Episode 22

## The Brink

* Screenshot
* Title

## Episode Chronology

**The Brink** is the 22nd episode overall of the "*Shuumatsu no Valkyrie: Record of Ragnarok*" anime and the 10th episode of Season 2.

## Synopsis

The match comes to a moving end. Even Zeus is impressed by humanity's powerful spirit; but he's going to make sure the gods get the ultimate victory.

## Plot

The Indian gods can't believe they are seeing Shiva, as he is far more powerful now. While he and Raiden exchange blows, Brunhilde states that a long fight isn't in favor for Raiden since each of time he blocks Shiva's attack, it burns his muscles. Ares is sure of Shiva's win, but Hermes explains that the way he stimulates himself to burn, and if it continues for too long, he will end up burning himself up.

Raiden attempts to grab and throw Shiva, but he manages to recover and kick him in retaliation. Shiva continues attacking Raiden, which makes the sumo wrestlers worried. Tanikaze tells them to not give up on and to look at Raiden, who after using the open-palm thrust, neither his arms or knees have touched the ground. As he is fighting for sumo, the should cheer for him, and the sumo wrestlers start cheering for him. Raiden hears them and manages to push Shiva away. Shiva's broken arm falls and the Indian gods realize he is starting to crumble; Rudra yells at Shiva to not give up.

Re-energized from their sides' support, the two continue their fierce fight. However, Raiden feels the end is near and decides to put everything again in his palm for another Yatagarasu strike. Shiva decides to take on the blow and as Raiden attacks with Yatagarasu, Shiva uses Deva Loka, hitting Shiva's palm with his leg. Shiva's attack goes trough Raiden's arm and splits it in two. After losing his arm, Raiden stands still and thanks Shiva, for giving him the chance to fight with all of his might.

Raiden explains he have no energy left and doesn't have any regret either. Raiden calls Thrud and asks her to release Völundr, since it's time they say farewell. She states she promised herself to never leave the man she fell in love with. Raiden tells her that he couldn't have asked for a better woman. He looks at Shiva and tells him that she had fun. Shiva smiles and beheads Raiden with a kick, while stating he is a great man and he never bent the knee.

While thanking him, the god addresses him as "human", but then corrects himself and says his name, and that thanks to Raiden, they've created the greatest fight ever. Raiden's soul then shatters along with Thrud's and Heimdall then announces Shiva as the winner. Ares states that even though Shiva won, he lost three arms and the fight was undecided until the end. Furthermore, if Raiden didn't stick to just sumo, even he isn't sure how things would have ended. However, Hermes disagrees and explains that if Raiden fought freely, he wouldn't have been match for Shiva.

All the training he did that honed his skills in sumo, are what kept Shiva on the ropes. The sumo wrestlers all start stomping to honor Raiden. Shiva leaves the arena and sees Rudra and the rest of the Indian gods. Zeus shows up as well and Shiva notes the fight was quite a close call. Shiva then smiles and states that humans are quite awesome. Zeus laughs and agrees that they are tough. Göll recalls her time with Thrud and how she wants to become big and strong as her, but Thrud tells her that if she is like her, she will scare all the guys.

Göll asks Brunhilde if Thrud was happy, since she stuck with the one she loved to the very end. Göll cries and asks Brundhilde, why she has to go that far to save mankind. Brunhilde cites Adam, who said that you don't need a reason to protect those precious to you. She enters her room and asks Göll to leave her alone for a bit. Brunhilde adds a shrine for Raiden next to the others. She promised to not get emotional until the end, but explains she is weak and can't hold it. Zeus looks for Buddha and eventually finds him under a tree eating sweets.

He comments that humans fought very well again. He then sees the sweets and finds them delicious looking. Zeus wants one, but Buddha doesn't give him and instead eats them all. The Greek god gets annoyed and complains how much of a cheapskate he is. Buddha wonders what he came for and Zeus asks him to fight in the sixth bout; he originally intended for Buddha to fight in later bouts, but has changed his mind.

Buddha asks if he really wants to destroy mankind that badly, but Zeus explains he just hates losing. Buddha states he likes his spirit and that Zeus is the boss. He then hugs him and tells him to enjoy the fight. Göll wants to support Brunhilde and goes to look for some bandages to treat Brunhilde's cut. She ends up finding and overhearing the Lucky Gods conversation. Ebisu is angry at Buddha and promises to crush him next time they meet.

However, Benzaiten and Hoteison tell him that Buddha will defeat him easily. Despite this, Ebisu states that next time when Buddha steps out of line, Zero will punish him. Göll wonders who is Zero, but Bishamonten and the rest of the seven gods find her eavesdropping. They question her what she was doing. She tries to explain she was looking for bandages, but gets scared and asks someone to help her.

Jack the Ripper appears, citing Shakespeare's writing and asking the gods if they want tea. The sixth bout is about to begin. Heimdall announced the fighter on the god's side, Buddha. However, as Buddha comes out, he position himself on the other side. Heimdall approaches him to correct him, but Buddha takes the Gjallarhorn and announces he will be fighting for mankind. This angers the gods, but Buddha adds that if the gods aren't going to save mankind, then he will, promising to kill any god who stands in his way.

## Characters

* Shiva
* Raiden Tameemon
* Göll
* Brunhilde
* Ares
* Zeus
* Hermes
* Kisaburo Onogawa
* Kajinosuke Tanikaze
* Vishnu
* Varuna
* Brahma
* Agni
* Rudra
* Indra
* Aphrodite
* Toraji (No lines)
* Hanemon Seki (No lines)
* Ken Seki
* Heimdall
* Kali (No lines)
* Parvati (No lines)
* Durga (No lines)
* Ganesha (No lines)
* Hokusai Katsushika
* Thrud
* Yohachi Urakaze (No lines)
* Genpaku Sugita (No lines)
* Buddha
* Benzaiten
* Ebisu
* Hoteison
* Daikokuten
* Fukurokuju
* Bishamonten
* Jurojin
* Jack the Ripper
* Loki (No lines)
* Odin (No lines)

## Differences in Adaptations

* The confrontation of Jack and the Seven Lucky Gods is shortened.
* The gods mocking Buddha's walk to the Human Gate is ommited.