Ch 3

Deep in a lush and vibrant forest, the air is filled with the sweet scent of grass and the earthy aroma of damp soil. Towering trees stretch upward toward the sky, their branches mingling to create a leafy shade that filters the sunlight into dappled patterns on the forest floor. Thick undergrowth carpets the ground, bustling with life as small creatures scurry among the ferns and mosses.

A winding trail cuts through the heart of the forest, its dirt path worn smooth by the footsteps of both man and beast. The whispers of the wind through the trees and the gentle rustling of leaves accompany the low hum of insects, creating a harmony of sounds that fills the air with a sense of peace.

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Among all this, Jenni, Steen, and Hugo were having a conversation in the vibrant forest. "Steen, let's spar!" As Jenni walked up to him and handed over his S.S.U. gear, she smirked as if she were truly excited about thrashing him.

Steen was a little surprised by Jenni's words but wasn't happy to spar with her. “No,” he said to Jenni as he avoided eye contact with her.

She shouted at Steen and yelled, "Don't avoid me; face me like a man!" Jenni stomped towards him, getting dangerously close until she was directly in front of him and glared into his eyes.

Steen felt a little intimidated and nervously said, "Uh... J-Jenni? I don't think I'm ready just yet..."

Jenni leaned forward to approach Steen's lips. "OK, fine. But if you don't, I will kiss you," she threatened. Just as she was about to act, she was suddenly stopped by a forceful shove, sending her sliding backward.

"I said no." Steen looked at Jenni, angry, with a serious look on his face. He wanted to punch her in the face. He said with a sassy attitude, "Listen up, Jenni! I wasn't ready before, but now I'm ready to kick your ass. So bring it on!"

Hugo was quietly sitting on a boulder, eating some roasted meat, silently watching Steen and Jenni argue, as he felt a little comfortable hearing their voices echoing through the forest, disturbing the peace. He wanted to tell them to stop, but it felt out of place since he had just joined their squad.

"Make this worth my time. Our new member needs to learn how to handle themselves out there. But I'll show him how inferior you are compared to me," Jenni stated confidently. She felt like she would win as she pulled out a small knife with a wooden handle from her waist, twirled it around her fingers, and then pointed it at Steen.

"Oh, so that's the game we're playing, is it? OK, I'll give it my all, and I promise to make you regret those words!" Steen quickly equipped himself, unsheathed his gladius sword, and assumed a defensive stance, pointing his blade menacingly at Jenni.

Steen activated the air boosters embedded in his boots, BAAROOMMM. He propelled himself towards Jenni with incredible speed. As he closed in, he executed a graceful midair spin, aiming a powerful kick at her. However, Jenni anticipated his move and swiftly bent her knees, narrowly dodging his attack with impressive agility.

Jenni grabbed onto Steen's arm and flipped him onto the ground below, causing him to let out a surprised gasp as the wind was knocked out of him.

"Take that, Steen!" Jenni smirked and continued, "You're nothing but a weakling. Did you forget that I'm a tag? You have to do better if you ever hope to match up to me."

​

Steen replied angrily, "Oh, really? Just wait until I get up. You're going to be the one who's sorry when this fight is over!" He got up on his feet and continued, "I'm not going to let you get away with this. I'm going to prove to you that I am not as weak as you think I am. Just you wait, I'm going to take you down!"

Jenni sprinted towards Steen with determination, her eyes focused and her muscles tense. She lunged towards him, aiming to grab hold of him, but Steen acted quickly, placing a firm hand on her head to halt her rapid advance. The force of her momentum was abruptly halted, the energy dissipating as she slid to a stop just inches away from him. The air crackled with tension as they locked eyes, each assessing the other's next move.

"So, you stopped me. Well, don't get too confident, you goofball!" Jenni stood alert, her heart pounding in anticipation, as she watched Steen closely, ready for whatever he might do next.

Hugo couldn't take his eyes off Jenni and Steen as they showed off their fighting moves, feeling determined to learn their techniques and become a skilled fighter like them. He was buzzing with excitement, eager to join in and practice.

Jenni and Steen faced off in the clearing. She lunged towards Steen, aiming for his ribs with a swift kick, but Steen was quick. To avoid her attack, he leaped backwards and then rolled on the ground in a smooth motion.

With a fierce look in her eyes, Jenni sprinted towards him with her small knife, as Steen quickly sprang to his feet with his sword ready. The two clashed in a flurry of movement, their weapons clanging together with a loud noise that echoed through the clearing.

"This is it, Jenni! You're going down!" Steen yelled as he activated his air boosters.

Jenni felt a surge of panic as Steen activated his air boosters, propelling him forward with impressive force. She planted her feet firmly against the ground, trying to push back against the powerful gust of wind that threatened to send her tilting backwards towards a looming tree.

Steen's momentum was abruptly halted, as though an invisible hand had grasped him and flung him to the side with tremendous force.

"You idiot, you forgot about my tag power." Jenni gave him a smug look.

With the ability to control her shadow, she can use it to harm others by manipulating her shadow to interact with others' shadows, potentially causing fatal damage to her target and destroying their body. This concept is reminiscent of a Looney Tunes episode in which a character's shadow can manifest a shadow weapon, such as a rocket launcher, to aid in battle, with the shadow's actions able to directly affect and harm opponents.