I'd like to make sure everybody knows that the Noblesse Awards are going on. So go vote for your favorite things about the series you, hopefully, love.
(I really should have done the same for the nomination phase now that I think about it, oh well.
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Now onto the review!
Chapter Summary
It's a bit like watching a goldfish attack a shark. It's impressive... in a funny sort of way...
This week begins with a short flashback showing a memory in which Roctis warns Frankenstein if he ever brings harm to Raziel he won't forgive him; oh, the irony.
Back in the present, Raizel is held "hostage" by the 12th Elder while everyone looks on stunned that anybody, in the world would, do something so spectacularly suicidal; except the KSA agents who are still stuck in a state of oblivious outrage by the Elder's act of taking a hostage. Frankenstein however is seething with rage, both at Roctis and the Elder. All trace of his earlier humor is gone. The Elder takes all this as sign he did a smart thing and essentially begins mentally patting himself on the back.
About then Tao and Takeo groggily wake up and cannot believe their eyes. So many parts of Bat-creature trying to hold Raizel hostage seems insane that Tao asks M-21 if this is real. M-21 simply says "Yup".
The 12th Elder then proceeds to buy time for himself by doing a classic villainous monologue. With all the "I'll get you for, and everyone you know, for this." But when he gets to the part about how it's only reasonable to exterminate the KSA and it's agents considering what they've done to Raizel takes offense.
With the question "How could taking human lives possibles be reasonable?" he shakes the area with his power and calls up a blood field. The Elder finally understands how strong Raizel is and mistakenly assumes he's the Lord of Lukedonia; which brings him to the 100% correct realization that he is a dead man. Under the pretense of offering information about Roctis he delivers a close range blast(bit like a sucker punch) but it fails to effect Raizel in the least. Raizel informs him that he has forfeited his right to existence and kills him rather spectacularly.
The chapter ends with all of them standing around the crater in the roof of the building where the 12th Elder once stood as bits of the blood field fall like snow.
Chapter Review
An attack so powerful it has Yontsu and Sangeen looking like an actual couple, now that's impressive.
Substance
The 12th Elder is dead. Crombell and Yuri get what they wanted and it seems like the situation with the Union is set to get worse. With at least one traitorous noble in league with the Union we know that they have greater assets than just enhanced humans. Raizel maybe strong enough to hold everything they can throw at them at bay but for how much longer?
Which brings me to Raizel's use of Blood Field, the exact situation Frankenstein had hoped to avoid. The question may be asked "Why use that to kill the 12th Elder when he could have used something that used up less of his dwindling life force?", and I think the answer is a basic part of Raizel's worldview. The fact that Raizel is dying is something that does not bother him in the slightest due to this how much time he has left effect does not effect his actions. He dies when he dies and he will do what he believes is right until that very moment.
On another topic, the KSA's fate from here on is going to be interesting. Yontsu's order to evacuate headquarters my have saved much of the personnel but a Union Elder died on their turf along with his whole squad of bodyguards. The Union is not exactly going to thank them for that. Which leaves them with a few options; continue on as before and hope the Union is understanding about this, declare independence from the Union, dissolve the organization. All three of those options bring problems with them.
Presentation
The artwork varied a lot this week. I'm not a fan of the fish-eye effect, basically where everything curves giving the effect of visual distortion, and we got a lot of that this week. Character art was also more unstable that usual, great in one panel and slightly deformed in the next. Background art was much improved over previous weeks with everything being very easy to understand spatially, detail was fairly low but that's fine.
We also got a new artistic presentation for Blood Field. Focusing more on individual drops raining upward. I liked this very much, I think it made the technique seem far more expansive.
In terms of pacing I think it was good. Starting with Roctis' introduction allowed for some perspective on his betrayal, the rest was pretty classic "bad guy says bad things, good guy kills him". Fairly direct and to the point. It would be anti-climactic to anybody expecting the 12th Elder to put up much of a fight, but I don't think anybody was really expecting that.
Final Rating
A nice, though slightly short, conclusion to Noblesse's largest battle arc to-date. Union Elder dead, Raizel using his power once more, the KSA in shambles, and whoever owns that building they are standing on is going to be PISSED. It wasn't quite perfect but it was a great read.
I give it a 4 out of 5
My Prediction
- More traitors than just Roctis are in league with the Union
My Previous Predictions(Current Record 15-16)
The 12th Elder will not leave Korea alive
Correct, he has been reduced to man-sludge.
Raizel will be the one to actually kill the 12th Elder.
Correct, Rai dropped the proverbial hammer on him...hard.
- Rael will lose his next battle to the RK-4.
- I think Lee Youn-In is going to be more than just a soon-to-be-forgotten sub-character. I suspect she may have a role in the plot.
- The female operative from the Union will eventually end up on Raizel's side, like M-21 and the others.
- Rael will show up at Raizel's school seeking revenge on him and his human friends.
- The Agency Director is evil(obviously).
- Na Yontsu will get mixed feeling about recruiting Shin Woo and Ikkan.
- Raizel will ultimately choose to use himself up completely in order to help his friends.
- The trainees that disappeared are dead or worse.
- The Union was originally created by the Traitorous Nobles.
Thread Question of the Week
Are you satisfied with the 12th Elders demise?
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Raizel's too trusting for his own good 
Quote:
Zettai-Teki Seigi/Absolute Justice
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