"The effort put forth by the 87th HTC Expeditionary Corps should be an example to every future HTC soldier and every future HTC expedition. May Inferno bless your future endeavors and your lives from here on out." -Supreme Commander Eltis, speaking to the survivors of the 87th HTC Expeditionary Corps after Operation 'Cruel Angel's Citadel'.
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Beacon Ballroom
Edler was woken up by the ramblings of a very ecstatic ginger. He looked over to see the girl and her partner, a boy who seemed to be the polar opposite of her, either ignoring her or just waiting for a chance to respond. Edler stifled a laugh at the scene, but thought it was cute nonetheless. He began rolling up his stuff and making his way to the bathrooms to prepare for the day. He already knew today was gonna be rough.
With Ozpin
Ozpin knew today was going to be interesting. He stood outside on the cliffside where he would be launching the students into the forest. While Glynda had been adamant for him to use a more practical way of testing students, he had assured her that this was the way to test them. A Huntsman or Huntress had to be a quick thinker, and this was to help stimulate that. Of course, the prospects flying through the air amused him, but that wasn't important.
What was important was that these prospects were ready at a moment's notice to fight in a war they didn't even know was going on. Ozpin would take his mistakes to the grave, whenever or wherever that may be, but he wasn't going to regret what he had done right now.
All the times he had failed, all the times he had 'died' were lessons to him. But this time, he had a supposed trump card.
Edler Adler. A soldier huntsman if he'd ever seen one. His armor was one made for war, his weapon of choice, that chainsword, was made for killing anything or anyone. That ability to stare down a human or faunas enemy and not flinch at the thought of killing them was what he needed in his Inner Circle.
He saw that Edler. He saw no hurt, pain, or regret with what Ozpin assumed he had done. He saw determination. He could hide it very well, but Ozpin had been around long enough to know when someone was hiding something. Edler was no different.
Ozpin took another sip of his coffee. 'Today will be interesting, to say the least.'
Beacon Locker Rooms
Edler strapped on the last piece of his armor, and the energy shields booted up immediately. He mag-locked his chainsword to his back. He flexed his hands, and closed his locker door. He walked away, and ran into Jaune. "Oop, sorry Jaune."
"It's cool, I'm just heading over to see Pyrrha." Jaune said, pointing to where said redhead was talking to a familiar snow-haired girl.
"Oh...I wouldn't recommend that." Edler said. "The white haired chick is a little…"
"Rude?"
"Of sorts, yes."
Jaune nodded. "Well, I only need Pyrrha. We're gonna try and partner up!"
"I wish you best of luck on that then." Edler said, slightly smiling. "You know what, I'll join you. The brat is a handful for one man."
The two walked over to Weiss and Pyrrha. Edler could pick up bits and pieces of the conversation, but nothing major. "Hey Pyrrha." Edler greeted as the two walked up. "You all suited up?"
Pyrrha nodded. "Yes!" She said, and Edler made an effort to ignore how relieved she sounded.
"Uh...excuse me, you big brute? I was talking to Pyrrha here, I would appreciate it if you didn't interrupt me." Weiss said, coldly.
"Big brute?" Edler seemed confused. "That's the best insult you could come up with?"
"I-"
Edler was already walking away as Weiss tried to come up with an answer. Pyrrha waved goodbye as she and Jaune followed the armored being outside to the starting area.
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"The MJOLNIR MK IV GEN 2 Hybrid is the next step for protecting our forces in the field. With energy shielding and tough material to keep the wearer safe, this armor is the next step towards invincibility to Grimm attacks." -Materials Group PR Representative during the presentation of the MJOLNIR MK IV Armor to Hammond Military leaders
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Somewhere in the Emerald Forest
It didn't have a name. Nor did it try to make one for itself. It was nothing more than a tool for Her machinations and schemes. It lived to be ordered, and would kill as needed.
It had been alive for many decades, sleeping in a cave and waiting for prey to come to it. Nothing came, but patience was something it had grown to achieve.
But now, it could sense something. That aura...that armor…
It readjusted itself to be ready to charge at a moment's notice. It knew what must be done. It was to kill the armored one. The one that had killed so many of its brethren. It would do it with pleasure.
Clifftop
Edler rolled his shoulders, and shook his legs. He did a quick check of his armor devices, revved his chainsword a couple times to make sure it still worked, and inserted a yellow Dust crystal into a slot on the chainsword's hilt. He closed the slot, and maglocked the weapon on his back.
"All set over there?" Jaune asked, looking slightly nervous.
"I should be." Edler replied. "But something always happens."
"Uh...always?"
Edler looked directly at the knight. "Always."
Jaune nodded meekly. Pyrrha walked to the two. "You never know, today could be the one day that it doesn't happen."
"Perhaps, but we'll see." Edler said. The three looked to see Ozpin walk over to the edge of launchpads, and Pyrrha took that as her signal to go back to her own pad.
"Today, you will all participate in Beacon's Initiation. You will all be launched into the Emerald Forest, and will have to retrieve a relic from the ancient temple in the forest." Ozpin began. "Do not hesitate, the forest is full of Grimm. Hesitation will get you injured or killed. Am I understood?"
Everyone nodded.
"Good." Ozpin said, and Glynda began launching students. Surprisingly, she launched Edler first. The armored being was launched from the cliffside and into the air. The initiates watched as Edler disappeared into the forest canopy, and looked at each other.
"Alright, who wants to go next?" Ozpin asked, before looking confused slightly, then snapping his fingers. "Oh dear, forgot to tell Edler. Your partner will be the first person you see when you get down into the forest."
Emerald Forest
Edler flew through the air, and equipped his chainsword. As he plummeted to the ground, he saw he was going to land on a Beowulf. He gripped his chainsword's handle with both hands, and slammed it downward as he approached the ground.
The weapon sliced into the skin and body of the Grimm, and the Beowulf let out a shriek. The sword ripped through it, and the Grimm died. The two halves of the body fell to the side, and began to disintegrate.
Edler stood up, and swung his chainsword in the air to clear off any blood on it. He opened his map on his HUD, and located the temple. He began his trek when he heard a snarl. He looked around, and his motion tracker that was in the suit showed enemies all around him. Beowulfs and Ursai walked out into the opening he was in. A couple Ursa Majors and Alpha Beowulfs joined them.
Edler narrowed his eyes. He switched the chainsword from his right to his left hand, and opened his right hand. The air around it shimmered, and in a flash, a weapon appeared in his hand. It was a small weapon, shaped similar to a boomerang, but it was blue around the barrel. It had two barrels to shoot out of. The Alternator was a small weapon, but easy to use with a chainsword.
"Alright, who wants to go first?" Edler asked. The Grimm pounced at once. Edler swung his chainsword in a wide arc. It sliced through Beowulfs and Ursai with ease. He rolled to the left, and opened fire with his Alternator. The bullets impacted the Grimm, ripping through them and tearing their organs apart. Edler jumped up, flipped, and landed on the back of an Alpha. He plunged his chainsword into the back of the Grimm, his armor crushing the spikes on the back of the Grimm. He dispersed his Alternator, and summoned a Spitfire. He gunned down any Grimm he could see from the protection of the Grimm he was riding. He dislodged himself from the Alpha, ripping his sword upwards through the shoulder. The arm fell to the ground, and the Alpha stumbled back and fell to the ground. Edler dispersed his Spitfire, and summoned a Softball grenade launcher in its place. He jumped up and landed on a branch in a tree. He launched grenades down onto the horde. He decapitated a climbing Beowulf, the body falling to the ground. He dispersed his Softball after using all his ammo. He watched as Grimm congregated around the tree, and nodded. He jumped up, and hung suspended in the air for a moment. His armor suddenly produced thrusters on his back, and Edler rocketed towards the ground. He pushed his aura to his fist and hit the ground, the aura rocketing out in a ring. The Grimm were blasted by the shockwave, and were killed by the aura flowing through them and having nowhere to go.
Edler stood up, and dusted himself off. He nodded, and continued his way to the temple.
Somewhere in the Emerald Forest
It knew the Grimm it had sent had failed when he sensed the earth shake from the armored one. It clicked its mandibles, and began to exit its cave. It knew it may never come back to it, but it didn't care. It needed to kill the armored being. Its kind was being slaughtered mercilessly in the Grimmwoods, and the armored being's allies were descending onto its Queen's home. It needed to silence this one, and the hope of the armored being's allies would plummet. It was the only way to win the war.
Temple
Yang lazily threw the rook piece up and down as she stood with her partner. While she wasn't exactly thrilled with her partner, Blake Belladonna wasn't bad. Though, her lack of interaction was something to be noted.
"So...who are we waiting on?" Blake asked.
"My sister, and any reinforcements we can get so we can get back to the school together." Yang answered. "They'll be here. Hopefully my sister found a good partner-"
She was interrupted by a Beowulf bursting from the bushline behind them. The duo drew their weapons, but it wasn't needed. A bullet ripped the Grimm apart, literally. The bullet impacted the center of the Beowulf, and bisected it. Yang and Blake winced at the brutality of it, but looked to the brush to see someone walking out of it.
It was Edler holding a large sniper rifle. "Whoops, forgot how powerful .95 caliber bullets were." He scratched his cheek with his finger. "Oh well." The weapon dispersed into particles, surprising Yang and Blake.
"You have a Summoning Semblance?" Blake asked, shocked.
"Of sorts." Edler answered. "Is this the temple?"
"Uh...yeah. Where's your partner?" Yang asked. "Oh...wait…" It dawned on her, suddenly.
"We're supposed to have partners?" Edler asked, looking over the pieces that were on the pedestals. "Funny, Ozpin didn't mention that to me." Edler looked to see a King piece, and he took it. "Oh well." He pocketed the piece. "I'm heading back to the school, might beat up Ozpin or something."
"Uh...what about us?" Blake asked.
"Would you like to come with me?" Edler asked. "Three's a crowd, unless you're in a Grimm forest like this one. Then three's a good idea."
"I'm referring to the other prospects." Blake deadpanned/clarified.
"I'm sure they can handle returning on their own-" There was a shriek, and in the next second a red blur landed on top of Edler.
"Well...speak of the devil." Blake smirked.
Ruby stood up, and dusted herself off. "Sorry Edler!"
Edler, who was face first in the ground, only responded with a muffled. "You're welcome." He pulled himself from the ground, and shook his head to regain his bearings. He stood up, and suddenly saw a Nevermore flying around. He also saw a small white being on it.
"Oh no, Wiess didn't jump!" Ruby exclaimed.
Edler said nothing as he resummoned his Kraber (ignoring Ruby's sudden squeal at the weapon) and sighted down at the Nevermore. He chambered a bullet, and fired. The bullet flew through the air, and hit the Nevermore in the head. The head exploded into a gory paste, anf the body began to descend to the ground. Landed somewhere near them, the thud as it hit the ground shook the area around them. He dispersed the Kraber, and suddenly was tackled by Ruby.
"YouhaveaSummoningSemblanceI'msojealousohmygoshohmygosh!" Ruby said quickly, Edler catching next to nothing of what she said.
"Yeah, uh...Edler? You might be the best thing to Ruby since cookies now." Yang said, almost apologetically. Almost. "She's a huge weapon nut."
"I figured." He looked down at Ruby, who was still hugging him. "Ruby?"
"Yes?"
"You should go see if Weiss is okay."
Ruby looked confused for a second, then realized Weiss hadn't returned. "Oh no!" She rocketed off with her Semblance, not before grabbing a relic, the same as her sister's (not that she noticed) and continued to where the Nevermore had crashed/died.
Edler turned to the rest of them, and looked to the bushline behind them. They all turned around, and saw Jaune and Pyrrha burst from the treeline. They ran to the group, both of them out of breath. "Sorry...we're...late…" Pyrrha apologized.
"Welcome to the party-" Edler was interrupted by an Ursa breaking through the treeline, the energetic girl and her partner from earlier were riding it. The Grimm hit the ground, and promptly died. "Aww...it's broken!" The girl whined.
Her partner walked from behind the disintegrating monster. "Nora...never again." He panted.
"More people. Good." Edler said. "Now we can move out."
"What about Ruby and Weiss?" Yang asked.
Edler held up two fingers, and counted down from two silently. At zero, the two girls in question burst from the treeline. "We're here!" Ruby shouted.
"Now we go." Edler said. "Grab a chess piece, and move!"
"What about your partner?" Pyrrha asked.
"Ozpin neglected to tell me that bit of information before he launched me." Edler sighed. "So I'll stick to hoofing it out from here solo."
Yang looked ready to rebuke him when they heard a screech from the forest. "Another Nevermore?"
Edler narrowed his eyes. "No...it's not." He held out two hands, and summoned a rocket launcher. The words TitanHammer Archer were very clear on the side of the weapon. "Start running, all of you."
"But we can fight!" Ruby exclaimed.
"Not this one." Edler said grimly. "This one is a monster beyond the others you fought here."
The brushline broke, literally. It was torn asunder by the beast that came out of the cave.
"Elder Deathstalker." Elder grimaced. "I thought the last of these things were sent to the Grimmwoods." He mumbled the last part, hoping no one heard him. He raised the Archer, and fired a shot. The rocket flew towards the Elder Deathstalker, and the creature used one of its pincers to block the shot.
Elder wasted no time, running at the creature and jumping up into the sky. He quickly dispersed the Archer, and brought out what looked to be a rifle with a bipod on it.
"What's he gonna do with that-?" Ruby started, but was interrupted by the gun discharging four shots of plasma. The explosive projectiles impacted the top of the Grimm, bone shards flying into the sky.
"We gotta help him!" Yang shouted. "He can't hold off that thing forever!"
Ruby nodded. "Weiss, slow it down!"
Weiss summoned a black Glyph, and the beast slowed. Elder took the chance to let gravity do its thing. He took out his chainsword, and powered it up. The electric Dust crystal injected electricity into the blade as Edler spun down towards the Elder Deathstalker. He sliced the pincer off the Grimm, and chipped armor off near the mandibles. He landed with a thud in front of the beast.
"What? You the lucky novice who survived the purge?" Edler mumbled to the Grimm. "What happened to your kind?"
The Grimm clicked its mandibles.
"I see…" Edler twirled his chainsword, and jammed it into the mouth of the Grimm. He pulled the trigger, and the chainsaw part of his sword ripped up the Grimm.
The group behind him winced as they heard the unholy noise of the blades tearing through the beast. Yang was covering her ears, trying to block out the chainsaw and the Grimm's squeals. Blake had it worse, way worse. Ruby and Weiss looked away. Pyrrha stood slackjaw at the sight, Jaune was trying to keep his breakfast in. Ren closed his eyes, blocking out the sound.
Nora? Well…
"Keep going! Yes! Rip and Tear!"
Nora was enjoying the show. Not surprising.
Edler ripped the weapon out of the Grimm. "Not even a challenge, why was I worried?"
The Grimm slumped, and began to disintegrate. Edler put his chainsword mag locked on his back and walked away from the body. "That wasn't too hard, wasn't it?" Edler asked the group.
"Uh…" Yang pointed back to where the body was supposed to be disintegrating.
Edler turned around to see that in fact the body was not doing that. Instead, it was reforming. The dust particles swirled up into the sky, and began reforming into a torso. The remaining lower torso and the tail of the Elder Deathstalker reformed into its original form, except the tail joined the upper torso. The head reformed into something akin to a knight's helmet, while the torso seemed to be armored up even more than the Elder Deathstalker already was. The lower torso, which now resembled a Deathstalker's body sans tail, began to solidify and produce more bone armor. The monster solidified, and let out a piercing scream to the heavens.
"I had to open my big mouth." Edler mumbled.
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"The Colossus Grimm form. It only appears once in a blue moon. Any major form of a Grimm, an example being an Alpha Beowulf, has a 1 in a 10000 chance of becoming this form, maybe even much less upon death. It isn't a Demi-God level Grimm like the Wyvern form, but it is pretty damn tough to kill." -COL Ypres on the study of the Colossus Grimm form.
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Cliffside
Ozpin could clearly see that Glynda was wanting to go out there and help the prospects. A Colossus Grimm was a rarity, but when one did show up, it was a problem and a half. Only a full Hunter team, at a minimum, could defeat it. One teacher, while very experienced, would not be able to kill it.
Ozpin was more focused on Edler's Semblance. A supposed Summoning Semblance was rare, and when that was catered to weapons instead of sentient entities was rarer. Edler simply needed to know how the weapon worked and he could summon it and use it. The question here, however, was where he kept the ammo. Or even if that was his Semblance at all. Ozpin was dwelling on this when Glynda brought him out of his mind.
"Ozpin, we need to assist them!" She shouted. "They won't be able to defeat that!"
"There are two teams down there, along with a person who is more experienced than all of them." Ozpin calmly explained. "Prepare to move, but when I order you to do so."
Glynda nodded, still tense.
"It's up to our prospects to defeat this Grimm." Ozpin said. "And I'm sure you have taken note of Mr. Adler's Semblance."
"Do you think Mr. Adler's Semblance will even the odds?" Glynda asked.
"It will do more than that, Glynda. It will put them back in our favor."
Emerald Forest
Edler rolled to the left to avoid the giant fist slamming down where he just was. He summoned a Charge Rifle, and fired at the fist. The Colossus roared, and retracted the arm, most likely more angry than hurt. He dispersed the Charge Rifle, and resummoned his Kraber to continue firing at the beast's head. The explosive bullets would chip the armor, but didn't do much else.
"We need a plan!" Weiss shouted, summoning ice shards to pelt the Colossus where it was weak. "I don't think we're doing any damage to it!"
Ruby fired another round at the beast's eye, only for it to quickly tilt its head to let the bullet ricochet off the armor on its head. "I think Weiss is right!"
Yang was bounding around, using her shotguns as propulsion as she would occasionally fire a shot at an opening in the armor. The shots would burn the beast, but again they did little else. "Crap!" She dashed left, avoiding a fist from the Colossus.
Nora was firing grenades from a distance, while Ren was running around the beast firing Stormflower at it. Pink explosions and small SMGs marks dotted the beast, but the Colossus was shrugging all of it off.
Edler rolled right again, dispersing the Kraber. He suddenly had an idea. He ran up to Weiss. "Throw me!"
"What?" Weiss asked, perplexed.
"I want you to throw me! Launch me into the sky!" Edler clarified.
Blake, coincidentally, landed next to the two. "I can help." And before Edler could ask, she threw her weapon into the tree, the ribbon still attached to the hilt. She held the other side, and had made an impromptu slingshot.
Edler nodded. He used his Aura to dash into the ribbon line, and turned around to face the beast. He hooked the ribbon on a rock outcropping and aimed himself above and to the left of the head of the towering monster.
"Now!" Weiss summoned the Glyphs, and Edler brought out his chainsword and kicked the stone aside. He was launched, and he hit the first Glyph and was rocketed forward. As he neared the shoulder he activated the electric Dust in his weapon. He swung, and the accompanying arc of electricity sliced clean through the shoulder of the Colossus. It shrieked in agony, but Edler wasn't done. He turned around and summoned two Titanhammer Archers, one in each hand. He aimed at the head of the beast, causing his thrusters to come out of his armor and make him levitate in the air. He fired both rockets, and they shot towards the beast's head. They exploded, and the head armor was destroyed.
Edler then dispersed the launchers, and the air behind him shimmered as two metal stalks sprouted from behind him. Each stalk had missile launchers on them.
"Ohmygodthoseareacolytelauncherpods!" Ruby squealed in excitement.
Edler opened the pods. "Salvo Core online, bitch." And with that, a hailstorm of missiles were launched, each hitting the unarmored head of the Colossus. The monster couldn't even shriek as the missiles easily destroyed the head of the beast. To finish it, Edler boosted himself down, and 'ground pounded' what was left of the beast. The carcass fell to the ground, and began to dissolve. Edler walked out from the smoke of the dissolving beast, Acolyte Pods still deployed. He continued towards the stunned group of Hunters, and dispersed the pods.
"Shall we finish this Initiation?" Edler asked, summoning his King piece. "Ozpin owes me a little explanation."
Evernight Castle
Salem suddenly winced.
Her subordinates, who were sitting at the table with her planning for the Fall of Beacon, looked at her. Watts, ever the gentleman, spoke first.
"M'lady, are you alright?" He asked.
Salem looked to her minion. "A Grimm Colossus has been killed." She said, her tone not betraying how impressed she was at the feat. "It was an Elder Deathstalker who morphed into it."
"The one near Beacon?" Watts asked. "That was the last one who was outside the Grimmwoods. It managed to become a Colossus?"
"Yes, and now it has been killed." Salem continued. "And on the topic of the Grimmwoods, they're attacking again."
Watts, Hazel, and even Tyrian felt a shiver go up their spines. The attacks in the Grimmwoods were brutal for all sides. The senseless sacrifice of life by this...kingdom...seemed surreal. Millions of souls died every time one of their 'expeditions' went out to further their borders. What was worse was that around ninety-five percent of Salem's forces had to be concentrated there to keep them at bay. The war of attrition was made worse when they introduced masses of automated troops and mechanized robots called Titans to the fray. As if the tanks and armored super soldiers weren't enough already.
"They're gonna break through, aren't they?" Hazel asked.
"This is the fifth time this year they have attacked us there. The Grimm are simply exhausted by this point." Salem sighed. "All the Grimm I need for Beacon and Vale are being saved for Cinder, but at this point they will break through."
"Do we even know their plans?" Hazel asked.
"I do." Watts interrupted. "They plan to build a highly sophisticated and heavily defended wall separating them and the Grimmwoods from us."
"It would make it impossible for us to reinforce the Grimmwoods. The amount of resources they would have access to would empower them above Atlas." Hazel stated.
"They were already above Atlas in terms of power and resources." Watts interjected. "Their military power and industrial capacity almost exceeds our Mistress's."
"I will not lie, Watts speaks the truth." Salem admitted.
"So what? We can easily kill their best warriors, no matter how many they send out." Tyrian cackled. "They have to run out eventually."
"While I am inclined to believe you, Tyrian, I have evidence that proves you wrong, unfortunately." Salem sighed.
"Eh?"
"I have been at war with these beings since the Great War, and the subsequent Faunas Revolution. This kingdom kept the Grimm at bay while the original four fought for dominance and against the Faunas." Salem explained. "They started the 'expeditions' we see today seventeen years after the Great War ended. They've been at war with the Grimm and I since their creation. In fact, to combat my forces was the reason for the kingdom's creation. They will fight us anywhere on their territory, and they will do it with sadistic pleasure. I have lost...too much...to their forces." Salem seemed almost upset at the losses she had sustained against this foe. "And I have nothing to show for it."
"Imagine if every Huntsman and Huntress felt this way." Watts pondered aloud. "We might have the same problem on that front."
"Regardless, they will be...dealt with." Salem sounded unsure. "We shall refocus efforts on Beacon. Control what we can."
The group nodded, and went back to work. Salem was left alone with her thoughts, thinking back to when she last went out to combat.
'They'll end me, unless I provide a distraction to them.' Salem thought to herself. 'Then that'll be what I'll do.'
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"Gloria fortis miles, the Grimm are upon us." -Common saying in the Hammond Trench Corps during expeditions.
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Auditorium
Elder watched as the two previous teams walked off the stage. The newly christened JNPR and RWBY walked off to the waiting wing, leaving Edler alone.
"Now I know this is a rarity, but this year I had left the King piece of the chess set out for a certain someone." Ozpin said, looking to Edler and smiling. "For acquiring the King piece, Edler Adler will now be known as Solo Team AE. He will support Teams JNPR and RWBY throughout their time here at Beacon, and shall replace one of them if the need arises." Edler summoned the King piece, and threw it to Ozpin, who caught it easily. "Congratulations, Mr. Adler."
Edler nodded, and walked off stage.
Ozpin thanked everyone for showing up, and the ceremony ended.
Dorms
Edler was annoyed.
Not only had he been unable to talk to Ozpin about being screwed out of a partner, he also didn't know what room he was staying in. Ozpin had neglected to tell him that little tidbit of information before he was dismissed from the auditorium. Thankfully, the universe threw him a bone in the form of a red blur hitting him in the chest, which bounced off of his armor.
"Oww…" Ruby rubbed her head. "What did I hit-Oh! Edler!"
"Yeah, that's me. What are you doing bolting around, Rose?"
"You know you can call me Ruby, right?"
"Very well, Ruby. Now, what are you doing bolting around campus?"
"I was getting cookies, duh!"
Edler tilted his head. "Cookies?"
"Yeah! They're my favorite!"
"I see…" To be honest, Edler was more perplexed than anything.
"Wait, what are you doing in these dorms? First year dorms are that way." Ruby pointed east.
"I...wasn't given a dorm."
"Yeah, you were." Ruby said, as if he was supposed to know this.
"Well, Ozpin didn't tell me that." Edler said, his annoyance at the Headmaster growing.
"There's a single occupancy room next to my team's dorm. You're telling me Ozpin didn't tell you?" Ruby tilted her head now. "Strange."
"You're telling me." Edler said. "Guess I'll follow you to wherever you're going, then follow you back to your dorms."
"Okay!" She rocketed off, leaving Edler in the dust.
"Oh goddammit." Edler said, pouring some Aura into his feet to make him move faster. "Forgot about her Semblance."
Somewhere deep in the Grimmwoods
Beowulfs and Ursai ran in hordes, trying to escape their impending doom as salvo after salvo of rocket artillery thundered behind them. Artillery shells came down like a metal rain, ripping apart the hordes as Grimm limbs and bodies were thrown about. Some Grimm looked up into the sky as huge aircraft dropped bomb after bomb onto them. Close air support aircraft rained down hell with missiles and machine gun fire.
The Grimm had lost all their aerial allies, they had been ripped apart as soon as their enemies let their reinforcements into the fray. When this battle had started, it had been a stalemate, the front line would move slightly in someone's favor everytime and forces would fall in heavy casualties. Now, it was hell on Remnant for the Grimm. Enemy air superiority left them open for everything. They were in full retreat, unaware of what the enemy was doing.
Back near the Forward Operating Base, Atlas Titans roamed around on patrol. Ogres were being loaded onto Widows to be transported to specific deployment zones.
GEN Weris Aldermen looked down at his plans one more time. The subordinates around him could clearly see his five o'clock shadow sharply contrasting with his pale skin. The bags around his bloodshot eyes and the wrinkles on his face aged him by a decade, it seemed. He stood hunched, and he was grimacing.
The poor man was only 39 years old, rush promoted after his superior officers vehemently volunteered to lead their troops on the frontlines. They were dead, killed the third day they had been out here in this godforsaken land. High Command designated him as the Expedition Commander, and he was given four stars to replace his full bird. He wasn't ready for this, but had taken it in stride. He had successfully routed the Grimm, and had a plan to eliminate all the remaining ones. He was forcing them into an alley with the Titans he had at his disposal. He would then begin an intense bombing campaign against them as they tried to move through his artificial chokepoint.
He had lovingly dubbed his plan 'The Highway of Death'. He was pretty proud of that title.
"Sir, the forces are in position. Reinforcements are heading to back them up now, but we can execute now if you so please." His communications device squawked.
GEN Aldermen took the device. "Do it, end this now."
"Yes sir."
He put the device down. "You stupid woman." Aldermen said, looking in the direction of the Grimmlands. "You have failed at wiping us out. You've had your chance, it's our turn now."
The Land of Darkness was where the real prize was. It was where every Hammond officer and soldier wanted to be. It was where the Hammond military wanted to be. Their target was there.
Target DARKNESS, the Dark Countess, the Grimm Queen, whatever other unholy connotation she held as a title, it wouldn't matter soon.
Salem was going to feel the wrath of the Kingdom of Hammond, and nothing short of holy intervention would stop them. Maybe not even that.
It would require so much more.
Atlesian High Command
Ironwood's eyes narrowed as he read the report in his hands. Grimm around Atlas had become very skittish again. As if something was calling out to them, and they were unable to answer. The Tinman knew that the Grimm in Atlas weren't built to survive outside Atlas's biome, they would overheat and die quickly. But they were patrolling the edge of the snowy biome, and they knew for the lives of themselves they couldn't leave. "What is going on here…" Ironwood asked. "Why are they acting like this?"
The doors to his office opened, allowing a white-haired woman to enter the room. "Sir." She saluted.
Ironwood looked up from his report. "At ease, Schnee." The woman lowered her salute. "It's happening again."
"I see that, sir. What is getting the Grimm riled like this?"
"Winter, I couldn't tell you." Ironwood massaged his temples with his fingers. "I could put any theory forward, but my mind is turning blank."
Winter picked up one of the reports. The office was silent as she read through the report. "I think we should look into the timing of these frenzies."
"What do you mean?"
She picked up a highlighter and highlighted the dates the frenzies had been occurring. "Originally, they happened every other year. This was the standard until...looks like ten years ago."
"Then what happened?" Ironwood looked inquisitively at Winter.
"Then it shot up to it happening every year. Except this year. This is the fifth time it's happened this year." Winter said, handing the report back to Ironwood. "How did we not notice it?"
"It hasn't been a problem until now." Ironwood admitted. "We ignored it, actually hoped for it. It brought the Grimm away from us and towards uninhabited areas. We got a reprieve."
"So who's disturbing our peace?" Winter asked.
"Your father, actually." Ironwood asked. "He's found a Dust deposit in the areas the Grimm are congregating during these frenzies. A big one at that. He's found a way to justify this sudden turn of opinion. He says he's 'worried the Grimm will frenzy towards Atlas' and that the source 'should be determined if it can be used for us to direct Grimm away from us permanently.'"
"Meaning he wants to direct the frenzying Grimm away from Dust mines." Winter sighed. "The bastard…"
"Hm…" Ironwood looked over the report one more time. "They seem to be trying to move towards the uninhabited island near us."
"The one that looks like a dragon? Isn't that technically our territory?"
"Yes, but we don't have the power to successfully remove Grimm from that area." Ironwood explained. "I assumed we were going to leave it alone until we had the resources to do so. It appears Jacques is trying to move that agenda up now."
Winter rolled her eyes.
"I feel the same way." Ironwood gave a ghost of a smile. "But we should let sleeping dogs lie for now. No reason to stir up unneeded trouble."
"Yes sir." Winter saluted.
Beacon Dorms
Edler opened his room's locker. He was lucky enough to get one, a perk of having a single occupancy room. He had put his chainsword in the locker, and some of the items and clothes he bought in Vale. He deployed his stasis chamber next to his bed, and started to take off his armor. As he took off his upper torso armor, he heard loud machine tool noises coming from the room next to him.
'Team RWBY.' Edler thought, accidentally losing grip on his torso piece as it fell to the ground. The split second before it hit, he muttered "Shit."
The piece hit the ground, and shook the entire room.
Edler heard a muffled reaction from Team RWBY. He picked up the phrases "What the hell?" and "What was that?"
Soon after, he heard a knocking on his door. He opened the door to see Pyrrha standing in front of his door. "Hi."
"Are you alright?" Pyrrha asked. "I heard a noise...or felt it, I guess."
"I...uh...dropped my armor?" Edler opened the door to reveal his chestpiece nestled into the ground. "I forgot how heavy it actually is."
"How heavy is it?" Pyrrha asked. Secretly, she tried to gauge it herself using her polarity.
"I'm not even sure." Edler said, knowing what she was trying.
Pyrrha's Semblance enveloped the armor, and she was instantly hit with overwhelming pain as she tried to lift it.
"I would stop before you rip something." Edler said.
She stopped. Edler picked up the armor piece, surprising Pyrrha, and put it into the stasis chamber, along with the rest of the armor pieces. "Anything else I can do for you?"
Pyrrha shook her head.
"Hey!" Weiss poked her head into his room. "What did you drop!?"
"My armor." Edler said, as if it explained everything. And to be fair, it probably did.
"I...I don't even know anymore…" Weiss went back into her room.
"Well, we got classes tomorrow...do you want to join the team for breakfast?" Pyrrha asked Edler. "Jaune wouldn't mind."
"I think I'll take you up on that offer." Edler answered, smiling slightly. "See you tomorrow?"
"Yes." And with that, the door closed.
Edler looked back at his armor, and the smile disappeared. Subconsciously, he summoned the last piece of armor, something he kept locked up in his Semblance, which was not Summoning.
It was a MJOLNIR MK IV Helmet. The golden VISR had a huge hole where the left eye would be, fractures spanning the entire VISR. Edler brought it up to eye level, his reflection staring back at him.
"To hell and back." Edler mumbled, brushing his hand over a symbol on the top left of his helmet. It was a circle with a blue outline, inside it was black and white, the white itself fashioned to an almost hourglass shape. Red numbers were over three red stars, but under a black silhouette of a dropship.
It was the insignia of the 99th Hell Divers.
"Miss you guys." Edler mumbled. "Where did we go? What did we do?"
/-/
"The 99th Hell Divers were instrumental in the counter-attack during the Battle of Glazko Plains. The fallen shall be honored with utmost respect, and they shall be remembered for their display of the highest heroic gallantry to be seen on the battlefield." -Supreme Commander Holtis, honoring the 99th Hell Divers Division after the Battle of Glazko Plains. The battle saw the 99th help repel Grimm forces, including several Colossus Grimm, from overrunning the 554th Red Horse Division's fortifications that protected a key industrial district.
PROFILE: EDLER ADLER
Semblance: Storage- Can store any weapon, ammunition, or item of certain size, and can summon it for use.
Weapons: Hell Diver's Wrath- Chainsword than can make arcs of energy. Energy depends on the Dust used.
Clothing: MJOLNIR MK IV GEN2 [Hybrid]-Made specifically for agents in specialist divisions, and for certain soldiers in the Hammond Trench Corps. Painted a military green with the Aquila and Power H on the left plate of the chest armor.
A/N: If you're wondering about why I suddenly through my OCs profile onto the story, it is because of a review I got. Though that armor will be possibly maybe implemented later (I haven't decided), Edler's armor is, in fact, not that. He wears the same armor as the Spartans from Red Team in Halo Wars 2. The chainsword was correct, though. Though to that reviewer, I did say I was using multiple fandom elements, no?
Perhaps you predicted something...