The forest thickened as they pushed forward, the faint glimmer of relics somewhere ahead. Every step was met with rustling leaves and distant, guttural growls.
It came faster than expected — a trio of Beowolves emerged from between the trees, their black fur bristling, eyes glowing crimson.
Jisoo instinctively moved forward, but Hyunwoo's voice cut through the air.
"Hold."
He planted his spear in the ground and glanced at each of them in turn. "We take them clean. Jaemin, with me up front. Twins, flank and cut off their retreat."
Jaemin smirked. "Bossy already."
Hyunwoo didn't smile back — he was watching the Grimm. "I'm not here to boss. I'm here to win."
The Beowolves lunged.
Hyunwoo met the first head-on, his spear spinning in a tight, efficient arc. The weapon's tip drove into the Grimm's chest, then flicked upward, splitting its mask before it hit the ground.
On his left, Jaemin locked his tonfas together into a glaive, sweeping one Beowolf's legs before driving the blade down.
The twins moved like they'd been doing this for years — Jisoo darting low to hamstring the third Grimm, Jiwon following through with a clean decapitating slash.
In less than ten seconds, it was over.
Jiwon whistled, resting his staff on his shoulder before. "Well... that was efficient."
Hyunwoo scanned the treeline, listening for more threats before opened his mouth . "Let's keep moving. We're not here to waste energy."
Jisoo gave him a curious look. "So... you're taking charge?"
Hyunwoo didn't hesitate. "If no one else will, I will."
Jaemin grinned. "Fine by me, leader."
__________
On the other side.
Ozpin stood with his hands loosely clasped behind his back, eyes fixed on the small scroll screen hovering in front of him. The feed showed four students moving through the Emerald Forest, the camera tracking their every step.
Beside him, Glynda adjusted her own scroll, brows slightly furrowed. "That boy," she murmured, zooming in on Hyunwoo as he signaled the others to hold position before engaging the Grimm. "That's Hyun Kim's son, isn't it?"
Ozpin's gaze didn't waver from the screen. "Indeed. Though from what I've seen... he's not content to merely ride on the reputation of his father."
The footage showed Hyunwoo stepping forward with precise, almost economical movements. His spear whirled once — no wasted flourish — before driving into the chest of the first Beowolf. He followed through, mask shattering, before pivoting to back Jaemin's flank.
The twins moved seamlessly to close off escape routes, finishing the fight in seconds.
"That was... efficient," Glynda admitted, her tone begrudging but impressed. "No unnecessary risks. No hesitation. And he naturally took the lead without any verbal dispute."
Ozpin allowed the faintest of smiles. "Leadership is often not about volume, Miss Goodwitch... but presence."
Glynda studied the boy on the screen for a moment longer. "If he truly is Hyun Kim's son, then perhaps we can expect more than just skill with a spear."
Ozpin's eyes narrowed slightly, voice quiet. "Let us hope he lives up to both names — the one he was born with... and the one he carries now."
The glow of the scroll screens lit the surrounding , each feed showing different teams scattered through the Emerald Forest. Ozpin's eyes were fixed on one in particular.
Hyunwoo led the way through the undergrowth, his spear on his back. Behind him, the twins moved with silent coordination, while Jaemin brought up the rear, scanning the trees.
"They're approaching the temple," Glynda noted, her tone clipped but attentive.
On the feed, the stone ruins came into view — the relics gleaming faintly atop their pedestals. Hyunwoo slowed, raising a hand to halt his team. He scanned the clearing, eyes darting over shadows and treeline before stepping forward.
Ozpin sipped his coffee, his voice low. "He checks for threats first. Hyun Kim always did the same."
"They're wasting no time," Glynda said as Hyunwoo strode to the pedestal, taking a golden bishop-shaped relic. No ceremony, no hesitation — just a quick nod to his team to move out.
The moment they turned, the treeline erupted. Three Ursai lumbered into the clearing, eyes glowing red.
Hyunwoo's orders came instantly — short, sharp gestures. The twins split left and right, flanking. Jaemin stepped up to intercept the first charge. Hyunwoo stayed center,his spear prepared for anythinh.
Glynda's eyes tracked every movement. "His formation control is better than most second-years."
Ozpin said nothing, watching the boy's footwork. Efficient strikes, minimal movement — a clean sweep to the leg, a thrust into the throat, then back to guard without breaking rhythm.
The same movement he sees, a long time ago.
Within moments, the Ursai lay still. The team regrouped, Hyunwoo at the front again, leading them back toward the temple.
Glynda closed her scroll. "It seems Hyun Kim's son isn't just here to pass, Ozpin."
Ozpin's smile was faint but certain. "No... he's here to set a standard."
____
Hyunwoo adjusted the weight of the golden bishop relic in his grip, giving a short nod to his team.
"Let's hold here," he said, scanning the treeline.
The temple was still and quiet, the air thick with the distant roars of Grimm. It didn't stay quiet for long.
First came a blur of yellow and black — Yang, laughing as she crashed through the brush, followed by Blake, calm as ever, landing lightly beside her. Yang gave a quick wave before glancing at the relics.
"Looks like we're not the first here."
Hyunwoo just nodded and kept watch.
A thundering crash followed — Nora Valkyrie rode into the clearing on the back of a barely-breathing Ursa Major, her hammer planted squarely in its skull as it collapsed beneath her. Ren trailed behind, expression neutral, though his eyes darted between threats.
"Phew! That was fun!" Nora beamed, brushing off dust like she'd just finished a casual jog.
Hyunwoo's attention snapped to movement from above — something was flying. No... someone.
Jaune Arc screamed as he soared through the air, tumbling end over end before slamming into the ground in a graceless heap. A moment later, a massive Death Stalker roared from the treeline, only for Pyrrha Nikos to appear, sprinting into the clearing. She knelt at Jaune's side immediately.
"Are you alright?!" she asked, already checking him over.
Jaune groaned, "...Yeah... mostly."
Then, the air shifted. A shadow passed overhead. Hyunwoo looked up — a Nevermore's wings blotted out the sun for an instant, its feathers slicing the air like knives.
And there, clinging to its back, was a flash of red.
Ruby Rose.
She stood on the creature's spine, scythe extended for balance, before launching herself high into the air. For a heartbeat, her silhouette was framed against the sun.
She was plummeting fast. No time to think.
He planted his foot, felt the ground push back against him, and launched upward. The wind roared past his ears as he rose to meet her halfway.
Ruby's eyes went wide. "Hyunwoo—?!"
He caught her mid-descent, one arm under her knees, the other behind her back, steadying them both in a tight bridal carry. His boots hit the dirt with a solid thud, knees bending to absorb the impact.
"...You—" Ruby started, breathless.
"Wouldn't let my friend faceplant on the land you know," Hyunwoo said with a faint grin, setting her down.
Ruby smiled, opened her mouth to say something, but-
"HOW DARE YOU LEAVE ME HERE, RUBY!" Weiss's voice tore through the air above.
Ruby groaned. "I said jump!"
"I DON- UGH FINE!!"
A few seconds later, Weiss leapt — or rather, flailed — toward the ground. Jaune rushed forward to catch her.
"I got you—!"
He didn't.
Weiss landed squarely on top of him, sending them both tumbling into the dirt. Jaune wheezed something that might have been "ow," but it was hard to tell under her glare.
"Well, atleast he tried,"
Jaehun said unsurely.
And then came the shadow overhead — the Nevermore's wings blotting out the sun.
Everyone instinctively tightened their grip on their weapons.
Hyunwoo glanced up at the massive Nevermore Grimm, then at the skittering Death Stalker on the other side. His lips tightened into a wry smile.
"Well... let's hope it doesn't get worse."
The universe, apparently, took that as a challenge.
From the treeline, the ground trembled — and another Death Stalker burst out, chittering and slamming its claws into the earth.
Hyunwoo froze. Wait... that's not in the original plot.
"Welp, you gotta ask," Jaemin said dryly, resting his glaive on his shoulders.
Weiss was still dusting herself off and muttering under her breath when Hyunwoo's gaze swept over the battlefield.
Three Grimm — one Nevermore, two Death Stalkers — loomed at the edges, their screeches echoing through the cliffs.
He exhaled slowly. "Well... since we've got twelve people here, let's make it a group of four."
Everyone glanced at him.
Hyunwoo pointed toward the nearest chittering beast. "We'll take the Death Stalker."
There was no hesitation in his tone — more like he'd already made the decision and expected everyone else to just follow along.
Jaemin smirked faintly, spinning his collapsible tonfas into their glaive form. "Guess that means no one gets to complain if we win first."
Weiss crossed her arms but didn't argue — not openly, at least.
Yang cracked her knuckles. "Then Blake and I'll take the Nevermore. Bird season starts early."
Blake simply nodded, already drawing Gambol Shroud.
Nora's grin could have lit a small town. "That means Ren and I get the other Death Stalker. Right, Ren?"
Ren gave a resigned sigh, loading fresh magazines into his pistols. "Right."
Pyrrha glanced at Jaune, who was still brushing off dust from his armor. "Looks like we'll be helping wherever the fight gets rough."
Ruby perked up. "Floaters! We're like a rescue team!"
Hyunwoo didn't waste time on more discussion. He pointed his spear toward their chosen target. "Alright, we keep it tight, we keep it clean. Jaemin, you're with me on the front. Twins, flank it when it overcommits."
Jaemin gave a short nod, his weapon locking into glaive form with a metallic snap. The twins shared a quick smirk and readied their weapons.
The Grimm shrieked. The air seemed to tighten.
Hyunwoo rolled his shoulders once. "Let's end this fast."
The split was made in seconds.
Ruby twirled Crescent Rose and dashed toward Yang and Blake, Weiss right behind her, rapier gleaming. The four of them moved like the tip of a spear toward the Nevermore.
Meanwhile, Pyrrha hooked an arm around Jaune's shoulder and steered him toward Nora and Ren. "Let's help them keep the other one busy."
Jaune opened his mouth to protest—then shut it when the second Death Stalker's claws slammed into the ground nearby.
That left Hyunwoo's group face-to-face with the first, the largest of the three Grimm. Its armor shimmered in the afternoon sun, claws gouging trenches in the earth with each step.
"Eyes on the stinger," Hyunwoo said, his tone calm but sharp. "Jaemin, break its advance. Twins, harass from the sides. Don't get greedy."
The Death Stalker screeched and lunged, claws scything forward. Jaemin stepped in, locking his tonfas into glaive form mid-spin, catching the blow with a jarring clang.
The twins darted out—one to each side—striking the creature's legs, then peeling away before it could retaliate.
Hyunwoo vaulted over Jaemin's guard, spear aimed for the joint between the carapace plates. Sparks burst as the blade skidded across hardened chitin—close, but not deep enough.
The Grimm whipped its tail toward him.
Hyunwoo twisted midair, landing in a crouch as the stinger buried itself in the dirt where he'd been standing. "Jaemin—lock it!"
Jaemin snarled in effort, hooking his glaive between two tail segments and yanking it to the ground. The twins struck again, their coordinated slashes forcing the Grimm to rear back and expose its underbelly.
Hyunwoo didn't hesitate.
One breath in—
—and he drove his spear upward in a clean, brutal thrust. The Death Stalker let out a final, strangled shriek before collapsing in a heap, its body dissolving into black smoke.
Hyunwoo pulled his weapon free, scanning the battlefield. The other two Grimm were still alive, chaos swirling in the distance.
"One down," he muttered, "two more to go."