RWBY: Moon Reflection

The Infinity Castle began its unsettling transformation. The shifting walls stretched and twisted, forming a grand, open chamber. Intricate ice sculptures adorned the room, glowing faintly in the cold, pale light that filled the space. The temperature plummeted, frost creeping across the walls and floor.

At the center of the chamber stood Doma, Upper Rank Two. His radiant smile and serene demeanor were at odds with the macabre scene surrounding him. His long, flowing hair glistened like spun silver, and his brightly colored robes shimmered in the icy light. His unnervingly calm golden eyes locked onto Crimson, but it was the shelf behind him that truly commanded attention.

Three severed heads sat neatly on display, their expressions frozen in anguish. Ruby's wide, lifeless eyes stared into the void, her hair matted with dried blood. Yang's head bore a grim expression, her golden locks dulled by the crimson streaks staining them. And at the center was Summer's head, her features hauntingly serene, as though caught in a final moment of peace.

Doma noticed Crimson's gaze lingering on the grisly trophies and clapped his hands together in delight. "Ah! I see you've noticed my collection," he said with an almost childlike glee. "Aren't they beautiful? A whole family, preserved so perfectly! I must admit, it wasn't easy to gather them, but the results speak for themselves, don't they?"

Crimson's eyes darkened, but he remained silent, his grip tightening on his katana.

Doma tilted his head, studying Crimson's expression. "You're so stoic! How refreshing. Most people cry or scream at this point. But you… you're different. I like that." He stepped forward, gesturing to the heads behind him. "You know, I'm not really into collecting men. Males aren't my thing. But you… you're special. I think you'll make a fine addition to my little family. And…"

His smile widened, and his tone took on an amused edge. "I'll do it for him. My dear friend. You just killed him, didn't you? Such a shame. He was always so uptight, but he had his charms. I think he'd appreciate me bringing you down, don't you?"

Without waiting for a reply, Doma raised his hands, and the air around him grew colder. A swirling mist formed, and blades of ice materialized, their edges razor-sharp. He flicked his wrist, sending the shards hurtling toward Crimson in a deadly barrage.

Crimson moved swiftly, his katana flashing as he deflected the projectiles with precise, calculated movements. The ice shards shattered on impact, raining fragments across the chamber.

Doma laughed, clapping his hands in mock applause. "Oh, you're quick! How delightful! Let's see how you handle this!"

Doma extended his arms, summoning a massive storm of icy lotus petals that spiraled through the chamber. The petals danced around Crimson, their sharp edges cutting through the air with lethal intent. Crimson darted through the onslaught, his movements fluid and deliberate as he weaved between the petals and closed the distance to his opponent.

Icicle Barrage and Frozen Constructs

Doma conjured towering icy constructs, grotesque statues of twisted faces and reaching hands. The constructs lunged at Crimson, their frozen limbs crashing down with immense force. Crimson dodged and countered, his katana slicing through the icy figures with ease. Shards exploded in every direction, littering the battlefield with debris.

Doma's grin faltered slightly as Crimson's relentless advance continued. "You're quite the fighter," he mused, his tone still light but laced with a hint of unease. "But can you keep up forever?"

Doma raised both hands, summoning a colossal dome of ice that encased the battlefield. The temperature dropped even further, frost forming on Crimson's blade and clothing. The walls of the dome pulsed with energy, and Doma's voice echoed within.

"Let's end this dance, shall we? Either you freeze, or you fall!"

Doma launched himself at Crimson, his movements blindingly fast as he unleashed a flurry of strikes with his ice-coated fans. Crimson met each attack head-on, his katana clashing against the fans in a symphony of steel and ice.

With a sudden burst of speed, Crimson sidestepped one of Doma's attacks, using the opening to deliver a devastating upward slash. The strike severed Doma's arm, sending it flying across the chamber. Before Doma could react, Crimson followed up with a precise, horizontal strike that severed his head from his body.

Doma's head hit the ground with a dull thud, his body collapsing moments later. The icy dome shattered, and the chamber began to disintegrate.

As Doma's body disintegrated into ash, his severed head remained intact for a moment longer. His golden eyes looked up at Crimson, still wearing that unsettling smile. "You're… quite something," he murmured, his voice fading. "I hope… you find what you're looking for… before it destroys you."

With those final words, his head crumbled to dust, leaving nothing behind but the haunting memory of his actions.

The haunting sound of the biwa rang out once more, reverberating through the shifting walls of the Infinity Castle. Crimson stood amidst the chaos, his senses sharp, his resolve unwavering. The walls bent and twisted as the castle began its transformation again. But this time, Crimson did not wait.

As the castle shifted, he caught a glimpse of Nakime, seated cross-legged with her biwa in hand, plucking the strings with mechanical precision. Her pale, featureless eyes stared straight ahead, her movements controlling the castle's disorienting shifts. Crimson's gaze locked onto her, and without hesitation, he dashed forward.

Crimson's form blurred as he moved with unmatched speed, weaving through the shifting corridors and platforms with purpose. Nakime's head tilted slightly, her hands never faltering on the biwa as she tried to trap him in the infinite maze. Wooden walls sprouted and twisted, blocking his path, but Crimson's katana tore through them effortlessly.

In a single fluid motion, Crimson leaped onto the platform where Nakime sat. Her hands froze on the biwa strings, her expressionless face finally betraying a flicker of surprise. Crimson's blade flashed, severing her head before she could react.

As Nakime's lifeless body crumpled, the Infinity Castle began to crumble. The walls, floors, and platforms collapsed into nothingness, consumed by darkness.

When the darkness receded, Crimson found himself standing in the middle of a deserted town. The air was heavy, silent except for the faint rustling of the wind. The streets were lined with abandoned houses, their windows shattered and doors ajar. A metallic scent filled the air—the unmistakable stench of blood.

Crimson's grip tightened on his sword as he walked forward, his footsteps echoing in the empty streets. His eyes scanned his surroundings, sharp and alert, until they landed on something that made him pause.

Corpses.

The bodies of people he had known or seen were scattered across the streets, their lifeless eyes staring into the void. Pyrrha's broken form lay slumped against a wall, her spear shattered beside her. Weiss, Blake, and many others, their once-vivid features now pale and lifeless, were strewn about like discarded dolls. The sight was harrowing, but Crimson's face remained emotionless.

His sharp senses caught movement above him. A shadow loomed at the top of a nearby building. Crimson looked up to see a man seated casually on the roof, silhouetted against the starless sky.

Without a word, Crimson leaped onto the building, landing silently before the figure. The man turned to face him, revealing his human form—Muzan Kibutsuji.

Muzan stood, his appearance deceptively gentle. His sharp, piercing eyes held a predatory glint, and his voice was smooth yet cold.

"So, you've made it this far, I wonder how a mere human survived this long" Muzan began, his tone calm and measured. "Humans don't know when to stop and bow down. You are all pathetic and weak. Born to be devoured"

Crimson remained silent, his eyes locked onto Muzan's every movement.

Muzan smirked, spreading his arms. "Do you know why humans are weak? It's because they cling to their fleeting lives, to their fragile emotions. They build bonds, chase dreams, and for what? To suffer and die. But I... I am eternal. I abandoned such meaningless things long ago. I am perfection. And you—" Muzan's voice turned venomous—"You will be nothing more than another failure, crushed beneath my power."

Muzan's body shifted, grotesque and monstrous. Tentacle-like appendages sprouted from his back, writhing and coiling with deadly intent. His skin darkened, and his form became larger and more menacing, his eyes glowing with malice.

Without hesitation, Muzan attacked, his tentacles striking with the speed of lightning. Crimson evaded the strikes with precision, his katana deflecting the ones that came too close. The building beneath them trembled as Muzan's strikes tore through it, sending debris flying in all directions.

Crimson retaliated, his blade cutting through Muzan's appendages with ruthless efficiency. The two clashed in a violent storm of power, each strike causing shockwaves that reverberated through the town.

Muzan's attacks grew more aggressive, his tentacles regenerating almost instantly. One managed to graze Crimson, tearing a portion of his kimono, revealing his bare shoulder. Muzan sneered.

"Is that all you've got?" Muzan taunted, his voice dripping with contempt. "You're nothing but a fleeting spark in the face of my eternity."

Crimson stopped, standing tall amidst the destruction. His eyes glowed with a fierce resolve as he sheathed his katana. Muzan tilted his head, curious but wary.

Then, it happened.

Crimson's body began to shift, his aura darkening and expanding. His form transformed into something otherworldly, his features taking on the characteristics of Kokushibo. His hair grew longer, his skin took on a pale, demonic hue, and six glowing eyes opened across his face, burning with an unrelenting fury.

"You speak of eternity," Crimson said, his voice deeper, resonating with power. "But even eternity ends."

Muzan roared, launching himself at Crimson with unparalleled speed and ferocity. Crimson met him head-on, his grotesque blade cutting through Muzan's attacks with ease. The two clashed violently, their blows causing massive explosions that obliterated the surrounding buildings.

Crimson's strikes were relentless, precise, and devastating. Muzan's regeneration struggled to keep up, his movements becoming slower and more desperate. With one final, decisive strike, Crimson severed Muzan's head, his blade cutting cleanly through the demon's neck, followed by cutting his body into small pieces.

Muzan's body crumbled to the ground, his tentacles separated from it thrashing wildly before disintegrating into ash. His severed head fell to the ground, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

As his remnants crumbled, Muzan's voice was faint but firm. "You were a monster as well, only a monster can beat another. Embrace your nature, savor the power and life, and you will be perfect"

Crimson replied "Desiring eternity is a foolish endeavour. In the grand scheme of things, life is but a fleeting moment. Because it's fleeting, that moment becomes very important"

Muzan smiled mockingly before he disintegrated into ash. The town was silent once more, Crimson was the last person standing.