There may be some inquiry later on, but as these things go, it wil probably die in a subcommittee somewhere. Remember when that swamp-demon stampede in the Year of the Half-Broken Sword had not negotiated the date with the authorities for the provision of appropriate victim unsafety? Merely a slap on the tentacle, if memory serves.
A show-stopper!! A phenomenal performance of protesting contestants all around! Bodies are only things for us to inhabit, yet they mean so much to us. To be left a husk is both freedom and damnation.
Jeeze now -that- is a blast from the past. The first Hadouken strip of 8-bit Theater was the first webcomic strip I ever read, back when it was first uploaded *erherhm* years ago
I don’t think it’s the same here. When Juggernaut’s armor was cut before, it was just the armor that was damaged, and her soul flame burst out in a massive explosion. Since she had another shell to go to, she ended up injured, but largely unharmed. 10 Vigilant Gaze’s attack was so powerful that it didn’t just melt Juggernaut’s armor, but it burned away her soul. Her essence was so depleted that rather than exploding, it can only sizzle into the void. It doesn’t matter if it wasn’t Juggernaut’s “real” body; there’s nothing left to put in the other one.
I dunno, I wouldn’t count out Juggernaut Star just yet, not until we have proof that she has gone into reincarnation hibernation mode. It’s like the whole ‘did you see the dead villains body?’ trope.
My read on it from the creaking and shaking in the 3rd panel is that 6 Juggernaut Star is alive but their metal armor had all its joints flash welded together rendering it unusable forcing them to abandon it.
Doesn’t mean that her True Form didn’t take damage. The holes in the armor aren’t glowing like they were before, which could mean that they took damage, but it could also be similar to the trick WC pulled earlier. We won’t know until the next time we see Juggernaut Star.
The wisp of her soul flame left in a controlled fashion, and the crackle of lightning seems to mark its transit away. Her essence is very much intact, though ostentatious depleted. She yielded the field, at least for now.
I do hope to see a more thorough rematch between them in the future.
It’s been some time since I’ve had devil’s through my gardens, so pardon if the cant is a bit off.
*ahem*
Thums truths bout yon spikeyarse summat yawping hereabouts ud do well to spend time ponderly. This hoofsome fourarms is dead hard, of surety, but got his kicks in safewise when spikeyarse was voidside. Flipsome, see how it fares when spikeyarse comes sneaking.
Cultivated Lady, tha be caresome o devils in tha gardens! An wakeful tha carrots disappearin likesome.
Yesterleft us if’n peekin yon sneakisome spikyarse, nae gawktime. Dustyarse watchit, spikybum be a comin nextertime.
My suspicion, given the flow of Narrative, is that Vigilant Gaze, the only Angel to accept White Chain as a sister, will be forced to fight Solomon and defeated so utterly as to need to reincarnate, thus resetting its memories and causing it to fall in line with the rest of the angels again regarding White Chain’s femininity. The rule of Universal Linkages often does not The Narrative’s Setting change so fortunately.
Yes, but: VG doesn’t want anything that Solomon can give, so doesn’t need to fight him. He can reach heaven through non-violence. He has inspected the terrible blade of want and lobbed it in the recycling.
One hell of a good way to thin out the pretenders to the throne, so to speak. For the grand finale, will there be time for the sub-tourney “winner” to recover a bit?
Naewithstandin thae black holes nae be stars. If’n it formed from un stellar remnant an then grew an grew, that still make it one?, thon stellar remnant bein un neutron star, which en’t a star no mores, spite tha name, havin no fusin. Aswise un white dwarf’d be nonesuch star no more neither as no fusin – but un brown dwarf is bein starsome, even if it dun’t be fusin hydrun gen an can’t, an feeblesome thum.
Sarcasm is the eighth, scorn is ninth. (I always recall because they are alphabetically ordered in the common tongue) Though it could be argued this is the fourth way: appreciation for a well-wrought ending. Solomon of all the seven great beasts is the noblest, and freest with praise.
Okay, but who’s still in the tournament?
Did Allison’s surrender get her kicked out?
Did White Chain’s little jaunt into the void get her kicked out?
Is Cio goin’ be allowed to stay?
Well it’s hard to say. The only rules given were “battle royale” and “any one still alive after 10 minutes goes to the next round”. If we take those rules at face value then neither offering surrender or leaving the arena would be disqualifying. And since Solomon David threw out the old rule book it’s not certain if new entries would be allowed or not during the battle royale. The only person who can say for sure is Solomon David so we’ll have to wait for him to decide.
Given the episodic nature of how we view the fight, it is impossible to judge how long it has been since Solly announced battle royale. But I would suggest that it’s been a lot longer that ten minutes. Seems like all the rules been tossed through the purple flames.
This was a great match cant wait for the final match! What? just because it was cool doesn’t its the end of the tournament we still have the reigning champion to fight. Hope they can escape cause these guys are great at causing chaos.
When first introduced he asked any new characters he met “Coming or going?” asking if they were headed to the Void or to return to their armor. A very long callback indeed.
I am surprised. No, more than surprised that the thorns are so easily shorn from these proceedings. I can only imagine that Juggernaut Star will not be pleased upon her next appearance.
All credit to Vigilant Gaze for that sendoff line.
Ki Rata Slow Clap Technique
Tournament over, Vigilant Gaze wins
I would presume Gaze will now concede the whole thing? He is the most sensible of this lot, ain’t he?
Ain’t he?
… So one would hope.
I will note that of the five participants in the last stage of this fight, only two have completed the proper paperwork.
There may be some inquiry later on, but as these things go, it wil probably die in a subcommittee somewhere. Remember when that swamp-demon stampede in the Year of the Half-Broken Sword had not negotiated the date with the authorities for the provision of appropriate victim unsafety? Merely a slap on the tentacle, if memory serves.
Lo there namesake. Weeeeell… technically he’s not standing on the arena, the only ones are white chain, cio and Alison
Gladsome us, seein us sister standin, if a bitty knackered.
It is said that with each clap, one lifetime’s worth of happiness is removed from the universe.
How fuqing baddass is that line.
He’s been saving it for 10 kalpas, now.
The No Nut November to end all No Nut Novembers.
i dun’ get it, can someone explain the significance of this one? is it a call-back to something he said earlier?
It’s a response to his catchphrase: “Ho there! Coming or going?”
ahh, gotcha. many thanks! may the moons of happiness shine upon your peoples
And so it is time: to, as the Belligerent Knights say, cut a god to see if he bleeds.
I hope he does not, and that whoever wins will renew my drink contract for the next Tournament. The ice must flow, after all.
“The ice must flow” – the best callback ever! I surrender.
The ice must floe!
A show-stopper!! A phenomenal performance of protesting contestants all around! Bodies are only things for us to inhabit, yet they mean so much to us. To be left a husk is both freedom and damnation.
Even Gog-Agog is agog, and (temporarily) speechless!
This has a real “Laugh is fun” vibe.
I know angels do not easily fear, so I will be scared for 10 Vigilant Gaze Purges the Horizon
Break the chain, and the spirit runs free!
All we can do in the end is our best, and we will all fail this task without exception. Better to pray for forgiveness.
“Now you have to fight against all the winners of the alternate-universe tournaments.”
This is too spectacular for me to attempt to say anything serious, so:
Black Mage would be proud, haduken for the win!!
Jeeze now -that- is a blast from the past. The first Hadouken strip of 8-bit Theater was the first webcomic strip I ever read, back when it was first uploaded *erherhm* years ago
Stop driving up the divorce rate!
Good form, Vigilant Gaze: no harm done to the spectators.
vigilant gaze is kinda hot…
“Kinda?” I think you meant V E R Y
Well, he just fired a gun in the megatron range. Anything that powerful has to be hot right after firing.
And I do mean, since he has four of those guns, H O T.
The letters you are looking for are
D
A
D
D
Y O T H E R E !
It melts the spikes of steel
Banishes angels from their shells
Punches a hole in the Wheel
And like burning soul it smells
So yeah, it’s kinda hot.
Woe be he that mistakes the rider for the steed.
Indeed.
I don’t think it’s the same here. When Juggernaut’s armor was cut before, it was just the armor that was damaged, and her soul flame burst out in a massive explosion. Since she had another shell to go to, she ended up injured, but largely unharmed. 10 Vigilant Gaze’s attack was so powerful that it didn’t just melt Juggernaut’s armor, but it burned away her soul. Her essence was so depleted that rather than exploding, it can only sizzle into the void. It doesn’t matter if it wasn’t Juggernaut’s “real” body; there’s nothing left to put in the other one.
I dunno, I wouldn’t count out Juggernaut Star just yet, not until we have proof that she has gone into reincarnation hibernation mode. It’s like the whole ‘did you see the dead villains body?’ trope.
My read on it from the creaking and shaking in the 3rd panel is that 6 Juggernaut Star is alive but their metal armor had all its joints flash welded together rendering it unusable forcing them to abandon it.
Doesn’t mean that her True Form didn’t take damage. The holes in the armor aren’t glowing like they were before, which could mean that they took damage, but it could also be similar to the trick WC pulled earlier. We won’t know until the next time we see Juggernaut Star.
The wisp of her soul flame left in a controlled fashion, and the crackle of lightning seems to mark its transit away. Her essence is very much intact, though ostentatious depleted. She yielded the field, at least for now.
I do hope to see a more thorough rematch between them in the future.
Ridin an bein un fiery hog o bones mighty ostentatious rightsome. An flamboyant wi thums nails too.
It’s been some time since I’ve had devil’s through my gardens, so pardon if the cant is a bit off.
*ahem*
Thums truths bout yon spikeyarse summat yawping hereabouts ud do well to spend time ponderly. This hoofsome fourarms is dead hard, of surety, but got his kicks in safewise when spikeyarse was voidside. Flipsome, see how it fares when spikeyarse comes sneaking.
Cultivated Lady, tha be caresome o devils in tha gardens! An wakeful tha carrots disappearin likesome.
Yesterleft us if’n peekin yon sneakisome spikyarse, nae gawktime. Dustyarse watchit, spikybum be a comin nextertime.
Thum’s feeling fingerlight round m’gardens should linglerly look abouts afore carrot-hunting. Shardy bits o’masks rightsome good green-markers make, an’ guts an’ gizzards fulsome dirtfeed.
Oh, it is good to see I haven’t lost it entirely. Thank you for permitting me the practice.
There is no metal in angel armor. It is forged from Ash.
For Concordant Knights this is true but Thorn Knights use metal armor.
Maybe the ash is a required component in order for the angels to inhabit them?
Seems like that if the shells could be made of metal, they would have been.
Please can we keep Vigilant Gaze, he’s wonderful.
My suspicion, given the flow of Narrative, is that Vigilant Gaze, the only Angel to accept White Chain as a sister, will be forced to fight Solomon and defeated so utterly as to need to reincarnate, thus resetting its memories and causing it to fall in line with the rest of the angels again regarding White Chain’s femininity. The rule of Universal Linkages often does not The Narrative’s Setting change so fortunately.
Your suspicion is also my fear, good knight.
Also seeing this. VG, we hardly knew ye.
Abaddon, since we hardly knew him, could we keep’im? Pleeeez
An mebbe meets thums vessel-bro Rusty Buckets somewheres ahead an’ all.
Yes, but: VG doesn’t want anything that Solomon can give, so doesn’t need to fight him. He can reach heaven through non-violence. He has inspected the terrible blade of want and lobbed it in the recycling.
My feeling is he’s going to wrap this up and go back to his post. He is, after all, one of the gatekeepers of the Void.
No good deed goes unpunished.
Two Hands, Three Point Slow Clap Technique :
Smugness from Heaven Halts the Lower Realms
This technique is banned as a war crime in five thousand hundred universes and hailed as divine in a further two hundred thousand.
It levels houses and egos without much effort at all.
One hell of a good way to thin out the pretenders to the throne, so to speak. For the grand finale, will there be time for the sub-tourney “winner” to recover a bit?
Well, there we have the New King, flanked by a white and a black flame.
The 108 burning stars following her, however, seem thoroughly extinguished.
Brown dwarfs and black holes are still stars
Well, a black hole is a stellar remnant, if you want to get precise.
I wouldn’t be surprised if she got more followers after this.
As for the pursuers, it seems to have dwindled to the core that started in Hell 71, with the rest getting bored or leaving for other reasons.
108 is an auspicious number one believes one remembers, and as such it shall always be 108. Those that should die or peel away are always replaced.
Naewithstandin thae black holes nae be stars. If’n it formed from un stellar remnant an then grew an grew, that still make it one?, thon stellar remnant bein un neutron star, which en’t a star no mores, spite tha name, havin no fusin. Aswise un white dwarf’d be nonesuch star no more neither as no fusin – but un brown dwarf is bein starsome, even if it dun’t be fusin hydrun gen an can’t, an feeblesome thum.
OH NO HE’S CLAPPING WITH SARCASTIC INFLECTION!
I believe he is clapping in the eighth way. Or is it the ninth? I always get those two confused – the difference is a subtlety of cadence.
Sarcasm is the eighth, scorn is ninth. (I always recall because they are alphabetically ordered in the common tongue) Though it could be argued this is the fourth way: appreciation for a well-wrought ending. Solomon of all the seven great beasts is the noblest, and freest with praise.
Clap clap clap clap clap. Tries not to snicker.
Ah yes, scorn! It’s my favorite response: clapping in the ninth way followed farting in the twelfth. Gog-Agog is the true master of that combination.
Pseudopod tha’s opened us eyes! Us agog wi Gog an smilin selfwise in un vasterly unappealin fourth. Truesome, naebdy the match o yon worms.
Aaaaand now for the next round of the tournament. Good thing our protagonists are so well rested and mentally composed …
Shang Tsung has entered the tournament.
10 Vigilant Gaze Purges the Horizon is what we call the “hard carry”.
Tank and spaceship cannon all in one.
Looks like the fans got their money’s worth
But can you imagine the amount of Imperial tax dollars it takes to rebuild this arena every year?
Meh. It activates the economy and gives people something to look forward to.
Perhaps the true problem is that we have a king who fancies himself a philosopher lording over the forum, when he looks out at a circus.
Solomon David rules 111,111 universes. I think he must be good for it.
Okay, but who’s still in the tournament?
Did Allison’s surrender get her kicked out?
Did White Chain’s little jaunt into the void get her kicked out?
Is Cio goin’ be allowed to stay?
Well it’s hard to say. The only rules given were “battle royale” and “any one still alive after 10 minutes goes to the next round”. If we take those rules at face value then neither offering surrender or leaving the arena would be disqualifying. And since Solomon David threw out the old rule book it’s not certain if new entries would be allowed or not during the battle royale. The only person who can say for sure is Solomon David so we’ll have to wait for him to decide.
Oh, he’s decided alright. He’s just being a jerk about it.
Given the episodic nature of how we view the fight, it is impossible to judge how long it has been since Solly announced battle royale. But I would suggest that it’s been a lot longer that ten minutes. Seems like all the rules been tossed through the purple flames.
Alas, it looks like their name will soon be 11 Vigilant Gaze Purges the Horizon.
This was a great match cant wait for the final match! What? just because it was cool doesn’t its the end of the tournament we still have the reigning champion to fight. Hope they can escape cause these guys are great at causing chaos.
Vigilant Gaze doesn’t know what it’s like to hit someone twice.
Ironic for a creature with four gauntlet-clad arms, no?
Vigilant Gaze: One Punch Angel
What is he talking about when he says “So, it’s going then”?
I went back some pages but I still don’t know what he is referring to.
When first introduced he asked any new characters he met “Coming or going?” asking if they were headed to the Void or to return to their armor. A very long callback indeed.
Oh, thanks! I didn’t know what it meant either.
He asked that of Juggernaut Star back then and she never answered. Guess he’s answered for her now.
I am surprised. No, more than surprised that the thorns are so easily shorn from these proceedings. I can only imagine that Juggernaut Star will not be pleased upon her next appearance.
All credit to Vigilant Gaze for that sendoff line.
Elder brother only makes it *look* easy.
To witness such a display is humbling. Also inspiring.