An hour has passed since they made their way to the Emerald forest. Eventually, after scaling down a large cliff, the group found a wide flatland clearing directly below them. Everyone that wasn't fighting was standing a fair distance away from the battle area on top of the cliffs.
"Alright. This should do perfectly. You kids ready?"
Iskandar nodded. Yinsen didn't say a word but one look into his eyes and one could tell he was in a fighting mood. Raku took out his weapon. A red and black IWI Negev LMG rifle
Cu pulled out a small ruby red spear with a wooden grip, and let it extend to it's full length around 2 meters, runes were etched around the shaft of the spear. He then let it spin around his arm around his back then catches it in his other arm Yang was holding Ruby back from dashing over to fangirl over the beautiful weapon.
"Is your friend okay?" Scathach asked.
"Yeah, she is just excitable around new weapons." Naomi said.
"Yes, I know the feeling, I get pretty excited when I see your father's spear" Scathach giggled to herself.
"OH MY GODS, MOM!" Naomi yelled flustered, covering her face again.
"I KNEW IT! IT IS A FAMILY THING!' Grey exclaimed in revelation, getting a smack from Silver.
The huntsman in training jumped after Cu as he jumped from the cliff. The three students took their positions against Naomi's father, the cliffs to their backs and Cu's back to the forest.
"Are you sure we should be doing this out here? What if a Grimm attacks?" Raku asked.
"Trust me kid, the Grimm are the last thing you should worry about." Cu said as he swung his spear around showing off his skill with his weapon. "Just don't get too much blood on Gaia Bolt." Cu said.
Iskandar got in a defensive stance with Draco Balrog and Raphael's Wrath, Yinsen created two escrima sticks from the ground, Raku aimed his LMG, the "Prodigal Son" at Cu finger on the trigger. "That depends on how much you bleed." Yinsen said.
"Be careful kid. This guy's got A LOT of experience under his belt." A voice in Yinsen's head echoed
'Noted but any attack that comes our way we'll see com-' and in a blue blur Cu has rushed past them and ready to skewer Yinsen from behind. Startled by Cu's speed, Yinsen quickly crystalise his back and the attack merely swipes past his hardened side.
'Or not... a mover?' Yinsen wondered. He then felt a huge pain in his abdomen as Cu delivered a swift kick to the gut.
Yinsen stepped back and dug his heels into the ground, grabbing onto the leg with both arms and crystalized it at the knee.
Raku was about to squeeze the trigger, the blue clad spearman swung his leg and Yinsen with it into the line of fire. Yinsen's back rattled from the bullets. He looked up to see Cu's spear knocking him to the ground. Iskandar roared as he tried to slam his seven-foot swords into him, but Cu jumped back.
"Your technique is good, but like the man, it is lacking …." he said as he sidestepped around Iskandar and kicked him in the back of the knee, forcing him to kneel on the ground. Iskandar swung Balrog behind him trying to strike him but Cu jumped onto the flat side of his sword.
By the time Iskandar realised where Cu was, the dragon faunus was immediately kicked in the face. Iskandar fell on his back while Cu backflipped off the sword.
"He's good." Hector said.
"Yeah. As expected from a pro." Grey added.
"I hope they'll be okay," Naomi said.
"Hey, they'll be fine….. I hope." Yang added doubt creeping into her words
"I can't believe he has a speed semblance like me." Ruby said.
"His semblance isn't speed." Naomi said.
"It's not?" Yang added. "Then what is it?"
"He can manipulate and grow any trees around him, so the forest is the perfect environment for my husband to utilise his power effectively." Scathach said.
Naomi sighed. "I warned them... or tried to anyway."
"Let's hope your friends can put up a fight." Scathach said.
"Wait... that's his own speed?... I wouldn't have noticed if you didn't tell me. He's barely even using any aura to boost himself." Uldren said, amazed.
"That must be the difference between us and the pros." Maria added.
"Would it be wrong to say it's cool seeing him beat up our new classmates?" Hector asked
"I would believe so." Maria said "Regardless, this is an event I am grateful to bear witness to."
Silva, Francesca and Leonidas teleported next to them. Leonidas was panting from teleporting so much, and Silva appearing dizzy from the consecutive warps.
"What did we miss?" Francesca asked.
"Oh Iskandar, Yinsen and Raku are getting their asses handed to them." Grey said.
"Seriously?! But sensei is the strongest of our team." Leonidas said.
"It looks like Yinsen has slowed Cu down by crystallizing his leg." Silva observed.
"KICK HIS ASS BOSS!" Silver yelled. "...Yeah they're royally screwed." The dragon faunus admitted.
Cu was about to charge at them but felt the crystals around his leg drag, slowing his movements
"I've crystallized a few muscles in your leg you're not going to be using that for a while." Yinsen said. Cu simply laughed
"I don't know what's funnier, you pathetic excuse of a threat or that you actually believe you stop me from using my leg." he said as he swung his spear at his joints cracking the crystals there. He tests his new leg by kicking out a few times. "Your crystals are as weak as your resolve." he said as he used the blunt end of his spear to crack the crystals surrounding his leg.
'Fool... The point was never to slow him down.' Yinsen thought as he charged at the veteran hunter. The point is to wear your Aura down. He moved to strike at Cu's temple who simply raised the rear end of his spear to block the attack. Yinsen quickly moved his wrist to strike the other temple but Cu block that too. Aura is a natural protective energy source. It would cause muscle damage to have them pull and tense against crystal, damage you have to waste aura preventing. Yinsen stepped back and moved his escrima to block his thigh then pushed away a thrust. Yinsen jumped back.
Raku fired a stream of bullets at Cu, who swung his spear deflecting the bullets. Naomi's father lunged at the Atlasian transfer and struck him in the chest with his spear only to see a sky blue light cover Raku's armour. "Shield integrity: 83%. " Carolina said in Raku's helmet.
'Good. Energy shield is holding up, All I need is to get him close, and when he tries to attack again, that's when I strike' Raku thought.
"Hmmm impressive tech. However, over reliance on gadgets in battle dulls your instincts." Cu said as then unleashed a flurry of thrusts to Raku's chest plate then finishes the assault with a kick to the head. Raku was sent flying back, skidding across the ground. "Shield integrity: 15%" Carolina alarmed.
'What?! He used up most of my shield's power on that attack?! Even under rapid fire conditions, it should have at least lost up to 20 % at most! Just how strong is this guy?!' Raku thought as he got up. Yinsen and Iskandar regrouped to his sides.
"We can't take him head on. We should fall back into the forest for some cover and take him by surprise." Raku whispered.
"I don't know. His title is 'Spearman of the Forest'. We really should have chosen a different battlefield. I can't use my fire recklessly in here." Iskandar pointed out.
"Agreed. We'll have to fight him here... it's not a good idea to change the battlefield before you know everything about your opponent. Get him to use his semblance. Aim for the leg I crystalised. He may be able to move it, but he can't apply pressure reliably." Yinsen said "Iskandar will take him head on, go at him with the intent to kill. I'll hide in wait and strike when there's an opening. I don't expect it to do much, but maybe it'll make a difference, Raku what can you do?"
"I can turn invisible," he whispered.
"Stick to burst shots from a distance, relocate after each shot. Aim for his other leg." Yinsen said.
"On it" Raku said as he ran up the side of the cliff. Yinsen dashed from tree to tree to reach Cu.
Iskandar roared as he transformed Raphael's Wrath into its triple barrel shotgun mode and fired a barrage of bullets towards Naomi's father. Cu spun his spear around deflecting each shot. While he was distracting them Raku was getting into his vantage point he used his semblance to cloak his presence. He aligned his scope and took aim of Cu.
Cu shut his eyes and reached out with his aura to feel the other auras around him. In front of him was Iskandar's red aura, untamed and lashing out at him. Yinsen's aura was easy enough to track... so much... brighter than anything he ever saw...
"Something to think about later, he seems to be content to just stand there for now. Now... Where is that other guy?"
Cu looked everywhere with his extended sense, dodging Iskandar's wild rush with ease. Cu's sense reached through the forest, the grass, even the leaves falling to the ground. But then his senses pricked on a bush. So small it could have been a bug.
Ah... not bad... he's even blending his aura in with his surroundings. Too bad the kid's as stiff as a board.
Cu then concentrated and raised his hand and roots burst from the ground and wrapped around Iskandar and pulling Raku from his hiding spot capturing him.
"You're strong Iskandar, however your strikes lack resolve." he said as he commanded the entrapping roots to slam Iskandar into the cliffside.
"I am the Spearman of the Forest, my power is one with nature itself." Cu said.
Iskandar used his claws to try to tear apart the roots holding him. Cu was about to reinforce the bindings when Yinsen rushed him from his hiding spot, swinging his pink diamond escrima sticks, this time aiming at his wrists and elbows. During this time Iskandar and Raku started to hack themselves free.
"You fight without a Hunter's weapon. Pretty ballsy, but unwise against an opponent like me." Cu said as the sticks clashed with his spear . "C'mon kid stop throwing toys at me, why don't you show me your real weapon?" He asked.
"I don't have it." Yinsen grunted. He broke the clash with the veteran hunter and then renewed his assault
"Oh? And why is that?" Cu asked.
"I left it." Yinsen simply replied.
Cu sneered at his answer. "I can understand losing it, but deliberately abandoning it?! You insult the title of a huntsman." Cu spat as he thrusted his spear into Yinsen's chest, sending him flying back. Yinsen used the momentum to backflip and landed on his feet. Yinsen felt the place where Cu stabbed. Cracked. Yinsen pushed his aura into the cracks mending his impromptu armor
Cu cracked his neck as he spun his spear. "People like you have no right to become a huntsman"
Yinsen's face darkened. "...You want to say that again asshole?"
"You heard me. A Huntsman's weapon is his pride! People like you who willingly abandoned their weapon, are nothing but children who discards their toys once they gets bored" Cu said.
Yinsen's features darkened further into a scowl "Don't act like you know me, you sanctimonious twat!" Yinsen growled.
Cu aimed the butt of his spear and pressed a button, making it fire a round pellet from the shaft at Yinsen. The pellet hit him on his shoulder, knocking him slightly off balance. Cu went in faster than his initial rush. Yinsen dodged each strike by a hair's width
"You're from Atlas am I correct?" Cu questioned.
'Tsk... that obvious huh?' Yinsen thought
Cu snorted. "Thought so, Your mannerisms are a bit of a give away. Disciplined to a fault, your tone of voice the whole 'everyone sucks but me vibe you give off', although I'll give you points for getting along with your faunus teammates, way to break the mold"
Yinsen felt a vein throb in his head. 'This asshole is getting on my last nerve... but getting pissed here will do more harm than good... calm down.'
Yinsen raised his hand sharp crystals protruding from the ground, each of them aimed towards Cu.
Cu simply jumped up and landed on top of each crystal.
Cu turned his attention back to Raku, who was shooting at him from the trees. He spun his spear deflecting the bullets coming from Raku's rifle then used his semblance to make wood grow from underneath him forming a huge wall. Raku began to jump from his perch into a different hiding spot.
Suddenly Cu tackled into him and slammed him into the ground Raku landed on his back Raku kicked him off.
Iskandar tore himself free from the thick root and leapt back into the fray ready to slam his swords down from above. But as the blades were about to collide with the blue clad warrior, Cu simply stepped to the side making the strike completely miss him. "My daughter is clearly a better leader than you, Iskandar" Cu proclaimed.
Iskandar only responded with a battle cry and yanked his swords from the ground renewing his assault.
Raku grabbed a grenade on his belt and threw it near the roots restraining him, after a short pause the grenade explodes and dust kicks up, blowing the impromptu prison to bits. The Atlassian soldier coughs as he gets back up and into the fray
Cu moves away from each strike with little effort, even speaking in between strikes."What Naomi has that you clearly lack is resolve. Your eyes don't hold any fire in them. No passion, no ambition, Not even an ember of foresight!."
"SHUT UP!" Iskandar roared as he swung his sword at cu's left side Cu swung his spear having the shaft sink into the right side of Iskandar's neck.
"How can I trust my daughter to a man when he doesn't even know what he's fighting for or why he's even wants to become a Huntsman?!" Cu said. Iskandar roared and released a short burst of flame, just enough to get Cu to back off. but as he did his mind wandered to Hephaestion's broken body, his eyes narrowing and his teeth grinding. Anger boiled in his veins. The memory lighting a fire he hasn't felt since that day.
Iskandar thrusts sword forward aiming at Cu's gut. Cu used that opportunity to squat under the blow and throw a low roundhouse kick at his ankle.
Cu followed up with a double kick to his chest using both hands to balance himself from his low position. Iskandar let out a shout in pain as he bent forward,dipping his chin low enough for Cu to launch both his legs into it with enough force to send Iskandar stumbling.
"Tell me... all of you. WHAT ARE YOU FIGHTING FOR!?" he roared he made more roots burst from the ground to strike the young leaders. Iskandar took to the skies to avoid "You abandoned my daughter when that bitch made her suffer, AGAIN". Yinsen covered himself in crystals enduring each slash and thrust of Cu's spear while having his own attacks deflected "You would use any means to achieve your goals, the fallout of your actions be damned". Cu's tree roots struck Raku sending him flying back through the trees "And you, swear to protect your country but let me guess, your just an errand boy for some Atlasian aristocrat.
Iskandar transformed his Draco Balrog into its rail gun mode and pointed it at Cu, his blood boiling.
Yinsen threw a crystalized kick into Cu's knees.
Cu chuckled "Wow... If i knew that was all it took to set you kids off, I would have opened with a "your mother" joke." Yinsen stood up and started to move his attacks to Cu's head with Cu swaying and dodging each strike. Eventually his fists were outright caught by the elder huntsman. Yinsen gritted his teeth in frustration
"I get it... you're one of' 'Those'... A man of absolutes... so firm in their "convictions" that they fail to consider anything else as a plausible solution... Tell me "huntsman" DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MANY TIMES THIS WORLD WAS RUINED BY SHITS LIKE YOU?!" Yinsen shouted.
"My absolutes are what took me this far, kid... You have any idea how many huntsman fall apart because they simply went with the flow? Simply because they didn't have a long term goal to keep them going? What keeps a hunter on his feet is something to fight for and empower every fiber of their being. Not that you would understand." Cu sneered.
"I understand more than you ever would." Yinsen growled. "I will not be judged by some pretentious prick, ignorant to everything but his own narrow minded perspective."
"If you leave your weapon behind, what makes it any different from leaving your comrade?" Cu added.
Yinsen felt a snap in his very soul.
"THEY ABANDONED ME FIRST!" Yinsen snarled. Cu's eyes widened, clearly not expecting that response.
"YINSEN MOVE!" Iskandar warned as Draco Balrog in it's railgun mode finished warming up.
-
"Whoa, looks like Iskandar is pulling out the big guns. Literally." Francesca said.
"Damn it, dad. What did you say to him?" Naomi said concerned for her friends.
"Your father always did know how to get under someone's skin..." Scathach mussed.
"We need to stop them. Someone may be killed." Leonidas said.
"Come on, what are we waiting for?! We can't just sit here and do nothing!" Silver yelled, armoring up his fists.
"This is insane," Ruby said, starring in both awe and fear at how effortlessly Cu was beating the leaders.
"Pull yourself together!" Silva yelled, shaking Ruby. "I'm going to get help. The rest of you, calm your shit!"
Silva then used this opportunity to dash back towards the school at high speed, leaving behind white rose petals, to most of the group's shock.
"What was that!?" Ruby yelled out, arms flailing at the display of her own Semblance.
"Oh yeah!" Silver realized, "We haven't told you guys. Silva's Semblance is "Mimicry." She can copy someone if two conditions are met: She feels the person's aura on a consistent basis, and sees the desired Semblance in action at least once. Though whatever she gets becomes heavily watered down. Takes her weeks, even months for it to be decent and that's assuming the person she copied stays around for that long."
"Then why didn't she use mine to get help?" Leonidas asked, puzzled and amazed.
"It takes time for her to adjust and properly learn how to use a Semblance she's recently acquired. You guys have some natural protection in your semblances... she doesn't...If she tried yours she would've more likely to ended inside a tree or solid earth." Silver explained.
Leonidas shuddered, suddenly aware of the possible danger his Semblance put him in. "I never had that problem when I was learning to use it." Leonidas said, slightly trembling.
Silver nodded. "Exactly. Silva doesn't get whatever protects the original owner from accidents like that... So using a power with complicated interactions with her body are very dangerous."
Ruby's eyes widened in horror. "Wait... if... she doesn't get the protection... I would get... her semblance could tear her skin off from the air resistance! We have to go help her!"
Silver, for his part, shook her head. "Like i said. It's heavily watered down... at most she'd be a snail compared to even your average speed."
The group then flinches when a loud impact-like noise, followed by an "I'm okay!" from Silva, was heard in the distance.
Silver then returned his attention to the battle. "As you noticed, she's mostly fine. Let's just hope whatever her speed, it will be fast enough to get help."
-
Emerald Forest.
"Huh, gutsy, I like it." Cu said.
"EAT IT!" Iskandar roared as he used Draco Balrog to fire a projectile at Cu.
"Nice power." Cu complimented
Cu planted his spear at an angle at the ground and charged his aura into his spear and his feet. Just as the slug was getting close, Cu used his aura charged spear to vault over the oncoming slug having it explode behind him in the distance.
"But still not enou-" his eyes widened in surprise when he saw Iskandar's arm covered in fire pointing at him,
"Got you!" Iskandar said as he created a blast of fire from his hands that swallowed Cu in the blaze. He turned to Yinsen and Raku "DON'T GIVE HIM A CHANCE TO RECOVER!" He yelled.
"Don't have to tell me twice!" Yinsen shouted over the flames. The crystal hunter stomped his foot and made a giant pillar of pink diamond to smash into Cu as he fell, launching him back up into the air.
Raku then ran up the diagonal diamond pillars and leapt off. Raku reached into his belt and hurled some grenades at him. As soon as they surrounded Cu, Raku fired a stream of bullets each one hitting a explosion surrounded the veteran, engulfing him in flames. Iskandar reached out his arms and prevented the explosion from spreading from it's target.
"He forced him to launch into the air where his roots couldn't reach him as fast... and then used us to juggle him middair" Carolina commented.
Raku then looked to Iskandar "So much for "Not using his flames recklessly...wait". Raku's eyes widened in recognition. That battle style... those flames... is he!?" he thought as he looked at him
Yinsen rose a barrier out of crystal from the earth to surround them. "Always be ready for the next step."
"Did we get him?" Raku asked hopefully.
"No." Yinsen said, eyes narrowing. Cu's crimson spear flew out of the smoke and pierced half way through the crystal barrier.
"SHIT!" Iskandar yelled.
"Damn it!" Yinsen whispered, more annoyed than anything.
"Your crystals seem pretty fragile, kid. I don't know whether it's because my spear is made with the strongest materials on Remnant, or if your resolve is just that weak." Cu said as he held out his hand and used his semblance to make the wooden grip of his spear respond to him and return to it's master.
"OKAY, WE GET IT!" Yinsen growled "WE LACK RESOLVE! NOW WILL YOU SHUT UP ALREADY?!"
"Look, not that it hasn't been fun, but I believe it is time to end this." Cu said in a serious tone
"We won't make it that easy." Yinsen growled.
"Um... you don't have a choice in the matter." Cu spun his spear around and stabbed the ground. "This will be the finishing blow!" Cu declared as his aura glowed.
"No... Dad isn't going to do "that" is he?" Naomi asked her mother
"He is." Scathach answered her daughter with a sigh. "Always the showboat."
"What is he doing?" Yang asked, concerned.
"My husband is going to use one of his ultimate techniques." Scathach sighed. "A little over the top, but it wouldn't be a fight without him if he didn't overdo it a little... He's getting the couch for this."
"WHAT! That's it, I'm putting a stop to this," Yang growled, ready to fight
"Agreed." Leonidas said, preparing to teleport. But before he could, Scathach put a finger on his chest. With a single flick of her fingers, Leonidas started spinning uncontrollably until he crashed into a boulder
"LEO!" Francesca yelled as she ran to the emerald ninja's side
"What was that?" Weiss asked in shock.
"My semblance is ''Rotation". Doesn't sound very impressive, until you find yourself embedded into the dirt. Anyway, even if I let you get down there, all of you wouldn't be able to stop him. You'd only end up as collateral. The best thing you can do is watch and learn." Scathach said.
Yang's eyes turned red about to attack but Ruby beat her to it, suddenly appearing in a flurry of rose petals in Scathath's face. "You need to stop this right now. My friends are going to get hurt if this keeps going, and you don't want to see me if my friends get hurt. " Ruby said.
"Oh relax, squirt. If he did kill Naomi's friends he'd be sleeping in the dog house for months." Scathach joked.
"The "doghouse" is the least of his concerns." A familiar female voice piped, making the current group of students go stiff.
Scathach blinked. Then turned around. "Oh...Hi Glyndie."
"BRING IT ON!" Iskandar said as he jumped ready to strike him
"Now rise, guardian of nature, ARBOREAL GUARDIAN" Cu yelled as he stabbed his spear into the ground. The ground began to tear apart as giant roots burst from the ground, Iskandar tried to fly away, Yinsen tried to launch himself. but the roots stretched to the sky and unraveled itself into fibers, blocking them off and twisting together to form a giant with the three huntsmen in training stuck in it's chest.
"WHAT THE HECK IS THAT THING? IT'S HUGE!" Silver yelled.
"That is the Arboreal Guardian, a giant made of wood he can use to attack, or in this case, trap his foes in it's chest," Ms. Goodwitch explained.
"THAT'S SO COOL!" Ruby said with sparkles in her eyes, her previous anger temporarily forgotten.
"Yes, but when dad traps them he sometimes blows it up with his spear." Naomi explained.
"WHAT?!" everyone beside Scathach yelled.
"Call him off!" Silva yelled suddenly at Scathach, her angry eyes returning, almost reaching for her sword.
Glynda quickly put a hand over her shoulder. "If you want to stop him, then worry about Cu and NOT his wife... get me there at once!"
"Gladly!" Silva replied as she took her teacher's hand and dashed down the slope of the cliff in a flurry of petals, tearing up patches of stone, and breaking apart whole trees to splinters, much to the shock of the other students.
Francesca turned to Ruby, suddenly fearful of the young trainee. "Could you do that?"
Ruby stared at the ruined mountain road in front of her in shock. "Not until I was 12." The red hooded huntress turned to Silver, hoping for an explanation.
Silver, for his part, looked pale at the implications of this show of power. "Don't look at me, I'm not the one she copied." Was all he could muster before beginning to follow.
-
"What the hell is this?" Raku said as he hacked away at the wood only leaving a small notch.
Yinsen was meeting similar results with his crystals. The wood is different... His aura is acting as a buffer for each individual fiber inside! It's resisting my crystallization!
"I can't crystalize it! Iskandar! Give me a hand here!" Yinsen said.
"On it." Iskandar said as he ran to Yinsen's side. He started to burn through the wood to make it easier to cut.
As he was burning their impromptu prison, Iskandar looked outside through the holes in the cage to see their captor loading a lightning dust crystal into a compartment in his spear. The second the slot closed, red lightning crackled from the spearhead. Cu pulled his arm back clearly intending to throw the newly powered up weapon.
"YINSEN, SHIELD, NOW!" Iskandar yelled. Yinsen encased their prison in crystal turning the cage into a dome.
Cu launched the spear towards the wooden giant, the blunt end opening up and spewing fire to increase propulsion speed.
The second the spear struck the wooden giant, it exploded in a flash of lightning. Yinsen's crystal dome cracked then shattered in quick succession. The trio of leader hunters flew in different directions.
For a moment, all Iskandar could hear was a ringing in his ears. When he opened his eyes, he was welcomed by a blur. He shook his head and reorientated himself, restoring his vision. The Faunus looked around and took notice of the other team leaders falling below him. Despite his exhaustion, he willed his wings to flap and swooped down to grab the two leaders,
'Nngh... he-heavy.' Iskandar mentally groaned. He tried to flap his wings and get them to land safely, but the damage from the previous fight and the shrapnel from the explosion took its toll.
"DAMNIIIIT" Iskandar screamed as he immediately took the next best course of action flapping his wings and gliding to the ground in a hard crash landing to lessen the impact as they tumbled to the ground.
"Everyone Okay?" Iskandar exhausted from his injuries
"Nngh. I'm alive" Yinsen groaned out. He got up onto his knees leaned against a tree using it as support to get up.
"I'm not out yet" Raku grunted,.
Cu stood over the worn out trio of hunter trainees. "Just stay down, this fight is over"
"I can't stop." Iskandar said.
"Oh? and why's that?" Cu asked.
"'Because this is all I can do" Iskandar said half heartedly.
"Because you called me weak." Yinsen growled.
"Because you insulted me and the Atlas Military." Raku said.
"Well, out of respect for surviving my best attack I'll give you an honourable defeat." Cu spun his spear and brought down his spear with a thrust but was stopped by his weapon suddenly freezing in midair. "What the hell!?" He let out an undignified yelp as he floated in the air then flew through the air at mach speeds crashing into the cliff.
"WHO'S IDEA WAS THIS?!" An authoritative female voice boomed throughout the forest. The students turned to see Glynda Goodwitch, their very livid professor along with a clearly enraged Silva, with the rest of team CRST and DMON by her side soon after.
"Oh hell." muttered Yinsen.
"Crap." Iskandar said.
"I hope Ironwood doesn't get wind of this" Raku lamented.
"Hey Glyndie" Cu said casually. "it's been a while."
"Not long enough, Cu." Glynda muttered.
"Wait, you guys know each other?" Naomi asked.
"Yeah, Glynda and I were in the same class" Scathach said.
"She actually was kind of a hell raiser. The "Wicked Witch from the North", we used to call her. One time she used her telekinesis to make it look like the grimm were mat-" Cu tried to add.
"ENOUGH!" Glynda shouted with her face in a shade of red that none of the students have ever seen.
"Honestly Goodwitch, what you did back then was nothing compared to what Cu did today. How you didn't get expelled I'll never know. Especially after smacking Ozpin across the face just to see what would happen. " Scathach said.
"WHAT?!" everyone said raising an eyebrow in disbelief, Silver looking like he was going to have another laughing fit.
"ENOUGH!" Goodwitch practically shrieked. "My... misadventures bear no relevance to the situation at hand!"
"Figures... it's always the stern ones... they let most of their fun out in their youth, then either get embarrassed by it, or mature from the inevitable fuckery that they get into."
"Still weird to imagine Ms. Goodwitch like that." Yinsen thought to himself.
Silva cleared her throat. "Anyway thanks so much for stopping the fight Miss Goodwitch, it was getting out of control."
"Anytime, Ms. Redfox. Now Cu, please tell me why are you attacking my students?" Glynda said sternly.
"That's a simple enough answer." Cu said as he pried himself out of the cliffside. "I was trying to teach them how to properly be a huntsman, a true warrior. Something you have failed to teach them,"
"It's only been a month since the semester started, Cu." Glynda said, glaring Cu in the eyes "Contrary to what you believe, no one becomes huntsman material in that amount of time."
"So how do you explain the trainee who idiotically refuses to use his own weapon?" Cu asked.
"I SAID NOT TO TALK AS IF YOU KNOW ME!" Yinsen shouted in anger. A vine then wrapped around his mouth. Silva, for her part, almost looked like she was going to attack Cu any second.
"Stay quiet kid, the adults are talking" Cu dismissively waved not even turning to look at the boy.
Yinsen growled underneath the gag. The young hunter tore a piece of bark of the tree he was leaning on and crystalised it into a makeshift dagger. The huntsman in training didn't even care if Glynda gave him extra detention, Cu needed to suffer.
Yinsen threw it right at the back of Cu's skull but it stopped in mid air.
"Mr Carnation, that is quite enough." Glynda commanded
Yinsen glared at cu. 'Predator... give me some juice'
Are you sure?Predator responded
'I know he's not worth it... but I want him to understand. I want to show this asshole just who he's judging'
"Can't kid.. Not enough love in the air." Predator said.
"Even a blade of grass' worth is enough. I want to show this asshole what "conviction" really is!"
"I understand that he insulted your love for that halberd of yours and your resolve, but the answer is no. If you make a show here there will be questions about what you did... and if people start asking questions...
"Then I'll be blown... DAMNIT!." Yinsen thought frustration boiling inside him as he crystalised the gag and tore it off with both hands.
"Now children please take your friends to the infirmary, make sure they don't have serious injury, I'll decide your punishment later." Glynda said.
"Yes ma'am" Ruby said. The group of students walking, the injured supported by their teammates.
"I'll catch up soon." Silva muttered to Silver, eyes narrowing at the Spearman of the Forest.
"Just don't do anything stupid while I'm gone." Silver said, throwing Yinsen over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
Yinsen for his part trembled in anger, his palms bleeding from his nails digging into his fists.
Silva looked to her partner. "Are you okay?"
"No" Yinsen growled
Silva clenched her fist, her rage growing more as she saw her team leader, her first actual friend, in such a condition, hurt her just as much. "I'll make him sorry."
As the group left, Silva hid behind some trees in order to properly eavesdrop on the conversation between the adults.
"Look, Glyndie, I'm sorry I've been rough with them. I just wanted to make sure my daughter had a good team leader." Cu said unapologetically scratching the back of his head
"No. You are not. But you will be when the 10,000 lien fine in damages will be taken straight from your savings. Glynda coldly replied
Cu threw his arms up in frustration. "Oh come on! I wasn't going to kill them, I just needed to teach them the importance of having a reason to fight." Cu said.
"I can think of nine different ways to do so WITHOUT resorting to violence off the top of my head." Glynda chided.
"I feel that the hands on approach is the best teaching method." Cu replied.
"It certainly is when their teacher shows restraint." Glynda deadpanned.
"Oh geez, lighten up Glyndie. It was all in good fun." Cu said. "Besides that dragon faunus is the son of 'the king' is he not? I thought it was in my best interest to see if he's anything like his old man, and frankly I'm surprised he doesn't have the same spark he had" Cu said.
"He is the SON of the King. Not the king himself. You would do well to distinguish the difference." Glynda scolded.
"He should have had that drive to be a huntsman from day one, yet in that fight I saw none of it in any of them." Cu said.
"Not everyone is an idealist at heart. A Huntsman's spirit is something that can be gained just as much as it can be innate..."Glynda said.
"No, it isn't something that is just "gained". That mindset that prevents good men and women using the skills they learned here for the wrong reasons, like a certain bird that Ozpin let loose." Cu said.
The air began to grow tense around Glynda, murder creeping into her eyes. "As always, you speak carelessly of matters you don't even try to understand. I suggest you hold your tongue, Cu."
"Why? I'm just trying to make sure that dragon has a reason to become a huntsman and not do something stupid like become one of the Schnee's private lap dogs." Cu said.
"Your little exhibition match could have killed them." Goodwitch scolded.
"Look I'll admit I may have went a bit overboard. But I was just testing these kids resolve and frankly I'm very disappointed. Seriously Glynda what are you teaching them?" Cu said.
"At the moment it's simply skill assessment and form correction. Huntsman Ethics isn't within my curriculum That's part of Port's." Goodwitch said simply.
"This isn't about me." Cu said. "All three of them have potential they just need a push, but most importantly I wanted to know if that kid had what it took to watch my baby girl's back" Cu said.
"My husband's methods may be abrasive but he had good intentions, still we'll say goodbye to our daughter and be out of your hair" Scathach said.
A long silence passed before Goodwitch finally speaks. "Very well...But the next time I see you attacking my students without my consent, being embedded into 5 feet of solid granite will be the LEAST painful activity you will experience."
"Oh I have something MUCH more painful in mind." The three Hunters quickly turn to see Silva coming from the shadows. Goodwitch took notice of the killer intent... along with a dark coloring within her sclera.
"Ms. Redfox, I believe I told you to escort your friends to the infirmary." Goodwitch sternly said, trying not to be unnerved by her eyes.
"Oh, Silver and Grey can handle that themselves. I just need a little word with Naomi's dad first." Silva said with a forcibly polite edge, venom dripping as she turned to Cu.
"Are you going to complain I was too rough with your boyfriend?" Cu asked.
Silva's eye twitched a little as her face turned red. "So you're an ass to everyone. That makes this easier." Silva noted, silently crystallizing her hand, her voice sickeningly sweet.
"Well that's pretty hars-" Cu said.
Before anyone could blink, Cu felt a harsh impact on the right side of his face, sending him tumbling to the ground. When the hunter got up he saw Silva standing in a pose that signified that she threw the punch that knocked him on his ass.
"Damn, that's a strong right hook." Cu said, impressed at the young faunus' raw power.
Silva exploded into a flurry of rose petals, now sitting on top of Cu with the crystalized fist ready for another punch.
"I heard everything you uttered to my friend. I'm about to make you eat every single word." Silva growled out, any sign of kindness missing.
"Huh. Now you seem like his type, shame that I know his." Cu said "He's one of those guys who thinks he's smarter than everyone else. People like him only see the world as his sandbox." Cu said. "Tell me how well do you know your leader? Did he share anything meaningful to you?" Cu asked.
"Oh how wonderful of you to ask! He actually taught me something very interesting, and told me not to do it unless I want to torture someone that I just hate." Silva explained with a malicious grin becoming a demonic smile, her crystalized arms glistening in the sunlight. "If you want to hurt someone: start by shattering their joints."
"Didn't seem to do him any good." Cu said.
Silva's eyes narrowed as she moved to slam her crystalised fist into Cu's face.
Scathath's eyes narrowed and grabbed silva's arm mid-motion, stopping it barely an inch from Cu's face.
"I know your tricks. Stay out of my way or I'll give you a taste of it." Silva threatened, keeping her eyes on Cu.
Scathach tightened her grip, with a more menacing aura "The only one who touches my husband is me."
"ENOUGH!" Glynda telekinetically pulled the two apart the two women glaring daggers at each other.
"Ms. Redfox, I am more than willing to overlook your assault on Cu Siren. But if you continue to do this, I will be forced to enforce severe disciplinary action." She then turned to Scathath. "And YOU! You should be the mature one trying to deescalate the situation, not make it worse! Does reason mean nothing to you and that idiot you call a husband?!"
After what felt like an eternity, Silva was the first to take a deep breath and calm down, her eyes returning to normal. "I'm sorry Ms Goodwitch. I allowed my emotions to get the better of me. Now, if you'd be so kind as to let me go, I'll take care of my friend."
Silva dropped to the ground, Goodwitch's semblance releasing its hold on her.
"Thank you." Silva said before turning to Cu. "One little thing. If you harm my leader- no, my friend again, you'll need Ozpin to save your ass." She growled, shooting one more glare as she disappeared in a flash of white.
"Keep an eye on that one, Glyndie." Cu mumbled rubbing his jaw. "'Willing to overlook her assault, huh?' You're still petty after all these years."
"You deserved it." The professor bluntly replied, turning to Scathath. "I expected better from both of you. She's only 15 and you did nothing to stop her anger aside from threatening words and taunts."
"Glynda, I know I am not good with words. Even though they are still first years but they are at a crossroad where they need to find out who they are and what kind of men they plan to be I just thought I'd help give them a push." Cu said.
"You are the LAST person on Remnant who is qualified to help ANYONE with ANYTHING." Goodwitch bit. "Ms. Redfox was more qualified to help them than you were."
"Oh really? Do you really think that if that crystal boy were to turn rogue, she would be able to talk him down?" Cu asked.
"You think we developed this partner system just to satisfy teenage hormones?" Glynda glared at him. "The two both share qualities the other lacks, and very desperately need. For example, Carnation is firm in his leadership and that firmness helps Silva work through her actions and become confident in her decisions. Miss Redfox on the other hand, recent incidents aside, is easily the most easygoing student I've seen in years, and is making Mr. Carnation to mellow out and act more like a young man his age, while he has the chance."
"That's hardly the only thing wrong with those kids. You and I know being a huntsman is a title that should be worn with pride, but let me tell you what I saw in their eyes. Raku barely tried to take initiative, and he's a leader!? This is a Huntsmen Academy, not a freaking Military Barrack! Huntsmen need to make their own assessments and act accordingly. That Yinsen kid has no respect towards his position here or to anyone else. And the King's kid? He's just going through the motions! It's just another day for that kid! Guys like him burn out the fastest!
"There is nothing that you just said, that Beacon Academy hasn't rectified in a student Huntsman before they graduated. I have already taken note of the problems you so despise. Glynda said. "And will rectify them as they continue their training here."
"And you did a wonderful job." Cu sarcastically clapped. "Tell me, do you teach them how to fight yourself, or just throw them into a pit and whoever's still moving wins?" Cu said.
"You know that problems such as theirs do not simply go away, especially if it stems from trauma of some kind." Glynda reasoned.
"We all face some sort of trauma in this world, all we can do is to get over it." he proclaimed.
"This isn't something you can shove a spear through and be done with Cu! These are children, and not all of them can hold themselves to your standards, within ONE MONTH!" Glynda yelled
"BOTH OF YOU STOP IT!" Scathath yelled. "I know my husband was rash in his actions, but he does know how to teach through action to make up for his lack of eloquence"
"You tell him honey" Cu said as he then saw the cold stare of his wife
"Don't think you're safe, Buster!" causing Cu to Whimper. "YOU USED ARBOREAL GUARDIAN ON STUDENTS, YOU TOOK THINGS WAY TOO FAR!" She yelled and kicked him in the chest.
"Beating students senseless while berating them on their lack of "Conviction" only focuses their rage on the teacher who doesn't even try to understand their circumstances." Glynda growled. Your definition of "teaching through action" is simply an excuse to force your beliefs onto them, with no respect to the students."
And I'm supposed to give respect to someone who has yet to earn it?" Cu said..
"If you want them to be receptive to you and your teachings, respect them not as Huntsman but as someone who is willing to work to become one." Glynda said. "Why should they listen to someone who doesn't even want to respect them as huntsman candidates?"
"That reminds me. That Junkyard Dog, Yinsen. There was something about his aura." Cu said. "There's something different about it... It was brighter... almost... primal.."
"What?" Glynda turned to him, her anger fading and shock filling her irises.
"Got any idea what that is Glyndie?" Cu said
"That is none of your concern." Glynda scowled 'Ozpin... what game are you playing now?'
"Anyway we'll just say goodbye to our daughter, apologize for hurting her friends, and then be on our way." Scathach said.
"That would be a start." Glynda nodded.
And another part of this chapter is released man this chapter is a doozy, honestly I'm happy how this has turned out after working on it for, man nearly a year now anyway I hope you liked the battle between our heroes and Naomi's crazy dad. Anyway I hope you enjoyed reading this and the last part is the one with the least amount of edits so it should not be that far behind. To all my fans I thank you for your patience and I am grateful for each and everyone of you