Here's a new chapter. As you can see, I've created a new fanfiction, called Hellbent, and I've decided that the loser ship of this fic's voting pool will be the actual ship in that fic. I know it's a different fic, but honestly that's what I can offer. If someone wants to make his/her own version of this fic with another ship, they're welcome, and they can ask me for advice or just to chat a bit.
Enjoy the chapter.
They had all died.
They had fought at their hardest, battling Grimm after Grimm, disintegrating them mercilessly. They had managed to avoid being cornered by a horde of Ursai, but in the end everything was for nothing. Their enemies were simply too powerful.
They had all died.
2:44:35 – Redeeming Star deals 2305 damages to Thanatos, the Grimm Knight.
"Okay, this far we were all good, right?", asked Yang. "I still had 6.000 hit points".
"3.600", replied Ren, flatly. "Still at maximum".
"4.500", chirped Nora. "Got a few hits from the Ursai".
"2.000", sulked Weiss. "Got hit by the Grimm Knight".
"I told you they were strong", shrugged Ruby. "2.800".
"5.000", stated Pyrrha. "Still at maximum, like Ren".
Everyone turned to Jaune, who sighed. "I got hit, and I still was at 16.000", he responded, and no one was even shocked any more by his unfairly massive amount of Aura. "Go on reading the timeline".
2:44:45 – Thanatos, the Grimm Knight deals 2575 damages to Snow Angel
2:44:45 – Snow Angel: death
"Out", announced Weiss.
2:44:47 – Deimos, the Grimm Knight deals 2486 damages to Harbinger of Doom
2:44:49 – Counterattack from Deimos, the Grimm Knight deals 2552 damages to Harbinger of Doom
2:44:49 – Harbinger of Doom: death
"And now I'm out too", said Nora, sighing. "I just attacked. What's next, Yang?".
2:44:52 – Thanatos, the Grimm Knight activates his Storm of Strikes ability
2:44:53 – Thanatos, the Grimm Knight deals 2384 damages to Red Reaper
2:44:53 – Thanatos, the Grimm Knight deals 2862 damages to Red Reaper
2:44:53 – Red Reaper: death
"Out", grumbled Ruby, gesturing Yang to go on reading.
2:44:53 – Thanatos, the Grimm Knight deals 2576 damages to Sloth Ninja
2:44:53 – Thanatos, the Grimm Knight deals 2384 damages to Redeeming Star
2:44:54 – Thanatos, the Grimm Knight deals 2865 damages to Redeeming Star
2:44:54 – Thanatos, the Grimm Knight deals 2684 damages to Sloth Ninja
2:44:54 – Sloth Ninja: death
"I'm dead", stated Ren, without surprise. Nora gasped and latched to his arm, trying to comfort her dead partner.
"Come on, it goes worse now", joked Yang.
2:44:54 – Thanatos, the Grimm Knight: critical x3
2:44:54 – Thanatos, the Grimm Knight activates his Mastery of Criticals ability x5
2:44:54 – Thanatos, the Grimm Knight deals 12925 damages to Bronze Hoplite
2:44:54 – Bronze Hoplite: death
"Out in a single hit", huffed Pyrrha. "Talk about unfair".
2:44:54 – Active Volcano activates her Fight of Fury mode and takes 752 damages from it
2:44:55 – Active Volcano deals 1858 damages to Deimos, the Grimm Knight
2:44:55 – Active Volcano deals 1586 damages to Deimos, the Grimm Knight
"Look, I need to use Fight of Fury to deal some damage, and I still can't deal as much as one of those Grimm Knights", grumbled Yang.
"Or Jaune", added Ruby.
"Or Jaune", nodded Yang.
Jaune wiped some sweat off his brow.
2:44:58 – Deimos, the Grimm Knight activates his Maul of the Grimm ability
2:45:01 – Deimos, the Grimm Knight: critical x2
2:45:01 – Deimos, the Grimm Knight has won the coin toss for his Maul of the Grimm ability.
2:45:01 – Deimos, the Grimm Knight deals 5372 damages to Active Volcano
2:45:01 – Active Volcano: death
"Hadn't I used 700 hit points to activate Fight of Fury, I would've survived the hit but...". She sighed. "And now there's just Jaune left".
2:45:03 – Thanatos, the Grimm Knight deals 2557 damages to Redeeming Star
2:45:05 – Redeeming Star: critical x4
2:45:05 – Redeeming Star activates his Strike Down ability
2:45:05 – Redeeming Star activates his Critical of Death ability
2:45:05 – Redeeming Star activates his Bane of the Grimm ability
2:45:05 – Redeeming Star deals 10266 damages to Deimos, the Grimm Knight
2:45:05 – Redeeming Star deals 8418 damages to Deimos, the Grimm Knight
2:45:05 – Redeeming Star deals 11425 damages to Deimos, the Grimm Knight
2:45:05 – Deimos, the Grimm Knight: death
2:45:06 – Thanatos, the Grimm Knight activates his Strike of Death ability
2:45:06 – Thanatos, the Grimm Knight deals 2848 damages to Redeeming Star
2:45:06 – Redeeming Star failed his save roll
2:45:06 – Strike of Death deals 8451 damages to Redeeming Star
2:45:06 – Redeeming Star: death
"So, you can all guess that yesterday night had been a failure", announced Yang. "Now: where did we go wrong?".
"Maybe we should've left the Ursai alone instead of fighting them first?", proposed Nora, for once serious. Breaking legs and Grimm was a serious matter, after all. "After all, they packed a mean punch, and even if we lost less than forty seconds in killing the Ursai, you saw how they killed us all in literally twenty seconds".
"Good point, but I think that we went wrong by gathering all together", said Ren. "Thanatos managed to kill me, Ruby and Pyrrha all in two seconds because of his Storm of Strikes, but he can't move while he attacks in that mode, so had we been less crowded together, he would've killed just one of us".
"Still, it's obvious that those Grimm Knights are probably too powerful for us. Heck, they deal two thousands base damage plus all the bonuses and random... it's monstrous! No offence, Jaune", Yang laughed nervously when he raised an eyebrow at her. "But seriously, fighting them on even terrain is impossible, at least for us".
"Yeah, we would need at least another Jaune", nodded Ruby. "It's clear that we need his high scores. Maybe the six of us might be able to beat one Grimm Knight, even if Blake and Jaune don't play... but it'd be hard".
"Students, are you paying attention?".
"Of course, Professor!", absent-mindedly replied Yang. "Still, that game has been made to be playable, right? Last time you won and Jaune had toned down his scores. Why did we lose now?".
"Because they used teamwork", replied Jaune. "And while we tried, too, they just massacred you all because you can take only a couple of hits from them. Their biggest threats were Yang and Pyrrha but... well, you took five thousands and twelve thousands damages".
"I know", both of them said in unison.
"Teamwork can do great things, but if each of the team members goes down with one or two hits...". He shrugged. "The team gets thinned down pretty quickly. I had no chance against those two on my own, so I just used all my abilities in one hit... and I killed Deimos"
"And then Thanatos reminded you of his existence by dealing you ten thousands damages". Weiss scoffed, disgusted. "What kind of videogame boss deals ten thousands damages?".
"A Grimm Knight using his abilities", replied Ruby. "They're strong".
"Students, I'd like your attention on the ongoing lesson, not on your chatter".
"No problem, Professor Port! We're paying attention!", shot back Yang.
"So much that you can't even tell who is your current professor", sarcastically drawled Dr Oobleck from his desk, and the class erupted in laughters.
"I... ehm...". Yang shrank back in her seat, as red as Pyrrha's hair.
"So, what are you talking about, Ms Xiao Long?", asked the professor, his eyes sharp and merciless. "Care to share?".
"I...".
"She was talking about a videogame, and how the final boss of said videogame is a Grimm Knight and it's basically invincible", Weiss ratted her out, careful to say `she` and not `us`.
"Ah... Grimm Knights...". Suddenly, the professor was serious. "Does any of you know the stories about the Grimm Knights?".
Ruby's hand shot in the air. "I do, doctor!".
"Speak, Ms Rose".
"The Grimm Knights were apparently intelligent Grimm with human-like sentience. They were ridiculously powerful", she listed off, excited. "They could command the Grimm and in the stories they lead armies of Grimm against humanity, although the tale of the Grimm and the Maiden tells that their sentience can also be their doom".
"What is this `the Grimm and the Maiden` tale?", asked Russel, Cardin's teammate, honestly curious.
"It's a legend that tells the story of Darkness, the `Grimm`, a Grimm Knight that apparently lived centuries ago", said Dr Oobleck. "He fell in love with a human girl, the `Maiden`, called Invern. He refused to lead the Grimm against the humans like the other Grimm Knights had ordered him, and instead sided with humanity". The man looked away from the students. "It's a very sad tale. Apparently, the humans accepted his help only to stab him in the back the second the war was over, won thanks to him. And then they killed Invern for having fallen in love with a Grimm. It's a tale of how, sometimes, the humans are worse than the Grimm".
Pyrrha shifted uncomfortably in her seat and looked at Jaune.
"However, it is just a fairy tale, something that has no real foundation. In reality, the Grimm Knights are a kind of Grimm, and they aren't sentient. They are also called Black Swords because of the bone broadswords they use to fight". He sighed dramatically. "Centuries ago, people must've seen then and mistaken them for intelligent beings. While the Black Swords are capable of basic strategy, they are not sentient. A sentient Grimm like in the legends doesn't exist".
"I've seen one".
Oobleck looked at Ruby, raising an eyebrow. "Care to repeat, Ms Rose?".
"I've seen a Grimm Knight... a sentient Grimm", she specified, ignoring Yang's exasperation, Weiss's clear signals to shut up, Pyrrha's disbelieving expression, Ren's deadpan, Blake's own flat stare and Jaune's panicked expression. As usual, Nora was just grinning. "In the Emerald Forest. We were fighting a Death Stalker and he stormed in, and the Death Stalker obeyed to him... it was quite scared by him too".
"Ms Rose, there are just two facts that are off in your tale", calmly said Oobleck. "One: Grimm Knights don't exist. Two: even if they did, you'd be dead if you had really met one".
The class erupted in hushed whispers and some snickers. Ruby looked crestfallen, but the professor was unfazed by that. He was just stating the truth, and in his opinion he'd just done her a favour by avoiding her to be disillusioned later in life. In his opinion. In real life, he earned a red-eyed glare from Yang and a blue-eyed flaming glare from Jaune, one because he had made her sister sad, and the other because he hadn't believed it... although Jaune was also grateful he hadn't believed her. He really didn't need professional Huntsmen on his tail.
"A bit harsh there, don't you think, Professor?", glared Yang.
"It's Doctor", he corrected immediately. "And Ms Rose needs to know that those are just tales. There isn't, and never will be, a so-called Grimm Knight... especially not in our forest".
"Are you sure of that?", asked Jaune, going against his survival instincts to help Ruby. Damned advice from Hazel. It was good advice, but sometimes it was hard. "Ruby isn't the kind of person to just lie like that".
"Oh, no. I'm sure she believes in what she says", he reassured them. "But sometimes the stress of battle can deceive the senses. She might've imagined it".
"And what if she hasn't?", Jaune pressed on.
Oobleck sighed and adjusted his glasses on his nose. "Honestly? If the Grimm Knights did exist and if Ms Rose had seen one in the Emerald Forest, and had miraculously managed to escape alive?". He paused for effect. "We'd either have to evacuate immediately, or we'd all die".
A grave silence fell over them.
"In legends, Grimm Knights are seen only at the lead of massive armies of Grimm, and even with all our Huntsmen here at Beacon, this school can't defend itself from such a threat. We should leave Vale unguarded, and the Grimm would feast upon the defenceless civilians", he continued. "Or, in the best case scenario, we would have a powerful sentient being with a purpose and a reason for which it's remaining hidden. It could have plans and purposes... but fortunately those creatures don't exist".
Ruby whimpered. Pyrrha was white. Weiss's eyes were wide. Jaune felt sorry for them. They had seen a Grimm Knight -although he preferred the name Noir Callows- and they'd just been told the school itself would be in danger. They must've been terrified beyond definition.
"Team meeting after lessons", whispered Ruby. "We have a big problem".
Team VYBL ignored them.
#####
"This is our situation", stated Ruby, pacing back and forth in their dorm. "If what Oobleck said is true, we have a freaking Grimm Knight wandering around Beacon. Tomorrow we have the trip to Forever Fall, remember? So: what do we do?".
"We go after him?", proposed Weiss. "If the statistics of that game, Honest Soul, are realistic, Team RWAN plus Team VYBL should be able to beat a Grimm Knight".
"If even Oobleck thinks they do not exist, maybe Honest Soul isn't the most reliable source of information", offered Jaune, trying to distract them.
"Of course!", nodded Weiss. "It's a videogame. Bosses are strengthened because otherwise people would always win. It's probably weaker than that".
'Dolt', commented Jaune, taking a page from her own book.
"So tomorrow, at Forever Fall, we will try and find him, okay?", asked Ruby, looking around. "I know you didn't believe me, but if there's even the faintest chance that there is such an entity out there, that powerful, and evil... it would be bad".
"You can say that", agreed Pyrrha.
"Fine with me", said Weiss, shrugging as if she wasn't accepting to go after what was probably one of the most dangerous Grimm in existence. "Let's hunt this Grimm Knight down".
"Noir".
"What?", asked Weiss, surprised.
"He said his name was Noir. Noir Callows", explained Ruby. "If he's a sentient being, it's normal for him to have a name, don't you think?".
"So we're gonna go after this Noir?", asked Jaune, trying to hide the nervousness in his voice.
"Tomorrow, at Forever Fall", the other three said in unison.
"Alone?", he pressed on. "I don't think that's a good idea... he might be too much for y-us...".
"You're right", nodded Ruby, and he relaxed, even having to stifle a sigh of relief. That was close. "We should definitely ask Team VYBL to come too. Nora will accept immediately, and since she's team leader, the others will come as well".
No. No. No no no no no. "Wouldn't that put them at risk, too?", he asked miserably. 'Well, it won't be that bad... after all, I am Noir Callows. I doubt they will find me'.
"We can handle that", shrugged Ruby, and for once Weiss agreed.
"Also, he let us go the first time, and he let me go more than a week ago, when I first met him", recalled Pyrrha. "So attracting attention by killing us is probably out of his plans. We have to force him to come out of hiding".
Jaune groaned inwardly. That was going to be heavy... but probably hilarious. Watching them search for him, with him... yes, it was worth a laugh or two.
"And maybe discover his plans", added Weiss. "Then we would expose him to the authority, that will turn him in, and we'll get extra credits for our actions!".
Jaune banged his head against the wall. "And you think that, if he's really so powerful he's not concerned about letting witnesses live, we would be able to expose him?".
"Not difficult", triumphantly said Ruby, taking out her scroll. "We can take pictures and make videos".
"That everyone will consider a fake", retorted Jaune.
"But they would at least investigate, on the off-chance of it being true", argued the crimsonette. "And when they will... pam! Everyone knows about the Grimm Knights".
"And that would cause panic, only attracting more Grimm", shot back the blond.
"Then the authority will keep quite about it, and hunt him down in secret", conspirationally whispered Ruby. "And we will get lots of extra credits, plus a statue in Beacon's courtyard!".
"Ruby, the authority won't believe it. It's sadly how the world works. They will be like Oobleck and say you've just modified the pictures", replied Jaune. "You could get in trouble for terrorism, you know, with something like that? Revealing the existence of a freakingly powerful type of Grimm? I doubt they would believe it. Weiss, isn't that true?".
The girl shrank back under their gazes and shrugged. "I fear so, Ruby. Politics is a complicated matter, and it rarely has the best interests of the population at heart, but more the best interests of the politicians".
"But that's corruption!", protested Ruby.
"Is there a single politician who's not corrupted in some way?", rhetorically asked Weiss. "And even if there is, do you think the corrupted ones would let him go on governing?".
"But the Huntsmen would take them down", whined the smaller girl. "They fight the baddies".
"But you often don't know when a politician is corrupted or not. Not until the end, when said politician is no more important to other politicians, and only then his illegal businesses are uncovered and he is condemned". Weiss sighed. "It's not a good government, but it is what we have. Maybe one day it will be better, but until that day, this will have to suffice".
Ruby looked crestfallen, but more and more determination was seeping into her expression as time passed. "Very well then", she said with finality. "If this Noir Callows really doesn't want to kill us because he wants to remain hidden, the least we can do is to give him hell".
"Even if that get us in trouble, and maybe even killed?", asked Pyrrha.
"Pyrrha, out there there is a Grimm that is planning something, and since it's a Grimm those plans will probably be to harm people. Many people", said Ruby. "If we are the only ones who can do something about it, because no one else believes us, shouldn't we do something? And even if we died without making a difference, wouldn't it be better than just having sat still, letting said Grimm harm innocents?".
There was a long silence after that. No one expected such a speech from the fifteen-year-old girl, but no one was surprised, either. They had known each other only for a few days, but they already knew that Ruby was like that. She could be childish and naive, and then volunteer for a suicide mission just in the off-chance she could help people. Jaune had to admit that it was for people like her that humanity was better than the Grimm. People like her, like Pyrrha, like Weiss, like Team VYBL. People who, despite being too weak to change the world, would still give it all before being defeated. People who would fight for what they believed was right.
It was for people like them that Jaune had always been different from the other underlings of Salem. Those people wanted humanity to end, or to pay for what they had to suffer by its hands. He despised humanity. Humanity was divided, it hated itself, and even while facing the threat of the Grimm, it wouldn't stand united, but instead in many small fractions. But for people like those, like Team RW(A)N and Team VYBL, and for all the other people, Huntsmen and not, who did their best to help, not out of personal glory or ego, but just to help... it was for those people he would be ready to fight.
Idly, in the back of his mind, unheeded by Jaune himself, a tiny thought surfaced. The title of a fairy tale he had read over and over again back at Salem's fortress. A tale he had always wished to come true. A tale that spoke of unity, even thought it also spoke of betrayal and hatred. It ended tragically, but it was a particular part of it he had always loved. Directly from the Grimm and the Maiden, the chapter where Vero, the Grimm Knight, revealed himself to Invern.
"And even now, now that I know, I know what you are... I can't bring myself to hate you like my people say I should. Even now that I know what you are, I can't ignore who you are. You may be a Grimm, Vero, but you're the man who helped me when I needed him. You may have Ursai and Nevermores at your service, crawling beneath your feet, but you are still the man who visited me every time he could, bringing me stories from the war, accurately embellished to avoid me to suffer. You may have been ordered to lead an army of Grimm against my brothers and sisters, but you're still the man who trained me so I could defend me and my people by those Grimm. Others would've hated you, now that you've revealed yourself to me, but I can't help but love you more, Vero, because now that I know you've gone against your race and your nature for me, I can't help but think that your being a Grimm is just a small details of you... and since I love you, it isn't important what you are, but who you are"
No, this isn't a Lancaster confession. A bit early for that, don't you think?
Just a piece of my life: yesterday I lost a bet, and so I had to write a Lancaster smut scene taking place in The Grimm of Beacon. I wrote it (exactly 2k words) and I presented it to my torturer... er, my friend. He said that my storytelling was as good as usual, and that 2k words for a cunnilingus is enough, but that a medical textbook would be more arousing.
I don't know if to feel offended, or proud.
Until next time,
Khor Evik Vlakhavlakh