Gachiakuta, based on the captivating manga by Kei Urana and graffiti artist Hideyoshi Andou, plunges us into the gritty world of Rudo. Framed for a crime he didn’t commit, Rudo is cast from the pristine floating city of the Sphere into the nightmarish garbage pit below. His resolve hardens with a single goal: survive the depths and exact revenge on those who condemned him.
Warning: Major spoilers for Gachiakuta Episode 11 follow! Seriously, proceed with caution if you haven’t watched yet!
A Baffling Invitation
The episode rewinds to the moment Amo beckons the Cleaners to follow her. As they trek behind, the young girl mutters to herself, a hint of her peculiar nature already emerging. Their journey leads them to an astonishing sight in the desolate No Man’s Land: a remarkably intact tower piercing the sky, so tall that Rudo can’t help but wonder if it reaches the fabled Sphere itself. Upon entering, Amo, in a gesture of strange hospitality, urges her visitors to remove their masks for proper conversation. She escorts them to her room at the tower’s summit, a peculiar space adorned with stuffed animals and small, handmade ghosts dangling unsettlingly by their necks.
Rudo, ever focused, steps forward to inquire about individuals capable of traversing between the Ground and the Sphere. Amo, however, deflects with an entirely unexpected question: what kind of girl does Rudo prefer? Thrown off balance, he struggles to reply. Amo presses on, declaring her preference for those with a ‘strong smell,’ like Delmon. Sensing Rudo’s discomfort, Enjin intervenes, bluntly asking if this romantic banter is the price for information. It’s the wrong answer, and a very dangerous one at that.
Amo’s Frightening Transformation
Amo instantly loses her composure, her eyes widening with a wild fury as she mutters to herself, fingers digging into her hair. She launches a scathing accusation at Enjin, claiming he merely wants to exploit her. Enjin attempts to backtrack, but his words only fuel Amo’s rage further. She activates her boots, her vital instrument, which Rudo keenly observes bear the same distinctive mark as his own gloves. As Enjin prepares to confront her, he’s blindsided from behind by none other than Delmon! Amo grins maniacally, repeating her earlier question about the Cleaners’ romantic preferences. When met with silence, her face darkens, scolding them for their unresponsiveness. Zanka rushes to Enjin’s side, then, activating his own vital instrument, defiantly insults their opponent. The next blow, however, once again originates from Delmon, not Amo.
Delmon issues a chilling threat, vowing to attack anyone who harms Amo and promising to shield her at all costs. He appears to be under some kind of spell, though Tamsy muses that he isn’t entirely controlled. Delmon then activates his vital instrument, a water hose he ominously names Ookiku Naare, and points it directly at his stunned teammates.
Reality Blurs: The Sphere’s Deceptive Embrace
Rudo blinks, suddenly engulfed by an unnerving darkness. Back in Amo’s room, she calmly informs the Cleaners that she has acquired another “new fan.” Tamsy quickly grabs the disoriented Rudo as Delmon attacks, urgently explaining that Delmon’s vital instrument is intricately linked to his past as a gardener. He once used the hose to nourish his beloved plants, causing them to absorb water until they burst. This devastating ability, Tamsy reveals, has never been unleashed upon people – until now.
Amo giggles, taunting the Cleaners about their inability to discern who among them can be trusted. Meanwhile, Rudo experiences a vivid hallucination, believing he’s back in the Sphere, surrounded by the ominous Apostles. He glances at Amo, but her voice eerily shifts. He now perceives her as Chiwa, the girl he once adored before her devastating betrayal. Chiwa’s illusory voice explains that a nostalgic scent can transport a person deep into a memory, a revelation that causes Tamsy to grasp that Amo is deliberately manipulating Rudo’s perception.
Amo’s Confession and a Cleaner Conundrum
The glowering girl continues her mockery, telling Tamsy that she isn’t forcing Rudo to witness anything; she’s simply making him smell something that conjures a happy memory. Anyone exposed to this scent, she reveals, sees Amo as someone they deeply cherish. Armed with this crucial information, Zanka and Tamsy quickly don their gas masks. Despite Rudo’s unforgiving feelings towards Chiwa, he instinctively moves to protect her – or rather, Amo – as the two Givers advance towards her.
As Zanka, Tamsy, and Gris remain the only ones unaffected by Amo’s influence, Riyo, Delmon, and Follo brace themselves to defend Amo. Tamsy expresses dismay, having never wished to use his vital instrument against a friend, but it seems he has no alternative. The stage is set for a devastating clash: Cleaner vs. Cleaner! Can they shatter Amo’s insidious hold before it’s too late?