With the Grimm vanquished, the remnants of Ruby's blood on her side began to stir and move with a life of their own. She felt a strange, tingling sensation as the crimson droplets, now freed from their duty as a weapon, coalesced and started to knit her wound closed. It was a surreal, almost alien feeling-the sensation of her own body being repaired by a force she barely understood. Yet, despite the bizarre nature of the self-mending process, there was no pain from the stitches.
What did cause a sharp, painful jolt was the sight of the two faces staring back at her. Their expressions were not of relief or admiration, but of profound shock, fear, and a question that hung unspoken in the air. The looks on Yang's and the other girl's faces cut deeper than any Grimm stinger ever could, and their silent judgment was a far greater wound than the one her blood had just healed.
Even Weiss, who prided herself on her composure, found her expression overtaken by a profound sense of dread. Her typically cool, calculating gaze was fixed on Ruby, wide with a fear she hadn't felt since her first encounter with a Grimm. It was the look of someone seeing an impossibility, a living myth that defied all reason. Her hand, trembling slightly, rose and pressed against the makeshift bandage of Ruby's cloak, which was still wrapped around the wound on her side.
"What... what was that?" she whispered, the question a stark mix of terror and disbelief. The scythe of blood was gone, the Grimm was defeated, but the image of it-and the feral glint in Ruby's eyes as she wielded it-would forever be seared into her memory. The familiar comfort of Ruby's cloak now felt alien, a chilling reminder of the raw, dangerous power she had just witnessed.
The heavy silence that followed the Grimm's defeat was punctuated only by the sound of Ruby's ragged, exhausted breaths. The adrenaline that had fueled her was rapidly fading, leaving a profound weariness in its wake. She felt the stitches of blood on her side pull taut, the strange, painless mending process a cold comfort against the overwhelming wave of isolation that now washed over her.
Yang was the first to move, her steps cautious as she approached. Her usual boisterous energy was gone, replaced by a quiet, concerned uncertainty. She knelt before Ruby, her gaze searching and hesitant. "Rubes? Are you okay?" she asked, her voice softer than usual.
But before Ruby could answer, Weiss took a step back, her hand still clutching the cloak over her wound. Her voice, normally so crisp and commanding, was now edged with a genuine tremor. "What... what was that?" she repeated, her eyes fixed not on the healing cut but on Ruby's hand, as if expecting the crimson blade to reappear. "That... that wasn't a Semblance. No one has a power like that."
Ruby flinched, not from pain, but from the raw fear in Weiss's voice. She looked from her to Yang, whose own expression was a confusing mix of worry and palpable distrust. They weren't looking at her like a hero who had saved them, but like a dangerous stranger. The looks on their faces hurt more than any wound, more than the exertion of using the strange, dark power. She had saved them, yet in doing so, she had revealed a part of herself that she didn't even fully understand, and in their eyes, it was something to be feared.
Just as the silence was becoming unbearable, just as Ruby was about to open her mouth and try to explain, a sudden sound broke the tense stillness. A distinct rustling of bushes from the tree line drew all their attention. Every head snapped toward the noise, and Ruby's eyes narrowed, her gaze fixed on the source of the disturbance.
Just as the tense silence was poised to shatter, a new voice cut through the air, smooth and even-keeled. "Now, now," it said, the tone almost playfully admonishing, "there's no need to get so hostile."
From the shadows of the tree line, a figure emerged into the clearing. It was Alex, who had been watching the entire exchange unfold. Her eyes swept over the group, taking in the blood-stained earth, Ruby's weary posture, and the raw fear etched onto Weiss's face.
Her gaze finally settled on all of them, a newfound seriousness in her expression. "This isn't the time or the place for an interrogation," she stated, her voice low and firm. The words hung in the air, instantly shifting the dynamic of the confrontation and forcing everyone to look away from their internal conflict and back toward the one who had just appeared.
"Alex..." was all Ruby could manage, her voice thin and shaky. The word escaped her lips as a question, a plea, and a profound sense of relief all at once. She barely knew any of these people, yet the sight of the fear in their eyes had cut her to the core. A raw, illogical ache twisted in her chest, and she could feel her hands instinctively curling into tight, trembling fists at her sides.
Why? The question echoed in her mind, a desperate, silent scream. Why does it hurt so much? Why do I care what they think? It wasn't her fault that she was like this. She hadn't chosen to be different. She hadn't asked for this power or this "demon" that now felt like a part of her.
Before her mind could spiral further into that well of despair, Alex's calm, steady voice broke through the noise. "We still have to get to the cliff edge," she said, her tone completely matter-of-fact. "The professors are probably wondering where we are." As she spoke, she walked toward Ruby with a purposeful stride, her every movement radiating a quiet authority. She didn't hesitate or show any fear as she reached out and gently rested a hand on Ruby's shoulder. The contact was a startling warmth against the chill of Ruby's emotional turmoil, a grounding weight that momentarily stilled the frantic thoughts in her head. "Why don't we get a move on?" she added softly, her gaze holding Ruby's.
The unspoken tension between the others lingered. Yang, Weiss, and the last girl exchanged slow, uncertain glances, each one a silent confirmation that Alex's plan was the only way to defuse the situation. A strained silence passed between them before Yang finally nodded, the decision hanging heavily in the air. "Yeah," she said, her voice quiet and strained. "That's... probably for the best." Without another word, she slowly turned and began to walk, leaving the battlefield and the raw emotions to be dealt with another time.
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The colossal auditorium fell into a hushed silence as Professor Ozpin's voice, amplified to fill every corner of the vast space, boomed with finality. "Russel Thrush, Cardin Winchester, Dove Bronzewing, and Sky Lark," he announced, his gaze sweeping over the four young men standing on the stage. "The four of you retrieved the black Bishop pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team CRDL, led by Cardin Winchester."
A low murmur rippled through the gathered students as Team CRDL, with a collective smirk and a swaggering sense of entitlement, descended the steps and walked off the stage. As one group departed, four more students hesitantly stepped into the bright, central spotlight.
"Jessica Stone, Lie Ren, Pyrrha Nikos, and Nora Valkyrie." Professor Ozpin's voice softened slightly, and a rare, genuine smile touched his lips as he looked upon the new team. "The four of you retrieved the white Rook pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team JNPR. led by Jessica Stone."
A wave of stunned silence from the students on stage was almost immediately followed by a gasp from the blond-haired leader-to-be. Her eyes went wide as saucers, his jaw going slack. She pointed a trembling finger at himself, a look of complete bewilderment on her face.
"Wait, what...?" Jessica stammered, her voice cracking with disbelief. "L-led by...?"
Professor Ozpin offered a subtle nod, his smile never wavering. "Congratulations," he stated, his words a final, undeniable confirmation that left no room for argument.
With a weary sigh that was almost audible to the entire auditorium, Jessica Arc and her new team descended the stage, leaving a palpable sense of confusion and disbelief in their wake. There were still two more teams to be announced, and the crowd held its breath in anticipation.
"Alex Crimson Rose, Riley Summer, Onyx Moon, and Willa Byrne," Professor Ozpin's voice rang out, pulling everyone's attention to a new group stepping onto the stage. "The four of you retrieved the black Knight pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team AROW(Arrowhead)led by Alex Crimson Rose."
A mischievous smirk immediately lit up Alex's face. She ran a hand through her silvery hair with a confident flourish, her grin stretching from ear to ear. "Hell yeah! That's what I'm talking about!" she exclaimed, throwing a triumphant fist into the air as her new teammates, a mix of amusement and acceptance on their faces, began to clap.
Ozpin offered her a slight, knowing nod, and Alex led her team off the stage with a swagger.
"And lastly," Ozpin announced, the finality in his tone echoing through the hall. "Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and Yang Xiao Long. The four of you retrieved the white Knight pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team RWBY, led by Ruby Rose."
A roar of applause erupted from the crowd, but on the stage, the newly formed team was less than unified. Yang offered Ruby a small, hesitant nod from a few feet away, a silent acknowledgment that their bond was now officially a professional one, but she made no move to close the distance. Blake clapped politely from a safe distance, a reserved and quiet figure lingering in the background. As for Weiss, her arms were crossed tightly, a deep scowl marring her face. She refused to meet Ruby's eyes, her displeasure at the turn of events perfectly clear.
Suddenly, a blur of silver-haired motion broke the tense tableau. Alex dashed back onto the stage, wrapping Ruby in a fierce, celebratory hug. "Great job, Red!" she said, her voice full of genuine excitement.
Ruby's shoulders, which had been tight with tension, relaxed slightly at the familiar contact. She shook her head with a soft smile. "Thanks, mutt," she teased, and Alex lightly punched her on the shoulder.
"Ass," Alex retorted playfully, pulling away with a grin. The brief, warm exchange stood in stark contrast to the coldness that still lingered between the other members of Team RWBY.
Watching the scene unfold from a balcony overlooking the stage, Ozpin turned to his second-in-command, a small smile on his face. "This will definitely be an interesting year, Glynda."
Glynda Goodwitch adjusted her glasses, her expression unchanging but her tone laced with wry humor. "Let's just hope it doesn't end with them destroying the school before the year is out."
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Meanwhile, in a laboratory building
The sterile, clinical hum of the laboratory was the only sound, a stark contrast to the twisted, organic experiments taking place within its walls. Dr. Merlot moved through the dimly lit space with a manic energy, his movements precise despite the wild glint in his eyes. Cinder Fall stood silently in the center of the room, her crimson gaze fixed on the glowing Aetherium Chamber that hummed with a low, menacing energy. She radiated an icy impatience, her presence a silent challenge to the man and his work.
Merlot stopped before her, a smug, triumphant grin spreading across his face. "Patience, my dear Cinder," he began, his voice a low, excited rasp. "You asked for an army that could adapt, an army that could conquer not just Remnant's inhabitants, but its very defenses. The standard Grimm are so... primitive. A brute force that can easily be anticipated. But what if we merge the biological with the technological? The mindless rage of a Grimm with the strategic cunning of a human?"
He gestured to the chamber. Within its transparent walls, a viscous, black substance swirled and pulsated. Tendrils of a strange, ethereal energy pulsed through it, connected to a complex array of machinery. "What you see here is not just a Grimm embryo," he explained, a theatrical wave of his hand sweeping toward the chamber. "It is a prototype for a new era of warfare. I have harvested the aural fibers from a captured Beringel and spliced them with my own patented neurological processors. The result? A creature whose strength and ferocity are amplified, whose chitinous armor is a solid defense against bullets and blades, and whose very senses can be hijacked and controlled."
Cinder's cold exterior showed a flicker of interest. "So they can be commanded," she said, her voice smooth and devoid of emotion. "That is all that matters."
"Oh, it's so much more than that!" Merlot laughed, a dry, unsettling sound. "These new creatures will be connected to a central neural network. No longer will they be a mindless swarm. They will be a single, unified entity, with me as their mind and you as their master. Imagine, Cinder, an army that moves as one, that thinks as one, a storm of fury and intellect that will simply obliterate everything in its path."
He looked at Cinder, his grin widening as he saw the cruel, familiar smile forming on her face. "Now, shall we begin?" he asked, extending a hand toward the glowing chamber. The light of the chamber reflected in their eyes, the two of them a perfect union of madness and ambition.