Yes. It's essentially that Black*Star understands all that comes with walking the path of the warrior. It has a lot to do with the giant deer in Tsubaki's soul and Black*Star getting over himself a bit. He grew more mature because of it and because of Mifune's death. Also important is that Black*Star had to bear all regrets. All of the doubt in his heart had to be gone. He changed from walking the path of a demon to that of the warrior. He had to overcome the despair of those who tried to walk the way of the sword but were consumed by treading to the path of the demon. Essentially Black*Star had to be able to overcome his inner challenges to master the height of the way of the sword.

Your Heart!

From what I understand when a weapon and a technician resonate it's kind of like a "stance." From this stance a weapon and technician can perform a number of special attacks they would otherwise be unable to perform (ie: Witch Hunter, Death Cannon). Now as it was pointed out earlier in the thread "Witch Hunter" was referred to as a "traditional Scythe super skill" by Maka in episode 4. This is backed up later by Stein when he uses the Witch Hunter, indicating it is indeed a common attack that can be used during Soul Resonance. However, this begs to question if all of the different weapon technicians have a traditional super skill? For that matter, are all of the attacks that can be performed during Soul Resonance the same for each type of weapon? I bring this up because both Maka and Shinigami use Kishin Hunter, which is a higher level of attack. While the same attack though, the shape is different for each user based on their soul personality and wavelength which is where variation comes into play and begs to ask if the effects of each super skill are different based on the technician?

I'm not quite sure I understand how a pre-kishin comes into being. Yes, yes I know they have to eat human souls, but in both the manga and the anime Kilik asks Shinigami how Asura was able to eat human souls since only a weapon can eat a soul. With this in mind where do pre-kishins come from? In addition Asura is referred to as the first true Kishin. If this is the case how did Shinigami know that he and the eight warlords needed to hunt pre-kishins to prevent them from "evolving" into Kishins?

It is made very clear that the size of Shibusen extends beyond Death City. With this in mind, how many branches are there and who runs them? It is referred to a few times that Shinigami used to have eight powerful allies called the warlords that helped him keep peace. Do these people (minus Eibon and Asura) run the other facilities?

This always bothered me. Are the lackeys that Sid commands just normal humans with no "weapon technician" relation? Two star technicians. Do any exist besides the newly appointed ones in the manga?

Meetings have been seen on a couple of occasions, but what do they meet for? It is mentioned that Medusa was breaking the witch law by infiltrating Shibusen. If the purpose of the witches is to oppose Shibusen why would such a thing be a law? In addition, how are witches born? It doesn't make sense that Chrona would not be a witch since he/she was Medusa's child unless witches come into existence some other way. If so, what way is that?

Is Shinigami like Santa, always watching the world to see who will make his "list" as "Shinigami's List" is referred to many times in both the anime and manga. This seems not likely as he was unable to find Arachnophobia without Medusa's help. Since this is the case, who finds these pre-kishins and then takes the time to tell someone else to kill it when it is a race against time, to kill the pre-kishin before it devours enough souls to become a Kishin.

The first question is in regards to how they are made. Ragnarok devours plenty of human souls, but is never able to achieve being a Kishin. I never fully understood the reason behind this as I thought becoming a Kishin was a direct result of eating human souls. Sort of like how a weapon will become a deathscythe if it eats 99 pre-kishin souls and one witch soul.

The second is in regards to their destruction. Could Shinigami have actually been able to kill Asura, or would he have to seal him again. If so, why didn't he kill Asura when the guy had no blood, skin, or power? If it is correct in that Shinigami could have killed him, then the next part of the question is pointless.

Weakness. Maka is able to defeat Asura in the end because of her courage (I have a pretty good understanding of the reasoning and would rather not post my opinion on it within this as this one is long enough). With this in mind, are all Kishins susceptible to such an attack? If so, is the only reason Maka's killed Asura is because he was at "low health," or was that the only way he was going to die (referring back to question two)?

Recent chapters have led me to believe that resonance not only allows for special attacks that would be impossible/difficult to achieve otherwise (like the Demon Blade mode and Witch Hunter) but it also allows a weapon to boost his meister's physiques (like Rags does, moving the black blood in sync with Crona's movements to increase the power behind his/her blows).

Making Mifune even more impressive than he already is for keeping up with Black Star.

'Resonance of Souls' is nothing more than a technique to temporarily boost the soul wavelength of the meister (and the weapon too I'm not sure). Sorta demonstrated by the guitar and the amp example.

If someone has enough soul power (in lack of a better term) he could theoretically use witch hunter (or some other move demonstrated in soul resonance so far) albeit maybe a little weaker. I'm not sure but iirc Maka used a witch hunter in the fight with Mosquito over at Lost Island without using resonance or after resonating very briefly (off screen/panel). I also recall Black Star using having to use soul resonance to use the fey blade mode and later he only needs it for the true release of the fey blade mode or whatever it's called, Shadow Star wasn't it?

It's possible that in the lessons the students get at Shibusen, they are taught a set of standardized moves to use in resonance. But it's also clear that a lot of that depends on the souls of the weapons and meisters. Evident in the events following the clown arc where Maka had learned the demon hunter, I very much doubt that that is a standardized move. But It's very likely that it got recorded... It's also possible that there are families of meisters (or weapons) that keep choosing the same profession and pass on techniques to their descendants. Regardless I doubt most weapons-types have a standardized soul resonance attack... I think it would be wise to reread the events following the clown arc for inspiration on how to work out the resonance system in your RPG.

Your confusion is understandable. But easy to clear up. There are no pre-kishins/kishin eggs in the mangaverse. Also humans in the manga don't eat souls. I know they do in the anime but that's just Studio Bones being silly. Asura was able to eat human souls because he ate his weapon. Don't ask me or even Shinigami how, he just did... Shinigami and his eight warlords... Did they even hunt evil humans? I don't remember and frankly I don't care. Anyway in the manga Shinigami just lists killers and other people he doesn't like and his students can go and kill them off. So that Shini's world becomes more orderly or something.

I'd assume there are eight branches possibly seven(if Europe only has one bransh). Each led by a Death Scythe or in the case of North America by Shinigami himself. The Eight Warlords also called the Great Old ones do not help Shinigami nor do they particularly like him. Most are dead anyway are you up to date with the manga? I can't say anything else with certainty about the subject.

Since Shinigami doesn't seem to like the creation proses for human weapons. I doubt there are that many around (OMG RAGNAROK COULD BE ANOTHER CHILD OF MEDUSA INFUSED WITH A WITCH SOUL). Especially considering the line of work they do for Shibusen some might not live very long lives. So yeah I think it's safe to assume that all the Shibusen goons are not meisters. But iirc the guys in black suits where 2 star meisters, you know the ones that Shinigami called in to arrest Risa, Arisa and Kim.

I assume witches meet on a regular basis because they are at war with Shinigami. He wants to exterminate them or at least make the witch population a lot smaller. Medusa's infiltration was approved by the witches mass or Mabaa, the one or the other. If a witch is caught alive they could torture her into telling said witch the location of other witches. That would not be a good thing. Depending on how much the witch knows it could seriously endanger the other witches. The witch could even be forced to use her magic to further Shibusen's goals like was the case with Risa, Alisa and Eruka. I would think witches are born form their mothers wombs. They might mate with animals, other wiches, warlocks (if they exist other than Noah and Eibon), humans or reproduce asexually. I don't know how how Medusa made Crona... Some fans speculate that because of how Stein looked in while he was young he might be Crona's father. Then again knowing Medusa she could just as well have kidnapped/adopted Crona.

Like I said pre-kishins don't eat human souls. Even the evil Spirt of the Pharaoh and the Flying Dutchman (both of which are undead) did not eat human souls – though the Dutchman did collect them for the Kishin. Masamune and Crona (or rather Ragnarok) or the only listed persons to actually eat souls. Most evil humans are just killers and gangsters. Shinigami is Santa he knows who has been bad. He might have a demon tool. He might work together with the police. Shibusen might be the Soul Eater equivalent of the police/FBI/CIA here. He might be able to look through windows without someone dialing his number in them who knows.

Apparently just randomly eating souls does not turn one into a Kishin – It does grant more power though, the more pure the soul the more power it gives. Asura was very strong even before he became known as the Kishin.

I don't know the reason of the 100 souls rule. Maybe a weapon can only carry 100 souls in total? Maybe Shinigami is afraid that a weapon or team might become tempted to hunt more souls than necessary to gain more power. This is also not clear... But as shown with Ragnarok it's possible for a weapon to eat more than 100 souls. Shinigami just doesn't want them to.

Asura has high speed regeneration comparable to Free's or even better than his. It's unlikely that Shinigami would have sealed Asura a such a high price if he had another choice. Asura effectively immortal like Free. Anti demon wavelength might affect him. But for now that's just speculation.

The last part is just random Bones fucking up the series.

I do not think Soul Resonance boosts the physical abilities of the user unless the user has an ability linked with it (ie: Black Star's Speed Star). In Chrona's and Ragnarok's case, Ragnarok was always giving physical assistance to Chrona as he lived inside of him/her via the black blood, similar to how Maka's strength was increased when she delved into madness. She and Soul were not resonating, the demon was just controlling her through the black blood making her stronger. However, I think it is correct in saying that perhaps their abilities are enhanced during Soul Resonance, as in both the manga and the anime, Black Star uses Speed Star when he is not resonating. I do still think that attacks such as Witch Hunter though cannot be performed without the weapon, no matter how strong the technician is. Stein is constantly referred to as the strongest technician, and I've never seen him perform anything that would normally require him to be resonating.

The effect and shape of a "Super Skill" (since that's what Maka called it) does depend on the user's soul I think which is making me consider adding "Soul Types" and give different effects when performing these higher level of attacks. Maka's Demon Hunting attack I believe is a direct result of Maka's wavelength influencing her Witch Hunter similar to how Stein's wavelength will change how much damage his open palm will do. I don't think I would have an anti-demon wavelength in my game though as they said it has a 1/5000000 chance to appear in a person. Plus it would be OP and annoying XD

Are you sure? I'm certain that in the manga it is still a technician's and a weapons goal to have the weapon devour 99 pre-kishin souls and one soul of a witch, hence why Soul turned into a Deathscythe after they killed "Freddy Cougar" (and his nine-inch nails :D) and then went back to Shibusen to eat Archane's soul they had collected. And I would think Shinigami and the eight Warlords fought against pre-kishins as well as the witches. The witches probably more than anything as it seems they were incredibly powerful and formidable before they were culled.

Would make sense to have eight, but I think the eighth comes from Oceanic. Are the eight warlords even referred to much or even fully introduced? As far as I know there was Asura, Eibon, and 6 no names that were probably Mifune status if not better. In addition, do these other branches work like Shibusen as well, in that they hunt down people on Shinigami's list?

I'm pretty sure in both the anime and manga Medusa is "offended" that Stein says she stole Chrona from somewhere because he/she is her legitimate child. Which still begs to ask how witches come into existence, especially with Angela running around. If she didn't exist I'd say witches were born through powerful rituals in which they (The Witch Congregation) fuse the soul of a human and a magical creature. I don't believe this would be the case with Angela though, and it would also make me wonder how she got to be captured by humans. In addition, how did Angela and Mifune find the witches meeting spot? XD

Well, if pre-kishins don't eat human souls, then how is a Kishin brought into existence? I'm thoroughly confused as to how the main antagonists, Kishins, and their larvae form are even brought into the world at this point :/

I haven't worked the exact mechanics but imho weapons that are in sync with their meisters can at least to a small degree manipulate the meister's movements. Like Maka once said: “The weapon and meister are two in one”. This is the only explanation for Maka's inferiority complex.

Do you know how resonance (the real thing not the soul resonance) works?
IMHO soul resonance works pretty much the same way. The only difference being that Soul Resonance deals with souls (or lets say soul power) rather than sound (vibrations) like real resonance does. Both users align their wavelengths (mach their soul power) and they amplify each other.

My point is that soul resonance only amplifies something that is already there. Theoretically Stein could use a normal scythe to materialize his soul power around, to use a witch hunter. Assuming he has enough soul power to do so.

I approve of your Soul-types idea...

A weapon and meister combo need to collect 99 evil souls and one witch soul to tun the weapon into a Death Scythe. It is noted that pure souls give more power than corrupt souls though.

It's fairly possible that the Great Old Ones hunted and killed evil humans considering Kid's neurotic tendencies and crazy idea's on how the world should be. But that they waged war with the wiches is a commonly known fact. I wouldn't go to much into their backstory though... We know too little about them.

Shibusen had 8 area heads

North America – Spirit (Currently grounded to the grounded to Death City)
South America – Tezca
East Asia – Azusa (has also gained Oceania to look after)
West Asia - Unknown
Oceania – Mary (currently working from North America)
Europe – Justin (no longer with Shibusen)
Europe – Unknown
Africa – Unknown

Justin joined Noah's side though and is therefore probably no longer a area head.
If you don't know about the Eight Warlords, you'd better catch up with the manga. That would be more endjoyable than me spoilering you about them anyway.

Thank you for reminding me about that I forgot. Angela's parents/guardians/mother w/e couldn't have been killed by those gangsters. So she was either left behind or Shibusen killed her parents/guardians/mother. Some witch probably told them about it ... or made them come. It actually surprises me that Shibusen hasn't attacked the witches mass jet. Maybe they plan to or maybe Noah is just the bigger threat. Or shibusen might be seriously reconcidering their policies considering witches

The only thing close to a pre-kishin at the moment is Crona/Ragnarock. But if Medusa knew how to create a Kishin she would have done so already. Considering the nature of the Great Old ones I don't even know what it means to be a Kishin anymore.

The people referred to as Kishin Eggs/Pre Kishin in the baka-bones adaption. Do not eat souls in the manga. Jack The Ripper doesn't eat souls in the manga. Al Capone doesn't eat souls in the manga! Only weapons 'eat' souls in the manga. The difference between pure souls and evil souls isn't there in the manga. Just re-read the first three oneshots and you'll understand a little better, I guess.