Grimm Lure

Three weeks had passed, and in that time, Crimson's presence in Atlas and Mantle had become nothing short of legendary. Grimm nests—once sources of constant threat—were now little more than rubble. Day after day, Crimson moved with unmatched speed and ferocity, wiping out one nest after another.

In many of these missions, Pyrrha joined him, learning firsthand what it meant to handle high-stakes operations. On other occasions, Crimson brought Ruby and Yang along, testing their mettle and sharpening their skills in the heat of battle.

There were days when Crimson would clear multiple nests in a single sweep, his overwhelming strength cutting through the Grimm with unmatched brutality. Soldiers followed in his wake, securing cleared areas and establishing outposts. Mantle, once under siege, now stood far more secure, and the constant dread of attacks had started to fade.

______________________

Today, Crimson stood in General Ironwood's office, the morning sunlight streaming through the reinforced glass. The general, his usual stoic demeanor softened by recent successes, looked far less burdened than before.

"Amity Communications Tower is progressing much faster than we initially estimated," Ironwood said, his tone reflecting cautious optimism. "The attacks on Mantle have ceased, thanks to your work. It's remarkable, Crimson. I doubt we'd be in this position without your efforts."

Crimson, standing with his arms crossed, nodded. "Every known nest surrounding the area is clear. The Grimm aren't coming back anytime soon—not in numbers big enough to pose a real threat. For now, you can focus on securing Mantle and finishing Amity."

Ironwood's smile grew slightly as he leaned back in his chair. "And you're not just clearing Grimm—you're building up our future huntsmen and huntresses. Pyrrha, Ruby, Yang—they're growing under your guidance. You're giving us more than victories; you're giving us hope and strength for the future."

Before Crimson could respond, the door to the office opened, and Winter Schnee stepped in, her polished uniform reflecting her usual sharp precision.

"General, specialist Rose," Winter greeted them with a nod. "I have a report you need to see."

Ironwood gestured for her to continue.

"We've received word of increased Grimm activity to the northeast," she explained. "We lost communication with the Crossed settlement three days ago, and there are reports that Essen might be attacked soon."

Ironwood let out a deep sigh, his brow furrowing. The idea of another settlement falling to the Grimm clearly weighed on him.

Turning to Crimson, Ironwood said, "Essen can't fall. Go there and see what's happening. Handle it however you see fit."

Crimson nodded without hesitation. "Consider it done." He turned and left the office, already planning his next move.

______________________

The training hall was lively when Crimson arrived. Ruby and Yang were sparring, with Weiss and Blake watching from the side. The moment they noticed him, the room went quiet.

"Ruby, Yang," Crimson called out, his tone firm but inviting. "I'm heading out on a mission. Want to come along?"

The sisters exchanged excited glances, already nodding.

"Hold on!" Weiss interjected, stepping forward with an indignant expression. "Why is it always Ruby and Yang? You can't keep ignoring the rest of us!"

Blake nodded in agreement, crossing her arms. "We're a team. If Ruby and Yang get to go, Weiss and I should too."

Crimson sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose as Ruby and Yang gave him pleading looks. He could sense the building tension, and as much as he tried to avoid taking the entire team, this wasn't a fight worth having.

"Fine," he said finally, his voice laced with reluctant acceptance. "All of Team RWBY will join me this time. But this isn't a sightseeing trip. Follow my orders, or you're staying behind next time."

The entire team perked up at his words, their collective excitement almost contagious.

"Gather your gear and meet me at the aircraft platform in 30 minutes," Crimson said. "Don't be late."

With that, he turned and left, already mentally preparing for the mission ahead.

______________________

A few hours later, Crimson and Team RWBY landed at the Crossed Settlement—or rather, what was left of it. The settlement was overrun, buildings reduced to rubble, and scorch marks littered the ground. The place was eerily silent, the kind of silence that only came after devastation.

Crimson stepped off the aircraft, scanning the area with a cold, calculating gaze. Team RWBY followed closely, weapons at the ready.

"This place…" Ruby whispered, her voice barely audible.

"It's gone," Weiss finished grimly, gripping Myrtenaster tightly.

"Keep your guard up," Crimson instructed. "We're looking for any survivors and figuring out what caused this."

The group spread out cautiously, searching through the ruins. They hadn't gone far when the unmistakable growls of Grimm echoed through the air. From the shadows, a pack of Beowolves and Creeps emerged, their red eyes glowing with malicious intent.

"Looks like we found something," Yang said, smirking as she activated her Ember Celica.

The girls sprang into action, each fighting with precision and coordination. Ruby dashed forward, her Crescent Rose spinning like a whirlwind, while Weiss provided cover with her glyphs. Blake moved with shadow-like agility, and Yang's punches sent Grimm flying.

Crimson, meanwhile, stood apart, watching them closely. His sword remained sheathed as his sharp eyes scanned the battlefield and the surrounding area. Something was wrong—this wasn't the usual Grimm attack pattern. Then he noticed it: a cluster of Grimm circling one building at the edge of the settlement.

"Team, over here!" he called, his voice cutting through the chaos.

The girls quickly regrouped, following Crimson as he pointed toward the suspicious building. "They're gathering there. Let's check it out."

Clearing the Grimm as they moved, the group made their way to the building. Crimson's strikes were precise and efficient, each swing of his sword taking down multiple Grimm. Once the area was secure, they entered the structure cautiously.

The interior was dark and filled with debris, but something in one of the rooms immediately caught their attention: a glowing orb, faintly pulsating with a white light.

"What is that?" Blake asked, her ears twitching in curiosity.

Weiss stepped closer, examining it from a distance. "I've never seen anything like it."

Crimson approached the orb, his expression unreadable. He leaned in slightly, studying its glow, but found no clues as to its nature. "Whatever it is, it's not normal," he said.

Before they could discuss further, a low growling echoed from outside. Crimson tensed, signaling for them to follow him.

Stepping out of the building, they found another wave of Grimm charging toward them. However, something was off—the Grimm weren't targeting the group as a whole. Instead, their focus was entirely on Crimson.

"Is it just me, or are they ignoring us?" Blake asked, cutting down a Beowolf.

"They are," Weiss confirmed, her tone uneasy.

"It's the orb," Crimson said, drawing his sword. "It's attracting them."

"To confirm that," he continued, stepping away from the group, "stay here."

"Wait, what are you—" Ruby started, but Crimson was already moving.

The moment he distanced himself, the Grimm swarmed toward him, completely ignoring the others. Crimson smirked, raising his blade, and in a matter of seconds, he dispatched the attackers with ease.

Returning to the group, he sheathed his sword. "It's definitely the orb," he said flatly. "They can't seem to resist it."

Weiss frowned. "Are you sure it's safe to keep that with you?"

Crimson shrugged, detaching the orb and attaching it to his belt near his sword. "Safe or not, we're bringing it back. If it's going to attract Grimm, I'd rather it focus on me than anyone else."

The girls exchanged hesitant glances but nodded. They knew Crimson's strength—and his confidence—wasn't misplaced.

"Besides," he added with a small smirk, "it'll save us the trouble of searching for Grimm. They'll come to us instead."

Yang raised an eyebrow. "That's… one way to look at it."

Ruby looked worried but didn't argue. "Just be careful, okay?"

Crimson nodded and gestured toward the aircraft. "We're heading to Essen. If this thing works as a Grimm magnet, we'll have plenty to deal with when we get there."

The girls followed, their unease tempered by trust in Crimson.

______________________

In less than an hour, Crimson and Team RWBY reached Essen. From the air, the settlement looked eerily calm, its buildings nestled against the snowy tundra. But there was a tension in the air, a quietness that hinted at something sinister waiting to strike.

As the aircraft touched down on the outskirts of the settlement, Crimson wasted no time. Instead of heading toward the settlement, he began walking toward the tundra just beyond it. Team RWBY exchanged confused glances before hurrying after him.

"Uh, Crimson?" Yang called out, her voice cutting through the crisp air. "What are you doing? The settlement is that way."

Crimson stopped, turning his head slightly. "If the Grimm are being drawn to this," he said, tapping the glowing orb secured to his belt, "then we're better off luring them away from the settlement and dealing with them out here. That way, the settlement stays safe."

The girls paused, considering his logic. Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang shared a brief look before nodding in agreement, their weapons at the ready.

"Alright," Ruby said, her silver eyes shining with determination. "Let's do this."

They didn't have to wait long. True to Crimson's prediction, the glow of the orb seemed to call to the Grimm like a beacon. From the distance, dark shapes began to emerge on the horizon. Beowolves, Creeps, Beringels, and even a hulking Megoliath stomped toward them, their red eyes fixed solely on Crimson.

Crimson unsheathed his sword with a smooth motion, the blade catching the faint light of the snowy landscape. "Stay here," he instructed, his voice calm and commanding. "Defend the settlement if anything slips past me. But I doubt anything will."

The girls watched as he stepped forward, alone against the incoming horde.

What followed was nothing short of a massacre.

Crimson unleashed a storm of crescent-shaped energy slashes, each one cutting through multiple Grimm with ease. The attacks were relentless and precise, his sword moving faster than the eye could follow. Beowolves fell in droves, Creeps disintegrated before they could even get close, and the massive Beringels were cleaved in two with a single strike.

The Megoliath, towering above the rest and charging with earth-shaking steps, didn't fare any better. Crimson leaped into the air, his blade glowing with an intense light as he brought it down in a devastating arc. The Grimm let out a final, echoing roar before collapsing into a pile of fading ash.

Yang let out a low whistle, clearly impressed. "And to think," she joked, "he almost became a musician."

Blake chuckled softly, her usual calm demeanor breaking into amusement. "That really would have been a tragedy."

When the last Grimm fell, Crimson sheathed his sword and turned back to the group, his expression unreadable as always.

Ruby, curious after hearing her sister's joke, asked, "Crimson, why didn't you stick with music? I mean, after everything was resolved, why become a Huntsman instead?"

Crimson tilted his head, caught off guard by the question. "That's… random," he said, though his tone wasn't annoyed. After a moment's thought, he replied, "I actually enjoy swinging my sword and fighting. The reason I wanted to avoid it before wasn't because I didn't like it—it was because of the… demon semblance and my mental issues. I wasn't in the right place for it back then."

He shrugged, his gaze distant for a moment before focusing back on Ruby. "But I've had enough therapy to accept it now. I can embrace fighting, and even smile while doing it."

The girls exchanged glances, surprised by his honesty.

"That's… not what I expected you to say," Blake admitted, breaking the silence.

"Same," Yang agreed, crossing her arms. "But it makes sense, in a Crimson sort of way."

Crimson smirked faintly, the corner of his mouth tugging upward. "Well, glad I could enlighten you all. Now, let's check on Essen and see if there's anything left to do there."

With that, he led the way back toward the settlement, the glowing orb still secured at his side, and Team RWBY following closely behind, their respect for him growing with every passing moment.