RWBY: Moon Reflection-Chapter 108: Hydra Grimm

The battlefield stretched endlessly, a wasteland of rubble and despair beneath a sky darkened with smoke and fire. Atlas soldiers, robots, paladins, and warships surged forward as a unified force, their weapons lighting up the desolation like a blazing inferno. From every vantage point, they fired relentlessly, cutting down Grimm that rose from the ruins. Their movements were precise, calculated, and methodical, a display of Atlas's formidable military prowess.

The world watched in awe as the broadcast showcased the might of Atlas's forces. In every corner of Remnant, eyes were glued to screens, hearts pounding with a mix of fear and hope. For all its faults, Atlas was proving itself to be an unstoppable war machine, a beacon of resilience against the tide of darkness.

But then, the ground beneath the soldiers trembled violently. Cracks spread across the rubble as if something massive stirred beneath. The soldiers paused momentarily, their weapons still raised, their fingers hovering over triggers. Then, the earth erupted in an explosion of debris, and from the chaos emerged a new Grimm.

This was no ordinary creature. It was the largest leviathan-class Grimm ever seen, a monstrosity of unimaginable size and terror. Its form resembled a Hydra, but far more grotesque. Its body was a horrifying amalgamation of Grimm flesh, twisted metal, and jagged rock from the fallen city of Atlas, giving it natural armor impervious to conventional weapons. It towered over the battlefield, its more than twenty heads snapping and writhing in every direction.

For a moment, there was silence—only the crackling of fires and the faint hum of energy weapons. Then the soldiers opened fire.

Bullets, missiles, and lasers rained down on the Hydra-Grimm in a relentless barrage, but the creature barely flinched. Its armor absorbed the attacks like a shield, and the soldiers' firepower seemed like an insect's sting against a mountain. The soldiers, undeterred, continued to fire with everything they had.

Then, the Hydra's heads reared back, and a dozen glowing mouths opened simultaneously. Beams of searing energy shot out in all directions.

One beam hit the ground forces directly, vaporizing soldiers in an instant. Another swept across the field, obliterating paladins and robots as though they were made of paper. One of the beams tore through the sky and struck an airborne warship, which erupted into flames and spiraled downward, crashing into the battlefield with a thunderous explosion.

"Spread out! Keep firing!" Ironwood's voice thundered through the comms, his tone commanding but strained.

The soldiers obeyed, scattering to avoid the devastating beams. Still, the Hydra-Grimm pressed its attack, each of its heads moving independently to target new prey.

Crimson, standing among the carnage, clenched his teeth as he watched the devastation unfold. His blade hung at his side. His comm piece crackled with the panicked voices of soldiers and the desperate commands of their leaders.

He gritted his teeth and screamed into his comms. "Aunt Raven! Bring me the Grimm orbs! Now!"

Moments later, a portal tore open in the air beside him, and Raven appeared, carrying a bundle of glowing metal orbs strapped together. She tossed them toward him, her expression uncharacteristically grave.

"Get out of here!" Crimson barked at her.

Raven hesitated for only a second, then disappeared through another portal, leaving Crimson alone with the dangerous cargo. He fastened the Grimm orbs to his waist, their eerie energy pulsating against his side.

Crimson inhaled deeply, steadying his nerves, and activated the orbs. The Hydra's heads immediately turned toward him, sensing the concentrated negative emotions.

"Keep firing!" Crimson yelled into his comms. "I will keep this freak's attention on me!"

And with that, he bolted across the battlefield.

The Hydra-Grimm's heads reared back once more, their mouths glowing with deadly energy. Beams rained down, each one narrowly missing Crimson as he sprinted with everything he had. He zigzagged through the rubble, dodging the blasts by mere inches. The heat singed his hair and burned his skin, but he didn't stop.

The world watched in shock as the young man threw himself into the jaws of death. Every screen broadcasted the scene: Crimson Rose, a specialist in the Atlas military, using himself as bait to keep the Hydra-Grimm focused and give the soldiers a fighting chance.

"He's insane," one soldier muttered, watching Crimson's reckless bravery.

But despite his efforts, the tide wasn't turning. The Hydra's armor was too strong, its size too great. Even with the full might of Atlas's forces, the creature remained nearly impervious. And worse, they were running out of munitions.

Crimson could hear the despair creeping into the comms. He could feel it in the air, the creeping realization that they were losing.

Then, a new voice crackled through the comms.

"This is Captain Hale of the Warship Aegis" said a calm, steady voice. "It has been an honor to fight alongside you, fellow soldiers. An honor to serve under General Ironwood. And an honor to stand with you, Specialist Rose."

Crimson froze mid-step as he looked in shock.

The warship Aegis veered off course, its engines roaring as it accelerated. The massive ship angled downward, heading directly for the Hydra-Grimm.

The Aegis collided with the Hydra-Grimm at full speed. The explosion was catastrophic, a blinding flash of light and fire that consumed the creature's heads. The force of the blast tore through the battlefield, knocking soldiers off their feet and sending shockwaves that echoed for miles.

When the smoke cleared, the Hydra-Grimm was missing a third of its heads, its body sagging under the weight of the damage. But the Aegis was gone, along with its crew.

Crimson stood motionless, his breath ragged as he stared at the smoldering remains of the warship. The sacrifice had been unimaginable, yet it had given them a glimmer of hope.

"Finish it," Ironwood's voice rang out, cold and resolute. "For the Aegis."

The soldiers, galvanized by the captain's sacrifice, renewed their assault with everything they had left. The battlefield erupted once more in a storm of fire and fury as they fought to bring the Hydra-Grimm down.

And Crimson, his resolve steeled by the sacrifice he had just witnessed, tightened his grip on his blade and charged back into the fray.

Above the chaos, Raven, Winter, and Penny soared through the smoke-filled skies. Winter's maiden lit up the air as she launched massive projectiles of ice, aiming for the creature's vulnerable joints. Penny's emerald energy blades spun through the air, slicing into the Grimm's armored hide wherever she could find a weak point. Meanwhile, Raven darted between the beast's heads, her crimson blade cutting through the air as she struck with precision and speed.

Crimson, battered and bruised, clenched his jaw as he sprinted through the chaos. His goal was clear: get close enough to strike. The beast's attention was divided between the aerial assault and the soldiers on the ground, giving Crimson just enough of an opening.

Finally, he reached the creature's massive form. Gritting his teeth, he channeled every ounce of strength into a single swing of his sword, slashing through one of its heads. The Grimm let out an earth-shaking roar as the head crumbled, but Crimson knew better than to linger. He retreated quickly, dodging as several of the remaining heads turned to him, firing beams of energy that tore through the ground around him.

It was then that he noticed a flash of red petals moving across the battlefield. His heart skipped a beat as he saw Ruby standing on the rooftop of a nearby building, her scythe in hand.

"Ruby, no!" Crimson shouted, but his voice was drowned out by the chaos.

Ruby's silver eyes glowed brightly, and a radiant light enveloped her and the Hydra-Grimm. The battlefield seemed to pause as the light intensified, a blinding force of destruction and hope all at once. When it faded, one of the Hydra's heads had turned to stone, crumbling into dust.

But the success came at a cost. Ruby, drained from the effort, dropped to her knees, trembling. One of the Hydra's remaining heads turned toward her, its maw glowing as it prepared to fire. Ruby froze, paralyzed by fear as the monstrous beam of fire shot toward her.

"Ruby!"

Crimson appeared in front of her just in time, his sword raised to block the attack. The beam struck with incredible force, and Crimson groaned in pain as the energy seared his hands and arms. Ruby stared at him, tears streaming down her face, unable to move.

The force of the beam overwhelmed Crimson, and both he and Ruby were thrown back, slamming into the rubble below. Crimson's body screamed in pain as he tried to push himself up, his hands burned and shaking. The Hydra-Grimm was relentless, preparing another attack.

Before the creature could strike again, Winter and Penny swooped in, their combined firepower raining down on the Grimm's head and stealing its attention. Raven landed beside Crimson and Ruby, her expression grim as she surveyed the two of them.

"Hold on," she said, opening a portal nearby.

Without waiting for their response, she grabbed Crimson and Ruby and carried them through. They emerged in the command center where Ironwood stood, watching the battle unfold on a massive screen. Qrow, who had been standing beside him, immediately dashed through the portal, joining the fray.

Ironwood turned to the three of them, his stern expression faltering as his eyes landed on Crimson. The young man's hands were charred and shaking, his arms burned to the elbows, yet he still clutched his sword tightly. Ruby was sobbing uncontrollably, her silver eyes dull with exhaustion and guilt.

"Crimson..." Ironwood began, but the young man was already struggling to his feet. Bloodied, battered, and clearly in unimaginable pain, he stood tall, his breathing ragged but steady.

The world watched the scene unfold through the live broadcast from Ironwood's perspective. Crimson Rose, the bloodied and exhausted warrior, refusing to give up despite the odds.

"Open another portal," Crimson said, his voice hoarse but unwavering.

"No," Ironwood said firmly. "You've done more than enough. You're in no shape to keep fighting."

Crimson straightened himself, his trembling body somehow finding the strength to stand taller. He looked at Raven, his piercing gaze filled with resolve.

"Open the portal," he repeated.

Raven frowned, her hand hesitating over the hilt of her blade.

"You're not going back out there," Ironwood insisted. "That thing is still standing, and we don't have the resources left to—"

"I'll kill it myself," Crimson interrupted, his voice sharp and resolute.

Ironwood stared at him, stunned.

Ruby, still crying, reached for him. "Please... don't go. Stay here. We can—"

Crimson didn't look at her, his focus entirely on Raven.

"Open the portal," he said once more.

Raven's hand tightened on her blade, her expression conflicted. Finally, she closed her eyes, a pained look crossing her face.

"Please," she whispered, barely audible. "Don't die."

She slashed the air, and a portal opened.

Crimson stepped toward it, but Ironwood moved to block his path, his twin pistols in hand.

"You are not going," Ironwood said firmly. "You need to rest. I'll join the fight instead."

Crimson stared at him, unyielding. "General Ironwood, I'm still by far the strongest person in Atlas, even in this state. That thing will kill everyone if we don't stop it."

Ironwood hesitated, his jaw tightening.

Crimson stepped past him and into the portal, his movements slow but purposeful. Ironwood, torn between duty and reason, cursed under his breath before following him.

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Raven lingered for a moment, her gaze shifting to Ruby, who was sobbing uncontrollably on the ground. Raven's expression softened for just a moment, and she knelt beside her.

"Stay strong," she said quietly before stepping into the portal and letting it close behind her.

Ruby was left alone in the command center, her cries echoing in the otherwise silent room. She clutched her scythe tightly, her tears falling onto the cold floor as the broadcast shifted back to the battlefield, where Crimson and the others faced the monstrous Hydra-Grimm.