[Cover Generated by AI]
The beginning is in an unfamiliar world with a name unknown. In the dirty sewer there, I woke up in the embrace of street children. Cheat? No such thing. All I have is the vague memory of a kid named ‘Diethard Becker’ and the power of an ‘Asculapia Priest’ associated with him. To survive, I must turn this into a somewhat usable power.
Asculapia’s two hands.
One heals, one takes.
He is eternally one.
Even if divided into many, he is one. Forever the only one.
Within one, discover the many.
Feel the many as one.
There, there will be a beginning and an end.
And—
Oh flickering candle in the wind, die with a single thought!
What is created by the mother all aims for death!
Fiery blood, disappear already, and rejoice in it.
Death is joy, liberation from all difficulties.
Heart, let your fiery blood scatter to the heavens.
Fall gracefully!
The woman with pale lips. True nature is a snake. A goddess, ‘Asculapia,’ governing revenge and healing, a self-sacrificing and despicable deity, eternal blessings (calamities) be upon her!
The initial chapters were decent, but the story started to decline as it progressed. The momentum that was established at the beginning gradually faded as I read on. I found myself getting confused with the characters—there were names repeatedly mentioned but not adequately explored. Their roles, connections to other characters, and significance to the plot were left unclear.
The artwork is passable but lacks appeal.
The manga is still ongoing, but I don't think I'll continue reading until the end.
What I loved about it:
1. This is one of the most visually stunning manhwas I've ever encountered.
2. I absolutely adore Saaz. He ranks just below Mookyun from "Totally Captivated" in terms of being cool, badass, humorous, and sweet.
3. The narrative is highly engaging on multiple levels.
4. It made me laugh out loud numerous times.
5. There were some incredibly sexy scenes that didn't involve explicit sexual content but were still extremely hot.
What I disliked about it:
1. Obviously, the fact that it ends with a terrible cliffhanger, with little hope for resolution.
2. Moto's prudishness and self-denial became tiresome.
3. I believe the details of Moto's past could have been revealed more swiftly. Even after 48 chapters, there are still things we don't know, and now may never discover.
STORY: This was a wonderfully straightforward story to follow. Given what I can infer about Moto's past, it could have been more complex, but thankfully, it wasn't. The pace and flow were excellent, and I couldn't put it down. It did an outstanding job of keeping me hooked, aside from the slow reveal of Moto's backstory, which felt more like a tease than actual information.
CHARACTERS: The two main characters were instantly captivating. Their appearances and personalities were incredible from the moment they appeared. They demanded my full attention every time they were on the page, and I never doubted their authenticity. Their interactions with the supporting characters were also fascinating and felt natural.
ART: I would give this a 12/10 for art—it's that exceptional. In fact, I need to revisit some of my other ratings after experiencing this. As mentioned earlier, every frame is breathtaking, not just select ones. Some may not appreciate the Korean art style, but I adore it. I want my 2D men to look impossibly exotic and amazing, and in this manhwa, they certainly do. Additionally, the artist pays incredible attention to detail when it comes to clothing, making it simply stunning. I highly doubt anyone dresses like these characters do, but I love that they do. It makes them stand out beautifully.
SEX SCENES: There is almost no explicit sexual content in this story. There are two sex scenes in the final chapter (both non-consensual), focusing on the uke's emotional experience, which is difficult to witness. However, there are several sensual scenes between Saaz and Moto that are beautifully erotic. The way the artist captures their kisses alone is enough to leave me breathless. Scenes like hair washing or intimate hand placements showcase their sensuality and passion in simple acts, demonstrating her incredible talent.
Overall, I'm devastated that this story is incomplete, but I'm grateful to have met these characters and traveled with them as far as we have.
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Because it either will or it won't.
"The Summit" is surprisingly good. Not great, because I haven't had the full experience I should (as explained above, due to incomplete translation), but what I've read had me engrossed. I didn't pause and wanted more. I was genuinely disappointed when there were no more chapters available!
Story: Saez, also known as Han Lee or whatever, is on a train one day and gets pickpocketed by Moto, a strikingly pretty, effeminate boy. Pretty standard stuff. But there's this hard-edged, gritty vibe to "The Summit." While I didn't feel much of a pull toward Moto, I did feel it for Saez. He's the one who changes—specifically, his tastes shift toward this pretty boy who suddenly starts hanging around him a lot. The story mainly follows their life together. Nothing too extraordinary, just them as a couple. Until we delve further in and see Moto's past starting to surface along with the trouble he seems to attract—and that's where things really start to heat up—also where the translations get messed up! It's genuinely intriguing to watch as Saez tries to suppress his growing feelings for Moto, who remains completely oblivious but attracts every testosterone-filled organism within a 50-mile radius (yes, folks, this is BoyxBoy love if the synopsis didn't already clue you in).
Art: I've never been particularly drawn to Korean art, but I have read some before ("Boy Princess," "Bride of the Water God") and it always has this odd look to me initially. Like I can't fully engage with it because I'm so accustomed to reading manga rather than manhwa. However, once I got past my initial reaction, it's just as beautiful as most other manga. One thing I can say is that manhwa often feels edgy, rough, and sometimes harshly detailed. I don't find this demeaning in any way; on the contrary, I think it gives manhwa its unique appeal, and I always appreciate that. But it might not be to everyone's liking.
Character: I find that I like Saez much more than Moto. There's certainly character development between them and individually, though I can't comment much on Moto's growth. The random chapters at the end reveal a devastating past and decision he makes, and I truly wish the translators would address that! The supporting cast isn't bad either, partly because they're almost nonexistent until later, and then they fit into parts of the story we don't have much context for yet, making it hard to evaluate certain characters. But I don't have any real issues with them. I like Saez, even if he is a bit of a pervert.
Enjoyment: Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this manga, and I'd really prefer if they just translated the volumes in order instead of jumping around like that. Because that's what diminishes my enjoyment of the manga—not the material itself, but how I have to consume it. I can't find it anywhere to buy, so I have to resort to the internet. But really, don't let that deter you from at least giving it a try. It may not all be there, and I know some people might hesitate to start something that might never be finished and has bits and pieces thrown in randomly, but it's almost worth it to just deal with it.
Regardless, I honestly can't comprehend why anyone would translate half of volume 4 and then skip the rest to do chapter 32, then 36, 38, 46, and finally 52. Seriously? I'm not a translator, nor will I ever be since I don't know Korean or any other language. But if I did, I'd be translating nonstop. Don't get me wrong, I'm truly grateful that anything gets translated at all. But what's the point of jumping around when it won't make sense in the end?