A/N Fighting Daze
Alt title: Almost done.
.
.
GideonBlackthorn: Oh, the embarrassment Ruby will feel!
Remnant of War: Cyril, would have a different reaction. Because he likes Ruby when she's not putting on the act.
And yeah, Penny would be one of the most difficult opponents for Cyril even if he was at full capacity and well rested.
Anyumaaka: I was half asleep!
Samejake: You're very welcome! Have another!
Singular Ash: Cyril isn't the strongest. It all boils down to strategy. Remember he barely won the 3 v 3. Heck, Sun could've won against Cyril if he used his semblance to overtax his focus. He just didn't because he didn't want to waste his aura or stay still and leave himself open for Cyril's Thu'um.
This competition is just uniquely suited to Cyril and how he fights. Preferring to react and take advantage of openings as opposed to rushing in and beating down an opponent.
Breuche: Thank you! And don't worry about supporting me. I do all of this for free and I don't have any sort of or anything anyway.
So just enjoy!
As for the antagonists? I'm using this arc as a way to buy time while I flesh them out in my head. I have 3 fleshed out so far.
.
.
-Date, Time-
'Thoughts'
"Speech"
(Text)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
-Beacon, 11/09, Combat Class-
.
.
Cyril Leon POV
.
"Alright, Weiss you need to head back to your seat." Tai says as we lay here, panting from exhaustion. "Cyril, your next opponent is, Penny Watts!"
'Great.' I think sarcastically as I sit up and get to my feet. 'I get to fight the state of the art military A.I. killing machine.'
A bit of an over exaggeration, but not by much. Unlike me, I doubt Penny can even get tired. I have no clue what sort of aura capacity she has, making her an unknown. And I'm in the yellow, while she is at full. I might as well fight the androids from DBZ.
"Salutations friend Cyril who is a boy!" Penny says with a peppy salute as she takes her spot in the arena.
"The inclusion of my gender is unnecessary when saying hi, Penny." I say as I take my spot.
"But I must once again ask how people will properly understand that we are acquainted and on good terms?" She asks with a curious tilt of her head as she ceases the salute. "And what if there where another Cyril who happened to be a girl? Would it not be best to properly clarify who I am talking to?"
This girl is all technicality. Makes me wonder how other people don't clue into the fact she's a robot more often. Then again, given how I've seen the average Hunter behave, she's probably seen as being more tame.
Weiss is sends mixed signals to anyone she considers herself intimate with. Even with Blake she'll give backhanded compliments when she means well.
Ruby is so socially awkward it sometimes isn't funny. And if another person hits on me or Weiss, the looks she gives make me pretty sure she's planning how to get rid of their body in her head.
Blake, is pretty unstable. Just don't mention Adam or bring up anything that might be constituted as racist in any way shape or form in any alternate universe.
'At least Ruby and Weiss pass the crazy vs hot coefficient. Blake is just bitchy.' I think as Tai asks if we are ready.
"Sure." I say tiredly, really not wanting to continue as my muscles burn.
"I am combat ready!' Penny says as the small pack on her back opens up to reveal a series of blades being magnetically held up by steel wires. Same design as canon, but black and blue instead of green and grey.
…
I just realized she swapped X-Box colors for PlayStation colors. And I am disappointed in myself for that.
The buzzer sounds and Penny kicks forward. Turning to her side and raising her right arm as though conducting an orchestra to raise tempo. Only instead of music, it's dancing blades that follow her hand's direction. Making a clean slice into the floor as I step aside to avoid the hit, only to duck as Penny twirls around in a fluid motion and directs the blades at my neck before moving her arms and directing them into a sideways figure eight. And I have to pull a dark souls and roll out of the way. All within a second, she nearly hit me three times.
"Fus, Ro!" I say as I exit my roll, intending to end this quickly.
Only for all of Penny's blades to stab into the ground and anchor her as part of the shout clips some of the students at the end of the bleachers behind her. Namely Cardin and Russel. Throwing them into the wall.
But the point is, she withstood the attack and no sale'd it.
"Cyril!" Tai calls quickly. "Mindfulness in a battle is a necessity for a Huntsman! Hit your classmates again and you're out! That goes for everyone!"
'Noted.' I think as the fight continues.
She gets her blades out of the ground as I look to the board. She's at about ninety five percent, while I'm sitting at just below half. And I'm tired.
Fifteen percent is the cut off. Once we're in the red, we're done.
So, I need to switch. But, I also need to insure I don't get tossed back in against Penny anytime soon. So, I need someone who doesn't have any points, but is strong enough to fend off the android.
'Or is it gynoid?' I wonder. 'Guess it depends on how anatomically correct she is.'
Penny dashes forward, one of her swords being still embedded in the ground. She reels herself towards it like some Attack on Titan shit. Moving way faster than she should.
'I need to attack her, wear her down without risking myself.' I think as I dodge another swing while I remember something from a long time ago. Well, about a year or two but that sounds less dramatic.
See, humans are very squishy. Our skin is some of the weakest for animals of similar sizes and even under. This is to allow us to sweat so we can cool off while running. That being said, we don't even run fast.
So how did we not go extinct? Simple, tool use. And the main tool, was weapons for hunting and warfare. And the most significant, most prolific and most propagated weapon in all of history, was the spear.
.
.
Ruby Rose POV
.
"What did I miss?" Weiss asks as she sits back down after having left to get her tail brush.
"Cyril used his semblance and Penny managed to stay in the arena." Blake says before I can speak.
"Penny has him backed into a corner." I add as I keep my eyes on the fight, with Cyril being unable to risk a more offensive shout that'll just further drain his aura. And not being able to get close due to Penny's array of blades.
Well, It's a surprise he hasn't swapped yet. But, I figure he's either planning on whittling her down as much as she can, or he plans on going out with three points to his name.
"Really?" She says with a bit of frustration in her voice as Cyril transforms his axes into khopesh's while ducking under another swing of Penny's blades.
'They look like collapsible multicomposite blades with many working parts.' I think as I watch the blades hover and swing. 'She must be using a semblance to send electricity through the wires in order to control them.'
"I doubt he'd use his shouts if he wasn't exhausted." I say, sensing Weiss's insecurity over failing to force Cyril into using one of his trump cards, where Penny did.
How else could they be moving? There's not enough room in her backpack to store the blades and a directional A.I. system to move with her body as she directs. And a dust converter to power it all. Maybe if the pack was bulkier or if there were peripheral components.
'Top of the line microcomponents?' I ponder.
"Hmm." Weiss hums as Cyril runs around the circle of the ring, Penny's blades now taking up position behind her as she directs them to fire at him.
Cyril dodges them of course, the angle of the lasers being congruent with the blades. Giving him an indication of where she's aiming as he connects the khopesh's into a double sided glaive.
"And now he's just messing around." Weiss huffs.
"Guess he's too stubborn to switch out at this point." Blake says as Cyril pivots to face Penny.
"Or he's bored of fighting." I propose as I watch him throw caution to the wind.
Cyril has no training in polearms. It was one of the things he was interested in learning as we-
"Cover your ears!" I call as I see him take a breath, and Penny throws her blades out to anchor herself again.
"Wuld!" He shouts and dashes right up to the orange haired girl, his aura now at a third.
He spins the glaive behind him as he reaches Penny, hitting the wires as she has anchored before crouching low and bring the glaive around for a low sweep. Just, like Sun's staff sweep.
My eyes go wide as he makes contact with her legs and comes up as he finishes the swing. Causing Penny to fall with her heels going above her head, but she recovers. Using the wires of the swords anchored into the ground behind her reel her back, pulling her away as she corrects her stance. Flipping in the air to land as the wires around Cyril's glaive unravel themselves and return the blades to her.
"By the spirit Ralgal, what did I just watch?" Blake asks in shock.
'That's what I want to know.' I think as my eyes narrow at Cyril.
Last time Cyril used the glaive, he could barely swing it without overextending and losing his balance. Yet that was a perfect crouch sweep!
'Has he been training in secret?' I wonder, as that's the only thing I can think of. 'Other than him lying about his skill, but I'd rather not believe that.'
Penny throws her blades to the right of Cyril and reels herself in by the wire, speeding around Cyril while she throws another out just behind Cyril allowing her to change direction between the two anchored blades. She rapidly closes in on him, faster than he can react as-
He already started moving! Right before the second blade anchored behind him, he swings the glaive out to the right of himself. Penny slides under the glaive as the blade goes from pointing out to being hooked like a sickle. She dodged the hit but missed the opportunity to hit Cyril as he spins with his swing to face her and redirect his slash. Getting a solid hit on her and hooking the sickled on her shoulder as he pulls the trigger and fires the end hooked into her. Adding the recoil to the force to his swing and pulling her with it. The force pulling her and her anchored sword out of the ground.
"Did you show him how to do that?" Weiss asks, referring to how Cyril just copied my technique of adding recoil to my scythe swings.
"I, didn't." I say slowly as Penny reels herself back by the remaining sword. Now placing herself behind Cyril as she throws out four blades to either side of and behind him before reeling in on one of them.
One solid hit is all it'll take, and Cyril's in the red. Out at three-
"Tag." He calls as Penny dashes forward and stops her blades just before hitting his neck. He then waits about nine seconds before announcing his pick. "Ruby."
"What!?" I shout as I hop up.
That was such a cool fight! I wanted to see it reach a proper end! Not get cut short before it reached the good part.
'This feels like when Blake caught on to when Weiss was hiding Cyril's thingy as she sat in his lap.' I bemoan as Cyril comes up and plops down next to me. Sweaty and huffing as he leans back and takes a break.
"I hope you're happy." I stomp my feet as I make it down to the arena and ready Crescent Rose.
"Salutations friend Ruby who is a girl!" Penny says with a salute and an eager smile to greet me.
'At least someone's happy here.' I sigh internally.
"Hey Penny." I say as I cock the bolt on my baby.
"You sound upset friend Ruby." Penny says with a worried look. "I hope I didn't do something to displease you."
'Why can't more people be like you?' I think despairingly. 'So nice and easy to understand.'
"No, just, it's nothing to do with you." I say, not wanting to get into how I feel her fight was anticlimactic.
"Oh, I see." She nods. "Would it happen to do anything with your monthly cycle?"
"What!?" I blush as my eyes go wide.
"Ahem!" Dad coughs into his fist, saving me from this socially awkward girl. "Sorry but, you girls ready?"
.
.
Cyril Leon POV
.
"Because you owe me for stomping all over my tail." Weiss says as she leans into me after handing me a brush and plopping into my lap.
"I stepped on the tip once." I defend, wanting to just lay down and rest my screaming muscles.
"Unless you want me to step on your tip, then you'll start brushing." She says in a soft hoss, turning her head to glare at me with one eye.
"You girls are bossy today." I say as I start brushing her tail.
"Hmph!" She huffs as she leans back into my chest. "I'm not bossy, just making sure you understand the consequences of your actions."
I roll my eyes as I brush, keeping my eyes on the fight as Weiss does her best to try and melt into me. Before jerking suddenly as Blake groans.
"What!?" Ruby shouts, her hood concealing the side of her face from view.
"What just happened?" I ask my two audibly sensing gifted teammates.
"Don't worry about it." Weiss says curtly as she wiggles in my lap as she adjust the position of her tail and testing my self control with her movements. Her soft rear kneading into my lap as she gets more comfortable.
I see Tai's mouth move as he says something. Penny nods, and soon so does Ruby. Not long after, the low pitched buzzer sounds. Making Weiss's ears twitch and flick my cheeks.
Ruby wastes no time using her semblance to petal up into the air. Reforming and taking aim with Crescent Rose in Assault Rifle mode. She fires a three round burst shot before petalling forward while Penny moves her blades to spin like a fan in front of her. Using the blades to shield herself from the bullets.
One of the bullets makes it past the moving blades of the shield and hits her shoulder, causing her to stumble back and break the shield in time for Ruby to reform right in front of her with Crescent Rose in scythe mode. Swinging her scythe and pulling her with a shot from Crescent Rose to add the recoil to the force of her hit.
'How does her weapon transform mid petalling?' I think as Ruby petals away from Penny's attempt at a counter. Phasing through the swords that stab at her.
Ruby petals around Penny before reforming behind her and forcing her to take a point blank sniper shot to the back of her head.
Ruby's scythe is deceptively heavy looking. Especially in her hands. At best Ruby can bench ninety pounds. Which is decent given her own weight and size. But most people don't understand how light weapons usually are. My axes are about three and a half pounds each. Not including the chains inside the hilt. Then they're about five and a half each.
That all being said, Ruby intentionally made her scythe deceptively clunky to make opponents underestimate her. Because she understands she'll have to fight people in the future, as opposed to some others here. Like Blake.
Really helps her catch others off guard.
Especially now as she petals around and slices one of the wires to Penny's blades. Before following up the attack with another swing of her scythe to knock the blade out of the ring.
I count eight blades, meaning Penny has seven left, and is at seventy five percent aura while Ruby is at ninety five. Having taken no hits and just using her semblance.
Ruby petals and dodges a series of slashes from Penny's dance that honestly reminds me of waterbending. Ruby then surprises everyone by grabbing Penny and petalling up to the ceiling with her. Where she reforms and double kicks the android in the back, forcing her down before Ruby swings her scythe around and takes a point blank shot at Penny. Sending the girl down harder as Penny sends three blades into the ceiling to anchor herself.
Something Ruby doesn't allow as she petals and reforms to cut all but one wire before Penny can slow her descent enough to break her fall.
Penny now has five blades left as Ruby petals down and takes the end of the arena. Swapping her ammo mag for another.
All this happened, in about thirty seconds. I'd use my semblance to see what was going on better, but it ticks away at my aura and stops its regeneration. And I kinda need it to regenerate.
Penny takes a defensive stance as Ruby takes aim and switches Crescent Rose to Assault Rifle mode.
Ruby fires as Penny spins her blades like a fan to shield herself. But this time, two shots made it through and ice forms on Penny's right shoulder and right bicep. One of her swords getting hit and freezing as well. Causing the blade to spin out of sync with the others as its wire becomes slightly frozen near the hilt.
The blades all tangle together at the wire as Penny's eyes widen in surprise. Ruby capitalizes on this and rushes forward, reforming and going for a downward swing. Hitting Penny dead on and putting her flat on the ground.
This, this is why I constantly lose to Ruby. I may cheat with my semblance, but even with it I just can't close in on her. Pyrrha likely only wins due to her semblance. Not that I'm ragging on her, for one it'd be hypocritical, two, even Ruby's fighting style becomes almost useless for her without her semblances.
Highspeed omnidirectional movement and phasing, combined with the inability to become disorientated or lose any sense of spacing or direction is busted.
"Tag!" Penny calls as Ruby brings her scythe up, Ruby's aura at about ninety three percent and Penny's at about sixty.
Ruby sulks as she lowers her weapon before Penny calls out one of her teammates. A guy named Nikel Rein.
Looking over, I spot the professional looking boy. Dark grey long sleeve undershirt with light grey button vest. High collar folded down. And grey cargo pants tucked into his black combat boots.
Even his eyes and hair follow this monochrome color scheme. Grey hair slicked back and black eyes. Slanted eyes, like, well here it'd be called central Mistralian.
'Wait a minute.' I think as I watch the boy with slicked back silver hair walk down the bleachers. Arms behind his back as he passes us. 'That, looks a lot like Mercury Black.'
But, how?
Looking down as he passes us, I see his boots are thicker than normal boots, and with ammo reels on them. But they're not so clunky that they'd be conspicuous. And it's clear he still has the lower half of his legs. I think.
"Do you know him?" Blake asks, and Weiss tilts her head up slightly.
"No, he just looks like someone I've seen before." I say evasively. "But the guy I know didn't have legs so."
"No need to go into detail." Weiss says as shifts again. And again I have to keep myself from shifting with the girl in my lap. Likely wearing nothing but panties under her skirt and leaving her bare ass on my lap.
'It's like she's trying to get a reaction out of me.' I think as I keep brushing her tail.
.
.
Weiss Schnee POV
.
I move to the side, sitting sideways in Cyril's lap. So as to give him easier access to groom my tail and make up for intentionally stepping on it.
'Honestly, there are just some things you don't do.' I think to myself as I watch the Atlas academy student take his place in the arena. Taking up a kickboxer's stance as he gets ready. 'You didn't see me aiming for his crotch. Lord knows I'd have little issue hitting such a large target.'
I force myself to focus on the fight as I school a blush. Remembering my placement and how, close said potential target is to, my hypothetical target. Which, would be his target in the event-
'No!' I yell at myself. 'You are a lady, and besides that. There is a time, and a place. Neither of which is here.'
It's not my fault he's so close.
'And so sweaty.' I think, the scent of his sweat and being so close and warm bringing back memories of a certain night. 'He might as well be undressed already and on top of me with how sweaty he is.'
"That's enough." I say as I get up and sit back in my seat. "You've made up for your error."
"Fighter's ready?" Mr. Xiao-Long asks, and the buzzer sounds not too long after the affirmatives.
Ruby petals off, though not at Rein. Rather she petals towards and veers up as soon as she's within five feet of the man, having anticipated him striking out at her with a side kick. She reforms just above him and swings her scythe under, hooking it under his knee and pulling the trigger. Quite literally pulling his feet out from under him.
Not that it hinders him much, he merely swings his legs while catching himself with his hands and turning around in a breakdancer's hand glide. Pushing up and landing on his feet as Ruby touches down and swings at him, where he counters by giving another side kick. Ducking his top back to the side as he extends his leg.
My question of why he would throw a kick when she's six feet away is answered before I can ask as a loud bang goes off. A sort of shotgun blast hitting Ruby in the gut and knocking her back as she misses her attack.
Ruby petals before she hits the ground and reforms immediately with Crescent Rose in Assault Rifle Mode. Firing off a three round burst of ice dust bullets at the sliver haired boy, shots he dodges by sidestepping. And doing so again as Ruby fires again.
Rein Gets closer with each side step, before getting in close and giving a roundhouse kick with his right leg as Ruby transforms Crescent Rose into its scythe form.
"Ruby wins." Cyril says, and I have to give him a questioning as I look to the Silver Eyed boy as Rein kicks Crescent Rose away with each swing, even as Ruby fires Crescent Rose and wastes the dust ammo as she constantly misses him.
"What are you talking about?" I ask as I look up at the board.
Ruby, Eighty percent Aura.
Nikel Rein, Ninety seven.
"Unless he has a semblance that lets him ignore terrain hazards, then he's about to lose." Cyril says as he grabs my head, causing a shiver to go down my neck before he turns my head to look at the right side of the arena. Behind the two fighters as Ruby is cornered in the left side.
And, it's covered in ice bursts. The ground being a patch work of slick ice and stone floor.
"Oh, but he's from Atlas." Blake says as she looks to where Cyril forced my gaze. "Shouldn't he be used to icy environments?"
"As a whole, yes." Cyril says, his hand still on my head. "But patchy and inconsistent? He has to switch from ice skating to running in seconds, constantly. And he fights with his legs."
He lets go of my head as he lets the info set in. And sure enough, Ruby petals as soon as she's backed against the edge of the arena. But not before jumping up and firing an ice bullet under her. She then makes all the way back to the rightmost end of the arena. And takes aim with Crescent Rose in Assault Rifle mode as she swaps mags.
Rein turns around and sees the veritable obstacle course before him. Pausing briefly as his eyes dart across the sight, allowing enough time for Ruby to hit him in the head cause him to stumble back and slip on the ice she just left. Making him stumble before stopping himself from falling.
His left foot out of the ring.
"Yes!" Ruby jumps in victory. Throwing her arms up and kicking her legs behind her as she jumps. Giving a bright, chest warming infectious smile.
"She needs to learn how to calm down." I mutter as I cross my arms. "It's a match in combat class, not a tournament match."
"Let her have this." Blake says tiredly.
I feel a tingle go down my spine and my ears splay back as I feel Cyril's hand on my head again. Only this time, he's rubbing my head softly.
"You're adorable." He says softly.
Feeling my face burn under his, wholly unnecessary words. I move to bat his hand away.
"Hrmm." I grumble as my body refuses to do what I want it to. "We're in public you degenerate perv. People are watching." I hiss.
"I don't mind." He says as he leans down and kisses my head. "Let them watch and get jealous as I love you."
…
'Combat class needs to end soon.' I think as I hold back a whine.
.
.
Cyril Leon POV
.
'Such a tsundere.' I think as I rub the red faced girl's head while she glares at the wall at the far end of the room in front of her. Her tail pressing harder against my back and side as she lets out a high pitched whine from the back of her throat.
"Dorian Gainesborough!" Tai shouts out after Nikel returns to his seat with little fanfare.
The tall, tan, thin man at the top of the bleachers stands up. Wearing a light tan, toga I want to say. The top being like an open vest as it extends down to cover to his waist. Exposing his chest, shoulders and arms. A brown, tan, and dark brown diamond patterned waist wrap acting as a belt. The front of the, skirt of the toga being white. But the sides and back being the same, brown diamond pattern as the waist wrap. And a wide cloak on his back with exact same diamond patterning.
Kind of reminds me of a diamondback rattlesnake. And maybe that's intentional.
All the moving and wrinkling diamond patterns make looking at him a genuine eyesore. Though perhaps that's the point. It's rather hard to track his movements with how the clothes move. Making it difficult to tell if a crease is his shoulder shifting the cloak, or his leg moving under the robe.
The only non-headache inducing part of his get up, is the purple scabbard for his thin longsword.
Dorian gets to his position on the right side of the arena circle, and Ruby cocks her weapon's bolt. The buzzer sounding after Tai speaks, and both of them nod.
Ruby once again dashes forward, and swings her scythe for Dorian's midsection. Only for the man to twirl out of the way as he unsheathes his blade, revealing the long, serrated and segmented blade as he whips it down behind him. The blade collapsing into a whip as it wraps around Ruby's ankle and causes her to trip. Forcing her to petal away or get swung around.
"He didn't even look behind him." Blake notes.
And she's not wrong. He had whipped his sword down and snagged Ruby's ankle without turning to face her.
Ruby reforms about ten feet away and to Dorian's right. Taking aim and firing the sniper as she swings Crescent Rose into the ground to anchor it.
Dorian steps forward and dodges the shot, before about face pivoting on his heel to face her. Where he points his now stiff sword at her.
… I'm aware I could've used better phrasing but anyway!
As he does so, purple wisps stream out of his blade, and a small flock of semi-transparent purple birds fly out at Ruby as she takes three more shots. The birds dive in the way, protecting Dorian as he stays still and watches as Ruby is forced to petal away from the flock before reforming in the air and slicing them all away, while Dorian just walks to her.
Ruby dispatches the final bird and swings on Dorian in the same motion. Going from Dorian's left to his right as he limbos back, his head almost touching the ground as he whips his sword arm out. The whip like blade wraps around the neck of Crescent Rose's shaft as he follows through with the swing to flip his whole body and pull the scythe. His outfit making it hard to see what he's doing.
Against anyone else, I have no doubt that would've yanked their weapon out of their hands. But Ruby is a blacksmith. Almost all of her strength is in her grip. So she ends up pulled with her weapon and getting slammed into the ground as Dorian finishes the flip and flicks his wrist to unlatch the serrated whip and straighten the sword back.
Ruby gets to her knees and leaps back to avoid a downward slash. But it seems Dorian anticipated this as his next attack started as Ruby was still on the floor. And it was a forward side slash that hits Ruby in the side. Where she petals out of the way and Dorian stays in place.
Ruby reforms in the air with Crescent Rose in Assault Rifle mode, a new mag loaded as she aims and fires. But Dorian twists and twirls in some sort of dance as each shot misses and hits behind him, sending out bolts of electricity.
Throughout this entire battle, they've both managed to avoid the ice patches slowly melting on the field.
"Ugh." I groan as I rub my eyes. "His get up is making this fight a headache to watch."
"That's the point." Blake speaks up, causing me and Weiss to turn our heads to her. Arms crossed and leaning back, she looks from at us and pivots her head the side. Looking next to her at the empty aisle.
"Exposition would be appreciated." I say as Blake looks back to us.
"Oh." She says sheepishly with a slight blush before looking back to the fight. "Well, he's clearly either Tarakian, or appropriating their techniques. The Tarak are famous for their ability to navigate and survive the desert. Using the shifting sands and their flowing robes to hide and conceal their movements. Outside of the desert, their robes just make them noticeable. So, Tarakian Hunters tend to use robes with repeating sharp patterns. Making it hard to react to their movements in close combat."
'That's, genuinely useful to know.' I think as I look back to the fight. Where Ruby is once again locked in close combat as the limber man effortlessly dodges her swipes.
"Why don't more hunters adopt the style if it's so effective?" I ask as Ruby keeps missing.
"I imagine it's due to a variety of different reasons." Weiss says as Ruby manages to get a hit, firing Crescent Rose as she hooks around the man's torso. "For one, the entire thing relies on your clothing. So if that's damaged or a stain tarnishes the pattern, then it compromises your style of fighting. For another, it requires learning to fight in very loose fitting and flowing garments. I would imagine such attire is ill suited for many environments.
"So basically, it's meant for more tropical biomes." I surmise as I see Ruby start to get more and more frustrated with each miss. "Making it more of a liability in temperate or colder climates."
"Or in dense foliage." Blake adds as I see Ruby's eyes glow dimly.
"That's what I just said!" Weiss huffs indignantly just before Ruby screams in frustration.
"Tag!" She shouts in a huff. "Russel!"
I'm kind if surprised she didn't call me in. Nonetheless, she stomps over to us as she collapses Crescent Rose. She drops it in my lap as she plops herself between me and Weiss. Arms crossed and cheeks puffed out as she tucks her head in a pout.
"So, why Russel?" I ask the fuming wolf after a short pause.
"I meant to say Nora!" She whines as the unfortunate guy steps up to plate. "But I looked up and his mohawk was the first thing I noticed."
"Fair enough." I shrug.
.
.
Russel Thrush POV
.
'Okay Rus, you got this.' I tell myself as I take the left side of the arena. 'Yeah! Just keep lying to yourself. Just like that.'
There's a reason we opted not to participate in the Vytal festival. And it mainly boils down to a lack of ability amongst all of us.
Yeah, we got into Beacon. That makes us top of the line. But as my mother would say, a bottle on the top shelf still has a bottom to it. And that's us.
That being said, the visiting students are the current top of their years from the other academies. And it was obvious today. In just an hour and a half, I saw at least ten fights that were beyond me in skill.
And hell, the strongest in our class have yet to be fully exhausted. Ruby only tagged out because she was frustrated. Cyril is worn out but that only makes him more irritable and ruthless. Jaune and Nora have yet to even fight. At least Weiss and Pyrrha are thankfully out.
'Best you can do, is beat him down and tag out.' I think to myself. 'As acrobatic as he is, he doesn't seem that fast. Meaning area of effect should be best. Jaune has the shotgun of his shield. And Nora has her hammer and grenades. Then there's Cyril and his semblance that's practically built for winning tournaments easily.
But if I tag with Cyril, there's a fifty fifty chance he'll hold it against me. And he's willing to step on his own girlfriend's tail in a fight. The fuck'll he do to me!?
'Best bet, tag Jaune.' I think as I get into a combat stance. 'He hasn't come back yet so that'll tag Nora in and get rid of his point. Making the next time he's in be a permanent stay until he beats someone.'
"Both of you ready?" Mr. Xiao-Long calls.
"As I'll ever be." I say as I ready Shortwings in preparation to face off against one of Menagerie's first year representatives.
"Always." The white haired, purple snake eyed man smirks as he brandishes his serrated snake sword.
The buzzer goes off, and I bring my swords up to block a slash. My block being worthless as the man's blade whips down and cracks across my face. Blinding me as I close my eyes in reflex and stumble back. Feeling another hit on my side as the man whips me.
I open my eyes to see the man move in a flurry of spins. Almost dancing as he moves to attack. Making it damn near impossible to tell where he's going to strike as I can't tell where his footing is, or get a clear view of his arms.
"This is bullshit!" I yell as I try to deflect a slash as I see his arm swing out, only to feel my blade not connect with anything. And I feel another hit on my other side.
'Bastard switched hands while he was turning!' I realize. I take a step back as he swings again, this time I do manage to dodge at least.
Not thinking, I run forward as soon as he misses. Taking a page out of Cyril's book as I bring my swords to his neck in a cross slash. By that I mean I step on his open toed sandaled feet to keep him from stepping back.
I almost feel bad as he winces and gets knocked back. But, I don't.
"Fuck!" The man, Dorian, curses as he hops on one foot while holding the other.
Not wasting this chance, I rush forward and flick the switch on my blades. Spinning the cylinders in the hilt and infusing the weapons with dust. One ice, the other electricity.
I stab the electricity into his shoulder. Causing him to seize up for a split second as his aura prevents the damage but not the pain. And I use that second to slash his raised foot, causing it to freeze over before I jump back to dodge a desperate punch to the face.
He stomps his frozen foot, breaking the ice block that formed on it. But it'll still be a bit before it recovers fully, until then I doubt he'll be dancing with a numb foot.
I'm prevented from enjoying my moment of personal victory as he points his blade at me. And from it wisps to life a semi transparent purple bear made of aura. One that roars before charging.
'So his semblance is summoning animals.' I realize as I think back to the birds.
Using my semblance, I easily jump over the charging beast. Savoring the wide eyed look of shock on Dorian's face as I come down with my blades. Switching the cartridges into gravity dust.
Expensive as shit. But worth it if I can land a hit.
I swing down in a double slash as he holds his blade up to intercept. And I grin as I make contact, a small shockwave of force extending out with a bwoom as his weapon gets flung out of his hands.
Hitting the ground, I don't stop despite everything in me screaming in me to do so. To not strike an unarmed man. But the teach never said to stop, and Dorian hasn't tagged out. So, weapon or no, he's a combatant.
And it's a good thing I didn't, as he doesn't stop fighting. Dodging a slash to his side, he punches me in the side of the head as he tries to get behind me. Likely trying to get me in a headlock.
Not letting him, I keep my front to him as I-
"Rrrraaaagh!"
'Shit!' I think as my stomach drops. 'Forgot about the bear!'
I don't get to turn around or move as I'm forced to the floor. Hitting the ground with a thump, I feel the air leave my lungs. Before I can try anything, I feel a harsh force on the back of my head. Dorian having stomped my head as the bear got up to rear back and stomp my back again.
"Tag!" I call before the bear can stomp again. Taking a breath, I get to my knee and hold my head as I look to the board.
Me, sixty percent. Dorian, sixty.
'Not bad for someone from the bottom of the bottle.' I smirk.
"Russel!" The teacher calls, earning my attention as I look to the lightly tanned blonde. "Your tag in?"
"Oh, right." I say as I get to my feet. "Jaune!"
"What?" I hear as I turn to see the locker room doors open to reveal the white armored knight in question.
'Just my luck.' I think sourly. 'There goes my plan to get rid of his point.'
.
.
SLBR (Silver)
Weiss: 2, out
Cyril: 2
Ruby: 0
Blake: 0, out
PRJN (Prussian)
Pyrrha: 0, out
Ren: 0
Jaune: 1
Nora: 1
CRDL (Cardinal)
Cardin: 2, out
Russel: 0
Dove: 0
Sky: 1
SSSN (Sun)
Sun: 0, out
Scarlet: 0
Sage: 1
Neptune: 1
NDGO (Indigo)
Nebula: 0
Dew: 1
Gwen: 1
Octavia: 1
DARK (Dark)
Dorian: 1
Alice: 0
Bruder: 0, out.
Nyx: 1, out
PCLN (Porcelain)
Penny Watts: 0
Ciel Soliel: 1
Lowen Brise: 1
Nikel Rein: 1, out
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Bonus
.
.
-Some days ago-
.
.
Cyril Leon POV
.
"You need to keep a steady rhythm!" Ruby says, getting oddly frustrated as we all try our hands at blacksmithing.
Just a simple knife for each of us.
"You want me to keep a rhythm, play a song." I say as I hit the block of metal.
"Aaaaah!" Weiss hisses as she shakes her hand. "How do you do this? I can barely feel my hand, and what I do feel is screaming at me to stop!"
That would be the constant recoil from hitting metal with a hammer.
"Weiss!" Ruby shouts as she petals over and uses a pair of tongs to take Weiss's metal and put it back in the furnace. "Don't let your metal cool too much or you'll just be hitting an unmoldable block!"
Or she just let the ingot cool too much and has just been whacking an iron block.
"How do you stand this heat?" Is all Weiss says as she wipes her brow of the, honestly concerning amount of sweat coming out of her.
"You get used to it." Ruby says as she moves on to Blake. "Blake!"
"What!?" Blake asks as she looks up from her blade.
"Why is it a circle?" Ruby asks as she sounds like she's about to cry.
"You said to flatten it out and hammer it into shape, I figured flattening it evenly all around would be faster." She says plainly.
"How do you expect to turn it into a blade?" Ruby asks tiredly.
"Just get it thin enough and use the grinder to get it in the right shape." Blake says with a shrug.
"Huh!?" Ruby sounds on the verge of a mental breakdown.
"I need to use the restroom." Weiss says as she begins to step away.
"Hold it or pee in your pants!" Ruby shouts, scaring Weiss as her and Blake's ears shoot up. All of our eyes wide at Ruby's tone. "You do not leave a forge unattended!"
"It's not though!" Weiss defends, though it sounds like a bratty whine.
I'm very tempted to call that out.
"Focus!" Ruby yells at me while pointing an angry finger my way. "Stare at me or Weiss later!"
That causes Weiss's tail to go stiff as her face burns even redder than it already is.
"Can I please take a rest?" Weiss begs. "We've been at this for hours!"
"It's been one hour." Ruby crosses her arms with a stubborn glare. "And this was your idea!"
That is true. It was Weiss's turn to choose the team bonding exercise. And she chose to have Ruby teach us blacksmithing.
For some reason.
'Wonder what they'd do if I went shirtless?' I muse. 'Ruby would probably yell at me for not using the proper protective material.'
.
.
-2 hours later-
.
.
Weiss, couldn't stand the heat. Literally. She gave up an hour and a half ago and left.
"Blake." Ruby says as she picks up the blade. Holding the ends in the tips of her fingers, before she effortlessly snaps it in half. "This is why you fold the metal. Not just stretch it out and grind the wire edges down."
She then moves to me. And picks up my knife. And shows the flat of the blade, before turning it. Revealing the horrible bent tang and spine of the blade. Making it look like thin S stacked on top of another S.
I tried to recreate what I saw on forged in fire. And failed miserably.
"I, have no clue where I went wrong." I shrug.
"I'd tell you, but we need to sleep sometime before our next class." Ruby says with a judgy glare.
"It's, not even lunch." I point out.
"I know." Ruby says as she turns to Weiss's empty station.
…
Ruby says nothing as she turns to leave the forge.
.
.
A/N
.
Weiss really wants to fuck Cyril right now. In case it wasn't obvious.
.
Fun fact!
Tai and Summer kept Ruby from ever entering the competitive combat scene. Knowing that the bad habits of showmanship are detrimental to Hunters.
Even though they didn't want her to be a Hunter, they figured if she was going to be one anyway. They may as well do all they can to increase her odds of survival.
.
Fun fact!
So, the teams from the other academies are the best of their years. But, not every school is equal and neither are the people who attend.
Team DARK, Alice, Bruder and Nyx, are all somewhere between CRDL and PRJN in strength. But, Dorian is a better fighter than all three combined. And is the sole reason Team DARK was chosen to be Menagerie's representative for the first years. Their other two teams all lose to Dorian in a 4 v 1. He's just that good.
And yes, Team DARK was sandbagging. They don't want to reveal too much about their abilities to their opponents for the tournament. That's why Nyx didn't tag, and why Bruder let Weiss have a massive opening when he went to transform his weapon into a mounted Gatling gun.
.
Also! It was hinted at, but people passed over a comment Pyrrha made a few chapters ago.
She offered to let Jaune use the room for any hot dates he may have in the future. And then asked him out.
Pyrrha comes from northern Anima where a high profile individual having concubines is normal and, sometimes expected. Like if a noble is the last of his house, then he's expected to have several concubines.
Pyrrha, is fully okay with Jaune having relations with other women so long as it remains purely physical and no emotions develop from it. And so long as he doesn't hide any of it.
It's not some cuck kink, or some fetish were she feels validated that of all the women he chooses her to always return to. It's just, simply how it is. She was raised in an environment that normalized that sort of thing.
On that topic, Ruby is the exact opposite. She's okay with Cyril and Weiss seeing other people. But emotions have to be involved and everyone in their group have to be okay with it. That's the environment and culture Vale instilled in her. Qrow not withstanding. She understands Qrow is not the most morally sound person. But to her, if someone wants to get with Cyril, they need to date her and Weiss as well.
Weiss, is okay with Ruby and Cyril seeing other people. So long as she is aware of it, and never has to hear of it or have it impact her life or relationships. Atlas's, open secret and out of sight, out of mind policy being to blame. Like she said, it's not unusual for someone to have several paramours so long as nothing scandalous comes from it. Like a bastard child or something.
Cyril, would not be okay with Weiss or Ruby taking on any lovers. And he sees their relationship as dating and that they're exclusive to each other.
Blake, purely monogamist. The only reason she's sleeping around is because she sees herself as single now, (even though she's been single for over a year.) and so long as she isn't dating anyone then its fine. Which is acceptable by her culture's standard. They emphasize the sanctity of marriage and true love. Not purity.
Remember, the Billi chief during the end of the Menagerian civil war was a battlefield prostitute before she was married. And that was okay, because when she entered a committed relationship, she never waivered or strayed from that commitment. Blake's mother, Kali, had four boyfriends before Ghira.
And yes, she'll occasionally bring them up to rile him up anytime she's in the mood. Makes him feel the need to prove to her why she married him.
.
More comments! I want them all! Every one of them! Especially speculation, I love speculative comments.
Fuel me my NOOBIANS!
.
Find me in my channel, newb's-grotto, on the discord.
Link to the discord: discord .gg/DarkWolfShiro