AN: Hey everyone, I have the next chapter here. Thank you for all the support this series has gotten here and on Tv Tropes. This chapter takes place a couple hours after the end of the last one. Everyone is back on the airship as they plan for their next move. I really liked this chapter a lot and what it sets up for. However, some of the dialogue at the beginning here is very heavy, so be ready for that. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.
Chapter 49 – Plan of Attack
Blake.
Aboard the atlas airship in the medical wing, the black cat faunus stood in a cylindrical machine. Her body was scanned with a blue light for a few minutes before the hatch opened. As Blake stepped out, she turned to see Nightingale reading the data on a tablet. However, the steel nurse had white bandages wrapped around her right arm and eye, "What does it say?" Blake asked, "Am I still a faunus?"
"… You should sit down." Nightingale said with Blake moving over to a nearby chair. "From the scan, your body is approximately thirty percent in a line with Grimm autonomy." The steel nurse said while showing the black cat faunus the tablet, "In other words, you are around a third of an alter now."
"I-I see," Blake said as she looked at the scan, seeing her body marked by the black mud, "Is there anything you can do?"
Nightingale sighed, "Nothing at the moment, I'm afraid." She said before crossing her arms, "My Noble Phantasm cannot be used again for some time. Even so, it already proved ineffective. Meaning this essence is a part of you very being now." She then pointed at the center of the body scan, "It seems the highest concentration is in the heart."
"Well, what about a transplant?" Blake asked, recalling the moments before Atalante shoved that Grimm organ into her body, "I mean, that was how this started."
"That would not work in this case." Nightingale responded, "The blood your new heart has pumped throughout your body has been infused with the same Grimm bacterium that formed alters in the past. While external contact before was harmless, internal and at this high of a volume is a different case. Sadly, too much damage has already been done." She said with a regretful sigh, "Neither a heart transplant nor even a blood transfusion could fully eradicate this kind of infection. And… it will only spread more with time." The steel nurse then changed screens, "Current effects look to be a reduction of your aura, but your internal organs seem to be working without trouble. Expect for…" Nightingale tried to speak, but Blake already knew what was about to be said.
"My reproductive organs, because Grimm do not reproduce the way humans or faunus do." Blake spoke, her left hand slightly cupping her right, "I can never have children, but I already knew this…from her memories."
"I see, I'm sorry for bringing it up." Nightingale said before reaching over to a table, picking up a class card, "One last thing, a byproduct of your alteration seems to be your classification change from Assassin to Berserker. Your Mad Enhancement rank is rather low, but from what I saw, it could grow a lot higher if you lose control like before." She said before exchanging it for the tablet back, "And much like your current status, I do not know if this can be reversed." The steel nurse said before slightly bowing, "But I will do all I can to find a way to cure you."
"Thank you." Blake said with a sincere smile before standing up and walking to the door. However, she turned back one last time, "And, I'm sorry for…everything." She said with Nightingale nodding back, allowing the black cat faunus to exit in peace. However, as she exited the room, Blake stopped upon seeing the swift hero to her left. "Achilles…"
"Hey," Achilles responded, his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall, "It's been a while."
"I know," Blake said while looking down, the door closing behind her, "I ignored you for so long because I tried to do this all by myself."
"Yeah, you did." Achilles responded, uncrossing his arms, "It had me worried sick for days."
"And it ended with you trying to find me and getting caught by the White Fang." Blake added on, "You were held captive for so long."
"You know that from Atalante's memories?" Achilles asked with her nodding, "Anything else?"
"I… I understand if you are upset with me." The black cat faunus said with tears forming in her eyes, "That you don't want to be with me anymore." Blake said while Achilles walked up to her, "I-" Suddenly, she felt his hands on her shoulders, causing her to look up at the swift hero.
"It's not about just you anymore." Achilles spoke with a smile, "It's about us." He said with Blake looking at him in slight shock, "No matter what happens, or what you think should happen, I will be with you to the end. Even if you feel alone, I promise to be by your side as fast as I can." The swift hero said with Blake's tears turn to ones of joy as she smiled back. As they gazed into each other's eyes, they slowly closed upon their faces moving towards one another. Their lips locked in a tender kiss that seemingly lasted a lifetime. But as they pulled away, Achilles' smile grew wider as he winked, "Now, I think you have a couple of friends to talk to."
"Right," Blake responded with a nod. Achilles let go of her so she could wipe the tears from her eyes, "Thank you, I'll go speak to them now." She said with him nodding, then watched her walk down the right corridor.
Achilles signed before he walked down the left corridor, but stopped at the corner. There, the white fang swordsman leaned against the wall, "You know, it's real creepy to spy on your ex-girlfriend like that." Achilles said with slight anger in his eyes, "Did you enjoy the show?"
"I did not watch the two of you, only waited here." Adam responded, then turned to face Achilles, "I only wanted to confirm that you would stay by her side, like the hero I was told you are supposed to be."
"Of course, that is who I am," Achilles responded with his arms crossed, smirking, "You would have to be a real idiot to let someone as amazing as Blake go. And a mean I real idiot. Like the dumbest person on the planet. Like so dumb that they-"
"I get it." Adam cut him off, then sighed, "And you're right, she is one of a kind in this world." He then looked at Achilles with a slight bow, "So please, take care of her."
"I will," Achilles responded in a serious tone, but quickly put back on his grin, "But not because of you. But because I know it is the right thing to do for Blake."
"Good," Adam added on before grinning back, "If you do hurt her, I will have to make you pay."
"You? Ha," Achilles responded, "I'm more worried what Yang will do to me than anything you and that edgy sword can pull."
"Like stabbing your heel?" Adam responded with Achilles having a look of slight shook, "Musashi let that slip one visit after she brought her favorite sake to my cell."
Achilles then pinched his nose in annoyance, "I should never have told her that." He said before seeing a look of sadness in Adam's expression, "I heard what happened after she went alone to follow one of the Killers." Achilles spoke his voice changing to one of sincerity, "You seem to care a lot about her. Are you two-"
"It's not like you and Blake if that is what you are implying," Adam responded, "But I do not wish to lose Musashi to these Killers." The white fang swordsman responded, letting out a sigh, "I need her to be alive, so I can repay her for all that she has given me."
"Well, we better get the meeting then." Achilles responded, "The sooner we make a plan, the better equipped we will be to save her."
"Right," Adam said with a nod before hearing someone else approach. The two turned to discover it was Nightingale, "You plan to join in the meeting? Reines said the injured should stay back."
"I agree," Nightingale said while removing the bandage over her eye, staring back at Adam with a piercing gaze, "Which is why I will enter the battlefield in their stead."
"You were able to heal your eye that quickly?" Adam said with Nightingale nodding, "Impressive." He said before the steel nurse walked past him, followed by Achilles. Adam stood alone for a moment, pondering something before joining them.
Meanwhile.
Blake made her way down the hall before stopping at a door. She let out a sigh before raising her hand to knock. However, the door automatically opened with Yang leaping onto the black cat faunus, hugging her, "BLAKE!" the blond brawler said with tears in her eyes, "Thank goodness you're okay!"
"Yang, I can't breathe-" Blake said in a struggled voice, causing the blond brawler to let go of her partner.
"Sorry," Yang said as the two stood up, wiping her tears away, "I was just so worried about you!"
"I know, I'm sorry for putting you through this." Blake responded, seeing Weiss also exit the room, "For putting both of your through this."
"Apology accepted, but we have a lot to talk about as a team." Weiss said before turning back to her room, "Come on, I made us tea." She said with Blake smiling as she and Yang followed the white heiress.
Inside, a tea set was placed on the nightstand between the two beds. Weiss poured Blake and herself a cup. The three sat with the white heiress sitting on her bed, while the black cat faunus sat on Nobu's. Yang pulled up a chair, reverse sitting to place her arms on the backrest, "Thank you." Blake said to the white heiress before talking a sip, a slight smile forming, "It's very good." She said with Weiss slightly smiling herself before also talking a sip. The blond brawler did not have a cup, knowing this was not her kind of drink, but still smiled.
"So, this is a little awkward without our team leader here." Yang spoke up, "I tried to call Ruby, but it went to voicemail. Must be late where she is right now."
"I'll fill her in later." Weiss said before looking to Blake, "Now, let's start from the beginning."
"Right." Blake said as she rested the teacup on her plate, "On the same day we all went our separate ways, I found out that one of my friends in the White Fang was murdered." She said with a look of sorrow at remembering Ilia's corpse in the morgue, "I tried to find the killer on my own, but I was only hitting dead ends."
"That's when you called me, and I told you about Junior," Yang added with Blake nodding.
"He found some information, but I fear it was because of what he found that he was killed." Blake said before recalling the scene at The Club, the beheaded corpses that littered the floor, and the one behind the bar. In saying that, Yang also looked down in remorse, recalling the last time she saw Junior alive.
"The twins told us what they saw you fighting. A Headless Huntsman of sorts?" Weiss asked with Blake nodding, "That thing maybe another mutated hero like Heracles was."
"You think it was sent to keep people from finding out about the White Fang Killers?" Yang asked Weiss.
"That would seem likely," Weiss responded, "I already told Reines about this thing."
"I don't where it went, it was heavily damaged before it fled." Blake added on.
"So, it's still out there." Yang commented, "But it sounds like it is out of our hair for the time being."
"It's hard to say for certain," Weiss responded, then turned back to Blake, "Afterwards, you were in the hospital for a bit? Nightingale mentioned this to us."
"Yes, I was still trying to use what was found to find White Fang Killer." Blake said before looking down in disarray, "In my mind, I thought for sure it was Adam. That he was the one that did this. But…He's been doing more to stop these Killers than I ever had before."
"Adam was secretly let out for this mission on my sister's orders." Weiss clarified, then looked down in remorse as well, "However, Winter died partway through our mission, as did others who fought on our side." She said as the image of her elder sister and Brynhildr filed her mind.
"I'm so sorry Weiss, I didn't know." Blake responded, "I never even got to meet her."
"It's okay," Weiss said before looking back at her friend in determination, "I plan to finish all that she started." She said with Blake having a soft smile in response.
"So, I think next is when I tried to call you." Yang responded to Blake, "And you hung up on me."
"Yes, I'm so sorry." Blake responded, holding her head with her right hand, "I wasn't thinking, and I crushed my scroll."
"Yeah, that was dumb," Yang spoke.
"Indeed," Weiss said before taking a sip of her tea, "Did you at least use the special ammo I left back in our room?"
"I did, it came in handy with my semblance." Blake responded, then had a look of sorrow, "However, I don't think I can make my Gambol Shroud anymore."
"We found what was left of the pistol." Weiss responded, "It was beyond repair."
"Can you make that cleaver?" Yang said with Blake shaking her head.
"I think both have now been replaced by this," Blake said before extending her left hand, spawning the bladed black bow from before.
"Oh, neat." Yang commented, "We at least know that thing packs a punch." She said before also seeing the back cat faunus was wearing, "So, when did you change to that outfit? Before you left Vale?"
"This was something similar to what Atalante wore." Blake said before despawning the weapon, "After following a moving base, I found out my alter was still alive. Yet, I could not beat her, nor the real White Fang Killer that had already massacred the base." She said before looking down in disarray, "When I was left for dead, Atalante possessed me by infusing her heart with my own. It not only changed what I wore, but my biological makeup as well." The black cat faunus continued to look down in sadness at the tea, "Yet, despite being filled with an uncontrollable hatred at the time, all I could think to do was run away."
"And then we found you." Yang said with Blake nodding.
"Yeah," Blake responded, looking at her trembling hands, "I now have control of myself, but I don't know how long that will last."
"Blake…" Yang spoke with sorrow in her eyes.
"You left out one detail." Weiss said to Blake before sliding something the black cat faunus' hands, "You took this with you for good luck, but I got a bit dirty." The white heiress said as Blake looked at the photo of their first day at Beacon Academy, "Fortunately, I was able to use my Glyphs to clean it to be good as new."
"I…" Blake said as she looked down at the photo, tears of joy forming as she started to smile, "Thank you, thank you all so much."
"Hey, we're a team." Yang said with a smile, "We always got your back."
"Right," Weiss responded, "And now, we go to the meeting for our next move."
"Okay," Blake said with a smile and nod, causing all three to stand up, "Uh, Yang?" the black cat faunus asked her teammate, "What happened on your journey?"
"Well," Yang said before recalling the encounters with her mother, multiple bounty hunters attacking them, and almost dying after getting shoot, beaten down, and her neck was snapped, "You know…stuff."
"Let's go," Weiss said beck to the duo, her hands on her hips.
"Coming." Yang said before looking back to Blake with a smile and a wink, "I'll tell you after we all come back alive." the black cat faunus nodded back with a matching smile.
The trio exited the room and made their way down the hall. They stopped to enter a large meeting room. Inside, all other members of the group were seated. Reines sat with Sigurd to her left and Sienna to her right. Adam remained next to the King of Warrior. While Caenis sat next to the leader of the White Fang. Melanie sat next to the White Fang swordsman; her sister was seated right next to her. Across from them sat Nightingale and Achilles. With the final three seats, Weiss, Blake, and Yang filled them before the meeting started.
"Welcome," Reines spoke, "We are now ready to discuss our final counterstrike against the White Fang Killers." She said before pressing a few buttons on the table, showing a map of the area with four blinking dots, "These are the locations of the four targets we need to eliminate."
"Four of them and twelve of us." Caenis commented, "Those are better odds than before."
"Indeed," Reines responded, but then focused on one of the blinking dots, "However, they still hold one of our own as a hostage." She said before the dot expanded to show the image of the faunus-slayer, "Izou has Musashi, at least we would assume give his threats during the call."
"He wants one of us to go there and fight him." Adam responded with his arms crossing, "And I intend to be the one to put him down."
"You do fit his criteria, but he will not be an easy foe." Reines said before looking over to the steel nurse, "While he said to come alone, you should stay close by to tend to Musashi's injures after the battle."
"Understood," Nightingale said with a nod, then looked over to the White Fang Swordsman, "However, this assumes the best-case scenario."
"You're right." Adam responded, "If I cannot beat him and send a signal within a certain time limit, it means I was killed instead." The white fang swordsman spoke, "In that case, you will have to finish what I started, and make sure this man does not escape." He said with Nightingale nodding back.
"Good, then let's move onto the next point." Reines said as the second dot showed the face of the raging paladin, "Nagayoshi is asking to fight the Leader of the White Fang."
"And he will get a fight." Sienna answered, "That man is going to pay for what he did my brethren. And for what he did to Sheba."
"Count me in," Caenis added on, "The two of us got this one in the bag."
"It won't be just the two of you." Sigurd answered, "Because I will be accompanying at this point." He said before adjusting his glasses, "With the three of us, we are guaranteed to defeat this foe." The King of Warrior then looked over to Sienna, "If we will be working together in the future, we must learn each other's fighting style sooner rather than later."
"Fine," Sienna responded, "But I will get the final blow of this psycho."
"Two down, and two left." Achilles commented, "Which one do I go with?"
"Neither." Reines responded, "You will stay here and defend the airship from any surprise attacks. As well as act as immediate transport for the other points if anyone needs to be evacuated."
"What!?" Achilles responded, "I don't get to fight at all? But I got my aura and chariot back?"
"Which is what makes you the best person to defend our injured." Reines responded, "Our enemies have already done a surprise attack on this airship. And considering we have the wildcard of this Headless Huntsman; I would not want to take any chances." The Princess of El-Melloi said before crossing her arms, "Next to Sigurd, you are the strongest individual from Apocrypha we have here. And with your chariot, you will be able to aid any one of the four points should they need help."
"Well, you do have multiple points there." Achilles said before sulking in his seat, "Still feels like I am being left out of the mission."
"It's okay," Blake spoke to him with a smile, "This means, we don't have to worry with you watching over us." She said with Achilles smiling back at her. The black cat faunus then looked over to Reines, "At one of the two locations, I know the White Fang Killer that will be there." Blake said with her right hand slightly trembling, "The one that attacked the moving base, his name is Hijikata Toshizou."
"So, that was who we saw," Melanie commented.
Miltia then looked to Nightingale, "Didn't you call that guy something when he walked by?"
"I did, though I hoped I was mistaking him for some else." Nightingale responded with her arms crossed, "He was known as the Grimm of the Battlefield."
"So, he was from Apocrypha?" Yang asked.
"Yes, one of the rarest cases of a Berserker class." Nightingale clarified, "While a brilliant tactician, the level of ferocity he showed was unmatched by the monsters he slew. Hence the title he earned."
"If he was so strong and smart, what happened to him?" Caenis spoke.
"Over time, he took on deadlier missions to eliminate more of the kingdom's enemies. However, anyone that was partnered with him would die in battle, while he would come back alive." Nightingale responded, "He did not care that others feared him, so long as he would be the winner at the end of the war. To Hijikata, everyone else was in his way." She said with Blake flinching, the memory of those words echoing in her mind. "In the end, he was said to have finally died in a battle where no man could have survived."
"Well, he's still alive." Sienna pointed out, "And is he the leader of the White Fang Killers?"
"Hm, I have my doubts." Reines responded, "From what I remember about him, Hijikata followed the orders of someone else on who to eliminate." She said before crossing her arms, "And that person's name was Yagyuu Munenori, the Saber Empireo."
"You believe this man is the leader?" Adam asked.
"I would assume so. He went missing at the same time as Hijikata and right before Izou fled." Reines responded, "Munenori would be the only type of person Izou would follow, a saber with unprecedented levels of skill. And he would also be the only type of her person that could rein in people as insane as Columbus or Nagayoshi." She said before a line of sweat ran down her forehead, looking at the blinking dot on the map, "Finally, this would also be the only person who would want to test their skills against the Summer Maiden's power."
"I guess that means you're going to his location." Weiss spoke up, "Then Yang and I are coming with you." She said with Reines having a look of confusion, "After all, we're both of your subordinates. And I know this is who Winter would fight if she were here."
"Yeah," Yang said with a grin, "We can take this guy down."
"You say that as if it will be simple." Reines said with a smile forming, "I appreciate your help." She then cleared her throat before looking to the monitor, "That leaves one point left." The Princess of El-Melloi said then turned to the black cat faunus, "This is where Musashi's signal went off, which we believe is their base. However, this would also be where Hijikata most likely is."
"I know. Since I've already fought him, I know his fighting style." Blake responded, "It makes the most sense that I should fight him again."
"Do not go rushing into battle." Sienna responded, then glanced back to Reines, "From our discussion, this could be where they have stored all the White Fang bases' stolen supplies. Including all of the dust they may be planning to use to create a bomb." She said before looking back to Blake, "Gather as much information as you can, and wait for the rest of us to eliminate our targets first. Only fight if it comes to that option."
"Understood," Blake said with a nod, but had slight hesitation in her next comment, "And Sienna, I'm sorry to inform you of this, but I believe this man was the one who killed Ilia." She said with Sienna's eyes widening in shock, but the black cat faunus had a look of focus in her eyes, "But no matter what happens, I will not lose to this White Fang Killer again." In saying that, the leader of the White Fang saw the image of her informant in the black cat faunus' eyes.
"And this time, we will help you against him." Melanie responded, causing Blake to turn to her in slight surprise, "Don't get it twisted, we have not forgiven you like your other friends have." The white twin said before crossing her arms, "But I do not think it is wise for our reputation to leave a mission so close to its conclusion."
"Yep." Miltia responded, "Plus, it's not like we got anywhere else to go." The red twin said with Blake looking back at them with a smile and a nod.
"That settles it then," Reines commented, "These will be the te-"
"Hold on," Sienna interrupted before turning to the White Fang Champion, "Caenis, help Blake and her group deal with Hijikata."
"What!?" Caenis exclaimed, standing up now, "But, that would leave you and Glasses over there to deal with Nagayoshi." She said with Sigurd looking over in slight indignation, but Adam patted him on the back.
"I know, which will be more than enough to defeat our foe." Sienna responded, "You should be helping another point than protecting me." The Leader of the White Fang responded, glancing over to the black cat faunus, "Given what we have learned about their enemy, she could use your help should a fight break out."
"But…" Caenis spoke with her right fist clenched, "What if you die to your opponent?"
"…" Sienna looked back at the sorrow in her friend's eyes, then sighed, "I will make this clear then." She said while turning to the whole group, "On this mission, if it is to be the first mission of the newly formed Apocrypha military, I will give this one command." Sienna spoke with a look of focus in her faunus eyes, "Nobody here will be allowed to die." She said with multiple members slightly gasping, including Caenis, who the leader of the White Fang glanced back at, "All of us will be coming back here alive, so we can continue to protect people from the evil of this world." She said with the White Fang Champion slightly gritting her teeth, but then sat back down.
"Agreed," Reines said with a smile, "We have six hours until the battle begins. You may use that time to prepare in any way you see fit." The Princess of El-Melloi said before being the first to stand back up, "But when the time comes, be ready for our counterattack." She said as the meeting had ended.
AN: There you go, the plan is in motion to eliminate the White Fang Killers. Blake goes through a lot this chapter, coming to terms with the consequences of her actions. Even though she got back control of herself, damage has already been done to her body. Still, she has her friends by her side to support her. As well as Achilles, who she finally shares a kiss with on scene in this story. And after a little catching up, the teams are made for who will attack which point. Reines was even able to figure out the Leader of the White Fang Killers, but that only makes her battle against him even more frightening. Still, Sienna ends with the order that nobody here will die on this mission. Will that be the outcome or are some just fated to die? Next chapter, which will be this season's final, will be back in Vale as a certain head starts speaking. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.
