Today should've been a normal day for Caleb. He was coming back from Shade Academy to play some games with his friends near an old abandoned mining outpost. While it was a little unsafe given how Grimm tend to spawn in such areas the boys had faith that they would be able to take them. After all they were training to become Huntsmen. What should they fear?
However it was evident pretty soon that something wrong was afoot. One of the boys got lost and Caleb and the others thought he was in the mining outpost so they went inside to find the boy. What they didn't know was that a Grimm beast never seen before had killed the boy and hid his corpse.
As they called out his name panic began to set in the boys' minds as they worried about their missing comrade. This gave the Grimm ample chance to hunt the boys. Singling out one of them the Grimm extended its arm into 4 tentacles with spikes on it and impaled one of the boys taking the child into the darkness of the outpost screaming in terror.
As the child looked up in Horror at the beast which attacked him, he found a sight worth of the worst monsters told in fairytales. The beast was grotesque, huge and its head was tilted unnaturally to the side. One of its hands was flattened into a massive hammer which the best brought down on the boy's head killing him too.
The remaining boys hearing the child's scream of terror started running in fear for their lives. But the beast wasn't finished yet, it wanted more. So it hulked out of its hiding spot and on the soft ground with its other hand struck into the sand. A spike came up that sent another one of the boys flying back towards the beast. The boy in terror tried to run back but the beast was too close. Swinging with its mace hand it knocked the boy out.
Caleb was running he managed to grab his weapon a lever action sniper which turned into a Glaive. Taking aim at the beast's head Caleb shot.
The shot knocked the beast back slightly and left a hole in its head. Enraged the beast let out an enraged roar. It shook Caleb to his core and he started running again. But this time he had a plan. He noticed that there was a small portion of sand that was about to give way in front of him. Hoping to attract the beast he let out more mournful cries.
Sensing fear the beast rushed blindly hoping to secure a quick kill. But its greed made it unaware to the quicksand below it and as it stepped on it felt itself falling further and further until the beast was covered in sand and was stuck leaving out only its twisted head.
Caleb meanwhile had already run to his village and called his father, a decorated huntsman who had brought out his Shotgun hearing his son's distress. After finding the beast with his son's help, Caleb's father shot it point blank in the head 5 times confirming its death. After its death, Caleb broke down in tears over the loss of his closest friends with his father consoling him.
In Vale
"Caleb's horror story was the first of many" explained Reginald "In the last few months while we were stopping Aquamarine in Vale, such cases have been on the rise in Vacuo."
"The Grimm seem to be evolving unnatural abilities. It's unlikely that they evolved so quickly as just before all Grimm cases were of standard Grimm. So many new cases in such a short period of time are impossible without human interference." Gregorius put forward.
"Dr. Watts might be able to help us with identifying the new abilities of the Grimm and assisting us with strategies to overcome them." Suggested Diana
"We need to be wary however, Gregorius has told us about some of Watts's worst experiments and how some of them at the cost of great tragedy advanced science. We should put him on a tight leash." Warned Nathan
"We'll start by talking to the locals about common places where the Grimm spawn. After that we'll try to capture one of these Grimm and see what Watts can tell us about these beasts. Once that step is finished we find the human interference and take it out." Finalized Verdona
"Well, it seems you all have already organized your plans" commented Ozpin.
"It's best to have basic ideas and a plan at the very least. Otherwise we might have no direction and may struggle with achieving our objectives." Gregorius responded
"Always the straight shot Greg." Said Nathan
"It saved my life before, can't think of a reason why it can do the same for you all" Gregorius said with a smile.
Gregorius had gotten a lot better at knowing when to be a little less serious and more whimsical.
"So, if all is settled I suggest you head to the armory since Vacuo's Grimm are a little more hardier so let me know if you need some assistance with forging new attachments or with new plates of metal or alloys." Said Reginald while going to the armory to forge an alloy to plate his blade
In the Armory, there was a huge blast furnace and with plenty of metals and tools there was plenty to keep a decent forger busy.
The entire team had given Reginald notes and their weapons. It was a lot of work but there was time. As Reginald pondered over what caused the new occurrences. Dust? Semblance usage? All options were possible. As he got to work over the team's weapons he decided to ponder over the topic later and focus on the weapons currently.
Meanwhile in the main room Diana was reading the reports of the Grimm activities trying to find out more on the topic. Nathan and Verdona were out in the city together going shopping for clothes and supplies. Gregorius was working out in the gym and was planning on going to the armory to check on Reginald and make sure he wasn't slacking.
After a few hours, Diana had met up with Nathan and Verdona in the city and chose to go to a café to enjoy some coffee and discuss more about the happenings in Vacuo.
When she met the 2 of them in the café she found them discussing something earnestly before stopping their conversation to talk with Diana. Ever since they started dating a month ago they had been a lot more collaborative with each other. It brought them closer and brought on some teasing from the team all in good fun obviously.
"How's it like in Vacou?" asked Diana
"It's more based around Nature and also there's not much modern development and it's quite lawless." Said Verdona
"Seems quite comfy" Nathan said in sarcasm
"It is if you get used to it." Verdona said
"What do you think happened in Vacuo?" asked Diana
"My guess a rogue experiment by one of the other kingdoms. After all Science isn't really the strong suit of many people in Vacuo. It could also be a dust accident caused by accidental mining." Replied Verdona
"That's troubling to hear." Said Nathan
"It is, Vacuo's always had a troubled history, first the mining exploitation and now these Grimm problems. The people have been calling the land cursed as a result. I just hope my family is still fine." Said Verdona in worry
"If your family's members are even half the fighter you are I am sure they're thriving" said Nathan trying to cheer her up
"Thanks Nathan" said Verdona feeling better
"You too really were made for each other. It's only been a month and you too are as close as family." Commented Diana
"The same could be said for you. After all nothing's changing the fact that you still are one of my closest friends." Said Verdona.
The words made Diana feel happy as she felt that she found someone she could whole heartedly trust without fear of that person using her like a tool.
And that was better than any mission she could complete.