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.
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.