GKC: What's up, everyone! This is GKC here bringing you the next chapter of Remnant's Climax Heroes! And I just read an interesting review from ThunderKnight: "Is there going to be female OC for Female Riders and have a history with 1 of them in their past-life?" That is actually a good question since we didn't really plan for any female Kamen Riders. Now this gives us the chance to implement them into this… but they won't appear right now. At least, maybe not until the next Volume or the one after.

Fen: Yeah, and even if we did, we have no idea who would be using the Female Rider powers.

GKC: Well, I've been having plans on that but for now, we'll save that information for later. In the meantime...

Both: Let's get this party started… HENSHIN!


Chapter 3: Into the Emerald Forest! Team Formation!


[Beacon Academy]


As the morning sun's rays gleamed through the windows of the ballroom, Lie Ren's eyes slowly opened to the sound of his childhood friend's voice.

"Good morning sleepy bug!" Nora said with a bright smile.

Ren sat up with a sigh, looking tired as Nora bounced around, repeatedly saying, "It's morning, it's morning, IT'S MORNING!" Nora said energetically.

Ren just groans as Nora began blabbering on and on about them going to Beacon together.

In the bathroom when he was brushing his teeth…

Back in the ballroom when he rolled up his sleeping bag…

In the cafeteria when he was eating his breakfast…

And now in the locker room where he was collecting his dual green bladed pistols that he named Stormflower. From what he was able to hear, Nora was talking about Teams being formed as well as bribing the headmaster.

"Can you imitate a Sloth?" Nora inquired.

"Nora!" Ren interrupted.

"Yes, Ren?" She asked.

Retracting his pistols into his sleeves, Ren glances at his best friend. "I don't think sloths make very much noise." He responded cooly.

"Which is perfect! Now no one will know we're together!" Nora cheered.

Ren rolled his eyes with a grin as he closed his locker. He gestures for the redhead to follow him, who does so with a sheepish grin on her face. "But not together, together." Nora quickly said.

Meanwhile, Ruby and Yang watched the duo leave with puzzled looks. "Wonder what those guys are so worked up about?" Ruby wondered aloud.

"Oh, who cares," Yang replied behind her younger sister. "So you seem awfully chipper this morning."

"Yep, no more awkward small talk or getting to know you stuff," Ruby reached into her locker and pulled out Crescent Rose folded up. "Today, I get to let my sweetheart do the talking." She cuddles her instrument of death with a disturbing moan.

Yang decided to interrupt her. "Well, remember Ruby, you're not the only one going through initiation. If you want to grow up, you need to meet new people and work together."

"Ugh, you sound like dad!" Ruby growled in annoyance as she slammed her weapon back into the locker, "First of all, what does meeting people have to do with fighting? And second, I don't need people to help me grow up. I drink milk."

"But what about when we form teams?" The buxom blonde asked.

The young girl turned her back with her arms folded, looking slightly nervous. "Um… I don't know. I-I'll just be on your team or something."

"Maybe you should be on someone else's team…" Yang said as she plays with her hair.

"My dear sister, Yang," Ruby stepped up and pointed at the brawler, placing her hands on her hips. "Are you implying that you do not wish to be on the same team as me?!"

"I just thought that… I don't know, it would help you break out of your shell." Yang said.

"What the?! I don't need to 'break out of my shell' that's absolutely-!" Ruby shouted until Jaune finished for her.

"Ridiculous!" The blonde boy passed her, looking at a sheet of paper while Orion follows behind his twin brother. "There's no way I put my gear in locker 636 yesterday, I would remember having to count that high." He passed by Weiss, who was engaged in a conversation with a red-haired girl with green eyes and decked out in female spartan-style armor with a young man with auburn hair and similar green eyes while decked out in a bard-like outfit.

Weiss ignored the bickering from the Arc twins then focused back on the redheads in front of her. "So Pyrrha have you given any thought to whose team you'd like to be on?" She asked. "I'm sure everyone must be eager to unite with such a strong, well known individual such as yourself. Especially when you have your cousin, Orpheus with you." She gestured to the silent musician behind the Invincible Girl, who was currently tuning his harp.

"Hmm," Pyrrha cocked her head in thought then turned back to the heiress. "I'm not quite sure. Orpheus and I were planning on letting the chips fall where they may."

"Why are you bringing me into this conversation?" Her cousin questioned without even looking at the girls.

"Weiss, it's best not to try and get your hopes up this early." Kurogasa sighed.

"Hush you," Weiss said before she focused back on the two cousins with a charming smile. "Well, I was thinking maybe we could be on a team together." The white-haired girl suggested.

"Well, that would be wonderful," Pyrrha said with a smile.

Orpheus gave the redheaded girl a dry look, 'Why can't you ever say no…' He mentally said.

"Great!" Weiss chirped before adopting this scheming pose and manic smile in her head. 'This will be perfect! The smartest girl in class combined with the strongest girl in class! Together we will be unstoppable! I can see it now! We'll be popular! We'll be celebrities! We'll get perfect grades! Nothing can come between us now!'

"Weiss, you're doing that scheming face again…" Kurogasa deadpanned.

"Hush, you! You're ruining my moment!" She countered.

"You're weird," Orpheus said dryly.

"Excuse me!?"

"Okay, let's not get hostile this early in the morning," Kurogasa said, getting in between the two, before bowing to Pyrrha. "I'm sorry about my sister's attitude. She's… kinda sheltered." He laughed nervously.

Pyrrha giggled, "It's alright. I know the burdens of dealing with a sibling."

"I resent that remark, Pyrrha." Orpheus pointed out.

"Haha… uh, thanks for… understanding." He said as he looked away while… blushing?

"You know what else is great?" A familiar voice asked, snapping Weiss out of her plot for school domination until she noticed that it was Jaune Arc no less that spoke, leaning against Pyrrha's locker between the amazon and the heiress. He then gestured to himself with a grin. "Me, Jaune Arc, nice to meetcha."

Weiss folded her arms in annoyance. "You again?"

"Nice to meet you, Jaune," Pyrrha said, standing to the heiress's left.

"Yeah yeah," He gently pushed the redhead aside then stood next to Weiss, showing off his biceps by flexing his arms. "So Weiss, couldn't help but overhear your fondness of me the other day."

The heiress rested her forehead on her palm. "You've got to be kidding me…"

"Don't worry, no need to be embarrassed. So, been hearing rumors about teams. I was thinking you and me would make a good one. What do you say?" Jaune asked.

"Jaune, what did I say about using cheesy pick-up lines." Another voice cut in, revealing it to be Orion Arc, who approached the group of teens with his weapon holstered on his back.

"And step away from my sister. Or I will do something very bad about your… lineage." Kurogasa threatened.

"Don't… threaten… my brother…" Orion warned the younger boy with a glare as Jaune wisely stepped back.

"He started it…" He scoffed, before backing off and gently pulled Weiss away, "C'mon, sis, let's go."

"Wha- Hey!" Weiss tried to protest but Kurogasa had already led the two out of the locker room.

"Well… that could've gone better." Orpheus said as he closed his locker and took his weapon along with his eyepiece. "We should go too, Pyrrha."

"Right," Pyrrha nodded before waving at Orion and Jaune. "It was nice meeting both of you." She said with a smile as she and her cousin left the locker room next.

"Yeah, same here," Orion said, before looking at Jaune and dragged his brother away. "C'mon lover boy."

"Ooh, where did I go wrong…? I thought dad said that women like confidence." Jaune groaned.

"Yeah, except you fail to realize that mom… scared dad a lot when she was pregnant and when she got angry that one time that he forgot their anniversary." Orion pointed out.

"Oh yeah…" The younger Arc Twin said in realization. "I'm so screwed…"

"Ya think?"


LINE BREAK


Ruby, Aaron, Kurogasa, Yang, and the Arc Twins along with the rest of the first-year students stand on silver tiles as they look at Professor Ozpin with his mug along with Glynda behind him with her tablet.

"For years, you have trained to become warriors, and today, your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest." The gray-haired headmaster explained.

Glynda approached the students. "Now, I'm sure many of you have heard rumors about the assignment of 'teams'. Well, allow us to put an end to your confusion. Each of you will be given teammates… today."

"What? Ohhh…" Ruby said with a worried look.

Ozpin walked back and forth while continuing his speech. "These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time here at Beacon. So it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you can work well."

Ruby groaned upon hearing this.

Ozpin continued. "That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years."

Ruby flinched at the realization before shouting. "WHAT!"

"See? I told you-!" Nora told Ren.

"After you have partnered up, make your way to the northern end of the forest. You will meet opposition along the way. Do not hesitate to destroy anything in your path… or you will die." Ozpin stated bluntly which causes Jaune to laugh nervously then gulp.

Aaron raised a hand and asked, "So, just to be clear… we can go all-out in the forest, correct? With no limitations?"

"That is correct," Ozpin answered.

"Ah. Well, this is gonna be fun." Aaron grinned.

"You will be monitored and graded through the duration of your initiation, but our instructors will not intervene. You will find an abandoned temple at the end of the path with several relics. Each pair must choose one and return to the top of the cliff. You will guard that item, as well as your standing, and grade you appropriately. Are there any questions?" Ozpin asked.

"Yeah, um, sir?" Jaune asked hesitantly raising a hand.

"Good! Now, take your positions." Ozpin said.

Everyone got into their own fighting stance. One by one, they were launched into the air by the platforms that turned out to actually be spring launchers.

"Uh, sir? I've got, um… a question," Jaune asks, not noticing the number of students being launched increasing, "So, this landing… strategy… thing… Uh, wha-what is it? You're, like, dropping us off or something?"

"No. You will be falling." Ozpin simply said.

"Oh, uh, I see… So did you, like, hand out parachutes for us?" Jaune asked as more students were launched. Nora was launched into the sky, giggling madly as she flew through the air. Ren followed seconds after with a tired sigh.

"No. You will be using your own 'landing strategy'."

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHOOHOOHOOHOOEY~!" Kurogasa shouted as he was the next to be flung into the air.

Aaron chuckled in amusement at how the younger boy screamed like a certain Disney character before he too was launched into the air with an excited shout.

Before Yang launched, she put on a pair of aviator sunglasses and gave a wink to her baby sister before she took off into the sky. Ruby only sighed at her sister's antics before she was launched as well.

"Uh-huh… Yeah," Came Jaune's intelligent reply, "So, just what exactly is a landing strategYYYYYYY!"

Jaune was sent sailing through the air screaming while Ozpin and Glynda watched with the former having an amused smirk, sipping his coffee, while the latter had a disapproving glare.


[Meanwhile…]


Watching the Initiation progressing from above, Azrael held the Kaijin Gallery in his white-gloved hands. Yellow eyes focused intently on the soaring forms of the four Riders that had so far been a hint of amusement.

"Hm, it seems I'll have to up the stakes on this little game." He said while opening the tome to reveal different images of weak monsters as well as strong monsters. He scanned through the pages before he stopped on a particular year that featured several monsters based on mythological beings.

"Hm, these are perfect. Let's cause a little chaos and despair." Azrael chuckled with a mad grin as the Kaijin Gallery began to glow a menacing purple.


LINE BREAK


Over the skies of the Emerald Forest, not a peep was heard, save for the faint caw of a passing bird… until a red blur smashed right through it as a voice cried, "Birdie, no!"

Each student began their landing strategies. Ruby ended up firing off several shots from Crescent Rose, allowing the recoil to slow her descent before she unfolded the scythe's blade, hooking it around tree branches to swing her to a stop, rolling as she met the ground.

Weiss was using her glyphs to bounce across the treetops, lowering herself down to the forest floor.

Ren used his Stormflower's blades to grip a tree's trunk, carving the wood as he spirals until he met his own clean landing. As he dusted himself off, he heard the cheerful laughter of Yang above him.

Yang was using her Ember Celica's shotgun shells to propel herself further in the air, bouncing across the treetops with a few graceful flips and then bounced across tree trunks before tucking and rolling, grinning as she walked off saying, "Nailed it."

Pyrrha was bashing straight through trees with her shield, Akouo until she landed on a larger branch. She quickly gathered her bearings, using her javelin, Milo, in its rifle form, glancing around with the scope. She saw the flailing form of Jaune in the air, and twisted the rifle in her palm, shifting it to javelin form.

She raised her thumb up in the air to gauge the distance and then threw it. All that was heard was the sound of an impact and Jaune's call of "Thank you…"

The redhead let out a small wave and called back out in reply, "I'm sorry!"

"...uwhooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Kurogasa shouted as he came flying in before tumbling hard on the ground. "OW! DOH! GAH! EEE! AHH! OOF! OOMPH!" he cried out each time he hit the ground while tumbling before face planting and skidding on said ground to a stop. "…ow…"

Meanwhile, Aaron was free-falling from the sky as he activated Blood Moon in its Strike Mode. The fingers of the gauntlets became wicked claws as the boots sprouted three talons with a claw on the back of the ankle. The former White Fang member spun his body around as he entered the treeline and grabbed onto the bark of a strong oak tree. The claws and talons digging into the wood with hardly any trouble as he slid down until he was about a yard from the ground. With a small grunt, he flips back off the tree and landed on his feet with a grin. "Nailed it." He said.

Orpheus brought up his harp, Lyrical Relevance, and ran his fingers along the strings that glowed an icy blue. In a split second, a literal slide made of ice appeared as the musician slid down the icy surface like a certain prehistoric cartoon character. Once he made it to the ground, he looked back up at the ice slide then said, "Yabadabadoo." He smirked.

Orion brought out his giant sword, Lunar Divide, and simply… tanked right through every tree that got in his way. The weight of his sword along with his seemingly unnatural strength plowed past branches and bark as if it were wet tissue paper until he landed like a comet on the earth. Standing up, he leaned back to pop… his back then shouldered his sword with a large goofy grin. "That was fun." He laughed.

With a familiar silver-eyed girl, Ruby was running through the forests thinking, 'Gotta find Yang. Gotta find Yang, gotta find Yang, gotta find...'

"Yang! Yang!" Ruby called out as she ran. She mentally cried in her head, 'Oh, this is bad, this is really bad. Oh, what if I can't find her or if someone finds her first? There's always Jaune. He's nice, he's funny. I don't think he's very good in a fight though. Oh, what about Blake! So mysterious so calm, plus she likes books! Oh, then again I don't think I can hold a conversation with her. There's also Aaron… but I don't really know him that well. Oh, there's also Orion, he's super nice and pretty cut- ACK! Bad thoughts! Bad thoughts! Uh, who else? Oh, Kurogasa! He seemed cool, plus he's around my age. Though… I don't think we'll be able to work well together.' She shook her head to focus on the task. 'Alright there's Yang, Jaune, Blake, Aaron, Orion, Kurogasa, and-' Ruby's thoughts stopped as she skids to a halt to see Weiss Schnee.

Ruby was about to smile before Weiss turned around and walked away, "Wait, where are you going?!" She lightly kicked the ground in disappointment. "We're supposed to be teammates."

Weiss kept walking around pushing away bushes and branches only to stop to see Jaune hanging from a tree, who waved at the heiress with a nervous grin.

Weiss turns around again, walking past Ruby but not before grabbing her by her hood dragging her and saying, "By no means does this make us friends."

"You came back!" Ruby cried as she waved her hands in the air.

"Hey wait, come back! Who's going to get me down from here?!" Jaune shouted.

"Jaune!" Pyrrha called as she walked up to the tree. "Do you have any spots left for your team?"

"Very funny," Jaune said as he crossed his arms before a small smile slid onto his face.

Pyrrha smiled in return.


LINE BREAK


"Ooooh, ow, ow, ow, damn this hurts!" Kurogasa groaned in pain, rolling around on the ground slowly. As the boy continued to wallow in agony, several glowing red eyes watched from the shadows of the forest's foliage. A few bestial growls and hungry snarls entered Kurogasa's ears, drawing his attention to the woods.

Coming out of the foliage were the Creatures of Grimm, specifically, a pack of Beowolves that was led by an Alpha Beowolf. The werewolf-like monsters growled and howled at the human as they approached him with drooling maws.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Kurogasa freaked out as he managed to get up and hobbled away as fast as he could. "Bad day, bad day, bad day, bad day, bad day, bad day, bad day, bad day, bad day!"

The Alpha Beowolf howled a command as the rest of the pack followed after the fleeing boy.

"Why did I have to draw the short end of the stiiiiick!?" He wailed as he kept running.

One of the Beowolves lunged at the boy with a swipe of its claws, trying to take Kurogasa's head off his shoulders. But Kurogasa managed to block with Kage Ryuujin as he tried to push it off. "Get! Off! You! Mangy! Mutt!" He shouted before kicking the Beowolf. He then switched it to Rifle Mode and shot its head off.

Two more Beowolves tried to pounce on the adopted Schnee boy.

Kurogasa aimed and shot their heads off too. He managed to stand up as a fourth like lunged at him. He quickly switched his weapon to Katana mode and sliced it in half.

The Alpha Beowolf growled and quickly ordered its pack to swarm the human boy with unrelenting numbers. However, before the pack could attack, several arrows formed from ice, fire, earth, and lightning struck the Beowolves, killing them in a barrage of elemental fury.

"Looks like you needed my help," A voice stated. Entering from the foliage was Orpheus, who had his weapon currently in its Assault Mode.

"Glad to see you here." Kurogasa sighed as he managed to relax. "I didn't have the best landing… oh, my back."

"Huh, I just did a Flintstones for my landing," Orpheus commented as he shot a lightning arrow at a Beowolf that tried to attack him without even looking at it. "All you did was just rehearse a Jackass scene."

"Oh shut up, I couldn't help it, okay?" Kurogasa growled. "Let's just go before more Grimm crawl up our ass…" He said, before limping off.

Orpheus rolled his eyes as he followed his new partner into the forest.


LINE BREAK


"Helloooooo!" Yang called out to no one in particular as she made her way through the forest. "Is there anyone out there?" She had been walking for a good while now, her best guess possibly being about twenty minutes, and during that time in the Grimm-infested forest, she came across absolutely nothing. Yang was a bit irritated at Ozpin for his description of the forest since it sounded like a dangerous but exciting place.

"Helloooooooo!" The forest remained silent aside from a few animal noises calling out as the brawler stopped. "I'm getting bored here!"

'Seriously, I figured I'd bump into something or someone by now.' She thought with a frown. The silence was broken by leaves rustling along with a branch snapping behind the brawler. "Is someone there?" She called out. Receiving no reply, she marched over to the bush that the sound came from and pushed the branches aside. "Ruby is that you?"

A growl answered her question, forcing the blonde to look up at the face of its source. "Nope." She said, popping the P.

Yang quickly dove out of the way as an Ursa jumped out of the bush trying to pounce on her. She landed in a roll then unfolded Ember Celica just as a second Ursa emerged from the bushes, swiping its paw at the girl. Backflipping away, Yang threw her right fist when the first Grimm tried to pounce on her, punching the bear in the stomach and firing her weapon, sending it flying onto its back. The second Ursa charged at her once again only to receive a shotgun boosted uppercut with the blonde brawler using a second shot to boost the force of a kick to its stomach in mid-air, throwing the monster back.

Deciding to add a little humor at the moment, Yang looked at the Grimm. "You guys wouldn't have happened to see a girl in a red hood now, would you?" Her answer came in the form of the first Ursa standing on its hind legs and growling at her. "You could just say no."

Both Grimm charged, trying to swipe at the blonde but she jumped away from the first swing then backflipped to avoid the second. The buxom brawler stood up laughing at the monsters' attempts. "Jeez, you guys couldn't hit the broadside of a ba-" Yang trailed on when her lilac eyes caught a single golden strand of hair falling gently to the ground in front of her face.

"You…" The blonde gritted her teeth after releasing a growl, her lilac eyes burning a scarlet red. Both Ursa exchanged a confused look, completely unaware of the fatal error they had just performed. "You MONSTER!" She screamed, throwing her fists to her sides and flew at the Grimm by her gauntlets then delivered a punch followed by an uppercut that sent the first Ursa into the air. Using this chance, she fired her weapons again propelling into the air then landed hit after hit in an untamed fury as she finished the beast off with one last punch which sends it flying through several trees.

Yang turned, noticing the other one running up to her. "What you want some too?!" She threatened.

The Ursa stood up on its hind legs and growled at the blonde only to suddenly freeze up as it collapsed on the ground dead with a black sickle in its back, ribbon at the end held by a familiar bow-wearing girl.

Feeling her adrenaline rush starting to wear off, Yang watched as Blake pulled the ribbon and her sickle from the back of the Grimm corpse, catching it in her hand. The amber-eyed girl unfolded it into a katana blade then placed it back on the sheath she carried behind her, sending a smile at the brawler.

Blinking in surprise, Yang decided to break the silence between the two. "I could have taken him."


LINE BREAK


The scene suddenly changes to Weiss Schnee deflecting the swipe from a Beowolf with her Myrtenaster and getting pushed back into the middle of the beastly circle. She holds out her sword as she goes through her dueling motions and practices.

'Remember your training, Weiss. Head up, shoulders back, right foot forward- not that forward! - slow your breathing, wait for the right time to strike, and…' She brings her rapier up, as the revolver was spinning. 'Now!'

Weiss dashes forward with her loaded weapon at the Beowolf in front of her, just when Ruby suddenly appears between the two in a blur of rose petals and a swipe of her Crescent Rose scythe, landing a hit on the monster.

"Gotcha!"

Weiss widens her eyes and screams as she quickly has to stop, swinging the sword in a random direction and creating a line of fire that sets a nearby tree ablaze, followed quickly by the rest of the forest around the clearing. Ruby, distracted by Weiss' mess-up, is barely defended when the same Beowolf scratches at her weapon, knocking the younger girl into the heiress.

"Hey, watch it!" Ruby snapped.

"Excuse me! You attacked out of turn! I could have killed you!"

"You'll have to try a lot harder than that…"

The duo wields their arms as the pack of Beowolves whine and growls around them. Ruby reloads her scythe just as a flaming tree falls near them. "We have to go!" Weiss said, grabbing her arm and dragging her away. She leads Ruby out of the blaze as it engulfs the grass and sets the Grimm to running back the way they came or suffering in the fire. Ruby and Weiss stop a safe way from the smoke and flames. Weiss leans over and pants as Ruby looks behind her.

"What was that?! That should've been easy!" Ruby snapped.

"Well perhaps if you had exercised even the slightest amount of caution with the placement of your strikes, I wouldn't have set the forest on fire!" Weiss answers crossly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ruby scoffed.

"I'm just surprised someone who talks so much would communicate so little during an encounter!"

"Well, I'm sorry you need my help to win a fight. I'm just fine on my own!"

"Well, congratulations on being the strongest child to sneak your way into Beacon. Bravo!" Weiss rolled her eyes with sarcasm.

Weiss begins to walk off on her partner yet again. Ruby, with an agitated shriek, unfolds Crescent Rose, slicing a tree down to the stump, refolds it back, and follows her partner as the tree crashes behind her. Neither notice the large dark feather floating onto the fallen trunk behind them.


LINE BREAK


"Hyaah!" A voice exclaimed before the body of a Boarbatusk is thrown into a tree trunk that caved in its skull. Stepping past the deteriorating body is Aaron, who wiped his hands to clear the dust from his gauntlets. "Better luck next time, Porky Pig."

"I assume you took care of things here?" A familiar voice asked, as Aaron turned to see Orion approach him.

"Well, when you've been trained by members of the White Fang, you get to know a few things." Aaron shrugged. "Like how there are several different ways to snap the bones in a person's arm… I had some disturbing teachers."

"Let me guess… Adam…" Orion deadpanned. "And Sienna Khan?"

"Adam? Hell no. That dude hates my guts and the feeling is mutual. Sienna? Huh… now that I think about it, she personally trained me in both agility and endurance. That montage… was horrifying." The crimson-eyed teen shivered. "The rest of my teachers just tried to put me through hell to either make me miserable or kill me."

"Ouch…" Orion cringed. "Well, at least it's paying off… to an extent."

"Yeah… anyways, let's look for the others." He scanned the immediate area then rubbed his chin. "Hm, it's a lot different than what I remember. Plus, trying to find a temple out here in these woods is difficult enough."

"Why not just look from above?" Orion gestured to the sky.

"Hm, good idea. Wait here, I'll be back." Aaron shifted Blood Moon back into the claws and talons of Strike Mode then used them to climb up a tree like a certain wallcrawler. After a few seconds of climbing, he reached the top and took a gander at his surroundings. All he saw so far were trees, trees, and more trees… until he spotted a clearing a few miles from their current location. With a grin, he dropped down from the tree he was holding on and landed on his feet. "We're about three miles north-west from the temple."

"That's not too far," Orion said. "Let's just hope my brother didn't find the-"

"IT'S NOT THE RELIC! IT'S NOT THE RELIC!"

"-Deathstalker…" Orion facepalmed.

"Ooooh, I love this part! Oh, wait… he didn't scream like a girl." Aaron deflated. "That always cracked me up."

"Dude, that's still my brother!" The older Arc twin exclaimed.

"Right, sorry, my bad. I know that was insensitive but right now… we need to kick it into overdrive."


LINE BREAK


After a few minutes of walking, Aaron and Orion arrived at the clearing, spotting to their mild surprise, Blake, and Yang along with Orpheus and Kurogasa.

"Huh, guess we're early to the party." Aaron joked.

"Well, you're kinda late seeing Kuro here rehearsing Jackass." Orpheus jabbed a thumb. "That was worth a dinner and a show."

"You're really not gonna leave me alone about it, are you…" Kurogasa deadpanned.

"No, I'm definitely not," Orpheus said with a smirk.

"Well, hello there cutie." Yang tilted her aviator sunglasses, looking at Aaron with a sly look. "Those were some nice pecs you showed off last night."

Aaron blushed and sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, "Uh, yeah, my bad. It's… a bad night habit for me."

"Oh no, keep doing it. I'm gonna sleep well tonight once we're done here." She wiggled her eyebrows.

"I suddenly feel the need to barricade my door…" Aaron gulped.

"And why are you hitting on my brother?" Blake frowned at Yang.

"Because he's cute. Why? You jealous?" The buxom blonde teased.

"J-Jealous? Me? Ridiculous!" Blake huffed, looking away, though with a slight blush.

"You should be lucky, dude," Orpheus said.

"Why should I?" Aaron looked incredulous.

"Uh, you got two girls after you. Plus, one of them is smoking hot." The musician stated.

"Lucky bastard…" Kurogasa muttered. "It's not fair…"

Orion patted the younger boy's shoulder, "It's the perks of being a shonen protagonist." He said. "You'll get yours soon enough."

"Mmm…" Kurogasa pouted.

"I just realized something… Where's Ruby?" Aaron wondered.

"Heads up!" Said girl screamed all the way down until a blonde blur crashed into her, sending the two on a path towards a tree and crashing into the branches.

"Oh, nevermind."

"At least I'm not the only one that crashes and burns…" Kurogasa muttered.

"True, but they didn't look like a crash test dummy," Orpheus interjected.

"What was that?" Ruby groaned with comical swirly eyes and seemed to have black puppies with red eyes running around her head.

"Ahem," A voice drew the girl's attention, looking down she was met with the baby blue eyes of Jaune Arc. "Hey, Ruby."

"Did your sister just fall from the sky?" Blake asked her partner.

"I-" Yang was cut off by the growls of a Grimm and several trees falling. Everyone noticed a few trees fall over as an Ursa stomped out into the open on its hind legs. However, something seemed odd about it as the beast swung its body around like it was trying to shake something off its back then there was a brief explosion of thunder and a flash of lightning. The Grimm fell to the ground dead with the sound of some yelling, "YEEEEEHAAAW!"

The ever boisterous Nora Valkyrie rolled off the dead Ursa then stood up with a disappointed look on her face. "Aww." She turned her head back to her unwilling steed. "It's broken." She then zipped onto the Grimm's back as it started to decay, letting out a fascinated, "Eeeew…"

Coming up from behind the corpse was Ren, panting heavily after having tried to catch up to his friend. "Nora! Please… don't ever do that again." But when he looked back to his partner, she had vanished causing him to look around in desperation before she got herself into even more trouble.

Blake, Yang, and the Riders turned their gaze back at the temple then did a double-take when they noticed the overly energetic girl admiring a gold-colored rook. "Ooooh!" She then snatched up the rook and proceeded to strike various poses that were rather ridiculous as she sang, "~I'm queen of the castle! I'm queen of the castle!~"

"NORA!" Ren shouted to get the girl's attention. It seemed to work since the quirky redhead froze then did a quick salute and a cheerful grin.

"Coming Ren!" Nora skipped over to her friend. The gold rook on her head remaining stationary for a while until it fell into her waiting hand.

Blake folded her arms. "Did that girl just ride in on an Ursa?"

"So… awesome…" Orion mumbled in awe with stars replacing his pupils.

"I…" Yang started before she was interrupted once more.

Suddenly, a monstrous roar caused the group of teens to forget about the outrageous duo of Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie. Emerging from the woods was none other than Pyrrha Nikos as a Deathstalker burst from the trees which fell over with ease. The Grimm's mandibles snapped when it swung its pincer at the redhead, who vaulted over it then slid underneath the Deathstalker's left pincer. As she ran, her emerald eyes noticed a certain blonde boy. "Jaune!"

"Pyrrha!" Jaune called back to his partner while Ruby, who managed to shake out the stars in her head, stood up.

The red-cloaked girl finally noticed the giant scorpion with wide silver eyes. "Whoa!"

"Ruby!" Jaune called out as the reaper dropped from the tree.

"Ruby?" Yang spoke with a surprised grin.

"Yang!" The young huntress-in-training cheered happily just as the two sisters were about to give each other a big hug only for Nora to suddenly appear right between them.

"Nora!"

Both sisters blanched at being interrupted with their touching family moment.

The ancient Grimm released a loud hiss, reminding the hunters and huntresses in training along with their mechanical partners of its presence. Blake turned to her fellow initiates and asked, "Did she just run all the way here with a Deathstalker on her tail?"

None of them answered her as Nora bounced on her feet with a large grin, Orpheus had his arms folded, Ren looked silently indifferent, Orion was picking his ear, Kurogasa looked like he wanted to strangle Orpheus, Aaron yawned, Ruby was nervously smiling, and Yang started to seethe in frustration.

With a growl, the buxom brawler quite literally exploded, her lilac eyes turning red for a brief second before they melted back into their original color. "I can't take it anymore!" She shouted. "Could everyone just chill out for two seconds before something crazy happens again?"

DING!

"Uh, Yang?" Ruby tapped her sister's shoulder, getting the blonde's attention before gesturing up as the other Hunters and Huntresses-in-training, sans Pyrrha, looked up. Up above, Weiss is revealed to be hanging on a talon the size of her entire body that belongs to a gigantic Nevermore.

"WEISS!?" Kurogasa gawked in shock.

"How could you leave me?!" Weiss shouted.

"I said, 'Jump'!" Ruby called back.

"She's gonna fall." Blake pointed out.

"Oh, big time," Aaron added.

"WEISS! HANG ON!" Kurogasa shouted as he ran towards her stretching his arms out.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M DOING!?" The heiress yelled.

"She'll be fine." Ruby assured her friends.

"She's falling." Ren, Orpheus, and Orion said in unison.

Kurogasa kept running as Weiss fell through the air and went into overdrive, running as fast as he could. Once he was within range, he crouched down and slid as he managed to catch his sister bridal style. "Gotcha!" He said, cradling her in his arms before sliding to a stop. "You okay?"

Weiss felt her cheeks burn due to her current position but gave her little brother a smile, "My hero." She said while patting his cheek. "Uh, you can let me down now, Kuro."

"Oh, right. Sorry." He said, as he stood up and gently placed her down.

"Hey! What about me?" Jaune cried out as he was still stuck in the tree.

BANG!

"AAAHHHHH- Oof… ow…" Jaune groaned after the branch he was caught on was shot off, sending him tumbling out of the tree until he landed on… "...my back…"

Everyone turned their eyes to stare at the smoking barrel of a gun that was integrated within Blood Moon, Aaron's weapon. The crimson-eyed teen noticed the looks he was getting then said, "What?"

The Deathstalker swung its pincers at Pyrrha, knocking her away, but she manages to land on her side at the feet of the heroes. "Great! The gang's all here! Now we can die together!" Yang said.

"Not if I can help it!" Ruby said as she released a battle cry and rushes towards the Grimm.

"Ruby, wait!"

Ruby, still screaming, fires Crescent Rose and charges at the oncoming Deathstalker. When the two meet, the Grimm swipes Ruby away and she is knocked back. "D-Do-Don't worry!" Ruby assured, getting up lamely. "Totally fine!" Ruby turns back to the monster and shoots it in the skull, running away from it and sheathing her scythe as the Deathstalker now goes after her.

"Ruby!" Yang shouted, running towards her.

Ruby rushes towards Yang, but the Nevermore caws above them, flapping its wings and releasing lines of sharpened feathers with points that catch on Ruby's cape and prevent Yang from reaching her. "Ruby, get out of there!"

"I'm trying!" Ruby struggled.

The Death Stalker approaches, raising its golden stinger above a scared Ruby and heading down on the helpless girl.

"RUBY!" Yang cried out.

Before Yang could blink, a large blur passed her with surprising speed that mimicked Ruby's Semblance.

CLANG!

"You alright?"

Ruby opens her eyes to the sight of the stinger being held back by a large blade that glowed red and lowers her arms from their futile position over her head as she stares at her savior.

"Orion…?"

"I've seen some reckless things in my life…" Orion spoke as he held back the Grimm's stinger with hardly any effort due to his large blade shielding his back as well as the girl in front of him. "But that was easily the stupidest thing you've ever done, Ruby. And trust me, I'm related to Jaune."

"HEY!"

"So, if you would… kindly… stop… showing off…" The older Arc twin began to grunt as the Deathstalker started to push back Lunar Divide. "That would be really fantastic."

"I just…"

"Look, I get it. You don't want to look like a total useless bag of dirt. Trust me, Jaune can totally relate. But you gotta let others help you. There's nothing wrong with sharing the burden with your friends." He explained.

"But-"

"Hold that thought," Orion interjected before he pulled the trigger on the grip of his sword. A Dust cartridge in the handguard was ejected before a new one took its place as the hammer slammed into the cartridge, sending a burst of yellow energy into the blade of Lunar Divide as electricity crackled and pulsed around it. With a cry, he swung his massive weapon at the Deathstalker, sending an energy wave composed of Lightning Dust that shocked and sent the monster back. "You were saying?" He asked.

"Never mind." Ruby pouted.

"Well, glad we got all of that squared away but… let's not forget our feathered friend currently circling around us in the air." Aaron pointed out as he gestured above them to see the Nevermore cawing and circling around like the boy said.

"Oh man, what do we do?!" Jaune wondered, looking slightly panicked.

"Calm down," Orpheus said. "We still have a mission to uphold."

"Look, there's no sense in dilly-dallying. Our objective is right in front of us." Weiss said, gesturing to the relics.

"She's right. Our mission is to grab an artifact and make it back to the Cliffs." Ruby nods to Weiss. "There's no point in fighting these things."

"Run and live - that's an idea I can get behind!" Jaune agreed.

"Then let's go collect our relics." Aaron said as he, Jaune, and Ruby approached the altars to take one of the few remaining pieces.

Jaune grabbed a White Rook.

Ruby took a White Knight.

Aaron looked at each piece that remained and figured that it was best to go with his gut. He reached out and took hold of the White Pawn.

The three looked at one another and smiled.

The Nevermore released another squawk, which had Ren say in ergeance, "Time we left!"

"Right!" Ruby nodded.

"Let's move, everyone!" Aaron ordered as he, Ruby, and Jaune took the lead while everyone else began to follow, save for Yang, who stopped momentarily while her partner, Blake, halted if only out of concern.

"What's wrong?" The hidden cat faunus asked.

Yang smiled proudly as she saw her little sister stand on a rock, her cape flowing in the wind, as she gestured for the others to follow her. If anything, Ruby looked like a true Huntress at the moment. She glanced at Blake and shrugged, "Nothing." She said before they both followed after their comrades.


LINE BREAK


An overhead shot shows that the group is heading out of the forest and into another abandoned series of structures as the Nevermore follows them from the air. They spread out when it passes above, concealing themselves behind some of the stone blocks with their allies as it perches on a high column and caws.

"Well, that's great!" Yang said annoyed.

"Looks like the bird is looking to rain on our parade," Aaron jested.

Jaune looks behind at the Death Stalker bursting onto the scene. "Ah, man, run!" He shouted as the group emerges from their hiding spots, causing the Nevermore to rise up into the air.

"I hate this forest!" Kurogasa yelled.

"Nora, distract it!" Ren ordered.

Nora obliges, running out from her block and jumping through the feather projectiles before reaching behind her and launching several heart-topped shells from her grenade launcher, bursting into pink electricity when they hit the Nevermore and causing it to retreat. She is unaware of the Death Stalker rushing up behind her until Blake and Ren perform a cross-slash with their Gambol Shroud and StormFlower against its shell. Weiss lands next to Nora so she can create a jumping platform beneath them and leap to safety while Blake and Ren are now being chased.

"Weiss, give me a boost!" Kurogasa shouted as he jumped back when the Deathstalker tried to swipe at him with its claws. Weiss summoned a glyph and Kurogasa's feet landed on said glyph before he bounced off towards the Deathstalker. "ORYAHHHHH!" he shouted, spinning around, sticking Kage Ryuujin forward, becoming a human drill.

The scorpion Grimm quickly brought up its pincers to block the young Huntsman's attack and tried to stab him with its stinger until an arrow composed of ice stuck it onto the Deathstalker's exoskeleton.

Kurogasa turned back to see Orpheus with his bow in hand, "Thank me later! Run now!" He told his partner.

"Go, go!" Pyrrha said as she stops running beside Jaune and gets out Miló, firing red shots alongside Ren's green blasts for a second until it reaches them and tries to swipe, prompting the group to run again. The twelve race over the ancient stone bridge, not noticing the Nevermore closing in on them until it uses its giant wings to shatter the path right in the middle, forcing Ruby, Weiss, Yang, Nora, Kurogasa, Orpheus and Jaune closer to the central collection of columns and leaving Blake, Ren, Aaron, Orion, and Pyrrha on the other side with the Deathstalker. Ruby fires at the retreating Nevermore while Blake is beaten back by the scorpion. Aaron dashes towards the scorpion and throws a fist that the Grimm blocked until he quickly uppercuts the Deathstalker in whatever it qualified as a chin. Angered, the Deathstalker swung its tail, slamming it into the young man's chest and sending him flying into the air.

"WHOA!" Aaron exclaimed as he spun and flailed in the air. Seeing a nearby platform, he shifts Blood Moon into its Blast Mode and fires a few times, using the propulsion to propel himself safely onto the platform. "I'm okay!" He called out.

Jaune approaches the edge of the break in the bridge, "Man, we gotta get over there! They need help!" He said, concerned for his partner and comrades.

Nora ran up beside him, "Let's do this!" She declared.

The younger Arc twin looks down at the misty abyss. "Yeah, but, uh… I can't make that jump." He admitted with a nervous grin.

Nora smiles diabolically at him, laughing as she knocks him back, turns her weapon to its full-length hammer form, and jumps to the edge of the bridge.

Seeing what she's about to do, Jaune panicked. "Oh, wait!" Too late, Nora slams the hammer into the bridge and throws Jaune to the other side, yelling, "No, no, no!"

Nora places one foot on the hammer and fires it off the collapsing section of bridge, launching her to slam its face right in the center of the Death Stalker's skull. She fires it just as the stinger comes down to get her, and blasts back again to avoid its reach, accidentally knocking into Blake and Orion making them fall from the edge. The older Arc twin quickly jabbed his sword into a pillar, stopping him from falling into the abyss below. Blake sees the Nevermore above her and launches her whip so the gun's blade sinks into the edge of the bridge, circling around and leaping onto the aerial Grimm's back. She dashes all over its body, slashing the entire time, before jumping off and landing on the ruined platform at the top of the columns next to Ruby, then going over to Yang and Weiss.

"It's tougher than it looks!" Blake told her comrades.

Yang readied her Ember Celica, "Then let's hit it with everything we got!" She declared.

The Nevermore approaching, Ruby, Blake, Weiss, and Yang set their weapons to fire a barrage of blasts at the bird, which it either dodges or takes harmlessly until it crashes through the columns and platform. The girls leap from one section of falling stone to the next until they reach the higher bridge on top, just below the cliffs.

Weiss analyzed the current situation with a frown, "None of this is working!"

Ruby watched Blake whip over to another section of the area and Yang firing round after flaming round at the Grimm, which sparked a blast of inspiration in her head. "I have a plan! Cover me!" She told her partner then blasts away as Weiss raises her blade and heads into the fray.

"Can I get a little help, please?" Orion called out to anyone as he literally hung on to his sword, dangling in the air.

"You rang?" Orpheus spoke, drawing the cap-wearing teen's attention to the auburn-haired boy, who stood upon a platform composed of stone with his weapon currently in its lyre form.

"Thank you!" The blonde said as he moved his body until his feet touched the pillar then he yanked Lunar Divide from the stone and jumped to land on the makeshift platform created by Orpheus.

Down below, the Death Stalker is still battling Jaune, Ren, Nora, and Pyrrha.

Jaune glanced at his partner and teammates, "We gotta move!" With that said, they all rush towards it.

The Death Stalker aims a claw at Pyrrha, but she deflects it with her Akoúo shield and slashes it with her blade. The scorpion recoils and swipes at her with its other claw, but Jaune is there to deflect it with his shield, knocking it back so Pyrrha can leap over and attack its face. Ren runs up firing and gets on the stinger when it tries to hit him, shooting at the base between it and the tail while Nora fires more grenades at the attacking claws. Pyrrha hurls her javelin straight into one of the monster's ten eyes, making it throw Ren to the side.

"Ren!" Nora shouted.

Ren hits the side of a stone block hard and falls to the ground, not getting back up. Jaune, though, manages to stand and notice the stinger is hanging limply.

"Pyrrha!" Jaune shouted.

Realizing what he wanted, Pyrrha responded, "Done!" She raises the shield and hurls it like a discus, slicing the stinger off and causing it to fall into the Death Stalker's head as Pyrrha retrieves her rebounding shield.

Jaune turned to the pink berserker of the small group, "Nora, nail it!" He ordered.

Nora looked to Pyrrha, "Heads up!" She warned as she jumps on Akoúo, Pyrrha leaps as Nora aims her blast down to give herself a maximum lift, and she smiles the entire way up before twirling down until her hammer slams its head into the stinger, driving the point through the Death Stalker's head and crushing the bridge beneath it) Jaune and Pyrrha bound over the monster to the land behind it, and Nora fires up and away behind them as the monster falls to its doom. Jaune hits the ground on his back, Nora lands on her bottom, Pyrrha manages a crouched pose, and Ren simply walks over to them, panting and groaning until he just collapses. The other three get up and watch as the Nevermore is peppered with firepower. Yang is still burning through her ammo on the beast, landing a blow at its face and causing it to head right towards her, but she leaps for its open maw and forces the beak wide as she attacks.

Yang screamed while firing a round with each syllable, "I! Hope! You're! Hung-! …-gry!" She looks behind her and jumps back from its mouth onto a ruin, causing the creature to crash into the cliffs.

"INCOMING!" Aaron cried out as he had jumped into the air, using the gun barrels in his boots to 'airstep' to the Nevermore then fired the barrels in his gauntlets above his head to propel him forward like a speeding missile as he dropkicks the giant Grimm bird in the beak. He flips back, landing next to Kurogasa on a separate pillar.

"She's nuts!" Kurogasa gawked.

"It's Yang…" Aaron pointed out dryly. "Of course, she's nuts."

Despite his and Yang's attempts, the Nevermore recovers quickly, and Yang smiles as she spots Ruby and Blake on the broken columns with Weiss rushing to the battle. Yang passes her while the Nevermore starts to fly back up, but Weiss hops over to the ruins it's lifting off of and freezes the tip of its feathery tail to the ground, leaving it stuck in the same spot despite its flapping. Weiss back-flips into a snowflake-circle jump and lands on the other side, running to the group. Blake fires the pistol portion of Gambol Shroud over to Yang, and the two tighten it between the columns so Ruby can jump on the center with Crescent Rose and bend it back into Weiss's black sigil, right next to the caster.

"Of course you would come up with this idea," Weiss said to the younger girl.

Ruby smirked, "Think you can make the shot?"

Weiss had a confident smirk of her own, "Hmm! Can I!"

Ruby looked at her partner in confusion. "Can't?"

"Of course I can!" The heiress retorted.

Ruby looks forward and pumps Crescent Rose as Weiss turns the circle from black to red and releases Ruby at such a speed that the ground behind her launch cracks, rose petals flying from her ascent. With each new shot, she gets closer and closer to the trapped Grimm until her scythe catches the Nevermore's neck in its blade and causes them both to fall to the cliff wall. Weiss raises her sword and creates a series of white circles up the wall, which Ruby dashes through by firing the entire way up. Yang, Blake, and an exhausted Weiss watch her climb up with the bird in her grasp until, both warrior and monster crying out, Ruby reaches the top of the cliff, circles up, fires one last shot, and rends the Nevermore's head from its shoulders in a shower of petals. She lands beside the severed head as the body of the giant Nevermore falls lifeless to the ruins and crevice below while the girls and, farther away, Jaune, Pyrrha, Nora, and Ren watch in amazement.

"Wow…" Jaune uttered with awe.

Ruby, her cape and petals flowing with the wind, looks down to her friends as they peer up.

Yang smiled up at her little sister then looked at Weiss and Blake, "Well… that was a thing!"

"Can we go home now, please?" Orion asked as he and Orpheus approached the girls while Aaron and Kurogasa dropped from the pillar they currently stood on, landing on the pathway leading to the others.

"Yeah, we got our relics," Kurogasa said, holding up his Pawn.

"You won't be going anywhere." A new voice interjected.

The group of twelve followed the source until their eyes landed on two peculiar creatures. Creatures that the four Riders instantly recognized. One looked like a large green humanoid with bull features while the other looked like a cross between an insect and a mammal.

These were the Minotaur and Manticore Phantoms.

"You've got to be freaking kidding me…" Orpheus deflates.

"Uh, guys? Care to explain?" Ruby asked the Riders.

"Let's just say that these two… are incredibly dangerous," Orion informed his friends.

"And no, this is not part of the curriculum," Kurogasa said as he stepped forward. "Aaron?"

The crimson-eyed teen stood ahead of the group, "What the hell are you two doing here?" He demanded. His tone clear and threatening as his pupils narrowed into slits. "I don't remember Phantoms being part of the party."

The Minotaur laughed then sneered, "Isn't it obvious? We're here to kill you!" He gestured to the teens.

"Ha!" Yang laughed then gave the Phantoms a smug grin, "I don't know what you guys are or why you're here? But… you're clearly outnumbered. There's twelve of us and only two of you."

"Oh… you shouldn't have said that…" Orpheus mumbled with a groan.

"Why?" Yang asked confused.

"Because where there are monsters… there are bound to be grunts." Orion added.

The Manticore scoffed, "Children, children… you clearly need to recount…" He reached behind his back and pulled out… several strange stones.

"Rocks? You're gonna throw rocks at us?" Blake gave the two Phantoms a disappointed look.

"Wrong… they're going to use them." Aaron interjected as the Manticore tossed the stones onto the ground. The moment they landed on the ground, the stones grew larger and bigger before molding themselves into Ghoul Phantoms, readying their spears.

"Oh…" Blake and Yang said in unison as they gawked at the Ghoul Phantoms.

"W-what are those things!?" Weiss exclaimed.

Narrowing his eyes, Aaron shifted his weapon into Slash Mode as two large, double-edged blades sprouted from his gauntlets while three smaller, curved blades emerged from the ankles of his boots. "Target practice," He said before glancing at his fellow Riders. "Let's take them down!"

"Right behind ya." Kurogasa said, readying his katana.

"I'm gonna go Jotaro all over their butts." Orion smirked, shouldering his large sword.

Orpheus sighed, "I suppose I'll lend a hand." He said, shifting his lyre into its bladed bow form.

The Minotaur chuckled darkly then gestured with his hand, "Kill the Kamen Riders!"

With that, all of the Ghoul Phantoms charged in at the twelve Hunters and Huntresses.

"Ikuze!" Aaron ordered as he and his fellow Riders charged at the Phantoms with battle cries of their own.

"Let's help them!" Ruby told her friends, who all nodded and followed after the Riders.

The two groups converged on one another with war cries from the Huntsmen and Huntresses while the Ghoul Phantoms released guttural growls. Once the distance between them was nigh-nonexistent, the battle began.

"Heyah!" Aaron exclaimed as he slashed with both blades, cutting down two Ghouls as sparks flew from their bodies. One tried to skewer him with its spear but the boy instinctively flipped over the weapon, landing on the shaft with his boots before delivering an axe kick to the Phantom's head, knocking it into the dirt. Looking back, he noticed a Ghoul try to pounce on him before Aaron flips back into the air with a corkscrew before he landed on his would-be attacker's back then turned his heel as a loud crack echoed from the action.

"Take this!" Kurogasa shouted as he slashed some of the Ghoul Phantoms while running across the field. Once he clicked his sword in, all of them were cut in half. He then switched it to Rifle Mode and shot out Fire Dust on the Ghoul Phantoms, burning them to death. Another tried to stab him, but he moved to the side, slid the weapon under his arm and shot it, without looking! He then changed his weapon back to katana mode as he did a wide arc of a slash on a group of other Ghoul Phantoms cutting them in half.

"Oorah!" Orion roared as he swung his large sword, carving through several Ghouls with hardly any trouble due to his strength. Planting Lunar Divide into the earth, he grabbed a Ghoul Phantom with his empty hand by the throat then chokeslammed it into the ground, leaving visible cracks. The older Arc twin glared at another Ghoul Phantom that began to shake in fear before he lunged at it and began to punch it with blinding speed. "ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA!" He exclaimed as he delivered one last punch that cracked the Phantom's rocky face.

Orpheus flipped into the air, avoiding several spears thrown at him before he fired three Dust arrows composed of lightning. The electrifying projectiles struck three Ghoul Phantoms, paralyzing them before the auburn-haired musician came in with his bladed bow and slashed at them, sending the grunt monsters to the ground in a shower of sparks. Switching Lyrical Relevance to its lyre form, he spun a few strings as fire bursts out like meteors, striking a group of Phantoms as they exploded in a violent blaze.

Even though they were killing the Ghoul Phantoms, the numbers didn't seem to end as they kept coming.

Orion scanned the situation of the fight and frowned, "None of this is working! There are too many Ghouls!" He told his comrades.

"He's right. We've already exhausted nearly all of our ammo and our Aura during the Initiation." Orpheus agreed as he kicked a Ghoul Phantom back.

"Then it's time we end this!" Aaron informed his fellow Riders. "Choose a belt and transform!" He ordered.

"Well since they're all Phantoms…" Orion said.

"Yeah, I get what you're saying," Orpheus added.

"Let's give Ozpin the shock of his life," Kurogasa said.

"Wait… I just realized something… there are hardly any Riders in Wizard save for… Well, you know." Orion pointed out.

"Dude, just choose a belt. It doesn't really matter as long as the monsters are destroyed." Aaron stated.

"Fair enough," The cap-wearing blonde shrugged.

All four boys focused their remaining Aura as separate belts appeared on their waists. Aaron's belt had the hand buckle before his rings appeared and placed it in front of his belt.

DRIVER ON! PLEASE!

The hand buckle enlarged before it materialized into a belt. It was fully metallic silver, and metal lined the belt as on the side showed a holder, were full of magic rings. In the center was a hand buckle, cast in a gold trim as two levers were on its sides. This was the WizarDriver.

Kurogasa reached into his pocket and pulled out two rings. One was grey and silver with a black rim similar to that of a gate while the other was designed like a yellow lion and has green eyes. He then put on the rings and placed the silver one in front of his waist.

DRIVER ON!

A roar of a lion sounded as a belt materialized from his waist. The belt grew and formed out as it became two large doors with two ring-esque slots on the side. One with the Beast emblem and the other showing just the symbol for the door.

The other two had their hand buckles before putting on their rings and scanned the buckles.

DRIVER ON! NOW!

The White WizarDriver materialized around their waists as it was similar to the WizarDriver, but the outlines of the Hand Authors were red instead of yellow.

"Ladies and gents, whatever happens, don't freak out," Aaron informed those who had never seen them transform.

Each of them took out their respective rings and the WizarDriver users touched the Shift Levers flipping the Hands to their left.

SHABADOOBIE, TOUCH TO HENSHIN! SHABADOOBIE, TOUCH TO HENSHIN! SHABADOOBIE, TOUCH TO HENSHIN! SHABADOOBIE, TOUCH TO HENSHIN!

As the songs continued repeating themselves, they took out their transformation rings, slipping them on their left middle fingers, "Henshin!" They shouted.

"Hennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn~ shin!" Kurogasa said, before they scanned their respective rings while for him, he inserted his Beast Ring.

FLAME! PLEASE! HII! HII! HII, HII, HII!

SET! OPEN! L-I-O-N: LION!

CHANGE! NOW!

To their shock, with Aaron, a red magic seal with runic writing appeared to his left in the air. He stuck his left arm out towards the seal and it slowly went towards and through him while leaving a fiery afterimage. The full red magic seal soon passed over him completely before fading, covering him in a suit of armor. From head to toe he was clad in a black bodysuit that concealed his form. His chest was covered in red gem-like armor which was a long line down the middle with three sections on each side that were rectangular, but slightly askew. His shoulders were covered in black armor with silver edges that were decorated with dragon-like crests. From his waist hung a robe-like waist covering which was red on the inside but black on the outside. His wrists and ankles sported bands that were the same ruby red as his chest plate. Finally, his head was concealed by a silver helmet which had a ruby red faceplate decorated like the ring he wore, sporting metal lines making it appear as if he had large eyes with antennae rising from the forehead

For Kurogasa, the Beast magic glyph appears in front of him as it soon flowed back towards the teen as it engulfed him within it before it disappeared and showed his new form. He was donned in a black bodysuit which covered him from head to toe. The shins and forearms were donned in gold protective armor with strong abdominal muscles outlines on the front. The chest plate was black on the right side, but gold styled after a lion's mane with the head of said lion existing on his left shoulder. The left side of his belt held a chain that was made of gold and adorned with several diamond-shaped metal rings made in an assortment of different colors. Finally, the helmet was styled after a lion's head with large green compound eyes and a white mouth plate made to look like a beast's mouth.

For Orion, the White Wizard glyph appeared in front of him, before it pulled back and passed through him. Almost every inch of his suit was white. The torso was white with silver ring holsters stretched across his sides, each link holding a ring. His shoulders sported a white mantle with a gold lining that ran down his back. His legs were covered with more white and gold fabric, giving the appearance of a robe like a classical wizard would wear. His boots and gloves were pure black, contrasting heavily with his suit. Wrapped around his waist was a WizarDriver, but the hand was outlined in red rather than yellow. Finally, the majority of his helmet was concealed in white platings, like a hood. His face was an amber gemstone with silver eyepieces, but his were slanted, making them look a little more eerie.

For Orpheus, Sorcerer's magic circle appeared from above him as lightning crackled around before it went downwards, passing through his body. He was clad in a golden bodysuit with a black-gold chest plate that had two grey straps holding onyx black gemstones on them, black-gold shoulder guards with black crystals and a cape hanging from it, a black-gold waistcloth with tassels, silver greaves, black boots with a jetted blade on the top of both feet, and a helmet that looked like a cross between a crown and a mage's hat with a rugged black crystalline face in the shape of an elderly wizard.


LINE BREAK


Ozpin had the gall to spit out his coffee as he looked at the boys on the Scroll who just transformed! All of his senses could practically feel the magical energy radiating from each of them. Something he hadn't felt since… happier days.

"Professor Ozpin, what are we seeing?" Glynda questioned her boss after she witnessed the same phenomenon as Ozpin.

"Something… that hasn't been seen in ages…" Ozpin answered.

The blonde woman pursed her lips as she and Ozpin continued to watch the current situation unfold.


LINE BREAK


All was silent, save for the uneasy growls of the Phantoms as they stared at the four Wizards in both anger… and fear.

Aaron as Kamen Rider Wizard brought up his left hand which held his Flame Style Ring and said his famous catchphrase, "Saa… Showtime da!"

"Saa… Lunchtime da!" Kurogasa shouted, before placing his hand in front of his Driver to pull out the Dice Saber and charged in, followed by Orion as Wiseman and Orpheus as Sorcerer.

Meanwhile, the first-timers looked on in shock and Ruby… was hyperventilating a lot. And why wouldn't she? Because she had just witnessed possibly the coolest thing a girl her age could ever witness in her lifetime. Yang noticed how her little sister was breathing a bit too fast, "Ruby, are you-" She didn't get to finish as the little reaper suddenly squealed so loud that the Riders, as well as the Phantoms' eyes, bugged out by the sheer volume.

"What the-" Beast spoke before a red blur zipped right in front of them.

"Ohmygod, you guys look so awesome~!" Ruby squealed in delight as she blinked from one place to another as if teleporting herself trying to look at every angle from all the boys.

"Okay, she's officially lost her mind…" Weiss facepalmed.

"She's not wrong though… They are pretty cool." Blake admitted as her own eyes sparkled at the sight of her adopted brother in a new set of armor.

"HEY!" A voice interjected, getting the teens' attention as they stared at an infuriated Minotaur Phantom. "We're in the middle of a fight!"

"Oh, go chew on some grass." Wizard spat as he flipped the Hand Author then placed his Connect Ring on it.

CONNECT! PLEASE!

A magic circle appeared out of thin air as he stuck his hand in it and pulled out the WizarSwordGun.

"And Ruby?" The Kamen Rider looked down at the jubilant girl, who was currently marveling his current weapon. "Please step back. This show is only for grownups."

"I won't be made a fool of!" The Minotaur Phantom said as he charged in with his spear in tow.

He tried to stab him, but he dodged to the side and shot a few bullets out of it, making sparks fly. He then shot bullets towards the Ghouls that were down, shooting them until they were destroyed. Aaron then levered the handle to be straight and the blade folded out so that he was in Sword Mode.

"GAH! Hold still, you bastard!" The Phantom shouted out, sending a large fireball at him, but upon contact, it was swiftly slashed away by the Rider, "WHAT?!"

"Sorry, but you're gonna have to do better than that!" Twirling it around a few times, he charged at the Minotaur Phantom again. They clashed with axe and sword as it tried slashing him horizontally, but he did a backflip and slashed the Minotaur's axe in half.

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" The Minotaur Phantom shouted as it charged, trying to gore him, but he blocked with his WizarSwordGun.

"Oi, come on already!" He shouted before the Minotaur managed to flip him over. Thinking quickly, he managed to regain footing and landed safely while gaining distance. He took off his ruby red ring, putting it in the ring holder belt, and took out a yellow topaz colored ring that was square cut. He stabbed his sword to the ground before facing the Phantom. "Geez… stay grounded!" He said, before putting on the ring, flipped the hand buckle to his left and placed the ring in front of it.

LAND! PLEASE!

He placed his hand over the ground and a yellow magic seal appeared below him as rocks floated up.

DO! DO! DO! DODODON! DO! DODODON!

The yellow magic seal traveled up his body, turning the ruby red portions of his armor to topaz yellow. The sides of his chest armor turned into true squares and his faceplate also became square-shaped. Feeling the Fire Magic being swapped out for Earth Magic, he took another stance to pick up the fight.

"Toro, toro~" He teased while flapping his coattails like a matador.

The Minotaur Phantom roared again as he charged in. Wizard quickly swapped the Connect Ring and replaced it with another that depicted a dragon holding a shield, before switching the hand buckle again to his right and placing the ring in front of it.

DEFEND! PLEASE!

A wall of solid earth compacted by his magic rose up and the Minotaur Phantom crashed into it, stopping its attack.

"And just for shits and giggles," Wizard smirked behind his helmet as he placed the Defend Ring over his Hand Author again.

DEFEND! PLEASE!

This time, the stone wall emerges from the ground and struck the Phantom… right between the legs.

"OHHHHHHHHHHH!" Everyone cringed.

"DUDE, NOT COOL!" Jaune cried out in dismay.

"ARE YOU SERIOUSLY CRITICIZING ME FOR HURTING A MONSTER!?" Aaron comically yelled in anger.

"Even Monsters have pride!" Orpheus snapped.

"How about you shut up and help instead of standing around like statues!" He countered. "Besides, how many times has a Rider got hit in the nuts? Or a monster?"

The other three Riders paused then realized that Aaron was right.

"It does seem to have a trend," Orion admitted.

"Whatever! I'm killing them the right way!" Kurogasa said, before charging in at the Manticore Phantom. "Your fight's with me, Manticore!"

"Come, Beast! I shall rectify my prior defeat with your life!" The Phantom declared as it charged at the beast Rider.

"Don't forget me!" Orpheus declared as he flipped his Hand Author and slipped a ring with a lightning bolt on it over the hand.

LIGHTNING! NOW!

A bolt of magical lightning cracked out from the sky, striking the Phantom right as it started to close the distance between it and Beast. He brought out the staff Sorcerer is known to wield and used it as a bludgeon to smash into the Phantom's face.

The Manticore Phantom growled before it retaliated with a few claw swipes that forced Sorcerer back while Beast came in with his Dice Saber. He sliced and diced as sparks flew off its body. He then took out a new ring which was maroon colored and had a glyph of a buffalo. "I'll ram this thing!" He said before inserting the ring on his right side.

BUFFA! GO! BU-BU! BU-BU-BU-BUFFA!

The maroon colored glyph passed through the rider as he soon gained a maroon mantle with a buffalo headpiece on his shoulder. It snorted out steam as he soon rushed ahead and rammed the Manticore Phantom so hard, it was sent flying.

While the Manticore Phantom contended with Beast and Sorcerer, the Minotaur Phantom was angrily swinging his spear at Wizard and Wiseman. Both Riders using complex acrobatics to avoid the wild blows as the White Wizard ran his hand over the Hand Author.

EXPLOSION! NOW!

Orion thrusts his hand forward as a magic circle appeared in front of him then a large explosion erupts from the seal, hitting the Minotaur as it roared in pain.

"Time to cool you off!" He said before switching the Land Style Ring with yet another ring that was sapphire blue and was a diamond cut. He flipped the hand buckle to his left using the levers and placed the ring in front of it.

WATER! PLEASE!

A blue magic seal appeared above him and went down and through Wizard Aaronas water swirled around the circle and rained down on him at the same time.

SUI! SUI! SUI! SUI!

The blue circle passed over, transforming his yellow armor into sapphire blue. The new armor he had on was blue with diamond shapes on the sides of his chest and his faceplate had turned into a blue diamond. Aaron swapped his Defend Ring for one that symbolized a set of chains that he placed over the hand.

BIND! PLEASE!

A blue seal opened below the Phantom before liquid tendrils wrapped around the monster, holding it in place. Wizard quickly swapped his current ring for another that symbolized water that he placed over his Hand Author.

LIQUID! PLEASE!

Wizard's body suddenly morphed into a pile of water as it flew over to the chained Minotaur then constricted the Phantom in an uncomfortable hold as Wizard reformed back into his regular body, grappling the monster in a submission hold.

"Say, uncle!" He demanded, pulling on the Phantom's arm.

"Never!"

"Say it!" Wizard pulled harder, almost yanking the Phantom's arm out of its socket.

The Minotaur Phantom desperately tried to escape but the pain was too much for it as it repeatedly tapped the ground in submission. "Okay! Uncle! UNCLE!"

The magic-based Rider released the Phantom after deforming into a puddle of water then reforming back into his regular body. He switched his Water Style Ring for the Flame Style Ring, using it to change back into his base form. Once he returned to his base form, he switched the hand buckle back to his right for the last time.

LUPPACHI MAGIC, TOUCH TO GO! LUPPACHI MAGIC, TOUCH TO GO!

He switched the Liquid Ring with a ring depicting a kicking foot surrounded by a dragon aura, and he decided that now was the time to finish it. "Finale da!" He said, before placing it in front of the hand buckle.

CHOII NE! KICK STRIKE! SAIKO~!

The red magic seal appeared below his feet. He twirled around once on his left foot in place, stepping out with his right foot, while moving the tail on that side of the trench coat to the other side. A swirl of fire surrounded his kicking foot and surprisingly enough, it didn't burn him.

Aaron then leaped forward, doing a cartwheel before leaping into the air. He aimed his kick at the Minotaur Phantom's chest and a red magic seal appeared in front of him, before he kicked it and the magic circle stretched out into a cone of circles before becoming rings of fire. He landed a flying kick straight on the Minotaur Phantom's chest and it skids backward across the ground before coming to a halt.

"GGGGAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!" The Minotaur Phantom cried in agony as sparks bled off of him while the Wizard glyph formed on his body before exploding.

"Phwee~" Wizard released a breath.

"Whoa…" Ruby's eyes were sparkling after witnessing Kamen Rider Wizard's Rider Kick. It was just like out of the comics. Aaron turned around and went back to civilian form, looking at the red reaper.

"What?"


LINE BREAK


Meanwhile…

"See if you can find me!" Kurogasa said, as he slipped on another ring, this time with the glyph of a Chameleon and inserted it in the side.

CHAMELEO! GO! CHA! CHA! CHA-CHA! CHAMELEO!

Kurogasa soon donned a green Mantle with the Chameleon's head before he camouflage into his surroundings and disappeared.

"Ugh! Again!? I hate this damn kid!" The Manticore Phantom growled as it tried to find the invisible Rider. However, when the Manticore Phantom thought he saw something, he swung with his weapon but missed. Kurogasa then slashed with his Dice Saber, sparks flying off the Phantom. This kept going for a while, until the Manticore Phantom had enough of the trickery. "Damn you! I've had it with this game!" His eyes searched until it landed on the other eight teens that were busy gaping in awe at the Riders. Sorcerer and Wiseman were busy dealing with the Ghoul Phantoms and were distracted while Wizard had canceled his transformation after defeating the Phantom's comrade. If Beast wanted to play games… then he'll play one as well.

With a dark smirk, the Phantom lashed out with his scorpion tail as it sailed towards the gobsmacked teens and snagged the white one, who cried out in surprise.

"Weiss!" Kurogasa shouted as he appeared, out of hiding. "Bastard, let her go!"

"Fool! You really think I'll do that?" The Manticore taunted as he brought Weiss closer, his claws grazing across the girl's pale cheek. "Such a delicate girl… I wonder what sort of Phantom she will birth if I drive her to despair?"

"She's no Gate!" Kurogasa snapped.

"You think I care? Maybe if I kill her… it will drive you to despair. After all, you're currently controlling Chimera, correct?"

"Gh…" Kurogasa gritted his teeth, but then… an idea came to him. "For once, you're actually right." He said, before taking out a ring. "How about I feed you to him!?"

CHIMERARISE! GO!

"Wait, what?!" The Manticore exclaimed in shock. "I don't remember Beast having that!"

At that point, gold dust came out of the BeastDriver and from it, molded and changes form into a towering mechanical golden lion with piercing green eyes having the head of the red buffalo as the breastplate, the orange falcon, as his right shoulder and wing, the blue dolphin as his left shoulder and wing, and the green chameleon having its green tongue sticking out from the back as the tail.

"What the-!" Yang gawked in complete shock.

"I'm freaking out! I'm freaking out! I AM FREAKING OUT!" Jaune exclaimed as he witnessed the summoning of the Chimera.

"Me-yow…" Blake muttered.

"Oi, Chimera! He's all yours!" Kurogasa commanded.

The Phantom had a smile on his face as he leveled a predatory glare at the quivering Manticore, "Itadakimasu~" He said while licking his lips in anticipation.

"Mother…" The Manticore Phantom whimpered as he released Weiss and fled for his life while screaming like a little girl.

"Oh no, you don't!" Kurogasa shouted as he placed on another ring, this time with the glyph of a Falcon.

FALCO! GO! FA! FA! FA! FALCO!

Once he donned the Falco Mantle he flew straight for the Manticore Phantom, and got in front to block his path.

"Ack!" The Manticore stopped as it looked for a way to escape.

CHAIN! NOW!

Two glyphs appeared between the Phantom as black and white chains emerged from the two glyphs, capturing and holding the squirming monster in place.

The teens noticed the approaching forms of Kamen Rider Sorcerer and Wiseman, who were both holding their hands out. Behind them were the burning remains of the fallen Ghoul Phantoms that had been reduced to ashes.

"Beast! Do it now!" Orpheus shouted.

"Finish it!" Orion added.

"Got it! Saa, Main Dish daa!" He called out with a grin as he gripped the wheel on his weapon as he spun it. Inside the hilt a roulette spun before he quickly placed the Falco Ring into the slot, stopping the spin as it landed on a…

SIX!

A fanfare played before slashing the air.

FALCO! SABER STRIKE!

He then waved his saber in a circle as it made an orange Beast glyph before he slashed it, and upon doing so six large energy falcons fly out, cawing loudly as they soon struck the Manticore Phantom.

"Grk! Damn you… Kamen Riders! GRAAAAHHHHHH!" With one last cry of pain, the Phantom exploded in a brilliant blaze of fire… before its mana was gulped down by Chimera.

"Gochiso!" Kurogasa clapped his hands together.

"Such a good meal." Chimera said as he released a small burp. "Pardon me. Farewell, for now, young Riders." With that said, the Phantom took off into the sky before he glowed a golden yellow light then returned into the BeastDriver. After that, Kurogasa returned to civilian form.

"Wow… eating all that mana actually made me full." Kurogasa commented.

"Really? I have a strange craving for plain sugar donuts." Aaron admitted as he approached his fellow Riders.

Orion, who had returned to his own civilian form, looked at Aaron in confusion. "Isn't that Haruto's thing?"

Orpheus, also back in civilian form, folded his arms over his chest. "I think its a side effect of using his Semblance. He gains the personality traits of the original wielders of his Rider Belts." He explained.

"So if I used Kiva… would I be like Wataru?" Aaron wondered.

"Theoretically, yes," Orpheus answered.

"Er-hem." Weiss cleared her throat as they turned their attention to her and the rest of the group, and Ruby… well, let's just say not even a sugar rush can top what she's feeling right now.

"Ooooh, we're in trouble, aren't we?" Aaron asked his teammates.

"Yep," Kurogasa, Orion, and Orpheus said in unison.

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"


LINE BREAK


Back at Beacon Academy, the gathered audience of upperclassmen were clapping at the formation of new teams being introduced for the first years.

"Russel Thrush. Cardin Winchester. Dove Bronzewing. Sky Lark." Ozpin spoke as the screen of the auditorium shows each of their profiles as the boys are lined up for the applauding audience to see as Ozpin continues, "The four of you retrieved the black bishop pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team CRDL (Cardinal), led by… Cardin Winchester!"

The audience claps as the newly minted Team CRDL left the stage while Jaune, Pyrrha, Nora, and Ren took their place. Their own profiles appear on the screen.

"Jaune Arc. Lie Ren. Pyrrha Nikos. Nora Valkyrie. The four of you retrieved the white rook pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team JNPR (Juniper)." Ozpin announced as Nora hugged Ren with a happy giggle, much to the Asian boy's surprise. "Led by… Jaune Arc."

Hearing his name, Jaune looked at the headmaster in surprise, "Huh? L-Led by...?" Jaune got out.

"Congrats, bro." Orion grinned.

"Congratulations, young man," Ozpin said to the younger Arc Twin.

A grinning Pyrrha offers a friendly shoulder bump to Jaune, but her "fine leader" is knocked over and falls to his butt in front of the laughing audience.

"Blake Belladonna. Ruby Rose. Weiss Schnee. Yang Xiao Long." Ozpin said as he motions over the four as they stand before him. "The four of you retrieved the white knight pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team RWBY (Ruby). Led by… Ruby Rose!"

Weiss looks to her right surprised, where Ruby is obviously in shock as Yang goes over to hug her sister.

"I'm so proud of you!" The buxom blonde praised her younger sister.

"And finally… Aaron Jaeger, Kurogasa Kururugi, Orion Arc, and Orpheus Rhythm," Ozpin spoke as he stared at the four Riders with a knowing grin on his face. "The four of you have retrieved the white pawn pieces. From this day forward, you shall be known as Team JOKR (Joker). Led by… Aaron Jaeger."

"Wait, what?" Aaron said in surprise, not expecting to get the role.

"Well, you are the Primary Rider." Kurogasa mused. "Though Team OOAK would have made more sense with the color rule and all…"

"Actually, if you think about it… JOKR could mean 'black'. I mean, Shotaro is known as the Joker in W." Orion pointed out.

"That, and there's the fact that the color of the Joker card is usually associated with the color black." Orpheus added.

"Team JOKR… I like it." Aaron said as he looked at his new teammates with a bright smile.

Ozpin, amid the last round of cheers, smiled. "It looks like things are shaping up to be an… interesting year." He said to himself before he messaged Glynda to bring the boys to his office.


LINE BREAK


The newly formed Team JOKR were escorted by Glynda until they reached Ozpin's office. "Um, Miss Goodwitch, we're not… in trouble, are we?" Aaron asked the older blonde woman rather nervously.

"No. The Headmaster just wants to talk with you." Glynda answered. They soon arrived at his office as the doors slid open and Ozpin was sitting at his desk, sipping his coffee.

"Ah, there you are. Please come in." Ozpin said as the four of them entered the office. "Glynda, please leave us. I wish to speak with them privately."

"Are you sure, sir?" The woman asked, looking apprehensive about leaving her boss alone with four boys that had the potential to destroy everything around them.

"It is fine." Ozpin nodded. With that, Glynda left the office.

"Oh, we never had the chance to say this, but… Monty said 'hi'." Kurogasa said.

Ozpin looked at the boy in a manner similar to shock then released a chuckle, "So… the Maker sent you boys here, correct?"

"Yeah, we… died really stupid deaths…" Orion muttered. "Like… really dumb."

"I see…" The near-immortal man sipped from his coffee mug. "Tell me something, how were you able to use magic?"

"Long story short, our Semblances gave us the power to use a power that harnessed magic, as you no doubt saw on your Scroll," Orpheus said.

"Speaking of magic though," Aaron said. "We just want to make something clear. We know who and what you truly are. So it's in your best interest that you don't try anything with us."

Ozpin narrowed his eyes, "So you know everything… I was not expecting that."

"Yeah, and there are certain… people that we know that you're going to use." Orion added.

"We all know that sooner or later, the truth will come out, Ozpin," Kurogasa said. "Or should I say-"

"DON'T!" Ozpin suddenly shouted, silencing the boys. Despite his moment of frantic worry, the man visibly calmed down. "Please… don't use that name so openly. Hearing it… opens old wounds."

"But it's the truth, isn't it?" Orpheus said. "And one other thing, I am not gonna let you use Pyrrha for your own devices. I will protect her even if it means going against you."

Ozpin sighed, "Believe me, I wish that were the case but… if you know everything then you realize that my options are limited."

"Even so, all of those experiences, the secrets that you keep… it's all going to catch up to you. And you know this." Aaron crossed his arms. "And if push comes to shove, if you're not honest with those certain people, then we'll tell them ourselves."

"You truly intend to?" Ozpin frowned.

"If that's what it takes, if you're not being truthful." Kurogasa said. "Though part of me wants to say that your reasons that all of this even began in the first place is because a small part of you, believes… or rather wants to believe that she could still be saved."

The man sighed, "You are right. However, I won't lie to myself and say that it would be better if she was destroyed for the good of mankind."

"Truly?" Kurogasa retorted as Ozpin was a bit shocked that he would question that. "No wonder one of your birds decided to bail out on you. Because you don't want to admit to your own doubts." He said, before being the first to turn and leave, but not before he stopped to look over his shoulder. "Make it easy on yourself Oz. You're not a god, you're human. The sooner you admit and recognize that, the better." With that, he left without another word.

Orion and Orpheus followed soon after, leaving Aaron as the remaining individual of Team JOKR. His crimson eyes looked into Ozpin's brown. "Understand this, Professor. This may not be our world… but we were born and raised here. We'll do what we have to in order to defend it as well as those we've come to care about. We are not your soldiers and we are not your game pieces. If we have to fight Salem on our own… we'll do it. And if you stand in our way…" He turned on his heel and began to leave. "We'll fight you too."

After Aaron left, Ozpin stared at his seemingly empty mug… then drank from it like it was a bottle of whiskey. "Yet again, it seems I've made another mistake…" He said to himself then grinned. "But… at least, now I know those boys can be trusted."


[Meanwhile…]


Azrael had a barely noticeable frown on his face. "Well, I was not expecting the Phantoms to win… but they could've at least done some form of damage."

He had watched everything from above the clouds. From the start of the Initiation to the finale that led to the deaths of the Phantoms. The hooded man felt the need to facepalm but such a gesture would be beneath him.

"Well, if regular monsters aren't going to be enough to kill the Riders…" Azrael's thoughts drifted to the Grimm as a sinister plot came to mind. "Then I'll just have to up my game."

He looked at the Kaijin Gallery tome he kept on his person then made a few simple changes as it became shrouded in a thick, inky black tar before it reformed to reveal the hardcover composed of white bone-like material with red markings and black lettering.

"Now… all I need is a testing ground." Azrael spotted a village outside of the kingdom of Vale and smirked, "Perfect."


A/N: That's the end of the chapter!

Nora: Finally! You guys sure took your sweet time!

GKC: Nora… did you drink coffee again?

Nora: …No?

GKC: Then what are you doing in my studio?

*Nora fiddled with her fingers as she tried to come up with an excuse*

Nora: Uh, well, you see… I got nothing…

GKC: *Sigh* What am I going to do with you…

Fen: Well anyways, glad to see that this chapter is done and over with. And yes, we did kinda pull a somewhat fourth wall break when Team JOKR knew the events of RWBY, but sooner rather than later, right?

GKC: Just to be clear, Team JOKR only knows about events that happen from Vol 1 to 6, not 7. And before you say anything, there's no Ozpin-bashing. I got nothing against the dude. He's just… well, if you were in his shoes, you'd probably understand why he is how he is.

Nora: GKC, aren't you gonna tell them about-

GKC: NOPE! That is secret and will not be revealed until later on in the story!

Nora: But-

GKC: Nora, if you stop asking me about that then I will send you to a room filled with a lot of Ren clones that you can order to do with… pretty much anything that comes to… what you call a brain.

*Nora's eyes sparkled before she brought out a roll of duct tape then comically tore a piece off and placed one over her mouth, giving the author a thumbs-up*

Fen: Wow… that's uh… yeah, I'm just not gonna say anything except… ROLL THE PREVIEW CLIP!


Announcer: Jikai… Remnant's Climax Heroes!

Aaron: Okay, time to try out Den-O's powers!

Orion: You realize that's a bad idea, right?

Kurogasa: I love shiitake mushrooms!

?: O-re… sanjou!

Aaron: THE TAROS ARE LOOSE!

Next Time: Settling In! Trouble with Taros!

Jaune(?): Won't you allow me to string you along?


GKC: And with that, I can now say my catchphrase… Peace out, everybody!