灼眼のシャナⅢ（Final）
Shakugan no Shana III (Final) – 14

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis:

With the Serpent of the Festival’s body now in the world, Yuuji makes his grand announcement, stating that during his time sealed away in the rift, he reformed his original plans and now will create a copy of Earth in the space between Earth and Guze, calling it Xanadu, a paradise for Tomogara and the like with never-ending Power of Existence to consume. This causes the Tomogara armies to rally against the Flame Haze armies.  At the same time, as Shana and company ride the Flame Haze spirit birds to Sophie, Shana wonders if this is Yuuji’s wish or just the Serpent of the Festival’s wish.

Sophie, François, Centerhill, Rebeca, Nbh’w, Wilhelmina, and Shana have a quick strategy session to discuss retreat to Tendoukyuu, where Centerhill seems to be offering his support. The plan, called Operation Ebbing Tide, will have Samuel and his army hold off the Tomogara armies while Sophie leads the rest of the Flame Haze to safety, their rear guard protected by Rebeca and Nbh’w.  Shana and Wilhelmina will support Samuel.  With that established, Sophie sends them off, save for Shana and Wilhelmina, whom she asks to get changed and cleaned up for the moral of the troops they will be reinforcing.

Meanwhile, Bel Peol returns with Trinity to Seireiden and praises the Flame Haze for the destruction they caused, even though the sacrifice was worth it. At the same time, the bard Tomogara Rofocale wanders outside, recounting the Serpent’s wish. Back with Samuel’s army, Wilhelmina and Shana arrive, leading Crimson Lord General Haborym to note two others have entered his trap. He orders his army to retreat as Samuel senses the Rinne cannons trained on them. Shana is able to use her abilities to see the massive numbers arrayed against them, which will surely kill them. She and the other Flame Haze lend their power to Samuel, who uses an Unrestricted Spell to form a barrier strong enough to repel the assault.

Yuuji sees the battle and his desire to make a world where people like Yukari, the girl who’s lifeline Shana absorbed after Yukari became a Torch, won’t just disappear and be forgotten. So, Yuuji-Serpent makes an announcement, telling the Flame Haze that the creation of Xanadu won’t have the negative affect they fear. Further to that, he tells them that once created, he will order ALL Tomogara to leave Earth for Xanadu, thus removing the need for Flame Haze to keep the balance. The power of his voice and words have the desired effect and most of the Flame Haze panic, becoming easy slaughter for the Tomogara. Shana, Wilhelmina, Samuel, and other top-tier Flame Haze do their best to get the remaining Flame Haze to safety.

Thoughts/Review:

Sadly, hearing the name of the paradise Yuuji-Serpent wants to create, I now have Olivia Newton-John/ELO song “Xanadu” in my head. *lol*  AAAUGH!  (No need to thank me. You’re totally welcome for the song now being in your head. ^_~)

Anyway, can I FINALLY say that Fecor is dead? Sheeze. Its becoming a Monty Python joke with him. “He’s not quite dead yet!”

I had thought that maybe Margery Daw would come in by now and do something to help turn the tide, but I guess the writers aren’t done beating on the Flame Haze. Well, in traditional prose of this nature, the heroes have to suffer greatly, thus making their eventual victory more triumphant.

Still, once the slaughter began, I thought that we might see Samuel, Rebeca, or even Centerhill bite the bullet for the team.  It didn’t happened, but I’m still not convinced that these three don’t have death flags set.

As to the panic caused by Yuuji-Serpent, well, that’s one way to end a war; cause massive moral loss in the enemy camp and cause them to lose the will to fight.

So, the rout of the Flame Haze is on and the Trinity haven’t even been involved yet. I can’t imagine that will stay true. We’ll see what happens.