Chapter 4 - The Neigbors who Fought back - Author

CHAPTER 4

Page 1

[F-Class District 4 — Night / Yota’s Apartment — Inside Room]

Panel 1

Wide shot from inside the broken window — Yota stands calm, gazing out into the night as he finishes pulling on his sweater. His back faces Recruit 36, who is slumped unconscious against the wall. From 36’s wrist, a watch blinks faintly with an alert.

SFX (watch beeping, background): Beep… Beep…

Yota (thoughts):

“Looks like they’re WUG military…”

“And one of them’s dead…”

Panel 2

Close front shot — Yota’s face fills the frame, eyes steady with curiosity as he stares out the broken window.

Yota (thoughts):

“But why are they here—”

“In the middle of the night?”

“What could they want with the F-Class?”

Panel 3

Wide shot — Outside the broken window, Yota balances with one foot on the ledge, one hand gripping the curtain as it flutters in the night wind. His face is turned slightly away, unreadable. He’s moments from leaping into the darkness from the 4th floor.

Yota:

“Guess I won’t get any answers sitting here…”

A sense of quiet departure — Yota disappears into the night.

Page 2

[Group E — Night / F-Class District 5 Streets]

Panel 1

Wide back POV shot — Sergeant leads the way down the dark streets, 19 recruits following in formation behind him. Some march with focused discipline, others stare at him in awe as they move forward like soldiers.

Caption (bottom):

“Sergeant — Group E”

Panel 2

Front corner medium POV — Sergeant Kert raises his hand to halt the group, stopping mid-step. The recruits beside him look up, reacting as they stop abruptly.

Sergeant Kert:

“Right here.”

“We’ve arrived in the 5th District.”

SFX (halted steps): Skff! Tk.

Panel 3

Medium back shot — Sergeant Kert turns to face his recruits, towering over them with authority as they look up at him.

Sergeant Kert:

“We’ll split into two groups.”

“Capture from both sides simultaneously.”

Panel 4

Medium front shot — Sergeant Kert points firmly down at the ground as he speaks, his stance calm yet resolute.

Sergeant Kert:

“We’ll leave zero room for mistakes.”

“—Once finished, we’ll regroup here.”

Panel 5

Close medium shot — Recruit 55’s eyes glisten red with tears, his face strained with sadness as his voice trembles. Around him, a few recruits glance over — some worried, others simply curious.

Recruit 55 (shaken):

“And my family… sir?”

“—They live in the 3rd District…”

“What will happen to them?”

Panel 6

Medium front shot — Sergeant Kert’s stance remains the same, but his expression shifts: the calm, determined look fades into slight shock and worry as Recruit 55’s question hits him.

Panel 7

Back-shoulder medium shot — From behind Recruit 55, we see him facing Sergeant Kert at the front. The recruits have formed a loose “lane” between them, clearing a path. On both sides, recruits watch intently, their expressions worried and curious. Sergeant Kert looks down slightly, his face heavy with sadness as he answers.

Sergeant Kert:

“I myself… am not sure what will happen…”

“—To any of them. That thought alone terrifies me.”

Panel 8

Wide, slightly top-side shot — The group of recruits stand together, eyes on the scene. In their midst, Recruit 55 lowers his gaze, still shaken. At the front of the line, Sergeant Kert faces him, raising his hand in a steadying gesture. His expression carries both worry and a quiet determination.

Sergeant Kert:

“But know this—since the academy, I’ve heard you.”

“Your cries about your family through these trials.”

“And you have my word… I will keep them safe!”

Panel 9

Close medium front shot — Recruit 55 shows a warm, gentle smile as he wipes away a lingering tear from his eye. Beside him, Recruits 53 and 51 lean in, their faces lit with excitement and relief for him.

SFX (wipe): Swipe…

Recruit 53:

“See? I told you he would want to help!”

Panel 10

Small close front shot — Recruit 55 lifts his gaze, a warm, gentle smile on his face. His tears have dried, leaving faint red marks around his eyes.

Recruit 55:

“Thank… you… Sarg—”

Page 3

Panel 1

Series of very small split panels — Close shots of multiple wrists: recruits and Sergeant Kert alike. Each watch suddenly lights up, alarms blaring in unison, cutting off Recruit 55’s words.

SFX (all watches): BEEEP! BEEEP! BEEEP!

Panel 2

POV wrist shot — Sergeant Kert’s hand fills the frame as he looks down at his watch, its screen flashing with the alert. His face, partly visible above, shows a flicker of panic and worry.

Sergeant Kert:

“An alert—already…?”

SFX (watch beeping): BEEEP! BEEEP!

Panel 3

Close front shot — Sergeant Kert’s face fills the panel, his eyes wide in sudden shock, worry, and anger. Faint sparks of flame flicker within his pupils and around the edges of his face, hinting at a burning rage. The words from his watch screen echo upward across the side of his face, overlaying the panel.

[Watch Alert — text across panel]:

“RECRUIT 36: NEEDS MEDICAL”

“CORPORAL OFFICER SORA: ELIMINATED”

Sergeant Kert (furious, shaken):

“Sora!”

Panel 4

Wide top-corner street shot — In an instant, Sergeant Kert erupts. Still looking down at his hand, his teeth grit as he lets out a calm yet furious yell. Flames burst high around his body, sparks scattering wildly. The surge creates a wave of wind pressure, whipping through the street. Recruits nearest to him shield themselves, bracing against the force, their faces turned away from the blinding light — though no heat reaches them.

Sergeant Kert (yelling):

“PURE FLAME!”

SFX (flame eruption): FWOOSH! CRACKLE!

SFX (wind pressure): WHOOOM!

Panel 5

Street-level POV — From the ground, the recruits squint upward, still recovering from the blinding flare. Flame particles drift and flicker harmlessly around them, glowing in the night air. High above, Sergeant Kert soars through the sky, flames bursting around his body with sparks swirling like companions of fire. His speed tears through the air, leaving a blazing trail.

Recruit 42:

“Wait—where is he going?!”

“Is he off to help another group?!”

Recruit 47 (recovering):

“Also… why’s he trying to burn us in the process…?”

SFX (takeoff / flight): VROOOO—!

SFX (flame burst): FWOOSH! CRACKLE…

Panel 6

Medium front POV — Recruit 48 leans forward, one hand braced on his knee, still recovering from the blast. Just behind him, Recruit 43 trembles, eyes wide in fear as he reads the glowing alert on his wristwatch.

Recruit 43 (horrified):

“So… is the Corporal… really dead—?”

“And 36… injured…?”

SFX (watch glow): Beep… Beep…

Panel 7

Wide over-the-shoulder shot from Recruit 48 — His wrist is raised, watch glowing with the alert. Just a few feet ahead, Recruit 41 stands firm, untouched by the flames, arms crossed with calm authority as he faces the others. Beside 48, Recruit 43 also turns, watching tensely. Around them, the rest of the recruits shift their focus toward 41.

Recruit 41:

“If you’ve underestimated the F-Class by now…”

“You’re gravely mistaken—”

“…I would know. I’m one myself.”

Panel 8

Front medium close-up — Recruit 41 stands with arms crossed, smug and calm, completely unfazed by the chaos around him. His eyes carry quiet confidence, almost daring.

Recruit 41:

“We’re not the weak, disposable rejects you take us for—”

“Actually… we’re more like monsters that don’t fit with the rest.”

Page 4

(Meanwhile, District 4…)

[Group D — Night / F-Class District 4 Streets — Battle Scene]

Panel 1

Wide top back shot — Recruit 39 leaps mid-air, arm morphed into a sharp blade, swinging down in a deadly arc toward Neighbor 4. On the ground below, Neighbor 4 stands firm, facing forward with a calm, serious demeanor as the attack closes in.

Recruit 39:

“This is for killing our Corporal!”

Panel 2

Small top close shot — Neighbor 4’s eyes glance upward, a dark shadow cast across them, giving his stare a cold, ominous weight.

SFX (tense beat): …

Panel 3

Wide back POV — BOOM! Neighbor 4’s fist slams into Recruit 39’s gut, driving deep as his body folds from the impact. Heavy speed lines radiate from the blow, the shockwave bursting outward. Recruit 39’s face contorts in pain, air violently expelled from his lungs.

SFX (impact): PUNNNCH! KRRFFURRK!!

Recruit 39 (gasping):

“—Khhff! cough—”

Panel 4

Wide top front shot — Recruit 39’s body hurtles backward through the air from the punch. His face is twisted in pain, eyes half-lidded as if slipping into unconsciousness. His body flails mid-flight, speed lines trailing to show the sheer force of the blow.

SFX (body launched): WHOOOM!

Panel 5 (Left Panel)

Wide side shot — BAM! Recruit 39’s body slams hard into a tall street light pole, the impact cracking its base and bending the pole backward. The violent jolt shocks him awake, his eyes snapping wider as another gasp of air escapes.

SFX (impact): BAMMM! KRRK!

Recruit 39 (gasping):

“Hhkkff—!”

Panel 6 (Right Panel)

Wide back street-level shot — The tall street pole tilts backward, halfway to the ground, its cracked base giving way. Recruit 39’s limp body leans against it, unconscious, still slumped on the pole as it falls.

SFX (pole breaking): KRRRKKK! GROOOAN…

Panel 7

Wide front street shot — The recruits scatter in panic, some bracing while others sprint away as the street pole comes crashing down, slamming flat against the ground. A huge shockwave erupts, smoke and debris exploding outward.

SFX (metal crash): CRRHHSSZZZZZ!!

SFX (ground impact): THUDDD!!

Recruits (simultaneous):

“Ahhh!!”

Panel 8

Medium front shot — Neighbor 4 calmly retracts his arm, scarred knuckles tightening into a fist. His face stays serious and composed, unmoved by the chaos around him.

Neighbor 4:

“He didn’t deserve this—”

“Neither do you all.”

“So go home.”

Panel 9

Front medium close — Recruit 40’s face is hard with bitterness and rage. She thrusts both hands forward; translucent ice-mist orbs form between her palms, wobbling and half-melting into watery streams as they take shape. Tiny droplets bead and slide down the orbs’ surfaces.

SFX (ice forming): Krrr—shh…

SFX (water drip): drip… drip…

Recruit 40 (angry):

“I’m not going anywhere just yet—”

“—until I capture every last one of you F-Class vermin!”

Panel 10

Wide front corner side shot — Neighbor 4 lowers his arm from the punch, posture steady. His calm gaze shifts to the right, spotting Recruit 40 in the distance. She stands with her hands pressed together, multiple fully formed ice-mist bullets swirling around her, several already streaking toward Neighbor 4.

Recruit 40: (power callout)

“ICE MIST — ICE BULLET BARRAGE!!”

SFX (ice bullets firing): Fshhh! Fshhh! Fshhh!

Neighbor 4 (calm):

“Hm…”

Panel 11

Wide mid-air back shot — A swarm of mist bullets rains downward, their icy tips aimed directly at Neighbor 4. Below, he lifts his gaze toward them, his expression calm yet tense, a flicker of shock and seriousness breaking through his composure.

SFX (bullets cutting through air): Shhhhhh! Fsshhht!

Page 5

Panel 1

Wide floor-level front shot — Neighbor 4 turns his body away, eyes shut, arms raised to brace for the oncoming storm of hundreds of ice bullets descending fast. At the last instant, Neighbor 5 leaps in front of him, both hands thrust upward. Blocks of dense air shimmer into place, forming a barrier. Bullets ricochet and deflect violently off the air blocks, some halting mid-impact while others whistle past the sides at deadly speed.

Neighbor 5 (power callout):

“AIR VORTEX — Air Block Defense!”

SFX (ice deflecting): Kshhh! Clang! Fsshhht!

Panel 2

Medium two-body corner front shot — Neighbor 5 stands firm, hands still raised, his Air Vortex power active. His cracked glasses glint as his serious gaze locks forward. Behind him, Neighbor 4 lowers the hand he’d used to shield himself, realizing who stepped in to protect him. The ground behind them is riddled with fresh bullet holes, with a few more icy shards just about to strike the pavement.

Neighbor 5:

“I’ve got your cover, Aurthor—!”

“Now go!”

SFX (ice shards hitting ground): Kchhh! Thnk! Thnk!

Panel 3

Wide front-side shot — Neighbor 5 stands firm, both hands raised as dense air blocks shimmer in front of him, shielding himself and Neighbor 4. Just behind, Neighbor 4 steadies himself, eyes sharp and serious, his body leaning forward as if ready to lunge — waiting for the perfect moment.

Neighbor 4 (Aurthor):

“Right.”

SFX (air barrier hum): Fwooom…

Panel 4

Medium front shot — Recruit 40 stumbles back a few steps, her hands pulled in toward her chest. Her eyes widen in shock and fear, the mist around her palms fading and dimming after her attack is stopped.

Recruit 40 (shaken):

“How dare he try to stop my attack….”

SFX (mist fading): Fsshh…

Panel 5

Small close front shot — Recruit 40 straightens her posture, face twisted between anger and a grudging sense of being impressed. She thrusts her hands forward again, surging with renewed intensity as mist gathers rapidly.

Recruit 40 (furious):

“Well, now you’ve just pissed me off!”

SFX (mist surge): Fsshhh! Vrrrm!

Panel 6

Wide corner front POV — Recruit 40 hands pressed together, her body surging with power. Around and before her, countless shapes of ice mist solidify — bullets, baseball bats, knives, cannons, and an arsenal of weapons forming in midair. The sheer variety swarms the space like a deadly storm.

Recruit 40 (shouts):

“ICE MIST! — HUNDREDS OF WEAPONS BARRAGE!!!”

SFX (weapons forming): Krrshhh! Shnnnk! Fwooom!

Panel 7

Medium front-side shot — Neighbor 4 suddenly lunges forward with his first step, body low and fast, eyes locked ahead. Just behind him, Neighbor 5 remains in place, hands raised, still shielding them with the air barrier.

SFX (lunge burst): SHFFFT!

Panel 8

Mid-air corner back wide shot — Neighbor 4 launches forward through the air, arms raised to shield his face. Ahead, hundreds of ice-mist weapons — bullets, blades, bats, and cannons — surge toward him in a deadly storm, filling the sky.

SFX (weapons rushing): Fshhhhhh! Whssshhh!

Panel 9

Side close front shot — Neighbor 4 braces, arms shielding his upper body as he staggers backward, stepping clumsily under the relentless storm. Countless ice-mist weapons graze and slice across his body, leaving fresh cuts and marks.

Neighbor 4 (Aurthor):

“Damn.”

SFX (weapons slicing past): Shhhkt! Fshhh! Tssk!

Panel 10

Small front face shot — Recruit 40 grins wide, eyes lit with excitement as she bursts into laughter, thrilled by her attack landing.

Recruit 40 (laughing):

“Hahaha—take that!”

SFX (laughter echo): Ahahaha!

Page 6

Panel 1

Top back POV shot — Recruit 40 laughs menacingly, unaware of what’s right before her. Directly ahead, Neighbor 4 hangs midair, half his face hidden in shadow. With his left hand, he tosses aside a chunk of debris that blocked her view. His right arm is drawn back, ready to strike, his expression deadly serious. Cuts and blood mark his body from bulldozing through the weapon barrage, his eyes obscured in darkness.

Recruit 40 (laughing, unaware):

“For a second I thought an F-Class—”

“—was actually getting the best of me!”

SFX (debris flung): Krshhh!

Panel 2

Small front face shot — Recruit 40’s grin vanishes instantly, her expression twisting into shock and terror as her eyes snap upward.

Recruit 40:

“Huh…!”

SFX (sudden realization): …!

Panel 3

Wide corner top mid-air shot — Neighbor 4 swings a crushing overhand punch BOOOOOM! into the top of Recruit 40’s head. The impact drives her down, her face grimacing in pain as her body folds under the strike.

SFX (impact, dominating panel):

BOOOOOOOMM!!!

Neighbor 4 (Aurthor, shouting):

“PAY—ATTENTION!”

Panel 4

Bottom floor wide shot — Recruit 40 smashes headfirst into the concrete, face-planting with brutal force. The pavement erupts into a sprawling crater, cracks spiderwebbing outward as debris bursts into the air. Her body still trails midair behind the impact. Above, Neighbor 4 hangs suspended, arm frozen in his overhand punch stance.

SFX (impact): THUDDD!! CRSHHHZZZZ!

Panel 5

Front medium two-shot POV — Recruit 32 recoils in horror, eyes wide as he shields his face with both hands from the gust of dust and debris blowing past him. Just behind, Recruit 33 stands tense in calm shock, her hair whipping across her face in the wind, partially obscuring her expression.

SFX (wind/dust): WHOOOSH! SHHHHH!

Panel 6

Wide front shot — Recruit 35 strolls forward with a cocky smirk, stretching his neck with one arm. Beside him, Recruits 32 and 33 turn their gazes toward him, still shaken by the blast and debris.

Recruit 35 (smirking):

“Tch— and they were in the same group as me.”

“What a joke.”

“—Couldn’t even handle local neighbors.”

Panel 7

Front medium upper-body shot — Recruit 35 leans forward, cracking his knuckles with a sharp crk-crk. His smirk widens with cocky confidence, eyes gleaming with arrogance.

Recruit 35:

“I’ll show them what real power is!”

SFX (knuckles): CRK-CRK!

Panel 8

Wide low back shot — Recruit 35 bursts forward, body leaning into the charge, right hand spread wide. Motion lines streak behind him, dust kicking up from the ground as his speed tears forward. The space ahead of him is left open, building tension.

Recruit 35 (shouting):

“Pressure—!”

SFX (dash): WHOOOM! SHHHHT!

Panel 9

Over-the-back wide shot — Recruit 35’s full body twists into the strike as his open hand BAM!!connects with Neighbor 4’s face. The impact caves in Neighbor 4’s cheek, his head whipping violently to the side from the sheer force.

Recruit 61 (shouting):

“Slap!!!”

SFX (impact): BAAAM!!

Panel 10

Corner-front medium shot — Neighbor 4 reels mid-slap, blood spraying from his mouth as a tooth flies out. Despite the blow, his expression stays locked in a calm, simmering anger. Behind him, Recruit 35’s arm is still extended, just starting to pull back from the strike.

SFX (blood/tooth impact): Pwahhh! Tnk!

Page 7

Panel 1

Wide top-corner front shot — Neighbor 4 whips around, blood dripping from his mouth, teeth gritted. He slams his fist into Recruit 35’s gut with brutal force. Recruit 35’s body caves forward, face twisted in pain as the air blasts out of him.

Recruit 35:

“HHUKKGH!!”

SFX (impact): THWAMMM!

Panel 2

Back wide shot — Recruit 35 swings a brutal 12–6 elbow down into Neighbor 4’s shoulder. BAM! The force distorts the air around the strike as Neighbor 4 staggers forward from the impact.

Recruit 35 (yelling):

“Ahhh!”

SFX (impact): BAAMM!

Panel 3

Small close front shot — Neighbor 4 staggers, his left shoulder lowered from the blow. He swings a desperate right-hand punch forward, body twisting with the motion.

SFX (swing): Fwhhhp!

Panel 4

Medium front shot — Framed between Recruit 35 and Neighbor 4. Recruit 35 smirks wide as he snatches Neighbor 4’s wrist mid-swing. With his free hand, he pulls back, fist cocked and ready to strike.

SFX (wrist catch): GRAB! / SHHHK!

Recruit 35 (shouting):

“DON’T EVEN TRY!!”

Panel 5

Close front upper-body shot — Recruit 35’s fist smashes into Neighbor 4’s face, pressure waves bursting out from the impact. Neighbor 4’s cheek caves under the blow as blood and teeth explode into the air.

SFX (impact): BAAAMMM! KRRSHH!

Panel 6

Wide top back shot — Recruit 35 grips Neighbor 4’s arm tight while unleashing a relentless flurry of punches into his face. Neighbor 4’s left shoulder hangs broken and limp. Each blow explodes with dust and shockwaves, rippling violently outward.

Recruit 35 (shouting):

“PRESSURE PUNCHES!!!”

SFX (punch barrage): BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!

Panel 7

Front body shot — Neighbor 5 thrusts his hands forward, calm yet visibly worried. His hair and clothes whip violently in the wind as a swirling vortex forms before him, air rippling and distorting with crushing force.

Neighbor 5 (shouting):

“AIR VORTEX!!”

“RIPPLE EFFECT!!”

SFX (air swirling): WHOOOOM! FWHHHHH!

Panel 8

Over-the-back medium slow-mo shot — Recruit 35 yanks his bloody fist back, the motion stretched and heavy as droplets of blood hang frozen in the air. His other hand still grips Neighbor 4’s limp arm. Neighbor 4’s head dangles forward, swollen and bloodied, his eyes rolled back white from the brutal beating.

SFX (fist pulling back, slowed): Shhhft…

Panel 9

Street-side wide shot — The raging air vortex crashes into them. Recruit 35 is blasted off his feet, flung midair as his grip on Neighbor 4 finally breaks. Both are hurled in opposite directions, their bodies twisting violently against the storm’s force.

SFX (air blast): WHOOOOOOM! SHHHHHHH!

Panel 10

Ground-wide shot — Neighbor 4 crashes to the pavement, unconscious, face bloodied and shoulder twisted unnaturally. A few feet away, Recruit 35 lands firmly on his feet. He raises his blood-soaked right hand into a battle-ready stance, a wide grin stretched across his face as he stares forward.

SFX (impact, Neighbor 4 hitting ground): THUDD!

SFX (35 landing): Tkk!

Page 8

Panel 1

Front medium shot — Neighbor 5 dashes forward, the air around him violently warping and bending. He clasps his hands sideways as if crushing something invisible, wind spiraling outward in dense, violent currents.

Neighbor 5 (shouting):

“AIR VORTEX—WIND CRUSH!!”

SFX (wind distortion): WHOOOOM! FWOOOOOSH!

Panel 2

Close small front shot — Recruit 35’s face is roughed up and weary, but a cocky smirk spreads across his lips.

Recruit 35 (smirking):

“Bring it on.”

Panel 3

Two-shot, over-the-shoulder — From behind Recruit 32, he spins toward Recruit 33, his face frantic with panic. Recruit 33 meets his glance, her eyes calm but edged with serious worry.

Recruit 32 (frantic):

“Should we—do something…?”

Panel 4

Ground-wide back shot — Neighbor 5 skids forward on his knees, one hand carving a deep line into the dirt while the other thrusts upward toward Recruit 35. Wind pressure swells violently from his palm, the gale forming overhead like a crushing storm. In the distance, his dragged feet leave long trails across the ground. Above him, Recruit 35 glares down, unaware of the attack building.

Neighbor 5 (shouting):

“AIR VORTEX—BLAST!!”

SFX (wind pressure): WHOOOOOOM! FWWWWOOOOOSH!

Panel 5

Close back medium shot — Recruit 35 stiffens as Recruit 61 suddenly flashes in behind him, calm-faced. Recruit 61’s hand grips 35’s waist as he dashes forward, yanking him out of danger.

Recruit 61 (calm):

“I don’t think so.”

SFX (dash-in): FWSSHHHT!

Panel 6

Front wide shot — Recruit 61 skids to a stop, calm and steady, holding Recruit 35 at his side. Recruit 35 looks dazed, eyes wide in shock. Behind them, Neighbor 5 collapses under the force of his own crushing wind pressure, slammed flat as the blast erupts. Smoke and debris explode outward in a violent wave.

SFX (blast eruption): KWHOOOOOOM! CRSHHHHH!

Panel 7

Over-the-shoulder wide shot — Neighbor 5 staggers on shaky legs, struggling to rise. In the distance, Recruit 35 glancing up at his disheveled hair smirking despite the mess. Beside him, Recruit 61 stands calm and steady. Between them, Neighbor 6 lies unconscious on the ground.

Recruit 35 (smirking):

“Thanks for the save… but now my hair’s a mess.”

SFX (hair slick): Shffft…

Panel 8

Front medium shot — Neighbor 5 staggers forward, bruised and battered, but musters all his strength to shout, his voice raw with desperation.

Neighbor 5 (shouting):

“AURTHOR, WAKE UP!!”

SFX (strained shout): HAAAHHH!!

Panel 9

Ground-wide shot — Neighbor 4 lies unconscious on the ground, face battered, bruised, and bloodied. A few feet away, Recruit 35 stands grinning in annoyance, slicking his bloody hair back as he stares ahead at the unseen Neighbor 5. Beside him, Recruit 61 remains calm, eyes lowered toward the unconscious body of Neighbor 6.

Recruit 35 (grinning):

“Aurthor, right—? That’s his name?!”

“!!”

“Well, he won’t be waking up anytime soon.”

SFX (hair slick): Shfft…

Panel 10

Close front upper-body shot — Aurthor lies completely motionless, face swollen, bloodied, and battered, his body limp and unconscious.

SFX (faint stillness): …

Page 8

Panel 1

Medium front shot — Neighbor 7 stands a few feet ahead, relaxed with a faint grin, head lowered. His rough hair and middle-aged look give him a rugged edge. Hands hang loosely together as if about to clap. Behind him, the neighbors watch in shock and horror.

Neighbor 7 (chuckle)

“Tch-heh.”

Panel 2

Small close shot — Neighbor 7’s rough, hairy, scarred hands clap tightly together.

SFX: Clap!

Panel 3

Medium front shot — A small star-shaped light flickers in front of Recruit 61. He gazes at it calmly, eyes steady. Beside him, Recruit 35 is half in frame, ranting with wild energy.

Recruit 35:

“And you’ll be joining him soon!”

SFX (light): Shiiin…

Panel 4

Close back shot — The back of Recruit 61’s head and right ear in view as he slightly extends his arm toward the star-shaped light. The glow draws nearer, illuminating him from the front.

Recruit 61 (curious):

“Hm—what’s that.”

SFX (light glow): Fwaa…

Panel 5

Full black panel — scattered flashes of small white stars shimmer across the darkness, filling the frame.

SFX (star flickers): Shiiin… Shiiin…

Panel 6

Mid back wide shot — The glowing star-shaped light expands into a massive illuminated sword, piercing clean through the back of Recruit 61’s head. Blood spews outward in a sharp spray. Beside him, Recruit 35 faces forward, still rambling, completely unaware.

SFX (pierce): SHNK!

SFX (blood spray): SPLSH!

Panel 7

Wide floor-level shot — Recruit 61 collapses backward, lying unconscious with the glowing sword still impaled through his head. The blade pierces into the ground, leaving his head hanging slightly above it. Blood drips slowly down the illuminated edge. Beside him, Recruit 35 turns to look down, eyes wide in shock and horror.

SFX (blood drip): Tok… Tok…

Panel 8

Medium close-up — Neighbor 4’s eyes snap open as his body jolts. He gasps sharply for air, a cough ripping out as blood spatters from his mouth.

Author (gasp):

“Hhhkff!”

SFX (cough/blood): Khhff—Pwahhh!

TO BE CONTINUED END OF CHAPTER 4!