So here we are, approaching the end of this book. This isn't the final chapter – next chapter might be; we'll see. It is in my plan, but there's quite a bit to be done so it might be that when I translate it into text, it becomes clear that it has to go over two chapters. We'll see.


Beta: College Fool

Cover Art: Dishwasher1910

Book 8: Chapter 14


The Guild had brought a small rowing boat to shore in order to pick me up and it was that we used to get back, me rowing with my high Strength while the others fought off any Grimm that dared come close. Painfully, there were people who tried as well, swimming toward us begging for rescue, but they were dragged down into the deeps long before Yang could reach for them. All that remained after was a dark red cloud that would spill up from the water.

"What is that thing?" Blake wondered, looking to the ship which was being engulfed in masses of tentacles. "How could a Grimm so large exist and never have been noticed?"

"By killing all the witnesses," Yang said.

"It was probably summoned by Salem," I countered. "Up top, she showed the ability to bring any Grimm she wanted into existence, including a dragon."

"What!?"

"I'll explain more later." I gave the oars another solid swing, propelling us through the waves. It was powerful enough of one that we drifted on toward Adam's ship. Or, more specifically, toward one of the tentacles wrapped about its hull. I picked up Crocea Mors. "We've got bigger problems right now. Don't fall in the water."

"You really think you need to tell us that? I'm not going to feel safe going for a swim ever again…"

The prow of our small vessel struck the exterior of a tentacle and came to a shuddering stop. The thing either didn't notice or had bigger things to worry about, squeezing the ship's hull so tight it cracked and splintered in several places. Blake was the first up and out, leaping forth to stab a knife into its flesh, then using that as a foothold to climb higher. The Assassin scaled the tentacle as easy as we might a ladder, and Yang and I could only look at one another, both aware that would never work for us.

"Need a lift?" I asked, holding two hands linked at my knees.

"Mind it," Yang warned, stepping on and putting a hand on my shoulder. "Don't send me over and into the drink or I'll haunt you for the rest of your life."

Rather than tell her I'd be careful, I grunted and gave her a solid thrust, pushing my hands up and launching Yang up into the air. I'd not given it my all and she didn't fly up. Her ascent gave her just a little more momentum than necessary, but it was enough for her to catch the railing on the way down and scramble up. The sound of screaming and combat was audible over the edge and I waited with bated breath, half-expecting a fresh tentacle to come and drag me down.

It didn't. I was too small to be noticed, let alone cared about. That might change if I cut into the tentacle in front of me, but that would get me killed. I waited instead, counting the seconds until Yang returned and hauled a rope over the edge. I grabbed on and braced a foot on the hull, only to yelp as Yang dragged me up with as much Strength as I'd used to toss her. I sailed up the side and over and fell onto the deck beside her.

"I always return the favour," she said glibly, pulling me up. "What the hell are we gonna do about this thing? The head and body are underwater."

Six tentacles were wrapped around the ship currently, spread evenly across its hull with one coiled in the air. Adam's crew were hacking desperately at them and the blades were biting deep, tearing out chunks of flesh and blood. One of the tentacles, the one in the air, lashed down onto the deck, cracking it and thrashing about, groping for crewmembers to pick up and throw into the ocean. One plucky pirate fell on his stomach beneath it and shook as the slimy, muscular tentacle grasped about above him.

It couldn't see us. With the head below the ship, it was relying on touch along to locate its prey – easy enough for the ship itself, but much more difficult for individual sailors. "They've got the right idea," I said, tossing Yang a discarded sword left on the deck. "Cut through these things. Sever them if we can. We're the ones with the highest Strength…"

"Got it." Yang didn't wait for me and ran ahead, wielding her sword in both hands and slashing at the tentacle as it looked for prey. Black blood spurted out and it recoiled, the tip of it hanging loosely, a quarter of its mass cut away.

There was no point passing on my suggestion – everyone was hacking at them anyway. Instead, I charged in, gripping my new and weaker Crocea Mors as Yang did her own weapon and swinging at the same tendril she had. I couldn't get the same spot since it had dragged that up into the air, but I cut lower, off the side of the hull where it had come up.

There was less resistance than I expected. The scales were tough but once those parted, my sword cut through it with surprising ease, revealing thick white flesh inside that reminded me of cod or haddock. It spilled out in wriggling chunks that looked like maggots, all of which were thankfully washed off the deck by the high waves reaching up to dash the ship. The wound was grievous enough to make the thing fall back on itself. It remained stuck to the side of the ship but peeled away with the sound of splintering timber, taking with it several boards. It hadn't been severed entirely, but it was spilling its maggot-like guts out into the ocean.

"RELEASE!" a voice from below boomed. A mighty boom sounded, followed by the rattling of chains as a ballistae bolt slammed into and through the retreating tentacle. A crank was turned below deck, the `click-click` echoing above as the chain was retracted and the tentacle was dragged back into the ship.

Gripping Crocea Mors with both hands, I held it high and waited, eyes focused on the gaping injury I'd already caused which was coming closer and closer. The thing flailed and fought the chain as best it could but all for naught. It slammed back against the deck, the wound in front of me, just above the railing. I swung down.

"HAH!"

Already weakened, the tentacle was severed in two as the sword tore through it. The horrible thing continued to thrash and twitch, even separated from its main body, but it fell into the water and flailed there, doing no damage to the ship or crew. An echoing bellow came from beneath us, rumbling the water and causing bubbles to appear all around us. It went ignored as a rousing cheer shook the deck. The chain, still pinned to the tentacle lower down, was release and slipped from the ship, crashing down into the waves with as the stump disappeared under. We wouldn't be dragged down with it.

Buoyed by the success, our Guild and the pirates worked on the others, blades flashing and people ducking and diving for cover whenever the tentacles would reach for them. Adam fought with the wheel meanwhile, swinging it from side to side and doing whatever he could to keep the ship upright in the punishing storm.

Water sprayed over my face and a fresh tentacle burst from the deep, reeling over the side and lunging for me. Its tip split wide like an eight-leafed flower, revealing a serrated beak with row upon row of teeth.

Fwoosh!

The mouth exploded, wreathed with fire that ate away at its insides. It reared back and thrashed in the air, crashing down into the water again.

"Jaune," Weiss said, panting slightly and with a hand outstretched. "Good to see you in one piece. Ruby was worried."

"Thanks for the save." I accepted her help up and picked up my sword again. "Can you do anything about the monster? It's under the ship."

Weiss snorted. "That's obvious. But no, I'm saving my energy for our escape." She nodded to the sails of the main mast, still standing and being flapped about left and right as the winds changed. "I can give us the wind we need, but not so long as this thing holds us in place."

"Right." I groaned and loped off. "I'll handle it!"

Another tentacle to the left had been severed; this one by the combined works of the pirates and Pyrrha. It fell half onto the ship, splitting wood, but Pyrrha was quick to force it off before it could kill anyone in its death throes. Further up, on the helm where Adam stood, another tentacle had its mouth open and was biting down onto Blake or trying to. The Assassin dodged agilely, striking at its sides to little avail. I made to help but Nora beat me to it, striking a dagger Blake had lodged in its side and driving that deep enough to pin the thin to the deck. They got to work sawing it in half, Blake using Adam's sword to do so while he kept the ship atop the waves.

Another ballista fired from below and then another. The rattling of chains continued as these ones flew out the ship, weighing back a tentacle with what had to be several hundred kilograms of solid steel.

A crash from below deck was followed by screams. Sensing the attack coming from lower down, one of the beast's tentacles had stabbed into the hull and piercing through the ballistae firing holes. It was rampaging around in the hold. Running back, I dashed down the wooden steps and turned the corner into a scene of carnage. A tentacle had gotten itself fully lodged through the hull and had wrapped around a metal ballista, which it was using as a weapon to club and bat people aside. Broken bones abound and people laying on the floor moaning or still. Worse, it had knocked all the others off their mountings, smashing the ship's ability to fight back. Water was leaking on board and covered the floor for a few inches.

Roaring a battle cry, I charged forward and cut into the tentacle as it thrashed on the other side. Blood and maggot-guts spilled out, mixing with the water. The tentacle spasmed and lashed backward, and though I got my sword up in time the ballista still struck me with the force of a battering ram, lifting me up off the ground and throwing me ten or more feet back to crash down into the fetid water.

The maggots wiggled and wormed on me – I refused to believe they actually were maggots, but the comparison was there. I brushed them off and staggered up, looking for the sword I'd dropped. Giving up on it, I wrenched a simple log-splitting axe out of the wall and went at the damaged tentacle, hacking and hacking away like a wild man, muscles bulging, and teeth gritted together.

White, wriggling worms washed and fell over my arms as the thing began to go slack. It tried to draw back but I didn't let it, even as it slammed me into the hull several times. With stars in my eyes and the sound of the roaring ocean in my ears, I continued to work on it, slamming the axe down one time after another. Somewhere in the madness, others had joined me, all of us hacking away with whatever came to hand.

In the end, it was the Grimm itself which did the final work – continuing to pull as hard as it could until the tentacle was held on by so little muscle that it pulled too hard and snapped it off. The limb we'd been working on crashed down into the water and continued to spasm, hurling me and the others off and cracking the hull behind it.

"Get the injured out the water!" I yelled, stooping to lift one man up entirely. Worms fell off him and I cursed, brushing all the others off I could. "Check their mouths and ears. Get these things off them!"

"Bail water as well," someone else yelled. "Repair the holes! Closest to the water-line first."

Someone took the injured man off my shoulder and pushed me toward the stairs again. "Get above and help out, Hero," he said. "Leave this to us, you're needed elsewhere."

The fact I was a Blacksmith didn't seem to matter. Not now. With a nod and my axe in hand, I dashed back up the steps in time to duck aside as a fresh tentacle crashed down where I'd been a moment before and thrashed on the deck. "Sorry," Ren called, landing beside me. "Didn't see you there."

"These worms," I said, watching as the things poured out. "Do we need to be worried about them?"

"I'll take a wild guess and say yes," Ren said easily. "I wouldn't ingest any. Other than that, let them wash off the ship. Nothing we can do about them other than torch the ship and that's probably not a good idea right now."

Nodding, I helped Ren move the tentacle off the edge and down into the water with a splash, taking most of the maggots with it. The rest were washed off by a fresh wave splashing over the deck and carrying them over the side. There were few tentacles now, most having been sheared off in the melee. The Grimm still hadn't surfaced and didn't look keen to – not with so many injuries to its name. The two remaining began to lash out against the ship in earnest, doing what they could to cripple the hull and sink us, where it could presumably pick us off at its leisure.

Ren and I charged in side by side, me with my axe and Ren having found a scimitar to wield since his daggers didn't have the size necessary to pierce and cut through the scales. Joined halfway by Pyrrha and Yang, we tore through the first with ease, cutting it down in three places before it could shatter the main mast and truly scupper us. The chunks rained down around us but we were already moving on to the last, a thick band of muscle and flesh that had wrapped around and over the prow, coiling over the front of the ship, which it was trying to tug down, lifting the aft out the water.

"Cut it loose!" Yang screamed.

I slid across the wet deck and under the thing, standing on the other side so that Ren and I could split the work between us. Yang did the same except by jumping over and flipping off it, her and Pyrrha taking opposite sides just as Ren and I did. Up. Down. Up. Down. Our weapons rose and fell in glimmering flashes of steel. The footing was treacherous, and I began to slip back, but I held on to the railing behind with one hand and lashed out with the other. With sweat and sea spray covering my face and filling my mouth, I swung back and hacked into it one final time.

Flesh gave way and the world lurched, the aft of the ship crashing back down into the surf as we were righted. It bounced in the water, throwing me off my feet for a second, though I managed to hold on regardless.

"HOLD ON!" Weiss screamed from further down the deck, drawing Myrtenaster and pointing it up toward the sails. "By the winds," she cried, "Grant us speed!"

The sails suddenly snapped outward, billowed by some unnatural gale that struck it centre-mass and caught the sails. We lurched forward almost drunkenly, freed from the grip of the monster and cutting through the waves with loud crashes of water on wood and a spattering of exhausted cheers. Salt water rushed up over the front as we sailed on, cutting through waves as tall as the ship itself, Adam turning into them so that we wouldn't be struck side-on and capsized.

As the applause increased in volume, I sank to one knee and stabbed the axe down into the deck, gasping for breath and letting my shoulders rise and fall. My muscles were killing me. Rebelling against the brutal treatment.

"We did it," Yang gasped, falling on her ass and laughing, tossing her sword over the edge entirely. "We fucking did it. Hell yeah!"

We'd escaped, I felt like pointing out. But we hadn't really `done` anything. As I stood and looked back to the Mirage Isles, I shuddered. The glowing tendrils that had worked their way up the spires had begun to beat like a heart, the entire island seeming somehow alive to me. Alive and surrounded on all sides by Grimm, who thrashed so wildly that the sea almost looked to be boiling around it. Salem had turned the proud island of the pirate lords into a hellscape in less than one hour. What could she do to Vale or the other Kingdoms?

In two months, we'd know. That was all she'd give us. Two months to prepare ourselves for the end. As everyone else cheered, laughed and patted one another's backs, I looked on at the Mirage Isles, up to the top where I knew Salem would be watching.

I didn't have the heart to ruin their celebrations.

/-/

It was a much more sombre crew who made its way down off the ship and onto the docks in Mistral. Battered and bruised, smelling of blood and already having run out of supplies, we were a sorry state that earned more than our fair share of startled looks from the locals. The militia was already there to greet us, and it was clear they weren't sure we came in peace. I couldn't blame them, given how it looked like we'd just come out of a war.

"We're only here for supplies," Adam said, "And to have a message passed on to Mistral."

The Captain of the Militia clearly wanted to ask more but was also aware that his fifteen or so men could never hope to hold up to the hundred plus we'd brought. In reality, they couldn't hold up to two of our Guild, let alone the pirates, but we didn't see fit to mention that.

"You'll be resupplied so long as you stay on your vessel," the captain said. "Food, water and timber will be brought to you. As for a message, I can have the town Scribe come to take it. I assume it's important given your state?"

"The Mirage Isles have fallen," Adam said, wasting no time.

The reaction was… mixed. "Really?" The captain's smile was nothing if not pleased. "Mistral will be pleased to hear of that. And to whom do we owe our thanks for this great service?"

"The Grimm," Adam spat, and the captain's smile faded immediately. "And one who can control them, who now wishes to conquer the Kingdoms. Mistral knows of her. Tell them `Salem` has come, and that she's preparing for war."

"We've just come out of a war…"

"And now you shall be in another," I said. "We have two months to prepare. The faster the message is passed on; the faster Mistral can call in its outlying settlements."

"And you?" the man asked, paling.

"To Vale. To warn them and then Atlas."

"Right." He looked back. "I've no idea if this story of yours is true, but it's beyond my life to take the risk. Men, fetch them supplies now! I want town carpenters and craftsmen working on that ship and I want them out our harbour within the next two hours!" He stormed away. "Someone call Gavin. I need a missive delivered to the capitol yesterday!"

I returned to the ship while the pirates worked on the repairs. We'd have assisted if we could, but we didn't have the know-how and would have only made things worse. I went down to our shared quarters instead, where everyone was impatiently resting and trying to sleep the days away until Beacon. Ruby was off to one side, twitching nervously, as she had been ever since she killed Raven.

I didn't think it was guilt that led to it. Raven was a monster and also dead already, with Ruby only securing the kill to make sure Salem didn't get all that Exp. There was nothing to feel ashamed about in that. More than that, though, it was the way Ruby's eyes darted that told me something else was wrong. They moved so quickly, snapping to the left, right and back again. Nervously, her fingers would drum on the wood, except they'd drum so fast I couldn't see her fingers move and the sound was just a constant wooden drone.

"Ruby!" Weiss snapped, "Please…"

"S-Sorry." Ruby said quickly.

Too quickly. The words were an almost indistinct mumble.

Food was delivered before I could think more on it. Fresh bread from the town and fruit and dried meats, none of which was particularly high quality, but all of which we wolfed down after a full day of nothing but three sips of water and our tightened belts for company. The ringing echo of hammers working away kept us company as we ate in silence, none of us quite feeling up for words.

Three hours later, the ship was moving again, pulling out of the harbour with a lightened crew and more supplies to our name. Adam took it north along the eastern coast of Mistral, around the strait and toward Vale.

"I'm worried about Ruby," Pyrrha said, cornering me later that evening.

"Me too." I didn't have to ask why. "She's… I don't know. Lost? Confused? She keeps looking around as if she can't figure out what's happening, and sometimes she drifts off in the middle of a conversation."

"Killing Raven, there's no telling how many levels she gained."

"Would it be that many?" I asked. "Even if Raven was one hundred and twenty, Salem took half. That's only sixty levels worth of Exp for Ruby. It's a lot, but probably only for five or six levels of her own."

"That's not how Experience works," Pyrrha explained. "It's exponential. If you were able to put it in numbers, it would be like saying it's one thousand to gain a level, but it doesn't work that way. If it's one thousand to gain a level between twenty and twenty-one, then it might be two and a half to gain the next, then four, then seven. That's why it's so much harder to gain levels the higher you are. And why the Labour Caste so rarely do…"

"What are you saying?"

"If Raven was above one hundred and twenty levels, and Ruby took half, that's not like killing someone who is level sixty. Raven's accumulated experience would be far in excess of double that of someone at that level. Tens of times more. Think about it, how many level sixties it would have taken to actually kill Raven."

A whole lot. Ten, twenty – maybe even closer to fifty. Levels weren't as easy as saying someone who was level twenty was twice as strong as someone at level ten. It didn't work like that. There were Skills to take into account, and then just the fact that Stats grew.

"How many?" I asked. "How many levels might she have gained?"

"I've no idea. Far more than five or six, though. Maybe more than twenty – even thirty."

I winced. No wonder Ruby had collapsed with a scream. It was more impressive she'd been able to wake up in time to save my life. "She recovered from that, though. I don't see what the problem is. Raven was… well, insane, but even if Ruby gained thirty levels, that would put her at somewhere between seventy and eighty. There are plenty of Heroes around that level."

"Yes, but those Heroes don't have an S-Stat in Agility. Those Heroes are more balanced."

"Meaning…?"

"I don't know," Pyrrha admitted. "This… It's not like there's ever been a Reaper before. I just think we need to keep an eye on her. Moving fast is one thing – it's expected given her Agility – but Ruby is acting fast as well. Can her brain keep up? Does she perceive the world in slow motion? What happens if she accidentally tries to shake a hand and moves hers too fast? Is it an attack? Does her hand break under the impact?"

"I'm just saying we should watch her," Pyrrha finished. "I've tried talking to her about it, but she keeps getting distracted. And… she's probably thinking about everything that's happened. Maybe Ozpin will know more."

"If he has time for her…"

"If any of us do. Ruby trusts you." Pyrrha clapped my arm. "I'm sure if it was you who asked, she'd be willing to talk. Not here, though. In Beacon. Once she's had some time to get used to it." Pyrrha stepped back with a wan smile. "I might be overreacting. Maybe she'll be fine."

"Can't hurt to be sure," I agreed. "I'll talk to her."

"Thanks."

/-/

Kingsport was a ghost town as we came into harbour. The docks, normally bustling with activity, stood empty and dirty, with barrels strewn around and several wild animals picking among the remains. Our ship creaking in its mooring was the only sound to be heard and the `clack` of the wooden ramp being lowered echoed ominously. The buildings and warehouses were deserted, and several ships listed in the water, one having even keeled and half sunk in the bay.

"Evacuations must have already begun," Ren said as we stepped off onto dry land once more. "The people have been brought back into Vale."

"Do you think news from Mistral beat us here?"

"Perhaps – but Ozpin and the King had already been expecting a siege, either from Salem or Raven, whomever was victorious. This would have been planned weeks ago already."

Our boots clomped over the wooden dock, which creaked under every step. Rats in the streets scurried for cover and several birds awaited on nearby rooftops, looking for prey and diving down occasionally to snatch up a rodent. They all parted at our passing; a motley collection of Heroes and pirates, all of us reacting to every sound with a flinch or hint of drawn steel.

If it wasn't for the evacuation and the lack of bodies, I might have thought the entire town killed. I was glad Ren brought it up before panic could set in. The gates had been closed – leading further credence to an organised retreat. There was no use just letting the Grimm in to damage their homes and with the town lacking any life, there shouldn't be any reason for them to do so. On the gates, sealed on both sides, a piece of fabric was stamped into the wood.

"It's a missive," Weiss said, walking up to read it. "By order of the King, long may he reign, all members of Kingsport and surrounding homesteads are to evacuate to the city of Vale, effective immediately. If you are reading this, make your way to the city by the fastest route. This is by order of the King. All Soldiers and Heroes are to return to Vale and ready for war. All bandits, criminals and those associated will be offered clemency in exchange for service in the defence of the Kingdom, so the King hath decreed. That's it." Weiss leaned back. "I imagine these have been sent to every town, village or city across the Kingdom."

"Can Vale support that many people?" Adam asked.

"No. But then, they're not trying to support them. Just to keep them alive."

"I guess we're walking back then," I said, sighing. It would be a few days at least, but there was no chance of us finding horses given the order for evacuation. Every mount would be in use ferrying supplies to the city.

"Not necessarily," a voice called out.

We spun immediately, weapons drawn and ready – only to freeze a second later when a figure strode out from the shadows of a nearby stable, garbed in a rich purple cloak and with her hood drawn down. Golden ringlets framed one side of her face while the rest of her hair was dun up in a bun. The pirates didn't recognise her, but we did and they lowered their weapons once we did the same.

"Miss Goodwitch," Weiss greeted. "I must say it's a relief to see you."

"And I you," Glynda Goodwitch replied, looking us over, counting us. She appeared relieved that the number came to eight, though a little surprised to see even more. "Friends of yours, I presume?"

"Refugees from the Mirage Isles. Survivors of it…"

"So, you did make it all the way to the Isles. Ozpin thought you might…" The Warlock shook her head. "Foolish children. So foolish."

"Miss Good-"

"No. Were this any other time, I would drag your bodies back to Beacon myself and put you through the worst punishments imaginable for what you've done."

We wilted.

"But these are not normal times and quite frankly, we need every hand that can wield a sword. You and your companions are called upon. The city is being fortified as we speak, and Ozpin will no doubt wish to talk with you." Her weapon was drawn from her robes. "I will open you a portal to Beacon. Seek Ozpin out and tell him what you have learned."

"And then?" I asked.

"Then, Mr Arc, you prepare for war. For what may well be the final battle of our world."


There we go. The crew escape from the Mirage Isles which has now become a stronghold for Salem and reach civilised land once more. Now, it's back to Beacon and on toward preparations for Salem's inevitable siege.


Next Chapter: 27th May

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