Affiancato dai tre guerrieri bestiali del Regno delle Bestie di Yurasania, l’esercito di Tempest, guidato da Benimaru, continua a combattere. Nel frattempo, al Walpurgis, Limur si trova finalmente faccia a faccia con il suo acerrimo nemico Kleiman!
I was a bit worried that I wouldn't be able to follow this, given how long it's been since I read Vol. 17, but aside from getting confused over some of the names for a bit, it all came back pretty quickly!
In this volume we have the continuation of the demon lord summit (so-to-speak) at Walpurgis, the battle between Clayman's, Milim's, and Rimuru's followers, and the infiltration of Clayman's realm to try save Milim from whatever it is that has happened with her.
Overall, I really enjoyed this! It was great to see how far Rimuru's people have come, and strong each of them has become since the first volume. Shuna in particular to me seemed to be a real gem; still just as poised and graceful as she has always been, but with a true strength to her.
I'm very much looking forward to Clayman being utterly destroyed in the volumes to come though, providing everything goes well.
Chapter notes below for personal reference: (potentially spoiler heavy)
With the Walpurgis in full swing Clayman's honeyed words and conspiratorial accusations of Rimuru before the other demon lords attempt to make him look to be the victim of recent events to buy time until he can complete the ritual to finally complete his rise into a true demon lord. In the mean time the various forces of Tempest are showing what they are made of as each group handles the objectives Rimuru wanted to be dealt with while he listens in on Clayman and exposes the deceits he oh so easily spreads. Lots of action in this volume including Benimaru's mighty burning blade, Shion's incorruptible loyalty to Rimuru as she shrugs off Clayman's influence, and how the once protected princess Shuna handles a deadly situation. It all leads up to a desperate monster being backed into a wall exposing the Crazed Clown who has hid himself behind the visage of a master manipulator.
By the way not sure how many read the mini comics at the end of the volumes but our blacksmith friend is still obsessed with getting on the front cover (He is not even on the character guide at he beginning of the volume and considers making a deal with the powerful Diablo but the cost and damage inflicted on everyone would probably be way to high to pay. :)
This volume is pretty awesome. The fights are all becoming super-powered. While it's great to see Rimuru flexing his skills in the latter chapters (but it was never really difficult for him - even if it's Milim), it's even better to see how some of his subordinates have grown in strength, like Benimaru's one-hit on a previous foe (granted, it was a weaker version). The anime definitely took the fights in a much different direction - they prolonged some of the fights, which had the effect of making the enemy seem stronger than the impression you'd get from the manga. Like Yamza was pretty pathetic (yes Alvis, I agree with your comment). The oddest fight was Phobio and Geld, where in the anime, they actually made them outright lose pretty badly; here, it just seemed like they were a bit hard-pressed. Shuna's fight, like Benimaru's scene, was really epic. And then there's Diablo...
The Walpurgis is underway and Clayman is just as much of a sleezy politician as you'd expect him to be and somehow this spirals into a brawl between Rimuru, Shion, Ranga (later Beretta plus one more) and Clayman, his two minions, and Milim.
Meanwhile, Benimaru's group is taking out Clayman's army in Eurzania, Shuna's group is infiltrating Clayman's castle, and Diablo is taking care of Falmuth business.
We also find out some interesting little details about a few different high-power characters.
We have the start of the final battle with Clayman. Armies are marching and well getting slaughtered and Lady Shuna is friggin amazing. Her abilities are top tier. The battle royale at the Walpurgis is ongoing but damn it has a lot of moving parts to say the least lol. Can't wait to see how it turns out in the next volume.
Really good fights as I do like Shuna's fight with the lich as it shows that she does not be in the background and that she is also pretty powerful. Also I do like that we get to see Clayman finally taken down a notch. Benimaru also gets some time to shine.
The Walpurgis turns into a brawl between Clayman and Rimuru, but of course Clayman used Milim to do his fighting. Also, the battle for Falmuth concludes. Very exciting volume.
*Review for Volumes 16-18* Yasssssss Veldora in the flesh. His rizz is through the roof. More of the OG ogres showing off. So proud. *sniff* Also plot is moving along swimmingly. Not much tension as threat level seems low, but intriguing stuff being revealed.
Notre cher Slime entre dans la cour des très grands ! Il est "convié" au banquet de la nuit de Walpurgis où les rois-démons se réunissent. Les cartes sont jetées. Kleiman dévoile enfin son jeu. Ce dernier essaie de manipuler l'assemblée et défie en combat Limule. Pendant ce temps, l'armée de Tempest et les trois grands fauves se battent contre les hommes de Kleiman et ceux de Millim, et se rendent dans le royaume de Falmus. En revanche le final nous laisse pantois! Ça va être long d'attendre la suite.