10CLANG! The current Numbers 1 and 3's claymores were brought down onto each other.
SWOOSH! Teresa swept at Ilena.
CLASH! Ilena blocked.
PING, PING, PING! The two single digits attacked each other with sword swings invisible to the mortal eye.
Sophia and Noel stood back, smiling at the two battling women. One sweetly and the other smug. The two nodded at each other before joining the fray.
Teresa, sensing Noel and Sophia's Yoma power approaching her from behind, quickly and effortlessly jumped into the air and away from the three. The three Claymore's swords clashed against each other.
Teresa landed on her knees a few yards away into an ally between the inn she was in and another building. "Damn it. You vermin."
Suddenly, there was the sound of armored boots walking behind her. Teresa became alarmed, and turned around to face the new foe. "Wha-?"
Once she turned her head around, she was met with the sight of another Claymore. One she did not recognize. This Claymore was much younger than the rest. Her blond hair was cut so short that it hung just above her ears.
Alarms rang in Teresa's head. 'There was another one? But I didn't sense her aura at all! What is she?"
Teresa was brought back to reality when the unknown Claymore spoke. "It is an honor to meet you. I'm Pricilla. I just got certified." 'Pricilla' kept a straight face. Her eyes showing innocence belonging to a child. "Forgive my rudeness, but we've come for your head."
"Clare, it' time to go. Gather your things." Percy turned away from the window, and walked towards his folded cloak. He quickly put it on, and headed for the door.
"But what about Teresa? We can't just leave her!" said Clare as she gathered her things, also grabbing Teresa's waist armor before walking towards the door Percy held open.
Percy watched Clare pass before following behind her and shutting the door. "Who said anything about leaving her?" Clare looked at Percy confused.
"But-?"
"You misunderstand, child. I said we are leaving, but I never said without your mother figure." Clare blushed, embarrassed. Percy chuckled at the action. "Don't feel so embarrassed. I knew it from the moment I met the two of you. You see her as your mother, and she, her daughter. It's not too difficult to understand." Percy began to lead the way down stairs and out the door of the inn. "Now, I believe Teresa is going to need some help soon. I have a bad feeling about this fight."
Clare nodded as she followed Percy out the door of the inn. Out of nowhere, Percy offered Clare his hand. She took it almost instantly. "Close your eyes." She did as he asked, then she felt as if every molecule of her body were being torn apart then put back together. "You can open your eyes now, Clare."
She opened her eyes again only to notice that they were on top of one of the inn. "How did we get here?" she asked in wonder.
Percy smiled. "It's something I learned a while back. I call it "vapor travel"." At Clare's confused look, he explained. "Vapor traveling is when I turn into water vapor and travel through the air as a cloud of vapor. It's pretty self-explanatory, if you ask me." He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.
Clare suddenly felt very queasy. She groaned in discomfort.
"Ah, yes. I forgot to mention. You'll feel a bit ill because of every one of your molecules being separated and re-attached. It will pass, so I wouldn't worry about it too much. You'll get used to it the more you do it."
Clare nodded, but groaned again and clutched her stomach as another wave of nausea passed over her. Percy gave her a concerned glance. He began to glow a faint yellow, and turned to Clare's ill figure. "Close your eyes again."
"Why?" she asked through another groan.
He chuckled at her, "You'll go blind, otherwise." and placed his hand on Clare's head after she closed her eyes. His hand began to glow brighter after a few seconds. Just as fast as his hand brightened, it dimmed until it wasn't glowing anymore. He removed his hand from her head and Clare's nausea and queasiness went away with it. "There. Feel better?"
She nodded in affirmation. "Yes, thank you."
Percy nodded at her with a satisfied smile on his face before turning towards the battle in the ally, becoming serious once more.
The duo could see how Teresa was struggling against Pricilla. Percy remembered Teresa's words a few hours back.
"Teresa, why are you called the Faint Smile?" Clare asked Teresa as the Claymore killed a group of Yoma who they crossed paths with while walking towards the village. They were a few miles away, though, so there were no other humans other than Clare herself in the area.
"Huh? Isn't she always smiling when she kills Yoma?" Percy asked. "It makes sense why."
Teresa chuckled at the two. "That's no different from the other warriors of the Organization, but I am the only one called that."
"Why is that?" asked Clare.
"Unlike most of my comrades – for example, Quicksword Ilena's speed, and Muscular Sophia's strength – my only asset is my smile." Teresa closed her eyes, tilted her head to the right, and smiled widely. "What makes me the best is my unparalleled ability to sense Yoma aura."
"Your ability to sense Yoma aura? But can't other Claymore's sense a Yoma's aura?" Clare asked
"Yes, Clare, but I can do much more than sense a Yoma's location. I can sense the strength and speed of the Yoma energy flowing through the body. Those who fight using Yoma power send it to parts of the body they want to move. The person isn't aware of this, though. So do you know what that means?"
Clare shook her head, but it seemed to Teresa that Percy understood. Teresa smiled wider at Percy. "Yes, Percy?"
Teresa can sense a Yoma powered move before the action is taken, and the more power used, the better."
Teresa 'hmph'ed in satisfaction. "That's correct, dear Percy. Quite perceptive aren't you?"
Percy blushed silver, and rubbed the back of his neck. "It was nothing too difficult to understand."
Clare's eyes grew wide in wonder. "I didn't know what it meant, though."
Teresa pat Clare's head affectionately. "Well, now you know."
Clare's cheeks turned red and she pouted, crossing her arms across her chest.
Teresa and Percy chuckled at Clare's behavior. She was cute when she was all flustered.
Percy remembered that conversation as if it just happened. 'That's why Teresa of the Faint Smile will find it hardest to beat Pricilla, who fights with her Yoma power fully suppressed.'
Clare called out Teresa's name when Pricilla sped up her attacks. The sound of battle rang throughout the entire town.
CLANG, CLANG, BANG, BAM, PING!
Everyone needed to cover their ears from the sounds.
Percy squeezed the palms of his hands over his ears, and squinted his eyes. His ears were much more perceptive than the average mortal. "This is absurd. The sound of their swords could shatter glass." The duo watched as the tables turned on Pricilla. Teresa's attacks became faster than before.
Farther away, were Teresa escaped from the others. Ilena, Noel, and Sophie watched the battle.
"It's probably time…" said Ilena as she unsheathed her claymore. The others followed her lead. "It's time we helped Pricilla. The way things are going, it's her head that's going to fall."
"Huh?" said Noel.
"Right now the odds are in Teresa's favor. Pricilla's fighting blindly. Which means Teresa doesn't need her special abilities to fight. Pricilla's been out-matched all along."
While Teresa fought Pricilla, the younger Claymore was practically having a mental breakdown.
'How? Why? I've fought dozens of Yoma. I've always protected humans. She's the bad guy. She murdered humans. So…So why can't I win?"
CLANG!
'Why? Why?! Why can't I beat her?!' thought Pricilla.
Percy observed the battle with his undivided attention. 'It's scary. Deep inside, she harbors a monster. In time, she will become incredibly strong. Teresa may be able to beat her now, but next time, who knows.'
Percy heard Teresa say:
"Sorry, I can't die quite yet."
Before she tripped Pricilla. She raised her sword over her head and brought it down to behead Pricilla, but Ilena intercepted her attack with another clang.
Ilena slashed her sword at Teresa, forcing Teresa to jump back.
Clare cried out Teresa's name in warning before Noel pounced from behind Teresa in hopes of catching her off guard.
Teresa growled in annoyance as she blocked Noel's attack.
Teresa kicked at Noel hard enough to send her flying to one of the balconies of the inn.
After Noel was sent flying, Sophie came from behind and attacked Teresa.
Teresa jumped into the air, planted her foot on Sophia's sword and summersaulted from the tip. As she rolled in the air, she made an upwards slash at Sophia, but Sophia dodged. Teresa was only able to nick Sophia's left breast.
The execution squad surrounded Teresa. "Heh, heh." Said Noel to Sophia – who was clutching her wound. "She got you."
"So, it's better than being kicked."
Pricilla became confused, then angered. "Please, stop this! I don't care what rule she broke, ganging up on her is-." She stopped, then changed tactic. "Let me do this alone."
"Don't be a fool." Ilena intercepted. Pricilla's head jolted to Ilena. "If we don't help, it's your head that will fall. You should know that by now." Ilena stared evenly ant the younger Claymore.
Pricilla clenched her teeth and glared at the ground in anger.
"We didn't come to test our abilities. We're here to punish a traitor. And to do that, we have to choose the most efficient way." Ilena flared ten percent of her Yoma power, causing her eyes to turn gold and her pupils to slit. Power flared, causing the wind to pick up, and their capes to flap around erratically. "We'll back you up, so think only about the best way to defeat Teresa!"
Percy's frown deepened, and Clare grew alarmed as she felt a chill.
"All right, then. We'll bring her down. We won't forgive a traitor who broke the rules and brought shame to the Organization." Pricilla turned her attention to Teresa. "I'm sorry, Teresa. I wanted to face you one-on-one, but this is your own fault." Then she flared her Yoma power. Her eyes became gold and her pupils slit, and veins bulged on her face.
The flare of power felt like gale force winds. The only ones unmoved were Teresa and Percy.
"Let's do it." With that said, everyone attacked Teresa.
The enemy Claymores attacked with all their might. Speed, agility, grace, and strength that far surpassed a normal Yoma presented themselves in this fight.
Ilena was the first to be defeated. Teresa fought effortlessly against the execution squad. Noel and Sophia came in second and third. Teresa had yet to release her Yoma power.
At the sight of the other's being defeated, and she herself unwillingly following in their footsteps, Pricilla was left kneeling on the dirt and stone ground – frozen in fear. Teresa walked up to Pricilla, and readied her sword to behead the young novice.
Teresa of the Faint smile knew that Pricilla may have lost this fight but still had the potential to surpass her. In order to prevent such a threat, she would have to nip it from the bud.
Percy had Clare close her eyes again, and vapor traveled down to Teresa. He made sure to prevent Clare from getting nauseous again, before they walked up to Teresa. Percy bound the downed Claymore's limbs in earth so that they wouldn't escape. "I suppose you sense it as well?"
"Yes." Answered Teresa.
"Will you end her?"
Teresa didn't answer. She raised her sword, but thought better of it and sheathed it on her back. "No." Teresa used her hand to block the sun's rays. "I must be getting soft. Why am I thinking of Clare…?"
"Teresa!" Clare ran towards Teresa and hugged her so hard, she may as well have crushed the Number 1's stomach.
Teresa smiled down at the teary-eyed Clare as she pat her head.
Percy made a cheeky smile appear on his face. "Because you think of her as your own."
Teresa chuckled. "I suppose." She turned towards the rest of the Claymores. Percy had released them of the earth's hold. "You can come after me as many times as you want. I'll cut you down every time" She, Perseus, and Clare began to leave the town. "Sorry for the mess." She told the gathered crowd.
Once the trio left the town, Ilena tried getting up from her crouched position. "I don't believe it. She showed mercy. The old Teresa wouldn't have hesitated to take Pricilla's head." She clutched her wounds as she stood. "That means…we still have a chance." She heard the sound of sniffing and someone crying.
She walked towards Pricilla and said in an emotionless voice:
"Don't cry. It isn't over. The fight has just begun."
Pricilla began to speak through her sobs. "…won't…won't stand…I won't stand…for it." Pricilla clenched her teeth. "I…I…I…won't…" All of a sudden, Pricilla flared her Yoma power higher than before.
20, 25, 30 percent.
The wind picked up, harder than before. Ilena raised her arm to cover her face as she was being forced back.
"Murderer! Evil! She broke the cardinal rule! I won't…allow it!"
"Stop it Pricilla! You can't defeat Teresa the way you are now! Calm yourself!" Ilena called out.
Suddenly, Pricilla leapt into the air, towards Teresa and the others.
"Pricilla!" yelled Ilena.
Noel glared at where Pricilla once was. "That foolish child! Not knowing any better, she let her fear get to her!"
Ilena glared at the ground. 'We were careless! We didn't consider Pricilla's emotional state. We thought only of her latent abilities, but she's still just a child!
"Noel! Sophia! Can you stand?! We have to go after her!" Ilena turned towards the direction Pricilla went. "That fool doesn't even know her limits!"
The trio walked through the outskirts of the town. The terrain was rocky, with many stone formations dotting the landscape. Snowcapped mountains stood proudly in the distance.
A screaming banshee (and a large, approaching aura) alerted Teresa, Clare, and Percy to the arrival of Pricilla. She was breathing heavily, her teeth were fangs, veins were visible on her face, her skin had a light tint of purple to it, and her muscles were larger than a normal man's.
She was also frothing at the mouth, but that wasn't important.
"So, uh, can we…help you with something?" Percy asked slowly.
"MURDERER!" Pricilla yelled.
Percy raised his hands in the air in surrender and backed up a little. "Okay, okay. I know when I'm not wanted." He turned towards Teresa. "Well she's lost it. You doin' it or am I?"
"I'll finish what I started." She said to Percy before addressing Pricilla. "You'd better stop there. You're new at this. If you release too much Yoma power, you won't be able to change back. When we release 10 percent of our power, our eyes change color. At 30 percent, our faces transform. At 50 percent, our bodies change. And if we go over 80 percent, we can't change back. You're already over 70 percent."
Pricilla raised her head, her face looked more like a snout. Her teeth were sharp, and veins marred her face. "YOU…SHUT…UP!" Pricilla's voice was raspy, and sounded like to people speaking at once.
Teresa pushed Clare towards Perseus – who then moved the two of them a few yards from the fighting Claymores.
Their swords clashed against each other in an 'X'. "YOU MURDERER! MURDERER! MURDERER!" Her muscles bulged larger.
"We all learn the limits of our Yoma power as we fight, releasing it bit by bit." Teresa's eyes narrowed, and she spoke harshly. "That's beyond a beginner like you."
Pricilla pushed Teresa away. "SHUT UP!"
Teresa skidded backwards and crouched. Pricilla appeared over Teresa's head, ready to strike, but Teresa blocked her sword.
'Ugh! There's so much Yoma power coming from every part of her body, I can't read the flow.' She dodged Pricilla's word that flew passed her head. Pricilla's arm moved around, nearly knocking Teresa over.
Pricilla's sword arm wrapped around her chest and her sword was launched from behind.
The sword would have pierced her through the head if she hadn't brought up her own sword to parry the other.
Teresa felt a warmth flow from her forehead and onto her face. This was evidence that Pricilla's sword nicked her forehead. Teresa growled in annoyance.
"T-TERESA!" yelled Clare.
"A Yoma killed papa! I'll never forgive…I'll never forgive…" Drool dripped from the young Claymore's face "I'll kill you! I'll kill you!" she rambled.
Teresa smirked at Pricilla. "You're losing your mind already. There's not much time left. I'll have to strike you down for good."