Patterns [RWBY X DEMON SLAYER]

Unlocked

Bell was cracking.

The rapid tapping of his heel as he observed another combat lesson in Glynda's class told him this much. The way his eyes darted through the arena as if he was trying to picture himself in the battle was another subtle tell, his rarely shown analytical nature showing clear as day.

Ozpin wondered if one day he would accept an offer to take Glynda's position if he ever did become a hunter, or make it to retirement age for that matter.

His sheer determination to leap into dangerous situations head first for the thrill of it was surely testing the limits of those under his employment.

Though he couldn't blame the boy, he too like Qrow must've, sees the fire within his soul. Begging for a challenge, a way to push its limits to new heights. A trait he's seen time in time again in those who would down in history as the strongest of their generation.

And here he was, restraining it. Seeing how long it would take for it to get desperate, give into the desires of its host and allow him to lend it a firm but guiding hand into the light.

So yes, he did give clear instructions to blacklist Bell from every combat scenario or lesson until further notice.

In a way he could see the boy's argument. He too had seen hundreds fall from over reliance of their aura's, believing to be safe from danger as long as it was up.

The sound of a man's thrashing under the tides as he struggled to escape another's grasp would be engrained into his memory. The desperate clawing against his attacker's aura as his own failed to do anything but protect his skin from the bruising that came with being strangled. It would only take half a minute for your body to give out.

Aura could do nothing if the air itself turned to flames, turning your own lungs to sludge in seconds. You wouldn't even have the opportunity to scream as your external aura melted along with you.

On the other hand, the boy couldn't see the potential that came with aura. He could run into a room of people armed to the teeth and come out spotless, his recovery time would double allowing him to get in even more training than he has ever gotten in a single day, and then there are semblances, the final piece to the puzzle.

Ozpin couldn't image what would become of the boy if he gained a semblance with his own natural talents already putting him in the weight class of veteran hunters with decades of experience.

Though he has yet to beat any, it would only be a matter of time. He was a true monster in the making.

"Fine you damn geezer! Let's get this over with!"

Ozpin savored the taste of his favorite brew as he brought it to his smirking lips.

Checkmate.

_

Bell flexed his arm as the teal shroud around him flared. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary...so far.

Next he bent backwards until his head was peaking through his legs, before slowly returning to a standing position.

"Now that's you're done showboating, could you please select your opponent for the match?" the witch stood across from him, being the one to awaken his aura in the first place. Her arms were crossed with a rather fierce glare being leveled at him, it might've given him goosebumps if he wasn't so excited.

Bell couldn't help but let his lips twist into a smile as he raised a single digit at the biggest threat in the room.

In every fight she had been practically perfect.

An ironclad defense matched with a crushing offense.

A reaction speed almost on par with his own.

And a ruthlessness that would demolished those not bathed in the flames of life-or-death com-