Hey guys and welcome back to another chapter of dimensional heroes of Remnant as of right now not too much to say so without further ado let's get on the chapter this is.
Chapter 11 Bright eyed and kickin' tail
One by one, three cars and a yellow motorcycle rolled up the gravel driveway of the Xiao Long residence, nestled quietly on the island of Patch. Kevin's car—driven by Gwen—was the first to pull in, followed by Ben's sedan and Phantom's sleek black vehicle, which Decca had driven. Yang's motorcycle, Bumblebee, arrived last, its engine cutting off with a low purr.
"Ahhh, man, it's nice to come back home after a long day," Yang groaned with satisfaction, stepping off her bike and stretching her arms skyward.
"You can say that again," Ruby agreed, hopping out of the back seat of Gwen's car, balancing bags in each hand. "That was fun, but wow, I forgot how exhausting shopping with Nora is."
"I found great deals!" Nora called from behind her, hauling a suspiciously full sack of snacks.
Gwen smirked as she closed the trunk. "You call it shopping. I call it a snack raid."
"Let's just say the store's chip aisle is never going to recover," Ren added dryly, walking beside her.
Ben and Jaune were at the rear of Ben's car, helping Pyrrha out and unfolding her wheelchair. Amber, quiet and reserved as usual, lingered nearby with her arms loosely crossed, keeping close but not too close to the rest of the group.
"Thanks, you two," Pyrrha said as they secured her into the chair. "Really."
"No biggie," Ben replied, brushing his hands off on his jeans. "Glad we're getting faster at this."
"Still takes Jaune about ten seconds to remember which side folds out," Nora teased.
"Hey, it's confusing, okay?" Jaune retorted, though he was smiling.
With everyone's hands full of clothes, supplies, and groceries, the group headed inside. Ruby and Yang took the lead, pointing out rooms and guiding everyone toward their sleeping spots.
"Team RWBY's got our usual room," Ruby said, nudging the door open with her foot. "Team JNPR, you guys are in the guest room down the hall."
"Sun, your room's across from them," Yang added, then turned to Amber. "And yours is right next to his. Has a window view and everything."
Amber gave a small nod. "That'll be fine. Thank you." She still hadn't fully relaxed around them, which didn't go unnoticed—but no one pushed her. Instead, they focused on putting things away. Bags were unpacked, clothes sorted, and a few items from the country store tucked into the kitchen cabinets.
"Ben, Gwen, and I are crashing in the basement," Ruby added as they passed the stairs. "Phantom's got the couch in the living room, and Max—well, he sleeps in the Rust Bucket."
"I still don't get that," Weiss muttered. "Isn't that thing cramped and full of tools?"
"It's also where he keeps his coffee stash," Ben called from the kitchen. "Trust me, he's comfortable."
Once the unpacking was done, the group began to settle in the living room. Ben strolled through with a gray bag slung over his shoulder, heading toward the basement stairs—but Yang caught sight of it and raised a brow.
"Hey Shift, what's with the bag?" she asked, her tone playful but curious.
Ben paused, then smirked. "Funny you should ask."
He dropped the bag on the floor and unzipped it, pulling out a strange, white box with a sleek design. On the left were two buttons—power and reset. A thin black slot ran across the front, and on the right side was a simple word in gray lettering: "Wii."
The room collectively blinked.
"…What is that?" Weiss asked, squinting at it like it might start glowing.
"It's a game console," Gwen explained, stepping in beside Ben. "Classic stuff."
"A game what?" Ren asked, tilting his head.
"Wait, is this like the 3DS thing?" Ruby asked. "The one with the double screens and the Pokémon?"
Ben laughed. "Not exactly. It's a home console—you hook it up to the TV and use these."
He pulled out a set of white controllers with wrist straps and buttons that looked like remote controls.
"…Those are game controllers?" Blake asked, dubious.
"They look like they belong to a TV," Pyrrha observed.
"Oh, I've got to see how this works," Nora grinned, already reaching for one of them. "Do I just swing it around?!"
"You do, actually," Ben said. "That's kinda the whole deal with the Wii."
"So we're flailing in front of a screen?" Yang asked, smirking.
"Sounds like sparring without bruises," Jaune added.
Sun leaned over Gwen's shoulder, staring at the console. "This thing run Pokémon?"
"Nope," Ben said. "But it does run Mario Kart and Wii Sports."
Amber, who had been standing off to the side with her arms crossed, finally spoke. "So this is what passes for entertainment where you're from?"
"Depends," Gwen replied. "You want high-stakes action, or bowling with cartoon Miis?"
"I'm… not sure yet," Amber admitted, watching as Ben connected the console to the TV. "I'll watch."
Decca's voice echoed from the living room speakers. "Ten lien says someone flings a controller in the first five minutes."
"I'm wearing the strap," Nora declared proudly, strapping hers on.
As the Wii booted up with its familiar jingle, the Remnant natives stared in silent fascination at the strange menus and bouncing sound effects. Ruby leaned toward Yang.
"I don't know what's happening, but I love it."
Weiss narrowed her eyes at the menu. "Why is everything so… bubbly?"
"Get used to it," Ben said. "This is only the beginning."
At that moment, the front door creaked open, drawing the attention of everyone in the living room. Phantom stepped in first, followed by Max, Kevin, and Tai. They were all a little windblown from the evening breeze, the last hints of twilight brushing against their backs.
"You guys have a Nintendo Wii?" Phantom asked, his voice calm but curious as he approached the TV stand.
Before anyone could respond, Decca's voice crackled crisply through the living room speakers.
"Ben, whatever you do, do not let him play Mario Kart," she warned, her tone dry but laced with the weight of experience. "Trust me—I've never beaten him. Ever. Not once. And I can process inputs faster than most gaming CPUs."
Even Gwen looked up from her spot on the couch at that, brows raised. Ben blinked, mildly impressed, and tilted his head toward Phantom, clearly about to ask something.
But Phantom beat him to it.
"I play every now and then," he said coolly. "Even though I might be serious—I do know how to… unwind."
There was a slight pause at the word, like he wasn't fully used to saying it. Ruby exchanged a glance with Weiss, and Yang arched an eyebrow, but nobody commented.
"Mama's gonna wreck our mysterious hooded ninja!" Nora declared with a gleeful grin, already rummaging through the drawer for controllers. She snatched one and tossed it to Phantom without hesitation.
He caught it effortlessly, never missing a beat.
Ben shrugged, sliding the Mario Kart disc into the Wii. "Alright. Let's see what you've got."
What followed was two hours of utter devastation. Phantom didn't just win—he dominated. Every race, every course, every cup. Nora brought the chaos, Yang brought the heat, Ben was competitive, and Ruby was scrappy—but none of them stood a chance.
"No way—no way you're this good at Rainbow Road!" Yang groaned, dropping her controller after tumbling off the track for the fifth time.
"You're not even drifting!" Ruby exclaimed, baffled. "He's just driving!"
Weiss narrowed her eyes. "His lines are perfect. It's like he's memorized the physics."
"Do you even have nerves?" Nora gasped, lying face-down in defeat. "You're like a Mario Kart machine!"
"Not quite," Decca chimed in through the speakers. "If he were a machine, I could beat him."
That drew some laughter, though Phantom simply gave a silent shrug. Masked as ever, his face betrayed nothing, but there was something satisfied in the way he held the controller.
"I had a good mentor," he said simply.
Eventually, the chaos gave way to yawns and drowsy stretches. Team RWBY headed off to Ruby's room, which Tai had converted into a mini dorm with old bunk beds. Team JNPR made themselves at home in Yang's old room.
Amber took the guest bedroom, and Sun claimed Qrow's old room without argument. Ben, Gwen, and Kevin went downstairs to the basement, and Max returned to his ever-faithful Rustbucket for the night.
Phantom lingered in the living room for a while. Still masked, but now stripped of his armor, he wore a simple black T-shirt and basketball shorts. He sat on the couch in silence, arms resting loosely on his knees. The flickering light from the Wii's idle screen cast faint shadows on the walls.
Eventually, he stood without a word and slipped out the front door.
The night was cool, the stars peeking between tree branches. The woods surrounding the Xiao Long home were quiet except for the hum of crickets and the rustle of leaves.
"Really, Phantom?" Decca's voice came through the earpiece, dry but not without concern.
Phantom padded softly into the treeline, his voice low. "It's too comfortable in there."
There was silence on the other end. Then Decca sighed, not bothering to push. "You're not fooling me, you know."
"I know," he replied, not slowing his pace.
He found a tall pine, gripped the bark, and began climbing with fluid, practiced movements. At the top, he settled onto a wide branch, back against the trunk, limbs drawn close.
High above the ground, where no one could see him, he closed his eyes.
Decca stayed silent in his ear, watching through her link. She didn't say anything else.
She didn't need to because she knew it would fall on deaf ears.
(The next day normal POV)
At exactly 7:15 a.m., the usual symphony of alarm clocks stirred Teams RWBY and JNPR from their slumber.
It had become a routine — even though they hadn't been at Beacon for a full school year, waking up around this time was second nature by now. A habit born more from necessity than experience.
After a sleepy round of pulling straws to determine bathroom order, Ruby emerged victorious and claimed the first turn.
Freshly showered and still towel-drying her hair, she made her way downstairs, expecting a quiet morning.
Instead, the scent of pancakes and eggs hit her like a tidal wave — and so did the bizarre sight that greeted her.
In the kitchen, Phantom 10 — unmistakable in his black and green jacket, with armor plating along his shoulders and a sweater tied around his waist — stood beside her dad, Taiyang, helping flip pancakes and stir scrambled eggs.
His mask, the one that never came off, still covered his mouth and eyes, leaving only his expressive eyebrows and forehead exposed beneath his hood.
Ruby squinted. Something was off.
Then, from the dining room, she saw him again.
Another Phantom, dressed exactly the same, quietly setting out plates and silverware with careful, precise movements. He didn't speak. Didn't even glance her way. Just moved methodically like a ghost.
Ruby blinked.
Once.
Twice.
A third time.
Her head snapped toward the kitchen. Phantom was still there.
Back to the table.
Still there too.
Her brain short-circuited as she began whipping her head back and forth with increasing speed, eyes going wide and cartoonishly white, her cape fluttering like a flag. Confusion morphed into dizziness. Her poor neck was already regretting her choices when—
A third hand gently but firmly grabbed her head from behind.
She froze. Slowly, she tilted her gaze upward — and saw a third Phantom 10 looming over her.
He clamped a gloved hand over her mouth before she could even scream.
"Easy, Red," the new Phantom said casually, with a teasing lilt in his voice. "Don't strain that little huntress brain of yours."
Ruby stared, muffled and panicked.
"I know, I know. You're wondering how there's three of me," he continued. "We've got this transformation called Echo Echo. Let's us make clones. Pretty handy, right?" He tapped his temple. "They can change form just like the original, including into our human look. Only catch? Each clone's got a different flavor of yours truly."
He gave a cocky shrug and gestured to himself with a thumb. "I'm Phantom 3. The 'selfish one,' or so I'm told. The fun one, if you ask me."
Ruby let out a muffled "Mmmh?"
Phantom 3 pointed to the kitchen. "That's Phantom 2. He's the nice one. Helpful, polite, probably volunteers at soup kitchens."
Ruby turned her head and saw the Phantom by the stove politely offering Tai a ladle. Tai chuckled, clearly enjoying the assistance.
"Then there's Phantom 4," Phantom 3 continued, gesturing toward the dining table. "Quiet one. Doesn't speak. Ever."
Ruby's gaze shifted. Phantom 4 looked up at her — just for a second — and then gave a silent, two-finger gesture followed by a thumbs-up. Not a word. Not a sound. Just calm, focused movements.
Three blinking dots hovered above Ruby's head in pure anime confusion.
She gave up.
"I don't get paid enough for this…" she mumbled, finally slumping into a chair "you don't get paid at all pipsqueak" Phantom 3 said back.
Right on cue, Yang shuffled in next, toothbrush still dangling from her mouth. She rubbed her eyes and squinted at the multiple masked figures.
"…Huh," she muttered around the toothbrush. "How many of you are there?"
"Clones," Phantom 3 replied with a smirk. "Different personalities. Don't worry about it."
Yang shrugged. "Whatever. If one of you makes coffee, we're cool."
From the kitchen, Phantom 2 raised a hand. "Already brewing a pot."
"Legend," Yang muttered.
Phantom 4 silently set a cup of water down in front of Ruby and nodded, then walked off to grab utensils.
Ruby groaned softly into the table. "I was barely keeping up with one of him…"l
"You think Phantom 4 is bad, you should see Phantom 45," Phantom 3 said offhandedly as he dropped himself into a chair and casually propped his feet up on the table like he owned it.
Ruby blinked, halfway through pouring syrup on her waffles, and looked up, curiosity already forming a question on her lips—"Who's Phantom 45—?"
THWACK!
A metal ladle sailed cleanly out of the kitchen and smacked Phantom 3 square on the head with a loud clang. He yelped.
"OW, WHAT THE F—OW!!"
Another ladle came flying a second later, clocking him again before he could finish his sentence.
"LANGUAGE!" Phantom 2's voice bellowed from the kitchen. "AND GET YOUR FEET OFF THE TABLE! IT'S NOT YOURS—SHOW SOME RESPECT TO OUR HOSTS' FURNITURE!"
Grumbling, Phantom 3 swung his legs off the table while rubbing the top of his head.
Yang, reclining back in her seat, chuckled. "So… what's Phantom 45's gimmick?"
As if on cue, Phantom 4 silently stepped over and placed a cup of coffee beside her, then delicately set down a small bowl of sugar and a pitcher of creamer. He gave a slow thumbs-up before walking away.
Yang beamed. "He gets me."
Phantom 3, still sulking, muttered under his breath. "He's the most cutthroat, ruthless, absolutely savage Phantom clone. Think, like… if Batman, Kratos, and the Doom Slayer all got crammed into one guy."
Ruby tilted her head. "Who?"
"They're comic book and video game characters from Earth!" Phantom 2 called out from the kitchen before slapping down another pan onto the stovetop.
"Oh. Well, that makes sense," Yang said with a shrug, adding creamer and sugar before taking a contented sip.
At that moment, the rest of the group began filtering into the dining room and living area. Weiss made her way carefully around the table while Pyrrha wheeled herself beside Jaune.
Sun dropped into a seat across from Ren and Nora, who was already eyeing the plates coming in. Kevin plopped down next to Ben with a grunt, nodding toward the coffee. "Don't suppose they got anything stronger?"
"Unfortunately no!" Phantom 2 shattered from the kitchen "oh man"Ben said.
Max followed in last, taking a seat near the edge of the table. "Morning, kids."
As Phantom 2 and Phantom 4 brought out the food, Zwei wandered in and began trotting around the table, sniffing curiously under chairs and legs.
Blake froze the moment Zwei got close. "N-no no, stay over there," she whispered, leaning slightly away from the table. But the little corgi happily ignored her discomfort and trotted straight for her.
"Can someone get him?" she said quickly, backing up as Zwei tried to place his paws on her lap. "Anyone?"
Ren wordlessly reached out and lifted Zwei up into his own lap. The dog promptly curled up and began licking Ren's fingers.
"Thank you," Blake said, relieved, while straightening her coat.
"Aw, but he likes you," Ruby teased from across the table.
"He can like me from over there," Blake muttered.
Phantom 4 gave a small hand gesture—thumb and pinky out, miming a little dog barking—then pointed at Blake and tilted his hand sideways. It was the quietest, most deadpan way of saying "She's scared of the dog." Everyone was served waffles, eggs, crispy bacon, and small fruit bowls. Nora was mid-bite into a strawberry when she looked up and frowned. "Wait… no pancakes?"
"We had a waffle iron already out," Phantom 2 replied dryly. "Live with it."
"Betrayal," Nora whispered dramatically.
"Man, that was good," Amber said, setting her empty coffee cup aside.
"I have to agree," Tai added, stacking plates with Phantom 4's help. Phantom 4 didn't speak, simply handing Tai utensils and napkins with calm precision.
Once the table had quieted, Phantom 2 clapped his hands.
"Alright, can I get everyone's attention?"
The group turned to face him.
"The original Phantom wanted me to pass along a message—he's at the Outreach military base. He wants the rest of you to meet him there for today's training session. And I do mean everyone…"
He paused.
"…except for Phantom 3. I've been given very clear instructions that you're doing the dishes. All of them. Properly."
Phantom 3 slapped his hand on the table and glared at Phantom 2. "Oh, come on! That's bull sh—!"
CREAK.
The front door opened.
Everyone looked up—and a thick, heavy pressure filled the air like a tidal wave of silent fury.
Another Phantom entered.
Taller. Broader. Every step he took was exact and controlled. His mask and hood gave away no features—but his presence screamed unrelenting discipline and rage held just barely in check.
Zwei whimpered and ducked under Ren's arm, curling tighter into his lap.
Phantom 45 didn't speak.
He didn't need to.
"And to make sure you obey…" Phantom 2 said with just a little too much satisfaction, "the original sent over 45."
Without hesitation, Phantom 45 grabbed Phantom 3 by the back of his hood and hauled him out of his seat. With one arm, he flung him into the kitchen like he weighed nothing.
"Clean. Now."
Phantom 3 scrambled to his feet and immediately started cleaning.
The whole room sat frozen.
Ben slowly leaned toward Gwen. "So… he just enforces punishment?"
"Apparently," Gwen muttered.
"I like him," Kevin said with a nod.
"Do you think he sleeps?" Jaune asked aloud.
Phantom 4, standing silently behind Tai, held up a hand and wobbled it side to side.
"Only when the concept of sleep dares to challenge him," Ren murmured dryly.
"I think I'm gonna clean my plate extra carefully," Nora whispered.
Phantom 2 stood near the edge of the dining area, arms crossed and posture as sharp as ever. "Don't worry, Nora. Phantom 3's stuck with dish duty today—yours included. Which means no dealing with Forty-Five."
Nora, who had just leaned back with a satisfied sigh, blinked, then let out a dramatic gasp of relief. "Oh thank the good brothers," she said, clutching her chest like she'd survived a Grimm attack. "I was this close to pulling a waffle-launcher maneuver."
"Again?" Ren said, sipping his tea with a flat look.
"That was one time!" Nora insisted.
"Twice," Blake corrected calmly without lifting her gaze.
"Still under five!" Nora grinned.
Phantom 2 shook his head slightly, but a hint of amusement tugged at the corner of his mouth. Then, his voice shifted back into command mode. "Alright. Everyone, get dressed and gear up. We've got a full training schedule today. Especially you, Ruby."
Ruby paused mid-stretch and frowned. "Wait—what did I do?"
"You're training directly under Phantom 10," Phantom 2 said, tone flat. "That means no skipping, no stalling, and no mercy."
Ruby groaned loudly and slumped forward onto the table. "Why is it always me getting the mysterious broody mentor?"
"Because he offered and you said yes," Yang said, patting her on the back. "And now you're getting it."
" that doesn't mean I have to like it" Ruby whined.
As the group rose from the table and scattered to get dressed, Phantom 2 and Phantom 4 made their way to Pyrrha's side. Phantom 4 approached silently and tapped two fingers to the armrest of her wheelchair, then gestured toward the hallway and up the stairs.
"I'm ready," Pyrrha said softly, offering a small smile. "Thank you."
Phantom 2 took one side while Phantom 4 moved to the other, and the two lifted her chair gently to avoid any bumps as they moved up the stairs. At the top, Phantom 4 gave a subtle nod and pointed toward JNPR's room, where Weiss and Blake took over helping her change.
Outside, the morning air was cool and bright, the sky a clear blue above the treetops.
Ben was the first out the door, now dressed in the same outfit he wore when arriving in Remnant"Man, waffles hit different here," he muttered. "Still miss real maple syrup, though."
Gwen followed soon after, dressed in her new crimson-accented outfit with a utility belt and her spellbook secured in a side pouch. Her hair was tied up in a high ponytail, and her eyes scanned the area with her usual alertness.
"You just miss Earth food in general," she said.
"I do not deny it."
Then came Kevin, stepping out casually with a quiet confidence. His tight black shirt was layered under a brown jacket, his black cargo pants tucked into worn combat boots. A black flannel was tied around his waist, and a silver chain looped from his belt to his back pocket.
Ben glanced over and raised an eyebrow. "Looking good, Kevin."
Kevin smirked, adjusting his jacket collar. "Gotta keep the apocalypse fashionable."
"More like 'bouncer from a punk club,'" Gwen teased.
"Still counts."
Team RWBY followed not far behind. Yang exited first, adjusting her gloves with a cocky grin. Her new outfit looked sturdy and stylish, ready for a fight or a runway.
"Who's ready to wreck some obstacle courses?" she asked, cracking her knuckles.
"Can I vote 'no'?" Ruby called from behind her, dragging her feet in exaggerated dread. "Why does Phantom 10 train like he's preparing me to fight a war?"
"Because he probably is," Blake murmured, stepping outside with quiet grace, her new outfit streamlined and darkly elegant.
Amber exited alongside Team JNPR, who were now fully geared in new combat-ready attire. Pyrrha, however, wore something far more casual—an oversized black sweater and soft black shorts that went to her knees. Phantom 2 and 4 gently wheeled her down the ramp.
Phantom 4 tapped the side of Phantom's car and gave a sharp wave—his silent way of telling everyone to load up. He moved quickly around the vehicle, checking things without a word, but with purpose.
Everyone climbed into their assigned vehicles. Gwen picking the front seat of Kevin's car with Blake Weiss and Sun sitting in the back.
Team JNPR popped into Ben's car with yang taking her motorcycle and Amber and Ruby hopping into Phantom's car.
With engines rumbling to life one by one, the convoy rolled out of the Xiao Long driveway. Phantom's car led the way, tires crunching on gravel as the group headed toward the Outreach military base.
The sun glinted off the windshields as they drove. Training awaited—and for some, especially Ruby, it was going to be a long day.
The drive in Phantom's car had been quiet—almost oppressively so. Ruby sat in the front passenger seat, while Amber was in the back, both of them stealing occasional glances at one another but saying nothing.
Phantom 4, as always, remained silent behind the wheel, focused on the road ahead. The tension in the air wasn't hostile, just awkward—a shared silence between two girls who weren't quite sure what to say.
That silence was broken when Phantom 4 reached toward the center console and gave it a light tap with the back of his knuckles.
A soft mechanical click sounded as a small compartment slid open, revealing two familiar devices nestled inside: a blue Nintendo 3DS and a red one. Both girls blinked in surprise, immediately leaning forward with interest.
Ruby was the first to react, grabbing the red 3DS and holding it up in her hands like it was a treasure from a long-lost age. Amber carefully picked up the blue one, curiosity lighting up her face. The moment they flipped the devices over and spotted the cartridges in the back, their eyes widened with excitement.
"Pokémon Ultra Sun…?" Ruby murmured, while Amber tilted hers. "Ultra Moon…"
They glanced at each other, both remembering how Nora and Pyrrha had gone on and on about their Pokémon adventures the other night, practically buzzing with energy as they recalled battles, trades, and their favorite teams. Seeing those same games now in their hands felt like getting an invitation into that world.
Just as Ruby was about to turn her 3DS on, Phantom 4 casually tossed a folded piece of paper onto her lap. She blinked, unfolding it, then began reading aloud so Amber could hear:
"Dear girls,
I gave Phantom 4 instructions to hand you these 3DS systems to give you something to do in your free time. I heard you were both curious about Pokémon after Nora and Pyrrha shared their experiences, so I figured this would be a fun way to introduce you to it.
Normally, I keep these around for dealing with kids in my world—keeps them entertained when things get hectic—but I don't mind handing them off to you two. I can always get more.
If you do well in your training, I'll reward you with more games. Consider it a motivator.
Thank Phantom 2 for the idea."
Ruby's eyes softened as she lowered the note. "Huh. That's… kinda sweet."
Amber smiled faintly. "He really thought this through, didn't he?"
Ruby nodded, and together they powered on their 3DS systems, the familiar startup chimes filling the cabin and cutting through the silence. Within moments, the car was filled with the sounds of menus, background music, and the occasional gasp of excitement as they explored their new games.
An hour passed quickly. The once-rough dirt path had been cleared of the fallen trees and branches that blocked the way the day before, allowing all the vehicles in the convoy to roll through without trouble.
As the base came into view, Kevin narrowed his eyes. Something was… different.
"What the…?" he muttered from his spot in his own vehicle. "It doesn't look run-down anymore."
And he was right. The Outreach base, which had been a half-abandoned ruin just the day before, now looked pristine—fresh walls, reinforced gates, even the ground seemed leveled and cleaned. It was like the whole facility had been restored overnight.
Kevin leaned forward. "He must've fused with Clockwork… no other way it could look this clean."
Outside the main ammo shed, several Atlas airships hovered low, stationed like guards around the area. Phantom's influence had clearly gone beyond just the base interior.
The convoy continued, following the same dirt path Phantom, Max, Tai, and Kevin had taken the day before.
They circled around to the far side of the base where a massive set of steel doors awaited them, now pristine and fitted with polished keypads.
Phantom 4 silently exited the vehicle and stepped up to the keypad. He typed in a long code with practiced speed.
The heavy doors groaned and then slid open with a hydraulic hiss, revealing the bustling heart of the revitalized base.
Inside, the group was met with a completely transformed landscape.
Where old cabins once stood, construction was underway for high-tech obstacle courses—some already complete, with towering walls, rope climbs, agility grids, and balance beams. On one side of the lot, the M.U.L.E.s were parked in perfect alignment, cleaned and gleaming in the sunlight.
Across from them, the V.T.R.A vehicles looked brand new, as though they'd just rolled off the assembly line.
Dozens of Phantom clones moved with machine-like precision, checking systems, running diagnostics, and double-checking every detail. Some climbed up into the V.T.R.A units, inspecting internal wiring or adjusting mounted weaponry, while others loaded crates into storage compartments.
Everything about the base screamed readiness—a quiet efficiency that showed they were preparing for something… and fast.
Amber, still clutching her 3DS, looked out the window in awe. "This is… kind of insane."
Ruby lowered hers, her eyes wide. "No kidding. It's like watching a military outpost get ready for war."
They both looked forward at Phantom 4, who, as always, gave no response.
He simply returned to the driver's seat, started the car, and drove into the base without a word—just as silent as he'd always been.
The group parked between rows of M.U.L.E.s. and V.T.R.A, engines humming to a stop. One by one, they climbed out of their rides and were immediately met by a familiar figure waiting just ahead.
"Glad all of you could make it," Phantom 10 said, arms folded, his tone calm and unreadable beneath the mask.
Before he could continue, Yang raised a hand, brow lifted in suspicion. Phantom gestured for her to go ahead.
"You another clone?" she asked, squinting. "Or are you the original this time?"
Phantom gave a small nod. "I'm the original. The one earlier was a projection—had to prep this place."
"Okay, that's still kinda creepy," Ruby muttered, exchanging a glance with Blake.
Without missing a beat, Phantom turned and motioned for them to follow. "Come on. I'll show you where we'll be training."
The group followed him into a large, newly renovated gym. The air inside was clean and cool, and the space was massive.
Exercise machines lined the walls—treadmills, rowing stations, ellipticals. Racks of weights stood beside medicine balls and training dummies.
A spacious sparring ring sat in the middle, surrounded by bleachers, with several flat-screen monitors hanging overhead. The aura meters on them were currently blank.
"This is where we'll train five days a week," Phantom said. "Saturday and Sunday are off-days unless otherwise noted."
Blake glanced around, arms crossed. "You didn't waste time."
"No kidding," Sun added, pacing toward a bench press. "This is almost military grade."
Phantom led them further down the gym, stopping at two side-by-side doors along the back wall.
"These are the locker rooms. Left is for boys. Right is for girls. No mixing. Simple."
Yang raised an eyebrow and smirked. "What, no co-ed banter allowed?"
Phantom didn't respond. He simply waited for the sarcasm to pass. Weiss gave Yang a side glance.
"Let's just respect the rules," she said dryly.
"I was kidding," Yang chuckled, raising her hands in mock surrender.
Phantom turned back toward the sparring arena. "Now, today's session will be light. We're starting with sparring. Team RWBY—you're up. You'll be facing me."
That announcement earned a sudden silence.
"Wait, you?" Ruby blinked. "As in, we're sparring you?"
"Didn't you see what he did to Sender?" Blake whispered, glancing at her teammates. "He took him down on top of Beacon Tower. Alone."
"Not to mention Mercury and Emerald outside Vale National Hospital," Weiss added with a frown. "This feels like a trap."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Phantom replied coolly. "To make this fair, I won't be using the Omnitrix during the match. Just me, my gear, and my reflexes."
Yang gave a low whistle. "You sure about that? Might be biting off more than you can chew."
"I'm confident," Phantom said. "And besides… I want to see what you four can do when working as one."
He stepped closer to the arena. "Also, I don't have an aura. So we're adding one extra rule: if I—or any of you—step outside the boundary, you're out. Same goes for touching the red line. Tournament rules otherwise apply."
Yang raised a hand again, squinting at the floor. "But if you don't have an aura, how do we know if we're actually getting hits in?"
Phantom pointed to the red line encircling the arena. "Step on it or cross it, and the sensors will register it. The screens will instantly show who's been disqualified."
He pointed to the cameras mounted overhead. "We've also got aerial feeds and biometric tracking—tech from my world. I installed sensors across the base. They track movement, health vitals, and location in real-time. No hiding, no confusion. It even alerts us to intruders."
Kevin raised a brow. "You got all that from your Earth gear?"
"Not just gear," Phantom replied. "In the back of my car is an interdimensional storage unit. It's stocked with tech for emergencies—everything needed to build a base. Outreach just got a major upgrade."
"Overkill?" Sun asked, half-joking.
"Prepared," Phantom said flatly.
Blake scanned the monitors, nodding slightly. "Impressive… I didn't think human tech could sync with Remnant's systems."
"It doesn't. That's why I bypassed them."
Weiss looked skeptical. "You're telling me you programmed and installed all of this without any help?"
Phantom paused, then added, "mostly Decca helped."
"Obviously," Ruby muttered with a grin.
Decca's voice crackled to life over the overhead speakers, chipper as ever. "Nice to be appreciated for once."
Phantom ignored her and stepped into the ring. "You've got thirty seconds to prepare. Show me what you've got."
Yang cracked her neck with a grin. "Alright, girls. Let's give him a warm welcome."
Ruby transformed Crescent Rose in a flash, flipping it into scythe mode. "No holding back!"
Weiss readied Myrtenaster. "Let's do this properly. Coordinated attacks only."
Blake unsheathed Gambol Shroud. "Stay fast. Stay sharp. Don't give him room to breathe.". The lights filtered through the training arena's overhead canopy, casting long shadows across the red-lined sparring ring. A low hum buzzed through the crowd as Team RWBY stepped onto the field, the crimson outline around the arena glowing softly beneath their boots.
Phantom 10 was already waiting at the center. Calm. Still. Unshaken.
He rolled his shoulders once and stretched his neck, his movements smooth, deliberate, like a predator preparing to strike. His black-and-green jacket barely rustled with the motion.
From the bleachers, Ren and Nora gently helped Pyrrha into her seat beside Jaune. "This is gonna be brutal," Nora whispered, eyes twinkling with excitement. Sun leaned back with a casual grin. "Think they got a shot?"
Kevin snorted. "Not unless he starts sleepwalking."
The countdown began.
Three… Two… One—
Weiss and Blake launched forward in unison, blades drawn, eyes focused.
Weiss's rapier gleamed with glyphlight as she summoned a time dilation circle beneath her feet, boosting her forward in a blur.
Blake's clone flashed behind her, a feint for Phantom to focus on.
But he didn't move.
Not until they were within striking distance.
In one swift motion, Phantom's gauntlets hissed open with a subtle click. He caught Myrtenaster and Gamble Shroud mid-strike, locking the blades with precision.
Using Blake's own momentum, he twisted, slamming Weiss's rapier into the ground and sending sparks flying.
At the same time, he yanked Gamble Shroud free and tossed it across the arena—only for the ribbon to snap taut and reel it back toward Blake's waiting hand.
He was counting on it.
A vicious boot caught Weiss in the stomach, launching her into the air. Just as Blake pulled her weapon back, it wrapped around Weiss midair, causing both girls to come crashing down in a tangle of limbs.
From the bleachers, Nora winced. "Ouch! That's a 2-for-1 special!"
"Textbook overcommitment," Ben muttered, arms crossed.
Amber leaned forward. "He's not just fighting—he's teaching."
Yang roared from behind and lunged, Ember Celica cocked back for a rocket-propelled punch.
Phantom twisted at the last second, catching her arm mid-swing. He used her own momentum to flip her head-over-heels, sending her crashing into Ruby just as she dashed in.
The girls landed in a heap.
Phantom's voice was calm but firm. "Your enemies won't play fair. You're not fighting mindless beasts anymore—you're fighting people. Adapt. Get creative."
Blake sprang up, growling low as she sprinted in, striking with rapid slashes. Phantom parried each blow with fluid efficiency, then sidestepped and snatched her by the collar.
A surge of green electricity pulsed through his suit.
Blake screamed in pain as her aura sparked.
Yang's eyes flared red. "Oh, you're dead!" she shouted, firing both gauntlets and rocketing across the field.
Phantom hurled Blake's limp form into Yang's face mid-flight. The impact spun her off balance and straight out of the ring, landing in a tumble of blonde hair and bruised pride.
From the speakers above, Decca's voice rang out like an excited game show host:
"SORRY YANG, BUT YOU JUST TOOK A HOME RUN OUTTA THERE! YOU'RRRRRRRRRRRE OUT!"
"Really?" Yang groaned from the grass. "You practiced that line?"
"Ten times!" Decca replied proudly.
Inside the ring, the remaining trio hesitated, momentarily distracted by Yang's exit.
Phantom didn't let the pause go to waste.
He hurled a flurry of shurikens. Ruby zigzagged left. Weiss ducked. Blake rolled—
—but Phantom kept throwing.
From the stands, Gwen squinted. "Those aren't normal shurikens."
"Of course not," Kevin said. "He's Phantom. That means trap city."
Blake narrowed her eyes and used her semblance, shadow clones shielding her from the barrage as she dashed through. She made it halfway before Phantom casually pulled a detonator from his belt and pressed a button.
The shurikens didn't explode.
They sang.
A high-pitched whine filled the air. Ruby and Weiss exchanged confused glances—they couldn't hear anything. But Blake?
She dropped to her knees, clutching her skull with a shriek. "Make it stop!"
Phantom moved.
In two strides he grabbed Blake and, with a twisting heave, hurled her toward the edge.
Ruby's petals exploded as she dashed forward, arm outstretched to catch her teammate.
She almost made it.
But Phantom was faster.
Another shuriken—this one did explode—detonated mid-air, launching Blake clear out of bounds. Her aura flickered red as she hit the grass.
"THE WRESTLING CAT JUST GOT DECLAWED! BLAKE, YOU'RE OUT!" Decca yelled gleefully.
Weiss cursed under her breath and charged in, glyphs blinking underfoot as she accelerated with grace and fury.
She didn't see the shuriken under her heel until it was too late.
It buzzed, triggered by pressure, and tripped her glyph momentum. She stumbled—just enough for Phantom to slide in and stab his knife into her wedge heel, tearing the sole off mid-stride.
"Seriously?!" Weiss gasped as her balance gave out. She wobbled—then fell out of bounds.
"SORRY ICE QUEEN," Decca chimed, "BUT PHANTOM'S JUST TOO HOT FOR YOUR SNOW TO HANDLE—YOU MELTED OUT!"
Weiss glared from the sidelines. "Hay!"
Yang smirked. "Hay is for horses!"
Back in the arena, only Ruby remained.
The youngest Huntress's face was serious now, her breath steady. She gripped Crescent Rose tight, petals starting to swirl.
From the bleachers, Pyrrha whispered, "She's fast. But that won't be enough."
Ruby darted in, turning into a crimson blur. She was faster than Phantom anticipated. For a split second, she was gone—reappearing behind him, ready to swing.
But Phantom was gone too.
A flash of green light—and she felt two heavy boots slam into her side.
Ruby was airborne.
Thinking fast, she stabbed Crescent Rose into the ground, catching the blade on the edge of the arena, stopping just shy of the red line.
"How did you—?" she panted.
Phantom appeared beside her, pointing to a shuriken embedded in the floor. "Teleportation shurikens. Short range. You can use it too—if you're clever."
He kicked Crescent Rose from her grasp and sent it flying out of bounds.
Ruby's eyes widened as he squared up. "Now… show me what you've learned from me."
She slowly got to her feet, hands rising as she took the stance he'd taught her the day before—tight guard, elbows in, centerline protected.
From the stands, Gwen blinked. "Is she doing… Wing Chun?"
"She only learned the basics," Yang said. "Yesterday."
Phantom struck.
Ruby blocked the first two hits—sloppily, but they connected.
The third strike landed on her ribs. The fourth swept her legs.
She hit the ground hard.
Still, she got back up.
Tried again.
This time she deflected a jab with a chain punch of her own—but Phantom stepped around it, weaving behind her and pinning her arm.
He didn't follow through. Just whispered, "Good. You're learning."
Then he released her.
Ruby turned, breath heaving. "Can we go again?"
Phantom looked down at her with something behind the mask—approval, maybe. "Not bad for Day One."
From the bleachers, applause broke out. Nora cheered. Ren clapped calmly. Jaune grinned. Even Kevin cracked a smile.
Ben just gave a low whistle. "Kid's tougher than she looks."
Amber leaned forward, eyes gleaming. "She's gonna be scary when she figures that style out."
A few minutes later team RWBY sat on the benches inside the shaded section of the arena, towels slung around their necks and bottles of water in hand.
Weiss looked disgruntled. Yang was still nursing a sore shoulder. Blake leaned forward, elbows on knees. Ruby kept adjusting her stance out of habit, quietly mimicking Phantom's earlier movements.
Phantom 10 stood in front of them, arms crossed, mask still on. Decca's hologram hovered nearby, arms folded like a sassy coach with a whistle.
"Let's break it down," Phantom said, tone even. "You didn't lose because you're weak. You lost because you were predictable."
Blake winced. Weiss frowned. Yang crossed her arms. Ruby just nodded.
Phantom turned to Blake first.
"You telegraphed your attack with your clone. I knew the moment I saw it that you'd use it as a cover to strike. If you're going to feint, make it convincing—and don't always fall back on your semblance like it's a crutch."
Blake muttered, "Noted…"
"Also," Phantom added, "you never tested if I could detect the real you. You assumed your distraction would work just because it usually does. That's a dangerous assumption."
He turned to Weiss next.
"You were too committed to elegant, precise strikes. That works in duels—not in close-quarters chaos. I pinned your blade with minimal effort. You didn't adapt. Your glyph work was good, but you used it the same way three times in a row. I set a trap because I knew you wouldn't change your approach."
Weiss pursed her lips. "So I should have been more improvisational?"
"You should have been more unpredictable. You've got the tools, Schnee. You just didn't wield them like someone in a real fight."
Next, he looked to Yang.
"You relied entirely on brute force and reaction time. Against someone stronger, or smarter, that's suicide. Charging in the same way every time made it easy to counter you. You let emotion dictate your timing."
Yang gave a half-hearted shrug. "Yeah, well… you threw me into my sister. Hard to stay calm after that."
"She wasn't in danger. And even if she was—you still need to think and remain in control of your emotions."
Kevin, sitting nearby, called out: "He's not kidding. You start thinking with your fists, you'll end up broken."
Sun added with a smirk, "He did say he fights dirty. You were warned."
Yang rolled her eyes. "Yeah yeah…"
Finally, Phantom turned to Ruby.
"You lasted the longest. Because you adapted."
Ruby looked surprised. "I… did?"
"You used your speed differently near the end. You recognized when to disengage. You attempted a different style, even though you barely knew it. That's what fighting is. Constant adjustments."
Ruby perked up a little, even if her limbs still ached.
"But," Phantom continued, "you were still hesitant. You relied too much on Crescent Rose's reach and speed instead of controlling the space around your opponent. You need to keep your center protected. And don't just copy Wing Chun—feel it."
"I'll practice," Ruby said quietly.
"You will."
He took a step back.
"You all made one critical mistake—"
He looked at all four.
"You fought me like I was a monster, not a person. You expected big moves, flashy attacks. You forgot that people deceive. Trick. Set traps. If you want to survive, you need to fight like you're in the dark—expecting the worst." Blake spoke up softly.
"But… is that really how we have to fight? Like we can't trust anything? Like everything's a trap?"
Phantom paused.
"Not always. But when your enemy's smarter than you? Stronger than you? Then yes. You survive by fighting like you have everything to lose."
The team fell quiet.
Decca appeared in her holographic form on top of phantoms shoulder and floated closer, her tone gentler now.
"You girls did good. You're raw, but you've got guts. And Phantom doesn't give compliments often—so when he says you're learning, that's a big deal."
Weiss sighed.
"I suppose… failure has its uses."
"Not failure," Phantom corrected. "Practice."
From the side, Pyrrha called out, smiling.
"He's right. Sparring isn't about winning. It's about learning your limits—and breaking them."
Jaune added, smirking as he leaned forward:
"Well, I haven't been tossed around by him yet… but seeing you four fly through the air doesn't exactly make me eager to volunteer."
Sun grinned. "Smart man."
Yang grinned at Ruby.
"Well, looks like someone's the teacher's favorite."
Ruby blushed. "I just… paid attention."
"Whatever, nerd," Yang teased.
Phantom took one last look at them and turned to leave.
"Same time tomorrow."
Decca added with a wink as she floated after him:
"And next time, try not to bring a knife to a bat-fist fight."
"Can you please stop comparing me to Batman? You say it like I'm some kind of knock-off." Phantom muttered, adjusting his gauntlet with a grumble.
Decca flickered to life beside him, arms folded with mock offense and a raised brow.
"Oh, excuse me, Mr. Utility-Belt-and-Brooding. I'm Cortana at worst—at best, I'm the only reason you haven't walked into traffic while thinking about rooftop strategy."
Phantom exhaled heavily, resisting the urge to rub his temple beneath his hood.
"Anyway…" he muttered, trying to regain control of the conversation.
"Let's get back on track."
He stepped forward, projecting his voice to the rest of the group.
"Now that that's out of the way, here's the lineup for the next set of matches."
He pointed as he called out the names.
"Kevin, you're going up against Nora. Gwen, you'll face Jaune. Ben, you've got Ren. Sun, you're matched with Amber."
The crowd immediately reacted.
Nora's eyes lit up like she'd just been handed a candy store.
"YES! Finally! I've been waiting all day to break something—uh, I mean, test my strength!"
Kevin gave her a wary glance.
"…Not gonna lie, I'm already regretting this."
Gwen raised a brow, arms crossed.
"Jaune, you ready to get schooled by actual federal training?"
Jaune gave a nervous chuckle.
"I'd like to think Beacon's taught me something. I mean…probably?"
Ren gave Ben a quiet nod, and Ben returned it with a grin.
"Let's make it clean, yeah?"
Before anyone could step forward, Pyrrha lifted her hand calmly.
"Um, Phantom?"
He turned and gestured toward her.
"Go ahead."
She pointed to the cracked tiles and uneven terrain of the arena from the previous match.
"Shouldn't we repair the arena first? It's seen better days."
Phantom didn't hesitate. He pressed a small button on his belt, and all the scattered shurikens vanished in a brief flicker of green light, returning to the interdimensional storage within his armor. The leftover debris trembled slightly but stayed put.
"The field's fine enough," he said. "We're not here for aesthetics—we're here for combat experience."
He pointed toward Kevin and Nora.
"You two, into the ring."
As they moved to take their places—Kevin cracking his knuckles and rolling his neck, while Nora practically skipped into position—Phantom turned and called over his shoulder.
"Ruby, with me. It's time to continue your training. The rest of you, eyes open. You might learn something. I'll be reviewing the footage later."
Ruby blinked in surprise but quickly nodded.
"Right! I'm coming." She jogged over to Phantom as the others settled into the bleachers to watch.
Up in the stands, Yang leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees as she watched her sister join Phantom near the edge of the arena.
"Hey, Ruby—nice job during the last match, by the way." She gave her a thumbs-up.
"You really held your own there at the end. That hand-to-hand stuff you've been practicing? It's starting to show."
Ruby glanced back over her shoulder, cheeks flushed with a proud smile.
"Thanks, Yang. It's still kinda new, but Phantom's been helping a lot."
"It looked cool," Weiss added, nodding faintly. "For once you weren't just flinging yourself around like a whirlwind with a death wish."
Blake smirked slightly.
"It was…surprisingly grounded. Not bad for someone whose usual plan is 'speed first, think later.'"
Ruby puffed out her cheeks, flustered but flattered.
Meanwhile, Phantom stood beside her and began slowly demonstrating the Wing Chun stances they had gone over the previous day. Ruby mirrored him, carefully shifting into position. Her movements weren't perfect—her centerline was off, and she rushed through a few transitions—but there was noticeable improvement.
"Focus on your core," Phantom instructed quietly, adjusting her elbow with a gentle tap. "Let the movement flow through structure, not force."
Back in the arena, Kevin and Nora were facing off now, the energy rising between them like static before a storm.
"Try not to break anything too important," Decca chirped from the loudspeakers. "That includes each other."
With that, the countdown began. A horn rang out, and both combatants ran towards each other, while the others in the bleachers sat at the edge of their seats.
An
And that I think it's a good time to stop; that's right, people, I'm not dead, but I'm not super late either. I haven't been the best at keeping the usual day in mind, but at the same time, at least I'm getting out chapters at a somewhat decent rate, so hey, I call that a win.
Anyways, not a lot to debunk during this chapter; it was very straightforward. This was a fight I was honestly really, really looking forward to. Let's be real: I'm the tricks wielder with a couple years of combat experience. I will say he has more than Ben, and that actually trains and has a little back gear. You didn't think he wouldn't be able to beat Team RWBY, please.
It was an absolute slaughter from the beginning. Anyway, with that, I think it's time we talk about the next chapter as we move into the next somewhat major arc of the story!
The group finished with training for today; they decided to head back. However, Phantom decides to go back to the city of Vail to help keep up his title and to bring hope to the people, only to discover a mysterious set of kidnappings taking place. Well, he discovered the culprit behind these kidnappings; you'll just have to read and find out next time as the journey continues!
And yes, I did manage to slide in another reference to another TV show at the end of the author's note—BOOYAH, BABY!
STAY SAFE AND HAVE A NICE DAY! BYE!