by In the world of battle manga, many special moves defy the reader’s expectations. Among them, the most striking are “first-time killer moves” that have the characteristic that “if you don’t know about them, you can’t block them at all.
This is a move that doesn’t overpower the opponent with overwhelming power or speed, but instead decides victory or defeat unreasonably once certain conditions are met. A moment of carelessness can bring about a fatal outcome for the character, making it truly worthy of being called a “first-time killer.” This time, we will introduce a carefully selected list of first-time killer moves from the many battle manga that have made a powerful impact on readers.
“BLEACH” Metastasia’s “tentacles” that steal Zanpakutō and flesh
When one thinks of Tite Kubo’s “BLEACH,” stylish and powerful special moves, such as the Shinigami’s Bankai and the Quincy’s Perfect Saint Forms (Vorstendig), come to mind. However, there are also unique and completely unreasonable “first-time kills” that stand apart from these spectacular abilities.
These are the abilities of the Hollow Metastasia. In episode 49 of the anime, “Rukia’s Nightmare,” Metastasia appears in a flashback from Kuchiki Rukia’s execution. She possesses the daunting ability to destroy the Zanpakutō of anyone who touches her tentacles and then take over their body.
While it can only be used once per day, it’s a cheat-level technique that’s impossible to defend against if you’re unaware of it, leading to a deadly situation the moment you come into contact with it. In the story, Miyako, the wife of Kaien Shiba, vice-captain of the 13th Division of the Gotei 13, falls prey to this ability. Later, Kaien, grieving the loss of his wife, sets out alone to avenge her death. Unaware of Metastasia’s power, he grabs hold of its octopus-like tentacles, losing his Zanpakutō and eventually losing control of his own body.
Metastasia takes over Kaien and attacks Rukia. Seeing this, Rukia is unable to move, even as she readies her sword. At the last moment, however, Kaien throws himself at Rukia’s blade of his own volition, burying Metastasia at the cost of his own life. “Thank you,” Kaien’s final words before his death. However, this tragic event has left Rukia with an indelible sense of guilt and deep emotional wounds.
