Volume 13

Volume 13 is the thirteenth volume of the manga series, Blue Exorcist (青の祓魔師 Ao no Ekusoshisuto) by Kazue Katō. The front cover features Lucifer, Michael Gedōin, Homare Todo, Lund, and Strom.

Synopsis
Fight hellfire with hellfire!

''The Exwires learn the tragic story of what happened to Izumo's mother, Tamamo, when the Illuminati's mad Professor Gedōin sought her out in order to conduct his insane experiments. Now Izumo has been captured and is next on the professor's list of test subjects. Rin, Yukio, Shiemi, Suguro and Konekomaru head deep into Dream Town Inari to rescue Izumo, but what they find there is a horror none of them ever expected…''

The Story So Far
''Unknown to Rin Okumura, both human and demon blood runs in his veins. In an argument with his foster father, Father Fujimoto, Rin learns that Satan is his true father. Satan suddenly appears and tries to drag Rin down to Gehenna because Rin has inherited his power. Father Fujimoto fights to defend Rin, but dies in the process. Rin decides to become an Exorcist so he can someday defeat Satan and begins studying at the Exorcism Cram School under the instruction of his twin brother Yukio, who is already an Exorcist.''

''Rin and the others succeed in defeating the Impure King, awakened by the former exorcist, Todo. Meanwhile, Yukio fights Todo, and as the battle rages, he senses the same flame in his own eyes as his brother. Afraid, he keeps it a secret.''

''Rin returns to school life at True Cross Academy, but his classmate Godaīn suddenly starts seeing demons during summer break. In fact, reports of such mysterious incidents have been coming in from around the globe. With the Impure Princess returning in Yemen and a man-made Gehenna Gate appearing in Russia.''

''The secret society known as the Illuminati is behind these events. An investigation reveals that the organization has spies within the Knights of the True Cross and one of the spies has infiltrated True Cross Academy.''

''One the day of the True Cross Academy Festival, the identity of the spy operating in the event's shadows is revealed to be Shima! Lucifer, King of Light, and Commander-in-Chief of the Illuminati, appears at the academy to make a declaration of war. Shima captures Izumo and then leaves with members of the Illuminati.''

''Mephisto places Yuki in charge of a rescue team formed around Rin and the other Exwires. They learn of Izumo's whereabouts and head to Inari in her home prefecture of Shimane. Takara summons Izumo's familiar Mike, who tells the group about her past.''

Meanwhile, the Illuminati is preparing to transfer Nine Tails, who currently possesses Izumo's mother, into Izumo herself!!

In the next volume…
''Trapped by Professor Gedoin in the hellish prison beneath Dream Town Inari, the Exwires must fight to survive and rescue Izumo. The more they learn about Professor Gedoin's plans the more they realize the horror they face. Each will need to rely on their own strength, and each other, like never before. But Izumo is determined to meet her fate on her own and save her sister, even if it means her destruction! What will Rin and his friends lose in order to win?''

Foreword
''I love looking at illustrated reference books. Something shocking I learned recently is that the red king crab is related to the hermit crab rather than true crabs.''

Now check out volume 13!

Cast of Characters
Info below retrieved from Viz Media.

Rin Okumura Yukio Okumura Shiemi Moriyama Ryuji Suguro Konekomaru Miwa Kuro Nemu Takara Mephisto Pheles
 * Born of a human mother and Satan, the God of Demons, Rin Okumura has powers he can barely control. After Satan kills Father Fujimoto, Rin's foster father, Rin decides to become an Exorcist so he can someday defeat Satan. Now a first-year student at True Cross Academy and an Exwire at the Exorcism Cram School, he hopes to someday become a Knight. When he draws the Koma Sword, he manifests his infernal power in the form of blue flames. He succeeded in defeating the Impure King and affirmed his determination to live with his flame.
 * Rin's brother. Hoping to become a doctor, he's a genius who is the youngest student ever to become an instructor at the Exorcism Cram School. An instructor in Demon Pharmaceuticals, he possesses the titles of Doctor and Dragoon. Todo told him that his true nature is that of a demon.
 * Daughter of the owner of Futsumaya, an Exorcist supply shop. She possesses the ability to become a Tamer and can summon a baby Greenman named Nee. She passed the high school entrance exam, so now she is a classmate of Rin and the others.
 * Heir to the venerable Buddhist sect known as Myodha in Kyoto. He is an Exwire who hopes to become an Exorcist someday so he can reestablish his family's temple, which fell on hard times after the Blue Night. He wants to achieve the titles of Dragoon and Aria.
 * Like Shima, he was once a pupil of Suguro's father and is now Suguro's friend. He's an Exwire who hopes to become an Exorcist someday. He is small in size and has a quiet and composed personality.
 * A Cat Sidhe who was once Shiro's familiar. After Shiro's death, he began turning back into a demon. Rin saved him, and now the two are practically inseparable. His favorite drink is the catnip wine Shiro used to make.
 * A student at the Exorcism Cram School. He is a puppet master who can summon and control dolls. Mephisto employed him from outside as a supervisor. He is equal in ability to a Senior Exorcist First Class.
 * President of True Cross Academy and head of the Exorcism Cram School. He was Father Fujimoto's friend, and now he is Rin and Yukio's guardian. He is the second power in Gehenna and known as Samael, King of Time.

The Kamiki Family
Izumo Kamiki Tsukumo Kamiki Ukemochi Miketsu Tamamo Kamiki
 * An Exwire with the blood of shrine maidens. She has the ability to become a Tamer and can summon two white foxes. The Illuminati has taken her captive.
 * Izumo's younger sister. She has the popwer of a shrine maiden. As the person dearest to Izumo, she is her older sister's biggest weakness.
 * Izumo's familiar and a fox servant of the god Uka-no-Mitama.
 * Izumo's familiar and a fox servant of the god Uka-no-Mitama.
 * Izumo's mother. She is the 64th head priestess of the Kamiki family and possesses great spiritual power. As the bearer of the demond fox, aka Nine Tails, her dancing supresses the Killing Stone. However, when her relationship with her lover, Soji, turned sour, she lost control and the power of Nine Tails consumed her.

The Illuminati
Lucifer Michael Gedōin ??? (Homare Todo, Lund & Strom) Renzo Shima
 * Commander-in-Chief of the Illuminati and known as the King of Light. He is the highest power in Gehenna and plans to resurrect Satan and merge Assiah and Gehenna into one.
 * An Illuminati researcher.
 * Members of the Illuminati. The girl is Shima's direct superior. She appears to have a high rank within the organization.
 * Once a pupil of Suguro's father and now Suguro's friend. He trained as an Exwire to become an Aria, alongside the other students, but he was a spy for the Illuminati!

Chapter List

 * Chapter 53: This Is the Real Me「これが本当のあたし Kore ga Hontō no Atashi」
 * Chapter 54: I'm Not Going Back to the Order「騎士團には戻らない Kishidan ni wa Modoranai」
 * Chapter 55: Like Siblings「兄弟みたいな Kyōdai Mitai na」
 * Chpater 56: Intermedio「幕間劇 Makuai Geki」
 * Chapter 57: Opening Rounds「序盤戦 Joban Sen」
 * Blue Exorcist Bonus:
 * Blue Questorcist Q&A
 * Fan Art Corner