Wardtortle here. Back again to wrap up initiation for Daniel.
Without further ado, enjoy!
Chapter 4 - Glatteis:
Soil caved underneath the feet of the injured teen, causing everyone's jaws to drop as a small tremor shook the temple. The tremors stopped as a crater was left in the wake of Daniel's launch forward. No-one could believe the sight of a guy who could barely stand a few moments ago, charging down some old Ursai. Ren, Phyrra and Blake mentally questioned the limits of Daniel's aura. Yang and Nora grinned at how fucked those Ursai were. Ruby and Jaune almost stopped functioning entirely. The screeches of Grimm snapped the remaining eight to their senses. Both the Deathstalker and the Nevermore were steering towards the temple.
"We need to leave… now!" Ren shouted, running in the direction of the cliff. Nora followed close behind with a mad grin. Following the childhood friends, the others fired and yelled, drawing the attention of the much larger Grimm from Daniel. Said person had already bounded nearly fifty metres, aura flowing to his legs. Leaping high up above one Ursa, Daniel spun in a downwards arc, swinging his blade and using gravity to gain momentum. The wide blade bit into his target, or it would have if the Ursa had not leapt to the side unexpectedly. Earth cracked under the strike. Old Grimm were smarter due to surviving longer than most, providing a challenge to even an experienced fighter. Dancing between the two Grimm proved a challenge difficult enough to prevent Daniel from retaliating. One Ursa is slow and powerful, two slightly co-ordinated Ursai meant no openings for slashes. The dance continued for minutes on end, frustrating the teen as small cuts now decorated his clothing. Taking a risk for a solid hit, steel was thrusted to meet flesh. Flesh never met the steel, but a claw met Daniel. Bone crunched as the teen was launched sideways.
"Son of a bitch. This day just gets better" grunted Daniel, spitting a little blood. "I never came across Grimm this smart while travelling to Vale." Dodging a sweeping claw narrowly, Daniel slashed in retaliation. Meeting air once again, Daniel backed up quickly, his strikes were too slow being only one-handed and combined with his barely healing injuries. On the back foot, Daniel had to admit, his odds were poorer than if he had used his normal weapons.
It's going to hurt like a bitch, but I need my other arm. Rolling his right shoulder to warm it up, Daniel gripped his sword properly, propping it on his left shoulder. Filling his legs with aura once more, Daniel propelled forward. The Ursa before him swung downwards, hoping to grind its opponent into the ground. It only found a blade in its back. Daniel had pounced lightly over the Grimm, driving his serrated sword deep into the bear Grimm's spine. Unable to strike down the human, the other Grimm stalked around its fellow Ursa. Learning was something older Grimm did quicker than their younger counterparts. Watching a fellow Grimm have its spine ripped out provided an important lesson to the now remaining Ursa. Brutally ripping out the spine of an Ursa was no easy feat for such a brief victory. Standing on the evaporating Grimm's corpse, Daniel was exhausted of aura and patience.
Fancy some help D? Between the injuries and the lack of aura, you're pretty fucked. Echoed a sinister yet mocking voice to Daniel. Stumbling back repeatedly, the teen barely scraped away from the claws. Without a sufficient supply of aura, Daniel had no speed to avoid for long.
"No… I don't…" Daniel replied bitterly, struggling to fend off the ever-present Grimm. "…but I guess. Just… this… once. I'll allow some help before locking you away again." Steam began to pour from underneath Daniel's jacket. Unmoving, the Grimm's claw slammed down straight onto Daniel.
Whatever you say, you need me to remain sane.
Beacon Cliff:
Glynda Goodwitch was impressed by the teamwork of the eight students combatting a Deathstalker and a Nevermore. But she was concerned at the look on Ozpin's face. It contorted between interest, confusion and worry.
"Professor Ozpin? Is everything alright?" Glynda asked with open concern.
"No" Ozpin replied instantly. "I'm worried Glynda… for him. That boy is not… natural. Only one process can produce that unnatural power."
"You can't mean-"
"Once this initiation is over we need answers." Ozpin interrupted with a grave tone. "Getting them… is the problem."
Emerald Forest Temple:
Black crystals speared through the Grimm's claw, holding it inches from Daniel's face. Gazing into the soulless creature's eyes, Daniel's face twitched. A few smaller crystals formed from the steam rolling off his body, riddling down the Ursa's back. Roaring in pain, the Ursa struggled to break free from the crystals. Black blood flowed down the spears, unseen without closer inspection. Warm, the blood began to melt the crystal slowly. The crystals were made of ice, black as the Grimm it pierced.
"Glatteis… shatter and shred." An icy, demonic voice slithered from Daniel's mouth. Upon command the ice shattered, ripping the claw apart and tearing holes in the Ursa's back. Finally moving, Daniel drove his blade into the Grimm's chest, thrusting the blade back and forth systematically to saw down the body. Blood coated the ground and Daniel, evaporating in a mist similar to the steam Daniel exuded. "It's dead… now leave!" Daniel ordered the voice, finally buckling to his knees as both steam and blood faded.
Have fun with the horde of smaller Grimm then D, try not to die! The voice became more like Daniel's own, yet reverberated in his back to the temple, Daniel's eye twitched at the voice's taunts. Howls sounded from behind the injured teen, Beowolves and Creeps stalking from the treeline. You know… all this negativity isn't good for your health. Mentally and physically of course.
"Fuck off."
No can do. You can lock me away, but we... are I. The more I talk, the more you become your real self. One day you'll be forced to accept me. Dropping his sword at the base of the temple, Daniel stooped for his hand cannons. Opening up multiple ammo pouches on his jacket, each magazine was laid out evenly. Kneeling down, twin weapons in hand, Daniel aimed both towards the advancing horde. Each shot was deliberate, taking down the lesser Grimm with single rounds. Corpse piles littered the field around Daniel, howls of pain and ringing gunshots echoed around the nearby forest. You know… even if you kill them all. The others have most likely reached the cliff. Meaning you failed initiation.
"SHUT UP!" Daniel screamed, firing faster and more uncontrolled, infuriated at the voice inside his mind. "I trust them to leave me be! If I remember what I was... they'll suffer!
And we'll continue to do so if you don't! You know I'm right, WE. ARE. THE. SAME! You speak of trust and shun the one man who can help you, hiding behind a façade of false friendly and polite behaviour. Daniel Tanian is a LIE! What makes you think Ozpin will let you into Beacon now? Can you really stay as Daniel for another four years? It will break you… and it won't be pretty. That is if we survive. Shaking, his hands were shaking. The voice was right, he had hidden for years... NO! He would succeed! Locking away his past allowed him to cope. To be a good person once more!
Unable to reload both hand cannons, Daniel focused on one. A single handgun was not cutting enough of the Grimm horde down to hold them back though. Daniel's aim faltered, shots went stray, only slowing or crippling the bone-armoured beasts before him. For the first time in four years, fear flooded Daniel's body. Twitching his trigger finger, clicks of an empty magazine greeted his ears once more.
I'm a selfish, proud and now dead bastard. And I'll die without purpose. Got any smart-ass remarks V? Daniel's last question did not go unanswered as a Beowolf bore down on him.
Nah, don't need one. Although… you do make more sense when we merge. I guess I'm a good influence on you. Plus you will look pathetic in 3… 2…. An explosion from the distance reached the defeated teen, followed up by the closest Beowolf having its skull pulverised into the stone. 1…
"SMASH!" Nora screamed, revelling in driving a Grimm face first into oblivion. Converting her hammer into its grenade launcher form, pink projectiles bombarded the horde to provide much welcome breathing space. Rescue had come in the form of Nora of all people. Daniel slumped in relief as his adrenaline rush faded. Pain rushed through his ribs and right arm since he had next to no aura left to heal them. All the chaos before him blurred, only the distinct colours of pink, white, red and green were identifiable to Daniel. Muffled screams of combat and orders tried to worm into Daniel's skull. All he could remember though, was a sickening crunch as he met the stone temple beneath him. Memories flooded to fill the emptiness.
"I still believe he is too young for the process sir. The mental strain could break him like the others."
…
"I can give you a home for a while kid, teach you a few things on the side if you help me."
…
"Honestly… you're better than me and it's only been three years. Go find a life you deserve Daniel. Don't waste your potential in hiding."
…
Before anyone asks, Glatteis means black ice in German.
As always, leave reviews or PMs I really appreciate the advice. On top of that I'm currently planning a new fic, details for OC suggestions are on my profile. No winners of my little game yet but it is early days.
See you next chapter!
Wardtortle out!