July 28th, 2011 
AstroNerdBoy 魔法先生 ネギま！Volume 36 Chapter 333 (manga)
Mahou Sensei Negima! Manga Chapter 333
SPOILER Summary/Synopsis:
Chisame leads the girls in an attempt to reach out to Asuna and wake her, each girl either thinking or saying Asuna’s name, or thinking some thoughts of Asuna.
Meanwhile, Dunamis dispatches the ancient dragon Vrixas Nagasha, who’s met by Jack, who’s attack sends the dragon for a loop. Jack tells the “Loli Grandma” to do her thing, irritating Eva who tells Jack he will now be included as a target in her spell. Her spell seems to be ice-lightning, which doesn’t impress one of the Cosmo members, but Dunamis realizes this spell isn’t what it seems as the unimpressed CE member is encased in ice.
Secundum is stunned because the spell was not hindered by their multiple shielding layers. Eva delights in informing him that the spell is specifically designed to seek out “mass produced units” and use their dependence on those barriers against them. Secundum watches as the members of his team are encased in ice as thorny vines of ice, which moves like lightning, track them down. Secundum assumes lightning form and attempts to escape, but the ice keeps up. Eva laughs at his plight, informing him that escape is impossible. Secundum can’t believe such power is coming from Eva, whom he’d assumed was just a rogue mage who didn’t live up to her reputation as the Dark Evangel.
Eva’s spell slams Vrixas Nagasha and encases the enormous dragon, impressing Jack who finds himself in danger as well. Secundum gets caught and cannot escape. With his last breath, he pleads with her to parley and is encased. All around is a massive field of ice as a floating Eva has Fate and Negi floating in with Jack floating on her other side. Negi is impressed, as is Jack. Evan informs Jack that the CE folks are all still conscious and with the ice in a continuous regeneration, they will never be freed. She remarks on being surprised that Jack escaped since he was a target, and he believes she may have been trying to kill him.
Eva explains that she developed the spell after the Kyoto incident just for such an occasion. Jack teases Eva about this, since she’d always claimed not to be interested in events in the Magic World. She responds that she should have seriously tried to kill him as the two land on an ice shelf, Fate and Negi floating behind. Jack realizes that Eva’s spell wouldn’t impact one person and Eva agrees, saying they need to be on guard and get Negi back to Mahora. However, it is too late as the Life Maker tells Evangeline that her plan won’t be allowed, but compliments Eva on her spell. Both Eva and Jack are paralyzed as the Life Maker addresses Eva as “my daughter.” Takahata, Eishun, Kurt, Al, and Headmaster Konoe attack but are easily beaten back. The Life maker grabs Negi by the throat to Eva’s fret as Asuna shows signs of reviving.
Thoughts/Review:
Oh yes! Eva love to the max! The way Eva cast her spell, combined with her deciding to add Jack as a halfhearted target rocked. Her taking wicked delight in the fear of Secundum as he tried to flee is just what I’d expect from Eva. Her spell having that eternal factor was unexpected, but nothing surprising (if that makes sense). All I know is I loved every moment of Eva’s time in the limelight. Akamatsu-sensei knew we fans wanted to see Eva kick major arse and her taking down the entire CE force was as sweet as can be.
I figure it was pretty obvious that Eva had Fate and Negi float in, either under spell or by her doll master power. I also got the feeling that Eva may have brought Jack in as well. After giving him a scare, she then uses her powers to allow him in after her spell did sorta target him. Of course Jack being Jack, he could easily have come in on his own.
As I expected, the Mage of the Beginning (Life Maker) trumped Eva. Now, this is where I’d like to see Akamatsu-sensei insert a flashback for Eva. Eva can’t move at the moment, so the Life Maker could makes some caustic comment as she holds young Negi by the scruff of the neck. Eva could then recall her childhood prior to becoming a vampire, the incident herself, and then if we are REALLY lucky, maybe this could tie into her attachment to Nagi (though that part is more of a longshot I admit).
I liked how the girls thought on Asuna, especially Setsuna, Chisame, and Ayeka. Mana’s spoken words for Asuna made me laugh, aided by Misora’s reaction to Mana’s mercenary attitude. *lol*
Asuna’s hair is shown at the end, indicating that maybe she’s moving or at the very least, a wind is blowing. Either way, I say that Asuna is close to waking up and it would seem that her revival might doom the Mage of the Beginning’s plans.
Nevertheless, this is an awesome chapter to have to wait on. August 17 seems a ways away for chapter 334, but we can make it, right? ^_~
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I’m 75% sure the Mage of the beginning is Nagi. I can’t be the only one thinking that after seeing him grab Negi by the neck.
I’m sure we all expected the MotB to enter after the battle was done, but the fact that it (I can’t call she or he now, considering the MotB’s two incarnations have been both genders) just left its underlings to die without lifting a finger says something. I know it’s all-powerful, but if it didn’t care about a single one, why bother reviving them at all, and just one-hit everyone in the first place? Now I know the answer in terms of needing to make a convenient chapter to reintroduce characters, give some old favorites their spotlight, and assemble important characters for the climax. But I wonder if Akamatsu will address the sudden lack of empathy, considering the first incarnation of MotB seemed to heavily depend on Primum. Do you think that with each body swap, its personality changes, or that at this point, after two failures, it’s just impatient and doesn’t care anymore? Either way would be interesting.
Eva kicking ass + Jack being his wisecracking self = Awsome chapter.
Love the way Eva scares secundum to death up until the end.
By the way, a neck lift? Haven’t we’ve seen that a couple of times before hm? This is getting more and more interesting. Nagi vs Asuna anyone?
Is it just me, or did the scene with the MoB seem similar to the scene with Nagi and the demons from Negi’s village all those years ago?
off-topic:
Hi, ANB. I just stumbled a nice (and a little bit “weird”) manga. It reminded me of “Manga Guide to…” series. About business. In a Middle Ages fantasy world.
The name of the manga is “Maoyuu Maou Yuusha” and the synopsis is as follows:
Once upon a time, by tradition, a young Hero (the side of Good and Light) ventured to the Demon’s world to fight the Demon Queen (the side of Evil and Darkness). By tradition the Demon Queen offered the Hero to join her. By tradition the Hero refused. But then the Queen started to substantiate. And here the traditions ended…
The synopsis is translated from Russian (and I read the manga in Russian) from the scangroup “Little Treasure”. You can find the manga in English here: http://extrascans.com/
It’s fairly new manga, probably only two chapters have been released in Japan (and two translated), so it shouldn’t be a big problem to find some time to read it. From what I’ve seen from the first chapter, it might be a good one and unique. At least it gives a unique perspective.
I’m almost positive the Mage is Nagi. The moves are like Nagi, the face is like his. I say “almost” because I wouldn’t put it past Akamatsu to turn it around on us.
Actually, “Vrksas” (“tree” in Sanskrit) was a grammatical error, which was corrected in the bound volumes. The proper form in context is “Vrkso”, as noted in the supplementary materials for Volume 24.
Nagi? I don’t really think it’s his body. Remember what MoTB said whne he arrived about using his descendants as hosts? That points towards Arika, not Nagi.
Still, Eva’s spell was badass, and it’s probably the most artistic spell shown so far. It looks really cool when seen from above.
I’m 75% sure the Mage of the beginning is Nagi. I can’t be the only one thinking that after seeing him grab Negi by the neck.
I think a lot of folks think that but I tend to think, “red herring.” We’ll see.
I know it’s all-powerful, but if it didn’t care about a single one, why bother reviving them at all, and just one-hit everyone in the first place?
Why get dirty if you don’t have to. ^_~
Do you think that with each body swap, its personality changes, or that at this point, after two failures, it’s just impatient and doesn’t care anymore?
I’m not so sure about this body-swap business. I don’t think there’s enough pieces of information yet. I wouldn’t be surprised if the female shown was Amateru, the daughter of of the mage creator of the Magic World. The creator of the Magic World might also be here, and Zecht could also be there. What I’m saying is that there might be more than one person as Life Maker — the original royal family of Ostia.
Eva kicking ass + Jack being his wisecracking self = Awsome chapter.
Oh, yeah!
By the way, a neck lift? Haven’t we’ve seen that a couple of times before hm? This is getting more and more interesting. Nagi vs Asuna anyone?
*lol* We’ll see.
Is it just me, or did the scene with the MoB seem similar to the scene with Nagi and the demons from Negi’s village all those years ago?
Sorta.
Tenka said…
I’m almost positive the Mage is Nagi. The moves are like Nagi, the face is like his. I say “almost” because I wouldn’t put it past Akamatsu to turn it around on us.
If MotB is Nagi, then who saved Negi a few years back?
Actually, “Vrksas” (“tree” in Sanskrit) was a grammatical error, which was corrected in the bound volumes. The proper form in context is “Vrkso”, as noted in the supplementary materials for Volume 24.
I keep meaning to check the official spelling in the English manga. Unfortunately, there are multiple spellings online. ^_^;;;
off-topic:
Hi, ANB. I just stumbled a nice (and a little bit “weird”) manga. It reminded me of “Manga Guide to…” series. About business. In a Middle Ages fantasy world.
The name of the manga is “Maoyuu Maou Yuusha”
I’ll give it a look-see.
“If MotB is Nagi, then who saved Negi a few years back?”
It could be that Nagi still had the will power to break out, sort of, from his sealing the MotB. It could be it was a temporary one, since he had to hurriedly leave in the end.
Personally, that scene of showing a close-up glimpse of the MotB in this chapter may be a mind-screw that Akamatsu-sensei is known for (remember the Zazie-Poyo first appearance a couple of chapters back?) or, it could be his setting the stage to the next adventure of the child teacher (trip to the Demon World, anyone? with everyone in 3-A tagging along?)
If ever Nagi is indeed the new MotB,then it would be possible that Negi’s next challenge would be how to defeat the one who is “unceasing” without harming his father.
A few chapters back, I had the impression that the first MotB, in his conversations with Primum, had some strange interest in Nagi as the Ala Rubra first charged at Ostia. It could be possible that he sees Nagi as a candidate to possess if ever his present body is defeated.
Anyway, this chapter rocks with Eva putting bad-ass to a whole new level. I loved the way she casted her spell as well as her reactions to Jakan’s teases. It seems like Negi still has a long way to go before he can actually stand on par with his master.
fg7dragon said:
Nagi? I don’t really think it’s his body. Remember what MoTB said when he arrived about using his descendants as hosts? That points towards Arika, not Nagi.
this would make a lot of sense on so many levels! among other things it would explain why nobody wanted to tell Negi anything about his mother. Arika disappearing or being used by the MotB might explain Nagis absence from Negis life too, as he would be likely to dedicate himself completely to guarding the sealed MotB and trying to rescue his wife’s body/soul?
but if the MotB was sealed under Mahora, when was he freed and by whom? seems like we’re still missing something here.
on a different note, there are 2 things that have struck me while I was reading some of your excellent Negima reviews: 1. aren’t you missunderstanding something when you speculate that Negis current plan is to avert Chaos timeline from coming into being? isn’t it actually the opposite? it has already been stated several times that negis plan is likely to create the future which Chao tried to prevent and Negi knows it.
Kurt wanted to rescue only the human mages to earth, KE want to ‘rescue’ everyone (?) into some dubious dream world, Negi is probaly planning to terraform Mars.
Chao said Mars would become habitable in the future. QED, right, provided that I guessed Negis plan correctly.
2. Your insistence that Negi is actually Nagi who shrunk himself and erased his own personality to create Negi. first of, that kind of action wouldn’t really fit with Nagis personality at all!
second, the gravekeeper/chibi mage/zeckt (?) stated that Negi had the blood of the royal line, like Arika, Asuna and MotB so its impossible for him to be a mini Nagi, isn’t it?
It’s not only the scene where the MoTB grabs Negi by the throat, but also the silhouette seems to resemble Nagi as well.
i swear in that dress
my thoughts i confess
verge on dirty
oh evangeline
1. aren’t you missunderstanding something when you speculate that Negis current plan is to avert Chaos timeline from coming into being? isn’t it actually the opposite? it has already been stated several times that negis plan is likely to create the future which Chao tried to prevent and Negi knows it.
I know that was stated earlier, but for some reason, I’ve had the feeling that it had changed and he wanted to save the MW for Chao’s sake, only not in the way she intended. That being said, I’m more than willing to concede that I could be WAY off track there and you are correct in assessing that Negi’s plan would result in Chao’s future. Hakase did ask if they were now in Chao’s timeline or in another one.
Your insistence that Negi is actually Nagi who shrunk himself and erased his own personality to create Negi. first of, that kind of action wouldn’t really fit with Nagis personality at all!
Nagi is reckless, but he’s not stupid. He showed that when he allowed the woman he loved to rot in prison for two stinking years before saving her from death. That’s because saving Arika right away would have resulted in more problems for everyone. Saving her after she’s fallen to her death gave her captors cover to say they’d killed Arika and meant less problems for Ala Rubra.
So, in a case of “needs are as needs must,” in order to save the Magic World, if that meant disguising himself as a child to buy himself breathing room, then so be it.
second, the gravekeeper/chibi mage/zeckt (?) stated that Negi had the blood of the royal line, like Arika, Asuna and MotB so its impossible for him to be a mini Nagi, isn’t it?
True, but that would presume that Negi is in fact the product of a union between Nagi and Arika. The core of the Nagi=Negi theory is to fool everyone into (1) thinking Nagi is dead and (2) thinking Negi is the son of Nagi, thus explaining his insane amounts of power. Its the perfect disguise, just as Asuna’s disguise was pretty good, save for her magic cancel powers which gave her away.
All this being said, I could well be wrong. Indeed, rumors that Akamatsu-sensei has changed the ending of Negima! from what he originally planned could well mean that if he did have Nagi as Negi, he could now have changed that for a new ending. It could be that Akamatsu-sensei never intended for Nagi to be Negi and that I just made an invalid prediction (though everything Akamatsu-sensei has established in the manga means that Nagi could be Negi, right down to those useless glasses that Negi wears). One way or the other, it will be fun to learn the truth. ^_^
One way or the other, it will be fun to learn the truth. ^_^
You got that right! fistbump! ^_^
^_^