Warriors of Remnant

by GeraltRex

Remnant, a world full of people with incredible abilities known as Semblances, incredible source of power used as both a weapon and fuel, known as Dust, Magic, engrained in life itself, all but forgotten and a grudge held through many millennia. There is no doubt that those the Light and Dark would rise to the top, each having a generation to pass on what they learned to the next.

1. A Mission of Heroes

Warriors of Remnant Chapter 1.=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-. A Mission of Heroes

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Beginning author's note: This is one of my first ideas for fanfic that I have been mulling over for years, way before I started writing fanfic, but it was only recently that I actually started writing it. I chose not to make it my first story because I wanted experience in writing first so that I wouldn't butcher my way through writing it. This idea has developed over the years based on stuff I've watched and read, etc. The crossovers in this story include but are not limited to; RWBY (duh), Castlevania, Fate: Stay/Night, Zero, Apocrypha, Grand Order, and CoN (I wonder who will be able to guess this last, it's the oldest on the list and is not an anime or game). Power scaling is subject to change for balancing reasons, because Fate characters are very powerful, but are going to be molded to fit into this world, the ones who can actually destroy mountains are going to be pretty much nonexistent. It doesn't mean that they won't be able to show awesome displays of power, it will just have to fit into this world.

Yeah, so no Eluma Elieesh that can destroy the world. I don't even think the Relic of Destruction canonically can do that, but if it could I am sure that would break the mold that the world is built on. Also, because it's my universe, I am adding things to the world itself, as well as my own important OC, so be prepared for things to not completely align with canon. Don't be too concerned about the tags, there are a lot of named characters who will be in this story as well as a few OCs and I just chose the tagged ones mostly at random. The characters of team RWBY and JNPR will be in this story, just not for the first few chapters.

RWBY is owned by roosterteeth and the Fate series is owned by Kinoko Nasu, Aniplex, UFOTABLE, and Type Moon. copy paste

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A man in a marched across the wastelands of the Dark Continent. Behind him, in the distance, is the burning wreck of the cargo freighter that he had jumped from with his 'package' before it was shot down. None of the other members of his team survived, which was a shame, they had worked relatively well together, and he would have to find new people to make another team for his missions. It was fortunate that Salem's newest apprentice was being brought to her by the Hassan and not him, otherwise that failure would be unacceptable.

He is a very large in stature with bulging muscles and scars all over his body, some of which were hidden by his short sleeved green trench coat. Carried over his shoulder was the package, a young girl about 16 years of age; she had tan skin and chocolate colored eyes, and was wearing a vibrant turquoise crop top and harem pants, a large golden necklace, and a large blue emerald jewel on her headband. She had heavy black manacles with glowing red veins on her ankles that reach her to her knees and wrists that span to her elbows, she also had tape over her mouth to prevent her from begging, he always hated listening to the pleas to spare their life. He stopped and turned when a voice called out to him.

"How about you let the young lady go." He stops when he hears the voice and turns around. Standing there was, but shouldn't be, a tall man with spikey white hair, he probably was about his own height at 6' 4", a red trench coat calls out, and green color coated contacts. He has a bronze great sword on his back and his right hand resting on an engraved silver bladed hand cannon on his upper thigh. He was giving a demand, not asking a question. There are also three others with him, each one is spaced out roughly 15 feet apart from each other.

"Unfortunately, I cannot do that. This woman owes my employer a debt that she hasn't been willing to repay. I am bringing her here to-"

"Just stop spouting bullshit like we are academy hunters. We've been tracking you, you went north from the kingdom of Agrabah, through Vacuo all the way to here, which is the Dark Continent, bringing the girl with you. No 'collector' would ever do something so insane." The woman who interrupted him was tall, she stood about 6 feet tall, she wore a short corset, leather arms sleeves and stockings, her outfit was black and purple. She has long purple hair which her outfit matched, thick magenta visor that hide her lavender colored, snake pupil eyes, her only defining feature as a faunus. She is caring two long chain daggers on her hips, the thin chains wrapping around her arms.

He looked at her and then the rest of the team more closely. "So you are the ones who have been tracking me."

The Kingdom's response to him kidnapping the princess had was faster than he had anticipated. They had called in assistance for dealing with "international terrorists," and Vale had responded immediately. He should have at least had an entire day or two head start, but they had started tracking him down after only a few hours.

One of the cells had called for help, before immediately going dark, letting him know that they were being tracked. Meaning that they did not have time to enact the second part of the plan. He decided to order the shuttle and crew to take off and not wait for the other infiltrations cells to arrive.

But it was for naught as they had followed him across two kingdoms and into the dead continent.

"Yes and now you have confirmed that we had a very good reason to. There are very few sensible reasons or reasons in general for anyone to come to this continent." Shiro acknowledged. He glared at the muscular man, he looked like he could be stronger than Siege, but luckily, strength wasn't everything. "One of the reasons is that you are an agent of Salem."

"I won't bother defending against your accusations. I know that nothing I say will change your perspective on the matter." Hazel answered with a deep sigh.

"Pretty much, it also helps that Ozpin has been providing us with the information to come after you. Granted we know that he doesn't tell us everything, but that is to be expected from someone who has been alive for several thousand years. You think Salem has told you her entire plan, what her true goal is after she fulfills your desires?"

"Her plan will bring peace to the entire world, because she will be in control of all the grimm. It will be the end to pointless conflict, she can stop all the meaningless death." Hazel actually smiled as he said that. It was unnerving, and it was a strong sign that indicated that he couldn't be reasoned with.

"Yeah, because at that point with Salem in ruling the world, everyone else will be dead." Laeticia pointed out. Unfortunately, he shook his head with the unnerving smile on his face, he did not believe the Arc so he would not listen to her reasoning.

The white cloaked Rose decided that she wanted to add her thoughts, "You could have literally forced her to give up whatever you wanted back in Vacuo, unless what you are after is metaphysical. That would explain why you're forced to bring her here, alive to Salem. And by doing so, you doom her to a fate worse than death."

"And since you just came from Vacuo, and she is still alive without any artifact, I have to say, I think that Ozpin is right this time. She is the Summer Maiden and you didn't have the forces necessary to try and storm Shade Academy. An armored blonde female voiced Summer's thoughts. Her bangs her cut short on the sides, but her long hair in the back was styled into a ponytail. She had lilac eyes and wore blue combat dress with an armored corset, boots, greaves, and gauntlets. The final piece of her armor was a forehead protector that curved down the sides of her face. Her armor was reminiscent, but styled differently, of the armor worn by her late ancestor, Jeanne d'Arc, or as she would call her, mother. Jeanne had made a name for herself as a huntress, The Flower of Flame. A number of her friends had mentioned that she looked like a clone of her mother, she accepted it because it helped her reputation when she graduated and got her license as a huntress. But Laeticia Arc had fought her was out from underneath the shadow of her mother and earned her own name, the Angel of Death.

Hazel only growled at them.

"Now before we start fighting to the death or consciousness, could you please, gently put the girl on the ground." The Angel of Death called out, she had the shaft of the weapon resting on her shoulder and her posture was relaxed, all signs showed that she wasn't going to try and take a cheap shot at him while he set the Maiden down.

Hazel blinked, he forgot that he was holding her when the hunters had mentioned how Ozpin sent them against him. "And why should I do that?"

"Because we care about her safety, you need her alive, and if you try to use her as a shield, we will end up killing her because hostage shields always get shafted in those situations." Shiro responded coldly.

Hazel was face showed his surprise, while the girl trembled on his shoulder. He did not want to put her down, but they had just eliminated his reasons to hold onto her. One of the main reasons being that they were accepting the likelihood of her getting killed here. He pulled the girl off his shoulder and was set the restrained young lady on the ground. And let out a deep breath and cracked his knuckles. "It would seem that you have a high level of understanding of the situation. Which means you are not simple bounty hunters from Vacuo. But the fact that you are here, you doom yourselves."

"Honestly we could just thoroughly beat the shit out of you for this, but we are trying to give you an option to peacefully surrender." Medusa warned

"Why don't you surrender or, better yet, you leave, your lives will be spared." Hazel snarled back at them.

"If you want to fight big guy we will fight. Three versus 1 should be fair enough." Summer chirped excited, she is one of the shorter members of the group, with red and black hair, a dark corset mostly covered by a long white hooded cloak. Concealed by her cloak, she pulls out a green and bronze short curved blade, it had several cut-through hole in the center of the blade, each fitted with different dust crystals, there were scoops along the backend of the blade and the final touch, it had an Ito wrapped handle. The second blade she drew was a thick sword breaker dagger.

Hazel just continued to answer in a snarling tone. "Not fighting me with all of your members? This is why I despise you hunters, you are always filled with such arrogance that it is the cause of death for others."

"Not arrogance, completely precautionary. One of us has to deal with the Grimm that will be showing up soon, and the turn order this time it is Shiro." Laeticia answered. She also has a rapier sheathed on her left hip, but her primary weapon appears to be a double bladed hand-axe, but the blades of the axe are forged in a reverse crescent. In the next moment, the bulky haft of her Fangtian Ji extends from the size of a hand axe to its polearm length.

"Yeah, as much as I would love to go toe to toe with you and skip the grimm watch order, I promised I would be fair to my team." The red swordsman agreed. He scans the area around them to see that there are indeed a few Grimm watching them and slowly approaching. He pulls out his hand canon, the engraving on it spelled the name 'Bakuya.' He walks away from the group to take care of them .

"So be it," Hazel replied, he tossed the girl to the ground and he reaches for the dust crystals inside the satchels on his waist.

Shiro stopped for a moment, holding a Beowolf by the throat. "You just fucked up very badly."

"You shouldn't have done that!" Laeticia snarled. Bright golden wings made of her own aura sprouted from her back.

=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0

Roughly 25 minutes later.

=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0

"Ozpin, the Summer Maiden is alive and safe." Rex held his scroll in front of him so he could talk to the wizard face to face.

"That is excellent news to hear Shiro. And how is your team? Your team went completely dark when I contacted you about the emergency mission." Ozpin asked.

"We were busy tracking down the individual who captured the Summer Maiden. And by the way, we're all fine thanks for asking. Also, you made Siegfried have to finish the vacation with the eight little Arcs on his own, in Vacuo of all places. The only good thing about that was that Tai is there with their girls… I'm positive that they'll both hold that against you. Since our vacation was almost over anyways, Laeticia and Summer are planning on flying back to the Patch and then bringing everyone to Domremy once this mission is over."

"Well, time was of the essence," Ozpin replied cheekily, "We can be thankful to the brothers you were in Vacuo at the time."

"Whatever Oz. You already knew where we were and would have sent us regardless."

"Whether or not that would be true is not a question that can be answered now because happened in the Past. In the Present, have you identified the Summer Maiden and her assailant?"

Rex could see that Ozpin was typing on his desk computer, putting in the new information. "As a matter of fact, we have. Her name is Princess Jasmine, her lineage shows her bloodline predates The Great War by over a dozen generations with her family being chieftains and leaders of their homeland. As it turns out, she's relatively 'fresh'. From the information we were given back in Agrabah she has had enough time to learn a few tricks, but none of that was even close to being able to protect herself from those who came after her. Secondly, he's a big guy who is refusing to give us his name and we don't have the technology or rank to access or process to the criminal data base to identify him. I'm barely getting you through as it is."

"That is unfortunate. If you won't mind turning the camera towards him, I would like to see him." Ozpin saw the desolate wasteland in the background as Rex turned the camera to show the unconscious giant.

Hazel lay face down on the ground his hands cuffed behind his back, his arms were packed with gauze and bandaged just tightly enough to stop him from bleeding out from the large holes in them from where he had stabbed dust crystals in them, and then had them forcefully removed. The man had to be insane to do that, especially in a fight he couldn't win. He either had a semblance that allowed him to get stronger by using pain or one that numbed the amount of pain, because injecting raw dust into ones body was just pure agony.

"A shame. You have met Hazel Reinhart. His younger sister was aspiring to become a huntress over a decade ago, she was quite a talented fighter, as well as peacemaker, but she died during a training incident during her second year attending Beacon. He holds me responsible for her death. However, that is not the most significant problem, I fear that I recognize the landscape. Where are you?" Ozpin asked, dreading the answer.

"We had to chase him into the Dark Continent, about 22 miles in." Shiro explains, "It puts us on the verge of the support range of the Vacuoan navy right. But the area is surprisingly lacking grimm."

"What!? You need to leave as soon as possible. You are in her domain, it is almost certain that she knows exactly where you are." Ozpin was panicked, he had no idea that one of Salem's agents had gotten so close to succeeding in their mission, there is still a chance for him to succeed if they cannot leave soon.

It was also concerning that she had enchanted items to neutralize magic and given them to her agents.

"Can't, we tried to leave but Jasmine physically couldn't be brought through the portal. She isn't injured in that way, but she has some magic and aura inhibiting restraints on her. You are probably right about HER knowing where we are, because the shackles are physically pulsating. It's kind of creepy. Arc and Rose are trying to get them off now."

"Do hurry, Rex. I have been receiving updates from Headmaster Theodore and they are worrisome. He lost contact with the pilot of your bullhead, and while he has been able to pull strings so that the Vacuoan military would have its navy to support you due to the international crisis at this time, they will not sacrifice a fleet of airships to rescue you…"

"Because a single group of huntsmen on a black mission that they don't know about are not worth it, not to mention that they have no idea what a Maiden is, and they will continue to not know. Got it." He hung up the scroll, powered off the signal booster and turned back to his team.

Medusa stood on a decent sized rock formation gave her about 35 feet of extra elevation, she had lifted her heavy visor so she could use macrobinoculars to scout the surrounding area. The macrobinoculars were a gift from a friend, well, more like a fellow coworker as she was a hunter from Atlas. "There is a horde forming over at the base of the mountain range several miles out." Because of the fact that grimm were only monochrome colored with occasional exceptions, she couldn't get a clear view of the number of grimm that gathered, and once a large amount of grimm gathered, it was nearly impossible to tell the different types of grimm in the horde until they had gotten very close or they were so massive that they couldn't help but stand out, like the G-Rex, Balrog, and a Deam Ravager which was commonly referred to as the uncle to the deathstalker, being much larger, had heavier bone plating, and had two stingers. It was not a good sight to see them gathering instead of just charging towards. They could hand the constant trickle of grimm coming at them, but dealing with a horde without support was another matter.

"They are finally starting to move this way. Lae. Sum. Please hurry up, or we may get stuck fight the horde." Medusa warned.

Laeticia sat next to the crying Maiden doing her best to comfort her, "It's alright Jasmine, we will get these off of you in a moment, just stay calm."

"They burn like fire and ice at the same time." She is curled into a ball, Laeticia's maternal instincts take over and wraps her arms around the girl.

"Shsh, shsh. Don't think about it Jasmine, I know it's hard but, go home. Think about one of your happiest moments and tell me about them." Laeticia said softly, as she stroked Jasmine's ebony hair.

The girl chocked back her sob. Happiest moments. She thought. The memory that came to mind, was the day of her 12th birthday. She tried to describe one best gifts her father had ever given her. "M-my father, got me a-a, tiger cub, from M-Mistral…"

They continued sharing happy memories to distract her while Rex and Summer went over ideas on how to get off the manacles, until Summer had an epiphany, "Hey Rex, remember that technique you were going to teach me before Ozpin called us for the rescue mission? I think I need to use it now."

"Ah, that. I call it Focus Point, it's pretty much magic manipulation for a lack of better names or descriptions." Rex explained, "I have found that the technique is really only effective against grimm and necrotic like magic. Why are you asking?"

Summer grimaced, "That's just it, I don't think I that those cuffs are normal or even technological, when I touched them, they felt more like Grimm and corrupted magic."

"Damn it." Rex swore, "All right, here's a crash course. Activate your silver eyes, but don't release it like you would for erasing a horde of grimm." Summer closed her eyes and focused on bringing out the power of her silver eyes. She nodded but kept her eyes closed to hold it in as he continued to instruct her.

"Next, is to channel and divert. It is like channeling aura, only, its magic that can only come out of a very specific part of you, and is more difficult. Once you are able to feel it, pull it to one part of your of your body, it will feel like you are stretching a strong muscle in a different way."

With some difficulty, she slowly opened her eyes and 'pulled' her power out towards her hands. Summer's arms were covered in glowing silver.

"This is incredible…" she whispered,

"It is. Now, time to see if you are right." He motions to Jasmine who is being held by Laeticia on the ground.

The Silver eyed warrior grabbed the cuffs on Jasmine's wrists and squeezed. Black smoke billowed off them, as the shackles let out a literally screech from being grabbed and held by the power that exterminated grimm.

The manacles crack, then exploded. She repeated the process with the ones on her ankles. It reveals that her arms and legs were covered in burns. The burns themselves aren't serious, but the amount of burns was a problem, they were the entire length of where the shackles covered.

Fortunately though, with the restrictors off, her aura is freed and starts to heal them.

Jasmine closed her eyes and touched the flame in her soul, the maiden powers responded and coursed through her. A turquoise flame appeared over her eyes and burned brightly as the maiden powers rejoiced at the reconnection.

As the remains of the shackles dissolve, they are all filled with relief.

"Umm, what now?" Summer asked, holding up her hands, her eyes and arms still glowing silver from the technique

"Go ahead and release it, you don't have to worry about it overwhelming you or anything."

She took a breath and silver broke off her arms, like aura breaking, as she released it. The silver eyed warrior swayed a little from the unusual excursion, Laeticia moved to help her but she was waved her off as the Rose remained on her feet. "That was…"

"Yeah, it still takes a little out of you, especially the first time, but it is nowhere near as draining as Tsunami."

"Tsunami?" Summer asked,

"Tsunami, Nuke, Extermination, Laser Eyes, there just names to describe the original technique that all those who have awakened their silver eyes can use. I'm betting that each silver eyes warrior had their own name for these techniques but since there are so few, I don't think any of the names stuck. Using Tsunami fills you with the powerful emotions and energy, but the power is released all at once. It's like a wave that washes over everything. You can teach Ruby and help her understand it, when she eventually unlocks her eyes."

"You want me to teach her?" Summer asked, "Not that I am complaining or anything it just seems like you would be the better person to train her considering you've done this before training others and…"

She stops babbling as he raises a hand, "Summer, you'll be the better one of us to teach Ruby. I got lucky with you that you already unlocked your silver eyes before we met. I can teach her the advanced techniques I am showing you, but by the time she gets to that point, you will be good enough to teach her all the techniques I taught you."

She smiles at that, he is giving her the honor of passing down her ancestral legacy to "Thank you, Rex."

"You're welcome. Also, now you see now why I'm not into chains or restraints." Rex commented as crossed his arms and stared at Silver Eyed huntress.

"T-That's different." She tried to argue as her face turned a bright shade of red.

"I wouldn't normally believe that statement, but if you say so then..." Laeticia wiggled her eyebrows, with a mischievous smile on her face.

"Shut. It." Summer threatened with tightly balled fists, her face blushing even darker.

"Why do you even need them Sum? It's not like Tai can or wants to run away. And as his team leader and wife you can order him to do whatever you want, and he will do it." Medusa adds as she comes down from the top of the rocks.

Summer choked, and other hunters chuckled at her reaction.

"Chains, and restraints? Why do you need them?" Jasmine looked confused, although, her tan face looked like a cute puppy that was confused. It was a clear that the young Maiden was indeed that, a young woman who did not understand the acts they were referring to.

They all looked at her for a moment before erupting in laughter. "I forgot we had an innocent with us!"

Once the laughter finally stopped, Medusa decided to ask the important question to the still confused and now slightly embarrassed girl, "Princess, how old are you?"

"16."

She put a hand on the youngest's shoulder. "You have a lot more to learn about life. But we will not be the ones to teach you about those aspects of it."

"Um, ok. Well, thank you for saving me." "Don't worry it. We'll have to make a few stops before we get to the palace, but we will get you home as soon as possible."

They heard a groan. The hunters tensed as they look over to Hazel, who stirred, but remained unconscious on the ground. Reminding them that they would have to take him with them.

The timid teenager walked over to Summer and hugged her. Summer wasn't exactly a tall huntress, so Jasmine already stood as tall as her. Tears of relief and joy streamed down her face. "Thank you all so for rescuing me. But who are all of you?"

Summer stroked her hair, Team EMSL (Emotional). The second greatest team of heroes Vale has to offer."

Laeticia stepped forwards and curtsied, "Princess, it is—"

"I bet you a 1,000 lien she doesn't care about formalities right now." Rex interrupted with a smirk.

"You're an asshole! I was just trying to be formal to help alleviate some of Jasmine's anxiety. Abrasive as always Shiro." The Arc grumbled. His smirk dropped at that.

"Don't worry, he's getting better, but he's not good enough yet to leave alone with children." Medusa says as she nudges her man in the ribs with her elbow.

"Getting back to introductions." Shiro says in a slightly more sincere tone, taking the hint from his girlfriend, "On lookout for us is the lovely Serrina Medusa. She is our tracker, one of the best who have come out of Vale. She is also a snake faunus, her eyes are her features, but she has to wear a heavy visor because they are also tied with her semblance"

Medusa didn't acknowledge, but leaps back up the rocks to continue to monitor the horde.

He pointed at the female Arc, "That is Laeticia Arc. Her weapon is a triple shifter: for melee; a Fangtain Ji axe, for parades; a Flagpole which she has a flag for, and for range it's a battle rifle. She and her husband Siegfried switch off on mission because they have eight demons, I mean kids, at home. The, kids, are a strong reason they cannot to hire a babysitter, you'll see when you meet them later. Which reminds me, Sieg didn't actually have a last name, so he adopted hers."

Leaticia glared at him. "Angels, not Demons." The silver eyed warrior chuckled at her fellow mother defending her children.

He wisely ignored her instead of retorting and continued on. "This is Summer Rose. I don't know if you have heard of the reputation of team STRQ that graduated from Beacon, but she was their leader. Their team is gone through a complicated… split, with one member leaving and another choosing to take solo missions, so she and her husband substitute in for our teammates maternity and paternity leave, which make us very glad to have her. Her weapons are Lost Vayne which is a Yambia that shifts into a 500 magnum; cycling the dust crystals in the cut-through holes of the blade as ammo. And her secondary weapon is named Starshatter, which is not a dagger, its a sword-breaker than can extend into a serrated broadsword."

"And I am Shiro, the team leader." Shiro pulled his bronze great sword off his back. I have a three weapons: this is Ragnell, it has dust wielding capabilities" then he pulled the hand canon off the magnetized holster. This one is Bayakuya, a short doa blade, pistol. It has a twin, Koncho, which I gave to a young girl I promise to train went I get back to Mistral. Our team's name has changed a couple of times due to substituting members, but this current team formation we are named Emotional (EMSL)."

Jasmine couldn't help but marvel at them. They were the hunters whom parents hold to their children when it came to stories about heroes slaying monsters, and she was no different.

"Well, I would like to invite you all to spend the next week at the Palace when we get home as a thank you from me. You can bring your families as well." Jasmine says with a smile.

"I'll hold you to that Princess, by the way, are you able to wield your magic now?" Summer asked. She had an image for a moment of her girls and the many Arc's children running around the palace, with servant trying to chase them down. It would be absolute chaos.

They see that air is shimmering as the young Maiden creates a few balls of light that dance around them.

Jasmine can feel her connection to her magic unimpeded of the Summer Maiden. Bright blue fire burns around her eyes. The feeling of her connection to her magic comforts her as she is now free.

For the Huntsman team, they are relieved that Jasmine gave proof that she IS in fact the Maiden and they can go home and leave the wastelands of the dark continent.

"When we get back from the mission, I'll show you how to manipulate it through weapons and use it as a fraction like this. It's easier and less taxing once you get the hang manipulating your powers.

One of the best benefits of this particular technique is that it is not as heavily draining as most of the others." Rex informed the silver eyed warrior. "And to you," he turns to the Maiden, there are a few people you should meet who can help get better with your new powers as well as help keep you safe."

Summer understood what he meant by that, the first time that she unlocked her silver eyes, it had caused her to go into a comma for two weeks. The times after that'd left her exhausted and completely helpless, it had been only recently under his guidance that she had been able to figure out how to use her gifts without exhausting herself. She wasn't the first silver eyed and she knew that she would not be the last

Jasmine nodded, she knew that it was because of her powers that these people had come after and captured her. If they were going to introduce her to people who could help her. She would trust them, after all they risked everything to save her.

=-0=-0

They can now see the horde of Grimm in the distance. "As much fun as this was, I think it's time that we left." Medusa calls out. She jumps down from the rocks to join the rest.

Rex nods in agreement, he pulls out Ragnell and slashes the air, to create a portal out of there. However, the swirling Blood red portal hold its form only for a moment and then it fizzes out. He tries again. It is even less effective.

"Shiro… Are you, having trouble?" Medusa asks. The first time the portal faded out, the faunus was annoyed because she thought he was messing with them, and it definitely wasn't the time or place. But now it seemed like he couldn't.

"Something is interfering with my ability to make a portal out of here." As he continues trying, barely able to create more than a blue line in the air before it disappears.

The air becomes filled with the sound of snarling and screeching grimm. The feel the ground tremble. There is also something in the air, a presence, that they can all feel, making the air feel thick.

The white-haired swordsman finally gives up trying. It was a waste of aura to continue when it was obvious it wasn't going to work. "I'm sorry everyone. I don't know why, but I can't get us out of here. We are going to have to fight our way out of here." Rex apologizes solemnly.

Panic set in. "No! There must be something you can do!" Jasmine pleaded. She grabbed ahold of the swordsman's red coat, "I don't want to die!" Shiro froze, he didn't know what to do. An army of grimm he could fight, but comfort the girl who was terrified to tears, and he was the reason that she was scared. He just didn't know how he could help her.

It was his own fortune that both Laeticia and Summer with him, as their motherly instincts kicked in. Both mothers hugged her from either side, and whispered comforting words into her ears.

When she had calmed down, she asked, "Why don't we just run? "Surely we can make it to the coast!"

"No. We wouldn't, then the grimm would catch us, we will still have to fight them, but exhausted." The Death Angel explained with a sigh.

The grimm seemed happy to prove her point, roughly 200 yards to their south, a giant Wyrm grimm broke through the surface of the ground. Bone plating slid of its eyes as earth and rock fell of its body. The Wyrm looked around and once it had focused onto them screeched loudly. Black miasma began to leak out from between the bone plates, as the miasma hit the ground, it reformed and spawned grimm.

=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0

The hunters and Maiden ready themselves for the fight that would likely take their lives. They took a trapezoid position with the rock formation at their back, to limit at least one avenue, so that they would not be completely surrounded. Rex and Laeticia stood at the front two points of the formation, it was the most dangerous position, but they were the toughest and had the best abilities to take the charging grimm head on and break their momentum.

Summer and Medusa on the outer point in the back, with their speed they could hold a longer line of defense not allowing their front liners to be flanked.

They placed Jasmine in the center of their formation, even though she was the most powerful of them all, she was also the most vulnerable as lacked combat training and experience. She needed to be in a spot where she could use her magic and not be touched.

The ground trembles as the stampede of grimm draw closer. Each hunter knew what the other was thinking, they were nervous, however, the outsider among them didn't know the tells of the other members. Medusa keeps shifting her footing slightly, rocking back and forth on her heels, Rex kept tightening and relaxing his hands as he constantly, slightly shifted his grip on his sword. Laeticia had set her Fangtian next to her as she knelt in prayer. Summer had Lost Vayne in one hand the green dust crystal was currently glowing, causing the blade to take on a shade of green, right and with the other was stroking a locket around her neck.

To the Maiden, these brave warriors were the pinnacle of calm and determination, but the size of the horde approaching terrified her. "What can we do against this many grimm?"

Summer broke out of her trance, turned and hugged Jasmine. "We fight. We kill them. And then we go home. I don't plan on dying here." She opened locket. One side it was a picture of two young girls. One blond with pigtails, the other looked like a very child version of Summer. Both head giant smiles in a the picture for their mother. "Those are my daughters, Ruby and Yang." On the other side was a picture of a man with blonde hair, wearing a brown vest and short, with an arm around a woman with long black hair, red eyes, and a red and black short cut dress. Both of them had bright smiles in the picture. "That is my husband, my family are waiting for me, and I WILL get home to them!" she said with determination.

Jasmine smiled and pointed at the woman with red eyes and black hair standing next to Taiyang. "Who is that?"

The Silver eyed warrior smile dropped and was silent for a moment. She gently closed it, and tucked it back beneath her corset. "Someone important to us as well. I will tell you about her later when we get out of here," she said softly.

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The faster grimm arrived first, they could see almost all different types of grimm: old Beowolves, Byakou Khan (hybrid saber grimm), velociraptors, Ra-Jah Tai-jitu (a cobra like snake species of grimm), Manticores, Ursa Majors, panthers, Mukades (snake-horse), boarbatusks that were completely white from age, there were too many grimm to name, and even many species that they had never seen before.

The slower grimm followed, no less dangerous with their slower speed; Reavers, Wendigos, Minotaur, triceratops, demigorgon, deathstalkers, dread widows, and so many more.

However the grimm don't immediately attack. They get within 100 feet of the hunters, before they all come grinding to a halt.

It is extremely odd and unnerving behavior for the grimm. They surround them, far outnumbered but yet hold back.

After a few moments of the standoff, Rex draws Bakuya, he takes aim and shoots a velociraptors in the head, his heavy caliber round smashes through the bone skull, instantly killing the grimm. But it doesn't provoke the rest into attacking.

"Shiro, why would you try to provoke the grimm when they aren't attacking?" Laeticia asked tentatively, "and I do recognize the uniqueness about our predicament, but still..."

"I did it because this is not normal grimm behavior, it would take many Apex class and ancient grimm coordinating together to hold this amount of grimm back. The problem is that Grimm that old have a tendency of seeing others like that a threat to themselves and rarely work together because of it. Rex answered, "Even if this was one of those rare situations, there isn't a reason for them to restraint the grimm from attacking us."

They grimaced, this probably meant one thing…

"They hold back on MY order." A woman's voice filled the air, it seemed to echoed all around them.

A large Spinx landed roughly 20 feet in front of the hunters and maiden, it bowed, revealing it had a rider, and she walked on its neck and stepped off its head. A grimmified woman pale white hair in a bun, wearing a black dress, and eyes, the blood red of grimm with black veins from across her face.

"I am Salem, the Mistress of grimm and Queen of all lands from the Grimmland to Menagerie."

Laeticia rubbed her eyes, "Huh, I must be hallucinating that you are here then, I always thought that queens had pawns and knights to carry out their work and fight for them,."

Salem paused for a moment because the Arc's statement was indeed correct. She smiled, "Yes, you are correct, that I am the queen, and it is the duty of my subordinates to carry out my every desire. But there are times where matters of great significance are worthy of the intervention of the Queen. Unfortunately for you, this is one of those significant matters."

Shit. All four hunters thought. However, the Maiden of the group, trembled in fear.

"If you work for Ozma, or, Ozpin as he calls himself now, you should know how foolish it was to enter my domain without my invitation. But I am not completely without mercy… If you surrender the Summer Maiden right now, I will let you leave the continent with your lives. You should take my offer, I am rarely this merciful to my enemies. Especially to a group that is so dedicated to fight against me."

The Rose raised her hood to hide her face, she wasn't afraid of the grimm witch per se, but she didn't want to reveal her eyes until it was absolutely necessary. Ozpin had also warned her that Salem was hellbent on exterminating the lineage of all silver eyed warriors and she had a good reason to.

The purple haired tracker stepped forwards, putting herself in front of the Maiden, "I think I speak for all of us when I say that is not going to happen. We made quite an investment in getting her back and despite her being quite helpless, I like her. We don't trust a grimm to keep a promise, even if you are the 'royalty' among your species, especially with who we are."

"I understand your skepticism, but none of us have to worry about my choice at killing you right now, I can always wait for you to die naturally or kill you later once you leave. You can retire and I can guarantee that you a life of peace for the rest of your days, or you can keep fighting and eventually die to the grimm as all hunters do."

As much as they knew not to trust the Grimm Queen, they knew that it was pointless for her to lie when she held the advantage, but the most dangerous thing about her at this moment was her words. What she was offering them sounded the same as offering water to a man who just escaped from the desert.

"You could always just leave and let us fight our way out of here?" Rex offered.

She chuckled at that. "I admit that watching your little team try to fight your way home would be most entertaining regardless of whether or not you succeed."

"But you have to admit that fighting our way out of the grimmlands would make one hell of a story if we made it out of here." Rex mused. He had a brief Image of his team sitting in front of a band of blonde kids as well as a number of others, retelling the story of how they escaped the Dark Continent.

"You trying to fight me would be most entertaining."

"But you have to admit that fighting you would make one hell of a story if we made it out of here." Rex

Salem chuckled at that comment, her eyes gained a far off look to them as she started speaking absentmindedly. "Legends, stories scattered through time. Mankind has grown quite fond of recounting the exploits of heroes and villains, forgetting so easily that we are remnants, byproducts, of a forgotten past. Man, born from dust, was strong, wise, and resourceful. But he was born into an unforgiving world. An inevitable darkness, creatures of destruction. The creatures of grimm set their sights on man and all of his creations. These forces clashed and it seemed that the darkness was intent on returning man's brief existence to the void. However, even the smallest spark of hope is enough to ignite change, and in time, man's passion, resourcefulness and ingenuity led them to the tools that would help even the odds.

"This power was appropriately named: Dust. With the ability to harness Nature's wrath in hand, man light their way through the darkness and in the shadow's absence, came strength, civilization, and most importantly, life.

But even the most brilliant lights flicker and die. And when they are gone, darkness with be there to swallow everything." She looked straight at them. "So you may prepare your guardians, build your monuments to the so-called free world. But take heed, there will be no victory in strength."

While Salem was monologuing to them, Laeticia had shot a silvery blue dart at each of the hunters and maiden next to her. It hit their aura and latched on.

Shiro felt the familiar prick, as well as the echoes in the back of his mind, "Jasmine, Lae is using her semblance to connect us, talk in your mind Jasmine. Everyone else, Bravo?" The white haired hunter mentally asks the rest of his team,

"Bravo", the other three members of his team mentally confirm.

"This is a strange feeling. What is Bravo?" asks the frightened Maiden.

"It the style of fighting we are choosing, for this fight." Medusa/purple haired huntress standing next to her explains. "We have a lot of these improvised plans that are situational. For this one: Frontal assault." Medusa makes slight motions to each her teammates as she explains, first, she motions to Rex, who nods without ever taking his eyes off the witch. "Junglers," she taps herself and nods her head towards Summer, who is watching, and smiles. "And Damage Dealers," she points to Laeticia and lays a hand on the girl.

"You think that I am a fighter? And a damage dealer?" Jasmine asks timidly,

"You're a Maiden, with near unmatchable magic power, if you aren't, then we have rescued the wrong type of maiden, no offense." Medusa mentally deadpanned. The others chuckled in agreement.

"It's ok, I understand."

"It's not a bad thing, if you were only that type of maiden, then at most we would've ended up on the northern end of Vacuo at worst and wouldn't be facing… that."

By the time they had finished their internal conversation, Salem had finished her monologue.

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"Well, that was quite a speech, and an informative lesson in ancient history." The swordsman responded after a few moments of silence.

"It is refreshing to see that I am in the presence of civilized people, who have enough manners to know not to interrupt. It is rare that I meet a hunter who will let the antithesis of their existence ramble on a little. Now that we are focused you have three options: leave the maiden and retreat with your lives, fight me and all die, or you can drop your weapons and join me."

All hunters had no doubt about their answer to the witch before she finished speaking, but they knew that they were in a precarious position, this was an enemy that demanded and deserved their respect, because she could kill them, so they would be respectful, at least until they actually came to fight.

However before Rex could speak up, Laeticia realized something, "Hang on, where's the big guy?"

The group quickly scanned the area around, he was indeed gone, Salem smiled. They hadn't noticed that the grimm had dragged him away because they were focused on her. Now he was being brought back to the Castle to recover. Fortunately, he had not completely failed in their costly endeavor. The Summer Maiden, wasbefore her on her continent and had drawn the team of the hunters who were a constant nuisance, were out here and alone.

"You were correct in the assumption that he is one of my subordinates, he still has his purpose to accomplish, so I will not let him die just yet."

"He has no idea what is really going to happen if you win. Does he?" Laeticia challenged, "How much blood it is going to be spilled in order to make this 'utopia.'

"He will be granted the Utopia he desires, and I will have mine as well." Salem answered. "Now what will you choose?"

The white-haired swordsman answered for his team. "I will reject your offer and substitute my own. We are all leaving and taking the Summer Maiden with us."

"It seems that you are in need of reminder that you are at my mercy." Salem responded, amused by the answer with her own

"I don't know about that I kind of like our odds. As a grimm, you mature with age instead of dying, but we have a Shiro. You have a legion of cannon fodder, and we have a that girl." Medusa throws an arm around Jasmine pulling her close, "Sure she is small and young, but I think we are well off if you want to challenge us."

"Don't worry Jasmine, that's just Medusa's way of giving you a compliment." Shiro translated.

"What she is really saying is that we need you in this fight." Laeticia added as she leaned on her Fangtian, with the blade resting on the ground. She had collapsed the length of It had down enough so that she could put hands on the on the end it and rest her chin on her hands.

"Don't worry Meddie, we still love you even with that sarcastic attitude of yours." Summer added as she winked at her.

"Oh fuck off you guys." Medusa cursed

"I refuse to, because I save that for you to do to me Serrina." Rex retorted without hesitation, causing the tracker to blush.

"I'll have you know that I am a beautiful young WOMAN." Summer replies with mock anger while putting a hand on her chest to emphasize her point. "With a HUSBAND who expertly knows how to take care of those needs."

"I also do that with my husband as well, thank you very much." Laeticia responded loudly. "That is how we have eight kids."

"All of you are so, vulgar." The young maiden cringes at their jokes. She was a little concerned about their attitude, here in front of them was the most dangerous being in all of Remnant, and the hunters were making jokes like this happened every Tuesday. It was also a mask of confidence, to disguise

What she didn't know was that the hunter team with her were all ranked as Venator Venatorum. The reason for this is explained by an old phrase, their class, which also describes the relationship of a Venator Venatorum with normal hunters, "Who watches the Watchmen?"

They were one of only a few specialized 4-member huntsman team who were given special privileges and authority. Venator Venatorum huntsmen had high standing in the normal society and recognized with great respect in the huntsmen society for their skill against grimm, but they were also feared for their prowess against the human combatants. Their experience earned them the right time and time again, that when staring into the face of death, to joke and mock it.

They all laugh at that. "It come with the territory."

"I am glad that you are enjoying the last moments that you will have on Remnant since you are obviously refusing my offer in an offending manner." Salem announced. She was amused and irritated with them. Amused that they could laugh in the face of it imminent demise, and irritated that they could so easily ignore her presence, while she was standing right in front of them. Internally she sighed, she knew they were allowed to be a little arrogant. They weren't known worldwide as celebrities, known worldwide as

A Team of Venator Venatorum class hunters are never GIVEN their title, it was always EARNED through blood, sweat, steel, dust, and tears.

"I have met with defenders of humanity before, I would say that an encounter with them would hardly be bothersome, but given credit to the achievements of each one of you, I believe that this will be quite entertaining." Salem continued.

"By the way, what is your name? I am hearing the others call you Shiro and Rex." Jasmine mentally asked.

"My full name is Rex Shiro Emyia. I get called by all of them depending on who's talking to me, so I just respond to all three." The white-haired swordsman mentally answered.

"Yeah, we kind of are, by the way, are you interfering with my semblance that allows us to leave?" Shiro as he rests his great sword across his shoulders.

"Of course. Even though you were never invited, I can't have you as my guests leave MY domain without permission now can I." Salem answers with a sultry voice.

The white cloaked huntress steps forwards, she gives a small curtsey while still holding Lost Vayne in her right hand. "Remember your lessons Summer…" she whispered to herself. She stood proud with her hood still shadowing her eyes. She clears her throat, "Oh Great Queen of the Grimmlands. Will you forgive these trespassers on your land and allows us, with your permission, allow the 5 of us to depart from your domain in post haste?" Summer asks.

"I fear that the privilege of allowing you to leave will not be granted to you. As your host, I have not had used this opportunity to yet to personally entertains you with the extraordinary hospitality of this land."

The other hunters and maiden all looked at her with an expression that said, did you really just ask that?.

"What? It was worth asking."

"There there Sum-Sum." The Arc cooed, "We have never blamed you for being the optimistic one."

"Don't patronize me! You know my optimism has gotten us out of ridiculous situations before!" The silver eyed warrior snapped back. "Especially since you guys usually get us into those situations."

It was mostly true. One of the most well remembered incidents of the group was three years ago when they were in Vacuo, at that time, it had been Laeticia turn to stay home and watch the Arc kids. Rex and Medusa had gotten beyond Qrow level drunk and had managed to piss off the entire crowd in the packed bar, of a huntsman only bar.

Siege wasn't close to as drunk as them, but he wasn't sober enough to realize that what they were doing was stupid and it would make things worse to get involved and help them. With 3/4 a bottle of Vacuoan Gin drunk and a double shot scotch in his hand, he had more muscle mass than the others on his team and was taking the alcohol much better. He chuckled as he took Rex's scotch and waited for the brawl to start so he could enjoy a good fight. The fact that they had all handicapped themselves with alcohol made it an even fight. Maybe…

Summer had momentarily blinded everyone with a flash of her silver eyes and stood on the bar with Lost Vayne drawn and her other hand resting on Starshatter, her sword breaker, and with everyone's attention on her, she addressed the crowd. Neither Shiro nor Medusa remembered what she said as they were on the verge of being blackout drunk, and Siege wasn't bothering to pay much attention either as he downed the down stolen scotch and was subtly stretching his muscles in preparation for the upcoming fight.

When he started paying attention again, he realized that the attitude of the crowd had been turned away from brawling his two drunken teammates. He started listening and was shocked to hear the subtle threats incorporated into her message as she persuaded the last of the hostile crowd to back down and return to the bar. Once everyone had gone back to their drinks, Summer immediately dragged the two inebriated hunters out of the bar and back to their hotel. The next morning at breakfast, well more like brunch, considering how late they slept in, she gave a serious scolding to the miserable hunters as they were recovering from their hangover. Siege was also scolded for not stopping their teammates or helping her. Needless to say, it was an effective scolding.

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Shiro blitzed forward leaving a trail of light blue and white rose petals. His blade low. The white-haired swordsman knew that it was better if he made the first move rather than let the eldritch witch dictate the flow of combat with the first attack. The rest of his team watched him as they waited for their opening, already posed in their combat stances, ready to act and react at whatever would be thrown at them.

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Author's Note: Originally I wanted to make one long chapter that included the fight, but I found that I need to cut it right here because this chapter was a lot longer than I thought it would be after I outlined it. The next chapter is going to solely focus on combat. The timeline right now is about 8 years before the start of V1. And yes, Salem did show up here in the first chapter. I want to be fair to all of you since I plan on adding a number of grimm to the world. I want give you a visual of what they are if I fail to describe them when I introduce them in the future. I have a Pinterest account, GeraltRex. One of the groups is labeled Grimm, that will have pictures of the various types of grimm and monsters that I want to use and some that I am deciding on. Not all of them will be used.

Venator Venatorum is a Latin phrase for, Hunter of the Hunters. The classifications of ranks of hunters is something I am working on and is relatively important to the background of the story.

And now, onto writing the next chapter. My goal is to get chapter two of Warriors of Remnant written and posted by late January since I have an outline for the chapter drafted.

Next Chapter: A Mission of Heroes Part 2.