CHAPTER 8 — FEAR THE GOVERNMENT

SPLASH INTRO PAGE — FULL PAGE

A cracked family portrait lies burning.

Half the picture is scorched black — the parents’ smiles are destroyed.

Only the children’s faces remain intact, frowning, untouched by the flame.

Caption: FEAR THE GOVERNMENT…

⸻

PAGE 1

Caption: Meanwhile… F-Class District 2, Night. Rain pours.

⸻

Panel 1 — Skyline shot (rainy, cinematic wide)

District 2 drowns under a brutal storm.

Rain hammers the rooftops as lightning rips across the sky.

From a burning house below, a woman’s scream cuts through the night.

Woman (screaming): “AHHHHHHH!!”

SFX (thunder): GRSHHHKKK—KRAAASH!

⸻

Panel 2 — Inside the burning home (wide over-the-back shot)

From behind the woman — she’s collapsed on the floor, trembling as flames crawl across the living room walls and ceiling.

At the shattered doorway, three recruits stand soaked in rain, their silhouettes dominating the room.

Woman (terrified):

“W-Who… are you people!!”

Recruit 11 (grinning):

“We’re… the government.”

⸻

PAGE 2

Panel 1 — Intimate close shot (violent motion)

Recruit 11 grips the woman’s hair and yanks her head back with brutal force.

Her face twists in pain and terror.

Woman (pained): “Ehh—!”

SFX (hair pull): KCHK!

⸻

Panel 2 — Front wide shot (outside, rainy)

From the street — Recruit 11 kicks the burning door open, blasting it off its hinges.

Smoke and firelight explode into the storm as he drags the woman by her hair across the wet ground.

SFX (door kick): THWAM!

Recruit 11 (exhilarated):

“This rush!!”

⸻

Panel 3 — Wide over-the-back shot (rain-soaked)

From behind Recruit 11 —

he tosses the woman onto the muddy ground.

She crashes beside three bound civilians, all trembling and tear-streaked.

Recruit 11 (cold): “Wait over there!”

Woman (pained): “Ah—!”

SFX (mud impact): THUD!

⸻

PAGE 3

Panel 1 — Medium front shot

Recruit 11 stands in the foreground with a twisted smirk, the burning house blazing behind him.

The other two recruits approach from behind, their faces uneasy and annoyed.

Recruit 12 (unimpressed):

“Was the drama necessary…?”

⸻

Panel 2 — Medium in-between shot (flame-lit tension)

From behind Recruits 12 and 13 —

Recruit 11 snaps around to face them.

Firelight flickers across his narrowed eyes, irritation replacing his grin.

Recruit 11 (cold):

“Enough.”

“Save your speech.”

⸻

Panel 3 — Over-the-back wide shot (tree vantage)

From a tree across the street —

Corporal Cassy leans against the trunk, unfazed, a thin stick hanging from her mouth.

Across the road, Recruit 11 gestures sharply as he lectures the other two by the burning house.

Recruit 11 (distant, shouting):

“Thanks to me—”

“doing it my way—”

“we’re all passing this thing.”

SFX (rain through leaves): SHHHHHH—

SFX (fire crackling far): FWSSHH—

⸻

Panel 4 — Medium front shot (under the tree, rain falling softly)

Ms. Cassy rests against the tree, arms crossed, head slightly lowered as rain trails off her long white hair.

Her massive sword leans beside her.

The distant firelight flickers over her face.

She doesn’t even look at it — expression unreadable.

She lets out a slow, quiet sigh.

Ms. Cassy (exhale): “…Haa.”

SFX (rain tapping on the stick): drip…

⸻

Panel 5 — Mini bleed panel (close-up)

Extreme close-up of Ms. Cassy’s WUG watch as its screen flashes with an urgent alert.

[WATCH SCREEN]:

ALERT — SERGEANT!

ALL AVAILABLE UNITS → DISTRICT 4

SFX (beep): BEEP—BEEP—BEEP!

⸻

PAGE 4

Full-page wide close shot

Ms. Cassy leans forward from the tree, eyes snapping down to her flashing WUG watch.

The stick slips from her mouth as her jaw tightens — her calm hardens into sharp focus.

Ms. Cassy (thinking):

“Another alert…?”

“…Sergeant…”

SFX (watch beeping): BEEP—BEEP—BEEP!

SFX (rain intensifying): SHHHHHHH—

⸻

PAGE 5

Panel 1 — Wide skyline street shot (rainy)

A panoramic view of F-Class District 1 under the storm.

WUG banners hang limp and soaked. Propaganda posters peel off crumbling walls.

Caption (top corner): Meanwhile… in District 1.

⸻

Panel 2 — Low-angle tracking shot (street level)

A recruit’s lower half tears down the sidewalk — boots hammering through puddles, water splashing high with every step.

Recruit 5 (frustrated, thinking):

“I haven’t caught anyone yet…”

“And it’s is almost sunrise…!”

SFX (footsteps): THMP—THMP—THMP—

SFX (puddle): SPLSHH!

⸻

Panel 3 — Close medium front shot (rain-soaked, running toward camera)

Recruit 5 sprints toward us through the rain, soaked hair plastered to his face, eyes tense and panicked.

Recruit 5 (panting, thinking):

“Only thirty on the leaderboard…”

“I just need one capture…”

“But they’re all too scary…!”

⸻

Panel 4 — Side close shoulder shot

He runs forward — then his shoulders snap tight. His eyes jerk toward a dark alley as something moves in the shadows.

SFX (sudden realization): KCHK—

⸻

PAGE 6

Panel 1 — Full-page ground-level alley shot

From deep inside the alley —

A torn WUG poster peels off the wall, reading: “POWER IS ORDER.”

Trash bags rot in puddles. Rats skitter along rusted pipes.

At the alley mouth, Recruit 5 stands frozen mid-stride, rain dripping off him, face twisted in shock and disgust.

In front of him, a skeletal boy sits barefoot in the filth —

borderline animal, tearing apart spoiled food with his hands.

He eats some, then tosses pieces to rats and roaches clustered around him like trained pets.

Recruit 5 (recoiling): “Uhhh—…!!”

SFX (rats scurrying): SKRRRT—SKRRRT—

SFX (rain on metal): PING… TSSHH—

⸻

PAGE 7

Panel 1 — Extreme close-up (hand shot, rain pouring)

The boy’s filthy, bony hand reaches out from the darkness.

A chunk of rotten fish rests in his palm, water sliding across the grey flesh.

He offers it outward.

SFX (rain on skin): PLLP… SPLT…

⸻

Panel 2 — Over-the-shoulder medium shot (rain-soaked, alley mouth)

From behind the boy —

Recruit 5 leans back slightly, shoulders tense, eyes wide with horror and pity.

The boy stands now, arm extended, offering the rotten fish with a hollow, empty stare.

No dialogue. Just the offer.

⸻

Panel 3 — Close-up front shot (disgust and conflict)

Recruit 5 clamps a hand over his mouth, jaw shaking.

His eyes dart between the fish and the boy’s face.

Recruit 5 (thinking, torn):

“Should I… capture him…?”

SFX (swallow): GLK—

⸻

Panel 4 — Close medium shot (boy in the rain)

The bony boy stands trembling, soaked to the bone.

He pushes the rotten fish out even farther, hand shaking.

He tries to smile — a tiny, broken attempt —

but his cheeks are too sunken. The expression fails halfway.

SFX (rain dripping off the fish): SPLT… SPLT…

⸻

Panel 5 — Back medium street shot (rainy)

From behind Recruit 5 — he turns away, shoulders sagging, walking off in slow, disturbed steps.

In the alley, the boy remains stuck in place — arm still out, fish still in his hand, confusion creeping into his hollow stare.

SFX (rain): SHHH…

SFX (fading footsteps): THMP… THMP…

⸻

Panel 6 — Small front face shot (rain mixing with tears)

Recruit 5 stares at the ground, eyes glassy.

Rain hides the tears sliding down his face.

Recruit 5 (weak, cracking whisper):

“I can’t do it…”

“I’m not cut for this…”

⸻

PAGE 8

Panel 1 — Close front medium shot (corner turn, sudden stop)

Recruit 5 rounds the corner, still shaken —

and freezes.

Right in front of him stand Recruit 4 and Recruit 7, both shorter, staring up with cold, sharp eyes.

SFX (sudden stop): KCHT—

⸻

Panel 2 — Medium shot (jumpscare energy)

Recruit 5 jolts back as Recruit 4 steps in, eyes hard.

Recruit 4:

“Did you find anyone—”

“on that side?”

Recruit 7 (glowering, quiet): “Hmm—”

Recruit 5 (startled): “Ahh—!”

⸻

Panel 3 — Small flash panel (memory)

Mini bleed —

The boy’s trembling hand offering the rotten fish.

Rain tapping off the rotten flesh.

SFX: SPLT… SPLT…

⸻

Panel 4 — Over-the-back shot (tense, rainy)

From behind Recruit 4 and 7 —

Recruit 5 lowers his head, shadow over his eyes. His fists clench slightly at his sides.

Recruit 5 (quiet): “…no…”

Recruit 4 (stern): “Better be telling the truth.”

⸻

Panel 5 — Close front shot (bitter glare)

Recruit 4 turns, annoyed, jaw tight as he looks toward the distance where Saki’s group operates.

Recruit 4 (irritated):

“Otherwise those bastards’ll—”

“keep taking all the captures.”

Recruit 7 (off-panel, frustrated):

“Well at least you have some!!”

PAGE 9

Full Page — Panel 1 (wide front shot)

Saki stands at the center of the district, calm and untouched by the rain.

Cal (Recruit 2) leans against him to the left, relaxed, confused scratching head.

Toya (Recruit 3) stands to the right, composed and cool.

Behind them, scattered recruits linger near buildings, watching the trio with envy and disbelief.

Recruit 2 (chuckling):

“Ehm…this district has—”

“More people right…?”

Bottom-right — Leaderboard:

1. Recruit 1 — 21 captures

2. Recruit 3 — 18 captures

3. Recruit 2 — 16 captures

4. Recruit 4 — 9 captures

5. Recruit 11 — 7 captures

⸻

PAGE 10

Panel 1 — Over-the-back medium shot

From behind Recruit 2 —

he glances at Toya standing next to saki finger on his chin : contemplating calmly, despite the chaos.

Toya:

“Yea…we’ve circled the district three times.”

“But only found few people outside…?”

⸻

Panel 2 — front medium close up of saki in between them talking as Toya glances at him asking him a questing as is Saki calm foward

Toya (to saki)

“…Did they know we where coming?”

Saki:

“Not sure, but—“

“They must’ve left—“

“Before we even got here…”

⸻

Panel 3 — Over-the-back shot

Ms. Merble stands across the field, wristwatch raised, alert flashing bright red.

Her posture tightens as she shouts over the rain.

Ms. Merble (yelling):

“RECRUITS!”

“STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING!”

⸻

PAGE 11

Panel 1 — Wide upper-body front shot

Ms. Merble stands firm, hair soaked, voice slicing through the storm with command precision.

Ms. Merble:

“The trial has been terminated!”

“Everyone, return to the planes!”

⸻

Panel 2 — Wide shot (mixed reactions)

Across the district — recruits freeze.

Shocked. Confused. Angry.

Cal slight confused, blinking.

Toya stiffens.

Saki’s eyes narrow.

Recruit 4 looks pissed rather than surprised.

Cal: “…huh.”

Recruit 7 (shocked): “WHAT!!”

Recruit 5 (despairing): “T-The trial… is over?!”

⸻

Panel 3 — Close front shot

Recruit 7 stares forward in disbelief while recruits behind her murmur in panic.

Recruit 7:

“How is it over…?

“There aren’t even forty recruits yet…?!”

⸻

Panel 4 — Close front shot (from afar)

Ms. Merble calls out, finishing her orders.

Ms. Merble:

“The Sergeant needs help!”

“I’ll explain everything—”

“back at the academy!”

⸻

PAGE 12

Panel 1 — Back wide shot

The top three recruits walk away casually, backs to everyone.

Cal is the only one facing the others —

throwing a lazy peace sign with a grin.

Saki (calm): “C’mon.”

Cal (calling out): “Bye…!”

Caption (Ms. Merble, off-panel): “EVERYONE DISMISSED!!”

⸻

Panel 2 — Close front shot

The recruits stare, stunned and jealous.

Recruit 4 scowls at the empty leaderboard gap the trio left behind.

Saki (off-panel): “Release…”

Recruit 4 (bitter): “Tch…”

⸻

Panel 3 — Front wide shot (teleport aftermath)

The spot where the top trio stood is now empty.

A fading ring of closing light floats mid-air as debris scatters from the teleport.

In the background, recruits stare in shock, envy, and resentment.

SFX (teleport vanish): VWOOOH!!

SFX (debris scattering): FWSHHH—

⸻

SPLASH PAGE — FULL PAGE

Saki stands before the towering WUG Academy —

hands in his pockets, posture loose but solid.

His expression is calm yet serious.

His eyes drift off to the side, uninterested… but sharp.

CAPTION: RECRUIT 1 — SAKI

⸻

PAGE 13

Caption: Meanwhile back inside the home…

⸻

Panel 1 — Shadowed close shot

Artemis sits in darkness, half his face concealed.

A slow grin edges across his mouth.

Artemis: “…”

⸻

Panel 2 — Wide side shot (bedroom)

Artemis lounges against a broken dresser, grin widening.

He extends a hand toward the closet where the terrified family hides.

A star begins forming in his palm, flickering light across the ruined room.

Artemis (thinking):

“Need a distraction.”

⸻

Panel 3 — Close front shot

Yota’s eyes snap open — glowing faintly.

Yota: “No!!”

⸻

PAGE 14–15 — DOUBLE SPREAD

Panel 1 — Massive over-the-back wide shot

From behind the closet —

The room erupts into blinding star-light as Artemis’s palm prepares to detonate—

But before it hits,

Sgt. Kert explodes through the front wall in white flame, debris flying everywhere,

his hand already clamped on Artemis’s collar.

SFX (wall obliterating): KRAK-BOOOOM!!

⸻

Panel 2 — Slow-motion medium shot

Kert mid-air, face furious, white flames roaring.

His other hand rockets toward Yota at lightning speed.

(No dialogue)

⸻

Panel 3 — Transition panel (into the kitchen)

Side shot —

Kert releasing the flame in his hands he grabs Yota by the neck and rips him off his feet, dragging Artemis with the other hand.

Artemis’s half-formed star slices a glowing trench through the floorboards as all three explode through collapsing walls.

SFX: THRRRSHHH!

⸻

PAGE 15 (CONTINUED)

Panel 1 — Back wide shot

Kert drags both Yota and Artemis through multiple houses, smashing through walls, bursting pipes, — a trail of destruction behind them.

Yota and Artemis scream in pain.

Yota (choking):

“The… hell—”

⸻

PAGE 16

Panel 1 — Wide corner shot (mid-air, explosive exit)

Kert bursts out of the final brick wall in a streak of white flame —

dragging Yota and Artemis by their necks as he rockets into the open air above the F-Class town hall.

Rain pours through the shattered hole behind them.

SFX (wall burst): KRRR-KOOM!

⸻

Panel 2 — Wide back-lower shot

Kert lands hard, unmoving, flames roaring around him.

He lifts Yota and Artemis higher by their throats — skin burned from the flame’s proximity.

A thunderclap cracks the sky behind them.

Yota (pained): “…ahh…!”

Artemis (choking): “Grhh…”

SFX (thunder): KRAA-THOOM!

⸻

Panel 3 — Corner top close shot

Artemis twists sharply and drives an elbow into Kert’s arm in desperation —

a clean, desperate strike.

SFX (impact): THMP!

⸻

Panel 4 — Close-up (Kert’s torso)

At the same moment, Yota snaps a kick straight into Kert’s chest —

but the impact barely moves Kert’s armor or flames.

SFX (kick impact): WHUD!

⸻

Panel 5 — Wide close shot (town hall)

Both Artemis and Yota snap backward mid-air —

their attacks did absolutely nothing.

Kert’s grip stays firm.

Their necks continue to sizzle in his burning hands.

Yota (half-defeated):

“…that— didn’t work…”

SFX (sizzle): SSHHH—

⸻

Panel 6 — Close front shot (Artemis & Yota)

Kert still holds them effortlessly.

Yota winces hard.

Artemis, despite the pain, forces a crooked smirk.

Artemis (strained, smirking):

“You’re the Sergeant… right…?”

⸻

PAGE 17

Panel 1 — Back wide shot

Kert yanks both of them forward —

then hurls Yota and Artemis across the town hall like ragdolls.

SFX (violent throw): FWOOOM—!

⸻

Panel 2 — Corner side shot

Yota and Artemis spiral through the air —

then crash through a line of food carts, metal and wood folding inward on impact.

SFX (crash): KRRAAANG!!

⸻

Panel 3 — Close ground-level face shot

Yota collapses to all fours, gasping.

His fingers dig into the ground, his whole body trembling.

Yota (breathless):

“What was that…?”

“I can’t… breathe…”

“Too much pain…”

⸻

Panel 4 — Side corner shot (Yota’s POV)

Yota and Artemis struggle to get up, coughing —

but Kert suddenly appears between them, arms crossed.

A white-flame trail fades behind him.

His speed looked like teleportation.

Kert (grunt): “Hm.”

⸻

Panel 5 — Floor shot (low, intense)

The ground around Kert melts into a steaming puddle as he steps forward —

each footstep sinking into softened stone.

He walks toward Artemis, who struggles on hands and knees, barely upright.

SFX (ground melting): SSSHHH—

⸻

PAGE 18

Panel 1 — Close face shot

Kert looms over Artemis, dark armor glowing under white flames.

His eyes are cold — the eyes of someone who has reached a conclusion.

Pure Flame Kert:

“How do you know me?”

“You must be responsible…”

⸻

Panel 2 — Wide shot (rain pouring)

Kert keeps advancing —

but suddenly, Yota skids in front of him, nearly falling, clutching his stomach.

Yota (strained):

“Hold on a second…!”

⸻

Panel 3 — Corner top “mind shot”

Close-up of Yota forcing a shaky smirk, teeth clenched.

Rain runs down his face as he speaks mentally.

Yota (thinking):

“Hope you’re not still mad at me…”

“…Life…”

⸻

Panel 4 — Close mouth shot

Yota’s jaw tightens —

he shouts through the storm.

Yota:

“ETERNAL SLEEP!”

⸻

Panel 5 — Close face shot

Yota’s eyes widen —

waiting for something… anything.

Nothing changes.

⸻

Panel 6 — Medium over-the-back shot

Kert stands unmoved in front of him —

white flames flickering, completely unaffected.

Yota’s face sinks.

Yota (nervous chuckle):

“Ehh… ah…”

⸻

PAGE 19

Panel 1 — Close in-between shot (impact motion echo)

Kert brings his hand down in a heavy chop to Yota’s shoulder —

the impact slamming into him like a boulder.

Yota’s body twists, collapsing to one knee.

SFX (heavy chop): WHUD!

Yota (pained):

“…my shoulder’s—burning…”

⸻

Panel 2 — Front medium shot

Artemis stumbles to his feet, swaying.

He’s hurt — badly —

but still grins through the pain.

Artemis:

“…Not so fast…”

“You asked me a question.”

⸻

Panel 3 — Over-the-shoulder shot

Artemis leans back, barely standing, facing Kert’s blazing form.

Artemis (breathless):

“Haa…”

“I’ll answer…”

“if you defeat me…”

Pure Flame Kert:

“…”

⸻

Panel 4 — Back wide corner shot

Kert disappears without a sound —

and reappears beside Artemis in an instant.

His foot is already buried in Artemis’s torso before Artemis can even realize what happened.

The impact distorts the air in a circular shockwave.

SFX (pressure burst): BWOOOM—!

⸻

PAGE 20

Panel 1 — Over-the-back wide shot

Artemis is launched across the town hall —

rain exploding outward from the kick, pavement ripping beneath him.

SFX (impact): THOOM!

⸻

Panel 2 — Mid-air medium close shot

Artemis twists mid-air, trying to recover —

but the pain from Kert’s kick is still coursing through him.

Artemis: “Grhh…!”

⸻

Panel 3 — Close wide shot

Artemis slams onto the ground, skidding back dozens of feet as debris sprays behind him.

SFX (skid): SKRRR—!

⸻

Panel 4 — Close face shot

He plants his feet, blood running down his cheek —

and grins wide.

Artemis:

“Oh— I know you’ve got more than that!”

⸻

Panel 5 — Close chest shot

Artemis slams his palm into his chest —

a violent smack that sends stardust bursting off his hand.

Artemis:

“Don’t hold back on me Sergeant!!”

⸻

PAGE 21

Panel 1 — Corner wide shot (rain pouring)

Artemis starts violently slapping his chest like a raging silverback —

each blow forming a star behind him.

Multiple miniature stars form and rotate, warping the air around him.

Artemis (roaring):

“ABUNDANT BLESSING!!”

⸻

Panel 2 — Medium back shot

Kert stands perfectly still.

Unfazed.

Silent.

He reaches behind him and pulls a white-flame shield from his own fire —

the name “Sora” etched faintly across its surface.

Kert (thinking):

“Sora…”

SFX (rain sizzling): SSSZZZ—

⸻

Panel 3 — Corner front close wide shot

Kert walks forward, shield at his side.

Each step melts the ground beneath him, leaving flaming footprints.

Sgt. Kert (final thought):

“…farewell…”

Above him —

Artemis hangs suspended in the air, arms spread like claws.

Behind him, massive radiant star-swords bloom outward like a divine arsenal.

Lightning flashes across his twisted grin.

SFX (thunder): KRAA-BOOOM!

CAPTION: TO BE CONTINUED…