Hyakurin is a great fighter and a seductive recruiter for the Mugai-ryu. She and the other members of the renegade dojo are eager to convince Manji it would be in his best interest to lend the group his skills in the fight against the seemingly indomitable Itto-ryu, but Manji isn't so sure their offer is as sweet as it sounds. He's smart enough to pick up on some obvious inconsistencies in their claims of poverty, and the group's most volatile assassin, Shira, quickly proves himself more serial killer than samurai. But Manji and Rin are in deep enough to be negotiating in close quarters and on Mugai-ryu turf, and with bloodthirsty Shira slowly establishing himself as the group's leader, there's no way for our heroes to leave without a fight to the death! Manji would give his left arm to see his way through this one clearly, and before the story ends, that'll be the least of his -- and others' -- injuries...
"'Heart of Darkness' has been an exciting and shocking ride for Blade fans," said series editor Mike Hansen. "Several new and intriguing characters have been introduced, each designed to shed new light on the relationships between Rin, Manji, and Anotsu. As we watch Shira progress from dangerous killer to monstrous psychopath, Rin and Manji are forced to question who, if anyone, they can trust. And because of the profound impact of these characters, we're forced to see Anotsu in a new light: as the hunted, not the hunter. It's like watching Silence of the Lambs in samurai-era Japan..."
Blade of the Immortal: Heart of Darkness will be available for the suggested retail price of $16.95 starting April 18.