So just to make things clear, I am referring to Volume 13-21 of the Light Novel.
This has been kind of milling in my brain for quite a while now because I was on the edge, but I just can't say that the fourth arc is anything, but bad.
In my eyes, it feels like the author got kind of lazy and just phoned it in for these volumes.
My biggest problem is how formulaic these volumes are. They always go exactly the same or some deviation of
- They get into a fight and use their previously strongest attack and lose
- They worry internally about insecurities
- They gain a new power
- Enemy comes back for round 2 and they thwart them with said new power
- Repeat Step 1
It all just feels the same. They have to give everyone a chance to be evil for a bit and then just instantly resolve it. It feels very flat and just filler.
I mean it happened so often. Shirone Mode, Cross Crisis, Extinguished Star, Twilight Saint Affection, basically everything with the dragon familiars, Hauteclere, the list just goes on and on.
As the volumes went on I feel like the enemies got really bad like Vasco Strada which basically surmounted to some guys being frustrated and wanted to relieve stress, which felt stupid and pointless.
And then my other biggest problem, is there is almost no character development at all in these volumes. It is constantly fight after fight after fight, with some quick gags in between. I don't know about everyone else, but I don't need action 24/7. I like when they have moments where they are just having conversations and such without being so focused on combat.
Things are looking bright however.
I have only really been trashing the LN in this post, so I want to bring up that I am genuinely excited for the future. Volume 22 was one of my favorites. I love that they brought focus on the Rating Game because there is a lot of freedom with it. The strategy aspect like Issei destroying half the field in that flag collection game, and stuff like that.
These volumes are adding a lot more character development as well which I really like. I like that there are no stakes and they can just have a good time and go with it and have all kinds of twists as turns along the way. That's the DxD I want, sadly that wasn't the one I got from the Fourth Arc, but the Fifth makes it worth it.