Separation
Falling into the deep snow with a pained cough, Naruto spat out a large clump of blood through his teeth, wincing as he forced himself out of the raging water behind him, his clothing held on in tears, showing four large gashes running down his back with fresh blood leaking forth, his right ankle set in a twisted position, it gave off a red glow of Kurama's chakra.
Grabbing onto a rock, Naruto gave a growl of pain as Kurama bit into his shirts collar, helping him away from the river they fell onto the ground with Kurama growling up at the waterfall above, hearing a distant roar of a mutated human, he scowled as he set to protect and heal Naruto.
Moments earlier
Sitting within the vehicle Atlas had dubbed the Rhino. The entirety of team OUTCAST shared looks with the soldiers with them on the mission ahead, Naruto checking his hand-cannons iron sights, he gave a small nod before holstering it, turning to see Jason sharpening his machete with a whetstone, Vlad was doing the same while Lucien sat with both hands on his axes handle.
Giving off small snores while somehow keeping himself upright, Naruto looked up suddenly as the vehicle came to a stop, allowing the soldiers to open the doors at the back of the Rhino, weapons raised while exiting the vehicle, the team followed suit with Naruto aiming a rifle scanning the tree line with a critical eye, Vlad and Lucien sniffed the air before Lucien gave a snarl.
"We got Grimm alright, can smell the bloodlust from here" turning to Jason who gave a nod he petted Naruto on the shoulders as they began to move to the Mine, following them while keeping an eye out, Kurama spoke suddenly on Naruto's shoulders.
"Wait" stopping suddenly with the soldiers following suit in confusion.
"What is it, Kurama?" turning to the Biju as he gave the area a glance, the Kitsune spoke with a warning tone.
"I can sense the Grimm, but there's an odd aura on the outskirts of the Mine to the north of here" giving the Fox a raised eyebrow, Naruto looked over the area with a more focused and wary gaze, he gave a nod to the mine.
"Let's get news on the situation inside before we set up defences" following the group while keeping an eye behind them, Naruto failed to see sets of eyes in the treeline glaring a bright cerulean blue.
Stepping into a defensive positions as the Soldiers approached the doors to the Mine, one gave a heavy knock to echo inside.
"Harold, Alpha here on request of defending against a Grimm attack!" looking up to a camera as it stared motionless at them, the following silence made them all frown at the lack of response from inside.
Scowling with another knock, the soldier spoke louder.
"Alpha team here responding to an immediate Grimm attack, is anyone at the door controls!?" stepping back as the doors gave a hiss, they began to open slowly with the soldier paling at what lay inside.
"Oh kami" was all Naruto said as corpses littered the main office of the Mine, stepping inside with weapons at the ready, Naruto gave the door a look of confusion.
"This makes no sense, with the door showing no signs of damage of entry" turning to an also confused Lucien, he gave the air a sniff with his canines elongating in his agitation.
"I'm getting an odd scent in here but the iron from the blood is making it difficult" turning to one of the soldiers as he sat at a terminal, he gave them a look.
"If we can get to security we can find out who did this to them" giving a nod while following the soldiers, Naruto just now noticed their odd helmets.
"What's with the helmets?" seeing the two soldiers turn to them, the younger looking one gave the older one a look before they gave a salute.
"Family heirlooms of the Carmine family" giving the younger soldiers a look, Vlad spoke with a voice of familiarity.
"Oh, you mean like Carmine Family Life Insurance – Protecting the ones you love. I signed up an agreement with them when I decided to be an Huntsmen, which brothers are you?" giving the duo a look as they stepped into an elevator down, the older one spoke.
"Benjamin Carmine, this is my little brother Anthony" giving his brother a light shove the soldier gave a snort.
"Least I'm not called squirt, Ben" giving each other looks of annoyance through their helmets, the doors to the elevators opened.
Showing another massacre.
"Fucking hell" moving to the right towards a sign of security, Anthony swiped his ID card on the door, getting an error in response he gave a growl as he swiped once more, getting another error he went to swipe until Jason spoke while moving him aside.
"Allow me" kicking the door off it's top hinge they saw the room dark with the camera's still monitoring, along with a frightened man aiming his weapon.
Which resulted in the group moving out of the way as a hail of dust rounds flew by.
"HEY, FRIENDLIES HERE!" turning to Benjamin as he lifted his rifle up, the voice of the frightened guard spoke in return.
"That's what that Lieutenant said before he began to slaughter the workers and guards!" giving each other an odd look, Anthony spoke.
"Can you describe this man?"
"That bastard was no man, each time he killed he began to change, oh my god he became a fucking Human Grimm with horns and claws, he tore them apart!" giving each other looks, Anthony stepped out slowly with his hands raised.
"Easy, We're responding to a distress sent out to Atlas, did you do that?" seeing the man shake his head with a look of acceptance, he reached for the consoles, showing one screen where a heavily bloodied man calmly typed into a console, turning to the camera, his calm features became one of demented blood lust, coming close to being near Zeke's level before the man left the console, allowing them to see a heavily mutated human writhing in place, looking up to show half their face elongating with a roar before the feed was cut.
"He came in here under the guise of a safety inspection, until the doors were flooded with those fucking things with him, looking like they were human, each minute or second parts of their entire bodies would shrink or grow in a painful looking manner" stepping into the room, Benjamin helped the man to his feet while staring at the feeds, showing a slaughter half an hour ago by the times set on screen.
"Are any of them still here, are their any survivors?" turning to the man who had a pale look, he spoke.
"I don't know" the answer to his question was a loud horrific shriek echoing through the facility, making them all tense up while the man began to quietly sob.
"And like that, we're leaving" moving to the main console with his scroll in hand, Naruto gave it to Vlad who got to work making a copy of the vid feeds, typing half way through the console they stopped at hearing a chittering in the hallway, slowly turning to the doorway, the man began to hyperventilate, making Ben move to calm him down.
Vlad, Hurry up please!" aiming his weapon at the doorway as the man began to thrash violently in a panic, Vlad gave the terminal an angry punch.
"I need a Foremen ID!" turning to the panicking man as he tossed his ID card to Vlad, the Faunus went to work before the man ran for the doorway, making them all watch him in stunned silence.
"Did he really just run?" turning to Vlad with a Shrug, Benjamin jumped as the man's scream echoed in the hallway, staring at the doorway the man was near salvation of the room until a hand grabbed his foot, making him look at them for a second before screaming in horror as he was dragged out of sight, his screams echoing around the corner before it was silenced by a pain filled shriek as blood sprayed into view, making them all stand in silence. Turning back to the terminal to give the ID, the Terminal, in an ever cruel twist, gave a loud ding as the Transfer completed, with Vlad giving the terminal a look of anger and horror as silence followed, until loud sniffing was heard, giving Naruto his scroll while unsheathing his knives, Vlad got ready to throw them with Lucien raising his axe.
Making them all pumped up for a fight… until they looked up at the lights flickering out.
"You've got to be kidding me?" looking to the corner a hand reached around the corner, showing it heavily disfigured with a small finger growing from the middle finger.
Following that was an arm reaching to a near skeletal face with bright blue eyes, watching its eyes scan ahead, it's eyes snapped to them with a roar before it gave a dying shriek as Vlad threw his knives into it's head, followed by Lucien fearfully chopping it's head off.
Looking down the hallway as an emergency light flashed overhead, he gave the others a look.
"Any idea where the stairs are?" looking down the hallway to keep watch, Anthony brought his scroll out to show a detailed map of the Facility, raising a hand he pointed the opposite direction of where the thing came from.
"Emergency evacuation stairs are that way, if we make a quick exit we might be able to warn Atlas of this unknown" turning to Naruto who gave a nod, the group made their way as quietly as possible.
Moving through a doorway while avoiding a pool of blood, Anthony didn't see it though, which left him falling onto his back now covered in blood.
"Awe great" helping him off his back, they turned to the sounds of rushing feet.
Making Jason move Anthony ahead of him as they moved to the emergency stairs.
Failing to see a calmly walking Jacob step into the red flashing light with an army of Grimm/Faunus hybrids around him.
Hearing them give off growls or hisses he raised a hand to his lips with a hush motion.
Looking left then right, he looked forward before pointing forward, making the mutants move forward with limps due to growing and shrinking limps of black mass.
"Remember… we need those four alive"
"Keep moving !"
"If I move any faster the blood will make me slip!"
"I said keep moving not go faster!" throwing a door open with the group looking around they went to make a break for the exit until a door was thrown in front of Anthony, making him slip on his blood covered feet, allowing the mutant to grab him and drag him into the office room, making Benjamin yell out to his brother, moving to help him the mutant suddenly flew out the doorway with a large hole in it's chest, followed by Anthony rushing after them with a small horde under his wake.
"RUN YOU FUCKERS RUN!" doing what the soldier demanded, they all made a full on sprint to the door, thankfully still open… until it began to close.
Seeing this Jason rushed further ahead to keep it open.
Giving out a grunt of effort, Jason began to glow a pale green with the heavy doors slowly but surely moving open.
Watching the sight with a look of interest, Jacob looked over his shoulder where his bride hovered over, her own look of interest.
"Hmmm, the power of the undead, so long since I've witnessed such a spectacular sight of stubbornness" looking through the screen once more, Jacob left the room, ignoring the feed showing the team and the Carmine duo exiting with the mutants struggling against the doors as they finally closed.
Rushing to the Rhino, the two brothers took notice to the driver splayed all over the snow, Anthony moved to the driver seat with Benjamin opening the doors, stepping in he held a hand to the team as they approached.
"Hurry it up. I'd rather live to tell about this then have someone else do it"
"I'll be sure to inform your superiors then" turning with a weapon raised Benjamin felt himself kicked onto his back with team OUTCAST raising their weapons.
"Ok freak show, who the hell are you?" making Jacob turn to Naruto as Benjamin climbed to his feet with his rifles chainsaw Bayonet revving up, Jason spoke.
"Ben get your brother out of here… we'll try and hold him off" seeing the soldier turn to them to object he was shoved out of the way by Vlad who held back Jacob's Cutlass, a vicious grin stretching over his face with a held back lust for blood, Vlad gave a grunt of effort.
"Better do what he says little human, I'm not feeling so merciful like I was to that foolish coward from the security room"
Looking to the right as Jason gave a charge, Jacob ducked under the swung machete to elbow Vlad away from his gut, turning to Jason as two horns sprouted from his forehead, Jacob gave a hard headbutt to Jason's mask, making the gentle giant stagger back with Lucien trying to flank Jacob from the right and Naruto the left, allowing Vlad to moving to Help Benjamin to the Rhino, leaving him on a seat he rushed to help the others until he saw the mutants flooding out of the Mine he called out to Naruto as he fired a clip into Jacob who gave a demented laugh.
"Naruto, Scroll!" seeing the blonde duck under a swipe, Kurama lunged over Naruto's back, tackling Jacob onto his back the Soldier had a grin as he began to wrestle the Biju who took horrific notice to Jacob letting out his own chakra.
Reaching into his pocket, Naruto tossed Vlad his scroll, which he gave to Benjamin who held onto it carefully.
"His passwords, Rav3nsH1ps with the E a three and I a one, now get out of here!"
"Really you gotta tell him that!?" shoving a new clip into his weapon as Jason and Lucien tried to keep Jacob on the ground after he tossed the Biju away with a Chakra and Aura enhanced throw, the two were beginning to be forced back as mutants surrounded them, ignoring the Fleeing Rhino in turn to spectate the battle, Jacob laughing all the while until his grin became a blank stare before it morphed into a look of disappointment, followed by him breaking out of Jason's hold in favour of backhanding Lucien in the face, bringing out two syringes he stabbed them both into Jason and Lucien's necks, making them both grunt as their aura's flashed simultaneously before they fell to the snow unconscious.
Leaving Vlad and Naruto to stare in fear as Jacob brought out two more syringes.
"My superiors have tasked me in capturing you four for experimentation, if anything I'd rather kill you four for wasting my time with that child like wrestling, though the beast did give me a struggle" staring at the man with Vlad readying a throwing knife, Naruto sealed his rifle to bring out a shotgun.
"Naruto get ready to run" giving the Faunus an incredulous look, Naruto shook his head while taking aim.
"Like I'm leaving you alone with this nut job" staring at Jacob who stood patiently for the two, Vlad turned to Naruto with a look of surprise.
"I meant for both of us you moron, you think I'm gonna fight him alone?" looking to the ground in thought, he turned to Vlad while reaching for a flashbang, making the Faunus turn to avoid the sudden flash tossed to an angered Jacob the two took off in a dead sprint into the forest, leaving a snarling Jacob who gave off a roar worthy of a Grimm.
"Well we can say who came after Emma!" ducking under a fallen tree, Naruto gave Vlad a look as they ran.
"You think!?" looking over his shoulder, Naruto had to turn and quicken his pace at the sight of a larger and buffer looking Jacob as he broke through a tree.
"How are we planning on getting out of this mess?"
"I don't know!"
"Then why are we running?" moving to answer Vlad was sent flying through a tree, making Naruto turn to see Jacob above him with a hand swiping across his back, sending Naruto flying with a skid he gave out a yell of pain, gritting his teeth while looking over to Vlad, the Faunus lay unconscious from the strike, leaving Naruto against the mutated Jacob who stalked towards him.
"I am going to enjoy ripping you limb from limb, BOY!" crawling away as Kurama went to healing his back, Naruto fired his weapon at Jacob's face, getting an annoyed snarl, the soldier approached with Naruto against a tree, looking up to Jacob he gave a quick hand movement with a grenade launcher appearing in his hands, making Jacob stare at it in alarm, looking into Naruto's eyes the blonde gave a pain filled grin as he fired a round, sending both him and Jacob flying, Jacob into a tree and Naruto over the cliff behind him over looking a raging waterfall, seeing this Naruto screamed suddenly as his right ankle was snapped tightly in a set of powerful jaws, black blood leaking into his open wound, Naruto spun his body towards the mutated Faunus, stabbing a Kunai into the things head, it's bright blue eyes stared into his own, making Naruto freeze as he stared at a disfigured mirror of his own face.
Letting go of the thing Naruto let Gravity do it's thing, unfortunately he landed on the rocks beneath the river.
This returning to the present with Naruto laying on his now fully healed back, rubbing his healed ribs he wiped blood from his face with a scowl stretching over his lips as he sat up, letting out a defiant yell of rage as Kurama's chakra bubbled around him the blonde lay back down with his last vision showing a hooded figure standing above him before unconsciousness took him.