KS: (exhales) Man... Volume 8 was really something. And when I say "something", I mean everything went to Hell in a goddamn handbasket with a bow wrapped. Can't believe that all of that happened simply because of a lack of communication between two sides. Honestly, all lot could've been avoided if... (sighs) Nope, not gonna happen. Several people are probably ranting about this very issue and I'm in no hurry to join them. I'm just going to give you folks what you've been waiting for. Enjoy the new chapter.

Two months after the Fall of Beacon

Tai grumbled as he scrubbed of another layer of profane graffiti that was sprayed on the wall of his house. It wasn't the first time his house had been targeted, and its unlikely it'll be the last. All because of what happened during the Vytal Festival.

"Some people have their nerve," he muttered, dipping his sponge into water, then scrubbing some more.

This has been an ongoing routine for the past few weeks. Tai would find out his house had been vandalized with all kinds of inappropriate phrases, aimed at either him or Yang, and he would spend hours upon hours cleaning it off with Zwei offering moral support.

"Kids have nothing better to do than harass people," he continued as he increased the power of his scrubbing. "What's wrong with parents these days? Can't they take the time to teach their own right from wrong?"

He heard Zwei bark, and he sighed as he put down the sponge.

"Well, they sure returned faster than I though," he said, cracking his knuckles and turning around to deal with whoever was bold enough to try his patience in the early morning hours.

And to his surprise, there was only one person. A young man who had the most mismatched appearance he had seen in a long time, holding a briefcase in one hand and a bag in the other.

"This is the Xiao Long residence, isn't it?" the young man asked.

Tai was slightly put off by the question, but kept his guard. "Depends on who's asking."

"My name is Ethan Merlot, CEO and director of Angelite Solutions," the man introduced himself. "We are a multi-billion conglomerate focused on technological advancements, disease and wellness research and weapons development." He put down the suitcase and reached into the bag, pulling out some books and handing them to Tai. "I also happen to be a published author, writing many successful self-help books such as, 'That Moment You Knew You F***ed Up', 'Methods On How To Better Yourself For the Sake of Others', and my personal favorite and magnum opus, 'This Time, The Loser Wins: How To Cut Ties With Friends Who No Longer Deserve the Title'."

Tai could only stare blankly in response.

"However, I'm not here to promote my literature," Ethan continued. "I'm here to see your daughter." He noticed the vandalism that plagued the side of the house. "I take it this has happened frequently?"

Tai let out a sigh. "Frequently is too kind a word, in my opinion. Everyday, some punk kids would come in the dead of night or when I'm out in town to pull this nonsense. All because of what happened during the Vytal Festival."

Ethan sucked through his teeth. "Yeah, I saw. Still can't believe it. Even when the whole thing was over due to the Grimm attack, people are still speaking ill of your daughter. In fact, there has been some talk that your daughter is the reason Beacon fell."

Tai stared at him in shock. "What?"

"I know, I'm shocked to say it myself," Ethan continued. "Everywhere I go, people all over Remnant are pointing the finger at your own flesh and blood for instigating such a heart-rending tragedy."

Tai was absolutely speechless. He knew that his daughter's reputation was tarnished, but to be universally blamed for the aforementioned event was just too much for him to handle. Just how much has her daughter suffered because of this?

"Anyway, if you'll allow it, I'd like to meet with your daughter," Ethan said. "I'd like to make a deal with her."

Tai broke out of his shock and stared suspiciously at Ethan. "What kind of deal are looking to make with my daughter?"

"Don't worry, it's nothing dangerous," Ethan said reassuringly. "I'm just giving her a chance bounce back, become greater than she already is." He raises the suitcase in front of him. "What's in here is just the beginning. I plan to pull out the whole nine yards for your daughter: enhanced physical training, psychological evaluations, therapy sessions, you name it. You have my word that your daughter will become something unbelievable."

Tai looked away for a moment. On the one hand, he truly wanted to believe that Ethan has his daughter's best interests at heart. On the other, he thought that might be using his daughter for some unknown agenda. Right now, he was on the edge between both theories. He decided to err on the side of caution with him.

"I'll let you see my daughter, but I want some time to think about your offer. Can't let you screw us both over. The gods know she's been through enough to last a life time."

"Couldn't agree more, and I accept your terms," Ethan replied. "Where can I find your daughter?"

"She's out in the backyard, cutting logs," Tai said.

"Good to know. I'll see her now."

He prepared to walk off, only for Tai to grab his shoulder.

"Try to be gentle with her," he said.

Ethan shrugged him off. "Of course." He continued walking to the back.

Tai sighed. "I really do want to believe he wants to help Yang, but I can't shake the feeling that he's got something else planned."

Zwei barked in response, as if he was agreeing with him.

"Yeah… I guess time will tell."

Yang sat on the stump with a miserable look. She had finished chopping the logs, but decided to stay outside for the fresh air.

At least, she would be getting some fresh air if she wasn't smoking a cigarette. She put the stick to her lips, inhaled and let out a puff of smoke.

"Those things will kill you," a voice said. "It's been scientifically proven. And I would know, since I'm a scientist."

Yang didn't bother to turn towards who spoke to her, who happened to be Ethan, who walked towards her.

"Didn't you hear me?" he said. "Those things will kill you."

Yang blew another puff of smoke. "Only if you take more than needed."

Ethan scoffed. "Really? And how many did you take?"

"Ten," Yang replied plainly.

Ethan widened his eyes. "What the- you smoked ten of those in a single day?"

Yang turned and shot him a dirty look. "Why do you care? And who the hell are you?"

Ethan faltered slightly from the girl's blunt tone, but didn't let it bother him. "I'm Ethan Merlot, CEO and director of Angelite Solutions, amulti-billion conglomerate focused on technological advancements, disease and wellness research and weapons development."

He handed her a card with his name and his company. Yang continued to look at him, as if she didn't notice the card.

"Can you repeat all of that?" she said in a slightly hostile tone. "I missed the part where I was supposed to give a damn."

Ethan face faulted, then picked himself up.

"Okay, clearly you're in a bad mood," he said.

Yang scoffed and looked away. "What tipped you off?"

Ethan inhaled deeply, exhaled. "For starters, you look as if you're about to snap someone's neck, but lack the effort to do so, your vocal tone clearly speaks volumes about not wanting to see anyone and you're clearly nursing that cigarette like it's your mother's-"

Yang turned around, glaring at him with blood red eyes.

"Don't bring up my mother," she growled.

Ethan raised his hands defensively. "Okay, sore subject."

Yang sighed and turned around once more, continuing to smoke.

"Look," Ethan started. "I've been around the world. People are talking about what happened at Beacon. Most of those talks are about you."

"Let me guess," Yang said bitterly. "Everyone blames me for the Fall of Beacon."

Ethan sighed. "Well… you took the words right out of my mouth."

Yang let out a derisive chuckle. "It's like that here as well. Everywhere I go, rocks are thrown at me and I get cursed out of stores. I'm a damn pariah in the place I was born in raised in." She crushed the cigarette in her hand. "They had friends and family who lost their lives that night and they have the nerve to blame me for it. It's not fair."

"Life rarely is fair," Ethan said. "And there will be always those kinds of people who go out of their way to make it even more unfair for less than no reason."

Yang turned to him again, but her eyes regained her natural color. "Where are you going with this?"

Ethan knelt down to her level, holding the suitcase. "What if I told you that I can present an opportunity to prove everyone wrong? What do you think of a chance to get back who wronged you? What would is the possibility you would pass this up and remain miserable, enduring the verbal barbs from the ignorant masses."

"I'd tell you to take a long walk off a short pier and bother some other sucker with your sales pitch," Yang shot back.

Ethan stared at her silently for a few seconds, then began to laugh loudly, much to her annoyance.

"What the hell's so funny?" she snapped.

Ethan continued to laugh, holding on to his sides. "No one has ever told me to shove off like that… and with such a dull tone, no less!"

Yang's frustration grew as Ethan went on laughing. "Are you stupid?"

Ethan finally finished his laughing fit, took in some deep breaths and began to speak. "I've been called worse in life. Anyway, I meant what I said earlier before you turned me down."

"And I still do," Yang said. "What makes you think I'm gonna change my mind?"

Ethan said nothing more as he opened up the suitcase in front of Yang. Her eyes widened at what she saw inside of it.

A golden mechanical arm with gray highlights, with a compass on the top part of the hand, a digital clock on the wrist and sphere-shaped ammunition lined up below it.

"This is the latest part in series of artificial limbs developed by Angelite," Ethan said dramatically, like he was in a commercial. "Made from durable and lightweight carbon-titanium, implanted with a radio, clock and holographic map and compatible with various ammunition types, this arm will make any huntress- both aspiring and veteran- feel whole once more."

Yang continued staring at the arm. It was definitely a thing of beauty, but she was surprised that he was giving it to her.

"Why me, though?" she asked. "Why give this to someone who's hated all over the world?"

Ethan closed the suitcase and gave her a look of sympathy. "Look, I've been where you are now. Not long ago, I was part of a research and development team in Atlas involved developing a new weapon. Unfortunately, we neglected to go through one of the safety checks and…" He let out a heavy sigh before continuing. "Everything went to hell in a handbasket. I'll spare you all the gritty details, but know that one of them died in the in the whole affair."

Yang was shocked to hear this, but allowed Ethan to continue.

"And, considering how I often expressed my distain for Atlas on a daily basis, their walking junkpile of a general had me take the fall for the whole affair. Since that day, my reputation in that cesspit of a kingdom has been completely tarnished. Everyone in there and Mantle looked at me with absolute distain."

"What did you do afterwards?" Yang asked.

"I went to Mistral, looking for a fresh start," Ethan answered. "Unfortunately, the people over there have heard about me through the news and I became a pariah in another kingdom. Until I met her."

Yang tilted her head. "Her?"

Ethan looked up at the sky. "I remember it fondly. I was sitting on a roof of an old building when the sweetest old lady beckoned me down for a few words. She expressed her condolences for me being the scapegoat for a tragedy that everyone had a hand in, adding that someone with my talents would be suited in her organization."

"I get it now," Yang said. "The old lady was the founder of the place you work at."

Ethan nodded. "Yeah. She was. She taught me all of the tools of the trade: medicine, prosthetics, weapons, you name it. Before she passed on, she gave me ownership of Angelite, and I was able to make it 10 times as amazing than before. I was slowly adored by many again." He let out a chuckle. "I even took some risks and invested in entertainment."

"Entertainment?" Yang said quizzically.

"Animation, video games, music, you name it," Ethan answered. "To my surprise, it worked out really well. A lot of people enjoy it."

Yang stared at him blankly. "I feel like you got off topic there."

Ethan handed her the suitcase and stood up. "I know you'll make your decision soon." With that, he walks off, leaving Yang alone with the suitcase and her thoughts.

Present

Yang drove on the dirt road with Ethan sitting behind her, holding on to her waist so he doesn't fall.

"Are you sure this is the way?" she asked loudly.

"Trust me, I know this path like the back of my own hand," he shouted in response. "As a matter of fact, we'll be approaching within the next few seconds."

Yang would have asked further, but when they got out of the forest clearing, her eyes widened at what she saw ahead of her.

A large complex with a wall surrounding it and various buildings within. To say she was shocked would be an understatement.

"I told you," Ethan said smugly. "We'll be arriving in seconds."

Yang scoffed. "Whatever."

She drove towards the main gate, which were guarded by two men wearing orange and black armor and armed with very high-tech swords.

"Welcome back, boss," one of them greeted as Ethan got off the bike.

"Good to be back, Menthe," Ethan replied. "How's your girl doing?"

"Which one?" the guard replied snidely.

Both of them laughed, much to Yang's confusion. The other guard, however, picked up a rock and threw it at Menthe's head.

"Damn it, Naranja! Everyday with you!"

"Perhaps if you would quit proudly announcing that you're cheating on your wife, then maybe, just maybe, I would consider not beating you senseless with the nearest blunt object," a feminine voice within the suit replied. Her cloaked gaze met Yang. "And I see that our esteemed boss has brought a maniac here."

Yang flinched from being called a maniac, but Ethan stepped in.

"Hey Naranja," he said in a low tone. "Take your hollow accusations and kick them to the curb. I told you that what happened during the semis was a set-up. My sources are looking into what really happened and we got some leads."

"With all due respect, sir," Naranja replied in a neutral tone. "No amount of leads will change the fact that a student from one academy attacked another in front of a crowd. On national television. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't be surprised if someone called you a liar who fabricated evidence for the sake of some random girl he met."

Ethan stared at her for a few seconds, then turned towards a terminal, pulled out a card from his jacket pocket and inserted it into a slot.

"Tell me, Naranja. When was the last time you attended the manditory sensitivity training sessions?"

Naranja scoffed and folded her arms. "Don't remember them being manditory."

"Well, your pay is suspended until you've attended all of them," Ethan replied. "Until then, try to refrain any uneccessary purchases."

Naranja turned away and huffed.

Beeping was heard from the terminal and the gate slowly began to open. Yang was able to see the inside, and it was breathtaking.

(God Eater 2 OST: Stronghold of Steel)

Many people walked around the area. Some were either carrying supplies or weapons, while others carried clipboards and wrote down various things. And there were those who simply stood around, making conversation with each other.

"Sure is lively around here," she commented, pushing her bike past the gate.

"Yeah, everyone present is busy doing one thing or another," Ethan said. "And there are those who just want to take it easy. Either way, nobody can be bored around here."

Yang looked towards a group of female works standing near a vending machine. From the looks of their faces, they clearly enjoyed each other's company.

But all she could feel from watching then was envy, frustration and a hint of anger. Specifically, the anger was aimed at one of the girls in particular. Those shining yellow eyes, that flowing black hair…

It reminded her of the one who abandoned her.

The sight made her seethe and grit her in anger.

Anger that was quickly extingished by Ethan patting her head.

"Let's focus on getting rid of those nanobots inside of you," he said. "We'll work out the rest later."

Yang's anger subsided, but the frustration remained. Regardless, she wordlessly complied. The nanobots in her bloodstream did take priority above all. After all, nobody should have machinery inside of them that damages aura.

(End song)

"And after that," Ethan continued. "We'll get to the next part: training you and your new arm. You'll love what I have in store for you."

"I'll be the judge of that," Yang said.

After Yang was finally purged of the nanobots, she was brought to a training area with all sorts of equipment. Shooting targets, boxing dummies and many more. She noticed a few trainers as well.

A loud, crackling filled the air, followed by someone clearing their throat. Yang immediately recognized the voice.

"Alright, then," Ethan said through the intercom. "The training will be quite simple. In addition to trying out the features of your arm, you'll be doing some fighting as well. Don't worry about battering the trainers here. They've been in some worse bouts in their life."

Yang cracked the knuckles of her human hand. "Fine with me. Let's get to work."

Ethan chuckled. "Glad you're on board. You may begin when ready."

Yang smirked. "I was ready the moment I walked in."

(Anarchy Reigns OST: Jaw)

She walked up to one of the shooting targets and took out a sphere from her pocket. She inserted it into a slot on her new arm and aimed it at the target.

"Let's rock."

A barrel appeared on the right side and it fired at the target, right in the center. Yang was surprised at the accuracy.

"Wow. This thing rocks."

She was later given other types of ammunition for her arm. She practiced with lasers, shotgun shells, machine gun rounds and even grenades on various targets.

"I'm really loving this arm!"

"We'll be getting to the close quarters bit in a moment," Ethan said. "Best prepare yourself."

Yang faced off against the various trainers the facility had to offer. However, these were unlike those she fought during the tournament. Whoever they were, they were leagues ahead of her in terms of combat. In fact, there were times where they didn't attack her, which prompted the blonde to charge in… and promptly got knocked down.

In a booth above, Ethan observed and bit his lip.

"It's worse than I thought, he muttered.

Other people in lab coats observed while writing on clipboards.

Yang continued to struggle against the trainers. She had no idea what was happening or what she was doing wrong. All she knew… was that her clock was getting cleaned and then some.

"Getting real tired of this crap," she growled.

The trainer shot her a smug grin. "What, tired already? I guess those wins in the tournment were nothing more than dumb luck."

Filled with rage, Yang charged at the trainer, eyes red as a roaring fire… and once more, she was knocked down on the ground.

(End song)

"Ooookay," Ethan said. "We'll wrap it up for today. Good work, people."

Yang grumbled as the trainer left the field. She didn't bother getting up. The frustration and fatigue got to her.

Ethan soon walked up to her and knelt down.

"How receptive are you of constructive criticism?" he asked.

"Depends on how constructive it is," Yang replied.

"In that case…" Ethan cleared his throat before speaking. "Your fighting style… is awful."

Yang narrowed her eyes in annoyance. "What part of that was considered constructive?"

"I lied," Ethan said bluntly. "To make a long story short, the trainers took advantage of your lack of awareness of yourself and your short temper. And we're not going get into that semblance of yours."

"Is there a problem with my semblance that I'm not aware of?" Yang asked in an irritated tone.

"I'm getting to that," Ethan replied. "Now, the problem lies not with the semblance itself, but how you use it."

"I don't-"

"Let me finish," Ethan cut her off. "Your semblance is unique because it allows you to draw power from taking a hit. However, this can be used against you when faced with a cunning opponent who can turn your greatest asset into your worst drawback. Which you've no doubt witnessed for yourself."

Yang huffed. "Whatever."

"Now, now, drop the sad and miserable routine," Ethan said, picking Yang up and dusting her off. "I get enough of that from people who look as if their dog died."

"Well, what am I supposed to do?" Yang asked.

Ethan thought for a few seconds, then snaps his fingers. "Tell you what. Stick with me and I'll mold you into a fighter so fearsome that the Grimm themselves. And as a bonus, we can talk about some upgrades for that arm of yours."

Yang slowly became more excited. "Well, sign me up."

"Ah, you must be the girl the director brought in."

Yang turned to see a very strange girl with purple hair and eyes wearing a gothic lolita dress standing before her with a blank expression.

"Yeah… and you are?"

The girl did a curtsy. "My name is Hel. I will be serving as your personal assistant."

Yang continued to stare at her. "Uh… sure."

"I know, she appears a bit standoffish, but she's very dedicated," Ethan said. "She's also quite the teacher."

"Standoffish might not be the word I'd use," Yang said. "But I'll take as much help as I can get."

Hel smiled faintly. "I believe we will get along just fine, Yang Xiao Long."

Yang cringed slightly. Even her smile appeared off to her. "I hope so."

KS: Yang's got some good people in her corner, despite the fact that one of these people is weird, to put it kindly. Believe me, I got a lot of plans for her and Ethan in the distant future. Next chapter, we'll be going back to Ruby and company. See what they're going through after getting the artifact. Stay tuned, fave, follow and review. Peace out.