"Is that a…"

"Dragon!" Ruby would have followed that with a squeal hadn't the crimson beast been staring down at them. "It's a real live Dragon!"

"Wyvern actually." Gales muttered as he reached for Altered Song and held it ready. "And from the looks of it, we're in its territory."

"Uh…" Jaune began as he stared at the drake as it turned its attention to the woods for a moment and stared at something before turning back to them. "What do we do?"

"What else." Gales began. "We got Grimm in the back and a wyvern in the front. We plan on getting out of this… we're gonna have to fight our way out." He stated as he glanced back at the others. "Quick rundown on Rathalos; These boys are tough, they're smart, and we're utterly fucked if his mate shows up." Gales stated. "Somethings weird about this one though… it's wings are way bigger than the rest and those spines on them… how old is this one?"

"Mate!?" The group yelled as they looked at the winged beast.

"What makes you think it has a mate?"

"Experience." Gales muttered as the Rathalos roared again. "One this old has to be part of a mated pair." This time the wind it kicked up almost knocked the group off their feet. Gales just charged, having grown far to used to this kind of scream tactic before and was on the Rathalos in an instant. It dodged his first swing, raising its head as it turned, swinging its tail around as Gales blocked the large appendage and went sliding back. "Those spines..." He adjusted his sword and let the limb go flying overhead before charging again. He made for it's foot swinging his weapon only for it to raise it's leg and slam it down forcing him to dodge by rolling to the side and getting to his feet. It jumped, flapping its wings once before flipping, the others surprised by the massive creature pulling off such a maneuver despite it's bulk. It's tail went in a full circle as Gales jumped, letting the spiked tail hit him and used the momentum to go flying into the air. Without turning his fired behind him, using the shot to launch him back down so he could slam his sword on it's back. "And the heat of these scales... but these scars, these biological adaptations… oh fuck."

The Rathalos shook, knocking the Hunter off its back before swiping at him with its teeth. Gales just countered by raising his sword again, using the momentum to launch himself elsewhere and used it to get some distance.

"You're a Zenith." Gales grumbled as he looked at the wyvern, watching as it turned it's full attention on him for a moment. "Ah man... this so gonna *suck*…" He glanced behind him and watched the Grimm trying to creep closer. "On *so* many levels." The teen muttered as he got ready again. "And yet… I am so looking forward to this."

Pyrrha watched as Gales just charged again before following after him. "Pyrrha!"

"We can't let him fight alone!" She yelled back and the others followed.

The Fire Drake glanced at them, and back at the lone hunter coming from the opposite direction. An unspoken lightning fast decision made it charged the group, moving at a speed that it's bulk defied. The group of Huntsmen and Huntresses responded well though, moving out of the way and the wyvern charged by. It jumped and swung that monster of a tail downward. Ren dodged, letting the spiked tail smash into the ground before he took aim with Stormflower, firing both guns at the creature before moving again. Blake had a similar idea, firing Gambol Shroud before stopping as it turned, swinging its tail to the side to try hitting the group.

Without warning Nora jumped, her hammer swinging at the wyverns face only for it to dodge. With a flap of its wings it sent her back before turning to see an airborne Yang. Her punch hit home, slamming into the wyvern's jaw as she smirked. That was before a massive eyeball similar to Gales looked down at her.

"Uh oh." It knocked her back, roared and sent her flying before turning to look at the others. Weiss had a black Glyph before her Ruby standing on it as she fired, a sudden flurry of rose petals streaking at the wyvern as it moved its head, letting the trail go down its back and off its tail. Ruby hit the ground rolling, stumbling to a stop before getting to her feet.

"Ok that didn't work." The Wyvern just looked to Pyrrha and Jaune as they charged. Without warning the Fire Drake lunged, snapping its head forward as the dodged - one more gracefully than the other - as they made for its feet, and stabbed forward.

To Jaune's confusion their weapon bounced off as he stumbled. Pyrrha just twisted her weapon, switched from her spear to sword mode and started swinging, delivering blow after blow to the armor like scale as Jaune did his best to copy her.

The wyvern jumped as it took to the air, only to crash down in a bid to crush the two under its weight as they raised their shields. They disappeared under its body as Gales charged. From the corner of his eye he caught Weiss spinning before stabbing her rapier into the ground as a wave of ice was launched at the wyvern. It flapped its wings, taking to the air and flying back as the wave of ice almost stabbed it.

The last shard stopped just before the groaning forms of Jaune and Pyrrha, giving them enough space to lift themselves back up as Gales raced past them. The wyvern dived, striking with its talons as Gales blocked with his sword. Barely a second later though the wyvern back-flipped in the air, using its tail to knock Gales into the air before grabbing him with one of its talons and slamming him into the ground. When it inhaled Gale's eyes widened and a torrent of scarlet flames washed over.

Everyone felt numb as they watched the flames spew over their friends' form, his shadow showing him thrashing about as he tried pulling himself free from the claw pinning him to the ground. When he stopped moving a pit set in the group's stomach as the Flame Drake raised a smoking foot and stepped away from the burning body. "Gales?" With a leer the wyvern stared down at the group as they tried saying something and the wyvern stomped forward.

"Gales?" Pyrrha's eyes widened, tears starting to swell in them as her weapon started to rattle in her hands. "You..."

Ruby's eyes started to flash a faint glow.

Yang's hair started to smoke and burn as she saw red.

A strange small glyph attempted to form under Weiss's feet.

"You bastard!" In seconds the group moved, the four girls leading the charge as the wyvern inhaled. A series of fireballs being launched forward as the group dodged.

The issue was that it wasn't aiming for them; charging from the trees and the Grimm that once performed a cage closed in on the Huntsmen closed in, their circle growing tight only for a few fireballs to burn them into ash.

Pyrrha raised her shield when another fireball slammed into her and pushed her back. She retaliated by using the momentum to spin around and launch her javelin forward. For the effort it practically bounced off the wyvern's iron like scales before hitting rattling to the ground. She raised her shield when a Liger came from behind, bashing it in the side of the face before following it with a knee to the jaw. For whatever reasons her javelin, Miló returned to her flying into her hand as she stabbed the Grimm in the eye before pulling her weapon back and resumed her charge.

Weiss spun and stabbed her rapier into the earth as a wave of ice shot forward. The Flame Drake just inhaled and released another wave of flames, this time melting the wave of ice coming for it. The resulting steam blocked it's view, because of that it failed to notice Weiss firing beams of dust. When they landed they froze small parts of the wyvern's body as it roared. It barely noticed the frost though, snapping the ice with a few movements as it charged forward.

Yang drew a hand back as she punched the wyvern's face. Sliding back a few short feet she watched the beast roared and twisted. A second later it slammed a wing down on her, kicking up a noticeable chunk of debris before raising it's limb again. Yang just picked herself up, her fair becoming more white as she ran under the wyvern's underbelly and started punching it; each punch being followed by her gauntlets unloading a round. She didn't stop even when her magazines were empty.

Ruby jumped and fired, using the recoil from her scythe to get some air before landing on the wyverns back. It glanced back at her before growling and started thrashing about, trying to shake the young huntress off its back. She stabbed her weapon into it's back to steady herself. She fired, four rounds loading into it's back before reloading. The wyvern jumped, twisted as it made to land on it's back to flatten the girl under its weight. Ruby was gone before it hit the ground though, hitting the ground with a roll as she got back to her feet. A roar from behind caught her attention and she turned, reflexively twisting her scythe to block as a claw almost hit her. The Grimm facing her roared as it kept swinging and Ruby moved, taking steps back to keep some room before going on the offensive.

"Oh spirits that was close." Gales muttered as he sat up and rubbed his good eye. "I thought I was barbecue for a moment." Looking himself over the teen found himself relatively fine, the only real issue was that he could definitely feel the bruises under his clothes forming. "That said, how am I not…"

'So that's how that works.'

Small sparks of red and black lightning danced around Gales' form for a moment as he retrieved his sword and saw the battlefield had practically become a free-for-all

.'Hm… It doesn't seem I can keep it on for a long period of time though. Guess we'll have to practice after all.'

"I'll question what you did later." Gales muttered as a Grimm lunged at him and he turned, a heavy swing splitting the creature in half before he turned and rejoined the fight. Much as he wanted to go for the Wyvern he needed to do something real quick.

Jaune blocked a Grimm' claw with his shield as he went stumbling back before retaliating with a swing of his own. It stepped back, dodging to the side before circling around the youth. Whistle caught the two's attention as they turned and Gales stabbed the Grimm in the head. "Hey Jaune."

Gales!? You're alive?"

"Yep." Gales stated as he bisected the Grimm's head before turning to look at him. "You ok?"

"Y-yeah but how are you?"

"Talk later!" Gales stated as he looked at Ren and saw him dodging a series of grimm trying to hit him. Raising that mammoth blade of his Gales pointed it forward as he took a breath and fired, the rifle component smashing into a Grimms claw as he gave Ren an opening to deliver a palm strike to its face and blew open the top of t's head. "Oh I have got to learn to do that." Ren just looked at him for a moment before returning to the fight on hand. Nora just looked at him and smiled.

"Girls! Gales is ok!"

"What?!" Five girls instinctively turned to look at the one eyed hunter as he rolled his eyes.

"Focus ladies." Gales muttered as he caught the wyvern's eyes as it puffed itself up before roaring. "Jaune grabbed the unconscious and got ready to run, got it?"

"Right, what are you going to do?"

"Buy you some time." Gales took a breath as he closed his eyes and crouched low, listening to his heartbeat as he tuned the rest of the world out for a moment.

On seemingly impulse the Flame Drake stopped, its attention turning away from the four huntresses trying to harm it. It growled as it stomped forward focusing it's attention on Gales and got one in return. The youth started to gradually discolor to Jaune's concern as he took a step back; adopting a vascular dark purple hue as he started to radiate some form of black and red smoke. "G-Gales?"

'Uninhibited Access, is it?'

Opening scarlet eyes and Gales moved; roaring, he sounded more like a pissed Fanged Wyvern than a human as he and the wyvern charged each other. He blurred past Jaune as the Grimm turned to him. The first Grimm that tried to hit him he ran past, cutting its arm off in the process. The second, he grabbed by it's mask, snapping its neck as he dragged it behind him before throwing it at the wyvern. "Wow!"

The Flame Drake just turned, batting the airborne Grimm away and into the trees with its tail as it inhaled. It launched a fireball at the Hunter as Gales just ran through it. Ignoring the few burns that were already starting to form on his skin as he aimed his weapon switched to his handgun and fired. If it did any real damage he wasn't sure; the King of the Skies didn't even flinch as it was hit, just twisting as it slammed a wing onto the ground in an attempt to flatten the hunter. When it raised the wing it released a trio of flames in a bid to finish roasting the teen. Halfway through its breath attack Gales just uppercutted the wyvern to shut its mouth before socking it in the jaw hard enough to make its head twist a bit. An instant later it twisted, knocking the teen back as he got to his feet. It body slammed him a few seconds later before picking itself up and took to the air. It flipped, smashing its tail down as Gales grabbed it, and turned. The wyvern roared in a combination of rage and surprise as he started spinning it around, smashing it into Grimm before throwing it aside.

It struggled for a moment to get to its feet but succeeded. A few Grimm foolishly attacked it, only to find themselves crushed under a pair of flattening wings. When it looked at the charging hunter it stepped on a Grimm before taking to the air and threw its catch like a ragdoll. When Gales was hit it sent them both rolling though after a sudden snapping noise Gales was left alone as it disappeared. Looking at the other Grimm the Wyvern batted them away with its tail before looking at the hunter. Both roared at each other, a challenge of sorts being declared as they charged one another.

"A-Am I seeing things?" Jane didn't get an answer as he and the others looked at the sight, Gales and the wyvern, trying to kill each other and treating the Grimm like a momentary inconvenience. "Is that really… Gales?" Being thrown into a tree Gales just picked himself up and ran back into a fight. I can barely keep up with his movements."

"Forget his movements… look at him…" Weiss muttered as she looked at the beast-like boy. "That aura… what on earth happened to him?"

"Its like he snapped…" Ren muttered as he watched the hunter snap a Grimm's throat for getting in his way.

"Wow." Nora muttered. "So uh… he looks like he's got this so…"

"GET TO CAMP!" Everyone jumped when Gales gave the word, looking at them with an absolutely feral expression. "TELL EVERYONE TO CLEAR OUT!"

"But-" Pyrrha made to move as Ren grabbed her shoulder.

"We need to get the wounded to a doctor."

"He said he'd buy us some time" Jaune muttered, biting his lips as he looked at the one over his shoulder.

"With those two going at it as they are, they're distracting all the Grimm for us…" Ren muttered as he looked to Jaune and Ruby. "It's your call."

"Ren…" Jaune stayed silent for a moment before looking to Gales. "Let's go. Gales can buy us some time. We'll come back with Professor Peach and a few of the senior Huntersmen."

"Yeah." Ruby agreed as she looked at the others. "This is way above our experience right now, and Gales seems to know this creature. Let's trust him with this one."

"Alright." Pyrrha looked to Gales as she and the others started running . "I'm sorry Gales; but I'll never forgive you if you die on us here."

With the others gone Gales just took a breath as he got to his feet again and watched the wyvern start knocking away Grimm as he stumbled forward.

'Looks like they're gone. Well at the very least they won't see you get your ass handed to you.'

Gales just growled as he got low, crouching on all fours as the voice in his mind sighed.

'Then again even with your experience you've only been against one Rathalos even remotely similar to this one…'

The voice muttered as Gales charged.

'Just do me a favor, even if though we're going to get our ass handed to us on a scarlet scaled platter, do *try* and keep us alive. I'd truly appreciate that.'

Gales just roared as the Rathalos returned it, launching a fireball at the youth as he just dodged, running sideways as a series of fireballs were launched after him. On his way close he picked up his discarded sword; and the wyvern swung its tail, nailing Gales across the chest as he gasped in pain. Grabbing hold of it before pointing Wyrmsflare at it and fired, nailing round after round into the wyvern's back, until he emptied the rifle mag. When it was empty, he climbed up the beast's tail and onto its back. stabbing it with his weapon a couple times The seventh time he stabbed it in the back he punched through its scale hide and held it down. The wyvern roared as the blade caught fire and was dragged along to form a larger wound. It managed to throw him off before the phial exploded, knocking him into the remaining Grimm as he was piled on.

Looking around at the other Grimm the Fire Drake took to the air and started flying off, bulldozing over Grimm as it circled around. It circled around twice; the first time to let loose a rain of fireballs on the Grimm below while the second was to land, pinning a Grimm beneath its talon and bit half its body off. It stomped to the pile still gathered on Gales and torched the sight, wrapping it in scarlet flames as the Grimm started to vanish. It stopped to check its work, lurking at the edge of burning and dissolving Grimm as a low rumble left its throat.

Gales just pulled himself from under the last of the dead Grimm letting it dissolve harmlessly as he got to his feet as panted for breath, sounding like a rabid dog as he dropped to his knees. The Sky King just released a light, almost chirping noise as it looked at the human, watching him return to his feet as he growled, swaying from side to side before steadying himself. He was bleeding. His clothes were ripped and cut apart, and yet how that pelt of his was still practically in mint condition was beyond confusing. The tip of his weapon was broken and still he pointed the broken weapon forward before looking at it, a hint of clarity flashing in those feral eyes before grunting.

?

Demons.

She couldn't believe *that* was the word that ran through her mind at the sight. Through the eyes of one another, she watching a human and creature out of myth continue to fight. "Where on Remnant did you two come from?" She questioned as she heard another roar, watching the king of Ligers join the fray instead of running. Most of it's pack was destroyed and only scraps remained. She didn't feel pity for it's loss, nor respect for the "honor" it held in trying to avenge its fallen brethren while the others ran. It didn't concern her at the moment.

Still…

"That malicious aura, and destructive power." She muttered as she watched the three way brawl. "There's no way that boy is human." At least, not anymore. Was this the power of his semblance, or something else? "Either way, this is starting to be quite an interesting show." She rested a hand on her cheek. "I'll watch a little longer…"

Besides…

She heard the dragon-like beast roar. *That* was something she'd need to look into.

Emerald Forest

The Grimm roared as it hit the ground, pulled itself to its feet and lunged at the wyvern. As Gales just charged at the two. The King of the Skies just turned, swinging its tail at the Tyrant Liger and used the momentum to aim a fireball in Gales direction. Both hits landed, and again both opponents just got to their feet. The Rathalos turned again and leapt, grabbing the Grimm by it's back and hoisted it into the air. Looking back it took flight, using the Grimm as a makeshift bludgening weapon. Gales just stabbed it with the broken sword of his and was sent flying. The King hoisting them both into the air before tossing them into a tree. Gales coughed up a bit of blood, panting but managed to push the of him, struggling only when he saw the Fire Drake charging them. He was slammed back into the tree and through it. He hit the ground with a roll aimed his weapon and pulled the trigger.

Still empty sadly, and at the moment; with the chains taken off he didn't have enough common sense to replace the mag.

The wyvern inhaled, A torrent of flames gathering in it's mouth only for the Grimm to jump on it's back, gnawing on its throat as it pulled, forcing the wyvern to aim it's flames skyward in glorious pillar of scarlet fire. Thrashing around it tried dislodging the Grimm, succeeding when it jumped pulled a front flip in the air and used the momentum to throw the Grimm away. The two beasts just roared at one another, the King and the Tyrant issuing a challenge in their own indistinguishable tongues before going at it. The Tyrant got on its hind legs swinging wildly, as the King attacked with his talons. Their limbs scratched one another, before the wyvern shot a fireball at one of the Grimm hind legs and set it on fire.

Stunned from the sudden pain and sent off balance the Grimm failed to counter when the Fire Drake bit into its throat i an attempt to bite down and crush it's windpipe. Problem wasn't just the white armor on it's neck though; the Grimm had enough "muscle" to cushion the fangs. It tried retaliating, swinging it's claws on the wyvern's throat and scales as it tried getting it break free. The King however just gathered another torrent of flames in its throat, ejecting them onto the struggling Grimm's throat and held tight. The Grimm struggling ended seconds before it's throat was burned off and the flames started eating away at a tree; it's body landed with a hard thump as the wyvern threw its head elsewhere. Raising it's head the wyvern released a triumphant roar before turning it's attention back to Gales.

The hunter just swayed, trying his best to stay on his feet as pressed his back to a tree and panted for breath. The red in his eyes flickered back to normal as the wyvern stared down at him. Without warning it turned smashing its tail through trees as it hit Gales and sent him flying.

Even if he was in a good state of mind he wouldn't be too sure how many trees he went through before he stopped and hit the ground. Still he picked himself up, grunting in pain as the wyvern took to the air and followed after him.

The moment it found him it dived, dropping out the sky like a falling stone and flattened him beneath it. When it picked itself up he tried standing, only for the wyvern to smash its wing onto him. As soon as it raised it wing it stepped on him and inhaled before bathing him in another torrent of flames. The last thoughts that went through Gales mind before his world turned to ash was this.

'Well this isn't good...'