Chapter 20
Eric van Genus' Audio Journal #20: Sixteenth, Seventeenth & Eighteenth Reincarnations
I do have some time before I make it to Atlas. May as well record then.
In my sixteenth life, I was born into a world that is in the middle of the stone age that recently discovered fire. So basically, I was reincarnated as a caveman. Like I did before, I taught many members of my new clan about some of a more modern sciences that I'm glad I remembered from Dr. Stone. I taught them about agriculture, housing, medicine, cooking. To the point where we made electrical stuff such as light bulbs, radios, and some stuff that looked like it was made in the modern age. Things were going smoothly until I met another reincarnate that wanted to create a militarized society. Guess who it was. You have five seconds. Five...four...three...two...one, time's up! Adolf Hitler. I know, right? Adolf fucking Hitler, the guy who started World War 2, was reincarnated on the same planet as I did. What are the odds of that? But as you guess, a big war happened and I almost won. That fucker killed me with a giant railgun. A fucking giant railgun of all things! I could've used my powers, but what are the fucking odds that racist asshole could make a weapon that was decades ahead of its time. One reason why I didn't use my powers because I was afraid of being worshiped as a god, like I said in my last audio journal. Well, that world is doomed, and no reason to cry about it.
Now the next one, my seventeenth reincarnation, is a bit more interesting. I was reincarnated in the Mass Effect universe. Yet I was part of the Andromeda Initiative. For those that remember that game; shit didn't go as plan, faced the Kett, made new friends and colonized worlds. But the exciting part is what happened after defeated the Kett. Somewhere close to an uncharted region, as well as being a Pathfinder, I discovered a new terror that was even more gruesome than the Kett. These lifeforms looked humanoid yet use shit from H.R. Giger to attack everything on sight. These beings were like the main character from Scorn mixed with some traits of the Thing from, well, the Thing and the Yuuzhan Vong from Star Wars. Yet their weapons were based on insects that shoot out acid, poison needles, super-heated projectiles and among other things. Not sure if that is from the original ideas of the people that made Mass Effect: Andromeda, but that was unexpected. But I did gain enough stuff to increase my bionics, which means more power. As for how I died, well... I was in the bathroom and was unaware of the tentacle that went up my... Yeah, you get the fucking idea. Every time I have to do number two, my danger senses are turned off so now I've gotta be more careful when shitting.
Okay, my eighteenth one is a bit...nasty. I ended-up in the SCP universe. No joke, I became an SCP. As for what number, I don't remember. Probably because I've been using the memory duplicator that maybe messing with my head a little, but I'll check it out later. I was contained for an unprecedented amount of time and was experimented upon. Not the awful shit they do, just wanted to test some of my powers. Later on, I gain the trust of everyone at the facility and was free to roam around since I was declared safe. I was cooperative, followed the instructions, and answered some questions truthfully. Good thing that they didn't ask about reincarnation. As for what I did, I killed SCP-682. That's right! I killed the unkillable reptile. Not only that, I even gained all of his abilities and powers. But I kept that a secret. I pretty much came into contact with many hostile SCPs and made off with their powers like some sort of leech. Not only that, when I touch some of the more "friendlier" SCPs, I make a duplicate of their powers. Including SCP-999. Such a cute little fella he was. As for how I died. Tried to take on the Scarlet King, by myself, and got vaporized in ten seconds. Guessing all those powers don't mean nothing against something that can destroy the multiverse. I should avoid such entities until I gather enough energy to go toe-to-toe against them.
End of recording.
Deep in the bowels of what was once Mountain Glenn, Gris and his troops went further into the depths of an underground village to see if all the negativity have been wiped. They went deep and further in as they pass through many ruined buildings made by desperate survivors that never saw the sun again when the settlement above was overrun. Many of the old pipes still drip of water or other fluids despite the age, some areas are caved in by large boulders, the air is stale and musky the more the go in, some Dust protrude from the walls of the caves that provide minimal light. They come across some tracks as Gris and his soldiers go through another cave to what appears to be a fork up ahead. To their left, they notice some flashlights shining down in one of the tunnels. Some of Gris' troops ready their weapons, but Gris extends his arm as if signaling them to hold. The flashlights get closer to reveal more Evolutionaries that are being led by, Lewis Karrot.
"Lewis?" Gris says with some confusion.
"Gris?" Lewis is also confuse.
Both of them point at each other as they say, "What 're you doin' here?"
"You first." Lewis says.
"My troops and I were sabotaging some security networks to get some convoys through. Then we were given orders to investigate this dump for any leftover negativity. And you?"
"Two supply trucks got hit hard in an ambush. No survivors and all the supplies were stolen. We followed a blood trail that led down here, so we're trying to figure out who is responsible."
"White Fang?"
"Possibly, but they never take corpses."
"Cannibal bandits?"
"Maybe?"
Coming from the right tunnel, they hear a loud howling echoing from there. Everyone gets startled as they have their weapons out. Lewis' weapon is a handful of metal cards in his right hand with each of them having spades on them. It's not his primary weapon, just a secondary. The howling sounds like some sort of monstrous wolf. However, Gris realizes that it is not a Beowolf howl.
"I thought all the Grimm were wiped." Lewis says as he sweats a little.
"No." Gris looks serious as he steps forward to the tunnel. "Something worse." He raises his weapon as he steadily approaches the tunnel to check, "It might be Ferals."
"Ferals?" Lewis is looking nervous. He whispers, "I thought they were all killed after those failed experiments to turn Grimm into Wesen!"
"That's a howl of a Balverine. I recognize that howl anywhere." Gris starts to smirk, "Ohh-hoo-hoo. It's been a while since I fought them."
Lewis loosens his bow tie on his neck as he sweats. The negativity detector started to ping a little as it detects Lewis' fear in the hand of one of the goat Faunus soldiers. Lewis put his cards away and pulls out some sort of collapsible spear with the spear head looking like a spade. Gris moves closer and shines the light down the tunnel to see if there are any reflective eyes staring at him. Yet no luck, but he saw something moving fast. It was hard to see, but he swore he saw red fur and claws.
Gris looks at his troops, "Heads up! We got Ferals to hunt down!"
"H-how do you know for sure?" Lewis nervously asks. "For all we know, it could be a Beowolf sub-species that have been mutated by the anti-negativity wave."
Gris groans, "Fine. We'll check it out first."
The two teams team up and head down the right tunnel to see if the Ferals are in Mountain Glenn. They travel down and over many ruins while two soldiers ask in a private radio channel.
A female human soldier asks, "What are Ferals?"
A male Balam soldier replies, "They were part of an experiment to turn the Creatures of Grimm into new lifeforms. The original experiments were supposed to turn the Grimm into living beings with sentience and doesn't feed on the negativity of other creatures. In the first few experiments, they did succeed, but not completely. They instead created monsters that are worse than Grimm due to their cunning. Not to mention their savagery and hatred is on par with the Grimm that goes beyond reasoning. Hence the name, Ferals. The Council members decided to completely eradicate these monstrosities as they are more devastating than the Grimm themselves. Including their appetite for flesh. A Balverine, which is a result of a Beowolf being transformed, is one of them."
"If they destroyed them, where did this Balverine come from?"
"Hopefully it is not. But hope that the anti-negativity wave didn't create them."
They made it to one area where chapter four of RWBY: Grimm Eclipse is gonna take place. Vast tunnels and rail tracks under the ruined city. They head further until they come across something glowing in the distance. They all take behind some crates, rocks, and a few tossed aside rail carts as they see the glow of a camp fire. At that camp fire, they see Balverines munching on the corpses of the convoy that was hit while sharing it with a few other creatures. They see humanoid raven-like creatures called, Valravns. These black feathered monsters have features of a large raven, yet have arms with long four-fingered claws for hands as they devour the hearts of their victims. These are a result of a Nevermore. Ten feet, muscular, humanoid black bears called, Bugbears, are there as they clean the skulls of their victims and hang them on their belts. These are a result of Ursas. Six foot creatures with a human torso, scorpion bottom half, and scorpion pincers are also seen as they much on a few ribs or limbs while also having red skin and burning golden eyes. These are Scorpion Men, which are the result of Deathstalkers. They also see six foot tall humanoid boar creatures with thick muscles, large tusks, and have brown fur on their backs and arms along with their dark pinkish skin. These are Quillboar from Boartusks.
"Shit." Lewis says under his breath. "We definitely got Ferals."
Gris smiles, "Good. I'm looking forward to some stress relief."
Gris opens a small portal under him and went through. One of the Balverines had their ears twitch after hearing something from Lewis and Gris' direction. Until Gris appears in the opposite direction.
"Hello, freakazoids!" Gris says to everyone with a large grin. "Mind if you be extinct for good this time!"
All the monsters roar at Gris and try to charge. Gris opens fire at the ones closest to him while the others shoot the monsters from the back. Pulse energy blasts the Ferals with Lewis firing red lasers from his spear that now has a heart-shape head. In a matter of seconds, all the monsters fall down dead and blood splatters all over the concrete ground. Unlike Grimm, they don't disappear once killed.
"Now that was a good tactic!" Gris does a rifle twirl before putting his rifle away.
One male human soldier says in disbelief, "Getting behind the enemy and nearly get killed from the front!? What type of tactic is that?!"
"Don't know, but it was fun." But Gris', grin drops, "But I gotta tell the big guy about this." Gris pulls out his scroll and makes a call after opening a portal to the surface for better reception.
Eric answers, "Yes, what is it Gris!?" he doesn't sound happy. "I'm in the middle of something!"
"Sorry, man. But I got some urgent news. We got Ferals in Mountain Glenn."
"Ferals?! Seriously?!" Eric is shocked to receive the news, "How the fuck did they survive?!"
"I don't know. Either some managed to escape the purges or may have something to do with the anti-negative energy shit. They also hit one of the convoys Lewis was investigating."
"Fuck! Alright, alright. I'll check the energy specs on my way to Atlas. In the meantime, get rid of those savages before they do anymore damage."
Gris starts to grin again, "Does that mean dispose of them with extreme prejudice?"
"Have fun, buddy."
Gris hangs up his scroll as he looks back at the others, "Good news, boys and girls! We got us some huntin' to do! In other words, kill them as if they're Grimm!" Then looks serious with his grin, "No holding back."
Many of the troops raise their fists and guns as they cheer.
"Can I go?" Lewis is nervous.
Gris wraps his left arm around Lewis as if he's a friend, "Oh come on, pal! Time for you to grow a pair and be a man! Or, man rabbit, whatever. So let's kick their asses with a smile."
The troops along with Lewis and Gris head over to one section where they come across twenty Ferals and gun them down with ease. Then came across another area with fifty to sixty and mow them down just as easily. Then another area, and another. Until they come across something interesting. The same green substance that transform the Grimm into Mutant Grimm in the exact same area where Team RWBY should be at any moment. Some of the Balverines that are there have come across the substance and have mutated. They have developed green fur with some areas having green crystals on their backs and some on their forearms. They have hollowed green eyes that glow and a green glow coming from their mouths.
"That's new." Gris says as he looks at the new monsters.
The Mutant Balverines charge at them, but went down all the same. Yet they seem to ooze the same green substance from their wounds.
"Ah crap." Lewis says as he looks at the mutating substance, "Looks like we have this mess to clean-up, too."
"Yeah, things are getting a little more harrier than it should."
"Should we leave and get reinforcements?"
Gris thinks about it for a moment, "Hmmmmm... Yeah, we should. This mess is a bit too much of a hassle than it is. But we need to move swiftly because a Huntress team is on its way."
"Dammit. Okay, I'll open up a tunnel to take us home- I mean, take us to the nearest outpost."
"No need, I'll just open a portal to get us out of here."
One of the female human soldiers points out, "Say, uh, I don't know the extent of your semblance, buuuuut, wouldn't be easier to clean this up with your portal and have it sent to the nearest waste disposal site?"
"That would be a good idea. However, this 'mutagen' may end-up mutating anything that comes into contact with it. Including some of the pests that eat some of the waste like mice and cockroaches. Or even those pesky raccoons."
"Okay, that makes some sense. But what about a lab?"
"I could make the call, but they may not have a proper containment storage ready. Not to mention the Huntress team I mentioned, so we don't have the time."
"Alright. You win."
Gris smiles and claps, "Good." So he opens a portal and they leave.
Not too far, a section of Mountain Glenn started to crumble down and guess who comes in.
The dust settles as Dr. Oobleck comes down and checks on Team RWBY, "Students, report in!"
Ruby jumps up from the rubble, "That...was...AWESOME!"
Yang goes, "Woooah. Is everybody OK?"
Weiss groans, "We're OK, Dr. Oobleck."
Blake isn't so good either, "Ugh... where are we?"
Oobleck sighs in relief, "Ah thank goodness... Err... I'm afraid you're now in Mountain Glenn's subterranean levels. Yet after what we've experienced back on the surface, they may not be any Grimm. But be careful! Who knows what else might be down here. So be on guard at all times!"
"Right!" Ruby nods at Oobleck.
"Do you think there are any Grimm down here?" Weiss asks, "Last I check, all the Grimm were killed off after that strange red energy wave."
"I hope so." Blake is hopeful but still has some doubts, "But let's check things out and find anything left of Merlot."
"Let's ruin their evil plans! Eh...?" Yang makes an awful pun, but everyone doesn't like it.
And so, Team RWBY ventures onward. Not knowing that the dangers up ahead that might be a bigger threat than Grimm (despite the Evolutionaries taking them down with ease) and something stranger. Until then, to be continue.
AN: Another chapter down. And now some Q&A for HEXEN.
The heads and tails thing. Well, everyone always say the coin always land on one side or the other. But ever wonder what happens if the coin lands on the side? People always assume that everything is heads or tails, not the in between. To me, things go right down the middle in this story. Although I'm not to familiar with 'God Was My Copilot' / 'In Mysterious Ways'. I'll check them out later. And they are called, Evolutionaries, not Revolutionaries. And yes, I've seen The Misfit of Demon Academy. Good series and I laughed at Anos lifting a castle with one hand like a ball.
And for dw6fanmanxd: Not really last I checked.
One more thing! I made a forum and would like to have your thoughts on them. Here is the link: topic/230469/182694898/1/
