Chapter Five: Phase Two
"Alright everyone finally phase two has arrived! It's pretty straight forward, both teams fight their way through Emerald Forest, getting Ozpin's chosen relic, a beacon flag, before dashing back to where they started! This is your classmate John Micheals, ready to give you tip top commentary, and it looks like the teams are getting ready to launch off!" John excitedly announced, it seemed as if he had enough excitement for the entire student body.
Weiss wondered about the half-grimm, will he be a hazard for Beacon? Isn't he a ticking time bomb? "Crushing on one of them already?" Blake asked, Weiss broken out of her thoughts. "No! I'm just wondering why they haven't escorted the half-grimm out yet!" Weiss exclaimed indignantly, making Ruby frown. "Weiss? You don't even know him, what if he's nice?" Ruby asked lightly, hoping she wouldn't just be egging her on. She was wrong in her thoughts, Weiss opening her mouth to lecture-only to be silenced by Yang's arm over her slender shoulders. "Come on princess, lay off him will ya? He hasn't done anything wrong" Yang defended, Weiss backing off with a huff before retaking her seat. Blake raised an eyebrow. Sometimes she truly disliked the racist side to Weiss but she'd certainly gotten better over the past school years, not turning up her nose to every Faunus they passed was a plus. Blake did see where Weiss was coming from. Having a half-grimm that wasn't in control of their powers in a populated idea was a gamble many weren't willing to take.
Meanwhile Team MJTM and CARD stood before the eight launchers, readying their equipment and awaiting the starting bell. Due to the darkness each initiate had been given a flare gun. If a teammate was injured or needed assistance they were instructed to shoot into the air and await help from Ironwood's men. "Like hell I'll need his help" Jace growled, still pocketing the gun in one of the many pouches on his belt. "Yo Mas, you see the flag?" Macro asked Mason, who was squinting into the darkness. "Yes, to the left, almost at the end. It's on some sort of bridge" Mason answered, Marco nodded and grinned. Jace gave a sidelong glance to the other team, "This isn't going to be a challenge" Jace dismissed, making Carlo done a scowl. "I think the challenge will lie with what's in the forest" Theo pointed out, readying his hand bows. One of Ironwood's officers marched over, stopping just between the two teams. He raised his hand, a revolver in hand. "All teams ready!" he shouted, the eight initiates preparing for launch. "All teams,go!" he shouted once again, the teams shot off into the darkness at the sound of the pistol.
"Expected outcome?" James asked Ozpin. Ozpin put down his mug, his hand's folding together.
"Well not to be biased but team MJTM has an overwhelming advantage" Ozpin replied, Ironwood nodding in agreement.
"Well I'm sure we're in for a show, regardless of how good or bad each team is" Glynda remarked, the three keeping faces forward toward the screens.
The two teams were now racing towards the flag, MJTM ahead by half a football field. All four were using their aura to increase their speed. Green, orange, brown, and silver streaks lighting the darkness. A small cloud of glowing balls also surrounded them and team CARD, courtesy of Mason. Marco and Mason smashed through the Beowolf's and Ursa's with fiery fist and white spikes. Theo shot off two more bolts, two cries of Beowolf emerging shortly after. Jace gave Theo a short series of hand gestures before breaking off from the group, heading towards a trapped team CARD.
Four Beowolves surrounded the team, a terrified Ariel screamed and dropped her knife. Suddenly two cracks broke the tense silence, two Beowolves remained. One more crack and hunting sword through the neck left no more Beowolves. "Move" Jace commanded venomously, speeding back to his team. Team CARD got up, a competitive edge in their eyes. Jace had just given them a chance, they were going to take it.
The camera's had turned to infrared mode, the viewers still able to see the two teams with crystal clarity. "Wow look at team MJTM go! They're breezing through, Jace even assisting team CARD!" John announced excitedly, the students looking along just as excitedly. It was clear the four initiates had worked together as a team before, seamless support and silent communication giving way to flawless results. "I gotta find out how to lead like him" Ruby swooned. "Teamwork like that isn't all about the leader, Ruby" Blake reminded, Ruby smiling sheepishly. "Sorry Blake, they're just so good!" she exclaimed. "And if we train hard enough, we can be better" Weiss said loftily.
"I think we should definitely make sure that we make friends with them" Juane decided, fearully thinking of what would happen if they became enemies. Pyrrha put a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder, sensing his fear. "Don't worry Juane, you're capable and becoming even better every day, don't drag yourself down" she reassured, Juane giving a smile in thanks. "Ren! We should totally become friends with them, how cool would that be?! We could all fight grimm together and be totally kick butt and dominate everyone!" Nora blabbered excitedly, Ren sighed, per usual. "Nora, we're not here to dominate everyone" Ren pointed out. Nora wasn't even listening, still going on about going on a happy killing spree as an eight person team. Ren certainly didn't mind the notion of becoming friends with the four, they all seemed terribly intriguing as well as good allies to have. Yang reallywanted that scroll code.
"Woohoo!" Mason shouted, his fist cracking yet another Ursa skull. "Could you at least try to take this seriously?!" Jace shouted in annoyance, letting off two cracksof Dawnbringer. The ground began shaking, a King Taijitu slithering through trees and whatever else lay in it's path. Marco jumped high into the air, glowing lights forming rapidly at his free hand. One head lunged for Theo, Marco's fist came down, the head slamming tot he ground. It's other head went for Jace, to which it got an explosive punch from his bionic arm. Jace's flesh hand glowed a silver light before a volley of silver light spears rained down, pinning the grimm to the ground. Two cannon shots from Mason and the King Taijitu was no more. Team MJTM moved on, Team Card following close behind.
"How about that semblance?" James asked cockily, Glynda only rolled her eye's.
"Is that even his or did you implant it in him?" Ozpin asked, James coughed and righted his red tie.
"No, that is indeed his semblance" James answered, the three settling into uncomfortable silence.
Team MJTM were speedily approaching the bridge when they spotted a giant mass in the sky above. "Giant nevermore! Theo!" Jace called, Theo jumping up with a birst of aura. A blinding flash of light and in the air was a giant flying hawk. "Keeeee-arr!" it's call was deafening, it's wing beats so powerful the tree's below struggled on their roots. With another shrill call it lunged at the equally large Nevermore, a battle of talon and wings commencing.
The amphitheater was buzzing with disbelief. "What?!" Ruby cried in utter shock, no one expecting Theo to turn into a giant hawk. "That just broke the awesome scales" Yang praised, an excited grin on her face. Weiss looked over at Blake whose eye's were wide and mouth slightly agape. If he just did that...is he half faunus?! She thought, her tired mind still trying to wrap itself around the spectacle. Nothing from here on will surprise me Weiss thought simply.
"Woah!" Jouane exclaimed, "That was sick!". Pyrrha laughed, "Are their tricks unending?" she asked, the question not meant to be answered. "Can I ride it? I wanna ride it!" Nora chattered, Ren sighed, "That's not how it works, Nora". Perhaps a connection with his homeland? Ren thought, storing the idea for later.
Team MJTM were now battling on the bridge, Theo furiously battling the Nevermore above whilst the other's fought to recover the flag. Bird men stood in the way however, screaming with rage at the trespassers. Jace summoned another hail of light spears, taking a chunk out of their large numbers. "Mason!" Marco called, leaping toward him with a laugh. Mason grabbed him with his left hand, swinging him around into a group of Bird men. The Bird men fell like bowling pins, some running off the side in a panic, green fire burning away at their feathers. Mason's cannon could be heard blasting away, knobby legs and wings going flying.
At this point team CARD had managed to catch up, slowly making their way onto the bridge. The boys stood in a protective circle around Ariel, shooting and slashing anything that got close. Ariel's face was a mess of jealousy and rage, all directed toward the opposing team.
"I have it! Mason yelled, tugging the flag out of the stone with no effort. He looked up, seeing the battle above drawing to a close. With a mischievous smile he held the flagpole straight up, his fingers pointed like a gun towards the nevermore. "What the hell are you waiting for, christmas?!" Jace shouted, lofting off a Bird man's head. "Trust me, you're gonna love this!" Marco reassured, Mason laughed at his teammate's absurdity, blasting away yet another group of Bird men. A thundering crack sounded from above, a white hot lightening bolt shooting straight towards Marco. "You've gotta be kidding me!" Jace cried out in protest. The lightening struck the pole, running through Marco and shooting out of his fingertips. The Nevermore cried out in pain, slowly sinking down the canyon in a way that resembled a shot down ship. "Helllllllll YES!" Marco screamed with joy, the other's following his lead and jumping off the bridge onto a swooping Theo's back. The scene was in a strange way perfect, the three teammates celebrating (and swearing) above the wreckage, a flair shooting up and exploding behind them. Team MJTM was victorious.