Let me get this out of the way, and I won't lie, but the first time I've ever felt unsatisfied with this series was in the end of this volume.
1. I've always disliked time skips, especially big ones. Too much change to handle and so suddenly...
2. To be honest, I liked Rinne, but I can't find myself liking Shirayuki (adult). And stop smoking, it's bad for you, seriously, oi...
3. Never understood why, but I've never really liked teachers...
4. I really wanted Rinne and Guryuu to be together, and of course, that is impossible...
Other than that, everything else was perfectly done. The explanation to many things, the character interactions, the final battle, the sad farewell, the emotional impact, etc.
Some things were pretty obvious though, since there were many clues given, but it still didn't change the impact.
The complex explanations about the poison apple, relationship of the organs, revelation of who is God, were all done brilliantly.
Also, the whole complex thing about the connection of people and God was very, very interesting.
A lot of characters have really come a long way...
--
殺菌消毒 (Sterilization Disinfection) - Mina Saibara = Digestive organ
不快逆流 (Unpleasant Counter-Current) - Mitsuki Saibara = Excretory organ
最弱 (Ultimate Shield) (Literally, "Weakest") - Moon Rainbow/Zekiguchi Nashinori = Skin and Bones
涙歌 (Melodia Noise) (Literally, "Tear Song") - Joker Sakaki = Sensory organ
一人部屋 (Single Room) - Kajiri Nikuyama = Brain
破局 (Poison) (Literally, "Catastrophe") - Breaksun Hanselmine = Communication
神蟲天皇 (God Insect Emperor) = Body Fluids
--
Many characters appear, many characters die...
Starting with the jealous Queen, Moon Rainbow, also known as Ultimate Shield...
In the end, she was just a psychotic... and to the end, a pitiful existence.
Always looking down on others and believing she should be the center of attention and everything was already twisted enough, but upon being discarded by society, she truly lost it... And a fitting end for her, as she dies as a head when Kurukiyo shoots her.
And her subordinates, Nagumo Ame and Minazuki Natsuko. Ame was pretty obvious, but I was surprised Natsuko was as well.
To be honest, I don't feel sorry for them at all. Not a bit.
Natsuko probably didn't even feel pain, since she got instantly killed by Ame's acid.
Ame? I wanted to laugh at her as she greeted her last moments, but the way she was about to die was considerably cruel, so I couldn't. So what, you brat? You're so cocky and are willing to kill people, but when you are on the verge of death, you start whimpering and everything? Don't even try. Just die. Reminded me of a weaker Moon...
Kurukiyo... He finally got some revenge. Fittingly, he was the one to kill Ultimate Shield. I'm sure he's satisfied. No, he is... In the end, he continues to be my favorite character.
And the person he spent the last moments of the world with, Breaksun, who was revived thanks to Kajiri. It was a bit cheesy where they started screaming "I'm happy", but it was a nice moment.
Mitaka and Tatsue. One of the few survivors of the destructive final battle.
They did well to earn what they got. Their moment together near the end was also very nice. Though the real Mitaka is probably crying...
They did a real good job defeating Ame and Natsuko.
Kajiri... To the end, an awesome character. Creating the stones that allowed people to not get absorbed by God, reviving Breaksun, figuring out the world's settings, etc. Truly tragic he had to die...
The Saibara sisters.
Mitsuki got no turn this volume. Killed right away and replaced by Ultimate Shield.
Mina did a great job this episode too, using her Judgment once again and eating away most of Ultimate Shield before she died satisfied.
Joker just died this volume. Pretty much that's all. Though she got a few lines... Where she got the energy truly is mysterious...
And finally, Poison & Apple & Kiss. The poison apple, prince, and Snow White. Guriko, Guryuu, and Rinne/Shirayuki.
The last moment truly was sad... The farewell.
Guriko manages to stay alive to the end, when a butterfly ends up becoming the poison apple instead.
To the end, that Guryuu really was a stupid man. Always obsessed with Rinne, even in the worst of times. Guess that is obvious, he is the Prince. I really wished he could have stayed with Rinne, but...
Rinne was Snow White, and fittingly, her name is Shirayuki. Bullied and disliking the world (similar to Rinne's setting), she fell into a coma after drinking poison. Like I said, I won't be able to like Shirayuki...
By the way, the long hair looks good on her. <--referring to the illustration
So what will be next, in the final volume...
Not sure if I should look forward to it... The time skip.