The dust and clouds were bright red; corpses lay everywhere.
Six figures hovered above the clouds, staring at the ruins they had caused — amazed by their new member capability.
Icabod clung to his mother and sister as they turned to dust; no final words.
His body went still. He was silent — not from pain or grief, but because the man he called father had chosen love of power over them, turning his own family into ashes of sacrifice.
It's been 3 days since Icabod passed out. The morning sun shone on his face, forcing its scorching pain to wake him up. ]
> Icabod [ still trying to get up ]:
Is this heaven? Whe… Where am I?
> Kenny [ smiles in relief ]:
Ahaaaa, you're awake. I was just preparing fish stew. Would you like some? It's still hot — you can decide quickly.
> Icabod [ with his guard up ]:
Who are you?? Ho… how did I end up here?
> Kenny:
Eat first, then we'll talk later.
[ Mr. Kenny's house isn't a huge mansion. We could call it a beautiful house built inside giant caves untouched by nature and humans, and still in plain sight from the outside world. Being an engineer, he designed his building so perfectly compared to most buildings in rural areas. ]
> Icabod [ reluctantly ]:
Why are you helping me? Why?? Of what purpose can I become in this world? I have nothing. He sobs.
> Mr. Kenny:
At least you haven't given up yet, right?
There's still something out there you have to change. I felt it — that's why you didn't die in that place.
---
Rumble — "WORLD Annihilation"
> Icabod [ interrupts ]:
What's that?? What's World Annihilation?
> Mr. Kenny:
Ohhhh… those are Cursed Arts. Used only by one of the "Five Cursed Paladins" — people capable of trading their loved ones for power beyond elementals. Only five have been recorded so far.
> Icabod [ calm and angry ]:
I wish you were right, old man. There are six now.
"Six Cursed Paladins." My dad made it a round number, offering my mother and sister as burnt offerings.
> Mr. Kenny [ smiles ]:
We are their karma. Let's eat up and tidy this place. And I'm not old — I'm 27. You must be 16. [ Smiles ]
> Icabod:
Huh? I'm 20. Don't make me look pathetic.
"After a long day of introduction"
[ It's nighttime. The moon shines brightly from above like it's smiling at them. Icabod tries escaping into the dark of the night. ]
> Mr. Kenny [ stands outside, waiting as if he already knew he'd escape ]:
---
> Kenny:
Are you in a hurry to go somewhere??
> Icabod [ calmly furious ]:
Don't stop me, please… You don't know what I'm capable of doing.
[ Kenny tosses a sword to him ]
> Kenny:
Would you like to show me what you're capable of, then?
> Icabod [ picks up the sword ]:
Honestly, I'm not good with swords.
> Kenny:
Make your choice, then.
> Icabod [ sighs ]:
A katana. I'm good with hands too.
> Kenny:
No katana now. If you beat me in hand-to-hand combat, you're free to leave. It's a deal.
[ Icabod, with the deadliest death stare, positions for the fight — "THE MIDDLE EYE STANCE." From the stance, Kenny already predicts how the match will end. Immediately, he forfeits. ]
Kenny:
I quit, you win.
Icabod [still giving him a death stare]:
Does it mean I can go ? Like it was a deal you made yourself.
Kenny:
Tomorrow we'll decide that — after I get you a katana at the city mall.
Icabod [now pissed off]:
Hey Kenny! Don't mess with me.
Kenny:
Don't mistake mercy for weakness .I could end you before you breath my name
Icabod:
You could kill me? I'll watch you try.
[ Tries to walk away, Kenny vanished in a blur, reappearing behind Icabod — a movement so swift it tore through sight itself.]
Icabod [shocked]:
"What the— he disappeared!"
Kenny:
No, that's The Body Flicker.
" the neck chop "
Icabod collapsed .