[Nujabes – Battlecry (feat. Shing02)]
残り:四の影/ Remnant's Four Shadows
Volume 4, Episode 15: Fun Time's Over
[Pine Valley]
Yang was worried for Ruby, as she and Yuki distanced themselves to train. They would come for group training, but it was mostly just those two isolating themselves. The days investigating the Pine Valley distortion had been a startling reveal. That the world Cinder, Ilia, and Niko came from had collapsed in on itself…meaning there was nothing left to go back to. All the people who lived there, it's history, it's Remnant…damaged to which the universe was going to collapse in itself. And then came the new Grimm…too which Yuki was promptly freaking out when he realized what universe it came which to some interesting incidents.
"So, what's it like with those two around the house or having your dad around?" June asked as they were on their way back to the Valley.
The two had completed some shopping from a nearby town.
"My father, I can deal it with just fine. I really do like spending time with him. But Ilia and Niko? They're nice enough, but they're 'distracting'. Ilia's one to exercise. Nico's one to lounge around working on her computer or some gadget." Oscar said with a blush.
"Well hot damn, you got all the spank material you need." June joked.
"June! I can't just beat my meat to them…isn't that just trivializing them or something?" Oscar asked as June had a dry look.
"I mean…I don't really know. You caught them being frisky?" June asked.
"Once last night. They were in the woods. I was training and I saw them….to which I may have watched them go at it." Oscar said shamefully. "And I feel bad for it."
"I mean, I'm glad you feel guilt, but doing it in the woods runs the risk of being seen or getting attacked by Grimm. I mean do you really want to be get caught with your pants down by a Boarbustusk." June said only to hear a twig snap.
She looked up to see Ilia and Niko leapt down from a tree to which Oscar looked like he did have his pants down.
"I told you he was going to be bring it up." Niko said. "And you didn't think we could sense your presence."
"I'm so-"
"Don't worry too much about it, luv. Consider we're looking, we don't exactly get to shag with complete privacy. Besides, it would have been more awkward to call you out, so let you watch." Ilia said as Oscar blushed furiously. "Sweet of you trying not to use us for the spank bank."
"Even if that's not really a big deal to us. Considering two attractive non-related women are living with you, we realize that comes with its own stresses." Niko said as Ilia tossed Oscar a clothed lump. "What was that you gave him?"
Oscar untangled to reveal a pair of panties.
"A used pair of my knickers. Figured he can get off on it and wash it later." Ilia said as Niko and June sputter. "What? I'm literally giving it to him. Consider it thanks for helping us out, cutie."
Oscar put those away mumbling to himself only to hear a growl and a crunch. A Deathstalker…or at least one that was barely breathing considering it was torn up. Out from the woods, a Grimm to new to everyone came into the picture. A honey badger Grimm that was the size of an adult grizzly which slashed the Deathstalker into pieces before turning to face our heroes sniffing the air.
"It's not…attacking." Ilia said with her hands on her weapons. "It's smelling around for something."
The Grimm came closer sniffing more intently and Oscar went into his bag taking out a chocolate bar. He opened it up breaking a piece and throwing it. The Grimm ran over and lapped it up before walking up to Oscar. Oscar gave it the rest. The creature let out a growl.
"So…it just wants sweets?" Niko said putting her weapons away.
"I had bought a bunch of sweets in the town June and I were in. You think I could tame it?" Oscar asked.
"Don't be silly, you can't tame a Grimm. I'd sooner be giving you my underwear before a Grimm could be tamed." Niko said as Oscar got out a jar of honey.
The Grimm was excited to see the scared treat of honey. When Oscar commanded for it to sit, it promptly did to which Niko balked. As Oscar let it have some honey, he turned to Niko with a look of confidence.
"I'll take the ones you're wearing right now." Oscar said as it was Niko's turn to blush.
"Bollocks. Fine, you won." Niko said. "You'll get them when we go home."
Niko did not know if Oscar rode the thing home just to rub it in. Doretha and Brodsky were away on a romantic getaway but Team ARYI and Peach came to the farm to train. Yuki was in the midst of sparing with Peach only to see Oscar…losing his focus and getting an Armis-coated gut punch.
"Um…Oscar, what are you doing?" Ruby asked.
"Taming a Grimm. I'll call him Nectar." Oscar said as Nectar let out a small growl.
"Serena! Give me some info." Yuki said getting as his AI appeared in front of him.
"Looks like this Grimm is from the KHGM-Universe strain. It's called a Sweet Heckler." Serena said looking it over.
"Can you tell us anything about that universe?" Ivory asked.
"Far better than the original timeline. I wish this timeline had a Konner. He'd be fun." Yuki said forlorn.
"So far, anything would be better than the first timeline." Ruby said spitting at the ground.
"God, it being a time herald that bad?" Yang asked Ruby.
"Yes. I started with the point where Yuki entered the timeline and got to viewing more of un-interfered timeline. Honestly, I really am shocked no one acknowledge that we left hundreds of White Fang to die in the tunnels. I'm shocked Beacon, for an elite huntsmen school, has really lousy security. If my Silver Eyes were so important, why the hell did no bother to tell me…oh hey they're important, we should show you how to use them! And my counterpart hasn't even asked on how to use them…even after awakening them by a streak of luck." Ruby said rubbing her hair tiredly. "And I'm sorry…but I wish Torchwick didn't die. He was entertaining to watch. Cinder is just so boring…"
"Yang, I told you this already. Never ask a watcher that question." Yuki said dryly.
"So…about the tamed Grimm?" Ivory asked.
"If it's docile to let Oscar ride it, it's fine. If it goes nuts, we kill it." Yuki said firmly.
[Mantle/Atlas]
Arthur Watts saw the news and he knew full well what Ironwood had planned. Pinning Tyrian and him for the deaths of the Happy Huntresses was a way to pretty much cover their tracks. He would not be surprised if it was Kelly or any of her teammates was one who actually killed her. He was at his wit's end. Information gathering on Team YUKI was difficult. The only two he could gather anything on was Ivory and Kelly…both of which was information was practically public. Lapis and Yuki? Practically ghosts. He had tried the criminal underworld, but that did not work.
Vale's underground netted no results. Yuki and Lapis? He was laughed out of the call and warned that if he kept trying…someone was going to tell Torchwick. Then it would have been a matter of whether Yuki to him first or Neo to kill him. He tried Mistral…but discovered that the Spiders gang jumped ship to Menagerie had went legit and allied themselves with the government there.
"Damn it, what am I even doing?" Watts said rubbing his forehead.
He only really was roped into his because of Tyrian who was sharpening his blades.
"Tyrian, remind me why I came to Atlas?" Watts asked the psychopath.
"Simple, to bid time for our lord and mistress! Also, to get revenge on Team YUKI." Tyrian said with a cackle. "And to take down Atlas."
"Ok, two problems. One, gathering information on Team YUKI is close to impossible. Two, considering we're not going to be able to hide in Mantle as we're being blamed for Robyn Hill's death…doesn't help I was the last to call her." Watts said as Tyrian shrugged it off.
"Don't worry about that. Wasn't killing them something we were going to do, if anything it means less fools in the way. I did hear that 'Specialist' Usagi is leaving Atlas and I want to pay her a visit!" Tyrian said before leaving the house.
The door slammed and Watts took one look at the monitor thoughtfully. Unlike Tyrian, he knew when it was come to cut losses. So, he worked his magic to make a call. He simply just had to go for someone he could contact.
"Hello, Schnee Dust Company, this is Jaccques."
"Hello old friend." Watts said with a sneer.
"Arthur, you'r…How did you?"
"Don't worry, this isn't a threat. I have information that's valuable to Kelly Usagi. Now unlike you want me to expose whatever skeletons you got in your closet…you'll get in contact with her. Now." Watts said firmly.
Watts did not have to wait long as he heard Kelly's angered voice. However, Watts was calm and courteous as he offered a deal.
"And what could you have that I want?" Kelly asked.
"Information is power. I figured your father taught you that well." Watts said as he could hear Kelly groan.
"What do you want?" Kelly asked.
"Same punishment you gave your father, exile. Don't worry about any money, I just want the exile and an airship out of Atlas." Watts affirmed.
"And why should I trust you considering you worked for Sa-"
"Ms. Usagi. Understand that I worked for Salem because she saw something in me, Atlas did not. You and I could actually relate. You're know being accepted after practically forcing them to acknowledge you. You and I are not so different. The thing is you had people who cared about you and pulled you out of the hole. I did not." Watts said as Kelly sighed.
"Ok, hand over whatever codes you have to hack around Mantle. And you have yourself a deal…now what's the information?" Kelly said astutely.
"Tyrian's on his way to kill you as we speak. Apparently, your leaving was discovered among the underground." Watts said as he smirked at Kelly facepalm.
"I knew I should have last night, but…no…I just had…never mind. I'll make the deal happen, and you better deliver or else." Kelly said threateningly.
"Look kid, considering everything. It's not going to make me any gains to betray you. If you're willing to murder the Happy Huntresses, and I know you probably did, you'll have no issue killing me. I would like to continue living." Watts said. "I'll send you the coordinates for the meet point. I suggest you get rid of Tyrian first."
He sent her the coordinates, hung up, and began to pack. He had plenty of time to think over joining. While he was able to get the information he wanted on Yuki, the underground did information on Salem. Apparently, Yuki had told Roman the truth about Salem's history, and it trickled down. Honestly, anger was welling in him and slowly he came to a conclusion…he had nothing against Team YUKI for what they did. No, his anger circled to Salem, herself. The fact of the matter was he had no idea that Salem simply wanted to kill herself and take everyone out with her. When Tyrian confirmed it earlier, he had to ask why he was okay with it.
It was the psychopath's nonsensical that drove Watts to realize he needed an out. Robyn and her Happy Huntresses getting killed was just the push he needed.
[-o-]
"You know, Tyrian…you could have had me right you wanted…but it didn't work out." Kelly said as Tyrian hatefully glared at her.
He realized she had baited up into a trap, and he was both restrained and unable to use his tail. Given that Elsa tore it off with her tail did not help him at all.
"Here you are. So mentally screwed, you did not realize I was leading to this hangar as a trap." Kelly said Tyrian spat at her face.
"You'll all pay for what you did to my queen." He hissed.
"Bitch please, your queen was and is a womanchild who has been never given any discipline. She used you and all her other minions. It's funny, all of them are either dead or have jumped ship. How you think I knew you were coming?" Kelly said as his eyes widened.
"WATTS!" Tyrian said shaking his restraints.
"Bingo. Now I believe Ironwood has a firing squad with your name on every bullet." Kelly said as Ironwood came in with a group of soldiers armed to the teeth. "Well, I need to go do a deal with Watts. See you never, simp."
Tyrian was screaming curses and threats, but it was all white noise. The bullets were music to her ears as he got in her car and drove off to meet Watts. The coordinates took up to an old coffee shop in Atlas where Watts was waiting with a cup of coffee.
"A deal's a deal." Kelly said as she got in the car. "Your pardon."
Kelly put down the sealed envelope on the table.
"Be lucky that Tyrian was the bigger issue than you. He was wanted for way more murders, plus Pietro and Enrico backed your pardon. They felt guilty for you ending up like this or something like that." Kelly said putting an order. "So, you'll have less than 24 hours to clear out of Atlas. Because of the severity of Tyrian's crimes and your cooperation, your 'exile' is basically temporarily…just for a year."
"It's no problem. I just wanted to stick it to the savage and Salem one last time. What is she even doing?" Watts said as the coffee for Kelly came.
"Counseling. She's basically been shanghaied into helping us against the Grimm King. I would have told Tyrian, but screw him." Kelly said taking a sip. "I'm just so done with Atlas right now. I never wanted to come back, but I didn't have a choice."
"Atlas shows itself a shining city in the air, but it feels more like a floating prison." Watts said as Kelly laughed.
"It's maddening. My father, the bastard, is somehow making himself a success in Menagerie with those damn Grimm. He's got the easy life. But I got the company to handle, saving the world, and living with the fact I'm now a solider…the thing I wanted to avoid since I left this place!" Kelly ranted. "I'm not even eighteen yet."
"And yet you feel like all the youth is drained from you." Watts said noting Kelly's wary look.
"It's ironic. I wore a coat similar to the military brass with my emblem on the patches where Atlas was only to end up wearing the official thing anyway." Kelly said as Watts put the hard drive on the table. "I assume the information you have me."
"A deal is a deal after all. Besides, I can't help but feel you and your team's actions have given me a second chance." Watts said getting up to leave. "Good luck saving the world, you're going to need it."
He left her behind to finish her coffee.
[-o-]
[The Grimmlands]
"King Noire longs to wait for this 'Yuki' to be ready to face him in battle. The fool…"
The utterer of those words lay hidden in a cave on the far side of the land. A tall humanoid with an extremely muscular, a well-defined build, and his legs were rather short compared to his upper body. For clothing, he wore a dark under-suit, bone white bracers with black gems on the center of them, purple gloves, white boots, sleek bone-like gunmetal grey armor guards on both shoulders that held up a black cape, forearms, one for each of his thighs, knees, the top and soles of his feet which were clad in boots. His skin was hidden under the suit save for his face which had parlor white skin akin to Salem in her corrupted state with pink eyes and black scarlae. His eyes had black outlines. He wore a black samurai helmet completing his cybernetic samurai look and the helm had a diamond-shaped purple gem above his head with a red core in the center of it.
He stood on a platform above his four cohorts and an army of bestial Voyden Grimm. There were those who did not exactly respect the Grimm King's authority. Those that saw him as a battle hungry lunatic in the way of the Voyden and they were the Nigrum Coup lead by Griseo.
"It is time. Team YUKI and CASL must be eliminated before we go to usurp Noire and then rule this planet!" Griseo said triumphantly as his cohorts cheered. "We all shred all those in the way of my ascension."
"Now who wants to go after Team CASL?" Griseo asked as one stepped up. "Alqadr Ahmar?"
Unlike the others, Alqadr was a 'Voyden-touched' faunus who with a title of 'Alqadr, the Sand Shark of the Red Sands'. Despite as old as the like of Maria Calavera, his appearance was anything but. He stood muscled with his height near Griseo's shoulders. His skin was a sandy colored brown with his arms littered with tattoos of Voyden Grimm on his arms. His eyes were a clear sign of a person who spent too long in the void as they had black irises, no pupils and red sclerae with red veins spidering off the black outlines around his eyes. There were three sets of curved facial markings under his eyes, gills on his shoulders, and sharp triangular teeth. He also had a shark's tail and fin. He wore blue-gray arm sleeves outlined in black, a loose bright red wetsuit-like outfit, accented by brown bandages wrapped around his lower legs, a darker red flak jacket, and off-white boots. His hair was styled as a bright red fauxhawk with a ponytail.
"I do. I could use their hearts to continue to feed my youth and my existence. Sulfur interests me…I wonder what his heart taste like. Fated to be delicious, definitely." Alqadr said with a fanged grin.
"Who will go after Lapis?" Griseo asked as a woman floated forward. "Ah, Kukichi Noshi. You wish to rip them apart?"
She appeared as a young woman with teal colored skin and eyes with long grass hair that extends to her lower half of her legs. She was bare foot only wearing golden bracelets on her ankles. She had a long head adornment that looks similar to a dragon's tail that extends down to her lower leg which complimented the pair of draconic wings on her back. She wore a light green dress with icy blue armor that appeared like an exoskeleton over her torso. Her earrings were white fangs, her wing's undersides were a bluish-green, and she had a dark bluish-green jewel on her forehead.
"The girl uses wings of water, but I will show her who the skies belong to." Kukichi said haughtily.
Griseo gave her a dirty look and she retorted that it belonged rightfully to Griseo.
"And that leaves Gardow to go after Kelly." Griseo asked.
Gardow was a Voyden Grimm who appeared more beastly than his cohorts. He had a large gorilla-like body with ash-grey skin, black fur, three pairs of multicolored eyes, yellow spider fangs on each side of his mouth, and retractable spiderlike limbs. He wore a white bandana on his head, white pants, red boots, bracers on his wrists, and a black sash around his waist.
"I have been practicing on fodder for far too long. I'll deal with this human." Gardow said before glaring at Griseo. "Are you sure you are ready to go through with the plan now? You are strong, yes? But Noire hyper-focused on Yuki for a reason."
"Gardow, I highly doubt we're going to have an issue. We've seen them peak at the rise of the Grimm King, and according to your data, it's surefire we'll win." Griseo said confidently. "The plan goes on."
"One problem, I have not been able to properly observe them in the past few months since. All we know is that they separated…the Seer Grimm have been not working lately. I am now having seco-"
"Gardow, shut the hell up!" Griseo said as a blackish energy rose up. "Yuki Azure must die by my hands for the sin of existing…him, his team, his friends, and Noire with his blasted ring of fools. I will tear them all to shreds and rise anew to achieve my goal."
"You never did say what that goal was…I thought it was be Grimm King." Kukichi said as the glow faded off of him.
"No. It's much more than that. But for it to come true, I need both Noire and Yuki terminated to seek out the Relics with no issue." Griseo declared.
"But you never did say why you hate Yuki. His silver eyes?" Alqadr asked.
"No, he's Voyden-touched like you. Like Yuki's bastard of a father, Mao. For the Voyden Yuki has within thanks to his father…is my brother." Griseo said darkly.
"And what of me?" A smaller voice said.
A Voyden person with a long head of black hair that could turn into quills.
"You meddlesome roach, are to make sure that Noire is unaware of our plans!" Griseo said slapping him into the ground. "Be grateful you have an easy task, Argit. You think you could steal from me and live to get away with it with no punishment!"
Argit got up dusting himself and bowed before leaving for the castle. Over at what was formerly Castle Grimore, the Grimm King was in the midst of sitting on his throne with his wife and Sazu nearby. Argit would come into the throne room.
"My liege. They do not suspect a thing, but why let them go through with this plan?" Argit asked as Noire laughed.
"Because Argit, this may be a push for Yuki or even one of his friends to become what I've dreamed of…what the Alpha Seers, and the oracles foretold will give me my greatest challenge." Noire said producing a black crystal that glowed with a white sigil. "Let me tell you a real horror story lost to time and before myself, Salem, and Ozma."
The crystal glowed darkening the room as it floated into the air before it began to speak in a deep, commanding, voice.
"In the first age, in the first battle, when the shadows of Grimm first lengthened, there were those that stood. Terrorized the darkness of the Grimm, their souls and auras blistered by the trauma and loss. Tainted by the God of Darkness, they chose the path of perpetual torment. In their ravenous hatred, they would find no peace; and with boiling blood they would scoured the world of the living and the dead seeking vengeance against those that had wronged them. Those that tasted the bite of their wrath with them... the Grimm Slayers."
Argit was pretty sure he was close to pissing himself.
"But wait, there's more!" Noire said with a glee as the crystal continued.
"The Brother Gods did what they could to banish the Slayers as one in particular they saw as a threat to THEM. Their leader had a grudge against the God of Darkness for the loss of his family and called for vengeance against him. He slaughtered hordes of Grimm, temples of the Darkness's followers, and fought the Dark God to a standstill. However, he knew he could not win. With a self-sacrifice and use of the Voyd, his power lay dormant in the deepest depths of the Quibuscaligo for the day where a silver eyed warrior with boiling blood will seek vengeance and ascend as the new…Grimm Slayer."
The crystal faded, the lights returned, and Noire took the crystal to prevent it from falling.
"Summer failed to prove her worth and died. Maria lost her eyes like a scrub. Dozens of silver eyed warriors all unworthy died. Mao was close…but not enough. Ruby is too soft-hearted…no, it has to be Yuki. Mao got the breadcrumbs to Yuki, his death the push to Yuki's path of suffering, and Chorona is blissfully unaware that her actions will lead to Yuki taking the plunge…to ascend." Noire said with maddening laughter.
"You planned all of this?" Argit asked.
"Not exactly. I did plan for either Mao or Yuki to die, whichever one I thought could become the new Slayer. Adam and Chronoa's actions have only made things easier where I did not even need my original plan! Oh, but Chronoa just made all fall into place for me and him to rise from what we are." Noire said jovial. "Argit, my boy…this will be glorious!"
(A/N: The final boss is upon us. While a bit dubious to set them up this late, this was more of a surprise. There would be several who'd think Noire's nuts for letting Yuki, who the Voyden Oracles, see as a threat train and get stronger. I do have a big plan for the end of V4. A major change is going down…and what does Noire have planned for himself and Yuki. Find out in the finale!)