Lifeless Life

Hallow & Zaybi

The series starts with first chapter introducing the brothers; Hallow and Zaybi.

Chapter 1: Zaybi and Hallow as children.

They were so cute as kids. And we are told how Zaybi is the brains while Hallow is the muscles in this dynamic. This would later reflect on the fact that Hallow became a hero and Zaybi is a mage.

Chapter 1: Hallow sees Zaybi.

Chapter 1: You can really see how it hurts Zaybi to see his little brother hurting, and he tries to comfort him.

Throughout the current 16 chapters it became clear that they support each other in their own way, and look up to each other. Although, Zaybi being the older one seems to have raised his kid brother by himself, threatening to even spank his ass if or when he does something reckless (which means exactly that he must have been the parent in that family in their lives - and Hallow's occasional way of begging Zaybi to include him/give him permission to join in certain missions indicates this as well). Makes me wonder what happened to their parents in the first place.

Chapter 2: Hallow thinks of his brother and how amazing he is. Chapter 3: Hallow begs that he could come with Zaybi and Keila and her team. Chapter 6: Hallow again asks to be let on the team who redirects the Titans towards Neo-Humans.

Chapter 3: Zaybi threatens to spank his little brother for acting reckless.

Chapter 4: Hallow seeking help from his older brother.

Poor Hallow really got everyone arguing about his plan, and needs Zaybi to help him. Which he does, albeit in his own way. (To prove a point to everyone.)

Chapter 4: Keila's thoughts. This seems to put the brothers in important role of the story.

Chapter 5: Hallow coming to Zaybi's aid.

You can tell how protective Hallow is also about his older brother.

Chapter 5: Zaybi refuses to put more responsibility on Hallow's shoulders.

Chapter 16: Zaybi seems to have hard time making a decision, and thinks about what Hallow would do.

I find this part kind of sad. There is something that tells how the brothers need each others' support. Zaybi doesn't seem to be able to act without some kind of plan, and Hallow acts without a plan. Although, in this case it was good Hallow wasn't there since its more of a risk with the parasites..

Chapter 16: Even while thinking he will die, Zaybi wants Hallow to survive and live.

Masayoshi & Mika

The latest chapter (16) revealed another sibling pair, Mika and Masayoshi. Mika seems to have this similar spirit that Zenko has in OPM, but their older brothers seem to be very different haha.

Other possible siblings or other family members

Honestly, Samone and Pakkya look so similar to each other. I wonder are they actually some kind of relatives..

Chapter 14: Samone wanting to wait for Pakkya, but he wants her to leave him behind so she can leave the dangerous place.

Monthly Shonen Sirius #229: Pakkya and Samone's official colors. Both even have a red hair with green (Pakkya) and yellow (Samone). Their eye colors seem to match also. And they both have sharp teeth. Although, their skin color isn't exactly same, but they could be blood relatives. Who knows. At least they aren't introduced as siblings or anything like that. So, maybe it is that all their people share these similarities?

And there is also Thear and that unnamed woman he has with him, who both also share same hair colors and their uniforms also sharing same colors makes them look more like siblings than anything. Their hair in general looks really special and I would like to think they are somehow related by blood, unless all their people share blue hair genes in their world. Their skin color seems to also match.

Style

One thing I find rather funny is the sense of style they both seem to have. You can see it's important to them, and in Zaybi's case ONE even mentions it in his notes. A gentleman killer demon with victorian gothic style (I presume, do correct me if I am wrong), and a human mage who wants to be "fashionable" (which is why he doesn't wear the mage robe normally or why he has those trinkets around his neck).

Here's Zaybi's and Kiva's character sheets by ONE, translated:

Captains

Chapters 1, 16, 2 & 11: They have similar ranks/class in their respective forces (captain).

Light VS. Darkness

Chapters 2, 14 & 12: Other characters compare Zaybi to a guiding light in the darkness, the Sun, the one who gives hope in dire situations. VS. Kiva who is a demon, the despair, the (natural) enemy, leading the demons and being the one who deliberately went on his way to destroy what little hope humans had.

Shield

Chapters 12 & 13: They are forced to use similar techniques to protect oneself (or in Zaybi's case; every human).

"Dying"

Chapters 12 & 16: Similar "dying thoughts". We are shown their hands. (They are also both then "saved".)

They also seem to think about the one person that's important to them before the "(presumably) ultimate death in the hands of Madalans" (with Kiva) or "thought he dies in the hands of the Parasite" (Zaybi).

Chapter 15: Kiva leaving the demons in his lord Jachi's hands before going for the final pounding.

Ambiguity

Their situation is also currently left ambiguous in the manga. (We aren't shown Kiva die, and the chapter 16 left Zaybi's situation open as well. Although, it possibly will continue in next chapter or change the pov to another character. However, his situation probably will remain uncertain for the time being.)

It is also notable how some of their similar situations happen in chapter order. (E.g. Kiva's "final moment" in ch 15 VS. Zaybi's "almost final moment" in next chapter. Or Kiva protecting himself in ch 12, and Zaybi protecting every human in ch 13.)

Now, more about what happened in chapter 12 between these two:

I actually felt something happening between these two characters before I read chapter 12 even, so it did surprise me a bit how sharp my instincts have been about this when Zaybi decided to save Kiva. Although, it is not explained what spell he cast on him, but Zaybi's fellow mage was surprised.

There's something I like about this next panel, since I like how Zaybi is calmly just telling Kiva to calm down despite being struck by him. (He also quickly put up a shield to protect himself.)

I honestly don't blame Kiva for hitting him away, since he did technically (almost) die, and suddenly you are "resurrected" and wake up surrounded by your enemies. Seems like Zaybi understood this.

And then I really like Zaybi's little smirk at Kiva. I do wonder how many humans have actually just smirked at the guy and not shown only anger or fear (which is understandable considering who Kiva is and what he has done to them).

Zaybi's gamble at helping Kiva really paid off since the demon did leave the humans alone (for the time being) even though he would have done worse. This really opened up an interesting situation for their (potential) future relationship, whatever that may be (if possible).

Other chapter(s) thoughts:

Not to mention that Kiva has wanted to off Zaybi's precious little brother few times now, and we know he will lose his light if he loses Hallow.

Chapter 14: Gyuta's final words to Hallow about Zaybi.

But, I do think if Kiva survives, he may have changed some of his views about humans.

Chapter 15: Kiva finally understood how difficult it is to muster your courage.

This thing about bravery and Hallow seems to (presumably) also reflect on chapter 16 with Zaybi. These panels could be either him being scared or he knows the danger and his instincts are telling him not to help the woman (which would have been the correct decision, as cruel as it first sounds).

Bonus thoughts:

Kiva was a small little demon when he got recognized by Jachi. Look at those small wings and the clothes are so small as well. (He looks also fairly short here.) It's told that he was born into a high-class demon clan. Although, he seems to have had some kind of skills (child prodigy?) if Jachi recognized him.

Chapter 12: Kiva reminisces about his life while dying.

Zaybi didn't seem to have born in any high-class life. He does seem to have been some kind of child prodigy, and other mages think of him as some kind of genius.

Chapter 14: In his last moments, Gyuta tells Hallow about Zaybi.

I have noticed they both are (battle) smart and can instantly act during the battle/dire situation. They are observant as well, moving with a plan/certainty. However, when there isn't any plans or things don't go according to a plan, they seem to react to it in their own way; Zaybi seems to be stuck (or internally panics), and Kiva loses his cool when he is really annoyed. This still doesn't usually stop them in the end, which I like. After all, Zaybi has a responsibility as mage captain to help the humanity survive, while Kiva's responsibility as a 11th division's captain of the great demon king army is to make sure demon lord Jachi will triumph and the demons will survive.

They also are the ones who have decided to support those important to them (Jachi for Kiva, and Hallow for Zaybi). And they seem to stand right between these two archenemies' - a hero and demon lord.