Arslan Senki Chapter 152
(Maybe I'll write something up about the previous chapters soon. But for now, a few quick thoughts on the one that just came out!)
Lots of characters featured in this one but notably no Arslan (meaning we don't see him or the group he is with). I thought it was a good choice by Arakawa to focus on those whose objective is reaching Arslan instead, along with Hilmes and Zandeh.
SO nice to see my boys Hilmes and Zandeh in action in a way I can support... okay, just because their behaviour right now is heroic on the surface level doesn't mean they have fully redeemed themselves, but at least I can enjoy this.
Still so stoked to see him going without his mask. This was a nice panel.
The ensorceled soldiers struggling to make sense of their competing orders is... an interesting dilemma. It's the opposite of the cohesion we see with Team Arslan where they're, well, operating as a team, but also able as individuals to use their initiative, prioritise, or take on roles of leadership as needed. Arslan has the retainers he needs. Zahhak doesn't.
This gave me a prickle of fear... Mainly because we know Zahhak is on the lookout for a general and I'm still worried about him managing to acquire one and who that might be. In the novels, Ilterish took that role, but that seems unlikely here. It may come to nothing, Zahhak's mind-controlled forces might remain the rabble that we see right now, but if Zahhak did find someone to take command of them, imagine how much more of a threat his army would be.
Loved the 'Yashasuiin!' moment as the gate broke! Feels good to have something to cheer for, y'know?
Somehow this is cute.
So everyone gets inside the palace and splits up to look for Arslan.
Gieve running into Hilmes and deciding to cross blades with him just in case was fucking hilarious. Only Gieve could do that. And only Gieve can piss Hilmes off that badly (...no, wait, I take it back; Narsus is capable of it too).
Anyway, Gieve's smart, he sees Hilmes has been killing the Snake King's soldiers, he knows hanging around any longer will mean he'll be slower to find Arslan, so he leaves him to it. This encounter feels important; I'll go into why later on.
Relieved to see Alfarid and Merlain, especially when Elam runs into them. The situation for Merlain feels so much better now, and of course Alfarid remains to do what she can! And once again we see her quick thinking when considering how to present information to those outside the palace in order to gain their support. Team Arslan remains adaptable where Zahhak's soldiers flounder and struggle to think for themselves.
This is also cute!
And then things take a turn for the worse as one of the remaining sorcerers shows up and begins manipulating the bodies of the dead soldiers in order to prevent Hilmes from leaving, seeking to hold him there until the Snake King arrives. Fuck. Sounds like Zahhak wants to end Hilmes personally.
This... feels bad.
I said that brief encounter with Gieve felt important, and the reason it felt important is because the likelihood of anyone coming to give Hilmes aid is extremely low. Those who broke into the palace are focused on finding Arslan. They don't have time for Hilmes (and it's not like they'll even be aware he's in trouble, either). We know Sam is likely still inside the palace somewhere, but he's so badly injured I'm not sure what he could do even if he manages to be in the right place at the right time.
Which leaves Hilmes to face this alone, as Zandeh is still on the ramparts... How fast can Zandeh get down there? He'll soon see that Hilmes is in trouble, and surely try to rush to his side.
And maybe I'm a touch paranoid, but we all know Zandeh would lay down his life for Hilmes if need be. Neither of them would survive against the Snake King. If they can't manage to defeat the sorcerer quickly, they won't get away in time. I'm kinda worried (especially after that "Let us go, Zandeh!") that they won't be leaving together.
And now I have to worry about that for another month! Hopefully they'll manage to root out where the sorcerer controlling the dead bodies is hiding... it feels like they need to kill him rather than his puppets, but how feasible that is, I don't know.
