Chapter 7
Apex Hunter
Running after a rogue Beowolf from atop the tree canopy, Loki let out an excited howl as he leaped onto its back, slamming his right elbow into its skull he flew forward as the Grimm's unconscious form dug into the ground while Loki rolled onto feet with one of his hand-cannons ready to fire, looking to the unmoving Beowolf Loki stood up to brush himself off before firing into its head, making the Grimm's body slowly dissolve as he began to make his way to the Ruins.
Placing his right hand-cannon in its holster Loki began to make his way with a jog.
Watching from his scroll of Loki's few encounters with the Grimm, Ozpin had a frown of the brutality of the execution he had witnessed, looking to Glynda who was checking on the many other students in the forest.
Looking to the forest below with a worried frown Ozpin blinked as he heard a resonating howl that was followed by a shockwave and the occasional gunfire.
"This year definitely will be interesting" Ozpin said as he took a sip of his coffee.
Skidding to a halt with a shotgun-sword hybrid, a girl with tanned skin and chocolate brown hair looked over a boulder to see an Ursa Major walking in silence, narrowing her lavender coloured eyes, Gabrielle Moon readied her shotgun with a dust round in the chamber before she heard a groan of pain that was followed by the sound of something heavy falling to the ground, peeking over the boulder she saw Loki tearing his right hand from the Ursa's skull with a growl Gabrielle blinked as he looked around before he turned in her direction, making the two stop before Loki relaxed.
"So, I guess we're partners" Loki said with Gabrielle standing up with a nod, making Loki take in her attire.
Wearing a black shirt with matching black pants and shoes she had leather padding on her thigh and right arm, which held her chrome shotgun-sword hybrid, sitting atop her head was a tanned coloured cowboy hat with a feather on the side.
"Loki Fenris"
"Gabrielle Moon… so your Ozpin's son, it's a welcoming sight to see the famed son of a headmaster is a Faunus" Gabrielle said with Loki shrugging, before the two spun to the right with their weapons discharging into the head of a Beowolf that fell down, dead.
Looking to one another the two shared a high five at the synchronization.
"Let's go, the ruins are this way" Loki said with a smile as he turned to the right, with Gabrielle following Loki while reloading her shotgun.
Following the Faunus in silence, Gabrielle took notice to the revolver in his right hand she blinked in confusion as it had a molten look to the metal, like it was held in a forge before being taken out red hot.
"Nice revolver, you make it yourself?" Gabrielle questioned with Loki looking to his right hand to examine the weapon, spinning it on his right index finger he looked to Gabrielle with a smile.
"Custom made, I had to forge some of the pieces myself at one point to finish it" Loki said as he casually began to twirl it in hand as they continued on, until Gabrielle stopped at hearing lightning strikes in the distance, making Loki stop and turn to her.
"Know anyone who uses Lightning?" Loki questioned with Gabrielle turning to him.
"Yeah, My boyfriend, Odin Alfadir and his sister Yennefer are here with me, and knowing those two they've found each other already" Gabrielle said with Loki turning to her.
"You want to go find them, don't you?" Loki questioned with Gabrielle scratching her head with a nervous chuckle.
"welp, you got anything that has their scents, my nose is highly sensitive so I'll find them" Loki said with an offering hand, making Gabrielle reach into one of her pouch's she held up a good luck charm with a strand of hair hanging down.
"Odin always uses his hair for his luck charms, maybe this will help" Gabrielle said with Loki sniffing the air around the charm with his eyes unconsciously glowing as he followed a strong trail of what he could deduce was a Lion Faunus close to his age with the small scent of a Leopard following close behind.
"I got the scent, follow me" Loki said as he began walking to the right, making Gabrielle follow with her weapon held firmly.
Skidding away from an Alpha with a grunt of effort, a young man with a mane of brown hair looked up to show his left eye a cerulean blue while the right was covered by an eyepatch, his chin sporting a growing beard in its early stages.
Donning a brown leather coat with golden intricate designs on the back that resembled a tree, underneath this coat he wore a reinforced shirt with leather paddings that doubled for holsters for three sidearms.
Sporting an equally padded pair of pants the right leg also had a golden tree design running downward, wearing boots with a steel-cap exposed with a tree on the front.
Glaring at the Ursa Major as his sister, Yennefer fought with ease the lion Faunus got up fully with his right hand raised, sparking with electricity as a spear with a golden bronze design flew into his grip with the gathered lightning coursing through it.
Putting the spear in a reverse grip Odin Alfadir took aim at the Ursa as his sister sent a bolt of lightning into a dagger stabbed in its neck, making it stand paralyzed as she leaped away to recover.
"ODIN, NOW!" the black-haired leopard Faunus yelled with Odin sending his spear forward, nailing its neck the spear exploded into a dome of a lightning storm that fried the Ursa to death before the spear recollected itself, hovering in the air before flying towards Odin's held out hand.
Allowing him to turn to his sister who retrieved her dagger, twirling it in hand before holstering it on her upper back.
She wore a black jacket over a smaller black shirt that was paired with black skin tight jeans and travelling boots, showing her stomach which held a grand physique most would be jealous of, turning her bright blue eyes to Odin the two nodded with a smirk as they began making their way to the ruins, before Odin stopped and turn to what he could recognise were running footsteps, turning he was tackled by Gabrielle who cheered his name.
Spinning in place as he held his girlfriend Yennefer turned to the one with her, her eyes widening in recognition of Loki who looked over the battlefield, looking to the three he nodded in greeting.
"Evening" Loki said with Yennefer nodding back, turning to Odin and Gabrielle, Odin looked to Loki who nodded, getting one back.
"Odin Alfadir"
"Loki Fenris"
"The famed son of Ozpin, to be honest I was expecting someone more… arrogant, no offense" Odin said with a raised hand.
"None taken, I'm glad I didn't end up like the Schnee myself" Loki said with a joking voice that made Odin and Yennefer chuckle.
"Alright, let's go, the ruins are just over that ridge" Loki said with an arm pointing to a very far hill.
"How do you know that?" Gabrielle questioned in curiosity that made Loki grin.
"Because…" Loki began as he led the three in said direction of the far hill.
"I spent most of my childhood here… these are my hunting grounds" Loki said as his body changed slightly, growing fur and muscle he turned to the three stunned future students behind him.
"Ya'll just tourists here" Loki said as he shifted back, walking further ahead Odin turned to Gabrielle with a stunned look.
"You know how to pick teammates" Odin said with Gabrielle in mid nod before she turned to Odin with a frown of annoyance.
"Hmm, seems Loki has gotten a full team already" Ozpin said with Glynda looking to her scroll, humming in agreement before she looked up to see a forest fire from the farther part of the forest.
"Maybe we should have warned the other students about destroying the forest" Glynda said with Ozpin humming in agreement before he frowned as a camera went into static, making his eyes harden in worry for his adopted son and students.
"Glynda have the Huntsmen on standby" Ozpin said with Glynda nodding.
"See, told you I know this place" Loki said as they were given a view of the ruins, with Loki spotting movement in the trees, squinting to enhance what vision he had he spotted Yang and Blake walking through the trees at a leisurely pace.
"And we have to walk all the way" Yennefer said with a whine before both she and Gabrielle were lifted off the ground by Loki, who turned to Odin.
"Get on my back, we'll clear a few miles this way" Loki said with Odin awkwardly jumping on.
"So is this your semblance, speed or teleport?" Gabrielle questioned with Loki grinning widely as he crouched low.
"Not exactly, you may also want to hold your knees" Loki said with Yennefer turning her head to him.
"WhyYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!" Yennefer said before Loki launched himself into the air with the ground cracking from his lift off, with Yennefer and Gabrielle holding onto him for dear life while Odin let out a cheer.
Stopping at hearing the sound of an explosion and cheer, Yang and Blake looked to one another with a shrug before continuing.
"So, how do you know Loki?" Blake questioned Yang as they walked onward.
"He… gave me information about my mother" Yang said with a bit of irritation before she turned to Blake who raised an eyebrow.
"How did you meet him?" Yang questioned with a teasing smile.
"He helped me make my way here, gave me a place to stay and the rest is private" Blake said as she walked ahead of Yang who frowned, shrugging she followed her partner as they exited the forest to see the ruins ahead, making Yang sigh in relief as she walked to the ruins before Blake stopped her, making Yang speak to question why they stopped before something impacted the area between them and the ruins, followed by what could be described as laughing echoing from the cloud along with coughing.
"We have to do that again" Odin cheered as he ran out of the cloud, followed by Yennefer hugging the ground while Gabrielle walked out while brushing dust off of her outfit they turned to see Loki skipping out towards the ruins.
"Thank you for flying on Loki transports, enjoy your stay" the werewolf Faunus said with a happy voice.
"Loki?" Blake questioned with the said werewolf Faunus turning to her.
"Oh hey Blake, hey Yang, how you girls doing?" Loki questioned as they made their way to the ruins, Gabrielle and Odin following.
Walking into the ruins to see chess pieces on pedestals
"Chess pieces?" Blake questioned in confusion as Gabrielle picked up a black kings piece while Odin picked up his own King piece.
"Some are missing" Odin stated as he looked to the other missing pieces.
"How about a cute little Pony?" Yang said with Blake looking to her with a shrug.
"Sure" Blake said with Loki correcting Yang.
"That's a knight piece" Loki said before he tilted his head to the left to dodge a small pebble from the blonde brawler who was blushing.
"That was easy" Yennefer said as they stood in a circle.
"Well, it's not like this place is hard to find" Blake said suggestively before Yennefer and Gabrielle pointing to Loki.
"We had a guide, so that's a handicap for us" Yennefer said with Loki shrugging before they all perked up at hearing a scream, with Loki having the distinct feeling Jaune was the cause.
"Some girl is in trouble! Blake, did you hear that?" Yang said with Loki looking up at a Nevermore… which had two dots, one White the other turning out to be a falling Ruby Rose.
"Heads uuuuuuuup!"
Seeing the falling form of Ruby Loki went to catch her if not for Jaune Arc flying and colliding with the red head, sending the two into a tree with Loki relaxing the ash gathering in and around his legs.
"Did your sister just fall from the sky?" Blake questioned Yang who was stunned into silence.
"I…" Yang began before they heard explosions approaching, with Odin raising his spear to throw, Yennefer held a trident while Gabrielle held her shotgun in a sword fashion.
Hearing another explosion the group saw an Ursa running out of the trees flailing wildly before a pink explosion erupted on its back, making it groan before falling down with a orange haired girl rolling off with a cheer.
"Awwww... It's broken." Nora Valkyrie said in a saddened tone with Loki blinking at a memory of himself riding a Beowolf like a bull rider before he chuckled.
Looking to Loki, Odin spoke with a knowing voice.
"I take it you've had close ideas"
"You have no idea" Loki said before he turned in surprise as the girl was looking at a Rook piece.
"Ooooh… I'm queen of the castle! I'm queen of the castle!" the girl sang with Loki laughing lightly, making her stop and look to him, making him smile at her which caused her to blush with a small smile before they perked up at hearing a voice from the Ursa.
"NORA!"
"Uh, hehehe, Coming Ren!" the named Nora said while running to her friend, with Loki instinctively checking her out.
"did that girl ride here on an Ursa?" Blake questioned with Loki nodding with a small "Yep".
"I…" Yang began before she was interrupted by a screech from the tree line, making all turn to see Pyrrah Nikos run out of a tree line, chased closely by a Deathstalker.
"Jaune!"
"Pyrrah!"
Walking towards the fleeing red Head Loki raised his hands with ash gathering around him as Pyrrah ran by him, allowing Loki to raise both hands before slamming them as fists into the ground, sending cracks racing towards the Scorpion Grimm, confusing those watching as Loki brought up his hands as the cracks were beneath the Grimm, followed by spikes of ash rising up to impale the Grimm, making it screech in pain before it went silent.
Followed by its being dissipating while Loki turned to the group with a smile.
"Nice" Odin said with a thumbs up before they looked up to hear Weiss yelling
"How could you leave me!?"
"I said jump" Ruby said offeringly as the teen with Nora staring up to the Heiress.
"She's gonna fall" Blake stated as the group stared upward while Loki approached.
"She'll be fine" Ruby said as Loki stood beside them before looking up to have his eyes widen at seeing Weiss falling.
"She's Falling" Loki said with the teen boy looking to him before paying him no mind.
"Welp, I'll be back" Loki said as he stepped below the Heiress, making them watch as he crouched low before catapulting upward, catching the Heiress in his arms she blinked as he held her bridal.
"Funny seeing you here Miss Schnee"
"LOKI!" Weiss yelled in panic as they began to fall, with Loki bracing himself as they landed, leaving small craters where his feet landed Loki looked to a stunned Weiss with a wink, dropping her on her feet Weiss stepped away in awe as he tore his feet from the ground.
Talk about rough landing" Jaune said as he hopped down from the tree with Pyrrah hugging him in relief, making the blonde blush as Loki gave him a knowing look.
"How did you… your legs should… no amount of Aura could stop your legs from buckling, nor should it give you the strength to leap that high" Weiss said in shock as Loki shrugged, looking up to the circling Nevermore with a cautious eye.
"Great The Gang's All here, now we can die together!" Yang cheered with Odin and Loki giving her a raised eyebrow.
"We got our relics, all we need to do is lose bird brain up there and get back to beacon, it's easy"
"To say, unlike you, we can't send ourselves upward with sheer strength" Blake said with a monotonic voice before Ruby spoke.
"He's right, Our mission is to grab an artifact and make it back to the Cliffs. There's no point in fighting these things." Ruby said with Loki deflating at the not needing to fight the Grimm, before the group perked up at hearing a roar in the distance, with Loki turning to the direction it came from.
"Goliath, I don't remember them coming to the Forest" Loki murmured as the group without a Relic gained their own while Odin readied his spear at seeing the Nevermore above.
"That Bird is circling!" Odin said before he turned to the sound of a roar with falling trees easily seen.
"Time we Left" Lie Ren said with all nodding in agreement, following the group Loki noticed Ruby stand on a rock with Yang looking to her sister proudly, making him stop and smile before his eyes widened as he suddenly stood behind yang who spun around to see Loki catch a thrown uprooted tree.
"RUN!" Loki yelled as he threw the Tree at the one who threw it, allowing him to stare at a Goliath much more larger than the others, sporting jagged horns on its armored trunk and back its eyes glowed menacingly as it stalked towards them, followed from the sky by the Nevermore.
Running after the others he easily caught up to them with Gabrielle turning to see the Goliath walking onto the hill.
"Oh man Run!" Jaune yelled with the others running to the bridge, with Ruby, Yang, Weiss, Blake, Jaune and Nora making it across with the rest to face the Goliath as it stalked towards them.
"Nora, fire at the Nevermore!" Lie Ren yelled as he readied stormflower while Gabrielle readied her her Shotgun while Yennefer brought out daggers, Odin simply spun his Spear in hand while Loki glared at the Goliath which glared back at him.
"Guys, Plan, anyone" Odin questioned as he and Pyrrah readied their weapons.
"I'll get it's attention, one of you keep an eye on it for a weakness" Loki said with the others looking at him like he lost his mind.
"What?" Yennefer questioned as Loki was shrouded in ashes before he shot towards the Goliath while the others took on the Nevermore.
Running at it's given target by the Queen, the Goliath charged to the Werewolf Faunus who leaped forward, shoulder charging its right foot the Goliath let out a grunt of effort as it kicked him back, watching Loki land on his feet he rushed to the right with Goliath turning its body to keep its eye on the teen, giving Ren the sight of many spears sticking from its side, one being larger than the rest.
"There the Spear, but we need Nora" Ren said with the others nodding, turning to the battling Explosive beauty Odin raised his free hand with a grabbing motion as Nora smashed the nevermore into the Bridge, making Odin pat himself on the back for having a gut feeling, focusing on bringing Nora to them he unintentionally brought Jaune to them as well.
"Sorry Jaune" Odin said as the two landed with the group.
With Nora standing beside Ren at attention with a salute.
"Reporting for explosive duty Lie Ren!" Nora said with Lie Ren pointing to spears in the Goliath's right side as Loki evaded being crushed by a stomp by dashing away in a cloud of ash, running more with the Grimm growling in frustration.
"We'll try and knock the Goliath onto its side, you and Odin will try and force the Spear deeper. All we need is Loki to get back here" Ren said before said werewolf Faunus landed beside them with a skid, getting back up with a grunt as Ruby and the others faced the nevermore.
"That Spear looks like it can channel electricity, Odin may be able to charge it enough to paralyze it long enough for Nora to get into position and nail it" Jaune said with Loki nodding.
It was this moment Odin spoke.
"yeah, but what's to stop it from ignoring Loki and going for us?" Odin questioned with the group looking to the Goliath as it glared at them.
"We know it's nice enough to wait for us" Yennefer said with the Goliath grumbling.
"Alright, so what do we do while its being kind?" Gabrielle questioned Jaune who blinked in alarm.
"Why are you all staring at me?" Jaune questioned with Loki answering.
"Your our current strategist, make a plan while we fight it" Loki said before he lifted Odin off the ground, with Odin instantly seeing the plan readied his spear.
"Let the sky roar!" Loki yelled as he tossed his fellow Faunus towards the Goliath with Odin charging lightning into his spear he threw it at the Goliath with it nailing it in the head, making the Goliath shake the spear out as Odin landed on the Grimm with Loki shoulder charging it back while Lie Ren, and Yennefer gave support to the two as Loki leaped into the air with his right arm shrouded in glowing ash which he sent at the Grimm with a right hook.
Landing on its head as it was disoriented he leaped off with Odin as Nora came smashing forward with her hammer, staggering the Goliath enough for her to jump away as it retaliated by swinging its spiked trunk.
Seeing this Jaune narrowed his eyes in concentration while Pyrrah and Gabrielle stood guard
"I got a plan, anyone got a really strong or thick rope?" Jaune said with a determined look in his eyes as Gabrielle held out a steel woven rope.
"Loki, I have a plan" Jaune yelled as Gabrielle unraveled the rope.
"Anything is good for me!" Loki yelled as he and Odin avoided a slam from the trunk of the Goliath, with Loki firing his two desert eagle hand cannons, aiming for one of its eyes as Pyrrah and Gabrielle rushed forward with the steel rope in hand, circling through the legs Loki turned to Odin who readied his spear with lightning dust with Nora ready.
Gathering ash in his hands Loki let out a growl of effort as it solidified into a chain that lit up in flames due to the ashes glowing, whistling to Gabrielle she looked to see him toss a chain to her, enticing her to catch she continued tangling the Goliath's legs as her emergency Steel rope ran out, with Pyrrah tying it with her hands glowing, showing the metal tied in a bow to humor the situation the Goliath let out a roar of anger as it fought to keep its balance as Gabrielle reinforced the rope with Loki's chains.
Returning to the Group Jaune yelled.
"ODIN, SHOCK IT!" Jaune yelled with Odin floating in the air with his spear aiming at the Goliath, more towards the spear.
Sending a bolt of Lightning into the spear the Goliath let out a pained roar as it was shocked to the ground, but all was stopped as the Spear shot out at Odin like a bullet, knocking him out of the air the Goliath stood up with anger as the two groups of four scattered, with Nora startled as the old spear landed right in front of her, making her turn to see the Goliath swinging it's trunk down towards her.
Closing her eyes in preparation for the pain she opened her eyes in confusion as nothing happened, looking she was stunned as Loki held the attack at bay with the spikes stabbing through his hands and wrists, a scowl of determination clear on his face.
Turning golden eyes to Nora she looked to the spear then back to Loki who nodded as he forced the Grimm back with a wall of ash burning it, spinning he grabbed Nora who pulled the spear from the ground the two were stunned as Loki's ash sparked into a sky blue glow as his eyes glowed neon blue and yellow, making Loki grunt at the odd surge he threw Nora into the air as Loki made a hammer of ashes as he followed after her.
Seeing her plunge the Spear into its thick armored head it let out a roar as Loki brought his hammer onto the spear, digging deep into its brain the shock wave sent both Loki and Nora back as the energy Loki had used dispersed into the Grimm.
Lying on the dirt ground with a groan Loki was brought off his back by a worried Nora as he regained his bearings, looking to Nora he blinked with Nora looking in worry.
"Did we win?" Loki questioned with Nora looking to the dissipating Grimm, helping Loki sit up in time to see Ruby drag the Nevermore up the cliff for decapitation.
"Yep, we won" Loki said as he slumped back down, making Nora and the others run to him, stopping they heard him snoring.
Allowing Gabrielle to sigh in relief.
Standing on stage with a four man team before him and the crowd below Ozpin spoke as he named the team that would be participating in the four years of Beacon, sparing a proud look to Loki as he stood with his possibly future teammates.
"Russel Thrush. Cardin Winchester. Dove Bronzewing. Sky Lark. The four of you retrieved the black bishop pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team CRDL, led by... Cardin Winchester!" Ozpin said as those within the auditorium clapped at the formed team with Cardin Winchester nodding in thanks as the four stepped off the stage followed by jaune and the others stepping onto the stage.
"Jaune Arc. Lie Ren. Pyrrha Nikos. Nora Valkyrie. The four of you retrieved the white rook pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team JNPR." Ozpin said with Loki clapping with a smirk, one which Jaune returned before the next words Ozpin spoke shocked him into silence.
"Led by, Jaune Arc" Ozpin said with Jaune turning to him in shock and awe.
"L-led by…?"
"Congratulations young man" Ozpin said as Loki spoke.
"Go Vomit Boy!" Loki yelled with a laugh with Jaune turning to him, not even feeling Pyrrah try to pat his back.
"YOU WEREN'T EVEN ON THE AIRSHIP!" Jaune yelled as he was pulled off the stage by Pyrrah who was giggling, allowing Blake, Ruby, Weiss and Yang to stand on the stage.
"Blake Belladonna. Ruby Rose. Weiss Schnee. Yang Xiao Long. (motions over the four as they stand before him) The four of you retrieved the white knight pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team RWBY. Led by... Ruby Rose!" Ozpin said with Weiss looking to Ruby while yang hugged her sister as they were ushered off the stage, with Ozpin smiling proudly to Loki as the four were ushered onto the stage with Loki standing between Gabrielle and Odin.
"Gabrielle Moon, Loki Fenris, Odin Alfadir and Yennefer Alfadir, the four of you retrieved the Black King pieces, From now on you four will be known as, team GLOY (Glory), led by, Gabrielle Moon" Ozpin said with Loki smiling as he gave Gabrielle a pat on the back as all those present clapped, with Nora smiling brightly.
"Congratulations young lady… your mother would be proud" Ozpin said as Gabrielle smiled.
Vale Warehouse.
Walking into the Warehouse Emerald Sustrai had a look of concern as she watched crates of dust being moved hastily, and her gut was telling her who was responsible was hoping for good news that she had, bringing up her scroll Emerald approached a seething Cinder Fall who turned to her with a withheld glare.
"Any news on this Loki Fenris?" Cinder questioned as Emerald gulped at sensing the anger in her voice, holding her scroll out Cinder took it to see medical reports.
"What is this?" Cinder questioned with Emerald giving her an answer.
"About fifteen years ago an anomaly outside of Vale caused the kingdom to go into a panic until the anomaly subsided, hours later a medical report of a wolf Faunus appears in the system, this is what the docs got when they scanned the area and this Loki Fenris, turns out… he's the source of that energy the scanners picked up all those years ago" Emerald said as Cinder narrowed her eyes.