D GRAY MAN

[diem]

In the most recent chapter of the manga, we could see that the Exorcists are now back on business in searching for the Innocence, especially the "Heart".

I've been thinking about certain things regarding about the "Innocence".

It is interesting to note that there are 109 pieces of Innocence. Why 109?

Wikipedia tells us that 109 is what's called a centered triangular prime number, representing a triangle with a dot in the center and all other dots surrounding in successive triangular layers. 109 refers to the triangle whose n=8.

Is 109 a reference to the Trinity as well as infinity since 8 in Christianity refers to what is beyond time?

And if you read chapter 109 of both the Qu'ran and the Bible, one could say that there is some similarity in the text of both chapters in these holy books to what's happening in the D-Gray Man's world.

The Qu'ran Chapter 109 is regarding the Disbelievers: a reference for the Noahs and their crusade against those who use Innocence, the Exorcists and the Black Order and possibly vice versa?

The same can be said of Psalm 109 of the Holy Bible, you could say that these are fighting words, a challenge against those who are evil.

Besides, what is Innocence really: special weapons and tools for battle left by a previous ancient yet technologically advanced civilization who waged war against the forces of the Millenium Earl and caused Noah's Flood or the Three Days of Darkness.

But as the recently "departed" General Cross cryptically says to Allen, there is more than one side to this War... the War is more than what it seems.

And what about this "Heart of Innocence"? Apparently this is the most important of all Innocence, possibly the source since once the Millenium Earl and the Noahs have this Heart-- destroying it would mean the total destruction of every Innocence.

There's no really clue about the Heart of Innocence except from the conversations between the Earl and Noahs in Chapter 158th Night: The Flower of Evil that the Heart could be intelligent, sentient and sensing their movements.

It could also possess qualities never seen before in previous Innocence which makes unique Innocence like Lenalee's and Allen's to be possible suspects of the Heart or then again just pieces of it.

Anyway, did anyone notice something? How the Noahs carry cross marks to resemble the Crown of Thorns of the crucified Messiah? How Allen Walker's innocence is shaped like a crucifix too on his left hand? And now with Lenalee's crystalline-type Innocence weapon reformed from her own blood, she bears cross wounds on her feet?

Is anybody getting to what I am hinting?

[ulrick007]

yeah..i observe it also...there are cross marks on Allen's left face and Lenalee's feet...i dont know why there also have it.. even they are Innocence users..i thought only Noah's are capable on this crucifix marks...

[CorrosiveBeauty]

@diem: Whoa, nice homework =P. That part of DGM really got me hooked--the storyline somewhat derives some points of it from the Bible. It really mystifies me. And yeah, I did notice that part of the Noahs. One of the main reasons why I am fascinated with them. It's pretty ironic that they're evil and they're called Noah :3.
I have the feeling that the Black Org is an organization up to no good. Well they do good in the sense that they're trying to do something to save the world from destruction, but the way they treat exorcists as lab rats is definitely nothing good. They're too mysterious and that sounds really fishy to me.
Lastly, the heart and the search for it is getting reaaaaaaaaalyyyyyyyy exciting. The heart being something ambiguous and mysterious is so fun. I'd bet my foot that Allen and Lenalee posses the heart. Could be that they'd have to merge or something.

BTW I am wondering what Cross wants Allen to do with that "Kill loved one" movement, and what it is about. Rawr I hope they'd hurry up with this XD

[That ends my essay LOOOL]

[diem]

BTW I am wondering what Cross wants Allen to do with that "Kill loved one" movement, and what it is about.

My evaluation? I think that since Allen is actually the 14th Noah Reborn, when he transforms into the Noah he might have to kill someone he knows or maybe someone he loves as part of the process. Something similar to what Cain did to his brother Abel, committing murder cuts one off from humanity and Cain was exiled but he was also given "a special mark" from God--refer to Genesis Chapter 4:15

In the 93rd to the 97th chapters of the manga, entitled as "Noah's Memory", we see the back story of one of the Noahs, Skin Boric who was a laborer in the docks of New Orleans. Once he had met with the Earl and Road Camelot then come to terms with his Noah heritage, he told the priest- who-was-really-an-Akuma that he will be returning to the docks and kill everyone who knew him.

In page 16 of the 103rd chapter: "Eyes of Hate", The Earl remarked how Tyki Mikk subconsciously has restrained his Noah and hasn't completely awakened-- this must be why Tyki Mikk had those friends who accompanied him on the train when he and Allen first met. Perhaps his intent to kill Allen, someone he has come to like and admire allowed him to overcome his human limitations and fully awaken himself as a Noah.

[scioncray]

wow nice background check... Made me understand more about it hehehe. D-GrayMan fan here.

[kkk]

okay raman ang d gray man,nice sad iya weapons.lingaw kaau c allen.

[diem]

It is been quite a while since this thread saw some action.

In the name of my love for Lenalee and admiration for Allen and the other Exorcists, I'm reviving this thread so that others could re-ignite their interests in the manga D. Gray Man by Hoshino Katsura.

I'm hoping too that others would be intrigued enough to start investing into reading this gothic fantasy adventure series.

I'm going to talk about the Akuma (Japanese for "demon" or "nightmare"), hellish 'weapons' that are used by the main villains of D. Gray Man, the Millenium Earl (or Count Millenium) and the Clan of Noah, in their war against humanity.

Spoiler! 

The Akuma are manufactured by the Millenium Earl with 'dark matter' as the raw material. Out of the manufacture line, the Akuma first look like these:

Spoiler! 

To activate the Akuma, the Millenium Earl finds people destroyed by despair of the loss of a loved one. He offers them a way out of their misery, a chance to see their loved ones again. All they need to do is summon the soul of the dearly departed and place it in the Akuma by simply calling out the loved one's name with all their heart.

What the Earl won't say (until it's too late) that once the soul enters the Akuma body, the soul now belongs to the Earl and would obey him unconditionally. The active Akuma will then take the life and 'body' of the one who summoned them. Now it can pass off as a normal human in society, to spread more death and despair for the benefit of the Earl and his plans.

Like any organism, the Akuma undergoes several stages of metamorphosis as it grows. However, both the process and result are wicked.

This is the Akuma, Level 1. This is its true form initially after activation, a large metal pod that can float and fly with a number of cannon barrels protruding out of its body. These cannons fire bullets made of hardened Akuma blood which carries a virus that gives instantenous cellular death to any normal living human organism, human or animal.

Akumas of this level are impervious to conventional human weapons since being made of 'dark matter.' Only weapons made of 'Innocence' (white matter) can destroy these nightmares easily.

Later on, the Exorcists encounter these type of Akumas I call, "modified Level 1s".

Unlike the original Level 1, these do not need to transform into floating pods. Any surface of their bodies can immediately twist and transform into gun or cannon barrels to fire their deadly blood bullets. But again, they do not exhibit more power and can be easily defeated by Innocence weapons.

That's all for now for Akuma Level 1. I'll discuss the other Akuma types in future posts

[diem]

Once a Level 1 Akuma has killed enough people, harvested enough souls for the Millenium Earl and even 'lived' long enough without being destroyed by either Exorcists or Noahs or fellow Akumas* (*more on this later), the Akuma then undergoes an evolution, growing into a Level 2 Akuma.

Spoiler! 

Level 2 Akumas come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Though they can still retain their human disguises, each Level 2 Akuma possess a unique body, completely different from another Level 2 Akuma and from the Level 1's standard pod body.

Another unique characteristic about Level 2 Akumas is their distinct personalities and intellect. They have desires that may or may not coincide with the will of their Masters. These Akumas are not automatons like the Level 1 Akumas.

However it does not mean that they're completely free from complete obedience to the Earl of the Millenium. In one instance, Road Camelot ordered a Level 2 Akuma to self-destruct to prove a point, and self-destruct the Level 2 Akuma did though not without pleading and fear.


The prominent Level 2 Akumas feastured so far (up-down, left-right) The "Mime" from The Aria of the Old Man Earth and Night Sky Mission, "Eliade" of Castle Crowley, the Akumas that attacked the Rewinding Town and lastly, "Chomosuke" also known as "Sachiko" of Edo - a "good" Akuma converted by General Marian Cross.

Level 2 Akumas have a more evolved set of skills as well. Though some are still able to fire the viral blood bullets, most of them are able to generate new weapons like "ice fire", "wind blades" and "sound of pain", fight at sonic-fast speeds, super strength and mimic enemy skills.

Level 2 Akumas are not easily defeated as they're both battle-hardy and highly intelligent. In most cases it would take at least two Exorcists to deal with a Level 2 Akuma or a special Exorcist with a high-level of synchronization with his or her Innocence.

[errol]

sayang lang kay wla g tiwas ang anime..continue reading nlng sa manga hehe..

[diem]

Moving on with my recap on the Akumas. We've tackled on the Akumas Levels 1 and 2, now let's put the spotlight on my favorite type of Akuma, the Level 3.

Spoiler! 

Standing at an estimated 6 to 7 feet tall, the Level 3 Akumas are probably among the tallest form of Akumas, since there are giant-sized Level 2 Akumas that were featured as well. They are basically skeletal figures adorned with black armor which I believe to be made of concentrated dark matter.

These Akumas are the tanks of the Earl of the Millenium's Army, the stealth bombers of his Air Force, the battleships of his Navy... well I hope you get the idea, they are that powerful.



Level 3 Akumas appear to look alike, with some slight differences in helmet design and armor accessories like Eshi who bears web-like wings and Thread with a unique pair of gauntlets.



Other than possessing sociopathic personalities bent on bringing on pain and destruction wherever they go, these type of Akumas appear to have knowledge of the personality of the soul that power their bodies.

Aside from the usual super abilities, Level 3 Akumas also present deadly powers manifested from their use of dark matter. For any regular human or Exorcists who have a lower sync ratio with Innocence this means instant death.

A single Level 3 Akuma can take on a group of Exorcists easily. To fight a Level 3 Akuma is like encountering an Agent of the Matrix without Neo's powers, it's suicide. Apparently surviving an Akuma of this kind means surpassing one's own limits as we see that Exorcists that encountered these types (such as Allen and Lenalee) have evolved to show unique Innocence abilities.

However, Exorcists Generals can take on Level 3 Akumas like flies. Big ones, but flies nonetheless.

Level 3 Akumas are cannibals; they prey on Level 2 and Level 1 Akumas, especially those nearing the point of evolution in order to increase their own powers. I find it strange though that they're assigned on one-man missions attacking Exorcists while hunting Akumas to feed on, they go in packs.