Hello once more my ever lovely and loyal peeps!
Okay so i like to say this now, get it out of the way and make sure to be clear:
I am NOT bashing Ozpin or Jaune.
At this point in the story, Jaune is still in V1 stage, the "Trying to be a man by being tough, even if that means acting like a complete dick, which does in reality not equally manliness" ya know, a typical teenager. He'll get over it by the end of one, maybe two arc's.
As for Ozpin...welp, honestly, as complex as the man is, while he has good reason to act so secretive is due to years and years and YEARS of trying to keep humanity going. In some ways, Xero and Ozpin are the same, the only difference is mainly that Xero has someone to help him, support him through ever rough patch he's hit, even if he didn't want it and not have to hide everything.
Ozpin...he's often alone most of his life, most of ALL his lives, as many of his allies have died over and over, so many times it's gotten to the point, Ozpin has stopped thinking like a human being. Subconsciously at least, as he doesn't initially act like some sort of god like being but when you keep losing people for over for so long, centuries to possible eons, he's lost what it means to be human.
Ozpin is human but his thinking can be based off inhuman thinking, kinda like Merlin. He knows what human emotions are, understands them even but can no longer actually FEEL them, as he's basically become numb to them, since he's experienced so many times, he's subconsciously become unable to really, truly feel them, at least able to feel another person's feelings.
He's basically become detached from reality in a lot ways and honestly, it's not his fault, not one bit.
It's the gods of Dick light and Dick dark, together the biggest dicks of all time. So in the immortal words of James Heller i say thee:
"Great. Lost that dick Roland, gained this dick monster."
Only you get two dicks.
Two big, childish, immature dicks with far too much power and too much time on their hands. Fuck heads.
In V6, the reason Ozpin cried, to me anyway, was because he remember who he once was, Ozma and all those emotions came flooding back anew, as he was forced to remember who he once was. I believe it jumped started Ozpin's emotions, able to feel human again once confronted with his very first self and even some of the love for Salem, he once had.
Remembering her who she once was too, possible awakened the feeling he had buried deep within him, as i believe he buried them, so he wouldn't go completely mad from hopeless longing. People, the human mind just isn't meant to endure what Ozpin has endured.
He might be a bastard at times in keeping secrets, one has to remember:
Ozpin wasn't always like this.
This poor man just became another tool for unreasonable, uncaring and unfeeling childish gods who clearly don't know what their doing and made everyone else pay for their inexperienced. Salem is too but her excuse was that she was young, raised as a spoiled princess, so it's too be expected and come on, the woman only wanted to bring her dead love back to life after he was taken away from her.
Good intentions, poor execution.
But that doesn't change fact that Ozpin is dangerous in his own right, even if he doesn't realize it himself.
Chapter 13: Rising Tensions And The Cruse Of Knowledge
CHAPTER 3: NIGHTMARE SEQUENCE Part 1:
THE CRUSE OF KNOWLEDGE
"The Curse of Knowledge: when we are given knowledge, it is impossible to imagine what it's like to LACK that knowledge."
Chip Heath, Unknown Date
"Now why does that sound familiar?"
Tony muttered to himself, as Spider Man nodded, feeling the same as Iron Man. Both of them knew what it felt like to be so much more smarter then everyone else, it was both a blessing and a curse.
Just like magic.
"What is wrong, child?"
Ruby nearly jumped at hearing the soft voice of Berserker Raikou, who was looking at the young team leader with a curious eye. Ruby was sitting with her team and team JNPR, after Morgan had left too see if she was indeed related to Xero or not. The entire thing was still throwing her for a loop and when she told her friends/sister they had mixed reactions to say the least.
That's when the tall, purple haired woman walked up to them.
Wow! You're tall and big!
"What do you want?"
Nora yelled in awe, as Weiss spoke in a very rude manner, making Raikou frown, as Ruby lightly smacked her arm for that,"Weiss, don't be mean. Sorry miss, this entire situation has us all tense."
"Clearly, but that is no excuse for you're rudeness child."
"Child?!"
Weiss glared at the tall woman, as Ruby stopped her from doing or saying something she couldn't take back, by smacking her hand over her mouth.
"Again, i am sorry for Weiss's behavior, we are all tense miss..."
Ren offered her a way out, as the Berserker smiled,"You can simply call me Berserker, i do apologize but revealing our true names is nothing short of suicidal for us Servants. As you already known, Servants are people born from legends and to reveal out true names, would not only reveal our strengths but our weakness as well. knowledge is after all power."
"Truly?"
Pyrrha looked surprised at that,"I didn't know that. I...i'm sorry ms. Berserker, but why are you here, talking to use i mean?"
"Oh and here i thought you would use this chance to request a spar from my lovely son."
Pyrrha blushed, realizing that the large woman had caught her staring at Xero. After hearing so many tales, rumors and now hearing him gaining the title of "Arch-Mage" Pyrrha felt her competitive spirit start to rise, as her blood begin to boil at the prospect of a fight.
A real, genuine fight.
One where she could lose to someone her age. Despite having earned her title as the "Invincible Girl" she had lost the thrill of a real fight, one where two people had an equal chance of winning or losing. She hated her strength, as much as she loved it, as she could get a real challenge but could not find a worthy challenger.
Till now, when a new world merged with their own and Earth appeared to have it's own version of the Invincible Girl, only it was Grimm Reaper. She had only seen clips of the Battle Of New York but after that, Pyrrha felt her blood begin to rise, she wanted to fight!
She wanted to fight him, to see which one was better and to see if she had finally found someone that could give her a real, genuine fight. For years now, she wanted someone her own age that could actually fight her and have a chance to defeat her, now's she got it. She just hoped to convince him that she meant no harm or wanted to see some sort of display of power, she just wanted a good fight is all.
Based on the large woman's gentle giggle, Pyrrha had a feeling it wouldn't be all that hard to convince him.
"We known all about you Pyrrha Nikos, world class champion and the poster girl for huntress everywhere. You we're hoping for the chance to fight my son, simply because you wanted a real challenge, after having nothing but wins, am i right?"
"Yes, very much so."
Pyrrha laughed as she smiled at the Berserker,"I'm sorry."
"Don't be child, a true warrior seeks out greater challenges to prove themselves. Even if you would lose horrible to him."
"Excuse me?"
Now Weiss looked very offended on the redhead's behalf, as the girl herself was surprised at the sudden turn of tone,"If you known who she is, then you should know you're 'son' has no chanced against a renown huntress-"
"IN training."
Raikou cut her off, a glare starting to form on her face, as she stared down the much shorter girl,"Pyrrha Nikos, for all her skill is still a child with no real life experience and is just that, a child. She has fought and won in several tournaments but they all have rules, times. They are controlled and safe, while my son has only ever fought in life or death battles, where nothing matters but surviving. Not winning, Surviving. In these battles rules, fairness and restrain mean absolutely nothing and just one mistake, no matter how small it is, could cost you an arm or worse. Who you are, WHAT you are and all that you've accomplished means nothing because on the battlefield, a TRUE battlefield, it IS nothing. Anything could happen and if you fall, you'll just be another body for the sands of time to washed away. Tell me Pyrrha Nikos, have you ever had to fight, where you must put everything on the line, just to have a very slim chance of survival?"
"...No. No i haven't."
Pyrrha said, looking down in shame at hearing that. She, like everyone had gotten an eye full of Xero's scars and knew, those could only come from a life or death battles. She knew more then half of those scars would have inflicted near fatal attacks on the dark haired teen and it was kinda scary for her. To know people in the past had actually tried to kill a teenager, not once but so many times to leave so many scars on his person.
Would those same type of people come for her and her friends?
Would she be good enough to stop?
Would she be good enough to survive?
She didn't know and she wanted to fight Xero, to see where she stood on the matter and to see how far she still had to go.
"So what if she hasn't? That doesn't mean she or we would lose to someone who doesn't have aura. If nothing else, you can do so much better then some barbarian like Mazoku. Honestly you Servants can and should have chosen someone so much better then him and with proper stature too. Not some no name person, who will get nowhere in life."
Whoa, Weiss much like her sister just couldn't help but stick her foot in her mouth and all the way down her throat.
"Weiss, that's a horrible thing to say!"
The white haired girl backed away from Pyrrha as she yelled at her,"What? It's the truth, Berserker and the others can-"
"Shut. Up."
Weiss felt her blood run cold, as her body froze, feeling the hair on the back of her neck stand at attention as she felt a massive amount of Killer Intent(KI) being directed at her. She couldn't even blink, as the tall woman was standing right in front of her, towing over her with a thunderous look on her face, as purple lighting sparked around her body, her entire body shaking with barely restrained rage.
"I should kill you, for that insult alone but it would cause my son problems down the line. Considered yourself lucky this time, there are so many people near by, otherwise i would have crushed you, bug."
The purple haired woman looked at Pyrrha and only her eyes softened for a second,"Forgive me miss Nikos but if i stay here any longer, this bug's blood will be painted all over this room. Young Rose, i am aware of what miss Caster has told you and you need not worry about being rejected if you and my son are family. You're mother might have a harder time, but you won't."
"Because of the Witch Hunts in the past?"
Ren asked, hoping to divert the attention off the frozen Weiss, as the woman nodded,"Indeed. My son has a lot of reason to be distrust everyone. If not for the Cult then the fact HYDRA was till alive and well, only reinforced his mentally not to trust anyone. Not only them but even in this day in age, Witch Hunters still do exist and most will not allow anything stop them from trying to kill Magus. They will sink to any level they have to in order to get their target and one of those lows is befriending Magus and stabbing them in the back, when they least expect it."
"Oh brothers, that's horrible. Hey i know, we should break their legs!"
Nora grinned at the last part, making the enraged Berserker cool down enough to laugh a little, holding her hand to cover her mouth. Lowering it, she smiled at the mad bomber,"That is the idea child and it is a very good one. Thankfully however, they can never get close to him, as we won't allow it too happen. I do hope we can be, at the very least allies, as it will do my son some good to have trustworthy people, even if they're from another world. Don't try to abuse that trust, as my son has been betrayed and let down by many people, many of them either ones he tried to help or showed mercy too. Only for them to turn around and stomp on both his heart and trust. Just food for thought."
She paused, before glaring over at Weiss, who stiffened at said glare.
"Well almost everyone, remember what i said bug or else."
With that, she left as Weiss could finally breath out, having to hold her breath at the woman's terrifying glare. Looking at everyone giving their own glares, she glared back,"What?"
"Nice going Weiss-cream, next time don't go pissing off someone that could very possible bench press a goliath. The rest of us like living, thank you very much."
Yang spoke dully, giving her teammate a flat glare.
"Nothing i said isn't wrong, how Mazoku became a master is beyond me."
"By the brothers will you just let it go. It doesn't matter what you think, i for one want to stay far, far away from him. If you go get killed trying to piss off those Servants, don't expect me to go down with you."
Weiss glared at Blake, opening her mouth to fire an insult, only to thankful be interrupted by the Curator.
"For this next 'episode' i do believe it will be best if you leave Xero, along with the children. For the children, this next episode is NOT for the faint of heart and even i dare say, too much for you veteran huntsman. We will be viewing a scene of the very first battle of the Dead War, what really kicked it off and what could official be called the first battle of the Dead War."
His voice cut into the room, making all conversations and thoughts, as everyone looked at the older man.
"It will also be where everyone, will see Xero's TRUE power and just what he can do. Going all out, with nothing held back with the tools he has to single handedly stop a massive army of the undead and give humanity the breathing room it needed to launch a counter attack. Here, you will all see how he got the title of 'The Strongest Magus Of His Generation.' However because of the nature of this, because of the power he can wield. i believe it will be best for him to be away from you all when it does show. Those with great power, ones like Xero who cannot be controlled are feared by many and those with weak wills, will do foolish things out of fear. Both on Earth and Remnant. Despite having ensure none of you can hurt each other, or at least kill each other, fear has a way of making anything possible and to ensure that, Xero will be gone for this episode, then we will take a break to soak it all in. Some of you may turn on him, purely out of fear for what he can do and those with the weak will, will possible attempt to kill him, out of some misplaced notion that you're protecting the world from him, when in reality, it's because you're deathly afraid of him and he can't be controlled."
As he said this, he cast an eye over to some of the world leaders, the council's members, Trask, Kelly, the Ace Ops, Lionheart, Raven, Rhodey, Yang, Blake...even Ironwood. Something that no one missed and that made a certain mohawk woman even more pissed then before.
"Okay, i've heard enough of this bullshit. There's no way-"
"No one cares what you think dog, now shut up and watch."
Saber Alter spoke, in no mood to hear the arrogant wench and wanted to see just what her queen could do. She had yet to see ALL of his memories, let alone see into the memoires of his Avenger self. Never once had she ever heard of something quite like that before and was eager to see what really happened. While Emyia had a similar situation before, this was something beyond that.
"Why you-"
Harriet attempted to attack the evil king, only to be held back by her teammate, Elm,"Hare, stop it! She's baiting you, moron!"
She really wasn't but that didn't mean the Alter couldn't enjoy the moment and smirked a mocking smirk at her, making her fum even more.
"Okay, i for one will not stand for this ridiculousness. No one is capable of taking down an army, let alone a massive army down by themselves, it's just impossible. I don't care how supposedly he is."
Jacques himself also had enough of these ridiculous statements. It was just simply impossible. Cinder agreed, as powerful as a Maiden was, even they couldn't take down an entire army by themselves. It was just impossible, cause then that would mean Xero would be stronger then her, even when she gained the full might of the Fall Maiden's power.
It just wasn't possible, no she refused to believe it.
"Besides, how'd he get so strong, if there are no Grimm in the world?"
Harriet asked, rolling her eyes, getting more then a little tired of constantly being told Mazoku was so much more powerful then them(As if!) and his power would scare them so badly they'd do something stupid. Seriously, it was complete bullshit in her mind, as that just wasn't possible, she and her team were the best in Atlas, no one was better then them!
"Because dum-dum, unlike you and you're weak lot, senpai and Gudako have faced off against enemies that have continuously gotten stronger and stronger with every battle. Senpai had to get stronger, just to have a chance to survive against such opponents and has to push himself to the brink and break his limits to defeat these monsters. His enemies just keep growing stronger and stronger as he and Gudako completed the Grand Order, so they had to grow stronger. Even if he trained like you all do in you're little schools, it means nothing as senpai has far more experience then you could ever hope to have and on bloody battlefields that would make the Grimm themselves shutter with fear. You on the other hand, have faced the same enemy over and over again, staying safe in you're so called 'prefect little sky city'. While yes, it is true you are a lot stronger then the Grimm, you never had a reason to go beyond you're current skill set. You've gotten complacent, staying safe in you're little ivory towers as the city of Mantle, the one YOU all left behind, suffers and doing all the hard work you lot claim credit for. Don't bother denying it, we have all you're records, i've seen it personal and let me tell you, i wonder how long till the people of Mantle finally say 'fuck it' and rebel against you all or just leave altogether. Death might be easier for them, as living can easily be considered hell on Earth for them or is it hell on Remnant? Oh well, this deadly kohai knows what she's talking about and you can ignore it all you like, it won't change the fact it's complete true. All the while senpai and his wife have had to push themselves to the max physically, mentally and magically. You're weak, cause you have no reason to push yourselves beyond the skill set you have and you're refusal to accept this fact, will lead to you're down fall."
BB's voice cut in, her explanation causing Harriet to grit her teeth as that actually made sense but like BB said, she refused to believe that brat was stronger then the best huntsman and huntress in Atlas! Atlas was also the strongest kingdom out of the four, whether people like to admit or not, that was the truth and no lame magic would change that!
Especially not some upstart!
"More or less, a real trail by fire, my master has more then proven himself worthy of his title by surviving in many situations that would have killed anyone else. This boy has more then earned his right to become a legend in his own right."
Iskander bellowed out a mighty laugh, as he patted Xero's back like a proud father, as Tony smiled too. As much as the whole "Trail by fire" had all kinds of bad implications, he could be proud of what his son has accomplished.
Like any father would be.
"What do you mean by rebel? Why would the people of Mantle do that, it would destroy both Atlas and Mantle!"
Council man Sleet asked in shock, feeling a bit of fear creep into his heart,"I know things in Mantle are less then ideal but-"
"Oh they are more then less ideal, sooner or later a war is going to break out between the two people. Trust me, i should know, as i lead a similar rebellion against my father."
Mordred spoke with a smirk,"Time to face the facts dipshit, you're prefect little city is going to come crashing down and it's not because of the Grimm either...IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU'RE OWN STUPIDTY! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The blonde started laughing wildly, throwing her head as she did so making Winter go red in the face with angry, more and more the well toned blonde reminded her of Qrow and quite frankly, it was pissing her off! Even if in the back of her mind, she could see the truth behind the blonde's words. As of late, more and more incidents began to break out in Mantle, both from criminals and Grimm. General Ironwood had confident in her and the Ace Ops that things, as they were looking, would only get worse if nothing changed.
Mantle had been in Atlas's shadow for so long, the people of Mantle could no longer stand it and wanted something more, then just the shithole they were living in. Something had to change but the council was digging it's heel in and if nothing changed, they were looking at civil war.
Not that the council would accept that, foolishly believing if they ignored the problem, it go away on it's own.
But it wouldn't, it would only get worse and worse till something breaks. Winter knew this, the Ace Ops knew this and general Ironwood knew this. However despite holding two seats on the council, Ironwood could do nothing to change it. Even then, the changes needed would take years, decades to implicate and that wasn't including everything else they had to deal with.
The enemies of Atlas, the council's constant bitching, Jacques, the White Fang, the Grimm and of course, Salem herself. Now they can add Earth, the Avengers and even the Magus and mutants to that growing list.
It just couldn't be done and not only was Winter stressed out beyond belief, with her father demanding she sleep with that damn brute Mazoku, she had this other brute laughing in her face. Mocking her the same way Qrow did and she was not going to stand for it!
However before she could attack said blonde, the man himself cut in,"Mordred, knock it off. Even if this does sound a bit hypocritical, it really is none of our business. If they can't face the reality, that their own actions have been making tensions rise between the two kingdoms, till it reaches the boiling point, it's there own fault. I can see it, Fury can see it, dad can see it, hell even Jack has noticed and she barely has a reason to care. Not that i can blame them, i've seen what Mantle look like, compared to Atlas, is it really shocking that they would feel a little resent full."
"Sorry mother."
"Now see here-"
"Save it, i don't have enough reason to listen or care. I don't care enough to listen to whatever PR bullshit you've going to say. General, i really don't know you but i do believe you're a man that tries to do what he believes is right, it's admirable but that doesn't change the fact you're actions don't support you're beliefs. Mantle is in dire need of help and if the so called 'wise council' keep ignoring them or worse, put even MORE restrictions on them, you're going to have a full blown civil war on your hands. I say this now, cause there is a very for real possible we will be enemies after this over, simply because of the power i have. I've seen many men like you, so for you're own sake, DON'T let your fear control you."
"You think i'm afraid of some teenager?"
"No general, men don't fear teenagers."
Xero's smile turned dark, as his eyes flashed gold,"Men fear monsters."
And he was the biggest monster out of all of them.
Leaving it with that, as the small child Servants gathered around him, Xero used his pointer finger to wave a circle in the air, causing purple sparks to appear, a sa portal opened up. This made everyone jaws drop at what he just did, as he smiled again, once again a dark one, full of promises of pain and suffering.
"Just so you all know, i can not only open portals to pretty much anywhere, but i have anchors to those i love and my friends. So if you were to say kidnap my dad, captain Levi, mom Pepper or even commander Erwin it doesn't matter where you take them, i WILL find them. Just fair warning to everyone here, if any of you do anything to the people i love for whatever stupid, idiotic reason then i do hope you realize what you're getting into. Cause i won't be merciful and as you all are about to find out, it won't matter how powerful you are, how much money you got or the number of men you have. I could ask why you did it, why you think such a thing was a good idea but let me tell you, the real question, the only one that will matter is this: How many of your men are you going to make me kill before i reach you?"
No one dared answer, all very much cowed by his threat and just to puncture the point, he used a tiny bit of his yoki to make his eyes turn gold and his voice turn demonic.
With his threat getting the reaction he wanted Xero nodded his head in satisfaction and begin to escort the child Servants out, save for Alex and kid Gil. Both were old enough to see the hell the world could go too and didn't need to leave. Abby was too, so was Jack in a way but they honestly didn't need to see this, to see his own dark side come out. Only his enemies got to see that.
But as he did this, he turned to the young hunters in training,"A bit of fair warning, this dream you will see, will be seventy percent of what Avenger Xero did and the last thirty percent will be a very terrifying nightmare, one that will give all of you plenty of nightmare fuel. So, anyone want to come with me?"
The hunters in training all looked at everyone, all thinking about it, as Ruby looked at Xero,"No. We're huntsman in training, we have to deal with...with the dark stuff, so what kind of hunters would we be, if we turned away from the dark realties of the world. I know i'm young and a bit naive but i know i have to deal with this sooner or later, so, might as well just see it and get it over with."
"Y-yeah, of course."
Pyrrha said, still shaking at the revelation that Xero could create portals. With that kind of power...there would be virtually nothing he couldn't do, he could get into any secure locations with little problem and even transport hundreds of troops in an instant. If he could indeed open a portal to a specific person, then then there be almost nothing he couldn't do to fuck with Remnant if war broke out. It didn't matter what they did, if Lord Mazoku was motivated enough, any possible victory Remnant could have would be hollow, simply because of his OP ability.
Pyrrha liked to think she was a good person, she tried to be one and did her best not to judge anyone but the more and more she heard of Lord Mazoku's abilities, she couldn't help but think he was becoming a massive security threat to Remnant. Depending on how things turn out, she feared for the future if things get violent between the two worlds.
It wouldn't be a bloodbath, it be a massacre.
"You've got to be kidding..."
The red head heard Jaune muttering to himself, clearly displeased by this new acquired information. Pyrrha knew he had some self esteem issues and seeing someone his own age, one not even having aura be such a big shot, only made it worse. But she would be lying, if she said she wasn't feeling her competitive spirit beginning to rise, her blood boiling, inching for a fight against the strongest Magus. It's just like what Raikou said, for so long, she's wanted a rival of sorts, someone to push her to her limits and beyond. Pyrrha may have found not just a rival for herself but her leader now had himself a goal, something to work towards now.
Pyrrha could only hope Jaune took this as a unique opportunity to strive himself to improve, rather then dwell on it. She hoped Jaune would take it and not let the fear she could see growing within the blonde take him over into doing something reckless or worse, crazy.
He wasn't the only one that was threaten to fall into fear, as Pyrrha could clearly see on everyone else faces levels of horror, fear, worry, shock...intrigue and anger?
Oh she could practical see the gears turning in the heads of quite a few people, plans of using such portals to either prevent massive losses of life, transport supplies or people, the possibilities were endless! But the ones that stood out to her were the people with fear, worry and anger on their faces.
Headmaster Lionheart looked ready to keel over, looking so damned scared his heart was ready to jump out of his chest and throat. Ms. Goodwitch and headmaster Ozpin looked very worried too, like they just discovered a terrible secret and didn't know what to do about it.
However it was oddly enough, general Ironwood and that woman that looked kinda like Yang that looked very angry. Well, the general had a look of fearful anger, knowing Lord Mazoku could easily become a massive threat if he decide to attack the kingdoms or vice verse. The Yang look alike however just looked offended, like he not only stole her thing but improved upon it.
She wondered why.
The redhead also noted how those White Fang members all tensed up, either gaping in horror or just plain pissed. She could image why, as a human like Xero has such a unique power, if he turned his sights on them, they'd lose.
"I'll come with you."
The large woman, who's lap Lord Mazoku was sitting on rose from her seat, brothers she was tall! Shaking her head, Pyrrha saw the large woman step next to him and that other woman, Jeanne if she remembered right, wordless step up to his other side, grabbing his arm with her own with a blissful smile on her pretty face.
Something that made Pyrrha a little jealous and envies at how easily the blonde could cuddle up to her loved one.
"I've already seen this memory, so i don't need to see it again. So we can-"
"The fuck you will, you holy shank."
Before Jalter snarled, already seeing that needy look on her face. Fuck even that large bitch of a fairy knight drooling and licking her chomps at the sight of her husband shirtless on screen. So in response to this she got up and forced several of the children through the portal, along with the large blonde. Thus leaving Xero, Jeanne and the tall blonde girl behind in their wake. Grabbing his other arm, the sliver haired blonde yanked him through,"Let's go lover, i'm not leaving you alone with that damn succubus."
"Hey!"
Jeanne went after the two, as they stepped through the portal and it winked out of existence after a second.
"...Ozpin, you know we cannot allow this power to fall into enemy hands."
Ironwood said slowly, as the full ramifications should Earth, the Aven-oh who the hell was he kidding, if Xero became an enemy, it would spell the end of Atlas and possible the rest of the kingdoms too!
"I know James...Qrow, Summer i don't care what you have to do, do not allow Lord Mazoku to become an enemy. If you must, for whatever reason interfere with a mission assigned by the council's itself and even huntsman, do it. James, to be frank get you're men under control, ensure they stop antagonising the boy, his wives and allies, whatever the cost. I dare say, Lord Mazoku could prove to be more valuable then the Maidens and relic's themselves, he could even be the key to stopping Salem once and for all. I have no doubt not only she but the criminal elements of the kingdoms and even the White Fang will attempt to ally themselves with him, we cannot let this happen. Cause if we do, it could possible create a chain reactor that could lead to all out war between Earth and Remnant. After this current Arc is over, Glynda and i will approach the Avengers, hoping to make an alliance of sorts. If not with the kingdom, then Beacon itself."
"The council won't like that Oz."
"The council will just have to deal with it Qrow."
The headmaster spoke harshly, gripping his signature coffee cup to the point cracks begin to form on it,"We CANNOT have that young man as an enemy. He could easily prove to be a bigger threat then Salem herself with those portal alone. He's already proven he can easily cut through whatever security system with complete ease. As bad as it sounds, i do believe this will only give us more reason to upgrade those firewalls, to better protect ourselves from both Earth and Salem's agents. I don't care what it takes, whatever method you need to use, we cannot afford to lose him as an ally nor can we afford of him as an enemy. Everything we have worked for, for so long rest's on that young man and his allies. We cannot take no for an answer, we must do whatever it takes to ensure he allies with us. Leonardo, Theodore the same goes for you. I trust i do not have to explain why we can't allow such an ally slip through our fingers, yes?"
"Yeah, i get it. Heh, kid would do well in Vacuo and team NDGO has shown some interest in the young man. Married or not."
"Y-yes, of, gulp, of course old friend."
"Got it."
Qrow drowned everything in his flask to starve off the headache that was coming, as the screen lite up and begin the Nightmare Sequence.
"Xero, dinner's ready, you coming?"
"Oh? Oh yeah, yeah, yeah i um, i just need to wash my hands, that's all."
"Bathroom's down the hall sweetness, don't take too long."
Xero absentmindedly nodded, as he slowly backed away from the happy little scene, sliver hair swishing as he did so. Wearing a simple red button up T-shirt with a pair of dark blue pants and black combat boots with his rosary laying down from his neck, Xero slowly made his way through the two story house.
"Oh hell, look at him, he barely looks like himself anymore."
Sun marveled at how different the Xero on screen looked from the one in the present.
"Yeah, his hair looks...kinda pretty like that."
Ruby titled her head as she said that, the sliver locks giving Xero a whole new air around him and seemed to enhance his natural beauty. His hair had changed from it's wild look, to straighten itself out giving it a curtain look. It was a nice change from his wild look and while it wouldn't work with his wild look, the sliver hair went well with straighten out look.
"Meh, i prefer my queen with his natural black hair."
Ruler Artoria spoke, a fond smile on her face. Personally, she believed her queen looked better with black hair but she would be lying if she said, that sliver streak didn't make him look distinctive.
But she still preferred him with his natural black hair, the one he got from his mother.
Looking around the house, Xero spotted the bathroom but his eyes and more importantly, his nose were drawing him towards the upstairs. Something about this whole set up, the farm, the way it seemed completely untouched by the hell that's taken the world by storm, world's gone to, the protection it had, the bandits and of course the St. Johnson's boys and their mama just seemed prefect.
Bandits, crazies or even the walkers, they all seemed to have very little chance of getting in thanks to the well placed electric fence had made it damn near impossible for them to get in, save for one way. One that forced them out in the open, easy picking for a well placed sniper. Not to mention damn near impossible to enter the farm without being detected. Plus with the natural farming land and enough people, Xero and his group could make a living off this place indefinitely.
They could grow their own food, were close enough to a clean stream of water and even the cow could provide them with enough milk for a good decade!
"My word, it sounds absolutely marvels."
Port said with a smile on his face,"I dare say, i'd like to own a farm of my own."
"Yes, in times of crisis, it is always better to be self sufficient."
Oobleck agreed with his friend, as Glynda nodded,"It does sound wonderful."
"And yet, i can't help but feel like something is off."
Ozpin said, a frown tugging at his lips as he stared into his coffee cup. It all sounded great, wonderful enough but it all sounded just a tab bit too...
The entire thing, from the grass end to the three lovely people living on it was prefect.
Too prefect.
Indeed.
To Ozpin to sounded far too prefect, too good to be true. Having lived for centuries, Ozpin knew that if something was too prefect to be true, it often was.
FAR too prefect.
"Nothing is ever truly prefect."
Fury nodded at Xero's line of thinking, while being paranoid was bit of a bad thing, it was always good to make sure everything is on the up and up.
Xero didn't want to ruin things, but this set up was far too prefect and somethings just weren't adding up. Despite it not being a good idea, Xero remembered that crazy woman's rambling about Danny doing something 'bad' and 'evil.' The woman was clearly a few screws short of a hatchet and looked madder then the Mad Hatter himself but her words may have held some truth to them.
"The problem with the boy who cried wolf, no one comes when the real one shows up."
If the St. Johns had nothing too hide, then it wouldn't mattered if he snooped around a bit would it? Cause if they were on the up and up, then he'd find nothing, he'd say sorry then everything would be gravy. However if they're was something rotten, he was bond to find it and if their was, then he HAD to find it. Kenny had the right idea to be cautious, not to mention Mikasa and Velvet were here now, he had to make sure this was a safe place for his girls.
"His girls?"
Mikasa noticed how he worded that last bit, while idly wondering just who or what was a 'Velvet'.
"Ya know, if i ever have a daughter, i think Velvet would be a good name. Strong but approachable, ya know."
Mikasa felt her chest tighten, as she sat up straighter, full attention on the screen, watching it intently as her heart rate picked up. Too the point she felt it beating in her ears. Did that mean, could it be...
"Hmmmm."
Ember smirked, already having a pretty good idea what was going to happen and more then likely, little Ackerman would be red in the face in no time.
Without making a sound and mentally thanking Ashoka for teaching him how to move with making a sound, Xero crept up the stairs silently but quickly. Who knows how long he had, till someone came looking.
Everyone held their breaths, as the music sounded like something out of a horror movie, where it was just moments away from something bad happening.
"This is getting tense."
Artemis whispered to her 'darling' hugging the perverted bear close to her large chest, as the bear would have normally been happy about it but the tension made it impossible to enjoy the sensation. The two Gil's also tensed, wondering what would happen next. X had even go so far as to hug her 'apprentice' Saber Lily, as their eyes stayed locked on the screen.
Just like horror night back in Chaldea.
As the sliver haired man made it to the top floor, Xero saw almost everything seemed to be in order and in place.
Almost.
It was impossible to miss the red, power cord running towards some kind of book case, making Xero pause. Why would their be a cord running into a bookcase?
Narrowing his eyes, Xero followed the line and got closer to the bookcase and spotted several items on it. Items that weren't suppose to be there and one of those items was some kind of pill bottle. Grabbing, it read,"Morphine? Pain killers, oxycontin? The hell is this doing here?"
He wondered, reading off the pill bottles as he picked them up, making an ice block drop further into his stomach. Mark had been hit pretty bad and while the St. Johns might have needed this stuff to treat him, why was it placed out here, in the hallway instead of a bedroom or even a medicine cabinet?
"Ya know, i'm not one to judge another person's style of home decor but that does seem an odd place to put those at."
Roman pitched in, narrowing his eyes too. That just didn't make much sense to the thief, why would they do that?
"Pretty suspicious if you ask me."
Neo held up her sign, nodding along with Roman's thoughts.
"First the bandits show up, Mark gets injured and hasn't been around for a long while, then that bloody butcher room and now this. Something is going on here and i don't like it."
That room, the one inside the farm house had already sent all kinds of alarm bells inside his head. His nose was as sharp as a blood hounds and thanks to all the Walker's he's killed over the past months, he could tell the difference between a live human and a Walker.
"Walker?"
Sienna's brows furrowed, as she looked at Gudako,"You call them Walkers and not zombies?"
"Trust me, as you all learn more about the Dead War, what we call 'Walkers' are basically what you would call low level zombies. The cannon fodder, the foot soldiers that no one cares for and are easy enough to beat. Just don't let yourself be trapped, as these bastards travel in hordes but are dummier then a box of rocks."
"Low level?"
"Their are several levels of power and strengths to the zombies. You'll notice a difference soon enough but the ones we are seeing right now are for all intents and purposes, Husks. Zombies, real zombies are much more different and dangerous then the ones you see before you."
The tiger Faunus nodded, mentally filing that thought away for later use. It was good enough for now but the Albain brothers decide to push for more information, namely Corsac.
"So, in a way, they basically act like an army, my lady?"
"In a sense, it really depends on what type you're dealing with. Like in an army, their are soldiers, Infantry, Engineers, Armors, Snipers, hell they even got Suicider's. The only good thing about dead soldiers, it's the fact you can throw them away like bad candy."
"The fuck?! I thought you said it be a war against zombies not mutants!"
Mercury yelled, not at all understanding how slow, dumb undead bastards could actually think to basically act like an army.
"I did but you forget, these zombies are being lead by the Six and the Cult. Whatever thoughts you had about zombies, what you believe to be true about them, forgot it. It won't help here and you don't even have to shoot the head to kill a real zombie. It be a quicker sure but not strictly necessary needed to kill the zombies. The Walkers, you have to shoot in the head but the zombies with guns and others weapons, don't. You'll only waste time otherwise."
Xero didn't want to judge, he really didn't but their were just things that didn't add up and all of them were ringing in his head right now. First, being the fact the St. John boys had met other survivors and despite having a prefect place to stay, they ALL moved on?
He could understanding wanting to find friends and family in a world gone to shit but all of them leaving at once?
At the same time too?
People were selfish, which was okay and the promises of being in a secure, safe place that could provide food forever with only the need to work to make the food was just too tempting to leave. Especially when the chances of finding another place like this farm were pretty much zero. The fact this place made it near impossible for Walkers to get in, was just too tempting for people to leave, the cities, even small towns looked like hell on Earth and he highly doubted anyone would leave what could be one of the last places on Earth, untouched by the hell the world's gone too.
"A reasonable line of thinking."
Glynda nodded to Xero's assessment of the situation, as Berserker Morgan nodded in agreement. Her husband did have a good line of thinking but knew he had more to tip him off that something wasn't quite right, as they wasn't enough of a reason.
The second thing set alarm bells off inside Xero's head was the bandits and this so called "deal" they were cheated out of.
Raven and her group all leaned forward, wondering just what the young lord's thoughts were on their kind.
He almost growled, as his teeth gritted so hard they almost broke as he thoughts about those people.
"This doesn't bode well for us."
Roland commented to Raven, making her eyes narrow as her stomach started getting knots. No, there's no way her luck was that bad, she wasn't Qrow!
Why anyone would make any kind of deal with those scum riddle, blood sucking parasites was beyond even his genius mind to understand. He'd rather take smart Walkers over them, at least you can know what to expect from them!
The very least those damn overgrown parasites can do was either kill Walkers or better yet, use themselves as bait, so actually humans can make it out alive. Then the fuckers can do everyone a favor and off themselves so they don't turn, either by bullet or jumping off a ledge, either one worked for him.
"Oh...i take it, Xero doesn't like bandits too much?"
Pepper asked, already knowing the answer but hearing his thoughts on them was kinda disturbing. Just the sheer hate for them was shocking, so much hate it actually made her shiver in fear.
"My queen has his reasons, very good reasons i might add, to despise bandits mother in law. It's a very complicated matter that has made him the way he is today. While i don't always agree with the way he does things, that does not mean i cannot understand why he does it. All we can do, is try to keep him from going too far off the deep end."
Saber Artoria spoke, rubbing her arm as she did so. How many times has she seen friends and loved ones fall down the dark path, simply because she was too slow to help them or too ignorant to help them?
One of those people just happened to be in the room with her and it only reinforced her desire to protect her husband.
"This isn't good."
Raven was prepared for the idea the young boy might not be too keen on joining an actual strong tribe but to hear his own, hateful thoughts on her people, made the dark haired woman realize she had no chance to turn him to her way of thinking. Well, fine if she couldn't get him to join her, Raven would just discover the secret behind his magic and take it, before he realized what happened.
Easy.
But that didn't stop her from glaring at a smirking Qrow, easily knowing he was cheering the boy for his attitude towards bandits, towards their family. That fool would eat his words, once she gained power that would surpass both Ozpin AND Salem.
Just you wait brother.
Shaking his head out of his dark thoughts, Xero traced the red powerline, that went into the way where light was blaring out. The feeling of dread resettled into his stomach, much worse then ever before.
"The dead don't kill their own. It's the living you gotta be afraid of... the people I used to call friends… The people who took...You...you're not like them, are ya boy? You, with the sliver hair, do you think them St. John boys are you're friends? Do you have any idea what they've done, what they REALLY are? Do you...no you're just like them, aren't ya? Well sir, i'm not going to let you drag those two beautiful girls down to hell with you all. I'm gonna take this here crossbow, and put a nice sharp arrow, right through your eyeball. And into your goddamn brain. You're not men, you're monsters. All men are monsters. Take a can of beans... take a little girl. It's all the fucking same to you. Just like-"
"Uh, so anyone understand what that was all about?"
Tony asked, completely confused at what sounded like a crazed ranting. No one had anything to say, not able to make heads or tails of the clearly crazed ranting of a woman that had clearly gone mad.
Remembering the insane woman's words, his mind kept going back to a certain part of the rant:
"...do you think them St. John boys are you're friends? Do you have any idea what they've done, what they REALLY are?"
"Are you sure it's wise to listen to an insane woman's rant?"
Eren asked, looking confused as to why his boss was actually thinking on the insane woman's words.
"In time, you will learn that as insane as a person may sound, there is always some foundation of the truth to their words. Just because they're crazy, does not mean you should dismiss them completely, as they might be more truth to their words then you realize."
The queen of the shadow land spoke wisely, making the brown haired man look skeptical at her but nod never the less.
"Ya know, believe it or not, i have to agree with the kid on this one. No matter how crazy something sounds, there's always a grain of truth to it. Just because you can't see it or hear it, doesn't mean it's not real."
Roman spoke, with Neo nodded in agreement.
Those words kept bouncing around his head like some sort of twisted mantra and Xero himself begin to believe them. So many small things that would normally be nothing more then just that, a small thing but all those small things were beginning to pile up. Pile up and becoming a very big thing that couldn't be ignored, not with Ika and Vel here, in this house of possible enemies.
"Ika?"
Mikasa silently mused that, the name must have been a nickname and while she had never had one like that, it was still nice.
Xero froze however, as a scent started to fill his nose, coming from the small hole in the hole.
Blood.
Mark's blood.
"He's here?"
Xero craned his neck around the staircase, not seeing anyone making to come his way. The boys nor their mama had mentioned anything about his injured friend and now that he's been gone for hours now. The wound he got from those scum riddle bandits was a bad one, an arrow to the shoulder that nearly punctured his lung. The woman of the home, Brenda St, offered to take care of him and Xero nor Lee had seen him since.
The fact the fence nearly fried them, while the three of them were securing the perimeter, not only did they KNOW they were but that was just seconds BEFORE the bandit attacked. While there was a very good chance it was an accident they turned the fence on and it just so happened the bandit attacked might have been nothing more then pure coincidence had it not been for what the bandit said.
"We had a deal!"
The entire thing just rubbed him the wrong way and as the day progressed, it only grew worse.
And that room! The one that was covered in blood, human blood he might add, which looked like a prefect cover for a slaughter house had only driven the nail deeper. He couldn't say anything, as there was no way a human could tell the difference between normal blood and Walker blood. The fact it was weeks old, with several layers of different types of scents, did nothing more then prove to Xero that something rotten was going on this seemly prefect farm.
Something was WRONG!
"Ya know, alone it doesn't seem too bad but with everything piling up, it doesn't paint a very good picture for the St' John's"
Eddie commented, feeling Venom nod within him, something very rotten was going on and he had a bad feeling, he knew what it was. He just hoped he was wrong. He wasn't the only one, as many people felt dread run up their spines, as the music slowly started turning darker and darker, as the Xero on screen made his way into a bedroom.
Nothing?
Xero hissed, he wasn't here. The room looked like a classic two story cabin room he'd seen on TV and it even had old paintings too! But that wasn't important, as Xero took a deep breath in, sucking up the scent, as he slowly made his way towards another dresser.
He frowned.
It seemed oddly out of place, didn't it?
Walking to the side, Xero begin to push the dresser out of the way, to reveal another door! One that had bright lights beaming from under it and...pained moaning?
Ruby clutched her cloak, as her mother and sister hugged her, as the music picked up in a darker tone. The Xero on screen reached for the door knob making Ozy and Lancer Raikou hugged Gudako between the two of them, as everyone's eyes were glued to the screen in anticipation.
Ember and Ursula looked at each other, before looking at the screen too, silently wondering just what happened to the little human.
Xenovia merely looked blankly at the screen, while Irina bite her nail in worry, as Father Vincent lightly smacked her hand out of her bad habit. But even the ever present smile on his face was gone, as his mood reflected the tone the music was setting.
Worry and fear.
All around the room, everyone watched and waited with baited breath, as the scene unfolded before their eyes.
Slowly opening the door, feeling his heart pounding in his ears as he did so, the door opened to reveal...
"Oh by the goddess, Mark!"
"WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO HIM?!"
No one was sure who yelled it, but everyone could only stare in horror at the glasses wearing man, as he appeared on screen.
There, sprawled across the floor and barely conscious, Mark looked like he'd seen better days. His skin complexion was dry and pale, stained with blood.
His blood.
He still had his black Air Force jacket and brown pants but below his knee caps, his legs had been chomped off and been covered by white cloth, which had been badly stained by his blood.
"Oh for fuck sake, legs. Why...why is it always the fucking legs?"
Mercury was almost as pale as Mark, swaying in his seat, looking ready to lose what little lunch he had. Oh man, if he had to see anymore of this-
"X-Xero...help me."
"Bloody hell man, what the hell happened. Where the fuck are your LEGS?!"
Mark moaned out, looking barely awake as he reached for his friend,"D-don't eat...the m-m-meat."
Don't eat the meat?
While Xero did wonder just where the St. Johns got the meat they were serving the group tonight, seeing as they only had one cow. They said so, as Katjaa helped tend to it. So where-
"Oh goddess no!"
Xero's eyes widen in horror, as he stared at Mark's legless form.
"Oh...no, brothers no. Please don't, i...i...i can't take anymore."
Mercury all but begged, BEGGED for what he knew what was coming to not be true. He wasn't the only one, as many were equally looking green in the face but no one looked to be in physical pain as the sliver haired boy. He was rubbing his metal legs, continually begging for it not to be true.
Normally, his partner would have made fun of him but she was too horrified to care, also looking ready to lose her stomach.
"N-no, he can't mean..."
Weiss muttered, looking a good shade of green, as opposed to her normal white complex.
"F-father?"
Whitely looked to his father for guidance but even Jacques himself could not keep up his professional business mask, as he was looking very pale himself. He wasn't too far behind Weiss in terms of looking ready to lose his lunch, as he was holding his throat, as if too stop himself from spitting something out. Hell Ironwood was gripping his seat so hard, Whitely was sure he would break his cybernetic arm, along with his gritting teeth!
"How could they..."
Glynda gasped, as she clamped a hand over her mouth, her stern mask completely forgo as she felt tears threating to fall down her face. Ozpin wasn't any better, as he had seen all forms of humanity brutality but that did not however spare his beloved coffee mug, as it HAD shattered in his hand, from his tight grip.
"Fuck me."
Qrow didn't know whether to puck or drink his entire flask. Seeing his rival, Winter staring at the screen with unblinking eyes, he looked at his flask and sighed with a quite,"Fuck it."
He held his flask out to Winter.
"Here, you look like-"
Without a word or even a sound for that matter, Winter took the flask and duked the entire thing, in record time too boot. Wiping her lips, Winter handed the now empty flask to Qrow with a curt,"Thank you."
"Sure."
Qrow smiled a little, that was the first thank you he had ever gotten from ice queen senior.
"M-monsters, they're monsters."
Illa always knew humans had a dark side, that many were evil but to actually gulp, EAT one of their own, while he was still alive, was just...unholy.
"Y-yes, this is as sister Illa put it just...unholy."
Corsac spoke, unable to stop himself from shaking, though from fear or disgust was unknown, even to himself. Much like everyone else, his skin became a deathly pale as his tail curled around his body for comfort. Hell even Adam and his followers were pale at the sight, the knowing what happened had shocked them all into silence.
"Is this what we, as a species will be reduced too? To killing and eating each other?"
President Ellis muttered to himself, as he stared at his hands, as none of his staff or fellow politicians said nothing, wondering the same thing. Even Trask and Stryker were wondering the same thing. For all their shared hate of mutants, mutants weren't committing one of the greatest sins know to mankind:
Cannibalism.
"And you thought big green jolly was a monster, he's got nothing on these monsters."
Tony nudge Banner, as he absentmindedly nodded. As bad as the Hulk was, the Hulk didn't lure people in, just so he could cut them up like pork and eat them as if they were steak. The most Hulk did was smash a few things but that was it. Unless you attacked him, Hulk often tried to just run away and only attacked out of retaliation, nothing more.
Roman just stared at the scene for a few seconds, before he turned to the Curator,"Hey big man, think you can conjure up a few of my old style drink here?"
The older man said nothing, as Roman's wine magically appeared before him, with two shot glasses beside it.
"Thanks."
With a nod, Roman poured himself and Neo some good old fashion Vale wine. They we're going to need it for the nightmare to come.
Kali had a hand over her mouth, tears rolling down her cheeks as she stared unblinking at the screen. Even as her beloved husband pulled her into a hug, they're was no denying that this would be forever etched into her mind.
Into everyone's mind.
"Now do you all understand?"
Archer Nobu spoke, voice uncharacteristically quite but load enough for her to be heard,"This is why my beloved master is so desperate to stop the Dead War from happening? Why he will kill anyone that even dares to think about joining the Cult? It's so he can stop monsters like these people from rising and why i will do everything in my power, as the Demon King of Sixth Heaven to help him ensure it never happens."
Nobody said nothing, even as Ruby cried into her mother's chest at the despicable sight of another human being eaten by another. It was too much for her sweet, innocent mind to handle. She knew things would get dark, she had seen some dark things but this wasn't just another level, it was a whole another league of horror, she wasn't ready for. In a lot of ways, this was like one of those horror movies that she and Yang watched late at night, in an attempt to scare her shitless. However the difference between those movies and this?
This wasn't a movie.
This movie, these were memories...memoires of a hell the world will go to and what people will become if pushed too far.
One was fiction and one was real.
The real one was far more darker and far more brutal then anything fiction can make, even then it wouldn't be in such a twisted fashion. Plus, Xero was her friend, the things Raikou said about him trying to trust people, only to get spit back in his face made Ruby want to throw up.
Was it always like this?
People he thought he could help or tried to help, only for his act of kindness to get repaid with such bloodshed? No wonder he didn't trust so easy and honestly, Ruby was beginning to wonder if she could trust anyone, after seeing this alone!
Leaving Mark behind, Xero raced down the stairs with lighting speed, appearing in the door way, as everyone was about to bite into their dinner, a meat dinner.
Mark's legs.
Mercury's cheeks bulged as he tried to stop himself from puking, as he felt a little light headed. Thankful a bucket appeared and without even thinking, he emptied his stomach contents into it.
"DON'T EAT THAT!"
He yelled, making everyone freeze, his own daughter, Velvet and Clem both stopped just seconds before they started eating.
Thank the goddess for small favors.
"What the hell is wrong with you boy? These fine people we're kind enough to make us dinner and-"
"SHUT UP LARRY, THIS ISN'T NORMAL MEAT! YOU'RE EATING MARK'S LEGS FOR FUCK SAKE!"
Xero's yelling made everyone freeze. Everyone?
Nope.
Danny, Andrew and Brenda just started eating, as Danny spoke in a neutral, all but board tone of voice,"Ya going to eat? Meat's getting cold and we John's boys don't like to waste any kind of meat."
"Is it true?"
Lily asked, eyeing the meat like a dangerous cobra, as she slowly reached for a knife.
"Ya'll just couldn't leave well enough alone, could you? Things could have go so much easier, if you just sit down and eat."
Andrew spoke blankly, as he ate, freaking out everyone even more.
"What the fuck is wrong with them?"
Logan gagged at the sight,"They're...they're not even denying it."
"Growing up on a farm, i was taught not to waste anything. Not tools, not items and especially not food. Now more then ever, those things, the dead that walk around now, they're just meat. Walking, rotten meat that has gone to waste and is no good to anyone. I'm sorry about you're friend, but he was never going to make it and letting good, fresh meat go to waste just isn't our way. I taught my boys as such and we have survived, while everyone else has died. We can still be friends, you and you're little family can stay here forever even. All you have to do, is SEAT. BACK. DOWN and eat."
The lady of the house spoke kindly, even at the last part but everyone heard the threat for what it was.
"Fuck me, as bad as Vacou is, the people there aren't even half as savage as these people are."
Octavia Ember of team NDGO said, beyond disturbed at how the woman looked so, so...lifeless.
Dead even, as if the murder and eating of another human being was similar to talking about the weather.
"Ya know, as much as i hate the tribe, not even you guys would sink this low."
Qrow spoke to his sister, as she nodded numbly. No, she didn't care what happened, there was no way in the seven hells would she ever allow the tribe to become these, these monsters.
Never.
Even if she had to kill them herself, she would never allow them to sink to this low.
Sparing a glance at Lee and Kenny, while their group tensed, ready to make a break for it at a moments notice, asthe two men nodded to him. Xero looked at Mikasa,"Ika, get Velvet, we're leaving. ALL of us are leaving.
"AGH!"
Velvet yelped as Danny had sprung out of his seat, grabbing her hair, hard. Pulling her back with a knife to her small throat, the oldest brother growled out,"Back off boy! Ain't nobody going anywhere! Now stay the fuck back, sit you're ass down and eat you're meat or else you're pretty daughter get-"
SNAP
SLINCH!
"AGH, FUCK! FUC-"
Danny was cut off, as Xero blurred to the man slicing his hand off from the wrist, then back handed the older brother right through the wall, outside the house leaving a good sized hole behind. The father growled threateningly, his right hand covered in blood as he used his enlarged nails to cut the bastard's hand that was pulling Velvet's hair, off his little girl while the other was protectively holding Velvet close to his chest.
Like an enraged tiger protecting his young cub.
"D-daddy?"
Velvet whispered, she barely blinked and suddenly, she was in her father's arms, as she looked up and gasped. Her father's beautiful amethyst colored eyes had turned a similar shade of gold, only much more hellish then her own golden ones. His face had several veins pulsing in clear agitation, as he bared his fangs.
Not teeth, fangs.
Very large, thick looking fanged teeth that looked like they could bite through steel.
It made the little girl gasp, never once seeing this level of fury on her daddy's face in her short five years of living.
Neo made several hand gestures, as Roman grinned and nodded to his silent partner,"You got that right Neo. They've gone and fucked up, big time."
"Lee, Kenny get everyone out of here. I'LL deal with these monsters, now."
His voice had delved deeper into a demonic tone, making the two named men nod, as the remaining St. Johns were wide eyed, staring at the monster before them. They didn't even try to reach for the rifle, too sacred of the monster before them. The one that had unleashed upon themselves by threating his loved ones and now, there would be no escaping him.
"B-but what about Mark?"
Xero paused, before he cast a eye over to Katjaa and said simply,"I'll put him out of his misery, once i'm done with these two. His wounds, sigh, they're too much, he's lost too much blood and even if we could save him, there is not point. We can't take him with us, he become a burden on our group and he can't even do anything on his own anymore. He's a liability now and he can't even walk now, there's no way he would survive. I'm not asking you to kill him, i'll do it and i intended to make it quick. There is no reason for him to suffer any longer. Kenny, Lee keep them safe, i won't be long."
"You got it pal."
"Yeah, no problem."
"Goddamn, cold but he's not wrong."
Sam said sadly, not knowing what else to say. What Xero said was completely right and as bad as it sounded, he was doing Mark a favor by making the difficult choice. There's no way a person with no legs can survive out there, just a simple impossibility.
It would be a mercy killing at this point.
Sam shook his head, as he watched the Xero on screen release his daughter, back to her mother as he turned his attention on the reaming cannibals, flexing his now clawed hands as he did so.
"Andrew, Brenda since you we're so kind to try and feed us one of our own, allow me to show you both, what a REAL monster looks like."
As he said this, the group quickly moved out of the house, not seeing the Mazoku's body grow with his rage, as he towed over the remaining Johnsons.
"Oh they are SO FUCKED."
With The Group Two Minutes Later
"Is Xero going to be alright?"
Clementine asked Lee. The group had made it deep into the woods, on the old trail back to the motor inn, as the dark skinned man looked at his young charge and nodded,"Don't worry sweet pea, i'm sure-"
"AAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
The screaming, one that was so loud made everyone hearts stop and made their blood turn cold, as it abruptly stopped at the same time. Velvet buried her head into her mother's leg, as Mikasa looked back towards the farm worryingly.
"He'll be fine Clem, if nothing else, i'd say i feel sorry for those St. Johns."
Lee finally spoke, as Kenny nodded,"No doubt about it, i'd rather take on an army of Walkers then Xero. Don't worry Clem, he'll be just fine."
"AAAAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHH-"
"BANG"
The large bang of Xero's pistol, the Terminator, rang out in the forest as the group silently made there way back to the motor inn. No words needed to be said, the deed was done and the St. Johns were dead.
In the most brutalist way possible.
"..."
Then their was silence, as everyone made there way back to the Inn.
Nothing was needed to be said, as the slaughter house of St. John would never speak a sound ever again.
The room fell silent, other then the small sniffling. No one knew what to say, how could they? They just watched normal, friendly looking people casual eating another person and tried to threaten the other into staying, only for a new monster to emerged right before they're eyes.
"Hey, wasn't Mikasa there?"
Done and oh boy, that got bad real fast.
So yeah, if you haven't figured it out yet, that was one of the episodes on "The Walking Dead" Tale Tell game in episode two. So some spoilers there but yet, the St. Johns, the NICE people were really cannibals out to eat you. If you want to stop sweet Clem from eating Mark, you have to chose:
"DON'T EAT THAT"
I chose "IT'S PEOPLE" and the other option but it doesn't work, she eats anyway. Remember chose, Don't eat and you'll save her from eating human meat.
So, onto Raikou being her usual motherly self, she saw through Pyrrha's wanting to have a worthy challenge and Ruby might have learned more about Xero, had Weiss not opened her mouth.
Remember, like Jaune, she is still in her Volume one phase and while she has lighten up a little on Ruby, she's still bitchy to everyone else. But she'll get better as time goes on. So yeah, i know i said i would reveal more about the Dead War but i believe this chapter was prefect for everyone to get an insight of what kind of hell is coming to Remnant and Earth now, if the war kicks off.
Next chapter, i promise will finish it but this was the prefect cutting off point, i just couldn't help it.
Like the first Arc chapter.
So, Xero left for the time being, cause after seeing him at his full power, everyone will be scared of him. The idea is for Xero to be AWAY from him, so they can slowly come to terms with them having a supernova among them. We all saw what happened to Ironwood during V7 and 8, while he hasn't reached that point, he can.
Now that he knows Xero can create portals, it's going to get worse.
Xero purposely showed off he can create portals too deterrent anyone stupid enough to come after his loved ones in order to get to him. Of course, we all known they will regardless, but this new power he revealed, will hold them at bay for the moment. So next chapter, we will see the first official battle of the Dead War.
Till next time my peeps!
Devil out!