Director Edward

Chapter 219: Episode 5 · Paradox Spiral! (17)

The plot of Kara no Kyoukai has left all the viewers brimming with anticipation. After all, this is the first time the protagonist, Shiki Ryougi, has been captured.

In the past, every episode showcased Shiki's striking and heroic demeanor. However, the main focus of Paradox Spiral seems to shift toward other characters this time.

Whether it's Aozaki Touko or Kokutou Mikiya, viewers are eager to see how they perform in such an unprecedented situation.

At this moment in the film, after Kokutou Mikiya and Tomoe have resolved their initial misunderstanding and started to collaborate, the two quickly set out to execute their plan to rescue Shiki Ryougi.

Of course, no matter how determined they may be, both of them are ordinary people.

Most viewers do not have high expectations for their efforts and instead turn their attention to Aozaki Touko.

At this point, as the scene shifts to Touko heading toward Ogawa Apartments, both the general audience and the mages from the Imperial Mage Academy are filled with genuine anticipation.

...

In the tavern of the southern frontier.

"It feels like Aozaki Touko has never truly demonstrated her full abilities before. I'm really curious to see what she'll bring to the table this time."

"But does Aozaki Touko even have strong combat skills? She doesn't exactly seem like someone familiar with fighting."

"Who knows? But she is a mage, after all. She's bound to have some power."

"Yeah, and if Aozaki Touko can't handle the enemies in the Ogawa Apartments, there's probably no one else who can save Shiki Ryougi. Kokutou Mikiya and Tomoe are just ordinary people, after all."

"…"

The audience's chatter echoed through the tavern.

While most people were looking forward to seeing how Aozaki Touko would perform, they couldn't bring themselves to have much confidence in her.

After all, judging from her past appearances, Aozaki Touko seemed to be more of a researcher type. No one could say for sure if she'd even be competent in combat.

Aside from this, many viewers were also intrigued by the dynamic between Kokutou Mikiya and Tomoe, a pair who appeared to be romantic rivals on the surface.

Even though it seemed obvious Tomoe had no chance, this kind of pseudo-harem storyline still captivated most viewers—especially female audiences.

In fact, Kara no Kyoukai has managed to attract the largest female audience among the many films and shows currently airing. In a way, it's even helped broaden its market appeal.

...

Compared to the casual viewers in the tavern, the mages from the Imperial Mage Academy were far more focused on Aozaki Touko's discussions about the theories of magecraft and magic.

While Fate/Zero had already outlined the distinction between magecraft and magic, it was often vague.

Now, Kara no Kyoukai finally presents a complete framework for these concepts.

Beyond the relationship between magecraft and magic, the mages were particularly curious about what kind of magecraft Aozaki Touko might wield.

After all, the film had yet to reveal her true capabilities.

"So, magic refers to things that are impossible to achieve with human effort? If that's the case, most of the supernatural phenomena in our world would qualify as magic."

"Haha, not entirely. After all, aside from mages, there are knights, priests, and other beings capable of extraordinary feats."

"That's true, but based on the world-building in Kara no Kyoukai, what kind of magic exists in their world? I can't even begin to imagine."

"Who knows, but it must be something incredibly unique."

"Honestly, what's Aozaki Touko's actual power level? She hasn't displayed anything extraordinary so far."

"Maybe it's related to doll manipulation? After all, her research has always been centered on creating dolls."

"But dolls don't seem particularly strong in combat. Even the ones created by Araya Souren were impressive, yet they still couldn't stand against true powerhouses."

"Well, we'll just have to keep watching."

"…"

The mages debated animatedly, their excitement mounting as they gathered around the television.

After a month-long hiatus without new episodes, the anticipation among viewers had reached an all-time high, leaving them with an insatiable hunger for the upcoming developments.

Meanwhile, atop the Tower of Alchemy, the Archmages were deep in discussion, much like Arcueid, delving into the concept of the Counter Force.

Unfortunately, there was no "Durin" among them to provide a comprehensive explanation of this enigmatic phenomenon.

In the storyline of Kara no Kyoukai, the Counter Force is only vaguely explained, leaving the Archmages to speculate on its possible nature without achieving any clear understanding.

Unlike Arcueid, an existence that has presumably lived for an unfathomable amount of time, the Archmages, while considered omniscient and unparalleled beings within the Human Empire, are still far from comprehending every mystery of the wider world.

The Counter Force remains one of the many concepts beyond their grasp.

As the Archmages' discussions continued to resonate through the tower, the film's narrative advanced once more—Aozaki Touko had finally arrived at the root of all the chaos: Ogawa Apartments.

...

Before Aozaki Touko entered the Ogawa Apartments, the film abruptly transitioned to a hauntingly distinct scene.

It was a scorched wasteland, where corpses littered the ground as far as the eye could see.

The riverbanks were not lined with sand or stones but with fragments of bones.

In this era that starkly contrasted with the world of Kara no Kyoukai, a figure unmistakably identifiable as Araya Souren emerged. Surveying the lifeless bodies surrounding him, he let out a slow, heavy sigh.

As a monk, he had once devoted himself to acts of kindness, striving to save those who suffered before him.

However, no matter the magnitude of his good deeds, they were rendered meaningless in the face of death.

Humanity had no recourse against it.

Any attempt to resist only resulted in even more tragic ends.

They could not be saved.

Humanity was beyond redemption.

In religion, salvation for humanity was an illusion.

The reason was simple—humans were not meant to be saved; they were meant to end.

Despair piled upon despair.

The lamentations of yesterday faded into the denser sighs of today.

Confronted with the overwhelming and relentless repetition of death, Araya Souren came to recognize his own insignificance.

"I cannot save anyone. If I can't save them, then at the very least, I will record their deaths, preserve the lives they have lived and the lives still waiting to be lived. That agony—I will ensure it endures. The proof of life is not found in the pursuit of happiness, for the meaning of life is to experience suffering."

"And so, I began to collect death."

Murmuring to himself, Araya Souren awakened from the dream.

For a moment, he was lost, unable to discern whether what lay before him was reality or another layer of his dream.

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