Black Cat: Volume 19: As a Sweeper

by Kentaro Yabuki, 205 pages

Sephiria finds Creed has made a few "modifications" to himself that make him a more formidable opponent than she expected. Slowed down by still more nano-agent cyborg minions, Train finally shows up just in time to interrupt Creed's finishing blow and give Sephiria time to recover. As the two men enter into their final showdown, they each learn how much the other has changed...and how much he has stayed the same.

I like the contrast between Creed's physical development and emotional stagnation and Train's same-as-ever physical prowess but matured nature. Creed has such a hard time understanding which kind of growth is more powerful. But I've a feeling he's going to get schooled in that quite thoroughly by the end of the next (and last) book.

This volume also contains a bonus story showing how Train and Sven first met and became partners.