Anime Spoilers

Episode Title: A Night of Confusion

Honoka had an appointment with Zanka that night so she had to take Ikus along with her. She respected his privacy and didn’t asked too many questions. Ikus did not offer any information other than his name. While talking to him, she seems to be stiff around him though she tried to reprimand him of the dangers of travelling at night. She went on top of the tank and it seems like Bogie is teasing her when he said that her heartbeat increased and her face is about to burst in flames. Honoka just sighed and said it’s just too complicated for her.

On the rendezvous point, Honoka saved Zanka and Millie from desert thieves who wanted to take their tank. The thieves fled after realizing that they were fighting Sword Dancer.

Zanka was proud of Bogie because he invented Bogie’s tank. He is a mechanical major specialist. Honoka claims that he is the best mechanic in that frontier. Then Father and daughter teased Millie that the young boy is her boyfriend. Of course Honoka denied it with a very flushed face. But then inside the tank, Zanka made a joke again by asking the “oni-san” what he thinks of Hono-chan. Even before Ikus can react, Millie made a follow-up question like if Hono-chan and Onii-san will get married. Honoka screamed “No way!” looking horrified. :)

Ikus learned that Honoka bought a PSP (Powered Synchronized Protector) from Zanka. A PSP is like a mecha driven by a human. Honoka was a bit disappointed to learn that it will take 10 more days before Zanka can fix it. She was hoping she can have it that night.

Later, as they were having some dinner, Honoka sensed something from outside. Zanka immediately thought it was the Blue Breaker who was after him. But Honoka knew that it was not after Zanka but her. And it turned out to be Joganki, except he is on a hologram.

Joganki made some comments about how he really wanted to see her. Honoka challenged that if he wanted to see her that badly, then he should see her himself. Joganki answered with a question like if he did come to her personally, will he follow her? But he didn’t gave her a chance to answer since he had other business that night. And it was concerning the boy she saved earlier. With a few exchange of words about something like Joganki wanting to confirm the situation and Ikus simply replied that it isn’t clear to him yet. I’d swear, the conversation between Joganki and Honoka is far more long than theirs.

Then Joganki switched the topic to Honoka’s PSP. Honoka was shocked that he learned about it so fast. Joganki had 4 autonomous stealth soldier to attack Honoka. It seemed to me like Joganki wanted to test these new models on Honoka and see if they can defeat her skills. Of course, Honoka defeated them all even surprisingly with her eyes closed. However, Joganki noticed that Honoka was a bit slow that night because the fourth soldier was able to bring damage to her right hand. Then he signed off.

Ikus seems to have sense it as well. He went to her and touched her right arm. He seems to have some kind of healing power. The narrator goes on to say that Ikus was not only healing her injury but also her troubled heart.

At the end, Honoka and Zanka parted ways with a promise to see each other in ten days.

Episode Title: Sword Dancer

The episode started with a loud bang. An object fell from the sky and landed on Earth. Then a narration (yes from THE NARRATOR ). A great war has ended and what’s left of the earth population. 

Next scene, The Third is having a meeting about a recent invisible object that fell from the sky and escaped their radar. They thought it might be a technos taboo but it seemed to be some sort of extraterrestial. A woman with a third eye and looks like Joganki is telling the council of this discovery and wanted to escalate it. She was disappointed that the council doesn’t find it alarming and asked for Joganki’s opinion. The woman said that Joganki is already investigating the matter.

Next, we see Honoka being philosophical reciting a poem when she was cutoff by Bogie, her artificial guardian. Honoka went on with her job which is to eliminate desert spiders which recently killed 137 construction workers at the site. In the end, she felt melancholy when she realized that she killed the queen spider. The action scene was great. And not too much blood because the spider’s blood was green

In a town, she gets Joey repair Bogie. Joey seems interested in her but is too shy to tell his feelings. He calls her Ojou or Miss. She left that same day because she has an appointment in the desert that night.

Later on, she gets a chance to rescue a young man named Ikus from stigma ants. The guy seems oblivious with his surrounding and always smiling. But we all know that every bishounen who often smiles has (dark) secrets. Honoka later find her feelings are confusing as she stares into his smiles.

Anime Synopsis:

The timeline is post apocalypse. A great war has ended and only about 1/5 of the human population remains. The world has become a great desert and is being controlled by The Third. The Third has a third eye commonly known as “space eyes”. They have the special ability to control computer systems and machinery, providing resources to the people. Any normal humans who tinker with technology is a taboo. Only The Third is allowed to create and control technology.

Honoka, a young tomboyish girl, earns a living by accepting any kinds of job except murder. She is known throughout the desert as Sword Dancer for her great sword skills. Acting as her guardian is a tank with artificial intelligence known as Bogie. Along the way, she picks up a mysterious but friendly guy named Ikus who eventually hired her to act as his guide on his journey. But Honoka knew there was more to him than meets the eyes as the Surveillance Forces of The Third kept hunting them.

Total number of episodes: 24

Characters (contains spoilers):

Honoka is also known as Sword Dancer because of her amazing sword skills. She can cut through steel armies of The Third. Though young, she keeps a living by accepting any kinds of job except murder. Her parents gave her up when she was still a child because of her “special gift”.  Currently, her acting guardian is Bogie, a tank with artificial intelligence. She is great friends with Millie and later on picked up Ikus.

Ikus is a mysterious young man whom Honoka rescued in the desert. The Third suspects he is an alien being who came to Earth to destroy it. Though others suspected he came from an alternate universe or different space time. His mission is vague and would probably be revealed towards the end of the story. He is always smiling and seemed to be greatly interested in Honoka. He said he can’t stop thinking about her when they first parted ways. Eventually he hired Honoka for his journey.

Zanka, called Oji-san by Honoka, is the top most expert mechanic in the  desert. Because of this, he is wanted by The Third for violating Techno Taboo. That is why most of his dealings only occur at night. He gave Honoka a PSP (Powered Synchronized Protector). It’s more like a mecha and designed specifically for Honoka. He is the father of Millie. {Major spoiler alert!} …. alas, he died in the early part of the story when Blue Breaker, a highly specialized artificial soldier from The Third catched up to him.

Millie, Zanka’s daughter. She likes and idolizes Honoka so much. She is literally very clingy to Honoka. When her father died, she tried to live on but post traumatic disorder settled in during the middle of the series that prompted the Desert Legend arc (others viewed the arc as fillers).

Joganki, one of the elite members of The Third. He seems to be interested in Honoka and has conflicts between his role as The Third and his feelings for Honoka. At one time, he prevented Blue Breaker in killing Honoka yet he didn’t do anything when he knew Honoka might die during the destruction of Gravestone. At first, Honoka thought he is after her power since her third eye is blue compared to the Third which is red. Later on Joganki claims that he is not interested in her powers but herself.

The Narrator. Yes, it was kinda weird that this story has a narrator which mostly tells what Honoka is feeling. Sometimes it’s enlightening and helpful but other times annoying since it destroys “the moment” when most directors would just let the viewer’s thoughts fill in.