Hikari No Ou, also known as The Fire Hunter and The Firecatcher Lord, is a series of Japanese fantasy novels, published in four volumes between 2018 and 2020. An animated adaptation was released in January 2023, with a second season scheduled to air in January 2024.
The story is set in a world where a calamity has made humans combust when in the presence of fire itself. Humanity now survives by extracting the blood of dangerous creatures called Fire Fiends, which can be used as a safe source of light and heat; those who hunt for this resource are called Fire Hunters.
Touko, a girl from a small village, is saved by a Fire Hunter at the cost of his life, and is tasked to return his dog, Kanata, and his belongings to his house in the capital.
Tropes
- After the End: The series is set following a great tragedy that seemed to revert an once futuristic Japan to a 18th century steampunk version of itself.
- Animalistic Abomination: Fire Fiends are what passes for wildlife in the forest that covers the world. They are vicious, distorted mammalian predators whose blood acts as a substitute for fire. There are also the airborne fallbeasts, whose blood acts as an explosive fuel that supports the capital's industries.
- Evolving Credits: The anime's end credits add new elements as the story goes on.
- Heroic Dog: All Fire Hunters are accompanied by dogs that protect them and help them fight the Fire Fiends. There's no distinction made between breeds, either; Akira's dog is tiny and no less effective at fighting than Kanata is.
- Ill Girl: Koushi's sister Hinako suffers from chronic poisoning from the capital's factories. Yuoshichi convinces Koushi to work for him by promising to provide medical care for her.
- Immune to Fire: Downplayed. The Spiders have protected themselves from spontaneous combustion with the venom of an insect found in the forest, which they plan to take advantage of in destroying the capital city.
- Plant Person: The treefolk are a species of humanoids with woody growths sprouting from their bodies, with more forming on them as they age.
- Plot-Triggering Death: Haijuu's Heroic Sacrifice to protect Touko prompts her family to send her on a journey to the capital so she can return his dog and sickles to his family.
- Points of Light Setting: The known world consists of the capital city, a smattering of villages, and the armored trains that bring news and goods through the trackless forest between them. There's also mention of an island far out to sea where the people speak the same language as those on the mainland.
- Spontaneous Human Combustion: Humanity was altered during their last war to burst into flame at the mere presence of fire. This led to the collapse of civilization due to how much of humanity's technology was dependent of fire in some form. Eventually, a substitute was found in the form of a substance in the Fire Fiends' blood. The Spiders have found a way to protect themselves against by using the venom of an insect found in the forest.
- Theme Naming: Most characters have names that reference fire of the color red.
