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I'VE BEEN SAYING THIS FROM THE START!!!

When you're suppose to be no.10 but the irl fans kept making you no.1:

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man I can’t tell if people are going to get horrendously attached to Ghostblade and then be forcibly reminded that this man has killed thousands without any remorse and then have to realize that doing bad actions doesn’t always mean you’re a bad person but also how do you atone for your bad actions and forgive yourself in a world where the consequences aren’t given to you

or if it’s just “person that’s stereotypically bad is actually good 👍” and the numbers are there for flair and to, like, add to how edgy he is

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Then we have Lin Ling when he was Nice:

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X as a reflection of Zero: the dawn of a new system /thoughts

The more I think about X and Zero, the more they feel like two sides of the same coin, similar in some ways, yet complete opposites. Even their color palettes reflect that.

Zero’s palette feels more unsettling, it’s almost like a negative, with vibrant reds and blues clashing against black. It gives off this intense, chaotic energy, like a void filled with madness.

X’s world, on the other hand, isn’t just colorful, it’s vibrant against white. That contrast makes everything feel lighter, more hopeful, almost playful by comparison.

They have a lot in common, both are insanely powerful, both shook the world just by existing. But while Zero came from within the system and grew too strong for it to handle, X shows up out of nowhere, completely separate from all of that, and already beyond anything the system can control.

Zero's power was built on belief, trust from the public, from himself, from the system that created him. That trust is exactly what led to the system putting limits on every hero that followed. But X? Probably doesn’t rely on trust at all and, if he does, it's not as we know it. He’s not sponsored, not managed, not even explained. He just exists, fully formed, and impossibly powerful.

That’s what makes him so compelling.

If Zero was a god created by the system, X is a god that exists outside of it.

Zero was the reason they built walls. X is the reason those walls might not hold.

Zero's story warned us of what happens when someone becomes too powerful to control. X isn't a warning. He’s a disruption. He doesn’t ask for power. He is the power everyone else has to learn how to respond to. This makes even more sense when we think about these words:

That explains X's role in the story. Establishing new systems involves pushing boundaries or disrupting the status quo. Someone has to break or bend previous rules to expose their flaws if change is ever to be considered.

So yeah, X is like mirror (quite literally) held up to everything the system was trying to avoid. A glitch in the design. A reflection of Zero and a reminder that even the best-laid rules can fall apart. The word "reflection" isn't used only to imply that they share the same impact or power, even if the intentions and outcomes are different. It symbolizes how X's identity is shaped in opposition or response. He defies the system as he was made possible because of it's flaws. And in relation to the line:

A reflection can expose hidden truths or contradictions, showing how the past still defines the present, and that now he came to challenge the ideals or limits of, not only the System, but Zero's as well. By ultimately setting everyone free from the illusion, the shackles of Trust/Fear that binds them. Showing people how it is possible to become the New Type of hero.

What would this "New Type of Hero" even be? We’re so used to hero stories being about a "normal" person gaining powers, becoming a hero, and learning to navigate this new reality. But what if TBHX is showing us the exact opposite? What if it’s a metaphor telling us that you can be just… human, and that’s what makes you an even greater hero? That our very idea of what it means to be a hero is inherently "twisted"? We, as people, can make anything come true as long as we put our mind and effort into it. The power of creation is our greatest weapon. In other words, TBHX is, through X, redefining what it means to be a hero.

The very trailer that shows X as the acting force behind every hero, literally in the spotlight, contains the lines:

Where "Born in ashes" can allude to something, or someone, emerging as a consequence of the past, such as The Dawnfall incident, being shaped from the ashes of what came before or as a product of the new system that arose from it. But it can also mean "I was born a commoner", since "from ashes" can mean "from nothing". In fact, this trailer was translated into other languages with exactly that connotation, hinting that X most likely is, or at least was, just a commoner. After all:

The mirror, reflection and disruption symbolisms are cleverly translated visually in this same trailer and others:

Zero is the past they tried to lock away. X is the future they can’t predict.

What we are witnessing now is the dawn of new system. In a snap, one chapter ends and another one starts.

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Nice "the perfect embodiment of what a hero should be like"

Vs

Loli "Appearances shouldn't define me, I'll be the hero I want to be"

Nice whose identity was created through trust and fear, and Loli who can negate both trust and fear with the armor she made

------

Ghostblade, "I won't question who I'm told to assassinate," protecting his target Little Johnny

Vs

E-Soul/Yang Cheng, "I need to uphold the people's trust and bring justice to the wrong," going after Little Johnny and Ghostblade

Both did not doubt killing a former Hero and X (Og E-Soul, Sheng), but Ghostblade goes against orders to protect little Johnny, and E-Soul doesn't doubt the need to kill them both

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I love seeing them together 🌊⚡️

Another old art I did from last year

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You know... I sometimes think if X either actually knows what's currently happening or he's pretty much as clueless as Lin Ling, especially at the start of his hero career (like his 1st term of winning). Where it just so happens that he really likes to keep is hero and civilian life seperate, which worked favorably in his end since according to what some of the leaks showed, he might've only discovered the "truth/problems" of this hero life/stuff quite recently hence he's not really actively/knowingly affecting the other heroes at the current timeline. Like he does hero work on his own violition/for fun/or becuase it's the right thing to do or idk without paying mind to other heroes. Also, based on how he reacted after saving Ahu in the 6 min. Pv, he doesn't really care about the spectacle. His actions just so happens to accidentally affect the other heroes and the hero commission/agency. The upcoming fight in the spaceship crash site should get his attention, which might mark a start when X will actively do something. Idk where this is going but man.... .

This might (definitely) be all bs, but I want to explore some thoughts/theories that doesn't autimatically assume he's a mastermind/scheming/plotting sonething at the very beginning.

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Let her luck gave these sorry-ass heroes some reprieve and shine the truth for what it is

Oooh, interesting how Queen was the one to invite Lucky Cyan on the "vacation"

She's (potentially) going to be the only one at the incident who wasn't necessarily planned for 👀🍀

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Episode 19

And here comes Loli with a bat...!!

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Unintentionally, Ghostblade's emotional repression allowed to keep his family safe from Rock's creepy little finger and clown him at the same time.

Ghostblade, you half-way lucky little bastard

Ghostblade (volunteering for a mission for his daughter): ...

Ghostblade (headful of daughter thoughts, beefing with her girlfriend): ...

Ghostblade (wishing everyone would stop misinterpreting him) ...

...

Rock (already planning his assassination): But Ghostblade never volunteers! This must mean he knows the secret. He must be eliminated. There's no other explanation.

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Today, I woke up to watch TBHX in trepidation because the first thing I open up to Tumblr was my mutual shooting a DM, saying "Yang Chen should kill Uncle Rock"

To be fair, yes. That is a correct sentiment. But I was like "Boy, someone is violent this early in the morning." Before the time difference hit me.

So I made breakfast, play with my nieces for a bit, before bracing myself for another episode of TBHX with a cup of coffee at hand.

Let's get into it.

The Fear is really taking a toll on him. I can't imagine being push into despair so badly you strated hallucinating

God, poor Johnny. He is absolutely emotionally wreck

Wait a minute... is Johnny hallucinating an actual memory? Is he not just seeing things?!?!

Oh, Spotlight exist but not yet public knowledge I see

Wang Nuonuo you're an angel!!! I can't believe you're trying to be civil with Ghostblade!

Oh my fucking god?!?! Ghostblade, I knew it was weird that you cam't cut properly but did you have to pretend to connect with your daughter?!?!

I swear this social awkward fucker is gonna be the death of me

UNCLE ROCK WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU PUTTING A HIT ON AGAIN?!

Considering who's the leader of this team is. I have a bad feeling that Luoli's dad might be a target

Or maybe Johnny for obvious reasons

GHOSTBLADE WHY ARE YOU FLEXING ON VEGETABLES?!

Urgh... I'm struggling with understanding both the Professor and Luo Li's perspective

OMG NUONUO AND LUO LI SO CUTE AKDHKSHDKSBSND

Oh, so the Commission and/or Uncle Rock believes Big Johnny is a man-made creature that Ah Sheng experimented on?!

Kabdkshdksn the fact that would have been more believeable than him being an alien is such what makes this situation crazy

UNCLE ROCK YOU FUCKING ASS!!!!!

BUAHAHAHA Johnny already know Ghostblade is here

E-SOUL?!?!?

E-FUCKING-SOUL WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU–

Uncle Rock knew Big Johnny was an alien?!?!?

YANG CHEN HOW COULD YOU?! I TRUSTED YOU! I BELIEVE IN YOUR SOUL AND YOU HAVE THE GALL TO SAY 'ONE LESS RIVAL'

Oh my fucking god, I want to cry. He's protecting Johnny. He is upholding the one-sided promise he had for Ah Sheng

Ghostblade is finally standing up to be a hero.

KICK YANG CHEN'S ASS!!!

NICE?!

Of all people, I didn't think Nice would be here.

Nice Stan, where you at? Your babe is finally here after 18 episodes

I'm sorry, I must have misheard you, Mr. Perfect Hero. Did you just casually say you're gonna kill everyone...

What?

HOLY FUCK WHAT?!?!!

LUO LI THANK THE LORD YOU'RE HERE!!! PROTECT YOUR BABE AND DAD!!!

WHY IS EVERYONE IS KILLING EVERYONE?! WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?!

I feel emphatetic now for X. If this is the sort of chaotic relationship the comission has with these companies, I wouldn't want to go anywhere near them with a 10-foot pole. Let me be a hero while I do my own thing.

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"I love you , I'm glad we're friends"

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There are all the shonens with the powerscaling systems and training arcs and then there’s Gintama where the main character has vaguely the same strenght physically at the start of the series as at the end. The only real difference is that at the end he has a found family, but overall Gintoki has been a monster since episode 1 but it doesn’t feel like it because Gintama, while has interesting fights, is really not about fighting alone

Sure, Gintoki is one of the strongest people in the entire world, including other planets. But that doesn’t really matter when he needs to pay bills or clean up his mess, or when there is toilet paper missing. What good does strenght mean in mundane life?

Gintama rips you apart and leaves you on the ground to face the fact that mundane is beautiful. That even if you’re lazy and irresponsible there is still community for you, there are people who love you, who will scream at you and grumble but help you. It forces you to understand that no matter your personal strenght, the community is always stronger. That people will be upset with you and still be friends with you. Idk. Therapy for me personally

Why would you need a training arcs when you are already perfect as you are?

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Don't split half the gems in the tag! Holy shit, yes to all this!!!

I'm going to hold your hands when I say this: Maxwell being called a "rowdy" isn't about his sexuality - it's about his willingness to slum it with normal (poor) people. THAT'S why his dad was rude af to him but chill about Olethra's trans identity. The gentleman fisting jokes are fun because stuffy upper-class culture is deeply homo-erotic even though it pretends not to be, sure, but the reason "rowdy" hit's as an insult is because it's essentially the same as being called white trash/trailer trash. Maxwell and his beat up hands and willingness to go out an do dangerous and wild things are unacceptable because he is a member of the UPPER CLASS. They are financiers. They wear silk suits and sit behind desks and let other people do the dirty work. Every single one of the Gotch brothers could be getting crazy sloppy back shots every night and it wouldn't matter as long as it was from a person of respectable status - but Maxwell is in the fight pits with the randoms and the normies. He's voluntarily entering spaces where his class status is secondary to his physical prowess. Yes the gay jokes are fun, but that's not the POINT of the character.

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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA TBHX EPISODE 18!!! AAKDHKSHAKDVDJESKHDA

So many questions and theories running under our mine. Did Vortex orchestrate the assasination? Or was he simply there for his own agenda? Was Vortex and Sheng friends before turning into a bitter friendship? Or had they always been rivals with minimum respect for each other? Vortex seemd to have always known Sheng has an alien baby... but he never seem to do anything about it until this point... or pehaps he doesn't know?

There's not much I could say other than I have so many questions. GIVE US A STRAIGHT ANSWER FOR ONCE LH0!!!!

Oh damn, that's such a cool power

I'm always partial to wind power, they're my fav type of ability

I'm calling it now, Vortex used to be a weatherman

Why? Because I just think it's funny if a weatherman becomes a superhero because he often reports about storms 😂

It's gone? Huh?? WHY DID VORTEX LOST HIS POWER?

Little Johnny has the quickest and best chracter growth in this series. He's more mature than half the Top Heros.

JOHNNY SUPREMACY!!!

Oh good for Vortex, he's still alive... sad for his ranking though

MOTHERFUCKERS! WHY ARE YOU HOUNDING AN ORPHAN?!?! WHERE'S THE NEWS ABOUT SHENG'S DEATH!!!

Phobiaclone? Oooooooh, new character name drop!

Oh shit, 17 years later and Johnny is struggling with depression

FUCKING HELL, JOHNNY. YOU'RE JUST TORTURING YOURSELF WITH THAT VIDEO GAME!

I mean, idk what happen but it's safe to say Vortex is out of the picture if he's not motivated

They don't even assign him with crime fighting 😅

VORTEXT DIED IN THE PLANE CRASH?!

THAT'S WHY SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE IT WAS SABOTAGE?!

And considering Vortex has lost a lot of trust and his powers malfuctioned for unknown reasons... it's safe to say he was unable to do save the people that time

Hold on a minute... Sheng, Vortex, E-Soul, Bowa, even DJ SHINDIG... IS SOMEONE MANIPULATING THE STRINGS TO HAVE EVERY HERO X BE TARGETTED OR KILLED AFTER THEIR TRUST VALUE DROP TOO LOW?!?!

I'm eyeing on Uncle Rock because he orchestrated both Sheng and E-soul's demise. DOS on Bowa and DJ Shindig, considering their demise is the result of Fear.

Seriously, WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?!?!

Oooh, Johnny is still excited about heroes though

"He's ignoring me, sk he really hates me." Usually this is a line reserve for misunderstanding, but Johnny is spot on at that point.

...oh god, it went from being spot on to misunderstanding territory

again, WHAT THE FUXK IS GOING ON?!?!

I mean...Johnny isn't far off, when communicating with words is hard enough to convey... people usually lean into actions... which can just as easily lead to misunderstanding

Okay, okay... so it's safe to say that Spotlight is an organization Liu founded but sponsored by DOS in order to create a source of power that is more stable and reliable than Trust Value - basically, an indipendent power source

UNCLE SHENG?! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU UP TO?!?! WHO THE FUCK IS THAT?!

Johnny... I don't know who taught you about romance but what Ghostblade is doing IS NOT a devotion of love. Luo li is right that he's creepy.

Okay, to be fair. It is a TYPE of devotion. So both you and Luo Li aren't wrong. Ghostblade is both devoted and creepy. Unfortunately, we can't seperate both the intention and the result.

Johnny and Luo Li would make the best Buddy Cop duo. I'm sad Johnny isn't in FOMO later on because those two teaming up would be HILLARIOUS

I KNEW IT WAS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE FOR MICKEY TO SEND HER ON A VACATION!!!!

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Ghostblade: You’re not good enough for my daughter.

Loli: You’re not good enough for your daughter.

Ghostblade: Excuse me?

Loli: You heard me.

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Again, TBHX and its incredible and meaningful cinematography. You know the team behind it cares when you see details like these:

The contrast:

1. Johnny smiling and excited with his dad. 2. Johnny crying, reminiscing about his dad. 1. Sheng driving. 2. Sheng’s killer driving.

The Whisper Flower, which represents Sheng, appears between Johnny and Ghostblade in the second image. It also happens to be Nuonuo’s favorite flower. In that scene, it symbolizes both the common ground between Johnny and Ghostblade, and the emotional barrier that separates them.

Johnny, the son without a father.

Ghostblade, the father without his daughter.

The flower reminds both of someone they love more than anything, but it also directly represents their personal struggles. Ghostblade killed the person the Whisper Flower reminds Johnny of. And Ghostblade himself could never truly connect with his own daughter. His understanding of fatherhood is shaped by Sheng, as he says, “I also understood what was left behind in Sheng’s words and eyes right before he died.” Johnny becomes a living reminder of Ghostblade’s wrongdoings, and also of the connection he was never able to build with Nuonuo, something Johnny had with Sheng.

The very name of the flower " 白婉花 " when translated to Whisper Flower has a beautiful poetic meaning.

白 (bái) – “white”

Purity, mourning (in traditional Chinese culture, white is also the color of funerals and death).

婉 (wǎn) – “graceful,” “gentle,” or “elegant”

Softness, kindness, and subtle beauty.

花 (huā) – “flower”

Beauty, life, and transience.

In Chinese, the name captures the essence of something subtle, delicate, and emotionally resonant. That’s why it wasn’t literally translated as "The Gentle White Flower", but rather as "Whisper Flower" instead, a flower connected to loss, memory, and unspoken emotions. Even if Johnny and Ghostblade learn to coexist peacefully after the truth is revealed, and Ghostblade eventually reconnects with Nuonuo, Johnny will always be both a lesson and a haunting presence for him. It’s the most bittersweet it can get.