Scene 1 – Great Sword (Taiken KUREIMOA)
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The episode opens in a forest awash with a strange crimson glow. It would seem that this takes place in the past, considering that it is filmed in the anime equivalent of anachronistic cinematography. It certainly has that feel. A fierce werewolf-like beast strikes from the brush only to be apparently slain at the blade of an as of yet unnamed warrior.
Coming back from the introduction sequence, we are now in a village in which blood has run through the streets. Amongst crumbling walls as the result of a recent conflict, people are looking down at a bloodied body and remark it is not the first victim they’ve had. Inside of what seems to be an old world European style elder’s home, a boy named Zaki has gathered with some other individuals.
These people remark that the thing that has attacked their village is a Yoma. While we have not received an explanation of what that is yet, one might notice that Yoma seems to be a version of the Japanese word ‘Yomi’ meaning ‘the underworld.’ They also remark that a Yoma can shapeshift and could be in disguise even now.
The village elder then states that they will receive the help of a Claymore, which seems to make people uneasy as they bring up the point that the Claymores are part Yoma themselves. However, the elder convinces them that this is the only option that they have left. Zaki comes outside to meet up with his brother Raki. Zaki talks about how a Claymore has been called in, and how inhuman creatures like that have shaken everyone up when another individual walks by and warns them that Claymores are ‘Silver-eyed witches.’
With the words ‘It takes a monster to kill a monster’ the female once more appears and turns to look at that shocked villagers. Entering the village elder’s home, he offers the Claymore money for her services. However, she tells him that she cannot take it. Instead, she makes an arrangement that if she succeeds, it will be collected. No one will come if the operation is not successful. Obviously, failure is not an option; either her corpse or the Yoma’s corpse is going to surface.
Like roaches exposed to light, the villagers rush back into their homes. Being questioned about whether or not she is a Claymore, she gives a rather ambiguous response and states that her people have no names. It seems that Claymore is simply a name that humanity has prescribed to these warriors. Raki, having asked this question, states that she doesn’t appear very frightening to him. The Claymore seems almost disturbed by this; she has never found a human who did not show terror towards her before.
Clare and Raki
Stating that she had walked non-stop for 70 hours, the Claymore sits down at what seem to be the end of the village. Mocking her actions, Raki plays with a stick as though it was her sword and tells her that she is an interesting individual. He also tells her the story regarding his parents being killed by the Yoma. She tells him that she is going to kill the Yoma because it is her job however. She does not care to gain any vengeance on his behalf.
With a ring of the town’s bell, Raki returns to make dinner, but not before asking the Claymore’s name which being told by the Claymore he would forget if she were to give it to him. Raki goes to his Uncle’s home. There he discovers that one of the Yoma has killed and eaten his Uncle. Raki, running to find Zaki, is shocked when his brother turns himself into a Yoma. Explaining that he ate Zaki’s brains, and therefore possessed the body, its revealed that the Yoma has been acting as Zaki this whole time.
A distraught Raki is unable to harm the Yoma, and he is nearly killed by it before the Claymore comes to his rescue. The Claymore uses her Yuki power to cut the monster in two despite the fact that it begged for its life. Raki, who seems to fear the Claymore’s radiant eyes, leaves after a short conversation with her.
A day has passed, and Raki is traveling through the barren desert. Recalling the events of the previous day, he remembers having been thrown from the village for possibly being infected by a Yoma like Zaki was. After seeing a silhouette in a sandstorm, he passes out and awake in an inn room.
The innkeeper brings him breakfast and tells him that he is in Eagen, and has slept the entire day. Apparently a Claymore has brought him to the inn and paid for his stay and therefore, he needn’t worry about anything. Running through the town, Raki seems to assume that the Claymore has already left the town when a villager tells him that she’s looking for him in the forest. However, when he goes there to meet her, he realizes that this is not the same Claymore that he had previously met.
She refers to herself as Claymore, which is quite odd considering what the previous Claymore had said to him about never using that term. Pushing her away from him, he tells her that he realizes she is not a Claymore and she therefore transforms into a beastly Yoma and grabs Raki. Yelling out that she knows that a previously concealed Claymore is in hiding, the original Claymore appears. With a threat going out that Raki’s throat may be cut, she tells the Yoma that a hostage will not sway her actions.
Trying to appeal to the Claymore’s emotions, the Yoma tells her that she probably had a brother like Raki. The Claymore tosses away her sword, it falls down the hill, and the Yoma laughs. Still laughing, the Yoma pierces the abdomen of the true Claymore. The Claymore then immediately turns the tides of the confrontation, and flips the Yoma over and thus the two of them plummet down the hill in the manner of her sword – which she manages to grab as they tumble. She beheads the Yoma and the Claymore heals without any scars as if by magic.
As Raki returns to meet with the Claymore, he tells her of being cast out of his village. She asks him if he’s really a good cook. Raki replys yes and she agress to allow Raki to tag along until they find a suitable village for him to stay. As the Claymore starts to continue on her journey Raki asks her name. After a moment of silence she tells him, it’s Clare.
Claymore Scene 2
