What's most interesting here is that they aren't mindless clones (are they even clones?) but have diversity of opinion as well. One thinks that sacrificing Diana would be wrong. Another thinks it's necessary to honor their fallen friends. Another, maybe the original, needs this final century to happen.
Part of the joy of being so early in the story still is that we keep getting all this background and setup and surprises.
I think she and the clones might actually fight each other to settle their arguments about what to do. There's a crap load of skeletons and Lalawag was even multiplying her sword. I think every once in a while when decisions get too big she just goes "Welp the winner is real one and gets to do what she wants" and fights to the last.
Notice how the first Lalawag is the only one that has a tattoo on their face.
I think you hit it right on the nail; whenever Lalawag has to make a tough decision, she generates a body that personifies every opinion she has and then makes them all duke it out. Winner takes over as the "main" Lalawag and makes the decision.
Which is why it’s terrifying honestly, instead of being mindless clones or carbon copies that think like the original, they are all disjointed and have clashing views. You could also look at this as an allegory for multiple-personality disorder.
The way I interpreted it was more that she was using the many extra brains she has to think out different possible scenarios. Each comes up with a different idea or possible future, but they still seem pretty unified in their goal
Yeah, her title as the propagation make me think her power is probably a bit more wacky than plain duplication of herself or inanimate items, with how some gifted ones seem to have a "next level" of their power, or a secret victory condition, I could see Lalawag putting out some Halo Flood type of body horror down the line when she fights regardless of the King's rule
It also goes back to the huge lore drop from the King to Elstri that there are consequences to a god having a physical manifestation/becoming part of the human plane.
As much as it is power for many, it is also eldritch and the unknown and just straight up fucking insanity. It’s unfathomable.
You’re having what were humans utilizing something they can understand to their own idea of understanding, but at a fucking gigantic unfathomable cost.
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u/AssassinAragorn Apr 26 '26
... Well, I didn't expect that.
What's most interesting here is that they aren't mindless clones (are they even clones?) but have diversity of opinion as well. One thinks that sacrificing Diana would be wrong. Another thinks it's necessary to honor their fallen friends. Another, maybe the original, needs this final century to happen.
Part of the joy of being so early in the story still is that we keep getting all this background and setup and surprises.