Through We Endure. (RWBY x OC)

A Forest Red Like Roses. part 2

(recommend putting the vid on 0.75 speed)

The playful mood that had settled over the campsite evaporated in an instant. A sound, a tremor that vibrated through the very ground, clawed its way into their ears. It wasn't a roar, not in the traditional sense. It was a primal howl, a tortured symphony of bone scraping against bone, of flesh stretched taut over a monstrous frame. It started as a low rumble, a tremor deep within the earth itself, a vibration that sent shivers rattling down their spines and loosened the grip on their weapons. Then, it rose, a crescendo of pure, unadulterated hunger. It wasn't a sound meant to warn, but to devour.

Instinct, a primal echo from a forgotten past, took over before conscious thought could even flicker. The students didn't scream. Screams were for the oblivious, for those who hadn't yet grasped the horrifying truth clawing its way into their minds. No, in that moment, a chilling silence descended upon the clearing. It was the silence of absolute terror, a suffocating weight that pressed down on their chests, stole the air from their lungs. Wide, unblinking eyes stared ahead, fixed on the monstrosity that had materialized from the encroaching darkness.

What they saw wasn't a creature, it was a nightmare given a grotesque form. A hulking monstrosity, a Grimm unlike any they'd faced before, stood towering over them. A Harlyor, they would later learn, but in that moment, it was a living embodiment of their deepest fears. Its obsidian hide, slick with an unnatural sheen, seemed to writhe and pulsate with an obscene life of its own. Each pulse sent a wave of nausea washing over them, a primal revulsion that threatened to tear their sanity apart.

The howl, now a soul-rending shriek, continued its agonizing climb. It seemed to stretch on for an eternity, each drawn-out note a hammer blow against their already shattered morale. Their aura flickered, a desperate attempt to shield themselves from the sheer oppressive weight of the Grimm's presence. It was a monstrous symphony of terror, a prelude to the carnage that was to come.

Dozens of jagged spikes, longer than a man's arm and dripping with a viscous black ichor, protruded from its broad back like a crown of twisted agony. Large jet-black crystals, pulsating with an ominous inner light, jutted from its flesh at irregular intervals, resembling malignant tumors on a corpse. But it was the creature's eyes that truly haunted them. They burned with an unholy crimson fire, devoid of any intelligence or compassion, reflecting only an insatiable hunger that chilled them to the bone.

The Harlyor let out another earth-shattering roar, the sound vibrating through the clearing like a physical blow. The very ground seemed to tremble in response, and loose pebbles rattled ominously down the sides of the nearby cliffs. The students stumbled back, their eyes wide with terror, their weapons feeling woefully inadequate in the face of such a monstrous foe. The creature raised its massive paw, tipped with razor-sharp claws that gleamed menacingly in the dying light. Its muscles bunched beneath the obsidian hide, telegraphing the impending blow with brutal clarity.

The air crackled with a malevolent energy as the Harlyor hurtled itself forward, its massive form a blur of obsidian and bone. The force of its descent seemed to push the air itself outwards, a tidal wave of pressure that slammed against the students, sending them reeling back with gasps. The target of its attack was clear – Hadryn, kneeling on the forest floor, a vulnerable island in the encroaching storm of terror.

Hadryn, his vision momentarily swimming with red, felt a primal scream tear from his throat. It wasn't a sound of fear, but of defiance, a challenge roared in the face of oblivion. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to move, to protect his team. Ignoring the searing agony that throbbed in his side, a constant dull ache now replaced by a white-hot spike, Hadryn launched himself forward in a desperate surge.

His legs, shaky and weak, protested the sudden movement. The forest floor blurred beneath his boots as he lurched upwards, a marionette yanked on invisible strings. One hand, slick with sweat and blood, braced on the hilt of his greatsword for leverage, the other clawing at the air for balance. The world tilted precariously, the monstrous form of the Harlyor looming ever closer, but Hadryn pressed on, fueled by a raw, primal rage.

With a herculean effort, he wrenched the colossal blade free from its resting place on his back. Pain, a white-hot agony that threatened to consume him, ripped through his side, momentarily stealing his breath. But through the haze of pain, a singular purpose burned bright – to meet the Grimm's charge head-on, to buy his team precious seconds, even if it cost him his life.

The makeshift bandage, no match for the sudden surge of adrenaline, had given way. Blood, crimson and thick, welled up again, staining the crimson fabric a deeper, almost black shade. It seeped through the gaps in his armor, spreading in a macabre flower pattern across his faulds Hadryn stumbled, his vision blurring at the edges, and crashed to his knee with a groan. The world seemed to slow down, the students' panicked shouts muffled and distorted, replaced by the wet, coppery taste of blood flooding his mouth.

Time stretched into an agonizing eternity. Hadryn watched in a daze as the Harlyor's monstrous paw descended, its razor-sharp claws glinting with a deadly hunger. He knew he should move, should dodge, should do anything to avoid the inevitable impact. But the pain in his side was a white-hot fire, stealing his breath and leaving him frozen in a terrifying paralysis.

A scream pierced the thick air, a primal cry of defiance that tore through Hadryn's haze. He snapped his head up to see Ruby, a blur of red, hurtling towards the monstrous paw. Her eyes, usually sparkling with cheerful energy, blazed with a ferocious determination. In her hand, Crescent Rose glowed with an intense crimson light, a desperate attempt to divert the attack.

Hadryn: "No, Ruby!"
he roared, his voice raw with a mixture of pain and fear.

But it was too late. Ruby's attack, valiant as it was, was a mere gnat buzzing around the Harlyor. The monstrous paw continued its descent, its trajectory unwavering.Suddenly, a streak of silver flashed across Hadryn's vision. Weiss, her movements precise and graceful, materialized beside Ruby, Myrtenaster crackling with white-hot energy. With a cry that spoke of more than just battle prowess, she unleashed a torrent of ice dust, aiming to momentarily slow the beast's descent.

The effect was instantaneous. A thick layer of frost coated the Harlyor's paw, causing it to falter momentarily. But the delay was slight, barely a blink in the grand scheme of things. The ice shattered with a deafening crack, and the paw continued its descent, albeit with a slightly altered trajectory. The blow wouldn't land squarely on Hadryn anymore, but it would still crush him. Despair threatened to engulf him, a cold dread that tasted like ash on his tongue. But then, a figure slammed into his side, throwing him roughly to the ground.

It was Yang. She had reacted with lightning speed, her eyes burning with a fiery determination. The impact knocked the wind out of Hadryn's lungs, but it also propelled him out of the immediate path of the Harlyor's attack. He landed with a grunt on the forest floor, pain radiating from his side and the impact with the ground. But he was alive.

He looked up, his vision blurry, to see Yang standing between him and the Harlyor. Ember Celica glowed with a fiery orange light as she raised her gauntlets in a defiant stance, her golden hair a lion's mane in the fading light.

Yang: "Get back!"
she roared, her voice laced with a desperate fury.

Yang: "Get... Hadryn... out of here!"
The world seemed to slow down again. The Harlyor, its attack momentarily thwarted, turned its crimson gaze towards Yang. Its massive maw opened wide, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth that gleamed like a graveyard in the moonlight. A low growl rumbled from its throat, a sound that promised a brutal and agonizing end.

Hadryn knew he should be doing something, anything. But the pain in his side was a constant throb, stealing his strength and clouding his judgment. He could barely lift his head, let alone fight a creature unlike any they had sent after him before.

A blur of red streaked across his vision. A hand, small and firm, grasped his arm. Then, the ground seemed to vanish beneath him. In a dizzying rush, the world twisted and turned as he was pulled through the undergrowth.

Hadryn: "Ruby! Damn it!"
he rasped, his voice barely a whisper above a wheeze. Panic clawed at him. He couldn't leave his team to face this monstrosity alone, but only a strained gasp reached him.

Ruby: "Hold on, Hadryn!"
It was Ruby, her voice laced with raw worry that sent a pang through his chest. He couldn't see her face, but he knew her eyes would be wide with fear, her normally sparkling red pools clouded with concern for him.

Their flight continued, a desperate dash through the dense forest. Thorns tore at his armor, branches whipped past his faceplate, but Hadryn barely registered the pain. All he could focus on was the ragged rhythm of Ruby's breathing, the strain evident in her every movement. He was a dead weight in her grasp, the embodiment of her vulnerability as she focused on getting him to safety.

Shame gnawed at him, a bitter aftertaste in his mouth. He, the protector, the one they all relied on, was now the liability, the one they were risking their lives to save. It fueled a surge of anger, a desperate need to redeem himself. With a groan, he strained against the pain, trying to rise to his feet. He had to fight, even if it meant dying on his feet.

Finally, they emerged into a small clearing, a few dozen meters away from the battle raging between Yang and the Harlyor. Ruby collapsed onto the forest floor, panting heavily, her face flushed and streaked with sweat. She cradled his arm possessively, her eyes searching his face with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine.

Ruby: "You're safe,"
she whispered, her voice trembling.

Ruby: "Don't worry, I'll come back... just as soon as..."
She didn't need to finish the sentence. Hadryn knew Ruby wouldn't sit idly by while her team was in danger. He saw the flicker of determination in her eyes, the way her brow furrowed in concentration. But the raw worry for him, evident in trembling voice and the way she held his arm a touch too tightly, twisted his gut.

Frustration, a bitter cocktail of self-loathing and protectiveness, surged through him. He wanted to be out there, fighting alongside his team. The roar that escaped his lips wasn't a sound of pain, but of fury. His muscles tensed, a primal urge to charge back into the fray coursing through him. But as quickly as it flared, the searing pain in his side slammed him back down to reality.

Ruby flinched at his outburst, her eyes widening in surprise. Her lips parted to speak, perhaps a desperate plea for him to stay put, but the sentiment died unspoken. In a blink, a flicker of steely resolve replaced the worry in her Silver eyes. Before Hadryn could even register the shift, a shimmer enveloped her form, and then she was gone.

A streak of red blurred through the undergrowth away from him, propelled by Ruby's semblance. Hadryn lunged forward, a strangled cry tearing from his throat. his hand akin to savage claws.

Hadryn: "Ruby! Wait!"
But it was too late. Her unwavering determination to rejoin the fight had left him alone, a helpless observer in the face of the monstrous Grimm.
Fury, hotter and more potent than the searing pain in his side, roared to life within him. He slammed his fist against the unforgiving ground, the impact a mere tremor compared to the storm raging inside him. A primal scream, a guttural howl that echoed through the clearing, ripped from his throat.

It wasn't a sound of pain, but of a predator denied its prey. He wouldn't be a helpless observer. He would reach the Grimm, and when he did, the creature would know the wrath of a survivor who refused to be sidelined. Every fiber of his being, the very breath in his lungs, fueled a single, unyielding purpose: to tear the Grimm apart. To make them. . .

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But even as Ruby returned to the struggled, a blur of black and white shot past her when she arrived. Blake, her movements a whirlwind of deadly grace, had materialized beside Yang. Gambol Shroud transformed into its dual-wield form, the blades shimmering with a deadly sheen. With a feral growl that echoed through the clearing, she launched herself at the Harlyor, her blades aiming for its vulnerable underbelly.

The Harlyor, surprised by the new attack, roared in fury. It lashed out with a massive paw, aiming to swat Blake aside like a pesky fly. But she was too fast. With a series of acrobatic maneuvers that defied gravity, she danced around the blow, her blades finding their mark with a flurry of sparks. The attacks didn't seem to inflict any major damage, but they distracted the creature momentarily. It roared again, thrashing its head in frustration.

This momentary lapse in focus was all the opening Yang needed. With a battle cry that echoed through the clearing, she launched herself forward. Ember Celica glowed with an even more intense light as she channeled all her remaining Aura into a single, devastating blow.

The flames around her fists intensified, taking on a life of their own, forming a miniature inferno Hadryn watched from afar, a mixture of awe and despair gripping him. Yang, his childhood friend, his teammate, was a blur of flaming fury. Her determination burned brighter than the inferno she ignited around her fists. In that moment, she wasn't just a Huntress-in-training; she was a symbol of unwavering courage, a beacon of hope in the face of overwhelming darkness.

The Harlyor, momentarily distracted by Blake's assault, roared in frustration. But it was too slow to react to Yang's lightning-fast attack. Her glowing fists slammed into the creature's chest, the inferno erupting with a deafening roar. A shockwave radiated outwards, sending the students tumbling backward and scattering debris through the air.

For a horrifying moment, the clearing fell silent. Then, a guttural shriek tore through the air. The Harlyor stumbled back, its obsidian hide smoldering where Yang's attack had landed. It roared again, but this time the sound was laced with pain and confusion. The aura of invincibility it had exuded moments before had vanished, replaced by a vulnerability that sparked a flicker of hope in Ruby's chest.

Seeing their opportunity, the other students rallied. Jaune, his fear replaced by a fierce determination, charged forward with his shield raised high, drawing the creature's attention away from Yang and Blake. Nora, her usual bubbly demeanor replaced by a battle cry, slammed her hammer into the Harlyor's leg, sending a tremor through the beast's massive frame. Pyrrha, her movements a whirlwind of grace and deadly precision, launched a series of lightning-fast attacks, aiming for the weak points Blake had exposed on the creature's stomach. which soon became the main focus.

The clearing erupted into a chaotic dance of violence. The students, fighting for their lives and for each other, swarmed the Harlyor, their attacks a barrage of light and sound against the creature's massive frame. The Harlyor, overwhelmed by the unexpected resistance, roared in fury, its movements becoming sluggish with each passing moment.

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But the Grimm was far from defeated. Its claws lashed out blindly, sending students flying. Its massive tail swept through the air, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Hadryn, watching from the ground, felt a surge of frustration. He couldn't just lie there, watching his friends fight for their lives. He had to do something, Anything.

He gritted his teeth, ignoring the searing pain in his side. With a deep breath and a surge of adrenaline, he began to crawl towards his greatsword. It lay a few feet away, abandoned in the chaos. Each agonizing crawl sent bolts of fire through his body, but he pushed himself forward, fueled by a desperate need to rejoin the fight.

Just as his fingers brushed the hilt of his sword, a booming voice cut through the cacophony of battle. A wave of exhaustion washed over him, his vision swimming at the edges. He had just as his fingers brushed the hilt of his sword, a booming voice cut through the cacophony of battle. A wave of exhaustion washed over him, his vision swimming at the edges. He had pushed himself too far, his body rebelling against the demands he had placed upon it. He slumped back against the unforgiving forest floor, his breath coming in ragged gasps.