Anime

What if Eris came back years earlier?

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Early Arrival-Aย Mushoku Tenseiย Fanfic Pt 2

Hello, everyone! RJ Writing Ink here and Iโ€™m so happy to say that Mushoku Tensei is back for another season. And more importantly, Eris โ€œThe Heartbreakerโ€ Greyrat is about to become relevant to the story once more! If you have read my recap of the first season of the show, or the way I mentioned her in season two, then you know my opinion on Eris: her decision to go on an anime training arc for the sake of her boyfriend, while well-intentioned, was horribly executed. And that when she returns to Rudy, she is going to have to work like crazy to make up for the three years of depression she gave him. But what if there was a fanfic that already did that ahead of time? And what if that fanfic was one that I had already brought up?

Some time ago, I put the spotlight on Early Arrival, this canon-divergent fanfic where Rudy ran into Sylphie, Ariel, and Luke as they were fleeing to Ranoa. He and Sylphie spend an entire year dating, helping him heal his trauma, couple, and then tie the knot even sooner than in the canon. I couldnโ€™t talk about the story past a certain point because I didnโ€™t want to spoil something big. However, with the third season now here, and with us already knowing that Eris is going to come back, Iโ€™m free to talk about it. Why? Well, while I canโ€™t say when Eris returns in the canon, what I can say is that it happens much earlier in Early Arrival. And the results are pretty cathartic, if I do say so myself.

Name: Early Arrival

Type of Fanfic: AU

Written By: GameGladiator46

Started: April 2024

Status: Ongoing

What if Eris Tried to Stop Nina?

So, if you saw the second episode of the new season, then youโ€™ll know about Nina, that blue-haired girl who showed up during that thing with Badigadi. She had shown up so she could beat Rudy, drag him back to that sword school, and show him off to Eris because she was jealous Eris had a boyfriend. It didnโ€™t work out, and as far as I know, Eris never knew about this in canon. But that changes in Early Arrival.

In this fanfic, Eris hears about what Nina is up to and, rather than let her bother Rudy, she attempts to head her off without him finding out. She shows up just in time to stop her, but unfortunately, they get into a fight that attracts a crowd, including Ariel, Luke, and Sylphie.

Iโ€™m not sure if itโ€™s mentioned in the anime, but in the light novels, when Sylphie learns about Eris and how she broke Rudyโ€™s heart and left him depressed, she was mad. She said that she would beat Eris up if they ever ran into each other, leaving Rudy genuinely worried for her safety and asking her not to. In this fanfic, though, we get to see Sylphie try to make good on that threat, because the second she sees Eris, she knew it was her. The heartbreaker. And when she hears that Eris didnโ€™t even plan on seeing him, she snaps. She proudly tells Eris that sheโ€™s Rudeusโ€™ wife and that she lost her man because of her own mistake.

After that, Eris was pretty much seeing red until the moment Rudy left his hiding place in the library and sees everything. So he grabs Eris and drags her somewhere to talk in private.

Rudy just tears into Eris, and it is SO CATHARTIC

Now, in this story, Rudy had already figured out Erisโ€™ reason for leaving him thanks to Sylphie. He had thought he could talk to her rationally. But the moment she asks him why he didnโ€™t wait for her, all this resentment and frustration he had burst out. And he goes off on her for everything. For the letter. For leaving him so depressed that he wouldnโ€™t leave his tent for a week. For crippling his self-worth as a man to the point that he got ED for a year. Everything. Eris is brought to tears by the end of it!

I absolutely loved this moment in the story. As a reader, we are supposed to understand the logic behind Erisโ€™ decision to leave. She was traumatized by what happened with Orsted, so she went on a training arc to make sure she could protect Rudy. And I respect her self-awareness of the fact that she was too dependent on her boyfriend and had to get stronger. We are supposed to understand why, but at the same time, we get mad over how she went around doing it. And since I donโ€™t know if anyone ever calls her out on it in the story, we have to rely on fanfics to vent our frustrations at Eris. And the writer manages to do so while keeping Eris and Rudy perfectly in character. I tend to go for the higher-quality fanfics, so the fact that I liked this is a testament to how good I think it is. I wouldโ€™ve wanted it to spend more time on Sylphie and Erisโ€™ fight so they could get their feelings out, but other than that, it felt great. Incredibly cathartic.

And after this, a lot of things change for the story.

Eris moves in

So, despite everything thatโ€™s happened, Eris is still in love with Rudeus, and despite being committed to Sylphie, heโ€™s still in love with her. So, much like what we saw at the end of the second season with Roxy, Rudy asks Sylphie for her permission to eventually marry Eris. And Sylphie, bless her heart, canโ€™t bring herself to be mad at Eris, and lets her join their family. But WITH STIPULATIONS!

  • Eris can’t sleep with Rudy for a year as punishment for making Sylphie wait that long.
  • Sylphie calls dibs on their first kid.

And thatโ€™s it. Eris starts to live with them, with plans to go back to the sword sanctum later to finish her training. She starts going to school with Rudy and Sylphie, meets their friend group. And most of what happens in the canon still happens. Except for one thing, and I am so glad that it happens.

I always wondered if that would happen

By now, we all know how Paul died saving Rudy from that Hydra. And for the longest time, I have wondered if it was possible to keep that from happening. I concluded that this would have only been possible if Eris and Ghislaine had been a part of the group. With their additional swordsmanship augmenting the Black Wolf Fangs, it stands to reason that the party could take the Hydra down sooner, and thus spare Paulโ€™s life. Thankfully, this fanfic validates that idea. When Rudy and Elinalise set off to help rescue Zenith, Eris and Ghislaine join them, bolstering the overall partyโ€™s strength.

This was something that I greatly appreciated about the story. I think that not having Ghislaine present was a missed opportunity for a reunion of Paulโ€™s old adventuring party, which is something that will never happen thanks to his death. And it also gave us a chance to see what the dynamic between Eris and her father-in-law would have been like had he lived. The two butted heads in the brief time they knew each other thanks to Paulโ€™s fight with Rudy, and they do clash a little when they meet again. But they do develop a level of respect for each other.

A wrinkle that Erisโ€™ presence adds to the labyrinth is how Rudeusโ€™ relationship grows with Roxy. The anime was more subtle about it, but itโ€™s meant to be obvious that Roxy had fallen for him. The reason that she was trying so hard to win him over was that she didnโ€™t know until after they found Zenith that Rudy was already married and going to be a dad. Here, though, Roxy has yet to act on her feelings, despite encouragement from the others.

Sadly, I cannot tell you where it goes from here, as the author has only just started to update the story again. Itโ€™s a shame, but there are plenty of great fanfics that remain incomplete. But Iโ€™ve rambled on enough about it. I just wanted to gush about one of my favorite Isekai some more.

MISS NADDY IS BEST GIRL! NO ARGUMENTS ALLOWED!

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The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love Youย S3 Ep 3 Review

Guys, there are a lot of waifus and husbandos out there, and Iโ€™m pretty sure that there are at least one or two who we would marry in a heartbeat if they were real. And I think I just found the one from 100 Girlfriends who would qualify for me. She is not only beautiful, but also loves and appreciates the best aspects of the land of the Stars and Stripes. Introducing our newest member of the Rentaro Family!

Miss Naddy is Perfect

It all starts on a typical day in school for the Rentaro Family. The language teacher for Rentaroโ€™s class just hit the lottery and retired, so the position is now conveniently open for a new character. And as the gangโ€™s wondering who they could be, we get this amazing punchline when they walk in and show what an actual character they are.

Say howdy to Miss Naddy, everyone! She is just so funny to me, mostly because of how AMERICAN she acts. As an American myself, Iโ€™ve grown up seeing the oddities of our country as something perfectly normal. So, getting to see how other countries view America can be pretty interesting. In this case, Naddy is an over-the-top parody of what some people probably think weโ€™re like, constantly spouting the joys of freedom and of living life the way you want. Some people might see it as offensive, but I can tell that she was not made with any malice in mind.

Also, between her pretty face and cowgirl attire, Iโ€™m pretty much sold on her. And so is Rentaro, once they zing.

So, Naddy keeps Rentaro late so she can get closer to him, and if this werenโ€™t a romcom, I would call child protective services. But any chance of that happening went out the window the second Hahari joined! But then comes the big twist that makes Naddy even better: Rentaro figures out that sheโ€™s not really American.

Miss Naddy is actually Japanese-born and bred. And her actual name is Nadeshiko Yamato. She just has everyone think her nameโ€™s Nadia.

Miss Naddy’s Parents Must DIE!!!

The irony is that her name is the reverse of the Japanese term for traditional beauties: demure, submissive, and devoted to their family. And Naddy is actively trying to be none of those, and for good reason, because she might have the saddest backstory out of everyone in the Rentaro family. She came from a super strict and traditional household and was forced by her abusive parents to be this personification of her name. And she HATED every minute of it. I donโ€™t blame her, either! Seeing her mom lock her in the shed for not playing an instrument right is enough to make me go Super Saiyan. It was only thanks to her being exposed to American culture that she realized that she didnโ€™t have to live like that. And as soon as she was old enough, she gave her mom the middle finger and left on her own. Good riddance.

All of this has left Naddy feeling very insecure about herself, as sheโ€™s worried she will be scorned for being a fraud. Thankfully, Rentaro is the ultimate CHAD, and he doesnโ€™t hesitate to accept Naddy for who she wants to be. And neither do I. Like I said before, I think Naddy genuinely appreciates the best of America and tries to embody it, maybe even moreso than some Americans these days. As far as Iโ€™m concerned, sheโ€™s alright. Also, I love her cowgirl outfit!

Rentaro Family Fashion Show!

Speaking of outfits, Naddyโ€™s introduction to the Family might as well be a fashion show, because after they get over the shock of having a teacher join (mostly Karane), Naddy encourages them all to embrace freedom. By which we mean she has them dress upย ย tbe way they would if they were free to be what they wanted. The result is something that reflects the girlโ€™s personalities in all their glory.

RENTARO IS KING OF THE BOYFRIENDS!

Is it wrong that Iโ€™m surprised Hakariโ€™s outfit doesnโ€™t show more? And Iโ€™m happy to see that Hahari can still pull off the high schooler look, but Iโ€™m also concerned about how that will look to outsiders. Or DeviantArt.

This entire episode is just so much fun. If I had the power, I would give Miss Naddy full American citizenship for how much she appreciates this country. Also, my personal headcanon always had me imagining Miss Naddy’s dub voice as something like Applejack from My Little Pony. That’s right, I’m a Brony.

I Give “The Japanese Teacher Has Blonde Hair” a 5/5

Well, that went as well as I thought, Rentaro

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The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love Youย S3 Ep 2 Review

Gather round, folks, gather round! It is time for more 100 Girlfriends! And to say that this next girlfriend is controversial is probably underselling it. I still question how whatever Japan uses for standards and practices let this pass. And I will not lie, I do think the concept of Chiyo is cringe. But I’m just along for the ride, and I know better than to question Rentaro. It was still funny to see Chiyo meeting everyone, though.

Oh, boy.

So, Chiyoโ€™s introduction to the Rentaro Family goes about as well as youโ€™d expect: Karaneโ€™s straight man compels her to question how this was allowed, and Hahari says โ€œthanks for the meal.โ€ Good lord, thank god this is a comedy, or Hahari would be on some list of predators. But things go south when Chiyoโ€™s OCD kicks in and she starts โ€œtidying upโ€ everything โ€œwrongโ€ with the Family. Iโ€™m just going to show it instead of describing it.

I think I almost lost it when Chiyo said Hahari and Ikuโ€™s existence was a problem.

Fortunately for everyone, Chiyo is quick to realize the chaos she has wrought and starts feeling bad about it. Iโ€™m gonna be honest: it was funny, but she was also trying to force her ideals on people that didnโ€™t need nor want them. And when she starts crying, everyone is quick to comfort her, showing just how welcoming they all are. Itโ€™s honestly heartwarming to see how close theyโ€™ve become as a makeshift family. And yes, they are a bunch of weirdos.

Now, the second half of the episode is actually what surprised me, as it completely skips over what happens in the manga. In the manga, Chiyoโ€™s introduction is followed (after an ad for keychains) by a chapter where, upon learning how kiss-happy the Rentaro family is, she bans them from kissing during school hours. And their plan to get her to loosen up almost turns her into a kissing zombie.

I will be blunt: I didnโ€™t like that chapter. I thought it was repetitive considering how Chiyo had just learned to accept the Familyโ€™s oddities. I didnt like how they had the youngest member do that to them. It was just a forgettable chapter. Though, that makes the second half of the episode even stranger since it changes gears to Mimimi and Meme.

This Was Way Better

So, thereโ€™s this noisy photographer from the school paper who’s obsessed with getting a photo of Meme, and she mastered this Demon Slayer breathing technique to do it. Rentaro, naturally, is prepared to burn the newspaper club to the ground, saying this constitutes terrorism. And Hahari canโ€™t stop her because sheโ€™s being blackmailed with proof of how much of a freak she is.

The entire second half is more or less the Family trying to help Meme protect her privacy, with predictable results. They have her dressed in a bunny girl outfit to train her evasiveness up, but really, itโ€™s just so Hahari can enjoy the view. But in the end, they come up with an even stronger version of Memeโ€™s substitution jutsu: they swap out Meme for Mimimi! And Mimimi is just so good at posing!

I like this. I like this very much. And if Iโ€™m correct with my math, then the next episode is going to introduce one of my personal favorites in the entire series! I canโ€™t wait for more laughs next week!

I Give “Chiyo’s Family Coaching” a 3/5

Really, 100 Girlfriends? How did the Producers Approve this?

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The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love Youย S3 Ep 1 Review

Thatโ€™s right, Iโ€™m back with more 100 Girlfriends as we move to season three! I have to admit, I was almost tempted to skip reviewing the new season of the ultimate harem anime because of my busy writing schedule (I write for more than just this blog), but then I remembered that this is one of my comfort anime. Iโ€™m way too invested in the laughs to stop now! And the first episode made it clear that we were going to get plenty of laughs from the start. Why? Because the Love God is trying to do this serious exposition dump to catch people up on the storyโ€ฆand the show ends up spoiling some of the girlfriends joining this season! The eye pop the foolish God does is hilarious!

Which is good, because the next soulmate joining is going to beโ€ฆcontroversial.

Wait, are we Jumping Ahead?

Wait, did the anime just skip a few chapters? And are they adding some of the spoiled girlfriends to the gathering?

Yes, it seems that for the first episode of the season, the show director decided to mess with us. So they skipped to a future incident in which some of the new girlfriends have already joined the family, and theyโ€™re being interviewed by this show about dating, and theyโ€™re telling stories about Rentaroโ€™s CHAD powers. And itโ€™s freaking the host and crew out. Itโ€™s nothing but the show leaning into its gag status, and it’s pretty hilarious. And then Rentaro gets interviewed and they make the mistake of insulting his girlfriends.

It is very likely that this will become a lost episode creepypasta. But I do like how the show staff doesnโ€™t give two cents at this point and is just doing what they think is funny. And now we have the new OP.

Welcome to the church of Rentaro.

Now, hereโ€™s the controversial part.

Really? Are we Really Going Here?

It all starts when Rentaro is asked to look his cousin that heโ€™s never met before while his uncle is out. He thinks itโ€™s going to a romance-free day. But thenโ€ฆ

Yes. This is real. This is actually happening. And yes, Rentaro in the manga asked the same question to Shueshia about whether they were really doing this. How the mangaka managed to talk his publishers into letting this slide is beyond me, as this is going to attract controversy. But if Shueshia was willing to approve Hahari, they must have been willing to approveโ€ฆdating your cousin.

Maybe Shueshia approved this because they thought it would be funny to see people freak out about it. Also, it should be noted that in Mushoku Tensei, Rudeus and Eris are distant cousins. Weโ€™ve got no right to judge 100 Girlfriends.

Chiyo Iin, the Loli-Cousin With OCD

Anyway, meet Chiyo Iin, Rentaroโ€™s 12-year-old cousin. She just started middle school recently, and is a class rep who is considered super responsible and dependable by everyone around her. So, besides the very specific niche she fills, what quirks does she have that set her apart?

OCD. She has OCD, and whenever she sees something disorderly, she gets upset and tries to fix it while growling like a puppy, as she does after various mishaps befall Rentaro. Oh, and whenever she loses her glasses, she starts crying like a baby.

Iโ€™ll be honest: Chiyo was always going to be a landmine for me, but I think that was the joke. Nakamura wanted to do this to mess with us and remind us that he is willing to go there. What I thought was even funnier, though, was the reveal that her father set all of this up to make the two fall for each other. Why? Because he’s an overprotective father who only considers Rentaro worthy of dating Chiyo because he saved him from Truck-Kun as a kid.

Is this entire family looney?

Look, itโ€™s best not to take anything that happens seriously. The anime and manga have already established that they are not taking the story seriously. If you donโ€™t like it, donโ€™t watch. Otherwise, enjoy.

I Give “Cousin and Girlfriend” a 3/5

Chloe is Super Important to the Story!

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That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime S4 Ep 15 Review

You know how in anime, when a person shows up in an OP or ED, that means that they’re going to be important to the story? It’s just something that I’ve noticed from years of watching anime, as the OPs and EDs for a show can reveal potential spoilers. Well, there is a pretty big one for the new OP and ED for Slime Tensura that has to do with two people: Chloe Aubert, Rimuru’s student, and this mysterious, black-haired woman who keeps appearing throughout the show who Chloe seems connected with. If you’ve read the light novels, then you already know what’s going on, but if you haven’t, then you’re about to understand just how important Chloe actually is.

The Black Numbers Get their Jobs

Thanks to Diablo’s recruitment drive, Rimuru now has three powerful Demon women working for Tempest: Ultima, Carrera, and Testarossa. Thanks to them, he’s finally able to fill some positions that he’s been needing filled for a while to help with their diplomacy and legal system. Testarossa is now Tempest’s representative with the Western Council to help keep them on the level. Which is good, because she is great at making sure people fall in line! Ultima and Carrera are now the Chief Public Prosecutor and Chief Justice, respectively, meaning that they will be in charge of enforcing the law. Though it’s a little bit concerning that Carrera’s immediate reaction to potential crimes is the death penalty. Hopefully, they’ll learn to let the punishment fit the crime!

All of this means that for the first time in a while, Rimuru can take it easy and have some more free time. And the first thing that he decides to do is visit Tempest’s school.

Chloe’s Progress

If you want to make sure change sticks into the future, you have to educate the next generation. That’s where school comes in, and the one that Rimuru has set up in Tempest seems to be doing a good job. In the episode, we see how the students come from the many different races that inhabit the world, both human and monster. By having them grow up alongside each other, it can eliminate the prejudices that may otherwise develop. More importantly, this school means that Shizu and Rimuru’s old class now has plenty of new friends to play with. We even get a scene where Ryota and Alice are arguing like regular classmates! However, it’s not all the students that we should be focused on, but one student: Chloe Aubert.

Since her introduction, the anime has been dropping several hints that there’s something special about Chloe that sets her apart from the rest of Rimuru’s students. She’s got the potential to be the strongest of all of them, a fact that gets hammered home when she and Rimuru have a brief sparring match, and he gets reminded of Shizu and Hinata due to how strong she is.

Then there’s the fact that when Rimuru got her a spirit to help stabilize her magicules so she wouldn’t die, this woman appeared and jumped into her after giving him a phantom kiss. The sight of her was enough to anger Veldora, who seemingly knew her.

Leon Wants to find His Little Sister

The biggest reveal, though, comes from the Moderate Harlequin Alliance’s meeting with Demon Lord Leon Cromwell. He’s been trying to acquire kids summoned to this world for a long time, which is how Shizu wound up there. As this episode reveals, though, he’s doing this because he’s looking for one person in particular: Chloe. He even has a painting of her in a private room!

I can’t tell you why Leon wants Chloe so badly without spoiling the story, but I just want to say this: Leon isn’t simping for Chloe. Let’s just say that he’s more like a protective big brother to her, and it seems that it won’t be long for he and Chloe reunite.

Which brings us to the setup for the next big moment in the story of Rimuru: the visit to Lubelious.

Luminous Wants some Culture

Ever since the opening festival, Lady Luminous has been desperately wanting some cultural exchange with Tempest. And she’s getting tired of waiting, so she has Hinata go and ask Rimuru when they’re going to get on that. Well, with his workload now lighter, Rimuru is free to focus on that. So, he tells Hinata that he plans on traveling to Luminous’ country for a musical conference to satisfy his fellow Demon Lord. Unfortunately, there are people in the shadows looking to cause trouble like always: Yuuki and Granbell.

With Maribel dead thanks to Rimuru (even though Yuuki was the one who killed her), Granbell is out for the slime’s non-existent blood. So despite having worked for Luminious for a thousand years because she promised to keep humanity safe, he’s throwing that idea out of the window. He is ready to go to war with her if it means that he can bring down Rimuru, and he and Yuuki have a plan to do so. While everyone is focused on the conference, they plan to steal Luminous’ most prized possession: the legendary hero that she has in stasis. You know, the one that she keeps talking to and hugging while naked despite the pain it causes? The magic used to keep the seal in place is dangerous to her, but since she can regenerate, the worst it does is cause pain and destroy her clothes. But yeah…she is into her.

https://twitter.com/animefants/status/2078149753741729899?s=20

In case you haven’t noticed, that woman bears a strong resemblance to at least three other women we’ve met so far: Chloe, Shizu, and Hinata. And that’s a good reason for that, but I don’t want to spoil it. All I want to say is that we should expect things to get crazy. I can’t wait.

I Give “An Unsettling Feeling” a 3.5/5

Wait, Diablo got WHO?!?!

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That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime S4 Ep 14 Review

There have been several times throughout the series where Rimuru has come close to dying. The most apparent example was his initial fight with Hinata, where he had to resort to using a body double to escape. However, our GOAT has come close to dying without even realizing it, which is why so many people are left dumbfounded when he does something unbelievable. And thanks to Diablo, we just got to see the biggest example of Rimuru cheating death without even realizing it. And he does it by gaining the loyalty of a trio of beautiful Demon women.

Who are the Primordials?

While Rimuru and the others were dealing with things with Maribel, Diablo was largely absent for the first arc of the season. Thatโ€™s because he decided he wanted some extra hands to help him serve his glorious king. So, he headed back to the Demon Realm, the dimension where all Demons originate. Spawned from chaos, they constantly fight, die, and revive in a struggle to get stronger. It’s basically a place of anarchy, chaos, and survival of the fittest. Being the ultimate glazer of Rimuru, Diablo decided that his master deserves only the best minions, so he decides to recruit the biggest, baddest, toughest Demons in the Netherworld: the Primordials.

In the Demon Realm, power is determined by how old a Demon is and (I think) how long they’ve gone without respawning from death. And at the very top of the food chain are the Primordials, of which Diablo is one. They’re the original seven Demons that appeared near the dawn of creation, making them some of the most powerful characters in the entire series. For reference, remember Guy Crimson, the oldest and strongest of the Demon Lords? He’s the original Primordial! With all of that said, is it any wonder why so many people have freaked out upon learning who Diablo is? He could’ve easily killed Rimuru when they first met if he had wanted!

And he wants to recruit three more of them.

Three Demon baddies who can kill you

First up, we have Jaune, the delinquent. Her main hobby is firing off nuclear magic at the base of Demon Lord Leon Cromwell, simply because she’s bored. And when Diablo comes to her to spread the word of his lord and savior, she tries to kill him…to no effect. He just tells her about the glory of Rimuru the slime while she tries in vain to beat him. But all that ends with her being planted into the ground and told to think about her attitude before he comes back.

Next is Violent, the Princess. She actually has some history with Tempest from the series first movie, where she had made a deal with a royal family that was supposed to end with her getting her a body to incarnate in. Thanks to Rimuru, though, she found out one of her subordinates broke the rules of the deal, forcing her to end things. Needless to say, she’s pretty sadistic. But Diablo wins her over when he says that her counterparts will get to incarnate into the mortal world. Now, it’s important to note that Violet, Jaune, and the final Demon have been competing for eons to see who can incarnate first, so it’s important to them.

Speaking of the final Demon, we have Blanc, one of the oldest and strongest. She is the textbook image of an elegant, beautiful lady, and she is already aware of Rimuru. It doesn’t take much to persuade her to meet with our resident Slime. But she also shows just scary she is by casually maiming two of her subordinates for speaking without permission.

Again, these are the ones that Diablo wants serving Rimuru. Three Demon ladies that most Demons fear. And Rimuru has absolutely no idea about any of this.

Thank god that Rimuru has Raphael to back him up. Because if he hadn’t figured it out…the girls would’ve killed him. But the danger was worth it to see him flex his Haki.

Good Lord, Rimuru doesn’t even know what he’s doing.

And so, without even meaning to do so, Rimuru managed to hire three of the most powerful beings in the multiverse as his newest minions. And with them, the 700 Demons that serve under them, giving birth to what will be known as the Black Numbers. And, in keeping with Diablo’s name, he gives the girls car-based names: Carrera for Jaune, Ultima for Violet, and Testarossa for Blanc. And he gives them all artificial bodies so they stay in the physical world for as long as they want.

This is honestly hilarious. Rimuru doesn’t even realize just how much power he’s managed to obtain for his nation. It’s probably going to end up upsetting the balance of power in the world of Tensura before it’s all over! But, again, he’s not entirely at fault. I blame it mostly on Diablo gassing up Rimuru. Either way, things are about to get a lot more fun!

I Give “The Black Numbers” a 4/5

You Won’t Believe Who Rimuru Hires this Episode

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That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime S4 Ep 13 Review

Itโ€™s been a good time for Tempest. With Maribelโ€™s defeat and Yuuki laying low, Rimuru and his friends are free to relax and enjoy the fruits of their laborโ€ฆis what I would like to say. Sadly, Tempest is getting to the point where the work is getting to be too much for who they currently have to handle. Speaking as someone who has experience with more work than one person can handle, I can tell you how disastrous this can be for morale. So, itโ€™s time for some new recruits for Tempest! And as fate would have it, Rimuru gets some perfect hires without having to post a โ€˜Help wantedโ€™ ad.

Firstly, we need to talk about the OP. With this being the second cours of the season, that means itโ€™s time for the anime to receive a new OP. This way, its remaining up-to-date on whatโ€™s happening in the story. And this OP is one of the most enigmatic, with heavy emphasis on subdued colors or outright black and white, chains, and, it should be noted, Hinata and Chloe. Anime logic dictates that whatโ€™s going to happen in this second part is going to put a lot of emphasis on the two girls. Just something to think about.

Dino the Freeloader

So after Millim gets dragged back home due to shaking her duties for the umpteenth time, Rimuru decides to get back to work. You canโ€™t exactly blame Millim, though. Sheโ€™s so happy getting to play with Gaia after these millennia. Sadly, the Dungeon is the only place where it can survive, so it has to stay behind. In the meantime, the work in Tempest is starting to pile up, and Rimuruโ€™s team of Veldora, Ramiris, and more are needing some extra hands to help with their work. As fate would have it, though, one seems to show up right on Rimuruโ€™s doorstep.

This is Dino, and like Rimuru, Ramiris, and Millim, heโ€™s a Demon Lord. However, that title might be stretching it a bit, even by the standards of Demon Lords in this series. Dino is known as the Sleeping Demon Lord and is infamously known as a slacker amongst the other Demon Lords. He doesnโ€™t have his own home or domain to manage. Heโ€™s just been freeloading off of Guy Crimson, the oldest and strongest of the Demon Lords, forever. And Crimson finally decided to kick him out, only to dump the responsibility onto Rimuru. And it should be noted that Rimuru cannot refuse. Guy Crimson is far stronger than him, and could easily wipe Tempest out if he wanted.

Rimuru, being a hard worker, doesnโ€™t want to have a freeloader mooching off of him, but thankfully, the problem solves itself. Dino takes one bite of the food in Tempest, and for the first time in forever, heโ€™s motivated to do work. So, he gives him to Vesta the dwarf as his assistant. Heโ€™s literally been bribed by food. Honestly, though, itโ€™s a good deal. Food and a roof over your head is a good motivation for working.

As for Veldora, heโ€™s also wants an assistant, but his choice surprises Rimuru: Ifrit, the Fire Elemental.

I don’t Understand how Ifrit is this Way now

If youโ€™ll recall, Ifrit is the Fire spirit that was sealed inside Shizu when she was summoned to this world as a kid. It saved her life, but she had to spend so much of it keeping Ifrit from going on a rampage that it led to her eventual death after Rimuru split them up. Naturally, Rimuru is not keen on Veldoraโ€™s request, but thereโ€™s a catch to it. After getting sealed inside Rimuruโ€™s stomach, the flame spirit befriended Veldora and they kept each other company. Thanks to that, Veldora was able to help Ifrit chill enough to realize how much pain he caused Shizu and to regret it. Now he wants to make amends by helping Rimuru, and heโ€™s already done so. He provided the salamanders needed for the Magitrain!

So, thanks to Veldoraโ€™s recommendation, Rimuru gives Ifrit a chance and gives him a new body to inhabit and renames them to Charys. For some reason, though, Charys can now change from man to woman whenever they want, getting stronger with fire or wind depending on their gender. I donโ€™t know how this is possible, to be honest, but I think we should just roll with it. Iโ€™ve already seen a character in One Piece with the power to make people swap genders, so this is nothing to me!

This is a very slow and lowkey episode, in my opinion, as it revolves around Rimuru getting more help around Tempest. Ramiris gets even more helpers in the form of more Dryads thanks to the artificial bodies Rimuru is making, so thatโ€™s good. However, the real highlight is the ending as we cut to one servant of Rimuru that has been notably absent: Diablo. Earlier in the season, he said he was going off on a trip to find some worthy assistants for himself, so heโ€™s gone back to the Demon Realm to do so. And heโ€™s apparently bringing up to a thousand subordinates with him when he gets back. Rimruru is cool with it, but he has no idea just who Diablo has in mind. And Iโ€™m not spoiling it for you guys!  Itโ€™s going to make the surprise all the better! So, see you guys next episode!

Also, I really liked the new ED thatโ€™s based on a board game. Itโ€™s pretty obvious that, besides Rimuru, the other person playing the game is meant to be Chloe. And sheโ€™s on some sort of journey to find Rimuru. Iโ€™m not sure if you know this, but besides being her teacher, Chloe has a crush on him, something heโ€™s well aware of (and wishes someone had said that to him when they were 18 or 20). Itโ€™s adorable for right now, but it seems like it might be more serious than we realize.

I Give “New Companions” a 3/5

Luffy is Fighting one of the Roger Pirates! So Cool!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , ,

One Piece Ep 1170 Review

I have been reading and watching One Piece for many years now, and I have come to notice a formula to the way that Oda writes the story. Whenever the Straw Hats make it to some new island, things will start out pretty low-stakes as they explore the place and get a feel for things. Eventually, though, the big bad of the arc will make themselves known, and then everything hits the fan. We are now at that point in the arc where things are about to start hitting the fan, and trust me when I say this, they are going to need Loki. But first, Luffy has to win the key from Scopper Gaban, ex-member of the Roger Pirates.

If youโ€™ve followed One Piece at least as far back as Sabaody, then you know that the hype behind the crew of the Pirate is well-deserved. Rayleigh was able to go toe-to-toe with a Navy Admiral despite being well into his 70s, and he was able to scare off Blackbeard not that long ago. Needless to say, most of the crew can be counted as some of the strongest in the world by default. And thatโ€™s why seeing Luffy fight Gaban was so hyped when the manga came out. If Luffy could hold his own against one of Rogerโ€™s two hands, then we would know just how strong he has gotten. And the anime knew this.

This was a Good Training Session

I know that there were fights while trying to escape Roadโ€™s brick model, but truthfully, this was the first real fight of the Elbaph arc. The anime knew this, because it went all out on showing just how wild this fight was. Luffy was bouncing around the place like crazy, but no matter what he did, he couldnโ€™t play a finger on Gaban. The man held him off using the very key they came to get as a weapon. Regardless, though, the fight was very well animated, and it more than lived up to the hype. And that moment when Zoro decided to jump in, and Luffy went into Gear Five? It was incredible. The strongest of the Straw Hats were getting ready to double-team a legend in what we thought would be a legendary duel, and if it had continued, I do think they wouldโ€™ve won. But, nope! Gaban drops his axes and surrenders!

To be honest, I already knew that the two won when Gaban tried shoving the key into Luffyโ€™s mouth in a goofy fashion. He did say he wanted them to get their hands on the key, and they did. From the way I saw things, Gaban was only doing this to test them and see if they were on the level that Shanks said. Because if they let Loki out, they would have to be prepared to fight him, and if they lost, they would lose the trust of the Giants. But more importantly, though, Gaban did it because he knew that Elbaph was about to be in danger. The greatest threat it has probably ever faced, if you ask me.

EVIL! EVIL! EVILEVILEVILEVILEVIL!

Meanwhile, as the children at the Walrus School are playing, Gunko and Shamrock are about to make their move. Their goal is to conquer and enslave Elbaph so their master can use the Giants in the coming war for the fate of the world. And so they summon reinforcements to help them in the form of two more Godโ€™s Knights, Sommers and Qillingham.

Donโ€™t be fooled by their goofy introductions, you guys. I have had years to get to know these two as individuals, and trust me when I say this: they are monsters. Not just monsters as in theyโ€™re monstrously strong, but monsters as in sick, twisted, and sadistic demons! The two of them and Gunko are going to be enough to cause a catastrophe the likes of which Elbaph hasnโ€™t seen in years. They are absolute menaces to society, and at this point in the manga, I am genuinely hoping that the Straw Hats send them home in body bags.

Donโ€™t believe me? Their game plan to conquer Elbaph is to capture the kids and take them back to Mariejois as hostages. It takes a special kind of evil to go after kids!

I hope that you guys got your fill of the low-key stakes, because that is about over. From here on out, things are going to get progressively crazier as the Straw Hats face their biggest battle yet! And I canโ€™t wait to see it animated!

I Give “Get the Key! Luffy vs. Scopper Gaban” a 4/5

O.G. Founder: The Old Guard Needs A New Castle!

Aside D&A Anime Blog Uncategorized , , , , , , , ,

So…let me talk to ya!

This is not a post bashing modern anime fans; nor is it a post bashing the community, the industry, or conventions. This is however my thoughts and opinions on how I feel as a 30-year veteran of anime. I’m a member of the ‘Old Guard Anime Fandom’ (O.G.A.F.), and I’m from an era where access to the medium was not as widespread as it is today. I come from an era where it costs $150 to buy 24 VHS tapes of the first and second seasons of Ocean Dub Dragon Ball Z. I come from an era where Yaoi Paddles roamed the halls of convention centers, and people shouting outdated memes were the norm. Lately, I feel like myself and many other fans of the O.G.A.F., have felt the brunt of the shift in the atmosphere.

Many of us know it as ‘The Great Shift’.

I couldn’t find my usual picture…

Since this shift, a lot of things have changed in the anime community, as well as the industry and the convention scene. Many conventions have become more industry-driven as opposed to fan-driven. The con Runners want to appeal to a wider audience; a.k.a. A more ‘Family-Friendly’ audience, which caused many core members of said conventions to pull out and not attend them. Not only that, but this shift has drawn the attention of a group of individuals, who do NOT have the anime community’s best interest at heart. In fact they DON’T EVEN LIKE anime, but pull up to mock others who do, just for the sake of clicks and giggles!

Okay, I’m not bashing ALL modern fans, but I’m calling out the ones who are contributing to this behavior. For the rest of us who just wanna enjoy being an anime/gaming nerd, it sucks having to deal with petty incidents like this. I come from an era where if you had a disagreement about something in a show, you talked about it and in many cases, agreed to disagree. Afterwards you dapped it up and moved on. NOW IN 2026, if you have that SAME disagreement with modern fans, you’re getting DEATH THREATS in your DM’s!

The older I get, the less I wanna even be around any of this…

This is what its like to have an opposing opinion (hot take) in 2026!

POC Cosplayers, I feel ya! Do NOT even get me started on how some modern fans, treat Black Anime Fans as well as Black Cosplayers. I say this, because I’ve had a few shots come my way, and I only do partial cosplay. I can go on and on about the many incidents that have happened in the community whenever black anime fans are involved. Honestly, its tiresome!

Maybe that’s just it. As a member of the O.G.A.F. We NEED a NEW castle! A NEW space to call home that is created BY US, FOR US! No minors, No clout chasers, and NO PDFs! It’s time we have a space for Old Guard Fans, in fact its time we have conventions for members of the O.G.A.F.! I know some are gonna say that it feels like I’m alienating New Gen Fans, but ya’ll got enough conventions and spaces to go to. We need a place where ‘Oldtakus’ and ‘Unctakus’ can crash, watch old school anime, and party! The way it used to be…

I’m working on a few things in regards to that with several friends (a.k.a. a NEW Convention for OLD Guard Anime Fans), and if you feel that the Old Guard needs a New Castle, then follow us on the blog and social media platforms! Also follow Yours Truly on IG (as Avidd Minddset), to see where the next DJ & Cosplay Afterparties will be.

I hope things get better within this space, but I’m not holding my breath. So Old Guard Fans, lets put our resources together, and make something for us that we can enjoy!

Old Guard Founder!

Out!

The Legend of Love, Scopper Gaban!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , ,

One Piece Chapter 1169 Review

Iโ€™m going to be honest with you: I had no clue that Toei was going to be airing all the episodes of One Piece this year back-to-back. I genuinely thought that we would be waiting until the fall for the show to kick back up, but Iโ€™m not complaining. It wonโ€™t be long now until the Elbaph arc really begins in earnest. But before that can happen, the story needs to add a few more players to the board. And on the side of the pirates, weโ€™re getting an absolute legend. Not only is this man one of the most famous in the entire world, but heโ€™s also a legend of the art of love.

The Legend is Here!

So, Luffy, Zoro, and Nami are still looking for the key to Lokiโ€™s chains, with the group being on the fence about what to do afterward. To be honest, I wasnโ€™t that worried in the manga. If Loki tried anything, Luffy would just kick his ass. Heck, Luffy even says thatโ€™s what heโ€™ll do in this episode. The real concern is how Elbaph would take it. Unfortunately, any attempts by the group to fly under the radar are gone, as theyโ€™ve been found out by someone: Ripleyโ€™s husband and the father of Colon. Though, it should be his real name that should be more, and for good reason, as we get a story from the Giants that exposits why heโ€™s so important.

In the days of the Roger Pirates, there were three men who were the pillars of the entire crew; their equivalent of the Monster Trio of Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji. Rogerโ€™s right-hand man was Rayleigh, but his left was a man named Scopper Gaban, and he was every bit as strong as the others. Once, when Roger was sick and resting at a hospital, hundreds of pirates showed up trying to take him out. In response, Gaban walked out of the building, axe in hand, and proceeded to single-handledly run all their fades! None of them got near Roger! And after the Roger Pirates disbanded, he settled in Elbaph, where he all but married Ripley and they had Colon. And now, that man was sitting in the ruins of Aurust Castle waiting for Luffy to show up to see what he would do.

I was absolutely floored when Gaban was introduced. He had been teased about years ago in the cover stories as this mystery man who met with Crocus, this guy who briefly sailed with Roger as his doctor. Most fans were convinced that he was another member of the Roger Pirates, and we were right! We only know a little about the lives of Rogerโ€™s old crew even after all this time, so seeing Gaban was like meeting pirate royalty. Also, I couldnโ€™t help but respect him for managing to get someone as nice as Ripley as his wife. Though I do think that one day, Oda has to explain how the technical aspects work. Otherwise, fans are going to be making weird assumptions.

Luffy Beating Loki=Being on Shanks’ Level?

At any rate, Gaban wants to ask Luffy what he intends to do about Loki, testing him. He even points out that the only reason he got captured was because Shanks had to step in and do it when the Giants couldnโ€™t. Of course, I took it, and Luffy probably took, to mean that if he managed to beat Loki, heโ€™d be on Shanksโ€™ level. Which is something that has both been a goal of his as well as a necessity if Luffy wants to become King of the Pirates. So, he gives Luffy a challenge: if he can beat him in a fight, heโ€™ll hand over the key. So, bet!

Luffy is going to need to get stronger sooner rather than later, especially since Elbaph is about to be in danger from the Godโ€™s Knights. If he can stand on the same level as Rogerโ€™s number three, then I like the odds. That, and I wanna see how he measures up to a living legend. This next episode should be fun.  

I Give “The Legend Lurking in Elbaph – The Identity of the Mountain-Eater” a 4/5