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Chapter 4 - Episode 4: “Fragments of War”

VEILBREAKERSEpisode 4: "Fragments of War"

[LOCATION: Same place. SUVs. Helicopter. Operatives. The Veil fractures above the scene—violently.]

(Everything glitches. Screams become static. The sky looks like shattered glass reflecting different scenes, like channels flickering between realities.)

Kael (clenching his teeth):"What the hell is—"

➔ Then he falls. Not down. Sideways.

WHOOSH.

➔ CUT TO: DIFFERENT WORLD.

Endless ocean. Red clouds. Ships burning in the distance.

Standing on the wreckage is a man with red hair and a long black cloak. Only one arm. Holding a blade with the other.

➔ The man looks at Kael. Smiles.

??? (calm, powerful):"Looks like the Veil broke the wrong way. You don't belong here."

Kael (still gripping his shotgun, stunned):"…You're not real."

??? (ignoring him, stepping closer):"Real enough to teach you something before you break everything."

➔ Around them, silhouettes of pirate crews—blurry, half-loaded, corrupted. The whole world is a data error, like someone tried to boot up the One Piece world and got it wrong.

➔ *The red-haired man raises his sword. Energy ripples off him—not energy, but will.The air bends. Kael's legs almost give out.

??? (calm):"Will bends reality. If you don't learn how to hold yours…"(He nods toward the broken ocean, black static waves crashing)"…you drown."

➔ Training sequence.Kael standing, breath shaking, against invisible pressure.Falling. Standing again. Bleeding from his nose. Refusing to break.

??? (grinning, fading out):"Learn this: Weakness isn't failing. Weakness is standing still. Move forward—or shatter."

➔ Everything fractures again—

➔ CUT TO: DIFFERENT PLACE. A ruined temple. Bamboo forests.

➔ A new figure steps out of the shadows. Green hair. Three swords at his side. But his face? Blurred, unfinished code.

??? (blunt):"You don't know how to use a blade. Fix that."

Kael (half laughing):"Why is everyone cryptic and armed?"

➔ Sword fights. Real cuts. Training. Edge Theory.➔ "The blade doesn't cut flesh. It cuts decisions. Your hesitation. Your weakness."

➔ Suddenly, the sky shatters above them again. Voices calling. The real world pulling him back.

➔ Kael (to the green-haired swordsman):"Got a name?"

➔ The blurred swordsman just smirks."Call me… whatever you want."

➔ Kael lifts a sword now, held steady.His shotgun slung over one shoulder. His posture: different. The way he's standing: dangerous now.

➔ CUT BACK TO REALITY.➔ SUVs. Operatives screaming. Jett sliding next to him, shocked.

Jett (eyes wide):"…What the hell just happened to you?"

➔ Kael cracks his neck. The edge of a grin now on his face.

Kael (finally calm, dangerous calm):"…Learned how to cut problems in half."

To be continued...➔ Next Episode: "No Safe Houses"

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