To Be Hero X episode 16 review: Li Haoling closes Ghostblade Arc with added suspense and buildup

Premiered on July 20, 2025, To Be Hero X episode 16 makes for yet another engaging installment, keeping the spotlight on Ghostblade’s story while weaving it naturally with Loli, Johnny, and Cyan’s arcs. While Ghostblade’s personal narrative appears to reach an end as Nuonuo uncovers his true identity as her father, the tension only escalates.

From the alien shipwreck and the Johnnies to the Fear Particles, mysteries surrounding various plot threads intensify. It maintains a brilliant storytelling direction that seamlessly balances emotion, tension, and action. The pacing feels perfect. Combined with the consistent vibrant animation and peak-tier production values, episode 16 makes for a thoroughly immersive watch.

---

To Be Hero X episode 16 review: Ghostblade’s personal arc ends with seamless direction

To Be Hero X episode 16: A brief synopsis and narrative review

Ghostblade in this episode (Image via Pb Animation, LAN Studio, Paper Plane Animation Studio)

Under the direction of Li Haoling, To Be Hero X episode 16 presents another flawlessly executed entry, elevated with brilliant direction and top-tier production quality.

Titled "The Cure," the episode kicks off in Year 39, with Loli, Nuonuo, and the crew heading to the site of the alien shipwreck. As Loli manages to track down Nuonuo’s stalker, she’s startled to realize he’s right behind them.

The story then shifts to a flashback when Ghostblade volunteered for Professor Luo’s investigation team. Their moment is interrupted by Zac, the CEO of Fomo. He assigns Little Johnny to the mission too. Luo welcomes him, as Johnny’s great for exploring the unknown. But Ghostblade isn’t thrilled. He prefers quiet, and Johnny’s loud, overly friendly nature quickly irritates him.

Back in the present, Johnny’s endless talking only gets worse when Lucky Cyan’s song comes on the radio. Ghostblade, who hasn’t spoken in years, is tempted to break his silence just to curse Johnny. Suddenly, Loli leaps onto their car. She’s after the stalker.

Ghostblade en route to the shipwreck (Image via Pb Animation, LAN Studio, Paper Plane Animation Studio)

Elsewhere, the masked man behind DJ Shindig is shown inside a lab, researching the effects of Fear. Over the phone, he assures someone that their plan is going smoothly, as he experiments with Fear Particles and DJ Shindig. It’s clear this is just the beginning.

Back with Loli’s group, Luo scolds his daughter for acting on impulse, but also confronts Ghostblade about following Nuonuo. Ghostblade silently nods. Loli and Johnny jump to conclusions, which only escalates the situation. Being unable to speak, Ghostblade can’t clear the situation either.

Luo pulls Ghostblade aside, convinced he’s in love with Nuonuo. Ghostblade can’t explain that it’s fatherly love, not romance. Ironically, Luo encourages him to confess his "feelings" instead of silently stalking her.

Later in To Be Hero X episode 16, over dinner, the group shares emotional stories, including Nuonuo’s thoughts about her father. The heavy atmosphere even affects Ghostblade, which is unusual. Sensing something’s off, he spots a lurking figure behind a tree. Turns out, it’s DJ Shindig, his appearance now altered by Fear. He has also acquired more power.

The Johnnies in this episode (Image via Pb Animation, LAN Studio, Paper Plane Animation Studio)

The Fear Particles surrounding him are amplifying everyone’s sadness. Ghostblade is determined to protect his daughter and swiftly takes down the ex-hero using just a kitchen knife. The somber mood fades, but one of the Fear Particles sneaks into Ghostblade’s skin.

Afterward, Nuonuo finds a diary tucked into the jacket Ghostblade gave her. It’s his journal. As she reads, she pieces together the truth that Ghostblade is her father.

The narrative suddenly cuts to Cyan getting a call from Queen about their upcoming vacation, though it’s hinted this is just a cover for a secret mission. In the final scene, Loli notices that Johnny has mysteriously vanished. To Be Hero X episode 16 closes with a glimpse of the alien shipwreck.

To Be Hero X episode 16 presents a strong blend of emotion, action, suspense, and setup, making it an immersive watch throughout. It wraps up Ghostblade’s personal arc with enough emotion while skillfully connecting it to Loli, the Johnnies, Cyan, and Queen’s storylines.

Ghostblade as he fights DJ Shindig (Image via Pb Animation, LAN Studio, Paper Plane Animation Studio)

The emotional core centers around Ghostblade and Nuonuo’s relationship. Their moment is built up with care, and the added bits of humor, like the interactions between Ghostblade, Loli, and Little Johnny, or the misunderstanding with Professor Luo thinking Ghostblade has romantic feelings for Nuonuo. These moments offer comic relief.

But when Nuonuo opens up about growing up without her father, and Ghostblade, unable to speak, can’t tell her the truth even though he’s right there, it’s quite sad. Her eventual discovery of his identity brings their story to a fitting emotional close.

While To Be Hero X episode 16 gives closure to Ghostblade’s personal story, it also pushes the larger story forward. The alien shipwreck, the Fear Particles, and the mystery behind the Johnnies all get more attention. The fact that one of the Fear Particles seeps into Ghostblade’s skin seems like a red flag, possibly setting up a darker turn.

Johnny’s odd disappearance after Shindig’s attack might mean he’s starting to recall memories tied to Ghostblade and his father’s death. That could raise future tensions between them. Meanwhile, Queen and Cyan’s "vacation" being hinted as a secret mission also adds intrigue, especially since Big Johnny’s berserk form suddenly appeared while they’re away, as seen in episode 12.

On top of all that, the organization experimenting with Fear adds further suspense, suggesting that something bigger is moving in the background. The final glimpse of the alien shipwreck clearly signals that its investigation is coming soon.

Overall, To Be Hero X episode 16 brings together all these story threads with excellent pacing and direction. The balance between plot, emotion, and buildup is handled smoothly. The episode doesn’t just resolve personal arcs, it raises new questions and tensions while laying the groundwork for seemingly more intense plot.

---

To Be Hero X episode 16: An overall production criticism

To Be Hero X episode 16 keeps up the show’s reputation for cinematic brilliance. It offers a mix of striking 2D animation with engaging storytelling. The animation is impressive as always with its attention to detail, direction that elevates every scene, whether it’s emotional, comedic, dramatic, or action.

One of the standout moments is Ghostblade’s fight against the Fear-infected DJ Shindig. The fight is filled with energy and tension. His moves are genuinely "cool" to watch.

In general, all the frames feel carefully crafted to pull viewers into a rich, cinematic experience. The voice acting continues to remain impressive, while the soundtrack by Hiroyuki Sawano, KOHTA YAMAMOTO, and others adds weight and emotion to each moment, perfectly syncing with the overall tone of the episode.

---

Final thoughts

Dj Shindig, consumed by Fear (Image via Pb Animation, LAN Studio, Paper Plane Animation Studio)

To Be Hero X episode 16 is a thoroughly enjoyable experience from start to end. It strikes a great balance between emotion, suspense, and subtle foreshadowing while steadily raising the stakes.

The plot unfolds smoothly with well-paced storytelling, tying together multiple hero arcs through a cohesive, well-structured narrative.

---

Also read:

• Kaiju no. 8 manga joins Jujutsu Kaisen and My Hero Academia with yet another rushed ending
• Boruto: Two Blue Vortex chapter 24 sneak peek shows Kawaki overpowering Jura
• Dandadan season 2 complete release schedule: All episodes and where to watch them

Edited by Dishani Dutta