WOOHOOO!!! WE'RE GONNA SEE NIC IN ACTION NEXT CHAPTER!!! LETS GOOOO!!!
I have no idea how they'll survive this. So far the only person able to keep up with his speed has been Echo. Even Kaiko got blitzed. Also, Hoffman was hilarious. I'm so excited!!!
IT'S SO GOOOD
Oh she's magnificent
NIC YOU'RE SUCH A CREEP 😭
not even I can root for you rn
Awesome chapter. Really brilliant action panels here Theo!
Also, seems Lorn is intentionally avoiding kill shots. Wonder why... this was established back in chapter 3. Irigoth CLEARLY has no qualm with it though
True he can take however long he wants when he can move at mach 10
Very nice of Nic to take the time to explain what he's about to do to them 😝
FACE THROUGH MY SCREEN!!!
Can't wait to read
GET HER NIC -- 🫢 I mean... Get him Pandora!!
HOLY SHIT I LOVE IRIGOTH!!! This man takes complete control of the situation as soon as he sees his pieces lined up. I love the demeanor switch-up.
Poor Lorn, had you arrived a moment later you may have found Irigoth dead and spared yourself everything that'll follow!
IM LOCKED IN
Smooth talker, fast mover
Seems our two boys will either have to find out how to play a different game than the kings are playing, or die.
Also, the two kings visual makes me think Carlfrid's master was the one without the crown!!
doomed from the start with no choice but to take up arms was Irigoth – but it could equally be Lorn, as he's a blackbird, who fits the symbolism of the bird growing out of the pawn chesspiece. And according to the narration, seeking victory, or playing the game at all, sets you up to lose.
Ohhhh I'm so sure the queen and Iri are related now. That innocent stuttering facade falls away and they make the SAME expression. Also, the interlude beginning the chapter makes me think there were two kings vying for control of Zedoreth, their chess game was the succession wars, and the one
...some personal element he was drawing from to make up those lies as Flauhaz. My Nic stocks are through the roof right now. This guy probably has such an interesting background to have made him act this way.
Also, "Flauhaz" confirms Nic blogs, or at least knows about blogs, which is so funny
From the way he acted with Milo in his introduction to how immediately he was going to kill Nemo, I thought he'd be a berserker type. Turns out he's calculated with no boundary he won't cross. Makes me so interested to learn what his twisted take on the doctor's oath is – there had to be...
Nic being scary not just in a "I'm creepy I can kill you" way, but in a "you will feel completely safe only to learn it was because I was there, and I allowed you to" way is awesome. Like the killer in a horror movie you realize was jusssst out of frame all along.
Oh let's go this is so exciting. Love the textures you've been doing so far.
But why go on a date with Milo? Why take a bullet for him? Nic, what is your angle!?
Either he's actually fond of Milo in a twisted way, or he's set up this bullet situation to determine whether Kazu's a good doctor and kill him if he doesn't meet his standard...Or it's something else completely
This is so crazy. So it really was him all along in a meat suit! But WHY!? He interfered with Pia and Straz's mission and took a bullet for Milo despite his exploitative past towards him. My best guess is he was in disguise to spy on them, per Methia's "don't strike until we know they're a threat"
Also, the only time the queen seems to have a genuine reaction is when she's sweating when Carlfrid mentions his "master." So many threads!
Plus, Lorn descending into the pit is an atmospheric masterwork!!
talking about, wanted him to shut up before saying anything else, and the fact he died right after means the secret dies with him. Wonder if one of those blackbirds killed him right afterwards. Or, since he seems scared in the panel before casting the spell, maybe the blackbirds puppeted him...
Chapter was SO GOOD! The queen seems to be acting naive and harmless to the guests at the dinner. But like one of the commenters pointed out, she seemed to be grinning as that man burned alive. The paneling also makes me think the guy who cast the spell was the only one who knew what Carlfrid was...
This world is so gas. The medieval styling is so rich and well-researched, but the worldbuilding is so GOOD too!! They piggyback off each other to make this story completely irresistible. Haven't even read the chapter yet but this group just makes me go crazy
Omg I just read back and Flauhaz was hired SUSPICIOUSLY recently... Seems clear that Nic set this up from the start. But why would he only explode out of her now? Cuz of the bullet wound I guess?
It's occurred to me that "Flauhaz" could've been a meat suit that Nic has puppeting, but I doubt it.
...Ok, he's still hot tho
So the bullet wound DOES confirm that he was in Flauhaz's back THE WHOLE TIME wtfffff
We have to assume then that the talk with Methia happened prior to Flauhaz's introduction. Nic has been CAMPED OUT INSIDE SOMEONE!!
I also now wonder what Flauhaz looked like before...
WHAATTTT!?
Was he in there the whole time!? XD Poor Flauhaz!! My hope is her huge torso had some extra hearts and lungs in there maybe
Our first one-shot of the year 2026 is live now! NIRMAYA by @azamraharjo.bsky.social is now free to read here! Enjoy and do leave us your comments!
www.viz.com/vizmanga/cha...
Can u imagine being the common folk ruled by essentially underground aliens? That come onto the face of the world through a giant portal in the ground to work crazy magic? Who have wars you're not even a little bit involved in?