Ep 5. Beyond the Dark Forest

Beyond the Dark Forest is the fifth episode of the first season of the anime show Blood+. The episode starts with Saya and her adoptive family continuing their journey to Europe to find and defeat the Chiropteran queen. They reach a dense forest, known as the Dark Forest, and decide to go through it despite the dangers it holds.

As they venture deeper into the forest, they encounter a group of mysterious children. The children seem to be living alone in the forest, and they warn Saya and her companions to leave as there are dangerous creatures around. Adele, the head of the group, shows interest in Saya and tries to persuade her to stay with them. Saya feels a special connection to the children as she realizes that they are also half-chiropterans like her. That is when she learns that her kind is not just dangerous but also vulnerable.

Meanwhile, Diva, the main antagonist of the show, continues to sing to gather more Chiropteran allies. She also sends one of her twins, Amshel, to intercept Saya and her team. Amshel spots them in the forest and sends his two chiropteran henchmen to attack them. Saya is startled but quickly gets into action with her sword to defend her team. A fierce battle between the two chiropterans and Saya ensues, but she ultimately defeats them.

The team then comes across an abandoned castle and decides to take a break. Hagi, Saya's protector, sends everyone else to find a safe place to rest while he stays back with Saya to explore the castle. Inside the castle, they find a hidden laboratory where they discover documents, and Hagi finds a coffin with a chiropteran asleep inside. Soon after, they are attacked by a group of soldiers who are sent by Amshel to destroy evidence from the laboratory. Saya and Hagi manage to fend them off, but they realize that the documents and the coffin have been destroyed.

In the meantime, Adele, the head of the group of children from earlier, appears at the abandoned castle. She tells Saya that she knows that they are both half-chiropterans and that she wants to help Saya in any way possible. Saya is hesitant to trust Adele but realizes that she might be a valuable ally once she learns more about her. Adele also reveals that the laboratory they found in the castle information about the Chiropteran Queen.

The episode ends with Saya and her team leaving the castle and continuing their journey. Saya is hopeful that Adele and her group can help her find the answers she is seeking about her past and the Chiropteran queen. However, she realizes that the journey ahead of them will be a long and potentially dangerous one.

Beyond the Dark Forest is a thrilling episode of Blood+ that delves deeper into the world of the show and introduces new characters while expanding on existing ones. It also lays the groundwork for future episodes and hints at a larger overall story. The episode mixes action, adventure, and drama in a way that keeps the audience engaged and wanting more.