#akayona theory

[kazumasamaanime]

Yesterday I got vol 37 (finally🫠) and I rereading the chapters and I remember yona's dream better.

what do you think, the time has come where the dream will come true🥲?

[rddykilowatt]

Once again I am here to post my mindless ramblings about Yona of The Dawn.

So enjoy this outrageously long post I've written simply because of a characters name and me being a massive loser who reads Wikipedia pages like it's the morning paper.

SPOILERS FOR CHAPTERS 100-MOST RECENT CHAPTER !!!

As a renowned Zeno enjoyer, and lover of over-analyzing media. I will finally ramble about his name (fyi if this makes me sound smart, then please reduce your expectations to zero because it's not true I am just a nerd obsessed with a silly little animanga).

So to preface I have a very odd itty bitty fixation on quantum physics/mechanics & in the discussions of probability, quantum leaps, paradoxes, and just overall the big brain stuff. There's a thought experiment called Schrodinger's cat which is used to illustrate a paradox of quantum superstition. In which there is a box & in the box is a cat w/ a vile of toxic gas/poison.

The cat is simultaneously both dead and alive until the box is opened blah blah blah massive brain probability stuff. But tied to this thought experiment is also another part of this topic. It's called the quantum Zeno effect and to put it in simpler terms it refers to a slowing down of the evolution of a quantum state under the limit that the state/it is consistently observed or in much MUCH simpler terms a watched pot never boils.

If you as a reader apply that to Zeno as a character and his powers it's such a clever thing to come up with. An immortal character that can't age, can't get sick, can't die, and can't physically change named Zeno after the quantum paradox about how something won't change under constant observation essentially. It's just,,, wow.

The whole part with the dragons crest never leaving Zeno after Hiryuu bestowed it upon him knowing his "fate" and being the only thing that keeps him sated for long periods just screams the Zeno effect to me beyond the obvious immortality, not aging, ect.

I know at this point in my fixation with this series that Kusanagi never misses a detail, let's be honest, so I feel like the part with the crest is her waggling the actual nature of Zeno's powers in our faces. Given that his name may not be an obvious reference to his power(s) unless someone knows a single thing about quantum physics/mechanics. Like Kusanagi is shoving the details at us.

Kinda like, 'you guys aren't nerds enough to just google his name by itself so here's this little guide for you about his powers in a super duper simplified story-relevant way'.

However, this all leads me to wonder what/who specifically is watching Zeno then? If a watched pot never boils & Zeno can't die/change whilst being observed or a continuous outer force is always there then what would happen if this "watcher" stopped observing/happening? Is it the Yelllow Dragon up in the Heavens? Is it the Crimson Dragon King? So many questions.

I have no idea if Kusanagi did this intentionally, or with the thought that anyone would even find out. But I sure hope she did because it's just pure genius & adds even more depth to what's already there. It feels so intentional it'd hurt if it turned out not to be.

[realclever]

Continuing with chapters 227-265:

227-229 Mei-Nyan & Val parallel HakYona

…

247 Hak and Yona crying and hugging Kija together

…

251 Soowon’s guard confronts Hak Yona Kija and Zeno and reveals he heard Soowon tell Hak he wants Yona to be the next ruler of Kouka Kingdom

252 Yona finds out about Soowon’s plan. Hak apologizes for not telling her. Zeno Seals Kija

253 Hak and Yona hold hands while questioning Zeno. Hak and Yona hug Zeno together after his speech about ending the dragons and forgetting everyone.

254 Hak and Yona grieve together about Zenos betrayal and his speech. Yona’s dream about Zeno killing Hak. Yona tries to convince Hak to let her go alone. “Hak I love you”. Hak immediately realizing she had a dream about him dying. Hak holding Yona and Kissing her nose

255 Lilly dragging Zeno into doing errands. Zeno refers to Hak as who the Crimson Dragon King belongs to now. Zeno says the full prophecy

256 Rapa tells Soowon and Yoon about Zeno trapping the dragons.

257 Hak and Yona riding a horse together while Yona is having dreams/visions

258 Hak tells Mundok he doesn’t think he can cherish Yona any more than he already does. Lilli updates Hak and Yona on what happened in Kuuto. Yona talks to Hyoo-Ri.

259 Hak and Yona confront Zeno in the Mausoleum. Hak and Yona protect each other

260 Zeno targets Hak so Yona will fight. Yona calls the dragon gods.

261 Yona and Zeno get sucked into the Chalice of Blood.

262 Hak asks Soowon for help getting Yona back.

263 in the chalice: Dragon Gods pretending to be the other warriors. Zeno and Yona figure it out

264 The dragon gods try to pretend to be Yona’s “lover” Hak. Yona gets angry

265 The Dragon Warriors fight the gods. Kija loses his dragon hand and Shin-ah’s is blinded

Here’s a cheat sheet I made for myself to know the chapter numbers for when significant HakYona Moments occurred in the Akatsuki No Yona manga. I figured I’d just share it in case anyone else finds it useful.

If some of the phrases don’t make sense it’s because I made them extra short to fit on one line in my notes app. For vague statements like “Wind tribe” I just think the whole chapter is a HakYona moment

Covers up to chapter 226

Spoilers ahead***

FB = Flashback

Chapters:

3 FB when Hak became Yona’s bodyguard

4 FB Hak, Yona and Soowon snow day and get sick

5 Hak picks leeches off of Yona

6-7 wind tribe

8 “give yourself to me Hak”

9-10 the cliff

12 kiss attempt / forehead slam

15 archery lesson, Hak warns: “I’ll get greedy”

16 Yona swipes Hak’s dagger

17 Hak: “the way she looks when she takes risks”

19 Kija interrupts Yona feeding Hak

22 Yona makes Hak stay as lookout in cave

32 Honey scene

40 Yona saw Soowon in Awa. Protective Hak

41 Love potion

47 Swordsmanship, Hak low key confesses

49 Hak and Yona doodles

52 Yona: “I’ll sleep with Hak”

60-61 Hak and Yona as kids

62 Jae-ha teases Hak, forehead kiss

63 Hak and Yona share a tent

64-65 Jealous Yona

75 Yona wraps Haks bandages

76 Hak bets on Yona’s archery

80 Shirtless Hak cover

81 Yona thinks of Hak (water tribe girl talk)

83 Injured Yona caretaker Hak

91 Yona stops Hak from killing Soo-Won

92 Hand holding, smile and hug

95 Kid proposes & asks Yona if she likes hak

98 Hak gives cheek kiss before “sacrifice”

106 -107 HakYona catch a bear

107-108 trapped together in seiryuus shrine

108 Yona->Hak “I won’t hand you over to ghosts”

109 Yona admires sleeping hak

109-111 Yona gives Hak the necklace

111.5 “Hak can you sleep with me”

121 Hak hugs Jae-ha and Zeno for saving Yona

122 Yona wants a Hak hug too

123 big Hak + Yona moments

124 Yona talks about Hak with Lilli

125 Hak flashbacks and saves pin for Yona

131 “I’ll go with you no matter where”

134 Cuddles & Hak pretends to be Ao

134.1 flashback Hak & Yona New Years

134.2 fierce candy, Hak is Yona’s “weakness”

137 Kiss in Ogi’s shop

142 Hak & Yona reunion

143 Hak shields Yona. Kouren & Neguro parallels

144 Hak->Yona “Don’t leave my side anymore”

146 Yona tries to carry Hak, Hak: “We need to talk”

151 Yona jealous and awkward

152 Hak’s confession

153 -154 Hak being playful. Yona being nervous

157 Hak leans next to Yona as she rests

157.5 Haks debut as general

158 Hak: “My feelings of love are not a lie”

159 HakYona one bed at fire tribe castle

163 Hand holding to “absorb power”

174 Hak saves Yona from fire, “I love you”

175 rescue and Water kiss

176-177 Yona says I love you more clearly

183 Post tournament, Hak schemes

187 Yona realizes she can’t see the gang

188 Yona hides from Hak

194 Baby HakYona FB

199 Yona thinks of Hak as her lover

200 Hak covertly checks on Yona

201 Hak gets “arrested” KISS!!!

202 “I want to be closer”

204.5 Yona staring at pictures of delivery boy Hak

205 Hak wants to meet Yona badly but doesn’t want to cause trouble for her

207 Yona jumps from window to say bye to Hak

211 “As long as Hak believes in me”

215 Hak gets swept up in flood

216 Yona has breakdown about Hak

224 Hak reunites with HHB on battlefield

225 Hak kisses Yona intensely while in daze from rain induced panic

226 Yona’s presence calmed Hak

[iluvluvnutella]

Damn, imagine if the sword won't work on Zeno unless Hiryuu's reincarnation, Yona, uses it on him. Zeno attempted to kill Hak in Yona's dream in order to trigger her.

[neixins]

as funny as i think it would be for hak and su-won to be sitting around the crest, head in hands because none of their ideas are working, only for yona to suddenly pop out with the dragons in tow like “hi guys i fixed everything :)” i do think the interpretation of hak and su-won as the sword and the shield is starting to hold more weight now, especially considering ik-su’s comment in ch 43 about how it’ll take a while for the sword and shield to appear (i.e. reconcile and be able to work together)

[marriedtohowl]

I GGOT GOOSEBUMPS

To fully see the context of these even in a dream is something to shake the earth

[wrath-of-dawn]

Hey. Hi. Hello. Fuck.

OK just read the new chapter and had to share some thoughts.

1) the resemblance to the beginning of this journey. They looked for jae-ha last and he has been the first to disappear. Shin-ah was second and we are back with just kija. The dragons are being lost in reverse to how they were found. Aside from Zeno of course who, just as he showed up the first time makes his presence known only of his own accord.

2) Zeno being pressed for questions and obviously either lying or avoiding saying anything. Particularly with his quick response to the chalice.

Hear me out.

The chalice was the start of this mess for Zeno. It gave him immortality and with it centuries of agony. What if he suspects that there's a way to use the chalice once more to reverse it? What if it holds the secret that will let him finally die? The palace has been burnt to the ground, the sanctity of the mausoleum breached and the chalice stolen. We don't know what chagol did with it while it was in his possession. Maybe the circumstances combined and with everything on a knife's edge with the dragons and their holy artifacts/places, it all leads up for Zeno to have an out. To finally die. He loves the other dragons as he did his own dragon Brothers but he knows either way they will die and leave him like every generation before. If there is a chance that he can finally join them and all the others before. To join hiryuu in the heavens. I think he would be hard pressed to pass up that opportunity if it ever arose. It's the only thing I can imagine that would tempt him to in any way betray his friends. We know he hides history and info on the dragons many times in the series but this and the behavior surrounding it is all just so different.

This was total conspiracy theory right here but lemme know what you think.

Honestly in my ideal scenario with the dragons this whole issue with their powers leads to a form of death wherein they lose their powers and become human. Maybe that means the eyes of the dragon go blind. Maybe the green and white dragons become amputees. In some physical or metaphysical death they separate their lives from the dragons powers and that let's them stay with their loved ones.

I don't know but God damnit I can hope.

[fuyu-mayoi]

Conspiracy theory time

Please, tell me your craziest theories about Zeno (mine below).

Let's gather the informations about the chalice :

Chapter 235 when Zeno was attacked by the assassin who stole the chalice, he became unusually violent and commented he was desperately holding on to him.

CHapter 236 to protect the Red dragon, the dragon gods collected their blood inside the chalice and gave it to the human warriors.

Chapter 241 Holding the chalice in his last moments, Chagol expresses his last wish "If I could be reborn, next time I'd like the place I go to, to be more peaceful".

Chapter 236/241 when the dragons own the chalice, it regenerates their powers and heal their bodies.

Chapter 245 In Yona's dream a worried Zeno has the chalice in his left hand "Miss it's coming, don't let it get away".

Chapter 250 we cannot see Zeno's left side and determine if he has the chalice or not. He's alone, there are no dead (or living) bodies around him. He states he has been caught and the next panel oddly goes pitch black.

The questions are : where is he now? What was the meaning of the warning he gave Yona inside her dreams? Something is coming to where or whom? And what is Yona supposed to do?

My very imaginative theory is that Chagol drank from the chalice, somehow survived and gained the mastery over the dragons (becoming the famous phoenix perhaps, reborn from the ashes?). The four dragons went berserk because the chalice was originally meant to protect the Red deity and not some human. Zeno managed to keep his will like Ki-ja because of Hiryuu's earring. The two left dragons were sent to check on Chagol's enemies, Jae-ha to Yona and Shin-Ah to Suwon. Then Chagol summoned the dragons back somewhere, hence they disappeared one after the other. Zeno escaped and he was caught because Shin-Ah (who's now serving Chagol) found him. Thanks to his eyes the Phoenix now knows his position, which is why he is annoyed.

Zeno was warning Yona that IT is coming, a new supernatural being who could defy the divine order the heavens established. To stabilize the Dragons Yona must retrieve the chalice and once the 4 are gathered again, "to protect the king (Hiryuu)" maybe there's a chance for the sword and the shield to appear once and for all.

[sorasan000]

The way I always seemed more on board the "Il double" idea than the "Suwon double" idea and in the end the Suwon double may be the more accurate idea is sending me to the floor.

[mii-ruby]

Theory about the "Price to pay"

Spoilers 'till chapter 260

So we're finally at the point where Yona has to talk to the dragon gods herself. We knew this was bound to happen and it was honestly the most logical turn of events. What we don't know however is the price she'll have to pay to get such a wish fulfilled.

Two theories come to mind:

1/ The first and most popular one is that Yona will have to leave the mortal realm and return to heaven to be the Crimson dragon King again.

No need for the dragon warriors anymore, they'll simply lose their powers, and the gods can finally have Yona back like they always wanted, which could be the interpretation of the last line from the prophecy "And The Red Dragon Shall Return At Dawn".

This theory, although logical, is just too cruel. Akayona is not a tragedy, I can't imagine Kusanagi will end a story about found family, self growth and overcoming your trauma with the death of the main character. I desperately tried to find another suitable price that didn't envolve Yona sacrificing herself, which leads us to the second theory:

2/Yona gets to stay on earth, but all the people she knew forget about her. I know this might sound just as cruel if not more than the previous one💦, but please hear me out 'till the end!!!!

Yona had done much more to the country as a normal girl than a princess. She went to different tribes on foot, bonded with peasants, pretended to be a bandit, pirate, an entertainer... etc, and fought off traffickers and dealers without ever mentioning she was a princess. Yes those people she helped will probably forget about her, but she can return to them and help them while being herself again. She doesn't need recognition as "Princess Yona". She draws people no matter her title.

On the other, since she'll no longer possess warriors with divine powers, she won't be a target for greedy individuals or people from enemy nations, so the gods can rest assured about her safety.

Lastly, everyone forgetting about her means that the red dragon no longer exists on earth. It's like his memory left the mortal realm and ascended to heaven again "And The Red Dragon Shall Return At Dawn". This could be an interpretation of the prophecy. The red dragon won't literally return to heaven. It's his memory that will leave people's minds and return to be a property of the heaven.

Now, even though I said that everyone will forget about Yona, I'm sure there'll be one exception to this rule. Only one individual will never forget about Yona while everyone else will, and it's Hak. The first reason is obviously the romance that'll just get reset to zero if he forgets about her. I mean, knowing  him he'll probably fall in love with her again, but it's like all their moments and all the development in their relationship will disappear and restart from zero which is something a lot of readers won't accept.

The second and most powerful reason (literally the reason that made me write  this post) is that one scene from chapter 25 that everyone hated. Remember when Yona asked Hak to be the only one to call her "Princess"? Remember when she told him even if EVERYONE IN THE COUNTRY FORGETS ABOUT HER, HE HAS TO BE THE ONLY ONE WHO REMEMBERS?

What if that scene was actually foreshadowing the ending of the series? That everyone will forget about who Yona was, and that he will be the only one to remember? Ofc I'm sure it won't be that easy. Hak will probably have to pass some kind of test to prove that he's worthy of remembering Yona, but I'm sure he'll succeed and the gods will begrudgingly yield to his request so Yona won't live a sad and lonely life after they cast their spell.

Ofc I'm aware this is still a cruel predicament. The family she fought so hard to save will forget about her, but she'll be able to start a new relationship with them. It'll prove that their bond was always genuine, that it had nothing to do with the dragons' blood, and I'm sure they'll love her as much as they loved her before.

The country also will forget about princess Yona. Her achievements will probably all be attributed to Soowon (but it's not like she cares about fame or recognition anyway).

Speaking of Soowon, it's kinda fucked up that he gets to forget the girl he hurt so much. He'll forget that he ever had a cousin, that it was her father he murdered that night, that she was the one who got the gods to heal the descendants from the Crimson illness...etc, It's unfair but we can't do much about it I guess.

What do you guys think about this theory? Would you be okay with it if it happened at the end?

[soo-won]

Chapter 267 ramble

I said this about Suwon last time but I think we should all read akayona with more emotions sometimes maybe. like, in general. for everyone. I don't want Yona to be Suwon and to only think of the greater good. I want Suwon and Yona to coexist, like they've been working on for a while now. I don't like the theory that Suwon will die to save Hak and/or Yona, I don't think it's good and I don't think it makes sense with what the story has been exploring and conveying so far, and I would feel the same if it was Yona or anyone instead of Suwon. Anyone sacrificing themselves to appease/please the gods would be the lamest conclusion ever. The story hasn't been subtle about challenging the notions that sacrifices, punishments and now contracts are necessary. Like,, no they're not. They need everyone here.

I was more sceptical when Yona didn't hesitate at all in chapter 257, but here I don't think it's an issue. Like first, we see her be affected and waver when the gods use the dragons' limbs against her. She recovers her composure because dragons are here and tell her to not worry about this. But more importantly, Yona has known hell, and it's there that she met people reaching out their hands to others in need again and again, and this is what inspired her to fight and bring help to those in need back. It's in hell she met her friends, her family and was moved by people's kindness again and again. She has no reason to be scared of what the gods are warning her about, she has known wars, she has known disasters. She will just stand against everything the future throw at her like she said in ch257. She loves the mess that is Kouka Kingdom and its people. I don't think there was anything better she could have done in her situation. She doesn't have the means and power to do anything but either submit to the gods or escape, she needs outside help. Yona is not responsible for the dragons losing their limbs, nor for Kouka's current state. The gods are the only ones being unreasonable and irrational here, you just can't win against something irrational like that, she can only leave.

Moreover, I don't want Yona to decide the terms of Kouka's future for everyone like a god, and the best way to do that is again to leave, not make any deal with the gods, and face everything on Earth as a human like she always did, which she's exactly what she's trying to do in ch267. Yona already said she's resolved to find ways to bring an end to wars, we've seen her participate to help out tribes and countries and people again and again. That's what she does. Relying on a contract with the gods (even though we have seen how damaging and harmful it is on the long run! again and again! and they're not reliable! Don't we all want the gods to just stop with their vows and contracts and prophecy and rules already?) is the easy, coward way out. Humans don't need the powers of the gods. They don't need divine protection. They have accomplished everything by fighting as they are. Yona was helped by the gods' powers sure, but her development is about being strong enough to not depend on her friends' powers, and it's most of all the characters trying to help out others that truly accomplish things. The people on Earth are all working hard to help each other out and deal with each problem together, even now. They will manage, they will be fine. Let's believe in the power of people. All they need is the human Yona too, and the humans four dragons, and the humans Suwon and Hak. All of Kouka need to be freed from the gods' supervision.

Literally no one right now is asking for anything the gods have ever been doing, they only ever did this for themselves. The gods are fear mongering right now, and I don't think it's worth falling into the trap of believing all life is doomed without their protection like they want us to. I don't think they're objective. They always considered humans were stupid detestable creatures that are destined to destroy themselves without their intervention. I don't think they realize how resilient people on Earth are. (Lili alone would gag them!) Natural disasters are one thing, but how do they know wars will be break out? Wars are started and enacted by people, and are stopped by people as well. We have seen characters facing sort of natural disasters (even if it wasn't natural back then) by working out together during the flooding of Kin Province for example, or when Kuuto was burned down. People have infinite ressources when they work together. Suwon is resolved to find a way to bring back the sky knowing he can't influence the Gods too. It's their business. It's their country. Yona belongs to Earth and people in Kouka want her back because she is waited for, loved, and needed as the human Yona there. Like it is the case for every other character.

I think the theory of Suwon dying and sacrificing himself has no solid basis either. Like, I don't know, he might consider it, but I just don't think it will happen and if it goes there, it will be prevented. I may be naive, but to me the story is conveying that it's not something wishable? Suwon doesn't need to die and wait for punishment (or """redemption""" like I've seen some call it) to be "even". Suwon can live, and find the best path where no one has to be sacrified and punished, himself included. Isn't it what chapter 262 ends on? It's not about equivalent exchange and balance, it's about love and hope for the future. Characters in akatsuki no yona have been giving without expecting anything in return again and again, even if they were hurt before, this is the crux of it to me. This is the nature of Hiryuu's actions in the past too. So no ending can be satisfying if the Gods don't do the same. (Or else just vanish forever.) Without mentioning that it has been established Suwon wants to live. Like, even with what looks like passive suicidal ideation, Suwon wants to live. He can't help being curious about what will happen next. He simply needs help to believe a better future for him is possible too.

And this help can still come. The story isn't over yet. Zeno is still immortal, the dragons have lost their limbs, are not even truly back to normal and are stuck in the chalice, Yona is stuck too, the crimson illness is still a thing etc.. Let's not rush things, and let's look at the bigger picture and find a better solution than just sending anyone that pleases the gods to heavens so they're happy and give everything else ppl want in exchange.

[marriedtohowl]

This, exactly what I think!

But at this point I am a mess, which king? The "prophecy" it's about the king, and right now we have Sowoon (current king, and the one who carries the blood of the first Hiryuu) and Yona (The reincarnation of hiryuu's soul).

Which one will play this role and what will be done? We have a lot of details to figure it out but the answer really is the prophecy. We must be careful because Kusanagi always gives spoilers through dreams, but would the resolution of everything be the unification of nations? The end of the war? Or what? The resolution has something to do with the immortality of zeno?

I have many questions... The sword and the shield they are people? Hak could be the Shield? We have to remember that there's a sword, an important one that Sowoon carries and killed Yona's father with it.

And let's not forget about this pannel... Look at the sword... maybe it's a hint?

I AM GETTING CRAZY!!!!

Ok I have a theory about Zeno.....

So I was rewatching the series and I remembered the legend about the sword and the shield.

" WHEN THE FOUR DRAGO'S ARE GATHERED..."

Maybe that's what it means about "gathered"🥲 and also explains about why we haven't hear anything about the sword and the shield yet.

So what do you think?🤔

[rddykilowatt]

ramble ramble ramble ramble zeno beloved ramble ramble ramble ramble

I’m gonna dump akayona thoughts here ‘cause I love this series lots and they make me very happy to ramble about! (warning for spoilers if you’re unaware of anything about zeno or his backstory)

I don’t see a lot of people analyzing or digging at the things that I do, usually they’re more centered around widely known details and fan favorites and such.

So here we go:

Ever since Zeno wiggled his silly way into the group (the dragons, yoon, hak and yona) he completely threw away all of his self preservation. And you can say “well ofc, he’s there to protect yona” but I think you’d be wrong for simplifying it that way. He's such a complex character. Out of all of them he is the one that stands to be the least affected by Yona’s presence same with the presence of the other dragons. He simply decided to approach them on his own accord, they didn’t approach him. This guy has had to kill and run to protect him from others and from himself for millennia.

He’s completely lost his purpose in life by the time we meet him in the series, having lost so much and constantly being at odds with the concept of time. But he found that purpose again in protecting the hhb, which is where I bring this back to the previous statement that he completely threw away all his self preservation, or rather he actually gained some.

During the Xing arc the dragons end up being imprisoned, and Zeno willingly offers himself up to Mizari to have his arm cut off as means to get away easy, but they all outwardly express their disdain toward this. Jae-ha being the one to intervene and avoid Zeno being subjected to such treatment.

Though I think it should be said that he could’ve easily sacrificed himself for them here, it's just his arm right? But he let's Jae-ha intervene and sway the topic away from him. Despite the fact that he could at any moment throughout the series (after his power has been revealed) when there’s a battle or confrontation, power his way through fights and run away or get help at the drop of the hat but guess what? He doesn’t do that, he stopped doing that for the sake of the others. He instead he chooses to stick by the side of his companions even if he could just as easily tear himself apart or be torn apart in order to help them escape.

A good example is this scene in the current arc:

Even with the artifact from Hiryuu castle in their presence that causes there powers to amp up and everything, Zeno sits tight, literally. He sits there tied up tight with the others. I bring this scene up as an example because like I previously stated he could just tear himself apart here, now more than ever to help them escape. But he doesn't.

(Whether this is due to his wisdom beyond years or because he doesn't want to upset the other dragons is up in the air for sure but we're gonna say it's cause he doesn't wanna upset the others for the sake of this post)

I feel like it should be explained further, it’s been brought up multiple times throughout the series where Zeno’s partook, especially in anxiety inducing parts, the others don’t like to see Zeno hurt even if he heals, even if he’s used to the pain. They don’t like it, they’ve been very upfront about how much they hate it, how much it scares them to see him injured in ways that would kill any mortal being, in ways it would kill any of them. Seeing him bleed is the worst experience for them. And I think Zeno makes the conscious choice to no longer completely tear himself apart just to escape in order to save them because he doesn’t want to scare them more than they already are in the situations they get involved in. As well as when it wouldn’t be necessary to do so, when they work together just as well to escape without unnecessarily blood being shed.

Zeno is honestly an enigma of a character, he says a lot but simultaneously says nothing. Which makes me love him even more.

What I’m saying here is all me reading between lines and using my own brain to come up with something that would make sense rather than it being a verbal statement or thought being stated in the series. There’s no real textual evidence that outright states that Zeno has made any of the choices I’ve stated, it’s just my own thoughts surrounding him.

At the end of it all here, I personally believe this is one of the best ways his character could be written, especially as the only one remaining from the original dragons. He gives things away to the group and the readers but only with bits and pieces. The rest is speculation or a matter of putting things together. In my opinion he keeps us hooked into the series, he’s the one character still present that carry’s so much weight and wisdom with him. He’s the one character in the hhb that understands the pain that each separate individual has faced that even they amongst themselves can’t understand.

They’ve all learned how cruel the world can be, how painful being alive is in their own ways but in my opinion Zeno is the only one that understands their individual experiences infinitely. For crying out loud he knows things that the characters around him don’t even know and that we the readers don’t as well. He’s seen and lived through more life than them all combined, but he still holds onto his humanity albeit rather stubbornly. He still continues to learn and grow and above all else he sees that everyone is human and that there can be/is still good in the world even with all the bad.

Yona maybe be in the title of the series, but Zeno is still just as much of a main character as she is.

[tinelifa]

Zeno and Hiryuu

The next akayona's chapter is coming soon so i am writing down my last crack theory before it come : The "Zeno" who is with Yona and Hak and who caught Kija in the chalice is actually Hiryuu.. who took over Zeno's body after Zeno became a big dragon. The real Zeno is the one Yona met in her dreams.

The Zeno who appeared in the last chapter made me think of Hiryuu, in the way he acted, and i still find it strange how unbothered this Zeno seemed to be about the safety of the others dragons..

Hiryuu was also a big liar unable to answer questions so there is that.

[neixins]

the more i think about it the more plausible i think it is that yona will end up “sacrificing” herself to save the dragons. obviously she won’t die (she’d be willing to do so, sure, but this just isn’t the sort of story that’d kill off its protagonist) but she will sever her connection with hiryuu (the same way i’ve been saying for ages now that she’ll sever the connection between the dragon warriors and their powers/the dragon gods) bc like. zeno and countless generations of dragon warriors have been stuck in this cycle for so long because they’ve been waiting for hiryuu, right? so the way to break the cycle is to send hiryuu back to the heavens, despite how loath he is to part with humans, bc otherwise even if yona managed to save her friends the cycle wouldn’t actually end, the gods would just find new vessels bc they don’t really care about the damage they cause as long as they can Protect Hiryuu…. and this is making me think of zeno’s line in ch 255: “even if the dragon warriors are gone, this country can get back on its feet on its own. life goes on, with or without us.” which.. to be fair he was using as justification for a failed murder-suicide attempt but if yona says it in a different context…….and then to have the happy hungry bunch back in business helping people, only sans superhuman powers…..oh it’d be such a satisfying ending!!

[mii-ruby]

However, one thing I'd like to say is, the gaze thing, yes it did. In the beginning with kan taejun and kumji as well. I think there are more instances as well. So yes it was bs IMO.

When people stare at Yona and we start hearing their thoughts, things around them slow down or stop moving (it is better shown in the anime), meaning that it all happens in a split second in real time, they are not really paralysed. They think about Yona's gaze and then immediately move on, and like I said before, it is not used to buy her some time so she could strike them down. She didn't shoot Taejun, and Kumji was already stuck in a small lifeboat. He had no where to escape so it's not like Kusanagi needed to paralyse him to begin with lol.

Hak having changed perspective as yona's body guard was rather because of his feelings for love. It was very personally attached thing for him. I can't help but see this as a character that is emotionally swayed by MC.

So you're saying that because Hak is in love with her he can't grow to respect her as a leader? He can't feel for her anything but romantic love? I don't know what to say, it is quite regrettable that you think his whole speech in chapter 152 was a lie. We've seen his gradual change and the moments that made him respect Yona. Although it wasn't often, he did disagree with her at times, he is no yes man. When he admitted that he was proud of serving her it was a big development in their relationship. Sadly people only retain his romantic confession from chapter 152.

feeding sick etc etc is not something that is considered a favor? Or a glorious act. It is basic human sympathy if I was there I would do the same. The reaction is not realistic.

It is a favour and it is a glorious act. By feeding the sick, you put yourself in risk of falling sick too, which is quite a problem at a time where antibiotics didn't exist. Yona was also shown to distribute food among children while being hungry herself. Hell, they named themselves the happy hungry bunch because they were hungry and poor, yet they did all those things for the people. It is no easy feat to help all the beggars of our town, let alone a town made up only of sick and poor people.

The solutions are being offered to her as easy as pie. Even with the  situation with Zeno, it feels off putting. Its all about how she doesn't want that or she will save everyone

The situation with Zeno is still not over, most people don't expect the gods will just kindly do as she asks. In fact, people have been making theories for years now, about what price Yona will have to pay to save all these people. I even made one recently, you might check it if you're interested:

Now, I have to agree that Akayona is a rather straightforward series. Characters don't have their morals challenged and the answer is generally pretty simple. But that's a problem of the series itself not Yona's character. Almost everyone has it easy on this aspect. For example, Soowon thinks that to protect Kouka he just needs to invade every neighbouring country. He's been doing that from the beginning and his view has never been challenged, even though his path is quite questionable.

I'm currently reading a manga about the unification of ancient China, and the King (who's not even the MC) has been constantly challenged in different aspects. People ask him "even if you unify the land through military force, how will you unify people's hearts? Do you think they will forgive and forget? Do you think your method will grant eternal peace? It will be a fleeting peace of about 100 years then people will rise to regain their independence". Then the King gives his answers. Some people are satisfied, some are not and so on. Sadly Akayona isn't like that.

Akatsuki no yona

Trauma dump

*proceed at your own expense, I am very harsh*

So, in my family everyone reads Akayona and then we have DISCUSSIONS, which lead to this convo

This has irked me for the longest of time. Was it just blind devotion? Or was there something else? Either way was it worth something to put the well being of people at risk? Il is unfit and incompetent enough to be a ruler. And he is being followed by some greatest people who are sensible enough but they don't oppose him at all??????? Hak and mundeok as well???? they don't question him, but actually view him as Yona's kind father? like what dude???? before he is Yona's father he is the king of the people, and he has a responsibility towards them, if he can not do it, leave it to someone who actually can...

Are their brains empty or what? In the end it was not realistic approach but devotion? In this regard soowon's statements make sense. That he has no need for gods nor the people who follow them blindly if all they do is disregard people they are SUPPOSED to be taking care of and instead sacrifice them. Like don't take the job if you can't fulfill the basic job descriptions. Its part of you job king il , you were suppose to do it.

Like is yona's father the only person who was killed? So many families were ruined because of him???? What about their fathers???? Is yona the only one feeling depressed or hopelessness after het father dies??

There were so many people who faced worse things, like human trafficking , who knows how many have been taken away???? What happened to their trauma? All she saw was her father's death? There were people who faced worse things? There is no light that was brought on these situations? Also She had Hak and then the dragons beside her. The common people suffering did not have this luxury. How can it be compared on the same level????? the only traumatizing thing that Yona went through in the series is seeing her father being killed by the person she has hots for. And she has been unable to let go. true it took her time to be mature enough to understand reasons but STILL...

IMO, Il would be accountable and answerable of his incompetency.