Highlights
- Shadow's main goal in the Lawless City is money, but his actions suggest he has a greater purpose that he keeps hidden from his organization.
- Shadow's attack on Crimson raises questions about the strength of his attack and the regenerative abilities of the vampires. His plot progression is halted when the Blood Queen is not found.
- Claire and Beta's team engage in a battle with the Blood Queen, but she proves to be a formidable opponent. Aurora's possession of Claire's body reveals new powers and the potential for the Seven Shadows to close the strength gap with their Lord.
Warning: The following contains spoilers for The Eminence in Shadow, Episode 23, "The Hour of Awakening," now available to stream on HIDIVE.
So far in The Eminence in Shadow, Shadow's main goal in the Lawless City is money. Although Shadow Garden's presence in the city hints a bit at the gravity of the situation, their leader, Shadow, only has his pocket in mind. Funnily, one thing he does ever so efficiently is masking. Throughout The Eminence in Shadow series, his thoughts have never spilled out in a way that members of his organization can read through him.
As such, when he acts independently, the belief is that his actions cannot be understood and that all he does has a greater purpose. In his capacity as Cid, though, the reverse is the case, at least when his sister is involved. She believes he is an open book and is unpassionate about anything. Therefore, if nothing is done, he may ruin his life, and she would have failed as an older sister in that regard.
The Eminence in Shadow: A Vampire's Past
Shadow has resolved to take action while Mary and Claire reveal much more information about the vampires.
Shadow's Hope At A Plot
Shadow appears on the boss level, aiming and hoping to find the Blood Queen, in this case, the final boss. On his arrival, two things briefly stand out: Crimson's presence and a half-dead human he (Crimson) hopes to put the Blood Queen's heart into. Shadow has no time to let the 'final boss' think or act, and he speedily launches an attack that kills both Crimson and the human sacrifice. To his disappointment, the Blood Queen is nowhere to be found, and he proceeds downstairs, hoping to maybe run into her.
Shadow deserves a bit of credit for wanting to end the battle with the vampires as soon as possible by trying to appear fashionable early in his boss battle. However, the attack that killed Crimson is questionable. Firstly, why did Crimson die so easily when his heart was not stabbed? This would allow him to regenerate regardless of his severed head. Further, is it safe to assume Shadow's attack was so strong that his regenerative abilities were immediately halted? Either way, what can be concluded from the scene is that Shadow has killed Crimson, but the Blood Queen is nowhere to be found. Hence, his intended plot progression is halted.
The Battle Atop The Crimson Tower
Mary and Claire arrive at the top of the tower, but no targets remain, or so they thought. Before they have any time to react, Claire has a hole in her heart; the Blood Queen's heart chooses to feast on her. With no time to analyze the events, Shadow Garden, specifically Beta's team, enters the fray to kill the Blood Queen. Despite successfully landing attacks, the Blood Queen regenerates almost instantly and feeds off their blood in an artistic display of blood control. Yukime and Juggernaut, the other rulers of the city, appear in the continuing battle, but Yukime understands it is beyond her abilities. On the other hand, Juggernaut attempts to join but is so battered that he cannot move. Beta's concentration wavers because her Lord's sister is halfway at death's door, and she has to battle the Blood Queen, who is proving a formidable opponent, stronger than maybe Alpha, she presumes.
With different talking points in the battle, the strength gauge of each character is the most important. Claire seems the weakest, but the city's rulers don't seem all that powerful either. Presumably, Beta could probably take on either and come out on top. While that does nothing good for the city's reputation, the Blood Queen is a formidable threat that could defeat a good portion of Shadow Garden.
The Possession
The Blood Queen's attacks cause Beta's team (Beta included) and Claire to merge tumors on their previously possessed bodies. This causes a reaction that brings their regressive symptoms to light. Claire wakes up in a room that looks like a mini-clinic and meets a purple-haired lady. She informs Claire that 'he' saved her and then goes on a rant about evolution. Claire pays no mind to the latter; her attention is on who the 'he' is. This purple-haired lady then explains that due to adaptation, traits can get separated by blood; due to this, two types of blood are in Claire's body, but she cannot control it. This purple-haired lady introduces herself as Aurora and offers to help; she lets her know that the 'he' is Shadow. Aurora possesses Claire's body and starts to attack the Blood Queen. Her attacks prove superior to the extent that she attempts atomic magic, but Claire's body cannot stand it. With that, Aurora had bought enough time for Shadow to reappear.
While Aurora's possession means Claire's body can use blood powers, what may be more mind-boggling is that the Seven Shadows can use Shadow's atomic magic. Aurora confirms this when she attempts it; as such, the Seven Shadows, if they can pull this off, have the potential to close the strength gap vis-à-vis their Lord.
Shadow
With enough time, Shadow appears and battles the Blood Queen. In this scene, Beta questions why Lord Shadow is not attacking as much as he should. Shadow saying, "I can't afford to lose a single one," allows her to conclude he is protecting them while also attacking. In a final face-off in what looks like a last attack that could potentially kill the Blood Queen, Shadow says, "I... Am... Recovery Atomic." and reverts all injuries, ghouls, and the Blood Queen's mind. The next day, they return to Midgar Kingdom, and Cid reflects on how the only thing he did not cure was Claire's chuunibyou delusions about how her hand (which the Blood Queen caused to revert to possession) is special.
Regarding strength levels, Shadow is stronger than the Blood Queen. However, what is ironic is during the battle, Shadow's statement, "I can't afford to lose a single one," was directed at the coins he had stashed in his slime coat. He reflects on how he did not get much money but recognizes Lawless City as his piggy bank.