AuNotes: If you're still enjoying the story this far then thanks, and let's get it going.
Talking: "Corvo"
Thoughts: 'Corvo'
Powers: {CORVO}
Corvo stared at the Heart for while wondering what secrets could tell about this world. He never really understood the Heart completely besides its basic functions such as finding and tracking Rune, and Bone Charms both used to enhance his body and powers. But that's where his knowledge ends for the Heart since it was given time the first time he ever set foot into the Void by the Outsider "A living thing, molded by my hands," he said as he handed it to Corvo.
No one can see it, Corvo noticed when he tried to show it to the Professor to see if he could figure it out, but all he said was nothing there. Then there was the sprites voice, a soft female that echoed through Corvo's mind whenever she whispered secrets to him rather it be the area around him to the very thoughts of other human beings. It's a truly dangers tool
"Maybe you can explain something to me" Corvo focused a bit of void into the Heart causing it to pump as if blood was coursing through it. The strange machinery that sewed into Heart started to become active as a little light in the center turn on, and a voice echoed in his head
"What have you done Corvo?" A soft voice said.
"What?" Corvo questioned, never having it talked like this to him before.
"You don't belong here Corvo this place this world you shouldn't have let that trickster bring you here." the voice sounded slightly panic".
"What do you mean!" Corvo tried. This was different than usual. The Heart would just give an answer and move on, and never really communicated directly with him like this.
"This world will be the death of you Corvo. Surrounded by secrets never knowing what is truth you can not help this world Corvo" the voice warned. "The shadows here are not your ally Corvo not like back home there is something lurking that will bring down this world, and everything around you. Do not get involved more than you have! You are no protector anymore Corvo live for yourself or else..."
Then Heart suddenly stopped completely, no voice, no movement, just nothing.
...?
Corvo tried to reactivate the Heart with what little void energy he had, but the Heart stayed inactive. "I don't understand?" Corvo was at a loss he had never seen the Heart act like that before, or fail when he tried to use it. "I just..." Corvo's mind was going into overdrive at the warning the Heart gave him.
"Have I made the wrong choice?" Corvo finally said.
(Location Unknown)
"That was close wasn't it?" a voice called. "See this is what happens when you don't play by the rules."
"..."
"Ah the slight treatment now huh? Very well do as you please, and I'll be doing the same!" the voice chuckled to himself
"I know you worry about him, but so do I" the voice said in a soothing tone "The odds may be put against him, but that is what makes it interesting to watch after all".
"..."
"Nothing huh? Alright will leave it at that, but I do agree with you a little he may need some help" the voice hummed for a second. "I'll figure something out. Can't have the main attraction go, and die can I?"
"..."
"You're boring".
(Morning)
**Knock**Knock**
Corvo's eyes shot open as he quickly got up aiming his gun at the door. It wasn't open, but he could hear the voice of a young male "Sorry Sir but it's checkout time."
Corvo lowered his gun, and a deep breath realizing that he might have overacted "Yes I'll be out in a moment, and with that Corvo didn't hear anything else he began looking for a clock 'What time is it?' finding a clock hanging off the wall, and it read eleven thirty "Wow I overslept" but he couldn't be surprised not with what happened. Getting himself out of bed Corvo couldn't help but notice his ruined royal coat with one of sleeves ripped "And I like that coat too" he wouldn't be able to do anything about it until he got it repaired so it was only the new gray one for now.
Walking into the bathroom Corvo looked at himself before lifting his shirt to his chest. The bruise on his chest looks a lot better with his skin turning to its natural color "Thank god for void healing" Corvo said to himself even though getting hurt like this wasn't the norm. But he best be on his way, he couldn't really stay in one place for too long, but that didn't mean the outside would be much better.
"I need a base to work out of," Corvo declared. It was nice to have a secret base of operation to work in relative hiding after his missions a place to sit down for a moment or two. But the best he can do here is jump from motel to motel which is working for now, but the money will run out at some point so he'll have to figure something out before then.
'But first I need to leave before they start complaining' he really needed to go anyway. He still needed to figure out what he took from that girl. He ended up storing the thing in the hilt of his blade figuring it would be the last place anyone would check if he did somehow get captured, but to figure out the thing he took he would have to head back into town again to do some research. 'Not much of a plan but it's something' so gathering the rest of his stuff before making his way into the motel halls.
Walking down to the front end of the motel Corvo reached the clerk's desk. There was a different man from last night sitting behind the desk head resting in his palm with a bored look. With a closer look Corvo noticed the young man was a spitting image of the old one from last night with the same green sweater, round glasses ,and ram horns stuck out of his head, the same everything except the fact he was younger.
"Can I help you sir?" the man said in a dull tone
Corvo placed the key down in front of him "I'm checking out"
The man grabs the key and literally toss it behind him "Alright have a good one'
Corvo almost questioned the man's action, but he wasn't really in the mood today. "Yea thanks" Corvo walked out of the motel without another word, and his mind was not really focused. Walking onto the sidewalk Corvo covered his eyes as the morning sun shone high in the sky, and the streets were busy with as many vehicles and people going around there morning business. 'Lot more active in the day' compared to the other times Corvo was around this area, but something Corvo noticed was that there was mostly Faunus walking around in this area.
Still was a little different seeing humans with animal parts casually walking around, but he was quickly getting used to it, seeing as there were still people after all. Raising his hood Corvo began walking towards the inner city, and at this time Corvo tried once again to summon the Heart in his hand but nothing appeared 'Why won't it show up?' Corvo never had this problem before. The words of the Heart echoed in his mind 'You don't belong here Corvo this place this world you shouldn't have let that trickster bring you here' he could already guess what trickster she meant.
The Outsider was the one who offered this choice to him when he was at his lowest point, and he took it without too much time to even think about it. 'Did I make a mistake?' Corvo asked himself again, but there was no one who could give him the answer.
"You are not a protector anymore" the Heart had said to him. Which hurt a little, but was also true he isn't a protector...not anymore he failed at that.
Corvo felt himself get a bit depressed at these thoughts 'No now is not the time for that I can't lose focus' Corvo needed some time to himself, so he stepped to the side into the closest alleyway. Making sure he had no followers Corvo vanished from thin air.
On top of the rooftops of Vale Corvo walk the roofs edges wearing his mask as he took a bit of time to refocus his mind. 'It's been a busy couple of days hasn't it' Corvo thought to himself since he landed in that forest, and every since then things haven't... well can't say haven't gone to plan since he never came up with a long term plan.
'Just been going with the motions huh?' Corvo pointed out to himself 'That's probably what got me here in the first place'. He's been mostly keeping himself busy,and worrying too much about the future but what is he doing here? Whenever he brought up this question for himself he never had an answer 'Maybe I shouldn't have come' Corvo said for the first time since choosing to come here.
"Live for myself huh" Corvo repeated the heart's message "What does that mean for me" someone who put a majority of their life to a kingdom's safety rather than worry about my own life. In a strange way living for someone else has always been his life first was his family but they all died not counting his sister who disappeared to run off on her own.
Second he lived for his country and city when he was to join the Grand guard in his youth he tried he's very best as he fought many battles back in the day when the crime families tried to over take his city by force. Did well enough that the Duke of his land sent him off to work in the capital city after two years of him joining the Grand guard, he barely turned twenty.
After a year in the capital the Emperor was so impressed with him he was given the title of Royal protractor to work under, and protect one of the most important things to him, his daughter Jessamine Kaldwin who became all he lived for many years. It was funny that for people like them who had many differences who used to argue quite a bit when it came to politics with him, the Spy Master who had to plan for the worst to happen, and her an Empress that just wanted the best for her people, and was way to trusting others something he both loved, and hated. Corvo couldn't see himself trading a single day they spent together over their long history.
Last would be...
***BAM!****
A loud crash, and bang could be heard all around the city as the building Corvo stood on began to shake for a moment. Corvo braced himself as he began to wonder "The hell is it now" he was almost at the center of town before all of this happened. Activating {DARKVISION} Corvo began searching around to see if he could see anything within his range, but he was in luck when a certain crowd of people ran from the center of town.
"Well this is something I can't just ignore" Corvo began making his way towards the chaos.
As Corvo got closer his heightened ears heard screams of terror, and panic with words of 'There here' and 'We need to run'. This caused Corvo to prepare he's blade as he continued to traverse the rooftops 'Oh what fresh hell is this going to be' as he got closer to the area Corvo could see black shape things flying in the air.
Zooming in with his mask. Wasn't a moment later that Corvo sprint came to a full stop "I thought it would have been a longer time before I've seen those things" Corvo could understand the chaos now. Because flying in the air, and looking straight out of the books he reads Corvo could see Grimm the monsters of this world 'That certainly is not my problem' Corvo has dealt with a lot of things, but monsters might be a little out of range.
Looking down to the streets people were running down the streets far away from the city center "It's coming around the corner" a voice shouted. Corvo looked up the street to see a black wolf shaped figure with glowing red eyes, and boned spikes pointed every which way with some of the bone covered the beast like armor. Corvo felt a chill up his spin at seeing this monster for the first time, but he steadied himself from his years of experience. The Grimm was charging straight towards the crowd of civilians with law enforcement trying their best to slow down the monster firing round after round, but nothing they had was very effective.
Corvo told himself he had nothing to do with these Grimm,and that this world already had protectors that fought against these things. As Corvo watches as the Grimm tackles one officer to the ground with it's maw open ready to bite off the face of its prey to the horror of the officer who screamed in terror. The other officers kept firing at the Grimm but their bullets weren't strong enough to pierce it's skin.
'Do not get involved more than you have!' The Hearts warning runs in Corvo's head as he keeps telling himself that one of those hunters would show up he's certainly run into them enough.
As Corvo watched he felt his body begin to fight against his judgment as a man screamed for his very life 'You know what!' Corvo raised void hand that glowed with a bright light the match Corvo determination "Fuck it" Corvo {BLINK} down from the roof, running towards the monster.
With a wave of his hand he unleashed {WINDBLAST} that launched the beast off the officer causing the Grimm to hit the ground on its back. Never one to pass an opening Corvo {BLINK} above the monster, and fell down stabbing the monster straight into the throat before it could make another move its body violently twitch and try to move around before breaking away into dust. Corvo stood up taking a deep breath to focus his mind. 'Well that was different' he concluded, having now killed man, beast, and now monster. Looking back to the officers who had a face of shock and confusion, Corvo walked over to the downed officer and Corvo offered a hand. Still a bit confused the officer took the hand, and Corvo pulled him up "Thank you," the man said.
Corvo nodded before looking towards the source of where the Grimm were coming from he knew he was going to have to check on that. Looking back to cop who was still shaken "Get people out here" was all Corvo said as he walked towards the main chaos "Ye..s of course" was all he heard behind him.{BLINKING} away Corvo appeared once again on the rooftops, and took off running "This may not be my world, but I'll be damned if I watch people die" he's mind thought about the Hearts words "I'm not a protector anymore, but will try to be a good man once again" Corvo said to himself.
He's made some bad choices before coming here, things that won't leave him anytime soon, but he will be better if not for himself for everything he ruined and left behind.
That is the Choice he's making!
For better or worst. He's seen hell once he wasn't afraid to try again
Getting closer Corvo could see more and more Grimm 'Now that I put that little crisis to the side for now'. What I'm I going to do about these monsters' Corvo heard a flapping getting closer to him, and turning around Corvo barely had time to jump to the side as razor sharp claws sped past him. "What the hell" Corvo shouted seeing the giant black bird fly by him, the flying Grimm turned around hovering above Corvo screeching loud above him.
"Yea well how about this then" Corvo quickly tossed three grenades with one hand, and grabbed his gun with the other hand shooting one of the grenades causing a chain reaction of explosions blowing the bird out of the sky the weight of the bird came crashing down on part of the rooftop.
To be pacific the part of the roof that Corvo was standing near.
The roof was starting to crack.
'Of course' Corvo thought. Quickly Corvo ran forward towards the roof edge, and jumped without a moment's hesitation as the great bird fell inwards into the building. The fall wasn't very high for a void power man like Corvo so he simply landed on the ground below 'Well maybe I can fight monsters' Corvo thought a bit optimistic. A screeched from behind Corvo made him flinch a bit as he turned behind to see the Grimm was still very much alive 'Well maybe not' Corvo started loading explosive rounds as the monster clawed its way out before a volley of ice shots came from behind him piercing the monster head straight through it head cause it body to go limp, and vanish in a mist of black.
'What?' turning back to see a girl wearing a thigh-length strapless dress with a faint color gradation from white to pale blue at the hem. A small piece of black lace sits in the front of her neckline and the hem of the dress is scalloped and stitched to resemble snowflakes, with layers of white tulle under the skirt. Over this, she wears a bell-sleeved bolero with the same color gradation as her dress from shoulder to wrist, lined in red and with a ruffled collar.
She was armed with 'A Rapier?' God when was the last time Corvo saw one of those, but guessing by the strange abilities he just saw he could easily guess "A Huntress" said in a low voice. The girl looked just surprised to see Corvo as he was her. "What the? Just who are you?" The girl said she was confused not that Corvo couldn't blame her, but he was a bit unsure how to handle this situation.
Every time he's run into these people it ends up in a fight where he ends up sore the next morning. So the main question was 'Is she an enemy?' Corvo wouldn't have time to figure this out as he heard a Grimm creeping in close behind 'So they can try a stealth approach huh?' Corvo noted as the Grimm leaped out from the rubble.
"Watch out" the girl shouted pointing her Rapier in front of her as a white circle appeared in front of her from out of thin air, but Corvo was already a step ahead of both the girl and Grimm.
After all he was one the best assassins in the world back home so there weren't many that could sneak up on him when he was focused. Already knowing of the danger Corvo spun around waving his hand unleashing a {WINDBLAST} slamming the wolf beast back into the ruble. Pointing his gun at the downed Grimm firing two explosive rounds right into the monster chest where Corvo was guessing that its heart would be there.
It ended in a moment, and the results were better than Corvo expected. The first shot burned and pierced it's hide making it easy for the second shot to completely destroy it's inside. The Grimm led died as its body started to disappear. 'There are more coming' Corvo couldn't really count how many he was hearing, but he knew that he didn't have the supplies to deal with this.
"Just what is going on right now" Corvo wondered aloud, but he had another problem, the Huntress. Corvo turned back to the girl who still had a battle style stance with the strange circle of light in front of her. She still looked a bit confused "You're a Huntsman?" the girl questioned.
'A Huntsman?' He thought she thought he was one of them 'Oh I can work with this' if he could avoid conflict with these people that works better for him. Plus it wouldn't be his first time hiding with the possible enemy it just takes a certain level of caution.
"That's right," Corvo confirmed.
"Good then you can help me clean up these Grimm" the girl order
Corvo frowned behind his mask he was hoping to gain the information on what the hunters and huntress are really like without battling them, but with the monster around here there were much more concerning things.
But he didn't want to use so many supplies trying to keep up 'Maybe I should,' but a sudden roar grabbed Corvo attention. Seems the Grimm weren't wasting any time closing in on them, the girl took a battle stance, her weapon pointed forward at the one charging them. Corvo on the other hand was unknowingly to the girl he had turned {DARKVISION} on under his mask to search for the clearest direction to escape towards, but he had a strange problem.
He's vision wasn't tracking Grimm, it was like he knew they were there, but {DARKVISION} wasn't marking any of them. 'Just what the hell?' Corvo was highly confused, everything else was normal he could still see some people and animals that were running around the area hell even the Huntress next to him was marked. But the Grimm were hidden from his sight even if he could physically see them.
'Well that's just great!' Corvo could try to risk navigating the way through all the Grimm, but they were starting to surround the area, and even with {BLINK} there are a lot of uncertainties he couldn't account for with these monsters. Corvo too took a stance of his own, he and the girl would have to clear a few of them out to be able to make a run for it.
"Can you hold your own?" Corvo couldn't help but question, he understood that these people were something else altogether, but if he was going to fight with this girl for both of their best chances of survival he needed to know if he had to worry over anything.
Since it wasn't like he could trust her.
"I'll have you know we Schnee's can hold are own!" the girl responded confidently.
The way she answered kind of reminded him of how nobles used to talk to him "I'll take that as a yes". Corvo focus on the approaching Grimm, some were different kinds he hasn't even fought yet, so the best strategy here was to take them as quickly a possible while keeping himself mobile as possible jumping to one target to the next going for instant kill shots mean for head, neck, and maybe hearts if these things even had hearts, but the main goal was just to survive this.
'Well here's not to dying then' Corvo began channeling void though he's system "Let's go!" Corvo wasn't keen on this short partnership, but he'll make the best of it. Maybe he'll pick something up seeing these people at work.
"Right!" the spin forward gracefully like an ice skater gliding across a smooth layer of ice before slamming down her weapon down unleashing shards of ice, and like a shotgun the shards shot forward in a wide burst piercing many on coming Grimm. The girl looked a bit satisfied with her work and looked over towards who to her surprise had already vanished because Corvo was already at work as he plunged his blade into the head of a bear looking Grimm that survived the ice barge. Corvo stood over the disappearing body already looking for his next target, but a rapidly approaching steps behind warranted he's attention. Looking over his shoulder as a boar like Grimm with a heavily armored front charged him at full speed ready to impale Corvo though.
Corvo figured he wouldn't be able to cut through that bone like armor so waiting for the boar to get closer before spin to the side and blasted a {WINDBLAST} knocking the Grimm off his charge, and exposing it unarmored underbelly 'There!'Corvo thrust his blade straight the boar completely. Corvo couldn't appreciate the moment as he saw a wolf Grimm lunge towards him with its claws stretch out forward, so quickly with his void strength he swung his sword with the still impaled boar towards the wolf.
With the strength Corvo used the body of the boar slide off the blade towards the wolf Grimm crashing into it, and knocking it down. With the wolf knocked down Corvo leaped over towards he's downed enemy stabbing his blade down though it's jaw then completely thought the head. Corvo {BLINK} again as he appeared next to an unsuspecting Grimm, and cut it head off before it could even react than again, again, again, and Corvo repeated this action a few more times making seven more dead Grimm.
Corvo appeared on top of a bear looking Grimm, and stabbed down right into the head, killing it and vanishing again.
The girl watched Corvo appear place to place killing Grimm at a fast pace as he would be there for a moment before being gone again. "Can't let myself fall behind" The girl was about to rejoin the battle when a voice called from behind her.
"Weiss!"
Corvo reappeared on a nearby fire escape to take a moment to let his mana regenerate "There no end them" Corvo used his mask to search for the Huntress from earlier "Now where is she."
'There' Corvo saw the girl in white, and three others below him fighting a large group of Grimm than he had seen 'More Huntesses now huh' it made since with this many Grimm around, but he was half expected an army to show up by now 'Might be best not try to deal with her anymore with that many around'.
*Hisssss*
A loud hiss came from above Corvo, so he looked up and he's eyes widened seeing a red eye giant black snake that was slithering down from the rooftop above, and it seems he caught it's attention. Corvo could swear that the monster was trying to look in his very soul as its jaw opened revealing rolls of sharp teeth.
Corvo slowly reached into his coat "Damn Outsider, so help if I ever see you again" Corvo cursed. That seems to be some kind of signal as the snake lunges down towards Corvo with open jaws, and hiss all the while breaking parts of the fire escape as it came down. Corvo leapt back off the collapsing stairs with a void jump launching him far back into the air, and tossed three disk-like items with one hand then grabbed his pistol with the other.
The three disk Corvo threw were highly explosive mines that were capable of doing more damage than his grenades, so with an explosive shot Corvo thought that would be enough to damn near blow the things head off or at least the hope so. Raising his pistol to take aim Corvo took his shot causing a chain reaction, and an explosion that was bigger than Corvo was expecting blasted into front of him causing him to shield his eyes for the flash 'Damn Doc' Corvo praised never thought they would be that destructive together.
Landing on the ground Corvo looked back up to see if his work was done, but the explosion caused a bit of smoke, so he couldn't see the snake 'Damn thing better be dead'. Corvo was so concerned with the snake he barely registered what he's enhanced hearing heard among the chaos of monster, and gun fire.
"Look out behind you!" a voice shouted
'What?' Corvo barely looked back as he saw a pair of large claws enter the corner of his eye trying to stab through him, but they were already so close to him. Corvo turned himself away, and {BLINK} away as fast as he could from the location and appeared a few feet aiming his pistol. Seem it was one of the bear looking one's as it roared at Corvo as a bit blood dip off its claw 'I thought my back had a bit of pain' it was always a bit difficult to tell when he was focusing void though the body it always had a numbing effect in intense moments in battle 'Just grazed me the void should heal rather quickly.'
So it wouldn't slow him down. 'Alright you..' a red blur sped past Corvo leaving rose petals as it went by in one moment, and another moment the bear Grimm was cut in half.
Standing there was a young girl wearing a black long-sleeved dress with a high collar and red trim on the sleeves, over which is a black waist cincher with red lacing up the front. The skirt of her dress has red trim and red lining. She also wears a pair of thick black stockings and black combat boots with red laces, red trims around the top, and red soles. Her outfit is topped by a red hooded cloak fastened to her shoulders.
Most important part was the large scythe she just use to kill that Grimm
Her outfit is topped by a red hooded cloak fastened to her shoulders
'Just what' but multiple footsteps came from behind Corvo 'Oh not this time!'.
"Hey do you need help AHHH!" a young blond gave a high pitch yell as a gun was put in his face. A yell that made Corvo eye twitch under the mask since he's hearing it was basically like a dog hearing a dog whistle, but much much worse.
Corvo saw it wasn't a Grim but a blond young man raising his hands shielding himself with blue eyes wearing a black shirt with armor pieces that didn't offer full protection leave multiply vital open to strike 'Why even wear armor than' Corvo could help think see something impractical for combat.
"Hey hey calm down he was just trying to help" the girl in white from before.
"What? Shouldn't you still be fighting" Corvo questioned
"The last of Grimm are being taken care of right now by the Atlas military right now with their gunships, and Professor Goodwitch is sealing hole where the Grimm came from" the girl explained.
"Atlas?" Corvo repeated before remembering the ship he saw when he first got here. 'Than it about time for me to go' Corvo really didn't want to deal with people like that, and if the problem contained no reason for him to stick around. "Well I'll be leaving then" Corvo holstered his pistol, but his blade wouldn't leave his side until he was completely out of here.
"But your injured shouldn't get medical help" The girl tried to reason. "Your aura must of ran out during the fight"
"Yea" the blond boy agreed "Your back.. doesn't look to good"
"Hey is everything ok?" ok now the Red one was here.
These kids must be green because he may have gotten hit, but the damage was barley minimum "Barely a flesh wound. Now I must be going" Corvo tried again. He was trying to leave this civil, but all there bothering was getting tiresome.
'Screw it {BLINK} seems to be the better option' Corvo started walking ready to teleport away before his moments came to a sudden stop with him no longer able to move his body.
"What the hell" Corvo cursed.
"Stop right there mask hunter!" a voice called out from behind him.
"All hell" Corvo cursed he was so close too.
AuNotes: Alright that's all I got, so thanks for reading
Comments are helpful.
(Edited)