Psyren

Psyren
File:Psyren vol2.jpg Volume 2 cover
Genre	Action, Supernatural
Manga
Written by	Toshiaki Iwashiro
Published by	Shueisha
Magazine	Weekly Shōnen Jump
Demographic	Shōnen
Original run	December 2007 – present
Volumes	3

Psyren (PSYЯEN－サイレン－, Sairen) is an ongoing supernatural manga series by Toshiaki Iwashiro. It has been serialized in Japan by Shueisha in the manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump since the 3 December 2007 issue, with serial chapters collected in three bound volumes as of October 2008. The series is about the adventures of a high school student, Ageha Yoshina, who learns to develop his psychic abilities after being transported to a world named Psyren.

Synopsis

One day while heading home, Ageha Yoshina finds a public pay phone ringing by itself. He picks it up, receiving no answer except a calling card with the word "Psyren" printed on it. After Sakurako Amamiya, a girl in Yoshina's class, disappears after mentioning "Psyren", Ageha uses the calling card in hopes of finding the whereabouts of his classmate, despite being warned not to get involved. After answering a long and detailed quiz on a pay phone, he is asked if he wants to go to Psyren. Furiously pressing "no," he storms away. The next day, two men manage to find out about Ageha and his Psyren card. While being chased, he receives a call which gets louder and louder by the second. As he answers the phone, he is immediately drawn into the world of Psyren. A world which is inhabited by monsters called Tavoo. A world where players must fight to survive using the powers of PSI.

Characters

"The Resistance"

Nemesis Q (ネメシスQ, Nemeshisu Q)

Nemesis is a PSI-program with basic intelligence and individuality sent back from the future to select among the people those worthy of using PSI; to teach them about the future and discover the truth to stop Psyren from occurring. The creator of "Q" mentioned that his body could not withstand the time-travel transfer so he sent a program to do it for him. His creator also embedded another order in Q, to kill those who divulge info about Psyren to protect the creator of being caught.

Ageha Yoshina (夜科 アゲハ, Yoshina Ageha)

A high-schooler who offers to take care of anyone's problems for the price of 10,000 yen. He is first transported to Psyren after he uses the calling card to find out more about the whereabouts of his classmate, Sakurako Amamiya. Once in Psyren, Ageha has to pair up with Amamiya and Hiryū Asaga to get back to Earth. After narrowly defeating the cyborg Alfred, Ageha and the other survivors return to Earth. Ageha, along with Asaga, begin to train under Amamiya and Matsuri to master their abilities. Ageha's initial PSI power was fueled almost entirely by emotion, an unusual occurrence, and manifested as a massively destructive blast of pure psychic energy. During his second trip to Psyren, Ageha's power manifested as a massive black sphere that nearly destroyed his mind and almost turned his body to ash. This power was later identified as "Melchsee's Door", an extremely rare ability that creates a highly concentrated ball of pure burst energy. This ability seeks out any PSI energy in the area and completely eradicates it; it also obliterates any physical matter it touches. Initially Ageha has no control over his ability. Later, hoping to control his power, Ageha learns the PSI abilities 'Burst Stream' and 'Programming' from the children at Elmore Wood. With these abilities Ageha refines 'Melchsee's Door' by first compacting the sphere to make it more controllable and then programming it with preset commands before initiating his attack. In this new state his ability is shown to be a very powerful and deadly weapon. Ageha seems to have a crush on Sakurako Amamiya, as he gets furious and beats up Kabuto Kirisaki every time he flirts with her.

Sakurako Amamiya (雨宮 桜子, Amamiya Sakurako)

A girl in Yoshina's class who used to be bright and lively but was nicknamed "The Ice Princess" after she became cold and hard-hearted. Yoshina suspects that Psyren may be the cause for Amamiya's change. Once in Psyren, she comes down with a sickness that immobilizes her. This forces Yoshina and Asaga to take care of her. Amamiya seems to know more about Psyren then the other humans that are trapped there and this is due to her relationship with Matsuri. She seems specialize in weapons as she always takes one to Psyren when called. Her PSI abilities are excellent and well-spread over the three forms. Her Burst is over satisfactory; she is extremely proficient in Rise; her Trance is strong enough that it is able to create a scythe in her Mind Jack: Insanity Size. She also has some skill at creating illusions to deceive her opponents. Amamiya might have a crush on Ageha, which developed upon the first return to Psyren. She enjoys Matsuri's music and opens her eyes wide when she's angry. Her relationship with her parents is non existent.

Hiryū Asaga (朝河 飛龍, Asaga Hiryū)

"Dragon" Asaga is a tough guy who says that he came to Psyren in search of a friend. He agrees to help out Amamiya for Yoshina. After their safe return to earth, he comforts Yoshina about Amamiya being taken by an unknown friend and reveals himself to be Asaga Hiryū, Ageha's former classmate from elementary school who used to be a crybaby (who Ageha used to pick on; humorously, Asaga got his revenge by remarking how short Ageha was compared to him). He displays more proficiency with PSI than Ageha, learning to use his abilities and controlling it faster, though that may be because Ageha's Melchsee's Door is a more advanced technique. Asaga's PSI ability resembles the tail of a Dragon in its Burst state fitting his nickname. Recently he has advanced his PSI ability as he is now able to create the wings of a Dragon that can whip up huge gales.

File:Psyren-char.jpg

Left to right: Oboro Mochizuki, Sakurako Amamiya, Ageha Yoshina, Hiryū Asaga, Kabuto Kirisaki

Oboro Mochizuki (望月 朧, Mochizuki Oboro)

An idol in the present, Oboro received a call card and tried to tell the nation about it on a local talk show but was silenced by Nemesis Q and almost killed. He was summoned to Psyren during the second mission. There, he decides to make a break for the exit despite the fact the route through the Danger Zone. A large number of new drifters (in fact, all of them except Kabuto) followed him only to be attacked by a giant worm. Ageha saved him from the worm; Oboro's first encounter with PSI. He was infected with the Psyren diesease soon after, comically hugging Ageha when he came to help. Once he recovered, he came up with the plan for the group to steal Tatsuo's mask to repel the worm Tavoo, but was left behind to watch the sick Kabuto. Intending to join the action regardless, he followed after, though he arrived after the battle with Tatsuo was over. He heals Ageha and Asaga with his newfound ability, Cure, which works best when he hugs the person. After returning to the present, he joins Matsuri's training session, completing it without problem. During his second trip to Psyren, he ends up defending Asaga from a Tavoo. He saves Asaga by using his abilities on the Tavoo itself, claiming that he wanted to save the souls locked away within. At this point, Asaga thinks to himself that Oboro wasn't trying to save the people within. Rather, he wanted to see what would happen if it did it. Asaga compares him to being a child.

Oboro is ambitious, and his ability has been commented about by various characters, as well as proven by the speed he learns PSI compared to Ageha and Asaga. He often switches between acting like an adult and acting like a child, whining when he doesn't get his way. His PSI is "Cure", which allows him to share "rise" ability with who he's healing by using a form of "burst". He is currently the fastest when using rise. He seems to have taken a liking to Ageha, stating that if Ageha got hurt, he would "hug him anytime".

Kabuto Kirisaki (霧崎 カブト, Kirisaki Kabuto)

A local playboy who seems to spend his time hitting on attractive women. Once, when he was caught, he fell to his knees and beged for mercy, giving various excuses for his actions such as 'never feeling loved before' and that he lost both his parents (although this seems true) before recalling his words as a joke and escaping again. Kabuto has an incredible eyesight as he is able to see his uncle's cabin, in the mountains, all the way from the top of a roof in the city. Kabuto goes to Psyren to try to make his fortune and of the new arrivals during the group's second tip to Psyren, he was the only one who listened to Amamiya's instructions, though that is probably due to his affections for her.

Dholaki mentioned that Kabuto holds the power of precognition. He was able to pre-empt an attack from Dholaki, and adjusted his position to avoid it. This is proven during the story when Kabuto states he can see the "threat of death". Dholaki calls this PSI ability "Menace", and it can only be achieved by those with exceedingly strong Trance, and strong sense, which is a type of Rise. Unfortunately, because Kabuto neglected his rise training, he is unable to physically keep up with his visions well.

Matsuri Yagumo (八雲 祭, Yagumo Matsuri)

A famous concert pianist and veteran Psyren drifter, she was the one who taught Amamiya all about Psyren. Because her card's value is already at zero, she cannot help the main characters and instead acts in a mentor role. She is a talented pianist, though she drinks a lot and drives a motorcycle. When Ageha and Asaga first met her, she was drunk and responding to a call for assistance from Amamiya. She reacts playfully in regards to her friend Ian's crush on her.

Tatsuo Mana (真名 辰夫, Mana Tatsuo)

A friend of Asaga's who was always sickly with a hereditary disease. As he stayed sick he grew angry with the outside world, he went to Psyren and offered Asaga a card but he refused. In Psyren, a figure wearing a mask appears, holding a rifle that uses his PSI energy. He strongly resembles Tatsuo and after killing all but the five survivors, takes his aim at them and destroys part of the building. Amamiya says he's a Burst User and he also uses Rise to fight her physically. After using Trance, Amamiya realizes that Tatsuo was transformed into a Tavoo by having an orb implanted into him. Tatsuo regains his mind after being hit by Ageha's, however his core remains because it is integrated to his body. Because he does not have his card, he stays in Psyren, revealing that he will die when his core runs out of energy, but will look for a way around this. He describes his time as a Tavoo as being trapped in someone else's body, and regrets all the killing he did.

Elmore Tenjuin (天樹院エルモア, Tenjuin Erumoa)

An old woman, clairvoyant Psychicer in current Japan who is trying to unlock the secrets of Psyren and save Japan from its intended future. She is offering 500 million yen to whoever can figure out Psyren. With her ability to see into the future called Millenium Kaleidoscope, she has seen what Japan will eventually become through the window in her meditation room. Her husband Koper was a Psyren drifter who could read minds. Together, the two of them became wealthy and famous for their fortune-telling ability. After retiring, the couple began taking in gifted orphan children and helping them train their PSI abilities. One year ago, however, Koper turned into ash right before Elmore's eyes when he was about to tell her something (seemingly he was going to reveal secrets to her about Psyren). Before he died, Elmore was able to see into Koper's mind and saw Psyren's calling card, Nemesis Q, and the horrible state Japan would be in. Her husband dead, Tenjuin Elmore is still PSI-training orphans in her home, known as Elmore Wood. These talented children include Frederica (who uses pyrokinesis), Marie (who uses Telekinesis), Shao (who is able to track people), Kyle (who uses Rise-orientated abilities), and Van (who uses Healing abilities).

W.I.S.E.

The Council of Elders

The enigmatic leaders of W.I.S.E.

Star Commanders

This group consist of the leaders of W.I.S.E.'s military forces.

Grana (グラナ, Gurana) (Star Commander No. 1)

The leader of the Star Commanders, his recent appearance suggests he is very lazy and forgetful. He has an eye-patch over his right eye.

Junas (ジュナス, Junasu) (Star Commander No. 2)

The third member of W.I.S.E. introduced, he has the appearance of a young teenager and wears a distinctive black helmet with a fin on the crest. He appears to be a swordsman, with the ability to materialize a sword.

Shiner (シャイナ, Shaina) (Star Commander No. 3)

The second member of W.I.S.E. introduced, he arrives after Dholaki is defeated by Ageha, apologizing for being late. His outward appearance is very calm and gentle. He is the head of W.I.S.E.'s PSI Research Division, and is very curious. He takes a special interest in Ageha and his ability. Shiner possesses a PSI ability that allows him to teleport.

Caprico (カプリコ, Kapuriko) (Star Commander No. 4)

The fourth member of W.I.S.E. introduced, she has the appearance of a young girl. She has a distinctive star-shaped scar on her forehead. She appears to the head of W.I.S.E.'s Biological Research Division. It is suggested that she is responsible for the creating of the insect-like Tavoo in Psyren.

Dholaki (ドルキ, Doruki) (Star Commander No. 5)

The first member of W.I.S.E introduced, he has long silvery hair and a wears a long coat with a large collar. His upper face is covered with a bird-like visor similar to that of Nemesis Q. He is seen in Tatsuo's flashback as the man who oversaw the implanting of the orb in Tatsuo's chest. Matsuri briefly met him in the tower during her time in Psyren and was attacked before narrowly escaping. During Ageha's third trip to Psyren, Dholaki is alerted to the drifters' presence and offers to confront them on his own. Dholaki chased after Kabuto and Ageha, and does battle with Ageha and his upgraded "Melchsee's Door", but is defeated. Dholaki possesses a PSI ability that creates massive explosions using burst called "Explosia". He is the head of W.I.S.E.'s Border Security Division.

Others

Kagetora Hyōdō (雹堂 影虎, Kagetora Hyōdō)

Another old friend of Matsuri who is an expert user of Rise-type PSI, claiming to be the best Rise user in all of eastern Japan. Kagetora says that he is always available to die or kill for Matsuri ever since she saved him from a near-deadly hit and run accident with an elderly woman on her way home from the store. (In actuality it was a gunshot wound from a gang fight.) He has proposed to Matsuri 22 times and was turned down every time. His physical appearance is that of a typical gangster with sunglasses, slicked-back hair, and a print button-down shirt. His favorite food is Mont Blanc cake, he loves cats, and he would never harm a woman or child. Kagetora is a Psychicer and does not know any of the details of Psyren. However, he comes to help Matsuri train the new Psyren Drifters in Rise techniques. Recently he is trying to stop a group of PSI user that had been using their power to commit crimes.

Kyotada Inui (犬居清忠, Inui Kyotada)

The leader in an underworld group of thieves in the present time line. He is first shown in his base of operations with several blueprints on a wall surrounding the W.I.S.E. emblem, speaking of the dawn of a new era. Later, Kagetora encounters him after chasing Lan into a building. Kyotada is an odd-looking man with haunting eyes, a bandaged head, and stitches in his face. On his right forearm, he has a tattoo of the kanji for "pain of sickness" 病苦 (Byōku). Kyotada proves to be a sadistic man when encountering his younger brother, Saburō, who he promptly beats upon meeting him at their home. He is a Psychicer with the ability to manipulate shadow.

Lan Shinonome (東雲ラン, Shinonome Ran)

A Psychicer chosen by Kyotada Inui for his unique ability to transport items with his PSI ability called Trick Room. He creates two boxes that are linked by an alternate dimension. Lan then places one box over specific coordinates of an item (for instance, a safe) and then "downloads" the contents into the other box, making a completely untraceable robbery.

Haruhiko (ハルヒコ, Haruhiko)

A　Psychicer with the ability to manipulate electricity, called Shocker. Haruhiko was chosen by Kyotada specifically for his current operations of stealing money from the underworld.

Ian (イアン, Ian)

A superior cure user and old friend of Matsuri with a rather unfriendly personality. He doesn't want others to know about his power because he wants to live his life in peace. Ian has proposed to Matsuri 12 times and shot down every time, but apparently has not given up. He is a born PSI user and thus cannot be told anything related to Psyren, but is willing to wait until Matsuri can tell him, and promised not stick his nose in it. He dislikes Amamiya claiming that, since she showed up, Matsuri doesn't have any time for him.

Alfred (アルフレッド, Arufureddo)

A Tavoo who lives in Psyren, he attacks the group and nearly wipes them all out after pursuing them to the escape point. He has stitches around his limbs, a single glowing eye in his helmet and monstrous strength. His name is written on the plate attached near the base of his neck. He also repeats the phrases 'Agro' and 'Abraham' whether these two phrases mean anything isn't clear. His weapon of choice appears to be a small cross-bow. He was killed by Ageha in his first round of Psyren.

Fubuki Yoshina (夜科 フブキ, Yoshina Fubuki)

The older sister and guardian of Ageha Yoshina age 24. She always gives long lectures but prefers to hit him for the little things like being late and goes as far as tying him up from the ceiling repeatedly. She has a crush on the idol Oboro Mochizuki, who ironically acts a lot like Ageha.

Terminology

Tavoo

A type of creature that can be found in Psyren. They generally resemble a large insect, or a human being. They can be recognized by the light-emitting sphere somewhere on their body, the stitch marks on various places (most visible on the limbs), the human-like arms and hands and their large power. They appear to be permanently hostile, attacking anything but their own kind on sight. In chapter 10, Matsuri suggests that they are somehow related to the state of Japan in the future. Despite their strength, they are easy to defeat by destroying the light-emitting sphere. Doing so will cause them to die within a minute. They first appeared in chapter 2, the first humanoid Tavoo, Alfred, appeared in chapter 3.

PSI

PSI is the ability to manipulate the surroundings using the power of the mind. As Matsuri explains in chapter 11, it works by using the brain's full capacity instead if only a part of it. Since this can cause serious damage, comparable with overheating, humanity evolved a blocker in order to limit the brain's maximum used capacity. Due to something in the air of Psyren, this blocker will be destroyed after the first visit to Psyren, which is accompanied by a continuous nosebleed and a high fever, both of which are gone after a night's sleep. PSI itself is divided into three forms: burst, trance and rise. Burst is used to manipulate the environment (such as telekinesis and pyrokinesis), trance is used to manipulate other people (such as telepathy and illusions) and rise is used to manipulate the user himself (such as increased reflexes and natural healing).There are also two other PSI powers mentioned thus far in the manga. Cure, a form of Burst and Rise together, and Visions, a form of Rise and Trance. It is mentioned that combining emotion with PSI can produce devastating powers and shouldn't be done, such as in Ageha's Melchsee's Door or Frederica's pyrokinesis.

Psyren

Essentially, Psyren is Japan, but in the year 2018, as mentioned by Dholaki. A massive event took place, turning everything into a wasteland without any life other than the Tavoo. Even though most of Japan appears to be completely leveled, there are some buildings left with pay phones which Nemesis Q uses as starting and exit points for the drifters. Psyren appears to be governed by a cult who call themselves "WISE."

WISE

"WISE" is a cult/organization who is the direct cause of Psyren. The members of this group, although only 5 have been shown clearly, all wear long robes and face-concealing masks. They are extremely powerful Psychicers, as hinted in a few pieces of newspapers found in Psyren. They believe they were given their power by God and that they were meant to "reset" the world as we know it. In the present their symbol is seen in the hideout of a group of psychicers who have been stealing from the black markets and one of then has already mention the coming of a new century and that they must eliminate anybody who interfere.

Psychicer

A Psychicer is a blanket term for anyone who are capable of using PSI, but can also specifically refer to people with PSI power who are not Drifters. Psychicers are naturally born with PSI powers, whereas Drifters get their power from breathing in the Psyren atmosphere.

Drifter

Psyren Drifter, shortened as drifter is a person who has made it back from Psyren and are still playing the "game." Once the drifter's card drops to 0 they are no longer sent back to Psyren.

Manga

Main article: List of Psyren chapters

Psyren is written and illustrated by Toshiaki Iwashiro. The series is published in Japan by Shueisha, and has been serialized in the shōnen (aimed at teenage boys) manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump since the 3 December 2007 issue. Publication is ongoing, with serial chapters collected in three tankōbon volumes as of October 2008.

External links

• Official listing at Sueisha Template:Ja icon