Really?
Friends?
Sei Kyou was at best, an ally of convenience to Shin, Rinko was an enemy that respected Shin but an enemy nonetheless and Mangoku hated Shin and straight up threatened to haunt him if he did not keep his promise.
Or are we taking “friendship power” to mean any form of inner strength that is sourced from a character’s relationship to any other character, past or present? Does that mean characters who are motivated by the loss of their loved ones have “friendship power”?
Do characters that are motivated by revenge such as Guts, Goblin Slayer, The Punisher etc. now have “friendship power”? Lol.
It does. If the concept was first introduced in the Shin vs Houken dual then we would all be calling it a complete arse pull. Lol.
I wholeheartedly disagree. People will always push themselves to their limit in order to protect what and (in the case of the concept we are now discussing) who they hold most dear.
It is not an inherently bad concept. It is a concept that can be difficult to execute without coming off as cheesy but if executed correctly it is a simple but heartwarming concept that strikes a relatable cord with a basic element of our human nature, the desire to protect our own.
Which brings us to a different but related point.
As
@Admiral Lee Hung once eloquently said...
In a manga about humanity, could Hara actually avoid the concept of people drawing strength from their connections and relationships to others? Of our desire to protect those or the memory of those (as is the case of inherited will) who are dear to us, no matter the cost? Of one of the most basic traits that makes humanity ultimately, human?
The answer in my opinion, is no. For Hara to avoid such a basic concept that is inherently part of human nature in a manga about humanity would be akin to attempting to write a love story without romance.
Ultimately, Hara chose the spiritual route of “friendship power”/motivation through character relationships/whatever you perceive it as, through the concept of Inherited Will.
Arguing that a concept within a series is inherently bad merely because other series have explored the concept is like arguing that Burger King’s burgers are inherently bad because MacDonald’s, Supermac’s, KFC and Eddie Rocket’s also serve burgers, regardless of whatever seasoning, condiments, sauces or side dishes each outlet serves with their respective burgers.
It is not so much the basic concept within a story that matters but the execution of said concept.
No, they are absolutely not.
Shin has fought legendary Great Generals since the Wei Fire Dragon Arc. He was able to keep up with Gaimou about 2/3 arcs ago, matched Gyou’un (an individual that was credited as being “The Martial Might of Zhao” during a time when beasts like Renpa and Kaishibou were active at the same time) blow for blow and he has slayed Great Heaven Houken.
Current Shin has been above Mougou and Choutou for whole arcs now, would arguably defeat Duke Hyou during this arc and would give both Ouki and Moubu an extreme diff fight.
Current Shin i.e. the Shin that fought Houken, in terms of physical prowess, is without doubt above ordinary Great Generals (e.g. Mougou and Choutou) and is on par with Legendary Great Generals (e.g. Zhao Three, Qin Six, Wei Seven etc.).
Shin also certainly has the Weight of a General by Ouki’s definition of it.
It really does not matter when Shin literally no longer has those wounds, does it?
Riddle me this.
If Shin with life threatening wounds could overpower Houken, why can’t Shin who now no longer has those wounds, overpower literal fodder that he is attacking from behind?
Firstly, at no point is Shin portrayed as being “fresh”. Still does not change the fact he should be able to easily overpower literal fodder even in his current condition (i.e. exhausted, no wounds).
Secondly, unless Kyoukai has accidentally dabbled into the territory of necromancy and resurrected Shin as a zombie then I do not see how this “no breathing” malarkey affects anything considering that Shin will have been breathing sweet oxygen since his resurrection, no?
Seriously, what even is this argument? Lol.
