Rooster Fighter Episode 3: The Parable of the Three Birds

The episode opens with Elizabeth, her resolve clear, confronting Kiji on a city street. She wields a fearsome 'Thunder Baton,' a weapon designed, she declares, specifically to turn him into yakitori. Bystanders watch in disbelief as she demonstrates its power, exploding a vending machine. Kiji remains unfazed, observing her choice of weaponry with a detached curiosity, his guard up but not entirely convinced of her deadly intent.

Elizabeth recounts her pampered life, adopted by a loving elderly couple. She learned many skills to please them, living a life of luxury and comfort in a grand mansion. Despite this idyllic existence, a vague sense of incompleteness lingered within her. This backstory paints her not as a villain, but as a creature seeking fulfillment.

Her comfortable world shatters when a giant monster appears, threatening her family. Kiji intervenes, a sudden hero, kicking the beast away. In that singular moment, Elizabeth falls in love, seeing him as the missing piece in her life. They share an intimate walk on the beach, but Kiji abruptly leaves her, proclaiming that 'the next town is waiting' and dismissing their connection as 'just an urge.' Elizabeth is left heartbroken, vowing never to forget his betrayal.

Back in the present, Piyoko is shocked to learn of Kiji's past entanglement, furiously accusing him of promiscuity. Elizabeth lunges at Kiji again, but the ensuing struggle turns unexpectedly intimate, their beaks almost touching in a moment of bewildered closeness. Kiji notes her lack of true killing intent. Elizabeth, flustered and embarrassed by the public display, finds herself surrounded by onlookers and police, her aggression quickly deflating.

Kiji makes a hasty escape with Piyoko, leaving Elizabeth grappling with her conflicted feelings. She admits to herself that despite her desire to kill him, she still harbours lingering feelings. When they regroup in a forest, Elizabeth clarifies her true purpose: to exterminate all Demon Beasts, which she believes are the root of all sadness. She speaks of friends lost to the creatures, driving her resolve to create a world free of grief.

Kiji initially dismisses her quest, still focused on avenging his sister. However, Elizabeth reveals her extensive research into Demon Beasts, explaining the emergence of 'mutated' variants. These new creatures possess human-like intelligence, diverse personalities, and varied appearances, from harmless to those who aid humans. She presents images on her smartphone, painting a complex picture of the new threat.

Elizabeth then reveals the 'Hakki-ju,' a powerful, white-skinned Demon Beast with four horns. Kiji immediately recognizes the creature from a traumatic memory. Through a heart-wrenching flashback, he recalls his sister, Sara, transforming into a fiery phoenix-like entity, wreaking havoc on the city before flying away. The realization hits him with devastating force: his lost sister is now a Demon Beast, the very Hakki-ju Elizabeth described.

With Kiji now driven by this new revelation, the trio continues their journey, eventually finding a natural hot spring. Elizabeth attempts to recruit Kiji to her cause, suggesting the healing waters will prepare him for the fight against Demon Beasts. She then teases him about his supposed fear of water, a comedic interlude that reveals a lighter side to their dynamic. Kiji falls in, splashing dramatically, further emphasizing his discomfort.

Relaxed in the hot spring, Elizabeth laments how long it has been since a proper bath, recalling her luxurious past. She declares her dream of bathing in Romane Conti wine as a reward after eradicating all Demon Beasts. Piyoko, overhearing, also demands a Romane Conti bath, adding to the lighthearted chaos. Elizabeth playfully denies Kiji a share of her imagined luxury, leading him to abruptly exit the hot spring, shivering and annoyed, leaving Piyoko to call after him.