"I've tried experiencing things from both Ruby Rose's perspective and the shadow wolves' perspective, but it still feels like something's missing… something more eye-catching, something that really makes people's eyes light up."
"What is it…"
"An opponent! One that can let Ruby Rose fight to her heart's content—one that can fully bring out the charm of 'RWBY's combat style!"
Sitting inside the subway carriage, Kamiyā Yuu's eyes suddenly lit up. He nearly cheered out loud at the answer he had found. The surrounding passengers noticed his shifting expression and restless movements, quietly scooting away, afraid he might suddenly lose control.
Last night, he had spent all his time in the consciousness space designing the fight scenes for the 'Red' arc. To do this, he tried becoming both the slaughtered shadow wolves and the red-hooded girl doing the slaughter, designing and refining the combat from every possible perspective.
It had to be said—the process was incredibly enjoyable. When he transformed into the red-hooded girl, the thrill of cutting through the wolves was far more exhilarating than any video game he had played in his previous world—comparable to so-called full-sensory VR experiences.
The visual effects of the 'Red' arc had already far surpassed the original, yet Kamiyā Yuu still felt a faint dissatisfaction. Pursuing perfection, he realized what the promotional animation lacked: an opponent capable of standing against Ruby Rose, rather than a pack of wolves being slaughtered one-sidedly. Such an opponent would undoubtedly elevate the unique combat style of 'RWBY' to a new level.
"With MAYA's 3D modeling capabilities, I should be able to create CG visuals on par with 'Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children.' The art style of the 'Red' arc doesn't need to change, but it can be further refined with more detailed scene design. The problem is that once I introduce an opponent, the length of the 'Red' arc will inevitably increase—and that will multiply the modeling workload several times over."
Kamiyā Yuu considered the feasibility of his idea.
'Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children' was a CG animated film produced by Square Enix in 2005, based on the 'Final Fantasy' game series. Its stunning 3D visuals were unmatched at the time and marked a milestone in the history of 3D animation. For nearly a decade afterward, few works could surpass it.
However, the technology used was still relatively immature by later standards. The 3D modeling software Kamiyā Yuu planned to recreate in this world, though considered outdated in his previous world, had dominated the industry around 2020 and was extremely mature in functionality. It was only phased out later due to the rise of VR-based modeling technologies.
Most importantly, this software still supported the Windows 7 system that Microsoft had long abandoned—and coincidentally, the computers in this world also used Windows 7. His relatively high-end laptop should barely be able to run MAYA.
"Damn it… I've been too constrained by the original. Instead of just making a promotional clip, I should treat it as a short animation. The runtime can be extended to over ten minutes—then I can express much more!"
The more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. Compared to traditional animation, 3D animation was actually simpler in many ways. The most difficult part was the modeling process—once that hurdle was cleared, extending the runtime wouldn't require nearly as much additional effort as one might expect.
"Alright! It's settled!"
Having figured it out, Kamiyā Yuu felt completely invigorated. He almost wanted to sprint home immediately and test his idea in the consciousness space.
"Now arriving at Uji Station in Kyoto Prefecture. Passengers preparing to disembark, please get ready."
The pleasant voice of the train attendant snapped him out of it. With a sigh, Kamiyā Yuu realized he was still on his way to work.
...
It was now early September, and the production of 'Mr. Onigiri Man' was nearing completion. Most anime would already be finished by this stage, but since 'Mr. Onigiri Man' had two extra episodes; it would likely conclude in November.
As a second key animator, Kamiyā Yuu wasn't nearly as overworked as the frontline key animators. However, he also didn't yet have the qualifications to independently handle key animation—despite the fact that his actual ability had already surpassed that of many professionals.
Most of his time at work was now spent conceptualizing and refining the fight scenes for the 'Red' arc. During this period, he had studied numerous films and action design books in the consciousness space, giving him ample reference material. With that knowledge, designing Ruby Rose's combat style came naturally.
It didn't need to be overly realistic—what mattered was impactful blows, exhilarating gunfire, swift and decisive movements, and action physics that would make Newton weep.
"Speaking of opponents… what kind of opponent should it be? That giant werewolf I turned into last night was decent—but not innovative enough."
"A wolf-type boss design…"
Sitting at his drawing desk, Kamiyā Yuu pondered for a long time. His pen unconsciously sketched the outline of a lone wolf as he searched his memory for wolf imagery from films, games, and novels. He preferred not to change the shadow wolf design, as it best matched the fairy tale 'Little Red Riding Hood.'
"Great Grey Wolf Sif!"
The name flashed through his mind like lightning. As the image of the grey wolf emerged, his blood began to boil. His gaze sharpened as he rapidly sketched the concept onto paper.
A lone, noble, and elegant giant wolf. A loyal guardian watching over its master's grave. Its weapon was not claws nor fangs—
—but a sword. A massive black iron greatsword, radiating a sacred glow under the moonlight.
Kamiyā Yuu would never forget the CG scene from the game where it first appeared: standing gracefully atop a massive grave, gazing down at the world with cold eyes. When it leapt down, it gripped the greatsword in its jaws and drove away all who dared desecrate the tomb.
This elegant wolf came from the famous game 'Dark Souls.' Back when Kamiyā Yuu played that level, he had died more than ten times—leaving a deep impression of this boss.
"In the original, Ruby Rose has an uncle who never appears, while in the promotional animation, the one she mourns is her deceased grandmother. To better align with 'Little Red Riding Hood,' I can remove the uncle entirely—he never showed up anyway—and transfer his role to the grandmother."
"No… that would make it hard to justify why Ruby uses a scythe. Since Sif uses a greatsword, that sword should naturally be inherited from her grandmother. That means her grandmother must have used a greatsword as well."
"Forget it. I'll expand the grandmother's background directly. She's already dead, so she won't have much screen time anyway. She can be a hero who died in a past war, and Sif has always guarded her. Even after her death, it continues to stay by her side until the end of its life."
"But Sif becomes corrupted by miasma and falls into darkness. Knowing this, Ruby Rose visits the grave not only to mourn her grandmother, but also to grant Sif its final rest."
"Perfect! That solves the background, the setting, and the opponent all at once!"
Countless scattered thoughts converged into a single line. As Kamiyā Yuu's mind unified, the sketch before him was completed.
A massive, ferocious black wolf stood atop a giant tombstone, its blood-red eyes filled with savage brutality as it looked down upon everything. Wisps of black smoke flowed around it like phantoms. Though it had lost its sanity, it still retained a trace of Sif's former elegance and nobility.
Before the tomb, a massive black iron greatsword was plunged into the earth. Its cold blade, entwined with green vines, faintly reflected the pale glow of the moon.