The Serpents' Shadows

Chapter 6

ACRONIAN:

"This is not what I agreed to when you told me to accept the duel requests." Acronian said frustratedly in front of Ozpin, "I thought the idea was to keep those matches confidential. You knew those duelists weren't good enough to defeat me, and now you're putting me up for a whole team. What am I when you're giving me two choices I don't like or agree with. I can't beat a whole team on my own and I don't know their skill level, how do you expect me to win?"

Ozpin took a sip of his coffee and spoke calmly, "Well, first part's easy enough: they are some of the best students we have here and before you speak, second off, your... body might hold enough secrets to easily beat them."

Acronian was bewildered, "So I'm an experiment?" He asked.

"Maybe."

The Snake Eye thought over this for a moment, "I want to change the stakes, then." He said.

The white-haired headmaster raised his eyebrow, "Go on, I'm listening." He replied.

Acronian took a deep breath, "I might not want some of the transfer students; suffice to say that they might not be trustworthy. I want at least two people from inside the school. After that I'll take whomever you want on my team."

Ozpin thought about this carefully, "There would be many complications with that request, why would you not want any of the transfer students?" He asked.

"I don't know them. I might only know a few people here in the school but they might be able to take my secret with a little more confidentiality if they find out than people who don't know me." Acronian replied.

Ozpin took another sip of his coffee, "Very well, I will see what I can do... But it all depends on who you want on your team. If you choose people whom I can't replace, then I can't be permitted to allow you to do this." He said.

"That's fine." Acronian replied.

..........................................

TENZIN:

I knew everyone was going to watch the fight between the solo team VALR and the prodigy team RWBY, and I also knew that the kid on team VALR had just gotten an injury because I had treated it. I was put onto the medical staff on call since live bullets were allowed in this match and I had already operated on him. No one really knew the Faunus except the people in his classes but from the rumors that were circulating, this mysterious kid was an amazing fighter. I walked to the arena and found myself lost in a crowd; everyone wanted to see this fight. Team RWBY was popular because of their skills and how they communicate on the field, I heard that during the team selection runs the leader took down a Nevermore by cutting its head off with her scythe.

To be honest I don't think this kid can win against a force like that, but it was almost publicly announced that RWBY challenged the Faunus, not the other way around. I think this meant that RWBY either has something than this kid, or they want to prove they are better than him. Either way I look at it, it seems like they feel threatened by him, and it might be feasibly possible for VALR to best RWBY.

I took my seat in one of the seats close to the arena on standby for emergency, I had brought my medical kit with me so I was prepared for anything to happen. The large screens around the arena turned on and displayed profiles of each combatant, turns out the mysterious Faunus' name is Acronian Valor. Then the actual teams stepped into the arena from their respective preparation room and the *cough* team leaders approached each other at the center of the arena. They shook hands and a countdown appeared on the screens, so the teams took up their battle stances on their sides of the arena. Ruby extended her scythe, Yang loaded her gauntlets, and Blake and Weiss pulled out their swords, aaaaaaaand Acronian didn't do anything, just a runners' stance. Blake gave Acronian a funny look and suggested something to Ruby and turned her sword to a pistol, then the countdown hit zero.