Hell’s Paradise: Who Are the Tensen & Why Are They so Powerful? – CBR – Comic Book Resources

The following contains spoilers for Hell's Paradise, now streaming on Crunchyroll.

Hell's Paradise's initial pitch is pitting a bunch of criminals on a mysterious island in search of the mythical Elixir of Life. It is supposed to be a battle royale with the successful criminal's liberty hanging as the prize. Granted, the criminals did go against each other at first. They effectively dwindled their original number to just around half, allowing the narrative to focus more on the remaining characters. But as the story progresses, both the characters and the viewers learn the sinister truth the true enemy isn't the other criminals but the mysterious creatures of the island. And these creatures wield a terrifying amount of power.

The island where the ten death row inmates were thrown is called the Shinsenkyo, and it's not the first time a group of people has been sent there. However, the previous expeditions only result in casualties. Almost nobody returns alive, and when they do, they can barely be called living. They've been infested by mystical plants, turning them into a plant-human hybrid. This time, however, the criminals finally manage to unravel one mystery after another. They discover that what truly makes Shinsenkyo terrifying is the creatures that reside on it. There are a number of deadly bugs, gigantic monsters, and fiendish humanoids. And standing on the top of its food chain is the Tensen.

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The Tensen, which are often referred to as Lord Tensen by their subordinates, isn't just one individual. In fact, the Tensen are seven mighty beings who have attained mastery over the five Immortality Training Methods. They are the ones who lead the entire Shinsenkyo, and all the island's denizens recognize them as their supreme ruler. That being said, they take turns patrolling the vicinity and taking out any unwanted visitors. In exchange, they hold absolute authority over the entire island, as well as the monopoly on the innermost part of Shinsenkyo the Horai. They are basically the revered deities of Shinsenkyo, which even the denizens of Shinsenkyo literally worship. Even though they technically have equal standing, they still follow one leader: the Tensen Rien.

Calling the Tensen deities isn't a mere exaggeration. While they possess human forms, only their appearances are human. They are terrifying creatures who possess supernatural abilities, including the capacity to change sexes at will. All of them have male and female forms, which they liberally use to commit carnal activities in the name of circulating their Tao. Their true form, however, is far from what a human being looks like. Their true forms almost have no semblance to their human forms, and it is in this form they can actually unleash the full extent of their powers. As the rulers of the mysterious Shinshenkyo, they can't be easy targets for foreign invaders.

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What makes the Tensen supreme beings is the fact that they've already mastered the use of Tao. This does not only allow them to become immortals, but it also grants them superior fighting abilities. The fact that no invader has successfully seen Horai and survived is hard proof of that. And they achieve this through their masterful use of Tao.

Tao in the world of Hell's Paradise refers to the energy that flows in every living being. Though it is referred to as such in Shinsenkyo, it is also known in various forms across the verse. For instance, the shinobi refer to it as Qi, which allows them to execute their techniques. Similarly, Yamada Asaemon Shion refers to it as waves. Since their understanding of Tao differs from that of the Tensen, the others' use and mastery of it aren't at par with the Tensen.

The Tensen incorporate the use of Tao in their fighting style. They manipulate their Tao and use it as a projectile, allowing them to launch attacks invisible to the human eye. They can also visualize other people's Tao, allowing them to sense their opponent's next move. The Tensen also utilize Tao to enhance their physical abilities and, in Mei's case, manifest a barrier. However, the complexity of Tao is yet to be fully discussed in the show. The only explanation the viewers receive is Mei's ambiguous description of it: Strong, weak. Weak, strong.

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Through their mastery of Tao, the Tensen are also granted hyper-regeneration. They can almost instantly recover from what would be considered mortal wounds. Even decapitation and burning couldn't kill them, while injuries recover just as fast as they were inflicted. The only possible way of killing the Tensen is by attacking their navel, where their Tao is concentrated.

While the usage of Tao grants the Tensen an incredible amount of power, it is not without a setback. They have to use their fighting ability in moderation, or they will have to face the consequences. And the consequence seems to be rapid aging, especially when the Tensen manifests their true forms. Viewers have already witnessed this during Gabimaru's fight against Zhu Jin. When the rogue ninja pushed the Tensen to their limit, Zhu Jin was forced to show Gabimaru their true form. They shed their human husk and transformed into a plant-like monster. This transformation boosted their fighting abilities, and Zhu Jin almost managed to eliminate Gabimaru. But after that, Zhu Jin's youth vanished, and they became old and decrepit.

However, old age isn't a death sentence to the Tensen. They naturally have the means to counter it Tan. Tan is the Elixir of Life that the criminals have arduously been searching for. The Tensen consume Tan in order to maintain their youth and immortality. In order to create Tan, they require humans as ingredients. The stronger the human, the better. It's through the combination of these forces that Hell's Paradise main antagonists become frighteningly powerful.

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Hell's Paradise: Who Are the Tensen & Why Are They so Powerful? - CBR - Comic Book Resources