Despairs Remnants

by TwinGamers011701

A hunter, content in killing the beasts of the night. A knight, burning forever to protect the people who wished to kill his kind. Both wish nothing more, than to help their worlds... But when something happens and they both appear in a new world. A World destined to fall like theirs. Well what other choice do they have but to help. Bloodborne/Dark Souls/RWBY. My own OC's.

23. A True Battle

Welcome to the five year anniversary of this fanfiction(Give or take a couple of days.)

I'd like to thank all of you guys, especially those who stuck it out this long reading it. I know I wasn't always good at making chapters, but it appears I've hit my stride.

So in celebration, let's get into Despair Remnants!

Wiltedgalaxy17: Blake and Yang certainly have a right to be mad, at Ven. But, each of them can certainly hold grudges for long periods of time.

As for canon, I like to think of the first few things that need to happen in the story need to happen. The dock, the battle against the White Fang, Mount Glenn all of that. Stories, to me at least, are like a tree. Adding a new element doesn't cause massive changes until later. And my definition of later doesn't happen until after/during the Vytal Festival.

Of course, that doesn't mean that these characters don't cause new effects.

Yeah, Ironwood makes sense as Lawful Good. After the Fall of Beacon, I think he might want Ven's help, mostly cause he doesn't know who to trust. They really did him dirty, like he was one of the few characters I liked. And, as cool as most of the Ace Ops are, they feel like jackasses to me. I don't know, just something in my soul. Don't even get me started on Robin. Completely useless throughout the entire arc.

Yeah I see it too. Blake and Yang are kinda the characters that are like, 'No they are wrong in this instance.' But the plot makes them right, a problem with a lot of shows in my opinion. Weiss is actually interesting. A good story, good developments in character, nearly all of which were pushed to the side when they got to Atlas. Let me see her try to repair relationships, see the actual state of the Schnee Dust Company, see why the White Fang did what they did. And Ruby is the hero trope, and that's it…

How wonderful that I have plans for her specifically.

Neo's thing is in fact just illusions. A semblance called Overactive Imagination, (Kickass name by the way) And oh boy, I hope I don't disappoint. And while that is certainly true, it would be interesting, the moment Ven understood she was an illusionist I don't think he would have let him fight. 'Best tool for the appropriate job.'

And he was certainly the right tool.

Sun was my favorite to write that chapter. So refreshing to have someone who was like 'oh yeah, that happened' when it came to death. As uncomfortable as he would be with Venatores talking, there's a modicum of understanding. And indeed they are trained to kill monsters, so I don't really get it either.

Dark Souls Two is fair, especially with its style of boss fight. I went powerstance halberds when playing through it, quite fun. I got one love Bloodborne, it was my first game.

Also, how's Elden Ring treating you? It's certainly kicking my brother's ass. (We have a thing where we trade off Fromsoftware games. I played Bloodborne, Sekiro, Demon Souls, while he played the entire Trilogy first. Now, Elden Ring is his turn.)

Friendly User: Why thank you Friendly User, it was a joy to write. I did have a little help from my brother. He loves doing monologues, and can write them like magic. I did however tell him what he could and could not write.

Gamersogi: I understand that, really I do. I even had a four man team in mind, using both Sekiro and another Oc from Dark Souls Three. But Sekiro was cut out for a very explicit reason, that being the Mortal Blade. He can end the story by walking up to anyone in RWBY. As for the third, it was a choice about my own difficulty with writing and maintaining two OCs as major characters. So, they'll probably remain a two man team in the long run. As for romance, maybe, maybe not. I definitely don't have the chops for that kind of writing. But, if I feel up to it, I certainly wouldn't mind dipping my toe in.

Ghost of the Drive in: You have fun with those fanfiction young Ghost. And thank you for the compliments, especially about the Sun and Blake scene. Also, good song choice!

Metalbatt: Indeed he did, for it truly was! I love that movie, and I wouldn't miss it for the world to add such a reference with my knightly character. Sorry for the late update by the way, work and the like.

Evinco: I wouldn't even call this dumb. Dude got cut in three vital areas and is still standing. Seems like the natural conclusion really. But it will certainly make for funny instances, but only for so long.

Puzah: Why thank you. Subtlety is very important for characters like this and it's very appreciative to be noticed.

Xenolucifer: Fair, staring into the Abyss doesn't sound as cool as swimming in. I understand that as well, we don't need two different accounts of the same thing. Also, I love your explanation of how Emeralds Semblance works on Ven. Couldn't have said it better myself.

One shudders to think what would happen if she began to comprehend.

Guest: yeah I can't wait to develop their characters more, as for the reality check, I think it'll happen for them both soon. Just takes a little more circumstances, both of them were put in a rather enclosed space. Thank you for the compliments and expectations, let's hope I can meet them.

Guest: that is crazy. I wonder what you did to the story around this very moment?

Randmeperson: *Mors bust through the door* Most certainly!

CanadiannAdmiral: I like to think of insight as this.

Everything he had known up until the moment he joined the Hunt had been an illusion, until he learned the truth…

So yeah, he can see through glass. (Joking, by the way.)

As for Ven, I have some ideas about how to get him to open up. Hopefully it can be an entertaining experience as well, sadly it will not be in this chapter. As for the Paladin and neo… Hope you enjoy!

Loud opinions: Fair.

Camomurf: You can talk to monkeys!

B3ygghsas: No they do not my friend, no they do not.

David-San, Redskye22, man285: I am not dead!

*Roaring Applause!*

---

Chapter 23

A True Battle!

Mors

There were two immediate options for me to do. Three, if I did not hold faith in Miss Belladonna and Sun Wukong.

But those would have to wait. After all, despite bursting through the side of a wall, peace and surrender could be an option. One that most certainly won't come to fruition, but nevertheless needs stating.

Especially with the initiates so close to the fight. Despite their wants, they have yet to do anything wrong. At least that which I had known.

Of course, if they stayed and fought that would be their mistake.

"Now then-"

The two captains, and Roman Torchwick himself, overcame their own surprise with trained experience. One of them, a man as large as myself, a growl at the edge of his throat. Baring thick fangs made to crush bones and rend flesh alike. Pulling out a strange creation from his hip.

A thick knuckle guard handle, a near mace-like protection. A hole in its side, guarded by a cross of metal. A blade shooting out of it, with teeth of its own bared against the world.

He lifted his sword, similar in size to my own, as the teeth spun in time with his very own wrath.

The other one, a female at most five feet tall, or taller if you count her horns. She pulled out twin blades, each thin and sharper than any other. Curved like the horns upon her head, pointing straight up yet curving diagonally. She approached me with the speed of an arrow. Aiming directly for the opposite side of her partner, a practiced motion that the two generals most certainly trained for.

Then there was Torchwick, lifting the cane at his side. Aiming directly for my heart without a second thought. A look of disdain quickly appeared on his face.

Each of these actions happened within only a second to react within the other.

Enough time.

I swung my sword horizontally, right through the two thin blades. The general had to back away with unnatural grace, rolling away to avoid the blow. My blade continued to follow through, impacting the roaring blade at its side. Sparks roared across each one as it was batted to the side. I kept pressure against the blade, forcing it into the ground.

All the while, I reached out my open hand to the cane. Grabbing it's end with my strength…

Crushing it to a thin metal, before the bullet could even escape. The end exploded outward, barely damaging my gauntleted hand. Smoke barreled out of it, unusable until certain repairs were done.

The female rushed once again, perhaps not even seeing what I had managed to do. As my hand reached out yet again, aiming for her head or shoulder.

With a simple movement of her leg, she ducked below my hand. Spinning like a small top, each blade dancing in unison with her.

She was graceful and agile… with a dexterous hand that matched her blade.

I followed the path of the blade, seeing its destination. The simple leather and Chainmail that lay over my body, the same garb the Elite Knights of Astora wore.

And with her blades being that of less than giants or godlings make. I dare say, even from a mere glance, of human make.

The blade barely even grazed the leather… not even the smallest of cuts. In fact it nearly bounced off without impact, the smallest of pains in my side.

The young lady reacted with a click of her tongue, backing away with a similar grace.

Realizing just a little too late how close I really was to her. My hand grabbing one of the horns on top of her head, lifting her with great simplicity.

Another pause echoed out through the storage hangar. One that was filled with the slight tension as they had seen what I had done. Taking the time to look at my surroundings, the antlered young lady bashing my arm with her practically blunted blade. A look of fear and controlled panic, as I held what amounted to an exposed organ.

Her partner was unable to do much either. His blade was still roaring under my own, sparks flying as he tried to pull up. A strained look upon his face, for what was supposed to be a minor feat.

I looked to the left, the mouths of the multiple civilians agape, while others' mouths snarled in rage.

But there were only two I cared about. Each of them standing next to the other, hair of gold and night. Each of them began to draw a weapon, ready to fight like the knights they wished to be.

I shook my head the tiniest amount, each of them stopping in their tracks.

At this point the situation was too tense. If any of the three leaders, especially Torchwick and his rather obvious dislike of the animal featured humans, were to see them before they moved, they might give a hasty order.

A hasty order that could endanger the initiates, who have yet to gain training or Aura. A gunshot will remain a gunshot to them, nothing less. Which only left one way…

Either beat down many still innocent people, or set them loose?

Intentions meant many things, especially to the species of man.

Yet, actions were still another thing entirely… and sometimes even the worst of them could come back…

All deserved one… a single unspoken chance.

"Now then…" I spoke loudly, many of the soldiers lifting their weapons in the air. An action that phased me very little as Torchwick and his two colleagues looked towards me. "Since you are impatient and frightened, I will be quick and clear."

The brutal wording set many of them off, even the young lady in my arm managed a growl. Her leg shooting forward, in a motion to kick me in my face.

I took the hit simply, the kick hitting me on the side of my head. The metal head helm of Artorias blocking her booted strike with the ring of metal sounding out through the room.

"I will allow those who wish to leave," I continued, looking at the many initiates before me, including Sun Wukong and Belladonna. Many looked in confusion, many in outrage… and some in great relief, as they already made their way to the door, unnoticed by many of their compatriots. "Such a choice."

I turned my head to the one in my hand, who stopped her movement. A look upon her face that was nearly indecipherable underneath her mask. But surprise was always simple to read.

"Is that agreeable?" I finished the woman I was holding flinching ever so slightly, as I hastened her thoughts. Hoping that the small push would make the order official.

All eyes were on her, attention drifted as most awaited the order…

While a sneaky cat pulled out her scroll, a message was already beginning to form across its screen. Smart thinking.

"Don't think we'll show you mercy?!" The second captain screamed out, his fangs barred at my face, the beast in hands roaring as well.

Even still, he did nothing.

"None." I spoke out, turning my head to him. A calm and controlled voice flowing from me. An action that made the man's vein pulse, be it from tone or the single word. "Do you agree?"

I looked between the two, knowing without a doubt that the two people in front of me could command them. Torchwick was less of a chance, he was human after all, as well as a mere benefactor.

"… Let the initiates leave." The woman spoke out, a little strain in her voice. The male commander stopped his growl, looking at the lady.

As if that were the Magic spell, the rest of the Faunus began to leave. Some with speed and near desperation, others with slow methodical shame… each leaving by the tens in such a manner.

If anyone did notice such a thing, they left themselves silent.

Perhaps it was because I held one of their many superiors in my hand.

And those who stayed, looked at them like cowards. Glaring at those not brave enough to stay and fight. But… it was once more, only human to flee when you could not stand a chance. As it was human to feel arrogant after such a display of might.

And even, in their combined fury, to fail to comprehend the two others amongst them. Each silently drawing their weapons, looking around in preparation.

And it was only when the last initiate left, did the silence regain control once more…

"Lock the doors," The fanged leader spoke out, finally removing his equally loud weapon from under mine. The life inside the blade quieting to a gentle purr of a cat. "Arm whoever is left!"

At that very command, many of the soldiers turned to their fellow people. Removing from their sheaths a multitude of weapons from their waist, long and short.

Guns.

This was why destroying the armory was so important, truly. A weapon never truly defined a warrior… that was a saying for anything but a crossbow, or in this case a gun could. Especially one that could be crafted without a trace.

Bows and arrows… they were certainly better than the average crossbow. Equal in distance, but the bow was far more skill reliant. The crossbow itself was made to compensate for time, by making it simple to use.

Which, I believe, was where the gun came into existence. A weapon simple to use, yet even harder to master. Simple as pointing in the direction one desired.

Now in the hands of civilians. Each of them varying in their own experience. Few who shook like a leaf just from holding the weapon, those who put up faux courage, who's lies could be seen with the shake of their hand.

Nevertheless, everyone was aiming at me. If only they posed a similar fear that a Battalion of Silver Knight, bowmans, could.

"You're going to let this happen?" The horned leader spoke, a smug smile across her face, despite my hand still grasping her horn.

"Ready!" The male roared out, lifting the blade once more. Every single sound of a ready gun cocking filling the room, smiles spreading across their faces.

"Guns mean little to me." I spoke out, some people shaking in their boots from my voice alone. While others let out a mocking laugh… some that grew even louder.

Which was followed by an even weirder sound, an extended metallic groan. Growing louder and louder, as I turned my head to look.

Feeling my eyes widen, as another sentence filled the room.

"And what about that one?" The girl whispered out, as I turned fully to look at the giant figure in front of me. The pressure in my hand disappearing like a ghost, along with the small weight of the girl.

I didn't have time to worry about such a situation, however.

What stood in front of me could only be described as an Iron Golem. Each piece of metal works as a large and heavy armor, while still remaining lithe. Clearly it was a craft designed to be optimal for many separate opponents.

However, despite the apt comparison, there were many differences from the Guardian of Anor Londo. It's blocky alert cue instead of the smooth rounded edges of armor, aside from the rounded chest, which certainly housed the artificial soul.

Notably, the eight separate guns across its entire body. Four upon its hands, an enlarged gun of some undetermined type. All I knew was they were not like Venatores' pistol. Then there was something on each wrist, a dual barreled creation, similar to the ones connected on the shoulders. The final gun was upon its back pointed at an angle into the air, as if not aiming at me.

But, more importantly…

All of them were pointed at me.

A single word filled the hall, signaling all who listened to do a single action. Giving me only the barest of fractions to react.

"Fire!" The fanged commander roared, this time less with anger and with a guttural command and catharsis. As if the fire of these weapons would certainly bring him peace of mind.

I lifted the sword in front of me, facing the onslaught of the bullets. My forearm against the back of the opposite side of the blade.

"Mo-!" I heard Sun Wukong voice scream out…

Deafened by a hailstorm of gunfire, and the sound of bullets hitting metal and leather.

Bullets were strange. Each of them were imbued with the elements of the world…

Which is why I sometimes wondered why they hurt so little.

The bullets didn't feel like what so many described. I had heard of the godly pain pushed through the entirety of the space, even with Aura protecting you.

But they were like bee stings, annoying little bites that beat through my armor. The fire ones heating them to no effect, the lightning passing through the leather without issue.

Perhaps Dust was simply no match for Titanite?

But, under the constant rain of elements and bullets, was not the time to ask questions. The strain of the number of bullets was beginning to tire me. Anymore, and I would have fallen over giving the creation ample time to swing whatever weapon it had. A blow that would rend my body and soul in twain.

Something I felt from experience.

Thankfully, experience taught me yet another thing.

I moved forward in a rightward diagonal line, the bullets from the creation still firing away. The whirring sound slowed to a crawl, as the soldiers from behind stopped their assault.

Perhaps there were exclamations of shock, guns dropped in fear of my apparent survival.

Nevertheless, I pulled the blade back from the position I had held it in. Stopping directly in front of the creations knees, swing in a long sideways arc.

I saw it out of my peripheral, the large gun putting the barrel around half the size of my head. A contest to see which would strike first.

I aimed for the joint of the creation, while he most certainly aimed for my skull. Each a battle of time as the blows made their way to the area.

A loud sound, akin to an explosion, foretelling the bullets arrival, or heralding it's mark. Moving my blade to the right in reaction to such a sound, not wishing to see if such a bullet were any different.

Then… in the same second, two sounds filled the vicinity. Each so similar, yet oh so different.

A high and sharp ringing, like the tiniest of bells. A pressure on the crown of my head, as my neck continued to push a little farther than it should, before it disappeared into sparks. Untraceable to my eye.

And the other… the other was a deep and mighty sound. One that shook the earth and stone below my very feet, as I resisted the urge to cover my own ears.

And the damage could be seen…

It was a large dent in the joint of the creation, one about the size of my very head. Despite its incapability to truly be human, it had a near human-like reaction to such damage. Already beginning to fall into one knee, whether in shock or some understanding of pain.

But I did not grant it the time to understand it's pain, or what had happened. I stabbed the blade into the elevated ground, cracks spreading through the platform.

I grabbed onto the joint that connects the two legs, as well as a part higher along the top.

"Don't just stand there!" A female voice rang out, my head turning ever so slightly to see the antlered leader. "Fi-!"

Her words were drowned out. Not by sound, nor by fear. For how effective those attribute to silence…

None worked quite like awe.

I felt nearly all of my bones join in agony, my muscles keeping them in their place refusing to let them break. Each of them, screaming in unison as they burned in pain and pressure, similar to being crushed by the hammer of the Executioner himself. My legs nearly gave, threatening to give in, ending me at that very instant.

But twas the ground that broke first, splintering into tiny pieces, shards of wood and metal flying upward to my face. Unable to carry the burden quite like I could.

For as the Golem fell forward, it's knee giving in to my might, with little choice but to fall forward. Doing most of the work for me, while keeping the strain. I took it upon my arms, granting it the final push forward. Flipping it with a great heave of strength.

As it went forward a small distance in the air…

Right into the crowd of soliders.

For such a heavy object, it fell slow to the earth, like a feather to the ground. Each and every face widening in horror. Some scrambled, some moved swifter than the falling mass, while many stood still slack-jawed from the achievement.

Nevertheless, fate came to squander their opportunities with an Iron Golem.

It shook the very earth, the ground splintered despite the cushioning fall of nearly twenty souls. Cracks spread like rivers through the concrete, each one daring to reach outside the halls of this warehouse. Few remained to stand, those light and quick upon their feet. Others toppled like the average man, unused to the shaking of the earth as such.

But I've felt the stomp of angry giants upon the earth. So valiant and tall I remained, looking down upon those in front of me.

The creation stood as fast as it could, ignorant or uncaring for the souls below it. Many of them stayed down, quite a number that could only be thanks to aura. Others remain completely still on the ground, dead, dying or unconscious.

And with a simultaneous glance all turned to me, as if fate had demanded their stares. All while I turned my head to look upon them all. Each one waiting for a response.

The newest recruits who had begun to realize their error. Each of them stared in horror, no longer able to stand as fear consumed their balance.

The fanged captain stared in shock, too surprised to even howl in rage at the possible fall of his comrades.

The creation even managed to have a reaction, staring at me with its headless body. As if trying to comprehend what had happened, as it continued to stand upon its feet. Each limb giving off the sound of moving metal, thick and steaming shells spilling out of its arms like sweat.

My two companions stared at me, mouths agape. One in more active shock at the display, her hand in the process of reaching for the blade on her back.

Sun Wukong held a very similar expression, his two… four guns? His weapons already out…

The only difference was the ever growing smile on his face. Consuming any other emotion in his frame, ready to explode like a Black Firebomb.

Finally, as I turned to the other captain, her blades going into a defensive stance. Her feet moving her a step back, as if my gaze was that of a stalking predator. Sweat pouring down her face, staring at me for the challenge I was instead of anything else that was deep within her mind.

However, questions sprang into my mind as well. Especially as I stared at the horn upon her head, unscratched by my grip or broken off.

Her semblance must make her of some spectral nature, or slippery and loose against capture. After all, it was doubtful that she could escape with anything less.

Yet, another thing popped into my mind. One that spurred my mouth towards movement, for it was proper manners.

"I can manage." I spoke, nodding my head to her. Turning to the more appropriate creature for my attention. Lifting my sword in a two handed grip, the point staring at is chest. A tension reforming from the pause of awe, the Faunus of the White Fang scrambling to fight once more.

As a single explosion of sound filled the air, ruining the newly formed tension. The pistols thrusting into the air, the other two arcing with the bands at the end.

"BADASS!"

I couldn't help but turn my head aside, trying to process the word. Badass… was that an insult of some sort?

Something moved in my peripheral, as I rolled to the side out of pure instinct. More gunfire moving past me faster than any arrow. Littering the ground with holes, as I rushed forward towards the large creation.

For something so large, it was full of great cowardice. It's strange inhuman feet propelling it's self backwards from my advance alone. It's onslaught never stopped as it continued.

I jumped from the small stage, the trained knights moving away, as if my very presence could cause their demise.

"Handle the other intruders!" The loud captain spoke, his blade roaring as he rushed towards me. Swining with as much strength as he could, as I brought up my blade to match. Sparks flying downwards, as I barely moved an inch. "Let me and the human handle him!"

Human?

The beastly knight put pressure on my blade, a strangled cry echoing out from his blade, the sharp teeth stopped its constant movement. Giant steps echoing out as the creation moved to my open flank, its presence overwhelming. No doubt trying to overpower me in some way.

I pushed back against the Captain, the fanged man nearly falling onto the ground. My attention turning to the now open fist of the creation. It's closed fist far too close to my person. Ready to crush me like an insignificant pile of flesh and bone. Confident despite my previous actions.

And they will end up with all the rest of them!

My hand filled with flame in the single second I needed, propelling me to the side to avoid such a blow. My eyes never leaving the hand that had shattered the ground. It's twin coming in to try and strike me again against my readied form. Sidestepping the enormous fist with practiced ease, turning in place my sword crashing down to meet the attack.

The swiped against the outer forearm, a large scratch running down it. A common metal armor vs my own strength and the peerless, vorpal blade of Artorias.

My seperate hand lifted again, flames licking against it. The assured promise of destruction allowing it to grow brighter, as it flowed like a river from my hand.

The fanged Captain barely had a moment to react, even less to lift his sword in the air. But the flames did not wish for the metal, rushing past it with the strength of wildfire.

Like a starved wolf, it desired flesh. A loud groan echoing out as his defenses failed him.

As if the flames were a sword in itself, I swiped it towards the large Iron Golem, trying to weaken its guard. The large frame of metal ignored it with the ease I did with bullets.

As the guns upon its back moved to aim at me, as something began to stick out of them… almost as if they were enlarged arrowheads. Yet not the size of a dragonslaying arrow.

They fired within that second of thought, trails of smoke following behind as I continued forward. As most of its creations barely penetrated my armor.

As smoke and fire consumed my vision, a small feeling of weightlessness consuming my body. An instinct taking over, as something impacted my back. I let it fully take, pressure shifting closer to my head.

Before I could properly understand, I was on my feet. My armor smoking like the very flame I was hit by. The urge to cough grew as I lifted my sword at my side, a thing I resisted with ease. My hand, wreathed in flames, felt around my chest.

A dull throb echoing through my chest, one that was familiar to me in every way. For cracked ribs was not a sensation so easily forgotten.

Those were certainly not Dragonslaying arrows. More like tiny fire orbs, wielded by a fledgling Pyromancer. While not as powerful as a Sister of Chaos, it would do more damage than any of the bullets.

"Use them all!" The Captain screamed out, rushing me with his sword with newfound purpose. I dodged to the side, my sword coming down like a flash of lightning. The fanged man pulling away, the very tip of the blade narrowly scratching his arm. "Kill him!"

"I know!" A voice spoke out, one that came from the depths of the creation. More missiles firing outward from its back,this time taking the time to dodge its damaging blows. "How about you do your job, Cub Scout!"

The man before me was a scout?

The captain let out a roar, a rage filling the entire room. His blade came crashing down, as I lifted my own sword in response to the threat against me.

Our blades clashed together, the captain no doubt pushing with all his might.

So I did so in turn, pushing against the toothed blade with all the strength I could muster. The fanged captain nearly launched from his position, but holding strong against me.

"You won't make it out of here alive!" He screamed out, the blade in his hand seeming to share in his anger. The teeth of the sword began to spin faster and faster, pushing the captain's blade forward.

Nearly biting into my very neck, as if hungering for the blood in my dead veins.

I pushed my blade up, forcing the monstrous blade up with it. Narrowly missing my eyes, as I could see each curved creation in the span of time. If My flesh was struck with that, I would most certainly bleed.

I didn't grant him a second blow, my foot coming up as quick as I could manage. This time the fanged man was actually being sent away, nearly through the air.

At a most opportune time, as the strange balls of flame began to rocket towards me. Quickly moving to my side, while nearly barreling into a soldier of the White Fang.

The explosions began curving ever so slightly on the air, as if by an invisible hand. Sadly, they were too fast, impacting the ground with a large cloud of dust.

"Keep him still!" The creation screamed out, firing his bullets at my location with renewed fever. Instinct taking over, lifting the blade in front of my unguarded face. The impacts hitting me once again, while unfortunately, ridding me of vision.

Thankfully, they were a loud pair.

"You're supposed to keep him there!" The creation shouted in rage, still quiet over the gunfire he continued to assault me with.

"If you want him to stay still," The Fanged captain screamed out, already beginning to rush forward once again. Like a crazed hollow, who only wished to steal what had been lost. "Use the Paladin!"

Paladin?! What sort of Temple of Gods would have need of a Golem! Their warriors, and practitioners of miracles, were certainly enough to defend the keep of the average man.

"Maybe I will!" The creation spoke, stopping its constant gunfire. Jumping backwards with a violent shake of the earth. "When he's not tossing me like a sack of Lien!"

"Now quit shouting," The captain of the Faunus rising with a growl on his face. His back hunched in anger at the berating of this machine. "And use your mouth for what it was made for!"

In battle, there is very little I have faced. Even now, as the man before me gripped his sword, a new emotion welling up in him.

I knew what he felt at that moment… a cold rage that could freeze any emotion in its track. Controlled and yet unrelenting as any flame…

The only thing that could have been a shock was when he began to grow ever so slightly. Each muscle in his body, as if responding to the anger within his veins. Giving him nearly another foot in size, he lifted himself high and proud. His hands grew a set of small yet sharp claws that were not there before. Even the fangs in his mouth grew more prolonged, a length that would kill instantly if bitten into the jugular.

A roar of cold fury echoed from his mouth, like the winds Arimais had unleashed from its painting.

"Finally!" The creation exclaimed, aiming its gun at me. If it could smile, it would most certainly be smirking at its change of luck.

The nearly feral captain lifted his sword, in a single hand, as he could no longer use it in two. The great and hungry blade purring in agreement with its fellow construct.

This was most likely a semblance similar to Yang's. Almost likely boosting his strength by a fair amount, as I myself shifted to a two handed grip.

A very smart change, as with a single large bound this feral man was now over top of me. Not as fast as the spear of Orenstein, but fast enough to cause questions.

If only the blade didn't feel as if it came from a swing from the Taurus Demon. My knees took all the weight of the blow, as the blade of his impacted my paldron, a roar trying to destroy my hearing if it could not pierce flesh.

His strength certainly increased, that's for sure.

My eyes wandered to the so-called Paladin, no doubt preparing it's fire orbs to launch at me.

Just as the feral man's clawed man's shot out in a blur of movement, scraping against the metal with a loud screech.

His blade lifted up, turning it over his head for a large sideways swipe. My arm twisting my sword to the side, while I freed my other hand.

The moment the two blades clashed, his hand reached out once more. This time a far more accurate strike, aiming for the underside of my arm. Possibly in hope that he would get my vein, let my blood spill.

I grabbed his hand by the wrist, flame springing from it in an equal second. Ready to explode outward in desolation.

Right as the tell-tale noise began again, a sound that I had heard only once. Signaling that another attack would soon come once again.

The fire orbs were soon coming… and from the sound, more than last time as well.

No one will ever know of this instance, it may even fade from my memory. Even so a smile reached across my face in that instance.

The Paladin was to my back, aiming at me like a coward despite its large frame and namesake.

I let go of my blade, the man before me faltering in shock and surprise. His eyes no doubt widened beneath his mask, as his footing shifted from the lack of resistance.

I then grabbed his belt, a perfect little handhold. Lifting him up like a small child in trouble…

Before moving his body in front of me, in the direction these orbs were coming from. Lifting him like a simple shield, that would no doubt block the great barrage.

"N-!" The captain didn't even have time to speak, as each fireorb lashed against his body. I was a powerful man, but as each explosion wracked across the feral man's body, a ringing noise began to fill my ears.

One after the other, shockwaves made their way to my legs. Each explosion threatened to consume me, as flames licked the edges of my armor.

A voice too muffled to comprehend sprang from behind, a man's voice so skewed that it was incomprehensible. The barrage stopping right as it screamed outwards.

Perhaps it was the feral captain's scream?

The thought sprung right in time with a great pain in my legs. One that stemmed just above the very heel of my foot, and below the calf. A weak spot in my armor that allowed my feet to move and rotate. A cold feeling sprouting, as the congealed blood spilled forth.

Thankfully, I didn't feel snap just yet, but it would most certainly be a problem.

"Mors!" Sun Wukong screamed out, a flurry of gunshots coming from the direction.

Ah… so it was a warning.

I turned my head as I fell backwards, throwing the feral captain to the side to give me enough time for any action I may take.

When I saw the other captain, the one with the twisted horns. A small smile across her face, a sign of victory. Turning her head ever so slightly, in time with the swing of a staff from behind… and another to the back of the head, glowing like the sun.

Only for each blow to strike into each other, phasing through the woman's skull. A general gasp of annoyance sounding out like a bell from behind.

I knew instantly at that moment, what to do. Especially with the knowledge of the Wraiths of New Londo.

One of the few reasons I partook in the Flames of Izalith. For the only thing the dead feared…

It escaped from my hand, unleashed from whatever confines it was held in. Like a great serpent who flung forward, flame like fangs striking against it.

The woman brought up a hand, the thin and curved scimitar blocking the fire to its best.

Was the fire of life that burned the Archtrees of old.

She let out a scream, her fabric and even the skin of her arm a lite with fire. The sword was thrown down in an instant, along with her entire body as she rolled to stop the fires. The stream continued to flow outwards, right until my back hit the ground.

"You okay?" Sun Wukong spoke out, a defensive position behind me, ready to block any blow that would come to me.

Just as both captains began to rise up from the ground.

The feral captain was practically armorless now, the only thing that could be counted as such was the mask upon his face. A large crack that barely kept it intact. His head turned fiercely, revealing pale blue eyes like a winter's snow.

The other had cinders growing across her clothes, furiously trying to beat them out. She grabbed her mask as quick as she could, throwing it away from her face. Looking at me with green eyes that burned like a fire, burn scars now lining her face.

But, most importantly, the sounds of two pairs of footsteps. One large and imposing, the other a group of soldiers. Miss Belladonna currently out of my sights, but the sound of battle was still prominent

I sat up in that second, looking between each member I could. Two captains, an Iron Golem, and an army ready to fight.

"Ok…" Sun Wukong spoke out, forcing me to turn my attention away. His staff twisted the two smaller sticks, spinning them as if they were some kind of whip. A golden glow consuming his form…

As two other golden Sun Wukongs sprang from his form. Each one doing a different motion, one even had the full staff.

"I'll take the fodder and the two Captains." He spoke out, stepping back the tiniest bit. Each of his creations moved to a different location to match the threat. Ready to fight and defend the downed man that I was. "You try and heal up."

With that sentence spoken, I could feel each Captain draw closer, the army and creation quicken its pace. Each beat of a second forcing Sun Wukong back a step at a time, delaying the inevitable of combat.

"Hope you got something up your sleeve." He spoke out, turning to me with a small smirk of confidence. "I'd hate to steal the glory."

I let out a laugh at that, a grimace appearing on any visible face I could see. The pace of their march quickened, expressions of rage upon their faces.

He was certainly a brave young man.

Of course he had to be, I was down. Injured greatly from the antlered captain, possibly unable to move…

A final step, from everybody surrounding me. The feral captain lifting his roaring blade on high. Crouching down with quick movements, the antlered captain was going for my head. Each Soldier of the army aimlessly running forward, hoping to get a strike. Finally the loud steps of the Paladin, hoping to end the fight with its greater strength.

And the most important step… one backwards in preparation.

I grabbed his leg with simple easy, as he let out a cry of shock. Yet a word could not be spoken…

As I threw him to the side, his body rolling across the ground. A good distance of twenty feet from the one handed throw.

He was in no danger… now that I threw him to the side.

They would not switch their targets. I was the greater threat, helpless and weak to all who surrounded me…

What better bait could possibly exist?

The downward descent of two blades, the rush of armies and the great strike of the Paladin.

As a hand wreathed in flame fell to the floor alongside their efforts. As the dark interior of the room grew brighter and brighter, a heat unmatched by none other than the last surviving Daughter of Chaos.

Even still, everything was consumed in my blaze. The screams and yells of its victims drowned by its own guttural happiness. Ones that burn so nice and easily fuel its own growth.

Pyromancers were as such… granting a miracle of life that one felt in the depths of their soul. Each spewing great powers equal in strength to the souls consumed by it.

Life was merely a trial, one made for you to survive it. Nothing expressed that quite as strongly as fire itself.

And not even Dragons came out unscathed from a tempest such as this.

It faded simply, like most creatures without distance. With its death, the roars of ancient fire grew silent.

Replaced with the ever growing screams of its victims.

"Get it off!" A Soldier screamed out, his shadow rolling across the floor within the flames. Meeting with his other fellow men, some on the ground from just the sudden influx of flames.

Even the feral captain was instantly on the ground, no doubt from the constant bombardment of fire orbs from before. I turned my head to look at the closest threat, the antlered captain was kneeling, continuing her advance. Her thin blade struck fast and hard.

But every blacksmith feared heat such as this. For they knew it better than any other creature in this world. And with such a thin sword as she held…

I felt the impact against the side of my arm, no doubt bending even further. An impact reverberated through the floor, as she fell to the ground.

As I begun turning to the other more important figure of the room. One more affected than nearly any other, just as the flames began to become meek embers.

"I see." I spoke outward, feeling the heat in this warehouse remain, like a room in the blistering light of Gwyn.

"Does thou wish to endure more?"

It was still standing… the Iron Paladin. It's skin steaming as it touched the air, the outer armor retaining its same color as it always did. Tiny cracks now upon the blankend glass, but still holding strong.

The strangest parts were the pieces of metal that exploded outward in strange areas. Even the large guns were now entirely broken, the barrel exploded just like Romans Cane like club.

It's body turning to look at all the carnage that had been wrought by me in… two minutes?

The two captains, now laying on the ground. Surrounded by their equally burned soldiers, the ground nearly cinders on their skin.

The other soldiers were still battling in an uphill altercation against Belladonna, who was disappearing in the blink of an eye. Their morale no doubt lowering at the sight of their captains on the ground.

Especially with the charging celestial copies of Sun Wukong, descending on them like arrows.

I turned to the real Sun Wukong, looking between me and the Paladin. His weapon out and ready, while also turning his attention to the remaining members. His hand rubbing a spot upon his back, with a small look of pain.

Right before he began running towards the dwindling army.

"You got this Mors!" He screamed outwards rushing forward with his strange pistols. Gunshots echoing loudly within the room.

Quickly I returned my attention to the creation, a large smile hidden once more. The creation taking a step back, as if contemplating everything it could.

"Not liking the chances…" It spoke out, the smallest of movements backwards. Most certainly plotting its escape from the warehouse. A small hilarity that I could not help but voice.

"A Golem built with fright." My voice filled with laughter at the very idea. A guardian built to be afraid of their own opponents. "How curious."

The Iron Paladin stopped looking around, as if confused. His arms lifting up in the closest thing to a fighting style it could possibly manage.

"You're not very bright," My smile faded instantly as the gravelly voice spoke out, my hand alighting in fire instinctually. The machine took a small step forward at that, as if sensing an opportunity. As if that twinge of anger could make me lose any form of focus. "Are you?"

Bright… No, I don't believe that word fit me.

"Oh please." I spoke out, my hand raising upwards.

The Paladin rushed forward, no doubt thinking of how it survived the last flame that had touched it. Its steps a familiar quake, hands over what could be called its head a familiar sight. Though this time without an axe to fall so that I may be wrended in twain.

As the flame interacted with my chest, right over my heart and even the cursed Darksign. A fuel of power entering in whatever I had in this body. Like a lost force that I never knew I had surging like an explosion.

Perhaps Iron Flesh would have been better, for I had strength that surpassed so many people. It would do better to protect me from the violence.

Bright… shine… It all meant the same thing. The light that guides to the end or the beginning…

That is why I must be it…

I lifted my hand to the flames rolling across, embers flying away from my arm like they were flames themselves.

As the metal hand crashed into my own. It was heavy and powerful.

It could have been considered a miracle that it was caught. A miracle that no bones were shattered, that nothing bruised me.

We just stood there… as the flames within my hand grew and grew. Ready to explode with a simple thought, the beast within such fire demanded to be unleashed.

So I did, alongside a simple utterance.

"I'm incandescent."

---

Big Blast Sonic

Guilty Gear Xrd

I do not own this property, credit goes to Daisuke Ishiwatari and Naoki Hashimoto.

Heaven or Hell

Let's Rock!

---

The hand was launched backwards with an explosive force, nearly taking the Paladin off balance. While it's hand was most certainly still intact, there was a distinct red coloring against its steel.

With blade in hand I rushed forward, just as the foot of the creation came up to strike me. Or possibly even to rebalance itself while crushing me as well.

Even still this was no Iron Golem. Even with this limited battle one could see the flimsiness in design alongside the choice of metals to use.

Possibly due to them not having the limitless creativity or supplies of the Infamous Sen. Nor even the soul of a dragon, that powered the suit of armor.

It was a simple dodge away, the foot slamming down with a quake of the ground. It's arm was already moving for yet another blow, hoping with futility that I would be crushed.

Yet, once again, I was faster. My one hand swinging the blade in a horizontal sweep, the two metals meeting with the loudest of crashes.

The blow that was coming for me lurching forward missed me by a large amount. Nearly falling face first into the hard concrete below. It's hand is the only thing truly keeping itself upright.

Which meant getting rid of it was absolutely necessary. My hand raisied for yet another stream of fire, weakening the metal enough for my blade to cut through like normal skin.

I unleashed the snake-like flame once more, letting it cascade into the pure metal joint with fever and passion. I could practically hear it screaming in glee, hoping that the creation would fall away.

He continued to rise, my flame kept pointing at the joint on his arm. The creation turned towards me, fully lifting its leg upward. Perhaps hoping to stomp me into the very ground like so many others before it.

I barely even rolled to the side, as the metal brushed against my armor, the heat of the two clashing the only feeling I received. The fire continued for as long as the pyromancy flame could handle. Even now the flames began to sputter and die out, unable to even reach the arm I had hoped.

Just as he pulled the joint backward…

A loud crack sounding through the warehouse, followed by the crash of a heavy object. The simplest of motions too much for the heat created by my flame.

Whatever acted as it's joint snapped off, the weight shifting upon this Paladin. As if the very arm of a person was cut off without pain, the Paladin didn't even seem to notice. Throwing itself forward while spinning in place similar to a small toy. Beginning to fall backwards for a second time today.

But I had no time to consider the small quake of the creature falling, nor even the continuing sound of fighting behind me.

Only the arm that had fallen right next to him…

…

If only it were stronger than my sword, it could have been a viable weapon.

I took the sword in both hands rushing towards the legs as fast as I could manage. Noting the joints upon each its legs, each one thick as both of my arms.

But truly beating it only required one leg to be destroyed. Already it had lost its projectiles and its single arm had fallen to the side.

I raised my blade skyward, the fire surrounding my arms growing intense and animalistic. As if relishing the need for this destruction, fueling it as my skin burned and turned to ash. It was painful as it was empowering, the proof that everything, perhaps even life, held some form of price.

Unlike this creation however, I could truly take it for such an end.

The blade swung downward with my great strength in tow, a great blow into the joint of the creature. My hands wrung with the vibration of metal upon metal, still holding firm onto the blade crafted from the hero Artorias.

The large piece of metal was bent at an angle, strange noises filling my ears as it tried to twist and turn in vain.

It was broken, unable to lift its body. It was practically yet another piece of useless metal without another to wield it.

I turned for the quickest second, seeing the army of White Fang members still around. At least twenty of them still standing.

Others continued to fight, oblivious to their own adrenaline to see anything outside of the two others trying to beat them.

More observant ones noticed us immediately, their weapons dropping in the same instance. Immediately deciding what they berated their brothers and sisters just a short while ago, was now the smarter of choices. Each taking as many steps as they needed to leave this location.

Fire tempest was used up, merely a single torrent of flame remaining. The sword, no matter how powerful a swing it was, would still take time…

Perhaps the spur of the moment idea held some actual merit. Of course, it was still too small, liable to not even do any form of damage against this aura.

Thankfully there was something far larger in the area. Useful for containment and as a weapon itself.

The Paladin would still have its uses today.

I looked at the creation, it's sharp yet somehow rounded edges leavening little to grab hold of. The only one that I could truly see was…

The area where the glass met the metal! It was simple glass, easy to break compared to the metal surrounding it. But the metal should have been sturdy enough to hold.

I lifted my hand, punching the fragile glass as it caved in like a simple skull. Hints of red and white visible through it, that I had no time to analyze just yet.

"What the hell are yo-!" The creation's voice spoke out, it's voice clearer and crisper now that I was closer. Ignoring it with a simple turn of the armor, the large metal scraped against the ground. A loud penetrating sound that filled the ears of all.

My muscles burned from that simple movement, the efforts done finally beginning to catch up to me. A deep breath rattling my entire body down to the finger, filling me with pain and strength. Even the fire surrounding me seemed to grow in size, before falling to its usual flicker.

I could no longer see the remaining White Fang members, covered by the large frame of the Paladin.

But sight was not needed. Only strength.

I planted my feet into the ground, pushing forward with all the might I could muster in this moment. The final sputtering of Power Within burning whatever remained of my flesh, most certainly leaving nothing but empty and burned skin beneath.

It remained still for only a couple of seconds. Then it began to screech against the ground. Whatever pain it felt echoing into the earth. Each footstep propelled it faster and faster.

I didn't know where I was going, or what direction. All I could do was follow the screams of realization, drawing closer and closer to the other.

Then I lifted the Paladin upwards, my arms burning alongside my legs. My very steps cracked the floor, as the charge came faster and faster. The weight of this creation pushing me farther and faster than I should have gone.

Little impacts shuddered through the metal, possibly the remaining Faunus in the warehouse. More and more came pattering against it, like the rain upon the rooftop.

Then there was another one, but it sounded more akin to the Paladins' blows against the ground. A mighty shake of the earth, that impeded my progress, and forced me to drop my weapon.

Another crash shook the earth one final time…

As I saw the wall that I had pushed so many members into. A large dent, some even with tears of metal within them.

The fight was over before I could begin to comprehend it.

---

End Song

---

"A little overboard," Someone's voice spoke out, my hand catching on fire in that instance. But it sputtered out in the same moment, as recognition unclouded my mind. My attention turned to the cat Faunus, barely even a scratch upon her. The only imperfection one could see were the beads of sweat, and the frayed ends of hair. Blades taking their proper place on her back. A look more curious and awed than any form of criticism. "Don't you think?"

"Overboard?" Sun Wukong spoke up, followed with a slap upon my shoulder. A flash of pain sparking outward, as he touched the burnt and raw flesh beneath. "It was awesome!"

A smile stretched across my face, still unseen by the two Faunus. But, now was not the time to speak. For all that could be known, the White Fang members could awake at any moment. Moving to the downed captains with a steady pace.

Burns clear upon both their skin, a glowing red like the flame that had burned them so. The antlered woman was breathing peacefully, as if in a deep trance.

The large one was turning in his sleep, breathing ragged and uneven. Perhaps the flames were far too much for the large man?

No… something was off…

"Perhaps my exploits could be discussed at another time." I continued to look around the large room. Little to no movement in every part of the room, other than of course Belladonna and Sun Wukong.

Some of them made similar movements, as if choking on the very air that was being breathed. I examined them as close as I could, seeing if they were poisoned or the like. Yet, no obvious signs could be seen.

As much peace as it would grant to be unsympathetic towards their suffering. Leaving them to whatever fate would befall them, so that none would be harmed from their works…

I would not abandon them. Not in there suffering.

"The members… they are acting strange." I spoke out, seeing the other two. Belladonna coming closer to me, a hint of familiarity in her face.

While Sun Wukong approached the downed Paladin, his weapon now in its staff form. A sunlit copy doing something similar, each end poking into the destroyed glass.

Perhaps they wanted the soul within the Golem? Twas not like I needed it anyway, especially without the Giant Blacksmith to forge whatever weapon was needed to make.

"Take them outside." Belladonna spoke out suddenly, her voice firm and unbending as Titanite. Already lifting one of the people to the door to the outside chill.

I decided not to ask, the grave seriousness in her voice was enough for action. For all I could begin to fathom, she knew more intensively. Lifting the captain and many others onto my shoulders, like simple packs, needed to be taken outside. Their hots grasps of air reaching my ears…

Stopping near instantly the moment they were outside, as if the air within was a poison unlike any other. And the fresh cool air was the cure. But how could that have been possible?

I set them down, overlooking each and everyone more closely. Their animalistic features became more and more pronounced as I conducted my search.

Belladonna wordlessly took out her scroll, her actions holding less interest to me than the Faunus upon the ground.

None of the Faunus were of the same make as the other. Each held a different animal likeness, the captain and his fangs, one with a rounder snout akin to swine. Two had thick hair, strangely silver. Those two I took their masks off, seeing similar faces upon each one. Young adults, most certainly brothers, thin ears poking from the tips of each head.

It was vexing. An answer at the front of my head, yet unable to birth itself to thought. The brothers I looked upon the most certain clue I could have received.

"It was the heat."

I looked backwards, the young woman behind me putting her scroll away. Crouching down next to the other Faunus, a look of pity and relief at their conditions. Poking through the pouch at her side, before revealing a canteen of some sort.

She looked between the two, as if contemplating it a final time. But the small cat placed it away, the reasons seem clear but left within the mind.

"Your fire made it an oven." She decided to continue, a sigh escaping her lips as she took a long sip of the water. A twinge of guilt entered me at that moment, but vanished quickly. "And some of us aren't lucky enough to survive the desert."

I looked at the Faunus one last time, each one of their animal counterparts appearing in my mind. A bear, a boar and twin canines with white fur…

While the boar lay a mystery, the other three could only be found deep within the frigid north, or upon the very corners of Aramis. Each accustomed to the winter.

They were suffering from the heat of the arena.

"I see." Was the only thing I could speak, my mind filtering that information within. If my pyromancy held such an advantage against such foes, all I had to do was use Fire Storm within an enclosed area. It would certainly drain most of their stamina and skill, quickly pushing them to delirium.

That being said, some would also hold an extreme advantage in such heat, at least in regards to the average man.

Yet Sen had taught me yet another thing, aside from fighting Golems of such size. In the face of heat and even pyromancy, snakes hold a certain advantage. As well as the assumptions of all other lizards who hold such skill…

Even still, aura was supposed to protect those against the climate. No matter what…

Perhaps there was a limit, or a draw back to doing such things. A significant waste of aura being one of them?

This could take looking into, mayhaps even experimenting with this ice dust? Or at least, asking for assistance with the dust.

"I believe the interior has cooled significantly." I spoke up, grabbing them once more with simple effort. Belladonna nodded her head silently, still staring at her old compatriots on my shoulder. "It will do no good if they escape back to their hideaway."

"Right." She spoke up, a blade unsheathed from her back. The single edged blade of the distant east, poised and ready for use. The bow flattening against her head ever so slightly, and eyes narrowing in displeasure. "And there's still Torchwick to question."

I nodded my head, looking upon the door that held so many within. Each holding their own piece of the story, with varying wills across, allowing such info to pass on to us. "It would be a waste of your efforts to let him vanish into the night."

Belladonna turned her head, expression indescribable in my peripheral, as I began to move forward.

"He will have information pivotal to the going ons of the White Fang, similar to the two captains." Of course Torchwick was far more valuable. He held just as much information as all the other captains. Nevertheless, the point still stood. "If we can find anything, it will be with them."

With that final hopeful sentence, I began to fully make my way to the door.

"Mors," The hidden Faunus spoke suddenly,her words sounding as if she was holding something back. I turned around, distinctly confused at the girl. Her fingers pinched the bridge of her nose, as if it were truly elevating something. As if I had said something idiotic.

Despite her hatred, she certainly acted like Venatores in these moments.

"We didn't be-"

A sound filled the area, a beast I had never heard in my entire life unleashing it's roar into the world. A yellow and black beast speeding towards us, a hint of blue on its back.

Blood filtered around it, somehow floating upon the wind. I had never seen such a thing before, as it came hurt along closer and closer, turning its body as it screeched on the ground. Ready to claw us in half.

Perhaps the White Fang gained some protective ferocious animal.

No matter… my sword was already lifted ready to cleave the beast in twain. Falling with the speed it didn't expect from su-

"Woah!"

The human-like voice was the only thing to stop me, the heavy blade stopping inches from the lilac eyes of Yang. A tenseness now filled the air as the rest of them were revealed. Each one staring at the death that had nearly taken place.

My arm shook, not from the weight of my blade, but the act I had nearly repeated. The echo of the past ringing in my ear, deep within the depths of Izalith's domain. A cursed spector that will never release its grip, no matter how much good, nor how much time will pass.

"My Sun…"

"It's setting..."

"How much did we miss?" The leader spoke up a hint of nervousness in her voice. Hopefully trying to alleviate the assured panic in my veins. Trying desperately to stay out of the past as she spoke it. A lifeline that I grabbed with full vigor and might.

"I-I apologize…" I spoke quickly tonguebeing tied up with the memories in the back of my head. An awkward and hollow laugh filling the area. The lilac eyes are still staring at me, a piercing strength in them despite. "M-my n-nerves got the better of me…"

Strangely enough, the young woman smirked simply. As if she had not stared death in the face a second ago.

"Meh," Quickly getting off the strange thing she rode with simplistic ease. Walking past me simply, a light impact hitting my shoulder. "I could take it."

She could not. Whether it be simple bravado, reassurance, self or otherwise, she could not. Perhaps her aura could have taken the hit, but she would have still been hurt.

"So…" Yang continued, a playful smile no doubt on her face as I continued to stare forward. "Whose good cop, and who's bad cop."

"I call good cop!" Miss Rose spoke, her tone filled with the childish glee as usual. The voices grew softer as if they were moving away.

"Then I'm bad cop!" She responded with a enthusiastic shout, possibly to boost whatever moral remained. "Officer Long and Rose, cleaning the streets one 'Yang' at a time."

"Do you have to ruin everything?" The sister quipped, gaining small chuckles from her elder sibling. More and more people are passing me.

"Oh come on, don't be a 'thorn' in my side." Was the last thing I heard, the voices vanishing within the warehouse alongside everyone else…

I stood there in the cold chill… my fist clenched tightly…

I let in one unnecessary breath, my hand unclenching ever so slightly. A hint of warmth filling the air, as fire sprouted from my arm.

I didn't even glance at it, calling it off with a thought. My head was shaking ever so slightly, as I moved to walk within the compound. My thoughts straying back to what was important now…

With only a single one remaining. One was left behind at the door that I refused to bring inside.

But it would come any way, like the mark over my heart. It would be as eternal as it would, as well as me.

You must shine brighter…

The mistakes won't burn any other way.

---

Venatores

The woman stood there in silence staring at me. Her heterochromic eyes shifted up and down my entire body, studying me with mixed emotions. The confident smirk still on her face, but with a noticeable caution and intrigue.

She took small steps to the right, vanishing from my lack of vision entirely. Using my natural weakness against me with a single step.

But of everything I was witnessing around me, it was not of greater interest.

The image of the girl remained constantly shifting in form, right upon where she was. Each second shifting and turning, as if it was constantly deciding what it would be and why. The eyes switched colors like a rainbow, the hair grew and shortened within the same interval, changing with her eyes. Sometimes she spun, flipped, or even inverted herself revealing everything beneath the skin. Her clothes changed in every form, to every style, becoming baggy or tight on a whim.

It could have been horrifying if it wasn't flat like the plane of glass it was. Trying to imitate itself as three dimensional while it was within the second.

As two footsteps sounded out, one the soft click of a heel upon the paved ground.

The other a quiet utterance of a thousand different steps, each one sounding like a different sound, once more hoping to sound real.

The illusion jumped into the air, falling at a normal pace.

Just as something beyond description entered, a thing that could only be described as Null, a lack of powerful presence. Bright yet unable to hurt my eye in any form.

The only recognizable thing of this, was the silhouette so distinct and physical that one could barely call it a shadow. The blade's umbrella raised, despite rushing forward low to the ground. An awkward angle that could be blocked simply, as long as someone could look upon it.

A test, so to speak. To see if I could actually see her or not…

Evelyn was pointed at her head in that simple second, at the very least making her dazed enough to do actual damage.

The null vanished within a second, the umbrella opening blocking her entire form. The quicksilver impacted her, pushing her back ever so slightly.

But the pink parasol remained unscratched, right as the glass came down for its attack. I cut it down with my sword, the shattered glass falling to the world below like rain.

The girl lifted the umbrella onto her shoulder, a large smile across her face. A disgustingly sweet smile, as if she had already won the coming battle.

Of course it was not without reason. This woman knew three things about me already, and most of them worked to her advantage.

She knew my 'Semblance', the Augur of Ebrietas and its power. She knew that the fabric could somehow defend her against my Quicksilver bullets. Even that my lack of an eye was a clear disadvantage in a fight, a clear blind spot.

And while her Semblance was ineffective against me, it clearly didn't mean much.

Not when the scent of blood clinged on her clothes, only enhanced by the smell of sugar and cream.

It was sickening how my mouth watered at the smell. Making the blood sweeter than it already was to my body.

I lifted my scarf to my nose, the thick perfume I placed within invaded my senses, blocking the blood. Keeping my mind focused on the woman in front of me.

But even with her advantages…

I had my own as well.

After all, she assumed to know nearly everything about me, an assumption that easily led to death.

But, there was one other advantage laid in front of me. One that reminded me of the hollow promise I had made to the headmaster.

She was not inexperienced, and lived her life professionally killing those who would harm her client.

So holding back was not needed…

And, the final advantage, was a taste in my mouth. A dull and nearly numb spice that forced me to grip the Burial Blade tighter.

A righteous anger I had not felt since the Bloody Crow.

Without even a second of thought I rushed forward, engaging in combat. The girl's eyes widened ever so slightly, before she ducked my swing the grin still across her face. I quickly struck diagonally, hoping to force the short woman to dodge left or maybe even backwards.

Her umbrella on her shoulder quickly shifted, the strike landing upon the strange fabric. Shifting it around her, as she moved into the blind spot with graceful ease.

My blade moved to block, nearly giving me whiplash. A glimpse in my vision that forced me to move backwards, a sharp kick to the stomach avoided simply, my blade far too high to defend me.

The multicolored beast did not let up, her blade coming in for a stab at my leg. I kept backing up, allowing such pressure in hopes of an opening, each stab like a swipe from a beast hungry for blood.

The beast's smile grew wider with each step, working even harder giving me no room to do what I wished.

Which meant there was something behind me.

How advantageous. The beast believes it brought me into a corner, my hand reaching for the quicksilver bullets in my pouch. Each one collapsing in between the ridge of each finger. A total of three bullets, as one began to drip with blood the moment it met the cool night air.

With only a single thought, the silver turned yellow and old as the red became the marrow within. The smooth surface of each bullet, the metals grating against my armored hands, turned rough and bone like. It understood what I wished, transforming everything in its form to what I wanted. Already breaking in my grip, as it had aged to the point where the calcium within had withered to the point of feebleness.

Perhaps the beast didn't even notice it, to focused on her own bloodlust. Ready to kill me, as the smile became smug and victorious.

My back hit a wall, one with ridges that dug into my spine, even through the thick leather. The blades end of the umbrella, now closed, going directly towards my eye. A move as smart as it was cowardly.

Right as the bone was crushed in my grasp.

The Hunters Bone was always a strange tool to me. It wasn't like I was calling the spirits of vengeance stoked in blood, or a single piece of other worldly beings. Nor was it like the Toniturus where I merely supplied it with power…

The best way to describe it was a memory surfacing in the mind. Then, after the effects wear off, forgetting it just as fast. A strange phenomenon that I had no chance to process in the minute such a memory remained.

But, at that moment, staring at the point blade in my face. It was nothing short of helpful.

I vanished into a cloud of mist, feeling everything pass through my body. Air, the pointed edge, the fabric of the umbrella, the beating of a pulse in the beast…

As the blade began to come down from behind her, a shining light in the darkness. It wrended her back, yet barely even a scratch on her clothing could be seen. Only the smallest pink light blocking the purified silver glow.

I slashed once more, the blade rising upwards after its cut, the dual sided blade allowing such movements.

The parasol was there, blocking the blow from her back. A quick turn almost like that of a dancer, the fabric used as a small cudgel.

I dodged forward into the blow, my misted form passing right through the fabric. An uncomfortable feeling that had quickly grown to be second nature. Materializing just as she began to run forward, seeing the trap for what it was and trying to escape from it.

Only to find a sharpened edge of a blade, fitting perfectly around her neck. Quickly pushing it forward like a horizontal guillotine, the woman began to fall backwards perfectly. The tip of her chin barely even got a scrape across it. Kneeling down, umbrella positioned perfectly in front, arm wrapped around the U-bend of the umbrella. Almost like a secondary shield, in case I came from behind.

The sides were a simple method to attack, but she was ready to turn in any direction I would appear, shifting her head as fast as possible. And, if she were to block it, it would give her ample time to escape.

Any of my tools would give the woman ample time to dodge…

Which left the only other option.

I rushed forward, a multicolored woman turning in that instance. The wind scattering my body ever so slightly, before coming together. My hand reaching outward and grabbing her head. Grabbing the locks of multicolored hair atop it, and throwing her into the wall in which she tried to trap me.

Her back hit it, a small pink light filling the area as she slid back down, umbrella closing. The moment her feet touched the ground, attention turned to me, a clear disdain gracing the once playful features.

I reached in my pouch once more, grabbing five more bullets, an annoyance filling me with the emptiness that was spreading within it. I shook it away, staring at the short woman in front of me.

One of them exploded outward with a single thought, the silver metal filings beginning to crawl up my arm. Growing darker and darker like a shadow in the night. No, even darker, like the shadow of night itself that stretched with billions upon billions of lights.

A Blacksky.

It crawled underneath my bandages, moving within the socket itself. Twisting and turning, an eye that I dared not control.

Only when it became situated, did I dare open it, a bandage still wrapped around it, no doubt glowing with the ancient storm still within.

The woman stared at the glow, seeing it for possible attack for what it was.

My eye moved only the tiniest bit…

As meteors fell from the sky, the simple movement of the eye was enough for it to shoot outward.

She dodged to the left as expertly as she could. The powerful projectile exploded against the wall in a shower of sparks. The small edge of the wall entirely disappeared from existence. Perhaps she was hit by the small explosion that annihilated a large portion of the side wall.

My left arm rose upwards, the bullets collapsing into three small galaxies. Each one connected to the corpse of the Daughter of the Cosmos, her name still holding power and physical presence even outside of reality and death. As long as the cosmos above existed, she held the power of the Great Ones!

They shot outwards at the woman, each one wriggling in the air actively making it nearly unpredictable in the short span of time.

The woman lifted her umbrella, each tentacle scratching the lace like fabric with the pure force of the Daughter. The shield lifted to the side, as the thin arms of the beast relented in futility against the mighty Great One.

As the final meteor fell from my eye, following it with as much speed I could manage. Blade outstretched and ready to stab into her, letting the blood of those she felled fall onto the ground.

The star had found purchase, the movement too fast for the beast to block. Especially as the umbrella before her lay to the side after such an assault.

The silver white light of the meteor impacting a pink lighted shield. Holding back the impressive might of the star, as the sky leaked out of my empty socket.

It then exploded outward, right against the truly pink light. A battle between silver and pink for the briefest of seconds, before the star fizzled out. Leaving what remained in the darkness behind, only with a few changes beneath the cosmos.

The fabric upon the arm was gone, a hole where the star impacted against it, blood slowly oozing out from the wound, blackened scars surrounding it, a remnant of the eye's might against her skin.

The woman let out a silent roar, hand grabbing her shoulder in pain. Not a sound coming out of her throat despite such pain. Perhaps that was why she hadn't talked in our battle.

But I had no time to study. Not while the nape was so clear in view, the purpose of the blade so clearly in front of it, how could it not complete its mission.

The mist surrounded me still, vanish closer to the girl. Eyes opening slowly after the pain disappeared, barely able to recognize the silver light.

The invisible blade began scraping across the material, destroying all in its path. The arcanum might reaping metal as if it were flesh.

She stood little chan-

The earth rumbled the tiniest bit, not enough to cause damage to the world around us, but it did not need to.

Expectation and exhaustion were everything in a battle. If one expected something, it was less likely for any effect to take place. Avoiding it, at all costs.

My stance shifting the tiniest bit from the earth's shifting was not one of them. Causing me to lean forward ever so slightly forward, ready to fall at any second. I shifted all of my weight backwards, forcing even the blade to rise. Only the tiniest bit, from the base of the neck, to the area close to the eye socket. A sure kill, though far more painful than the swift chop of the neck.

Luck, skill, or godly interference.

She ducked downwards ever so slightly in reaction, the imbalance from the quake helping her as she did. Her body turning as the end of her weapon rose upwards.

No matter which one, the beast was saved in that second.

A hand grabbed my wrist, gaining perfect control of my arm in that second. A weight against my elbow, as pressure began to be put upon it. The faintest glimpse seeing the U-like bend pulling on my arm. A white boot rising in the same moment. My body beginning to fade into the mist.

Chance mattered little in the span of humanity, lest one knew what to do with it. I knew so, better than any Hunter or person in this nightmare or the next.

The gleam in her eye revealed one of a similar mindset.

A snap echoed outward, as I bit into my cheek to hold in the scream. Appearing a distance away, a distinct color of red in my vision. I forced my arm to remain rigged, blood pooling in my mouth and heat filled my entire body in reaction.

My attention turned to the girl, on her back. Flipping over onto her feet in a backwards roll, stumbling as she began to stand up. The elegance from before muted as she was.

My blade, despite the break, was firmly in hand. Pain filling it, as I looked upon the odd angled arm, analyzing everything I could manage.

No protrusions, feeling in my limbs, but a bulge forming six inches above the elbow joint. A dirty break, but manageable. No time for bandages either. A blood vial would heal it up quite nicely, even put the bone back into place.

Not that the multicolored woman would let me. Her eyes focused solely on me, grabbing at the handle and pulling from her umbrella. The metal beneath the sheath revealed.

A hint of recognition filling my eyes, as I looked upon the blade. A thin spike without even a guard that barely covered the length of her short arms. Too thin and short to be a rapier, too long to be a dagger.

But I knew it by reputation. However, many of the hunters of Yharnam would not use it, not even the Vilebloods and their chivalrous natures.

A Miscorde, the blade of Merciful Death. During duels, after a lethal blow had been given, the blade was used to pierce through the ribs, directly into the heart. A painless death.

But the heterochromic eyes spoke a different tale, an enraged glint in each pupil. The fabric end of the umbrella placed against the ground with a thud, rushing forward.

Clearly, she had never been pushed to this limit before. No doubt, in part to the confident fighting style, experience , and the Semblance in her repertoire.

I wrenched the sword arm upwards, a great flash of pain that made me see clear silver moonlight, and stars that scattered the horizon. Opening my mouth though the scarf, placing the hard metal gauntlet in my mouth, I let the limb hang limp. Letting go of the Burial Blade and catching it with my left hand. Raising it to block the stab with a practiced grace.

Eileen's training came in handy at that very second, the blade rising as it did in my right hand. Blocking the weapon unfit for combat with a deadly grace. Another strike came in, followed by another, like a torrent of blows not unlike the servants of Castle Cainhurst. Though, with a little more skill and precision, yet just as easily parried with the flat of my blade.

I rushed forward, swiping my blade from the left, the woman ducking under the blow with grace. Turning ever so slightly like a dancer, a leg coming outward ready to kick me. The location was clear, the newly broken arm, as I backed away, vanishing into the mist twice over. Stabbing into the air, the blade shining in the night once more.

A dance-like pattern of movements each of the four strikes encompassing a different direction. A spin of two strikes coming from the left, one vertical and the other diagonal. Third strike coming from the opposite direction, before transferring into a final downward strike.

She responded with her own dance, ducking under one and flipping over the second in a back flip. A stuttered movement as she landed, an unconscious grip on her shoulder as the third strike came. Pieces of her hair fell to the ground, as she narrowly dodged the strike. The final strike clipped her, a fresh pink light escaping from her back.

The very stone upon the ground had no such luck and was shattered under the archaic might of the First Hunters Blade.

I didn't waste time, stabbing the blade into the earth, the magical might piercing the stone work. No doubt the blade was chipped ever so slightly, a study required afterwards for the state of the metal.

My hand immediately went for a pouch in my back, the blood sloshing around within. My fingers, despite the single arm, dexterously placing it within the needle like contraption.

It was a practiced movement, one used many many times, I had no need to look at the injection, continuing to stare outward. The woman got up from the ground, with pained effort.

Her weapon in the wounded arm.

It was a quick movement, an object flying towards me. Too big to be a bullet, too small to be a cannon, and neither held the noise. An object aimed directly at my hand, that only began to be injected.

I lifted it up, the fresh blood unable to enter my system, leaving me as I was. The object flew past, a distinct crack as it impacted the earth.

As something hit my elbow, a mixture of white and red filling my vision. My body heating up and tensing in reaction to the pain.

I left my eye open, staring at the woman who rushed forward, placing her Miscorde back into her uninjured right arm. My attention to the falling object that she threw twice over…

Seeing the sturdy gray rock crumble into pebbles…

How thrilling.

I reached outward for the blade, vial and syringe still in hand, no time to inject myself before being struck. The sharpened point of the miscorde was following my hands movements, forcing it to retreat.

The mist around my form was already beginning to fade, the few seconds left would be useful to retreat, but would leave the blade where it was. Giving her a chance to do whatever she wished to do to Gehrmans blade.

Which meant there was only one thing to do.

My feet remained planted, dodging the ever flowing stabs of the beast. Each one aimed for my ribs, no doubt hoping to puncture something within me.

Each attack missed as she continued to do flurry after flurry, getting closer each time. Nicking each rib, scraping against the armor, a look of frustration beginning to bloom on her face.

She pulled the blade backwards, her heels clicking on the asphalt as the blade began its assault forward. The trajectory making perfect way between my ribs, ready to stab me through the heart. Just as my hand threw the blood vial into the air, reaching behind my back. A smile of satisfaction filled her face…

Right as Evelyn's song reached her ears, it's mighty strength burrowing into her furthest leg backwards. Knocking her off balance, as she kneeled in front of me.

The heart buried in her bosom laid open to the world.

Evelyn flew into the air as well, my hand reaching backwards in a claw like grip as the gun fell. No time to put either away, only time to end the beast

Her eyes widened at my reach, the pink light surrounding her, muted and dull in color. No doubt her aura was low, a last-ditch effort to defend herself against the Viceral. Her arm shooting outward blade in hand, as mine shot forward.

My hand impacted the aura, a wall like force that stopped my hand moving with great force. A blinding pain in one of my fingers, a flash of stars with a blood red moon hanging over my vision instead of what should've been seen.

I held my breath, unable to see the miscordes trajectory. Yet, knowing the experience of such a beast, it would have been a perfect angle to strike at my heart.

Every thought was pushed to the side, as the needle impaled my chest. Scraping against the rib and going deeper and deeper. White flowers filling my view, a feeling of something behind staring. A distinct feeling of happiness in the air, as something lumbered closer and closer.

Then, everything was normal, my breath still in my lungs despite being pierced. The smile on the woman's face was clear as day, while other things became muffled. Blood dripping from the chest, heat spilling from the body.

Five.

It was a cruel smile, the face of one that had beaten death yet again. One who seemed to enjoy it, who seemed better when it came to it. The flowers tickling my legs through the armor, reminding me of their presence.

Four.

How cruel to rip it all away. Another joined my side, it's gnarled hand reaching for me. Ready to grab my body and everything it possessed.

Three.

The sound of glass filled the world, the gentle wind ever present, trying to lull me asleep.

Two.

Her face turned to fear, blood leaking from the side of her mouth. My hand feeling the three ribs fall apart, the world regaining its color. Blood splattering into my face and chest, heat filling my body. Anger radiated, a roar that stood above echoing out, forcing the moon to bleed, the wind to cry, and the stars to burst. A giant hand passing through me, as if it were mist.

For all its power, it remained trapped to its Dream.

My hand was in her heart. Eyes falling wildly in her head, yet ever so motionless. The shock of what had happened left her feeling no pain.

I knew from experience.

My hand grabbed at anything within, three cooled objects placed between my fingers. I pulled them outward, the loud crunch and snap of bones filling the air as I did. The softest of gasps escaping the girl, as I examined the bounty.

Three Quicksilver bullets. Certainly made up for some that I lost today. But such inventory had to come later.

She fell to the ground, staring at the broken ribs now sticking from the hole in her chest. Chest shakily heaving at a fast pace, blood continuing to spill down. Hand shakily reaching for the wound, an act of desperation or futility. Her miscorde nowhere to be seen upon the ground.

I looked down even further, seeing the U-shaped handle sticking out of my chest. I even removed the hand from my mouth, the dull pain filling it. At least it was no longer broken, as I used my hand to grab the miscorde. Pulling it ever so slowly out, as I felt my pulse in my ears beat faster and faster as I did. A great heat filled my chest as it did, until the blade was fully out.

I didn't gasp or grunt from it leaving my ribs. A small heave from my lungs caused me to let out a cough, especially as I let it, holding my scarf up to my mouth. The redness of the scarf hid the clear blood stain. But, fresh blood filled every wound I had, each organ relishing in it, healing everything they could.

The heart to a hunter was small. If it wasn't a large enough wound they wouldn't be able to heal it. Or numerous, for that matter.

But for such a thin edge, it was akin to a scratch of flesh. It would heal in moments.

I inspected the miscorde, the once metallic blade now drenched in the red nectar.

Useful in and of itself.

I placed my hand on the blade, wiping it clean of its stain, each droplet of blood pooling into five separate drops in my hand.

Then, as if the hand of death had touched it, they began to freeze. Each rising ever so high, as if the blood itself was building a tower to escape such an end.

Until five blood bullets rested in my hand, already beginning to rot in the cold night air. Only ten minutes before they were completely unusable.

I dropped the miscorde, the loud clattering of metal on rock filling the air. Only quieter than the gunshots within the warehouse itself.

The girls eyes widened at that move, her arm moving limply to the floor. Reaching for her miscorde with desperation.

All while I reached for the handle on my back, searching for the vial of blood, and Evelyn all the while. Extending it to its full length, the wood was worn out yet smooth like any other. The wrapping frayed, but it did the job better than most other weapons.

The woman tried to stand, her blade the closest approximation to a cane as she tried to stand. A spark of fight dying out like the light she held.

But it would be painful. Gruesome to continue forward.

I grabbed the very end of the scythe, swinging it blindly down my left side.

As the contraptions clicked together with a heavy thud, and a shower of sparks.

The beast nearly fell to the earth from the sound alone, her will the only thing up.

As the weapon of death scraped against the ground, coming to bear in my grip.

She looked up for only a second, her eyes filled with confusion and pain. Only small anger and humiliation, all converging into a single emotion.

Fear.

She raised her blade half-heartedly in the air, ready to continue her fight against me. A iron will despite everything that had just happened.

Before everything for her vanished. Fear, anger, hatred, even the beast-like nature within her stance and eyes. Cut away from her body, alongside the muscle, sinew, bone and disk that held her head up so high.

She was dead before the blade could be dropped, before her feet gave out beneath her, before pain could even be registered.

In all the ways one could die. This was the most merciful one could manage.

Which was why the First Hunter used such a tool…

I left the warehouse in silence, the body and head thudding to the ground of this warehouse the only noise left.

I looked around for everything I managed to lose at fight, finding it simply.

Evelyn laid close to my feet, simple and easy to pick up, and barely a scratch on its delicate surface. A name as vigorous as it was delicate, the Cainhursts certainly named her well. Of course, some care had to be taken for her as well.

The blood vial, despite being glass, was just fine. Yharnamites hated their blood being spilled after all, so extra care was put into making such vials. But, I put it away, no longer needing it, even as the dull throbs echoed through my body.

The woman's head was there as well, rolling ever so slightly away. Even as the soul left the body, she was trying to escape.

Her body was heaped across the warehouse, limbs in all manner of directions.

The soul was finally at peace, free from whatever prison it remained in.

Now the body was all that remained.

It would have been simple to just leave it there, let the morning sun begin to decay her body away. Until all that was left was rot and bone. The crows take her away into a proper Sky Burial.

Yet even after so long in the hunt…

The reason the Dream existed remained in my mind. A modicum of peace after the damage caused in a life of beastdom.

I sighed, shaking my head ever so slightly. Listening and looking intently at my surroundings.

No battle.

No gunshots.

No people in the vicinity.

Only a cold fall night.

I sighed, bringing my scarf down. Blood and death filling my nostrils with the crisp night air.

Alongside the stench of another.

I picked Evelyn from my belt, aiming to the side ready to fire at a momen-

The single scent was enough to stop me, even as it remained stock still. Neither of us was moving even as I turned my head to look at it.

After all, though it smelled deeply like one, it was not human. It was only a foot tall, staring at me with its intense red eyes. It's head pivoting ever so slightly, staring between me and the corpse at my feet upon its railing perch. Its feathers smooth and blend with the night around it. The only strange aspect of such a creature, was the pure red eyes. Perhaps a birth defect closely related to albinoism.

A single corvus, also known as the crow. Most likely a mistreated pet, by the miasma of alcohol spewing from its feathers.

It stared at me with its predatory eye, shifting between me and the corpse. As if waiting for the moment for me to leave.

Ah, I see.

"Hungry?" I asked the bird, its feathers puffing up ever so slightly, as if shocked. Backing up ever so slightly, taking him further away from me. A clear look of distrust upon his face.

A chuckle managed to escape my throat as I placed Evelyn away, holding the scythe in my one hand. A smart bird indeed, as I reached my free hand outstretched, scouring the ground below me, looking for anything that might be used for supper.

Sadly, nothing but the blood upon the ground…

I looked to the head, a small idea forming. One on the verge of desecration, yet also not. If she was going to buried, better to let it be a sky burial.

And if not…

I moved forward, grabbing the head from its resting place. The decapitated head was already beginning to grow cold like the night, the features still lose and mailable. Rigor Mortis had not yet taken effect, even as the cold night seemed to help the process.

I closed her eyes, placing the head upon the woman's chest. Arms crossed over her stomach, and her legs straightened out. Her umbrella and miscorde at her side.

It felt strange to do something akin to this. Especially after all that I had done to survive her attacks… and end her life.

The beast was dead… and the person was left behind.

Now…

"Go on." I spoke to the crow, who remained in the same position. Right as I was slowly moving away from the body.

It reacted strangely, staring between me and the body. Not moving even a feather, cawing ever so softly as it moved its legs further away.

I shook my head softly, a rueful small smile on my face.

"Picky one," I spoke to him, turning my full attention to the body. My hand rising to my mouth as the blood pooled in it, growing solid in my head. "Aren't you?"

The blood pooled into my lips, some even dribbling on my tongue, making me wretch in its honey-like taste. The liquid grew colder and colder, still dripping with the fresh blood even as it fully formed.

A simple breath was all it took, a sound splitting the silence in twain. A loud shrill cry that echoed across the yard, and even further beyond the very cosmos.

A dark pool of blood forming underneath the corpse, moving in a vortex as if it were alive.

Something began to answer the call.

I backed away a little further, the little crow letting out a caw of surprise. Wings flapping in haste, flying away in terror at the whistle. A smidgen of disappointment filling me, as the bird began to fly away.

As the snake leaped from the pool of blood, it's mouth closed around the woman. Vanishing into the depths of its, no doubt long, digestive track.

In that brief second, you could see the monster for what it was. While snake was an appropriate term for such a creation, its many fangs lining the mouth proved otherwise. The yellow orb of its eye looking at me with an unrivaled hatred for me.

Speaking of hatred…

The snake whipped around like a whip, its entire head lunging for me with vicious glee. Despite the meal in its stomach, it was far angrier.

I stopped blowing upon the whistle, yet another pool of blood oozing right in front of me. Forcing it to vanish into the nightmare it was trapped in. A near never ending line of skin continued to enter for what felt like hours. A thin tail covered with groves and scars entering the exit. The pools of blood falling to the ground, splattering like rain upon the asphalt.

Damned snake. I don't know how the Madars Twins trained you, but they could have certainly improved by miles.

I walked away, whatever business I needed to do was completed within that moment. Looking in the moonlighted sky, searching for the crow.

But the night was lonely as it once was. A sigh escaped my lips, as I continued forward. No sounds of any kind filled the work, even the very city was nearly quiet.

It would be simple to go to the warehouse now. If the news managed to reach anyone before the night was out, the White Fang would need to take defensive measures. For all I knew, they could destroy the warehouse, perhaps even the entire surrounding.

With all the Dust in their possessions, what amount of destruction remained unknown…

Yet, knowing my partner remained all alone was an issue too. Knowing him, he's probably ignoring wounds all across his body to ensure everything was fine.

He already started ignoring the vital wound upon his neck before he went in…

Looks like patience was the only option.

I absentmindedly counted my bullets, a scowl forming on my face in a flash.

Twelve, including the ones I had just collected.

This was rarely a problem when I could access the Dream freely. But they were watching its entry, my attention turning to the broken moon. Perhaps even now they were watching me with contempt.

…

Perhaps it was the time to look into something…

But, not now.

I leaned against the wall of the warehouse, listening as intently as I could. The vibrations of laughter entered through my back, as the team succeeded on their first true mission.

A hunter's work once more unwitnessed in the night… the single crow entering my mind at that moment. Its pure black beak was replaced with the white leather of the Crow Hunter. As a grim and hollow smile crossed my face.

You trained me well.