"Do you believe in destiny?" Were her last words before the obsidian arrow pierced her chest. Weak gasps rose from her as she instinctively attempted to draw breath fruitlessly. Her strength drifting her struggle for air subsided as her head dropped. Darkness encapsulated her as she felt her world vanish. All sense of self was gone as she felt her soul cut lose from the mortal coil. Robbed of anything tangible she felt her conciseness drift, she had no senses, no eyes, no ears. However, she could feel and see things unimaginable, more vividly than she had ever had in life. Her whole existence felt like an open wound exposed to the air for the first time. Blinding lights, deafening whispers from countless sources. It was all too overwhelming for her to process. Suddenly she was aware of motion as she witnessed shapes and lights flash past her, though she could not tell if they were moving or herself. The shapes and lights soon filled her vision, blinding her of anything else but their existence.
"I do." A voice spoke, causing Pyrrha to become aware of her new surroundings. She had form once more, her body that she had cast off moments ago was restored. She stood in a void of space filled only with stars and an immense pool of calm water. So unearthly still it reflected the void in its entirety. Though the pool of water was only several centimeters deep it felt as bottomless as an abyss. The thought of a single wrong step could send her sinking forever filled her with dread. Her eyes only rose from the endless reflection when the voice spoke once more. "But what is destiny?"
"What?" Pyrrha asked before a figure robed in cloth appearing to be cut from the void itself rose from the pool. Pyrrha's eyes followed its rise until she found herself staring up at the figure looming over her. Easily twice her stature, the figure stepped forward. She took only a single step away, but it was enough to cause the giant to pause.
"Do not be afraid." It spoke in a soft tone, as if trying to comfort and reassure the confused girl.
"Who… what are you?" Pyrrha asked as she composed and steadied herself.
"I have many names, none of which you would ever have heard." It answered as it held one of its large hands out towards Pyrrha. It's body, just like its cloak, mirrored the void. Pin pricks of star light laid speckled across its black form. "For simplicity you can call me the god of death."
"The god of death?" Her tone and expression filled with fear as she felt her body stiffen. She had reasoned she had died, but to be confronted by an entity claiming to be a god of death was unexpected. And the idea of conversing with a god brought her a new sense of dread. "Why… Why are you." She began, not even sure what she was going to ask. All she knew was that she had questions, so many questions.
"As I said before, I believe in destiny, fate, whatever you wish to call it." He began to explain as he noticed Pyrrha struggle to find the proper question. "And I'm not particularly fond of how fate has been playing out." It stated as it began to move closer to Pyrrha once more. "I blame the others claiming to be gods of this. They broke your world and damned humanity and justified it because you were their creations, their playthings." Pyrrha stood her mouth a gap. She couldn't begin to understand what was being told to her, she could only understand that this was a god and there were others. "So, I have decided to break fate and reform it in a more suitable direction." The god of Death continued as it finally stood before Pyrrha, its full form towering over her. "I will need messengers and warriors to carry this out. For I fear if I directly intercede my actions could be just as devastating as the actions of the others." Pyrrha watched as the god placed a hand upon her shoulder. She had to stop herself from flinching at first but was surprised to find his hand was gentle and warm, despite his appearance.
"Wh… What do you want from me?" Pyrrha asked as she looked up at the gods featureless face. Though it was devoid of familiar visual cues, she could tell it was looking at her with pity and concern. It was though he did not want to be asking anything of her, and regretted this conversation was even taking place.
"Your fate was cut short do to no small part of the others interference in your lives. I'm offering you a chance at a renewed life, in service of protecting humanity and setting things right." He explained as his hand moved to caress her cheek. Pyrrha's eyes grew wide in amazement as she heard the offer being presented to her. A chance at returning to life, to see everyone again and help protect humanity. "Your body is gone, and I will not restore it. However, I have followers that can provide you a new one. It will not be as you remember and those you knew and loved will not know you. Think carefully and decide." Pyrrha's eyes drifted down as the joy of seeing her loved ones again was snatched away as suddenly as it was gifted. "I will not fault you if you do not wish to live that pain. I can send you on to your rest, you can be at peace." Pyrrha kept her head bowed as she contemplated the offer. Her eyes closed for a long moment before she raised her head, her eyes shining with determination as she looked up at the god.
#
Air rushed back into Pyrrha's lungs as she coughed up the last bit of fluid that had filled them. Her eyes stung under the modest lighting that filled the room. As though her new eyes had never before seen the brilliance of day. Her naked form laid sprawled upon a floor in a pool of similar liquid that had filled her very lungs. Her body ached and stung, her skin protesting the very air of the room she found herself in. Any attempt to move was met with frustration as her underdeveloped muscles refused to respond properly. She began to shiver as the warmth from the liquid covering her dissipated into the air around her.
"Careful now." She heard a muffled woman's voice speak before she felt her body being wrapped in what she could only assume was a sheet. "Let's get you up." The voice continued, still only sounding like a muffled distant whisper to her ears. She felt tender hands lift her from the floor to unsteady legs. It was only then she realized the excessive amounts of hair growing from her scalp. It was as though the body she found herself in had never had it cut. With her weakened state and the amounts of damp hair, she found herself bowing her head in compliance to gravity. "Up you go." The voice spoke again as she felt herself lifted on to a metal table. Her hair was softly brushed aside as the woman assisting her attempted to examine her face. As she struggled to lift her head to view the face of the woman she was blinded as a hand gently fell across her eyes. "Don't try and look at anything right now. Give your eyes time to properly adjust, you'll only give yourself a headache."
"How is she doing?" Another voice came, a man's voice this time. Pyrrha could hear footsteps approach followed by the sensation of someone looming over her.
"About as well as can be expected." The woman's voice came again as Pyrrha felt the hand drift from her face. Deciding to take the strangers advice, Pyrrha kept her eyes closed even as she turned her head to the man's voice. "Do you mind, give her some privacy." The woman's voice came again, much sharper and demanding then before. Pyrrha could hear and feel motion as the looming figure stumbled back. The sudden expulsion of breath and jerking motion from him told Pyrrha he had been shoved away, quite violently.
"Alright, jeez, it's not like I was trying to sneak a peek or something." The man's voice came again, more of a mumble then it was before. "I just wanted to see if she was okay." He stated with a defeated tone as Pyrrha heard his footsteps grow distant. An aggravated sigh drew pyrrha's attention back to the woman looking after her. A hand came to rest upon her shoulder, its barely existent weight causing her slight discomfort.
"Don't worry, I'll keep that idiot away from you till we get you up and running." Her guardian spoke again before helping her to lay down on the table. "Let's just give you a once over to make sure your all good."
#
Several Weeks Later
"This is horrible." Azul stated as she gripped her tekko's tighter. It couldn't have been any more than twenty-four hours since the village had been reduced to a smoldering ruin. Fires still burnt under the destroyed rubble that had once been homes. Battle damage pocked the landscape, as well as any buildings that remained standing. Azul paused as she noticed claw marks upon a building. Four long slash marks, deep enough to pierce to the interior of the building. The marks started at the edge of door frame and ran across the building till terminating at the second story. Still drying blood laid smeared along the trail the claws left, indicating a poor soul who stood in the door frame had met their end. Where the victim had fallen was evident by a pool of blood that stained the interior of the building as well as the doorstep. They had fled their home only to come face to face with their death.
"No bodies." Jacob commented as he came up behind Azul. Causing the young woman to jump nervously before reclaiming her calm. "Don't get jumpy now." He said before stroking his salt and pepper beard, a nervous habit he had that Azul had long ago taken notice of.
"Yeah." Azul replied, deciding not to draw attention to Jacob's own uneasiness. They were already in a dangerous situation and antagonizing each other wouldn't help.
"It's already ate, so it's likely bigger now." Jett said, a little louder than the rest would have preferred. Though his unrestrained voice caught the ire of Jacob and Azul, they couldn't deny his conclusion. There were no bodies, meaning it had eaten or was in the process of eating.
"This is a large village; it couldn't have finished eating all its people yet." Sean injected as he came up behind his team. "We need to find where its nesting and burn it out before grimm arrive. Were lucky this place isn't swarming with them already."
"That shouldn't be too hard." Jett replied as he gestured with prejudice, one of his revolvers, towards conjoining drag marks on the dirt road. Each trail a path of upturned earth wet with drying blood. Bodies had been dragged from every corner of the village to a single point, hidden just out of sight. Silence fell over the team as they pressed forward, following the grisly trail. The path was filled with more signs of carnage as claw marks dawned the sides of nearly every building. Bullet holes accompanied the marks, followed by broken and discarded weapons. The village had huntsmen, but they had no chance. They only knew how to deal with grimm and bandits. They were woefully unprepared for what fell upon their little, insignificant village. "Poor bastards." Jett muttered as he eyed a broken huntsman's weapon.
"Quiet." Sean said as they approached a building near the center of the village. It was much larger than the other buildings and almost completely intact. It was the villages community hall, from what Sean could determine. An uneasy silence fell over the team as they moved closer to the hall. The double doors at its front were ajar, one barely holding on to its hinges as though something immense had crashed against it. Before they even reached the doors the stench of blood struck them, causing them to freeze. It was then they heard it, the sounds of flesh tearing and bone cracking followed by a greedy audible gulp. Groaning and the sounds of a beast followed soon after. Deep breaths and snorting sounded before the sound of a wet thud echoed in the hall. Slow heavy footsteps on wood boards ill-suited for the immense weight could be heard moving towards the doorway. Their actions unified, each drew a fire dust grenade from their belts. Pins were pulled and leavers removed in fluid motion before the explosives were thrown. Windows smashed in as several flew through them well what remained tumbled through the front entrance. Only seconds past, but to those watching the doors it felt like eternity. And then eternity erupted in an explosion of burning heat as fire leapt from the doorway and windows. The intense dust fueled flames roared over the building consuming the second floor just as quickly as it did the first. In moments wood beams and supports gave way as the building began to crumble upon itself.
"Ha, you think we got it?" Jett asked, his tone carrying the joy of victory more than the rest were willing to accept, just yet.
"Finisher, this is team nevermore, we have encountered the target. Request you get air born and prepare to assist." Sean shouted into his earpiece, trying to raise his voice above the roar of the burning building. An inaudible reply came back followed by the sound of engines roaring to life in the distance.
"It's never that easy, is it?" Jett asked himself as he drew his other revolver, justice. Fire continued to consume the remnants of the building, the crackling fire only drowned out as more of the building collapsed in on itself. Flames swelled as timbers that had once been floor boards and supports exploded outward, a figure of giant stature launching itself from the pyre. Earth shattered and spattered as its large bulk impacted the ground before team nevermore. Its partially immolated body was still licked by flames, giving off a stench of burning flesh. It stood more than twice the size of a man with elongated and twisted limbs. Whatever skin remained across its flesh was quickly consumed by the flames, leaving only a form of muscle and sinew. Bone was laid bare in areas muscle was deemed unimportant. Its deformed skull was nearly devoid of flesh, save for areas that empowered its bite. Its skull was elongated, giving it the appearance of a wild beast, despite vestigial markings of humanity. "It's not as big as I thought it would be." Jett said before he opened fire.
"Please tell me you are close!" Sean inquired to the disembodied voice in his ear. Drawing a double-bladed dagger from his waist, he swiftly extended each end of the weapon until it was the length of a spear. As Jett's rounds found their mark the beast let out guttural roar that carried through the destroyed village and beyond. Pulling one of its arms back it swung it with the motion of a whip, it's palm cracking with devastating force where Jett had once stood. The force of the impact shattered earth and stone, as well as its own bone and flesh. It's hand, now a mangled lump of flesh, rose slowly before it once again lashed out. As the earth was splintered Jacob dived towards the rain of debris, his semblance activating as he did. Fragments of earth and stone flew towards him at unnatural trajectory as his semblance invoked its influence. Drawing his fist back to strike stone and earth accumulated across it, locking into place to form a heavy solid mass. Bone and sinew buckled as his fist drove into the side of the creature's knee. It's knee twisting to an unnatural position, causing the beast to fall to a groveling posture. Its mangled hand swung randomly and fruitlessly at its attackers before being drawn back. Inspecting the lump of flesh that had once been its hand, the creature let out a growling moan that appeared to be the first sign of pain it had shown. Bone began to crack and shift sickeningly as its hand began to reset itself. Muscle and sinew began to reknit, not in the same shape it had once had, but something more fitting for the damaged and lost bone and flesh. As well, its knee had begun to crack and shift as it's damaged joint reconfigured to a reversed position.
"I hate it when they do that!" Jett shouted as he began to fire rapidly into the beast's skull. "Just have the good sense to die already!" Bone cracked and shattered under the repeated gun fire, but despite missing half its cranium it persisted. Jett's aura flickered intensely as the creature lashed at him with its repaired hand, sending him spiraling into the side of a building. A cry of fury sounded through the battlefield as Azul lunged at the still kneeling monstrosity. Her Tekko's gripped tight enough to turn her knuckles white, she struck. The fist blow destroyed what remained of its right eye socket, the second dislocated its jaw, causing it to hang a gasp. The final blow struck down on the top of its skull, destroying what little remained of its human features. Blinded and senseless, the creature lashed out violently, knocking Azul several meters away in its madness. Pausing in its assault, the monster's head began to vibrate and twitch uncontrollably. Nerve fibers sprang forth from its destroyed cranium like spring saplings reaching for the sun. Spinning around each other the fibers soon tied themselves into a knotted mass. Pulsating and growing rapidly the mass of neurons focused as a bulbous eye took form.
"There you are!" Sean proclaimed as he thrust his spear at the eye at the end of the stock of axons. Nerve fibers split as Sean's blade sailed passed its intended target. The eye had seen the attack coming and moved accordingly, only to have its stock partially severed. Whipping wildly the eye withdrew from the attacking man, it's gaze remaining transfixed on him as it did. The sound of cracking and snapping bone rang out once more as the creatures dislocated jaw locked back in place. A few loud snaps of its jaws echoed as it tested the motion of its restored bite. Falling to all fours, the monstrosity began to stalk towards Sean, its eye following his every move. The eye's movement appeared separate from its body, giving the uneasy impression that the body was merely a puppet now. Fangs snapped shut with bone crushing force as the beast leapt at Sean. However, the beasts intended target was gone, replaced with a gust of wind and dust. Sean had activated his semblance and used the updraft he created to carry his leaping escape. Landing on an adjacent buildings top story, He peered down at the eye that had already reacquired him. Claws dug into soft earth as the creature leapt, its claws digging into the building to gain traction and momentum as it did. As it reached the apex of its leap, Sean called forth a gale below its immense form. Thrown well above the roof top, the monstrosity flailed wildly before a spotlight shone upon it. The light reflected brilliantly off its single large pupil as its eye shifted to the source of the light. A burst of rapid gunfire tore through the creature, severing limbs and tearing flesh before an airship sailed overhead. Thrown from the air, the beast struck the ground in a heap of torn flesh and broken bones. Despite being torn asunder, the creature clawed at the earth with its last remaining limb, in a vain attempt of escape. VTOL thrusters firing, the fire tail airship spun around to line its spotlight back up with the shredded monster. A whine of machinery filled the battlefield as the airships chain gun spun up once more. The ground around the monster erupted as heavy armor piercing rounds rained upon its body. Dust and smoke rose from the sight of destruction, obscuring the creature in a haze of ruin. The barrels of the crafts gun were glowing red hot as it released its final rounds upon its target. Smoke and steam wisped from chain gun as its dizzying spin slowed to a halt.
"You think that got it?" Jett asked as he rubbed the back of his neck. The single strike from the beast had wrecked his aura and left him feeling stiff and battered. Watching from his perch, Sean observed as his team moved in on the slowly drifting fog of smoke and dust. Twitching and wet cracking could be heard coming from the center of the dust cloud, causing team nevermore to raise their weapons once more. As dust settled the mound of flesh could be seen to be attempting to recover. The amount of flesh ripped from its being only allowed it to twitch violently as it attempted to pull itself back together. The single bulbous eye moved rapidly with no purpose, as though it was attempting to rend itself from its dying body. A flash of steel would be the last thing it would see as Sean fell upon it with his spear. Perforated by the spear head, the eye looked on with a look best described as horror as Sean pulled the trigger on his spears shaft. A flash of green light erupted from within the eye as a bolt of energy tore it apart from the inside. The eye destroyed, what remained of the monster fell motionless, only a few spasms signaling its final end. A moment of silence fell over the group as they breathed a sigh of relief.
"Let's burn what's left of it and cover any signs of it being here." Sean ordered as he stepped back from the dead creature.
"Damn grimm, got another village." Jett stated jokingly as they set about burning what remained of the creature and village.
#
Pyrrha stared at the stranger looking back at her. She was similar in age to herself, maybe a year older or younger. She couldn't be sure, her features seemed ageless, as though she had never known hardship or even the touch of the sun. Her figure emphasized her sheltered existence. Even with the loose hospital gown worn, Pyrrha, could tell she had a weak, slender build with little muscle. Her eyes stood out the most to her, they were pale like freshly fallen snow, a stark contrast to her fiery amber hair.
"Ah you're up." A woman greeted as she entered the room, causing Pyrrha to turn from the mirror. The woman paused as she noticed the younger girl standing in front of the mirror, the sight drawing a slight frown on her lips. Placing a tray of food on the nightstand beside a bed, the woman took a moment to adjust her lion tail braid before hesitantly turning back to Pyrrha. "I know it seems kind of strange. When you look in a mirror and you see a stranger staring back at you." She stated as she gestured to the mirror with a nod. "But it gets ea-" She continued before Pyrrha cut her off.
"Leona." She began before silence filled the room. The moment lingered as Leona waited for Pyrrha to speak. "You have had me in this room for weeks now, I need answers." Pyrrha carried on as she noticed Leona's growing discomfort. The end of the silence did little to set Leona at easy as Pyrrha found the woman's eyes drift to the floor. A soft chuckle followed as she attempted to meet Pyrrha's gaze once more.
"I wish I had an answer for you but were just as much in the dark as you are." Pyrrha could tell she was uncomfortable not having the answers she was looking for. Not knowing likely weighed on Leona's mind just as much as it did her own.
"How can you not know why we are here?" She pressed, trying to keep her voice restrained. Antagonizing the situation wouldn't improve it and she didn't blame Leona for it. However, Pyrrha's question only appeared to deject Leona as she saw her shoulders drop and expression follow. "I… I'm sorry." She apologized only to be met with a shake of Leona's head.
"No, I understand. This situation is already crazy and here I am telling you there are no answers." She told Pyrrha before moving to take her hands in her own. "I'm sure there is a reason for the lack of answers, we just need to have some faith." Leona reasoned, her words sounding to be trying to convince herself as well as Pyrrha. "What do you say we do something about that hair." Leona stated as she brushed Pyrrha's loose hanging bangs from her face. An obvious attempt to deflect and distract Pyrrha from her questions. A distraction Pyrrha was more than willing to take. She even managed to force a smile as she looked at Leona's now joyous expression. Her attention only fell from the woman's smiling face when a fire tail airship passed by the window of her room.
#
The fire tail circled the central spire of the sea-steading city state of Zeal. Each section spreading out in a flower pattern from the skyscraper structure at its center. Roads and monorail lines connected each section with great care to keep with its flowery architecture. Its overall design having led to the cities nickname as Rose of the Sea. A nickname its creators had taken great pride in, to the extent of never deviating in any shape or form from the aesthetic. Though hidden among the aesthetic was a fortress of armaments and cannons. Only visible to those that knew they were there and what to look for. Despite its Utopian appearance and reputation, grimm was always a looming threat. VTOL engines burned loudly as the craft slipped into position under a landing pad. Water droplets on the platform leapt and boiled under the intense heat of the crafts engines. Steam rose and was swiftly swept away as the force of the engines pressed upon it. By the time the craft touched down the landing platform was dry, save for a few wisps of steam still rising. Before the engines could finish spinning down the cargo hold door slid open as team nevermore disembarked.
"Good to see you all back safe and sound, nevermore." Viridian greeted the team as they stepped from the platform. She took only a moment to survey the team before looking past them towards the airship. "No survivors this time as well, I assume." The look of dejection and somber silence was the only answer she would receive, but it was more than enough. "Well, let's get the debriefing over with, it's early." She stated as she looked towards the rising sun on the horizon. "And you all look like you need a good long rest."
#
Evan stirred softly as the first rays of a new dawn struck him in the face. A groan of annoyance arose from him soon followed by the covers being drawn over his head. It was but a futile attempt at holding back the new day as the light only intensified. Soon not even the covers could block the sun from rousing him awake. The light of a new day had already filled his modest bedroom. Though, calling it a bedroom was rather generous, a cell would have been more appropriate. The simple bed he laid upon was built into the wall, taking up more than half of the rooms space. A small section remained for him to move about the room and keep a few personal belongings on display. The room was almost seamless, appearing more molded from white polished metal then constructed. Glancing out the window, he was met with the view of the city state of Zeal. It was an all too familiar sight for him, it no longer held the same wonderment it had once. And the necessity for the conservation of space didn't help with numbing his wonderment. Pressing a tile on the wall across from his bed, Evan waited briefly before growing impatient. Pressing the tile multiple times, he only had to wait another second before a drawer sprang from the wall. Striking him in the shin, Evan fell to his knees as the drawer vanished back into the wall. A string of expletives escaped Evan before he struck the tile with a balled fist. The moment his fist made contract with the tile three drawers sprang forth, knocking him down. A gentle beep filled the room before the drawers slid back into the wall and locked in place. Another all too familiar groan filled the room as Evan laid on the floor, tired and battered.