Looking at the numbers, this entry is clearly on the manga so turn back while you still can unless you don’t mind spoilers for the anime. Don’t read if you aren’t caught up with the latest chapter either. Not that you will understand anything. Also have to consider the amount of people who will have the “too long; not reading,” reaction. Originally intended to write my opinions on the anime once it caught up to where I previously left off in the manga, but I just went ahead and caught up with the manga. And of course, as one of the masses of Galatea (aka Miss Claymore) fanboys, I’m sitting here eagerly waiting for chapter seventy-three which should be out soon. Yes, I did read through the manga in one go like a fool, but there’s no rule saying I can’t back trace and just write impressions on manga. Actually everything that’s been out up to now is a really short read once you’re into it. Anyway, Fit For Battle was pretty close to where I might have started blogging about on the anime if I hadn’t read the manga so I’ll take it from here. Probably one entry for every one or two arc. I am glad to hear Leon is a Miria fanboy by the way.

Well, never mind too much about my thoughts on actual content this time, but what we learned in this arc put me in the mind of one of those twisted organization members behind the Claymores. Taking what we know at this point: (1) Claymores are divided into offensive and defensive types. Only defensive types have the ability to fully regenerate. (2) Clare and Irene demonstrated that it’s possible to give or trade limbs (or more) to obtain new abilities.

So, it’s a known fact that the organization cares little about the death of Claymores and claims that there are always replacements. Most likely they wouldn’t care about what I want to share right now, but let’s ignore that and talk about efficiency. By receiving just Irene’s right arm, Clare’s unofficial rank pretty much soared to be on par with single digit Claymores like Flora much to everyone’s surprise. From how much stronger she got after that exchange, it makes you wonder why it wasn’t generally accepted among Claymores to actively pass on their abilities and strengthen each generation. I’ll just assume that the passing of abilities was Irene’s sole original idea, but I do have doubts since Miria didn’t look too surprised during the reunion. Her reaction was enough to say this wasn’t an unheard of case.

Now for the experiment ideas on gradually building up super Claymores. Sure, you can pass around all the limbs you want. Although it isn’t honorable, unless it grows into a generally accepted practice among all Claymores, Clare could have taken Jean’s left arm as her own. Right there, you would get a Clare who can fight using Quick Sword, Windcutter, and Jean’s drill sword. The new arm would be hard to get used like Clare did with Irene, but that’s irrelevant since you only gain an advantage in the long run. The real disadvantage that still doesn’t disappear is the fact that offensives can’t regenerate. That’s where the defensive types come in as the ideal type of Claymores to do the receiving part in all this. They can tank all they want and not die in exchange for not being able to access the skills on the offensive tree. So why not then implant parts from the offensive ones to them and make them super Claymores? I mean, offensive types die quicker so there shouldn’t be a shortage of abilities to pass on.

So ideally, it could have gone like this. In Generation A, the organization purposely raises only offensive types and possible in large amounts rather than the standard forty-seven to increase the chances of getting a variety of abilities, and plenty of strong skills like Quick Sword. Then just pass on skills to the trainee’s who will be raised as defensive types for Generation B. Basically keep building defensive types after that with offensive types only in use for the offensive skill research. Retrieving bodies won’t be hard at all if the Claymore truly did die since Yoma’s don’t like Claymore meat. I don’t see how it will be possible to pass on Miria’s ability, but the ones that make use of arms will do well as they all come in two unless they have a deformed Claymore with three arms or something. Not something as crazy as building twins and creating a monster like Alicia, and doing this will significantly increase the average power level for the Claymores.

Okay, part of the truth in all this talk is actually the fact that I wanted Deneve to grab some limbs and make herself useful in offense as she’s way too overshadowed (even by Cynthia who’s one of the better looking Claymores) even though she’s one of the four main fighters among the seven that survived the campaign at Pieta. No, dual wielding Deneve doesn’t cut it. She’s still a boring defensive type unless she has now an incredible regeneration skill that allows her to regrow her head several times or something. Eh, ignore that.

Still wondering what exactly those organization members are while on the topic of thinking in their way of experimenting with Claymores. They don’t seem human, and they can’t be Awakened as the Claymores should have known by now if so. Only possibility I see is that they were one of the original male Claymores who didn’t lose it like the rest, and that they’re now taking non-combat tasks to avoid situations that would cause them to Awaken. And well, they’re leaders due to seniority and are still there since they don’t age physically.