Chapter 6: The Guardian Beast
At outskirts of the kingdom of Vale, lies a newly discovered temple nearby an old town. Alicia and her team where sent here to investigate the said temple.
"This place looks, and feels deserted." Blake said.
"You're telling me." Pyrrha said.
"Let's look around the town first before we head into the temple." Alicia said who happens to be Silmeria who happens to be taking control of her body.
"What do you think caused all this?" Alicia asked from within.
"I believe this place was attacked, but a long time ago." Silmeria replied as Blake and Pyrrha walked away from her.
"Let's split up, I'll go check the communication tower." Blake said as she heads to the town's communication center.
"I'll go to the community center and find any clues." Pyrrha said as she starts walking.
Silmeria looks around and finds a broken sword on the ground then picks it up. She then closed her eyes and touched the blade of the sword with her other hand.
Within Silmeria's mind was a vision of what happened in the village.
From the vision was a battle between the village's defenders against a horde of Grimm. Silmeria watches the whole vision in view of the perspective of the owner of the sword.
The vision shows how the warrior was able to take out a trio Beowolves before rescuing a young boy from death from an Ursa. It also shows how he brings the boy to the village's shelter before heading back into battle. It shows how the warrior climbed on top of an Ursa decapitates its head. The vision also shows how the soldier was able to take out a few more Ursai before being confronted by a King Taijitu. The soldier lunged forward and swung his sword at the snake Grimm's body on to have his sword broken before being devoured by the snake which ended the vision.
"There were no survivors." Silmeria said before she noticed the entrance to the temple. "Let's go check the temple then." Silmeria said as she walks towards the temple.
But a soon as she takes a few steps a pack of Beowolves appeared out of nowhere and surrounds her. Silmeria drew out her sword then slides her finger along the blade before rushing towards one of the Beowolves. The Beowolf swings its right paw towards her only to miss as she slid under the paw the cuts the Grimm in half. The rest of the pack rushed immediately towards her only to get frozen in crystals as Silmeria fires photons at them before one by one cutting them down with her sword. As she was about to sheathe her sword a pack of Ursai appeared from the open fields then immediately rush towards Silmeria. Silmeria leaps back and fires a barrage of photons towards the incoming Grimm to freeze them on the field.
Silmeria fires a photon at one of the frozen Grimm to trade places with it to decapitate the frozen Grimm on the field before taking out the Ursa that she trade places with. She then sheaths sword then investigates one of the corpses of the Grimm.
"That's weird…" Silmeria said.
"What is it?" Alicia asked.
"The corpse is releasing some sort of spirit. Usually creatures of the Grimm would only disintegrate in thin air." Silmeria replied.
"How would you know?" Alicia asked.
"Because the spirits are acting like einherjars." Silmeria replied.
"What?" Alicia asked.
"It looks like someone was experimenting with the creatures here, using souls of fallen warriors." Silmeria said as she turn to the entrance of the temple. "If we're lucky, we might find an einherjar inside those temple." Silmeria said as both Blake and Pyrrha walk towards her.
"Looks like you had a fight here just now." Blake said.
"It appears so." Pyrrha said as Alicia takes control of her body.
"Yeah…sure did." Alicia said before she turns to the duo. "So, what you two found?" Alicia asked.
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing." Blake said.
"I agree, we didn't find a single clue about this temple." Pyrrha said.
"I think we should take a look for ourselves." Alicia said before the trio slowly enters the path that will lead them to the temple.
HOR
The trio arrived at the entrance of the temple of what appears to be a temple. Alicia looks around and finds it a bit familiar to her.
"This place looks like it came from Dipan…" Alicia said.
"I agree, this place does look like it belongs in Midgard. Keep your guard up Alicia, if you want I can take over." Silmeria said.
"No, I'll be fine." Alicia said before she turns to both Blake and Pyrrha. "I think its best that we split up, to cover more ground." Alicia said.
"I agree." Blake said.
"We do need to check this place out." Pyrrha said before the trio enters the temple in different directions of the temple.
HOR
Pyrrha enters to what appears to be the temple's living quarters. She pulls out her spear and shield then investigates the rooms one by one. She enters the first room only to find destroyed furniture along with broken windows. She then stepped on a broken picture frame then picked up the picture within the frame. It was a picture of soldiers along with some of the priest that were assigned at the temple.
"What is this?" Pyrrha said as she noticed that one of the monks was marked with red.
While she was investigating the room she heard glass breaking from the hall. Pyrrha took a look only to find a trio of Ursai roaming around. Pyrrha rolls out then started shooting at the Ursai with her rifle which took out a couple of them. Pyrrha then switched to her weapon to its javelin form then throws it a trio of Ursai which punctured them to a wall before grabbing it with her semblance. She bashed an Ursa to the ground with her shield then stabs it with her javelin. Pyrrha then saw another group of Ursai charging in the corridor towards her. Pyrrha then noticed a room to her right then rolls in it before reloading her rifle. The Ursai barged in rushed towards Pyrrha. Pyrrha flipped back then threw her shield like a boomerang towards one of the Ursa then decapitates it. Pyrrha cuts down a few more Ursai with her javelin the calls back her shield with her semblance. She then cuts down the last of the Ursai then puts away her weapons.
"Strange…" Pyrrha said as she noticed that one of the corpses of the Grimm where not dissipating, but instead were releasing spirits. "What could cause this?" Pyrrha said before she continues her investigation.
HOR
Blake enters the west wing of the temple, which happens to house the temple's library with the books which were covered in dust. She grabbed one of the books and starts reading it as she sat down at one of the chairs. She scans around the book until she noticed one of the pages were torn.
"What's this?" Blake said before she noticed a group of Beowolves entering the library.
Blake silently hides behind one of the bookshelves then pulls out her sword. She silently walks around trying to find a vantage point against them. She then climbed at one of the bookshelves then saw one of Beowolf below her. She jumps down then decapitates the Beowolf with her sword which attracted the other Beowolves then rush towards her. Blake unsheathes her katana from her cleaver then flips back to evade a Beowolf's paw strike. Blake straps her katana on a ribbon on her right arm then swings it towards the Beowolf to decapitate it. Blake pulls back her katana then starts shooting towards a trio of Beowolves with the pistol attachment of her katana, she then decapitates them with her cleaver when they get too close. She then saw a couple of Beowolves coming from her left and right before swinging her katana to decapitate the Beowolves. But as soon as she landed on her feet a Beowolf appeared behind her about to swing its paw. The Grimm swings but miss as Blake's body vanished out of thin air. After a few seconds Blake appears from the shadows then stabs the Beowolf with her katana then decapitates the head before sheathing her swords on her back.
"What the?" Blake said ashes noticed that one of the bodies of the Beowolves was not dissipating, and instead releasing spirits.
Blake then thinks nothing of it before resuming her investigation.
HOR
Alicia enters the temple's main hall only to find the area destroyed. She then look around only to find a pathway that will lead to the temple's garden area. She walks out to the garden and finds only dead plants, withered flowers and decomposed bodies.
"How awful…" Alicia said as she starts to walk back until she steps on a key on the ground. Alicia picked up the key and rotates it to take a look.
"It might be useful, keep it. We may need it to unlock a door later." Silmeria said as Alicia placed the key on her left pocket before she walks back in.
But as soon as Alicia walks back in a pack of Grimm mixing from Beowolves and Ursai barged in the temple entrance. Alicia drew out her sword rushed towards the group of Grimm. Alicia cuts down a couple of Beowolves before stabbing an Ursa by the chest then pins it by the wall. She rolls to the right to evade a paw swipe from an Ursa which decapitates the pinned Ursa to the wall. Alicia fires a photon towards the Ursa to freeze it then kicks the crystal prison towards a group of Beowolves which got them off their feet. Alicia then cuts them in half even before they were able to recover. She then saw a group of Beowolves coming down the stairs of the main hall, she then starts running up the railings of stairs and reached the top. The Beowolves climb the stairs up and head towards Alicia who fired a photon towards the crystalized Ursa from earlier to trade places with her. The crystal started sliding down towards the Beowolves and started pushing them until they reached the ground floor. The Ursa broke free of the crystal prison the roared at Alicia's direction. Alicia then noticed a chandelier over the stunned Grimm then thought of an idea. She leaps in the air then cuts the chains that were holding the chandelier making it fall over the Grimm and kills them. Alicia landed on her feet then sheaths her sword.
"Not bad, you didn't need my help after all." Silmeria said as she witnessed Alicia's combat performance.
"Well you can say that Dante has an influence on it." Alicia said before Blake and Pyrrha entered the main hall.
"So what did you two find?" Pyrrha asked.
"Nothing much, just some more Grimm." Blake replied.
"I have found this." Alicia said as she pulls out the key from her pocket.
"It unlocks something then…but where?" Pyrrha said as Blake pulls out the book then turns to one of the pages which shows a map of the temple.
Blake then walk towards then the center of the main hall then opens up a panel from the ground which hides a keyhole. Alicia inserted the key then rotates it. The stairs then opens up a staircase that will lead them down to a secret basement.
"Well look at that…" Blake said as the trio started walking down the stairs.
HOR
The trio enters the basement which happens to house a secret laboratory with a storage room full of Grimm caged in a glass prison, chained to the wall. Along with a room that has devices that collects essence from one subject to another. They found a room where a desk is cluttered with files and notes. Blake investigates the desk while Pyrrha investigates the room with the machine. While Alicia enters a room where a broken yet still intact giant sword is stabbed to the ground. Silmeria takes over Alicia's body then approached the sword. She release the spirit from within her body towards the sword to materialize the einherjar.
"My einherjar!" Silmeria said before the einherjar stops her.
"Stop!" The einherjar said as he placed the sword on his back. "The realms are in trouble, right?" the einherjar asked. "I'm ready to go with you." He added.
"So is your body is strong enough?" Silmeria asked.
"As is my soul." The einherjar replied.
"That's good." Silmeria said.
"Dylan." The einherjar said his name to Silmeria.
"Pleased to meet you." Silmeria said as she and Dylan leaves the room then meets up with both Pyrrha and Blake.
"Who's that?" Blake asked to Silmeria as she points towards Dylan.
"He is a prisoner of this place, which happens to conduct experiments to the Grimm and other human beings. I was able to release him from his cell." Silmeria said as she forms an excuse to hide her true nature.
"Sir, is this true?" Pyrrha asked Dylan.
"It is in fact true. There was a monk here who was corrupt and obsessed with dark rituals and experiments." Dylan said as he plays along with SIlmaria.
"Is that so, then we have to find this monk and bring him in." Blake said as she drew out her sword.
"I agree. We can't let this monk get away." Pyrrha said she pulls out her spear and shield.
"Then it is settled then, we must hunt down this monk before he can do any more harm." Silmeria said as she pulls out her sword.
"I know where this monk is, I suggest that we find while we still have the element of surprise." Dylan said as he pulls out his claymore from his back.
The group the head towards the middle door which may lead them to the main laboratory.
"Are we going to lie to them all this time?!" Alicia asked from within.
"We have to, I don't know who to trust in this world just yet." Silmeria replied silently as the kept on walking towards the door.
HOR
Behind the door was a giant room with numerous devices attached the walls, along with cages hanging by the ceiling. The group then inspects the entire room until they stumble upon the monk who was responsible for the experiments.
"Yes…" The monk said as he injected creature with one of the nozzle with hoses attached to a machine. "This will do…" The monk said as he starts laughing menacingly.
"You there!" Silmeria said as she points her sword towards the monk.
"So, I have been discovered. Well played Huntress." The monk said as the others point their weapons against the monk.
"Why have killed your fellow monks, and how have you've been living for too long?" Blake asked.
"Those monk, my "brothers" are nothing more sacrifices for a greater purpose. As for your second question…" The monk said before he started laughing. "I have received a blessing from the Allfather himself, granting me eternal life in exchange of serving him." the monk said.
"Allfather?" Pyrrha said as both Silmeria and Dylan widen their eyes.
"It can't be…" Silmeria said.
"So you're not from here then, you came from Midgard then?!" Dylan said as he points his claymore at the monk.
"Indeed I do." The monk said. "Lord Odin has ordered to…experiment the natives here in Remnant." The monk said as Silmeria tightens her grip of her sword.
"You defiled life here in Remnant all for your experiments, for that you must die!" Silmeria said as she rushed towards the monk as Dylan follows suite.
"Wait you two!" Pyrrha said as she tries to stop the duo.
Dylan slams his claymore towards the monk only to miss as he rolls to left. Silmeria thrust her sword towards the monk only to miss as he bends back before flipping back towards a switch.
"I'm afraid my death is not yet written." The monk said as he pulls the lever then disappears from the area.
"Dammit!" Dylan said as one of the machines begins to start up.
"Looks like we have a fight in our hands." Silmeria said as the machine begins to materialize a heavily armored giant rhino-like creature with sword attached at the shoulders.
"A Ballistic Rhino?" Dylan said as the creature roared before it rushed towards the group.
(Insert Valkyrie Profile 2 OST - Never Surrender)
The team evaded the rhino's charge and dispersed to get away from it. Blake and Pyrrha started shooting at the rhino, but to no avail as its armor was blocking off the bullets. Dylan rushes in and swings his claymore towards the armored rhino. Dylan's sword slash only grazed the front armor before being pushed back by the rhino. Alicia shoots a couple of photons from her hands to try and freeze the rhino in place. But the photons bounced off the armor then hits the wall.
"What?!" Silmeria said as she evades the rhino's bladed shoulders.
"It think the armor is protecting its body from photons. So you're usual tactics won't work." Alicia said from within Silmeria.
"So what do you suggest?" Silmeria asked.
"Let's dissect it piece by piece, we do have a heavy soldier with us." Alicia said.
"That's a good idea. We focus first on its left blade." Silmeria said as she rushed towards the rhino.
Blake empties her pistol's clip before reloading then rushed towards the rhino. The rhino thrust its left shoulder blade towards Blake who slid under the blade then leaps in the air to try and cut off the blade. But as soon as she got close enough the rhino aimed its left shoulder blade then shoots it towards Blake, who uses her clone to evade the blade.
"That was close." Blake said after landing on her feet.
"We need to cut off the blades connecting to the body." Silmeria said as Blake nodded.
Blake ties her ribbon on the handle of her katana then throws it towards the hinges connecting the blades to the body. The katana wraps around the hinges before Blake starts pulling it off until she expose the hinges. Blake then launched herself towards the rhino then cuts off the hinge exposing the flesh of the rhino's left shoulder before pulling back her katana and started shooting at the exposed flesh to damage the creature which caused major damage.
"All right!" Blake said as she reloads her pistol.
Pyrrha kept on shooting at the rhino before she throws her shield towards the gap between the body and the right shoulder blade. She then thumbs up with her left hand towards the exposed hinge as if she was pointing towards it before transforming her rifle to its javelin form then throws it at the hinge connecting the shoulder blade to the body of the rhino. The javelin stabs the hinge before Pyrrha uses here semblance to control the javelin to cut off the hinge to separate the shoulder blade and expose the body. Pyrrha calls back her Javelin then transform it to its rifle form then resume shooting at the exposed flesh.
"Got it!" Pyrrha said as he reloads her rifle.
The Ballistic Rhino then begins to lose its sanity and roared towards the group then rushed towards them. Dylan pushed both Blake and Pyrrha out of the way then waited for the rhino. The rhino thrust its horn towards Dylan, who blocks the horn with the side of his claymore which stumbles over Dylan. Dylan then cuts of the metal horn with claymore, he then continues to expose the rest of the armor to expose the body of the Ballistic Rhino. Dylan then swings his claymore around then points it at the downed rhino.
"I shall cut asunder your earthly bonds!" Dylan said as he rushed towards the rhino. "Finishing Strike!" Dylan said as he unleashed five powerful sword slashes. "Violent Rage!" Dylan shouted as he performs a powerful downward slash which severely damages the body of the rhino.
Noticing that Ballistic Rhino was still alive Silmeria walks in front of the creature then slides her finger on the side of her sword.
"It is time to end this!" Silmeria said as she rushed towards the rhino. "Finishing Strike!" Silmeria said as she delivers three sword swipes before sending the rhino in the with one upward sword swipe. She then fires a photon at the rhino to trap it in crystal before sliding beneath the crystal then fires another photon to switch places with the rhino. "Nibelung Valesti!" Silmeria shouted as she performs a downward slash to destroy the rhino as well as the crystal to end the fight.
(End Song)
After the fight the team regrouped at the center of the lab.
"That was a tough one." Pyrrha said.
"But we managed to pull through." Blake said.
"Either way, we survived the battle." Dylan said.
"For that we must leave this place, our job here is done." Silmeria said as the group starts leaving the area.
"I get the feeling that we will meet that monk again." Alicia said from within.
"Agree on that one. We must keep our eyes peeled." Silmeria replied.
HOR
There you have it folks, Chapter 6 of Hunters.
Now, I will continue this story after doing some of SOR first.
Until then this has been VACman signing off…