After a week of intense training, he realized each of them was lacking, to be brutally honest. Baek scoffed at the strength behind Shanshi's attack, feeling the force of it tickle his palm. Gripping the metal weapon with his tanned fingers, he swung her into the air, causing her to collide with Karasu. Only the faunus boy attacked with his life on the line, and that was something the two women were missing. Baek's eyes scanned the area, trying to locate the shifty red-head. The difference between the three was vast, like an open desert. Karasu was the only one out of them to land a hit on him, but he charged in like his life was meaningless. While Shanshi acted stuck-up when she opted to attack. He left himself open to see if she would take the chance, but each time, it seemed like she doubted herself. Finally, Holli was plain terrible. It was obvious she wasn't giving it her all. Teamwork was something he hardly had a grasp on, but getting them stronger individually proved to be challenging. Tracking the footsteps in the dirt, he used his arm to block the shepherd staff. During the start, he had to adjust his strength to ensure his teammates would survive. Shifting his weight, he smacked his lips as the woman disappeared once more.
Semblance is what kingdom people called those strange abilities. When he learned it shocked him, unlike them, Ryu gave him gifts, so seeing all these strange abilities gave him a new look at the world. His fellow clan-mates showed no flashy and bright-colored abilities, even with the god's blessing them at birth. Well, only a handful could reach the level of borrowing gifts from the gods. One thing was certain, though, once you first borrowed a gift, it felt like a second arm, something that felt all too natural. Lost in thought, he hit the ground, Holli standing on top triumphantly. Listening to her cheer, he picked himself up, her voice ending abruptly as she tried to get away. While sparring, he picked up certain usages and limitations of their abilities. Somewhat embarrassed at getting caught off guard, Baek ended everything peacefully.
Watching the terrain shift back into its normal training room appearance, he turned to view the gasping team members. Each of them was struggling to get up, let alone roll over. Maybe they would take it as a mental note not to embarrass him? He laughed at his pettiness and offered them his water. While the others took turns finishing it, Holli sat on the wall close to him but away from them.
"How did you get so strong?" Baek scratched the back of his head, unsure of how to answer it. On one hand, it would give away his village's secret. Then again, if it helped her get stronger, it would make his worries cease. "C'mon Baeeeek," she whined in his ear, her voice filled with playful impatience as she tapped his shoulder repeatedly, a mischievous smile gracing her face. "You promised to help us become stronger… but we couldn't even make a dent in you!"
Using his brain to the maximum, one could've sworn that they saw a light bulb appear over his head. "When a boy turns eight, we throw them into the wild for seven years. It's a coming-of-age task! It's supposed to teach you how to survive and hopefully get in contact with your god!" Baek hesitated, his fingers instinctively reaching to rub his bottom lip as he struggled to find the right words. "Since mother is the chief, I began a little early." Counting with his fingers, he raised his hand and displayed six fingers. "My turn! Why do you hate bird-boy?" Failing to control his voice, the smile on her face faded, and he watched as her once cheery expression turned gloomy. Looking back at his other teammates, they ignored him as they stood awkwardly looking anywhere but at them.
"Hey… does it seem like I hate him?" The feeling he felt during their first confrontation when he mistook her for being strong crept up on him. Swallowing, he kept his lips shut. She looked lifeless, blood falling from her lip as if her anger could boil over at any moment.
Oblivious to the hint, the barbarian impatiently snapped his fingers. As he spoke, the sound of a slap bouncing off the walls abruptly interrupted his words, instantly putting them in an uneasy situation. As the sensation brushed against his skin like a gentle tickle, an unsettling feeling twisted his stomach. He strained his ears, capturing the fading sound of her footsteps as she exited the room. He sighed. The fact that none of them attempted to follow her emphasized the distance between them.
With those silent seconds turning into minutes, Karasu took the spot Holli left. "We all had a sort of silent agreement and you tore right through it." Even if he shifted the attention to himself when they were talking, it wouldn't have changed a thing. "When did you figure it out?"
"She holds herself back when fighting with you in the vicinity. But that's not the problem…" Baek's eyes set on the floor, "You knew and never tried to figure out the issue? You are a coward, all of you are. If I were to stay on this team any longer, I fear I'd grow as weak as you all."
The space between the four of them seemed endless. When one would step forward, the rest would take a step back. "Everyone has personal issues and we four aren't exactly close. What could an unlucky dirty faunus like me do? You want me to beg her to forget whatever makes her wary of me?" Despite it all, Karasu never raised his voice, coming off more hysterical. Looking up at the taller male, his eyes reminded him of his childhood.
"You think anyone will care who or what you are going through when fighting? A tribe is only as strong as their leader, and if the leader is incapable, then we should remove them from that position. Even if it's by force."
Despite his partner's likely disdain for his presence, she refrained from inflicting any physical harm on him. She simply had issues. He realized this when he saw her trembling, her whole body quivering with each step while forced to accompany a teacher. Standing up and puffing up his feathers while spreading his wings, Karasu exhaled. In the end, words won't work on a barbarian and although the last thing he wanted to do was seriously fight a teammate, there was nothing left to say. "You'll have to get through me."
People ridiculed his family because of his heritage. Trying to ruin his father's image and business because of what he was. Children would constantly pick on him, throwing stones to get him to go away. Being a crow faunus was the worst of both worlds. He could never fit in with anyone. As someone dug him out of the debris, the warm sunlight illuminated his face. With a foggy head, he struggled to remember what had transpired. Standing in front of Baek, the image imprinted in his memory became the last thing he recalled. Holding him up was Tierra with a confused expression. Yellow eyes picked apart the training room. Other than the wall he crashed through, there were signs of a brief skirmish. "Thanks, but I have to stop my teammate from doing something he'd regret."
"Too late." Ignoring her words, he took off down the hallway, following the trail of unconscious bodies leading him to the spacious auditorium. Without his weapons, he could only throw himself at Baek, but it seemed he wasn't the only one preventing him from continuing. Some of Holli's friends made a makeshift barricade with the tables while Shanshi led her through the back. Zoning in on the brute, tossing the tables like rag dolls, Karasu mapped out a sort of plan. Taking off, he used the momentum from his speed to collide with the brute, shattering the glass window. As he glided through the air, he observed Baek's descent into the courtyard, the swirling dust adding an ethereal quality to the scene. He planned to keep himself in the air until any instructor took charge. "Listen, buddy! You threw me into a wall earlier, so let's break even?" Trying to break the intense situation, he dodged to the side four stones flying to hit him. Looking back at where they landed, he erased the thought of what would happen if one of them reached him. "Baek! Let's talk about our issues. This random onslaught doesn't fit you!" He was aware of the barbarian's slow-witted and impulsive tendencies, yet this unexpected action, considering what had occurred earlier, felt entirely out of place.
"Bird-boy, how long will you hide behind your tiny words? If you want to stop me, do so with your actions." Uncertainty riddled his brain, and he had trouble figuring out if any of them were friends or merely people putting up with each other. Regardless, if he hesitated here, more people would get injured. Innocent people. "Well, if you can't stop me, animal creatures like yourself should follow your instincts and run away." Those bitter words cut through his skin like a sharpened blade as it reminded him of the past. Fist tightly clenched, he became hyper-focused. Picking apart ideas to take this battle home.
From all the training he underwent, landing sizable strikes would do more harm than good. Out of everyone on the team, he had yet to figure out Baek's full abilities, let alone semblance. Until he gathered his weapons, everything from this point onwards would be to wear the male down. With a simple gesture, he summoned a murder of crows. As one crow broke away, the rest swooped down, pecking at the brute. With a swift descent, he orchestrated his companions to shield Baek's vision, granting him the chance to deliver a powerful kick to the liver. His black boots scraped against the rough surface of the worn and ragged brown fabric. Using the solid body as his launching pad, he propelled himself into the air once more. Observing the male try to catch the fast small crows, he planned his next attack.
Utilizing the crows again, Karasu landed another impactful fist on the liver. Unlike before, he kept the distance close, having his buddies hinder Baek's movements, allowing a couple of hits to connect. With a final knee to the liver, he stepped forward, ignoring the ongoing stares he was receiving. Running his hands through his messy, spiky, bowl-cut hair, he offered a hand to the brute on his knees. "I figured out your pattern. Let's end things here, buddy." Even though his crows were severed as a distraction, the information he gathered through them shifted the tide of battle. He meticulously dissected his opponent's weaknesses while crafting this strategy. The relentless assault on the liver was a calculated move to weaken them, as he lacked substantial strength. Zeroing in on a vulnerable organ, he aimed to render his attacker helpless. Noticing Baek muttering something, Karasu swiftly took off, only to have his foot ensnared by the beast, sending him crashing back to the ground.
Shooting pain surged through his body, prompting his wings to swiftly shield his face and abdomen. Peering through his feathers, his body froze at the sight of those blood-red eyes. He clutched his chest, fingers trembling, as if trying to keep his racing heart from leaping out of his body. Memories of his childhood resurfaced, reminding him of the villagers who used to gather around him, cruelly kicking dirt his way. Helpless before, he found himself in a similar predicament now, unable to find a solution. He accepted the outcome and waited for the ending, the sound of his heartbeat echoing in his ears.
The feeling of pain never came and opening his eyes hesitantly, he was shocked to find Holli raining bullets at the man. A crow soared through the skydiving down. With two obstacles approaching, Karasu freed himself and weakly took his chance to get behind Holli. A lone crow, banished from the fight, assumed the role of a messenger, using its sharp senses to locate his teammates and guide them to the right place. "Where is Shanshi?" Mustering up the strength, he silently thanked the woman for retrieving his weapon and saving him, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. Two of them, albeit the poor chemistry they harbored, could take down the arrogant man.
"Not sure, she split off halfway… what's exactly going on?"
With the faunus lingering behind her, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease, but she maintained her poker face. The explanation failed to provide her with the comfort she desperately sought. Still, from Karasu's words, Baek was currently the enemy. If she failed to soothe the problem, everything she worked for would crumble away. "Don't hate me too much for beating you senseless, Baek." Following her speech with a wink, she disappeared, crows swirling around the area, helping her keep her presence hidden. Firing with her shepherd's staff, she came up from the side using her weapon's hook to strike his knee. Using teleportation, she struck his calf with the hook, while Karasu provided cover fire, allowing her to attack his back.
The movie-like scene with Holli's bright flashing presence and Karau's supportive dark crows amazed people. Karasu's decision to fight alongside her on the frontline shattered the stalemate, causing her movements to become less fluid and determined. The previously confusing pattern she had now revealed itself as hesitant and obvious, resulting in her being kicked and her body rolling to the side, gathering dust. Picking herself up, she let out a heavy sigh, her mind racing with uncertainty about how to proceed. She wanted to rush back in, but knowing it was close enough with its weapon made her hesitate. No matter what life she lived, she would never trust a faunus after what they did. The trouble of tolerating it as her partner was already burdensome, and now she was facing challenges while trying to perform on the field.
No matter how hard she racked her brain, forgiving those animals would be the last thing she did. It was wrong for her to label each faunus on the same tier as those that destroyed her family, but they all looked the same to her. The psychological damage left a deeper mark than the physical scars that clung to her. Graduating and moving forward had no significance in her aspirations. Everyone had a reason to become a hero, but that was the last thing she had in mind. She recounted the months she spent in solitude, her fingers tracing the scars that marked her journey towards mastery. Consumed by thoughts of revenge, her mind fixated on the animals responsible for the death of her father and brother, the disabling of her mother, and the atrocities they committed against her.
Focusing on the threat ahead, an incoming fist blocked her vision. Her aimless thoughts left her in place. Baek's words from before came to mind. Karasu's wings enveloped her, providing a shield against both the ground and Baek's punch. She turned around and studied her savior, observing the glistening sweat on his face and the grimace of pain he wore. "It matters little if you harbor animosity towards me or disapprove of my existence; what I truly need is your trust." Karasu's eyes held such intensity that it left Holli speechless, a rare occurrence for someone who could usually read people so easily. "I can distract him," Karasu exhaled, his words barely audible as he struggled to catch his breath. "Just focus on his liver and swing with all your might, letting your emotions fuel each strike." Every second, his aura would flicker, creating an ethereal glow around his figure. Without a reply, the male opened his wings, revealing a sluggish beast that stopped attacking.
"Done talking?" Ignoring Baek's voice, Holli watched as Karasu charged forward, his wings refraining from taking flight. Did he expect her to fall victim to his words all because he helped her out? She'd been down this road before actions spoke louder than words, and so far she had no reason to not trust him. For this battle, she would clear her mind of all distractions and fight with unwavering focus.
Before Karasu could reach Baek, she materialized next to him and delivered a powerful strike to his liver with her weapon. Her eyes focused on the ground, and in an instant, she transported herself there, her shepherd's staff digging into his liver once more. She could only utilize her abilities within her field of vision, yet there were external elements that shaped her powers. Through rigorous training, she discovered the ability to adjust the speed of her teleportation intervals. With every teleportation, she solidified her dominance in the fight, effortlessly overpowering her opponent with her lightning-fast movements and impeccable accuracy. As Holli created her own blind spots, Karasu seized the opportunity to launch sneak attacks, timing them with her teleportation.
The fight dragged on, and Holli pushed her limits, her rapid blinks creating a blur of motion. In the chaos, she collided with Karasu, their bodies crashing to the ground, his frame landing on her ankle. Immobilized, she stole a glance at the tall man standing over them, his rugged face displaying a gentle smile. While she observed his lips in motion, a shield abruptly slammed into his face, catching her off guard.
Shanshi stooped to pick up her shield, her tennis shoes stirring up a cloud of dust around her. Observers couldn't help but notice the uncanny resemblance to a fox locked in a face-off with a bear. She fought against her better judgment, but then realized the importance of helping to prevent the team's expulsion. Though her skills fell short of her assumptions, the supporting members compensated for dealing substantial damage. She took a quick glance at the blood trickling down his nose, the sound of his labored breathing filling her ears, and braced herself; after all, this was her partner.
Like a charging bull, she skillfully redirected his fist with her shield, the impact sending a jolt of energy up her arm. Following through again, she adjusted her grip, parrying yet another set of blows. Despite his disadvantage, Shanshi encountered trouble in altering the direction of his fist, resulting in a forceful impact to her face, causing her to topple onto her knees. "You're not cut out for this," he spat with a mixture of blood and saliva landing next to her. "You don't belong here."
She couldn't forget his back burning into her memory as he walked away, casting a shadow over her. Closing her eyes, she wondered who she could blame. Looking back, a sigh escaped her lips as she begrudgingly acknowledged that she had unwittingly acquired a plethora of traits from her mother, more than she ever wished to acknowledge. The fundamental difference was that she carried the weight of responsibility for every aspect of her siblings' well-being. She blamed that family for all her issues, causing her to take immediate action and escape. She left her siblings alone in that hellhole and convinced herself she was doing all this for them. Did she deserve any of this? Why did she have to change to make things work? She was independent and self-reliant. Why was she being disrespected and looked down upon by someone who couldn't count without using his fingers? Opening her eyes, she released Qiang-dun and Qiang-mao running at Baek. "You son of a bitch!" Jumping onto his back, she wrapped her arms around his neck, using her hands to lock her in place. Frustration filled her as she struggled to enclose her legs around him, realizing the challenge his solid build presented. "You know nothing about me!" She attempted to shout, but her voice came out as a barely audible whimper.
"Let go." With a dismissive gesture, she looked past him, uninterested in what he was saying. Looking over his shoulder, the world appeared drastically different, even if only for a fleeting moment from this perspective. She was well aware of her worth and possessed the knowledge to attain what she deserved. If her dignity was a problem, then she would prove her capabilities to everyone. She could feel his hands weakening her grasp, so she quickly bit into his neck, the taste of his sweat filling her mouth. As strands of white and dark brown hair stood on end, Shanshi's body emitted a radiant glow. The cracking ground sent shivers down her spine, her heart racing as she clung on, resolved to see it through. To her surprise, Karasu and Holli came from the sides, both holding onto Baek's arms, preventing him from breaking free. Streaks of white lightning sparked around the four of them, and as everyone braced themselves, Baek laughed.
"Bout time." With each surge, the atmosphere seemed to shudder, and thunderous roars echoed. The air became charged, static electricity sparking in every direction, its brilliance blinding onlookers.
That day another rumor began, how the white-haired fox, black-crow, and red bunny slain the ferocious bear.
In the hospital bed, Karasu's eyes widened as he sat up, his gaze fixed on Baek with a mix of confusion and disbelief. "You're telling me you did all this… so we can work together and get stronger?"
"Yep, and now we all have a scar on our back, a permanent reminder of the bond we formed through battle!" Baek leaned back in the bed, which creaked under his weight as it barely fit him. "All of our chiefs did it to draw out all our strength, like a tradition?"
Holli's laughter erupted, filling the room with joy, while Shanshi rolled her eyes and reached for her scroll to message her siblings.
"You imbecile, you could've killed us?" Karasu fell back, groaning in pain at the thought of Baek doing something idiotic and reckless again. Tossing and turning his eyes drifted onto Shanshi, "Why are you here? You don't even look injured."
Shanshi shot him a fleeting glance, the sound of his silence hanging heavy in the air. Ignoring his presence, she immersed herself in the vibrant world of the bustling group chat, the screen lighting up with a kaleidoscope of colors.
Sorry for the wait, had to wait for my glasses to come in! Split the chapter in half for pacing, The next chapter should be out around Christmas time and will mainly focus on the subcast since the other section of this chapter was mainly them. On the bright side, bonding via Baek's way and a more in-depth look at the trauma/issues this team has.
Haha guest, adds more flavor huh? More so, Leonardo is the reason why teams are subjectively a mess. But when they finally click it'll be dangerous.
Chill and King! Karasu is the most grounded on that team, but the whole team is a walking red flag. MVP goes out to Karasu again honorable mention Shanshi lol. Then again once the team clicks they will be a unit. Especially Holli and Karasu.
Wolf, Shanshi seems like a less traumatized Weiss lol. Weiss in the start would not get her hands dirty, while Shanshi would get her hands dirty if she feels wronged.
Thanks for all the good names, I appreciate it! The name shall be revealed soon! Thanks for all the reviews! Have a good holiday week when the time comes!
