With newfound determination swelling in his chest, he cast a glance at the leaderboard one last time. It didn't define him; it was merely a stepping stone. He would show his true potential, his own unique strength...They were just getting started as the headmaster spoke

Headmaster:Now,I know some of you might feel outclassed by others because of this...

The headmaster began, his gaze sweeping across the students.

Headmaster:But remember,it's not just about strength or agility. It's about heart, teamwork, and determination. Here at Nexus Academy,There is a place for everyone....Head to lunch,my students and Afterwards,proceed to your next Class.

With his heart still racing,Max nodded and took his place among the legendary figures, ready to learn not just to compete but to grow as a team.

He could be part of this world, not merely a shadow of it. Perhaps—even as the underdog—he could carve out a unique journey of power, friendship, and discovery at Nexus Academy,He Might not get to be the main character of the grand epic adventure who always comes out on top and gets the girl.....—yet.

But he could be part of the unfolding story, finding his own footing among true heroes, even if 'Normal' was all he had and so...With a shy, determined smile, he stepped forward, ready to embrace whatever awaited him next.

The students of Nexus Academy buzzed with nervous energy as they sat in their first official class, the atmosphere thick with anticipation. Max couldn't help but steal glances at Akeno Himejima, who sat next to him with an aura of confidence and a gentle smile that seemed to brighten the whole room.

Akeno leaned closer, her eyes sparkling mischievously.

Akeno:'Max is pretty cute'

she remarked cheerfully, causing a rush of warmth to flood his cheeks as if he knew what she was thinking.

Caught off guard, Max turned swiftly to his teacher, desperate to regain his composure as the discussion veered towards the menacing creatures known as Grimm.

The teacher,one of these "Professors" within Nexus Academy but encouraging demeanor, began explaining the intricacies of battling these terrifying monsters as he looked at teams RWBY & JNPR

Teacher:You eight are more than familiar with the Grimm, but the majority of you are not familiar with them in action.

the teacher stated, pacing in front of the class as Max felt his eyelids grow heavy, half-listening to the lesson as his thoughts wandered to one of his favorite shows: "RWBY."

He suppressed a yawn, wishing they could skip to the more exciting parts. Suddenly, the teacher's voice boomed in his direction.

teacher:Max! Get yourself together!

The sudden attention from the teacher jolted him wide awake. Instantly, he felt a dozen pairs of eyes on him, filled with a mix of concern and intrigue. The teacher pointed a finger towards him, an imperious look settling on his face.

Teacher:For your distraction, you'll face this Grimm! Get down here!

Panic made his heart race as he walked to the front of the class, and dread pooled in his stomach when the teacher pressed a button on the wall. A mechanical hiss followed, and a cage slid open, revealing a ferocious boar-like Grimm that lurked menacingly within the shadows.

Teacher:Take out the Grimm and I'll let you off the hook for now.

the teacher commanded, crossing his arms as he regarded Max expectantly as The murmurs began again, wrapping around him like a heavy blanket.

Issei:That thing's gonna crush him!

Issei exclaimed, his eyes wide with concern as Kirishima said he believed in Max as he showed them that he's pretty strong!"

Vegeta:For a beginner.

Tsuyu:Still, don't you think this is a little advanced?

Max gulped. Thrust into the spotlight, he hurried to the weapon room, his pulse hammering in his ears. Rows of glinting weapons greeted him, and something deep within him felt drawn to a peculiar glowing weapon sitting innocently on a shelf as if....it was calling to him.

Max's heart raced.

Max:It's... it's gotta be this one!

He declared,Reaching for the weapon before grabbing something different.....

a frying pan.....a FUCKING Frying pan.

he held the frying pan with both hands, its weight oddly comforting but before he could process it further, the Grimm charged—snarling and rolling like a living wrecking ball. Instinct kicked in; Max raised the frying pan just in time to halt the beast's progress. Stumbling back, he barely managed to steady himself as The Grimm bounced off his foot and fell back, only to get back on its feet.

Max:'AW CRAP,I FORGOT IT HAS ARMOR!'

Max yelled in his head with disbelief, rubbing the back of his neck as the Grimm regained its stance.

Throwing caution to the wind, Max remembered the weak point he had seen in countless battles on "RWBY" before.

He sidestepped the creature's next charge, catching its tusks in a surprising grip. With one determined tug, he swung the beast around and slammed it into the wall as Realization surged in him.

Max:'THE BELLY!'

he shouted, adrenaline fueling his movements. He waited until it rushed him again, and as it reared back, Max caught its tusks yet again, lifting it with all his might. With a powerful kick, he launched the Grimm into the air, a resonating "whoosh" echoing behind him as he jumped up high enough to meet it.

Time seemed to slow for Max As He aimed the frying pan like a warrior wielding a trusty sword and brought it crashing down onto the Grimm's exposed stomach causing A powerful gust to kick up dust and debris, and for a moment, everything fell silent.

When the gale washed away, only the faintest scraps of the Grimm scattered across the ground remained.

Max stood there, panting and bewildered, still gripping the frying pan as if it were a trophy as A chorus of gasp erupted from his classmates.

Issei:He just demolished that thing!

Issei exclaimed, astonished.

Kirishima grinned as he said...

Kirishima:Told you! He's got some moves!

Ruby,Ashido and Wendy:SO COOL!!

Ruby and Ashido chimed together, eyes sparkling with excitement as natsu said he wants to do that,too as The teacher chuckled, clearly impressed.

Teacher:Well done, Max! I doubt you'll have much problem for your training exercise now."

Max threw his head back and laughed, relief flooding through him. Yet, deep within him, he knew the truth...

Max:'THAT WAS JUST STRAIGHT UP LUCK!!'

Despite his internal chaos, he turned to the teacher, feigning confidence.

Max:And what would that be...?

Max:Come with me, everyone!

the teacher declared, leading the group out of the classroom and As they exited, Max felt a newfound energy buzzing within him, the frying pan still gripped tightly in his hand and Mixed with Akeno's approving smile lingering in his thoughts.

The Teacher Guided them all to the outside of the building and onto a cliff that led to a large forest below,they were all standing on sliver tiles for some reason.

Ruby: It's like the Emerald Forest!

The teacher laughed a bit and said...

Teacher:That's right! Here you will be tested in Strength, Skill, and Cooperativeness, you will all be launched into the forest which is packed with different kinds of Grimm and Robots from U.A's entrance Exam!

Iida:So it's like the training we did with the Isami students.

Teacher:Yes, the first Four people you find will be your teammates for the rest of this exercise, I also forgot to mention you must survive the night and come back with a special relic that was made for this exercise and to help you,there are treasures scattered throughout the forest to help you in battle.

Kokoro:And they are....?

the teacher simply said that it was for them to find out...

they all nodded before Mineta was launched into the air, one by one everyone began to be sent flying into the air.

Jaune: So um...do we have to fight these Grimm and robots?

Before the teacher could answer he was sent flying into the forest as Max braced himself to be launched as everyone went flying.

Max:Let's do this...

With that his tile flipped sending him far into the forest,he didn't know how but he spun around in the air,grabbed a tree branch and backflipped before landing...

Max:Okay.....That just happened But nevermind that!I should focus on finding my teammates...

he began to run a high speeds for him looking for some people to team up with,he stopped for a moment to see a large black feather float down to the ground.

Max:Nevermore....

Suddenly he started to hear sounds coming from the bushes,he turned around to see a bunch of Grimm that as a Beowolf leap out of the bushes.

Max's heart raced as the Beowolf landed with a fierce snarl, its glowing red eyes fixated on him. The creature's sharp teeth glistened in the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. There was no time to waste—the training exercise had officially begun.

Max:Focus,Max.

he muttered under his breath, shifting into a combat stance. He had trained for this, but facing a Grimm in real life was a different beast entirely. He could hear the whispers of his classmates' voices in his head, rallying him forward, reminding him of the skills they had practiced so rigorously.

But before the Beowolf could charge as he glanced around for an escape or help.

The forest was dense, and while it provided ample cover, it also limited his options. Then he remembered: the exercise was not just about survival but about finding teammates. Finding strength in numbers.

With a burst of determination, he sidestepped the creature's attack just as it lunged. Grabbing a sturdy stick lying nearby, he swung with all his might, catching the Beowolf off balance as It staggered but recovered quickly, baring its teeth in retaliation.

Just then, Max heard the unmistakable thud of heavy footsteps behind him. He turned, eyes widening as he witnessed a hulking robotic figure emerge from the underbrush—a UA training bot equipped for combat. It locked onto him instantly, its sensors beeping aggressively.

Max:Great, just what I needed.

 Max grimaced.

As the robot advanced, it raised its arm, preparing to fire. Thinking quickly, Max took a risk. He darted toward the Beowolf, caught in a startled stance as it struggled to regain its balance from Max's earlier attack. The robot fired a luminous projectile, but instead of fleeing, Max lunged at the Beowolf, causing the monster to turn and catch the blast head-on.

The explosion sent both the Beowolf and the robot staggering back, giving Max a brief moment of reprieve. He could see the black feather still lying on the ground, a reminder of the creature's presence and the dangers lurking nearby.

Max:Now's my chance!

he thought, taking off deeper into the forest, hoping to find the teammates he needed as Branches whipped against his arms and legs as he sprinted through the underbrush, adrenaline coursing through him. He focused on listening—not just for the sounds of Grimm and machines, but for any sign of his classmates. He had to strategize their formation; the teacher's instructions rang in his ears, stressing teamwork and cooperation.

Moments later, another noise caught his attention: an unmistakable clash of metal on metal. Max's instincts kicked in, and he altered his path toward the sound. As he pushed through a thick clump of bushes, he stumbled upon a small clearing where his fellow students were engaged in a fierce battle.

he went and saw none other than Ruby Rose & Mitsuhiro Higa.

Ruby was wielding her scythe with expert precision, swinging it in wide arcs that dispatched two approaching Beowolves with ease. Next to her, Mitch was executing rapid kicks and punches, fending off multiple opponents and calling out tactics to help Ruby.

Ruby:Max!

Ruby shouted, spotting him.

Max:We could use your help!

with his Heart pounding in a mix of excitement and determination,Max rushed over.

Max:What do you need me to do?

Mitch being overwhelmed by grimm shouted...

Mitch:JUST HELP!!!!

Mitch's voice cut through the din, panic lacing his tone as he delivered a swift roundhouse kick to a Beowolf that was closing in on him. Max could read the urgency in Mitch's eyes, and despite the fear clawing at his chest, he couldn't allow himself to hesitate.

Max:Got it!

Max shouted back, drawing upon the training he had honed over the years. He recalled his teacher's lessons about the importance of cooperation and synergy in combat, weaving those ideas into the planning that had to happen in mere seconds.

He took a deep breath, centering himself. As he dashed toward Ruby, he scanned the clearing for threats and opportunities as Two Beowolves advanced on Ruby from her left, their snarling forms eager for the kill. Max raised his arm, envisioning the coordinated strike he had practiced.

Max:Ruby! To your left!

he yelled, pointing as he lunged forward.

Ruby, already in motion, had the reflexes to respond instantaneously. She pivoted, her scythe arcing toward the ground and sweeping at an angle that sent the first Beowolf crashing back. Max seized his moment, diving low and sweeping his leg through the legs of the second Beowolf, knocking it off balance.

Ruby:Thanks!

Ruby grinned, her energy electrifying amidst the chaos, as she took the beast down with a swift strike to its neck.

Mitch was at her side, coordinating the assault.

Mitch:Max, cover us! We need to regroup and push back!

His fists were flying, finding their mark against the charging Grimm, but he was clearly growing fatigued.

Max nodded, adrenaline coursing through him as he deflected a claw aimed at Ruby, narrowly missing his friend.

Max:Let's fall back! Use the trees!

He led the way, darting into the dense underbrush, beckoning Ruby and Mitch to follow. The three of them quickly melded into the shadows, the trees standing as both friend and foe.

As they ducked and weaved through the foliage, Max glanced back at Ruby and Mitch.

Max:What's the plan? We can't just keep running.

Mitch glanced at Ruby before replying.

Mitch:We need to split them up. If we can draw them in smaller groups, we can deal with them easier. Ruby, you and Max handle the left flank; I'll draw their attention from the right."

Ruby nodded, enthusiasm sparking in her eyes.

Ruby:Let's do it! Max, you ready?

Her confidence bolstered him.

Max:Ready!

With their plan hatched, they each set off in their directions. Max and Ruby moved swiftly through the forest, hastily setting traps with the debris of broken branches and rocks. They could hear the guttural snarls of the Beowolves as they chased Mitch deeper into the thickets, and he bellowed intentionally loud sounds, drawing the monsters far away from Ruby and Max.

In the quiet moments that followed, Max felt his tension release as They only had a few moments before the Grimm would realize they had been led astray.

Max:Ready, Ruby?

he asked, adjusting the grip on his weapon,which was a freaking Frying pan!

Ruby:Always!

she replied, twirling her scythe in preparation and just As the first Beowolf broke through the underbrush, their moment of ambush transformed into action.

Max sprang forward, his pan glinting, as Ruby soared above him in a magnificent arc, her scythe slicing through the air like a blade of wind.

With teamwork amplifying their skills, they fought with precision and harmony. Beowolves fell all around them, each opponent dispatched diligently and decisively. The forest was alive with their energy—each clash empowering them further, fueling their spirits as they worked together.

Ruby:Look! Mitch is coming back!

Ruby shouted, pointing toward the path that was finally beginning to clear of Grimm.

Mitch sprinted toward them, a ragged breath escaping his lips, exhaustion mingling with exhilaration.

Mitch:Nice job, you two! They're breaking formation, but more are coming! We need to get out of here!

Max:Follow my lead!

Max called, taking charge as they regrouped and continued their brave fight against the dark tide of monsters. As the sun dipped behind the canopy, its last rays illuminating their faces, Max couldn't shake the sensation—they were more than just teammates now. They were a family forged in this exercise.

Together, they pressed onward, adrenaline mingling with camaraderie, ready for whatever challenges lay ahead in the vast, untamed forest.

they walked through as the trio still need two more to be a complete team and what about those "Treasures" that the teacher told them of?find out,next time!