Page 1
Days pass.
Quick flashes: Mabo waking up early, Thian waiting for him at the door. Mabo running behind Thian in the forest, sweat pouring down. Punches flying, laughter rising, and small wounds forgotten by the next day.
A day. A month. Two months.
Page 2
The forest. Early morning.
Mabo stands with a tensed body. His muscles are beginning to show beneath his skin.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Thian punches a tree relentlessly. Each punch is heavier than the last. The echo fills the forest.
Page 3
Mabo takes his stance. He breathes. He strikes.
Crack.
A large fissure splits the tree from the top. It wobbles. It collapses.
Mabo looks at it in silence. Then he smiles a smile he cannot hide.
As for Thian… he broke five trees today.
Page 4
Mabo wipes his sweat: "Finally… the training has borne fruit!"
They continue. The forest buzzes with the sound of fists on wood.
Then…
A faint rustle from between the grass.
Both of them stop at the same moment. They exchange a glance.
Page 5
The grass moves slowly.
Suddenly, five men with harsh faces appear one after another. One holds a knife. Another holds a wooden bat. Their eyes scan the two boys with intentions they do not hide.
"Hey, little ones… what are you doing here all alone?"
Thian says coldly: "Just training."
Page 6
The man with the bat steps forward: "Training? Excellent… give us everything you have."
Thian, without fear: "We have nothing. You can leave."
The leader cackles and turns to his men: "What do you think about selling them as slaves to the city merchants?"
Laughter fills the place: "An excellent idea."
Page 7
Thian glares at them.
Then he says with cold sarcasm: "Slaves?"
His gaze changes: "Come… and I will show you who the slave is here."
One of them lunges. Thian turns: "Mabo! Stay back!"
Page 8
The man with the bat comes from the left. A powerful swing.
Thian dodges with agility and responds with a single punch that shatters the bat.
The man stares at his empty hand in shock.
Then a punch to his neck. He gasps. He falls.
Page 9
Thian turns coldly: "Any more?"
Two men charge together. The first punches; Thian catches his hand and breaks it in one motion.
But the second arrives from the other side. A punch lands on Thian's face, making him stagger.
The man falls on top of him, striking him fiercely. Thian blocks with his hands with difficulty.
Page 10
Mabo hesitates. His feet want to rush forward.
Thian screams: "I said stay back!"
Thian flips the man over him with force. He delivers several finishing blows. He stands up quickly.
But the knife comes from an angle he didn't see. It pierces his palm.
Page 11
Blood flows onto the ground.
Mabo screams: "Thian!"
Thian looks at his pierced hand for a moment. Then he raises his eyes toward the man with a terrifying coldness.
He does not retreat.
Page 12
One of the men tries to get up.
Mabo turns and rains down consecutive punches on him until he falls and stops moving.
On the other side, the man with the knife swings it savagely. He cuts Thian's hands and chest.
Thian takes a step back. Scratches cover his body. But he does not fall.
Page 13
Crack.
The fifth man strikes Thian from behind with a bat to his head.
Thian stops completely.
Then he falls to the ground like a tree cut from its roots.
Sudden silence.
Mabo freezes in his place.
Page 14
Thian is sprawled out. He doesn't move. Blood flows slowly from his head. Mabo stands there trembling. His teeth are chattering. His eyes are wide. Thian. Why?
In his head: What do I do? What do I do? Should I run or fight? Then suddenly, Thian's voice from an old memory:
"Breathe deeply… and focus. Everything will be alright."
Mabo closes his eyes for a moment.
He opens them.
Page 15
His hands stop trembling. He raises them slowly and takes a fighting stance. One of the men points at him laughing: "Look! The little one wants to fight!"
The man with the knife doesn't laugh. He looks at the sprawled Thian.
"I don't care about the little one. I'll finish this first."
He moves toward Thian. The knife is raised.
Page 16
The knife approaches Thian's body.
A black shadow launches like lightning.
BOOM.
Mabo's punch hits the man with the knife with a force that doesn't fit his body. He is sent flying back and slams into a tree behind him.
Mabo stands between Thian and the man. His eyes are frozen. He doesn't speak.
Page 17
The man stands up slowly. He grabs his knife. His face turns from shock to rage.
"After I kill you… I will cut you both into quarters."
He lunges at Mabo.
Mabo looks at the ground for a moment.
Then he raises his eyes.
And he charges.
Page 18
Time slows down.
Mabo's hand rises.
A strange blackness envelops it, dark and moving as if it were alive.
Boom.
The punch pierces the man's stomach.
He stops in his tracks. His eyes widen. Blood flows slowly from his mouth.
Then he falls to the ground.
He doesn't move.
Page 19
The last man takes a step back. Then another.
"Calm down… calm down, kid! I won't hurt you! Take your friend and go!"
Mabo doesn't utter a word.
He turns toward Thian.
Page 20
He carries him on his shoulder with both hands.
He walks. Then he runs.
He exits the forest. The villagers see the sight and stop, frozen.
Mabo looks at no one. He pushes the house door open with his shoulder and screams:
"Grandfather! Quickly!"
Page 21
The Grandfather rushes over.
He sees Thian covered in blood. His face changes, but he does not lose his composure.
"Put him here. Go to the doctor immediately. Run."
Mabo rushes out before the Grandfather finishes the sentence.
Page 22
He bangs on the doctor's door with unstoppable violence.
"Doctor! My brother is in critical condition! Come quickly!"
Both of them dash toward the house.
They arrive. The doctor enters. He examines. He stitches. He bandages.
Page 23
"His condition is stable. But he received a heavy blow to the head. He may need time to wake up. Let him rest. I will return tomorrow."
The doctor examines Mabo. Only minor injuries.
The Grandfather thanks him, and he leaves.
The house goes silent.
Page 24
The Grandfather sits in front of Mabo.
He asks him quietly what happened. Mabo recounts everything.
The Grandfather sighs deeply: "Thank God for both of your safety."
Silence.
Then he looks at Mabo's hands with eyes that read something he doesn't say.
The night wraps around the house.
And Mabo sits beside Thian alone. Waiting.
To be continued in Chapter 7