Chapter 7: On the Hunt
One week had passed since everyone had arrived at Beacon. Not much had happened in terms of the Night Hunters. Ryu had been spending anytime he had not devoted to training or school work trying to dig up anything on them. Each lead he got however only led to a dead end. Everyone else had been doing their best to dig up any info but to no avail. Despite their failures the group continued kept working while doing their best to keep their activities secret.
One day after classes had ended Ryu and Mana were doing some studying outside while Ryu did his workouts, specifically sit ups.
"Alright name the types of Commonly Known Grimm talked about so far are," Mana stated.
"Uhhmm… Beowolf, Boarbatusk, Ursa, Creep, Griffon, Death Stalker, Nevermore, uhhmmm… King Taijitu, Goliaths, and…" Ryu began.
"That's all," Mana interrupted.
"Oh right," Ryu stated. "Uhhh… What was one of the reason's the great war occurred?"
"That's easy the concept of individualism is the main reason the war started." Mana answered. "By the way how many sit ups are you at?"
"267," Ryu stated. "Got another 333 to go."
"I see." Mana stated.
Suddenly Ryu's Scroll rang. Ryu sighed and hopped to his feet before answering.
"Hey Sage what's up?" Ryu greeted.
"Sage?" Mana questioned.
"Hey Ryu nothing much," Sage greeted back. "Hey are you doing anything today?"
"I'm just doing some studying for school with Mana," Ryu answered. "Why?"
"Perfect I was wonder if you and Mana could help me out with something? I'm on a good lead with the Night Hunters and could use some help." Sage explained.
"I see let me check with Mana," Ryu stated and pulled the phone away from him. "Hey Mana, Sage needs some help with something you down?"
"Well sure but don't we got more studying to do?" Mana pointed out.
"We can get it done later and besides we knew that stuff before we enrolled here," Ryu stated.
"Good point I'm in," Mana stated.
"Awesome," Ryu stated before putting the phone back to his ear. "We're in."
"Sweet thanks meet me at From Dust Till Dawn in town as soon as you can," Sage instructed.
"Alright see ya soon," Ryu stated.
"See ya," Sage replied.
Ryu hung up. He picked up his sword and placed it on his back.
"Welp best get going I'll message Caesar and let him know," Ryu stated.
"Right," Mana replied.
Ryu messaged Caesar about what they were doing before heading into town.
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Ryu and Mana arrived across the street of From Dust Till Dawn. In front of the store they saw Sage waiting for them. They went across the street towards her. Mana rushed ahead of Ryu.
"Sage!" she called out.
"Mana!" Sage greeted back.
The two embraced in a brief hug. Ryu groaned and rolled his eyes.
"Well good to see you too Ryu," Sage remarked.
"Yeah, yeah anyways what's this favor you need us to do involve?" Ryu brought up.
"Right well we best not talk about that out in the open," Sage stated.
"Right," Ryu stated.
The trio walk into a nearby alleyway to talk.
"Now about this favor?" Ryu asked.
"Right," Sage stated.
Sage leaned up against the wall.
"You see I've been doing some digging and while I didn't find much I found two things intriguing. One is a informant in charge of a club on the shady side of town who may know a thing or two about the Night Hunters. The other is an actual recruitment meeting for the Night Hunters. Sneak in there and we might be able to find some useful intel." She expressed Dramatically.
Ryu and Mana stared awkwardly at Sage before slow turn each other and then back to Sage.
"What?" Sage asked.
"That was kind of overly dramatic." Mana explained.
"What no it wasn't," Sage insisted.
"Yeah it was," Ryu pointed out.
"Whatever anyways who's going to the informant and who's going to the recruitment meeting?" Sage brought up.
"I'll go to the informant I'm more well known in the underground and besides infiltration isn't my strong suit." Ryu stated.
"Alright then here's the address," Sage stated handing a slip of paper to Ryu.
Ryu to hold of the paper and read the address.
"Think you can find it?" Sage asked.
"Of course I'm not an idiot," Ryu answered.
"Just checking," Sage replied. "Anyways when you get there look for a man going by the name Junior he'll be the one to talk to."
"Got it". Ryu affirmed.
"Mana you're with me then." Sage stated.
"Fine by me," Mana replied. "Stealth and infiltration is my specialty anyways."
"Let's Move out!" Sage ordered.
"Right!" Ryu and Mana affirmed.
The trio split up and went to there destinations.
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Back at the school Caesar and Sun were taking time after school to do some sparring in the gym.
While they were doing this Holokai came into the room.
"Hey guys know where is Ryu?" He inquired.
The two stopped sparring.
"He and Mana went into town, they got a lead on the Night Hunters." Caesar explained. "Why?"
"I was looking to spar with him to test out my skills," Holokai explained. "Oh well, I'll just hang out with you guys."
"That's fine by me but if you want to test your skills out why not just spar with Luz she's about as strong as Ryu." Sun pointed out.
"I would but she, Iris, Tala have kicked me out of the room," Holokai explained.
"Why?" Caesar asked.
"Not sure something about a contest," Holokai answered.
"What kind of contest?" Sun inquired.
"I was not interested in finding out," Holokai stated.
"Well anyways if we're gonna hang out why not head into town," Caesar suggested.
"Fine by me," Sun stated.
"That's cool with me," Holokai stated.
"Let's go then," Caesar stated.
The trio left the school and headed into town.
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It was around sunset when Ryu arrived at the front of the club. He looked up at the building before looking towards the entrance. He walked towards it and entered the club. Upon entering he was greeted by the flashing of colors and the pounding of music. He looked around a seeing men dressed in suits with red ties and armed with guns or blades. As he looked around he saw a larger man with a short black hair cut and fairly thick but short black beard behind the counter. That's likely him. He thought to himself. He walked over to him and sat down in front of him.
"You the one called Junior?" Ryu asked.
"Depends who's asking?" Junior replied.
Ryu smirked.
"Ryu, Shinku Ryu," Ryu introduced himself.
He held out his hand. Junior shook hands with Ryu.
"Well what brings you here surely one with your reputation has an important reason for being here?" Junior inquired.
"I need info on the Night Hunters. I heard you know a lot in this town got any info?" Ryu question.
"Hmmm… I don't know much," Junior admitted. "What I do know is that they supposedly have a base near Vale the exact whereabouts are unknown to me. Other then that I don't know much. I do however know someone with a bit more info."
"Who?" Ryu asked.
"Ever heard of the Blind Eagle?" Junior inquired.
"I know of him." Ryu answered.
"We'll he'll likely know more on the Night Hunters." Junior stated.
Ryu smiled and took out his wallet laying a few Lien on the counter.
"Thanks for the info," Ryu stated.
He got up and made his way out of the club. Wasn't much but it's a start. He thought to himself.
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Meanwhile in the forest outside of Vale Versailles stood leaning against a tree. After a few moments Luna came out of the trees and dropped down in front of him.
"Mission complete." She reported.
"Good job I'll call you if I when I have a new mission lined up." Versailles responded.
Luna looked down her face showing signs of worry.
"What's wrong?" Versailles questioned.
Luna looked to Versailles.
"Are we doing the right thing?" She asked.
"Where did this come from?" Versailles inquired. "You've always thought you were doing the right thing, that what we were doing is for the greater good."
"I know but ever since my encounter with Ryu I've been calling these beliefs into question. He saved that Faunus' life without hesitation and he knows my brother so surely he knows what has happened to us what the Faunus did and yet he has fought to defend them on multiple occasions too." Luna explained. "Could he be the one doing the right thing? I just don't know."
Versailles walked towards Luna and place his hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry about it what we are doing is for the greater good." Versailles reassured her. "Just keep doing what you've been doing. With your help our organization will make the Faunus all but be a distant memory in time."
"Our organization?" Luna expressed while removing Versailles hand from her shoulder. "Last I check this organization was far beyond just killing the Faunus."
"Luna…" Versailles tried interrupting.
"Experimental weaponry, body enhancements, and what about all of those experiments you're running on the Faunus?" Luna continued.
"Luna stop it!" Versailles raised his voice.
"Just what is your goal all the Faunus dead?! Cause that doesn't seem like the case to me so what is it world domination?!" Luna questioned.
"No!" Versailles answered.
"Then what is it?!" She shouted.
"Nothing you need to concern yourself with!" Versailles Shouted back.
The two remained silent staring in each other's eyes for a few moments.
"I suggest you take some time and think about your behavior and get your thoughts straight." Versailles stated.
"Yes sir," Luna replied.
Versailles walked passed Luna and eventually left the girl standing there. Luna looked towards the city of Vale.
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At this time Mana and Sage were arriving at the location of the recruitment meeting. The two were easily able to slip in undetected just as the meeting was about to begin. They looked on to see hundreds of people gathered for the meeting.
"There's a lot of people here," Mana whispered.
"Yeah no kidding," Sage whispered back.
The room was alive with chatter until Night walk out onto a platform above them. He cleared his throat.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, as you know our organization is one with the intent on the complete eradication of the Faunus and while we have been making strides the process has been slow. You are all here for that same reason though and with your help we can achieve it. These animals are nothing more than that animals and it's our jobs to make sure they pay for what they've done. Now who's with me?" Night stated.
The crowd roared in agreement.
"Good," he stated. "Now… we have something we'd like to show you."
He beckoned for three men to come out in exosuits.
"Some of our most brilliant minds with some help from some 'borrowed' Atlesian technology we have created the Mach-20 Exosuits. With these suits even the average citizen can fight at the same level of a well trained soldier." Night explained. "And I can say this, all of you who are joining us will get there own in due time. Thank you all for coming and welcome to the fight."
Mana and Sage made carefully made their exit. Once they were out of the building they began to put some distance between them and the meeting.
"HALT FAUNUS SCUM!" Someone shouted.
They turned to see a guard and more coming some in the exosuits.
"Not good," they both stated before making a break for it.
"After them!" Someone shouted.
Ten soldiers, four of which were in exosuits, chased after them.
"We're gonna need some help," Sage pointed out.
"I'm on it," Mana stated while taking out her scroll.
She set out a mass call to her team.
"Hey guys we need help we're being chased by ten guys!" Mana shouted.
"Where are you guys?" Ryu asked.
"We're coming up on the highway bridges!" Sage shouted.
"Got it I'll be there soon," Ryu replied.
"Same here Sun, Holokai and I are in town near there, head towards the highway bridges now and we'll meet up there." Caesar stated.
"Good plan see you there," Mana replied.
"We're coming up on them now," Sage pointed out.
The man in exosuits chasing Mana and Sage slowly begin closing the distance.
"Four of them are closing in on us!" Mana exclaims.
"I'm coming up behind them!" Ryu stated.
Ryu comes out of a street corner behind the ten men. Soon after they go onto the highway bridge. He notices the four in front with the exosuits.
"What kind of suits are those guys wearing?!" Ryu asked.
"There called Mach-20 Exosuits they enhance a user's fighting capabilities." Sage explained.
"Enhanced fighting abilities now that seems like a fun challenge!" Ryu expressed.
"Of course that's what you would think at a time like this." Mana stated.
"Whatever," Ryu replied.
"Mana Sage we see you coming we're on the first overpass." Caesar stated.
Mana looked up to see Caesar, Sun, and Holokai.
"I see you," Mana replied. "We'll fight there."
"Got it," Everyone replied.
Running towards the overpass. Once under it Sage and Mana stopped and faced the oncoming soldiers as Caesar, Sun, and Holokai dropped down with Sun and Holokai drawing their swords in the process. Ryu came up behind the enemy soldiers.
The soldiers prepared themselves for a fight. Two of the ones in exosuits circled towards the back to face Ryu. They all remained in place waiting for someone to make the first move. All at once they charged towards each other.
Ryu opened up with a flame empowered roundhouse kick which block by one of the soldiers using both of his arms. The second one came at Ryu with right hook. Ryu brushed the strike to the side and quickly countered with a explosion empowered jab towards his second attacker's stomach causing him to stumble back a bit. Ryu quick switch legs striking the first attacker with a kick to the head sending fly a little ways. The two attackers quickly recovered and engaged Ryu in a fury of punches. Both Ryu and his attackers were blocking and countering each other's strike. Final the duo manage to each land a punch to Ryu's face at the same time. Ryu staggered back a bit but recover quickly enough to counter with an explosion empowered punch to each of his attacker's stomach causing them to stagger back a bit. Ryu quick spun into a straight on explosion empowered kick to the one attacker's face sending him flying back. He quickly shifted focus to the other attacker. Ryu raised his right foot above his opponent.
"DRAGON!" Ryu began.
His opponent looked up. Ryu's right foot was enveloped in flame.
"AX!" Ryu shouted as he brought down his foot into a flame empowered ax kick one his opponents head sending him into the ground.
The other attacker recovered and readied himself to charge at Ryu. Ryu placed his left hand the hilt of his blade and readied himself. The attacker charged at him. In one swift motion Ryu drew his blade and cleaved the man in haft. The other attack slowly began to rise only to have his head lopped off by Ryu's blade. Ryu returned his sword to his back.
While This was happening Holokai engaged the other two men in exosuits who each had swords extending out from the armor. They danced about in a flurry of sword strikes neither side gaining a clear edge. Eventually Holokai created mini typhoon around him and sent his opponents flying back a little ways. He extended his cutlasses out in 16 ft long blade wipes. He unleashed a fury of strikes at each of his opponents. The two managed to dodged each of the strikes. One strike came down on one of the attackers but was successfully blocked causing the the blade wipe to wrap around the attacker's blade. The man smirked. Holokai smirked and with a great pull he drew the man closing in. Seeing this the other man charged at Holokai. He pulled the first man and spun him around sending him into the other man releasing his blade wipe and sending the two men flying. He charged at them. He dashed around them slashing at them in a fury of attacks keeping the duo air born. He stopped for a second a readied himself before charging at the duo eventually going into horizontal spiral forming a mini typhoon around him slashing the two to pieces upon contact. The remaining men were easily taken out by Sage, Sun, Mana, and Caesar. The group came together.
"Wasn't too hard," Sun stated.
"Easy for you to say you didn't fight those exosuit guys." Ryu pointed out.
"Don't tell me you had trouble with them." Holokai gloated.
"No, but those exosuits do make even average soldiers much stronger." Ryu replied.
"Yes and they'll likely have an army of men in those suits." Sage pointed out. "So if two were that strong think of hundreds or thousands of them."
"Sage has got a point," Caesar admitted. "Not only are the enemy strong now they can become even stronger think of some like Versailles or my sister using one of those things."
"I'd rather not think about that let's just go home." Mana stated.
"Good plan," Sun replied.
"We can discuss our findings in the morning," Ryu stated.
The group returned back to Beacon Academy for some much needed rest. However in the middle of the night Ryu awoke from his slumber.
"Still have further to go," he whispered to himself.
He arose from his bed and dressed himself in a pair of black pants. He went out of his dorm room and out to the front of the school by the statutes. He looked up at the statutes in front of him.
"It's good to see you again Ryu." A familiar voice greeted from behind him.
Ryu turned to see Luna her hood down revealing her cream white eyes, her black hair flowing in the wind.
"What do you want?" Ryu inquired.
"To talk Ryu," Luna stated. "I want to help."