Chapter 53: Hero vs. Huntress-in-Training

~Third POV~

*Bang**Bang**Bang*

Multiple sounds of gunfire were heard throughout the rocky region inside the separate space from [Shambhala] spatial manipulation courtesy of Tatsumi's handy work.

Ruby was already hiding behind a rock pillar to get herself some cover as she tries to make sure she doesn't get hit by Lady Nagant's organic bullets.

Ruby for the first time is fighting someone who is just as good as a sniper or even better than she is as she held her [Crescent Rose] tightly at the thought.

While she will admit that she's a fighter she just never expected to fight people before but against someone highly skilled is something new to her. While her firepower gives her the edge as well as her large ammunition, she has her inexperience was showing.

Lady Nagant an expert in fights and long-range gunfire knows her strength and weakness as she has limited ammo used for her quirk. While she can use her modified bullets from her utility belt they were made for capturing or assassinating people not made for a gunfight with an experienced sniper.

In the end, though it comes down to who's more willing to win.

*Bang*

Another rifle shot out from the hero as she examines the scene waiting for the ninja to come out as she sighs in her head while loading up her special bullets from her utility belt for just the occasion, 'Sigh… this girl camping out on her spot waiting for me to slip up. I don't know what she's packing but I'm not about to find out.'

*Click*

Clicking her set of special explosive bullets into her rifle she began to take aim where she was at and then fired.

*Bang*

*BOOM*

Just like that, a miniature explosion was set off when it made contact with the rock pillar causing it to collapse on itself from the blast and shockwave the explosive bullet that the hero was packing on her utility belt.

She kept on repeating the process as she forced Ruby on the defensive to avoid those blasts up close and personal. While her [Aura] could tank the hits that don't mean she wants to be hit by a literal explosion.

*Swoosh*

Using her semblance [Petal Burst] she avoided the incoming projectiles this time as she slightly moved to the sides of each bullet missing them.

But to the hero case, she was just smiling at the burst of petals at a distance as she spoke to herself confidently, "Got you LittleRed."

*Bang*

That was when one of the bullets managed to hit Ruby on her shoulder as she changed back to a normal girl but lucky her [Aura] took the hit but tumbled down from the speed she produced and was easily distracted.

Ruby can use her Semblance to move at inhuman speeds that are nearly too fast for the eye to catch, making it appear as if she can teleport. She uses this ability in combat to dodge attacks, disorient enemies, hastily retreat and quickly counterattack.

Usually, bullets would be the least of her concern against such a thing with her speed but unfortunately, the hero experience showed that she is more than capable of fighting against opponents like Ruby caliber something that shocked the huntress-in-training.

If Ruby's path is blocked by an unexpected obstacle mid-flight, her Semblance will be disrupted, forcing her to stop.

*Click*

*Bang**Bang**Bang*

Three more rounds of another special bullet from her utility belt loaded into her rifle as she began to fire at the down girl not leaving the chance to fight back as she wanted to end this quickly.

Ruby seeing this has her eyes widen as she began to use her semblance to get away but noticed by the time, she would it would be too late she thought quick and changed the bullet cartilage with the ones lined up with Gravity Dust crystals.

Seeing the bullets come close they began to burst open revealing a white and sticky substance as it caught Ruby in her tracks as she tried to move only to notice she was stuck as she was quickly disgusted with the liquid, "Oh! Ewe! Ewe!! EWE!!! What the heck is stuff it smells funny and very sticky!"

Lady Nagant snickers at this keeping her distance as she spoke fondly of her special bullet used to capture Ruby as it was childish but effective, "Heh… What you are stuck my ninja friend is your good old fashion glue bullets. Bit childish but more than enough to take speedsters like you down."

Ruby for her part pales at this as some were on her hair as it would be a pain to get rid of later.

Ruby struggles acting on her part as Lady Nagant sees for herself that she's captured as she breathed out a sigh of relief but returns with a serious expression, "You know the games over kid. You lost the game over. Now if you can just call your leader will be sure to take us home then you and he gets to go to jail."

Ruby seeing that she has her trigger fingers on the trigger of her weapon and Lady Nagant getting closer she thought quickly about what to do as she thinks carefully to get her victory, 'Alright Ruby I have my trusty weapon with me and that very scary lady in front of me. I know for a fact that electricity from the outside no longer works so that means I can speak freely to her about the bomb since Tatsumi tried this ahead of time.'

The locations and planning were all accounted for ahead of time from Tatsumi's end to see what they can do and what doesn't work in the separate space.

When they tested out the idea and tried to get any signal in this separate space, they soon realized that communicating through radio or electrical waves was useless because the whole area was distorted by space.

Just as Lady Nagant was going to stop Ruby began to convince her of getting the bomb out of her neck acting to pleas of being freed, "I know a lot about you Lady Nagant, and especially that bomb that bad president has implanted on you."

Getting her full attention now she expressed a cold look as Ruby sees her getting closer as she began to get her close enough in range as she spoke sadly, "Lady Nagant or Kaina Tsutsumi let my friends help you. He has the power to get you out of your problem of that bomb in your neck!"

She stumbles a bit at that as she glares but the idea does pop off her mind but is cautiously being wary of her words, "How would I know what you say is true, and even so why would you want to help me?"

Ruby for her part saw the despair in her eyes and disbelief along with lies in them as it made her pity Kaina. She thought seriously about what to say as she says to her determination in her voice, "If you think I'm lying then just look at my face. Remove my mask to see I'm telling the truth. I know that my friend WILL save you from this on that much I know."

Kaina looked surprised as she raised her rifle at Ruby and then shoot.

*Bang*

Ruby stood there as the bullet began to get closer till it managed to hit the mask as she thought to herself seriously, 'This is a gamble but… I became a huntress to one day help people from Grimm… If Tatsumi and the rest have their ways of solving problems, then I have to trust that I can solve them in my way.'

*Thud*

The mask fell off of Ruby's face as a blood trial was seen as the bullet hit her head but what shocked Lady Nagant was the resolution in her eyes. While the others may not trust everyone, Ruby wants to become the ideal Huntress her mother was.

But she wasn't Summer Rose she was Ruby Rose she knew that violence could solve many things but witnessing Tatsumi [Conqueror Haki] she was reminded of his resolve to do what he believes is right in a sense blind justice with violence.

However, she wasn't Tatsumi and won't always blindly follow his brand of justice as she has her sense of one.

How Ruby sees Tatsumi justice is blind for him. For him, justice is what he believes is right. He never considers if his judgment and action are wrong or right.

While she can agree that she used to think that way of thinking she also believes that talking things through can easily just as resolve their issues as well. She's not a follower but someone who can try to do the right thing.

Those thoughts crossed her mind as Lady Nagant saw how determined the little girl no more than 15 years old in front of her being brave as she responded to her, "Like I said before Kaina let my face tell you that I'm not lying. My friend says he will help you whether for his benefit or not I'll make sure that he can save you."

Kaina was honestly shocked by the eyes and truth of Ruby seeing this caused Lady Nagant to tear up regretting her life choices as a hero and all those unintentional deaths as she was about to do it again but on someone whose ready to face it.

Kaina was has done many things badly and has done the worst things as she always views fear and anger on her targets as a sniper but seeing Ruby's expression is determined and willing to help her despite having a gun to her face that could lead to death…

She just for some reason couldn't take the shot…

She didn't have the heart to live like this lie of being a hero anymore…

The wight of her sins was too much...

Seeing that Kaina lowered her rifle Ruby lets go of the trigger as she thought to herself realizing an important life lesson, 'Maybe Tatsumi is right about one thing. There is no such thing as heroes because everyone lives with their perceptions of right or wrong. But…'

Kaina was no longer tearing up as she was crying with tears of hope that she can finally be free as Ruby made her final thoughts be known to her as well as resolve her own life choices, 'I don't think it's wrong to help others it's just natural that we do. Maybe that's what I should be fighting for those that I like and not become some heroes as or else I might have ended up like her in front of me in the future.'

Unaware of the two Ruby's silver eyes shined slightly brightly responding to Ruby's emotional resolution of wanting to protect those dearly and herself to ever becoming the same path as Kaina Tsutsumi once did.

Not to become a hero in those fairy tale stories anymore but to become just who she is Ruby Rose the Huntress-in-training and awaken silvered-eyed warrior.

*Beep*

[You have defeated one of the Top 10 Pro Heroes only 2 to go! (3/5)]

While the hero has won the fight the huntress-in-training has won in spirit.

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A/N: So how do you think about this chapter. I apologize if it was too kind-hearted or cheesy but I thought it would make Ruby some character development knowing her own story and comparing it to Lady Nagant on what could've happened to her as well as awaken her silver eyes in the process as well as make her own character stand and differ to everyone else.