(Mauro may have turned his back, but his face keeps being expressionless.)

_Eferus: Kid, you may not know this... but all kingdoms search in secret the Emerald Sword. Why? Cuz it's the most powerful sword ever created. Whoever finds it first, will become the ultimate ruler of the Demon World. In other words, until your father reveals its hideout... you will always be chased by people like me!

You'll never live in peace! You'll never make friends! You'll never be able to love someone!

(Mauro's pupils shake, symbolizing that he listened to everything he said.)

_Eferus: Just look at him, ever since your father was born... he has been running away, living a miserable life! (approaches Mauro) ...But, if you cooperate, we can make a deal.

_Mauro: (Slightly opens his mouth) ...

_???: Don't...don't listen to anything he says...

Reveal that Felix is not laying on the ground anymore, now he is leaning against the cliff's wall with one hand, trying to stand up.

_Felix: The Vergilian Empire... The Vergilian Empire is nothing but a bunch of tyrants... they'll only use the sword's power to hurt and enslave even more people... so go ahead, try to kill me! I'll take the sword's secrets with my corpse!

Eferus and Mauro stare at him. Eferus looks displeased by what he heard.

_Eferus: Hmn, really. (places his sword next to Mauro's neck) Then, how about I kill your son instead, huh? Tell me right now where the Emerald Sword is!

Or I'll cut his neck!

(Tension rises, Mauro is too scared to move, and Felix analyzes the situation.)

_Felix: Mauro, listen, no matter what I say...that... that soldier... will either kill you regardless or turn you into a slave for the rest of your life... And I think that slavery is a fate far worse than death... Therefore...

Your only option is to fight him, right here right now!

(Mauro trembles and cries even more!)

_Felix: Remember, a sword is just sharp metal.

_Eferus: (very angry) Shut up and answer my question, you old bastard!! TELL ME, Where is the sword?

_FELIX: I WON'T TELL YOU.

(SLASH, THE SWORD'S SWING CROSSES MAURO'S NECK!)

(Next Scene)

In the same angle where Mauro's neck seems to be slashed, zoom in into his eye multiple times, and then zoom out. He's been transported into a mysterious desert, where the sky is completely black, and the sand is white! Also, Mauro no longer seems terrified.

(Make this transition one page at least)

_Mauro: Uh? W-what the... where am I? Where's everyone?

Worried, he quickly raises his hand and touches where his neck was supposed to be cut.

_Mauro: ...? I'm not bleeding, why?

Suddenly, something catches his attention, and sees that far away from him... There's a huge statue laying on the sand... THE STATUE LOOKS JUST LIKE MAURO, AND IS IN THE SAME POSITION THAT HE WAS WHEN HE MONOLOGUED ON HIS BED. Mauro gets curious, and decides to approach it.

After he reaches the statue, he stares at it for a moment, and then talks.

_Mauro: ...May I ask you something? Does it hurt when you die? Because, you know, if it's more painful than getting your neck cut... I don't really feel like I want to die...

_???: How do you know you're not already dead?

(Somehow, the statue seems to talk, but his dialogue only appears in black panels.)

How are you sure you're not dying right now?

(Zoom in on Mauro's eyes)

Don't you want to die? Don't you want to be free?

(Zoom in on his eyes again)

Don't you want to get away from your abusive father?

(For some reason, MAURO SMILES)

H-huh? why... why are you smiling?

(Still smiling, Mauro points at his face)

_Mauro: Because you're crying right now.

_Statue: (Suddenly, streams of tears are visible oh his eyes) ...?!

_Mauro: I know I'm still alive because you're crying. And yes, it's true that many times I've wanted to die.... because I hated dad, and I'd feel I was just a tool. But now that I've felt for an instant what it is to die... now...now I know what I want in my life...

I WANT TO LIVE!

As Mauro monologues, transition back to the real world. Eferus and Felix are astonished by what just happened...Somehow...someway...MAURO'S AURA EXPANDED ITSELF, AND THE SWORD IS STUCK ON HIS NECK. He's bleeding, but he's alive!

_Eferus: ...?! Impossible, how is his neck so thick?!

_Felix: ...(Impressive...Mauro... you truly have become a genius...)

Before the sword connected, you expanded your aura towards it... in just a matter of milliseconds! And luckily, it was strong enough to stop the swing of that soldier!!

On top of that... you also covered the sword with your aura! You expanded your aura from your body to the whole sword, and what's even more... THE SOLDIER HIMSELF!

You used the metal of his armor to spread your own aura with ease! And now...

_Eferus: (Hngh, what the heck?! WHY CAN'T I MOVE?! I can move my head and my finger toes, but not my hands! My legs and arms, somehow... they feel so heavy I can't move them! WHAT KIND OF SORCERY IS THIS?! I CAN'T MOVE MY LIMBS, WHY?!)

Mauro's hand is shown summoning his spiritual energy. He puts away the sword from his neck, grabs it, and completely tears it away from the handle! Mauro is breathing heavily, he looks a little determined, but he's still crying and trembling.

(Final Scene)

_Mauro: "To...to bend metal perfectly, don't just use your aura to surround the metal, also attempt to fill in its intermolecular spaces."

_Eferus: You dare mock a soldier of the Vergilian Army?! You worm?!

_Mauro: No, I-I'm just explaining how I immobilized your armor, and as a result, you-your body as well... (silence) Now, I don't want to kill you, I really don't, but I feel like I can't let you live right now so...so...I guess I...have no choice...

Mauro activates his telekinesis, extends his arm, and places the blade's tip horizontally on Eferus's neck. He's not grabbing it; the blade is floating midair.

_Felix: MAURO WAIT! Please stop, don't do this, don't stain your hands with blood.

_Mauro: (trembling and breathing heavily) But...f-father... we can't convince him to remain silent, (sobbing) what other choice do we have right now?

_Felix: LET ME KILL HIM! Please, son, you don't understand, just trust your father, please let me kill him in your place... As soon...as soon as I stand up...

Felix tries to lift his knee to stand on his foot, but he can't. Also, his back keeps bleeding and bleeding, it's clearly getting worse for him!

_Felix: (Agh, dammit...This is really bad, every time I move it hurts like hell, and I can't take this dagger out of me, or my wound will be exposed...I'll get an infection for sure...)

_Mauro: See? I'm sorry, father, but please, please let me do this, only I can kill him right now... I... I...kill, only I...

Reveal that the wound on Mauro's neck is still there. Now that the took it off, HE'S BLEEDING LIKE CRAZY TOO! The blood, Mauro feels the blood flooding, flooding like a red waterfall (draw that as a background, behind Mauro). He breathes even heavier.

_FELIX: MAURO STOP DAMMIT! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING! DON'T BE STUPID! DON'T KILL HIM, DON'T BECOME A KILLER. NO, DON'T!

_Mauro: (breathes, sobs dramatically, and trembles more) ...

_Eferus: Come on, what are you waiting for? Just kill me already.

Mauro remembers that Eferus is in front of him. His face looks devilish and menacing.

_Eferus: Are you always going to do whatever your father says? When are you even expecting to become and adult, huh? Come on, do it, kill me...because if you don't, I'll get away from this trap, and make sure I cut every piece of your body until you die of agony, but not before you watch me kill your father, right in front of you...

The scene turns into a horror movie, Mauro seems hypnotized by Eferus's words.

_Felix: (starts coughing blood) Mauro! Listen to me! FOCUS! DO NOT LISTEN TO HIM! DO YOU HEAR ME! PLEASE, I BEG YOU! MAURO! MAUROOO!

His words are useless, Mauro is too focused on Eferus's presence. Suddendly, Reality begins to distort itself. The day becomes night, the grass and the trees turn white. The injury on Mauro's neck gets so exaggerated, that his blood drops even faster and covers the entire ground below him. He slowly presses the blade against Eferus's neck, he begins to bleed as well.

(Note: This is not a novelistic narration, make this really happen in the story)

_Eferus: COME ON, KILL ME! I DARE YOU! I KNOW YOU WANT TO KILL ME, SO JUST DO IT! YOUR FATHER IS A FAILURE, AND I BET YOUR MOTHER-

STAB, the blade went through Eferus's throat.

(Portray it with an abstract drawing)

_Felix: NOOOOOOOOO!

Black Screen