These shocks are very useful.
They draw someone's fundamental nature to the surface.
Show me!
Show me the brutality you've been hiding!
Or perhaps the shock will prove too intense...
and he'll be crushed.
I'm not... finished yet...
Until I prove myself....
I'm not dying!
Steadfast.
Virtuous.
Generation to generation, the proud bloodline of the Nijiku Clan has persevered.
Indeed, your older brother and sister followed in my footsteps to join the Hell Guard
and shoulder the burden of rule over the Ground.
Do you understand what I'm telling you...
Zanka?
Yes, sir.
Threats we face here on the Ground include
trash beasts, garbage rain, and diseases spread from hazardous material.
But there is something you must never forget—
The greatest threat of all is your fellow man!
The Hell Guard is a crucial institution for keeping humanity in line.
What await you here at the Central Hell Guard Academy
are rigorous trials and unsparing rivals.
To achieve the strength the Hell Guards need, you must learn through competition!
There he goes with the same ol' lecture.
Can't believe it's new trainee time already.
Rumor says this batch's got someone real impressive.
Male or female?
Female.
Wow! Wonder what she's like!
Zanka really carries himself like he's a cut above, huh?
His dad's one of the town big-shots. We can't compare.
Noble blood, huh?
The Nijiku Clan's a house of elites who all get into the Hell Guard.
But Zanka holds strong under the pressure. He always gets the best marks in class.
Bet the chicks all love him, too.
Yeah, he's graduatin' top of the class to take the Golden Throne for sure.
Yeah, figures.
We're mediocrities. Can't beat a natural talent.
You're damn right about that!
I wouldn't be caught dead bein' compared to the bozos around here!
You know how hard I'm always workin' behind the scenes?!
Just you wait an' see.
I'll take top of the class without breakin' a sweat.
Rise.
Sit.
We've been seeing a rise in Giver crimes these days.
That means we need a strong Hell Guard that can stand up to Givers.
You've all undergone hard training in your three years here.
We're eager for any new talent we can get.
Therefore...
As a special case, this year,
we've decided to accept a particularly promising student into this class.
She grew up in the slums, but her abilities are undeniable.
I couldn't stay in the dark forever.
In the face of the "real deal"...
I'd learn what my weakness and real strength really were.
The Academy's "most exalted seat" was a chair called the Golden Throne.
The only person permitted to sit there
was the best student of that year.
Episode 17
Memories of a Mediocrity
Incredible...
Magnificent!
I didn't expect you to beat every student in our class during your first sparring session.
You really do have what it takes.
You could even take the Golden Throne, Hyo.
What's her problem?
She was raised in the slums, but she thinks she's better than us?
I ain't heard the teacher praise anyone that hard before.
She thinks she's hot shit 'cause she beat us once.
She's sloppy as hell. No fundamentals.
She won't get far in the Hell Guard like that!
The only reason she beat me is 'cause her crappy style threw my rhythm off.
Once I get used to her style, I could beat that beanpole in a second.
Yeah, I'm off my game today too.
But she also beat Zanka.
Zanka?
Heck, she's a tough one!
I just couldn't beat her.
Nice to see a style I ain't never seen before.
Guess I got a long way to go. Back to trainin', huh?
Damn it!
I just ain't put in enough effort yet.
I'm number one here.
I ain't lost yet!
Your nose.
It's bleeding.
She heard that?
Heck, didn't know you were here.
Thought you'd gone back to the classroom.
No. I was looking for a place to get water.
Gotta calm down.
Gotta say, you're pretty great.
Just got here, and you're a Golden Throne candidate already.
What good does sitting on the Golden Throne do?
Well... it's somethin' a bunch of big names have earned.
Hell Guard legends, higher-ups at Central...
all kinds of famous folks have sat in that seat.
It's somethin' everyone wants.
Though I hear my big sister never got to.
I don't understand.
What does sitting in the seat get you?
Do you just want people to find you impressive?
What good does that do?
When you've got the "real deal" around, you see the fakes start to change.
In some damn transparent ways, too.
You cut your hair.
No biggie. I wanted a change.
Some of the fakes try to imitate them.
Hey, how'd you do that move?
I won't tell nobody. You mind?
Some of the fakes try to steal from them.
Must be nice to be a natural talent.
Some of the fakes just disparage them.
Yeah, it'd be way easier.
They're disgusting.
Wish I'd been born that way.
But...
We'll be having a special class today.
We've gathered together a number of weapons.
Follow your intuition and choose one that speaks to you.
A Hell Guard must be able to use a variety of weapons,
but picking out a weapon that's high-quality and suits your strengths
is an indispensable skill as well.
Let's see how sharp your eyes are.
The most disgusting one of all
was the one who thought he was any better than the fakes—
Me.
Wow, so that academy even has classes on weapons selection and stuff?
And that's the weapon you chose?
But then...
What are you doing down there?
Hang on.
Didn't you say the class was three days ago?
Does that mean...
You've been in that makeshift well without food or water all that time?!
You'd be dead right now if we hadn't passed by!
I saw a hole, so I felt obliged to crawl into it.
I can't get out now.
I hear you.
Guess we'll just sit here and enjoy some of your local leaf-shaped manju.
The others chose the weapons they thought looked strongest.
I figured Hyo would do the same.
So I thought I'd go against the grain.
I picked up a worn-out piece of crap that didn't even look like a weapon.
You hear about it all the time, right?
"The most awesome weapon is the one that looks like junk."
So it wasn't an awesome weapon?
It wasn't even a weapon.
The school screwed up settin' up the table,
and some random stick got mixed up with the others.
Never thought I'd be the one people were lookin' at that way.
Then came the moment everyone was waitin' for,
when the "real deal" chose a weapon...
It was this ordinary, unremarkable sword.
Man, I'm shit!
I'm the shittiest piece of shit in the shit heap!
I'm pure shit!
I was the biggest scuzz ball all along, wantin' people to think I was a natural...
Now I know.
A mediocrity can never become a natural talent!
Drop dead.
I just wanna drop dead.
I'm as big a poser as this stupid stick.
Just lame as hell.
Huh?
Can't a mediocrity still get better than natural talents?
Not that I know what makes someone a natural talent,
but if that's not what you are, who says you need to be?
Besides, whatever you say, you want to keep at it, don't you?
You're still holding on to that "stupid stick," aren't you?
Most people would call it rubbish and toss it,
but you're still clinging on.
Not that you should care what a simple passer-by has to say...
But you can't become strong until you know your weakness.
Oh, that's right.
We'll be back in this city to eat more of that manju.
I'd like to see you prove one day...
That the average can eclipse the gifted.
Lovely Assistaff.
Didn't I tell ya...
I ain't gonna die until I prove it.
I'm gonna show you...
what a mediocrity can do!
Hey Zanka, old buddy...
What a... mediocrity... can...
Sounds like you're hallucinating real nice.
Gloopy-goo toxin!
Neurotoxin!
Then throw in the venomenal hallucinogen!
Well? Well? Well?!
That's what I stabbed you with!
Crazy intense, right?!
It's phenomenal!
No... venomenal!
I got that one from a guy who tried to kill me with it.
It causes hallucinations so vivid you'll think they're real life.
Then afterward, it makes you wanna puke your guts out!
You won't be able to get enough!
Ow!
My damn ribs hurt, man!
Hey, y'know? When you break a rib, man...
It hurts even to laugh.
You knew that, huh?
Yeah, figured. Most people do.
I thought you'd give me a crazier fight.
Guess it's over already...
Maybe another Cleaner would've been more fun.
Look at you! You're having a blast!
C'mon, man! No fair!
Let me in on this!
Let's go!
I'm out!
Aw, nobody's here either?!
What's going on here?
I dunno how to get out, and I've been here all alone.
You're my only friend, Roachie!
Wait for me!
Hey, I said wait!
Roachie!
The party can't last forever, Zanka old pal.
Guess I'd better offer you up to the trash beast now.
Good ol' Jabber carried out his mission like a champ!