RWBY: Moon Reflection

Crimson, Blake, and Sun had finally reached the bustling streets of Mistral. The city stretched out before them, its lights flickering faintly in the distance as night began to fall. The journey had been mostly silent. Sun, ever the cheerful one, attempted to break the heavy silence, offering jokes and trying to make small talk, but his attempts were met with little response. Blake's mind seemed to wander constantly, her thoughts clouded by the weight of what lay ahead. As for Crimson, he chose to ignore him.

As they moved toward Haven Academy, Crimson halted suddenly, a feeling gnawing at him from within. His instincts told him that something wasn't right. His sharp gaze swept across the surroundings, noticing movement in the shadows. People, both Faunus and humans alike, were watching them—no, watching him. It wasn't the typical curious gaze one might expect from bystanders, but something far more deliberate. They weren't just looking; they were communicating with someone, and it was clear they were aware of his presence. Crimson knew something was off.

He glanced at Blake and Sun, his voice low but firm. "We're being watched. Something's wrong here." His tone was as calm as ever. Blake's sharp eyes narrowed as she scanned their surroundings, and Sun's usual lighthearted demeanor faded into caution.

Crimson continued, "You two need to take a different route. Stay hidden, and don't let anyone spot you. I'll handle this."

Blake raised an eyebrow. "Do you think it's a trap waiting for us at Haven?" she asked, her voice steady despite the concern in her eyes.

Crimson nodded slowly, his gaze never wavering from the figures in the distance. "It's possible," he murmured. "But I'll be going in alone. I'll enter through the front gate. You two should find a way in through the shadows. It's night now, so it'll be easier to stay undetected." His words were final, the decision already made.

Blake hesitated for a moment before nodding, and Sun did the same. They knew better than to question Crimson. Without another word, the trio split up, each taking a different route toward Haven. Blake and Sun melted into the darkness, their footsteps muffled, while Crimson continued forward, his senses alert and ready for anything.

Minutes later, Crimson stood at the edge of the Haven Academy courtyard, his eyes scanning the area. There, in the distance, he saw it: a glowing cage, its walls shimmering ominously in the night. Inside, he could make out the figures of Ruby, Yang, and the others, their silhouettes barely visible but unmistakable. They were trapped. Crimson's heart sank, but his face remained stoic. He didn't need to get any closer to know this was a trap, and yet, he chose to walk forward anyway.

As he entered the courtyard, the atmosphere shifted. From all around, figures began to emerge from the surrounding buildings. White Fang operatives, bandits, and others—people Crimson didn't recognize—all converged toward him. But it was the last group that caught his attention. There, standing tall among the gathered forces, was Cinder Fall. Despite the disfigured appearance he had left her with, she was very much alive, and her eyes gleamed with malicious triumph. Behind her stood Mercury and Emerald, as well as Raven Branwen, flanked by her bandit tribe. Crimson's eyes flicked to the group surrounding him. He hadn't expected to see Cinder alive, not after the brutality he had inflicted.

Inside the cage, Ruby's voice broke through the tension, urgent and filled with fear. "Crimson, get out of here! Run!" Her words echoed in the stillness, but Crimson did not flinch. His gaze went over the cage, lingering on Ruby's for a brief moment, his eyes meeting hers. The fear was clear on her face, in all of their faces. The situation had taken a turn for the worse, and yet, Crimson remained unshaken.

Despite the overwhelming number of enemies surrounding him, Crimson stood his ground, his calm demeanor unwavering. His eyes shifted to Cinder, his voice steady but filled with disdain. "Did you bring everyone responsible for the attack on Vale here?" he asked, his words cutting through the silence like a blade.

[This is going to be problematic] Crimson thought to himself.

Cinder's reaction was almost imperceptible. For a moment, she seemed to tremble, but then her composure returned, and she straightened. Her voice, when it came, was laced with a sickening sweetness. "This grand occasion is all for you, Crimson," she said, her words almost mocking. "You should feel proud, grateful even."

[Most of them appear to be cannon fodders without real combat power…] Crimson thought to himself.

Crimson's expression remained unchanged, his lips curling into a small, knowing smile. "You've saved me the trouble of hunting all over Remnant," he said, his voice cold and unfeeling. "Everyone is gathered in one place. How convenient." His words were casual, but the undercurrent of menace in his tone was unmistakable. His calmness seemed to unsettle the gathered forces, and for a brief moment, an unease spread among them.

Cinder's smirk faltered for just a second, but she quickly regained her composure, her eyes flashing with cold fury. She wanted to see him worried, afraid, and desperate. But he was just like that night—cold and relaxed, as if there was nothing that scared him.

Other figures, unlike Cinder, smirked at his boastful tone. They were confident in their victory. They had him surrounded. He was alone, and they had the upper hand.

[Cinder is angry and nervous, but the others are confident….] Crimson thought

The group inside the cage felt nothing but horror as they realized what Crimson was planning. His words left no room for doubt—Crimson intended to fight them all, alone.

Suddenly, marks appeared on Crimson's face as he drew his weapon and slashed at the air near him. The space seemed to shatter like glass, and behind it stood the surprised Neo. She barely managed to block the sudden slash with her weapon, stumbling and jumping back. The surrounding forces froze for a moment, shocked that Crimson had detected Neo so easily.

"Crimson," Cinder said, her voice haughty and condescending, "we knew no one could beat you one-on-one, but that's fine. We don't fight fair. I wonder how long you'll last."

As her words echoed across the courtyard, Ilia, Adam, Tyrian, Neo, and Hazel all charged at the same time.

Crimson remained unfazed, he dashed quickly toward Neo, who was closest. He struck with incredible force. Neo used all her strength to withstand the blow, her stance faltering. At the same time, Tyrian, still running toward Crimson, raised his weapon and fired. To his shock, Crimson used his speed and power to pull Neo, shifting their positions. The bullet meant for him struck Neo instead.

Without wasting a moment, Crimson delivered a swift kick that sent Neo hurtling toward Tyrian. Tyrian, laughing maniacally, dodged her with ease. His laughter froze when he saw a glint of steel inches from his face.

Adam intercepted the strike just in time, blocking Crimson's blade with his own. Crimson unleashed a flurry of slashes at Adam and Tyrian, forcing them onto the defensive. Hazel, empowered by Dust, charged in from the side, delivering a devastating punch. Crimson evaded it by stepping back, leaving Hazel to swing at air.

Hazel raised his hand to prepare for a follow-up attack, but instead, he felt weight pressing on his head. Crimson had used Hazel's massive form as a platform, leaping over him and dashing toward Ilia, who stood unprepared. With unmatched speed and precision, Crimson unleashed a devastating series of slashes. Ilia raised her weapon in a desperate attempt to block, but it was too late. His strikes landed with brutal accuracy, the final one sending her head flying.

[I should make them confused and nervous….] Crimson thought internally as he spoke loudly "One"

The courtyard erupted into chaos hearing him, Crimson not waiting for them to react pivoted toward the White Fang camp. Their leader, Sienna, had already begun rallying her forces. But before he could reach them, Crimson changed direction abruptly, targeting the Haven headmaster. The man barely had time to react before Crimson's blade struck, decapitating him in a single blow.

"Two" Crimson spoke in a clear calm voice but everyone could hear it.

Sienna, enraged, launched her chain weapon at Crimson's exposed back. But Crimson caught the headmaster's severed head and hurled it toward the chain, deflecting the attack. He then charged at the nearest cluster of White Fang soldiers.

The Faunus forces scrambled to respond, but Crimson's speed and proximity rendered their firearms useless. Within moments, dozens of White Fang operatives lay dead, their blood staining the courtyard. Sienna and Adam, furious, screamed for their forces to scatter.

Watching the carnage, Cinder clenched her fists, her anger boiling over. She summoned a dozen flaming spears and hurled them toward Crimson. He evaded them effortlessly, each spear exploding on impact and sending nearby White Fang members flying, some injured, others dead.

"Thirty one" Crimson spoke again, people flinched slightly and were more alert .

[Good] Crimson seeing their reaction knew they were getting nervous now.

Crimson was already on the move again. He dashed toward Sienna, who had joined Adam and Tyrian in forming a defensive line. Crimson's relentless assault forced the trio onto their back foot, their combined efforts barely enough to fend him off.

From a distance, Vernal, Raven's second-in-command, decided to intervene. She signaled a group of bandits, and they began firing at Crimson from afar. Forced to break off his attack, Crimson turned his attention to Cinder and dashed toward her.

When she saw him coming, her confident expression faltered. She raised a massive wall of fire between them, desperate to keep him at bay. Crimson stopped abruptly, slashing at the air near him.

Another barrier shattered, revealing Hazel, who had been preparing a sneak attack. Hazel blocked the strike just in time, Neo appearing beside him with her weapon aimed at Crimson's chest. Crimson acted quickly, leaping back and avoiding her attack.

Adam flanked him immediately, unleashing a series of rapid strikes. Crimson parried each one with ease, countering with a series of slashes that forced Adam to retreat.

[I should dampen their morales more] Crimson thought as he forced Adam to retreat.

Crimson didn't pursue him. Instead, he stood his ground, his cold, deliberate voice cutting through the chaos. "Let me ask you," he said, his gaze sweeping across the gathered forces, "how long will you last?"

Despite being surrounded on all sides, Crimson's calm demeanor unsettled his enemies. Their confidence wavered. The cage holding Ruby and the others offered no solace. They watched in horror as Crimson, alone, faced a battlefield of enemies, yet remained unscathed.

For every strike aimed at him, Crimson countered with precision. For every attempt to overwhelm him, he retaliated with devastating efficiency. His foes had brought their full might, but it was clear to all: Crimson was far from finished.