This episode is a reminder of just how terrified Blake is of Adam and just how much his abuse has traumatized her.
In Volume 5, Blake expected Adam to be there. In addition to having support from Sun and her family, she caught him off guard and had the advantage.
This Volume 6 encounter wasn’t like that. Instead, it parallels Volume 3: Adam appears suddenly, unexpectedly, and when Blake is all alone. Her fear is the same now as it was then.
Blake and Adam’s relationship paints a pretty accurate picture of what abuse is like and how the victim’s fear is largely psychological. The abuser wants the victim to feel isolated and small. The abuser will also provoke the victim into self-isolation through threats and real-life harm, as Adam did by hurting Blake and those she loves.
In this Volume 3 scene, Adam could have easily used his sword to fatally injure Blake. Instead, he backhands her and knocks her down, a move that communicates she is lesser than he is. He then provokes Yang by giving Blake a non-fatal stab wound to the side. All of this is meant to inflict psychological terror. Adam wants Blake to feel weak, helpless, and desperate.
Adam continues using these same tactics in Volume 6. Blake is doing her best to keep herself under control, but you can see how afraid she is as she fights:
Blake usually appears calm, composed, and ruthless in her fighting style. It is only with Adam that she seems so unsure of herself. This is what psychological abuse does. Even years later, it still leaves you feeling small and weak and like there is no chance of winning. Blake has to fight these feelings at the same time she is fighting Adam physically.
But she doesn’t back down. She fights. She again faces her abuser head-on. She again faces her worst fears of those she loves being hurt by her past.
Blake is amazingly strong and fierce and resilient. Despite her fear, her resolve in unbreakable. She is a role model for abuse victims and sends the message that YES, YOU CAN DO IT. YOU CAN SURVIVE THE ABUSE.
Blake Belladonna is terrified of Adam Taurus but she’s not going to let that stop her from fighting as best as she can. I am so proud of her and all abuse survivors.
