Pluck for Tomorrow and the Successor (story arc)

Pluck for Tomorrow and the Successor (あしたの勇気・うけ継ぐ者) is the eighth story arc in Phantom Blood.

Summary
Ending up in the Lair of the Two Headed Dragon, a training room from his past, Tarkus gloats to Jonathan about many poor souls met their deaths by his hand here. He explains that they are to fight in a Chain Neck Deathmatch where the winner is the one who uses the key of his deceased opponent to take the collar off. Tarkus charges Jonathan while simultaneously pulling on the massive chain to hold Jonathan to the ceiling. Jonathan tries to send a surge of Ripple through the chain towards Tarkus, but it proves ineffective due to both ceiling hampering the flow and being choked by Tarkus.

From outside the door, Speedwagon sees a lever inside which he suspects will open the steel door. When Speedwagon notices a window small enough for Poco to fit through, Zeppeli refuses to endanger the boy should Tarkus notice him. But Poco, motivated by a memory of his sister telling him to be brave, overcomes his nerves and enters the grounds. Coming out on the other side, Jonathan tells Poco to look out as Tarkus charges at Poco and kicks him across the room. Luckily, Poco lands near the lever and lays on it to open the steel door.

As Speedwagon tends to Poco, Zeppeli realizes that he has entered the place that his master Tonpetty foretold he would die in. Regardless, Zeppeli realizes what he must do to assist Jonathan and accepts his impending fate to "release a young lion into his future". Zeppeli tries to fight Tarkus, but the Zombie binds him with the chain and yanks so violently to tear the Ripple master's torso from his legs while snapping Jonathan's neck. Tarkus gloats over his victory until noticing Zeppeli are still clinging to life as he uses his "Ultimate Deep Pass Overdrive" to transfer all his remaining Ripple into Jonathan's body. Reinvigorated as a result, strong enough to shatter his collar, Jonathan easily defeats Tarkus.

Jonathan holds the dying Zeppeli in his arms, told by his mentor that he was a great friend and that he will lives on through his student before expiring. Soon after, Jonathan and Speedwagon cremate Zeppeli's body.

Chapters

 * 033. Pluck for Tomorrow and the Successor (1)
 * 034. Pluck for Tomorrow and the Successor (2)
 * 035. Pluck for Tomorrow and the Successor (3)

Volumes

 * 04. Chamber of the Two-Headed Dragon

Anime Episodes

 * 06. Tomorrow's Courage
 * 07. Successor