Elijah, a 35-year-old programmer, sat at his desk, reflecting on life. Despite nearing 40, he still enjoyed anime, and Cells at Work was one of his favorite series. So when the adult version, Cells at Work: BLACK, was released, he immediately bought a copy and started reading.
From the very first chapter, he realized it was just as he had expected—filled with negativity and stress. The original Cells at Work had a lighter, more optimistic atmosphere. Even when tough enemies appeared, they seemed easier to deal with compared to this new story.
In BLACK, not only were the enemies more formidable, but the working conditions of the cells were far worse. The body's arteries were clogged with cholesterol, the blood vessels were deteriorating, and nicotine from smoking had damaged many systems, causing frequent malfunctions.
In short, while Cells at Work personified cells in a more playful way, BLACK was a gritty depiction of a human body on the brink of collapse, with cells struggling to delay the inevitable disaster brought on by poor habits.
Although only the first chapter was out, Elijah could already envision how the story would progress—deep, harsh, and filled with the deaths of many cells.
In the original Cells at Work, there were moments when the cells felt despair, but in BLACK, it was likely to be even darker. The body's decline could eventually lead to death.
The most striking aspect wasn't just the story but also the grim reality it reflected.
For example, the scenes where the cells were constantly working overtime resonated with Elijah, a programmer who often experienced the same—fatigue, lack of sleep, poor diet…
But the most shocking part was learning that the body's owner had quit smoking for ten years before picking it up again.
Quitting smoking for ten years meant the person had successfully beaten the addiction, so what could have caused him to start again? Elijah speculated that something major must have happened in the owner's life, some significant event that led to overwhelming stress, forcing him to rely on cigarettes to cope.
He wondered if this story might be portraying the final days of a man who had lost his motivation to live, a man nearing the end of his life.
Sigh… Will I end up like this someday? Elijah thought, feeling his thinning hair. He sat at his desk, exhaled heavily, and pulled a cigarette from his pocket, lighting it.
But just as the flame touched the tip, his hand froze in mid-air.
He looked at the smoke drifting in the air and remembered the scenes from the manga. He recalled the cells in the body struggling to survive, the red blood cells gasping for oxygen after inhaling carbon monoxide, some cells sacrificing themselves just to keep the body's oxygen supply running. They ran into places that were like death traps to keep the body alive.
I can't do this, he thought.
He pressed the cigarette into the ashtray and sighed. "They're fighting so hard for me. How can I make them suffer just because I want a moment of relief from nicotine?"
Even though he knew the cells in his body weren't actual tiny people, the thought of those manga cells working tirelessly to keep him alive made him reconsider smoking.
"Smoking is bad for you anyway," he reminded himself. "And staying up late doesn't help either."
Looking at the clock, which was almost midnight, Elijah turned off his computer and prepared for bed.
The first chapter of Cells at Work: BLACK caused a stir among fans of the original series.
After just one chapter, the adult version completely shattered the optimistic image that Cells at Work had created.
In Cells at Work, the immune system was portrayed as strong and capable of defeating any disease. But BLACK offered a darker, more realistic view of the body—a body falling apart, where the cells fought in vain against overwhelming odds.
The internet exploded with discussions about the new series.
"After reading Cells at Work: BLACK, I don't even want to smoke anymore. I keep thinking about those red blood cells struggling for their lives. It feels like I'm killing them."
"Yeah, this BLACK version is way darker! Just looking at the broken-down body makes me feel depressed."
"Cells at Work? That show's not dark at all. It's actually kind of heartwarming."
"You're talking about the all-ages version. We're talking about the R-18 version, Cells at Work: BLACK."
"Good thing I have pretty healthy habits and don't smoke. I bet my body is more like the healthier version from the original series."
"And how about the fact that the white blood cells in this version are women? That fight scene with Streptococcus pneumoniae was epic!"
"Are you talking about the scene where her… um, you know, dodged the tentacles? I don't know how the artist came up with that, but it was genius!"
"Yeah, those white blood cells are way too unrealistic."
"Just from the first chapter, it's already this intense. I can't even imagine what the next chapters will be like. It's probably going to get even more hopeless."
"I bet the body's owner might die in the end. Isn't smoking one of the main causes of lung cancer?"
"I think there's a good chance of that happening…"
Fans across various social media platforms discussed the series nonstop. At first, many thought it would be a similar educational manga like the original, but once they noticed the darker elements, the conversations shifted toward the plot's deeper implications.
Another week passed, and the second chapter of Cells at Work: BLACK was released.
The red blood cells were still tirelessly delivering oxygen.
This time, they had to transport oxygen to the mouth, but the body's inflammation caused a literal fire inside, and bacteria took advantage of the situation to invade.
Just as things looked dire, white blood cells arrived and saved the day.
When readers saw the three white blood cells with distinct appearances, they smiled widely.
"Whoa!"
"What the heck?!"
But their smiles didn't last long.
They were soon stunned by what they saw—white blood cells pounced on the bacteria, ripping them apart like zombies from a post-apocalyptic movie.
Blood splattered all over their uniforms.
The stark contrast from the previous scene left readers speechless, unable to process the drastic shift.
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Powerstones?
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