Have you caught the latest episode of Heavenly Delusion yet? It’s even better than the first one! In this post-apocalyptic world, our two main characters, Kiruko and Maru, take a break from their search for “heaven” and find themselves staying at a sweet little inn with all the amenities.

Check out our review of Episode 1

But things quickly take a turn for the worse when a Hiruko, also known as a “Man-eater,” attacks them in the middle of the night. The action in this episode is insane, but what really sets it apart is the way it keeps you guessing about everyone’s true motives. Who can you trust in this world where nothing is as it seems?

The director of episode 2 of Heavenly Delusion is Kai Shibata, an animator who’s worked on a lot of other great shows like Chainsaw Man and Lycoris Recoil. And if you thought the bandit fight in the first episode was cool, wait until you see the battle against the Hiruko in episode 2! The animation is stunning and the camera work is so frenetic, you’ll feel like you’re right in the middle of the action.

Man-eater

The Hiruko is the first monster we get a good look at in this series, and it’s every bit as creepy as Kiruko described last week. Its body is a hodgepodge of different parts, and it can morph and change its head into all sorts of different shapes. Think the creature from The Thing, but even more grotesque.

The fight is made even more intense because of how well the characters work together. They have to be smart and quick on their feet to stand a chance against this monster, and it’s really satisfying to watch them outsmart it at every turn. But the real shocker comes when we find out that the innkeeper has some sort of connection to the monster. It’s a big reveal that raises a lot of questions about the monsters and what they’re really all about.

It’s clear that there is a connection between Kiruko and Maru’s journey and Tokio and his friends. Maru’s mission is to find someone with a matching face to him (presumably Tokio) and inject them with a mysterious syringe. The reasons why are a mystery, but that’s only part of what makes this episode so intriguing.

Oh, the mystery…

All the kids from the nursery, including Taka and Kona, seem to have some sort of supernatural abilities. Maru’s power, which enables him to kill the Hiruko by destroying their hearts, seems to be the most potent. This episode also touches on sexuality, with Tokio witnessing two girls kissing in the forest, Shiro receiving a nude photo from Mimihime, and Maru confessing his feelings for Kiruko.

The series is only two episodes in, but it’s already shaping up to be a fantastic sci-fi anime. It’s full of intriguing ideas executed with consistent visual flair. After a relatively tame premiere, the second episode has raised the stakes and promises thrilling action and likeable characters with secrets that keep us coming back. The unanswered questions are just as exciting as the answers that we hope to get.