Post — Aaron Ngo

Major Spoilers are included in this Webtoon Review. Please read with caution.

On September 2, 2020, I started reading Tower of God Volume 1’s eleventh story arc: “Last Examination” and finished on September 3. I enjoyed the payoffs regarding Anak, Androssi, and Lady Yuri—she finally arrived into the narrative—and their faceoff against Ren. Honestly, I’m more invested in that storyline than the Baam and Rachel drama. Plus, the 13-month series weapons and the lore behind Zahard’s Princesses are so cool.

The plot development and arguments regarding the purpose of the tests—weeding out those who are a threat to the Tower—are still being discussed between Yu Han Sung and Lero-Ro, with the latter disagreeing. Yu Han Sung’s motives are interesting and shrouded in mystery, so he’s a character I have been carefully analyzing whenever he shows up wanting instant coffee. Like, why the hell does he like instant coffee so much?

Anyway, everyone participating in the tests also discovers Baam is an Irregular because only Irregulars can receive tests—something Baam wants to take on so Rachel can keep climbing the Tower—from the Guardian itself, and their views on him are challenged. However, Khun ended up secretly manipulating everyone into helping Baam by reminding them that Baam’s the same person he’s always been. I continue to appreciate Khun’s character more and more as I continue to climb up Tower of God.

The participants are given a few months to train and strategize for the Submerged Fish Hunt Test, so Baam trains with Androssi while Khun figures out the strategic stuff with Leesoo. The only problem with the flawless plan was the wild cards—Androssi and Anak—not getting along and betting their weapons (Black March and Green April) when confronted with the Bull, also a wild card in the Submerged Hunt Test.

The Princesses’ character dynamic is pretty hilarious but also deeply complex; it’s definitely a shame that they’re not this Webtoon’s main protagonists; only supporting protagonists. The confrontation Anak had with Ren—and the heartbreaking revelation that he was the one who killed her mother—was emotionally raw. However, there was an unexpected payoff when it was revealed that Androssi expressed a genuine desire to know Anak better—thanks to hanging out with Baam during their training.

Lady Yuri’s return to the narrative was also a much-welcomed payoff, and her appearance showed how frighteningly powerful Zahard’s Princesses truly are when she easily defeated Ren without breaking a sweat. In the end, Lady Yuri was forced to leave the testing area after grabbing what she was after—the Black March she lent Baam—in addition to the Green April. I am starting to realize how invested I am in the Zahard’s Princesses aspect of Tower of God.

Baam and Rachel don’t make a full appearance in this arc until the ending chapters, where an unexpected situation arose between them. While Rachel’s reasons for wanting to go up the Tower alone aren’t totally clear yet, the arc’s ending does confirm she is totally committed to leaving Baam behind. The arc left us on a cliffhanger, but I’m pretty sure the last arc of Volume 1—"Epilogue – Rachel”—will give us some answers.

Thanks for reading my Webtoon review, everyone! I’m ready to finish Tower of God’s Volume 1 and to keep the climb going with the monstrous Volume 2. This Webtoon definitely earned being compared to Big Daddy One Piece for how long—and strenuous—it is to read, but I do love a reading challenge. Let’s keep it up! I’ll see you all next time in my review for “Epilogue – Rachel”!

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