The battle between Araya and Shiki Ryougi came to an end with Shiki emerging victorious. The temple was destroyed, Araya vanished, and the entire series concluded.
Of course, even as the end credits rolled, the audience didn't leave their seats.
As expected, just like all major films from Picca Comics, there was a post-credits scene, and this time was no different.
"Whoa! It's the King!"
"The blackened version of the King!"
In the final moments of the scene, a young girl clad in thick black armor appeared like a blossoming flower emerging from the shadows. The eerie background only added to the tension, making the viewers feel uneasy.
What had happened to the King? Why was she wearing such dark, ominous armor?
The scene shifted quickly, showing the blackened King fighting against Berserker. Unlike the previous chase scenes between Lancer and True Assassin, this was a full-on clash.
Each swing of their weapons created an immense sense of pressure.
Online, the discussions surrounding The Garden of Sinners grew even more intense.
"Shiki was so amazing! Absolutely awesome!"
"Totally agree! Especially when Shiki made that final leap from the building. But honestly, how did her kimono not flip up when she jumped?"
"You're such a perv, but yeah, I was curious about that too, haha."
"…"
Aside from Shiki's Mystic Eyes and her final confrontation with Araya, which ended with her dramatic leap, the post-credits scene sparked the most conversation.
"Wait, there was a post-credits scene?"
"Come on, seriously? Who still leaves a Picca movie before the credits are over?"
"The blackened King looked so cool, though. And I noticed the King and Shirou seemed to be at odds."
"Yeah, that's what I thought too. Shirou was standing next to Illyasviel and didn't seem to be fighting her, but then the King and Berserker were locked in battle."
"Man, I'm suddenly way more excited for the second part of Fate/Stay Night now."
Ren's carefully crafted post-credits scene succeeded in capturing the audience's attention.
Many viewers were intrigued by the blackened King, who had seemingly been swallowed by darkness but then returned. The curiosity surrounding her new form drew in even more discussion.
The positive reception of The Garden of Sinners: Paradox Spiral significantly outshone the previous two films.
A lot of the mysteries that had confused fans in the first two movies were finally unraveled in this one.
So, after its premiere, this final installment of the series achieved a remarkable 90% approval rating across various platforms.
Since most of the people watching were die-hard fans, their positive reception suggested that the film had met their expectations. With good word-of-mouth, the movie's box office was expected to soar in the coming days.
All the major media outlets dedicated their entertainment sections to reviewing The Garden of Sinners.
Most of the reviews praised the movie.
"The characters in The Garden of Sinners all carry deep emotional scars. The predominant emotion in the series is not a mild sense of melancholy but rather a visceral, deeply felt pain. Whether it's parents killing their children, friends hurting one another, or characters murdering in their quest for self-discovery—these are all common themes in novels. But the Porter has used his unique talents to create a sense of pain that feels deeply personal, pressing heavily on the hearts of the audience."
"Picca Comics has used their signature cinematic style to deliver a visually stunning story. Every character has a distinct and memorable backstory, particularly the antagonist Araya. The buildup of his character through the first two films culminates in an unforgettable villain in this final installment, something rare in recent animated films."
"The plot was gripping, though the only downside might be the age rating. Despite Picca's efforts to keep certain scenes discreet, some parts are still not suitable for younger viewers."
"The soundtrack continues to resonate deeply with the audience, maintaining the signature style of the trilogy while also introducing fresh elements that distinguish this film from the previous two."
"The Porter's keen insight gives the movie a rare combination of raw intensity and poetic beauty. It's like a tragic poem, one that reaches right into your soul."
Ren took a glance at the reviews from mainstream media.
The majority of the media praised the film for its character development and impressive animation.
Fans especially loved the iconic scene where Shiki leaped from the building, her graceful yet powerful movements leaving a lasting impression.
Of course, there were criticisms too—no work is without its detractors. Some viewers felt that the pacing was too slow, with key plot points only being resolved in the third film, making the earlier two difficult to fully understand without this final chapter.
This was a fair critique of the film's structure.
But those were minor issues. The key now was to continue promoting the movie.
Capitalizing on the positive media reviews, Ren ramped up the marketing for the film.
Not only did he use online platforms and traditional media, but large banners promoting the movie were displayed in shopping malls, train stations, and other high-traffic areas.
In addition, special promotions were held in Picca's games and magazines. For example, in the popular game Legend of the Elves, a limited-time collaboration event with The Garden of Sinners was introduced, allowing players to unlock Shiki's character skin.
This event led to a huge surge in in-game spending.
Thanks to this wide-reaching promotion, Paradox Spiral raked in an impressive 151 million at the box office in its opening week.
In terms of box office success, Paradox Spiral easily became the most successful film in the Garden of Sinners series!
Meanwhile, while promoting The Garden of Sinners, another project began to benefit from the film's momentum.
That project was Ren's apprentice Felix's new work—
Masked Rider Amazons, also known as Masked Rider Amazons in some regions.
In the past, this series left a lasting impression on fans of the Masked Rider franchise. Even now, it continues to be highly regarded, with ongoing discussions about its deep exploration of human nature and complex moral themes. It remains one of the most thought-provoking entries in the Masked Rider series.
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For 10 advance chapters: patreon.com/angelictranslating