Chapter 8

## Chapter Chronology

**"Encounter and Rampage"** (遭逢 (さおう) と暴走 (ぼうそう) , *Sōhō to Bōsō*) serves as the eighth chapter in the *Gokurakugai* manga series, a work written and illustrated by Yuto Sano. It is also featured as the second chapter within the third volume of the series.

## Summary

Tao talks to Tatsuomi about Kanata, a Maga living among humans. Meanwhile, Alma finds Kanata at a subway station and learns that she's responsible for recent cannibalism cases. Despite her confession, Alma offers comfort, revealing his own identity as a half-human, half-Maga hybrid who protects others. Kanata expresses a desire to make amends and joins Alma's mission. However, when confronted by men seeking revenge, she involuntarily transforms into a Maga and kills them. In the aftermath, Yomi arrives, removes a Karmic Stake from Alma's heart, and Alma transforms into a Maga.

## Plot Details

Tao engaged in a phone conversation with Tatsuomi discussing Kanata's unique situation: living as a Maga while seamlessly blending into the human world for survival. The story then shifts to Alma, who eventually discovers Kanata at a subway station, visibly upset and urging him to keep his distance. Kanata confesses to being the perpetrator behind recent cannibalism cases they've been investigating. She recounts an incident where she recently bit a man who had nearly assaulted her in a public restroom, confirming the man's description of her as a monster.

In response, Alma doesn't verbally answer her concerns; instead, he kneels down to offer Kanata a consoling embrace. Despite this, she remains steadfast in her decision to distance herself from him. Alma, choosing not to release her, questions her about her true nature as a supposed "monster." He wonders why she contacted him and why she didn't run away, even as she admits to not knowing why she's in tears. Alma hands her the miche toy she left on the streets and confides in her something he hadn't shared before. He reveals that he's a half-human, half-maga hybrid who has chosen to utilize his Maga abilities to protect others. He alludes to their previous conversation about "dealing with wrongdoers," clarifying that this was the job he's doing. Kanata recognizes herself as one of the wrongdoers he had in mind.

Alma mentioned that Tatsuomi had informed him about Maga targeting malevolent humans for consumption this time. Kanata, on the other hand, hadn't taken any lives since meeting Alma. This was unusual, as he hadn't encountered a Maga displaying such restraint. Alma encouraged her to channel her abilities towards saving people, similar to his own approach. In response, Kanata expressed her desire to make amends, mirroring Alma's actions. Alma proposed taking her to Saragi, where his teammates could offer assistance with her situation. However, while they embraced, Kanata involuntarily bit Alma's right shoulder, surprising both of them and causing her to cry once more. Alma worked to soothe her, feeling flustered himself.

Just as Kanata was about to leave, the man who had nearly assaulted her in the public restroom the previous day arrived with two accomplices. He taunted Kanata, seeking revenge for her biting his hand. Despite Alma's efforts to calm her, the newcomers attempted to assault her again. One of them even recorded the incident. The man who had brought a knife and had previously attacked her in the restroom was among them and is trying to step forward to attack Kanata. In response to the threat, Kanata involuntarily underwent a transformation into a Maga, using her head as the focal point. She proceeded to decapitate the man who had previously assaulted her, shocking both Alma and the other men present.

Alma himself was taken aback and attempted to reassure Kanata, urging her to revert to her human form. However, she was resolute in her Maga state and instead confronted the two individuals the assaulter had brought along to taunt her. She proceeded to eliminate both of them. In the process, she bit Alma's right arm while he was trying to calm her down, resulting in the severing of his arm at the shoulder.

After a brief interval, Yomi arrived on the scene through a Maga's gate. Alma, still in pain from Kanata's bite, inquired about Yomi's identity and his purpose. Yomi conveyed that he hadn't planned to meet Alma that day, illustrating his impatience. Alma pressed for clarification, prompting Yomi to indicate that Alma should recognize him. Yomi employed psychokinetic abilities to extract a Karmic Stake that had embedded itself in Alma's heart, asking if the memory of him had resurfaced. As the stake was gradually withdrawn, Alma tried to reach out to Yomi, yet he couldn't make physical contact. Despite Alma's pleas to cease the removal of the stake, Yomi proceeded until it was entirely extracted, leading to Alma's complete transformation into a Maga.

## Quick References

### Chapter Notes

* Alma discovers Kanata at a subway station, where she confesses to being the perpetrator behind recent cannibalism cases. She describes a recent incident where she bit a man who had nearly assaulted her, confirming his description of her as a "monster."
	+ Alma offers Kanata a consoling embrace, revealing his own identity as a half-human, half-Maga hybrid who uses his abilities to protect others.
	+ Alma encourages Kanata to channel her abilities towards saving people and offers to take her to Saragi for assistance.
	+ When the man who had assaulted Kanata in the restroom arrives with two accomplices seeking revenge, Kanata involuntarily transforms into a Maga and decapitates the man.
	+ Alma, shocked by the events, tries to calm Kanata but ends up losing his right arm when she bites it in her Maga state.
* Yomi arrives on the scene and extracts a Karmic Stake from Alma's heart, causing Alma's complete transformation into a Maga.

### Characters in Order of Appearance

**Tatsuomi**Phonecall
**Tao**
**Alma**
**Kanata**
**Yoki**Mentioned
**Yomi**
**Assaulter**Debut
**Random Guy 1**Debut
**Random Guy 2**Debut