A part of me feels like Poison Master Gero may have enough properly bride candidates at this point. Sure, the point of Marriage Toxin is for our hero to find his perfect woman. However, considering that at least four of those candidates are in the realm of perfection, maybe it’s time that he gets to choosing who he’s walking down the aisle with. Volume Fourteen of Marriage Toxin makes it seem like even the writers are thinking of doing just that, especially with how things end.

Before we get to that, there’s the current mission to deal with. Gero, Chinatsu, and Mei are acting as a guide for an elderly woman who seeks to defeat her former lover. With her at 90 and him at 88, it would seem like it’s a battle that would end after a mere slap on a bicep. (Or perhaps one of their backs would give away.) But as we see, the former head of the Iron Clan has way, way more spunk within her than we gave her credit for.

Even as Kirito is fighting for his life against Chuto, the fact that old lady Nabs has so much energy living dormant inside of her is pretty amazing. So when she awakens and lays waste to just about every enemy in the vicinity, it’s a scene that’s brimming with impressive tenacity. However, it’s when Nabs goes face to face with Gero and Chinatsu (posing as lover, Gaku) when you see what sort of power she’s still able to wield.

But the real heart in this arc arrives when the real Gaku appears. He’s old, but still strong. Because of that, he and Nabs are able to keep their promise and fight with everything they’ve got. It’s a scene that’s both tragic and beautiful, as these old allies and lovers battle until their souls leave their bodies. It might not be as romantic as Romeo & Juliet, but it’s a lot more badass, that’s for sure!

After this touching moment, we get back to the meat of Marriage Toxin: a date night between Gero and Chinatsu. Granted, it’s a training regimen, but it’s still just the two of them. Things look to end on a high note, until a certain someone rips off their mask and reveals their true nature. Who it is may be familiar to some longtime readers, but it definitely leaves you in suspense as to what happens to Chinatsu.

That’s not the only moment of panic this manga delivers. Gero has a family reunion of sorts, with Mei tagging along. A meal, a talk, and a possible poisoning are showcased with gusto, leading up to Gero speaking his mind and forging his future path. For someone who had a hard time dealing with family (outside of his sister), it’s a nice moment to see him stand up for what he aims to accomplish.

It would’ve been enough for Volume 14 of Marriage Toxin to end there. But they had to go slip in one more cliffhanger to make its readers worried. Now, it feels like it’s getting close to when Gero needs to make a choice, and I am certain writer Joumyaku and artist Mizuki Yoda really want to get to that point too. The question is, will the lords of Shonen Jump allow Marriage Toxin to end on its own terms, or will it force them to stretch it out to infinity? Maybe they need to talk to Eiichiro Oda about that…

Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.