Page 1 – Full-page spread:
Evan is standing in disbelief, staring at Jason floating in the air, arms crossed, his expression serious and emotionless. The island around them is eerily quiet after the chaos of the battle, the dust still settling from the conflict. Jason’s dark, stoic demeanor contrasts with Evan’s visible shock and confusion.

Caption:
"No… no way… it can’t be him."

Page 2 – Panel 1:
Evan’s eyes narrow, trying to process what’s in front of him. He stumbles back, heart racing.

Evan:
“Jason? You’re flying? H-how did you even…? Who… are you?" 

Page 2 – Panel 2:
Jason floats a little closer to Evan, his expression still emotionless, almost unreadable. There’s a strange calmness in his voice as he speaks.

Jason:
“Take a breath, Evan. I know this is a lot. But listen carefully...”

Page 3 – Panel 1:
Cut to Lena, now free thanks to the vanishing replica, uses the chaos to kick off her captor and slam another clone into a jagged rock. She blitzes through the battlefield, tearing through the duplicate army, freeing her teammates one by one in a blur of fury and flight.

Page 3 – Panel 2:
Lena, breathless but determined, slams into a group of replica clones, trying to buy her teammates some time. Blood splatters on the rocks as the battle intensifies.

Lena (gritting her teeth):
“Stay focused, guys! We’re getting out of here, together!”

Page 4 – Panel 1:
Evan looks over at Lena and the rest of the team, still reeling from what Jason just told him. His mind races with questions: how could Jason be flying? How did he know where they were?

Page 4 – Panel 2:
Jason, still floating above the ground, begins to speak again, cutting through Evan’s inner turmoil.

Jason (calmly):
“Evan, I’m not just a human, just like you. I’m not who you think I am. I’m a Zynari. A shapeshifter. ”

Page 5 – Full-page spread:
Evan’s face contorts in shock and rage. He steps back instinctively, eyes wide, heart pounding in disbelief.

Evan (shouting):
“No... You were sent by them? By Zykor?! You lied to me—this entire time?!”

Page 6 – Panel 1:
Jason’s face remains emotionless, his arms still crossed as he hovers effortlessly. His eyes flicker with a faint sorrow as he continues.

Jason:
“I didn't lie to you Evan. The real Jason, your Jason never existed. I was sent here to track Aethonians, like you. I was a Zynari soldier, sent by Zykor himself to monitor any trace of your kind and report back.”

Page 6 – Panel 2:
Evan recoils, his fists clenched, heart pounding as the anger surges through him.

Evan:
“So you were just using me? This whole time, you’ve been lying to me?!”

Page 7 – Panel 1:
Jason doesn’t flinch. His expression is unchanged as he floats down, standing now just a few steps away from Evan.

Jason:
“No. Well, at first, yes. But something changed... You changed me, Evan. Life here… changed me. You made me realize there's more to existence than conquest. You made me feel something again."

Page 7 – Panel 2:
Evan’s face softens slightly, the anger giving way to hurt. He shakes his head in disbelief.

Evan (quietly):
“But you were still lying to me. You were still working for Zykor.”

Page 8 – Panel 1:
Jason steps closer, his voice calm but filled with an undeniable truth.

Jason:
“I wasn’t working for him anymore. I abandoned my mission, cut all ties with Zynar, severed ties. If I return, I die. I'm a traitor to Zynar now. And I’m okay with that. I didn’t want to serve someone like Zykor. I wanted to live my life, our life. But when things got crazy, when the monsters started appearing, I knew I had to come back. I couldn’t let him win.”

Page 8 – Panel 2:
Evan turns away, his back to Jason as the weight of the situation settles in. He’s hurt, betrayed, but a part of him knows Jason’s words are true.

Evan (whispering to himself):
“You could’ve told me. All this time, you were—”

Page 9 – Panel 1:
Jason pauses for a moment, his gaze softening slightly.

Jason:
“And you didn’t tell your parents who you really were either. We both kept secrets. We both chose who to become."

Jason:
“I'm on your side. The question is: are you on mine?"

Page 9 – Panel 2:
Evan’s hands tremble, his internal conflict evident. He’s struggling with his feelings of betrayal and his loyalty to Jason.

Jason (calm but firm):
“I know Zykor better than anyone. If you want a chance at stopping him, you’ll need me." 

Page 10 – Full-page spread:
Evan turns around slowly, facing Jason. His eyes burn with a mixture of anger, confusion, and hurt. Finally, he extends his hand, shaking Jason’s. A long moment of silence passes between them, heavy with the weight of everything that has happened.

Page 11 – Panel 1:
The real crew begins to regroup, the battle still raging on around them as they continue fighting the replicas. Mindquake, covered in blood and sweat, glares at Evan and Jason.

Mindquake:
“Took you long enough to have your little heart-to-heart.”

Page 11 – Panel 2:
The crew, now united, charges back into the fray, fighting the replica clones with newfound determination. The battle is intense, with blood flying, punches landing, and the team working together to take down the replicas.

Page 12 – Panel 1:
After a brutal, bloody struggle, the replicas are finally defeated. Their forms collapse, twitching and lifeless. The team stands victorious, but battered and bruised.

Page 12 – Panel 2:
Evan and Jason share a fist bump, a symbol of their renewed bond. The tension between them has not completely disappeared, but the fight is over—for now.

Jason (grinning slightly):
“Guess we made it out of that mess.”

Page 13 – Panel 1:
Lena looks at Jason, a knowing look on her face.

Lena:
“I knew it.”

Page 13 – Panel 2:
Evan freezes, completely caught off guard. He stares at Lena in shock.

Evan:
“What? You knew?”

Page 14 – Panel 1:
Lena nods, her expression serious but soft.

Lena:
“I saw through his disguise from the start. I didn’t know what Jason’s intentions were, Evan. I didn’t want to make things harder for you. I couldn’t risk him suspecting anything. But now... it’s over. We’re all in this together.”

Page 14 – Panel 2:
The team sighs collectively, the tension easing for the moment. They look back at Jason, who stands silently by Evan’s side.

Page 15 – Panel 1:
Cut to Zynar’s throne room. Zyrax approaches Zykor, trembling slightly, with a report in hand.

Zyrax (nervously):
“Leader Zykor... the replicas have been defeated.”

Page 15 – Panel 2:
Zykor’s eyes narrow, his anger palpable as he slams his fist into a wall, cracking it in the process.

Zykor (furious):
“What do you mean, defeated?! How could they—?!”

Page 16 – Panel 1:
Zyrax hesitates, but then drops the name that sends a chill down Zykor’s spine.

Zyrax:
“They had help from… Serrix.”

Page 16 – Panel 2:
Zykor’s face twists with disgust and rage. He pounds his fist against the wall again, shaking with fury.

Zykor:
“Serrix... that traitor?! He’s helping Aethonians now?!”
(Zykor pauses, seething.)
“This ends now. We’ll deal with him, and we’ll deal with them all.”

Page 17 – Panel 1:
Zykor turns away from Zyrax, his eyes burning with a cold fury.

Zykor:
“Keep an eye on them. For now.”

Page 17 – Panel 2:
Zyrax bows and leaves, leaving Zykor seething with rage and plotting his next move.

Page 18 – Full-page spread:
Cut to the team, standing together on the island, looking out over the horizon. There’s a sense of unity between them, but the storm isn’t over yet.