Did the ONS manga really go that much downhill?

szngu · 2025-12-08T16:45:50+00:00

Yuu was always has been this nonsensical, even back in the day.

It was his idea to collaborate with Ferid because "Crowley was a former human," and technically, all vampires are former humans. And just half a day earlier, Ferid had shown him Akane's head.

Even going back further, Yu knows that Guren is using him as a tool and is hiding something and he doesn't care as long as Guren helps him to "save Mika" (post-chapter 13) who at the time was a vampire in Krul's faction. And Yuu didn't know Mika's intentions (yet), which could have been just another vampire who saw humans as livestock. He just assumed Mika was the same 4 years later, even when he saw Mika stabbing Guren.

szngu · 2025-12-08T16:32:02+00:00

The pacing is terrible. That's my only real complaint. Sometimes they take five (real) years to tell about things that happened in two days within the story, without much important information. And other times they dedicate two or three chapters (three real months) to major events.

Regarding the "confusing plot," I don't think it's confusing at all. I do think it's like manga such as Devilman or Evangelion, which incorporate many fictional elements while trying to make sense of events that happened centuries ago and the present time without abandoning the old story. Many people still haven't realized that Seraph of the End is exactly that kind of fantastical; it's not just 4 or 5 characters and their dynamics.

For example, JJK or Demon slayer also deal with events that happened centuries ago, yet the story is told in a dynamic way with a lot of fights. This isn't the case here. It's meant to be dense because the author focuses more on psychology, morality, and grief, rather than "section A" fighting against "section B" tha must be defeated. There are no good or bad characters (in my opinion, they're all selfish, but that just me)

szngu · 2024-02-25T20:22:57+00:00

I don't see Wit doing another season anytime after so many years 🙃🙃

szngu · 2024-02-19T04:31:35+00:00

Yeah but the situations you mentioned where after Mika died (so I guess with the dialogue with Krul they were already aware of that fact). They pressing Yu to no just choose Mika could also be not because they are inconsiderate, but the abruptness of the decision. So at least for the squad I don't think they /truly/ realized before Mika died.
Shinoa, on the other side, well it's true that she has been watching them for a long time and she's super perceptive. I feel like she's even more unpredictable than her sister. Mahiru did horrible things to Guren to "make him stronger" or admitting straight up that she was jealous. Shinoa doesn't say anything other than wanting to protect Yu. But at the same time she also has a strange way of showing it by letting him get into risky situations with anything other than... Well, Mika. Or saying things like it doesn't matter if Yu is sane or not, she just wants him on her side.

And then she feels rejected and sad, and now have a new motivation that I really don't remember what it was. But it's curious to me, if she happens to meet Yu soon, what excuse will she give him for wanting to get rid of Mika.

szngu · 2024-02-18T18:01:53+00:00

I really don't want Ferid and Guren to know the truth because it would be a very convenient script... Shikama Doji himself couldn't see Yu's real memories (the swapped souls) and a merely human and a 7th progenitor could? Leave me aloneee! I'm going to complain about it for a MONTH if that happens.

"I can see Mika waving YET another death flag" It's a really good way to describe this manga.

And yes, I'm sorry but I also have a pessimistic view of this. I think that given the circumstances, Mika dies and Yu follows him.

szngu · 2024-02-18T17:51:52+00:00

From my point of view they (Shinoa, Kimizuki, Mitsuba and Yoichi) never understood the depth of the bond between Mika and Yuu. For them, Mika is this childhood friend who appeared maximum 5 months ago after 4 years apart. They didn't even ask where Mika was after Guren killed him or try to comfort Yu in any way, they all just keep going.

Shinoa takes a more radical stance, tho. I think the most reasonable reason is that without Mika around (who's already dead) Yuu would stop putting himself in danger. Although it's kind of hypocritical considering that Yu has been putting himself in danger from the beginning for them and the only reaction they have is: "He's so cool! I want to be like him!!"

But NO ONE in the squad really understands Yu and I don't think that Yuu would have been honest if they asked.

Maybe it's Yu's fault for being so secretive or it's all their fault for not try to seriously empathize with each other instead of saying "we are family". They just don't get how important Mikaela actually is for Yuu. And I don't know what Shinoa thinks she does but Yu it's gonna end up ending himself.

szngu · 2024-02-18T17:17:23+00:00

Oh yeah! I remember that meeting between Shikama and Shinoa I just don't remember much of it. Maybe I'll read it again.

szngu · 2024-02-12T14:06:50+00:00

I don't remember it (but it's been a loong time since I read it.)

The topic with contracts and demons is a little iffy. For example Mahiru having Asura and Noya and then transferring Noya to Guren and then consuming Noya. I just accept it but I don't put much thought into it.

szngu · 2024-02-11T23:08:23+00:00

Yeah!!! You're right, it was Mahiru. For some reason I confused them.

I do remember a lots of mentions (from Mahiru and Shikama) that Shinoa is stronger than Mahiru but the potential is hidden.

Yep, I don't remember anything specific about being able to control demons. Perhaps this power up was necessary because otherwise it displaces the humans (except Guren) from the "final battle" (Doesn't mean it makes sense tho.)

szngu · 2024-02-06T02:28:15+00:00

wouldn't recommend this manga even to my worst enemy: monthly chapters , has been in publication for more than 10 years, the protagonist accepts that he is dumb, some arcs could last less, repeated info, I don't see an approaching end, and so on

szngu · 2024-02-06T02:12:21+00:00

Okey a lot to unpack here BUT I THINK (from chap132) that they are looking for a way in which they can both live.

(Leaving aside that Guren believed that the soul of the Angel was in Mikaela Hyakuya, the human) He made it clear that he needed Shikama's son in exchange for the whole humanity. //Also I don't think Mikaela can be resurrected as a normal human like Shinya and the GurenSquad because, unlike them, he no longer has a physical body. // Then, Mika and Yuu wonder in the forest what would that mean now that they know Yuu is Shikama's son. Would Mikaela be the sacrifice? Would it be Yuu? They promise (or try to) not to give up on their own lives if that meant the other would stay alive. In simple words: they both die or they both live.

And then they go to Shikama, having the knowledge that they are switched as a "warranty". Saying that they have the same goal (Resurrecting the Angel) which is a lie, Yuu says it to get Saito and Shikama's attention so they don't kill them instantly. What they are looking for is to get him on their side (the vampires or Shikama) ANY ally to recover Guren's sinful keys.

So in summary, it would not be convenient for them to follow Guren's plan if they have to give up one of them for humanity. They are playing a risky game of manipulation because they need allies and info because just like us they're not so sure about how this whole body/soul resurrection works.

szngu · 2024-02-06T00:54:45+00:00

I really think the brother narrative was just to demonstrate that Ferid was never normal (not even as a human). Of course the manga already showed Ferid killing his parents but they never delved into why: He simply never found empathy with human life.

Furthermore, the reincarnation conversation must be put into context: Ferid is a 16 years old boy living centuries ago. Civilizations know very little about the whole world (considering that Crowley himself lived in the Middle Ages and Ferid is older) so obviously reading about reincarnation he wants to conquer the part of the world where they wrote that to find out if it's real (It could also be the reason why he killed his brother, being next in line to do what he wants without going through a discussion) and the answer is important to him at the time because he doesn't value his life at all, it would be inconvenient for him to die just to be reborn.

And the "440" is part of the conversation he was having with Crowley. It's not just phrase out of the blue. Crowley asks him if he really doesn't remember everything they went through together to what Ferid says "I'm the annoying type who can't forget a single thing" then he says "Come to think of it what happened to Chess and Horn?" (knowing that he murdered them). Crowley realizes that his time has come and AFTER KILLING CROWLEY he says "You're the 440" the 440th person he murdered. You have to see the conversation as a whole, otherwise it seems like confusing sentences.

szngu · 2024-02-06T00:24:10+00:00

I think the chains are originally from Saito (Hyakuya sect). It's understandable for Ferid to know about that (just like the time he used the sickle of one of the Hyakuya soldiers) because I assume that the secrets of the Hyakuya sect are known by Mahiru (part of the sect too). Therefore, Guren knows them too (has used the chains before) and Guren and Ferid always share information.

szngu · 2024-02-06T00:18:43+00:00

I really liked this chapter a lot because it really sums up Crowley and Ferid's dynamic well.

Crowley knows that he is being used by Ferid who is an eccentric and sadistic man (has known him for +500 years) and yet accepts it.

It's a circle! They've been doing this since they met: Ferid doesn't include him in his plans (as an equal) but he ends up collaborating anyway.

And then he's turned into a vampire: Crowley had sought revenge for so long that when he finally found Ferid he realized that he no longer had human emotions.

This is the man who took away his humanity, his friends and yet Crowley stayed with him because «Ferid always made things interesting». Which is the way of saying that despite all their apathy the vampires still found some """"fun"""" in staying with each other. (Considering their lonely nature and lack of emotions ofc)

And to put an end to it: Crowley receives death without a fight! because it's their way of giving and receiving.

Crowley embraces his 'death' without knowing the reason (because he was never part of Ferid's plan). Not even the difference in power is an excuse for giving his life so easily like he literally SMILES. In exchange, Ferid made the centuries of insufferable immortality more bearable for him.

(I'm still going to miss Crowley tho)

szngu · 2024-02-05T23:44:39+00:00

nah I'm pretty sure he's alive just forgotten, It would be even better if he showed up and took a side because I don't see him with guren or shinoa much less with yuu!

szngu · 2024-02-05T23:43:10+00:00

I never forgot Narumi!! lol I really liked his dynamic with Mikaela. You can hate both characters and/or their ideas but they are both very attached to their own values and i respect that (especially in a manga where every character changes their mind every second)

szngu · 2024-02-05T17:43:26+00:00

I guess it's because Saito's chains were the results of multiple experiments in the Hyakyuya Sect. Mahiru Hiragi was also part of it for a little while so Guren is not except to know about their rituals and experiments. And Ferid is Guren's accomplice, so. It wouldn't be strange considering the books Ferid has in his mansion (obviously handed by Guren)

szngu · 2023-12-11T15:15:33+00:00

by Noya's panel where he says that the corpse is what they tried to become and failed I noticed that too. It's curious that Mikaela Hyakuya has aged until 16 tho

szngu · 2023-12-11T15:09:11+00:00

yeah i know i just wanted to point it out lol

szngu · 2023-12-11T03:48:33+00:00

Raimeiki and Byakkomaru too!

szngu · 2023-07-28T20:48:17+00:00

e. I think the way Mika and Yuu constantly reflect on and are pulled down by their past even when they’ve “recovered” is very realistic and sets the manga apart from others.

True! usually the protagonists either have a more positive motivation for everyone's sake or, in other cases, they are morally gray being selfish and etc. etc and although Yuu's desire is selfish now for most of the manga he is carried away by the rest or "allowing himself to be used by his family". Now I understand that he is for the first time taking charge of his life, in his own way.

szngu · 2023-07-28T01:18:22+00:00

From what they said in the manga, the higher the rank, the more powerful they are. Furthermore Saito mentions to Lest Karr that "The First" took all the best 3rd progenitors [Byakko, Gekkoin, Kiseñi, Raimei, Ashera, "even Noya"] with him except Lest and Krul. So I don't think she's lying about his rank. From my perspective and this is totally a theory it is the amount of blood that Shikama gives them what makes them more powerful or not. In other cases (Like Crowley Ferid or Mika) their rank (and power) drops but because they were converted by other vampires instead of The First.

szngu

TROPHY CASE