Training Over Weeks…
From the moment Link returned from his confrontation with Dee to now, one month removed, he's been preparing for the Valean Mini-Tourney. Learning his, studying up on the competition with Ruby and Jaune, and upping his physique.
"Strange how one of them pretty much has a girl version of my name, though not unlikely given legends can play a part in how parents name their children today. I'm more concerned with just how little information there is on her compared to the rest."
All of this coupled with what training one could gleam from classes and the growing strength of his comrades. Link took every advantage offered, whether it be asking his teachers questions on anything he felt would give him even the smallest of edges or inquiring about extra material.
Some things likely weren't going to help him in a tournament setting, but he wouldn't ignore anything he could acquire. After all, this tournament wasn't the end all be all. It was but a large point, from which Link would continue down this path of acquired strength he was already on.
Ozpin's Office: Morning…
Link exited the elevator and approached Ozpin's desk. "You wished to see me, headmaster?"
He'd received a message from this man shortly after finishing his morning jog with Pyrrha.
"Indeed, Link." Ozpin nodded. "I've put a lot of thought into the request you made, pulled a great deal of information of just how you, RNBW, and JYLN have been doing in your classes. Quite frankly, I've noticed improvements that make me inclined to grant your request."
"I take it by how you speak, you have conditions." Link noted.
"The monthly extermination, within the Emerald Forest, is typically assigned to staff or older students seeking extra credit." Ozpin voiced. "That said, you should have the general idea I'm fine with bending the rules. Just know, teachers will be dispatched if you are overwhelmed."
"Makes sense." Link noted.
Ozpin leaned forward in his seat. "What would you say if I told you I intended to use this opportunity as an assessment?"
"An assessment?" Link asked.
"While the monthly extermination does need to be attended to, three older Grimm have taken to the Emerald Forest." Ozpin informed. "Two of them are like those you faced with RNBW and JYLN while the last is smaller, though no less dangerous.
In addition to being tasked with taking out as many Grimm as possible, I'd want RNBW and JYLN to take on the first two Grimm while you alone tackle the remaining Grimm. This would allow me to assess the two teams, as well as you."
"Are you going to tell us what these Grimm are?" Link questioned.
"Part of the assessment will be seeing how you all deal with the unknown, though I believe you'll know the Grimm when you see them." Ozpin stated. "I do believe any of you are capable of at least holding your own until I dispatch help. That is, should it be needed."
"I'll need to discuss this with the others." Link stated.
"Of course, though do find an answer by the end of the day." Ozpin stated. "Should all nine of you be in agreement, the pilot will be ready to take you to your drop off locations tomorrow morning."
"Understood." Link returned before taking his leave.
Third Floor Combat Room: Later…
Link relayed how his visit with Ozpin went, informing them they'd get to handle the monthly extermination provided they agreed to the headmaster's assessment. Some were excited at the prospect of fighting older Grimm again while others were understandably weary.
"Doesn't sound like much of a condition to me!" Nora declared.
"I know, right." Yang held up a fist, seeing the orange haired girl fist bump her.
"I don't know." Jaune rubbed his chin. "Even though Professor Ozpin notes our improvement, I think it'd make more sense for him to use this opportunity to assess higher years."
"Not to mention he wants Link to handle one of these Grimm alone." Ruby stated worriedly.
When Link brought applying for the monthly extermination to their attention, she had been among the first to agree. While Ruby still wanted this, she wasn't certain about Link handling something like this alone. Ruby thought of Link as the strongest in their year.
The only one capable of contesting that was Pyrrha given just how close their spar had been. What all this amounted to was the fact Summer Rose had been strong. As Ruby understood it, her mother left for a mission alone yet hadn't returned.
"It wouldn't be the first time I've fought older Grimm on my own." Link voiced. "That Aquamentus I took on during our Forever Falls trip is only the most recent example."
Given the role Link had filled within the caravans, you didn't get the choice not to fight. The wilderness past the outermost frontier towns were off limits, and they typically steered clear of confirmed older Grimm. Even then, you couldn't avoid all danger out there.
"If the opportunity to not fight alone is there…" Ruby began.
"Except, that opportunity doesn't exist." Link interrupted with a small smile. "Ozpin was clear on his condition. While we don't necessarily need to do this, we can always go into the Emerald Forest another day, tomorrow provides the best opportunity to see just how far we've come."
He shook his head and walked to the door. "In the end, this is a choice you must make for yourselves. Whatever your decision, let no one here judge you for it." He opened the door. "You have until the end of the day. If I don't receive an answer, I'll assume we aren't doing this."
Link wanted to take hold of every opportunity, not just for the coming tournament. That was a short-term objective compared to the long-term reason he made nearly every decision these days. He would not allow his legend to pressure his friends into something they didn't want.
"Who is against this after hearing that?" Yang asked, as Link left them. "It's not me."
"I'm all for breaking some Grimm." Nora declared.
"We've worked hard, though haven't fought Grimm since initiation." Ren added. "This seems like an opportunity we should not pass up."
"I still don't know what Professor Ozpin is hoping to accomplish, though I'm not going to let that stop me from getting something from this." Jaune shook his head. "I'd like to take what I've learned and apply it somewhere beyond Sparring & Team Building."
Over the last month, Jaune came to feel secure in his understanding of the basics. Sure, Link only called him passable, but that was down to his fellow blond being a hard mentor. Given Jaune's better understanding of the harsh world they inhabited, it was reasonable.
Beyond knowing how to better use his weapons, Jaune felt secure in his physique, understanding of Grimm, and role as a leader. Now, regardless of Ozpin's motivation in allowing this and assessing them, he wanted to see just how far he's come.
"I believe Link will be fine with whatever Grimm he is put up against." Blake voiced.
"I highly doubt Professor Ozpin would place any of us in a truly unwinnable situation." Weiss agreed.
"I think this is a wonderful opportunity." Pyrrha stated, confident in all their abilities.
"I feel like Link's too keen to go everything alone." Ruby stated, drawing everyone's attention. "Perhaps I'm the last person who should be saying this, given the things I've done alone. It's also not like I don't recognize the need to do things alone.
It just seems like such a stark difference. Sometimes there isn't a choice in going alone, and it's also how most Hunters operate, given what we're learning in classes. Even then, something else we learned is you shouldn't be adverse to asking for help."
The others had to admit there was a level of truth to what Ruby said. Sure, Link asked for their help in training for the coming Valean Mini-Tourney, but that was rather small compared to what the green glad swordsman seemed to be concealing from them.
If one were to think about it, they could reason the fact Link concealed stuff from them was what led to his preference for handling things alone. Weather by choice or habit, he was someone who helped them without seeking help in return unless it was necessary.
"I don't think there's much we can do to make Link tell us anything more than what he has, Rubes." Yang voiced, causing her sister's head to drop. "He seems intent on revealing whatever secrets he's holding when he's ready.
When it comes to the immediate, see if he'll promise to put in a call on his scroll if he's in trouble. He did initially lie to us by omission during the trip to Forever Falls, and he's not being honest with us, though none of it was malicious. I think those aside, he's worth his word."
"Yeah, okay." Ruby nodded. "I'll tell Link I'll agree if he promises to send a distress message should his Grimm be too much to handle."
Emerald Forest: Morning…
Link agreed to Ruby's request and received everyone's acceptance, letting him send them in to Ozpin. Come next morning, the students arrived at the docks and boarded the airship. Sequentially, they were dropped off throughout the Emerald Forest.
With RNBW
Team RNBW were confronted by a large number of Ursa, which emerged from the brush all around them to encircle the girls. Every Grimm there growled, ready to try tearing them apart. The key word being 'try'.
"Let's get to work, Team RNBW!" Ruby declared, drawing Crescent Rose.
Pyrrha kicked off the fight by launching Milo, in spear mode, with the aid of a rifle round. It soared straight through an Ursa, seeing it drop to the ground, before she utilized her Semblance to recall it. Weiss glided around the clearing, rapidly thrusting her rapier into the Grimm.
This set them up for Blake, who swung her weapon by the ribbon on the follow up. Ruby propelled herself with Crescent Rose, showcasing why the scythe was so deadly by cleaving through the Grimm.
With JYLN
Team JYLN were confronted by Boarbatusk and Beowolves, who were streaming in from the left and right, respectively. Two different packs of Grimm, both having sensed the students, though no larger than the pack Team RNBW were facing.
"Nora, you and Yang handle the Boarbatusk." Jaune ordered. "Ren, stick close to me as we take care of the Beowolves."
Back on their first day, Weiss had tackled a singular Boarbatusk in Grimm Studies. While any Hunter worth their salt shouldn't pick and choose what Grimm they fought, that one had still been a poor match up for the heiress.
Even though she did eventually fell the Grimm, it was self-evident Ruby's advice had led to her victory. Conversely Yang and Nora, while by no means sloppy fighters, relied more on their strength. Both certainly had strength enough to overcome the Boarbatusk.
They threw punches enhanced by shotgun mechanisms and swung their hammer, respectively. The two of them also stuck together, covering for one another. Over with the boys of the team, Jaune took point while Ren followed after him.
The leader zeroed in on the nearest Beowolf and swung his blade rapidly. While by no means fluid, like what Link and Pyrrha could do, he certainly showed improvement to the point his blade eventually overcame the Grimm.
He didn't get time to marvel as three Beowolves charged him. Before they could touch him, Ren lunged forward and utilized well-placed strikes, infused with Aura, to set them up. Jaune followed through, slicing them apart as Ren was already running at more Beowolves.
With Link
Bodies of Grimm were lain out and evaporating. Link returned his claymore to his inventory and pressed on through the Emerald Forest. As indicated from the map they were all given, he would soon reach the area where he'd search for the older Grimm he was to slay.
Team RNBW vs Deathstalker
Team RNBW had come across a clearing where they found their larger Grimm, at least they were fairly certain this was it given they haven't seen a Deathstalker this size since initiation. Even if it wasn't their target, they were still tasked with extermination regardless.
"Let's move!" Ruby declared, changing Crescent Rose to scythe mode.
She then kicked things off with her Semblance, speeding at the Grimm. Ruby proceeded to expertly swing her weapon into the Grimm repeatedly until she jumped away, changing her weapon to its sniper form and getting off a shot.
With its attention on Ruby, Blake threw out Gambol Shroud and maneuvered with it to bind the Grimm's tail to the trunk of a nearby tree. She pulled the ribbon taunt, entrapping the Deathstalker and seeing it attempting to struggle free.
Blake looked to the Spartan. "Pyrrha!"
Pyrrha nodded as she lept atop the Grimm.
Ruby saw this before looking to Weiss, calling out a command. "White Rose!
Weiss nodded, shifting Myrtenaster's canister to white while Ruby sped off. Now on the Deathstalker, Pyrrha swung Milo while using Polarity to increase the strength of her slash. The Grimm's stinger was removed in one, fluid motion.
While the Grimm was now free of the tree, it was suddenly surrounded by pale white glyphs which Ruby ran onto. Pyrrha lept off just before her leader, using her own Semblance in conjunction with Glyphs, became a blur as she landed devastating slashes across the Grimm.
Immediately after the barrage of slashes, the Death Stalker used one of its pincers to cut a tree. It then swung its severed tail into it sending the large hunk of wood at Pyrrha and Ruby, who had come to stand with the Spartan.
The two girls were quick to scatter, seeing the tree hitting the ground while Blake came in from above the Grimm and landed a slice which saw its attention on her. As the Grimm tried to attack, Blake left a shadow to take the hit before slicing some more.
This eventually culminated in her utilizing Fire Dust within her shadow and getting back as the Deathstalker struck resulting in an explosion that staggered it. In its current state, Weiss thrust her rapier into the ground and sent out ice dust to entrap the Grimm.
Rwby then lept and used the recoil of Crescent Rose to gain some altitude. "Pyrrha, Milk and Ceral!"
Pyrrha utilized Polarity on Crescent Rose to push Ruby higher. Then, the leader began firing and the Spartan maneuvered her hand with it to essentially turn the younger girl into a blurring pinwheel of death. She came down, cleaving the Grimm in two.
Ruby did stick the landing, though she was visibly dizzy and stumbling as the two halves of the Grimm collapsed. "Uh, still not used to the spinning."
She would have fallen over if not for Blake being there to catch the younger girl. "Take a few minutes to regain yourself."
"Thank you, Blake." Ruby groaned.
Team JYLN vs Geist
"Maybe I was too eager to come out here for this."
It was all Jaune could think as his team was now facing a monstrosity. To put things into context, Team JYLN had exterminated another small horde of Grimm before entering a clearing. Said clearing was the crash site of a Vale Defense Force Bullhead.
The airship had smashed through several trees before hitting the ground. While it obviously couldn't fly, Jaune imagined the people who had piloted this would have flown it out if it were operable. As soon as the team entered the clearing, a Geist entered the airship.
It proceeded to suck in wreckage, rocks, and downed trees to generate a body. The airship served as a torso, scraps of metal and rocks formed joints, three of its limbs were trees, and one of its arms was made of wings with a rapid fire, recoilless rifle.
The Geist's giant eye stared at them from what had been the cockpit. This Geist's new body was of a similar size to Grimm like that Deathstalker and Nevermore they'd encountered in initiation. It was more than willing to put that size to use by swinging its tree limb down.
"Scatter!" Jaune called out.
The team broke off into pairs, Ren and Nora to the left while Jaune and Yang went right, but the sheer force of the trunk impacting the ground pushed them further from each other. The Geist pointed its rifle at Jaune and Yang, seeing the pair quickly getting into the cover of the trees.
Ren and Nora followed suit as the Geist attempted to spray the pair down. Despite the four now being in cover, it didn't stop the Grimm from continuing to fire. They could all also hear heavy footfalls as the Grimm advanced.
"Since when do Grimm get to have guns?" Nora questioned, sounding offended by the notion.
"It's what Geist do." Jaune answered, having read ahead. "They're special, like Nightmares. The difference is they don't reside in people, rather they'll take over inanimate objects to generate bodies. In some cases, they strike gold and get something that can already act as a body."
Their conversation ceased as the bullets cut down several branches, seeing them all noting that Geist was closing in.
"What is the game plan, fearless leader?" Yang asked.
"We can't let it use its firepower, so we've got to lure it further from the clearing, let the trees get in its way." Jaune answered. "It won't have much room to maneuver while we can use cover to get close."
"The Geist's footfalls stopped at the edge of the clearing." Ren informed, having been listening as more bullets hammered their cover and generated sawdust. "It appears content shooting from the clearing."
"I'm going to put my large reserve of Aura to use." Jaune informed. "Ren, you'll draw the Geist's attention while I move around it to the clearing. When you hear me yell, get back into cover and use your Semblance to get hidden."
"What are Nora and I supposed to do?" Yang asked.
"As Ren draws the Geist's attention, Nora will activate the Lightning Dust in her hammer, and you'll grip onto it at the same time." Jaune voiced. "The two of you are going to charge your Semblances. Then, you'll run out when I've got the Geist's attention and hit it hard repeatedly."
The other three trusted Jaune to give them a plan, so they would put it into action. Before anything more could be said, there was an eerie silence. All four students peaked around the edges of their respective trees, only to see an enormous rock hurtling towards them.
"Scatter, work on the plan!" Jaune yelled, already running.
The rest followed suit, the trees they had been behind smashed by the boulder, with Yang and Nora sticking together. As Ren lept onto the nearest branch he could reach, the girls found new cover. Nora then activated the Lightning Dust in her hammer before both gripped it.
Nora's Aura absorbed the electricity while Yang felt it through hers. Ren soon lept into view of the Grimm while deploying his weapons from his sleeves and proceeded to have a gun duel with the Geist. He lept through trees to avoid its gunfire while firing back to hold its attention.
Jaune eventually reached behind the Grimm where he drew his shield and sword to wail on the tree trunk legs the Geist had created. "HEY, DOWN HERE!"
The Geist began to turn, prompting Ren to get in cover and utilize his Semblance to ensure he wouldn't be spotted. Jaune lept back from the Grimm before sheathing his weapons. He knew, as he was now, he couldn't really take a Grimm like this himself.
"Maybe I should look into getting a gun myself, though I don't think a hand rifle is for me like it is Link." Given Jaune was drawing this monstrosity's attention, he kind of needed to turn his mind elsewhere to not think just how stupid this was.
"I don't think mecha shift is for me either, though maybe Ruby can still do something cool with my weapons." With the Grimm's full attention on him, the leader looked up. "You know, I was down here." Jaune turned and began sprinting. "Now, I'm heading this way!"
The Geist did not hesitate to fire on him, nailing Jaune several times in the back as he ran. Given he knew what to expect, his Aura wasn't as impacted. That's not to say the bullets didn't do a thing to his Aura, far from it. After all, this was a far larger gun than even a sniper rifle.
None of that scratched the surface of how each impact had Jaune stumbling, threatening to send him tumbling to the ground. Honestly, he had no idea how he remained on his feet. Even knowing his Aura reserves were large, they were holding better than he thought as well.
Jaune's Aura was only now starting to shimmer as he reached the other end of the clearing, breaking into the tree line and ducking for cover. The Geist focused its fire as it now lumbered after him across the clearing. When it was back in the middle, Yang and Nora stepped in.
One glowing with flames licking off her, the other sparking with electricity as they emerged from the forest. The pair were then blurs of red tinged yellow and pink tinged orange as they rushed the Grimm. The pair began pummeling it, rapidly thrown fists and flurries of hammer strikes
The Geist could not retreat nor had time to reform any of its cobbled together body. Its only recourse was to fly out of its body as the two girls wailed on it. The Grimm would have fled, too smart to fight such a pointless battle, if not for a hail storm of bullets.
Ren had lept up along a tree, straight to the top of it, upon hearing the girls demolishing the
Grimm's body. This allowed him to see the Grimm attempting to flee, prompting him to fire on it and force it back to the ground.
"Jaune!" Ren called out.
The blond came out from cover, seeing the Grimm suppressed by Ren. In that moment, he took his shield and hurled it with all his mighty. While not designed like Link's shield, evident by the wobble as it flew, the shield still struck true as it was embedded within the Geist's mask.
Yang and Nora were just now stopping, the Geist's cobbled body nothing but pebbles, metal scrap, and bark, and watched with Ren and Jaune as the Grimm collapsed to the ground. As it dissipated, Jaune sighed in relief while collapsing to one knee.
Link vs Lynel
Link had reached the ruins where he, Cardin, Russel, RNBW, and JYLN had made their stand against the Deathstalker, Nevermore, and half of a King Taijitu. There, standing before the broken bridge, was what he assumed to be his target. It was the Grimm version of a Lynel.
It was the usual Grimm black with red veins. This one lacked bone plating, though it was still quite dangerous all the same and its hide would still be tough. It had the body of a large horse, the torso of a very muscular man, and the head of a lion with white hair.
A pair of curved horns sprouted from its forehead while its body was scarred in multiple places, an indicator of prior battles. Strapped to its sides were its bone weapons: A wide sword, a shield with sharpened edges, a bow with black wire, and a quiver of arrows.
It turned towards him, prompting Link's to flatten himself against the ground, needing a moment to process the challenge ahead. "It's alert, been awhile since it's last challenge, so it most likely expects one. I'll need to close the distance fast."
Link withdrew his sword and shield and took a deep breath before breaking from cover. He sprinted at the Lynel, full speed. When it noticed the Human, the Lynel's red eyes glowed fiercely as it roared and withdrew its bow. The Grimm aimed at Link and loosed an arrow.
He just managed to avoid taking the shot by rolling forward. Even though his Aura would protect him, he wasn't one to needlessly waste his on thinking himself invincible. Link then managed to close the distance before the Lynel could notch another arrow.
He proceeded to draw his sword back hoping to plunge the blade into the monster. The Lynel looked at him, its flat nose flaring, and swung its bow at Link like a two-handed bludgeon. The student got his shield up, blocking the strike which saw him skidding back along the ground.
With the sound of the Lynel's hooves pounding the ground, it was clear this Grimm wasn't content waiting. As it ran, the monster notched a second arrow as it intended to land a direct shot. Link immediately rolled as far to the side as possible upon the arrow being fired.
It was embedded into the ground with a great deal of force, followed by the Lynel chagrining past where the student had been. Link now rushed the Lynel, which swung its bow again. Anticipating this, he dodged at just the right time to engage his Semblance.
With the immediate area slowed, link blitzed forward to slash his blade into the Lynel, leaving it with several cuts all over its body. As time resumed, the Lynel reared back on its hindquarters. Link immediately rolled back to avoid the Grimm kicking him.
When the hooves came back down, the ground shook, but Link stood there unwilling to back down. For a moment, the two of them stood still with their eyes locked. The Lynel then strapped the bow to its waist before pulling its sword and shield free.
Link exhaled slowly as the Grimm roared its challenge and charged, drawing its sword arm back. Link waited until the last moment before leaping to the side. He avoided the crushing hooves and wicked blade's arc as time slowed once again. Link utilized it to slash at the Grimm's side.
When time resumed, the Lynel charged ahead only to come back around in a large arc with its expression one of fury. The creature was large and powerful with long arms, but Link had the advantage of being far nimbler. As the Lynel passed by, Link scored a shallow cut on its rear hip.
This was without the need for his Semblance. The Lynel then swung its sword back, but its opponent was already out of range. The Lynel looped back around; nostrils flared in anger. It didn't charge again though and instead approached with more caution.
The Grimm began to swing its sword, forcing Link back but never managing to land a hit. "Remain light on my feet." He was dancing around the Grimm. "Make it angry, sloppy."
In line with that, Link only worked in superficial damage so as to not overextend and make a potential mistake. It was working as the Lynel only kept growing angrier. With its next sword strike, the Grimm attempted to thrust its sword towards Link's heart.
He moved to the side and used his shield to slam the Lynel's blade down. This was it, Link spun while flowing his green Aura into his blade. The Grimm attempted to block with its shield, but it was held in the Lynel's left arm while Link came in from the right.
This saw the student's blade tearing through its neck, the Grimm's head coming clean off. Said head, body, and its weapons all fell to the ground with a thud before starting to dissipate. Link took a deep breath before sheathing his weapons.
Ozpin's Office
Ozpin sipped from his mug, having just watched the final of the three older Grimm fall to these students. Prior to them taking these Grimm on, they had all felled many Grimm. Given they were to be out there all day, he imagined they'd fell plenty more before this evening.
"Quite the marked improvement for roughly two months now." Ozpin noted, closing the video.
On his scroll's home page there were three separate folders. Two of them were for each team, within them would be videos of the team along with reports. Not to mention separate folders which contained the same. Link himself had the third folder, it alone next to the prior two.
"Haven't quite seen students with this level of potential since Team STRQ." Ozpin thought.
While Qrow was one of his most valued agents, he knew well things could have certainly gone better. As such, it warranted far more careful consideration and planning as he approached things. Still, today's assessment was already a resounding success.
"To think, they still have half a day to exterminate more Grimm." Ozpin closed his eyes. "Nine students, all with such potential that is being cultivated quite well."
With this chapter, all 8 competitors for the Valean Mini-Tourney have been cemented. The matches shall follow a standard tournament bracket, with the initial four of the first round being as follows:
Dee vs Cardin
Link vs Coco
Revali vs Linkle
Impa vs Yatsuhashi
I have also decided to push off the other content I initially wanted to do in this time frame into a future chapter, meaning the tournament kicks off next chapter. As for why Link had nothing much to say about Linkle, the reasoning is within this chapter. There isn't too much information on her, and I will say Hyrule Warriors isn't canon. This doesn't mean elements, such as Wizzro, can't be used.
It just means the story of Hyrule Warriors isn't counted among the 'legends' known to this version of Remnant. Link will certainly have differing thoughts when he actually meats Linkle, but that is for next chapter. As for why this chapter came about? I simply thought this story could use a little more Grimm combat.
the mysterious Mr.E: Thank you.
Wicker3: I think it has something to do with the wildfires out in Los Angeles. As for Nora's hammer, I have an idea for name changes to weapons, though that comes later.
Gojosin: Thank you.