Juni Taisen: Zodiac War (十二大戦)

My, such a new building, completely abandoned...

Juni Taisen

Episode 1: Even Boars May Become Pigs After Seven Generations

To erase the population of a city of 500,000

in a single night...

Such is the power of the Juni Taisen's organizers, I suppose.

Perhaps the others will have already arrived...

But I should not mind that.

Besides...

It is tradition for the Boar to arrive fashionably late, after all.

To think a warrior would be foolish enough to choose a mode of transport

with no escape routes...

Authorized Personnel Only

When you're on the battlefield, always have an escape route secured.

This may be training, but the mercenaries will try to kill you.

You must share their lack of mercy.

Yes, Father.

That's right. Always keep both hands free,

to deal with enemies appearing from any direction at any time.

Yes, Father.

In that case, all I need to do is carry weapons at all times, Father.

Wait!

I surrender! I surrender!

What did you think you were doing?

I thought I made myself clear!

When you have the chance to kill, you must always take it.

Mercy is pointless!

My father, whose discipline reached the level of abuse.

This color is wonderful on you. Look at how it pops!

After all, Toshiko, you will be the head of the Ino family someday.

My mother, whose devotion to, and dependence on, her daughters

You must always be meticulous with your appearance.

reached the level of obsession.

Oh, that wound...

Two sets of contrary expectations, and I rose to meet both.

I hope it doesn't leave a scar.

And then...

Sister!

Kiyoko...

Hey, check it out! I killed three of them today!

Counting the cubs, about eight, I think!

I killed one, and the others just trotted right out!

My beloved little sister, who loved to kill living things.

My gosh, it was so cute!

Welcome home, Father.

Congratulations on your victory at the Juni Taise—

Quiet. I do not require congratulations.

I have chosen the participant for the next Taisen, twelve years from now.

Already?

Yes.

The next Taisen competitor will be...

Worry not, dearest Father.

I take it as a given that I must win.

As defending champion, carrying on for the winner of the last tournament,

I shall win with the grace and nobility befitting of that station.

Do forgive my lateness, all.

I offer you my warmest greetings.

I am the Boar.

A surprising number of familiar faces here...

The Ox.

The Sheep.

The Chicken.

The Dog.

And might that be the Tiger, perchance?

I fear I do not recognize that giant over there.

And then...

The Monkey.

But of course that repulsive woman would be here, wouldn't she?

Though I do not recognize the child sleeping there.

What a careless warrior, to let himself be killed before the fighting began.

It wasn't me! It wasn't me!

Don't start suspecting me without any proof!

I daresay that blood-stained blade is more than proof enough...

Don't you look at me! Stop looking at me like that!

Welcome, warriors.

Now that the last of you has arrived,

let us begin the Twelfth Juni Taisen.

Everybody, clap your hands!

I will be the referee of the battle.

My name is Duodecuple.

I ask that you remember it.

If I may, I will proceed directly to an explanation of the rules.

Please direct your eyes to the center of the table.

There are twelve jewels there.

Would you each be kind enough to take one?

Tar-black, yet beautiful.

That boy there...

If we let him sleep, will it be interpreted as his withdrawal?

Hey, you! Wake up!

You need to get one of those jewels.

That wretched, meddling Monkey...

Oh?

It has been a while since we shared a battlefield,

but I see that she is as nosy as ever.

"When next we meet, one of us will die."

I see I shall not need to remind myself of that promise.

Hey, ref...

Mind if I take my little brother's jewel, too?

If it's just gonna go to waste, it should go to family, right?

Warrior twins?

Would they be the legendary Tatsumi brothers, then?

By all means, take it.

Lucky me. Hit the jackpot.

However, I must request that you swallow only one of them.

Huh? Swallow?

Yes.

That goes for the rest of you, too. Please swallow your jewels whole.

It seems a bit large to swallow whole.

I could prepare a glass of water for it.

I shall be fine, thank you.

Have you all finished, then?

The object that you just swallowed is a lump of poison.

Crystallized poison, "Juseki."

Of course it is.

A powerful drug that reacts chemically

with stomach acid and will, in approximately twelve hours, result in death.

Damn. I can't get any money for poison.

Now, allow me to begin a concrete explanation of the rules.

I urge you to pay close attention, as I will explain this only once.

The warrior that collects all twelve Juseki, or beast jewels, will be the winner.

The winning warrior will be granted any one wish of their choosing.

Me?

Yes!

What?

Father, I'm going to work so hard!

I promise I'll win, just like you did!

Twelve years from now, huh?

Father... Why?

Twelve years... It seems so far away... but hey, still great!

I shall destroy you.

S-Sister?

Kiyoko, I have things under control here.

We just need to dispose of these last few men.

Dispose of?

Go on.

O-Okay...

Not enough.

And then Mother said—

Hey, Ino. Ino!

That favor I asked for... I need it, after all.

I can work things out by the middle of the week, but...

Sure, leave it to me.

Okay. Thanks!

Let's go.

Huh? He asked you for something?

My lips are sealed!

Wow, not cool.

You'd better not tell anyone.

Okay.

You were so late, I had to come fetch you...

Now, we have more training tonight, Kiyoko.

Sure.

That's right. Mercy is pointless.

Not enough.

Gracious me...

Sister...

I...

I...

Don't worry, now.

Killing humans is no different from killing animals.

Isn't that right?

Yeah.

You have so much more killing to do.

Yeah.

More strength to find...

Yeah.

More...

Yeah.

Don't worry.