Above all else, Kingdom is profoundly focused on the themes I've mentioned from before. The very first arc is one of the more straightforward and not as complicated, unlike all the others the reader will come across during the journey. This one, in particular, is about overthrowing someone unfit of the throne of the state of Qin. From the underlying issues to all the consequences that follow, everything will be provided, so no one is reading blindly without a clear understanding of the situation. Moreover, it's done in such a way that it's both tasteful and comfortable to digest. Then whenever the threat is dealt with, you'll learn that there is someone more significant operating behind the shadows. A political struggle that has been going on for a very long time now. It's merely engaging to watch these two-party fight it all out with mind games. Trying to outwit one another with some of the most brilliant and believable tactics I have come across. I can't have enough, and whoever decides to dive into Kingdom will most likely feel the same. This battle is not something you will witness once during a specific set of chapters. More of something that has weights and value that follows through with you. Until the last segment of the struggle.

Of course, it additionally happens to have one of the most complex and dense world-building to date I have seen. During the rebellion period, when our characters are trying to get into the capital of Qin "Kantan," you'll learn about the world as the journey continues. Of the mountain people who were born outside of the ordinary and wealthy ones. You get to feel their culture and see what kinds of characters they are. Learn part of their history and also what makes them secluded from the one who is living in the exterior part of the state. This is still one of the starting phases, so you can expect to see some good and even more remarkable set of world-building and culture segments as you continue with the journey.

As previously implied: to gain the ranks of a "Great General," one has to not only make earth-shattering changes that shake the hole China to its core like killing someone else with that title or many enemies as possible. Soldiers also have to rack up precious accomplishment during the war that causes these changes to have a meaningful impact in the first place. When the seven states go to war against each other, they will, for the most part, try to obliterate the different nations and gain full control ultimately. Most of the ones who are successful, their inhabitants will suffer dire consequences, gruesome torture, rape, pillaging, and slavery and all the nasty in the world people can't even begin to imagine. It does not shy away from gore at all; you will see dead bodies, blood, heads, and even limbs flying. The cruelty shows no mercy to children either. Hara does a terrifyingly great job to show you how far messed up the world was during those days. It's not like this is displayed everytime either, he knows when it's enough. However, once he keeps going, you will see some genuinely horrifying sight. In which case Kingdom is defintely not for everyone. It's listed as a seinen, and it no doubt deserves it; I can with certainty assure everyone of that.

You might've noticed, "war" is another core theme that plays a massive role during the "Era of Warring States." But if it were mere states going at one other trying to pillage and obliterate each other, it would become boring in the long run. This is where "strategy" comes in, which is another vital component, not only to warfare itself but to make the clashes a lot more than just brutal bloodshed. A typical objective could be to overtake one of the smaller cities in a state, which is still undeniably a so-called "stepping stone" for the more magnificent achievement. It could be to turn the town into a stronghold and make preparations for the next strike, chipping tiny pieces at a time until eventually, the whole state falls into an enemy or the allies' hands. Hara does an outright outstanding and impressive job at tastefully explaining his ideas and messages, so you don't get too big of a spoon of information forced at you at once. We even had one arc about establishing a state, and while it's some of the smaller ones. It packed lots of exciting information about the process, the issues that some could across, and much more I wouldn't be able to state unless I want to dip deeper into spoiler territory.

Nevertheless, you can rest assured knowing the authors does an impeccable job in execution, his writing, and art style (more on that soon). There is one arc; in particular, I consider one of my most favorite of all time. It's just about a hundred chapters long but is one of the most thought-provoking and downright excellent story arcs I had the pleasure of reading, and many fellow readers, I feel would agree with that statement. Just like the latter, there is still a bunch of impressive arc waiting to be discovered.