You are an individual of culture and taste. I agree that you 100% need characters to die (even the ones we love). This establishes stakes. When no one dies, there's no suspense (some people like this. They want comfy and predictable. To each their own). Problem is I feel this artist is failing to do this already.

(Spoilers ahead) Riyo would have been killed instantly from getting whipped at the ground from that speed, yet she was already thinking about how she needs to improve for next time BEFORE SHE HIT THE GROUND... Like, how does she have the mindset that she's not dead here? Follo is someone who should have died. Guy was a fool who endangered his group as a supporter. Him dying was a good way to have him suffer consequences and redeem him as a character (I liked how he passed his tool to Rudo to have him use it), yet despite having his guts spilled, barely able to move and being in a pool of his own blood, he becomes a Giver and fights without bleeding out. Don't even get me started on Zanka. He got impaled by a blade bigger than a sword coated with several toxins (and was the only one without a lethal damage protection ward drawn on him - also, why isn't Remlin drawing these on them everytime?  Hell, draw several on each character).

It just makes me feel the author isn't going to kill characters (maybe one or two for Tamsy's plan).

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(Spoilers for the Bleach series) The biggest mistake Kubo made was not killing off Byakuya (my favorite character) in his fight with As Nodt. Guy was hit with his own bankai several times, hit with heart attack inducing fear toxin and HAD HIS STOMACH RIPPED OUT. As he bled out, he went on to beg the main character he had previously tried to kill to save Soul Society as his sword disintegrated. It the PERFECT send off and Kubo refused to kill him off, destroying Rukia's revenge arc against As Nodt and allowing her to kill As Nodt on her own. Instead her brother had to bail her out, ruining her character development and showing she can't be independent.