The anime series "Gleipnir," which will begin airing in April, is based on a manga serialized in Young Magazine Third. It's a story about supernatural battles between people with various transformation abilities, but it's closer to science fiction, mystery, and horror than battle elements. Let me introduce you to the plot of Gleipnir!
Plot 1: A Boy Who Can Transform into a Monster
Shuichi Kagaya is a modest high school student who gets along well with his classmates and lives a comfortable, comfortable life. However, he has a secret he can't tell anyone: he has the ability to transform into a monster costume. He doesn't know why he can transform into such a thing, and he doesn't even want this ability. He can't tell anyone he's a monster, and even though he gets along well with those around him on the surface, he still feels alienated.
Synopsis Part 2: The Heroine, Aoki Koa, Makes Her Appearance!?
Shuichi thought his secret must never be revealed to anyone. But one day, he happened upon a fire and, using his unique sense of smell, discovered that there was someone inside. Using his transformation ability, Shuichi dashed through the fire and rescued the girl inside. Shuichi thought the girl was unconscious and no one was watching, but in fact, someone had clearly seen him. Even worse, he dropped his smartphone.
The Heroine is a Blackmailer!?
The next day, Shuichi is stopped by someone at school. It's Aoki Benia (Claire), the girl he rescued from the fire the day before. Claire points her smartphone at Shuichi, takes him to the rooftop, and then pushes him off. Shuichi accidentally uses his transformation ability, and although he's unharmed, his image is photographed. Shuichi was threatened with revealing his true identity, but Claire offered to settle the matter by demanding that he find his sister, who had murdered his mother and father and disappeared.
Synopsis Part 3: The Two Under Attack
The clue to Shuichi's sister was a small coin left for Claire. Its purpose was unknown; perhaps it could be traded for something valuable if collected, or perhaps it was something extremely valuable, but it offered little clue to his sister's whereabouts. However, at that moment, someone broke into Claire's apartment from the balcony. The person was after the coin Claire had.
The Power of the Mascot
The person in question possesses the ability to transform into a beast-like form. Shuichi is attacked and overwhelmed, but Claire's quick thinking allows him to narrowly escape. However, the enemy pursues him, determined to kill him. Hoping to defuse the situation, Claire realizes something: Shuichi's costume can be worn by anyone.
Two People Became Murderers
Naturally suited to combat, Claire overpowers her attackers by donning a costume. However, with their faces and addresses revealed, it's clear that leaving them alive will inevitably lead to a counterattack. Claire unhesitantly pulls the trigger of the gun attached to her costume, killing the attackers. The two survived because they cooperated and complemented each other's weaknesses. Then, to protect themselves from other attackers with special abilities, they are forced to work together.
Synopsis Part 4: Reunion with Older Sister
The only clue is Claire's older sister, who disappeared after killing her father and mother. She also possesses the same power to transform into a monster as Shuichi. Hoping to uncover clues about her intentions and Shuichi's transformation abilities, the two begin searching for Claire's older sister, Elena, but she turns out to be a monster far more terrifying than Shuichi.
My Big Sister Knows Something
By chance, Elena is easily found. However, the person she finds is far from the person who murdered Shuichi's parents and likely many others. Furthermore, Elena knows Shuichi even though this is their first meeting, and reveals that she was the one who transformed him into a monster.
The Out-of-Control Big Sister
However, upon realizing that Shuichi is being held by a different person, a woman, Elena goes berserk, ripping the costume apart with overwhelming force, shouting, "That's my place!" Elena quickly regains her composure, but Claire, consumed with rage and fear for killing Shuichi, confronts Elena, only to be overwhelmed by her overwhelming strength. Elena then explains to Claire why she killed her parents, the existence and location of aliens, and hands her a coin before leaving.
Synopsis 5: Medal King? Encounter with an Alien
Shuichi's costume was torn apart, but he wasn't dead yet. Even being decapitated wouldn't have killed him while still in the costume. At the location Elena told him about, he found an alien whose appearance was identical to a human's. By handing the alien a coin, Shuichi's body and neck reattached. The alien then revealed that he could change form depending on the environment, and that when they crash-landed on Earth, his fellow aliens had turned into coins and scattered all over the place, and that he was asking Earthlings to help him collect them.
Make a contract with me and become a collector!
If you collect the coins, I'll grant you one wish. Humans helped me collect the coins like this, but the collectors ended up fighting, stealing coins, and killing each other. That was the true identity of the attackers. The abilities that Shuichi and the other people gained were the embodiment of their desires. Their powers were determined by their desire to become what they wanted—that was the true nature of transformation abilities. Make a wish, hurry!
However, I take no responsibility for what happens after that.
The aliens' powers bestowed upon humans lead to great conflicts and tragedies, but even knowing this, they maintain their stance that "it's the humans' problem." Their irresponsibility and seemingly fundamental incompatibility with humans are the root cause of everything. Many of the supernatural power users meet tragic ends, much like the magical girls in a certain work, giving them a similar vibe to that mascot.
[Gleipnir] Summary of the Beginning
This is a rough summary of the story up to around volume 2 of the manga. From here, the story develops in an even more interesting direction. It's a thrilling story where you never know what will happen to each person, so be sure to check out the anime starting in April!
