A/N: With how things are going, there are nothing but good feels when it comes to the fate of this story. And the many others that will be back on track in no time.
Since it's been a while that I've put some good combat scenes in this, I decided to break out a good amount a bit early. And what better way than during the Beacon initiation.
Now, I know what you're all thinking. Just another repeat like everyone else where the new hero saves Ruby before she's pierced...But I intend on going in another direction. One that goes along with the Doom portion of this fic. Trust me, it'll fit just fine...
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
"And in his conquest against the blackened souls of the doomed, his prowess was shown. In his crusade, the seraphim bestowed upon him terrible power and speed, and with his might he crushed the obsidian pillars of the Blood Temples. He set forth without pity upon the beasts of the nine circles. Unbreakable, incorruptable, unyielding, the Doom Slayer sought to end the dominion of the dark realm."
John's eyes opened when he awoke from yet another series of dreams. Some of them about his battles back on Mars, while others were of ones he never remembered fighting in at all.
He had long since stopped questioning the dreams and decided to just let them be.
Rising up into a sitting position, he rolled his neck along his shoulder. The satisfying cracks he felt echoing in the room as he got up and got ready for the day ahead. Initiation for the first year students was to be at noon, and he wanted to be there to see if they were prepared for the test they would be facing.
After showing and dressing, the Doom Slayer began slipping on the components of the Praetor suit when there was knock at his door. Approaching it with only the legs of the powerful armor on, he opened it to find Amber standing on the other side.
"Good Morning, John." she said while he invited her in.
"Morning." he replied while going back to the task of assembling his armor, slipping on the chest plate and locking it in place before pulling on the gauntlets. "Ready for today?" he asked after making sure everything was in place and sealed before grabbing his helmet.
The Fall Maiden nodded, "As ready as I can be. I just wonder if these kids will be ready to handle the initiation. Some of them look as though they never faced this kind of combat scenario before."
"It's something they will have to get used to." said John as they left his quarters. "It may sound harsh, but if they want to be defenders of this world, then they'll have to be prepared for anything. Air-dropping into a Grimm infested forest is a way to help them get accustomed to such situations."
The duo walked down the corridor away from the faculty dorms toward the main building. Passing by several students in the process of waking up themselves as they entered the cafeteria, taking their places in the breakfest line and gathering something to eat.
While Amber mostly got fruits and a few odds and ends with a cup of coffee. John had piled his tray high with eggs, sausage, bacon, toast and hash browns with two cartons of milk and juice. The overall amount double what a normal person could consume in one meal.
With the sheer amount of argent energy coursing through his veins, in addition to his advanced physiology, VEGA had told him that his metabolism is three-times what a normal healthy male's would be. The AI had informed the Doom Slayer that he'd have to consume at the very least 12,000 calories to maintain such a high metabolism.
Though he could go without sustinance for a long period of time, John prefered to try and keep himself fed now that he had the ability to do so.
"Ah, Johnathan! Ms. Amber! Come sit!" Peter Port called out, waving them over to the table he was seated at with Oobleck who must have been downing his eighth cup of coffee of the day. "How are Beacon's newest professors this lovely day?!"
"Pretty good, just preparing ourselves for when initiation is over." said John, setting both his tray and helmet down on the table before he started eating. Amber taking the place beside him.
"I remember my first day here as a teacher." Oobleck said in his usual rapid method of speech while taking a sip of coffee every so often, "So many new scholars coming and going, the chance to expand their knowledge and to fully introduce them to the world they would soon be entering. It's a good feeling."
Port nodded along with his friend and colleague, "Very true, old friend. Molding young minds in preparation for their carriers as huntsmen and huntresses feels almost as rewarding as vaquishing Grimm." the portley man noticed Amber looking a bit nervous and patted her hand, "Do not fret, dear. You will do fine. Ozpin would not have offered either of you the positions if he felt you couldn't do the job."
The Fall Maiden smiled at him, even though the man had a tendancy to ramble, he possessed a good heart and showed it with how he cared for his students.
"I feel the need to ask," Oobleck said, pouring himself another cup of his favorite beverage. "Have either of you come up with a curriculum for the coming semester?"
Swallowing the bite in his mouth, half of his tray already empty, the Doom Slayer spoke up. "I have something set up. Goodwitch had issues with it at first, but once I went into more detail she seemed to understand what I had in mind."
"Nothing that will scar them for life...right?" asked Amber, giving him a sideways glance.
John smirked, "Only if they refuse to pay attention or do the work." he simply left it at that as the four professors went back to their meals, having small conversations back and forth until they all received messages on their scrolls.
Initiation would be starting soon.
X
The first year students all gathered on the cliffs outside of the schools campus. Below them, the massive expanse of trees that made up the Emerald forest stretched out far for them showing nothing but green as far as the eye could see.
John stood off to the side, wanting to see how the students fared. Each future huntsman/huntress were standing on small metal platforms with the symbol of Beacon on them as they regarded Professor Ozpin as he stood beside Professor Goodwitch and started speaking to them.
"For years you have trained to become warriors. And today your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald forest." he started allowing his associate to pick up the rest.
"Now, I'm sure many of you have heard rumors about assignment of teams. Well, allow us to put an end to your confusion. Each of you will be given team mates...today."
A brief pause went through the gathered students. A subtle 'What?' came from Ruby while the headmaster continued where Goodwitch had left off.
"These team mates will be with you for the rest of your time here at Beacon. So it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you can work well. That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years."
The red cloaked girl shrieked 'WHAT?!' even louder while several others muttered between themselves. "After you've partnered up, make your way to the northern end of the forest." Ozpin said motioning to the massive wooded area behind him. "You will meet opposition along the way. Do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path...or you will die."
"I like his style." the Doom Slayer thought, smirking behind his visor.
"You will be monitored and graded for the duration of your initiation." the headmaster continued. "But our instructors will not intervene. You will find an abandoned temple at the end of the path containing several relics. Each pair must choose one, and return to the top of the cliff. We will regard that item, as well as your standing, and grade you appropriately. Are there any questions?"
A blonde male in armor raised his hand, "Uh, yeah, um, sir? How-"
"Good." Ozpin said acting as though he didn't hear them. "Now, take your positions."
All the students braced themselves on their platforms as each one started ticking. "Uh, sir? I've got, um, a question." the blonde knight said as the other students started launching off one after another. "So, this landing strategy thing, uh, w-what is it? You're, like, dropping us off or something?"
"No. You will be falling." stated Ozpin.
The student gulped, "Oh, I see. So, like, did you hand out parachutes for us?"
The headmaster shook his head, "No. You will be using your own landing strategy."
"Uhhuh...Yeah." the blonde said, pailing as the line of students being launched finally reached him. "So, um, what exactly is a landing strateGYYYYYYY!" was all he got out before he was sent airborne with the others.
Ozpin watched them all go, taking a casual drink from his mug while John walked up and stood beside him. "I'm pretty sure that last part explained it all for him." he said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Did you by any chance leave any Grimm for the students to face?" asked Glynda, looking up from her scroll to send the Doom Slayer a look.
"There might be a couple still roaming around. Hard to say for sure, I think they started to avoid me after a while." replied John with an indifferent shrug. The professors glanced at one another, the headmaster hiding a small smile behind his cup as he took another drink.
X
Within her realm, Salem watched through one of her portals. Her glowing red/black eyes centered on the Doom Slayer as he stood beside Ozpin. The Mother of Grimm deep in thought, having watched the powerful warrior join the side of her nemesis in the coming war. Although, there was something different about the Bane of Hell.
His skills and strength in the heat of battle were still very much the same, but his aura...something had changed since they last crossed paths with one another. She still bore the scars from that encounter to this day.
But she couldn't put her finger on it. She needed to be sure that this was the same being that had slaughtered countless of her children in the past, whose legend brought hope and fear throughout Remnant.
A creature that resembled a jelly-fish with long black tentacles and a bubble shaped head hovered up beside her. Silent as it waited for its queen to give it a command.
"Awaken our strongest deep within the Emerald forest." she said, not taking her eyes from the portal before her. "Let them know that prey has wandered into their midst."
The creature remained silent as it drifted away, following her instructions without hesitation. Salem narrowed her eyes at the Doom Slayer who remained unaware of her watchful eyes. "If you are indeed the same Hell Walker that fought me and my children so long ago, then let us see how you fare against a true challenge."
X
A little over an hour had passed since the initiation began. John had perched himself on the edge of the cliff, his feet dangling over the edge as VEGA sent video feeds from the many cameras scattered throughout the forest to his HUD.
The last of the initiates had finished partnering up and were making their way toward the temple ruins where their relics waited for them. Some of the teams were using rather...interesting methods of travel, but they were making progress regardless.
A few feet to his right, Professor Ozpin stared down at the scroll in his hands. Also monitoring the progress of the young huntresses and huntsmen.
Behind him, Professor Goodwitch approached with a similar device in hand as she came up and stood next to the headmaster. "Our last pair has been formed, sir." she said waving a couple screens aside that depicted what the cameras within the forest were broadcasting. "Nora Valkarie and Lie Ren. Poor boy, I can't possibly imagine the two of them getting along." she lamented.
"Still," she moved on to another screen showing Jaune walking through the foliage with the red-headed female spartan. "He's probably better off than Ms. Nikos."
Ozpin hummed as he kept his focus on his own tablet. "I don't care what his transcripts say." Goodwitch continued. "That Jaune fellow is not ready for this level of combat." She exited out of the screen and looked out at the forest. "But, I guess we'll find out soon enough."
"They should be reaching the temple in a matter of minutes." John reported, "They've encountered minor resistence along the way, but they shouldn't have any issues getting their relics and making it back."
Glynda nodded and regarded her boss, "Speaking of which, what did you use as relics this year?" he didn't answer her which made her a bit concerned. "Professor Ozpin?"
The headmaster looked up from his scroll, "I decided on chess pieces this year. Symbolic in their own way. It all depends on which ones the pairs will choose once they arrive."
Looking at the man briefly, the Doom Slayer had VEGA bring up the feed from the temple where the relics were located. A small few of the pieces had already been taken, but many more still remained.
A minute ticked by, then two young women appeared through the foliage. The files John had on hand telling him they were Yang Xiao Long and Blake Belladonna.
Both of their profiles were an interesting read; Xiao Long was a brawler type fighter with a semblance that not only gave her the power over heat, but also to take what damage she had been dealt and sending it back ten-fold. She was also bolsterous and a little cocky, which was sharp contrast when compared to her new partner.
Belladonna was a stealthy type of fighter, quiet and a bit of a loner. Good at close-quarters combat, but more with her blades than her fists. VEGA had tapped into her personnel files a bit more deeply and found that not only was she a Faunus hiding in plain sight, but was also an ex-member of the White Fang. Having defected and was more than likely looking for some form of redemption.
"Opposites are said to attract." the Doom Slayer thought to himself as he watched Yang pick up a Knight piece and show it to her partner. "Guess we'll find out."
Within the next few minutes, the rest of the pairs started to arrive, one of which involved a girl riding an Ursa with her male partner struggling to keep up with her. Ruby came soon after, falling from the sky after having hitched a ride on a large Nevermore with her own partner, who had soon fallen off and was caught by Jaune who had stopped Ruby's fall seconds before.
There was a few moments of calm for the students before Pyrrah came bursting through the trees with a Deathstalker on her six. The Nevermore Ruby and Weiss had been riding on circling back as they attacked the group together.
John's eyes narrowed as he watched Ruby charge headlong against the Deathstalker with total abandon, her large scythe having little to no affect against the Grimm's armor. When she figured this out, she attempted to retreat only to be pinned to the ground by a barrage of feathers from the Nevermore above while the Deathstalker closed in for the kill...
Thankfully, Weiss appeared and froze the insectoid-Grimm before it had a chance to skewer the younger girl.
Letting out a slow breath, the Doom Slayer was thankful for the intervention. The last thing he wanted to see was Ruby's demise. He continued to watch as the initiates all grouped together, grabbing their relics before making a break for another set of ruins with both large Grimm giving chase.
John couldn't help but be impressed at the level of teamwork the eight students showed as they combated the creatures. Using the crumbling environment to their advantage to take them down. He was very impressed with Ruby's planning as she ran up the cliff face with Weiss' help, the Nevermore's neck caught up with her scythe blade until she reached the top and beheaded it.
"Impressive." VEGA commented, the Doom Slayer nodding silently in agreement as they watched the students regroup and start making their way back to the starting point of the initiation.
"Professor Ozpin! There's a situation!" Glynda suddenly exclaimed, motioning frantically to her scroll. Both John and the headmaster approached and looked at what she was seeing.
Several cameras in the same vicinity showed dozens upon dozens of Beowolfs moving in the same direction. All of them being led by a larger Grimm that the cameras couldn't get a good view of...until it crossed infront of another that gave them a perfect view.
The creature that was revealed was easily bigger than both the Deathstaker and the Nevermore had been. Towering over the Beowolf's that traveled with it with sharp claws that tore up the ground below it, bone armor and spikes covering the top half of its form, including the three, K-9-like heads with muzzles that were big enough to swallow a full grown man whole full of razor sharp teeth.
"...By Oum...A Cerberus!" Glynda exclaimed in shock. "What in the world is an Omega-Class Grimm doing here!"
John had done his research about this particular class of Grimm. Only a select few that had been discovered had been labled dangerous enough to put in this catagory. One of them being the Goliath, given their level of strength, age and intelligence. To have one in the same field as that skulking the forest around Beacon was nothing good.
"John. According to my readings, the Grimm pack are on an intercept course with the initiates." said VEGA, bringing up a map of the forest and showing the eight blue marks where the students currently where, and the large swarm of red marks that were steadily closing in on them. "I have also tapped into their scrolls." the AI brought up the aura readings of the initiates, almost all of them being in the yellow. "They do not possess the strength needed to handle such a large enemy force, let alone the Omega-class Grimm leading them. Their chances of survival are...relatively slim."
The Doom Slayer vaguely heard the two professors discussing courses of action as he turned and made for the launch platforms. Taking position on the one in the center. "VEGA, hack into the launch platform. Adjust trajectory and give me enough force to get me to their location."
"What are you doing?" asked the blonde huntress as she and Ozpin saw what he was up to.
"Those kids are going to make it back to these cliffs." said John as VEGA quickly went to work, "But they'll be in body bags if something isn't done. They won't be able to fight off the Grimm with their auras so low from their last fight."
He leered at the professors through his visor, "Fuck the rules about interfering. I'm not watching them die."
"Platform calibrations, complete." reported VEGA. "Launching in three...two..."
"Bring them back safely, John." said Ozpin seriously. The Doom Slayer nodding as the AI finished the countdown.
"One...Launch!"The platform snapped upward, John was launched into the air and high above the forest like a missile. "Estimated time of arrival: 22.4 seconds."
"Let's just hope that they can hold out until I get there."
X
Ruby stretched her arms, working out the kinks after having taken the head off the Nevermore with the help of the others.
Everyone was feeling the strain from their battles throughout the initiation. Her partner, Weiss, was looking tired from constant use of her glyphs, Ren was limping a bit, after having been thrown into a wall by the Deathstaker and was being supported by Nora. All of their auras had taken hits and were on the low side.
But thankfully they were on their way back to the cliffs, back to Beacon, where they could rest and recover.
"Uh...guys?" Jaune said catching everyone's attention, seeing the blonde knight pointing at the treeline ahead of them where the could see dozens of glowing-red eyes looking back at them from the shadows. Slowly, a pack of Beowolves stalked out into the open, spreading out and forming a wall to block them off.
"Heh, guess they didn't get enough of us yet." said Yang, powering up her gauntlets in preparation for another fight...
That was until the one leading the pack stepped forth. All of the students froze when they saw the beast, standing on all fours, taller than the Deathstalker had been. It's bone armor overing almost all of it's back with large spikes jutting from its shoulders.
Three large, almost Beowolf-like heads sat between its shoulders, snarling with maws dripping with all six eyes locked onto the eight huntsmen/huntresses to be.
Weiss took a half-step back, her rapier held tightly in her hand. "A...A Cerberus..." she said lowly, swallowing hard. "I...thought they were only a myth."
"Apparently not." said Blake, gripping the hilt of her own weapon along with everyone else. "Anyone got a plan for this one?"
"Our auras haven't recovered from the last battle." said Pyrrha, she herself having not been at her best since unlocking Jaune's large aura had drained hers drastically.
"I don't think they're planning on giving us a choice." stated Ren, ignoring the pain in his own body while holding his weapons at the ready.
The Cerberus growled, a deep rumbling that sounded like thunder within its chest. The center head let loose a bellowing howl, the head on either side of it soon following, the sound deafening as it shook the very air and forcing the initiates to cover their ears.
Around the larger Grimm, the Beowolves howled along, their chorus stretching out through the whole forest and perhaps all the way to Vale itself. Then, as if given a hidden signal, the pack charged. Claws racking up dirt as they ran on all fours and converging on the students fast.
Despite their tired states, the huntsmen/huntress hopefuls prepared themselves for the coming assault. Ready to defend themselves and one another to the end...
That was until something large and heavy slammed into the ground between the two sides. Within the small crater that had formed, shrouded in the dirt and debris that had kicked up, something large rose up to nearly seven feet tall.
(A/N: Play 'Hell to Pay' by Miracle of Sound- Start 0:18)
When the dust settled, John's armored form stepped out of the crater, facing the Grimm horde that had all but frozen when their eyes locked onto him. Several quickly recognizing the powerful human who had decimated their packmates time and time again over the last few weeks.
"Who the...where did he come from?" Jaune stuttered at the sudden arrival.
"Don't know, but as long as he helps us out of this I don't care at this point." replied Yang with Ruby nodding in agreement beside her.
Observing the pack before him, the Doom Slayer cracked his armored knuckles loudly. "Who's first?" He was answered when the closest Beowolf lunged, mouth and claws wide...only to have its long arms snatched in a vice grip. John, yanking on both limbs, pulled the Grimm downward while bringing his knee up and shattering its head on impact.
The death of one caused the others to go on the attack. John grinned behind his visor as he met their charge head on, grabbing the closest arm and snapping it like a twig before swinging his forearm back and taking the head off the Grimm he had a hold of.
Another tried to lunge for his flank, only to be met with an armored boot knocking it to the ground followed swiftly by a stomp in the center of it's body that caved in it's ribcage.
The rest of the pack converged on the Doom Slayer, but he was well within his element as he ripped and tore a path of carnage through them. Grabbing hold of another Beowolf from behind, he reached around and tore the creature's lower jaw off before taking another by the head and crushing its skull between his hands like an orange, black ichor splattering all over his armor while moving onto his next target.
Kicking the feet out from another Grimm, John drove his heel down on the back of its head. Bringing out his shotgun and blasting several more, snapping on the explosive-round mod and firing into a group of the creatures. The following explosion sending body parts flying in all directions.
Switching to his chainsaw, the Doom Slayer revved it loudly before swinging in a wide arc. Two Beowolves were sheared clean in half in the middle before they even knew what was happening, a third ended up with the whirling end of the weapon driven into its chest and forced upward, opening both its chest and its head sending ink-like blood spraying into the air.
With the pack cut down a great deal, John switched to his plasma rifle and sprayed blue bolts everywhere. The super-heated rounds burning into their targets, their bone-armor unable to protect them from the barrage from the advanced rifle.
Having remained where they were, the eight students were wide eyed and pale as they watched the sheer savagery and brutality the armored man unleashed upon the Grimm. Some of the creatures looked to be outright trying to flee from him, only to be taken down before they got too far away.
One of the Beowolves managed to get farther than the others, making for the safety of the treeline. But the Doom Slayer had swapped weapons again. His gauss cannon in hand, his HUD linking with the weapon's scope as he charged it up.
A blue beam of energy firing from the business end, burning a path through the air before hitting its target. Punching a hole clean through its back and out its chest, the force of the impact enough to bend the Grimm backwards before it collasped to the ground dead.
Within the course of a minute, all of the Beowolves were dead and dissolving
John turned, gauss cannon still in hand as he focused on the bigger target. The Cerberus, having stayed in its own place as it watched the lesser Grimm getting slaughtered, growled with all three heads and took a hard step farther into the clearing. A long tail covered in spikes ending in a mace-like tail that swung back and crushed a big tree behind it.
The Doom Slayer tilted his head, guaging the threat of the omega-class Grimm before switching weapons again. Selecting one he hadn't used in quite a while and would help put an end to this quickly.
A large, familiar gun appeared in his hands, the light hum of the power core within it vibrating softly in his grasp as he brought it to bare. The Cerberus' three heads roared and barreled forward, gaining ground quickly as the end of the weapon started to glow bright green with arcs of electricity channeled around it.
Taking only a second or two to charge, a large ball of green energy discharged from the gun, closing the distance fast and hitting the Cerberus on its right side. The small explosion that was caused was drowned out by the unholy screech of agony the large Grimm emitted.
When the bright flash cleared moments later, the Cerberus laid on it's side, it's upper-right half nothing more than a smoldering hole where the ionized argent energy had hit it. It's front right leg and one of its heads had been completely vaporized, along with half the middle one, leaving the head on the far left the only one intact...and even that one had severe burns from the splash damage of the blast.
After the BFG-9000 finished powering down, John stashed it and approached the downed Grimm. Trudging through the massive puddle of ichor that was spilling out by the bucket fulls from the creature. Even crippled and in immeasurable pain, the Cerberus' remaining head growled and attempted to snap at him.
Snapping his hand out, the Doom Slayer caught the upper jaw of the beast. Planting his foot down on it's bottom jaw, keeping the mouth wide open, he pulled a grenade from his belt and primed it. "Here, snack on this." he said before tossing the explosive inside and clamping its muzzle shut.
An explosion from within the Grimm's throat reverberated loudly, a large hole blowing open in the side of its neck from the inside sending blackened flesh, ichor and chunks of bone splattering across the already gore covered field.
The head collapsed to the ground, its eyes darkening while it's body started to dissolve. "That was supposed to be an Omega-class Grimm? The Cyberdemon would have eaten that goddamn thing." John thought with a shake of his head.
Turning his attention to the students who were now as still as stone, their faces masks in a combination of awe, disgust and terror at what they had just bore witness to.
"You all just going to stand there? Or are you going to finish your initiation?" he asked bluntly. Ignoring the fact that he had just wiped out a large horde of Grimm and the Cerberus as he watched the students blink and snap back into focus. Shaking his head again, the Doom Slayer turned and started making his way back to the cliffs.
All was silent in the clearing...until;
"That...was...AWESOME!" Ruby bellowed, making everyone else jump. "Did you see that! He tore those Beowolves apart with his BARE HANDS! And those weapons! So much POWER! I gotta know where he got them! If he built them! Or maybe-"
Yang slapped her hand over her little sister's mouth, putting an end to her excited rambling, "Take it easy, sis. Breathe."
"I..." Pyrrha said, trying to comprehend what she had seen "Such brutality...I've never seen anything like that before." Ren nodding in agreement while Nora had a thoughtful look on her face.
"Ren? Do you think I can use a chainsaw like that?" she asked almost too innocently which had the blood draining from the boy's face.
"It was completely barbaric!" Weiss exclaimed, having nearly lost the contents of her stomach more than once throughout the incident. "Why would anyone fight in such a primitive, groteque way?!"
Yang held up her hands, "Easy there, princess. No need to get dramatic here. Besides, he saved our asses. The way he did it doesn't really matter to me."
"Uh, guys?" Jaune said, getting everyone's attention as he pointed his thumb at where the armored man had gone, "Not that this discussion isn't good, and all. But don't you think we should stick to the super-badass who just killed a whole bunch of Grimm?"
There was a moment hesitation before the eight initiates ran after their savior, leaving the still dissolving bodies of the Grimm behind them.
A/N: Been a while since the good ole BFG had been used, thought it was about time to dust it off and give it some use.
I've gotten a few messages about fears of John being too overpowered. To those that are thinking this out there, consider this; he is the DOOM SLAYER now. And anyone who has ever played it, read about it, dreamt about it, or fantasized about it in class or at work knows that the Doom Marine/Guy/Slayer is one of the biggest badasses in gaming history. Even more so now with all the upgrades he's gotten in the new generation.
However, he is not invincible. Unbreakable armor and powerful guns aside, if you read the earlier chapters, anyone inside the Praetor suit can be injured if taken hard enough hits. John just has yet to find someone/thing that can hurt him yet...but that's coming pretty soon in the near future.
I'm on a roll once again, now that I got my mojo back in spades. Drop reviews and PMs and I'll see you lot next time!