In truth, Gurren Lagann didn't truly embark on its path to deification until the sixteenth episode.
The first half of this episode primarily focused on introducing the changes in the lives of the Dai-Gurren Brigade members seven years after defeating the Spiral King. In the latter half, a new enemy emerged: the Anti-Spiral.
Meanwhile, Koyu, the eldest of the Kano Sisters, gave birth to a child named Anne in the hospital. Nia, who was present at the scene, immediately called the Male Lead, Simon, to inform him of the news.
As they were chatting, the enemy invaded just as the Earth's population reached one million.
The Male Lead hung up and prepared to defend against the attack. Elsewhere, mysterious patterns materialized on Nia's hands before quickly vanishing.
Lushu dispatched the Gura-Pearl team, consisting of Kimi and Dali, to engage the invading enemies, but they were completely outmatched.
Two former members of the Dai-Gurren Brigade said bitterly, "If we still had the Face, those guys would be nothing more than child's play."
Lushu's subordinates immediately refuted this, stating that the Face was a relic of the Spiral King, completely destroyed because it was incompatible with the new era. The Gurren-Pearl, they explained, was a mass-produced machine developed by researching Gurren Lagann and modifying it for combat. If even that couldn't match the enemy, the old Face would stand no chance.
On the battlefield, Dali found herself in danger. Just as she was about to be killed, the Male Lead piloting Gurren Lagann intervened and saved her.
In the Command Center, Lushu watched the scene unfold on the large display. Instead of cheering, he remarked, "It's not the Male Lead's job to be on the front lines."
This time, the Male Lead couldn't hold back: "You fool! Isn't protecting the lives of citizens and the city our most important job? Have you grown soft in times of peace?"
Lushu was annoyed but had no choice but to comply.
The Male Lead piloted his Knightmare Frame into battle against the enemy's machine. After a grueling fight, he finally destroyed the enemy unit, but the resulting explosion devastated the Royal Capital.
Only then did Lushu find a valid reason to complain: "You recklessly counterattacked without even knowing the enemy's true identity, and now you've ruined everything. Your actions were too rash."
Beneath the colossal moon in the sky, Nia's figure reappeared, issuing a declaration to humanity: "We, the Anti-Spiral, have determined that human civilization has reached the second stage of Spiral Power danger. We hereby activate the Human Extermination System."
In episode 17, after her declaration, Nia vanished without a trace.
To unravel the mystery, Lushu awakened the Spiral King's head, which he had somehow obtained from an unknown source.
Meanwhile, the Male Lead, having searched fruitlessly for Nia, stood dejectedly by the riverbank when she reappeared.
However, this Nia was no longer the same. Her personality had vanished, and she had become a messenger for the Anti-Spiral. She told the Male Lead: "The Spiral Race will bring ruin to this universe. To prevent this, we, the Anti-Spiral, exist."
At the same time, the Spiral King explained to Lushu that the Faces were originally created to combat the Anti-Spiral. The reason humanity had been sealed underground was because the Spiral Race had lost the war against them and been forced to retreat to their respective homeworlds.
"After suppressing the Anti-Spirals in this galaxy, we established the Spiral Lifeform Annihilation System on all planets with Spiral Lifeform signatures. If the number of Spiral Lifeforms on the surface exceeds a certain threshold, the system will automatically activate." This is what the Spiral King explained.
He had deliberately sealed all humans underground for this very reason.
As for why he hadn't explained this clearly before, he stated: "Foolish lifeforms driven by the Spiral instinct will relentlessly advance toward the heavens. Neither words nor reason can suppress this urge. Only terror can achieve that."
The rapid technological and societal progress that occurred after humans returned to the surface was also due to the potential of Spiral Lifeforms.
According to both the Spiral King and Nia, in three weeks, the Moon will deviate from its orbit and crash into Earth—the so-called Spiral Lifeform Annihilation System.
Upon learning this, Lushu was deeply shocked and shaken. He quickly realized the gravity of the situation and urged the Spiral King not to reveal it to the public to avoid mass panic. But it was already too late.
Meanwhile, Nia's conversation with the Male Lead, Simon, was being broadcast live on television, and everyone had already seen it.
"To be born as Lordgenome's daughter, despite carrying the Anti-Spiral gene, is a cruel twist of fate. But once I become an activated Anti-Spiral, I can never return to being human."
With these final words, Nia retreated into her Anti-Spiral body and vanished. The Anti-Spiral machine then launched a frenzied assault on the Royal Capital.
The Male Lead personally intervened, battling the Anti-Spiral machine and protecting humanity.
Yet, instead of gratitude, the people of the Royal Capital turned against him, their anger ignited by the belief that he had brought the Anti-Spiral upon them.
"Is this the result of all my fighting?" The Male Lead was deeply shaken.
Lushu attempted to explain, but his efforts were met with futility and even stones thrown by the crowd. Before his subordinates, he declared, "Someone must draw a line here. That's politics."
Consequently, the Male Lead was arrested, and the statue of Big Bro Kamina was toppled by the enraged masses.
Lushu seized the core drill of Lagann. As many rushed to defend Lushu's actions, believing he was protecting the Male Lead, Lushu appeared in court and sentenced him to death. The prosecutor and defense attorney were both Lushu's subordinates, rendering the trial a mockery of justice.
Immediately after the verdict, Nia appeared and spoke briefly to the Male Lead. Then, the enemy machine, "Faceless," emerged and began attacking the ground.
Seizing this opportunity, the Male Lead demanded that Lushu pilot Gurren Lagann to confront the Faceless machines.
Lushu initially feared the Male Lead would flee. He only agreed to let him fight after setting a bomb on Gurren, using it as a condition.
The bomb was planted on the belt of Konon, the second of the Kano Sisters, who had a crush on Lushu. Konon was also responsible for piloting Gurren and joining the Male Lead on the mission.
Fortunately, the Male Lead showed no intention of escaping.
After winning this battle, the Male Lead was imprisoned.
Lushu announced the existence of the Super Dreadnought-class Battleship to the public, declaring that everyone could board it and escape Earth together. This news electrified the populace, instantly propelling Lushu's popularity and public support to their peak.
That same day, Faceless launched another massive assault on the ground. Lushu could only set a deadline, trying to cram as many people onto the battleships as possible, knowing most would have to be left behind.
However, many members of the former Dai-Gurren Brigade chose to stay behind voluntarily. Before the battleship departed, Kotang found Lushu and demanded the Male Lead's core drill.
When the appointed time arrived, the battleship took off without hesitation, leaving Earth behind. But this was nothing more than a trap; all that awaited them was a more powerful assault, and despair.
Meanwhile, Yuko, who had previously left the Royal Capital, returned and rescued the Male Lead from his prison cell.
The Dai-Gurren Brigade was reorganized, their passion reignited. Joined by Viral, who had also been imprisoned, the group stormed into the heavens and entered space.
Just as the battleship carrying Lushu and the others was under relentless attack and about to collapse, the Male Lead and his companions intervened. An incredibly spectacular battle ensued, helping the battleship escape the danger and successfully stabilizing the Moon, restoring it to its original orbit.
After their victory, in the space capsule, the Male Lead met Nia, and they exchanged the following words:
"Destiny cannot be changed."
"What?"
"Since the Earth Human Annihilation System has failed, the Anti-Spiral will enter a state of total war. If they unleash their full power, even you wouldn't be able to win. Their main force will soon arrive in this galaxy to annihilate the awakened Spiral Race."
This was to be expected.
However, the Male Lead was more concerned about something else: "If we win, can you be restored to your original state?"
"To analyze your data, I will be recalled to the Anti-Spiral homeworld. The probability of that happening is infinitesimally close to zero," Nia replied coldly.
Undeterred, the Male Lead optimistically countered, "But it's not zero, right? To me, that's as good as 100%."
At this, Nia's former personality suddenly resurfaced, her face lighting up with anticipation. "Will you come to get me?"
"Of course. Who do you think I am?" the Male Lead answered with unwavering conviction.
Touched, Nia blushed slightly before quickly vanishing before the Male Lead.
At the end of Episode 21, the Male Lead and his companions returned safely to Earth.
"Wait for me, Nia," the Male Lead said, gazing at the sky.
Clearly, the next main plotline would involve rescuing Nia and simultaneously taking on the true final boss, the Anti-Spiral.
Unlike the first fifteen episodes, Episodes 16 through 21 featured an almost explosive density of plot, completely avoiding clichés and proving utterly captivating.
The earlier criticisms of the animation being boring and predictions that the story would become formulaic after the defeat of the Spiral King had vanished. The show's popularity steadily climbed, transforming it from a popular animation into a super-hit. Moreover, its style, so different from Death Note and Lelouch, earned Lin Zhiyan a massive new fanbase.
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