The Raven Invader

The Raven Invader (漆黒の異邦者) is the twelfth episode of The Rising of the Shield Hero anime.

Synopsis
The Three Heroes fight the mysterious new enemy and were easily defeated. Naofumi and his party take up the fight and begin to face the downhill battle. Even Filo and Raphtalia in their top game weren't able to make a scratch on the enemy. With no other option, Naofumi uses every trump card up his sleeve but was easily overwhelmed.

Is this the true battle of the Wave? Can Naofumi and his party survive it?

Plot
Aboard the ghost ship during the Third Wave, Glass suggests that Naofumi send his "servants" to attack her first, referring to the other three Heroes and their companions. Glass easily tanks the resulting attacks from Motoyasu, Ren, and Itsuki and their companions and knocks them out of the battle. Though their attacks failed, they bought Naofumi just enough time to use a potion to restore his SP and get ready to fight.

Glass continues the pattern of no sell as she parries Raphtalia's and Filo's attacks and renders Naofumi's Shield Prison and the Chimera Viper Shield's snake bite attacks useless. Even after switching to Wrath Shield, Filo's resulting power up still doesn't even phase the raven-haired woman, nor does his cursed flame and Iron Maiden.

Likewise, Glass notes that Naofumi's defense lives up to his title of Hero as even her attacks didn't hurt him. Realizing that their enemy is on a time limit, Naofumi has Raphtalia blind Glass while they run away on Filo's back, though Glass's long-range attacks insist that they're still in her range. Noticing that Naofumi has exhausted her time limit, Glass leaves just before the Wave finally ends, stating that next time Naofumi will die unless he gets stronger.

The nearby villages have been saved without any casualties and were happy about it, though Naofumi is left concerned with Glass' appearance. Even after absorbing the Soul Eater and producing the Soul Eater Shield, Naofumi begins to question about the Waves and but ended up without any answers. He notices that any dramatic improvement in their overall fighting power is going to demand class upgrades for Filo and Raphtalia. The villagers help the rest of the Heroes and their parties recover. Ake lead Naofumi to his commanding officer, who demands him to immediately report to the King.

A recording of Naofumi defeating the Soul Eater is being watched by the King, who reluctantly congratulates Naofumi for his victory during the Wave. Onto business, the King demands to know how Naofumi obtained such ludicrous offensive power that shouldn't be possible for the Shield Hero. Naofumi, in turn, makes demands of the King to kneel before him and beg him for the answer.

Naturally, the King responds to Naofumi's insolence by siccing his guards on him; Naofumi, in turn, summons the Chimera Viper Shield and reminds the soldiers that he was the one who defeated the last Wave's boss and they may face him at their peril, which made the soldiers a little worried. The King, however, states that if they're unable to bring him in for his "crimes," then they'll just make his slaves pay in his place, receiving an unhinged death glare from Naofumi. He warns that no one is taking anything from him and that Naofumi will protect his party no matter what underhanded methods the King may use against them, but dangerously promises to make the King suffer by chasing him to ends of the earth and make him regret even being born. This made the King and the soldiers shiver.

With that, Naofumi leaves the Castle, with the King cursing him all the way out. On his way out, a mysterious noblewoman with a very outdated speech manner congratulates Naofumi for his actions but warns him that his accomplishments have reached the point where they cannot be ignored any longer, by the forces which do not take the Shield Hero kindly, and thus he should proceed with caution moving forward, while showing him a rosary which fuses the Spear, Sword, and Bow emblems into one. Meanwhile, Melty has an audience with her father, where she interrogates him on his failed conversation with Naofumi and ask for his reason for his hatred towards the Shield Hero.

Melty knows full well that Naofumi is necessary to defend against the Waves, so thus she again asks her father to reconcile with him before anything else. However, the King shows a brief moment of anger before revealing with a heavy heart that if he allows the Shield Hero and his Demi-humans to do as they please, he may lose his family again. Malty promptly comes in and reminds her sister that in the absence of their mother their father holds absolute authority and that even princess have no authority over it.

Though they may not understand his intentions, they have to trust that he has their best interests at heart. She also sarcastically reminds Melty that she is too young to understand and should hold back. However, Melty counters that her conversation with the King has nothing to do with Malty and sarcastically reminds her that one who shoulders the responsibility of Crown Princess is herself and not Malty. Melty also adds that she needed to act in the best interests of the country.

After talking with Erhard, Naofumi is recommended to travel to Shieldfreeden for Filo's and Raphtalia's class upgrades. Erhard also gives the group items to help them on their trip: for Naofumi, a Shield accessory which scans for new powers; for Raphtalia, a brand-new sword and a magic sword to use against noncorporeal enemies; and for Filo, a set of power gloves to enhance her strength in human form. While making camp, Naofumi enjoys his traveling time and being far away from the royalty and the Heroes.

Just then, the group is approached by Melty. Filo is thrilled to see her friend while Raphtalia argues with Naofumi that she was a decent traveling companion and that he should talk to her. Melty asks that Naofumi returns to the castle and have another talk with her father, but he refuses. She repeats that he should apologize for his conduct and reconcile with her father, to which he again refused. Melty tells Naofumi that he is needed to fight the Waves and adds that he will be lost without her father's financial support. Naofumi's response is another resounding no, and her words bare no fruit since Naofumi received no help or financial support from the King. Naofumi adds that he was one graciously helping the Kingdom until the Waves end and not the other way around.

Frustrated, Melty finally loses her temper and throws a tantrum of how everyone is acting, and demands Naofumi to talk to her father, otherwise her father will be yelled at by her mother. Naofumi recollects how she is acting like her age and notes Melty's mention of her mother. While arguing with the princess, Naofumi notices that one of her personal guards holds a crystal ball in his hands. The Shield Hero suddenly senses something is terribly wrong, that same feeling of a set-up that he felt that day when he was framed for "raping" Malty - unbeknownst to Melty, one of her guards runs up to them and tries to strike her from behind with his sword, but Naofumi rapidly steps in and blocks the attack, saving Melty in the process.

Trivia

 * Time limit for the Wave is shown, indicating that the Waves end within a specified time and not by taking down the Wave boss alone.
 * Intelligent human-like beings, Glass also comes from the Waves and not just monsters. It adds more mystery to the Waves.
 * Unlike the previous Wave, no villagers were mourning. In fact, some of them were even smiling, indicating zero casualties.
 * Crystal balls are used to see and even edit recorded events (similar to real-life video cameras).
 * Weapon Shop Owner's name is revealed to be Erhard.
 * Siltvelt and Shieldfrieden are revealed to be 2 demi-human nations: the former praises demi-human supremacy and worship to the Shield Hero, while the latter is liberal and receptive to both humans and demi-humans.
 * The distance of Shieldfreeden from the Castle Town of Melromarc is approximately 4 weeks by carriage.
 * Aultcray's reasons for antagonizing the Shield Hero and Demi-Humans are hinted.
 * Naofumi came to know of the existence of Melty's mother, the Queen of Melromarc.

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