Again, sorry. I haven't had much time, since a good 8 or 9 hours have been taken up by school alone, and that's not including the homework. But enough about my moaning and complaining, enjoy some team GAIA
Chapter 12
Team GAIA was lined up in front of Professor Swigg. First in line was Gabby. She was leaning on what looked to be an oversized tree branch that stood 6 feet tall, just a few inches shorter than her. She wore a long, thin, brown robe, open at the front. Her capris were the same colour. She wore a Bando-style chest wrap that was a rich forest green and her long brunette hair was held back in a headband, which was also green. She, like many from her team, didn't wear shoes, and prefered to go barefoot. Her dark green eyes were focused on Swigg as his eyes passed on from her to Alfred.
He wore very little and, like Gabby, was barefoot, though he was 3 inches shorter. His brown shirt looked like it had been worn for the past few years and was torn up, just like his black jeans which were torn off at the knees. It looked like the last time he took a bath was the same time he bought his shirt. He was staring at Swigg with piercing blue eyes. His black hair looked the scruff of a dog and his skin seemed to have another layer of hair. His canines were also extended. He was holding two war axes, 1 larger than the other.
Next in line was Ian. Even slouching, he was the tallest of the 4. A white long sleeved shirt covered his upper body. His pants and shoes were a startling black next to his shirt and very pale skin tone. Black gloves were hanging out of his back pocket. His white hair, sitting above his dark blue eyes, was of medium length and was also white. Around his neck was a necklace that consisted of black stones, with a dull sheen. His faunus features seemed under pronounced, with slightly longer nails that looked like claws, pointed ears, and lengthened canines. He had a leather rope-like strap around his waist with what looked like a pouch at the front.
Finally, Abby. She was taller than Alfred, but shorter than Gabby and Ian. She looked the most normal of them. She wore a knee length light brown dress, covered by a white hoodie-jacket. She wears white flats and Her light brown hair covered her left eye which, like the other, was a pale green. Swigg knew from the ceremony the other day, that at the small of her back, there would be a simple looking dagger.
"Alright, same as yesterday, we'll start with the team leader and work our way down the letters, ending with Abby. Ready Gabby?"
"Bout as ready as I'll ever be," she replied in her pleasant sounding voice.
And off they went. Gabby's staff suddenly became less and less like a tree branch and more like a quarterstaff, while still holding onto that 'nature' look. She used it like a pro. Keeping her motions fluid, she was using every part of the staff, at times holding it with both hands at the end and swinging it like a giant bat.
Swigg was countering it quite well with his own scythe. Both had relatively the same reach. He was impressed at how easily she handled her own weapon. Then her quarterstaff grew vines that became trapping his scythe. He frowned as she smiled. Giving his scythe a good tug, the three blades sliced through the vines. He switched to his bladed shotguns and started to shoot shells at her, but the cut vines regrew and grew thicker, making a shield in front of Gabby. She backed away, her quarterstaff returning to it's staff form. Then she started firing dust attacks out of the bulge at the top of the staff.
Swigg was amazed at the rate that the dust changed elements. A bolt of electricity, then a few ice. He even saw a few gravity bolts, dodging them with care. There was one element missing, however. Fire.
Swigg switched back to his scythe and threw it at Gabby. Unused to that kind of attack, she hesitated. And it cost her the match. Right when she went to dodge, the end of the scythe hit her in the gut. Knowing she lost, she leaned heavily on her staff. Swigg walked up the her.
"You alright?" he asked.
"Ya, was just caught off guard, that's all."
"It happens. To be honest, I'm surprised your aura held out against that attack. I threw Chaos Thorn a little harder than I meant to. You must have some aura pool young lady."
"Yggdrasil's Limb has helped me out with that. It reinforces my aura. Still dropped me lower than I've been in a while. Gonna need a big meal and some sleep after this."
Swigg nodded, then handed her a square of chocolate.
"Try this for now. It helps most regenerate their aura at short notice."
"Alfred, you're up," he said once Gabby returned to the sidelines.
"I'm coming," he replied curtly.
Swigg raised his eyebrow at the response to his order. He glanced back at his team and saw Gabby's face, a little annoyed at her teammate. Figuring she would deal with him, he stood, scythe on his shoulder as always, waiting. Alfred had his two axes out, one larger than the other, that one being in his right hand. He bent his knees, hunched his back and bared his teeth, obviously ready for a fight. Then he started running.
Swigg was amazed at the speed he was running. Faster than anyone he'd seen without the aid of a semblance. Then Alfred was upon him. And again, he was amazed at the strength behind his hits. Already, he figured that he would only be able to work with team GAIA today. Then he went on the attack. Using his scythe to both repel attacks and attack, he bore down on Alfred. Then, in a lull in the battle, they were face to face. Alfred's axes were holding back Swigg's scythe. It was an even match up. Despite his ragged, worn appearance, Alfred was in amazing shape. Not only that, but his seemed to have the strength of Swigg, and yet not show it.
Swigg was looking at Alfred and Alfred was looking at Swigg. Then, a feral grin appeared on the face of Alfred. Swigg took a step back. And then another. Alfred was overpowering him. Swigg prided himself on being able to out muscle a good 90% of the other Huntsmen, and Huntresses out there, and here he was, being overpowered but a trainee. Deciding to use his other advantages over Alfred, he quickly broke contact and moved to the right, hoping to catch him off balance. Instead, Alfred was ready for him. When Swigg broke contact, he lept back, 3 meters, took a few more steps back as he placed his axes together, where they combined, and suddenly, he had a hunting rifle in his hands. Of course Swigg's semblance protected him from the bullets. Swigg decided to take matters in his own hands. With an incredible show of aura control, he Made a string that attached to the speeding bullet, and removed it once it had spun around him, and sent the bullet back at Alfred.
Alfred's eyes widened as he saw this trick. Even his insane reflexes couldn't save him. His aura stopped the bullet, but it basically completely drained him.
Swigg nodded once, then walked up to Alfred and stood over him.
"You've got a lot of power behind that worn down facade. Well done."
Alfred nodded back, respect in his eyes. He believed that respect should be earned, and Swigg had earned his respect, not through flattery, but through combat. He stood up and went back to his team.
"Alright, well, Ian, you're next. Also, I must say, so far, I am really impressed. I've decided today will be another 'one team day.'"
Ian took up a spot across from Swigg. Swigg, still as ever, looked disinterested, but the opposite couldn't be more true. He had no idea what Ian's semblance was. It was apparent during the trials.
Ian took the belt-like strap off from around his waist. Then Swigg saw it for what it really was. A sling. Then he watched as Ian undid the necklace and took the beads off of it, keeping a few in his hand and the rest he put in his pocket. With startling speed, though not quite as fast as Alfred, he placed a stone in the pouch, then spun the sling over his head. It reached full velocity in only 2 spins, then Ian let the stone fly. It flew at Swigg, only to be stopped by his red-hued armor that suddenly appeared on his forehead. Then again at his wrist and neck. Ian had sent 3 stones in a handful of seconds.
Finally deciding that he wasn't going to get anywhere with the sling, he places a rock in the pouch, and shook it hard, once. The 2 arms of the sling snapped straight, and suddenly became thicker and harder, and the pocket also grew in size, until Ian was holding a club.
Swigg frowned. Double blunt force weapons, he thought to himself, I wonder what he'll use if he need to cut and slash. Shaking the thought away, he prepared for Ian's attack.
Ian's melee attack was, in short, disappointing. After battling Gabby, who wielded that staff of hers like a pro, then Alfred, whose axes seemed like they moved of their own accord, Ian's melee attacks were easy to block, and Swigg had the feeling that he was holding back. Swigg ended the match soon after that. With contempt.
"Come back when you're ready to try," he said, turning his back back to team GAIA.
"I feel it is necessary for you to know something, Professor," Gabby said stepping forward.
Swigg looked at her, the question hanging in his eyes.
"Ian is at a disadvantage. His semblance, which aids his fighting immensely is dependant on the time of day."
"Is that right," he said , turning, again, to face Ian. His gaze was lowered, staring at the ground in front of him. "Ian, when is your semblance active?"
"That depends, sir, on how you define active. The general answer? At night. With the exception of one night a month, that is."
"Very well. Return tonight."
Ian smiled. Tonight was a full moon.
"Of course, sir."
"Right. Now let's move onto Abby. Step onto the floor please."
"Ok," she said, already thinking of her first move. She reached behind her and unsheathed the dagger that was at the small of her back. "Ready," she said.
"Well don't tell me, just start."
"Oh, right."
Abby's first move took Swigg off guard. One minute, he was looking at a tall, shy, nondescript girl, the next he was looking at himself. Standing, relaxed, with his scythe over his shoulder.
That moment of confusion provided Abby with the chance to launch her attack. She morphed from Swigg to a bear. A bear in full armor. Swigg didn't believe that bears wore armor, or that there was any armor made for bears. At least he didn't believe that until now. Seeing is believing, after all. Knowing he wouldn't be able to take too many hits from this massive bear, he quickly switched to his shotguns, and tried to hold it, her, he reminded himself, back. Firing off shot after shot, his forearms flexing to control the recoil. Abby, the bear, angled her shoulder down, catching the grapeshots on the thickest part of her armor.
Swigg, deciding to reset the situation, Made a column beneath him, until he was 10 feet off the ground. Then made it 15 as he saw Abby run and try to jump to him. She easily jumped 12 feet in the air, just missing the top of the column. Then, she was an eagle. Massive. She had a wingspan of almost 3 meters.
Swigg switched back to his scythe, and kept her at bay with its long reach. Finally, she made a swooping dive, taking a chance. With most adversary's, that chance would have been worth it and paid off. But not with this one. He knock her out of the sky, watching at she had the sense to morph into a bouncy ball, then quickly back to herself, panting, lying down on the ground.
Morphing seems to take a lot of aura, he thought to himself.
Helping her up, he returned to team GAIA.
"Well, if I was impressed yesterday, I think it's safe to say I was equally impressed today. Ian, I expect you here no later than 10, and bring another member of your team, but leave the other 2 to rest.
Ian nodded, then looked at Gabby. She was already looking at him, and she smiled and nodded at him.
"Ok," Swigg raised his voice, addressing the whole class, "Tomorrow, I will asses the next team tomorrow. If these last 2 days have been any indication, I'll be taking on a team a day. Now get going to your next class."
Hope you liked it! The next chapter will probably be shorter, but you will get to see Ian version 2.0. I kinda hinted at it in here, but you'll find out soon enough!
JaayyMann
