Chapter 34 – Peaks Pass
Jackdaw
His eyes glowed red, or at least it seemed like they did.
He tilted his black hat as he stood before his two nieces, and Ruby instantly shot forward before Yang did. Her blonde sister gasped; eyes wide as Ruby blasted towards Jackdaw. "Ruby!" She yelled to her, firing after her to assist Ruby. Ruby yelled with fury, her silver eyes shimmered with her strong emotions, and Jackdaw smirked sinisterly as he waited. Then, he launched the fatal feathers that were printed from his cybernetic arms. Ruby gasped, her eyes widened, and she spun through the air in a swirl of rose petals.
The Feathers flew right past her, narrowly missing her body before she slashed Crescent Rose towards Jack the Ripper. He stopped her scythe with the long feathers on his other arm, staring right into her eyes. "My, my… truly just like your mother. A fire burning so hot within you, I do hope the cold of death does not extinguish yours like it did her." Jackdaw told her, and it just hurt Ruby more and more. Tears welled up in her eyes, but not from sorrow, from an anger she could not control.
Ruby fired at Jackdaw, but he jumped over her head, twisted his feathers around her curved blade and he launched it from her hands. Ruby gasped as Crescent Rose bounced across the ground, before it floated up into the air, the low gravity carrying it off with ease. Jackdaw landed behind her and he swung his body around, and roundhouse kicked Ruby across the face. She yelped from the sharp pain, crashing to the ground, and Jackdaw tilted his head at her, before he walked towards her.
Yang suddenly slammed into Jackdaw's side, so hard that he had to dig his boots into the soil to stop her from shunting him off the edge of the island. Yang yelled and swung her cybernetic fist towards his face, until he caught it in his bigger, less elegant, cybernetic hand. He twisted her arm round and he stared at Yang now. "Just like your mother, always head first into trouble. Never thinking about the consequences." Jackdaw growled, kicking Yang in the chest, pushing her away from him but Yang still went for him.
Yang swung at Jackdaw, but he duck under her punch and slammed his fist straight into hers. Yang staggered back and stared back at Jackdaw. Both her and Ruby remembered what the Branwens told them about Jackdaw… about his semblance.
He will have good luck until he doesn't.
No matter what he will have the advantage over them until the time comes where he doesn't, but the issue was simple. They never knew when that good luck would run out, sometimes it could happen during a fight, or it could happen days from now. Maybe even years…
There was a reason behind what made him the most prolific serial killer in Remnant's History.
The grave dust formed new blades for him to use against the two of them, alongside the two long barrels, one on each arm, that he could fire fabricated bullets from. "You a damn monster." Yang snarled at Jackdaw.
"Monster is simply a descriptor for a certain point of view. What you call a monster would be vastly different in comparison to what I call a monster." Jackdaw told them as he paced back and forth, waiting for them to make their attacks. "Thing is, I do not wish to fight you. Only… to teach you my next lesson." He said to them.
They both scoffed, Ruby looked at Crescent Rose that floated in the air, she could get to it, but Yang needed to keep Jackdaw busy. There was no way in hell he would just let her grab her weapon… but even then… he probably would.
Jackdaw is in it for the thrill of the hunt and the fight, always has been.
"Oh yeah? What lesson is that?" Yang replied as she loaded fresh shells into Ember Celica.
"Lesson Number Two: Trust." He began, but Yang fired herself forward towards him, engaging in their next bout. But that did not stop Jackdaw from lecturing them. Yang swung her fist towards him, and Jackdaw pushed her aside, and he immediately spun round and started firing both his machine guns at her, firing well forged fabricated bullets at Yang. She held her cybernetic arm up, using it to block the bullets that flew towards her.
"Trust can be just as fickle as the truth. Who do you truly think you can trust? How many words from the voices of Qrow, Raven and Valravn can you trust? We were raised by bandits, by liars and thieves… we all know how to lie. But I was the one who believed in the truth more than anything. Tell me, how much do you believe what the three of them say? Do you know what Valravn has done? What dear old Uncle Qrow and Mommy Raven have done?" Jackdaw asked her as he fired at Yang. She blasted herself up into the air, and she grabbed onto one of the vines from a floating island.
She swung round and launched herself towards Jackdaw, yelling as she slammed her fist down towards him. Jackdaw jumped backwards as Yang smashed the ground apart, shattering the surface and launching chunks of soil up into the air, alongside countless rocks. Jackdaw slid across the ground and launched more of his Fatal Feathers towards Yang. Yang fired her whistling missiles towards them, and they all exploded upon the feathers, shattering them like glass. One of those missiles flew towards Jackdaw, but his arm pumped out more Grave Dust, which he used to fabricate and shield on command, blocking the fiery discharge that hit him.
"It doesn't matter! They're family, that's all that matters!" Yang said back to him, throwing the empty chains that once held her missiles.
Jackdaw scoffed as the smoke and flames faded around him, and he walked through the cloud, staring at Yang, wiping the ash from his hat. "And yet… here you are… trying to kill your Uncle." He said to her, and he saw Yang's eyes dance around, he was getting in her head, making her see the hypocrisy in what she said. "There was a time where I would have said the same thing, Yang… but they disappointed me… as always." Jackdaw smirked at her.
"That's no excuse for what you've done!" Yang yelled, and Ruby shot up into the air in a burst of Rose Petals, and she grabbed Crescent Rose, and she swung round, and launched herself down towards Jackdaw. Yang did the same, shooting herself forward and Jackdaw jumped backwards, instantly deflecting the shotgun shells fired towards him by Yang with his bladed feathers. Ruby landed in front of Jackdaw, slashing downwards with Crescent Rose, and she managed to actually land a hit on him this time, cutting across his tough blood red aura. He grunted and immediately swung round and fired his machine guns at her. Ruby spun Crescent Rose to block the bullets that shot towards her, but as she did so, Jackdaw caught the handle of her weapon, and he pulled her forward and punched her across the cheek.
Ruby fell to the ground with great force, and Yang immediately leapt at Jackdaw, hooking her metal arm around his neck. Jackdaw snarled with anger as she pulled him back, but Yang was still at a disadvantage here, because he towered above her, and her feet were barely even reaching the floor. He reached back and grabbed her by her long locks of blonde hair. He slammed her down to the ground and slammed his boot down towards her head. Yang rolled out of the way and blasted upwards, and she too landed a punch on his face.
It was not like Neo luckily, he had luck on his side for now but clearly that did not mean that he was untouchable. They just had to be careful against him, because he could turn the tide at any moment. Jackdaw staggered and Yang sprinted towards him, whilst Ruby did the same. Yang punched at him over and over with great speed, both her arms moved like a blur, firing the shells at him with every single punch. But Jackdaw crossed his feather blade over to block the shots, and just as he went to attack her, Ruby slammed herself into his back, knocking the serial killer forward, right into Yang's fist.
Yang grabbed his arm and she pulled him downwards, throwing him over her shoulder with force. Jackdaw dragged his metal hand through the soil, burning red eyes glared right at the two sisters. Jackdaw rose back to his feet as both Yang and Ruby stood side by side, ready to fight him again. Jackdaw walked towards the sisters, and they both went for the kill, and Ruby slashed Crescent Rose at him, but he stopped her blade with his metal arm and punched Yang in the face. He pushed Ruby away but she countered by firing the sniper rifle behind her, using the recoil to blast her forward, she spun like a saw blade at him, and cut across his metal arms, he formed a shield on one arm, that blocked that strike and Ruby slammed the scythe down to the ground, blasting the rifle over and over again. The bullets bounced off his aura and his tough metal arms.
Yang punched Jack in the side, and he grunted, cartwheeling towards Ruby and he slashed his long feathers across Crescent Rose, Ruby defended herself from the attack, sparks flew from the contact of blades clashing against one another. Jackdaw jumped up and spun through the air, launching three blades from his arm towards Ruby. But she spun Crescent Rose again, deflecting and rebounding the feathers back at him. Jackdaw dodged two and he caught the third, and he threw it towards Ruby and it stabbed through her red hood. Ruby yelped, as the blade carried her up into the air. Ruby reached to the blade and pulled it out, the Grave Dust crumbled away into their dusty form with the electrical charge fading away that hardened it into a shape.
Jackdaw turned whilst Ruby floated away, and he blasted towards Yang, and he grabbed her by the throat, and smashed the side of her face into the ground. Yang grabbed onto his arm with one hand whilst she punched her metal fist into the soil. Eventually her metal hand caught a sturdy rock under the surface of soil, and she stopped Jackdaw's charge. She kicked him in the chest, flipping him over her body and she rolled back onto her feet. Yang cocked Ember Celica and she launched herself back at Jackdaw. He flipped through the air and landed on both feet, slamming his fists together with a maniacal grin on his face.
"Come on, Xiao Long! Show me you've got!" Jackdaw challenged her, and Yang grit her teeth with anger, and she blasted towards him, arching her arm back to punch him in the face. Behind her, Ruby was launching herself forward as well, the recoil and low gravity in the air turned the red-haired girl into a bullet. They both launched themselves towards Jackdaw Branwen, and he jumped at them as well.
Both him and Yang slammed their fists together, and Yang tackled him afterwards, they both floated through the air. Yang slammed her head into his, forcing him to recoil, and Yang swung her fist across his face. Jackdaw hooked his arm around her neck, and he swung her downwards with great force. Yang crashed against the stony walls of the mountains that floated above Lake Matsu, breaking apart as Yang collided into them. Ruby launched Crescent Rose towards Jackdaw, and the huge scythe spun like a sawblade, a red blur that sliced across Jackdaw's aura. He held his arms together, the huge metal blade cut against the steel, but he held her back, before he punched the weapon out of his way.
Ruby zoomed around in a flock of red petals, launching towards Jackdaw, firing her rifle over and over at him. Jackdaw pushed his legs off the walls of the mountains, and he fired his guns back at her. Some of the bullets hit Ruby's strong red aura, but she did not stop, she flew back towards Jackdaw as he sprinted across the mountains that he landed on. Ruby slammed Crescent Rose towards him, and the huge curved scythe pinned his neck to the wall, and she glared at him. But… even though she wouldn't be able to, due to his aura still remaining strong… she could not bring herself to kill him.
Even though she hated him… even though he killed her mother…
… her heart could not do it.
Jackdaw stared at her and he smirked. "It seems even your heart is as tender as hers was." Jackdaw softly said as he stared at Ruby. She glared at him and she tightened her grip on Crescent Rose.
"Why? Why did you do it?" Ruby cried out with heartbreak, and Jackdaw stared at her… right in her eyes.
"Curious… that they did not tell you." Jackdaw chuckled. "But then again… I expect nothing less from my twins. Always the liars to save their own skin, even if they hated themselves afterwards." Jackdaw told her, and Ruby stared at him with confusion.
What the hell is he talking about?
"Ol' Qrow and Raven? The eyes of Ozpin? They see all but speak very little – especially the truth." Jackdaw snarled at her, Ruby grit her teeth with anger. She knew that there was some serious bad blood between Qrow and Jackdaw, more than Raven and Jackdaw had, but it did not matter – Qrow was her Uncle – her family.
"Shut up! Nobody hurts my family!" Ruby yelled with anger and she swung her fist towards Jackdaw. He caught her fist with his metal hand, and he pulled her forward with great force, headbutting her. He grabbed onto Crescent Rose and he ripped it from the wall and swung the blunt end round and whacked it across Ruby's cheek. He then jumped towards her and punched her three times in the face, before he jumped higher into the air, twisted round and kicked her in the gut. Ruby plummeted down towards the lower islands, and she held onto Crescent Rose, digging it into the side of the mountain. It cut deep, penetrating through the stone and soil, chunks of rock and earth plummeted and floated away in the zero gravity. Dust filled the air and both her and Yang coughed, struggling to breathe.
"You've seen it with your own eyes! Qrow and Raven? They have kept so many secrets from you… you life has been shrouded in lies. It's time you learned the truth." Jackdaw called down, his voice echoed through the mountains, and Ruby coughed as she wiped the dust from her face.
"The Truth? Or Your Truth?" Yang called back, and Jackdaw remained silent for a few moments.
"I guess we will see, when the time comes." Jackdaw responded.
As the dust cleared, Jackdaw suddenly dropped down towards them, he held out his hands and punched both the metal hands into the walls of the close mountains they were between. The rock and soil shattered as he descended, eyes blood red as he glared down at them. He jumped down towards them and launched his feathers towards them. Yang grunted as one of them hit her in the chest, shattering against her aura. Her golden aura shimmered from the heavy strike, but it did not break, not yet. Jackdaw extended his blades from his forearms and he spun his body through the air, slashing across Ruby's aura with great force and rage. Ruby screamed in pain as she felt the razor-sharp blades damage her aura. He punched her and she crashed against the wall, falling into the vines. Ruby reached out for Crescent Rose, which was caught in the many Vines.
Jackdaw descended toward Yang, using the tight islands to his advantage. He slashed his arms across Yang's chest, and he grabbed her by the throat, smashing her up against the wall. Yang grunted, but she swung her fist towards his head, only for Jackdaw to sharply move his head out of the way. The Ripper stared right into her violet eyes, until they suddenly turned red and Yang punched him hard in the face. Jackdaw grunted, launched back by his niece and crashing against the wall. Yang jumped off the wall and she punched him in the chest, then repeatedly in the face, over and over again. She grabbed him by the throat this time, and she lifted him up off the floor, and with gritted teeth, she took her metal fist and pummelled him downwards with all her might.
His red aura flickered, but did not break, not yet. He plummeted down, then he smirked, blasting both his guns down beneath him, and he launched up towards Yang, grabbing her by the throat again. "Is that all you have to offer?" Jackdaw challenged, dragging her face against the wall as they both flew up the side of the mountain. Ruby gasped, grabbing Crescent Rose and slashing through the green vines. She launched after both Jackdaw and Yang, in an effort to help her big sister against their foe. Jackdaw and Yang both flew up from the chasm between the two mountains, and he twisted round and kicked Yang in the sternum.
Yang plummeted down and crashed into the ground with great force. Yang groaned in pain; her aura was broken as she laid there in the shattered terrain. A Lancer emerged from the mountain and stared straight at Yang who was barely conscious, it hissed and flew towards her, launching the long barb from its tail towards her. Until a Fatal Feather from Jackdaw severed it, and Jackdaw launched down towards the creature and he cut it clean in half in one strike, his long blades made short work of the Creature of Grimm. He landed beside Yang as the Lancer crumbled away into black smoke. Jackdaw walked towards Yang and he aimed the long barrel of his right armed gun, pointing it at her face. Yang was scratched up and bruised, staring up at Jackdaw.
This is it… this is how I die… I'm sorry, Summer… Ruby… everyone… I failed…
She closed her eyes and awaited the end… only he never fired. He just pointed it at her, when Yang opened her eyes, she saw him lower the gun as he looked at her. There was an expression in his eyes… one that she didn't expect.
He… doesn't want to kill me?
Why?
Jackdaw did not say a word, he just stared at Yang, and as the blonde brawler stared up at Jackdaw, suddenly red petals swirled up behind Jackdaw and Ruby floated in the air. With Crescent Rose held back, her teeth gritted, she glared at Jackdaw with anger. "Gotcha!" She yelled, blasting down towards him after firing her rifle backwards, and Jackdaw's red eyes widened, and he spun round. Ruby hooked her blade onto his neck, and she dragged him across the ground, sprinting as fast as she could as she dragged him across the ground. She twisted her body and launched Jackdaw towards a tree, and she kept going for him. Jackdaw rolled out of the way and Ruby cut the tree clean in half. The tree floated upwards from the stump that remained where it was, and Jackdaw stood back up. "Catch!" Ruby yelled, using the zero gravity to her advantage, she kicked the tree, and the lack of weight allowed her to send the tree flying towards Jackdaw.
Jackdaw grunted in pain as the tree smashed into him, sending Jack the Ripper tumbling back. Ruby stood in front of Yang, protecting her big sister whilst her aura recharges. Jackdaw rose back up and he glanced at the aura meter on his arm. He had half of his aura lost, which was more than he was anticipating. "Damn… either I'm getting slow with age… or you two are better than I was expecting. Not bad." Jackdaw chuckled as he ejected the broken blades, only forming more from the Grave Dust. Ruby watched as that dust that was used for the broken blades returned back into his armour – meaning he reused the same Grave Dust over and over again.
No wonder he never seemed to run out, he simply reused the same amount repeatedly. Clever… Ruby thought. "But judging by your sister's broken aura? I doubt you have much left either. Tell me, do you really have this much of a death wish? Turning against the Black Gallows, going after Roman Torchwick at Mountain Glenn and at Beacon? Even Neopolitan." The mere mention of her name made Ruby shudder. "You never know when to back down, do ya?" He asked her.
Ruby scoffed, wiping the sweat from her brow. "I could do this all day." She replied, and Jackdaw smiled.
"I admire that." He told her, but as Ruby stood there. She prepared to attack Jackdaw… when suddenly Qrow and Raven landed in front of her, weapons at the ready. The Branwens stared at one another, and Jackdaw laughed as he stared at the two of them. "Damn… look at this… just a good ol' family reunion." He laughed, holding out his arms, Qrow grit his teeth and Raven sternfully glared at Jackdaw.
"Ruby, stay back. Stay with your sister… Raven and I will handle this." Qrow assured.
"About time you showed up. You know your little girl, Raven, and your niece were tough enough to kick my ass a few times? You really that cowardly to finish what they started?" Jackdaw asked them, and they both grit their teeth, Raven drew Omen as she glared at him and Qrow transformed Harbinger into its Scythe Form.
"Shut up, Jack. This ends here." Raven growled.
"You kidding me? This story's just getting good!" Jackdaw laughed as he sharped the blades, slashing them against one another, over and over again.
The Three Branwens stood before each other, ready to continue their battle.
Eryka
She could see the battle between Jackdaw, Qrow and Raven.
But she could not help them, because she and the others were now at a severe disadvantage. The Fog that Raven managed to create with that arc of fire on the waterfall was now gone. The Black Gallows soldiers no longer were at their mercy, and if anything, they were more dangerous. The Raven Talons were using the environment with highly impressive precision. She looked around and saw everyone bar Shay, she assumed that he was either dead or was waiting for the right moment to strike.
Oscar launched his hammer towards one of the Raven Talons, who took the impact straight to the chest, but the Hardlight Shielding muffled the pain completely. He crashed against the wall but immediately shot forward again and slashed his sword that he extended from his arm across Oscar's aura. There was a faint green shimmer as the Raven Talon attacked, sliding across the dirt and immediately firing his rifle at him. Oscar spun the chains that the heads of his hammers were attached to with impressive speed, blocking the bullets from hitting his aura protected body.
He sprinted towards the Raven Talon and slid underneath his legs, and as he rose up behind him, he shot the hammers forward, towards the Generator that was forming that Hardlight Shield around the Raven Talon's body. But the Talon turned, and he moved aside, catching the chain that Oscar's hammer was connected to. He then yanked it so hard that it pulled Oscar towards him. The Raven Talon close-lined up with his arm, knocking him to the ground with great force. Oscar tumbled across the ground and he immediately went to get up and attack his enemy, until the Black Gallows Stockholm Trooper aimed his gauntlet and the plates of metal opened up and he fired an electrified cable.
It wrapped around Oscar and constantly sent high volts through his body, restraining his arms. Oscar screamed in agony, and the electricity swiftly broke his aura and knocked him unconscious. Oscar collapsed to his knees and fell on his chest. The Raven Talon walked towards him, ready to take Oscar away. "One Huntsman down, let's wrap this up. They had their fun with that trick with the fog – take them down. We'll take down Jackdaw when the others are with us." The voice of Killian commanded.
Eryka gasped as she saw the Raven Talon lifting Oscar over his shoulder, until he turned and saw Ren sprinting towards him to save Oscar.
Eryka turned and saw Killian stood on one of the Mountains, he avoided the fight against Jackdaw… and judging by the look on his face? It was out of fear, of what Jackdaw did to his parents so many years ago. And how many times he escaped… and judging by Jackdaw's combat style? That was a wise move, even at half of his aura diminished, Jackdaw could still beat Qrow and Raven right now. His semblance made him an unpredictable force to be reckoned with.
Eryka glared at the Commander of the Black Gallows, he was alone, making sure that the mission went according to plan. Nora was still battling against the remaining Stockholm Troopers, and Ren was going to help Oscar.
I can take him down…
… I can kill him.
Eryka grit her teeth and she whistled to Dulcis and sprinted across the many chunks of rock that floated in the air, levitated by the low gravity and created from the assault by the Shadow of Broken Promises. Of which was still watching them, something that Eryka did not forget about.
Wait… even if I do manage to beat him… the Shadow of Broken Promises could just barrage us like it did earlier.
How the hell are we getting out of this?
Dulcis screeched as he flew over Eryka, and she got closer and closer to Killian. He stood there and his onyx eyes turned as he heard her coming and the sound of her Eagle crying out was enough. He swiftly reloaded his Chrome Pistol and swung round, firing it at her. Eryka leapt off the island and jumped towards him with Constantine Damascus drawn all the way back, and she fired an arrow towards him. He held his knife in his other hand and swung it fast and hard, cutting the arrow clean in two before it could reach him. Eryka descended down and she held Constantine Damascus like a baton, swinging it towards him, but he stopped her with his knife, a metallic bang resounded from their impact.
"Should've known you would have picked their side, Vasillias." Killian snarled viciously, staring into her blue eyes.
"What can I say? I like fighting for the underdogs." Eryka shrugged, then Killian kicked her in the chest, forcing her back. Killian spun his Knife through his fingers, Eryka noticed the different Dust Cannisters on his belt, alongside magazines with an assortment of dust bullets. "Of course, you have a bland weapon too. Just a pistol? Where's your creativity?" She scoffed as she circled him, and Killian chuckled as he aimed it at her.
"Sometimes the simplest weapon can be the deadliest." He replied, aiming it at her. "I offered you a deal, Vasillias. You should've taken it."
Eryka scoffed. "The Vytal Consensus? Don't make me laugh, you can put all the sugar you want on a turd. It's still a turd."
"Ah there's that classic Eryka Vasillias way of speaking." Killian said with a scoff.
"I don't like to disappoint." Eryka shrugged as she held her bow in one and arrow in the other hand.
"Indeed – but your time for cracking jokes is at an end. I've given you chance after chance… not another." He said to her, and Eryka smirked.
"I was hoping you'd say that. Time for a round two, except no bitching out this time." Eryka said, remembering how he stopped her from fighting him with a trap last time. Killian glared at her and he smirked.
"Don't plan to."
He fired his pistol at her and Eryka ducked, dodging the bullet and she immediately launched an arrow towards Killian. He jumped up and avoided the incoming arrow, firing a Grappling Hook towards her, and he shot forward. He slammed both his feet into Eryka's chest, knocking her backwards. He swung round with his knife and slashed it at her face. It cut through her weak aura, cutting her face but her aura immediately healed the damage. Eryka grit her teeth and she kicked him in his leg, so hard it brought him down to one knee. She then jumped upwards, slamming her knee against his head. She floated up into the air, but as Killian staggered, he grabbed onto her heel, and he slammed her down to the ground. Her blue aura broke but she rolled back, it was already starting to come back, as she ran around him.
She fired her Bow at him over and over, launching arrow after arrow. Killian batted one out of the air with his pistol but the second hit him in the chest. His onyx coloured aura protected him as it collided into his chest, the impact launched him backwards, and he crashed against a boulder with force. He grunted as he hit the wall, and Eryka threw herself towards him, and she pinned him with her bow against the wall. She kneed him in the chest and punched him in the jaw. Killian grunted and Eryka drew her Hunting Knife again and she stabbed it towards his face. He moved his head out of the way and instantly pointed his pistol at her head. Eryka dodged it but Eryka pushed her back and jumped over her head, firing his gun at her over and over.
Killian landed behind her, and he aimed his Grappling Hook on his bracer at her, firing it at her but she ducked down. He shot towards her but Eryka grabbed Killian by the throat. She yanked him away from where the Grappling Hook was taking him, and the hook broke away from the rock. Eryka slammed him down against the ground, and she transformed Constantine Damascus from its Bow Form and into the Shotgun Form. She aimed it at his head and fired, but he lifted his arm, which formed a hexagonal shield of Hardlight Dust, protecting his face from her.
Unlike the rest of his soldiers he was the only one that did not have the Hardlight Shield around his body, he was using his Aura instead. But he still had the Hardlight Dust in places where he needed it. Killian fired his pistol up at Eryka and she gasped, it hit her in the chest and broke her Oceanic Blue Aura once again. It crackled across her back and Killian aimed the Grappling Hook to one of the Floating Islands. He flew away and Eryka pursued her foe, sprinting towards the other floating rocks. She jumped from one to the other, staying on him whilst the rest of her friends battled against the Black Gallows.
Ren sprinted towards the Raven Talon that was carrying Oscar's unconscious body, the soldier turned, and he snarled, dropping Oscar and immediately swinging that blade he extended from his other bracer towards him. Ren slid under the legs of the Raven Talon and he fired his guns towards the generator that charged the Hardlight Dust Shield that surrounded his body. The Raven Talon rolled out of the way and fired his Grappling Hook towards the Kuroyurian, and Ren caught it and yanked it forward. The Black Gallows soldier stabbed his blade into the ground, so hard that the cable tightened and snapped, causing Ren to fall to the ground. The Raven Talon completely detached the cable from his Bracer and aimed his rifle at Ren, firing lethal rounds towards him.
Ren rolled out of the way, just dodging the bullets and he charged towards the Hunter. With the fog cleared, the Huntsmen became the Hunted. But Ren jumped towards the Raven Talon and he kicked him in the helmet, causing him to stagger. He then grabbed the arm of the soldier and rolled across his back, to try and shoot him in the back. The Raven Talon swung round and kicked him in the head, knocking him back. The Raven Talon grabbed Ren by the throat and slammed him against the wall. "You and your friends killed my comrades – you're lucky we're even thinking about taking you alive." The Raven Talon snarled behind that Voice Distorter.
Ren glared at him, before he wrapped his legs around the Raven Talon's arm, and he twisted hard, the soldier growled in pain as Ren slammed him down to the ground. Ren sprinted to Oscar, and he aimed his pistols at the soldier. The Raven Talon got back up and went to launch one of those electrified Restrainers, but he already fired it at Oscar. But as Ren protected Oscar, suddenly another one shot towards Ren, and he was not fast enough to avoid it. The cable wrapped around him and he screamed in pain, the electricity broke through the aura and did the same to him as it did to Oscar, the high voltage left him unconscious. Nora turned and her eyes widened.
"REN!" She screamed, the sky darkened, and she blasted towards the Raven Talons, slamming Stormur Skeggox down to the ground.
"No! Don't use the Electrical Cables on her! Her semblance will make her stronger if we electrocute her!" One of the Raven Talons warned.
"Sounds like you boys did your homework." Nora scoffed as she spun her Axe through her fingers.
"Use the Gravity Dust ones on her." The soldier commanded, but they needed someone else for that, these soldiers all had the Electrified ones, and the Shadow Daggers were the ones with the Gravity Dust infused ones. But since they were wiped out in the fog… Nora had the advantage.
But even Nora knew that these guys were not gonna be easy to take down, they learned from their mistakes earlier.
They won't make that mistake again.
Nora looked up and saw Eryka chasing after Killian on the rocks above their heads. Eryka leapt towards him as he landed on another mountain and aimed his gun at her. Eryka wrapped her legs around his neck and she pulled her body down to the ground, launching him across the ground. Killian tumbled and grabbed onto the branch that grew through the edge of the island, swinging round in the low gravity and throwing himself back up. He flipped through the air and threw his Knife towards her. Eryka ducked down and the knife narrowly missed her, cutting a few small strands of blue hair off.
The knife stabbed into the soil behind her, and Eryka gritted her teeth, firing Constantine Damascus up at him in its Shotgun Form. The shrapnel of Arrowheads blasted towards him, but he fired his Grappling Hook to the tree, pulling away from where her shot was fired, and he swung round towards Eryka and kicked her in the chest. He slid across the ground, nearly falling off the edge if not for him firing his Pistol to his side, steadying his balance. Eryka tumbled but she found her footing, just in time to cross her arms over, stopping Killian from stabbing her in the sternum. She held the large knife away from her chest, the very top getting closer to her bosom. Killian glared at her… and there was a look of true madness in his eyes.
This was the monster in him, not the human.
Eryka held him back, straining as he pushed further and further towards her heart, until suddenly Dulcis descended and slashed his talons across Killian's face. He grunted in pain as he staggered away from Eryka, and Dulcis flew back, grabbing onto Killian's wrist that held the knife. His huge wings flapped over and over again, screeching at Killian. The Commander of the Black Gallows snarled and aimed his pistol at the Altum Eagle, until Eryka smashed her fist into Killian's face, so hard it sent him crashing back.
A burning pain grew in his chest, he gasped for air and grabbed the Respirator on his chest, reactivating it so that the device pumps more pain relievers into his system, keeping the Grave Dust inside of him from killing him. He looked forward and saw Eryka sprinting at him again, yelling with rage as she jumped and kicked him in the face. He staggered back and immediately pointed his gun at her, firing it but Eryka slid under the incoming bullets, and she grabbed that hand that held the gun and she swung her head up his jaw. He grunted and staggered backwards.
He ejected the empty magazine and he loaded one of his Dust Mags, using Ice Dust and he shot it into Eryka's leg. Ice froze around her leg and she stared at the ice that surrounded her leg. He switched mags and chose fire straight afterwards. He fired it at her face, but she ducked down and immediately punched the ice, so hard it cracked enough for her to pull her leg from the ice. She rushed Killian again, shoulder charging him. The very action knocked the gun from his hand. He thrusted his knife towards Eryka's neck again, but she punched his hand, knocking the weapon aside.
Killian swiftly responded with his fist into Eryka's stomach, she gasped from the pain and felt his hand grip onto her soft blue hair. He twisted round and smashed her face into the boulder. Her aura broke but it just angered her even more, and she swung her elbow back with great force, smashing it into his face and he staggered back from her. Eryka turned and ran into him, tackling him to the ground. She pummelled his face into the floor over and over again, his Onyx coloured aura crackled with each punch. Killian moved his head aside and he pushed Eryka off his chest, and he slammed his fist down into her gut. She gasped from pain, winded from how hard he hit her. She grabbed her stomach in pain as she laid there, and Killian got back up.
"I never wanted this… all you kids had to do was think about others. To adapt with the tide!" Killian yelled as he stared at Eryka. She pressed her hands against the ground, pushing herself back up.
"Y'know… the deal itself? I may have agreed to it once… but after what you did? What you made Jaymes do? And this? Murdering those people? I don't think so…" Eryka snarled, spitting out blood as she stood tall again.
"I did what was necessary." Killian responded.
"NECESSARY? You turned a kid with a mental illness into a weapon!" Eryka yelled. "How the hell can you look at that and call it necessary?" She questioned.
"Because it got the job done. The first step for proper change can be a terrifying one, but someone has to make the choice. If that monster must be me then I will gladly play the part. Because in the future? The world will thank me for it." Killian said, but Eryka just stared at him and shook her head.
"You're insane… you really are…" Eryka scoffed, and Killian glared at her.
"No, I am a realist… I already told you that." Killian said to her as he cracked his knuckles. "I see the world as it is, not how we want it to be. The real world is cruel, and the only way to make a better world is to tear the old one down." Killian told her as he rolled his shoulder, walking towards her. "And I will not stop until that new world is a reality."
"A world with you at the top? Playing king in your castle of skeletons?" Eryka scoffed.
"Not me… someone else. Someone who can actually protect this world, not feed off it like parasites." Killian said, seeing Salem in his mind, something none of them knew.
Killian stood there, then he pressed something on his wrist and Eryka's eyes widened. "But before that leader arrives? I need to get rid of the parasites… burn them out." Killian snarled, and he hit the button.
Eryka's eyes widened when she stared at the Shadow of Broken Promises… opening fire on them once again.
Qrow
Before the Shadow of Broken Promises barraged them…
Qrow and Raven both battled against Jackdaw, both of them slashed their swords at Jack and he stopped their attacks with his feathers. His blades pinched onto his scythe and he rolled across Qrow's back, and he launched him across the ground. Qrow tumbled over the bushes and rocks whilst Raven cut across his aura with Omen, swiftly stabbing and slashing at him. But Jackdaw deflected some of her blows with the razor-sharp feathers, sparks flew from each impact of their swords. Jackdaw kicked Raven in the chest, causing her to stagger backwards in pain.
Raven gritted her teeth and she sheathed Omen and swiftly unsheathed it again with a blade coated with fire dust. The burning blade blasted fire towards Jackdaw. He transformed into his Corvid Form and circled around her, before returning back to Human form, slashing down at her and cutting across her aura with the many sharpened feathers. Raven rolled backwards and she fired her sword out from the Scabbard, which slammed against Jackdaw's chest, he staggered back with a growl, before he launched more of his feathers towards her. Raven moved with immense speed, cutting all of them down before they could even get close. She charged forward and slashed her sword against his arms that he used to block her many blows. He then caught the sword and stared right at her with hatred in his red eyes. Raven jumped and dropkicked him with both feet, pushing her hands against the floor so hard she launched herself up in the air. She twirled in the sky and chose her Ice Sword, descending with great speed as she stabbed the ground.
Ice spikes erupted from the ground towards Jackdaw. He rolled backwards over and over again to avoid the spines of ice that came for him. As he turned, he saw Qrow lunging towards him with a furious yell, holding Harbinger back with force, swinging it into his feathers he printed, snapping some of them in the process. Jackdaw ducked under his second attack, then fired both his machine guns at Qrow, sprinting across the area. Jackdaw dropped down and slid underneath a destroyed tree, sliding across the floor and jumping back up. He landed back on both feet, but Qrow and Raven both went after him at once.
Qrow slashed Harbinger in its sword form across where Jackdaw was, but he slid under the attack, and fired his machine gun at his brother. Qrow spun Harbinger, deflecting the bullets and swiftly rushed after him. Qrow kicked Jack in the chest and he staggered backwards, but he still turned and stopped Omen with the blades that extended from his forearm. He kicked Raven in the head and turned around, jumping towards Qrow. He brought one of his arms down, slamming his fist against the ground and grating the blades across Harbinger. Metallic bangs echoed as they battled against each other.
Qrow blocked his strikes and the blade folded down, and he fired, blasting a shell into the side of Jackdaw's head, blowing his hat off. He staggered aside and his aura flickered after that strike, until he lunged forward and grabbed Qrow by the throat. The Ripper smashed his brother down to the ground with immense force whilst Raven thrusted at Jackdaw with a furious yell to run the blade through his back. Jackdaw smacked his blades against the sword and swung round with Qrow still by the throat, throwing him into his sister. Both of them crashed to the ground and Jackdaw repaired his blades, before charging towards them once again.
But just as he went to attack them, he stopped, hearing the sounds of the Shadow of Broken Promises opening fire on them once again. He turned and saw the flashes and heard the whistling of the shells coming for them. Jackdaw vanished just as the shells exploded, shattering the island that they were fighting upon, they did not even notice that Jackdaw turned into his Corvid Form to escape just before they could kill him in the process.
Everyone took cover as the shells came crashing down, exploding against the ground and blowing the islands apart. Trees were thrown up into the sky as the Shadow of Broken Promises continued its furious Broadside Attack. Fire burned from the islands, and the echo of so many explosions travelled for miles. But when it ceased, Qrow groaned, covered in dust and silt, looking around to find Raven. She pushed her sword against the ground, her aura broken just like his. "Where is he?" Qrow yelled, swinging his sword wildly as he tried to find his insane brother.
"He escaped! Just as the attack started…" Raven winced.
"Damn it! We had him!" Qrow yelled as he punched the ground, but as the smoke cleared, their eyes widened as they saw Eryka on her knees with Killian's gun to his head.
"Bastard played dirty again…" Eryka groaned, bruised and beaten from their fight and from the assault. Killian walked around them, and they saw the Black Gallows dragging the unconscious ones and forcing the remaining Hunters to their knees.
"It's over." Killian told them as he stared at each and every one of them… all except for Shay, wherever he was. Ruby scowled at Killian and he looked at her. "And after what you have done? The Malachites and that little fight you started in the streets of Vacuo? You already have bounties on your head for punishment for your actions." Killian explained, and Qrow groaned as he felt a gun push against the back of his head.
"Drop your weapons. I would rather not spill anymore blood than what was necessary." Killian said, and Eryka scoffed as she looked up at him.
"Necessary…" She scoffed.
Qrow looked at his sister, and she sighed, dropping Omen on the ground. Qrow did the same with Harbinger, wincing in pain.
"Crap…"
Author Note - I think Qrow put it perfectly, crap.
Killian got them right where he wanted them, there was no way out of that fight that could have lead to them escaping. In the middle of a lake, with the Shadow of Broken Promises watching them and more than enough Stockholm Troopers to stop them from escaping.
But my god do I love writing Jackdaw's combat style, and Ruby and Yang Vs Jackdaw was so damn awesome to write, showing those two working together against him is always great fun. And Eryka Vs Killian is always a fight I love doing, at least this time Eryka actually got to fight him. One of the reasons I love Killian as a character is his fighting style, I always enjoy writing characters who's fighting style is not as crazy and epic as someone like Ruby or Nora. All he needs is a pistol and a knife, and he can challenge even some of the most skilled Huntsmen or Huntresses. Sometimes all it takes is the right set of skills to be lethal.
And the Black Gallows are not to be trifled with, I wanted to make that clear. When they had the fog on their side they could easily take them down, but once that fog was gone? The tables turned, and we saw why they were so deadly. Because they knew how to capture Huntsmen and Huntresses.
Next chapter will be interesting, getting to see the Shadow of Broken Promises from the inside. A damn scary ship. (I love the name too)
Sorry this took a while to come out. If you have not been reading the Knights of Grimm (which you should, it is a personal favourite :D) then I will repeat it here. I was in the process of moving and having no internet for the past few weeks so I literally could not do a thing. But I can now! So back to the fun!
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review, follow and favourite!
Stay tuned for the next chapter!
- Matt