The Huntsman of Red V2

Chapter 43 The Shining Beacon (2)

If anyone were to ask if Pyrrha Nikos was feeling targeted right now, well the answer was yes. Yes, she certainly was.

Standing by a tree with its side caved in from an impact that splintered its bark and inner wood fibres, Pyrrha felt like someone was twisting her chance at happiness and replacing it with misery. She grimaced, charitable features scrunching into an ever darkening scowl of annoyance.

Pyrrha's trained eyes had not missed the moment a bullet had deflected her weapon's javelin form from securing her intended partner, Jaune Arc. In fact, she went a step further and shifted her focus to trace back the trajectory of the bullet towards the shooter.

Grudgingly, Pyrrha bent over and pulled her spear free from the sturdy oak it had embedded itself into after veering off its intended aim. Her frustration was as palpable as her indignation. Directing her attention to the unexpected interloper still gliding down from above, her eyes couldn't help but squint then narrow impeccably at none other than Ruby Rose.

'She shot my spear.'

Pyrrha's hands balled into fists, but she knew better than to allow her emotions to cloud her judgement. The priority was still to reach Jaune Arc first, and getting side-tracked now wouldn't be doing her any favours. However, it was also true that obstructing a competitor could only be beneficial if they were both aiming for the same goal.

Honestly, Pyrrha had never felt this petty before. It was a first: A 'congratulations, you've made me petty,' sort of achievement.

Tracking Ruby's descent as she headed in the direction Jaune was falling towards, Pyrrha hummed in thought, carefully observing Ruby's movements and actions like a hunter would its prey.

It almost seemed to Pyrrha like Ruby was getting subtly carried, the random blasts of her rifle more for show than anything substantial. From the sound of the shots fired alone, Pyrrha was certain that they were just blanks- a camouflage.

How relatable.

Pyrrha herself wasn't one to readily reveal her Semblance as it would ruin whatever advantage she could gleam from it. Observing Ruby's actions, she was probably doing the same, forcing Pyrrha to make inferrals rather than a conclusive answer.

Most likely it was some sort of movement Semblance?

Regardless, it didn't change the sudden outburst of curses Pyrrha barely managed to keep under her breath when she realised just how close Ruby was getting to intercepting Jaune's launch path.

Pyrrha knew that Jaune was popular, and that all was fair during this initiation, but emotions were always finicky. The one person she genuinely wanted to be partners with and some potential fan-girl was getting in-between.

Inevitably, Pyrrha was feeling sour, her overall impression of Ruby who thwarted her plans in order to take her place as Jaune's partner, plummeting by the minute.

It was tragic, but this time around Ruby had been delegated to the 'fangirl' category by Pyrrha due to the results of her own actions.

If Ruby learned of this, she would have been appalled, but as she never even considered this happening, she was woefully ignorant of the unfriendly look on Pyrrha's face. It took a lot to get under Pyrrha's skin, but this was one such instance.

Quickly, Pyrrha considered her options. She'd be damned if she let someone as innocent as Jaune be paired with a rabid fangirl like the ones they encountered earlier in the morning before initiation.

Yes, she was justified, Pyrrha convinced herself.

Indirectly, Pyrrha had seamlessly justified her own desire to partner with Jaune as a necessity to protect him from the craziness of those types of fans. She absolved herself of her own selfishness, and turned it into a battle of integrity. Only she, Pyrrha Nikos would be strong enough to bat Jaune's fans away with her spear and shield. Moreover, she and Jaune even matched in terms of gear if the sword and convertible shield-sheath around Jaune's waist had been any indication! They'd be great partners who could work well off each other.