Big fight between Jo/Jin and the phatom. The fight was totally not even though, even though the phatom outnumbered Jo/Jin. And I wished the fights weren’t just a blur. We do find out that Toraji was from the Phantom previously too.

The episode starts off with a recap scene of a vessel submerging underwater. Later at a command center, the vessel, Ishin, stops responding to the command center. At the same time, sound of a structure crushing. Soon all contact with the vessel is lost. The search for the vessel is soon dismissed, and Lt Col Shiba Touraji is declared KIA, and given a two grade promotion.

Fast forward to present day, the phatom are in a helicopter flying to the Wakou base. At the same time Jo is scouting out the base from a nearby cliff. Gora starts examining Jo’s gladiator, and is very excited about it. But Jo comes over and throws him one side. A irritated Gora ends up calling Jo a cry baby. But Jo just brushes it aside saying he just tears after using the Gladiator, no particular reason.

Jo proceeds to get into his Gladiator. Jumping into the sea, he travels to the Wakou vessel, sneaks aboard and effectively silences all the guard. In fact, he reaches Jin easily, passes him a rifle, and proceed to look for Sana.

Their teamwork is perfect, and they reach the deck of the vessel very swiftly. Just as Jin starts to suspect that something is wrong, they suddenly find themselves surrounded. Touraji appears from a higher deck, and Jin demands the release of Sana. Of course he refuses, when Jo suddenly steps forward and stares at Touraji without saying anything.

Touraji is intrigued, and jumps down to the lower deck. Thus a fight begins between Touraji and Jo, but Touraji quickly gains the upperhand. Soon Touraji is holding Jo in an arm lock, threatening to break his arm. A somersault breaks the hold and Jo jumps away from Touraji. Touraji congratulates him for having made Touraji use his katana in the first place.

Suddenly, the mountain that the wakou are hiding in comes under a missile volley by the phatom. At the same time, the Phatom had launched 4 gladiators. Jo jumps into the water, (presumably to swim for his gladiator). Touraji tells his people not to pursue, but instead be prepared to fight. At the same time, he informs Jin that his gladiator is in the bottom hold. When Jin asks why touraji is telling him that, Touraji reveals that he has something to settle with the phatom still, telling Jin to protect Sana at all cost.

The wakou’s first response is to launch a volley of missiles, which are shot down easily by the phatom’s gladiators. They split up into two teams, one travelling on the water, the other flying up to the mountains. The two on the mountains are preparing to jump onto the vessel from the top. But suddenly, Chinran’s Gladiator is knocked down the cliff by Jo’s gladiator. Thus a fight begins between Jo and Chinran/Kyoshirou.

Meanwhile, Riki/Steve have reached the vessel, where the bullets of the wakou post no problems to them. Steve jumps to the back to get Sana, while Riki remains. Suddenly, Riki is knocked over by a single shot. It is revealed to be Jin in his white gladiator.

Meanwhile, Chiran asks Kyoshirou to get onto the ship. Instead, he launches a suicidal jump onto Jo. Jo fires a single blast, straight into Kyoshirou, throwing him into the sea. Chinran end up being locked in closed combat, and they both fall into the sea together too.

Meanwhile a gatling gun on the ship has destroyed the left arm of Riki’s Gladiator, but is immediately destroyed too. But Riki continues to face much pressure from Jin.

Meanwhile, Steve has exited his gladiator to get Sana. But Touraji arrives from nowhere to cut his rifle into 2, as well as holding his katana to Steve’s neck. Suddenly, renee arrives on the helicopter with a sniper rifle, but when she sees that it’s Touraji, she hesistates to shoot. When she finally does, she ends up missing. But it allows Steve to get back to his gladiator. Touraji starts to run for shelter. All the while, Renee has him in her sights, but does not shoot, drawing much shock from steve.

Meanwhile, everybody has arrived on the deck of the vessel, including Jo. Touraji informs Jo/Jin that they are submerging, and to hold tight. THe phatom have no choice but to withdraw.

Later when they resurface, Jo is seen tearing again, and Touraji seems surprised by it. Touraji tells Jin that he can take care of Sana. But Jin has to take Chikura Shouzou immediately. Later on, Jin tells Jo that he has always intended to bring Sana to Chikura… and for Touraji to know that much….

Thoughts

This series seems to continue to promise so much, yet the only thing it does is leave more questions.

Why is Sana so important to the phatom

Why did Touraji leave the phantom

Why does Jo always tear

Wait for the next episode. Again.

Oh yes. and the standard shots of Sana