Episode 24

**Taking Up the Torch** is the 24th episode of the *Edens Zero* anime.

Rebecca and Weisz head to the warehouse for new clothes and weapons. Meanwhile, Shiki brings Madame Kurenai down into the Labor District and continues their fight.

## Summary

An embarrassed Weisz tries to cover himself and tries to get Rebecca to let him borrow her skirt. She refuses, saying that everyone will see her underwear, but remembers that Paul never returned them. Instead, he resorts to use Pino, where Eagle tells him that he can find clothes in the warehouse, along with extra weapons. Weisz asks where Shiki and Homura are, leaving Rebecca silent.

Meanwhile, Shiki is being crushed by the Kurenai Dragoon, he wonders why he can't make it lighter. Madame Kurenai tells him that her Knight Gear has Ether coating, making Ether Gear ineffective. Shiki then thinks to make the ground even heavier, making the two of them fall into the ground and into the Labor District. He then clamps onto the Knight Gear, making himself heavier, and slams it to the ground. He notes how closer they are now to Homura, making sure to bring Kurenai to her daughter. She asks if he expects a touching reunion or if Homura will take her rage out on her mother, but Shiki doesn't care as he's doing what Valkyrie wanted. Kurenai insults him for doing what a dead machine wanted. She speaks about how the kids are ruining the world with ideals and delusions while throwing punches, saying they should grow up and face reality. Shiki counters, saying the adults who are facing reality, if they are making the world any better, and punches the Kurenai Dragoon leaving an indent. Kurenai is shocked and realizes that he powered his punch with his Ether Gear and turned it off at the last moment. Shiki then says that he's sure Kurenai isn't making the world better, judging from what he's seen from the Labor District.

Back in the warehouse, Weisz is told that Valkyrie is dead and wonders what they are going to tell the others. He then asks how Homura is doing, but Rebecca states that they need to focus on their situation. She exits her stall and Pino informs her that Happy is out of Ether, she tells him to rest and grabs one of the guns. Weisz tries to get out of his stall but finds it locked. Nino arrives, informing that he locked the entrance and interior doors of the armory and tries to get them to behave to avoid anything unnecessary. However, both are surprised to see each other. Rebecca wonders what he's doing here, which Nino answers that he's doing his job, as the people here can only use the armory to fight stones and stop their uprising. Rebecca is disheartened, having thought he was a good guy, but he reminds her that he works for Madame Kurenai. Rebecca yells that he's hurting innocent people, which he counters are criminals. She doesn't trust that as well, since Shiki and Homura were sent here for beating robbers. Nino says that that's how it is on the planet, Kurenai made the rules and that no one can defy her. He tries to get Rebecca to stay in the armory until everything is under control, letting her go after. However, Rebecca refuses as if she doesn't get the weapons and ammunition to the men outside, then they'll be slaughtered. Faced with this, Nino summons four cybernetic Ether arms and prepares to fight. Rebecca says she doesn't want to fight him, but he says how will the universe be saved if she doesn't.

Rebecca doesn't want to fight Nino, but has no other option. Weisz is stuck in his stall, having no power left, he's unable to unlock the door. Nino tells Rebecca not to worry as he'll knock her out in a single punch, with his Ether Gear, the Soul Arm.
She dodges and sees the imprint on the ground from the punch, saying that one hit would kill her. Nino throws another punch, saying that he's actually holding back. Rebecca shoots at him, but Nino blocks with his Ether arms, saying that guns don't work on him and he throws a punch. Rebecca feels something familiar about the situation, getting punched, and remembers her battle against Yocchi. She then realizes that Weisz's opponent was fast just like Baron Von Lion and that Shiki must be fighting a metal being like Metal Bogey. Meanwhile, Shiki promises to take Kurenai out of her Kurenai Dragoon and to Homura no matter what. Rebecca wonders why Homura was fighting Valkyrie, when she realizes that Xiaomei knew the two would never meet again, so she let Homura talk to Valkyrie one last time. She realizes that all the battles at the Mildian Battle Coliseum were foreshadowing the ones they're fighting right now.

Rebecca wonders if they are some kind of hint, remembering all the foot-related phrases, concluding about her feet. This awakens her Ether Gear and time reverses to before she gets punched. Feeling all of her Ether flowing into her legs, she leaps backward and avoids getting punched. She then charges to Nino while giving the summary of an episode of Wibble Wobble Ruby Bobble, where a man is brainwashed by the villain and Ruby kicks him back to his senses. This touches Nino as Rebecca states that if anime can save the universe, then it can save the people of the planet. Rebecca then kicks him with Bellholy Slash, which Nino remarks that it's the name from the manga. They both agree on liking it over the anime as Nino falls. Weisz finally gets out and wonders what happened. Rebecca quickly gets behind him and reveals that she gained an Ether Gear, calling it Leaper. Xiaomei narrates how Rebecca has awakened her Leaper and states that she has only just begun unlocking the secrets of her power. Xiaomei goes on to say how her power may one day save the universe, calling it the power of possibilities.

Homura hears the sound of battles around her, knowing she can't stay there to mope for eternity and that she must press on. She tries to stand, but falls to the ground, noting her body has no strength. Garrot comes and tells her that she was hit a lot with his whip, where her body is filled with fast and slow-acting paralyzants, with the latter finally taking effect. Garrot tells her how surprised he was to hear that she is Madame Kurenai's daughter and that she can see the resemblance. He then asks what her relationship was with Valkyrie, hearing that she was her mentor. He notes that she was a fine woman, Homura yells at him to get away from her. Garrot informs that Valkyrie's remains here are a symbol of the rebellion and that as warden be could have removed her, but didn't. He explains that he has some respect for her and licks Valkyrie's face, saying she was special. If he had the chance, he would have loved to break her personally, angering Homura further as he whips her mentor's remains.

Garrot hits it again, making the head fall off. Garrot mocks her, saying that he wants to have a good time and that she shouldn't break too easily. Homura activates her Ether Gear, summoning many swords. She sends the swords towards him, but he quickly goes and ties her arms, making the swords disappear. Garrot gets excited that he gets to break Madame Kurenai's daughter. However, Homura says that a scoundrel like him deserves judgment from her mentor's sword. Confused, he sees that Valkyrie's sword is gone and realizes that Homura made all her swords knock it away. He realizes too late that it was sent above and his chest is impaled with the sword. Rebecca and the others arrive and untie Homura. Rebecca asks how she beat him while tied up, which Homura answers with the help of her mentor. She adds that she had Shiki and her words to thank. Because she had friends, she was able to stand and press on and can keep pressing on now that she has all of them.

## Characters In Order of Appearance

1. Weisz Steiner (X442)
2. Happy
3. Rebecca Bluegarden
4. E.M. Pino
5. Baku
6. Eagle
7. Shiki Granbell
8. Kurenai Kōgetsu
9. Nino
10. Flanker Yocchi *(Flashback)*
11. Highway Ena *(Flashback)*
12. Metal Bogey *(Flashback)*
13. Xiaomei
14. Homura Kōgetsu
15. Valkyrie Yuna
16. Garrot

## Appearances

	+ Sun Jewel
		- Labor District
		- Gold Palace
	+ Mildian
		- Temple of Knowledge

**Powers and Abilities*** Ether Gear
	+ Satan Gravity
	+ Soul Arm *(Debut)*
	+ Cat Leaper *(Debut)*
	+ Soul Blade
* Marskmanship
* Hand-to-Hand Combat

**Techniques*** Reverse *(Debut)*
* Bellholy Slash *(Debut)*
* Odin Strike

**Items*** Kurenai Dragoon
* Paralytic Whip
* Guns

**Creatures*** Picoratta *(Flashback)*
* Punishers

**Battles and Events*** Shiki Granbell vs. Kurenai Kōgetsu
* Rebecca Bluegarden vs. Nino *(Started & Concluded)*
* Homura Kōgetsu vs. Garrot *(Started & Concluded)*