The dorm room was a sanctuary of peace, bathed in the soft, ambient glow of the city's lights filtering through the window. Inside, Jessica was sleeping peacefully, her breathing a low, steady rhythm that matched the quiet hum of the air conditioner.
Then, a sudden, insistent ringing shattered the silence. Her scroll, sitting on her nightstand, buzzed with an alarming urgency. Jessica let out a groan, her face scrunching up in annoyance as she fumbled for the device. With a half-conscious swipe, she answered the call and brought the screen to her ear.
"Hello?..." she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep and irritation.
But there was no answering voice. Instead, the call was filled with a cacophony of terrifying sounds. The distant clanging of metal against metal, the sharp crack of what sounded like gunfire, and a faint, high-pitched scream that was cut short. The line went dead with a jarring click.
Jessica pulled the scroll away from her ear, her sleep-addled mind now wide awake and filled with a cold dread. She looked at the caller ID, a growing frown on her face as the name registered in her mind. Her heart sank, and a single word, filled with deep worry and fear, escaped her lips.
"Ruby?.."
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Later that morning, Team JNPR was making their way toward the airship docks, the sun casting long shadows as they walked. The atmosphere was a mix of nervous energy and excitement for their upcoming mission. But Jessica couldn't shake the unease that had settled in her heart after the strange phone call from Ruby.
"I'm sure they're fine," Pyrrha said, her tone a soft attempt at reassurance.
"You think? I'm really worried," Jessica responded, her eyes focused on the ground.
"It was probably a butt dial!" Nora chirped, skipping ahead and jumping onto the ramp of their airship with a lighthearted energy that seemed completely at odds with Jessica's concern.
Ren sighed, his usual calm demeanor a stark contrast to Nora's excitement. "Team RWBY has always performed exceptionally in the field. We should be focusing on our own mission." He stopped as Nora stepped in front of him, striking a proud pose.
"They're going to be deputies!" Nora announced, making Ren sigh again, a faint smile on his face.
"I just got this... feeling, I don't know," Jessica said, her voice trailing off as she tried to put her intuition into words.
"Jessica," Pyrrha said gently, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Suddenly, a high-pitched, wailing siren echoed across the city, a sound of pure emergency that made all four of them stop dead in their tracks. It was coming from the city, across the lake. The alarm was immediately followed by another, louder alarm coming from inside Beacon itself. The sound was deafening, a blaring cry of an entire kingdom in peril.
All doubt vanished from Jessica's mind. "We're changing our mission," she said, her voice now a commanding tone of resolve. "Everyone, board the airship. Now!"
Pyrrha and Nora didn't hesitate, jumping onto the ship. Ren was about to follow when Jessica grabbed his shoulder. "Ren, we'll make it out to that village another time."
Ren looked at her for a brief second, his eyes reflecting her newfound determination, and gave a firm nod. With that, they both stepped into the ship.
"Take us to the city!" Jessica ordered the pilot, her voice now filled with a sense of purpose.
After a moment of silence, the ship's engines roared to life. With a sudden lurch, it rose into the sky, heading toward the city and the unfolding crisis.
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Perched on a ridge just outside of Beacon, Cinder, Emerald, and Mercury watched as a gray airship from the Academy took off with a purpose. Its destination wasn't the usual drop-off point for student missions; it was heading straight for the city.
The sight made Emerald's blood run cold. She took a step toward Cinder, her voice a low, nervous whisper. "You don't think...?" she began, the question hanging in the air.
Mercury stepped up beside her, his expression unreadable. "Sure looks like it," he said, his tone flat and cynical.
"But... that's still days away!" Emerald insisted, her voice full of disbelief. Their plan was a meticulously crafted series of events meant to unfold over a specific timeline. This was a massive wrench in the works.
"So, what do we do?" Mercury asked, his eyes turning to Cinder, who remained silent.
Cinder's gaze was fixed on the sprawling city in the distance, her eyes narrowed into thin, calculating slits. She didn't respond to their questions, her mind already racing ahead. The pieces of her plan were still in play, but the game had just been forced into hyper-speed. She was no longer just the puppet master; she was an improviser. With a cold, resolute fire in her eyes, she was already moving on to the next step.
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The chaotic roar of the Grimm was a physical presence, a terrifying sound that surrounded Team RWBY. They were now in the center of the city square, surrounded on all sides by a seemingly endless horde of Grimm. The massive, two-headed King Taijtu towered over them, a monstrous, living coil of black scales and bone.
The team exchanged worried glances, a shared look of dread and determination. Their small group was all that stood between the Grimm and the innocent people of Vale. The King Taijtu let out a deafening roar that shook the very ground. They all readied themselves, their instincts taking over.
Taking a deep, shaky breath, Ruby brought her hands together. The familiar, but painful, process of forming her blood-forged weapon began once more. The burning sensation inside her was a constant agony, a cruel reminder of the experiment she had endured. But there was no time to worry about it now. She saw the terrified faces of the people, the desperate scramble to escape. She had to help them. With a fierce cry, she launched herself forward, her new scythe a crimson blur as she spun, cleanly cutting a Beowulf in half.
Yang didn't hesitate. She fired a shot from her gauntlets at a nearby Creep Grimm, using the recoil to launch herself into the air. From her vantage point above the chaos, she began to fire wildly, her shots exploding into fiery projectiles that hit every Grimm she could see. But her moment of glory was short-lived. She looked back to see three tiny Nevermore Grimm flying toward her. They hit her with a powerful force, sending her tumbling back to the ground.
Blake was a whirlwind of motion. She sliced and diced every Grimm that came near her, her sword a flash of steel. The melee was too much, so she wisely pulled back and began to fire her weapon at the Grimm that were nearby, her shots hitting their marks with deadly accuracy.
Weiss, ever the graceful tactician, used her sword to cut down one Grimm before using her Glyph to push another one away, creating a momentary buffer for her team.
Yang, enraged, scrambled to her feet. She saw two Grimm approaching and, with a powerful punch, sent a car flying toward them, smashing them against a wall.
Ruby's scythe sliced through another Grimm, but she looked up to see the colossal King Taijtu looming over her. The beast let out another terrifying roar, its two heads ready to strike. Ruby took a step back, her heart pounding.
Then, a blur of pink and orange rocketed through the sky. A high-pitched battle cry echoed from the sky, and Ruby's eyes widened as she saw Nora flying toward them. With a final, triumphant scream, Nora slammed her hammer against the King Taijtu's head, the sheer force of the blow sending the massive beast to the ground with a resounding crash.
The battle for Vale had just begun, but the tide was already turning. With a powerful crash, Nora landed on the ground, the force of her blow sending cracks through the pavement. The rest of Team JNPR landed beside her, their presence a beacon of hope in the chaos.
Jessica let out a battle cry and raised her hand, her voice a commanding shout over the din of battle. "Protect the city! Move out!" Team JNPR followed her orders without hesitation, slicing and pulverizing every Grimm in their path.
"Who's first?" Jessica said with a confident smirk, her body coiled and ready for a fight.
Just then, an Ursa Minor Grimm landed behind her with a thundering crash and a guttural roar. Jessica's expression fell. She looked at the Grimm and let out a tired sigh. "Right... why do I always have to jinx myself?" She shook her head, her hand held out in front of her as if holding a weapon. In a flash of light, her Aura Sword appeared in her hand, its hilt solid and reassuring. An Aura Shield formed in her other hand.
As Jessica prepared for her fight, Pyrrha was already in the thick of it. She cut down a Grimm with a graceful sweep of her spear, then impaled a Beowolf with a precise strike to the head. She spun around and stabbed another Grimm in the face. She looked over to see Jessica backing away from the Ursa Minor.
Jessica tightened her grip on her sword, her eyes fixed on the Grimm. "I can do this... Come on... I practiced for a reason," she murmured to herself. With a defiant shout, she charged forward, her Aura sword raised high. She brought it down, cleanly slicing the Grimm in the chest. The beast roared in pain and swung its massive claws at her, but Jessica blocked the attack with her shield. In a single, fluid motion, she darted forward, her Aura sword's tip piercing the Grimm's head, bringing the monster down for good.
A faint smile touched Pyrrha's lips as she watched her leader's fierce determination. I really adore her, Pyrrha thought to herself, her smile growing with pride.
Just then, two new figures arrived on the scene. "Nobody move, junior detectives!" Sun yelled, holding up a gleaming badge.
"We have badges, so you know it's official," Neptune said with a smirk, holding his own badge up. The two of them fist-bumped, a moment of lightheartedness in the chaos.
They all looked up to see a massive airship flying overhead, followed by smaller attack ships. Sun and Neptune stared in awe and dropped their badges to the ground. The ships opened fire, shooting down all the Grimm in the immediate area around Team RWBY, Team JNPR, Sun, and Neptune.
The airships hovered over the city, their hulls opening to reveal a new kind of soldier. Dozens of Androids descended from the sky, their metallic bodies hitting the ground with a synchronized thud. They immediately began to fire on the Grimm horde, their lasers a continuous, brilliant stream of light that cut down Beowolves and Ursa Alphas with ruthless efficiency.
The Grimm, however, were not easily defeated. A Boarbatusk charged through the android ranks, its tusks and hardened hide sending two of the robots flying into a pile of twisted metal. In a different part of the chaos, an android managed to strike an Ursa Minor with a powerful blast, sending the Grimm tumbling. The Ursa flew through the air, crashing to the ground right in front of Cinder, Emerald, and Mercury.
Cinder's eyes narrowed as she watched the unexpected turn of events. She gave a small, almost imperceptible nod to her subordinates. "Now," she commanded, her voice a low murmur.
With a shared look, Emerald and Mercury launched into action. They began to attack the Grimm in their area with little effort. Mercury moved with a fluid, deadly grace, his kicks and strikes pulverizing the Grimm he came across. Emerald used her abilities to confuse and disorient the Grimm before finishing them off with her bladed weapons. The sudden arrival of the androids had changed the battle entirely, but it was a change Cinder was already adapting to.
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A high-pitched shriek of metal and the guttural roar of Grimm filled the air. The Vale Breach was a sea of chaos, with defeated androids and terrified civilians trying to escape the encroaching darkness. It was into this nightmare that Alex made her entrance, a figure of lethal grace amidst the carnage. Her twin blade swords were at the ready, a stark contrast of light and darkness.
The first of the Beowolves charged her, its claws extended. Alex met the beast's lunge with a powerful sweep of her light blade, a shimmering arc of pure energy that sliced through the Grimm's chest. Before the creature could even fall, she plunged her dark blade into its collapsing form. A terrible, silent process began. The Grimm's essence, its very shadow, seemed to drain from its body, pulled by an unseen force into the obsidian blade. The Beowulf collapsed, its form a hollowed-out husk that crumbled into dust.
For a brief second, Alex stopped, her chest rising and falling as she took in the full scope of the devastation. The broken buildings, the screaming civilians, and the endless horde of monsters. She let out a heavy sigh, a sound of profound, weary exasperation. "Why does she always cause trouble when I'm not around?" she muttered to herself, her voice laced with a mix of resignation and fury.
Before the thought could even finish, an Ursa Minor charged her. Without a moment's hesitation, Alex brought her dark blade down in a clean, powerful arc. The blade sliced through the Grimm's neck, its head falling cleanly to the ground with a dull thud. Her attention was already shifting to the next wave of Grimm, her sigh of frustration replaced by a cold, deadly focus.
Over by the main breach, a massive, two-legged giant robot pushed its way out of the crumbling tunnel, its optical sensors glowing red as it assessed the carnage. On the ground, a small, furry blur zipped through the chaos. Zwei, a determined and fiery projectile, launched himself at a Beowulf, a whirlwind of fur and teeth.
Just then, a heavy dropship arrived, its powerful engines roaring as it descended rapidly toward the battlefield. The bay doors opened, and Team CFVY, led by Professor Port, leaped from the ramp without hesitation. They landed in the midst of the chaos and immediately fanned out, their movements professional and coordinated.
Yatsuhaishi was instantly surrounded by a dozen snarling Grimm. Unfazed, he drew his immense, curved blade and slammed its flat side into the ground. A shockwave erupted from the point of impact, and a web of luminous cracks spread across the pavement, violently shattering the ground and sending the Grimm flying into pieces.
Nearby, Fox was a silent whirlwind, his blades a blur of motion as he sliced through multiple Grimm. He then set his sights on a towering Ursa Minor and began a barrage of quick, precise slashes. The Ursa's body glowed with a faint, internal light before it exploded in a spray of black ichor and bone-like spikes, taking out several other Grimm in its immediate vicinity.
Coco walked past Fox, her signature confident stride never wavering. "Good job," she said, her tone a mix of casual praise and cool professionalism.
She came to a stop in the middle of a destroyed street, her stylish boots crunching on rubble. A monstrous Giant Beowulf landed in front of her with a ground-shaking thud. Its massive claws were a foot long, and its roars were deafening. Coco simply reached up and pulled her sunglasses down, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the destruction. "You just destroyed my favorite clothing store," she said, her voice a low, lethal purr. "Prepare to die."
The Giant Beowulf roared and swung its claw at her, but Coco didn't even flinch. She simply raised her arm, her gauntlet-like bracer meeting the monster's attack head-on. The Beowulf's claws screeched to a halt mid-air, a foot from her face, held back by her sheer strength. She kicked its knee with a powerful, crunching blow, causing the massive creature to stumble. Coco then stared into the Beowulf's glowing red eyes before bashing its head into the pavement with her briefcase, a brutal, elegant finishing move.
Other Grimm charged at her, but she batted three Beowulfs aside with terrifying ease and leaped back as a Death Stalker swung its stinger at her. She landed perfectly next to Velvet, who was about to pull out her own weapon.
"Hey, come on," Coco said, stopping her with a gentle hand. "You spent all semester building that up. Don't waste it here." With that, she walked forward, a confident smile on her face.
With a push of a button, her briefcase unclasped and unfolded, transforming into a massive, multi-barreled minigun. She didn't even bother to look at the ground-based Grimm. Instead, she aimed the weapon up at the sky and opened fire, a torrent of lead and fire shredding the air. Three Nevermores that had been circling above were torn to shreds, their bodies falling to the ground in a feathery rain. Team CFVY then continued their walk, having effortlessly dispatched the Grimm in their area.
The battle raged on. The deafening roar of Grimm and the incessant clang of weapons filled the air. In the midst of the chaos, Zwei walked over to Dr. Oobleck, his ears perked up, and gave a sharp bark. Oobleck, having just defeated another robot, looked down at the small dog with a look of exhausted amusement.
Just then, Professor Port strolled over, his massive blunderbuss slung over his shoulder. He nodded to Oobleck, his expression grim. They both looked up to see a massive Grimm charging towards them, its claws raised and its eyes glowing red. Without a moment's hesitation, the two professors, veterans of countless battles, took aim. Oobleck's staff erupted in a torrent of fire, while Professor Port's blunderbuss shot a stream of powerful projectiles, a combined assault that turned the Grimm into nothing but ash and bone.
Suddenly, the professors looked over to see Glynda walking down the street, her expression a mix of steely determination and barely-contained fury. She was not happy. Two Grimm, either foolish or desperate, charged toward her, but she didn't even break stride. With a quick twitch of her weapon, a slender crop, she sent both of them flying with a powerful telekinetic blast, their bodies crashing into a building.
Glynda finally stopped when she reached the breach in the city, a gaping hole that had allowed the Grimm to enter, and the various broken items that littered the street. She looked at the wreckage and the chaos with a disapproving glare. Then, with a wave of her crop, she began to repair everything in sight. The ground knitted itself back together, the buildings rebuilt themselves, and the wreckage of the train vanished, leaving the street looking brand new.
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The battle had ended. A tense silence fell over the city as the last of the Grimm were defeated. Everyone was now standing in a large circle in the heart of the city square. Emerald and Mercury were helping the android guards put Roman Torchwick onto a ship, his arms in restraints.
Roman, however, looked entirely unfazed. A wry smirk never left his face as he looked at the heroes who had brought him down. "Oh, I can't believe that you caught me," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You've really taught me the error of my ways. I'm going to spend my days doing good and being a good person from now on."
As he spoke, one of the android guards grabbed his arm a little too roughly, and Roman's eyes widened in mock alarm. "Hey, hey, watch the hat!" he snapped. The android, apparently unperturbed, helped him into the ship, which immediately began to ascend.
With Roman secured, Emerald and Mercury walked over to the crowd. Everyone was cheering and smiling, a shared sense of victory in the air. Their faces were alight with joy, relieved that the battle was over and the city was safe. Everyone, that is, except Ruby. She stood apart from the others, her face a mask of quiet concern, her eyes fixed on the retreating ship.
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Hours later, the sun was setting over Beacon Academy, painting the sky in fiery hues of orange and purple. On a silent landing pad, Team RWBY sat on the edge, their legs dangling over the side as they watched the breathtaking spectacle. The city below was still, the chaos of the day replaced by the solemn glow of streetlights.
While the rest of her team talked, Ruby remained quiet, her eyes fixed on the horizon. Blake and Yang sat close to each other, a comfortable silence between them as they occasionally smiled at one another.
"We did it," Blake said, breaking the silence with a soft sigh.
"Yup," Yang added with a confident smirk. "We kicked ass."
"If we don't get extra credit for that, I am going to be seriously disappointed," Weiss stated, her arms crossed over her chest.
Yang just shook her head. "Weiss, a two-headed snake literally crushed a bakery. I wouldn't count on it."
After a moment, Ruby finally spoke, her voice strained. "We didn't solve everything. A lot of people were hurt, and we still don't know why they did this, or who that mystery girl was. Or where Dr. Merlot is hiding." A faint, pained grunt escaped her lips as the words left her mouth.
Weiss looked at her, her voice softening. "Not every story has a neat and tidy ending." She paused, her gaze filled with concern. "Are you okay?"
Ruby stiffened, her hands gripping her forearms. The burning sensation inside her body was constant, a fiery agony that threatened to consume her. The beast within her was still there, active and enjoying her suffering. "I'm... fine," she insisted, forcing the words out.
Blake looked at her team, a calm sense of resolve in her eyes. "We might not have all the answers, but we do have a lot of dangerous people behind bars. I think that's something we can be proud of."
Ruby gave a fake smile. "Yeah... and if... anyone tries something like this again, we'll... stop them." The words were meant to be reassuring, but they sounded hollow even to her own ears.
Yang leaned back, her body fully on the landing pad, her legs still dangling over the edge. "Yay, teamwork, camaraderie, good guys, go team, alright, good job," she said with a tired grin. "So, what now?"
"I suggest we train for the tournament, but... I think we have that covered at this point," Weiss said with a sigh.
"So then...?" Blake prompted.
"Time for bed?" Yang suggested.
"Oh, please," Weiss said, relieved.
"Absolutely," Blake agreed, her own exhaustion catching up with her.
"I'm going to bed forever," Yang said, her voice filled with a dramatic weariness.
The three of them and Zwei got up, ready to head back to their dorm. But before they could take more than a few steps, a loud thud made them all stop and turn around.
Ruby was on the ground, unmoving, her body covered in sweat. Her breathing was heavy and labored. The pain, the burning substance, had finally overwhelmed her, and she had collapsed.
"Ruby!" her teammates yelled, but no matter how many times they called her name, she didn't answer.
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Perched high in his office, the world of Beacon Academy spread out below him, Ozpin leaned back in his chair, a mug of coffee clutched in his hand. He was in the middle of a holographic meeting with the Councils of the 4 kingsoms, but his gaze was fixed on a point far beyond the floating, shimmering images of the four councilors.
"Ozpin? Ozpin!" one of the councilors snapped, a flicker of irritation crossing his digital face. The man, a prominent figure in the council, was clearly frustrated with the Headmaster's distraction.
Ozpin's head snapped back to attention, and he swiveled his chair to face the video call, his expression a mask of calm. "Yes, Councilor," he said, his voice as smooth as ever.
The councilor let out a heavy sigh, a sound of political exhaustion. "You've left us with no choice. The Vytal Festival Tournament cannot be broadcast, let alone held, if we are unable to ensure the safety of the citizens." His words were a polite, bureaucratic condemnation.
Ozpin took a slow, deliberate sip of his coffee, his silence a sign of his deep disagreement.
The councilor continued, his tone hardening. "Therefore, we have reached out to the Atlas Council, and together have decided that the best option is to appoint General Ironwood as head of security for the event."
A new holographic image shimmered into view. Ironwood, his posture ramrod straight, nodded solemnly. "Our kingdom is happy to lend as many troops as it takes to ensure that this event runs as smoothly and safely as possible," he said, his voice a quiet, measured promise.
"And we thank you, General," the councilor said, his satisfaction clear.
Ozpin set his coffee mug down with a soft click, the sound sharp in the quiet office. "Will that be all?" he asked, a subtle, discouraged edge to his voice.
The councilor's gaze hardened. "For now. But after this festival comes to a close, we are going to have a serious discussion regarding your position at Beacon Academy. General Ironwood's report of these last few weeks has left us somewhat... concerned. I'm sure you understand." With that, three of the holographic figures flickered out of existence, leaving only Ironwood in full view.
Ironwood's expression was grim, a mixture of determination and a quiet plea for understanding. "This is the right move, Ozpin. I promise. I will keep our people safe; you have to trust me." His eyes, filled with a desperate conviction, pleaded with his old friend. He then, too, flickered out of existence, and the last of the holographic call came to an end.
A heavy silence filled the office. Ozpin turned his chair, the squeak of the leather the only sound, until he was looking outside the window. The lights of Vale twinkled in the distance, a sprawling city he was now, for all intents and purposes, powerless to protect.
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Inside his massive flagship, General Ironwood stared out the main viewport, his eyes fixed on the distant Transmit System tower. A sense of grim resolve settled over his features. "You brought this on yourself," he muttered to himself, his voice a low, heavy rumble.
He then turned away from the glass and began a slow, deliberate march down the hallway. He stopped in front of a heavily-reinforced holding cell. The two guards standing sentry stiffened at his approach. The doors hissed open, revealing the dark interior.
"Leave us," Ironwood commanded. The two guards, without a word, saluted and walked away, leaving the two men alone in the sterile silence of the corridor.
Ironwood crossed his arms, his posture radiating authority. "I've been informed that so far, you've refused to cooperate with the authorities," he said.
Amidst the darkness of the cell, a lone figure leaned forward, his infectious smirk the only thing visible in the shadows. It was Roman Torchwick. "I know this might be hard to believe, General, but, uh... I'm not the biggest fan of local law enforcement."
"How about the world's strongest military power?" Ironwood countered, his voice filled with a cold, confident power.
Roman feigned a thoughtful look. "Hm, first impressions... not great."
Ironwood's gaze hardened. "I'm going to give you one chance: who's really behind all this?"
Roman's smirk widened, and he let out a slight laugh. "Isn't it obvious? You're looking at him!"
"Very well then," Ironwood said, a faint, humorless chuckle escaping his lips. He turned and began to walk away.
"What's the matter, General?" Roman called out, feigning confusion. "I thought you wanted to talk?"
Ironwood stopped but didn't turn around. "The council has given me custody over you for as long as I see fit. So you can make yourself comfortable. I can assure you we'll have plenty of time to... talk."
"Oh, wonderful," Roman said, a delighted chuckle escaping his lips as his cell door hissed shut, leaving him in the dark.
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Perched on the rooftop of a Beacon Academy building, high above the chaos, Cinder and her followers watched the city lights flicker to life. The wind whipped at their clothes, a cold reminder of the night's devastation.
"All in all, I'd call today a success," Cinder said, her voice a low, satisfied purr. Her eyes, filled with a cold, triumphant fire, were fixed on the sprawling cityscape.
Emerald folded her arms across her chest with a frustrated sigh. "Those stupid kids really made a mess of things," she muttered, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
Mercury scoffed, his gaze drifting over the city's wounds. "Yeah. A lot of Faunus didn't make it out of those tunnels. You still think the White Fang's gonna listen to us?" He had a point. Their plan had succeeded, but it had come at a heavy cost to their allies.
Just then, a new figure stepped out from the darkness of the rooftop. His distinctive red hair and horns were unmistakable. He strode toward them with an arrogant, powerful grace, a sinister smile playing at his lips.
"No," the man said, his voice a smooth, confident baritone that cut through the night. "But they'll listen to me."
Unbeknownst to the four of them, a lone figure was hidden in the deeper shadows of a nearby rooftop. Alex, her eyes a piercing gaze in the dark, watched them with a mix of fury and suspicion.
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The silence of Team RWBY's dorm room was a fragile thing, broken only by the low, whimpering sounds of pain. Yang stirred on her bed, her mind still fuzzy from sleep. She rubbed her eyes, trying to make sense of the noise, and her gaze landed on Ruby, who was suffering on Weiss's bed. A deep, agonizing frown made its way to Yang's lips.
She saw the scene clearly: Weiss was beside Ruby, her head resting on the bed as she held Ruby's hand even in her sleep. It was a sight of quiet comfort, a testament to their bond. I'm glad Ruby has someone who can take care of her, Yang thought, a small, sad smile touching her lips.
With a quiet grace, she slid off her bed, her feet landing on the ground with a soft thud. She looked over at Blake, who was sleeping soundly, a faint smile on her face. A pang of relief, and something else, went through Yang. She turned her attention back to Weiss's bed. The whimpering continued, along with the sound of Ruby shifting in pain.
I can't believe that damn doctor did something to her, Yang thought, the calm facade she had been trying to maintain cracking. I promised I wouldn't let him near her... and I failed. Her fists clenched at her sides, a raw, frustrated anger simmering beneath the surface. With a deep breath, she decided she needed some air. She needed to escape the guilt, if only for a few minutes.
She slipped out the door and made her way through the moonlit courtyards of Beacon. The night air was cool on her skin, but it did little to soothe the fire of her anger and regret. She walked toward the center of the field, a place of peace and stillness. But as she got closer to the statues, she stopped dead in her tracks.
There, bathed in the soft moonlight, stood the same woman with the Grimm mask who had saved her on the train. A rush of adrenaline and a desperate need for answers surged through Yang's veins.
"Who are you?" Yang said, her voice a low, challenging whisper.
Without a word, the woman reached up and slowly pulled off her mask, her crimson eyes glowing like embers in the darkness. A chill went down Yang's spine.
"Yang," the woman said, her voice a low, raspy whisper.
And in that moment, a shocking realization hit Yang. Her own eyes, in a mirror of the woman's, turned a bright, furious red, a sign of her own burgeoning power.
The woman's lips curled into a half-smile. "We have a lot to talk about."