I was expecting a Heart of Darkness ending where he gives in. I was also expecting Anai to reveal that he was the one who shot the girl, given his own delinquent history. I like it when stories surprise me like that.
Do the Japanese mythology nerds know anything about six-legged dogs? Is there some cultural context missing here, or is it just a random monster? It feels very different from the normal monsters portrayed in this series.
This manga has shown an unhealthy relationship with media from the perspective of fans (insane obsession and literal fanaticism), and from the perspective of actors (the incredible narcissism), and it's interesting to see it from the perspective of a writer, the creator.
Stories can do us a lot...
You're exactly right, I'm glad you pointed that out. I thought it was just a strange Eldritch shape, a reminder of what these beings truly are past their human facade. But there is much richer symbolism in it than I realized. Thanks.
The author has been very hesitant to kill characters and has faked us out before. I won't believe it until it's been a few chapters and she's still dead.
I also suspect demonic involvement on some level. The author took pains to make it clear that every attempt at resurrecting humans has failed.
So perhaps Edmund is part demon, or was host to a demon, and that is why he could be reanimated. Or Hecate borrowed the power of a demon to make it happen.