Going to rapid re-read this to pick up what the hell is going on.
Edit: OK I'VE REREAD. THOUGHTS!
First, dang, we came a long way in this omnibus. I forgot that we started off with them fleeing Seresu and arriving in Kurogane's Japan under Tomoyo's care. And then we end back in the Kingdom of Clow.... but in the past - which is also going wonky.
Also, if Omnibus 5 was Kurogane's, and Omnibus 7 was Fai's, then Omnibus 8 is definitely Original!Syaoran's.
We dealt a LOT with fate this omnibus, and the ripple effects when you try to change things. The Time Witch perfectly encapsulates it: "The extent of the interference determines the change in the final destination." The theme reverberates:
"Reason itself is beginning to crumble."
"The crumbling of reason is his wish."
"His wish [is] to bring someone dead back to life." HMMMM.
I'm desperately curious if Fei-Wang being "willing to repeat the same events over and over" means something. Has this entire story actually been repeating multiple times, like the villagers, while little things change here and there? After all, the parents in the Kingdom of Clow are different, and when original!Syaoran arrives the parents both say "the princess and the boy's fates will be changed."
I'm also curious about "among the princess' companions, one of them would be enough to fulfill his purposes." What, exactly, does Fei-Wang need a companion to do in addition to Sakura's ability to travel dimensions??? What role will they play? And presumably, it will end up being Syaoran, since Image!Sakura mentioned that if Image!Syaoran killed Original!Syaoran, *they* would both be gone.
Some more questions I have:
1. There seem to be a few moments where characters hint that Sakura and Syaoran actually have different names. If that's true, are these false names because of reality/time becoming unstable???
2. On that note.... "You are truly father and son." WAIT A MINUTE WAIT A DAMN MINUTE!!!!! In context with the "flashback" where we see young Syaoran go to the Time Witch.... is it a paradox where he IS, in fact, his father "Syaoran" (CCS version) AND son "Syaoran" (Tsubasa version). My brain is breaking, CLAMP what are you DOING to me?
3. "These failed attempts" while looking at the women. Will this be relevant later?
Also, specific art I LOVED:
1. End of chapter 181 when you see Kurogane, Fai, and Syaoran all remember Sakura and the memories are in little shards around each of them. Such a cool way of conveying their grief.
2. Everyone melting while the apple basket child happily yells "Come stay with us!" Creepy.