A/N: Alright, then. The next chapter in online. I hope you enjoy what I had in store for you guys today...
Leila turned her head as she heard a loud knock on their dorm's door. So far, it was a quiet day for the team, Hue reading a book, Perci playing something on her scroll, and Jin watching the colors on the screen with awe and wonder. She turned her eyes towards the source of the sound, wondering who it was, getting up to open it.
"Guys! You in there?! Please, open up!" Ash's voice echoed through the door, and as Leila opened it, she couldn't even speak a single word as the entirety of team ACMN rushed into their room, looking distressed and worried. Quickly locking the door behind them, Ash turned to the rest of the group. "Alright. Double group meeting starts now!" She spoke, her usual laid back mood gone, replaced with grave urgency, taking up Leila and Hue's attention right away.
Jin, noticing the stressed out Auras around her, finally left Perci's side, running to them to try and hug them. Wrapping her large around all around the four, though a tight squeeze, she somehow managed to hug all of them, keeping them in her embrace.
The team struggled, Undine calling out in anger. "J-Jin! Now isn't the time! This is serious!" She huffed and struggled, but only after she noticed the team finally managed to calm down, seeing as their entire tempo was outright ruined, she let them go, dropping them to the floor with a large, friendly smile.
"There! Allll better!" She exclaimed, as if happy of herself, going back to watching Perci play her game, watching the lights flicker on and on, drawn to the pretty pictures.
So far, Perci didn't even raise her head from the scroll. Only after Jin jumped back to her bed did she get startled enough to raise her head, giving them intruders to their fine, relaxed day a glare. "Oh yeah? And what the fuck could be so important to fucking barge in here like fucking Grimm?"
"Funny you say that." Ash walked over, pulling the file from her coat. On closer inspection, her face was a bit pale, clearly speed deprived and working overtime just to keep herself awake. She dropped the file on her bed, taking out the pictures her father took before, showing them to the team. "Cause that's EXACTLY what we're dealing with."
Leila could hardly believe her eyes, as she took the photo to her hands. She inspected it, through and through, trying to find any clue for it being a fake. She already fell to those terrible jokes Perci kept sending her on the scroll. "Ash..." She stood up, her expression grim and grave. "Is this a jest?"
Ash waved her head, confirming Leila's worries. "Wish it was. My dad saw THIS on one of his cases. We go there, trying and investigate, and the next thing you know..." Her voice lowered to barely above a hush. "They called it OUT. They just... somehow... brought Grimm with them." Ash fell onto one of the beds, breathing heavy. The shock from earlier still fresh in her mind, she tried anything she could to distract herself and forget the voice she felt in her head. The voices that told her to kill, and destroy, and rape, and do all sorts of horrible things.
Her voice.
She shook her head again. It was impossible, she was sure of it. Those thoughts never popped into her head before, nor have they after they left the area. "I..." She finally managed to mutter, breaking the ongoing silence in the room. "I... heard things, in there. I don't know how, or who caused it, but whoever they are... I felt like I was going mad." She finally admitted, Melody sitting by her side to comfort her.
The silence returned again. No one could say anything, let alone ask Ash what she even meant, until an eye rolling Perci finally opened her mouth, much to everyone's dismay. "...And? Let's just tell Ozpin or whatever and get this done with."
Ash came to shout at her, though before she could, Melody was already yelling in her face. "What?! have you gone mad! Do you even KNOW what would happen if anyone found out about this?!" She kept scolding her, and Perci, having none of her shit, simply crossed her arms.
"Alright then, Love." She spoke through gritting teeth. "Why don't you enlighten me?" She rolled her eyes, seemingly ignorant enough not to know the true reasoning behind it.
"Mass hysteria." Copper and Hue spoke at the same time, Copper quickly giving way to the other thinker. "Should this come to light, Perci, people's trust in the council would shatter. Fear will become dominant, and with it, will come more Grimm. The perseverance of the peace is a must. This has to be kept secret, at all costs."
Leila nodded in agreement. "Indeed. As much as it pains me to keep a secret, it must be done for the greater good. I will not let the Grimm harm the Lord's creations." She briefly concluded, taking out her blade. "Ash, please, guide us there. We will supply you with all the help you will need."
To her words, Hue got up, taking her weapon in hands. "Indeed. Grimm infesting the inner city could jeopardize my research. This has to be dealt with as quickly as possible." She stood tall and silent, almost eager to fight.
Jin, sensing the heightened moon, stood up as well. "Umm... We shouldn't be mad... But... If you need help, we'll help!" She cheered, not having any real clue as to the danger implied. Ash smiled at all of them, just glad to have such friends.
Then, of course, there was Perci, who was still in her bed. She realized everyone was staring at her, finally turning her head and pulling up her pants, showing them the ankle bracelet keeping her bound to Beacon. "...What? Even if I DID want to go, and I'm not saying I DO, is it REALLY worth getting arrested again and being put in jail? I've been acting good so far, gals. Ain't plannin' on changin' that."
Team ACMN looked at one another, searching for a way to convince Perci to come with. As much as they hated to admit it, with her around, the mission would go MUCH more smoothly, seeing as her ability to drain aura making her a powerhouse, to say the least. After some deliberation, Melody finally walked over, sitting next to Perci's bed, showing her some of her body's curves.
Once she had Perci's full attention, smirking as she looked at her, she spoke. "Alright, Perci... You like deals, right? I've seen you swindle students out of money and so on." She spoke seriously and sternly. Perci nodded, not being one to refuse a good chance to cheat someone out of something. "Then here's a deal for you... Come with us, and I'll go on a date with you."
The rest of the people in the room, sans Jin and Copper, stared in shock at her proposal. No one ever expected Melody, in the face of danger, to make such a reckless move. "And don't get me wrong, Perci." She clarified. "It's ONE date. Nothing more, nothing less."
Perci stared at her, the smirk on her face growing wider and wider by the second. "Alright, Love... One condition of my own, then." She raised her body to a sitting position. "if it goes well... I get a second one~" She winked at her, and Melody, doing her best to hide her blush, nodded once. While it wasn't totally worth it to go, and Perci knew it well, she was, in fact, curious. It wasn't every day one would get to fight Grimm in the city, after all. She figured she would deal with the consequences later, inching closer to Melody.
"F-Fine." Melody finally caved in, Perci relishing in her moment of victory, though as brief as it would be. "Y-You got yourself a deal."
"Oh, don't worry about it, Love." Perci took her hand, like a true gentlewoman, trying to give her a kiss on her palm before Melody pulled it away. "You won't regret it~" She could already picture Melody, in a tight, skimpy dress, strolling with her downtown, only causing Perci's grin to grow wider.
After the tension between the two finally died down, Ash cleared her throat. "Alright, so you're all on board. Now... For the mission itself." She sat down, spreading all the images she had on her for everyone to see, including new ones she took with her binoculars. "I've already taken pictures of the surrounding area, and I think that considering that in the past two days they've been doing this, we could catch them again tonight." She said as she gazed at the clock. At the very least, they had some time to rest, and so, it was almost time to leave.
Leila nodded, her grip on Caliborn growing tighter. "Foul sinners... I cannot believe they dare insult the Lord with such heresy." Her vindictiveness and zealotry showing their full splendor, Leila was no longer trying to keep her peace about her. "They will be punished by the Lord. That I swear." She concluded definitively, walking out towards Vale. The rest of the group looked at one another, before Perci shrugged.
"Welp. Guess it's go time then." She smirked, taking her cane and walking out herself. Soon enough, all eight of them were walking, side by side, heading to the Beacon station to take them to Vale. They were worried, to a degree, not knowing what would transpire or what will happen. But, despite all that, there was one thing that they knew for sure.
They were one team for tonight. And they were going to stick together.
About an hour later, the team reached their destination, settling on top of the cargo hold from which Ash took her photos. At this point, it was littered with just food and snacks, but none of them bothered to do anything about it, Leila only raising her eyebrow about the littering.
Perci's ankle band, as she expected, started flashing red light the moment she left her parole area. She figured it would take those morons some time to catch up with her, giving her a few good hours before she'd be arrested again, meaning she didn't have a lot of time to finish the mission, and go on that date with Melody. The thought that she actually managed it made her smirk to a degree, but regardless she kept her wits about her, remaining cool and collected. "Alright, so." She spoke after all of them got into position. "...What now?"
"We wait for them to show up. When they do, we barge in there and take them out before they can call another Grimm forward." Ash, visibly tired, explained the plan to her. "After that, we get rid of that keg they have in there. I shudder to think what would happen if it fell into the wrong hands." The rest of them agreed, and from there, the good old waiting game started.
Soon enough, the minutes turned to dozens, and to about an hour and a half. Team ACMN were all asleep at that point, besides Copper, who seemed oddly calm for a sleep deprived person. While she stood on watch, the rest of them, team JPLL included, decided to take a quick nap, gathering their strength before the upcoming fight. Eventually, Hue got up, her time to watch, tapping Copper on the shoulder and taking a spot next to her, with a bottle of water in her hands.
"Copper, you should get some sleep." She took the binoculars, watching the area. "if something happens and you are not ready, this entire mission could get compromised."
Copper waved her head. "Do not worry about my ability to function, Hue. I will work in peak condition when our targets will show themselves, I can assure you."
Hue quickly interjected. "The human body is not meant to work under sleep deprivation. Your vision could become blurry, your senses dull, and your perception of your surroundings weakened. This is no reason to idle about, Copper. It is a requirement for the mission that you get some sleep." She turned her face back, watching the others rest, Jin's hair serving as an excellent pillow for the entire group. "perhaps you should try and rest with Jin. I am sure that-"
Before she could finish her sentence proper, Copper, still looking down, tugged her shoulder. "It is time. They are here."
Hue quickly turned her head, watching them walking quickly to the warehouse door. She and Copper got straight to work, trying to wake up the rest of them, but by the time she managed it, about five minutes later, it was too late. The cultists already locked themselves inside of the building, leaving teams JPLL and ACMN stuck outside, and with no way to interact with them.
Perci was the first to sigh. "Well, we can't really do anything now, can we? I mean, staying up here at least." She suggested, the rest already standing up, and making their way down.
"Indeed." Leila gestured towards the locked doors. "We need to get in there, and as soon as we can. We mustn't let them conduct their foul ritual tonight, at any cost."
They looked at one another for a short while, considering how to approach the situation, as the sound of a screech pierced their ears, sending some of them into a panic. Perci, keeping her wits about her, sighed as she approached the door, channeling some of her excess aura into her hand. "Fine, fine... Since I see y'all are being too much of a bunch of pussies to get this party started... I'll just knock!" She brought her fist down, slamming it against the thin metal door, snapping them off their hinges with ease, and breaking them apart.
The sight that was revealed to the team made Leila's heart sink in vile disgust. Out of the now seven inside, most of them were on the floor, holding their heads and screaming, mad and incoherent words escaping their mouths, eyes almost popping out. The leader of the group, still keeping his hood on, covering his face, stood next to the keg of the black ichor, carrying the same logo Ash saw the last time. As another Beowolf was in the middle of making its way out, about three more already rushed to the door, directly at them. Perci didn't flinch whatsoever, punching one of the Grimm down the moment it came, while Leila jumped and brought her blade down at another one, slicing its head apart with the great force she wielded. As for the final one, Copper reacted quickly, bringing out a single drive and slicing it through its abdomen, killing the Grimm on the spot.
The man stared at them in shock, realizing he was spotted. "W-What the hell are you doing here?!" He shouted, anger building on his cloaked face. The more his rage grew, the more the entire group could feel it. A voice in their head. A splinter of themselves, trying to seduce them to commit the foulest of actions.
The moment she heard it, Jin's eyes narrowed in shock. So far, when someone asked for something from her, she always said yes. Auras had no reason to want to harm her, after all. But this aura... She could feel the malice oozing from it. She could feel it encompassing her, as if trying to take her apart, and Jin gave a pained scream, running back, curled into a ball and paralyzed by her own fear. The rest of them followed suit shortly after, feeling the madness eating away at their sanity calming down as they gained distance from the man.
"Y-Yeah! Stay back! It is time we finally brought it forth!" He laughed maniacally, his hood falling down and revealing his deranged, sickly face. He raised his hands, the people around him twisting in almost unnatural, painful ways, as more Grimm started to erupt from the keg. It was a slow stream, nothing the group couldn't handle, but regardless, the Grimm kept coming, most of the group unable to get any closer to the madman.
All, except Copper.
She started at the man silently, and started making her way. His face twisted in confusion. "W-What are you doing?! How are you resisting my power?!" He shouted distressed, his concentration breaking as he did. In that momentary slip of the mind, the ichor reacted, pushing out a Nevermore, though rather small, out of the black waters. It flew right at Copper, aiming for her first for some reason, and while she tried to react in time, she couldn't, getting pushed back and flying off, hitting the metal warehouse behind them, on the other hand.
"Copper!" Leila ran to her, raising her hands, ready to use her semblance to heal her wounds. "Please, remove your hands. I will heal you."
Copper waved her head. "Do not focus on me. I will be fine. For now, take care of the Grimm." Despite her cold tone, due to her emotionless state, it was filled with urgency and demand. Leila stared at her for a bit longer, contemplating her action, before deciding to acknowledge Copper's request, standing up and turning her attention to the steady stream of Grimm coming out of the ichor.
"What the fuck are we gonna do now?!" Perci called at them. "I ain't going anywhere NEAR that freak!"
To answer her question, Hue took out her katana, as it shifted in her hands, turning into a bow. She quickly pulled out an arrow, taking out the next Grimm in line with a well-placed shot. "Simple. We go long range."
Perci rolled her eyes, twisting the knob on her cane to transform it, as her trusty Tommy gun now laid in her palms. Leila was already spinning her barrel, Ash with her gun, Undine transforming her trident to a nasty looking harpoon gun, and Melody taking out her blade, pointing it at the Grimm coming at them while pressing the trigger on her sword's hilt. The six of them opened fire, flinging shots of dust and lead, mowing down Grimm after Grimm, as the war of attrition began.
For the next ten or so minutes, they did their best to keep the Grimm at bay. Weak and fragile, each newborn didn't take a lot of shots to take down, but the more they did, the more their opponent's anger at them grew, drawing out more and more Grimm to handle.
"GO AWAY!" He shouted at them. "I HAVE TO DO THIS! I HAVE TO CALL IT! THE VOICES! THE VOICES IN MY HEAD TELL ME TO! OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER ANDOVERANDVOER..!" He started laughing maniacally, Grimm pouring out of the foul liquid. His power going out of control, driving more and more madness into those around him, ACMN and JPLL included, caused the barrel to crack. It struggled to keep its form, as claw marks started to form on it from the inside. The man, in a fit of cowardice, realized that it was about to snap, ditching the others behind and running to the back door of the warehouse, leaving it with haste, finally taking the maddening wave with it.
"Now's our chance! Let's take it out!" Leila called, as the six of them dashed inside, aiming to destroy the ichor container at last.
However, at that point, it was already too late.
The keg snapped in half, torn apart from the inside. Out of it, a single, solitary Beowolf appeared, snarling at them, while other Grimm around it stopped for a split second, turning their attention to their own. Before they knew it, the new Grimm lunged at one of them, biting its head, catching all of the group off guard, staring in disgusted shock as it bit into the other Grimm's flesh, consuming its own brethren before it could even decompose and disperse.
Once the horrid show finally ended, the group finally went into action, glancing at their surroundings. "Ash, Melody, Undine, take care of the people in there!" Leila shouted at them spinning her barrel to electricity dust. "We'll take care of the Grimm!" Ash nodded, as her team went to work, grabbing the unconscious victims of the maddening wave and dragging them to safety. As they did, Leila, Perci, and Hue protected them, taking out any of the Grimm that tried approaching the group.
All except the one Grimm.
It just stood there, shaking in place. It didn't try and attack them, nor did it try and consume any more of the other Grimm, as if having had its fill. Here and there it twitched, watching. Waiting. Building up to something that none of them had the time to deal with yet. Deciding it wasn't a threat right away, the group turned their attention to the active, more ferocious Grimm.
Once the last of the robed people was out and safe, and they finally turned their attention to the rest of the Grimm's numbers, it screeched. Something inside it changed, demanding the attention of the rest of the group, as its size shifted, growing more and more, reaching that of an Alpha with ease. Its head twitched in angles that shouldn't be possible for any living being, howling madly at anything around it.
Then... The mutations began. A second claw grew from its right arm, now having two lower arms, each armed with razor sharp nails. It didn't end, however, as the arm twisted more and more, square angels turning the claws into hooks of the most grotesque degree. Something busted from its back, as another leg made its place there, falling to the side motionless, before rising up in an instant, aimed at the only beings with aura close to it.
Hair kept falling and regrowing on its skin, a mockery of the cycle of nature and life itself. Eyes, red and menacing, started to form amongst the growing skin, redder and redder with each subsequent one, before its arms and tail were covered with red, glowing spots.
The bone on its face fell down, crumbling to nothingness within a matter of seconds. Beneath it, it's true face, one of no skin, and melded bone was revealed the group, Leila almost hurling at the mere sight. Before they could even react, it's right cheek started to morph, first forming a new set of jaws, as SECOND Beowolf face formed from underneath the twisted flesh, giving a small, high pitch howl to celebrate its birth. Soon enough, it fell to the ground, bone forcing its way onto their faces, hiding back the flesh, the eyes on the head enlarging, hungry and feral.
Small black tendrils started erupting from its back. Nowhere big enough to be of any use for combat, regardless, they kept forming, twisting the Beowolf more and more into something that seemed almost otherworldly in its origin. They wriggled about, as if learning their new environment, some of the eyes sticking to their sides as they grew.
Its left arm, being the next to change, started to shake and vibrate, growing more and more in length, before it couldn't even control it anymore, and it just fell prone on the floor, motionless. Its end shifted in form, hardening, and sharpening, the fingers melding together as the flesh was forcefully pressed into one, smoke covering it from the pain it felt until the transformation was done. When it settled, instead of a normal paw, the Beowolf had a giant, rock solid claw, almost as large as its tail, glistening in the moonlight almost like a diamond, made of horrid, black ichor.
It's back angled, twisting and bending. It could barely stand, let alone rise to its hind legs, as its entire body became twisted and disproportionate. At this point, it couldn't even be called a Beowolf anymore. None of them had any idea what it even WAS. Each of team JPLL simply stared in shock, Perci included, as the Grimm's bone plating, all over its body, became jagged and splintered, leaving no trace of the predator it was beforehand.
The thing reeked of the ichor if was born in. The smell, foul and utterly, absolutely nauseating, could only be described as the manifestation of madness and death themselves. The more it twisted, the harsher the stench grew around it, forming an almost cloud of snarled breaths and darkness.
It finally made a snarling sound. It managed to utter something, looking around, as if awakening from a deep, endless slumber. It sniffed the air, for just a second, realizing it wasn't alone. It had to feed, and the humans and faunus around it would serve a fine start to its new life.
And as the transformation neared its end, it raised on its hind legs. Both of its mouths opening at the same time, head almost reading the ceiling of the warehouse, they screeched one more time. A screech that could only herald the coming of something that was never meant to be. A screech that called forth for the destruction of everything and anything, a mad voice that knew no end.
Now it lived. And now it was going to kill.
A/N: Oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy
I've been WAITING for this moment.
You better prepare yourselves, cause next chapter? Shit is gonna go DOWN!