Crimson Veil
Episode 20: Reflections of Wrath — Ren vs. Ren!
[Page 1] – Splash Page
Scene: The Mirror Gate has shattered. Floating above the abyss, the Forgotten King stares directly at Ren. A ghostly army of mirror versions of the crew stand behind him, all warped and broken.
Narration Box:
"When a soul denies its own past… the past finds a way to fight back."
[Page 2] – The Standoff
Ren and the Forgotten King float face to face. Their auras clash invisibly, creating violent ripples in the air. Everyone else watches from NOVA, its shields flickering.
Forgotten King:
"You threw me away — the rage, the fear, the power. But you needed me. You still need me."
Ren (calmly):
"I needed to survive. You wanted to burn everything."
Forgotten King (smirking):
"Then let's see what survived."
[Page 3] – Clash of Flames
The Forgotten King lunges forward. His flame is black and silent, devouring light. Ren counters with golden fire. When they clash, time distorts — their blades pass through each other and explode outward, causing reality to fracture.
Lira (shouting from NOVA):
"He's matching Ren blow for blow!"
Kael:
"No — he is Ren. Every move… he already knows."
[Page 4] – Psychological Battle
The Forgotten King summons mirror illusions of Ren's past — scenes of failure, fear, and rage. They attack Ren mentally, whispering doubts.
Illusion (Ren's younger self):
"You left Mom to die… You let Kael lose his brother… You called this justice?"
Ren stands, silent… then punches through the illusion.
Ren:
"I remember. And I accept it. That's why I'm stronger."
[Page 5] – Ren's True Fire
Ren's aura shifts — not just flame, but lightning and wind weave into it. The Fragments fuse temporarily into a glowing sigil on his back. His sword reforms, now etched with three elemental marks.
Forgotten King (shocked):
"You're… integrating?"
Ren:
"Your rage was a weapon. Mine… is a choice."
[Page 6] – Final Strike
They both launch forward — Ren's strike is a spiral slash of golden flame, lightning, and stormwind. The Forgotten King counters with a massive black lance of silence. The explosion sends shards of glass-reality raining across the sky.
[Page 7] – The Aftermath
Both lie on the platform, scorched and bruised. The Forgotten King coughs black smoke, slowly crumbling.
Forgotten King (quiet):
"I wanted to protect us… in my own way."
Ren (offering his hand):
"You did… now rest."
The Forgotten King smiles faintly… then fades into light. The final Fragment enters Ren's body — completing the seal.
[Page 8] – Final Panel
Zareth watches from another mirror. He turns away — toward something monstrous moving beneath the surface of reality.
Zareth:
"The Tyrant is complete. But so is it… The Demon God stirs."