WebNovels

Chapter 58 - Vytal Festival(Volume 3)

A week had passed.

Hyunwoo stood in front of the small, quiet cemetery on the outskirts of Vale — the place he had chosen to call "home" when he first woke up in this world. The morning air was cold, brushing against his skin as he knelt before two modest gravestones.

His mother. His father.

The soil was still fresh from where he had buried the remnants left behind by the humanoid Grimm. He had confirmed it with his own hands — the DNA matched. What the Grimm had left behind was his father's.

Hyunwoo lowered his gaze. His left hand — or rather, the new mechanical arm gifted by Ironwood — rested against the tombstone. The faint hum of the machinery within it reminded him with every movement that a part of him had been replaced. His left eye remained hidden beneath a dark eyepatch, a constant reminder of what was taken.

His body still hadn't fully healed. Each step carried the ache of fractured ribs, his leg supported by a slim assistance brace that clicked softly as he shifted his weight.

For a long while, he said nothing. Only the wind carried his silence.

Finally, his voice broke through — quiet, hoarse, but steady.

"...I don't know if this is what you wanted for me." He looked down, fingers curling into the grass. "But I'll carry it. The pain, the power... even the truth I don't fully understand."

His gaze lingered on the graves, his lips pressed into a faint line.

Hyunwoo stayed kneeling before the graves, the cold earth pressing against his knees. The silence felt heavier now, as if even the wind was waiting for his words.

"...I should say this, shouldn't I?" He let out a bitter chuckle, the sound rough in his throat. His hand — the mechanical one — rested on his father's grave. It didn't feel the same. It never would.

"I'm not your son. Not really." His voice dropped, the words trembling as if they resisted leaving his mouth. "The one you raised, the one who carried your blood... he's gone. I'm just someone who ended up in his body. A trespasser wearing his face."

He shut his right eye, his brow furrowing. "Even this aura... sometimes it feels like it's rejecting me. Like the body itself knows I don't belong here."

A long silence followed.

"I could run," Hyunwoo admitted softly. "I could abandon all of this — the Grimm, the festivals, the so-called destiny. I could leave the weight of this story behind and live quietly in some corner of the world."

His right hand curled into a fist against the grass, trembling.

"...But I can't."

He looked at the graves again, jaw tightening.

"This body... it left a mission. A purpose. Something that the original Hyunwoo dream of since kid." His voice hardened, conviction replacing hesitation. "If I throw that away, then I'm not only betraying him — I'm betraying you too, Hyun Kim. Both of you."

The flicker of the red aura sparked around him, unstable but alive, burning like an echo of determination.

He stood slowly, his brace clicking as it supported his weakened leg. His single eye shone sharp and unwavering.

"...I'll carry this mission. Until the end."

The words lingered in the wind, like a vow sealed at the graveside.

Hyunwoo slowly opened his palm, letting the faint shimmer of his green aura flicker into existence. It was weak — thinner, dimmer than he remembered. The glow wavered like a candle about to go out.

He clenched his teeth.

"This... this is mine. The real me."

But then, like a shadow under the surface, he could feel it — the red aura. Silent. Waiting. It hadn't stirred since his collapse, but its presence was undeniable, coiled deep within him like a beast behind a locked cage.

His gaze hardened. He remembered the dreamscape. The door. The words from the body's original owner.

Control it.

Hyunwoo's jaw tightened. "Control it? How am I supposed to control something that doesn't listen?"

The memory of when he lost himself came back — the moment the red aura devoured his green, consuming it mercilessly, drowning his will in chaos. He still remembered the sensation of his mind slipping, his body no longer his own.

He lowered his hand, curling it into a fist.

"If I use it again... it'll eat me alive." His voice was barely a whisper, carried only by the wind brushing against the graves.

He lifted his single eye to the sky, expression grim.

"But if I don't... then I'll never be strong enough to face what's coming."

For a moment, he just stood there, the weight of two destinies pressing down on his shoulders: one tied to the green aura that belonged to him, and the other bound to the red aura that demanded control.

"...How do you control something wild? Something that exists only to consume?" He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "Guess that's another answer I'll have to find myself."

The red aura stirred faintly, as if mocking his words. A ripple of heat flashed through his body before settling down again, leaving only silence.

Hyunwoo closed his hand over his chest.

"I'll figure it out. Whether it kills me or not."

___

The deafening roar of the crowd shook the very air inside Amity Colosseum. Flags waved, voices cheered, and the dazzling holographic screens lit up with the names of the two teams facing off: Team RWBY vs. Team ABRN.

Thousands of people packed the floating stadium, while countless more tuned in through the broadcast across Remnant. The Vytal Festival had finally begun.

From the viewing stands, Team NOVA sat alongside JNPR, all eyes fixed on the arena.

Ruby darted across the field, Crescent Rose snapping between rifle and scythe form with smooth precision. Her movements were sharper, faster, carrying an edge of intent that hadn't been there before. She flowed between her teammates like a red blur, cutting off angles and forcing ABRN onto the defensive.

Jisoo leaned back in her seat, lips quirking.

"She's quicker than before. Footwork's tighter too."

Jiwon nodded, eyes following Ruby carefully.

"Not just speed. She's thinking ahead. Timing her swings to disrupt, not just attack. That's Hyunwoo's training all over her."

Pyrrha smiled faintly, hands clasped together in front of her. "It suits her. Ruby always had talent, but now she has focus."

Jaune tilted his head, arms crossed. "Focus, huh? More like scary. I can barely keep track of her now."

Ren, quiet as always, simply added, "It's controlled speed. Not reckless."

Nora leaned over the railing, cupping her hands around her mouth as she shouted toward the arena.

"Go, Ruby! Show them the Hyunwoo special!"

That made Jaemin snort, despite the bandage still on his ribs.

"The what?"

Nora grinned. "The Hyunwoo special! Y'know, like when he runs in, does something crazy, and somehow makes it work? Ruby's doing that—but better!"

Jiwon shook his head, amused. "Don't give it a name."

Still, none of them could deny it—the little red leader was moving like a different fighter.

Hyunwoo leaned forward slightly, one hand resting against his knee as he watched Ruby weave between her teammates. The crowd's roar faded in his ears, his focus entirely on the way she fought.

"She's learning," he murmured, almost to himself. "With this... she can keep up with Pyrrha."

The words made Pyrrha blink, and let a snickers as she glanced at him. "That's... high praise, for both Ruby and me,"

Jaune's eyes widened. "Wait—are you saying Ruby could match Pyrrha? Like, our Pyrrha? Champion-of-Mistral Pyrrha?"

Hyunwoo shrugged, gaze never leaving the fight. "Not yet. But one day, if she keeps growing like this, she'll close the gap."

Pyrrha smiled softly at that, but she could feel the weight in his voice—it wasn't just encouragement, it was conviction.

Jaemin crossed his arms, smirking faintly. "Heh, never thought I'd see the day someone compared Ruby Rose to the Invincible Girl."

Jiwon tilted his head, expression thoughtful. "Still... he's not wrong. Ruby's skill is high. Maybe higher than anyone realizes."

Nora leaned in, whispering—though loud enough for everyone to hear.

"...Does that mean Pyrrha and Ruby are gonna have, like, an epic rivalry duel in the future? Because I'd pay to see that."

Pyrrha chuckled softly, shaking her head, while Ren sighed at Nora's antics.

But Hyunwoo's eyes stayed locked on the arena, a faint glint in them. He wasn't just watching a match—he was measuring possibilities.

The crowd roared as Ruby twirled in midair, Crescent Rose slicing through Team ABRN's defenses like a whirlwind.

Jaemin leaned back in his seat, arms folded, a sly grin spreading across his face. "So..." he began loudly enough for everyone in Team NOVA and JNPR to hear, "...what are you guys' current status?"

Hyunwoo nearly choked on the drink he was sipping. "...What the hell kind of question is that?"

Jaune whipped his head around so fast he almost fell out of his chair. "Oh-ho-ho! He said the magic words! The question we've all been dying to know."

Jisoo nodded in mock seriousness, adjusting her hair like she was about to conduct an interview. "Yes. Status. Label. Are we talking friends, rivals, secret lovers, or..." she leaned forward dramatically, "...tragic slow-burn partners fated by destiny?"

Nora slammed both palms on the armrest, nearly spilling Ren's popcorn. "Couple! I'm calling it! They even danced together, that's like—what—fifty percent of a marriage proposal in Beacon terms!"

"...Friends," Hyunwoo muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. "We're friends. That's it. Nothing more."

Pyrrha's lips curled into a polite smile, though her eyes sparkled with amusement. "Friends don't usually spar until midnight just to help the other improve, Hyunwoo."

Ren, chewing calmly on a piece of popcorn, didn't even look up. "Statistically, his behavior patterns lean closer to courtship."

Hyunwoo slowly turned to glare at him. "...Did you just run a romance algorithm on me?"

"Maybe."

That was it. The entire row broke into laughter.

Jaemin clapped Hyunwoo on the shoulder. "Relax, man. We're just trying to define this... epic tale of romantic love between you and Little Red."

Hyunwoo groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "You guys are unbearable."

Jisoo smirked. "Unbearable? Or just uncomfortably accurate?"

Nora cupped her hands around her mouth like a megaphone. "HE BLUSHED! I REPEAT—HE BLUSHED!"

"…Shut up, really " Hyunwoo muttered, though his ears were betraying him with a shade of red.

Jaune leaned in with a sly grin. "So, uh, do we get an invite to the wedding? Or is that strictly family only?"

Hyunwoo just buried his face in his hands, praying the match would end soon.

"I bet they will talk about it, even after this match finished."

___

The buzzer blared, and the crowd's roar shook the Colosseum as Team RWBY stood victorious over Team ABRN. Ruby hopped in place, waving to the audience with a smile so wide it nearly split her face. Yang flexed like she was showing off for a poster shoot, Weiss flicked her hair with composure, and Blake simply gave a small nod.

"Team RWBY wins!" the announcer declared, and the cheers doubled.

Back in the waiting area, they can see Team NOVA and Team JNPR stood to greet them.

Hyunwoo clapped twice, slow and deliberate, smirking. "Not bad. You've improved, Ruby. You almost look like a leader now instead of a squirrel on caffeine."

Ruby gasped. "H-Hyunwoo!" Her cheeks turned pink. "That's so mean!"

Jaemin snickered, leaning toward Jisoo. "You notice how he said you've improved and not your team improved? That's totally a mentor-boyfriend slip."

Ruby's face went red. "W-what?!"

Jisoo giggled behind her hand. "Oh, this is getting good."

Even Jiwon, usually the calmest of the four, allowed himself the faintest smirk. "You two really do spend... a lot of time together."

Hyunwoo frowned. "We're not doing this again."

But Nora jumped right in, throwing her arms around Ruby's shoulders. "Oh, we're definitely doing this! Hyunwoo and Ruby sitting in a tree, L-O-V-E—"

"—compatible," Jaemin finished, bursting into laughter.

Ruby flailed her arms. "Stop it! We're just friends!"

Weiss sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Honestly, this group is unbearable sometimes."

Pyrrha cleared her throat with grace. "In any case, Team JNPR's match is coming up next, though we'll have a short rest first."

"Which means—" Nora threw her fists up like announcing a prize fight, "—FOOD!"

Ren nodded. "Food, then planning."

So the whole collection of teams—RWBY, JNPR, and NOVA—made their way out of the arena corridors toward the floating food court outside Amity. Lanterns swayed in the breeze, and the smell of sizzling skewers, noodles, and baked bread filled the air.

"Vale really went all out for this festival," Jaune said, wide-eyed at the sheer variety of stalls.

"Too bad Team NOVA isn't competing," Jaemin said, eyeing the schedule board above. "We could've shown everyone how it's done."

Jisoo shrugged with an easy smile. "Eh, less pressure on us. We get to eat and watch."

Jiwon, calm as ever, looked at Hyunwoo. "Besides, you're still recovering. Better this way."

"Yeah," Jaemin added with a teasing grin. "And it leaves you with more time to... support Ruby from the sidelines."

Ruby nearly tripped on her own feet. "Can you guys stop already?!"

Hyunwoo sighed but couldn't quite hide his small smile.

____

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