Review meant for volume 15 only! I might write a full series review at another time.
A true masterpiece among masterpieces. The zenith of a forsaken genre. Eternally standing in glory, it rests upon a peak never again to be topped, sitting on the apex of a style then on cursed to resignation.
The setting of the battle school had a great time in the sun, taking the stage of popular youth literature like nothing else ever had. It even seeped its way into a western story as popular as Harry Potter. Inevitably however, the genre was doomed to die, as it burned too bright and had
...
not nearly the talent in its authorship needed to sustain it. Its death knell was rung by the anime release of the titanic Sword Art Online, which would set the stage for the age of isekai which we are still living through the legacy of today.
It's extremely fitting therefore, that Akatsuki Senri began her master work after its release, in order to write for the genre a masterpiece it so desperately lacked and deserved. Bahamut began with just a hint of luster, like an unpolished diamond waiting to be crafted, and precisely so it developed, slowly ascending as a mountain rises.
In the 6th volume the novel reaches a turning point, beginning to develop a huge cast of warriors and mysterious hints of lore which any serious reader will recognize as the stepping stones to a monumental radiance. The 11th volume, at the center of the saga which begins in the 6th, gives us a small taste with one of the greatest fights in fiction, that of Yoruka Kirihime and Singlen Shelbrit. Each packing their own secret abilities and plans, the two warriors display some of the most intricate combat ever put to pen.
There is a silly criticism often given by western readers of fights supposedly slowing down stories. These readers are unfortunate to have never been graced by a good fight, and would do well to read this series to have their delusions shattered, as they realize that a brilliant fight is among the best things that any series can offer.
This is the 15th volume of Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle, the final piece of the exuberant master saga of the Seven Dragon Paladins. Here we get a payoff for the previous nine volumes which develop the powers of the Seven Dragon Paladins, as they stand off against the strongest Drag-Knight in history, the White Hero of Origin, Fugil. What transpires is a connection of all the questions asked by the story, like a bottle of supercooled water instantly freezing into place with but a slight shake. All the little details come together as the secret of Avalon resolves everything.
The ensuing fight between the Seven Dragon Paladins and Fugil takes the already top level combat of Bahamut to an even higher level, reaching a quality truly without competition. The sheer genius of Magialca and her allies place everything on the line against the indomitably unfair might of Fugil in a battle which lasts half a volume and carries the weight of ten. Every single technique, maneuver, as well as every single defect and drawback which could have come into play comes into play. It is a battle of strategy, but also of might, of perseverance, of conviction, of ideology, and also of irrational spirit, of history, and of hope, of blind desperation, yet also of unassailable duty.
Not only is the fight in itself worth reading the whole series for, but the themes of the story also reveal what they truly are during the very fight. Fugil is an antagonist like none other. He is some silly morally grey dime a dozen anti-villain as is far too common in modern media, but a true believer who genuinely challenges the ethical theory of the entire modern project.
As he puts it:
"Saving, choosing, and training the weak, then making that person to assemble the surrounding force to overturn the system.
On the other hand, the faction of the victor would work unceasingly to build their advantage and ruled in a way so that no further reversal would occur.
The new system would gradually turn tyrannical. One-sided. Unreasonable. Without even a shred of compassion.
In order to change such tendency, the [hero] would move.
The world was the repeat of such cycle.
It was a system that was backed by the instinct of living things, repeating eternally following the same process."
Indeed, he embodies the vision of progress itself, and he renders its absurdity in every action. Of course, the story completes itself in the following volumes rather than this one, but I choose to give my review here, at least for the time being, as it is the point which marks its place as the last battle school novel, in the sense that it completes the project of the battle school genre, and makes its continued existence no longer needed.
Dec 16, 2024
Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut
(Manga)
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Review meant for volume 15 only! I might write a full series review at another time.
A true masterpiece among masterpieces. The zenith of a forsaken genre. Eternally standing in glory, it rests upon a peak never again to be topped, sitting on the apex of a style then on cursed to resignation. The setting of the battle school had a great time in the sun, taking the stage of popular youth literature like nothing else ever had. It even seeped its way into a western story as popular as Harry Potter. Inevitably however, the genre was doomed to die, as it burned too bright and had ... 
Mar 14, 2024
Possibly the greatest work of fiction in existence. Truly a masterpiece, deserving of numerous readings. One Outs is a story about baseball, but at the same time so much more than that. One Outs is about making friends and enemies, about victory and defeat, about destiny and determination, about the underlying parts of human existence.
The protagonist Tokuchi Toua is truly like no other. Protagonists should overcome some kind of personal weakness in order to grow, instead Tokuchi asks why don't they think to just overcome weakness by increasing their strengths? Protagonists should get the reader to engage with their goals, instead Tokuchi's goal is merely ... 
Aug 21, 2021
Surprisingly, this manga has no reviews. It's such a travesty that the first (probably one of very few) review I write will be on the masterpiece that is Hawkwood.
When pondering the best genre of manga there is one which is vastly underappreciated. The genre of historical manga. Many popular and well received mangas fall into the historical genre. Classic titles such as Vagabond, Vinland Saga and Kingdom easily come to mind. In this review I will contend that in terms of quality, Hawkwood belongs in that league. Normally a summary is ill advised, but seeing as a synopsis doesn't actually exist on the site as of ... |
