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Chapter 54: Overpowered

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With the announcement over, Robin and his new teammates began to talk among themselves.

“So, what now?” Robin asked the others.

“First, we need to come up with a plan,” Weiss stated, “but it's too crowded here. We'll be overheard.”

Weiss seemed to be responding to Robin, but she did not face him when she spoke. It was more like she was speaking to the other girls and Robin was listening in. Pyrrha darted her eyes between the two of them, but she did not bring it up. Instead she decided to move along the conversation.

“Well, what do you propose?” She asked.

“There is no need to think so hard about this.”

The one who spoke up was Diane. She pushed up her glasses with her index finger, the lenses shined in the light.

“I believe I have the perfect plan for this scenario. We should relocate to one of the sparring rooms. Nobody uninvited will be able to intrude, and we can work out the details of our formation there.”

None of them rejected this plan of action. As the four of them left the building, many people started to gossip as they were walking. The three girls were famous individuals among the contestants. In addition to their prowess, they were beauties each in their own right. It was only natural the eyes of every person turned to watch them. Robin picked up on some of the comments between men and women that flowed into his ear.

“Hey, isn't that Weiss Schnee?”

“Oh my god, it is. She's with Diane Geotal and Pyrrha Nikos as well.”

“They're so beautiful. The atmosphere is too dazzling for me.”

“Could it be their all on the same team together?”

“There's no way they can lose!”

“Who's the guy with them?”

“Gasp! A faunus?!”

“Disgusting. Who does he think he is?”

“He's not even close to their level. How dare he stand so close to them?”

Such rude commentary was a normal occurrence for Robin. Instead of getting angry about their insults, he instead was curious about something they said.

= Something about their levels? =

Identify

Diane Geotal (Lvl 73)HP:1770/1770Aura:2500/2500

Pyrrha Nikos (Lvl 72)HP:1700/1700Aura:2300/2300

Weiss Schnee (Lvl 71)HP:1650/1650Aura:3000/3000

= Whoa! Three thousand! As expected of a Schnee. Even if she's arrogant, she has the innate talent to match her attitude. That being said, they're all 70 and above. I have some valuable teammates...Interestingly enough, Diane's level hasn't increased at all after that preliminary round. Huh. =

Despite noticing Diane's level, Robin did not find it to be strange at all. Leveling up isn't as easy as it used to be. Before, just killing a single Grimm was enough for Robin to level up when he was levels 10-20. Now, it was extremely difficult to gain experience. You had to fight monsters, expose yourself to life-threatening events, or spar with fighters at or above one's level to get decent amount of experience.

Just from the preliminary event, Robin was involved in defeating hundreds of Hunters and Huntresses, yet he only rose two levels. This was evidence that gaining levels was not so easy anymore. In fact, the only reason he gained so much was probably because the event itself was a new experience. Who knows, maybe the next time he fought in the event he wouldn't level up at all, just like Diane.

While Robin was admiring the strength of the three ladies, Pyrrha walked up to some of the bystanders with a displeased expression.

“Excuse me, I hope you don't mind me intruding.”

The girls in question were flustered at one of their idols talking to them suddenly.

“Ye-yes! We don't mind at all!”

“My name is Pyrrha Nikos. What are your names?”

Their faces blushed red at the question. They were being asked for their names! Could she want to become friends with them? Anyone who saw Pyrrha's face would have realized otherwise.

“I'm Nico, and this is my best friend Eya.”

“Well Nico. I want you to imagine something for me. Imagine a stranger you never met before talking about your comrade here. Insulting them in front of your face. How would that make you feel?”

“!.. I..uh..”

“You wouldn't feel that great. Now, I don't know much about my teammates. In fact, I just met them today. But they are still my teammates, and I don't appreciate you insulting my comrade in front of my face. Do you understand?”

The two girls were silent, their faces flushed with embarrassment. Right now the entire hallway was silent and staring at Pyrrha scolding the two of them. Without waiting for permission, the two girls rushed away in order to save face. Pyrrha was about to give chase when Robin patted her on the shoulder.

“That's enough. A bit unnecessary, but I appreciate the thought.”

Robin couldn't help but smile at this red-haired beauty speaking up for his sake. Next to Osagi and Neptune, she was definitely the next on Robin's list of friendly humans to get along with. Pyrrha sighed and rested a hand on her hip.

“Sigh..Atrocious. I can't stand people like them. Judging others by their appearance and making assumptions based on their own lack of understanding. It's as if they can only see what's on the surface...”

Pyrrha lost herself in thought as she stared at the palm of her other hand. Robin pulled her back into reality.

“Pyrrha?..We should get going.”

“!..Right.”

As the four of them resumed walking, Robin struck up a conversation with Pyrrha.

“Those girls seemed to regard you as an idol. Are you someone famous?”

Pyrrha seemed quite pleased with that comment while Weiss barged in on the conversation for the first time. She scoffed with disbelief.

“Are you saying you don't have the slightest clue about who you're talking to?”

“Not in the slightest, Ice Queen.” Robin retorted.

“Ah!” She scoffed.

“This is Pyrrha Nikos.”

Weiss made a hand gesture toward Pyrrha. Pyrrha waved to Robin.

“Hello again.”

“Pyrrha is the top student of the first-years at Sanctum.” Weiss explained.

The fact itself was interesting, but it didn't really surprise Robin who was also one of the strongest first-years at Myriad.

“Meh.”

Weiss scoffed again. Pyrrha seemed to beam with approval at Robin's response.

“Ah! She was the champion of the Junior Hunters Weapon Competition, four years in a row. A new record!”

Even fools at Sanctum knew about that competition. Was it possible for Robin not to know?

“The what?”

Yes, because when he was younger, Robin and his parents were told to join the Myriad Junior Hunter tournament. As rivals of Sanctum, why would Myriad officials tell them about their rivals hosting a different tournament? In addition, Robin's family only entered the Kingdom during the Vytal Festival period. Why would he know about that?

Weiss could not believe her ears. Does this faunus boy live under a rock? The answer was no, he lived in a trailer. Weiss didn't believe she would have to resort to this, but hopefully even this boy would know a fact that even kids knew.

“She's on the front of Every. Pete's. Marshmallow. Flakes Box!”

This was a famous brand of cereal that got rapid popularity for a brief period of time. The only people shown on the front were famous athletes and cartoon characters. Even Robin knew about this cereal brand. Unfortunately, Robin's response left Weiss's mouth hanging.

“...I drink coffee.”

Why would a man who didn't eat cereal know what was on the front of a cereal box?

“Heehee..”

Pyrrha held one hand over her mouth to suppress her laughter. Diane, who was smiling at their banter, spoke up again.

“Sorry to interrupt your comedy routine, but I need to go grab my gear. I'll meet you all inside.”

They had arrived at the building. Diane just finished registering them for borrowing a room while the three had their little conversation. They were each handed a key in case they had to leave for some reason before coming back.

“I have my weapon with me.” Robin stated and patted Pantomath which sat on his back.

“As do I.” Pyrrha said.

“My butler should arrive with my battle gear any moment now.”

Weiss started to operate her Scroll, most likely she was messaging the butler which room they were going into. Diane then promptly left and the three of them walked inside. Compared to Myriad's sparring room, Sanctum's was larger and had service robots ready with refreshments of all kinds.

“Whoa.” Robin nodded with approval.

“Very nice look, spacious for AOE users, and immediate refreshments for the weary. And here I thought Myriad was a top-ranking combat school.”

“I believe the winner of the Inter-School Tournament receives additional funds the upcoming year. ” Pyrrha explained.

“I see. That explains why the room is filled with so many extravagant things... By the way, you're a star athlete, right?”

“Yes? What about it?”

“Why don't you show me some of that battle prowess of yours while we wait for Diane?” Robin said with a grin.

Pyrrha caught on to his underlying meaning pretty quickly. She returned the smile. Weiss did not.

“You want to spar already? We literally just got out of the preliminary round and cleaned ourselves up. Why don't we use this rare opportunity to relax?”

Her words fell on deaf ears.

“I would be happy to oblige.”

Weiss rolled her eyes.

“I don't have my weapon. Do what you want.”

With those words, Weiss sat down in the bleachers with one leg crossed over the other. While she looked to be uninterested in the match. She was carefully paying attention to the two fighters. They could be her future opponents after all. Robin pressed some options on a pedestal. When Robin and Pyrrha stood twenty feet across one another, a holographic screen popped up in between them.

Combatants: Robin S. Wolfheart and Pyrrha Nikos

Activate your Aura!

Enhance

Silver enveloped Robin's body while a faint red color covered Pyrrha's.

Aura Detected!

Beginning Countdown: 10

9

8...

Pyrrha weapon was what seemed to be a sword and a shield. Both items were bronze colored to match Pyrrha's outfit. The shield was circular in shape and fits on her arm-guard that she wore on her left arm. The sword itself had a strange shape. It had no cross-guard, and it resembled a spear that was cut short rather than a sword. Both fighters drew their weapons and stood ready for the signal.

..3

2

1

Begin!

With the disappearance of the screen so did the two fighter's bodies. To a normal human without activated Auras, the speed of these seasoned fighters was no joke. They were Hunters and Huntresses capable of slaughtering monsters and surviving a ten story fall with ease. Furthermore, they were both above level 60, making them one of the best fighters in the competition.

Despite their huge speed, the young Weiss watched them dash back and forth with her eyes following them closely. Without her realizing it, Diane sat down next to her, demonstrating her ability to hide even from this talented heir's enhanced senses.

“Who do you think will win?”

“!!...”

Weiss momentarily looked shocked at this powerful third-year student before going back to the fight.

“...Pyrrha is superior in power and speed. It's obvious this faunus boy will lose.”

“But Robin is superior in technique. No matter how she approaches, Robin is handling her attacks rather well. Besides, his skills are nothing to laugh at either.”

Weiss frowned upon remembering her defeat to Robin. Acupuncture is a skill used by doctors and a few martial artists. Normally, even Hunters and Huntresses that fight using their fists did not use Acupuncture. Weiss did not understand how Robin saw through Amy's illusions, nor did she expect him to use a weird skill like Aura Limbs, so how could she expect that he would apply Acupuncture through Aura Limbs. The fact she lost to someone weaker than her in level irritated her to no end.

“Doesn't matter. In the face of absolute strength, strategy and technique are worthless. He is compensating for the difference in speed by using more Aura in Enhance. The gap in power will show itself soon.”

Regardless of her views on faunus, her judgement was spot on. Currently, Robin had Pantomath in its dual sword form. Robin considered that this was the best way to counter Pyrrha's shield and sword. However, even if it was the best way to deal with it, it didn't mean it was easy. Pyrrha was faster and stronger, thus Robin was completely on the defensive.

It was only thanks to Robin's battle experience and Bloodlust that he was able to barely ward off her attacks. In addition, he was well aware that he had to use more Aura to keep up with her level of speed and strength, but inputing too much Aura into Enhance would result in him running out of steam before the match was concluded.

= Such heavy strikes. Is this the power of level 70's? No that doesn't seem right. =

Pyrrha's sword swung at his side which Robin blocked using his left sword and counterattacked using his right one. Pyrrha simply bashed Robin's right sword to the side using her shield and then jabbed the side of her shield towards his neck. Pumping Aura into his upper body, Robin clenched Pyrrha's shield between his head and shoulder.

-170

Unfortunately, even if he pumped Aura, it wasn't able to completely negate the damage. He then kicked Pyrrha in the stomach to gain some distance between the two of them.

-140

Pyrrha promptly pressed a button on her sword, and it suddenly transformed from a sword into a spear. Pyrrha pressed the butt of her spear against the ground to stop her momentum from carrying her back any farther. She twisted her upper body and then snapped her arm outward. The shield that was on her left arm was coated with Pyrrha's Aura and and thrown like a frisbee at Robin.

Boomerang Throw

= What in the-- =

Robin leaned back as the shield whizzed an inch over his face. Pyrrha clicked another button on her spear, transforming it into a rifle. With no hesitation, Pyrrha fired in rapid succession at Robin's head and left arm, but he dodged the bullets by sidestepping. It was at that moment Robin felt danger approaching from behind. In less than half a second, Robin got down on all fours as a circular object whizzed back over his head.

It was Pyrrha's shield. Pyrrha had thrown it while calculating its trajectory in the air. She had shot at Robin which forced him to dodge to the precise location she was expecting the shield to travel to. Pyrrha caught her shield and placed it back on her left arm-guard. With a sprint, she charged right at Robin.

Takedown

Without warning, Pyrrha's body began moving so fast that there were afterimages from where she was before. With her speed suddenly increased and Robin in an awkward position, he could only rely on taking the brunt of her attack. A large silver shield formed in the shape of a sphere around Robin. He braced himself for the impact.

Aura Shield

With a boom, the unstoppable force collided with the immovable object. The end result was Robin's shield barely prevailing with noticeable cracks, and Pyrrha was standing outside of Robin's barrier, unable to break through. Both sides were panting from the exchanges, but there was an obvious victor from the trade.

“I'm truly surprised.” Pyrrha stated.

“?..” Robin raised his eyebrow.

“Nobody has ever stopped my Takedown before. You're pretty good.”

“Haha. You flatter me, but I doubt you have showed me everything.”

“That's funny. I was gonna say the same to you.”

Robin smiled wryly. Pyrrha used about 1/4 of her Aura reserves so far while he used about half. It seems both of them used a considerable amount of energy in that last exchange. Robin looked at the skid marks on the floor.

= Still, that kind of charging power is ridiculous. She could crush the skeletons of Skull Grimms if she tried hard enough. =

“Well then, how about we end this here?” Diane said as she stood up from the bleachers.

Since she saw the two of them starting a conversation, she used this chance to intervene. Robin and Pyrrha looked at her with startled expressions. They finally realized that Diane was already back.

= …How did I not notice her enter this room? =

As if to answer his question, a window popped up.

After being exposed to multiple occasions where you have been unable to detect others, you have discovered a limitation to Bloodlust. If someone uses a skill to hide their presence, you will be unable to detect them using Bloodlust unless you were aware of their location before they activated their skill.

= That was convenient..Lets see. So if I activate Bloodlust or pay attention to them before they activate a hiding skill, it's just like normal. But if I don't pay attention to them, I lose track of them? Makes sense. I was concentrating on my spar, so I would naturally miss her using a hiding skill...

Hold on, I'm pretty sure Blake has a similar skill that could hide her presence... I see, so I only discovered this now because I only see her use that skill when we sparred together. Since I was paying attention to Blake when we're sparring, I don't lose track of her with Bloodlust, this lead me to thinking it always would detect others. =

“Oh! I never saw you enter the room. I'm sorry.” Pyrrha apologized.

Diane shook her head.

“No problem. Lets go ahead and talk about the game plan.”

Robin frowned.

“Can't you let us finish our match?”

“Save your skills for the matches tomorrow. If you really want to duke it out, do it after we're done here. I don't need you to be spent mentally before we even go over our strategy.”

With a smile that showed no signs of anything suspicious, Diane beckoned them over as she started to draw on a whiteboard. Robin and Pyrrha wiped off their sweat and replenished their Aura through elixirs before joining the other two. As maintenance robots were fixing the damage done by their spar, Robin grumbled as he sat down.

= Man, and things were just getting good...On the bright side, this means I don't show off too much. So far I have only used Aura Shield, Aura Sword and Bloodlust. She might be stronger than me, but I still haven't used Aura Limbs and Acupuncture. If I ever have to fight her, it'll be difficult to win, but it's definitely possible. =

Diane's words pulled him out of his thoughts. She was done drawing.

“First I want you guys to show each other your classes. Of course, this includes me.”

Weiss frowned with disapproval.

“Why should we do that? We could be fighting one another in the future.”

“Because if we are to work together effectively, we need to know our strengths and weaknesses. Since this is a temporary alliance, we don't need to show our skills. Just our classes should be fine.” Diane explained.

“You already watched us fight anyway.” Robin chimed in. “At least be decent enough to share some info back.”

Weiss was not happy, but agreed anyway. The four of them altered their status plates so that it would only reveal the class. Robin was already familiar with the details of his own class, so he obviously only looked at the others. The first was Diane.

HackerYour aura has given insight to your true nature as a person. You value being informed of every little detail and will take any step that you deem necessary to achieve your goals. Thanks to this, you are able to gather information at an accelerated rate. As a hacker, any device that functions with electricity can be controlled by you. Security and firewalls fall before your skills as you can hack in two different ways.

Current Bonuses: ????, ????, ????, ….

Current Skills: ????, ????, ????, ….

= ..Any device can be controlled by her?...With the exception of some basic weaponry that don't transform, I don't think there is anything mechanical nowadays that doesn't use electricity...What about Weiss? =

ShamanYour aura has given insight to your true nature as a person. Born into a well-known family, you have something you must prove. Thanks to this, you must embellish yourself to be the role model others want you to be. As a shaman, you can use buffs and debuffs to alter certain characteristics, making you stronger or weaker as you see fit. Your semblance, Glyph, has altered your buffs to have stronger effects and allows you to stack buffs.

Current Bonuses: ????, ????, ????, ….

Current Skills: ????, ????, ????, ….

= Well...that doesn't seem overpowered in the slightest... And Pyrrha? =

GladiatorYour aura has given insight to your true nature as a person.You are blessed with talent and strength above the average person. Whether you are in the face of enemies or allies, your demeanor and fair heart stands out among all. As a gladiator, you become stronger when facing strong opponents, multiple enemies, or when fighting in front of an audience.

Current Bonuses: ????, ????, ????, ….

Current Skills: ????, ????, ????, ….

Robin could only stare dumbly at the classes shown in front of him. When the woman at the banquet earlier said they were the best, it was no joke. But what was even more astonishing was that his current team consisted of the best of the best. Pyrrha and Weiss were also shocked at the statuses, but Diane seemed calm as usual as if she already knew each class. Each one of them had overpowered classes. Looking at these plates, Robin realized that the chances that they would fail the next round were slim to none.