PAGE 1
Panel 1
Ezren (shocked, eyes wide): OH… NO.
Panel 2
Zerik (raising his hand high, sinister): Say your last words.
Panel 3
A glowing chain suddenly shoots out, wrapping around Zerik's arm before it strikes.
Panel 4
Malric (serious, stepping forward): Enough.
PAGE 2
Panel 1
Zerik (struggling, annoyed): Ugh! So, you've chosen to side with Ezren?
Panel 2
Malric (calm, but firm): Yes. I will protect him.
Panel 3
Zerik (smirking): Then you'll die with him.
Panel 4
Dark storm winds whip around as Zerik lifts both hands. Malric plants his chains into the ground to brace himself.
PAGE 3
Panel 1
Zerik smashes the ground with raw force; Malric barely dodges the blow.
Panel 2
Ezren (thinking, stunned): Even after everything I said to him… he's still protecting me.
Panel 3
Zerik grabs Malric and hurls him outside, leaving only Ezren in the room.
Panel 4
Zerik (grinning wickedly): Just you left. Too easy.
PAGE 4
Panel 1
Zerik raises his hand for a crushing strike.
Panel 2
Ezren (eyes shut tight, trembling): Please… don't kill me!
Panel 3
Ezren (screaming): Please! Please, PLEASE!!!
Panel 4
Chains suddenly wrap around Zerik's arm mid-swing.
PAGE 5
Panel 1
Ezren (peeking his eyes open, shocked): HUH!?
Panel 2
Malric (furious, teeth clenched): I've had enough of this!
Panel 3
Malric roars with power: AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!
Panel 4
Golden light bursts out—Malric is cloaked in shining chains.
PAGE 6
Panel 1
Zerik (impressed, smirking): Not bad. Let's see how far that strength takes you.
Panel 2
Malric whirls his chains with immense force, shaking the building.
Panel 3
Zerik (mocking): All that… means nothing.
Panel 4
Malric (spinning his chained blade): I don't care what you think.
PAGE 7
Panel 1
Zerik slams both hands together—the ceiling cracks, wooden beams crash down, dust fills the air.
Panel 2
Malric (coughing): KHHHH—KOFF! KOFF!
Panel 3
Zerik (calm, cold): So… who will you support? Me, or Ezren?
Panel 4
Malric (through the dust, unwavering): Ezren.
PAGE 8
Panel 1
Zerik (mocking): Fine. Then you'll die with him.
Panel 2
Malric (firm, staring him down): I don't care if I die. All I want… is Ezren alive.
Panel 3
Zerik swings down; Malric slashes back in a flash of light.
Panel 4
Zerik (enraged): You dare wound your own principal?!
PAGE 9
Panel 1
Malric (serious, unwavering): Principal or not—I'll do what's right.
Panel 2
Zerik (raising both hands): Then take this!
Panel 3
The ground splits open—thousands of snakes slither out, surrounding Malric.
Zerik (laughing maniacally): HAHAHAHAHAHA! Enjoy your end, mortal!
Panel 4
Snakes swarm—one bites Malric. He screams in agony.
Malric: AAAHHHH!
PAGE 10
Panel 1
Zerik (laughing, sinister): In five seconds… you'll be dead.
Panel 2
Malric collapses to one knee, poison surging through him.
Panel 3
Ezren rushes to him in panic: Malric!
Panel 4
Ezren kneels before him, desperate: Please! Wake up!
PAGE 11
Panel 1
Zerik (mocking, arms crossed): See? This is how you die.
Panel 2
Zerik (cold, threatening): Choose, Ezren. Keep my secret—or face me in a duel.
Panel 3
Ezren (eyes burning with rage, glowing faintly): I'll fight you. Even if it costs me my life.
Panel 4
Zerik (grinning): Good. Bring it on.
PAGE 12
Panel 1
Ezren sprints at full speed, gripping Malric's chain sword.
Ezren: I've got this!
Panel 2
Zerik sidesteps casually—Ezren crashes into a wall.
Panel 3
Zerik (mocking): Already giving up?
Panel 4
Ezren (struggling to rise): No… NEVER!
PAGE 13
Panel 1
Zerik (smirking): Without Taroq, you're nothing but a child.
Panel 2
He slams the ground—shockwaves shake the building.
Zerik: Enjoy this!
Panel 3
Ezren (dodging the collapsing floor, determined): I can do this… Believe in yourself!
Panel 4
Zerik (smirking): Let's see how you fight… without sound.
PAGE 14
Panel 1
Zerik activates his watch—sound vanishes from the world.
Panel 2
Ezren (panicked, thinking): I… I can't hear anything!
Panel 3
Zerik (mouth moving silently, unreadable): …
Panel 4
Ezren (sweating): Oh no… I can't even hear his attacks!
PAGE 15
Panel 1
A blade suddenly darts toward him.
Ezren: I've got this!
Panel 2
Ezren narrowly dodges.
Panel 3
Zerik (chanting, unheard by Ezren): Ignisora!
Panel 4
A black vortex opens, sucking everything inside with immense force.
PAGE 16
Panel 1
Ezren (clinging to Malric's chain, clothes whipping in the wind): This pull… it's too strong!
Panel 2
Suddenly—the vortex freezes solid.
Panel 3
Zerik (shocked): What?! Who did this?
Panel 4
Lorian Zehn appears, casual, smirking: Oops! Just testing my freezing power.
PAGE 17
Panel 1
Zerik (furious): Can't you test it somewhere ELSE?!
Panel 2
Lorian freezes his legs in ice.
Lorian (mocking): Oops… sorry again.
Panel 3
Zerik (angry, struggling): Release me!
Panel 4
Lorian (shrugs): Too bad. Can't. Good luck.
PAGE 18
Panel 1
Zerik (raging): You liar! That's why I never trusted you!
Panel 2
Lorian (calm, yawning): Can't hear you. Don't care.
Panel 3
Lorian (to Ezren, serious): Come on. Let's move—quick.
Panel 4
Ezren (confused): I… I can't hear him…
PAGE 19
Panel 1
Lorian (shaking Ezren): Hello? Deaf and dumb?
Panel 2
Zerik (smirking): No. I made sure he can't hear anyone… and no one can hear him.
Panel 3
Lorian (cold glare): Undo it. Now.
Panel 4
Zerik (mocking): Release me first.
PAGE 20
Panel 1
Lorian (sighs): Fine.
Panel 2
Zerik taps his watch—time and sound return.
Zerik: There. Now free me.
Panel 3
Lorian (smirking): One second… I still don't trust you.
Panel 4
Lorian (to Ezren): Hey, can you hear me now?
PAGE 21
Panel 1
Ezren (relieved): Yes! Finally.
Panel 2
Zerik (demanding): Good. Now unfreeze me.
Panel 3
Lorian releases him. Zerik stretches: Ahhh, freedom!
Panel 4
Lorian (cold, quick glance): Let's go.
PAGE 22
Panel 1
Ezren (sincerely): Thank you… for everything.
Panel 2
Lorian (surprised): … Huh?
Panel 3
Ezren (confused): Did I say something wrong?
Panel 4
Lorian (soft, thoughtful): No. It's just… no one ever thanked me before.
PAGE 23
Panel 1
Ezren (smiling faintly): My mom taught me—no matter how small, always appreciate kindness.
Panel 2
Lorian (smirking slightly): Huh. Sweet mom you got.
Panel 3
Ezren: Thanks… but, who exactly are you?
Panel 4
Lorian (introducing himself):My Name is Lorian Zehn. I'm one of the Bladeborn.
PAGE 24
Panel 1
Ezren (excited): Bladeborn? Sounds awesome! But… what are they?
Panel 2
Lorian (serious): We are warriors—blades in hand, powers in heart.
Panel 3
Lorian (looking away): We don't fight for glory. We fight for peace, justice… and to prepare the next generation.
Panel 4
Ezren (determined, gripping the chain sword): Then tell me… can I become a Bladeborn?