PAGE 1
Jaren:how could you do that to your students
Panel 1
Mr. Zerik stands tall, glaring at the students.
Mr. Zerik: I am your principal—and I have the right to do this.
Panel 2
He smirks wickedly, voice sharp.
Mr. Zerik: If you tell anyone… I'll destroy you. Hahaha!
Panel 3
Mirae gasps, eyes wide.
Mirae: That means… We were in school before we got here!
Panel 4
Mr. Zerik waves his hand firmly.
Mr. Zerik: Guards—take them away.
PAGE 2
Panel 1
The guards step forward.
Guards: Yes, sir!
Panel 2
The students struggle and scream as guards grab them.
Ezren (glaring at Draven): Draven Korrath! You promised—you said you'd free us after this round!
Panel 3
Mr. Zerik smirks at Draven.
Mr. Zerik: Thanks for deceiving them, Draven.
Panel 4
Draven grins slyly.
Draven: You're welcome.
PAGE 3
Panel 1
Ezren, tied to a tree in the forest, groans in frustration.
Ezren: Can't we just rest for once?!
Panel 2
Jaren clenches his fists angrily.
Jaren: That wicked principal will pay!
Panel 3
Lyra looks down, hopeless.
Lyra: But he's the principal… there's nothing we can do.
Panel 4
Mirae frowns nervously.
Mirae: Yeah… she's right. If we fight him, he could suspend—or even expel us.
PAGE 4
Panel 1
Jaren leans forward, determined.
Jaren: Maybe… but we still need to figure out a way to escape.
Panel 2
Ezren sighs heavily.
Ezren: There's no way… we're stuck.
Panel 3
Lyra's eyes brighten.
Lyra: Then what if we just scream for help?
Panel 4
All four students shout at once.
All:AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
PAGE 5
Panel 1
Mr. Zerik perks up, frowning.
Mr. Zerik: What's that noise?
Panel 2
Draven smirks, arms crossed.
Draven: Sounds like your foolish students are in trouble.
Panel 3
Mr. Zerik scowls.
Mr. Zerik: Go check on them!
Panel 4
Ezren whispers to the others, hopeful.
Ezren: Did you hear that? Someone's coming!
PAGE 6
Panel 1
Lyra smirks proudly.
Lyra: Told you it was a good idea!
Panel 2
Draven appears, annoyed.
Draven: Shut it! I told you—no one can save you.
Panel 3
Taroq kneels on a wall in the shadows, eyes glowing.
Taroq: Says who?
He vanishes instantly.
Panel 4
Draven spins, panicked.
Draven: Huh?! Where did he go?!
PAGE 7
Panel 1
Taroq reappears, blade at Draven's neck.
Taroq (coldly): You may leave… now.
Panel 2
Draven runs away screaming like a child.
Draven:AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Panel 3
Jaren's eyes sparkle with admiration.
Jaren: Taroq! How did you even get here?!
Panel 4
Ezren frowns.
Ezren: …You know this guy?
PAGE 8
Panel 1
Jaren grins excitedly.
Jaren: Of course! I'm his biggest fan! I've got his pictures, comics, magazines—everything!
Panel 2
Ezren rolls his eyes.
Ezren: Bla-bla-bla. Enough already.
Panel 3
Taroq starts untying Mirae.
Taroq: We need to hurry before anyone else shows up.
Panel 4
Mirae stretches her wrists, relieved.
Mirae: Finally free! Who should I untie next?
PAGE 9
Panel 1
Ezren: Me!
Panel 2
Lyra: Me!
Panel 3
Mirae unties Lyra, sighing.
Mirae: Ugh, this is tough…
Panel 4
Ezren: Hey! I asked first!
PAGE 10
Panel 1
Mirae smirks at Ezren.
Mirae: Oops, sorry. Ladies first.
Panel 2
Taroq unties Jaren.
Taroq: So… what made you my biggest fan?
Panel 3
Jaren beams.
Jaren: Because your skills are amazing—top notch!
Panel 4
Lyra unties Ezren.
Lyra: Finally! Now we can get out of here.
PAGE 11
Panel 1
Ezren stretches, irritated.
Ezren: I'm leaving for good. Nothing could make me come back here.
Panel 2
Jaren gestures forward.
Jaren: Quick—let's go!
Panel 3
An alarm suddenly blares.
SFX:BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Alarm: Intruders! Intruders!
Panel 4
Ezren groans loudly.
Ezren: Oh, come on! Can't we rest for once?!
PAGE 12
Panel 1
Taroq turns serious.
Taroq: Stay here. I'll handle this.
He vanishes in a burst of light.
Panel 2
Taroq reappears in front of several enemies, tossing sharp cards.
SFX:SHHHK!
Panel 3
The enemies fall instantly. Taroq senses an attack from behind.
Taroq: Nice try.
Panel 4
He swings his sword in a flash, slicing his attacker cleanly.
PAGE 13
Panel 1
Mr. Zerik watches from afar, terrified.
Mr. Zerik: HUH!? Please—don't kill me! If you want me gone, I'll leave!
Panel 2
Taroq lowers his blade calmly.
Taroq: I'm not going to kill you. Just… get out of here.
Panel 3
Mr. Zerik stumbles away quickly.
Mr. Zerik: O-okay! I'm leaving right now!
Panel 4
Lyra claps excitedly.
Lyra: That was awesome!
PAGE 14
Panel 1
Mirae stares in awe.
Mirae: I've never seen anything like that before…
Panel 2
Taroq turns back to them.
Taroq: Let's move.
Panel 3
Jaren walks beside him, curious.
Jaren: So, Taroq… how did you even know we were in danger?
Panel 4
Taroq gives a small smile.
Taroq: It's my job to protect people from bad guys.
PAGE 15
Panel 1
Ezren crosses his arms.
Ezren: Dude, that's not what he asked. He asked how you knew.
Panel 2
Taroq smirks.
Taroq: We're heroes—we just know our way around.
Panel 3
Cut to Velmire Duskbane, sword at Kaelvor's throat.
Velmire: Where is Taroq?
Panel 4
Kaelvor trembles.
Kaelvor: I swear—I don't know!
PAGE 16
Panel 1
Velmire presses his blade harder.
Velmire: Then go find him. Now.
Panel 2
Kaelvor nods nervously.
Kaelvor: Okay… I will.
Panel 3
Velmire narrows his eyes.
Velmire: One hour. If you run… it'll be worse.
Panel 4
Kaelvor gulps, whispering to himself.
Kaelvor: Damn it… did he just say exactly what I was planning?
PAGE 17
Panel 1
Taroq leads the students back to the school gates.
Taroq: Looks like this is your school.
Panel 2
Mirae smiles softly.
Mirae: Yeah… thank you.
Panel 3
Taroq nods kindly.
Taroq: You're welcome.
Panel 4
As everyone leaves, Jaren lingers. Taroq notices.
Taroq: Everyone else left. Why are you still here?
PAGE 18
Panel 1
Jaren rubs the back of his neck nervously.
Jaren: I've been your fan for over a year… and this is my first time seeing you in person.
Panel 2
He looks up earnestly.
Jaren: I can't just leave without your number. I… I want to stay in touch.
Panel 3
Taroq scribbles on a slip of paper, smiling faintly.
Taroq: Honestly… I've never met such a caring guy before.
Panel 4
He hands the paper to Jaren.
Taroq: Here. Take it.
PAGE 19
Panel 1
Jaren accepts the paper, grinning ear to ear.
Jaren: Thank you!
Panel 2
Mirae looks around.
Mirae: …Where's Jaren?
Panel 3
Inside the dorm, Ezren plays video games with Renjiro Takase.
Ezren: He's outside, talking with Taroq.
Panel 4
Renjiro grins at Ezren.
Renjiro: Bro, you're good at this.
PAGE 20
Panel 1
Ezren smirks confidently.
Ezren: Yeah… I play almost every day.
Panel 2
Renjiro groans as his character loses again.
Renjiro: Why do you keep blocking all my attacks?!
Panel 3
Ezren shrugs casually.
Ezren: 'Cause you're too easy.
Panel 4
Daiki Hoshida walks over curiously.
Daiki: Wait… is that a PS3?
PAGE 21
Panel 1
Renjiro nods, smiling.
Renjiro: Yeah.
Panel 2
Daiki's eyes light up.
Daiki: Cool! Can I play?
Panel 3
Ezren smirks.
Ezren: Sure. After I finish trashing this guy.
Panel 4
Mirae walks alone outside, phone to her ear.
Mirae: You coming for extra lessons tomorrow?
PAGE 22
Panel 1
Eira's voice comes from the phone.
Eira: Yeah. What about you?
Panel 2
Mirae nods as she walks.
Mirae: Of course.
Panel 3
Suddenly, the ground cracks open behind her. A demonic girl rises with a wicked smile.
Selvara Nyxthorn: Hello. My name is Selvara Nyxthorn… and I'm here to eat your brain.
Panel 4
Mirae drops her phone, screaming in terror.
Mirae:AHAHAHAHAHH!!!
PAGE 23
Panel 1
Eira's voice echoes from the dropped phone.
Eira: Hello? Hello?!
Panel 2
Selvara grips Mirae by the neck.
Selvara: You're going to die, little girl.
Panel 3
Mirae struggles, screaming.
Mirae: Someone! Please help me!!!
Panel 4
Selvara laughs maniacally.
Selvara: Hahaha… no one is going to save you.
PAGE 24
Panel 1
Selvara presses Mirae's head, blood trickling down quickly.
Mirae (screaming louder): Someone—please help me!!!
Panel 2
Selvara licks her lips, grinning.
Selvara: Your brain looks perfect… just what I need.
Panel 3
Mirae falls to her knees in pain, eyes wide with fear.
Mirae (thinking): Is this… how I'm going to die?
Panel 4
Suddenly, three glowing cards appear in a burst of light, slicing through Selvara instantly.
SFX:SHHHK!