Title: Aqua Knight

Story and Art by: Yukito Kishiro

Volume 2 picks up after Volume 1 with Alcantara singing a song about himself.  The song actually made him look pretty badass.  His henchwoman Zykey questions his reasons for taunting Ashika whom he abducted from Lighthouse Island.  He gives a bullshit reason of course, though it does sound “kind of intelligent”.  While running from an enraged Zycrow he discovers a room full of Knight armors whom Alcantara reveals are fallen knights and their armors are his trophies.  Again, this is a pretty badass moment for his character and shows that he isn’t just a nerd hiding behind his toys.  The balance of power shifts and Zycrow becomes leader after Alcantara’s Bipolar Clock shifts (kind of weird but kind of cool).   Zycrow sends the ship into the Demonic Sea (where the local wildlife are larger than life) and they are attacked by one.

Alcantara recovers from his depression and takes control of the ship, escaping the horrors of the Demonic Sea.  Meanwhile, Ruliya is in pursuit, when she encounters a mysterious stranger who invites her to Castle Zondac.  Oddly enough she keeps forgetting her mission.  She goes to the castle meeting Lord Basso (of course he has to be effeminate as hell).  While bathing she encounters the blue cat named Zuma, who warns her of Lord Basso’s intentions as well as give her exposition about the Sword of Parca and about the various realms.  Basso and Chakuda plan to take the Sword of Parca from Ruliya.  After casting a powerful ritual spell, Chakuda, Basso, and Zuma Dream Dive into a sleeping Ruliya’s memories to learn of a means of manipulating her.  They appear when Ruliya is a five-year-old and witness how harsh of an upbringing she has under her mother.    She befriends a catepillar she saved earlier who transforms into a fairy named Pinoque who helps her.  The group discovers her deepest desires.

When Ruliya awakens she is met by Pinoque who encourages her to rid herself of the Sword of Parca.  While eating, she presents the weapon to Basso who offers to relieve her of it.  However, her rejection forces Basso to transform into his Demon Knight form (looks more like a giant lobster).  Chakuda’s spell is broken and Ruliya’s memory returns.  It is revealed that all of the minions are demons and they attack once she refuses Basso’s hand in marriage.  After a valiant fight she is cornered due to large number of enemies when she uses the Sword of Parca to summon Tagmec and his army.  After questioning Basso, Tagmec concludes that he cannot kill the Demon Knight and leaves Ruliya cornered.  Pinoque and her mount, Migma appear bringing her her armor, which she dons.  Basso sends his Demon Sword Gargora Gedeja to attack her but she destroys the sword with the Sword of Parca.  Afterwards, the castle sinks into the ocean and the volume ends with Ruliya continuing her journey.

The Verdict:  In the end, Volume 2 gets pretty good.  Ashika is on board struggling to survive against Alcantara mechanization as well as his minions while Ruliya battles the dangers of the world to save him.  Liked the exposition of the various realms as well as on magical items.  Basso and Chakuda were decent antagonist but the highlights are Zuma and Pinoque.  Aqua Knight (Vol.2) gets 3 out of 5.