“Carly, you ready?” Arata asks, his voice steady but filled with anticipation. The air around them is tense, the quiet before the storm palpable.

“Yes!” Carly replies, determination in her eyes. She stands ready in her Vulture Ringmaster form, her sleek armor glinting as she flexes her wings, feeling the power surge through her. Her visor obscures her face, but the intensity in her stance is clear.

Arata, already in his Wolf Ringmaster form, exudes a fierce, primal energy. His rugged armor, designed for quick and powerful strikes, reflects his readiness. His helmet's visor glows with an intense blue, mirroring the strength within him.

Dan, now transformed into Ringmaster Bull, stands solid and imposing beside them. His armor, dense and rocky, emanates strength and stability. The bull horns on his helmet give him a formidable appearance, and he clenches his fist, feeling the solid power within.

“Let’s go, everyone!” Arata's voice carries a commanding tone, filled with resolve. Carly, her wings slightly spread, and Dan, his heavy armor making him look like an unmovable force, nod in unison. They are a team, ready for the challenge ahead.

Elio stands a few steps behind, holding his communication ring. He nods an okay to them, his expression serious but supportive. “I will stay here and support you guys via my ring,” he says, his voice calm and reassuring. The faint glow from his ring reflects his dedication to their mission.

Arata opens the door, and an Undergrounder awaits him right outside. The creature is imposing, its scaly armor glinting menacingly under the dim light. Its face is grotesque, covered with massive, sharp teeth that seem almost capable of chomping through steel. Its nose, large and saw-like, protrudes menacingly.

"Hello, Wolf. Sorry, but I can’t have you interfere with our plans," the Undergrounder growls, its voice deep and chilling. Arata's eyes widen in shock as he takes in the horrifying sight. "WHAT THE—" he starts to exclaim, but before he can react further, the Undergrounder lunges forward with incredible speed, its powerful claws grasping him tightly.

With a swift motion, the Undergrounder pulls Arata into the shadows, both of them disappearing in an instant.

“That was…” Elio stammers, his face pale with shock as he sinks back onto the bench. His mind races, trying to process what just happened. “What’s the matter, Elio?” Carly, still in her Vulture Ringmaster form, rushes to his side, her eyes wide with concern.

“That’s… the calamity class Undergrounder… that’s Thronjaw…” Elio’s voice trembles with fear. The name alone sends chills down his spine. Carly’s eyes widen, her breath catching in her throat.

“Impossible… That was… Thronjaw?!” she echoes, her voice a mix of disbelief and horror. The reality of their situation crashes down on them, the gravity of facing such a formidable enemy weighing heavily.

Thronjaw’s appearance is etched into their minds—the scales like hardened steel, the monstrous teeth, and that terrifying, saw-like nose. His presence exudes an aura of malevolence and power, making it clear that they are dealing with a true nightmare.

Elio’s hands shake slightly as he grips his communication ring, his mind racing with the urgency of their mission and the immediate threat that Thronjaw poses. Carly’s wings flutter restlessly, her body tense and ready for action, but the fear in her eyes is undeniable.

The room seems to close in around them, the air thick with tension and uncertainty. Every creak and shadow takes on a new significance, the threat of Thronjaw’s return hanging over them like a dark cloud.

In this moment, their resolve is tested. They are Ringmasters, trained to face danger, but the fear is real, and the stakes have never been higher. The challenge ahead is monumental, but they know they must face it head-on, for the sake of their mission and Arata who has just been taken.

“What do we do?! We don’t have much backup, and I’m pretty sure we can’t win two vs. three!” Carly’s voice trembles with urgency as she readies herself, her eyes darting around for any sign of Arata’s return.

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“We have to try…” Dan, now transformed into his Bull Ringmaster form, stands firm, his new armor glinting in the dim light. His voice is steady but there’s a hint of uncertainty in his eyes.

Suddenly, a bat flutters onto Carly’s shoulder, startling Dan. “An Undergrounder?!” he exclaims, his fists clenching.

Carly, recognizing the bat, relaxes slightly. “VAMBY?!” she exclaims in surprise and relief. Just then, a familiar figure appears at the classroom door—Jennifer.

“Umm…Hey everyone, where is Aru? He asked me to come here…” Jennifer’s voice is calm but her eyes scan the room, sensing the tension.

Meanwhile, Arata finds himself in a dark, surreal world. Makeshift mountains resembling holograms surround him, and an artificial moon casts an eerie glow. “Wolf… Welcome to my world,” Thronjaw’s voice echoes ominously.

“Who are you?!” Arata demands, his eyes searching frantically for the source of the voice.

“I am Thronjaw. My King has told me that all I need to do is keep you busy,” Thronjaw replies, his voice dripping with malice.

“Keep me busy?” Arata echoes, his brow furrowing in confusion. “There is a queen… there is a king… And what are you, the Uriel of the group?” he asks, trying to provoke a response.

Thronjaw chuckles, a sinister sound. “Uriel? That weakling. What a joke.”

“Weakling, huh?” Arata mutters, still searching for Thronjaw. He can’t see him, but he can feel his presence all around him. “You’re stuck with me for the time being, Wolf!” Thronjaw taunts, his voice echoing through the strange landscape.

Back in the classroom, Carly turns to Jennifer. “Umm… Miss Jennifer, where are Sir Alex and Lila?” she asks, her voice tinged with hope.

Jennifer shakes her head. “Well… I didn’t know they were coming as well.” She pulls out her phone, “Aru just pinged his location to me, and I followed.” She shows the screen to everyone.

“Huh?” The group is collectively puzzled, trying to make sense of the situation.

“Found you!” A familiar, sneering voice breaks the confusion. Lawrence appears at the back of the classroom, flanked by Laurie and Evan. Carly and Dan immediately tense up, ready for battle.

“Shit!” Carly mutters, her eyes narrowing as she readies her revolver.

Jennifer steps forward, positioning herself between Carly and Dan. “I see why he pinged me. Let’s take care of the Undergrounders!” Her voice is firm, her eyes steely with determination. Carly and Dan nod in agreement.

“Vamby, come!” Jennifer calls, and in a flash, she and Vamby transform into their Bat Ringmaster form. “Elio, stay safe,” Carly instructs, her voice softening with concern. Elio nods, his face pale but resolute.

Dan steps forward, his gaze locked onto Evan. “You are mine,” he declares, his voice low and determined. Evan, beefed up and menacing, steps forward to meet him.

“I will purge all evil!” Jennifer announces, her voice ringing with conviction as she squares off against Lawrence.

Lawrence smirks, his eyes glinting with malice. “My goodness, I hoped that Dan would fight me, but it seems he’s just the pussy I remember him being.”

Jennifer holds her ground, unfazed. “Sorry, but the orange ringmaster is really incompatible in this fight against you, but not me,” she retorts, her stance confident.

“Well, whatever.” Lawrence shrugs, still smirking.

“There is a glaring issue…” Carly’s voice cuts through the tension, her eyes flicking between Jennifer and Elio.

“Hmm?” Jennifer looks puzzled.

“We can’t fight them with Elio around. We have to hold back,” Carly explains, her voice steady but urgent.

“That is true,” Jennifer agrees, her brow furrowing in thought. “Let’s try to take them somewhere else—”

Suddenly, Dan and Evan disappear, vanishing before their eyes. “Umm, what—” Carly begins, but then she and Laurie also vanish.

“What’s happening?! I don’t understand!” Lawrence’s voice is panicked, his earlier confidence shattered. Before anyone can react, Jennifer and Lawrence disappear too, leaving Elio alone in the empty classroom.

“The hell happened…?!” Elio’s voice trembles, confusion and fear written all over his face. He looks around the now eerily silent room, the weight of the unknown pressing down on him.

“Thank me later, researcher. I can’t afford that King to get in our way. So just this time, I will help you,” the Queen’s voice reverberates through the classroom, ethereal and commanding. Elio’s head snaps up, his heart pounding as he recognizes the familiar voice. He searches the room, his eyes wide with a mix of shock and confusion.

“The Queen… Is she really helping us?” Elio mutters, trying to grasp the situation.

“Yes, Elio, it’s me,” the Queen’s voice is calm, yet carries an unmistakable note of urgency. “What matters is that your friends are facing a grave threat, and I need you to stay focused.”

Elio swallows hard, trying to steady his racing heart. “Why… why are you helping us? Aren’t you an Undergrounder too?” His voice is barely a whisper, laden with confusion and suspicion.

“Yes, I am an Undergrounder,” the Queen acknowledges, her tone still composed. “But the King’s ambitions threaten more than just your kind. They threaten the balance of our world as well. Sometimes, enemies must become allies to face a greater threat.”

With that, the Queen’s presence fades, leaving Elio standing alone in the classroom, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions.