RWBY: Moon Reflection

The vision continued, pulling the group further into Crimson's solitary journey. They watched as another week passed in the dark, oppressive city of Kuchinashi. Crimson spent his days meditating in silence, eating little, and moving with a quiet resolve. Then, without warning, he left the city and began heading south toward the mountain belt.

The group followed his arduous trek, the terrain growing steeper and harsher as days turned into a full week. By the time Crimson reached the summit, despite the exhausting path, he stood tall against the biting winds. He found a perch near the edge of the mountain, the horizon stretching out endlessly before him.

Weiss gasped, breaking the silence among the watchers. "It's beautiful," she murmured.

The others nodded, captivated by the breathtaking sight. The rolling clouds, the radiant sun, and the vast expanse below seemed to stretch forever. It was a serene moment, a reprieve from the grim realities they had witnessed before. Crimson sat there an entire day observing the scenery.

Then it happened.

An unexpected voice cut through the silence, deep and commanding. The group watched as Crimson's head snapped toward the sound, his body tense and on guard. The sight of the creature that emerged left them stunned—a being unlike any they had ever seen, radiating an otherworldly presence.

Crimson's expression shifted, his stoic demeanor breaking to reveal genuine surprise. He held his ground, his muscles taut as if preparing for battle.

"What… is that?" Ruby whispered.

The creature spoke, its voice resonant and echoing with power. It introduced itself as something far beyond mortal comprehension, a god from the fairy tales they had once dismissed as mere legend.

The group listened intently as Crimson cautiously engaged in conversation with the god, his responses measured and deliberate. The dialogue that unfolded revealed more about Crimson's inner thoughts and struggles than the group had ever known.

"'the time you have left'?" Pyrrha murmured, a sinking feeling settling over her.

When the god spoke of the immortals, the group collectively tensed. Just last week, they had learned the truth of Salem and Ozma's story. To hear the topic resurface now, from a god no less, was unnerving.

What's more, the god continued that Crimson have reflected more deeply than immortals have in their millennia of existence. The god seemed to praise Crimson indirectly.

The group exchanged glances, recalling the days they had watched Crimson sitting alone, lost in thought.

"That… makes sense," Blake said softly.

"Does it?" Yang muttered, her brow furrowed.

"Think about it," Blake replied. "All that time he spent on his own, just thinking. He wasn't idle. He was processing, reflecting. Maybe that's what sets him apart."

The god's words hung heavily in the air.

Finally, the god offered Crimson something unexpected: a method to find peace. However, it would be on the god's terms.

The group leaned forward, their eyes fixed on Crimson as he stood silently, his face unreadable. After a long pause, he accepted.

The moment his acceptance was given, a brilliant light enveloped him. The group shielded their eyes as the world shifted, transforming into a place none of them recognized.

Crimson fell from the sky, landing with a jarring impact on a strange platform. He glanced around, his expression mirroring the group's confusion.

"Where is he?" Weiss asked, her voice tinged with awe. The world around her was unlike anything she has ever seen. The others didn't answer, they were also looking all around them.

Crimson inspected his surroundings, his sharp eyes taking in every detail. The group noted his attire had changed.

When the light faded, the god reappeared, now accompanied by a woman who radiated an aura of calm strength. The group watched as Crimson's stoic expression returned, his gaze focused on the god.

The conversation that followed revealed that Crimson was to fight in this strange realm. The woman's presence seemed significant, and her serene demeanor contrasted with the tense haunting atmosphere.

"Wait a second," Ruby said, narrowing her eyes. "That instrument… it's the one Crimson created!"

Qrow nodded, his face lighting up with recognition. "Yeah. He called it Biwa."

Blake tilted her head thoughtfully. "Maybe this place is a reflection of Crimson's mind," she suggested.

Weiss shook her head. "No, it's probably something else. A place that draws elements from him, but it is not his creation."

The sound of the biwa echoed through the space, its haunting notes reverberating in the air. Before the group's eyes, the world around Crimson shifted. The serene platform was destroyed, replaced by a dark, ominous arena with pillars shot up around him casting long shadows. Crimson stood at its center, his sharp eyes locking onto two figures before him.

The group leaned in, observing the two figures. They appeared humanoid but were undeniably otherworldly. The woman had a dangerous allure, her revealing attire accentuating a charm that felt both deadly and unnatural. Her eyes glowed faintly, and her movements exuded an unsettling grace. Beside her stood a grotesque man, his skin mottled and uneven, with a twisted body and a face that seemed disgusting.

"What are they?" Blake whispered, her voice trembling.

The two creatures began speaking, their voices dripping with malice and twisted amusement. They addressed Crimson as if he were a mere toy, something to break for their own entertainment.

"They are mocking him," Pyrrha said, her eyes narrowing in anger.

Crimson remained silent, his expression stoic but he raised his sword.

Then, the fight began.

The group could hardly keep up with the speed and ferocity of the battle. Crimson darted forward, his movements awe inspiring, while the two creatures countered with abilities that defied logic. The woman's sashes lashed seemed as if they were part of her own body controlling them if they were deadly limbs. The man, in contrast, used sickles that had a sinister look to them, his attacks shaking the ground and tearing through the arena.

Raven, who had been silent for the entirety of their viewing, finally spoke. "Either of them could rival a Maiden," she said, her tone grim. "Especially the man."

The others exchanged uneasy glances. If Raven—someone who was a Maiden—thought so, the stakes were higher than they had imagined.

Despite the overwhelming power of his opponents, Crimson held his own without an issue. The fight didn't last long, but it was enough to leave the group awestruck. The arena was left in ruins, cracks running along the ground, and fires flickering weakly where torches once stood tall.

In the end, Crimson stood victorious, his blade dripping with the blood of his foes. With a swift motion, he beheaded the woman, then the man. As the two creatures lay dying, they began hurling insults at each other, their hatred spilling out in their final moments.

Crimson stepped between them, his voice sharp and commanding. "Stop, It's not worth it. Not at the end. You have nothing left but each other's last moments. Don't waste it" he said, silencing them both.

Ren, who had been silent throughout, spoke softly. "He seems to hate the idea of family or siblings fighting. Even at the end, he wouldn't let them tear each other apart."

The others exchanged glances but said nothing, unsure of how to process what they had just witnessed.

Then, the biwa sounded again.

The world began to shift once more, the battlefield dissolving into darkness. When the scenery returned, Crimson now stood in a vast hall surrounded by countless shōji, their paper screens glowing faintly in the dim light.

One by one, the shōji began to slide open.

The group tensed as a grotesque creature emerged. It was unlike anything they had ever seen, even in their darkest nightmares.

"What the fuck is that thing?" Qrow cursed loudly, his voice breaking the silence.

The group shivered, their fear palpable. The creature's high-pitched voice filled the hall, its words welcoming and dripping with malice. Ruby and Yang instinctively reached for each other, their hands clasping tightly as they silently prayed for Crimson's safety.

The battle that followed was even more terrifying than the last. The creature moves and attacks unlike anything they had ever seen before. And the sight of the fish made them pale, they felt like throwing up.

Yet Crimson fought on. Strange abilities from the creature seemed to defy the natural laws, but Crimson adapted, countering each attack with ingenuity and precision. Finally, with one last, devastating blow, Crimson felled the monstrosity. 

The group collectively exhaled, their relief evident.

Qrow shook his head, his face pale. "I never thought I'd see the day when I'd think Grimm were cute by comparison," he muttered.

"The god of horror is a more fitting name" Blake added, her face still pale.

The others nodded, their expressions grim. Even after everything they'd seen, this battle had been beyond anything they could comprehend.

As Crimson stood alone in the ruined hall, the haunting note of the biwa echoed once more, its melancholy sound heralding another transformation. The world around Crimson dissolved again, reshaping itself into a vast chamber, circular platform bathed in the soft, flickering glow of countless lanterns.

The group leaned forward, their eyes locked on the scene.

From the shadows emerged another creature, but this one was different. It was grotesque, like the others, but it was trembling with pitiful sobs. Its misshapen hands covered its distorted face, and the sound of its crying filled the air with an eerie sorrow.

"What is that?" Ruby asked softly, her voice tinged with unease.

No one answered. The group watched in silence as the creature's sobs subsided, its twisted body shifting slightly. It raised its head, revealing a face that was somehow both monstrous and deeply tragic.

But the moment of pity was short-lived.

Without warning, the creature let out a guttural wail, and its form began to change. Crimson tensed, his stance shifting as he prepared for what was to come.

The creature's body twisted and contorted, and before their eyes, it began to split into multiple figures. Each clone was larger, more imposing, and scarier than the original. The air grew heavy with malice, and the lanterns around the platform flickered wildly, their light dimming under the oppressive presence of the clones.

And then, the fight began.

The group watched in awe and terror as Crimson darted forward, his movements a blur. The clones attacked in unison, their strikes powerful enough to shatter the platform beneath them. The battle was chaos incarnate—each clash of Crimson's blade against the creatures sent shockwaves rippling through the air.

"This is even worse than the last one," Weiss murmured, her voice barely audible over the sound of the battle.

Despite the overwhelming odds, Crimson remained untouched. His blade found its mark time and time again, cutting down the clones. The platform was left scarred and battered, but Crimson stood unscathed, his breathing steady as he surveyed the aftermath.

Cheiron let out a low whistle, breaking the silence. "That boy's skills and strength… They defy logic."

The others nodded in a silent agreement.

Before they could dwell further, the sound of the biwa filled the air once more.

The world around Crimson began to shift again, the lanterns fading into the void as the platform dissolved.

Yang let out a frustrated groan, crossing her arms. "Just how many times is this going to happen?" she muttered, her tone a mix of annoyance and concern.