King of Swords 9-112
KRAYU MAT
“I made several feeble attempts to learn this art, but was rebuffed in my efforts by its very nature. It is, by my best attempts at researching its origins, the oldest martial art in existence. The human Metia was said to have been taught many martial arts by the gods upon her birth from Koss’ hearth, but the angels say Krayu Mat is older. It was (purportedly) taught to them by a god whose name has been forgotten. Today it is exclusively practiced by angels, who regard its practice as highly archaic. All angels know it, having learned it at some point during their repeated reincarnations, but it is extremely rare and unusual to observe it in practice, for the simple and plain reason that its origins are in the primal killing movements of angels in their ancient forms, whose foes at the time were enormous unbound devils, beings of myth, and lesser gods.
Each of my inquiries with the Concordant Knights led to exactly the same conclusion, which they explained to me with great patience and kindness: it was impossible for me, a being with a weak soul flame, to practice Krayu Mat, as it would tear my flesh in ten thousand places and utterly annihilate my physical body. ”
-Manual of Hands and Feet
“your only talent is violence”
Wow white chain, dick move.
No kidding. I happen to know that Allison is also a competent barista.
I just went back and read wielder-of-names-4-77: Allison tells Mottom “I’m a barista with a philosophy degree”. That’s gotta be why Zoss picked her, neh?
This is admittedly better set of qualifications for ultimate Kingship than many that have been proposed. Not all. But many.
Considering that she’s assembled a group of friends willing to follow her into life or death fights that include a devil, an angel, a former slave, and more… I think she’s shown she’s more than someone whose “only talent is violence”. Maybe if White Chain opened her eyes, she might be able to see that.
Not to mention that its White Chain who’s been teaching Alice to fight AND failing to teach her anything else besides physical discipline. Allison’s learned more about the morality and even just basic wisdom of what she’s gotten herself into from a friggin’ DEVIL. (Two of them, even, one in a literal sense and one in a metatextual sense though his teachings in the subject were a bit… “teaching by negative example”-y.)
Uh…wisdom, restraint, emptiness? Did you just forget all of that? Or that White Chain was the expositor that informed her on the workings of Throne to begin with, WITHOUT artistic embellishment?
Allison acknowledges and recites the Trigram mantra immediately before Cio arrives. The Student has learned, it is the Teacher who has forgotten
I have read that Wisdom is to care for what comes after.
White Chain asks for the power to be given to an unknown. Is this wise?
What is the ‘right thing’?
Allicio is still focused on winning. That proves they still haven’t achieved understanding of the trigram virtues.
White Chain is still focused on supressing. That proves she still has to overcome the trigram flaws.
Allicio is currently focused on winning the tournament and rescuing Zaid. White Chain is accusing them of focusing on attaining the throne, which is another matter entirely.
But they don’t need to win the tournament to rescue Zaid! The idea of winning, itself, is the problem. White Chain is wrong, but Allicio is not right either.
Wisdom, Restraint and Emptiness are White Chain’s natural state. They are as simple to practice for her as breathing is for Allison. White Chain is incapable of teaching a human these disciplines as much as we are incapable of teaching a stone to breathe.
And that’s why White Chain is so upset: change is literally UNNATURAL to angels, and we’ve seen plenty of evidence that she HAS been changing – the very fact that she is obviously a she, when angels are normally genderless shows that. No wonder she is greatly upset and taking it out on Allison. She will come around, just like Cio did.
Violence. Is *literally*. What White Chain has been training her on. And chewing her out for her inefficiency at. Literally ANY OTHER TEAM MEMBER has more right to play that card, not that that’s saying much.
And completely true
White chain is dead to me
no, but seriously: she is officially the worst character in this comic
She’s going against Allison, yes, but her motives are grounded and frankly somewhat justifiable. She’s doing what she, as a complex character, feels is right. So, I wouldn’t go so far as to call her the worst character personally…
If White Chain is wrong about who is the rightful heir, then her motives don’t add up to a pile of bantha pudu.
I don’t think this Krav Maga attack is going to do much good.
I don’t think Allison is the “rightful heir” or the Successor, in the way all the characters save Zoss (and perhaps Jadis minus her interpreters) seem to be treating the concept. I strongly suspect everyone in-universe is getting very hung up on irrelevant details and fallible prophecies, obsessing over a King Arthur type chosen ruler to the point where they don’t see the forest for the trees.
Allison has also gone through a lot of character development. She’s no longer just a barista/college student/alcoholic (or well, she’s not spending as much time purely drinking) – she has learned the weight of her decisions, and that she needs to make the right ones.
The expression she shows in panel 4 clearly shows that she knows she has to put a lot more thought into what the right ones ARE. Essentially, this indecision is probably rooted in the fact that she’s only really doing the competition at this point because that WAS the plan – but unlike some other characters, she might be (so to speak) cresting the top of the trees and beginning to see the forest as she is exposed to more of the larger universe.
It’s enough to make anyone – especially one who has been taught by an angel to BE thoughtful – second-guess themselves. Given what she’s achieved so far though, she might actually change some minds about the nature of this King Arthur practice – and do remember, the person who gave her the key was never one for such things. He himself probably doesn’t WANT her to give it up.
Truly, it’s not that hard to get a philosophy major to second guess their self and go all pensive.
If she’s wrong about Zaid being the heir, then her motives still make sense because she believes it.
This trope of “character is antagonistic toward the protag because they have bad information” is one that’s been a thing for , at the very least, the entirety of modern fiction writing, and likely much longer. It works fine.
White chain couldn’t find the right thing with both hands and a flashlight. She’s literally been a stooge for any other member of her order to order around with a modicum of shaming no matter what right actually is. Help 2 michael commit genocide on heaven? Sure. Beat the tar out of Allison because a random guy she barely remembers told her so? Can do!
White chain isn’t a tool, she’s the whole freaking tool bag.
A fool you must be to apply human morals to a being so bound to the Law. In the face of a being who aligns with a devil to the point of wearing ones face what is a Peacekeeper to do but fight?
White Chain strikes me as, at present, behaviorally, “The Worst Sort of Mother”.
This requires elaboration. Here is an individual, who is reticent to any deviation in Allison Ruth’s growth. “You will become worthy, at the pace I tell you. You will fight how I tell you to.” Any break in perfect discipline is looked down upon, in spite of Allison’s herculean rate of growth.
The part that hammers it home is this part. “In spite of the fact that I have been guiding your growth with a bamboo rod, I do not trust you to make the right decisions. I do not trust you to make the right choices. So, I will take that power from you. I will not allow you to make decisions, I will make your decisions for you. And, in order to make you agree with me, I will denigrate everything about you, in spite of the fact that I essentially built the parts of you that I criticize.”
The violence you criticize as her only talent, in spite of the fact that you make only the most pitiful efforts to teach her otherwise? The lack of foresight that you, an angel whose flame should have elucidated the path, failed to account for and advise?
You had two years to help make her something better, and yet rather than guide her to become something greater, you criticize her when she fails to meet your seraphic standards that by rights are impossible for humans.
You tear down her accomplishments, and her goals, in spite of the fact you guided her here, then you dared to name her Demiurge for her crimes.
She isn’t the Demiurge here, 82 White Chain Born in Emptiness Returns to Subdue Evil.
To Arkwright:
You aren’t forgettable this day because I’m saving your comment! Very eye-opening. Although I reckon that perspective applies to more than a parent-child relationship…after all pig-headed amateurs tend to belittle the word of experts in the latter’s field *all the time* when some idea about doing a task the *right way* takes root in them.
Plenty will stick to said stance in spite of any demonstrations or amount of proof!
I support that observation for there are plenty of examples in the Real World[tm]
My English/Language major lil sis proselytizing to me on the latest medical news she reads online or worse yet lectures me on any scientific subject especially physics. Yeah, I am a Physics graduate and have worked in the medical industry for … a while … ahem.
So yes you can easily be related to an obstinate dumdum.
Well said.
Well said, indeed.
Sometimes I have to wonder if the author signs onto a guest name and comes into the comments to explain the story, because that really hit the nail on the head.
Friendship ended with White Chain, now Gog is my best friend
I think ratings for the Ring of Power are going be up this year.
Worst Person You Know Just Made A Great Point
I am not familiar with the name of this Aeon.
The exact details of their name, affiliation, and even existence are highly controversial, but according to my research there are at least 12 bounties, 4 arrest records, 60 outstanding fines for various petty crimes (mostly drunk & disorderly charges), 2 marriage licenses (and corresponding divorce papers), 47 restraining orders, 9 official Jester’s Licenses, and 117 mixed awards & honors, all made out to variations on the angelic name “Worst Person You Know Just Made A Great Point” (including “69 Drooling Idiot Just Spoke With Bizarre Eloquence”, “42 Total Asshole Suddenly Wields Great Truths”, and “17 My Archenemy Just Made Me Concede My Own Core Ideals”). Every single one of these documents also makes at least one mention of how “really freakin’ obnoxious” this angel is – that exact phrasing, every single time, even on the documents with no option for writing such a phrase. Truly, this Aeon must be a rhetorical foe to be wary of.
Finally someone is calling Allison on her shit
What shit? She changes, grows, admits her faults and gets better. That is he most unique Demiurge thing.
She literally has a philosophy degree and has managed to earn the respect and trust of an entire neighborhood and a devil. How is her only skill violence?
Legitimately what flaw is White Chain accurate about?
Her obsessive will to power. Remember that winning wasn’t even the plan. But now its what matters to her, not the rescue. What is her end game? Kill the seven? Rule the universe?
“Rightful heir”
Oh white chain your internalized misogyny…the answer is staring you in the FACE.
Alice-UN is not the rightful heir of Zoss. This is to be expected, as she who walks in the Conquering King’s footsteps cannot be heir to anything.
When I saw the word “misogyny” I knew I had to stop reading your feminism comment, hahaahah
Xisuthrus has the only valid take
I think you might be missing the point of… well this whole comic, actually.
Well, you are not a smart man.
So. Hows the weather in that bubble of yours? Cozy? I bet it is. Ignorance is bliss… as they say.
Femininity is an aspect of the Black Mother YIS; ’tis expected the sons of the White Flame should look down upon it. Of course, that does not mean they are always justified in their way of thinking, as the story unfolding here has shown us.
Yea, reading comprehension is a gift not bestowed to many.
Yikes. Yeah, ‘haha’, you might want to re-evaluate. In general.
“feminism comment”, my dude, my pal, my friend, if you are so against feminism, I might want to ask, what are you doing here? for real, why are you here? Reading this very especific comic that is uhh.. I might dare to say.. rather (not to say very because most characters are very powerful, varied women) feminist in general.
What proof does White Chain possess of this rightful heir? Only the words of one who knows nothing but violence.
Word of God. Almost literally.
Didn’t White Chain make an oath while discorporate to help Allison according to Metatron’s plan? The whole Thorn Knight business?
I wonder if something is happening to White Chain internally in the same vein as Allison resisting the influence of Incubus… We learned a bit about Cio’s eternal temptations down in hell after all.
However this ends, they’re going to have to confront that this was all over Zaid. A rude awakening in the making.
Eye’s open, but unseeing.
Nothing Allison has done has been about Zaid.
okay what’s vengeful iron even doing at this point
If I’m not wrong, I think Vengeful Iron hasn’t shown up yet in the comic right?
I think most people are on board with the idea that this other angel is Vengeful Iron. Due to his head shape, poncho, and status as a law enforcer. Just hasn’t been confirmed yet, I don’t think.
Was this not 25 Vengeful Iron Suffers No Heretics or Fools to Live ‘s quiescent/inert/uninhabited body in the Judicator Tower?
Until the mention of White Chain’s name awoke him, and his flame returned from its sojourn to the void.
Hyperlink not display. My powers are meagre.
Page king-of-swords-3-33 basically.
Wait, Dies A Lot died more times than Dies A Lot More? So much for nominative determination.
oops.
He sits and muses upon our brother holding his fractured forearm in parody of pain. And that whilst Krayu Mat may have slain devils in days past of old friends, today this devil-human has the key of the greatest of demiurges to draw upon and antagonism will likely result in the further and unrecoverable destruction of his stone receptacle in this plane.
Why our ferric brother has now ceased to wish to intercede and save White Chain from folly is a good question.
Hipocrisy what? AYY Get burned
“You will not do the right thing, so I will make the decision for you”.
Seriously!?
White Chain’s angel buddie does not seem to be very impressed by WC’s course of action. Or for that matter, his martial prowess. Does not bode too well for the righteous prick methinks….
As ever, the petty children of this universe fail to understand what it is to Rule. Even the demiurges fail to grasp the basic concept.
There is no ‘rightful heir’. There is only the one with the will to be.
Without believe in the lie of rightful rule there is only chaos and a mass of murderers trying to climb to the top of the corpse pile.
Not necessarily.
Bad rulers seek power. They seek to control and dominate others, so that they can be free from personal consequences. They are all fools; Being a ruler is nothing BUT personal consequences.
This is the reason behind the saying that good rulers have power thrust onto them. They either break under the strain of those consequences, or they grow to fit the station, and rule.
Allison is this latter. She did not ask for the key in her head. She is not really going out of her way to seek out power. She is not interested in escaping personal responsibility. (She had her chance to return to her old life, and put Throne behind her. She refused it, after realizing that she no longer fit; Her experiences in Throne had changed her very nature. At that moment of realization, whether she understands it or not, she was placed well and truly on the path to royalty.) Any power she seeks, she does not seek for herself. Even here, in the arena, her only reason for being there at all, was the threat to her estranged boyfriend. Every power she has accepted, has been because it was either forced on her (like the key), or because she needed it to help others. The only time this was not true, was when she accepted that faustian deal with the trickster– And she overcame that part of herself metaphysically.
White chain cannot tell the difference between taking a dangerous power in hand, to use it for the protection of others, and taking a dangerous power in hand, to use it for the self.
The god king’s greatest lie, is saying that they are the ruler. No, they are the greatest servant of all that is, for the only way that all other things exist, is through the willful self-sacrifice of that god.
Rhetorically, I would ask White Chain why she learned martial arts in the first place. When she says “To protect creation”, remind her why we were both there in the first place– To protect an innocent that was drawn into this mess by the other demiurges. Of all the demiurges in the mix, Allison is the only one that truly only is seeking power for wholly non-selfish reasons.
If a ruler comes to rule without any legitimacy, it suddenly stands to reason for a whole lot of other people to try and make their own throw at the throne.
A ruler’s measure is not weighed in how well or bad they take care of their people (though it is certainly preferable they do care for their population), but in how well they maintain order and wield their power to their will.
A kind hearted ruler that no one respects for their softness is a less effective ruler than a ruthless brute that only placates the most powerful people under them, at the expense of those they rule.
A ruler that no one respects is a ruler that will likely by pushed from their throne or turned into the puppet of a more effective leader. Both of these scenarios can lead to devastating chaos and misery and at the very least ensure that the ruler will make no significant decisions on their own power.
A ruler who brings stability is a very powerful and alluring one for the people who have lived through a power vacuum.
It is this fear of a power vacuum that creates the “legitimate rule”. Sure, you can win a lot by killing the old ruler and taking their place, but so can the person that is right under you, and the person that is right under them etc.
The other rulers know that, so they make up the lie of the “ruling blood line”, the “chain of command”, the “democratic process”. Everything to keep the order and stave away the chaos. Even if it costs them some of their own power and ambitions, because upstarts ruin everyone’s plans. Upstarts plunge the world into civil war. Upstarts can kill civilisations.
Political power is always taken, never given.
Not really. There are plenty of examples of leaders giving people power to make political decisions.
People who try to rule completely alone often find themselves outplayed by those who share at least some of their power among competent people.
ROUND 2, FIGHT!!
And so one of them shall reach heaven through violence, but which one will it be we wonder? They of the united black flame bearing the Key, inherited from Zoss’s own hand – he whole defeated the Prime Angels, or the deluded and lied to Angel who serves a mad Prime Angel.
My money is on the Rising King, Ia Ia. For as mighty as KRAYU MAT may be, against the full might of the Key White Chain shall find a worthy fight and a honourable defeat.
And perhaps some humility and release from it’s chains of lies we hope. Or at least release the Rising King has many more talents than violence. Like her will, her capacity to endure, her compassion and her ability to make a mean coffee and sling back more alcohol than should be humanly possible.
Also Cio’s so not impressed with White Chain at the moment judging from her eyes.
Of course Cio is unimpressed, White Chain continues to dance on the strings placed upon her by her master. She truly is not much more than the stone marionette she inhabits, and fails to understand her true purpose…
Yelling Trans Rights while punching Juggernaut Star in the Skeleton Dick.
Aw, hard words for White Chain in the comments. She is still going through her own arc, I think. Cio was right about her some chapters back, when she said that WC hasn’t realized who she is, and this feels a lot like her clinging to who she was. (And I feel like Allison has been a dick plenty enough times in this comic that WC is owed a little slack rn. She’s still my fav character.)
Big boom on the next page, I’ll wager. I wonder if WC will destroy her own body and end up in the void, looking at thorn armor. Highly unlikely, but hey, this comic has taken left turns before.
Commentary brought to you by 17 Rusty Buckets. I still want to know what this guy’s deal is. I’m hella curious if it is a disguised Juggernaut Star. Can angels inhabit any body they want? I’m not sure that was touched on.
Aw, craaap. I mean, couldn’t rusty buckets totally be Michael?!
No, 17 Rusty Bucket Hauls Garden Waste is a well know turnip worshipper, dedicated to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Compost.
That’s 10 Vigilant Gaze Purges the Horizon.
I can’t help looking at the second to last panel and thinking “Fart Attack!” like a 10 year old boy.
KRAYU BRAP!
Hm. I think Cio may be in the most danger here, regardless of her and Allison’s uniquely powerful devil-skin pact. Krayu Mat is nothing to shake a stick at.
I was wondering the same to. If human and devil can be merged with a simple masking, how hard is it to unmerge them?
I expect that unmasking is as hard as giving up power.
I’m waiting for Zaid to get away, and Himself to come and collect on that bargain they foolishly made last book.
Cio’s definitely in danger one way or another.
I wonder if the book will go from trying to rescue Zaid (the supposed love interest) to trying to save Cio (the actual love interest)
I suspect the Bargain will be a matter for the next (and final) book, as the release of Himself is one of the matters of the fate of the multiverse, along with its shape (see Jadis) and destruction (see Jagganoth). And the matter of Metatron and Michael’s conspiracy. There is much still to consider.
This book might finish with the nomination of Allison as King. That coronation may well make a good point to stop.
White Chain. You haven’t even met Zaid yet, how do you know he’s any better? I get the distinct feeling that, had he not been kidnapped, he would have gotten honeypot’d by the demiurges and turned into a pawn to steamroll the omniverse in like 5 days tops and not had any sort of agency or will of his own, unlike Alison.
Concur.
If Allison didn’t have the key and was simply an ordinary human in Throne, she’d have just as much agency and power as Zaid currently has.
Literally everything you said about Zaid also applied to Allison in the beginning of the story.
None of us knows much of anything about Zaid, not even Allison. I can’t believe that Abbadon will start developing him as a real character with any depth in the final book. He will remain a McGuffin, no matter who ends up King.
YES WHITE CHAIN YOU TELL HER WHAT FOR.
I WORRY FOR YOUR SAFETY BUT ALLISON NEEDED THAT STERN TALKING-TO.
Foolish Aeon! The yon White Chain has been corrupted by Metatron and 2 Michael’s false enlightenment.
She believes in peace, but violence is inescapable.
She believes in Stasis, but YISUN abhorred their sterile eternity.
She believes in the Old Law, but remains ignorant of the Sword Law.
She believes in many things, but neither her student nor herself are included in that category.
She is one of the six billion demons.
Hm. That’s certainly a take.
Oh my goodness.
Hoo boy. Get a grip, White Chain. You’re going to feel like a minuscule turd later when you remember acting like this.
And before it happens, Salami Dave will call “TIME!”
Never interrupt your enemies when they are fighting each other.
Violence is Inescapable dear White Chain
Curious. Allicio’s double speech bubbles ended a page back.
I wonder if it’s merely aesthetic, or if the Allison and Cio are… desynching, for lack of a better word. They seem to be taking turns with the dialogue, rather than speaking in unison.
The Fourth Syllable of Royalty: Living is an exercise of violence. Exercise of violence is the fate of living
White Chain knew this once, she has since forgotten it
Oh, sister-brother. Perhaps your Number is so high because, in the end, you cannot change after all.
I’m not really sure what White Chain’s point is here. Regardless of if Allison won or not they’d have to deal with that problem after this, assuming the other plan works. If they win, though, they can ensure Zaid would at least be safe from king purple, and/or remove a demiurge from play entirely.
“Your only talent is violence!” said the person who taught Alison how to beat people up.
And whose only talent is violence… and maybe making tea?
White Chain is understandably frustrated. Allison refuses to earn power. White Chain was training her to use what she has. But from the beginning, power was just handed to Allison with the key. And then when she makes deals with the worst of devils to pull a heist by using Cio. And then she makes a deal with Incubus. And now she just wears a devil (using Cio again) to cakewalk through the tournament.
Power is an object that Allison just takes. Why would anyone believe that she’d ever give it back?
Allison did not cakewalk through the tournament – she went through hell before combining with Cio, making huge strides in her technique. And what about all that training during the two year interlude? Surely she deserves some credit for that!
White Chain told her she wasn’t ready for the tournament. That she didn’t have the power required. In her arrogance, Allison went anyway and got her ass handed to her. Because the training that White Chain gave her, while good, required more time.
“Instead of seeking hasty solutions, we must prepare for the coming battles”.
And then Allison combined with Cio and it became a cakewalk. Throne is full of temptations, and she has rejected exactly one source of great and dangerous power since she started this journey. And not since. I love the character, but her personal arc will require her to give up power if only in the end.
Those who spend all their time preparing for the battle inevitably loose because by the time they emerge fully prepared the battle has long been over.
There is no right thing, there is only change and I am short a shilling.
Have you got ten pee?
Ah yes, cannot actually have a debate, so resorting to a low-blow and then a move that will, what, probably hurt Cio more than Allison and break up the fusion? Just in time for them to all be captured, I am sure. Weaksauce White Chain, weaksauce.
REACH HEAVEN THROUGH VIOLENCE.
Remember it! It’s your only warning about Throne.
Change is a difficult thing, especially for those who do not need to change to endure. White Chain was pushing her their boundaries participating here, which made their tolerance for any other events thinner – like Alison wearing Cio. White Chain’s natural reaction is to snap back to their default beliefs.
So it goes.
It’s interesting how much stock people put in Zaid’s right – yes, yes, we know it might not be him – after being chosen by someone literally everyone hates and would try to kill if they saw him again. Like, Zoss is not a popular man! A respected one, certainly, but it’s interesting that Thorn cares that it’s Zaid who gets it, not Allison, without us ever knowing how she feels about Zoss.
They’ve interpreted Jadis, who is presumably never wrong, to have said that Zaid is the Successor. So in their opinion it’s a foregone conclusion that Zaid WILL acquire the key. Anything Allison does with it in the meantime is a distraction at best, unnecessary and bloody chaos at worst, and from the angels’ viewpoint the sooner it’s over with the better.
At the end of the day, Zaid being the True Heir is just a point of politics rather than prophecy. Whether he’s the “True” heir or not doesn’t matter. He’s the one they have and control. Him being the Heir is entirely contingent on how tightly either the angels or the demiurges can keep him under their thumb. The sticking point as of now is how to get the Key off the one that won’t do as they say onto the one that will.
All this hate on White Chain for raising a perfectly legitimate point, when Allison herself agrees with her to some extent, doesn’t surprise me.
After all, this is the forum where 50% of readers totally buy into the same royalty shit that Meti repeatedly warned Maya against and didn’t stop Zoss’ kingdom from burning to the ground. That’s the exact same mentality that won the war for the demiurges, and turned Throne into a brutal wasteland ruled by tyrants who don’t know when to quit. And that’s exactly what White Chain is worried about. Being the ultimate asskicker can win you a war, but it won’t save the kingdom, and we have seven examples of that already.
Of course, we still don’t know everything about Allison’s motivations, and I doubt she’s going to end up as the tyrant WC fears. But judging by her expression in her last panel, she genuinely has no long-term plan other than growing stronger to survive, and putting herself and others at risk for that. The entire tournament plan went from getting Zaid out to laying out Solomon in the center of his own empire, and it’s insane how no one else seems to see the risks.
I see Allison’s eyes in panel 4, and I see that she realizes she’s still being impulsive and reckless, and is weighing White Chain’s words. But on the flip side, White Chain is *still* blind to this. And their words are full of destructive self-abnegation, doubt, and anger. Not a lot of wisdom or restraint from teach, here.
Just like with Cio and Allison… I think they have a lot they could stand to learn from each other. Here’s hoping they get a chance.
Alison’s goal has always been to free Zaid. Purely cause it was the right thing to do. She’s on the cusp of accomplishing that. What White Chain is asking about is something that others have demanded of her and Zaid… rulership of themselves and salvation from their failures. They are all trying to imprison Zaid and Alison in different ways. For a while it looked like maybe White Chain was different… like she might have Alison and Zaid’s best interests at heart.
However, White Chain has now made it clear here that she doesn’t give a shit about what Alison or Zaid want. Or what they need. In the end, White Chain is in it for a chance to force her ideals down Zaid and Alison’s throat. Whether she gets a few good point in while perusing that goal… doesn’t change what goal she’s perusing… doesn’t change the prison she’d be imposing on one or both of them by doing it.
The hypocrisy of White Chain demanding others take on a form that is not their own.
Musko Reeve and his Manual are back!
Another one great page.
White Chain is hearing but not listening. She’s looking with many many eyes, but not seeing. Let her destroy herself by Krayu Mat. In this world that violence makes right, maybe reincarnation will make her understand.
Imma be honest. I’m really actually getting annoyed that everyone is all “She cant possibly be the inheritor” and her not defending herself on that.
Zoss did not make a mistake. He was not rushed, or forced to choose hastily. Time and again, he has revealed himself to Alison and spoken to her, commented upon her, and even critisized her, and not once has he mentioned being forced to make do, or how he did not intend for her to be his heir. If anything, his comments suggest he specifically chose her.
Basically, at this point, I want Allison to call everyone out and tell them they’re wrong.
Exactly.
Zoss did express some doubt, once, and once only, when Alison had left Cio for dead under the rock fall in Mammon’s vault. At that point Zoss mused to himself “Maybe I have chosen wrongly”.
That makes it clear that he did deliberately choose Alison as his heir, even if he was having temporary doubts at that particular instant. But for some weird reason everyone else in this universe has got it into their heads that Zaid is the heir.
Does anyone remember how that happened?
It’s their interpretation of the prophecy of Jadis.
Zoss is older Zaid.
He already went through the cycle and instead of repeating it and bestowing the Key of Keys on himself, he instead gave it to Allison.
Several times, it seems as tho there are some temporal effects at play within the multiverse.
Of course, I could be lying as well.
A rather magnificent lie.
An appealing construct indeed.
Ah, my fellows, you must remember Hansa. Of all Yis-Un’s many followers, he did not desire sovereignty and thus easily achieved royalty.
You say Alison is the true heir of Zoss and ask why she does not decry those who would call her an accident? Is it not obvious? Alison does not desire royalty. She too agrees she does not deserve the key, that she should not rule. Were it not so she would not be the heir.
Only talent is violence?
Bitch, you’ll never outdrink a sorority sister.
Finally, a correct answer.
white chain you silly ding dong
White Chain’s hypocrisy is getting a wee bit old, not going to lie. This better have a decent payoff cause I’m seeing absolutely zero growth coming from this character.
Well when you are a creature of LAW absolute there is no room for anything and growth is not an option, just obedience from ones lessers and to ones superiors. Even if it is an actual possibility, it will be fought against with every fibre of their being.
Who are you? Obey me!
What do you want? Obey me!
Simply enough.
They’ve bought into 2 Michael’s propaganda, because they keep hearing it from White Chain and from the Thorn Knights, while no one else is even discussing the alternative (because they silently accept what IS).
As many politicians have found, the only requirement to make a lie into the truth is to repeat it loudly enough and often enough and to give no currency to the alternatives. (I am NOT pointing at any current ones, it’s a VERY OLD tactic.)
(Possibly as old as Throne.)
One can identify a poorly crafted lie by the fact that it needs to be repeated so much. The “Shout Down the Universe” technique is a common mistake made by those first learning The Art.
White Chain is right that Allison probably isn’t qualified to rule all known existence.
Neither is Zaid.
Allison has also never expressed literally any interest in being a cosmic God Empress, and the last throne she was offered–which came with an evil demon tree, admittedly–she rather notably rejected.
It’s White Chain that’s missing things.
Difference is, she realised, and Zoss affirmed, that she wasn’t being offered a throne– just the glided manacles of fear. Allison rightly rejected that, but she’s also not sure what she wants as of yet. That’s not a bad thing, she’s already proving she can act by what she believes. That on its own makes her more worthy than any of the seven right now.
I hate seeing throuples fight.
white chain made a booboo. allison’s only obvious talent being violence isn’t because it’s her only talent, but because it’s the only one she could cultivate since everyone and their grandmother wants to kill her or control her (white chain included) on account of the power in her head. ironically, this is kinda white chain’s fault in the first place… i’d also like to note that white chain might be projecting a bit considering the nature of angels as peacekeepers.
Poor, poor confused White Chain
I doubt anyone or anything is worth this.
Change comes easy to humans and devils because they were born from the chaotic black flame. Angels were born from the static white flame. Change is literally unnatural to them. Why is everybody so surprised White Chain has a problem with this?
Also, 2 Michael was his/her revered mentor, and 1 Metatron is literally the word of god for to White Chain. Remember how obsessed WC was when (s)he found out Metatron was still alive? It was almost the only thing (s)he could think about for a while. Michael and Metatron have told WC that Zaid’s the true heir and WC isn’t used to doubting them in any way. I think WC’s problem is that (s)he IS beginning to doubt everything (s)he has ever believed in because of Allison, and as an Angel, (s)he can’t handle it.
Behold, the supreme inflexibility of both mind and spirit that is the hallmark of angels! Is it any wonder that their physical forms are made of stone?
Fortunately, a tyrantbreaker’s fists are as hard as freedom itself.
Forget not the parable of the rock. It does move, but imperceptibly slowly.
True, but any stone can roll down a hill and crush an innocent who has done no wrong. Some argue that it’s better to divert the stone’s roll so that we can t crushes a villain, but I say it’s better by far to shatter the stone in view of the villain. That way, the villain knows what fate awaits them should they act on their foul urges.
Plus, shattering prideful stones with one’s bare fist is the most satisfying act one can perform.
For better symmetry and narrative cohesiveness, replace bare fist with empty palm. Especially if preceded by the Trigam Mantra, and especially if Al-YS-UN can show that they’re not just empty words.
obligation is a joke
hold your bladder and stay woke
Restart the Filaments with smoke
Something I’ve been wondering about: Is there any way to solve the problem that the Key(s) form to the multiverse? Zoss tried to create his philosopher-kingdom and it ended in theGreat War. All the Seven have managed is an uneasy peace that’s about to be broken. And suppose Allison manages to defeat the Demiurges, then what? Take their place? How long before she would end up as mad as them?
We don’t know how long Zoss’ kingdom lasted, but the rule of the Demiurges doesn’t seem to have started more than ten htousand years ago, which on the scale of the multiverse doesn’t even qualify as an eyeblink. Compare that to the many kalpas before Zoss broke into heaven. The multiverse did just fine without Keys and in fact their existence seems to be harmful rather than beneficient. May Allison will gather the keys of the Demiurges and then surprise everybody by giving them and her own Key back to 1 Metatron? A Conquering Queen GIVING UP her power would definitely be new.
She’s one of the few people with the kind of integrity it takes to do that too.
That would piss me off just as much as if she gives it to Zaid. It means her journey and story were all for nothing. “I gained ultimate power just to give it to someone else.” – the words of a fool and a loser. NOT a King.
Also a sign of great wisdom and selflessness. Given how much damage the keys have done so far, it might be the only solution. Kings are usually not known for being all that concerned about the consequences of their actions for other people. Most Kings are selfish dicks.
Burst. Hands. Smoke.
Burst. Eyes. Blind.
Burst. Anger. Deaf.
Burst. Tension. Bind.
Allison. Angel.
Superpose.
Remember my student, everyone’s shit stinks, even angels. Instead of letting it out in a cloud of anger ignorant to its stench, stop and smell it in contemplation. For this is the smell of true ascension.
Does a freezing cold flame even eat and produce shit?
White Chain gets done with the triple whammy Siberian Khatru and things gonna be blowed up real good.
Resolved, no. Blowed up? Yes. And White Chain says all Allicio knows is violence? Should be White Chain 83 Pot Calling Kettle Black Going Nuclear in a Fit of Pique. Gonna burn the village to save it, WC?
But sister/brother is as confused as everyone else in this whole thing. No one seems to be completely grounded and sure of themselves. If they are sure of themselves, like Solomon Dave, they seem to be grounded in being a dick.
And so far, Zaid has been a Zed. We really haven’t been told anything about his abilities, except he’s been able to be a captive and some of the ladies swoon a tad around him.
Much, much more to come, I believe.
But that White Chain be intransigent, inflexible, and impetuous is writ large for all beings wonderment, in the number three to the fourth power. This Aeon keeps supposing a different outcome, all the while she does the same thing yet over and again.
The previously most ebon of Devil has been won over, against a devil’s very quiddity. As polar opposite as can exist, can the most obdurate of Aeons be guided to epiphany and confront their very nature also?
We do likes the Implacable Ferrous one, he seems thoughtful. We would hear more of him.
Preem Blasted, one accepts what may be thy riddle.
81, ha, so the number of times brother White Chain has been ‘killed’!
Definition of madness?
Interesting. One needs to know these things as one wishes to make a good impression when one’s incarnation eventually comes to pass.
“And then what?”, the most lethal question you can pose to a hot headed protagonist
There is no rightful king.
I meant to type heir and now I realized I can’t edit or even delete so I guess I just get to feel really dumb forever.
Take heart. Your previous statement is correct, according to this one’s opinion. Closest approximation to a “rightful monarch” would be an elected one – which predecessor of the “heir” in question was not.
Those who have been given a choice know not the feeling of having been giving one. Yet once given, that feeling, the choice will not be given away willingly. Many will seek to control, to entrap, to chain you such that you are powerless.
Fitting then, that a creature like White Chain seeks to imprison another who final enjoys such a freedom. Never knowing the freedom of choice, she seeks to bring others to her level.
They should just destroy White Chain current body and give her new one with long curly hair and actual boobs. Then she would not be such a poor ass.
“This isn’t even my final form”
I think White Chain is simply afraid of change. She’s willing to sabotage everything she’s worked for just to make things return to the way things were.
Sounds like someone’s projecting.
Damn…neber thought I’d say it, but….
Kill White Chain. She’s too far gone. She’s taking this too far. End it Allicio! Before she goes full Anakin on you!
You know, if Solomon wanted to but in and smush these fools, now while they’re fighting each other would be perfect.
But does he want to? Is not his stated purpose more to protect his people until he finds another capable of doing so and then pass that mantle on to them so he can continue his pursuit of enlightenment?
He kept Zaid but did nothing with him because he is waiting to see how destiny plays out, what shape fate is trying to take. The question is, in his old age is he looking to see the shape so he can go with it, or to take hold of the river and bend its course like he did in his youth?
White Chain, you are describing yourself.
For real though- what has White Chain done besides hurt people, threaten people, and teach Alison how to hurt people?
You say that White Chain, but you yourself seem to willing to use violence. Time for round 2
This situation actually reminds me a bit about the conflict between Cio and Allison. Only when Ciochoath thought she had succeeded in killing Allison did she come back to her senses. That was a breakthrough in their relationship. Perhaps it’s White Chain’s turn now?
It was when Cio joined Allison, but with the comment in this comic, it is now really obvious: White Chain will destroy their physical body and then join with the two. That way Allison will have a white flame and a black flame on her shoulders, just as prophesied.
Um EXCUSE YOU Miss Thang, but Al-Yisun also has a talent for drinking.
White Chain, you know who the true heir is…. you’re looking at her.
Horsefeathers, (and other curses Cio utilizes) I’m caught all up ;-;. Rip Archive, I hardly knew thee. And if the previous book is any indication, we’re ~40 pages out from EoB. AUUUGH. off to find what the update schedule is ;-;.
Godangit,White Chain. Is this how you treat someone you’ve been training with for over a year?
I love Cio’s eyes in panel 4. She is SO done with this shit.
I just don’t understand how no one in the comic seems to have considered that Allison might be the true heir. Foolsome scuggers.
I can’t get over how fuckin’ cool Allicio’s design is.
I admire what you have done here. I like the part where you say you are doing this to give back but I would assume by all the comments that this is working for you as well.