. “No,” Kendal says.
. “You are mortal, weakened and tired,” Rakhn rumbles. “Vash would be none of these things. For the chance to duel so skilled a swordsman–”
. “I said no.”
. The ground cracks at Rakhn’s feet, lava bursting up from below. He raises his greatsword, eyes narrowing. “Then I think I will limit your options.”
. Rocks clatter into the lava below as Falst pulls himself through the tiny tunnel. He stops at the end, coughing. Then he looks around, at the place he has emerged into.
. He’s looking out of a small tunnel, about halfway up the wall, into a giant cavern. Lava bubbles below, streams of it pouring from other holes in the walls. A glass bridge extends to a platform in the middle of the cavern. The platform has what looks to be a giant, swirling, golden portal on it, mostly encased in stone.
I’m ba-aaack!
If this turns out to be the Fireseed (which it probably is but it looks a lot like a portal) I’ll change it
Kendal, USE YOUR STARFIRE he’s a god he can take it! And he’ll probably like that trick
Considering Kendal’s goal here is to buy as much time as possible for Falst, getting Rakhn to draw the reason out of him is arguably the better choice than outright telling him
Oh good, he’s not even considering it. He is, in fact, shooting down the possibility like the mentally stable person he’s been since he woke up from the Character Development Coma.
Yoooo, just caught up. Started this the time you mentioned it in that one video a week ago or so. And yes that does mean I have read an average of like a bit more than 2 chapters a day but I read ’em in chunks like 1-12 then none for a while then 12-17 then a another pause then 17-21 then 21-23 and today 0-5. This has been great and I will stay tuned until this and journey to the west finishes!
I thought the same! Maybe because seeds in real life typically are quite small, so it made sense in my head at least for it to, like, bucket-sized. But it’s probably better this way, cuz the shard they need won’t be missed as much.
On one hand, missing sliver may be less noticeable?
On the other, how do you break a sliver off of it? CAN you break a sliver off of it?
Which then makes me wonder, what if Falst just, say, taps Dainix’s core against it? Would that let him absorb what he needs? Would it overwhelm Dainix? Would Dainix absorb the whole thing? *Could* Dainix absorb the whole thing?!
I dunno what you expected. Of course the literal heart of a God is so large that no mortal could hope to carry it alone. And that taking a shared will do basically nothing to its functionality.
Look at Kendal, being sensible about this! Though I don’t think it’s gonna last. Rakhn’s gonna do something to force it, I’m sure.
Though that makes me think, if Kendal summoned Vash by stabbing himself with his weapon…could that happen if *anyone* stabbed him with his own sword? Erin? Falst? The Collector?
This situation is very interesting for Kendal – I don’t think he’ll actually do it, just because it absolutely knocked him out last time, and from a narrative standpoint I think it’d be a lot less interesting and just repetitive. His refusal is also a pretty good marker of his character development! If he did end up bringing out Vash, I wonder if that’d give the collector a hint as to their location. I’m making the assumption that the sea monster was the Collector and not just. a thing that happens in the ocean. and if it was her, she’s obviously close enough by to be a worry.
“me when I ask for no tomato and there’s tomatoes anyway”
Is that comment made about Kendal going “I said no”, Rakhn going “then I think I will limit your options”, or about Falst going “cough cough”? I mean, they can all fit…
Based on a family member’s restaurant experience where the kitchen didn’t seem to understand what “gluten free” actually meant (despite offering said menu option), it’s definitely about Kendal. Because one way or another Rakhn’s going to force him to swap with Vash again, even though neither of them wants to.
(Because someone will probably ask about the restaurant:
1. Brought a non-gluten-free dish to the table
2. Replaced it with another non-gluten-free dish
3. Finally replaced that with gluten-free pasta…Except for the regular pasta noodle hidden inside it
The relative in question has celiac. They had made this quite clear the first time. We’re not sure if it was gross incompetence or deliberate sabotage, but we don’t eat at that restaurant anymore).
As someone who also has relatives with celiac, that sounds awful. They put your relative’s health at severe risk. I’m glad you don’t go there anymore, that was straight up dangerous.
For mobile readers.
Alt-text: forbidden candy
Image source: limit
tumblr: but have you considered: I want it
tumblr text: but have you considered: I want it
Bluesky Text: going well so far
. “No,” Kendal says.
. “You are mortal, weakened and tired,” Rakhn rumbles. “Vash would be none of these things. For the chance to duel so skilled a swordsman–”
. “I said no.”
. The ground cracks at Rakhn’s feet, lava bursting up from below. He raises his greatsword, eyes narrowing. “Then I think I will limit your options.”
. Rocks clatter into the lava below as Falst pulls himself through the tiny tunnel. He stops at the end, coughing. Then he looks around, at the place he has emerged into.
. He’s looking out of a small tunnel, about halfway up the wall, into a giant cavern. Lava bubbles below, streams of it pouring from other holes in the walls. A glass bridge extends to a platform in the middle of the cavern. The platform has what looks to be a giant, swirling, golden portal on it, mostly encased in stone.
I’m ba-aaack!
If this turns out to be the Fireseed (which it probably is but it looks a lot like a portal) I’ll change it
Kendal, USE YOUR STARFIRE he’s a god he can take it! And he’ll probably like that trick
Welcome back! I think that’s the fireseed.
That looks a lot like a Hell portal.
Guess we’re not getting a magical girl transformation from Kendal.
If False goes through it, he’ll enter a hellish realm beneath the skin of the world, full of fire and magma.
Wait, that’s literally just this place.
Let us hope he doesn’t meet his Doom.
we must move quickly falst, the longer rakhn stays on the aurora planet the stronger he will become
Send him back to The Nether
He wouldnt really transform, just start glowing and then start bleeding.
Kendal declines, which draws Rakhn’s ire
As Falst approaches the volcano’s inner fire
I see you have the typical poet thing, and rhymed fire with ire. Good job. You are a true poet.
And my feet show it (they’re Longfellows)
Yeah it’s a bit of a stock rhyme. But one must do it at least once, according to the poetry rulebook.
Thank you for taking the time to make up couplets for all the pages! I appreciate the effort that goes into this
Thanks! I happy to give my two cents for the community.
aa i’m never here to see a page so early!! i am.. worried for kendal’s safety
Guys, I think I found the fire seed. Get ready for a very serious game of the Floor is Lava
Kendal, I know you’re a man of few words, but perhaps a few more words than “no” would help here.
Like “Vash said not to” would buy him some respect for doing what his god says, right?
how about “no, I couldn’t do that, my friend whose basically Life Incarnate would throw a fit and trust me you don’t want to be around for that.”
I was thinking moreso “If I did this while weakened and tired I’d most likely die.”
Considering Kendal’s goal here is to buy as much time as possible for Falst, getting Rakhn to draw the reason out of him is arguably the better choice than outright telling him
Oh good, he’s not even considering it. He is, in fact, shooting down the possibility like the mentally stable person he’s been since he woke up from the Character Development Coma.
Kendal? Mentally stable? Heresy.
UH OH FALST HURRY UP !!
Mmm big fire doorway go bshh
Vash just being like: “whew!”
entering phase 2 of the boss fight i guess
Yoooo, just caught up. Started this the time you mentioned it in that one video a week ago or so. And yes that does mean I have read an average of like a bit more than 2 chapters a day but I read ’em in chunks like 1-12 then none for a while then 12-17 then a another pause then 17-21 then 21-23 and today 0-5. This has been great and I will stay tuned until this and journey to the west finishes!
Also question, what is the element the crucible core isn’t made of? Is it water?
Okay, I honestly don’t know why I thought the fireseed would be in a size portable by a mortal. Consider that idea thoroughly disproven. 😛
I thought the same! Maybe because seeds in real life typically are quite small, so it made sense in my head at least for it to, like, bucket-sized. But it’s probably better this way, cuz the shard they need won’t be missed as much.
I think most people expected it to be at least a little bigger than his head. Not like a whole wall. I know i did.
On one hand, missing sliver may be less noticeable?
On the other, how do you break a sliver off of it? CAN you break a sliver off of it?
Which then makes me wonder, what if Falst just, say, taps Dainix’s core against it? Would that let him absorb what he needs? Would it overwhelm Dainix? Would Dainix absorb the whole thing? *Could* Dainix absorb the whole thing?!
I dunno what you expected. Of course the literal heart of a God is so large that no mortal could hope to carry it alone. And that taking a shared will do basically nothing to its functionality.
Well, Fire seeds used to be a part of primordial fire, so its still tiny compared to a WHOLE PRIMORDIAL
An ancient furnace
The heart of the volcano
Behold: Fireseed!
Rakhn, why do you want to fight Vash so much anyway?
Like, you’re just gonna get your sooty ass handed to you.
Because it’s something he hasn’t done before and because it seems fun.
Look at Kendal, being sensible about this! Though I don’t think it’s gonna last. Rakhn’s gonna do something to force it, I’m sure.
Though that makes me think, if Kendal summoned Vash by stabbing himself with his weapon…could that happen if *anyone* stabbed him with his own sword? Erin? Falst? The Collector?
ah yes kendal’s vash trigger
Aang in the final battle unlocking his chakras:
You always seem to come up with just the right bad guy to test the heroes, Red.
This situation is very interesting for Kendal – I don’t think he’ll actually do it, just because it absolutely knocked him out last time, and from a narrative standpoint I think it’d be a lot less interesting and just repetitive. His refusal is also a pretty good marker of his character development! If he did end up bringing out Vash, I wonder if that’d give the collector a hint as to their location. I’m making the assumption that the sea monster was the Collector and not just. a thing that happens in the ocean. and if it was her, she’s obviously close enough by to be a worry.
It would make sense for the sea monster to be Collectorized. If I recall correctly, Argist mentioned that chimerae had been spotted in the area.
there is also the fact that vash does not want kendal to do that
“me when I ask for no tomato and there’s tomatoes anyway”
Is that comment made about Kendal going “I said no”, Rakhn going “then I think I will limit your options”, or about Falst going “cough cough”? I mean, they can all fit…
I’d guess it’s about Kendal. Because Rakhn refuses to take no for an answer, much like the restaurant wouldn’t take “no tomato” for an order.
Based on a family member’s restaurant experience where the kitchen didn’t seem to understand what “gluten free” actually meant (despite offering said menu option), it’s definitely about Kendal. Because one way or another Rakhn’s going to force him to swap with Vash again, even though neither of them wants to.
(Because someone will probably ask about the restaurant:
1. Brought a non-gluten-free dish to the table
2. Replaced it with another non-gluten-free dish
3. Finally replaced that with gluten-free pasta…Except for the regular pasta noodle hidden inside it
The relative in question has celiac. They had made this quite clear the first time. We’re not sure if it was gross incompetence or deliberate sabotage, but we don’t eat at that restaurant anymore).
As someone who also has relatives with celiac, that sounds awful. They put your relative’s health at severe risk. I’m glad you don’t go there anymore, that was straight up dangerous.
It’s actually about the fireseed burning with primordial rage
It can’t be this easy. An evil fish will appear.
The forbidden ovrn
TL;DR: Hey look, blondie finally has a self preservation instinct! In other news, cat infiltration continues.
There once was a lovable bro
Who refused to endanger his life so.
He put his foot down
Against Rakhn’s frown
And reiterated, “I said no.”
Good for you, Kendal! *cheers*
“The good news is, I found the thing. The bad news… well, it turns out the thing is like, really dangerous.”
Oh, and I just realized, how are Falst and Dainix getting OUT of there?
So fire seeds come in grande, venti, and…
…immanis.
Guys, I found the fire seed.
Falst having the classic Skyrim experience of taking the Extra Hard Way only to realize there was a bridge right there the whole time
THE MICROWAVE OF DOOM!!!
“Do the thing again”
“Let me ask Vash”
“That’s not how-”
“Vash said no.”
The last panel is so mind boggling. The smoke and rock are intermixing to the point i can’t tell which is which. And the fire is this arc is fire!
I have a question. Are we getting a new character from the lava cleaners?