The episode begins during the massive artificial trash storm created by the Raiders. The giant fake trash beast is moving toward the Border between the Ground and the Sphere (the sky world).
At this point, the Cleaners are exhausted and losing control of the situation.
Meanwhile, the Raiders’ leader, Zodyl, finally reveals his real purpose:
he never intended to fully destroy the Cleaners here.
Instead, he wanted to:
- test the fake trash beast,
- observe the powers of the Watchman-series vital instruments,
- and measure the strength of the Cleaners.
This makes Zodyl even more dangerous because he treats the entire battle like an experiment.
Zodyl’s Threat to Rudo
Before escaping, Zodyl tells Rudo that he plans to collect all of the Watchman-series vital instruments.
This is important because:
- Rudo’s gloves are connected to the Watchman series,
- Amo’s boots are also connected,
- and these items may somehow relate to crossing the Border safely.
This hints that Rudo’s powers are much more important than he realizes.
Noerde’s Final Stand
One of the emotional highlights is Noerde.
After Zodyl leaves, Noerde stays behind alone to stop the Cleaners.
She spreads her electrically charged hair everywhere and releases an enormous amount of power. The electricity paralyzes almost everyone inside the trash beast.
But there is a tragic detail:
- her hair begins burning,
- her body cannot handle the power,
- and it becomes clear she is sacrificing herself for Zodyl’s mission.
This scene shows how loyal she is to him, even though Zodyl barely shows concern for her.
Many fans considered this one of the saddest moments in the arc.
The Border and the Watchman
This is the biggest mystery reveal in the episode.
As the trash beast approaches the Border, something horrifying appears in the darkness:
The Watchman
The Watchman is a gigantic mysterious being that exists between the Ground and the Sphere.
The anime shows:
- massive dark limbs,
- glowing eyes,
- and an overwhelming supernatural presence.
When Noerde sees it, she is terrified.
The creature instantly destroys her.
This confirms that:
- the Border is not just empty space,
- something actively guards it,
- and crossing between worlds is nearly impossible.
Why Is This Reveal So Important?
Earlier in the series, Rudo survived falling from the Sphere.
Episode 22 makes viewers ask:
“How did Rudo survive if the Watchman kills anything crossing the Border?”
Fans noticed that Rudo may have briefly seen the Watchman in Episode 1, but he did not fully remember it.
This suggests:
- Rudo is somehow special,
- his gloves may protect him,
- or the Watchman recognized something inside him.
The anime intentionally keeps this mysterious.