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IRONWARD

THE OATH THAT STOOD

When the Dominion Purge reaches District Seven, Darius Kane refuses to abandon his neighbors. A dangerous bond with the Titan Defense System gives his promise the strength to stand. A new-art edition of the original ten-page story.

By Hubert Bradley · Action · 10 story pages · 13 total pages including covers and credits

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Ironward #1: The Oath That Stood. Written by Hubert Bradley. — Front cover

Written by Hubert Bradley. Published by BEUH LEE’S ANIME COMICS. AI-assisted illustration and production. 10 story pages, 13 total pages. Read left to right. — Credits

New Dawn Commonwealth. Three days before the Dominion Purge. Before they called him Ironward, Darius Kane was just a man who refused to leave. You should save your strength, Darius. Strength doesn't mean much if you only save it for yourself. You always come back. That's what a promise means. CITIZENS OF NEW DAWN — REMAIN IN YOUR DESIGNATED DISTRICTS. Everybody. Inside. Now. WRRRMMM — Story page 1 of 10

District Seven has been marked for termination. They said this was an evacuation! They lied. KRA-KOOM Stand down! There are children behind me. Move — or die with them. Then you'll have to move me. — Story page 2 of 10

They took our homes. But they didn't take my will. KRAK They think strength fears the odds. They've never met a wall. WHAM STRUCTURAL FAILURE. BLAST DOOR UNABLE TO SEAL. Darius! There's another way out. Follow me. — Story page 3 of 10

Below the war-torn streets lie the last remains of their last hope. BASTION PROTOTYPE: TITAN DEFENSIVE SYSTEM. BIOLOGICAL SYNCHRONIZATION INCOMPLETE. Open the northern passage. POWER SOURCE REQUIRED. How long do we have? Not long enough. SKRRRNNN WARNING: UNTESTED NEURAL INTEGRATION MAY RESULT IN SYSTEMIC FAILURE. Will it power the shield? AFFIRMATIVE. Then connect me. — Story page 4 of 10

BIOLOGICAL ANCHOR DETECTED. K-CHNK PAIN RESPONSE EXCEEDING OPERATIONAL LIMITS. Keep going. TITAN SYSTEM BONDED. BASTION BEARER IDENTIFIED: DARIUS KANE. VMMMM — Story page 5 of 10

Secure the prototype! BRAK BRAK KINETIC FORCE STORED. You wanted through this door? Come through me. KRA-BOOM — Story page 6 of 10

MULTIPLE CIVILIAN THREATS DETECTED. RALLY BARRIER AVAILABLE. Darius, you can't hold all of that! I don't have to hold it forever. I only have to hold it long enough. — Story page 7 of 10

Civilians flee through the northern passage. The Dominion captain activates a heavy suppression cannon. Destroy the bearer. KRAAAAAAM You always come back. CRITICAL SURVIVAL RESPONSE ACTIVATED. UNBREAKABLE OATH. I made them a promise. — Story page 8 of 10

They brought everything they had. He brought an oath. What are you? The last warning you get. KRNCH BOOOM HOSTILE ADVANCE TERMINATED. Not terminated. Turned back. — Story page 9 of 10

New Dawn. The day after. Darius? I told you I'd come back. They'll return with an army. Then we build something stronger than an army. What? A community that refuses to fall. Darius Kane survived the Purge as a man. He emerged as the wall New Dawn needed. I don't fight for power. I fight so no one has to suffer what I did. IRONWARD — THE OATH HAS ONLY BEGUN. — Story page 10 of 10

Darius Kane becomes the wall New Dawn needs. Next: Ironward #2 — Breach the Line. Written by Hubert Bradley. — Back cover