Author notes: Like Summer, since it wasn't specified what weapons Tai had, I'm making it a pair of gauntlets/submachinegun hybrid called Pugilists. And his semblance is similar to Yang but instead of getting stronger, he gets faster instead.
{Earlier}
"Cmon girls it's time for bed" Tai said as he tucks Ruby and Yang into bed.
"Already? Awww…" Ruby pouts but gets in anyway.
"Dad it's like 8pm and it's Saturday, why are we sleeping so soon?" Yang asks Tai as she sits on the bed swinging her feet.
"I know it sucks for me too, tonight's the night where the annual survival of the fittest huntsman tournament takes place and I have to watch it at home." Tai sighs patting Yang on the shoulder.
"Why can't we watch them with you?" Yang asks curiously.
"Because your mother said no, something about the stuff being too brutal for children to watch. Utter nonsense if you ask me since both of you planning to be huntresses anyway, what's the sight of a little blood is gonna do? Alas, this is her we're talking about, God knows what she will do to me if I did take you there…" Both Tai and Yang shudder as they remember the last time.
3 Weeks ago Tai thought it was a good idea to take Yang to a boxing match since she's interested in brawling. He couldn't leave Ruby alone so he had to take her along as well. Safe to say Ruby didn't like seeing people beat each other up much and Summer proceeded to have a "friendly" spar with him afterwards.
30 Minutes later and he was at the clinic with 2 sprained ankles, 3 broken ribs and 4 chipped teeth. If it wasn't for his ridiculous aura reserve then most of those would've definitely left a mark.
"Alright hit the hay sweetie, Ruby is already off to dreamland, see?" Tai says pointing Ruby peacefully sleeping before hitting the lights and heads downstairs. Little did he know that he accidentally dropped something before leaving that caught Yang's attention. It was the old photo of team STRQ and we all know what came next.
{In the woods where the event is taking place}
A man in a suit is seen standing on a stage holding a microphone as firework lights up the night sky. A bullhead then slowly descends from above opening its door as the smoke from the door shows 5 silhouettes. The man pulls a microphone from his pockets twirling it before flashing a bright smile at the camera.
"WELCOME LAAAADIES AND GENTLEMEN! TO THE ANNUAL SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST!" He loudly declares as a large crowd which has gathered hours before the event goes wild.
"I'm your host Richard Cobalt and today, is the day where a new hunt champion shall be chosen. As you have already known, each year this competition takes place across all of the kingdoms to select the most skillful, the strongest, the quickest, toughest huntsmen and huntresses. And this year, Patch has been selected to be their proving grounds. While this island is in fact harmless in nature but during this time of the year it's Grimm season and you already know what that means. Plus, this is also rumored to be where the infamous Ravager is hiding, maybe one of our champion will finally be the one to slay it? Oh I'm rambling again, tonight is a 4 people free for all in the deepest part of the forest, let's meet our candidates shall we?" Richard announces as he points towards the bullhead opening its door.
"First up is Mr Jonathan Jade otherwise known as the Tempest Glaive hailing from Mistral." Richard then points to the first candidate. There stood a giant of a man being 6 feet 5 who looks like Yatsuhashi's distant cousin. He is wearing a set of emerald green traditional samurai armor save for the helmet. Instead of wielding a sword or katana though, as his title suggested Jonathan wields a 2.5m long glaive with the engravings of a dragon on its blade. Being an old-fashioned man, Jonathan's glaive doesn't have the ability to transform thus he carries around a standard 357 magnum in his holster on the belt.
"Next up we have Mr Erik Celadon otherwise known as the Swift Sparrow hailing from Atlas." Next was an admittedly handsome young man with navy blue hair with a charming smile that made a lot of girls in the crowd swoon over. He wore an elegant snow white fencer suit carrying a slim black rapier by his side. Everything seems perfect about the man if you disregard their air of arrogance surrounding the narcissist. Erik was so pompous and overconfident of his abilities that he didn't even think to bring a ranged weapon.
"And the audiences' favorite, Ms Violet Shade otherwise known as the Phantom hailing from Vale." The crowd goes wild as many men were lovestruck at the sight of Violet making her entrance. She was a voluptuous woman in her early 20s with long flowing chestnut hair. Her attire consists of a brown shirt under a beige padded utility vest barely containing her prominent "assets", a skirt that is a little too short for school standards and black stockings. Ideally she wore combat boots instead of heels unlike most other women but nobody commented much on her choice. Her arsenal is quite diverse being a silver straight sword which can switch to sniper mode and fires from the tip, several pocket knives on the vest, a 9mm submachinegun strapped onto a shoulder holster with 2 dust grenades- 1 fire 1 frost- in her side pockets.
"Last but not least, Ms Fiora Fuchsia otherwise known as the Bullet Hail hailing from Vacuo." The final candidate was a tan wolf faunus girl with short ginger hair who seems to shrink under the gazes of the viewers. Her outfit was an ordinary leather coat with baggy jeans looking like an average citizen. Despite this though she was clearly a capable warrior if the massive 2m long greatsword on her back was any indication. The sword itself was quite unsual as its handle is ridiculously long and curves twice inwards making it real tricky to hold. People who hasn't seen her before might scoff at her for carrying such a poorly made blade. That feature was actually designed for the gun mode as the sword can convert into a lmg with a press of a button at the pommel of the sword. Instead of firing devastating 7.62mm, the lmg instead uses 5mm making the mag size considerably larger as well as the fire rate.
"Hmm that's quite a crowd isn't it?" Jonathan said trying to start a conversation.
"It certainly is, I didn't think we'd get to be here of all places." Replied Violet
"Anything is better than the frigid cold of Atlas that gets under your skin" Jonathan stated earning a nod from Violet.
Meanwhile Fiora didn't say much and squirm uncomfortably in place as Erik gave her a death glare. Jonathan and Violet knew full well what caused this but they couldn't intervene much. Last year during the finals where it wa between Jonathan and Violet versus Erik and Firoa, Fiora had accidentally costed Erik the match. During one of the final attacks, her lmg jammed and couldn't provide suppressing fire on Jonathan and Erik was easily beaten when he left himself open as he attempted to finish off Violet. It wasn't anyone's fault particularly but Erik kept blaming Fiora for it and always insulted her. At first the two thought that he was just a sore loser but then things started getting to the race and they knew how much of a bigot the prick was. They couldn't intervene much because of the tournament rules and what's worse is that Fiora is way too shy and timid to even consider standing up for herself. Some of the fans also showed their disgust with his actions much like how more racists supported his actions and so Fiora kept getting bullied over and over again.
"I swear if that lazy ass organizer isn't going to take care of Erik, I WILL." Violet snarls with venom in her words unsettling Jonathan a bit. "Maybe things don't have to be that drastic Violet" He said trying to calm her down.
"Now then, let's take a look at the selected arena shall we?" Richard said as the broadcasting screen switches to a bird's eye view of a drone flying over the forest towards a clearing.
{Back at the Xiao Long-Rose residence}
Taiyang cracks open a cold one as he lies on the couch and turns the tv on. After watching the introduction of the hunt, the door opens as Qrow and Summer return from their mission.
"Oh sweet, survival of the fittest just started?" Qrow said grabbing a beer from the fridge sitting next to Tai.
"Yeah they just finished the introductions, it seems Erik still have a stick up his ass. Are you going to watch too Summer?" Tai said chuckling along Qrow.
"Maybe, I have nothing better to do anyway. But I'm not drinking beer, I'm going to get some warm milk." Summer said walking into the kitchen.
"Aaaannnd the location of the arena isssss" Richard draws out as the drone zooms in closer.
"OH MY GOD ARE THOSE CHILDREN!" Richard exclaims as there were indeed 2 little girls surrounded by 5 beowolfs and an ursa. It was at this moment that Summer came back taking a sip from a cup of milk. All three of them look at the screen closer and. *PFFFT* All of them spit out their drinks as they recognize those 2 girls to be no one else but Ruby and Yang. Tai didn't even get a word in before Summer grabs him by the throat and starts choking the life out of him. Qrow not wanting to get hospitalized again decided not to step in.
"Tai…WHY ARE THE GIRLS THERE!" Summer said shaking Tai back and forth.
"I-I S-Swear I don't know!" Tai said before feeling how empty his pocket is and reaches in to find nothing left in there.
"THE PHOTO!" Summer hearing this turns towards the tv again and realizes that the area was near the building where they took their team photo…with Raven. Qrow quickly finishes his beer off before grabbing his scythe and Tai's gauntlets as Summer starts dragging Tai behind like a disobedient puppy while dashing to the site.
{Back with the event}
"OH MY GOD ARE THOSE CHILDREN!" The audience gasps as they all saw the screen. Richard was about to start commentating before his scroll rings. He looks at it a bit before resuming.
"AHEM! Due to unforeseen circumstances there are now children in danger. The organizers and fellow audience have voted that the objective now be changed to saving them. The candidate who saves them will be the next champion. NOW GET GOING!" The crowd cheers them on as all of the contestants took off into the woods. Everybody watch with bated breaths at the map of the arena. The Grimms are approaching the girls closer and closer with the one nearest to the area being Jonathan using his wind control semblance to glide there and Erik using his speed semblance to catch up. Violet was running up with Fiora next to her.
"THEY ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT! I CAN'T WATCH!" Richard pales as the hunters are way too far to make it in time. Some of the audiences even started crying at what's about to happen as some parents cover their children's eyes. A beowolf is now directly in front of the girls as it swing its paw at them and…
{With the hunters}
Erik and Jonathan have just arrived at the area and the clearing was right behind this bush. Violet and Fiora came soon afterwards as Violet have used both of her grenades to propel them to site faster. *CRUNCH* Their hearts sink as the sickening crunch of broken bones ring out from the clearing. Jonathan slowly pushes through the bush not wanting to see the cruel fate that has befallen the 2 kids…Only for a beowolf with a caved in skull to fly past him dying on the spot.
"UNBELIEVABLE! WHO COULD THAT BE!" Richard's voice rings from the drone above as the group of four takes another look at the scene. 9 Additional beowolfs have made their way to the girls but what's bizarre is all of them is facing away from them and are growling at the 4 other beowolfs and ursa. What's more is that there was an unknown figure in the middle of it all wearing an oversized hoodie and black leather armor.
The figure whistles once as the 9 beowolf charge the 4 others ripping them to shreds using the superior numbers. The ursa tried to attack the girls only for it claws to be easily smacked aside by the figure. They grasp both of their karambits and drive them deep into the ursa abdomen before bringing it down further gutting the Grimm. 2 more slashes to the neck added with a beowolfs dogpile and the ursa was no more. The figure turns to them as the broadcast drone shines its light at their face. It was no huntsman at all…it was an alpha beowolf.
{Onyx pov}
What the? Who the hell are they? I glance at the new baffled arrivals. 3 Humans with a faunus , 2 girls 2 guys… All armed with advanced weaponry. And where in God's name is that bright light coming from?
I look up to see a miniature drone that looks militaristic though I don't quite see any guns or missiles on it. The only noticeable feature was a speaker the Atlas logo on the side. Wait…ATLAS! I'm so screwed.
"WHAT A TWIST! IT'S AN ALPHA BEOWOLF! COULD THAT BE THE RAVAGER ITSELF!" A news anchor like voice emits from the speaker. Oh good this one doesn't belong to the Atlesian military, no one in their right minds over there would ever talk like that. If anything I'm betting that it belongs to some kind of broadcasting service like the news… Son of a bitch on a stick that's even WORSE!
"FELLOW HUNTERS! YOUR OBJECTIVE IS TO SLAY THIS VILE BEAST AND SAVE THE CHILDREN!" OI! I SAVED THOSE GIRLS! In times like these, I really wish my voice isn't incoherent snarlings so that I could curse the world verbally. Well surely they couldn't be THAT strong right?
Jonathan Jade
Hp - 200/200
Ap - 1500/1500
Atk – 88/102
Def - 120
Str - 30
End - 23
Vit - 33
Dex - 14
Int - 18
Wis - 14
Luck - 10
Erik Celadon
Hp - 160/160
Ap - 820/820
Atk - 114
Def – 15
Str - 20
End - 27
Vit - 16
Dex - 40
Int - 25
Wis - 12
Luck - 10
Violet Shade
Hp – 180/180
Ap – 1050/1050
Atk – 130/72
Def – 30
Str - 25
End - 32
Vit - 22
Dex - 36
Int - 30
Wis - 24
Luck – 10
Fiora Fuchsia
Hp – 170/170
Ap – 900/900
Atk – 96/78
Def – 23
Str - 28
End - 26
Vit - 25
Dex - 33
Int - 27
Wis - 20
Luck – 10
*chuckle* I'm in danger. Their stats alone already spell trouble and that I don't even know what they can do with their semblances. But if Miyazaki has taught me anything then that's filthy gankers are no match for pure skill and environmental abuse.
With that said, I kick up all the dust near me and recall my beowolfs to my side. My biggest problem right now is that girl Violet, she's easily the most skilled out of them all and her Int scares me. She would without a doubt be a terrifying tactician and I will have to rely on poor communications if I were to win so I target her first.
Leaping from the dust much to their surprise, I slash at Violet only for her to disappear. Looking around I couldn't see any signs of her nor sense any negative emotions that might belong to her, this one is a hell of a professional. Invisibility is still no match for AOE though so I release a cloud of fumes for 3 seconds.
*cough* *cough* THERE! Swiping at where her coughs are coming from, I managed to barely graze her armor.
Successful hit (84 – 30) 54 DMG
Violet retreats back towards the other and presses a button on the pommel as the blade of her sword splits open to reveal a gun barrel. I barely roll out of the way of the bullet as an unfortunate beowolf took the hit instead. Judging by how the bullet tore straight through the beowolf's skull I'm betting that it was a high caliber round meaning it's a bolt action rifle. And judging by the lack of clips, she won't be able to fire another shot if I can keep enough pressure on her to prevent reload.
Suddenly I could feel how the winds begin to howl. The samurai guy have been charging up his attack all along as a small tornado has formed on the tip of his glaive. Slamming it down, a cyclone makes its way towards me as the fencer dashes behind me. HAH! They thought that I would roll away from an attack?
Opposite of their expectations, I time it just right before rolling diagonally behind Jonathan. Erik didn't expect this and went for a thrust only to be hit with the cyclone meant for me.
Successful hit 214 DMG
And for the icing on the cake, I went in for the sweet satisfying backstab on Jonathan.
Critical backstab X9 DMG (84 X 9 - 120) 636 DMG
Oh yes I didn't even know that was possible. Hold up…THE BASTARD DIDN'T EVEN FLINCH! Jonathan despite losing half of his aura, apparently has the poise of dark souls 1 Havel and endured. He spun in place slamming the glaive into my forearm before drawing a revolver and headshot me.
Suffered a hit (88 – 66) 22 DMG
Suffered a critical hit (102 X 3 – 66) 240 DMG
Now that is just complete bullshit. *click* Nani? I have forgotten about the last one…I look back at the timid faunus girl and to my horror her sword has finished shifting into a lmg that even came with a bipod. *Ratatatatatatatata* FUCK FUCK FUCK! I got peppered my machinegun rounds as I hide behind a tree. 10 Seconds later and the lmg stops. I glance around and saw that 5 of my beowolfs that were previously occupying Violet got rekt.
Suffered a hit (78-66) 12 DMG
Suffered a hit (78-66) 12 DMG
Suffered a hit (78-66) 12 DMG
Suffered a hit (78-66) 12 DMG
Suffered a hit (78-66) 12 DMG
Damnit, I'm already 30% down. I only have 3 beowolfs left and the hunters have already regrouped for another assault. I look back towards Ruby and Yang to see Ruby on the verge of tears. Oh that fucking does it! Nobody makes that cinnamon roll cry and gets away with it! It's laser time…PARRY THIS YOU FUCKING CASUL! *FWOOOM* (note: Onyx used a total of 4 dark energy beam to create a beam big enough to hit everyone)
Successful hit to Jonathan 345 DMG
Critical hit to Violet X3 DMG (345 X 3) 1035 DMG
Successful hit to Erik 345 DMG
Critical hit to Fiora X3 DMG (345 X 3) 1035 DMG
Okay I may have went overboard there but hey those 2 are still alive…barely. Violet and Fiora have both of their aura shattered and covered in first degree burns. Violet could still stand while Fiora looks like she's going to collapse at any seconds now. Jonathan only have roughly 18% aura left and Erik still have roughly 32%. I still have adrenaline in store and plenty enough AP for more fumes and feral slash, this fight is in the bag.
{At the gathering, 3rd pov}
All of the audience watches the screen intently with bated breath as the hunters are losing the fight against the ravager. Richard who has been so lost in thought watching the battle that he forgot to commentate which he resumes.
"Things are looking dangerous folks, Violet and Fiora are out of commission with Jonathan and Erik barely clinging on. Can our heroes prevail?" He said while silently calling medical bullheads and additional huntsmen reinforcements to the area on his scroll.
Then, something unexpected happens. It wasn't foul play, it wasn't even dirty nor filthy…IT WAS ABOSLOTELY DISGUSTING PLAY! Erik has kicked a wounded Fiora towards the Grimm shocking everyone present. In fact, if one looks closer enough they can also see the surprise on Onyx's face.
"Filthy fucking faunus, you should be thankful. Now that you have an actual purpose in life to be bait for the Grimm so I can win this tournament."Erik's voice have angered no, fucking pissed off everyone single viewers worldwide with those words. Richard was fuming red as his grip on the microphone starts to bend the object out of shape.
But soon enough though that anger was replaced by fear and sorrow as they watch Onyx slowly approaches the helpless Fiora and raises his karambits. At this moment, Erik has nearly used the last of his aura for a final dash attack aimed for Onyx heart while laughing maniacally.
And then, a miracle took place. Onyx's karambits which were aimed for Fiora stopped mid-swing and abruptly raised back up. In one fluid motion, Onyx completely parry Erik's attack. Erik's eyes are now wide as dinner plates as he stares into the vengeful glowing eyes of the Onyx seemingly powered by everyone's hatred. (Imagine THAT part of golden wind playing at this moment.) Onyx raises his now glowing karambits and proceeds to turn Erik into fresh sushi. After 6 powerful slashes from the Grimm with a roundhouse. Erik's mutilated body flies into a tree at such a force that the entire trunk has a crater in it as all of his insides flow out. Brutal and bloody as this may be, all the audience could feel at this moment is satisfaction. They are then surprised again to see Onyx gets down on one knee gently patting Fiora while wiping away her tears with his claws before disappearing into the woods with the 3 remaining beowolfs.
Author's note: Holy shit I can't believe I just finished writing that. Exams in class were piling in and I had to skip several nap times to finish this. Anyway a few things I want to make clear. It seems that Route A won the vote so that's what we're going with for now. A lot of you are also interested in seeing Route B so I'll mix some of it in later down the route. Oh and don't worry, I planned to save Summer in ALL of the routes. Now if you excuse me I have to drown myself in revision again. If you ever feel like an idiot then just know that there's always me, the dumbass who wrote micrometers without the meters.