When I checked out the next episode preview last week I knew this was coming (flashbacks of what was going on with the heroes). Though I actually expected Makoto to not even land this episode, so that turned out to be wrong, only just.

There was some good foreshadowing this episode as well but I'll resist writing about it, but do love the anime keeps some of the finer details.

People finally get an explanation for Hibiki's outfit from the opening. "It's just because of stats, guys, I swear"

Didn't seem to matter to Io though, even with all their training and equipment he still shows his strength. But now he has Makoto in front of him, find out what happens next time on ~~Dragonball Z~~ Tsukimichi

The big showdown has started. The most satisfying part of this episode has got to be Tomoki getting wrecked by Sophia. Also, I can't believe everybody was surprised when "Sophia the Dragonslayer" was standing on a dragon and then proceeded to attack it. Like...duh! Anyway...Sophia has her fun with Tomoki until he decides to get serious. If it wasn't clear from the show, his final move that creates a giant crater is supposed to be a nuclear explosion and the poison that Sophia mentions is the radiation fallout. I can't imagine any reason that a show from Japan might be sensitive about the way it depicts a nuclear explosion...really boggles the mind.

Anyway, I enjoyed the Hibiki side of the episode as well, even though we have just gotten started over there. I still really like Io, just a cool dude that wants to fight warrior to warrior, but is dutiful enough to carry out orders still. Iirc, there was some stuff in the webnovel providing justification for Hibiki's outfit. Basically something about having an outfit that fits the Goddess's sense of style provides a larger blessing in combat. Basically an in-world justification for bikini armor. Really looking forward to the fights that are going to take place in Limia over the final episodes. Especially now that Sophia and Mitsurugi are on their way.

Lastly, I just wanted to call out that Mio looked dope in this sequence doing her best Yu Yu Hakusho impression. @rikka@ani.social