"Where the hell are all the Grimms!?"

Reid gritted his teeth as he leaped from tree to tree, the cool night air rushing past him under the fractured moon of Remnant. His frustration only grew with each passing hour.

"It's been three days."

"I only need two more! Why is it so damn hard to find a single Grimm?", he shouted, his voice echoing through the trees. He landed on the ground, rolling to soften the impact before coming to a stop near a large tree.

With a sigh, he slumped down, letting his back rest against the rough bark. His helmet dematerialize away, revealing his sweat-dampened face. He wiped a hand across his forehead, exhaling sharply.

"Even with better control of my aura, I still feel less protected."

Reid's gaze drifted to the shattered moon above. His Aura had its moments, but it sure as hell didn't always work the way he wanted.

"Man, I hope I run into some dragon in the dungeon. Then I can finally use every part of the armor at once. I hope they ain't too strong tho."

Summoning the gauntlet piece of his armor, he flexed his fingers, watching how the red metallic scale gleamed in the moonlight.

'I've been testing my abilities for a while now.'

He turned his armored hand over, examining the intricate details.

"This thing is...no, this 'dragon scales' looks to be almost indestructible. I tried stabbing it before, but-"

His thoughts flashed back to two days ago, when he had driven his dagger into the gauntlet, expecting at least a dent. Instead, his dagger had cracked on impact. Then after sometime the Dagger's blades shatters. But then again with his strength, that might possibly be one the reason why the dagger shattered.

Reid groaned, "Now I only have one dagger left... But I did managed to scratch it with my sword. And the armor just repaired itself..". He then starts to stand up.

'Another thing is the armor doesn't cover me like your normal armor. I become the armor... Like my body itself becomes the armor.', Reid thoughts as he looks at the dragon scale armor in his hand.

'I remembered it having immunity against fire. If that's the case does that mean?', an idea then came into his head.

'Heh, maybe I'll try it later'

"I should go home, this Grimm hunting mission is already hurting my sleeping schedule."

________________

Time skip to tomorrow

Reid was walking towards the training grounds with black eye bags underneath his eyes. He was walking slowly, almost wobbling on his track's like a drunk going home on a Saturday night.

Nothing important really happened that day, just the normal routine. He trained, he takes a break, eat, then train again, talk with Bran, go home, eat lunch, go to his room to sleep the afternoon, wake up, eat sleep again. At night wake up, gear up, hunt Grimm, no Grimm? Go home, then sleep.

The same routine for days.

"RAAGH!"

Bran roared as he swung his staff down in a powerful overhead strike.

Reid barely managed to block it, but Bran was already moving. With a swift downward sweep, he knocked Reid's legs out from under him.

With a dull thud, Reid landed flat on his back. Before he could even process what happened, Bran had the tip of his staff aimed right at his face, chest rising and falling with exhaustion.

"I won, Reid... again", Bran huffed, his face glistening with sweat.

"Yeah", was all Reid could muster as he slowly pushed himself off the ground, dusting off his pants.

Bran narrowed his eyes at him, tilting his head like a curious dog. Something felt off.

"Hey Reid... have you gotten any sleep these past few days?"

Reid blinked, barely registering the question. "Huh? Y-yeah, yeah... what were you saying again?" , His voice was sluggish, and his body felt like lead.

Bran let out a deep sigh.

"Even if I did win, Defeating you like this, has no meaning. I can't call this a real win if my rival isn't at his best", Bran said, crossing his arms, his voice filled with pride.

"Yeah... right...", Reid mumbled, but he wasn't listening anymore.

"Oh yeah I almost forgot, 'The rising star tournament' is starting soon you know-", Bran continued but Reid had already drifted into his thoughts.

'I really haven't slept much, huh? A whole week and still no Grimm. Either a Hunter gets to them first, or they just aren't around anymore.'

"Oi, Reid! Are you even listening?", Bran's voice snapped him back to reality.

Reid quickly straightened up. "Oh yeah, totally! I completely agree!", He even gave a lazy thumbs-up for good measure.

Bran stared at him, deadpan. "...You didn't hear a word I said, did you?"

Reid hesitated, guilt flashing across his face. "...Yeah. Sorry. What were you talking about again?"

Bran's frustration vanished in an instant, replaced by sheer excitement." I was talking about the 'Rising Stars Tournament', Reid! It's happening in two months!"

Reid blinked. 'The Rising Stars Tournament, huh?'

A combat tournament where kids between the ages of 13 and 15 fought to prove themselves. At first, it sounded insane-making kids fight each other. But this was a world where people were ridiculously strong, even at a young age. And this same kids are aiming to become hunters.

Bran was practically bouncing in place, his hands waving in front of Reid's tired face. "Yo, Reid, you're zoning out again."

"Ah, sorry", Reid muttered, rubbing his eyes.

"Man, I can't wait to compete in that tournament!", Bran shouted, his excitement spilling over.

Reid let out a small chuckle. "We still have to wait two or three more years, Bran. We're still eleven."

Bran visibly deflated for a second but quickly bounced back.

"I know, but Reid-think about it! We're already strong! We could take on the older kids, no problem. And with you by my side, nobody's stopping us!" , He threw an arm around Reid's shoulder, grinning from ear to ear.

"We're already the strongest in our school! I mean, you beat one of our seniors before! That was awesome!", Bran said with pride.

Reid rubbed his eyes again.

'Oh yeah... that time. Gotta be honest, that guy was kinda weak.'

Bran's expression softened as he watched his friend struggle to stay awake. "I think we should head home, Reid. It's getting late."

Reid let out a tired sigh. "Good... idea..."

And with that, the two boys gathered their things, one buzzing with energy and the other barely staying on his feet.

________________

Time: 7:49 pm, location: Reid's Room

Reid lay sprawled on his bed, unmoving. His muscles ached, every inch of his body sore from constant training and exhaustion. Right now, all he wanted to do was rest-no running, no fighting, no thinking.

"Quest open...", he muttered, barely lifting a finger.

A translucent blue window flickered to life in front of him.

[Quest: Sword Master Part 3]
- #1: Reach Level 5 in Swordsmanship. ✅ (Completed)
- #2: Subjugate 5 Grimm

Reid let out a long, tired sigh before rolling onto his side, staring blankly at the window beside his bed.

"Two more... just two damn more. And the world won't even let me get near a single one.", His frustration simmered as he rested his head on his arm.

'But I'm already level 20, that is good. Man, that bandit boss' really did a number on me, my chest was hurting for days after that encounter. Nonetheless, the guy was really strong, I thought I'd level up two to three times after fighting him.'

[You did level up from that encounter.]

Reid looks at the system window. "Yeah I know, I just thought that I'd get a huge amount of exp from him. Damn, I thought I will be leveling up to 100 in no time like in those RPGs I used to play."

[While I am designed based on the mechanics of such games, I assure you-this is no game, <Reid Whitaker>.]

That caught Reid off guard. His eyes narrowed slightly. "Huh. That's the first time you've called me by my name.", He hesitated, then asked, "Which brings up a question... who the hell are you, really?"

A pause.

[...]

[I apologize. But that is a knowledge I do not currently possess.]

'currently huh?'

Reid scoffed, burying his face into his pillow. "Well, that's stupid."

His body finally gave in to exhaustion, his voice muffled as he mumbled, "All this talking is tiring. I'll deal with it tomorrow... Night night, System."

Within moments, he was fast asleep, his breathing slow and steady.

[...]

[Who... am ... I?]

Unbeknownst to the sleeping Reid, the red streaks in his hair spread further, consuming more of the once-pure white hair of his. It had started subtly when he was younger-just faint traces of crimson appearing over time, replacing small patches of white. But now, the change was accelerating. The red was growing again.

A faint, almost imperceptible heat pulsed from his body.

[Unknown energy detected.]

The system's usual neutral tone wavered.

[Energy levels exceeding recorded parameters.]

A flicker of disturbance rippled through the air. The system hesitated, running another diagnostic as an invisible force stirred within him.

[Unregistered Aura detected.]

[Classification: Strong. Unstable.]

The amount of energy and aura can be felt throughout the entire room. Then after a moment the red hair stops replacing Reid's white hair.

[Attempting to analyze...]

Silence.

Then, as if recoiling from something it could not process-

[Power Overwhelming.]

______________

Under the warm afternoon sun, Alaric Whitaker leaned against a fence, watching the training grounds. His sharp eyes flickered toward his old friend.

"So, how's the Grimm cleansing been going?", he asked casually, though there was a note of curiosity in his voice.

Teal Sapphire, the restless huntsman himself, wiped some sweat off his brow before answering. "Going well, actually. Barely any Grimm sightings near Verdant Hallows."

"Really? And here I was hoping for a little action.", Alaric chuckled, stretching his arms. "Would've been nice to show off some moves."

Teal laughed, shaking his head. "Well, don't blame me. Us 'Verdant Hunters' are damn good at our jobs.", He grinned. "The rumors of our village having the greatest hunters ain't just rumors you know."

Alaric let out a small chuckle, but his gaze drifted back toward the training field. His son, Reid, was in the middle of a rigorous routine, his strikes precise but filled with sheer determination.

"Yeah", Alaric muttered, his tone shifting slightly.

Teal followed his gaze, watching Reid move with a mix of skill and stubbornness. "The boy's grown strong", he noted.

"He has", Alaric admitted, though a trace of unease crossed his face.

Teal caught it immediately. He turned back to Reid, noticing the streaks of red slowly overtaking the once-white strands in his hair.

"Don't worry", Teal said, clapping a reassuring hand on Alaric's back. "Reid's a tough kid."

"I know", Alaric sighed. "But what if 'they' find him?", His voice dropped lower, laced with tension. "I don't even know what I'd do if-"

"Yeah... I know what you mean..", Teal's expression then darkened. He knew exactly what or who Alaric meant.

Teal could still remember them. Monsters-worse than the very spawn of darkness itself.

They weren't Grimm. No, these 'things' were far more terrifying. Even Alaric, one of the strongest Hunters Teal had ever known, had been forced to go all out against them. A rare sight-one that still sent a chill down his spine.

Clad in dark red armor, they moved like shadows given form, their towering presence radiating something unnatural. Their helmets, crowned with jagged horns, concealed their faces beneath cold, expressionless steel. They might be human or faunus but for him they weren't human. For Teal, they are 'monsters' who takes on the image of human or faunus.

And the way they moved-silent, relentless, merciless.

They didn't speak. They didn't hesitate. They simply hunted.

The same 'monsters' that had taken-

"-Hey, Dad. Hey, Mr. Sapphire."

The voice snapped Teal back to the present. He blinked, forcing himself out of the memory, and turned to see Reid approaching them.

"Oh? Is that Reid Whitaker I see?", Teal said with a grin, forcing some lightness back into his tone. "How's training going, kid?"

"All good, Mr. Sapphire.", Reid flashed a small smile. "I've been getting a lot better."

Teal nodded approvingly. "That's what I like to hear! Keep it up, boy!", He clapped his hands together.

Alaric, however, crossed his arms. "You should take a break, Reid. You're already exhausted-and you know how your mother gets about this kind of thing.", His voice was light, but there was an undertone of concern.

Reid smirked. "Come on, Dad. I can still move. You're the one who always says, 'No pain, no gain,' remember?", He grinned. "And to never give up?"

Alaric groaned, rubbing his temples. "And I regret ever telling you that", he muttered.

Reid stretched his arms with a tired sigh, walking toward the benches near the training grounds. "But you're right, Dad. I do need to rest sometimes. Thanks for worrying."

Alaric watched him go, a small smile forming on his face. It felt like just yesterday when Reid was still a reckless little troublemaker-always running off, always getting into fights. And now? He was strong. Stronger than most boys his age, even managing to hold his own against older opponents.

"You look really happy, my friend", Teal remarked, noticing the softened expression on Alaric's face.

"Yeah", Alaric muttered, still watching his son with quiet pride.

Their moment of reflection was interrupted as two hunters approached, their steps firm and purposeful. Both men stopped a short distance away, standing at attention before saluting.

Teal turned to them, his demeanor shifting into something more serious. "Any reports?"

One of the hunters stepped forward. "Nothing, sir. We haven't found any traces of the bandits since that day."

Alaric raised an eyebrow. "Bandits?"

Teal glanced at him. "Oh, right. Forgot to tell you-some of my boys ran into a little trouble in the forest while patrolling. Had to deal with a group of them."

Alaric's expression darkened slightly. "Could it be the Branwen Tribe?"

Teal shook his head. "Nah, can't be them. They're too far from here. And besides", he smirked, "their leader knows better than to mess with us."

Alaric huffed. "Still, bandits this close to Verdant Hallows... that's not something to ignore."

Teal nodded before shifting his gaze back to the hunters. "What about that someone who helped you? Any leads?"

The second hunter hesitated before speaking. "Unfortunately, no, sir. We haven't found any traces of the guy."

Teal clicked his tongue. "A Shame", He waved a dismissive hand. "Alright, you're dismissed."

The two hunters nodded before heading off, leaving Alaric and Teal in thought.

We now go to Reid.

'Those damn bandits really made security tighter. I don't even know if I'll be able to find any Grimm with this many Hunters patrolling a around the forest.'

Reid sighed, taking a sip from his water bottle as he leaned against a tree, catching his breath. His eyes wandered for a moment before settling on a loose strand of his hair.

'I haven't really thought about this much, but...'

He ran his fingers through it, noticing once again how the red had spread even further. It was subtle before-barely noticeable-but now? It was undeniable.

'Vivian said it could be genetics, and Alaric told me he'd explain when the time was right. But when?'

Reid furrowed his brows but shook the thought away. Dwelling on it wouldn't get him answers any faster.

"Enough of that, all this thinking is making me even more tired", he muttered, standing up from the bench he was sitting. His break was over-it was time to train.

_______________

It was nighttime. The stars shone faintly above Verdant Hallows, casting a peaceful glow over the village. Reid, however, was anything but peaceful. He had snuck out-not to hunt Grimm, but to test an idea that had been nagging at him. The Grimm quest could wait for another day.

"Alright... let's try this", Reid muttered, extending his hand forward. His armor materialized in a shimmer of light, forming into a gauntlet.

"Step one, done. Now for-"

A system window flickered into view beside him.

[Item Name: Lesser Dragon Scale Armor
Item Type: Armor
Class: C+
- A set of armor forged from the scales of a lesser dragon. It offers exceptional protection and is incredibly lightweight, allowing for swift movements. The scales are imbued with a small resistance to fire and other elemental attacks.]

"A small resistance to fire and other elements... this should work.", Reid clenched his fist. Another window popped up.

[Pyromancy]
Level: 1
Rank: A+
- The ability to control and create fire at will, but using such great power comes with a price. 'Let the world burn.']

Reid closed his eyes, concentrating as he tried to generate flames on his armored hand. He felt heat building, a familiar burning sensation-but unlike before, it didn't hurt.

Slowly, he cracked open his eyes. His fist was engulfed in fire. But it wasn't scorching him. It moved like fabric, wrapping around the metal like a second skin.

"YES! It works!", Reid cheered, raising his flaming fist in triumph.

A wide grin spread across his face as he started throwing jabs, watching the fire leave faint trails in the air.

"Haha, this is awesome! I'm gonna call this technique... 'Flarebracers'!", He declared proudly before flopping onto the grassy ground.

"I may not have gotten those Grimm kills, but at least this worked", he chuckled, staring up at the sky.

He lay there for a moment, enjoying the cool night air-until he finally noticed something.

The flames were still on his armored hand.

"Oh yeah... now how do I turn you off?"

Reid sat up, shaking his hand like a wet dog trying to dry itself. Nothing. He tried waving it in the air. Still burning.

"Okay, uh... maybe if I just... think about turning it off?", He focused, picturing the flames disappearing. They flickered for a second but stayed stubbornly lit.

"Alright, uh... system? A little help here?"

[No available information on deactivating Pyromancy.]

"...Excuse me?"

[No available information on deactivating Pyromancy.]

Reid's eye twitched. "You have got to be kidding me."

And approximately 47 minutes were waste that night trying to find a way to deactivate his skill 'pyromancy'. The system did know how to deactivate it, it just wanted to mess with Reid for a bit.

_______________

"Reid hasn't wake up yet", Vivian said as she was preparing their breakfast.

"Want me to go wake him up?", Alaric asked with a mug on his hand.

"Maybe don't. Reid needs his sleep right now. Especially since he have been looking like a sleep deprived person this pass few days.", Vivian said as she puts their breakfast on the table.

"Yeah, I noticed too. The boy just doesn't stop training.", Alaric said as he