=======================================

Chapter 25: A Step Forward

=======================================

“Dad?”

“Yes son?”

Currently, Robin and his family were enjoying the sights within the kingdom with what time they had left. Robin decided to use this chance to ask about an idea he had.

“Is there a library in Vale? I wanna get some books.”

“Well, there is a public library, but they don't let you borrow any books. I do know some book stores around here though. What do you need, Robin?”

“I want books on how to fight.”

After suffering a loss against Raven's trump card, Robin was determined to become more well-versed in combat to defeat her. One of the solutions to his lack of knowledge was to access libraries.

“Hmm. That's fine. Lets go then.”

Robin's parent took him in a walk around the kingdom. After walking for 30 minutes, they arrived at the book shop. Upon entering, they found multiple shelves of books filling the entire shop. On the counter, there was a bell. Joseph walked up to the counter and tapped it.

*Ding*

“Be right there.”

A voice was heard behind the doors that could be seen past the counter. A man opened the door carrying two huge stacks of books in each arm. As he moved to set them down on a nearby table, he talked to them.

“Welcome to Tukson's Book Trade, home to every book under the sun. How may I..Oh!”

When the man saw the two, he smiled and shouted. He had short black hair with huge sideburns on the side of his face. Despite running a workshop, he had a broad build.

= He reminds me of Wolverine.. =

“Joseph and Christina! You're in Vale? How may help you?”

“Hey there Tukson. We actually here for our son Robin today.”

“Oh?” The man looked at Robin.

“He looks a lot like you Christina. Ah, but his eyes are like yours Joseph. The sharp look ruins his handsomeness.”

“Yeah yeah. Anyway, we wanted to get some books for Robin. What do you have on educational books for fighting?”

“You looking for hand-to-hand combat or weapons?” Tukson asked while fiddling with a display.

Robin answered this time.

“Anything is fine, also include anything with pressure points and acupuncture please.”

*Ding* With a noise the computer completed its search. Tukson voiced the results.

“I have 94 different books on martial arts and weapons usage. I have another 28 on acupuncture. Do you want all of them?”

“Uh, no. That's a bit too much to buy all at once. Besides, I don't think Robin wants to re-”

“That's fine dad. I want to read all of them.”

“..Well that's fine then, but we can't buy all of them. We spent most of our money to get supplies and have fun at the Vytal Festival.”

“Well,” Tukson said, “I don't mind giving them all to you guys. I can put you on a loan. Just pay me back for the books in a month or so.”

“Oh you don't have to.” Christina said. However, Tukson waved his hand to dismiss it.

“We faunus need to stick together. I don't mind doing something like this at all. Now I assume you want a digital copy yeah?”

“Yeah that's right.” Joseph responded.

Tukson pressed a few buttons and inserted a small metal stick into the screen. After transferring the files, he unplugged the stick and handed it to Joseph.

“The total ends up to be 1823.78 dollars. Just put the USB into a Scroll to see the books. Just like always, there's a safety feature so you can't copy the files from the USB, so be careful with that.”

Tukson looked at Robin.

“Read them carefully kid. Wouldn't want you to get hurt by doing something wrong.”

“Thank you!”

The family left and went back to the building where their trailers were parked. As the family started the engine and waited in the traffic to leave the Kingdom of Vale, Robin looked out of the windows to view once again the small tower of Beacon Academy in the distance.

= This world is such an interesting place to live in. Although I could live without the discrimination, it truly is filled with so many things for me to do. I'll aim to become a professional Hunter and become the strongest faunus ever to be born. =

Robin grinned. Then, the image of the black-haired girl entered his vision. The lesson he learned from the tournament was still fresh in his mind. Rather than being proud of the fact he got second place, he was sulking because he had been given a hard time by two weaker people, and ultimately defeated by Raven who trumped him in every way possible.

= Urg. Becoming the strongest is interesting and all, but I've already gotten beaten by her so badly I got knocked out. But just you wait Raven, I'm gonna be so strong the next time we meet, you'll be the one kissing the ground. =

A fierce, competitive light shone in his eyes as he put in the USB into the scroll. His eyes started to read the first book on acupuncture. The village of Rakshata had already found a new mission from the Hunter's Guild. It was an extermination near the mountains to the west.

Everyday life began anew just like before. Robin would go to school in the morning to mid-afternoon. Then he would train at home before taking a break at the library to read up on his books before heading home to eat with his family. The thing that changed was that he became much more active than before. The training was longer, and the reading was more focused on the books.

Robin would read the book, then he would practice against the human-sized dummy in the backyard. Then he would do extra physical training by running laps and doing muscle exercises. Study, practice, train, and repeat. This cycle repeated itself every day. First was hand-to-hand combat. It involved counters, joint-locks, throws, and the pressure points. Then he studied using weapons. He began studying the techniques of how to use a sword and disarm a person with one before moving on to other weapons.

Months passed and Robin began to reread some of the books he read, trying to commit the techniques to heart. His own actions did not go unnoticed in the village. As time passed, people began to remember how Robin would exercise and take another step forward. Lap after lap, Robin's friends did not just idly sit by and watch him.

“Jeez, Robin's going to jog again.” Conner said.

“Why does he try so hard? We're already doing a lot of stuff in PT.”

There was truth in Adam's comment. PT training was basic, but it was very well done. The program itself included a rigorous training program with fun games in between. The competitive nature of the kids allowed thiem to try their best without getting bored. Dodgeball was getting more like a battlefield. The foam balls became flying balls of death as the kids got stronger and reacted quicker.

“Isn't it obvious?”

The kids turned to Ophelia.

“It's because of that Raven girl right? He's just angry with himself for losing to someone for once.”

“.....” Blake stared at the figure of the faunus completing yet another lap.

Then on one of the days Robin went to train, he found his friends waiting for him. They were in their gym uniforms as well.

“What are you guys doing?”

“What does it look like?” Adam smirked.

“We can't exactly let you get too far ahead of us. So we're joining you.”

“We're a team!” Ophelia exclaimed. “Teams stick together.”

“Hey, hey Robin.” Conner walked up. “I heard you got a lot of books about weapons. Mind if we read some of them?”

Robin nodded. “Sure. No problem. Well I'm starting to run now.”

As they ran, the group began jogging and breathing in pace. Blake caught up beside to Robin and asked him.

“Is it true?”

“Is what true, Blake?”

“Is it true you're doing this only because of that Raven girl?”

“...Well Raven did show me how much I'm lacking, so yes in that sense she is kinda the reason I'm trying so hard.”

Blake looked down very dejected.

“But the real reason is much simpler. I don't wanna lose. I wanna be strong for the sake of being strong. I just wanna win and never lose.”

A fierce light filled Robin's eyes. He was a loser before, but that was in the past. With a new body, a new life, and a new chance, there was no reason for him to be a loser anymore. Of course, he wasn't stupid as to be overobsessed with victory to become egotistical. He saw enough of that. He just hated defeat. It tasted so disgusting before. This time, it was just annoying, so he didn't want it to happen.

Blake's complexion lightened. With the revealing of Robin's motive, she became a step closer to understanding him, and was glad his mind was not full of Raven. At this moment, Ophelia spoke up.

“Hey, since we're a team. How about we make a team name? I hear all the Hunters make a team name with their group.”

“Team name?” Conner replied. “What would ours be?”

“Team Ice Dynamite?” Adam proposed.

“Rejected.” Robin said.

“Team Faunus?” Conner spoke up this time.

“That's a bit racist and unoriginal..” Blake retorted.

“Oh I know! How about team COBRA? C for Conner, O for me, B for Blake, R for Robin, and A for Adam.”

= Sounds pretty nice. =

There were no objections. The group looked at each other and nodded. All the while, they passed the first lap around the village.

“Ok then, it's decided.” Robin declared.

“From now on, we're called Team COBRA!”

More time skip next chapter. I'm gonna be pretty much done with childhood age by then. Rate, comment, Enjoy! Thanks for reading!