Something Wicked This Way Comes

by I am but two days old

Rather than be undergo a forced log out on the day YGGDRASIL's servers shut down, salary man Suzuki Satoru finds himself in the body of his avatar Momonga. Nazarick has been transported to a strange new land with a shattered moon hanging over head. The world is yours for the taking.

12. Volume 2: Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I do not own Overlord or RWBY. Both are properties of Murayama-sensei and RoosterTeeth respectively.

Something Wicked This Way Comes

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Volume 2:
The Lone Huntress

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CHAPTER 3 | Wild Hunt

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1

Weeks went by, each day more or less the same. Wake up, brush your teeth, take a shower, go to class, study, fight your classmates, return to your room, study more, eat dinner, shower, go to bed, then repeat the process. School life was nothing too interesting but not very boring either. It was not very different from her typical routine back in the Great Tomb of Nazarick. The only difference was that, instead of obeying orders and protecting the Ninth Floor, she was now living the life of a student for protecting humanity.

A worthwhile goal, but Shizu was not human and therefore had no intent of protecting humanity unless her lord dictated otherwise.

Though her days started out normally, mingling with humans and archiving as much information pertaining to aura, Semblances and all individuals of interest, Shizu had begun to grow concerned. She walked through the halls of Beacon Academy and noticed that many of her peers and upperclassmen were looking at her with looks of jealousy, intrigue, fear and awe. Ever since her demonstration against Avian Rouge, she developed an undefeated streak in the arena and prevailed against many of her classmates, including several upperclassmen who requested to battle her specifically. Each fell at her hands, which led to her newfound reputation.

"The Lone Huntress. "

She discovered she had been given that moniker at some point during the first few weeks into the school year due to her undefeated streak, including her overwhelming force against her opponents. No matter how many she faced, either against a classmate by himself or with his team, she effortlessly defeated them all. As her victories mounted, the more intense the looks grew until people began to utter whispers. She received numerous invitations by people who were offering a spot on their team, perfectly willing to make up some kind of excuse as to why they were missing a teammate. In each instance, Shizu politely turned them down. If she were to join on a team, it would be by the Headmaster's decision.

Still, this was becoming a growing concern. At this rate, Shizu feared that someone might investigate her and discover her true allegiance. The odds that someone may know who she actually was were quite low, but as Lord Ainz reminded her, she must consider every possibility. The best course of action would be to limit her victories and withhold her actual strength unless required.

That seemed to be the best course of action, though Shizu also considered the cons to limiting her combat capabilities. With such a good reputation, she could establish connections and relations with individuals that could possibly serve to be of use to her mission or to the Supreme Being. Roy Al Lint, for example, was the son of a well-known politician. Having someone versed in politics could be an excellent boon for them.

Of course, there had been a reason why many people were flocking to her. Namely, because of the news that spread like wildfire barely four days ago when the decision came down from the Headmaster. The memory was still fresh in her mind, archived and recorded with the purpose of relaying this information to Nazarick.

After she had finished her studies in Professor Oobleck's lectures on Remnant's early history and possible theories to the origin of Grimm, the Professor pulled her away. He told her to go to the infirmary and meet with Professors Goodwitch and Peach. The purpose was made clear when she arrived, coinciding with one of her goals here at Beacon Academy.

The process was relatively short and fruitful, though Shizu was uncertain as to whether or not the information she gleamed from this process could be considered good for Nazarick. She could tell that the results were baffling to the teachers, especially to Professor Goodwitch.

"Surely, there must be a mistake." Goodwitch insisted. "Can't you try again?"

Thumbelina Peach, a plump woman with rosy cheeks and greasy hair, shook her head in dismissal. "I've done this at least three times, Glynda. Each time, it's been done just as it has been practiced here at Beacon. Each time, I've put my aura into Young Obsidian. And each time, I do not receive any indication that her aura has been unlocked."

The day had come for her aura to be unlocked after spending several weeks in combat without it. It had not taken people long for them to discover, with great shock, that Shizu had been fighting without the use of aura. The idea that someone could fight so terrifyingly effectively without it, and without a Semblance, was almost unheard of. Despite proving her capabilities repeatedly, Professor Goodwitch was insistent that she have her aura unlocked so she would have a better means of defense in the event she was cornered.

The results of the unlocking process, which consisted of a foreign presence invading her body but possessing no hostile intentions, followed by an incantation of some kind, were ultimately useless. Professor Peach had attempted to unlock her aura three times, and each time was met with no reaction according to the machine hooked up to her body.

"But how is that possible?" Goodwitch demanded, frustration quickly mounting her features. "Is there some kind of complication?"

Peach rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "There are rare cases in which a person's aura is difficult to unlock, namely due to some sort of mental block or traumatic experience."

"Traumatic experience…" Goodwitch looked to the side, frustration morphing into sadness. "Yes, that could explain it."

"But, I don't believe it's that." The blonde teacher looked at her colleague oddly. Shizu remained quiet and listened intently. "Whenever I injected Young Obsidian with a small amount of my aura, there was no sort of reaction whatsoever. Even in the rare cases when an aura is difficult to unlock, the subject's aura would always react in some form or another. However, Young Obsidian has shown no such reactions. Either the lock on her aura is incredibly severe, or…"

"Or what?"

Peach glanced at Shizu briefly. There was a hint of fear and uncertainty, something Shizu made sure to note.

"Or Young Obsidian…possibly lacks a soul."

Goodwitch stared at her colleague for a moment, and then frowned. "Oh, hogwash. A human that does not possess a soul? Surely you aren't suggesting Miss Obsidian is actually a Grimm in human form!"

"I'm not suggesting anything like that! I'm just saying it is very odd." Peach huffed. "At any rate, I suggest you limit Young Obsidian's matches in your class, Glynda. While I won't deny her abilities, it's only a matter of time before someone goes too far and she becomes seriously injured. I'm certain our students know the meaning of the word restraint, but they are being trained to fight both Grimm and the worst of people."

"Oh, don't I know it…" Gloodwitch sighed and rubbed her temples. "Very well, I'll inform the Headmaster about this. Obsidian, you can leave now."

Shizu nodded and left the room obediently. It was slightly disappointing to learn that Professor Peach was unable to unlock her aura, but Lord Ainz had suggested that this may be a possibility. It was a shame nonetheless; the prospect of possessing a defensive ability that could heal wounds and offer the individual a unique skill on top of that would have been very useful to Nazarick. She would inform Lord Ainz of this regardless, as well as her limited role in combat class from this point forward.

Starting now, Goodwitch would be limiting her activities in her class. Learning about the students' combat capabilities and analyzing them up close and personal, or rather facing them off herself, felt the most appropriate way to gather data. It also helped bolster her reputation, and gave her the opportunity to get a much closer look at the abilities her opponent was displaying to her. Having less time and opportunity to study these individuals up close was disappointing, but not something that would hamper her objective.

At the very least, her cover wasn't blown. Shizu did not know what the process of injecting someone with aura entailed or the possibility that her nature as an Automaton could be discovered, and took many precautions going forward. If Professor Peach discovered her true nature, or worse, discovered the existence of Nazarick, Shizu would ensure that she would be unable to spread such information. There were a number of ways she could kill the woman, from poisons to indirect methods. Her connection to her death would also be quite easy to hide from anyone investigating, so long as she was thorough.

At any rate, she now knew she could not develop or gain an aura and would report this to the Supreme Being when given the opportunity. For now, she'd continue living life as a student unless told otherwise. A glance at her internal clock told her that it was currently break time, so she had at least ten or fifteen minutes before she would have to return.

"…I will go to the library."

In the weeks she had been studying here at Beacon Academy, Shizu took every opportunity to visit the school library and read all the texts the facility had available to her. She had archived as much information pertaining to Remnant's history and technological advancements over the years, as well as any and all practical uses and theories involving the usage of Dust in its many forms. How authentic or up-to-date this information was, she was not entirely sure, but her objective was to gather as much information as she could during her stay here. It wasn't just the students, but ordinary information you could otherwise pull from the world wide web, which she did not have access to yet since her Scroll was not connected.

On the plus side, Shizu made a connection with the guardian of the library. She always seemed pleased whenever she came by to read a book and even offered her some recommendations, ranging from fictional novels or mathematical study guides that weren't much use besides passing the time.

It took Shizu a few minutes to reach the library from the infirmary. She opened the door and stepped inside, greeted with a oval-shaped room with shelves lined with books and papers and folders sitting in plain view. The shelves covered the walls and encircled the room, all the way to the counter where the library's guardian sat.

"Oh, Miss Obsidian!" Librarian smiled widely upon noticing her. "Welcome back. What book are you looking for this time?"

Shizu went over her archived information. She read most of Remnant's known history prior to the Great War, the uses and theoretical applications of Dust, the history of aura, and at least sixty different instruction manuals on how to design your own weapon.

"Question, do you have any books on the Creatures of Grimm?" she decided after a moment.

The library's guardian nodded, fingers flying across the holographic keyboard of her Scroll. "We have four different books on Grimm. 'A Study on the Creatures of Grimm', 'Grimm Biology and Classification', and 'the History of Grimm'."

"I will take Grimm Biology and Classification."

"One moment… Okay, you're cleared! They're on Shelf 4, first row."

Shizu nodded. She approached the numbered shelf and browsed the first row of documents and books before she found the object in question. Pulling the book from the shelf, she took a seat in one of the tables in the center. She opened up the book and immediately went to work analyzing it, memorizing every word of every page.

[Attempts to study the Creatures of Grimm, or more specifically the many types and species of Grimm, end with mixed results. Whenever a Grimm is captured or detained in a cage or cell of some sort, it will inexplicably die and begin to disperse in black particles. These particles remain for only a few seconds before they break down into smaller particles, and the process repeats until there is nothing left of them. It is theorized that this could be a type of defensive mechanism the Grimm developed to prevent themselves from being studied.

Contrary to popular belief, lesser Grimm possess some level of intelligence. They are capable of recognizing danger, such as a powerful individual approaching them or an imminent threat close by. Compared to higher forms of Grimm, such as Alpha and Elder Grimm, lesser Grimm do not have a great deal of intelligence and seek out leadership. This is reflected by the fact that Beowolves travel in packs, and listen to their Alpha.

We have examined all manner of Grimm species, but chances are we've yet to full scratch the surface. We know that Grimm do not possess any organs and do not have a sense of pain. If a Grimm were to suffer a debilitating injury or lose a limb, it would press forward. All we know for certain is that all Grimm, regardless of classification and species, are innately hostile towards any living creature that possesses a "soul." Humans and Faunus are not the only targets; animals are subject to Grimm hostilities, but based on observations and documented records, it would appear that Grimm consider humans and Faunus to be "priority" targets, and animals a secondary concern. What few recorded cases there are of Grimm attacking animals appear to be nothing less than territorial disputes and will only attack the animals if sufficiently provoked.

Grimm do not require to eat or drink, but we have examined that they do indeed sleep, or at the very least enter a brief hibernation period of some sort.

Though Grimm come in many forms and shapes, from animals such as Beowolves to ghost-like beings of Geists, they can be classified into different groups based on age and prowess.

Lesser Grimm are what you may call adolescents; they are young and lack some intelligence, required leadership and searching for an "Alpha" to lead them. Considerably the weakest in terms of power, but no less dangerous than any other Grimm due to them traveling in large numbers. If a lesser Grimm pack is not led by an "Alpha," it is led by the Grimm with the most experience.

Despite the name, "Alpha" Grimm is not the proper classification, but instead a term to define the Grimm with experience, intelligence and leadership ability to control the lesser Grimm. "Alpha" Grimm refer to more powerful Grimm, such as Queen Lancers, Ursa Majors and Kong Beringels. The reason these Grimm are classified as "Alpha" Grimm is due to the first-known such Grimm, that being a Alpha Beowolf leading its pack.

Elder Grimm are considered to be among the most threatening forms of Grimm, due to their intelligence. These are Grimm that have lived for several years, perhaps even centuries, and in the process, have gained tremendous knowledge and ample time to grow stronger. As evidence, Elder Grimm are substantially larger than normal Grimm, including "Alphas." A lesser Nevermore Grimm is the size of a regular bird, and its "Alpha" variant being the size of the average human male. An Elder Nevermore, however, can easily match the size of an apartment complex.

It is hard to gauge exactly how long a Grimm can live a natural life, though some researchers have theorized that Grimm may, in fact, be immortal beings in regards to lifespan. A Grimm will die when it is killed by any means aside from old age, though this raises the question if a Grimm can die if it does reach a certain age.

There is also a fourth classification of Grimm, though unlike the previous three, this classification has been subject to scrutiny to the point of being an urban legend. It is thought that there are Grimm to roam Remnant whose age is thought to be well past what is known for Elder Grimm. There are only reported sightings, but no confirmed cases of anyone encountering such Grimm, but rumors of their existence still persist. These Grimm, thought to be stronger and much older than Elder Grimm, perhaps the "apex predator" of the Grimm race as a whole, are referred to as-]

"What'cha reading, Shizu?"

This was as far as Shizu got in her reading before she felt the approach of Coco Adel and the rest of Team CFVY. Deciding that she gathered enough data on the book, she closed it shut and turned her attention to the three humans and Faunus, bowing her head in greeting.

"…hello."

"Hey yourself," Coco greeted back. She plopped herself down on the chair next to Shizu and looked at the book. "Oh, studying on Grimm? Anything interesting or might be worth reading instead of listening to Port's lectures?"

Shizu shrugged. She found it informative, but only because it provided her worthwhile data. Whether or not they would, she did not know or care to know.

"Speaking of Professor Port, I have heard he will be allowing certain teams in his class to go out on a training expedition of sorts," Yatsuhashi recalled thoughtfully. "I am unaware of the details, but I've heard it will be held in the depths of the Emerald Forest."

Shizu frowned slightly. According to information that was publicly available on certain web forums and websites pertaining to Huntsman and Grimm activities, Grimm populated the depths of the Emerald Forest. There were also supposed sightings of at least three Elder Grimm; a Nevermore, Death Stalker and Kong Beringel. Traversing the Emerald Forest depths was restricted to licensed Huntsman and staff faculty. Why would Professor Port be allowing students to travel to such a restricted place? Was this some sort of test to weed out the weaker minded and pick out who had the drive to survive? Or was this a test for the students to prove themselves to be equal to the teachers?

Would she also be part of this excursion? Given her status as a Solo, she doubted she could participate unless a team offered her a place on their team. In truth, she wanted to explore the Emerald Forest and determine whether the Grimm in it would be of any use to the Great Tomb of Nazarick. Prior to her departure from the tomb, she overheard Aura mentioning she wanted to collect larger, stronger Grimm. Assuming the reports of there being Elder Grimm were true, they would be excellent additions.

The thought of Lord Ainz praising her made her tremble.

"Question, do you know if Solo students are allowed to attend the excursion?" Shizu asked in the hopes of bringing glory to Nazarick and earning praise from the Supreme One.

Coco hummed thoughtfully. "Not sure, you'd have to ask Professor Port. If you were anybody else, he probably wouldn't let you, but since you've been kicking ass in Goodwitch's class, he just might."

"Is that really such a good idea, though?" Velvet frowned. "I mean, Shizu doesn't have Aura. Even if she's with a bunch of other students, wouldn't it be really risky for her?"

Velvet's concern was unnecessary, though Shizu oddly found herself appreciating it. Were she a normal human creature or demihuman like everyone else on Remnant, that may be true. Based on what she has observed, both here at Beacon and from videos she saw online from the school's terminals, there were very few active Huntsman and students in any academy that did not have their aura unlocked. In fact, the number of students and Huntsman that didn't have any Aura could be counted on one hand alone. That said, at some point, either due to the stress of the job, being in a life or death situation or simply asking the assistance of another drove one to unlocking their aura anyway.

From an observational standpoint, having Aura was beneficial. It not only protected you, but it gave you a regenerative ability to some extent and a unique form of power. In the case of Glynda Goodwitch, she possessed ability akin to telekenisis in that she could lift objects without touching them. Velvet admitted to having a Semblance herself, one that allowed her to memorize virtually anything she saw a person performing. If she saw someone perform a complicated maneuver, say a quadruple backflip, she could perform it as well provided she was physically fit to enact the movement. This complemented with her weapon very well, seeing as how she could replicate any weapon she took a photo of with.

Semblances were truly diverse, which only made Shizu's disappointment of not possessing aura greater. However, there was a silver lining. To her knowledge, she was the only denizen of Nazarick for someone to attempt unlocking her Aura, assuming she had one in the first place. It was possible that Shizu was unable to possess an Aura because she was an Automaton. A mechanical construct given flesh; a golem with the capability to think for itself, although bound to its loyalty towards its master and creator. It was possible that the others in Nazarick could develop an Aura, such as Cocytus or Shalltear. Further study was required. She would need to acquire more data before she could make any assumptions, but this was a step in the right direction.

At any rate, Shizu completed her analysis on the book and saw no reason to linger in the library any longer.

"Aw, going already?" Coco pouted, watching as Shizu stood up from her seat. "And here I thought we were good company?"

"Apologies, need to finish schoolwork," Shizu replied.

She took 'Grimm Biology and Classification' and returned it to its proper place on the shelf she found it in and left, nodding her head at the library's guardian as she left.

---

"Aaand off she goes," Coco sighed. "Here I was hoping I could get her to speak in a full sentence for once!"

Velvet rolled her eyes at her childhood friend and team leader's antics, though she would be lying if she said she wasn't also disappointed by Shizu's retreat.

A month had passed since Initiation, and while the half-Faunus wouldn't say that Team CFVY had become close enough to Shizu Obsidian to say that they were friends, she could say with some confidence that the latter wasn't cold or aloof towards them. If they offered to hang out with her or wanted to speak with her, the one-eyed girl never refused and accepted the offer after some debate on her part. Through these small, but meaningful meetings, they slowly got to know Shizu better.

On the subject of her team, Velvet was surprised by how close they had become within the span of a few days. Admittedly, she still wasn't used to sleeping in the same room as two boys her age, much less becoming so painfully used to watching them workout and finding herself ogling their rippling pectorals and abdominal muscles. Coco certainly enjoyed the eye candy and made a few remarks that made her cheeks red, which of course led to her admonishing her team leader. Thankfully, neither boys really seemed to mind all that much.

Despite Yatsu hailing from Mistral, where Faunus discrimination was quite prevalent alongside Atlas' own treatment of her people, he was very pleasant if a little overprotective. She likened him to an older brother looking after his kid sister, albeit an older brother wielding a sword as big as he was and capable of laying the smack down when the situation called for it. Every now and then, whenever there was someone who tried starting a fight with her because of her rabbit ears, and Yatsu was in the area, she would always find him standing between them and glaring down at them. His large size, his sword and the fact that he was presently undefeated in Professor Goodwitch's class alongside Shizu made others think twice about picking a fight with her.

Fox was incredibly nice to the point where they became fast friends within the first week of Beacon alone; though that was not to say they had their awkward moments. On a few occasions had she accidentally made a seemingly innocent comment or two involving his eyesight to which she immediately regretted, knowing Fox was blind. Coco's partner didn't really seem to mind all that much, knowing a childish mistake when he saw one, but that didn't assuage her worries at all. She felt bad for her blunders and was in the middle of thinking up a way she could make it up to him. She also ignored any and all suggestions Coco threw her way, though she knew a good majority were made in jest.

Overall, it was looking as though Team CFVY had a good foundation. Trust, friendship, camaraderie, things were looking up for them. If Velvet did have to list a failure the team committed, it was that they had yet to catch up to Shizu's seemingly indomitable record in combat class. If Velvet didn't know any better, she swore Pyrrha Nikos, three-time Mistralian champion, had just walked into Beacon Academy and dominated the competition. Velvet took some photos, of course, but she doubted they would do much. Her Semblance did allow her to mimic someone's fighting style when push came to shove, but trying to keep up with Shizu's movements was incredibly difficult. It didn't help matters that Shizu's weapon was just so bland and ordinary compared to everyone elses.

No offense to Daichi's sword, of course.

"It still sucks that she's by herself," Coco remarked. "I mean, being a Solo sounds cool and all, but what's the point in being a kickass one-man army if you can't even go out on a mission without someone tagging along? She can't even enter the Vytal Festival next year if she doesn't find herself a team."

Daichi sighed in agreement. "It is a shame. She is certainly skilled, though. Has she ever said where she studied?"

"Nope. Way I heard it, Shizu was home-schooled."

Velvet's eyes widened. "Y-you mean, she took the Practical Exam? No Combat School training or anything like that?"

"Yep."

Fox, Velvet and Daichi were amazed. They knew Fox didn't attend any combat academies in Vacuo and earned his place here by participating in the Practical Exam, but it was still surprising to hear. There were not many people who got into a Huntsman Academy for simply being good at fighting. Velvet remembered reading an article on the Huntsman's Forum that only one in ten people who attend a Huntsman Academy took the practical exam, which was for applicants who did not attend any Combat Academies.

The practical exam, in terms of difficulty, was often said to be a step below Initiation. This was to be expected, of course, given that Huntsman were tasked with fighting Grimm, defending civilians and dealing with the criminal element. If their skills were not up to par with their standards, there was no reason for them to attend a Huntsman academy. That being said, depending on their skill level, some applicants would be offered a sort of "remedial course" that would polish their skills, then take the exam again in a couple of months.

Fox didn't speak much about his exam. From what little he spoke of it, it was difficult and he had squared off against one of the teachers. Since the teacher was a former Huntsman, the fight was incredibly difficult. The purpose of the exam wasn't to defeat the teacher, of course. The fight was to determine Fox's overall skill level.

"What do you think Shizu had to do?" Coco wondered, leaning on her elbow. "From what I've heard, the exam's different for each person. Foxy here had to fight Professor Goodwitch, right?"

Fox nodded. "I'd rather not fight her again, to be frank."

"Don't blame you, she's pretty terrifying. Might be worth asking next time we run into each other." She was about to pursue another topic before she heard the bell go off. "Aaand there's our cue to return to the daily grind. Who do we have?"

"Professor Oobleck, which means our quiz is today."

Coco snickered. "Don't you mean Doctor Oobleck, Vel?"

The half-Faunus pouted. "It was one time that happened, Coco! And I'm hardly the only one who makes that mistake!"

"Less talking, more moving!"

Yatsuhashi rolled his eyes as he and the rest of Team CFVY pulled away from the table and began to exit the library. The towering Mistralian was the last to leave, though just as he was about to exit the library, the head librarian stopped him.

"E-excuse me for a second, but by any chances, are you friends with Miss Obsidian?" Yatsuhashi paused and turned his head to her. She seemed oddly hopeful.

"I wouldn't say we are close enough to be considered 'friends' as of yet, but for the most part, I believe we have a friendly relationship with each other," he replied. "Why do you ask?"

"N-no reason!" her voice squeaked. "It's just, Miss Obsidian spends a lot of time here in the library, choosing stuff like classical history and Grimm studies. The other day, she checked out two books. One on the Great War, and another on the History of Vytal."

"She is rather studious, isn't she?"

The librarian smiled as her cheeks turned red. "She is! And from what I've heard, she's never lost a match in Professor Goodwitch's class! She's like the ideal Huntress-in-Training!"

Ah, so that's it, Yatsuhashi thought in amusement. He was well aware that Shizu had many admirers among the freshmen students, so hearing how affectionately and passionately she was talking about the one-eyed girl wasn't surprising.

"Why not ask her if you wish to hang out?" he suggested slyly.

Her reaction did not disappoint him. Her face exploded into bright scarlet. "N-no way, I couldn't possibly-!"

"You never know unless you try."

With his piece said, Yatsuhashi left the library and quickly caught up with his team. He didn't want to be late, after all.

2

Shizu succeeded in her goal of getting in on the excursion to the Emerald Forest's depths.

Once her classes were over, she searched for Professor Port and made the request to take part on the excursion.

"Normally, I wouldn't allow first-years, much less Solos, to take part on something as dangerous as this," the Professor told her. "However, you have shown exceptional abilities and the means to handle yourself! I'll see if I can make an exception for you, though I should warn you that where we are going, the Grimm are far more dangerous than what you've heard or seen out in the frontier. It's home to the Elder Grimm and countless Alphas! Cunning predators, the lot of them. I sincerely hope you're up for this, Miss Obsidian! It will be a true test of your capabilities!"

She was not worried in the least. The Grimm were low leveled, as were the students. She was not designed with combat in mind, yet she still proved capable when battling the students. If she was given a true test of might against a Grimm, she believed she would emerge victorious assuming the odds were in her favor.

Her actual concern, however, was the Elder Grimm inhabiting the forest depths and the students. She could not afford to be caught in the act of bringing Grimm to the Tomb. If anyone did witness her doing so, her position in Beacon would be compromised and the mission Ainz assigned her would be labeled a failure.

She would not allow that to happen.

For now, Shizu's objective was to wait until the day of the expedition. Once classes were over and the students returned to their dormitories, she contacted Albedo.

"Lady Albedo?"

[CZ Delta?] The Overseer sounded surprised. [I thought your weekly report was not until two days from now?]

Shizu shook her head. "It is not that. I have news; in a few days, Professor Peter Port shall be conducting an excursion into the depths of the Emerald Forest. The depths are home to many Grimm belonging to the "elder" classification. I recall Lady Aura mentioning she wished to expand her studies. I managed to secure a position in the upcoming excursion."

[That is correct. She's particularly interested in seeing one of these Kong Beringel up close. Still, this is wonderful news! I shall pass it along to the Supreme Being. Excellent work, CZ Delta. Is there anything more you wish to report?]

The maid closed her eye and pulled up her more recent memories. Her meeting with Professor Goodwitch and Professor Peach was the most prominent, especially in regards to their attempts to unlock her Aura and the implications involved.

"A worrisome development; I believe my position here is under suspicion. Professor Glynda Goodwitch attempted to have my Aura unlocked, with no success. Professor Thumbelina Peach expressed great concerns."

Albedo hummed thoughtfully. [It could be due to your nature as an Automaton, but Lord Ainz and I both hoped you would have obtained this Aura Skill the natives of this world seem to possess. How disappointing. This Thumbelina woman, has she done anything that may warrant an intervention?]

"None that I can think of," Shizu replied smoothly.

[In that case, please continue with your mission at Beacon Academy.]

"Understood, Lady Albedo."

[Message] ceased and Shizu let her hand drop. As she prepared to enter a hibernation period in preparation for the next day of observations, she heard the sound of someone approaching her door. She warily made her way towards the entrance into her room, pulling her rifle from her inventory and prepared for a possible ambush.

The intruder rapped his knuckles against the frame. "Hello? Shizu? It's me, Roy! From Team RYAL!"

She lowered her gun.

Roy Al Lint. Son of a Valean politician and her senior by at least one year. In terms of combat ability, he was severely lacking to the point she believed he was Level 1. In other words, he was not a threat.

Returning her weapon back into her inventory, she opened the door. The flamboyant boy stood in front of her room wearing an unusual smile. He smelled faintly of roses.

"Question, can I help you?"

"I heard you're going to be coming with Professor Port's class to the Emerald Forest, isn't that right?"

She narrowed her eye. "Where did you hear that?" Had he been listening in on her conversation earlier? Had he managed to bypass her spells and heard report to Lady Albedo? Dozens of possibilities formed in her head, each more worrisome than the last. Perhaps she should re-evaluate her thoughts on Roy's threat level and eliminate him post-haste.

"Everyone is talking about it," Roy said disarmingly as though he was not plotting something nefarious. "You've pissed off a lot of third-years, just so you know. They're angry that some upstart first year is worming her way, or so I've heard."

She didn't relax. "Is that so? And what are your thoughts, as a second-year student?"

"I'm impartial, really. If you want to come, be my guest. No skin off my nose!" His smile widened as a twinkle danced in his eyes, leaning closer towards her. "Though I do admit, I am a little concerned about your safety during the trip. You haven't found yourself with a team yet, have you?"

"No, I have not."

"In that case, why not partner with my team for the time being?"

Shizu narrowed her eye in suspicion. She was fully aware of Roy's apparent fixation with her, but she couldn't figure out why. It was plausible that he was aware of her true nature and was simply trying to hide this fact. Play the role of the fool. Or maybe he was taking advantage of her apparent nature and would leech off of her abilities? Another thought, albeit highly unlikely, came to her. It was possible that Roy was genuinely unaware of what she was or what Nazarick was, and was simply looking out for what he thought was an overeager freshman.

It was hard to tell what his true motive was for approaching her. She supposed it would be easier to simply drag the answer out through a charm-like spell or [Control Amnesia], but she did not want to risk alerting anyone who may be observing her like Thumbelina Peach. She was surely under surveillance because of what Thumbelina Peach reported.

"I do not understand. Does your team not have four members?"

Roy laughed slightly. "Avian, the guy you fought on the first day, got himself sick so he won't be able to attend. As it stands, Team RYAL is down by one member. What do you say, Shizu? Would you be willing?"

Shizu weighed her options carefully. On the one hand, acting alone would be more preferable, but at the same time, integrating herself into a team could prove to be beneficial in the long run. Now that she gave it some thought, wasn't this a good opportunity? Roy was the son of a politician, and if she remembered correctly, the Supreme Being made it clear he would establish a present of sorts in the public. Wouldn't having political connections make it easier for him?

Oh, but might this be a little ambitious of her? She would have to consult with the Supreme Being first and see if this might conflict with his own plans.

The combat maid gave a noncommittal nod. "…understood. I will consider it. Thank you for the offer, Roy."

"Please, it's my pleasure!" Roy gave another odd smile she couldn't decipher and watched him leave, walking with a notable 'umph' in his steps.

She closed the door and immediately casted another [Message].

---

When Roy broke the news to his team, he was greeted with mix responses. The louse and bootlicker of the team had no problems and seemed more happy about the fact that he was going to be hanging out with a pretty face (not that Roy had any intention of letting that no-named bastard get anywhere close to his prize. Shizu was his and nobody else's!). The other, a worthless fleabag, shrugged in indifference.

Avian, the person who Roy intended to leave behind, was furious.

"The hell do you mean I'm staying behind?"

Roy leveled a bemused glare at him, not at all threatened when the latter marched up to him and stared him down. "Exactly what I said, Avi. If anybody asks, you got sick so you can't attend the excursion. As a result, I asked the new girl that everyone's been talking about if she could fill in for you."

The veins above Avian's left eyebrow twitched violently. "You son of a-! What the hell makes you think I'm just going to sit here and let you do this, huh? I don't care if Ozpin named you the leader of this shit crew, but that doesn't give you the right to pull something like this!"

"Hey man, chill out!" The flea bag attempted to calm Avian down, getting between the two and gently pushing him away. He was always the pacifist who thought himself the guy keeping the team together. Roy let him have his delusions. "Look, I get that you're pissed and all, but it's just a field trip, Avi! There's always next time!"

"This isn't about the field trip, Yee! I've had to put up with Roy's bullshit for over a year, and he hasn't done a single goddamn thing to make himself useful!" Avian sneered at Roy. "The only reason he's still here is because of his dear old daddy."

Roy's smile dropped from his face, cheeks turning redder than his hair. "You want to say that again? Did you forget who you're talking to, or have you finally gone brain dead?"

"Got wax stuffed in your ears, daddy's boy?"

The boot licker got up, doing something productive for once. "Okay, calm down, the both of you. You're getting worked up for nothing, dude. It's like East is saying, it's just a field trip. And yeah, Roy is a prick, but getting angry at him ain't gonna help you any, man."

Roy bristled at the fact that the fleabag was dismissing him like he was garbage, but kept his composure. Avian still looked angry, but it had simmered out somewhat and didn't try to push back against the bootlicker. Instead, he leveled one more glare at Roy before he scoffed and shoved the bootlicker away.

"This isn't over."

Avian made another empty threat, just as he always did, rudely shoving into Roy's shoulder and slamming the door shut behind him with a loud slam.

The boot licker winced. "You know, it would have been nice if you told us this in advance, Roy. I mean, you know how fed up Avi's been getting with you, right?"

"Oh, please. What's the worst he can do?"

He was unconcerned with his worthless teammate's accusations and threats against them. At the end of the day, they were meaningless words and attempts to scare him. Avian Rouge was a nobody. Someone from the rat's ass end of nowhere who wouldn't amount to anything and would never achieve anything worthwhile in this life. He should be grateful that Roy was even giving him the time of day and the privilege of being part of his team instead of whining.

Avian could be angry all he wanted; it wasn't going to change the fact that Roy was going to cut him off from attending the excursion and give Roy the opportunity he needed to worm his way into Shizu's heart. He had a plan formed in his mind, a ploy that would see the girl become so enamored with him that she would have no choice but to get on her hands and knees and beg him to make her his. The thought of seeing her on the ground with that pitiful expression on her face made his loins burn.

A shudder went down his spine as his thoughts became filled with daydreams and delusions.

In a few days, Shizu Obsidian was going to become his woman. Of that, he was certain.

---

The days passed by without any incident. Shizu continued the daily motions of recording the battles taking place in Professor Goodwitch's class and filing away any information that appeared relevant or important that the Great Tomb of Nazarick could use. To her chagrin and detriment to her mission, just as she expected, Professor Goodwitch began to limit her activities in class. Her inability to unlock her aura had proven to be the final straw and excuse the woman seemingly needed after many futile attempts to get her to slow down because of some perceived weakness.

At best, she had maybe a month's worth of information and data on Semblances and aura, as well as a few dozen profiles of the students she had seen in action. She hoped she would have had more information to present to the Supreme Being, but as things stood, she would have to work with her limited resources.

Perhaps the excursion into the depths of the Emerald Forest would make-up for her limited information.

The day of the excursion had arrived with little fanfare. All those chosen by Professor Port were instructed to meet at the air docks where a Bullhead would arrive to pick them up and drop them off at the designated location. Shizu was one of the last to arrive, now clad in the attire and equipment the Supreme Being and Lady Shalltear provided her and her rifle slung over her shoulder. By her count, there were twenty-seven students present and all armed with various weapons. Some wore armor and others didn't.

Were they confident in their abilities and weapons alone, or did they think their weapons' stats and Semblances would make up for the difference?

"Shizu, wait!"

The one-eyed girl stopped and turned around. To her mild surprise, she saw Team CFVY approaching her. Strange. She did not know they had also been chosen to participate in the excursion.

"Greetings, are you all coming with?" she asked.

Fox shook his head. "We heard you were going with the other second-years," he explained to her. "Velvet and Coco wanted to see you off."

Shizu didn't understand. Why were they here to see her off? Did they believe they were closely acquainted? Based on her examinations, "friends" and "allies" chatted with one another constantly and shared personal secrets and opinions. Team CFVY, when they simply hung out by themselves, fit the criteria she associated with the term "friend." She, on the other hand, considered herself to be in the category of "acquaintance." While she did interact with Team CFVY on a daily basis, she did so to provide the illusion she was fitting in with her classmates and fellow students as to not arouse suspicion.

Was she missing something?

"I'm surprised you got Port to let you in," Coco remarked while grinning at her. "Then again, you have been kicking ass since Day 1, so I guess he's not too worried about you."

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Velvet asked in a tone that implied worry and concern for her. "I mean, Elder Grimm inhabit the depths. And from the looks of it, you aren't very popular with the second-year class…"

Shizu had long since noticed the glares of hostility emanating from those present at the air docks. With the exception of Team RYAL's three members, who had yet to notice her as they were busy speaking and indulging in Roy, the others all looked at her with contempt. They no doubt believed she did not deserve to be here or were threatened by her presence. Either way, she paid them no mind. They were all inconsequential.

"I will be fine," Shizu said to the demi-human. "I am capable."

"If you're sure…"

Velvet still seemed unsure. Was she truly this concerned about someone she had barely known for a month?

"Is everyone here?!" Professor Port's voice boomed across the air docks. At some point the teacher must have arrived as he was now standing at the far end of the air docks. Up above was the Bullhead that would take them to the Emerald Forest. "When we arrive, we will make the rest of the way on foot! Keep in mind, students, that this will be a three-day trip! We are there to study and observe the behavior of the Grimm inhabiting the depths of the Emerald Forest! Also, Doctor Oobleck and myself are offering extra credit to any students who are willing to retrieve priceless artifacts in the Emerald Forest! The depths were once home to a kingdom, thought to exist before the emergence of the Four Kingdoms! That said, don't act recklessly! The last thing we teachers want to do is inform your parents you were killed because you wanted extra points or because you got sloppy!"

The Bullhead descended behind him. Its door pulled open and welcomed the students inside.

"It would seem your ride is here," Yatsuhashi bowed deeply to her. "I wish you well, Shizu."

Shizu nodded in appreciation. "Understood. I will see you later."

She turned on her heel and joined the rest of the students leaving for the Emerald Forest.

---

Yee East shifted uncomfortably while glancing at the lovestruck Roy and the emotionless Shizu Obsidian.

She gives me the creeps, Yee thought to himself after finding himself unnerved by how empty her eyes were.

"The eyes are windows to the soul," he recalled reading once during one of his nightly forays in Beacon's library. Some found it philosophical nonsense, but Yee liked to think he could accurately judge someone by looking into their eyes. It was how he managed to survive as long as he did, being a streetrat and all.

Yee's life hadn't always been easy like Beacon. He was a street rat; worse, he was a street rat born in Mistral of all places. If you lived on the upper levels, you were fine. Yee didn't have that privilege and endured day after day of evading the occasional angry store owner and getting the crap kicked out of him for stealing from the wrong person. Of course, it wasn't all bad. Even in the cesspool that was the lower levels of Mistral, there was a silver lining.

The Malachite House.

The Malachite House, on the surface, was one of those orphanages you could find anywhere on Remnant that wasn't Vacuo. It was run by a couple of old crones who liked to smile at anyone willing to pay an awful lot of money to adopt someone while swinging their canes at the kids who caused them problems. In reality, the Malachite House was a place for training thieves and urchins of all kinds. The actual owner of the orphanage, a spider who had her fingers in all the piles across Mistral (and the other Kingdoms like Yee thought) by the name of Lil' Miss Malachite, had a talent for knowing who knew their way around picking pockets and hearing things that shouldn't be heard.

The days at the Malachite House were tough, but they were fair. Miss Malachite was a woman who didn't tolerate someone when they screwed up, but she was always willing to give them a chance so long as they could make up for their mistake. Yet for the people who continued to make mistakes, or the ones who made a mistake so badly it damaged her business, none of the street rats saw what had become of them. They didn't want to know and turned their eyes away while swearing they would not repeat their mistakes.

When Yee was thirteen, he freed himself of Mistral and boarded a Bullhead bound for Vacuo. In the lawless deserts of that dust ball, there was no discrimination. If you could survive out there, then who cares where you're from? Who cares if you're human, Faunus or something else? If you could withstand the desert and all its dangers, then you were welcome. The moment Yee arrived in Vacuo, he applied for a Combat School and did everything he could to pass with flying colors.

Flash forward four years later, and he arrived at Beacon Academy. It was yet another brand new start for him and a good step towards leaving his past as a street rat behind him for good. At least, that's what it should have been. The gods must have hated him or something because after Initiation was over, he was forced to partner with the absolute piece of shit that was Roy Lint. It took all of ten minutes of meeting him for Yee to decide he didn't like him and wanted very little to do with him, even after they were placed on the same team.

Roy was a narcissist down to his bones, not to mention a total daddy's boy. During their first year at Beacon, he got so angry at Avian when the latter accused him of only getting into Beacon because of his day. Yee didn't think he was wrong either; Roy stumbled and flailed his weapon around like he was swinging a stick without aiming. It was obvious to anyone with even half a brain that he didn't belong at Beacon Academy. In spite of that fact, Roy was still the leader of Team RYAL, for better or worse.

Yee already knew Roy was trouble even before that fop opened his mouth. His eyes were full of racial hate towards Faunus and practically glared at him for having a tail. The only other thing in his eyes besides the hate was the overwhelming sense of pride that clouded his judgment. By contrast, Yee knew he could trust Avian because his eyes were as clear as the ocean. He was the type of person who didn't lie and spoke what was on his mind, no matter how hurtful it may have been. Graiy Lock was a little harder to read in that his eyes were always cloudy and his intentions unclear. Some times it looked like he was helping diffusing a fight between Avian and Roy, and other times it seemed as though he was purposely pitting them against each other.

Yee trusted what he could see in someone's eyes. It was why Lil' Miss Malachite picked him off the streets and taught him everything he knew now.

Which was why Shizu Obsidian scared him.

He first heard about her from Roy, who came back after getting a look at the new applicants for Beacon Academy last month with this starry-eyed look. He wouldn't shut up about this one-eyed girl called Shizu. He first saw her during Professor Goodwitch's combat class, when Avian was pitted against her. He remembered how awestruck and amazed he had been when he saw how effortlessly she defeated him. Then she went on to develop an undefeated streak that would have made even the likes of Pyrrha Nikos jealous, effortlessly trouncing anyone the Witch of Beacon sent her up against. Yet as her undefeated streak grow, the more Yee began to realize just how effortless those fights had been for her. It was like she wasn't even trying.

He wondered what sort of training she must have had, as he learned during the second week of his second year that she took the Practical Exam and was therefore self-taught, or at the very least trained by someone who knew what they were doing. Now that he got to see her up close, he understood two things. The first being that he now get why Roy was so over the moon with her; she was easily the most beautiful girl Yee ever met, even prettier than the twins who worked at the night club in downtown Vale. The second thing he learned was that she was alien. Her eye was empty—empty in that he could see nothing.

No emotion, no vestige or hint of what lay beneath that pretty face of hers or desire that flickered in her irises.

Yee couldn't see anything in her eye, and it terrified him.

His attention to the odd girl was momentarily broken when Professor Port cleared his throat. The students gave him their full attention.

"I believe I have told you all before, but this will be a three-day expedition into the very heart of the Emerald Forest," the obese man began. In spite of sounding jovial and boisterous as usual, his expression was dreadfully serious. "Many of you know what dangers lurk in the depths of the Emerald Forest, but for those unaware, be warned that some of the most dangerous Grimm are known to inhabit the very heart of this forest. We've confirmed that at least three Elder Grimm have established territories there, including a Kong Beringel."

Roy scoffed in dismissal. "I'm sure we can handle them, Professor."

No, we can't! Yee rolled his eyes and lamented for the umpteenth time that his leader was this ignoramus. Have you been paying any attention at all in Grimm Studies?!

"Bold words, Roy, but alas, we won't be hunting this time around!" Port shook his head. "No, we are instead going to set up a base camp, then seek out and record the activities of the Grimm inhabiting the area. If you encounter the Grimm and are forced into a confrontation, you have permission to engage, but in the event you come face-to-face with an Elder Grimm, you are to withdraw immediately."

Shizu nudged her head. "…understood, Professor."

"Good!"

---

The rest of the ride was uneventful. Ten minutes after the teacher's speech, Roy resumed his attempts to associate himself with Shizu. She paid him little mind and instead waited for the aircraft to arrive at its destination so she could begin her self-appointed task. Bullhead alerted the passengers that they were approaching their destination. Outside the windows was the expansive lush lands of the Emerald Forest; the ground was hidden beneath a large thicket of leaves and the trees easily as tall as two-story houses.

The Bullhead was unable to enter the thicket, though this was hardly a problem for those inside the carrier. Unlike this year's Initiation, Professor Goodwitch had requested that the students be launched into the Emerald Forest via launching pads. Jumping headfirst into the unknown was something the second-year students were used to.

Shizu followed her upperclassmen's example and leaped down into the forest below, landing in a crouch. Others landed after her. Immediately after she pulled herself up to her feet, she began a scan of the area. The surrounding area was covered in large trees and bushes. The ground was covered in broken branches and leaves. Faint indentures of footprints belonging to animals, possibly even Grimm, indicated that they were on an established route used by the forest inhabitants.

A quick look at her fellow students showed that they were all preparing for combat at a moment's notice. Yee East of Team RYAL produced some kind of short-sword with a serrated edge from his hip, grooves along the blade's surface indicating that it could separate and turn into a whip. Lester Citron, the absent Avian Rouge's teammate, wore a pair of gauntlets with claws extending out from the wrists. By contrast, Roy's weapon was pitifully average and was little more than a typical and average-look hand cannon and a three-inch knife.

A normal weapon for a normal man, she supposed.

Professor Port landed on the ground with a slight thud. Shizu swore she saw ripples across his rotund belly. "A-ahem," he cleared his throat and brought everyone's attention to him again. "Students, welcome to the heart of the Emerald Forest. Don't get comfortable, because you're getting to work. Immediately."

"You heard the man!" one of the upperclassmen grunted. "The class from last year did the same. Anybody got suggestions?"

Shizu tilted her head and looked at Yee. "Question, why does he not ask the teacher for orders?"

"Professor Port doesn't order us unless it's absolutely required," the demi-human shrugged. "For the most part, we have to work together and figure stuff out ourselves."

In other words, this excursion was a test. He wanted to see who was capable of working under pressure and possessed the capacity to work with others, or possibly see who had leadership skills among the teams. Shizu could appreciate something so simple and ingenius, though she believed the Supreme Being could do it much better than he could. Assuming the students could live up to his standards, of course.

It took about ten minutes of debate from the leaders of the seven teams, including Roy, to discuss what they would be doing. The plan for the first day was to establish a perimeter and set-up a base camp that would serve as their base for the remaining two days. Three teams would search the surrounding area for Grimm while the remaining four would go over their supplies and materials, then build the base.

Team RYAL was among the three chosen to establish a perimeter. Roy once again attempted to converse with her, but Shizu had opted to instead accompany the members chosen by the other two teams to set up the perimeter. It also gave her the excuse to meet up with her contact.

"Heya, Shizu!"

The Pleiades Battle Maid bowed her head respectfully towards her superior, Aura Bella Fiora. She had contacted the dark elf prior to her departure from Beacon with permission from Albedo, who also received permission from the Supreme Being. The giddy look on the Guardian of the Sixth Floor's face was obvious to anyone who knew Aura; she had taken up a curious hobby in collecting Grimm when she was allowed to. It reached the point where any Grimm not taken by Demiurge for experimentation and study was left to roam the grounds of Nazarick, patrolling the area alongside the lesser skeletons and undead that defended the tomb's entrance.

Beowolves prowled the grounds of the Great Tomb, ordered to howl when they sniffed the approach of a possible invader. Nevermores surveyed the skies and kept a careful eye out for anyone that may attempt to spy on the area from the sky. Creeps and King Taijitsu were stationed outside the grounds; the Creeps were positioned in places the Supreme Being believed would be the most ideal for invaders to intrude on Nazarick while the Taijitsu were placed in the trees nearby, meant to attack and snare the poor unsuspecting fool who alerted the Creeps below ground.

There were plans to increase the number of Grimm stationed around the Great Tomb using the Grimm Aura tamed, using Grimm from other regions as well. With Elder Grimm known to inhabit the depths of the Emerald Forest, it was both an opportunity to increase Shizu's standing and for Aura to aid in Demiurge's studies of the black creatures.

"…Lady Aura," Shizu greeted respectfully. "Were there any problems on your way here?"

Aura waved a hand in dismissal. "Nah, nothing like that. I pretty much just got here. Lord Ainz ordered Shalltear to open a [Gate] for me to make things easier." She glanced around the Emerald Forest, her mismatched eyes taking in what the forest held and what dangers may be lurking within its holdings. "Ooh, nice~ I might get some nice Grimm here. You said these Elder Grimm hang out around these parts?"

"Yes. Three Elder Grimm are known to inhabit this part of the Emerald Forest; a Kong Beringel, Emperor Deathstalker, and a Torres Nevermore."

Aura's smile widened. "A Beringel? That's the monkey-looking one, right?" Shizu nodded in confirmation. "I haven't had much luck finding one of those, even though they're supposed to inhabit the area the Great Tomb is in. Demiurge hasn't had a chance to study an Elder Grimm either, so this is a good opportunity! Hey, if you run into a normal Beringel, see if you can knock it out or lead it away from the rest of your group, okay?"

"…understood, Lady Aura."

3

Roy was beginning to grow impatient.

Things had started decently enough; Shizu had taken his offer to join Team RYAL on the excursion and Avian stayed behind. The teacher didn't seem to mind it all that much, but he did encourage Roy to look after her since he was the upperclassmen and she joined his team and was therefore his responsibility.

The red-head had a plan all thought up in his mind, a means to get Shizu Obsidian to look his way and fall for him. Despite his best attempts, she never followed the script. Had he not known any better, he would have thought that he didn't exist in her eyes. That wasn't possible. How could anyone ignore him? The guy who was going to succeed his father and become a member of the Valean Council? Or maybe there was something wrong with his approach?

He sat by the campfire, his head dipped in thought while searching for a way to get Shizu to notice him differently. She was acting distantly, rarely interacting with him or the other students unless she was spoken to. A quick glance around the site showed him that she wasn't present.

"Where did Shizu go?"

"She took up first watch for the night," the flea bag told him neutrally as he performed maintenance on his guns. "Somebody from DYRT offered, but she insisted."

Roy didn't bother hiding his snort. Ozpin must have been running out of colors to name if he was calling a team "dirt," though in this case he couldn't blame him. They were so painfully mediocre he didn't bother to remember their names.

He pushed those thoughts aside, realizing they were distracting him. He went over what he knew about Shizu Obsidian and what he could do to get her by his side. If he remembered right, she grew up in Anima and lived in a village that was attacked by Grimm and lost her family. She was then taken in by her uncle, some no-named CEO of a company that would crash and burn in a few months time, and was home-schooled.

That was that. He knew nothing else.

Roy clicked his tongue in frustration. Why was this so aggravating? Why couldn't this be so much simpler? Maybe he should try taking Shizu by force? No, wait. If he did that, he'd just end up in trouble with both the school authorities and his father. He had to be smart about this. He couldn't just make that doll his woman, he needed to make sure she would obey him and only him and worship the ground he walked on and make love to him all night long.

Easier said than done of course, but he had at least two more years ahead of him. Plenty of time to find her weaknesses; where he could strike, what he could take advantage of, etc.

"Hey, cherry boy! Wipe that stupid look off your face, it's fucking creepy!"

Roy's face turned blood red in anger as he glared at one of the pissants who dared call him that. "Say that to my face, bastard!"

The flea bag stood up and immediately put himself between the two. "H-hey, calm down will you?! Do you want the Grimm to come down on top of us?"

"Shut up! Don't tell me what to do!"

The leader of Team DYRT gave a contemptuous glare at Roy. Like he was better than him.

No one is better than me! No one, you hear me?!

They were wrong; all of them were wrong. His trainers, his teachers, even Ozpin. His father was the only one who believed in him. He was destined for greatness.

Nothing was going to stop him from becoming a Huntsman. No one, especially these worthless pieces of trash!

---

The night was ultimately uneventful for the students. The Grimm were never sighted anywhere near their camp and they were well-rested for their foray into the Emerald Forest. Unbeknownst to them, Shizu had spent the night leading the Grimm near the camp into a place where Aura could use her Ranger skills to tame them. They succeeded to taming several Beowolves and Creeps, along with the occasional insectoid-like Grimm that Shizu identified as Lancers from Professor Port's lectures. They were mainly seen near the coastal shores of Mistral, mostly in the floating islands suspended by Gravity Dust.

That reminded her to look into any possible uses Gravity Dust may have. If it could prove to be beneficial to Nazarick and used in synergy with spells, it would be useful to use.

"Good, you're all well-rested!" Professor Port looked upon the group with scrutiny. Most of his attention seemed to be on Teams RYAL and DYRT, mainly the leaders of the respective teams. Roy was unconcerned with the look and ignored it while DYRT's leader accepted the disapproval for what it was. "Consider yourselves fortunate, children. It is not very often that the Grimm aren't craving for your blood right about now. Even among their kind, the demons that prowl these parts of the Emerald Forest are known to be fiercely territorial."

"But, we can discuss that later. For now, let's focus on what is important. This is your second day here, and it is the day you earn your credit!" The teacher removed seven items from his person. They resembled badges with blue crosses engraved on the front. "These are tracking beacons that will automatically sync with your Scrolls, and it will tell me where you all are during our stay here. There are seven teams here, but we will form into four groups. Two teams will travel together, and the remaining seventh Team will be partnering with yours truly. And I fully expect you to behave."

Shizu tilted her head. "Pardon the interruption, but is that wise?"

"The first year has a point, Prof!" one of her upperclassmen agreed with her. "Wouldn't we be cramping your style?"

Professor Port laughed. "Thank you for the concern, but I will be quite alright. After all, I will have four up and coming Hunters at my side. Now then, form into your groups everyone! And make it quick. We set out in ten minutes!"

As Shizu expected, Team RYAL had difficulties allying themselves with one of the remaining six teams due to her being here and Roy's unpleasant attitude. They doubted her ability in spite of what she demonstrated to them in Combat Class, and Roy was disliked by a large majority of those present. In the end, Team RYAL was left by themselves while the remaining six formed into parties of four, all comprising of eight members.

Roy's expression made it very clear he did not wish to be partnered with the teacher. It proved to her that he was too arrogant and full of himself despite not displaying any noteworthy qualities. Even his Raccoon demi-human teammate held more worth than he did. The only benefit to this was that there were less people in the party for Shizu to worry about when she went off in search of the Elder Grimm and bring them to Aura. For now, she would play the waiting game and await the opportune moment to make her move.

The parties of four all spread out to cover more ground. Professor Port's party took to the middle path and the straight-forward path into the forest depths. The teacher walked ahead of the group, his weapon held firmly in hand. It seemed fairly simple in construction; a blunderbuss with blades belonging on an ax on either side of the stock. It was not elaborate or fancy like the other weapons Shizu had seen, though appearances were deceiving. All it would take is a quick [Appraise Item] for her to determine its true strength.

Roy and the remaining two members of RYAL trailed behind him. Yee East positioned himself on the eastern flank and Lester Citron on the western flank. She had taken up the rear and remained vigilant. There did not appear to be any Grimm nearby, but she could not discount the possibility that they were in hiding or keeping their distance, aware that the prey wandering in their territory was more dangerous than most.

In spite of the danger and seriousness of the situation, Roy seemed completely at ease and attempted to pursue a conversation with her yet again, much to her confusion. Why was Roy so determined to speak with her?

"So tell me, Shizu, what's your uncle like?"

Shizu looked Roy in the eye. He stumbled back as if startled. Warning bells went off in her head and assumed he was aware of the Supreme Being integrating himself into human society. She glanced at the other members and the teacher. Only Leon seemed vaguely interested in what they were discussing.

"…why do you wish to know?" Shizu inquired. If Roy was aware of 'Momon Obsidian's true identity, then she had to eliminate him first chance she had.

Roy gave a shrug. "I'm just curious is all. I've been hearing about a brand new company that showed up in Vale that's in a partnership with the SDC, and I noticed the CEO and you share the same surname."

His words did not ease Shizu's suspicions. There was clearly something else at play here. Was he trying to fish for information? Carefully considering her choices and words, Shizu replied.

"My uncle is like anyone else in Remnant. Simple and ordinary, but with an ambition. As I understand it, ambition is required in the world of businesses and politics."

"That's putting it mildly," Lester snorted, overhearing the conversation. "Hell, some days politics and business have sleepovers. Shit gets annoying when it's all people talk about. What kind of business does your uncle do?"

"Dust. He received sponsorship and financial aid from the Schnee Dust Corporation when he discovered an untapped Dust resource mine and presented it to the CEO. In exchange for a sixty-five profit cut, the SDC agreed to help fund Obsidian Industries so long as it produces results."

Roy hummed. The look in his eyes told her he was not impressed by what he heard. "In other words, it's just another subsidiary organization. I hate to say it, Shizu, but I'm afraid your uncle's business won't last for very long."

Shizu understood what he meant. The Supreme Being had even mentioned the possibility when he discussed his plans to integrate into society when it was her turn to act as Lord Ainz's maid for the day. If the company did not provide good results, it would be decimated before it had any chance to stand on its own two feet. On the other hand, if it proved to be competent, then the SDC would take its assets and absorb its workers into his own company, scattering them to places he believed their talents would prove beneficial to his own organization.

What Shizu elected not to inform Roy of was that Obsidian Industries would not be dealing in only Dust. If Roy proved hostile, exposing this information had the potential of ruining the Supreme Being's plans and did not want that to happen.

Roy was about to ask something again, but Shizu came to a halt as she heard pings go off in the back of her mind. The Grimm were on the move.

"Shizu?" Yee looked over his shoulder, noticing that said girl and Roy stopped. "Roy? What's up?"

"Movement," Shizu replied as she slid the strap of her gun off her shoulder and into her hands. "Grimm. Six in total. Approaching North-East. Right flank."

Lester frowned. "What are you…"

Professor Peter Port held a hand up to stop him. He glanced at her for a moment, studying her features before he set the butt of his gun against the ground and pressed his ear against it.

"…Miss Obsidian, by your estimate, what kind of Grimm are on the move?"

Shizu closed her eye. "They are approaching on all fours. Movements and vibrations suggest Ursa and Beowolves. Two are heavier than the others. Possibly Ursa Major and Alpha Beowolf."

"Holy shit, you can tell all that just by vibrations?" the "L" of Team RYAL stared at her incredulously. "How the hell?"

Professor Peter Port stood up and brandished his weapon. "Gentlemen! And lady," he said after a pause. "Prepare yourselves. The hunt is on!"

A minute of waiting, anxiety and anticipation. Then the Grimm emerged in full view. True to Shizu's observations, there were six Grimm attacking them; all demonic dogs and large bears with black fur, red eyes, and white bone-like masks over their faces. Four were recognizable, but the two at the head of the pack were the apparent leaders. One Beowolf was larger than the others, it's spikes more prominent and white plates spread across its body like armor. Large blades sprouted from its forearms. Its grizzly counterpart was twice the size of the bears behind it, the spikes on its back longer and larger with white plates surrounding the spikes and its backside.

Shizu recognized the Ursa Major easily enough, but the Beowolf was a new one. She briefly pondered whether or not she could lead it away and transport it to Aura, but current circumstances prevented that.

Professor Port recognized it and grimaced. "An Omega Beowolf, hm? This could prove to be a challenge! Students, leave this dog to me! The rest are all yours!"

With a bellow, Professor Port moved with speed betraying his obese form, clashing with the Omega Beowolf that was roaring in his face. His ax met its blades and the two were locked in combat.

This was the signal for both parties to assault each other. Lester and Yee both faced a Beowolf and Ursa respectively while Roy frantically dodged and evaded the Beowolf chasing after him. The Ursa Major moved to join up with it and kill the red-haired human, but Shizu stood between them with her rifle's muzzle primed at its forehead.

"Advisement, I would not recommend this course of action," she advised despite knowing the enemy would not heed her warning.

The Alpha Grimm stared at her, head tilted in confusion as it knew her true nature upon contact, but its hesitation was removed moments later in favor of hostility. It lunged and swiped at her. She countered with her rifle, shrugging it off and kicking it square in the chest. She used just enough strength to not kill it outright, but enough to cave in its chest and leave it pinned to the ground.

She closed the distance and situated herself atop the beast. A pull of the trigger and a bullet pierced its skull. Confirming her kill, Shizu turned her attention to Team RYAL.

As expected second-year students, they were running circles around their opponents. Lester Citron dodged the swipes and bites of the Beowolf, countering each attack with a well-time strike from his gauntlets. The claws extending out from the gauntlets sliced and dug into the Grimm's sides. He attacked relentlessly when given the opportunity, capitalizing on their weaknesses and blind spots.

In contrast to his teammate's straightforward method of countering, Yee East was attacking defensively. True to her expectations, his sword separated into pieces and reformed into a whip-sword, each piece attached by shimmering black tubes she suspected to be Gravity Dust. The blade was sturdy and large enough to completely deflect the large swings of the Ursa, giving Yee time to back away and strike from a distance. His blows were aimed at the Grimm's limbs in an attempt to impede its movements. One swing cut deep enough into its ankle that the Ursa stumbled, allowing Yee to slice off its foot.

Professor Port was akin to a tank. Every now and then the Omega Beowolf scored a blow, but either the teacher's Aura or sheer determination made him withstand the blow without even flinching and counterattacked just as hard. The plates provided the Grimm with excellent defenses, but judging by how the Beowolf's body seem to tremble each time the blade struck it, it was clear that it wasn't entirely resistant. It was like watching a battle between titans; the one who retreated for even a moment would be dead. It was simply a matter of who could withstand the most punishment.

Roy's performance against the remaining lesser Beowolf was less than stellar. He swung his weapon awkwardly and pranced about like a chicken with its head cut off, shooting with wild abandon. It was miraculous that none of his shots even so much as hit his teammates in the act of friendly fire. The Beowolf seemed to grow more and more agitated with each act of tomfoolery and launched itself at him. Roy tripped and fell flat on his back, leaving him vulnerable prey to his enemy. The Beowolf landed atop his body and clamped its claws down on his sword arm. It opened its mouth wide and went in to tear out his neck.

Shizu could not allow Roy to die. Not out of altruistic reasons, but out of value for what he represented and what he may know. It was better to keep him alive and get the information from him that way. That, and she didn't want to waste Nazarick's time trying to revive him. There wasn't a guarantee it would work, and even if it did, bringing the dead back to life would just cause needless complications for her.

She closed the distance between them in an instant. She grabbed the Beowolf by the scruff of its neck and pulled it off of Roy before throwing it aside like trash. Its body bounced off the ground like a ragdoll, eventually rolling into a crouch and growling at her for interfering with its attempt to murder the red-haired teen. She responded with a bullet to the head, killing the opposition in an instant.

The Grimm fell to the ground and began to slowly dissolve into black particles. Confirming the kill, Shizu looked behind her and down at Roy, who was staring at her. "…are you injured?"

"…no?"

He sounded dazed, but he did not appear to be wounded anywhere. Shizu chose to direct her attention to the others and saw that they were still battling their respective Grimm; it was clear by the sluggish state of the lesser Grimm that they were going to die eventually while the Omega Beowolf was still holding out strong. It was just that its battle with Professor Port was more of a stalemate: Human and Grimm evenly matched.

Rather than interfere, Shizu allowed them to fight unaided for the sake of gathering data. The battles ended after a minute of fighting had passed. Lester rammed his armored fist into the Beowolf's neck and dragged his claws through its throat and followed up by grabbing the wound with both hands and proceeded to tear the Beowolf's head clean off through sheer strength alone. Yee wrapped his whip-sword's length around the Ursa's neck and tugged, slicing it clean off and ending the threat in an instant when he saw the wounds he inflicted earlier slow it to a halt.

The stalemate between the Omega Beowolf and Professor Port ended when the armored wolf made the fatal mistake of going in for a thrust, aiming for the teacher's belly. Port side-stepped and switched his weapon into gun form, firing a round straight into its skull. It did not appear to do any damage and instead served to disorientate it. Professor Port seized the opportunity and wrapped his burly arms around the Omega Beowolf's neck. His face turned red while his veins bulged, the fabric of his sleeves straining to withstand his muscles that were wrapped tightly around the neck of his quarry. The wolf howled and snarled and thrashed about in his grasp, but it was all for night.

Twenty seconds later, a loud snap echoed through the air. The Omega Beowolf went limp in his arms and was unceremoniously dumped on the ground, where it began to slowly dissolve into black wisps of smoke.

"…well, that was a thing!" Yee tried to make light of the situation. No one appeared amused. "Okay, I guess that's not appropriate right now."

Lester swung his sword in an arc. The blades reattached themselves and fell back into place, becoming whole once again. After he stored his weapon on his hip, he marched up towards Shizu with a look of anger. "What the hell was that? I saw you kill those Grimm easy, barely took you a second, but you just stood there!"

"You were fully capable of handling yourself," Shizu replied back calmly. "I saw no reason to intervene. If it was necessary, I would have stepped in if the situation called for it."

Her answer did not please Lester in the slightest if the way his face turned scarlet was of any indication. Before he could commit an act of violence, Yee stepped between the two. "Whoa, hey hey hey! Chill out, Lest!"

"Listen to your teammate, Mister Citron," Professor Port advised. "The last thing we need is for another nasty surprise such as that coming down on our heads. As Shizu stated, there was no real reason for her to intervene; you all handled yourselves admirable in battle." He turned to look at Shizu. "That being said, there is nothing wrong with stepping in if you believe things are looking bleak for them or if you are concerned. You may not be a full-fledged member of Team RYAL, Miss Obsidian, but you are their teammate. You must learn to watch their backs, just as they will be watching yours."

Unnecessary in her opinion, given that she was stronger than they were, but she could understand the meaning behind his words. "…understood, Professor Port."

The teacher looked placated for the moment. He gave the group a curt nod before he turned on his heel. "Onward, students! Chances are, any Grimm nearby will have heard the gunfire and attempt to investigate for possible threats to their territory. We will have to push deeper."

Lester still looked angry with her, but otherwise he reigned in any negativity he was housing for her and stomped after Professor Port. Yee gave her a sheepish smile and bowed his head in gratitude for saving Roy and chased after him. Said cherry-haired boy was still staring at Shizu with something she couldn't quite discern, like she was a puzzle he could not solve, and shook his head. He rejoined with his team and she followed, returning to their original formation.

From there, their venture into the Emerald Forest was otherwise uneventful as it was without opportunities. Any Grimm they encountered along the way were Grimm Shizu already tamed and in Nazarick, though Aura did say she was not adverse to taming more. There was no chance for her to slip away and lead the Grimm to Aura, but she noticed that as they went further and further into the forest, the vegetation seemed to recede. Signs of civilizations long past began to grow more prominent. Shrubs and overgrowth swarmed and encroached buildings not made of stone, straw and wood.

The party eventually stopped at what she assumed was a plaza of some kind, given that there was the remains of a fountain entangled in vines and tree roots.

"We'll stop here for the moment," Professor Port told them. "Take five, everyone!"

Yee sighed with relief and collapsed on the spot. "Finally! My dogs are barking at me."

"Oh, quit your whining, man. This is nowhere near as bad as when we had to go hiking from last year," Lester rolled his eyes and ignored the crude gesture his teammate sent his way. He took a moment to look at their surroundings and take in the sights. "Man, these buildings are old. I'm surprised none of this is half-buried in the ground by now."

"It's old as dirt, that's for sure!" Roy plopped down on the fountain and set his gear down next to his feet, taking the opportunity to relax after fighting for so long. "This place doesn't look like it's from before the Great War, though."

Professor Port nodded strongly in agreement. "That is correct, Roy! As you can see, Mother Nature has had plenty of time to reclaim what was once a territory of mankind. As for how old these ruins really are, that's where your extra credit comes in. Why not head inside and see what you can find?"

"What're we looking for, exactly?"

"Anything, really. Plates, pottery, even silverware if they have it. Even the most mundane of items has a story to tell, gentlemen! …and ladies."

Shizu did not join the rest of Team RYAL as they began to explore the area. They dispersed and entered the buildings in search of valuables and treasures. Instead, she chose to stand guard and keep a close eye on their belongings in the event someone came by and attempted to take their items, however unlikely the possibility was. She estimated that they were at least sixty miles away from Beacon Academy and she found no other students in the vicinity. No doubt they were so far apart from one another that they were in different parts of the forest depths.

Taking the opportunity presented to her, Shizu looked over at Professor Port. The man had not yet demonstrated abilities similar to Lady Yamaiko, but she could not discount the idea that he was purposely hiding his true abilities. His mannerisms in combat were a stark contrast to his personality in school, making her wonder if he purposely acted that way to make the students drop their guard while what she saw out here was his true nature.

"If I might be allowed to ask, Shizu, why did you choose to enroll at Beacon?" Professor Port asked her suddenly.

Shizu tilted her head. "…I do not understand."

"I don't wish to be rude, I'm merely curious is all," he told her gently, thinking he may have offended her somehow. "Granted, Beacon is often the more popular choice, but there are other academies. Shade isn't exactly big on rules, per say, but the Huntsmen produced there are a hardy bunch. And contrary to what you may think, there are active Huntsman in Atlas, some of which graduated from Atlas Academy. Unless I'm mistaken, you were born on Anima, is that correct? Wouldn't you have chosen to attend Haven instead of Beacon?"

The question was not without its merits. In truth, even she did not understand why Lord Ainz chose Beacon Academy to be infiltrated. Logically speaking, based on what Nazarick had learned since their arrival on Anima, Atlas was the greater threat due to their technological advancements and military dominance, so it would have made much more sense for him to have her infiltrate Atlas instead. She did not question the Supreme Being's decision and believed it was all part of a grander design, perhaps related to his intention to integrate into the public.

Shizu carefully thought about how her answer may affect the teacher's outlook of her in the future or if it may cause complications. He already proved himself to be more keen than she initially thought, so there was a possibility that he may be able to see through any lie she would spin. If he saw her lie, he may doubt her reasons for attending Beacon Academy and have her put under surveillance, or at the very least, keep an watchful eye on her.

After going through a list of answers in her head, she chose the one that wasn't quite a lie, but not quite the truth either.

"…Beacon was my only choice."

Professor Port raised a brow at her answer and looked as if he wanted to know more about her answer. Instead he shook his head and turned his attention elsewhere. Namely on the place that earned the most attention from himself and her.

While there was a great deal of plant-life and greenery consuming the ruins around them, the same could not be said about the structure that sat in the distance, untouched by mother nature. It stood there solemnly amid the thick trees and leaves, hiding it away from sight.

"What is that place?" Shizu inquired.

Professor Port rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he recalled one of his discussions with his colleague before he left Beacon. "Bart mentioned that, during attempts to excavate what the Historical Arts and Research Committee believed was a pre-Remnant settlement, there were several signs that indicated Vale was once home to an ancient civilization dating back hundreds, if not thousands of years ago. I believe we're looking at the home of the monarchy of that time. Given the region we're in and the state of the area, unless I'm mistaken, this could very well be the former home of the Sapphire Queen."

"Sapphire Queen?"

"One of the Three Rulers of Remnant, or so the ancient texts say," the teacher explained. "Alongside the Savage King and the Gray Emperor, the Sapphire Queen ruled over the populace. I believe her domains encompassed Vale and Mistral. She was a fair and just queen who listened to the troubles that plagued her subjects, but she was unforgiving to any who dared to earn her ire."

Shizu recalled learning of these figures from Doctor Oobleck's lectures the other day. She wondered why it was that these figures were only known by their titles and never by their names, but she assumed it was because they were lost to history.

Gazing upon the castle that was once home to the so-called Sapphire Queen, Shizu wondered what lay inside its halls and why the earth had not claimed it. Was there something special about this place or was someone maintaining it in secret? If so, why only the castle and not the rest of the area? Did it boast some kind of special significance? The more Shizu pondered, the more curious she grew. She looked at Professor Port and silenced her unspoken question, seeing the thoughtful look on the man's face that more or less told her what their next course of action would be once Team RYAL reconvened.

A ping echoed in her head.

"…I will be gone for a short time," Shizu informed Professor Port as she stood up.

"Off to join your fellows?"

Shizu shook her head. "Bathroom."

His cheeks turned rosy red and awkwardly coughed in his hand. "I-I see… Take as much time as you need, but please stay vigilant. I couldn't tell you how many Huntsmen and Huntresses died caught with their pants down, both metaphorically and literally speaking."

She gave a nod of understand and walked away from the makeshift rest site. After putting some distance between her and the rest site and ensuring no one was nearby, Shizu connected to Aura.

"…Lady Aura," she greeted the Floor Guardian. "Has there been a change?"

[Sort of. I've more or less collected enough Grimm on my end over here,] Aura informed her cheerfully. [I wasn't able to find any Beringels though, which is a shame. I was able to collect a few Lancers, so I guess that's a fair trade off. Anyway, where are you right now?]

"I am positioned near an old castle, thirteen miles from the campsite."

[Ooh, lucky for me! See, I had some of my familiars scout ahead, and they told me there's a pretty wicked looking Grimm hiding out inside the castle! Problem is they couldn't get it to come out. Think you can prod it and bring it over to me?]

Shizu frowned slightly. "That may be difficult, with Team RYAL and Professor Port present. However, I will do what I can to deliver this Grimm to you. May I have its description?"

4

Team RYAL returned with a marvelous bounty of items, most of which was mainly dirty old silverware and pottery that was barely intact or shattered all to hell. That said, history was history, so even a few broken pieces of a pot could be valuable.

At least, that was Lester's opinion.

"Excellent work, boys!" Professor Port beamed at them, making his chest swell with pride. Yee looked a little pleased with himself while Roy just stood there, looking as obsessed with that one-eyed girl as ever. "Looks like you'll be receiving quite a few credits for this! Oh, how Barty is going to swoon over the moon when he sees what you've gathered. I trust there were no problems?"

"None whatsoever!" Roy reported with his ever-cocky smile present. Or as cocky as it could get after having been chased around by Grimm and failing to kill so much as a single one during the whole time they've been out here. Each and every time they had to save his ass. Lester didn't mind it very much if it meant he could get into Roy's good graces while Yee was incredibly annoyed by the whole thing.

Shizu, on the other hand, just stood there like she was bored with everything, making him scowl inwardly.

Lester was among the group of second-years that were angry with her apparent status as a rising star in spite of the news that she didn't have her Aura unlocked. They saw her in battle multiple times in Goodwitch's classes, but her neutral expression and overall demeanor made them infuriated. They trained their whole lives to get where they are now, some more than others. Lester himself spent every waking moment, since the day he could swing a wooden sword, to becoming a Huntsman. He was among those who fought and trained to get at where they're at now. In his eyes, Shizu Obsidian was one of those who simply had the talent needed to get ahead in life.

Such individuals angered Lester greatly, feeling as though they were cheating simply for being gifted. It was partially because of this view that he considered himself a "friend" to Roy. It was clear to anyone with half a brain that the poor guy couldn't fight worth a damn, but he made up for it with his zeal and ambition. Lester thought that having a guy like that as a friend could land him in high places one day, so he did whatever it took to earn his favor. Including roughing up a few students like Yee who Roy thought were an eyesore.

He didn't voice his thoughts about how he didn't want Shizu to come with them to the Emerald Forest expedition because of how obsessed Roy was with this girl for reasons he couldn't understand. Sure, she had a pretty face, but there was more than just looks!

Then again, Roy was a weirdo.

"Are we heading back out on the path, Professor Port?" Yee asked.

To their surprise, the obese man shook his head and laughed. "We're going to deviate from the beaten path for a while, my boy." He turned his gaze to the castle in the distance. "We're going to investigate that castle and see what we can find. I imagine it will have numerous priceless artifacts and historical texts, and just as many Grimm. In which case, I must ask that you all stay together remain extra vigilant. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir!" three-fourths of Team RYAL saluted.

Professor Port showed his teeth. "Excellent news! Onward, team!"

---

It was fortuitous for Shizu that Professor Port decided to have them investigate the castle, given the request Aura gave her moments before she reconvened with RYAL. She originally intended on breaking away from the group once they got closer to the castle, give the excuse that she wanted to investigate something she saw, but it was no longer necessary with their current directive. Looking at the castle, Shizu wondered why the Grimm had taken up residency and did not rise to the provocations of Aura's familiars. This information suggested to her that it was intelligent to some degree, but how intelligent, she could not be sure.

The march was filled with excitement from those on Team RYAL. Professor Port was lightly tapping with a spring in his step and humming some tune while the others merely chatted among themselves. She remained in the back as usual, keeping a close eye out for any Grimm that may attack them without warning.

They eventually arrived at the main gates of the castle. The drawbridge was in remarkably good condition in spite of the rot and broken bits of wood sticking out from its surface. The same could not be said about the chains keeping the drawbridge in place as they were coated in a thick layer of rust nor the banners that hung from either side of the gate, tattered and marred with dirt and grime. The entrance was littered with chunks of debris; the crumbling remains of the castle from countless years of abandonment and disuse. It was amazing how it was still standing in spite of the condition it was in.

Now much closer to the castle, Shizu could see that the castle walls were cracked and torn open, numerous holes decorating the sides of what she assumed was the main part of the castle while the tower looked as though it was on the verge of tilting and falling off from where it was placed.

Oddly, the air was clear and odorless. The smells of Mother Nature, the forest and rain were nowhere present. She felt lighter on her feat for some reason.

"Man, this place is really coming down," Yee looked around the castle grounds after passing through the main gate. They entered what they assumed was the courtyard and found the main entrance not far away from them, one of the doors already opened in greeting while the other had been ripped off its hinges and laid flat on the ground, demolished and smashed with claw marks. "The Grimm must have had a field day in here."

"Question, were the Grimm present in pre-Vytal history?" Shizu asked the demi-human.

He shrugged. "Maybe? I have no idea, I didn't pay much attention to the doc's lectures."

"Where do we even start looking in this place?" Lester asked. "It's gonna take us ages to comb the place! And how the hell are we gonna stash all the stuff we find?"

---

The intrusion of the Beacon Students and teacher had not gone unnoticed.

In the windows that peered into the outside world and gazed down upon the courtyard, a pair of red eyes watched the group enter with anticipation and excitement, giving a low growl before they peeled away from the windows and retreated down the hall. Navigating through the winding corridors that made up the castle interior, the Grimm eventually reached its destination.

It slipped inside the room housing the new lord of the castle, the great demon who took up residency when the humans suddenly vanished and left them to their own devices. Whereas many of their kind roamed the lands in search of prey, this one elected to stay behind and hone its craft. It, like many of its elder brethren, was capable of higher thought. In fact, it was capable of thinking like a human.

Hundreds of thousands of years it waited in this place, killing any who dared to intrude upon its domain. It didn't matter if it was a Grimm who wandered in out of mere curiosity or even a human. There was no distinction; all were enemies before it, save those of its brood who swore it fealty.

The Beowolf lowered itself and looked down upon the floor, giving a low growl. It too possessed intelligence, but unlike the lord, it was not at the same level as the Elder Grimm or the Alphas. It possessed enough wits to understand what purpose the humans entering the castle had and reported as much to the lord with a snarl.

It did not dare look up, not even as it heard the warped, ragged rasps of the castle's lord. The clinking of armor echoed across the chamber. Faintly, the Grimm saw the lord wave its hand in dismissal.

The Beowolf turned and left the throne room, its purpose clear.

There was no pity for the foolish humans who dared wandered into the domain of the castle's lord. Only anticipation for their light to be snuffed from this world.

---

Not long after they entered the castle did Shizu detect the presence of numerous Grimm. Their numbers were almost startling; over sixty were inhabiting the castle, primarily Beowolves and Creeps and Lancers, but there was one Grimm amid her analytic abilities that seemed different from the others. It did not move from its spot in spite of it sensing their presence and instead seemed content where it was, as if waiting for them to come to it.

That must be the Grimm Lady Aura spoke of, Shizu concluded with a nod.

Curiously, the Grimm moving about were not converging on their location. Instead they were falling into what appeared to be a formation of some kind. This implied they possessed a good deal of intelligence—not to the extent of Elder Grimm, but otherwise capable of thought. Perhaps she could deliver these Grimm to Aura as well?

For the time being, Shizu saw no reason to alert the teacher or Team RYAL of this development and instead remained silent.

The party stood in what appeared to be the main hall. Were it not for the broken chandelier left discarded on the ground and the chunks of brick and stone littering the velvet carpet laid out on the ground it would have looked very much like Nazarick's Throne Room, albeit less elaborate and grandiose the Supreme Beings created. The stairwell at the back of the hall lead up to the second floor and stopped in front of a large portrait; a woman garbed in a regal-looking white-and-red dress. Her hair was tied back into an elaborate bun, a gold headdress atop her head with red tassels dangling from both ends. Her face bore a gentle smile, but her eyes conveyed a sense of thinly-veiled danger.

"That must be the Sapphire Queen," Lester studied the portrait intensely. "Dang, she's a real beauty. Shame we can't bring this thing back with thus, though." The portrait was far too big, requiring either someone with significant strength or two people to carry it out, and given that they were in enemy territory, there was no guarantee the portrait would be safe in any skirmish that came their way.

Yee looked around the hall. There were three doors—four technically. Two were on the first floor and two were situated on the second floor, though one was barred by a pile of rubble. It would be easy to push the rubble out of the way, but he was fearful that one false move would have the entire castle crumbling down upon their heads. He doubted the castle was stable in any way and expected a chunk of stone to come falling atop his head any minute.

"So, how are we going to explore this place?" Lester turned back to his team and teacher. "It'll take way too long if we stick together, right Prof?"

Professor Port nodded. "That is correct, yes. There is strength in numbers, but at the same time, we cannot afford to dilly-dally for too long!" He removed the pocketwatch stuffed in his trousers and looked at the time. "We must reconvene with the rest of the students in a few hours."

"In that case, why not split into teams of two?" Roy suggested. Shizu noted that his odd smile was back as he glanced her way. "One of us stays with you, and the rest of us go off on our own?"

"Are you sure that is wise, Roy?"

"We aren't babies, Professor! We're Huntsmen! The next generation of warriors defending Remnant!"

Professor Port appeared doubtful of Roy's claims, but otherwise accented to his suggestion with a nod. "If you're that confident in your abilities, then I suppose there is no problem. However, should you run into any trouble, any at all-!"

"We know the drill," Lester held up his Scroll. "We'll contact you if things get dicey."

"If that's all settled, then-!"

Professor Port interrupted Roy. "I trust you have no problems working with this old man for the time being, Shizu?"

Shizu nodded. "I accept."

"W-what? B-but I was-"

Lester put a hand on the dejected cherry-haired teen's shoulder and shook his head. Roy seemed upset about something, but it soon faded into frustration. He was clearly unhappy that Professor Port requested her to join him for the time being, but the reasons why were none of her concern.

The way she saw it, this was an excellent opportunity to gather more data on Peter Port and determine his true strength, assuming he was indeed holding back to hide his actual prowess.

With their roles set, the party split and went their separate ways. Team RYAL ascended up the stairs and into the second floor while Shizu and Professor Port went about investigating the first floor. They entered the left wing and stepped into a long corridor that no doubt stretched around the entire castle. The floor beneath their feet was checkered and coated in bits of rubble. The walls were cracked, but were otherwise intact. Suits of armor, elaborate and bulky not unlike the ones worn by defensively-based players, laid strewn about and discarded. Some pieces were untouched, but others were crushed or torn open by claws and fangs.

The Grimm moving about the castle were ignoring her and the Professor, possibly thinking that they weren't a threat or they were not important. Instead they moved about to corner Team RYAL. But why them? Were they ignoring Professor Port and herself because they knew they were a bigger threat and were ignoring them for that reason, or did they recognize Team RYAL was the weakest link?

The death of a few students would complicate things for Beacon and possibly herself, but on the other hand, Shizu was fascinated by this newfound behavior. These movements suggested they were being led by something. An Alpha. Possibly even an Elder Grimm.

I will observe for the moment, she decided. If things get out of hand, I shall inform Professor Port.

Without arousing suspicion unto herself, of course.

"We'll start in this room."

Professor Port stepped into the first room on the left-hand side of the hall. It appeared to be the dining room if the long rectangular table in the center, smashed down the middle and in halves, was of any indication. Plates were left shattered on the floor. On the far corner of the room was a pot in pieces, the soil in a perfect mound and the plant sitting comfortably in the soil.

Shizu approached the broken pot and the soil. "What is it, Shizu?" Professor Port walked over to her and peered over her shoulder in curiosity. His brow reached the center of his forehead. "My word…"

Plant life was growing in the soil—or rather it was perfectly preserved. A beautiful set of flowers and roses were sprouting from the pot, matched by herbs native from Mistralian regions.

"Has someone been maintaining this place?" Professor Port wondered aloud. "But, why not replace the pot, then?"

Shizu shook her head. "Preserved by time." Professor Port looked at her. "Little plant life and dust have overtaken the castle. The armor bears no rust despite being left abandoned for many years."

"Hm, you bear an excellent point, little miss. Even so, how is such a thing possible? Not the work of a Semblance, surely. But, if not that, then what? Is this place special somehow?"

Shizu shrugged. She did not detect any spells in effect, so whatever it was about this place, it was natural to Remnant.

Perhaps Lord Ainz would be interested in learning about this place? She imagined he would be greatly curious about the nature of such a place. And with it so far away from civilization, maybe it could serve some sort of purpose.

Ah. I wonder if I am being presumptuous in my thoughts…

---

This was not what I had planned!

"Shit, Roy, calm down," the boot licker told him to his irritation. "Look, you got plenty of chances to score with that chick. You'll get your chance."

Roy scowled heavily while glaring daggers at his teammate. The boot licker seemed to get the message and stepped away while raising his hands in defense.

Nothing Roy had planned out for this trip was working. All of his plans so far had gone out the window. He had tried everything to get Shizu's attention, but nothing was working! If he hadn't known any better he could swear she was barely giving him the time of day and was more focused on something else. It was like she had a one-tracked mind! He just couldn't understand what he was doing wrong.

Girls loved a guy with confidence and wealth, right? He was the son of a Valean politician, so that should have scored him some points with her, right? Then what was he doing wrong? Was-was she not interested in boys?

…okay, that was a little hot, but unacceptable otherwise. He already made it clear in his mind that he wouldn't rest until he had her.

At this rate, force might be the only thing left.

He wasn't adverse to the idea. Really, what could she do to rebel against him if he did go that far? With his position, there was no way she could refuse him or try and fight back. She'd be buried in minutes, and her dear uncle's business just might get shut down if he tried anything.

Even so, he felt that he shouldn't quite cross that line just yet. It was a last resort, but not entirely off the table.

"So, where did you want to start looking first?" the flea bag, walking close behind the group. "Maybe find where they keep the gems and diamonds? I mean, this place is a castle, right? There's gotta be some kind of vault."

Roy hummed. "For once, Yee, you have a good idea."

"Wow. Fuck you too."

"You would like that, wouldn't you?"

"Knock it off, you two!" the boot licker snapped. "Gods, what are you, five?"

Roy snorted and kept walking, ignoring the look the flea bag was shooting him. They made it halfway across the hall when he suddenly stopped.

"What the hell?"

A familiar black shape stepped out from around the far end of the hall. It was a Beowolf, accompanied by insects covered in white plates across their backsides.

"Lancers?" the flea bag started. "I thought they were only in Mistral?"

The boot licker chuckled. "Whose up for cleaning house?"

Roy rolled his eyes at the boot licker's antics. They removed their weapons from their person, but just as they prepared to engage the enemy, Roy heard growls coming from behind them. He looked over his shoulder and paled.

Without them noticing, more Grimm had snuck behind them and crowded the door leading into the main hall. A pack of Beowolves slowly advanced towards them, flanked by Creeps and an Ursa. Buzzing around behind them was a swarm of Lancers.

"How the fuck did they get behind us?!"

Roy quickly searched for a way out. The Gods must have been smiling upon him because there was an adjacent hall right next to them. "Down here, quick!" He was the first to duck into the adjacent hall, quickly followed by the other two. Behind them came the enraged howls of the Grimm that quickly made their way after them. The sounds of stampeding claws and hooves echoed in the halls.

Team RYAL ran as fast as their legs could take them, switching their weapons to their firearm modes and firing behind them, uncaring how much ammo they used. Grimm before had never cornered them, at least not like this. Neither could any understand how they managed to slip past Shizu and Professor Port in the main hall and reach them without the two noticing. It also didn't make sense for them to ignore Shizu and the teacher and go after them, not unless they were…

Shit, are these things intelligent?! Roy cursed under his breath when his foot nearly slipped and bent the wrong way while running up a flight stairs. He managed to catch himself in time and jump away from a Beowolf snapping at his heel and ducking underneath the Lancer rushing at him like a bullet. Fuck!

They weren't Elder Grimm or Alphas, but it was clear they lived long enough to think for themselves. To understand who to kill and who to leave for later. Which to prioritize.

They reached the third floor. The boot licker grabbed a cabinet half-broken and dismembered and threw it over the entryway. It would not keep the Grimm away, but it would impede their progress for a short time. Sadly, the same could not be said about the Lancers. They easily slipped through the gaps and began to swarm the three teenagers, prepping their stingers.

"Goddamn bugs!" the flea bag snarled, briefly managing to shoot one of them down. A decent-sized hole in its head. The Lancers chittered and screeched, attempting to drive their stingers into them. One Lancer managed to close the distance and slam its stinger into the flea bag's shoulder.

The flea bag screamed and roared in anger, grabbing the Lancer and throwing it against the wall. Before it had the chance to fly away and escape he rammed his sword onto its head, smashing it into bits of red and black.

"Come on! Forget about these things!"

The boot licker pulled the two away. The Lancers followed after them. The sound of wood being smashed and angry howls came later. The Beowolves and Creeps and Ursa broke through and resumed the hunt.

The boot licker ran at the head of the group, Roy at the back and the flea bag in the middle. He was still holding his precious Kali-Yuga, but his left arm was unresponsive. It flapped about like a noodle.

"Yee, you alright?!"

"Like hell I am!" the flea bag replied and winced. "I can't move my damn arm! I-I can't even feel it!"

Within the stingers of Lancers was a paralytic agent; a toxin meant to immobilize its prey. If the prey was stung repeatedly, be it in the same spot or all across the body, they would be completely and utterly paralyzed and left vulnerable. Open for attack. In the worst case, a continuous assault would lead to total neural shutdown, followed by death.

It was often said being stung by bees was far more preferable.

As he was, the flea bag was useless. More so now that he couldn't fight effectively. What was more important, though, was that they had to escape and get away from the Grimm.

They raced across the hall, hearts pounding in their chests. A Lancer nearly managed to sting them, buzzing past them. They reached another staircase and raced to climb upwards. The flea bag stumbled and fell on his face.

"Oh, for fuck's sake!"

The boot licker cursed and pulled the flea bag off from the ground. A Creep nearly stomped over his body. They reached the top of the staircase, reaching the third (or was it the fourth?) floor. The hallways were slightly more grand, a little wider, but they weren't concerned about that.

They made it to the end of the hall, skidding across the floor and rushing across the corner. Once they made it only halfway when the boot licker stumbled over his own feet and nearly fell face-first on the ground. For once, Roy didn't blame him.

"Son of a…"

Grimm stood on the other end of the hallway. Ursa, flanked by Creeps and Boartusks. Lancers swarmed with them as well.

Roy looked over his shoulder and saw the Grimm that had been chasing them right behind them. Like stalking cornered prey, they slowly advanced toward them. Their red eyes tracked every movement, every little action as they approached. They would no doubt strike at the first opportunity, the second they saw any of them try to make a break for it and smash through their line.

"Oh god…" the flea bag whimpered. "W-we're going to die…!"

"Shut up, Yee!" Roy hissed as he looked around. His eyes widened. "Through the door! NOW!"

Once again, the Brothers were smiling upon them. The boot licker wasted no time in ramming his shoulder straight through the grandiose doors right next to them. Paying no heed to the contents of the room they spilled inside and quickly shut the door behind them. The flea bag slumped down to the ground while Roy and the boot licker pressed their bodies against the door as to prevent the Grimm from entering the room and slaughtering them.

Seconds ticked by as they waited for the faintest sounds of movement outside. After a minute of waiting, the boot licker frowned. "I don't hear anything." He and Roy shared a glance with one another. "Did they give up?"

"Not likely," Roy disagreed. "Odds are they're just waiting for us to let our guard down."

The boot licker accepted the answer easily, seeing as it was the most obvious conclusion. Even so, neither teen made a move to remove themselves from the door. While wondering what to do next, Roy heard the flea bag whimper.

"Oh, what is it now?" Roy rounded on the worthless animal with the intent of getting him to shut up. As far as he was concerned this idiot was just dead weight. He should have left him behind; at least then he would help them by slowing the Grimm down while they killed him. Hell, they'd be doing him a favor! "Is it your wound again?"

The flea bag wasn't looking at him. While he was clearly aching in pain, the whimper was not from the pain, but instead from whatever it was he was looking at. His face was deathly pale and his eyes wide, staring at something behind them.

Roy turned and finally took in the room.

It was the Throne Room, as evident by the elaborate seat at the far end of the room and the gilded designs that made up said chair. The walls behind it had long since collapsed to reveal a gracious view of the Emerald Forest, showing the pale-blue horizon and greenery below. A torn-up red carpet stretched from the foot of the throne to the entrance. The walls on either side of the room were cracked at best and shattered at worst. Unlike the enormous hole at the back of the room, some parts of the walls were missing chunks of plaster and stone. Oddly, the floor was devoid of any kind of debris.

The reason for that was because this room was the domain of the castle's ruler. The most powerful organism to exist in these halls since its previous owner perished. The Grimm both feared and revered its existence, serving it without question. It had ordered them to hunt down the intruders and bring them here.

A fact Roy now recognized, in the sheer terror of facing down the monster sitting on the throne as though it were king. All this time, the Grimm had been herding them here so that they may face judgment.

It was a Grimm, that was for certain. It bore a black body with an ivory mask and glowing red eyes like any other, but its form was remarkably humanoid. Every feature was humanoid, from its legs to its hands and even its torso. The ivory mask on its face was shaped like a skull, somewhat broader and wrapping around the entire upper half of the face. The sockets were smaller and more narrow, almost set in some sort of glare.

What was perhaps the most worrisome and confusing aspect of this Grimm was the fact that its body was armored. It did not have white plates on its body. Instead, it had white armor like the ones worn by knights. The entire front torso was covered in thick white plates vaguely shaped like abs with a breastplate and a high collar. The pauldrons on its shoulders were pointed and curved like horns, jutting towards the sky. Its hands were covered in white plates that wrapped around the back of the hand and its fingers. Bracers ran up to the elbow. From the knee down it wore white grieves, its feet visible beneath the strip of plating covering the whole top of the foot.

In its left hand was a tower shield that was as long and big as it was; easily bigger than that first year from Team CFVY by a head or so and as wide as Professor Port himself.

In its right hand was a flamberge; a weapon not seen used except by the nobility that had long since fallen out of favor with the rest of the world. The hilt of the sword was shaped like an X with an emblem engraved on the hilt's center; a horizontal eye in the center of some sort of circle bearing five tears. The blade of the flamberge was serrated, promising excruciating pain to any who fell victim to its bite.

The moment Roy laid eyes on the Grimm, his heart sank deep. "By the Brothers…"

The Grimm raised its head and stared back at him, blood-red eyes burning like hellfire.

5

"W-what is that thing?!"

Panic and fear enveloped Lester so tightly he thought he was choking. He may as well have been, unable to find himself breathing a sound. The Grimm that sat atop the throne as if it were king slowly rose from its seat and descended down the steps, each footfall sounding more like a death knell.

Its form was unfamiliar and its appearance was unlike anything they had seen before. Professor Port had stated numerous times in his lectures that, while there were many types of Grimm recorded and documented in the Brothers Grimm Bestiary, there were likely to be Grimm they had yet to encounter all across the world. In fact, no one for certain what kinds of Grimm lurked in the seas, which played an integral factor why the Kingdoms were so hesitant to launch expeditions into the outside world.

The monster before them was one such Grimm. A being not seen previously by anyone. Possibly found only here, in the depths of the Emerald Forest.

And that only made his fear skyrocket.

"W-what do we do?" Yee asked. The Grimm continued to advance toward them at a slow pace. As if it was taking its time. "What do we do?!"

Lester looked at the door at his back. They could probably leave this way and pray to the Brothers that they could push past the Grimm and regroup with Shizu and Professor Port. As much as he hated to admit it, the one-eyed girl was a much better fighter than he was, and Port was a retired Huntsman. They were the only ones capable of fighting this monster.

"We stay and fight!"

Lester stared at his leader as if he were insane. "Have you lost your mind? We can't fight that!" He pointed a finger at the advancing Grimm. "Yee can't fight in his state, and who knows when the Grimm outside might come back and box us?! We have to leave and find the others!"

"And you honestly think this thing is just going to let us go?!" Roy hissed back. "No, we stand our ground!"

Lester wanted to argue, even briefly thinking of grabbing Yee and leaving Roy to face this monster by himself, but he knew the cherry-haired teen had a point. The Grimm wouldn't let them escape. At least not without a fight.

He grimaced and adjusted the straps on his gauntlets. The claws sprung to life. The Grimm paused for a moment, staring at the two as if actually seeing them for the first time before it swung its sword in an arc. It lifted the tower shield and placed it in front while leveling its flamberge ever so slightly, elbow bent and even with its shoulder. A fighting stance, meaning it knew they were going to fight and challenged them to break through its barrier.

Roy and Lester shared a look with each other, then nodded. Together, they charged toward the Grimm and approached it from either side, intending to strike it at its sides. It was obvious by the slow movements that it was weighed down by its armor and tower shield, which they intended to work to their advantage.

The first to strike was Roy. In spite of his abysmal capabilities as a fighter, he still managed to get a hit off the armored menace before him. He leveled his firearm and fired a bullet that struck the shoulder. Sparks exploded against its pauldron, but there was no visible damage done. The Grimm didn't even look concerned by the fact that it had been hit by a bullet and swung its tower shield at the cherry-haired teen. Roy jumped back and let his body fall into a backwards somersault, evading the shield and shooting more rounds that either bounced off the shield or missed entirely. With its backside exposed, it was left open for attack.

Lester leaped at the opportunity and rammed his claws as deep into the Grimm as he could. To his shock and dismay, the blades of his claws shattered upon impact.

How is that possible?! How tough is that armor?!

He barely had any time to question what just happened when he saw the Grimm swing its shield again with the intent of crushing him where he stood. He knew that even if he stepped back the shield would still hit him, so he used his trump card. The hunter's ace-in-the-hole.

A Semblance.

He jumped back right as the shield smacked into his body. He felt no resistance or even the feeling of metal or ivory touch his flesh, for his body, for a few brief moments, became a formless black shadow in the shape of a man. The shadow phased through the shield, reformed back into Lester as he landed away from the Grimm while switching his gauntlets to their firearm mode.

Lester's Semblance allowed him to turn his body into shadows, effectively making him invulnerable to attacks. On paper this sounded incredibly useful, but in practicality it had several major drawbacks. Like all Semblances, it was fueled by his Aura. He also couldn't maintain his shadowy state for very long. The longest he had managed to make it last was four seconds. It also took every ounce of concentration to maintain that form, as even the slightest stray thought could cause him to regain substance. He was not keen on finding out what would happen if his body was in something and he suddenly reformed back into a solid state.

The Grimm was neither caught off guard or stunned by this development. Instead it focused its attention on Roy, recognizing him now as the weakest link. Roy swung his weapon at it after side-stepping around its attempts to bash him with its shield and went in for a stab at the spot where its flesh was unprotected by its armor. The blade sunk deep into the armor and he felt resistance.

"How do you like that?!" Roy grinned smugly.

Lester scowled. "Idiot! Move!"

Roy's arrogance got the better of him, so caught up in his feat in stabbing the Grimm that he didn't notice the shield coming straight for him. The moment it made contact, Lester could hear the sound of bones shattering clearly in the air, accompanied by the sounds of Roy's screams of pain as his body was sent flying and bouncing off the ground. The Grimm made no move to go after the cherry-haired teen and focused on Lester himself now, perhaps thinking it had taken Roy out of commission.

Lester gritted his teeth and engaged another battle with the armored monster. He shot off six shells, three of which struck the Grimm directly while the remaining three shots were blocked by the tower shield. It charged and raised its shield over its head in an attempt to crush him by bringing it down on top of him. Lester shifted his form into shadows and attempted to move back, but at that moment, he realized he completely forgot about the Grimm's flamberge.

The glimmer of the blade, sunlight reflecting off the metal, caught his eye and saw it in mid-swing. He paid no mind as he moved to evade. The flamberge sailed through the air and made contact with his arm.

The moment it sliced through his arm, Lester's Semblance shut off completely—not because the time limit was reached, but because Lester's concentration shattered the moment the sword made contact. His screams echoed across the throne room as he tumbled unto the ground, clutching the bleeding stump that was his left arm.

The nerves in his arms were fried. He couldn't think properly. All he could think about was the mind-numbing pain that was consuming his thoughts. He was screaming so loudly he couldn't even hear himself think. Lester just couldn't understand what just happened; his Semblance should have let him phase through the Grimm's sword, so what just happened? Why had his arm just been severed?

"Lester!"

He wasn't sure who yelled, only that after that outcry of horror and worry came a furious scream of rage. Lester turned his head—Oh, gods, there's so much blood—and saw Yee charging at the Grimm.

"You idiot! Don't-!"

Words died in his throat. He watched in mute horror as the Grimm turned away from him and met Yee's fury-filled charge with murderous indifference. A single swing was all that was required of it. The flamberge sliced through the air. Blood gushed through the air and stained the pristine white floors red.

Yee's headless body took a few steps, still holding his sword, before he sunk to his knees and dropped to the ground. His head bounced off the ground and rolled next to Roy's feet. The cherry-haired teen screamed and scrambled to get away from the head of his teammate, tripping over his own feet and landing on his rear.

Lester looked at Roy pleadingly for his leader to do something, anything, to get them out of this. Roy looked at him, tears and mucus running down his face as he was starting to realize just how hopeless this fight was.

All he could do was watch, in despair and rage, as his leader turned tail and ran like a bat out of hell, barging his way through the doors and spilling out in the hallway.

He left me…

The heavy footsteps of his executioner were deafening. He paid no mind to the Grimm as it approached, readying its tower shield to pulverize and grind his bones to dust. It wanted to break him apart first, make his death a slow and agonizing one in contrast to the mercifully quick death it gave Yee.

Lester's last thoughts as the Grimm approached were how he wished unholy suffering and death upon Roy Al Lint.

The tower shield came down upon his leg.

To the Grimm, his screams were like sweet music.

---

"This isn't happening! This isn't happening! This isn't happening! This isn't fucking happening!"

Roy repeated the words as if they were going to wake him up from this nightmare. He didn't care about those two at this point. Those worthless pieces of trash would buy him time to escape and get to Shizu and the Professor. They couldn't stay in this death trap castle a minute longer. There was no way they could fight that thing! What even was it?! Why was it here?!

How the hell was it even able to cut that boot licker's arm off while his Semblance was up or cut that stupid animal's head off?! He knew the former's Semblance practically made him invulnerable for a few seconds. That animal may have been an idiot, but he still should have had his Aura up!

So how did it—?!

Roy stopped at the corner of the hall when he saw something made his heart soar. It was Shizu approaching him. Oddly, Professor Port wasn't with them, but he could care less about that fatass blowhard.

Now that he thought about it, wasn't this a good opportunity? His plans weren't shot to hell after all. He still had a chance. This was a potential story in the making; two students, the sole survivors of a Grimm attack. That would make headlines, wouldn't it?

"Oh, thank the Brothers!" Roy smiled. "Shizu, we have to get out of here!"

The girl tilted her head. "Why is that?"

"T-there's a Grimm back there! It's unlike anything we've seen before!"

"What of Yee East and Lester Citron?"

"Dead. They bought me time to escape. W-where's Professor Port?"

"Someplace safe," Shizu replied. She took a moment to glance around the hall. It was only now that Roy realized that the Grimm that had chased them towards that weird Grimm were nowhere to be found. "Were you pursued?"

"N-no, I was…"

"Excellent."

"What? What're you-"

The last thing Roy saw was Shizu bowing her head right as something struck the back of his head, sending him to the ground and the darkness claiming him.

---

"Wow, we got really lucky!" Aura beamed as she grabbed Roy by the collar of his jacket. "I can already tell that Lord Ainz is going to be really happy about getting this guy. Still, he must be pretty petty to leave behind his teammates. Actually, who is this guy again?"

"Roy Al Lint. Son of a Valean Politician and leader of Team RYAL. Observation, his skills in combat were subpar and thought very little of his teammates," Shizu informed her. "He likely left his teammates behind in order to save himself."

"Is that so?"

Shizu paid no mind to the dark emotions in Aura's eyes. Though it was far too gracious to compare a leader to the likes of Ainz Ooal Gown, the Supreme Being who stayed behind in the Great Tomb of Nazarick and remained at their side instead of leaving to join wherever Lady Yamaiko and the others had gone, the NPCs of the Tomb did not treat the idea of a leader leaving his subordinates to die out of cowardice very favorably. In fact, if such a thing happened in the first place, then they shouldn't have been made a leader in the first place; at the very least, they should have had the courage to die alongside their team.

But alas, such was the nature of humans. Fickle creatures that Ainz had a strange fondness and tolerance for. Why, Shizu couldn't understand, though unlike the vast majority, she didn't see them as anything below the rest of the Supreme Being's followers. Humans were just like any other creature. A being that lived its own life. That said, if that being proved to be a hindrance to Ainz, Shizu would waste no time in removing it.

In the meantime, Shizu did have to admit that this was a great stroke of luck for them. Once she realized that Team RYAL had encountered the Grimm Aura was after, she casted [Sleep] on Professor Port, though not before ensuring he would be well-defended from the Grimm. Once that was done, she contacted Aura and the two made their way to the Grimm's location. Along the way, Shizu brought up the possibility of taking Team RYAL to Nazarick to study Aura and Semblances more closely. As good as observation went, she felt that perhaps a more hands-on approach was required.

It was regrettable that Roy Al Lint did not prove to be a valuable tool for Ainz, but she supposed that no one was going to miss him. The thought of Roy's father reacting to his disappearance might be cause for concern, but she imagined that he would only cause trouble for Beacon and herself. Maybe demand reparations or answers as to why they failed to protect him.

Granted, there was also the possibility that he might also attempt to attack Ainz while he was still consolidating a power base in Vale, but in the event he did, Nazarick would waste no time in removing him from the equation.

They would not allow it.

Aura contacted Shalltear and informed her of their acquisition of Roy Al Lint. The Floor Guardian created a [Gate] in their immediate location. Stepping out from the gateway was a Vampire Bride sent to collect the unconscious Huntsman-in-training.

"Take him to Neuronist, but make sure she doesn't do anything until Demiurge and Lord Ainz return, okay?" Aura told Shalltear's servant. The pale-skinned undead nodded and took Roy Al Lint from her possession, stepping back inside the [Gate]. The dark gateway ceased to function afterwards, leaving them free to collect the Grimm hiding in the castle. "Now, let's go get that Grimm, shall we?"

Shizu nodded. "After you."

The two NPCs stepped down the hall and entered the throne room. It was tiny compared to the Throne Room in the Tomb and very lacking in grandeur. Even the throne at the far end of the room was lackluster, though she would admit the hole in the wall was a nice touch. Obviously a sign of damage from over the years.

"S…Shi…zu…"

The one-eyed girl saw Lester Citron on the ground, the Grimm she was after not far behind him. Half his face was covered in blood, his left arm was missing, and his right leg was twisted. She saw bone and shredded strands of muscle. Based on this, she concluded that either Lester's Aura was incapable of healing such extensive damage, or he was incapable of generating Aura at the moment.

He looked upon her pitifully, stretching out a hand as if begging her to save him.

"Ooh, lucky!" Aura stepped forward. "Looks like we have two people with Aura to bring back! Oh, but this guy is in pretty bad condition. We should probably heal him, huh?"

"…no."

Shizu shook her head.

It would indeed be beneficial if they had two individuals with Aura for them to experiment with, but seeing Lester Citron's state made Shizu pity him. As Aura said, healing spells would fix the damage and he would still be of use to them, but the automaton felt that whatever fate awaited him in the Tomb was worse than what he was experiencing now. She did not consider him an "acquaintance" or "comrade," so she would not care if he died or broke while in their captivity.

Even so…

"Shi…zu…"

Lester gave another pitiful groan. Shizu raised her rifle. His eyes widened for a moment, making her believe he thought of this as yet another betrayal before she saw relief flash across his eyes. To him, this was mercy. Relief from his torment.

She pulled the trigger. Lester Citron died seconds later as his head exploded into bits of brain matter, bone and gore.

"Aw, now why did you have to go and do that?"

"…a final request," Shizu replied.

Aura looked disappointed for being unable to prove Ainz with another test subject, but she was quick to accept the loss. As it stood, they had a wonderful consolation prize. The Grimm ahead of them was vastly different compared to all the others they encountered on Anima and in the Emerald Forest. It was clad in armor and wielded weapons, one a tower shield and the other a flame-patterned sword wielded by the mightiest of nobility.

The Grimm looked upon them in silence as if appraising them. Then it moved with speed far greater than its appearance belied. It was a stark contrast to when it battled Team RYAL as back then it moved so slowly. It had obviously been toying with them before, but now it had no such misgivings. Like a wild animal, it understood the threat Aura and Shizu represented and reacted accordingly.

It closed the distance between them in a mere second. To an ordinary human, the Grimm moved like a blur. The sword cut through the air and was aimed at her neck. It stopped just short of the skin.

The Grimm's red eyes met her unblinking golden one.

"…"

"…"

A moment passed, each conversing with the other in silence before the Grimm retracted its sword from her person. It stabbed its sword into the ground and proceeded to kneel before them.

"…I live to serve, O Great Ones."

Shizu stared. Aura did as well before she exploded into happiness and excitement. It had been the first time she had heard a Grimm speak in anything other than growls and grunts and groans.

A testament to its intelligence—and proof its existence.

So, this is a Wild Hunt Grimm…

A worthwhile addition to the Great Tomb of Nazarick indeed.