Challenge

Later that evening, Glynda stood in Ozpin's office, recounting the events of Crimson's match against Cardin.

"He humiliated him," Glynda said, her tone measured but serious. "The way he dodged every attack, how he restrained himself until the end, and then the act of choking Cardin while delivering unmasked threats—those aren't the actions of someone his age. His cold demeanor and complete indifference were... concerning."

Ozpin leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped around his ever-present mug of coffee. "I see," he said, his tone unreadable. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention. We'll continue to observe him for now."

"Do you think he might pose a danger to the students?" Glynda pressed.

Ozpin took a long sip before answering. "Highly unlikely, but his actions so far suggests a ruthless nature. I'll have a conversation with Qrow about this when he returns. For now, let's keep a watchful eye."

Glynda nodded, though the unease lingered as she left the room.

__________________________

The rest of Crimson's stay at Beacon was uneventful. Cardin and his team, now humbled and visibly shaken, had ceased their bullying entirely and went out of their way to avoid Crimson, treating him as if he were a plague. There were no more incidents, no challenges, and no outbursts. Crimson spent his days attending classes with Ruby and Yang, helping them with their studies and offering guidance where he could. His calm and supportive presence remained a mystery to most of the students, who kept their distance, uncertain how to approach someone who had so effortlessly subdued one of the academy's most notorious troublemakers.

__________________________

On the final day of his visit, the tranquil atmosphere shifted when Nora brought up a lingering question at lunch.

"So," she said, her voice cutting through the chatter, "do you think Crimson could end Pyrrha's winning streak, or would he fall like everyone else?"

The question ignited a spark. Ruby and Yang immediately leapt to their brother's defense.

"Of course, he could beat her!" Ruby declared. "He's the strongest!"

Yang grinned confidently. "No contest. Pyrrha's amazing, but Crimson's on a whole other level."

Team JNPR, however, rallied behind their teammate. "Pyrrha is undefeated for a reason!" Nora argued. "She's not just amazing—she's practically unstoppable."

Ren nodded in agreement. "Crimson may be strong, but Pyrrha's skill, strategy, and experience are unmatched."

Jaune, for his part, simply cheered, "Go, Pyrrha!"

As the two teams bickered, Weiss and Blake opted to stay neutral. "This is ridiculous," Weiss said, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Why are we even debating this?"

Blake folded her arms. "I agree. But honestly... I wouldn't put my money on Crimson. Pyrrha's in a league of her own."

Meanwhile, Pyrrha and Crimson stood to the side, watching the chaos unfold. Pyrrha fidgeted awkwardly, unsure of how to react, while Crimson shook his head.

"Ruby, Yang," he called out, his calm voice cutting through the noise. "Stop. You're being rude to Pyrrha."

The sisters turned to him, confused. "What?" Ruby asked.

"What kind of friends ask their brother to beat another friend and classmate?" Crimson continued. "This is an unnecessary conflict."

Ruby and Yang exchanged guilty looks, their enthusiasm dampened. Pyrrha, still fidgeting, scratched the back of her head.

"Thank you," she said softly, offering Crimson a grateful smile. "But... I would like to spar with you." Her words caught everyone off guard, and she flushed as their gazes turned toward her. "I-I mean, Yang and Ruby are quite skilled themselves, even among the top and they keep praising you. That clearly means you are highly skilled, and I think it'd be a valuable experience."

Weiss was the first to break the silence. "Pyrrha, you've never been the type to pick a fight."

Pyrrha shook her hands defensively. "It's not a fight—I just want to spar. Since it's his last day here, it would be a pity if I didn't have the chance to face him"

Despite how friendly and humble Pyrrha is, she also has a competitive nature deep down and all the talks about Crimson ignited her desire to fight.

Crimson waved her off. "I'm not a suitable opponent. I don't even have a weapon."

That prompted another wave of discussion. "Is it true you sparred with Ruby and Yang using metal pipes before?" Ren asked.

Crimson nodded. "Yes. It wasn't ideal, but it worked."

Ruby and Yang, however, weren't convinced. They pestered him relentlessly, joined by the rest of the group, until Crimson sighed in resignation. "Fine. If you can solve the weapon problem, I'll indulge you."

__________________________

Later that day, Crimson found himself standing in Beacon's massive weapons vault, surrounded by countless blades, firearms, and exotic armaments. Ruby was practically vibrating with excitement, darting from weapon to weapon like a child in a candy store.

"This is amazing" she said, stars in her eyes. "There are so many great options!"

Glynda stood nearby, her arms crossed. "Choose something appropriate," she instructed. "Please take this sparring match seriously"

Crimson nodded to Glynda then surveyed the place, his attention immediately was drawn to a weapon tucked away in the corner. He walked over, picked it up, and examined it carefully.

"This will do," he said, holding it up.

Ruby turned, her jaw dropping. "What? You've barely looked! And that's... that's just an antique! No dust storage, no firearm attachment—nothing!"

Crimson shook his head. "It's perfect."

Ruby groaned in frustration, but Glynda simply nodded. "If that's your choice, so be it."

___________________________

The combat stadium buzzed with anticipation as students from every year gathered to witness the spectacle. News of the "Invincible Girl" challenging the enigmatic guest had spread like wildfire, drawing a crowd that rivaled some of the school's largest events. Even Headmaster Ozpin and the entire teaching staff had taken their places, giving the match an air of gravity far beyond a simple sparring session. On one side of the arena stood Pyrrha Nikos, her red-and-gold armor gleaming under the stadium lights. She held her trusted weapon, Miló and Akoúo̱, the spear and shield she had wielded to countless victories.

On the other side stood Crimson, the guest shrouded in mystery, with a katana strapped to his left side. His right hand rested casually on the weapon's hilt, his posture relaxed but his presence exuding danger.

Ruby hurried to join her team and the rest of Team JNPR in the stands. "Why are there so many people here?!" she asked, wide-eyed.

Everyone pointed accusingly at Nora, who laughed proudly.

Yang nudged Ruby. "What kind of weapon did he pick?"

Ruby crossed her arms. "A katana."

"What does it do?" Yang pressed.

Ruby groaned in frustration. "It's just a katana! Nothing else!"

Weiss scoffed. "Honestly, what was he thinking? Picking such an ordinary weapon for a match against Pyrrha of all people? He's not even taking this seriously!"

This time, even Yang and Ruby exchanged uncertain glances, sighing in quiet agreement.

___________________________

On the arena floor, Crimson's eyes flashed with a trace of annoyance as he scanned the expectant crowd. "I don't like being treated like a monkey," he muttered coldly.

Pyrrha's smile faltered. "I'm sorry. I didn't expect this kind of turnout, but... it's not so bad, is it?"

Crimson's sharp glare silenced her instantly, and she instinctively straightened her posture, feeling the weight of his unspoken displeasure.

Professor Peter Port's booming voice cut through the tension as he welcomed the crowd over the speakers. The large screens flanking the stadium lit up with the names and aura levels of the combatants: Pyrrha Nikos and Crimson. Both stood at 100%.

Crimson's lips pressed into a thin line. His annoyance deepened, but it was too late to back out now.

___________________________

At the sound of the starting buzzer, Pyrrha launched forward, her movements a blur. She unleashed a flurry of attacks, her spear flashing with precision and speed as she seamlessly alternated between thrusts, slashes, and kicks.

Crimson didn't budge. He dodged every strike with uncanny precision, each evasion executed with a hair's-breadth margin. His hand remained on the hilt of his katana, his stance unchanged, his expression unreadable.

The crowd watched in stunned silence, a sense of déjà vu settling over them. This was eerily reminiscent of Crimson's match with Cardin, but Pyrrha was on an entirely different level. Her strikes were faster, her movements more refined, yet Crimson evaded them all as if it were effortless.

Frustration began to creep into Pyrrha's composed demeanor. Crimson's refusal to engage, combined with his casual dodges, felt condescending. As a last-ditch effort to break his rhythm, she hurled her shield at him with incredible force, transforming her spear into its rifle configuration and firing a volley of shots.

Crimson didn't flinch. He sidestepped the bullets and leaned slightly to let the shield sail harmlessly past him, barely moving from his place.

Pyrrha used her semblance to recall her shield, and Crimson held his chin with a thoughtful look as he broke the silent stand off. "Not bad, your speed is comparable to Ruby's excluding her semblance," he remarked, his tone calm. "But what's more impressive is the way your strikes flow—natural and precise."

In the commentator's box, Professor Port, who was commentating on every move, chuckled loudly and leaned into his microphone. "Ah, remarkable! He has the time to praise his opponent mid-fight. Quite the confidence!"

Crimson's demeanor shifted abruptly, he was a demon and before that a samurai, to be put on display before so many people and being commented on was already quite humiliating for him, now commenting on his words was where he drew the line. His head snapped toward the commentator's box, and his voice, sharp as a blade, rang out across the stadium. "Stay silent, or I'll rip that tongue out."

The bloodlust in his words froze the air, silencing the entire stadium in an instant.

Pyrrha's spear lowered slightly as she stood in stunned disbelief. She had participated in countless matches, but never had she seen a fighter threaten the commentator mid-battle.

Crimson's cold eyes turned back to her, his gaze sharper and more focused than before. The icy anger in his expression made her instinctively swallow. This was no ordinary opponent.

Her grip tightened on her weapon. The real fight was about to begin.