Che-low once more my ever lovely and my ever loyal peeps!
So here we go once again with a new chapter and i'll be starting this off, with a funny little comic scene i saw on the web, the other day. You'll know it, when you read it but i have sort of a important notice to say but it is and isn't important. It's something that needs to be said and to just, put it out there, just to clarify things now, so here it goes:
This Arc WON'T be following cannon of the game.
You'll notice a few different things like how the characters are placed and where they are at one time and even the Wendigo themselves.
Again, this is just something that basically needs to be said, it's done and out of the way, so i won't have to address it later. Also, i failed to take into account of how MUCH Xero would actually see during the game, so breaks in between chapter with the others like Sam's chase scene and Mike's rescue attempt of Jessica won't be seen sadly.
It'll be mostly focused on Chris and Ashely with the first two chapters, then it'll slowly break away after ward.
But the point is i may have made a mistake believing i could follow cannon and only do i realize that was never an option to being with. The only thing that will remain the same, is the order the Totem's found BUT Xero himself will have his own future revealed in at least one totem each. The future is always in motion after all, so as always i own nothing.
So please read review and "What the fuc-BOOM"
Chapter 12: The Beginnings Of A Plan And JEALOSUY
"Merciless Albion Pose."
INCOMING
That was the only warning Xero got, before he all but shoved the Berserker off him and quickly(But gently) swiped Altera off his lap into a near by Servant's lap, just moments before the wind was knocked out of him by a heat seeking ballistic missile. The sudden 'attack' had caused wind to kick up made everyone slam back into their seats, as Roman had to grabbed a hold of his hat, to keep it from flying away.
"The hell, what the hell was that?"
Yang yelled, wondering what made that sound, like something was trying to break the sound barrier, nearly deafening her and everyone else in the process.
Said missile, had wrapped her slim arms around him very tightly but not enough to hurt him and hooked her legs around his lower waist. In all honesty, Melusine was acting like some kind of koala bear, when she clung to him like this.
"Did you get lonely?"
Even if he already knew the answer, he still asked out of habit, if nothing else, as the little Lancer muttered something into his chest but he had a pretty good idea she said:
"No, i'm a dragon and was cold."
Yeah right.
"Just what the hell do you think you're doing, you little upstart?"
Before Xero could blink, he found himself surrounded by the three Valkyrie's, all glaring bloody daggers at their fellow Lancer. Ortlinde and Hild had grabbed onto his arms, while Thurd had taken it upon herself to grab the little interloper and was attempting to remove her from his stomach. There's was just one problem with the blonde Valkyire's plan.
Namely, that Melusine was not letting go anytime soon.
Many of the Avengers either laughed or giggled at the display, watching the Valkyire's trying(And failing) to get the tiniest Fairy knight to let go. The same with the Servants, laughing at the silly sight.
Something that made the normally stoic faced blonde growl, trying harder but knowing not to try too hard, least she accidently hurt master. Ruby and her mother couldn't help but find the scene both silly and funny, but Summer had to wonder-
"Yes, this is very normal."
The two sliver eyed women nearly jumped at hearing Morgan's, the Grand Caster one, voice. Under her veil, she smiled,"Rose and young Rose, i find myself curious as to why they're are so very few sliver eyed people in Remnant when, by all rights, the legends make you're kind sound like one of the strongest warriors to ever walk you're planet. Might i ask why barely any of you left and even fewer, who know about the sliver eyes? I would think those that freeze Grimm with 'just a look' aren't viewed as gods by you're people."
"O-oh, i um, well that's very kind of you miss."
Ruby giggled, swaying in place, as Summer pressed her lips, wondering if she should tell the Caster what she knew. Summer had already decide that Xero was their kin, if nothing else then the fact there was no way in the seven hells that Salem would leave such a massive threat alone.
Possible threat or not, the fact he HAD a sliver eyed ancestor would no doubt spur Salem on and sending assassin after assassin after Xero. That was not including his magic, those 'Servants' and his now revealed Yoki would make Xero, Salem's number one target.
Maybe even a higher threat then herself, Ozpin and even the Maidens themselves.
The more and more information that was revealed, had made Summer wonder if the inner circle could be trusted. Ozpin, she could see trying to at least make peace with Xero, trying to get him into the fold but she feared the old man might try to force things. All things considered the young man was looking more and more like a massive threat just waiting to come to life, and Ozpin trying to press things, might cause him to attack if he felt threatened by Oz. That and Ozpin holding back certain details could cause Xero to react badly, like Raven did when the truth was revealed or even the long lost Spring Maiden.
He didn't strike her as the cowardly type but then again, neither did Raven and she saw how well THAT turned out.
Truth be told, after her near death experience and despite what Raven thought, Summer had lost some faith in Ozpin. It caused her to ask questions, like what is Salem, how did he known her and what were the sliver eyes, really?
Where did their, where did her power come from?
What was their origin?
He told her a lot on the surface but in reality, Summer learned next to nothing from the man, the sliver eyes especially as he said, he didn't know anything at all. That made alarm bells ring in Summer's head, as old as the man was, he had to know something!
Anything!
The fact he said he didn't, not even being reincarnated into was possible but to have no solid information after tens of thousands of years of knowledge and yet he knew nothing of the sliver eyes?
It was impossible, Ozpin knew something and yet, didn't tell her anything!
When she was younger, naive and reckless, Summer could understand not telling her then. But now telling her now? When she had grown into a full fledged, mature and powerful huntress with two daughters of her own, one that had her eyes and STILL didn't tell her anything?
Something was up.
She didn't say anything, not even to her husband or her brother in everything but blood, as Summer was hoping Ozpin would come clean that he knew something. But years after the fact, even after her near death and now enrolling Ruby two years earlier?
With Amber's attacker at large and now a new world merging with their own, he still hadn't said anything was making Summer believe Raven had a very good point about Ozpin keeping secrets. Personally, Summer felt she had a right to know, as her parents had died, SHE nearly died because of her eyes and she believed she had more then earned the right too know.
Before Earth had merged with Remnant, Summer was two days away from quitting his damned war, if he didn't tell her what she wanted to know. He could say he didn't know all day, till he was blue in the face but Summer knew, Ozpin knew something.
One way or another, she WAS going to find out.
That's why she was excited to hear that Xero had a sliver eyed ancestor, with this, the looming threat of Salem's agents and the Dead War, she could force Ozpin to tell her the truth. If not?
Well...Summer had heard that Raven's tribe had picked up the Spring Maiden and despite Ozpin saying the Relic had all it's question used up, Summer's gut was telling her, he was lying about that too. Ozpin, nor Qrow would be happy about her keeping this type of information away from them but if anyone could keep one of the Maidens safe from Salem, it be Raven.
She wasn't the leader of the best huntsman team to graduate Beacon academy after all and it wasn't just because she herself was powerful. Bitchy as she is, Summer knew Raven would love to deprive Ozpin of his allies and the fact she got to say 'i told you so' to her face?
Raven would gleefully help Summer take the Relic of knowledge, regardless of the consequences.
She really, really hoped it wouldn't come to that but damnit, things were going to come to head and keeping certain information from people, could get them killed, soldiers especially. It was a need to know after all.
But that was all guess work on what may or may not happen and Summer needed to focus on the present. She hoped Ozpin would tell her, as she had a feeling Xero wasn't the type to allow important information be kept from him, not when it could get his people killed. As kin, she had a duty to help him, as Summer had her own questions and if they weren't answered, they could get Ruby and Yang killed.
That won't happen, not on her watch.
But for now, she needed to address the issue at hand, dealing with the veiled woman before her.
"I'm afraid i don't know, as those with the sliver eyes are few in number."
Summer paused, before casting a glance at Xero, who now had to deal with that brown haired woman, the one floating and what could be described as some kind of bow, was now hitting the Fairy knight's head with that blonde woman, by the brothers she was a BIG woman, now trying to yank the white haired girl off. Plus that Faunus looking woman with the duel color, was glaring death at the small girl, looking ready to rip her to shreds,"Why do you ask, miss..."
"Morgan Le Fay or you can call me Grand Caster or Caster for short. I ask, because i have reason to believe my master might be endangering, simply because one of his ancestor's had sliver eyes. I am correct on that belief?"
Oh she had no idea how right she was.
"You are, but i can't say anymore. I...i want too but, oh my goodness, i know this is going to sound crazy but-"
"You believe master to be kin to you?"
Morgan cut her off, as the sliver eyed woman nodded, making the younger one look towards the older woman,"Is he? Family to us, ugh, i mean ummm, 'kin'?"
Ruby looked very nervous, as Morgan smiled behind her veil before she patted the girl's head,"I do not know, but..."
As she pulled her hand back, Morgan held a strand of hair in her hand, between her thumb and index finger.
Ruby's hair.
"...THIS will tell us. You are unaware of this but with my magecraft, i can trance back a lineage from the present, all the way back to it's conception."
"Cool."
Ruby whispered, with stars in her eyes before she blinked and grew embarrassed,"Um, what does conception mean?"
"Just know i will be able to find out if he, as you say 'family' to you or not."
The Caster chuckled, as she gracefully moved out of the room, towards parts unknown to discover if her master had family or not on Remnant.
SEEEKKKKKK
Summer heard Gudako snicker, as she looked back to Xero and found herself blinking several times. Someway, somehow, Xero had not only ended up with the little dragon sitting in his lap but he'd ended up in that large, blonde woman's lap too. Bar-something like that and if her eyes didn't deceive her, she saw Morgan, the other woman looking at the scene with an emotionless face.
Her face was, that is.
As Summer took note how tightly her hand was gripping her staff/hammer thing and it looked ready to snap in half in the blonde's whitening knuckles. Oh boy, that told her she was very pissed and thankfully, the movie started before something bad could happen. But that didn't stop that red eyed blonde man and blue haired man(Both versions) from laughing at the scene.
Along with that sliver haired, red jacket wearing man that merely shook his head and sighed at the scene, like he was a mother that had repeatable told his child not to do something and they did it anyway. Kinda like how she always told Yang off, when she began to get older and get into more dangerous stuff.
Good times.
Completely unaware that the blonde had counted on the older woman believing her master to be kin to her. Oh she tell them the truth, if Xero was someway, somehow related to them and if they were, it would confirm her theory.
...And they'd gain a powerful ally out of it.
Oh yes, she had heard all about Summer Rose aka The White Death, a legendary huntress that could kill entire hordes of very powerful Grimm and was at the top of her generation for her unparalleled skills with her scythe, Rose Thorn. She was well loved by the people for her kind, generous nature and upbeat attitude, which caused the council's too not like her too much.
Morgan had seen these far too many times before, an individual gains great power, using it too help the common folk out of nothing more then just wanting to help and those in power feel threaten by said individual. However there was very little the council's could do very little to Summer, as she was a huntress and one of the only ones with the power to beat back the Grimm and that old headmaster protected her from their malicious intentions.
"All the more reason to get her, on our side."
Morgan was a powerful Servant, there was no doubt about that but her true strength lied in her sliver tongue, her natural charismatic is one of the main reasons, why she was able to unite so many people against her sister. Plus, she was very good at reading people, able to understand everything about a person at a first glance and looking into Summer eyes, Morgan saw a good hearted, a bit naive but self sacrificing woman that was more then ready to lay her life down, for her beliefs.
She also saw, Summer was a woman that would willingly give up anything, if it meant to protect her family and if that meant turning on allies, she'd do it without a second thought.
That was good.
If her theory was right and it usually was, then things will not only become much more complicated but easily be used to their advantage. A Caster she might be but she was a good strategist and she knew her master needed more allies in order to both, stop the Cult and whoever it was that sent Loki to takeover Earth.
It wasn't going to be easy however, as her master had a very difficult time trusting others. If not for the fact that his mother raised him to be wary of people, until you learn of their intentions, then his time in Chaldea, saving the world had cemented the fact he couldn't trust people into his head. If not during his adventures, then it was from the memories of his many Servants, many being betrayed by the people they swore to protect and hell's bells, her Lostbelt self was a prime example of how people will betray you, no matter what you do.
The fact that Roman fellow offered his help up so readily was so easily accepted, was because the man was honest with her master. He was indeed a criminal and it would be completely stupid for him to try to stab her master, as he would never reach him before the Servants came crashing down on him like all hell breaking lose, but their world would be screwed too if the Cult had it's way.
Besides, it's just like that little fairy said, Roman was not a fool. He knew better then to try to screw over someone that could set him and his partner up for life, so he would want to keep her master safe and happy.
Thus, allowing some of the pressure to be taken off her master, thus Roman was a good ally to have. But sadly, it wouldn't be enough, as they had many enemies. If not for the fact they had magic then the fact her master simply did what he thought was right and said to hell with what anyone else thought.
So Morgan decide to take it upon herself, to get her master some new allies and she was going for one of the big ones. That Qrow fellow could be a good potential ally but he might be a bit too loyal to the headmaster of Beacon to be swayed, should a fight break out between the two groups.
"Oh well, it hardly matters if i'm wrong, so well just have to wait and see what happens. Still, that blonde boy..."
The Grand Caster knew the look on that boy's face, one of jealousy that seemed to grow as he watched the girls fight over her master. Much like Roman and Summer, Morgan knew that blonde's type.
Low self esteem, belief that her master was simply born into the right family, never having to work for anything and the fact they were the same age, only seemed to fuel the flames of resentment for Mr. Arc. Make no mistake, Morgan had done her research and knew that boy had great potential. he was rough around the edges, had no skill to speak off and clearly the family he came from wanted him to be everything else but a huntsman.
In fact, Morgan could draw parallel's between her master and the Arc boy. Both came from legendary families, both had very potent bloodlines that could gain greatness if they were nurtured, they could grow into that greatness. They both had legacies to live up too and both wanted to crave their names into the legends of the world's long list of heroes. But their was one glaring difference between the two:
Xero was trained, experienced and unlike the Arc, he had seen the world's darkest parts. From the age of twelve, he had went from a homeschooled boy with a weak body to a kid on the run with no one to help but his very first Servant. Made his first kill at age thirteen and joined Chaldea at age fifteen, where he entered a battle royal across time itself.
Her master became a full fledged, bona fide warrior by the end of the Grand Order and had survived things that would have normally killed pretty much anyone else. He only survived by both, sheer determination, his devil's luck and magic.
That Arc boy looked like he hadn't worked hard a day in his life. She highly doubted that the Arc ever worked out, let alone studied on what it meant to be a huntsman and clearly, he has never killed a Grimm till he joined Beacon. He had potential sure but he also had that stupid world view of being some sort of macho man, needing to do everything on his own.
Obviously he felt cheated that her master was everything he wanted to be and clearly thought Xero did nothing to earn it.
The fool.
Even with that redhead Lancer looking knock off trying to help him, that fool refused to accept help. At times like this, Morgan was thankful her own master was not so stubbornly foolish as that Arc boy.
Well Xero is stubborn just not foolishly stubborn. If wanted to be a little piss ant about it, the Grand Caster only thought, more power to him. He was a POTENTIAL ally, but as he is now, that boy was of no use to her master. It was not her place to interfere and if he got better, then things might change in the future but at the moment, he was useless to her and Xero.
Clearly the threat of the looming Dead War went in one ear and out the other, but he would learn soon enough.
"Still, these 'movies' should open his eyes to the truth and if that boy does what i believe he will do, then we may be able to make TWO powerful allies. That is, if the Arc gets wise enough to realize master can help him on the path to greatness. Oh well, only time will tell."
With that thought, Morgan went into her own little workshop to find the truth.
"Although..."
Morgan giggled lightly under her breath,"...my sister's face was pretty funny, getting a bit jelly herself. That's the modern word, right? Yes, jelly and there's very little she could do."
Back In The Viewing Room
PREVIOSULY ON UNTIL DAWN
"Eh, what's going on?"
Everyone looked at Xero, who in turn shrugged, as Lancelot made a guess,"Maybe, lady BB is just trying to set the mood? Like the ones in actual movies?"
Everyone accepted that, as they quietly looked to the screen, as the music turned dark and sinister tone.
"There is one person we're considering as a person of interest, he has an interesting history with the Washington family."
The scene showed Xero riding through the forest on his undead horse, as it changed to him meeting Sam.
"I'm Xero by the way."
"People just call me Sam."
"Well Sammy-kins, shall we get going."
Xero motioned them to walk through the gate, as the scene turned to the dark forest, where a couple of eyes we're watching them. Then without warning, a leg came into focus, with a bloody machete.
Everyone had nothing to say, as the name of the new chapter appeared.
CHAPTER 2:
JEALOSUY
"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change."
~Charles Darwin, 1963
The quote made Raven scowl, mentally scoffing at it, as did her tribesman. Only the strongest had the right to live, only the strongest got to eat, got to steal, got too do whatever they wanted, cause everyone else was too weak to stop them. Those that tried to protect the weak, were the lowest of the low in the eyes of the tribe, those that couldn't protect themselves deserved to die for their weakness.
It was funny, these people preached that only the strong survive and yet, they only targeted small, outliners villages.
Cowards.
NINE HOURS UNTIL DAWN
Someone was watching him.
That much, Xero was certain of, as the small group of four made their way up the path, towards the Washington's ski lodge. It was impossible for him NOT to feel eyes on him, as he was someone who was used to being constantly watched 24/7. He'd long ago learned how to feel what kind of intent those watching eyes had on him, as people do say, the eyes are the window into a person's soul.
"Well damn boss, that's one hell of a start."
Roman, now fully confident his position was secured, felt like he could open his month now. Xero shrugged, having been plucked up and basically made to sit in Barghest lap with Melusine STILL wrapped around him, now acting like an anaconda. Not to mention, Barghest massive tits, ones that can give Raikou a ran for her money, was firmly being squished against his back, so needless to say he was doing his best not to move too much.
"Yeah well, when you live the life i have, you tend to pick up stuff like that and to be fair, we we're being watched. Not just those rats that followed me but the Wendigo themselves. Waiting for the prefect moment to strike and or, quite possible savoring the meal to come."
"You make it sound like they're animals."
One of the world leaders, the one from Japan spoke up, making Xero nodded,"In a sense, they are. The Wendigo are basically animals but are smart enough to think. Smart enough to plan and smart enough to know how to stalk their prey, waiting for the right moment, were they will almost certainly catch said prey. Goddess knows it can't ever be easy, oh no they have to have basic level of human intelligence. Nope, they couldn't be just a bunch of dumb animals, be far too easy if that were the case."
Xero grumbled, feeling like his stomach was trying to eat itself out, even though he was aware it was nothing more then just phantom pains. He could take a hit, he had to if you wanted to survive Scathach's training, but hunger pains were an entirely different field of pain.
The one you couldn't do anything about and could only endure when it happened.
"Sounds about right."
Logan grumbled, rolling his arm remembering his own time monster hunting. What? He's been around for a long fucking time, he's seen and done a whole lot of shit over the many, many years.
"Oh good, not like they sounded terrifying enough as it is."
Jen muttered to herself, while she was confident she could take on these Wendigo creatures, she knew better then to get overconfident, that would only invite defeat.
Right now, the eyes watching him were filled with one emotion and one emotion only:
HUNGER.
The same dark, desperate need to eat, to feed and kill. Such malicious hunger that it nearly made Xero shiver alone from the stare. That only remind him of the hunger pains he was feeling, making him grumble under his breath. Goddess, one of the worst pains were hunger pains and now, he couldn't stop feeling them, as they weren't his own!
Didn't help he felt several hunger pains, instead of just his own.
Emerald grunted, phantom pains of her time on the streets flashing through mind, only reinforced the hate she felt for Xero. What could someone like him, who had everything handed to him, know anything what it was like to go hunger for days at a time and with no end in sight?
Oh you fool, you have no idea.
The blonde girl introduced herself as Jessica "Jess" Riley, another friend of the missing Washington girls. Not that he was really paying attention, as he was trying to block out the voices crying out for help.
Jeanne, Artoria and Mash always did say his, oh what did they call it?
Oh yeah, his "saving people thing" was both, one of his greatest traits, one of the best traits for a person. Course Jalter and Mordred called him a soft hearted dumbass for it, telling him that is what often caused him to get into trouble, because he couldn't ignore a cry for help. Hell Mordred even once called him a 'weak, fleshy human that should stay back where it's safe, while she and the rest of the Servants handle the fighting.'
Hell more then once Ms. Majin had said she would destroy her own spirit core, before she let a single hair on his hair be broken. The fact she said that with complete and utter devotion in her eyes was kinda sweet and kinda of intimidating. On one hand you would expect that kind of talk from, well a bloody damn yandere but the Ms. Majin was basically 'born' the day he summoned her, ruled out any chance of her being a yandere.
The dark skinned woman didn't even know what sex was for crying out loud and often wanted either head pats or cheek rubbing as a reward. Sometimes a heavy petting session after a particular rough mission, not that he minded too much.
Semiramis had said the same thing to him once before, but unlike Mordred and Jalter basically yelling at him, calling him an idiot for not doing it, she was a lot more kinder about it. As the primary master of Chaldea, he was simply too important to get killed. If he died, then Gudako would have to take up the reins and while she was a good master, she was still a third rate Magus.
Her magic circuits were simply too weak to do so, even if it wasn't her fault, that's how things were. He was born, raised in the Magus world and no matter how much he hated it, he knew that his death would be a massive blow to everyone else and quite possible could have spelled the end for Chaldea. The fact he had already summoned two Servants had given him something no one else at Chaldea had, not even the top master candidates.
Experience.
No one could train to be a master, until they actually summoned a Servant and seeing as no one could summon a Servant outside a Holy Grail War, it made him invaluable. The two Servants he summoned, one being a Ruler class Servant and the other, believed to be the strongest Saber in the world, only cemented his position within Chaldea.
He was just too important too lose.
But that didn't stop him from doing his saving people thing, simply because he couldn't sit back and do nothing, while innocent people got killed. Not when he could do something about it.
Something that had nearly gotten him killed many times.
"I still stand by what i said, i love you but that damn trait of yours is going to get you killed. Every time you do, i have to save you're ass."
The Avenger didn't even bother to deny it, as she snorted, even if she was smiling. Xero merely shrugged, not bothering to deny it,"Well she's not wrong but that's just me and for the record, i've gotten a lot stronger since then."
"That he has."
Kiritsugu would have normally been the first one to try and knock some sense into his master for doing something so stupid like that but could not deny, he's come a long way since his first days in Chaldea.
Mordred herself blushed deep red, ducking her head as she has basically insulted the person that was both her 'mother' and 'queen' she swore to serve. Oh she meant what she said, stood by it and now more then ever, she believed her mother should stay in the back where it was safe. They were going to have to watch her dear mother even more from now on, once this was all over.
These movies will reveal to the world just how powerful he really was and once someone become so powerful, it scares people into doing very stupid things. After all, Mordred knew mother wasn't just a magus, he was a supernova.
Along with the rest of her fellow heroic spirts.
Plus if she knew was right, Mordred knew everyone would get a good look at what her mother's true power, in the form of Ultimate Lighting Force State.
"Well that's what we're here for, to fight the battles in his stead."
Medusa, the Rider one spoke, voice still soft as ever. Though this did allow Mercury a chance to insult Xero,"Tch, what do you expect? Mr. Richy over there is too weak to fight his own battles, has to hide behind others."
"The fact you believe that, only shows how ignorant you truly are."
"What was that?"
The gray haired boy growled, ignoring the glare Cinder shot his way. He was suppose to keep out of trouble, not cause more trouble! Medusa 'looked' at Mercury through her visor, without a hint of emotion on her face,"A servant's power heavily depends on the master. If the master is weak, then the Servant, no matter how powerful they are, won't be able to fight at their fullest potential. Even a weak Servant, if they have either the right or powerful master can defeat even the strongest of enemies if that powerful Servant has a weak master. My master has enough power to not only supply me and all of the Servants under his command to their fullest potential but has enough to spare, fighting himself speaks volumes of his power. Trying to supply just ONE Berserker alone is taxing and very draining but my master can supply SEVERAL to their full power without a problem, not including the rest of us. However some Servants can require a constant supply of mana that would rain a normal Magus and yet, my master can supply SEVERAL at a time, which it is in on itself a very impressive feat. Impossible for many Magus but not my master. So, seeing as Caster was able to send you flying and Alter almost killed that foolish woman, it's quite clear that YOU all, the ones that are called 'defenders of humanity' are the weak ones, nothing more then mere ants compared to my master in terms of power. Our power, is a representation of HIS power, thus making you all mere weaklings, who never had a chance to begin with."
Well that was just mean but to be fair, Mercury started it and got smacked down.
Hard.
But before an argument could break out, Fury asked,"Hang on a second, just to be clear if he gives you all power, what happens when he runs out? Does he just fall into a coma again, like before? I know the battle for New York forced him and Gudako to pull out all the stops but it obviously has draw backs and i'm guessing just falling into a coma it is?"
"No, if father runs out of mana he will die, be it from trying to supply a Servant or over using his power, it doesn't matter as either one will end with his death if he is not careful."
That brought all noise to a halt, like a record player stopping with a sharp:
RIP
"You're...you're serious? If you use up all you're magical power, you die?! Then why the hell would you do something like that!"
Sun all but screamed, thoroughly freaked out, gripping his head with both hands,"Are you insane?!"
"We are Magus, we walk with death."
Xenovia spoke simply, looking right at Sun with an emotionless face,"Everything we do, all our power, if we make just ONE mistake, one hair out of place and it will result in our permeant end. One wrong move, one spell misused and it could cause our death in our failure to do it right. That is the price for power, it is the fact we acknowledge this fact, which allows us to wield this power. In some ways, it's a lot like you huntsman, the only ones that are worth their salt, are the ones that push past thirty years old. Death at a young age is very common and what makes Xero-sensei so legendary in our world, is the fact he has not only summoned more then one Servant, outside a Holy Grail War no less, is the simply fact he is still alive. Which also includes lady Gudako, as she is for all intents and purposes, a third rate Magus and yet she is able to stand beside a first class Magus like Xero-sensei. You huntsman might be strong in you're world but you are nothing compared to my sensei."
That really put things into perspective and despite feeling more then insulted about the fact this blue haired girl told the hunters they were nothing compared to some rich boy, the fact him using magic could get him killed if he did one thing wrong.
"Foolish mongrels, all of them! Do they not realize that all power comes with a price and the greater the power, the greater the price? If they think they can control MY mongrel, then they've got another thing coming. Master is MINE, my chosen summoner, mine. I WILL see the end of his story and no one will cause his story to end too soon, not while he still entertaining his king."
Gilgamesh grinned, more then content to sit back and watch the fools shot themselves in the foot. Oh he loved days like this, where all he had to do was sit back and watch the massacre unfold. They have no idea what kind of hell they were stepping into and would pay the price for their stupidity.
Oh they hadn't even gotten to the many, many strings that come attached with being a master! Oh he couldn't wait to see those fools come to realize just how horrible outmatched they truly were.
It will be glorious.
Raven herself found the entire thing conflicting. On one hand, the idea of someone else fighting for you made you weak in the eyes of the Branwen tribe but if what that blind woman said was true and those Servants really were powered by Xero himself, did that make him weak then, if he could possible lose his life if he ran out of magic? She just didn't know enough and was really starting to reconsidered any attempt at attempting to steal those Servants of his.
More and more they began to sound more trouble then they were worth. The most she could do now, was wait and see what would happen, surely they're wouldn't be anymore string attached, right.
Right?
"What in the brothers name could be so important, so dangerous that he would risk his life for this kind of power and what about Gudako?"
The youngest Schnee couldn't wrap his mind around wanting such power.
Truth be told, Whitely was under the impression that Mazoku and Stark were nothing more then unculture, mindless brutes that got everything through fighting like neanderthals. Completely unfit for life within Atlas and we're at the bottom of the social latter. True, his father was famous but he was well known to be a Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist. He assumed that the two Magus were only creditable because of their father or Xero's father in this case with Gudako being his stepdaughter.
They got lucky, nothing more and whatever 'magic' they had was clearly some type of mutation and nothing more.
But he was wrong.
Horrible, horrible wrong.
Xero didn't just live up to his legend, he was in fact better then all the stories said. His sister, now wife Gudako, was indeed a goddess among men and their 'magic', what he once believed as nothing more then a mutation became so much more. Not to mention, those Servants of his
...And his father wanted these people under his thumb?
The more and more he learned, the more Whitely saw their chances going up his flames. He wasn't dumb, Whitely knew his father wouldn't take it lying down and would try to get what he wanted, regardless of whoever he has to step over to get it. He'll be pressing him, Whitely, to enchant Gudako, regardless if she was married or not but honestly, even Whitely could see he was no match for the kind, handsome chivalrous knights that would die to protect her.
Why would she traded that for someone like him?
"This is all going to blow up, i just know it."
Young as he was, Whitely knew a sinking ship when he saw one and he had a feeling, he wouldn't be able to escape it. His father was going to drag him and all of Atlas down with him!
Never the less for Raven, Whitely and everyone else it was, to say the least, a bit humbling to learn. So humbling, no one said anything as the viewing started again.
"Well hello, i don't believe we've met."
Xero snapped out of his thoughts, as he looked around to see they were already to the ski lodge. Had he been walking on auto-pilot the whole time? Looking to the one that addressed him, was none other then Josh Washington himself.
Josh was about two inches shorter then Xero himself, with slightly tan complexion and green eyes. He wore a knit wool beanie and a sleeveless puffer jacket outside. His jacket was open, so Xero could see inside the shirt, he saw a dark brown shirt underneath a flat-collared blue and white plaid-styled unbuttoned shirt and a pair of jeans.
Mentally nodding, Xero wiped some snow off his hands and held it out for Josh to shake,"Evening, Xero just Xero. I'm a agent of the Chaldea Security Organization, here to investigative the disappearance of you're sisters, Mr. Washington. Would have been nice for us to met under better circumstances but goddess forbid, things could ever be so simple."
Josh looked shocked at that admission, staring at Xero for a couple of minutes with unblinking eyes, making Chris slowly wave his hand in his friend's face,"Hey Josh? You there buddy?"
"Is it so shocking that someone has come, to find out what happened to his sisters?"
Arjuna asked, very confused by the boy's reaction. Shouldn't he be happy about that?
"He is happy but here in lies the problem, Josh had come to believe everyone had given up and even he realized, the chances of his sisters being alive were slim to none."
"So realistic. What's the problem then?"
Iskander wonder, as Xero sighed, leaning back into Barghest's chest,"Josh has schizophrenia, combinded with depression and even some symptoms of psychosis."
"Oh my, that's not good."
Sam cursed, as the healing Berserker nodded,"No it is not. Anyone of them alone would be bad but all three? It could only lead to disaster."
"O-oh, right of course."
Josh quickly shook his head, snapping out of his dazed state and smiled Or at least tried too, as Xero could see something hidden behind his eyes and could feel Josh's emotions, he was...happy and worried?
Okay, he could understand being happy, being able to finally find closure after a year of their deaths and once their bodies were found, they would be given proper burials after all this time but why worry?
Something he have to look into later.
"Sorry about that, i'm Joshua, Joshua Washington but my friends call me Josh. I see you already met some of the peanut gallery, come on, everyone is waiting at the entrance."
Josh indicated his head towards the wooden building as the small group made their way up. Xero blinked, as his vision suddenly swirled around and changed like it did before.
A hand was staying still, when suddenly:
CLAMP
"AGGH!"
A bear trap caught two fingers!
"Ah, what was that?!"
Ruby screamed, as she pulled her head over her head, scared by the sudden shift in scenery.
"Is that a bear trap?"
Logan narrowed his eyes, easily recognizing it's steel but he only get a quick glimpse of it, so he wasn't too sure.
"It is."
Xero nodded, as Sheba smiled,"And thus guidance totem number two is found!"
"I fail to see how that's 'guidance'?"
Clint grumbled, rubbing his hand, as Banner did the same. Vision or not, THAT looked very painful.
"I do believe that the vision is meant to stop it from happening, right Lord Mazoku?"
Penny grinned, hoping she got it right and smiled more when he nodded,"That you are, carrot top. Too bad dumb-dumb didn't listen to me, when i warned him not to stick his fingers in anything."
"So, why'd he do it then?"
Ellis asked, not seeing why anyone would willingly stick their hand in a bear trap.
"Because it was actually a trap for the Wendigo, using a not so fresh bait in the form of a served hand."
His answer shut everyone up, as they all looked back to the movie.
Xero shook his head, as his vision came back into focus,"Another vision. Whatever it means, it can't be good, but that voice i haven't heard it yet, so who is it? Who got caught and why the hell do i keep seeing them?! These totems, how come they keep showing me visions when i don't pick them up myself?"
"Good question."
Da Vinic silently thought it over, wondering just how her husband was seeing possible futures, even though he didn't pick the totems himself.
"Xero! You coming?!"
Sam called, as he nodded towards her and started making his way up the path to see a three new faces.
"So, this is Mr. agent then?"
"That voice..."
"Hey, isn't that the guy who got his fingers caught?"
Had Xero not been trained to control his emotions, his head would have wiped up, as he looked up to see another smiling teen. He had short black hair, brown eyes, with a growing beard and fair skin. He wore a flannel jacket underneath a dark blue padded vest, with the jacket open to reveal a white tank top undershirt, and a pair of jeans.
This was-
"Names Michael Munroe but most people just call me Mike. Got to be honest, i've never met an actually government agent and truth be told, i was expecting all you guys to dress up like the MIB(Men In Black) people."
"Oh really, well sorry to say, i seem to have misplaced my suit somewhere, so you'll have to deal with the civilian look i'm afraid. I've also misplaced my neuralyzer too, so i can't wipe you're memories right now. But if you wait a, shall we say a day or two i'm pretty sure i can find it again. Do mind those are business day too, so might be longer then ya think. Probably show up at the worst and most inconvenient time possible."
Xero bantered back just as easy, smirking under his scarf, as Mike held his hands up in surrender,"Oh wow there Mr. Agent man, that won't be necessary. At least i hope not."
Many laughed at this, Levi even cracked a smile at the banter, as Tony laughed giving son a thumb up for his quick wit.
Just like his old man. He couldn't be prouder, even if Pepper rolled her eyes, he saw her smiling a little.
"Ouch, promise you won't use it on me."
Sam smirked, as Xero looked at her, titling his head downward towards her's,"Do i need too? You hiding something little missy? Got a couple of extra limbs hiding up that coat of yours or an extra head maybe?"
Sam backed up but smiling never the less,"Yeah, don't worry i'm not."
"Hmmmm, i think ya lying little missy. Whatcha thinkin' Mr. Washington we'd other check her?"
He spoke in an exaggerating Western accent, cocking his hips for good measure, even going so far as to look like he was smoking a cigar. Josh smiled and looked at Sam with a "suspicious eyes" and spoke in a much graver voice,"I'd think you're right partner, she is acting a tab bit suspicious. I think we'd should strip her, make sure she's not hiding something a little extra under that coat."
"You know that could counted as harassment."
Oh wow, Winter either really didn't like her mission or she was content to shoot herself in the foot with that comment. Sadly for her, she was quickly rebuked,"Yeah, if we we're serious. In case you haven't noticed, old Matty over there looks pretty steamed and i decide it was best to lighten the tension the best way i can: With humor. Something someone like you, knows very little about."
Winter clicked her teeth, half tempted to draw her blade on the arrogant boy, mocking her the same way Qrow would. It just pushed all her buttons very hard. But she was a Schnee and was above such things like petty banter.
That and it sounded too much like what a certain Branwen would do. One she hated with all her being.
Sam backed away, even if she was still smiling,"Yeah, sorry boys but you're not getting in my pants that easy."
"See?"
Xero waved his hand, making Winter huff, looking away with a scowl.
"But can we please get a move on, i'm freezing my buns off out here."
Sam made it a point to show how cold she was, as she rubbed her arms together, making Josh smile,"Alright, alright, come on Chris best to not let our new friend and four lovely ladies freeze their buns off."
"Four?"
Xero looked around, counting only three ladies, who was the fourth?
"That be Emily, my girlfriend. I'm Matthew Taylor but you can call me Matt."
A tall African-American man with short black hair and brown eyes. He wore a grey track pants and a light cobalt-blue Letterman jacket over a light jean jacket, and a grey turtleneck. He could have passed off as the gentle giant type, had it not been for the fact he looked pretty pissed at the moment. A look Xero knew all too well.
All the Servants and their master's turned towards two certain dragon girls, making the Berserker get offended.
"What? I don't look like that!"
Kiyohime displayed her fan and held it up to her face, hiding her mouth but not her angry eyes.
"Yeah!"
Her Lancer self agreed, causing Cu Caster to snort,"Oh please, jealousy is you're default emotion. Remember that time you burned down that village down, because that creepy old man was making moves on Xero?"
"And kidnapping children to use as sacrifices! You can't blame me for protecting Xero-sama."
"You didn't know that at the time."
"Eh, useless details, it all worked out in the end."
"YOU BURNED THE ENTIRE VILLAGE AND FORREST DOWN WITH IT!"
The Caster yelled, as the Berserker merely shrugged uncaringly, as her Lancer self nodded,"What's it matter? It all worked out in the end and master was saved from becoming a human sacrifice."
"THAT'S NOT THE POINT!"
Everyone(Who weren't use to the antics of the Servants) could only stare as the blue Caster and his Lancer self tried to reason with the Berserker/Lancer duo. Like twins fighting another pair of twins.
It was both odd and funny to watch.
"Burn down a village?"
Glynda asked, not quite fooling or understand what they we're talking about and was starting to get annoyed with the not knowing.
"That, my dear fellow teacher is a tale for another time. It is best you do not get involved, for it will only confuse you even more and i for one, wish to see what young Xero did to survive on the 'mountain that breeds tragedy."
Moriarty spoke in a gentle tone, as his adopted daughter, Frankenstein aka Fran smiled with a cheery,"Uhhh!"
"Uh?"
Glynda looked confused, as the Archer merely smirked,"MY daughter's voice box isn't what it use to be. Due to her...'condition' she can only get out a few certain words and the rest she can do, is grunt."
"Ah, i understand."
Glynda nodded, feeling a little shame at that. Brothers knew what could have happened to cause that girl to lose her voice.
"I don't understand, what's that look?"
Ruby asked, still not understanding why he looked so mad, as Roman answered with a grin,"That look, little word is the name of the chapter. Jealousy."
"Well someone's jealous."
Xero thought to himself, as he idly heard Chris and Josh walking around the mansion, in order to find a way in. As in turned out, the front door was locked via being frozen shut. Naturally, he was pretty confident he could easily kick it open if needed but he doubted he would need to do so. he was just fine in the ice cold, right at home even. Mike had gone to look for someone called "Emily" and possible Jessica too, leaving everyone to freeze out on the front door.
With that in mind, he decide to met the final member of their little group here at the moment save for this Emily girl. Hey, if he was going to freeze, he'd like to know who he was going to freeze with.
"That is a good idea. Being frozen with unknown people isn't safe ya know."
Steve attempted to make a joke and unlike many times before, this one was a good hit, earning him many laughs.
"So, before we freeze to death, might i know you're name?"
Xero asked the young Caucasian woman with medium-length layered red hair and green eyes, wearing a natural-colored lip gloss and has smokey eye-shadow under her eye lashes. She wore a puffy and heavy looking light bluish-grey hoodie worn over a long-sleeved red shirt, blue jean shorts, and dark leggings. Atop her head was a striped red and pink beanie and a pair of red-striped fingerless gloves. Her accessories include a green rectangular ring on her right middle finger and a silver locket.
This girl was,"I'm Ashely Brown. I have to admit, i didn't expect any agent to come up on this mountain, let alone one from, oh what did you call it? Chala?"
"Chaldea, my dear."
Xero corrected gently, not at all offended that she got it wrong. Ashely nodded with a smile,"Yeah that place. Not that i'm not happy to see you come here but why weren't you or any other agent sent sooner? Could have found Beth and Hannah sooner."
That was a reasonable question, one he could answer easily.
"Yes, well my-"
Xero felt his vision swirl again, barely having time to think out an:
"Ah shi-"
"Oh no, here we go again."
Sun groaned again, not wanting too see another gruesome scene, let alone one so soon,"So, which totem is it?"
"Loss totem."
"Oh...is that good?"
Sun dared to ask, only to get a sharp,"No."
Before Sun could cruse, the scene changed on the big screen, showing a distorted view.
"BOOM"
A fiery explosion lite up the dark screen, as a dark haired female, crashed down on the ground with third degree burns with vacant eyes, clearly dead. Followed by a loud, female:
"AGGGHHHH!"
The vision ended, as Xero shook his head, coming back to reality.
And some people lost their lunch at the site of a badly burned female, namely the younger huntsman and many of the politicians. Obviously not everyone was use to seeing a body burned to death.
"This is going to get worse, isn't it?"
Petra asked no one in particular, as her captain grunted,"What did you expect? It's Xero, death's bond to follow him."
He didn't mean it as an insult, just that a lot of people wanted him dead.
"Hey, are you alright?"
Ashely asked, having sprung to her feet, after Xero nearly toppled over. Rubbing his head, as he regained his balance, he nodded,"Yeah, i'm fine. Man and they say TV is bad for you. They Clearly they have never had to deal with possible future visions before."
He grumbled that last part to himself, as Ashely had ahold of his shoulders to keep him from falling over.
"Well come on, sit down before you bust you're head open or something."
Despite not wanting too, Xero would be lying if he said he wasn't feeling a bit light headed and NOT because of the visions. Sure they put pressure on his mind but what he was feeling was something else entirely, as he sat down on the snowed steps. The Magus sighed, as he rubbed his temples, just as the front door opened, revealing Chris.
"Ladies, sir's, i thank you all for the wait. I'll be here all-"
Something rushed past Chris before he could finish, making him scream like a little girl, getting laughs from the girls, Xero and Josh. It was small, gray with black lines and red eyes. The little creature was a fast bugger but then again, that's what could be expected from a baby wolverine.
"AGGGHHHHH! Ah, huff, huff, holy shit, what was that thing?!"
Chris yelled, as everyone just laughed.
"Wow, i never knew you had such a girly scream Chris."
Ashely smiled teasingly, making the blonde try to stand up taller,"Hey, i wasn't screaming, besides did you see that thing, it was a vicious animal."
"Aw, it was just a baby wolverine."
Sam mocked Chris in a baby speaking voice, making him huff, as everyone laughed walking into the large mansion like building. Looking around, Xero could seen a fair amount of dust covering many things, as the entire thing looked like the prefect lodge. Complete with tall, wooden support beams, logs like walls, a brown wooden stair case that spilt off into two different directions and even a large fire place with a burner to put wood in.
"Yeah, it does look like a prefect winter get away home."
Hange sighed, wanting to have a house like that. It be so cool and so much easier to relax after a long day of work.
"Home sweet home."
Josh spoke with a wide smile, as he walked towards the fire place, to get a fire going. He paused however, looking over to Xero,"Hey Xero, don't mind me asking but if we hadn't shown up, where we're you going to sleep for the night?"
"Indeed my queen, just WHERE we're you going to sleep?"
Saber Artoria asked with a smile, one that didn't reach her eyes however. Those eyes were steel and promised many unpleasant things for him in the future, if he answered wrong.
Seeing no way out of it and hoping he could feed her enough information to the point she had to mull over it for a while and not realize his true intentions, Xero answered.
"Honestly, i would have decide where, once i actually found a suitable place to suit after assessing the situation and figuring out just how the Wendigo operated. Then i would have to formulate a plan to-"
"You were just going to try and not sleep at all, weren't you?"
The King of Knights said bluntly, making Xero shut up and look away from his lovely "king". The Saber sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, while understanding why he wouldn't want to sleep, she had to at least make sure he got some semblance of sleep. No one, not even her queen could go on forever without some sleep.
"My queen, while it is not my place to say, you really do need to take better care of yourself."
Gawain spoke, disapproval in his tone. While he hadn't called Xero "Father" to his face, seeing as he was now married to the Lost Belt version of his mother, Morgan that would in turn, make Xero his father as well. Just like Mordred calling his master "Mother" via marriage to her "Father" Artoria, his king. He has and will always be loyal to Artoria first and foremost but that did not mean he wouldn't protect the "Queen" and would gladly give his life for his.
"It's because of the nightmares, isn't it?"
Sam, the Falcon one spoke, making everyone look at him. The dark skinned man had a raised eyebrow, as he pressed on,"Or is it because of the bed? Ya know, feels like-"
"A marshmallow and i'm going to sink right to the bottom.'
Xero finished with a smile but he shook his head,"Well, yes and no. It is because of the nightmares, something i've been trying to avoid, seeing as i usually have Caster to help me get to sleep. Hell, it's mostly because i can't sleep without having night terrors, that i summoned her in the first place."
He pointed to Scheherazade, making the scantily clad woman nodded,"Indeed, my king summoned me for the soul purpose of helping chase the nightmare away."
"Pssf, nightmares? What are you, five years old? You still wet the bed too?"
Mercury laughed, as did his partner, while others who didn't like Xero, smirked at the good insult. However the teen's next words caused them to stop dead in their tracks,"Oh don't you worry yourself about me, before this is over, you'll see horrors that'll scare you lot for life as well. Cause it's not just nightmares that i dream of, i see the future that is to come about if i fail to stop the Cult and the Six. I'm not going to lie, many nights i have difficult telling what is real and what are dreams, to the point i can even feel the pain i'm inflicted while in the dreaming itself. You can't live through what i have, without getting more then you're fair share of scars both mental and physical. So before this Arc is over, before ALL of this is over, you and everyone else are going to get a look into the dark future that awaits us. What Gudako and i had to got through to SAVE everyone's sorry asses and our job is only half over, probably even less then half over, thanks to you all from Remnant. All you're petty problems, you're differences, you're beliefs and way of life will all come to an end if the Dead War kicks off. What you will seem will be a mere taste of the hell to come, if i, WE fail."
"Tch, whatever."
Mercury scoffed outwardly but inside, he was a bit worried, as he felt a chill run up his spine. That was the same chill he felt, before his old man removed his legs.
"What's this about not sleeping, husband?"
Morgan asked, looking Xero in the eye, making him gulp a little at her intense stare, while he could feel her knights also look at him with eyes demanding answers.
"Eh, let's just get back to the viewing, yeah?"
Xero put his attention of the screen, ignoring how Artoria and Morgan stared at him, while the fairy knight duo tighten their grips on him. All the while Gudako silently giggled at her Oni-chan's predicament.
Oh it was also fun to watch him dig his own hole, when it came to matters like these. While it was admirable he didn't wish to push his problems onto others, there are just some things you can't do alone.
Dealing with blood curling nightmares, being one of them.
"I was going to actually conduct my investigation as soon as i got on the mountain. No time like the present right?"
"What?"
Josh jumped to his feet, looking shocked before he started shaking his head,"Oh no, no, no, no. You, who had no reason to come here and look for my sisters other then just wanting to help, don't have a place to stay tonight? Yeah, no that's not going to happen, you can stay here for tonight, start fresh in the morning, where you can actually see."
Xero wiped a gloved hand over his goggles before speaking,"Well, i don't want to impose or anything. I mean, this is you're weekend and i don-"
"You're not imposing on anyone."
Josh cut him off with a smile, as he padded his back with a friendly smile,"Considered this payment for doing the job. Besides, wouldn't it be better for you to look for clues, without stumbling around in the pitch black, snowy mountain?"
"Well i..."
Xero was cut off by Ashely,"You know, maybe that's a good idea. I mean, you did almost pass out back on the steps for a second."
"What?"
Josh looked at Ashely, then back to Xero, nodding his head,"Alright that's it, you're staying for the night. I can't in good conscience go out into the night, if you're nearly passing out. Speaking of which, why did you almost pass out?"
"Look it's not important okay and i can't stay, it's not proper. I-"
"Yeah, not happening, you're staying."
Josh once again, cut him off, making Sam laugh,"Give it up, he's not going to give this up."
"Yeah, it be better for everyone, if you just give in."
Jessica, who had just walked into the large room, smiled, as she sat down next to Mike. Everyone was looking at Xero, as he sighed before shaking his head, muttering,"Bloody stubborn teenagers."
"Have you looked in a mirror lately?"
Emyia quipped lightly, making Xero give the Archer the bird.
"Fine."
With a reluctant sigh, Xero started stripping out of his heavy coat, goggles and fuzzy hat, allowing his long, well maintained hair to flow down like a curtain of black. Having removed that, revealed that Xero was wearing a gray, long sleeve turtle neck underneath with the golden rosary laying outside the turtle neck and his handsome/pretty face, that had dark bags under his eyes, ones that gave Xero the look of a tired soldier.
"Whoa, you look ready to keel over."
Neo pulled a sign out from...somewhere and held it up for all to read the comical large sign.
"Oh man, you okay, you look ready to keel over."
"Oh, an echo."
Neo flipped her sign, getting a chuckle from Roman, as he looked at his tiny partner,"Where'd you get that anyway?"
"Found it."
Neo flipped the sign again, making Roman roll his eyes.
"No wonder you almost passed out, do you get any sleep, like at all?"
Jessica asked, looking a little worried for her new friend. Xero sighed, as he placed his coat and stuff in his duffle bag,"Two, three maybe four hours tops most days. Five if i get lucky."
"That's not healthy for you, one should always get at least about eight hours of sleep. Nothing can be more important then one's own health, young man. Even if you do have a fantastic work ethic, you're health should not have to suffer for it."
Port spoke sagely, twisting the edges of his mustache between his fingers. This made Xero shrug,"Yeah well that may be true for everyone else, but not me or Gudako. They're are A LOT of strings attached with being a master and you'll all find out soon enough. Besides, thanks to my, well i guess you could call them 'yoma genes' i can go longer then most humans. The sliver eyed warriors we're expected to be the best of the best and many times, had to walk for over seventy two hours straight with no break, food or water. The yoma don't stay in one place for too long if they know a warrior was coming and i for one, don't have time to waste with criminals and cultist. The more pressure i put on them, the more they're likely to screw something up and nothing scares people more, then some unstoppable monster coming for them."
"Be that as it may, you're not in this alone anymore. You can lean on us when you need to Xero."
Ororo spoke with kind smile, making Xero nod.
"Ok, yeah that's enough of that, Mike, won't don't you and Jess check out the guest cabin i told you about, while i get our new friend a room to sleep in."
Mike nodded, still staring at Xero's face, unable to believe someone his age was able to look so...tired.
Worn out.
Exhausted even and the tattoo on his right eye seemed to draw even more attention to his face, as did his almost unhealthy pale skin. That and Mike could swear he saw some stress lines on Xero's face too boot.
"Man, you really don't look good. I'd say you look like Fury when he's stressed out but not even he looks this bad on his worst days."
Clint had to hand it to his leader, Xero certainly didn't do anything half assed. Even being stressed out as it seems. Qrow agreed, taking a swing of his flask before saying,"Yeah, he looks just like Ozpin after a meeting with Jimmy."
"Qrow..."
Winter growled, reaching for her weapon, only to forgot that she didn't have it, as Qrow smiled cheekily at her. She growled more but on look from Ironwood made her stop.
Xero sighed,"You're not going to let this go, are you?"
"Nope."
Josh smiled, as he made his way up the stars,"Come on, you can use the guest rooms, it's no big deal. Wouldn't want you too tired you'd fall face first into the snow."
"More like you just want me out of the way, to enact whatever plan you've got for you're friends, don't you?"
Xero thought, despite keeping a prefect poker face on the outside as Josh lead him up stares , he was very suspicious of Josh's motives for wanting him to 'get some sleep'. Obviously Josh wanted to know what happened to his sisters, no doubt about that and given the fact everyone else has given up, he'd be more then willingly to accept his help.
If only just for a small, faint bit of hope his sisters might be, against all odds, alive.
Foolish but understandablem as desperation makes people do crazy things.
Arriving at a plain but large looking room, one that was covered in a thin layer of dust, with a plain bed that had blue sheets, a dresser on the right side of the room that had a mirror with a ceiling fan above them. On the left side of the room, was a large window way to the outside world, with a closed walk in closet next to it.
"So yeah, this is the guest room, you can put you're bag on the dresser and the whole bed's yours to use."
Seeing a perfect appropriate to mess with the dark haired teen, Xero smiled flirty,"Sorry Joshy, but it's going to take more then a few kind words and a nice bed to get me between the sheets. Maybe buy a guy dinner first, then well see where that goes but fair warning, you're not my type."
"Oh brothers, he's just like Yang."
Weiss groaned, as Blake blinked and nodded with a simple,"Yeah."
Silently, the cat Faunus looked between the Xero on screen and back to her partner. Long, well groomed haired that looked a little on the wild side that curled at their foreheads. Both had rounded faces, button nose's, loved making puns, jokes, both we're well built but slim enough to hide the true depth of how physically strong they truly were. Not to mention both could change their eye color at will or when they got angry and both of them liked to flirt at any given chance.
While Yang did it on a daily bases, Xero was more controlled but no less very good.
"No way."
Blake felt her breath hitch, as her mind worked furiously with all this new information with the new fact that the multiverse did in fact exist. That meant alternate worlds existed, which meant,"Could Mazoku and Yang...be related?"
Josh went wide eyed, blushing widely and trying to come up with a response but Xero just laughed,"Clam down, i'm just yanking you're chain. About the bed thing that is, you really aren't my type."
Josh grumbled under his breath, as he waved his hand at him,"Yeah, yeah. You need anything, we'll all be down stairs, till then, see you in the morning."
Without waiting, the boy walked out the door and close it with a click, making Xero blink.
"Did he just lock me in?"
"I think he did"
Banner supplied, smiling grimly,"Guess he didn't want you to be apart of the party."
"No he did not. What he had planned for his friends, would be for a night to remember and not in the good way either."
Shaking his head, knowing full well he could just kick the door down, Xero decide to change into his sleep wear, knowing full well tonight would be a rough one.
"One thing at a time Xero, first try to get as much sleep as possible before you soak the bed in sweat."
With that thought in mind, Xero started pulling up his long sleev shirt up and over his head-
"Wha?!
"Holy shit!"
"By the brothers!"
"OH. MY. GOD."
"Dude, how are you still alive?!"
"Man, just what the hell did you do?! Go through a blender?!
"W-wow, you havw a lot of-"
-revealing his scared body. From his neck down to his navel, Xero had numerous scars, all variety from shape, size and even form. many of htem looked like he'd been slashed at a lot, sword strikes or other bladed weapons. One could even see a very thin slash mark just above his navel, under his strong eight pack, looking like someone tried to spill his guts out.
Damn near did too.
On the right side of his stomach, was a scar that could only be described as a gash like wound, one that looked like it tried to rip through his body, from some sort of spear or lance, trying to skewer him.
That scar made Morgan glare at the Lancer version of her sister, easily recognizing just what kind of weapon could do that.
On his back, were scars that could have only come from a whip, all stretching across his back in a very painful looking manner.
"..."
No one said anything, any beliefs of Xero having an easy life or never being hurt before was washed away in an instant. Why wouldn't it, cause many of those scares looked very old, with many degrees of white overlapping the scared skin, showing just how old some of them really were. The huntsman were mostly shocked, as they expected his aura to stop such attacks from leaving scars but quickly remembered that Xero did in fact not have aura.
Is this what they would have looked if they didn't have aura to protect them?
As they thought this over, the two fairy knights from tightening their grips on him, while some of the Servants clenched their fists, the master's scars showing proof of their failure to protect him.
Sighing again, Xero looked through his duffle bag to get his night clothing, a silk made open t-shirt orange in color with tree's on it and a pair of black boxers. Just as he was about to lay down however, his vision swirled again.
"Oh no, not again."
Ruby whined, as her mother and sister pulled her into a hug, ready for another nightmare inducting vision.
With blurry vision, Jessica in her white and pink underwear, got up from the mine shaft she was in, bleeding all over with deep cuts on her person but very much alive.
Xero blinked, as he sat down on the bed holding his head.
"Heh, that must have been a fortune totem."
"Oh thank the brothers."
Ruby sighed, more then happy to get a nice vision for once.
Xero paused, what was she doing in a mine shaft and why did it look like she was attacked? Deciding it would be better if he figured it out later, Xero lay down and went to sleep.
CHAPTER END
Done and oh boy, things are slowly but surely beginning to heat up, as the night is still young and the nightmare has yet to take a full swing in.
So, things may not be as they appear, is Remnant truly another world that was merged with Earth or is it actually an alternate version of Earth? Morgan thinks so, so does Summer as she is slowly putting the pieces together, as Blake realizes that Xero and Yang look oddly simiar to one another. In both looks and personality traits, not enough to be the same but just enough to notice similarities.
Things are starting to gain ground and because of what's coming next, i decide to write this little preview for all you lovely peeps. It's going to be a Nightmare sequence, revealing a little about the Dead War, i'll do a litt;e preview for you all.
Hope you enjoy!
Preview: Nightmare Sequence
BOOM
Xero's metal arm grabbed a hold of the Dead Sentinel's heart, as he all but flashed out of the abomination of flesh and metal. Without missing a beat, he twisted in the air as lighting crackled all around him and zipped past several dead soldiers, vaporizing them as his lighting had been powered up to maximum power.
"ROAR"
A Butcher came up from behind and swung down on Xero, trying to slice him in half, only for Xero to catch the two bladed saw with his metal hand and shoved his human one through it's heart, causing lighting to burst out of every part of his body, turning him to ash.
Using his magic, Xero jumped in the air again, raising his metal arm into the air, as lighting itself obeyed his silent orders and came crashing down on the battlefield, destroying five square miles of land, with the zombies on it.
Golden eyes narrowed, despite killing what had to be over five hundred zombies, they're we're still plenty more to come. He had about four minutes and thirty three seconds left, he had to stop this massive army here and now or else, Paradis island, the last Bastion of humanity will fall.
With it humanity itself.
Oh boy, that sounds bad.
Want to know what's going on, find out next chapter.
Devil out.