Chapter XXVIV: New Challengers, Training, & Shifting Shadows
Return to the Coliseum - Team SSSN's Match
After their impromptu gathering at the festival grounds, the expanded group made their way back to the Amity Coliseum for the final match of the opening team rounds. The afternoon sun cast long shadows through the arena's transparent sections as they found seats together, the cosmic encounter survivors naturally clustering while trying to maintain the illusion of normalcy.
Ruby bounced slightly in her seat as the arena prepared for the next match. "I'm excited to see how Sun's team handles this. They seemed pretty confident earlier."
"Sun's always confident," Blake observed, though there was a hint of fondness in her tone that didn't go unnoticed by her teammates.
Weiss settled into her seat with practiced elegance, but Nova noticed her posture was slightly different than usual-more alert, as if her enhanced Saiyan senses were picking up something the others missed.
"Neptune!" Weiss called out sweetly as Team SSSN took their positions in the arena, her voice carrying that particular tone she used when trying to be supportive.
Daikon, seated a few rows behind them with the rest of Team NDTSA, felt his jaw tighten slightly at Weiss's enthusiastic support for the Haven student. His enhanced Saiyan hearing picked up every note of genuine affection in her voice, and it stirred something uncomfortable in his chest.
Neptune's response-a casual "Ladies" directed at his opponents-caused an immediate shift in the atmosphere around their group.
"Break his stupid face, NDGO!" Weiss shouted, her earlier sweetness completely evaporated.
Yang snorted with laughter. "Well, that escalated quickly."
"Neptune's... not great with subtlety," Blake said diplomatically.
From his position several seats away, Daikon found himself watching the exchange with mixed emotions. As Tarro's cousin and an experienced fighter, he'd developed a protective instinct toward his teammates and their allies. But his feelings for Weiss complicated things in ways he hadn't expected.
Neptune caught sight of Daikon in the stands and offered what he probably thought was a casual wave. But there was something in his expression-a knowing look that suggested he'd picked up on the tension between the stocky Saiyan and the Schnee heiress.
"Friend of yours?" Scarlett asked, noticing the exchange.
"Something like that," Daikon replied quietly, his attention returning to the match as the terrain roulette began spinning.
The arena transformation revealed Sun's advantage with the desert terrain, but when the ocean section rose from the floor, Nova's enhanced senses immediately picked up the change in Neptune's emotional state.
"Fear," he murmured to Turuk. "Genuine terror. The water-he's terrified of it."
Blake had clearly reached the same conclusion. "Neptune's... afraid of the water," she explained to her teammates.
As the match progressed, Daikon found himself caught between wanting Neptune to fail-partly out of jealousy, partly out of genuine concern for Weiss's judgment in romantic partners-and his warrior's respect for any fighter facing their greatest fear in combat.
"He's running," Aiko observed, her wolf ears tracking Neptune's movements as he fled to higher ground.
"Smart tactical decision," Turuk commented, though his tone suggested he didn't entirely approve of the retreat.
"Or cowardly," Scarlett added bluntly.
Weiss was clearly conflicted, her earlier anger at Neptune's casual flirtation warring with her natural inclination to support someone she cared about. "He's... gaining strategic position," she said weakly.
"On the enemy's side of the battlefield," Nova pointed out.
The match continued with impressive displays from both teams. Sun's acrobatic fighting style drew cheers from the crowd, while Team NDGO's coordination and home-field advantage kept the pressure on Team SSSN.
When Sage was eliminated by Dew's sand tornado, Daikon leaned forward slightly. "Impressive dust manipulation. She's using the terrain's natural properties to amplify her semblance."
"You sound like you approve," Aiko noted, her enhanced hearing picking up the professional interest in his voice.
"I can appreciate skilled technique regardless of which side it's on," Daikon replied, though his eyes kept drifting to Weiss's reactions to Neptune's performance.
The turning point came when Neptune was finally forced to overcome his fear. Standing at the water's edge, he looked genuinely terrified as he prepared to use his weapon's electrical capabilities.
"He's actually going to do it," Ruby breathed, caught up in the dramatic tension.
Neptune's electrification of the water was spectacular and effective, eliminating the remaining members of Team NDGO in one decisive strike. The crowd erupted in cheers, and Team SSSN celebrated their advancement to the doubles round.
"That was actually pretty impressive," Yang admitted grudgingly.
Weiss clapped politely, though her expression remained complicated. "He overcame his fear when it mattered."
From his position behind them, Daikon watched Weiss's response with careful attention. He could see the conflict in her posture-admiration for Neptune's courage warring with lingering irritation at his earlier behavior.
When Sun spotted Blake in the stands and gave her his characteristic double-gun gesture with a wink, the faunus girl blushed and smiled despite herself.
"Subtle as always," Yang teased her partner.
As the crowd began to file out of the coliseum, Neptune looked up toward their section again. This time, his gaze lingered on Daikon for a moment longer than necessary, and there was definitely recognition there-not just of face, but of situation.
"Come on," Yang said, standing and stretching. "Let's go congratulate the dorks."
As they prepared to leave their seats, Daikon found himself walking closer to the main group. Neptune's earlier look hadn't been lost on him, and he suspected there would be some kind of confrontation or acknowledgment before the day was over.
Weiss was ahead of him, her posture showing that mix of excitement and apprehension that suggested she was looking forward to congratulating Neptune while also dreading another potential social misstep from the Haven student.
"Interesting match," Daikon said quietly as he fell into step beside her.
Weiss glanced at him, noting something in his tone that she couldn't quite identify. "Yes, it was. Neptune showed real courage at the end."
"He did," Daikon agreed. "Though it took him most of the match to get there."
There was something in the way he said it-not quite criticism, but not quite approval either. Weiss studied his expression curiously but couldn't read the complex emotions there.
As they made their way down to congratulate Team SSSN, neither of them noticed Neptune preparing for what he clearly expected to be an awkward conversation. The Haven student had picked up on more than just Daikon's interest in Weiss-he'd also noticed the way the Beacon students moved with just slightly too much coordination, the way their eyes tracked movement just a bit too precisely, and the way they all seemed to be carrying themselves differently than they had just a few days ago.
Something had changed about Team RWBY and their associated friends, and Neptune's natural instinct for reading social situations was telling him there were undercurrents here that went far beyond simple romantic tension.
Mercury's Fractured Recognition
Mercury Black stood in the empty corridor outside Team CMEN's temporary quarters, his hand pressed against his temple as fragmented images flickered through his mind like broken film reels. Silver eyes that weren't his own. A small girl with wolf ears who used to hide with him when the training got too brutal. Laughter that felt both foreign and achingly familiar.
"Stop it," he muttered to himself, but the memories—if they were memories—refused to be silenced.
The door behind him opened, and Emerald stepped out, her green eyes immediately focusing on his distressed posture.
"Bad headache again?" she asked, genuine concern threading through her voice despite their complicated relationship.
"Something like that," Mercury replied, not turning to face her. "That girl from earlier... the wolf faunus. Do you know anything about her?"
Emerald's expression tightened almost imperceptibly. "Why would I know anything about some random Beacon student?"
"Because you know things, Em. You always know things." Mercury finally turned to look at her, his silver eyes holding an intensity that made her uncomfortable. "And because every time I get close to remembering something about my childhood that isn't pain and training, you or Cinder find a reason to distract me."
The accusation hung in the air between them, heavy with implications neither of them wanted to address directly.
"Mercury," Emerald began carefully, "you know what your father did to you. The memories, the conditioning—"
"Yeah, I know what he did," Mercury cut her off. "But this feels different. This feels... true."
Before Emerald could respond, Cinder's voice drifted from inside their room, calm and commanding.
"Mercury, Emerald. We have work to do."
The moment shattered, and Mercury's expression closed off as his training reasserted itself. But as they headed inside, Emerald caught a glimpse of something in his eyes that worried her—doubt. And doubt, in their line of work, was dangerous.
Aiko's Sleepless Night
Three floors above, Aiko sat by the window in Team NDTSA's dormitory, her wolf ears swiveling at every sound in the night. Sleep had proven impossible since the encounter in the courtyard. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw silver eyes that belonged to a boy she'd once known, in a life that felt simultaneously real and impossible.
"Can't sleep either?" Nova's voice came from his bed across the room.
Aiko turned to find her team leader sitting up, his own expression troubled. "Too much cosmic revelation in one day?"
"Something like that," Aiko replied, though they both knew it was more complicated than that. "Nova... do you ever feel like there are pieces of your past that don't quite fit together?"
Nova considered the question carefully. Even before the divine encounter, he'd sensed there were gaps in his understanding of his origins, his connection to the silver energy, and his place in the larger cosmic picture.
"Every day," he admitted. "Especially lately. Why?"
Aiko's tail twitched as she struggled with how much to reveal. "I saw someone today. Someone I think I knew before... before I came to Beacon. But the memories are all wrong, like they've been scrambled."
"Wrong how?"
"Like someone took puzzle pieces from different pictures and tried to force them together," Aiko explained, frustration evident in her voice. "I remember playing with a boy who had silver eyes, but I can't remember his name or how we met. I remember hiding from something, but not what we were hiding from. And I remember promising we'd always be friends, but I can't remember why that promise felt so important."
Nova's enhanced senses picked up the emotional turmoil radiating from his teammate. "The boy with silver eyes—you saw him today?"
Aiko nodded slowly. "Mercury Black. One of the Haven transfer students. When our eyes met, I could tell he recognized me too. But something's wrong with his memories as well."
From the bed nearest the window, Turuk's voice joined the conversation. "Memory manipulation isn't unheard of, especially in covert operations. If Mercury's involved with people who would benefit from keeping certain connections hidden..."
"You think someone deliberately altered our memories?" Aiko asked.
"I think," Nova said carefully, "that we're discovering there are a lot more players in this game than we realized. Gods, demons, ancient bloodlines, and now possibly memory manipulation. The question is whether these are all separate complications or part of something larger."
The three of them sat in the darkness, each lost in their own thoughts about fractured pasts and uncertain futures. Outside their window, Vale slept peacefully, unaware of the cosmic forces and personal mysteries that surrounded them.
Salem's War Room - Deeper Concerns
Salem's fortress had never felt more oppressive than it did that night. The ancient witch paced through her war room, where holographic displays showed the positions of her agents, the status of various operations, and the movements of her enemies.
But none of it mattered in the face of what she had sensed.
"Watts," she called, her voice carrying the authority of millennia.
Dr. Arthur Watts looked up from his workstation, where he'd been monitoring communications intercepts from the tournament. "Yes, my lady?"
"The energy signature that appeared over Vale yesterday—have your instruments detected anything similar before?"
Watts pulled up his analysis, though he was clearly confused by the question. "The readings were unlike anything in our database. The power levels registered beyond our equipment's capacity to measure accurately, but if I had to estimate..." He paused, running calculations. "Conservative estimate would put it at planetary-level threat capacity."
"Planetary-level," Salem repeated, the words carrying dark amusement. "Doctor, what I felt yesterday wasn't just planetary-level. It was universal-level. The kind of power that could unmake reality itself if properly motivated."
Watts' fingers stilled on his keyboard. "That's... impossible."
"So I thought," Salem replied. "Yet here we are, discussing the impossible after it paid a visit to our world and found us... adequate."
She moved to the central display, where Vale's skyline showed peaceful and serene in the night. "The question becomes: what do beings of such power want with our little conflict? And more importantly, are they potential allies or obstacles to our cause?"
"Perhaps," Watts suggested carefully, "we should focus on our current operations rather than—"
"Rather than planning for variables that could destroy everything we've worked toward?" Salem's red eyes blazed as she turned to face him. "Doctor, I have spent thousands of years planning for every contingency, accounting for every variable. I will not be caught unprepared by cosmic forces because we were too focused on local concerns to see the bigger picture."
The rebuke hung in the air as Salem returned her attention to the displays. Somewhere out there, beings existed who could reduce her immortal existence to cosmic dust without effort. Understanding their motivations had just become the highest priority.
Cinder's New Complications
In her borrowed dormitory room, Cinder Fall reviewed the data from her network infiltration with growing satisfaction. The tournament brackets were fully under her control, the broadcast systems were primed for her virus, and her pawns were positioned perfectly for the coming chaos.
But the cosmic visitors had introduced variables she hadn't accounted for.
"Emerald," she called softly.
Her protégé appeared from the adjoining room, where she'd been attempting to get Mercury to sleep despite his ongoing memory issues.
"Those enhanced students," Cinder began without preamble. "The ones with the energy signatures. Do we know the extent of their capabilities?"
"Some," Emerald replied carefully. "They're stronger and faster than normal students, but they're still human. Still vulnerable to the right kind of manipulation."
"Are they?" Cinder mused. "Because if yesterday's display taught us anything, it's that some humans have connections to forces we don't understand. And forces we don't understand represent risks to our operations."
She pulled up footage from Nova's evaluation match, analyzing the silver-edged energy that had emanated from his transformation.
"This energy," she continued, "it's similar to what we've seen from Ruby Rose, but more refined. More controlled. If they're developing abilities that could interfere with our plans..."
"Do you want me to investigate further?" Emerald asked.
"Carefully," Cinder warned. "Very carefully. The last thing we need is to draw attention from their cosmic mentors by being too aggressive in our intelligence gathering."
As Emerald left to carry out her orders, Cinder returned her attention to the tournament data. The original plan remained viable, but contingencies would need to be developed. If the enhanced students proved to be obstacles, they would need to be neutralized before the final phase began.
The question was whether that neutralization could be accomplished without attracting divine attention.
The Doubles Round Begins
The next morning dawned bright and clear over the Amity Coliseum, where the first matches of the doubles round were scheduled to begin. The atmosphere was festive and excited, with spectators eager to see how the remaining teams would adapt to the smaller format.
Team RWBY gathered in their preparation area, Yang and Weiss going through final equipment checks while Ruby and Blake discussed potential opponent strategies.
"Remember," Ruby said, her team leader instincts taking over, "the doubles format changes everything. You can't rely on Blake and me for backup, so your coordination needs to be perfect."
Weiss adjusted her rapier and dust cartridges with practiced precision. "Yang's direct combat style actually complements my tactical approach quite well. The key is managing the battlefield to create opportunities for her to engage while maintaining defensive positions for my support techniques."
"Translation: I punch things while Ice Queen makes sure I'm punching the right things," Yang said with a grin.
"That's... not entirely inaccurate," Weiss admitted.
Across the preparation area, Team NDTSA was having their own strategic discussions. Nova and Turuk had been selected for their team's doubles entry, their years of training together giving them natural coordination.
"The terrain randomization is going to be crucial," Nova said, reviewing the possible arena configurations. "We need to be ready for anything from urban environments to natural disasters."
Turuk nodded, his more impulsive nature tempered by Nova's tactical approach. "What worries me more is the competition level. These are all teams that advanced through the group stage. No easy matches left."
"Good," Nova replied, his eyes carrying that new awareness that his divine evaluation had awakened. "Easy matches don't teach us anything."
Mercury's Investigation
While the other students prepared for their matches, Mercury found himself drawn back to the areas where he'd seen the wolf faunus girl. His memories remained fractured and confusing, but the compulsion to understand what he'd recognized was growing stronger.
He found her in one of the quiet courtyards, sitting alone with a book she wasn't actually reading. Her wolf ears twitched as he approached, indicating she was aware of his presence long before he spoke.
"Aiko Yukimura," he said, having looked up her tournament registration. "Beacon Academy, first year."
She looked up at him with those familiar eyes that stirred something in his chest. "Mercury Black. Haven Academy, first year transfer."
They studied each other for a long moment, both feeling the weight of recognition they couldn't quite place.
"This is going to sound crazy," Mercury said finally, "but do I know you from somewhere?"
"I was about to ask you the same thing," Aiko replied. "When I saw you yesterday, it was like... like remembering a dream. Familiar but incomplete."
Mercury sat on the bench across from her, his usual confident demeanor replaced by genuine vulnerability. "I have these fragments. Images of playing with someone who had wolf ears. Someone who used to hide with me when things got bad. But I can't remember names or faces clearly. Just feelings."
"A boy with silver eyes," Aiko whispered. "Someone who promised we'd always look out for each other."
The pieces clicked together with almost physical impact, and both of them leaned back as if struck.
"We knew each other," Mercury said, not a question but a statement of fact.
"Before," Aiko agreed. "Before... what? What happened to us? Why can't we remember properly?"
Mercury's expression darkened. "In my case, I think I know why. My father wasn't exactly concerned with preserving happy memories. But you..."
"I remember being scared," Aiko said slowly, pieces of her fractured past beginning to surface. "Really scared. And then... nothing. Just waking up in Vale with new memories of growing up there."
They sat in silence, both of them processing the implications of recovered childhood friendship and deliberately obscured pasts.
"Mercury," Aiko said finally, "what are you really doing here? At the tournament?"
His silver eyes met hers, and for a moment, the boy she'd once known was visible beneath the layers of conditioning and manipulation.
"I wish I could tell you," he said quietly. "I wish I even knew myself anymore."
Cinder's Countermove
From a hidden vantage point, Emerald watched the reunion with growing concern. Her semblance allowed her to observe without being detected, but what she was witnessing threatened to complicate their operations significantly.
If Mercury began recovering memories of his life before Marcus Black's conditioning, it could unravel everything Cinder had built. The psychological control they maintained over him depended on his isolation, his belief that he had no connections beyond their group.
A childhood friend with genuine emotional ties could shatter that isolation.
Emerald activated her scroll, sending a priority message to Cinder: "We have a problem."
The response came back almost immediately: "Handle it. Quietly."
But as Emerald watched Mercury and Aiko continue their careful conversation, she realized that "handling it quietly" might not be possible. The girl was part of a team with enhanced abilities, cosmic mentors, and the attention of Beacon's faculty.
Direct action against her would raise questions they couldn't afford to answer.
Which meant more subtle approaches would be required.
The First Doubles Match
The morning's opening match featured Teams CFVY and SSSN, both popular teams with distinct fighting styles. Coco and Yatsuhashi represented Beacon's established second-year strength, while Sun and Neptune brought Haven's unpredictable creativity.
In the stands, the enhanced students watched with professional interest, analyzing techniques and strategies that might be useful in their own upcoming matches.
"Sun's using the terrain advantages well," Blake observed as the monkey faunus bounded between the arena's elevated platforms.
"Neptune's still avoiding the water sections," Yang noted. "That's going to limit their tactical options."
Ruby found herself studying the match with different eyes than she'd had just days before. Her enhanced senses picked up details she'd never noticed before—micro-expressions, subtle shifts in stance, the way each fighter's aura fluctuated with their emotional state.
"It's strange," she said to her teammates. "Everything looks different now. More... detailed."
"Divine potential," Weiss murmured, echoing Whis's words. "I'm experiencing something similar. Combat patterns that were invisible before are now obvious."
The match concluded with CFVY's victory, their experience and coordination proving superior to SSSN's individual talents. But the real drama began immediately afterward, as the tournament bracket updated to show the next match.
Emerald Sustrai and Mercury Black versus Yang Xiao Long and Weiss Schnee.
In the stands, Ruby felt a chill that had nothing to do with the arena's climate control. Something about the pairing felt wrong, though she couldn't identify what.
Beside her, Weiss straightened with determination. "Well," she said, "this should be interesting."
Yang cracked her knuckles, her golden eyes already beginning to show traces of that dark energy she'd recently discovered. "Bring it on."
But across the arena, in the competitors' section, Aiko watched Mercury's face as the match-up was announced. She saw something there that terrified her—a flicker of genuine regret, followed by the cold mask she was beginning to recognize as his conditioned response to emotional conflict.
Whatever memories they'd begun to recover, whatever connection they'd rediscovered, it was about to be tested by forces neither of them fully understood.
The doubles round was about to become far more personal than anyone had anticipated.
The Doubles Round - Mercury and Emerald's Test
The Amity Coliseum buzzed with anticipation as the doubles round commenced. In the arena, Mercury Black and Emerald Sustrai faced off against Beacon's seasoned second-year team of Coco Adel and Yatsuhashi Daichi. The contrast between the teams was stark—Haven's mysterious transfers versus Beacon's established powerhouses.
"You know," Coco said, adjusting her sunglasses with characteristic confidence, "I've been looking forward to this. Haven's been making quite an impression."
"We do our best," Emerald replied smoothly, her tone carrying just the right amount of respectful confidence.
Mercury remained silent, but his silver eyes kept drifting to the stands where he could see Aiko watching with obvious concern. The fragmented memories from their earlier conversation created a knot of confusion in his chest that his conditioning struggled to suppress.
As the terrain roulette spun, the arena transformed into four distinct biomes: a geyser field with steaming vents, a dense forested area, a section of ruined cityscape, and a field of tall grass that swayed gently in the artificial breeze.
"Terrain advantage goes to the locals," Yatsuhashi observed in his calm, measured tone.
"Maybe," Mercury said, finally speaking up. "Let's find out."
The match began with both teams immediately assessing the battlefield. Coco and Yatsuhashi took elevated positions to survey the terrain, while Mercury and Emerald melted seamlessly into the tall grass, their forms vanishing from sight.
In the stands, Nova leaned forward as his enhanced senses tracked the combatants' movements. "They're not hiding," he said quietly to his teammates. "They're positioning."
"For what?" Turuk asked.
Coco had clearly reached the same conclusion. Her massive gatling gun, transformed from its handbag disguise, began spinning as she unleashed sustained fire into the grass field. The weapon's roar filled the coliseum as grass and earth exploded under the relentless barrage.
But when the dust cleared, Mercury and Emerald were nowhere to be found.
"Above!" Yatsuhashi called out, but it was too late.
Mercury descended from the sky like a silver meteor, his legs blazing with the enhanced speed and precision that his cybernetic limbs provided. He struck both Coco and Yatsuhashi in rapid succession, his kicks carrying force that sent shock waves through the arena floor.
Emerald's Web
As Mercury engaged in aerial combat, Emerald moved like a shadow through the terrain. Her weapon, Thief's Respite, lashed out to snare Coco's leg with its sickle-chain configuration, dragging the surprised Huntress deeper into the forested biome where visibility was limited.
In the stands, Aiko's wolf ears flattened against her head as she watched Mercury fight. There was something different about his combat style—more brutal than necessary, more detached than the boy she remembered. The conditioning had changed him into something that resembled her childhood friend but lacked his essential warmth.
"He's holding back," she whispered, her enhanced senses picking up micro-expressions that the cameras couldn't capture.
"What do you mean?" Scarlett asked from beside her.
"He could end this faster," Aiko explained, her tail bristling with anxiety. "But he's... performing. Like he's putting on a show rather than trying to win."
Meanwhile, Mercury and Yatsuhashi squared off in the geyser field, where the terrain's instability added another layer of complexity to their combat. Mercury's enhanced legs allowed him to vault between the unstable ground and steaming vents with ease, while Yatsuhashi's massive sword cleaved through the air in powerful arcs.
To the audience, it appeared to be an even match, but those with enhanced senses could see Mercury consistently maintaining the upper hand. His strikes were precise, calculated, and gradually wearing down his opponent's defenses.
In the forest, what appeared to be Yatsuhashi emerged from the trees behind Coco, but the illusion lasted only seconds before dissolving. On the opposite side of the arena, the real Yatsuhashi's aura finally shattered under Mercury's relentless assault, his elimination confirmed by the arena's monitoring systems.
Emerald emerged from the shadows like a phantom, her weapons striking Coco from multiple angles in a coordinated assault that overwhelmed the Huntress's remaining defenses. When Coco's aura broke, the match was over.
"Winner: Mercury Black and Emerald Sustrai of Haven Academy," the announcer's voice boomed across the coliseum.
As the crowd erupted in cheers and applause, Mercury's eyes found Aiko's in the stands. For just a moment, his mask slipped, and she saw something that broke her heart—regret, and a desperate wish that things could be different.
Garden Pavilion - The Schnee Sisters
Later that afternoon, away from the coliseum's noise and excitement, Weiss sat across from her sister Winter at an elegant garden pavilion. The setting was peaceful, with delicate pastries and fresh strawberries arranged on fine china between them, but the conversation carried weight beyond its casual appearance.
"You're leaving today?" Weiss asked, trying to keep the disappointment from her voice.
Winter nodded, her posture maintaining its military precision even in the informal setting. "I was only here to oversee the delivery of new Atlesian Paladin units. My duties require my return to Atlas Command."
The words stung more than Weiss expected. After yesterday's cosmic revelations and her growing understanding of her enhanced abilities, part of her had hoped for more time with her sister—someone who might understand the pressure of living up to impossible expectations.
"I remember the day you left for Beacon," Winter continued, her voice softening almost imperceptibly. "Father was... displeased with your decision to study here rather than at Atlas Academy."
"That's putting it mildly," Weiss replied, memories of that final confrontation still sharp. "He threatened to cut off my funding entirely."
"But you went anyway," Winter observed. "That took courage."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the weight of shared family history settling between them.
"Your progress with your Semblance has been notable," Winter said, steering the conversation to safer ground. "The tournament footage shows significant advancement in your glyph manipulation."
Weiss's expression grew frustrated. "Everything except summoning. I can create platforms, barriers, even acceleration glyphs, but when I try to manifest something more complex..."
"Show me," Winter commanded gently.
Weiss stood and moved to an open area of the pavilion. Her rapier gleamed in the afternoon sunlight as she channeled her aura, creating an intricate glyph that glowed with white energy. But when she attempted to push further, to draw forth the manifestation of something she had defeated, the construct flickered and dissolved.
"Summoning requires more than technical precision," Winter explained, rising gracefully. "It requires understanding of what you're calling forth."
With fluid movements, Winter drew her own saber and created a summoning glyph far more complex than anything Weiss had managed. The construct that emerged took the form of a white Beowolf, its ethereal form radiating cold energy as it paced around the pavilion before dissipating.
"The creatures we summon are echoes of those we've defeated," Winter explained. "To call them forth, we must understand not just their weaknesses, but their strengths. What made them formidable opponents in the first place."
Weiss watched the display with a mixture of admiration and frustration. Her enhanced Saiyan abilities had improved her combat effectiveness dramatically, but the summoning aspect of her hereditary Semblance remained elusive.
"There's something else we need to discuss," Winter said, her tone growing serious. "Your relationship with Father, and your future with the Schnee legacy."
Team RWBY's Dorm - Family Revelations
While the Schnee sisters discussed family expectations, Ruby Rose found herself in her team's dormitory with two of the most important people in her life: her sister Yang and their uncle Qrow. The scene was surprisingly domestic, with all three of them seated around Ruby's gaming system, controllers in hand.
"And that's how I single-handedly saved an entire village from a pack of Beowolves," Qrow said, his character performing an elaborate combo on screen. "Course, the locals were so grateful they insisted on celebrating until dawn, which is why I was three days late reporting back to Ozpin."
"Uncle Qrow," Ruby said with fond exasperation, "I'm pretty sure that story changes every time you tell it."
"Details, Rubes. Details change. The important parts stay the same—I saved the day and looked good doing it."
Yang laughed as her character delivered a finishing move. "At least our last mission had a clear victory. Stopping Roman Torchwick felt like we actually accomplished something."
But Qrow's expression grew serious, his playful demeanor fading. "Did you, though? Stop him, I mean?"
"What do you mean?" Ruby asked, pausing the game. "We captured him. He's in custody."
"And what happened after that?" Qrow set down his controller and turned to face his nieces directly. "All criminal activity in Vale just... stopped. Completely. You don't find that suspicious?"
Yang and Ruby exchanged glances, neither of them having considered the implications.
"Crime doesn't just disappear because you catch one guy," Qrow continued. "Even someone as connected as Torchwick. When a power vacuum appears, someone else moves in to fill it. Always. The fact that everything went quiet means someone else is running the show, and they're good enough to stay invisible."
The weight of his words settled over the room like a heavy blanket. Ruby's enhanced senses, still developing since her transformation, picked up the subtle tensions in her uncle's posture that suggested this wasn't just theoretical concern.
"You think we're dealing with something bigger," Yang said, not a question.
"I know we are," Qrow replied. "And until you two understand that every victory might be exactly what your enemy wanted, you're not ready to call yourselves Huntresses."
He stood and moved to the window, his reflection showing a man carrying burdens his nieces were only beginning to understand.
"Tell us about Team STRQ," Ruby said quietly.
Qrow's shoulders tensed. "What about it?"
"You, Dad, Mom... and Yang's mother," Ruby continued. "What were you like back then? Did you think you were ready for everything you faced?"
For a long moment, Qrow didn't answer. When he finally spoke, his voice carried years of accumulated regret.
"We thought we were invincible," he said. "Four kids with powerful Semblances and absolute certainty that we could handle anything the world threw at us. We were wrong about a lot of things."
"Like what?" Yang asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Like thinking that being strong enough to win was the same as being wise enough to know what victory actually costs."
Winter's Lesson
Back at the garden pavilion, Winter had begun a more intensive lesson in summoning technique. Weiss stood in a combat stance, sweat beading on her forehead as she channeled her enhanced Saiyan power through her hereditary Semblance.
"Focus on the memory," Winter instructed. "Not just the battle, but the moment of understanding. When did you truly comprehend your opponent?"
Weiss closed her eyes, thinking back to her encounter with the Arma Gigas in her family's training room. The massive construct had seemed invincible, its armor deflecting her attacks with ease. But then she'd found the pattern, the rhythm of its movements that revealed the weakness she could exploit.
Her glyph flared brighter, and for a moment, something began to take shape within its boundaries—the outline of a massive sword, the Arma Gigas's weapon materializing in ghostly white energy.
But then her concentration wavered, and the manifestation dissolved.
"Better," Winter acknowledged. "You're beginning to understand the connection. But there's something else we need to address—your future with our family."
Weiss opened her eyes, noting the serious tone.
"Father's support comes with strings," Winter continued. "Expectations, obligations, a predetermined path that may not align with who you're becoming. I faced the same choice when I joined the Atlas Military."
"He cut you off too?"
"For two years," Winter confirmed. "Until my service record proved I could succeed without his direct influence. The question you need to ask yourself is whether you're willing to forge your own path, even if it means giving up the safety net of family wealth and connections."
Weiss considered this, her hand unconsciously moving to touch her rapier. Since her transformation, since discovering the cosmic forces at play around her, the idea of following a predetermined path felt increasingly hollow.
"What would it mean?" she asked. "Forging my own path?"
"It means discovering who Weiss Schnee is when she's not trying to live up to someone else's expectations," Winter replied. "It means exploring Remnant on your own terms, learning about yourself and your place in the world without the weight of family legacy dictating every choice."
As they prepared to part ways, Winter moved to embrace her sister—a rare display of physical affection that surprised Weiss with its warmth.
"Whatever you choose," Winter whispered, "know that I'm proud of who you're becoming."
After Winter departed, Weiss remained in the pavilion for several minutes, processing their conversation. When she finally moved to leave, she noticed something glinting on the ground where she had attempted her summoning.
A fragment of white energy, shaped like a sword blade, lay manifested on the stone before slowly dissolving into motes of light. She had managed to summon something, even if only briefly.
That night, as she returned to her dormitory, Weiss's scroll buzzed with an incoming call. Her father's name appeared on the display, but after staring at it for several seconds, she declined the call without hesitation.
For the first time in years, the choice felt entirely her own.
Cinder's Accelerated Timeline
In her quarters, Cinder Fall reviewed the day's events with growing satisfaction. Mercury and Emerald's performance had been flawless—dominant enough to advance while maintaining their cover as skilled but unremarkable transfer students.
But the cosmic complications continued to concern her.
"The enhanced students are developing faster than anticipated," she said to Emerald, who had just returned from the match. "Their abilities are advancing beyond baseline Saiyan transformations."
"Should we accelerate our timeline?" Emerald asked.
"Not yet," Cinder replied. "But we need more intelligence. Their cosmic mentors may have departed, but their influence continues to grow. If they develop abilities that could interfere with the final phase..."
She left the implication hanging. Both of them understood the stakes—too much power in the wrong hands could unravel everything they had worked toward.
"What about Mercury's... complications?" Emerald asked carefully.
Cinder's amber eyes sharpened. "The girl's influence on him is growing problematic. If his conditioning continues to weaken..."
"I can handle it," Emerald said quickly.
"See that you do," Cinder warned. "We're too close to success to allow personal attachments to compromise our mission."
As Emerald left to carry out her orders, Cinder returned her attention to the tournament data streams. The doubles round was proceeding according to her manipulated brackets, and soon the stage would be set for the final phase of her plan.
The question was whether the enhanced students would prove to be assets or obstacles when the chaos finally began.
Mercury's Internal Conflict
Alone in his quarters, Mercury sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his hands. The cybernetic legs that had replaced what his father had destroyed were perfectly functional, but they would always be a reminder of what he had lost.
And now, with Aiko's reappearance in his life, he was remembering other things he had lost—gentleness, friendship, the possibility of connection without manipulation or violence.
His scroll displayed her contact information, obtained through careful research of the tournament registration database. All he had to do was send a message, arrange another meeting, continue rebuilding whatever they had once shared.
But he also knew what that would cost. Cinder and Emerald would see it as a weakness to be exploited or eliminated. And if Aiko became a target because of their connection...
He deleted the contact information and lay back on his bed, closing his eyes against memories that felt both precious and poisonous.
Some choices, he reflected, hurt precisely because they were the right ones to make.
In her own dormitory across the academy, Aiko stared out her window at the stars, her wolf ears picking up the faint sounds of her sleeping teammates. Her enhanced senses told her that Mercury was awake in his quarters, probably struggling with the same impossible situation that kept her from rest.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new matches, and new opportunities for their paths to cross. But tonight, they both carried the weight of recovered friendship and the knowledge that some connections were too dangerous to pursue, no matter how much they hurt to abandon.
The cosmic forces that had touched their world had awakened more than just divine potential—they had illuminated the human costs of the games being played around them, and the price of power when it came at the expense of the heart.
The Next Morning - Penny's Dominance
The Amity Coliseum buzzed with morning energy as the doubles round continued. In the arena, the match between Atlas Academy's Penny Polendina and Ciel Soleil against Beacon's Russell Thrush and Sky Lark was reaching its inevitable conclusion.
Russell's mace swung desperately through empty air as Penny's floating swords moved with mechanical precision, herding him toward the arena's lava biome. Sky's halberd provided no better defense against the coordinated assault of Atlas's most advanced students.
"It's over," Nova observed from the stands, his enhanced senses tracking the microscopic adjustments in Penny's movements. "She's not even using her full capabilities."
The match ended with clinical efficiency—Russell and Sky's auras shattered simultaneously under a perfectly coordinated attack that left Penny and Ciel victorious without apparent effort.
As the crowd cheered, Ruby made her way down to the competitor's area, eager to congratulate her friend.
"Penny!" Ruby called out as the red-haired girl emerged from the arena floor.
"Ruby!" Penny's face lit up with genuine joy, though Ciel's stern expression suggested their reunion would be brief. "I am so happy to see you!"
They found a quiet corner away from the post-match interviews, where Penny's usual cheerful demeanor grew more serious.
"Ruby," she said quietly, "I have been thinking about our conversation regarding my... nature. And I have decided that I wish to remain at Beacon Academy."
Ruby blinked in surprise. "Penny, I don't think General Ironwood would—"
"I have a plan," Penny interrupted, her green eyes carrying an intensity that seemed almost human. "There are... factors in play that may work in my favor. Changes happening that could alter how Atlas views my deployment."
Before Ruby could ask what she meant, Ciel's voice cut through their conversation.
"Polendina. Debriefing in ten minutes."
Penny's expression returned to its usual brightness, but Ruby caught something in her friend's tone that troubled her. "I must go, Ruby. But we will speak again soon."
As Penny departed with her handler, Ruby couldn't shake the feeling that her friend was planning something that would have far-reaching consequences.
Yang and Weiss vs. Team FNKI
The afternoon match pit Yang Xiao Long and Weiss Schnee against Atlas Academy's most unconventional team: Neon Katt and Flynt Coal of Team FNKI. The contrast couldn't have been more stark—Beacon's reformed partnership versus Atlas's flashy performers.
In the competitors' area, Emerald reviewed the tournament bracket on her scroll, her expression growing troubled as she noted the upcoming matches.
"Problem?" Mercury asked, settling beside her.
"Nova Saiyan is listed as a potential opponent for the next round," she replied quietly. "If the brackets align correctly, I could be facing him in singles."
Mercury's silver eyes sharpened with interest. "The one who fought the cosmic being?"
"The same one," Emerald confirmed. "I've been monitoring his energy signatures since that evaluation. There's something fundamentally different about his power now. Something that makes my semblance... uncertain."
The implication hung between them. Emerald's illusions were their primary tactical advantage, but if Nova's enhanced abilities could see through them...
"We'll deal with it when it happens," Mercury said, though his tone suggested he shared her concerns.
On the arena floor, the match began with immediate verbal sparring. Flynt Coal pointed an accusing finger at Weiss, his voice carrying the weight of personal grievance.
"Schnee Dust Company!" he called out. "Your family's business practices put my father's shop under! You think you can just buy your way to victory?"
"My family's business decisions are not my own," Weiss replied coolly, though those watching closely could see the words stung.
Neon Katt zipped around on her roller blades, her taunts directed at Yang with surgical precision. "Wow, someone's been hitting the protein shakes! Are you sure you can keep up with this pace, big girl?"
Yang's eyes flickered with dangerous golden light, but Weiss placed a restraining hand on her arm. "They're trying to get under our skin," she said quietly. "Don't let them."
The terrain revealed itself as a mixture of lava flows and rocky outcroppings—dangerous footing that would favor speed and precision over raw power.
As the match commenced, Team FNKI's strategy became immediately apparent. Neon's roller blade mobility made her nearly impossible for Yang to pin down, while Flynt's trumpet-based semblance created multiple duplicates that overwhelmed Weiss's defensive positions.
"She's too fast," Yang growled, her punches consistently finding empty air as Neon danced around her attacks.
Weiss fared no better against Flynt's quadruple assault. Her glyphs provided some defense, but the sheer number of attacks was breaking down her barriers faster than she could create them.
In the stands, Blake watched with growing concern. "They're being outmaneuvered."
"Yang's getting frustrated," Ruby observed. "That's exactly what they want."
The turning point came when Weiss made a tactical decision that surprised everyone. Instead of maintaining her defensive position, she launched herself directly at Flynt, tackling him just as his semblance reached its crescendo.
The collision sent both combatants tumbling toward the lava biome, where Flynt's sonic attack backfired spectacularly. A pillar of superheated air and flame engulfed both fighters, and when it cleared, both were still standing—though Flynt's aura had taken severe damage.
"Weiss!" Yang called out, relieved to see her partner singed but unharmed.
The sacrifice had worked. With Flynt weakened, Yang finally managed to corner the overconfident musician, her gauntlets delivering a devastating combination that shattered his aura.
Neon, deprived of her partner's support, found her roller blade advantage becoming a liability on the rocky terrain. A mistimed turn sent her sliding directly into one of the arena's geyser vents, the superheated steam finishing what Yang's pursuit had started.
"Winners: Yang Xiao Long and Weiss Schnee of Beacon Academy!"
As the crowd erupted, something unexpected happened. Flynt Coal approached the victorious pair, his earlier antagonism replaced by genuine respect.
"That was... impressive strategy," he admitted to Weiss. "Taking that risk to create an opening for your partner. I respect that."
Neon, dripping wet but grinning, offered Yang a playful salute. "You've got some serious power behind those punches. I might have underestimated you."
The sportsmanship surprised Yang, who had been prepared for continued hostility. "You're pretty fast yourself. Almost had me."
As they left the arena, Weiss found herself reflecting on the match. The enhanced abilities from her Saiyan transformation had helped, but victory had ultimately come from tactical thinking and partnership trust—things that couldn't be bought or inherited.
Cinder's Breakthrough
That evening, Cinder Fall reclined in her team's quarters, her fingers dancing across her scroll interface as data streams flowed past her enhanced vision. The virus she had planted in Atlas's systems was performing beyond expectations, granting her access to classified information that even she had not anticipated.
"Interesting," she murmured, causing Emerald and Mercury to look up from their own activities.
"What is it?" Emerald asked.
Cinder's smile held the sharp edge of impending victory. "It seems our virus has penetrated deeper into Atlas's networks than we expected. I now have complete access to Penny Polendina's blueprints."
Mercury leaned forward with interest. "The robot girl? What's so special about her schematics?"
"She's not just any android," Cinder explained, her fingers continuing to scroll through classified data. "She's Atlas's most advanced artificial intelligence, housing technology that could revolutionize warfare if properly... repurposed."
Emerald's expression grew troubled as she considered the implications. "Are we changing the plan?"
"Adapting it," Cinder corrected. "Having access to Polendina's systems could provide us with additional leverage during the final phase. If we can control her, we control a significant portion of Atlas's defensive capabilities."
She closed the scroll and looked at her subordinates with satisfaction. "Our plan just became considerably easier to execute."
But even as she spoke, Cinder felt the nagging concern about the cosmic complications that continued to develop around them. The enhanced students represented variables she still didn't fully understand, and variables in warfare were dangerous things.
Soon, she would need to test those variables under controlled conditions—before they became problems she couldn't manage.
Ozpin's Office - Growing Concerns
High above Beacon Academy, Ozpin's office had become the center of increasingly tense discussions about the cosmic revelations and their implications for the upcoming trials. Qrow Branwen slouched in one of the chairs, his flask making regular appearances despite the early hour.
"James is getting paranoid," Qrow stated bluntly, gesturing toward the Atlesian fleet visible through the office's windows. "All those ships, all that firepower—it's making people nervous."
"General Ironwood has valid security concerns," Ozpin replied diplomatically, though his own expression suggested he shared some of Qrow's reservations.
"Valid concerns, sure," Qrow conceded, taking another sip from his flask. "But this looks more like preparation for war than protection for peace. And after yesterday's... visitors... I'm starting to wonder if James knows something we don't."
Rhubar, who had been standing silently by the window alongside Sala, finally spoke up. "The cosmic beings who evaluated our students mentioned that power left unguided could be problematic. Perhaps General Ironwood senses the growing energy signatures but doesn't understand their true nature."
"That's exactly the problem," Sala added, her maternal instincts extending to more than just her adopted sons. "Fear of the unknown breeds overreaction. And overreaction in the face of cosmic-level power could have catastrophic consequences."
Ozpin sipped his coffee thoughtfully. "Which brings us to the matter of guidance. The students touched by divine potential need mentors who understand what they're becoming."
"And what about the Guardian situation?" Qrow asked, changing the subject to more immediate concerns. "Have you made your choice?"
Ozpin's expression grew grave. "I have identified a candidate. Someone who possesses the qualities necessary for such responsibility—strong, intelligent, caring, and most importantly, ready to bear the burden of protecting the Fall Maiden's power."
As he spoke, the office elevator chimed softly, announcing an arrival. Through the glass walls, they could see a figure with distinctive red hair making her way toward them.
"Pyrrha Nikos," Rhubar observed, his enhanced Saiyan senses picking up the young woman's elevated stress levels. "She's nervous about something."
"She should be," Ozpin replied quietly. "What we're about to ask of her will change her life forever."
Sala's expression grew concerned as she watched Pyrrha approach. "Ozpin, are you certain she's ready for such responsibility? The cosmic forces we've witnessed, the enhanced abilities developing in other students—if she's meant to be a Guardian in this new paradigm..."
"That's precisely why the timing is crucial," Ozpin interrupted gently. "The cosmic visitors may have departed, but their influence continues to grow. We need someone who can bridge the gap between traditional Maiden powers and the new realities we're facing."
Qrow drained his flask and set it aside. "And if she refuses?"
"Then we find another way," Ozpin said simply. "But I believe Pyrrha Nikos has the strength of character to accept this responsibility, even knowing the costs."
The elevator doors opened, and Pyrrha stepped into the office, her usually confident demeanor showing cracks of uncertainty as she took in the assembled adults.
"Professor Ozpin?" she said quietly. "You wanted to see me?"
"Please, Miss Nikos," Ozpin gestured to an empty chair. "We have something very important to discuss with you. Something that will require all of your considerable courage and wisdom."
As Pyrrha took her seat, the weight of impending revelation settled over the room like a heavy shroud. Outside the windows, Vale continued its peaceful existence, unaware that the decisions made in this office would soon determine the fate of far more than just one kingdom.
The cosmic game was accelerating, and all the pieces were finally moving toward their inevitable collision.
Team CMEN's Strategic Review
Later that evening, in the privacy of their borrowed dormitory, Cinder Fall called her subordinates together for a strategic review. The room's atmosphere was tense, filled with the weight of plans that were rapidly approaching their execution phase.
"The tournament is proceeding according to our manipulated brackets," Cinder began, her amber eyes reflecting the glow from her scroll's display. "Phase one nears completion. However, we need to discuss potential complications."
Mercury shifted in his chair, his silver eyes distant. The day's events had left him increasingly conflicted, caught between his conditioning and the recovering memories of genuine connection with Aiko.
Emerald, however, leaned forward with obvious concern. "Cinder, I need to report something that could affect our timeline."
"Speak."
"It's about Nova Saiyan," Emerald said, her voice carrying an edge of genuine unease. "The one who was evaluated by that cosmic being. I've been gathering intelligence on him, and what I've discovered is... troubling."
Cinder's expression sharpened with interest. "Elaborate."
Emerald pulled up files on her own scroll, displaying tournament footage and energy readings. "On the surface, he appears to be just another enhanced student. But I've been monitoring the rumor networks among the other competitors, and there are stories about him that don't match his public profile."
"What kind of stories?" Mercury asked, his professional interest overriding his personal turmoil.
"Training incidents where he's accidentally destroyed entire sections of practice facilities," Emerald continued. "Sparring sessions that had to be called off because his power output was climbing beyond what the monitoring equipment could safely track. And most concerning—there are whispers that during his cosmic evaluation, something awakened in him that even the divine being found noteworthy."
Cinder stood and moved to the window, her mind processing the tactical implications. "You believe he represents a significant threat to our operations?"
"I believe," Emerald said carefully, "that we don't understand the full scope of what we're dealing with. My semblance allows me to read people's subconscious responses, their hidden fears and desires. When I attempted to probe Nova's mental state during the opening ceremonies..."
She paused, her expression growing troubled.
"What did you find?" Cinder demanded.
"Nothing," Emerald replied. "Not because he was blocking me, but because what I sensed beneath the surface was so vast, so fundamentally powerful, that my semblance couldn't find purchase. It was like trying to create an illusion inside a star—the raw energy overwhelmed any attempt at manipulation."
Mercury's attention sharpened. "You're saying he's immune to your abilities?"
"I'm saying that his power levels make my abilities irrelevant," Emerald corrected. "There's something sleeping inside him, something that makes the cosmic visitor's interest make perfect sense. And if that something fully awakens..."
She let the implication hang in the air.
Cinder turned from the window, her expression calculating. "Have you identified any potential triggers for this awakening?"
"Extreme emotional stress seems to be the primary catalyst," Emerald reported. "Rage, protective instincts, or perceived threats to people he cares about. The rumors suggest that his power spikes dramatically when he's defending others."
"Then our approach must be surgical," Cinder mused. "Direct confrontation with Nova could prove... counterproductive."
Mercury found himself speaking before his conditioning could stop him. "What if we're overthinking this? He's still just one person. Raw power doesn't always translate to tactical effectiveness."
Both women turned to look at him with surprise at the uncharacteristic input.
"You sound like you have personal experience," Cinder observed, her tone carrying a dangerous edge.
Mercury's mind raced as he realized his slip. The recovered memories of training with Aiko, of understanding that true strength came from protecting others rather than dominating them, had influenced his assessment without his conscious awareness.
"Just strategic thinking," he covered smoothly. "Overwhelming force can be countered with proper planning and misdirection."
Emerald studied his expression with the eye of someone trained to detect deception, but before she could probe deeper, Cinder redirected the conversation.
"Perhaps," she said. "But given the stakes involved, I prefer to err on the side of caution. Emerald, continue monitoring Nova and his associates, but maintain maximum distance. If your assessment is correct, even the attempt to gather intelligence could provoke the very awakening we're trying to avoid."
"And if he becomes an active obstacle during the final phase?" Emerald asked.
Cinder's smile held no warmth. "Then we ensure he's properly motivated to direct his awakening toward our enemies rather than ourselves. Raw power, no matter how vast, can still be guided by the right leverage."
Mercury felt a chill run down his spine as he recognized the calculating look in Cinder's eyes. She was already planning how to weaponize Nova's protective instincts, how to turn his greatest strength into a tool for her own purposes.
"What kind of leverage?" he asked, though part of him dreaded the answer.
"The kind that transforms heroes into weapons," Cinder replied cryptically. "His teammates, his friends, the innocent people he's sworn to protect. Power like his becomes most dangerous when it's combined with desperation."
Emerald nodded slowly, understanding the implication. "Turn his awakening into our advantage rather than our obstacle."
"Precisely," Cinder confirmed. "If Nova Saiyan is truly developing into something beyond normal enhanced human capabilities, then we don't fight him—we ensure he fights for us, whether he realizes it or not."
As the briefing concluded and they prepared for the next phase of their infiltration, Mercury found himself caught between competing loyalties. His conditioning demanded obedience to Cinder's plans, but the recovered fragments of his humanity recoiled at the thought of manipulating someone's protective instincts for destructive purposes.
Somewhere in the academy, Aiko was probably lying awake, troubled by the same memory fragments that plagued him. And Nova, the subject of their strategic discussion, was likely unaware that his greatest strength was being evaluated as a potential weapon against everything he stood for.
The cosmic visitors had spoken of power requiring proper guidance to avoid becoming problematic. But as Mercury stared out at the peaceful lights of Vale, he wondered if they had considered the possibility that the greatest threat to that power might not be lack of guidance, but deliberate misdirection by those who understood exactly how to exploit it.
Nova's Restless Night
In his dormitory room, Nova sat at his desk, ostensibly reviewing tournament footage but actually struggling with the growing awareness that something fundamental was changing inside him. The cosmic evaluation had awakened more than enhanced abilities—it had opened doorways in his consciousness that he wasn't sure he was ready to walk through.
Turuk's voice broke through his contemplation. "Brother, you've been staring at that same match sequence for twenty minutes. What's really bothering you?"
Nova paused the video and turned to face his brother. "Do you ever feel like you're carrying something too big for you to understand? Something that could help people or destroy everything, depending on how you use it?"
"Every day since we transformed," Turuk replied honestly. "But you're talking about something more specific, aren't you?"
Nova nodded slowly. "During the evaluation with Beerus, there was a moment when I touched something... immense. Like the energy I normally access is just a tiny fraction of something much larger. And lately, I can feel it stirring whenever I'm angry or protective."
"The silver-edged transformation?"
"Beyond that," Nova said. "The silver energy feels like a doorway to something else entirely. Something that the cosmic visitor recognized but didn't name."
Turuk sat up in bed, giving his brother his full attention. "Are you afraid of it?"
Nova considered the question carefully. "I'm afraid of what I might become if I'm not strong enough to control it. And I'm afraid of what might happen to the people I care about if I am strong enough to control it."
The paradox hung between them—power that was dangerous both in its absence and its presence.
"Maybe that's why the cosmic beings offered training," Turuk suggested. "To help you understand what you're becoming before you become it."
"Maybe," Nova agreed. "But they're not here now, and whatever's growing inside me doesn't seem inclined to wait for convenient timing."
Outside their window, the lights of Vale twinkled peacefully, unaware that one of their protectors was grappling with the emergence of power that could either save their world or reshape it entirely. And in the shadows of that same city, forces were already moving to ensure that when that power finally awakened, it would serve purposes far darker than its bearer could imagine.
To be continued in Chapter 30: Fall; Cinder's Saiyan Miscalculation