Chapter One: Looming Darkness; Part 1.

It wasn't long until night fell over the city of Vale. Its streets grew quite as its citizens turned in early after the events that had transpired that evening. For decades, the city of Vale had remained secluded from the outside turmoil of the grim infested wastelands that surrounded all but it's western sea border. The people lived in peace, and many were unaware as to just how close their fair city was to the very creatures that threaten their very lives.

After the seal on the Mountain Glenn rail system was breached by the legions of grim, the Vale citizens received a taste of just what it was that lurked in the shadows beyond the safety of their city walls. Families kept to themselves; their doors locked and window shades shut tight as store fronts closed early for the evening. The shattered moon in the skies above the city seemed to shine less brilliantly this night. An eerie gloom had seemed to shroud Vale in an aura of fear and uncertainty.

Aside from the occasional Atlesian knight on the street corners, and the muffled sound of a local hunter patrolling across the rooftops, the entire city was completely void of any trace of life within its walls. Martial law had taken effect in order to help quell the worries of the people and give rekindle their mental state of security and happiness. Meanwhile, a revelation steadily reached across the lands of Remnant to the minds of it's leader. A revelation that threatened to inject fear and distress among not just those in Vale, but all the safe havens for mankind. Against the outside forces of grim, the cities were vulnerable.

The forests outside of Vale reeked with the smell of blood and carnage. Two male faunus soldiers bearing masks of monsters walked among the trees just outside their company's temporary camp. After the premature execution of their groups plan, the soldiers were forced to abandon their now grim and military infested caves under Mountain Glenn. The two soldiers patrolled casually around their camp; making sure the area was free of any imminent threat of the grim who inhabited the region.

"You liar," one of the soldiers said, "You ain't never even seen one of those goliath things, let alone seen someone take one out."

"Honest, I swear!" the other replied, "I saw the boss take it out himself! Man you should've seen it. I don't think even those Atlesian gunships could take one of those things down so quickly."

The first soldier looked back at the other with surprise, "You think? I mean, I know the boss is strong but- argh!"

What seemed to be out of nowhere, a beowulf lunged out of the darkness of the forest; its tough hide slamming into the unprepared soldier. In an instant, the beast had pinned the frightened soldier below his black form. Having dropped his gun in the fall, the solder attempted to reach for his side arm only to have his arm cut and bleeding by the creatures thick claws as it beared down upon it's prey.

"Get off of him!" the second soldier shot his weapon wildly at the beast, but through the darkness and his lack of skill, the soldier's gun was little more than an annoyance to the wolf creature. The beowulf shot out his gangly arm, hitting the assaulting gunman strait in the chest; knocking him down amongst the rough rocks that littered the forested terrain.

With the second soldier down, the wolf brought its attention back to the faunas trapped beneath him. Its bloodlust growing larger by the second as it bared its fangs; a low growl emitting from its throat as it reared it's head back in preparation for the kill. The beast's red eyes stared menacingly. It's target, the soldiers throat, was within its grasp.

The soldier looked into the eyes of the monster above him, then to the razor teeth which stank of blood and death. Fear gripped the faunus's heart, for in his mind, he knew he was already dead. The soldier closed his eyes to give in to his inevitable fate as the beast lurched forward.

But where the soldier expected pain and agony, he felt nothing but a ringing in his ears from the sound of a gunshot and the trembling of the beast above him as a sword shot through the creatures head; lodging the blade within its skull. The soldier stared in disbelief as the creature fell over; dead. Above him, the soldier saw the form of his rescuer. He wore the same mask as himself but also wore a long black jacket that commanded authority. He had red hair which served to further accent his dark clothing.

"B-boss…" the soldier spoke in disbelief. The commanding figure reached out toward the dead grim; pulling his long katana free from the corpse's skull before sheathing it. As he did so, the creature's body twitched several times before evaporating into the air as all grim do after death claims their existence.

The creature dead, and his men safe, the commander turned to leave before making making only a single utterance. "The both of you have failed tonight. The next time you fail, there will be no one coming to rescue you."

"Yes, Sir!" the soldiers saluted together.