It was the absence of a recognizable light source that caused two battle-hardened hunters, Headmasters of their very own Hunter Academies, to get jittery. They were currently treading upon a wooden path of living wood that lead them-or rather Desruc- to the intended location, expanding in front and shrinking just as quickly behind like a bubble. There was no light source save the strange, almost fairy-like speckles of light that floated throughout the area, providing them with an unearthly glow.
There seemed to be no end to the walking, confirming Ozpin's suspicions that the SDC would bankrupt itself not half way through the forest if they dedicated its resources to breaching it. It was at least a few hundred meters by now and they were still walking, he only hoped that if they needed an escape route, it would be through a faster route.
James was alert at the faded shadows that covered the area despite the glow, he knew it was irrational f him, but there was a feeling to this place. He thought that some the hollows along the path looked too much like large, head shaped crevices. That was impossible however, as there was no recognizable facial features to incite his suspicions. After all there were no species on Remnant that did not have a face.
Right?
"We have arrived"
Their lead paused, the wooden bubble extending one more time to reveal a pair of massive stone double-doors more than two dozen meters high and a quarter of that wide. They didn't seem to be open it normally if the wooden roots stretching across each crevice of the doors were any indication of its locked state, not to mention the colossal weight of the doors themselves. No way would a normal human ever be able to budge it, maybe a dozen Goliath's at full sprint would though.
"That… doesn't seem to be right, isn't it supposed to you know, somehow open itself up like with those trees earlier?" The Atlas Headmaster whispered to his Vale counterpart. Ozpin inclined his head in agreement, it did make sense considering the past events. Unless there was something missing here, something like-
"Wait inside that hollow, and do not come out until I have opened the gates. This will be dangerous for beings of your stature." The giant turned, pointing his finger to the said natural hole that seemed large enough for four fully grown men to snooze comfortably in. It fit the two Headmasters like a glove.
Once he was convinced that the two frail humans were safely tucked away, he began to open the gates as only a true giant would.
Desruc knew that the humans of this world were different from the ones back in his native world. They were more sophisticated, uncorrupted, respectable, worked-towards a mutual enemy- together, wiser, smarter, caring, and tougher.
Innocent.
The Grimm was everything he knew of the Abyss in its true form, creatures of dark forever hungering the light. They could only be harmed by Dust, strange substances that gave off the same feeling [Estus] and its respective shards did. They tasted quite different from the original apparently though, as each one gained a flavor to match it properties. Red Dust tasted like spice, Blue Dust was minty, Brown Dust was earthy, and Green Dust was gassy. He'd been experimenting on Dust in more ways than a few.
Using several metric tons of each of the four types of dust, easily procurable thanks to his particular area of interest, he'd created sub-types of existing Dust, like lightning oriented Dust. Then he further distilled them into less common sub-types that the likes of SDC held in tight-control. A few that he created did not exist yet, these were untested and were the last thing on his list to experiment on.
Then there were the various forms of application of Dust in various combinations. Imbuing into clothing, as an energy source, as propellant, as metal additives, the list was endless. This was what he specialized in. This was what he taught his innocent students at Beacon Academy.
Desruc grabbed hold of the thickest root in his hands, wrapping his fingers carefully over the sturdy root to ensure a good grip, he dug his heels into the ground and used his vast strength to pull.
Meanwhile, James and Ozpin were somewhat nervously and excitedly listening to the ominous sounds of wood slowly succumbing to pressure, creaks and cracks slowly filled the empty air in a rising tempo. Accompanying this was the unmistakable sound of grinding stone, getting louder and faster in rhythm as time passed. Until finally a final snapping crescendo of snapping wood and slammed wooden doors flew over their heads, accompanying this was of course, massive chunks of wood flying and rolling over head. Wood that was impossible to be even permanently harmed by a million Lien worth of Red Dust was shredded by this man (?) through sheer brute strength?
"The way is open, we may proceed"
James didn't get time to gawk as his Vale counterpart quickly pulled him out of the hollow to stand behind the Beacon professor that really couldn't be called human anymore.
Desruc may not seem like it, but he was quite awestruck the moment he stepped through the gates of his people. It was the very same pair of gates in which he was exiled. Inside was the home of the Giants, the [City of Flesh stone], a gathering of shelters made from the bodies of the fallen in their moments of existence. The whole forest itself was made from the bodies of the [Old Ones], giants that came before his people, their remnants forming the living, impregnable [Forest of Fallen Giants] that housed his people.
Apparently the [Old Ones] considered his father's generation to be Midget-runts of the litter, a name that even his father didn't use on him. Father was at least twenty meters tall, so to call him that meant that the [Old Ones] had to be simply colossal enough to do so. Desruc himself didn't even reach four meters.
The [City of Flesh stone] looked incredibly quiet, its natural alcoves-that were usually occupied by individual resting Giants- were empty. 'Homes' were empty, that usually never happened unless the said Giant went to hunt or was dead.
Every home was empty.
Panic gripped his heart, something that was an old, but well remembered feeling. Right now he needed to know, needed to see if the King of Giants was still in his alcove. To see if his father was still alive.
So he sprinted to the single largest Alcove a few dozen kilometers away, leaving two stunned humans in his wake.
Desruc entered the hollow of the Flesh-stone Alcove, entering a darkened domain unlit by the [Soul Flies] that illuminated the rest of the city. The empty space was barren, naught a single familiar shape caught is vision.
He remembered being born in this very place, of catching sight of his father's disappointed demeanor. He remembered the agonizing training he endured in this dark place, the strange rituals to carve knowledge into his soul, the only way the king could show compassion, to train him into a superior warrior before exile.
There was nothing here now.
Hold on, at the very center he saw something frighteningly familiar. A long rod that seemed to be jammed into the ground surrounded by smaller rods at a seemingly random pile. It was definitely something he was far too intimate with.
It was an unlit [Bonfire].
Was the cycle truly endless? Did he not end it? What would happen if he lit it? Would he once again be able to open his own Bottomless bag, where his greatest treasures were hidden? Where he kept his father's soul from passing?
He clenched his fists in determination, stamping out his uncertainty. There was but one way to find out if his fears were true or not.
Desruc reached to the [Bonfire] and sent his soul into it to activate the flames.
At first, only embers appeared, but soon the fire grew to an engulfing flame, giving off a pleasant heat. It also provided much needed lighting to the room, giving form to something that was previously hidden in the darkness.
There, laying against the wall and barely alive sat the [King of Giants].
Not wasting any time, Desruc treaded over the shriveled-but still colossal-form of the [King of Giants] and kneeled before the dying king.
"My King, I have returned from exile"
Out of all the history of the giants only he had ever been exiled, so it would make sense that all knew of him as an exile and vice versa. Seeing as the king himself exiled him, it made sense that the king began to stir, slowly awakening form his slumber. "So it seems, the time has finally come for me to find release from this cowardly fate"
"My King, of what fate do you speak of?"
"I sent out my people to the lands of that vile ruler to retrieve that which had been stolen, my most favored son taking my place on the battlefield after I had been too wounded in the initial defense to invade." He laughed bitterly "I lay here, hiding like a coward while I lose what family I have left. My eldest are most likely slain during the invasion, my youngest I exiled"
"But I am BACK, father!"
"I can neither listen nor see you, only your touch and even that is failing. I do not know what has happened, but simply knowing one such as you, such a small survivor to return after does wonders to me. You remind me so much of my youngest son, the one I exiled and have since regretted." The king continued to speak, but he was clearly delirious and dying. It felt wrong to interrupt his last words despite wanting to tell him that the youngest HAD indeed returned. "I don't have much energy left, so listen to you king and listen well! This will be my final order to you as well as my will-"
He stilled for a few moments, his soul running out of energy to stay within the withered giant as he spoke. It was now or never. "On my person is the only thing of value, an amulet that will allow access to the true [Giant's Treasure]. The one that vile Vendrick stole being the only working copy of it we had seeing as the real one was to never be used." Again he stilled, but this time it was longer. He was running out of time.
"Within that room, take everything there is inside and travel the world. You WILL find my youngest and give him his inheritance. To use it… use my soul to power it, and tell him to use it to fight the Dark "The king was once again about to lay still for what would probably be the last time, but with a surprising push of willpower, he forced out the his very last words.
"Tell him that his father never forgot"
With that, the King collapsed into a pile on in animated flesh. Soon it would be an indistinguishable part of the massive alcove, like all dead giants after death took them. He tentatively took the acclaimed amulet off his father's body like the treasure it was.
But not him. Death would not claim the true [Last Giant]. The [Darksign] would ensure that, it both pleased and formed dread.
He would be alone forever, but to ensure that the humanity here was preserved, he would bear the curse as a tolerable burden. For his fallen people. For the world that he let fall into destruction to save it.
"Indeed, but we shall see shall we?"
Turning around at blinding speeds, Desruc spotted three feminine figures standing close to the [Bonfire]. He recognized the [Emerald Herald] in her true form as she was not possessing Ruby at the moment. The two beside her seemed to be somewhat familiar women, one wore a dominantly red out fit and another wore mainly-white clothing, but both looked very familiar.
It wasn't until the two shyly slipped behind the [Fire Keeper] from the unseen, but analyzing gaze, and two Headmasters came bursting in an hour later did the names come spewing out.
"S-Summer…Rose?" Ozpin's mouth felt like immediately cracking and falling off at the impossible sight of his revived crush.
"W-inter-"James fared much worse, unable to say the name of the girl he nearly crushed to death for, he was simply a jittering mess afterwards.
The two girls, both seemingly revived from the dead, attempted to hide themselves behind the [Fire Keeper]. It was a surreal experience for almost all the parties involved.
The [Emerald Herald] broke the silence. "Come to the fire, there is a story from each of us. We can all hear it together."
And somehow she managed to dissuade the situation with her dead tone, bringing the group to huddle around the fire. It quickly devolved into Summer and Winter demanding Ozpin and James respectively to divulge them on the situation regarding Ruby and Weiss. As that took place The [Emerald Herald] took the opportunity to approach the Cursed, Undead Giant.
"So Summer, should I say your death was highly exaggerated? Since you're obviously in front of us and not in the several …dozen pieces I last saw you in." Ozpin asked nervously, the memory of who he knew to be Summer Rose still fresh in his mind. He still remembered spending several months by himself hunting down the Grimm responsible, recovering her remains and placing her ashes in an urn hidden in his office. This woman couldn't be Ruby's mother, no matter how similarly they looked. The following reasons made him nervous: she was as young as he remembered, which was impossible since as she should have aged. Summer was dead, he'd cremated her remains himself. He still needed conformation though, if only to ease his aching heart. "How… are you still alive?"
If she was an imposter, then he'd shove a blade in hers to ease his aching one.
If she wasn't…
"What are you talking about Ozzy? I did die! You were there when those dammed Grimm ambushed me and Ruby years ago!" The might-be Summer replied in confusion, causing a whole scale failure in Ozpin's brain. He failed to comprehend her exact words. She just admitted to have certainly died, but was having that very same impossible conversation. The dead don't talk!
"But…you're dead."
"Of course!" The elder Rose smiled smugly at the small victory, before frowning at a realization. "Hold on, you're asking why heaven decided to dump me back on Remnant?"
Ozpin could only nod, much of his brain simply fried off from the excessive discontinuous logic heaped on him.
"Well how about this then, after me and Ruby play catch up with each other, we'll talk then"
As she said this, Ozpin knew this was Summer Rose. The sheer adoration in her tone as she mentioned Ruby could only be described as motherly and affectionate. This revelation was too much for him to handle, he needed his coffee.
As the men were having a mental breakdown on seeing their once-dead crushes, the women were enjoying simply toying the stun-locked men. Like a cat toying with a new born mouse. Simply too good to eat.
Shanalotte observed their discussion from the sidelines, content with simply having a chance to experience such peace once again.
"This place, such peace is not found even in Majulah" She remarked calmly in her usual dead tone. The Giant didn't respond, he never did during his stay with her. "Is this why you are able to speak so freely to them yet not me? Do you see me as an unwanted remnant of a tainted world?"
He relaxed his posture, allowing a more… open interaction.
"Or is it because of who we both are. You, the [Bearer of the Curse] as well as the last Giant. I, a failed experiment, caged to the ground by invisible shackles." Her back leaned to his shoulder, he remained as silent as he ever was. But not inactive at all.
She saw a fist slowly rise face-level to her, turning as it opened, it revealing an [Aged Feather] that she had given him so long ago. It sat in his massive palm like a sliver of wood, waiting to be retrieved. She tentatively took the valued feather, and despite the lack of expressions of her face, her body language showed just how grateful she was on getting it back despite not expecting its return, ever.
Looking behind, she saw that the Giant had dropped his hand back to his side. The gesture may have meant more to her than what the [Bearer of the Curse] could possibly imagine, but that didn't make her feel any less gratuitous towards him. She then made herself comfortable on his shoulder, amused at the drama in front of her. Perhaps this was what peace felt like?
If so, then she would do anything to preserve such innocent voices. To prevent more from becoming like her.
The next hour was spent as a sort of down-time for the six individuals. Ozpin and Summer's spoke about Ruby calmly, James and Winter discussed Weiss' progress with a warmer tone, the [Emerald Herald] leaned comfortably on her chosen [Bearer of the Curse] while enjoying exuberant atmosphere of the peaceful world, and Desruc began to sort out his long-neglected inventory.
This peace would only last until a tremor shook the ground, one that Ozpin was familiar with.
His cute little students were in grave danger.
They had to get there now!
So he turned to the only way out of place.
"Desruc, did you feel that? That was herd or charging Goliath's headed to the east…where our students are busy locating sap"
Without a word the Giant rose to his full form, piled the other five humans into his left arm, placed away his things and prepared to leave.
He sprinted
The frightened and surprised screams of two pair's men and women would be the only thing to indicate their arrival to the Beacon Academy students.
He didn't particularly care though, his innocent student were in danger!
And not even Vendrick himself and his army would save them from his terrible wrath.
A/N: And… that is again 2.7k words! I'm so happy that people are reviewing and giving me polls! I'll perhaps post a chapter tomorrow that shows what an angry Dad can do before taking a break!
Next time: Desruc is going to put the 'Bad' into some Goliath "Ass"!
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Later!