I hope that with this newer chapter you begin to see more of the changes I'm going for. I forgot to say it last time, but Deverou will now speak with an English accent if that helps any in visualizing the dialogue. For this specific chapter I gave Caradin a different weapon as the Halberd was just too...stupid...unfortunately it means now I need to speed up my re-writes to fix the Halberd issue. Enjoy his new moves.

Caradin

Out in Western Vytal the desert was thick and dry, and the plains were much drier. The dirt from the plains was kicked up around the man in the duster as he approached the town in the distance, sure that it was a mirage. His bandana kept the dust from entering his mouth and choking him, and the coffin he carried on his back got heavier with every-step. He passed through the town gate and took in his surroundings; it was a small mining town that was near a Schnee quarry. He smiled when he saw the town sign of Magnus, before collapsing due to dehydration. The townsfolk were nice enough to drag him and his coffin to the local saloon where they fixed him water. He drank deeply for what seemed like an eternity until he finally came up for air with a gasp, "Man, I thought I was going to die there for a second! You guys are really alright thanks for the water and everything!" He said with a smile.

"Would you like some food as well? Maybe a burger or just some bread?" The older man running the saloon inquired.

"Aw nice! A burger and some fries would really hit the spot!" He said as he patted his belly.

He scarfed down whatever they put in front of him and by his fifth burger and fries they decided it was time to talk to him about paying for all of it. "Listen sonny, we'd be glad to give you all this. But we're working for dirt cheap at the Schnee quarry at the moment…we're going to have to charge you." He said with a look of shame on his face.

"Nows ok, I goba shave da towned." He said with a full mouth and a smile.

"Um…excuse me?" The old man inquired.

He swallowed with some difficulty and answered with a beaming smile, "No it's ok, I was hired to save the town from bandits!"

The elder was shocked, "How did you know about the bandits?"

"Mr. Schnee hired me to get rid of them. You're looking at the one and only Caradin Cross, The Undertaker!" He said with a proud and foolish laugh.

They were surprised that this kid was going to protect them from Roman Torchwick and his thugs. That man had been pestering anybody with Dust lately, he mostly went after the Schnee family because they had a public image to keep. An open manhunt would look suspicious, so they had hired this mercenary to handle it? As they were pondering this, a man in a sleeveless shirt and jeans burst in. "He's here! Torchwick and his gang, they've brought some serious muscle this time!"

Torchwick strode through the gate with his usual air of arrogance. Behind him were four mercenaries. They wore grey clothing with black body armor. The biggest one was sleeveless and had dragons tattooed down each arm, with a helmet that had a black faceplate. The woman had long orange hair and wore a grey and white robe underneath her tiny armor. Another man was slender and completely encased in the armor with a helmet like his bulky friend. The final, obviously the leader had a buzz cut and a chin goatee with a scar over his left eye which was whited out. "Well, I believe I told you to clear the hell out last time, but it seems my advice fell on deaf ears…so I hired the Black Dragons to assist me."

Caradin stepped out to survey eye the targets that he would be facing. The leader nodded to the woman, and she drew her pistol. He knew what was about to happen before it even happened, he drew back his arm and threw the coffin. The woman fired at a child playing with a ball to her left and the people screamed in horror. Their fear subsided as Caradin's coffin landed in front of the kid and stopped the bullet. Caradin walked up slowly with open arms and a smile on his face. "Can we please settle this without violence? I'd love to prevent spilling any blood on the nice people's land."

Torchwick looked to the mercenaries and then back to Caradin before waving his hand toward Caradin, "Kill him!" He said as he stood there watching.

The smaller man rushed in with an energy blade, and Caradin simply sighed and began to walk slowly towards the coffin to retrieve his weapon no doubt. The man ran very quickly, no doubt due to his semblance and leapt above Caradin with his blade raised to attack. Caradin rolled out of the way and leaned up against his coffin as if he was waiting. The man rushed him with the blade poised in a piercing position and Caradin simply waited for it. The man drew within range and Caradin side-stepped, throwing out his arm in a crooked arm lariat slamming the swift guy into the ground knocking him unconscious. "One." Caradin counted.

Torchwick stood there stunned for a moment and then turned to the captain, "I leave this in your capable hands."

"Kill this asshole!" The leader screamed, as Torchwick walked away towards a car that was rolling up to meet him.

The bulky man's tattoos glowed and he sent wind slashes with Dust and his semblance, tearing up the earth and dirt around them, while the woman pulled out an assault rifle and began firing. Caradin drew his blade from the coffin and spun it rapidly blocking all the attacks that came at him. "Get everyone into the town hall…don't come out until I call you."

The villagers ran to the town hall and Caradin took off at a breakneck speed towards the woman. She continued to fire, and he spun the blade still to deflect the shots being fired at him drawing on his aura to protect him from the wind slashes. He swung the blade in an arc so the flat of the blade knocked the air from the woman's chest and she gasped as he kicked her in the face, knocking her to the ground unconscious. The man turned to look at his accomplice, which gave Caradin all the opening he needed, "C.A.S. Kit Stage Two: Axe!" He ran at the guy and then jumped high in the air to bring the axe down on him. His tattoos glowed again and more scars of wind erupted from his hands. "Engage Thruster!" Caradin's booster fired and he began to spin in a circle at his opponent. He brought the axe down on the man's chest. The man fell and Caradin leaned over him, his right hand glowed with a golden light as he drew on his aura to heal the man's wound, and the man's wound closed slowly and small wounds appeared all over Caradin's body.

"There, he's not dead, just so you're wondering." He said panting as he gripped his weapon weakly, "I know this is just a job to you, and I'm sure your men are just as important to you as money."

The leader scoffed, "You kidding me? These fools just proved they're useless! I don't need them! I kill you, and Torchwick gives me all the profit!"

"What?" Caradin asked in a stupor.

"You heard me, they're expendable." He said raising the heavy pistol to point at Caradin's forehead, "It's been nice knowing you kid!"

Caradin's face shifted from the compassionate jovial look into a face of pure malice and hate. The leader backed up a bit, "C.A.S. Kit, engage final failsafe; Engage Scythe."

The weapon shifted into the scythe. "This is C.A.S. Kit's failsafe; this Scythe's blade is designed to slice cleanly through anything. It utilizes the Solaris Edge that my sword has and the thruster of my axe. I was going to let you live, but now I'm just going to kill you!"

He rushed the man with the scythe drawn back and the leader shifted his pistol into it's sword form and swung to meet the scythe. The leader stood in horror as his weapon was sliced through cleanly and the scythe stopped at his neck. He whimpered in fear as Caradin spoke, "There is a reason they call me Undertaker; I undertake tasks, and I see them through. I also put dirt-bags like you where you belong; ten-feet under." With a quick shift of his wrist the leader's head fell to the ground; his face a mask of fear.

"You can all come out now, it's safe. Just make sure to tie up those other mercs." He placed his inside the coffin, and began to drag the leader's corpse to the local church. There he began to dig his grave, the townsfolk gathered to watch this strange sight; as they had never seen a man show so much respect to his enemy in death. The man buried the mercenary leader and gave last rites for him. The barman brought him a bottle of whiskey and he uncorked it and poured it over the grave. "Rest in Peace, may you find the peace you sought in the next life. May you never harm another, and may you be judged with mercy and kindness; it was obvious it was never shown to you." And with that he gathered his coffin and walked out of town, a car met him at the edge of town from the Schnee family. He set his coffin down as the window rolled down, but inside was a man with silver hair and a green scarf.

"Caradin Cross? You mother asked that I come here and meet with you, and after her strong recommendation and resume as a mercenary I would like you to join me this year at Beacon." The man said simply.

Caradin bit his lip as he knew that his mother had wanted him to become a Hunter since he was old enough to walk, but he enjoyed this life of freedom he lived now. However he was smart enough not to turn down the offer of the Headmaster, especially one who knew his mother; and survived. "You've got yourself a deal."

Note to all readers, don't meet Caradin's mother...but with that aside, enjoy and review...I have more shit to do.