter as Alka is, Jin Varrel is so much better. Alka too, becomes a victim of Impurity, but it doesn’t rip her apart. She is still able to attack and makes her way to her enemy.
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However, Hazuki has to choose this moment to shoot Alka! The shot tosses Alka into the river and she loses her chance to get revenge. And Hazuki thinks Jin Varrel is creepy. She should know that person is the one that put out the bounty on Alka in the first place! In the end, the entire Pleasure Gang was slaughtered, but what is one of Karen’s bodyguards doing there? I know Karen probably sent him, but why? Why is she so interested in Alka? Could Alka be the niece that Karen is looking for? Too many questions! Not enough answers - yet!
Alka is found by a couple of kids, but is still suffering the effects of Jin Varrel’s Impurity. Unconscious, she relives her past in fevered dreams. After three days, she awakens, blind, to find herself in the care of a couple of children, but falls back into her fever. Loana has also survived. She finds herself and a couple of her men in the care of Elle Karen. She also receives the news that the rest of her gang didn’t make it.
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Seto and Pia, the children that saved Alka, are thieves, but it’s the only way they can survive. When Seto tries to sell Alka’s sword, he ends up killing another thief with it. After selling the thief’s goods, Seto returns home to find Alka awake, but still blind.
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Sadly, Seto has gone from just stealing food to robbery with the help of Alka’s sword. He even wants her to let him keep it. Alka tries to explain to Seto that he’s lost himself to the sword, but he doesn’t listen. He has changed, and has become violent as well. Seto even ends up scaring his sister. I have a feeling this won’t end well. Live by the sword, die by the sword.
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Hazuki comes across Loana at Karen’s place and questions her about Alka and Jin Varrel. Loana refers to Alka and Jin Varrel as monsters, calling them the “walking dead” because they have no emotions. Hazuki is positive that Alka is still alive, but Loana isn’t so sure. Her men saw a boy with Alka’s sword. Karen then receives word that another wagon was robbed by a boy with a sword.
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Looks like Alka is slowly getting her sight back. Seto’s latest escapade did not pay off. He robbed the wrong wagon this time and the men have found him. Seto is shot and that moves Alka to act. The men recognize Alka as a wanted bounty, but she kills them before they can do anything about it. Poor Pia is a witness to this brutal killing; she’s going to be scarred for life by this. Hazuki comes upon the aftermath and knows that Alka is still alive.
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Seto is dead and Alka leaves Pia at his grave. I wonder what will happen to the poor little girl now. In any case, she is probably better off without Alka. I also get the feeling that Alka’s master never wanted her to live by the sword. Pia ends up going to Elle Karen for a job. That is perhaps the best thing she could have done. I am beginning to see how the threads of fate weave everyone together in this story. I also wonder who the man in town was that sounded a lot like Alka’s master in what he was saying.
That was a rather sad side story.
Seto dies leaving Pia to fend for herself.
It’s interesting that she trotted straight to Elle’s place, and even more interesting seeing Elle give Pia an honest job.
Cool. I wasn’t all that impressed with the first ep but I’ll give it a shot once the bd rolls out. Hopefully on that the kinda wonky animation will be fixed.
The newsletter that Sentai Filmworks just sent out today. It lists their acquisitions through blade and soul and includes 3 “unknown” entries that are denoted with question marks on that list.
Ahh, but it’s listed as a BONUS.
I was just checking, since if it actually was on the list, the 3 could be practically anything.
But it seems to be narrowed down to the Spring titles as the question marks.
That makes my life a bit easier.
Speaking of which…
How do we get the Newsletter sent to our email?
