01x11 - Play

[bunniefuu]

[theme music playing]

[Strophaia] Hi.

[Shingo] Back away

from Solomon's Flute, now, Strophaia!

Rest assured,

I will do nothing to Solomon's Flute.

I don’t have to.

[Strophaia cackling]

[Shingo grunting, straining]

[Strophaia cackling]

[Mephisto II]

Floating around in the demon world ♪

High up in the sky ♪

Oh, that turned out nicely.

[cell phone vibrating]

Hmm? Etsuko must be done with work.

AKUMA KUN

ONE NEW MESSAGE

[gasping]

[opening theme music playing]

AKUMA KUN

[Mephisto III grunting]

[Akuma grunting]

[both] Rock, paper, scissors.

Ready, set, go!

[groaning] I can't believe I lost again!

[Akuma] I'm going to have the ramen

with a side of fried rice today.

Curse my bad luck!

- [footsteps approaching rapidly]

- [both] Huh?

Thank goodness!

I'm glad both of you are here!

Trouble's brewing!

Ah, having curry tonight!

More pressing concerns are at stake here!

Ugh. You've got a point.

I can't believe I have to treat this

ingrate to dinner two nights in a row!

- That cost you a side of gyoza.

- It's about Akuma Kun!

I mean Shingo, my Akuma Kun!

He and the whole Invisible School

have been sealed off!

[tense music playing]

AKUMA KUN: THE ANGEL

WHAT HAPPENED?

Take a look at the last message

I got from him.

"The Angel" he mentions in the message

must be that Strophaia character.

- It's possible.

- Why are you acting so blasé?

For all we know,

your father's in major trouble right now!

Now I don't have

to listen to him go on and on

about our mission

to build the Millennium Kingdom anymore.

What a relief.

You cannot be serious!

[Akuma munching]

[Akuma] If you want to help him out,

then gather the Twelve Apostles.

Enough! I can't believe you.

Ugh! Come on, Dad!

[Mephisto II] Are you sure

this is what you want, Ichiro?

[Mephisto III] Forget him!

[Mephisto II groaning]

That jerk!

[footsteps approaching]

You better realize

I'm never talking to you again after this!

Elohim, Essaim. Elohim, Essaim.

I entreat thee to heed my call.

And bestow Potestate Diaboli unto thee.

[Mephisto III] Uh

You need supernatural power

to be useful, right?

[Mephisto III seething]

Thank you very much!

Sure thing, don't mention it.

And good luck out there.

[ominous music playing]

[Shingo] Strophaia's power

keeps growing stronger.

[upbeat, tense music playing]

What?

What the heck is that?

[Mephisto II] Likely

a magic barrier made by Strophaia.

- Let's go!

- [Mephisto III] Right.

[both gasping] Huh?

It spit us out.

If we attack together

maybe we can break through!

I agree!

[both] Lightning Shock!

[Shingo] No answer here, either.

Strophaia's barrier has a power source.

There must be a way to block it.

I just have to find it.

[Mephisto II and III]

Supernatural Flame Thrower!

Machine g*n Punch!

Absolute Zero Freeze!

Whirling Hat Saw!

[both grunting]

[Mephisto III] Nothing we're doing

is working, Dad!

[Mephisto II] We mustn't give up, son!

There's not a clue

to be found in this book.

[Shingo sighing]

But I refuse to give up!

I have an obligation.

[ominous music playing]

Think it's fair to say

this place is not at all inviting.

- You want to keep pressing forward?

- [Shingo] We can't afford to stop now.

According to the cartomancy,

it has to be around here somewhere.

What do you think we'll find

when we get there?

The only way

for us to be certain is to keep going.

- Bring us down.

- Right.

[chains rattling]

[Strophaia] Hurry, Aeshma! Over here.

The Count said that we were allowed

to play any way we like

while we're in here.

[Akuma] Hmm.

[Strophaia] Pretty great, huh?

[Akuma] Hmm?

[Strophaia] Did you know

that this world exists

as a system for confining and isolating

the light that's been broken to pieces?

It was shoddily thrown together, though.

Confine the light.

That's right. Matter is simply a prison.

The fragments of light become souls

which are then confined

inside human bodies.

They dream of the day

they'll eventually be released.

Wouldn't you like to help set it free?

Go right ahead. It's okay to do it.

Set it free?

I can help?

[Strophaia] Yes, you can.

Destroy the shackles of the flesh,

and the light will be released.

The light wants

to be free more than anything.

It would be overjoyed.

Go ahead. Release it.

You've got a point.

I'll release it from its suffering.

[Strophaia cackling]

[Shingo] Don't do it!

[music stops]

[Strophaia] Who's there?

I won't stand by

while you corrupt this child!

[Strophaia] Who the hell are you?

And why the hell

should I let you command me?!

I take it

you're the being known as Strophaia.

So that's him?

Be careful, Akuma Kun!

Of course.

You're the ultimate genius, Akuma Kun.

[ominous music playing]

[gasping] Solomon's Flute!

Strophaia,

hand over that child this instant!

Don't you dare! [roaring]

[both grunting]

[Shingo grunting]

[Shingo grunting]

Solomon's Flute!

Don't worry! I'm here!

You're merely a shard of light imprisoned

within matter.

Allow me to teach you your place!

Come and try it!

Light and darkness, misery and joy.

Those things are all

at the core of our essence!

You seem to be quite confused!

Don't meddle in that

which you can't understand!

Supernatural Lightning Shock!

[Mephisto II straining]

[Shingo] Elohim, Essaim. Elohim, Essaim.

I entreat thee to heed my call.

Demon Shield!

[Strophaia cackling]

No!

I'm afraid with way things stand,

we're no match for Strophaia's power!

Akuma Kun

What a delight to watch

you interloping shards of light struggle

to save your fleshy prisons.

- [both grunting, straining]

- [Strophaia cackling]

Akuma Kun, run!

[Shingo] I'm not giving up!

[Strophaia cackling]

[Strophaia] Huh?

[Shingo gasping]

[suspenseful music playing]

[gasping] Aeshma, no!

- What?

- That light, it's coming from

[Akuma] Huh.

What's this?

Drop it, Aeshma! [grunting]

Hey, look, Strophaia. It's shining.

[Strophaia] Aeshma, Aeshma.

Aeshma, Aeshma, Aeshma

[Akuma] Strophaia?

Where'd he go?

[footsteps approaching]

Hi there.

Why don't you come back home with us?

- [contemplative music playing]

- [Akuma gasping]

[Akuma grunting]

[Shingo sighing]

It isn't in this book either.

It's cocoa. I think you might like it.

[Akuma] Huh.

[Akuma gasping]

[Shingo chuckling]

[Akuma humming]

[Akuma gasping] Huh?

These are called hotcakes.

These are called hotcakes?

That's correct.

These are called hotcakes.

Huh.

Hotcakes are sticky, sweet, and delicious.

Hotcakes are good.

I'm glad you like them.

[Akuma exhaling]

I have no idea what the demon

who calls himself the Count tried

to pass off as cuisine

where you come from,

but now you'll

be eating human food every day.

[Akuma gulping, exhaling]

There are wonderful things

to eat in this world.

The Physiology of Taste or,

Meditations on Transcendental Gastronomy

would support that.

So you've read Savarin as well?

Consider me impressed.

It was a boring read.

Every dish

will have a unique flavor profile.

The world is rich

with food and culture and people,

and you get to learn about all of it!

- Why's that?

- Because you happen to be human, too.

It's necessary for humans

to know about other humans?

That's right.

And you learn

about yourself through others.

[books clattering]

[Akuma coughing]

[Akuma sighing, groaning]

Dumb Dad. Hmm?

A photo?

[Akuma gasping]

[uplifting music playing]

[Akuma grunting]

[ghosts]

Sit right there, sit right there ♪

And smile big, smile big ♪

Uh, what's this all about?

We're going to take a photo

courtesy of Yuko here.

- Ready.

- [ghosts] When you leave it to Yuko ♪

What's the purpose of taking a photo?

So we remember. It's a family photo.

[Yuko] Okay. Here we go. Say cheese.

[camera shutter clicking]

[Akuma gasping] Hmm.

[Shingo] You must strive towards the

Millennium Kingdom in everything you do.

- [children laughing]

- [indistinct chatter]

[girl] I wanna go on the slide!

[both] Huh?

[girl] Let's go.

The Millennium Kingdom,

where all people live happily ever after

in perfect harmony.

That's right.

Do you think you can figure out how?

There's no point in rushing it, though.

It won't be easy.

They're good, right?

[pop song playing over speakers]

KAMICHOFU SHOPPING ARCADE

This is music.

[song stops]

[Akuma] Dumb Dad.

[ominous music playing]

This one's no good.

[Shingo sighing]

There must be some sort of way

to block Strophaia.

I have to keep searching for an answer.

[Strophaia] You're only wasting your time.

[Shingo] Hmm?

[Strophaia] I have existed for countless

ages before this world was given form.

You know that, don’t you?

So I've read.

My research has uncovered you're incapable

of doing anything in this world

without borrowing a human form.

That means there's definitely a way

to block you.

[Strophaia scoffing]

I'd say that's doubtful, at best.

[Shingo] Huh?

[ominous music swelling]

[Akuma] Strophaia was born eons

before humanity,

but his name is openly known.

Who made it known?

If someone has already found a way

to block him, who was it?

[Shingo] Oh, bother.

That's bad.

[choir vocalizing intensely]

Why is Strophaia trying to completely

eradicate the physical world?

What is it

that he hopes to gain through all this?

[intense music playing]

[Akuma] My dream, the red nail,

the woman bound in chains

That's where Strophaia can be found.

My memories of my time in the demon world,

perhaps the answer is there somewhere.

The key lies in me becoming a demon.

Therefore,

I must follow

[Akuma gasping]

[music fades]

[both gasping]

[Gremory] You asked for it, here it is!

And that favor was a pretty tough one.

I'd say I earned my stamp.

[Akuma] Gremory,

I'll require your help

in blocking Strophaia.

[Gremory] What?! Strophaia?

That's sort of--

No. That's definitely

a crazy request. Why?

I began with Nag Hammadi,

then Cretan Linear writings,

even the Rongorongo wood glyphs

from Easter Island.

I've scoured

through all of the ancient texts,

but I can't find out how it's done.

Oh? And if I were to perhaps find

what you were looking for, what'll you do?

What's that worth to you?

Succeed and I will give you this.

Wait. Is this a serious offer?

[Akuma] Yes.

[grunting] I'll hold you to that.

[ominous music playing]

[papers rustling]

[sinister music playing]

This is getting old! [grunting]

[Mephisto III grunting, groaning]

[Mephisto III] Is there nothing we can do

other than sit back and watch?

Maybe we really should've gotten

the Twelve Apostles back together.

What's going to happen to Uncle Shingo

and the Invisible School now?

The Twelve Apostles aren't an option.

They're hard at work,

spread all around the world.

But still

Besides, Shingo chose

to put his faith in Ichiro.

And as things stand,

that's about all that a father can do

in a situation like this.

[suspenseful music playing]

Too bad he's a jerk.

[ominous music playing]

[Gremory grunting]

Ah! Greetings, Mr. Satan.

[Gremory giggling]

I hope you're as well as you look.

I'm sure you're already aware Strophaia

has been meddling in Akuma Kun's affairs

in the sweet little human world.

Say, I don't suppose

you'd happen to know off-hand

how to counteract their powers, would you?

[Gremory grunting]

Achieving the right hue can be hard.

Blood is a deep red,

but the transparent veins

beneath the skin are majestic blue.

- [squelching]

- [Gremory groaning]

[Gremory shuddering]

[Gremory grunting]

[body thudding]

[Satan cackling]

This shade rounds out

my composition deliciously!

[Satan cackling]

This blue is unmatched!

Strophaia is under the impression

that he exists outside of the rules.

He's not part of the physical world,

but if he were bound

within a vessel of flesh,

there's a sliver of a chance

you might stop him.

[music stops]

[Akuma grunting]

That jerk.

I really can't stand

that pompous blowhard.

No need for him

to be so dramatic about it.

[Akuma] Hmm?

Huh? Oh, this?

There's no way to get out of an encounter

with the Prince of All Evil unscathed.

[sighing] But here you go!

With this in hand,

Strophaia should be a piece of cake.

It really hurt a lot.

Want to see it up close?

He jammed it right in, one motion!

Regardless of age discrepancy,

is that any way to act?

Hey, did you hear me?

Hello! Up here!

- It's time to go to the Invisible School.

- Huh?

What? Hey, hang on a second!

Where's my thank you?

Is it too much to expect

just a little bit of appreciation?

Like, "You're amazing,"

or just a, "Well done!"

I'm talking to you!

[upbeat theme music playing]

[deep rumbling]

We can't even tunnel

our way under that thing!

Dang it! [grunting]

[Mephisto II] Frustrating!

Why is nothing working? It makes no sense!

What do we try next, Dad?

[Mephisto II] Huh?

Huh? What?

- It's Akuma Kun!

- Uncle Shingo!

[Mephisto II] What happened?

Are you all right?

Yeah.

Think I've finally figured out how

to punch a hole in Strophaia's barrier.

[Mephisto II gasping]

My theory was right.

[Mephisto II] Hey. Easy.

Don’t worry, old friend. I've got you.

You've got to hang in there!

[Shingo groaning]

I apologize for worrying you.

I'm just a little tired.

- That's a relief!

- [Mephisto III sighing]

For a while there,

I wasn't sure how this would turn out.

Strophaia let his guard down,

and I seized my moment.

Masterfully done.

Where's Ichiro?

Well, uh

Back home because

that guy's a sub-human, sub-demon loser!

[Akuma] That can't

be the best insult you can come up with.

[Mephisto III] Hmm?

You should've thrown out a dingus,

like Mio.

That's for sure.

Everything you come up with

is lame at best.

[chuckling] Like I'm going

to listen to the big-shots

who only showed up

after everything had been resolved.

Now, now. No need to bicker.

I'm just glad that he's come.

Late is far better than never.

Thanks for making it, Ichiro.

Hello sir! It's a pleasure to meet you!

My name is Gremory,

and I look after your son.

The form I've recently taken

has been instrumental

in my quest to devour your son's heart.

[inaudible]

[Shingo gasping]

[ending theme music playing]

[all] Akuma Kun!

- [Komorineko] What a tragedy!

- [Yuko] Why'd he do that?

[Komorineko] It must be Satan!

I bet that devilish cur

is controlling Ichiro somehow!

[Yuko] Oh. He must still be upset over

how the first Akuma Kun sealed him away.

[Hyakume] I bet he is.

We ought to sic Sphinx on him again!

[Komorineko] Wait a sec!

I'm not sure that's a good idea.

[Hyakume] Why would you try to stop that?

[Yuko] Could it be?

Have you been working in secret

with the Prince of Lies this entire time?!

[Hyakume] What?! Like some kind

of Supernatural Back-Stabber!

[Komorineko] Well,

deception is my specialty. Uh, but--

[Yuko] You naughty bat!

Or is it naughty cat?

[Komorineko] Forget about that!

The one who's gone bad

is this generation's Akuma Kun, right?

[Yuko] What?

[Hyakume] No. He wouldn't.

[Komorineko] His father

has too many expectations!

It was just too much forcing him

to make the Millennium Kingdom a reality.

Oh, what about his dreams?

[Yuko] I don't think the first Akuma Kun

would force anyone to do anything.

[Hyakume] Yeah. That's right!

And besides, he said

it's more important to think deeply

about how to make

the Millennium Kingdom a reality

than to actually go about attempting

to make it a reality.

Akuma Kun has his son running

the institute out of kindness.

[Komorineko] Then why don't we go to hell

and ask the Nio for a helping hand?

[Hyakume giggling] Great idea!

The Nio are powerful!

If anyone's able to do something

about this mess, it would be them!

[Yuko] Unfortunately, the only way

to get the Nio to listen to us

requires us to use Solomon's Flute.

[Komorineko] Then we're done for!

Prepare for our final episode!