In the northern side of the Clown Forest:
Eric was walking through the forest until he reached a small hut with an old door beside it. He sat on a chair, pulled out a book, and began to read:
"Things are so boring… I'll just sit here and read this book, and leave the matter—"
Before he could finish his sentence, someone swung a sword hard at Eric's stomach, sending him crashing into the hut and then flying toward a tree!
Tawakizra raised three fingers with a cold smile and said:
"Three strikes… seven left."
Eric stood up, clutching his shoulder in pain.
"Damn you, Tawakizra… you always show up unexpectedly. So hard to sense."
Tawakizra smiled calmly.
"I can be sensed… just not always."
Eric charged toward Tawakizra, but the latter dodged the strike. However, Eric changed the sword's direction and slashed at his back, but Tawakizra quickly blocked it and struck him twice.
He said mockingly:
"Seems like you're worthless without your technique, Eric."
Eric snapped back sharply:
"You talk too much, Tawakizra… the fight's not over yet."
He jumped high and aimed a kick, but Tawakizra dodged. What he didn't expect was for Eric to suddenly appear behind him and strike him three times with the wooden sword.
Tawakizra spoke in a calm tone:
"You've got some hidden moves in that sleeve of yours…"
Eric replied with a sarcastic tone full of pride:
"And that's just the beginning."
Eric lunged at him, but Tawakizra sat on the ground and smoothly evaded the strike. Then he made an unexpected move: he threw his sword at Eric, making him lose balance. In a blink, Tawakizra delivered a strong kick to Eric's face, knocking him to the ground.
But Eric didn't give up. He stood up again and looked at Tawakizra's blade, which was now inches from him… He stepped back to dodge it, but didn't realize that Tawakizra had already circled behind him.
He grabbed him from behind, slammed him to the ground again, and landed a few light blows with the wooden sword.
"It was a simple match. Try developing your skills without relying on your techniques," Tawakizra said in a deep tone, resting his sword on his shoulder.
Eric raised his middle finger and disappeared from the place.
Tawakizra placed his palm on his forehead and shook his head.
"What a lazy person… never learns."
Meanwhile, in the northern part, a fierce battle was raging between Marcelline and Lady Marian. The outcome seemed to depend on just a few strikes to determine the winner.
"Looks like I need one hit, and you need two to finish the other off," said Marcelline with excitement.
"That's right, Marcy." Lady Marian swiftly attacked, but Marcelline blocked the strike and swung her sword toward her head. Marian leaned back, then delivered a powerful blow to Marcelline's stomach.
"Just one more hit and you'll lose, dear Marcy," she said in a mocking tone.
"You seem happier than ever… since you met Faithless," said Marcelline while holding her stomach and winking at her.
Suddenly, Marian appeared behind her, but Marcelline smartly raised her sword high to strike behind her. Marian noticed that and retreated, then leapt onto a tree branch, then toward the sword, aiming it at Marcelline's chest.
"You hesitated a little with that sword throw… if you hadn't, I would've lost," said Marian in a deep tone while adjusting her hat.
"Hahaha, but you wouldn't beat me in a real fight."
Then Marcelline vanished and appeared inside the visible prison, where Eric was sitting and reading a book without any concern.
"Looks like you purposely lost just to read this trash," she said mockingly as she snatched the book from him.
Eric took the book back and sat in the corner.
"My opponent was Tawakizra… without my technique, I can't defeat him. He's fast… and cunning."
"My opponent was Lady Marian… I was closer to winning, but bad timing and rushing cost me the match." Marcelline sat in a squat and sighed deeply.
At that moment, Juline appeared inside the prison, looked behind her, and saw both Eric and Marcelline. She laughed mockingly.
Marcelline wrapped her arm around Juline's neck and began hitting her head lightly in frustration.
"Who are you laughing at, you chatterbox?"
"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to offend!" said Juline as she patted Marcelline's hand, gasping for air.
Marcelline released her neck, then looked at the metal piece placed atop a white pillar amid dense trees.
"I don't know, but I have a bad feeling… winning doesn't rely on just that piece. Teacher Isaac always hides unexpected surprises in his training sessions." she said thoughtfully, placing her index finger on her chin.
About fifteen minutes later, the other three appeared at the metal piece. Faithless was the closest, while Lady Marian stood on a tree branch, and Tawakizra was near the visible prison.
"Looks like they've arrived… I hope Tawakizra can reach it," said Juline excitedly as she wiggled her ears.
The three ran toward it quickly, but before Tawakizra could touch it, a pale white hand extended and snatched the piece!
Everyone froze, eyes locked on the source of the hand…
"Ah… what a wonderful collaboration for this lovely little metal piece," said the owner of the hand with a mocking tone, placing her palm against her cheek.
She was a woman with an eerie, frightening aura… Her face painted white, cheeks flushed, lips coated in dark red. Her glowing violet eyes were intense, and beneath her right eye was a black heart symbol. Her long blonde hair was tied back.
She wore a white shirt that revealed parts of her chest and stomach under tight, torn leather pants, and a light black jacket with red lines over her shoulders.
She lifted the metal piece and gave a mad smile, then spoke in a voice that sends chills down your spine:
"Looks like you're all after this piece… well then, you'll all have to face me."
Then she added, spreading her arms wide:
"The clown Circora… will be very happy to destroy you."