Ragna Crimson

Ragna Crimson
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Ragna
ラグナクリムゾン (Raguna Kurimuzon)
Genre	Action Dark fantasy
Manga
Written by	Daiki Kobayashi
Published by	Square Enix
English publisher	NA: Square Enix
Imprint	GC Joker
Magazine	Monthly Gangan Joker
Demographic	Shōnen
Original run	March 22, 2017 – present
Volumes	13
Anime television series
Directed by	Ken Takahashi
Produced by	Hiroyuki Aoi Shouta Komatsu Yuki Ogasawara Tomoyuki Oowada Hiromi Saitou Hiroto Utsunomiya Akiho Igari
Written by	Deko Akao
Music by	Kōji Fujimoto Osamu Sasaki
Studio	Silver Link
Licensed by	Sentai Filmworks SA/SEA: Muse Communication
Original network	Tokyo MX, BS11, MBS
Original run	October 1, 2023 – present
Episodes	24

Ragna Crimson (Japanese: ラグナクリムゾン, Hepburn: Raguna Kurimuzon) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Daiki Kobayashi. It has been serialized in Square Enix's Monthly Gangan Joker since March 2017, with its chapters collected into thirteen tankōbon volumes as of November 2023. An anime television series adaptation produced by Silver Link premiered in October 2023.

Characters

Ragna (ラグナ, Raguna)

Voiced by: Chiaki Kobayashi, Nobutoshi Canna (future) (Japanese); Jack Stansbury (English)

Crimson (クリムゾン, Kurimuzon)

Voiced by: Ayumu Murase (Japanese); Jade Kelly (English)

Leonica (レオニカ, Reonika)

Voiced by: Inori Minase (Japanese); Cat Thomas (English)

Ultimatia (アルテマティア, Arutematia)

Voiced by: Reina Ueda (Japanese); Juliet Simmons (English)

Grymwelte (グリュムウェルテ, Guryumuwerute)

Voiced by: Takehito Koyasu

Disas Trois (ディザストロワ, Dizasu Torowa)

Voiced by: Shunsuke Takeuchi (Japanese); Alan Brinks (English)

Temruogtaf (メルグブデ, Merugubude)

Voiced by: Kōzō Shioya

Michael (ミハイル, Mihairu)

Voiced by: Yoshihito Sasaki

King Femud (フェムド王, Femudo Ō)

Voiced by: Takashi Matsuyama

Woltekamui (ウォルテカムイ, Worutekamui)

Voiced by: Junichi Suwabe

Slime (スライム, Suraimu)

Voiced by: Fairouz Ai

Chimera (キメラ, Kimera)

Voiced by: Mamiko Noto

Golem (ゴーレム, Gōremu)

Voiced by: Hiroki Tōchi

Staria Reze (スターリア・レーゼ, Sutāria Rēze)

Voiced by: Rina Hidaka

Hazella (へゼラ, Hezera) and Greya (グレア, Gurea)

Voiced by: Rio Tsuchiya

Nebulim (ネビュリム, Nebyurimu)

Voiced by: Daiki Yamashita

Taratectora (タラテクトラ, Taratekutora)

Voiced by: Ryōta Takeuchi

Olto Zora (オルト・ゾラ, Oruto Zora)

Voiced by: Ryōtarō Okiayu

Borgius (ボルギウス, Borugiusu)

Voiced by: Kenyu Horiuchi

Dornea (ドルニーア, Dorunīa)

Voiced by: Keisuke Komoto

Baron Sierra (バロム・シェエラ, Baromu Sheera)

Voiced by: Takuya Satō

Chantioras (シャンティオラス, Shantiorasu)

Voiced by: Takuya Eguchi

Isaac Stern (アイザック・スターン, Aizakku Sutān)

Voiced by: Tomoaki Maeno

Christopher Algren (クリストファー・オルグレン, Kurisutofā Oruguren)

Voiced by: Kenji Hamada

Shin Cutlass (シン・カトラス, Shin Katorasu)

Voiced by: Tasuku Hatanaka

Fū (フー)

Voiced by: Yukihiro Nozuyama

Garm Ulban (ガルム・ウルバン, Garumu Uruban)

Voiced by: Shirō Saitō

Nazarena Teluzian (ナサレナ・テルジアン, Nasarena Terujian)

Voiced by: Yū Shimamura

Majorca Abbott (マジョルカ・アボット, Majoruka Abotto)

Voiced by: Marika Kōno

Media

Manga

Ragna Crimson is written and illustrated by Daiki Kobayashi. The series began in Square Enix's shōnen manga magazine Monthly Gangan Joker since March 22, 2017. Square Enix has collected its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was released on October 21, 2017. As of November 21, 2023, thirteen volumes have been released.

In North America, the series is licensed for English release by Square Enix Manga & Books imprint.

Volumes

No.	Original release date	Original ISBN	English release date	English ISBN
1	October 21, 2017	978-4-7575-5506-8	February 23, 2021	978-1-64609-056-3
2	December 22, 2017	978-4-7575-5558-7	May 25, 2021	978-1-64609-057-0
3	July 21, 2018	978-4-7575-5790-1	August 24, 2021	978-1-64609-058-7
4	January 22, 2019	978-4-7575-5981-3	January 4, 2022	978-1-64609-059-4
5	July 22, 2019	978-4-7575-6180-9	April 12, 2022	978-1-64609-060-0
6	January 22, 2020	978-4-7575-6475-6	August 23, 2022	978-1-64609-094-5
7	July 21, 2020	978-4-7575-6756-6	November 22, 2022	978-1-64609-117-1
8	January 22, 2021	978-4-7575-7041-2	March 14, 2023	978-1-64609-131-7
9	August 20, 2021	978-4-7575-7428-1	June 27, 2023	978-1-64609-169-0
10	March 22, 2022	978-4-7575-7828-9	August 22, 2023	978-1-64609-198-0
11	August 22, 2022	978-4-7575-8084-8	November 21, 2023	978-1-64609-230-7
12	June 22, 2023	978-4-7575-8621-5	May 14, 2024	978-1-64609-262-8
13	November 21, 2023	978-4-7575-8907-0	August 20, 2024	978-1-64609-316-8

Anime

An anime television series adaptation was announced on March 19, 2022. It is produced by Silver Link and directed by Ken Takahashi, with scripts written by Deko Akao, character designs handled by Shinpei Aoki, and music composed by Kōji Fujimoto and Osamu Sasaki. The series premiered on October 1, 2023, on Tokyo MX and other networks. It will consist of 24 episodes. The opening theme song is "Roar" performed by Ulma Sound Junction while the ending theme song is "Rinkaku" (鱗角) performed by Watashi Kobayashi. At Anime Expo 2022, Sentai Filmworks announced that they licensed the series outside of Asia. Muse Communication has licensed the series for South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Episodes

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Storyboarded by	Original air date
1	"The Day the Reaper Was Born" Transliteration: "Shinigami ga Umareta Hi" (Japanese: 死神が生まれた日)	Ken Takahashi	Deko Akao	Ken Takahashi	October 1, 2023 (2023-10-01)
Dragons terrorize humanity, giving rise to hunters who slay dragons with Silverine weapons. Two hunters in Lese Kingdom are Leonica and her unskilled partner Ragna, who functions more as her caretaker than a hunter. Ragna believes he is cursed; dragons seem drawn to him yet he always survives while others are slaughtered. Ragna dreams of an old man predicting Leonica’s death. A dragon horde destroys Donapierru, a city that has famously not suffered a dragon attack in 10 years. The dragon horde then attacks every city in the kingdom, including Leonica and Ragna’s home in Ronabera City. The dragons are led by Grymwelte of the Blood Wings, Superior Dragons that serve the Dragon God. Ragna recognises Grymwelte as Leonica’s predicted murderer. Knocked unconscious Ragna falls into dreams of the future where the old man is revealed as his future self. Future-Ragna despises Ragna as a parasite who used Leonica to cover up his inadequacy. He reveals in his grief he trained beyond human endurance, and after 40 years discovered a power that gave his body the properties of Silverine, to kill dragons with a touch of his hand, but the power was worthless as it couldn’t bring Leonica back. But now he has a chance to correct the past. He fuses himself to Ragna, giving him his memories and powers. Leonica confronts Grymwelte who reveals the Dragon God was protecting Donapierru as it housed his favourite cake shop, but when it went out of business the God ordered the entire Lese Kingdom destroyed. Ragna awakens and with his new Silverine Battle Arts Grymwelte is killed, saving Leonica. With Future-Ragna’s memories Ragna is relieved that this time he was able to save Leonica. Future-Ragna and a mysterious God accept it is now up to Ragna and Leonica to create a future free of dragons. As Ragna recovers from his ordeal the city is attacked by an army of trees, watched by the mysterious God who remembers this was when he and Ragna first met.
2	"The Beginning of the Story" Transliteration: "Monogatari no Hajimari" (Japanese: 物語の始まり)	Masamune Hirata	Deko Akao	Masamune Hirata	October 8, 2023 (2023-10-08)
The trees are controlled by the dragon Temruogtaf. Sensing Leonica in danger Ragna is forcibly awoken and punches Temruogtaf away. Ragna recognises Temruogtaf’s maid as the mysterious God Crimson from Future-Ragna’s memories, a Dragon Monarch who betrayed the Dragon God in the future and had most of his powers sealed away as punishment. To get revenge Crimson allied with Future-Ragna to kill all dragons by giving Ragna the Silverine Battle Arts. Crimson insists he is just a maid named Elise. Temruogtaf is killed by Ragna. Ragna tries to send Leonica away to safety, making her lose her temper. Ragna realises due to his former weakness Leonica is used to being in charge. Deciding it is time he acted responsibly he beats Leonica in a duel and forces her to evacuate with the civilians, leaving them both heartbroken. Crimson continues to deny his identity so, with advice from Future-Crimson, Ragna volunteers as Crimson’s servant. After seeing Ragna’s potential Crimson accepts Ragna’s offer of servitude and gives him a poison that will only activate if Ragna betrays him. Crimson happily declares his intent to use Ragna to destroy the six dragon bloodlines, kill the Dragon God, then when he is the only dragon left, allow Ragna to kill him and end the age of dragons forever.
3	"Agitation" Transliteration: "Kakuhan" (Japanese: 攪拌)	Yuuta Maruyama	Deko Akao	Seiji Okuda Ken Takahashi	October 15, 2023 (2023-10-15)
Ragna meets Crimson's existing servant, Slime. Crimson is irritated Ragna doesn’t have all Future-Ragna's useful memories yet, they just appear when the right conditions are met. A group of hunters inform Ragna of a dragon Monarch that controls tornadoes, Disas Trois. Intrigued by Silverine Battle Arts Crimson paralyses Ragna to force him to recover from the immense damage it causes his muscles. He then manipulates the hunters' minds using their guilt over abandoning civilians to die and convinces them they have been granted Ragna’s power while Ragna recovers. He also provides them modern machine guns and Silverine bullets generated by Ragna’s power. Crimson worries what will happen if Leonica dies as she is Ragna’s only motivation. He offers to kidnap her into a drugged sleep until the war is over, which Ragna angrily rejects, causing them to fight. Crimson reveals Ragna isn’t cursed, he has just led an unlucky life so far. Slime observes Disas amusing himself torturing women but hides this in case the hunters ruin his plan trying to save them. As the hunters depart Crimson mocks Disas, his bloodline and the dragon God, hoping Disas will lose his temper and chase after them.
4	"Action" Transliteration: "Akushon" (Japanese: アクション)	Mirai Minato	Deko Akao	Gouichi Iwahata	October 22, 2023 (2023-10-22)
Disas furiously chases their vehicle. Crimson reveals Silverine doesn’t freeze dragon blood; it freezes dragon magic, so when the hunters shoot his magic tornado the tornado itself freezes. Disas fails to see Ragna generating a Silverine barrier that knocks him out of his tornado into the sunlight, allowing the hunters to behead him. Crimson gloats and Ragna realises Crimson barely considered it a hunt. To him it was a fun game. Despite their partnership he awaits the day he will be allowed to kill Crimson. Crimson wipes his existence from the hunters’ memories, so they give Ragna full credit for helping kill Disas. The army orders every city to evacuate to Capital City; Crimson suspects a plot by another Monarch. It is shown 5 days prior First Monarch Ultimatia appeared to King Femud and apologised, claiming the destruction of Donapierru and the resulting war was caused by a subordinate dragon who misunderstood her orders. She hoped to spare humans pain by killing the entire kingdom at once painlessly, but now humans are suffering from the war, so she asked for Femud’s help. Femud attempted to assassinate her with a solar weapon, but was killed by the dragon Borgius, disguised as Femud’s royal advisor. Ultimatia manipulated time to restore Femud to a living state. His spirit completely broken, Femud agreed to help Ultimatia kill his entire kingdom painlessly, starting with evacuating them all to Capital City.
5	"Wing" Transliteration: "Hane" (Japanese: 羽)	Yamato Oouchi	Deko Akao	Kazuaki Mouri	October 29, 2023 (2023-10-29)
Ultimatia is worried by the deaths of Monarchs Grymwelte, Disas and Temruogtaf by unknown killers, along with the death of Monarch Dornea at the hands of Femud’s daughter, Princess Starlia. She sends Monarchs Taratectra and Olto Zora to kill Starlia and Monarch Woltekamui to investigate the other deaths. Ragna dreams a Future-Ragna memory where he was captured by the Monarchs. Ultimatia was so impressed by him she began transforming him into a Monarch, revealing all Monarchs were once humans. Ragna awakens disgusted by Ultimatia pretending her massacres were a kindness to humans. Despite her being the strongest living dragon Crimson decides it is vital she die next as they head to Capital City. Ragna discovers without Leonica he actually suffers from a fear or crowds. Crimson is confused; the city should be overflowing with 2 million refugees yet it is barely half full, meaning the Monarchs have already begun killing humans in large numbers, using an unknown method that doesn’t draw attention. Crimson visits Golem, his servant who infiltrated the army as Colonel Rowan, and the shapeshifter Chimera, to inform them Ragna will attempt to assassinate Ultimatia. Ragna witnesses the army parading dragon corpses as proof they are winning the war, but he knows this is propaganda to keep the citizens pacified. He suddenly encounters Ultimatia in the crowd disguised as a human.
6	"Reunion" Transliteration: "Saikai" (Japanese: 再会)	Shintarou Itoga	Deko Akao	Koichi Ohata	November 5, 2023 (2023-11-05)
Golem shows Crimson footage of Ultimatia reviving King Femud with Time Control magic. Ragna freezes with indecision as Ultimatia has a human child with her. Woltekamui locates the hunters and demands to know who helped them kill Disas. Ultimatia claims to be helping the child find his missing parents. They are interrupted by Monarch Nebulim, allowing Ragna to slip away. Crimson identifies a weakness with Ultimatia’s magic; in order to rewind Femud’s death she had to stop pausing time around herself. This means if they kill her and she rewinds her death she will be stuck in that moment repeatedly until her magic runs out and her death becomes permanent. Ragna cannot reconcile his desire to kill Ultimatia with his tactical decision to run away and disappears into the city. Slime reports Ragna’s disappearance to Crimson. Spying on Ultimatia Ragna learns it is Nebulim killing the citizens using a barrier; anyone inside the barrier painlessly disappears from existence without a trace. He is enraged Ultimatia only helped the child find his parents because she thought it a kindness they at least die together. Despite Crimson’s orders Ragna attacks and kills Nebulim and Ultimatia. Ultimatia manages to reverse her death but Ragna begins killing her over and over again, leaving her no time to counterattack as she tries desperately to revive herself multiple times.
7	"Act and Guilt" Transliteration: "Sakui to Kashaku" (Japanese: 作為と呵責)	Ken Takahashi Masamune Hirata	Deko Akao	Hiroaki Yoshikawa	November 12, 2023 (2023-11-12)
Future-Ragna rejected the Monarch transformation by stabbing himself with his own sword. After the Monarchs left Future-Crimson retrieved the body, intending to revive him. In the present Crimson is furious Ragna disobeyed him but decides all he can do is watch what happens. Borgius attempts to assist Ultimatia but is prevented by Chimera with a sniper rifle. Slime devours a recovering Nebulim to stop him interfering. Fearing death Ultimatia activates an emergency spell and Ragna finds himself sent back in time to before their battle even began, when the army paraded the dragon corpses. Frozen in that moment with Ragna unable to move Ultimatia still decides to kill him kindly, yet hesitates from fear when she sees Ragna begin to move despite time being frozen. She orders Femud to target Ragna with his solar weapon but Ragna begins moving normally, which should only be possible for a Monarch she created. She panics as Ragna rushes at her, but he abruptly collapses from overusing his powers. Femud fires the weapon at the helpless Ragna, yet it has no effect as Crimson protects him. Crimson is disappointed at Ragna’s failure and must quickly decide what to do next.
8	"A Painful Blow" Transliteration: "Itamashī Dageki" (Japanese: 痛ましい打撃)	Yuusuke Sekine Shin Oonuma	Deko Akao	Akira Nishimori	November 19, 2023 (2023-11-19)
Crimson realises Ultimatia is experiencing fear for the first time, making her vulnerable. To unbalance her further he sets off bombs around the city, bringing death and pain to thousands. Ultimatia breaks down as Nebulim prevents her rewinding so many deaths, lest her magic run out. Crimson retrieves Ragna and retreats into his Globe Chamber, a spatial gateway between dimensions, planning to retreat to the moon for a few years. Nebulim, cursing his weakness when he is supposedly the Monarch with the highest potential, abruptly matures in power. Dreaming of Leonica, Ragna awakens and activates Silverine Battle Arts. Crimson panics as the silverine cracks the Globe Chamber, allowing Nebulim to sense their presence. His plan ruined, Crimson remembers a woman from his past just as the Globe implodes, randomly teleporting him and Ragna to a Lese army base commanded by Princess Starlia. Born without arms she possesses eyes that detect all aura, and with powerful telekinesis she controls prosthetic silverine arms and weapons. At only 16 she commands the Argentum Dragon Slayers and killed Monarch Dornea by herself. Crimson loathes her as her eyes make lying to her impossible. He knows Argentum are planning to escape from Lese so it will be safer if he and Ragna go with them. Unfortunately, that means he must somehow deceive Starlia without letting his emotional aura expose his lies.
9	"Negotiation and True Nature" Transliteration: "Kōshō to honshō" (Japanese: 交渉と本性)	Masamune Hirata	Deko Akao	Masamune Hirata	November 26, 2023 (2023-11-26)
Crimson claims to be a magician working in Capital City. Expertly controlling his aura he claims he and Ragna were caught in an explosion while teleporting away from a dragon attack and teleported to the army base by accident. However, Starlia reveals her eyes can also detect personality, so while Crimson’s aura seems honest, his personality screams darkness and murder, so she decides to execute him. Ragna saves him at the last second and Starlia, with her unusual senses, perceives Ragna as the perfect fusion of human, silverine sword, and strength; in short, her ideal man. Overcome with maidenly embarrassment Starlia is speechless in Ragna’s presence and imprisons them while she decides what to do next. After a short, vicious argument with Ragna about the failed attack on Ultimatia, Crimson reveals the base is in considerable danger. Starlia’s soldiers gossip about Ragna defeating Garm, Starlia’s general and greatest swordsman in Lese, and Starlia’s first crush on a man. Starlia’s maid, Nazarena, is glad Starlia is in love but also reminds her they are currently at war and she has responsibilities. Ultimatia has a nightmare of the Dragon God being disappointed with her, further inflaming her fear and uncertainty.
10	"Stakes and Cooperation" Transliteration: "Rigai to Kyōtō" (Japanese: 利害と共闘)	Unknown	Unknown	TBA	December 3, 2023 (2023-12-03)
Due to their situation Starlia decides their only option is to flee the kingdom with the 1500 citizens taking refuge at the base, once the teleportation circle is ready. Crimson points out the flaws in this plan and offers to let Starlia borrow Ragna as a weapon against Monarch Olto-Zora, whose blood can exude a variety of chemicals for instant death, fear, or hypnosis. Starlia tries to refuse due to her suspicions of Crimson, but she is helpless against Ragna and reluctantly agrees, though it makes her seem like a lovesick tsundere in front of her soldiers. Ultimatia begins to lose her time manipulation powers and believes the Dragon God is punishing her. Woltekamui claims it is actually her own doing; she is so convinced Ragna will kill her she has already surrendered, mentally speaking, and is just waiting to die without resisting. Professing his perverse and eternal love for her, Woltekamui undermines her devotion to their mission of merciful death, forcing her to admit her deep, personal hatred of Ragna. She orders Woltekamui to kill Ragna by any means so she won’t be afraid anymore. Nebulim is jealous Woltekamui has gotten closer to Ultimatia’s heart. Woltekamui excitedly remembers the final words of the hunters who helped kill Disas; the Reaper will kill you all.
11	"Tactics and Knowledge" Transliteration: "Senjutsu to Chishiki" (Japanese: 戦術と知識)	Unknown	Unknown	TBA	December 10, 2023 (2023-12-10)
Ragna begins infusing his power into the soldiers weapons; though he is confused many challenge him to duels, including stubborn commander Shin, convinced he is an unworthy match for Starlia. Twin commanders Greya and Hesela like Ragna, but when Slime makes fun of their part dragon blood they reveal their dark personalities twisted by years of childhood abuse as circus freaks, and subject Slime to violent, disturbing tortures. Fu, a Thaumaturge magician, and his team cannot create a magic circle capable of teleporting 1800 people as the circle design is far too complex and lacks a sufficient power source. Fu considers deserting to save himself but is forced to stay when Crimson detects his intentions and mockingly offers to help design a functional circle. Olto-Zora and Taratectra appear to have their own agenda regarding the other Monarchs. Ultimatia reconsiders and instead orders Woltekamui to bodyguard her alongside Nebulim instead of hunting Ragna, disappointing him. As Ultimatia is powerless Olto-Zora sends Borgius and 40,000 dragons to finish killing the humans by devouring them. Olto-Zora and Taratectra take over hunting Ragna but grudgingly agree to include Woltekamui if they discover Ragna is working with the Argentum Dragon Slayers.
12	"Determination and Readiness" Transliteration: "Ketsui to Junbi" (Japanese: 決意と準備)	Unknown	Unknown	TBA	December 17, 2023 (2023-12-17)
Crimson and Ragna agree Ragna would lose against Woltekamui, so Crimson forbids Ragna using his powers against Taratectra and Olto Zora, since exposing his presence will definitely cause Woltekamui to join the fight. Slime returns traumatised from his punishment, so Crimson erases his memory. Crimson tells Ragna to infuse his remaining power into a single sword, which shouldn’t attract Woltekamui’s attention. Starlia gives Ragna one of her own swords and informs him once the civilians are teleported to Solaria she will bargain for their safety by joining the Solarian Church as a Dragon Scourge, but if she dies she asks Ragna to do it instead. Ragna provokes her into rejecting any idea she might die, infuses three of her swords and swears to help her survive. Despite feeling humiliated Starlia loves him even more and is determined to become worthy of him. Olto Zora slaughters many humans. Due to his extreme old age Borgius knows he will die soon anyway, so he volunteers to use all the human blood to temporarily regenerate his body for one last suicide attack. 10,000 dragons attack the base and Ragna begins to duel Taratectra.

Further reading

• Jones, Grant (February 23, 2021). "Ragna Crimson GN 1 - Review". Anime News Network.

External links

• Ragna Crimson official manga website at Square Enix (in Japanese)
• Ragna Crimson official anime website (in Japanese)
• Ragna Crimson at Anime News Network's encyclopedia