July 28th, 2015 
AstroNerdBoy ユーキューホルダー! Manga Review
UQ Holder Chapter 88
SPOILER Summary/Synopsis:
Despite his bragging, Touta soon becomes exhausted running on the water and has to be towed by Kirie before he gets eaten by a giant fish, forcing Kirie to kill the creature that ate him. When they reach the jungle on the opposite shore, Kirie forced Touta to promise to tell her the whole story behind why he wants to get to the ruins so quickly. The two discover things are not going to be easy as they attempt to elude the various magical beasts.
After three and a half days, they reach the ruined castle. They see a flash from one of the towers, leading Touta to think that Kuroumaru, Santa, or both have already gotten here. Kirie puts a hand on Touta to stop him when they find themselves back at the library where Kirie made her save point, meaning they just died. Touta is not happy, but is reminded by Kirie that they now have the full four days again and that this time, the trip should be easier.
After three days, Kirie and Touta arrive back to where they were killed. Kirie uses telescope magic to check the tower where they’d seen the flash where she finds a humanoid there before it disappears. Kuroumaru suddenly appears to knock them out of the way as there is a massive explosion. Kuroumaru tells them to run since they can’t beat it, identifying the creature as the Guardian of the Tower, a high level thunder spirit.
Touta has Kirie in his arms as she grabs Kuroumaru just before the Guardian kills them. All three show back up in the library. Kuroumaru identifies their opponent as Ruin Ishkur, a monster as powerful as Negi Springfield.
Thoughts/Review:
This part of the training arc is very similar to when Negi and Chachamaru were making their way through the Magic World before hooking up with Chisame in Negima! Well, they probably are on Inverse Mars, which would explain all of the magical monsters they are encountering.
This chapter continues to show that Kirie does like Touta. Her intense curiosity about the girl Touta is supposed to meet and her blushing reaction to Touta liking some girl betrays her.
It is always so frustrating when Touta gets all stupid. He wants to do something and since he’s Super Touta, he can do anything, brags about it, then fails. After all he’s been through, anyone with half a brain should have picked up on the pattern here and made adjustments accordingly.
(As an aside, considering that on their second run for the ruins, Touta had his shirt but by the time they got to the castle, he’d lost it, I’m going to take that as a sign that Touta’s stupidity caused him to lose said shirt.)
For Kuroumaru to see and save Kirie and Touta just in the nick of time, Kuroumaru had to be somewhere where Kirie and Touta could be easily seen. However, in order for Kuroumaru to know what kind of danger the two of them where in, Kuroumaru had to be able to scout the area, spot the Ruin Ishkur, and then notice that Kirie and Touta where in the area to save them. It smacked as a little convenient, but I like Kuroumaru, so I’ll go with it.
I’m going to assume that Kuroumaru knows of a Ruin Ishkur because the knowledge came from Kuroumaru’s tribe. As such, since they can’t beat it, the goal must then become to elude it. I figure that’s what Kuroumaru was attempting to do before noticing Touta and Kirie.
Although they picked up half a day on the second trip to the ruins, it would seem that they’d have to use this time to come at the castle from a different point to try to keep themselves from being discovered. In doing this, I can also see them running into Santa.
I suspect Santa will be the key to the success of this operation, at least to get into the ruins. While it is unclear if Santa’s phasing ability would be able to withstand these instant kills by Ruin Ishkur, Santa should be able to move through the ground undetected. I can see him being able to cause a distraction that allows the others to get in without being slain.
It is a long shot, but to pick up time, since they know where they are going, I suppose Kirie could try to find some teleportation spell to get them there quickly (likely having to die after getting it and at least be able to recite said spell, allowing them to go back to the save point, teleport in, and move out from there). To me, this would allow Akamatsu-sensei to do the Adventures in the Ruins story that we didn’t get to see in Negima! (featuring Setsuna and Kaede).
In the end, this was an interesting chapter. We’ll see where things go.
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I think kirie is a relativ of chisame
I would be amused if Kirie somehow descended from Chisame and Jack.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Kirie is descended from Chisame. She certainly looks like Loli Chisame with glasses.
Functionally, she seems to have a similar role to Chisame – only this time, the one she worries for and with is not a fellow worrier like Negi Springfield, but an bona fide idiot hero. Also, there’s shades of Yue Ayase with that broomstick, and I wouldn’t be surprised if her fighting style will be similar to Yue Ayase – based on anticipation, and forward planning.
That would be fun if it were revealed to be true.
That’s true, right down to wand usage. Yue is still better. 😉
[…] upcoming UQ Holder Chapter 88, courtesy of 2ch. (My review of UQ Holder Chapter 88 should come out Tuesday or […]
You know, if this is inverse mars in the past, then I think it’s possible Ruin Ishkur might be the “ultimate spirit of lightning” that Rakan mentioned during his fight with Negi. It’d be a neat callback.
Isn’t it still possible even if they’re not in the past right now? I mean, there could be more than one Ruin Ishkur, or this Ruin Ishkur actually survived Rakan. Btw, I wasn’t implying that Rakan was stronger than it. I definitely wasn’t.
“Ishkur Ruin” is written in capital letters. This means that it is probably an individual and not the name of a race of spirits.
Besides, I’d rather be it a single individual. It is so badas and class! Negi and more frightening. I wish it was not reproducible in multiple copies. ^^ But just an opinion and personal preference.
For the rest, Ruin Ishkur elemental spirit is a high-ranking he is like a god. And as Negima lexicum taught us, even if we can destroy the body of a god, you can not completely destroy it.
Even the magic cancellation, can not destroy a god, indeed it probably can’t destroy a magical being in the start, even a fragile little fairy, even when it is fully mastered. Just. Negima (and the encyclopedic fansite “Vetus”) has shown that “magic cancel “, can only cancel the spells.
This abillity can not erase a demon or a spirit and especially a god. This is NOT the “Imagine-Breaker of Kamijô Tôma in To Aru univers.^^
The case of life-Maker is special I think, because it is probably a set of magical spells that maintain him alive.^^ . And again, it can surely prevent him to regenerate or be reincarnated in another body, but it will probably not completely annihilate his soul. in this case the life-maker simply go into the After-life (probably in Hell ^^), I think that would logically.
So in short, Rakan has easily been able to “kill” Ishkur, but with time, Ishkur eventually regenerate.
Perhaps even that their fight ended in a draw and they have become friends, as when he fought the dragon sacred Nagasha? ^^
In any case the fact that the mind has a name (and therefore that sensei wants to give him an individuality) makes me think (and hope) that it could become a recurring character in the manga. ^^
Wait, how could you comment about the difference between “Ruin Ishkur”, “RUIN ISHKUR”, or even “ruin ishkur”? After all, every letter and every word in the translated manga is in capital letters. Unless you’re reading a different version..
Come on, the second part of my comment wasn’t meant to be taken so seriously. It was mostly a joke about Rakan’s ‘brokenness’. :p But, well, if you really want to talk a bit seriously, I agree that it’s also possible that this “Ruin Ishkur” is a regenerated/respawn version. That’s why I said “there could be more than one Ruin Ishkur, or this Ruin Ishkur actually survived Rakan” before.
Kuromaru said: “The Rune-keeper is a major spirit fouftr, Ishkur Ruin”.
To begin his name is given after the revelation of his nature spirit lightning, so it is good to his name.
Then the full name is written as a normal name, a unique identity, in the same way that someone would be called “John Phillips” for example. Is what I meant by “written in uppercase” Google trad probably mistranslated, I meant there “writes WITH capitalized”.
In short this suggests that it is an individual and not the name of a race. On the other hand if there is indeed a single entity that knows the Kuromaru means that it is a powerful and famous entity.
If we add to this the Rakan cameo in the previous chapter, I would not be surprised AT ALL whether the same creature that has fought Rakan. Again as he is probably a divine spirit, there is strong bet that even if he would destroyed by Rakan in the past, he could eventually regenerate. ^^
The term Ruin Ishkur was put in the Japanese equivalent of quotation markers.
In the Japanese, it is just in the Japanese version of quotation markers.
I agree it has god-like powers. I don’t think it is a deity though.
They could be in the future for all we know.
I suspect this will be the case.
After reading the comments below, I think it would be safer to say “there could be more than one Ishkur”.
I think so as well, but we’ll see.
Perhaps not many “Ruin Ishkur” but after all, there could be several “Ishkur”. After all, “Ruin” sounds like a first name and “Ishkur” as a family name. Perhaps there is a “family” spirit calling “Ishkur”, perhaps his brothers and/pr sisters?
One may like Averruncus, each was a separate individual with a strong personality and distinguished by clear characteristics (hair cuts, sizes, name, mastered element, personality …) but they were part of the same “line” of the same clan (even if “series” would be more appropriate given their origins and nature “Machine-like”.
So “Ruin Ishkur” would be a unique individual, but maybe it part of a “family spirit” or a “spiritual group” called “the Ishkur”.
One way to “cut the pear in half” as we say at home in France ^^.
To me, the term “ruin” is a place, which makes it sound like a specific type of entity in English. Ishkur comes off as a classification of entity.
I need to go back and reread that. I had no memory of Jack mentioning such a fight, but no doubt you are right.
Okay, just one thing to say for now: the moment I saw those “ruins”, Eva’s castle came to mind! I’ll compare later, but I am sure this is it!
They do look more in line with Lebenschilt Castle although Dana’s castle looks very similar too.
For a second I thought it was the old ruins of Ostia.
Anyways ruin Ishkur is likely the mentioned thunder spirit that jack rakan fought and defeated hence how he bested raiten taishou level one.
The ruins themselves reminds me of Eva’s castle. Seriously, look at it and go look at the side view of her castle she later trained “negi club” where it had later attached 4 extreme training areas. This is literally same place. Who knows Eva may made copy or took it for self by the time she went to the school.
Given that Diana can recreate any place, this could be a pocket universe she created. Not necessarily inverse-mars or magic world some other time. But there no way to know until it’s revealed.
It does look like Lebenschilt Castle, and I suspect it will be the castle Eva grabs for her diorama.
Has there been something that indicated she could create a place? I tend to suspect that since she can open portals to any place in space and time, Dana’s castle can be anywhere and everywhere at any time and the same time (if that makes sense). As such, I figure they are either on Inverse Mars or (Inverse) Venus.
Personally I think it just an architectural coincidence since sensei isn’t that great at making diversely different backgrounds most of the magic world architecture looks the same anyways
Anyways if Ruin Ishkar is Rakan level then of course he can survive pretty much anything like Rakan survived complete erasure… Not to mentioned The Ancient Dragon Vrksko Nagasya survived a fight with Rakan despite being torn apart, fate survived a fight with rakan, Evageline and Negi… Negi survived an encounter with the Mage of beginning twice (the 2nd being in uq holder) and duel with rakan, fate and Evageline in a somewhat serious battle… Nagi survived being possessed by Mage of beginning and erased by asuna and negi and ruin Ishkar is most likely the lightning spirit that fought Rakan.
If anything… If your on par with Rakan, your essentially cheat level.
I’ve no doubt this plays a role. After all, Dana’s castle looks a lot like Lebenschilt Castle. However, it would make sense if Eva somehow grabbed a castle outside of Dana’s domain and used a form of her time magic to create the diorama.
Touta will be there soon. 😉
I’m disappointed with myself for not even remembering Jack mentioning this.
It was briefly mentioned when he countered Negi raiten taishou level one saying his form is like a telephone fight… He sends out sparks of electricity in front of him and then if u put your arm out, you can just not them out of their path before they react.
Raiten taishou level two is to just upgrade reaction speed and thought process… Most lightning spritis are raiten taishou level one like fate 2 and 4 and maybe ruin Ishkar as well.
This lighting spirit maybe is actualy negi,just like Eva had change of armor when used ME
No it is probably rather “the divine spirit of thunder” that Rakan mentioned in Negima during his battle against Negi.
In all cases, he is so badass !!!^^
I’m really bummed with myself for not remembering Jack talking about this. I need to reread that chapter.
Negi is with MotB and wouldn’t be guarding some ruins (I don’t think).
Between Eva’s castle and Ostia, I’d say it reminded me more of Ostia, because I don’t remember Eva’s castle has that many buildings/parts. Or maybe Eva’s castle itself was part of Ostia.
I don’t know if Lebenschilt Castle was part of Ostia or not. However, if this were Ostia, I would expect more ruins, not a single castle in ruins.
For the first time in a while, this made me laugh (when Kirie was literally trolling Touta, and the fact she got a bite). Maybe there’s some hope yet. (^_^)
Yeah, that was pretty humorous. And Touta deserved to get eaten for being stupid. I do note that it seems that Kirie is the one who killed the beast to save Touta.
This isn’t some ordinary spirit though, if I am correct, this guy is literally a God. This one in particular: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adad
Even if he wasn’t then he’s based off said Storm God. Hahahaha.
And if by chance this is the some being Jack Rakan fought… then they might be drinking buddies after their fight hahahaha
Nice catch. Curious to see if this becomes the precedents for the type of divine enemies that Touta’s holder’s will fight throughout the series until; we get to Post-lifemaker confrontation and battling Nobles.
The Japanese term used was 上位雷精 — Jyoui Rai Sei (or Raisei). There is no indication in the Japanese that this is a deity, but it does indicated that this is a very high ranking thunder (or lightning) spirit/sprite. So the Twins are 100% accurate in their translation. (Not that I doubted. 😛 )
That being said, being such a high ranking elemental spirit, I don’t doubt that it has god-like powers, based on the term Ruin Ishkur. However, the term also indicates a type of Ishkur, in this case, one that seems to hang out in ruins, and is of the lightning power type.
I have the impression that “Ruin Ishkur” is a “proper name” and not a “common name”. This would mean that there is only one “Ruin Ishkur”, as I said above on this topic.
By cons to respond to the comment Matcgw (although I see a little note of sarcasm and troll in his commentary, especially on the phrase “Tota’s Holder,” but I could be wrong^^), although I also think Tota and UQ Holder will face many demons and deities (and personally I look forward to see that!^^), although I think they still not face the major gods of mythologies (Odin, Zeus, Freiya, Poseidon, Ra ect.).
I think they mostly compete immortal famous mythological creatures, which, while to be major gods, remain no less famous and powerful (like a great water dragon for example, or a nine tails fox (my favorite japanese yokai ^^. And NOT is NOT because Naruto that I like Kitsune lol!) or minor deities invented by Akamatsu (Sayako is one example, or here precisely Ruin Ishkur).
But cons I do not think the noble vampires will be final bosses, for two reasons:
1. I think it’s pretty clear that while some nobles will, of course, ennemies for the heroes, will probably not be the case for all. Some may be neutral or be like Dana, allies of the mortal races (the humans and semi-humans).
2. I am personally convinced that the life-maker is a being of equal power to the noble vampires, or even a noble himself. I am also pretty sure that he will indeed, really be the final boss, although I keep in mind the possibility that he could actually to be manipulate by a noble.vampire (and I mean “ONE noble”, not “THE nobles”).
Just remember, people having a different opinion than you doesn’t mean they are trolling. And even if they were trolling, you can always ignore it. 🙂