
Episode 24 – “Signs of Upheaval”
Fire Force season 2 episode 24 is the last episode of the second season. Benimaru runs Shinra and Arthur to the point of exhaustion. The demand to know “what the point of this training is.” Benimaru tells them he doesn’t know. Enraged, they attack him. It pleases Benimaru that they have finally used their anger. Despite their assault, Benimaru can still dominate them. He warns them not to “let their guards down.” Having taught them the “Breath of Life” Benimaru intends to teach them the “Pressure of Death.” The three spar for five hours, leaving Arthur and Shinra exhausted. However, Benimaru tells them that the “Superfire training” is just starting. After reaching his limit, Shinra loses consciousness, and he surrounds himself with Acala flames.
Within the flames, Shinra sees his Demon Infernal mother carrying his brother Sho. He then realises that he only has one life and can die. He doesn’t want to lose again and vows to get stronger. Arthur and Shinra both awaken new powers appearing to develop blue flames. Meanwhile, Kayoko points out that Konro’s flames aren’t special and it’s likely that there’s a connection is between Great Cataclysm’s that occurred in Asakusa and Soichiro. The “scarred” are now targets for the White-Clad this includes Joker, Leonard Burns, Soichiro Hague, and Konro Sagamiya. Soichiro Hague fights against the White-Clads “butcher.” The White-Clad member Gold has a gold arm and the ability to make her arm magnetic. She uses this to levitate objects and assassinates Hague.
He’s found by his subordinates hanging from the ceiling with metal nails protruding from his body. Shinra receives an Adolla Link where he learns of Hague’s death. He collapses, along with Arthur. They put captain Hague to rest, but they cover his death up as a suicide. Back in Asakusa, Captain Benimaru warns Konro that the White-Clad will return. He accepts that the empire must come together, even if it’s only for the sake of Asakusa and the 8th. The Stigma arc centers on those that have scars from Adolla Links. Fire Force often alludes to religion images, and Stigma is the latest one. In religion, stigma is a “mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person.” So far, the White-Clad has killed one of the two targets. This latest arc is just getting started, but I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next.