Chapter 20 Rising to the Call

It's been two weeks and Kituma has gotten used to his bosses and fellow worker Yang. the two got along pretty well but he kept seeing Raven when talking to her. Maybe their related but he never bothers to ask since it not something you ask if you're related to this other person I know. He was driving on his small motorcycle the two brothers own and allow him to use for deliveries. And so far it has been useful and though not as fast as Yang bike it makes it in time. He had finished his day of work as he parks the IMC bike as he heads in to sign out for the day. As he heads in Kituma notices Yang was talking with her younger sister Ruby who he saw and talked to a bit but not much.

He was not sure if they were adopted sister or biological sisters with a different parent. He finishes signing in while he overheard the sister's conversation.

Ruby: SIS I want to go to the weapon shop and I want someone to come with me. It is slightly boring without someone.

Yang sigh not wanting to go then notice Kituma and got an idea as she smiled: I got an idea. KITUMA!

He glances over to her and she continues to ask him: So you busy this afternoon?

Kituma shook his head: No why are you-

Yang: Good because I am having fun you two at the weapon store. Just don't do anything naughty.

Ruby blushes YANG!

Yang laugh at Ruby's reaction but Kituma thought about it while the two sisters argue and he said: Sure.

Ruby surprise he wanted to come but decide to take it. Once fully sign out Ruby lead the way to the weapon shop Ruby wanted to go with someone. As they walk in silent but Ruby wanted to break the silence by talking to Kituma but had no idea how to start a conversation. She notices he pretty fit even more than Yang and that a feat since she been picking fights since she started school.

Ruby: So you training to be a Huntsman?

Kituma not looking at her but where they're going: I did but… not anymore.

Ruby was confused. Why would he quit on being a Huntsman?: But why?

Kituma answer to her question was simple: I am not worthy and not a hero this world needs.

Ruby was not exactly sure what he means as they arrive at the weapon shop and head in. Ruby check out weapon dashing about in the store. Kituma on the other look with some interest but his heart was not in it. He looks at handgun since he needs to replace his old ones so he can have a ranged weapon to defend himself since he left Rebellious behind. As he looked he saw on a wall poster. It shows a dark knight leaping down sword raise down on criminal below him. He looks like a monster a demon and reminds Kituma of the darkness within him. He stares for it a while which Ruby while walking by notice.

Ruby asks Kituma: Are you okay Kituma?

Kituma did not respond at first and Ruby thought he did not hear her: No I am fine… Ruby. does this person look like a hero of peace?

Ruby look at the poster collect her thought for her answer to Kituma complicated question: You mean as a Beacon of hope or champion of justice?

Kituma: something like that?

Ruby thought some more about her final answer. It took her a while to the point where Kituma was about to say forget it when: I think he can be. Maybe not being heroic-looking but his action and the way he inspires others and strikes fear into the hearts of those who dare break the peace. Then I say he can be.

Kituma was inspired and shock that this girl so young said words of wisdom wiser than some adults. And it reminds him of his promise to his dad and what Mister Rogers would want him to do. So what if he not an angel of justice. He is the devil that crime fears his judgment. He pats Ruby's head which confuses her.

Kituma smiles: Thank you, Ruby.

As he heads to the door and leaves the store. Ruby follows as he walks to the middle of the road as he clears his mind by breathing slowly before raising his left hand like he expecting a high five of some kind. He did it for like 2 seconds and Ruby was about to ask when a Sword of some king flew right into his hand and an explosion of red energy around him as a red coat form on him over his Pizza delivery boy uniform. Ruby's mouth was at awe at the sight. Kituma turns to Ruby and gave a salute to say goodbye as he runs off to a destination in mind.

Ruby sigh: So much for hanging out with someone.

As she heads back inside to window shop by herself in the weapon store. Kituma decides to head to the Howling Brothers workshop and make amends and getting something he will need to save the world from this mighty demon the spider demon was talking about. As he walks down the dark street since it was pretty late he senses someone running towards him.

Chro: Kituma!? Thank god yours here.

As he ran stop and needed to catch his breath in front of Kituma.

Kituma worries for Chro though the two have not met since last time in the White Fang base in Atlas: What wrong Chro?

Chro: Winter. The girl that attack you has been following you around. The one with white-

Kituma; I know who she is not hard to guess it was Weiss Schnee.

Chro was flabbergasted at this until he saw Kituma smirk and realize he was joking and knew it was Winter: Okay you got me there but anyway she in danger. The demons got her and we need to save her and stop their plan.

Kituma nodded: We need to work together.

Chro agrees: Come with me to the base so we can talk about more.

Kituma said to Chro: I know the base location. I did a pizza delivery to it. I need to do something before I go.

Chro was going to argue with him but the look on Kituma said he was serious and he needs to do this. So Chro sighs and said he will see him at the base. Kituma saw Chro disappear into the night. Kituma walks and soon arrive in front of the Howling Brothers workshop and head inside. And like they knew he was coming the two stood their arms cross. With angry looks on them.

Sou: Well it seems the ungrateful bastard has arrived. And we have been waiting here for you.

Nor broke his angry look and said to Sou: We been jobbing around waiting for him to come in one of are-

Sou smacks him to silence his brother: SHUT UP YOU'RE RUINING THE MOMENT!

Kituma: Nor. Sou. I am sorry. I was… going through a phase and I need something.

Nor and Sou notice he was being serious as he walks past them to the back of their workshop. Once in back, he heads towards the largest weapon back their, which was easily his father's sword. The Dragonslayer. Kituma steps closer to his father's legendary weapon, once in arms reach of it the lad extends his arm out to grasp the clothy grip of the sword almost as tall as him and likely weight more then he does. Once his fingers wrap around it Kituma was swiftly warped physically or mentally to a new place entirely. Kituma was in a grassy field with no sign of life or civilization around for miles even in his vast sight. He looks around until he notices a familiar figure sitting on a rock looking to the distance, not to anything particular. Kituma recognize this person.

Kituma at a lost of words except for one he has not spoken to anyone in 6 long years: Father?

Guts was not wearing the outfit he died in Kituma was there and this was not it. He was wearing a black hoodie with nothing on it with the left sleeve cut so it did not dangle and flop about with his numb for a left arm. He wore dark jeans that had rip and tears at the knees and had black fancy shoes on. He looks pretty chill and just sitting on that rock not doing anything.

Guts not looking at his son still staring into the distance: It been so long my son. I expect you to have grown a lot since.

He glances to his right having to turn his head almost all the way around including his body since his remaining eye was on the left side of his face. He was able to see his son after so long.

Guts smiles at his son: You have grown strong. Look like your mother.

Kituma smiled back to his father: I got some of you inside me. This spiky hair did not come from mom that's for sure.

Guts chuckle at his son jab at him reminding him of Cyan: Good one son. Come sit with me.

Patting the spot on the rock he was sitting on. Kituma sits with his father by his side and had a lot to say but knew this was likely not meant to last forever so he got to the point: Why are you here? Why am I here?

Guts knew he was going to ask those questions and answer them the best he can: My power was placed inside my sword in case you need it for a battle in the future. Don't let it go to waste my son.

Kituma nodded: Thank you, dad.

He said with a sad smile as he closes his eyes and returns to Howling Brothers' workshop still having his figures wrap around Dragonslayer. He pushes a button on Rebellious and turns it into its compact mode and place it on his waist and then places it on his back before turning to the brothers and say.

Kituma: Night.

As he walked past them and out to the store to get Monjiro from Tukson's place.

Much later Kituma arrives at the base and got it when Kituma told the guards he was here to visit Chro and let him pass and told to go to the weapon workshop in the base. The base was pretty small and not a lot of people around since most of the big guns for the kingdom of Vale are Huntsman. He entered the workshop and saw it was massive with lots of tools to make weapons of death. Chro notice Kituma and said to him.

Chro: Kituma nice to see you here. I see you brought weapons with you.

Kituma nodded: I did but I lost during combat my handguns.

Chro: Handguns? Well, that funny because I am working on some for Atlas.

Chro turns around to pick up the base model Auto 9s he brought to work on and hand them to Kituma who could feel them in his hands. He notices it had clips in which be not good for Kituma since he better off with energy clips he can use his own aura to recharge himself but he will test them out with live ammo. He saw some targets for target practice and took aim at one and fired. Kituma kept firing until the clips were empty and looked at the empty handguns smiling before turning to Chro and said.

Kituma: Needs more work and got some suggestions for my custom pair if you don't mind?

Chro shook his head and said: Not a problem.

?: I think mister fox has a very impressive aim for someone of his age.

Kituma turn both guns drawn on… a girl? A girl that looks 15 maybe 17 at the oldest but he had a strong feeling she more 15 years in age. The girl had orange hair that was curly with a small ahoge on top that reaches down to her chin and to top her off was a cute pink bow on the back of her head. Her eyes were a light green that seem to glow almost but it might from how pure and innocent she looks even compare to Ruby. her skin was light in color with freckles and over her skin she wore a whitish-gray blouse with short gray overall female edition with a black and green collar that matches her stockings. She seems to be rocking a small backpack of sorts.

Chro sighs annoy to see her here: Penny why you here? Don't tell me you snuck along.

Penny shook her head: No I would never *Hiccup*

Chro gave a stern look: Penny you know not to lie.

Penny: come on Chro I don't want to fight and fight all day it's not what I like doing.

Chro: I know but it's your purpose.

Penny: But I can be more than my purpose.

Chro did not want to argue more with the robot in disguise who he cares about. And introduce Kituma to Penny. The two shake hands and Penny was not really shaking while Kituma was. But after noticing what Kituma was doing she shook his and her's arm really fast up and down.

Penny: it's a pleasure to meet you mister Kituma.

Kituma broke the shake hard not hurt but the shaking did make his arm numb a bit: Nice to meet you to Penny.

Penny decides to go since she felt she was intruding on something important: I will be going now take Mister Kituma and Chro.

As she left so the boys can get back to work. Kituma handed Chro the gun but he said he did not need them since that was the prototype so he brought out a hologram of them and a computer so he can modify the model with Kituma so he gets ready to craft them.

Chro: So what you need? Or want for you advance Auto 9s?

Kituma his basic needs for them: it to be energy clips ones I can recharge and refill with my own Aura. have different modes like rapid-fire and power shot of some kind.

Chro thinks: I see what about explosive shots? Homing shots? I am guessing different dust types as well.

Kituma nodded: All the above, please.

Chro nodded: this takes me a while so it would be best not to sit around and do nothing while I work.

Kituma: I did not plan to.

As he walks away to get some distance and decide as he picks up Dragonslayer with both hands and felt his father's powers surges through him. He was easily stronger than his Grimm form. He swung it about and from it created gusts of wind that almost knock stuff off the wall. Chro tries to keep his working from being knocked off and be destroyed.

Chro: Don't do that inside!

Kituma: don't worry I take it outside.

As he headed outside to get comfortable with his father's sword and the power it holds. And once out and made sure no one would bother him as he held the large blade in both hands getting into his father's old stance. He swung it around to get a feel for it and thought not really heavy for Kituma it was trickier to use then Rebellious due to how long it was and wide as well. But its sheer power was well worth it and the power boost as well. It going to take Kituma some time to get used to it and see exactly how powerful it makes him and how to control it in a fight if he has to use it and have to not to kill his enemy. And so the two young lad prepare for the battle in Atlas they know is ahead of them.