See, that’s what White Chain is telling him, but angels can be mistaken. What if Solomon’s flaw isn’t a refusal to accept that he can be bested, but his refusal to accept that the the system he set up is itself failing?
He holds this tournament every year to find a successor so he can devote even more time to training, so as to finally rise above the other six demiurges as the new conquering king. But as it stands, the pattern of tournaments will continue until Jagganoth, the one person Solomon absolutely knows can beat him, is ready to come knocking, and Jagganoth has no intention of preserving what Solomon has built.
I think angels are allowed to be mistaken, they just can’t Lie without breaking themselves. Though even that only seems to crack the armor, as I don’t think White Chain’s true body bears a scar over her eye.
Wait, there is a better question. Did Solomon broke Whitechain’s old “body” or did she somehow tell a lie which was so great that her whole “body” crumbled?
I think her stone shell was just pulverized by Solomon. What we saw was will of spirit that transcended her stone form, and why she went from Divine Fire to flesh.
Not every year, but every thousand Turns, which is a little more than three years.
I’m even surprised it’s that often, given the size of the stadium and the need to rebuilt it every time. And for an apparently immortal demiurge like Salami, three years is nothing. He must be quite eager to give up that crown.
I don’t think she could have anyway. The ghost form taken during the pass before becoming flesh shouldn’t have been able to even interact with him. And it was very clear white chain had given up any hope of actually winning, even as she threw that last .
His Key is no longer glowing. Highlighted with Allison’s glowing in that last panel. White Chain has it, with a new body forming upon it. No doubt that forehead marking is gonna have a key soon.
I don’t think so. Look at the last page, before he and WC collided. His Key looked exactly hte same it does now. I think it reacts to his mood. Normally he’s extremely proud and confident, with a glowint Key and huge atum. But now he looks… sad, deflated, even lost. No proud glow or atum.
I dunno. In the previous pages, they are glowing outwards from the center. This one has a highlight – it is still glossy! – but does not appear to be casting its *own* light, as it has previously.
Not sure of the meaning, but I see what Radiant is saying.
He hasn’t looked around at her, yet he seems “aware” of her . . . like he is aware of her present condition.
If he DOESN’T know what has happened, why isn’t he looking to see what happened?
Zoss had the key and gave it up, and that’s represented by him having a *hole* in his head. We can clearly still see something inside of Solomon’s head, so I believe he still has his. Though Maya presumably used to have a key and doesn’t have the head-hole so I dunno lol
All the characters who have keys seem to be in an ever-changing state of glow, with max glow being represented by a halo. Probably something to do with Will and manifesting power.
She struck him in his right cheek. The obvious bruise is a clear sign of a strike.
She has already gained more than he could have given her. Elevation. Promotion from mere angel incarnated into fused ash – into a human, capable of achiving god-level status – a god herself, instead of a servant/vassal thereof.
I’m glad she didn’t kill him. He simply needed a touch of humility. He will be the better leader now because of it.
The look on Dave’s face is profound disappointment apparently. I guess that by bruising him, White Chain came closer than anyone has in centuries, but was ultimately unsuccessful.
If she’d spilled his blood, she’d have “won,” Solomon would’ve been honor-bound to stay true to his word, or at the very least he’d have an excuse to do so.
As it stands, the point of White Chain’s battle isn’t cheapened. It wasn’t about winning, and it wasn’t about Solomon, it was about her.
Meanwhile Solomon now has to actually face some reality and make a decision. He’s not bound by his word since no drop of blood was spilled, but it’s abundantly clear someone actually got through and landed a solid hit on him, possibly the first one since his ascension.
So now what? What does that mean to him when it doesn’t follow his neatly outlaid plan and he has to actually decide what to do next?
From their perspective it must be confusing. One moment they see White Chain laying on the ground and Solomon David throwng his bracelets in the air like he did before killing all those other contestants. The next moment, he’s standing in a different place, White Chain is nowhere to be seen and there’s an unknown woman in the ring. Confusing. Not to mention that Solomon David’s pose isn’t the expected ‘I won!’ but rather a confused ‘WTF?’
Or perhaps, Rather than Transcending stone, she has taken on the finest of stones, From the one who Bears the Concept of DIAMOND. Even the smallest piece cut off by the Jeweler’s chisel, is still a diamond.
Indeed. Given Vigilant Gaze’s commentary before hand, and the hope he was expressing for change, I don’t think what White Chain has become is JUST human. She’s become something new.
She presumably still has an angel’s cold white atum, rather than the usual hot black human atum. That, I would think, is a large difference. This is 83 White Chain Born in Emptiness Returns to Subdue Evil; if her soul and body are now one, as for a human, I doubt she will have an 84th incarnation.
It’s not that they can’t, it’s that they’re unwilling to even try, though 2 Michael appeared to entertain the idea at one point. One particular ambitious devil stole a piece of a key once, and servants are plenty capable of using them (Mammon, several individuals from past scenes including a goblin). There’s no in-universe reason why angels can’t use one of those keys if they wanted to.
I hesitate to mention this, because I’ve long since lost the reference. Regardless…
I recall reading at one point that angels can bear keys, but they cannot activate (“mantle”) them. Furthermore, the rationale given for this, as I recall, was that their origin in the white fire of the Void prevents them from mustering the ambition (the “Want”) that the keys respond to.
Take this with a grain of salt. I’d rate this as a theory than Word-of-God hard-fact. Consider:
Koss forged humans and devils from black flame, which makes ambition a simple task for them. Servants are, like angels, also creatures forged from white flame, but we do have examples of Servant key-wielders*. Ergo, an angel might theoretically be able to mantle a key, but the passion required is antithetical to the mindsets of most angels we’ve seen thus far.
So yes, it’s not impossible for an angel to Want to use a key, but it is exceedingly unlikely for an angel to Want in the first place. Then again, transfiguration and superluminal combat are also pretty unlikely, so it’s anyone’s game at this point.
* Mammon is noted to have been an aberration among his family.
it isn’t a direct comment on the matter, but angels cannot fully accept the mantle of Royalty primarily because they believe that they cannot, which amounts to being unable to. it may be thus with the keys.
Well…the entire theme of this comic is about “change”. I think the only reason an angel has never wielded a key is because they THOUGHT they could not and thought the rules said they couldn’t.
I wonder why angels crack up upon lying. Is it because, for someone made of the cold white flame, lying is creating a division in one’s self? Which manifests as a crack–a division in their shell?
Whereas for someone of the hot black flame, lying (the red art) is making something new/different outside of them? So it doesn’t crack them up, merely changes the nature of something that exists?
What happens when an angel says something they THINK is true–but maybe is “false” to everyone around them? Or, what happens when an angel is insane? Won’t they believe every thing they utter is completely true, no matter how bonkers to others it is? And thus be able to talk/act as if it is true, because they think it is?
Won’t them proclaiming their truth shape the universe, too? Like White Chain proclaiming her truth has shaped a new body for herself?
Anyway, my point here is that if an angel fully believed they could wield a key, I bet they could. An angel’s belief that this is true–that they could wield a key–would basically make it true. They would not be consciously lying.
Especially since the keys were made out of something from an angel, from Metatron. It seems logical another angel could wield such a thing.
The danger, I think, is that the angel wearing the key might end up in some sort of mental fight with Metatron for the domination of their individual “truth”. Perhaps a non-angel has a better time grappling with that, due to their non-angellic nature…
Well, angels are well known to be born of the White Flame, essence of That Which is Not. Yet as all know, a Lie is the telling of That Which is Not, and is one of the most holy actions. Perhaps the cracking from the telling of a lie is from the breaking through of an angel’s true nature, a painful thing but necessary for actual growth.
He felt pain on his cheek, he put his hand up to touch it, and it came back empty. His expression when he saw White Chain get up in spite of his Time Stop was actually one of joy, which changed to great seriousness in the next second. I wonder if, for a moment, he wasn’t hoping White Chain WOULD succeed in drawing a drop of blood. Perhaps he’s more aware of his own cage than we thought?
He is. Its the whole point of this tournament after all. He wants to leave, to go on a journey, but his pride won’t allow him to abandon his empire, not without someone that is his equal(or very close at least) to take his place.
I’m surprised at how many people seem utterly unable to grasp this concept.
The look on his face, was it fear? Or merely disbelief? But when he sees no blood it is clear that he feels dismay. While she may not have won his battle, she has won her war.
It doesn’t matter if she struck blood here or not. That was only what David wanted and it is not White Chain has lost the fight or anything. I think everyone except David at this point can say that the fight doesn’t matter anymore.
The fact that there is no blood is actually worse for him, since he is now completely irrelevant.
That was round one. There is always another round – if, that is, White Chain wishes to continue. She may well believe she has made her point in a manner quite sufficient.
He’ll surely notice the strange new naked girl kneeling next to his bracelets, the only other person on the dais. Seeing she has an angel’s atum flame may then also help his realisation.
Mr Diamond appears to me to be a man who has strived to do what he believes is for the best for those under his rule. His achievements from what little of them I have seen, seem to have provided greater benefit and less suffering for his subjects than those of other worlds, my own included. No doubt this has involved some… firmness of hand and equally doubtless things are not perfect but his intentions appear to be for the good and he has not made a bad job of things under the circumstances.
Let us hope that he does not now succumb to baser instincts but takes this opportunity to shine magnanimously. It would be nice to see some good to come from all of this.
Interesting situation! WC landed a blow but didn’t draw blood: Dave can weasel out of giving up his crown on a technicality, but it’ll undermine his cult of personality of an untouchable god king. Will sitting on the throne feel sweet to him anymore, when he can see even a sliver of doubt in the eyes of his subjects?
It looks like it was cauterized. Like you can see a line ‘gash’, and it looks distinctly different than a bruise. Feels purposefully drawn like that, as if White Chain’s angelic fire sealed the wound shut the moment it was made.
47 Trigram Star, by Cosmic Fire, Sunders the Wheel of Doubt
That may even be intentional on WC’s part, as nothing I’ve seen so far would indicate that she even wants his throne. If it is indeed a gash that was cauterized, she will have proven that she can defeat Solomon, all the while denying him the fruits of his defeat.
The reward for drawing blood is for the winner to “have whatever he so wishes”. That never necessarily meant his throne, though that is an obvious choice and that, or even his key, is perhaps what he wanted them to demand.
Gotta know the etiquette of the golden bracelets. Do they get disposed of once they hit the ground? Does he break the hands of the servant that picks them up as punishment for acknowledging they fell in the first place?
Since everything he does is perfect, that must mean the law of gold armbands changed as soon as they hit the ground.
Sister White Chain may not have drawn blood, but my did she still knock the stuffing out of him. Befuddled enough that he could not even think to collect his bracelets in ki-rata time.
Nobody “ended the time stop”, Ki Rata is a breathing technique that lets him move so fast everything else was motionless in comparison. The reason why things are moving now is because he no longer maintains it, likely due to his loss of concentration.
Between the two of them it’s unclear if Solomon is not too shaken to re-enter Ki Rata and if what mastery White chain has over her new body would allow her to use, or counter, the style effectively.
I expected something like, White Chain manifests in Salami Dave’s mindscape behind his eyes, like what happened to Allison in the fortress of Yre. And then, when she takes the form of his dead wife, he quietly freaks out, and eventually White Chain squats in Allison’s mindscape until she can be built a new body.
Guess I’ll have to see where Abaddon goes with this.
Hmm, technically a bruise is caused by broken blood vessel and is a form of internal bleeding. Honestly it’s quite hard to draw blood externally with punches unless you hit very specific spots. If she had hit him more squarely in the face she might have done it. For instance the blow landing on the mouth would have split his lip or hitting him in the nose might have bloodied it. Still depends on interpretation of the rules and whether internal bleeding counts or not (honestly it should and would be a stupid oversight since internal injuries can be just as sever as external ones, if not worse).
Slightly delayed comment due to the comment lock, but Holy Shit. I want to start off by saying I absolutely. Love. This. Comic. It brings me so much joy and excitement each time I re-read it. The art of White Chain’s Apotheosis update is amazing and I am hyped to see where this is going. And I’ve always found this fan community brings an invaluable layer of additional depth to the experience.
But beyond the wonderful characters and story, what really drives me to love KSBD is it’s apparent themes of transcending limited identity. It’s an unabashed pastiche of eastern spiritual traditions after all, and an excellent one at that.
The apotheosis update left me struggling with a profound sense of whiplash, due to my own experiences as a transfeminine person. But after reflecting on the core themes of the story and reading a number of comments, and concerns that I may have had are now gone. It’s for this reason that I want to thank many of you, and especially those responding in Bob’s thread, for helping me overcome my reservations regarding White Chain’s transformation. So, cheers for that.
Now, let us see if WC has reached heaven through violence
To Win by his rules merely says you are stronger,
To defeat his rules,
And Thus his style of rule,
Is the greater victory.
Proving that men like him are not needed,
A Goal He spoke of to Himself at least.
Is it disbelief in his face, or disappointment? Finally, a worthy opponent, one that can both face his strength and challenge his philosophy… The first proper hit in eons, but no blood. He’s bound by his word, and his word is Diamond…
I believe the fight will continue.
Yes, whatever it is she has taken, it’s far more than a drop of blood. But at the same time, no drop of blood means no way for Solomon to admit defeat with honor. Isn’t that what he wanted?
34 Light From Heaven Sparks Hope and Despair, Equally
Agreed! He is freaked that someone actually landed a blow, but believes White Chain disintegrated upon impact, and has no idea she has been transformed. Allison doesn’t realized what has happened.
No one does! Vigilant Gaze will likely be the first to figure it out, or maybe already has.
But Salami Dave’s – shoot, everyone’s – super freak-out is imminent!
He’s not freaked out at all, his expression is clearly of disappointment, possibly even despair.
For the first time in God knows how long, he felt a blow land. Pain. His eyes widen, as his mind jumps to the implications, and he immediately check the site.
But as there is no blood from the blow, his hand clenches in frustration. His hopes crumble. He isn’t even responding to Alison and co. Sudden charge, just standing there letting the whiplash of despair overtake him, if only for the moment.
Maybe it’s just me, but it looks like David is first rubbing the spot he got hit, checking his hand for something (blood?) and then gets annoyed or becomes resigned at not seeing anything. It wouldn’t exactly be off-hand for him to want to lose his power – but only to someone he believed worthy – as that would make him the third of the seven they’ve met who regret what they’ve become.
When you mention the two others, you are likely referring to Mottom and Mammon. But don’t forget Jadis! From the wiki: “Jadis only speaks in whispers behind her mask and not much else. Though not much can be sensed in her personality, she sincerely wishes to die.” It seems like becoming a demiurge is hard on your long term self-respect.
One has wondered whether White Chain’s new hybrid Aeon-human shall still be the white flame prophesied to flank the Rising King, or whether Vigilant may possibly step into the breach, or even always have been the one set to bear that mantle. White Chain’s ascension opens up a delightful smorgasbord of possibilities.
Does Solomon have a daughter? One that is worthy of his throne? Or maybe one worthy of his legacy and a change of heart? As a father of a daughter, I totally see how this can profoundly change one’s perspective.
The match is still on. Nobody has won yet, and nobody has conceded yet.
So, what happens next? It’d seem a bit boring and obvious to just keep fighting after this new development. It’s bound to be the most interesting thing Solomon has seen for eons, once he realises what has happened. It’s literally unprecedented, as far as anyone knows, in the history of the universe. White Chain is now an entirely new sort of being.
Might be a good time for a break in the proceedings. Have some tea, think things through. They can always resume pummeling each other later.
It looks like that exchange happened in the frozen time – Solomon’s rings just fell to the ground in the first panel, implying that the entire exchange happened in a fraction of a second.
1: Take panels 3 to 5.
2: Put something on Dave’s palm.
3: Use Allison’s speech bubble to indicate Solomon just crushed whatever it was that was on his face.
White Chain chose well in finding an Unyielding Opponent,
One who battered and smashed Xyr physical body.
One who tested Xyr resolve, cracking Xyr shell,
Trash talking, Mocking, Solomon the Confident One.
Seeking to Force Xyr into a moment where Xe,
was compelled to yield or be destroyed.
Xe choose this fight in atonement for complicity,
a punishment for past sins.
This provided the opportunity
– to push beyond all present limits.
Solomon is Mighty, oh yes of immense physical might.
Solomon is most Formidable,
accomplished in a dozen and more martial art forms.
Solomon is Lethal, a Ki-Rata master who can kill with a breath,
or within a breath.
Solomon is Empowered,
with the Key essences stolen and accumulated from
a hundred thousand slain Demi-urges,
bearing the names, the names of the God Yisun.
Yet Solomon is limited in Spirit.
He achieved a Pinnacle of Power,
One able to move two suns into place.
Yet became frozen, cyrstalized, unable to progress spiritually.
Witness now, how 82 White Chain and Allyson have switched places.
White Chain the teacher and guide of Angelic martial art forms,
the Adherent One.
Allyson, the mad monk, breaker of all forms and conventions in her searches.
How White Chain has taken that to heart.
“I Realize She is right.
Even if it seems Hopeless, In the face of Unstoppable Evil,
( Rather ) than Nothing at All,
Action is better .
O’ Great Fool,
Once I doubted your Belief,
Now I believe it too.”
O’ White Chain,
What hast Thou become ?
Immanence, Apotheosis, Transcendence ?
What are you, will you, can you be ?
Woman, Flame, Goddess ?
Hark !
A new Incarnation Upon the Wheel of Creation !
The chains falling. The structure falling. The lack of glow. I think Solomon truly prepared himself to lose his power if he lost a drop of blood. and there’s blood all over that wound on his face. He still has Ki Rata, he’s still powerful enough to kill a demiurge, or survive without a sun on a barren world. But he has lost his control over creation.
I think his disappointment is in realizing that what he has been yearning for all these centuries, is actually the last thing he wanted. He never actually wanted to lose his power. Which is what White Chain has been saying all along.
So it’s doubly disappointing for him. He has lost something he valued more than he knew, and his philosophy was wrong all along.
Not going to lie, I was kinda hoping he would slowly crumble after losing his power and say something like, “thank you.” but this is much more satisfying in the context of the entire conversation over the past 20 pages.
Those were just his armband rings, and the structure (which was just some decorative thing above the arena) fell before the final exchange of blows, when Solomon blasted through it to fly above the arena. Also it’s a bruise, Solomon’s hand turns up empty of blood.
I really cant understand how there can be any sort of confusion about this.
SD has been searching for a worthy succeser for -generations- with no luck.
At last. At long last. He fight someone who is able to stand up to his unbeatable Ki Rata attack. Someone who can take his role and set him free from the prison he build.
And she lands a blow upon him. Likely the first one since the multiverse war? So for a moment he is hopeful. Checks his cheek to see if she drew blood?
But she failed to do so. She only bruised him. And thats not enough. The law is crystal clear. She has to -draw- blood.
So in panel 5, SD pauses to curse silently. For a very brief moment, during the fight, he likely felt free. But now he has to resign himself to take up his burden again, because the Empire needs its Emperor.
And that Allison cant understand where White Chain is should also be crystal clear. White Chain’s Apothesis took place in a frozen second.
She might be confused about why there are a naked girl kneeling in the arena. But right now she want to know what happend to her friend the Angel. (who as far as she knows, isnt a naked girl)
I feel kind of betrayed because I’ve mentally resigned myself thinking that we can’t have nice things, White Chain is going to die, but lo and behold! I’m glad, of course:)
i really hope solomon decides to break his own rule a little bit… mostly because white chain was almost certainly right in that nobody had ever come close and now she had just barely failed to meet his ridiculously high standards. at any rate, he almost certainly won’t kill her again…
seriously, though, if he doesn’t realize he can just choose his successor i’ma be pissed. of all the characters in this story so far, only White Chain would be deserving of the power he offers and not because she nearly succeeded at his stupid honey trap.
It’s strange to see that Solomon looks genuinely frustrated over the fact that WC couldn’t make him bleed. It almost seems that, for all his pride and hypocrisy, he does genuinely see his position as a burden, self-made or not.
People take for granted that each of the characters in this have strengths and faults; Solomon is not a ‘evil’ man, he is doing what he sincerely believes in right. Mottom isn’t entirely evil, she’s ruled over by fear that she has to behave and be as she is in order to maintain less disaster and chaos than if she were to simply resign (Much like Solomon, but different philosophies.)
As far as we have seen the only two mischevious and truly egocentric entities would be Incubus and Jagganoth; Gog A-gog is crazy as likely are the thorn knights (Torture drove Metatron insane.) and the dragon himself is long since senile and of diminished awareness.
A recurring theme in this comic as I have observed is how dated beliefs and philosophies by rulers can lead to stagnation and corruption and it is so gradual (given time spans we see) that by the time the rulers could be aware they blame the people for their own poor rulership.
I believe we’ll see some amazing character development for Solomon that better exemplifies his better character traits; plenty of people get too attached to specifically the starring cast forgetting that Abaddon has made an incredible universe of characters with many full of great depth and purpose. Try to remember folks, Solomon lives by the strict Diamond Policies ‘because’ he knows there are only demiurges that factor into the balance and safety of the Universe and he knows he is the only one that has the Will, Sensible Nature, and Power capable of preserving a semblance of Order in an otherwise gone insane reality.
Solomon doesn’t disbelieve heroes exist; he considers someone that is naive or lacking power enough to manifest their vision and will incapable of bearing that burden — and so he carries it in his mind entirely alone. Zodd spoke specifically of this kind of delusion of ‘control’ being what Alison needs to avoid, because in Solomon we see who and what she could have easily become with her good-nature and impulsiveness.
I feel that Solomon has to make incidentally the same change White Chain has undergone. But, while she’s a simple pawn to that “system of order” (as a lawbringer), he is the Emperor. So he will probably get over it. But will probably need a longer time.
I’m not sure if we should call Gog “crazy”. She’s not human and never has been, and as far as we know she’s a unique kind of creature. She just is what she is, in other words.
So, let me get this straight. Solomon David can move quicker than the eye can see and drops rings when he takes damage? He reminds me of a certain blue blur…
Y’all, the themes at play are not especially subtle and it’s not super hard to figure out what the deal is here.
Power is a cage and a wheel. Those who wield it become trapped by it. The more they use it to try to impose their will on the world, the more they are forced to use it solely in the pursuit of holding onto it. Ultimately they failto shape the world and instead being shaped by it into perpetuating cycles of violence.
So far, the only escapes from power we’ve seen are utter annihilation (all the dead demiurges) or abdication (Maya). The central theme of the narrative, more overtly stated this chapter, has been the search for how to escape the cycle of violence and allow power to bring life instead of death.
By now, it is clear that *none* of the demiurges want their position anymore, but are kept trapped within the cycle by their cardinal flaw. Mother Om was lead to envy power as the only escape from her sufferring, and now fears what envy will drive her subjects to do if she tries to change. The Dragon’s greed consumed everything else in his life, and now he knows nothing else. Incubus lusts for the approval of others far more than he has any actual desire to rule, but knows no way to fill that need without using his power to seduce others’ minds. Gog-agog just straight-up enjoys the ability to party and consume without consequences to give it up. The Red God is the only one right now with an actual plan to break the cycle, by breaking everything, but his wrath keeps him trapped in the cycle for now. Solomon is too prideful to admit that anyone else might be able to wield the power better than he has, and so has invented a farce that lets him demonstrate the ‘superiority’ of his approach while leaving the possibility that someone could free him from the power, but only by validating his beliefs in doing so.
Zoss is trying to get Alison to find a way to use power to uplift and empower others; white chain is the first she has inspired to try to fight the system and find a new way. As she said, she is not trying to win by Solomon’s rules.
So solomon is not bleeding. He is legitimately frustrated, angry, and sad that he is not bleeding, not because of cauterization or a technicality, but because narratively it is way more thematically coherent that white chain did not draw blood. If he were bleeding, he truly would have won – he could give up his power while still ensuring that his successor proved that might truly did make right and that all should know their place. Whatever he thinks has happened right now and whatever he plans to do next, he knows that he has been bested by someone who played by a different set of rules.
This is the exact correct interpretation. Solomon felt pain in his cheek, but no blood. That face is not a face of wounded pride (as others have said) that is the face of someone who is frustrated. He was smiling when White Chain came at him. Gave him everything he wanted. He saw that she could overcome his time-stopping power.
While I agree with you and other posters who echoed this sentiment in principle I still think you’re giving Solomon too much credit. I do not believe he honestly wants to be defeated, he states so, he may have even fooled himself but in these tournaments he only find the confirmation of his deep rooted belief that he cannot step down ever because nobody is going to be able to take his place. And he takes a dark, masochistic pleasure in his sacrifice displaying it for all to see and basking in their worship even as he convinces himself that he loathes it.
The moment he touches his face it’s not in hope, it’s in disbelief, there are thoughts racing through his head, not a few of which are probably along the lines of how could he maintain his tyranny through the (self)illusion of sacrifice. Could he say that he’s “going to help the champion grow and pass the reigns of the empire to them when they’re ready”? Or claim they’ve somehow cheated? Or… and then there is no blood.
This is when he can allow himself to be (not just to show, but actually to be) disappointed, this is when he can do “Alas, not even this one”. There is no greater pride than one announcing their humility.
I cannot agree. Solomon, of all of the other Demiurges is the only one that I can actually relate to. Unlike those that are trapped by fear or greed or dementia, Solomon actively -wants- to give up his power. He demands that he only give his power to someone who could defeat him, of course, but he -is- tired.
It’s the same “only the worthy can wear the mantle” story. He thought White Chain was unworthy, but as we saw him smile when White Chain moved, his opinion changed. And yet, even all that.. only a bruise.
Solomon is too powerful to be defeated under his own rule-set by someone else. Only Solomon can defeat Solomon, and that will be the lesson he learns first and foremost.
I agree with Val. Solomon only pretends to want to give up his power, and perhaps has managed to fool himself, but if he were honest he’d admit that no one aside from the Red God has a chance at besting him.
Does he “know” without looking what has happened to white chain?.
He hasn’t looked around, or moved to defend himself, or anything like that. So either he “knows” she is no longer a threat, or he somehow felt or sensed or intuited her transformation, and understands she can’t continue the fight.
Solomon David discovers that he does not actually have blood. His Law is based on a Lie. He had trapped himself and didn’t know it. Unlikely but amusing
Blue string soup was the traditional variety in my day and had great restorative properties. I’m not sure if it works on blue hedgehogs but it might well be worth a try.
Solomon david has trapped himself in his own fallacy of power. He can only challenge zoss once he has a worthy successor to rayuba, but he’s too powerful to ever allow himself to lose, and too prideful to go back on his word. He’ll build colosseums forever while others pass him by.
Stoneyarse done become Royalsome – accepted had nuthin, were nuthin wi’out thums core belief to nae submit agin – so were prepared to, an did, even give thums very self up. An in so doin be apotheosin an believed thum new bein into existin.
It would be interesting if Mr Diamond’s word is tied to his power and so as to show no sign of doubt as to the outcome of the fight the desire of the individual who manages to draw blood from him is fulfilled. Only, he expected that desire to be his position not the clear desire, the Want of White Chain to Become.
Like the phrase “ashes to ashes and dust to dust” I think White Chain’s transformation can be considered like a kind of ressurection.
Im am a bit surprised Vigilant Gaze followed them considering i saw only Cio and Allison jumb down in 10-158. Though i should have suspected a Concordant knight not to sit idly by while his sister was reduced to rubble.
Besting Solomon David would incur the prize of ‘whatever one wished’. He incorrectly assumed that the one who bested him, like him, would wish for power. He was wrong.
White chain wished for acceptance, actualisation, embodiment, to be female, to be human, to be herself.
She harmed him, the gouge is proof, but there is no blood as the searing white fire of her presence cauterised the wound instantly.
Meanwhile Solomon’s overwhelming adherence to his own law caused White Chain’s wish to be granted. Perhaps even without Solomon David’s knowing, which is even more awesome knowing this DIAMOND’s strength was absolute control. He did not even participate in the granting of this wish.
Or perhaps White Chain lied to the universe and the universe said yes.
Either way, the match is over, White Chain has won. Its now up to everyone to realise this.
Solomon’s magic forehead bullshit has gone quiet, but likely because his focus is disrupted and his purpose is unclear. It seems very unlikely that his key has been stolen without leaving a gaping wound in his skull, ala Zoss.
Oh, and what did you base that on, given that in every depiction so far she is either a spirit or animated clay statue?.
Was it a “feeling” you had? You know, what you would call a bias in someone who asserted “he was clearly white since the beginning”, which I have actually seen some OTHER prejudiced person assert.
I also noticed that her facial features, which both the statue and spirit had, weren’t typical for white ppl. Perhaps this has been the idea from the beginning. No need to get so worked up about it, bud
If you go back to the earlier books in the series, especially with her interactions with the other angels in the void, you’ll see that White Chain’s form and facial structure is one of both female and african facial feature dimensions.
Re-read KSBD from the beginning to this point, the signs were there from VERY early in the series.
White Chain got what she wanted, Solomon David did not. The rest is just a hill of might-have-beens.
Now down to business. On the previous page panels 1-7: Solomon is surrounded by his customary purple glow. Panel 8, after contact with White Chain’s fist, the glow is gone – even though WC has just begun her transformation, even though they are still in Ki-Rata stopped time – the glow is gone.
It has not yet returned. My heart tells me that it never will, because the power it represents now belongs to someone else.
……comments on the last page are closed but I just really want to see more of Fleshy White Chain and just
*Ugh*
The fact that she re-entered existence looking like she’s wearing immaculate mascara and eyeliner with subtle freckles JUST
Hrmm… I’m guessing his pride is more bruised than his cheek. Considering the previous encounters with a Demiurge, I expect he will flip his lid and they will all end up fleeing with a quickness.
Xanadu ten Mercury "Murder the Gods and Pillage their Secrets"
I do rather appreciate the grim resignation Big Sol shows when he realizes he’s not actively bleeding. I do think that his wound might have been cauterized near instantaneously which as an aspect of pride might mean he is trapped in his own web just as Mottom is. A cage of perfect order with the viscera of foolish warriors to carpet the floor.
Oh, how DELIGHTFUL! She lost by winning, won by losing! She fulfilled the spirit of his request–“Injure me”–while *explicitly failing* the actual letter of the rules–“draw blood”.
She has in one fell swoop both proved herself ‘worthy’ to him and shown the weakness of his own rigid rules. She has shown to him the truth of the words I once heard a wise fungus speak:
“You cannot kill me in any way that matters”.
This is ALMOST better than an opened pack of Twizzlers to steal.
Alison: “Where is she!”
SD: “I dunno man… we punched each other and she … exploded? And the punched slapped me upside the face. Whatever Lady- why you getting so worked up about this?”
Did White Chain actually manage to “steal” a fragment of Solomon’s key by touching it? In the previous page we saw White Chain’s soul zip through Solomon’s flame and immediately after we see his shocked expression and her new body.
Although, judging by his look in this page he may just have been surprised that she managed to land a hit on him. Does he, per chance, look disappointed here? Was he… hoping to bleed from that? Was he hoping that White Chain could the one he deemed worthy enough to take his mantle? Or is he just disappointed to have been hit?
Alison can’t see White Chain from where she’s standing. The edge of the fighting ring blocks her view, and possibly also the remains of the sun shade/camera platform. The Ki-Rata moment happened while she was down on the arena floor, so from her perspective White Chain just disappeared in an instant and hasn’t reappeared. Vigilant Gaze is possibly tall enough to be able to see her.
With all the trans angst, racist bickering, psychological projection, unfounded speculation and overall EXCESSIVE mob mentality I forgot a very important implication of these recent pages…
Did they somehow not realise what happened? I am aware White Chain (or Black Chain at the moment, forgive my joke) does not look like she used to but they saw her disappear and a random naked girl appeared.
In case it is not clear – I may make some silly jokes and speak about race but I am not a racist. If I even judge people, I do it based on their actions, not skin color. We even accept blue-skinned devils, stone bound angels and lots of different creatures as “kind of human” here so it would be strange to alienise a normal human being that only has a bit darker skin tone.
All I want to do, is see you turn into,
A human woman, a human woman!
All I want to be, is someone who gets to see,
A human woman, a human woman!
Oh I know it will be great and I just can’t wait,
To see the look on Solomon’s face,
When he will see, that you will really be,
A human woman!
Awesome blog. I enjoyed reading your articles. This is truly a great read for me. I have bookmarked it and I am looking forward to reading new articles. Keep up the good work!
Oh man, I don’t know if that was a drop of blood.
Fire, friend. It cauterizes as it cuts–it would seem our heroes have lost by a technicality.
What are you talking about? There was no fire. He’s not bleeding because she just wasn’t strong enough.
I believe they are referring to the literal fire angels are constructed of.
Which is definitely what hit him. It’d be just like Solomon to deny the result he clearly wants because it didn’t fit the rules.
Does he want the results, though? His sin is pride. Could he ever accept that he had lost, unless circumstances undeniably prove it to him?
That’s a bruise, not a cauterized cut.
I wonder if that still counts. Internal bleeding is still bleeding.
See, that’s what White Chain is telling him, but angels can be mistaken. What if Solomon’s flaw isn’t a refusal to accept that he can be bested, but his refusal to accept that the the system he set up is itself failing?
He holds this tournament every year to find a successor so he can devote even more time to training, so as to finally rise above the other six demiurges as the new conquering king. But as it stands, the pattern of tournaments will continue until Jagganoth, the one person Solomon absolutely knows can beat him, is ready to come knocking, and Jagganoth has no intention of preserving what Solomon has built.
I think angels are allowed to be mistaken, they just can’t Lie without breaking themselves. Though even that only seems to crack the armor, as I don’t think White Chain’s true body bears a scar over her eye.
Wait, there is a better question. Did Solomon broke Whitechain’s old “body” or did she somehow tell a lie which was so great that her whole “body” crumbled?
I think her stone shell was just pulverized by Solomon. What we saw was will of spirit that transcended her stone form, and why she went from Divine Fire to flesh.
Not every year, but every thousand Turns, which is a little more than three years.
I’m even surprised it’s that often, given the size of the stadium and the need to rebuilt it every time. And for an apparently immortal demiurge like Salami, three years is nothing. He must be quite eager to give up that crown.
She was strong enough to bruise him. She did not make him bleed purposefully, so she wouldn’t participate in his system
I don’t think she could have anyway. The ghost form taken during the pass before becoming flesh shouldn’t have been able to even interact with him. And it was very clear white chain had given up any hope of actually winning, even as she threw that last .
Also blunt vs edged damage.
Doesn’t matter.
She wasn’t playing to win his game, and she’s certainly won hers.
This.
Let old Timotheus yield the prize,
Or both divide the crown;
He raised a mortal to the skies,
She drew an angel down!
— “Alexander’s Feast” by John Dryden
This one sees what is there.
Winner winner chicken dinner
Absolutely it was.
His Key is no longer glowing. Highlighted with Allison’s glowing in that last panel. White Chain has it, with a new body forming upon it. No doubt that forehead marking is gonna have a key soon.
I concur. The light of his key is gone. We have always seen him display it. His pride must be wounded…
… if not his power itself.
But he still seems disappointed.
I don’t think so. Look at the last page, before he and WC collided. His Key looked exactly hte same it does now. I think it reacts to his mood. Normally he’s extremely proud and confident, with a glowint Key and huge atum. But now he looks… sad, deflated, even lost. No proud glow or atum.
I dunno. In the previous pages, they are glowing outwards from the center. This one has a highlight – it is still glossy! – but does not appear to be casting its *own* light, as it has previously.
Not sure of the meaning, but I see what Radiant is saying.
He hasn’t looked around at her, yet he seems “aware” of her . . . like he is aware of her present condition.
If he DOESN’T know what has happened, why isn’t he looking to see what happened?
Zoss had the key and gave it up, and that’s represented by him having a *hole* in his head. We can clearly still see something inside of Solomon’s head, so I believe he still has his. Though Maya presumably used to have a key and doesn’t have the head-hole so I dunno lol
All the characters who have keys seem to be in an ever-changing state of glow, with max glow being represented by a halo. Probably something to do with Will and manifesting power.
Her master had a key but maya failed to kill the cruel boy who was her friend. Remember the lesson with the rat?
A bruise is a bleed under the kin.
^skin, dammit!
Given by our skin and blister.
She struck him in his right cheek. The obvious bruise is a clear sign of a strike.
She has already gained more than he could have given her. Elevation. Promotion from mere angel incarnated into fused ash – into a human, capable of achiving god-level status – a god herself, instead of a servant/vassal thereof.
I’m glad she didn’t kill him. He simply needed a touch of humility. He will be the better leader now because of it.
Or a worse one. His pride has been wounded. That could make him more dangerous.
Nah, he clearly wants someone to beat him. Hence the drop of blood. He needs someone on his level to take his place.
She clearly hurt him. Three words. Sonic the Hedgehog.
The look on Dave’s face is profound disappointment apparently. I guess that by bruising him, White Chain came closer than anyone has in centuries, but was ultimately unsuccessful.
Pictured above this comment: a lot of lovely nerds. ♡
It wasn’t, which makes for the far better story.
If she’d spilled his blood, she’d have “won,” Solomon would’ve been honor-bound to stay true to his word, or at the very least he’d have an excuse to do so.
As it stands, the point of White Chain’s battle isn’t cheapened. It wasn’t about winning, and it wasn’t about Solomon, it was about her.
Meanwhile Solomon now has to actually face some reality and make a decision. He’s not bound by his word since no drop of blood was spilled, but it’s abundantly clear someone actually got through and landed a solid hit on him, possibly the first one since his ascension.
So now what? What does that mean to him when it doesn’t follow his neatly outlaid plan and he has to actually decide what to do next?
We’ll see
Another good Cio face for the Cio face pile.
EVERY Cio face is a good face!
So you’re saying Dogfriend’s not wrong…
I’m saying that I want to collect the 36 best Cio faces and make a Tarocchi deck out of them.
Plus Cio is back wearing her usual clothing, not the servant’s costume forced on her earlier.
And she’s got her flying paper servants at the ready! I would NOT mess with the trio in the last panel!
But I think the fight is over.
For a single second
The king had fallen
Falling and free at at last.
Woe to him, who cannot fall.
So now he can die and retire from the story?
“People think goodness comes after the fall
But they do not realize
That goodness is only achieved
through the fall.”
He almost seems disappointed that there was no blood…
his cage was almost broken
alas,maybe in a better age
nary a drop…
There is no blood in this broth, but the finest of marrow. Get your bowl today!
-It’s a “sure bet” you’ll love your bowl!
If Solomon said he bled, he bled. His word is law. Presumably now her flesh is stronger than stone.
Also, Nobody noticed White Chain? And I really wanna see White Cio.
Hold on! Has he even seen!?
The collapsed structure shields her, and their fight occurred in the space between seconds.
White Chain just transcended across the arena in a fraction of a second. Alison and the others are understandably confused.
From their perspective it must be confusing. One moment they see White Chain laying on the ground and Solomon David throwng his bracelets in the air like he did before killing all those other contestants. The next moment, he’s standing in a different place, White Chain is nowhere to be seen and there’s an unknown woman in the ring. Confusing. Not to mention that Solomon David’s pose isn’t the expected ‘I won!’ but rather a confused ‘WTF?’
Or perhaps, Rather than Transcending stone, she has taken on the finest of stones, From the one who Bears the Concept of DIAMOND. Even the smallest piece cut off by the Jeweler’s chisel, is still a diamond.
Hmmm. A bruise isn’t quite drawn blood, not out of the skin anyway.
Well I was wrong about him missing an arm and bleeding.
Even if not blood, it’s certainly the closest anyone has come to it. He will want to explore fruther.
She’s till in the ring! Match isn’t over yet! Also angels can’t wield the stones, but humans can, Alison needs to share that bling.
Aeons can’t normally use the keys, but nothing about what WC has become is normal.
Indeed. Given Vigilant Gaze’s commentary before hand, and the hope he was expressing for change, I don’t think what White Chain has become is JUST human. She’s become something new.
She presumably still has an angel’s cold white atum, rather than the usual hot black human atum. That, I would think, is a large difference. This is 83 White Chain Born in Emptiness Returns to Subdue Evil; if her soul and body are now one, as for a human, I doubt she will have an 84th incarnation.
It’s not that they can’t, it’s that they’re unwilling to even try, though 2 Michael appeared to entertain the idea at one point. One particular ambitious devil stole a piece of a key once, and servants are plenty capable of using them (Mammon, several individuals from past scenes including a goblin). There’s no in-universe reason why angels can’t use one of those keys if they wanted to.
I hesitate to mention this, because I’ve long since lost the reference. Regardless…
I recall reading at one point that angels can bear keys, but they cannot activate (“mantle”) them. Furthermore, the rationale given for this, as I recall, was that their origin in the white fire of the Void prevents them from mustering the ambition (the “Want”) that the keys respond to.
Take this with a grain of salt. I’d rate this as a theory than Word-of-God hard-fact. Consider:
Koss forged humans and devils from black flame, which makes ambition a simple task for them. Servants are, like angels, also creatures forged from white flame, but we do have examples of Servant key-wielders*. Ergo, an angel might theoretically be able to mantle a key, but the passion required is antithetical to the mindsets of most angels we’ve seen thus far.
So yes, it’s not impossible for an angel to Want to use a key, but it is exceedingly unlikely for an angel to Want in the first place. Then again, transfiguration and superluminal combat are also pretty unlikely, so it’s anyone’s game at this point.
* Mammon is noted to have been an aberration among his family.
it isn’t a direct comment on the matter, but angels cannot fully accept the mantle of Royalty primarily because they believe that they cannot, which amounts to being unable to. it may be thus with the keys.
“Also angels can’t wield the stones”
Well…the entire theme of this comic is about “change”. I think the only reason an angel has never wielded a key is because they THOUGHT they could not and thought the rules said they couldn’t.
I wonder why angels crack up upon lying. Is it because, for someone made of the cold white flame, lying is creating a division in one’s self? Which manifests as a crack–a division in their shell?
Whereas for someone of the hot black flame, lying (the red art) is making something new/different outside of them? So it doesn’t crack them up, merely changes the nature of something that exists?
What happens when an angel says something they THINK is true–but maybe is “false” to everyone around them? Or, what happens when an angel is insane? Won’t they believe every thing they utter is completely true, no matter how bonkers to others it is? And thus be able to talk/act as if it is true, because they think it is?
Won’t them proclaiming their truth shape the universe, too? Like White Chain proclaiming her truth has shaped a new body for herself?
Anyway, my point here is that if an angel fully believed they could wield a key, I bet they could. An angel’s belief that this is true–that they could wield a key–would basically make it true. They would not be consciously lying.
Especially since the keys were made out of something from an angel, from Metatron. It seems logical another angel could wield such a thing.
The danger, I think, is that the angel wearing the key might end up in some sort of mental fight with Metatron for the domination of their individual “truth”. Perhaps a non-angel has a better time grappling with that, due to their non-angellic nature…
Well, angels are well known to be born of the White Flame, essence of That Which is Not. Yet as all know, a Lie is the telling of That Which is Not, and is one of the most holy actions. Perhaps the cracking from the telling of a lie is from the breaking through of an angel’s true nature, a painful thing but necessary for actual growth.
what’s that bigass stone what’s been dropped in panel 2?
There was a frame hanging over the arena, Solomon knocked it off when throwing white Chain out into the sky.
No “Perfect Kill” award for the Emperor this time….
Also, Cio ditched the outfit she obviously hated. Good for her! Never let the patriarchy force you to wear outfits.
I like to think she used the awesome power of the Red Art of Lying to the Face of God to turn that ugly thing into her paper soldiers.
Since the comments on the previous page were broken by the sheer awesome on display, this one is late.
“Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in […] ONE PUNCH!”
The Diamond is bruised but not bloodied.
And yet his hopes appear to have been shattered nonetheless.
He felt pain on his cheek, he put his hand up to touch it, and it came back empty. His expression when he saw White Chain get up in spite of his Time Stop was actually one of joy, which changed to great seriousness in the next second. I wonder if, for a moment, he wasn’t hoping White Chain WOULD succeed in drawing a drop of blood. Perhaps he’s more aware of his own cage than we thought?
He is. Its the whole point of this tournament after all. He wants to leave, to go on a journey, but his pride won’t allow him to abandon his empire, not without someone that is his equal(or very close at least) to take his place.
I’m surprised at how many people seem utterly unable to grasp this concept.
Never accord to malevolence, that which could stem from stupidity.
They are not “unable” to grasp it, they are DETERMINED not to grasp it.
It’s raining. Blood very well could have been washed off.
I like that Solomon turned his back to his soldiers when he checked if he was bleeding. Prideful to the end.
The look on his face, was it fear? Or merely disbelief? But when he sees no blood it is clear that he feels dismay. While she may not have won his battle, she has won her war.
It doesn’t matter if she struck blood here or not. That was only what David wanted and it is not White Chain has lost the fight or anything. I think everyone except David at this point can say that the fight doesn’t matter anymore.
The fact that there is no blood is actually worse for him, since he is now completely irrelevant.
Disappointment. She came so close.
That was round one. There is always another round – if, that is, White Chain wishes to continue. She may well believe she has made her point in a manner quite sufficient.
She’s still in the ring. It’s not over yet.
The question is whether David has realised this or not, and whether his arrogance will cause him to forfeit by simply walking out the ring.
He’ll surely notice the strange new naked girl kneeling next to his bracelets, the only other person on the dais. Seeing she has an angel’s atum flame may then also help his realisation.
Wow the message of complex emotions shown on Salami’s face in just 3 panels is astounding man I LOVE this
Yeah, I don’t know exactly how much of what Solomon says is honest and how much is self-serving BS, but he looks actually disappointed here.
Mr Diamond appears to me to be a man who has strived to do what he believes is for the best for those under his rule. His achievements from what little of them I have seen, seem to have provided greater benefit and less suffering for his subjects than those of other worlds, my own included. No doubt this has involved some… firmness of hand and equally doubtless things are not perfect but his intentions appear to be for the good and he has not made a bad job of things under the circumstances.
Let us hope that he does not now succumb to baser instincts but takes this opportunity to shine magnanimously. It would be nice to see some good to come from all of this.
How to utterly defeat someone: cause their violence to be induced by them-self.
all that for a little blood?
Interesting situation! WC landed a blow but didn’t draw blood: Dave can weasel out of giving up his crown on a technicality, but it’ll undermine his cult of personality of an untouchable god king. Will sitting on the throne feel sweet to him anymore, when he can see even a sliver of doubt in the eyes of his subjects?
More than that, he knows he was disappointed to find no blood. He can no longer tell himself that his philosophy is not a prison to him.
He’s become so bound up in his ideal of what a man should be that he’s lost sight of who he wants to be.
Without Want, Royalty is beyond his grasp.
It looks like it was cauterized. Like you can see a line ‘gash’, and it looks distinctly different than a bruise. Feels purposefully drawn like that, as if White Chain’s angelic fire sealed the wound shut the moment it was made.
That may even be intentional on WC’s part, as nothing I’ve seen so far would indicate that she even wants his throne. If it is indeed a gash that was cauterized, she will have proven that she can defeat Solomon, all the while denying him the fruits of his defeat.
This. This interpretation pleases me and I hope to see it borne out.
The reward for drawing blood is for the winner to “have whatever he so wishes”. That never necessarily meant his throne, though that is an obvious choice and that, or even his key, is perhaps what he wanted them to demand.
Get ready for a SUURRPRISE!!!
Gotta know the etiquette of the golden bracelets. Do they get disposed of once they hit the ground? Does he break the hands of the servant that picks them up as punishment for acknowledging they fell in the first place?
Since everything he does is perfect, that must mean the law of gold armbands changed as soon as they hit the ground.
Sister White Chain may not have drawn blood, but my did she still knock the stuffing out of him. Befuddled enough that he could not even think to collect his bracelets in ki-rata time.
That may be because it wasn’t him that ended the timestop but White Chain?
Nobody “ended the time stop”, Ki Rata is a breathing technique that lets him move so fast everything else was motionless in comparison. The reason why things are moving now is because he no longer maintains it, likely due to his loss of concentration.
Between the two of them it’s unclear if Solomon is not too shaken to re-enter Ki Rata and if what mastery White chain has over her new body would allow her to use, or counter, the style effectively.
I expected something like, White Chain manifests in Salami Dave’s mindscape behind his eyes, like what happened to Allison in the fortress of Yre. And then, when she takes the form of his dead wife, he quietly freaks out, and eventually White Chain squats in Allison’s mindscape until she can be built a new body.
Guess I’ll have to see where Abaddon goes with this.
WHOA! You think that’s the form of Solomon’s dead wife?! What an intriguing and devastating idea.
Hmm, technically a bruise is caused by broken blood vessel and is a form of internal bleeding. Honestly it’s quite hard to draw blood externally with punches unless you hit very specific spots. If she had hit him more squarely in the face she might have done it. For instance the blow landing on the mouth would have split his lip or hitting him in the nose might have bloodied it. Still depends on interpretation of the rules and whether internal bleeding counts or not (honestly it should and would be a stupid oversight since internal injuries can be just as sever as external ones, if not worse).
Or, consider that she moved though him. She inhabits his body now. He inhabits her new one.
The “god” can be stuck. Can be harmed. His sons will remember this.
Slightly delayed comment due to the comment lock, but Holy Shit. I want to start off by saying I absolutely. Love. This. Comic. It brings me so much joy and excitement each time I re-read it. The art of White Chain’s Apotheosis update is amazing and I am hyped to see where this is going. And I’ve always found this fan community brings an invaluable layer of additional depth to the experience.
But beyond the wonderful characters and story, what really drives me to love KSBD is it’s apparent themes of transcending limited identity. It’s an unabashed pastiche of eastern spiritual traditions after all, and an excellent one at that.
The apotheosis update left me struggling with a profound sense of whiplash, due to my own experiences as a transfeminine person. But after reflecting on the core themes of the story and reading a number of comments, and concerns that I may have had are now gone. It’s for this reason that I want to thank many of you, and especially those responding in Bob’s thread, for helping me overcome my reservations regarding White Chain’s transformation. So, cheers for that.
Now, let us see if WC has reached heaven through violence
The “We Mean Business” Squad.
Blood or not, White Chain made a mark on him.
When was the last time anything like that happened to him ?
I’m guessing this is his first, and last, punch to the face.
To Win by his rules merely says you are stronger,
To defeat his rules,
And Thus his style of rule,
Is the greater victory.
Proving that men like him are not needed,
A Goal He spoke of to Himself at least.
thank you for these last few pages. They are excellent storytelling and it is so nice to see White Chain finally got her wish.
Is it disbelief in his face, or disappointment? Finally, a worthy opponent, one that can both face his strength and challenge his philosophy… The first proper hit in eons, but no blood. He’s bound by his word, and his word is Diamond…
I believe the fight will continue.
A drop of blood may not have been drawn, but judging from the body, White Chain may have stolen it, metaphorically speaking.
Yes, whatever it is she has taken, it’s far more than a drop of blood. But at the same time, no drop of blood means no way for Solomon to admit defeat with honor. Isn’t that what he wanted?
The Wheel shudders, and is silent. The ancient lessons have no words for what happened here.
When the Wheel is silent, the logical response is to speak in its stead.
If the Wheel won’t listen, the sacred duty is to break it.
She won and not-won in a single blow. It is like watching a tiny piece of the original self division, isn’t it?
I think he thinks she’s gone.
Agreed! He is freaked that someone actually landed a blow, but believes White Chain disintegrated upon impact, and has no idea she has been transformed. Allison doesn’t realized what has happened.
No one does! Vigilant Gaze will likely be the first to figure it out, or maybe already has.
But Salami Dave’s – shoot, everyone’s – super freak-out is imminent!
Suddenly, Vigilant Gaze says “Who dat?”
He’s not freaked out at all, his expression is clearly of disappointment, possibly even despair.
For the first time in God knows how long, he felt a blow land. Pain. His eyes widen, as his mind jumps to the implications, and he immediately check the site.
But as there is no blood from the blow, his hand clenches in frustration. His hopes crumble. He isn’t even responding to Alison and co. Sudden charge, just standing there letting the whiplash of despair overtake him, if only for the moment.
Maybe it’s just me, but it looks like David is first rubbing the spot he got hit, checking his hand for something (blood?) and then gets annoyed or becomes resigned at not seeing anything. It wouldn’t exactly be off-hand for him to want to lose his power – but only to someone he believed worthy – as that would make him the third of the seven they’ve met who regret what they’ve become.
Well, he does want for a time to come when men like him are not necessary.
If one believes himself necessary, only necessary… is he truly proud of what he has become?
In other words, necessary is not worthy.
When you mention the two others, you are likely referring to Mottom and Mammon. But don’t forget Jadis! From the wiki: “Jadis only speaks in whispers behind her mask and not much else. Though not much can be sensed in her personality, she sincerely wishes to die.” It seems like becoming a demiurge is hard on your long term self-respect.
Lo, for though the God King did not concede, he knew he had lost in his heart.
A flesh forged into steel with a thousand generations of hardship finally bore a crack.
But what lies beneath the proud surface? We shall see.
As someone predicted several pages ago, Al-Ys-Un arrives accompanied by the black flame and the white flame.
What exact role White Chain will have in the prophecy now is REALLY up for grabs and I can’t wait to see where Abaddon goes with it.
One has wondered whether White Chain’s new hybrid Aeon-human shall still be the white flame prophesied to flank the Rising King, or whether Vigilant may possibly step into the breach, or even always have been the one set to bear that mantle. White Chain’s ascension opens up a delightful smorgasbord of possibilities.
Or…. wait wait wait. What if *White Chain* is the prophesied one? Accompanied by Cio and Vigilant, or even Allison and Vigilant?
Bruises, broken blood vessel, drop of blood spilled, inside…
Alysun is not going to accept any explanation he has…
Does Solomon have a daughter? One that is worthy of his throne? Or maybe one worthy of his legacy and a change of heart? As a father of a daughter, I totally see how this can profoundly change one’s perspective.
I see humility is Solomon’s eyes. I see an ally.
The rings hit the floor.
Solomon got hit, and then a lot of rings fell. Is he part-hedgehog?
during ki rata the rings serve to lure the super sonic hedgehog into battle. he’s the anti-sonic.
maybe a little homage too.
more seriously he didnt complete his usual display of total mastery: ring toss, ki rata, kill, ring catch all in an instant
you can see how much he wanted it to be The Time
Flanked by a white and black flame. Portentious.
Thou art a cunning man, Abbadon! We had a week of agony of intrigued torture, and insted of relieving it, thou doomst us to have more!
His objective is to kill six billion unwarranted expectations.
Subvert Six Billion Tropes
The match is still on. Nobody has won yet, and nobody has conceded yet.
So, what happens next? It’d seem a bit boring and obvious to just keep fighting after this new development. It’s bound to be the most interesting thing Solomon has seen for eons, once he realises what has happened. It’s literally unprecedented, as far as anyone knows, in the history of the universe. White Chain is now an entirely new sort of being.
Might be a good time for a break in the proceedings. Have some tea, think things through. They can always resume pummeling each other later.
Where’s White Chain? She’s over there, lookin’ fine as hell!
Wait, does that mean Allison missed the raddest thing to happen in like 200 years?!
It looks like that exchange happened in the frozen time – Solomon’s rings just fell to the ground in the first panel, implying that the entire exchange happened in a fraction of a second.
…Belatedly realised that we once more have a queen yell “Where is she?!” into the face of a demiurge near an end of a book =D
Different queens, demiurges, and “shees” for that matter, yet nevertheless. ADORE that sort of parallels.
Об-Олденно, для тех, кто говорит на великом и могучем, и притом впиливает.
Fight’s over. White Chain has taken a drop of Solomon’s blood, and gained her heart’s desire. She didn’t need to LEAVE any on him.
An Angel, a Human and a Devil walk into a ba… fight…
WONDER WHO IS GOING TO REALIZE THEY NEED TO SPEAK TO ABADDON ABOUT MAKING AN ANIMATED VERSION
Memetic mutation challenge.
1: Take panels 3 to 5.
2: Put something on Dave’s palm.
3: Use Allison’s speech bubble to indicate Solomon just crushed whatever it was that was on his face.
“Break On Through To The Other Side”
White Chain chose well in finding an Unyielding Opponent,
One who battered and smashed Xyr physical body.
One who tested Xyr resolve, cracking Xyr shell,
Trash talking, Mocking, Solomon the Confident One.
Seeking to Force Xyr into a moment where Xe,
was compelled to yield or be destroyed.
Xe choose this fight in atonement for complicity,
a punishment for past sins.
This provided the opportunity
– to push beyond all present limits.
Solomon is Mighty, oh yes of immense physical might.
Solomon is most Formidable,
accomplished in a dozen and more martial art forms.
Solomon is Lethal, a Ki-Rata master who can kill with a breath,
or within a breath.
Solomon is Empowered,
with the Key essences stolen and accumulated from
a hundred thousand slain Demi-urges,
bearing the names, the names of the God Yisun.
Yet Solomon is limited in Spirit.
He achieved a Pinnacle of Power,
One able to move two suns into place.
Yet became frozen, cyrstalized, unable to progress spiritually.
Witness now, how 82 White Chain and Allyson have switched places.
White Chain the teacher and guide of Angelic martial art forms,
the Adherent One.
Allyson, the mad monk, breaker of all forms and conventions in her searches.
How White Chain has taken that to heart.
“I Realize She is right.
Even if it seems Hopeless, In the face of Unstoppable Evil,
( Rather ) than Nothing at All,
Action is better .
O’ Great Fool,
Once I doubted your Belief,
Now I believe it too.”
O’ White Chain,
What hast Thou become ?
Immanence, Apotheosis, Transcendence ?
What are you, will you, can you be ?
Woman, Flame, Goddess ?
Hark !
A new Incarnation Upon the Wheel of Creation !
The chains falling. The structure falling. The lack of glow. I think Solomon truly prepared himself to lose his power if he lost a drop of blood. and there’s blood all over that wound on his face. He still has Ki Rata, he’s still powerful enough to kill a demiurge, or survive without a sun on a barren world. But he has lost his control over creation.
I think his disappointment is in realizing that what he has been yearning for all these centuries, is actually the last thing he wanted. He never actually wanted to lose his power. Which is what White Chain has been saying all along.
So it’s doubly disappointing for him. He has lost something he valued more than he knew, and his philosophy was wrong all along.
Not going to lie, I was kinda hoping he would slowly crumble after losing his power and say something like, “thank you.” but this is much more satisfying in the context of the entire conversation over the past 20 pages.
Those were just his armband rings, and the structure (which was just some decorative thing above the arena) fell before the final exchange of blows, when Solomon blasted through it to fly above the arena. Also it’s a bruise, Solomon’s hand turns up empty of blood.
Yon fall’d whatever-it-is-thing be likes as un shinto shrine roof ower sacredsome dohyo.
I really cant understand how there can be any sort of confusion about this.
SD has been searching for a worthy succeser for -generations- with no luck.
At last. At long last. He fight someone who is able to stand up to his unbeatable Ki Rata attack. Someone who can take his role and set him free from the prison he build.
And she lands a blow upon him. Likely the first one since the multiverse war? So for a moment he is hopeful. Checks his cheek to see if she drew blood?
But she failed to do so. She only bruised him. And thats not enough. The law is crystal clear. She has to -draw- blood.
So in panel 5, SD pauses to curse silently. For a very brief moment, during the fight, he likely felt free. But now he has to resign himself to take up his burden again, because the Empire needs its Emperor.
And that Allison cant understand where White Chain is should also be crystal clear. White Chain’s Apothesis took place in a frozen second.
She might be confused about why there are a naked girl kneeling in the arena. But right now she want to know what happend to her friend the Angel. (who as far as she knows, isnt a naked girl)
Allison might not be able to see WC, the fallen whatever-it-is-thing that was above the ring is blocking her view.
I like this interpretation. Well said.
Calling it: He’s going to walk off stage and White chain wins by ring-out.
That’d be perfect. His pride making him just assume he’s won. I love it.
I feel kind of betrayed because I’ve mentally resigned myself thinking that we can’t have nice things, White Chain is going to die, but lo and behold! I’m glad, of course:)
Paper men have edges, sharp
fold when gently poked in heart.
The same goes for ogres at larp.
Panel 3 Solomon is sweating… or maybe just the rain.
Close, but no dice.
Did that hurt, Solomon?
DAMNIT SHE SHOULDA HIT HIM IN THE NOSE!
i really hope solomon decides to break his own rule a little bit… mostly because white chain was almost certainly right in that nobody had ever come close and now she had just barely failed to meet his ridiculously high standards. at any rate, he almost certainly won’t kill her again…
seriously, though, if he doesn’t realize he can just choose his successor i’ma be pissed. of all the characters in this story so far, only White Chain would be deserving of the power he offers and not because she nearly succeeded at his stupid honey trap.
It’s strange to see that Solomon looks genuinely frustrated over the fact that WC couldn’t make him bleed. It almost seems that, for all his pride and hypocrisy, he does genuinely see his position as a burden, self-made or not.
Let’s not be hasty with the paper dolls, Cio…
[pantomime voice] She’s behind you!
Waiting for Solomon Dave to be a reasonable guy and doing some really smart stuff
People take for granted that each of the characters in this have strengths and faults; Solomon is not a ‘evil’ man, he is doing what he sincerely believes in right. Mottom isn’t entirely evil, she’s ruled over by fear that she has to behave and be as she is in order to maintain less disaster and chaos than if she were to simply resign (Much like Solomon, but different philosophies.)
As far as we have seen the only two mischevious and truly egocentric entities would be Incubus and Jagganoth; Gog A-gog is crazy as likely are the thorn knights (Torture drove Metatron insane.) and the dragon himself is long since senile and of diminished awareness.
A recurring theme in this comic as I have observed is how dated beliefs and philosophies by rulers can lead to stagnation and corruption and it is so gradual (given time spans we see) that by the time the rulers could be aware they blame the people for their own poor rulership.
I believe we’ll see some amazing character development for Solomon that better exemplifies his better character traits; plenty of people get too attached to specifically the starring cast forgetting that Abaddon has made an incredible universe of characters with many full of great depth and purpose. Try to remember folks, Solomon lives by the strict Diamond Policies ‘because’ he knows there are only demiurges that factor into the balance and safety of the Universe and he knows he is the only one that has the Will, Sensible Nature, and Power capable of preserving a semblance of Order in an otherwise gone insane reality.
Solomon doesn’t disbelieve heroes exist; he considers someone that is naive or lacking power enough to manifest their vision and will incapable of bearing that burden — and so he carries it in his mind entirely alone. Zodd spoke specifically of this kind of delusion of ‘control’ being what Alison needs to avoid, because in Solomon we see who and what she could have easily become with her good-nature and impulsiveness.
Good work thus far on the comic folks.
I feel that Solomon has to make incidentally the same change White Chain has undergone. But, while she’s a simple pawn to that “system of order” (as a lawbringer), he is the Emperor. So he will probably get over it. But will probably need a longer time.
I’m not sure if we should call Gog “crazy”. She’s not human and never has been, and as far as we know she’s a unique kind of creature. She just is what she is, in other words.
So, let me get this straight. Solomon David can move quicker than the eye can see and drops rings when he takes damage? He reminds me of a certain blue blur…
To know royalty, one must first know where to get the most radical Chili Dogs in the wheel.
Excellent reference
Abbadon i love you dude
Y’all, the themes at play are not especially subtle and it’s not super hard to figure out what the deal is here.
Power is a cage and a wheel. Those who wield it become trapped by it. The more they use it to try to impose their will on the world, the more they are forced to use it solely in the pursuit of holding onto it. Ultimately they failto shape the world and instead being shaped by it into perpetuating cycles of violence.
So far, the only escapes from power we’ve seen are utter annihilation (all the dead demiurges) or abdication (Maya). The central theme of the narrative, more overtly stated this chapter, has been the search for how to escape the cycle of violence and allow power to bring life instead of death.
By now, it is clear that *none* of the demiurges want their position anymore, but are kept trapped within the cycle by their cardinal flaw. Mother Om was lead to envy power as the only escape from her sufferring, and now fears what envy will drive her subjects to do if she tries to change. The Dragon’s greed consumed everything else in his life, and now he knows nothing else. Incubus lusts for the approval of others far more than he has any actual desire to rule, but knows no way to fill that need without using his power to seduce others’ minds. Gog-agog just straight-up enjoys the ability to party and consume without consequences to give it up. The Red God is the only one right now with an actual plan to break the cycle, by breaking everything, but his wrath keeps him trapped in the cycle for now. Solomon is too prideful to admit that anyone else might be able to wield the power better than he has, and so has invented a farce that lets him demonstrate the ‘superiority’ of his approach while leaving the possibility that someone could free him from the power, but only by validating his beliefs in doing so.
Zoss is trying to get Alison to find a way to use power to uplift and empower others; white chain is the first she has inspired to try to fight the system and find a new way. As she said, she is not trying to win by Solomon’s rules.
So solomon is not bleeding. He is legitimately frustrated, angry, and sad that he is not bleeding, not because of cauterization or a technicality, but because narratively it is way more thematically coherent that white chain did not draw blood. If he were bleeding, he truly would have won – he could give up his power while still ensuring that his successor proved that might truly did make right and that all should know their place. Whatever he thinks has happened right now and whatever he plans to do next, he knows that he has been bested by someone who played by a different set of rules.
This is the exact correct interpretation. Solomon felt pain in his cheek, but no blood. That face is not a face of wounded pride (as others have said) that is the face of someone who is frustrated. He was smiling when White Chain came at him. Gave him everything he wanted. He saw that she could overcome his time-stopping power.
And all she gave him was a bruise.
While I agree with you and other posters who echoed this sentiment in principle I still think you’re giving Solomon too much credit. I do not believe he honestly wants to be defeated, he states so, he may have even fooled himself but in these tournaments he only find the confirmation of his deep rooted belief that he cannot step down ever because nobody is going to be able to take his place. And he takes a dark, masochistic pleasure in his sacrifice displaying it for all to see and basking in their worship even as he convinces himself that he loathes it.
The moment he touches his face it’s not in hope, it’s in disbelief, there are thoughts racing through his head, not a few of which are probably along the lines of how could he maintain his tyranny through the (self)illusion of sacrifice. Could he say that he’s “going to help the champion grow and pass the reigns of the empire to them when they’re ready”? Or claim they’ve somehow cheated? Or… and then there is no blood.
This is when he can allow himself to be (not just to show, but actually to be) disappointed, this is when he can do “Alas, not even this one”. There is no greater pride than one announcing their humility.
I cannot agree. Solomon, of all of the other Demiurges is the only one that I can actually relate to. Unlike those that are trapped by fear or greed or dementia, Solomon actively -wants- to give up his power. He demands that he only give his power to someone who could defeat him, of course, but he -is- tired.
It’s the same “only the worthy can wear the mantle” story. He thought White Chain was unworthy, but as we saw him smile when White Chain moved, his opinion changed. And yet, even all that.. only a bruise.
Solomon is too powerful to be defeated under his own rule-set by someone else. Only Solomon can defeat Solomon, and that will be the lesson he learns first and foremost.
I agree with Val. Solomon only pretends to want to give up his power, and perhaps has managed to fool himself, but if he were honest he’d admit that no one aside from the Red God has a chance at besting him.
[Though not perfectly explicit, I love one thing about this best:
Power hoarded traps the hoarder; power shared frees all of us.
A truly important concept, especially today.]
Does he “know” without looking what has happened to white chain?.
He hasn’t looked around, or moved to defend himself, or anything like that. So either he “knows” she is no longer a threat, or he somehow felt or sensed or intuited her transformation, and understands she can’t continue the fight.
Mother Om stands for gluttony. Gog-Agog stands for envy. It’s especially obvious when she mimics the other demiurges at the first concordance.
Solomon David discovers that he does not actually have blood. His Law is based on a Lie. He had trapped himself and didn’t know it. Unlikely but amusing
Oh Al, do you not recognize your Sifu?
I quite expected the Soup Dragon to appear in the first panel, perhaps she will make an appearance later to look in on her friends.
Gurgleurgleurgleurgle
“Woulds tha like some green soup?” (like as not, fer thums nae familiar wi yon cute volcanic-soup-lake-guardin six-legged draconic).
Blue string soup was the traditional variety in my day and had great restorative properties. I’m not sure if it works on blue hedgehogs but it might well be worth a try.
Solomon david has trapped himself in his own fallacy of power. He can only challenge zoss once he has a worthy successor to rayuba, but he’s too powerful to ever allow himself to lose, and too prideful to go back on his word. He’ll build colosseums forever while others pass him by.
I swear if she intrudes on the fight just when it is getting good, i will hate her forever.
Abandon your comic holds truth in it. You definitely listen to universal consciousness.
MY GIRL’S SCHOOL GIRL CLOTHES ARE BACK. TRULY THE KING HAS BEEN BESTED. A TRUE UPSET ISN’T IT GOG?
>.<
I WANT MY MILKSHAKE WITH MORE CHOCOLATE ABBADON
White Chain has reincarnated way more than any other angel. Maybe she figured out how to manipulate the process and get a body out of it?
Stoneyarse done become Royalsome – accepted had nuthin, were nuthin wi’out thums core belief to nae submit agin – so were prepared to, an did, even give thums very self up. An in so doin be apotheosin an believed thum new bein into existin.
Forgots the questingmark. ?
Naebdy truesome sage whit’s goin on. Till mebbe couple pages efter.
It would be interesting if Mr Diamond’s word is tied to his power and so as to show no sign of doubt as to the outcome of the fight the desire of the individual who manages to draw blood from him is fulfilled. Only, he expected that desire to be his position not the clear desire, the Want of White Chain to Become.
Like the phrase “ashes to ashes and dust to dust” I think White Chain’s transformation can be considered like a kind of ressurection.
… And lo, the Lord did look down upon the Earth and what had transpired there, and He spake from the Heavens:
“Holy SHIT.”
Im am a bit surprised Vigilant Gaze followed them considering i saw only Cio and Allison jumb down in 10-158. Though i should have suspected a Concordant knight not to sit idly by while his sister was reduced to rubble.
What happened?
Besting Solomon David would incur the prize of ‘whatever one wished’. He incorrectly assumed that the one who bested him, like him, would wish for power. He was wrong.
White chain wished for acceptance, actualisation, embodiment, to be female, to be human, to be herself.
She harmed him, the gouge is proof, but there is no blood as the searing white fire of her presence cauterised the wound instantly.
Meanwhile Solomon’s overwhelming adherence to his own law caused White Chain’s wish to be granted. Perhaps even without Solomon David’s knowing, which is even more awesome knowing this DIAMOND’s strength was absolute control. He did not even participate in the granting of this wish.
Or perhaps White Chain lied to the universe and the universe said yes.
Either way, the match is over, White Chain has won. Its now up to everyone to realise this.
Solomon’s magic forehead bullshit has gone quiet, but likely because his focus is disrupted and his purpose is unclear. It seems very unlikely that his key has been stolen without leaving a gaping wound in his skull, ala Zoss.
Well, there we have it finally. A fight that wasn’t about Solomon David, and amazingly…I think he realizes that…
Hey. Uhm.
Is there any way you can add a way I can buy “Nothing” on your merch site?
I have a mental allergy to subscription services….
Salami Dave after checking for blood: “Oh come on!”
I wonder if White Chain is black just because or because she’s like…. David’s “daughter” now or smth
I think that’s definitely a factor also tbh as someone who studies PoC in art and fiction she was clearly not white since the beginning.
Oh, and what did you base that on, given that in every depiction so far she is either a spirit or animated clay statue?.
Was it a “feeling” you had? You know, what you would call a bias in someone who asserted “he was clearly white since the beginning”, which I have actually seen some OTHER prejudiced person assert.
I also noticed that her facial features, which both the statue and spirit had, weren’t typical for white ppl. Perhaps this has been the idea from the beginning. No need to get so worked up about it, bud
If you go back to the earlier books in the series, especially with her interactions with the other angels in the void, you’ll see that White Chain’s form and facial structure is one of both female and african facial feature dimensions.
Re-read KSBD from the beginning to this point, the signs were there from VERY early in the series.
The big magic afro was probably a hint.
White Chain got what she wanted, Solomon David did not. The rest is just a hill of might-have-beens.
Now down to business. On the previous page panels 1-7: Solomon is surrounded by his customary purple glow. Panel 8, after contact with White Chain’s fist, the glow is gone – even though WC has just begun her transformation, even though they are still in Ki-Rata stopped time – the glow is gone.
It has not yet returned. My heart tells me that it never will, because the power it represents now belongs to someone else.
He is genuinely sad she failed.
“Stop me, for I cannot stop myself” cries out each lord of one seventh of all creation.
Ah, but that’s almost what’s so delightful about this. She failed and not-failed, all at once.
She fulfilled the *spirit* of his rules: “injure me.”
But she denied the *text* of his rules: “draw blood.”
It is like seeing a tiny glimpse of the original self-division, a wonderful contradiction wrapped up within itself.
……comments on the last page are closed but I just really want to see more of Fleshy White Chain and just
*Ugh*
The fact that she re-entered existence looking like she’s wearing immaculate mascara and eyeliner with subtle freckles JUST
What would have pleased you?. Should she have been ugly, or fat, would that have not earned an “ugh” from you?.
TBH, the pre braided hair felt a little extra.
I suspect that’s a “too overwhelmed with delight for coherent words” *ugh*, not an “I don’t like this” *ugh*.
Doubts will fester, even if the god-king will not admit his mortality. Thus the blow lands. And thus it kills, even should he deny it.
Hrmm… I’m guessing his pride is more bruised than his cheek. Considering the previous encounters with a Demiurge, I expect he will flip his lid and they will all end up fleeing with a quickness.
I do rather appreciate the grim resignation Big Sol shows when he realizes he’s not actively bleeding. I do think that his wound might have been cauterized near instantaneously which as an aspect of pride might mean he is trapped in his own web just as Mottom is. A cage of perfect order with the viscera of foolish warriors to carpet the floor.
Oh, how DELIGHTFUL! She lost by winning, won by losing! She fulfilled the spirit of his request–“Injure me”–while *explicitly failing* the actual letter of the rules–“draw blood”.
She has in one fell swoop both proved herself ‘worthy’ to him and shown the weakness of his own rigid rules. She has shown to him the truth of the words I once heard a wise fungus speak:
“You cannot kill me in any way that matters”.
This is ALMOST better than an opened pack of Twizzlers to steal.
called it
Alison: “Where is she!”
SD: “I dunno man… we punched each other and she … exploded? And the punched slapped me upside the face. Whatever Lady- why you getting so worked up about this?”
Salami Dave gets hit and lost all his rings. Maybe a Sonic the hedgehog reference?
Did White Chain actually manage to “steal” a fragment of Solomon’s key by touching it? In the previous page we saw White Chain’s soul zip through Solomon’s flame and immediately after we see his shocked expression and her new body.
Although, judging by his look in this page he may just have been surprised that she managed to land a hit on him. Does he, per chance, look disappointed here? Was he… hoping to bleed from that? Was he hoping that White Chain could the one he deemed worthy enough to take his mantle? Or is he just disappointed to have been hit?
Maybe he is disappointed to have survived.
Was that technically across-counter?
She’s right there, in front of your dang ol’ eyes, Allison! The pretty brown lady with the glowing white power lines!
Alison can’t see White Chain from where she’s standing. The edge of the fighting ring blocks her view, and possibly also the remains of the sun shade/camera platform. The Ki-Rata moment happened while she was down on the arena floor, so from her perspective White Chain just disappeared in an instant and hasn’t reappeared. Vigilant Gaze is possibly tall enough to be able to see her.
I know, I was just being silly. This one is a silly bitch.
Hillbilly angels get irritated at formal speech and open-mic poetry…
#supportwhitechain
And… I am all caught up.
Holy shit, this is the greatest piece of art I have consumed in my entire life.
Hrmm… welcome aboard!
With all the trans angst, racist bickering, psychological projection, unfounded speculation and overall EXCESSIVE mob mentality I forgot a very important implication of these recent pages…
Cio is going to be SO horny!
Good point. Paper dolls for everyone!
That’s no bruise, it is a scrape. The follow through of her energy self after her physcial body was shattered was enough to nick his cheek.
Did they somehow not realise what happened? I am aware White Chain (or Black Chain at the moment, forgive my joke) does not look like she used to but they saw her disappear and a random naked girl appeared.
In case it is not clear – I may make some silly jokes and speak about race but I am not a racist. If I even judge people, I do it based on their actions, not skin color. We even accept blue-skinned devils, stone bound angels and lots of different creatures as “kind of human” here so it would be strange to alienise a normal human being that only has a bit darker skin tone.
All I want to do, is see you turn into,
A human woman, a human woman!
All I want to be, is someone who gets to see,
A human woman, a human woman!
Oh I know it will be great and I just can’t wait,
To see the look on Solomon’s face,
When he will see, that you will really be,
A human woman!
Cookie cat is shook
I want to express my amazement, but seem to lack the right words.
writing this down so i don’t forget later:
that empty socket shape in the middle of her forehead is called FORESHADOWING
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