#hnk ch 97

[pemprika]

hnk ch. 100 thoughts (spoilers)

Making a full-on separate post because I thought there was a lot to draw from in this recent chapter... I needed to document it, so here is my veryy long thought bubble on hnk 100:

The chapter felt like a depiction of Phos in transition to accepting themself and adapting to a new phase of peace that they hadn’t experienced before. While young Phos had a carefree life, they were perpetually stuck feeling useless, never satisfied with the way they lived, and gradually lost all their friends, selfhood, and purpose.

It’s a little difficult to emotionally match the pacing of the story considering how often the series goes on hiatus now, but note that Phos had only recently come to terms with their own flaws and the reasons why everything ended up the way it did. They had a wish to be happy, and meeting these lifeforms allowed them to realize the meaning of their existence and be more content with it.

That poetic verse was introspective and contemplative. Rather than placing worth based on certain levels, like the gems’ hardness levels or Lunarians’ caste system, these rudimentary rocks perceive that all life is made equal. For thousands of years, gems tied their own value to a designated role, and if they couldn’t fulfill it, they devalued their existence. We saw a lot of perspectives throughout Phos’ journey, including how Rutile “failed” as a doctor for being unable to fix Padapradscha on their own, or how Dia “failed'' to live up as a diamond with refined fighting skills compared to their rivaled counterpart. Again, these are just flawed traits passed down from their human predecessors and the curse of immortality.

The chapter ending conveyed a hopeful conception that all things, primitive or refined, come from the same place (nature). I struggled to connect the details mentioned in ch 97 before, but it gave us sooo much foreshadowing to this new world. Dr. Ayumu said that, “the inorganic things that we had been using for ourselves will soon have a world of their own'', alluding that these little guys that Phos met are the new world.

 Interesting how Dr. Ayumu wanted Adamant to “build the bridge” and Phos to “burn the bridge” in order to create this “beautiful, rational world” to be a more freeing and less destructive place, and refresh the Earth to avoid relying on human values and qualities to stay self-fulfilled.

I was talking with @/mlkinis who brought up an interesting theory of using rocks in this new arc to symbolize the reversion of materialism. The rocks, elements derived from basic nature, have vastly different virtues compared to the gems, a class of refined minerals that developed a habitual routine of upkeep socially and culturally. While gems are also made from the Earth, they are perceived as high-value and are often polished to be artificially beautiful. 

One Buddhist principle reflects on detaching oneself to worldly possessions and desires, such as wealth, in order to attain inner peace, and it seems that having these primitive rocks is a representation of Phos “letting go” of the gem society, which may be another way of showcasing that the world is returning back to life as the way it once was, and that Phos is on a path to attaining ultimate happiness. I’m wondering if Dr. Ayumu’s line, “When you cross that bridge, burn it” refers to Phos leaving their suffering behind as they’re going forth to being happy in this new world that is coming to be...

Anyway, upon reading the passage, along with meeting the sentient rocks and hearing its rock friend sing the verse, I felt like Phos reconciled with their own self and existence, and melted from feeling at peace 🥺😭!! Thank you, Ichikawa as always… This was a very cool and comforting chapter for me.

[aro-base]

Houseki no Kuni chapter 97 got me obliterated, that has to be the most beautiful chapter i've read in this manga so far. It's the first time we have a concrete grasp into what doctor Ayumu was like and truly she's merely stunning, be it through her odd behaviour, her odd physique... Everything about her is so intriguing.

Also, did she fire her colleagues, or did she kill them???? ( maybe neither )

[cosmic-aria]

chapter 97 got me wanting to cosplay my new favorite gender so bad

[dottodottoo]

HNK CH 97 LEAK SPOILER

"When you cross that bridge, burn it down"

I just... Love this page... my baby boy...

[aspirationatwork]

Did they just timeskip through the entire 10,000 years??? Because that's what it looks like

[smol-stone]

The awakening of The New Divine 🪷

[pecoraisa]

the new chapter sure had some things in it

[bortzcore]

I'm seeing a lot of people say Ayumu was rebirthed into Phos, which is very interesting. I'm not sure how I feel about it but being a petscop fan I'm naturally a fan of themes regarding the cycle of death and rebirth, which I feel is something that happens quite a bit with Phos. I'm scared and excited to see what's to come. and their new form fucks hard

[dottodottoo]

HNK CHARACTER 97 LEAKS WHAT THE HECK

[aspirationatwork]

Divine Phos cosplay ultimate challenge

[dottodottoo]

...man

We're very close to the finale isn't it?

I'm just in shock... Anyway,

I love La creatura Phos

[cosmic-aria]

Edit WIP - Shining Phos

[bortzcore]

hey guys how are we doing!

[pemprika]

hahah hnk ch 97 v v soon ((:

omg i know that was so fast! it's that time of month to d word again...can't wait!!