PAGE 1
Panel 1
Mirae sits on the ground, clutching her wound. She looks up weakly as Taroq approaches.
Mirae: Huh… Taroq?
Panel 2
Taroq kneels down, his face serious.
Taroq: You need to be more careful where you wander, Mirae.
Panel 3
Taroq scoops her into his arms. Mirae winces in pain.
Taroq: Quick—let me take you to a clinic before this gets worse.
Panel 4
Suddenly, several armed men rush in. Draxor steps forward, pointing at Taroq.
Draxor (shouting): That's him! Everybody—shoot!
PAGE 2
Panel 1
Taroq gently sets Mirae against a wall.
Taroq: Stay here. I'll handle this.
Panel 2
Mirae, pale and weak, nods faintly.
Mirae: …O-okay…
Panel 3
Taroq flicks a spread of sharp cards—instantly slicing through the enemies' guns.
SFX: SHHKK!
Panel 4
Ezrik and Thornvale freeze in shock, their eyes wide.
Ezrik & Thornvale: HUH!?
PAGE 3
Panel 1
Taroq calmly drops a glowing card on the floor. In a flash, all the men are cut down at once.
SFX: SLASHHH!
Panel 2
Mirae stares at him in awe.
Mirae (thinking): His skills… so fast… so amazing…
Panel 3
Taroq kneels beside her again, worried in his eyes.
Taroq: Is the pain getting worse?
Panel 4
Mirae forces a small smile despite her pain.
Mirae: A little…
PAGE 4
Panel 1
Taroq lifts Mirae once again, determination in his eyes.
Taroq: Hold on—we need to move now.
Panel 2
Elsewhere: Ezren and Renjiro walk together, casually chatting.
Ezren: So, Renjiro, are you going to pla—
Panel 3
Malric steps in suddenly, cutting them off with a dark look.
Malric: Sorry to interrupt, but… did you see Taroq? If I find him—I'll kill him.
Panel 4
Ezren immediately grabs Malric by the collar, glaring.
Ezren: …Why do you want to kill him?
PAGE 5
Panel 1
Renjiro raises his hands, uneasy.
Renjiro: Dude, relax—he only asked where Taroq is.
Panel 2
Ezren pulls Malric closer, his fist clenched.
Ezren: Don't play with me. Tell me the truth, or I'll punch it out of you. Why do you want to kill him?
Panel 3
Malric sweats nervously, forcing a smile.
Malric: W-wait! I just wanted to invite him… to my sister's birthday party.
Panel 4
Ezren's glare deepens.
Ezren: Do you think I'm a fool? Last chance—why do you really want him dead?
PAGE 6
Panel 1
Malric raises his hands in defense.
Malric: I swear—I don't want to harm him!
Panel 2
Renjiro steps in, putting a hand on Ezren's shoulder.
Renjiro: Ezren, maybe he's telling the truth.
Panel 3
Ezren lets Malric go reluctantly.
Ezren: Fine. Maybe it's just a misunderstanding.
Panel 4
Malric turns away, muttering under his breath.
Malric (thinking): Did I say it out loud? How did he hear me…?
PAGE 7
Panel 1
Renjiro frowns, turning to Ezren.
Renjiro: Be honest—did you really hear him say it? Because I didn't hear a thing.
Panel 2
Ezren looks down, troubled.
Ezren: I swear I heard it. I need to warn Taroq before it's too late.
Panel 3
Renjiro nods firmly.
Renjiro: Then I'll help. We'll spy on Malric, find out what he's really planning.
Panel 4
Suddenly, Jaren runs up, out of breath.
Jaren (shouting): Guys—wait!
PAGE 8
Panel 1
Renjiro turns to Ezren.
Renjiro: Should we stop?
Panel 2
Ezren nods quickly.
Ezren: Yeah.
Panel 3
Jaren pants heavily, leaning on his knees.
Jaren: I overheard Principal Zerik talking with Malric outside…
Panel 4
Ezren's eyes widen in fury.
Ezren: I knew it—Malric really is evil!
PAGE 9
Panel 1
Renjiro grabs Jaren's arm urgently.
Renjiro: What did he say?
Panel 2
Jaren's expression darkens.
Jaren: He said… he's going to kill Taroq.
Panel 3
Ezren clenches his fists.
Ezren: That's exactly what I heard him say earlier!
Panel 4
Jaren looks grave.
Jaren: Then we need to warn Taroq—before it's too late.
PAGE 10
Panel 1
Ezren looks at Renjiro firmly.
Ezren: Stay here. Spy on them. Gather more information.
Panel 2
Renjiro nods.
Renjiro: Got it.
Panel 3
Inside Principal Zerik's office. Zerik smirks at Malric.
Zerik: So, Malric—have you found Taroq?
Panel 4
Malric fidgets nervously.
Malric: No… but I think Ezren is starting to suspect our plan.
PAGE 11
Panel 1
Zerik slams his desk, furious.
Zerik: WHAT!? Did you tell anyone our secret?!
Panel 2
Malric throws up his hands defensively.
Malric: No! I'm not stupid!
Panel 3
Zerik narrows his eyes.
Zerik: Then what do you mean?
Panel 4
Malric stammers nervously.
Malric: I… I just asked where Taroq was and thought something in my head—but somehow, Ezren heard me.
PAGE 12
Panel 1
Zerik slaps his forehead, growling.
Zerik: Idiot! You must've said it out loud.
Panel 2
Malric shakes his head, sweating.
Malric: No one else heard me! Even Renjiro, who was standing right there, didn't hear anything!
Panel 3
Zerik points at him, furious.
Zerik: Then go! Find Ezren—before he tells anyone!
Panel 4
Malric bows nervously.
Malric: Y-yes, sir!
PAGE 13
Panel 1
At the clinic. Taroq stands beside a doctor as Mirae is laid on a stretcher.
Taroq: Doctor… what's happening to her?
Panel 2
The doctor looks grave.
Doctor: She's suffering blood loss in the brain. She needs a transfusion immediately. We'll inform you when it's done.
Panel 3
Taroq nods grimly.
Taroq: Understood.
Panel 4
On the clinic table, Taroq's phone vibrates loudly.
SFX: RING… RING…
Taroq (gritting teeth): Tch… not now…
PAGE 14
Panel 1
Taroq snatches up the phone and answers sharply.
Taroq: Who is this? What's going on?
Panel 2
Cut to Jaren, sweating as he hides in an alley, speaking urgently into the phone.
Jaren (on phone): Taroq! Listen carefully—it's real. Principal Zerik and Malric… they're planning to kill you!
Panel 3
Taroq's expression hardens, his grip tightening on the phone.
Taroq (low): …I knew it. Tell me everything. Leave nothing out.
Panel 4
Close-up of Jaren, darting his eyes nervously.
Jaren (on phone): They're moving soon. Please—stay on guard. Your life's in danger!
PAGE 15
Panel 1
Jaren gasps—he spots gunmen approaching.
Jaren (thinking): Oh no…!
Jaren (shouting): Everyone—hide, quick!
Panel 2
Gunmen fire rapidly, bullets sparking against walls.
SFX: RATATATAT!
Panel 3
Ezren ducks for cover, frustrated.
Ezren: Damn it—we can't just sit here!
Panel 4
Jaren yells back at him.
Jaren: Are you insane? Do you want to die!?
PAGE 16
Panel 1
Ezren suddenly steps out into the open, defiant.
Ezren (shouting): ENOUGH!!
Panel 2
Zorath, the gang leader, smirks with a cigarette dangling from his lips.
Zorath: Hahaha… look who's trying to play hero.
Panel 3
Ezren clenches his fists. Black-and-white energy bursts around his arms, cracking the air itself.
Narration: Ezren awakens the Mistake Power—a forbidden energy that rewrites reality at the cost of his own life.
Ezren (grimacing): …I'll risk everything… even if it destroys me!
Panel 4
Zorath's smirk fades as the aura grows heavier.
Zorath (thinking): That power… it can't be…!
PAGE 17
Panel 1
Jaren stares, wide-eyed.
Jaren: Ezren! How did you do that?!
Panel 2
Ezren shakes his head, still glowing.
Ezren: I… don't know.
Panel 3
Renjiro looks serious.
Renjiro: It's like you've been hiding powers you can't control.
Panel 4
Jaren looks urgent.
Jaren: Then we need to tell Taroq. Maybe he can help you control it.
PAGE 18
Panel 1
Malric barges in suddenly, trying to act casual.
Malric: Ezren—the principal's calling for you.
Panel 2
Ezren glares at him, fists clenched.
Ezren: Stop acting innocent. We know what you and Principal Zerik are planning.
Panel 3
Malric forces a laugh, looking confused.
Malric: I don't have a clue what you're talking about.
Panel 4
Ezren steps closer, threateningly.
Ezren: Spill it—or we'll beat the truth out of you.
PAGE 19
Panel 1
Malric looks offended.
Malric: Stop accusing me of things I haven't done!
Panel 2
Jaren points at him furiously.
Jaren: Quit pretending, you little devil!
Panel 3
Malric snaps, face red with anger.
Malric: I don't know what you're talking about! I just came to tell Ezren the principal wants him!
Panel 4
Ezren growls, narrowing his eyes.
Ezren: I'm not falling for your tricks. Neither yours nor the principal's.
PAGE 20
Panel 1
Malric turns away, annoyed.
Malric: Fine. When you come to your senses, you'll go see the principal.
Panel 2
Ezren glares after him.
Ezren: …What did he just say?
Panel 3
Renjiro frowns.
Renjiro: I think you should go.
Panel 4
Jaren adds quickly.
Jaren: Yeah—if you don't, he might try to kill you.
PAGE 21
Panel 1
Ezren looks down, conflicted.
Ezren: …Fine.
Panel 2
Inside Zerik's office. The principal sits in shadow, tapping his fingers impatiently.
Zerik: That Malric… he's too slow.
Panel 3
Malric enters, looking uneasy.
Malric: He doesn't want to come.
Panel 4
Zerik curses under his breath.
Zerik: Damn it. What do we do now?
PAGE 22
Panel 1
Malric smirks slyly.
Malric: Then let's kill him.
Panel 2
Zerik grins darkly.
Zerik: A good idea. That way, he won't expose our secret.
Panel 3
Suddenly, the office door creaks open. Ezren steps in, smirking.
Ezren: Good afternoon, Principal Zerik. Sorry I'm late. How's the plan going?
Panel 4
Zerik forces a calm expression.
Zerik: Sit down.
PAGE 23
Panel 1
Ezren takes a seat casually, still smirking.
Ezren: Thanks.
Panel 2
Zerik glances at him nervously, thoughts racing.
Zerik (thinking): Why is he smiling? Did he tell anyone?
Panel 3
Zerik leans forward, masking his worry.
Zerik: Why are you so cheerful? Did you win the lottery or something?
Panel 4
Ezren smirks coldly.
Ezren: I heard your little plan. So I came here—come and kill me.
PAGE 24
Panel 1
Malric gulps, thinking nervously.
Malric (thinking): This guy's too sharp…
Panel 2
Ezren leans forward, challenging them.
Ezren: Well? Am I lying, or not?
Panel 3
Zerik lowers his gaze, shadows covering his face.
Zerik (coldly): You're not lying. And I'll kill you before you tell anyone.
Panel 4
Zerik looks up—his eyes glowing pure red. His body darkens into swirling black storm energy, filling the office with an ominous aura.
SFX: WHOOOOM!
End of Chapter 3.