"SMASH!"
Both team RWBY and JNPR were pushed back from just the sheer force of the scream. New, unwelcomed fury burned within the Hulk. Before anyone could defend, he leapt forward at his nearest target, fist held high.
"MOVE," Ruby ordered. She sped to her left, evading Hulk's overhand. His green fist tore right through a table and slammed into the ground. Dust, rock, tables, benches and wind blasted everywhere from the impact of his attack. Jaune was swept off his feet and flew toward a wall.
"He'll be squashed like jelly," Ruby thought. She looked over to find the Hulk's fist was trapped by broken concrete and rubble. Veins showed up in his neck from him trying to force his hand out of the floor. Ruby took this opportunity and prepared to rescue team JNPR's leader.
Pyrrha raced past Ruby, catching her off guard and flipped and bounced off the table, aiming at Jaune. She hit his side and was able to save him from clashing with the wall.
"Thank you," Jaune blushed from being saved. He got back to his feet and began brushing off, "I really didn't-,"
"HULK SMASH ALL OF YOU!" Hulk had fianlly freed his hand and was ready to attack at a moments notice.
"Weiss, Blake," Ruby said to her teammates getting their attention. "Monochrome," she ordered. She didn't want to, but this would be a great time to try their team attacks...
"Got it," Blake and Weiss said in unison.
Weiss waved Myrtenaster and her semblance took effect as a Glyph formed between her and the Hulk, "BLAKE, NOW!"
"Got it," Blake responded. Gambol Shroud morphed into a pistol in her hand. Blake took aim and unloaded a whole clip, fast, into Weiss's Glyph. The bullets were coated in an ice shelling. As the bullets flew through the air, they became sharper and sharper. Blake tossed the empty magazine to the side and slammed another one back into her weapon. She began firing once more into the Glyph, right at Hulk.
"TOO COLD FOR HULK," Hulk roared being shot. Every one of the bullets stabbed into skin, covering that area in ice. In mere moments, his whole chest was covered in ice. Rapidly, the rest of his body began to cover in ice. All of the ice bullets redirected back from an explosive clap. They soared even faster toward Blake and Weiss.
"Watch out," Weiss yelled. Her speed allowed her to dodge the ice bullets, which zoomed toward Blake.
"BLAKE," Ruby screamed. Blake used a clone to absorb all of the damage.
"Don't worry, I got this," Yang exclaimed. She blasted off toward the Hulk.
"YANG," Weiss yelled at the yellow warrior, "we need a plan of attack!"
"I have a plan," Yang yelled back closing the distance between her and the Hulk, "ATTACK!" Yang delivered three hard and quick shotgun punches into Hulk's jaw. The last punch forced Hulk to turn and fall on his hands and knees. His broken jaw bone began to piece itself back together.
"You know," Yang said popping her knuckles. "I'm supposed to tell you to calm down, Banner. But the truth is…I've actually wanted you to turn for a while now. I've longed for a good fight. You're one of the first to actually beat me," Yang said remembering her loss back in the Emerald forest. She began to fill with anger, "But now, we're no longer equals. I've finally passed you. No cheap shots, no lucky hits. I'm going to beat you this time," Yang said as fury clouded her mind. Light golden flames began to cover her body.
Banner heard Yang's words. Was this true? Did she really feel this way about him? Banner tried his best to break free of the Hulk's control. He fought back as more uncontrollable rage overflowed inside his mind.
"NO ONE EQUAL TO HULK!" Hulk reached to his side, grabbing a concrete slab. He turned and swung at full speed. A million little pebbles exploded everywhere as the Hulk's weapon hit Yang.
Ruby looked away as everyone gasped in horror as the dust cleared.
Yang was still on her feet. Her entire right side was battered. Her muscles began to shake in exhaustion as her aura completely depleted. "That…that…hurt," Yang coughed. Blood began to drip from her mouth. "T-thank you, Banner," Yang said on the verge of passing out.
"YANG," Blake screamed out. "You monster," she growled at Hulk. Gambol Shroud was aimed at Hulk's chest, finger on the trigger. "I thought you were different, Banner," she said as tears formed.
Ruby pulled Blake's weapon down, "No…," she said.
"What are you doing?" Blake yelled at Ruby. Yang's opened her lilac purple eyes that had finally begun turning red. The air became more humid.
"Uh, guys?" Jaune asked pointing at Yang who began to sit up. Fire suddenly blasted everywhere from the middle of the cafeteria.
Weiss spun and stabbed Myrtenaster into the ground. She along with Ren, Nora, Ruby, Blake, Jaune and Pyrrha were shielded by an ice dome. It wasn't enough; the heat was too much, even for the Ice Queen.
"This supposed to happen?" Blake asked as the dome began melting. They all heard the Hulk's roar as he burned in the flames. Right before the dome completed melted, the heat died down.
"Thank you," everyone heard a strong voice say from the middle of the room. Yang - she was different somehow. She stood on her feet, completely healed with her aura restored.
"Yang?" Blake asked in disbelief.
"I've never felt stronger," Yang smiled as her eyes fully become a bloody red. Golden flames covered her body, radiating heat. Her hair left a trail of fire as it waved through the air.
Hulk stood to his feet, ready to match his newly-powered opponent. His burnt body quickly healed back to green. Inside his mind, he felt it…someone else besides puny Banner fighting for control.
"Let's try that again," Yang smirked pounding her fists together. The entire cafeteria shook from her alone.
"What's happening?" Jaune asked Ruby. "It's like…she's a new person," Jaune said as Yang radiated heat from the golden flames covering her body.
"She's been pushing herself to the absolute limit, training every day, none-stop," Ruby admitted. "She's become obsessed with becoming stronger. To best…," Ruby said looking at Hulk.
"She pushed herself to a new limit," Weiss understood. "Will it be enough?"
"I don't…," Ruby began.
"Guys," Yang said over her shoulder. "I'll be fine. Go while you can."
"SMASH GRIMM," Hulk roared cutting everyone off. The two anger-filled fighters charged toward each other, and clashed in the middle. A shockwave of fire was felt all across Beacon.
"This was too easy," Cinder laughed watching the carnage unfold on a tablet. She, Emerald and Mercury all sat in their dorm. They felt every single blow from Hulk and Yang, shaking the room.
"Easy…for…you to say," Emerald weakly said. A tablet was held in-front of her face by Mercury.
"How long can your semblance go on?" Mercury asked his green haired friend. "It's only been like, five minutes and you're shaking in exhaustion. You've been able to use your semblance on huge groups of people for hours without a sweat."
"It's different…he's fighting back," Emerald gasped. She focused even harder on Hulk through the tablet. "Banner…he's also…fighting for control. The illusion is different as well. I've never made people look like a Grimm before. My semblance won't…can't last much longer," Emerald barely got out.
"I see," Cinder chuckled. Mercury looked toward her in confusion. "I always thought you shared the same thoughts, actions, feelings. I know realize it's two souls fighting for the same body. But who is really in control, Banner?" Cinder asked watching the Hulk in a new light.
"What about the headmaster and his witch?" Mercury asked Cinder.
"Don't worry," Cinder responded with an evil grin. "I sent a gift up to them."
"It's almost broken," Emerald let out.
"Good," Cinder said stroking Emerald's green hair. Emerald got goosebumps up and down her neck, "just a bit longer. At least have him kill the blonde one," Cinder laughed, focusing her attention back to Hulk and Yang's clash.
Hulk and Yang slammed into each other. Both were pushed back from the other, shattering every window in the building. Wind kicked teams RWBY and JNPR to the ground.
"GRIMM GLOW LIKE BLONDIE," Hulk said when he recovered from the impact. His head tilted as he focused on Yang. In his view, he saw a hazy Grimm shape before him, glowing yellow.
Yang looked back at the others completely puzzled. "Ummm, no Grimm," Yang assured looking back at Hulk. "The only the one who's here," she smirked popping her knuckles, "is the one who's going to kick your ass."
"WEIRD GRIMM SOUND LIKE BLONDIE," Hulk screamed grabbing his head in pain. "HULK WILL SMASH YOU, WEIRD GRIMM!" He lunged and threw his green fist forward.
"Here we go," Yang said under her breath. The green fist connected right at Yang's forehead. For a second, nothing happened at all. A huge gust of wind blasted behind Yang, pushing everyone back and shattering the concrete floor.
Ruby grunted, stabbing Crescent Rose into the ground for support. "Weiss," she gritted through her teeth as she held out her hand. Weiss grabbed on with a weak grip. Weiss almost let go when suddenly the gust of wind stopped. Everyone recovered and looked back toward Yang.
"That hurt…a little," Yang smirked. Her arm was brought back, and shot right in Hulk's side. A punch with immense power was delivered, sending the Hulk back. He slid across the floor, digging deep into the flooring.
"Something isn't right," Jaune stated studying the Hulk as he stood back to his feet.
"NOW…," Hulk growled as he kneeled, preparing to run like an Olympic athlete. "YOU GOT HULK MAD," he roared as he ran back at Yang, each step shaking the area.
"Bring it," Yang smiled as she ran to reengage him.
"Yeah, we know," Blake agreed as the gruesome battle continued.
"What you do you suppose we do?" Weiss asked, looking around for suggestions.
"We smash him harder," Nora grinned tightening her grip around Magnhild.
"No," Ren ordered. "You'd only get in Yang's way. She's our only hope now…"
"Okay…," Nora sighed in disappointment. "Maybe a little," she mumbled.
"Wait…," Pyrrha said pointing. Everyone looked to find the Hulk's eyes flickered red and green, like static.
"What the hell?" Jaune questioned. "That's not regular, right?"
"No…they're just green," Ruby realized. "He's being contro…"
"Why aren't we doing anything?" Blake interrupted. "While we're talking," she said pointing at the fight, "Yang is risking her life, for us!" Even with the extreme boost in power, this wasn't a battle Yang could win…and she knew it.
"I WON'T LOSE TO YOU AGAIN," Yang screamed in rage and pain as her and Hulk's fists kept connecting. Fire versus raw strength, rage versus rage. Each impact felt like bombs going off, shaking everyone to the bone. Yang stepped back and let loose dozens of blows in mere seconds. Each strike connected either breaking or tearing the Hulk's body apart. She delivered an explosive uppercut under his green chin.
Hulk flew back, only to stand back up already healed, "GRIMM STRONG LIKE BLONDIE, BUT HULK STRONGER!"
"Why won't you just die?" Yang panted. She tried her best to hide her exhaustion. Her arms began shaking in her stance, facing Hulk.
"HULK STRONGEST THERE IS," he replied. Hulk filled with more adrenaline, increasing his anger, thus increasing his power. His feet left holes in the concrete as he ran at Yang.
"I'M RIGHT HERE," Yang screamed. Her arm aimed behind her, and shot. She sped toward Hulk and delivered a hook, knocking out the giant's teeth. The Hulk and Yang resumed their fight to the death.
"We need to get out of here," Jaune said, snapping everyone back to the present. He looked around at the cafeteria's state, "They're going to tear this place apart."
"Good idea," Ren nodded. "There's one problem," he said pointing toward the door, which was on the other side of the Hulk and Yang's brawl.
"What we need to do is help her," Blake yelled motioning toward Yang who was slowly being overpowered.
Weiss began to think of a plan. "We need to cover his eyes," she yelled out. Everyone looked at Weiss like she was crazy. "That's a key factor we need to focus on," Weiss assured. "He can't fight what he can't see."
"How?" Jaune asked. "We can't even get close. Yang or Hulk would tear us apart if we accidently got between them."
"That's why we aren't going head first," Blake assured. "Yang needs to hold him long enough for one of us to cover his eyes. Then, Ruby should be able to calm him."
"That's too dangerous," Pyrrha stated. "Ruby could get killed! Someone has to go instead."
"No, Pyrrha," Weiss argued. "Ruby is the only one who Banner trusts. He doesn't know anyone else and Hulk definitely won't hesitate to smash."
"We don't have time to…," Jaune tried to say. The room became silent. Everyone slowly turned back in fear back to Yang and Hulk.
"Damn it…," Yang coughed, holding her ribcage. Hulk stood looking down at her head. "I'm sorry…Ruby. I couldn't beat him," she said as her eyes reverted back to purple. Her eyes closed and she fell on her back, passed out. All of her aura was completely depleted.
Hulk stared at his beaten opponent, "Why couldn't you have left me alone, Yang?" The Hulk's eyes were now a forest green. They snapped back to an evil red, "WEIRD GRIMM FIGHT GOOD. BUT NOT GOOD ENOUGH!" Hulk raised his fist into the air, readying the killing blow.
"WE'RE HERE," someone yelled in glee as the doors were kicked open. "It is I, Sun Wukong! And his buddy, Neptune," Sun introduced as he and Neptune walked into the cafeteria, eyes closed.
"What'd we miss?" Neptune asked opening his eyes, only to fill with terror. "IT'S THE HULK," he screamed jumping back.
"Hey," Sun said facing his friend. "We talked about this! His name is Banner."
Neptune grabbed the top of Sun's head, turning it to face the Hulk.
"Now, that's the Hulk," Sun nodded turning back to his friend. "THAT'S THE HULK," Sun screamed turning back in fear.
"Sun?" Blake asked in shock.
"It's me…," Sun squeaked.
"And me…," Neptune muttered in fear.
"Who?" Ruby asked scratching her head.
"HULK SMASH EVERYONE," Hulk screamed, bringing all attention back on him. He began swinging his massive arms at the new arrivals.
"Woah, woah" Sun said barely dodging Hulk's arms. "Big guy, what's the matter?" he said trying to talk to Banner. "You need to calm down!"
"Sun, you can't reason with him," Blake yelled from across the room. "He's lost it. You can't bring him back!"
"Oh, I get it. One of those episodes, uh?" Sun asked Hulk, infuriating him.
"Monkey boy," Neptune yelled as a green fist soared over his head, "now's not the time to make jokes!"
"Who's says I'm trying?" Sun smirked. His smiled turned into worry as something squeezed around his tail. "Hand's off the merchandise!"
"STUPID MONKEY SHUT UP," Hulk roared. Tail in grasp, Sun was slammed onto the ground. Concrete pieces blasted off the ground as Sun's face hit the pavement. Blake put her hand over her mouth as Hulk slammed Sun over and over again with the intent on killing.
In a mere second, Sun's head was in Hulk's giant hand, aura shattered. Hulk held out his green arm, ready to squash the Faunus like a water balloon. Everyone was frozen in fear.
"HULK, STOP," Blake screamed.
Banner finally broke the chains that were restraining him. He couldn't end another soul. He couldn't kill another friend, another innocent soul.
"You know you want to kill him," Banner heard an evil chuckle whisper into his ear. It sounded familiar.
"No…get out! There's already too many of us in here," Banner yelled back. "This is my body!"
"Or, are you his puppet?" the evil voice laughed.
"No," Banner said filling with rage, "You don't get to decide what I do…I'm the Hulk!" He had complete control.
Hulk began to take in deep breaths, lessening the grip around Sun. "Kitty…," Hulk filled with sadness as he remembered Blake's voice. Turning toward her, all he saw was a teenager who was about to lose one of the only people who cared for her. His anger-filled eyes returned to their regular hue.
Sun let loose a painful groan in the Hulk's hand.
"Friend…," Hulk said in disbelief bringing Sun face-to-face. The young Faunus's beaten face was covered in bruises and blood. It was a miracle that he hadn't been killed by Hulk's assault.
"Yeah…It's me, big guy," Sun weakly smiled, revealing broken teeth.
"Hulk…bad guy," Hulk realized. He picked up Yang in his left hand. He set both Sun and Yang down in front of Ruby. "Hulk sorry."
"It's all right. Just calm down," Ruby said holding back tears. "You're okay, Hulk. May we see Banner?" Ruby asked. She lightly placed her hand on Hulk's.
"Kitty," Hulk said looking at Blake.
"What?" she asked harshly.
"Hulk sorry…Hulk didn't want to smash Blondie."
"It will be alright. It's safe now," Blake assured. "No one will hurt you."
"Sun," Neptune said running to his friend's side. "Are you okay?"
"Always," Sun said with a painful smirk.
"Why Hulk hurt friends?" Hulk thought as his gaze focused on his blood covered fists. He began shaking in anger…"WHY HULK HURT FRIENDS?" he roared.
"Hulk?" Ruby asked fearful.
"What's happening?" Blake asked as the ground started to shake.
"Weiss! Your plan," Jaune called out to her.
"Got it," Weiss nodded. Myrtenaster was aimed at Hulk's face, shooting ice shards into his eyes.
Hulk screamed in pain while swinging his arms around.
"Hulk," Ruby said trying to calm him. "You need to calm…"
"HULK CAN'T SEE!" As Hulk swung his arms around, Ruby was backhanded across the room by accident.
"RUBY," Blake called out, before being swatted as well. Hulk flailed one huge arm around as the other one covered his impaled eyes.
"We've got to do something," Jaune said moving next to his team. "He'll kill us by accident!" Jaune rolled out of the way, barely evading Hulk's foot.
Weiss watching in horror as a blind Hulk smashed around. Ruby was knocked unconscious, unable to speak to Hulk. Weiss had to take action and calm Banner down. "Mirror...tell me something..."
Everyone in the cafeteria stopped as a beautiful voice began to sing. Hulk took deep breaths and stopped fighting against the pain and let this wonderful voice calm him. He ripped out the shards of ice and turned to face Weiss, who was singing her heart out. Hulk walked toward her, shaking the ground with each footstep. He fell to both knees in front of the Ice Queen who was finishing up her song, "...who's the loneliest of all..."
"What's going on?" Weiss heard someone say behind her as the cafeteria doors opened. Ozpin and Glynda, each badly wounded.
Banner opened his eyes to find he was in the middle of a battlefield. "W-what did I do? What did I do..."