Sorry for my bad English.
The next volume is coming out today and to be honest, I don't know what to think of it.
I will probably still watch just to see how all will end, only to never watch again. I re-watched volume 7, unlike the previous volumes because the story was better than before, specially the fight between Ironwood and Watts. It seems the writers took time to think better for the plot and the characters, not that it is free from flaws.
Also, I just heard that RWBY was removed from Youtube. I heard it was because they will launch their new app that will able the viewers to stream the whole series from your couch, or something like that.
The excuses I heard about removing all from Youtube are a bit lame. They said that in the last year, people watch RWBY more on their site than on Youtube. Well, since they put volume 7 only on their site, I had no choice but watch it in RoosterTeeth.
I don't need to tell that the fans are not happy with that decision.
Enough talk. To the fic!
Grimms exist since far before Mile's grandfather could remember.
Along the years, more variations of those monsters keep appearing, more dangerous than the previous ones.
Now, he is not the type who enjoys a fight like most of those who come after him looking for a worthy opponent, but it did not stop him from being impressed at how strong grimms affected with miasma can grow.
In front of him, the Miasma Beringel slowly disappeared after a battle that broke most of the settlement around him. Some of his black blood was dripping from his forehead but nothing serious.
With his job done, he took his claymore and left the place, not knowing about the people who saw the whole fight.
Blake's reaction really wasn't for nothing.
Pyrrha was sweating, and the last time this happened was when reached both finals of Mistral Tournament, but not even her opponents from both occasions were giving her the effort Ragna was forcing her to.
The wolf faunus proved to be a formidable opponent, and if she had not take serious from the beginning like Yang probably not did, she would already be laying down in complete defeat.
Sparks flew, metal clashing keep resonating in the cave as both weapons keep trading attacks and slashes until a point where Pyrrha held her short sword against both Ragna's blades and she was eye to eye with the wolf faunus.
Behind the mask, deep in the crimson, Pyrrha saw determination, power, pride in the faunus woman, and felt a shiver go through her spine.
-There's no mistake, she is different from the others. -Pyrrha thought, confirm what she already suspected after their fight began.
While she deals with the white-haired woman, the rest of her team seems to get at least more than enough of White Fang members, since what was left of them is trembling and refusing to approach while Nora, smiling like a little devil, approached them with her sledgehammer in her hands.
Chuckling, she spoke.
-Boo! -She exclaimed.
And like that, what was left of the White Fang screamed in fear and run around like a bunch of flies in the dark. Grinning to ear to ear, she felt happy for accomplishing her duty and beat up the bad guys.
-They seem to be the last ones. -Ren stated approaching his partner.
-What about you Ceodore? -Nora asked.
The apprentice had to stay with Yang after the blonde got her arm broken by the wolf faunus, using his semblance to heal the best he could.
-This may do something with the pain but you will have to let your aura do the rest. -Ceodore said after done healing her.
-How much long? -Yang asked.
-Three days to one week at least. -Ceodore then turns to his teammates. -I take you guys are done as well?
-Yes! -Nora loudly stated. -With that done, let's help Pyrrha!
The loud crash from behind put their plans aside. The three of them turn around to see three more Deathstalkers appear.
-You know what? -Ceodore asked, his face getting a darkened purple color. -We don't have time for this!
And his miasma went out.
Pyrrha fought many different types of opponents in both Beacon and in Mistral at the tournament, but never once she felt what she was feeling in the fight against the white-haired wolf woman.
Their blades keep clashing, the amazon quick changing from sword to spear during the blows, but also using her shield to block the attacks that she could not dodge. They keep like that for a whole minute with Pyrrha being forced to step back after each attack until...
Thud.
... her eyes widened when her back meet the wall as Ragna pulled her sword for the next attack.
Unable to put her shield in time to block, Ranga held her blade by the handle and the blade and pushed it the edge of her weapon against Pyrrha's neck. The redhead had no choice but use her semblance and pull the blade away, only to not work.
She was pushed further against the wall, the tip of her shoes barely touching the ground.
Ragna held her there for a moment before her own eyes widened and she rolled away from Pyrrha, the shield, spinning fast and flying like a cutting disk, flew in her direction, aiming to her head.
Pyrrha was back to the ground and rushed after Ragna, her hand stretching behind to take her shield.
The moment her sword clashed against Ragna's once again, her shield was back in her arm. Ranga turned around for another attack and Pyrrha tried once again use her semblance, only to not work once again.
Her semblance was not having any effect on Ragna's blades.
The blades clashed again, and they held while glaring at each other once more.
-Your blades... -Pyrrha began. -They are not made of metal.
-Correct. -Ragna spoke as they both pushed each other away. -They are made of the bones from the fangs of a Dragonoid type grimm. They are basically big fangs forged to look like blades.
This means that her semblance will have no effect, no matter how hard Pyrrha tries.
-In the name of the law, you are under arrest! -And Ruby still was running after Fido.
-I've heard that before missy! -Fido shout back. -It will need more than a pipsqueak than get Fido!
And then as if someone heard his statement, a wall of ice materialized in front of him, which he hit head first and feel on his back.
-What about that? -Asked Weiss.
-It is pretty good, I admit. -Fido answered despite being a rhetorical question.
Looking to him were the heiress and the traitor, pointing their weapons at his face.
-It is over! You are coming with us! -Blake stated.
-It seems that you have some knowledge of miasma. -Weiss spoke next. -The Atlas Military would love to have a chat with you.
Fido knew this meant trouble for him, knowing how obsessed the military was with miasma. They would rip off one of his eyes for what he knows about the deadly substance. He did not like the idea, but he found himself not having a choice.
-I'm sure they will love to hear me, but I have an appointment with the doctor, so you both excuse me. -Fido said then moved his hands to his mouth as if was going to call for someone. -Neo! -And he did it.
Then Weiss felt something pull her ankle and making her eat dirty as he faces come across the ground, and Ruby only had time to see a boot coming to her face, sending her flying away.
When the younger huntress came to her senses, she saw none other than the girl Yang said to have a deal with during their first mission. Except for the fact she seemed annoyed with something, the lack of a smug smile on her face told Ruby that.
Neo proceeds to touch the top of her umbrella on Fido's chest to teleport him away.
As they went to another location, Fido spoke.
-Yeah, I know. I should have done that from the beginning but... -He stopped his sentence when notices that Neo disappeared. -Uh, I wonder why she was so annoyed.
As Glynda and Fernando look around for their students, they were forced to face more Grimms along the way.
Fernando knew exactly where they were, but this did not stop them from finding some obstacles. Fernando knew about them as well, but could only try to find a route that made them find fewer Grimms than possible as they went after their students.
-So many Grimms. -Glynda spoke as she sends another Beowulf to the wall. -They are desperate to protect whatever information they have about miasma.
-But come so far to use grimms? -Fernando asked as he sliced an Ursa.
-You know the dangers of miasma. -Glynda said as she used a bolder to smash a Deathstalker.
-But they really know that much to protect their secrets this much?
-They may know something that we don't. This would explain why they are so desperate to hold us back. Which means we must hurry.
-Alright then. Cover your eyes! -Fernando stated before he removed his dark glasses.
Remembering what happened to the Mortiferum, Glynda covered her eyes despite the Grimms around her. What came next was the same bright light that reduced the spider grimm into dust.
Removing her hands from her face, Glynda saw that every grimm was vaporized and reduced to dirty.
-I take you already know about what I just did, huh? -Fernando asked.
-Why do you say that? -Glynda asked.
-Because you didn't ask now about what I just did, and you didn't ask when the Mortiferum disappeared.
-I'm just... confused. I heard that people with this power who lose their sight also lose their powers.
-It is the first time I heard about this.
-Can I ask how you lose your sight? -Glynda knew that was a sensitive topic, but Fernando still being able to do it made her curiosity reach its peak.
-Two thumbs shoved in both my eyes after a moment of distraction. It... hurt a lot. -Glynda felt that the last comment was a failed try to light the mood about his blindness.
What comes next was a silence as the blind man decide to stay quiet after remembering how he becomes blind. Yet, Glynda decides to talk to Ozpin about Fernando's power, thinking to be useful information in the near or distant future.
After all, a silver-eyed warrior was among the staff all this time.
Ragna rolled back, then moved her blade to block a strike aiming to her rear.
Pyrrha blocked a vertical swing with her sword and a horizontal with her shield. But the force was enough to force the redhead to take a step back. This made Ragna go on the offensive, and Pyrrha once again forced to take space as her opponent send attack after attack non-stop.
Except for this time, Ragna felt something hit her behind her kneecap, putting her on her knees. Her crimson eyes widened behind her mask and she nearly not dodge a strike Pyrrha aimed at her face.
Ragna parried the shield thrown against her and was surprised to see almost every weapon used by her allies floating around Pyrrha.
Her semblance may not work on Ragna's blades but works on every single weapon around her.
With a move of her hands, all bladed weapons floating went into Ragna's direction. Yet, the wolf faunus remained calm, her eyes closed behind her mask as the weapons come near.
Opening her eyes, Ragna leans toward the barrage of weapons while using her swords to block some of the flying blades, also twisting her body around to dodge and is continuously moving forward, approaching the gobsmacked Pyrrha, who could not believe in her eyes.
Chaing tactics, she made the weapons behind Ragna fly back, putting the wolf faunus in a cyclone of weapons, but Ragna keep blocking and dodging all the weapons and blades around her, and she was not even breaking a sweat.
After half a minute of dodging and blocking, Ragna threw one of her blades in Pyrrha's direction, who had no choice but to cancel her semblance and dodge the incoming blade.
The sword was shoved deep in the wall, despite being throw, and Pyrrha ignored that fact so she could focus on her opponent. Ragna leaped after her with her blade ready for a vertical swing, and Pyrrha used her semblance to bring back her shield and block the incoming attack.
Only to Ruby be thrown against her, surprising both Pyrrha and Ragna.
Pyrrha got up fast and was one more time surprised by the sight of Ruby all beaten and covered in bruises.
-Ruby! What happened? -She asked her fellow redhead.
-S-she... -Was all she could bring herself to say.
Managing to point to where she came from, Pyrrha saw the figure of Neo standing not far from where they were, holding Weiss' weapon in a hand and a scary scowl in her face.
-That Weiss' rapier. -Pyrrha murmured.
-Where's Fido? -Ragna asked and Neo merely nodded. -Good.
They lost the dog faunus. Ragna put her sword back on the sheath and walked to where her second blade was. Pyrrha quickly went after her, only to something get one of her wrists and throw her back.
She managed to land on her knees and saw Neo standing between her and the dog faunus.
Neo then gave one step back to dodge a vertical cut, which extended ten feet away. Neo looked at the man responsible for the feat and saw the apprentice, his sword down and half his face covered in a dark purple stain.
Behind him were his teammates, one of them with Yang over his shoulder. Her lilac eyes turned red at the sight of the multi-colored girl who she fought on the train days ago.
-We need to go! -Ragna spoke. -You remember what Roman said about his miasma.
Neo scowled at first but remembered what the apprentice did to the miasma Grimms. Try to face him like that would be dangerous. So with a flick of her umbrela, she disappeared.
Ragna, on the other hand, got her sword from the wall and run in the opposite direction of the group.
-Oh no, you don't! -Ceodore stated and raised his sword, black energy emanating from the blade.
But before he could give a cut, one of the fallen White Fang members pressed a button on a remote, and part of the cavern start to crumble apart.
-Are you kidding me?! -Ceodore shouts. -This may kill most of them!
-They want to make sure nothing is left behind to be used against them! -Rens stated.
-Guys! -Pyrrha called. -We need to leave!
-Okay! -The apprentice nodded looked at his female teammate. -Nora! Help Ruby!
-On it! -She runs after the reaper and puts Ruby over one of her shoulders.
With that, they all run away from the place, but Pyrrha gave one last look back for a moment, and her emerald eyes immediately meet with the crimson orbs of Ragna's eyes.
Without saying a word, both girls understood each other just by the look they were giving each other.
-This isn't over. -Ragna spoke.
-Yes, isn't. -Pyrrha spoke next.
And then, they turn away from each other.
-Wait! -Ruby suddenly shout. -Blake and Weiss! That girl left them behind! We can't leave them behind!
-But we also need to find an exit! -Ren shout next.
-Not to mention the teachers! -Ceodore shout.
-What do we do?! -Nora loudly asked.
-Okay Ceodore, think. Think! -The apprentice thought as the whole place fall apart around them.
They needed to find an exit. After a whole hour of fighting, they kinda lost track of the path they used to find the White Fang base, but they could not leave Weiss and Blake behind. But if they go after them, they would not have time to find an exit. Besides, even if they decide to leave them behind, there was no guaranty that they would find an exit in time. They could be crushed by the stones even before they could get near an exit.
None of the options seemed favorable.
It was when the part of the cave above them collapsed, falling to crush them all.
-Oh no! -Pyrrha shouts.
All of them kneeled and covered their faces, waiting for the inevitable crushing from above.
But what they felt was a wave of pure energy from up closer. What came next was nothing but darkness... followed by an exploding sound.
Ruby waited, and waited, and waited, but the crushing never came.
Slowly opening her eyes, she looks to above and saw the sky in the afternoon. What was once a cave above them was completely gone. The others also opened their eyes and were surprised by the sight of the sky. Even more surprised by hearing the apprentice panting while his sword was in his hands, down as if he just gave a vertical cut.
The blade was covered in dark purple energy that slowly dissipied. Ceodore then fell on his knees, his grip on his sword lose, and his weapon falling on the ground.
-Ceodore! -Both Ruby and Pyrrha called him.
Pyrrha was able to reach the apprentice and seemed that he went through a marathon.
-Ceodore, what happened? What did you do?!
-I... I had no choice... -Ceodore barely spoke, also having difficulties to breathe.
-Easy there, boy. -Yang spoke. -Whatever you did, it took a tow on you.
-M-my... my master... once told m-me... t-that use t-too much m-miasma at once... would tire... me out...
-I know it is a stupid question but here it comes. You did... This!? -Nora asked pointing to above.
-Can we... can we leave... the questions... for... later...?
-I think it is for the better. -They all turn back to see Glynda approaching them. -Are you children alright?
-Thanks to Ceodore, we are. -Ruby answered. -What about you?
-I'm fine Ms. Rose. I had Fernando to back me up. -Glynda gestured to the blind man, approaching behind her.
-By the way, what happened to those two? -Fernando asked holding both Blake and Weiss on his shoulders.
-Weiss! -Ruby called.
-Blake! -Yang called.
Ignoring their bruises, they went after the blind man to see how were their teammates. Neo sure was not playing around. Fernando gently put the heiress and the cat faunus on the ground. He then removed his jacket, wrapped up, and put below Blake's head.
-Ruby, can Weiss borrow your cape? -Fernando asked.
Ruby, who was kneeling beside her partner, nodded and wrapped her cape so her partner could use it as an improvised pillow.
-Where did you find them? -Yang asked.
-We were looking for you all when we happen to stumble into their unconscious forms. Whoever did this was not playing around.
-Y-yeah... -Yang spoke in a low tone.
If Neo could do this alone, Yang wonders what would have happened if she had not appeared at the time.
Not far, Ceodore sat in the nearest wall with the help of Pyrrha and Glynda, and knowing how tire the apprentice was, the blonde woman directed her attention to his redhead partner.
-Ms. Nikos. -Glynda began. -I presume that Mr. Ceodore's... miasma was the cause of... this? -She asked pointing to the above.
The redhead just nodded.
Looking around, it was hard for Glynda to decide if the mission was a failure or a complete failure. Not only they failed to capture one single member of the White Fang but they also failed to acquaire anything related to miasma. It could be something not even Ceodore knew.
Most of the faunus in the mine run away or were dead, by the Grimms or the collapsing cave, and Glynda doubts that any of them even if surviving, would have any valuable information regarding their experiments.
All in all, it seems they went there just for some brawling, and mass destruction.
Reaching for her scroll, she called for the bullheads, there was nothing else for them there.
The trip back to the academy was relatively calm.
The teams were recovering from their near-death experience, and Glynda let Fernando to take care of them while already giving Ozpin a quick rundown of the mission.
-I see. -Ozpin said through the scroll. -At least you all are safe, and an important fact was discovered regarding Fernando.
-What we are going to do with this information?
-I wish to speak to him personally regarding his eyes. Its something that is better spoke face to face. First I wish to know how much knowledge he has of his powers. Now, how are our students?
-They are recovering. Some wounds and bruises but nothing lethal.
-That's good to hear. Let's talk more once you return.
-Yes sir.
And with that, she closed her scroll and began to wonder if Ozpin plans to tell Fernando about the one who controls the grimms.
If yes, she did not know if this would be a good idea. Fernando is a former soldier from Atlas, one who reaches the class of an elite. He once was the type of soldier who would follow orders without question until comes the day a mission went horribly wrong. While the fault was upon his superiors at the time, she knew that the blind man blamed himself every day since the incident. Since then he stopped blindly following orders and decide to make his own decisions, mostly going against his superiors. The result was Fernando leaving the military life, his whole life in Atlas behind and disappearing from Remnant.
Glynda knew that some of the decisions to be made in order to defeat the woman is necessary but morally dubious, and Fernando probably would be, in body and soul, against the ideas.
For now, she can only wait for the return of the academy to see what will come next.
Hours later, Ruby and Ceodore went among Glynda to the headmaster's office. They were there to talk about anything noteworthy regarding their mission.
-Fido, huh. -Ozpin commented. -That's an... different name indeed.
-I heard that he was responsible for getting all the stuff related to miasma away from the mines. -Ruby said. -The other was supposed to hold us as he makes his exit.
-With a name like that, will not be hard to find anything related to this dog faunus. -Ozpin spoke. -We will make some researches and see what we can discover about him, and see if he was a key part of whatever the White Fang is planning with miasma.
-Anything else you need to know? -Ruby asked.
Ozpin's focus then went to Ceodore, and the apprentice instantly knew what he wanted to know.
-I focused all the miasma I had in my body on my blade. -Ceodore began. -But use this much miasma at once can cause a lot of tension on my body.
-You have this much miasma on your body? -Ozpin asked.
-Yep. -Was all Ceodore said.
-I... see. Thank you both. That's all I wanted to ask. Ms. Rose, please return to the infirmary for a full recovery.
-Yes sir.
-Let's go then. I take you there.
-You don't need to.
-Nope, but I want to.
With that, they left the office.
Ozpin and Glynda could swear to see a light blush on Ruby's face at the apprentice statement, but ignored since they have more to talk about. And whatever Ruby wants for herself, it is her decision, but they wonder how Taiyang and Qrow would react to this.
Before they could ponder any further, they received a call from Ironwood.
-James, calling so soon? -Ozpin asked.
-It is... an emergency.
-It is about Mr. Arc? -Glynda asked.
-Yes and no. -This made Ozpin and Glynda raise an eyebrow.
Infirmary
While their leader was excused to give a brief resume of the mission, Yang, Weiss, and Blake were resting and recovering from their bruises.
Blake tried to get up, insisting that she was fine, only for Yukino to shove her back on the bed. It was clear that the lioness faunus was not going to allow any of the two to leave before a full recovery.
-She's a feisty one for a nurse. -Ren commented.
Team CNVL was also there to see how team RWBY was going.
-She's tougher than she looks. -Yang commented.
-She needs to be. It is not easy to be a nurse in an academy like Beacon. -Pyrrha commented.
-I heard that even Cardin could not stand against her. -Nora commented while bouncing in one of the beds.
Before they could go any further on their conversation, the door of the infirmary opened and a soldier from Atlas enter in the room.
-Ms. Weiss Schnee? -He asked despite not needing, not with how resemblance between the sisters.
-Do you need anything? -Weiss asked.
-It is about your sister. -He began. -She is currently under observation of suspicion of miasma infection.
And then, Weiss' eyes widened.
They just returned to the academy and yet miasma keeps haunting them.
End of the chapter.
I stand among those who wait until the whole volume is complete before watch it, or at least near the end. So please, no volume 8 spoilers. But I hope the remain members of JNPR have more to do in this volume because seriously, they barely had any importance in volume 7.
An idea of a rival for Pyrrha was something I never once see in any story, so I decide to give a try and see what can come from this.
Fernando being a silver eyed warrior is something I planned make a while now, but waited to see more of it before reveal, and yes I made different from Maria since he is blind, but I think it is strange to them lose their power because of this. I think that if their eyes are still in their heads, they still can use it.
I really should not reveal much of my OC's backstories in those fictions since I made an story only based on them, but sometimes just I can't help it.
That's all folks, see you next time.