Wakaranai

Although only two or three pages shy of Ken Akamatsu’s usual output (apparently owing to some medical issue), this chapter felt extremely short. I still felt like I’d only just started reading when I stumbled onto the final page. Perhaps it flew by because there’s wasn’t a lot of dialogue to digest, only what could be squeezed in between impressive shots of Rakan and Fate going at it. But I think it seemed so short mainly because it was so enthralling and because it left me hungry for more. I’m usually a fan of cliffhangers. The type of cliffhanger that puts the heroes in mortal but predictable danger, I can handle. But throwing in a huge revelation and new mysterious plot twist so quickly only to leave us right on the brink of having it all explained, is just plain evil. The thrills of the epic clash between the nefarious Fate and indestructible Rakkan come fast and furiously, only to evaporate into a mindfuck scene in which Fate reveals he has the power to bend and form reality to his will, by proxy of the still very much alive Lifemaker. Not only was it a gripping experience seeing Rakan, in peak badass form, deliver a beatdown on the previously untouchable Fate, but it was almost more so seeing him in a state of disarray and concern. I wouldn’t go ahead and say he came across as scared here, but Fate’s unlimited power has triggered a moment of anxiousness, which, for Jack Rakan, is a big deal.

Well, until then, the fight was pretty damn awesome. The whole time we’ve been getting the flashback I’ve been praying for a glimpse of this battle, and now it finally came! Fittingly, it’s some of the best action we’ve seen in a while, a close-quarters, frenzied melee between two titans of the magical world. Jack Rakan proved his worth, clearly taking charge of the fight before Fate turned the tables with his power. He drove himself through a mass-dagger attack of Fate’s, in his usual ‘Tank’ style of play, to land a direct hit, a crippling Rakan punch. Fate might say he’s trying to “save the world”, but his methods up till this point certainly warrant a good punishing strike from Rakan! And as to the truth behind his goal, it seems as though we’re heading towards having that angle explored within the next few chapters! This has got me really excited because the character of Fate, his motivations and perspective, have always been one of the most intriguing components of the Negima for me, and it’s been shrouded in mystery for too long! Knowing who or what drives him should make him a more compelling foe for Negi.

In typical Negima style, this chapter has raised more tantalizing questions than it has even hinted at answers. But the next chapter holds great promise for some explaining to be done. What exactly is this key Fate suddenly wields? Is that truly the Mage of the Beginning, really alive and unharmed from his past run-in with Nagi? Just what does Fate mean by his comments on the world being an illusion, and how does this all fit in with the grand plan he supports? It would seem that, using what he describes as the power to destroy and create worlds, ‘Rewrite’, he intends to do just that to the magical world. But the key question then becomes why?

This was a really fascinating chapter, even if it didn’t provide the usual mix of entertainment Negima is known for, with only the odd glimpse of a cute girl, and no humour of fanservice whatsoever. But the sheer importance of the events that transpired and the plot development that is about to be given, make this a pivotal and exciting chapter. Rakan was totally awesome. May he survive this encounter!