Hello!
Here we are with yet another chapter!
So, a few chapters ago, I said that a new arc in the story had begun
I'm gonna be real with all of y'all
I didn't really plan these arcs out *gasp* well now, for those curious, I'm about to give you a comprehensive list of the arcs and the chapters they take
Chapter I-IV - The Return Arc
Chapter V-X - The Schoolboy Arc
Chapter XI-XX - The Prelude to Destiny Arc
Chapter XXI-XXX - The King Rises Arc
Chapter XXXI-current - The King's War Arc
(Don't worry, for those who care, I'm going to add the title to every chapter that each Arc involves)
For those who are looking forward to updates for my other fanfics, don't worry - I'm getting to those
As for the Clash of Gods fanfic, I didn't think it'd get any traction so be prepared to wait a bit for any updates on it
I gotta think and brainstorm like a motherfucker.
Regardless...let's get on with this.
It's not a long chapter, but it's more or less a follow-up to the events of last chapter
the bicc ones are coming soon.
Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY
Chapter 31: It Begins
Breaking News
Lisa Lavender and the King of Vale live on VNN
"Hello, thank you for joining us today in our studio, Jaune Arc." The woman smiled.
Jaune couldn't help but smile back. Dressed in his armor, he sat comfortably in the couch. "Thank you, Lisa, I'm honored to be on your show."
There was a collection of screams and squeals from the gathered crowd of girls and women pressing their bodies against the window panes behind them. They waved banners and signs trying to get his attention but his eyes were planted on the reporter in front of him.
"I have to say, when the Grimm appeared a week ago, I along with many millions were quite terrified. Your entrance is surely one that the people of Vale will never forget." Lisa said. "So, extended from the People of Vale and myself, thank you."
"No need for thanks. I did what anyone would do if they had the resources." Jaune chuckled. "And I wasn't the only one who saved the day. Every man and woman in my army, Human or Faunus, stood together because it was more than a job – it was a fight for our lives and that of our families. My Fireteams, my battalions and my war machines saved the day long before I ever did."
"Ugh." A woman scowled at her screen. She had to fight the urge to throw her remote. Waving her silvery white hair from her face, her amethyst eyes narrowed at the figure of the blond boy who called himself king. "What a tool."
"Myself and the vast millions in Vale are wondering how you managed to keep such an army a secret. To accrue the resources and the capital to maintain and create a vast and varied fighting force would require the economy of a Kingdom. Just look at Atlas." Lisa asked. "How did you do it? There must be a secret."
"I am Jaune Arc of the House of Arc. The name alone carries weight to those in the lower levels of Vale's society. North of the great river, the rich and those who can't be bothered live in their pretty homes and well-maintained streets. South of the river however, it's a different story." Jaune started. "When I came to Vale from Orléans to study at Beacon, I learned a great many things on the flight alone. I learned from my father that the Arcs were apparently the last descended family from the Last King of Vale."
"So, this alone made you want to build this army?"
"More or less?" Jaune chuckled again. "No. When I came south of the river, I saw nothing but poverty. I saw industrial wasteland and people living in squalor. I came to be a huntsman. I came to fight Grimm. But when I saw just how disparate the living conditions were, I knew I had to do something. After meeting with several of the pillars of the community, we banded together to create a sense of order to the chaos."
"I see. A sense of purpose was found?"
"You can call it that." Jaune smiled. As his teeth flashed in the camera, several screams were heard from behind the windows they sat in front of. He ignored their signs and their cries, of course. "It was more than purpose really. I found my destiny. I realized that I had a reason for coming to Vale; that I had a reason for having the skills, the semblance and the inhuman amount of aura. So, me and the pillars came together forming a coalition of sorts with one goal – cleaning the refuse from Vale."
"Vigilantism?"
"Yes."
"So, he's willing to break laws to get what he wants." The woman leaned into her seat, thinking softly. "Ciane. I need my drink refilled."
From the entryway behind her, a skinny, malnourished Faunus entered the room. One of her rabbit years were removed, leaving but a stump in its place. The woman bent slowly, careful not to let her eyes latch onto the silver-haired woman.
"That's illegal." Lisa's brow furrowed.
"I know." Jaune answered. "What the Council did, rather, what they weren't doing, was also illegal. Their job is to protect and serve the people, not their personal interests. On the council, Noble Houses and business moguls who have something to gain argue and battle one another over pointless things when the people they're tasked to care for, are starving. Do you know what I did? I gave them food, I gave them jobs, I gave them purpose. I made life worth living for them."
"Do the ends justify the means?"
"Look around you. Wouldn't you say they do?" Jaune asked. "Vale's economy is booming. Vale has an army again and now, to the Four Kingdoms, they know that this was all just the Return of the King. The True King."
"As you've stated, Vale's worst enemy is its Council. What will you do about the Council now that you're openly claiming your kingship?"
"I will do the only thing necessary." Jaune's response came like a gust of wind. "The Council is lax, even if my father and mother sit on it. With me, Cardin Winchester, son of Tanager Winchester, another Councilman, would actually like to speak and say some words for the people of both Vale and Viridian Hollow."
Coming into view, a large, barrel chested man entered the area. As he sat, the horde of girls and women gathered at the window screamed and cheered for him with as much fervor as Jaune. The orange haired boy smiled softly at the cameras, trying to maintain composure. This was the kind of attention he wasn't expecting.
"Good to meet you, Cardin." Lisa nodded. "Tell me, what can you tell us and the viewers across the world about your place with the King?"
"I lead Fireteam CRDL. As one of the Lieutenants in his army, I also lead a regiment of infantry and an attachment of vehicles." Cardin answered. "How we came to be friends and allies in this mess was something that I could never forget."
"Please, don't hold back."
The screen began to crack. Little by little it came like spiderwebs. It didn't take long before the image fizzed and was shattered into nonexistence. The woman sitting in her chair clenched her teeth as a raging heat burned in her amethyst eyes. Clutching the arm rests, metal bent around her. Metal walls plates, chair legs and table legs even, were bent beyond repair. Sparks sprayed about as wiring was gnawed and ripped apart. Lights dangled from the ceiling as metal popped from their fixtures.
Larissa Argent couldn't believe what she had seen. Cardin Winchester. Her Cardin Winchester.
"W-What the fuck…?" She whispered. "What the fuck?!"
Rising from her seat, she slowly began to pace. Amethyst eyes bounced left and right, even to the pair of antlers she kept wrapped around her waist. She walked to the cracked windows of her living quarters and had a strange temptation to punch them out. She couldn't believe it. Cardin – the Cardin – a brother in the Brotherhood, member and lover and best of all, fiercest champion of their cause. She struggled to wrap her head around the concept.
With a roar, she waved her arm around, semblance activating. Metal plates reformed and the television that was ruined was recreated. The screen coming to life, albeit slightly blurred. Arm rests were unbent and the chair legs were realigned. Plopping down, Larissa tossed a few silvery bangs out of her face, repositioning and preparing for the rest of the interview.
"Amazing." Lisa praised. "After all that you've went through, to come out on top and to find yourself new friends and family amongst your peers is something to commend in your line of work."
"That brings us to where we are now." Cardin said. "The White Fang have fallen off since the Battle of the Docks almost three months ago. They aren't our enemy. After deep consideration with our top brass and generals, and even with the King himself, we've decided to make our declaration known to all the Four Kingdoms."
Jaune took his cue to continue. "With the defense of Vale and the healing of Menagerie, the White Fang have no reason to remain enemies. All that remains now are those who refuse to accept the new status quo. I am the King, whether you like it or not. I am the King, whether you choose to believe it or not. Nothing is going to change the fact that more than half of the Kingdom's population and all of Menagerie have sworn fealty to me. That brings me to my most important declaration."
"To the Brotherhood. To the men and women who choose to discriminate against the Faunus, I won't tolerate it in my kingdom." Jaune said sternly.
Larissa hissed once more, her aura flaring violently. "H-How dare he?! That traitor! That bastard! I…I need…Ciane! Where the fuck is my drink?!"
Breaking News
Lisa Lavender and the King of Vale live on VNN
"Hello, thank you again for joining us today in our studio, Your Grace." Lisa bowed her head slightly.
"Please, no need for formalities." Jaune chuckled slightly. Cheers and screams came from the crowd pressing their bodies against the glass windows. This time, their numbers seemed to swell exponentially.
"A month has passed since our last interview and my, have you been busy." Lisa smirked. "Some have seen that you are walking with the Invincible Girl, Pyrrha Nikos, Four Time Champion of Mistral. Rumors are circulating the CCTN that you are dating."
"Well the rumors are correct." Jaune smiled. "I spoke with her parents and met them shortly after the new semester began. After all, they saw the reports and the recordings of our arrival in Vale. The whole world did."
"Then hopefully, you could clear up confusion among the populace because they saw you with a blonde woman and the daughter of Menagerie's chieftain. Care to elaborate?"
Jaune shuffled slightly. "Well…it's simple. We're all dating one another. Call it a polyamorous relationship, have you. Things came about that we all liked one another. Things went to other things and before you knew it, here we are, sharing one another with one another."
"Share me too!" A woman's scream could be heard from behind the windows. It was quickly followed by a roar of screams.
"I see." Lisa coughed slightly. "A king can have multiple queens. Is a wedding in order or will the Kingdom have to wait?"
"Q-Queens?!" Larissa scowled, almost shouting to the heavens. "What the fuck is happening in Vale?!"
As much as she hated it, she couldn't help but stay and watch. It annoyed her greatly, especially with how much the CCTN loved the so-called King of Vale. She couldn't go to any site, any place or read any article without seeing his stupid face.
Throwing her glass across her room, she ignored the looks of the Faunus servants poking their heads from the doorway. "What more does this bastard have to say?"
"Hey, I wouldn't wait too long for a royal wedding however. My man, Cardin Winchester is already in talks to getting engaged." Jaune beamed a smile. "As badly as I'd like to get married now, we all agreed to get married after we graduated from Beacon, after all, we are technically still students."
"Understandable, completely." Lisa Lavender smiled. "Now, a question from one of our viewers; now that school is back in session, how is school life different from before when no one knew of your title?"
"Nothing's different. Teams RWBY, JNPR, CRDL and CFVY were well into our own level to begin with. People keep their distance unless they want an autograph or to gawk, but other than that, nothing really out of the ordinary." Jaune said. "Though, it was kind of nice when no one bowed at me. That gets old pretty fast. I'm King but I don't have a throne yet. Or a crown for that matter. Let's save the bowing for when things are official, yeah?"
"Thank you. Now onto another question." Lisa scrolled through her tablet. "How do you intend to handle international politics when you do take the throne? Will Vale police the world or will Vale simply maintain the status quo it has for the last eighty years?"
"I won't let our enemies walk over us again. My goal, my ultimate goal, is to revive our expansion attempts and return to Mountain Glenn. What Vacuo, Mistral and Atlas do is none of my concern. What they choose to do in their Kingdoms is of their own volition. But the instant I am given the chance to act, I will. There are millions upon millions of people that are within the Four Kingdoms that aren't receiving what they should and there are many that are profiting off the exploitation of the masses. That is something I can't abide to. I hope that answers your question."
In the windows, the masses of women looked at him with starry eyes, praising him and calling out to him once more. Lisa was even surprised by his answer. Nodding with approval, she scrolled once again. "Onto another question, if the White Fang refuses to surrender, and the Brotherhood refuses to stand by, what will you do? Will you kill them?"
Jaune looked to the reporter, his blue eyes shaded by his hair. "Kill them? No. I intend to rehabilitate them, let them first see the error of their ways. No one is beyond redemption. No one is beyond saving. But, if they refuse, if they still choose to fight…there will be no mercy. This Kingdom, this world, has no place for ignorance."
Elsewhere, in a land of whipping sands and endless dunes, a woman watched the television box with a score of other men and women bearing Faunus features of every kind. Squished between them in the tight quarters they managed to scrounge after fighting and conniving their own little haven in the forgotten Kingdom, Blue clenched her water bottle. His words rang against her ears, the sincerity of it all, pounded in her chest.
What scared her though, Perry seemed to approve of this guy. She wanted to scream, she wanted to remind those around her – this was the same man who defeated them at the docks. This was the same person who battled the Adam Taurus and won. This was the one who gunned their brothers and sisters down. Perry was there when they attacked Vale; he saw the kind of carnage this King could release and here he was, nodding his head in approval with the rest of the ignorant and misinformed Faunus among them.
Listening to the King speak, his tongue was like silver. The words they shared seemed almost too good to be true. The healing of Menagerie however, reached all shores, all Kingdoms within a fortnight of the first interview. At first, the leaders of the Four Kingdoms didn't believe it, but after report after report came fluttering back, the Kingdoms were in uproar. However, the Faunus flocked to this King of Vale by the masses.
What exactly does this guy want? Blue wondered.
"And for the final question; when should the people of Vale expect you to officially claim the throne?"
Jaune thought for a moment. His blue eyes glanced off into the distance behind Lisa. "Around the same time that I marry my queens…we hope to have our coronations. We have years to prepare for it and years to fix and extend the prosperity of Vale to the rest of our side of Sanus. Simple enough, yes?"
"I think…I think that will be all for now." Lisa nodded. "Thank you for your time, Your Grace. I know that when you're ready, Vale will be glad to have you as our King."
"It's always a pleasure, Lisa." Jaune smiled, drawing more screams and fangirls at the windows. "Whenever the Kingdom needs to hear from me, I'm more than happy to fly over and talk."
"And there you have it. To all watching us on VNN thank you and here is a word from our sponsors."
Jaune leaned against the doorframe, staring at the two women rummaging about, trying to find a good book to read. On the bed, there was another, her long, curly blonde hair tied into a ponytail as she fiddled with her scroll. She wore nothing but an orange tank top without a bra in sight. Instead of shorts or even pajamas, she wore a simple orange colored thong. He couldn't help but stare at the three. While Pyrrha and Blake argued over which installment of some series was better.
Listening closer, he realized they were arguing over sex scenes. Almost face palming, Jaune took a deep breath and pushed off the door frame, letting his girls do as they pleased. Walking through the halls of the HQ, he nodded at the various Huntsmen and Huntresses that had recently joined the King's Fist. Ever since the Great Battle of Vale, his forces and support swelled to unprecedented levels. It was endearing and relieving. It showed that everything he'd done, everything Ren had done, wasn't for nothing.
Support from Orléans and Viridian Hollow was steady and troops, material and trade came between the three cities. He could tell it wouldn't last however. With the tensions he purposely irritated, he knew the remaining bastions of the White Fang would show up soon. He wasn't expecting Adam Taurus to show up or the small army of Faunus he ran with – their allegiance was to Salem. No, he was waiting for Sienna Khan to show and speak to him herself. He was willing to give amnesty for her crimes if only she openly surrendered and deferred Faunus control over to Ghira Belladonna of Menagerie.
Worse yet, he was hearing chatter of Brotherhood in Vacuo and in Dale. There were several champions of their organization but one name came up almost every report – Larissa Argent. The very same that convinced Cardin into the group. The very same that maimed and gored a young Faunus woman in cold blood. While not having a face to put to the name, Jaune already knew she wouldn't be pleasant to speak to. Someone filled with that kind of hatred would be perfect for Salem's games.
Hmm. Speaking of which. Jaune continued walking, ignoring the nods of his troops. Taking an elevator to the hangar, the Ankōshoku airships that hovered in the airways of Vale were seen in broad daylight, Hornets and LAHAT gunships zooming between their HQ Hangar and the hangar bays of the aero cruisers. Soldiers and airmen walked about in formation preparing for deployments into the outer badlands of Sanus. The HQ was never sleeping. After the Great Battle of Vale, they knew that they couldn't afford to be taken by surprise again.
Saluting to the Generals in the Command Center, he walked into a waiting Bullhead and nodded at the pilot. Just as the hatches began to hiss, a shadow of a man appeared beside him. Without even looking at the newcomer, Jaune simply smiled.
"Ren. Nice to see you joining me."
"I had to get away."
"Nora?"
"Dew and Nebula, too." Ren rubbed his face. "I didn't know it would be this difficult."
"Believe me, I struggle with it every day." Jaune cackled. "Though, I didn't think you'd have a crack at a polyamorous relationship. You, of all people."
"What can I say?" Ren shrugged. "It happened. After the Battle, everything was different, Jaune. You weren't kidding, nothing is the same."
"Yeah. Cameras, paparazzi; I can't go into town to visit Violette without getting hounded by microphones and fangirls." Jaune rubbed the back of his neck. "I swear one tried to bite into my body glove."
"Ravenous animals." Ren sighed in despair. "Luckily Nora keeps them at bay."
"You'd think Yang would be swatting them away but she seems to enjoy every second of it." Jaune admitted. "She knows they don't have a chance, but like…fight them off please?"
"You think it's nice until someone gets threatened with a hammer." Ren rolled his eyes. "Nora loves the cameras, but not when they stuffed in her face. Dew and Nebula though, they relish in the attention. I don't know who's happier, me or them."
"Well, Pyrrha's used to the cameras. Blake and Yang though…" Jaune looked away. "Back in the future, the CCTN was down so when Yang and I were together, there was no around to mob or interview us. Now though…she can't wait to enjoy the fame we've gained. Do I blame her? No, not really."
"You sure know how to choose them, Jaune."
"They chose me." Jaune reminded. "C'mon. It's a good thing you decided to come along."
The doors of the Bullhead hissed and creaked open, revealing the landing pads of Beacon Academy. Now filled with students from the other academies, the landings areas were packed. However, everyone and their mothers saw the interviews with Lisa Lavender on VNN. The instant he and Ren stepped from the vehicle; the crowds parted. Conversations fell quiet with the masses whipping out their scrolls to snap pictures and record.
There were some that stood among the crowd, dressed in Huntsman garb, their weapons on their sides and strung to their backs. Ignoring their looks and the flashes of scroll cameras, the pair arrived at the CCT tower, only to be met by Qrow Branwen, almost expecting them.
"Sup."
"Qrow." Jaune simply said. "How are you?"
"Eh." Rubbing his cheek, the grizzled huntsman shrugged. "After the battle…there hasn't been much to do. Come on, Oz told me you'd show. Though, I wasn't told when."
"How long were you waiting?"
"Wouldn't you like to know." Qrow took out his flask and brought it to his lips. As the elevator opened, he tossed it away, pulling out a new one and drank away. "Which are you looking for? Amber or Reggie?"
"Reggie." Jaune watched the elevator floors ring as they descended. "She's ignored all our interrogation attempts; last I remember before heading to Menagerie."
"Yeah and she only seems to get more annoying the more we try." Qrow rolled his eyes. "Also, I'd like to let you in some information. General Ironwood of Atlas is really considering bringing his forces in to police the Kingdom. We know better."
"His army proved useless in the future." Jaune said. "And in the future, Ironwood betrayed us. He was manipulated by his own fear and by a member of Salem's personal team – WTCH. Arthur Watts; Tyrian Callows; Cinder Fall and Hazel Rainart."
"What of RRGE?" Ren asked.
"They are something I didn't think Salem could do, but here we are, a crazed woman with unholy aura and a god-awful attitude." Jaune went silent for a moment. "I don't doubt that she's turned Adam Taurus and the Faunus he left Menagerie with into another team to use. Especially after the effectiveness of RRGE."
"Adam Taurus…"
"Now, aside from all this professionalism, let me be real with you." Qrow's voice turned cold. "I don't know what game you're playing, but if you harm Yang in any way, emotionally, damn if you can hurt her physically…I don't care if you're a god or King or whatever…I will find a way to make you hurt."
"Qrow, you don't have to worry about that." Jaune nodded. "From one man to another; I would never harm Yang."
The elevator dinged as the doors slid open. Taking another swig of his flask, the caped huntsman huffed. Glaring at the King, electronics in the elevator flickered. The sheath on his hip shifted open. Jaune reached over to close it, but the pommel of his sword spiraled off, bouncing on the floor. Stormflower somehow detached itself from Ren's hips and the bullets sprang from the chamber. Magazines ejected, bullets rolling about in a violent mess. Both of them looked to the Branwen, wide eyes and confusion.
"You'd better keep your promise."
Standing before his mirror, the Faunus glared at the massive horns protruding from his head. Black eyes stared at the reflection, ignoring the branding on his face, ignoring the blood red markings that bleed into his flesh. Something about what he saw irked him, but what could he do? He survived Salem's test; he survived. Adam clenched his gloved fists. He was a survivor and he would keep surviving no matter what was thrown his way. But there was a question, a hint of doubt growing in his heart. Hearing the words of the King of Vale, that Jaune Arc, made him doubt his cause, his belief.
He listened intently to every word he said. Ignoring the quip about Blake, he only cared for one thing and one thing only; the betterment of his people. He wasn't bound to selfish desires anymore, but the King healed Menagerie. What was he fighting for anymore? What was the point if his people found a real home? There was no one to fight if the King of Vale managed to create a lasting peace between their people. There was no reason to keep his hatred.
The words that Salem wove into his head echoed, however. His hate kept him alive; his rage made him who he is; his desire for vengeance bound her to him. After the Grimm parasite took him, he slaughtered the beasts by the hundreds, his semblance and aura exploding in all directions. Though, he could have sworn that Grimm were soulless. Was it something that aided him? Was it something that furthered his power? He didn't know, he didn't ask.
Unlike Sienna, the tigress was easy to talk to. Given his history with the woman, his word was trusted. However, here, in this desolate waste, his word was nothing. As the Yūrei ranks were growing, as more and more men and women were whisked away by Salem's agents, his pain, his suffering, meant less and less to those around him. There were nor forces to rally and soon, of the many Faunus he brought, he didn't expect many to survive her tests.
There were moments where he wondered how he survived. He could remember getting struck across the face by an Ursa, then getting punched mercilessly by an enraged Beringel. Worse yet, he remembered getting pinned against the cliff face by a speeding Boarbatusk; tossed by a Minotaur; spiked by a Spitter; bitten by a Beowolf; the list of things that happened to him could go on. The blade of Wilt shattered and Blush ran dry of ammo. He was losing hope but somehow, some way, he survived. He only hoped those he brought with him could do the same.
Looking back to his reflection, he could see the details of his ascension into Salem's ranks. He could feel the power burn in his veins. He told himself throughout the months of living with the Mistress of Darkness that this was the price to pay for justice. This was the price he had to pay achieve the better world he sought. Then again, he wondered; what is the better world? What is the life he wants? Under Salem, was the life she was willing to bring about worth the death of his peers and comrades; his fellow Faunus brothers and sisters?
Adam scowled into his reflection, a gloved hand reaching up to hold his burning face. The markings hurt, they stung and seared in a way that not even the branding iron could. Standing still, thinking and trying his best to ignore the lingering phantom pains, he swung out, punching the mirror. The cracks spread about, slowly spider webbing from the epicenter of the impact, crackling until the shards came loose, crashing to the floor.
Suddenly, the door burst open. Without thinking, Wilt was drawn and Blush was cocked and ready. Standing at the door however, was none other than Arson Rom, the bastard. Adam hissed and sheathed his weapons, turning to the Yūrei. "What do you want?"
"If I were coming to aggravate you, I would have done so sooner." Arson smirked. Adam took several threatening steps. "But, today is your lucky day. Her Grace wishes to see you."
Taking a deep breath, Adam left the room, shoving past the street rat and trudged through the halls. Out in the distance, past the windows that protected them from the flocks of Nevermore and Gryphons flying about, he could hear the screams of men and women coming from the many canyons cutting through the wasteland. From the purple crystals that emerged from the stone, to the pools that spawned Grimm by the hundreds, Adam knew he was tired of this place. He was ready to act – he was ready to fight.
Killing Corsac and Fennec was no necessary, the more he thought of it. The bull acted on impulse, blaming the Grimm parasite the latched onto his spine. They were his brothers in the Fang, they were his closest allies and his only ties to the Belladonna family, now that Blake made her allegiances known. The betrayal, the proverbial slaps to his face, tasted like acid. After a string of constant defeats and humiliations, what Blake made him feel was almost unimportant. There were bigger things at play and Salem made sure he knew it.
Passing a few of the newer recruits awaiting their test, many were Faunus who looked up to him. Few even tried to call to him and bow. He ignored it, knowing he was the worm of Salem's faction. He was a pup compared to the monsters that truly lived here. As terrifying as the Grimm were, he knew they were only the beginning. Stopping just before the great deadwood doors, a man with a small bun on his head waited as well. On his back, two quivers filled with arrows and a large daikyu bow.
"Adam." The man said, his Anima accent gruff and harsh.
"Hanzo." The bull said. "Did she want to speak with you too?"
"So, it would seem." The man simply responded. "Congratulations. There are three from the thirty you brought that survived Her Grace's tests. I'm certain this is what she wants to speak to you about."
"What of you, Hanzo? When will we see you lead a team?" Adam asked. "A man of your skill…"
"One day." Hanzo chuckled. "My time will come eventually."
The doors slowly creaked, only cracking just slightly to allow a man to creep between. He was a giant of a being, with a shoulder width that could make professional body builders jealous. He stood over seven feet tall and carried an empty threatening scowl on his face.
"Come."
His voice rumbled like thunder. With a wave of his gigantic arms, the doors swung open, revealing the infamous members of Salem's perfect team. In one chair, Arthur Watts sat, swiping through various scrolls and hologram screens. In another chair, the Scorpion Faunus, Tyrian Callows was picking at his teeth with his wrist blades. The one in front of them, was Hazel Rainart, the one that Adam had never seen in action. Whenever he did see him, he was either asleep or watching from a distance. In the center of the room however, was the Grimm Darkness herself; Salem, sitting in the largest chair, a deadwood throne colored purple from the crystals that protruded from the rock formations behind her.
Speaking of, Ilia Amitola, Trifa Dem and Yuma Caelum stood behind the queen. Ilia's freckles had darkened significantly, almost black. Her tanned skin however, was a pale white, almost comparable to Trifa. The markings that denoted Yūrei were black on her, glowing red. Trifa, the silver-grey haired spider only seemed to relish in the changes made to her. Her light brown eyes were tainted, sitting in a sea of purple. The spinnerets in the palm of her hands had moved to the base of her wrists, larger and already preparing for the next bout.
On the far end, the biggest change was made. Adam could remember that no matter how many aerial type Faunus there were, none of them could fly. But the wings on Yuma's back seemed to have mutated, larger and almost big enough to hang over his body like a cloak. His dark skin turned darker, with the same markings bleeding a pulsating crimson. The three of them were changed mercilessly, much like how he was and, in all honesty, he hoped they wouldn't have. Staring at them filled him with a strange feeling he hadn't felt since he was a slave working the Dust mines in Mantle. Sorrow.
"Adam, my child." Salem said, breaking his muse. "Something is bothering you, don't be afraid to speak."
Adam shook his head. "It's nothing, Your Grace. I'm just taken aback by what I see."
Rising from her chair, both Arthur and Tyrian stopped what they were doing. Hazel's eyes opened as well, making Adam flinch at the action. "Do you not like what you see?"
"No, my mistress. It's not that." Adam lowered his head. "What can I do for you?"
"This is your new team." Salem said, nodding to the three Faunus to join him. "Things have changed. There is a new wind in the air and I haven't foreseen this change of events. That is something not to be taken lightly. The King of Vale is proving more resilient and worse yet, there is another that bears power similar to his…I didn't think it possible but here we are in the predicament we're in. I didn't think him so brash as to heal Menagerie and rebuild Vale in the middle of its desolation. He…has proven himself to me. I don't say that lightly."
"What are you saying, mistress?" Arthur scoffed. "That the boy is a threat?"
"He's more than a threat. He could undo centuries of planning." Salem hissed. "He is more than a thorn in my side – he's a sickness that can undo everything I've done. Worse yet, we've lost contact with dear Cinder. Either she's been compromised in Vale or she refuses to return contact with us. She of all people knows the gravity of such betrayal. As such, Adam, I declare you as the leader of Team ACID…find her. Bring her back to me, alive. I will deal with her myself until I find a new suitable host for the Fall Maiden's power."
"What of her sycophants?" Arthur questioned.
"Do with them as you please, Adam." Salem said. "However, you will not be using my portals. We've used them too much lately. Arthur will give you a transport to Sanus. From there, I know you'll figure something out."
So, things are rolling along and Larissa finally gets screen time. Don't worry, you'll see more of her a lot.
This chapter was kinda experimental and a little on the light side, but yeah.
Anyway, Review, Follow and Favorite!
ja ne!
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