D.Gray-Man, Vol. 16: Next Stage

The artwork really emphasizes the moral ambiguities of the characters. I wonder what inspired the specific stylistic choices for this contrast.

There were chapters with a lot of dialogue and introspection—did the pacing feel intentional to build suspense or did it drag for others?

The grotesque and eerie visuals really stuck with me. Curious whether these designs evolved from traditional horror influences or original concepts.