Chapter 2: Second Bout

Fenrir yelped as he was swatted like a fly by the Grimm, right into a nearby wall of the arena. As he climbed to his feet he stared at the monstrous Grimm in front of him, even by the standards of the Grimm it was hideous: it was a creature born of a madman's nightmare. The Nuckelavee was horrid mixture of a horse-like creature and a skinless rider creature that is fused with it. Its forelegs are shaped like claws, perfect for rending flesh. The face of the monster was arguably it's worse feature; the creature's maw appeared to sewn shut, while it's head was crowned with two curved horns.

It seem contorted, as unable bear the burden to some unseen pressure. Fenrir could relate to that, his semblance always called to him. And while this constant combat to train his self-control, coupled with Salem's knowledge, that had allowed him some degree of control over it. It didn't stop the roaring, though he doubted anything would.

As Fenrir placed his hand on the wall of the arena supporting himself he looked on at the Nuckelavee and realised what Salem had set before him: a challenge. A chance to prove his worth to her, to show that he had learned. To either thrive or die. He would not fail, he'd come too far to fall to some marionette Grimm and it's equally demented steed. The Grimm however did not seem to share this opinion, as suddenly one of it's whip limbs clasped itself around Fenrir's leg. Dragging him across the arena Fenrir was then thrown into the wall again. This time with enough force to dislodge parts of it, the sheer force of such a blow to breath out Fenrir despite still having aura for protection.

It was relentless, Fenrir had to give it that. Fenrir's ears flickered as he heard the sound of the limb lashing through the air again. Fool me once, fool me twice, you shan't fool me a third time, Fenrir thought, angrily. This time as the limb snapped through the air Fenrir slipped to the side, the hand lodging itself on the wall. With a grin, Fenrir brought down Hati letting his axe taste the Grimm's flesh, this proved to be an unwise course of action.

Roaring with wrath, the Nuckelavee's horse segment suddenly bolted into action. Fenrir could only look on in horror as the Grimm's body collided into his own. Slamming into him with enough force that he bounced of the wall. He then raised Hati to protect himself, as the beast's claw like hooves began to trample upon him. His aura continued to protect from the blows that landed, but for how much longer he could not. As the Grimm's blows were a constant flurry to his senses. With his own roar of anger, Fenrir pushed out with Hati, stumbling the Grimm. He then processed to carve a bloody trail across the Grimm horse's chest, the Nuckelavee responded by abruptly turning with a sharp speed, bucking Fenrir with it's hind legs.

Fenrir careened into the wall a third time, it appeared the Grimm did indeed managed to fool the Faunus again a third time.

"So how long do you think he'll last?" asked Watts, his tone filled with a renewed condensation. "I'll give him about another five minutes or so."

"Shame as well, I enjoyed his company," said Tyrian forlornly.

"Don't count him out of the melee just yet," chastised Hazel. "If there's anything I've learned about Fenrir is the he has a will of iron and determination to live."

"Where does that sound familiar?" asked Watts, moustache shaking with delight at Hazel's discomfort.

That comparision hit too close to home.

"Be silent the pair of you!" snapped Hazel, his patience at its end from their endless commentary. "Let us see how it unfolds!"

Tyrian decided to press his luck, which given the tension, was not the most wisest course of action.

"But I didn-"

"Quiet."

It was such a simple word and yet with Hazel's authority, it managed to do the impossible and silence both Watts and Tyrian. With his cohorts finally quiet, all three of them turned back down to watch the ensuring violence, only to see Fenrir fly into the wall again. All three of them winced as their expectations of Fenrir's survival lowered.

Fenrir grunted in pain as the horse Grimm continued it's gnawing, as after throwing him into a wall the creature decided to make a meal of Fenrir. He clasped both of his hands around the beast's maw and attempted to pry the monstrous creature's mouth from around his waist. Hati had slipped from his grip, embedded into to the floor. Deciding if the creature wouldn't register his fists, it might react to his axe.

Fenrir reached trying to grasp the shaft his weapon, the Grimm must've noticed as it brought it's head down, smashing the Faunus into the ground. Despite the pain this worked in Fenrir's favour as it allowed him to reach his weapon, grabbing Hati, Fenrir revved his weapon up bringing it's snarling teeth down onto the horse Grimm's jaw. His efforts did nothing but anger the Nuckelavee who responded by shaking it's mouth violently before tossing him to ground. Least it no longer wanted to eat him. It must have decided that Fenrir would make a poor meal.

Fenrir had spent his life fighting and never did he feel fear for his life. The pleasure of combat, of taking the lives of others beneath him, dulled any fear he had for the inevitability of the end. All things are destined to die after all. But hear and now he was afraid, not of death never that, but of failure.

To fall to this nigh-unstoppable Grimm and prove to the other members of the Cabal right, that he was mindless creature with no keenness for strategy. To fail Salem, all the effort and teaching wasted on him. He wouldn't fall, not to this Grimm. He still had so much to live for. The world has so much to pay for. As did Ozpin for all that he had wrought.

Fenrir stood again as he stared at his foe: he needed a plan to triumph. Think of what Salem said you fool! Fenrir thought to himself. A middle ground, he needed to discover the middle ground of his semblance. To channel it so that he could control it, not the other way round.

To reap its benefits and none of it's disadvantages. A claw of the Grimm lashed out, Fenrir rolled to avoid the blow, slashing aside the second limb that came at him. As Fenrir dodged around the flurry of the beast's extendable limbs he noted something: The horse was stationary. Unmoving like a statue. Fenrir thought back to when it charged him, the rider was equal stationary, only truly moving due to the movement of the horse. Like a puppet with its strings cut.

Fenrir grinned as he formulated a plan. He would need to test his theory however, and that would be most difficult. As he leap over another lashing limb, Fenrir did the unthinkable and charged the colossal monster. The Grimm let out as rasping scream, like that of air leaving a corpse, before launching both of its arms towards Fenrir. Fenrir jumped over the arms, leaving them pinned into the earth.

Using them Fenrir then managed to climb upon the back of the Grimm. Suddenly, sensing the interloper upon it's back, the horse Grimm burst into life attempting to buck it's unexpected rider. Fenrir watched staring at the rider, and while it hissed at him it did nothing to harm. Just as he thought, a disadvantage of being two fused into one: only one could on the offensive. Using the advantage that he had Fenrir swung Hati at the Grimm's head.

The horse must have noticed it's partners threat, as it responded with a particularly vicious buck throwing off Fenrir's aim. Instead of cleaving the rider's skull, Fenrir only managed to take one of the monster's horns. Still that provoked a reaction, it rasped in pain and smashed it's head into Fenrir's, which coupled with the previous movement of the horse and shocked by the force of the headbutt, managed to unseat Fenrir from the Grimm's back. Fenrir fell to the earth, turning in the air to insure that he'd at least land on his feet.

His recovery was quickly diminished by the fact that as soon as he landed the Grimm landed a blow to his face with one of it's limbs. Fenrir violently rolled across the arena's floor, only stopping when he anchored Hati into the earth. He angrily swore as he stared down at his nightmare foe. It didn't stop nor would it slow. When his was younger Fenrir was always confused by how there were only four Kingdoms when he killed Grimm with ease.

Surely if he was capable of laying low so many Grimm, humanity should have been able to establish more settlements. Now he knew why, they were unrelenting, not knowing the burden of flesh and blood. Their only desire was to kill humans, and to never stop doing so. They were unstoppable. But so was Fenrir.

Fenrir looked about the arena, looking for anything to give him an advantage. After all, a savvy warrior used his environment as much as he used his own weapon. Fenrir noticed the discarded horn, and near to it dislodged rocks from the second time the Grimm smashed him into the wall. It wouldn't be enough, he needed to use his semblance. He would die otherwise, Fenrir remembered Salem's words, he needed to find a middle ground. To simply quash his semblance would not be enough, he needed to control it. To show it he was the master not the slave.

Now or never, Fenrir thought as he ran towards the horn, leaping and sliding under the limbs of the Grimm. The Nucklavee rasped it's frustration at its elusive prey, angered by it's inability to make contact with it's target. Fenrir stooped to pick up the horn in his right hand and turned towards the Grimm, this would require precision.

The Grimm's left arm lashed out with killing intent aiming for Fenrir's head, he ducked beneath the blow and before the hand could retreat planted the horn leaving it pinned to the wall. The right arm lashed out intent on doing what the left could not, Fenrir spun to the side and using the sharp piece of debris pinned that limb to the wall. The rider rasped in frustration unable to pry it's limbs free, while the horse stood stationary unable to intervene for the rider was in control.

Now came to the difficult part of his strategy.

Fenrir activated his semblance, but this time he make an effort to stem the flood of pain and pleasure. He felt it fighting him, lulling him into allowing it control. No. Not this time. He refused to become a slave to it any longer. He clasped his skull in frustration and pain, as the full might on his semblance bulled down upon him. Roaring and snarling, his aura began to weaponize, taking a fiery-like appearance. He felt the full thunder of his blood lust. Not this time, he wouldn't be slave to it any longer. An internal battle began to rage within Fenrir as he battled for full control, seconds dragged on for what felt like an age for the Faunus. Until eventually he triumphed, he had control. He had the power, the world still appeared formless, but instead of feeling lost in it. Fenrir felt like he'd come home.

Now the tide of the battle had turned in Fenrir's favour and now it was unlikely to turn back.

Fenrir charged at speeds that the normal eye would not be able to register as he charged towards the trapped Grimm. Once he would have thrown himself at it, with full intention to have what passed for guts for a Grimm in his teeth, but not any longer. He saw it clear, battle was about trapping a foe within a net of their own devising. He trapped his foe. Now it was the time to finish this.

Fenrir embedded his axe into the side of the Grimm, the strength of his semblance aiding him in this, and began to climb up the side of the beast. The rider still lashed unable to free itself, Fenrir grinned at the creature as it was unable to defend itself. Smashing Hati into the beast Fenrir approached the rider, which screamed into his face. Fenrir smashed his skull into it to silence it.

Fenrir then dug his iron-shod claws into the part of the rider that fused it to the horse. The Grimm thrashed and roared in pain, unable to do anything to stop Fenrir from pulling. His semblance aided him, burning and bubbling the flesh of the Grimm, loosening it further. More and more Fenrir pulled until there was crack like that of snapping bone. And Fenrir tore the rider from the horse. Fenrir chuckled to himself; as due to the tension of its arms, and the fact Fenrir freed it, the body was sent flying into the wall. Freed from the burden of the rider, the horse burst into life, whining in pain. Violently it attempted to throw Fenrir from it's back. Not this time.

Fenrir ripped Hati from it's axe, and lent his axe a portion of his might. The weapon itself began to take a fire-like appearance, as Fenrir's aura lit it up. Fenrir then revved it to life, letting out a snarl of rage greater than any predator, it then came crashing down upon the horse's head, fracturing and splintering it's skull in just one blow. The creature clung to the last vestiges of life, and began to run hoping the speed would dislodge Fenrir. Fenrir, instead, twisted Hati using the axe to guide the Grimm smashing it into a wall. Payback for the earlier mockery. In it's panic and pain the Nuckelavee began to climb the wall in an attempt to escape.

Fenrir tore Hati from it's skull and slide further down it's body, before lodging Hati into one of its hind legs. There would be no escape, not from Fenrir he'd already lodge his fangs into his prey.

"No little horsey," Fenrir rasped. "There is no escaping this wolf!"

Fenrir yanked hard, dragging the Grimm back into the arena, before jumping onto it's back. Having left Hati lodge in it's leg, Fenrir wrapped his arms around the horse's head. It whinnied in fear and anger, but Fenrir silenced that as he began to squeeze. Crushing the Grimm's neck into between his arms, Fenrir grinned as he felt it's defiance slowly ebb away. To feel a foe's life drain in your hands, it was glorious to the Faunus.

Finally however it began to bore Fenrir, who with a quick jerk snapped the Grimm's neck. He breathed calmly for a few seconds, placing his hands on his forehead as he restrained his semblance. That was more difficult, but he had grown practiced at it, and soon he felt a calm across his mind.

Hazel, Tyrian and Watts looked down in shocked at all that had occurred before them. Then Watts raised his wrist to look at his watch.

"Huh, four minutes, fifty-nine seconds." said Watts.

Tyrian and Hazel could only glare back at the doctor.

The sound of clapping began to pervade the arena and Fenrir turned to the entrance of the arena, to see Salem clapping. Her eyes were alight with bemusement, and Fenrir felt shame flood him for his earlier childish rant towards her. She deserved his compliance and respect never his anger.

"Salem I-"

She raised an arm for quiet, silencing whatever apology Fenrir had to upon his lips.

"I must say Fenrir congratulations. You found what I hope you would; the ability to channel the semblance, to gain it's full might, and while it will never stop haunting you, you have found some piece of mind, I hope," Salem said, a smile playing about her lips.

"I can only thank for both this opportunity to improve myself," Fenrir responded, inclining his head. "And I can only apologies for my earlier outburst against you. It was not my place to question your knowledge."

"I'm glad you did Fenrir; I'm not infallible, and you are not some mindless drone," explained Salem. "Never think that you are Fenrir, remember why you walk your path."

Fenrir nodded, he would never forget why. To help Salem gain the throne that Ozpin denied her, not because she ordered so but because she deserved so. Fenrir would never forget why he walked his righteous path. To shake the foundations of the Remnant.

"Well then," Salem concluded, surveying the destroyed arena. "I do believe that concludes your training for today Fenrir."

She cast an eye up to the stand, pointing a finger towards Watts.

"Watts may I ask of your assistance?" Salem said.

"Of course Ma'am." came the response from the doctor.

"Come and tend to Fenrir's wounds," ordered Salem. "After that all of convene with me in the throne room."

Fenrir tilted his head in confusion and excitement. Was it finally time for his first assignment from Salem? A possibility to prove himself further? Then realisation set in, she demanded the presence of all of her Cabal. Whatever the task was, it would be one of vital importance.

"Ma'am?" asked Watts, no doubt as confused as Fenrir.

"It's time for the first move; to remove a threat greater than that of the Maiden Powers," Salem said. "Are any of you aware of the legend of the Silver-eyed Warriors?"

A grin came about Fenrir's face, he was indeed aware. Warriors without fear, that faded into myth though legends claim there were still a few about Remnant. Fenrir's grin turned rictus as the possibility of Salem's words began to settle in. The War for Remnant was about to begin in earnest, and Fenrir could only grin with a mad glee that he would be present for it.

Author's Notes: And thus concludes Sparring Grounds. For those confused upon the timeline and where Cinder is. Well it's always been my personal headcanon that she was the youngest of the Cabal, and as such has yet to make an appearance yet. As for Fenrir's semblance and the conditions about it, nothing much has really changed except that he capable of thought now. Basically he can plan as well, instead of violently throwing himself into battle and hoping for the best. I hope you all enjoyed this, don't forget to drop a review and have a good one!