Long ass chapter incoming. Alright ladies and gents, with two back to back releases it must be Christmas already! With our detour over, and our focus returning to Knives and his friends we see the show down between the assassins beginning, great moments happening across the board as BRCT show the fruits of their training, and the final confrontation between Knives and Ryzia will begin and end...with this chapter. And Begin! (Also if you haven't gotten it by now, the chapters I've written recently draw their name from Dragon Age: Inquisition one of the best games of 2014!)
RWBY: The Darkness Within
Season 2- Chapter 21
Into the Darkness
War is Coming, War is Crying Out
"Breach in the outer wall! All security forces move in and suppress the situation!" Dreyer called over the intercom as he looked to the Hunters in training, "Congratulations your vagabond friend is nowhere to be found right as the attack occurs, and the White Fang conveniently attack the section of the wall where he was a few nights ago. If you ask me, you've been betrayed."
"Well we didn't ask you did we?" Caradin said getting in the older man's face, "I'll say what everyone's been thinking this whole time; we liked it when Knives was the leader. He knew what to do and he didn't let his fear slow him down like the rest of us, so you can stuff it, because we're sticking by our friend till the end, right guys?" He roared looking to his companions. Deverou joined him standing with confidence in his companion's speech as Beatrice took a neutral stance on the matter. It was only Luxus who refused to take their side.
"Luxus are you sure about your decision?" Deverou asked trying to plead with his friend who refused to meet his gaze.
"It may not be his fault, but he did leave when we needed him." Luxus said not locking eyes with anyone.
"See, my boy understands the facts!" Dreyer exclaimed as he gloated, "Don't worry Luxus, when this is over we'll transfer you to a new school. It's clear that Ozpin and his ilk have been a bad influence; I mean what were they thinking pairing you with a criminal like Bloody Knives. That poor excuse for a human being should have been sentenced to death just for existing." He said with a sneer before Luxus' fist collided with his talon shaped nose, breaking it. His father matched his gaze through blood and tears and saw the fire in Luxus' eyes.
"Shut the fuck up you pompous old bastard! You can berate me all you want, and you can state the obvious facts that Knives isn't here, or that I'm a failure as a Huntsman, or that I'm expendable. But don't you ever fucking assume you can insult my real family." He said with his fist bloody and shaking. "I'm going to go solve your fucking problem, and when I'm done I'm taking the first ship out to Vale."
Everyone in the room was at a loss for words as Luxus turned and started to walk out before his father roared at him, "How dare you turn your back on me Luxus! What about all that I have done for you, you ungrateful wretch!? Are you saying we are not family!? Dammit I am your father and you will look at me when I talk to you!" Luxus wheeled around faster than his father could track and pointed his gun in his father's face before slowly holstering the weapon and matching his cold gaze.
"I don't have a father, I have an investor. All you've done is fund time, money, and effort into raising me to take over for you, I'm not your son, I'm your investment in the future. So we'll see where the dice you've rolled lands when all this dust settles." And with a swish of his coat he was gone as Deverou and Beatrice followed close behind him, while Caradin brought up the rear facing Dreyer.
"BRCT, mother-fucker!" He said flashing peace signs before turning around foolishly and walking out to join his team in suppressing the invasion.
The World is Shaking, The Sky is Falling Down
"So um, you're him aren't you?" Romeo asked gulping hesitantly, "The Silver Reaper?"
"I've been called that, yes." Cyan said as he walked into the circle that the other three assassins were placed in. "But now I have to ask, who the fuck you think you are for picking a fight with my family?" He asked, his grip tightening around his scythe, the black handle colder and darker than death itself as the silver blade seemed to glow in the twilight that was the breaking of dawn.
"So, do we just stand around here, or?" Sinon started as the Sandman rushed in rapidly, drawing his blade and lunging towards his prey. Their blades clashed as Cyan used the longer range of his scythe to drive the assassin of the desert back. The man lashed out with his bandages as Cyan spun his scythe quickly wrapping the bandages around the pole as he readjusted his hands and pulled the weapon as if he was hauling in a great fish. The Sandman was jerked from his position as he flew towards the other man who drew back and punched the assassin in the face sending him flying as with one swift motion he severed the bandages on his scythe so they dangled loosely from where the head of the pole met the blade. As the Sandman stumbled back, Cyan simply rested the scythe in the crook of his arm so that it set gently against the back of his neck as during the entire fight he hadn't shown any change in his blank emotional state.
"Is that seriously the best you all have?" He asked in boredom as he yawned. It was an obvious taunt, so Sinon stood her ground but Romeo was a fool. He blinked behind Cyan with his revolver pointed at the man's head as he pulled the trigger and Cyan moved in time to avoid the bullet, moving left so that the pole of his scythe would ricochet the bullet back at Romeo, striking him in the shoulder.
"Fuck!" The man screamed as he stumbled back and Cyan grabbed him by his face and lifted him off the ground.
"Insolent weakling, I'm going to crush your skull like a grape." He said as Romeo aimed at him despite the circumstances and opened fire five more times. Cyan's aura deflected the blows, but the sudden attack threw him off guard slightly as he showed his first emotion of the fight, elation. "So there is another man who fights using his fear of death to drive him to fight like a wild beast." He chuckled, "Come then, rat! Show me what you're made of!" He roared his eyes like that of a wild beast. Sandman came from behind him with another strike of his blade as Cyan spun to repel him and Romeo attacked at the same time. Cyan kicked Romeo back and pushed Sandman back with his blade and awaited their next strike.
"Listen Sandy, all I wanna do is kill Knives and be on my way; I'll help you kill this bastard if you let me take the money for killing Knives, deal?" Romeo said as he reloaded and got both his weapons ready.
The Sandman simply grunted as he loosened more of his bandages, revealing the myriad of small blades sewn into each one as they extended from his elbows like ribbons on a foreign dancer. He also loosened more around his legs as he had another set on each of his ankles, he looked like a dancer of death as he readied for his continued assault with his blade. Sinon simply stood in shock of these three psychos; these were true monsters, not assassins. She was just a sniper simply paid to go here, shot that guy, and go home. This was out of her league, but she wasn't about to abandon a job, her uncle had always taught her, "If there's a situation where you think you can't win." She said loosening the armband around her arm and tying it around her forehead, "Make the battlefield your own." She stated grabbing her sniper rifle and taking position to keep them away from the city and away from Knives.
Cyan saw this and assumed she was finally ready to join the fight and was interested as to what side she would be taking, "Round two then." He said venomously as he readied himself for the oncoming assault.
Into the Darkness, We are One! Into the Darkness, we all must Run!
The White Fang poured through the gap in the wall quickly overpowering the city guard and running into the streets to quickly try and secure the town. However a hail of gunfire said otherwise. The first squad that made it into the main street were taken down by Electric Dust rounds as if being struck by a taser. All that could be heard was the sound of cold steel scraping against steel as the magazines dropped from the pistols and a quick slide a click was heard as they were reloaded with their next type of Dust. The next wave tried to make it through and were dispatched when the ground beneath them was ripped apart in a single strike and they were then pinned to the rubble with Ice Dust bullets; with that three squads were dispatched. The final two squads charged in, and quickly found themselves fighting amongst one another as if being puppeteered by an unseen enemy. This was all Cole needed to make his attack; he slunk back to his comrades quickly. "Three of them at least, I'd say Huntsman but they were too amateur, so I'd say we're dealing with Beacon brats."
"Seems like Ryz was right, we're dealing with Luxus Rayfor von Würfel, Deverou Tenebrous, and Caradin Cross." Clay said as he adjusted his White Fang uniform and Taurus mask, gripping his battle-axe tightly as he readied himself to charge in. "The Ivory Bull of the White Fang will trample this city!" He roared as he charged past them without a second thought.
"Fool." Cassim stated simply as he gripped his rifle tightly, the goat Faunus acting as their sniper. He quickly leapt up to the top of a building and got into position to take fire on whoever popped out first, while Cole simply faded into the background as the rat Faunus was keen on finding the Tenebrous before the Tenebrous found him.
"Come out cowards! Face the Ivory Bull!" He screamed as he entered the middle of town as people shrunk away. One boy out of the crowd approached him as he signaled the other to take shelter in their homes. He wore an orange beanie with a white cross on it, with a beige sleeveless and camo cargo pants with black combat boots. He carried a large coffin with him and had a sleeveless green denim vest and black biker gloves.
"Hey guys, I got this one!" He yelled out to his allies hidden in the city, "Yo, I'm Caradin 'The Undertaker' Cross, it's a pleasure to be your opponent." He said with a smile and a wave.
Bull simply walked up to him and snorted in the boy's face, "Is this a joke?"
"I hope not, otherwise I'm not really getting why you chose to dress like an idiot." Caradin taunted as Bull quickly raised his mighty battle-axe and swung at the boy's head. In the blink of an eye the coffin was moved in a position that deflected the axe as the boy was suddenly to his left with his claymore drawn back to strike. There was no time to avoid the blow so Bull focused his aura around his left side and his back to deflect the blow, but suddenly he was on his back and the boy was standing over him. "If you redirect your aura like that you leave your legs unguarded, so a simple sweep kick will bring your big ass down." He instructed as he offered Bull a hand, "Come on, get up let's try it again, the use of my coffin was a bit unfair."
Bull looked up at this boy wondering what the hell he was, "Kill him!" He roared to Cassim as the Faunus in the tower easily took aim and focused his aura into his bullet, before a rain of Fire Dust rounds nearly tore up his hiding place.
"Hey, I had that guy under control Luxus!" Caradin roared to the boy in a blue and gold coat and fancy white shirt. His sky blue pants and shining silver guns making him seem like an aristocratic gunslinger.
"No way dude, I'm not letting you steal the spotlight!" The boy roared back, as suddenly a rat Faunus flew through a window and out into the street as Deverou stepped out, his short black hair and fluttering black trench-coat standing out in the rising dawn.
"Honestly you two, we had a plan, but you two had to showboat and ruin the whole damn thing!" He fussed rubbing the bridge of his nose, "Now I had to reveal myself to this sneaky rat, and the fight is only going to get harder."
"Are you wimping out on us?" Luxus and Caradin said simultaneously.
"Jinx!" Luxus cried.
"Ah, dammit."
Caradin replied as Deverou grew only more agitated, "Is that a challenge?"
Caradin grinned, "Let's make it interesting, last person to bring down their target buys dinner for the rest of us!"
Bull looked between his associates as they all exchanged looks of shock, just who were these people?
Into the Darkness, We'll Burn Alight! Into the Darkness, We all must Fight!
Knives rushed back to Würfel and arrived just in time, as he saw the explosions and heard his comrades yelling at one another as he sighed with relief and chuckled to himself. He recomposed himself and made his way towards the breach in the wall as he saw a single Faunus standing guard, she was a cat Faunus and stood with her ears on end, carefully attentive of her surroundings. He readied his blade and ran forward quietly like he had trained with Cyan and drew back to strike, not hesitating for a second to carry through with his swing. He must have made too much noise when he swung because she immediately leapt away and readied herself to fight, putting her fists up to attack him. "Knives!?" She cried as she lowered her guard.
"Ryzia." He replied simply as he lashed out with his second blade.
"Stop, I don't want to fight you!" She cried backing away, "We've both done things to upset the balance of power and corruption, why not join that again?"
"I'm pretty sure I gave you my answer last time." He said as he lunged forward with a wide slash and as she jumped away he kicked her in the side. "I want no part in your damn crusade, and I want you to either turn yourself in or disappear."
"I'm not going to do that." She said brazenly as she stood and removed her mask fixing him with her determined eyes.
"Then prepare yourself and don't hold back, because I know I won't." He said as he looked at the imaginary chain on his arm. "You will give me your power now, I command you Johann!" He said as she noticed a dramatic change in his aura. It seemed thick and heavy, like blood, thick black blood as it rushed out from him. But when she met his gaze, it was not mad or evil like this aura seemed to be, it was the cold and cruel. He was him, but his aura was not. He sheathed his Chainblade and drew his knife, stabbing himself twice in the back and ran the knife down his left forearm and right wrist. She had to look away from the grotesque display, until she heard the blood transform and looked back to see the magnificent display. The blood formed a round shield on his left arm and blade had a glittering sharp red edge, but the thing that drew her eye most was the blood waving at his back like a sanguine angel he stood in bloody judgment of her sins. She was afraid, she was deathly afraid. In a flash he was before her with his blade held high to strike her, she leapt back but with a beat of his bloody wings she flew back and collided with the wall feeling the wind rush from her lungs as she rapidly tried to focus on him, but he was gone. In a flash he was before her again and he kicked her across the plains as she skidded to a halt fifteen feet from where she was. She coughed and rose quickly putting her guard up as this time when he rushed in she was ready as she swung her fist and it collided with his shield as the wings rushed forward they threw her into the air where she flew up above him and gauged the battlefield.
"Well I doubt those wings can work in the air, so eat this!" She roared as she fired her Dust rounds at him in a rapid barrage as his wings and shield rose to meet them, but he was quickly buried in fire, ice, and lightning as she dropped to the ground to survey the damage. She saw the tendrils of blood shoot out as she dodged them quickly and saw him now. His wings had become tendrils and his shield had become another blade for him to wield, he was practically fighting with ten blades. She got ready to rush in seeing her only option to try and hit him with all her might, she rushed and his blades flew past her, the tendrils weaving and twisting while she ducked and leapt above and between them. She gained her distance and drew back with all her might putting her aura into the strike as she loaded in a Lightning Dust round and punched. The blade on his left arm disappeared and it formed a gauntlet as he caught her fist as the round went off with her aura and she heard his bones crack as they collided. But he simply stabbed her through her other hand pinning her to the ground as he used his blood to make a gauntlet on his right arm as he punched her in the face. Her world went dark and she slipped from consciousness as he dropped to his knees and the blood returned to his body.
"As much as I want to, I won't kill you. You will face trial for all that you've done, for the lives you've ended, and the hearts you've broken." He said feeling his strength leave him as he checked his scroll and saw his aura was in the red, "Well that can't be good." He said as he heard footsteps approach him and looked up to see two figures. A man in a dark blue and light green coat with a Grimm mask, his wild forest green hanging around him, and then the taller slant eyed individual beside him in a Atlas soldier armor with White Fang markings standing next to him.
"Oh you have no idea." He said eyeing the youth with great contempt.
Oh noes, Knives is in serious trouble, who on earth will come to his aid!? I'll give you a hint, she's blonde, dresses like a hippie, and embarrasses Caradin constantly...yeah kinda just gave it all away, but stay tuned for the next chapter which should be done and up by tomorrow...also if you guys haven't gotten it, I have stopped stockpiling chapters and releasing them so these are literally day one releases. I write it, I go over it, I post it, bam enjoyment...so yeah...it's rough.