A/N Fight Fight Fight!
Alt title: That's it. That's all there is in this chapter.
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Marveldcfanficlover: This is just Ruby's first real relationship. She has time to bounce back.
Samejake: How do I sleep at night? With a Chihuahua snuggled against me.
GideonBlackthorn: Happy!
Devnikolus: I'm thinking about it.
Remnant of War: They just saw Cyril beat the world renown Invincible Girl, barehanded. They want to wear him out.
SamuelAtomizer: Tsundere Raven? What? I is the confusion!
A Dancing Leaf: I've been updating my other fics too! Check out Zamaina and Kitsu!
As for the police and rogue hunters? Yes and no. Yes they assist, but Rogues are usually handled by specialized individuals.
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-Date, Time-
'Thoughts'
"Speech"
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-Beacon, 11/09, Combat Class-
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Cyril Leon POV
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"Tag Nora!" Jaune shouts before barreling into the locker room after Pyrrha.
'I, I think I fucked up.' I think to myself as I can't help but feel like I'm in the wrong here.
"Okay then." Tai shrugs after a bit of silence, and goes back to his tablet. "Nix Kalt!"
"Fuckin' ace!" I hear the voice of the blue haired fish girl. From Menagerie's first year representative team, Team Dark.
She runs down the stairs with a manic eagerness.
I sigh as I walk to the end of the ring and take my position. The short and pale, long blue haired girl wearing a blue crop top with a rubber black and blue jacket over it, black pants and a black over layer skirt. Like the skirt thing Archer from Fate Stay Night has.
'Come to think of it, Alice has a similar over layer drape. And Adam wears one as well.' I think curiously as the girl with fish fins on her forearms pulls out two chainsaw swords. 'Is it a Menagerian thing? I'll look it up later.'
Activating my semblance, I scan her form. Not knowing that much about her, other than she's Menagerie's shorter version of Nora.
As she moves into a fighting stance, I catch the glimpse of what I assume are personalized dust grenades. Partially concealed by her front open, over skirt thing.
Resuming, I hear Tai call the match to start. And Nix wastes no time in charging me as I still have yet to take my axes out.
She gets within five feet of me when a small semi-transparent wall of light blue aura, about shin high, forms in front of her. Whereupon she uses it as a launch pad to jump up and flip as she swings her swords like a deadly gyro.
Activating my semblance, I duck and step forward. Being used to taking losses from Ruby who not only uses a similar style of attack, but is much faster and agile.
Reaching up as the girl whiffs over me, I snag one of her grenades from her belt and pocket it as I move over the hurdle she made.
Resuming, I turn around as she lands behind me and throws a back kick. One that falls short as I'm already too far.
Putting my hands in my pockets, I watch as the hurdle disappears. Nix turns to face me, her manic smile gone as she focuses on me.
"Ain't this the point you give some bluster and blubber?" She asks with furrowed brows.
My time with Velvet tells me she means I'm supposed to taunt her.
"Would if you were worth it." I shrug, and her grin returns as she charges again.
This time she goes for a power slide as I step back. But feel my back hit a wall. My eyes going wide as her swords hit my legs and the wall disappears. Effectively kneecapping my legs and forcing me to fall forward as she pivots her slide to turn around on one knee and swings the other sword into my back. Forcing me to the floor.
'Okay, now I'm upset.' I think as my chin hits the ground.
The moment her sword lets up, I roll away and get to my knees as I unsheathe my axes.
She's not letting up as she's right in my face. Her right arm in position for a back swing to my neck. Bringing my axe up, I intercept her hit. But the chainsaw of her sword revs up. Pulling my axe towards her as the teeth move and snag the blade. While her left sword is heading for my side.
Thinking fast, I pull the trigger as soon as my axe is angled at her head. Nailing her right in the forehead, causing her to stumble back and miss my side as the saw passes by right in front of my gut.
I'm actually proud of myself for that one! Didn't use my semblance for it.
Getting up from my kneeling position, I watch a wall appear behind her and catch her. Before disappearing immediately.
She shakes her head and snarls at me. All amusement in her demeanor from earlier now gone. Not that I blame her, getting hit in the head hurts like a bitch.
"Fight me for real!" She stomps her foot and reaches for one of her grenades and tosses it at me.
Activating my semblance, I reach into my pocket and pull the grenade I snagged from her earlier in the fight. And hurl it at the grenade she tossed. Hitting it midway between us, and causing both to explode. I cut off my semblance and let time resume.
As soon as that happens, she remains stunned with a slack jawed expression. And I just smirk.
"I am fighting you seriously." I smirk. "Might wanna check your belt."
I'm bluffing, but the moment of panic as she looks away and checks herself is all I need.
Running up to her, she snaps her head to me. And I get close enough to see the whites of her eyes. Her wide-eyed expression as she's caught off guard being priceless.
Not stopping, I deliver a hell of a right hook haymaker to the shorter girl's face. Throwing her onto her back as I pivot on my heel to turn around and bring a foot up to stomp her face as she hits the ground.
"Agh! You cunt!" She shouts just before I move my axe and shoot her in the head, sounding the buzzer.
"Two for me." I shrug as I look to the board. "Hey teach! Do we get a list of who's out?"
"Nope!" Tai calls back. "It's up to you to keep track of who is unavailable to fight. This entire exercise is meant to be a simulation of open conflict in the field. You need to know who's available, and you need to be prepared to have any break you may get be cut short at a moments notice."
'That actually makes a lot of sense.' I mentally concede. 'So far, it's Pyrrha and Nix.'
"Alright, next up is… Scarlet David!" He calls.
"Bloody hell." I hear a man sigh as I look to the bleachers and spot the man with boyish features, half his head shaved as he gets up and walks down the stairs. No red coat like from canon, just the white shirt and grey bandana around his neck.
I stand here and wait as he gets to the arena where he takes his position. Pulling his cutlass out, he takes a duelist stance. Standing straight and with his side facing me. Sword pointed to the ground as he holds his flintlock up.
"If you wouldn't mind, I'd appreciate a bit more class in our fight." He says with a pompous and tired tone. "Please?"
"Hey." I hold my arms out. "I fight how I was taught by my old man."
"And just how were you taught?" He asks with the brow I can see being raised in question.
"That there's no such thing as a fair fight." I say and the man's stare hardens.
"Not to interrupt, but we only have until lunch." Tai speaks up. "So, fighters ready?"
"Yep." I say and go back to my relaxed stance. Knowing it upsets most opponents.
"I suppose." Scarlet says after taking a breath through his nose.
The buzzer sounds, and neither of us move for a good few seconds.
"Not going to rush me?" I ask with a roll of my shoulders.
"I saw how that strategy ends." He huffs. "I've no intention of-"
I aim my axe and pull the trigger. He dodges the shot by stepping back and I charge towards him. Deciding to take the lead in this fight.
Running up to the thin man, I attach my axes to my vambraces. Letting the chain distend slightly and act as a safety hold for what I'm about to do.
Scarlet doesn't do anything as I approach, and once I'm in melee range, he lowers his flintlock at me. Where I let go of my right axe to free my hand and reach up, moving his aim away from me.
Not caught off guard, he thrusts his cutlass into my gut. Letting the hit connect, I squeeze the man's wrist. Causing him to wince under my grip, but not drop his flintlock.
"Heads up." I say as I jerk his arm and twist the man half my weight into a chicken wing. "I'm going to choke you now."
"Huh?" He asks as I put him in a headlock. "Gck!"
I was going to use the chain on my axes to strangle him. But he is really light. Not Weiss levels, I could probably hold her up with one arm if I wanted to. But still enough that he really should not have let me get this close.
About a minute in and Tai makes me stop, seeing Scarlet tapping my arm and tagging out.
"Bugger all!" He coughs as I let him go. He then turns to me and looks me up and down, gaining a blush he asks. "Don't suppose you'd be interested in a, private session?"
"I'm straight." I say before Ruby can yell at him.
"Course you are." He clicks his tongue and crosses his arms in frustration. "Sun!"
"Dude!" Sun calls back.
Looking over to the monkey Faunus, I grin as he throws his arms out in disbelief. Before letting them fall as he gets up.
"Tell you what Sun, here's the deal." I say as he enters the arena circle. "I'm getting tired and sore, forfeit and I won't kick your ass worse than the last time."
I'm at about eighty percent aura, he's back to full. And I've got two points opposed to his none. I've also been fighting for nearly twenty minutes straight at this point.
So I'm a bit grumpy. Also why I'm not doing anything too extra as I'm making an effort to pace myself.
"Just means I have a better chance!" He says with a grin as he connects his nun-chucks into a three part staff. Middle part resting behind his neck, the two ends distending from chains as he holds the ends in his hands.
"Alright, I tried." I shrug as the buzzer sounds.
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Weiss Schnee POV
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"I feel a little bad." Ruby says with her head in my lap. "I mean, it was a little mean of us to throw him at Pyrrha like that."
'Not like we had much choice.' I think to myself as I watch Sun charge Cyril.
Cyril is proving most effective against academy students and those who are slower than him. The only one with comparable speed to him so far, made the mistake of letting Cyril get close to him.
Cyril may fight like a barbaric ruffian, but there is one thing he actually has form in. Holds and grapples.
"I don't." My partner scoffs and I watch Cyril catch the end of the chain staff in one hand. "I'm just upset I wasted my point."
I tune them out as I watch Cyril kick Sun in the gut. Forcing him to relinquish part of his staff as he detaches it into nun-chucks. Keeping hold of one end while Cyril keeps ahold of the other.
Cyril sheathes his right axe and starts swinging the nun-chuck.
"There's no way he knows how to use that, right?" I ask out loud to no one in particular.
"Not competently." Ruby says as I run my hand through her hair. "Nun-chucks are one of the most difficult weapons to master. More than a flail or throwing knives."
"So he's just playing then?" Blake scoffs as Cyril starts, mimicking Sun's movements with the weapon.
Swinging it and switching which end he's holding without losing the momentum of the swing as he tosses it up and catches it. And then swinging it to rest one end under his arm.
"My dad also had a pair." Cyril smirks at Sun's dumfounded look. "They were normal pairs, not guns as well but still."
"I thought he was, you know." Blake whispers. "Abandoned?"
'That is absurdly rude and uncalled for!' I think as I look to my partner while trying not to make a scene. 'There are people here. Someone could be listening in!'
"He refers to his step dad as his dad." Ruby answers for me as I keep my frustration from showing.
Focusing on the fight, I watch as Sun tries to swing his nun-chuck down on Cyril, only for Cyril to perfectly counter Sun's swing and tangle the nun-chucks. Before Cyril does what he does best, and play dirty. And many of us cover our own crotches and wince at Cyril's next move.
"Haaaaaaaaaa!" Sun cries as he gets a foot to the crotch and goes to his knees where Cyril puts his own knee to Sun's chin.
Sun is still in the green for aura, but it's clear he's not getting up anytime soon. And so the match goes to Cyril as Sun hobbles off the stage.
"How long is this going to last?" Blake asks.
"The problem is they're all fighting him the wrong way." Ruby says. "So far, Sun had the best chance until he let Cyril take his weapon."
"What do you mean?" I ask my girlfriend.
"Cyril struggles against faster opponents." Ruby begins explaining. "His secondary lets him plan and react in mere moments. So you have to move faster than he can think. If I were Sun, I would've used the nun-chucks separately. That way he'd strain Cyril's focus, because even if he thinks fast, it doesn't mean he moves fast."
'Why hadn't I thought of that?' I ponder.
"Tag, Blake!" Cyril calls as Dove takes the stage. Dove holds his left arm out in offense at being traded out so quickly.
"Fuck me." Blake sighs as she gets up and trades spots with Cyril in the arena.
Cyril walks up and takes the end of the bleachers. Laying face down on the seats as the fight starts.
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-3 minutes later-
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"Tag out, Nebula!" Dove calls out as Blake slips behind him and was prepared to hack at the back of his neck with her cleaver.
"What?" Blake pants, already a bit winded as she rushed Dove and forced him into taking the defensive.
He's at about half, and Blake is at three fourths. But between the two of them, Blake is clearly more worse for wear.
"Wow Cyril, I think this challenge is built for you." Ruby remarks as she sits up.
"How?" The man asks as he sits up as well, and scoots over to be closer to her.
"Because you're lazy." She says. "Look at Blake, she went into the fight seriously and now she might not last another round. Whereas you kept letting people attack you. This is a competition of attrition and strategy, staying on the defensive as much as possible is the best play here. Go rushing head first, and you can tire yourself out enough for your opponent to swap."
We're both silent as we look to the red hooded Faunus between us. Contemplating her words as she notices our attention on her. She looks between the two of us, a blush on her face as she sinks her head down.
"W-what?" She asks nervously.
"Nothing." Cyril says with a soft shake of his head. "Just, surprised is all. You're normally such a ditz that it's surprising when you're smart."
"Hey!" Ruby shoots up, her blush turning into an angry pout. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing." He says simply as he looks out at the fight between the Vacuoan and Menagerian.
"Beautiful answer." I say dryly as I rest my elbows on my knees and watch the fight proceed.
"Thank you." Cyril says, earning a side eye from me. Not that he looks at me, even though he should.
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Because I was talking to him! Anyway.
The fight starts and Blake hangs back, choosing to switch Gambol Shroud to it's automatic pistol form as she fires at the purple colored peer.
"Hey!" Ruby whines and shakes Cyril's shoulder. "Don't ignore me!"
"Ruby!" I hiss at the childish girl. "We're trying to watch the fight."
"Bu-but." She starts to say, and Cyril grabs her cheek to nudge her towards him as he silences her with a kiss. "Hmph!"
"I never said anything bad about you Ruby." He says as he comes back and rests his forehead to hers. "I said it before, I like you the way you are."
'He better not try that with me.' I think with a glare at the indecent couple.
I don't understand how he does that. There are people watching us!
"Is there anyone here who I need to worry about?" I ask as Nebula switches her crossbow to a sword and closes in on Blake, now engaging her in a melee sword fight.
"Huh?" Ruby looks to me, wide eyed and blushing. "Oh, um. You might struggle with anyone who has higher aura reserves and more defensive abilities. So, Jaune, Cardin, Bruder, Cyril and Sage."
'So I need to be tactical and focus on getting around their defenses.' I think as I look to the ones present.
"What about me?" Cyril asks, taking advantage of Ruby's tactical mind.
"You struggle against anyone who moves faster than you." Ruby says automatically. "Anyone who can attack you from multiple points at once or speed past you. So, Dorian, Alice, Ren, Sun- no wait he's out um, me, Weiss and maybe Russel if he had more skill, I haven't seen the rest fight so it mainly depends on how they go about fighting you."
That, was a much more comprehensive list than I expected. Though thinking on it, it makes sense. In battles of attrition, Cyril wins because unlike Hunters who are taught to go straight for the kill and not let the enemy gain ground or get away. Cyril never had that drilled into him.
He may be lazy, passive, untrained and reckless when he loses his patience. But when it comes to fighting, he's something of a prodigy. More so than Ruby even.
'If only he were properly trained from childhood.' I think as I try to imagine the kind of powerhouse he'd be. 'He'd be the next Briar Red, or Maria Calavera.'
I find my mind wandering as Blake's main katana is disarmed by Nebula. Leaving her with the cleaver of Gambol Shroud.
Nevermind. Blake pulled a Cyril and had the ribbon of her weapon wrapped around her wrist. And now Nebula's weapon is tangled in the ribbon as Blake hacks at the girl's head.
'If his talent is inheritable, what would his kids be like?' I wonder as I start picturing small, white haired silver eyed children with fox ears. Running up to me and showing off their glyphs as they proudly display their skill with them. They'd be so gifted, they probably unlocked their semblances mere months, no weeks after having their aura unlocked.
I'd shower them with praise and let them know just how loved they are. And how proud they make me. And Cyril, Cyril would…
I don't know. I've never seen him and how he acts around kids.
'That is, something I'll need to investigate.' I resolve to myself as Nebula tags out with Cardin.
"Are you kidding me!?" Blake yells, panting as she catches her breath, having fought for nearly ten minutes straight.
She nonetheless moves back to her starting position in the arena circle. With Cardin taking his spot, smirking at the Menagerian.
"Lucky me." He calls out as he rests his mace on his shoulder. "Looks like I get an easy win."
"Fuck you dude!" Blake hisses back.
"You wish." Cardin sneers before Mr. Xiao-Long starts the match.
Blake, doesn't move. And neither does Cardin. A minute passes as Blake's aura starts slowly coming back.
Cardin glances to the board displaying their auras and clicks his tongue. And Blake takes the distraction as incentive to attack, throwing Gambol Shroud like a shuriken, the elastic ribbon keeping it safely in her possession.
Until Cardin steps to the side and grabs the ribbon with a smirk. And yanking her over, his superior strength causing her to lose her footing as she's hauled closer to him. Once she's close enough, Cardin wastes no time in sweeping his mace.
Blake tries to jump, but Cardin pulls her by the ribbon in his grasp. Forcing her into the hit even harder as she's carried with the brutal swing. A third of her aura being immediately wiped out with the attack, calling the match.
"Huh." Cyril chuckles. "You know, it feels rather cheap that I had to fight five people to get up to two points, and Cardin takes that with one person."
"That's just how it goes sometimes." Ruby says, earning our attention as Blake plops down angrily beside me. "In the field, if you're not careful then it doesn't matter how strong you are. An A ranked Hunter can die to a lone juvenile Beowolf if they're careless or exhausted enough."
"He's just smug because he got lucky." Blake grumbles. "In a real fight-"
"In a real fight you might get unlucky just as much as this one." Cyril cuts her off as I'm starting to see the meaning of this exercise.
Everyone was focused on Cyril because he beat Pyrrha barehanded. But that only helped him win his matches as everyone was focused on trying to tire him out while prodding for his weakness. All the while everyone missed the point.
There's more than just Cyril you have to think about. You need to think about everyone here. And how you would survive against a never ending wave of opponents.
And it seems Cardin of all people picked up on that.
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Cardin Winchester POV
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'Do they really think that low of me?' I ask no one in particular as some of my classmates look surprised after I beat the cat. 'I know I've made a bit of an ass of myself, but still. That has nothing to do with my fighting ability.'
Though, it looks like Cyril and his pet mutt don't seem surprised. Not that I think they would. Silver Eyed Warriors are known for their prowess in combat, so they'd know not to underestimate others.
'Pet mutt?' I catch myself thinking. 'Damn, this act's going a bit far.'
"Scarlet David!" Teach pulls me out of my thoughts, and I hear the red head whine.
"Oh come on, I was just up." He complains.
"Hey, the system is random." Teach shrugs. "Don't blame me. Besides, Cyril and Blake went through several back to back fights."
'I got two points, and he has none.' I recall him swapping with his teammate.
The guy shrugs as he gets down here and takes his position. Taking a similar stance as before. Pistol aimed up, sword angled at the floor as he faces his side to me.
The buzzer sounds and neither of us move. Neither one of us being dumb enough to rush the other, well, that and my secondary semblance grants me more strength and resilience the longer I stay still. So it only makes sense that I take the defensive here.
My primary, let's me send out a ping of aura, and receive it back. Giving me a radar like bats have. It also let's me detect any hidden weapons the opponent might have.
And Scarlet has a chain and rotor in the handle of his blade. Similar to Cyril's but shorter.
Popping my neck, the Mistralian levels his pistol at me and fires. Hitting me square in the chest several times as he empties the gun. Causing him to tsk as my secondary makes the hits almost worthless.
He then takes the offensive and runs up on me. Where I intercept him with a sweep of my mace. Feeling my mace not hitting anything, my eyes widen as he backflips over the hit and aims his pistol at my throat and pulls the trigger. Knocking me back as I hold my neck in pain. My secondary not working since I moved.
Feeling something hook onto my armor, I send out a quick ping and realize the hook of his sword's hilt is latched onto the back of my armor.
Quickly throwing myself forward, I take the thin man with me by his weapon. While on my back, I roll and swing my mace up at the red head, only to watch in irritation as he pushes off the head of my mace and twist around the weapon like some sort of mid air break dancer as he delivers an axe kick to my face.
"Fuuuaaah!" I cry out as I go to hold my face, and receive a gunshot to the back of my hand.
'And now he's shooting me while I'm down.' I realize, thinking back to how often I've had that happen to me in the past few months.
Rolling to a knee, I swing my mace after sending out a ping. Not that it does me much good as he jumps over my attack and shoots me in the side of my head, the buzzer going off and signaling my loss.
"Fuck!" I yell as I move my hand from my face to punch the floor.
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Cyril Leon POV
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"Why didn't he do that when he fought Cyril?" Blake asks, and I have to wonder the same.
He showed some serious acrobatics there. And the constant cheapshots with the flintlock might've actually done some damage.
"Because he was afraid of Cyril catching him midair." Weiss says. "Or, that's what I assume. It's what I try to avoid in fights with him."
I smirk as I remember her squeak from the spar we had a week ago. Where I saw the glyphs she set up, and predicted her trajectory. And grabbed her by the ankle before swinging her into the floor.
She didn't hold it against me. If anything she looked turned on by being pinned down.
"Okay, what about the pistol?" Blake asks before gesturing to me. "It's not like you can dodge bullets."
"They don't know that." Ruby says. "Remember his fight with Pyrrha? Not one shot hit him as he moved out of the way."
I stay silent as Blake pieces things together in her mind. And then points an accusing look my way.
"Wait, how did you do that?" She asks. "And if you did that, why didn't you ever dodge my shots?"
"He just dodged wherever Pyrrha was aiming." Ruby rats out my tactic as Alice Blue is called to the stage. "The longer the barrel of a gun, the easier it is to tell where it's aiming. Cyril wasn't dodging bullets, he was moving out of the way just before she pulled the trig-eep!"
I pull her hood over her face and silence her.
"Stop giving away all my tricks." I hiss at the little wolf.
"We're teammates!" She shouts, her voice muffled through the fabric of her hood. "We shouldn't have secrets! Let me go!"
"No." I say as I hold her hood down. And receive a bite on my hand through the fabric for it.
We're silent for a bit as she keeps her teeth clamped on my hand through the cloth. And I just look at her with a raised brow.
"That doesn't hurt." I say, prompting her to bite harder. "You know you really aren't helping the stereotypes."
Now she bites hard. And I pull my hand away with a wince as Ruby frees herself.
"Jerk." She says as she gets up and scoots Weiss closer to me as she trades places with her.
"That's fine." I say as I pick Weiss up and place her in my lap.
"What do you think you're doing?" Weiss asks as she looks up with a glare and a blush. But doesn't do anything to stop me. "You don't get to just, manhandle me like that."
"Too bad, I did." I say as I rest my chin on her head as she grumbles.
Again, the key to knowing when Weiss doesn't want something. Is that second no. If she says no once, and then doesn't do anything else. It means she wants it, but won't say it.
It's not even a minute later that she grabs my arms and moves them to hold her.
"If you're going to be a brute, you might as well be a considerate brute and keep me warm." She says, and I give her a squeeze.
"Tag, Schnee!" We hear someone call out, having not been paying attention to the fight.
Seems Alice tagged out with Weiss.
"Very well." Weiss says as she gets up and walks down to the arena.
And Ruby takes her spot in my lap.
"My turn." She says as she crosses her arms. "But I'm still upset! Now make it up to me and hug me."
"Someone's bossy." I say as I hug her and rest my chin on her head as Weiss takes her spot across from Scarlet in the ring.
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Bruder Rake POV
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"Fifty Lien." I smirk as we spot the Silver Eyed Warrior hold the red cloaked girl. Ruby I think her name was.
"Hey!" Nyx says defiantly. "It ain't over! For all we know he could be in a rough patch with the black cat."
"Don't call her that." Alice says as she gets back up to us and moves past me to sit between her partner Dorian and Nyx.
"Sides, I think if that were the case." Dorian speaks up. "Then the cat'd be on a rough patch with'em all."
"Yer jus salty cuz you lost bad." Nyx says as she stands on the seat to point over Alice at the Tarak clansmen.
"Hey, black an' white." He holds his hands up in defense. "Was an easy assumption."
"Also an easy loss." Alice grumbles.
We"And you are bitter over losing the hardest." Nyx points down to poke Alice's head. "Bitter and Salty. Like giving a blowjob."
Dorian falls out of his seat as Alice shoves the cackling girl back. And I, ignore everything as I smile and pretend my teammate isn't a gremlin of the highest proportions.
"Why are you so, ugh." Alice sneers as Nyx kicks her feet while holding her gut.
"Oh, ah!" Is Nyx's elegant response. "Ah, it's not like you'd know anyway."
"Th-th-that's not true!" Alice blushes. "I have a boyfriend."
No she doesn't.
"Oh yeah?" Alice asks as she kicks her legs up and sits back on the bleacher. "What's his name eh?"
"Alabaster." She says immediately, and Dorian smacks his forehead as he keeps his head rested on the bleacher. "What?"
"Alabaster?" Nyx clarifies.
"Yeah." Alice says with a worried look. "Alabaster White."
"Last time you said his name was Atrium Waltz." I speak up as I look to the blushing blonde.
"No I didn't!" She says.
"Yeeeesss you did." Dorian says tiredly. "And before that you said his name was Albatross White and that he was a Sausaxe living in Vale."
"Well, that's all true." Alice tries. "Except his name. It's Alabaster Wise, I mean White."
"Well we are in Vale." Nyx says with a grin. "So why don't we-"
"We can't, he um, he moved." Alice tries to say quickly. "He got the hosting kingdom for the Vytal festival wrong and moved to, Vacuo."
"Then why-" Dorian starts to say.
"Bruder Rake!" The teacher calls out.
Looking down, I watch as the Atlesian Faunus flips her ponytail in triumph as the red haired Menagerian huffs as he heads back up the bleachers.
"Was he beaten or?" I ask my teammates.
"He tagged out." Dorian says as he gets back to his seat.
"Nice." I nod as I turn back to the arena and head down the stairs.
'Gotta say, that Cyril guy hit the absolute jackpot with her.' I think as I eye the Faunus with Duoproditism. 'Small, elegant, graceful. And that tail. Never seen one so shiny back home.'
Slim figure, schooled expression, ears and a tail? Girl's got the whole package. She could quit being a huntress and be a model with those looks. I know her catalogues would sell out on Menagerie, that's for sure.
Only real issue is how white she is. No color, I mean she could add some blue or-
'Head in the game man!' I yell at myself as I prep my shield, Honey, and my war mace, The Dipper. 'Hell, maybe you'll get to show off here.'
My mace has a gatling barrel head, that's because the staff collapses and I can attach the head to the vision divot at the top of my shield. And turn it into a mounted machine gun.
Never really get to use it in duels because it takes a few seconds to set up. Almost twice as long as the average mechashift. But hell if it isn't effective against hordes. Especially in open spaces.
The buzzer sounds and I grip the latch in my shield. Impaling the bottom into the arena floor and shooting out two wings that kick out and back.
"Fuck yes!" I hear my partner Nyx shout.
The shielded stand is in place as I move to collapse the staff of my war mace. When a black circle of aura appears under me and holds me down. Preventing me from activating it.
"Fuck no!" Nyx shouts.
'Love the support.' I think dryly as I grip my teeth as I activate my semblance and reduce the strain.
"Surrender." I hear the posh voice sound out from next to me.
Looking to the girl, then to the board. I see our auras slowly ticking down. Hers is going faster than mine, but still close enough that I'd be in no position to fight afterwards.
Grinning, I use what little strength I have and bounce my heels. Hitting the pads in my boots and activating the hidden boosters. Launching me up and away from the glyph's effect. Throwing my insectoid wings out, I hover in the air as I face the girl.
But I don't get a chance to gain any footing as she's already in my face. Slashing my neck with her rapier, then my back, then my hip, then my face, then my arm, then my hand making me drop my weapon as I'm stuck in the world's deadliest pinball machine. I can't even get my baring's to see what's happening.
And the buzzer sounds. And I hit the ground dizzier than when Nyx tried to see if she could overclock that ball thrower.
"Ugh." I moan as I roll over just in time to see the girl taking her spot in the arena. Waiting for the next opponent. "Damn, that silver eyed guy is one lucky man."
No point in being a bad sport. I lost, only thing I can do is see how. And work on that.
"He is, isn't he." She smiles and flips her hair.
'Fuck if I'm not jealous though.' I think as I get to my feet and walk out as the pink eyed Mistralian takes the stage.
Taking my seat next to Nyx, I watch as the match begins. The Mistralian dodging the fox almost expertly as she slides up to him, using her glyphs to race right up to him as she unleashes a flurry of slashes that he deflects and dodges faster than I can really keep track of.
"She's hot." Nyx says.
"She's definitely attractive." I agree, but don't say further.
"I don't see it." Alice says with a roll of her eyes.
"You're just saying that because she's Atlesian." Dorian prods.
"You know what, you can fuck yourself." Alice says as she looks to our snake eyed teammate.
"Nah, unlike you I can find someone to do that sort of thing with." He grins as he inspects his nails. And I can't keep my laugh in.
I tried, I really did. But he came out of nowhere swinging with that one.
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Weiss Schnee POV
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"Tag, Cyril." Ren says as he sheathes his daggers and bows. "Sorry, but if this continues then I fear I'll exhaust myself."
"Understandable." I nod to the Mistralian man, grateful for his manners.
I feel my experience may be a tad limited. I expected their to be more sore losers in this.
"So, not gonna tag out immediately like Ruby and Blake?" Cyril asks as he walks past me to take his position.
"Would you?" I ask rhetorically.
"Depends on my mood." He shrugs as he takes out his axes and rolls his shoulders.
He only rolls his shoulders when he gets serious. And when he does, he pulls all manner of dirty tricks. From spitting in one's eyes to targeting their genitals.
"Just know I'm prepared for your tricks." I say as I brandish my rapier at him.
"Oh really?" He says with a smirk that makes me blush, in fear! Fear of what he might do to me, and what tricks he might pull.
"You alright?" He asks as Mr. Xiao-Long asks if we're ready.
"Of course." I nod and Cyril affirms as well.
The buzzer sounds and I take Ruby's advice. Immediately rushing him, but not going for him head on. Instead I angle the glyphs that transport me, veering me off to the side and around to his right as I go for a quick slash-
He grabs my wrist.
"What?" I ask as I look him in the eye, stunned at how he managed to catch me so quickly. "But I thought-"
"Oh I know." He gives a dark grin that sends a shiver down my spine. "But remember, I was right there when Ruby was discussing how you could beat me."
…
"Switch, Ruby." I say in shame as I lower my head.
"Don't do that." Cyril says as he kisses my forehead. "If it makes you feel better, had you did anything else then you'd have caught me off guard."
I turn and kick his thigh with my heels.
"Fuck." He curses as he lets go of me and holds his thigh. "Why-"
"I didn't say tag." I say as I back slash his face and send him back.
'I'm almost insulted he thought I wouldn't consider that he overheard.' I think as I watch him stumble.
Not letting him recover, I rush forward and place a speed glyph under me. Enhancing my speed as I unleash a torrent of thrusts. Left shoulder, right shoulder. Left hip, right hip. Left shoulder, right hip, right shoulder, left hip. Finish with a neck slash.
Using my glyphs, I force myself back as I catch my breath without letting him grapple me.
He rubs his neck, his right axe's chain dangling from his wrist.
"Okay, I'll give you-" He starts, and I charge again while his guard is slightly down.
I may end up tapping out from aura exhaustion. But if I can force him to switch out or give up and use his semblance for a cheap win, then I'll consider this a victory.
Some people are just born with superior gifts. And Cyril has nearly four times my aura capacity if not more.
Getting inside his guard, I hit the last glyph and let it take me to his left as he tries to grab me with his right hand. Aiming Myrtenaster at his neck, I go for a slash as-
"Ah!" I, exclaim in surprise and certainly did not squeak as I feel something hit the back of my ankle.
I don't let it take me however, as I lean back and flip into a handstand where I push up and land on a glyph to propel me forward. Where I get a glance and see he had extended the shaft of Winter's Thorn to try and sweep my ankle and trip me.
Thinking fast, I launch at him and miss on purpose as he tries to clothesline me with his right arm.
"Gck!" I choke out as the chain of his right axe swings and wraps around my neck.
I had forgotten he distended it in my rush to keep him on his toes!
Now in a grapple. Cyril brings me into a headlock as I kick my feet.
"If it makes you feel better." Cyril says as he squeezes tighter. "You gave me a harder run than Pyrrha."
And it's not over!
Summoning a glyph under us, I send us flying backwards and towards the edge of the ring. Going for a ring out that might take us both. But knowing Cyril, he'll try to get us out of this. If he had a reason, he'd be spiteful and let us both lose. But now? He has no reason to let himself lose.
And I'm proven right as he lets go of me to throw himself out of the glyph. Letting me recover by cutting off the speed glyphs and forming a platform glyph to catch myself before I get disqualified.
I leap forth, rapier extended at Cyril's back as I go for a stab. One he's unable to dodge as he turns around to try and grab me with his right arm, where I duck under and twirl to the left. Slashing him as I avoid his grapple and chain.
I lean out of the twirl and-
"Ffsss!" I hiss as a sharp pain reels through my foot as Cyril goes for a backhand strike.
I try to flip back, but fail as I realize he's stepping on my foot. And the axe in his right hand hits me in the side of my head. Sending me sprawling.
I fall to the ground, exhausted and tired as I try to flip. But I'm stopped by a searing pain in my spine as Cyril steps on my tail!
'That, brute!' I think irritably as I grit my teeth.
I feel a pressure in my back as Cyril drops to a knee.
At this point, I can't go through another fight. If I tag out, and get tagged back in anytime soon, I'll lose. I have two points.
My best bet is to let myself lose here.
Cyril shoots me in the back of my head, and the buzzer sounds.
"Fuck me." Cyril says as he falls over next to me. Panting alongside me as we catches our breath.
'Not a bad idea.' I think as my muscles heat up with the blood pumping through me.
It's not like I'm some sort of floozy! I just read somewhere that, certain activities help with muscle relaxation and recovery. And the chemicals released after the fact help with memory retention and the development of muscle memory.
Besides, he still needs some relaxation after everything that happened. And today is meant to give us time to relax and attend to any mental stress the assault on Cyril caused.
"Alright, Weiss you need to head back to your seat." Mr. Xiao-Long says. "Cyril, your next opponent is, Penny Watts!"
'As soon as Cyril is defeated. Then we can head back.' I think to myself as I drown out my disappointment in myself.
I couldn't even get him to use magic or his semblance. But, looking at the screen, I suppress a smile I see his aura below half.
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SLBR
Weiss: 2, out
Cyril: 3
Ruby: 0
Blake: 0, out
PRJN
Pyrrha: 0, out
Ren: 0
Jaune: 1
Nora: 1
CRDL
Cardin: 2, out
Russel: 1
Dove: 0
Sky: 1
SSSN
Sun: 0, out
Scarlet: 0
Sage: 1
Neptune: 1
NDGO
Nebula: 0
Dew: 1
Gwen: 1
Octavia: 1
DARK
Dorian: 1
Alice: 0
Bruder: 0, out.
Nyx: 1, out
PCLN (Porcelain)
Penny Watts: 1
Ciel Soliel: 1
Lowen Brise: 1
Nikel Rein: 1
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Bonus
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Foods of Remnant
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Vale
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Vale is known far and wide as the great melting pot of the kingdoms. This is due in large part to their relatively safe lands and the various policies they've undertaken that has resulted in mass migration.
One example is the Free Person's act that sparked the First War of Freedom several hundred years ago. Under the policy, slavery was forbidden. And under an adjoining policy now commonly known as the Farman Rights after the policy proposer, Harold Farman, the buying and selling of intelligent language using bipeds is not recognizable by any Valean governing system, be it domestic, or foreign.
This is all to say, Slaves that made it to Vale, were automatically assumed free so long as they stayed in Vale. And the close ties Vale had with Seclus, which would come to be known as modern day Vacuo, travel and trade to the deserts, savannah and jungled coasts was rife.
Some of Vale's biggest food stables are
Sushi, Vale developed sushi on its own centuries ago. And is one of the few foods it can call wholly its own.
Pizza, introduced to them by Mistralian sympathizers around the time of the First War of Freedom, Pizza, Calzones, and Ramen have found themselves a home in Vale's market places.
Boba tea, another introduction from Mistral, though from more coastal regions.
Shock Bread, a cultural food from Vacuo. Placing cheese and hot spices on a fluffy slice of flatbread. Flatbread confections are very popular in the more urban areas.
Soda pop. Introduce from Atlas, Soda Pop takes artificial flavoring and carbonated water to make a variety of flavored drinks. Originally Atlas guarded the recipe furiously so as to monopolize its sale, a family of Sausaxe managed to figure it out and release it to the public eighty years ago (Funnily enough the name of the brand was Raven Times. The Raven being the Sausaxe representation of trickery and mischief. A subtle message to Atlas.)
Shi-shi, a Mistralian food in the form of thin cuts of beef, sauced and sprinkled with various toppings of veggies or spices.
Ice Slice, another confection from Atlas. Ice Slices are slice of fruit, soaked in sugar water and then frozen.
Burgers, a popular food from Vacuo, burgers are made from ground up meat that is cooked into the shape of a patty and placed between two special pieces of bread known as buns. Famous for how customizable the food is, you can add a variety of additions making this food a sort of sandwich with cooked meat.
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I hope this little guide didn't make you too hungry, but now that you're aware of the many options in Vale I hope you have a wonderful time. Just don't blame your waistline on me.
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A/N
Ruby did leave out one person who could beat Cyril in this competition.
Jaune.
Jaune has more aura than Cyril, and fights defensive. Cyril is reactive in fights, waiting for an opponents moves so he can work around them and catch them off guard.
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Weiss out here trying to justify her horniness over being grappled by a sweaty Cyril.
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So,
Dorian Gainesborough is a member of the Tarak, the desert dwelling people who see everyone in their tribe as family and have excellent social memories.
Alice Blue is a member of the Billi tribe, like Blake.
Bruder Rake, is a bee Faunus and the son of the current Bull'ack chief. Though this means nothing as the Bull'ack hierarchy doesn't go off of heredity, it goes off of merit and he has no more claim to the title of chief than any other in his clan.
Nix, or Nyx (it's interchangeable) Kalt is a fish Faunus and a member of the Ylvta, the seafaring tribe known for their silver tongues, seafaring and free spirits.
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So, there's actually a bit of a background conflict brewing when it comes to Ruby.
In case anyone is wondering.
There is a reason for Ruby's sudden shift is personality in regards to her relationship with Weiss and Cyril.
Ninjas of Love.
She thinks it's a dating guide for Hunters and Huntresses. That's why she's acting all provocative when they're alone. She doesn't know how to act because the only references she has are, Qrow, Summer and Taiyang. And she can't rely on their example because they're parents. She saw everything they did through the lens of a child being parented by adults who already have a pre-established relationship dynamic. She wants what her parents have, but she doesn't know how to get there. Her other reference, is Yang. Who is good at dating, but not relationships.
Hence, the romance novel that depicts two lovers coming to terms with each other in a hectic world of violence and chaos.
Oh for the time that's revealed.
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More comments! I want them all! Every one of them! Especially speculation, I love speculative comments.
Fuel me my NOOBIANS!
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Find me in my channel, newb's-grotto, on the discord.
Link to the discord: discord .gg/DarkWolfShiro