Volume 4

**Volume 4** (炎炎ノ消防隊 04, *En En no Shōbōtai 04*) is volume 4 of the *Fire Force* manga series.

## Summary

Shinra has discovered that someone is using a bug to turn people into Infernals. He’s narrowed the suspects down to two, and now he must figure out which one is the real culprit. Can he find out who is friend and who is foe without first getting caught himself?

## Chapter 26

Main article: Chapter 26

At the 8th Special Fire Brigade, Akitaru and Hibana are discussing the creation of the artificial Flame Humans, to which they conclude that inside of the corpses of artificial Flame Humans were gene of a particular Bug. Back in the streets of Shinjuku, Karim and Rekka spot Shinra and Arthur questioning their position by not attending the mission. Stopping to think, Shinra suspects the culprit who used the Bug is one or both of the two Priests. Arthur rushes in to question them, but Shinra elbows him in the stomach, and tells the Priests that they got lost since they don't visit Shinjuku often. Tamaki walks over and reports to Rekka that all groups have succeeded in their mission, and so the members of the 1st return to headquarters. When Arthur and Shinra return to their dorms at the Cathedral, they discuss the events concerning Rekka and Karim. Shinra explains that it would have been too assertive and dangerous to confront the Priests at the time, which is why he waited till he returned and received orders from Akitaru. As the two begin their investigation on Karim, Shinra explains that Takeru and Tōru are distracting him in the meanwhile. As they break into Karim's room and look around, they soon discover a vial with a Bug inside. Pondering at it, it doesn't take long before Karim appears behind them with a ruthless expression. The two turn around hesitantly, prepared to fight, though Karim walks in and sits on the bed. Karim explains that he knew the 8th were investigating the 1st, and that the he put the Bug in the draw on purpose, claiming to also be looking for the original perpetrator of the bug. The three resolve that the real mastermind has to be Rekka Hoshimiya since he was the only other person with the same robe at the scene of the artificial Flame Human. He goes on to say there was a peculiar case in which children ignited artificially two months ago. Somewhere in Tokyo's streets, two innocent children are seen walking together. A shadow appears and calls their attention, only for it to be Tamaki Kotatsu, claiming she knows a fire that burned children previously, and tempting them to follow her.

## Chapter 27

Main article: Chapter 27

A confused Karim sits alone in his room, looking at an old photo of himself and the other two priests in their earlier days, asking himself why Rekka could be doing such evil things. As he walks down a hallway, Shinra and Arthur confront him and express their desire to help with capturing Rekka, the culprit of the artificial Flame Humans. After continuously insisting, Karim realises their desire to help, and tells them to do whatever they want. The three then disperse and search for Rekka outside of the Cathedral. Soon after, Tamaki is seen leading innocent people to an abandoned warehouse. Rekka appears from behind her, thanking her greatly for bringing as many people she could. He then passionately exclaims to have found a prayer that will prevent people from transforming into Flame Humans, to which Tamaki looks at him admirably. As Rekka tells Tamaki to leave so he can concentrate on the prayer, she insists to stay so she can see the prayer. Suddenly, Rekka hugs her, and tightens his grip, suffocating Tamaki in the process. Turning to the children with a sadistic expression on his face, Rekka implants the Bug into the woman, and her head suddenly ignites. As she was not compatible with the spark, Rekka savagely kills her. While the children cry, Tamaki sits confused and scared, but Rekka continues his unforgivable actions. He grabs Tatsu, but before he could use the Bug on him, Tamaki stands up and slaps him, saying how much she admired him. Rekka doesn't hesitate to punch her back, after which he express his passion to create Flame Humans for his leader and find the person compatible with the flames. He then implants the Bug into the Tatsu, to which he begins transformation into a Flame Human. In the skies, Shinra hears somebody screaming from an abandoned warehouse.

## Chapter 28

Main article: Chapter 28

The child Rekka implanted the Bug seems to be compatible with the flames, and ends up not transforming into an Infernal, much to Rekka's pleasure. Tamaki screams for help and uses her ability to send a signal, to which Shinra who is flying, notices. As Rekka sees Tamaki going against his obediance, he becomes annoyed, and ruthlessly kicks her. As he brutally beats her up for being disloyal, Shinra bursts in heroicly, stomping on Rekka's face and knocking him down. As he asks if Tamaki is alright, Rekka gets up and punches Shinra, to which he's knocked back. As Shinra prepares to block his next punch, Rekka uses his ability, to which Shinra was unable to block it. The two then engage in a thriling battle of Ignition Abilties. Rekka pauses as he notices the Bug making strange noises. He realises that it is reacting to Shinra's flames, saying that he has found the third person that his leader is looking for and that Shinra must have the Adolla Burst.

## Chapter 29

Main article: Chapter 29

As Shinra questions what Adolla Burst is, Rekka tells him it is the thing that he and others are looking for under his leader's guidance. He goes on to say that he planted the sparks within children to find a compatible person, to which Shinra becomes enraged and begins his attack. Rekka ridicules Shinra for being so easily agitated, and fiercely punches him, to which he accidentally lands into Tamaki's cleavage. As she pushes him away, Shinra is attacked by a flurry of flaming punches that eventually reach Tamaki, burning all her clothes, leaving her in just her panties and bra. Shinra looks at her dazzled, but falls victim to Rekka's punch again, and ends up accidentally kissing Tamaki on her cheek. As she pushes him away again, encouraging him to fight, she grips onto his back, begging him to defeat Rekka. Now determined, Shinra walks toward him confidently. Taking a minute to think about the situation, he realises that the best way to defeat him is to use his greater mobility in the surrounding area. Rekka burns his sleeves and prepares to go all out. The two clash, fist versus leg. Shinra uses his flying ability to dash to a wall, and, as Rekka prepares to punch him, he quickly moves closer to the Company Commander before the latter can react, and explosively kicks him upwards. Rekka continues to punch him, but Shinra manages to dodge all of the attacks. As he prepares for his final attack, Shinra lands onto the ceiling and jumps off rapidly, falling into the opponent at incredible speed with a fiery kick and landing a direct critical hit straight into Rekka's face.

## Chapter 30

Main article: Chapter 30

Shinra triumphs in his intense brawl with Rekka Hoshimiya. As Tamaki prepares to evacuate the children, she sees a defeated Rekka, and reminisces about the good times at the 1st Special Fire Brigade. Resisting his scathed-state, Rekka urges that now he's found a compatible child, he won't let them escape, and begins attacking once again. Before he could accomplish anything, he found his arms frozen solid in a pillar of ice, as Karim Flam walks in the room from behind and uses his freezing ability to put an end to Rekka's actions. Before anyone could have any peace of mind, a bright light radiates through the room, and a large pole is thrown in from outside, striking and piercing Rekka's chest severely, as everybody is left in astonishment.

## Chapter 31

Main article: Chapter 31

As everybody is left confused by the sudden flare of light, which fatally pierces Rekka in his chest and subsequently kills him, two unidentified masked figures are seen a few buildings away from the abandoned warehouse Shinra and the others are in. As one of them ignites some fire and creates a fiery bow and arrow, the person shoots it directly in the building aiming at the two remaining priests, Karim and Foien, but they dodge it at the last second. Immediately after, Foien spots another bright light coming from afar, aimed at Karim's back, and pushes Karim out of the way before it pierced him, ending up slicing off his own arm. Strategically, Karim orders Shinra to use his ability to make the room filled with dust so that the archer can't see their whereabouts. After, he tells Tamaki to extend her tails toward the snipers, and ends up freezing the flames, making the snipers weary of staying. The masked figures then decide to leave as they can't see the targets and their location had been discovered, and conclude that all the other locations have begun the "Nativity Flame Festival". Afterward, the 1st Special Fire Brigade call Foien via a device, seeking help, as they are confronted by a gigantic Infernal in Shinjuku. Coincidentally, the 2nd, 5th and 7th Special Fire Brigade also seem to be faced by similar gigantic Flame Humans, each in their own jurisdiction of areas, as the "Nativity Flame Festival" initiates throughout Tokyo. A member of the 5th does an analysis of the location of the core of the gigantic Flame Humans, and claims for it to have an innumerable amount.

## Chapter 32

Main article: Chapter 32

As the 8th Special Fire Brigade confront a giant Infernal in the streets of Tokyo, Hibana informs them that it has various cores all over its body, and so Takehisa uses his shotgun to obliterate the monster until only one core was left. Akitaru Ōbi then finishes the job off, with the rest of the Battalion Commanders also taking care of the giant Flame Humans in their areas. Akitaru and Takehisa discuss the White Hoods they spotted in the shadows of the giant Flame Human. Back at the abandoned warehouse, Shinra informs Karim of his sighting on the hooded duo that attacked them earlier. As Karim hands his jacket to near-naked Tamaki, he tells her to prepare for punishment as she aided in bringing children into the situation, although deceived by Rekka Hoshimiya. Karim then walks over to Shinra and thanks him for helping with defeating Rekka, commenting on how Rekka became a passionate jerk, although to Karim, Rekka will always be the same person. As he gestures Shinra for a handshake, he speaks of his willingness to help with the investigation on the preacher. As the 1st Special Fire Brigade had to reorganize themselves after Rekka's sudden death, the training for the newcomers was aborted. Arthur Boyle is being searched for, as he got lost searching for Rekka. The newcomers prepare to leave the Cathedral, saying their thanks to Karim and Tamaki. Before they leave, Takeru whispers in Shinra's ear, quietly asking him to ask Tamaki how to contact her after they part ways. As she initially thought Shinra was asking, to which she blushes, but becomes annoyed after learning Takeru asks and didn't ask himself. Later on, back at the Special Fire Cathedral 8, Shinra settles in after a long trip at the 1st, and takes in the relaxing atmosphere. As he sits down expecting to see Arthur in front of him, he sees Tamaki, and learns that as punishment, she was appointed to the 8th Brigade and is banned from any activities of the 1st. As Shinra mocks her, Tamaki trips and lands on Shinra, claiming that his place of resting has been disturbed, and questions where Arthur could be.

## Chapter 33

Main article: Chapter 33

In central Tokyo, Raffles III, the emperor of Tokyo, informs his attendants to gather all of the Battalion Commanders of the Special Fire Brigade. Later on at the Special Fire Cathedral 8, Shinra queries Akitaru on the reasoning for his and Tamaki's presence at the gathering, and he explains that since he was a witness of the Bug experimentation as well as the White Hoods that killed Rekka, they would be an informative presence there. From behind the door, Arthur peeks his head through, letting everyone know he's no longer lost. On the journey to the gathering, Akitaru mentions that this is the first time since his becoming of Commander that the amassing of all the Commanders has happened. As they arrive, Shinra is astonished to see the Amaterasu, the generator that powers all of Tokyo, for the first time in person. As the 8th walk in, Shinra spots the Commanders of the 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th, for the first time, as well as the rest of the Commanders. He glances at Benimaru Shinmon, pulling a smile at him, to which he calls Shinra a brat and walks away annoyed. Everybody begins to pray as the emperor walks in, though Benimaru sits relaxed, legs on the row of seats in-front of him. An intense atmosphere is settled, as the emperor begins talking. He finalizes by stating that all of the Special Fire Brigades must treat the preacher as a major threat, and for all of them to investigate and rid of him. Beinmaru interrupts imprudently, to which Gustav confronts him for being so rude, telling him to apologize, but is spoken back to disrespectfully. The 7th Commander then stands up, stating that the 7th Special Fire Brigade will be acting on their own accord as always, and leaves the building with his colleague. As Gustav shouts at the stubborn and young Commander to come back, the emperor tells him to leave him alone. In an unknown location, a man with black hair and a lab coat speaks to another man over a device, asking him if he can hear the gathering. The man on the other end seems to be amused by the emperor's desire to eradicate the preacher, revealing himself to be none other than Joker.

## Chapter 34

Main article: Chapter 34

Raffles III looks to Shinra, claiming the boy has Adolla Burst, a pure flame that is rare among Third Generations. After explaining what it is, Giovanni suspects that the Preacher is looking for the Adora Burst, and so Shinra should be protected, but Shinra protests to this, claiming he can protect himself, to which Hibana agrees. After the conference ends, Giovanni confronts Hibana as he initially thought she would be on his side as they're both affiliated with Haijima. After stating she treats the 8th specially, she walks always dissatisfied, saying she'll send data on the giant Flame Humans. leaving Giovanni irritated. Later on, Akitaru and Tamaki return from their journey, and Iris questions Shinra's whereabouts as he's not at the Church, to which Akitaru states he'd went to buy some supplies. Shinra is then seen walking through an alley thinking about the Preacher, and is then confronted by Joker, startling him greatly. Shinra prepares for a fight, but Joker tells him to relax, and encourages the boy to keep chasing after the Evangelist, as he'll find his little brother there too. Soon after, in a dark room lit with multiple candles and filled with people in White Hoods, a boy with a katana walks through the middle of them and sits, revealing himself to be Shō Kusakabe, the leader of the Knights of the Ashen Flame.

## Reception

* In its first week of sales, Volume 4 reached the 21st place on the official Oricon manga rankings chart, and has sold an estimated amount of 49,737 copies.

## Trivia

* The Japanese volume also included an official character profile for Maki Oze revealing personal information about her such as her height, weight and favourite food.
* In the Afterword Manga: Atsushiya section of this volume, the author Atsushi Ōkubo clears some concepts that might have confused some readers, explaining his enthusiasm for the official westernized name for his manga series (Fire Force), and changing the "Fire Soldier" on the brigade members' helmets to "Fire Force" due to it not making sense when looking at it from a team perspective. The name "Fire Force" was suggested as well as "Fire Squad" - with the former being chosen due to "squad" meaning a small-scale military team, in comparison to the large force that is the Special Fire Force.

## References

1. ↑ https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-08-24/japanese-comic-ranking-august-15-21/.105731