I feel like people who are skipping through S2 are the ones getting some things HORRIBLY wrong about the characterization in this story on a fundamental level. It genuinely pained me reading some of these comments especially because the flashback season was far more than just exposé into Brian’s life.
What really stood out to me wasn’t just Brian, but Sol and Lorkan. The author puts in painstaking efforts to show that Sol, although dragon, is not at all resistant to change nor things that may challenge his current worldviews and uses them to change his own entirely as he evolved. Lorkan on the other hand warps human worldviews to fit his dragon perspective, never truly growing as a person. Lorkan serves as a character foil from the way they take in the information of the human world around them, to how they perceive Brian.
Everything they— Sol and Lorkan— stand for are polar opposites, and this is reflected within the very countries they rule. Sol’s country is a reflection of BRIAN’S will, and a world he wants to maintain with Brian’s memories and ambition. Lorkan’s country is one representative of his OWN will and stagnation. Sol maintains his empire on the basis of selfless devotion, while Lorkan does so on selfish possession.
Brian’s world was crafted by Sol to accommodate him and become a safe space, but Lorkan crafted a world that was against Ian to make him depend only on him. Brian vs. Ian is a biproduct of each respective brother’s direct influence.
Lorkan views Ian an object to keep, a bird that would clip its own wings for him and stay in the birdcage of that empire he crafted for him. Lorkan sees Ian as Brian— he is stuck in his ways, and is the example of a dragon who remains a dragon.
But ever since the beginning of the manhwa, in the present timeline, Sol viewed Ian as his own person, and that becomes so abundantly clear the more you read on. Why? Because he is adaptable and not scared of change like his brother who is a freak for control to the point of going out of his way to groom Brian’s reincarnate into loyalty; he groomed him into the very bird he wished he had that he spoke of in S2.
Brian and Sol already discussed what would happen after death in S2. They already established that if they were to cross paths in their new lives, Brian (now Ian) would not remember, nor would Sol force him to remember. Instead, Sol would allow the newly reincarnated Brian to fall in love with him naturally… AS HIS OWN PERSON. It’s exactly opposite of what Lorkan did to get Ian to stick to his side.
I think it’s seriously unfair and even ill informed to judge his interactions towards Ian on the basis of him being human as a CENTRAL part of S2 was him NOT being human. Sol is a dragon, and although he spent so long in the human world, he ultimately views the concept of life, death, and identity completely removed from how humans do.
Even currently, Sol is not quite treating Ian as Brian out of a desire for Ian to ‘be’ him, he isn’t even ‘treating’ him as Brian, and it’s why he didn’t tell Ian about Brian for as long as he did because he DOES see Ian as his own person, and he could also hope for him to regain his memories for closure— these two things do not need to be mutually exclusive like many try to make it out to be, and this hope isn’t a bad thing inherently. The narrative is only so heavily skewed against Sol’s favor because we are seeing this all through IAN’S eyes.
To me, it seems like Sol is trying his darnest to probe out Ian’s feelings at this moment, as he is at a true loss for *why* Ian feels the way he does— how would he understand how Ian feels if Ian doesn’t speak directly to him on the matter? Ian misinterpreting his intentions only makes the conversation far less productive too, as we have seen that Sol learns best with directness.
I think because of how the author wrote each and every character and having the world actually affect their actions, these misunderstandings are necessary and realistic, as it shows a much more deep rooted issue beyond Brian/Ian. It shows the depths of Lorkan’s influence on Ian, and shows us just how imperfect Sol is in spite of his trying. You really cannot point fingers at one party or the other, as they both are hurting badly.
The way this manhwa presents itself kinda reminds me of the game nu:carnival in the way it takes itself only half serious with its clear as day porn plot devices, but has memorable characters and an actually very grim, dark overarching plot. Because why am I actually getting kinda invested
Cannot be having both shitty art and story, gotta pick a struggle bro
I get Yanu. I’d crack Eyra any opportunity I got too
DNF in 2018 but was thinking about this webtoon recently. Did Jay ever get any character exposition or arc?
Hello! Looking for recs like the manhwa Death Delayed For A Short Time Because Of The Will where the BL backseats for the actions and deep plot or character exposition, or as I like to call it: Shounen with its yaoi subplot realized
Some of the manhwa/manhua I’ve already read of similar nature include that I can currently recall;
Little Mushroom
Global Examination
Mo Dao Zu Shi
Tian Guan Ci Fu
I also don’t mind straight up novel recs so as long as theyre fully or close to translated, thanks!
Went into this blind and got whiplash with the revolution of him being a VAMPIRE
Haven’t clicked on this since it had only a few chapters… what the hell is going on in the comment pages 4+
I find that people are scrutinizing every single action of his as if they are already together, when they’re literally enemies of opposing factions at the beginning of the story without a lick of romantic tension ;;
Don’t be fooled by their first meeting, Xiao Chiye is 200% a green flag AND freaky (Lanzhou is equally as freaky as him. They’re a match made in heaven).
The novel is also really good. Amazing overarching plot, awesome cast of characters, and a ton of angst especially for side couples. 10/10 recommend
I am peer reviewing the MC and saying he is definitely on the spectrum.
Any bl manhwa/manhua/manga/danmei, anything really, similar to this in both dynamic and plot?
https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/the_moon_painting_alchemist/
Love this to death, but I caught up far too quick and want to find some similar reads while I wait for updates
I see many get it confused but switch ≠ vers
Dowon and Beom are switching— which is used when referring to the roles S&M play, but they are most likely not versatile, which refers to top and bottom.
chapter 10, i dont think i can do this anymore..
cmiiw but there’s still like a huuge language barrier? why would he bed someone who was drunk and was extremely unwilling when sober + has little grasp on his language and vice versa? There’s no way to ensure he’s enjoying whatever is happening, let alone consent the comments that are spoiling isn’t making this any more promising
My expectations of BL have been very, very low and holy fuck … that 180 Andrew did in personality after the misunderstanding cleared, and his legitimate reasoning for being an ass at the beginning was so unexpected, but so very welcomed. I can’t believe I’m this pumped at an author doing the bare minimum of actually writing out multiple, logical faucets for their character…
If you’re worried about him being a copy and paste of those arrogant ML’s in other BL, please don’t worry. If you’re able to slug past the first 10 chapters it gets so so much better.
So glad im not the only one who is very peeved about this damn dog. It’s there solely to artificially push the sexual plotline, which is absolutely unnecessary since the ailment espers get from running instances in this story already does just that.
I really hope this isn’t going to continue to be used, as it’s surely going to lead to this manhwa’s downfall
Every character was written exceptionally well, and frustrating within good reason. Raymond especially, as I could never bring myself to totally hate him. The guy was fueled by the sole purpose of achieving a goal for the past 20 years, so it makes perfect sense that when his love for Ian and that said goal conflicted, there came the major dilemma of having to sacrifice either that said goal, or Ian. It was essentially Raymond needing to set aside his life-long purpose and essentially reason to live for a gamble at new beginnings. This story conveys it perfectly and realistically. If I were in his position, I’d probably feel the exact same way, as frustrating as it was to see this from an omniscient lens.
Ian is also another character that, despite me typically disliking character of his personality, I thoroughly enjoyed. The clinginess to Raymond, his trauma response, him being his own mental captor at times when it came to Raymond, his will despite everything. It is probably one of the most realistically conveyed portrayals of the lingering affects of a SA + Abuse victim and PTSD that I’ve seen in a BL webtoon.
Kaya and Nicolas are characters who I also have come to enjoy greatly, and easily took the spot as my favorites.
I ABSOLUTELY ADORED THIS STORY, But I feel the ending was a tad bit anticlimactic and open
Not that an open ending is a bad thing, not at all, but considering how the past 100 chapters were slowly and intricately building up to this point, I expected more resolution and answers than what was given.