The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 4 Ending Explained: What Happened to Makina and Who’s The Real Villain?

With Raphtalia’s triumphant win, The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 4 has officially wrapped up. What many of us thought was the “big bad” turned out to be more of a distraction, as Makina was never truly the central focus of this arc. Additionally, a few more unexpected things occurred.

But where does the story go from here? Season 5 production has already been confirmed, and this season’s finale also teased new lands, looming threats, and plenty of unfinished business that Naofumi’s party still has to face. But, which path will Raphtalia take moving forward?

The Real Threat in the Finale Wasn’t Even Makina; It Was Shildina!

The big showdown in this season was truly saved for the last. Although many thought it would be Makina who would appear as the final boss, she was quickly defeated. The spirit of the former Heavenly Emperor (who had taken over Shildina’s body) killed her.

Surprisingly, it seemed Makina’s soul transformed into a large, menacing shadow after her death. And this shadow resembled a lot like the souls of Kyo and other reincarnated individuals. It indicates her threat isn’t completely over yet, despite her apparent demise. 

Anyway, the spirit that used Shildina as a vessel then confronted Raphtalia to test her worthiness for the throne. At the end, the Raphtalia vs the Former Emperor fight turned out to be the real deal.

Raphtalia went all out during the battle. She pushed herself to the limit, using every skill and bit of strength she had learned along the way. And finally, she was able to cut through the Emperor’s illusions and elemental powers, claiming a hard-earned victory.

But the fight wasn’t just about proving who was stronger or how far Raphtalia had come. As a result of this crucial victory, Raphtalia stepped up and became the new Empress of Q’Teno Lo, bringing down the old order and changing everything for her people.

Shildina was also freed from possession, and the throne finally shifted hands after a long reign by the former. However, soon after, there was another wild twist. It seemed like Motoyasu actually killed Malty. But whether her soul was truly destroyed or not wasn’t clearly shown.

The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 4 Episode 12 Teased Us For What’s Next

Although Raphtalia has now become the new Empress of Q’Teno Lo, her fate is not necessarily sealed to this nation. Many are now wondering whether she will continue adventuring with Naofumi or focus on ruling as the new Empress. But what if she can do both?

The ending scene of The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 4 Episode 12 also teased plenty of new challenges. A desert location seems to be the next setting. Well, that’ll be a whole new environment to experience for both fans and the characters alike, also likely bringing fresh dangers for our heroes.

And that’s only the beginning. Even bigger threats are still looming, such as the Phoenix and other Guardian Beasts that were teased as well. Plus, more waves of external conflicts could shake things up even further, keeping Raphtalia and Naofumi on their toes.

So, all in all, The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 4 finale did leave us with many questions, like how Raphtalia can juggle her new role as Empress while still adventuring with Naofumi. But the tease for the desert region, the Guardian Beast, and more promise that the journey is far from over.

The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 4 is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.

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