The following night, Yiernoshi and the others met at the school gate, just like the previous days. Yiernoshi was quite on edge.

One more win. Just one more win to triumph over the Cheddocheezaria. Could they do it?

She glanced up at the darkening sky, and caught sight of a flash of pink.

The judges had jumped off the building and landed on the ground on front of them.

"Today's battle shall be held in the school quadrangle. Please make your way there now."
-----
The quadrangle had been converted into a ring, rather like the one for the Sun battle. The Cheddocheezaria were already assembled there. Chip, swathed in bandages, Bella, with a broken leg and raw-looking face, Gladys, neck still showing purple marks from the previous battle, the very tall girl who had been after Victoria's life, Don, sprawled in an ornate throne that had been present ever since the first battle, and two others they didn't recognize.

"This is the battle ground for the scramble battle for the Ring of Thunder. The perimeter of the ring has been fitted with special fences that emits an electric charge, effectively stunning anything that comes into contact with it."

Yiernoshi winced. Owch.

"There has been a viewing area set up just outside the ring. All except the Guardians of Thunder should now proceed there to watch the match."

Jeanine sighed.

"Guess I'll get going, then."

On the Cheddocheezaria side, a tall girl with a raven perched on her shoulder stepped forward. She removed her leather jacket, and passed it to Gladys.

"Hold it for me, will ya? I won't need it for the moment."

Gladys nodded.

The girl smiled, and strode towards the center of the ring, where the judges and Jeanine were waiting. She lifted a hand to brush her fringe out of the way, and as she did so, Yiernoshi caught sight of a tattoo on the crook of her right arm. It looked like Gladys', except that in the center, instead of a crown and swirl, was a treble clef.

The judges nodded, and exited the ring. Safely outside the battle area, they announced:

"Now, the battle between the Guardians of Thunder: Jeanine versus Seet. Let the battle begin!"

Jeanine whipped out her handbags, and started shooting. Bending with ease of long practice, Seet dodged the bolts as best as she could. Unfortunately, she could only dodge so much.

After five minutes, Jeanine was grinning triumphantly, staring down at Seet, who was kneeling on the ground, panting, her left arm and side burnt and bleeding.

"This was such an easy win!"

Seet picked herself up slowly. Gently ripping a thin strip from the bottom of her shirt, she carefully bound up her bleeding arm. Red spots quickly stained the white cloth.

"It's not over."

Opening her mouth, she let out a sound almost too high-pitched to hear.

"Trying to sing? You suck."

Seet shook her head.

Seconds later, a brown mass appeared. It was moving rapidly towards Seet.

Cockroaches.

Jeanine recoiled at the sight of the twenty-or-so insects, letting out a shriek any seasoned tai-tai would be proud of.

Seet raised her hand, and let out another soundless call. The cockroaches flew as one body towards Jeanine, who shrieked again. Her handbags zapped the cockroaches, slowly reducing the number of insects.

Seet growled, deep in her throat, watching jeanine destroy the last of the insects.

Jeanine grinned.

"Nice try, but I defeated your insects."

Seet raised her eyebrow.

"Who ever said I was using them to fight?"

"Huh?"

Suddenly, a roar sounded. A lion stood at the edge of the quadrangle. Loping towards the ring, it cleared the barrier in one jump.

Seet reached out a hand, and stroked the lion gently.

"This is my power, the ability to speak to animals and summon them when I am in need."

She growled softly to the majestic lion. It growled back what obviously was a reply, before going into the hunter's crouch.

Before Jeanine could register what was happening, the lion had pounced on her, knocked her down. It unsheathed a claw, and held it, poised, over Jeanine's throat.

Seet strode up to Jeanine.

"Give the Ring to me."

Jeanine shook her head.

"I said, give it to me. You do realize that refusal can lead to me telling him to slit open your throat."

Jeanine's eyes widened.

Seet tossed the raven on her arm up.

The raven flew over to Jeanine, landed gracefully by her side. Extending its beak forward, it caught hold of the half-Carbonara Ring hanging on a thin chain around her neck. Jerking sharply, it broke the chain into two.

Seet smiled, and held out her palm to receive the half-ring from the raven.

The raven circled once around Seet, depositing the ring into her hand, before settling on top of her head.

Seet removed her own half of the ring.

"Click."

She slipped the complete ring onto her finger.

"I win."

She growled softly to the lion, bowing her head to it as she did so. It bent its shaggy head, and bounded off.

The judges clicked a remote, and the humming electric current surrounding the ring turned off.

"Seet has successfully completed the Carbonara Ring. Therefore, we recognize her as the victor of the battle for the Ring of Thunder."

Jeanine got up, and staggered over to where Yiernoshi and the rest were standing, stunned into silence.

"I'm sorry, everyone. I tried my best."

The judges emerged from their brief huddle.

"We will now announce tomorrow's battle. Tomorrow shall be the scramble battle between the Guardians of Cloud."