章 287: Paradox Spiral Premieres
When Ren and Jada returned home with their daughter Yueyue and baby after their beach trip, Jada quickly fell back into her busy routine. Meanwhile, Picca Comics was gearing up for the release of another major film.
That film was The Garden of Sinners: Paradox Spiral.
As the final installment in The Garden of Sinners trilogy, this movie was set to premiere during the summer. The release was accompanied by a grand premiere event at Baozhilin Cinemas, providing a perfect finale for the series.
Excitement surged as soon as fans learned about the upcoming release.
"I've waited a whole year for this! Finally, the new Garden of Sinners movie is here!!!"
This series had been filled with countless mysteries.
What was the true goal of the mastermind, Araya? Could Shiki defeat this merciless villain? And what exactly was the "Origin Awakener," someone who avoids death but finds identity?
These questions had lingered in fans' minds for a full year, but now, at long last, they were going to get answers!
On release day, theaters were packed with eager audiences, and tickets sold out fast.
As the climax of the trilogy, Paradox Spiral was perhaps the most critical chapter.
In this movie, all the series' conflicts come to a head, and the final boss makes their appearance. The plot revolves around Shiki, who possesses the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, and the ordinary young man, Mikiya, telling the story of their encounter back in high school.
From the special effects to the action sequences, this film stood out as the pinnacle of the trilogy.
Moreover, the character development was top-notch. Whether it was the villain Araya, Cornelius Alba, or the protagonists Shiki and Aozaki Touko, each character was unique, leaving a strong impression on the audience.
The story begins with the escape of Enjou Tomoe, a puppet, from the repeating nightmare of Paradox Spiral, marked by Araya's manipulation, and his eventual encounter with Shiki.
It must be said that Tomoe was one of the most tragic figures in this installment. His Origin was "Meaninglessness," and his backstory was nothing short of bleak.
Raised in a suffocating household, his life took a horrifying turn one day when his mother snapped, murdering his father, killing Tomoe, and then committing suicide.
Their brains were extracted by Araya and placed into dolls, doomed to relive that final day over and over.
Enjou's puppet experienced this nightmare daily, his mother's blade repeatedly cutting him down. However, every time he died, the puppet would revive.
One day, unable to bear it any longer, Tomoe acted first, killing his puppet mother before she could strike.
This allowed him to temporarily escape his cycle of torment, thus beginning the story of Paradox Spiral.
Of course, Ren made a few changes to the film's original plot.
For example, in the original, Tomoe slowly developed feelings for Shiki, especially during their time living together. Ren figured many fans wouldn't be too happy about that.
So, he revised the story. Not only did Tomoe and Shiki not live together, but Tomoe's feelings for Shiki were reinterpreted as admiration—he saw her as a savior when he was at his lowest.
It was more like the way a knight might revere a distant, unattainable goddess, desiring to protect her rather than romantically pursuing her.
As the plot unfolds, a woman is murdered by a robber at Ogawa Mansion, which attracts the attention of Aozaki Touko.
She asks Mikiya to investigate, all while explaining the history of the Ryougi family.
Later that night, Shiki, along with the returning Enjou Tomoe, heads to the mansion.
"...It's really ironic. This place was supposed to be finished after you killed me," Shiki says.
A heavy, intimidating voice suddenly interrupts.
The audience immediately recognized this voice—it belonged to the villain Araya, the mastermind who had been teased in previous post-credit scenes!
Many fans were expecting to see Shiki pull out her blade and engage Araya in an epic battle, especially since her Mystic Eyes of Death Perception were so iconic. In the earlier films, Shiki's fight scenes were as graceful as a dancing butterfly, and her blade swings were filled with elegance and power, making her a fan-favorite action heroine.
But what happened next shocked the audience!
"I can't see it…?!"
That's right. Just as the fans had expected, Shiki activated her Mystic Eyes the moment she saw Araya, hoping to see his death lines.
However, for the first time, she failed.
Up until now, Shiki had always been able to perceive the death lines of every opponent, but this time, Araya's lines were so faint that they were almost nonexistent!
Here, Araya reveals the truth—he was the one who manipulated Asagami Fujino and Kirie Fujou, both of whom were driven to commit atrocities as they sought death and meaning.
Shiki is infuriated—not just because Araya wants to kill her, but because of all the lives he destroyed!
"You monster!" she screams, charging at Araya with wild speed, her blade slicing through the air like an arrow released from a taut bow.
But just as Shiki closes the gap between them, Araya moves!
"Not Human, Vajra, Serpent Strike…"
With a flurry of swift and deadly blows, Araya overwhelms Shiki.
The audience gasps as they watch Shiki, their beloved heroine, get beaten down by the sorcerer. And when Araya raises his hand, threatening to crush Shiki's face, hearts race in the theater.
Could this be the end for Shiki?
After all, the Porter was known for pulling shocking twists—he even killed off the hero in The Cautious Hero, a comedy series! So, the idea that Araya might kill Shiki wasn't far-fetched at all.
Thankfully, the Porter showed a bit of mercy this time. Just as Araya was about to shatter Shiki's face, the sound of bones breaking rang out—but it was Araya's arm, severed by Shiki's sword in a last-second counterattack.
The audience sighed in relief. Their hope for Shiki's survival was reignited!
The intense battle resumed.
After several exchanges, Shiki finally managed to stab Araya in the chest, right where his death line was located.
"Did we win?"
Many fans held their breath, unsure of what was coming next.
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