Fire Swept through the hallway of the house. Scorching all that lay in its path. Filling the house with a thick smoke. Choking the small child hiding in the closet. His fear not cause b the fire but the monsters sound of hundreds of pounding feet caused the ground to tremble as they destroyed everything in their paths. Cowering in the corner of the small closet the light of the fire illuminating the inside of the closet
The child waited for the embrace of death. The sound of the pounding feet was suddenly quiet. All that could be heard was the crackling of the raging fire. All at once an explosion of noise pierced the silence as a battle commenced moving around the house. Howls of pain growing louder as the monsters fell to their foe. Slowly the sound of steps could be heard approaching the closet. The door was ripped from its hinges and the child looked up expecting one of the monsters. Instead, he saw a woman.
8 Years later
Opening the door to the house I headed toward the bathroom for a quick shower after my long day of in the mirror I saw the results of my hard work. Being only twelve my muscles were nowhere close to being big. However, they were well defined. Being five foot one also helped yo make me an inch taller than most kids my age. Feeling proud I quickly got in the shower
Twenty minutes later I left the bathroom to search the house for the only other resident. Moving down the main hallway Of the house began checking rooms. Heading toward the family room I heard a noise come from the kitchen. Turning the corner I found the source of the at the table was a tall woman with long white and red hair. Wearing combat armor that matched the color of her hair. Her armor complimented her Athletic build as she packed a variety of gear into a bag. Looking up her red eyes met my own.
"Where are you going." I asked. She smiled "I was assigned a recon mission to check out some Grimm activity, but it's not just me going. You're coming along." "Wait seriously. Aria you never take me on missions" grinning as I couldn't wait to leave. Continuing to place gear in her bag she replied "I've been training you for years and I believe you're ready for some live action. Now go pack your gear we leave in an hour." Sitting in the bullhead we flew towards the designated landing zone deep inside Grimm territory. Looking out the door the view below was astounding. Mixes of all types of trees littered the ground ranging in all sizes and colors. "Don't Fall Boone. Not even your Aura would save you from a drop this high up" Aria shouted over the torrent of wind.
Leaning back in I looked at her while she concentrated on checking her gear and weapons. Deciding to do the same I made sure all my gear was secure. Strapped to my left hip was a .44 magnum loaded with fire dust rounds. On my back in a simple sheath was my falchion hardened using dust so it could cut through Grimm with ease. Next I checked my armor to make sure none of the straps were loose. Almost identical to Aria's minus that it was smaller and colored white and black. Looking up Aria was wearing her armor while her hair was in a braid reaching down to the small of her back. Attached to each of her hips was a kukri. Each had the ability to have the blade detach on a chain so they could be used like a kusarigama. Looking up at me she smiled "This is a standard recon mission. In and out." "How long will it be" I responded. "We get picked up at 1700 hours." Checking her watch "That gives us about 6 hours." Wow this would be an easy first mission. Kill some Grimm explore a little then go home. I thought to myself.
Jumping out of the bullhead we hit the ground and quickly headed into the forest. The site from the trees was nothing compared to looking up through the canopy. Rays of sun pierced the canopy falling hundreds of feet the showing the forest floor. Signs of life were everwhere from the call of wild birds to the footprint of Ursa all around.
Moving slowly and carefully as not reveal ourselves we headed west towards the mission zone. After an hour of walking in eerie silence we reached the clearing. Opening up to an area the size of a football stadium with large purple crystal piercing through the ground. Laying in the center was a large crack in the ground. A black ooze seeped out forming a pool that spread through cracks in the ground. The ooze moved and shifted in the pool spreading farther and farther than receding as if alive.
Slowly moving towards the crack we watched for any sign of uninvited guests. Aria Looked at me and held up her hand indicating to hold where I was. Not looking back she said "I'm gonna check that out get ready for anything." Pulling out my sword and revolver I gripped the falchion in my right hand. Cocking the hammer of the magnum back I looked at the tree line for any signs of Grimm.
Aria approached the crack cautiously. Stepping in between the web of ooze as it moved attempting to grab hold of her. While Aria approached the pool I turned around to cover are backs so no uninvited Grimm could attack. Seeing movement along the tree lines I raised my weapons ready for a fight. Before I could even pull the trigger I heard Aria scream "Oh Shit." Spinning around I saw what had caused a trained huntress to have such fear in her voice. A figure was pulling itself free from the pool. The creature stood and turned to face us. Standing at 7 feet tall the creature was humanoid with long black claws. Is head was a large bone mask with red markings and red piercing eyes. Hunched over the creature looked at use as darkness seemed to flow off its body.
Turning toward me Aria screamed "Run" but was too late. Out of the woods poured hundreds of Grimm. Groups of Beowolves and Ursa heading straight toward us. Tumbling over each other the Grimm had only one intent. To kill. "We have to fight Their is no way we are going to out run them." Aria stopped pulling her weapons out of her sheaths. Doing the same I turned toward the horde of Grimm ready to fight.
The first group Beowolves came down on use running at full speed. Setting my stance I ran toward the group not waiting for them to strike. Ducking below a Beowulf's attack I unloaded a round into its skull. Not looking back to check I moved onto the next target. After dispatching three other Grimm including a Ursa I stopped to catch my breathe. This was a rookie mistake as I was quickly surrounded. Planting my feet I slid my magnum into its sheath the clicked a button on the side of my swords hilt. The handle extended to fit both my hands comfortably while the blade extended to a four and a half foot blade.
To my left Aria was expertly taking out Grimm with ease. Weaving between Grimm she would slice deep wounds into weak points along their armor disabling and killing them. Standing back Aria let her kukri extend into the kusarigama form. Heavy weights on the handle fell down connected together by a chain while the kukri's blade turned ninety degrees forming the scythes. Wielding the kusarigama Aria was able to kill Grimm quickly like any skilled warrior. Spinning the blades chain she sent a blade into the eye of an Ursa and the other into a Beowolfs chest. Pulling the chain free she sent them again and again at the group of Grimm. Soon very few remained with the ability to come after her while others lay bleeding to death from fatal wounds.
Impressed by my teachers work I focused back to the Grimm surrounding me. With my sword in its two handed mode it was slower and harder to swing but could cleave an Ursa in half. Focusing on my stance I held the blade to my left and charge forward toward the bear like Ursa. Stopping in front of the Ursa I planted my foot and swung disemboweling it. Another Ursa charged from behind me and another to my left. Spinning I sent the blade through one of the Ursa arms and into the others neck. A Beowolf pounced toward my before I could react knocking me over. Pulling my magnum from its holster I sent three rounds into its heart. Pulling myself free I made my way toward my sword laying quite a distance away. Keeping any Grimm back using the magnum I reached my sword picking it up. Clicking the button it returned to its one handed form. Reloading I prepared to resume the fight. The Grimm didn't have the same idea as they sunk back to the forest. This was unheard of Grimm never fled in terror.
From Behind me a large claw grasped me around my neck lifting from the ground. Before I could fight its grip I felt my energy leave my body. The creature holding me was none other than the one who had climbed out of the black ooze. The grip began to tighten cutting off my air flow. Feeling a rush of adrenaline I pointed my magnum at where I thought its head was and fired.
The shot pierced through its shoulder causing the grip to loosen. Pulling myself free I hit the ground gasping for air as it once again flowed into my lungs. Aria had already began attacking the creature with the rage that a Ursa Major would be afraid of. Using her kukri Aria slid between the Grimms legs and cut across the back of its knees forcing it to fall. Aiding her I ran toward the Grimm with my falchion ready to slice it in two. The Grimm sat up on its knees as I swung my blade into its shoulder. Pulling the blade free the wound left was six inches deep leaving the arm barely attached to its torso.
The proud feeling of landing such a devastating blow did not last as the Grimm stood. With panic in my voice I shouted at Aria "How is it doing that your attack should have crippled it." The open wound on the shoulder started to mend itself as black liquid bubbled out from the wound then hardened into sleek black skin once again. "Shit it can regenerate." aria spoke then turned to me. "We need to hit it with everything we have so it can't regenerate." Nodding in response I waited for Aria to make the first move.
Running behind Aria we rushed the regenerator using a strategy we had been practicing. Aria threw her kusarigama at the regenerators legs wrapping them in chains. Pulling on them the Regenerator fell to its back as I vaulted over Aria slamming the blade into its chest. Aria in returned pulled on the chain splitting the regenerator in half from the chest up. Removing the chains from its legs the regenerator rose to its feet already fixing the large wound. Swing my sword like a bat I bisected the regenerator where it was cut in two casing it to fall into three pieces.
Pulling back together the regenerator bashed me with the back of its hand knocking me off my feet. Luckily my Aura had protected me from any damage. "I have one more idea we can use." shouted Aria as she backed up from the Grimm. Using her kusarigama Aria launched the blades at the regenerator. Planting each blade in a shoulder I backed up knowing what she had in mind. Using her semblance Aria sent ice down the chain and onto the Grimm. Quickly the ice spread encasing the regenerator in ice. With a single pull on the chains the blades came free causing the Grimm to shatter into shards of ice.
Returning her weapons back into kukri Aria sheathed them and walked toward. After a deep sigh Aria said "We need to get back and tell everyone what happened. This new type of Grimm is dangerous and what ever it is made out of is unlike anything we have seen or heard of." Nodding my approval of her idea I sheathed my weapons and turned to head back the way we came.
Behind Aria the remains of the Grimm liquefied and gathered forming a puddle of black liquid. moving the liquid sped towards the pool it had come from. "What the hell. Is it still not dead." I said surprisingly. "I don't know but I would rather not stay to find out. Let's go." said Aria as she turned and headed for the landing zone.
Before we could move ten feet a Grimm sprung from the pond. Larger than before the Grimm now stood at eight feet with bulkier muscles and sharper claws. The air around the Grimm shimmered as the ooze hardened into a black armor instead of the skin it had before. Simultaneously we spoke saying "Son of a bitch!."
Pulling are weapons free we once again prepared to kill the Grimm. Before we could move the Grimm slammed into me sending me flying onto my back. Aria moved to attack slicing her blade across its back only for it to skip off. Hunching low the Grimm lunged at me with its claws open and ready to split me in two. Pulling my sword up as quickly as I could I sliced at my oncoming attacker. As my sword made contact the blade snapped as the Grimm once again slammed into me. Expecting to have been sliced in half I quickly got to my feet. My sword may have been broken but it had caused the Grimms attack to fail.
The Grimm did not give me time prepare for its next attack as it sent its claws towards me. Aria was ready as she wrapped the chain of her kusarigama around each of its arms. The Grimm couldn't move as Aria held it in place. Pointing my magnum at its head I began firing. Shot after shot hit cracking the bone mask in between the eyes. This only seemed to piss it off as its eyes turned a darker red. Pulling on the chains the Grimm over powered Aria ripping her off her feet. Using the momentum from being pull Aria ran at the Grimm and planted a kick on its head creating a larger crack in its mask. With even more rage the Grimm pulled on the chains immobilizing it till the chain snapped and fell free. As the Grimm moved toward Aria she used the only weapon she had left her semblance. Sending shards of ice at the Grimm the make shift projectiles began piercing holes in its armor. Sending ice across the ground Aria encased the Grimms feet in ice then continued bombarding it with ice.
With a loud roar the Grimm shattered the ice around its feet. With a single bound the Grimm landed in front of Aria and slammed a fist into her knocking her to the ground. Picking her up by the hair she screamed in pain as she was suspended above the ground looking right into its eyes. Pulling myself off the ground I charged the Grimm with my broken blade hoping to free Aria from its grasp. Not even glancing at me the Grimm slashed at me with its free claw cutting through my aura and my face. Blood poured from the wounds clouding my vision as I looked at the Grimm. As the Grimm pulled a shard of ice from its chest Aria screamed "Boone run you can't fight it. Just Run!" using the shard like a dagger the Grimm thrust it into her abdomen then tossed her at me.
Catching her I cradled her in my arms as blood spilled out of the wound. With tears pouring out of her eyes Aria held up a hand caressing my face. "Boone, I'm so sorry. We never should have come here. Just know that I love you, and that you must leave me and run." As she spoke her last words began to die off. Leaning up she kissed my forehead. Laying still I pulled her body close sobbing into her. "No, No you can't leave me. Your all I have left." tears poured down my face mixing with the blood on my face as they hit the ground. Laying Arias body on the ground I stood and faced the Grimm.
The Grimm looked at me and our eyes met. Feeling the rage burn inside of me I held my shattered blade in my hand. I could feel the air around me burn as my rage flowed freely. Black fire began to flow off my body till it engulfed my entire body. Knowing exactly what it was I moved toward the Grimm. Using the Power of my semblance the broken sword in my hand became engulfed in flame then hardened forming a new black blade to replace the broken one.
Stepping toward the Grim I lifted the sword ready to fight. The Grimm quickly ran toward me swiping its claw at my chest. Sidestepping I dodged the attack parrying with a strike across its back causing a deep gash to from. Not waiting to give the Grimm a chance to attack I sent a downward strike into its arm severing it from the body. With a loud snarl the Grimm lunged and bit down upon my arm. The attack didn't break my Aura and instead the Grimm was burned by the flames. With a single thrust I pierced the Grimms chest. Looking into its eyes I summoned all of my anger and rage into the blade. My anger rose as I remembered the night when my family was killed, the taunts from other kids for spending all my time training and now being left all alone in this world because this Grim killed my only remaining family.
The fire surrounding me grew hotter and darker as it fed off my anger. The light around seemed to be enveloped in the black flame as it expanded. With the blade in the Grimms chest it entire body began to burn. Not turning into ash but being pulled into the fire. The Grimm looked into my eyes as it felt fear for the first time. As the Grimm disintegrated I could feel its life force enter me. It was not a soul but something darker more evil. Soon nothing remained to burn and the fire died off and darkness enveloped my mind as I hit the ground.