Thanks for visiting Anime Rants. Most of this episode focused on the epic fight in the palace, Ran vs. Gabimaru and Yuzuriha. The animation and art were beautiful throughout this installment. Let’s review Hell’s Paradise Second Season episode 6.
Episode 6: Hindering and Restoration
Episode Rating: 9/10
Gabimaru and company had planned to stand and fight after all in the event that they ran into the Tensen. Though the original mission had failed, the new mission was to survive and fight with everything they had. Running and turning their backs on the Tensen would inevitably result in casualties. But there was no guarantee that fighting wouldn’t lead to all their deaths as well. Still, it’s very fitting that our shounen heroes would pick fighting over running. This what they trained their whole lives for.
The first thing Ran did was see if Mei would peacefully come to their side. According to Ran, they had figured out how to make Tan that wouldn’t turn people into plants. But they still needed a lot of Tan for some reason? I wasn’t clear on this part. Regardless, Ran wanted to use Gabimaru and his group as food for the Tan-making flowers. Mei refused to switch sides and said that even though she had missed the Tensen, she now knew she was different from them. She wanted to live her own normal life away from the island. Gabimaru and Yuzuriha started fighting Ran while Sagiri accompanied Mei out of the room. Mei still wanted to see Rien one last time, so they headed toward his lab.
The group had been heading to Rien’s lab anyway, but they were tricked by Ran’s powers, which allowed him to literally reshape the palace and lead them straight to his chambers. I absolutely love the character design and general vibes of Ran. His powers and orchid theme are impressive and beautiful. We’re supposed to hate him for using innocent humans in deadly experiments, but his charm and beauty are difficult to resist. Anyway, Ran had wrapped his body in layers of Tao that functioned as tough armor. Even when Yuzuriha hit his weak spot with a knife, his Tao wasn’t hindered.
No matter how many times Gabimaru hit Ran, it was ineffective. But Gabimaru had an idea. He was able to use a crucial martial arts principle and apply it to Tao. The idea was to use the enemy’s Tao against them. Since Tao flows like a water current around the body, it was possible to catch and redirect it. This worked to great effect. Gabimaru punched Ran in the face and finally made him bleed. It was an epic moment. Even though I like Ran, I still want Gabimaru and his group to win.
While the fight raged on, Rien used ritual magic to spy on everyone else. Basically, each person has a talisman with their name on it. When Rien lights the talisman on fire, it tells him the condition of that person in real time. If the talisman burns to ash at once, it means the person is already dead. Partial burns seem to mean the person is wounded or compromised. For example, Rien could tell when Ran transformed later. The one who supplied the names, by the way, was Choubei. He had memorized the names of all the people who came to the island. Convenient.
Rien’s surveillance of the fighting was a good reminder of the current match-ups. Gabimaru and Yuzuriha were locked in combat with Ran, while Mei and Sagiri were not currently engaged. Tamiya, Fuchi, and Touma were beginning their fight with Ju Fa and Tao Fa. Choubei was also there, beckoning to his brother to join him. Touma was shocked to see his brother, but we didn’t see his decision yet. Meanwhile, Nurugai and Shion were up against Zhu Jin in the room with the pool of water. Now let’s get back to Gabimaru and Yuzuriha.
In a moment of forgetfulness, Ran weakened his Tao so Gabimaru couldn’t keep using it against him. That was the chance Yuzuriha needed. She attacked, cut through Ran’s Tao, and sliced him in half at the naval. However, Ran wasn’t defeated. He transformed into his flower-monster form, the design of which I love. According to Rien, it had been several centuries since Ran had transformed. This was the toughest fight he’d had in ages. Anyway, the monster’s first strike sent both Gabimaru and Yuzuriha flying. Yuzuriha was also badly wounded by a flying spike of rubble that pierced her torso. Things were not looking good for the humans.
Despite both of them saying that they only valued their own life, Gabimaru and Yuzuriha took turns protecting each other. It was uplifting and emotionally powerful to witness their teamwork and selflessness. But the ninja pair was fading fast. Yuzuriha and Gabimaru were wounded and tired. Then Ran picked up Gabimaru, stabbed him in a way that looked fatal, and threw him against a column. To Yuzuriha’s horror, Gabimaru didn’t move. It seemed like he was close to death. The episode ends on this cliffhanger.
~Thanks for reading~
Written by 7Mononoke at Anime Rants
Anime Rants 
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