Onyx:
"What?!" I shouted. "You rejoined?! I thought we made a pact, we both leave."
"Fucking idiot!" He shouted, pounding the back of Baron's head. "Look what you did!"
"Hey! Chill, man! Onyx, we need you back man. Things haven't been the same since you left. You provided stability, considering your high ranking and near perfect track record."
"Why the hell are you in it, Baron?" I asked in shock. He scratched his head, chuckling awkwardly as he paced around.
"Its... a complicated story."
"I'm all ears. Literally, I have two sets of them. Shoot." I said, crossing my arms.
"Okay, fine then. You know my father is Sun Wukong, right?" He asked. After giving a stern nod, he continued. "Okay, then you know he isn't exactly the brightest man. Currently, he's a detective in the Vale Police Force, the VPF. The thing is, while Neptune focuses on all the drug busting and major terrorists attacks, he focuses on the individuals. The high-value targets. Onyx, you were a high value target, having assassinated tons and destroyed even more. After you left, my Dad was nearly out of a job." He said with a sigh.
"...Sorry?"
"Its not your fault, but it hit him hard. Especially trying to fund the expenses of me attending Beacon, he was broke. So, I had an idea. After noticing all the lingering hate of Faunus, not only to myself but Dad also, I took a stand. I joined the Black Fang and became the Black Tail." He said.
"You're Black tail? The one who supposedly took down an entire train filled with Atlesian knights single handedly?"
"Yeah... But in doing so, I gave Dad a job again, a passion. Something to pursue. I don't regret my decision at all."
"And what's your excuse, brother? Do you know what Yang is going to do when she finds out?"
"She isn't going to find out, you hear?" He said, towering above me. "I stayed for the money, okay? I need it. Also, I'm not going to let those douchebags bully our parents. They are just as good huntresses as any other is."
Ever since the war ended, our parent's have encountered some... hate from the masses. Particularly a few members of CRDL. Not Cardin himself, luckily. A lesbian Faunus represents everything the masses are afraid of, I'd wager.
"That's no excuse to join a terrorist group." I said, looking at him sternly.
"Its an insurgency!" He said, trying to nit pick.
"No, it isn't. They used to fight for a noble cause. Now you fight for scraps."
"Do we, though?" Baron said. "That's why I told you. Its unstable, now. Like, really unstable. Theres a power struggle going on. If you show up, the great Ox, I have no doubt you could take over it. Imagine that! Ruling an organization. You could do whatever you wanted. I'll probably still be bad for my Dad, but you could end it if you want. You could convert it into a peaceful group, or you could launch an all out attack. Its up to you, really."
"What?" I said in shock. "You're kidding."
"I'm not. The old ruler, Scar, just died. Assassinated, actually. Most bet it was an inside job, considering on how clean the kill was. Rass tried to take up the mantle, but nobody likes that pompous human bastard. I hear they kicked him out, actually. Not that he really was a member in the first place. Currently, there are no actual leaders. A few of the internal groups are trying to take power, but there is no political head. No leader. That's you, Onyx."
"Baron..."
"Think about it Onyx. You could change the world. Maybe you could even give some of the Black Fang's internal funds to my Dad. Please." He said, putting his hands together.
"..."
...
Kana
"Uh, hello." Jupiter said. "If I could be so rude, what the hell is your problem?"
Rusty tilted his head, eventually nodding. "I see. We are having a rift in emotional transfer, otherwise described as awkwardness. I am Rusty, the name designated to Unit 000, Prototype of the Mark II of the Prometheus' Exodius of Neo Nacarat Yearling. It is commonly shortened to P.E.N.N.Y II. In short, I am a synthetic Huntsman."
I glanced at Jupiter, confused at the man's delusional words. She nodded, slowly setting down her clothes and walking past him. The moment he realized his, he held up his hand.
"Please, do not leave. I will prove it." He said, pressing on the skin of his forearm. It popped open, revealing a mechanism. Wires of different colors sparked as they ran into different pieces of metal, each glowing with lights. Jupiter stumbled back after seeing it, her face turning a deathly pale.
"Kana, let's get out of here."
"Please, do not leave. I always scare people away..." He said, looking down. I inched closer, gently looking down at his arm.
"Can I see it?" I asked politely. He nodded, holding out his arm. I was no Cerise, but I knew my mechanics. This wasn't some strip of tape that he applied on his arm. The technology used within just that small section was beyond anything I had ever seen, which was saying a lot.
"Okay..." I said, tilting my head. "You're a robot. That's great... really. How?"
"I was created by Atlas, specifically by Prometheus Ironwood. He, in some senses of the word, could be defined as my father. Today he is holding a speech, and so I was allowed to roam the city. I must unfortunately return."
"Prome made you?" Jupiter said in surprise. She shook her head placing her hands against her face. "This is surreal. Okay, let's assume your telling the truth. What do you even do at Atlas?"
"I act as a lab rat during experiments. They test out the resolve of my programming, making sure I do not break the three laws of robotics. They also place me in harsh environments so that I can prove that I am an adequate Huntsman. This includes, but is not limited to, being stranded in Emerald Forest for 3 months, raiding a Black Fang base empty-handed, Stopping an active bomb with only ten seconds left, and having my pain receptors stimulated to their highest degree for 48 hours."
"What the hell..." Jupiter said, looking at me. "We need to get him to Ozpin."
"I'm afraid that would not be possible. I am required to return to Prome within the hour."
"If this guy is telling the truth, this is big." She said. "Creating AI has been illegal since the end of the war, ever since the Logic Bug infected them all. This guy seems pure, so we need to get him out."
"I agree." I said with a stern nod. "Rusty, please come with us."
"But my master-"
"Your master is an asshole," She said bluntly. "We won't treat you like that, okay? Let us just take you to our Headmaster."
"I can't, only those with high authority can override my commands..." He stumbled, breaking eye contact. I placed my hand gently on his shoulder, looking him in the eyes.
"Listen, we won't let any friend of ours be treated like that, you hear?"
"F-Friend?" He stammered, looking up at me. I smiled, giving a nod. "Alright, but let us make it quick."
...
Several hours after they left the coffee shop
Cerise:
"What?" I asked in shock, turning to Free. "Onyx and Baron haven't returned? What about Kana and Jupiter?"
"They are talking to Ozpin about something, apparently. They still have no idea where Onyx and Baron are." She said. I instantly went into my drawer and pulled out my CRII, placing it on my hip. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Looking for them. What does it look like?" I said, clipping on my hood and tightening my armor. Ava sighed, hoping off her bed and grabbing her Excalibur.
"Looks like I'm going, too." She said with a sigh.
"Are you two insane?" Free said. "We can't have you two running around the alleys of Vale alone, at night!"
"T-T-Three..." Press said silently, picking up her weapon. Free looked at her in shock, sighing and nodding.
"Of fucking course. Okay then, let's just make it four. Come on, we don't have all night."
...
Kana:
"What you two girls did was horrendouslystupid, do you know that?" Ozpin said angrily, pacing around the room. "You just kidnapped someone, do you understand? Not only that, but from Atlas! Can you even begin to comprehend the political position you have placed me in? All the paperwork I will have to file?" He said, groaning. "But, that is besides the point. You two did a good thing. Rusty, was it?"
"Salutations!" He said, waving his hand and giving a large smile.
"Yes, salutations," Ozpin mirrored with a suppressed smile "You remind me much of a girl I used to fight along side, before she... got sick."
The Logic Virus.
"This is big. We have just found out that Atlas has been breaking the international law set after the Neo-Faunus war. Not only that, but you said he had you attack Black Fang?"
"Yes, he did." Rusty said, giving a nod.
"Then he was operating and influencing Valian politics, another offense. This is a grave offense, messing with the sovereignty of another kingdom. He and his party could be thrown away for life, living the rest of their days behind bars. For the time being, I want you to stay on Beacon's campus, Rusty. Stay safe, as you will undoubtedly become a target for extermination." He explained, the clockwork ceiling of his clicking away as he pressed a button on his scroll. A voice crackled through.
"Yes?"
"Trinity, please increase the border patrol."
"Sure thing, big bro. What's going on?" The cheery voice asked.
"I'll explain later." He said, looking at us. "Please, return to your dorms. I will have Rusty room with me, personally, for the time being."
"Thank you." I said, nodding.
"Anything I can do to help.
...
?:
In my time on this world, I have learned many things. Grimm usually take hundreds of years to grow sentience, but why is that? It would be the same as asking why humans attack each other so. It is because we are stupid at our core. We, the monsters, take so long to grow intelligence because we have no intelligence.
But I? Heheheh, I am not dumb. I have learned, and I have grown. Grimm grow by their Luna cells, so to accelerate I just need more.
How to get more?
You eat.
I eat my own. I am a cannibal.
Grimm think that Humanity have the Luna cells, so they eat them. They eat them out of a preprogrammed hate, ever since the destruction of the moon, when Hunterkind and Grim rose from the ashes.
The creature screeched as the snake hissed, molting out of its skin, out of its host. It hissed as it abandoned its old body, taking into its new one.
When Grimm grow enough, they reach singularity. The point where we no longer need a host, a puppet in this game of bloody evolution.
The creature stood tall, howling into the destroyed moon as it fed on its power. The newborn Creep hissed in satisfaction as it turned to the Nevermore it had prepared. The monster hissed, flapping its broken wings, unable to fly away.
"Tr41T0R!" It screeched. "Y0u 4B4nd0n u$! HuM4n p3T!"
Maybe I am. They did give me a name. 'Fluffy.'
"I w1ll 3aT 4ll 7hing$," I hissed, drawing closer to the monster. "Y0u 3at t0 b4l4nce 0uT th3 3V1L$ 0f th3 W0rlD, buT I 3at t0 gr0w str0ng3r. Y0u w3r3 b0rn fr0m hum4nity, fr0m du$t, 4nd s0 y0u sh4ll r3turn..." I grumbled, pressing my teeth into its flesh. It screeched in pain as I tore its gore from its body, eating with satisfaction.
"I w1LL 3AT A11!"
...
Onyx:
We watched the stage, ready to end it all. Regret danced around the back of my mind, but I squashed it like a bug. My eyes focused, the familiar pain returning. Ever since I left, I had pushed these feelings away, suppressed them in order to live a normal life. The hatred humanity thrust upon me was all too familiar, in my past.
Then she walked upon the stage. Her long red hair went well with her suit, which was filled beautiful runes. Her red undershirt rested just underneath her suit, her masked gaze glancing down upon the crowd.
"If Black Fang had a leader," Baron started "She would be it. Eve Taurus."
"I remember her all too well." I said, narrowing my eyes. "I used to work along side her. Her father was killed in the Battle of the Fray."
"Once we jump down, there will be no going back." Epsilon warned. "Can you handle that?" I nodded, taking out my old, ornate mask and placing it on my face. Familiar feelings flooded over me, my eyes narrowing.
"Are we all ready?" I asked, glancing at them from the scaffolding of the building. They nodded as I cracked my neck, unsheathing my claws. Baron threw on his black hood and mask, Epsilon placed his own mask on, looking down. I motioned forward, leaping from my pillar and rolling as I hit the ground. Some members of the crowd screamed as he leapt on stage, Eve drawing her weaponized fans.
"Who goes there?" She shouted.
"What?" I chuckled, glancing at her. "You don't remember the Ox?" She took a step back, visually shocked at my appearance. Turning to the crowd, Baron drew his glaves, Epsilon pumping his shotgun.
"I don't know if you lot remember me, so I'll reintroduce myself. My name is Midnight Ox, a high-value target. Ever since I left, I hear Black Fang has been having some... trouble with leadership. I can say that the boss' death saddens me, truly." I yelled, the crowd completely silent.
To think, I'm actually going through with this...
"I know the various inner parties have been battling for control. From what I can tell, Red Spill is leading the herd." I said, referring to the internal political faction that Eve was a part of. "I'm here to challenge said faction. We will do what we did in the old days, fight it out! The strongest survive, and become the Alpha. The weakest die! That is the Faunus way!" I boasted, regaining the feel for speeches. It felt so wrong, but it had to be done. I would change Black Fang from the inside. The crowd cheered, thrusting their hands into the air.
"RED SPILL!" they shouted. "Blood Fight! Red spill, Blood fight!"
They shouted, taunting the faction to accept our challenge. Eve gave a 'tsk', standing tall.
"Ox, its been far too long. Its a shame we have to meet up like this." She said, placing her hands over her head. "Prepare to die."
She charged forward, leaping into the air with a sideways flip. Her leg slammed downwards, her fan blowing a gale of wind forward. I jammed my foot into the ground, blocking the kick with my left gauntlet. Slashing upwards, she spun and folded her right fan closed, blocking it with the metal stick. Hitting the ground with a roll, she spun around and attempted to kick out my feet from beneath me. I leapt over her attack as she spun upwards, flipping to one hand and kicking into her shoulder. A yelp of pain escaped her as she stepped back, waving for reinforcements.
Soldiers charged forward, each carrying a katana as they charged for Epsilon and Baron.
They made one fatal mistake.
Epsilon draws his power from the aura in the room. The more people around him, the stronger he is. There had to be upwards of a hundred people in this room alone.
His eyes glowed red as his blonde hair burst into flame, his bat glowing red. The first man charged at him, swinging his katana down. He grabbed the katana and snapped it like a twig, jamming the barrel of his shotgun into his stomach. Pulling the trigger, the man shot back, taking out several more men. Two more came from his right, each swinging their blades. He dodged the first one effortlessly, grabbing the man's arm with one hand and swinging him over his head, thrusting him into the other.
Baron leaped into the air as the first man attacked, his tail wrapping around the hilt of the katana and disarming the man. He landed, spinning around and throwing the katana straight into the man. The next soldier came, slashing upwards with his katana. Baron dodged, swinging around and slashing into his foot with his glave. The man fell back, Baron wrapping his tail around his neck and thrusting him to Epsilon.
The blonde man smiled as he grabbed the stock, hitting the man into the air. He flew upwards, breaking through the glass ceiling and sending him into space.
As the rain of glass poured down, I moved to engage. I shot my claws outwards like harpoons, causing her to grab them and pull them in. She closed her other fan, which became a knife, thrusting it towards me. Spinning midair, I rotated my body around her knife and kicked her in the face, sending her rearing back.
Recovering, I spun upwards, causing my claws to pick up speed and orbit around me. Eve attempted to block the blows with her closed fans, but to no avail. The blades spun around in blurred saws, tearing into her aura and slicing up at her skin. She winced, folding open her fans and blowing wind. disrupting the spin of my claws.
She's out of Aura, so she can't use her semblance. This is my chance.
Recalling my claws back in, I leaped forward as she jumped over, landing and blowing her fans. I winced as the gale blew me back slightly, but not enough to worry. Charging it, I slashed at her side, blood spilling from the skim. She closed her fan and stabbed downwards at my exposed back, the knife cracking into my aura and sending me into the floor. Flipping around, I kneed into her stomach as I fell, placing my hands on the floor and throwing myself upwards. Landing on two feet, I grabbed her waist and placed my claws on her neck.
"We win."
...
Cerise:
"They would have to be here, in the Challos District." I said, scanning the buildings. "Where else would you be this late at night but the sketchiest part of town? Seriously, this place sucks"
"Its a good idea," Ava admitted "But I don't see where they could be."
A scream erupted from the side, causing me to turn my head. I watched as some silhouette was launched from a building, straight into the night sky.
"That would be a good bet." I said. I ran forward, my team followed quickly in pursuit as we approached the warehouse.
"Ava, what do you see?" I asked, causing her to squint as she gazed into the warehouse.
"A lot of people. I think I can detect Onyx's infrared frequency, but its so hard with all the interference. If I'm not wrong, I can feel Baron and Epsilons, too."
"Then lets go." I said, raising my scythe. "Everyone ready?"
I'm coming, cousin.
After they all nodded, I stabbed my scythe into the cheap metal and carved a hole, kicking down the sheet. It landed with a clang. With a yell, we charged in, ready to fight. The crowd of a hundred people met our gaze, each wearing the masks of a Grimm. In other words, we stood in front of all of Black Fang.
"Uh..." I muttered, lowering my scythe. "I should have thought this through."
"We're fucked." Free said, causing the guards to look at us. A man in all black held something to the throat of a red haired girl, who he threw down at the sight of us. Silence hung heavy as tension weighed down the air, the large man grabbed a katana from a collapsed soldier.
"Get them!" Someone shouted.
"Fuck, here we go!" Free shouted, charging forward. A soldier swung his blade as she ducked underneath it, slamming her axe upwards.
You have got to be kidding me... I thought with a sigh. Aura, start Boot_Semblance.
With my glyphs glowing, I charged at the large man.
"Midnight!" Someone shouted, referring to the man I attacked.
Midnight, eh? Tell me where my brother is. I swear, if you kidnapped him, or got him to convert back over...
I slashed upwards with my scythe, Midnight blocking the attack with his katana by leaning backwards. He fell to his hands, kicking upwards with his feet and nearly launching the scythe from my grasp.
Set vector, hands, 2 M/S/S downwards.
I set a force on my hands to counteract the upwards motion, slamming my scythe down again as my eyes glowed blue. I spun my scythe around my waist, grabbing the knife of the butt and slashing forward, using my Semblance to reverse the gravity of my hand. It allowed me to hold the scythe in one hand, my other swinging the knife around. He grabbed my hand, dodging my swinging scythe. I spun around, kicking him in his calf and using the momentum to launch myself into the air, thrusting the knife into his stomach. He caught it, placing it in his left hand and holding his katana in his left.
"Eve, help!" He shouted to the girl. She nodded, bringing out her fans and charging in. She slashed upwards, causing a wind to blow me back. I turned around, slamming my scythe into the ground as an anchor, pulling the trigger and launching upwind. I slashed into her left closed knife, causing a spark as she skidded back. Midnight charged in, flipping the sword around in his hand and slashing upwards. With a spin of my scythe, I blocked the attack, bending over as he thrust the knife just past my stomach.
'Eve' took advantage on his downward position, stepping onto his back and jumping upwards, sending a gale downwards. I rolled to the right, slashing at his feet.
"Get to the airships! We'll hold them off!" Midnight shouted, causing the crowd to turn and flee. I narrowed my eyes as Ava looked at the masses. Returning to her battle, she swung her heavy sword down. The soldier dodged her attack, attempting to slash at her achilles tendon. She flipped her sword around and caught the blade in the ceramic hole in her sword, throwing the katana up into the air to disarm him.
I returned to my own battle, Eve smirking.
"Hey, Midnight. I recharged some Aura."
Midnight hit the deck as she glowed a bright red, swinging her fans horizontally. A huge wind, on par with a hurricane, blew forth. Long whips of red aura tore through the sky, causing my team to launch backwards.
Set force, body, 0. Lock.
I froze in place, the winds still blowing as she put away her fans, motioning to Midnight to go. They left the building, the whirring of an airship audible.
Come.. on! I thought, the winds finally stopping. Running outside, I watched as the frigate-class ships rose into the air and flew away, possibly carrying away my cousin.
"Onyx!"
...
Rass:
I brushed back my perfect brown hair, my finger twirling through my pink strand. It, which I had gotten from my mother, Neo, had earned me the nickname 'Pinkie'. Indeed, it was pink. Even so, I hated the name. Of all the things I could be identified as, be it a murderer, a robber, a terrorist, or more, they chose that? It was just plain distasteful, if you ask me.
Even so, I straightened my suit as I walked into the building, taking a seat. My eyes glanced to my assistant, who looked at me with her glowing yellow eyes.
"When are we going to fight, Ember? Its no fun, just sitting at this auction."
"Shut up." She said, rolling her eyes. "You know how important this is. Ever since our parents were kicked out of power, we've been living on the streets and spreading our influence through gangs."
"Ugh, don't remind me." I said, tapping my cane into the ground.
"Then don't mess this moment up. It could be very, very large."
"I won't try." I said. "But I make no promises. I'm still not even that sure what we're buying, which is never a good thing considering how much lien this is taking. I thought our goal was money and revenge."
"Of course it is, you dumbass." She said, grabbing the bridge of her nose. "Do you have to be such an idiot?"
"I don't think I'm being particularly dumb at this moment, sweet cheeks." I said, leaning in.
"Unless you want that silver tongue of yours pulled out of that vile mouth, I suggest you'd tell it to quit its flapping." She said, leaning her head back. "We're buying a guy, remember? A soldier, supposedly an ex-worker for Atlas. They say he's the result of an experiment."
"To do what?" I asked. "This is the part I don't get."
"They attempted to remove his soul." She said with a sigh. "If we get him, maybe he can tell us more about it. Long story short, I think they either were trying to find a way to synthesize dust from nothing or perhaps trying to find out what makes a Grimm a Grimm. Either way, it wasn't something you'd want done to you. I'm just wondering why the government allowed such a project."
"Now you're acting like an idiot. The Chair, the ruling council of Vale, is pretty damn corrupt. They like money even more than we do. I'm sure someone with as much lien as Prome and his daddy had no trouble running that experiment."
You are nothing more than a puppet
"Do you think his son is continuing the experiment, now that his dad's finally dead?"
"Maybe, but bless the Black Fang for that move. I have to say, my Dad did a great job creating a radical group, if I do say so myself."
"Whatever, Roman created the White Fang into a radical group." She said, rolling her eyes.
"And those very same radicals split off to form the Black Fang. Get with the program." I said.
"Shut up, its starting!" She spat, the lights dying down.
"What's his name, again?" I whispered. She sighed, placing her red lips on my ear.
"Lazarus Malachite, but I hear he goes by Laza." She said, returned her gaze to lit stage.
"Is he actually part Grimm?"
"No, idiot."
"Not even a little bit?"
"No."
I gave a scoff. "Boring."
"He's just soulless, so I suppose he doesn't have a Semblance." She said, a man in a mask walked out, taking a bow and speaking into his microphone.
A lie is what you are, and nothing more.
"Thank you again to Bidder C for buying our last offer, the Faunus girl with wings. Very rare, indeed. Onto our next bid, he who has no soul. They say he is the product of an experiment, Lazarus Malachite!" He said, pulling the cloth off the figure. There stood a shirtless man, staring off into the distance. He was frail, honestly. I expected some Grimm-hybrid super mass, but he looked more like a husk. His skin was pulled tight across his bones, his gray hair falling across his glassy eyes that focuses on nothing. As Ember said, he wasn't some hybrid between a Grimm. I wasn't sure exactly what he was. He certainly wasn't fully human, but he wasn't some creature of the dark. Either way, we needed him.
"Let us start he bid at one million lien."
I pressed my button.
"And we have a bid for 1.5 mil. Do I hear 2?" He said, a light glowing in front of me.
"I hear 2, do I hear a 2.5?" He asked, causing me to press my button again.
"There's 2.5, 3?" He asked, causing the light to glow in front of me. I grimaced, reaching into my cigar and twisting the knob.
"2.5 going once," He said, causing me to click open the shutter of the 'cigar' "Going twice," I pressed the button on the cigar, causing the poison dart to shoot out silently into the silhouette in front of me. At the same time, I pressed my button.
"I hear 3, do I head 3.5?" He asked the crowd. "No? Going once, twice, thrice? Sold to bidder D. At 3 million lien, he has bought Lazarus."
"Good job." Ember said, looking up at the monster. "You bought him."
"I'm still not sure what the hell he is." I said. "I'd like to know."
"You and half of Remnant. That's why he'll be so valuable. Whatever he is, he represents something more. Man rose from dust, and so did those Grimm. Something happened to make us us and them them. Something gave us souls, and in turn, Auras. All I know is he doesn't have that. He may not be a Grimm, but he's the next thing in line."
"Is he going to fuck shit up?" I said, asking the important question.
"Oh yeah, he's going to fuck it up real well."
A/N
That's it for 'Volume 1'. Expect the next chapter to come out tomorrow, as per usual. This is just the end of an arc. Anyways, for more RWBY content, check out my deviantart filmcreatorx. Hope you enjoyed Volume 1!