The characters could develop new combat skills. With the chaos of the infighting, they are forced to adapt quickly and come up with new strategies and moves to survive and gain an edge over their opponents. This could lead to a significant growth in their fighting abilities.
Some characters might develop by learning to trust their instincts more during the infighting. They could become more self - reliant as they realize they can't always rely on their usual allies.
One interesting plotline could be the different character alliances that form during the infighting. For example, characters who were once enemies might team up against a common foe within the chaos.
For the RVB characters in the RWBY world, you can have them develop new skills related to Aura and Semblances. For example, Tucker could discover his Semblance is something like enhanced swordsmanship. And they could also develop in terms of their understanding of the RWBY universe's values.
In fanfiction, a character could develop their silver eyes power by facing near - death experiences. The extreme stress and danger could trigger a deeper connection to their power. It's like their body and mind adapt to survive, and as a result, the silver eyes power grows stronger. They might also learn new techniques or abilities related to it during these critical moments.
Adam could start off as his usual self - confident and somewhat aggressive self. But as he spends more time with the Faunus Reader, he might become more vulnerable. The Reader, on the other hand, might start as naive but grow into a more assertive character, standing up to Adam when necessary. For example, if Adam wants to carry out a violent act in the name of Faunus rights, the Reader could try to change his mind.
Fanfic writers develop 'Breaking Dawn' characters by expanding on their relationships. They might write about how Bella and Edward's relationship changes as they become parents. Another way is by giving characters new abilities or weaknesses. For example, a writer could give Carlisle a new vampire - related power. They also create new storylines for characters to react to, like a new threat to the vampire world that makes them show different aspects of their personalities.
In these fanfictions, the characters usually develop through a series of emotional encounters. For example, if Ruby is in a love triangle with Weiss and Jaune, Ruby might start to realize her feelings for Jaune when she sees Weiss getting closer to him. This realization can lead to her becoming more self - aware and growing as a character in terms of her emotions.
In these fanfics, Harry often develops from a somewhat naive boy into a more confident and powerful wizard. His relationships with the harem members force him to grow up faster. For example, if one of the harem girls is from a different magical culture, he learns about new spells and traditions from her.
Percy may develop by becoming more aware of the divine female perspective. Since Artemis is a goddess, her presence can make Percy think differently. For Artemis, she might develop a softer side. Usually very stoic, interacting with Percy could make her more empathetic.
Authors often give the younger character a sense of idealism. For example, in a 'age gap fanfic' set in a business world, the younger character might have big dreams and be eager to learn. The older character is then shown as more jaded but still intrigued by the younger one's energy.
The other members of Team RWBY would be deeply affected. They would start to question their own abilities and the purpose of their fight. Some might withdraw into themselves, like a broken Weiss who shuts out the world for a while. Yang, on the other hand, could become reckless in her pursuit of vengeance, endangering herself and others. Blake would try to hold the team together, but she would also be mourning privately. The other friends and allies in the RWBY universe would also be in mourning. Qrow might blame himself for not being there to protect Ruby, and Ozpin would see it as a great setback in the fight against evil.