Volume 17's main twist is the Argonaut revelation, but structurally, the book does something brilliant by making the twist the entire book's narrative engine. The first half is Bell in the present, the second is the ancient tale, and the final section merges them. It’s less a sudden ‘gotcha’ and more a slow, deliberate unveiling that rewrites series history. The reveal that Bell’s ‘Liaris Freese’ skill—the one that grows with his feelings—is a direct echo of Argonaut’s own drive is the real mind-bender. It wasn’t just a random blessing; it was a familial inheritance waiting to be awakened.
Beyond the lineage, the volume firmly establishes the OEBD as the ultimate antagonist. The stakes become cosmically higher, moving beyond Orario’s dungeon politics. It’s a necessary pivot for the series’ final arc, but it does change the tone significantly.
That twist hit me out of nowhere. I was expecting another dungeon crawl, and then bam—ancestry reveal. The whole Argonaut thing felt a little... convenient? Like, Bell’s always been the underdog, and suddenly he’s got heroic blood. It kinda undercuts the ‘ordinary boy becomes hero’ theme for me. I much preferred the smaller, character-driven twist with Wiene and the Xenos earlier in the series.
Still, the execution was solid. The flashback chapters showing the original, flawed Argonaut were genuinely good. It gave the legend a human face. I just wish it hadn’t pivoted the whole series into a ‘chosen one’ narrative so hard. Makes you wonder how much agency Bell really has left.
Alright, so volume 17, 'The Argonaut' from 'DanMachi', is a massive turning point. Bell Cranel finally learns the truth about his own lineage and the hero he's been unconsciously emulating. The big reveal is that the hero Argonaut—who the story's been treating as this ancient legend—was actually Bell's direct ancestor, and his heroic feats were the real inspiration for Bell's own fighting style and values. It completely re-contextualizes everything about Bell's journey. The volume also dives deep into the origin of the Hestia Familia's name and their connection to the ancient myth. The emotional payoff when Bell realizes he's been walking a path laid down by his own bloodline is huge, shifting his motivation from just being a hero to living up to a legacy.
It's not just a lore dump, though. The plot twist massively accelerates the power dynamic with the OEBD (One-Eyed Black Dragon) and sets up the endgame. Bell's growth isn't just skill-based anymore; it's about embracing a destiny he never knew he had. The way Omori-sensei wove the flashback of the original Argonaut's story with Bell's present-day struggles is a masterstroke of pacing. Honestly, it made me re-evaluate all the previous volumes in a new light.
Man, that volume blew my mind. Bell being Argonaut's descendant explained so much—his ridiculous growth speed, his obsession with heroes. The flashback arc was beautifully tragic, showing Argonaut's failures, which makes Bell's journey feel even more earned. It completely reframes the entire series. Best twist since the Xenos reveal.
2026-07-12 02:09:21
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Man, Volume 17 really pits Bell against the Dungeon itself in a new, horrifying way. The main conflict isn't a straightforward boss fight; it's the entire lower floors revolting. The Juggernaut's rampage creates this relentless pressure where survival becomes the only goal. It’s Bell and Ryu trapped in a nightmare scenario, forced to rely on each other’s dwindiling strength against an enemy that adapts and evolves.
What makes it hit different is how personal it gets. It’s less about saving Orario and more about the raw, desperate will to protect the person next to you. The Dungeon feels like a character with pure malice, and the conflict strips everything back to just endurance and hope.
I just finished the book last night and wow, the Frieza Familia thing is way more intense than I expected. Bell basically gets forced into this insane wargame where if he loses, the entire Hestia Familia gets dissolved. The author really cranked up the stakes this time.
What got me was the twist with the Frieza captain, Dix Perdix. He’s not just some power-hungry jerk; his whole motivation is tied to some ancient grudge against the gods for abandoning the lower world. It reframes the conflict from a simple bully scenario to this ideological clash. Bell’s whole ‘hero’ shtick gets tested in a different way—it’s not just about beating a stronger enemy, but confronting a completely different philosophy on what adventurers even are.
Also, Welf’s magic sword development took a surprising turn. I won’t spoil the details, but it sets up some massive potential for the upcoming dungeon dive.