Recap / Soul Eater Kishin Battle Arc

This calls for a Maka Chop!

The Kishin Battle arc is the final anime-only arc in Soul Eater. After capturing Asura, Death does battle with the Kishin. When he falls in battle, it is up to Maka's team to defeat the immensely powerful but weakened Asura and prevent his madness wavelength from infecting the world.

"The Kishin Battle Arc" contains examples of:

• And Then What?: Subverted, Excalibur asks him what he intends to do after filling the world with his madness. Asura replies that madness is enough for the world.
• All-Powerful Bystander: Excalibur is the most powerful weapon in the series, more so than even the death scythes and yet only comes and stay to observe the battle with Asura, not actually join the fight. He does give some explanation for the kishins barrier and tells the others the battle is still going on even though they can't see or sense it.
• Alone with the Psycho: Maka ends up facing Asura alone after all her friends had fallen, even soul.
• As Long as There Is Evil: Of a madness varient. Asura points out that even if he is destroyed it won't matter because a new kishin will take his place, an heir to his madness. Maka doesn't care because there will always be people to fight fear with courage.
• Badass Bystander:
  • Azusa is a death scythe so she is plenty powerful but can't really fight without a meister so all she can do is watch the battle between Lord Death and Asura. It is still taking all her will power not to try to get involved though, least she get killed in the process
  • Azusa again when Kid charges into the Kishins barrier before it closes to fight him for the same reason, as Excalibur points out.
  • The rest of the DWMA staff are also this when the Kishins barrier closes so they can't go in to help fight and can only just hope Maka's team can take down Asura on their own.
• Bait-and-Switch: In Episode 47, there are three cases of multiple people's reactions to the Death City Robot, such as Mosquito and Death the Kid. In the first two, Excalibur (who is included) simply says "fools", as usual. Then when the Death City Robot eats the Kishin, he says "hmm" instead.
• Barrier Maiden: a self inflicted example from Asura, of all people. Excalibur explains that Asura was badly injured in his fight with Lord Death, so he builds a barrier around himself to sleep and heal. the madness wavelength will still spread throughout the world without him even lifting a finger if he isn't destroyed in time, prompting the heroes to go in to defeat him.
• Bishounen Line: After fighting his giant self, Asura turns back into his more human form, though with the same light blue skin as his previous form.
• Bystander Syndrome: A mild Example, Kid hoped he could help his father fight Asura and they could take him down together, but the battle is much too intense for even him to get involved.
• Can't Believe I Said That: Played for Drama. Marie has this when Crona is saved by Steins surgery after the battle with Medusa is over, regretting how she told them she wouldn't be able to trust and forgive them until they brought Stein back and they got severly injured as a result of what she said. Stein comforts her by telling her to just tell Crona how she feels and is sorry, the surgery was a sucess and they'll be fine, certain they will forgive her.
• Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: Asura betrays Arachne and kills her so no one else would use her to defeat him like he did with Lord Death. See Insane Troll Logic below.
• Deadpan Snarker:
  • Asura, suprisingly, to Excalibur, "Aww, I missed you too"
• Death by Adaptation: Asura is Killed Off for Real in the last episode where as in the manga he was merely sealed away again on the moo in black blood by Crona in a Heroic Sacrifice
• Did Not See That Coming: Really Arachne, how were you not expecting Asura, the crazy god of fear and madness, killing you himself if no one else did
• Dies Different In Adaptation: Arachne was killed by Maka and Soul in the manga, in the anime she is killed by Asura, see Insane Troll Logic for why
• Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?: Literally. this is how Maka ultimately defeats Asura, by punching him in the face with her courage fueled by both herself and her friends faith in her. Due to Asura being pure fear, he doesn't stand against it and explodes as a result.
• Earn Your Happy Ending: Crona ultimately gets this. They were saved by Stein from thanks to the surgery given, gained Maries forgiveness, gets reenrolled as a fully fledged student of the academy, has a new life full of friends, and it is implied they moved in with Maka and Soul
• Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: Asura cannot understand something as simple as courage due to being a being of pure fear.
• Fisher King: Asura invokes this when he sets up his barrier to give himself time to heal from his battle with Lord death, spreading the madness within himself throughout the world in his sleep, literally. When taking hits from Makas team, the barrier starts to get thin enough to see though, as Kid points out, this is proof that even if they aren't doing physical damage to Asuras body, they must be doing something right to cause the reaction to the barrier.
• Foreshadowing: Surprisingly enough, the anime only story arc actually foreshadows the manga ending a little, despite the anime ending years before the manga did. When Kid connects the lines of Sanzu on his head, unlocking great power in his soul, Lord Deaths mask cracks a bit as a result, predicting the manga ending for him where he dies when Kid becomes a full grim reaper as there can only be one grim reaper in the world at a time. Kid only does this temporarily so he doesn't die in anime
• Good Hurts Evil: Inverted, Maka uses Anti-Demon Wavelength, a wavelength that can destroy evil, which was capable of killing Medusa, and failed. This is because Asura was being driven by madness, not by malice or sadism like Medusa. Insane people cannot be considered completely evil because they are not completely in control of their thoughts and judgment and thus do not act according to the concepts of good and evil.
• Grand Finale: This anime only arc serves as one to the anime series
• Groin Attack: Angela does this to Black Star, for no apparent reason other than It Amused Me
• Humans Are Insects: Asura calls Maka and co insects before the final battle.
• Humans Are Special: Lord Death believes this as to imagination is what separates humans from animals.
• Human Shield: done three times, all from Asura's attacks:
  • First by Lord Death to protect Kidd and everyone else in the death room from a killing blow from Asura
  • Second time is when Soul does this to save maka from a killing blow from Asura
  • Third time is Maka taking the blow for soul from Asura, returning the favor completely
• Humongous Mecha:
  • What Lord Death turns death city with all the magic tools of Eibon into to join the fight and finally go after Asura.
  • Also Arachnaphobia's castle Baba Yaga can also move around as well in the form of a giant robot spider.
• Insane Troll Logic: Asura uses Kid and the others in the death room to defeat Lord Death by making him take the shot for them so they wouldn't be killed. He then realises this tactic could used on him as well since he realizes his love for Arachne, so he decides to kill her so this wouldn't happen.
• It's All My Fault: Marie believes Crona was gravely injured because she said she wouldn't be able to trust them unless they brought Stein back, feeling that she forced them into the battle with Medusa. Despite being there with them the whole time she still couldn't protect them, regretting her harsh words now. Stein comforts her by telling her Cronas surgery was a success, and that she should just tell them how she feels, certain they will forgive her.
• Killed Off for Real: Arachne and Asura meet this fate. Asura first betrays Arachne because she would be a weakness for him like how he used Kid to beat Death, cheating in their fight. Asura is then killed off in the anime, unlike the manga, confirmed by Lord Death burying his soul in the death room.
• Let's Get Dangerous!: As the fight between Death and Asura intensifies, his voice becomes deeper and his attitude more murderous. Spirit even comments how Out of Character Deaths being right now
  Spirit: "I know he's the lord of all death, but I've never heard him sound so murderous before"
• Loves the Sound of Screaming: Asura's reaction to Maka's bloodcurdling scream as he crushes her ribs certainly gives this impression.
• Megaton Punch: Maka gives one to Asura to finish him off, cracking his face and destroying him at last.
• Mobile City: In the anime, Death City is revealed to have legs and to be able to get up and walk around. This is set up early, with Dr. Stein pointing out that the only way for Death to chase the Big Bad would be if Death City grew legs and started walking, lampshading the ludicrousness of such a thought and making it so that no-one would assume that it could, in fact, happen.
• Mundane Made Awesome: Maka ultimately defeats Asura with just a punch that symbolizes all her courage from both herself and her friends. due to Asura being fear personified, this is what finally kills him
• Next Tier Power-Up: of technique variety again. the genie was powerful, but the kishin hunter is the most powerful version of witch hunter possible, used by both Lord Death and Maka in their fights against Asura. neither worked too well though due to the fact that, like genie hunter, kishin hunter can only target evil, and Asura isn't truly evil as he is madness and fear incarnate, which is itself not evil, nulling the effects of the move.
• No-Sell: All attacks on Asura do nothing, savor Death cutting off an arm (that quickly grows back), Kid huge attack only made him change back to his human form, only a punch of courage was enough to defeat due to Rule of Symbolism
• Not So Invincible After All: Both Asura and Death;
  • With Death, he takes the shot from one of Asura's laser attacks meant for Kid and ends up quite damaged but not dead, showing that as powerful as he is, he can still be greatly injured or even killed as he himself stated that Asura could have finished him off for good when he was freed. When Kid starts to unlock his true power by finally connecting his lines (if only temporary) his mask cracks a little (see foreshadowing above for why)
  • Asura has completely shrugged off every attempt on his life in the series, from Death or otherwise. In the final episode he gets Killed Off for Real from a Megaton Punch of Maka's courage because he is fear manifested, which stands no real chance against courage.
• One-Winged Angel: Asura turns into his giant true kishin form after consuming Arachne's soul, then back to his human form, but with the same skin color from when he was a giant.
• "The Reason You Suck" Speech: More like a "Reason-You-Suck Debate" near the end of the anime between Lord Death and Asura:
  Lord Death: This is how you've been as long as I've known you. Hiding cowardice behind cunning. You were always riddled with insecurities and plagued by fears, unable to relax until you'd hidden them all! In an effort to escape your petty fear, you partnered with Vajra. You should have fought alongside me, but you were too weak for that! In the end, you betrayed not only innocent humans, but your own Weapon Partner as well!
  Asura: Ya know, for a Grim Reaper you're impressively naive. Following the rules doesn't guarantee and escape from fea—-
  Lord Death: And insanity does?! Even if you bury your fears and madness, new fears will only surface!! Are you truly so lost already that you can't understand that simple fact!?! If you continue along the path you've chosen, the world will sink into despair!! Even a child would see the heartless evil in that!!
  Asura: Don't you see how empty and meaningless the authority you impose is? That's not how the truth is found. You make your followers feel safe by offering white lies and comforting words. Don't you know that only harms them more?
  Lord Death: There's no hope for you!! You are behind saving!!
  Asura: Do you find creating the illusion of peace for people that noble of a job?
  Lord Death: It's far more noble than seeking to destroy them with blind insanity like you intend to!!
  Asura: Have you even listened to a word I've said old man!?! What's wrong with surrendering to madness? That's where the true peace is...
  Lord Death: So you keep saying; but that's because you're not strong enough for sanity!!!
  Asura: I'm plenty strong. You'll find out soon enough that YOU'RE the weak one Reaper.
  • Asura also gives one to Maka as well, telling her how hopeless and pointless it is. This does not break her spirit, causing him to have a Villainous Breakdown as a result.
• Spared by the Adaptation:
  • Lord Death; He wasn't killed off in the anime due to kid not becoming a full grim reaper yet
  • Crona and Ragnarok; Crona and Ragnarok end the anime alive and well, having ended their Heel–Face Revolving Door on the side of the DWMA.
  • Possibly Medusa; While she appeared to have died near the end of the anime, the end credits for the last episode show her snake form, implying she survived. This can be debated, as she earlier said she would not be able to survive transferring into a snake a second time, so this could just be a similar snake to the one she possessed the first time.
  • Justin Law; In the anime Justin turns out to be exactly what he appears, and lives.
  • Giriko; in the manga, he gets killed by his own blood lust from over eight hundred years being too much rage for him to handle and his soul explodes from it, killing him. In the anime, he simply leaves Arachnephobia after Arachne is killed by Asura.
  • Mosquito; in the manga he was killed by Noah, (whom he originally thought was modern day Eibon) to have part of him collected in his book of Eibon. In the anime, he is last seen mourning over Arachnes demise.
• Taking the Bullet:
  • Soul does this again for Maka in episode 51, when Asura is just about to deal a finishing blow.
  • Lord death also does this to protect Kid and everyone else in the Death Room from Asura's attack.
• Übermensch: Asura is this, he believes by plunging the world into madness will allow true freedom and despises the rules of law and morality enforced by Lord Death.
• Villains Out Shopping: Sort of. In the credits of the anime's final episode, we see Free, Eruka, and the Mizune sisters relaxing in the forest.
• Villainous Breakdown: Asura cannot understand how Maka can be so calm and brave in the face of absolute fear and death, espcially since all her friends and allies had been beaten, including even soul.
• Weaksauce Weakness: Asura is ultimately beaten by Makas courage, giving form in her fist, delivered to him via a Megaton Punch. Asura is fear incarnate, so he was destroyed by something as common as courage.
• You Killed My Father: An almost literal example, as Kid goes into the Kishin barrier to defeat Asura to avenge his father Death. Thankfully, this a nonlethal example, as Lord Death was only injured in his battle with Asura, albeit greatly, and still recovers