Shaxx and Byf had assembled their classes in the main combat arena. The Warlock had with him a large storage container carrying a large quantity of Orbs of Light. The Cryptarchs had wanted data on how aura and semblances would react to the light motes and while Glynda and Ikora had objected to experimenting on students, Asher had loudly voiced his enthusiasm, and Cayde had probably signed off on the paperwork allowing it without even reading it. Byf was a bit unsure about exposing students to the concentrated light, noting how most novice Guardians tended to lose control for a bit after consuming one. But Shaxx seemed to be either oblivious to the potential harm or simply confident enough that nothing would happen that they couldn't handle. Fireteam Nero's Lux was also there, both as a safety precaution, and as the official overseer of these experimental trials. Also with her were a cohort of Sentinel Titans, tasked with protecting the students should anything go wrong. When all seemed to be present and accouned for, Shaxx stepped forward.
"Students, trainees!" He began, his legendary voice carrying itself across the length of the arena. "Today we've called you here to experiment with the next step of your journey."
He reached down and motioned to the elemental orbs on the ground, as well as the regular orbs. "These are elemental orbs of light. Like its name suggests, it is concentrated light of any particular element and we Guardians usually use it to empower our light abilities or to make it recharge faster. The light blue one, not to be confused with the arc orbs that are blue, are pure light, and are far more effective." A murmur spread across the students at this news, most figuring out what was about to happen.
"The Warlocks of the City have expressed their interest in trying to see if our methods of light can somehow empower you all, people who live constantly charged with the gifts of light." Explained Byf. "The hypothesis is that your auras would be stronger, and likewise your semblances, but whether or not it does, we're here today to find out. For the purposes of experimentation, we'll be trying the regular, then the elementals, and maybe mix the two up with the other."
"So, who would like to go first?" Shaxx asked.
"I would!" A hand shot out from the crowd, and true to her nature, Yang Xiao Long strolled up to the Crucible master. Shaxx chuckled slightly under his helmet.
"Well in that case, have at you!" The Titan handed a regular and solar orb of light to the young huntress and him and Byf both backed up.
"Whenever you're ready, miss." Byf called out. Lux looked down at her datapad ready to take notes on anything that happened. At the same time, the Titans tensed up, waiting for any sign of trouble.
Yang closed her eyes and began to reach out with her aura, trying to slowly absorb in the Light within, feeling its energy slowly coursing through her. Soon, her aura was flaring outwards, stronger and brighter than usual, flowing around her like a torrent while bathing everything nearby with a golden light. When the last of the orbs was absorbed into her, Yang's eyes snapped open, glowing red. Byf called out to her.
"How are you feeling?"
Yang didn't respond. Instead she clenched her fists and gave a loud battlecry, her semblance activating to its fullest extent. Her blonde hair glowed bright as it rose into the air above her head like wildfire while it looked like actual flames started swirling around her.
"Miss Xiao Long are you-" Shaxx didn't get to finish that semblance before a supercharged Yang spun around towards him.
"Quick someone punch me right now!" Yang demanded, "I wanna see what will happen."
"Uhhh…" Byf started before looking at Shaxx, then to Lux who shrugged.
"The info we have so far, is that most semblances in huntresses and huntsmen are usually defensive mechanisms, with a few exceptions being notable in more aggressive aura users, like Hazel Rainart, who we're still trying to hunt down and capture. I'm assuming Yang is telling you to activate hers."
"Very well Miss Xiao Long." Shaxx declared as he stepped up to Yang, stretching his right arm a bit as he did. "But I hope you don't regret this." Yang just grinned and got into a ready stance. Shaxx got into a boxer's stance, winding his arm back.
"Ready?" He asked one more time.
"Hit me big boy." Yang replied.
Shaxx stepped forward, his foot digging into the floor before throwing the mother of all right hooks at Yang's head. When it looked like the Crucible Master's fist was about to send Yang's head flying off her shoulders, there was a sudden flash of light, and the next thing everyone knew was Shaxx flying backwards into one of the arena walls, leaving a sizable crater where he impacted. The Titan seemed to be stuck in, before he slid off the wall and collapsed onto the ground.
"Shaxx!" Byf called out as he ran over. Shaxx was on his face, unmoving. Byf was about to reach out and check the Crucible Master for a pulse before Shaxx suddenly sprang up onto his feet.
"That was amazing!" Shaxx laughed as he walked back over to Yang. Yang's semblance had run its course, her appearance changing back to normal. Shaxx gave her a swift slap on the back. "I haven't been thrown like that in ages!"
Yang grinned in response, hair no longer on fire and eyes returned to normal. "Correction:That was amazyang!"
Almost immediately, Byf facepalmed while Shaxx stood still, muttering under his breath to his ghost. "Ghost, remind me to pay a visit to Patch when we're done."
As Yang went back to her seat, Shaxx once more looked over the students. "Alright, so, who's next?"
Almost instantly, Ruby raised her hand up, excited to see what new heights her semblance could reach. She jumped down into the arena floor with a skip in her step, and Shaxx handed her a regular orb of light. He'd hope that perhaps she'd unknowingly copy her mother's style, her semblance allowing her to teleport instead.
What he didn't expect, was a torrent of petals to suddenly start swirling around her, almost concealing her completely. A light blue glow surrounded Ruby, as the petals became faster and faster.
Then she moved.
The titans had no time to react, as everyone was simultaneously pulled out of their seats from the sound barrier being broken, everyone flying off in the direction Ruby moved towards. Shaxx was the only one able to barely stand his ground, while Byf and Lux were flung towards the wall, Lux able to keep the data pad safe as they impacted, promptly needing a resurrection from their ghosts after the rose petals finally settled.
When everyone got their bearings, they went to look in the direction of where Ruby went. A hole was in the arena walls, leading straight to the outside with dirt kicked up into the air, the grass torn up. Unseen through the dust, Ruby was pulling herself up from a cliffside using Crescent Rose, barely managing to avoid falling off.
"WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS THAT?!" Shaxx shouted with glee. "I hadn't seen somebody move that fast since Ikora!"
"On the contrary," Byf pointed out, coughing a bit as he inhaled a bit of dust. "Those who've learned how to blink move at the speed of light for about 16 nano-seconds. It may seem like a teleport, but if that was the case we wouldn't leave a streak behind."
"Still! The amount of distance traveled in basically the same time compared to a mere blink? Madness!" Shaxx shouted out jovially.
"Sorry!" Ruby called out from where she was. "I'll be back to watch you guys in a bit!"
"Tch. Big dolt." Weiss let out, as she then approached Shaxx. "I'd like it if I could go next, if not any trouble?"
"Most certainly Miss Schnee!" Shaxx responded almost immediately. "In fact, the warlocks wanted to see what the Schnee family could do, so we were considering on making you next. Let them see your power!" Shaxx stated whilst pumping his fist in the air.
"With pleasure." Weiss stated with a smirk, as Byf handed her a few regular orbs of light.
"We've been told that a certain variant of your glyphs involving lightning dust allow you to slow down, or speed up the actions of others Miss Schnee." Byf curtly said. "We would very much like to see that."
"You'll need to let me summon first." She spoke while she stabbed the sword into the ground, a massive glyph about the size of the arena floor opening up beneath her. "I believe the effects of that would be easier to see on others, or one of my summons."
Upon the mention of summons, the students backed up a bit, and those on the floor including Shaxx, Byf, and Lux retreated to the stands, figuring that Weiss was going to create a massive summon. For an unnervingly long while, Weiss remained in position, until finally, she pulled her sword from the ground, looking around her once more and seeing… nothing.
An uncomfortable silence fell the room. "Miss Schnee, where is the summon?"
"I-" Weiss began the stutter, cheeks flushing up in embarassment. "I-I don't-"
Then the ground shook.
Suddenly, the roof of the arena was ripped off, revealing a massive Arma Gigas that was looking down upon everyone. Titans instinctively popped their wards while everyone else panicked, some shooting at the Arma Gigas, while others attempted to escape. Weiss looked upon her summon with shock, unable to process how she had even made it. All the while, the Arma Gigas just stood there, watching everyone with a cold stare, paying little attention to the attacks being thrown at its face.
"Miss Schnee!" Byf called out from where he was, attempting to take it down as well and snapping Weiss out of her stupor. "I don't suppose you can de-summon that thing for something smaller?!"
"NO!" Shaxx called out, Hammer of Sol at the ready as he climbed the arena. "Let me fight that!"
Weiss then shook her head, narrowing her eyes. "PUT THAT ROOF BACK!" She ordered the Arma Gigas to do so.
And it obliged.
The guardians in the room stopped firing as they watched the roof get put back on, the students falling silent as Shaxx jumped back down to the arena floor.
The ground shook again.
They looked to the hole Ruby made. The Arma Gigas was now looking through it in silence, it's helmet covering up whatever view they had of the outside world.
Silence befell the class once more, watching the Arma Gigas with a notable amount of fear.
"Students… stay here." Shaxx ordered with an over the top grave tone. "That beast is waiting for us to leave so it can pick us off one by one. I will-"
"Shaxx, for the love of god, can you please keep it under control?!" Lux bemoaned the titan's newfound bloodlust for battle.
"I need to stretch my legs!" Shaxx said, pointing at the Arma Gigas with his Hammer of Sol. "Look at this Lux, Byf! It's huge! I NEED TO PUNCH IT!"
Byf sighed, and got next to Shaxx to whisper to him. "Shaxx please you're on duty-" Before he had even finished that sentence, Shaxx had sprinted out through the hole in the wall, screaming for honor and blood the entire time.
"Oh my god…" Was all Byf said, as Lux facepalmed. "Well ok I guess he's done for the day. Uhhh for the sake of everyone's safety, and so more property damage doesn't happen, let's move this class outside."
The students were ushered out to an open outdoor courtyard with Shaxx on standby, fighting the Arma Gigas in the background. It was from there, the enhancements were continuing on becoming more tame, yet powerful in their own regard.
Blake was able to create multiple clones of herself that seemed to only respond decently to her commands, staying perfectly still or running into walls otherwise, able to do minor tasks like taking an item or touching a person, but are unable to comprehend violent tasks. She had almost passed out from strain when she tried to create more than five. Her clones remained though and caught her, and once they were hit with an attack meant to maim or kill, they simply vanished like usual. Further testing proved that the clones were capable of kamikaze attacks via handheld grenades.
Lie Ren was able to turn himself nearly invisible like the very hunters, appearing only as a slight distortion in the air. Although that extended to almost everyone else within a ten meter radius, his aura dropped to half from the strain of keeping everyone invisible.
Jaune had opted out of joining in, having no interest in suddenly discovering his semblance and let it go rampant all at once, much to the dismay of the two warlocks who mainly asked to see if light could forcefully awaken a semblance.
Pyrrha's attempt at her enhanced polarity control caused her to pull everything metal nearby towards her all at once, resulting in a very awkward situation where Byf had to try to pull several of the assembled Titans off of her, along with multiple other pieces of weaponry, and gear.
Sun was able to create the clones with just a thought by using a solar elemental orb and a regular orb, not needing to directly manipulate them anymore. It still drained his aura though.
Coco Adel was found to be doing seven times more damage with her semblance Hype, as well as making the minigun even louder when firing. Her aura also reached outwards, affecting those next to her with a slight empowerment aura.
Fox found himself able to mentally communicate with the entire room… as well as read the thoughts of those nearby to him. He was given amnesiacs due to having been in the proximity of Lord Shaxx.
Velvet found herself able to swap up to three weapons on a moment's notice now, with none of them going out in a defined amount of hits. Though random weapons would be replaced if she tried to go past three.
When Yatshuhashi was called up, the swordsman walked up to the warlocks and whispered something to them in private. Whatever he said made the Guardians only nod in understanding, before he returned to where he was.
Once that was sorted that Nora stepped up and this is where the situation saw itself go completely out of control. As soon as she had absorbed the arc elemental and regular orb, Nora's eyes started to glow as arcs of electricity started issuing from herself. Then suddenly torrents of electricity exploded from her form as she shot up into the air in a blue streak, nearly frying a flock of birds, and catching Lord Shaxx's attention, as well as the Arma Gigas. As she shot back down, the students all scrambled behind the Sentinels as they threw up their wards.
At the same time, Shaxx leapt into the air, activating a Sentinel Shield. The Arma Gigas sensed that its mistress was in danger, and went to assist Shaxx in blocking the attack, its armor taking the brunt of the damage first, losing its arm completely as a result from the massive shock blow given to it. Shaxx's shield then collided with Nora, sending them crashing into the ground.
The force of their landing released an explosion not unlike that of a bomb going off. When the dust cleared, there was a twenty meter wide crater where they had landed. When the warlocks and rushed over to check on them, Nora seemed relatively unhurt. The Crucible Master on the other hand, took the full brunt of Nora's power. Were it not for the Shield he had created to protect himself, he probably would have needed a resurrection then and there. However when he pulled himself out of the ground, he gave a hearty laugh and slapped Nora on the back, even as his very bones made audible cracking sounds, his ghost working on healing his insides.
"By the Light, that was incredible! I haven't felt a blow that bad since my days with Lord Saladin. You got the heart of a true Titan in you lassy!" While the two laughed in the stands Byf simply cleared his throat and turned to the students.
"Well I think I have enough data for today. You're all-"
The Arma Gigas stabbed the sword mere inches away from where Shaxx and Nora were, barely missing the two. Everyone then looked up with the sudden reminder of what was still standing there… and was very pissed.
"Ah yes, don't wanna forget about you!" Shaxx chuckled, as he reached for the hilt of his sword, intending to finish this battle the way it should end.
When Shaxx sent Summer to get the Boltcaster developed, he sent her and the rest of fireteam Nero to fight Alak Hul and his three wardens, as a way to set the weapon to full power. What Summer Rose didn't know however, was that he had told the other teammates of Nero to hold onto two other copies he duplicated off his original work, that of which was Void Edge and Solar Edge. He kept it a secret, as he knew Summer was all about the hoarding of weapons. The improved version of Void Edge he called Darkdrinker was hidden away in his vault, waiting for someone worthy of its blade.
The improved Solar Edge, Razelighter… was right in his very hands.
The serrated sword lit up in flames as Shaxx stared down his foe, the sword in his right hand as he leapt up into the air, barreling into the sky and causing the Arma Gigas to use a glyph and teleport back a dozen yards away. Shaking his head again, Byf turned back to address the students.
"Ok I'll see you guys tomorrow at lecture, and don't worry about Shaxx, he'll be at this a while. Just move along now." The warlock shooed off the students while muttering something about a meathead under his breath.
00000
Cayde looked at his scroll as the message notification popped up.. He raised an eyebrow and wondered what the hell is so important right now to interrupt his mid-afternoon break, while Barloc shuffled some paperwork nearby. His robotic eyes widen as a smile creases his mechanical face. The Ark portal system near Mercury was back online. Which meant that trade between the Last City and Remnant is now much easier. Though with all of the available Warlocks, he had to wonder who managed to get it up and Running.
He then got another message sent to his scroll as well as photos, and another message after that. All were marked as "Omega Priority." Sighing he looks between his paperwork and his scroll, wondering what messages were so important. But then another message came in as well as a report attached to it. With this his brow furrowed.
Report
Suj: White Fang Elite Leader Atriox
Message: Some Whitefang Remnants are gathering near the Borders of Vale, Requesting immediate action.
He then looked at the the other messages and report again.
Report
Delta 4 Orbital patrol
Suj: Unknown ship
An unidentified ship has crossed into our space. It looked human in nature but was too quick before it disappeared. Requesting reinforcements at Vex Ark Portal gate and for orbital defenses.
Then finally the last one which made him narrow his eyes in frustration.
Report
Suj: Dark Grim, Mistral
New dangerous grimm variants have been detected in Mistral. Send reinforcements. Mistral Guardians and Huntsman stretched too thin. Losing Huntsman by the day.
Cayde has been wary of the recent spike in Huntsmen disappearances, and the Guardians there are not enough to solve the problem. But then smirks as he looks at his last message.
"Well now. Looks like I got the reinforcements I need. Hey Barloc, tell Daisy that she's needed." Cayde said.
"Noted, but we have more important matters." Barloc said, as he took a transcript he received from Summer and handed it off to Cayde.
Cayde looked at the transcript, a sigh of relief and a wince of sympathy for the two letting through as he reads. "Well, that was unexpected. Guardians being giant SIVA hulking abominations? No wonder why that went so bad."
"Which is why we need to do something about this." Barloc said, as he went to a monitor and scrolled through one of the browsers on it.
Cayde did his most charming exo grin. "You know, I think it'd be great if-"
"No."
"Oh come on!" Cayde almost yelled in frustration, throwing his arms up into the air. "Why can't I join the big fights?!"
"Because your presence is needed here. While the guardians here may not respect you, Remnant's people consider you a powerful leader, even with the few mishaps that slipped through before I was sent here." Barloc said, as he finally found the team he was looking for.
"Then what the heck is Summer going to do?" Cayde challenged. "Fight all the baddies on her own, with that trying to infect her?!"
Barloc merely motioned for Cayde to come look at what he was looking at in response.
With an annoyed grunt, Cayde walked up to the monitor, spotting team JNPR on it.
"There," He said, poking Pyrrha's face on the monitor. "She'll suit for a replacement that is worthy of a guardian's level, and she'll have more backup to boot. While there is no doubt she may not be usable for strikes… her polarity semblance is what we need."
"Polaratae what? Is that telekinesis or something?" Cayde asked, causing Barloc to look at him in wordless shock.
Barloc had finally had enough.
Barloc smashed Cayde's head in with a chair, causing him to fall back with a pained yelp, as Barloc flipped on him.
"HOW CAN YOU HUNTERS BE, SO, DUMB!?" Barloc shouted out the last three words, accentuating it with each smack from the chair as he continued on relentlessly. "IT IS A BASIC TERM FOR MAGNETISM!" At that moment, unbeknownst to the currently very angry warlock and otherwise occupied hunter, was that a certain red headed student had peeked into the room, responding to a summons she got.
"Ow, stop it! Hey hey, watch the horn- OW!" Cayde cried out from under the warlock's merciless assault.
Sundance sighed, as she watched her guardian get mercilessly beaten up by the ex-guardian again. "Preparing for resurrection…"
Pyrrha decided to let them have a few moments and leave them for a half hour. She'd seen enough for now.
00000
After class, team RWBY walked back to their dorm room. Though something was dormant on Ruby's mind. She may have been able to conceal it for a while, but Yang was catching on it. Blake and Weiss decided to go to the Cafeteria for Yang to have a sister to sister talk as the half sisters walked back to the dorm.
"Everything ok Rubes?"
"Huh? Oh everything's fine."
"You sure?"
"Oh yeah, why do you ask?"
"Well, I just noticed ever since mom left you've been in an up and down mood. Are you...on your… you know?"
"What?! NO!"
"Ok ok, jeez when did you become grouchy?"
"Look- it's just… remember when we first met mom? Back at that building?"
"You still worried about that incident still?"
"I've still have been getting nightmares over it. Her either shouting at me to kill her or me accidentally killing her, her ghost reviving her and killing me in retaliation… I'm thinking. Why is she so forgiving after that?"
"Maybe because after finally remembering who you are. She motherly already forgave you. She wants to be back in our lives again after finding out about her past. There's no way shed abandoned us Rubs. Remember when she makes a promise?" Yang smiled holding her sister in a warm embrace.
"She... keeps it."
"What am I looking at here?"
Stated a voice who just ruined their bonding moment, cause the two to realize they forgot to go into their room to speak in private.
"Who are you?" Yang said mildly annoyed.
The man had white hair some sort if tribe like markings on his Awoken face.
"I am Asher Mir! One of the greatest Warlocks that helped save your planet obviously. I was the one who figured out how to use the portal on Earth, which in turn helped bring the incompetent Guardians here. Like that hero of Menagerie, Lord Shaxx, and many others!"
"Stroking your ego much Asher?"
A german sounding man said as he and four other guardians reared the corner.
"This is nothing to concern yourself with Rictoffen! Now, as I was saying, I have come here to start the research of semblances, so that you can be… slightly less incompetent." Asher said, before he cleared his throat. "What are your names for future reference?"
"Ruby Rose," Ruby responded immediately. "This is my sister Yang Xiao Long."
"What? There's no way guardians should be able to have kids. That's-" Asher then finally notices Ruby's eyes. "No. No that's impossible. Impossible. No no no no no… IMPOSSIBLE!"
"What are you talking about Asher? Everybody knows that it's entirely possible! Go back to your Vex technology, and stop setting your Vex arm to frig mode!"
Their conversation now interrupted entirely by the odd guardians who went and caused a ruckus, the sisters went back to their dorm to play some video games while they waited out the noise.
00000
Blake and Weiss were sitting at the dining hall having lunch. They were both eating in relative silence before a commotion started nearby. The two girls turned to see Daisy eating alone one table down. Except she seemed to be surrounded by a group of boys who seemed to all be vying for her attention. On top of that, there seemed to be another group of people gathering around the boys to get rid of them. Meanwhile Daisy had her hand on her sidearm's holster and seemed to be showing great restraint in not just whipping it out and shooting everyone around her. Blake started to get up to do something about it, but the intercom came on just as she was reaching for gambol shroud.
"Could Ms Daisy come to Cayde's office please? Would Miss, Daisy Mendez please head to Cayde's office please. Thank you."
With a sigh of relief Daisy got up and walked out of the cafeteria. The crowd around her dispersing.
"What do you think Cayde needs her for?" Weiss asked as Blake sat back down.
"Who knows? Probably some top secret Guardian stuff, as usual." Blake replied.
"Hm, true." Weiss said, taking a bit out of her salad and eating it, before continuing. "Well today's classes were eventful. Though that one Awoken warlock I saw walking around looked odd. Whatever happened to him, I can't imagine..." Weiss replied.
"From what I heard, warlocks are generally crazy." Blake said with a shrug, as the two went back to their meal.
0000
Animeak116: Ok guys on to the reviews
Doomforzombies16: Looks around for a curtain Warlock, doesn't see him, Do you plan on using the including or referencing the Drifter?
Animeak116:Ah yes but were not at Forsaken at all yet.
Diluation:More accurately Red War, as that's when Gambit starts running after Drifter escapes from whatever planet or moon he was on.
Guest:Why did you break storm caster?! What about the Flaming Axe, was it left behind?!
Diluation:We said why last chapter, and I see no reason in repeating it. The Flaming Axe however, yes it was left behind, no it doesn't really matter. Saladin apparently has a ton of those things with how many axes you get from the extermination missions in the Plaguelands.
ahsoei:Looking forward for more. It might be interesting to have some awkward romcom between Roses and the rest.
Diluation:As much as Ptabs' family would appreciate the attempt at bringing him back to life, please stop trying to get a rise out of him. Let his soul rest in peace.
On a more serious note though, if you know Ptabs, you know how we'd need to do to honor his writing style. Remember what he did with Summer and Ruby's reunion in Remnant of a Rose? ...Wanna see us do it again?