Gateway Ring

Many years ago, Salem would find a small golden ring in her lands by coincidence. While she grabbed it and took it home, she thought nothing of it, Seeing it as just another lost item here in Remnant. Through an accident however, when she one day dropped it she had been thinking of a location activating the ring, and revealing it to be a portal. Once she had stabilized it, she ordered Arthur Watts to make use of it.

The Gateway ring as he would call it, would have allowed Salem, him, and the others to travel anywhere on Remnant if they so desire. Spending months slowly creating the device to fully utilize the ring's power. Taking the time to carefully study it and ensure it was safe. Where eventually, while far from complete, had finished the early stages and could be used for the testing phase.

Having been properly utilized thanks to the near-limitless amount of Dust the Land of Darkness provided.

Unfortunately, through a sheer cosmic unintentional, Watts's own portal would intermingle with Van Kleiss's own dimensional device. Combined with Tyrian destroying the supporting powerline abruptly causing the Gateway Ring to explode and send Salem and her primary force to a new world. As a side effect, three portals were created:

The first allowing Salem to and her group to arrive before vanishing.

The second created a portal that led to the Land of Darkness in Japan for an unknown amount of time.

The final, unknown.

It has been a few hours after escaping from those elite Huntsmen. Where an ordinary man may feel anger and humiliation for being forced to run, for the Grimm the masses now referred to as the Hound, it didn't even care. Only humans felt shame, a Grimm felt nothing. Though then again, it isn't an ordinary Grimm, is it.

"Uh." Inside the cave it found, were the two humans. The grey one injured but healing up thanks to Aura, and the second just asleep. It still needed them, as they had the scent on them to locate its Mistress and the others. Though it wasn't easy, seeing as it still couldn't smell them.

As the Grimm pondered a bit, suddenly it felt something. Turning, it then saw a Seer Grimm, entering the cave. For just a moment, it thought perhaps it was her. It's creator. Standing still as it then waited for her presence, and to hear her orders. The Seer lifting a tentacle, and then one word came out.

"Obey." If it had human eyes, they would have widened. As that certainly wasn't her voice, but that of a man. Instantly it felt a strange presence trying to enter its mind.

...Which it then ignored and growled, as it turned and left to watch over the two meat sacks and entered it's usual canine form and rested. The Seer is still there, watching.

With the man from beyond it grinning at this discovery. His theory from a while ago now proven. As it watched the Grimm not even reacting to his commands. If anything, it was like it couldn't even feel it.

"It's amazing that even after all this time there are things about the Grimm that can surprise even me. I feel like this should be a momentous occasion." Sammael remarked, watching the Hound resting and simply watching the two humans. Fully aware that this certainly wasn't a normal Grimm, even more so when he never created one like this.

"It's not like a Terra-Claw. It has no magical core powering like a Terra-Claw or even a Kaiju. And yet, it must have something inside if it can resist our commands." Moloch stated. Knowing full well that all Grimm obeyed Sammael and the Fallen. Yet this one, it was as if it couldn't even sense them properly. Like a person trying to call someone, only for the person on the other end not even receiving the call at all.

"It may not have a magical core but it has something inside it as you said. A possible...spark that grants it higher function than other Grimm. I can see it as I stare at it through a Seer." Sammael stated, leaning forward. "This interloper has been experimenting a great deal on it."

For while this Grimm lacked the raw power of the Terra-Claw, it had intelligence equal to it. Yet it possessed something else within it too. While he couldn't be certain unless Sammael got a much closer look, he sensed something...corrupt.

"I still sense that woman is strong in the Wilds." Moloch said.

"Which is why we will wait and deal with Van Kleiss first. Let her sample the wonders and splendour of this world. And if in time if she and her followers still have the will for a battle then that's exactly what we will give her."

Besides, they should be getting their new guest very soon.

Sitting down silently, Salem decided to simply rest.

While she didn't need to, there was no harm in her doing so from time to time. Enjoying one of the few things that reminded her of her former days before she lost a vast majority of her humanity. However, it would seem tonight would be a bit different. As her eyes opened up and from there she sensed something outside the tower. A rather...peculiar presence. Summoning a Seer to her side she commanded it to show her what was causing this disturbance.

The Seer projected the image of a...little girl walking through a horde of Grimm without fear or a single emotion. The Grimm seemed to see her and then they backed off as if unable to properly sense her or understand what she is.

"What do we have here?"

It was then her Seer saw a bandit near the girl, and gunfire was heard.

"Boss, look!"

Bandit Princess rolled her eyes at the sound of someone calling to her and sighed. "What is it? Can't you see I'm trying to get some sleep?" she could ignore most things like her bandits celebrating, but not damn gunfire. Bunch of idiots.

"Someone's coming!"

Deciding to see for herself Bandit Princess, got up from her hammock and walked over to the entrance and saw a...little girl approaching.

"That's it? Just a little girl?" Bandit Princess growled, glaring at the idiot who called her out just to see a little girl approaching and was ready to kill him. "Just shoot her."

"Well, that's the thing. We did shoot her." The bandit stuttered from the dangerous look his leader was giving him.

"Well?"

He pulled out his pistol and fired at the approaching girl. She stopped and held up her black pearl and just as the bullet hit it, there was a flash of light. Bandit Princess blinked as the bullet ricocheted off the pearl and killed the very man who shot her. Bandit Princess then watched as the girl continued her approach. At first it looked like the Grimm surrounding the village would attack her but when they sniffed her...

They seemed confused and simply turned away, acting almost like they couldn't see her.

"What the Glob?" Bandit Princess muttered. It was only then Bandit Princess also saw another body. The man stationed for a little patrol, only dead like the fool from before. A hole in his forehead.

The girl herself continued approaching, ignoring the Grimm that ignored her in return and then stopped right at the entrance. She just stood there like a statue, staring blankly at the bandits and their leader.

"Well, someone kill her." Bandit Princess growled. "Chop her head off and we'll have some meat tonight." It was always fun seeing people being fed to Grimm or wildlife. Plus, maybe this will kill the girl, as she seemed to have a Semblance that stopped bullets. Then what about a blade?

One pulled out a sword and slowly approached the girl. Only once he was right in front of her and his reflection was seen on her pearl there was a flash of light. The bandit gasped as his Aura lit up around him and was then absorbed into the pearl. The bandits and their princess stared in complete shock as the pearl drained the Aura completely from the man who then fell over, dead.

"Oh glob."

"She took his soul."

"She's a demon."

"Worse than a demon."

Bandit Princess growled, pulling out her sword. "You want something done right, do it yourself." though she'd have to be careful. Just because one loses aura doesn't mean they'll die, it's just depleted. So for that man to be dead and not breathing means this kid took more than just aura, and while Bandit Princess didn't believe in crap like a soul, doesn't mean she was idiotic enough to know this girl did take something extra from the man. 'So maybe distance should be my game.' Though before she could try anything, a voice is then heard.

"What is going on here?"

Bandit Princess stopped, turning around to see Cinder approach with Watts and Tyrian. The former Maiden stared at the girl, seeing the two bodies on the ground.

"Oh, did we miss some fun?" Tyrian chuckled as he walked forward, staring at the intruder. Now when Tyrian gets in close to someone the usual response was to shiver in complete fear, especially with his stinger posed to strike. Even the Satyra grunts showed unconscious fear toward him, with the bandits no different.

Only the girl blankly stared at him, not moving an inch.

Cinder walked up to Bandit Princess ."Who is this?"

"The Grimm seem unable to...see her." Bandit Princess says. To prove her point, an Ursa came by after sensing the fear of the bandits who quivered. Even though they thought their leader could somehow control them, they still didn't like it when one came close. The big Ursa went to investigate, but when it sniffed at the girl and barred its teeth...

Only it seemed confused and found itself looking around, as if it could not see her, smell her, or even sense her.

"She's a Void." A bandit spoke, trembling slightly.

Bandit Princess rolled her eyes. "There's no such thing as a Void. It's a myth."

"And what exactly is a Void?" Cinder questioned calmly while Tyrian tried making the girl scared, only for said girl to once more show nothing.

"They used to be human, used to be alive." The bandit spoke up. "But then they surrendered their hearts to the fear and despair. When that happened they...stopped being human. They say their souls died, leaving behind an empty shell." The bandit explained, glancing at the girl who remained still. "Just a walking, breathing ghost that wanders the Earth, no purpose, no life and not even memories of their former lives remain."

"Please. It's a cold and dark world, no one disputes that." Bandit Princess remarked. "But even if someone could simply shut down their feelings and all that they're still alive." She even had evidence as tortured people she herself dealt with still breathed and certainly didn't change into monsters. They were just unresponding meat sacks. "Besides, they also say a Void is from another dimension or is somehow imagined into " existence."

"Well, she's acting like one boss. She's even waiting at the entrance." The bandit pointed out. "Plus, she has the power of a witch! I mean, look what she did to Frank!?" Cinder felt insulted by the witch part.

"Yeah and eventually she'll get tired and hungry like any person and then she's likely going to die." Bandit Princess scoffed. Not believing this bull for a second, and only saw this brat as a creep with a weird Semblance. "She's not going to stop moving just because someone has to invite her in."

"And what does that mean?" Cinder asked, cutting off the conversation. "And please explain in full detail."

Bandit Princess sighed and scratched her head. "A Void cannot enter someone's home unless invited in. They just wander aimlessly until they find a house to haunt. Of course the same idiots who thought that up also say they might be fairies who need cream on a saucer before they can leave or they are a haint you need to play a clarinet to make them go away. No one really agrees on anything about these kinds of myths and they're so ridiculous almost no one ever listens."

Watts, deciding to make his own observations while Tyrian still kept trying to scare the girl, held up his scroll and examined her. "Curious, I detect no heart beat in her at all. She can't be alive but she's not a machine. I can pick up all the necessary organs for a human to live inside her."

"Maybe we can find out?" Tyrian suggested as he held up his stinger in front of the girl. "Shall I?"

Cinder narrowed her one eye as Watts stepped back. "By all means."

With Tyrian laughed as he whipped the stinger right at the girl. Her black pearl glowed and a barrier appeared around her, protecting her from Tyrian's stinger. The scorpion Faunus grunted in slight pain and surprise from the barrier. He tried attacking her, lashing out with his wrist blades but the barrier kept her safe. When he tried shooting her the bullets rebounded off the barrier, missing him by a few inches.

The girl was still silent, not even caring she was under attack. Though Bandit Princess felt it odd.

'Weird...she killed the other two before. So why not him?'

"This girl has magic in her." Cinder grinned as she held out her Geist arm, already able to tell the difference between a Semblance and Magic.

It was plainly obvious from what she could see. Even though it was different it was magic all the same and that made this child very interesting. She held her arm out to absorb the magic but the girl's barrier blocked it. Growling Cinder tried to break through the barrier, only for the girl's pearl to glow and Cinder gasped as her Aura shimmered and was being drawn into the pearl.

"Stop!"

The child seemingly stopped absorbing Cinder's Aura, leaving her to fall to her knees as Hazel approached. The young woman looked up at the girl with an angered glare.

"Her Grace has sensed this girl's...presence and wishes to be brought to her." Hazel said, looking at the girl who blankly stared back.

"Good luck with forcing her. Just ask Cinder." Watts remarked, smugly smirking at Cinder. "Can't even intimidate a little girl. Oh wait, it was a little girl that beat you and took your arm and eye."

"Shut...up." Cinder growled as she stood up.

"You say she must be invited before she can enter, correct?" Hazel asked the bandit who silently nodded. "Well then," He raised a hand and beckoned the girl to enter. "Come child. Enter this place."

The girl stared at Hazel for a moment before she started to move, taking one small step forward and then another. She moved silently and slowly towards Hazel but seemed to intent on walking past him.

"Stop." Hazel held a hand in front of her.

The girl stopped and just stood there. Frowning Hazel knelt down to get a better look at her, seeing a look of pure emptiness in her eyes.

It was...disturbing.

"Our Mistress wishes to meet you." Hazel pointed to the tallest building. "At the top of that building."

The girl stared at the building at first and then slowly began walking in its direction.

Cinder and the others alongside Bandit Princess followed to see just what was going on.

"How curious. I've never felt a presence so...empty." Salem grasped her chin, directing her to look up into the Grimm Queen's red eyes. The girl's black eyes stared blankly back at her. "She appears to be unique even to myself."

The girl had come, just as said. During that time Tyrian tried shooting her, a Grimm Beowolf lunged at her, and just for the heck of it, Bandit Princess threw a rock at her. Aside from the barrier, the girl did nothing at all. Just kept walking and walking, with now even Cinder and Watts feeling creeped out by such a strange child. Though it was clear this child was more unnerving as when at last she met Salem and lacked one thing that most people felt when seeing her.

Fear.

Even Tyrian tilted his head at that.

As for Salem, she looked down at the black pearl which shined, making Tyrian react as many thought she was going to attack Salem but the Grimm Queen held out a hand, ordering them to stand down. In the pearl's hand she could see GrimmFall, then various other places and even their new base. Salem then realized she was projecting images seen through the eyes of all the Grimm, much like her Seers or Clairvoyance.

This girl could see and sense beings that far?

"Tell me your name, child." Salem motioned to the strange girl. Wanting to know of her a little more, and how such a empty being came to be with this strange power. The girl stared at her with the same blank face that made it impossible to tell if she had even heard Salem.

"Answer her!" Tyrian barked, angered by the child's apparent disrespect.

Salem held up a hand, silencing Tyrian while keeping her gaze on the girl whose lips slowly parted.

"E...E...E..." The girl's voice was raw and quiet, possibly from having not spoken in a long time. "Ed...Ede...Edel."

"Edel." Salem stood up and watched the girl. Sensing not an ounce of emotion, with the magic she sensed from her being particularly off. Different. It seems like Remnant, this world has its own unique existence with this girl being somewhat similar to a Grimm known as a Chill in some ways, only obviously more human. Well, in appearance anyway.

"So," Hazel finally spoke. "What do we do with...her?" The question seemed to be directed more towards if this child is even a child in the first place. Something the others agreed with.

"For now, nothing." Salem says as she then points towards a corner where emotionlessly the girl goes to without argument. "She doesn't seem to be causing trouble, much." Aside from two dead bodies, but Bandit Princess could get more. "Though I am interested in her strange powers." From her own hand out came magic, the magic that once rivaled Ozma's before he gave it away, and some of the last bit connected to the God of Darkness. "I can already tell this world has magic, but considerably different. I'll be observing her to see that difference."

"And if she proves useless?" Cinder asked.

"Then I suppose we'll see if her power allows her to defend from falling off a building." Salem shrugs as she stares at the child. "Until then, I'll keep an eye on her. Unlike I, the rest of you will be drained dry if you stay near her for to long."

"Drain?" Hazel questions.

"It's passive, but she's stealing the life force of everybody here." Now that got everybody's attention. If what Salem said is true, and no doubt it was, then that was a major problem. They needed life force to, well, live!

"Allow me to end this thing!" Tyrian didn't even consider the girl human. Let aside a girl.

"No." Salem firmly tells him, making him relent.

"But you just said it drains us." Watts points out.

"Only passively." Salem tells him. "Nothing that would endanger you in short-term. And in long-term, you'd have to be near her for numerous weeks." She then looks outside and with her Grimm, saw the body of the drained bandit being thrown into the fire to just burn it. "Though on the off-chance she uses her active power, none of you will last long."

"Except for you I assume." Bandit Princess says with the others also understanding now. Unlike the mobian, the rest knew for a fact that Salem was immortal. Had as what is described as infinite life. Kinda hard, even if active, for this Edel child to kill that.

"Very well." Hazel says as he then starts to leave. "In the meantime, shall we start our next operation."

"Wait, what operation?" Tyrian asks. "I never got this."

"Because somebody was bust killing people outside of here." Cinder sarcastically tells him with the scorpion faunus giggling.

"Alright, so we're starting the next plan." Bandit Princess then says, aware of what it is as well. "Maybe it'll distract me from this damn cold. Hey string-bean, are the heaters almost up?"

If it weren't for the fact he's in front of Salem, Watts would have shot her for the comment. "Yes, they are up." Watts grunts. "And I suppose it'll be interesting if the operation is done properly."

"Just what is the operation?" Tyrian asks once more, now more curious than ever.

"Simple really." Salem then decides to tell Tyrian, since he'll be a part of it alongside Hazel and Bandit Princess. "Because of this cold weather, certain companies are finding it harder to travel in properly. Some even desperate to travel in places they need to get to."

This weather, magical weather as Salem discovered but wanted no part of it since she's already busy, is making things difficult. Not just for small places, but even big cities were being affected like Denvor or in this case, GrimmFall. Where Dexter Labs is sending a truck full of interesting supplies to a plane where it'll take it to as Arthur discovered, a town in need hundreds of miles away. With the supply cargo being none other than Dust Crystals, enough to provide energy to the town for ten years.

Or energy for something else.

"The operation is needed for my plans." The plans to get the energy needed for Watt's portal. Where these Dust Crystals will be the perfect fuel, as while the Wilds had enough, it would take time to find the veins for it and then train the bandits to excavate it properly without blowing themselves up. "As such, it's time for a heist."

A heist in the air, where nearby outside the tower, a massive Nevermore at the very top screeched.

Time for villains to be villains and start robbing. It won't be easy, and the plan has a chance of failing. But hey, it's the journey that counts alongside the bodies that fall from the sky.