Are you tired, Clare?
No I'm fine, Teresa.
By tomorrow, we'll arrive in the next town.
Then we'll be able to relax for once.
Yeah.
Ah, overcoming many a night
The frozen dreams, the vanishing tears
Warm me, warm me, wrap me
I despise this body that's incapable of love for others
No matter how far I walk, I see no end
Taking my memories of the past with me
What color will I become in time?
I search for the answer
So? Just what is up with this town?
Well, I suppose you could call it a Yoma's nest.
An ordinary town was attacked and devastated by Yoma.
They then stayed on, posing as humans
and basically fed on the people who came to the town, one after another.
So, how many have you gotten so far, Sophia?
Let me see...
I suppose that makes seven, Miss Noel.
What? Don't lie. There're thirteen bodies.
You got six and I got seven.
Oh, but that is a miscalculation on your part.
I was keeping count properly, right from the start.
It is your inability to do even simple math
that is forever holding you back in the position of Number 4,
Miss Noel.
Eh?
I'll be damned if I let you get away with saying that.
You're Number 4! I'm Number 3!
Well, well. Your brute force is as gorilla-like as ever.
Oh, your little acrobatics were the same as ever, too.
Eh? You picking a fight, bitch?
But you were the one who provoked me first.
That's just perfect then.
Wanna settle just who's Number 3, here and now?!
That suits me just fine.
Give it a rest.
What point is there in fighting amongst ourselves?
Our orders are to wipe out the Yoma in this town.
Am I wrong?
It has been a long time, Miss Ilena.
You sure aren't known as Quick Sword Ilena for nothing.
I never even saw the bare blade.
More than that, I find it frightening
that there is not a speck of blood on her, even at that close distance.
I suppose her position as Number 2 is secure.
So, they got Number 2 through Number 4 together.
I doubt they only wanted us to wipe out the Yoma in this town.
I agree.
A town like this, any one of us would have been more than enough.
Since they gathered the three of us together,
there must be something going on, right?
We have been ordered to bring down Teresa, the Organization's Number 1.
Wha-
Teresa?
You mean, that Teresa of the Faint Smile?!
Why of all things...
She killed some humans.
She massacred an entire group of bandits.
And when she was to receive her punishment,
she cut down our comrades and deserted from the Organization.
Is this for real?
The most powerful of us deserting? That's not even funny.
She should've just let them cut her down.
That was why
the Organization's Number 2 through Number 5 were summoned.
In accordance with the Organization's rules,
we will put forth every effort to take Teresa's head.
So, an all-out war between Number 1 and Numbers 2 through 5.
That sounds interesting.
So, who was Number 5 again?
You really are so stupid.
It's Elda.
--It's not Elda. --What?
The other member is Number 2.
--Huh? --Huh?
I recently became Number 3.
Which means you two have respectively become Number 4
and Number 5.
Wh-What's up with that?
But then...
Number 2 is a novice, who recently received her emblem.
She shot straight to the top in these past couple months.
A novice?!
Why's a girl like that suddenly get to become Number 2?!
Don't make me laugh!
If you're not satisfied, take the title from her by force.
But let's just say I took one look at her and I was satisfied.
Ow, that hurt...
Who the hell is she? What a klutz.
That's her.
She's the new Number 2, who recently received her emblem.
Priscilla.
You've got to be kidding!
She's just a brat!
Have you and the Organization both gone crazy?!
I told you, didn't I?
If you're not satisfied, test her yourself.
That's just perfect.
I'll take the Number 2 position by brute force!
Get up, bitch!
I'll settle this right here, right now!
What?
I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
I apologize for being late to the rendezvous!
I got delayed by the Yoma I had to slay, so I...
What're you talking about?
I'm telling you to fight!
And getting delayed by a couple of Yoma is...
What the hell is this? How could this be?
She was fighting so close by, yet we never even felt her presence.
No matter how strong her opponents or how many she's up against,
she annihilates them without releasing Yoma power.
Truly, just as Teresa of the Faint Smile fights.
Above all else, she despises Yoma more than anyone else.
To be honest, no matter how many comrades I had by my side,
I didn't want to fight Teresa of the Faint Smile.
But I changed my mind when I saw her fighting Yoma.
In time, she will surpass Teresa.
Once my identity is known, we won't be able to relax in this town.
You may have finally gotten to sleep in a soft bed instead of camping out,
but you're fine with that?
Good grief.
A Claymore!
What's a Claymore doing in our town?!
I swear...
Here I was hoping to relax in this town,
but thanks to you, my plans are ruined.
Oh, God, please save that boy!
You guys are really such nuisances.
Damn. I guess we can't relax in this town either now.
Wh-What the...
Thank you very much!
You are our savior!
Please allow us to reward you in thanks!
No reward is necessary.
A man in black will come later...
--No... --Yes?
Nothing.
Get a hold of yourself. Come on, it's okay now.
Dad!
It was something I merely did in passing.
No reward is necessary.
--But that would be far too... --Teresa.
I know. In that case, would you arrange lodgings for us?
For this child and myself.
We've traveled far and we'd like to get some rest.
When are you going to stop laughing, Clare?
But I mean, I'd never seen you look like that.
You were so surprised at everyone rejoicing.
Well, that certainly was a first.
To be sincerely appreciated like that.
I thought it was pretty nice.
To save people from Yoma without it being tied to any reward.
Teresa, can I sleep with you?
We're fortunate enough to have two beds here.
No need to squeeze onto one...
Hey.
Deep asleep the moment she laid down on the soft bed...
Rest well.
We'll settle down in this town for a while.
Three different Yoma auras have entered this town...
The enforcers sent after me for deserting from the Organization...
I have to suppress my Yoma aura... to the utmost limit...
So they don't sense me.
If I can avoid detection somehow and sidestep them...
But they're not a bunch that a tactic like this will work against.
As I expected...
This place?
Looks to be it.
Hah! She's sure staying at a fancy place!
Here we go.
Excuse me...
No, this is too much...
It's fine. Just think of it as the price for the entire inn.
Pardon?
Yo.
Long time no see, Ilena.
Glad to see you're looking good.
I'm here for your head, Teresa.
And are you capable of that?
Your Quick Sword is all fine and good,
but don't catch the child sleeping over there, too.
Not to worry.
It'll be over by the time she wakes.
What's wrong?
It's no good if your Quick Sword stops moving.
Well, you've gotten better than before.
But you still have a long way to go.
Now, then...
Um, what are you...
I suppose it should be around... here!
--Teresa! --Don't move! Stay still.
Damn.
I swear... They sure sent a rowdy trio.
There was one more?
Impossible! I didn't sense her at all!
We have never met.
I am the Number 2, who recently received her emblem,
and my name is Priscilla.
Number 2?
Pardon my rudeness, but I am here for your head, Miss Teresa.
That idiot!
Oh, dear. The plan was to smoke her out, then cut her down from behind.
But that girl is taking her on fair and square.
Does she think she can win
in a head-on fight against Teresa of the Faint Smile?
Get back, Clare.
What? But...
It'll be fine. Don't worry.
Trust what I say. I told you that before, didn't I?
Okay.
You said your name was Priscilla?
The moment I leapt out should've been your chance.
Why didn't you attack me?
Because, such an act would have been cowardly.
What?
More importantly, I have a question for you.
Why were you not beheaded when you were to receive your punishment?
The Organization's rules are supposed to be absolute.
Our role is to wipe out Yoma so people can live in peace.
In order to do that, we chip away at our own lives to fight!
And for us to kill humans...
It destroys the trust that the Organization
has built all this time with the people
and it is an unforgivable act!
So, I am very sorry,
but in accordance with the Organization's rules,
I will take your head, Miss Teresa!
It's unbelievable...
...how you've been indoctrinated with logic convenient for the Organization.
Well, if I have to respond...
The world isn't so simple and it doesn't operate by such ideals,
little missy.
Why you!
Damn.
She's pretty good!
She's got that Teresa on the defensive!
Do you know why she's called Teresa of the Faint Smile?
Huh?
That's because she's always smiling when she's slaying Yoma, right?
That is true for both you and Sophia, too.
But Teresa alone has been given that name.
You're right, now that you mention it. Why is that?
Your agility, Sophia's strength, my Quick Sword...
It's because compared to those things,
Teresa has no conspicuous characteristics except her smile.
That's because Teresa excels in all those areas, right?
Not quite.
Your mobility, Sophia's power, and my sword speed
are each superior to Teresa's abilities in those areas.
Huh?
The reason Teresa is the most powerful
is because of her exceptional ability to sense Yoma aura.
It goes beyond being able to sense the location of Yoma.
She can sense the minute that aura flows within the body.
Huh?
For those who fight using Yoma power,
their aura flows to the parts of their bodies that they're going to move.
Do you understand what this means?
Priscilla can fight with her Yoma aura suppressed to the utmost,
and that's exactly what makes her the most difficult opponent.
Teresa!
Honestly...
These two are unbelievable.
Awesome! Just awesome!
The whistling of the swords and the shock waves
are messing with my mind.
That brat's something else!
She's fighting on an equal footing with that Teresa.
Huh? Equal footing?
What?
It should be about time.
We're going in to aid her.
At this rate, it'll be Priscilla who'll lose her head.
Huh? What're you saying?
That Priscilla's a better opponent against Teresa, right?
H-Huh?
Ultimately, Priscilla's ability is just a smokescreen.
Teresa need only fight normally
instead of relying on reading Yoma aura.
Her natural ability is too great to begin with.
What?
My movements suddenly became slower.
No!
She's...
She's becoming faster!
Why?
Why is this happening?!
I've always fought for the sake of humans!
She's the villain who killed humans!
And yet... And yet...
Why is it that I can't win?!
Her latent abilities are monstrous.
She will grow to become enormously powerful.
Even if I manage to cut her down this time,
there's no knowing what may happen the next time.
Sorry, but I can't die yet.
What?
Woohoo!
Damn.
Talk about lame. You got cut.
Oh, but isn't it better than being kicked and sent flying through the air?
I do not want to do it like this!
No matter how she may have violated the rules,
to fight many against one is...
I alone will...
Don't be naive!
If we hadn't backed you up,
you are the one who would've been beheaded.
Having been in the fight, you must realize that better than anyone.
We are not here to test our individual abilities.
It all comes down to carrying out the sentence
imposed on a transgressor of the Organization's rules.
What matters is finding a decisive way to bring down our opponent.
We'll back you up.
You think of nothing else, but to kill Teresa with all your might.
I understand.
I will defeat her.
For none may get away with defiling the Organization.
I am sorry, Miss Teresa.
If possible, I would've liked to fight you one-on-one,
but you have...
...only yourself to blame!
Heart... Still, within your memories
Body... You look for the missing me
Once again today, someone somewhere is shedding tears
That is what it means to live the fate that smiles coldly
Holding on tightly to what I can't afford to lose
I am right here even now
The flower that never wilts is beautiful
And with unwavering emotion in my heart, it continued to bloom
The condemning sky with its ragged clouds
Held in its embrace the never-ending sorrow
Terror raises its head to utter its first cry.
Terror raises the curtain upon a horrific tragedy.
Next time, "Awakening"