is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masanori Katakura. The manga began its run in 2000 and was serialized in Monthly Shōnen Jump until 2007. The series was transferred to Jump Square website in 2007 and finished in 2011. Shueisha collected its chapters into eighteen tankōbon volumes. In North America, Viz Media licensed the series for English release in 2007. Viz stopped the series publication after the release of fourteen volumes. Plot Ten years prior to the story's beginning, Kurohime brought an end to a massive war fought to own and rebuild the Tower of the Gods, which once completed would allow the builder to become a god themselves. Upon completion, Kurohime destroyed the tower and entered the realm of the gods to slaughter them, as they were the ones who started the war in the first place. Through a combination of deception and brutality, the gods captured and split her into two beings, one representing her rage, and the other representing her compassion. The being representing her rage, in a form of a small girl named 'Himeko', seeks to regain her body and powers, and attempt to take down the gods again; however, the curse can only be undone with love. Throughout the course of the manga, Kurohime is able to regain her ability to love through her relationship with Zero, causing her to evolve into different incarnations throughout the various story arcs. Characters Protagonists Kurohime is the most powerful witch-gunslinger in the world; such as the ability to summon and control a wide variety of dragons. Ten years ago, she challenged the gods and failed, and was split into two beings as punishment, one representing her rage, and the other representing her compassion. The form representing her rage, appearing as a child named 'Himeko', seeks to regain her appearance and powers, which can only be done through the power of love. This becomes difficult as Kurohime has become cruel and vain, responding to feelings from most men by using them to further her own goals. is Kurohime's childlike form, between the ages of 8 and 10. Her ability to feel love stripped away, following her split at the gods' hands, Shirohime forced Kurohime into a more harmless form, under the condition that she can only change back when she feels love. Greedy and self-centered, Himeko also lacks the power of Kurohime and originally considers Zero to