JSDF Update: Grimm Report
This is Commander {REDACTED}, and as of recent there seems to be an unnatural surge in the east side of Japan in the forest. Particularly with reports of more Grimm than usual. Being seen in locations where the numbers should be low, but are instead getting higher. Witnesses suggest that the recent battle in Japan involving the {REDACTED} and the Kaiju Grimm {Redacted} are the cause of the influx.
It should also be noted that witnesses have claimed to see Grimm that aren't in the archive while stating energy readings are being recorded somewhere. A team of Huntsmen are being sent and dispatched alongside soldiers to reduce the number of Grimm. With one scientist to see what the energy readings are.
It was morning already on the other side of the world. At the GrimmFall park those who worked in it were slowly and lazily getting up, to do their jobs or risk getting fired. Granted, that last part was focused on two certain employees, but everybody was getting ready for another day at work. Be it manning the Snack Bar or mowing the grass. With the possibility of the employees dealing with another eccentric enemy that they would either send to jail or accidentally kill.
Thankfully, those kills are in self-defense and the victims are usually the mentally insane or inanimate objects somehow brought to life.
Regardless, at this time the workers would get up, prepare themselves, eat breakfast, then report to the park manager and get their orders for what they have to do today. Though some employees decide to work just a bit early, or at the least ready themselves for the day to come.
"RAAAAGH!"
SMASH!
SMASH!
SMACH!
Though in this instance, the only reason people were up early at around six thirty AM this morning is because they were watching a very angry Muscle Man going on a rampage in his home home at the park. A trailer that had busted windows, trash thrown around, and one of it's wheels popped. Note, it already looked like this before his rampage. It was the surrounding area that was a mess.
"When I fight that guy he's dead, bro! No one steals from me like and gets away with it! Nobody!" Muscle Man shouted as he knocked over another tree with a single punch. "NOBODY!" He then grabs a pile of bricks and throws it at a car Skips had just fixed.
"Well. That's gonna leave a mark." Skips laments while Mordecai and Rigby sip some coffee at Muscle Man's rampage. Already the trees here were broken and fallen on the ground. Boy was he angry.
"Hey," Rigby then looked to Mordecai. "Why is Muscle Man so upset."
"I think it was because of that thief from yesterday." Mordecai answered. "The guy who fought him."
"Pretty much." Skips said while crossing his arms.
It had been just a bit over twelve hours since the robbery, and it was only now Muscle Man learned what happened, thus why he was so mad. Truth be told, Skips was feeling just as angry as Muscle Man but remained calm while Fives worked on trying to calm his best friend down. "Muscle Man, take a breath for a second. We can't find who stole that money with you in rampage mode, bro."
Muscle Man growled as he let loose a few punches in the air before taking a deep breath. "Okay, we'll save the rampage for when I find that sore loser but when I find him. It. Is. On!"
"Yeah. Can't be hard to find this loser." Rigby agrees with a 'Hmp!'. "I mean, we just find the guy that looks like him. Hey Skips!" The racoon then looks to the park's resident fixer. "Didn't you see this chump?"
"I did." Skips confirmed. "However, the thief played it smart. He wore a disguise, and was able to avoid cameras. Meaning none of us actually know what he looks like."
"Great." Mordecai slaps a feathered hand on his face. "Meaning he's probably long gone by now. I mean, nobody cares if some small time charity like ours is stolen."
"Wait, really?" High-Five Ghost asked as he went toward the three, having finished calming Muscle Man down.
"Unfortunately it's true." Skips sighs. "Maybe a big time charity is one thing, but bets like ours, not so much. The police will try, but under a week, they'll stop." Worst part is, Skips couldn't blame them. It was like a purse snatcher who snatched a purse, and while the police will try in a few days they'll stop if they have no real lead. Small crimes like this weren't worth it.
"I wouldn't think so." It was then everybody heard a voice that they felt was familiar, but couldn't quite place. Turning, all five then saw Benson who was walking with none other than-!
"MAYOR SEBBEN!" The gang yelled out in surprise.
"Nice to see you all in such good spirits." The mayor himself gave a smile to the group. Beside him was Callie Briggs who looked at a small portable tablet and checked the time.
"Better make this quick." She told him. "We have other agendas to do." Like the battle against Van Kleiss.
"Of course." The mayor nodded as he needed to make this quick.
"Yeah, that." Benson scratched the back of his 'head' looking a bit nervous, then faced most of the park workers that were here. "He came by my office just this morning and said he wanted to talk. About what happened just yesterday." Which surprised Benson, and of course the park workers.
"Wait a second," Mordecais shook his head a bit. "You mean he's going to help us with the thief from yesterday?"
"I heard about the incident from the television." Sebben confirms as he faces the group while giving a glance at Muscle Man's mini-rampage. Callie herself grimacing when she saw a pile of dirty underwear and sometimes hating her heightened senses. "I heard about the theft and thought it best to come speak with you all. You all gave your statements to Chief Fizz, right?"
"Yes sir. We gave them a description of the thief but it was apparently a disguise." Benson nodded. He then shifted his eyes a bit and just decided to ask the question everybody wanted to know. "Um. Listen. Not that I'm not grateful that you of all people came to...help. But, why?"
"Yes." Skips himself also agreed with Benson, with everybody else feeling the same. "Why is someone of your stature even here."
"The stolen money sucks, but I can't imagine it's that important." High-Five Ghost added in. The others all nodded and just as baffled why the mayor and an iconic Huntsman was even here for such a small crime.
"I understand your confusion, and in most cases I wouldn't indeed bother." Sebben admits, acknowledging that he wouldn't have even been here as he is a busy man. "However, I'm afraid that certain circumstances caused me to come here." Sebben closed his eye for a second. "I wish I could say that this theft might be the worst and end of it but I have reason to suspect that man and possibly others with him will trouble us again."
"Really?" Mordecai asked. "Who is he?"
"And what's his deal?" Rigby asked.
After all, those who bug the workers of this park usually get the memo and leave. Unless they weren't dead or in jail of course.
"As of now I am not sure but as far as I can tell he's not affiliated with any known criminal groups but it's unlikely he's a mere thief. Our sources point to a group causing trouble outside the city that has yet to be identified. I have made it a point to suggest better helping the villages and towns out there in the future. Right now as far as we know they don't want anyone to know about them at least until they are ready to operate out in the open." Sebben stated. "That's another reason I am here today. I believe you'll be seeing this man again very soon and I would like to help get you ready."
"How do you plan on doing that?" Muscle Man asked, while also wondering why Sebben thought he'd meet that sore loser again.
"Mr. Mitch Sorrenstien, aka Muscle Man. Though you are not an official Huntsman you and your friends have had your fill of dealing with Grimm along with other troubles that usually happen around GrimmFall. I understand you used to be a bodybuilder before you applied for work here." Sebben stated, his eye on the green skinned man.
"Yeah so?" Muscle Man didn't see where this was going.
"This man you faced is dangerous along with the people he might be associated with. Even if you defeated him in a sparring match I am not entirely sure you could defeat him as you are now, at least not without dying in the process." Sebben bluntly says with everyone flinching a bit when he just casually said Muscle Man might fight to the death. "That's why I wish to offer you a chance to get ready." Sebben explained. "A chance to train to and bulk up for the lack of a better word and I already have a trainer in mind."
Sebben glanced at Skips, showing everyone who he had in mind.
"You're talking about Skips?" Mordecai asked.
Sebben nodded. "Though Skips isn't a Hunter he is a skilled warrior too and he's associated with all of you enough I believe you can trust him."
Muscle Man brought his fists together. "Sounds like a neat plan."
"It's not just simple training. Tell me, have you been inside the Hall of Heroes?"
"Whoa!" The park workers marveled at the sight of Sparring Chamber as it was activated, showing its many environmental settings with a mini-volcano, a frost with a river, a miniature mountain and even a glacier area. Already they were impressed.
"This here can be your training for the next few months." Sebben stated, earning everyone's eyes on him again.
"Months?" Mordecai asked skeptically.
"You just said that creep might be back in a matter of days. How can Muscle Man and the rest of us have a chance to train for months?" Rigby asked.
It wasn't just the park workers who were getting the chance to train. There were a few newcomers they didn't recognize but Sebben knew them as Team REYN with North having been in the park when the thief stole the money along with Superboy and Artemis.
"With the help of my Semblance and one of you." Sebben answered. "My Semblance, Clockwork allows me to manipulate and control time. I can speed it around myself, slow it down to deliver stronger blows, freeze time around others and reverse time around certain objects."
"Seriously?!" Mordecai and Rigby gaped.
"Whoa!" Fives exclaimed.
Skips knew about Sebben's Semblance already but was as impressed as the others and he had an idea of what Sebben's plan was. "You plan on asking Fives to enhance your Semblance, don't you?"
This caused everyone to look at Skips and then at Fives.
"How can Fives enhance his Semblance?" Mordecai asked.
"As a Spirit, Fives has greater energy reserves than that of a living person. He may not have a solid body like us but he was created by the natural energy of the living world along with most other spirits. He even has a core that acts as his soul." Skips explained. "Fives, you've enhanced Muscle Man before in a fight, right?"
Fives nodded. "Yeah, not sure how it works and all, but I can enhance the Aura of anyone I touch."
"Spirits are believed to be the opposites of the Grimm, beings of energy manifested by nature as a counter to their darkness. Some say they are shards of legendary beings such as angels and even gods. Whatever the origin, ones like your friend here are living beings with their own gifts." Sebben stated. "Fives, I would like to ask your permission to enhance my Semblance to create a time field around the arena."
"A time field?" Benson crossed his arms.
"My Semblance has one more unique ability, I can focus and create a time dilation field around anyone I choose. It's usually limited to whoever I cast it on and even then it's small. I can freeze a person's perception of time or I can slow it to the point they look like they move extremely slow from an outside point of view." Sebben explained. "However if Mr. Fives chooses to enhance my Semblance I can create a time-dilation field around the arena and speed up time, making it feel like days, weeks or even months pass by to those on the inside but to the outside it could be hours or even a day."
Everyone shared a look at that plan but Muscle Man punched his palm. "Sounds like a plan to me! You guys in!"
Skips nodded. "I could use some training myself."
"Fives?"
The spirit nodded. "I'll do it."
"And the rest?" Sebben asked.
"If trouble comes to the park we'll have to be ready." Benson stated, glancing at Mordecai and Rigby. "Maybe some training will help you two slackers become better workers."
"Hey!" Rigby said indignantly.
"So let's do this!" Muscle Man grinned. "Skips, get ready for training. Pops, get lots of food. Fives, give the mayor his power up and before anyone forgets, pick a song for our training. It'll be like a montage!"
Once everyone was in the arena Fives placed a hand on Sebben's back as the mayor focused his Semblance. A clock glyph appeared in the center of the arena and Fives channeled his power, enhancing Sebben's Aura and his Semblance, causing the glyph to spread out until the entire arena was covered and the clock began spinning quickly.
"Thank you." Sebben said once he was done. "Sorry you couldn't join them."
"It's fine." Fives said, watching as the outlines of his friends turned into blurs. "Muscle Man was right. It is like a montage. Better star playing and recording."
Inside the arena that was now inside a time dilation field Muscle Man took off his shirt and did some stretches. "Okay, show me what you got, Skips!"
Skips nodded and brought out several large rocks and a rope. "The kind of training I have in mind will bulk you up plenty over the month we got in here. It's practiced by a cousin clan of mine. It's called Jump Good."
Two large rocks tied to the arms and the legs and a giant rock as large as Skips himself was tied to Muscle Man's back. Just as this happened Fives pressed the play button for the song he had picked for the 'montage'.
Point of No Return by Starset.
There's a memory of how we used to be
Muscle Man started running or at least tried to. The rocks held him down but he managed to jog slightly through the forest.
That I can see through the flames
Mordecai and Rigby had smaller rocks tied to their bodies but they were working up a sweat. The same could be said for Artemis, Superboy along with Yara, Erika and Ross who were doing a similar training under North. Having decided to join them figuring that they too shouldn't slack off and gain more experience.
I am hypnotized as I fantasize
Muscle Man was without his shirt as he ran through the river, panting heavily now.
Forgetting lies and pain
Muscle Man was then on his back, using his legs to try and lift the rock that he had been tied to his back. The green skinned body builder was gritting his teeth and sweat was pouring down his body as he managed to lift the rock up one.
Then Skips put Rigby on top to make it even heavier.
But I can't go back
Muscle Man had the rock tied to his back again as he, Mordecai and Rigby tried climbing vines up an artificial mountain cliff but Muscle Man ended up falling back down onto the ground.
The ashes call my name
Only to get back up.
Pouring the fuel, fanning the flames
The lights had dimmed in the arena allowing the park workers to sleep at the appropriate time.
Breaking the habit and melting the chains
Muscle Man stared down at the single stick in front of it and tried to hop over it, only to trip and fall.
Embracing the fear, chasing the fight
As the days passed Muscle Man slowly grew use to the giant rocks holding him down and his body started to bulk up much like in his body builder days,
The glow of the fire will light up the night
Pops would cook meals for the workers during breaks and for dinner. He had brought along an assortment of foods such as fish, stakes, noodles and other high in calories but healthy enough for them.
The bridges are burning, the heat's on my face
Muscle Man was doing push ups in the forest area, his body caked with sweat and he looked ready to give up.
But he looked up and saw Rigby showing him a picture of 'George'.
The mere sight of the guy who stole the money he and the others worked so hard to make for the kids caused Muscle Man to growl and he started doing push ups again, moving even faster and holding up the rocks better thanks to a combination of adrenaline and anger.
Making the past an unreachable place
Muscle Man tried hopping over the stick again...and succeeded.
This caused him and Skips to smile.
Pouring the fuel, fanning the flames
Muscle Man was running faster now through the woods and even the river.
I know, this is the point of no return
He climbed a cliff with almost no trouble, followed by Mordecai and Rigby.
It's uncontrollable
He was now running through the volcano area, dodging strands of lava thrown at him by random geysers.
Such a beautiful desire
By now Muscle Man's form had bulked up to the point he was as tall as Skips and 'George'.
There's something sinister about the way it hurts
Then finally came the day.
When I watch it burn
Skips took off the rocks he had tied around Muscle Man's body.
Because I can't go back
Stepping back, Skips jumped off the ground and flew so far it was like he was flying.
The ashes call my name
Muscle Man grinned as he readied himself and jumped off the ground.
Pouring the fuel, fanning the flames
Grinning in excitement Muscle Man began sparring with Skips, while also doing the same with Mordecai and Rigby who were skilled in a martial art called Death Kwan Do.
Breaking the habit and melting the chains
Skips tested the limits of Muscle Man's Aura but throwing sticks and small rocks at him that then graduated into big rocks.
Embracing the fear, chasing the fight
Muscle Man literally devoured the food given to him, causing his stomach to grow large again but stored fat would be fuel for his Semblance.
The glow of the fire will light up the night
By this point the time dilation field was almost finished.
The bridges are burning, the heat's on my face
Muscle Man began sparring with the others such as Artemis, Superboy and Team REYN. All of them having become very strong, their bodies becoming muscular as a result of their time enhanced training.
Making the past an unreachable place
Just as the song neared the end the field began to drop.
Pouring the fuel, fanning the flames
"Guys!" Fives called out once the field had dropped.
I know, this is the point of no return
He was greeted with the surprising sight of Muscle Man standing as tall and muscular as Skips with his own six pack stomach. Mordecai, Rigby, Artemis and Superboy all showed similar changes with Superboy needing a haircut.
I won't turn around
"Hey. You know who else gets super strong and muscular after spending a month inside a time field?" Muscle Man asked with a smile. "My...Mom!"
"And it looks like they're done." Callie watched the group of park workers while giving a nod at how well they trained. "They were already decently tough with all the...enemies they've faced. But thanks to this training, they're tougher. Though I have to wonder," Callie then looked at Sebben, who had a small smile on his face. "Why did you help them?"
Sebben stayed silent for a bit, then decided to speak up and give his answer to Callie. "Because when I saw that newscast of the thief, my eye reacted." That made Callie blink in surprise.
"What happened?" She then asked him, wondering what he saw.
"It showed two things. The first involved Mitch." Sebben looked at the now actual Muscle Man. "I told him he would meet this 'George' again, and that they may fight."
"They do fight." Callie concluded.
"Indeed. And it leads to him dying." Sebben told her without even blinking. "And while this training won't guarantee he'll win, his chances of both survival and winning have increased."
"Why not win?' Callie asked, pondering how Muscle Man would still lose. He got immense training that has made him stronger along with his friends. If anything, shouldn't that guarantee victory.
"Because the future, while it can be changed, sometimes just as much refuses to change." Sebben sighs as he closes his eye. "Just as time itself is said to resist those who try to change the past, the future is a bit of the same."
"Really?" Callie would assume one can change the future easily, so long as you know it.
"I understand why many would think so. And I actually did speak to one of our guests, who admitted they avoided a predetermined future." Sebben then thinks of the dimensional ally, who told them how his people avoided the extinction of their race. "However, just because changing the future is more easily done than changing the past, doesn't mean we can always change it." After all, there was a reason self-prophecy came into being. Because those who could see the future and thought they could change it, instead only lead themselves into creating the same future they tried to avoid.
"Time. Uh. This is why I try avoiding it." Callie muttered with Sebben chuckling, as he felt the same. "Okay, so while he might lose, at least we can say his chances increase. But what about the second thing you saw?"
It was then Sebben gained a serious look, which made Callie worry now. Just what did he see? "...I don't know when exactly, however the man alongside his...leader, and other allies attack GrimmFall."
"...and did they lose?" Callie asked.
"Uncertain." Sebben tells her. "All I know is that it involves numerous Grimm, the city's defense systems somehow not working at full capacity, and an unnatural Grimm I've never seen before in the shape of a flying whale attacking with countless dead. Including some of the people we know like North, Muscle Man, Miss Spell and so on."
"What?" Callie's eyes widened, thinking that was preposterous. "Is Sammael backing them?" She then asked quickly, wondering if this is how this strange group invaded.
"I wish I knew, but I only saw this possible future in a glimpse." Sebben then begins walking away with Callie close behind. "Honestly, we're already busy enough with Van Kleiss and whatever Sammael has coming for us. Which is why I'm hoping we can deal with this group before they invade the city and potentially do worse. Which is why I have Living Bullet already searching for them in the city and outside of it."
"I suppose that's a sign of relief." Callie lets out a breath of relief as she hears the laughter of the park workers. "If we keep this up, then they'll be defeated in no time."
"Mm. Yes." Sebben smiles.
"We can certainly believe that."
"So," A Huntsmen asks one of the soldiers with them a question. "There's this energy reading out here. What's that suppose to mean?"
"How should I know." The soldier replies back. "I'm not a scientist. I'm just the guy here to protect the good doctor."
"Right." The female scientist adjusts her glasses as she walks with the other Huntsmen and Huntresses along with the assigned soldiers. "Look. We're just here to deal with both the influx of Grimm, and these readings HQ keeps getting. Honestly though, it's annoying it's all the way out here."
"Along with all the Grimm." A Huntress mutters. "Ever since that giant Kaiju Grimm burst from the mountain, people have been getting worried. Doesn't help the city is still worried with more threats, like that robot that attacked a while ago."
"Good thing we had those Shina-something aliens to help us out." A Huntsmen then points out, being a fan of those transforming aliens. "I think they're cool."
"Or suspicious." Another soldier gives his opinion. "They just come to earth, and yet help us for no reason. Not to mention how they always disappear despite their size. I don't know man." He didn't trust them.
"Tch. As expected from a government dog." The Huntsmen mocks him.
"Better than some traveling mercenary with allegiance to nobody but himself." The soldier shoots back.
"Hey, quite." The scientist glares at them, her eyes not being amused. "Keep that up, and all these Grimm showing up will eat us."
"Ah please." One of the Huntsmen says as he flexes his arm. "Like any Grimm will kill us. Just a bunch of animals."
"Whatever." The scientist says as she turns back. "Let's just get this over with and cull their numbers." Listening to her, the group continues onward having little trouble dealing with both animals that they chased off, or the occasional Grimm that was attracted to them. All dealt with easily.
However, after nearly an hour of traveling, it was then they saw it.
"What the…" One of the soldiers went, as he and everybody else saw a glowing purple portal.
"Just...huh?" The Huntress says while gasping at the sight of it.
"Just what is this?" The Huntsman goes as everybody was transfixed onto the portal. The scientist herself quickly gets a recorder and starts a video.
"I don't know, but I'm loving it. Quickly, set up camp. And you," She pointed to one of the soldiers. "Set up the relay to contact HQ. They'll wanna know about this." The soldier does as he's told while everybody else sets a perimeter to ensure nothing gets past them.
In minutes, they slowly got everything working. With the scientist immediately using whatever equipment she had to analyze this anomaly. Her face screamed excitement as she's never seen something like this before.
'A stationary portal. And one without any technology sustaining it. Is it naturally occurring, or artificial. Aw! So much no figure out.' She thought as she couldn't wait to tell HQ what she found.
"Hey." One of the Huntsmen then looks at the portal. "What's that?"
Everybody then looked, as those who heard him checked out the portal. Only to see nothing. "I...don't see anything." A soldier points out.
"Same here." The Huntress says. "Was it just your imagi-"
"Gra!" It was then from the portal came a medium sized Beowolf who lunged at them. Quickly everybody raised their weapons, with the clest shooting at the beast and filling it with holes. They may not be the best Huntsmen Japan had to offer, but they were still well trained, them and the soldiers. The Grimm killed in a matter of seconds. Not that this was the problem.
"Did that...did that Grimm come out of that thing?" A soldier says panicking.
"Oh no." The Huntsmen sarcastically feints fear. "Like nobody saw that."
"Shut up man." The Huntress tells her companion. "This is serious. A Grimm coming out of this portal. It doesn't take a genius to know where the influx is coming from."
"That can't be good." A soldier remarks as he looks into the purple portal. "If anything, this is bad. Very bad. Canyou imagine what would have happened if we didn't find this out sooner?" Everyone could certainly imagine it.
"Damn. A scientific discovery and it leads to hell." The scientist feels ticked off that the portal is allowing Grimm in. "Alright, fine. We just need to tell HQ this and figure out how to close it or something. Still, hopefully we can keep it, if not just quarantine it."
"Cause that's a good idea." The Huntsman rolls his eyes. "I saw we blow it up. We got grenades don't we."
"Sure." One of the Huntsman's friends says while rolling his eyes. "Throw a bomb at it and see what happens. Maybe we'll get sucked into space."
"You can fight over this later." The scientist tells them all. "Right now, we need to-"
"Hey, watch it." It was then a voice was heard, that belonged to none of them. But they definitely knew the direction of where it was coming from. "Oh crap. Is it throwing us in there."
"Wait! Wait!" This time it was female, and sounded scared.
The soldiers and Huntsmen raised their weapons, when suddenly from the portal new figures came out. Not Grimm though, but instead two teenagers who landed in the ground with a groan.
"Uh." The green haired girl said as she was face-planted on the ground. "Stupid dog."
"Hey now, that stupid dog can still kill us." The silver-grey haired boy told his companion. "So you probably shouldn't...Oh," He then looks up and sees all the Huntsmen and soldiers. "Well this is a surprise."
"Are those aliens?" A soldier points his gun at them.
"Are you joking?" The Huntress scoffs. "They're human obviously. Idiot."
"How would we know." Another soldier looks at her. "I mean, lots of weird stuff goes on here. For all we know, they could be machines in disguise. Like the news said about Clovis and his bots."
"Sure." The Huntsmen grins. "And I'm the Queen of England.'
"It doesn't matter what you think." The scientist said as she had propped her recorder on a crate. 'We have people here. People." She then looked at the teens with a smile on her face. "Who can tell us about his portal, and we're they come from. Won't that be great." The two teens look at the woman, then the group of soldiers and Huntsmen, then at themselves.
Then finally at the portal.
'Yeah. I don't think that's gonna happen." The boy says while giving them a look of pity. "If anything, you should probably start running."
"Running?' The scientist tilts her head.
"Yeah." The girl, looking worried as she stared at the group before her and the boy. "Because right now, we got that thing behind us. And while we're somehow safe, I don't think you guys will be-" She was then interrupted, as a loud roar could be heard from behind the teens and into the portal.
Where less than a second afterward, a large Grimm with no eyes came out alongside multiple other Grimm and instantly struck without hesitation. With the recorder recording the screams and bloodshed that followed soon after.
And look who's finally here. And only after one chapter. Don't worry, the hero's will soon come. But I like me the villains first. Also thank you Lord Maximus for providing the montage and song scene.