I stomped on the head of a Lurker that had no bottom half, leaving shards of bone to pierce through the head and squirt gel everywhere. A grotesque hand came an inch from gripping my face before it was sliced off by Crocea Mors, and I bashed the rest of the Lurkers off with my shield and the pommel of my sword. Gel slicked the concrete in front of the building and smoke from evaporating Grimm rose high to the sky while I backed away from the now reduced swarm.
I took a moment to wipe the gel from my blade on my pants while backing further, and checked my map. According to the information Glynda sent I'm not hopelessly far from the Guild depot, only a few blocks from the closest one. The scroll was put away, but something caught my attention. I stopped in my tracks and stared at the big black spot on the ground beneath my feet. It was settled on the otherwise bright sidewalk, and I couldn't help but look at it oddly.
"Manhole?" I questioned, never having really paid much attention to the sewer covers in Vale before. I prepared to walk off, but a skull floated up from between my feet and two arms launched from the black spot with bone fingers clamping down on my ankles.
"AAAAHHHHH!"
"KA-KA-KA-KA-KA-KA-KA-KA-KA-KA-KA"
The tip of Crocea Mors pierced the forehead of the skull and then the concrete beneath. Its hands unclasped and I immediately jumped from the Grimm. I looked carefully once on solid ground and studied it. Gel oozed from the gaping hole in the skull, and the spindly bone hands looked familiar. I narrowed my eyes at the lumpy mass of black that was squished against the concrete, trying to piece together what it was.
"KA-KA-KA-KA-KA"
The chattering came from my left so I dodged right, and at just the right time too. I heard wind whistle an inch from my ear and saw the same lanky claws sail passed from my peripheral, and then mentally patted myself on the back. I lunged forward and had to block another jab towards my neck, though I sliced off its opposite arm in return. The head soon was separated, and the Lurker fell back onto the ground leaking gel. I narrowed in on that and looked between the quickly smoking spot and the Lurker.
'Seems they're the same, but how? They look so different…' I thought silently, grunting while bisecting another Lurker from the pelvis up through the skull. 'Grimm are Grimm, I guess.'
I shook my head and took a breath before running forward. I cut a swath through the reduced crowd of Lurkers and followed my memory of the map towards the depot. I ducked and slid under the arm of the Grimm at the very back of the pack and raced towards the first turn. Cutting the corner I felt I was home-free, only to be clothes-lined by a lanky arm that extended from the brick wall. My back hit the ground and I gasped out, and I wasted no time in rolling away from the wall and pushing myself back to my feet in a fluid motion. I was greeted by the sight of yet another Lurker… this one pulling itself from a dark black spot on the wall to stand imposingly over me.
Everything clicked together in my head upon seeing that, and I had to block four jabs in rapid succession with my shield that were angled towards my eyes. I slammed my shield into its stomach which simply bounced off, but succeeded in breaking the flurry of attacks it was dishing out. I lashed forward and separated the top and lower halves. As the Lurker fell I remembered the crawling ones from the stairwell and decided to prevent myself from making another. I lanced my shield forward when the head of the Grimm was falling past, and crushed it between me and the wall. The skull shattered and the bricks behind it cracked from the force of my hit, and I wheeled back a few steps letting the corpse fall to the ground. I grimaced at what I learned.
"They can flatten themselves." I muttered to myself, realizing that's how they got behind me in the dark. If they're able to move on walls and floors completely flat, it makes sense now what Winter said about them. I scowled as I thought further. "Means they could slip into the Green Zone no problem, couldn't they?"
I heard the chattering of the Lurkers teeth and turned to see the crowd of them following my path around the corner. I stared at them for a second, evaluating everything I'd seen them do in and out of the apartments before coming to a decision.
"Damn it!"
I cursed and sprinted off, looking back to see them chasing after me. Instead of gunning for the depot like my original plan detailed, I broke off down an alley and added a detour into my plan. After exiting the mouth of the alley I took a second to slice off the jaw of a Beowolf, then another to shove the blade down its throat and rip it out through its chest. I raced through the streets leading the pack of Lurkers the entire way, dispatching the occasional straggler that managed to ambush me around corners.
'I know it's around here somewhere!' I thought, slicing the tip of Crocea Mors through a dark spot on the ground that chattered then smoked upon death, rocks flying from the drag against the concrete. I paused to pick up a metal trashcan off the street, then turned and launched it into the lanky bloated monsters following me. It hit three in the chest which sent them falling to their backs. In the tightly packed crowd of Lurkers it was a chain reaction that sent the great majority of them tumbling to the ground in a pile of grotesque limbs and chittering teeth. I spat at the Grimm before rounding another corner, and a grin spread across my face at what I saw.
'From Dust Till Dawn.' I thought as I raced towards and then through the front doors. 'Sorry Ruby, I know you liked this store.'
She was the only reason I knew this Dust store existed. I just hoped she'd be able to forgive me. I gazed around, taking in the sight of the abandoned Dust shop. Luckily enough the entire place was fully stocked, even the crystalized dust sitting in the case in the middle of the room. An evil smile crawled on my face as everything fell into place. I immediately ran to the show case of crystalized Dust and smashed in the glass with my shield. I brushed away the shards and grabbed a fistful of large crystals, four of different colors and shoved them in my pocket for safe keeping. With the crux of my plan acquired, I went through the rest of the case and all the other cases putting in work. I grabbed handfuls of the crystals and chucked them far and wide, littering the floor all around the store with Dust crystals. They clinked on the laminate floor as I launched the last few handfuls into the back of the store over the shelves. Then I moved on to the rest.
The store had row upon row of powdered Dust dispensers lining the walls on both sides, and I went about breaking the glass tubes. All of them. Powdered Dust of every color piled up high along the walls of the store, spilling out further and further into the floor. It was exactly what I wanted. I made my way to the entrance of the back storage room, peering through it to see just what I was looking for, an exit to the alley behind the store.
I stood and waited, and sure enough my hunch was right. The Lurker horde broke down the doors, shattered the windows and flooded their way inside. Once there were at least 20 I made my escape. I passed by crates of supplies and exited into the loading area behind the store, then sneaked my way back around to the front. I made my way to the middle of the road, looking into the broken windows and doors to see the horde of Lurkers packed into the shop clawing and scratching at anything they could reach, their clacking teeth chattering constantly throughout. I dug into my pocket and grabbed the biggest Dust crystal I had, a lime green one that spiked up and jutted out at random.
'If I learned anything from Weiss bitching all the time, it's how to activate dust.' I thought, bouncing the crystal in my hand.
The chattering of teeth stopped completely in an instant, as if someone flipped a switch. All at once the horde of Lurkers whipped their heads around to point their expressionless skulls directly at me from inside the store. The intensity of the silence grated on me, but I pushed. I flared my aura and let the crystal soak it up greedily, just before pitching it like a fastball.
"Bite the Dust, you freaks."
I watched the pool ball sized crystal sail through the doorway, and heard it clink against another crystal. After that everything went up. A massive explosion made up of tons of different smaller ones rocked the entire street and shattered all the windows, the shockwave was enough that I was knocked onto my ass. Gouts of fire roared to life as the walls of the building crumbled in on themselves, leaving the roof to collapse into the store. A chain of explosions continued to bang within the ruin of the shop, each with a different effect. Massive arcs of lightning streaked from the store onto the others buildings near it, and pillars of ice grew spontaneously. The entire thing went up in a flame that flickered from the wind that poured from strange spots. I groaned and got to my feet, brushing the dirt from my jeans as I looked at the aftermath. I turned and walked down the street after gathering Crocea Mors and making sure Claude was still with me.
"I think I'm starting to get why Nora likes explosions…" I said to no one, busy walking down the street.
It took no time at all to get back on the right path. A few blocks had me on the right road to the Engineer Guild Depot, though it was interspersed by dispatching Grimm. Eventually I came to rest in front of a rather squat and non-descript concrete building that looked more like a small bunker. It had a geometrically shaped roof and the walls of the building were all the same color, a slate gray. There was a design on the building next to a beefy steel door that I could only assume was for the Engineer's Guild.
"8-1-8-2-8-8-2-6-9." I read aloud from my scroll as I punched the numbers into the recessed steel keypad next to the door. A small chime emitted from the keypad and a gust of air preceded the thick steel door sliding away into the concrete wall. I hummed and entered the small hut, and listened to the door slide closed behind me, leaving me in the dark for a second before lights popped on. Industrial lighting equipment was set into the walls, and it illuminated the rather clean interior of the depot. I gazed around, noticing only a pair of chairs and a table, and a set of stone stairs leading to a lower level. I stared at the stairs, thinking back the Overstate.
"Great." I muttered, walking down the staircase and coming to another concrete room. At the end was a terminal, which I was drawn to as the rest of the room was fairly average. There were a few crates of what I imagined were either supplies or tools and a few odds and ends lying around, so my most obvious path was the terminal. The screen came to life when I approached, which surprised me. It seemed to sense my presence. Words began typing themselves on the screen.
PRESENT GENETIC SCAN?
Y/N
I looked at the screen for a second before typing in the affirmative. Immediately a foot long section of the concrete wall separated and another screen was pushed from it, angling itself upwards to be more accessible. I grimaced but provided the genetic material the machine was asking for. I untied the blanket from my belt and dug the blood-slicked hand out of it, then letting the impromptu satchel fall onto the ground. I wiped the hand on my jeans to get the blood off the palm before pressing it down onto the provided screen. A bright line of light shined from the screen and moved steadily up and down a few times before a light sound was released from the terminal.
GENETIC SCAN SUCCESSFUL! GREETINGS [Claude Redman], WOULD YOU LIKE TO INITIATE [Valean Automatic Defense]?
Y/N
I typed out another affirmative, and the computer prompted me for a passcode which I provided.
"7-7-2-9-H" I read off, once again referring to my scroll as I typed in the code. A massive rumble shook the concrete room I was in. I looked around, alert to any changes, but the only thing that happened was the terminal chiming once more.
UNDERSTOOD. EMERGENCY POWER GENERATORS ONLINE. [Valean Automatic Defense] ENGAGING GRIMM. AMMUNITION STORES CURRENTLY AT 100%. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!
I grunted, dropping the severed hand to the ground and wheeling around to leave. I only just made my way up the stairs before the steel door hissed open once again.
"Jaune!"
Winter rushed in, barely stopping herself from running face-first into my chest-piece. Up close, I saw how haggard she looked. She was breathing hard, with sweat on her forehead.
"It's done." I announced, resting my hand on Crocea Mors. "Mission accomplished."
Winter took a moment to catch her breath and compose herself. She straightened up, wiping away the sweat from her brow. A polite smile bloomed on her lips as she looked at me.
"Good work, Jaune. Back to the barricade?"
I took her up on that without hesitation.
The journey through Vale was much easier than our last one. The Grimm were being cleansed from Vale in droves thanks to the automated defenses. Grimm smoke rose from the city in mass amounts, and turret fire echoed throughout the streets. They ranged from all sizes and types, and all were fed by automated ammunition lines that ran under the foundation of Vale, somewhat like a sewer system but for reloads. There were massive turrets that grew from slotted trapdoors that were situated in the middle of intersecting roads, emplacements that lined the walls of the city, and some that came from openings in various buildings and roofs. Flamethrowers were even placed around flame-retardant buildings like in brick alleyways. They weren't perfect of course, but they still mowed down Grimm that happened to be in their sights.
I cut the arms off an Ursa that raised on its hind legs, and when it fell to the ground it smacked its head against the concrete. A simple stab through the top of the head finished it off, and Winter and I continued moving. I caught my appearance in the unbroken glass of a nearby building, and saw just how rough I looked. My bandages were specked with dirt and blood, and probably desperately needed a change. I was coated in blood and soot, and the holes in my armor stood out as obvious shrapnel damage. I brushed my hair down with my hands and forgot about it.
"I'll hazard a guess and say you are responsible for that Dust shop exploding?" Winter started from beside me. I sighed at the question, looking at her from the corner of my eye.
"I didn't want those Lurkers sneaking into the Green Zone. They could've wiped it out, with how slick they were." I explained as we passed a giant turret, shrugging. "You're not gonna sue me for that, right?"
"Spare me the accusation." Winter huffed, a frown marring her face. "Do I look like my Father to you?"
"Definitely not." I denied immediately. I cursed silently as I watched her turn to me curiously.
"Why did you put so much emphasis on that response?"
I ignored her silently, walking ahead so she wouldn't see the embarrassment or the scowl on my face.
"Hello?" She tried again. "Has your hearing been impacted from all the explosions?"
I walked faster, rolling my eyes.
Eventually the barricades of the Green Zone came back into sight. I waved to the watchman at the top of the wall, and held back a laugh as his jaw dropped before he rushed out of sight. The gates opened, and I eyed Winter. She shrugged at the odd reaction and walked forward. With no other choice I followed. We walked side by side into the Green Zone, and I immediately picked out just how strange it was. The streets before we left were not necessarily loud, but they definitely weren't this quiet. The further we got the more aware I was of the crowd around us. Turrets peeked from the tops of buildings in the Zone, and a massive one now rested in the center of the main intersection near the hospital. People were smattered around the street all around us. I felt off.
I stopped, aware to the fact that everyone's eyes were on me and Winter. She stopped at my side, and I took in the people. Everyone displayed various levels of shock, and some further showed unadulterated pride.
A beat of silence passed, with none of us so much as blinking. Then, they erupted.
Cheers rang out so loud that the words were drowned out. Hats, clothes, and even a crutch were thrown into the air alongside anything else they could grab, giving the street some make-shift confetti. Music started playing under the uproar of people simply showing joy that they had another layer of protection. I breathed a sigh of relief and a subdued smile came to my face, and I accepted the high spirits all around me. I felt a hand pat me on the back, and looked to see that it came from Winter of all people, smiling at me ever-so politely. I listened to the laughter and distant turret fire that ran through the streets, and knew a party was the only thing that could happen.
A small group of people sliced their way through the crowded street, and I saw a familiar blonde making a b-line towards me. She was flanked by a few of the people that were in her office when Winter led me to her, the man in riot gear and a woman in brown ranger-esque clothing being among them. I stood tall and rested my hand on Crocea Mors, preparing myself for nothing short of a tongue-lashing like only Professor Goodwitch can deliver as she reached me.
Instead, she hugged me.
The embrace was warm and heart-felt. In all honesty, it reminded me distinctly of Mom, and how safe her hugs always made me feel as a little kid. Cautiously I returned the affection, wrapping a single arm around her until she pulled away. I'm sure the shock was plain on my face because I noticed the woman in ranger gear holding in a laugh. Glynda backed a step away from me, immediately straightening her appearance to a more formal composure.
"Jaune, you and Winter just gave everyone in Vale a new hope. With the automated defenses active, taking back Vale won't be even a fraction as difficult as before. My services are yours, as promised." Professor Goodwitch led, a grateful smile gracing her usually stern features. "Is there anything we can get for you right now, as a celebration?"
"A bed." I said blandly, still confused by the show of affection. "Something good to eat would be great too."
My requests got laughter from those around, even the citizens and militia members that were close enough to hear me over the sound of the street.
"I think we can agree to those terms, Mr. Arc." The riot gear clad man teased, chuckling along with the others.
I simply smiled, taking everything in stride.
[AN- We crossed both 100 count thresholds! Pretty cool, keep it going. Thanks for the comments as well, I appreciate them. Me alegro de que te guste este Jaune. Espero que te quedes.]