If you’ve been hunting for Tales of Zestiria the X episode 9 online, you’re likely looking for that specific moment where the "Tales" series stops being a standard fantasy romp and gets dark. Really dark. This episode, titled "The Plague of the Wind," is a masterclass in atmosphere. It’s the point where Sorey stops being just a wide-eyed kid with a sword and starts realizing that saving the world isn't just about hitting monsters with elemental magic. It's about the crushing weight of human emotion.
Ufotable—the studio behind the legendary Demon Slayer and Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works—brought their "A-game" here. Honestly, the visuals in this specific chapter are some of the most haunting in the entire 26-episode run. You see the malevolence, that purple-black haze of "impurity," choking the life out of a town. It’s visceral. Watching it online today, years after it first aired, the animation still holds up better than 90% of what's coming out in the current seasonal cycles.
What Actually Happens in Tales of Zestiria the X Episode 9?
The story picks up with Sorey and his crew arriving in Marlind. It’s a mess. The city is literally rotting under the weight of a supernatural plague. This isn't your standard flu. In the world of Zestiria, when people lose hope, get angry, or fall into despair, they generate "Malevolence." That Malevolence manifests as physical corruption.
Sorey is the Shepherd. That means it’s his job to "purify" this stuff. But episode 9 shows us the limit of that power. You can’t just wave a magic wand and make everyone happy. The episode focuses heavily on Mikleo’s solo journey to find a legendary bow—the Subira River Artifact—which is basically the only thing that can help Sorey cleanse the massive drake causing the storm.
The tension between Sorey and Mikleo is the heartbeat of this episode. They’re best friends, basically brothers, but they’re realizing that their roles are changing. Sorey is becoming a messianic figure, and Mikleo is trying to prove he isn't just a sidekick. When you watch Tales of Zestiria the X episode 9 online, pay attention to the lighting. The transition from the oppressive, grey-green gloom of the plagued city to the bright, ethereal glow of the ruins where Mikleo finds the bow is a classic Ufotable move. It’s visual storytelling at its peak.
The Drake and the Cost of Purification
The climax involves a confrontation with a dragon—well, a "drake." In this lore, dragons are what happen when Seraphim (divine beings) are consumed by Malevolence. It’s tragic. Sorey isn't just fighting a monster; he’s fighting a corrupted god.
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A lot of fans were confused back when this first aired because the anime deviates significantly from the PlayStation game. In the game, the mechanics of purification are a bit more "video-gamey." In the anime, it’s portrayed as an agonizing physical and spiritual toll on Sorey. He’s taking the darkness into himself to neutralize it. It’s a heavy burden for a kid who just wanted to explore ancient ruins.
Why Finding the Right Stream for Zestiria Matters
Let’s talk logistics. If you’re looking for Tales of Zestiria the X episode 9 online, you have a few official paths.
- Crunchyroll: Still the king for most. They have the high-bitrate version which is essential because Ufotable’s particle effects (all those tiny glowing embers and raindrops) look like absolute garbage if the video compression is too high.
- Funimation: Depending on your region, the "Tales" catalog might still be sitting here or fully migrated.
- Hulu: They’ve had the license off and on.
- Physical Media: Honestly, the Blu-ray is the only way to see the "Plague of the Wind" without banding in the dark scenes.
Streaming platforms often struggle with the "dark" scenes in this episode. There’s a lot of fog and shadow. Cheap pirate sites or low-quality streams will turn those beautiful gradients into a blocky, pixelated mess. If you want to appreciate the art, go for the highest resolution possible.
The Alisha Diefda Controversy
You can't talk about episode 9 without mentioning Alisha. This was a massive point of contention in the fandom. In the game, Alisha is sidelined pretty early, which caused a huge backlash in Japan. The anime "The X" (pronounced "the Cross") was basically a giant apology to the fans.
In episode 9, we see Alisha actually acting like a leader. She’s on the ground in Marlind, risking her life despite having almost no spiritual power compared to Sorey. This episode cements her as the "human" heart of the show. While Sorey and Mikleo are dealing with the supernatural elements, Alisha is dealing with the politics and the physical suffering of her people. It’s a dual narrative that makes the world feel much bigger than just a quest to kill a big bad guy.
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Breaking Down the Technical Mastery of Ufotable
Why does this specific episode look so good? It’s the "Digital Team." Most anime studios outsource their backgrounds or their 3D integration. Ufotable keeps it in-house.
In episode 9, there’s a scene where the rain is falling through the "Malevolence." The way the water droplets interact with the purple fog isn't just a filter; it's a layered composite. They use a technique called "vignetting" to draw your eye to Sorey’s glowing eyes or Mikleo’s water-based magic. It creates a cinematic feel that most weekly anime simply can't match.
The music, composed by Motoi Sakuraba and Go Shiina, also peaks here. Shiina, in particular, is known for using heavy orchestral swells and haunting vocals. When Mikleo claims the bow, the score shifts into this heroic but slightly melancholy theme that perfectly captures the "Tales" vibe.
Is It "Tales of Zestiria" or "Tales of Berseria"?
Here is where it gets slightly confusing for newcomers. Episode 5 and 6 of this series were actually a "prologue" for Tales of Berseria, a completely different game set in the same world hundreds of years earlier.
By the time you get to Tales of Zestiria the X episode 9 online, you are firmly back in Sorey's timeline. However, the themes of episode 9—the idea that strong emotions create monsters—are the direct connective tissue to Berseria. Velvet Crowe’s journey (from the Berseria episodes) was fueled by hatred, which is exactly what Sorey is trying to fight against in Marlind. It’s a clever bit of world-building that rewards you for paying attention to the lore.
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Practical Steps for the Best Viewing Experience
If you're sitting down to watch this tonight, do it right. This isn't a "watch on your phone while on the bus" kind of show.
- Check your HDR settings. If you have an OLED screen, the blacks in the Marlind scenes will look incredible.
- Audio is key. Use headphones. The sound design of the "Plague of the Wind"—the howling air and the distorted screeches of the Hellions—is designed to be immersive.
- Watch the Sub vs. Dub. This is a rare case where both are excellent. Robbie Daymond (Sorey) and Michael Johnston (Mikleo) have a genuine chemistry in English that rivals the original Japanese performance.
Watching Tales of Zestiria the X episode 9 online is more than just checking off an episode on a list. It’s the moment the series finds its soul. It stops being about the "journey" and starts being about the "responsibility." Sorey realizes he can't save everyone, and that realization is what makes him a compelling protagonist.
For anyone looking to dive deeper into the lore after the credits roll, look into the Tales of Zestiria manga or the "Alisha's Story" DLC from the game. They provide much-needed context for the political turmoil happening in the background while Sorey is busy fighting dragons. The anime does a great job of streamlining the plot, but the world of Glenwood is vast, and episode 9 is just the tip of the iceberg.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Verify your streaming quality: Ensure your player is set to at least 1080p to avoid "macroblocking" in the dark, smoky scenes of Marlind.
- Compare the source: If you've played the game, take note of how the anime gives Mikleo a much more heroic moment with the Subira River Artifact than the original script.
- Listen for the score: Identify the shift in instruments when Sorey uses "Armatization." The blend of Go Shiina’s operatic style with the action sequences is a highlight of the production.
- Explore the Berseria connection: If the "Malevolence" concept interests you, watch episodes 5 and 6 again to see how the "Lord of Calamity" mythos began.