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[Panel 1 – Street Scene]
The devils return home after the attack — wounded, bloody, and limping. Their armor is cracked, weapons bent, and their pride visibly crushed.
Background Crowd (shouting):
"What the hell happened to them?"
"Is this how the Devils plan to take over all races?"
"How pathetic are these warriors…"
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[Panel 2 – Close-up on Mizuna, furious]
Mizuna: "Enough! Shut your mouths. If you think you can do our job better, then volunteer next time!"
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[Panel 3 – Captain sneers, brushing it off]
Captain 3: "Hah. Ignore them, Mizuna. Just another drunk fool."
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[Panel 4 – Tochirō thinking, watching Mizuna snap]
Tochirō (thoughts): "I've never seen Mizuna this worked up… but after what we faced, who wouldn't be? Devils… they're a menace."
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Next Morning – Inside the Barracks
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[Panel 5 – Raizen chained in the prison cell, still smug despite injuries]
Mizuna: "Our little guest is healed. The fact is, mid-rank and high-rank demons can regenerate from even a single cell."
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[Panel 6 – Raizen smirks, trying to channel his power]
Zzzttt! (energy sparks but fizzles out)
Mizuna: "Don't even try. With that anti-demon collar, you're vulnerable now. Weak. We can torture you as much as we like, and you'll still regenerate… slowly."
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[Panel 7 – Mizuna's face darkens]
Mizuna: "If I were you, I'd start talking. Who's feeding you information from within our division?"
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[Panel 8 – Raizen laughs, fearless]
Raizen: "Then get ready to kill me."
Mizuna: "Guards! Bring scissors, hot water, a devil-knife… every torture tool you can find."
Prison Guards: "Yes, Captain!"
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[Panel 9 – Raizen, smirking wider]
Raizen: "I'm starting to like you. Use anything — weapons, fire, tricks, pain. I won't talk."
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[Panel 10 – Mizuna narrowing her eyes]
Mizuna: "…We'll see about that."
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Afternoon – Mizuna's Quarters
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[Panel 11 – Knock at the door. Tochirō answers.]
Roku: "Yo, I'm looking for Captain Mizuna."
Tochirō: "I'm sorry, who might you be?"
Roku: "Captain Roku, another division. Don't be so formal, kid. Just go fetch her."
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[Panel 12 – Mizuna enters. Roku immediately flirts.]
Roku: "Mizuna, my dear! My sweet thing! How have you been?"
Mizuna: "Ugh. You haven't changed, Roku. Still as annoying as ever."
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[Panel 13 – Roku points at Tochirō, grinning]
Roku: "Oh? You got yourself a boyfriend?"
Mizuna: "He's just my student. He traveled here from the Devil Bone Pyramid Ward."
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[Panel 14 – Roku circles Tochirō, sniffing like a child teasing]
Roku: "Weird… his devil energy feels different from the others."
Mizuna (shoving him back): "Back off, you creep. He's my student."
Roku: "Dear, dear, relax!"
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[Panel 15 – Serious tone returns]
Mizuna: "So? What brings you here?"
Roku: "Orders from our Lord. Word is, you captured Raizen, the mid-rank demon. Here — a bag of gold. There was a bounty on his head."
Mizuna: "Wasn't me. It was Tochirō, actually."
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[Panel 16 – Tochirō panics, waving hands]
Tochirō: "Wait, wait! I didn't do anything. You and the others held him down — I just… got lucky!"
Roku: "Hah. Modest kid. Either way, the gold stays here."
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[Panel 17 – Roku leaning in close, whispering]
Roku: "There are traitors in our midst. All divisions and units will be inspected."
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[Panel 18 – Tochirō thinking, anxious]
"Traitors… How do they already know? Could they have figured out Renji or Akira…?"
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[Panel 19 – Mizuna kicks Tochirō in the shin]
Mizuna: "Stop daydreaming! Don't scare me with that worried face!"
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[Panel 20 – Roku leaving, waving playfully]
Roku: "I'll be heading out. Goodbye, boy with the strange devil energy. And goodbye, my dear Mizuna~"
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Saturday – Local Bar (with Flashback)
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[Panel 21 – Wide shot: The three sit around a small wooden table. Drinks clink. Background noise of laughter and music.]
Tochirō: "So, how's it been going with you two?"
Akira: "Training with the old geezer. His demon energy is insane. I'll be stronger than ever soon."
Tochirō: "I got drafted into the devil military force."
Renji: "Heh. Lucky you two. I'm stuck in a shop, reading newspapers like an old man."
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[Panel 22 – Tochirō takes a deep sip, eyes shadowed.]
Tochirō: "On my last mission… we raided the demons. More like we stepped into hell."
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FLASHBACK PANELS
[Flashback Panel 1 – Battlefield, soldiers charging through a burning forest]
The squad shouts as they advance, weapons drawn. Shadows loom in the smoke.
[Flashback Panel 2 – A single mid-rank demon stands calm, eyes glowing red.]
The air cracks with energy.
[Flashback Panel 3 – Explosion of power, half the squad is instantly vaporized into ash.]
Screams echo: "AAAHHH—!!"
[Flashback Panel 4 – Tochirō kneeling in shock, watching comrades burn away, his sword shaking in his hand.]
[Flashback Panel 5 – Back to present. Tochirō gripping his drink tightly, sweat on his brow.]
Tochirō: "…But somehow, we captured him."
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[Panel 23 – Akira slams his drink down, anger rising.]
Akira: "They got what they deserved. I pray more demons come and slaughter every pathetic devil alive!"
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[Panel 24 – Renji leans back, eyes narrowed.]
Renji: "Yeah. You're right. Next time we meet, I'll have more information… or finally do something useful."
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[Panel 25 – Tochirō leans forward, whispering now.]
Tochirō: "One more thing… have either of you been caught? Like, seriously?"
Akira: "Caught? How?"
Tochirō: "Word's spreading in the military. They're saying there's a traitor among us."
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[Panel 26 – Akira smirks.]
Akira: "Relax. No one's figured me out. I've been careful. My act's solid. What about you, Renji?"
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[Panel 27 – Close-up on Renji, frowning into his cup.]
Renji: "…My boss said I've been acting strange. Cold. But that's all. No real suspicion."
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[Panel 28 – Tochirō, expression tense.]
Tochirō: "Good. Still, we can't afford slip-ups. Renji, get into the training division part-time. Keep your ears open. Bring us more information."
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[Panel 29 – Renji sighs, nodding reluctantly.]
Renji: "…Alright. I'll see what I can do."
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