Episode 21

**The Abyss** is the twenty-first episode of the anime adaptation of *Kengan Ashura* and the ninth episode of the second part in Season 1.

The second round begins. At a huge size disadvantage, Imai Cosmo discards his signature grappling moves when facing the monolithic Akoya Seishu.

## Appearing Characters

* Adam Dudley
* Akiyama Kaede
* Akoya Seishu
* Himuro Ryo
* Hiyama Shunka
* Imai Cosmo
* Inaba Ryo
* Jerry Tyson
* Katahara Sayaka
* Kono Haruo
* Kure Fusui
* Kureishi Mitsuyo (flashback)
* Nishihonji Akira
* Okubo Naoya
* Sekibayashi Jun
* Tokita Ohma
* Urita Sukizo
* Yamamoto Koishi
* Yamashita Kazuo
* Yamashita Kenzo

## Summary

Ohma punches the side of a mountain, practicing to the point the surface before him in littered with cracks and is crumbling. Ohma is ailed with specters of Niko appearing before him, causing him to falter. Niko points out to him that Ohma doubts himself and that is why he loses agility. Ohma exclaims he can't trust the techniques taught by someone that is weak and died. Niko agrees that with his style Ohma may not defeat Raian.

Cosmo is paired against Akoya. Akoya is determined to avoid Imai's grappling and chokeholds, but Imai stands upright with his fists up, seemingly moving away from his reflexive grappling style. Imai kicks Akoya in the leg, the hit an equivalence of a pestering jab to Akoya. Imai pursues again, receiving a graze from Akoya that breaks the skin on his arm. Akoya finally takes the offense and Imai backs off again. Ryo explains how this sort of behavior in a match can ruin a company's reputation.

Hiyama instructs Akoya to take a stance similar to Fang's, predicting every one of Imai's movements and having Akoya give Imai a flurry of fracturing blows. Hiyama's plan is to slowly deprive Imai of his agility. As Akoya goes to deliver a finishing blow, Imai clings onto Akoya's arm and pulls him into a triangular choke. Akoya effectively bars Imai's thigh from cutting off his airway with his fist. Akoya had planned to actually deliver a blow to Imai's gut, which is why he was seemingly able to fend off Imai's choke hold.

Akira confronts Hiyama backstage about her instructing Akoya. Akira had Inaba take out her guards so he and Dudley could get in. He explains that he had been intercepting her and Akoya's radio transmission. He presses for Hiyama and Akoya to retire as their reputation is on the line. Meanwhile, Cosmo clamps onto Akoya's neck from behind, strangling him without defense. Akoya tells Hiyama over the radio that last time was the last. His grip bursts through Imai's arm at his neck.

In a blood lust for justice, Akoya's movements become dirtier, aiming for the eyes and biting Imai above his knee. Hiyama explains that she isn't instructing Akoya on how to win, but to avoid letting him slip into a murderous frenzy.

## Anime and Manga Discrepancies

* The post-round one gathering that features Katahara's addition of the substitution rule is omitted.
* During Ohma's personal training session when Niko's phantom appears, the flow of their conversation differs:
	+ In the anime, phantom Niko tells Ohma he doesn't trust the Niko Style and that's why he was weak with Ohma replying he wanted to trust it but Niko lost and died anyway, so how could he trust someone who was weak; phantom Niko then agrees that his Niko Style may not be enough to beat Kure Raian with Ohma angrily striking the boulder in response.
	+ In the manga, phantom Niko merely tells Ohma to calm down and perform a special kata, which consequently unlocks more of Ohma's repressed memories and restrained skills; phantom Niko then informs Ohma he was going back to his old self.
* The entirety of Chapters 118 and 119 (including Ohma's 1-to-1 training session with Yoshioka) is omitted.