Twisted Wonderland Book 5: A Beauitful Tyrant

Chapter 66: Repair Consternation

Now at the purple stage, Briar is the first to wake up.

"Hey Briar, how are you feeling?" Ace asks.

"Okay, what about Vil?" Briar asks, turning to Vil.

Soon, Vil begins to wake up from unconsciousness, "Rgh... How am I...?"

Rook is relieved, "Vil! Oh, thank goodness. The light is back in your eyes."

"What a relief..." Kalim says, begins sniffling and sobbing, "Viiil! I was so worried!"

"Why are YOU crying, Kalim?" Jamil asks.

Deuce sighs in relief, "Phew... I was afraid I'd hit you in the wrong place."

"Yeah. Deuce really hit you hard," Jasper says.

Then Sereia asks, "Are you both alright?"

"I think so. Feeling a bit tired, but alright," Briar says.

Feeling remorseful, Vil says, "I'm...sorry you had to see that undignified display. Only third-rate people throw temper tantrums and take their problems out on others. My conduct was the most unbecoming of all..."

"Yer right about that," Epel says with a smirk on his face, "Ah thought you said people grow outta temper tantrums by the time they're three?"

"Is this really the time to bring that up, Epel?" Briar questions.

But Vil says, "Yes... You're absolutely right, Epel. I'm no longer fit to be your leader."

However, Rook says, "It would not do to flatter yourself, Roi du Poison. I'm afraid you'll find that none of us are lying prone."

"What...?" Vil asks, a little surprised.

Then Kalim says, "Rook's right, Vil. You haven't actually hurt anyone. You haven't stepped over the brink yet."

"Listen. Neige LeBlanche is out there right now, dancing happily with the seven dwarfs," Jamil says.

"After the way you ran us through the wringer training us to get here, there's no way we're letting you pull out because of a few bruises!" Ace says.

"It's a stretch..." Jamil replies, "But let's just say we got a little overly worked up in practice and got into a team brawl."

"All of you... You just want to pretend none of this happened?" Vil asks, a little confused.

But Jamil says, "I never said that. All I'm saying is that we can hold off on explaining this to the faculty until after the competition."

"Heh... Jamil, you are truly wicked—urgh..." Vil says, but suddenly feels a little pain as he gets up.

"Vil!" Rook says, concerned.

"Are you alright?" Briar asks, helping Vil stay on his feet.

Vil says, "Oh, stop. I just stumbled a bit. Spare me your plaintive cries."

But Rook says, "Your injuries are no small matter. Please, you mustn't strain yourself. Here, lean upon my shoulder."

"Oh, by the way, Deuce—" Ace says, and turns to Deuce, "What was up with that blast of magic you hit Vil with at the end there?

"That was one seriously powerful shot!" Grim says, impressed.

"I agree. You were really strong," Sereia says.

And Jasper asks, "When did you learn to pull off a spell like that, Deuce?"

"I wasn't the one who made it so strong. Vil was," Deuce answers.

"How so?" Kalim asks.

Deuce explains, "That spell stores up all the damage I take from someone, then hits back with it all at once. So it was only potent because Vil hit me with really potent magic to start with."

"What kinda spell is that?! So it's just a way to get payback for when you get in fights?" Ace asks, shocked.

"Don't make it sound so violent!" Deuce says in defense, "The first time I pulled it off was when I took Epel to the beach and a gang attacked us. All I was doing was taking hits at the time, though. It just kind of slipped out..."

Jamil sighs, "You should really know better than to use magic against lay people. That can get you suspended."

"Erk..." Deuce says, realizing Jamil is right, and apologizes, "S-sorry."

Then explains, "Anyway, I kept trying to do it again afterward, and it just wouldn't work. It only clicked for me when Vil was giving us a serious pounding."

Kalim laughs, "Aha ha! You see? That hard head of yours... That's your signature trait!"

"Signature?" Deuce says, confused.

But soon comes to realizes, "Oh, wait... You mean that's my...signature spell?!"

"Well, it makes sense. You said the spell name and everything. It must have started gaining it while we're were at the beach," Briar replies

But Deuce in surprise, "What? I called out a spell name?! I was so desperate that I don't even remember it!" and quickly turns to Briar, "Tell me what it is later, Briar!"

Briar giggles and says, "Okay."

Rook feels pleased to hear it, "Marvelous! Merveilleux! You have broken out of your shell in spectacular fashion, Deuce Spade. Behold—Vil is awestruck and weak-kneed from the sheer splendor of your blow."

"No, I'm just beaten up head to toe," Vil says.

Then turns to Deuce, "Credit where it's due, though—that last blow of yours struck soundly. Nicely done, Deuce."

"...Thank you, sir!" Deuce says, feeling very pleased.

"So, wait. If you hadn't succeeded at pulling the spell off once, what possessed you to yell "everybody, get down!' with so much confidence?" Jamil questions, "It's all well and good that the spell worked, but what would you have done if it hadn't?"

But Kalim says, "Psh, don't sweat it, Jamil! It worked, and in the end, isn't that what matters?

"Good grief. I will never understand the way you impulsive types think," Jamil says.

In shock, Ace says, "D-Deuce mastered a signature spell before me? Are you serious?!"

"Yeah, I was never expectin' Deuce of all people to beat me to the punch at somethin'," Grim replies.

Epel giggles, "Heh heh. Sounds like we've got some catching up to do!"

Just then, Jamil says, "The question now is, what do we do about the stage? It's a complete wreck. We're fortunate that Vil's poison mist is covering the whole coliseum. It means we're the only witnesses to the scene. In that sense, it's actually a good thing for us that Vil's signature spell lasts so long."

Everyone looks around to see the purple stage has been completely destroyed. It's in a tragic state beyond repair.

Jamil continues, "I'd prefer to fix the venue up, dispel the curse, and get out of here, but... It's not feasible for us to fix everything up the way it was with what power we have left. Argh... Every scenario I run through my head hits the same brick wall. I'm not sure there's any getting out of this mess."

"Mrooow..." Grim yelps in shock.

Epel grows worried, "Oh, no. Does that mean the SDC is...?"

Suddenly, someone speaks up, "Well, well. What have we here?"

Everyone turns in shock to the source of the voice, and sees who's walking over to them.

Vil is just as shocked to see who is walking over to them, "You're—"