Gretchen Rainart is the deceased sister of Hazel Rainart.

She was a bright, and rather optimistic girl who was more positive than her brother who saw things in a bleaker sense. She aided people whenever she could and even trained a bit to fight Grimm whenever they came near her and Hazel's home in a small town outside of the Kingdoms. Though while she enjoyed her life, even after her parents had died during a Grimm attack alongside some of her friends, Gretchen continued to live life to the fullest.

However, Gretchen wished for more in life and wanted to live beyond her little town. Wishing to be a Huntress, despite her brother's pleas and statements that it was a death warranty. While Gretchen loved her brother, she secretly refused his commands and trained whenever he wasn't around. During one of her outings, she saved some people which would get the attention of Beacon's own Headmaster, who also noticed her eyes which were silver.

To Gretchen's joy, she was asked to join Beacon and quickly left to apply knowing her brother would do whatever he could to stop her. Having left a note, but didn't state which Academy she applied to and hoped that when she returned, Gretchen will have proved her brother he didn't have to worry for her all the time.

Sadly, the Headmaster of Beacon, Ozpin, had discovered a secret move his enemy had made, and sent Gretchen in an area under the guise of a training that she shouldn't have been old enough for yet hoped her eyes could have dealt with the problem. It had worked, but the Grimm Salem had sent had ended Gretchen's life to Ozpin's horror and regret, where Hazel himself would find out later on and enter a great rage and sorrowful state when he learned what happened to his sister.

Gretchen's death had been the cause of Hazel joining Salem with the former believing this would ensure no more people like his sister died in vain. Becoming one of Remnants greatest threats.

Days before Denver attack...

"The plan is simple." Seben told Team REYN as he spoke to them all. "While I may not know the full details of the attack, I do know this." Near Seben is a laptop which he then clicks a button to show a picture of a warehouse. Team REYN, who were sitting down in his office, looked at it carefully. "This Fallen and her allies will make their way here. Whether it's because it has something of importance, or they just stop by it, I do not know."

"Regardless, some of us must be there to wait her out." Ross says with Seben nodding. "I suppose you already told Tina this?"

"I did." Seben responds to the Huntsman. "She's already gathered a few of those she trusts to watch out for any attacks and has stuck close to the warehouse. I already got you plane tickets to head to Denver soon."

"Alright!" Yara grins. "So if we play this right, we take away one of Sammael's allies."

"Let's not get a head of ourselves." North calmly tells her. "If I recall, this Fallen took out Living Bullet even when he wasn't holding back much, and has been stated to wield unknown abilities." Seben already told them how one of the Justice Friends actually got beaten, showing that this Fallen wasn't weak. From what Living Bullet stated, she was resourceful and made use of his weakness such as sound.

"Then we'll have to be careful." Erika spins her gun around. "We know some scorpion guy is on her team, and you already gave us some description of her other followers like Bandit Princess and some guy with a mustache."

"Don't forget this girl who did something to one of Japan's best toy makers' daughters." Seben already told Ross and the others of some woman on the Fallen's side, who did something to a girl called Kimiko. Apparently Seben saw visions of these newcomers, and none of them were any good at all. Seben having also told them that in a possible vision, these guys use a Grimm bigger than most towns to attack the city itself. Definitely a major move even for Sammael.

"Which is why I'm hoping that with Tina, Living Bullet, and your aid we can capture our new foes and defeat them before they cause any harm." Seben said to them all. Suddenly, the door then opened where none other than Living Bullet appears with his usual outfit as he waves to them. "Nice to see you have come." Seben tells him.

"Same." The hero states. "I got a text from you, saying you need me. And," Behind his mask his eyes went to Team REYN. "Safe to say it's important."

"It is." It was then Seben began explaining what he knew to Living Bullet with some of Team REYN putting their own thoughts on the matter. Explaining to the fastest man alive who was coming such as them, Living Bullet, Krunk, and Tina. When they would arrive, any possible plans to use, and so on.

While it was no perfect plan, many felt it would indeed work. How they would wait out the Fallen and her allies, where they would set up certain defenses secretly in the city, and gather supplies to take them on. Even if it was not a plan that would guarantee absolute success, the chances of them failing was even lower. As such, everybody in the room had confidence they could do this.

And yet, unknown to all, in the darkness behind Living Bullet's mask, a small critter that made no sound or movement, had paid close attention to the discussion and sent the information elsewhere. Of every word that had been spoken, of every phrase and even the appearances of who was here. All of it to it's Mistress.

Now

"I have to say," Salem smiled as she looked down on the wheezing North and Erika, who's very aura had been drained to nothingness and leaving them physically exhausted. Numerous Shadow Hands in the form of a Knuckleavee holding them down with Salem's glyphs. "The power to see the future. Never in my imagination did I expect this to be the reason how my followers were caught before. What a wonderful power."

'She...knows…' Erika thought with slight fear, as the Fallen held them down with the strange inhumane girl draining them of their stamina. Particularly of North who looked worse than her, considering he had more stamina than anybody else on Team REYN.

'This isn't good.' North also thinks. 'If she knows us and what Seben told the rest, then just how much does she know?' North then groaned as the small child masquerading as a human touched him and drained him of his vitality. Poking him with her little finger with a sense of curiosity.

As for Salem, she was rather pleased.

'This explains how my followers were spied on in GrimmFall, and why a famed hero like Living Bullet was even exploring the forest.' Because of the power of the mayor in GrimmFall that could see the future. The power of a Spiral Gem. To think, this world had its own extraordinary objects like the Relics, and this version allowing its user to see the future.

Three days ago, when Salem got all this information, she instantly got to work in reading fairy tale lore. Finding the legend of the Spiral Gems and becoming gleeful of what she learned. Such a power that could have easily ruined her and her plans, and potentially getting her caught. Yet thanks to her spy, she understood what was going on now, and managed to outplay the heroes here. Young Erika and North now in her grasp, and could be easily killed. But...why kill them when maybe she could use them for information.

From Salem's palm, beneath her sleeves, both Erika and North then saw a Grimm bigger than a fist come out a screech. It has a black body with spikes, six legs, and an armored abdomen which leads into three fiery, yellow tails. Its head appears to resemble an amalgamation of a jackal and feline skull, with horns or tentacles rising out of its eye sockets. It has a singular eye where the skull's nose would be, and a spider-like marking on its forehead.

It was also a Grimm that neither have ever seen before.

"This is a Grimm called a Sulfur Fish." The small critter then made its way to North, with a sense of unease filling him. It's little barb glowing a hot orangey-red. "They aren't much, and usually run unless there's more with them." From the Fallen's dress, more of the same species came out. Their red eyes staring at the weakened Erika and North, with nobody aware of their rather dark predicament. The small child watching for any funny movement, and still draining them to make certain they couldn't even lift a finger.

"I've read blogs from the good citizens of what they know of you. And how powerful and strong you are." The Sulfur Fish got on North's back and Erika's leg. "And while I'm certain you'll put up a good fight, everyone talks." Then, the Sulfur Fish struck with their hot barbs and sharp teeth, sinking into auraless flesh.

"Guh!" Hazel staggered back as an aura coated fist sank under his jaw. He could feel his bone creaking as he stumbled back. He instantly tried punching, but the man before him moved to the left and then kicked at the back of his right leg. Unlike the girl, this attack made Hazel stumble. The man then moved and he grabbed under his left armpit and then used Hazel's own weight against him. Throwing him down on the street with his back on the ground. Ross's foot then raised up and ready to press down on his head.

Hazel lifted his arms and blocked his face from being crushed, then, with the Fire Dust in his body, lit his own flesh up and making the man's pants catch fire. The man known as Ross clicking his tongue as he jumped back, giving Hazel time to get back up and glare.

'This man is formidable.' He and Cinder had already been told of what Salem managed to know, thanks to her spy. Learning of those who would come, meaning Hazel knew exactly who he was facing. A man known for his courage, bravery, and great prowess in handling any enemy he faced. Be it man or Grimm, and not the type Hazel could beat in the click of his fingers. Meaning he had to take this seriously.

With a growl, Hazel took out countless Dust Crystals from his pockets. Then, just like the Fire Dust, injected his body with them to Ross's slight surprise. Knowing of only one other man who did it, as he watched the man's veins glow and his muscles enlarging. Hazel roaring with his voice being distorted. Having injected into his arms a few more Fire Dust crystals and Earth Dust.

Then Hazel began throwing out countless Fire Balls at Ross. Using his Foresight, he began doding them all, something Hazel noticed. So what about an indirect attack? Raising both arms and grabbing them together, Hazel threw them both down and crashed them into the ground launching debris all over. Ross kept moving though, ignoring the small and otherwise harmless debris hitting him.

Where he then dodge a wide swing from the man before him and countered with a left kick to the man's left side. The faunus then jumped back and then jumped forward where he did a strong uppercut and made Hazel stumble.

"Yeah boss, nice going!" Yara grins as she gets back up and otherwise okay now. She then raised her board which was in gun mode and said, "Now let's make him dance." Blasts of energy then assaulted Hazel who grunted as they hit him. His aura could handle it, but both blasts and this man was putting himself at risk.

"Hey," The lion faunus was then in front of him. "Don't think I'm stopping now."

Hazel then felt another blow to his face, then a second struck his throat. His semblance blocked pain, but even he needed to breathe. Bending back and choking a bit from the hit, Ross continued and grabbed Hazel's hair and pulled downward where Hazel's face met Ross's knee. However, while a normal man would have been grabbing his nose in pain, thanks to Hazel's semblance, he felt none of that.

So the second his nose cracked, his hands shot forward and grabbed Ross whose eyes widened. Then Ross screamed as the hands grabbed his shoulders and began burning him. His clothes catching fire and then his skin meeting intense heat from Hazel transferring the Fire Dusts heat into his palms and melting a bit of Ross's own skin.

"Ross!" Yara then ran forward with her board where she got on and pulled out a back-up blaster. She raised it and got ready to fire, but Hazel saw this and lifted Ross and threw him at her, Ross's body crashing into Yara and both tumbled down. Hazel, not wanting to waste this chance, roared as he then shot multiple fiery rocks from his own body thanks to the Dust in his system.

Yara pushed Ross aside and opened up a portal. The projectiles fell in and from behind Hazel another portal opened up where they then slammed into Hazel who fell forward as he took the hit. The attack making his aura flashing meaning he was getting dangerously low. Grunting, he then got up and saw Ross already running toward him where he then leapt up and slammed the heel of both his feet into Hazel's face once more.

"Gah!" Hazel yelling as he ended up slamming into a building from the attack. Aura now really bad and it would take just a few more hits until his aura went down for good. If that happened, then that also meant his Semblance would go down and his Numbing Agent would vanish. Meaning...well, he'd be in a world of hurt considering all the Dust in his system.

Hazel then heard a sound, and knew what that was.

"Give up." Yara told Hazel as her team member Ross then came behind her. "You can't beat us."

She was right, Hazel couldn't win. If it was one-on-one, he might have had a chance at beating Ross. But with Yara helping out with her gadgets and Ross being much stronger than anticipated, Hazel was only prolonging the inevitable. But…

"Who said I was trying to stop you." Hazel gave the two a look of pity. Feeling bad for them as none of this would have happened to them, if Seben hadn't tried stopping them from stealing the Dust they needed. "If anything, I was trying to help you."

This made the two confused, until suddenly they became shocked as from behind Hazel, exiting out of an alley, Grimm came out. However, not the type that should belong here, let aside even be in this city. Hazel, then placing on specialized ear muffles, then closed his eyes. He'll still be affected, but not as much as what was going to happen to him.

The Grimm known as Apathy, then began wailing.

…

"Huh?" Tina heard a noise, a high-pitched noise. Her battle with the girl having taken her a bit away from where Ross and Yara were at. But she then ignored it as she had to deal with this brat. Enhancing her speed, she came behind the girl only for that Grimm arm to tank it. The girl smirking as she then summoned another blade and tried to sink it into Tina's chest.

She dodged backward and then swung her weapon and hit the girl's vulnerable left side making her growl. Still, she didn't relent and the girl kept on attacking as she created another black sword with Tina blocking them with her own weapon. Wanting to end this fast to help the others, Tina quickly made her weapon enter whip mode and swung it so that it tied around the girls hips and then flicked a special switch on her weapon, causing the girl to shriek as electricity from Electric Dust began shocking her.

Tina moved forward deciding to let the pain from her weapon distract her. However, when she attempted to knock out the girl with her foot, the girl instead grabbed it with her Grimm arm as she then snarled.

"Sorry," She said before pulling Tina in. "But I'm used to such torture!" Tine then felt a blow as the girl punched her under her chest, where the girl moved backward and lashed out with her Grimm arm. The appendage stretched and slamming into Tina as she hit the ground hard.

Even then Tina moved quickly as the girl tried stabbing her in the ground. 'She definitely has a high pain tolerance.' Tina thinks as her weapon goes back into rapier mode and the two duel it out. Their weapons clashing against one another with neither able to make a proper hit. 'I need a good hit. But what.'

Unfortunately for Tina, before such an idea came to mind, Cinder smirked. "You know," She says while battling Tina. "I have to wonder, why are you even bothering trying to defeat us." She then tries decapitating her but Tina avoids the attack and kicks Cinder a few meters away. "After all, why bother when so many have died Tina Mathews."

Tina narrowed her eyes. 'She knows my name.'

"Yes, I know you." Cinder continues talking as they battle. "Along with Team REYN, your dear husband, not to mention Living Bullet and Krunk who are coming here." Tina, while not scared or even frightened by this woman, did start feeling an unease within her. How did she know about those who were coming here? That shouldn't have been possible, only-

"Only Seben should know, is that right?" Cinder continues talking making Tina's eyes widen. They know. They knew. This girl and those with her somehow knew what they planned for them.

'But how!?' Tina thought as her next attack missed as the girl side-stepped it. 'When I spoke to Seben, it was under an encrypted line that shouldn't have been hacked. Not to mention Team REYN and Living Bullet spoke to him in his office, with no signs of tampering or hidden listening bugs.'

The ground then cracked, and suddenly bursting out were numerous Centinals. All of them screeching at Tina as Cinder then moved away, then running off. "As much as I'd like to fight," Cinder grinned at her as the Grimm came at Tina with many more then moving away likely to kill innocents. "I have an appointment to make."

"Little bi-" Tina couldn't even finish her line as the Centinals crawling at her began spitting their acid. So that was how the Grimm came here. Through the underground! But, Denver has also prepared defenses so Grimm couldn't do that. The only possible way for them to do so was through perhaps the sewer system, and even then that was impossible. Because somebody would have to hack into that!

Elsewhere

"And done." Watts grinned while eating an apple. Inside the small room for the controls to the sewer, everybody was either knocked out or dead, none of the people here being good in actual defense. Not to mention with the small but deadly Spider Grimm he brought that caused a person to see their dark feelings with him killing them, the people didn't stand a chance.

Watts having then deleted footage of his entering and temporarily shut down the sewer system so the Grimm could enter, then stood up while throwing his finished apple. The eaten fruit rolling near a mobian who held a picture of her family now bloody. "Now then, time for the next phase." With one single push of a button, the sewer system was back online. Although...

...it was going to work a bit to well.

As Tina killed off the last Centinal, once more the ground shook. Then, a manhole exploded into the air as dirty filthy water had shot up from beneath it. It wasn't the only one either, as water began bursting from below from drainage pipes and overflowing onto the streets and sidewalks.

"What the!" Little did Tina or anybody else know, Watts had purposely caused the sewers to overflow. Granted, due to both limited time and access, he could only do it to one part of the city. Still, it was doing its job as the people of Denver, who were hearing the roars and the news covering this thanks to Watts deciding to leave some anonymous tips and the like, started generating fear.

"Graa!" Fear that the Grimm liked as those not near the ones fighting were attacking the police and Huntsmen who were on the scene. Doing their best to survive while people screamed and tried to evacuate in time. Scream that Tina heard, and was forced to grit her teeth as she could either chase down the woman who helped cause this, or help those in need. With resentment in her knowing she had to let an ally of the Fallen go, Tina left to save the people.

Back elsewhere however, Hazel was already on the move. Looking back, he saw how even while they were affected, Ross, and to a lesser extent Yara, were fighting back against the group of Apathy that had come. Despite their wills being drained, they attacked the Apathy even if they were struggling. It impressed Hazel just how strong willed they were, and were clearly a different breed of Huntsmen compared to the vast majority he faced. For that, they had his respect.

'But for now,' Hazel thought as he ran off and left them behind. Knowing that they would be forced to kill the Apathy lest they limit themselves or even let a few of these deadly Grimm wander in Denver where they could kill someone. 'It's onto the next part.'

It had been a great surprise to learn from Salem that she discovered that a man called Seben had the power to see the future. Undoubtedly the same power that nearly caught them, and would be a great obstacle toward them. But thanks to the Grimm hidden with Living Bullet, they knew what Seben saw with Salem making a new plan to change their future.

A plan in fact-

-that Salem should be finishing by now.

"Most impressive. Not even a scream. Only my 'dear Ozma' would be like this." Salem says as North and Erika just glared at her, despite their wounds and burn marks on them. Not once did they howl in pain or give up any intel to this witch. While pain was pain, and by no means did they like it, neither of the two were willing to give this monster any form of satisfaction. For that, Salem could see that this little interrogation she had for them wouldn't work.

Shame. If she had more time and had the chance, she could have taken them to her base and start the actual torture that this little game she had for them. A true shame. But, business first.

"Edel," Salem looks at the girl. "Drain them until they fall asleep for a long time."

"...yes." Edel then looked at the two and upped her power of life absorption. The two unable to do a thing as Edel sucked, not their aura of stamina, but a small but still potent of their life-force. Nothing that will cause permanent harm or even shorten their life spans, but enough that they won't be up for a long while. Now she can drag them off for later.

"If you would," She then looked backward where two Beowolves snarled and had climbed up a bit ago. The two then going towards North and Erika, picking them up to take with them. Though just as they prepared to move them, Salem then heard something from a distance.

"...here...I sense them…" Edel then spoke, having also heard them.

"I see," Salem turned around where she then saw a small dot in the sky. "Faster than I thought." The dot then grew larger and larger until it slammed into the ground below, with Salem overlooking it on the building she was on. Sensing the entire area shake including the building like an earthquake had hit it. There, she then saw none other than Krunk who looked quite angry.

"So," She then heard another voice, one right behind her along with the sound of bone cracking. "We meet again." Turning, it was Living Bullet who had easily beaten and killed her Beowolves. The two gently placed on the side and while that mask was forever etched with a smile, Salem can sense the anger within Living Bullet.

"So we do." Salem calmly says as she looks at him, Edel keeping an eye on Krunk who snarled. "You came much faster than expected. Why, was it because of all the Grimm here?"

Living Bullet said nothing, but he could still hear the sounds of screams and alarms in the distance. He then just took a battle stance, though kept a wary eye on the Fallen and what was clearly a Fallen child. Because even Living Bullet could tell that girl wasn't human.

"You have one chance." He then said. "Surrender now, and tell us everything you know about Sammael,"

'That name again.' It came up during Seben's plan with the others along with the phrase 'Fallen' a few times. She'll have to look that up later when she had time.

"Or," Living Bullet says seriously. "We won't detain you, but put you down for good." Killing huh. Well, it shows that even heroes will do what is necessary. Plus, it probably helped Salem wasn't even human and was more like a Grimm with just vast intelligence, making the deed easier. Though if they did plan on killing her, then they'll be severely disappointed. Not to mention with what she learned, Salem had prepared to change the future oh dear Seben was trying to fix for her. She once defied the Gods, so defying him won't be any different.

"I think I'll say no." Salem chuckles as purple energy emitted from her hands.

"Expected as much," Living Bullet answers back, having already knew this. "Once we take care of you, we'll help the others and deal with your Grimm."

"Ah yes. You and Krunk." Salem already had plans for both of them. "Then bring it on."

"Krunk and I...Oh...I see." Suddenly, the emotions from him changed from hidden anger to actual amusement. "You didn't know of our third friend."

"..." Third?

Suddenly, in the sky, thunder could be heard.

"?" There was no news report of rain, and while the weather was growing colder, that shouldn't include lightning. Then, to Salem's own surprise, she saw a shadow in the clouds. Not to mention...a power could be sensed. One that while was weaker compared to those two Gods, it felt the same and unconsciously made Salem clench her own fists and scowl in rage.

"Valhallen in the house!" The God of Rock yells as a huge bolt of lightning then hits Salem directly and the world turns white.

Sorry for the late chapter, forgot about it until it was kinda late.

If you recall, Seben saw something in the early chapter of Team REYN versus Hazel. But because he tried countering them, with Salem then countering what Seben saw, it changed from Team REYN to just Ross and Yara versus Hazel. The future can be changed after all, but not in a good way all the time.

And now you know how Salem managed to out-do our heroes a bit, thanks to her little spy. But thanks to Living Bullet 'texting' Valhallen and not 'speaking' for aid, Salem didn't know our surprise guest the God of Rock would be coming here. With good old lightning that has turned Salem to a crisp.

HOWEVER, don't think Salem is out just yet. After all, the next phase is about to start with this battle still ongoing.