PAGE 1Panel 1
Draven Korrath smirks, arms spread wide in a dark game hall.
Draven Korrath: Welcome… to the X-King Parol Game Center.Panel 2
Ezren Vale is tied to a chair, thrashing and yelling.
Ezren Vale (screaming): Why am I here?! What do you want from me?!Panel 3
Draven leans close, sinister grin.
Draven Korrath: May I explain the rules of my game?Panel 4
Ezren rages, veins popping.
Ezren Vale: I don't care about your damn game—just release me!PAGE 2Panel 1
Draven smirks wider.
Draven Korrath: I'll release you… but only if you play.Panel 2
Ezren slumps, despairing.
Ezren Vale: I said I don't want your stupid game, you freak! Why me, of all people?!Panel 3
Jaren Solith leans in, whispering urgently.
Jaren Solith (whispering): Just accept it… or you'll be stuck here forever.Panel 4
Ezren groans, glaring.
Ezren Vale: Fine. What's this game about?PAGE 3Panel 1
Draven's smile vanishes; his tone grows sharp.
Draven Korrath: This is a game… that has to do with life itself.Panel 2
Ezren's eyes go wide, he shouts in disbelief.
Ezren Vale: WHAT?! What the hell does my life have to do with your stupid game?!Panel 3
Jaren glances at him calmly.
Jaren Solith: Just accept it.Panel 4
Ezren thrashes against the ropes, furious.
Ezren Vale (screaming): How the hell do you expect me to accept that?!
Ezren Vale: Listen up—if you don't love your life, I love mine!PAGE 4Panel 1
Lyra Senori raises her fist beside Ezren, shouting in agreement.
Lyra Senori: YEAH! Same here!Panel 2
Jaren lowers his head respectfully.
Jaren Solith: Sorry, sir. Please… continue.Panel 3
Draven smirks coldly.
Draven Korrath: Very well. Anyone who loses… will be trapped in the Dominion Shadow forever.Panel 4
Rynor Veylan scratches his head, groaning.
Rynor Veylan: Ugh… I wish I was home watching TV right now.PAGE 5Panel 1
Ezren points at Rynor, grinning weakly.
Ezren Vale: Thank God—someone finally understands me!Panel 2
Draven throws his arms out dramatically.
Draven Korrath: Let the game… BEGIN!Panel 3
Ezren panics instantly.
Ezren Vale: WAIT! What are the rules again?! I didn't hear you!Panel 4
Draven smirks, turning away.
Draven Korrath: That's your concern.PAGE 6Panel 1
Ezren gulps, sweating heavily.
Ezren Vale (thinking): Oh crap… I hope I don't die…Panel 2
An arrow WHIZZES past Ezren's head.
SFX: WHOOSH!Panel 3
Mirae Kaelen narrows her eyes, focusing.
Mirae Kaelen (thinking): I need to focus. No distractions.Panel 4
Rynor steadies himself, fists clenched.
Rynor Veylan: I can do this!PAGE 7Panel 1
Jaren shouts to the others.
Jaren Solith: Trust your instincts!Panel 2
Lyra winces, clutching her leg as she runs.
Lyra Senori: Damn it… my leg hurts! But I won't give up!Panel 3
Draven smirks from the shadows, arms crossed.
Draven Korrath (thinking): Impressive… They're holding up well.Panel 4
Jaren breathes hard, pushing forward.
Jaren Solith: Almost there…PAGE 8Panel 1
Rynor grabs a dangling rope, grinning.
Rynor Veylan: Got it!Panel 2
Jaren swings onto his rope, panting.
Jaren Solith: Finally… through.Panel 3
Mirae leaps and grabs her rope gracefully.
Mirae Kaelen: Reached it!Panel 4
Lyra clings onto her rope, smirking proudly.
Lyra Senori: Got it… even though luck wanted me to fail.PAGE 9Panel 1
Ezren hugs his rope dramatically, kissing it.
Ezren Vale: Thank you, my sweet survival rope!Panel 2
Draven claps slowly, grinning.
Draven Korrath: Congratulations. You all passed.Panel 3
Ezren waves him off, annoyed.
Ezren Vale: Yeah, yeah… whatever. I'm out.Panel 4
Draven steps forward, blocking his way.
Draven Korrath: Stop right there.PAGE 10Panel 1
Ezren rages, pointing at him.
Ezren Vale: What the hell is this?! Games are supposed to be fun—not forced!Panel 2
Draven smirks, eyes glowing faintly.
Draven Korrath: Sorry… but if you quit now, you'll be trapped in the Dominion Shadow forever.Panel 3
Ezren groans loudly.
Ezren Vale: Ugh! How many more rounds?!Panel 4
Draven raises two fingers, calm and cold.
Draven Korrath: Two more.PAGE 11Panel 1
Draven's smirk fades; his tone grows dark.
Draven Korrath: Round two will be simple. Just follow the rules. Two of them.Panel 2
He raises a hand, summoning phantom blades in the air.
Draven Korrath: Rule one—dodge the flying swords. Rule two—avoid the portals. Survive until the finish line.Panel 3
Rynor throws his hands up, annoyed.
Rynor Veylan: Bro, you're just like my mom. She's got rules for EVERYTHING!Panel 4
Ezren throws his arms up.
Ezren Vale: Can someone explain how the hell I even got here?!PAGE 12Panel 1
The group prepares themselves, weapons and fists ready.
Jaren Solith: Everyone—be careful.Panel 2
Blades WHIRL through the air.
SFX: SHING! WHOOSH!Panel 3
Lyra ducks under a blade, eyes wide.
Lyra Senori: That was close!Panel 4
Ezren trips, barely dodging another blade.
Ezren Vale (screaming): AHHHHHH!PAGE 13Panel 1
Mirae flips over a sword with agility.
Mirae Kaelen: Keep moving forward! Don't hesitate!Panel 2
Rynor tumbles, rolling out of the way of two swords.
Rynor Veylan: This isn't a game—it's a slaughterhouse!Panel 3
Ezren crawls frantically across the floor.
Ezren Vale: I don't wanna die!Panel 4
Draven watches with amusement from above.
Draven Korrath (thinking): Fear sharpens them…PAGE 14Panel 1
Suddenly, glowing purple portals appear on the floor.
SFX: VWOOM!Panel 2
Lyra gasps as a sword gets sucked into one.
Lyra Senori: The portals… they eat the blades?!Panel 3
Mirae shouts quickly.
Mirae Kaelen: Don't step into them! It's a trap!Panel 4
Ezren barely avoids falling into a portal, clinging to the ground.
Ezren Vale: Holy crap—why do I always get the worst luck?!PAGE 15Panel 1
Jaren blocks a blade with his arm guard, sparks flying.
Jaren Solith: Almost there—just hold out!Panel 2
Rynor yells as he pushes Lyra away from a portal.
Rynor Veylan: WATCH IT!Panel 3
Lyra pants, catching herself.
Lyra Senori: T-thanks.Panel 4
The group stumbles forward—toward the glowing finish line.
SFX: FZZZZHHH!PAGE 16Panel 1
The swords vanish. The portals collapse.
SFX: VWOOM… (fade out)Panel 2
Ezren collapses to the ground, panting heavily.
Ezren Vale: Thank… God…Panel 3
Draven claps slowly, a sly grin on his face.
Draven Korrath: Congratulations… once again.Panel 4
Ezren glares up at him, still breathing hard.
Ezren Vale: Two rounds down… one to go.PAGE 17Panel 1
Draven smirks, folding his arms.
Draven Korrath: Indeed. But the final round… is unlike the rest.Panel 2
The group listens, tense and exhausted.
Draven Korrath: You must face… the Demon's Trial.Panel 3
The floor beneath them RUMBLES.
SFX: RRRRMMMMB!Panel 4
Ezren clutches his head in despair.
Ezren Vale: Oh, come on—another one?!PAGE 18Panel 1
A massive door appears, etched with runes, glowing red.
SFX: KRAAACK!Panel 2
Lyra steps back, fear in her eyes.
Lyra Senori: That… doesn't look human.Panel 3
Jaren grips his weapon tightly.
Jaren Solith: Brace yourselves.Panel 4
Draven grins wickedly.
Draven Korrath: The final round begins… now.PAGE 19Panel 1
The doors BURST open, fire spilling out.
SFX: BOOOOM!Panel 2
A monstrous silhouette emerges.
SFX: HSSSSHHH…Panel 3
Ezren screams, falling on his butt.
Ezren Vale: What the actual hell is THAT?!Panel 4
Draven's eyes glow red.
Draven Korrath: Your opponent…PAGE 20Full page panel
The demon roars—towering, horned, and wrapped in chains of fire.
SFX (giant letters): RAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!PAGE 21Panel 1
Ezren covers his ears from the roar.
Ezren Vale: We're screwed—we're so screwed!Panel 2
Mirae narrows her eyes, analyzing the demon.
Mirae Kaelen: Wait… those chains. They're not for show—they're restraints!Panel 3
Jaren nods, gripping his sword.
Jaren Solith: Then we exploit that. Aim for the chains!Panel 4
Lyra clenches her fists, determined.
Lyra Senori: Got it!PAGE 22Panel 1
The group charges together, dodging fiery strikes.
SFX: BOOM! WHOOSH!Panel 2
Rynor slams into a chain with brute force.
Rynor Veylan: HAAAA!Panel 3
Lyra smashes another chain with a glowing fist.
SFX: CRACK!Panel 4
Ezren swings wildly at nothing, panicked.
Ezren Vale: Am I even helping right now?!PAGE 23Panel 1
The final chain SNAPS, the demon collapsing in defeat.
SFX: KRRRSSHHHH!Panel 2
The group stands together, exhausted but victorious.
Jaren Solith: It's over.Panel 3
Draven claps, grinning coldly.
Draven Korrath: Well done… you passed all three trials.Panel 4
Ezren throws his arms up.
Ezren Vale: FINALLY! Now let us go!PAGE 24Panel 1
Suddenly, the air grows heavy. Draven steps aside.
Draven Korrath (smirking): Not quite.Panel 2
From the shadows, a man in a school uniform emerges—Principal Zerik.
SFX: STEP… STEP…Panel 3
The group freezes in shock.
Lyra Senori: P–Principal Zerik?!Panel 4
Zerik smiles darkly, eyes glowing faintly.
Principal Zerik: You've all done well… but this is only the beginning.TO BE CONTINUED…