#underestimating badassery

[sohasters]

Look, I know it's kinda cheesy, but I just want Shang Qinghua get super cool ice powers cause he's queen of the north. Like, he's used to doing maintenance as a peak lord, so he figures out ice manipulation mainly as a building technique, but it turns out to be good in a pinch too!!

Like, he spends nearly three novels being a pathetic lump (if a good bro) then careens into absolute badassery in the last three seconds to rescue Mobei-Jun.

I'm super weak for underestimated badasses. I just want Cang Qiong sect to be attacked one (just one!) time, and for SQQ and SQH (the emperor's "soft hearted wife", and a "glorified plumber") to go full back to back badasses.

I want Elsa style ice crystals attacks!! Shards of ice flying through enemy ranks!! I want air-bending style fan attacks that are unparalleled in grace and ferocity!!

Everyone has spent decades forgetting that SQQ is one of the most powerful cultivators alive, and no one ever gave SQH a second thought! I want them picking their jaws off the floor!!

And I want them in cool outfits too!!

[howtodrawyourdragon]

Love that Hiccup and Violet are both part of the hyperspecific "disabled protag, who is basically a war vet, is small/skinny, is severely underestimated in their badassery and has super fast, super powerful black dragon that's basically their soulmate" club.

[befuddledcinnamonroll]

15 Day Bl Challenge - Part 4

Day 56 - Most badass BL character

This is an intriguing one, because there are multiple ways to be a badass. So I may have to pick a few, to cover the different varieties of badass.

The "Careful What You Wish For" Badass

Mut - Love Sea

Mut was such a fantasy man in so many ways. But with all of the sexiness of the show, I don't think enough people were talking about the thought that went into his character, and how representative he was of how so many people automatically underestimate the drive, intelligence, and desires of people from rural/poor communities. This was built in throughout, but shown very directly with Rak's father. This is what you deserve when you treat someone like they aren't an autonomous being with agency, and Mut will happily teach the lesson.

The "Burn It All Down" Badass

Tan - Dead Friend Forever

We knew the boy was a bit sus from the beginning, but I never anticipated how much I would love this character. The man blew up his entire life and future to get vengeance for the brother he struggled to connect with, he stayed laser-focused on his goal at all times, and then delighted as the fucked up group of friends tore themselves apart. He is an absolute toxic mess, yes, but hella badass to be sure.

The "Twenty Pounds of Rage in a Five Pound Bag" Badass

Black - Not Me

When Black first showed up, I rather hated him for being so cold to White and breaking Sean's heart. But over time you get to see that not only is he an impressive little wolverine, who can hold his own with armed police and has a love language of "put you in a coma", he has a core of deep love for his brother and a true devotion to the cause of a better world. His way is a dark one, and a stark contrast to the balance that White is able to find, but his passion is admirable.

The "This is Real Life Badassery" Badass

Uea - Bed Friends

I'm guessing Uea isn't a lot of people's first thought for a list like this, but y'all - he is a goddamn superhero in real life terms. He cut off his abusive family members, started seeing a psychiatrist and taking medication, all while being adored and dicked down by one of the hottest men alive. This is aspirational badassness.

[thegremlininyourcloset]

You know what the world needs? A Stephanie Brown in Young Justice AU

@fictfrenzy

1. it would let my girl have some more friends that aren’t just the Batfamily and Kara.

2. Young Justice is an incredibly chaotic team and Steph would fit right in

3. if we go with my post about every other member of Young Justice having a crush on Steph at one point the chaos levels increase exponentially

4. Spoilsecrets rivals-to-lovers yuri

5. Stephcassie friends-to-lovers yuri

6. I think Steph would get along like a house on fire with Bart. Like they are genuinely so similar, both being incredibly intelligent but having their intelligence disregarded because of their personalities. They are also both incredibly underestimated.

7. Steph is queer, and needs a queer friend group.

8. Tim would realize Steph’s competence much sooner

9. More opportunities for Steph to show her badassery

10. more people to appreciate her

[kimm4710]

K-POP DEMONHUNTERS RP! (LOOKING FOR ABS SAJA) DOUBLES WELCOMED

Hi there! My name is Kim and I’m currently looking for someone who’s just as obsessed with K-pop Demon Hunters as I am! Whether you loved the movie for its style, music, or demon-fighting badassery (or all three), I’d love to build a thrilling and romantic story set in that universe — with a special focus on Abs Saja. 😈

⸻

A Little About Me:

• I’m 18+ and kindly ask that all participants and characters are 18+ as well.

• I write in third person, semi-literate to literate style (typically 2-4+ paragraphs per character), and love diving deep into character dynamics and storytelling.

• Timezone: CST

• Activity: I’m active most days! If life gets busy, I’ll always communicate, and I kindly ask for the same in return.

• I only RP on Discord.

⸻

What I’m Looking For:

I’d love to craft a post-movie or during-the-movie AU where the demons aren’t fully gone… and neither are the boys 👀

The idea? The guys are back — but something’s different. Jinu is missing, and the team is fractured, looking for answers and maybe even redemption. My OC is part of the next generation of demon hunters, trained by those who survived the first wave. She’s serious, passionate, and refuses to be underestimated.

Enter Abs Saja — dangerous, seductive, and way too smug for his own good. He loves teasing her, pushing her buttons, getting under her skin… and she pretends to hate it (but doesn’t). I’m craving that tension-heavy, push-and-pull dynamic where she swears she can’t stand him… and yet keeps ending up closer than she means to. Give me the stolen glances, the flirty insults, the protective moments when he does care but won’t say it out loud.

Think:

• “I’m not yours.” “Sure, keep telling yourself that.”

• “Stay away from me.” “Baby, you’re the one who keeps coming back.”

• Hunter x Demon? Forbidden, delicious, angsty.

• Tension, banter, and definitely“I’d burn the world for you” vibes.

Bonus points if you’re interested in:

• Expanding the Demon Hunters lore

• swapping and creating headcanons, aesthetics, playlists, and gushing about our characters!

⸻

My Simple Rules:

1. Be 18+

2. No one-liners. I love depth, build-up, and world-building!

3. Communication is key. I’m flexible and chill — just let me know if you need time away!

4. Let’s build this together! I love plotting, OOC chatting, sharing inspo, and hyping up our ideas.

⸻

If you’re down to dive into a K-pop Demon Hunters RP and would be open to playing Abs Saja for my OC, I’d love to hear from you! I’m also more than happy to double and play someone you’d like in return. 😊

Thank you for reading and I can’t wait to create something dark, spicy and unforgettable with you!

[olderthannetfic]

I'm the anon complaining about the f!AU with the weepy characters and I guess I failed to mention that the fic writer is doing a 1:1 rewrite of certain parts of canon with some of the characters genderbent.

So when I complain that she turned them weepier and more naive/stupid than they were in canon, it's not some inference of mine about how the canon characters would act, it's a direct comparison of canon vs. fic.

The canon can be pretty whumpy as well, but it makes sure to push the hypercompetent characters to their limits before making them break down, so you get a very clear idea of how far each one of them can be pushed before they're a suicidal mess.

Here are some examples:

- Character A is canonically a super open-minded, philosophical guy. That's one of his chief canon traits. When he realizes that he's sexually attracted to Character B, who is also a man, and that the attraction is reciprocated and could be consumed, his canonical reaction is "Hmmm don't mind if I don't! A gentleman should try every vice at least once!" It's actually B who's a bit reluctant about it because A is younger and more inexperienced, while A is making moon eyes at B and chasing him even after he gets married. He doesn't feel an ounce of anguish or conflict about having gay feelings for his friend at any point. In the genderbend, Character A is so anguished about "having those types of feelings" towards B that she bursts into tears and needs to be comforted. Character A has canonically faced the death of close family members and their own possible complicity in a close friend's execution without this extreme a reaction.

- Character B is canonically a trauma survivor, which has left him with a tough-skinned mentality and an impatience towards weakness and emotional outbursts. In canon, whenever someone reacts emotionally, he's underestimating of it at best and snappish/aggressive at worst, demanding that the other characters put themselves together. When his endgame love interest bursts into tears once (years after the scene from the AU takes place), he just angrily leaves the room because he can't handle it. In the f!AU, B empathically notices character A's anguish right before she's about to cry, and then she's solicitous and comforting and soothing towards B. Canon!B has a long tradition of dismissing A's concerns every time A is angry or emotional.

- Character C was seduced by the manipulative villainess at a young and vulnerable age, and then met her again after going through years of adversity. Character C's main traits in canon are that the adversity has left him cold and calculating and repressed, as well as very Machiavellian, so when he's back with the villainess he's no longer believing her bullshit and is masterfully using her for his own ends. In the genderbend, Character C's experiences of adversity have left her desperate for connection instead of closed off and mistrustful, so she falls right back into the villainess's arms because she craves comfort and genuinely needs to snap out of the manipulation. She breaks down the first time the villainess puts on her fake empathetic charm and seeks comfort like a child.

I understand that some of these (esp the last one) are the fic author's preferences for weepy whump but it just rubs me, personally, the wrong way how the only change is the characters' gender and yet the genderbent versions react a lot more along the stereotypical lines of "women weep a lot and put themselves in abusive situations because they can't stand being alone".

I love the canon characters for the mix of roguish badassery, grey morality, and complex inner lives, and I was SO looking forward to seeing female characters with the same mix of traits. What I found was closer to fainting Victorian ladies. I wouldn't be against seeing the female characters have mental breakdowns as well - as I said, they do happen in canon, and canon is also full of complex female characters who react to trauma in various ways - but I feel like there needs to be enough setup to explain why if you don't want them to come off as whinier and less resilient versions of the male ones.

--

[prpfz]

K-POP DEMONHUNTERS RP! (LOOKING FOR ABS SAJA) DOUBLES WELCOMED

😈😈🎤🎤🎤

Hi there! My name is Kim and I’m currently looking for someone who’s just as obsessed with K-pop Demon Hunters as I am! Whether you loved the movie for its style, music, or demon-fighting badassery (or all three), I’d love to build a thrilling and romantic story set in that universe — with a special focus on Abs Saja. 😈

⸻

A Little About Me:

• I’m 18+ and kindly ask that all participants and characters are 18+ as well.

• I write in third person, semi-literate to literate style (typically 2-4+ paragraphs per character), and love diving deep into character dynamics and storytelling.

• Timezone: CST

• Activity: I’m active most days! If life gets busy, I’ll always communicate, and I kindly ask for the same in return.

• I only RP on Discord.

⸻

What I’m Looking For:

I’d love to craft a post-movie or during-the-movie AU where the demons aren’t fully gone… and neither are the boys 👀

The idea? The guys are back — but something’s different. Jinu is missing, and the team is fractured, looking for answers and maybe even redemption. My OC is part of the next generation of demon hunters, trained by those who survived the first wave. She’s serious, passionate, and refuses to be underestimated.

Enter Abs Saja — dangerous, seductive, and way too smug for his own good. He loves teasing her, pushing her buttons, getting under her skin… and she pretends to hate it (but doesn’t). I’m craving that tension-heavy, push-and-pull dynamic where she swears she can’t stand him… and yet keeps ending up closer than she means to. Give me the stolen glances, the flirty insults, the protective moments when he does care but won’t say it out loud.

Think:

• “I’m not yours.” “Sure, keep telling yourself that.”

• “Stay away from me.” “Baby, you’re the one who keeps coming back.”

• Hunter x Demon? Forbidden, delicious, angsty.

• Tension, banter, and definitely“I’d burn the world for you” vibes.

Bonus points if you’re interested in:

• Expanding the Demon Hunters lore

• swapping and creating headcanons, aesthetics, playlists, and gushing about our characters!

⸻

My Simple Rules:

1. Be 18+

2. No one-liners. I love depth, build-up, and world-building!

3. Communication is key. I’m flexible and chill — just let me know if you need time away!

4. Let’s build this together! I love plotting, OOC chatting, sharing inspo, and hyping up our ideas.

⸻

If you’re down to dive into a K-pop Demon Hunters RP and would be open to playing Abs Saja for my OC, I’d love to hear from you! I’m also more than happy to double and play someone you’d like in return. 😊

Thank you for reading and I can’t wait to create something dark, and unforgettable with you!

like or dm

[thephoenixandthecrocodile]

My Thoughts of Rings of Power Episode 07 Part 2

I love that I’m legitimately rooting for the Orcs and the Elves in this battle, again highlighting the waste and stupidity of war.

Ooo interesting to catch a glimpse of Orc burial traditions. And Adar’s tears? His pain? This man who has been through every torture under the sun can still shed a tear for his children. *sobs*

Also, Galadriel, you’re fooling no one, girl. Frodo and Sam did a better job disguising themselves than you

Arondir and Galadriel time! I love their friendship even though they’ve had like thirty seconds of screen time together. I don’t know, but they work really well together.

“He has taken everything else from me.” ☹ Arondir, what about your adopted sons: Isildur and Theo?

God damn it Durin III. Now is not the time to commit some kinslaying. Also, Durin IV looks good in his armor.

I mean I know you have to put your people before all else, but I think Disa can handle Durin III just find by herself.

This fucking conversation between Celebrimbor and Sauron about Morgoth and torture being a game and pain a reward, I love everything about it. Also Sauron is such a delusion, manipulative little shit.

I love that Celebrimbor almost understands what Sauron means about pain and perfection. Just like Galadriel, there is a core part of Celebrimbor that understands and even appreciates Sauron and vice versa. That’s why he’s able to manipulate them. Pushed one way too hard and Galadriel and Celebrimbor could have fallen into the darkness, just like Sauron.

“You truly are the Great Deceiver. You can deceive even yourself.” Fuck, yeah, Brimby!

Yes, Celebrimbor, rebel! Destroy those rings! (although we know it won’t work)

I CANNOT BELIEVE what Celebrimbor did! Ahhhh! Such a deep lore reference, an example of how willful and brave Celebrimbor truly is, and how much Sauron underestimated him.

“Whose will is the mightier.” Such badassery. Love you, Celebrimbor!

For fuck’s sake just let this man escape the forge!

Also fuck those soldiers for their disrespect. Don’t feel bad when any of you die.

Yay! Galadriel put those assholes in their place

The Celebrimbor-Galadriel reunion. The sadness, the guilt, the shame, the soft care and love they have for each other. *sobs even harder*

And his speech about the light and how it most likely inspires Galadriel to become the Lady of Light we know in the Third Age *sobs even harder*

Seriously give Charles Edwards ALL the rewards or we riot!

That little head nod and attempt at a brave smile as he returns to the forge to face torment and death. ☹

RIAN! FUCKING BAD ASS QUEEN OF THE NIGHT

Love this core principle of Tolkien’s world: fight and keep fighting (however you can) evil until your last breath. That is all we can do.

And then Adar sends in Damrod, ensuring his own children will turn on him. ☹

Yes! Arondir, Gil-Galad, and Elrond team up to take down the troll!

Although seriously where has Gil-Galad been this entire time? XD

Sauron is an evil bastard, but his take down of the Elven guards was cool.

Also, poor Celebrimbor. He now stands against Sauron alone – again. ☹

Again, Charles Edward killing it with the uncertain swallow, the scared, but determined look in his eyes. He knows he doesn’t stand a chance, but he will do what he can while he still can

“Durin will come” – all right, just kill me now. My heart is shattered beyond repair

Please don’t take the Durin-Elrond friendship from me. It’s all I have.

Also, everyone in Elrond’s company except for Galadriel and (maybe) Camnir has died in front of him.

SON OF A BITCH!!!! Arondir IS NOT DEAD!!! NO! NO! NO!

Someone better use Nenya’s powers to fucking heal him.

[magicalgirlagency]

You know, calamity trio and titan luz's anime powers were cool and badass, but i think grunkle stan outsmarting omnipotent evil doritos who destroyed multiple dimensions is a peak of badassery

Humans shouldn't be underestimated, that's for sure.

[justanotherrpmeme]

"Badass" sentences

"We've been through hell and back, and yet here we stand, ready for more." "I didn't choose the badass life; the badass life chose me." "Fear? That's just a word. We embrace danger like old friends." "You mess with us, you're playing with fire. And trust me, you don't want to get burned." "We're the ones they warn you about. The ones who don't play by the rules." "They thought they could break us, but little did they know, badassery runs in our veins." "We don't ask for permission; we take what we want and leave chaos in our wake." "There's no such thing as a fair fight when you're dealing with true badasses like us." "We thrive in the face of adversity. Bring it on, because we're ready for anything." "They say diamonds are tough, but they've never met us. We're forged in steel." "Don't mistake our silence for weakness. It's the calm before the storm." "They call us rebels, outlaws, renegades. But we know we're just misunderstood." "We walk the line between heroes and villains. But one thing's for sure—we're unforgettable." "We're a force to be reckoned with, unstoppable and unyielding." "We don't need backup; we are the backup. The cavalry arrives when we step onto the scene." "They say the night belongs to the fearless. Well, guess what? We own the night." "We don't do it for fame or recognition. We do it because it's who we are—badass to the core." "They underestimated us, and that's their biggest mistake. We rise above their expectations." "We're not just badass individually; together, we're a lethal combination." "They tried to put us in a box, but we shattered it. Badassery knows no limits."

[jerzwriter]

🐉, 📓, ✨,⚠️ For any and all of your babies!

Thanks so much for the ask, my friend!

🐉Very serious question… are they more like a dragon or a unicorn?

Ethan: Dragon Kaycee: Unicorn Tobias: Unicorn Casey: Unicorn Jessica: Unicorn Eli: Dragon Zoe: Hmmm. She's definitely a little of both, but her genuine state is Unicorn. Trystan: He wants to believe it's a dragon, but it's 1000% a unicorn. Carolina: 80% Dragon, 20% Unicorn! lol

📓Do you associate any quotes or lyrics with this oc?

You know, I do, but this is one of those questions I'd need to give entirely too much thought to lol I'm tucking this one away to answer on another time when I can really delve into this (it's the mental illness. lol)

✨Tell something that makes this oc feel happy!

Ethan: He'd say something like solving a medical mystery, and that's true. But what really makes him happiest is having someone who makes him feel like he has a place to call home for the first time in a very, very long time.

Kaycee: Making a sick patient smile despite the pain; her mom's cooking; Broadway/Theater; music - especially by Taylor Swift; her friends; Ethan.

Tobias: Sex (you asked lol); a day at the beach; flirting; his favorite team winning; a good game on the courts with friends; art; his little girls; and most of all, Casey.

Casey: Truly helping someone; sleeping in; cuddling; sex (you asked lol); really good food; music/concerts; autumn; her little girls; and most of all, Tobias.

Jessica: Academic/professional validation; spending time with true friends; hiking and beautiful scenery; baking; being with the person she loves.

Eli: Pleasant dreams about his late parents and brother, having a place to call home again; cooking something that makes Zoe make "that noise"; Zoe.

Zoe: Her friends who are her family; motorcycle rides with Eli; hugs; Eli.

Trystan: A top-notch massage, bonus points if it includes hot stones; fancy nights out on the town; knowing that he has true, loyal friends now - who love him for him - not for who he is; most of all, Carolina.

Carolina: "Theeeee Yankees Win!"; long rides with good music and/or good conversation; really good Puerto Rican or Caribbean food; her friends; Tommy; Trystan.

⚠️- If this oc came with a warning sign, what would it be?

Ethan: WARNING: My bark is worse than my bite, but my bark is pretty damn intimidating. Also, if you mess with my wife or daughter, the bite will be just as bad.

Kaycee: WARNING: Prone to breaking out into song at any random time. This will often include impromptu reenactions to Hamilton: The Musical or The Era's Tour.

Tobias: (Pre-Casey) WARNING: Voracious flirt who will follow through on that; but don't fall in love, because I'm bound to break your heart.

(Post-Casey) WARNING: Voracious flirt - it's just part of my DNA - I don't even know I'm doing it. But understand it means nothing, I've only got eyes for one.

Casey: WARNING: I'm bound to charm you. But if you're a hateful, bigoted asshole, or you fuck with my loved ones, that charm will go away REAL fast. Be warned.

Eli: WARNING: The stony exterior is just a protective device, but if I'm really scowling, it's probably best to stay away.

Zoe: WARNING: You may not be able to handle my level of badassery. The only thing I can't do - is cook. Oh, yeah, eat nothing I prepare.

Trystan: WARNING: Charming as fuck but capable of utilizing ancient Drakovian martial arts that will gut you in 3-2-1.....

Carolina: WARNING: Don't underestimate me. Ever.

Thanks again for asking, Dani!

[magaprima]

You know, I could talk forever about the moment Lilith reaches out with JUST ONE FREAKING HAND to telekinetically hold the literal devil back. Like, I feel no one goes on about the POWER that is, or don't go on about it enough to satisfy how many freaking feels that moment gives me.

Like, Lucifer is CHARGING forward towards Sabrina, he's pure freaking fury, and he is about to visit some extreme violence on the room, and Lilith doesn't even move from where she's stood, she just reaches out with one hand, and just as Zelda held back Mr Kinkle, holds back the Dark Lord. Like, he's fighting back and struggling against it, but he is trapped, he is held fast by her power. Think about it; that is so incredibly powerful, that it knocks everyone else out of the water (and is why I get low-key pissed when people lessen Lilith's power, or write things where she could be overpowered by someone else easily. The only way Nick was able to bind her was he had ONE OF HER BONES. Like he had to have a physical piece of her to be able to do anything).

Lilith shows, in this moment, that she is so freaking powerful (and most decidedly deserving of being Queen of Hell) and yet she so rarely shows it. She shows her power, and the extent of the strength of it so rarely, that I think those around her, Lucifer included, tend to forget, and so they underestimate her. And then when she does engage her full power and openly use it, the moment is so freaking badass. Like when she raises the Greendale 13 so easily (with a nice blood sacrifice), when she pulls everyone into their own personal tarot vision so effortlessly, the way she banishes Beelzebub with just a dismissive flick of the hand, how she even bypasses the defence of a Yule Log by just making herself a little gingerbread house, and then her glamours and skin changes are next level.

And that's without even going into the added power and badassery as regards holding back the devil, that she was being brave enough to take a stand against her abuser, and let him know she was against him.

[spectralpixelsredone]

Destro's Followers are individuals and groups who, while not directly part of the Meta Liberation Army (MLA) organization, are deeply influenced by Destro's philosophy of "liberation," particularly concerning the free use of Quirks. They represent the wider societal impact of his ideology.

Teruo Hazukashi

Debut: Chapter 186 (Manga), Episode 87 (Anime)

Quirk/Meta Ability: Shame - This "Embarrassing Superpower" grants him "Super-Strength" when he feels sufficiently humiliated or embarrassed. It functions as an "Emotional Power," akin to the Hulk, but fueled by shame rather than anger, making it a "Blessed with Suck" ability.

Motivation: Teruo is a disgruntled office worker who, inspired by Destro's autobiography, plans a "Roaring Rampage of Revenge" against his company. In an attempt to activate his Quirk, he tries to invoke "Naked People Are Funny" by stripping.

Fate: Despite his intentions, Teruo's attempt at revenge is swiftly cut short. He is on the receiving end of a "Curb-Stomp Battle" and an "Offhand Backhand" from Hawks, who effortlessly defeats him without even breaking stride in his conversation with Endeavor. This paints Teruo as a "Butt-Monkey" whose efforts are easily dismissed.

Adaptation Expansion: The anime elaborates on his motivation, revealing a lifelong feeling of suffocation by societal norms, not just workplace pressure.

Cider House

Debut: Chapter 218 (Manga), Episode 100 (Anime)

Nature: "Cider House" is a group of purse-snatchers and thieves. They are Unwitting Pawns, unknowingly field-testing black market equipment supplied by Detnerat, the parent company of the MLA. The group's name is a likely "Shout-Out" to The Cider House Rules book. Their criminals wear masks featuring "Horns of Villainy."

Leader's Quirk/Meta Ability: Seltzer Control - The leader (acting as a "Mook Lieutenant") can control carbonated water, using it to create street-sized tidal waves. He also uses "Tricked-Out Gloves" that pressurize carbonated water into jets powerful enough to shear through light poles. These gloves also collect combat data and are rigged to self-destruct upon the user's defeat, a fact unknown to him. The leader himself is a "Thrill Seeker," finding excitement in dangerous situations.

First Appearance & Fate: They meticulously planned a month-long theft spree to avoid heroes, demonstrating they "Know When to Fold 'Em" when things go awry. However, they faced immediate "Laser-Guided Karma" by encountering Bakugo and Todoroki, who had just obtained their provisional hero licenses. The leader's mistake of "Underestimating Badassery" by viewing them as mere schoolchildren led to a swift "Curb-Stomp Battle" that concluded within a single chapter.

Second Appearance & Evolution ("The Bus Came Back"): The group reappeared in Chapter 300, having escaped during All For One's various jailbreaks. In this instance, they were again quickly intercepted after robbing a cafe, but this time by a group of civilians armed with support items. Despite their prior easy defeat, they proved to be a "Not-So-Harmless Villain," putting up a strong fight that resulted in a bloody draw and significant property damage, showcasing that even lower-ranking villains can be a formidable force.

[ahb-writes]

Book Review: 'I'm the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire' #5

I'm the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire #5 by Yomu Mishima, Nadare Takamine, Amy Osteraas

adventure

coming of age

military school

nobility

science fiction

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Finally, some legitimate castle intrigue.

Liam may act like a bit of an idiot from time to time, but he also shows flashes of considerable political fortitude and military badassery. I'M THE EVIL LORD OF AN INTERGALACTIC EMPIRE v5 fully delivers to readers an evolved Liam who is educated, experienced, and an uncompromising noble with plenty of money and influence behind his unpredictable interests. Forming trading alliances with other intergalactic nations? Fearlessly muscling into conversation with the Algrand Empire's top princes vying for the throne? Picking up waifish young women while out on a leisurely stroll? Challenging one of the empires most established warriors to one-on-one combat? If Liam isn't careful, he might actually live up his imaginary reputation of being a bad guy.

Following his tenure of military service, Liam enters another educational stint. But before he wraps up his schooling endeavors and returns to his domain to start ruling in earnest, the young man gets it in his head to start screwing around with the Empire's politics. And why not? Some opportunities are too good to waste. It turns out the quest for succession is tight. Crown Prince Calvin is on top, closely followed by the tempestuous second prince, Linus, and the all but forgotten third prince, Cleo. Liam, naturally, throws his weight behind the meek and disempowered third prince.

EVIL LORD v5 tracks the fallout.

Whether Liam can successfully install a puppet emperor is a question for another day. For now, readers must be content with the reality that Liam has joyously assembled a new rogues gallery for himself. Nobles despise him. Royalty dreads him. Knights panic at his name. Liam takes pleasure in staring down those who underestimate him, no matter their station ("You can't just summon me and force me to swear my allegiance to you," page 82). The funniest example occurs when he meets Cleo Noah Albareto, the third prince, and flashes a cunning smile to his personal guard. The female guard's blood runs cold.

Curiously, while these troubles are of Liam's own making, the author takes to validating Liam's paranoia with actual intrigue. The Empire's highest ranks are indeed scheming to run the young count into the ground with financial sanctions. Figures in the shadows are indeed hoping the the young man mysteriously vanishes through the work of assorted assassins for hire. EVIL LORD v5 skillfully meshes Liam's affection for expanding his political and economic influence with the rest of the nobility's unmitigated uncertainty and caution.

For example, Liam dispatches his various merchant buddies to neighboring nations: the Intergalactic Rustwarr Union (a democratic alliance) and the United Kingdom Of Oxys (a fragmented nobility system). Hard-bargaining and undercover work reveal some black-market shenanigans and a few easily corrupted officials, some of which may work in the young count's favor.

Altogether, EVIL LORD v5 is the payoff this novel series deserves. The current volume features a lot of fantastic, smaller narrative elements, which, in combination, drive the novel series forward with cleverness and alacrity:

A casual discussion on gender parity and gender expression is later validated by characters experimenting with transitioning. Commentary on individual character disposition gains greater clout when Liam learns he has yet another devoted knight with a "bad personality," in Chengsi Sera Tohrei, who adores violence as much as Tia and Marie. A brutal, extended fight scene turns even more chaotic when a so-called swordmaster shows up and starts tearing through Liam's personnel, only for the hero evil lord to step in at the last moment. And finally, Liam's perpetual calm, while under threat from the Empire, earns admiration among other planetary rulers in the outskirts ("I was a true villain, so it was natural that other villains would gather around me," page 157).

❯ ❯ Light-Novel Reviews

[asknarashikari]

Liking a character for combat pragmatism/fight aggressively..... well I guess it may be caused by how tokusatsu's (or other action-based media) main appeal to people would be the, well, special effects, as in the genre name ("tokushu satsuei"); people watch those just for the fights and the suits.

Liking fight may also be related to wanting power fantasy, so the ones who fight the coolest to them like being aggressive and brutal (usually done in rival archetypes), would be what catches their attention. Seems that vulgar behavior is considered a display for badassery outside of fight too, for some reason - which infuriates me that this seem to produce a double standard, like praising Azuma's Revolve On use (against Bujin Sword) sky high, but ignoring Keiwa's own creative use of Revolve On. Or perhaps also their performance against the Premiums (Azuma losing against 2, Keiwa having upper hand against 1).

Overall only what's "cool" got appreciated and paid attention, regardless if someone else out there has them - not limited to action but in other stuff like character personality or gorgeous/intimidating looks. There are those who also encourage people to turn their brains off when watching toku, rather than getting deep about children's shows - including limiting the definition of good guy/hero to those who beat up bad guys, anyone who are on their side are good too, etc. regardless of character or context.

Even though there are toku episodes that brought these topic up where a kid wanting to be Rider to be "cool" is not considered a heroic trait as it's more about worshiping violence - like Ryuki ep. 27.

Yeah, that's my impression of it. They're just in it for the action stuff.

Which is a shame, I feel, because when people get too caught up in the flashing lights and the collectible gimmicks and the shiny armor and the cool weapons, they tend to miss out on the very human side of tokusatsu. While I don't think it's wrong to enjoy tokusatsu just for the shonen-like action and stuff going boom, I feel like when you just turn your brain off you miss a lot of the things that would make you appreciate the genre more.

I mean... yeah, it's a kid's tv show. Doesn't mean it should be shallow and insubstantial action all the time. Honestly, I think it shouldn't be underestimated how much kids (let alone grown ass men) can pick up on a bunch of guys in rubber suits hitting each other if even a modicum of thought is actually put into making it.

[teamfreewill56-blog]

Kyojuro is Top-Tier Badass

Kyojuro was and is a 100% total badass. His fight with Akaza and how it unfolded the way that he got injured and lost his life in the fight makes sense and doesn’t take away from his baddass-ness. At no point in the fight did he ever give up. The moment where he is standing there listening to Akaza rant about his injuries and how if he was a demon they would be gone quickly, I don’t think that was Kyojuro resigning to his “fate” at all. He was not giving up, not at all. If you listen to his breathing you’ll notice as that scene goes on his breathing becomes LESS haggard and he takes a full, completely steady breath before going into Ninth Form Rengoku. I honestly believe he was using his breathing techniques to build up his strength just as he had literally just told Tanjiro how to do. I believe he was thinking in his military style way of coming to terms with what he could still do while wounded. He was probably going into shock, he knew that he had tried all his other attacks except two or three and they weren’t working, he was already badly hurt and knew he strength wasn’t going to hold out much longer and he had already slowed down. That left him with the Ninth Form Rengoku and he put his all into that attack as a last resort. Also if you notice when he got punched in the ribs he didn’t spit blood meaning his shattered ribs punctured his organs and he still kept fighting full force! Look at the scene where he is breathing and not saying anything before the Rengoku form. His blood goes all the way up to his chest from that punch that shattered his ribs. 

As for the slowing down that allowed for that punch to his ribs---He was slowing down with good reason. He had been fighting demons for DAYS. Not just a couple hours. He left right after the Pillar Meeting, probably travelled by foot to the train and now we know that he took on another mission before actually boarding the train. The Squad was at Butterfly mansion for several days. And even when the Squad was with him he had already used very large attacks during the fight with Enmu and he was covering a huge amount of ground guys. FIVE CARS. FIVE CARS FULL OF PEOPLE. That isn't a small distance! He can't do pinpoint fire attacks! That takes a lot of energy!  Remember his whole speech about being human? Part of being human is that even with Total Concentration Constant you don’t get an endless supply of strength/energy even if you’re a higher skilled Slayer. Even in constant, his constant fighting and activity would take a toll. Kyojuro was using his techniques CONSTANTLY. He was using them way more than the boys, and he had to in order to properly fulfill his duties. He must have been running on empty by the time Akaza showed but was still putting his all into that fight. Because even Constant only does so much (there was a point to Tanjiro saying Hinokami Kagura takes its toll and he was still IN constant when he said that). Using a bunch of Flame techniques take it’s toll too. Kyojuro said “Breathing won’t fix everything” and his fight was evidence of that. He used it as much as he could to help him through the fight but it didn’t fix his injuries, it didn’t fix his exhaustion. And yet, in spite of that, in spite of his fatigue, his injuries, he poured his absolute all into his fight and he gave a damn good fight.

So for me, knowing that, and seeing how he fought Akaza, and how well he fought for the majority of that fight---also completely by himself which no one else did against an Upper Moon except Zenitsu, and let’s be honest Kaigaku is no where near Akaza’s level--so no it makes sense that he was exhausted, slowed down and therefore got hurt by one of those fast blows. And remember that those moves were slowed down so that we the audience could see them. It’s an additional testament to everything he said in his speech, “They may seem like weaknesses to you, but our lives are all the more honorable because of it”. That applies to getting fatigued too, because even fatigued he kept fighting. He kept trying. He didn’t give up or say “I have nothing left in me.” He had a creed to follow and he followed it to the end.

He was one of the Pillars to never manifest the Mark during his fight, and in spite of that he still almost succeeded in taking Akaza’s head off. He held him in place, using his own damaged body and still tried to cut off his head, using one hand. And with the other caught a full on punch. He got absolutely no help in his fight against Akaza. No tricks, no back up. Nothing. It was just him vs. Akaza. Against the third highest ranking demon in existence, who was way ahead of the other Upper Moons in terms of strength. Kyojuro must have been exhausted beyond belief when that fight started, just because he was being loud and smiling, and being the wonderful big brother he is, I feel like we forgot the situation, and what he was dealing with at the time. I think we got a very good indication of how powerful Kyojuro was and no offense to the other Pillars but I’d consider him top in strength next only to Gyomei. He is far stronger than he’s given credit for and he is a top-tier badass don’t insult him.