My writing took a dip halfway through this chapter. Eck.
[World of Remnant]
[Sanus Continent, Kingdom of Vale]
[Beacon Academy]
General Ironwood was stressed. Very, very stressed and angry.
Not only were his soldiers and military assets among the pile of causalities; Atlas Military might have been shattered by a handful of terrorists that reenacted the breach a few weeks back! The amount of media coverage, criticism, and families of the decreased they have to notify – all of it was crashing down on him at the worst possible moment. Paranoia has slowly gotten the better of him as he attributed this attack to Salem's schemes amid this unprecedented tragedy and city-wide emergency.
He's seriously considering recalling his military back to Atlas and taking Amity Colosseum with him, but the same cannot be said for the comatose Fall Maiden, Amber. Her situation is much too delicate. His mind is in a whirl, so much so that he can barely even register the bickering between the Councils of Vale and Atlas. That is until Ozpin lost his temper.
"COUNCILORS!" Ozpin's roar shocked Ironwood out of his thoughts. The silence that follows was a testament to how surprised everyone is at the man losing his temper. "I am appalled that you would push the blame onto each other! Especially the council members of Vale! May I remind you that it is you all who allowed Atlas Military to act as security for the festival due to my supposed incompetence and now you want to pin the blame on Atlas?!" He slams his cane down hard. "We're all on the same side here! All four Kingdoms and their people! Our enemies would applaud us for dividing ourselves up for their convenience and the public's fear! Do you wish to play into their hands?!"
"…"
No one dared say a word. Ozpin was losing his patience with everything and everyone. Even the hot-tempered and arrogant councilmembers of both Vale and Atlas remained silent. If there's one thing in the back of everyone's mind, it's to beware the wrath of a patient man.
Ozpin took a deep breath and breathes out. "I am sorry for raising my voice, but we cannot let ourselves fall victim to our fears. Too many people… Civilians, Huntsmen, Huntresses, Atlas Soldiers, and Specialists had already become victims to this unprecedented attack."
"Then how do you suggest we handle this?"
"Bring those responsible to justice, if it were that easy." Ozpin sighs. "I'm afraid we must postpone the Vytal Festival to focus on security. Nobody will be naïve enough to be out in public after this."
Postponing the Vytal Festival will send out a negative international impact. However, no one can find fault in that after the terrorist attack that saw high numbers of causalities among the protectors of Humanity.
Ironwood has a feeling where this is going. "We postpone the Vytal Festival so that Huntsmen and Atlas Military track down those responsible for this attack."
Ozpin nods grimly. "I don't see any other choice. Not when they pose an active threat to the Kingdoms. An active threat, mind you, that has caused over twenty Huntsmen dead."
"We need a sizeable task force to neutralize them." Ironwood nods in agreement and then turns to the council members. "Unless someone has an alternative suggestion that doesn't involve pointing fingers and blaming one another, I'd suggest we postpone the Vytal Festival, increase security, enact curfew, and begin organizing a task force to bring those responsible to justice."
Ozpin normally would voice some concerns or disagreement with Ironwood's recommendations, but after what happened – The gloves are off. Whoever is responsible for this poses a huge threat. With Salem lingering in the background and possibly having some connection to this terrorist attack, he's inclined to go for a more active and direct approach seeing how direct their adversaries were.
No one voiced their opinion. Their next action is settled. Secure the City of Vale and create a task force to deal with the terrorists hiding in Mountain Glenn and the tunnel systems.
"We'll leave it to the two of you then. Do what you see fit." Said one of the council members. "But before that, you must provide us with more information about the perpetrators. Every kingdom is screaming for justice. The public too. What do you have so far?"
"Investigation is underway. Atlas Military, Vale Police Department, and local Huntsmen are collaborating. The CCT has been a huge source of first-eye witnesses, though some can be dubious at best. These are some of the footage from Atlas Military assets. I hope the council is prepared to watch these. Some of them are… Gruesome."
"… Go on."
Ironwood step forth and placed his scroll on Ozpin's desk. A screen pulls up and begins playing a few recordings of the terrorist attack. The first one is from a camera from a tightly secured bank. It showed a small line of people and a security guard in the lobby.
"This one is from one of Goldman's Shares Bank. Highly secured and guarded by a licensed Huntsman. I'll forward to the part where the terrorists broke into the bank."
He fast-forwards the footage skipping the violent rumble caused by the explosion that breached Vale and stopping at the exact moment two people burst through the solid walls. The security guard, a Huntsman, was quick to attack them. However, the rubbles begin to move on their own and slam against the guard. He was pushed back and redoubled his efforts only to be fatally crushed by a giant hand made out of whatever materials were in the vicinity. Killed by a Semblance.
The councilmembers pale slightly at the red liquid spattering out from underneath. "Oh, sweet mercy…"
The owner of the Semblance raised his fists and the giant hand made of debris mimicked his action. With a swing of his arm, he ripped through the bank counter and killed a few bank workers in the process. Then the giant hand rears back, glowed orange, and punched through the solid vault with such force that the camera cut out.
"Atlas Military has managed to render several distinct features from this."
Ironwood rewinds the footage to a clearer view of the assailants. He zooms in on the shoulder patch of one of the assailants and another screen begins to render the image. It displays a red flag held by a yellow-colored hand on a dark blue background. On the ribbon of the shoulder patch reads 'Running Flags'.
"Running flags?"
"Some sort of organization based on further analysis. We currently have not found any records relating to this group, if there are any."
The image zooms out and focuses on a smaller shoulder patch below. The smaller shoulder patch was rectangular and read 'Unit 19' in big letters and 'Stone Cold Killers' in smaller letters. Aptly appropriate considering one of the attacker's Semblance to seemingly control stones.
"Bunch of psychos." Mutters a councilwoman.
"There are also several other distinct 'units' from bearing the same flag symbol." Ironwood's face scrunched up with distaste. "They style themselves as some sort of pseudo-military unit." Several more shoulder patches popped up displaying a wide variety of symbols and animals. "Unfortunately, there seem to be other groups working together with this… Running Flags group."
"And how do you know that?"
"We have footage of terrorists dressed in vastly different outfits bearing different markings."
He begins to play more footage of carnage and destruction. A few stood out.
Much to the councilmember's shock, one had a teenager around the age of seventeen effortlessly cutting down civilians and police with a hybrid of a cleaver and grenade launcher. All while grinning widely in enjoyment at the slaughter. When there was no one left standing, he began looting the corpses and counting a few valuables. He wore medium armor and had a shoulder patch on his right arm that bears the mark of a griffon clutching a thunderbolt with its talons and biting the shaft of a poleaxe.
Ozpin felt a pang in his heart at seeing this young man, someone who could have easily been a Huntsman-in-training at one of the Huntsman Academy, resort to such mindless bloodshed.
Another footage was an armored figure engaging four Specialists. It was taken from the perspective of a barely functioning android's head. The video has a crack over it.
The figure was clad completely in a grey odd patterned armor. A metal plate with a red single-lens was strapped across the rider's face with dark-colored bandages, completely masking his identity. A bulky container connected to a gun nozzle was strapped across its back that contains some sort of liquid substance. On the upper left sleeve is a shoulder sleeve insignia of a winged dragon on the left and a phoenix on the right, holding up a decorative shield with some sort of symbols.
Ironwood grits his teeth and clenches his hand in anger as he watched his Specialists die in a flash of lightning. The electrical discharge was what broke the camel's back and the android's head shut down though the recording survived.
There was a moment of silence. A moment of mourning and fear.
"I… I think that's enough." Said a councilman on the verge of turning green. Everyone agreed for once. "Do we have any idea who they are?"
Ironwood sighs deeply. "No. I'm afraid not. We only speculate. After manually reviewing all available footage, and still going, the best we have so far is that Running Flags is a terrorist organization and the others are mercenaries. All pure speculations."
"Terrorist groups that possess members who are on par with a veteran Huntsman." Ozpin hammers down the point for them. "You have witnessed our protectors and brave service members die in the line of duty. You have witnessed civilians be mercilessly slaughtered and robbed." A pause. "We must prevent another tragedy like this from happening again! Do we have the council's support on this matter?!"
The councilmembers flinch. Politicians are a finicky bunch and Ozpin will not let these lots 'support' their efforts only to slither around it for their agenda. He will have them trapped right here, right now. Should one retract their support, the others will have a field day about it on Election Day.
"Yes. You have our full support." Said the spokesperson of Vale's Council.
"As do Atlas Council."
Ironwood and Ozpin nod and internally sigh in relief.
"Thank you, councilmembers. Rest assured, we will bring those responsible to justice."
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[World of Remnant]
[Sanus Continent, Kingdom of Vale]
[Beacon Academy, Dorm Room]
Cinder did not like this.
She had tapped into the confidential networks using Watts' virus and each discovery made her frown. Whoever these people are, they are strong enough to kill several Huntsmen with ease. The amount of destruction is entertaining to watch, but the carnage… Not so much. While she's not above mass murders, there's a limit to how much she would find it enjoyable. She is nothing like Tyrian Callows who enjoys mindless violence.
The footage and casualties displayed before her tell her that the usual strong-arming approach will not work on these terrorists.
For one, there seem to be multiple factions or groups in on the attack. All of them display great martial prowess, sheer strength, power Semblances, or a combination of the three. Even with half the Maiden's power and her current assets, she knows she doesn't stand much of a chance against a handful of them, much less an entire small army. If only she has more power… More to make everything and everyone submit to her…
"Duuude… This guy just chopped up the entire SWAT team!" Mercury commented on the footage of a teen wielding a giant clever that's also a grenade launcher; massacring everything around him. "And the SWAT guys had Aura! Look at how his sword still goes through them like butter!"
Emerald looks at him with disgust. "Are you enjoying this?"
"I honestly don't know. Morbid curiosity maybe."
"Quiet and let me focus." Cinder snaps at them.
She can feel a headache in the making. This terrorist attack is a great opportunity with all the negativity in the air, but it's a huge derailment of her plans. There are also the origins of these terrorists. Where did they come from? How come she hasn't heard of them? Where did they get this many powerful people? So many questions she will probably never get!
"Um… Cinder?"
"Did I not say be quiet?"
"Chill. Em is letting you know it's dinner time. The cafeteria is gonna be packed."
"…" She is feeling rather hungry and her brilliant mind doesn't function well on an empty stomach. "Right. Let's go then."
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[Remnant: Online]
[Outlands, Sanus Continent]
[Runningflag's Territory: Mountain Glenn]
The construction of Runningflag's fortress is going smoothly. It hovers at 55% and won't be completed for another 3 hours. Until then, they must hold the fort and protect it until it's completed. A task that has become complicated when he got the notification that four different countries had marked them as hostile.
"Alright. Care to explain why we're enemies with four kingdoms that I've never heard of?" Davi asks his subordinates and mercenary commanders.
Name: [Captain] Davi
Level: 210
Alliance: Runningflags
Status: None
Aura: [100%] 41186/41186
HP: [100%] 130/130
MP: [100%] 1865/1865
"You told us to explore and gave us the map at the wrong time. Like, at the worst possible moment. Brutalize was seconds from blowing up a wall that lead into a city square until you updated the map." Dorick deflects the blame. It wasn't his fault Davi updated the map too late.
Name: [1st Lieutenant] Dorick
Level: 206
Alliance: Runningflags
Status: None
Aura: [100%] 29659/29659
HP: [100%] 105/105
"Even if we did know," Alexaroth cuts in. "we would have made a mess of the place anyway."
Name: [Mercenary {Avalon-Estria Sovereignty}] Alexaroth
Level: 224
Alliance: Runningflags
Status: None
Aura: [100%] 39995/39995
HP: [100%] 241/241
Like Dahmiel once said. It's difficult to control players who have the mentality of a GTA player with a permanent five-star wanted level attached to them. Reality is pain and full of suffering. Virtual reality is an outlet for unleashing their woes upon the virtual world. Trying to control players with destructive and violent tendencies only delays the inevitable.
"Besides. They shot first." Dorick added in.
"Only because you guys blew a fucking hole in their city!" An exasperated Davi sighs. "Whatever. It's my fault for not updating the map earlier. We'll be upping the place to defend against other alliances anyway. How strong are their soldiers?"
"Pretty weak despite their level."
"One or two shot most of them."
An odd case. Most of the NPC countries have special units within their law enforcement that are high leveled and well-trained. Their military is even more difficult and packing more firepower to stop hordes of players from destroying an entire country. The ones in this Kingdom of Vale are pitiful even for a starting area.
"Really?"
"Yeah. No one died. Well, except the police and military that tried to stop us." Alexaroth answered dismissively. "If their entire military and police are this weak, we can just take over the entire kingdom."
"You guys can siege the kingdom. We're building up this place so we don't get overrun."
"Eh, we're doing our own thing right now. Maybe later."
"What are you guys doing?"
"Building something like a Panama Canal. Our territory is near the sea and there are several landforms close by. We're clearing out the Grimm and bandits in the area. Knowing Luka, he probably has his biker gang kill just about everything and everyone right now."
/-/
[World of Remnant]
[Anima Continent, Kingdom of Mistral]
[Branwen Tribe Camp]
Qrow Branwen hates the Branwen tribe. He views them as nothing more than a bunch of thieves and killers and he sticks by it. It's why he left the Branwen tribe when he got a chance. A chance to do good for the world where nobody would want him thanks to his Semblance bringing others bad luck. And while he hates the Branwen tribe and his twin sister leading them, he doesn't want them to meet the same gruesome fate as several other bandit tribes.
Marauders on weaponized motorcycles and armored cultists riding Grimm had been tearing through the entire Mistral wildlands at extraordinary speed and killing everything on sight. Qrow kept an eye on them, figuring they were likely Salem's forces in part due to their enslaved Grimm and their cultist-looking masters. The problem was that they move and act fast. They move, they kill, they take, and then they repeat.
Even in his bird form, he has difficulty catching up to them. Several times he had to fall back because one of those Grimm cultists and their Grimm kept swinging back to check who was following them. By the time caught up with them in his bird form, they were finishing off the last survivors and continuing to the next.
The victims so far are bandit tribes and criminal groups which Qrow did not care much about. However, the ruthlessness and senseless violence the marauders inflict upon their victims make him shudder. It was clear that these marauders and their Grimm are on the hunt for something. The question is what?
Regardless, as much as he hates the Branwen tribe and his sister for abandoning them, he does not want her to suffer a horrible death at the hands of these marauders. It's why he's at flying into the Branwen tribe to warn his sister.
A lone crow soar through the Branwen tribe, evading the attention of the Branwen tribesmen, and ducks into the biggest tent that belongs to his sister. The moment he went in, his sister, Raven Branwen, immediately drew her sword.
"Wait! Wait!" Qrow wheezes and collapses on the floor. "Ah… Wait…"
"Qrow?" Raven was taken aback by her twin brother's haggard form. "Very bold little brother. Entering my tent like that. What's going on?"
Qrow took a moment to catch his breath. "I… There's a group of people riding around Mistral and killing people left and right… They… They have Grimm in their ranks." He could see his sister's eyes widening. "People riding them like mounts… I think they're with Salem…"
Raven scowls and stares intently at her brother to discern any trickery or lies. The pace of her heart quickens when she didn't find any of the sorts. Only fear.
She immediately rushed out of her camp and barked out orders.
"Dismantle the camp! We're leaving! NOW!" She roars at the top of her voice. "VERNAL! Get over here!"
The sound of frantic shuffling and shouts is heard throughout the camp. Qrow picks himself up and steps back as his sister and a short-haired girl walk back into the tent. The girl, Vernal, regards Qrow with a wary expression but didn't say anything.
"Who's she?"
"None of your business." Raven rush by him and begins packing her things. "Help me pack!"
Qrow sneers but didn't want to argue. He moved to help his sister pack, grumbling along the way.
"GRIMM!"
A high pitch screech tore through the sky and chaos erupted. Blast waves sent ripples through the Branwen camp followed by gunshots and screams. Something exploded near the tent Raven, Qrow, and Vernal was occupying, flinging into the air. They roll through the ground and got to their feet, weapons drawn. Their stance falters when they saw the quick destruction and death around them.
People on motorcycles unleash a torrent of explosives around them to inflict great casualties and chaos; Grimm and their riders rain death from above and descend to pick off the unfortunates. The Branwen tribe has been gutted within seconds.
Raven took a step back and sliced open a portal to escape. Before she could take a step, a red shockwave crashed into her portal and exploded, sending her skittering back.
"Rae!" Qrow turns to take a look at his sister's attacker.
A young man in armor resembling a Grimm charged at them with a two-handed sword. He deflected the bullets and fired from Qrow and Vernal's weapons and focus his attack on Raven. One swing of his sword shattered Raven's Dust infused blade resulting in an explosion that staggered her foe briefly. He redoubles his efforts and lunge at Raven at a frightening speed.
SKRAAA!
A Grimm came crashing down before Qrow and Vernal, blocking them from assisting Raven. Its reptile appearance and wings are reminiscent of a winged dragon. Six glowing red eyes stare down at the two and it opens its mouth to unleash a fiery breath. While Qrow and Vernal fought against the six-eyed dragon Grimm, Raven was struggling to hold her ground. Her swift sword strikes were matched and overwhelmed by her opponent's strength and dexterity.
'I can't keep this up! No choice!'
Raven grits her teeth and releases her Maiden powers. A surge of elemental power ruptured the area around her. Lightning, fire, ice, and wind all pummel into her armored foe and pushed him into the dragon Grimm.
KRAAAH?!
The power of the Maidens was enough to knock the dragon Grimm over. But it immediately rears back up and turns towards Raven and opens its mouth. She took to the air and avoided its fire breath. Her eyes glowed brightly as she flew through the air, launching shards of ice and lightning at everything around her. Qrow stares in shock that his sister was the Spring Maiden. The only known way one could acquire one of the four Maiden's power is for the previous Maiden to have a young female in their final thought to ensure the transfer of power. A task that can simply be done by killing a Maiden.
"They have a mage! Take her down!" Shouted one of the marauders.
Raven found herself attacked from all sides. Her mind and vision are warped by several Semblances, then a loud bang and blinding pain send Raven spiraling down. She would have fallen to her death were it not for Qrow rushing to catch her.
"OOF!" The Branwen twin rolled through the bloodied dirt and was instantly surrounded from nearly all sides.
"Raven!" Vernal was about to act but was struck across the head and restrained on the ground.
"Don't move." A young male's voice orders and steps on her weapons. A pair of chakram and pistol hybrid of a weapon. "These weapons aren't bad… Need a few upgrades and repairs."
"Grr!"
She refrain from struggling because the battle was already lost. Not a single Branwen was alive, save for Qrow, Raven, and her.
As for Raven, she was unconscious – having a large hole on the side of her torso gushing blood. Whatever was fired at her missed her vital organs, but she's bound to die if her injuries aren't treated. Qrow did the best he could to stop the bleeding, applying pressure on the bound and transferring some of his Aura into her. He could tell that he wasn't going to escape and the people surrounding him knew that too.
"Well, well. What do we have here?" A distorted voice from out of nowhere chuckles and a circular rift split open in front of Qrow and an unconscious Raven.
Out stepped a young man with cedar-colored hair and faded grey eyes; dressed in a white-colored officer uniform and a swagger stick was tucked beneath his armpit. At first, Qrow thought it was an Atlas Military officer, but upon closer inspection, it seems that it wasn't the case. If anything his attire has a more charming appeal and professional feel to it than the ones Atlas Military wore.
"Who are you?" Qrow asks in a low voice.
"Luka. An Estrian Aristocrat." The young man introduced himself and approaches them without care. "And you two are mages. You have faint magic within you, and she has a considerable amount." Luka squints his eyes and grins. "A special type of magic, it would seem. Tell me, are there more of you?"
Several possible responses went through Qrow's mind. "Why should I tell you?"
"Because I can save your sister. Or cousin. It looks like you two are related in some way." Luka shrugs and looks at the crowd. "I'll deal with them. You guys can loot your spoils." He glance back at Qrow and took a few steps forward to loom over him. "So, what will it be? Will you tell me truthfully? Or will I have to force it out of you?"
Qrow glares in silence before relenting. "What do you want to know?"
Luka smirks and twirls his swagger stick. It begins to emit a dark blue fog from the knob. The fog pours into the ground and surrounds both Qrow and Raven rather quickly.
"Don't be so frightened. Just a little spell of mine. Go on. Spill what you know. Are there more of you?"
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[Remnant: Online]
[Outlands, Anima Continent]
[Floating Fortress, Ormshire]
Niiya was reading through the report detailing resource acquisition and intel from their scouts. Everything was going smoothly. Except for the fact that the scouts detected several Korean alliances northeast of their location. It goes without saying that Korean gamers are a huge pain to deal with thanks to their gaming culture and military conscription.
His thoughts were rudely interrupted by a quest notification.
NEW EVENT QUEST ALERT!
Find the four Maidens to unlock the vaults containing Relics of the Gods.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE
0 / 4 Relics
REWARD
Primary Objective: Can use the Relics of Knowledge/Destruction/Creation/Choice
Niiya sighs, looking bemused. "Luka. I know this is Luka's doing."
He knew where this event quest was going. He's been through it four times and is sick and tired of slaying God-typed bosses. It took too much preparation and dedication that doesn't chalk up too much other than praying that you don't get instantly vaporized. It requires the entire world to work together to bring down a god, depending on how strong they are.
It's a world boss. Absolute chaotic pain in Niiya's eyes.
On the other hand, the reward is very good should one manage to kill a god.
'Whatever. That's up to them.'
