Shadows after the raid

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..."

---

[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!"

---

[Panel 3 - Captain sneers, brushing it off]

Captain 3: "Hah. Ignore them, Mizuna. Just another drunk fool."

---

[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."

---

Next Morning - Inside the Barracks

---

[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."

---

[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."

---

[Panel 7 - Mizuna's face darkens]

Mizuna: "If I were you, I'd start talking. Who's feeding you information from within our division?"

---

[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!"

---

[Panel 9 - Raizen, smirking wider]

Raizen: "I'm starting to like you. Use anything - weapons, fire, tricks, pain. I won't talk."

---

[Panel 10 - Mizuna narrowing her eyes]

Mizuna: "...We'll see about that."

---

Afternoon - Mizuna's Quarters

---

[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."

---

[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."

---

[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."

---

[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!"

---

[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."

---

[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."

---

[Panel 17 - Roku leaning in close, whispering]

Roku: "There are traitors in our midst. All divisions and units will be inspected."

---

[Panel 18 - Tochirō thinking, anxious]

"Traitors... How do they already know? Could they have figured out Renji or Akira...?"

---

[Panel 19 - Mizuna kicks Tochirō in the shin]

Mizuna: "Stop daydreaming! Don't scare me with that worried face!"

---

[Panel 20 - Roku leaving, waving playfully]

Roku: "I'll be heading out. Goodbye, boy with the strange devil energy. And goodbye, my dear Mizuna~"

---

Saturday - Local Bar (with Flashback)

---

[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."

---

[Panel 22 - Tochirō takes a deep sip, eyes shadowed.]

Tochirō: "On my last mission... we raided the demons. More like we stepped into hell."

---

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."

---

[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!"

---

[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."

---

[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."

---

[Panel 26 - Akira smirks.]

Akira: "Relax. No one's figured me out. I've been careful. My act's solid. What about you, Renji?"

---

[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."

---

[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."

---

[Panel 29 - Renji sighs, nodding reluctantly.]

Renji: "...Alright. I'll see what I can do."

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