Tristan un-sheath his blade and pointed it toward his adversary. His resentment was laid bare as his eyes bled crimson with unrestrained rage at the sight of the Jester. The Jester probably did not even remember Killington; it was likely just another ordinary night for him. Every bone in Tristan's body screamed for him to charge forward, yet his mind restrained him with cruel clarity. Tristan's thoughts drifted as he paused for a moment, then thought to himself, "If Killington, a Three-Star Star Master, couldn't defeat him… what chance do I have?" His grip tightened with every passing second.
While he stood at a standstill against the Jester, Amelia and Garfield watched on. They did not know the man who stood before them, but it was obvious, especially after the gruesome spectacle they had just witnessed. This man who stood before them was their enemy. They knew this, but—still—they could not move; the overwhelming pressure the Jester emitted was terrifying. It felt inhumane in nature. It felt as though they could shatter at the slightest touch, and the realization was horrifying.
"What's the plan?" Garfield whispered to his compatriots who stood mere inches away from him.
A bead of sweat rolled down his cheek as he finished speaking. Amelia did not know what to do exactly; none of her planning had accounted for a variable of this magnitude. She thought the same as the two boys: a fight here would spell their deaths. But something deep within told them that even running was not an option.
As their thoughts reached their conclusion, the Jester began shuffling his cards, then said, "You know, it's not right to say things behind someone's back."
Tristan gave Amelia a slight nod. Their plan was clear; this was a tactic they had planned to use on Benjamin's team. A plan designed to immobilize their opponent and leave them vulnerable to attack.
The Jester slowly approached, crimson blood staining his suit, the severed arm of his previous victim dangling loosely in his hand. Amelia quickly returned the nod, though her expression betrayed deep concern, and with that, the two boys were given the freedom to begin their operation. Tristan and Garfield rushed toward the approaching Jester. Garfield summoned his Norse-like axe, while Tristan already had his Star Divider in hand from the moment he laid eyes upon the Jester.
They attacked simultaneously—Garfield swung his weapon, targeting the head of their enemy, while Tristan aimed for the legs—their movements fluid and fast… or so they believed. The Jester halted their assault effortlessly, gripping Garfield's axe with a single hand and stopping Tristan's blade with his foot.
"Your weapons are far too dull to harm me," he said, his tone shifting from a cheery jester's cadence to something far more serious, before proceeding to hurl the two boys away with brutal force, sending them crashing into several coral reefs.
He then turned to Amelia, whom he regarded with suspicion. His cheerful tone returned as he waved the severed hand at her and said, "Hello there! Do you mind if I ask what you're doing over there?"
She did not answer. Her silence began to irritate the Jester. He grunted, then began walking toward the silver-haired maiden. As he drew closer, he soon realized what she was doing.
"I see. You're accumulating Star Energy. For what though… oh, perhaps a grand attack. Well, I can't allow that now, can I?"
He suddenly appeared behind Amelia, his hand and fingers merging together, almost forming a blade made entirely of his own flesh. He raised it high and brought it down with blinding speed. Amelia barely had time to react, but as the flesh-forged blade neared her neck, Tristan intervened, his speed somehow doubling. His Star Divider clashed against the Jester's hand, and with a smirk, he said, "Unfortunately for you, I won't make it that easy, Nouă."
"Interesting—you know my name. Have we met before?" he asked.
The Jester stepped back, then summoned two daggers from his Celestial Forge. One was gripped in reverse, the other held normally. His tone turned serious once more as he said, "You will break, boy."
He rushed toward Tristan, but as he closed the distance, he was struck by a stone-made, cube-like construct that slammed into him and forced him back. Tristan glanced to the side and saw an exhausted Garfield, barely able to stand on his own. He leaned heavily on his axe to support his weight as he staggered toward his comrades.
"Sorry… I don't think I can do anymore. He really knocked the… wind… out of me," Garfield said before collapsing to the ground, exhaustion finally overtaking him.
Their situation had already been dire, but now they were down a man. The Jester was strong—there was no denying that—but their only chance of survival lay in their trump card. From the rubble of Garfield's attack, the Jester rose once more, his already bloodied suit now coated in dust. He patted himself down, attempting to brush the grime from his attire.
"Do you know how much this suit cost?" he said irritably.
Tristan looked to Amelia, waiting for a cue, and at last it came in the form of a nod from the silver-haired maiden. Tristan surged forward. The Jester lunged to meet him, an attack moving at a speed that would once have left Tristan dumbfounded, but thanks to his training in Killington's fighting style, he had found a way to counter it.
Killington's style consisted of evasions, parries, and precise blocks. In simple terms, it was a defensive form of combat, well-suited to someone who wielded a large weapon.
Tristan halted abruptly, disrupting the Jester's momentum. He gripped his blade with both hands and struck with precision, knocking one of the Jester's daggers from his grasp. Surprise flickered across the Jester's face, but he still held his remaining dagger and could strike at any moment; he was faster and stronger than Tristan, and the threat was undeniable. But Amelia would not allow it.
Her voice was soft as she raised her rapier and said, "La Glace du Paradis."
Snow began to fall, and before the Jester could react, he was forced to the ground, mere inches away from Tristan.
"Tristan, finish him off. I don't think I can hold this much longer. His power requires me to expend more energy than I possess," Amelia said.
Tristan stared at the Jester for a moment, his fury unmistakable as he looked down at the Jester. He gripped his blade with both hands, slowly raised it high into the air, its point aligned with the Jester's back. With all the rage burning inside him, he brought the blade down, piercing it straight through the Jester's body.
For a brief moment, there was a profound calm within Tristan. He had avenged his fallen soldier, and in some way, his friend.
"That was a close one," Jester's voice said calmly.
Tristan turned in horror to see the Jester standing behind Amelia, his hand tightly wrapped around her neck.