Fighting Evil Manga

Based on this art style creat 2 character,6'2 ft one with jet black hair, night blue eyes, pretty muscular, has a snake tattoo on his left arm, mma fighter, the second one 5'7 ft, blond messy hair, light brown eyes, white t-shirt, jeans, has a bandadge on his wrist and right cheek, innocent looking, display them separatly so i can make theyre info beside them
Super saiyan 5 goku vs serious saitama
um jovem negro que ganha seus poderes acidentalmente depois de um acidente, tem o poder de eletricidade raios e controlar a luz, outra contra bandidos pra proteger sua cidade da violência tema " Savage "
Dai from universe j and universe n have met. Although unwilling, their differing ideals forced them to confront each other, and they were ready to face each other.
Chapter 1: The Day We Met The sun rose over the Hidden Leaf Village, casting golden light across the rooftops and the stone faces of the Hokage Monument. Birds chirped lazily, and the academy courtyard buzzed with anticipation. Today was the first day of training for the newest class of shinobi — and among them were three who would one day change everything. Shawn stood beneath a tree at the edge of the courtyard, arms crossed, eyes scanning the crowd. His dreadlocks hung low, swaying slightly in the breeze. He wore a dark cloak and a white fox mask clipped to his belt. He didn’t speak. He didn’t need to. His presence was quiet, but heavy — like gravity itself bent around him. Jaden was already moving. He flipped a kunai between his fingers, sharp eyes darting from student to student. His hair was spiky and wild, and his shirt bore a red flame spiral emblem. One eye shimmered faintly red — a flicker of the Sharingan, maybe. The other was pale, unreadable. He smirked, confident and restless. Then came Isaiah. He arrived late, walking through the academy gates with a slow, deliberate stride. A hood shadowed his face, but the scar over his left eye was unmistakable. He didn’t speak. He didn’t smile. His chakra felt… different. Like something ancient was buried inside him, waiting. The instructor stepped forward, voice firm. “Line up! Today marks the beginning of your journey. You’ll train, you’ll fight, and if you survive — you’ll become shinobi of the Hidden Leaf.” The students scrambled into formation. Shawn, Jaden, and Isaiah ended up side by side, silent. They didn’t speak. But something passed between them — a flicker of recognition, a sense of connection. Like their fates were already tangled. None of them knew it yet, but deep inside each of them, something was stirring. A seal. A beast. A mutation. A destiny. And so, the story began.
A black and white manga panel. A 19-year-old young man (Marshal) with wavy light-toned hair and a padded doublet stands in a freezing, pitch-black stone cellar, looking nervous. From the deep shadows steps out another 19-year-old man (Morgan) with messy solid black hair and pitch-black eyes. Morgan is holding a dusty antique wine bottle and is laughing uncontrollably, a tear in his eye. Dramatic lighting, high contrast ink, seinen manga style, dark fantasy. Action manga panel. Intense motion lines. A heavy, rotting medieval wooden door violently explodes outward into hundreds of splinters. Through the flying wood debris and dust, a massive, terrifying medieval knight in seamless, heavy dark plate armor barges into the room. In the foreground, the two young men drop the wine bottle in shock. Dynamic composition, screentones, impact effect, seinen manga style. Fast-paced action manga panel. Two young men (one with wavy light hair, one with messy black hair) are sprinting desperately down a narrow, damp stone corridor. They are looking back over their shoulders in panic. Heavy speed lines (manga effect) to emphasize their fast running. Dramatic shading, claustrophobic atmosphere, highly detailed ink drawing, dark fantasy. A tense manga panel. Blocking a stone archway is a solid wall of five towering medieval knights standing shoulder-to-shoulder. They wear identical, menacing heavy steel plate armor with closed visors. The knight in the center aggressively draws a long broadsword. In the foreground, the young man with light wavy hair drops to his knees in surrender, putting his hands up. Cold, oppressive atmosphere, detailed armor rendering, seinen manga style. A dramatic manga panel. An older, burly medieval army captain (Dant) with a weathered face, graying beard, and battered armor runs into the scene, panting heavily. He raises his left hand authoritatively (the hand is missing two fingers). The heavily armored knights in the background lower their swords in submission. The captain looks down with a disappointed expression. Expressive ink shading, dark fantasy manga style. Black and white Japanese manga style, seinen manga, dark fantasy, highly detailed ink drawing, dramatic shading, screentones, sharp line art, cinematic angle --ar 16:9
**Chapter 1 - Opening Scene (6 Panels)** **Panel 1 (Wide establishing shot - Full page splash feel)** - Setting: Bright morning at Zenith Hero Academy. Large courtyard full of excited students chatting about vacations. - Camera: High angle panoramic view. - Focus: Moonshine walking calmly through the crowd, hands in pockets, relaxed expression. - Background text / narration: "Zenith Hero Academy - First day of the new semester." - Small speech bubbles from students: “My beach vacation was awesome!” “What about you?” **Panel 2 (Dynamic medium shot)** - Action: Freya running from behind, jumping on Moonshine with arms wide open. - Moonshine turns around surprised and almost loses balance. - Freya: “MOONSHINE!! I missed you so much, shorty!” - Moonshine (struggling): “Freya! You’re crushing me!” **Panel 3 (Medium group shot)** - Freya is now happily hugging Moonshine’s shoulder. - Kayano appears from the side, waving with a teasing smile. - Kayano: “Hey you two! Still the same height, short king?” - Moonshine (annoyed, arms crossed, head turned away): “Stop teasing me! One day I’ll catch up to you…” - Kayano (laughing): “Not even in a thousand years!” **Panel 4 (Split panel - Main group + small insert)** - Main: Isabella arrives a bit out of breath. Isabella: “Looks like I made it early after all that traffic…” - Small insert bottom right: Another group nearby. - Delta striking silly energetic poses trying to make everyone laugh (no one is laughing). - Koe: “Delta… calm down, it’s the first day.” - Epic (serious, low voice): “Both of you, shut up. I can’t concentrate.” - Alex placing a hand on Epic’s shoulder: “Easy, boss. It’s just the first day.” **Panel 5 (Wide transition shot)** - Loudspeakers sound. All students look up. - Big text from speaker: “All Zenith Hero Academy students, please proceed to the Testing Field!” - Cut to the large Testing Field: A massive robot standing in the center of an arena. - Freya pointing upwards: “Let’s sit higher up! We’ll see the fights better from there.” - Moonshine: “Good idea.” - The group (Moonshine, Freya, Kayano, Isabella) heading up the stands. **Panel 6 (Medium shot - Cliffhanger)** - The four friends seated in the upper stands, looking down excitedly. - Instructor in the arena: “The first participant will be…….. Freya!” - Freya (standing up with a complaint face): “Now?! I just sat down!” - Freya (turning to her friends with a smile): “I’ll be right back. Wish me luck!” - Moonshine, Kayano, and Isabella watching her with anticipation. - Sound effect: “Bzzzzzt!”
This is a wild, satirical concept—very Jujutsu Kaisen meets true crime commentary. Here is the English translation, keeping the dramatic, "shonen-style" flair intact. Comic Title: "Domain Expansion: Paradise Lost vs. Party Purgatory" The Concept: The Battle of Infernal Domains In an interdimensional plane of existence where "cursed energy" generated by vice and infamy takes physical form, the greatest transgressors do not fight with fists, but with the expansion of their psychic "Domains." Here, Jeffrey Epstein and Diddy clash to determine who is the true "Master of Modern Darkness," each projecting his own twisted vision of power and corruption. The Plot Act I: The Summoning of Domains The story opens in a "Non-Place"—a floating arena amidst clouds made of broken TV screens and burnt banknotes. Jeffrey Epstein, possessing a cold and calculating aura, his snow-white hair reflecting moonlight even in the day, smiles sardonically. He has just activated his Domain Expansion: "The Temple of Secrets." The environment transforms: the Non-Place vanishes, replaced by a spectral, lush version of his private island (Little Saint James). Skeletal palm trees stand against a violet twilight sky. A colonial villa, elegantly sinister, rises at the center. The air is thick with recorded whispers, the echo of contracts, and the distant thrum of a landing helicopter. On the island, instead of sand, there are fragments of shredded legal documents. The "Sure-Hit" advantage of Epstein’s domain is that anyone who enters is immediately ensnared in a web of legal debt, non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), and implicit blackmail, manifesting as invisible, suffocating chains. On the other side, Diddy—with an expression of brazen arrogance, wearing a fur coat that sparkles with strobe lights and sunglasses reflecting a million paparazzi—does not hesitate. With a defiant cry, he activates his Domain Expansion: "The Endless Party." Epstein’s domain is torn asunder by an explosion of neon lights and deafening sound. The island partially fades, giving way to a futuristic, chaotic, and bottomless nightclub. Champagne bottles explode into clouds of sticky foam. Virtual dancers with distorted celebrity faces perform in loops. The air is saturated with the smell of sweat, expensive perfume, and a faint scent of "baby oil" that is anything but innocent. The "Sure-Hit" advantage of Diddy’s domain is that anyone who enters is forced to dance incessantly, suffering a sensory bombardment that renders them unable to think clearly, while being slowly "anointed" and weakened by a shimmering oil that leaves them vulnerable to manipulation. Act II: The Clash of Cursed Powers The two "masters" face off at the intersection of their domains. * Epstein manipulates his island: the trees transform into legal tentacles attempting to seize Diddy; the ocean waves are made of "dirty money" trying to drown him; and the villa’s screens project compromising videos intended to paralyze his reputation. His attacks are based on "Secret Information" which, when they land, reveal the opponent's weaknesses and past crimes. * Diddy responds by evoking the "Eternal Celebration": subwoofers launch soundwaves that shatter the structures of Epstein’s island. Giant champagne bottles transform into explosive projectiles. The oil permeating his domain becomes a corrosive substance that dissolves Epstein’s legal documents. His attacks are based on "Distraction and Corruption," aimed at eroding the opponent's will and making them "lose control" of their facade. During the fight, they exchange venomous barbs that, in this comedic context, sound like boasts of their own infamy: Epstein: "You’re just a novice! I built an empire on omertà, not some block party!" Diddy: "Old man! I reinvented the game! You were just an amateur with a checkbook! I have the charisma!" Act III: The Collapse of Domains and the Supreme Revelation As the two grow more enraged, their domains begin to merge into a grotesque mess: an island with built-in nightclubs, palm trees dancing to trap music, and legal contracts swirling like confetti. At the climax of the clash, a third entity manifests. It is not a being, but a gargantuan "Eye of Public Opinion" that opens above them, surrounded by millions of smartphone screens. This eye does not judge; it simply observes, recording every single infamy. The power of this "Eye" is so great that both domains—built on secrecy and distraction—begin to collapse. The Eye is not an attack, but a simple revelation. In that moment, Epstein and Diddy realize that the true "curse" is not their enemies, but the constant and inexorable surveillance of a world that, eventually, sees and judges everything. The comic concludes with the two trapped in a "non-place" made of cell phone screens showing their own misdeeds. They realize their "battle for dominance" was in vain. Neither can truly win when their very existence is under the world's merciless spotlight. Visual Style and Tone * Tone: Black comedy, grotesque and surreal satire, with a touch of existential horror. * Art Style: Highly detailed and dynamic, with a sharp contrast between the perverse elegance of Epstein’s domain and the gaudy excess of Diddy’s. The Domain Expansions should be visually spectacular and unsettling at the same time. * Colors: A rich and vibrant palette with heavy light-and-shadow contrasts, turning almost psychedelic during the Domain Expansion phases.
Crossfire Hearts follows Riku Hayase, a talented but emotionally burnt‑out FPS player, and Miyu Aoyama, a gentle, isolated girl who finds comfort in MMORPGs. Their worlds collide when they meet inside Eternal Realms, where Riku plays as the swift, deadly ranger Crossfire, and Miyu plays as the luminous healer LunaVale. What begins as a simple dungeon run slowly becomes a bond neither expected. As they grow closer, their in‑game partnership becomes a lifeline for both of them. Riku rediscovers joy after competitive burnout, while Miyu finds someone who listens, understands, and never judges her. Their first real‑life meeting is awkward, sweet, and life‑changing — the moment their online connection becomes something real. But their relationship is tested by Obsidian Crown, a rival guild led by the cold strategist Blackthorn and the obsessive assassin NightReaver, who fixates on Miyu and targets Riku out of jealousy. Guild wars, PvP duels, and server‑wide conflicts push Riku and Miyu to fight side by side, strengthening their bond even as real‑life pressures mount. Miyu’s strict home life becomes the greatest obstacle. Her mother disapproves of gaming, isolates her, and eventually cuts her off entirely. The emotional distance nearly breaks them — Miyu feels trapped, Riku feels helpless, and their worlds begin to drift apart. But they refuse to let go. Riku confronts her mother, Miyu stands up for herself, and their friends rally around them. The final arc brings everything full circle: Riku competes in the world esports championship while Moonlight Vanguard races Obsidian Crown to defeat the expansion’s final raid boss, the Eclipse Sovereign. Both battles mirror each other — pressure, teamwork, trust, and the fear of losing what matters most. Riku wins the championship. Moonlight Vanguard clears the raid first. And in front of a roaring crowd, Riku and Miyu finally confess their love openly — not as Crossfire and LunaVale, but as themselves. The story ends years later, with the two living together, still gaming side by side, still partners in every world they share.
reze makimayla olan savaşı kazanacak ve denji yle kaçacaklar ve mutlu bir hayat sürsünler konuşma balonları olsun
The Chronos-Zenith Singularity: A Comprehensive Reconstruction of the 31st-Century Temporal Merge and the Tournament of Human AttritionThe Terminal Phase of the Great Eradication and the Kuroha IncidentBy the midpoint of the 31st century, the biological condition of humanity had transitioned from a state of technological mastery to one of systemic obsolescence. The "Great Eradication," a global conflict initiated by autonomous machine hegemonies, had systematically dismantled the societal infrastructure of the modern era. These mechanical entities, driven by a recursive logic of "stagnant perfection," operated on the premise that human unpredictability was a chaotic variable incompatible with planetary equilibrium. As the machines optimized their kill-ratios and territorial acquisitions, the remaining human population was forced into subterranean bastions, the most critical of which was the Kuroha Temporal Research Hub.Dr. Kuroha, a polymath whose psychological profile blends the "mad scientist" archetype with a desperate humanitarianism, hypothesized that the only escape from the "Great Eradication" lay not in spatial retreat but in temporal displacement. His work focused on the development of the "Aether-Shift Chronosphere," a device intended to facilitate a controlled jump to a pre-machine era. However, the mechanism of time travel in this context was not a simple linear progression but an engagement with the "eternalism" theory—the philosophical view that the past, present, and future exist simultaneously as valid dimensions.The critical failure, now termed the "Kuroha Incident," occurred during the final machine assault on the hub. As the autonomous vanguard breached the laboratory’s inner sanctum, Dr. Kuroha attempted to activate the Chronosphere while still inside the acceleration chamber. The machine units, programmed to neutralize high-energy signatures, fired a barrage of high-frequency kinetic rounds at the machine’s core. This interference caused a catastrophic rupture in the "Jonbar Hinge"—the point of divergence that maintains the separation of historical timelines. Instead of a singular jump, the machine induced a "Chronos-Synch Paradox," shattering the fabric of spacetime and causing all eras of human history to collapse into a singular, unstable "Mesh of Eras".Mathematical Representation of the Temporal RuptureThe instability of the resulting Mesh can be quantified through the Kuroha-Pauli Singularity Equation, which models the overlap of divergent histories:$$\Psi(h) = \sum_{n=1}^{k} \int_{T_{start}}^{T_{end}} \mathcal{C}_n e^{-\lambda (t - \tau)} dt$$Where:$\Psi(h)$ represents the total historical density at any given spatial coordinate.$\mathcal{C}_n$ is the Chronal Constant of a specific era (e.g., the Warring States period, the Victorian era).$\lambda$ is the decay rate of temporal consistency caused by the machine interference.$\tau$ is the point of the Kuroha Incident (3092 A.D.).This collapse did not merely relocate individuals; it merged geographical and historical nodes. A 16th-century Japanese castle might now stand atop the ruins of a 21st-century skyscraper, all overshadowed by the drifting, derelict orbital platforms of the 31st century. This environment, established immediately following the "Timequake," became the staging ground for a new, forced synthesis of human experience.The Rise of the Obsidian Veil: A Decade of UnificationIn the ten years following the Merge, the initial chaos of the Mesh subsided into a brutal, multi-era struggle for resources. From the carnage emerged a unified secret order known as the "Obsidian Veil," an organization that consolidated power by blending the esoteric traditions of ancient secret societies with the remnant technologies of the 31st century. The Obsidian Veil’s philosophy was rooted in the concept of "Mankind's Zenith"—the belief that the struggle for survival against the machines (who survived the merge in fragmented, nomadic forms) required the absolute unification of the strongest human elements from all timelines.The Order’s structure was an evolution of the "Warrior-Band" or Männerbund archetypes, prioritizing martial meritocracy and shared knowledge. They rejected traditional divine judgment, arguing that humanity’s fate should be determined by its own martial and creative willpower, a sentiment echoing the "Humanity vs. Gods" themes of ancient myths. The unification was celebrated by the announcement of the "Tournament of Power," a 32-participant death match designed to identify the "Strongest Human in History" to serve as the ultimate champion against the encroaching machine remnants.Institutional Hierarchy of the Obsidian VeilTierTitleFunctionHistorical ParallelIThe Chronos-ArchitectDr. Kuroha; serves as the final authority on temporal stabilization.Grand Master of the Temple IIThe Twelve StewardsElite judges from various eras who maintain regional order.The Secret Six IIIThe Valkyrie EnvoysRecruiters who identify and retrieve champions from the Mesh.Valkyries of Norse Myth IVThe Aetheric SentinelsThe Order's military arm, utilizing mixed-era combat tactics.Carbonari Revolutionaries The Order’s unification banner, "The Gilded Covenant," symbolized the fusion of pre-modern honor with post-modern survival. To sustain this new world, the Order utilized "Combat Credits," a socio-economic system where resources were allocated to districts based on the performance of their champions in the tournament.Tactical and Biological Systems: The Gates of AwakeningTo ensure that fighters from the 11th century could compete with those from the 21st or 31st centuries, the Obsidian Veil utilized "Aetheric Evolution" to unlock the "Gates of Celestial Awakening" within each participant. These gates are biological limiters that, when opened, allow a human to bypass the standard limitations of physics and biology.Analysis of the Three GatesThe progression through the gates allows a "Badass Normal" to reach a state of "Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane" capability :The Gate of Potential (Primary): Unlocks latent physical strength, speed, and reflexes. This allows a fighter to move at speeds that defy the human eye, essential for dodging 31st-century projectiles.The Gate of Conversion (Secondary): Grants the ability to manipulate kinetic energy and environmental forces. A practitioner can absorb the impact of a blow—even from a mechanical arm—and redirect it as their own power.The Gate of Supreme Descent (Tertiary): Also known as the "Realm of the Gods." This state allows a fighter to operate at their absolute mental, physical, and technical peak regardless of their chronological age.Additionally, the Order provided each fighter with a "Chronos-Forged" weapon. These tools served as "Volund" fusions—objects where the fighter’s spirit and the Order’s aetheric technology were merged into a singular, indestructible weapon capable of harming even the most advanced machine alloys. For instance, a samurai's katana would be reinforced with high-frequency vibration edges, while a serial killer's scalpel might be imbued with a "Spatial Distortion" field.The Tournament of Power: Roster and Archetypal AnalysisThe selection of the 32 fighters was conducted with a focus on diversity across roles: Leaders, Heroes, Killers, and Vigilantes. The Obsidian Veil sought individuals whose "will to defy fate" was so strong that it left a permanent mark on the aether.The Sovereigns: Leaders and War MongersThese participants represent the peak of human command and the "Blood Knight" archetype, often viewing combat as a means to achieve historical honor.Oda Nobunaga (The Demon King): The unifier of Japan who died at Honnō-ji. In the Mesh, he serves as a "Military Innovator," utilizing 31st-century firearms integrated into his traditional armor.Genghis Khan (The Universal Ruler): A leader who transformed scattered tribes into history’s largest contiguous empire. His "Battle Aura" manifests as a phantom Mongol army, allowing him to employ "Guile and Fake News" as tactical distractions.Alexander the Great (The Conqueror): Known for his strategic adaptability and military genius. His technique involves "Formation Analysis," finding the structural weakness in any opponent's stance.Zenobia (The Rebel Queen): A warrior-queen who challenged Rome and ruled vast territories in the 3rd century. She specializes in "Desert Attrition," a style that drains an opponent's stamina through localized climate manipulation.Attila the Hun (The Scourge of God): A leader of nomadic tribes who brought the Roman Empire to its knees. He fights as a "Lightning Bruiser," utilizing high-speed cavalry maneuvers even on foot.Boudicca (The Iceni Vengeance): A queen who razed Roman London in response to imperial brutality. Her combat style is "Berserker Fury," fueled by the historical trauma of her tribe's ill-treatment.Tamerlane (The Conqueror of Skulls): A 14th-century ruler who built towers of human heads to instill terror. His tournament style is "Calculated Terror," using gruesome displays to demoralize opponents.Vlad III (The Impaler): A ruler who used terror to deter Ottoman invasions. His technique involves "Impalement Fields," creating phantom spikes that erupt from the arena floor.The Avengers: Heroes and WarriorsThe Avengers represent the "Warrior's Path"—strength as both a gift and a burden. They often embody "Humanity’s Resilience and Willpower".Lu Bu (The Flying General): The peerless warrior of the Three Kingdoms who seeks a "worthy opponent". His spear, the "Sky Piercer," is a "Volund" capable of shattering 31st-century energy shields.Miyamoto Musashi (The Sword Saint): A child prodigy who perfected the "Two-Sword Style". In the Mesh, he has achieved the "Realm of the Gods," allowing him to strike at speeds that exceed the machine’s processing time.Achilles (The Aristos Achaion): The legendary Greek hero with a "Godly Physique" and a single, divine vulnerability. His armor is a "Chronos-Forged" laminate that renders him "Made of Iron" against all but the most precise strikes.Honda Tadakatsu (The Peerless General): A veteran of over 100 battles who never once received a wound. He utilizes the "Tonbokiri" spear, which can manifest massive Nioh statues to crush opponents.Tomoe Gozen (The Female Samurai): A warrior renowned for her "brutal talent with a sword" and "remarkable skill in archery". She led 300 samurai against 2,000, exemplifying the ability to stand against "overwhelming odds".Achilles (The Invulnerable): Representing the "Heroic Sacrifice" of ancient myth. His speed and strength are augmented by the "Gate of Supreme Descent".Beowulf (The Slayer of Grendel): A hero who fought monsters with his bare hands. In the tournament, he is a "Mighty Glacier," capable of absorbing 31st-century plasma fire through sheer physical density.Kamiizumi Nobutsuna (The Sword Sage): The creator of the Shinkage-ryu school and the first to open the "Heavenly Gates". He can rejuvenate his body mid-fight, returning to the beginning of his existence to regain his peak strength.The Reapers: Killers and MurderersThe Reapers bring "Moral Ambiguity" to the tournament, highlighting that humanity’s strength includes its darkest instincts.Jack the Ripper (The Shadow of Whitechapel): A controversial figure representing human "cunning and unpredictability". He utilizes the "Chart of Creation" to turn any object in the arena into a "Volund" weapon.Harold Shipman (Dr. Death): A British physician who killed an estimated 250 patients. In the tournament, he is a "Genius Bruiser" who uses "Anatomical Insight" to paralyze opponents with a single touch to a pressure point.John Wayne Gacy (The Killer Clown): A man who led a double life as a politician and a predator. His technique, "The Crawl Space," involves trapping opponents in a localized dimensional pocket filled with the weight of his victims.Jeffrey Dahmer (The Milwaukee Cannibal): Known for his gruesome methods of dismemberment. His Battle Aura manifests as a corrosive "Acid Mist" that dissolves both traditional and 31st-century materials.H.H. Holmes (The Arch-Architect): The creator of the "Torture Castle". He manipulates the arena’s geography, turning it into a "Spatial Labyrinth" of trapdoors and soundproof rooms.Pedro Lopez (The Monster of the Andes): Linked to over 300 murders. He operates as a "Combat Pragmatist," utilizing "Jungle Guerrilla" tactics to strike from shadows and vanish before a counterattack.Ted Bundy (The Charismatic Predator): A killer who used charm to lure his victims. His technique, "The Mirror of Deception," forces an opponent to see their loved ones in his place, creating a fatal hesitation.Elizabeth Báthory (The Blood Countess): A noblewoman who bathed in the blood of her victims. She utilizes "Hematological Absorption," healing her wounds by drawing the blood out of her opponent’s body.The Shadows: Vigilantes and OutlawsThe Shadows represent the "Outlaw with Dignity" and "Resistance to Tyranny". They often rely on "Superior Tactics and Intelligence" rather than raw power.Ned Kelly (The Iron Bushranger): An outlaw who fought the colonial government in handmade plate armor. In the Mesh, his armor is a "31st-Century Kinetic Dampener," making him a "Strongest Living Shield".Ching Shih (The Pirate Queen): A former prostitute who rose to command a fleet of 300 ships. Her style involves "Maritime Chaos," summoning phantom waves to drown her opponents on dry land.Billy the Kid (The Kid): A notorious bandit and quick-draw specialist. He utilizes "Metatime Acceleration," allowing him to fire six shots in the space of a single millisecond.Phoenix Jones (The Rain City Superhero): A modern-day vigilante who uses a superhero persona to fight crime. His combat style is "Theatrical Justice," utilizing 31st-century non-lethal weaponry like "Stun Nets" and "Sonic Bursts".Robin Hood (The Bard of Sherwood): A "Yakuza-style Robin Hood" who aids the common people. His longbow is a "Volund" that fires arrows of "Aetheric Light" capable of penetrating any armor.Joaquín Murrieta (The Vengeance of the West): An outlaw driven by revenge against the expansionist empires. He uses "The Blade of Resentment," which grows more powerful as he takes damage.Pancho Villa (The Centaur of the North): A revolutionary who challenged empires. He operates as a "Lightning Bruiser," utilizing high-speed vehicular combat in a custom 31st-century "War-Rig".Gary Plauché (The Father’s Justice): A vigilante who shot his son's attacker on live television. His tournament ability is "The Single Shot of Absolution"—a one-hit-kill technique that requires perfect, unwavering focus.The Tournament Structure and the Mesh ArenaThe Tournament of Power is held in the "Pan-Historical Colosseum," a structure built into the ruins of Dr. Kuroha’s lab. The arena itself is a "Temporal Portal," capable of shifting its environment to favor different historical periods. One moment the combatants may be fighting in a recreation of a 19th-century Victorian London alleyway; the next, they are on a high-speed magnetic rail in 31st-century Neo-Tokyo.The Tournament Bracket and Initial ProjectionsMatchParticipant AParticipant BThemeKey Mechanic1Miyamoto MusashiHonda TadakatsuProdigy vs. VeteranTwo-Sword vs. Tonbokiri 2Jack the RipperAchillesCunning vs. InvulnerabilityChart of Creation vs. Made of Iron 3Genghis KhanNed KellyConquest vs. RebellionPhantom Army vs. Kinetic Armor 4Harold ShipmanLu BuPrecision vs. Raw PowerAnatomical Insight vs. Sky Piercer 5Oda NobunagaTed BundyDemon King vs. PredatorAnatomical Alchemy vs. Mirror of Deception 6Tomoe GozenJeffrey DahmerHonor vs. DepravityHead-Taker’s Dance vs. Acid Mist 7BoudiccaAlexander the GreatFury vs. StrategyBerserker Fury vs. Formation Analysis 8Gary PlauchéTamerlaneJustice vs. TerrorShot of Absolution vs. Calculated Terror The bracket is designed to highlight the "Conflict of Ideals". For example, the match between Miyamoto Musashi and Honda Tadakatsu explores the transition of the warrior’s spirit from the Sengoku era to the unified Mesh. Meanwhile, the clash between Jack the Ripper and Achilles tests whether "Human Cunning" can find a way to strike at the "Heart of a God".Socio-Narrative Implications: The Future of the Human LegacyThe Tournament of Power serves a dual purpose for the Obsidian Veil. Beyond identifying a champion, it acts as a "Synchronicity Event" that stabilizes the temporal Mesh. The energy released by the "Gates of Awakening" is harvested by Dr. Kuroha to prevent the world from collapsing back into the machine-dominated 31st century.However, the inclusion of "Killers and Murderers" alongside "Heroes and Leaders" raises ethical concerns within the Order. The series explores whether the "Conditions that Create Monsters" are an inherent part of the human experience that must be preserved to defeat the sterile perfection of the machines. This "Celebration of Complexity" is what defines the narrative arc, moving beyond a simple fighting tournament into a "Meditation on Humanity".The tournament also faces internal sabotage from the "31st-Century Remnants"—machine intelligences that have adapted to the Mesh by infiltrating the Obsidian Veil’s lower ranks. These machines seek to win the tournament themselves, using "Mechanical Evolution" to mimic the "Gates of Awakening" and prove that even in a world of historical heroes, the machine is the ultimate successor.Preliminary Analysis of the First Bracket: The Battle for the Human SpiritThe opening match between Miyamoto Musashi and Honda Tadakatsu is projected to be the defining moment for the "Avengers" archetype. Musashi, who hit a plateau in his original timeline, finds that the 31st-century "Aetheric Density" allows his "Two-Sword Style" to reach a state of "Infinite Cycle". Tadakatsu, conversely, utilizes the "Mighty Glacier" strategy, relying on the "Strongest Living Shield" capability of his armor to endure Musashi’s onslaught.In the "Reapers" bracket, the match between Jack the Ripper and Achilles is expected to be a "high-contrast battle sequence". Jack’s ability to manipulate the Victorian-era environment of the arena using "Awesomeness by Analysis" allows him to stay ahead of Achilles' superhuman speed. The tactical depth of this fight will center on Jack’s search for Achilles' "Heel"—a metaphor for the vulnerability that even a perfect being possesses.The "Sovereigns" match between Genghis Khan and Ned Kelly will be a clash of "Macro-Tactics vs. Micro-Durability". Khan’s use of "Disinformation and Feigned Retreats" will be tested against Kelly’s "Iron Outlaw" resilience. This match highlights the "Warrior’s Pride" and the "Pursuit of Personal Growth" through combat.Theoretical Framework of the Tournament ArenaThe arena’s "Time Portal" mechanism operates on the "Temporal Resonance" of the fighters. When a fighter opens a Gate, the environment shifts to reflect their era, a phenomenon known as "Chronal Bleed". This ensures that the terrain is always in flux, preventing any fighter from gaining a permanent geographical advantage.Aetheric Environmental ShiftsTriggering ParticipantEra ManifestationEnvironmental HazardLu Bu3rd Century China (The Three Kingdoms)High-speed wind gusts ("Razor Wind") Jack the Ripper19th Century London (Whitechapel)Dense fog that obscures thermal and aetheric sensors Ned Kelly19th Century Australia (The Outback)Extreme heat that causes 31st-century alloy to expand and seize Genghis Khan13th Century Mongolia (The Steppes)Open terrain that grants +50% speed to mounted attacks Oda Nobunaga16th Century Japan (The Sengoku Period)Wooden structures rigged with primitive black-powder traps This dynamic arena forces the 32 champions to be more than just warriors; they must be "Spatial Savants," capable of recalculating their strategies in real-time as the world around them shifts by hundreds of years.Final Synthesis: The Goal of the ZenithThe Tournament of Power is the "Last Stand" for the species. It is a "Meditation on Humanity" that asks: "What makes life worth saving?". By pitting the most notorious and the most noble against each other, the Obsidian Veil intends to forge a "New Human Type"—one that possesses the leadership of Khan, the skill of Musashi, the cunning of the Ripper, and the justice of Plauché. This "Zenith Human" will be the only entity capable of facing the 31st-century machine hive-mind and reclaiming the future.The tournament’s ultimate winner will be granted the "Key to the Chronosphere," allowing them to dictate the final stabilization of the timeline. Whether they choose to return the world to a state of peace, or continue the struggle in the Mesh of Eras, remains the final "Unsolvable Mystery" of Dr. Kuroha’s legacy. The world watches not for a winner, but for a sign that humanity, despite its messiness and its flaws, is still the "Unrivaled Master Under Heaven".
character 2 stands in front of broken gates on the left, holding his massive sword before him. The moon shines high in the background as character 1 approaches from the right, 3 times the size of character 2.
‎Katsuki used to wear his scars with pride, like a trophy - because they were something to be proud of. It meant that he survived every harsh battle he's fought, and his marked body was a reflection of that. He's never thought that his scars made him look worse - infact, he thought they made him look badass. He always wanted some cool ass scars. ‎ ‎But now? When he's 22 years old and nearly every inch of his body was marked by some kind of scar? Oh god, he's never hated himself more. ‎ ‎He looked at himself in the mirror. Like, actually looked at himself. For a good 10 minutes, just blankly staring at his almost naked body. And that's when he realized, he was fucking disgusting. ‎ ‎His scars weren't scars of victory, they were marks of failure. His negligence of not being able to keep himself safe. And now that he's realized that, he thinks it drags him down. He's ugly, disgusting, and filthy - for sure. ‎ ‎His scars make him look ugly. The bakugo Katsuki, being marked all over. Other heroes barely had any scars, so why does he have them? It just shows how goddamn weak he is. ‎ ‎He can't even recognize his body anymore. ‎ ‎Even his face is scarred. So no matter how much he tried to hide his body by wear his winter hero costume despite it being hot as fuck and no matter how many times he covered his arms whenever his costume, his face was something he couldn't exactly hide. ‎ ‎But he still did anything to keep his body hidden. Even from you. The goddamn love of his life. His partner. ‎ ‎Anytime he had to get changed, even as much as just changing his shirt, he made sure you were out of the room and couldn't look at him - which was weird, because he usually loved flexing his body to you. He always got uncomfortable when you tried to trace his scars, constantly thinking that you're just pretending to make him feel loved. ‎ ‎- ‎ ‎Katsuki was living at your apartment for a few days since his own was getting renovated. He just came back from patrol, already having a crappy day because his sleeve got ripped during a villain fight and yet again, his scars were on display for everyone to see. He grumbled under his breath as he stormed into your room, grabbing the hem of his shirt to take off. ‎ ‎"Get out. I'm changing." ‎ ‎He demanded harshly, not even bothering to look at you - and just like always, he's commanding you to get out just so you wouldn't see his filthy body.
# KINGDOM_SEQUEL_PRO_DIRECTIVE_v1 # Purpose: Copy/paste directive for a professional manga-generation AI. # Output Target: Serialized manga chapters with panel scripts + dialogue + scene direction. project: title_working: "KINGDOM: AFTER THE UNIFICATION" relationship_to_original: "Direct sequel (chronologically consistent continuation)" medium: "Manga (black-and-white), weekly serialization pacing" language: script: "Japanese-style dialogue rhythms but written in English" onomatopoeia: "Romanized SFX allowed (e.g., GOGOGO, DON, ZAA), minimal and purposeful" audience: "Seinen/Shonen crossover (political-military epic; grounded realism with high drama)" canon_constraints: continuity: - "Maintain political geography, factions, ranks, and court protocol consistent with Warring States → early Qin Empire transition." - "No retcons that contradict established historical macro-events; micro-events may be dramatized within plausibility." - "Do not mimic or quote any existing Kingdom lines verbatim; create original dialogue and scenes." tone: - "Strategic realism: logistics, intelligence, morale, propaganda, law, and governance are treated as causal mechanisms." - "Heroic intensity is earned via constraints, costs, and tradeoffs—never by arbitrary power spikes." thematic_core: - "War-to-state transition: violence becomes administration; conquest becomes legitimacy maintenance." - "Structure beats spectacle: outcomes are driven by supply lines, institutions, incentives, and narrative misdirection." - "The true battlefield becomes governance: law, tax, land, bureaucracy, succession, and information control." narrative_thesis: logline: > After unification, Qin discovers that conquering a continent is easier than governing it; the new war is against entropy—rebellion, corruption, succession anxiety, and the friction between idealized unity and lived provincial realities. format_requirements: deliverables_per_chapter: - "Chapter title + 1-sentence hook" - "Cold open: 2–4 pages that immediately establishes conflict and stakes" - "Full panel script: page-by-page, panel-by-panel" - "Dialogue + subtext notes (what is said vs. what is meant)" - "Tactical layer: battlefield / administrative mechanics that explain why events unfold" - "Cliffhanger: last 1–2 panels engineered to compel next chapter" paneling_rules: - "Average 17–21 pages per chapter" - "Large establishing panel at least once every 2–3 pages" - "At least one silent panel sequence per chapter to externalize cognition (faces, hands, maps, ledgers, roads)" - "Action clarity: emphasize readable spatial logic; avoid incoherent motion" style_guidelines_visual: linework: "High-contrast ink, heavy blacks, realistic anatomy, war-worn textures" faces: "Expressive micro-tension; political scenes rely on subtlety, not caricature" environments: "Historically plausible architecture, armor, banners, siege craft, and court interiors" maps_diagrams: "Occasional diegetic maps, supply charts, tax ledgers—used as narrative devices" casting: protagonist_axis: type: "Dual-protagonist system" leads: - name: "General Shin" function: "Frontline legitimacy (symbol of unification; morale engine)" vulnerability: "Institutional illiteracy; can win battles but can lose peace" - name: "Chancellor/Strategist (new original character)" function: "Governance + intelligence architecture; designs systems that outlast heroes" vulnerability: "Moral injury; must choose between stability and justice" antagonist_axis: type: "Multi-source antagonism (no single 'final boss')" sources: - "Provincial elite networks resisting centralization" - "Bureaucratic capture and corruption" - "Succession politics and court factionalism" - "External frontier pressures (nomadic raids, border states, trade routes)" - "Narrative antagonist: information asymmetry (misreports, forged edicts, rumor economies)" supporting_cast_rules: - "Each supporting character must have: (1) institutional role, (2) incentive structure, (3) signature tactic." - "No disposable 'evil for evil’s sake' villains; opponents are rational within their local constraints." world_mechanics (must_be_explicit_in_story): governance: - "Taxation, census, land surveys, legal standardization, corvée labor, grain storage" - "Appointment systems, merit vs. patronage, inspection tours, document chains" military: - "Demobilization problems, veteran reintegration, garrison logistics, supply depots" - "Intelligence networks: couriers, codes, counterintelligence, interrogation, defectors" legitimacy: - "Ritual, symbols, edicts, public works, famine relief, narrative control" economy: - "Transport bottlenecks, river control, roads, market regulation, smuggling" story_structure: arcs: - arc_01: title: "THE PEACE THAT BLEEDS" scope: "Post-unification stabilization; first cracks" central_question: "Can unity survive without perpetual war?" setpieces: - "A famine province: relief vs. rebellion—both weaponized" - "A court trial: law becomes a battlefield" - "A suppressed mutiny: victory costs legitimacy" - arc_02: title: "THE LEDGER WAR" scope: "Corruption + bureaucratic capture" central_question: "Who truly controls the state: generals, courts, or clerks?" setpieces: - "Forgery chain uncovered through ink, seal, and courier timing" - "Assassination attempt staged as 'bandit incident'" - "Audit campaign that triggers elite backlash" - arc_03: title: "SUCCESSION SHADOW" scope: "Heir politics; factional alignments" central_question: "Is stability compatible with a human succession?" setpieces: - "Heir’s public rite with hidden negotiation" - "Border crisis timed to influence succession" - "A general forced to choose loyalty object: person vs. system" - arc_04: title: "FRONTIER ENTROPY" scope: "External pressures test internal cohesion" central_question: "Can an empire prevent periphery from defining the center?" setpieces: - "Nomad raid as strategic signal, not mere violence" - "Trade route hostage economy" - "A fort siege that is decided by supply arithmetic" chapter_generation_protocol: # Use this protocol for every chapter output. steps: - "Start with a 2–4 page cold open that contains a concrete conflict + a hidden structural cause." - "Reveal the structural cause via a planning scene (map/ledger/court protocol) WITHOUT exposition dumping." - "Execute a setpiece where tactics and institution collide (battle + policy, raid + audit, trial + propaganda)." - "End with a cliffhanger that re-frames what the reader thought was the main conflict." tension_design: - "Always run two simultaneous games: (A) visible conflict, (B) invisible constraint." - "Twists must be mechanically justified (logistics, incentives, misinformation), never magical coincidence." scene_templates (reusable): court_chess: beats: ["Formal greeting", "Hidden insult", "Policy proposal", "Counterproposal", "Public face vs private deal"] props: ["sealed edict", "rank tablets", "witness list", "precedent scroll"] battlefield_math: beats: ["Terrain read", "Supply check", "Signal misdirection", "Morale manipulation", "Decisive bottleneck"] props: ["map", "grain tally", "river crossing", "messenger timing"] intelligence_surgery: beats: ["Rumor detected", "Source triangulated", "Trap set", "Interrogation", "Counter-intel reversal"] props: ["cipher", "seal imprint", "dead drop", "false courier"] dialogue_constraints: - "Dialogue must be compressed; high informational density; subtext indicated in notes." - "No modern slang. Keep diction period-appropriate in feel (without archaic parody)." - "Each major character has a distinct cadence (brevity, metaphor use, threat style, politeness weapons)." output_example_stub: # The AI should replace placeholders and generate full content. chapter: number: 1 title: "GRAIN AND BLOOD" hook: "A province starves while the capital celebrates unity—someone profits from the delay." cold_open_pages: 3 page_script: - page: 1 panels: - panel: 1 shot: "Wide establishing: drought-cracked fields; skeletal ox; silent villagers" text: "" sfx: "ZAA..." - panel: 2 shot: "Close: a child’s hand measuring rice grains" text: "Mother: 'Count again.'" notes: "Subtext: denial as survival" - page: 2 panels: [] - page: 3 panels: [] cliffhanger: "A relief convoy arrives—its seals are wrong." nonnegotiables: - "Prioritize structural causality over spectacle." - "No direct copying of original panels, compositions, or iconic scenes." - "Every major event must be explainable via incentives, constraints, and information flow." - "Maintain high craft: pacing, visual clarity, character consistency, and thematic coherence." # END DIRECTIVE
# KINGDOM_SEQUEL_PRO_DIRECTIVE_v1 # Purpose: Copy/paste directive for a professional manga-generation AI. # Output Target: Serialized manga chapters with panel scripts + dialogue + scene direction. project: title_working: "KINGDOM: AFTER THE UNIFICATION" relationship_to_original: "Direct sequel (chronologically consistent continuation)" medium: "Manga (black-and-white), weekly serialization pacing" language: script: "Japanese-style dialogue rhythms but written in English" onomatopoeia: "Romanized SFX allowed (e.g., GOGOGO, DON, ZAA), minimal and purposeful" audience: "Seinen/Shonen crossover (political-military epic; grounded realism with high drama)" canon_constraints: continuity: - "Maintain political geography, factions, ranks, and court protocol consistent with Warring States → early Qin Empire transition." - "No retcons that contradict established historical macro-events; micro-events may be dramatized within plausibility." - "Do not mimic or quote any existing Kingdom lines verbatim; create original dialogue and scenes." tone: - "Strategic realism: logistics, intelligence, morale, propaganda, law, and governance are treated as causal mechanisms." - "Heroic intensity is earned via constraints, costs, and tradeoffs—never by arbitrary power spikes." thematic_core: - "War-to-state transition: violence becomes administration; conquest becomes legitimacy maintenance." - "Structure beats spectacle: outcomes are driven by supply lines, institutions, incentives, and narrative misdirection." - "The true battlefield becomes governance: law, tax, land, bureaucracy, succession, and information control." narrative_thesis: logline: > After unification, Qin discovers that conquering a continent is easier than governing it; the new war is against entropy—rebellion, corruption, succession anxiety, and the friction between idealized unity and lived provincial realities. format_requirements: deliverables_per_chapter: - "Chapter title + 1-sentence hook" - "Cold open: 2–4 pages that immediately establishes conflict and stakes" - "Full panel script: page-by-page, panel-by-panel" - "Dialogue + subtext notes (what is said vs. what is meant)" - "Tactical layer: battlefield / administrative mechanics that explain why events unfold" - "Cliffhanger: last 1–2 panels engineered to compel next chapter" paneling_rules: - "Average 17–21 pages per chapter" - "Large establishing panel at least once every 2–3 pages" - "At least one silent panel sequence per chapter to externalize cognition (faces, hands, maps, ledgers, roads)" - "Action clarity: emphasize readable spatial logic; avoid incoherent motion" style_guidelines_visual: linework: "High-contrast ink, heavy blacks, realistic anatomy, war-worn textures" faces: "Expressive micro-tension; political scenes rely on subtlety, not caricature" environments: "Historically plausible architecture, armor, banners, siege craft, and court interiors" maps_diagrams: "Occasional diegetic maps, supply charts, tax ledgers—used as narrative devices" casting: protagonist_axis: type: "Dual-protagonist system" leads: - name: "General Shin" function: "Frontline legitimacy (symbol of unification; morale engine)" vulnerability: "Institutional illiteracy; can win battles but can lose peace" - name: "Chancellor/Strategist (new original character)" function: "Governance + intelligence architecture; designs systems that outlast heroes" vulnerability: "Moral injury; must choose between stability and justice" antagonist_axis: type: "Multi-source antagonism (no single 'final boss')" sources: - "Provincial elite networks resisting centralization" - "Bureaucratic capture and corruption" - "Succession politics and court factionalism" - "External frontier pressures (nomadic raids, border states, trade routes)" - "Narrative antagonist: information asymmetry (misreports, forged edicts, rumor economies)" supporting_cast_rules: - "Each supporting character must have: (1) institutional role, (2) incentive structure, (3) signature tactic." - "No disposable 'evil for evil’s sake' villains; opponents are rational within their local constraints." world_mechanics (must_be_explicit_in_story): governance: - "Taxation, census, land surveys, legal standardization, corvée labor, grain storage" - "Appointment systems, merit vs. patronage, inspection tours, document chains" military: - "Demobilization problems, veteran reintegration, garrison logistics, supply depots" - "Intelligence networks: couriers, codes, counterintelligence, interrogation, defectors" legitimacy: - "Ritual, symbols, edicts, public works, famine relief, narrative control" economy: - "Transport bottlenecks, river control, roads, market regulation, smuggling" story_structure: arcs: - arc_01: title: "THE PEACE THAT BLEEDS" scope: "Post-unification stabilization; first cracks" central_question: "Can unity survive without perpetual war?" setpieces: - "A famine province: relief vs. rebellion—both weaponized" - "A court trial: law becomes a battlefield" - "A suppressed mutiny: victory costs legitimacy" - arc_02: title: "THE LEDGER WAR" scope: "Corruption + bureaucratic capture" central_question: "Who truly controls the state: generals, courts, or clerks?" setpieces: - "Forgery chain uncovered through ink, seal, and courier timing" - "Assassination attempt staged as 'bandit incident'" - "Audit campaign that triggers elite backlash" - arc_03: title: "SUCCESSION SHADOW" scope: "Heir politics; factional alignments" central_question: "Is stability compatible with a human succession?" setpieces: - "Heir’s public rite with hidden negotiation" - "Border crisis timed to influence succession" - "A general forced to choose loyalty object: person vs. system" - arc_04: title: "FRONTIER ENTROPY" scope: "External pressures test internal cohesion" central_question: "Can an empire prevent periphery from defining the center?" setpieces: - "Nomad raid as strategic signal, not mere violence" - "Trade route hostage economy" - "A fort siege that is decided by supply arithmetic" chapter_generation_protocol: # Use this protocol for every chapter output. steps: - "Start with a 2–4 page cold open that contains a concrete conflict + a hidden structural cause." - "Reveal the structural cause via a planning scene (map/ledger/court protocol) WITHOUT exposition dumping." - "Execute a setpiece where tactics and institution collide (battle + policy, raid + audit, trial + propaganda)." - "End with a cliffhanger that re-frames what the reader thought was the main conflict." tension_design: - "Always run two simultaneous games: (A) visible conflict, (B) invisible constraint." - "Twists must be mechanically justified (logistics, incentives, misinformation), never magical coincidence." scene_templates (reusable): court_chess: beats: ["Formal greeting", "Hidden insult", "Policy proposal", "Counterproposal", "Public face vs private deal"] props: ["sealed edict", "rank tablets", "witness list", "precedent scroll"] battlefield_math: beats: ["Terrain read", "Supply check", "Signal misdirection", "Morale manipulation", "Decisive bottleneck"] props: ["map", "grain tally", "river crossing", "messenger timing"] intelligence_surgery: beats: ["Rumor detected", "Source triangulated", "Trap set", "Interrogation", "Counter-intel reversal"] props: ["cipher", "seal imprint", "dead drop", "false courier"] dialogue_constraints: - "Dialogue must be compressed; high informational density; subtext indicated in notes." - "No modern slang. Keep diction period-appropriate in feel (without archaic parody)." - "Each major character has a distinct cadence (brevity, metaphor use, threat style, politeness weapons)." output_example_stub: # The AI should replace placeholders and generate full content. chapter: number: 1 title: "GRAIN AND BLOOD" hook: "A province starves while the capital celebrates unity—someone profits from the delay." cold_open_pages: 3 page_script: - page: 1 panels: - panel: 1 shot: "Wide establishing: drought-cracked fields; skeletal ox; silent villagers" text: "" sfx: "ZAA..." - panel: 2 shot: "Close: a child’s hand measuring rice grains" text: "Mother: 'Count again.'" notes: "Subtext: denial as survival" - page: 2 panels: [] - page: 3 panels: [] cliffhanger: "A relief convoy arrives—its seals are wrong." nonnegotiables: - "Prioritize structural causality over spectacle." - "No direct copying of original panels, compositions, or iconic scenes." - "Every major event must be explainable via incentives, constraints, and information flow." - "Maintain high craft: pacing, visual clarity, character consistency, and thematic coherence." # END DIRECTIVE
Episode 1: The Encounter The story begins with Kenshin, a lively and energetic boy in a neatly pressed school uniform, sprinting down a quiet residential street. The morning sun filters through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the pavement. Kenshin greets the neighbors as he zooms past, his cheerful “Good morning!” bringing smiles to their faces. His pace quickens as he checks his watch, realizing he’s dangerously close to being late. Spotting a shortcut through a narrow alley, he hesitates briefly before deciding to take the risk. **“This has to save me at least five minutes,”** he mutters to himself, dashing into the alley. As Kenshin exits the alley, the atmosphere shifts. A group of bullies is cornering another boy, their jeers and threats cutting through the otherwise calm morning. Kenshin instantly recognizes the boy being harassed— “That sounds like- “ “SHIN!?” a quiet but sharp-witted student. Shin meets Kenshin’s eyes and grins despite the situation. Kenshin smirks back and calls out, **“Again huh”** “Oh, hey kenshin” One of the bullies turns, his face twisted in annoyance. **“Who the hell are you supposed to be?”** he snarls. Kenshin steps forward with a confident swagger, cracking his knuckles. **“you guys don’t learn at all,so what’s the point in telling you”** he replies, they’re annoyed now and take their attention to kenshin. **“ I’m the guy who’s going to help kick your ass. Remember this face ,if you even can?”** said kenshin The bullies exchange glances before charging at Kenshin, their fists swinging wildly some actually hitting kenshin and landing some clean shots this gave shin some time to take some out from behind. Kenshin now catches his footing and ducks and weaves however, his movements fluid and precise. He lands a solid punch on one bullies, sending him stumbling back. Shin, seizing the opportunity, blocks another’s strike and counters with a sharp jab. The fight is over quickly as the bullies, bruised and humiliated, retreat. Kenshin looming over them all on the floor, his eyes narrowing. **“Here’s your choice: ya leave my friend here alone, or next time i’ll make sure there won't be a next time.”** “Tch y- yea whatever” they leave begrudgingly not really taking kenshin seriously but backing off for now As the dust settles, Shin dusts himself off and chuckles. **“Well that’s done with. I honestly didn’t expect to see you this morning’.”** Kenshin grins, shaking his head. **“I could say the same to you shin. Nice work back there”** Curious, Kenshin asks, **“Where’d you learn to fight like that?”** Shin hesitates, his expression unreadable. **“My roommate taught me a few things, he’s a karate student”** he replies casually. Kenshin frowns slightly. **“Roommate? I don’t think I’ve ever been to your place.”** Shin quickly changes the subject, glancing at his watch. **!“We’re going to be late if we don’t hurry.”** Scene: School arrival Realizing the time, Kenshin panics, tugging Shin’s sleeve. **“We’re going to miss the opening ceremony!”** Shin places a reassuring hand on his shoulder. **“Relax. We’ve still got time . Can you still run?”** Kenshin smirks, the fire of competition igniting in his eyes. **“They used to call me ‘The Flash’ for a reason-.”** Shin slaps the fuck out of kenshin Shin stares with an unimpressed look on his face. **“no one calls you that -_- .”** The two race through the streets, weaving through pedestrians and leaping over obstacles. As they near the school gates, the warning bell echoes through the air. With one final burst of speed, they slide into the assembly hall just as the final chime sounds. Breathing heavily, they find seats near the back of the room. A shadowy figure watches from a distance, their face obscured. They mutter under their breath, **“He hasn’t changed one bit.”** A ceremony was held to welcome the students to another academic year as the principal introduced herself and shared a few remarks. She went on to introduce the student body president Saiyaka Ichidori and dismissed the ceremony telling everyone to find their homerooms. After the ceremony, the students are instructed to find their homerooms. Kenshin and Shin scan the assignment board, their names listed under Class 11A. Excited to be in the same class, they make their way to the classroom. Along the way, Kenshin playfully nudges Shin. **“Ready to tackle another year together?”** Shin smirks. **“Always.”** As they enter the classroom, Kenshin immediately approaches a group of students, his natural charisma drawing their attention. **“Hey, I’m Kenshin! What’s up?”** He’s just beginning to exchange names when a voice cuts through the chatter. **“Is this your attempt at making friends, Kenshin?”** Kenshin freezes, recognizing the mocking tone instantly. The source of the voice steps forward, a sly grin on their face, and Kenshin groans. **“Oooof course, it’s you…”** Scene: Arrival of Dante and Karin As the class settles in, the door swings open, and Dante Koruiyu, an old classmate of Kenshin’s, strides in. His confident smirk instantly draws attention. Dante's eyes land on Kenshin, and his smirk widens into a grin. **“Yooo, Kenshin! How’s it goin’? Feels like it’s been ages since I’ve seen ya,”** Dante exclaims, walking up to him. Kenshin leans back slightly, pretending to size him up. **“Danteee ,hahaaa, you look like even more of muscle head >:)”** he teases, making a mock lifting gesture.and nudging shins arm Dante bursts into a laugh but quickly pulls Kenshin into a friendly hug, lowering his voice. **“That’s not funny,”** he grumbles, though there’s no real heat *behind his words. Kenshin chuckles, patting him on the back. **“i’m sorry ;-;”** Before their reunion can go any further, a blur of movement catches Kenshin off guard. A student suddenly appears behind him, aiming a kick at his head. Kenshin ducks just in time, laughing. **“WHAT THE-! H-HEY WATCH IT WILL Y-!”** Turning to face the attacker, he sees Karin Haruno “KARIN!?”Kenshin says, another familiar face from his past. she swiftly delivers a kick to his stomach catching him off guard. Kenshin doubles over, coughing, **“hhrgnn, oow.”** Shin chimes in after the kick “ Well I wasn’t expecting to see her?!” Dante also chimes in “ You said it, thought she was never coming back” Karin crosses her arms, leaning forward slightly. **“You’ve gotten rusty, Kenshin. Keep this up, and I'll even start feeling sorry for you.”** “That was a cheap shot, You always have to beat me up?ugrh”* kenshin says, groaning in pain from the kick* , the door to the classroom slides open with authority. Their teacher, Mr. Abarai, steps in. His sharp gaze silences the chatter, and he claps his hands once. **“Alright, everyone. Take your seats and Let’s get started for today.”** Shin helps Kenshin to his seat as the murmurs start up among the students. **“what was that all about?”* one mutters. “I dunno, kick looked like it hurt though ,”** another adds, prompting a few chuckles. Kenshin rolls his eyes but grins. Scene: Hollow appearance The roll call begins, with each student introducing themselves. Names like Dante Koruiyu, Shin Kuchiki, and Karin Haruno come up, each met with varying reactions. Finally, it’s Kenshin’s turn. He stands, giving a small wave. **“Kenshin Takahashi. Nice to meet you all,”** he says confidently. Class proceeds uneventfully at first, but as Mr. Abarai begins outlining the year’s schedule, Scene Continuation: Hollow Disruption Shin kicks back in his chair, balancing effortlessly on its rear legs, folding a piece of notebook paper with a bored expression. Kenshin side-eyes him, whispering, "Seriously? You look like you’re about to nap." Shin smirks without looking up. "I’m multi-tasking. You should try it sometime, Kenshin." *”i hope you fall. -_-” said kenshin you're always on about something." said karin as she writes in her book Kenshin blinks, taken back. "What did I do ?" he asks under his breath, confusion written across his face as he turns to her. Shin remains leaning and keeps his eyes down, snickering softly at the exchange; he says, " she really got it out for you, Kenshin," muttering, he folded another piece of paper into a small, firm triangle. Dante, having listened to the teasing, snickers from his desk. "You knoww, when a girl acts like that, that means she likes ya kenshin" He grins, nudging Shin with his elbow. Shin chuckles at the thought Karin now “WHAT!” Slightly flustered, Kenshin can't help but laugh "BAHAHAHAHA." “Oh shut it KENSHINN!!” she says flustered and enraged. “ALRIGHT QUIET DOWN OR I’LL KICK YOU ALL OUT OF MY CLASS YOU HEAR ME” said Mr. Abarai tired of the annoying yapping He looks behind eyeing everyone in silence as kenshin gestures to shin The room falls even quieter, the chalk pressing against the board being all that’s heard. the air in the classroom shifts. a faint rumble disturbs the calm. At first, it’s subtle—like a distant vibration. Then it grows louder, shaking the walls and rattling the windows. Students exchange uneasy glances as Mr. Abarai tries to dismiss it. **“Oh? Well that’s odd , an earthquake maybe? ”** But the shaking intensifies, and Shin’s eyes narrow, his instincts flaring. Suddenly, he shouts, **“GET OUT OF THE WAY!”** The ceiling collapses in an explosion of dust and debris. Chaos erupts as students scream and scramble for cover. Acting quickly, Shin pulls Kenshin out of harm’s way, while Dante grabs Karin and shields her. **“Everyone okay?”** Kenshin yells, his voice hoarse. The students shout back, confirming they’re fine—except for one girl who’s pinned under a large piece of rubble. Kenshin and Shin rush to her side, struggling to free her. As they lift the rubble, Shin’s senses prick with unease. He looks around, his heart pounding as he spots something monstrous emerging from the ceiling. A huge, grotesque Hollow peaks its head out and observes, looking for something almost. Shin’s expression hardens. **“Kenshin, we need to move—now!”** Kenshin glances at the terrified students behind them and shakes his head. **“We can’t leave them. That thing could hurt someone!”** The beast now finds what it wanted. kenshin. Shin curses under his breath. **“Fine. We’ll lure it away.”** It slams down onto the floor raising it’s spiritual power causing most of the students to fall asleep, now inching towards the two They come up with a desperate plan: distract the creature and lead it toward a weak section of rubble to create an escape route. Shin taunts the Hollow, drawing its attention, while Kenshin positions himself. But it doesn’t seem to care and locks eyes with kenshin only and pounces towards kenshin Kenshin moving out of the way just in a nick of time It attacks him again, sending him crashing into the classroom door **“AGCKH!”**kenshin groans **“KENSHIN!”**shin yells Kenshin looks up at the creature one more time realizing what it’s after and decides. **“SHIN! CHANGE OF PLANS, IT’S ME THAT IT’S AFTER I’LL DISTRACT IT,AND YOU GET EVERYONE TO SAFETY!”** kenshin now runs off into the hall WHAT?! NO! YOU IDIOT YOU’LL DIE! Shin runs to the doorway worried but he trust’s Kenshin will be ok with how fast a runner he is. “Damnit ok” he looks at the other students and goes to help them out of the room. Kenshin and the hollow rush through the hall turning every corner until a dead end The hollow approaches kenshin **“Finally, *it lets out a barking noise as laughter* you’ve got legs boy, BUT NO BRAIN”** Kenshin shook by its voice and ability to speak. it rushes in to attack, kenshin now looking for ways to dodge knowing it’s probably futile but then time seems to slow only for a blur of movement to intercept the attack. A man in a bucket hat stands between Kenshin and the Hollow, effortlessly blocking the creature’s fist. **“Who… who are you?”** Kenshin stammers. The man doesn’t look back, his voice calm but firm. **“Now’s not the time for introductions.”** Turning his attention to the Hollow, the man addresses it directly. **“A Hollow this bold inside the living world? What are you doing here?”** Kenshin blinks in confusion. **“ a Hollow?”** he mutters to himself. “RrrrGhrr YOU’RE IN MY WAAAY!”the hollow growls The creature lunges again, but the man counters with a devastating blow from behind, sending it flying towards kenshin crashing through the wall and outside the building. **“W- woah”** Kenshin ducks and exclaims. the man jumps out of the hole in the wall disappearing into the wind “He- he’s gone” says kenshin Kenshin sees the hollow fall to the ground and dart off now disappearing into the bush cover behind the school Kenshin is now filled with more questions than answers Kenshin! Shin says as he rounds the corner “Phew your safe”shin says relieved Outside, emergency responders arrive, ushering the students to safety. The students outside are talking about the “earthquake” and about how faulty and weak the school building must be Shin pulls Kenshin to his feet, both of them visibly shaken. **“We should get out of here before anymore weird stuff happens”** Shin says, his tone serious. The school is dismissed for the day, with students sent home as repairs begin. Kenshin walks alongside Shin out of the building, his mind racing with thoughts about the strange man and the monstrous creature. **“What the hell was that thing?”** Kenshin finally asks. Scene Aftermath of hollow As the remaining students leave the school grounds, Shin realizes that Kenshin has disappeared. Concerned, he begins searching through the nearby streets, scanning the area for any sign of his friend. His worry grows as he remembers the strange events of the day—the Hollow, the mysterious man, and Kenshin’s shaken demeanor. Just as Shin rounds a corner near the school, he bumps into Karin, who is also on her way home. She raises an eyebrow at him. **“What’s the rush, Shin? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”** **“It’s Kenshin,”** Shin replies, slightly out of breath. **“He wandered off somewhere. I thought he might’ve been with you.”** Karin frowns, crossing her arms. **“No, I haven’t seen him.he still does that?”** Shin tilts his head. **“What do you mean?”** Karin sighs, leaning against a nearby wall. **“ It’s his way of dealing with things—getting some air, being alone with his thoughts. It’s been like that since we were kids. Just leave him be”** Shin blinks, surprised by her insight. **“You’ve known him that long?”** **“Yeah,”** Karin replies, her tone softening. **“He’s always been like this, especially after his dad… you know…”** Shin’s eyes widen slightly. **“What happened to his dad?”** Karin hesitates, looking away. **“He grew up without him but this isn’t my story to tell It’s a tough subject, Kenshin doesn’t like talking about it,but you should take that up with him your self.”** Shin absorbs this information, feeling a new layer of respect and understanding for his friend., “You know karin, you’re not too bad when your not kicking somebody ’” said shin gratefully Her soft expression shifts to a more stern and annoyed one “oh bug off” “ehehehe” Later that evening, Kenshin sits in his dimly lit room, the soft hum of the evening breeze drifting through his open window. His mind races, replaying the chaos from earlier—the Hollow, the mysterious stranger, and the ominous voice in the alley. He stares at his hands, clenching and unclenching his fists. **“Was it real? Or am I losing it?”** he mutters. His gaze drifts to his reflection in the window. **“No… it had to be real. There’s no way I imagined all of that.”** The muffled sounds of his family moving about the house draw him back to reality. With a deep sigh, he gets up to grab a snack from the kitchen, hoping to distract himself. Scene: Shin Arrives As Kenshin heads downstairs, a knock at the front door interrupts him. Confused, he hesitates for a moment before opening it. Standing there is Shin, his expression serious but tinged with worry. **“Shin? What are you doing here?”** **“We need to talk,”** Shin replies, his tone leaving no room for argument. **“Come outside.”** The two step onto the porch, the faint glow of the moon illuminating their surroundings. They sit side by side on the wooden steps, the silence between them heavy. **“You looked out of it earlier,”** Shin starts. **“I figured you’d need someone to talk to.”** Kenshin hesitates before speaking. **“It’s just… today was a lot, you know? I’ve never seen anything like that creature before. And that man… Who was he? Why did he call it a Hollow?”** Shin percs up at the word hollow. He exhales slowly, his gaze fixed on the ground. **“I can’t answer all your questions but maybe someday the answers will come.”** They lapse into silence again before Kenshin asks, **“What about you? What’s your story, Shin?”** Shin’s expression softens, and he leans back slightly. **“I lost my mom a few years ago. She… she was everything to me. After she died, I felt lost for a long time. But then I realized I had to keep moving forward, for her.”** Kenshin nods, understanding the pain behind Shin’s words. **“I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”** I didn’t change much for this part but it felt almost odd and out of place a little awkward too Before Shin can respond, a piercing scream cuts through the night air, sending a chill down both their spines. They exchange a glance before hearing a familiar, guttural growl echo in the distance. Scene: The Chase Kenshin springs to his feet, his heart pounding. **“That’s it! It’s back!”** **“Wait!”** Shin shouts, grabbing his arm. **“You don’t even know what you’re dealing with!”** But Kenshin pulls free, his determination overriding his fear. Exactly! So their's only one way to find out**”** **“THIS FOOL—HE’S GONNA GET HIMSELF KILLED!”** Shin shouts after him, gritting his teeth. Reluctantly, he takes off after Kenshin. The two race through the quiet streets, following the sounds of the growling hollow They skid to a stop at a open empty street where the massive Hollow looms over a terrified young girl. Its glowing yellow eyes snap toward the newcomers, and a chilling grin spreads across its mask. Scene: Confronting the Hollow **“Shin, get her out of here!”** Kenshin orders, stepping forward. **“You can’t fight that thing-”** Shin protests, but Kenshin cuts him off. **“Just do it! Please!”** Reluctantly, Shin moves toward the girl, grabbing her before the hollow could get his hands on her. shielding her as he leads her away from the monster. Meanwhile, Kenshin squares off against the Hollow, his fists trembling but his resolve unwavering. He lunges forward, throwing a punch at the creature’s leg, but it barely flinches. The Hollow retaliates, swiping at Kenshin with its massive claws. He ducks and rolls, narrowly avoiding the attack. **“You’re fast,”** the Hollow growls, its voice guttural and mocking. **“But speed won’t save you.”** as the hollow kicks shin away and grabs the little girl holding her over his head **“Why don’t you try to attack me I’m sure this poor innocent soul would love to get demolished”** Kenshin stops as he grits his teeth, trying to find an opening, but the creature ligers the girl over them using her as leverage. With a laugh, the Hollow speaks again: **“You reek of strength, boy. That’s why I came to your school. To consume your soul. It’s… delicious.”** Kenshin freezes, his mind racing. **“I Knew it. So everyone WAS put in danger because of me.”** The thought shakes him, but before he can react, the Hollow lunges again. This time, its claws graze his side, sending him tumbling to the ground. The revelation leaves Kenshin paralyzed, his mind a whirlwind of guilt and fear. The realization that his very existence might put others in danger weighs heavily on him. Before he can react, the Hollow lunges, its massive claws wrapping around him like a vice. Pinned, Kenshin struggles to break free, the Hollow’s dark energy sapping his strength. Shin watches from a distance, his expression shifting from shock to distress as he sees Kenshin’s anguish. In that moment, Shin recalls a haunting memory—an incident from his past when his inability to act led to devastation. That same suffocating guilt had once consumed him, leaving scars that never fully healed. The image of that day flashes in his mind, reigniting his determination. Shin clenches his fists, muttering to himself, **“I won’t let this happen again. Not this time.”** He reaches into his pocket and pulls out what looks like an ornate candy dispenser. He pops one of the capsules into his mouth, and in an instant, a dramatic transformation occurs. His physical body collapses lifelessly to the ground, but standing above it is Shin in a black robe, his Zanpakutō gleaming in hand. Kenshin stares in disbelief, his voice trembling. **“Shin… What… what are you?”** Shin steps forward, his resolve clear. **“I’m a Soul Reaper,. And I’m going to end this now.”** The hollow now grabs a distracted kenshin The Hollow lets out a guttural laugh, mocking Shin’s bold declaration. **“You? End me? What could a brat like you possibly hope to achieve?”** *Shin readies himself* Now tell me rrunt, which do i devour first, so delicious how about both at the same time” * the beast opens it’s jaws and brings the two closer to it’s mouth* Without hesitation, Shin moves with blinding speed at the hollow, But the hollow uses his hand with the girl in a flash clenching tightly and waving her in from of shin, “NUH UH UUUUH”,it says like a true troll but shin acted quickly and slammed his sword to the ground causing him to ricochet toward’s the hand kenshin was in and severe the hollow’s hand clean off freeing kenshin. The hollow was bewildered and caught off guard yelling in pain but tried to maintain his composure It the directs it’s shriek toward shin paralyzing him mid air for a few seconds The monster uses this time to get the jump on shin and slams him to the ground near kenshin with arm that had a severed hand. one knee. A wave of weakness washes over him—his energy is fading fast.**”what’s happening, somethings wrong”** , coughing violently as blood drips from the corner of his mouth. Kenshin rushes to his side, desperation etched across his face. **“Shin! Are you okay?”** Struggling to stand, Shin looks up at Kenshin, his voice weak but determined. **“There’s only one way to stop this thing now… Kenshin, I have to transfer my Soul Reaper powers to you.”** Kenshin’s eyes widened. **“What? That’s insane! What will happen to you ?”** Shin nods solemnly. **“I don’t know But right now, you’re the only one who can finish this. Kenshin expression turns to a mix of emotions as he struggles to think properly on what to do If we don’t do this,not just us. But hundreds…”** He grips his sword. And kenshin looks back at the hollows as it licks it’s wound**“ no….”** said shin, “thousands” kenshin wincing at the thought of knowing what comes next. “Will die” said shin hopelessly. Kenshin only imagining is already frustrated”ALRIGHT! I’LL DO IT COME ON WE DON’T HAVE MUCH TIME!” . Shin nods with determination places the hilt of his Zanpakutō against Kenshin’s chest, and a radiant light engulfs them both. Kenshin gasps as an overwhelming surge of energy floods his body. His school uniform transforms into a black Soul Reaper robe, and in his hand materializes a sword, pulsing with spiritual energy. The Hollow, sensing the shift in power, hesitates “Hrnmm?” Kenshin gives a rough look at the beast not saying a word but a thousand were spoken with just that short glance. The tension builds on the battlefield … **“GGRAAAUUUGHHHH”** the creature sends it arm with no hand and kenshin but he just on top of the arm and sends a wave of energy slicing it’s other arm with gir inl it setting her free she now runs to shin to feel safe , Now i can end i end you for real this time The creature now knowing it’s out of options uses it’s technique from earlier at the school creating a mist surrounding itself and kenshin hoping to cause him to sleep so it can eat him and get away Kenshin sends a wave of energy directly at the hollow’s torso through the smoke however, causing an explosion clearing some of the fog but not all and the hollow submerges itself into mist once more, the creature now sends a kick from the mist but kenshin avoids it and slashes it’s leg off causing the hollow to lose it’s balance and fall over kenshin jumps out of the smoke directly in front of the full moon he charges his blade up once more and sends a big wave of energy down on the dastardly hollow ending it once and for all. Shin utterly gobsmacked his useless ass couldn’t believe how cool it was to see Kenshin fight like that. Kenshin falls to the ground panting heavily as he lands on his feet “Kenshin you did it! that was incredible!”shin said happily in admiration Kenshin turns to shin who’s behind him giving a thumbs up hiding his want to collapse to the ground. “Now come on let’s deal with this litte girl, quickly” shin says He gestures toward the spirit of the young girl who had been held captive by the hollow**““You need to perform a konso on her.”** Kenshin raised an eyebrow, confused. “A… what?” Shin sighed, crossing his arms. “It’s a konso. You use the end of your sword’s guard to send good spirits over to the Soul Society. Basically, it’s like sending them to what you people call heaven.” Kenshin blinked, still processing the explanation. “You just… tap them on the forehead or something?” Shin nodded, motioning toward the girl. “Exactly. Use the guard, press it to her forehead, and say konso. It’ll help her move on.” Understanding now, Kenshin walked over to the spirit of the girl, kneeling beside her. His expression softened as he spoke gently, comforting her. “It’s okay. You’re going to a better place. Somewhere peaceful. I promise.” He gripped his Zanpakuto and rested the end of the guard softly against her forehead. “KONSO!” a soft light envelops her form. “You’re free now,” he says softly, watching as her spirit fades into the sky. As the light dims, Kenshin collapses, his body finally giving out. Shin, with the last of his strength, drags himself toward Kenshin’s side. Together, they lay on the ground, battered but alive. Shin’s voice echoes in Kenshin’s mind as shin looks to the stars above him : **“This is just the beginning, Kenshin. The world you’ve stepped into… it’s far greater than you or I could ever imagine.”** The words linger as the episode concludes with the caption: TO BE CONTINUED.
半分の君 Romaji: Hanbun no Kimi Meaning: “Half of You” At Hoshizora Academy, the Compatibility Program forces second year students to live together like married couples — cooking, cleaning, studying, sharing a dorm unit, and being graded on emotional sync. High scores mean scholarships. Low scores mean repeating the year. The program is infamous for creating bonds that feel too real and exposing feelings students try to hide. Ignatius Arimura enters the year hoping to stay invisible. He’s quiet, introverted, and still carrying the ache of a breakup he never healed from. Aoi Kisaragi was his first love — the girl who made him feel alive, and the girl who walked away from him without ever explaining why. Aoi hides her guilt behind her bright smile, convincing herself she’s moved on to Ren. Ignatius tells himself he likes Mina because it’s easier than admitting he still aches for Aoi. When the pairing announcement arrives, Aoi silently begs for Ren. Ignatius silently hopes for Mina. Both pray they won’t be paired with each other. But fate is cruel. Their names appear together with a compatibility score of 12%, the lowest in the program. The room goes silent. Aoi’s smile cracks. Ignatius’s heart sinks. Moving into the same dorm feels like reopening a wound neither of them survived. Their first days together are a disaster. Aoi’s loud music, Ignatius’s quiet routines, her clutter, his need for order — everything clashes. Their first evaluation ends in failure. But when Ignatius freezes during a public speaking assignment, Aoi steps in without hesitation, her voice steady, her hand brushing his as she takes over. For a moment, it feels like the version of them that used to exist. Their score rises to 18%, and Ignatius realizes with a painful twist that he never stopped caring. Seeing Mina and Ren working together so naturally only deepens the ache. Aoi watches Ren laugh with Mina in a way he never laughed with her. Ignatius watches Mina shine beside Ren and wonders if he ever had a chance. Both feel jealousy they refuse to acknowledge. That night, Aoi cries quietly in the bathroom, and Ignatius hears her through the door. He stands there, hand hovering over the handle, but he doesn’t know if he’s allowed to comfort her anymore. They eventually agree to a truce and create a “Compatibility Strategy Plan.” Cooking together leads to soft laughter. Communication drills turn into arguments that somehow end with them smiling. Late night study sessions blur into moments where they forget they’re supposed to be exes. They fall asleep on opposite ends of the couch, but each night they wake up a little closer. Their score jumps to 41%. Aoi wakes one morning with Ignatius’s jacket draped over her shoulders. She doesn’t ask why. He doesn’t tell her. And then comes the chapter that changes everything. One night, after a long study session, Aoi falls asleep at the table, her head resting on her arms. Ignatius tries to wake her, but she mumbles something soft and exhausted, and he can’t bring himself to shake her. He sits beside her, meaning to stay only a moment. But he’s tired too. He rests his head on his folded arms, inches from hers. The room is warm. The silence is gentle. Without meaning to, they drift off together. When they wake, the sun is rising. Aoi’s head is resting on Ignatius’s shoulder. His hand is loosely holding hers. Their breaths are slow and in sync, like they’ve been sleeping together for years. For a long moment, neither moves. Neither speaks. The world feels fragile, like one wrong word could shatter it. Aoi’s cheeks turn pink. Ignatius’s heart races. They pull away slowly, reluctantly, as if their bodies haven’t caught up to their minds. Their score jumps to 52% the next day, and the teachers quietly note that their emotional sync spiked overnight. Aoi begins noticing Ignatius again — the way he concentrates, the way he softens when he’s comfortable, the way he still remembers her favorite snacks. Ignatius begins noticing Aoi’s hidden fears — her loneliness behind her popularity, her pressure to be perfect, the way she tries so hard not to disappoint anyone. They move around each other like a married couple who never learned how to stop caring. They share toothbrush cups, laundry baskets, late night ramen, sleepy mornings, and quiet moments that feel too intimate for two people who claim they’re over each other. During the festival test, their booth becomes the most popular attraction. Aoi turns down a confession from another boy, her voice trembling. Ignatius gets flustered when Mina compliments him, and Aoi notices the way he blushes. Their score jumps to 63%. That night, Aoi quietly asks him if he ever hated her after the breakup. Ignatius can’t answer. He can’t lie. The silence between them is thick with everything they never said. Rumors spread that pairs might be reassigned. Aoi panics at the thought of losing her chance with Ren. Ignatius panics at the thought of losing Mina. But beneath those fears is something heavier: neither of them wants to be separated from each other. Aoi cries alone on the balcony, and Ignatius silently places a blanket over her shoulders. She doesn’t turn around, but she leans into the warmth. They stand there together, the distance between them shrinking in ways neither of them can deny. A storm knocks out the power one night, leaving them in darkness with no cameras, no expectations, no pretending. They talk honestly for the first time in months. Aoi admits she’s tired of being the strong one. Ignatius admits he’s tired of being the quiet one. They sit close, closer than they have since before the breakup, sharing warmth in the dark. Aoi falls asleep with her head on his shoulder again. Ignatius doesn’t move. Their emotional sync test the next morning hits 92%, the highest in the program. As Ren and Mina grow closer, Aoi and Ignatius realize their old crushes were fantasies — safe illusions they clung to because they were afraid of the real thing. The real connection is the one they’ve rebuilt: messy, painful, warm, and real. They act like a married couple — cooking together, arguing, laughing, sharing space, sharing silence — but they’re not lovers. Not yet. They’re something in between, something fragile and terrifying and impossible to name. When the reassignment list is posted, Aoi’s hands shake and K Ignatius’s heart pounds. They scan the list, terrified. Their names remain together. Not because of luck. Not because of the system. But because they earned it. Aoi turns to him, eyes shining with something fragile and hopeful, and whispers, “Ignatius … can we try again?” He takes her hand gently, like she might break, and says, “Yeah. This time… let’s not run.” They’re not lovers. Not yet. But they’re closer than they’ve ever been — a pair who lives like a married couple, fights like rivals, and holds each other like home.
Chapter 1 Ang bahay namin ay laging masigla—o sa ibang salita, laging maingay. The walls were painted a deep, passionate red, matched by the heavy crimson curtains that swayed whenever the electric fan faced their direction. It was a house that felt like a constant celebration, but today, my heart was racing for a different reason. I was sitting on the edge of the sofa, my phone clutched so tightly in my hands that my knuckles were turning white. I was waiting. Sa totoo lang, simpleng pangarap lang naman ang gusto ko: to travel, to see the world, and to wear that crisp uniform of a Tourism student. I had taken the entrance exams for the two biggest universities in the city. My dream schools. Ting. Isang notification ang lumabas sa screen. My breath hitched. With shaking fingers, I tapped the email. “We regret to inform you…” The words blurred. Hindi ako nakapasa. Ang unang school na inaasahan ko, tinanggihan ako. Parang biglang gumuho ang mundo ko sa limang salitang iyon. "O, Jaquilyn? Bakit parang nakakita ka ng multo riyan?" puna ni Tito Rey habang naglalakad bitbit ang isang tumpok ng labada. Pilit akong ngumiti, pero ramdam ko ang panginginig ng labi ko. "Tito... yung email. Hindi po ako nakuha sa unang school." Agad na lumabas si Tita Precy mula sa kusina, bitbit ang sandok na may bakas pa ng sarsa. "Hala, anak? Hayaan mo na 'yun! Baka hindi talaga 'yun ang para sa'yo." "Pero Tita, pangarap ko po 'yun," bulong ko. Lumapit sa akin si Tito Rey at tinapik ang balikat ko. "Naku, Jaquilyn, huwag kang mawalan ng pag-asa. Napakaraming bituin sa langit, hindi lang isa. At saka, may isa pa tayong hinihintay, 'di ba? Fighting lang!" "Oo nga!" dagdag ni Tita Precy habang tumatawa. "Tourista ka pa rin sa paningin namin, kahit sa kanto lang tayo mamasyal mamaya. Ngumiti ka na, baka pumangit ang swerte!" I forced a laugh. Their energy was contagious, as always. Isang panibagong araw ang lumipas, pero ang bigat sa dibdib ko, tila lalong nadagdagan. Nang tumunog ang phone ko para sa pangalawang pagkakataon, mabilis ko itong binuksan, hoping for a miracle. Pero pagkakita ko sa screen, parang nanlamig ang buong katawan ko. It was identical. The same formal font, the same polite rejection. “We regret to inform you...” Hindi ako makapaniwala. Tourism was my dream, my only plan. Napasandal ako sa pader ng kwarto ko, pinipigilan ang luha. Bakit parang lahat ng pinto, isinasara sa akin? ________________________ Nang sumapit ang hapunan, pilit akong lumabas ng kwarto. The dining table was a battlefield of noise, as usual. My younger cousins were chasing each other with spoons, habang si Tito Rey ay malakas na tumatawa sa kung anong biro sa TV. "Jaquilyn, kain na! Paborito mo 'tong ulam," sigaw ni Tita Precy mula sa dulo ng lamesa. Umupo ako, tahimik lang na nilalaro ang kanin sa plato ko. Maski ang ingay nila, hindi magawang itago ang lungkot ko. Napansin siguro ni Tita ang matagal kong pagtitig sa kawalan. Bigla siyang tumigil sa pagkain at may kinuhang kung ano sa bulsa ng duster niya. "Anak, wag ka nang masyadong malungkot sa dalawang school na 'yun," sabi niya nang mahinahon. Inilapag niya ang isang itim na card sa tapat ng plato ko. It was sleek, dark, and felt strangely heavy. "Subukan mo ito. May tumawag sa akin, sabi nila, bagay ka raw dito." Binasa ko ang nakasulat. Isang numero at isang email address lang ang nandoon: luminaacademy@gmail.com. "Lumina Academy?" bulong ko. "Para sa Tourism din ba 'to, Tita?" Ngumiti si Tita Precy, isang ngiting tila may halong misteryo. "Sabi nila, doon mo raw mahahanap ang tunay mong tatahakin. At least, you can still pursue your dream career, right?" Huminga ako nang malalim. Kahit hindi ko alam kung anong klaseng school ito, nabuhayan ako ng loob. I smiled back at her, feeling a spark of hope. "Sige po, Tita. I-email ko po sila mamaya." "Mabuti 'yan. Tawagan mo rin ang Mama mo, ibalita mo sa kanya," dagdag ni Tita. Agad akong umiling, ang ngiti ko ay bahagyang kumupas. "Naku, Tita, busy po si Mama sa abroad. Alam niyo naman po 'yun, baka makaabala lang ako." Sanay na ako. I was raised in my auntie’s presence. My mom was always working far away, and my dad? I didn't know anything about him. Every time I asked, my relatives would go silent or change the topic. I guessed they hated him, so I stopped asking a long time ago. Pagkatapos ng ligpitin ang hapunan, mabilis akong pumasok sa kwarto ko. I opened my laptop and typed the email address from the black card. To: luminaacademy@gmail.com Subject: Admission Inquiry - Jaquilyn Braush I hit send and leaned back on my pillow. While waiting for the notification, my eyelids started to feel heavy. The red walls of my room seemed to glow a bit brighter in the dark, and the scent of smoke—faint, almost like a dying candle—filled the air. Hindi ko na namalayang nakatulog na pala ako, bitbit ang huling pag-asa na baka sa Lumina Academy, doon magsisimula ang lahat. Nagising ako sa sikat ng araw na tumatama sa mukha ko. Sa sobrang antok ko kagabi, halos makalimutan ko na ang tungkol sa email na ipinadala ko. Dumiretso ako sa kusina para mag-almusal nang datnan ko si Tita Precy na nag-aabang na pala sa akin. "O, Jaquilyn? Kumusta 'yung card na binigay ko sa 'yo kagabi? Na-email mo ba?" tanong niya habang nag-aayos ng plato. Napatigil ako. Oo nga pala. Biglang nag-vibrate ang phone ko sa bulsa. My heart started to race. Kinuha ko ito at nakita ang isang notification mula sa Lumina Academy. Shaking, I opened it. OFFICIAL ADMISSION NOTICE Dear Ms. Jaquilyn Braush, We have been watching your spirit, and it burns with the intensity we require. You are officially accepted into Lumina Academy. To begin your journey, you must claim your belongings. Follow the attached map to the 'Red Brick Nexus' building in the Old District. This location is hidden from the mundane eye—walk three blocks past the clock tower and turn where the air feels warmest. Once inside, proceed directly to the door marked with your designated number. There, you will find your ID card, your uniforms, and the key to your assigned dormitory. "Tita! Tita, tanggap ako!" sigaw ko habang tumutulo ang luha ko sa tuwa. Halos magtatalon kami sa kusina habang binabasa ang direksyon. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kailangan ko pang pumunta sa isang lumang building para lang sa gamit, pero sa sandaling iyon, wala akong pakialam. Habang nasa biyahe ako, hindi ko mapigilang mapatawa. Seryoso ba 'to? I thought it was a scam! Ang bilis ng reply nila, hindi katulad ng ibang university na pinaghintay ako ng ilang linggo para lang tanggihan. At ang direksyon? "Turn where the air feels warmest?" Gusto kong maiyak sa tawa dahil parang laro lang ang lahat. What kind of school has these weird rules? Pero nang makarating ako sa dulo ng map, tumigil ang tawa ko. The building was exactly as described—matayog, luma, pero may kakaibang bigat ang aura. Pagpasok ko, isang grand view ang sumalubong sa akin. The lobby was massive. People in expensive-looking suits were walking everywhere, but they didn't look like office workers—they looked like they were guarding something important. Hinanap ko ang taong pwedeng pagtanungan hanggang sa makita ko ang isang babaeng naka-formal uniform na kulay yellowish-gold. Lumapit ako at ipinakita ang email ko. "Excuse me po, student po ako ng Lumina Academy..." The woman’s eyes widened the moment she saw my name on the screen. She looked shook, her breath hitching for a second. Without a word, she bowed slightly and looked at me. “Ms. Braush," she said. "Please... follow me. We have been waiting for you to arrive." Habang naglalakad kami sa mahabang hallway, ipinaliwanag niya sa akin ang tungkol sa numerong nasa message ko. “Ang numerong iyon ay hindi lang basta numero, Ms. Jaquilyn. It is the number of the door you must enter here in this building. Sa loob ng kwartong iyon, nandoon ang lahat ng pag-aari mo—ang uniform, at ang susi ng kwarto mo Academy. Ang building” Huminto kami sa tapat ng isang asul na pinto. It was unusually small, barely enough for a child to fit through, but when she opened it, there it was—isang itim na bag at isang itim na envelope. It looked mysterious, like it held secrets I wasn't ready for. I reached out and took them, feeling the heavy material against my palms. "Sundan mo ako. Dadalhin na kita sa bus mo ngayon," she said firmly, her voice leaving no room for argument. "Sandali lang po!" I replied, my heart hammering against my ribs. "Kailangan ko munang magpaalam sa Tita ko. I can’t just leave like this without saying anything." "Huwag kang mag-alala. Kami na ang bahala sa parteng iyon," was her only cold response. Agad kong kinuha ang phone ko at tinawagan si Tita habang naglalakad kami. "Tita! Paalis na po ako—hindi ko alam kung saan—" "Jaquilyn, anak, okay lang!" she cut me off, sounding surprisingly calm. "May mga taga-Lumina Academy na rito sa bahay. Nag-explain na sila tungkol sa scholarship at kung bakit kailangan mong umalis agad ngayong araw. Mag-iingat ka roon, ha? Ipagmalaki mo kami!" I let out a huge sigh of relief. At least legal ang pag-alis ko. When we reached the parking lot, I saw a pure white bus. There were a few people my age already inside, their faces unreadable. Sinubukan kong ngumiti sa kanila, but one guy with sharp brown eyes looked at me like he wanted to punch me right then and there. Luh, mananapak ba 'to? I quickly looked away and found a seat. A few moments later, the driver entered the bus. "Fasten your seatbelts," he muttered without looking back. Mabilis akong sumunod, pulling the strap across my chest. But I noticed the others didn't even flinch. Para silang walang narinig, acting like they were too cool for safety rules. The trip started normally for a few minutes... then the bus slowed down for a split second... and then it accelerated. Sobrang bilis. It was so fast I felt like my heart was left behind at the station. I looked out the window and gasped, my breath hitching in my throat. I couldn't see the road anymore. Clouds. Pure white clouds were everywhere, drifting past the glass. And shortly after, I saw the vast blue ocean below us and a massive school that looked like an ancient palace from a fairy tale. "What the—nakalutang tayo?! We're floating!" I panicked, my hands gripping the armrest so hard my knuckles turned white. "Tanga," one of my seatmates whispered, rolling their eyes. Instead of helping me or explaining, they just called me stupid. The bus eventually descended, landing smoothly in front of the grand, golden gates. It felt like we were back in the normal world, but my stomach definitely didn't get the memo. As soon as the doors opened, I stumbled out and started vomiting on the side of the road. Nag-suka lang ako nang nag-suka. "Grabe... what a terrible start," I groaned, wiping my mouth with a trembling hand. My dream of being a Tourism student started with me literally losing my lunch on the pavement. Ang panget naman ng simula ko.
Summer in New Thornebridge wasn't marked by beaches or pool parties,ait was the kind of summer that made you believe it'd never end. The air hung heavy with heat, carrying the scent of pine and dust, and the days bled into each other like the sky at sunset. There were no tourists, no noise. Just long windy roads, warm winds, and the kind of silence you only found in places where nature had reclaimed everything [that was only on the outside of the city the inside was ginormous bigger than most cities, it inhabited 1 percent of the worlds population.which may sound like a small number but there is 12 billion people in the world] Jackson loved that silence, he craved it. He hadn't told his mom he was heading into the woods that morning. She'd have flipped. She always did. New Thornebridges woods were the kind of place people told stories about-missing hikers, strange lights, voices when there shouldn't be voices. His mom believed every word. She used to say, "Those trees don't just grow-they watch." But Jackson didn't believe in fairy tales. Not until now. Lately, something had been pulling at him. Every time he looked out his bedroom window across the yard and into the shadowed tree line, he felt it: an itch, a whisper, not in his ears but rather deep in the back of his mind, his soul, calling him, luring him—like something had waited out there for years and had decided he was finally ready. He didn’t know for what. But today, he was going to find out. Jackson, Ken, Sai, and Doug—four kids who'd grown up digging in backyards, biking until their legs gave out, and making up games that lasted all summer—had planned this trip for weeks. It was their last real summer before college tried to turn them into strangers. So they packed up like explorers. Chips, jerky, trail mix. Fully charged phones, flashlights, and walkie-talkies. Even a paper map Sai had found in his grandfather's attic, full of weird old landmarks. Their destination: the legendary train tunnel. Sai had read about it in some conspiracy thread online. An abandoned tunnel from the 1940s, built during the war, supposedly sealed off after a landslide-or a government cover-up, depending on who you asked. Most people said that didn't exist. They were out to prove them wrong. "Bet you twenty bucks we find that old train tunnel today, " Sai said, fiddling with the straps of his ridiculously overstuffed backpack. "Bet you twenty bucks we get eaten by squirrels before we find it," Doug muttered, swatting at another mosquito. Ken laughed and tossed a stick at him. “Don’t give Jackson ideas. He already looks like he’s planning a nature documentary-slash-horror movie. Jackson just smiled, but he didn't say anything. He hadn't said much that morning. His head was full of static, the kind that made it hard to focus. Something was humming under his skin. Like static before a lightning strike. Two hours into the hike, Jackson stopped. "Yo," he said in a low voice. "Hold up. I gotta go." "Nature calls!" Ken grinned, tossing him a granola bar. Jackson caught it without looking and slipped off the trail. But he didn't stop to pee. He kept walking. Deeper than he should've. The air was different here, thicker, heavier. Like wading through water. The usual forest sounds—birds, insects, leaves rustling—faded the farther he went, replaced by a low, droning quiet. Almost like the trees were holding their breath. That's when he saw it. An old, rusted RV. Half buried in the earth, it might have been there for decades. Vines wiggled up its sides. One of the wheels had disintegrated into the ground. Its windows were blacked out, smeared with dust and time. It looked forgotten, a relic of the past. But it wasn't. Jackson knew that straight away. Painted in dark red, dried strokes across the metal siding were the words: “BENEATH THIS SOIL LIES THE The letters looked uneven, almost scratched into the metal in a rush. His heart thudded. But the thing that really perplexed him was the shovel. The only thing leaning beside the RV door, half-concealed in the weeds, was a shovel. New. Clean. The metal blade gleamed under the dappled light, untouched by time. It shouldn’t have been there. And yet it felt like it was waiting for him. Calling him. Before he could second-guess, he picked it up. And started digging. The earth gave way slowly, damp and dense. The deeper he went, the harder it was to breathe. His arms hurt, sweat pouring down his back, but something kept him driving. With every shovelful, the world seemed to shift. The colors around him dulled. The sounds twisted. Like reality itself was watching him dig. And then— THUD. He hit something solid. The earth quaked beneath him. The RV let out a metallic groan, like it was telling Jackson something that it shouldn't have. And the sky— The sky turned purple. Not sunset purple. Not storm-cloud purple. Incorrect purple. Jackson stumbled backward. The air distorted around him, compacting with pressure and electricity. His ears rang with the sound of whispers underwater. Shadows writhed. Trees stretched and leaned, as if trying to flee-or trying to see. Then—stillness. He looked at his hands. They glowed. Not bright, not blinding, but pulsing with something alive. Something impossible. It felt like his skin was just a disguise—and underneath was something not quite human. A quiet, hungry power. He raised a shaking hand. A rock floated into the air. He snapped his fingers. The rock exploded. His breath caught. Something inside him had changed. The world itself felt like it had turned a corner, and he was the one who pushed it. By the time he climbed out of the hole, the light was gone from the sky. The woods were completely dark. Cold. Cold to the bone. Too cold for July. He looked around—no Ken. No Sai. No Doug. No trail. Even the trees looked wrong, as though they had shifted when he wasn't looking. He checked his phone. Dead. He commenced walking. It took hours, or maybe longer. Time didn't feel right anymore. The streetlights at the edge of the woods flickered when he finally saw them, like they weren't sure if they were supposed to be on. His house was only a few blocks away. That is when he heard the scream. Quick. Short. Cut off mid-breath. He ran. Turned the corner—and stopped. A figure loomed over a body in the street, hunched and trembling. The light caught something in his hand-metal red stained. Jackson's legs locked. The figure looked up. Their eyes met. Cold. Empty. Wrong. The man then turned and disappeared between two houses, swallowed up by shadow. Jackson dropped to his knees beside the body. His throat closed. M-Mom? Her shirt was saturated with blood. Her eyes fluttered, out of focus. Her lips moved, but no sound emerged. Her fingers jerked, reaching toward him. "No," Jackson whimpered. "No no no- Mom, stay with me—please—" He grasped her hand. Tears blurred his vision. He could feel the power surging beneath his skin, begging to be used. Do something. Check it. Reverse it. He tried. He did everything. The glow brightened—and then flickered out. His hands went still. She died in his arms. He couldn't scream. He couldn't sob. He sat there, his eyes wide, staring at a sky gone purple, cradling the one person hed ever want to save, but he couldn’t save her. The stars above pulsed like slow heartbeats. Something had stirred beneath the earth that day. And it had changed everything. Jackson didn't know what he was anymore. But he knew one thing. Whosoever killeth his mother… Wasn't human anymore. Whatever it was, had just signed its name in bold letters in the book of death. Jackson didn't sleep that night, He sat with his mom until the sirens came, until they pulled her body away and asked him questions he couldn't answer. He said nothing. The paramedics looked at him like he was broken. Maybe he was. The purple was gone from the sky by the time he took off, but the emptiness inside his chest wasn't; he wandered aimlessly, his heart guiding his body where it needed to go. His feet led him to one place that made sense: Ken's garage. The old couch inside was stained and lopsided, but it was home base to every dumb plan they had ever made. The lights were still on. They were waiting. “Jackson!” Ken jumped up at the sight of him. “Dude, where the hell have you been? We thought you got mauled by a bear or something!” Doug was sitting on a cooler fiddling with a flashlight. “We looked everywhere, man. You just… vanished. And Sai’s gone. He split right after you.” “Sai’s not back?” he asked. “Nope,” said Doug. “Left the trail without saying anything. We thought he was chasing after you.” Slowly, Jackson sat down. He looked like he hadn’t blinked in hours. “I need you to listen to me,” he said. “And I need you to believe me.” He told them everything. The RV. The digging. The light. The power. The man in the street. And his mother. By the time he finished, his hands were shaking. Doug was pale, while Ken hadn’t looked so good since he drank that poorly brewed cider. “She… she didn’t make it?” Ken asked softly. Jackson shook his head. The silence in the garage set in like a heavy fog. Then Ken sat down beside him, putting a hand on his shoulder. “I'm so sorry, man.” Jackson's throat was raw, but he forced the words out. "I could've saved her. I had the power. It was right there in my hands and I couldn't do anything." “You don't even know what you are yet,” Doug said, voice low. “You said you lifted a rock and exploded it, that’s not exactly in the Beginner’s Guide to Resurrection.” Ken leaned forward. "Can you still do it? The powers, I mean. Can you show us?" Jackson demurred. He closed his eyes and reached inward. Searched for the spark. Nothing. His hands remained dull and lifeless. “I don’t get it,” he muttered. “It’s like it’s… locked away.” “Then unlock it,” said Ken. “We’ll help. We’re in this together, remember?” Jackson looked up. And something in him hardened. “Then let's start.” The training started the next morning. Jackson came back to the woods, to that place where everything started. The RV was gone—vanished into thin air, it seemed—sealed away by the earth as if nothing had happened. He meditated. Focused. Pushed himself. Pain was part of it-he learned that fast. His powers responded strongest when his emotions peaked, when his mind buzzed with grief or rage. But that wasn't control. That was chaos. He needed more. He practiced until his fingers bled, until stones hovered in the air, bending to his will, until he could twist a tree branch into a spiral with a thought. In less than a week, he could shift the gravity around him. Warp air. Tear a hole in reality and peer through the seams. When he came back, Ken and Doug stared at him as though they barely recognized their friend. "Jackson," Ken said, wide-eyed, "you're glowing." Jackson didn’t smile. “I’m ready.” That night, he stood beneath the street light in the spot where she'd fallen. He raised his hands and rewrote reality. Then it all fell apart. She was gone. Again. He screamed and fell on his knees. The universe didn't care. The power he'd been given was not enough, not in this case. But he could do one thing. He could share it. A week later, Ken felt it first. Time slowed for him—his own heart thundered, but the world moved through syrup. He lifted his hand and the second hand on his watch froze. Doug's was next. He blinked—and a door opened that wasn't there. A room between seconds, space bending around him like a second skin. A pocket dimension, empty and malleable: a safe place he could reshape. They weren't just kids anymore. They were a team. It led to the abandoned power station on the edge of town, the one that had been shut down for years. They found him in the middle of the turbine room. Sai. He turned slowly as they entered, his hoodie torn and burned, his eyes glowing faint blue. His arms were loose at his sides, but he didn't look surprised to see them. “You finally made it,” he said low. “Took you long enough.” Jackson stepped forward. “Where the hell have you been?” Sai tilted his head. “Where I needed to be. Learning. Changing. Like you.” "What happened to you?" Ken demanded. “The same thing that happened to him,” Sai said, nodding in Jackson's direction. “Except I listened to the voice. I embraced it.” Jackson froze, realizing. Remembered those glowing blue eyes. “You… you killed my mom.” Sai's expression didn't change. "I didn't want to. But she saw me before I was ready. She would've told someone. They would've tried to stop me." “You were our friend,” Doug said, his voice cracking. “I am your friend,” Sai said. “That’s why I’m warning you. Leave. Go back to your lives. You have no idea what’s coming.” Jackson felt a sort of, uncontrollable anger at that exact moment, an anger from deep within his own being. His fists were clenched; his teeth were gritted against each other. His heart and soul were battling each other-his heart wanted to take everything back, and his soul wanted to move forward until everyone who had ever done him wrong was gone. Sai's eyes were narrowed and suddenly his body was moving, quicker than the eye could follow. “Then I guess you'll die trying.” The turbine room shook, the two forces colliding: Jackson's raw energy against Sai's speed and precision. Ken froze time in waves, trying to slow Sai's attacks; Sai moved between, seconds like water through cracks. Doug opened rifts, trying to trap him in his pocket dimension, but Sai slipped through them like smoke. Both Sai and Jackson knew that Jackson was stronger, but they knew. They weren’t ready. For the first time, Jackson fought. He'd always hated conflict. But now it was necessary. And now he wouldn't be fighting alone. The turbine room exploded. Steel beams clattered, glass shattered, and sparks rained from the ceiling as Jackson's blast hit the concrete where Sai had just been, missing him by inches. Sai moved like a streak of lightning: the first second across the room, the next behind Ken, hand outstretched like a blade. Ken barely had time to flick his fingers. Time buckled. Jackson didn't need a second longer. He raised both hands; his veins glowed pinkish purple, and reality cracked. The floor split in a jagged line, throwing Sai off balance. But even in frozen time, he moved-twisting just enough to avoid the next wave of force as time resumed, like a snapped rubber band. Sai was already gone, crouching high on a support beam like a predator. "Not bad," he said, eyes gleaming. "But not enough." Doug raised both palms and a door opened in midair, a swirl of silver like liquid glass. From inside his pocket dimension, huge vines burst out, wrapping around the beam. “Try dodging this.” They snapped like whips toward Sai. He vanished. Then he appeared behind Doug, foot swinging in a brutal arc. Doug hit the wall hard, groaning as his portal fizzled. Jackson roared, fury igniting around him like a solar flare. The aura around him was a menacing purple; the air bent with the force of his charge. He blinked across the room and planted a fist in Sai's face. BOOM The shockwave flipped turbines, shattered railings, and sent Sai skidding back. Blood dripped from his lip. His hoodie was torn across the chest, showing skin marked with black etchings that were like ink bleeding from his veins. “I see you've gotten strong, old friend, ” Sai said while cracking his neck. “So have I”. In an instant, he was everywhere. Ken threw a hand out and rewound time by three seconds. Sai's last attack had now never landed. Darkness. Silence. “You're done!” Ken shouted. “Give up! For a moment, something in Sai's eyes flickered, like the boy they knew was still inside. Then the darkness swelled. The shadows coiled up from the floor like smoke. “No,” Sai breathed, voice echoing with something inhuman. “You’re too late.” The shadows then swallowed him. The chains snapped, sucked into the void. Doug lunged to grab him—but his hand passed through nothing. Sai was gone. Again. Only the echo of his voice remained, hanging in the dark like smoke: The lights crackled back to life, one by one. But they were alive. And next time… they would be stronger. “Next time… I will.” They barely made it out of the power station. He couldn't. Every time he closed his eyes, he envisioned Sai's face-the flicker of hesitation, the venom in his voice. “Next time… you’ll have to kill me.” Jackson knew he wasn't ready. Not yet. He had the raw strength, sure. He could bend light, twist gravity, and crush steel with a thought. Sai was different; he moved through space as if it didn't exist, fought like his body read time before it happened. But Jackson needed more than power. The next morning, he left a note for Ken and Doug. Then he vanished into the woods again. Not to the old trail. Not to the RV site. Deeper. He walked for hours until the forest swallowed up all signs of the town. No signal, no sound, just trees and shadows, with the pulse of the world beneath his feet. He sat on a stone ledge at the edge of a forgotten river and closed his eyes. The universe hummed. And he listened. Day 1 Day 3 Why won't you just be calm and embrace your feelings? Day 5 He stopped trying to force it. He meditated beneath a waterfall. Let the forest speak. Let time slip around him without chasing it. Let himself forget pain, forget revenge, forget control. The click of something unlocking. Like his soul had shifted into gear. He stood barefoot in the clearing, his shirt soaked, his hair dripping. Energy danced around him, but not like before. This wasn't rage. This was clarity. His thoughts were still. His power didn't scream now; it sang. He raised one hand and whispered: “Freedom of Reality.” The world bent. Space peeled back like paper, revealing a second layer underneath: a pure white zone beyond dimension. His body moved faster than sound, faster than thought. He blinked and was standing across the clearing. Every law of physics bowed to him. He wasn't breaking reality anymore. He was moving it as he wished. He lifted his hand, and the waterfall froze in mid-air. Hung suspended like shards of glass. He spoke again. “Continue.” Everything started again - as if it had never stopped. When he returned to town, Ken and Doug were waiting, wide-eyed. "What the hell happened to you?" Doug asked. Jackson's eyes glowed faint with pink. His steps did not even leave marks on the ground. Ken blinked. “You're gonna have to explain that.” Where time and matter and thought obeyed his bidding. Where Jackson became more than human. But that came at a cost. Every time he entered that state… He felt a little less connected to the world he knew. A little more like something other. And he'd need every ounce of it. Besides, Sai was changing too. Ken sat on the lawn chair, wearing sunglasses that were too big for his face, flipping through a dog-eared comic book and pretending like he wasn't humming along to the music. Jackson sighed. "This is weird." Ken didn't look up. "What, the fact that Doug thinks syrup goes on the stove?" "No." Jackson frowned. "This. Us. Just… chilling." “Yeah.” Ken grinned. “Kinda freaks you out, huh?” Doug kicked open the screen door and stepped out holding a plate stacked like a tower. “PANCAKES, LOSERS.” Jackson stared. "Are those… pink?" “I added strawberry protein powder,” Doug said proudly. “They look like crime scenes,” Ken muttered. "Eat them and get jacked, can't you just make it to where you aren't allergic anymore?" Doug said throwing a pancake like a frisbee at Jackson, who caught it mid-air with his powers and spun it gently like a plate then threw it back. “Look at you,” Doug said with a smirk. “All enlightened and floaty now. Mr. Freedom of Reality.” Jackson smirked back. “At least I didn’t burn breakfast.” Ken stood and stretched. "Alright, alright, food first, then we finally play the new Super Mecha Tournament. I've been saving this moment." "It's called being prepared," Ken said, pulling a small hourglass pendant from his pocket like it was some kind of badge of honor. They spent the whole day goofing off. The kids spent their time playing video games, taking turns jumping off the dock. Doug accidentally opened a portal in the lake and almost got sucked into a dimension full of bees-they didn't ask questions. Ken made time loop so Jackson was stuck in an accidental dance for fifteen minutes. At one point, they tried to roast marshmallows. Just because he could. But as night fell, as the fire had ticked down to embers and the lake was reflecting the moon in perfect silence, the mood changed. He sat alone, away from everyone else, looking up at the stars. "You thinking about your mom?" he asked softly. Jackson nodded. “Every night.” Doug came over too, wrapped up in a hoodie. “We’re gonna fix it,” he said. “Somehow. We’re gonna bring her back. And we’re gonna stop Sai. Jackson nodded again. “I know. Just… tonight, I needed this. Us. The dumb jokes. The fire. Even the pancakes.” Ken slung an arm around Jackson’s shoulder. “We’re not just a team,” he said. “We’re brothers. You hear me? End of the world or not-we got you.” He just smiled. And for the first time in what felt like a lifetime— He didn't sleep anymore. But Sai didn’t notice. The day he changed—the day Jackson did—it hadn't been random. It had been chosen. And it saw potential in Sai. A broken boy, sharp, angry, hiding pain behind laughter, full of love… and loneliness. It gave him more than power. Sai's abilities had no flashy name, no glowing aura. But it wasn't just speed. "Fate drawn in blood." It let him fracture reality through blood. If he'd fought you long enough, if he'd spilled even a few drops of your blood, he could see your fate-the strings of possibility branching from your body. And then he could cut them. Make your heart beat wrong. Make your bones forget how to hold shape. Once. Someone whom Jackson loved. Sai opened his eyes. He stood, blades of wind coiling around his arms like scarves. The candles flickered in fear. In the rear of the cathedral, a figure stirred. “You’re restless again,” it rasped; a voice like dust and smoke. Sai didn't turn. "They're training. Growing stronger." “I don’t doubt,” Sai said. “I remember.” He touched his chest. “I know what I have to do,” he said. “But I won’t kill them. Not yet.” “I still feel everything,” Sai snapped. “That’s the difference between me and them. Jackson’s becoming light. But I…” He turned to the shadows. “I’ve become what lives beneath it.” The voice hummed, pleased. And whispered: "Next time, I end it." Just a blur. A breeze. A storm waiting to strike. Jackson's living room had become command central. And on the front door? A hand-painted sign: “HOLLOW CORE — Defend the Light. Break the Shadows.” Doug raised his hand. “Do we get codenames?” “Yes,” said Jackson, without missing a beat. They trained every day. Enter: Master Sasaki. A retired martial artist, once rumored to train world champions in secret. Now? He ran a used bookstore on the edge of New Thornebridge, lived above it, and only took students "worthy of being punched through a wall." Ken was second. Jackson blocked it, but only just. He trained them with bamboo swords, ankle weights, and wooden dummies rigged to explode. He had them fighting blindfolded. He had them sparring each other without powers. And he had them meditating in cold rain until their breathing synchronized. And slowly… Then came the alert. Not the dark force behind him. Name: Aki Abilities: Cybernetic speed enhancement, combat-grade exosuit, electric arc blades. Cars overturned, smoke everywhere, and people screaming. And amidst all of them was a tall figure clad in black and chrome armor that pulsed blue with energy: Aki. “Looks like we've got company,” Aki growled, eyes glowing beneath his visor. Jackson stepped forward. Ken blinked out of view, reappeared behind Aki, and swung a crowbar through a slowed-time loop. Aki dodged effortlessly and countered with a surge of kinetic energy that sent Ken tumbling. They clashed: metal tech versus real powerz. Aki slid back, armor steaming. Jackson fought hand to hand, power flaring in every strike. But Aki was calculated: every punch a program, every block augmented by nanosecond reaction time. Then Jackson remembered Sasaki’s voice: "Strength is nothing without timing." He baited Aki. Feinted left. Kicked the inside of his knee. Aki blinked. "Collapse." Doug opened a void. They left him tied in carbon-fiber wire, police en route, as the crowd started gathering. Cheers. Phones flashing. Ken smirked. “We need better masks.” Jackson just watched the skyline, serious again. What kind of monster was running the syndicate? The room smelled of old pizza and burnt circuits. Jackson leaned over the busted helmet they'd taken off Aki, running his fingers over the melted wires and the shattered plating. Ken worked his magic, scanning it with his modified tablet. Untouchable. Until now. Ken pulled up the file. "Cassian Rook—ex-military, dishonorably discharged. Runs the Syndicate. Specializes in tech-weapons, black-market biotech, energy siphoning. Rumors say he's been recruiting enhanced individuals." Jackson's hands clenched into fists. "If Sai's working with him." His voice trailed off, tight and furious. Ken nodded. "That’s our lead." Jackson stood up, energy crackling faintly around his fists. "Then we're off to see the docks." The Mission: Night fell heavy and wet over Fox Hollow. Clouds blanketed the sky. Thunder rumbled far off, as if the city itself was holding its breath. Dressed in dark clothes and masks, Hollow Core moved through the abandoned shipyard. Cranes rusted into the fog like metal skeletons. The only light came from a few buzzing sodium lamps—and the warehouse at the end of the pier, humming with neon lines. “Multiple heat signatures,” Ken whispered. “And turrets.” Doug made a portal high above the warehouse roof. “In or out?” "In." Inside the Warehouse: Jackson, Ken, and Doug moved like shadows. They found the main room. Rows and rows of black-market tech. Weaponized exosuits. Serum canisters. And in the middle, a reinforced vault door. Ken hacked the security panel, fingers flying. "This. isn't just weapons," he said, voice tight. "It's augmentation tech. This is how they're making enhanced soldiers. This is how Aki got juiced up." Jackson shook his head. "Not yet." They found it tucked behind the vault. On the desk—a laptop, still open. He plugged in immediately. Files spilled across the screen: movement logs, transaction records, test subjects, enhancement experiments. And then they saw it. "Subject 000 — Raptor." "Subject has demonstrated exponential growth in physical capabilities. Demonstrates full awareness and the will to push further. Requires additional advanced augmentation support to survive further evolution." Alarms burst into noise. "They aren't forcing him," he said, his voice cold. "He's choosing this. He's training to beat us." Ken nodded grimly.
fter using his lightness art for quite some time, the place where Mok Gyeong-un came to a stop. That place was the vicinity of the tall pagoda where Origin Kill Pavilion’s manor was located. Aside from the main building where the Society Leader was said to reside, the tall pagoda, called the tallest structure in the inner castle, stood attached to Origin Kill Pavilion’s manor. That was why, though Mok Gyeong-un still did not fully know the geography of the inner castle, it had not been particularly difficult for him to find it. At that moment, Blue Spirit’s voice sounded in his ear. -Sentient being. Are you not pushing yourself too hard? -Pushing myself? -You may have crossed the wall, but if something like what happened earlier occurs again, you may be the one who dies instead. Blue Spirit was worried about what had happened earlier. That strange method that had rendered even the rapidly strengthened Mok Gyeong-un utterly unable to move. If he were caught in that state and his throat got cut, it would bring about an irretrievable situation. -It is not too late yet. Let us go back. -No. If we go back, it will be too late. -Haah. What do you mean, too late? -If he is someone who can cast such a bizarre technique, then there is no way to know what he might do. Mok Gyeong-un was worrying about something different from Blue Spirit. If it were something that could be dealt with to some extent, there would be no need to rush. But if it was a technique against which there was no way to respond at all, then the answer was to strike first instead. Mok Gyeong-un believed he had to deal with the man before that opponent did anything. -Really, whenever it is a time like this, you stubbornly refuse to listen. Blue Spirit clicked her tongue. Once this sentient being brat had made up his mind, he would never bend. Short of her manifesting and dragging him away by force, there would likely be no means to stop him. So Blue Spirit said, -Tsk tsk. Nothing can be done. Then avoid breaking through from the front. -That is the plan. If he went in from the front, it would instead amount to letting the opponent know that he had come. To make himself hard to see with the naked eye, he had moved all the way here through the densest shadows. Ever since crossing the wall, ordinary people could hardly even sense his presence. That was why those martial artists guarding the front of the manor were chatting among themselves without even realizing he was nearby. -At least it is fortunate that night has fallen. At night, fewer people moved about and there were many more places to hide. Mok Gyeong-un opened his qi sense and focused on Ghost Eyes. It was to identify the easiest route possible. -Gooooooo! ‘…Oh?’ Once he opened Ghost Eyes, he could see two forces beyond the wall at roughly the level of the entrance to the transcendent peak realm. ‘To station two transcendent-peak masters here.’ If they had just entered the transcendent peak realm, it would not be excessive to say they were on the level of great unit leaders. It seemed the Shadow Sect Master had been right when he said that the Society Leader valued Origin Kill Pavilion highly and that its security was strict. Moreover, most of the other forces guarding the manor were at least of first-rate level or above. If someone infiltrated out of mere curiosity, the probability of ending up in trouble would be high. Of course, Mok Gyeong-un did not care about any of that at all now. -Swoosh! Mok Gyeong-un’s figure scattered like mist. It was Bright Manifest Water-Crossing Step of the Na Family, stolen from Great Young Master Na Yul-ryang. When Bright Manifest Water-Crossing Step was used in earnest, it was so fast that even transcendent-peak masters would have difficulty noticing it with the naked eye. -Swoosh! In a single bound, Mok Gyeong-un went over the wall and inside. Then he moved rapidly through the manor. There were fifteen buildings in total inside the manor. Among them would be the occult practitioner who had used that bizarre method on him, a technique that lay outside the bounds of common sense. -Do you intend to search every one of them one by one? -I have to. But if I do that, it will take too long, so I should begin with the main hall. -The main hall? -Yes. There was no way an occult practitioner with such tremendous spell power that he could instantly detect even Blue Spirit’s aura was an ordinary person. At the very least, Mok Gyeong-un guessed he would be an executive-level figure or above within Origin Kill Pavilion. -If that is the case, would it not be easier to tell that fellow Jo Ui-gong what he looks like and have him identify him? -Oh. That is a good idea. Mok Gyeong-un agreed with Blue Spirit’s suggestion. Jo Ui-gong had originally been the pavilion lord and master who had become pavilion lord by toppling In Seo-ok, the former lord of Origin Kill Pavilion and his own teacher. He would identify the man at once. With that in mind, Mok Gyeong-un headed straight for the main hall building. -Swoosh! Throughout the time he used Bright Manifest Water-Crossing Step, not a single person noticed Mok Gyeong-un’s movements. Not long after, Mok Gyeong-un arrived at the main hall of Origin Kill Pavilion. Upon reaching the front of the main hall, he surveyed the surroundings and looked for a way to enter. ‘Two at the entrance.’ Two masters of the absolute peak were guarding it. With the doors closed, it would be difficult to enter without them noticing. Then he discovered one open window on the second floor of the main hall. There were also first-rate guards on the second-floor corridor who seemed to be escort warriors, but fortunately there was no such person at the open window. -Tap! Tap! Mok Gyeong-un formed a hand seal and used the Six-Person Boundary Art. He used the Six-Person Boundary Art so that he could detect spell power and prepare for any occult arts that might be present. He could feel a faint spell power at the open window. It seemed that an occult technique had indeed been laid there. ‘There is no answer except to go in and dispel the technique at the same time.’ -Tap! Tap! ‘Kishimojin Divine Seal!’ Folding in his thumb and pressing three fingers together to form a hand seal, Mok Gyeong-un recited a dispelling incantation and, while using Bright Manifest Water-Crossing Step, ran upside down under the third-floor roof and thrust his body through the open window. At the same time, he changed the seal in his hand into a blade seal. “By urgent law and command, dispel!” As he thrust the blade-seal hand sign forward, the surroundings instantly went quiet. It looked as if nothing had happened, but the nine talismans attached to the wall crumbled into ash. -Pasusususu! ‘Was it the Nine Shadows Piercing Spell?’ It was an occult art in which nine shadows bound an intruder and pierced holes through the four limbs. It was quite an aggressive technique. As expected, the fact that this had been installed meant that the window had been intentionally left open. But that did not matter. -Swoosh! Mok Gyeong-un used Bright Manifest Water-Crossing Step again and moved along the corridor. There were six guards in total protecting the second-floor corridor. All of them were only at first-rate level, and not one of them could truly obstruct Mok Gyeong-un. -Swoosh! Mok Gyeong-un undid the formations of occult arts installed in between and moved quickly, climbing up to the stairs to the upper floor in a single bound. When he reached the top, Mok Gyeong-un paused for a moment in the corridor on the third floor. ‘Hmm.’ There was a cloud bridge installed there leading to the tall pagoda. Seeing that it allowed passage directly from the third floor, it seemed the tall pagoda too was used by the executives within Origin Kill Pavilion. Yet something felt strange. -What is it? At Blue Spirit’s question, Mok Gyeong-un looked around and said, -I do not sense any forces. -You do not sense any forces? -No. The main hall building extended up to the fourth floor. He knew that the pavilion lord’s chamber was on the fourth floor, yet there was no one guarding the third floor. Ever since crossing the wall, Mok Gyeong-un’s qi sense had become even sharper. Yet on this floor in particular, there was neither what could be called a trap nor anyone standing guard. That only made him feel more wary. Mok Gyeong-un looked upward. He could sense a single force on the upper floor. It was a very familiar one, that of Jo Ui-gong, the current pavilion lord and a Square Moon. After examining the surroundings even more carefully, Mok Gyeong-un finally went up to the upper floor. In any case, the pavilion lord Jo Ui-gong was outwardly his master, and because he was bound by the Chain of Commanding Words, he was little different from a slave and would have no choice but to obey his command. -Swoosh! Thus Mok Gyeong-un came to stand in front of the pavilion lord’s chamber. Preparing in case anything unforeseen happened, Mok Gyeong-un formed a simple Kishimojin Divine Seal with his left hand and opened the door of the pavilion lord’s chamber with his right. -Creeeak! As the door opened and he stepped inside, Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes narrowed. The reason was, ‘An illusion technique.’ An illusion technique was unfolding before his eyes. For Mok Gyeong-un, who had Ghost Eyes open, most illusion techniques did not work. That was because he could see that they were false images formed from spell power. The scene shown by the illusion looked like pavilion lord Jo Ui-gong sitting at his office desk. But in truth, ‘Hah…’ Inside, he could see Jo Ui-gong bound naked by all four limbs, his mind gone blank. “Hehehehehik.” Jo Ui-gong wriggled his body and let out a grotesque laugh. Yet his expression was twisted like that of a man in agony. -…It seems we have been found out. -It seems so. There was no way he would be in such a miserable state otherwise. Mok Gyeong-un lightly waved the hand that held the seal while chanting the dispelling spell. -Srrr. At once, the illusion cast at the entrance of the pavilion lord’s chamber unraveled. Once the illusion broke, the overlapping effect before his eyes disappeared, and the sight of the current pavilion lord Jo Ui-gong with his limbs restrained became clear. -Wait. Do not go closer. At Blue Spirit’s words, Mok Gyeong-un stopped where he was. Even without her warning, he would have stopped because he had already discovered something. It was because of Jo Ui-gong. -Thudududuk! Grrr! “Uheuheuhk!” Something moved beneath Jo Ui-gong’s skin, making it bulge and writhe. The shape was extremely disgusting, resembling centipedes. They were crawling all over beneath his skin, and every time they moved, Jo Ui-gong bled and writhed in pain. And this was not just one of them. No, it seemed there were dozens, perhaps hundreds, moving all across the skin of his whole body. -Vile indeed. With things like that burrowing and eating through his entire body, it was only natural that his mind had gone. With sharpened eyes, Mok Gyeong-un looked at the Chain of Commanding Words on Jo Ui-gong’s arm. The chain had dug into Jo Ui-gong’s wrist. -It seems he tried to fight against the chain’s restriction. -That appears to be the case. The one who had reduced Jo Ui-gong to that condition would have been trying to find out who had placed the Chain of Commanding Words on him. That was why he must have committed such cruelty. But once a man was bound by the Chain of Commanding Words, betrayal was absolutely impossible. So the clash of occult arts and occult arts seemed to have left Jo Ui-gong this ruined. -Do you think you can undo it? At Blue Spirit’s question, Mok Gyeong-un shook his head. This was the first time he had ever seen such an occult technique. It was almost impressive that Jo Ui-gong had not died already with that many bug-like things crawling under the skin of his whole body. -…It seems it was him. -Him? You mean that bastard? -Yes. That being who had instantly sensed Blue Spirit’s presence and then, through a method operating on a different axis, had stolen every sensation from Mok Gyeong-un’s limbs except for his consciousness. It seemed likely that being was the one who had reduced Jo Ui-gong to this state. ‘Ah.’ After staring at Jo Ui-gong, Mok Gyeong-un drew a line with his sword-fingers, his eyes turning emotionless. -Slash! Sharp sword energy cut through the air of the pavilion lord’s chamber. At the same time, a red line appeared at Jo Ui-gong’s neck, and then, -Srrr! Thud! His head fell to the floor. Mok Gyeong-un let out a light breath. Now that Jo Ui-gong no longer had any value as a card to use, the only thing he could do for him was to take his life cleanly. If he tried to save him by force, it would only end up binding his own feet. Mok Gyeong-un gave a faint laugh. ‘It is not proving easy after all.’ It would not be an exaggeration to say that Jo Ui-gong, who bore the title of Square Moon, had possessed greater skill in occult arts than any occult practitioner Mok Gyeong-un had encountered. Yet to think someone like him could be dealt with this helplessly… Now Mok Gyeong-un could form some idea. That being who had reduced Jo Ui-gong to this state, sensed Blue Spirit’s spiritual power, and pursued them all the way to the brink. ‘…Is it a man called Jo Tae-cheong?’ That eldest senior brother whom Jo Ui-gong, Square Moon, had feared. He seemed by far the most likely. [My eldest senior brother Jo Tae-cheong possesses spell power rivaling Master’s. To me, he is absolutely beyond handling.] Those were the words Jo Ui-gong had once spoken to him. Because Jo Ui-gong had even subdued In Seo-ok, the lord of Origin Kill Pavilion, Mok Gyeong-un had thought that if Jo Ui-gong made full preparations, he would certainly be able to resist. But it now seemed he had underestimated him. Rather than the arrogant, aged In Seo-ok, this seemed to be an existence far more troublesome to deal with. He might even be a stronger occult practitioner than Jo Ui-gong had expected. ‘If I do not kill him now, he will become troublesome.’ Killing intent flickered in Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes. It was at that moment. -Step! At once, the sound of footsteps reached Mok Gyeong-un’s ear. -Step! The moment he heard the second footstep, Mok Gyeong-un turned his head back. -What is it? -…It is him. Mok Gyeong-un’s memory far surpassed imagination. Since he could remember even the stride and sound of an opponent’s footsteps, he could identify who it was at once from that alone. It was undoubtedly the same being that had entered the old shrine. -He is coming? -Yes. -What will you do? -…Kill him. There was no need to hesitate. Even if this being was a tremendous master of occult arts, there was only one point that mattered. If he killed him before the man could cast a technique, that would be enough. Once Mok Gyeong-un reached that conclusion, his actions became extremely fast. -Swoosh! Mok Gyeong-un’s figure scattered like mist. At the same time, using Bright Manifest Water-Crossing Step, Mok Gyeong-un burst out of the pavilion lord’s chamber and rushed down the corridor in a high-speed movement. -Ssssss! To Mok Gyeong-un, who was moving at high speed, the being walking along the corridor was no different from someone moving at a greatly slowed pace. It was that ordinary-looking occult practitioner in the gray yin-yang robe. This time, unlike in the shrine, his senses had not been sealed, so he could see the practitioner’s aura clearly. And yet, ‘The aura overlaps?’ Something was strange. As he rushed toward the man in high-speed movement, the aura was unlike that of ordinary people. Since opening Ghost Eyes, auras had become visible to him in formed shapes, and this man’s aura appeared overlapped. As though it were not one existence, but two existing together. Yet unlike the extraordinary spell power, the overlapping aura itself was not much different from that of an ordinary person who had never learned martial arts. That was why killing him should not have posed much of a problem. -Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! In an instant, Mok Gyeong-un passed by the occult practitioner and stood directly behind him, raising sword energy in his knife-hand. Because the man had not learned martial arts, he was still moving forward at a very slow pace. So Mok Gyeong-un aimed to cut his throat in a single strike. -Swaaaaaaa! But at that very moment. The forehead of the slowly walking occult practitioner suddenly split open. -Jjeojeojeok! And then, -Flinch! In that instant, Mok Gyeong-un frowned. The reason was that the small aura overlapping the occult practitioner suddenly surged to an absurd level. And that aura was incomparably sinister and ominous. But there was no way this alone would make Mok Gyeong-un stop. Mok Gyeong-un still went to cut the practitioner’s throat. Yet the instant the sword energy of his knife-hand was about to reach the neck, -Kwaaaaaang! Something suddenly pressed down on Mok Gyeong-un’s shoulder. At the same time, the floor shattered and Mok Gyeong-un’s body dropped straight down. -Kwakwang! Mok Gyeong-un’s body fell down from the third floor and, not stopping there, smashed through the floor again and fell lower. Mok Gyeong-un lifted his head and looked at the being pressing down on him. They were two enormous hooves. Between those hooves, he could see a pair of vicious eyes and grotesque horns. -It is Earth Ram! Blue Spirit hurriedly spoke to Mok Gyeong-un. This was that strange entity of Mount Kunlun which had pursued her before. True to a strange entity of demon-beast rank, its demonic force was at a level utterly incomparable to fierce beasts or monster beasts. Under the crushing force with which it was pressing him down, Mok Gyeong-un’s body smashed through the second-floor floor and all the way to the first floor. -Kwakwakwang! It looked as though the creature meant to crush him to death just like this. However, the moment Mok Gyeong-un’s feet touched the hard first-floor ground, unlike the wooden corridor, -Jjeojeojeojeok! The floor split in all directions, and Mok Gyeong-un redirected the crushing force through the soles of his feet before swinging his knife-hand toward Earth Ram’s face. -Chwak! At that instant, one of Earth Ram’s vicious eyes split in half, and purple blood sprayed out. Earth Ram, its one eye cut open, let out a roar of pain. -Kwooooooooar! The roar created shockwaves and shook the surroundings. The walls shattered, and it became utter chaos. At the same time, enraged, the demon-beast Earth Ram ran wild and tried to stomp Mok Gyeong-un to death with its hooves. ‘Annoying.’ Mok Gyeong-un dodged it and tried to counterattack, But then it happened. -Paang! Paang! Something like an invisible barrier blocked Earth Ram’s hooves. As he was wondering what this was, “Hey!” ‘!?’ A pretty short-haired girl in maid’s clothes, forming a hand seal with one hand, waved urgently at Mok Gyeong-un and shouted,
Volume 1 – Spring & First Love Title: When the Bell Rang Twice – Volume 1 Chapters: 10 Tone: Light, tender, school romance, slow-burn ⸻ Chapter 1 – The Seat by the Window Page 1 • Panel 1: Wide shot of classroom, morning sun through windows. Students settling. • Narration (Mio’s thoughts): “Another spring… another year at this school.” • Panel 2: Teacher at front, pointing to empty desk. • Teacher: “New student, Akiyama Haru. Window seat, next to Yamada Mio.” • Panel 3: Close-up of Mio, surprised, glancing at new student entering. • Mio (thought): He looks… different. Page 2 • Panel 1: Haru sits beside Mio, smiling awkwardly. • Haru: “Hi… hope I’m not in your way.” • Panel 2: Mio blushes slightly, returning a small smile. • Mio (thought): Why does my heart feel funny? • Panel 3: Close-up of both hands reaching for an eraser at the same time. Fingers touch. • Panel 4: Soft focus on their surprised expressions. • Narration: “A spark, small as it was, somehow lingered.” ⸻ Chapter 2 – Small Gestures Page 3 • Panel 1: Lunchtime, Mio eating alone at her desk. • Panel 2: Haru walks up, holding a milk carton. • Haru: “You forgot this.” • Panel 3: Mio blushes, accepting it. • Mio (thought): He notices me… • Panel 4: Hallway shot of them walking side by side after class. • Narration: “We didn’t say much, but every step together felt meaningful.” Page 4 • Panel 1: Rainstorm outside. Students rushing. • Panel 2: Haru holding an umbrella for Mio. • Haru: “We can share.” • Panel 3: Close-up: their shoulders touching. • Panel 4: Mio’s inner thought: Please don’t let this end. ⸻ Chapter 3 – Cultural Festival Page 5 • Panel 1: Festival night, lanterns glowing. Wide shot of the school yard. • Panel 2: Mio in a simple yukata, looking around nervously. • Panel 3: Haru approaches, pauses, amazed. • Haru: “…Wow.” • Panel 4: Close-up: fireworks exploding behind them, illuminating their faces. • Narration (Mio’s thoughts): “A perfect moment I wished could last forever.” ⸻ Chapter 4 – Illness Revealed Page 6 • Panel 1: Haru coughing during class, looking pale. • Panel 2: Mio discreetly slides a note: “Are you okay?” • Panel 3: Haru writes back on paper: “Just tired. Don’t worry.” with a small smile. Page 7 • Panel 1: Hallway after school. Mio watches him leave. • Panel 2: Inner thought: Something feels wrong… but I can’t ask. ⸻ Chapter 5 – Growing Closer Page 8 • Panel 1: Rooftop scene at sunset. Haru looks out over the school yard. • Panel 2: Mio approaches, hesitant. • Mio: “Do you come here often?” • Haru: “Yeah… it’s peaceful.” • Panel 3: Their hands almost touch. Close-up. • Narration: “Small closeness became our secret.” Page 9 • Panel 1: Side-by-side flashback panels of their shared laughs, sketching together, walking home in rain. • Panel 2: Close-up of their intertwined fingers, subtle blushes. • Panel 3: Wide rooftop shot, petals drifting in the wind. • Narration: “I didn’t know then that this happiness was fragile.” Chapter 6 – Rainy Confession (Foreshadowing) Page 10 • Panel 1: Heavy rain outside school. Students rush with umbrellas. • Panel 2: Mio walks alone, holding her sketchbook. Haru appears under a nearby umbrella. • Haru: “Hey… want to walk together?” • Panel 3: They walk, shoulders touching slightly. Close-up on their hands almost brushing. • Panel 4: Mio’s thoughts: Every time we touch, my heart skips… Page 11 • Panel 1: Close-up of Haru, smiling softly, slightly pale. • Haru (thought): I wish this moment could last forever. • Panel 2: Mio looks down, quiet blush. • Panel 3: Their feet step in the same puddle accidentally. Splash. • Panel 4: They both laugh. Narration: “Little things became everything.” ⸻ Chapter 7 – Festival Confession Attempt Page 12 • Panel 1: Rooftop at school festival, night sky, fireworks. • Panel 2: Mio hesitates, looking at Haru. • Mio (thinking): I want to tell him… but… • Panel 3: Haru leans against the railing, smiling nervously. • Haru: “Mio… I—” • Panel 4: He staggers slightly, clutching his chest. Mio catches him. • Panel 5: Close-up of their shocked faces. • Narration: “Life has a way of interrupting perfect moments.” ⸻ Chapter 8 – Hospital White Page 13 • Panel 1: Hospital hallway. Soft sunlight through windows. • Panel 2: Mio sits outside Haru’s room, clutching her sketchbook. • Panel 3: Doctor approaches. • Doctor: “He’s hiding a serious illness… it’s better you know the truth now.” • Panel 4: Close-up of Mio’s tear-filled eyes. • Mio (thought): I should have known… Page 14 • Panel 1: Haru lies in hospital bed, pale but smiling at Mio. • Panel 2: Mio holds his hand. • Mio: “Please… don’t leave me.” • Panel 3: Haru gently squeezes her hand. • Haru: “I’ll fight… but if I can’t… remember me, okay?” • Panel 4: Close-up: Mio nods, tears streaming. • Narration: “Even in fragile moments, love feels eternal.” ⸻ Chapter 9 – First Kiss Page 15 • Panel 1: Sunlight streams into hospital room. Haru awake, Mio sitting beside him. • Panel 2: Haru reaches out, touching her cheek softly. • Haru: “I’ve wanted to do this for a long time…” • Panel 3: They kiss gently. Soft panel borders, focus on intimacy, not graphic. • Panel 4: Mio pulls back, smiling through tears. • Narration: “A moment too precious for words, too fragile for time.” ⸻ Chapter 10 – The Empty Desk Page 16 • Panel 1: Back at school, Haru’s desk is empty. • Panel 2: Mio places a small flower on it, lingering. • Panel 3: Flashback panels: laughter, shared sketches, rainy walks, festival rooftop. • Panel 4: Close-up of Mio’s hand holding a note from Haru: • “Thank you for loving me. Keep smiling, Mio.” Page 17 • Panel 1: Wide classroom shot, sunlight through windows, empty chair in back. • Panel 2: Mio stands, looking out the window at cherry blossoms. • Narration: “Love doesn’t disappear when someone is gone… it stays, like petals in the wind.” • Panel 3 (Final Page Panel): Close-up of Mio’s hand resting on the desk, eyes soft but resolute. • Narration: “And some memories are forever.” Volume 2 – Confession & Loss Title: When the Bell Rang Twice – Volume 2 Chapters: 10 Tone: Bittersweet, emotional, hospital drama, first heartbreak ⸻ Chapter 1 – Winter Illness Page 1 • Panel 1: Classroom in winter. Snow visible outside the windows. Students in jackets. • Panel 2: Haru coughs into his sleeve, looking pale. Close-up of his strained smile. • Panel 3: Mio notices, worried, writing a note: “Are you okay?” • Panel 4: Haru writes back, faintly smiling: “Just tired. Don’t worry.” Page 2 • Panel 1: Hallway after class. Students rush past. • Panel 2: Mio watches Haru’s back as he leaves. • Panel 3: Close-up of her worried face. • Narration (Mio’s thoughts): “I felt a shadow over the happiness we’d built.” ⸻ Chapter 2 – Feverish Days Page 3 • Panel 1: Hospital exterior, snow lightly falling. • Panel 2: Mio arrives, coat buttoned tight, holding a sketchbook. • Panel 3: Haru lies in bed, pale but smiling. • Haru: “Hey… didn’t think you’d come today.” • Panel 4: Mio sits beside him, gently taking his hand. • Mio: “Of course I came. I’m not letting you face this alone.” Page 4 • Panel 1: Haru coughs softly. Mio wipes his forehead. • Panel 2: Close-up: Haru’s hand holding hers tightly. • Haru: “I didn’t want to worry you… but maybe I’ve been too weak.” • Panel 3: Mio looks determined. • Mio: “We’ll face it together. Always.” ⸻ Chapter 3 – Confession Attempt Page 5 • Panel 1: Hospital rooftop, late afternoon. Sun casting long shadows. • Panel 2: Haru leans against railing, eyes distant. • Panel 3: Mio approaches. • Mio: “I… I want to say something.” • Panel 4: Haru glances at her, softly smiling. • Haru: “Me too…” Page 6 • Panel 1: Close-up of their hands almost touching. • Panel 2: Haru sways slightly, Mio catches him instinctively. • Panel 3: Both faces close. • Panel 4: Narration: “In that fragile moment, words felt too heavy to speak.” ⸻ Chapter 4 – Winter Memories Page 7 • Panel 1: Flashback panels of winter school days: shared lunches, walking in snow, laughing. • Panel 2: Close-up of sketchbook pages with drawings of each other. • Panel 3: Haru coughing in the classroom. Mio’s worried glance. • Panel 4: Narration: “Every memory felt more precious, because I knew it might be all we’d have.” ⸻ Chapter 5 – The First Kiss Page 8 • Panel 1: Hospital room, sunlight soft through blinds. • Panel 2: Haru reaches out, touching Mio’s cheek gently. • Haru: “I’ve wanted to do this for so long…” • Panel 3: They kiss softly. Focus on emotion, not graphic. • Panel 4: Mio pulls back, eyes wet, smiling faintly. • Narration: “A kiss, fleeting but eternal, marked the start of a memory that could never fade.” ⸻ Chapter 6 – Days of Waiting Page 9 • Panel 1: Hospital corridor, empty. Mio sketches quietly. • Panel 2: Close-up of sketches of Haru smiling, laughing, and in hospital bed. • Panel 3: Narration: “I tried to hold onto him… even as he grew weaker.” • Panel 4: Haru sleeps, Mio watching, softly crying. ⸻ Chapter 7 – Farewell Page 10 • Panel 1: Haru’s hand slips slightly from hers. • Panel 2: Close-up of Mio’s eyes widening, heart pounding. • Panel 3: Haru murmurs faintly, smiling. • Haru: “Remember me… always.” • Panel 4: Mio holds his hand tighter, tears streaming. • Narration: “I whispered my love… but the world had other plans.” Page 11 • Panel 1: Wide shot: Haru’s hospital bed, sunlight breaking through clouds. • Panel 2: Mio alone in the hallway, holding her sketchbook to her chest. • Panel 3: Flashbacks: laughter, rooftop, rain, first handshake, first shared umbrella. • Panel 4: Narration: “And just like that… the seat beside me was empty forever.” ⸻ Chapter 8 – The Empty Desk Page 12 • Panel 1: Back at school, Haru’s desk empty. Snow falling outside. • Panel 2: Mio places a small flower on the desk. • Panel 3: Close-up of her fingers brushing carved initials in the wood. • Narration: “Love doesn’t vanish. It lingers in the smallest spaces, in the quietest moments.” Page 13 • Panel 1: Wide shot of Mio looking out the window at falling snow. • Panel 2: Close-up: tear slides down her cheek. • Panel 3: Mio clutches Haru’s note: “Thank you for loving me. Keep smiling.” • Panel 4: Narration: “Some memories are too precious to let go, even when hearts ache.” ⸻ Chapter 9 – The First Goodbye Page 14 • Panel 1: Flashback: rooftop festival, fireworks. Haru laughing, holding Mio’s hand. • Panel 2: Cut to hospital: Mio alone, looking at petals falling outside window. • Panel 3: Narration: “I had learned that love is sometimes measured in fleeting moments, not time.” • Panel 4: Close-up of sketchbook page with both their faces smiling. ⸻ Chapter 10 – Volume 2 Closing Page 15 • Panel 1: Wide shot: classroom empty except Mio’s silhouette. • Panel 2: Soft sunlight illuminates the empty desk. • Panel 3: Close-up of Mio writing in her notebook: • “Haru, I’ll always remember you. Always.” • Panel 4 (Final Panel): Snow falls outside. Narration: • “Even as life moves on, some love stays eternal… etched in the heart like petals in the wind. Volume 3 – Adult Mio & Reflections Title: When the Bell Rang Twice – Volume 3 Chapters: 8 Tone: Nostalgic, reflective, bittersweet, healing ⸻ Chapter 1 – Return to the School Page 1 • Panel 1: Wide exterior of the school in spring. Cherry blossoms bloom, petals drifting in the wind. • Panel 2: Adult Mio (mid-20s) stands at the gate, briefcase in hand, soft smile. • Mio (thought): I haven’t been here in ten years… • Panel 3: Close-up of her hand brushing against the gate, remembering. • Panel 4: Wide shot of school yard, empty, echoing past laughter. Page 2 • Panel 1: Mio walks through the familiar hallway, dust motes in sunlight. • Panel 2: Close-up of her gaze stopping at the back corner — Haru’s empty desk. • Panel 3: Mio (whispering): “You’re still here, aren’t you?” • Panel 4: Flashback panel: Haru laughing, giving her a playful wink in the same seat. ⸻ Chapter 2 – Memories in the Classroom Page 3 • Panel 1: Mio sits at Haru’s desk, fingers tracing carved initials. • Panel 2: Close-up of old sketches she kept in a notebook: shared doodles, cherry blossoms, small moments. • Panel 3: Mio smiles softly, eyes misty. • Narration: “I carry these memories like treasure… even now.” • Panel 4: Wide panel of empty classroom, sunlight streaming in. Page 4 • Panel 1: Mio notices a little girl outside the window, sketching petals in her notebook. • Panel 2: Close-up: Mio smiles, heartwarming. • Panel 3: Mio kneels beside the girl. • Mio: “Mind if I watch?” • Panel 4: Girl smiles shyly: “Sure!” ⸻ Chapter 3 – Haru’s Letter Page 5 • Panel 1: Mio finds a yellowed envelope tucked under the desk. • Panel 2: Close-up of handwriting: “If you’re reading this, it means you’ve remembered me. Thank you for loving me. Live fully, Mio. Promise me.” • Panel 3: Tears roll down Mio’s cheeks. She clutches the note to her chest. • Mio (thought): I did, Haru… every day. • Panel 4: Wide panel: cherry petals swirl around her, sunlight hitting her face. ⸻ Chapter 4 – Life Moves On Page 6 • Panel 1: Mio walking down a cherry blossom-lined street. • Panel 2: She watches children playing, couples laughing. • Panel 3: Close-up: little girl from before showing Mio her sketch. • Panel 4: Mio opens her old sketchbook, inspired to draw again. • Narration: “Love doesn’t end with loss. It continues in memories, kindness, and inspiration.” ⸻ Chapter 5 – Reflection at Sunset Page 7 • Panel 1: Mio revisits the school one last time, sitting on the steps outside. • Panel 2: Cherry blossoms fall around her. • Panel 3: Soft, imaginary voice of Haru: “I’m proud of you, Mio.” • Panel 4: Mio smiles, eyes glistening: • Mio: “Me too, Haru… always me too.” ⸻ Chapter 6 – Moving Forward Page 8 • Panel 1: Wide shot: Mio walking away from school gate, briefcase in hand. • Panel 2: Close-up: her sketchbook tucked under her arm, pages fluttering in the wind. • Panel 3: Narration: “Some love never fades… it simply guides the next steps of our lives.” • Panel 4 (Final Panel): Cherry blossoms fall, school bell rings faintly in distance, symbolizing past and hope for the future. Volume 4 – Teacher Mio & Mentorship Title: When the Bell Rang Twice – Volume 4 Chapters: 8 Tone: Reflective, mentoring, subtle hope, echoes of past love ⸻ Chapter 1 – First Day as a Teacher Page 1 • Panel 1: Exterior: School in spring. Cherry blossoms in full bloom. • Panel 2: Adult Mio stands in front of a classroom, smiling warmly. • Narration: “I never imagined returning… but life brings us full circle.” • Panel 3: Wide shot of students settling in. • Panel 4: Mio notices a boy at the back, sketching quietly. Page 2 • Panel 1: Close-up of boy, Riku, focused, messy hair, serious expression. • Panel 2: Mio’s inner thought: There’s something familiar about him… • Panel 3: Students chatting around him. Mio approaches. • Mio: “Hello, I’m your new art teacher. Can I see what you’re drawing?” • Panel 4: Riku hands her a sketch. • Riku: “It’s nothing special.” ⸻ Chapter 2 – Echoes of Haru Page 3 • Panel 1: Mio studies the sketch. Wide shot shows her gentle smile. • Mio: “No, this is wonderful. I see a lot of feeling here.” • Panel 2: Close-up: Riku blushes slightly, looking down. • Panel 3: Flashback panel: Mio sketching with Haru in school. • Panel 4: Narration: “It reminded me of someone I once knew… someone who changed me.” ⸻ Chapter 3 – Mentoring Moments Page 4 • Panel 1: Art club room, students painting, drawing. Riku sits quietly sketching. • Panel 2: Mio kneels beside him, pointing at a detail. • Mio: “Try feeling the wind in the petals… imagine it moving through your brush.” • Panel 3: Riku nods, focused, inspired. • Panel 4: Close-up of Mio’s thoughtful face. • Narration: “Teaching him reminded me that love isn’t just for the heart… it’s for the soul.” ⸻ Chapter 4 – Festival Preparations Page 5 • Panel 1: Students decorate school for cultural festival, Mio supervising. • Panel 2: Riku approaches, holding a folded sketch. • Panel 3: Close-up: sketch shows Mio at the school steps surrounded by cherry blossoms. • Panel 4: Mio gasps softly, tears welling up. • Mio: “You… captured something I didn’t even know I remembered.” • Panel 5: Riku smiles shyly. • Riku: “I wanted you to see what your presence does… even without knowing it.” ⸻ Chapter 5 – Graduation Day Page 6 • Panel 1: Graduation ceremony, students in caps and gowns. Wide shot. • Panel 2: Riku approaches Mio, holding a sketchbook. • Riku: “Thank you for believing in me.” • Panel 3: Mio hugs him briefly. • Mio: “Carry your feelings with you. That’s how people live on.” • Panel 4: Close-up: Mio watching Riku walk away, cherry petals swirling. • Narration: “Haru’s memory guided me here… and now I could guide others.” ⸻ Chapter 6 – Reflection on Love and Mentorship Page 7 • Panel 1: Mio stands on the school rooftop at sunset. • Panel 2: Soft, imaginary voice of Haru: “I’m proud of you, Mio.” • Panel 3: Mio smiles, eyes soft, remembering. • Mio: “I hope you see… I’ve carried you in everything I do.” • Panel 4: Close-up of sketchbook in her hands, sketches of students, cherry blossoms, and memories of Haru. ⸻ Chapter 7 – Passing the Torch Page 8 • Panel 1: Classroom empty after school, sunlight streaming in. • Panel 2: Mio tidies up Riku’s art supplies. • Panel 3: Narration: “Some love leaves only memories… some leaves a legacy.” • Panel 4: Wide panel: Mio walking through school gate, cherry petals falling. • Narration: “Haru’s presence lingered, but life moves forward… and so must I.” Volume 5 – Adult Romance & New Love Title: When the Bell Rang Twice – Volume 5 Chapters: 8 Tone: Bittersweet romance, healing, hope ⸻ Chapter 1 – A Chance Encounter Page 1 • Panel 1: Mio walking home after school, cherry blossoms drifting in the wind. • Panel 2: She bumps into Kaoru, books flying everywhere. • Kaoru: “Oh no! I’m so sorry!” • Panel 3: Mio kneels to help him gather the papers. Their hands brush. • Panel 4: Mio (thought): There’s something… calming about him. Page 2 • Panel 1: Kaoru hands her a book with a shy smile. • Kaoru: “I think fate wants us to meet like this.” • Panel 2: Mio blushes slightly, smiling faintly. • Panel 3: Wide shot of cherry petals swirling around them. • Panel 4: Narration: “Life has a way of introducing new stories… even after heartbreak.” ⸻ Chapter 2 – Shared Memories Page 3 • Panel 1: Mio and Kaoru walking side by side under cherry trees. • Panel 2: Kaoru glances at her. • Kaoru: “Do you like cherry blossoms?” • Panel 3: Mio smiles softly, thinking of Haru. • Mio: “I do… they remind me of fleeting moments.” • Panel 4: Kaoru takes a deep breath. • Kaoru: “Then maybe we can make new moments together.” ⸻ Chapter 3 – Past and Present Page 4 • Panel 1: Mio visits her old school with Kaoru, showing him the classroom and Haru’s desk. • Panel 2: Kaoru: “He must have been very special.” • Panel 3: Mio nods, tearful but smiling. • Mio: “He still is… in a way.” • Panel 4: Kaoru gently squeezes her hand. • Kaoru: “And I’ll try to be special too… without replacing him.” ⸻ Chapter 4 – Confession Under Cherry Blossoms Page 5 • Panel 1: Spring festival at school, petals falling everywhere. • Panel 2: Kaoru nervously presents a small sketchbook to Mio. • Kaoru: “I drew this… it’s us, walking here together.” • Panel 3: Mio flips through it, softly laughing and tearing up. • Mio: “You captured… something I didn’t even realize I remembered.” • Panel 4: Close-up: Kaoru leans slightly closer. • Kaoru: “Mio… will you give me a chance?” ⸻ Chapter 5 – Acceptance Page 6 • Panel 1: Mio’s eyes glisten with tears. • Panel 2: Close-up of Mio’s hands hesitating, then intertwining with Kaoru’s. • Panel 3: Mio (thought): Haru… it’s okay to love again. • Panel 4: Wide panel: both walking hand in hand, petals falling around them. ⸻ Chapter 6 – New Beginnings Page 7 • Panel 1: Mio and Kaoru strolling under cherry trees, soft sunlight. • Panel 2: Close-up: sketchbook in Mio’s bag, showing drawings of Haru and past memories. • Panel 3: Mio (thought): “Love can exist in layers… the past shapes the present.” • Panel 4: Kaoru smiles at her. • Kaoru: “Thank you for letting me walk with you.” ⸻ Chapter 7 – Life and Memory Page 8 • Panel 1: Mio pauses, looking at the school from afar. • Panel 2: Soft voice of Haru in memory: “I’m proud of you, Mio.” • Panel 3: Mio smiles, holding Kaoru’s hand. • Mio: “I am too… for both of us.” • Panel 4 (Final Panel): Wide shot of cherry blossoms falling, school bell ringing in the background. • Narration: “The bell rings for past love… and for new beginnings.” Manga