魔法先生 ネギま！Volume 24 Chapter 219 (manga)

Summary/Synopsis: As Negi launches an attack on all four powerful bounty hunters, Chisame (in chibi form) is talking with Jack about Negi and the Magia Erebea (sometimes translated Magica Erebea). Jack tells Chisame that Negi’s affinity to the dark magic is great because of the darkness in his heart. Meanwhile at the battle site, Negi takes out Zaytsev before taking out PaioII and the two giant worms. Rizo is impressed and happy to be able to use his full strength, but Negi stuns him by taking him out with a single blow.

The bone demon Morborgran has witnessed this with utter amazement that his powerful companions have been taken out so quickly. Negi understands that Morborgran is a mazoku (demon) and readies a new attack while Morborgran remembers hearing about the techniques Negi is using from his grandfather — Dark Evangel’s forbidden technique “Magia Erebea.” Morborgran is slammed and pinned to the ground by a giant energy spear. Zaytsev is about to change into a new, more powerful form but a look from dark Negi makes Zaytsev realize that he would die if he attempted to carry on the fight.

Setsuna keeps an eye on Zaytsev as Negi powers down and loses the darkness. Negi apologizes to Morborgran for being so rough and assures the demon that the spear will disappear after a while. Morborgran understands since what Negi did was the only real way to defeat him, complimenting the boy for his incredible strength.

A topless Nodoka (having lost her top to the worms) rushes over to thank Negi, but her naked breast are seen by Negi and he turns to hide his eyes, telling her about her missing clothes. Craig gives her a robe to cover herself as he and Aisha comment about Negi, whom they’ve heard of from Nodoka. Asuna comes up, demanding to know what that was that Negi displayed but is interupted when Paru’s ship arrives with Paru, Konoka, chibi-Asakura, doll-Sayo, Ku Fei, and chibi-Chachamaru. Konoka starts healing Nodoka’s companions as everyone is amazed at Negi’s display of power. With the festival starting on the following day, the only two members of their group unaccounted for are Anya and Yue.

Thoughts/Review: So, Negi uses the Magia Erebea and kicks all four bounty hunter’s arse, even taking down a powerful demon with little problem. No playing here, y’all. Still, Akamatsu-sensei dropped two foreshadowing items here regarding the Magia Erebea. First, the flash-over to Jack and Chisame where they talk about Negi using the technique and Morborgran recognizing Eva’s forbidden technique and its effects on the user based on something the demon’s grandfather said. In the showdown between Negi and Fate, Negi seems likely to cost himself a great deal.

Well, now we sorta know the whole scoop on Negi, Setsuna, Kaede, and Asuna’s arrival. Setsuna and Kaede didn’t expect a trap of the magnitude that they found. I can buy that and this is a good lesson learned for them to not underestimate their opponents. The bounty hunters had played things smart; why fight Kaede and Setsuna when you can get a massive anti-army mine to take them out?

Asuna’s “catching up to Negi” is still a question mark to me. How? I suppose if Negi wasn’t out of range that she could have contacted him and had him teleport her to his location. However, the text doesn’t seem to indicate this. Then again, I’m not sure how Kaede and Setsuna got there so soon either (maybe they had a head start and can teleport themselves short distances). I may have to go back and re-read the chapter where Negi sets off.

We know that Yue will be arriving but Anya is still MIA. I still can’t shake the feeling that maybe she’s working against Negi out of jealousy over his superior power and abilities (to say nothing of his battle harem).

There were two laughs in this chapter. The moment Negi notices Nodoka is topless made me laugh as did Zaytsev’s reaction to seeing Dark Negi give him the eye.