The simulation room hummed with energy as Team RWBY and JNPR rushed to their workstations. The battle with the Dendrobium had exposed their weaknesses, and now, faced with Meijin Kawaguchi himself, they had no room for error.
Jaune sat before his ARC Gundam, hands hovering over the customization menu. He adjusted the Beam Magnum, tuning its power output for increased accuracy while reducing its energy drain. The shields' I-Field generators were recalibrated for better endurance.
Across from him, Nora tightened the servos on Asgard's hammer, adding weight to increase its impact force. "Alright, big guy, let's break something."
Pyrrha adjusted the thrusters on Titus, optimizing its mobility. "Tallgeese's frame is powerful, but I need to be faster." She switched out a booster pack, aiming for quicker bursts of acceleration.
Ren silently tweaked Rōtasu's beam blades, ensuring they activated faster. His twin Linear Guns had been his main offense, but after Meijin's critique, he knew he needed to be more flexible.
Ruby grinned as she swapped out the GN Beam Pistols for newer models with improved accuracy. "Alright, Death Rose, let's snipe some legends."
Weiss focused on refining Schneesturm Gundam's reaction speed, adjusting the sensors for better target acquisition. The hesitation in the last fight had cost her, and she wouldn't let it happen again.
Blake recalibrated Hellcat Gundam's Fatum-01 system, ensuring its remote operation was seamless. "I need to commit," she whispered, her fingers tapping commands with precision.
Yang simply smirked, increasing Solar Blaze Gundam's output on its Particle Sash. "Reckless? I'll show him control."
Kazuma checked the time. "Alright, you've got two minutes left."
Jaune took a deep breath and tightened his grip on the console. "We're ready."
Meijin Kawaguchi stood before them, arms crossed. "Then let's begin."
---
The simulation loaded, and their Gunpla launched into the battlefield—a derelict space colony, broken structures floating in zero gravity. Shadows loomed over them as massive debris drifted in the void.
Then, their opponents appeared.
The Build Strike Exceed Galaxy gleamed under the colony lights, its sleek frame primed for speed.
The Hyaku Shiki Kai stood firm, an immovable titan ready to crush its enemies.
And in the center, wings unfurling like a divine warrior, Legend Gundam Kawaguchi Custom descended.
Jaune felt a chill. So this is the power of the Meijin…
Meijin's voice echoed through the comms.
"The battle begins."
And then, the legend moved.
---
Meijin's Legend Gundam shot forward, twin beam sabers igniting with golden light. The speed was unreal—faster than anything they had encountered.
Jaune barely raised ARC Gundam's shield in time before a single strike sent him reeling backward. "Tch!"
Ruby tried to snipe from above, but the Build Strike Exceed Galaxy outmaneuvered her, closing the distance in an instant. "What—?!"
BOOM!
A precise shot from Hyaku Shiki Kai struck Nora's Asgard, forcing her back.
Weiss moved to counter, but before she could fire, Legend Gundam appeared beside her—almost as if it had teleported.
"Too slow."
A single slash sent Schneesturm Gundam spinning.
"Damn it—!" Weiss tried to recover, but a follow-up shot from Build Strike forced her into evasive maneuvers.
Yang roared, Solar Blaze Gundam activating its Flügel Messer swords. "Alright, big guy, let's see how you handle this!" She charged at Hyaku Shiki Kai, clashing swords against its massive frame. Sparks flew as the battle escalated.
Ren and Blake worked in tandem, trying to flank Meijin. Hellcat Gundam's Fatum-01 fired beam cannons while Rōtasu weaved between cover, taking precise shots.
Meijin simply smirked.
With a single motion, Legend Gundam raised its palm.
A golden energy burst exploded outward, sending Blake and Ren flying.
Jaune gritted his teeth. They were being overwhelmed. "Think, Jaune! We need a plan!"
Then he remembered Kazuma's words.
"You hesitate too much."
Jaune's eyes sharpened. "No more hesitation."
---
"Ruby, Weiss—focus fire on Build Strike!"
"On it!" Ruby shifted into sniper mode, covering Weiss as she rushed forward.
"Blake, Ren—keep pressuring Meijin! Pyrrha, help Yang take down Hyaku Shiki Kai!"
"Understood!" Pyrrha's Titus Gundam accelerated, joining Yang in a close-quarters assault.
"Nora—go wild!"
Nora cackled. "Best plan yet!" Asgard Gundam rocketed forward, hammer swinging toward Meijin.
Jaune's ARC Gundam activated NT-D mode.
With newfound speed, he intercepted Legend Gundam, clashing beam sabers against the legend himself.
Meijin's smirk returned.
"Now you're learning."
Their blades locked, a battle of wills unfolding.
The fight was far from over.
And Jaune Arc was ready to prove himself.
The moment the battle began, Meijin Kawaguchi's Legend Gundam Kawaguchi Custom moved like a phantom, closing the gap between himself and Jaune in an instant. The golden glow of his twin Schwert Gewehr Beam Sabers sliced through the darkness of the battlefield, aiming directly for ARC Gundam.
Jaune barely managed to react, raising one of his I-Field Shields to absorb the impact. The force of the strike sent shockwaves rippling through his Gunpla's frame.
"Tch—he's fast!"
Before Jaune could counter, Meijin rotated mid-air, flipping over ARC Gundam's defenses and driving his second saber downward. Jaune activated his Beam Tonfas, parrying just in time, the clash of energy blades illuminating the ruined colony.
"You react well," Meijin mused. "But reaction is not enough."
A pulse of thrusters sent Legend Gundam backward, disengaging, but the moment Jaune tried to pursue—
BOOM!
A golden DRAGOON System deployed, firing beams from multiple angles. ARC Gundam dodged left, boosting away, but a few shots grazed its leg armor.
Jaune gritted his teeth. This is just the beginning…
---
On the battlefield's outskirts, Build Strike Exceed Galaxy blitzed toward Death Rose Gundam and Schneesturm Gundam, its thrusters glowing with afterimages.
"Ruby, keep your distance!" Weiss called out, switching to her Burst Saber to block incoming fire.
"I'm trying—he's too fast!" Ruby's GN Sniper Rifle locked on, but before she could fire, Build Strike vanished, reappearing right above her with a Beam Saber slashing down!
"NOPE!"
Ruby activated Death Rose's Twin Beam Scissors, crossing the weapons to block the strike, but the sheer force sent her spiraling downward.
Weiss leaped into action, firing precise 110mm rifle shots, but Build Strike weaved through them with impossible agility.
"Come on, Schneesturm—land a hit!" Weiss growled, frustration growing.
A mocking voice came over the comms. "You two are good, but speed is the essence of battle. If you can't keep up, you're already defeated!"
Ruby boosted back, catching her breath. "Alright… new plan. Weiss, pin him down!"
Weiss nodded, shifting tactics. Instead of chasing, she raised Schneesturm's Dainsleif Cannons and fired into the debris field, causing an explosion of metal chunks. The sudden shrapnel cloud forced Build Strike to alter its movement.
"NOW!"
Ruby took the shot.
A high-energy blast from the Super Substratospheric Altitude Gun surged through the debris, aiming directly at Build Strike—
But—
A split second before impact, Build Strike activated its Beam Wings, spinning mid-air and using the explosion's momentum to escape unscathed.
Ruby's eyes widened. "What?! No way!"
Weiss clenched her teeth. "He's reading our moves too easily."
The enemy pilot chuckled. "Close. Try again."
---
Meanwhile, Solar Blaze Gundam and Titus Gundam clashed with the Hyaku Shiki Kai, a heavily modified version of the original, sporting reinforced golden armor and a colossal Hyper Mega Launcher.
Yang grinned. "Big, gold, and slow. This should be fun!"
She charged head-on, Particle Sash flaring like a comet, her Flügel Messer swords aimed at the enemy's legs.
But before she could land a strike—
A single kick from Hyaku Shiki Kai sent her reeling backward!
"The hell—?!"
Pyrrha moved in, utilizing Titus Gundam's superior thruster speed, slashing her Heat Halberd in a precise arc.
Hyaku Shiki Kai effortlessly raised its shield, blocking the attack with minimal effort.
And then—
BOOM!
A massive beam from the Hyper Mega Launcher engulfed the battlefield, forcing both Yang and Pyrrha into evasive maneuvers.
"That thing's got crazy power," Pyrrha warned, shifting into a defensive stance.
Yang smirked, despite the setback. "Yeah? So do I."
She boosted forward again, this time baiting an attack. As the Hyaku Shiki Kai swung its arm to counter, Yang activated a secondary thruster burst, flipping mid-air and delivering a precise slash to its left arm joint!
The armor held, but a small crack appeared.
Yang grinned. "Cracks lead to breaks!"
Hyaku Shiki Kai's pilot exhaled. "You have spirit, but spirit alone will not be enough."
And then—
It deployed wire-guided beam sabers from its forearms!
Both Pyrrha and Yang were forced on the defensive as the remote sabers attacked from multiple angles!
"Seriously?!" Yang barely deflected one, while Pyrrha found herself parrying in rapid succession.
"This is going to be rough…"
---
Ren and Blake took their positions, coordinating their attack patterns against Meijin's Legend Gundam.
Blake's Hellcat Gundam's Fatum-01 separated, its beam cannons firing from a distance, forcing Meijin to divert his attention.
Ren rushed in from the opposite angle, firing his Twin Linear Guns with precise bursts.
Meijin, unfazed, effortlessly weaved between the fire.
"Predictable," he muttered.
Before Ren could react, Legend Gundam suddenly vanished—
And reappeared right in front of him!
A single palm strike to Rōtasu Gundam's torso sent it flying backward.
Blake switched tactics, activating Griffon Beam Blades, slashing at Meijin's flank.
But—
CLANG!
Legend Gundam caught her blade mid-swing.
Blake's breath hitched. Impossible—!
Meijin's voice remained calm. "If you hesitate, you lose."
A sudden burst of energy from Legend Gundam's palm sent Hellcat Gundam tumbling backward.
Ren and Blake regrouped, breathing hard.
"We're barely touching him," Ren muttered.
Blake gritted her teeth. "We need to push harder."
---
Jaune panted inside his cockpit. The battle was intense, but he wasn't going to back down.
Meijin's voice came through.
"You are improving, Jaune Arc. But not fast enough."
Jaune's hands tightened around the controls.
"No more hesitation."
He activated NT-D Mode.
ARC Gundam surged forward at impossible speeds, clashing blades with Legend Gundam once again.
This time—
Jaune didn't react—he attacked.
A rapid barrage of Beam Tonfa strikes forced Meijin on the defensive, the sheer aggression catching him off guard.
Jaune pushed beyond his limits, his Gunpla matching Meijin's speed for the first time.
A single, powerful Beam Magnum shot fired—aiming straight for Legend Gundam.
Meijin's eyes widened slightly.
So… you've finally arrived at the battlefield.
The battle was far from over.
And for the first time—
Jaune Arc was fighting like a true warrior.
Jaune's NT-D-enhanced ARC Gundam clashed with Meijin Kawaguchi's Legend Gundam Custom, the battlefield illuminated by the furious exchange of beam sabers, energy blasts, and afterimage-filled maneuvers. Every movement felt like a heartbeat, the tension crackling between them as Jaune fought at his absolute limit.
But even with the NT-D System, even with ARC Gundam pushing beyond its limits, Jaune could feel it—
He was still a step behind.
Meijin was effortless, like the battle had already been decided long before it even began.
And then—
Jaune saw it.
For a brief second, through the lightning-fast clashes and the overwhelming pressure, he realized—
Meijin wasn't just reacting.
He was controlling the flow of battle.
Every movement, every counterattack—he was always a step ahead, guiding Jaune into a losing position without him realizing.
Jaune's eyes widened. This is what it means to be a master Gunpla Fighter…
The realization was sharp, but there was no time to celebrate.
Meijin's Legend Gundam twisted mid-air, evading Jaune's next strike and thrusting a palm out—
A shockwave of energy burst from its frame, sending ARC Gundam skidding backward.
The battle was over.
"Not bad," Meijin said, lowering his weapons. "You've learned something important today."
Jaune gritted his teeth, feeling the sweat on his forehead. "What… what did I learn?"
Meijin's voice was calm but firm.
"Control. Battle is not about who hits harder. It is about dictating the terms of engagement. You must understand not just your Gunpla's strengths but how to guide the battle to where you want it to go."
Jaune exhaled slowly. So that's why I was always one step behind…
---
The rest of Team RWBY and JNPR had experienced the same struggle. Ruby and Weiss failed to match the precision and speed of Build Strike Exceed Galaxy. Yang and Pyrrha had been overpowered by the sheer weight of strategy used by the Hyaku Shiki Kai. Ren and Blake had fought valiantly but were ultimately outmaneuvered. Lastly, Nora that first to be defeated because of her recklessness.
Each of them sat in silence for a moment, processing the lesson.
"We… lost," Ruby admitted, finally catching her breath.
"But we learned something," Pyrrha added, a small smile forming despite the exhaustion.
Yang grinned, rolling her shoulders. "Man, I thought I could power through, but it's not just about brute force, huh?"
Weiss exhaled, her usual arrogance softened. "We were predictable. They dictated the battle from start to finish."
Blake nodded. "We need to fight smarter… not just harder."
Meijin's voice came over the comms once again.
"You all have potential. You just need to refine it. Mastery isn't about being the strongest—it's about knowing how to control the battlefield. That is your first lesson."
Silence followed. Then—
Nora suddenly spoke up.
"Wait… what time is it?"
Ren glanced at the time display in his cockpit. His eyes widened. "Oh no…"
Jaune's face paled.
"IT'S ALMOST CURFEW!"
---
The simulation ended, and the group scrambled out of the Gunpla battle pods, realizing that they had completely lost track of time.
"Quick! Back to Beacon before we get detention!" Ruby shouted, practically flying out the door.
The team rushed through the GBSC, hastily grabbing their things as Kazuma and Aria watched with mild amusement.
"Guess they got carried away," Kazuma muttered with a smirk.
Aria chuckled. "It means they were having fun."
Meijin Kawaguchi, arms crossed, simply observed. As the last of them dashed out the door, he murmured to himself—
"They'll become great Gunpla Fighters… if they keep learning."
And with that, Team RWBY and JNPR raced through the city, desperately trying to make it back to Beacon before curfew, laughter and shouts filling the air.
For all the lessons in battle, some things never changed.
---
To be Continued