I think this anime did not get the love it deserved. The whole idea was very heavy when I first read the plot in MAL, but I thought it was interesting enough to at least give it a shot, and boy am I glad I did. I found the characters very human, you want an SCM to get slaves for power or money, you want the thrill of the duel, you want revenge or simply want to make something you find as awful to stop. I have not read the manga, and I am considering it, but I think that as a stand-alone anime this has been interestingto watch.