𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿 [ʀᴡʙʏ x ᴍᴀʟᴇ ᴏᴄ]

Chapter 31

Weiss POV

The courtyard was in chaos—screams, explosions, and the unrelenting roars of the Grimm echoed through the air. The sky, once calm, was now choked with smoke and fire. My rapier was already drawn, its blade glowing faintly with Dust.

And then, I saw it.

A hulking Paladin mecha stomped through the rubble, its massive frame casting a shadow over the battlefield.

Coco and Neptune Vasilias fire their weapons at the Paladin, but it is unfazed.

Neptune: "Uh, this is bad."

Coco: "Well, I guess now's a better time than any. Velvet!"

Velvet: (excited) "Really?"

Coco: "Just make them count."

Velvet nods. As she walks up to the Paladins

Weiss: "What are you doing!? She's going to get hurt!"

Coco: "Just watch."

Velvet holds her hand out as Anesidora glows, forming a scythe. Grabbing the copy of Crescent Rose Velvet leaps into the air, dodging cannon fire as she imitates Ruby's overhead spin, she descends slashing at the Paladin. She then replicates Myrtenaster to deflect the Paladin's punch and land a few blows before pushing it back with an Ember Celica imitation.

As the first Paladin attempts to recover, Velvet immediately copies Floating Array, as she leaps off the second Paladin and slices apart its legs before blasting it at full power. However, the first Paladin sucker punches Velvet.

Velvet: "Aah!" (she is sent skidding from the blow, landing on her back)

Coco: "Velvet!"

At this, Coco unloads her weapon on the Paladin to no avail, Neptune, Nadir, and Reese rush to her side and add their own firepower. But the barrage has little effect and the Paladin continues to loom over Velvet.

Even after all that attack, the Paladin is still standing. The Paladin's shadow loomed over me as I skidded to a stop between Velvet and the machine. I planted my feet, raising Myrtenaster defensively, heart pounding in my chest.

Weiss (to herself): "I won't let this happen. Not again!"

As the Paladin's arm came down, something within me stirred. Instinctively, I summoned a glyph, the blue light flashing beneath me, brighter and sharper than ever before. For a brief moment, I hesitated, confused by the intensity of the glyph.

I braced myself, eyes squeezing shut as the Paladin's fist descended. A loud thud shook the ground.

...But I felt nothing. No impact. No pain.

Cautiously, I opened my eyes.

There, between me and the Paladin, was a massive, spectral arm clutching an enormous sword. The Arma Gigas. I gasped, recognizing it instantly—it was the very thing I had fought and defeated in my training. Its ghostly blade held the Paladin's fist at bay, then, with a smooth motion, the sword bisected the machine clean in half.

But before we can take a breath, another advanced Paladin rushes in from the corner and begins to charge at them.

Sun: "You have got to be kidding me!"

It lowered its shoulder, preparing to charge straight at us. I felt the panic creeping in again. My hands tightened around Myrtenaster, but I didn't have enough time to summon another glyph—at least, not one strong enough to stop it.

Before I could react, a blur of white shot out from the shadows, leaping onto the Paladin's head with an almost feral grace.

It took me a second to register what I was seeing—a massive, tiger-like form, its fur glowing faintly as electricity arced across its body. It let out a guttural snarl that sent chills down my spine.