Happy Friday, otaku! Here I come again with another “old school” anime devo, but as Discotek Media says in all their sizzle reels, “Blu-rays are forever. So are the classics.”

Speaking of them, they released today’s subject on Blu-ray a few years ago: Iria: Zeiram the Animation (1994). This six-episode OVA (original video animation) from the mad mind of Keita Amemiya serves as a prequel to his live-action films Zeiram (1991) and Zeiram 2 (1994). It follows the titular heroine, an apprentice bounty hunter on a far-off planet, on her first mission with her brother, the veteran hunter Gren, to a wrecked starship called the Karma in deep space. There, they find that the ship’s cargo–the monstrous lifeform Zeiram–has slaughtered the crew. Gren, determined to kill Zeiram, stays on the ship to self-destruct it, and Iria barely survives in an escape pod. She crash-lands on a nearby resort planet—but Zeiram has survived. He stalks her like an animal on the prowl, seizing upon any opportunity to attack her. But is it to kill her or for some other reason? Iria spends the entire OVA unraveling that mystery.

As horrifying as Zeiram is (he has a masked tendril that pops out of his head!), he doesn’t compare to an even greater evil that he reminds us of: the Devil. Starting in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3), he’s been hell-bent (no pun intended) on defying God by destroying His greatest creation: humanity. He tempted them to sin. He oppressed Job with every affliction imaginable (Job 1-2). He even tempted Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13). “Relentless” doesn’t begin to describe him. Now more than ever, the Devil wants humanity dead and Christians ineffective.

This is why the Apostle Peter, in a passage discussing trust in God, warns his readers, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8 ESV). Iria had to be mindful of Zeiram, who could create clones of himself by draining the life force of other beings. Likewise, we must be privy to the Devil’s schemes against us, which is what Peter says next:

Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you (1 Peter 5:9-10 ESV).

This is a mild spoiler, but by the end of the OVA, Iria becomes a full-fledged bounty hunter and defeats Zeiram. Even then, she would face him several more times in the live-action films. The point remains: she grew and matured through hardship. The same happened for Job, who was doubly blessed by God after enduring the Devil’s attacks (Job 42: 10-17). The Apostle Paul tells us that suffering produces endurance, which produces character, which produces hope, which “does not put us to shame” (Romans 5:4-5 ESV).

Are you under attack from the Devil? Stand firm, and with the Holy Spirit’s help, resist the Devil so he will flee (James 4:7). He has no power over you other than what you give him, so refuse to give it. When you feel weak, pray for strength. God gives generously to those who ask (James 1:5). You can (and will) defeat him with the Holy Spirit’s help.

This piece is adapted from a devotional originally posted on Above Anime, our weekly anime devotional + newsletter. Visit this link to subscribe and receive Above Anime in your inbox every Friday.