Through We Endure. (RWBY x OC)

The Day Ends

The man's amusement vanished like a snuffed candle flame. His yellow eyes, previously gleaming with predatory amusement, hardened into chips of obsidian, glinting with a dangerous intensity.

Tricorne: "Huntresses, huh?"
he spat, his voice a low growl that sent shivers dancing down their spines.

Tricorne: "Seems you youngsters have a whole lotta courage, but a whole lot less sense."

He reached inside his trench coat, a movement both casual and chilling. His gloved hand emerged, not empty as they all feared, but holding a small, bronze flask. He unscrewed the cap with a flourish, the metallic clink echoing in the tense silence.

Before anyone could react, he raised the flask to his lips and took a long, deep swig. A pungent, acrid odor filled the air, a stench that sent shivers down their spines and caused their eyes to water. Whatever was in the flask wasn't meant for human consumption.

As the man lowered the flask, a visible change came over him. His eyes, already unsettling, glowed with an unnatural luminescence, and his entire demeanor shifted. Gone was the casual, mocking menace; in its place stood a predator fueled by an unseen energy. His hand twitched, a glint of red catching the light for a fleeting moment before disappearing back into the depths of his coat.

Tricorne: "Let's see how well your little Huntress skills fare against this,"
he rasped, his voice distorted, almost inhuman. He gestured vaguely with the empty flask, a challenge hanging heavy in the air.

Ruby exchanged a worried glance with her team. The situation had escalated far beyond anything they'd anticipated. This wasn't a simple shakedown gone wrong. This man, whoever he was, was dangerous, fueled by something dark and potent. They were outmatched, outgunned, and now, it seemed, facing an opponent who operated on a whole different level. Yet, despite the fear clawing at her throat, a spark of defiance blazed in Ruby's eyes. They couldn't back down. Not now. Not ever. Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and prepared to face whatever came next.

Ruby's fear morphed into a steely resolve. Her hand instinctively reached for the empty space where her unfamiliarly modified Crescent Rose usually hung, a phantom limb yearning for its familiar weight. But there was no time for self-pity. This man, this twisted creature fueled by whatever foul concoction he'd consumed, posed a genuine threat. They had to fight back, even if it meant facing him with their bare hands.

Suddenly, a memory surfaced, a particularly vivid one from her grueling training sessions with Hadryn. The image of him, a stoic giant, demonstrating a close-quarters combat stance flashed in her mind. Hadryn had loomed over her, a mountain of muscle and focus. His legs were braced apart, center of gravity low, fists clenched at chest level – it was a simple stance, but one imbued with Hadryn's signature power and resolve. Then, with lightning speed, Hadryn had launched into a demonstration. He'd blurred into motion, a whirlwind of controlled violence. One moment he was across the training room, the next he was before her, his fist aimed at her center. Ruby had barely registered the movement before the world tilted on its axis. Hadryn's blow hadn't landed – he'd pulled it back at the last second – but the sheer force of the feint had sent her sprawling. The memory was humiliating, but it was also crystal clear.

Without a conscious thought, Ruby mirrored his posture, her small frame adopting a surprising air of defiance. A surge of adrenaline coursed through her, a primal cocktail of fear and determination. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat echoing in her ears. The metallic tang of blood filled her mouth, a phantom sensation from imagined blows yet to be delivered. Yet, even as she lay there, the sting of defeat overshadowed by a dull ache, a different kind of fire ignited within her. It was the Flame of Determination, fueled by the need to grow stronger, to prove her strength to Hadryn, to anyone who dared doubt her!