The Emerald Forest grew darker as the team ventured deeper, the sunlight dimmed by the dense canopy above. The rustling of leaves and distant calls of wildlife created an eerie symphony. Despite Ruby's upbeat nature, an unsettling sensation crept into the group as they felt unseen eyes watching them.
Yang's confident grin faltered as her gaze swept the dense trees around them. "The Grimm is near," she said, her tone cautious but steady.
Ruby tightened her grip on Crescent Rose, her silver eyes scanning the forest canopy. "I can feel it too," she murmured, quiet but resolute. "They're out there... watching us."
Blake's ears twitched slightly, her keen senses picking up the faint rustle of movement. Her amber eyes narrowed as she scanned the shadows. "There are several," she said evenly, her voice calm but alert. "And they're closing in."
Weiss, leading the group with her pristine composure, tightened her grip on Myrtenaster. Her sharp eyes swept the forest, her voice steady and commanding. "Stay focused. Whatever it is, it's not getting the jump on us."
Suddenly, low growls echoed through the trees. The underbrush rustled, and the unmistakable forms of Beowolves and Ursai began to emerge from the darkness. Their glowing red eyes pierced through the shadows, their movements deliberate and predatory.
Ruby stepped back, Crescent Rose unfolding into its massive scythe form with a mechanical whir. "Uh... Weiss? I think they're already planning on jumping us!"
The pack of Grimm crept closer, circling the four huntresses. Weiss raised her blade, her stance poised and elegant. Her voice rang clear and steady, cutting through Ruby's nervous chatter. "No time for panic. Get into position!"
The four moved into a tight defensive formation, each facing a different direction. The Grimm bided their time, their growls filling the air as tension mounted. Then, with a collective snarl, they attacked.
Weiss reacted first. Myrtenaster flashed in the light as she thrust it forward, conjuring a glyph beneath her feet. Weiss launched herself into the air with a trail of icy particles, flipping gracefully over a charging Beowolf. Her blade struck true as she landed, piercing through the Grimm's chest. It howled and dissipated into black mist.
Behind her, Ruby dashed forward with Crescent Rose, spinning the scythe in a wide arc to cut down two Beowolves at once. "Gotcha!" she shouted, her voice filled with determination.
Yang leaped into the fray with a roar, her Ember Celica gauntlets blazing as she fired explosive rounds at the advancing Grimm. The impact sent shockwaves through the air, obliterating an Ursa mid-charge. "Who's next?!"
Blake moved with feline precision, her Gambol Shroud slicing through Grimm as she weaved between their attacks. Her clones appeared and vanished rapidly, confusing the beasts and leaving them vulnerable to her strikes.
Weiss remained a beacon of control amidst the chaos. She twirled Myrtenaster in a dazzling display, her glyphs forming rapidly to block, trap, and attack. When Ruby stumbled slightly under the weight of her scythe, Weiss conjured a glyph beneath her to stabilize her footing.
"Ruby, keep your balance!" Weiss instructed, her tone sharp but not unkind.
Ruby flashed her a quick grin. "Thanks, Weiss!"
Weiss didn't respond, already pivoting to face an Ursa charging from the side. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned a series of glyphs in midair, creating a staircase she ran up with effortless grace. From her elevated position, she fired a precise flurry of elemental attacks—ice shards and fire bolts—striking down multiple Grimm simultaneously.
Yang noticed Weiss's display and blew an impressed whistle as she punched a Beowolf into oblivion. "Wow, Ice Queen! I mean... Weiss! You're really showing off!"
Weiss landed softly, barely sparing Yang a glance as she drove Myrtenaster into the ground. A massive glyph expanded beneath her, freezing a cluster of Grimm in place. "Focus, Yang. There's no time for distractions."
Blake, striking down an Ursa with a well-placed kick, glanced at Weiss. "She's right. But... that was impressive."
The battle raged on, and the team worked in near-perfect harmony. Weiss's presence tied them together, her glyphs providing support and her precise attacks keeping the Grimm at bay. She guided Ruby's enthusiasm, complemented Blake's agility, and matched Yang's brute strength with her refined power.
As the last Grimm fell, Weiss straightened, barely winded. She flicked Myrtenaster clean of dark residue and sheathed it with practiced elegance. "Is everyone alright?"
Yang grinned, flexing her arms. "Better than alright. That was awesome!"
Ruby nodded enthusiastically, her silver eyes shining with admiration. "Weiss, you were amazing! Like, seriously cool and—"
Weiss held up a hand, silencing Ruby's ramble. Her gaze softened just enough to show she wasn't annoyed. "Save the compliments. We're not done yet."
Blake, ever practical, sheathed her weapon and gestured down the path. "She's right. We should keep moving to reach the temple before anything else appears."
The group resumed their journey, the tension from the fight giving way to a renewed sense of determination. Before long, they arrived at the temple Ozpin had described. It was ancient, weathered by time, with vines creeping over its crumbling stone walls. At its center was a pedestal holding a set of chess pieces.
Ruby and Yang ran ahead, their excitement evident.
"Relics!" Ruby exclaimed, bouncing on her heels. "They're chess pieces!"
Yang picked up a white knight, spinning it between her fingers. "Not what I expected, but hey, it's kinda cool."
Ruby grabbed the other white knight, holding it up triumphantly. "Team relic retrieval is a success!"
Their celebration was cut short by the sound of voices approaching. The group turned to see another team emerging from the forest.
It was Jaune and Pyrrha, accompanied by two others they didn't recognize—Ren and Nora.
Weiss's expression shifted from calm to surprised as she spotted the familiar faces. "Jaune? Pyrrha?"
Pyrrha smiled warmly, her emerald eyes lighting up as she stepped forward. "Weiss. It's good to see you."
On the other hand, Jaune scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile. "Hey, Weiss. Small world, huh?"
Ren stood silently, his stoic expression unreadable, while Nora's curiosity got the better of her. She tugged on Jaune's sleeve, tilting her head. "Fearless Leader, do you know them?"
Jaune nodded slightly. "Kinda. That's Weiss, Ruby, Blake, and Yang."
Nora's eyes lit up. "Ooh! New friends!" She bounded forward, introducing herself with her usual energy. "Hi! I'm Nora Valkyrie, and this is Ren!"
Ren gave a polite nod. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Ruby grinned and stepped forward. "I'm Ruby! And this is Weiss, Blake, and Yang!"
As introductions were exchanged, Nora's eyes settled on Weiss. For a moment, she seemed frozen, her cheeks flushing pink as her heart raced. She stammered, "H-Hi, Weiss... um... nice to meet you!"
Weiss raised an elegant eyebrow but responded graciously. "A pleasure."
Ren noticed Nora's unusual behavior and frowned slightly. "Nora, are you alright?"
"I-I'm fine!" Nora exclaimed, her voice higher than usual. She fidgeted nervously, avoiding Weiss's gaze.
Ren's confusion deepened, but he chose not to press the issue. Instead, he turned his attention to the relics. "These are what we're supposed to take, correct?"
Jaune and Ren each picked up the white rooks, examining them curiously. Pyrrha glanced around, her tone thoughtful. "Does this mean the initiation is over?"
Ruby nodded, holding up her chess piece. "I think so! Now we just have to head back to the cliff—"
A roar interrupted her. The group turned toward the source of the noise, their eyes widening as two massive Grimm emerged from the forest.
A Nevermore soared above, its wings casting a shadow over the temple, while a Death Stalker crashed through the trees, its scorpion-like tail lashing violently.
Ruby tightened her grip on Crescent Rose. "Oh no... not again!"
The two teams prepared for the battle of their lives, their weapons at the ready.