Sunday, August 18, 2019

Chapter 70: Eye of the Dragon, Part 2 (The Dragon Isles)


Release date: June 16th, 2014

Word count: (32,135 out of 69,887 words total)


Thoughts: We really didn't know much about Nadeshiko's arc. In the flashback we learn that she and Ryuuren are fighting against Ryouta but Reiji is on their side. I also remember that the five descendants couldn't be there at the last fight because Leon backed out. He was younger than everyone and was on his own. 

Sakura and Syaoran's reunion was so beautiful and heartfelt. It's so rare for them to be physically affectionate so when it does happen it's such a treat. 

It's crazy that Ryuuren and Leiyun were put in mortal peril to find the diamond while Syaoran just had to empty his bank account because it was something pretty that caught Sakura's attention. Even the Kaitou Magician had a better chance when he was robbing jewelry stores. It definitely is an item that can only be found if it wants to. 

The crystal breaking was anything but unceremonious whatever the White Dragon thinks.

When Tsubasa came out, Wish-chan was wary because she didn't want to be influenced by CLAMP's work. Eventually she felt comfortable enough with New Trials' trajectory to give it a chance. I never got in to it, but I'm sure there are plenty of Tsubasa Easter eggs.

Syaoran didn't mean to bring Sakura to the Cavern of Reservoir the same way that he didn't mean to bring his first dog (Eagle? Vega?) to his Chosen One quest. Let's be thankful that Sakura had a much better outcome than the poor pup. 

Sakura told Celes that it was thanks to Clow Reed that the reincarnation of Clow Reed didn't realize the clone. I wonder what Sakura did. I'm going to guess it's creating the Scent. 

I forgot that Clow had an aversion to Sakura's clone plan. Interestingly enough he wasn't more open to her until after she caught the Scent. He was the one who told her how to mimic the soul by using her eye. He said a living soul thought for itself while an empty one was a puppet. With the clone actively sacrificing herself Sakura created the former and was lucky that it didn't go rogue... 

It was so enjoyable to read about all the Cards that participated in creating Sakura's clone. Although there are many dark forces captured in NT, it's hard for all of the Cards to get their moment in the spotlight. 

Anyone who's read enough CCS fanfiction knows the "cute little descendent" term of endearment that Eriol used for Syaoran one time in canon. I was never a fan of it because Eriol was more reincarnation than actual descendent. So it was fun to see Shulin using it the right way when referring to Syaoran. 

Sakura went from referring Syaoran as an acquaintance, to a friend to someone that she loves while in the Caverns. Talk about a complex relationship.

The Core of the Dragon Realms presented by Celes in which not only Leiyun obsessively binge watched on Card Captor Sakura, but he's probably the only one who knows the Great Five better than Wish-chan and Diana! In all seriousness, I think it was unfair that Leiyun was there. It's not as if he chose the expedition on his own — he was ordered by the Clan. 

Syaoran told the Fantasy that he would give anything to see Sakura. That's so dangerous, especially since we just saw what Ryuuren's sacrifice was in order to keep Nadeshiko unscathed. 

Oh my goodness, I completely forgot that Syaoran encountered Sakura's clone. That was heartbreaking and graphic. Hmm, so she wasn't the clone. But what did Syaoran mean by saying that she was him?

Syaoran telling Celes that the Alliance is both Sakura and his dream makes me melt. 

There were 212 Chosen Ones and 77 Great Elders. So if every Chosen One tried to become a Great Elder, the success rate is 36%.

Oh my goodness, if I had to pick my favourite moment in New Trials, it would probably be Syaoran asking Sakura if she was his Sakura. And then it gets better when she assures him that he's her Syaoran! Awwww!!! I'm so happy that Lemjane captured this moment in a fanart. 

Fanart spotlight: I'm glad that I split the chapter in two because even Wish-chan admitted that Chapter 70 was a two-in-one. And it gives me the chance to feature Ming Li's gorgeous fanart of the Dragon Isles adventure. Wish-chan said that this chapter would have been better animated and this three part fanart helps us visualize it even better. The dragon is absolutely gorgeous and S&S getting their powers back is so important to the story. 

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