I think that’s my big problem with Rei just from reading the spoiler summary. To expand on that point, and to respond to both of you:
What is done is already done, we can't do anything about that, Kyoukai being Op at Sanyou was quite fun but a lot too much. But for the future I think her being nerfed can be good plot wise and character wise. She always used her dance her OPness her power to do unbelievable things now if she cant do that anymore she has to find other things to find new strength, to develop and learn the hard way. Much better. Kyou Kai being OP again after "sacrificing" a part of her strength wouldn't be great to me.
I think it’s honestly too late to nerf Kyoukai.
If we assume Kyoukai wants to actually be a Great General of her own, she will need her full strength to do so, as nonsensically capable as she is. My biggest problem with Rei is that just feels like the wrong time to introduce this character to me.
At a time where the Gyoku Hou and Gaku Ka are blooming as armies, getting new commanders, and excelling on battlefields where there competition are Great General level commanders in Ousen, Kanki, Yo Tan Wa, Ko Chou, etc...instead of the Hi Shin Unit getting focus as a unit, we’re meeting Kyoukai’s random ass sister that 90% of the fandom didn’t even know existed last week.
I trust Hara, the man is a genius, but I just think he is really appealing to the lowest common denominator with Kyoukai. Like everything about her is generic or stupid on purpose because she is a character designed to appeal to people who enjoy more “typical” badasses. Like I said, I trust Hara, but god damn, I just don’t care about anything Kyoukai related.
Looking back at the Western Zhao Invasion Arc, one of the dumbest moments in the entire series is when the gang are scratching their heads at what Ousen is doing and it is Kyoukai who realises Ousen’s plan for using the refugees.
Weirdly, I actually liked this moment with Kyoukai haha. Idk why. I think the point of that scene was to stress how unique her vision is, not necessarily that she’s smarter than Mouten or Ouhon in terms of battlefield tactics because she’s not lol. But I understand why this is off putting, like most of the stuff Kyoukai is involved with. I also really liked when Kyoukai was the one who realized that Shin needed to face Gyou’Un instead of Ten, just to show that I’m not mindlessly biased against Kyoukai lol.
But to this day, there have only been two moments in Kingdom where I thought the manga was less than stellar:
1. Kyoukai obliterates Kaishibou’s Elites (I think I literally had to retcon the events of the manga in my head, making excuses like “the brutally wounded HSU helped her!!” Just so my enjoyment of the Sanyou arc wasn’t completely ruined lol).
2. When Kyoukai got her nakama power up from Ren.
The two lowest points of Kingdom imo, both with Kyoukai at their center.
