Chapter 213: The Garden of Sinners Episode 5: Paradox Spiral! (Part 11)
The confrontation between Araya Souren and Ryougi Shiki captured the full attention of every viewer. All eyes were fixed on the screen in anticipation, each person waiting to see who would emerge victorious in this looming clash.
Of course, while ordinary spectators were merely eager for the battle to begin, the mages among the audience had already begun dissecting the potential outcome from multiple perspectives.
"Shiki's Mystic Eyes of Death Perception can't see Araya Souren's death lines at all. That's a huge disadvantage for her, isn't it?"
"Maybe not. I've always thought the Mystic Eyes aren't that useful in battles between closely matched opponents. What really makes Shiki dangerous is her raw combat technique."
"Yeah, agreed. We've seen how deadly she is in close quarters. Even if her eyes aren't working this time, she could still stand a chance against Araya."
"But we barely know anything about Araya Souren. We just know he's a magus. Even if magic isn't super overpowered in the The Garden of Sinners setting, it's still potentially very dangerous."
"Regardless, I think Shiki has the upper hand. Come on, she's the main character. Her combat prowess is top-tier and reliable."
"I think Araya's stronger, honestly. And don't forget—this whole apartment is his base. The environment alone puts Shiki at a disadvantage."
"That may be, but that doesn't mean she can't win."
"True, but if we're going by internal logic, she's clearly on the back foot."
"Ugh, stop arguing and just watch."
"…"
At some point, the mages' debate had grown increasingly heated. Clearly, choosing sides and PvP theorizing was part of human nature, no matter the setting.
In contrast, the Arch Mages atop the Alchemy Tower watched the battle with quiet confidence. Unlike the average viewer, they had already discerned the likely victor from the outset.
What did surprise them, however, was the experiment Araya had orchestrated throughout the apartment complex.
A large-scale ritual, separating body and soul, using Yin-Yang duality to experiment on human existence—
Even to the Arch Mages of this world, such an approach was profoundly unconventional.
Though they couldn't fully grasp the philosophical concepts of Yin-Yang or Taiji, they could understand the conclusion Araya's experiment was chasing.
And precisely because they could grasp the logic, they found the implications deeply unsettling.
"So Araya Souren believes human death is predetermined?"
"If we go by the theory of 'Origin,' then yes. A person's life has direction from the start. And if the beginning is already decided, then the end must be as well."
"An unalterable death… a fated spiral. This film has a strong air of nihilistic fatalism."
"It does. But whether fatalism truly exists is another question entirely. Personally, I don't believe in it. I think human fate can be broken."
"Maybe in our world. But in the world of The Garden of Sinners, where Origin is treated as fact, the outcome is fixed. Araya probably understands that, which is why he never expected success from his experiments."
"That may be. But why is he targeting Ryougi Shiki specifically?"
"To Araya, this apartment… the spiral of contradictions… every act of conflict seems directed toward a singular purpose. If that's the case, then perhaps Shiki is the key to fulfilling that purpose."
"…"
Thus went the discussion among the Arch Mages. For all their wisdom, their understanding of the Spiral of Contradictions could go only so far.
After all, the philosophical framework behind Yin-Yang and Taiji far exceeded the boundaries of their world. Without the proper cultural foundations or worldview, fully grasping its core essence was a nearly impossible task.
And so, the Arch Mages let that matter rest and shifted their attention elsewhere—specifically, to one lingering point that had emerged from Shiki and Araya's exchange:
The implication that the two of them had met before.
You could say that not a single one of the previous Garden of Sinners films ever hinted at such a setup. And now, all of a sudden, the movie drops this clue out of nowhere—it left the audience completely baffled.
Of course, the Arch Mages barely had time to wrap their heads around it before the film moved on with new developments.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
On-screen, Ryougi Shiki, having fully grasped what Araya Souren had done, suddenly shouted in anger:
"So all this repetition of the same death—this was your reason for it?!"
"Every family drawn here was already broken beyond repair. They were all people whose lives had begun to collapse. By coming here, they only met their ends all the more clearly."
"This building is designed to drive people into breakdown. The slanted floors disturb one's sense of balance, like walking on an endless ocean. The paint and lighting strain the eyes, subtly fraying the nerves. There's no need for any ritual magic—the architecture alone throws people into chaos. You really are a brilliant architect, bastard."
"Not at all. The design was done by Aozaki. If you want to offer praise, give it to her, not me."
At the mention of that familiar name, Shiki's eyes widened in shock. Then, without hesitation, she snapped:
"Araya Souren—why did you kill me?"
"Whether it was Kirie Fujou, or Asagami Fujino, none of them were enough."
"???"
"Kirie Fujou, who could only survive through death—she possessed a trait similar, but not identical, to yours. Asagami Fujino, who could only feel pleasure through death—again, similar, but not quite right. I failed once, two years ago. That girl was too different. What I needed was someone who shared the same Origin, yet had the power to divide it. Yes—rejoice, Ryougi Shiki. Those two were nothing more than sacrificial offerings... prepared just for you."
"You bastard—!"
"'Emptiness'—that formless chaos impulse. Your origin. Gaze into the darkness, and remember your name."
"You're the cause of all this—!!"
Shiki's voice cracked with fury. The realization that everything, all the deaths and suffering, had been orchestrated by this man—it made her blood boil.
Her emotions surged wildly.
And in the next instant, she lunged.
Like an arrow loosed from a bow drawn to its absolute limit, Ryougi Shiki shot forward, her killing intent like that of a cornered beast, honed and unrelenting, aimed directly at the tall, shadowy man before her.
"Ssst—!!"
Seeing this explosive moment, the viewers outside the screen collectively held their breath—hearts racing—as they stared at the screen, knowing the long-awaited clash was about to begin!
<+>
If you want to see more chapter of this story and don't mind paying $5 each month to read till the latest chapter, please go to my Patreon[1].
Latest Post In Patreon: Chapter 251: The Premiere of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure! (Part 13)[2]
Link to the chapter: https://www.patreon.com/posts/138667623?collection=162522[3]
https://www.patreon.com/collection/162522?view=condensed[4]
[1] https://www.patreon.com/collection/162522?view=condensed
[2] https://www.patreon.com/posts/creating-anime-140083067
[3] https://www.patreon.com/posts/138667623?collection=162522
[4] https://www.patreon.com/collection/162522?view=condensed