WOOOHOOO! I FINISH IT! Near 20k words, wow! I would've updated this earlier but my hard drive died and had to buy another one and have it installed, good thing I save this on my USB so I could work between time and time I had my hands on a computer. Anyway here's the 11 chapter hope you enjoy it!
Ozpin narrowed his eyes slightly at Nyx in scrutiny.
He didn't know why but he was rubbing him for some reason, the kid was wayward and seemed pretty mettle. He didn't show any sign regret of the harsh words he said while ago nor joy even when he healed Fiver and neither fear when he taunted the other boy whom beat him brutally and shrugged off with such easiness.
No regret, joy or fear in both of them. He didn't had any expectation in whatever answer or consequences he'd ensued.
He was simple and genuinely curious.
He didn't care if it was good or bad, right or wrong, benevolent or evil. A completely open heart, full of admiration, without caring if it was good or bad. He couldn't place him.
Basically, Ozpin didn't know his true nature. If a fictional scenario amused Nyx he would help and assist, if it not...well…he was ready to let Ruby get kill and get himself killed.
He could be a great asset or the most dangerous person he'd encountered in a while.
He'd have to wait and see. The students have made the way to the cliffs.
The group reached the cliffs; they were various pillars and columns that held a roof of large stone roofs at each side, more ahead there was a walkway supported by long stone pillars that leaded to a steeple in a chasm with fog at the bottom. It looks like the persons who did the steeple also did the temple from before and also used the chasm as a natural protection.
They were keeping a good pace and realized that the Nevermore was playing with them, gloating at them. The bird grimm quickly surpassed them and landed on top of the tower emitting a shriek in tantrum.
The group hide behind various columns evading be in the range of the hunters in training.
"Well that's great" Yang said annoyed.
A loud 'crash' could be heard from behind, from the woods the Death Stalker and the Nemenian emerged with aggressive growls. "Oh man, run!" Jaune summarized the thoughts of everyone.
The nevermore shrieked in elation, the preys had been forced to leave his cover. The grimm bird rose from his place and drew back his wings, everyone knew what that mean, it was about to shoot.
"Nora! Distract it!" Ren ordered to her partner.
"I'll help you!" Noire added.
The Nevermore pushed the wings shooting feather stakes. Nora jumped and rolled to the middle of the field avoiding the attack of the grimm to drew her weapon while Noire front and side flip also evading the stakes before taking out his weapon: Sanglant Vindicta.
Sanglant Vindicta was a Close Combat Grenade Launcher (CGL) it had the appearance of a M79 grenade launcher with a no small crescent blade attached to the canon that extended from the trigger guard to the end of the barrel. Additionally to this the blade of Sanglant Vindicta could move loosely; pressing a button near the trigger the curved blade could hang from a small chain that appeared at the end of the canon. Noire could move the blade similar to a nunchaku and rotate or move the blade in any direction, this helped Noire to swing the blade faster and maneuver better his weapon. The blade could easily cut him in that mode or hinder the shot of the grenade launcher but if he pressed a button the blade would accommodate again at his original spot being at the trigger guard.
Both grenade launchers fired and one of the shots hit the head of the Nevermore making it circle around again.
Noire saw the danger from behind and saw the Nemenian and Death Stalker approaching. He shot at them making the Death Stalker halt momentarily however the Nemenian was smarter and started to zigzag the shots.
Noire cursed. He could see the claws close, but were stopped by Ren and… "Blake" he said with disdain which was answered with a deep glare from her.
Not bothering to ask Weiss grabbed both Noire and Nora and jumped to reach the group, she however didn't felt the vibrations in the floor until it was too late.
From the ground a Taricha emerged, Weiss clashed with it. It was different that the others as Nyx had said, this Taricha had more armor and a more spiky mask that the other from before with more red patterns and had more dots and spikes sprouting from it, the tail of the reptile seemed as a bat with nails attached on it.
The apparition in the middle of the path cut dry momentarily the group. In front there were Ruby, Yang, Jaune, Pyrrha, Nyx and Nairod while behind was Nora, Ren, Weiss, Blake, Janice, Noire, Ronan, Song, Hazel and Fiver.
The grimm from before were giving them chase and they followed without question the decision that Hazel ordered them "SPLIT AND KEEP RUNNING!" she screamed.
It had sense actually. The grimm couldn't follow everyone so someone could assist from afar to anyone or make it to the cliffs. The problem was that there wasn't room to escape besides the narrow ruins at side, but it was better than nothing.
Blake, Fiver, Hazel and Song headed to the left side being followed by the Taricha while Janice, Ronan, Nora, Ren and Noire headed to the right side followed by the Nemenian, the rest of the group keep running toward the steeple being followed by the Death Stalker.
The group who has took the left side cursed inwardly; they quickly realized that they were screwed up. Even if they reached the ruins they realized that the cover was meagre: the entries were too open, the grimm crawled, though not completely it could shove her armored head. The grimm was coming front side if they wanted pass her they should do it now.
Song snapped his finger and the guitar took the form of a battle axe "I will stop her! You pass to the other side and distract her for me to pass through the ruins!" Song said between a suggestion and an order. No matter of the grimm could go underground, he couldn't fly, once they managed to reach the chasm they will only need to worry about the Nevermore.
The rest nodded in confirmation. Song's aura flashed with an azure hue and swing it at the Taricha mouth, it wasn't a deadly hit but it was powerful one, powerful enough to throw it off balance giving a wide window to Fiver, Blake and Hazel to pass.
Fiver passed below the mouth gliding between the toes of the Taricha as Blake jumped over it leaning with her legs in one of the spikes of the grimm as support and her semblance to reach the other side. Hazel jumped over the armored tail using the same strategy that Blake using one of the spikes to-
"Hazel, look out!" Fiver exclaimed.
The Taricha felt something on her tail and shook it violently sending Hazel to the air, fortunately she had learned to react by reflexes of the warnings of his brother; she reached Guardian Thorn and used the blade to block the incoming thagomizer. Despite that the spikes didn't manage to pierce through the skin thanks to Guardian Thorn the sheer force of the attack was enough to send her to the floor, she landed with her back forming a small crater.
The grimm hasn't forgotten about the hunter that launched the first attack and more importantly took care of her offspring. The Taricha send a swipe towards Song which he blocked with the shaft and the head of Requiem, his axe, but just like Hazel the sheer force was too strong send him flying to one of the stone columns. He crashed the hard surface with his back.
"Hazel! Song!" Fiver called for them.
Hazel sheathed her sabre and swapped into gun form, she started to shoot at the Taricha in the head to gain her attention; she managed to success. The grimm turned again her attention to the older sibling. "Sis! What are you doing?!" Fiver asked in rattle.
"Get out of here Fiver!" her sister commanded.
He wasn't a great listener so he grabbed hilt of Waning Seer and started to unsheathe the large sword to be sheathed midway by a major force, he turned his head and saw Nyx grabbing the pommel of Waning Seer. "We need to go" he ordered.
Fiver couldn't help feel angry, this guy had been hitting on her sister since the moment he meet him and now is planning to leave her and his so called 'friend' to luck? "My sister is there" he hissed as he shook his hand away moving partially his hood, revealing his face briefly, for a second Fiver saw his eyes filled with worry and disapproval meaning that he didn't like this much as him.
In a way Nyx was genuinely concerned for the safety of them, the headmaster had left clear that it wasn't weird that someone died in the initiation. Song could hold his ground well, but he was tired and hungry and not in his best form, Hazel could help him but if the rest managed to get to the steeple the Death Stalker or the Nemenian or in the worst scenario both, would turn their attention to the hunters in training.
And in that case is was hard to say that they would return unscratched or even return…...
Right now their best option was keep moving and once that they had completed their objective
Nyx grabbed again Fiver but with more force "Remember what I tell you?"
"There are things you can do and things you can't do" the words echoed through Fiver head.
He was right, the Death Stalker was getting closer; run to the Taricha was basically charge at the Death Stalker…and he saw how that he ended, besides there was little he could do to contribute. He saw the logic on it but still refused to abide. It wasn't only his good nature as her sister though…there was another more deep reason…a much darker reason…
"They would be fine! They only need to hold their ground until we return!" Nyx practically yelled when he saw the Death Stalker getting closer; they had to leave now.
"B-but-" Fiver couldn't end his sentence when he heard different shots from the direction of her sister, he saw Song sited in the floor leaning against the column with what it looked a large sniper rifle.
Seeing when the Taricha launched an acid breath Song switched his double axe to gun form, the shaft of the axe stood the same but the spear head retracted and the blades of the axe connected and disarmed forming a trigger and a stock, the axe transformed in a PTRD-41.
Song pulled the trigger several times, a neophyte could easily fly back by the recoil if he didn't stood correctly or didn't had the strength to resist the power. The anti-materiel rounds hit the Taricha with great strength enough to fully focus now on the hunters who were shooting at her; she took air and launched another wave of acid breath.
Hazel did a cartwheel and got out of the range of the attack of the grimm. Song twirled and covered himself with the column, the stone melted but not completely "Fiver! Leave! Now!" the bandaged man also ordered.
This time Nyx stopped trying to convince him and grabbed him from the collar of his jacket, tugging him along with Blake. Hazel sighed in relief that his brother was safe. At least for the moment. The legs of Fiver didn't start to run until he lost sight of her sister, when he did he started to feel sick and disgusted with himself to the point he almost puked.
He was running, escaping, just like years ago.
But this time, he was alone.
The other side of the group didn't have things bad as the others. Unlike Hazel and the rest which had their grimm in front; theirs was behind them, the Taricha was going in their opposite direction and, the Death Stalker was chasing Ruby and the others and the Nemenian was behind them, if they run faster they wouldn't have to use the ruins ahead of them, they could pass the bridge with Ruby and the others before the Death Stalker could cut them.
Noire swerved his course followed almost instantly by the others; they were close to rendezvous with Ruby and the others when a big shadow fell on them. Everyone turned to see why the sun suddenly darkened and saw the Nemenian in the air. The grimm had guessed the plan of the initiates, the Nemenian had experience, that was for sure.
The group jumped in different directions to avoid being crushed by the Nemenian. The lion grimm landed with a tremendous force that created a crater and shook everyone, including the others grimm. The group was separated; on one side was Ronan and Janice while in the other was Ren, Nora and Noire.
Ronan quickly examined the situation, if the other group didn't rushed the Death Stalker would cut them and the Nemian would have them all. He glanced at Janice and she gave him an approbatory nod.
Janice turned Diana in bow form while Ronan grabbed a pair of cartridges from his sides and launched upwards as he pressed extended and rounded palm grip of both of his brass knuckles.
Both the blades of Ronin and Pariah retracted as they disarmed; the slots of where the fingers were supposed to be turned into a hand grip and the now disarmed blades and the upper part of the knuckles became a canon, taking the form a pair of pistols.
The Stunning Ballistic Knucklebusters (SBAK) with the moniker of Ronin and Pariah were a pair; as the name implies, a pair of spiky pointed brass knuckles with short blades at the sides. While Ronin had the capacity of sent electric shock at the impact, Pariah could sent kinetic explosions similar to Yang gauntlets. The extended and rounded palm grip when pressed could transform the knucks into a pair of Mauser C96.
Ronan held his arm at his sides and the magazines fell slickly in the slots of the Mausers. He immediately started to shoot at the grimm along with Janice gaining the attention of the Nemenian. The grimm roared infuriated as he set now on the married couple.
"Move!" Ronan ordered as he run along with Janice to the ruins, shooting at the Nemenian.
Ren nodded but Nora and Noire looked hesitant but compliant at the end. Noire glanced at his partner and he gave him a reassuring grin. Noire drew Sanglant Vindicta and shoot explosive rounds at the Nemenian gaining his attention and giving time to the couple to reach the ruins and reload their weapons.
The beast growled at the attacks of Noire and jumped to the group who was close to the bridge, fortunately they managed to jump to the bridge joining with Ruby and the others before the Nemenian could reach them. The grimm instead clashed with the Death Stalker foiling the swipe that could have reached Blake and Nyx. The scorpion grimm didn't took well the interruption and snarled as he sent a slash to the Nemenian.
The lion roared and tried to bite the Death Stalker which responded to the gall with a stringer to the face of the Nemenian who defected the attack with the mask. A battle between grimm simmered.
The fortuitous fluke seemed a good sign to Nyx, but the security that he felt was destroyed when the Nevermore passed into the bridge, shattering it and once again, you guessed right! Separating them, on one side was Ruby, Weiss, Yang, Noire, Nairod, Fiver, Nora and Jaune while in the other were Nyx, Blake, Pyrrha, Ren, each of the separated group was dealing with the grimm at their own way.
Ruby and the others were shooting at the Nevermore, Hazel and Song were deflecting and trying to make damage to the grimm with the attempts being near futile; the moment the Death Stalker clamed place with the hunters in the bridge and seeing that wasn't space for him to join, the Nemenian redirected his attention to the married couple who were shooting at him; the lion smite against the ruins destroying it at the impact, the only path now for them was going to the ruins in near the chasm, almost next to the Death Stalker.
The situation didn't boded well to the hunters and Jaune seemed to gauge the situation "Man, we gotta get over there they need help!"
Nora couldn't agree more "Let's do this!"
"Yeah, but uh, I can't make that jump" Jaune stated as he tried to watch the end of the chasm, failing. Nora grinned diabolically as she knocked the blonde back with Magnhild and shifted her grenade launcher into melee form, the gun grip and the stock bended and transformed into a shaft with the cylinder becoming the head of a freaking sledgehammer. She run at the edge of the broken bridge and jumped.
Jaune didn't manage to pick himself up before he pleaded "No, wait!"
Nora slammed the hammer on the bridge and catapulted Jaune to the other side; she accommodated herself in the head of the hammer with a salute before pulling the trigger and launched herself as well with a glee smile on her face.
Not managing to hear the explosion on the other side or the pleading screams of Jaune for a change till was too late; Nyx and the others saw how Nora smashed the Death Stalker right in the skull and jumped off the grimm with a pink explosion at the incoming string but pushed Blake and Nyx off the bridge.
"Goddammit, Nora!" Nyx screamed, not angry but irritated, perhaps she heard him, perhaps not, he never knew.
Seeing how Nyx and Blake fell to the chasm, Nairod glanced quickly to Yang and the others and assessing that they'll be alright with a number less he jumped off the bridge. Only to regret it later when he saw Blake stab in the bridge what it looked like a kusari-gama and seesaw to safety.
Nyx stretched his hand in signal from help, he actually could get out of this but that required use his semblance and aura, why not save himself job? Nairod fell for a few more seconds before he drew from the tip of the his gloves, strings and wrapped it around one of the columns and swinging to the surface not before grabbing the hand of Nyx.
"Need a ride?" Nairod asked with a smug grin on his face.
"Appreciated!" Nyx replied.
Nyx found himself surprised when they ended on the middle of the filed at the height of where the steeple would be, meaning that ended up very high. Nyx soon realized why, Nairod wanted to help his partner, he couldn't blame him, he wanted the same. Nairod had seen a window to go right to help and took it. Man he'd to invite him a beer.
"You can go to the steeple from this height!" Nairod said.
"On the contrary, I wanted to go with Hazel and Song!" Nyx rebuted.
Nairod grinned "Worry for your girlfriend and boyfriend?!" he taunted even though they would fall into a certain death soon.
"You're not worried about yours?" Nyx countered as he spotted and aimed at the lion grimm.
"Touche" Nairod said as Nyx squat his knees and channelized aura on them.
"Thanks Nai!"Nyx obliged as Nairod put his foots on the feet of Nyx and bended his knees slightly to cushion the incoming force.
"Don't mention it!" he grinned before was launched towards the Nemenian.
One of the perks of Lariat Intermission besides shot burst of electricity as laser and infuse his melee attacks with electricity too was that in he could charge them to make more powerful the attack; this obviously used more dust from his gloves but if the attack made impact with the target...
Nairod had charged his right arm and with the velocity with was launched hit the Nemenian directly in the face, forming a small crack in the mask, the attack caught the grimm off guard but quickly recovered and shook Nairod off. Used the momentum that the Nemenian had given him he did a backflip in the air and landed between Ronan and Janice.
"What are you doing here?!" Ronan asked transforming his weapons into his brass knuckles functions.
"A puppy versus a lion seemed unfair to me" Nairod sneered.
The Nemenian roar echoed through the whole forest, reaching even Beacon and perhaps the city too.
In the moment he impulse Nairod, Nyx stretched his arms and flied. The coat that he wore had a wingsuit included, that along with his hoodie stole that moved loosely at his back and/or sides gave him the appearance that he had wings. Gliding to the floor near the Taricha, Nyx saw how Hazel was knocked to the floor and raised her spiky tail to finish her. Nyx deactivated his wingsuit; now free falling he grabbed what it looked like a foldable sword, the name of the weapon being Geri.
Geri was a versatile weapon, known as Multiple Automatic Nihonto (MAN) it could transform into a Wakizashi, a Katana or an Odachi. The default form of Geri was a double edge Wakizashi. On the other side there was a blade that could fold forming a Katana and from the same another foldable blade with a retractile blade inside that formed the Odachi. He selected Geri in the former way.
The Thagomizer of the Taricha fell as Hazel as Hazel reached and tried to draw Guardian Thorn not afraid of the deadly attack, having trust that Song will stop the tail. Nyx sank Geri on it; despite not having much energy, the foreign force was enough to divert the course of the Thagomizer. The spiky tail sunk in the ground deep. Not being what she'd in mind but with the same result Hazel managed to draw her sabre and stabbed the blade on the tail of the salamander.
The Taricha hissed in pain and anger. Glaring at the couple with her red orbs, it sweep the injured limb with the intention of impale them with its tail. Hazel and Nyx predicted this and jumped over the tail with a side flip. Song shot another set of rounds to the Taricha hitting one of the orbs in the center, making it one eye.
"And Fiver?" Hazel inquired.
"In the steeple, with Ruby and Yang" he reassured her.
She exhaled as she did something that she never though she would do in the short time she'd meet him "Thank you" she muttered.
Seeing how forced and late the word left her mouth Nyx couldn't help but grin "Excuse me? I didn't hear that" he obviously teased.
"Not now Nyx!" Song admonished and stopped what it would be a deadly glare from Hazel. The Thagomizer was hanging limply but still holding it place, a good gash would make it fall. Both the hunters and the Girdled Taricha knew it. The grimm challenged the hunters with a hiss.
Blake sent various slashes through the back of the Nevermore with the hope of killing it in the place but her attacks seemed to only anger the bird grimm more. She jumped from it and landed on the steeple and gathered with her partners and Ruby.
"It's tougher than it looks!" Blake stated.
"Then let's hit it with everything we got!" she announced as she reloaded Ember Celica.
Fiver and Noire had to climb higher the steeple if they wanted to shot at the Nevermore. They saw how the girls changed their weapons into ranged form and proceeded to do the same. Noire loaded Sanglant Vindicta and Fiver set Waning Seer into rifle form. The crystal blade did a 180° and connected with the body of the metal. (A/N: If you're still confused about this part; read CH. 4)
Sniper shoots, Ice beams, explosive rounds, fire balls, pistol bullets, high impact energy shots were fired at the Nevermore more than once and yet it was unable to stop it, the bird grimm crashed at the steeple making the now destroying structure fall into the chasm.
Nobody wasted time to leave the collapsing building. The girls jumped between the rubble, each of them reaching the bridge; Yang punching through the debris, Blake running up the pillars, Weiss using her glyphs to push herself, Ruby propel herself using her scythe.
The boys were higher and the Nevermore crashed at the base so they had more solid floor to move on than the girls. Fiver was jumping from one stone to another trying to join to Ruby until he saw Noire going in a different direction, it didn't took much to realize that he was going to try to help Nairod and the others.
There things you can do and things you can't do
"Noire wait! I go with you!" he announced as he swerve from his original course. Noire nodded as he stretched his hand and Fiver jumped before a gargantuan stone swatted him, he managed to grab the hand of Noire. The blindfolded young man pointed his grenade launcher point blank-range at a stone and pulled the trigger both hunters were soaring soon in the sky.
From this altitude they could see the whole battle; Fiver squat his knees and changed Waning Seer into melee function before he placed it at his feet. Noire pointed Sanglant Vindicta at it.
"You sure?" Noire asked and Fiver guessed that he meant about the crystal of his large sword "It won't break!" he assured before Noire shot again.
The force which what Fiver was launched was stronger from what Fiver was expecting; no wonder why they ended up so high. The Taricha was trying to shake Song off the tail, the hunter was clutching the Thagomizer trying to cut it but the Taricha smashed the spiked tail in a column with all and Song. None of the spikes pierced him thankfully but air leaved his lungs. Before Hazel and Nyx could do something Fiver came out of nowhere and stabbed and gashed the tail of the salamander cutting it.
Seeing the how the limb of the grimm fell with a loud 'thud' Song raised his head to see his savior "F-Fiver?" by the tone of his voice it was obvious that he was shocked.
"I saw the chance!" Fiver enounced with a grin, feeling the resolve in his voice.
Weiss saw from the corner of her eyes the akubra boy and blindfolded man join to their respective partners as she and Ruby landed on the bridge. She turned her attention to the Nevermore in peeve. "None of this is working"
Ruby saw Blake land of the bridge and her sister on top a pillar shooting at the bird, an idea forming in her head "I have plan. Cover me!"
Not having a plan herself she did case of her partner and drew Myrtenaster. Hopefully the others could deal with their own grimm.
The Nemenian roared at Nairod, Janice and Ronan with a mighty rage, the beast shook his head violently and from the mane quills needles flew towards them. The spines were smaller than the feathers of the Nevermore but they were harder to spot because they were thinner. Nairod pulled strings from his gloves and infused them with the last dust that he had in his gauntlets, he'd extended the wires enough to cover not only him but Ronan and Janice too.
Ronan used Ronin and Pariah to defect as many quills needles that he could while Janice changed Diana into her three section staff mode and maneuvered around her body with an impressive speed that only a blur and sparks could be seen around her. Once that he thought the needles had stopped Nairod sprinted forward along with Ronan. Janice swapped into her bow mode and shot ice arrows at the Nemenian.
Ronan jumped forward evading a claw swipe from the Nemenian, he did a somersault once he touched the floor and keep running. Despite not having any dust left on Lariat Intermission the gloves imbued with aura were more than enough to cause damage at the Nemenian, he punched the brisket and the back legs of the lion. The grimm throw himself to the ground trying to squash the hunter but Nairod leaped at side. Ronan meet eye to orb with the Nemenian, the grimm move forward trying to engulf the faunus. Ronan could have jumped but the momentum of his speed prevented him.
Suddenly the body of Ronan jerked on his own at the left, evading the deadly jaws, he saw Nairod moving his arms at the same direction and then he realized the thin strings in his torso. He landed on his feet and Nairod deactivated his threads. Before the Nemenian could close his snout Janice had shot an explosive arrow at his mouth. The grimm stood up and jumped towards Janice trying to crush her. She did a cartwheel as switch her weapon in spetum mode.
Woe filled Nairod. The moment he'd stroked the Nemenian Nairod had wrapped the torso and legs of it with his strings, unfortunately the strength of the Nemenian was too much for him; reason why he was being jerking from one side to another at the air violently.
"I SHOULDN'T HOLD ON BUT I'M TOO SCARED TO LET GO!" he yelled.
The Nemenian had focused its attention on Janice; it was jumping from one side to another like a cat who chases a red dot. Ronan was trying to call the attention with shots of his weapons but seeing how futile his attempts were he threw himself at the feet of the lion along with Janice. The Nemenian now had two dots to play. Ronan and Janice manage to give the grimm a few slashes along the body; evading the claw swipes and swatting from it in the way but every time that the Nemenian landed it throw the hunters off of balance.
Both Janice and Ronan seeing how their attacks were a simply bother to them instead than a danger they headed of what remained of the ruins thinking that the lion wasn't going to be able to smite the same way he did before because of the crack of it mask. It was a simple though of self-preservation the grimm obviously seemed experienced dealing with humans.
And they were right. The moment they entered the ruins the Nemenian stopped in prompt. Regained their breath they lost of view the Nemenian for a second and when they turned their gaze they saw that it was nowhere to be found. That left an only explanation…
Oh shit.
Ronan sheathed Ronin and Pariah at his sides and snatched Diana from Janice's hands. She didn't say a thing; instead she placed her back with Ronan's back serving as a support. The Nemenian fell from the skies and crushed the ruins from above. Feeling resistance from below the lion grimm pushed stronger.
The couple was channeling every ounce of aura that they had into their arms, legs, back and the shaft of Diana. The Nemenian took this as a personal challenge and now used all its strength to swat the hunters…but something was pulling it. Or at least attempting to…
Nairod was tugging the Nemenian with his entire aura. Despite using all his strength he knew that his assistance was only minimal. "I believed that dogs chased cat not backwards! Come on, puppy put your back on it"
Ronan feel irritation growing on him as he used the same emotion as fuel. Man, he was so easy to motivate; despite that he didn't like what he heard he had to admit that the taunt had served his purpose, reason which he replied in both annoyance and a smug "Don't call me that, you cunt!"
Ronan pushed the paw of the Nemenian throwing it off of balance, he'd felled ion four legs but the threads of Nyx were keeping him in place. Due that he'd used all his strength Ronan simply limited to aim the spetum at the fissure of the mask. "Your turn babe" he muttered.
Janice kicked Diana with all her force, boosting the spetum with an incredible velocity. The pole weapon flew towards the rift-
And failed.
Air leaved the lungs of Janice, Ronan and Nairod. The girl fell on her knees and the head of the now unconscious Ronan fell on her lap.
The Nemenian had tilted it head at side evading the coup de grace from the hunters. It was confirmed: The beast had dealt with hunters. From the snout of the grimm a gloating grin formed…and with the same velocity with which appeared it disappeared.
The Nemenian had dealt with hunters.
Air filled the lungs of the hunters. They had exhaled and inhaled; a mischievous grin formed on their faces. "We never aimed at you" Janice muttered.
Now it was the turn to shadow fell on the beast.
Noire grabbed Diana midair as he pointed his weapon at his contrary direction. He pulled the trigger propelling himself towards the lion grimm and pierced the spetum in the cleft of the Nemenian. The mask crevassed and the Nemenian screeched; blood erupted from the wound and stained the cloak of Noire; he didn't end there; Noire used Diana as pry and he sunk Sanglant Vindicta on the open wound before he sent several explosions inside the head of the grimm.
The Nemenian wailed, shaking both his frontal paws and his head, trying to send the hunter away. Using his amok Nairod jumped back and rappelled in the chasm, he pulled his strings and the Nemenian yielded at the unknown force. He spotted the Nemenian at the slope of the abyss; that was his cue, Nairod retracted his wires and ascended automatically, he reached the furry back of the Nemenian.
Noire saw it and pulled Diana out and stretched at Nairod, he grabbed it and wrapped his threads around it, he nodded at Noire and he replied the same. The blindfolded man launched Nairod towards Ronan and Janice as the boy with heterochromia launched a final powerful punch at the back of the Nemenian making him bend; the hefty weight of the lion grimm yielded to the force.
Nairod landed next to the married couple and pulled the spetum along with Nairod; just as coup de grace Noire shoot a final time to the grimm. The Nemenian plummet into the chasm with a roar that ebbed as he fell.
"Man, that chasm is deep" Nairod said still hearing the roar of the grimm. Noire returned Diana to her original owner.
"Thanks" she muttered. She was still on her knees with the Ronan resting on her lap. "So we kill this thing while my partner here sleeps?" Noire asked in amusement.
"Hey, we were fighting this thing before you showed in the sky" Janice answered with a pout.
The conversation couldn't continue when they heard an explosion and saw Nora in the air and she was…giggling? She grinned as she fell and make a salute like the one she did a while ago. She shot another explosion from Magnhild and dove down as she nailed the stinger in the skull of the Death Stalker; catapulting Jaune and Pyrrha to the other side. And just to ensure that it was dead, Nora shot again Magnhild and launched herself with the rest. The Death Stalker just like the Nemenian fell to the chasm.
"Oh that was-" Janice said before Ren staggered to them before collapsing. The group sweatdroped.
"Well…at least puppy isn't the only one tired…" Nairod said with sarcasm. Despite being unconscious the body of Ronan reacted instinctively and flipped him.
Now that the Taricha had lost its thagomizer the hunters charged at the salamander, but the salamander threw an acid breath. The four hunters split at each side with their respective partners. Hazel and Nyx went to the right while Song and Fiver to the left. The Taricha swipe her left claws at Hazel and Nyx.
Nyx still having Geri in odachi function deflected the attack to the soil; the moment the claws made contact with the ground Hazel stabbed the toe of the Taricha and used her semblance; ice covered the leg from within the wound and trapped the beast by its toe.
Song and Fiver slid below the Taricha with the thagomizer trying to pierced it with the spiky tail, the grimm however didn't have intention of dying today, the Taricha stood suddenly on her back short legs destroying the ruins that were left as preventing the impaling but losing most of the claws on her left toe. The gargantuan salamander hissed before launching an acid breath at them that they barely managed to avoid.
Barely.
Fiver felt a burning sensation on his left shoulder, looking at it he saw his shoulder armor was melting; if it wasn't for his armor he would've loosed his arm.
The Taricha jumped and launched at Fiver with open mouth "Fiver!" her sister called.
Nyx leaped and pushed Fiver avoiding being devoured by the Taricha but instead he was engulfed by it. The salamander dived digging in the floor. Small earthquakes could be felt below them. Before guilt filled Fiver a slap in the cheek from Song brought him in to reality.
"He's fine!" Song assured him and a wave of relief washed Fiver, it was true, Song left the mouth of one when he showed up. "Watch from where it comes" Song added referring to the Taricha.
That was something that he could do.
Fiver semblance's Extrasensory allow Fiver to peer the future and the past momentarily, though that wasn't the full gauge of his power. Using his power Fiver could see from where the Taricha was going to emerge. Telling from where it was going to come to her sister and partner they evaded the attacks perfectly.
Song wrapped his axe with his aura and stabbed the floor and tried to gain the attention of the Taricha with success, he could felt the vibrations followed him, he nodded at the siblings and somehow they understand his plan. Song ran to the slope hill with ruins while dragging Requiem on purpose to ensure that the Taricha was still on him; before he arrived he decreased his speed…
"Fiver?!" he yelled.
"Now!" Fiver answered.
And one second later the Taricha emerged from the ground and tried to swallow Song. The bandaged man had jumped to the grade and sunk the axe in the ground to avoid being bite, he could would've been engulfed too if it wasn't if were not because Hazel strike with the Thagomizer at the sides of the Taricha. The beast hissed in angry and pain and to ensure that she didn't went underground she froze the wound along with the buried limp to the land.
That was the cue for Song. He jumped from the gradient and struck with all his force the axe in the head of the Taricha with an azure hue, stunning her. The mask was hard; her offspring could've died with a hit like that. Song landed next to them. Fiver changed Waning Seer in his weapon form, he charged his shot with his aura and the yellow crystal shone. Hazel threw a red uncut crystal to the end of his canon.
The girdled Taricha shook its head and took a deep breath and before she threw another acid breath Fiver shot a yellow beam that became red when pierced the uncut dust. The shot hit right in the mouth of the Taricha and its mouth and possibly her insides were filled with a fire and an explosion. The grimm hissed in pain before falling with a loud 'thud'.
Fiver was rejoicing. Hazel smiled slightly but it quickly disappeared with a conflictive expression. Fiver was wondering why she wasn't happy, all dawn on him when he saw the speechless of Song and the uncertainty of the moment filled Fiver with horror.
Shit. Nyx.
"O-Oh dust" Fiver muttered as he grasped the hefty peril of his mistake "Y-you think he's fine, right? Right?"
"No" Hazel answered a bit too much promptly.
"Shit! I killed him! I killed him!" Fiver dropped Waning Seer. Hazel eyes widened, if Song knew her he would be surprised that she showed more expression. Fiver would never do that, he loved his sword. The simple thought of him killing an innocent or a friend filled him with disgust and horror, more of what he'd.
He started to shiver and his knees threatened to fail. Hazel grabbed his brother from his shoulders. "Relax Fiver, he's probably fine" Hazel tried to sound reassuring but she really wasn't sure of her own words. "Right, Song?"
But he himself wasn't so sure. Yeah, Nyx had survived all kinda of stuff: Bullets, blades, poisons, Dust, explosions, fire- he stopped counting the list that would take at least an hour but being swallowed by a grimm, survive the acids from the stomach and then burned from inside? Yeah that was a new one.
"Sure…why not?" he answered shrugging his shoulders in boredom.
He and Nyx had seen themselves at death's door various times and by myriad means and scenarios that both of them were thinking that they were somehow immortals. If somehow told him that he'd Nyx was killed he would have trouble believing that.
The slob and indifferent way he answered didn't calm Fiver. This time his knees yielded and started to hyperventilate.
Suddenly the Taricha convulsed with a loud hiss and fell again death with the same speed that she rose. The snout was sliced in half and from within Nyx emerged covered in blood and soot. By the look of it, Song guessed that he drench himself with the blood of the grimm to avoid the fire. How he survived the lethal acids he never answered.
Still, everyone looked at him agape and astonished.
"Man, I almost died three times there!" Nyx said with the same lethargic way like if nothing had happened.
The only thing that stopped Fiver from hugging Nyx and kiss him in the cheeks was seeing the Nevermore crash into the cliff. Nyx saw the group fighting at the collapsed steeple and he quickly put 2 and 2 together. "Well, that's gonna make us look bad"
"Think you can make the shot?"
Weiss showed a completely confidence face "Hmph, can I?" unfortunately Ruby didn't saw it "Can't?"
"Of course I can!" she cried. That was all that the silver haired girl needed. She glared at the Nevermore and loaded Crescent Rose.
Weiss launched her to the Nevermore, the floor breaking at the process. Ruby ascended with a trail of red petal behind her along with various shots. She cached the giant bird from its neck with her blade and didn't stop until her feet made contact with the cliff. Weiss created a path of glyphs that reached the edge of it. Ruby then started to run to the top, towing the Nevermore with the blade.
The bird shrieked in both horror and defy, but those cries were only matched from those of the small girl. With a final war cry from both the Nevermore and Ruby she decapitated the bird. The head fell right next to her and its body to the chasm along with the others.
She didn't realize the awe stares on her until she peered through the cliff.
The group of Jaune and the rest had regrouped and looked at the girl.
"Wow…" is all what the blonde knight could say and all of them nodded dumbstruck.
"How are we supposed to win against that?" Janice said with a pout.
The eyes of Ronan opened and he sat. "Wha-what did I miss?"
After initiation the sixteen hunters- well more like all the hunters that completed the initiation were called at the amphitheater. The formation of the teams was right after it. The hunters that had fight at the chasm a.k.a. Ruby and the others were one of the last teams, much to misfortune of Song who looked ready to fell unconscious any time.
Fiver, Nyx and Ronan went to the front trying to convince Goodwitch if they could go the platform there was a group of three faunus and a human. He only could see their back but in the screen that was show to all her amphitheater their mugshots.
The first one was a girl with orange flowing hair and beautiful emerald eyes, she'd feline ears and furry tail, if Nyx had to guess she was a fox related faunus.
Right next to her was a girl with claws at her hands, she'd short cut dirty blonde hair, she strong features similar to Ronan, meaning that she looked always ready to eat your face, her stance and features make guess that she was a tiger or a lion, Nyx went for the former there was already a tiger...
Passing now to the males there was a guy with wavy gray hair and sharp eyes, what most surprised everyone were that he'd big brown wing with white spots, unlike the females of her new team he looked rather friendly.
And the jewel of the crown was something that they doubt they could call a hunter. It was the final male of the team; a spectacled teen with brown spiky hair and his glasses were hiding his eyes. Unlike the others he was human…oh yeah and he was drooling…meaning that he was sleeping.
Some persons in the amphitheater were trying to suppress their laughter. Even the headmaster had an amused smile on his stoic face.
"Kitsune Veritas. Arden Cross. Zephyr Rush. Elaine Rovra. The four of you retrieved the black knight pieces from this day forward; you will work together as Team Kaze"
Four letters emerged under their mugshots and formed the word 'KAZE'
"Led by…...Kitsune Veritas!" the faunus girl smiled and grabbed rudely the spectacled teen who dragged off the stage.
While Ozpin formed the new team Kaze Nyx got between a group of four beautiful and cute girls that were next. "Excuse me Miss Goodwitch" Nyx asked to the teacher who was at the stairs of the amphitheater along with the girls.
It was a group of girls; he'd committed her appearances and names at his memory so he knew who were them:
The first one had loose long crimson hair with a ponytail at her left, she'd light blue eyes; from his first impression she seemed rather meek and timid. She looked scared with the invasion of her personal space; Nyx removed her hand from her shoulder. Other girl was quite catch for the eye but had the world 'danger' written all over her face. She'd had iris colored hair with a tall right side ponytail with an iron curdled end. She also had red blood eyes; she looked like a female fatale.
Another girl couldn't fit better the nickname of 'shorty'. She'd long teal wavy hair but her hair had a slight greenish coloration rather than blue like Janice, she'd two loose buns that resembled deer ears held together by antlers, if they had to guess it was almost obvious that she was a faunus. By the way he shove between her and the red hair she looked offended and angry rather than scared like her, she was making an adorable pout.
He didn't know why but he tried to fix things just to end doing more damage "Sorry, kid" he apologized ignoring her seethed face.
The final girl was wearing a green to brown hood cloak similar to Ruby or Noire; she'd short dark brown dyed in green with a choppy cut pointing in every direction. She looked rather reserved and quiet; she had an athletic complexion with muscles but without taking her female curves.
"Could we go after the girls there, please?" Fiver asked referring to another group of girls that were behind them.
It was a group of four girls; One of them had a cute innocent face with both blue hair and eyes but was wearing rather skimpy attire. Another one was a red head girl with bright sharp jade eyes.
Other one reminded him to Nairod, She'd heterochromia: Her left eye was light blue and her right eye was hazel, but she had blond canary hair and didn't had the same wild of the eyes of him. The last girl had green emerald hair with golden playful eyes.
Nairod seemed to talk with the girls and with a hulky guy with the hope that they let them go first. "And for what ludicrous reason, Mister Rosso?"
"Erm, my partner is about to collapse" Fiver said pointing to Song. Nairod did the same to the group who was talking. The poor tiger was leaning against a wall, fighting to keep his eyes open.
"I don't think you want to see me dragging him to and off the stage, right?" Nyx asked hopefully.
Ronan noted something that fell from Tianee.
"Hey your…antler…fell…" Ronan said as he picked one of the antlers of the short girl.
"Wait you can remove those?" Nyx asked in thrilling as he grabbed one of the dog ears of Ronan trying to pull it. The new team KAZE was getting off stage when they meet the odd scene. The faces of the faunus weren't happy ones.
"Why didn't you tell us that you cou…ld…remove…those…" his smile vanished slowly along with his pulls when he saw the irate face of Ronan and realizing that the ears hadn't come off. Nyx glanced quickly at the teal girl and saw her amused wile smile "You're not a faunus, right?" he stated more than asked.
"No" both the female fatale and the short girl answered.
Nyx turned his head to the angry Ronan, oblivious of the stares of the faunus and the group from before. The hooded young man gave him an apologetic smile.
"Getting really tired of your shit, Nyx" Ronan said peeved.
Nyx released the grip of his dog ear and tried to preen before Ronan punched him and sent him to the floor. Everyone near smiled in amusement (even Miss Goodwitch), he even heard the laughs from behind till-
"Hey, you have white panties!" Nyx said to the red head whom immediately closed her legs and dress with a fierce blush.
A heel hit the face of Nyx and realized that it was from Miss Goodwitch, which wasn't making honor to her surname in Nyx opinion. "Girls, your turn" he said referring to the group of full females and motioned with her hand to the stage "Team KAZE that would be all, thank you" he referred to the team of faunus.
Each of group did as they said except for Ronan and Fiver…and well Nyx but in his case it wasn't an option leave.
The group of girls marched to the headmaster "Crystal Nelde. Idina Caliber. Sirce Marion. Tianee Musk" Ozpin announced as their pictures appeared in the screen "The four of you retrieved the white bishop pieces. From this day forward you will work together as Team Crystal"
Under their picture the word 'CIST' formed.
"Led by…Crystal Nelde!" the announcement shook the red haired girl that she became redder. One of the girls looked in agreement but the brown and teal haired girl looked adamant.
"And for answer your question" he referred as the headmaster announced the new team 'CIST' "If there are no problems with the newcomers that go before you-"
"There's not" Nairod assured along with the group of four girls and a tall and corpulent male with a silver-gray armor with golden trim and a golden bird at the front. "Very well then"
Team CIST was getting of stage when Nyx started to plead "Miss Goodwitch! Miss Goodwitch! Your heel is piercing my temple! Please I beg you! Plus I can see you panti- OW!" Glynda steeped harder before retrieving his foot.
"You may go on" she said with gritted teeth along with a blush being either of embarrassment or anger. Song grabbed Nyx from the collar ignoring the smiles of poetic justice of Team CIST and pushed Nyx to the stage; he tripped with the stairs resulting in more laughing. Finally Hazel grabbed him too and stood him up.
"Thanks" he said, she may have been rude but he was having troubles for stand, so he appreciated the help.
They marched towards the headmaster as he named them "Fiver Watership. Hazel Watership. Nextic Valravn. Song Bai Hu" their mugshots appeared in the screen; despite that their pictures appeared with their hats, hoodie and bandages, the soon to be team had been forced to remove their head garments or anything that hide their faces in the amphitheater meaning that the spiky hair of Fiver, the shag back length hair of Hazel and the faces of Nyx and Song were uncovered.
For some reason the felt naked "The four of you retrieved the queen pieces. From this day forward you will work together as Team Fulvous"
Under the pictures the word 'FVWS' appeared.
"Led by…Fiver Watership!" he announced. Hazel patted her brother in the back in proud. Fiver blinked hard and fast twice "Excuse headmaster, I think I didn't heard you right"
"Yes you did, he said that you're our leader" Nyx answered for Ozpin. Fiver could have protested more but then Song collapsed hard to the front, a few gasp could be heard in the multitude "Oh don't worry!" Nyx said waving his hand in reassuring "He's just in a temporally coma" he said as it was better.
Nyx grabbed the leg of Song and started to drag him off stage, mopping the floor with his face and body "Come on, fearless leader!" he said to Fiver with a grin. The Watership siblings were supposed to be shocked but they were really tired besides recent events make them believe at this point that violence and indifference was pretty common with these two.
They sighed and left the stages ignoring the small trail of blood and the concerned looks of how the head of Song bounced in the stairs and how Nyx keep dragging him.
"Thank you, Miss Goodwitch" Fiver said to the teacher.
"Thanks Nairod" Nyx said with a high five which war replied by the same way. "No problemo" the gray haired man said.
"Thanks Big guy" he said referring to the guy with the bird armor.
"Thanks Brooke" Nyx added. The blue haired girl smiled before changing her expression to confused one realizing that she never told him her name. Hazel gave her a 'don't bother' look.
Fiver gave them slight nods of gratitude as Nyx keep dragging Song in floor to their place at the audience, ignoring the stares that fell on him; they made their way next to the teams that were before them.
"Is he going be alright?" Hazel pointed to Song. The information he provided made the new teams make wide the distance between them.
"Yeah, he hasn't eaten nothing in the week and he just fight mostly by himself the Taricha and her offspring in the water, he's exhausted, give him a day and he will be like new tomorrow…probably…" he added the last part a bit too late and quiet than he intended.
"'Probably'?" The military girl quoted.
"Well there's always the chance that he never wakes up" he said like nothing with a smile.
"You're saying it like if has happened before…" Fiver said.
No response from Nyx "It has happened before, isn't?" Hazel reframed the question though it was a statement.
"Last time this happened he fell from 15 thousand feet in an airship without"
Few seconds passed before Hazel asked another question, enough time to the other teams to process the info and try to guess if this conversation was serious "…How do you survive a 15 thousand foot height fall...?"
"The same way you survive being eaten by a Taricha and burned from the inside" he deadpanned.
"I say I was sorry! What do you want flowers?" Fiver excused.
"Brooke Ariella. Rekka Zhu Que. Kaneli Amala. Eden Locke" Their mugshots appeared in the screen along with some whistles from the audience "The four of you retrieved the black rook pieces. From this day forward you will work togueter as Team Brooke"
The word 'BRKE' was made by their initials.
"Led by...Brooke Ariella!" Nyx couldn't focus more in the ceremony because Hazel called his attention.
"Hey, you're bleeding" she informed at Nyx. He opened his coat and revealed a big fang on his ribs. A small stain was in his dark clothes. Nyx looked rather indifferent despite him being the wounded "Oh! Thanks" he said as he grabbed the Fang.
The teams looked at him aghast and before any could do a thing he retrieved it with a grunt. Small drops of blood fell. "It must be when the Taricha eat me" he said outloud holding the fang in his hands.
Nyx could felt the apology of Fiver already "For the last time Fiver, I told you is ok!"
"Nairod Gray. Noire Dantes. Janice Sapphire. Ronan Rosso" the students marched to the headmaster as their pictures appeared "The four of you retrieved the King pieces. From this day forward you will work together as Team Napier"
The word 'NDJR' was made using the names and surnames of each integrant.
"Led by…Nairod Gray!" Ozpin announced, none of the persons at stage looked adamant.
They left the stage passing the last teams; Yang gave her a high-five that he replied with the same kind just like Nyx. Heading to rendezvous with team FWNS Noire bumped with the new leader of team KAZE. She pushed him with more strength that she intended.
"Hey! Watch it!" the lioness of the group said with an aggressive tone in defense of the fox girl.
"Forgive him. He's blind" Janice vouched for Noire.
The embarrassment in the face of both the leader and the lioness was pretty apparent. They would have apologized but the new team was pretty tired like the rest so they decided to ignore it, giving them a false sensation of loathing.
"Sorry again about your ears" Nyx apologized. Unfortunately Ronan was tired both physically and mentally so he answered with a hostile manner by reflex.
He punched him in the wound of the ribs "Son of a-" he collapsed on his knees holding his wound, he was exhausted as the rest and his aura was starting to recover. Nyx lost conscious for a few minutes.
When Nyx woke up the ceremony was nigh ending, there was also a small puddle of blood. Opening his eyes he saw a beautiful scene. Hazel was right beside him, the new teams were looking at him with some worry. Hazel kneel when he didn't react after 30 seconds. The guy had taken a deadly beating of Song and a punch on his wound put him on the floor? Something was weird.
"Ohhh dust. I died and went to heaven to be received by such beautiful angels"
"I told you he was fine" Hazel deadpanned as he looked his brother. She helped Nyx to stand a think that surprised him but didn't say a thing.
"Yeah, I used too much aura and that" he said referring to his heal power. "Thanks"
Hazel narrowed her eyes 'that'? It wasn't his semblance? "What did I miss" he asked interrupting her thoughts.
"Oh right! Team JNPR"Nairod pointed at Jaune "Led by vomit boy" he added a few snicker erupted from the teams.
"And Tem CRDL" Hazel pointed at the hulk boy with indigo eyes "Led by Cardin Winchester"
"And-" Fiver said as he pointed at the amphitheater.
"-Team RWBY. Led by…Ruby Rose!" Ozpin announced the last team. Yang hugged her sister saying some words that couldn't be heard from here.
"Looks like things are shaping up to be an...interesting year" Ozpin declared like he'd foreseen the future.
"Indeed Ozpin...Indeed" Nyx said inwardly and he guessed that he wasn't the only one with such thoughts.
A/N: God, this one was large indeed! Every chapter had received editions; I don't think this one is going to be the exception. Next chapters are probably going to be shorter. Again if you see any grammar mistake tell me.
Now we got all the characters along with their crazy and hard to describe (especially in another language) weapons along with new formed RWBY and JNPR. (Wow, what shock) Yes, I know that I referred to the grimms as 'he' or 'her' in someparts but- MEH- probably will fix it later.
Every team goes to their respective owners. Thanks for allow me to post this awesome teams in such fanfic!:
Team KAZE – QuietFever
Team CIST – ThanhnuFia
Team BRKE – Isaiahjordan and YintoYang
You guys are awesome! :)