HAPPY HALLOWEEN :) WEBTOON - INSTAGRAM

HAPPY HALLOWEEN :) WEBTOON - INSTAGRAM

Slightly tidied up Google Translate of the blurb on the right:

'A battle in which Pars attacked Lusitania, an invader. In the fog caused by sorcery, the Parsian cavary charged, fooled by Kharlan, an ally of Hilmes. However, what awaited them was a huge fault. The Parsian army fell into this natural pit and was covered in oil and hit by flaming arrows. Seeing that the front line had collapsed, Andragoras retreated and was captured by Hilmes's ambush. More than half the Parsian army was killed, but Arslan was rescued thanks to Daryun's bravery in battle.'

I thought this was interesting because it gives a view of the formation before the Parsian cavalry charge, and it's a little different to the battle map included with Chapter 3 of the manga:

The first map I shared is from the Battle Guide section of the mook 英雄譚 (光文社ブックス 81). I have no idea whether they consulted Tanaka himself about the precise details of the lineup here because I don't think the novels stated the exact positions of the Marzbans aside from Daryun's removal and reassignment to the rear of the army, so whether or not you want to take it as canon is up to you, but I did think it was notable that of the front line, Kubard is the only survivor. That's pretty incredible. And also you can see that Shapur is stationed behind him, and must have had to move forward in support when their front line fell into the pit and collapsed.

However, I did also like Arakawa's take on it because it features Kubard and Shapur at opposite ends of the line, which is exactly where they were rumoured to stand when all the Marzbans were lined up before Andragoras.

Arslan Senki Chapter 123

Edit: let me preface this by saying I'm an idiot and didn't realise the simulpub release is split into two parts that you have to buy separately... so I only bought part 2... therefore this post is all about the second half of the chapter and I'm about to go back and purchase the first half now!)

Official chapter title: The Lonely Throne (and just as I suspected this relates to Hilmes, so brace yourselves...)

SPOILERS FOR THE WHOLE SECOND HALF OF THE CHAPTER from here on...

Team Arslan content at the beginning is more light-hearted in tone (joking about making Azrael a general, what sort of reward he might like, how Kishward would have to be Eran so Azrael doesn't outrank him, it's amusing) and deals with Arslan outlining his next moves. Those match up with the novels, I won't bother outlining them here for now.

Then we change locations to Ecbatana and my heartrate just shot up instantly lmao

Hilmes, inside the city: 30,000 men, versus Andragoras, whose army of 100,000 is outside the walls

PUP SIGHTING

Sad that this is his only panel, my thoughts are still spinning having only just read the chapter but I'm a little concerned that some Team Hilmes scenes were cut, especially the scene between Zandeh and Hilmes and the whole confrontation in the underground waterways that led to what comes next...

There's not even a single panel of Sam this chapter. I want to trust Arakawa and hope that we backtrack a little in the next chapter and see those events, the scene involving Sam in particular because I just can't fathom why that wouldn't be included, I think it's a really important one for his character. I suppose the other option is that it's moved to a little later in the story, and that could work, too! So we'll see.

Anyway, Team Hilmes are facing the inevitable struggles of a closed city running out of food and water, where even loyal soldiers are now worrying about their fates if they lose (or even if they don't win soon enough... the citizens could well turn on them and they know it).

Hilmes... is not having the best of times right now.

And I realised where this was going at this point, and started thinking OH FUCK OH FUCK OH FUCK because I am not ready to see him go through the bombshell that is about to be dropped on him and I didn't even expect to see it yet this chapter either although the title did make me wary

But first we get a little flashback to his interrupted conversation with Ghundi, the sorceror, in which we learn that Hilmes learned... nothing, because their talk was interrupted by word that Andragoras's forces have reached Ecbatana

OH NO OH NO OH NO

FUUUUUUUUUCK

In the end, I was only slightly more prepared for this moment than Hilmes. The chapter ends here. I'm feeling the weirdest mixture of dread and excitement about the next one.

(I haven't counted pages but it felt short? Let me see.)

Edit: okay yeah it was only 16 pages this month OKAY WAIT WAIT THIS IS HILARIOUS but I think I only bought half the chapter lmao, I don't know how KManga works but it looks like the chapter is split into two parts? I think this is the second half???)

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Comic idea based off this meme thing:

Here's the full set of Ai Yokoyama's outfit designs for Daryun during the duel against the gods. These are from her Anima 02 artbook. They didn't get used in the end but it looks like she had a lot of fun drawing them!

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