The Immortal and the Great War

Ozpin sat in his office, the new school year was about to begin and there were many individuals he saw with great potential. One even had the gall to forge transcripts to get in. He was about to refute the individual immediately until he had met the young man in the interview and changed his opinion immediately, even keeping the information withheld from his assistant. He was looking forward to watching these individuals grow. They reminded him of himself, he then remembered back when his master told him of eight individuals that fought in a war that would shake the very foundations of the future of this world that is now. He was told that, without them, he would not be sitting in this very chair right now ushering a new era. Where he trained hunters and huntresses to protect their very own futures and goals. There was one detail that plagued his mind about that story though. His teacher had told him that of the eight there was one, who was seemingly immortal and that the man might still be walking even after he himself passed. He had asked the details but, his teacher simply said that the story was passed down from generation to generation and does not know the fine details.

As Ozpin was lost in thought. A stranger had entered his quarters, which he flinched slightly at not expecting to be surprised for he hasn't been surprised like this in a while.

"We need to talk, There isn't much time..." The man in a black and red hoodie, a pair of worn black jeans with a gauntlet in his right hand and, a simple hilt on his waist with surprisingly no blade attached to the hilt. He had messy, short black hair and, three scars running down from left to right on his face with white eyes. His serious demeanor told him everything.

"I'm listening..." gripping his cane ready for a sudden attack.

Many years ago.

He looked up while crouched down on the battlefield, his great-sword providing him support, they were fighting for what seemed like days. His soldier's uniform had cuts, gashes, and holes in it from where he had been hit. His wounds healed instantly and, even he himself considered it a curse, while others that on looked envied his seemingly immortal body. He got up as he saw more beowolves flood out the forest, hellbent on besieging the castle he now defended with 12 teams of four huntsmen along with a few dozen soldiers. He his own team was awaiting his command.

Edward, his best friend. favored dual broadswords and was itching to let loose. His short gray hair was soaked in sweat, he was wearing the standard uniform everyone was forced to wear which was long sleeve gray shirt and pants.

Bruno still recalled Edward complaining to him non-stop of how bland it was.

Rachel, who was a person he cared for more than anyone was to the right of him with her hand on his shoulder katana still sheathed on her left. She had Long black hair, which was now slightly ragged over the course of the fight. She was a bunny faunas so she was quick and agile.

Kenta, her brother, simply held up his tower shield and positioned his lance ready for orders. His hair was similar to Bruno's but...more well kept. He had shorter ears than his sister probably due to being a male. He chose the shield and lance despite being of an agile background, he was however still fast, even his team considers him a monster in his own right.

His team understood his gestures and proceeded in formation. There was no talking in the field, it would waste too much energy. Talking was taboo unless urgent, a rule he had established when he was still training with his team.

He heard his best friend say, "Breaks over!" despite their rule, as they all charged into the fray.

The formation allowed them to cover each other's blind spots.

"Bruno! There's Reginald's team! It looks like they need backup!" Bruno glanced over shortly after beheading a beowolf with his massive great-sword, eyeing the situation carefully.

He saw that were were not as many wolves on their side and that made him slightly suspicious but, he made the call, "Edward! Kenta! Back up Arc's team! We've got it handled here!" nodding at Rachel who acknowledge the order falling into their second formation meant for two people.

"GOT IT!" They both rushed over to Reginald Arc's team.

"I hope you know what your doing, with this we have to work extra hard!" As she dashed with her leader cutting many beowolves down along with her leader.

"It looks like your enjoying it though!" He smirked as he did a 180 cleave outward releasing a red auric wave killing many beowolves at once.

"Yea and your aura reserves are insane...Even I can't do those, at least in those sizes." Flourishing her katana flawlessly gutting four beowolves that surrounded them.

"Focus..." Bruno's eyes steeled as he saw a red alpha beowolf which in itself was a rare occurrence. His hunches were right as at least twenty alpha beowolves had followed suit.

"Retreat towards the gates!" he shouted at his teammate, "If we are spread this thin. Bad Red over here will pick us off one by one!" as he backs up with her.

"Right!" She kept retreating hitting any beowolves with a retreating slash, Bruno doing the same.

As the 12 teams and army were literally next to the castle moat bridge, the beowolves were in a massive horde.

Everything was looking bleak when two leaders stepped forward towards the beowolves.

"Arc."

"Sieg."

Both of their auras flashed a brilliant red and white. Both shout a chant to rally their teams and allies.

"We are the defenders of Mankind! We never falter! We never abandon our kin! Let this be a testament to our future! We will fight or die trying!" They practically screamed.

With that many auras were ablaze and the soldiers were roaring, making the horde shrink backward still sneering, all except the red beowolf which howled looking right at Bruno.

"I'm guessing it wants a duel," He puts a hand on Arc's shoulder and looks at all the respective leaders, "I'll handle it." and walks towards the Red wolf.

After a short silence , only the sneers of the beowolves to be heard, Bruno witnessed the red beowolf disappear. He quickly closed his eyes and concentrated, focusing on his target alone. He noticed fast movement which was getting closer to him by the second. He opened his eyes and blocked a giant red claw aimed to shred his body from top to bottom. The red monster disappeared again only to re-appear behind Bruno which he promptly blocks again. Bruno shrugs the weight off his great-sword and begins his counter attack. He swung his blade vertically with his left as the monster dodges out of the way, seeing as it was an opportunity to exploit Bruno's open state, lunged back at him. Bruno barely dodged earning him a claw to the face, though it was not deep enough to cause serious injury.

"No!" Before Rachel could join, she was stopped by Edward and Kenta nodding their heads side to side.

Bruno staggered a bit using his great-sword as a crutch but, through his blood clouded eyes he could make out the monster lunging at him again, mouth open ready to tear his neck out. He shot aura into his arm and sidestepped to the left, earning him the perfect counter. He shot his hand out at the red monster's neck grabbing it and squeezing it, while using pure force to put the monster flat on its back. He grunts as he lifts it back up not letting his grip go. It made a painful whine as it was dragged back up. Bruno releases his grip and twists around as it fell back down. Its hind legs smacked the ground and the creature's neck was met with a hefty greatsword slicing right through it, its severed head rolled towards the horde of beowolves.

The lesser alpha beowolves howled and began to charge in. The humans and faunas all began to run into the fray once more. Cannons and rifles could be heard on the bridge and top of the castle walls.

The fight dragged on for a couple more hours. The horde shrunk back towards the dark forest. Many soldiers and teams lost members either too injured to fight again or died in battle. Only Reginald's and Bruno's team were mostly unscathed.

Bruno looked at his reflection in the water. "Despite high healing ability and 'assumed' immortality, even I cannot escape scars." he chuckled as he felt the three new scars running down from right to left, where he had taken a hit from the red alpha beowolf.

"Its not that bad at least your alive, you could of died back there." Rachel sat down next to her leader. "Plus I think it adds to your style." stifling a laugh. Then she looked at him with longing eyes, "Say...when this is all over...um"

He looked over as to why she had stopped. She was sitting there with her uniform slightly torn at the sleeves and pants having many tears but, no visual cuts on her exposed skin, twiddling her it was not as much as his uniform honestly.

He asks, "Yea? What is it Rachel?"

She blushed a bit but, there wasn't many chances like this, "W-would you like to um, like to,-"

"What is it, something the matter?" He put his head closer to check her temperature, "You seem fine..."

This makes her red up to her ears, "I-I-I ...would you like to go out with me when all this is over!" Closing her eyes, along with her rabbit ears facing downward.

Bruno relaxes when he hears this and honestly he was happy for he had, had feelings for her a long time ago. "Well," He pulled her in closer hearing an 'eep' escape her. "We'll just have to see about that," He said in her ear. She opened her eyes to see Bruno right in front of her face which made her bright red. He smiled as she kept her eyes on him. "Though," He got closer, "I'm going to be selfish and take this as collateral..." He pulled her in for a kiss. She laid her arms around his neck, grasped at his black hair, he entered her mouth which she made an audible moan as the kiss intensified. They pulled away only due to lack of oxygen and stared at each other.

"I'll ask you out properly after all this is over, the kiss however I am keeping." He smiled.

She blushed for the hundredth time that night as he took his hand to pull her up and headed towards the command tent.

Command Tent

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we have been fighting a long war with these creatures that we have named Grimm, from the looks of it, many kingdoms are suffering fates similar to our own here in Vale. Dark times are looking ahead of us. The last line of defense is weakening slowly and we are losing valuable men and women everyday in the many skirmishes of defense and siege," Commander Higgs paces back and forth while continuing, "Do not despair everyone! We may be able to turn this around! Its a big gamble but!"

He puts his hands on the table for a minute then points towards two spots on the map that are not too far from Vale's borders, "We may be able to seal these dark creatures! If we can pull this off we can clean up a fair amount of the Grimm already in this world...Though...we can only send two teams for this looking at our forces," as he surveys the room which had less than 30 huntsmen in the huge tent, "That has already been decided also." As the hands that were up were shot down,

He motioned, "Bruno's team will hit the area to the left of Vale while Reginald Arc's team will hit the other...Rest up all of you, we will be here waiting of your return and we will hold the fort down as long as we can for your safe return..." He salutes everyone and walks out.

Outside Tent

"Arc, good luck!" Bruno sticks his hand out.

"You too my friend. May we be victorious." Shaking his hand.

"Oh, and if one of our teams were to never return...but, the mission is accomplished...even if it wasn't your teams doing... Take the credit. These people need Heroes!" Bruno says with full confidence.

"Hopefully that does not happen but, if such a situation should happen then which ever team is back home will take the credit." shaking hands with the man one more time. Then adds in, "If we both make it, we both take credit." smiling

"Deal, even though we don't particular care about glory!" as they both laugh wholeheartedly, "Now if you excuse me Arc, I have a certain someone to meet." Bruno walks off.

"Have fun with Rachel!"

"You're too sharp Arc!" he shouted back not looking back.

This mission boosted the moral of all the soldiers and hunters combined. If they succeeded the war would be over.

Two days later at the temple.

The temple had strange black markings on the inside. They were similar to the ones on the outside yet these were way more ominous. Large, wide, uneven steps littered the way up, pillars were in perfect alignment on both sides guiding the way all the way up. Bruno's Team had been fighting the whole way. Piles of grimm were laid out along with what seemed like a fountain of black blood. The horde was never ending and it only seemed to get worse as they neared the peak with glowing blue ruins at the top.

"There's too many!" Edward leaped back while swinging his blades in retreating fashion fatigue was setting in for everyone.

"WE can't falter here!" Bruno charges in front of Edward Kenta following suit, pummeling and slashing many various grimm in the way. The sealing altar was in sight, surrounded by a horde of grimm.

"Move!" Rachel's left hand emits a purple light, she shot outwards towards Bruno and Kenta her brother. Both dodge out of the way with the purple beam shooting past the line of the horde. Shortly after, a path is made as many grimm literally disintegrate. The team as a whole rushes in the newly made gap, Bruno taking point bashing any new grimm out of the way with this large sword and Kenta taking the rear.

"This is crazy!" Edward slashes at anything stupid enough to get in their reach. He looked towards where their destination and adrenaline rushed as he saw they were literally three steps away.

The three form a semi circle to protect their leader as he ran up to the middle of the altar.

Bruno saw ancient markings embroidered on the side. He touched the middle and it seemed to do nothing. They were given no prior knowledge on what to do when they were actually there. Their only job was to actually seal whatever gate this led to. He kept his hand on the altar as he contemplated on slicing it in half or to search around. He didn't have time for the latter. He was about to pull his hand away reaching for his great-sword when everything seemed to go distant.

"Immortal One cursed to never die, the one who will oversee the worlds growth with his own hands. You who defies fate itself. This chamber is only half the puzzle, fortunately for you, the one you call Reginald Arc has accomplished the other half of the task, unfortunately for you... the rest of your team will die here...leaving only you." Bruno looked around but to no avail it was completely dark. He listened to the last words and wanted to get out of this state. He wanted to save them to get them out of the temple.

A blood hurling scream pulled him out of the trance. He ran up and looked over at his team still defending. Only Edward was in the inner circle blood rushing out of the new gash that laid across his chest.

"Shit!" He jumped down and tended to Edward who was shaking horrendously. "Stay with me!" He ripped his sleeves off and attempted to stop the bleeding.

Edward was coughing uncontrollably as he looked up at Bruno. "I-" He had coughed up a good amount of blood.

'Not good that means it was filling up his lungs' As Bruno desperately tried to apply aura and pressure to the gash.

"I-I won't make it bud..." He hears Bruno's distant yelling. Everything was going dark, he wanted to stay, there were still grimm out there fighting the rest of his team.

The light faded his green eyes and his face deathly pale.

Bruno closed his dead dilated eyes. "Rest in peace my friend." He stood up and pulled out his great-sword. "You soulless bastards..." Aura seeped out from his shoulders, his eyes turned red, he looked to his left and right to see Kenta and Rachel struggling, they were clearly fatigued. Before he could make a move, the temple shook, the pillars began to fall, and small rocks fell from the ceiling. He snapped out of his rage and yelled out to his two remaining team members while passing a regretful look towards his fallen best friend.

"We have to get out of here!" He crushed his emotions and leaped in front of his two remaining teammates and poured aura into his sword, slashed vertically emitting a dark red aura wave clearing a huge path. "GO!" as the trio dashed into the gap.

The rumbling getting progressively more violent as they neared the entrance clearing hordes of grimm out of the way.

The horde was persistent as Bruno was constantly sending out waves. Clearing major gaps only to make half the distance, only to be filled with dozens of more grimm. He could not do this forever however as the fatigue started to set in, his reserve was massive he knew but, he was still human so mental and physical limits still applied to him.

The temple entrance was in sight. They were pretty much home free until a red ursa major, a red boarbatusk, and another red alpha beowolf showed up at the entrance.

"We have to get past them!" Bruno charges forward as the trio of monsters charge right at him. Bruno dodges the claw attack of the Ursa yet he has no time to punish the ursa due to the boar charging at him shortly after the stroke. It caused him to jump, seeing a claw coming at him to the side. He blocks the claw swipe of the beowolf sending him towards the entrance. Rachel and Kenta are now in-between monsters and himself.

Rachel and Kenta smile bitterly as they both send out restraint glyphs on the trio of monsters. "Go! We'll hold them!"

"No! I can't leave you here, we do NOT leave each other behind!" Bruno lunges at the stuck ursa major but, the ursa still manages to block him sending him backwards losing his sword in the process.

"None of us will make it out alive if these three come out with us and you know we cannot move during this spell without it weakening! GO! NOW!" Rachel looks at him with tears streaming down her face.

Bruno screams and was about to go against their orders when a glyph appears in front of him.

"Sorry Bruno, I can't see you dieing here," Kenta had fired another glyph sending Bruno spiraling out of the entrance of the temple shortly after the rocks began to fall the whole mountain seem to collapse inward much to Bruno's horror.

"No! No! No! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!" He smacked the entrance of what used to be the temple.

His grief is cut off short by snarls and growls.

He stays silent as he reaches for his great-sword, which wasn't there, the great-sword must of been left inside the temple. Anger and rage takes over as his whole body is reinforced with aura, he takes up a fighting stance and charges forward.

One day later Vale Castle

Reginald Arc had returned with his team, they weren't in the best shape but, they were victorious.

"The gate has been sealed! We are victorious! Only the current grimm remain!" The man shouted at the castle gate. Shortly after, there was a large roar from the soldiers and hunters with raised moral.

Evening had fallen and the horde never seemed to come that night, Reginald guessed the majority of the horde was taken out by his team and Bruno's team which he didn't see at all for the past eight hours. He was growing worried and was constantly reassured by his teammate Mika, that they were alright and that Bruno was an exceptional leader, rivaling even the Arc's leadership skills which he did not doubt whatsoever. His team was truly fearsome in its own right but, Bruno's team and teamwork were a level of their own. His hopes dropped when he stepped out of the castle gates to see the what the men reported.

There stood a lone Bruno, his uniform shredded, dried blood all over his pants and shirt both his own and what seemed like grimms. He wasn't smiling and he wasn't rejoicing. He knew the look in his eyes too well, it was the look of regret and despair. Reginald ran out to help the ragged warrior into the castle which Bruno simply just let him. All he could hear from the warrior was the words 'I'm sorry. I couldn't save you all.' as he was pulled into the medical tent.

The doctors dismissed Bruno right away, he had no visible injuries, only numerous scars across his chest, most of them old scars but, Reginald saw numerous new ones. He eyed Bruno and asked a bold question.

"What happened back there? What happened to Rachel,Edward, and Kenta?" He looked at at the reaction of the warrior and immediately regretted it.

"They're dead Arc, Edward died protecting me while I investigated the rune at the top. Rachel and Kenta..." He pulled his hand into fists, his eyes hardened looking down. "Three red monsters attacked us...All with unimaginable strength worthy of their status. The temple was collapsing on top of us there was no time to fight them off. We were already fatigued and probably could not fight all three off regardless." He shot his head up looking at the ceiling and continued, "Rachel and Kenta were put behind the monsters and myself which was now at the entrance after I had dodged their numerous attacks..." He fought back the urge to spill his emotions, "They activated their restraint glyphs, it took the two of them to even slow down all three at once, they told me to get out of there, I couldn't leave them behind."

"We do not leave our kin behind." Arc stated

"Yes we do not." Bruno continued, "I was not about to let them! I was more than willing to die with them but, they-," Tears now streaming down his face without his notice, "Kenta hit me with a glyph that hurled me out of the entrance as the temple crumbled inward, crushing everything under it." He smacked his thigh, "Damn it! I was useless! I hold this much power!" He stretched out his arm a great-sword appearing on his right hand which was red, embroidered with ancient symbols and with the ancient symbols appearing on his arm, "Yet I wasn't able to save my friends!"

Arc put his hand on his shoulder, "Its not your fault Bruno, There was nothing you could do, If anything take the blessing your friends have given you at a chance at life and live it for all of them." He didn't need to encourage the warrior as he stood up.

"I know...I will live, I will live enough lifetimes for all of them." He looked at Arc with a serious face. "I know I will." his red eyes from the tears beamed at him full of determination.

"Good, we are huntsmen, and heroes and most of all human living along side faunas. Come let us report to the commander and I'll be sure to put them on the list of heroes including yourself." taking the hand of his friend Bruno pulling him up as they walked towards the commander's tent.

The next few months were cleaning up grimm infested areas and working back relations with other kingdoms which ushered a time of prosperity. At least for now.

The three killed in action were given the highest honor, with their medals stored within the hall of fame within the castle. Bruno had disappeared after the ceremony on the day that was considered the end point of the war.