I tore through the underbrush, my legs pumping as fast as humanly possible.
Behind us, the sickening sound of snapping timber and the heavy, skittering thud-thud-thud of the Death Stalker's multiple legs echoed through the forest. It was completely ignoring the trees, just bulldozing right through them to get to us.
Pyrrha easily kept pace right beside me. She wasn't even breathing hard, her shield still raised defensively over her shoulder as she glanced back at the path of destruction.
"Katsuya!" she called out over the noise of crushing wood. "Are you absolutely certain this is a martial technique?! Because it feels remarkably like we are just fleeing in blind panic!"
"It's called strategic repositioning!" I yelled back, leaping over an exposed tree root. "It's a highly guarded secret! My ancestors used this exact footwork to survive unkillable Aztec fitness gods and time-stopping vampires! Just trust me and keep running!"
Pyrrha looked extremely doubtful, but to her credit, she didn't argue. "If you say so! But we cannot run forever!"
"We just have to run until we find an advantage!" I panted, my lungs burning. My stamina was already practically in the negative, and the adrenaline was the only thing keeping my legs moving.
Ahead of us, the dense wall of trees started to thin out, revealing bright sunlight and the shape of ancient stone architecture.
"There! The clearing!" I shouted, pointing forward.
We burst through the final line of bushes and stumbled out into a massive, circular stone ruin. My boots skidded on the worn cobblestone as I came to a halt, gasping for air. In the center of the ruins were the pedestals holding the chess pieces, but I barely had time to notice them before I realized we weren't alone.
Ruby, Weiss, Yang, and Blake were all scattered around the stone pillars.
Ruby was holding Crescent Rose in its sniper form, taking aim at the sky. Weiss was shouting something about formations, Blake was dual-wielding her weapons, and Yang was punching a falling stone. High above them, the massive Nevermore let out an ear-piercing screech, banking for another dive.
"Katsuya?!" Ruby gasped, lowering her scythe in surprise as we ran into the ruins.
Yang's head whipped around. Her lilac eyes locked onto me, and despite the giant Grimm bird circling overhead, her face completely lit up.
"My future boyfriend!" Yang cheered, immediately dropping her combat stance and jogging toward me with a confident, protective swagger. "Don't worry, babe, I've got you! Just stand behind me and I'll keep you—"
CRASH.
The treeline we had just run out of violently exploded outward. The Death Stalker tore through the massive oak trees, roaring in fury as it stepped into the sunlight. Its golden stinger whipped back and forth, its remaining eyes locking directly onto our group.
Yang stopped dead in her tracks, blinking as the giant, heavily armored scorpion clicked its massive pincers.
"Are you kidding me?!" Weiss shrieked, throwing her arms up in total exasperation.
"It was following us!" I yelled defensively, finally catching my breath. "And for the record, my powers are currently undergoing a mandatory software update, so I'm practically useless right now!"
"A what?!" Weiss stared at me like I had grown a second head.
"He means he requires protection!" Pyrrha quickly translated, stepping in front of me again, her shield and spear at the ready. She looked toward the other girls with a serious, commanding presence. "We need to work together! The Nevermore controls the air, and the Death Stalker has the ground! We are trapped!"
"Right!" Ruby yelled, instantly shifting into leader mode. Her silver eyes darted between the two boss-level Grimm. "Nobody panic! We just need to..."
Before Ruby could formulate a plan, the Nevermore shrieked and unleashed another volley of massive, spear-like feathers down into the ruins, while the Death Stalker simultaneously lunged forward, swiping a massive pincer toward Yang and Pyrrha.
"Nobody panic! We just need to—" Ruby started, but her voice was completely drowned out by a high-pitched, manic war cry echoing from the trees above.
"YAHOOOO!"
A blur of pink and white dropped from the sky. Nora Valkyrie slammed down directly onto the Death Stalker's armored head, her massive hammer, Magnhild, connecting with a sickening CRACK. The giant scorpion shrieked, its face smashing into the dirt under the sheer kinetic force of the blow.
Landing gracefully a few feet away, panting slightly but looking completely unfazed, was a boy in a green tailcoat with a streak of pink in his black hair. Lie Ren.
My gamer brain instantly kicked into overdrive. I couldn't punch anything right now.
I didn't want to mess up the canon team formations, especially since they were naturally balanced to support each other's kits.
"Alright, listen up!" I shouted over the chaos, stepping back to get a full view of the battlefield. "We need to split them up before they combo us! Yang!"
Yang immediately snapped to attention, completely ignoring the giant monsters to give me a sharp, eager salute. "Yes, future boyfriend?!"
I ignored the title. "Go help your sister and the others! The four of you focus entirely on the Nevermore! Keep it in the air and corral it toward the ruins!"
"You got it, handsome! I'll be right back for you!" Yang grinned, her gauntlets firing as she dashed toward Ruby, Weiss, and Blake, immediately falling into formation with them.
"Pyrrha!" I ordered, turning to my partner and the two newcomers. "You, the hammer girl, and the guy in green—we are taking the scorpion! Keep its pincers locked down and don't let it use that stinger!"
"Understood!" Pyrrha nodded firmly, her shield raised as she moved to intercept the recovering Grimm.
"Ooh, I like him! He's bossy!" Nora giggled, hefting her hammer and charging right alongside Pyrrha. Ren just gave a silent nod, pulling out his machine-pistol blades and flanking the beast.
Within seconds, the chaotic free-for-all organized into two highly effective strike teams. Future team RWBY was taking the high ground, using their speed and range to deal with the Nevermore, while Pyrrha, Nora, and Ren were keeping the Death Stalker completely occupied in the center of the clearing. It was working perfectly.
I stood near the edge of the ruins, feeling a surge of pride. But I wasn't just going to stand there and play commander. I needed to do some damage.
Making sure nobody was looking directly at me, I quickly opened my inventory and materialized Cerberus in my right hand. The triple-barreled gun was heavy, cold, and practically vibrating with latent energy. I raised it, aiming the iron sights toward the cracked armor on the Death Stalker's face.
But as my finger hovered over the trigger, I froze.
I looked down at the gun. The faint red runes etched into the gunmetal grey barrels were glowing rhythmically, pulsing like a heartbeat.
Wait a minute. Scathach made this. Scathach, the immortal Queen of the Land of Shadows, a being who routinely trained legendary heroes in the Type-Moon universe.
If I pulled this trigger right now, was it just going to shoot a heavy bullet, or was it going to unleash a localized nuclear explosion that would vaporize the Death Stalker, half of my classmates, and the entire northern hemisphere of the Emerald Forest?
I lowered the gun slowly, a bead of cold sweat forming on my forehead. I couldn't risk firing a tactical nuke by accident.
I quickly swiped open the system interface with my left hand and opened the group chat.
[Katsuya]: Quick question for Scathach. I am currently aiming Cerberus at a giant armored scorpion. Before I pull this trigger, I need to know exactly what I am holding. If this gun had to be ranked power-wise in your world... how strong is it? Is this basically a Noble Phantasm?
I kept one eye on the giant scorpion thrashing against Pyrrha's shield while the other was glued to the translucent blue screen floating next to my hand.
Ping.
[Scathach]: Of course it is. Did you expect me to forge you a mundane toy? 'Cerberus' is essentially a ballistic variant of Gáe Bolg.
I felt my blood run cold.
[Katsuya]: Wait. Are you saying what I think you're saying?
[Scathach]: I am saying that the runic slugs are enchanted with the concept of inevitable piercing. The moment you pull the trigger, the beast's heart is already destroyed. The bullet simply travels through space and time to fulfill that established truth. It will seek the heart, ignoring all physical barriers, armor, or obstacles. It is a guaranteed, instantaneous kill.
I stared at the gun in my hand like it was suddenly radioactive.
A guaranteed, instantaneous kill. On a boss-level Grimm.
My gaze shifted from Cerberus to the massive Death Stalker currently requiring the combined, desperate efforts of Pyrrha, Nora, and Ren just to keep it contained. If I pulled this trigger, the beast would drop dead in a single second.
And then what?
How the hell was I supposed to explain that to anyone? Ozpin and Glynda were definitely watching this initiation through the camera feeds. If a supposed first-year student suddenly whipped out a revolver and one-tapped a creature that was meant to be a grueling, multi-person raid boss, I would be dragged into an interrogation room before I even got my team assignment.
"Nope. Nope. Absolutely not," I muttered, immediately shoving Cerberus back into my inventory before the glow of the runes attracted any unwanted eyes.
[Katsuya]: Okay, new plan! I cannot use that! If I one-shot a boss monster in front of the entire academy, I'll never be able to explain it! I need a normal weapon! A sword! A metal stick! Literally anything that doesn't casually warp the fundamental laws of reality!
[Esdeath]: A sword? I could fashion you one of ice, but you are still in timeout.
[Koneko]: im eating snacks. figure it out yourself mr. i-have-multiple-girlfriends.
[Katsuya]: WE ARE ALL THE SAME PERSON! I AM STANDING IN A WARZONE EMPTY-HANDED!
I was about to type out another desperate plea to Scathach to just toss me a standard iron broadsword, when the system chimed with a completely different sound. It wasn't the usual message ping. It was a loud, formal notification bell that echoed right between my ears.
> [SYSTEM ALERT]
> Connection established.
I blinked, confused. The chat window suddenly refreshed itself, pushing the previous messages up.
> [New member joined]
> [New member joined]
I stared at the translucent blue screen, holding my breath as the system processed the new connections.
> [Lightning has joined the chat]
> [Maka has joined the chat]
[Lightning]: So, this is the multiversal soul-link thing? Weird, but whatever. Hey, everyone.
[Maka]: Whoa! This is amazing! A mental chatroom connecting our soul across different dimensions? I thought Lord Death's mirrors were cool, but this is next level. Are we all really the same person?
[Katsuya]: Welcome! Please, both of you, listen to me! I am currently in a forest on Remnant the world of RWBY fighting a giant armored scorpion, my powers are doing a mandatory software update, and our other selves are refusing to give me a weapon!
[Lightning]: Sounds like a mess. You need a weapon?
[Katsuya]: YES! Please! Just a normal sword! Nothing that alters reality, nothing that auto-tracks hearts. Just something sharp!
[Lightning]: Relax. I've got a spare basic gunblade sitting in my inventory. I usually just stick to the upgraded ones anyway, so I don't really need it right now. I'll send it over.
> [System: You have received 'Blazefire Saber' (Base Model) from Lightning.]
I could have kissed the system screen.
[Katsuya]: Oh my god, Lightning, thank you! You are an absolute lifesaver! I owe you big time!
[Esdeath]: Hmph. Enjoy it while you can. Though I suppose the new arrivals should be informed—he still possesses our original, male anatomy.
[Scathach]: Indeed. He managed to retain the male form.
[Koneko]: yeah. ten inches. i checked.
There was a very long, very noticeable pause in the chat.
[Maka]: ...Wait, SERIOUSLY?! You got to stay a guy?! How is that fair?! Do you know how hard it was to get used to walking around in a skirt?!
[Lightning]: You kept the male body? Huh. That's wild. The multiverse is weird.
[Katsuya]: Yes! I'm a guy! Please don't tell me you're going to start acting like them too!
[Lightning]: I'm not going to extort you, if that's what you're asking. Just pay me back by sending some cool stuff from that world you're in. Remnant, right? I want to see what kind of tech or weapons they have over there when you get the chance.
I stared at Lightning's message. My lower lip actually started to tremble.
Tears—warm tears of absolute joy welled up in my eyes, blurring the chat screen. I wiped them away with my jacket sleeve, sniffing loudly.
A version of myself wasn't asking to sleep with me. She just wanted... cool loot. Like a normal gamer. Like a normal person.
[Katsuya]: Lightning... you are officially my favorite version of us. I will send you the coolest, most ridiculously over-engineered weapons this world has to offer. I promise you.
[Lightning: uhh...sure I guess, I mean not like the weapons will help me just make sure it looks cool
I closed the system interface, feeling a renewed surge of energy. I wasn't helpless anymore.
"Katsuya!" Pyrrha yelled, her boots digging into the dirt as she blocked another heavy strike from the Death Stalker's pincer. "I could use that special technique right about now!"
"Don't worry, Pyrrha! I'm back in the game!"
I reached my right hand out and accessed the inventory. With a burst of digitized light, the Blazefire Saber materialized in my grip. It was sleek, perfectly balanced, and beautifully mechanical. The crimson and silver metal gleamed in the sunlight.
I spun the gunblade expertly in my hand, clicking the mechanism to ensure it was primed, and charged straight toward the Death Stalker.
I didn't have years of training like Pyrrha, and my actual, real-world combat experience amounted to zero. I couldn't just start doing super useful backflips like leon and spinning slashes without probably cutting my own leg off.
So, I played it smart. I stayed strictly on the defensive.
As the Death Stalker snapped a massive, bone-plated pincer toward my waist, I didn't try to block it head-on. I slid to the side, letting the heavy claw smash into the dirt, and used the sharp edge of the gunblade to deflect the follow-up strike.
It was jarring, my arms shaking from the kinetic impact, but between Pyrrha's constant shield-bashing and Ren's suppressing fire, I managed to find a decent rhythm, weaving around the beast's legs and drawing its attention.
"Keep its claws busy!" I yelled, ducking under a wide sweep.
The Death Stalker shrieked, clearly frustrated that it couldn't pin me down. It reared up on its back legs, its massive golden stinger whipping over its head, aiming directly for my chest.
It was fast. Way too fast.
I barely had time to cross the Blazefire Saber in front of me. As the massive stinger crashed down, instead of trying to parry it away, I angled the blade upward, catching the stinger's joint right against the sharp metal edge.
I pulled the trigger on the gunblade's handle.
BANG!
The built-in chamber fired a blank round, sending a massive, explosive shockwave of recoil directly down the length of the blade. The kinetic burst accelerated the sharp edge with enough localized force to completely sheer through the Grimm's armor.
With a sickening SHLUCK, the entire golden stinger was cleanly severed from the tail. It flew upward, spinning in the air, and began to fall perfectly straight down—right above the Death Stalker's exposed, cracked skull.
My instincts immediately recognized the setup.
"Nora!" I roared, dropping the gunblade to the dirt and bracing my legs. I crossed my arms in front of my chest, locking my hands together to form a sturdy platform. "Step up!"
Nora didn't even hesitate. With a manic grin, she sprinted toward me, leaped into the air, and planted her boots directly into my braced hands.
"Alley-oop!" I grunted, using every ounce of my new physical strength to heave my arms upward, launching her like a human cannonball.
Nora shot into the air, soaring high above the screeching Death Stalker. She caught the falling golden stinger with her free hand, positioned it directly over the Grimm's head, and brought Magnhild down with a world-shattering war cry.
CRAAACK-BOOOOM!
The impact was devastating. Nora hammered the severed stinger completely through the beast's bone mask and deep into its skull. The Death Stalker froze, let out a gurgling, distorted groan, and completely collapsed into the crater Nora had just made, slowly beginning to dissolve into black ash.
"Yes!" I cheered, my heart pounding with pure, unadulterated adrenaline. We had actually done it.
Nora landed lightly on her feet next to me as the Grimm dissolved, her hammer resting casually on her shoulder.
"That was amazing!" I laughed, stepping forward and holding my hand up for a high-five. "Perfect timing, Nora!"
She blinked, surprised, but quickly matched my energy. "You too! That launch was—"
Smack.
Our hands connected in a solid high-five, but in my excitement, I let my hand slide down and naturally grabbed hers, giving it an enthusiastic, congratulatory squeeze. "Seriously, you completely crushed it. Best teamwork ever."
I was still riding the high of a successful boss fight, grinning down at her. But then I noticed Nora had gone completely silent.
I looked at her face. The energetic, boisterous hammer-wielding girl was suddenly staring down at our joined hands. Her usual manic grin had completely vanished, replaced by wide, slightly panicked eyes. A deep, violent blush was rapidly spreading across her cheeks and the tips of her ears.
"Uh... Nora?" I asked, suddenly realizing she wasn't letting go, but she also wasn't moving. "You okay?"
I looked at our joined hands, then back up at Nora's beet-red face. It was just a high-five that turned into a friendly hand-hold. No big deal.
"Uh, right. Good job," I said casually, letting go of her hand and taking a step back to give her some space.
Nora immediately pulled her hand back to her chest, hugging her own arm and staring at her palm like it was glowing. I didn't have time to dwell on it, turning my attention to the quiet guy in the green tailcoat who was walking over to us, smoothly holstering his machine-pistols.
"I'm Katsuya Akiya," I said, offering him a friendly nod.
"Lie Ren," he replied calmly, though his eyes lingered on me with a hint of genuine curiosity. "And this is my... longtime friend, Nora Valkyrie."
"Nora! Valkyrie!" Nora suddenly blurted out, snapping out of her daze and standing at rigid attention. "Nice to meet you!"
"Right. Nice to meet you both," I chuckled, turning my attention away from the dissolving scorpion.
Over by the crumbling pillars, the screeching of the Nevermore was still deafening. I watched as Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang bounced around the ruins. Despite the absolute chaos and the massive prehistoric bird trying to turn them into skewers, they were actually doing great. Ruby was sniping, Weiss was setting up ice glyphs, and Yang and Blake were playing a high-speed game of ping-pong with the giant bird.
They clearly had their boss fight totally under control. Which meant... I really didn't need to be here anymore.
I reached out and grabbed Pyrrha's arm, pulling her close so I could speak over the sounds of explosions and screeching. She leaned in without a second of hesitation, perfectly comfortable with the sudden physical proximity. Her expression remained completely composed, her professional, collected demeanor firmly in place.
"Hey," I muttered, pointing a thumb back toward the forest path that led to the cliffs. "They've got the giant chicken handled. We grabbed our relic piece before the scorpion crashed the party. Should we just... leave?"
Pyrrha didn't even blink. "I agree," she nodded seriously "The headmaster's instructions were simply to secure the relics and return to the cliffs. Engaging in unnecessary combat when the objective is already complete is tactically unsound."
"Exactly." I grinned, letting go of her arm.
I picked up the Blazefire Saber from the dirt, quickly sending it back to my system inventory with a digitized flash, and took a deep breath. I dropped into a low, braced sprinter's stance, my eyes fixed on the treeline.
To my right, Pyrrha slung her shield onto her back and flawlessly dropped into the exact same stance next to me, her muscles tensed and ready.
Ren raised a dark eyebrow, tilting his head as he observed our perfectly synchronized posture. "Is that a specific martial arts stance? Are you preparing to re-engage the aerial enemy?"
"No," I said, my face deadpan and completely serious.
I glanced at Pyrrha. She looked back at me and gave a firm, determined nod. We spun on our heels at the exact same time, kicking up a massive cloud of dust as we bolted toward the forest line at absolute top speed.
"WE RUN AWAY!!!" we screamed together over our shoulders, leaving a very confused Ren and a wide-eyed Nora standing in the dust as we left Team RWBY to deal with their own boss fight.