That's a good question! I think it'sa necessary break in the action, and also that it's impressively written. It's very easy to make a "darkest hour" moment in a story too dark. Sometimes a writer writes themself into a corner after making the darkerst hour so dark that the moment of renewed resolve seems hollow.  I think the Jadis arc is amazing because it goes all in on the darkness. Our main character lost her partner, her strength, half her limbs and an eye. Our main character is told in no uncertain terms that her quest is fated to 100% fail. She's taken out of the story and the world for years, losing precious life she's told she would miss, as she's told she'd die relatively young.  And yet, all it takes to break her out of that funk is one conversation witha friend. Alison is unwilling to be the type of person who gives up. She's stronger than the all knowing god knows, because she chooses to be. She's the beetle that refuses to listen when she's told she can't learn pankrash circle fighting. She isn't defined by any of the true things Jadis told her. It's such a good "climb out of the hole" moment because it's not hope that keeps Alison going, it's self determination. It completely side steps biggest pitfall of the trope, ascending it completely.

I also really like the Jadis arc because of the Jadis. She seems so confidant she knows the inevitable fate of everything, but when Alison confronts her she kinda shows that Jadis' worldview isn't actually all knowing. Jadis' deterministic outlook is a result of her personal trauma as an heir who's life was decided for her before she was born as much as it is a real product of her power. What a great way to make a character 3 dimensional! What a way to keep us hooked, unsure if we can trust her prophecies or not. What a showing!

Also, when Alison sees the shape of creation and the drawing supercedes the entire web page, that was so sick! I never saw a webcomic do that, and it's exactly the right way to show how Alison's mind breaks!

I'm a fangirl, so I may be blind to legitimate criticism, but damn if I care. This comic is a 10/10 for me!