Introduction
As I see it, Kallavan has two objectives:
Now that Traumerei has shown up, stealing Lyborick's position by killing him is no longer on the table. Kallavan would have to try another way to regain his position.
Perhaps he'll try to convince Traumerei and/or the Lo Po Bia Family that he is more fit to serve as Corps Commander than Lyborick. Or maybe it's Adori/Army HQ that he's trying to convince. Either way, I believe that Kallavan will have a strong desire to prove himself.
Kallavan's Opportunity
With the Frozen Waterfall has been destroyed, Traumerei/the Lo Po Bia may learn of Maschenny's betrayal, Leviathan's escape and/or the stunt she pulled with Baam. This creates a couple pressing needs:
The Case for Kallavan vs Baam
A fight with Baam will serve a few purposes:
The Case for Kallavan vs Maschenny
A fight/interaction with Maschenny serves other purposes:
This interaction would be more meaningful if Maschenny is the one who asked Kallavan to come to the Nest, and/or she spoke with Cheonhee after the talk with Jinsung. She was shown to be on Cheonhee's ship:
And we haven't seen Cheonhee after she met up with Kallavan.
Of course, depending on the relationship between Maschenny and Kallavan, they may end up not fighting at all. But even if Maschenny is a superior officer he respects/thinks very highly of, I find it hard to imagine that Kallavan would turn a blind eye to her betrayal.
At best, he may plan to report her to Adori/Army HQ afterwards, and that gives her an incentive to eliminate him.
The Dark Horse: Asensio
Another option is that Kallavan fights Asensio. The rationale is mostly the same as for the Maschenny fight, but Asensio prevents Maschenny from engaging Kallavan as he doesn't see him as someone worthy of facing his sister. As similar situation manifested with Data Asensio and Big Breeder Jeok:
Aesthetically, I'd also expect Asensio to "go all out"/get a real fight before Maschenny.
And considering that SIU hyped up his combat ability as Data:
I doubt SIU reintroduced him at the Nest just to babysit AA against a random Ranker. I'd expect him to have a proper fight and Kallavan and Perseus are the only compelling options (Lyborick is reserved for Dowon and/or Cha).
Some Unlikely Options
I see a few other unlikely opponents for Kallavan. I'll list them out and why I don't consider their battles plausible:
My Thoughts
Prior to the last chapter, I believed the Baam fight was the clear frontrunner option.
The main argument against it was that the rivalry was based entirely on false premises. Kallavan isn't the one that's actually responsible for Jinsung's imprisonment/suffering. Baam's grudge against him was entirely misplaced. And now, Baam has met the true culprit; he'll no longer care about hunting down Kallavan.
Another argument against it is that Baam no longer needs Kallavan to serve as a hypetool for his Leviathan or Crown power ups. His current battle against Pudidy and Haland should show Baam's new power adequately.
Furthermore, fighting Pudidy and Haland, then Kallavan, then Traumerei all back to back is a little too much. I now no longer believe the Baam fight is all that likely.
Conclusions
Shifting away from Baam as Kallavan's next opponent is making me warm up towards the Maschenny - Asensio option. I could see a battle analogous to the one vs the Big Breeder. But I'll also be excited for a straight Maschenny fight or a straight Asensio fight.
Alternatively, SIU could throw yet another curve ball and have Baam fight Kallavan after defeating Pudidy and Haland. I would not rule it out.
I would be pretty surprised if Kallavan fought someone outside of those three.
As I see it, Kallavan has two objectives:
- To kill the Irregular boy (his "eternal enemy").
- To regain his position as a Corps Commander.
Now that Traumerei has shown up, stealing Lyborick's position by killing him is no longer on the table. Kallavan would have to try another way to regain his position.
Perhaps he'll try to convince Traumerei and/or the Lo Po Bia Family that he is more fit to serve as Corps Commander than Lyborick. Or maybe it's Adori/Army HQ that he's trying to convince. Either way, I believe that Kallavan will have a strong desire to prove himself.
Kallavan's Opportunity
With the Frozen Waterfall has been destroyed, Traumerei/the Lo Po Bia may learn of Maschenny's betrayal, Leviathan's escape and/or the stunt she pulled with Baam. This creates a couple pressing needs:
- The Irregular needs to be captured
- The traitor Princess needs to be dealt with.
The Case for Kallavan vs Baam
A fight with Baam will serve a few purposes:
- Wrap up Kallavan and Baam's rivalry.
- After the Nest, even "Base" Baam would be far too strong for their fight to be worth anything.
- If they meet again Post Nest, we'll get a repeat of the Vagararv situation.
- It provides a satisfactory conclusion to Kallavan's character arc.
- Hype up Baam's power after absorbing White and/or Leviathan.
- Baam could absorb the Essence of Bravery.
The Case for Kallavan vs Maschenny
A fight/interaction with Maschenny serves other purposes:
- Provides insight into the hierarchy of the Army and where Princesses sit in it.
- Provides insights into Maschenny's scheming with and around Kallavan.
- And how those schemes relate to her machinations with Jinsung and Baam.
- Provides a contrast/comparison between Maschenny and Yuri via how Kallavan responds to their betrayal/how they deal with a hostile Kallavan.
- Provides insight into the powerscaling of the series (especially vis a vis Princesses and Corps Commanders). It'll help answer questions like:
- Where do the 13 Month Princesses stand relative to the Corps Commanders?
- Where does Yuri stand compared to other Princesses?
This interaction would be more meaningful if Maschenny is the one who asked Kallavan to come to the Nest, and/or she spoke with Cheonhee after the talk with Jinsung. She was shown to be on Cheonhee's ship:
And we haven't seen Cheonhee after she met up with Kallavan.
Of course, depending on the relationship between Maschenny and Kallavan, they may end up not fighting at all. But even if Maschenny is a superior officer he respects/thinks very highly of, I find it hard to imagine that Kallavan would turn a blind eye to her betrayal.
At best, he may plan to report her to Adori/Army HQ afterwards, and that gives her an incentive to eliminate him.
The Dark Horse: Asensio
Another option is that Kallavan fights Asensio. The rationale is mostly the same as for the Maschenny fight, but Asensio prevents Maschenny from engaging Kallavan as he doesn't see him as someone worthy of facing his sister. As similar situation manifested with Data Asensio and Big Breeder Jeok:
Aesthetically, I'd also expect Asensio to "go all out"/get a real fight before Maschenny.
And considering that SIU hyped up his combat ability as Data:
- He's a Faction Leader of the Khun Family.
- He's "the Spear Master".
I doubt SIU reintroduced him at the Nest just to babysit AA against a random Ranker. I'd expect him to have a proper fight and Kallavan and Perseus are the only compelling options (Lyborick is reserved for Dowon and/or Cha).
Some Unlikely Options
I see a few other unlikely opponents for Kallavan. I'll list them out and why I don't consider their battles plausible:
- Cha
- A fight with Kallavan does nothing for either of their characters.
- Cha may assist Dowon with Lyborick.
- He could also fight Yorari (if he's still alive) or Perseus if he's not.
- Dowon
- She has a strong grudge against Lyborick and needs to avenge Luch.
- Jinsung
- Baam is with Jinsung right now and I don't see him allowing Jinsung and Kallavan to fight again.
- The fight is kind of pointless:
- Kallavan is now even stronger than their previous battle.
- Jinsung is weaker than their previous battle because his arms have not fully recovered.
- It would be an even more brutal beat down than last time.
- Yama
- His battle is with Traumerei.
- Yasratcha
- His battle is also with Traumerei.
My Thoughts
Prior to the last chapter, I believed the Baam fight was the clear frontrunner option.
The main argument against it was that the rivalry was based entirely on false premises. Kallavan isn't the one that's actually responsible for Jinsung's imprisonment/suffering. Baam's grudge against him was entirely misplaced. And now, Baam has met the true culprit; he'll no longer care about hunting down Kallavan.
Another argument against it is that Baam no longer needs Kallavan to serve as a hypetool for his Leviathan or Crown power ups. His current battle against Pudidy and Haland should show Baam's new power adequately.
Furthermore, fighting Pudidy and Haland, then Kallavan, then Traumerei all back to back is a little too much. I now no longer believe the Baam fight is all that likely.
Conclusions
Shifting away from Baam as Kallavan's next opponent is making me warm up towards the Maschenny - Asensio option. I could see a battle analogous to the one vs the Big Breeder. But I'll also be excited for a straight Maschenny fight or a straight Asensio fight.
Alternatively, SIU could throw yet another curve ball and have Baam fight Kallavan after defeating Pudidy and Haland. I would not rule it out.
I would be pretty surprised if Kallavan fought someone outside of those three.
