---
[Panel 1]
Wide shot of the burning village. Flames rise into the sky. Dead silence except for crackling fire.
Narration: "Wraithcall Atoll wept that night. The monster they sheltered… had awakened."
---
[Panel 2]
Kael stands over the trembling boy. His claws raised. His eyes — glowing and lifeless.
Narration: "But somewhere, deep inside the beast… something stirred."
---
[Panel 3]
Close-up of Kael's eyes. One glowing white. The other — flickering, as if resisting.
Kael (internal): "Stop… not him… not the boy…"
SFX: Thump. Thump. (heartbeat rising)
---
[Panel 4]
[Inner Realm Panel]
Kael stands in darkness, surrounded by writhing ghostly forms.
Spirits (in chorus): "You are one of us! Unleash the howl! BURY THEM!"
Kael: "NO!!"
Kuro (emerging from shadows): "You're weak. Soft. That boy would have left you to die."
---
[Panel 5]
Flashbacks appear around Kael — the boy offering him soup, smiling.
Kael (tears in his dream-eyes): "He didn't fear me… he was kind…"
---
[Panel 6]
Back in reality — Kael's claw trembles mid-air. The boy squeezes his eyes shut.
Narration: "Kael fought… for control. For that boy's smile."
---
[Panel 7]
Suddenly —
SFX: CLAAAAANG!!
A trident smashes into Kael's side, sending him crashing through a burning hut.
---
[Panel 8]
Maelis stands, body bloodied, barely standing. Breathing hard.
Maelis: "Back… off…"
Villager (off-panel): "Maelis?! He's alive!"
---
[Panel 9]
Maelis picks up his trident again, this time with resolve.
Maelis: "You were never the enemy… I see it now. You were just drowning."
[Panel shows Kael roaring, bursting out of rubble.]
---
[Panel 10]
Maelis (thinking): "Then let me throw you a damn rope."
---
[Panel 11]
Maelis charges. Trident glows faintly with light.
Maelis: "Tidebreaker Style — FINAL FORM…"
Maelis (yelling): "LAST SURGE: DROWN THE DEMON!!"
---
[Panel 12]
Full-page panel. Maelis leaps and drives his trident into the earth — a shockwave sends Kael flying toward the seashore.
SFX: THUUUUUUMMMMM!!
---
[Panel 13]
Kael hits the shoreline. Sea water touches his body. Instantly, steam rises. His berserk form begins to melt away.
---
[Panel 14]
Kael's body thrashes, screaming in agony as Kuro is pulled back.
Kael (internal): "NO! Let me—LET ME STAY!!"
Kuro (fading): "You'll never be rid of me…"
---
[Panel 15]
Kael's body convulses — then falls limp on the wet sand. His claws vanish. His eyes roll back.
SFX: Silence.
---
[Panel 16]
Maelis stumbles, falls to his knees, then collapses face-first beside Kael.
Both are unconscious. The tide washes over them.
---
[Panel 17]
Villagers slowly approach, trembling. The boy runs toward Kael.
Boy: "He's not bad! He saved me! He stopped!"
Villager 1: "He… he cried while he rampaged… like he was begging someone…"
---
[Panel 18]
Later. The two lie in a hut, bandaged. Maelis wakes first. Looks at Kael's sleeping form.
Maelis (softly): "You weren't the monster, huh… just the cage."
---
[Panel 19]
Maelis steps outside. The villagers gather.
Old Man: "You're leaving, aren't you?"
Maelis: "…I have to. He needs someone to walk with him."
---
[Panel 20]
The boy tugs Maelis' cloak.
Boy: "Will you keep him safe?"
Maelis (kneeling, smiling): "I will. We'll both keep each other safe."
---
[Final Panel]
Kael opens his eyes for the first time since the battle.
Kael (weakly): "…Why… help me?"
Maelis (off-panel): "Because pain like yours doesn't deserve to be alone."
Narration: "From the ashes of blood and sorrow… the Revenant Pirates were born."
TO BE CONTINUED.