The following contains spoilers for Episode 9 of DanMachi IV, "Lambton (Ill Omen)" now streaming on HIDIVE.

Never let it be said that DanMachi doesn't know how to play with expectations, because within the mere opening minutes, the direction of the story shifted greatly. And while there was a battle, after all, it was nothing like what was expected, and for a while, there was a sense of relief before the horror set in one more time before the end.

Last week, Ryu was looking more and more guilty, forcing Bell to reconcile that she might actually need to be stopped from going too far. She had been seen torturing people to get what she needed, and her path was lined with destruction, yet as the episode begins, it manages to pull back the curtain.

FEATURED: DanMachi IV: Episode 8 "Mirabilis (Chaos)" Review

The Emancipation of One Ryu Lion

danmachi-iv-ep-9-jura

Ryu was more furious than ever seen before and that combined with her impatience seemed to confirm that she was, in fact, a murderer, but Bell's persistence managed to unearth the truth. By just Ryu affirming that she hadn't killed anyone, Bell sniffed out the culprit in seconds. And it was none other than Jura, the man she was hunting.

It was assumed that the torture methods employed on the victims had to be done by the same hands that murdered them, but that wasn't necessarily true. Bell saw Ryu torture one man, but the episode doesn't confirm whether he died and Bell carried them to safety, so it's a bit up in the air. Regardless, it makes sense that Ryu was set up.

What is still unclear is the history between Ryu and Jura, something alluded to in their venomous insults and insinuations about their shared history. It's obvious that Ryu harbors ill will towards him and previously tried to kill him and that he has sought revenge against her in turn. There's still time for a flashback of sorts to reflect on that bloody past between them.

Within just one episode, it feels like Ryu is a bit back to her old self. There's still a lot of anger and emotion previously buried, but as soon as she and Bell were back to working together, it was like she was never gone from the party. A cozy feeling if ever there was one, not that the feeling lasts for very long.

A Great Disaster (Still) Cometh

danmachi-iv-ep-9-ryu

Every episode has started with Cassandra's premonition, but each time the visuals reveal a bit more about what will make up this horrible future awaiting the party. First, it was the vague knowledge that everyone would die, then specific anecdotes about the party members' fates, and now another vague vision focused on Bell and Ryu.

Now that Ryu's innocence has been proven, it begs to wonder how she will be central to the coming calamity. Is something about her past tied to the monster that is coming? Will she have to make a difficult choice with the lives of the party in the balance? Or was that part of the premonition a red herring to emphasize how Ryu's framing brought everyone down into the dungeon?

RELATED: DanMachi: Who Are The Xenos?

While Bell and Ryu fight one giant snake, the rest of the party fights one of their own in a battle that seems to go far too well. Their teamwork is on point, they mount a spectacular defense, and Haruhime even activates her special ability to give Welf and Ouka a boost. But all that means is that they are woefully unprepared for what's coming next.

Poor Cassandra started the arc getting gaslit into believing her visions weren't serious because of the massive win from the previous arc and has slowly watched it all come true. If everyone overcomes and gets out alive, she will have the largest "I told you so" card ever metaphorically printed.

This episode was an excellent reminder of why fans love Ryu and an intriguing teaser of more to come. While this season hasn't left anyone wanting for cliffhangers teasing new threats, here's hoping that Ryu's backstory gets to take center stage and offer a short break from the insanity.

MORE: The Best And Worst Anime Episode Ever