Author Note: Hello again! Forgive this unsightly hollow for being late, things have gone a little south academic wise and it required my attention. But, nevertheless, I present to you the fifth chapter of A Dark Soul and A Painter Within Remnant. I hope that you enjoy!
Also: I don't own RWBY or Dark Souls.
Criticism and reviews are welcome! I'm kinda surprised I didn't say that in the previous one...
"This land is peaceful, its inhabitants kind, but thou dost not belong." - A certain mistress of a forgotten world.
Every faunus looked out from their windows to hear the racket from outside. Each one had a scowl on their faces, bitter to the fact of being awakened at such a late hour. What they all saw horrified them. The guard of the gates: Cobalt and Mag lay dead on the floor. One filled with nothing but soulless eyes and the other gutted like a pig. His insides splayed out onto the ground for all to see.
The murderers stood over them, an eerily dressed man in assassin like robes, the other adorned with a fantasy like garb with a large hat. This one was more strange as they had five blue spheres floating above them peacefully, and they had a crystallized look to them.
Whoever they were, they're bringing great fear to the town, and it will bring Grimm.
Jade and one other self-proclaimed huntsman came to the scene with slight drowsiness on their eyes. She transformed her bow out of its docile state and readied two arrows, both electricity. These men, whoever they were had to be brought to the law, even if they committed such a serious crime, she'd never stoop low as the White Fang would.
Sweat beaded down her forehead, her hands were shaking, and the same could be said for her companion.
"Where is it?" The hooded man asked, his voice deep and sinister. "Where is the Dark Soul?"
She looked at the canine huntsman and he shrugged, "The what?" Jade asked with confusion written on her face.
The man's shadowed eyes narrowed, "I'll say this once more: Where is the Dark Soul of Man? Tell me where it is, and your death will be less painful." He unsheathed his bloody dagger, the thing was coated in barbed spikes, it had to have been the tool that gutted Cobalt.
"We don't even-" Jade paused mid-way to see the second faunus huntsman on one of the wooden rooftops. He had a rifle in hand and planned to immobilize the assassin by shooting him in the leg, crippling his chances of success.
"Then, you are of no use to me alive."
The wizard's blue spheres locked onto the man with the high ground and shot upwards. A loud whistling like noise could be heard before they banged ferociously against his chest. The perfectly placed huntsman on the roof slid down and fell to the cold dirt ground, his eyes blank like Mag's.
The wizard walked at a brisk pace, holding up the staff to summon more of those spherical things again. This time, pulling out a small, crude dagger with a purple liquid dripping off its blade.
While they were paying attention to the new addition, the assassin lunged forward, thrusting the barbed dagger towards Jade's stomach. She dodged and strafed back to evade these jabs, which showed no sign of slowing down at all. The man had tons of stamina to use, and then, he proceeded to add slashes into the mix. Two were able to scratch Jade's left arm; her aura flashed a bright green before fading away, this intrigued him, his eyes showing a glint of surprise. He stopped to coat his blade in a blue and slimy substance in a speedy manner. His smirk could be seen under the shadow of that hood, what was he so happy about?
Meanwhile, villagers were panicking and began to hide within their homes, unaware of the fact that they're becoming a homing beacon for Grimm. It had to be a nightmare, nothing like this would happen in reality, right?
"Where the hell is the sheriff?!" Cried out one of the villagers, looking frantically for their peacekeeper. Not a moment too soon, their protector came out walking slowly from the only large building in the village. The scruffy looking man strutted out, his worn-down shot-gun in both hands. A face with two bull horns peered out to the distance to see Jade not doing so well against a human? He dashed at break-neck speed, only to be stopped by a painful surge of something smashing against his back. Turning around, that wizard once again pulled out a purple urn, "Did you throw that at me, sir-" Getting a better look, it was a woman. "Please, explain to me why you threw that at me-" She tossed another, this one hit the ground, and something unexpected happened. Four black balls with eyes surged forward, flying directly towards his direction. He dodged, only to be hit by two blue bolts in quick succession. Soon after, three of those evil things dissipated, with a single one striking the ground beneath him. Whatever those blue projectiles were, they seemed to be doing heavy damage against his aura. A couple more of those wouldn't be good. Even more so would be to discover whatever those demonic ones did.
"You leave me no choice." He cracked his neck a couple times, transforming his shot-gun into a large club, "I just have to drive you down before I can haul you into jail myself!"
Speeding forward, he brought his club up high and smashed the ground, making a small crater in the process. However, the wizard back-stepped just enough to get out of distance. She took strides in avoiding him and tried to lift the wooden staff up again to cast. That ended in sorceries being canceled and being wasted. A growl of anger could be heard from her.
"I'm not giving you any chances to do that again! HYAAA!" He moved in closer for a strong swing to the right, it caught her off guard, such speed wasn't seen before. A direct hit was landed onto the belly, launching her back a couple feet away. Not finished with the fight, he used his faunus speed to dash on over and grab her by the collar of her robe, lifting her up to his face. Yet, it is just now that he learned that the girl was so young-looking, and she possessed no aura. Porcelain white skin and fair features could be seen on her face, "Your fight is over." He looked away to grab some cuffs, only to see a dagger place itself neatly into his gut, throwing the girl away to pull out the blade, he glared at her. "Damn you! Arghh!" glancing at it, a sickly dark purple liquid tainted the weapon. Toxic poison to her knowledge. An unknown one to him.
"You're just a little girl still…. Just about Jade's age…. Why?" He thought to himself, what would drive a youth like her to kill someone? The poison was kicking in quite fast. His head pounded with pain, vision clouding with a purple hue, and ears ringing with a hissing sound. He was slowly losing sight, everything gradually went dark.
"I'm…. so sorry…." The sheriff whispered, closing his eyes, foam forming out of the mouth.
Dajorn knew what that warping noise was the moment he went to investigate those bell noises again. First in his dream and now in real life. This wasn't a coincidence. There are Dark spirits here, and not mere mindless ones seeking vengeance after death. No, these were ones that hunted for power, as he did all those ages ago. Were they sucked out of their places as well? For safety reasons, Dajorn asked if Carrie and Hershel had a basement of sorts, in which, they did. He handed Priscilla another white branch, telling her to hide and to not come out until he returned. After all, dark spirits wanted only one of two things: Humanity and souls. Both were plentiful in this place, but what concerned him more was what would happen if they got their hands on the blood of the Dark Soul? To complicate things, Jade already headed out to investigate, Dajorn can't afford to lose another kind person, not after all that's happened. They're the only ones who'd keep Priscilla safe, for they had understood their situation somehow. He quietly left the house and made his way to the nearest sound of commotion.
The familiar sound of magic urns being smashed and soul darts could be heard near the Sheriff's big office/old town hall.
Trying his best to keep a low profile, Dajorn crouched down to get a better look at who they were. From the looks of it, just a sorcerer. A great relief to him, they'd go down easy if he closed in and dodged any of those damnable sorceries. These types were tough opponents if one didn't have ample protection against magic. Although, beneath the magic caster, lay a body, dying in quick agony of toxic poisoning. It was the Sheriff, he must've let his guard down, a terrible mistake to make against Dark Spirits. They only want what they came for, not pity or mercy.
"The failed prodigy was called here too?" A whisper entered his ear, he turned around only to be struck in the face with the butt of a short-sword. Another fist struck his solar plexus, and a kick to the stomach, knocking him down to the ground. Dajorn looked up to see an old, disappointed face.
"A shame, you're no longer in your prime. Our leader believed that you were truly different, but now, he's gone. The gods are gone. And yet, you still live like a worm trying its utmost skill to wiggle back underground."
He squatted down, "So, where is it? the Dark Soul? I know that it's here. The two people I've questioned don't know anything of it." Tilting his head, Jade lay there, shaking violently with fear and pain. Her fellow faunus dead, blood pooling around the corpse.
"The Dark Soul isn't here, Alric. It never was."
The now named assassin sighed and looked to the female wizard. "Burn the houses down, we will find it. One way or the other."
She nodded silently and reached into her large satchel to pull out several black firebombs. Throwing them onto the roofs of each wooden house, the flames spread quickly and began their mindless destruction. Every villager running in panic wasn't helping either, Dajorn had to quickly deal with them and get to Priscilla.
"I assume that your fighting days are long past you as well? I see no armor, yet, I do see a dagger. You've really fallen from grace." Alric snickered slightly.
Roars could be heard from the forest now. No doubt the Grimm has finally arrived to annihilate any source of life.
Only moments were allotted before they'd be overwhelmed with the sheer amount there'd be. Dajorn was in no good equipment to deal with more than five of those Beowolves, as Jade and the others call them.
Dajorn got back up, his old bones aching once more. He unsheathed his trusty dagger from his waist and flicked it to the full size of a sword.
"You are a fool to challenge me in that state," Alric said, disappointment apparent in his voice.
Dajorn chuckled, "I've faced harsher odds, what makes my life a poor state?"
The two stared at each other for the longest time, Alric spoke to the wizard behind him, "Go. Find it, I will settle this myself."
She didn't even answer and left the scene, leaving Dajorn and Alric to their duel.
Two men, both belonging to a monstrous covenant, battling to the death in a place they don't even know. Quite the scene.
Everything was burning. Smoke billowed to the sky from all the houses, its noxious fumes ruining the fresh night, and devouring everything it touches.
Sounds of people screaming and Grimm roaring could be heard from above the basement. Priscilla tightly clutched the white branch again, recalling Dajorn's words of using it whenever those beasts get too close.
Carrie came rushing down the stairs, keys jangling in her hands. "Priscilla! Come on, we have to leave!"
The pale girl didn't move. She only gripped the white branch tighter and sunk her head lower.
"What's the matter!? We have to go, the whole house will come crashing down if you just sit there!"
"I must stay. Tis Dajorn's request." She replied in a low voice. Carrie groaned and made long strides towards the small red bedroll, grabbing Priscilla's forearm, "He'll take too long! You'll see him again, I promise, but right now we have to leave!" Dragging the protesting painter up the stairs where Hershel was outside the entrance. The wolf held his child bridal style, her expressions filled with absolute pain and terror. "Good, you got her. Get into the truck!" He placed Jade in the passenger seat, Carrie and Priscilla got into the back seats.
An Ursa blocked the path, standing on its hind legs and roared. Its back was left wide open to a barrage of homing soul mass.
"Who the hell is that?!" Carrie asked, pointing at the wizard. Not answering any questions, Hershel put the gear into drive, hoping the Grimm will deal with it.
A large blue spear came from the staff, piercing the truck with ease and putting it to a halt. "Shit!" He turned the keys again, only for it to stall and for the engine to make questioning noises.
The truck was flanked by three beowolves, all of them shaking it violently, then they saw the girl in robes.
She raised her staff to summon five crystallized homing soul masses and then took a drink of a blue flask before putting it away with great care. Those dark blue eyes of hers seemed to have popped out of their sockets, figuratively, of course. They weren't deceiving her. A girl in the back of the metal carriage has it. The Dark Soul!
All three beowolves lunged at her, only to be stopped in their tracks as each crystal sphere sped towards their heads, slamming against them like a hammer.
The Dark Soul would be in their grasp, and the strange animal people won't get in her way either. Alric would be pleased with this. A delicate smile graced this witch's face, they're so close to victory.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
"Ehhh…. Weiss…. You'll actually go out with me? Wow…."
Ring. Ring. Ring.
"Of course I'd like to dance with you…."
Ring. Ring. Ring.
Jaune groaned and picked up the scroll with anger, "Alright! Whoever just ruined my chance of going out with Weiss, we're going to have a serious talk!"
The line went silent before the voice of Goodwitch spoke, "Mr. Arc, please refrain from speaking like that to me."
Jaune's expression switched from anger to fear. "Ms. Goodwitch! I'm so terribly sorry," He faked his chuckles awkwardly, "Um, so what's the occasion at this time of hour?" He looked to see the rest of Team JNPR waking up, rubbing their eyes and yawning.
"I'm going to have to ask that you and your team ready up, there has been an incident with your mission…."
Everyone stood up from their beds, "What happened?" Jaune asked.
"The Grimm have attacked the village and…. The Sheriff isn't answering our calls. Professor Peach will accompany you as she has been notified of the incident as well. I've already prepared a bullhead for you all." She sighed, " I only hope that the worse hasn't happened."
That's the end of the 5th chapter! I hope that this hollow has pleased you. If so, yay! If not, then darn it all. I hope to see you all next Saturday and perhaps a few days soon since I will be making edits to the previous chapters.