灼眼のシャナⅢ（Final）
Shakugan no Shana III (Final) – 18

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis:

Seireiden is revealed to the people of Misaki City as Yuuji escorts Kazumi up the long ramp to Seireiden. On the way, he assures her that no one will be killed nor eaten, but that he needs her because of her work with Nbh’w, where she helped him “tune” distortions caused by the Tomogara. Once in the throne room, Yuuji activates Haridan, to reveal the city, and summons Bel Peol and Sydonay.  Bel Peol places a Hougu necklace on Kazumi to both protect her and to seal the cross Hougu that Pheles gave her. It is here that Kazumi realizes she had let her feelings for Yuuji cloud her judgement as Yuuji orders Seireiden’s “destruction” and transformation into a tower.

After sending Sydonay to prepare for chaos and war, Hecate has one final prayer and Yuuji, one final declaration, as the city is placed into a Fuzetsu. Kazumi sees circle symbols appear on Haridan, and recognizes them from her time with Nbh’w. She hears Rammie’s voice and remembers him, as he communes with her on what he’s doing. After he finishes, Sydonay returns and the other Bal Masqué Crimson Lord generals and Tomogara leaders observe hoards of Tomogara massing on Misaki City and the Tower of Seireiden. The next phase of the plan starts, so Sydonay bids Hecate farewell, explaining to Kazumi that she is the sacrifice to create the new world and awaken their god, being reborn when needed.

The three remaining Gods of Earth Flame Haze attack and begin slaughtering Tomogara. The Bal Masqué Crimson Lords understand the massive threat these three bring, and so prepare to enter the fray.  Southvalley’s assault is met by Haborym and “his” army, since Southvalley’s power turns dead Tomogara into his own, personal army. Meanwhile, Sāle opens a hole in the Tomogara defenses to allow Chiara to fly the Flame Haze through, after which they split up. Wilhelmina and Shana fly to the Seireiden Tower, where they see Kazumi. Yuuji summons Hougu sword Blutsauger and faced Shana, who draws her own sword out and challenges him. This causes Kazumi to wonder about the two of them fighting when she knows they’d both rather not.

Thoughts/Review:

It wasn’t surprising to me that Yuuji would have Phele’s Hougu sealed to prevent Kazumi from summoning the Crimson Lord. I made the mistake of letting the preview for the next episode run, so my thoughts that Pheles would still be summoned somehow would seem to be true.  I really, REALLY don’t want to see Kazumi die.

I still don’t remember too much about what Kazumi did with Nbh’w during the first series.  I remember she did do something, and as a result, received a couple of Hougu (one that revealed Torches and one that allowed her to move within a Fuzetsu), but I don’t remember why she was needed then. I gather that she was needed now because she’d been used then.

When it came to the remaining three Gods of Earth, Southvalley, and East Edge showed why they are feared.

However, while the female Westshore may be powerful, it is amazing that she’s feared since she screams in terror and dismay when facing the Tomogara, but that seems to be turned into a water power that destroys Tomogara. I remember thinking, “Screaming? Seriously?” Not a cool method of attack for sure.

I was surprised to learn that Hecate is a willing sacrifice to enact Yuuji’s plan. I guess that’s one way of removing one of the Trinity, which would just leave Bel Peol and Sydonay.

Speaking of Sydonay, I get the feeling that his saying goodbye to Hecate is supposed to be a touching moment, but unfortunately, if that was the intent, it didn’t work for me. Maybe its because they didn’t linger on it, and Sydonay’s explanation reveals that Hecate will be reborn.

As for Shana and Yuuji meeting again, well, I’ve got nothing to say there. They are going to fight, and I suspect that in the end, they will be back to what they were, only better as a real couple.

While I am looking forward to the next episode, I’m not looking forward to the apparent death of Kazumi.  Oh well, I’ll have the tissues nearby, just in case.