Arthur leaped from the rooftop, a silent, almost invisible streak against the night sky.
He landed softly on a lower building, then another, moving with a supernatural grace that defied gravity.
His crimson blade, shimmering with inner fire, was held loosely at his side. He wasn't rushing; he was observing, calculating, allowing the dance of battle to unfold before he made his move.
Below, the Vale Harbor was a canvas of chaos. Crates were overturned, sparks flew from ricocheting bullets, and the cries of the White Fang mingled with the determined shouts of the students.
Team RWBY and JNPR, while powerful, were still being pushed back by the sheer numbers of the enemy.
The White Fang, armed with an array of Dust-infused weapons, were surprisingly well-organized, their movements almost military in precision.
This wasn't a mere skirmish; it was a coordinated attack.
Arthur focused his senses, reaching out with his mana to perceive the flow of the battle.
He could feel the desperate energy of the White Fang, their blind fanaticism, and the underlying resentment that fueled their actions.
He also felt the unwavering resolve of his students, their burgeoning power, and the occasional flicker of doubt or frustration that came with fighting against overwhelming odds.
He saw Roman Torchwick, a smug grin plastered on his face, directing the White Fang with his cane, Melodic Cudgel, occasionally firing off explosive Dust rounds.
He was a flamboyant villain, but a dangerous one nonetheless.
Beside him, a figure cloaked in black, wielding a large, curved sword, moved with lethal efficiency.
Arthur recognized her as Neo Politan, Roman's silent accomplice, a master of illusions and deception.
A group of White Fang grunts, their faunus traits barely visible beneath their uniforms, cornered Ruby.
She was fast, but they were swarming her, their blades glinting in the moonlight.
Just as one lunged, Arthur moved.
He didn't use any flashy spells or overwhelming displays of power.
Instead, he channeled his dragon mana into his transformed wand, amplifying his physical capabilities to an absurd degree.
He descended like a phantom, appearing behind the lead White Fang grunt in a blink.
With a practiced ease, he struck the flat of his crimson blade against the back of the grunt's neck.
The impact wasn't lethal, but it was enough to send the faunus sprawling, unconscious.
Ruby, startled by the sudden appearance, spun around, her eyes widening as she saw Arthur.
"Professor Arthur!" she exclaimed, relief washing over her face.
He didn't speak, merely offered a curt nod, his gaze already sweeping to another section of the battle.
His movements were precise, efficient, almost like a well-oiled machine.
He weaved through the chaotic melee, a silent guardian angel.
He used the flat of his blade, his hands, and even swift, non-lethal kicks to incapacitate the White Fang.
Each strike was calculated to deliver just enough force to render an opponent unconscious without causing lasting harm.
One White Fang operative, a hulking bear faunus, charged at Yang, roaring.
Yang, despite her newfound power, was caught off guard by the brute's speed.
Before he could land a devastating blow, Arthur was there.
His crimson blade, still in its non-lethal mode, met the bear faunus's fist with a dull thud.
The impact sent a shockwave through the faunus's arm, dislocating his shoulder with a sickening pop.
The faunus collapsed, clutching his arm in agony.
Yang blinked, then grinned.
"Nice save, Professor!"
Arthur didn't reply, already moving on.
He was a blur of crimson and shadow, appearing where he was needed most, a silent tide turning the battle.
He focused on disarming and incapacitating, always avoiding lethal force.
He weaved through the fighting, almost like a dancer, his movements economical and graceful, yet incredibly powerful.
He saw Jaune struggling against two agile monkey faunus.
Jaune's improved combat skills were evident, but the monkeys were quick, darting around his shield.
Arthur flickered into existence between them, a swift, almost imperceptible motion of his blade.
He struck both monkey faunus simultaneously with the flat of his sword, sending them flying back, dazed and unconscious.
Pyrrha, who had just used her semblance to disarm a rifle-wielding White Fang, saw Arthur's intervention.
She gave a small nod of acknowledgment, a silent understanding passing between them.
She knew the extent of his power, a secret shared only amongst their small group.
His eyes narrowed as he finally caught sight of Roman Torchwick and Neo.
They were near the main cargo loading dock, overseeing a massive crate being lowered onto a bullhead.
This wasn't just a simple robbery; they were stealing something, something important.
"Finally,"
Arthur murmured, a predatory glint in his eye.
He began to move with a slightly increased urgency.
His target was clear: the bullhead and the precious cargo Roman was trying to steal.
He deflected a barrage of Dust rounds with a flick of his crimson blade, the bullets scattering harmlessly into the night.
A few White Fang members tried to intercept him, but they were swiftly and efficiently dispatched, their weapons sent clattering to the ground as they succumbed to his precise, non-lethal strikes.
Roman, noticing the sudden shift in the tide of battle, turned his attention to Arthur.
His smug grin faltered slightly.
"Well, well, if it isn't Beacon's resident enigma,"
Roman sneered, adjusting his fedora.
"Always showing up at the most inconvenient times."
Neo, her eyes narrowed, moved to Roman's side, her umbrella twirling ominously.
She was a master of misdirection, her illusions making her an incredibly slippery opponent.
Arthur stopped a few feet away, his crimson blade held ready.
"Torchwick," he said, his voice calm, yet carrying an undeniable authority.
"This little charade ends now."
"Oh, I think not,"
Roman chuckled, aiming his cane at Arthur.
"We're just getting started."
Neo vanished in a shimmer of distorted light, her signature illusion.
Arthur didn't even flinch. His senses, enhanced by his mana, could easily pierce through such simple deceptions.
He could feel the faint tremor in the air, the subtle shift in pressure that betrayed her true location.
As Roman fired a blast of red Dust from his cane, Arthur moved.
He didn't dodge; he simply stepped into the attack, his blade shimmering as it absorbed the energy of the explosion.
The force dissipated harmlessly, leaving not even a scorch mark.
Roman's eyes widened fractionally, a flicker of genuine surprise crossing his face.
"What in the…?"
Before he could react, Arthur was upon him.
He didn't use a flashy attack, just a simple, precise thrust.
The tip of his crimson blade, still blunt to avoid lethal injury, connected with Roman's chest.
It wasn't a strike meant to harm, but to disorient.
Roman gasped, clutching his chest, the air knocked out of him.
He stumbled back, momentarily incapacitated.
Neo reappeared, a blur of motion, her umbrella snapping open to reveal a hidden blade.
She lunged, aiming for Arthur's side.
Her movements were lightning fast, her attack precise and deadly.
But Arthur was faster.
He turned, his crimson blade meeting her umbrella with a soft clink.
The force of his parry was subtle, yet absolute.
Neo found her weapon suddenly wrenched from her grip, sent spinning harmlessly away.
Before she could recover, Arthur's free hand moved, a swift, open-palmed strike to her forehead.
Not with enough force to cause a concussion, but enough to send her world spinning.
Neo's eyes rolled back, and she collapsed in a heap, an unconscious, colorful puddle on the ground.
Roman, having recovered slightly, stared at his unconscious partner and the effortlessly disarmed Arthur, a rare look of genuine fear on his face.
He fumbled for something in his coat.
"Don't even think about it,"
Arthur said, his voice flat, devoid of emotion, yet radiating an undeniable threat.
Roman froze, his hand halfway into his pocket.
He looked at Arthur, then at the still-unconscious Neo, then at the rapidly turning tide of the battle.
His White Fang forces were being systematically dismantled by the now-empowered students, and with his ace in the hole down, his options were dwindling.
"Alright, alright,"
Roman grumbled, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender.
"No need to get rough. Just business, you understand."
Arthur didn't reply. He simply held his crimson blade steady, the implicit threat clear.
The battle below was winding down. Ruby, Yang, Blake, and Weiss, along with Jaune, Nora, Pyrrha, and Ren, had systematically subdued the remaining White Fang forces.
They were tired, but triumphant.
Arthur glanced at the bullhead, then back at Roman.
"What's in the crate?"
Roman hesitated, then sighed.
"Just… supplies. Nothing interesting."
Arthur knew what it was inside.
He just asked to make it like he didn't know about the future.
He gestured with his head towards the still-unconscious Neo.
"Tie her up. And make sure she doesn't try anything funny."
Roman scoffed, but didn't protest. He knew when he was beaten.
As the first lights of the Vale police and Atlas military began to appear in the distance, Arthur looked over the scene.
The students, flushed with adrenaline and victory, were gathering around, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and pride.
They had faced a significant threat, and they had overcome it, thanks in no small part to the true magic he had shared with them.
He de-transformed his crimson blade back into his wand, tucking it away.
His presence here was finished.
He had ensured their safety, and now, the authorities could handle the rest.
He would watch from the shadows, as he always did, guiding them, but allowing them to claim their victories.
He would need to make sure the "stolen supplies" were properly examined.
...
Craze: You can read 60 more chapters on www.p@treon.com/phelio (50% discount on going)