Her Semblance fully embraced, Ruby ran as fast she could, and zipped past the two kodama that blocked her way. But she also made sure to cut them down as well, without hesitation; these arboreal Grimm would ensnare her with their wooden tendrils if given half the chance. She was by herself in the Hunter trials, and here in lush Jade Forest, any mistake on her part could spell disastrous.
Ruby continued on her run, covering as much ground as she could in search of Grimm to dispatch, her cloak fluttering wildly due to her speed. She rested the whole day yesterday, heeding Weiss's advice, and a clear head definitely helped her answer the written exam. She felt calmer than she thought she would; that talk she had with her roommates before the test also helped a lot.
"I guess this is the last time we'll see each other." On their way to the Hunter trials, Ruby closed the door to their dorm room, then looked at her friends. "Give it everything you got, ok? You'll all do great later in the forest, I'm sure of it."
"You'll do pretty great yourself." Yang had a confident look on her face, and she gave the girl a thumbs up. "You really go out of your way to sell yourself short, don't you? But I know a weakling when I see one, and you're not one of them. Not by a long shot."
"You sure about that?"
"Hey, I don't just spend all my time at the training rooms bashing heads. I've also been observing how people fight, and while you may not be the strongest or have the best grades, I can tell that you have a strong will, and that goes a long way. You know I'm not pulling your leg here. Don't let that C assessment you got fool you. I know I hadn't been hanging out with you as much as I'd like, but even I can tell that you've grown a lot since that day. You can do this, Ruby."
"…thanks."
"What, don't believe me? I know someone who can vouch."
Having said that, Yang looked at Weiss, and the girl in white shook her head. "…I really didn't do all that much."
"You did more than enough, though." Ruby gave a knowing nod to Weiss before going back to Yang. "At least I know you won't have any problems, given how strong you are. Then again, you're also the type to take on a million Grimm if you could get away with it, just to prove a point. Don't be reckless, ok Yang?"
"Yeah, I know. I'll be careful too, don't worry."
"That's good." Ruby then locked their room. She really would miss her time here. "This is it, huh? We'll just see each other when we do, whenever that is."
"That might happen sooner than you think."
It was a whisper from Blake, but Ruby heard it clearly enough. "You really think so?"
"Of course. We have each other's phone numbers if you guys really want to meet up, and I'm sure you'll eventually find a way to make it happen. But I can't say that I'll be part of that anytime soon. I'm not one for parties."
"No kidding," Yang said. "You're not a people person at all, are you? You're worse than I am. You're always by yourself, hanging out at who knows where, doing who knows what. I'm surprised you haven't been caught breaking curfew."
"Look who's talking. I've been hearing about those fights you've been getting into at the training rooms. It's a surprise you haven't broken any classroom property yet."
"…hey!"
Blake rolled her eyes. "Remember that time when it was just the two of us at the cafeteria, and I had to stop you and some guy from causing a scene? Good thing I was there to break it up, or you would have broken the dining table and made a mess of things."
"Wait… Yang, this actually happened?" Ruby asked, and Weiss raised an eyebrow.
"But that guy was asking for it! Constantly challenging students, but when I take him up on his offer, he tells me that I'm just a girl trying too hard with a greatsword."
"Bonking him with a baguette definitely didn't help things," Blake said dryly.
"Whatever!" Yang replied, crossing her arms. "But guess what, I finally convinced him to fight me a few days after, and I put him in his place!"
"All the more we need you to be with us then Blake," Ruby said. As cold and distant as she was, it still didn't feel right to not have her around. "Because who else will wrangle us when things get rowdy?"
"Ruby's right," Weiss added. "Can't have any reunions without you, because who else is going to come up with scathing remarks when something comes up?"
"C'mon Blake, you can't be this bad at being sociable," Yang said. "I mean, you did hang out with us at least a few times… We can't all be that bad. Don't be such a downer!"
Blake almost looked like she was about to scoff out of instinct, but instead she rolled her eyes again, a faint smile forming on her lips. "Fine, I'll think about it. Hey, don't give me those looks, don't quote me on that."
Weiss sighed. "I guess we'll all starting to get sentimental here, huh?"
"It's been a good month of being together…" Ruby said. "The type to leave you wanting more, you know?"
"…you're right." Weiss's pale blue eyes looked around the hallway; they were the only ones here. "It's funny, looking back. I didn't think I'd go along with someone like Yang, and I never would have put Blake as someone I'd tolerate. And I'm sure you guys felt the same way about me when we first met. We were pretty much at each other's throats. But then we all got the same room, and now…"
The four girls went quiet, but it was Ruby who broke the silence. "I'll miss you guys."
"I'll miss you guys too," Weiss replied, and Blake and Yang nodded. "I guess we'll see each other again when we do. Not sure when that'll be, though. Once we graduate, we'll be swamped with missions with our new teammates…"
"The four of us are still here together though." Ruby smiled. "So why don't we make this moment count?"
Ruby recalled how they said their goodbyes, and how she gave her farewells to her friends as best she could, with nothing held back.
The girl sensed something fast approaching her. It revealed itself to be another type of Class One Grimm, this time a grotesque humanoid and equine combination called a nuckelavee, meeting her head on to skewer her with its lance. Ruby wasn't having any of that, of course. She avoided its thrust, cutting it down in return with a powerful swipe, and continued on her way.
After the written exam came the physical course here at Jade Forest, where each student was dropped off one by one in random spots of the forest via airship, and it had only been a few minutes since she herself was sent down. Located much farther away in the eastern part of Vale, right next to a mountain ridge, Jade Forest had no Grimm strongholds, and it had become a tradition of sorts that this place be chosen as the site for every Hunter trial for both Beacon and Signal. Still, there was more than enough danger here to keep the students on their toes. With only a fraction of the student left compared to how many they were back in the opening ceremony, many were sure to fail after this. Ruby was determined not to be one of them.
Headmaster Ozpin made a short speech to all the students before taking the written exam, and Ruby recalled what he said.
Good morning, students of Beacon. I congratulate you all for making it this far in your month's stay here in Beacon Academy, when so many have not. It has been a hard journey for all of you, hasn't it? But no doubt that all the sacrifices and hardships you've endured had strengthened your nerves for this day. Here in the trials, make sure you give it everything you have, and leave no room for regrets.
I'll keep this brief. Once the written exam is finished, you'll be dropped off at Jade Forest without any backup, and your mission there is to destroy as many Grimm as you can within the time limit. But as simple as this may be, remember that you will be beyond Vale's border at this point, and thus expect that there are Class Two Grimm in that forest. Thus, your cooperative skills with any random student you meet will be put to the test. Never forget that many have died in these Hunter trials, with most a victim of their own hubris, so I trust that everyone will use their best judgment.
In the meantime, Beacon will be assessing your behaviors and actions both in and out of combat, and you'll all be scored accordingly. But keep in mind that this isn't only about strength and endurance. You must also display wisdom as well, and you owe it to yourselves to be an example of what being a Hunter truly is. Rest assured, it can mean all the difference.
Best of luck to everyone! Remember and take to heart everything that you've learned during your time here. You'll all need it.
The goal was straightforward, but the best way of achieving it was a balancing act that each student had to consider carefully. Acting alone to hunt aggressively could attract the attention of Class Twos, but I don't think I can risk looking for other people without taking down enough Grimm to keep me afloat… Beacon really went out of their way to keep us students separated. But I have to take the chance should the opportunity present itself. There's no telling what could happen here, and I'm not about to–
I'm here for you. I'm not going anywhere.
Cale's words echoed in Ruby's mind, cutting off her train of thought, and she brushed off painful memories. No, not now. There would be plenty of time for that later.
Ruby found a glade, and decided to take a quick breather, having taken down three Grimm total since blitzing from her landing point; a decent start. She released her Semblance to conserve energy, while remaining alert for any sign of danger. As if on cue, one of Beacon's drones passed her by, and Ruby was sure that it had just finished recording her actions. No doubt these drones did the same for the rest; how were her friends doing right now? Weiss, Blake, Yang… She hoped they were doing much better than she was. She wanted them to succeed and not fail like she did, not so long ago.
I'm sorry about what happened, Cale. But I'm finally here in the Hunter trials, and this is the least I can do for both of us. I'll see this through, one way or another.
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Ozpin sipped some black coffee from his mug as he viewed the progress of the students in the Hunter trials. With full sight of how they were doing in the forest via multiple drone cameras, he monitored the combat performance of everyone's fight against the Grimm, and he would grade them accordingly along with the rest of the faculty once it was over. But a student's ability to kill Grimm wasn't the only thing that was being observed, of course. Each student was meant to have their own set of difficulties that they needed to overcome, whether it was a test of their strength, their wits, or their character, and the dangers of Jade Forest ensured that no one would come out without making a few difficult choices.
Not that he believed he would have any trouble with these students. This year's batch was good overall, and they received his speech to them warmly, right before they went off to board the dropships. The trials still had to go as planned regardless of the unusual activity of Class Two Grimm – a taste of what actual battlefields were like, where things often went wrong – but they all knew what they got themselves into when they signed up for this job, and he was confident that almost all of them would overcome their final test, deep in the heart of the forest.
He took a sip of his black coffee again. It was also his job to determine which students should be brought together as a team, and he had a few in mind already. But a lot could happen later that could change entire team formations, and he made some unique decisions in past batches. Depending on what happened next, there was a good chance that he would do the same for this group.
At the same time, Ozpin was also browsing the profiles of each student that were in the trials today, and he was busy comparing their grade assessments and their actual performance on the field, as he always did for every Hunter batch. He kept going back to a particular file though, even while having so many others to take care of.
Beacon Academy Batch ID: 141-0882
Student Name: Ruby Rose
Sex: Female
Age: 18
Height: 5' 5"
Weight: 120lbs
Weapon: Dustmetal sniper scythe 'Crescent Rose'
Semblance Category: Somatic, Speed Type
Semblance Mutation: Positive
Grade Assessment: C
Note: Subject's mutation produces rose petals, complete with the flower's texture and scent. No combat advantage recorded however; grade assessment score supports this mutation as being benign. Semblance speed levels are still within normal parameters. Nonetheless, further observation is advised.
The notes seemed to check out at first glance. Semblance mutations were indeed rare, but all recorded cases were benign, with most cases being as simple as just having a different color or look than the usual. Ruby's powers appeared to be no different. But he finally obtained video footage of the border wall where Ruby made her way to Forever Fall from a month ago, and it revealed nothing of how Ruby crossed it without being captured. He once again felt that void when he watched her fight the moroi before. It was as if her Semblance wasn't there at all to begin with…
Ozpin observed Ruby through the drone camera, who decided to rest at a glade. His own Semblance was rare too, which helped explain why he was the only one who noticed this about the girl, but he had no doubt that his power was a small thing compared to her potential, and he had a feeling her Semblance would reveal its true colors soon enough.
The door to his office opened. "Have they all landed?"
Ozpin saw Glynda approach him – she just arrived at his office after finishing some tasks with Oobleck – so he closed Ruby's file as a precaution. She didn't need to know what he thought about Ruby's Semblance, and he also didn't want any awkward conversations. "Almost everyone has," Ozpin replied, looking at Glynda briefly before going back to his computer. "There's still some students left to drop off, but the battleground is already seeing some action."
Glynda sat on the right chair in front of Ozpin's desk. "Ah, that's good. I figured as much." Then suddenly, she chuckled a bit.
"That's something I haven't heard in a while."
"No, I was just remembering something… Have I told you that some of my students somehow thought I'd literally drop them off at the trials without a parachute?"
"No, you haven't." Glynda's reputation in how she handled her classes preceded her, and that led to students believing all sorts of wild rumors about what she would do to the unruly or the particularly dense. The latest thing Ozpin heard this year was that some thought Beacon would literally allow her to launch students from catapults during the Hunter trials. "But as the headmaster, I've started to expect hearing stuff like this. You never change your style anyways."
"It's just funny to me, that's all."
"You'd rather launch your delinquents from a catapult if you could get away with it, I suppose?"
"Something like that, yes." Glynda chuckled again. "Maybe in a different universe."
Ozpin nodded. As hard as Glynda was most of the time – and how sentimental she could be every now and then – she also had her rare moments of levity too. She had a slapstick sense of humor that didn't quite match her look and family name, but he would rather have this side of her any time of the day than have her worry about Ruby, or reminisce about Summer's sacrifice…
I'm sorry about what happened, Summer. It was my fault… It shouldn't have ended like that.
He stopped himself from remembering further. Ironically it was him who ended up reminiscing about the past, but better him than Glynda, he knew that much.
Ozpin recalled the first time he and Glynda met, which was in Jade Forest during their own Hunter trials 25 years ago. They knew each other only vaguely prior, but they surprisingly worked very well together, and thus they were selected to be part of the same team upon graduation, though Glynda switched to becoming a professor here in Beacon after only five years on the battlefield. He had a much longer career as a Hunter in contrast, only retiring from active duty ten years ago to become Beacon headmaster. It was an immediate promotion from the Vale royalty anyways – they liked him enough based on his record and family name, and it was poor form to decline such things – so here he was, supervising the next generation of Hunters.
But Ozpin's many years of missions and travels as a Hunter gave him many experiences that challenged his previously held beliefs, so much so that he considered himself a changed man at the end of it. He could no longer see the royalty the same way he used to, even though he routinely worked with them as a matter of necessity. He saw so many inefficiencies and injustices in the kingdom that he made it his mission to reform it from within. That meant he took it upon himself to handle the royalty's misses; of most importance were Atlas, the unusual Class Two Grimm activity, Qrow, and Ruby. He was still a Hunter after all, and he would do anything to keep Vale and its citizens safe.
Have you ever wondered what's beyond the night sky?
What about it?
That's where the Grimm came from, Ozpin. The very place where the gods reside.
And the gods sent them down here to kill every one of us?
I think 'cleanse' is the more appropriate description.
Is that so? …I think you've had more than enough for the night. Why don't we–
No, I don't think so. And I'm just being honest here, so don't interrupt me. You of all people know better than that.
I do, actually. That's why I'm being honest to you too.
Really now? Let's say you are… You owe it to me to listen to what I have to say at least, after what you've been through. Don't forget who was there behind your back.
You know I won't.
Good, because I'm afraid that your obligations to Vale are limiting your understanding.
Yes, I'm sure there are more things holding me back, so I apologize in advance.
Ah, I know that look of yours. Heh, then again, you don't have to believe me now. Just know that I've devoted my entire life to knowing what the Grimm really are, and one day, you'll know the truth.
Speaking of experiences, an old conversation managed to creep into Ozpin's thoughts. It happened many years ago, said by an old friend, and he shook off the memory, not wanting to recall it one bit.
"It's been a decade of working together, hasn't it?"
"Yes, it has." Ozpin took another sip of his coffee. "We've made a difference over the years."
And so Ozpin formed a group of people who thought like him, unsatisfied with the state of things and wanted to do something about it; Glynda, Peter, Oobleck, and Leon were his first members. Convincing the royalty to give him and his group various missions despite their current jobs in Beacon, they used their resources to take on what the kingdom with its bureaucracy couldn't, namely organized crime. Of course, he wouldn't call his group a bunch of vigilantes, but he could see the argument.
Regardless, their success elevated their standing in the royalty, which in turn gave him and his group more access to Vale's inner workings, and eventually he got to a point where his group could now influence Vale's affairs outside its borders. It was an accomplishment that didn't come easy. For all their hard work, it only happened around two years ago, and it was right around that time, when he needed more manpower, that he recruited two more people into the group.
"But still no reply from Leon, I take it?"
"Nothing yet." It was around this time of the day when Glynda asked about Leon – he was a member of their group after all – and she always asked every few days, so Ozpin did the same thing every time; he pulled up his inbox of messages, and showed that there were none from the man since last month. "Give him more time. We need all the evidence we can get so that we can convince Vale to finally do something about it. And at the end of the day, we don't want Leon to be caught."
"Alright," Glynda replied, with nothing more to say about it. Then she got off her chair to look at Ozpin's computer, and saw the same live video of Ruby taking a rest in the forest.
"Ruby will make it."
Glynda nodded. "She'll become a Hunter, and live out her life as a normal one. That's all that really matters to me, regardless whether Qrow actually shows up or not."
"Sorry that he didn't take the bait." It wasn't as if they didn't account for it, but it still left much to be desired that they haven't heard anything from that man since last month, even though Ozpin was sure he knew that Ruby was in Beacon. But he supposed he would just have to cover for him some more the next time the royalty mentioned him. Because ultimately, despite their heated arguments, Qrow was also part of their group. "I thought you were in a good mood, dreaming about launching students off catapults. I didn't think you were worrying about this, when I'm the one that's supposed to do that. He's my problem to deal with."
"I know, Ozpin. And I'm fine. Just thinking of a lot of things in between." Glynda really did look like she was thinking of a lot, now that Ozpin observed her. Then slowly, she settled into a more relaxed appearance. "And yes, I'm still dreaming of throwing students off catapults. As good as this batch is, they can also be a handful to discipline."
"I'm sure they are."
A notification then appeared in Ozpin's computer, and Glynda's phone beeped immediately after; they both read the message on instinct.
"Looks like Peter needs to talk to me," Glynda said.
"Most likely about the royalty," Ozpin added. "But it shouldn't be too difficult."
"Looks like it. I'll be back before you know it." Wasting no time, Glynda went out of the room and gently closed the door, leaving Ozpin by himself in his office.
Ozpin finished his black coffee as he pulled up Ruby's file again. Then a thought came to mind, a possible theory of what her Semblance actually was. Still watching the Hunter trials, he opened up another program accessible only by him, filled with notes of all his findings about Semblances that he preferred no one else knew about. Rereading his previous findings, and gathering his new ideas about the matter, he began to type.
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Sitting on a fallen log, Weiss took the opportunity to rest. Running had never really been her strong suit, being much more used to freezing things in place, but she was actually doing better on that part compared to her time back in Laran. All those endurance tests she focused on during training were finally paying off.
She saw some students blitz past her while she rested. None of them approached her to team up, nor did they give her a chance to approach them. She understood why. Her reputation as a strong A+ student went beyond just academics, and people were probably just afraid that she would overshadow them in a team, and jeopardize their own chances of graduating. Whether that was even a valid line of thinking was one thing, but she didn't take any offense to it. She was doing fine by herself, and if circumstances came that allowed a team up, then so be it.
She turned back, gazing at the direction from where she came from. It had been a while since she landed here in Jade Forest, and the twelve minotaurs she had slain earlier should have dissipated into nothing by now. The encounter had been a golden opportunity for her; a disgusting fusion of man and bull, these usually solitary Grimm would only gather together if they believed there were a lot of humans to hunt, and in so doing, they did her a big favor by bunching up for her frost blasts. Minotaurs didn't have the resistance of wendigos against her ice, and they didn't stand a chance.
Weiss took a deep breath, and saw a Dust drone fly past her. After this comes the start of the rest of my life here in Vale. Hunter Weiss Schnee, heir of nothing, without any family, with only her small savings to fall back on. That actually has a nice ring to it. Should I even bother keeping my last name? I could use a simple life, after everything that happened.
But as hard as it was to know her failures – and why she exiled herself from her home in Atlas – her actual stay here in Beacon was quite the opposite. What she once thought to just be a throwaway time of going through the motions before graduation turned out better than expected, and she began to think of her friends. There was Blake, who she could always count on to be honest enough to call her out on anything. Yang, who always challenged her to be a stronger Hunter at every turn. And of course, Ruby.
I hope you're doing ok, Ruby. I also know how difficult it is to lose both a home and a loved one, and I appreciate everything you told me earlier before we left. But you don't have to work yourself so hard just to repay me. If anything, I'm the one with the debt of gratitude to you.
Weiss suddenly felt the ground shudder, and an unusual gust of wind came up in the air, though she didn't see anything that could have caused it. She quickly stood up with Myrtenaster at the ready, prepared to freeze the entire area around her at the slightest hint of red eyes. Moments of silence passed, but nothing followed afterwards.
Her pale blue eyes narrowed. Was it just her imagination? No, it couldn't be as simple as that. But resting out in the open had its risks in any case, and she wasn't about to overstay her welcome here. Sheathing back her weapon, but still wary of her surroundings, she went on her way. She would do fine on her own against any Class One, but if a Class Two Grimm arrived anytime soon, then she would need every warning and advantage she could get.
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Jaune made his way through a patch of thick bushes, having just slain eight nanooks. They were Grimm imitation of bears, slow and powerful, but he counted himself lucky that encountered such types so early here in the trials. As strong as nanooks were, he always did match up well against those hulking brutes; his Semblance made sure of that. None of them managed to break his stance.
He thought he felt the earth shake, and Jaune stopped for a moment, with Pallida Mors unsheathed and a hair away from seizing his Semblance. Nothing happened in the area around him, but he knew what he sensed, and he listened closely for anyone shouting for help. He heard nothing, but he kept alert nonetheless.
He continued on, and he soon arrived at a clearing. He could use a respite with how idyllic the scenery was. Not that he had forgotten that Jade Forest was still a dangerous place, but he needed to conserve his strength as much as possible, especially with his intuition warning him to prepare. The tremor he felt could've just been an earthquake, or even Pyrrha's own Semblance at work, but it also could be a Class Two appearing this early in the trials, lurking somewhere in the forest.
This made him think of Pyrrha herself of course, and he sighed upon recalling what happened earlier. He thought everything went so smoothly regarding their farewells. But Pyrrha's last words to him didn't exactly live up to that.
"There it is." They finally reached the building where the exams would be held, and so Jaune turned to his friends before they could make any further steps. "Well, it's been fun. I'll be seeing you around."
"We'll miss you," Nora said. "Be careful later, alright?"
Ren nodded. "You're a cool guy, Jaune. We'll be seeing you."
But Pyrrha was silent, and her arms were crossed along with a furrowed brow. That worried Jaune; he already noticed that she was acting unusual while on their way here. "Let's just make this quick," she said abruptly.
"Huh? what do you mean?"
"I know everything, Jaune. So please… Don't make me have to say it here."
"Say what?"
"I know how you feel about me. And the answer is no."
Jaune's cheeks reddened in embarrassment, only realizing now that his worst fears had become a reality. He quickly avoided Pyrrha's gaze, not sure of what to say or even think of, and when he looked at Nora and Ren, he found the two suddenly having a great interest in the ground.
"No, don't give me that look. Can't we just say our goodbyes and get this over with? There's no point–" Pyrrha then stopped, as if sensing his pain, and her demeanor softened; her green eyes glistened. "I don't want to keep your hopes up… I want you to know that you deserve better. You can hate me for this… But you deserve someone truly special in your life. Someone as good as you, and I know you'll find that person eventually. You're too kind of a person not to."
"Pyrrha, please…"
Pyrrha clenched her fists, and her eyes were cold as she stared at him. "Don't bother with me anymore. Go find someone else."
"Wait…"
"No, Jaune. I'm sorry. Goodbye."
Pyrrha then left without sparing him another look, and Jaune stood there, stunned at what just happened, and how quickly it unfolded.
Jaune then heard Grimm screeching, shaking him off his thoughts, and he turned to see three skogtrolls; ugly misshapen humanoids capable of overwhelming anyone who let their guard down. He then realized that they were running after someone, a girl wearing a red cloak. Did she need help? He hurried towards her, and came quite close before she blitzed, and slashes seemingly came out from floating rose petals, from a gigantic scythe that had no business being half as practical to handle as it looked.
Jaune knew that the girl had a speed boost Semblance, though that didn't explain the rose petals. Probably just some random quirk of her powers. In any case, she displayed enough skill to cut down the skogtrolls in short order, and she looked at him afterwards with her silver eyes.
"Thanks for trying to help, but I'm good." Her rose petals dissipated upon letting go of her Semblance. "My name's Ruby Rose."
"I'm glad you're ok, Ruby." They shook hands. There was something familiar about this girl. Had he seen her before? Not that he would remember a random face – she was just cute with her neck length hair and average height, not his type at all – but he couldn't discount the possibility. "Can't blame me for trying to help a fellow student out, though. I'm Jaune, by the way. Jaune Arc."
"I really appreciate the assist, Jaune. Let me return the favor. Want to join forces? I promise I won't be a burden. I can support you with my Semblance, you know? I'll protect your back with my scythe, and I can help us escape some sticky situations."
There was a sincere optimism in Ruby's face, but what caught Jaune's attention was the way she presented herself, a bit too eager to prove her worth to him. Just an observation though; it wasn't like he was going to refuse her offer anyways. "Sure thing, Ruby."
Ruby twirled her giant scythe. "Thanks, I'll make sure I don't take away your kills."
"I'm sure we'll work together just fine." This girl even went so far as to promise not to compete with him on kills, though he supposed it couldn't be helped. As simple as the trial rules were, he had no doubt that many students would prefer to work alone to avoid any competition. Just rack up enough Class One kills, avoid any Class Twos, keep their lack of teamwork skills hidden as well… Perhaps there was a wisdom in that strategy. But Jaune knew his strengths and limits, and he would have asked for a team up with anyone else. "By the way, my Semblance helps me safely take a lot of damage, so you don't have to worry about me too much."
"Ah, I see. I'll keep that in mind. Makes sense then that you'd use sword and shield… Nice weapon there, by the way. It's not every day you see a dustmetal weapon that splits into two. You look like a knight with that setup."
You too, huh? "I guess I do." Jaune sheathed and unsheathed Pallida Mors to demonstrate. "But how did you know?"
Ruby just shrugged. "I've looked at a lot of weapons, and I learned to pick up a few hints here and there, that's all."
"So you have, I see. One of my friends also has a weapon that splits into two, but his could also turn into submachine guns, unlike mine. You should ask how he managed to pull that off, if we're lucky enough to meet him here. Because I myself have no idea." That made Ruby think, her face showing amused puzzlement, and that made Jaune smile. "You sure like talking about weapons, don't you?"
"I try to keep it discreet. But really, what's not to be interested about in weapons? I mean, just consider how dustmetals are made, where a part of ourselves is put into the forging process, and makes it so that only their creators can use them. Have you always wondered why it has to be like that?"
Spiritual energy, soul, life force… They were called by many names, but Jaune knew what Ruby meant. "Sometimes. I guess that's really just the way things are? But I get your point, Ruby. It's definitely something to think about, and I'm not about to call you out on it. You'd be surprised at what I spend hours thinking about in my free time." Jaune kept it at that; he wasn't quite ready to tell her about his fascination with children's card games. "I'm sure you're not the only one in your hometown who thinks like that."
"…there was one, yeah." There was a sudden change in Ruby's tone, and that made Jaune wonder if there was something he said. Right at that moment, a few students blitzed past them. "But I think we've stayed here long enough. We should get moving. We don't want our scores to fall behind–"
There was a sudden roar from the distance, and that stopped both Ruby and Jaune in their tracks.
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Blake took aim, and killed a wandering naga via a shot to the head from her vantage point at a secluded hilltop. Her strategy to snipe all day in the Hunter trials proved effective, and Jade Forest's dense foliage easily protected her from being discovered. She was so obscured that she even brought down a pack of beowolves this way, without them being any wiser as to where her attacks came from. Just as it should be. The Grimm were nothing but a cancer on this world, and they deserved to be killed without mercy, without hesitation, and in the most humiliating of ways.
She had seen many students on the move since taking her spot here, with some already having formed parties, on their way to hunt Grimm. She simply ignored them, not even bothering to wish them good luck in her head. In truth, she didn't care much at all for any of her fellow students. She had never been good at socializing, not really, which was why she preferred to be alone almost all the time. There was a comfort in observing people from a distance, and things were much easier to deal with when she didn't have to worry about the feelings of others. Other people were just random faces to her anyways, just as she surely was to them, and she wanted nothing to do with teaming up alongside random people if she could help it.
But as much as she didn't care for the others, it would be nice to see Ruby, Weiss, and Yang pass the trials without trouble; her time with them was fine overall in spite of their quirks. Ruby especially, and Blake recalled their conversation back when they first met, as well as how Ruby acted around her whenever she tried to convince her to join them for lunch. She knew Ruby's personality quite well. Too naïve and apologetic, that girl easily forgave others, yet held on to her guilt like a bag of bricks… Blake didn't lie when she told Ruby she reminded her of someone, particularly when that someone was her past self.
Another naga came to her sights, and Blake killed it instantly. That was her eleventh kill now… All well and good. She should do fine at this pace.
Blake then heard a distinct hiss from the distance, and her eyes widened; there was no mistaking that sound. Painful memories flashed in her mind.
I didn't think I'd see you again. Much less here in this place.
…
I'm sorry about what the morinfen did. But there was nothing you could have done against it, so be grateful that you're still alive. You owe it to your family at least.
…
Still silent, I see. I suppose I can't blame you for that.
…
But you don't intend to just stand there and wallow in your grief, do you?
…
I didn't think so. I can see it in your eyes.
…
What's your name, little girl?
With her amber eyes narrowing, Blake readied herself.
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Yang gave chase to a group of four bugbears, which somehow became wise enough to know they were outmatched. But their retreat alone was unusual, as bugbears would normally fight to the end against humans. Only more proof that Grimm have indeed evolved steadily over the decades, in that being constantly eliminated by aspiring Hunters made some of them adapt in unexpected ways. But it would take a lot more than that to stop Yang now. Even while being slowed down by the forest shrubbery, she was determined to reach them, and she wasn't about to let any of them get away alive.
Jumping over a small riverbank and into some thick bushes, the blonde girl continued forward, and soon found rakshasas charging straight for her, fangs bared and claws outstretched.
Not fast enough; she dodged them easily. Embracing her Semblance, fire sparked in Embercleave's blade that made the Grimm hesitate, and that gave Yang some distance to assess her new situation. The four bugbears were together with four rakshasas now, with all of them surrounding her in a ring. But no, this wasn't even close to being a threat to her. Their little trap here would have spelled trouble for the average Hunter, but not for her. She wasn't just any average Hunter. She was a Xiao Long, and she was the strongest.
The bugbears and rakshasas launched a new attack, but Yang flung a wave of intense flame at them, and the Grimm were soon reduced to defended themselves from her onslaught. But their efforts were useless as she followed up her attacks with a firespout. The bugbears screeched and the rakshasas thrashed upon being engulfed by the flames. Another swing from Yang's greatsword dealt the final blow, and the Grimm smoldered as they fell; along with the others she dispatched earlier, she got twenty in total, which was a good start.
Yang snuffed out flames on vegetation before moving on. She was immune to her own Semblance like any other elemental user, but her fire could easily cause collateral damage. But as powerful as her flames were, there were still some things that it wasn't good at in destroying, like that woman's face in her mind.
Yang shook her head. Unlike Weiss, it wasn't like she wanted to leave Mistral forever, knowing that she would have to go back there once her student visa expired. But things over there just became too much for her to bear, and that was why she went here to Beacon, sinking almost all of her time training and dueling others to unload her frustrations. There was always some anger left in her though, and she regretted that she couldn't hang out with Ruby as much as she hoped. But perhaps it was better this way. She didn't want to risk venting out on someone else again, and potentially unleash more than what anyone could withstand. She glanced at her bandaged right arm. It embarrassed her that she seriously tried to pick a fight with Weiss back then; she should have known better.
She took a deep breath. She hoped that her roommates were doing well in the trials. Ruby was an innocent little girl who meant well, while stubborn Weiss was among the better students she fought here in Beacon. Blake? It was hard to know someone who was almost never there, but she was at least blunt and honest about things, and Yang valued that. Knowing what she went through as a child, honesty was in short supply these days.
Suddenly Yang heard a roar some distance away, making her grip Embercleave tight. Then came another roar, and she picked up panicked shouting from other students. It was easy to forget just how dangerous this forest could be; instinctively feeling that people were in danger, Yang ran towards the sounds.
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Ren ran as fast as he could, with Nora right in front of him, and he was busy weaving a net he could to slow down the humanoid horror that chased after them. The Grimm's red eyes burned with a deep malice, unobscured by its long white hair. It was a gallowbraid, a dangerous Class Two Grimm as tall as the tallest trees around them, and far stronger than any Grimm Ren had ever seen before. Just their rotten luck to find one so early in the trials. Its arms destroyed oaks like twigs in its rampage, and its bellow was loud enough to be heard from just about anywhere in Jade Forest.
He finally completed his weave, energy coursing through his fingers, and Ren went to action. His dustmetal weapon Storm Flower in his hands as twin jians, he threw his green threads straight at the gallowbraid, and successfully ensnared it to the ground. But he didn't bother to shower it with his submachine guns anymore, quickly finding out that they were close to useless against its armored body. He caught his breath along with Nora instead. "Sorry that took a while. You ok?"
"I'm fine," Nora's weapon Magnhild Lyn crackled with lightning. "You always take a while in a lot of things, so I'm not surprised."
"Thanks for saving me."
"Don't mention it," Nora said in between deep breaths. "I swear this wasn't covered in class, so I'm sure you must have done something to annoy that thing. Why else would a Class Two just pop out of the ground?"
"I'm open to any and all suggestions as to why."
"Probably got sick of your ugly mug, I'll bet."
"You sure it didn't come out because of your magnetic personality?"
"Maybe you're right about that. Yours repels stuff, after all."
Ren rolled his eyes, but he smiled at Nora nonetheless. She was the first student he met here in the trials, out of everyone else he could have met instead, and as unlikely as their meeting was, so too was their encounter with this gallowbraid. Class Twos didn't hide in the ground as far as Ren knew, but the Grimm had ambushed them just as Nora described it, and he was almost crushed if it weren't for her help. Nora's attacks did almost nothing to the Grimm though, and they were lucky to have made it this far with just the two of them. "Well, I'm glad you're ok."
Nora smiled back.
Ren took a deep breath; this should be enough rest for both of them. His net held fast despite the gallowbraid's attempts to escape. He then heard someone approach, along with feeling a rush of heat, and both he and Nora turned to find a girl wielding a greatsword blazing bright with flame, ready to attack at a moment's notice.
Nora raised her eyebrows as Ren recognized the weapon and the skimpy outfit. She that crazy strong blonde girl they met during training a few days ago, the one they couldn't win against in a duel.
"Hey, it's you guys. You two ok?" The blonde then made a quick glance at the trapped Grimm. "That thing's not going to move for a while, I take it?"
"We're good," Ren said. "I gave that gallowbraid the strongest binds I could, so it should stay put for a while. It's nice to see you again, by the way."
"Hey, long time no see." The blonde smiled. "We never gave each other our names during training, now did we? I'm Yang Xiao Long. Those were some good duels we had. You two fight pretty well."
"Not as strong as you are, though." So, she was a Xiao Long. That took away the sting off his defeat against her, and it also explained much about her strength, as her family was infamous for having some of the best Hunters in Mistral. Of course, there were rumors about them too… But now wasn't the time for that. "Thanks for being here. I'm Lie Ren… Just call me Ren. Her name's Nora Valkyrie."
Yang nodded. "Nice to meet you guys. Sorry I came a bit late, you two look like you've been through a lot. You both good to go? As much as I like to fight Grimm, the three of us just aren't enough to–"
Suddenly Ren heard shouting from other students from far away, followed by a different kind of howl that was far too close for comfort. It wasn't the gallowbraid that did it… It came from the air? All three of them were forced to look up, and they managed to avoid a swooping attack from a flying Grimm almost as large as the gallowbraid itself. The gust it generated from its huge wings was intense! Nora and Yang recovered quickly, but Ren's own landing left much to be desired.
It was right then that the gallowbraid suddenly broke free, taking all of them by surprise. Ren especially; his binds should have held the Grimm for much longer than that. He scrambled to get to his feet, but a clawed hand wasted no time in going straight for him, and his eyes widened.
Nora screamed.
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"I got you!"
The blond boy raised his shield as he landed in front of Ren, his Semblance fully seized and ready, and a bright white light enveloped them. He arrived just in time. The gallowbraid's attack landed with a loud thud, but it soon retracted its hand with a pained cry, and his light receded with the two of them left completely unscathed.
Ren lowered his arms that covered his head, somewhat surprised he could still do so, and he slowly realized who saved him. "It's you… Thanks for the save, Jaune."
Jaune smiled. He saw that Nora had a relieved look on her face, and so the blond gave her a thumbs up.
The gallowbraid growled as it recovered, and that forced Nora to launch her own attack to keep it busy, while the blonde girl that was with them followed shortly. Jaune helped Ren get up to his feet. "Just our luck to be fighting both a gallowbraid and a morinfen, huh?"
"Tell me about it. This day just keeps getting better and better."
"It's the Hunter trials, anything can happen here!" Jaune made a passing glance at the two girls. "By the way, isn't that blonde the one you and Nora fought before?" She looked like someone he had seen even before then, now that Jaune thought about it, though he couldn't quite remember the details.
"Her name's Yang." Ren's fingers went busy with weaving a trap; Jaune never saw him so serious before, he realized. "Sorry, but that trap of mine should have held that Grimm a lot longer than it did. I'll try to make a better one, but I'll need some time."
Easier said than done; if only there wasn't also a morinfen to deal with. It was a humanoid horror much like the gallowbraid, a bald and lanky winged version of the thing, and it was now high in the air since its last attack. It slowly accumulated a large shadowball in its maw, most likely strong enough to take out all of them with a direct hit. Still, Jaune planned to do everything he could to make time, and so he gathered his Semblance to form a giant barrier of light. That, and wait for backup.
"The four of us aren't enough to take the offensive against two of them, so we'll need to disable both of these Grimm before we can make a run for it. I'll distract the morinfen while those girls handle that gallowbraid. Just make sure to throw your binds as soon as you can, when the time is right."
Ren grunted in reply, and at that moment the morinfen finally fired its shadowball, a swirling mass of darkness whizzing straight towards them. Jaune held the entire attack at bay with his Semblance, causing a brilliant clash of lights. The shadowball slowly dissipated. But while he was successful in shrugging it off, the attack hurt more than he realized, and even he couldn't hide his pain from Ren. Letting his wall dissipate, Jaune quickly went to work in healing the wounds in his hands.
Not that he would be given a breather, of course. The morinfen bellowed as it swooped down with its claws outstretched, and the two boys barely managed to evade.
"You ok, Jaune?"
"I'm fine," he muttered. He saw the morinfen hovering in the air, this time much closer to them, but still too far off for Ren to use his trap on it, even as it glowed in his fingers, ready to be unleashed. The two girls were still unable to make a dent against the gallowbraid, even with their fire and lightning all concentrated at their target, while another shadowball began to form in the morinfen's jaws. Still waiting for backup, Jaune prepared to form another barrier.
Then came consecutive rifle shots, and the morinfen screeched at the surprise attack. Many missed, but the bullets were all aimed towards its wings and eyes, and they came from different directions. The morinfen couldn't find a target to fire a shadowball in response; the Grimm flew upwards to escape, its wings flapping with great force.
"Go, Jaune!" a girl's voice shouted.
She was the backup he had been waiting for. Her suspicions proved true, as well as her promise of being a good support; her plan to distract the morinfen to buy them time seemed to have worked, and him being carried by her speed Semblance made all the difference. He couldn't have made it here to save Ren otherwise. Having already spotted the morinfen on their way here, her decision to take a sniping role had really paid off.
Ren was swift in seizing their opportunity. He threw his trap at the gallowbraid, and it was once again caught in its shackles. Now given respite, Yang and Nora immediately retreated to Jaune and Ren; both girls were breathing hard. Right at that moment, a cloaked girl blitzed towards them, giant rifle in hand and rose petals drifting in the air. "Anyone hurt?"
"Ruby!" Yang was in shock upon seeing her. "What are you doing here?!"
"We heard a roar, and I had a feeling that we were needed here." Ruby had to be tired herself from blitzing around to confuse the morinfen, Jaune thought, but the girl's demeanor showed no sign of it. "C'mon, let's get out of here. That morinfen will be–"
But then came an awful cry, and a shadowball came straight at them, catching everyone by surprise.
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Running as fast as she could, Weiss finally arrived at the scene of battle, and sheltered behind a tree to take stock of what was going on. That morinfen firing that shadowball from high up in the air was enough to send many students fleeing for their lives. But not her, that much she could pride herself on, and it was only right to save anyone caught in that Grimm's sights.
From her spot, with her Semblance fully active, she realized that there was a gallowbraid as well, and that four students were fighting against them. Weiss grimaced at their situation. Regardless of how these students got into this mess, she needed to help them escape, but first, she needed to get closer.
Weiss did so, and saw exactly who was fighting. Yang was among them! She was trying her best to deal damage to the gallowbraid to no avail, even with another girl helping her out, while the morinfen had just swooped down, narrowly missing the two guys it was aiming for. It was now in the air again, readying itself for another shadowball attack. Weiss's eyes narrowed. She prepared herself to…
There were multiple rifle shots fired at the morinfen, and somehow that forced the Grimm to fly further up. Moments later the gallowbraid was caught in a threadlike binding attack from a Semblance. A familiar red shade arrived next to the four students; Weiss couldn't believe it. First Yang, and now Ruby? Realizing that it must have been Ruby who fired those bullets, Weiss breathed a sigh of relief. They appeared to have bought themselves some time to escape.
Something felt wrong though, and Weiss turned to see the morinfen readying its shadowball. Ruby and the others were going to get hit! Myrtenaster at the ready, Weiss ran towards them, summoning along with her a blanket of frost that immediately coalesced into something hard. She arrived just in time to protect them with her wall of ice, and she grunted at the force of the impact. The Grimm's attack was much stronger than she thought!
The blond boy among them seemed to realize what was happening, and used his own Semblance to support her upon getting over his initial surprise. His skills were well suited to defense, she noticed. Their combined power was more than enough to negate the shadowball, though her ice wall dissipated right after it.
"Weiss!" Yang cried out, while Ruby showed a smile of relief.
"I'm glad to see you guys too." Seeing the morinfen roar as it tried to stand up, and the gallowbraid slowly breaking through its binds, Weiss knew this was their best chance to escape, and made that as clear to them as she could. "Love to stay and chat, but it's time to go!"
They quickly made a run for it, though not before a girl wielding a spear came crashing down, covering their escape with a giant wall of rock.
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"Follow me! I know a cave where we can hide!" Pyrrha yelled, and picked up her pace, taking the lead for the rest to follow. She saw one not too far from where she was dropped off, and her hunch that it would prove useful later on had served her well. They just needed some time for those Grimm to not get up on their feet…
"Nice of you to drop by, Pyrrha. Looks like we've got the whole gang."
"Sorry I kept you guys waiting." She couldn't ignore the flying morinfen that hovered in the sky, and while she saw many students running away from it, she couldn't leave behind anyone that was being attacked by it. Taking note of where its shadowballs were being aimed at, Pyrrha deduced where its targets were heading, and arrived just in time to provide them cover with her Semblance. It was only sheer coincidence that the students being attacked were none other than her friends, as well as Weiss and her roommates.
Ren looked back, and frowned at what he saw. "Damn it, I put a whole lot into that last trap." A roar confirmed that the gallowbraid had indeed escaped. "Just how strong is that thing?"
"Don't sweat it. It's a Class Two, after all. Everyone's Semblance looks weak against it." Pyrrha wasn't one to just run away, but they had no choice. Even though there were seven of them here, dealing with both a gallowbraid and a morinfen with no prior preparation was just asking for too much.
"We'll get through this," Jaune said, and already Pyrrha could sense that Jaune was looking at her, and the hurt that came along with it; she regretted having done that to him. But she also had no other choice, and so resisted the urge to look back. Now wasn't the time for this.
"Fancy seeing you here too," Weiss added. "Thanks for the support." The sound of Pyrrha's rock barrier being destroyed echoed in the forest, and was followed by a defiant roar. "Your wall did delay that Grimm for a while, I'll give you that."
"Glad I could help." Pyrrha looked back, and saw that the gallowbraid chased after them. Her wall had bought them only a minute or so at best. "Just like old times in combat training, right Weiss?"
"We seem to remember those times very differently," Weiss said dryly. "But I'm glad you found a hiding place. I was starting to worry where we'd find one while on the run." The gallowbraid's bellow grew closer now, though the morinfen was still nowhere to be found.
Ren's hands flashed. A trap came straight at the gallowbraid, and Pyrrha looked back to see if it would hold, but somehow the gallowbraid had anticipated. It managed to dodge the trap despite its size, and it even appeared to be gaining on them. Cursing under his breath, Ren began to weave another trap.
There was a different sort of cry from the distance. Everyone recognized it immediately to be the morinfen, but where was it? Pyrrha found no trace of it, and neither could the others. Not good at all. The threat of it firing a shadowball on them was very real. They were doomed if they failed to find where that Grimm would strike next.
"I can try to find that morinfen," the girl in red suggested. "I have a speed Semblance, and I'm the only one here who can scout for it."
"No separating!" Weiss shot back, but her voice was unsteady. Pyrrha herself didn't know what to say to that. Anyone that stopped to look for the morinfen had to also defend against the gallowbraid… Would this girl's speed be enough against two of those things? The cloaked girl meant well and her plan made sense, but a sinking feeling went down Pyrrha's stomach that she couldn't brush off.
"You guys go ahead," Jaune snapped, his tone icy cold. "I'll hold the gallowbraid off so that Ren has the time he needs to land another trap, and also give Ruby a clear path to scout for that morinfen. Grimm won't be able to resist piling on a human standing up to them, especially one that can withstand their attacks."
"Don't be stupid!" Pyrrha's eyes widened at what she just heard. She could hear Ren mutter again under his breath. "You're going to fight that gallowbraid by yourself?"
"You got a better idea?" Jaune's dark blue eyes were piercing, and Pyrrha was left stunned, having nothing to reply back. She glanced at Weiss, but the girl had nothing as well.
Another screech from the morinfen. Its shadowball attack could be coming at any moment now, in any direction. Jaune stopped running. "Ruby, go now!"
"Jaune!" Pyrrha stopped as well, and had her spear out. She couldn't just leave Jaune out here! From the corner of her eye, rose petals began to swirl around the girl with the red cloak.
Suddenly there was a dark light, a giant pillar of black and white energy erupting just a few yards above them, and everyone was so shocked by the intense blast that they all dropped down for cover. The horrible scream of the morinfen being hit echoed throughout the forest.
"That attack…" Weiss whispered to herself, but Pyrrha had heard it, and the redhead saw her smile a bit.
The dark light receded. The gallowbraid was closing in now that all of them had stopped, and quickly took its opportunity by slamming its huge fists into them. But that was promptly blocked by Jaune, and it was all that Ren needed. He threw another one of his prepared binds, and this time it met its mark, trapping the giant Grimm where it stood.
Pyrrha and the rest were soon greeted by a faunus girl, sporting long raven hair and cat ears.
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"That was a nice shot!" Ruby said, breathing a huge sigh of relief. "Thanks for the assist!"
"Don't thank me just yet." The muzzle of Blake's rifle let out a faint, hazy trail of the aura attack she did, much like real smoke. Hearing that distinct hiss from earlier was all the hint she needed; she could never mistake a morinfen for anything else.
Knowing just how powerful the morinfen's shadowball was, it was only right to retaliate with a charged attack of her own, disabling it for the time being and saving Ruby's group from being annihilated. With the gallowbraid already tied up, now was their chance to escape. "I saw that thing earlier while sniping for Grimm. I put a lot of power in my beam attack, so it should stay down for a while, but we still have to move quickly. Anyone hurt?"
"We're ok," Ruby replied. "And it's good that you're here. We need all the help we can get."
Blake nodded. They ran in a straight file, with her, Ruby, and Yang at the rear, while a redhead girl was at the front leading them, with Weiss close behind. Even though they formed two teams now, escaping was still the best option; it would be hard to beat these Class Two Grimm at the same time without a plan. They needed time to make one, time they simply didn't have. "Hey you, redhead!" Blake shouted. "You're the one we met before at the plaza, right?" Her name was Pyrrha, if she recalled correctly. "What's the plan here?"
"We're almost there at the cave!" Pyrrha shouted back. "We can make it!"
Alright. That was good news to hear. A cave to hide in was better than standing out here in the open, that much was sure. Blake looked back at Ruby. "My attack also took a lot from me, and so I won't be able to use my Semblance for a while if things turn bad. Can you cover for us with your rifle for the meantime?" Ruby nodded back; that was also good to see. Now, if Pyrrha was right, then they–
A furious cry suddenly reverberated throughout the forest, much louder than usual. Blake's cat ears twitched, and sure enough, she looked back to see that the Grimm had broken free, its footsteps turning into a run. Blake's eyes narrowed; not good. She thought those binds would last much longer than they did. Still no sight of a cave nearby either. The gallowbraid was bound to catch up to them at this rate, and the desperate looks of everyone around her was evident.
"I'll handle it," the blond guy shouted, his sword and shield at the ready. "I'll buy time for you guys to get away. Just run and don't look back!"
But then came the piercing screech of the morinfen, and that was the one that made Blake's eyes widen in horror. She didn't know the strength of the gallowbraid's binds, but she knew the power she had put into her last attack, and she saw the Grimm fall with a hole in its chest. For it to regenerate so quickly… Did she just make a grave mistake, underestimating her target?
Scowling, Blake prepared her rifle. Not good at all. They needed to find it at once! She hoped that she could still contribute to the fight, but despite her efforts, her Semblance just wouldn't come out.
"Where is that damn morinfen?" Yang yelled, her eyes searching the sky. Everyone was doing the same, but for how loud its screeching was, the flying Grimm was still nowhere to be found.
"I'll go check!" Ruby's rose petals swirled around her. "Just keep running, I'll catch up!"
"No, don't!" Weiss screamed, and that gave Ruby pause.
Blake shook her head, clenching her teeth. Things have simply gone far beyond her control. If she could just–
She then felt something painful – a flash of light overwhelming her vision – before her vision went black.
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Ruby regained consciousness.
Pain coursed through her whole body, her head especially, and she felt something thick drip down her cheek. How long had she been out? She strained to get on her feet, even trying to use Crescent Rose as a makeshift pole, but achieved little success, almost falling to the ground at one point.
There were small embers everywhere, but these were no ordinary fires. These were the remains of the shadowball that barely missed them, black flames that looked ready to scorch a person to ashes if touched, but somehow left all vegetation completely unharmed. Just one of the many mysterious things that the Grimm could do, these horrible creatures that spawned from the depths of the earth. Looking up, Ruby saw the morinfen in the air, forming yet another shadowball in its mouth.
From a distance Ruby saw that Jaune and the girl with the long red hair were still standing, trying their best to hold back the gallowbraid, even though both were clearly injured. Where were the others? Searching her surroundings, Ruby found them scatted in various directions. Weiss moaned as she rolled weakly on the ground, while Blake held her leg, and Yang clutched at her belly. Their trapper and the one with the hammer also struggled to stand. None of them could possibly avoid the morinfen's next attack, or the gallowbraid's impeding rampage.
The gallowbraid swiped at the two. Even though Jaune managed to block with his Semblance, they were still sent crashing to the ground, and the girl screamed in pain, unable to get up.
"Pyrrha!" Ruby heard Jaune shout. But he looked far too exhausted himself to continue fighting, and he soon fell to his knees.
Fear gripped Ruby's heart, just like that time she was fighting the nihilith, and she clenched her fists hard, searching for a way out. But it was no use. They were all going to die, and no one was going to save them.
I'm here for you. I'm not going anywhere.
Hearing Cale's voice shamed her deeply. She didn't regret anything she did today, but to have everything end here, after everything she went through…
Ruby's eyes widened; that awful memory she kept locked away in her mind had resurfaced. Guilt and pain overwhelmed her senses, so much so that she almost missed the gallowbraid's wicked stare, and the morinfen just about ready to fire its shadowball.
Hot tears ran down Ruby's cheeks. This was the end. She desperately wanted to move, to save her friends, to run away… But her body wouldn't budge, and her Semblance seemed to fail her, despite her rose petals swirling faster than she had ever seen them.
I'm sorry, Cale. I tried so hard to keep my promise to you…
She clenched her teeth, and closed her eyes. Her only wish was for the others to survive… They didn't deserve to die with her like this. If only she could do something for them, anything at all…
But in the end, I guess this is what I deserve.
Ruby heard another whizzing sound; the morinfen had fired.
