The arena was lit by the small lamps along the walls.
Sifu sat calmly in one corner, his staff resting beside him, watching them.
"Today… you will learn by fighting each other. No fear. No excuses."
Las took his stance, flashing a crooked grin. His eyes scanned Eli from head to toe.
"Heh… with that tiny body, you're going to fight me? I could just blow, and you'd fall over on your own!"
Eli's icy stare cut through him. Her tail flicked with irritation.
"You realize what you've just brought upon yourself, right?"
Sifu raised his hand.
"Begin."
Las lifted his fists into a sloppy guard and shouted mockingly:
"C'MOOOON!"
He charged forward—
Eli simply sidestepped.
WHAM!
Las slipped and crashed headfirst into the ground as if he'd stepped on a banana peel.
Eli smirked.
"That counts as my hit."
Las scrambled up, rubbing the new lump on his head.
"Alright, now I'm serious!" he said, face twisted in cartoonish anger.
He leapt into the air, flailing around with silly "ninja" moves…
but Eli had already vanished from his sight.
"Where did you go?!" Las shouted.
Suddenly, he felt a tail smack his back.
"Right here," Eli whispered.
He spun around—nothing. Turned forward—
WHACK!
"There I am!" Eli grinned.
Las tumbled onto the floor, clutching his head.
He staggered back up, sweating, his eyes burning with determination.
"No… I won't lose… inner peace… inner peace…"
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes—
but a drop from the ceiling landed right on his nose.
"ACHOOO!" he sneezed loudly.
Eli seized the chance, sweeping his legs with her tail.
Las landed flat on his back.
Sifu struck his staff against the ground.
"Eli wins."
Las lay sprawled out, three enormous lumps on his head, stars spinning in his eyes.
"Uuugh… why is it always me…" he whimpered.
Eli smirked.
"Because you're just a little monkey-boy, Las!"
Sifu's lips curved in the faintest smile beneath his glasses.
He turned to Las.
"A small body does not mean weakness. Remember this: speed and mind, when joined with agility, are far greater than arrogance and overconfidence."
Las, tears streaming cartoonishly, protested:
"It wasn't arrogance… it was just… confidence!"
Eli burst out laughing again.
The camera seemed to pull back, showing the small chamber and the stone arena from above.
Eli yawned, stretched, and turned her back.
Las, lumps still glowing on his head, clenched his fists.
"You'll see…!" he muttered, rising slowly, creeping up behind her.
His hand lifted, eyes burning with petty vengeance—
WHOOSH!
Sifu appeared in front of him as if he'd teleported.
BONK! The staff cracked down on Las's head.
He collapsed instantly, bawling like a sulking child.
Sifu's voice boomed as he slammed the staff on the floor:
"Rule Number Four! Absolute! Never strike an opponent from behind. Only a coward would do that!"
The chamber echoed with his words. The dripping from the ceiling quickened, as if emphasizing his warning.
Eli turned, half-smirking.
"Heh… so you were gonna hit me from behind, huh? Only a dumb little monkey would think of that!"
Las shouted through his tears:
"I'M NOT A DUMB LITTLE MONKEY!"
Sifu closed his eyes, inhaling calmly.
"Power without honor… is weakness. And you, Las… still have much to learn."
Las sat on the floor, teeth clenched, sweat dripping.
Fury burned in his gaze, but beneath it—a spark of determination.
"One day… they'll understand my worth," he muttered.
"And then… they'll see who I truly am."
Eli approached him, that mocking smile on her face. She bent down, extending her hand.
"Come on, monkey-boy… get up."
Las looked at her hand, eyes stubborn with pride, and turned it away.
"I don't need help."
BONK!
Sifu's staff struck down again, forming another lump—this time, two bulges shaped like little horns.
"Rule Number Five!" Sifu's voice thundered through the chamber.
"Whoever refuses a comrade's hand… will remain forever alone and weak!"
Las clutched his head, sobbing cartoonishly, lips quivering as his eyes filled with tears.
Eli collapsed in laughter, clutching her stomach.
"Pfft! Hahaha! With those horn-bumps—are you a monkey or a goat?"
Las jumped up, fists waving.
"I'M NOT A GOAT!"
Sifu remained calm, turning away and walking into the shadow of the underground hall.
"That's enough for today. Tomorrow… you will learn the true meaning of cooperation."
The scene framed all three:
Las yelling, Eli laughing,
and Sifu, serene, heading for the exit—
while the dripping from the ceiling echoed on, steady and relentless.