Pluck for Tomorrow and the Sucessor
In the Chamber of the Two-Headed Dragon, Tarkus gloats to Jonathan about many poor souls met their deaths by his hand here. As Zeppeli futilely tries to break the door open, Tarkus explains that the key of each collar is situated on the one other, forcing both prisoners to fight to the death. Jonathan is put at a heavy disadvantage because his breathing is restrained and he cannot send the Ripple through the chain.
From outside the door, Speedwagon sees a lever inside which he suspects will open the steel door. Although Speedwagon notices an arrowslit small enough for Poco to fit through, Zeppeli refuses to endanger the boy. But Poco, motivated by a memory of his sister telling him to be brave, overcomes his nerves and enters the grounds. Immediately, Tarkus charges at Poco and kicks him across the room, only wounding the boy because of Jonathan yanking the chain. Luckily, Poco lands near the lever and lays on it to open the steel door.
As Speedwagon tends to Poco, Zeppeli realizes that he has entered the place that his master Tonpetty foretold he would die in. Regardless, Zeppeli realizes what he must do to assist Jonathan and accepts his impending fate to "release a young lion into his future". Zeppeli tries to fight Tarkus, but the Zombie binds him with the chain and yanks so violently he tears the Ripple master's torso from his legs while snapping Jonathan's neck. Tarkus gloats over his victory until notices that Zeppeli is crawling toward Jonathan. The Ripple master then uses the "Ultimate Deep Pass Overdrive" to transfer all his remaining Ripple into Jonathan's body. Empowered by the sudden surge of Ripple, Jonathan heals his neck and overpowers Tarkus. First destroying the dark knight's arm, Jonathan kills Tarkus with a Ripple-infused double punch to the face.
Victorious, Jonathan still cries for his mentor. Held in Jonathan's arms, Zeppeli tells him to stop crying and go destroy the Stone Mask; the Ripple master is satisfied with his life and places his hope in Jonathan. Zeppeli expires. Jonathan, Speedwagon, and Poco leave the castle.
Rating: 9/10
The Three from a Faraway Land
Jonathan,Speedwagon, and Poco reach Windknight's Lot and meet Adams, one of the villagers. Adams, revealed to be a Zombie, tries to attack the group from behind but is quickly defeated by Jonathan. Another man appears and immediately attacks Jonathan. Presenting himself as Dire, the attacker uses a strange technique, the "Thunder Split Attack", to spread Jonathan's arms with his leg and then use a double karate chop. However, Jonathan counters with a headbutt and repels his aggressor who interrupts their fight and presents himself as a fellow Ripple user, acquainted with William Anthonio Zeppeli. Then come Tonpetty, Zeppeli's own mentor and Straizo, another Ripple user.
Meanwhile, Dio receives in his lair a woman begging the Vampire to not harm her baby. While Dio promised the woman that he and his minions will harm the child if she willingly becomes a zombie, he muses the resulting irony as the zombified woman devours her own child. Just as Poco learns that his sister has gone out of their home to look for him, Dio is trying to charm her into joining his undead legion of her own free will. When she slaps him, Dio gives her to his minion Doobie then leaves the room. Fortunately, Jonathan's group arrives before anything grave happens and Jonathan personally kills the zombie. Jonathan eventually arrives at a gallery where he finally confronts Dio.
Several zombies appear to help their master as both Jonathan and Dio exchange threats. Yet it is Dire who challenges the Vampire the first, explaining that as Zeppeli's closest friend, he has a right to avenge him. Dire uses a perfected version of his technique, the Thunder Cross Split Attack, but Dio freezes Dire's body and shatters it, reducing the Ripple user to a head. However, Dire's head falls into a flower pot, plucks a rose, and sends a Ripple-infused flower into Dio's right eye as a last defiant act before dying. The Vampire enrages because of the humiliation.
Rating: 8/10
Comments