Here we go again… To be honest, I don't like this chapter very much. It had a Writer's block in the middle of it, and it took three days to break it. I could have finished it in for/three days if I didn't get blocked by my creativity. Since there isn't much to be said about reviews today, I'll skip it entirely. See you in the end notes.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own RWBY, or any future thing I make a crossover with. Only the OCs, and this system idea. And is not beta read. I will be posting this story on the space battles too, by the username of LazyPillow. This chapter is not beta-read.
Contrary to what he believed, the first day on the nex side of the prison passes by without a hitch, or a groundbreaking revelation to wreck his life even more. Ironically enough. Besides the chocolate bar, he didn't touch any food at all, the guards just threw him in, and didn't bother to come by or check since.
The skies are dark, no glimmer of the sun rays yet. If he has to guess, maybe around 5:00 a.m? The night was long, and he got a fair share of sleep, maybe six hours. But a knot of worry still is in his stomach.
As if it could not get any more suspicious… exhaling, his vision locks on the door of the cell. Things won't go easy, there will be a catch, one doesn't need rocket science to see that his "sponsor" won't leave him alone, since now this person put money on him.
Money is a universal language that all can learn and understand. Now that this person made him an investment, the chances of this person, or maybe organization, not coming knocking in some way are too low to be considered.
They could sneak in a basket with candies in a prison and mining camp, so they must have an operative, or two, hell, they may as well control part of the prison itself or be in contact with the staff. Stressing over this would be bad in a normal situation… This is not a normal situation, by far.
Even closing his eyes, the tension refuses to leave, having his body wrapped in its wings. The only thing available to do is sigh, and resign to his fate, for now. The sound of footsteps can soon be heard, coming closer and closer.
The steps stop close by, probably near or before his cell. "Hey, damn brat, time for you to get out." A guard says, opening the cell, the guards enter. Without waiting for them, he rose to his feet, standing straight, waiting for further instructions. "Start walking boy."
One guard walks to his back while the others stand in his front, and then, they start walking, again. Like before. Aaah. Walking down dark halls, again, he can't look around due to the darkness. But this time, he could see the halls becoming less dim, as a faint purple-ish light shines through. The sunrise is near, hm?
Is the last thing he thinks, before the guard in the front stops, making him and the one behind stop too. The sound of a door being unlocked. Without waiting, the guard behind him starts to push forward, almost making him tip and fall. Jerkass! He walks forwards, going to the door. Surprisingly enough, the room has actual light.
And a bigger surprise, someone is there. As he enters the room, again, the door shuts off behind him. Ginger hair held in a high pony-tail, a white coat. Oh, the doctor.
"Hello, well then. I guess you are not hurt, did you miss me, kid?" Of course I miss- No, there is something wrong here. His eyes lock at hers, trying to see something. "Hmmm, why are you frowning, are you angry at me, kid?"
Her voice sounds cheerful, but only half-hearted. Why is she here? It only means that she is with them- No, but this cannot be, a person so good like her cannot- What is happening? "There is something wrong? Hm, as your doc, I have to be sure that you are in good shape, after all. I'll train you, help you get strong, so that you can escape this place-"
Yes, she is a good person wanting to- This is some of the greatest bullshit things I heard lately. Firming his feet, Alexander quickly gives a punch towards his face, no warning, no hesitation, just a good blow to his right cheek. "What, why you did thi-"
"Cut the crap. Messing with my mind is something I'm not willing to do." If a haunted software isn't enough, his life falling apart due to said haunted software, someone messing with his mind… hell no. Now the act is shown. "The reason why you sounded so half-hearted, is because this all was an act, no?
Listen here, I can cope with my situation, but becoming a brainwashed fool is something I'm not going down with."
Taking a deep breath, the woman takes a cigarette from her pocket alongside a lighter, lighting it, as she takes a good drag on the cigarette. "By all accounts, I congratulate you, kid."
Right after the end of her words she raises her left leg in an almost unnatural speed, aiming at his belly. Slightly hunching and putting his arms in front of his belly, he blocks the blow but is thrown against the door, making him hit it like a wet paper. For a moment, eating just a chocolate bar was a good idea.
Burning pain spreads through his arms, as a satisfied smile spreads through the woman's lips. "Good, good. For an untrained kid, and so young, this is good." Exhaling heavily, he couldn't stop but stared dumbfounded at the woman, there is no way a normal human being would be capable of doing such movements so fast. What is she?
"Well then. There is no need to put on a charade anymore. I'm going to "train" you, boy. Just know that someone paid a fat load regarding you. I hope you can match their hopes."
With a ragged breath, he couldn't help but grit his teeth. What the hell is wrong with this woman? "Just… answer something… first." Looking up, his eyes meet hers, a little spark of interest spreads through her eyes. "Shoot."
"How did you mess… up with my head?" Drugs? Some sort of fantastical brainwashing method? "Rather simple thing to answer. I was expecting more. Really. Let's say that my "power" is to make people feel at ease around me, like being a wolf in sheep's clothing. Once the charade is broken, it loses the effects, however."
So, some short of supernatural bullshit… His arms hurt, but the pain lessened by the moment, maybe effects of the regeneration? Probably. "You are tougher than you look, boy." Walking towards him, she cracks her knuckles. "This will be easier than what I thought."
His life will become hell, this is for sure, if it wasn't one before, certainly it will be now. "Get up, I need to run some drills now that you are good and dandy. Get to know how strong your body is." Of course, of course. Somehow they know that I'm not normal physically. A grimace starts to form on the edge of his lips.
"Huh. Don't be such a crybaby. You already fought to the death once. This will be easier than that." Not that many things can be harder than that… standing up, his eyes still locked on hers, while a sharp burn spreads across his back, not enough to make him stop due pain, but enough to be annoying.
Hmmm. I thought that this kick would bruise him more. What's happening to him? Something is wrong with the boy, as if he got stronger since his battle almost a month ago, but this is impossible, she made sure to write down his conditions while taking care of his health. "Can you stand straight?"
Focusing on the boy's appearance and condition, nothing changed, yet he barely felt the kick. He must be tougher than the anticipated, or somehow get stronger while being held in the infirmary. "Yes, I can." I think I shouldn't. Her eyes locked on him, like appraising an object. Like— The eyes of those bastards in the stands…
"You should keep a better grip on your emotions, your frown is showing, kid." Snapping him out of his thoughts, the woman stopped "appraising" him like an object. Only neutral apathy being shown in her face.
Sighing, isn't like he has many options to begin with, just go with the flow. "Then, what do you want me to do?" A shadow of a smile creeps through her face. "Oh, I want to test your strength, kid. Your endurance and resistance are something otherworldly, but how strong are you?"
Stepping to the side, she points towards a set of equipment, one strange thing with a red… cushion thing, grip strength machine, and some weights. Fair basic stuff., but what about the other machine, the one with the cushion thing? Looking at the machine, and then at the doctor, he tries to understand.
"Oh, it's a punching machine. You punch the cushion and it will tell you your strength." This sounds extremely familiar… a thing to think about later. "I just have to do that?" The doctor just nods. Walking towards the machine to calculate his "punching" strength.
The machine isn't as fancy or even complex, rather boring, really. Just a strange square machine the size of an arcade, with a cushion on it. Punching the cushion, a number appears on the top of it, probably his score?
The grip and weight test goes without any problems. Looking back, the face of the doctor stays neutral and apathetic. Just great… "Your results are under the estimations." If a bit higher. Goes unsaid.
"I heard that you killed someone with a knife." …Yes, somehow, he could tell that this fact would come back again and again in the future. Just a gut instinct. "Yes, I did."
"Do you know how to use a knife properly?" I have yet to find a cook who doesn't… "I think so." A grim smile grows on her face, as she draws something from inside her coat. A pocket knife. "Then show me." Throwing the pocket knife at his feet, her smile wides.
Normally, he would question the sanity of someone who willingly gives a weapon to a party that may have a grudge or a score to settle against them, but apparently, this woman is far from normal, if her supernatural powers and speed are to be taken into account.
"Is it truly wise to arm someone who may try to actually end you?" But, he couldn't resist the urge to ask. "If you could kill me with a pocket knife, you wouldn't be here, you could have broken free long ago."
Fair point. "What do you want me to do this time?" "Just come at me with your best." Is this woman insane?
Albeit her words, the smile never faded from her face, almost feeling reassuring. It seems that I don't have another option. Taking a deep breath, and focusing his mind, he picks up the knife, albeit having a set of his own.
Holding it tight in his right hand, is as if his body starts to work on his own, probably an effect of the "short sword mastery". Holding his breath for a second, he advances against the Doctor. His first instinct is to aim the blade at her lower abdomen, where he can reach with the small knife blade.
On second thought, his hand corrects its trajectory, aiming at her crotch instead. His body moving twice as fast as a normal human should, what normally would've been hard to keep with for normal humans, isn't nearly as special in this world.
Like quicksilver, a low kick aimed towards the left side of his for her now, he is aware that she would counter attack or attack. Raising his left arm, he bashes it against her ankle, hitting it on the bullseye.
A sound is made, as if something had hit a wall or barrier of some kind, as a strange auburn color flickles around her. Before he could even realize her next moment, a second blow hits the side of his head, throwing him to the ground.
Again, his head becomes dizzy due the impact, but the hand holding the knife stays firm, the woman closes towards him, to beat him into a pulp while on the ground. Sadly, he has another plan. Rising quickly, he assumes a crunching position, flexing his legs.
Like a coiled spring, he thrust forward, aiming his knife again at her lower abdomen. Taking a quick breath, the combo starts. Piercing blow. Push his body and hand forwards, almost grazing at the woman's clothes, but is not enough. Wide-slash. In succession of the skill, another one comes, slashing forward, almost automatic, in hopes of reaching the woman.
As if hitting a wall, an horrid screech is made again, like a blade scratching against blackboard, as the barrier of auburn color flickles again. This time, his reception is a knee to his chest, throwing in the ground again. "Hmm, you are good enough with a knife. This is enough for today."
His muscles relax, this woman didn't show any sight of worry, surprise, or emotion while fighting against someone with a knife, and a weird force field. "You did better than what I expected,any questions?"
"I do have one… what the hell is wrong with this place? This is no normal prison. What is happening here?" The chances of his question being answered are low, very low, but not inexistent, even if he has to push it a little.
A laugh echoes through the room, a strange, half-hearted throaty laugh. "You… you are bold. Alright, I can work with that. Win three fights, and I'll give you some answers, kid. You still have time to better yourself. Don't disappoint your sponsor."
Why can't his life be easy just once?
Ah, I'm angry at this chapter for taking so long to be done. Just my luck I guess. The next chapter or two will cover the fights I think, at least one, then a few time-skips I guess? Well, for you guys that don't like timeskips, I have a reason.
I don't want to spend too many chapters in the prison arc, which is the prologue arc, so moving some plot points forward is good. I don't know how many more chapters will be in this chapter, anywhere from 10 to 15 if I have to guess.
Some characters will appear again soon, maybe, like Adam and Mizuki, since I have plans for them. Well, this is it. Did I say that this chapter took too long to be written and isn't the best in quality? Ah. That's that and this is this.