This review contains SPOILERS. You’ve been warned.
In last week’s episode, danger struck Orario as the Xenos began their assault in retaliation for Wiene’s kidnapping. While this was happening, a despondent Bell tried to find the will to continue his life as an Adventurer, but realized that he may no longer have the resolve to kill monsters for money. A chance encounter with his idol, Ais Wallenstein, further dampened his already low spirit when she confirmed that even if monsters could speak and has emotions, she would kill them without hesitation if they pose a threat to anyone. Bell’s situation got even more complicated as Ouranos issued an order for the Ganesha Familia to subjugate the Xenos, and requested Bell to secretly join them. Meanwhile, Hermes tasked Asfi and Aisha to watch over Bell, along with the help of Ryu.
Thus, Episode 6 begins with an expedition into a ruined Rivira, and it is clear from the get-go that the situation is worse than it looks. The Xenos have all but conquered the entire floor, and Bell has to fight those he once consider his friends. We have a heartbreaking scene with a guilt-ridden Lyd trying to cut with Bell, and Yoshitsugu Matsouka’s voice acting shines once more in this scene. Bell’s anguish is very real, and while the scene is brief, the emotions are prominent.
Lyu’s sudden arrival ends it, and we get a brief Bell x Lyu moment. You can easily tell that the half-elf’s concern is sincere, not just because of Syr, but because she also admires Bell.
Meanwhile, Gros is trying to locate the captured Xenos, and interrogates a member of Ikelos familiar. One major change that happened here is the survival of said member. In the novel, Gros brutally kills the Adventurer after learning of the hideout’s location, unlike in this episode where he lets him live. Obviously, the gore would be too much for the audiences, so the change is justifiable enough.
Back on the surface, Hestia familia is still trying to follow Bell, but the dungeon is closed off. In a flash of inspiration, Lili decides to seek help from an old nemesis: Zanis of Soma familia. The last time we saw him was back in season 2 during the War Game, and it is clear that his time in the prison never did him good. We saw how miserable he has become, though his arrogance still remained. Nevertheless, he still gave the information that Lili needed to get her familia inside the dungeon.
Admittedly, the anime often switch POVs every five minutes, so things can be pretty jarring to some viewers. Bell, accompanied by Fels, followed the Xenos into the lair of Ikelos familia. And it is here that they learned a horrible truth.
There is another set of labyrinth built within the dungeon by Daedalus, a genius craftsman who also built Babel Tower and most of Orario. Considered as the best builder of his time, Daedalus decided to enter the dungeon to study its creation, only to get out raving mad. It is really unfortunate how such a powerful mind can become corrupted, and it makes you wonder just what he had seen to suddenly possess an obsession in creating a building greater than even the dungeon. An obsession powerful enough to even pass it on his descendants and successors.
One thing that this episode failed to convey is how deep this obsession runs. In the novel, it was detailed that Daedalus’s descendant went as far as kidnapping women and committing incest just to keep the secret from getting out while keeping the lineage pure. It is quite dark in tone, darker than what we saw in this episode.
Then things get heated quickly as the two sides have a standoff before Dix unleashes his spell, Phobetor Daedalus, forcing the Xenos to attack one another as mindless beasts devoid of higher reasoning. Since Bell hid behind Fels just in time, it is now up to him to defeat Dix. And one thing I really liked in this scene was the background music. Just as Bell engages Dix, we heard once again the theme solely used whenever Bell is going to fight a strong opponent: the Argonaut theme. What sets this music very differently from the rest is the fact that it is a remix version, a little slower and melancholic, but still as epic as the original. For me, the change in tone signifies Bell’s own growth as a character where he is no longer trying to be the kind of hero that kills monsters, but a hero wants to save everyone, regardless of race and appearance.
Overall, Episode 6 is interesting and solid, and I can’t wait for the epic duel between the Hazer and the Little Rookie! Definitely an 8/10.