RWBY: Paths of Light and Dark
Chapter VIII: Team ORCJ – Second Trial Part One
A/N: Thanks for the feedback, insights, and inputs everyone. I'll keep what I've learned from you in mind going forwards with the story.
Valethornia Academy Bio-Dome Number Five
The body of a large alpha beowolf was sent flying into the side of a broken down car before dissipating into the ground. Crimson Carmine spun around with his giant sword and cut through three lower-class beowolves in one stroke, shredding their bodies with his swords serrated edges.
He was aware of everything happening around him. Ever since the instructor, Professor T, had knocked him back the young hunter had been fighting desperately to get through the hoard of Grimm that prevented him from continuing his mission.
Roughly twenty feet behind him the archers of his so-called team stood back to back firing projectiles into the swarming beast around them. He was only mildly surprised that the two ranged fighters were holding their own against such numbers. Further away he saw Jett fighting viciously with a pair of twin swords. The young man was a whirlwind of blades and limbs as he delivered swift death to the Grimm.
Seeing that the others were effectively holding their own, Crimson focused his attention on the remaining beowolves and werecats surrounding him. Resting his weapon across his shoulder Crimson scanned the crowd and pressed the release button that was embedded within the golden disk near the blades base.
Suddenly the sword split in half directly down the middle. The handle of the weapon swiveled slightly to adjust for the weapons new form, shortening its length two roughly a hand and a half. Holding one weapon in a reverse grip behind him and the other in a standard grip Crimson narrowed his eye at his foes.
In a split second the young rose-eyed swordsman was slicing through the Grimm. He cut horizontally with his reverse grip sword first. The attack ripped through four targets at once and was followed by a twirling diagonal cut that took down three more Grimm. Making sure not to miss a beat Crimson continued his assault by quickly double cutting his reverse gripped blade in a slight zigzag from right to left and then left to right.
Twirling the weapon in his hand Crimson held both weapons in a more traditional dual-wielding stance and sliced downward with his free blade before following up with a quick cross cut with his other blade. He cut through Grimm by the threes, fours, and fives with speed and dexterity befitting his form. In less than three minutes of various cutting, slicing, and slashing motions the Grimm which had been surrounding him all lay dead and dissipating.
Crimson looked around as Orpheus and Roane picked off a few stragglers that had decided to retreat. Jett on the other hand was sitting on a nearby broken column with one leg dangling just smirking at crimson.
"Took you long enough to finish." Jett stated cockily as he dropped from the pillar and walked over to the team. Crimson remained silent and turned away from the onyx-haired swordsman.
Orpheus looked at Jett and then at Crimson. He turned his bow back into its lyre form and attached it to his belt before scratching the back of his head in frustration.
"Look you guys. We need to get our shit together." He stated trying to sound authoritative.
Crimson's gaze focused on the bowman but he remained silent. Jett just placed his hands behind his head and smiled broadly. Roane was the only one who looked like he would be of any help.
"Here is what we know; this area is crawling with Grimm. Professor T is also hiding here and may have laid out traps for us. We should devise a strategy for locating him and luring him into a trap of our own." Orpheus began explaining to his team.
Crimson scoffed loudly and began walking away. He was stopped by Jett grabbing his shoulder and turned slightly to glare at the offending appendage. Jett's usually friendly smile was replaced with one of hidden danger.
"Crimson, where do you think you're going?" Jett asked as air began to swirl around him.
"I don't have time to waste listening to plans doomed for failure. With my semblance getting the seals will be a simple." Crimson answered.
"Having you all come would be pointless and counterproductive to my methods." He continued before roughly shaking Jett's hand from his shoulder.
"Crimson didn't you agree to at least try and work with us earlier today during breakfast?" Roane asked his teammate holding his arms out in a peaceful gesture.
"I don't recall speaking those words, although I'll admit that your skills are above what I expected." Crimson told Roane as he scanned Orpheus and Jett's faces.
"What do you think you'll accomplish alone against a profession hunter?" Orpheus asked although his tone was softer than before, evidence that he was uncertain about taking command.
"My semblance allows me to completely mask my presence. No one can see, smell, or hear me while it is activated. Remember what the instructor said 'There are multiple ways to achieve an objective in battle'." Crimson explained.
"Actually what he said was 'In every battle there are always multiple ways to achieve the desired result'." Jett corrected whilst wearing a smug grin. Orpheus sighed and shook his head before giving Jett a look that said "Really, did you have to do that?"
"Childish fool." Crimson spat the insult.
"I'd rather be a childish fool than a solitary jackass." Jett countered.
"Jett, that's enough!" Roane exclaimed, surprising everyone as his voice rose. Jett turned to Roane and scoffed before turning and walking off.
"If he wants to play lone wolf, I say fucking let him." Jett called back before giving the group the middle finger and continuing to walk away.
"Jett, come back here!" Orpheus exclaimed. Crimson shook his head and began walking away in the opposite direction.
"This team is a joke. I'll get the seals and keep one for myself. You three can fight over the remaining two." Crimson stated before activating his semblance.
To Orpheus and Roane, it looked as if Crimson had fused with the air as he shimmered away. Orpheus sighed and sat down placing his head in his hands. Roane sat down next to Orpheus and watched as Jett got further and further away.
"You should have been the leader Roane. I can't control those two." Orpheus finally spoke after Jett had turned a corner further down the road.
Roane looked at Orpehus and placed his hand on the young man's shoulder. "Being a leader isn't about controlling your followers Orpheus. You have to lead and inspire them to your cause." Roane spoke with a calm and reassuring tone.
"How can I lead if they won't follow?" Orpheus inquired with a desperate tone.
Roane was quiet for a few minutes before he answered. "Show them that you are worth following." He finally replied with a soft smile.
Collapsed Building – half a mile away
Crimson looked down at the lone figure below him. Tracking the instructor had been a simple task. The man had purposely left an easy trail. Crimson, however was experienced and skillfully avoided the traps that had placed about the area.
Now he hung off the side of a collapsed building as he waited for the perfect time to strike. He scanned the area once more for any irregularities. Confident that his approach would be flawless, Crimson leapt down towards the blindfolded man.
As he neared his target Crimson prepared himself for the quick grab and snatch he had planned. He was instead greeted by a sharp kick to the center of his face. Crying out in pain the teenager crashed to the ground and writhed for a few seconds. Professor T stood over Crimson and chuckled.
"How did I know you would be the one to pull a stunt like this?" the huntsman asked rhetorically before delivering a sharp kick into Crimson's torso. A mixture of blood and spittle flew from Crimson's mouth into his scarf as he was lifted from the ground and sent flying backwards into the building he had just jumped from.
"Crimson Carmine, one of a very select few who the Headmistress personally invited to attend this academy." Professor T began speaking. "Trained from an early age in stealth and tracking, you were a prodigy within your village. By the age of nine you had already unlocked your semblance and once you hit sixteen the headmistress reached out to your parents to have you join her school." He continued.
Crimson stood up weakly and coughed before drawing his sword. "How did you know I was here?" he asked.
"My semblance is a perfect counter to yours." The instructor answered as he got into his fighting stance.
"While you can erase your presence from people's senses, you can't erase your existence from this world." The man continued.
Crimson grit his teeth as his jaw clenched tightly. "Ok, so I can't use my semblance against you. I'm still going to get one of those seals from you." He stated defiantly before splitting his sword into its dual weapon form.
Professor T was silent but mockingly motioned for Crimson to come at him. Crimson charged in at top speed swinging his swords the young swordsman began a complex combination of slashes. He swung left to right, diagonally up and down, and even added a few crisscrossing chops.
The instructor merely avoided the attacks before finally catching one of the blades on the dull side. "Did you really think that you, a sixteen-year old boy would be able to take me, a professional hunter in single combat?" he asked with a hint of anger.
Crimson struggle to free his weapon from the older man's grasp and failing to do so swung with his free blade. The attack however was awkward and easily kicked away. "Arrogant fool." Professor T spat as he yanked the other weapon out of Crimson's grasp leaving the young man completely disarmed.
Crimson looked to his left and right where the swords had landed. He knew that he'd never be able to get to them so he opted for the only option available. Charging in Crimson kicked out at Professor T's head. The attack was easily blocked as the older man countered with a straight punch to the center of Crimson's chest.
There was a faint cracking sound as Crimson's ribcage fractured slightly. "I'll show you the depths of foolish pride." Professor T threatened before changing his stance.
Before Crimson could react he was quickly struck with a lightning quick right-left combo. This was followed by a short uppercut to the chin and a left-handed chop to the side of the head. The flow of attacks was seamless as the instructors right elbow smashed onto his shoulder, dislocating it. The man dropped low and delivered a sweeping crescent kick to Crimson's legs, tripping the young man.
The speed and efficiency of the combination left Crimson stunned as he free floated. Professor T wasn't finished yet however as he continued the sweeping motion in a full three-sixty-degree circle and grabbed Crimson by the ankles before spinning once more and launching the teen a couple dozen feet away. Crimson hit the ground, hard and bounced three times before sliding to a stop.
"Your problem is you think you're better than your teammates, better than the other students here." Professor T began speaking as he walked towards Crimson.
"You obviously didn't take the headmistress' words to heart during the opening ceremony. You are nothing and it is time you realized that there will always be someone better than you. Only by trusting your team could you even hope to beat me." He stated with a sense of finality as he lifted Crimson up by the scruff of his shirt and scarf.
"I couldn't have put it better myself, Prof!" Jett's voice exclaimed from above as the indigo-eyed swordsman crashed down into Professor T. Jett was quick to follow the surprise attack with a spinning double kick to the instructor's chest before gathering a sphere of condensed air and firing it into the center of the older man's chest.
Professor T was sent flying several feet backwards and through the wall of a nearby building. As he tried to stand he was struck by a combination of various explosive arrows. When the dust settle from the explosions, Professor T walked from the building with various scuff marks on his body.
"Well shit, that was embarrassing." He voiced aloud while sheepishly scratching the back of his head. He had kept his semblance contained to the minimum needed for efficient single combat and thus was unable to perceive Jett's existence until it was too late. Sitting down the hunter smiled behind his scarf. They rescued him, there may be hope for this team yet. He thought to himself as he began to mentally prepare for the next encounter.
A/N: A little shorter than I expected but it seems like a good place to stop.
