Chapter 75 – Dead Men Walking
Merlot (Backstory)
Forty years ago
Kassius listened to the words of Donovan Gele, about the story of his father – Archer Merlot.
He was a young man when he first met the Professor – dear old Professor Ozpin – Glynda Goodwitch was still a child and Ironwood was still training to be a Huntsman himself. Lionheart was a skilled Huntsman, and so was Theodore… but Oz? Heh… well I think you know what he was.
A monster… a monster who wears the flesh of a good man… trying to overcome his nature.
But a monster is a monster, through and through.
And no matter how hard he tries; he will always be a Knight of Grimm.
Smoke flew in the air from the pyres of the village that a twenty-year-old Archer Merlot was inside of, and even then, he was a clever individual. He ran from the Beowulves that charged after him, they roared furiously as they pursued him, smashing through the fences and slashing their claws at him. Merlot tumbled into his house, where he was brewing together a concoction to create a highly corrosive substance. The Grimm leapt through the window, which shattered around its jet-black muscular body, covered in fur. The Beowulf roared at him; long strands of saliva hung from its jaws of redness.
The Beowulf bellowed and charged towards Merlot, but he reached across the table and grabbed the vial of corrosive liquid and launched it towards the face of the creature. It shattered and the acidic fluid splattered across its face, melting the bone armour down to nothing and eating even further. It howled with agony, clawing at its own face, when Merlot picked up a Pitchfork and he sprinted at the beast, ramming the Farming Tool through his ribs. The Beowulf grunted in pain and rage, as Archer stabbed it over and over again with the tool, until it was dead and faded away.
He staggered out from his house, watching as the Nevermores circled in the sky, carrying people off. One of them was someone he knew, a pretty girl in a bar, being fed to the Griffins that played catch with her. He looked away as they devoured her… that was all he could hear. Their agonised screams as the monsters ripped them open, limb from limb, excited by their fear and agony. Some tried to fight, like Merlot did, but they were nowhere near as lucky as he was. He saw the Village elder shrieking in agony as an Ursa dragged its claws down his spine, ripping him to shreds with its powerful jaws, blood soaking the mangy black fur.
Merlot fell to his knees, and closed his amber eyes with grief, knowing the Grimm were coming for him next. That he was going to die a similarly horrible and agonising death. He blocked out the screams as he waited for something to rip him apart. Something was about to grant him his wish, as Beringel panted nearby. He did not even glance at the monster, just closed his eyes as he waited. The Beringel bellowed, pounding its chest as it charged towards him, leaping at the young man with its fists clenched.
Until a green flash shot over Merlot's head, and the Beringel crashed to the ground, with a cane rammed straight through its sternum, killing the beast instantly. It groaned as it crumbled and faded away from existence, and as Merlot stared at the Huntsman who saved him… he saw him turn. It was Ozpin, and he somehow looked no different than he did today. The same grey hair, the same glasses, everything was exactly the same – of course, it was due to the fact that he was not technically human anymore. He was a Knight of Grimm who used the Relic of Creation to create a new form, one of which would help him achieve his task.
There were other Huntsmen and Huntresses with him, and one of these skilled warriors held her hand out to Merlot. She was tall and gorgeous, with long raven black hair and amber eyes, but far fierier than Archer's were. In fact, Merlot's eyes were… almost light brown, like his hair was. She held her sword in one hand and spoke with a beautiful voice. "Are you okay?" She asked.
"Carmen, keep the area secure. Get as many survivors to safety as you can." Ozpin commanded, spinning his Cane through his fingers.
"Who… who are you?" Merlot stammered as he looked at Carmen, she smiled sweetly.
"My name is Carmen Locke, I'm a Huntress from the newly formed Beacon Academy." She answered.
Carmen and Archer… Kassius knew who they were to him, they were one day going to be his and Cinder's parents. But from this tale? Their story had only just begun when Ozpin took her and the team, she was placed in to save his village. Kassius however, was surprised that his mother was in fact a Huntress. He was never told this fact, neither Cinder – it seemed like Archer was not the only one who was keeping secrets from them.
Even their mother did.
Merlot watched with awe as the Huntsmen decimated the Grimm, one by one they struck them down, blades carved through their black hide like hot knives through butter. Carmen made certain that Archer and the surviving civilians were safely taken to where they could be protected. Merlot watched with disbelief as Ozpin shot up into the air and drove his Cane through the heart of a flying Nevermore, killing it instantly. It came crashing down into the village in the background, shattering the buildings like they were made of cards.
When the battle was over, Merlot walked through the destroyed remnants of his home, so much blood on the ground… homes reduced to rubble as he looked at the place. Corpses ripped the shreds, that the Huntsmen zipped up in bags so then they could be taken to the Corpse Disposal Teams. Attacks like these had many side effects, and one of them was Secondary Disaster, something that Merlot understood. Scientific even when he was a young man, a genius savant. Diseases could start from villages wiped out by the Grimm, and that was a threat that could not be defeated by Huntsmen and Huntresses.
Bodies were either burned or buried as quickly as they could.
Merlot sighed as he held his arms behind his back, a stance he even had now. He turned as Carmen and Ozpin walked towards him. "I'm sorry… I had hoped we would not be too late." Carmen apologised.
"You weren't. You didn't come back to a graveyard at least… there's some of us left." He sighed. "I think their attacks are getting worse, Grimm are getting more dangerous. More prevalent." Merlot deduced as he looked around, and judging from Ozpin's expression? It was clear that this was the moment he took an interest in the young man.
"You're right, surprised to see someone who lives out in the countryside take note." Ozpin said.
"Out here? We can't grow too close to other settlements; the Grimm could take them down at any moment… just like here." He sighed as he looked at the slaughter.
"We're going to take you all to Vale, we will nurse all the injured back to health and help you pick yourselves back up." Ozpin assured as he walked with Carmen, but Merlot turned.
"I know who you are." He said, it clicked just as he remembered the names… Vale… Beacon Academy…
"You… you're him." Merlot gasped with wide eyes, and Ozpin stopped. "You're Professor Ozpin, the first Headmaster of the Academies since they were formed."
Ozpin turned and looked at him. "You are quite informed; you continue to surprise me." Ozpin said, which made Archer chuckle.
"My village may have mainly been a tavern and farmland, but I was the Village Medic and Scientist. I tested the Grimm we found, learned how to create this… a formula that breaks down Grimm bone armour as soon as it hits hit. For a long time, it… kept the smaller ones at bay… but not against something like that." Merlot began, and Ozpin held his hands atop his cane, looking right at him with Carmen beside him.
"I sense a proposal brewing." Ozpin stated.
"I want to help you, Professor. I want to stop the Grimm from killing more innocents." Merlot explained and Ozpin sighed as he stood there.
"You may not choose to follow that path… it is not one that is easy." Ozpin assured, and Merlot looked around at the destruction. He had pushed back the pain and the heartbreak of losing so many friends, focusing on his campaign to stop the Grimm once and for all. He stared at Ozpin and he held the Pitchfork tight in his grasp.
"If you think I am afeared of dying, then you're sorely mistaken. This place was my home… these people my family… I am used to a world where life is borrowed time." Merlot assured and Ozpin inhaled through his nose and sighed.
"Perhaps… I will consider your proposition. But first, you will come with us to Beacon Academy, be treated for your injuries. Carmen here has kindly opened up her Dorm for people to stay the night, and she has told me that she is fine with letting you stay the night with some others." Ozpin explained. "But tomorrow? Who knows… I guess we will have to see what you have to offer."
Archer Merlot… who would have thought that a man that was so obsessed with control would have started his mission with wanted to destroy?
When Merlot was brought to Beacon Academy, he gazed at its splendour, it had been ready and teaching students for quite a few years before now. Yet it looked far newer than it did when Team R.W.B.Y arrived there years later. Merlot stood in the courtyard on his own, staring at the beautiful colonnades that surrounded him. "Do you like it?" The voice of Carmen asked, he turned and saw the Huntress approach him with her black hair tied back into a ponytail.
"It's definitely bigger than I expected… and… fancy as hell." Merlot chuckled.
"Not what you're used to?" She asked him.
"No, not at all. I've always been used to having limited supplies in a shed. But here? You must have everything you need." He chuckled, looking around at the place.
"Eh, kinda. When the Seniors let you use them, don't get me started on some of the Blacksmiths here, they don't like you using too much stuff for your weapons." She groaned, which just made Merlot chuckle.
"You have more than one Blacksmith for your weapons? We were lucky to have one." Merlot chuckled, which made Carmen pause for a moment.
"Oh… sorry… guess we may come across a bit strong with our advancements and stuff." Carmen apologised.
"It's okay… in comparison to a burning ruin, this place is a breeze." Merlot said, Carmen furrowed her brows as she looked at the man.
"You… don't seem overly… I dunno, shocked?" She asked him, and he looked at her.
"Unfortunately, that's my way… after seeing so many friends die terrible deaths to the Grimm? I find it's just another day, and every day is one more I survive." Merlot explains. "But it doesn't have to stay that way, this nightmare could be ended if we find a way to destroy these things once and for all." Merlot explained, and Carmen held her arms behind her back.
He had a strong will, that much was certain. Not much seemed to deter him from his goal, to find a way to destroy those monsters once and for all. Merlot turned when Carmen heard the sound of Ozpin approaching them from behind. "So… Archer Merlot… you wish to work for me?" He asked him.
"I do." He swiftly answered, and Ozpin exhaled through his nose.
"I have many skilled Huntsmen and Huntresses, what makes you surpass their skills?" Ozpin inquired; Carmen gave her Headmaster a look, but Merlot did not even look offended by his words.
"In terms of fighting? Nothing really. But that is not what I offer." Merlot replied, which did indeed pique Ozpin's interest. A man who is honest about his strengths and weaknesses is always someone he would have a great amount of respect for, simply stating what you fail at is no simple task.
But Merlot seemed to be more honest than any man he ever met… but that of course did not mean the man was incapable of lying.
"Then what is it that you have to offer?" Ozpin inquired, Merlot took his finger and placed it against his temple.
"My mind – ever since I was a child, I was creating things, always learning whatever I could. I quickly became our town's inventor, and as I showed you, I managed to create a toxin that was corrosive enough to completely break down the armour plating of any Grimm. But that serum could easily be modified into more weapons to use against the Grimm." Merlot explained. "But with more resources and teams of other skilled scientists, I can and will make it my mission to help advance weapons technology, enhancements and whatever it is you need to help us end the Grimm threat, once and for all. Because that is your goal, is it not?" Merlot inquired with his arms behind his back.
Ozpin smiled at the young man. "You do not mince words, do you Archer?" Ozpin asked him out of curiosity.
"Never was a skill." Merlot shrugged, making Ozpin chuckle. The Professor walked past both Carmen and Archer, and he looked at the students who were training in the courtyards. He could not count how many brave Huntsmen and Huntresses who have already died from the Creatures of Grimm. He did indeed need something to turn the tide, and a loyal and skilled scientist could be exactly what they are looking for.
And thus, Ozpin made the decision, and had Merlot become his Head Scientist, and he had all the resources he would ever need to create new weapons. If not for him, the mechanical weapons that you see today would never exist. Your very weapons are a biproduct of Ozpin's decision to employ the man… but it was the beginning of the end of Ozpin's trust in people.
What do you mean?
Oh, you know… Ozpin has always been a man who had trust issues, and Merlot is simply the reason for it. Ambition? It can be a poison if not tempered.
Four Years Later
He wore his white lab coat, and he worked hard on his projects, creating the batch of Corrosive Fluid, nicknamed Devil's Saliva, and he was creating barrels of the stuff. His scientists continued to move them out so then both the Military and Huntsmen could use this formula against the creatures of Grimm.
Merlot's Devil's Saliva was a lethal creation, and with special coating on their blades it was able to cut clean through the armour plating the Grimm had.
But… I've never heard of this stuff.
Well… it's because things changed.
Merlot turned when he saw one of his students approach him, a young man with dark hair and a growing moustache. "Professor… we've got a situation." He softly said to him.
"What kind of situation, Watts?" Merlot inquired curiously.
"A team of Huntsmen have been returned back to Beacon Academy; my Uncle has been treating them. They're saying that the Devil's Saliva did nothing against the Grimm. That something has changed." Watts explained with fear in his voice, Archer looked at Arthur Watts, the man who would one day join Salem.
"What? How the hell is that even possible?" Merlot questioned with widened eyes as he stood up, and Watts stammered, his hands were shaking, and he walked towards him. "Arthur, speak to me. Do you mean to tell me that the Grimm have evolved to specifically combat the Serum we've been producing?" He questioned, and Watts looked more and more nervous.
"I… I don't know." He replied, and Merlot looked around and he sighed. He turned to the many workers who were inside of his labs.
"Everyone, halt production! A complication has arisen, I must see Victor." Merlot said, turning to Arthur. He nodded and he took him to the very Hospital that Vale was currently treating the people afflicted by the Horridus Morbus Pathogen. They entered and walked past the many beds, some people were healing from Grimm wounds out there, whilst some others were completely random. Pregnancy, disease, cancer and countless other problems.
Arthur Watts guided Merlot towards where his Uncle was working, and he pushed the door open, and saw that he had the very Huntsmen and Huntresses that told him about this new revelation. Merlot's eyes widened with disbelief when he saw the wounds, extremely deep and cut clean through. There was so much blood… and their weapons were coated in the Devil's Saliva. He ordered they applied a first coat out of a protective chemical, which kept the actual weapons safe.
And judging by how little was left on their blades? They had no effect on the Grimm they attacked. "Is this true?" Merlot questioned, Victor Watts turned and looked at Archer who stood there, his dark amber eyes with worry in them.
"Straight to the point I see." Victor sighed as he looked at Merlot, but he immediately went to the resting Huntsmen and Huntresses. They were chewed up in places, the woman lost her foot, gnawed off by the Grimm that attacked them all.
"What did they say happened?" Merlot asked.
"Exactly what my Nephew told you. They used your chemical and it had no effect on the armour whatsoever, and they were ambushed. They didn't stand a chance." Victor explained, and Merlot looked at their wounds. He was not as versed in the Bestiaries of Grimm as the likes of Lionheart or Carmen, but he could tell what did this.
"Ursae and Beowulves, correct?" He asked and Victor nodded his head.
"Correct, but I fail to see the relevance." Victor replied to Archer.
"I do, because I specifically tested it on those Grimm. The armour did not stand a chance against the Chemical. Does Ozpin know about this?" Merlot asked him, and Victor nodded his head.
"He does… and to say that he is pissed is… well… and understatement." Victor explained, and Archer looked at their bodies then he turned to the window, seeing Beacon Tower nearby. He cracked his neck and walked towards the doors.
"Arthur, tell Donovan to cancel those orders for new supplies. There's no point in producing a product that is of no use anymore." Merlot commanded and Watts looked back at the Scientist who pushed the doors open. He walked on his own towards the Academy, and he immediately went to the tower, and the elevator shot upwards. He held his arms behind his back, looking out at the distance as he flew up into the sky. The elevator stopped at Ozpin's Office and he walked inside, hearing the sound of the creaking gears all around them.
And inside?
James Ironwood, Leonardo Lionheart and Theodore Gale, the three Headmasters of the other Academies, and sat at his chair, like always, was Ozpin. Ironwood had far less accolades to his name, and whilst he was a Headmaster, he was not a General yet. Lionheart was much younger too, with slicked back hair and a bristly beard he insisted on growing. Whilst Theodore was well kempt, like Ironwood was, unlike how rough he looked at the end of his life many years later.
Glynda was still training down in the academy as a Huntress. The three of them were the same age as Merlot, twenty-five – and Ozpin trusted them implicitly. But they were all still naïve but had Ozpin to look to when they were scared. If anyone could be trusted to teach them how to leave… a man who has lived for over two and half thousand years would be a good choice.
"When were you planning on consulting me on this, Oz?" Merlot questioned as he entered.
"Careful how you speak, Merlot." Ironwood warned, but Ozpin stood tall.
"Please, James. I trust Merlot, he has not let us down… but I do ask that you calm down, Archer." Ozpin requested.
"How the hell can the Grimm be adapting specifically to my Chemical Weapon? Evolution is possible in Grimm, I understand that… but this? In Four Years? That is not something I have ever heard of before." Merlot explained, and Ozpin looked at them all and he pushed his hands against the table as he stood up.
"Is this why you have called us all here, Ozpin?" Theodore asked with concern, crossing his arms.
"I must say I have been wondering this myself." Lionheart agreed as he walked around the room. It was odd for Kassius to imagine as Donovan told him this story, he only knew Lionheart when he became one of Salem's minions. The idea of him once being a competent Headmaster was just… weird.
Ozpin held his mug of coffee in his hand as he looked out at the Academy, with Ironwood's Dreadnaught floating nearby, but not as many as when he brought them to the Vytal Festival over thirty years later. He sighed and turned to them.
This was when the dear Professor decided it was time to inform the Headmasters… and his most trusted Scientist.
"What is your favourite fairy tale?" Ozpin asked.
And what a conversation that must have been, Salem, the Maidens, Magic… heh… how I would have loved to have been there. But of course, Ozpin never told the full truth, something that never seems to change with the man. He held back certain things, like the Knights of Grimm and Vir Nominis Umbra… and of course… the fact he himself was a Knight and could travel through time.
So, he never told them about the Shivering Dominion, and the Oncoming Shadow.
Something I think Merlot knew, it was hard to hide things from your father, and I think that he started to dig deeper to know the full truth.
Knowledge was always his gain – always.
After Ozpin told them all about Salem, the Maidens, Magic, the Relics and of course that the Grimm were controlled by Salem. Merlot put two and two together, since he was one of the smartest men in the room. "Salem… do you think she is the one responsible for the Grimm's new upgrades?" Merlot asked curiously, and Ozpin nodded his head.
"I'm certain of it, she has always been one step ahead. And I fear she may be catching up with us. The Winter Maiden's power is still missing, and I have begun tracking down the Fall Maiden. We must make sure that the Powers can go to people we trust it with, it is not a weapon we can risk falling into the wrong hands." Ozpin explained to them all, and Ironwood nodded his head,
"By the gods… why haven't you told anyone about this?" Ironwood questioned, hard to believe there was once a time where he wanted to tell everyone the truth.
"Panic. We cannot risk our Kingdoms and the many Settlements around the world being ruled by Negativity. The Grimm will attack, and Salem will divide us all, one by one. We must keep the people calm, that is paramount." Ozpin explained to them and Lionheart nodded his head.
"Yes, the last thing we need is to have the people start riots in the streets over this. It goes against everything we understand about the world, History and Religion." He explained.
"So… what is your plan?" Theodore asked them.
"The Vaults under the Academies." Ozpin explained. "As I informed you, the Four Relics are all secured underneath them all, constantly protected by trained warriors. Creation at Mistral, Knowledge is safely kept here at Beacon, Destruction in Atlas and Choice in Vacuo. We must keep the Relics safe from Salem at all costs. She is powerful but she is also not rash, we maintain constant recruits, we will always have an army protecting the Relics. Even if they do not know it."
"Gods… so what do we do then? How do we find a new weapon to use against them? I thought the Devil's Saliva was the first step." Merlot questioned, arms still behind his back.
"Indeed, our warriors became too accustomed to the Chemical, it had a major effect on their skill. We must make sure that their skills are sharpened before they join the Academies." Ironwood agreed as he paced around.
"Then we need to create new Academies. Combat Schools, ones that students can learn how to use and build their own weapons. Design their own fighting strategies unique to each other, that will make it harder for our enemies to predict their next move." Theodore suggested, but James did not seem to have the same idea.
"Is that the right idea? Without proper uniform and unity in combat styles it could render their teamwork to be useless. They would only understand their own individual combat styles." Ironwood explained to them.
"If they did not join our Academies that would indeed be the case. But first they must prove their skill, before being trusted with teammates." Ozpin stated, turning to them all, and Ironwood nodded his head as he paced around.
"Yes… that also saves us the resources in teaching them how to fight." Ironwood agreed. "But we will need to improve our other militaries, enhanced technology." They all looked at Merlot and he nodded his head.
"Leave it with me… I'll think of something." Merlot assured.
"Thank you – any resources we can possibly muster we will try and get them to you." Ozpin assured.
"I will not give up on the Devil's Saliva though, I still need test subjects." He said, and Ozpin nodded.
"Worry not, Merlot. Any Grimm we can capture will be sent to your new facility." Ozpin assured.
"New facility?" He asked.
"Correct – at Mountain Glenn, our newest expansion project. We do not want to risk keeping all of our fruit in one basket." Ozpin stated and Merlot nodded his head in agreement.
"But I want you all to answer me one very simple question… now that you know what the real enemy is… tell me." Ozpin said, turning to them all.
"What are you prepared to sacrifice?"
And thus… Merlot's obsession started to hit a fever pitch…
Two Years Later
Merlot continued to experiment, and he was not the only one. Both Arthur Watts and I started to work our way up and we eventually became his right-hand scientists, coming up with other ideas to help combat the Grimm.
Watts was highly intrigued with robotics and was the one who invented the Atlesian Knights and Paladins, whereas I was more fascinated in Aura. I started to design a new Aura Transference Device, where if we needed to, we could try and take the Maiden's Power and give it to someone else.
Of course… Ironwood did not trust me, and Watts… well… what he helped Merlot with caused him to be banished and he was taken in by Salem.
Also, thanks to Ozpin and Ironwood.
But Merlot continued to explore the possibilities with Genetic and Biological Science. Especially with his Magical Serum he worked on.
The Creeps inside of their containers roared with rage, constantly being pumped with different iterations of the Devil's Saliva. But no matter what he did, the armour plating never degraded. Whatever it was that Salem did to them, his Chemical Formula had no effect. Their armour was totally untouched, but he never relented, constantly using different ones on them.
Until one of them… had a totally different effect that he was not expecting whatsoever.
The Creep… was calm.
It looked at him like a dog would look at its owner, and Merlot furrowed his brow with confusion. "What the hell?" He mumbled, he lifted his hand and pressed it against the tough glass that had Merlot Industries written on it. But as he held his hand against the cage, the Creep stared at his hand, and he slowly moved it. The Creep was transfixed on him, specifically on his hand but there was no aggression whatsoever. He then pointed at the corner and it followed his guidance.
Merlot gasped… and realised he somehow managed to create some kind of… hypnotic drug on the Grimm.
His obsession over the Serum only grew from there, and he started to pump his funds into this project, because in the beginning he believed that he found a way to stop Grimm attacks in general.
But of course… the truth of Salem? That simply made him understand that she was always going to make more Grimm, meaning that stopping ones already out there was not a good plan.
But… what if he could turn them into weapons against Salem?
As the months passed, and he continued his experiments on the Captured Grimm, the serum took on a new form… a glowing green substance that started to mutate the bodies of the Grimm that were injected with it. Beowulves were much larger and so were the Creeps, and they had an explosive death whenever they were put down. An after effect he was not expecting, not one bit actually.
Merlot watched from his base up in Mountain Glenn, and the Grimm he modified were obeying his every command.
He successfully created the first ever Grimm to fully follow orders seven years after he joined Ozpin.
But it was six years later where things really began to change.
Six Years Later
Merlot read through the different reports that were coming through, whilst Watts and Donovan were both working in their projects. Merlot glanced at Donovan, noticing how he was testing on some rats – he understood the logic behind animal testing, since Human testing was illegal… but Donovan struck Merlot as the kind of child that pulled apart butterflies as a boy.
He read through the different things.
The White Fang riots continue to escalate
Mountain Glenn citizens enjoy the fifth-year anniversary of their city's construction
Grimm activity increases in Vale
Merlot Industries opens its first Factory and Facility in Mistral
It was not long before Merlot became bored of the different topics that were coming up, and he just continued with his work. But as he went through his files, he turned and saw the door open up, and Glynda walked through. She was drop-dead gorgeous when she was younger, which was not hard to believe judging by how pretty she was even at her current age. She has the same hair and had glasses too, with her Crop always in hand. "Doctor Merlot?" Glynda greeted.
"Ah, Goodwitch. It's been a while, how are you feeling?" Merlot asked her, she chuckled as she approached him.
"Better, I must admit it was a shock when Ozpin finally told me about what… is really happening." Glynda sighed, which meant that he told her about Salem, and the very things he told them fifteen years prior.
"Yep, that's one hell of a can of worms, huh?" Merlot chuckled as he worked hard, and he turned, noticing that Glynda clearly came here for a reason. "You never have been one for social calls though… so… what's up?" He asked her, and Glynda chuckled.
"Never could get anything past you, huh?" She asked.
Merlot did not say it, but it was in his mind. No… but I know that Ozpin has not told us the full truth… how can one person possibly control the Grimm?
"Ozpin asked me to inform you of a mission he wanted you to go on, away from the labs. Because you need to oversee the construction of a new one being built over the coming months." Glynda explained, and Merlot raised a brow.
"Strange, I never bought land for a new Lab." Merlot commented, folding his arms.
"That is because Ozpin was the one who set it up, he did not tell me the full thing, but he said you need to be working there for the next few months." Glynda shrugged her shoulders.
"Okay then, where is it?" Merlot asked.
"Vytal." Glynda answered, and Merlot's eyes widened.
"I… assume that a Huntsman is coming with me, right? Grimm attacks have been delaying the construction of the settlement and Academy there for the past fifteen years." Merlot explained, but as he stood there, someone walked around the corner.
"Huntress." She corrected, and Merlot's eyes widened again, and he turned around, and saw who it was. It was Carmen Locke – and she somehow didn't age a day from when they first met. The only different was that she… matured into her looks more, somehow. He gazed at her but snapped himself out of it.
"Hey, Carmen." He greeted.
"It's been a while." She said with a smile, and he chuckled.
"Yeah… it has." Carmen agreed – it was very clear that there was a lot binding this two together. Over the fifteen years they had been on and off from time to time, but Merlot and Carmen's different lines of work always broke them apart… but then whenever they came back together… that spark reignited over and over. And as they looked at each other, it was very clear that nothing changed.
Of course your father couldn't resist her, they couldn't resist each other, so they both went there, and he left both Watts and I in charge of Merlot Industries whilst he oversaw the construction of the new Lab at Vytal and the settlement that was being made there.
But… the Grimm attacks were frequent, and they were not just small Grimm. Marine Grimm emerged from time to time and killed quite a few people.
I heard about the attacks, Donovan… and trust me… I know how bad they were.
Ah yes, the attack that nearly killed you, when you and your sister were divided. Then I'm sure this will be quite the touching tale.
Merlot stood amongst the destruction from a recent attack, where the disintegrating corpse of a Lesser Leviathan faded away, massive pillars of smoke rose high into the sky. A tired Carmen approached Merlot and they stood side-by-side, looking at some of the people who died during the battle. The Grimm were finally retreating from the scene of the battle. And they looked at each other.
That night, they shared the bed once more, loving each other passionately. But it was that night were things changed forever.
As Merlot laid in the bed, still naked with Carmen laid on his bare chest. He gently moved her arms off his body, and he sat forward, rubbing his face as he sat there. He took his pants, trousers and his shirt and put them all on. He wandered through the Construction Zone where Atlesian Knights were stood at the ready, the old model that were used on the train that Blake and Adam robbed years ago. Glowing red visors, and powerful guns – quite frightening to look at in fact.
"Halt." The Machine ordered, but Merlot showed it his badge and walked past it, and he approached the Communication Tower that had not been completed.
"What the hell did Ozpin want me here for?" He whispered to himself, and he looked around, before he started to explore the scaffolding. He carefully avoided the damage areas, until he found an area that was locked off by a security gate.
The very one that lead to the Map Room that Kassius and his team found on their journey here to Arkhonex. Kassius knew at that moment when Donovan was talking about, and he found his way through the underground Ruins, to find the Map Room.
To find…
… Jinn. The Fragment of the Goddess of Knowledge.
Merlot approached the huge circular room, where the many Visionary Books were placed with powerful beams of blue light met at the top, where the map of Remnant, showing where those tunnels connected. The ones that Argus and Queen's Cove were connected to; his eyes widened as he saw this ancient place.
It was here that Merlot's curiosity was focused on something more – the place we're at now. The Lost City of Arkhonex.
Merlot approached the Visionary Book in the centre of the room, and he placed his hand upon it, and Donovan told Kassius what Merlot asked the Fragment.
Merlot did not have much time before Carmen would wake up and get suspicious, so he only had time for one question. So he asked her – "What is Professor Ozpin hiding from me?"
And she told him… she told him everything.
She told him about Vir Nominis Umbra, about the Knights of Grimm, about Ozpin's true identity and what he was, the Oncoming Shadow and the Shivering Dominion… but also… that there was a way to stop the real enemy.
But she did not tell him what, only that it was possible to kill him.
He returned back to Carmen after Jinn told him the truth… but he could not sleep through the rest of the night – but it was the start… and the moment that our common foe knew that Merlot was onto him.
And thus… it all began.
A few weeks after Merlot and Carmen slept together, Archer told her that he had to return back to his labs… but this time they stayed in contact. Archer flew back home to Mountain Glenn and he entered his lab during the night. He walked into his office and he sat down, burying his head in his hands.
"The Great Archer Merlot…" Vir Nominis Umbra greeted, Merlot gasped and swiftly grabbed his pistol and aimed it at the shaven headed man that stood in the shadows. He walked out with his hands held together, that sinister smirk ever present on his face. "… we meet at last."
"Who the hell are you?" Merlot growled.
"Oh please, you know who I am." Vir Nominis Umbra said as he emerged. "Jinn told you all of it, about Ozpin, the Knights, Arkhonex… and of course… yours truly." He said as he bowed charismatically towards Merlot. The Doctor kept his pistol trained on the entity, but deep down he knew he was not lying… so he took the shot. And it went straight through him, and merely causes his body to shimmer like a hologram. He smirked as he stood tall once again. "Believe me now, darling?" He asked.
"I… I wasn't imagining it?" He stammered.
"Oh no… whilst Salem is most certainly a threat, she is not the one behind this little campaign of mine." Vir Nominis Umbra told him.
"Why are you telling me this?" He questioned; Vir Nominis Umbra smirked as he stood before him.
"Well, you are now on my radar… which means that… well… this could go one of two ways." Vir Nominis Umbra explained as he stood there. "First one? I could kill you right here right now, but that would be boring. Second? I can grant you whatever you wish for, do you want power? I can promise you that you will gain it. Want to live forever? I can assure you it will happen… charm all womankind? Well… it wouldn't be the first time." Vir Nominis Umbra chortled.
"Why? Why the hell would you help me?" Merlot questioned.
"Hmm… well I expect payment. Everything has a cost, and you know how it will end for you. But who knows… maybe you can kill me before you have to fulfil your end of the contract?" Vir Nominis Umbra explained.
"Why should I trust you? That… woman… she told me you were the one responsible for what happened to the people that came before us! Why should I trust a monster that would do such a terrible thing?" He questioned.
Vir Nominis Umbra smirked. "I may be one of the few people in the world you can trust my word on – because I am many things, but a liar is not one of them. Just remember to read the small print my friend… anything can happen if you do not." Vir Nominis Umbra assured as he walked around him. "Of course… I could just kill you now." He extended a blade from thin air, ready to cut him down if he wished.
Merlot stood there and he closed his eyes.
To rise above monsters… we must abandon our humanity.
Our love… the very thing that makes us good. And in abandoning our humanity, we become dead men walking.
We must fight fire with fire…
Even then, he was planning to use this chance to try and find a way to kill Vir Nominis Umbra, Jinn said that there was a way, and that he was the one that could find it. He sighed, and stared at Vir Nominis Umbra, and he extended his hand.
As much as he did not want to do it…
… but that was when he made the deal.
The deal that caused Hyde to become bound to Kassius.
A few months later
Merlot was still thinking about the deal he made with Vir Nominis Umbra, and what was it that Merlot made a contract for?
It was Knowledge.
But he was lacking a lot of sleep, and had bags underneath his dark amber eyes, exhausted from the nightmares and stress of his talk with Vir Nominis Umbra. But he was not even looking at the number of messages he got from Carmen over the past few weeks recently.
Please just call me back!
ARCHER!
Archer… it's serious… please just pick up the damn Scroll!
Merlot sat there still, and he turned to see Donovan still working on his devices, and he saw Watts approach him. He had grown his recognisable moustache at this point and was looking more and more like the Arthur Watts that they fought against in the past. "Merlot?" Watts began, and the Doctor groaned as he rubbed his sleepy eyes. His hair was going grey from stress alone.
"Yes?" Merlot asked.
"Ironwood is here, in regard to the Cybernetics Programme I pitched to him… he… didn't look happy." Watts said with a scoff, his arms behind his back.
"Of course." Merlot groaned as he stood up, he turned and saw Ironwood walking inside. He was now recognised as a General and had more medals from the Atlesian Government for his many great achievements. Ironwood extended his arm to Merlot and he shook his hand – his body was not cybernetically augmented yet.
"Hey, Archer. You alright? You look exhausted." Ironwood commented, Merlot nodded his head.
"Yeah, just having some problems with Insomnia, you know how it is." He lied, but Ironwood fell for it completely.
"I do." Ironwood agreed.
"So, what can I help you with? Arthur told me it has something to do with the Cybernetics Programme?" Merlot asked him with curiosity and Ironwood nodded his head in agreement as he stood there.
"Yes, I do believe this programme has potential… but we cannot risk human trials, not yet. It is too dangerous and is illegal right now. If you can test these things on other things, like animals, then I can think about okaying the possibility." Ironwood explained as he crossed his arms.
"We have, James." Merlot told him, glancing to the dogs that lost their legs in the past and they managed to make some cybernetic enhancements.
Ironwood looked at the animals as they sat in their cages and he sighed through his nose, looking at Watts and Donovan. Merlot was not blind, and he knew about Ironwood's problems with his Paranoia. And he knew that Ironwood did not trust either of them… and he was right to not trust them. "Tell me, your reports have not been very descriptive of how you attached these limbs to these animals. Was it painless?" Ironwood asked.
"We made sure they were asleep, so they did not feel it." Watts assured.
"Yes, but the main question is simple. People will want to be able to detach the arms when in a situation where the arm is not necessary. Like sleeping for example, or if there is a glitch." Ironwood explained.
"There will not be glitches." Watts promised, but Ironwood scoffed.
"Bold claims, Doctor Watts." James told him, looking back at the unusually quiet Archer Merlot. "The thing is, I have already got many people looking into your projects, and I am afraid that they worry about the morality of your projects, Arthur. Investors will not want to invest in someone who does not give reliable answers to their questions." Ironwood explained, and Watts glared at him.
"What is it you're saying, Ironwood?" He questioned.
He looked at the cages where his Grimm were still being held, something else that Ozpin and the Inner Circle did not agree with. Their experiments… were getting more brutal… more horrifying.
Ironwood did not say it, but Merlot was working faster – far more desperately. "I'm saying that unless you can assure me that your cybernetics programme will be safe to test on live human subjects, I cannot fund it any further." Ironwood told him, he walked away but before he left, he looked back at Merlot. "You haven't been by the Academy in a while. There's a new team there now, Team S.T.R.Q – they have a lot of potential you know?" Ironwood mentioned, but Merlot did not say anything.
Ironwood sighed and he walked away.
Ironwood (A few hours later)
The Airship that flew from Mountain Glenn arrived back at Beacon Academy and Ironwood exited the vessel and approached Ozpin, where he was observing the very team he mentioned. Qrow fought against Summer whilst Raven fought against Taiyang, of course he had them pit against the people that they were closest with. Ironwood stood beside Ozpin, and he glanced at the Headmaster.
"How did it go?" Ozpin inquired.
"Not well… Merlot is not looking good. He looks like he hasn't slept in weeks – but those two scientists? Watts and Gele? Their reports have too many holes, and that cannot be a good thing… even Merlot is not telling us things anymore. There are so many transactions being made in that company for projects he fails to deign information on." Ironwood explained as he reached into his internal pocket and pulled a flask out, taking a sip.
"I see." Ozpin agreed. "I… I think these four could become the next group we bring into the fold."
"Team S.T.R.Q? Why? Yes, they're exceptional, but… why them?" Ironwood inquired.
"Summer Rose… her eyes… she has Silver Eyes." He said as he looked at her. "I know an old man in the Mistraalian Mountains. He could help her unlock her powers I told you about, but we cannot just have her go to him. We must give all four their personal abilities – the Branwen Twins unlocked their Spirit Animals early, which means they could help us spy on Salem. And Taiyang? He's a skilled warrior and very good at gathering information."
"I guess so… but what would you have him spy on?" Ironwood asked, and Ironwood sighed.
"Merlot…" Ozpin answered.
"Archer? Why? He's on our side." Ironwood said.
"I know, but he is not talking to us. Something is exhausting him, effecting his mental health. If he loses his mind because of whatever is eating away at him? We cannot trust him." Ozpin explained as he rested both his hands atop the head of his cane.
"I see…"
"Tell me… how much was he spending on these projects?" Ozpin asked Ironwood.
"Huge amounts of Company Lien. It even had a Project Title." He said, and Ozpin raised a brow.
"What was it called?" He inquired.
"Project: Valerian Knight." Ironwood answered, the very name of it gave Ozpin cause to worry about it. Merlot back in the early days was not someone to keep quiet about a project he was excited about… so that begged the question… who was he buying so much expensive stuff from?
"The only times I have spoken to him in the past few months has been via hologram… something is wrong." Ozpin said with a sigh.
As the two of them watched Team S.T.R.Q spar together, battling in the Courtyard with great speed, Ironwood turned when he felt the vibration of his scroll. He reached into his pocket and pulled it out… and he was not expecting it to be Merlot calling him. He lifted it up to his ear and looked at Ozpin who was listening. "Archer? How are you feeling?" He asked him, immediately concerned for his health.
"You asked us to ensure if the cybernetics were safe to give to people?" Merlot asked him, Ironwood furrowed his brows with confusion.
"Yeah…" He softly agreed.
"Then don't worry yourself… I've tested it." Merlot assured, and he looked at Ozpin with worry in his eyes.
The two of them went to the Airship that was landed, Qrow stopped and looked at the two of them as they ran to the Airship. The Airship flew straight to Mountain Glenn and landed at Merlot Industries, the large tower that stood above all the others. The Airship landed on the landing pad outside of Merlot's office.
The two of them walked out and paced through the hallways. "Merlot? I know you work fast but I didn't expect you to have results this fast…" He stopped in his tracks, both of their eyes widened with total disbelief, because there was blood on the floor… and… Merlot moved the cybernetic digits of his new metal arm.
Alongside his eye… and his leg.
Watts stood beside him with a saw, smothered in blood, and the cybernetics had been fused to his body. Ironwood stared at Arthur with horror, he never expected that he would go that far. And Donovan seemed to have helped in the ordeal as well.
"What… have you done?" Ironwood gasped, staring at them.
"You wanted results? Well now you have them." Watts assured, and that sinister smirk of his returned.
Merlot (One Year After)
That was the event that got me put in prison until now, and Watts disappeared into hiding, and eventually ended up with Salem.
They got into Salem's head, desperately wanting to okay their projects… of which it did… but they made a man who was not thinking straight agree to their brutal plans. But after that? Merlot started to fall apart… and the transactions he was making?
It was with Jacques Schnee.
What? Why the hell would Merlot deal with Jacques back then? I get why he did it now, Jacques was funding his research… but then?
Jacques wanted cybernetics for his Miners, so they could work harder… but of course… Merlot wanted something else.
Wanted what?
Spoilers.
Merlot stood inside of the house that Carmen bought, she had left the business of being a Huntress when she became pregnant with twins after their night together in Vytal. She was still living there, helping in any way she could, but she had the two babies in her arms. Kassius and Cinder, both asleep in her arms. "I'm surprised you finally came by…" Carmen softly said as she stared at Archer, she stared at him… and he was a completely different man.
But as he stood there, she saw the shimmer.
He was a Hologram… he did not even come by.
Wait… you mean my father… never visited us in person? It was always a Hologram?
He was no longer trusted by Ozpin and his Inner Circle, and he continued his search for answers, to take down Vir Nominis Umbra. He knew he had to find Arkhonex, just as you have followed in his footsteps – but he still ran his business of course… until of course… Mountain Glenn happened.
Merlot stood there by the cot, his hand reached out as if to touch the spinning Baby Mobile above Kassius' cot. He sighed as he closed his eyes. "What did you name them?" Merlot asked.
"What do you care? You never came when I asked you to… you never stood by my side when I gave birth to them." Carmen explained, but the tired man just looked at her.
"What are their names?" He asked her again.
"My son is Kassius Locke… and my daughter is Sapphire Locke." She answered, staring at him. Merlot smiled as he heard their names.
"Strong names… I'm glad you did not curse them with my name." He said.
"You were never there to be a father to them." She growled. She was bitter towards him, but he was too tired to argue. The more she stared at him, the more he looked like a stranger. A glowing red cybernetic eye, a cybernetic arm and leg? This was not the man she fell in love with, not the man that she saved all those years ago…
"No… I wasn't… I don't deserve a child's love. Not for what I have become." He sadly said as he stood there, turning back to her.
Carmen shook her head. "What have you become? Tell me, Archer? What are you now?" She questioned, caressing both Kassius and Cinder in her arms. Merlot stared at his cybernetic arm, opening the metal hand up, and he chuckled.
"I don't know… but I know I did it for a reason." He said as he looked at her.
"Why? What could possibly be so important that you mutilate yourself?" Carmen questioned, he looked at her again.
"I did not do this to myself… a man I thought was my friend did. And Ironwood still profited off his work." Merlot explained as he walked around the room, shimmering with every step. Carmen looked down at baby Kassius and she gently cooed as he wiggled around in her arms, making sure he was calm.
"Shh… it's okay Kas… it's okay, mommy's here." She whispered, gently kissing his forehead. Merlot lowered his head sadly.
"I'm sorry… I just wanted to make sure you were okay." Merlot said to her as he walked away.
Carmen looked at him, and she left behind a few more words. "I loved you once… madly… but now? I don't even recognise you. The Archer I saved from his burning village? The one I was exhilarated to see every single time? He died long ago." She told him, and Merlot stopped, and he sighed.
"You're right." He said, before his hologram disappeared.
Ozpin sent Taiyang to investigate his facility at Mountain Glenn, to find out what it was that he was working on, to find out why he was never speaking to them in person anymore. That mission was the one that tore the team apart, the Branwens saw the evil that was coming, Summer learned how to use her powers which in the future would lead to her death via the Knight of Death. And Taiyang? Well… he found the Grimm he was controlling down there… and Project: Valerian Knight.
What was it?
The truth that banished Archer Merlot.
And destroyed Mountain Glenn.
Project: Valerian Knight
Ozpin stood in his Office with the Hologram of Doctor Archer Merlot stood before him, his hair had gone grey now, and he was looking exactly as he did now. But this was all still before Ruby was even born, and moments before the fall of Mountain Glenn. Ozpin scoffed as he sat at his table, staring at someone that was once an old friend. "You hide from me now? You don't dare face me in person? Nobody has seen you in person since you let Watts turn you into a monster." Ozpin said, but Merlot laughed, he was also seemingly just as crazy as he was when Ozpin had Teams R.W.B.Y and J.N.P.R go after him on his island before the Vytal Festival to stop him when he re-emerged.
"I have work to do, Ozpin – a mission to complete, and it is one I will see through. I am done letting the rules and regulations hold me down. The only way to save this world from the Grimm is to do it my way… the cruel way." Merlot explained, and Ozpin massaged his brow.
"Save the world? What part of you creating Creatures of Grimm with that serum saves the world? You are just making more weapons for Salem to use in the future!" Ozpin argued as he stared at him.
"For Salem?" Merlot asked Ozpin, the Professor paused and stared at him.
"Excuse me?" He inquired.
"Oh you know… I know who really is behind this, Ozpin. Jinn told me." Merlot finally revealed, which caused Ozpin's eyes to widen. What was most chilling to realise though was the fact that Ironwood, Theodore and Lionheart never knew the truth about Ozpin – they were all dead before they could know the full truth.
"When? How did you find out? What did she tell you?" He questioned.
"Everything… and I know what you are, as well. The irony, that you are telling us how to destroy Vir Nominis Umbra when you don't even know. You're just another puppet… but I am going to find the truth, even if it means turning myself into a monster. So you can send your brave little spies into my labs to try and make me fall on my knees, begging your forgiveness? But I am going to finish what I set out to do when I first joined up with you – and one day – it will all be worth it." Merlot assured as he stood before him, shimmering in his holographic form.
"I… I don't understand what you are talking about, Merlot… I am working to find a way to destroy him every day. But what you are doing? Taiyang searched every single crevice in that place at Mountain Glenn, and he showed me the footage. Those Grimm? Those are abominations!" Ozpin argued.
"The Grimm are the Dominant Species, the perfect species and highly versatile. Perfect for Genetic Modification, because they are broken inside. Echoes from a forgotten past… I simply learned how to take such a monster and control it." Merlot explained.
Merlot was sounding completely insane now, he was speaking utter craziness half the time.
"I saw… but that couldn't have been what Jacques Schnee gave you. What did he give you in return? You demanded it." Ozpin questioned with anger in his eyes, he was done with the games, he wanted answers.
"To defeat a monster, we must abandon our humanity." Merlot answered. "Your boy? He saw them, didn't he? My Valerian Knights? They are unfinished but one day they will be unstoppable against Huntsmen and Grimm. They will give us the time we need to find the way to kill him, once and for all. Sacrifices must be made though, for this reality to exist." Merlot explained.
Ozpin stared at him with confusion. "You once asked me: What are you prepared to sacrifice? Well… I finally have my answer for you… and the answer is: anything." He answered, staring at him.
"Archer – what did Jacques give you for Project: Valerian Knight?" He asked him one more time, then a file popped up on his scroll. He opened it up and he stared at the newspaper title that was on there.
It made him feel sick… because it was all Ozpin needed for an answer.
50 Faunus Workers in the Schnee Dust Company mines die in a mining accident, no body parts to bring back to the families.
Ozpin stared at him with horror. "You twisted son of a bitch…" Ozpin growled as he slowly stood up, and he pointed at him. "They never died, did they! You had them kidnapped and brought to you so then you could test on them! You ripped their bodies apart and used them to build your Valerian Knights! You turned them into Dead Men Walking!" Ozpin yelled with rage in his voice.
"I turned them into Post-Living Huntsmen. You're a Knight of Grimm, think of it as Necessary Sacrifice." Merlot responded with gritted teeth, but Ozpin snapped and slammed his fist into his table so hard it broke in two, and his eyes glowed green.
"YOU LIED TO ME!" He yelled with rage, utterly betrayed by the man he saw as a friend.
Merlot scoffed. "Perhaps I was, economical, with the truth, yes. But who are you to judge me for keeping my secrets from you, Ozpin? You lied through your teeth at all of us, about who the real enemy is. But you are not willing to make a deal with the devil in the hopes of destroying him." Merlot explained, and Ozpin's eyes widened.
"Vir Nominis Umbra is coming, Oz. Soon. Tell me, truthfully – do you think we will defeat the Oncoming Shadow with ordinary Human and Faunus Huntsmen and Huntresses? This isn't a war ordinary people can win, it is our Extinction Event! And to fight against something that is evil, we must become evil to counter it." Merlot explained.
"To defeat Vir Nominis Umbra, we all must become Dead Men Walking!" Merlot yelled back at him, and Ozpin's horror were clear in his eyes.
The Machines that Teams R.W.B.Y and J.N.P.R fought on Merlot's Islands… they were people… transformed into mechanical Huntsman, that could not be hacked and could not be possessed.
They were monsters.
They were Dead Men Walking.
"And to rise above monsters, we must abandon our humanity. And I will do whatever it takes, become the worst villain known to man, if it will one day destroy Vir Nominis Umbra forever. Judge me however you want, erase me from the history books! It matters not… because I will sacrifice everything to stop him. Even innocents… if I must." He said, as he lifted up a detonator.
Ozpin's eyes widened with horror, and he pressed the red button, and a deafening explosion erupted from Mountain Glenn, and he saw the flash from there. "What have you done?" He questioned.
"If you are not going to help me Oz? Then stay out of my way." Merlot concluded, and his Hologram disappeared, and Ozpin turned as he heard the sirens… and the Grimm came flooding into Mountain Glenn.
Killing everyone inside.
Every.
Last.
One.
Kassius (Modern Day)
Kassius' eyes were wide, as Donovan concluded his tale about how Merlot lost his mind, and how Ozpin and the rest of the Inner Circle Banished him.
"The Truth… tore him apart." Donovan told Kassius as he stood behind his bullet-proof glass. Velvet looked at Kassius, and she gently touched his shoulder.
It all made sense now…
Merlot made the deal with Vir Nominis Umbra to gain knowledge, but he too was using that gift to find the knowledge to kill Vir Nominis Umbra. And clearly, he must have found it twenty-five years later. He abandoned his family, turned on everyone he cared about, even made himself go insane and become a monster and committed unforgivable acts… to gain the enemy's trust in him.
And up until now… it worked…
And yet despite his madness, he still agreed to help Ortega get his baby girl back – perhaps there was still a part of him that was good.
But this? Kassius never expected this…
Kassius stared up at Donovan, and he clenched his cybernetic hand into a fist, the very design that accelerated his father's downfall into insanity. One that he helped cause with Watts. "Arthur Watts may have been the one to cut off his arm… but you were there too." Kassius growled, drawing Lash Equinox. "You're the last piece of the puzzle, and I will make sure you suffer the same fate for what you did to him." Kassius growled, and Donovan grinned.
"Oh no… I'm afraid that this – Son of Archer Merlot – is where your story ends. Behold – The Fruits of Archer's Labour!" Donovan roared, his arms held out, Velvet and Kassius looked around whilst Coco desperately tried to break free.
The remaining Valerian Knights dropped down from the ceiling, with powerful Grenade Launchers and Spears in their hands. But they were not the only ones, because Merlot's Mutated Grimm emerged from their pods as well, roaring.
And with Coco restrained?
Kassius and Velvet were it – they were the only ones who could fight Donovan's monsters.
Kassius glared straight at Donovan who glared right back with that sadistic smile on his face.
But as Kassius stood there… he remembered.
Wait… not two of us…
Three of us…
Hyde chuckled in the back of his mind, Velvet and Kassius stood back to back as the monsters surrounded them.
"You ready, Velvet?" Kassius asked her.
"More than ready." She agreed, and the Grimm snarled. Kassius stared at Donovan again, and he had one more thing to promise him.
"You're gonna die screaming, Donnie. I promise you."
Author Note - The truth of Doctor Archer Merlot
Man... this was a damn hard one to write! Mainly because of trying to order it all correctly and have it make sense, I think I did a good job though, since I really enjoyed showing how Merlot met, befriended and became enemies with Ozpin. We also got some extra backstory for quite a few characters here too, we got to see Watts again and Donovan's past here. We also got to see the Headmasters again! That was really weird to write Ironwood' name after he got blown up in Act 3, and really weird to write Lionheart's name again XD
I had to read through so many moments in the series to try and get it right continuity wise too, which was actually quite cool to go back and see the stuff which I set in place.
The thing is, yes Merlot is finally able to give something back, to finally play a part that could (hopefully) end in Vir Nominis Umbra's death and saving the Universe and countless more universes... but was it worth it? Does it forgive his past crimes?
Since Merlot has been a character that got the backseat in terms of backstory, this was a joy to finally write. I hope you enjoyed this chapter! My favourite thing was connecting things together, how he created the Serum and how meeting Vir Nominis Umbra lead to him creating the Valerian Knights, and when he snapped and went full villain mode and caused the fall of Mountain Glenn.
Then of course he vanished, and then the events of Grimm Eclipse take place when he returns.
I hope you all enjoyed this beefy Backstory Chapter! Hopefully they can kill Donovan next chapter, huh? Bastard needs to go.
Please review, favourite and follow!
Stay tuned for the next chapter!
- Matt