Daemons of the Shadow Realm (Yomi no Tsugai) is a manga series by Hiromu Arakawa, the created of the highly acclaimed Fullmetal Alchemist. The series follows twins, Yuru and Asa. Separated at birth and hunted, the twins try to reunite and fulfill their destiny to rule over the Daemons. Episode 1 opens with Asa and Yuru’s birth. She is told by Yamaha to “try and hold it a bit more”, as “the day is dawning and the children will be rules of Tsugai”. We flash-forward to years later. Yuru is returning from hunting and is scolded by his friend Danji for do so alone.
He returns to Yamaha who informs him that Asa had “done her daily duties”, and he should visit. They discuss the harvest and the lack of rain. Danji’s mother interrupts them to tell Yuru that the travelling merchant, Dera, has arrived. Dera brings goods form the lower lands to the villagers. When Yuru arrives, Dera is certain that he won’t want “anything for himself.” However, he does ask for a souvenir for Asa.
Gab makes a bloody enterance
A conversation between Yuru and Danji suggests that Asa is kept hidden from the village as Danji has never even seen her. Suddenly, two helicopters they can “dragons”, arrive with soldiers that begin murdering villagers. Yamaha realizes the ward has been broken and she tells the villagers that they’re after Yuru. While Danji and Yuru head back to the villager and young girl named Gab lands.
She appears to command an invisible force that proceeds to “gobble”, the villagers, biting pieces off them. She spares the only child present. Elsewhere, Dera has killed the ground forces. He calls Hana and informs her that they must change their “meeting place”, as Asa has come. The real Asa is confronted by the fake Asa carrying Yamaha. The fake kills Asa with a massive blast. When Yuru arrives too late, fake Asa tells him that “she’s his real sister, and she came for him and to kill everyone else.”
Yuru meets his Tsugai
Outside, Dera encounters Gab and her Tsugai. For some reason Dera can see the daemon surprising Gab. They have a brief encounter that ends when Dera launches a grenade at Gab. Inside, a mysterious shadow grabs fake Asa and Yamaha takes the opportunity to tell Dera to flee with Yuru. The escape but get pinned down by helicopter fire. Dera gives Yuru a pendant and tells him to place it in a hole in the ground. Suddenly, two statues come to life and take down the two helicopters.
The two Tsugai appear to be a man and woman. They wonder who their new master is and whether he’s “controllable”. Dera tells a shocked Yuru that they’re both his Tsugai.
Conclusion
Considering Fullmetal Alchemists quality I have high hopes for this series. However, many mangaka fail to come close to the quality of their highest regarded series. Daemons of the Shadow Realm doesn’t need to be better than FMA or even the same in terms of reception but I’m hoping it’s at least good. The art style is definitely similar to FMA. The story isn’t fleshed out enough for me determine if I like it or not. However, the daemons and what seems to be time travel or dimension shifting does has me interested.
