Sorry for the wait everyone. I've been busy recently with rl stuff, hopefully this is worth it. This is my first time writing a fight scene so let me know what you think.
Now, it is my great pleasure to present to you the VS Series Season 1 Finale, Simon Alexander Vs Edward Laura.
The Ghost of Exton VS The Archangel's Apprentice
The only son of Anthony and Martha Alexander, Simon was born seventeen years before the Battle of Beacon. At the age of twelve, a Civil Rights group turned terrorist organization called the White Fang entered the town of Exton and killed the young boy's parents. After Running from his burning home Alexander fled into the city of Vale, where he stowed away on a cargo ship to Atlas.
Within mere days of his arrival Simon was discovered by Roman Torchwick, who offered to take Simon somewhere he could take revenge on those who killed his family. Accepting his offer, Simon was recruited into the Black Fist terror group. After two years of intense training and passing his last test Alexander was deployed to the Atlesian Highlands.
For the next eighteen months the Vengeful Ghost served as a member of Rum Squad under the command of Captain Ty Kruger. During this time he regularly took part in covert military action against the Atleasian White Fang, personally assassinating high ranking officials in an attempt to draw out Schwartzer Belladonna. During a battle at the White Fang Headquarters Simon had the opportunity to face enemy one last time and, with the assistance of his sniper allies, killed him.
Deserting the Black Fist after the assassination of a Atleasian Councilman, Alexander found himself severely wounded by two of his former squad mates. After six months of medical treatment Simon was hired by the head of the Schnee Dust Company as a bodyguard for his daughter Weiss.
Serving in this capacity for a year, Simon caught the attention of Headmaster Ozpin. Receiving an offer to attend Beacon Academy as a first year student, Alexander was placed in command of team SNST. Now he fights to protect his surviving Black Fist orphans both from kingdom authorities and themselves.
Born into the nobility of Spearpoint, Edward Laura's career was decided due to the reputation of his siblings. As the youngest child of a Huntress and a weapon mogul, Edward would be expected to enroll in Spearpoint Academy at the age of twelve. Fulfilling this criteria, he was trained at the militarized schools for four years, two of them being under the Infiltrator Program.
After graduation Edward then moved to Vale in order to work at the local Laura Armories branch. Within weeks of his arrival he was nearly killed by a rogue vigilante, only surviving due to the intervention of the Grey Mask operative Archangel.
He spent several weeks recovering from this battle and was approached by the Grandmaster of the Order, Kane Darius. His offer was simple, become a Grey Mask and dedicate his life to the ideals of the order in exchange for an apprenticeship.
The newly christened Wraith spent most of his time studying at the feet of Archangel, learning the tenets of precision and control above brute force. Early on in the third year of his apprenticeship Edward was tasked with infiltrating Beacon Academy in order discern the source of a recent spike in rouge Hunters.
Physical Attributes and Handicaps
I'm going to assume that all of you have read the last chapter of this series, so I'm not going to bore you by restating my previous breakdowns of their various physical attributes. Therefore I will be comparing their physical capabilities side by side.
In terms of strength, Simon has a significant advantage, possessing a far more solid and bulky build. While Edward is by no means weak his strength is sufficient, nothing more. Simon has been repeatedly noted for his physical brute force.
Where agility is concerned Laura takes this by quite a significant margin. He has been repeatedly shown crossing large distances in less than a second, even when discounting Aura based physical augmentation he has still proven to be far more agile than Simon, who is hampered by a knee injury.
Dexterity similarly favors the Grey Mask, his fighting style demanded a large amount of precision and he has not only met, but surpassed those demands. Simon isn't lacking in this area, but he isn't even close to his competition.
Stamina is a deadlock, as neither fighter has succumbed to fatigue.
Endurance favors Simon, as he has taken far more punishment than we have seen Edward take.
This is a tricky one to call, as on paper both Edward and Simon have answers to the other's advantages. Therefore I must ask myself which of these physicalities would remain viable in a war of attrition. Under those circumstances Edward's physicality just doesn't hold up.
I give Simon Alexander the edge in Physicality
Aura Power and Use
As this is an exceedingly short section I will just come out and give you the verdict. If you need a refresher I went into more detail my last chapter.
Edward and Simon are roughly equal in this area, Simon's raw power balanced out by Edward's more efficient application. Through the use of witchcraft known as algebra I calculated the ratio of power between Edward and Simon. Laura has roughly 80% the Aura of the average Beacon student, Simon has roughly 115% the Aura of the average 1st year. Divide 1.15 by .8 to get the ratio of power between Edward and Simon. Simon has 44% more Aura than Edward, but he also uses his Aura much more for physical augmentation. Unlike with my last video Simon doesn't use his power with reckless abandon like Fidelis.
I give Simon Alexander the edge in Aura Power and Use
Equipment
Simon Alexander carried a Dual Bladed Battle Staff called Umbara Viglanis. This weapon has a 90cm shaft and 45cm blades on either end. In addition to his blades the staff fired small flechettes at 300rpm. Due to the blades on either end of the staff he wasn't able to take full advantage of this length.
In combination with this weapon is Simon's bladed gauntlets. Constructed from the blades of his old battle staff Vendix Umbara each gauntlet goes up to his elbows and has a 30cm blade. He also carries several smoke, flashbang and fragmentation Dust grenades, and for the purposes of this fight I will assume that he has two of the flashbangs and frags and a single smoke grenade.
As far as body armor goes, Simon wears his soldier's past on his sleeve. He wears a set of kevlar plated ballistic gear that covers his chest, stomach, shoulders, lower arms, head, and knees. (He won't have access to his Cipher mask in this fight, as it isn't part of his standard equipment.) Notably, his boots are steel toed, and can likely deflect strikes directed at this area.
Alexander does have a significant last-ditch effort in a switchblade coated in Anti-Aura Dust. However this blade can only penetrate an enemy's Aura for the first strike, and if it strikes armor or an unimportant target it is a wasted effort.
Unlike the vast majority of his contemporaries Edward Laura carried a plethora of weapons. His primary weapons was the High Velocity Ballistic Polearm Specter, which possessed a six foot long Dust and metal alloy shaft and a foot long winged spearhead. This spearhead could be launched at eighty miles per hour, and a Tungsten armor piercing spike could be launched at sixty miles per hour.
He also carried a Spearpoint Infiltrator's longsword. As a product of Laura Armories this blade was forge welded from two different types of Dust imbued steel. The spine of this blade was made of steel imbued with Earth Dust, while the blade was made out of Lightning Dust. This blade also possessed a full width tang and a Impact Dust imbued pommel. The tang of this weapon allows Edward to conduct and amplify electricity along the blade, while the Dust in his pommel of the weapon enhances the effectiveness of pommel strikes.
Where smaller blades were concerned he was equipped with a standard quillion dagger and a pair of push knives. The dagger served a dual purpose, as it could be wielded alongside either Edward's spear or sword as an off hand weapon (in a fashion similar to the left hand daggers carried by the Renaissance rapier fencers.) or alone in close quarters combat. The push knives were used to enhance the effectiveness of hand to hand combat and as a concealed carry option.
In the realm of firearms Edward carried two pistols, a H&K mk 23 pistol in a shoulder holster underneath his right arm and a Smith and Wesson Bodyguard in his left boot. As of the time of writing this breakdown Edward only carried three magazines of ammunition for the .45, all of which were steel core armor piercing rounds and only two magazines of .380 hollow points for his S&W.
Body armor and apparel was where Edward's kit truly distinguished itself. We shall begin at his face, which was covered by a Spearpoint Hunter's Grimm mask. This headgear came equipped with air filtration systems, voice modification, light reactive lenses, thermal and night vision, and was constructed of two thin layers of Dust imbued materials, the first being Kevlar and the second being steel. While it wasn't nearly as protective as his other equipment it does provide a protection against small caliber firearms and a high level of protection against both stabs and cuts.
Going further down his body Edward's upper arms, and shoulders were protected by a double layer of Dust imbued chainmail and an inch thick padded shirt, the first layer provided by an armored greatcoat and the second given by a chainmail shirt. This greatcoat was imbued with a combination of water, wind and fire Dust to provide a number of options to the wearer, including the ability to generate mist and unleash powerful gusts of wind.
His chest was something of an odd case. If Edward chose to button up the greatcoat than he would effectively have a triple layer of protection over his chest. However, this would restrict his access to his shoulder holster and he normally refrains from doing so. Therefore the protection provided to Edward's chest often varies depending on weather or not his coat currently covers the area.
Moving on to his legs, Edward's upper legs are protected from the sides by his coat but are exposed from the front. His lower legs were protected by metal greaves which extended from the top of his kneecap to his ankle. Wraith's arms were protected in a similar manner, everything from the elbows on up is protected by a double layer of mail while everything below is protected by a steel vambrace over a layer of mail.
Laura's hands were exposed, instead being covered by a pair of gloves that were imbued with Dust. His left hand had access to Lightning while his right controlled Wind.
Despite the fact it took me more than two f**king pages to detail Laura's kit this is a rather close category. Both Simon and Edward use equipment that compliment their personal fighting styles and each have effective counters to what the other is bringing to the table in this area. They each wear body armor that protects them from the most likely threat they faced in combat, Simon's explosives are countered by Edward's Dust, they each carry firearms, (Edward's having more stopping power while Simon's are better at piercing body armor.) and they each use polearms along with backup weapons. At first glance they're even, but the devil is in the details.
Umbara Viglanis's staff form lacks the reach of Specter even without the spearhead, Simon's gauntlets do not compare to the longsword and dagger carried by Laura, and Edward's armor protects far more of his body than Simon's. The use of explosives and Dust pertain more to their personal applications of such tools and will be addressed during the Martial Arts Training and Tactical Prowess section of this matchup. While the Anti-Aura blade is a significant advantage in Simon's corner it is more of a wild card than a concrete advantage, because it is only good for one strike.
I give Edward Laura the edge in Equipment
Semblace
This is also a short one, so here's the verdict.
Edward's ability to phase through solid objects allows him more options for defense against Simon's ability to alter the relative velocities of objects around him. The use of Edward's Semblance allows him to counter both gunfire and grenades while I doubt that Simon can slow down a bolt of lightning enough for it to make a difference.
I give Edward Laura the edge in Semblance
Martial Arts Training and Tactical Prowess
Since I have done a brief examination of their martial capabilities in the last chapter I shall go into far more detail here, as I have more time to focus on each character individually and explain the nuances of their styles.
Edward Laura was not a committed martial artist, but it is blatantly obvious that he didn't allow this de-emphasis on martial arts evolve into a glaring weakness. As a martial artist he seemed to follow a strong European pedigree, reading the various books and treatises written by George Silver and Fiore De Liberi. This points to a massive amount of academic combat knowledge and a wide skill set. Therefore he holds knowledge in a wide variety of skills that ranges from unarmed grappling, bladed combat including everything from halberds, to push knives, to the quarterstaff.
His technique with his primary weapon was both direct and devious using the collapsible shaft of the weapon to off balance and disorient opponents. Edward used this technique to great effect against both Solemn and Artheal Archenar, using the wings to hook and manipulate their limbs or launch attacks from unexpected ankles. This display showed Laura's total understanding of the logistics behind his weapon.
Edward's technique with a longsword was where the influence of Fiore de Liberi could be most felt. His favored tactic was to bind and wind his opponent's blade out of the way before striking at a newly exposed line. In his Flower of Battle Fiore also emphasised the use of the entire longsword as a weapon, so Edward would no doubt be familiar with these techniques.
Notably, Wraith has shown an advanced level of skill with dual weapon fencing, using his staff (contracted to a two foot parrying device) and his longsword in tandem to great effect against Solemn Archenar, he has also used longsword and dagger against his teammates. Where unarmed combat was concerned, Edward was likely an advanced practitioner due to his marital pedigree. However we have yet to see him fluidly apply this skill into his normal combat sequences, suggesting that this skill was a secondary focus at best and wasn't a response he was comfortable with employing.
There is a great deal more to say about his use of Dust, as he was obviously a high level expert in this field and I would go as far to say that he focused just as much ,if not more, on these abilities compared to his martial skills. His most advanced power was with Wind, as he has done everything from catch a sword blade to slowing his momentum with this power, disrupt the footwork and stances of his opponents, dispel clouds of debris, manipulate projectiles, protect himself from intense heat and flames, grip and throw objects, slow down his fall during Beacon initiation, and even pull an opponent onto his blade. Another power he held a considerable amount of skill in was Lighting, where he has summoned blasts with enough power to send his targets flying back, stagger an opponent's advance, and even kill an Aura trained opponent. In addition to these more standard applications he has twice shown the capability to channel electric energy through conductive objects, enhancing the effect of his attacks by interfering with his opponent's ability to wield their weapon.
In contrast to the vast majority of his contemporaries Edward had two different fighting modes.
The first mode was used when Laura faced either multiple opponents or someone he considered to be vastly inferior to him in skill. This consisted of blitzkrieging them with his highly augmented speed and marital skills. He displayed this during his engagement with Dahlia Deluna and a training exercise with team MELT.
The second was used when engaging a Hunter trained adversary of equal or near equal skill and power and consisted of a push and pull method of attack and defense in order to prevent his adversary from gaining an offensive or defensive foothold. This method was backed up by an expertise in integrating Dust-based attacks for both attack and defense. Through his latest duel with Hant Tori and his engagements with the Archenar twins we are given a perfect window into his typical methods. Laura started the battle by allowing the enemy the first strike, he then parried their weapon and used the bind to force the enemy's weapon off line and countering with a blow to a now-exposed line of attack. He then either pulled back and repeated the pattern, or if the enemy refused to attack he used the longer reach and agility of his own weapons to strike out at his opponent's extremities, aiming for the arms and legs of the enemy in order to disrupt their defenses. He does not just sit back and wait for an opening to be presented to him, rather forcing an opening that he can immediately exploit to maximum effect. Though it will not factor into this fight, Edward is highly skilled in pre battle preparation, using it to defeat Aleic Krieger and gain a home field advantage over team MELT. Lastly, Edward had some skill in psychological warfare, using both fear, anger, and 'shock and awe' tactics to manipulate and goade his enemies.
For all of his merits, Edward Laura had his share of weaknesses. He has been physically outclassed by Nora Valkyrie, Aleic Krieger, and Gregory Volker, his own physicality unable to keep up with his far stronger opponents. As I stated earlier, Edward wasn't dedicated to the absolute mastery of any one skill. So he isn't going to be the best martial artist or Dust mage in the world. However, I think the perception that he would have trouble with a master of any particular weapon (as stated by Simon ironically) needs closer examination. He was able to stand toe to with Gregory Volker's dual knife assault with only a single blade, contend with Tori Hanta in a straight up duel, and completely dominated his engagement with Atheal Archenar. Every one of these fighters have dedicated themselves completely to their particular weapons, and Edward was able to stand his ground against each of them.
Something that must be taken into account is Edward's lack of overall magnitude with his Dust abilities. While fighters like Teal Wolfsbane, Weiss Schnee, and Elizabeth Briar are capable of lashing out at multiple targets with devastating effect. Laura is incapable of this, though it is more due to how he has built up his skill set. As a Grey Mask assassin Edward Laura's focus was on engaging single Aura trained opponents, accordingly he isn't able to wipe out a platoon of soldiers with a storm of lightning or melt several cars with a wave of lava. Instead he can fire off his powers any time he wants at a single point. This represents a massive trade off, on one hand Edward is incredibly precise, on the other he won't be able to engage a large number of targets with his Dust powers should the need arise.
In conclusion, Edward is a highly skilled combatant and an expert tactician, using every tool at his disposal to both capitalize on his strengths and answer his weaknesses. He can never have the levels of raw power that his contemporaries possess but he makes up for it with precision and control. Ultimately he is a credit to his instructors and his Order, and underestimating him would be a costly mistake indeed.
A Black Fist Hunter trained during the war torn years of the Highlands War, Simon Alexander became one of the deadliest warriors among their ranks. During his time training with other orphans he became one of the de facto leaders of the group. While he was attached to Rum Squad he proved to be one of the team's more valuable assets, as he was the only Aura trained fighter among them and quickly learned various skills that would assist him survive the war. He was a committed warrior, who practiced extensively with polearms in order to master his battle staff. He also learned the skills of long range marksmanship, demolitions, stealth tactics, and basic small unit tactics.
As a committed warrior Simon was highly skilled in the use of polearms, specifically his battle staff Umbara Viglanis. This skill has been advanced to the point where he could contend with the vast majority of his peers, even those with greater skill in armed combat such as Pyrrha Nikos. His technique in this area was based around solid footwork and strength based offensives, using vicious cuts and cleaves to carve his way through the enemy. Simon was skilled in using thrusts with his primary weapon of choice, but the effectiveness of these strikes is very diminished by the logistics of his weapon. Due to the massive blades on either end of his weapon Simon cannot use thrusts on the center line of attack without taking one hand off of the weapon, he also cannot take advantage of the weapon's full length because he isn't going to grip the blades.
He also possesses a certain level of skill with unarmed combat, and has applied this skill with the use of bladed gauntlets. His most common application of these weapons was to use them like lethal boxing gloves, using punches to eviscerate his enemies.
During his time with Rum Squad he also became a high level expert in long range combat and demolition, using these skills during the Highlands war. Notably, he was part of the kill team that performed the assassination of an Atleasian councilman. However these skills will not play into this matchup, as each fighter only has their standard equipment. What would come into play is Simon's skill with grenades, as the explosive weapons would be readily available to the Shadow. These weapons have always been a hallmark of Simon's style, weather he's using them to flush an enemy out of cover, as an opening of a duel, or to cover his own retreat.
Simon was highly skilled at integrating unarmed strikes into his combat sequences, frequently using them against both Hunter trained enemies and common soldiers of the Black Fist and White Fang. His most common moves in this area normally included bladed punches, kicks at his opponent's knees, groin shots, and elbow strikes. He was also adept in unarmed grappling, often putting enemies into arm bars. Alexander also had a small level of skill with psychological warfare, but his methods in this area were based on very general intimidation. They are of no use against a disciplined warrior who knows what to expect.
The tactics of Simon Alexander were highly consistent, if improvised. His first action was always a burst of gunfire followed by a charge with Umbara Viglanis. During the ensuing melee Alexander would unleash his own dedicated offensive with both body and blade. If he didn't break his opponent's guard he broke off to regroup and utilize his firearms or explosives before reengaging. When all else failed he used his Semblance to gain a temporary advantage in melee combat. On a broader strategic level Simon was definitely more improvisational than strategic, taking advantage of openings that he saw in his opponent's fighting styles with unarmed strikes. He was also a very reactive fighter, reacting to his opponent's strategy rather than trying to actively force these openings. This approach was incredibly successful, overpowering most opponents outright and allowing Simon to carve a bloody swath through the battlefield.
As effective as this approach was, it had problems. The nature of his style dictated that Simon must build up and maintain momentum when engaging equal or near equal opponents and when this momentum was broken his offense all but collapsed. Simon's defenses in single combat weren't as refined as fighters in and around his skill level, and he has been left scrambling when his opposition was able to retaliate. This deficiency in particular has nearly cost Alexander his life on more than one occasion, including his fights against Schwartzer Belladonna, Roman Torchwick, and Levi Hartman.
When all's said and done Simon is an incredibly lethal force both on the battlefield, and in single combat. His blades have left dozens dead in the snows of the Atleasian Highlands and defeated several opponents in the sparring arena. He has survived engagements with four of the most dangerous terrorists in Vale, and his reputation as a great warrior is well earned.
In my view Simon Alexander is the more skilled warrior, but Edward Laura isn't far off. Remember that this is the guy with seven confirmed kills, at least one of which was against a Black Fist Hunter. Laura may not be on the same level as Simon, but he is certainly in the same league and can compete. Like so many hyper aggressive fighters Simon's overwhelming power comes at the expense of his defensive bladework. Edward's offense isn't as powerful or domineering as Simon's blitzkrieg is still highly developed and his defense was far superior to his opponent's.
With their bladework out of the way we must look to their alternative skills. Simon is a far superior marksman to Edward, as firearms training was at best a tertiary skill to the Grey Mask. Simon's explosives are another advantage in his corner, as they can definitely penetrate Edward's body armor. Edward has a similar edge with this complete integration of Dust based attacks and defenses into his martial technique.
I declare Edward Laura and Simon Alexander equals in Martial Arts Training and Tactical Prowess
Verdict
Mountain Glenn: Simon Alexander's POV
I searched through the rubble of a destroyed office building, hoping to find signs of Black Fist activity. It was two weeks after the Breach, and I had been searching for Levi nonstop. GHOST had freed my old friend during the chaos, and a manhunt had been started by the Valen Government to hunt down and kill every terrorist they could find. They didn't understand the circumstances, they didn't understand the Fist like I did, understand Levi like I did.
As I climbed over the rubble and out onto the ruined highway a modified voice spoke.
"Drop your weapons Simon. You're coming with me."
I turned around to see Edward Laura, Specter projecting over his left shoulder.
"Get out of here before I add to your busted lip." I drew Umbara Viglanis and put the laser sight over his chest.
"That was not a request Simon." The Grey Mask drew his own weapon and faced me side on, extending the spear. "Stand down."
3rd person POV
Simon let loose with his machine gun, firing a barrage of flechettes at the spearman. Laura activated his Semblance and sprinted through the hail of gunfire. As he closed the distance Simon transformed his weapon into its staff form met the charge. Laura struck first, his spear lashing out at his opponent's exposed legs. Simon deflected the strike with a sweep only to have his opponent collapse his weapon and hook Umbara Viglanis in a bind, throwing him off balance. Laura capitalized on the forced opening by re-extending the spear into his opponent's right knee. With a grunt of pain the VI asset activated his Semblance and tried to lash out at Laura's exposed neck. He was met with a gust of wind that threw him across the street.
As Simon regained his feet he pulled the pin on a frag grenade and threw it at the Grey Mask. To his horror the explosive was intercepted by the wind and was deflected harmlessly to the side. Laura fired the spearhead of Specter at SImon's head, only for the projectile to be blocked by Simon's own weapon. Alexander unleashed another barrage of fire, forcing the Grey Mask to use his Semblance to close the distance. As they reengaged Simon tried to unleash his offensive barrage but his first strike was met with the soft give of a deflection parry. With his weapon harmlessly glancing off towards their feet Edward brought his staff around and slammed it into the side of Alexander's head.
The VI agent dropped his staff and tackled the Grey Mask, sending them both to the ground in a tangle of limbs. With his opponent pinned Simon attempted to punch through the armor over his chest with his bladed gauntlets. Laura's armor held, the imbued steel rings stopping the strikes before they did any damage. With the initial assault failing Simon redirected his efforts to his enemy's mask. Once, twice, three times the blades made contact with the metal alloy, leaving deep gouges in the material. Every strike came closer and closer to making it through to the man underneath.
Within the span of a few second the tide of battle had turned. Simon's strength was superior to the Grey Mask's and he wasn't able to bring his weapons to bear. A hand grasped Simon's leg, sending several bolts between the two combatants. Simon recoiled from the sudden attack, and was immediately met with a blast of wind so powerful that he was thrown several feet into the air. Edward rolled away from his landing zone and collapsed Specter. The weapon was now in his left hand, a companion to the longsword in his right. Simon came on hard, bringing his weapon down in a diagonal cut meant to cleave the Grey Mask from neck to hip. In response Edward deflected with the parrying stick formed by Specter whilst simultaneously thrusting at Simon's right leg.
The assassin's blade made contact with the soldier's leg, draining Simon's Aura with both the point and electricity. Simon stepped back and activated his Semblance, making a grab for the knife in his boot. Alexander felt a gust of wind throw him across the street, forcing him to collide with a concrete barrier. Laura put Specter back onto his back and drew the dagger at his side. As Simon tried to rise to his feet he unleashed a barrage of lightning at his enemy's legs, draining what remained of Simon's Aura. He now stood over the former terrorist with his blade raised for the kill, prepared to strike Simon's head from his shoulders.
"Surrender Simon, I don't-" Wraith was cut off when Simon plunged his Aura piercing knife into his left thigh. Alexander twisted the blade to ensure maximum damage to the tissue around the wound. Laura screamed in pain, the steel in his leg forcing him to stagger back. Simon tried to lunge at his enemy with his bladed gauntlets extended. Even with his injury Edward was able to sidestep the charge. As the Shadow turned to face his enemy the Wraith drove his blade in between the plates of Simon's body armor, puncturing one of his lungs.
As the Ghost of Exton bled out at his feet Edward heard a Beowolf howl off in the distance, the Grimm hordes would be here soon. He took his time retrieving his opponents weapons and confirming the kill. Before he left, the Archangel's Apprentice closed the boy's eyes and said, "Goodbye Simon Alexander, may we meet again in the halls of Valhalla."
Explanation
With these two so evenly matched it came down to a question of logistics. Who's is better optimized for this confrontation?
Both Simon and Edward wear heavy body armor to protect themselves against attack, but Simon's body armor is meant to stop the worst of a gunshot, and therefore is made up of several solid plates protecting his torso and back. These plates have spaces in between them, just like modern ballistic vests. By comparison, Edward's armor is far better suited for this contest. It covers far more of his body from harm and is incredibly effective against bladed weapons. Because both of them are committed close quarters combat specialists this fight is going to play out primarily at close range with their weapons of choice. Simon's battle staff and gauntlets may have razor sharp blades but they aren't able to cut through the heavy armor worn by the Grey Mask, and because the vulnerable parts of that armor can be counted with the fingers on one hand Edward knows what he needs to watch out for.
Simon is reliant upon forward momentum to keep up his offensive, something that Edward's push and pull method of combat would destroy. He can't gain momentum if he has to break off every other strike to defend against retaliation. This is compounded by Simon's inability to defend himself against Dust based attacks. His only option is evasion, and even then he is reliant upon his opponent providing some kind of telegraph. Alexander's experience against Weiss Schnee wouldn't help him much due to the differences between these two enemies. Edward isn't as outright overwhelming as Weiss, but he is far more precise and incredibly fast on the draw. To put it simply, Simon just won't have the time he needs to evade Edward's attacks because the Grey Mask can use these powers whenever he wants with pinpoint precision and at the drop of a hat.
One argument in Simon's favor is that he does have superior ranged firepower and explosives, but this advantage is undercut by the very nature of single combat. The time necessary to pull out a grenade, pull the pin, and throw it at the enemy is a massive telegraph. Edward would see it coming from a mile away and either deflect it with Wind Dust, activate his Semblance, or return it to Simon. Machine gun fire is equally moot, as Simon has ,at most, a few seconds to fire upon Edward before he closes distance with the enemy. The entire time Simon is shooting Edward is using his Semblance, and while it does drain his Aura, it won't give Simon a massive advantage because of how brief these circumstances would last.
It cannot be denied that Simon is physically stronger, more offensively overwhelming, and possesses a stronger Aura than his opponent. However, I don't think this is enough to tip the odds in his favor. While Edward has been overwhelmed by physically stronger opponents three times in the past I feel that it is due to who he was facing. The people who overwhelmed Edward in the past were Nora Valkyrie, a supremely powerful Huntress in Training with a ludicrous amount of strength, Alec Krieger, a six foot nine muscle tank, and Gregory Volker, a sturdily build VI Cipher agent. In every case the enemy in question outclassed Edward's strength to a massive degree. Simon does not have this advantage, his strength is superior to Edward's, but not nearly to the same degree.
Something that must also be taken into account is that both of these characters occupy the same AU, and definitely keep an eye on each other. It has been clearly established that Edward Laura observes students that may be able to challenge him in single combat, developing plans before he has to face them in single combat. Wraith has undoubtedly done the same with Simon Alexander. It is entirely possible that Simon has developed a strategy to fight Edward as well, but this argument has a few problems.
Simon is inexperienced as a duelist, he has fought exactly four other people in single combat outside the sparring arena. They are Levi Hartman, Schwartzer Belladonna, GHOST, and the White Fang Lieutenant. He never tried to develop tactics against these opponents beforehand, even in the cases of Levi and Schwartzer, who he was actively hunting. This nearly got him killed during his final battle against Schwartzer, as the assassin guided the battle to a location of his choosing and proceeded to dismantle Alexander's defenses with contemptuous ease.
A similar situation arose when he was confronted by Levi. Simon was aware that he was being hunted by his old friend, but he never bothered to develop tactics to defeat Hartman. This is a major black mark against Alexander because he had everything he needed to develop such a plan. He knew Levi was coming, he knew the logistics behind Levi's weapons, he knew Levi's fighting style, and he still failed to create an effective strategy against Hartman. It is worth noting that Simon didn't beat Levi with skill or power in their last battle, and up until the point where he used his Aura penetrating blade Simon was getting his ass put, even if Simon had a plan in place to fight Edward it probably isn't going to work. He lacks the experience necessary to form a solid plan before a fight begins because he's never done it before. Compare that to Edward Laura, who has seven confirmed kills in single combat against opposing Hunters.
In conclusion, Simon can bloody and brutalize Edward, but Edward can control Simon. From the moment they drew their blades Edward would keep Simon from building up momentum with his push and pull method of attack and defense. Alexander would be unable to disengage from combat due to his opponent's superior agility and speed combined with Dust based attacks. It would only be a matter of time before Edward dismantled Simon's defenses and cut him down.
I declare Edward Laura the victor.
A/N: So I hope you enjoyed the finale to Season one of my RWBY OC Vs Series. I would like to thank everyone who has allowed me to use their OCs so far and I look forward to using them in the future. Please let me know what you think of my conclusion and feel free to contact me with any questions or objections.
I'll see you all next season- JudgeofHunters