Highlights
- Shiki's helplessness in battle against Justice highlights the disparity in power and sets the stage for their reunion.
- Elsie and Justice's fight reveals their shared past and the deep-rooted hatred they have for each other.
- The dynamic between Elsie and Justice draws inspiration from Fairy Tail's Erza and Jellal, with their complicated past and unexplored love.
Warning: The following contains spoilers for Edens Zero Season 2, Episode 20, "Kiss & Die," now streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Verdant Planet of Foresta can't seem to catch a break as new foes enter the fray once more. This time, the Oracion Seis Interstellar has taken center stage, becoming an antagonist to the series' narrative. Since Shiki and the rest are unable to rival the power of the Cosmic Government, a certain space pirate has stepped in to deal with the threat head-on.
The notorious space pirate Elsie Crimson has made an appearance to save the Demon King from his demise at the hands of Justice. The resulting battle between Elsie and Justice has revealed much about their intertwined past and the root of their mutual hatred for one another. While the conclusion of this battle still remains undetermined, its significance for Edens Zero's premise has already been cemented by the number of rattling developments accompanying it.
Shiki’s Helplessness in Battle
Shiki has a history of taking on formidable opponents, and his victory against an Oracion Seis Galactica member solidified his place among the topdogs of the Sakura Cosmos. Despite his past feats, Shiki remained utterly helpless in front of Justice, a member of the Oracion Seis Interstellar and an agent of the Cosmic Government. Due to Elsie’s Ether still lingering on Shiki’s body, Justice decided to execute him for his associations with the space pirate.
Before Shiki could even react, he was bombarded by Justice’s Star Drain Ether Gear, with the Demon King almost executed if it weren’t for Elsie Crimson’s last-second intervention. Shiki and Justice’s fight was short-lived and clearly just a gimmick to set the stage for Justice and Elsie’s reunion. The Demon King failed to use his Overdrive and was knocked out instantly. Even if the opponent’s speed was too overwhelming, Shiki’s gravity should have been able to counter it to some extent, yet viewers only got to witness him in a helpless and grim state.
Elsie and Justice Take Center Stage
Shiki’s initial defeat and near-death moment was merely a way for Elsie to step in to face her arch nemesis. The fight served as a way to acquaint viewers with Elsie and Justice’s pasts and the relation they used to share before things went downhill. The first revelation was Justice sharing the exact same Ether Gear as Elsie – Star Drain. Since the two acquired the same power, it could only mean that they inherited the Ether Gear from the same predecessor, indicating a relation that goes back to their childhood.
Their powers also seemed to rival one another, since the abilities they used were entirely identical. The two eventually reached a stalemate, as neither could overpower the other given their similar power levels. Apart from revealing much about their pasts, the fight also sets a precedent for Shiki and the rest of the Edens Zero crew as they have a long journey ahead of them before they can counter the likes of the Oracion Seis Interstellar.
A Past Unraveled
Justice and Elsie’s fight revealed several crucial details about the two and their shared past. For starters, Elsie’s nickname ‘Princess’ isn’t simply a self-proclaimed title as she is actually a princess of a nation in the Kaede Cosmos. Her nation accumulated tremendous power, even forcing others to bow down to their superiority. Justice, whose real name is James Holloway, was a prince of a different nation, but it was already predetermined that he would marry Elsie to bring his kingdom under the stronger nation.
However, Elsie uncovered a malicious scheme of her own nation, exposing the truth that led to the nation’s demise. Elsie and Justice remain at odds about the event to this day, going as far as vowing to kill each other over this past disagreement. The two have even kissed in a previous fight in a bid to rekindle any past sentiments, though the two only end up stabbing each other. It’s clear that Elsie and Justice only mean business, and any past feelings have already subsided.
Inspiration and References
Elsie and Justice’s dynamic isn’t unique as its inspiration can be traced back to Erza and Jellal’s strained relationship in Fairy Tail. The duo shares a similar complicated past with sentiments of love left unexplored. The history they share may not exactly be the same as Erza and Jellal’s, though the feelings of betrayal and misunderstood hatred are ever-present. However, the only difference is that it’s unclear whether Elsie and Justice will move past their differences.
The Star Drain Ether Gear shared by Elsie and Justice is also inspired by Erza’s Requip Magic and Jellal’s Heavenly Body Magic. Star Drain allows the user to manifest elemental armors using the Ether of the host planet, a concept somewhat similar to Requip Magic. Star Drain also utilizes the powers of the stars, raining down judgment with the power of divinity. This aspect of Star Drain is akin to Jellal’s Heavenly Body Magic, making the Ether Gear a combination of both powers.