The Hound
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It was still sunny, with a few cloud overhead. Walking on the grass happened to be many fully trained Huntsmen, with none other than the famed Demon of the East walking with them. All of them being Rank 3 and 4, with one objective in mind. The capturing of the Hound. The most recent threat to Japan's safety, and while no Kaiju, this thing has killed many trained Huntsmen who went after it. All of whom had their possessions stolen.
'I don't know what game you're playing Sammael,' Genki thought as she led the team. Making certain they all had their guard up due to how unpredictable this thing was. 'But it's time we take one of your toys.'
The plan is simple. While she dealt with the Hound, the others will kill the pack it surrounded itself with, and ensure that it couldn't escape. Everyone knew by now this thing was intelligent, and could command Grimm similar to a general and their soldiers. This was how those who went after it died, since they only saw the Hound as just another Grimm. Not this time.
"Alright everybody." Genki looks at the team. "We're near the Hound. So let us be careful and make certain none of us end up on the kill list." Many nodded, with a few begrudgingly. Sannben sighs knowing a few were still upset they were trying to capture the Grimm, and is aware that one of them is only here for revenge. The team was suppose to be originally just nobody connected to the victims, but they missed one.
While this man had the right to be angry, said anger could blind him as it has done to many others in the past. Even heroes can be blinded when they're too upset. So hopefully, they can capture it without problem. Though already it appeared there are problems. Primarily, how quiet it was, despite the fact there are supposed to be Grimm here.
'So it already made its move.' This thing must have sensed them coming. Best to keep an eye out on both the ground and the shrubbery around them. While they were out in the open grass, an attack can still happen. Everybody walked and had their eyes peeled, until eventually, they saw it.
There it was, just standing there in its Beowolf-like form. While it had no eyes, it was clearly 'watching' them and stood there silently. Behind it, a few Grimm were with it, composed of Ursa's, Beowolves, and Boarbatusks. All of them were also silent as the two groups just stared at each other. Waiting to make their move.
BR-!
The Grimm struck first, though not in the field, but underground!
Sensing the shaking of the earth, Genki reacted with quick precision and shouted. "Watch yourself!" Then at that moment, her sword went down and burrowed itself into the skull of the Creep that burst from the ground, killing it.
"Damn!" One of the woman yelled as everybody soon saw the Creeps bursting out with teeth snarling and claws wanting to strike them down. While Creeps weren't particularly strong, they were known for making good surprise attacks and obviously this Hound did a good job in hiding them. Instantly Genki ran towards it while the Hound pointed at her and howled!
"Graaa!"
"Grrr!"
"Roooaaaa!"
All the Grimm with it began running toward her and the others. Each wanting to kill the humans, faunus, and Mobians that they trespassed in their territory. Their desire to kill them overtook the instinct they held back in the present of those two teens. Now all leaping out with claws or teeth to kill the woman who stood in front of them.
Shing!
Or at least, those who remained as two Beowolves and an Ursa soon fell into numerous pieces before dissipating. With cold eyes Genki began her attack and started slashing and stabbing the Grimm that though they even had a chance to harm her. Her movements were flawless and she never once made any unnecessary movement. The Huntsmen with her, while not as precise, also did a great job in taking down the Creeps and preparing themselves for the Grimm that now came at them.
Using there blades guns, or even whips, the Huntsmen took down each of the Grimm that came at them.
One shot a Creep through the side of its head with his gun.
Another used their chain to tie two Beowolves together before using her sword laced with Fire Dust to burn through their necks.
A young man simply shot at them with exploding arrows right in their eyes.
While they weren't as good as Genki, by no means were they weak. These fine men and woman having taken on many challenges and survived each day. Training, exercising, constant practice, all that made them who they were today. So while the battle they had wasn't easy, it wasn't impossible for them to deal with.
One of the Mobians quickly sliced through the head of a Boarbatusk then saw the Hound still watching. While the Mobian held no personal grudge against the Grimm like some others, she didn't believe they should capture it. So quickly she grabbed her pistol with a strong round and shot at it.
The bullet sailed toward the Grimm, where it would tear through the forehead and end its threat.
From the ground busting in front of the Grimm came a Centinel and blocked the blow. It then screeched at her where suddenly from the ground like the Creeps more Centinals burst out and all screeched.
"Huh!" One of the faunus says as they avoid a sudden acid attack. "What are Centinals doing here? They shouldn't even be near here!"
"Don't lose focus!" A female faunus told him and used her sword to cut down a Ursa. "Just deal with the problems in front of us!" Still, even with those words, it unnerved them how these Grimm just came from nowhere. They were Grimm that were commonly seen in snowy areas, yet how were they even here? It made no sense.
'The portal.' Genki figured it out as she cut an Ursa in half before she then stabbed a Boarbatusk in the eye and killed it with a twist of her blade. 'Nobody knows where that portal leads, and all we know is that Grimm came out of it.' It likely leads to Sammael's domain, where many types of Grimm resides in. That must be where the Centinals came from, meaning once they dealt with the Hound, they next had to deal with the portal.
Using some Wind Dust, Genki quickened her slashes and the Grimm surrounding her fell apart into many smaller pieces. Then she rushed at the Hound and decided the best way to subdue it is by simply cutting off it's limbs. The Hound growling as it stretched its limb where she then cut it off, having already seen it before in the videos.
One step, two steps, three. Her eyes narrowed as she was two meters away from it, and raised her sword. The Hound seemingly surprised by how quick she was, and now having lost part of its left limb. The sword came down ready to kill it.
"!" Only for the Hound to readjust its body and twisted itself out of the way. The sword digging itself into dirt instead of the Grimm substance, where the Hound then threw a punch at her and sent her a few meters away with the soles of her feet digging into the ground. This thing was more flexible than it looked.
Still, she didn't let that stop her and she ran back at it. Currently all the Grimm were being dealt with by the members, and there were no other Grimm with it. This was her chance to deal with it and capture it for questions. Her eyes never leaving sight of it as she went on the attack. The Grimm unable to do much but avoid those deadly blows by twisting itself in ways that was unnatural by normal Grimm standards.
While it tried biting back, she herself counter-attacked by using the hilt of her sword and slamming it on the underside of its jaw. She then tried to cut off it's second limb only having to bend back when she saw that the limb she cut off from before now regrown and back. It had aimed to take her eyes, though years of always in danger kept her from getting her eyes slashed.
'Still,' Genki thought as she then used her Wind Dust to make an arc of wind which the Hound jumped away from before howling. From the nearby trees small Nevermores came out and tried to attack her. 'It seems I was right. This thing is far more intelligent than a normal Grimm.' She then dealt with the Nevermores and tried to once more attack it.
"Hra!" Where she then saw one of the Huntsmen raising his gun and trying to shoot the Hound.
"No!" Genki shouted, though it was too late.
While the man wasn't that close, he was still in range as the Hound then stretched it's right limb where it's claws then grabbed the man who screamed at the surprise grab. Narrowing her eyes, Genki went to attack only so stop when the Hound raised the faunus as a meat shield where her blade was, quickly forcing her to stop the attack.
"A shield." She hissed as the Hound growled as he brought the man closer. The faunus clicked his tongue and then began punching the Grim, only for the Hound to quickly shut him up. In a series of devastating blows, the Hound slammed the faunus many times on the ground until his aura shattered and left him vulnerable. Then to make a point, the Hound cruelly bent the man's own left arm until it cracked.
"Ahhhhhhh!" The faunus yelled as the Hound then turned to the man and then opened it's maw.
"Shut. Up." Then it grabbed his jaw and made certain it cracked, making it useless.
"You really are a monster." Genki says. While all Grimm were monsters, this one was different. It intentionally let the man live, and is using him as a shield. It knew what it was doing, and capitalized on it. "Tell me," Genki then points her sword at it. "What is Sammael's plans for sending you here?" It was a long shot, but she had to ask.
"Sammael," Which is why it surprised her with the following words. "No Sammael. Only obey. Salem."
'Salem.' But...there were no known Fallen with that name. Unfortunately for Genki, her thoughts technically distracted her, even if only for a second. The Hound then using that small frame of time to manipulate its insides a bit, then opened its jaws and said one thing.
"Faaaaaaaaaallllllll!" The power of the Apathy then hit everybody. Thanks to Genki using her Semblance early on, the boost in morale and will didn't make them fall to their knees while feeling lethargic.
"Ah!" What it did however, was stun them, her group the most, allowing the Grimm to attack in that second stun gap and give their own blows. Blows that killed.
"No!" Genki turned around and saw at least three of the people she brought were now dead, and being torn to shreds. Five escaped, but now had injuries. One was screaming and being dragged underground before disappearing.
"Die!" And she would have been the next to die had she not turned around and blocked a strike from the Hounds long claws. Though now it sported wings as it then flew up into the air and gave a shriek.
"Screee!" Then from the holes came out...Jackalope Grimm?
"What are the-ahh!" A woman screamed as one of the rabbit-like Grimm attacked where its antlers pierced into her eye. These were Grimm Genki has never seen before, just like the Hound. Did Sammael make them too?
Regardless, she then used her aura to enhance her legs and jumped up and sent arcs of wind at the Grimm who just flew away from them. It then flew higher and hire and then mercilessly threw the man it had used down to the ground. As she was in the air falling and the others were dealing with the Grimm below, Genki had no choice but to apologize silently as the man gave a wordless scream before a sick splat could be heard after.
"Die!" The Hound then flew at her and opened its maw, and gave another Apathy-produced shriek. Thankfully, it was only her that was affected, and she felt nothing as the Hound rammed at her, attempting to shatter her aura by impacting the ground at deadly speed. Instead, it howled in pain as the Apathy affect wore off quickly thanks to her Semblance, and she cut off those ridiculous wings.
She then jumped away and landed safely while the Hound itself slammed into the grass making a small crater and hearing some bones break. The Hound now crippled but attempting to regenerate. She wouldn't allow that.
With cold eyes, she then aimed to cut off the Grimm's remaining legs. Even when a few Grimm came in front of her and tried to stop her, she dealt with them as easily as changing her daughter's diapers. The Hound tried making another use of the Apathy power, by this point her Semblance negated it. Acid from the Centinals, she avoided them.
This time it wouldn't escape.
"Haaa!" She then got ready to finish this battle and capture the Grimm.
"Oh no you don't!" Then felt an impact on her side. One strong enough to briefly make her aura flash, and forced her to land on the ground. She quickly got up and then turned to see two teens. The very same from reports of before, with the one in grey smirking and his leg lifted to reveal smoke coming from his boots. "Sup."
She then heard a scream and she then saw the green haired girl shooting at her allies. Wait, wasn't she in front of her- "Raaa!" A Beowulf attacked her and she slashed at it, only for it to disappear instantly.
"Guh!" This time she then felt another blast of focused Air Dust Bullet hit her in the chest. The boy smirking and the girl that had been beside him was gone. "Of course." She then narrowed her eyes. "Mind Manipulation Semblance." A rare ability.
"Well look who got it right. And in one try to." The teen mocked sarcastically with a grin. "Gotta admit, you're definitely tougher than the guys from before." Guys from before.
"I can assume you dealt with the soldiers." She says calmly while ensuring to keep an eye on the Hound, as it was regenerating faster now.
"I admit, they were tougher than Iron-Ass's soldiers." The teen then says before putting both hands behind his head. "But a little of Em's Semblance and misdirection helped out a bit." They didn't look hurt much, so likely hit-and-run tactics. They attacked using that girls Semblance to hide them, and misguided those that chased them. Very clever.
"How did you know we were here?" She then asked.
The teen then made a battle stance as he smiled at her. He then took a single step and it was then she saw the red blood on his boots and lower pants leg. "Eh. Wasn't hard to make them talk."
Closing her eyes, and focusing on the feelings from the boy, Genki says one thing. "Okay."
She then struck surprising Mercury who then jumped away in time before he got slashed. He did some back-flips and shot his Air Dust Bullets at her which she all avoided and then tried to slice at his chest.
He shot down at the ground and used it to make himself go higher, where Mercury then tried hitting her from above. Though it did nothing while frustrating him that she dodged them all even with shut eyes. "Hey Em." He then called out to Emerald, who aided the Grimm against the Huntsmen by using her long-ranged weapons and avoided direct attacks. "A little help."
A bullet whizzed past Emerald. "Busy!"
Clicking his tongue, Mercury just landed and then ran at her. Using his legs to try and kick her, only to avoid a strike that nearly pierced his shoulder. Growling, he tried to make her fall by tripping her up, only to then be grazed by her blade. This woman, what is she?
Falling down, he then tried to strike at her hip only to get kicked by her own boot in the face and sent him back. She soon came upon him and tried stabbing at him with a downward attack. He turned but got grazed a bit as the blade cut his skin. It stung, even as his aura began healing it. Jumping back up, Mercury began realizing this woman was another league than the Huntsmen he faced and those soldiers. Her very presence making him feel that she was stronger than most he faced.
"Don't think I'm out yet!" Mercury roared as he then ran backward and then circled her, shooting countless Air Dust Bullets at her, realizing close-range combat was useless. She then sent her own arc of Air at him which collided with his bullets, cut through them, and aimed at him instead. 'Damn it all!' Mercury thought as he had to be on the defense now. 'Who the hell is this bitch?' He seriously wished he had back-up now. But Em was busy, the Grimm trying to stop those annoying Huntsmen, and the Hound is still trying to repair its legs.
"You," Then the woman spoke to him. "Who are you?" She then ran at him and he managed to duck under her overhead swing. Her eyes glaring at him. "We tried searching for any information on you, but found nothing."
"Keep trying, I'm sure you'll find something." Mercury joked as he sent another blast of air only to then find himself being blinded by the hilt of her sword that then hit the side of his head.
"Or maybe," She dangerously said before her sword went towards his head, where Mercury had to use all his skill to take a step back and watched as it passed his eyes. "I can cripple you and get the answers." She then moved closer and kicked him in the gut, causing some spit to come out of him. She then sheathed her sword and grabbed him, and pushed his head on the ground and lifted his right arm and twisted. "You might be young, but I won't hesitate to hurt someone who dares work for the Fallen. Especially for someone who could have used their powers for good rather than evil."
Fallen? If he didn't feel the pain on his right arm and grass in his mouth, Mercury would have commented. Instead he had to hold back as the feeling of unease was slowly settling in his gut, and glared at her. "I got nothing to say to some bitch." She twisted more and it took more to not scream.
"You are skilled, but you cannot defeat me." Mercury then saw the Huntsmen slowly beating back the Grimm, and Emerald having to make more and more dodges. Already tired from having to use her Semblance a lot to escape those soldiers that came from nowhere. Having had to run quite a bit until they escaped.
"Who...says!" Mercury barked back. He then felt the woman's foot hit his spine making him grunt.
"I say." Genki coldly tells him, her eyes staring at him like he was trash. "It's a shame people like you work with the Fallen, instead of doing actual good." The feeling in Mercury's gut became more and more unease. Border lining fear. "Honestly, did you just accept whatever deal they made with you, just to get stronger?"
Then that fear...turned to anger.
"Get up!" Marcus kicked at Mercury so hard, that he slammed into the wall. Blood coming out of his head with his bones aching. Having no aura to help as it had long been depleted. "I said get up!" Macrus yelled as he kicked him in the chest, Mercury coughing spit and blood while feeling his very ribs make a large crack.
"P-please." Mercury begs. "E-Eno-" Suddenly a hand gripped his neck and lifted him. Angry eyes staring at him before being thrown onto the hard ground.
"You think others will wait for you boy?!" Marcus says as he walks to the unmoving Mercury and stomps on his back cruelly. "You think they'll give you any time!?"
"U..U-" Mercury tried to move, but his body was in so much pain. Didn't help he felt so tired from his aura being gone, and sweat covering him all over.
"This is why I took your Semblance." Marcus mocked him. "Because you're weak! A coward! A nobody!" He then grabbed him by his head and slammed it on the hard floor until more blood came out.
"That's why I'm training you. To be strong." Maruc then scoffs. "But look at you. A weakling! A damn woman could kick your ass, and you'd only be sniffling on the ground. Isn't that right boy?" When Mercury didn't answer, Marcus grabbed his head and slammed it down extra hard, another crack being heard. "Isn't that right!?"
"Y-yes!" Mercury says at long last, his mind shutting down.
"Good." Marcus then spits at him and begins to leave. Throwing a dirty apple at him which was already half-eaten. "Remember Mercury, you're nothing. You're less than dirt, less than Grimm." He then opened the door, and sneered at him with a look of disdain in his eyes. "So do whatever you can to get stronger. From training to making deals with those foolish enough to train that pathetic ass of yours." He then left while saying one last thing. "What else are you good for?"
"..p…" Genki blinked, looking down.
"Hm?" She says, wondering if he was about to talk. Instead, getting a look of utter hatred from him, while her own Semblance sensed a lot of anger in him...and pain?
"I said," She then heard a click coming from his boots. "SHUT UP!"
A loud noise could be heard as instead of Air Dust, Fire Dust was used that exploded around them. The very area they were in turned to ash with the grass dying and Genki forced to let go and back away. The boy got up, ignoring the fire on his clothes and instead glaring at her with contempt. Her Semblance that should have destroyed and eroded his morale, not working at all now.
"I'll kill you!" He roars. "I'LL KILL YOU!"
Then from behind, the Hound came and grabbed him with its claws. The boy surprised as the Hound, having regrow its wings, flew off and gave a large howl. The Grim roaring in turn with an Ursa grabbing the girl and putting her on it's back, and ran off. All the other remaining Grimm ensuring nobody followed them. For this fight has told the Hound one thing, it cannot win this battle without loss, or even dying itself. Especially against that woman.
But...who says it has to continue this fight?
After all, it's only searching for Salem, not trying to win this pointless battle. As such, the Hound flew off with the boy while another Grimm dragged the girl away, making certain it wouldn't be followed.
"No!" Genki then grabs her phone and pushes a button on it. Connecting her to the people in the helicopter on stand-by. "The Hound is escaping. I repeat, the Hound is escaping."
"We...can't!" She then heard the sounds of gunfire from the other side. Along with screams. "Nevermores are surrounding us. And-oh Glob-Tom's dead!"
'Did it...know about the helicopter?' Genki then realized, that if this thing sensed them, it might have heard the helicopter with other Huntsmen waiting on the off chance to kill it. As such, it responded by sending a force strike to secretly occupy them. Damn.
"Just what are you planning Sammael?" Genki asked as she saw the Grimm fly off away. While not victorious, this was far from a win for her and those sent to kill it.
"Interesting." But to Sammael, he just found another interesting thing. His Seer having secretly watched it all, safely in the Shadow Zone. "I heard Japan was having trouble with a new Grimm, but this explains why."
"And yet it's not even one of ours." Moloch says as he to witnessed the battle. Having gotten word from Black Velvet who heard from Gelorum about this talking Grimm. In all honesty, he didn't even know since he was so busy with the upcoming battle, so imagine his surprise when he heard a strike team being led by none other than the Demon Blade of the East was sent to deal with it.
So he sent a Seer, and well, got a good show.
"What do you think of this 'Hound' Moloch?" Sammael asked as he saw the strange Grimm leave with the boy and an Ursa carrying the girl away.
"It's definitely far more intelligent than most Grimm." Moloch admits. "It can be compared to the Terra-Claw, though lacks its full power."
"Not to mention it feels rather off." Sammael narrows his eyes. "I'm not sure why, but I cannot connect to it like the other Grimm. Like there's something else there."
"Oh." Moloch looks at Sammel. "I understand the legendary Grimm can ignore you since they have fully developed, but this one can actually ignore you."
"More like it's as if it's on a different system compared to the other Grimm." Sammael tells him while giving a comparison. "I can connect to all Grimm, even the legendary despite their status. But this one is on a different wavelength that I do not know. Almost as if," Sammael mused a bit then shrugged. "No matter. At the very least whatever this Grimm's intentions are, it is causing quite a good amount of fear for Japan."
"True. Unlike the Kaiju whose goal is to devastated the surrounding area, this one has been killing Huntsmen and being reported by the news. Although I suspect it won't be long until someone more stronger is sent in to deal with it." Moloch gives his analysis.
"Then maybe we can help it out." Sammael chuckles. "But for now, there are more things to attend to."
"Like the upcoming battle."
"Along with Katz and her making contact."
A small child finally made it. Her tireless feet having allowed her to get to her destination. Empty eyes staring at a town full of lights and laughter of the bandits. Then staring at a tower where she is.
"Hey!" She then turned and saw a bandit looking at her. Some Mobian glaring with a gun raised. "Who the hell are you?"
The girl just stared, not answering. Not even scared by the threat the man made and then just began walking. The bandit glaring and just raised his gun. A white pearl could be seen flashing and followed after, the sound of a gun going off followed by blood.
Yep, soldiers won't do against Em and Mercury. Just as the Hound, many Grimm, and the two won't do against elite Huntsmen with Genki as the lead. While they could have won, as mentioned by the Hound's thoughts, they'd likely die before that even happened. Though as mentioned also, it's goal is Salem first and foremost, so once it sensed it was about to lose, it left without a care in the world. Hope you all liked the fight.