Chapter 10 everybody, I think it will be a good one, but I don't know. I write these before I even start the chapter. Also Ruby is FINALLY getting up.
The race back to the cabin was a dangerous one indeed. The call of The Barron had apparently attracted Grimm to the area, Grimm they must fight to get into safety. Normally the coming packs of Beowolves and Ursai wouldn't have been much of a problem if it wasn't for the fact that Yang was incapacitated carrying Blake. Another problem was that Weiss was more trained in a still battle in an area, not a running one. Out of any plan, Yang was happy that Soren took control.
"Me in front blasting through. Weiss, take the middle while defending Blake and Yang, use glyphs more than your weapon. Go!" Weiss got into position in front of the two incapacitated. Soren didn't draw his weapon, apparently about to rely on the sheer destructive power of his semblance to get through. As they ran Weiss summoned two reflector glyphs to the side, keeping any attackers at bay.A small legion of Boarbatusks gathered in front of them.
"Repel glyph at the feet." Soren ordered. Once the glyph had appeared Soren enhanced it with his own power, creating a fire stream that vaulted the carcasses above their heads. Two Major's stood in the way and Soren used a wall of fire to separate them. This kept up for a while, but it was clear that the constant attacks ware taking a toll on the two. The constant glyphs at Yang's side flickered while Weiss stumbled. Unable to help, Yang shifted Blake's weight onto one shoulder, giving her right hand freedom. She placed her hand on Weiss' shoulder.
"What are you do-" Weiss was interrupted but understood when a stream of aura flowed into her, strengthening the glyphs and giving Weiss the strength she needed to keep going. Yang took her hand back, cutting off the flow before she gave too much.
"Thanks, I needed that." Yang nodded and kept running, hoping that Soren could hold out. A smaller Nevermore speared in the sky. Weiss was about to conjure a shield glyph in front of her but Yang wrenched the hand upwards, creating it above Weiss' head. The feathers rained down, most bouncing off the glyph. On stray sliced across Yang's forearm, she grit her teeth as she used Ember Celica to blast it a few times until it fell.
It seemed that the herd was thinning until the signature small army of Grunts rushed in ahead of them. Weiss saw no way around them and it was clear that Soren's aura was dipping. Yang however was the optimist.
"You got the juice to get us through this?" To her disappointment Soren shook his head, but said something else.
"I don't but you do. Switch with me."
"I can't punch all that!" Yang yelled, bewildered.
"It's about time you learn to conjure an inferno. Just run at them and give the fire full reign, your aura will do the rest." Yang had no time for argument as Soren had jumped back and pulled Blake onto his shoulder. She muttered a few curses as she moved forward ahead of Weiss. Yang tried to do what Soren said, letting her semblance have full reign, but years of having to control it gave her a mental block. She tried to force it, but only succeeded in making a slightly stronger fire.
Weiss seeing that Yang was having trouble, and that the horde was getting closer, tried to help. She thought about what would bring out the most in Yang, the most important thing in her life. Finally she settled on Ruby, something Yang would give limb and life for.
"Yang, if you won't do it for you, do it for your family. We need to get to Ruby, the sun is setting." This hit home for Yang. She would give limb and life for her family, and she didn't know if Ruby was going to wake up in time to fight if they couldn't get there. If there was one last thing she was going to do, it was protect her sister. Yang picked up the pace, fire brightening. It extended past her hair and onto her form, fully coating her being in orange-yellow flame.
"YYYAAAAAAAHHH!" With a mighty yell Yang charged into the Grunts. For just a moment it seemed she would be held back, then they bunt to ash. She ran through effortlessly, staying straight and burning anything in a large radius around her. Yang had never felt more powerful, but she knew her aura was dropping like a stone and capped it off, returning to normal. She slowed her pace so the group could catch up.
"I won't lie, that exposition of raw power was frightening." Weiss said. Yang took a moment to respond, thinking about how it must have been to watch even for a moment, and nodded. With the Grimm at their backs and the cabin in front of them they were home free. And for once, fate didn't step in to crush hope. Only the sun inches from dropping dampened the mood of success.
They ran into the cabin and closed the door, catching their breath. Soren set Blake down and uncovered the bow. Thankfully her ears weren't bleeding nor was she unconscious, just overly dazed. Everyone was silent for a moment until a gruff voice spoke up.
"My turn, eh? Well alright." Vlad stood up, grabbing his axe and walking to a case on his workbench.
"You can't fight, can you?" Weiss asked. Vlad gave her a look before opening the case and pulling out an old boom-stick and strapping it to his back. He then gripped the metal head of the axe, pulling. The grip extended in a shower of sparks until it was as tall as he. The blade unfurled and became larger. "That answer your question?"
Weiss was going to answer before Yang butted in. "When is Ruby going to wake up?" She looked over to see Ruby glowing slightly red. "And why is she glowing?"
"About twenty minutes, which is how long I can hold them off while you get your bearings back. And she is glowing because of the aura pool increase that comes with surviving the poison. She will be stronger and faster for about a day, and there couldn't be better timing. We're gonna need it. But I must be off." With that explanation Vlad walked out of the cabin. After only a few moments, slicing and gunshots were heard.
The four of them rested for a few minutes, all trying to calm their hearts. Blake sat up rubbing her ears in pain. "What happened?"
"You got sound-blasted, we all did." Yang answered.
"That explains why all four of my ears are ringing." She looked over to the side. "I'm not sure if I want you to say I'm right or wrong."
"She is glowing, but it's a good thing. It means she is waking up soon, and her aura pool increased." Weiss said.
"I am going to make a small solution that should help replenish our aura. It's one of the few I know." Soren walked to the table and started picking up jars and debating over the contents. Weiss saw the blood dripping off Yang's arm and walked over too the packs. She gave everyone a bottle of water and gave Yang a bandage. She winced wrapping it. "Thanks."
After a few minutes Soren had a glowing mixture in his hands. When any of them stared at it they realized that they couldn't tell the color, it seemed all of them yet none. "Drink it and hopefully we don't die." Everyone took a sip, recoiling at the taste. A wave of small energy ran through them, replenishing some lost strength. Yang and Soren both emitted sparks and Blake seemed to take up a little more light. Weiss just seemed to have a more commanding air around her.
"We need to talk game plan." Yang said.
"We should probably wait until Ruby is awake." Blake pointed out.
"Wait until I'm awake for what?" They all looked over to see Ruby pushing herself up off of the bed cloth. She stumbled for a moment but stabilized. She took a look at her hand before clenching it into a fist. Petals fluttered off seemingly uncontrolled to her. Ruby's silver eyes glowed slightly. "Ruby, do you feel alright?" Yang asked. Ruby took a moment to answer.
"I feel... Powerful. What is it you needed me for?" Ruby seemed understanding or indifferent of her current state.
"Uh, we were going to talk about how to get out of this. The Barron is waking up and Vlad is out there holding everything off. I'd say we have ten minutes." Yang said.
"I'll take the front lines because of my current state. Soren will be to the side for his ranged attacks. Weiss will work with his, charging attacks with glyphs. Yang and Blake, you're with me. Sound good?" Everyone looked a little confused to the arrangement.
"How do you know I can charge and alter attacks with his?" Weiss asked.
"I figure it much like using red dust. Anything else?"
"I could call Yorm, where could he fight?" Soren said.
"He is your son, so you know how he fights. He is with you and Weiss. Now let's go!" Ruby said, looking for and finding Crescent Rose. They ran out the door, Ruby much faster than anyone else. The sight they met horrified them. Vlad was surrounded on all sides by Ursai, batting him around while he flailed for an attack. After a few more seconds they shot him out of the circle where he bashed into a tree and didn't get back up.
"Charge!" Ruby yelled, flitting at a speed much faster than she was used to. She sliced through the first Ursa, but she kept going and bashed into a tree, still standing. "Alright, so I hold back. Got it." Ruby rejoined Blake and Yang after cutting down the other five Grimm. The first lines of enemies where around twenty Ursa and two packs of Beowolves.
"We got the Ursai, you get the wolves." Ruby yelled to Soren and Weiss. Soren nodded and shot a high flare into the sky before charging with his new teammate. This flare was seen by Yorm back in Shimitani who had been on the front porch, waiting. He saw it and went inside to grab his gear before using the shadows to jump across the forest to his location.
Yang, Blake, and Ruby charged the legion of Ursa, starting with Ruby cutting down three at a time. None of them could keep up with her. The one that did manage to land a hit had it's attack ping off of her aura before getting cut down. Blake summoned two other clones to help take down her opponent. Yang fought three at a time, dodging attacks better after her run in the first night.
Soren and Weiss stood ground as the first pack ran towards them. Weiss summoned a shielding glyph to repel the first of the attacks. Soren put fire into it so that the attacking limbs were reduced to burning stumps. Soren took out his weapon, ripping two of them to shreds before Weiss' rapier impaled the third in the skull. She launched into the air with a glyph, landing on another that was repelling downwards. "Blast it!" She yelled.
Soren understood it. He forced a column of flame into the repelling side. The flame bounced at an angle into a screen that burned away the rest of the first pack. The second advanced soon. Weiss coated her blade in green dust, sending out an electrical line into their numbers. They front ones fell dead from the jolt while two normals and an Alpha remained.
"Drill 'em." Soren said, waving his hands and coating Myrtenaster in a swirling column of flame. Weiss thrust the rapier forward which released the power, incinerating the two and burning the Alpha. Soren came and finished it with a chewing slice. With their fight over they ran to help the others with the Ursa. They needed it as it was not going well.
Ruby was having to hold back her semblance almost completely in order to keep it from getting the better of her. She felt like when she had first unlocked it, jumping froward randomly and unable to stop herself. While Yang's semblance relied on taking hits and giving back the damage, the many Ursai was giving to many hits even for her.
Blake seemed to be doing the best out of the group, but was having the same problem as her partner. The many hits being dodged by after-image clones was taking a toll on her aura. While they had all together killed about nine of them, more kept coming. Some Beowolves had also joined the fight. Weiss summoned a glyph allowing Soren to vault over the Ursa and next to Blake and Yang. He released a sphere of fire all around them, giving a moment to recollect themselves.
"Glad you could join us, now it's a party." Yang said sarcastically, reloading the shell belts. Blake reset the clip in Gambol Shroud. They continued their fight after seeing that Ruby and Weiss had there situation under control. Weiss was weaving in between the beasts and using red dust to cause as much damage as possible. She looked over to see Ruby boost forwards but slam into the stomach of the Ursa. She barely managed to avoid the hit.
Weiss realized that Ruby had very little control over her semblance as petals where coming off of her form and she kept flickering in a way that seemed she was just barely grounded. She summoned an expulsion glyph in front of her, loading blue dust into Myrtenastr's chamber and striking it. Walls of spiked ice appeared around the duo, protecting them from oncoming enemies and impaling the ones to close. While it took a chunk of her aura, Weiss knew that getting Ruby fighting at full potential would be worth it.
"Weiss, what are you doing?"
"If you can't control it in short bursts, let your semblance run wild. Take wide sweeps if you aren't able to stop yourself, but we need you in fighting order." Weiss said. Ruby looked worried but nodded.
"I'll do it, just try not to let it distract you." Ruby prepared herself as the ice started crumbling. Once a wall had opened enough Weiss watched as Ruby simply flickered for a moment before with a small shock-wave, she disappeared. Weiss was stunned for just a moment at how fast Ruby must have been going, but she had no time as an Ursa trapped in the ice ripped itself free. Just as she was about to attack it the chest was cleaved in two, followed by the dropping of red petals.
It was instant. Usually even with Ruby's fastest sprint Weiss could at least acknowledge the presence of Ruby. This time however Weiss would have thought the beast spontaneously fell apart if not for the petals. Weiss ran to fight the next group, three Majors. With some doing Weiss was sure she could take them down, especially with an impossibly fast guardian.
Soren burned down the first Ursa of the many around them. Blake and Yang fought furiously, killing as many as they could. Some where cut down by the precision of Blake, but the rest burned and bruised away. After they had fought continuously for about ten minutes, the Grimm were all down except for one heavily armored Varient.
"Not another one!" Yang yelled. Soren could already tell that this one had much less armor. He picked up a shattered spine from the back of an Ursa. Fire began to fill it to a breaking point, until he threw it. On impact it exploded, taking the head of the creature with it. He was about to sigh in victory until Yang spoke up.
"Woah, look at that." She gestured towards Weiss fighting the Ursai in the area.
"I don't see what is so special." Soren said, Blake agreed.
"Np. Look closely, it's Ruby." The two strained their eyes until they realized that the red was everywhere. Rose petals where dropping constantly while Ruby moved at impossible speeds, cutting down any beast to close to her partner.
"You mean that she hasn't gone that fast before?" Soren asked. Both Blake and Yang shook their heads. "Never." Yang said.
"We might have a problem." Blake said, suddenly seeing something in the distance.
"What do you me-... Oh." At least fifty Beowolves were in a horde about a minute out. In the front was an extreme Alpha Varient. It was as tall and large as an Ursa Major. It was much more armored than normal and had spines all over it's body.
"This is a battle of attrition. The damn thing knows combat." Vlad said, coughing up blood and leaning on a nearby tree.
"Vlad!" Yang yelled, running over to check his injuries. A variety of scratches and gashes covered his body, but they were all treatable. Yang tried pushing aura into him to heal the wounds but hit a wall.
"Save your energy girly, I sleep tonight." He said, pushing her arm back. He ripped a spot on his shirt to reveal three deep puncture wounds in his chest. One had no doubt pierced his lung. He gripped his axe that was laying next to him, tapping the back of the blade twice. A piece of parchment fell out of the handle, he gave it to Soren. "There is all my medicine knowledge." Vlad seemed to notice the approaching Alpha in the distance. Yang followed his eyes.
"No, you still might make it out of this." Vlad shook his head before seeing a glint of metal to his side. "Hand me that flask, blood tastes terrible." Yang gave it to him, smelling vodka. He took a drink, coughing. Then he somehow stood up, gripping his axe tightly.
"My semblance is strength of will. Will to push and fight until every drop of blood is gone from me." He took another drink. Soren put his hand on his old friend's shoulder, but it was shook off. "If possible, bury my axe." His voice rose, gaining strength from nowhere. "It's time these bastards get what's coming to them! HAVE AT ME!" Vlad took off with determination to die fighting.
They watched with amazement as Vlad charged the largest one, vaulting with his axe before burying it in the creatures shoulder, having missed the head. The wolf swiped him to the side, smashing him into a tree. He shouldn't, no, couldn't have been able to get up, but he did, hefting a large stick as his newest weapon. The Alpha continued forward, letting the lesser hounds deal with him. Vlad charged the impossible odds with pride. The first bite from a Beowolf got a mouthful of oak, and the second clubbed down, but the streak wouldn't last. The next struck free and clawed his face, popping one eye. He grabbed it, spitting into it's face. Another wolf tackled him to the ground and started slicing repeatedly. He got one final punch in before he was dead. The first death on the battlefield of war that The Barron had made.
Holy god. I almost couldn't stop writing this just because it was the most heated scene so far. It was definitely the longest chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it, and you can expect another one soon.