The days went on without anything unusual for team CRLN. Weekdays would be filled with classes, school events, and occasional spars with team CFVY to keep on top of things. The weekends would be mostly devoted to the more unscrupulous tasks they had undertaken. At least for Caelum and Lukas that was. As Raiden and Niel seemed to be dragged along with their ambitious endeavors, the two seemed to notice their partners becoming more relaxed around each other, much to their relief as the memories of constant tension began to fade.
Along with the appearance of the unusual ginger from the other day, Penny, more and more foreign students were arriving to take in Vale and Beacon in their entirety. Naturally, team CRLN with its colorful members, stayed to themselves, satisfied with their high grades and busy schedules.
It wasn't until team CFVY had sent a personal invitation through Professor Port that any real change had come their way as of late. The boisterous man rattled on about their performances and closure before getting to the point. Team CFVY had sent an invite for the boys to spar with another team as a means of measurement and test of skill, though Port was quick to reveal the truth in it being a consensus decision from him and their seniors to make friends in their grade outside of their team.
However, the opportunity would not be wasted and Port was sure to mention that the results would be recorded by team CFVY and submitted to the headmaster for assessment and bonus grading. "A truly wonderful opportunity presented by your seniors" as he put it.
Accepting the offer of a well-acquainted team, the boys headed to the training halls after class. Team CFVY stood outside the doors as they approached, dressed in their gear and weapons readied.
"Took you long enough," said Coco lowering her glasses to assess the boys as they entered the room.
"We had prior affairs to check in on" explained Caelum walking in last.
"Working out again?" asked Coco as she attempted to slap Caelum on the rear.
Having fallen to her antics before he was quick to catch her by the wrist. "Personal matters" he clarified, releasing her just as quickly. Coco rolled her eyes with a grin. "Fun as ever" she snidely commented, rattling the bracelets on her wrist as she strutted alongside him, her team following.
Four figures stood in various poses inside, awaiting their opponents. A black-haired faunus sitting against a wall, a blonde leaning against the same wall next to her, with a red and white-themed duo standing in front of them. Seeing their entrance the small red-clad girl waved with a bright smile at their arrival. Coco called the four girls over to introduce them although it was unnecessary. Team RWBY came over and with confident strides allowed their seniors to explain the situation.
With a hand on her hip, Coco flicked her wrist back and forth. "Team CRLN meet team RWBY. I'm sure you all know each other's names and if not then don't feel obligated to at this point."
"Coco!" chastised Velvet as Yatsuhashi clasped a fist in a palm, taking over the explanation.
"Our team has close ties to both of your teams. As such we had thought it prudent to introduce you formally and hold a small bout. This way you can test your abilities outside of the confinements of your usual class hours and form closer ties."
Fox then stepped up and took over. "Team CRLN has sparred with us frequently to the point where there is little variety and little to learn from each session. Team RWBY performs at the top of their class consistently. Despite this, we have been informed by Professor Ozpin and Professor Port that there has been little to no interaction between you all."
Of course, there had been none. It was completely intentional, After Raiden's small debacle early in the semester, Goodwitch had been reluctant to have him spar against opponents that would push him into a corner. As for Caelum he intentionally performed just average enough to skirt outside of any extra classwork, deeming the class itself unproductive in its measures.
Lukas meanwhile had improved his grades and performances but would take a written punishment over any fights that would leave him too exhausted after school. Niel was the only one who performed willingly and consistently but his eagerness to volunteer so early on had led to Goodwitch glossing over him more often than not when he had secured a hefty win streak. Coincidentally this was before he had gone against any aces in the class. Now halfway into the school year, Professor Goodwithch left the students in free skirmishes and study, trusting them to be proactive.
Velvet then explained further now that she was done chiding Coco. "We were hoping that your teams could grow over a match. You know understanding each other through a clash of arms and afterwards reviewing."
Patting her shoulder, Coco raised a gloved finger. "Now that doesn't mean it's all fun and games. The results of this fight will be reported to the headmaster and teachers as I'm sure you all have been told. To further that point, Ozpin himself said 'please treat this match as if it were life and death."
Velvet immediately jumped in waving her hands frantically. "That doesn't mean to hurt each other though! He just wants to see what you all can do when you're taking things seriously!"
Yatsuhashi nodded in agreement. "We will be on standby to prevent any serious injury and provide any aid for minor injuries or transport for any incidents.
"In other words feel free to let loose and go unrestrained" concluded Coco. Flicking her sunglasses up she snapped her fingers. "Without further ado, let's get this going. Yatsuhashi will signal you all to start, so get to either side of the arena."
The two junior teams did as instructed while their seniors walked off to the spectator stand. Caelum glanced back to see Ruby practically skipping in excitement as her teammates walked alongside with more composure. The blonde, Yang as he recalled, planted her fist in a palm, confident in their future results as she boasted to her sibling.
Turning to his teammates they were far different from the confident stride the girls had. Raiden who had gained confidence in his growing skills, tightly gripped his halberd, white-knuckling it. Lukas seemed as lethargic as before any school-sanctioned battle and Niel was going through his own personal ritual, spinning his revolvers and saying a quiet prayer for success.
Caelum however seemed slightly off. The instructions they had been given rang in his ears like tinnitus. 'Treat it like life and death, unrestrained.' His usual calm and indifferent expression stiffened, and his eyes seemed focused. He had received his directions, his orders, and would perform as directed. It was why he was sent here after all. Knowing Ozpin was watching he couldn't underperform and risk word returning to Atlas.
With this determination set in him and unknown to ally and foe alike, Yatsuhashi raised his large sword as the eight students turned on their heels and tensed, ready to jump into the fray.
Silence took the room, blood rising in everyone's ears as they strained to watch and listen for any movement. In one swift swing, the large bronze blade struck through the air, sending a small gust through the room. The eight students engaged immediately.
The two quickest to engage were Ruby and Yang. The girls propelled themselves at inhuman speeds with the use of semblance and weapons. Weiss and Blake followed on foot at a charge. The boys, other than Niel had no such boost. As such Niel with a shimer of dull gray aura, used his semblance to engage first.
He spearheaded against the two sisters, both lithely dodging his first blows. Ruby's semblance zipped past a shot from his left revolver as Yang vaulted over his right-hand stab with another blast from her gauntlets. Before he could give chase, Blake had thrown her weapon at his head. The blade spun in a deadly circle as it swung past his skull, missing by inches as he jerked to the side and narrowly avoided it once more as she pulled it back by its ribbon. Now engaged, Niel closed the distance before her weapon was back in her grip.
Yang and Ruby then came face to face with Lukas who stopped in his tracks, rotating his bat with his wrist and one hand in his pocket as the girls charged him. With confidence, he watched as their grinning faces closed in and suddenly shot past. Beneath them white glyphs appeared at their feet, increasing their speed and sending them past him.
With confidence he looked forward and swung wildly with one hand, parrying Weiss's thrust from her rapier. The two began their melee as the sisters came face to face with Caelum next. Yang's intent was clear to his discerning eye, rushing at her with his bayonet forward he stopped a few feet short of impaling her as a high-pitched shout of exertion came from his side.
Swinging his weapon high, he was barely able to block a downward swing from Ruby's large scythe with all of her weight and speed behind it. Struggling to fend off the strike with one arm behind his weapon, Caelum barely had time to pull his pistol and fire a few shots at Yang as she passed. Two of which grazed the boisterous blonde, who with the same cheery expression spun on her heel and fired two explosive shells at him as Ruby zipped away with her semblance.
Caelum took minimal damage from the explosive radius of the shells as he moved away, only to be intercepted by Ruby once more using her speed and high-caliber weapon to fling herself behind him for another strike. Now caught up in combat, Yang had achieved her goal of reaching Raiden, the weakest link.
The boy's formation was obvious to the girls based on their performances in class. Niel would take the front with Lukas and Caelum in the center for mid-range, and Raiden taking long-range. Even though he wasn't allowed to use his devastating weapons ranged function it was obvious they had trained with him as the rearguard. Ever on the offense, the girls sought to take the fight to the boys and use Yang to break their rear guard and slowly widdle them down from both sides.
Caelum saw through their intentions as he weathered the blows from Ruby. Perhaps his teammates did not see it but he knew they would perform to the best of their abilities and follow his orders. First, he had to be rid of his contemporary.
Out of the four battles, It was clear the most unbalanced was Raiden against Yang. With confidence the boy held his halberd tightly and thrusted at the blonde, missing her as she slapped his weapon down with her left to come in with a right hook. Raiden shifted to dodge only to receive a left hook to his side. Recoiling from the blow and using it to gain distance, Raiden used his weapon's length to strike Yang in the temple with the bladed rear end of his staff.
The girl took the blow with a smile and charged forward, keeping Raiden off balance as he struggled to get her at a different range to use his halberd appropriately. Yang's blows were unrelenting as he strived to avoid and parry each. His stamina would not hold out, noticing this, Yang began to chat with him in mid-combat, an extra potent taunt as it was taboo in his training with Caelum.
"Having trouble keeping up hot stuff?" The sarcastic remark earned a frown from Raiden as he fought to gain equal footing in the spar. As if it was more a chore than battle, she continued pressing him. "Ah don't be mad I'm just making light conversation." Her fist then narrowly missed his face as a kick caught his stomach.
Sliding back from the blow he felt she was unintentionally making light of him. Taking blow after blow from the girl who seemed to be toying with him, Raiden instead opted for a new strategy.
As a strengthened punch hit his right shoulder, Raiden pulled his arm back, softening the blow and shortening his grip on the halberd. Yang cocked another strike only to catch the hammerhead of his halberd to her breast as he continued to move with the recoil of her strike. Feeling the wind leave her momentarily, Raiden caught a chance to reposition himself only to see the girl's hair seemingly glimmer as her eyes shifted from lilac to red.
He acknowledged he couldn't beat her but feeling insulted, decided he would do as much damage as he could before being defeated. With each blow he received, he would dish at least one back. Suddenly Yang appeared before him with a devastating punch, as he barely blocked it he compromised internally. Maybe for every two blows…
Niel and Blake meanwhile played a ferocious game of cat and mouse. Niel's aura would shimmer between a dull gray, black, and white as his physical abilities seemed to shift with them. Each time Blake would seek to retreat, he shimmered grey and was on her heels. Whenever she sought to engage he shimmered black and would project destructive strength, even shattering the concrete flooring beneath them as she avoided a barehanded strike. Her best trait, her agility was evenly matched as she tried to maneuver past his guard to strike his knees or heels only for him to shimmer white and then match her reflexes.
No matter how she fought against him she couldn't see a way past. Perhaps with aid, she could defeat him, no, it was obviously possible if she just had help. However, a quick glance around showed her friends all tied up at the moment. This led to a damaging mistake as Niel shimmered Grey and leaped mid-air, feet first. In his flight, his aura shimmered black, not reaching its full potential but still strengthening his blow as he drop-kicked Blake in her stomach.
This decisive blow left Blake reeling on the ground, clutching her stomach as Niel closed in for the kill. Watching from afar Weiss shouted after her teammate. Blake's name hadn't even left her mouth as Lukas swung his bat down for the Schnee to barely manage a parry at the expense of some aura.
"Eyes on me princess" taunted Lukas with his ever-charming smile.
"Don't make me sick" responded Weiss as she took her stance.
Taking a casual stance, Lukas continued speaking with the haughty girl. It went against Caelum's strict sense of combat teaching and he certainly wasn't her type nor was she his, but he had learned something in his past few months. His semblance could be a great boon in combat if he could just get it to 'click'.
In trying to enact it, he hadn't been wasting energy trying to overwhelm her, in which case she would most likely grow spiteful and he would lose any chance of his semblance working. Hoping she was more of a calm and collected mindset, he attempted to worm his suggestion past her only to realize the girl was outright just as condescending as Caelum only worse. Her sense was based on pride instead of practicality.
Dodging sharpened Icicles flying from the wave of her sword, Lukas returned the favor with a burst from his .45 cal SMG. Seeing her dodge he lowered his weapon with one hand and ran his fingers through his hair. "You know I'm not much of a fighter. Rather a talker, a diplomat if you will."
"Clearly" interrupted Weiss, rolling her eyes and rushing in with a thrust.
Lukas shifted his weapon into its carrying form, a briefcase, and shielded himself from her blade. "What's a refined gal like you doing all this dirty work for? Aren't you meant for better things? Changing the world perhaps? Being a huntsman can't be the best way. You should know as well as anyone else, money is how the world turns."
Since he couldn't charm himself into her graces he sought to appeal to her mindset via emotions. Backstepping and bringing her rapier to her face, weiss seemed to hesitate. A glimmer of hope rose in Lukas. It was dashed as a frown emerged on Weiss followed by her swinging her arm and spinning, followed by a hail of ice and her rapier's end behind it.
Using his briefcase to protect himself from the Ice, he was thrown off his feet by Weiss's lunge. Looking down on him she sneered. "Rif-raff like you have no reason to preach down to me."
Lukas chuckled to himself as he got to his feet, dusting himself off. Strolling towards her he shifted his weapon into a bat. Weiss readied herself as he closed into striking range. "Ya know, at least rif-raf ain't ignorant. Not like trash, like you." The two scowled at each other, he down his nose at the shorter girl and she tucked her chin with a glare at him.
Lukas thrust with the blunt end of his bat only for Weiss to pirouette from it and reciprocate with her own thrust, a sneering expression cast at him as if he was below her. Lukas grinned mischievously as he pressed a button on his bat and a small valve opened, discharging dust and driving the side of his bat into her ribs.
His victory was short-lived as Weiss flicked her wrist and a black glyph appeared at his feet. Suddenly he was slammed to the floor face first as she regained her composure. She shot a sharp scowl at him as he glared back up at her. The two continued exchanging verbal and physical strikes with each other lost, in their own worlds of righteousness.
-Chapter End-