Warhammer 40k and RWBY belong to their respective owners.
[X]
If there was something Roman Torchwick wanted, he would simply take it.
After all, being a thief had its advantages. The underworld is full of opportunities to get rich overnight. More than once he had witnessed it, sometimes it was hard to notice, but to his eye few things could escape him.
Of course, it didn't mean he did it out of necessity. Roman knew that if he wanted to he could have become anything he was interested in, he had the skills to do it. But the boring life of work rules were something he couldn't tolerate. Maybe if other situations had happened differently, then maybe things wouldn't have ended up like this.
But Roman couldn't deny that he loved the adrenaline rush his job gave him.
Stealing, he had turned it into an art, sometimes leaving the right number of clues so that the police would fall for them and allow him to flee to other places.
So he wondered why things had changed from a smooth criminal to a human trafficker. Not that he was complaining about the difficulty, he was still very good at planning every hit.
However, he couldn't help but feel that he was moving out of his zone of control. In robberies there were no 'victims', at least not on his moral scale. But on this occasion seeing the inhabitants of this small village being dragged into the Bullheads, crying and kicking, screaming for mercy as they were beaten to be separated from their families. That small, almost vanishing feeling of what Roman could only define as the closest thing to guilt was bubbling up like a person trying to climb out of a ditch.
Nor could he trust these new 'workers' that his, for now, partner had sent. While they didn't keep complaining about 'the unstoppable discrimination against their people' that the White Fang members cried day and night every chance they got which, given the chance they said every time he ordered them to do something...
Not that those strange symbols these new patrons brought weren't something that helped much either. That strange eight-pointed wheel and the odd symbols that for some reason stuck in his head and it was very hard for him to forget them.
While these workers were somehow more efficient than the White Fang, Roman could still discern certain differences between them. They all fell into four groups. Some were temperamental, always trying to inflate their egos with challenges and fights that, if it weren't for his proper supervision, would have disbanded this operation long ago. On the other hand, there were also those who seemed never to have taken a bath in their lives, always dirty and untidy, but for some reason carrying an enviable good mood, always trying to see the positive side of things. Then there were those who liked to spread rumors and half-truths, he had almost lost his composure when one of them started a rumor about his hat and how he wore it to hide his baldness, it had been imperative for Roman to clear it up, but he had put that gossiper on his blacklist. Finally there was the oddest group and the one he'd least want to deal with. A bunch of crackpots who didn't seem to understand the concept of self control, it wasn't uncommon to see them so obsessed with something, or so obfuscated with getting more and more of something. Not to mention how they always looked like they were coming out of some adult party.
A girl and her mother were trying to hold on to each other, but in the end they were separated and dragged to different Bullheads each. Roman tried to ignore it and go through the numbers hoping that this would be enough to make him ignore that pang of guilt that stung like an ant. Even Neo had refused to accompany him, not that he couldn't fend for himself, more than once they had worked separately from each other, but the disgust on her face when she made it clear that she would no longer be accompanying him on these mass abductions had been branded like red hot iron in his mind.
"Maybe I need a vacation..." Roman mused to himself. Some beautiful beach or a warm cottage chalet could give him that relaxation he so longed for. Maybe take Neo and devote some time away from it all. It sounded really tempting.
He tried not to, but every now and then he couldn't help but wonder what they were doing with all these civilians they kidnapped. He was simply a go-between, he would mark the villages to attack and the nutty boys would do the dirty work. He just had to wait until the villages were emptied and then all that was left was to cash his check and get the hell out of there.
But the Bullheads were always full.
It was no different this time.
He had been careful not to find Huntsmen, to select places where there were none for at least ten kilometers around. Of course, with so many kidnappings it was getting harder and harder to find an easy target without having to risk it, but he was sure that this modus operandi was the reason why they kept hiring him.
He was also fast. Speed was the most important thing, not because he was unlucky enough to run into some nosy Hunter, but because of the Grimm himself who like gnats in the light swirled around to consume the thrills. Quite a headache, but these guys knew how to fight and could keep them at bay, at least temporarily.
The last of the civilians entered the Bullhead and it departed for some unknown location they wouldn't let him and he didn't want to know about.
One of those dirty, filth-covered guys approached him, although Roman had already noticed by the stench that had suddenly invaded his nostrils. This man was carrying a suitcase, Roman didn't have to say anything else, as he had done several times before, he just took the suitcase (making sure not to touch the handle) and once the beggar was gone, he made sure to clean it with a disinfectant that he had become accustomed to carrying with him.
He disappeared into the forest, wishing this was the last time he would do this.
[X]
Ever since that fateful day when her students had been killed in such a gruesome manner, Glynda Goodwitch felt that things had gone from bad to worse.
Her footsteps echoed through the empty halls of Beacon. It had been three weeks since that misfortune had occurred, and it had been barely a week since the students had returned to classes.
Today was a day off, a weekend. A right the students had so they wouldn't feel so obfuscated. They were young after all, just taking the first steps to become Huntsmen and protectors of humanity.
Beacon should live up to its name, a beacon of hope against the forces of humanity. But since that incident, it seemed that a blanket of darkness had fallen over the academy. Students no longer acted as they once did, the halls had become quiet, and even the more rebellious students seemed to have changed.
"Good morning, Professor Goodwitch." William Porter greeted her, always well-dressed and sporting his very showy suit.
"Good morning Professor Porter." Glynda greeted him back. "Are you taking a walk?"
William nodded, "Just one last time before I say goodbye to Beacon."
Glynda would have liked to say something, to ask him not to leave. It had been the same professor who had taught her. So many memories and experiences this wise man had left the school. But recent events had forced him to withdraw. After all, he had been the one who had authorized the deployment of the CVFY and CRNL team. And although Ozpin had tried to convince him to stay, going against the Vale council's requests. But William didn't want to bring more trouble to Beacon. There was already too much guilt he carried for the death of those three students.
"I hope you can enjoy your retirement, William..."
"Don't worry about me, young lady. I have more than enough to retire to my countryside. I would have done this years ago, but my desire to teach young people kept me going until now." A slight knot formed in his voice, one he hid to continue. "But I know there are excellent teachers out there who will allow the young up-and-comers to learn more of what it means to be a Huntsmen."
"Indeed there are..." Sighed Glynda as she knew this would be the last time she would see William Porter within the walls of Beacon. "It's been quite a pleasure, William."
"The pleasure has been all mine, young Glynda. I'm sure you have much left to teach."
They both said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.
Glynda continued on, as she reached the physical course area, she came across some students training in one of the many arenas. It was not uncommon to see students staying to train or study. Students who were looking to improve themselves. But what surprised her was to discover Cardin Winchester himself was training. Three against one. His whole team against him. Cardin by himself was the best in physical strength, outperforming all the freshmen. But that was as far as his advantage went, his talent had blinded him to reality. And it had taken a tragedy to open his eyes. Glynda appreciated the change in the boy, but wished it had come in a different way.
Glynda decided to move on. Ozpin's office was still a few minutes away. The meeting would be starting soon enough.
Finally she reached the elevator in the main tower, the largest place in all of Beacon, and the place from which Ozpin watched, vigilant of everything in sight.
Glynda pressed the button and the elevator began to rise, and before long she was at the top and her destination.
There was a round table in the center of the room. The number of chairs could vary depending on the guests, there was never a standardized number on this one.
The table was a symbol Ozpin had created, a way to organize meetings, discussions and gatherings where everyone present was on equal footing. It didn't matter if it was a council member or a simple teacher, everyone was equal the moment they sat at that Round Table.
Today there were three guests at the table, though not in person. Hardlight Dust holograms projected the images of all the Headmasters of the only four Hunter academies around the world.
Of Atlas, James Ironwood, Headmaster and General of the largest and most powerful military force in all of Remnant. Proud, disciplined and uncompromising, this is how he had maintained a power that could be considered half of all Remnant.
Next was Leonardo Lionheart, a man who, even if in Glynda's eyes he did not deserve to be in that place, he also knew that his reason for being in the seat of the Headmaster of Haven of the kingdom of Mistral, was a necessity due to the distrust that the people of a kingdom that looked at the Faunus with contempt even after so many years that had passed after the war.
The last guest, Theodore, Headmaster of Shade. Even on this day, he remained a mystery. He rarely showed his face, and this was no exception. Still, she would not dare to doubt his abilities, he had proven to be a powerful Huntsmen, capable of solving any problem with a cool and sometimes merciless efficiency. Which contrasted with his eccentric, fun and relaxed personality.
"I think we can start with this meeting now." Theodore stated. "I need to attend to some business at the council of Vacuo."
Ozpin nodded and turned to look at Leonardo. "You were saying, Professor Lionheart, something about symbols you have begun to see in villages that have also been completely emptied of their inhabitants?"
"I wish I didn't have to walk those streets again" Spoke the Haven director, his usual nervousness exchanged for genuine fear. "They're not Grimm, that's a fact. But I feel they're something much worse."
"I understand..." Ozpin continued. "James..."
Ironwood took a data unit from one of his assistants. "We've managed to uncover some footage and graphic evidence. And Lionheart's suspicion might be a reality."
The hard light hologram in the center of the table changed and showed the image of a being turning a corner and then suddenly disappearing. It was humanoid, quite large, reaching near three meters in height. It wore armor whose color was the color of the night coat. Fetishes hung from different anchors, as well as bones that could only speculate what they belonged to.
"This is the most detailed photograph we have ever captured. The greatest minds in Atlas have been analyzing these images. We know they're using extremely dense armor and of a material we can't understand, but it's some kind of ultra-resistant ceramic that disperses heat at near 100 percent."
A video later appeared in the center of the table in hologram form.
"The sacrifice of this brave Atlas Huntsman allowed us to better understand their weaponry." The video showed the first-person image of whoever was watching. One of the armored beings pointed its weapon at him in a scene that barely lasted the part of a second, and had been edited to play slower. Even so, the scene was still very short at only a handful of seconds.
"Their weapons fire explosive projectiles that travel at hypersonic speeds, we have not been able to measure these accurately, but it is more than evident to the fact that even with Aura, it would be very unwise to allow yourself to be hit by a round of these."
James closed his eyes and again released a silent thank you for that brave man. The clip lasted less than a second, even if it was edited. But it was clear to the experienced eyes of everyone in the room. Three shots had been heard in a burst that flew directly at the viewer. Three sounds that echoed through the room, three explosions that detonated in almost instantaneous succession. The first two breaking off the aura that protected the Huntsman, the last round was the one that sank into his flesh and exploded.
Ironwood closed the video, he didn't want to have to watch any more of these deaths that caused him so much anger. He had sworn to himself that he would capture those responsible and make them pay for everything they did. "Thanks to our surveillance systems, Mantle has remained protected. But our surveillance posts have been badly hit and we have lost many armed forces. From what we've seen... they never leave a single survivor... and they always usurp the dead in some way... It's horrifying..."
"If I may gentlemen..." Seeing that Ironwood would not continue, Shade's Headmaster took the discussion. "James, these attacks on the guard posts... Have they left any mark? Any after effects on the place? And I don't mean the mark left by a tragedy, but some residue in the environment, something more... Supernatural?"
Ironwood shook his head. "No, it's just been terror attacks and hundreds of dead soldiers, has the same thing happened on Shade?"
Theodore remained silent for over thirty seconds, the others understood that he had something to say, but he was judging whether or not to share it. After all, Shade wasn't well known for being an academy open to others.
"Two teams of Shade huntsmen managed to kill one of them..."
The revelation left everyone silent, but with mixed feelings ranging from surprise to disappointment that they hadn't been informed.
But before James could stand up to show his displeasure, Theodore spoke again.
"And these two teams died 7 hours later due to a disease we don't understand."
Silence again pervaded the place and this time it stayed that way, as all the principals wanted details of this.
"Their internal organs rotted and the blood in their veins turned to bloodletting. They were all suffering from the same ailments that were only increasing one hour after another. And that's not the worst of it..."
A new holographic image, a photograph, appeared in the center of the table. It was an image taken from some sort of garden that had appeared in the middle of the desert. But upon closer inspection, they saw to their horror how that garden was nothing more than a collection of swamp and dead, rotting trees. With rivers of water full of filth and vermin inhabiting the place. It was a place that just made one feel sick just looking at it.
"This abomination appeared in the place where that being was struck down. And the worst thing is that it has done nothing but grow. Everyone who has gone in to investigate the place never comes back and even the Grimm who enter this swamp end up becoming sacks of rotting maggots. We're considering burning it down with a Red Dust bomb, but for now it's in maximum quarantine."
"What about the machines?" asked Ironwood. "I'm sure a platoon of our atlas knights could..."
"I thank you for your consideration, General." Theodore interrupted him. "But I'm afraid it will be somewhat futile. We've sent drones to investigate the place, and they always end up rusted, as if the very air itself is corrosive and destroys them in seconds. And I don't think a Paladin's armor can survive more than thirty seconds inside."
Ozpin then took the word.
"Can Vacuo with this emergency?" Ozpin asked.
"I understand your concern..." Theodore replied. "But for now I can assure you that it hasn't gotten out of hand. We'll plant that bomb and that cursed place will disappear in the fire."
"I can assume then that we are in a situation beyond us." Leonardo spoke. "We must gather all the maidens!"
Ozpin made a grimace that could not be noticed by the Haven director, but it was not the same for the others. And that was obvious. There was no one else to take care of this, the Huntsman were the only thing standing between the Grimm and humanity. But there was one thing Leonardo was right about, gather all the maidens to fight this unknown enemy.
"I've been tracking them down, I know where two of them are, and right now one of my agents is on the trail of the third." Announced the Beacon director.
"Are you sure Qrow can handle this?" Ironwood asked him in a concerned tone. They had their doubts about the veteran hunter, Ozpin's last remaining agent. A drunk who seemed to only live in bars.
"I trust him completely, James." Ozpin tried to convince him, but he knew it was a near impossibility in the stubborn Atlas director. "Qrow knows what he's doing. And I know he will accomplish his mission. Trust me, James."
"I trust you, but my trust rests only with you. I will order a search to find the remaining maidens."
Ozpin accepted Ironwood's actions, it was not worth it in fighting over trifles.
"I think that will be enough for now." Ozpin said. "The defenses of each academy will need to be reinforced and surveillance around each Kingdom will need to be increased, the Vytal festival will be coming soon and its success must be a priority to maintain the emotional well being of the people. I wish you all the best."
All the other directors nodded and the hard light holograms disappeared.
They had not noticed a raven that had perched on the perch behind Ozpin.
When the Beacon Headmaster turned he merely waved. "Welcome back, Qrow, do you have anything new to report?"
There was a man resting in one of the armchairs. Flask in hand, he emptied the last of the liquor on his tongue and threw himself on the couch. His appearance was not unlike that of a beggar, dirty and smelly clothes, bushy beard and unkempt hair. If anyone else saw him they would not know him from some street drunk, living off the charity of others.
Ozpin preferred it that way, a good disguise for gathering information.
But today it looked too realistic.
Qrow raised his head to look at him, his eyes were red, he didn't know if it was the effect of the liquor, sleeplessness or maybe tears. Ozpin left that last one behind, Qrow had shed enough in the past, he had no more left.
He sat up awkwardly, his body still under the effects of the alcohol. Glynda wanted to reprimand him, but restrained herself. She didn't want to deal with someone like Qrow in that state.
"...I found the autumn maiden, I found Amber..."
"Ah, very good. and where is she?"
Qrow gave him a wry look and reached for his spare flask that still contained liquor. He took a large swig and put it away.
"She's dead..." He said bluntly.
Ozpin sighed, trying to clear his mind and focus on what was most important.
"How did she die?" Asked his former mentor.
Qrow pulled out his flask again and drank all that was left.
"As if the sickest bastard that ever lived walked among us." Qrow's left hand began to tremble, he squeezed it with his other hand. "I've seen horrible things...but this...what kind of monster would cut off her hands and tie her to a post and have a damn horse with I don't know how many pounds of dope open a channel and turn her into a periscope? I fired all my bullets at that animal and yet he was still riding her, it wasn't until I decapitated it that left left her carcass."
"Wait..." Glynda spoke. "You mean Lullaby... who had always accompanied her... was?" Glynda felt herself fading, fortunately she managed to stay on her feet. "Oh no... Oooh, no..."
Ozpin kept silent, inwardly regretting not having gone to look for her sooner.
"Left her body in the morgue." Qrow continued. "When I found her she wasn't carrying much, but I found something..."
Qrow placed something on the table, it was covered by a cloth that enveloped it completely. "After rummaging through the crime scene, I came across this very strange dagger." He removed the cloth and revealed a most bizarre sword, plated in gold and silver. Its ornaments were something they had never seen before, but at the same time resonated with perfect detail and workmanship. It was as if they were supernaturally adjusted to every angle of light to give the same shadowy effect. It was something that not even the best gunsmiths of the four kingdoms could match.
Ozpin for some reason felt the urge to touch it, to hold it in his hand. There was something about that sword that called to him, as if it was begging him to wield it. He reached out his hand to lift it, but it was stopped by Qrow's quick grip.
"Don't..." He was warned by his agent. "Don't you dare touch it. That thing is cursed."
"What do you mean, someone put a spell on it?"
"I don't know, but the last time someone touched it this one went crazy and ended up skinning his face with that blade."
Qrow lifted the cloth, and with his hand wrapped in it, he wielded the sword. "Its edge is incredible, after studying it it was discovered that the blade has a monomolecular edge. And that's not all..." Qrow pressed the jewel that adorned the hilt, a beautifully cut amethyst. A buzzing sound was heard and a crimson energy field enveloped the blade of the sword. "I have no idea what kind of technology this is, but with this you can cut through anything." Qrow pressed the jewel again and the energy field disappeared. He wrapped the cloth around the sword and handed it to Ozpin. "Please, don't go touching it. I'm serious, Oz."
"I'll remember." Ozpin assured him. He held the cloth carefully and set it aside, knowing he couldn't entrust something like this to Glynda who was still in shock due to the death of Amber, who had been her partner at the academy.
"Do you have any idea who could have done something like this?" Ozpin asked Qrow, the latter trying to calm the trembling in his left hand.
"...No... I don't know... I mean, the first culprit would be the witch, but doing that to her... no, that's not how she operates."
"Do you think it has something to do with the disappearances of villagers in the provinces and the armored giants that have been reported?"
"I don't know... I... maybe..." Babbled Qrow, his nerves still shot, he needed alcohol. "I... I need to rest, Oz... okay? Go to the family... visit the bar... I... Ah for all the Dust! Ozpin... There's something very wrong with all this... It's like... something has gotten to Remnant, a new player on the board... I don't know if it's on the witch's side, but I feel like it's something worse... And those damn symbols! I can't get them out of my head! I feel them calling me... You have no idea how hard it was to bring that sword all the way... The urge to touch it almost drove me crazy... Ozpin, do me a favor, destroy that damn thing... several times I tried, but I couldn't..."
At this point Qrow was panicking. Ozpin couldn't help but be amazed, few things could impress his agent like that. He had seen him take on hordes of Grimm all by himself, what could that sword have to take such courage from him?
"I'll call a Bullhead to pick you up. Take a few days and come back when you feel better. Don't worry."
Qrow thanked him and got up to leave. Glynda opened the door for him, but before leaving the room, Qrow said one last thing.
"Ozpin... I think you should activate the Relic."
"Qrow, you well know...!" Glynda tried to lash out, but a hand on her shoulder stopped her.
"I'm going to consider that, Qrow. Using just one of those relics carries a huge weight, it could destroy Vale."
Qrow sighed and stepped out finally.
"Ozpin, I..." Glynda brought up the subject of the Relic again. Ozpin already knew what she would say.
"I'm not going to use it, but I don't plan to ignore Qrow's words either. You saw it too, he's almost broken."
"It could be the alcohol."
"Alcohol is no reason to act like this. I'll prepare the Relic in case we need it, but I won't touch it."
"What about that sword?"
Ozpin glanced at the cloth that guarded the blade. Even just by looking at it, he could feel an ancient evil emanating from it.
"I'm going to keep it in the vault."
[X]
Cardin backhanded, and his mass slammed into the skull of an Ursa. The red Dust echoed on impact and the Grimm's head exploded into charred pieces. Another one came at him, swung Executor again and knocked down the second Ursa.
Out of the corner of his eye was Dove, a Beowolf at his feet, already disappearing. "Clear." This last one said.
Russel and Sky were shaking the edge of their weapons from the ichor he was making from the Grimm's blood. "Those Vipers won't bother anymore."
Cardin nodded, they had finished their task, Villa Crane would no longer suffer from Grimm attacks, at least for now. They had given him enough time for the engineers to finish installing the defensive walls, walls with which Vale and foreign companies were armoring all the settlements around the city. This, due to the mass disappearances and the fear that these caused, ended up attracting more and more Grimm. By now they should be setting up the automatic weapons systems that could contain even a large group of Grimm long enough for help to arrive.
"Looks like RWBY just finished with their part on the southeast side."
RWBY had been sent with them, a decision Glynda had made. Now the missions would have to be made up of two or more teams and each with constant contact with the other. Of course, in the case of RWBY, it was even more complicated than working with others, they were a bunch of idealists who based their decisions mostly on impulse and improvisation. He knew the Ice Queen, the one he could call the only one with some pragmatism, and, even so, she lacked the skills to keep a cool head, among these being the weakest member of her team.
"Let them know we're done here." Cardin ordered. "Let them return to the village, we will return as well. We must avoid tiring ourselves unnecessarily."
"Do you think we'll meet those armed giants, Chief?" Sky Lark asked him.
"I hope not, I really hope not."
"Will the defenses hold up against them?" Russell kept looking up into the trees, as if waiting for something to come out of the underbrush and branches.
"It's not something I'd want to check being close by. Velvet described to us how one of them had managed to withstand the shots from Coco's Gianduja."
The walk back to the village passed without another word. After an hour's walk back they caught sight of the steel-reinforced concrete wall. It was tall, over six meters, its walls were gray, of an exterior finish specially designed to make it extremely difficult for any creature to climb. There were two .50 caliber, rotary-barreled heavy machine guns mounted on each wall. It was an intimidating sight and one that could at least provoke some calm in the knowledge that even a Deathstalker would be in trouble in the face of the combined fire of Dust's turrets and specialized ammunition.
Enri, the daughter of the village leader welcomed them. She was waiting for them with water and food. Next to her, a smaller girl, her sister, Nemu. Both were surrounded by a group of villagers holding various firearms. They were eleven subjects usually seen, they called themselves the village militia, experienced hunters.
"You shouldn't be out here." Cardin said to the youngest of the sisters.
"I'm not afraid because I know you're here." She said excitedly and with a wide smile.
Cardin had chosen to be a huntsman to prove himself, the idea of being a hero, or a vigilante, was something he could leave to people like RWBY or CVFY. He didn't know how to feel about the praise from the girl who saw him as a guardian. It was something he didn't want to deal with. But he swallowed those thoughts and stroked the young girl's hair.
"Still, it's too dangerous. We haven't cleared this area completely and we don't know that Grimm could have snuck in." He said. "All of you, get back to the villa. We'll let you know once we've secured the area."
One of the men accompanying them snorted. "Jah, don't get so serious. We know how to defend ourselves too." He was the burly one, carrying a shotgun that looked like it had been modified to be able to fire Dust rounds.
Cardin chuckled to himself. These guys wouldn't survive a horde of Grimm on their own, not without Aura. In fact, this village had been kept relatively safe by the number of hunter patrols that used this area to transport from one settlement to another. Villa Crane was fortunate to be a through route, and few Grimm had learned to keep their distance from this place.
"Ok, but just in case. I don't think it's safe to expose two girls with no combat experience to a place like this either."
The militia group seemed to understand this logic, and decided that going back would be the appropriate thing to do. Once the welcoming party had withdrawn, and enough food and drink had been left for the other team as well, that's when RWBY arrived.
Their attitude was as familiar as he remembered, relaxed and unconcerned. Their leader, Ruby Rose, walked with her scythe folded behind her back. Blake, didn't seem to mind the fact that they were in a danger zone as she read one of her books while walking. Yang, was talking about things he wasn't interested in. Finally, Weiss, the most, and one might even dare say, the only sensible one of the group. She walked with her Rapier in hand, watching every corner, waiting for an attack.
When they were spotted, a clear change in RWBY's attitude could be noticed. Hostility and distrust formed in an air of condescension around them.
"We finished off the Grimm on the southeast side." Weiss said, trying to act as a mediator. And while commendable, it wasn't hard to notice the distaste with which she spoke to him.
The others, Ruby said nothing, nor dared to look at them, turned away slightly, making Cardin's suspicions that the RWBY team leader was a highly introverted antisocial. Although he wouldn't dare stipulate it, he just kept it to himself.
Yang, on the other hand, didn't seem to take his eyes off them. She had her eyes riveted on him and his group, always with a hostile and defiant scowl. It wasn't the first time this had happened, as Yang was the complete opposite of him, idealistic, impulsive, impatient and with a 'hero' complex.
Blake didn't even look away from her book. Cardin didn't know much about the girl. She always tried to remain aloof from others. But there was something in her eyes that told him she would attack if approached. She always wore a black-colored bow on her head, but even now, it seemed to be slightly folded back.
"Okay... for now let's wait for them to finish setting up the defense system, after that we'll call in a Bullhead to get out of here."
Ozpin had put him in command, the field experience he had had in that village, as well as being older than Ruby, was reason for him to become the leader of this mission. And although RWBY had been offended by this, Glynda's words were enough of a deterrent to shut them up. Of course, that didn't mean there would be roses, and while he was confident that he had become strong enough to face Phyrra after all his training, he didn't want to risk this mission and face the wrath of Goodwitch, and he was sure they didn't want to either.
RWBY reached over to take the supplies that had been left for them, Russel had gone to the trouble of taking the best pieces for them and leaving them the rest. Always the freeloader, trying to take as much as he could while he could. It was a habit he had not managed to eliminate, for he had brought it with him from Vacuo, his mother had brought him to Vale trying to seek a better life and escape the criminal gangs that plagued the country.
Dove laughed quietly, he knew that most of what was left was just bread and some fruit that the locals had given to them. He pocketed the piece of beef jerky Russel had given him and took a swig of the cold orangeade Enri had given them.
"Is it going to be night before they finish setting all that up?" Sky asked.
"Who knows..." Russel spoke up. "I don't want to sleep here."
"If that happens... will we leave them to it?" Dove checked his scroll, the code to call the bullhead already preset.
"No." Cardin reassured them. "These are Ozpin's orders, we leave no one behind. Besides, all that's left now is to calibrate the turrets, I doubt we'll have to stay overnight here."
Sky let out a chuckle as he heard Ruby Rose complain as she realized there was nothing left that could have sugar.
Suddenly, the turret mechanisms sounded, and the five rotating cannons moved pointing toward a small clearing. Cardin wondered if it was part of the calibration tests, but a sound made him reconsider his thoughts.
Two Beowulfs emerged from the trees, and were instantly munched down by the heavy .50 rounds. Cardin realized with satisfaction that this village would be safe from the Grimm.
But it was not over. More Grimm appeared, at least four more, all were Beowulf.
The guns of the turrets swiveled, but did not fire. Cardin noted with annoyance that the ammunition transport belts were empty. The ammunition had been loaded to test the tracking system, not for a real situation.
Therefore, they were the only thing left for the Grimm to deal with.
But there was something too strange.
One of those Grimm, a Beowulf of already rather large size. It was quite strange, too strange. His skin was like magma, red and coppery. The shapes of its limbs were also very strange. They were longer, its hind legs looked like they belonged to a goat and its arms were masses of muscles surrounded by veins that looked like steel cables.
The beast was too aggressive, so much so that it did not take long to kill one of its own, its claws tore it as if it were paper, the black ichor bathed the mutated beowulf and in a macabre act it lifted the head of the beowulf it had killed, as if offering it to heaven itself. Then it burned in an unnatural fire that left only the bone of the Grimm.
Perhaps it was fear, perhaps it was repulsion. But Yang was the one who opened fire first. Ember Celica roared as she fired multiple rounds as she threw punches. The gauntlets thundered in a storm of rounds that hit the Beowulf.
But when Yang had to reload, the beast was still there, lowering the arms that had resisted the blonde's attack. It roared, and a stream of red ichor escaped from its maw, it was like blood, burning blood that set everything it touched on fire.
"What the hell is that thing!" Sky screamed, also adding his fire, trying to bring the creature down.
The beast charged, its massive size twice the size of a normal Beowulf was like a battering ram pushing away everything in its path.
Weiss stood in front of it, in defiance. She raised her rapier and with a graceful movement brought it down. A column of ice rose up, like a river of glass with edges as sharp as razor blades, and they rushed at Grimm. And the Grimm received it squarely.
The beast had been impaled by multiple spears of ice.
But it was not dead.
Against all logic, despite the fact that it was a wound that would kill any Grimm, it was still alive. Worse, it emanated a rage that permeated the air, an unnatural fury that was impossible to comprehend. The Beowulf, even with its body full of holes, shook from side to side until it split the ice stakes
"Monster..." Was all Russel managed to say before the beast split the ice and broke free.
Something was different in this Grimm, its twisted form that he had already had before, was changing. Antlers sprouted from its head, and its body emitted more and more heat. Incandescent and embracing, the grass near it was charred in seconds. There was something about this creature that made Cardin feel an intense rage that he thought had gone dormant.
Of course, Cardin knew how to control his emotions, a whole year this had been the most important part of his self-imposed training after his defeat by Phyrra Nikos. It had been his emotions that had caused him to lose so demeaningly to her.
But it had not been the same for Yang Xiao'long.
Her once golden hair was engulfed in flames, her Semblance, activated by her anger that had taken hold of her. The aura of that Beowulf made her act impulsively, her feelings clouding her vision. Memories came to her, a night lost in the forest, a sister she had failed, and a beast that had scarred them.
Yang concentrated all that anger into a single blow, enough to pulverize an Ursa. A battering ram aimed at the aberrant beast that stalked them.
And when the blow connected, thunder rumbled through the earth. A blow that echoed like a cannon, all aimed at that blood-red Beowulf.
It should have killed it.
But Ember Celica was now connected to a claw that had absorbed all the energy. An arm that had been torn, flesh and muscle shredded with bone showing underneath.
For a moment it looked like the Beowulf had smiled.
Yang received the answer to his attack, a hook straight to her cheek.
Normally, her aura should have absorbed most of the blow.
But now she felt a burning in her face, a burning she did not understand, for her cheek was unharmed, but still the pain was tantamount to a burn that burned like red-hot flesh.
Cardin realized that acting defensively was no longer an option. Yang had ruined any attempt at a formation, so all that was left for them to do was to outmaneuver the enemy by numbers and speed.
"Dove, support. Sky, Russ, with me!"
Cardin charged. Blake and Weiss took a different route. Both veered sideways to try to flank the beast. Ruby had fallen behind, her shots slamming into that monster, but it barely seemed to affect it.
Cardin released Executor's mace and a chain uncoiled. With a twist the mace with red Dust hit the beast, sending it crashing down with an explosion in its chest. Weiss and Blake did not miss this opportunity. They both fell on the stabbing beast. Weiss, who had charged Myrtenaster with white Dust, released a prison of ice that created a block of ice over the creature.
"Get away from there!" Cardin shouted at them. "It's got a weapon!"
Both narrowly managed to escape, the air was cut off as a miasma left a trail. In the Grimm's grasp, incredible as it was, a sword had appeared.
It was as if made of bronze, but it glowed with an unholy halo that seemed to awaken the wildest instincts of anyone who looked upon it. Cardin felt anger condensing inside him, trying to escape, to get out. It was that sword, there was something about this one, something cursed that simply should not exist.
The mutant Beowulf rose up, its red skin now seemed to burn like magma. It was as if its flesh was falling off, turned to ashes.
Something rose from within those unholy flames. Something their brains could only recognize as one of the many creatures they had heard of as children. Horror stories enchanted beings like this one. Beings that were only made up of the purest evil.
A demon.
Rising over six feet, was a nightmarish creature. A being that was simply anathema to reality. Just the sight of it would make the weakest of us go mad at the mere sight of such a monster.
It was as if reality itself was saturated by its presence, as if the colors around it lost meaning and form. A halo of empirical energy that seemed to alter reality itself surrounded the demon. His body was like that of a human, but his torso was elongated, as if he had no ribs. His arms were long, as were his legs that ended in the hooves of some bovine.
It wore bronze armor, as well as fetishes that hung from various parts, bones and pieces of metal that jingled every time the creature moved.
Its face was malevolent, full of fury and desire to kill. Its long horns only further denoted the feeling of rage it emanated and it was as contagious as an infection.
It let out a defiant roar and charged forward.
Cardin knew that, for some reason, this enemy would be tougher, harder to kill. It was something he simply could not explain. He swung Executor and hit the ground hard, the red Dust exploded and raised a curtain of stones and dust partially blinding it down. Russel and Sky did not miss this opportunity, and both fired their weapons into the curtain. They were joined by RWBY, a barrage of fire fell on the demon, something that should kill it.
At once they exhausted their fire, the demon resurfaced. Its coppery sword swung in a wide arc, and though they tried to defend themselves, the unearthly blade seemed to cut through space itself. Sky and Russel's weapons were cleaved, as if there was no resistance. The thrust destroyed their weapons, leaving them defenseless.
They both recoiled, it would have taken longer and Cardin would have been screaming at them by now. Russel looked on angrily as their weapons were now useless. As Sky held his arm, as if something had wounded it, a stream of blood escaped from a small wound, he tried to stop the bleeding, but it slipped through his fingers.
"Are you okay?" Cardin didn't turn to look at him, he couldn't, if he did that creature would take advantage of it.
"No, I'm not..." Sky started to freak. "What the hell is that sword, it barely touched me and I'm bleeding to death!"
"Can you stop it?"
"I don't think I can... this thing... it feels unreal, like it has a life of its own." He said, voice scared, terrified.
The demon attacked again, focused on Cardin. His sword moved with a speed he could barely keep up with, but managed to avoid it. He backhanded and hit the demon as hard as he could, the red Dust exploded sending it several feet backwards.
"Dove, call the Bullhead! Tell them to come armed!" He ordered it, with two of his team disabled, it was best to get backup. He thought about retreating, but if he did, he knew this monster would aim for the village, and just let a massacre happen.
"Aaaaaaaaagh! Damn it!" Sky cursed, the blood wouldn't stop, even if he tried to focus his aura to heal it, it kept opening wider and wider. There was terror in his eyes, as if he had been marked by something, as if his soul was some sort of sacrifice. He kept trying to stop the bleeding in vain, even Weiss tried to help, but, although she tried to freeze the blood, it kept escaping from Sky's body.
He began to feel dizzy, later tired. He felt all his energy draining away as the life literally drained out of him. "Cardin! What do I do, what do I do!?" He tried to look to his leader for help, but Cardin didn't know what to do. He couldn't even, a cursed blade came at his neck, seeking to claim his skull. But a heavy blade deflected the weapon, a scythe swung and threw a blow that forced the demon to block the blow.
That was followed by a golden gauntlet that struck it full in the face, Dust's imbued rounds of ice formed diamond dust as they burned upon touching the demon. As Gambol Shroud slashed it multiple times as its owner jumped back and forth.
RWBY whirled and struck, making a show of their teamwork which, with resignation, Cardin had to admit was better.
It looked like the monster was going to be defeated, they could handle it.
But the Bloodletter did not share that idea.
With a piercing war cry, the demon unleashed an infernal torrent that covered it. He raised his hand, and something terrifying happened.
The blood that had so far escaped Sky, rose up and began to swirl in the demon's palm. Sky screamed, and Cardin watched in horror as his companion died while all the blood from his body was drawn out by some cursed magic.
The demon uttered a prayer that made everyone's ears hurt unbearably. And then, as if reality itself was being torn apart, something appeared in front of the demon.
It was like a dog, if you could call it that. Huge, bigger than a horse, and with the scales of a reptile. Its head was adorned with a crown of bones and horns that at the same time served as armor for its throat. Its scaly skin shared a red and bronze, similar to the demon.
The beast let out a roar that shook them to their very souls. And it lunged at Ruby. Ruby spun around and dodged the huge jaws filled with rows of teeth. She applied strength to the grip of her weapon, and launched a slash at the creature. Crescent Rose should have sliced the beast in half, but the blade of her scythe did no more than hit it without causing any wounds.
Enraged, the beast lashed out, Ruby didn't have time to dodge it and her aura absorbed the impact. But, even so, she felt more than half of her defense fall with that blow.
A golden torch was hurled at the beast. Fire-red eyes focused on her enemy. Yang let her anger get the better of her, unaware that it only increased the blood god daemon.
A thunderous blow struck the demonic beast full on the head, and blow after blow shook it with bursts of power from her semblance. The beast seemed to recoil, unable to do much against such a storm of blows.
But that was not its intention.
A flash formed within the creature's maw, and with a twist, it opened its mouth and shot forth an incandescent sphere of ectoplasm, as hot as the core of a sun. The warp plasma bathed the Huntress, and her aura seemed to melt in the heat of such potent energy. After a single attack, she was helpless, her aura shattered by the demonic beast in front of her.
Yang's story would have ended there if not for Blake's own intervention. Gambol Shroud's cloth seemed to take on a life of its own, nothing more than skill cultivated by years of training. The cloth, made of an incredibly strong material, wrapped itself around the beast's head. It tried to shake, but Blake's grip was firm.
Ruby didn't let this opportunity pass her by, she was about to leap for a spin and land on the creature, but was stopped by Weiss, "Its mouth..." She said. "It's its softest spot, we must attack there."
Blake's strength was falling, and she urged her teammates to do something. She couldn't hold it off much longer.
Weiss swung Myrtenaster's chamber, and after a quick movement, Myrtenaster swung her rapier. A bolt of electricity struck the beast, it roared in pain, but its strength did not seem to dim. Weiss launched another similar attack, she swore that, if it didn't open its mouth, she would fry it at any cost. The lightning had the same effect, but the beast would not budge.
High caliber shots hit the beast's head, rounds of ice Dust hit it squarely, and a howl of rage was heard coming from the creature.
This was her chance, Weiss charged, her stiletto to the front and with the full force of her charge, pierced the skull of the beast. It barked in agony and collapsed.
Exhausted, the three turned their attention to the remaining enemy. One that was being punished by the wrath of the CRDL leader.
Cardin was like a storm, his blows charged with force that could compare with Yang's fists, perhaps even surpass them. Cardin roared as Executor pounded away at the demon who was trying to find an opening to counterattack.
In a moment of carelessness, Dove had infiltrated the creature's flank, and from behind, a blade emerged in the demon's chest. It howled in fury and pain, Cardin silenced it with a final blow of Executor.
The demon, beheaded, fell to the ground. Its inert body began to turn to ashes that disappeared into nothingness. A similar fate befell the beast it had summoned.
Cardin fell to his knees on the ground, an enormous fatigue had fallen on his shoulders. He looked at the spot where the demon had vanished…
Then screamed, pounding the ground with his fist as frustration was unleashed.
He had lost a member of his team, a teammate who, until a moment ago, had been laughing and joking at his side.
And now he was just a pale corpse who had died with an expression of terror.
Russel approached Sky's body and closed his eyes that were still injected with fear.
A familiar noise of Bullhead engines could be heard and soon after a pair of aircraft was descending while another remained on standby in the air.
Of the two that had descended, one of these opened its hatches and a group of Valean Militia guards formed a perimeter, loaded Dust rifles pointed everywhere.
Two medical teams descended, but it was too late to save Sky.
[X]
*** Translated with Translator (free version) ***
Ruby could think of nothing else but what had happened this day.
They had been sent here to help protect the towns surrounding Vale. They along with the CRDL team had been tasked with clearing the Grimm's forest, making sure the town of Crane was safe and the new automatic defense team could take care of protecting them without the intervention of a Hunter.
However, they had ended up with the death of an ally. Even if they were louts, they didn't deserve to die, much less like that.
And even more so, the terror of the thing that had attacked them.
No one had ever seen anything like it. It was simply impossible. They knew the Grimm was something supernatural, how could something that disappeared in fog after killing it be normal? But this was already too much, a Beowulf had turned into a demon right in front of their eyes. A being that had taken them too long to defeat. A creature out of the deepest nightmares.
Ruby sighed, as the last turret was finally equipped and ready. New .50 rounds, hundreds of them, ran down the ammunition feeder lines of each turret. Atlas had even installed two squads of battle droids as extra protection waiting to be activated.
she wondered if that would be enough.
"The people in the village at least are quieter." Blake remarked.
"Let's hope they can stay that way." Weiss voiced. "But if it were me... I'd move out of here."
"That damn thing... Something like that shouldn't exist..." Yang touched her face, still remembering the burning she felt, as if a hellfire was trying to devour her soul. "Even if we tell Ozpin I don't know if he'll believe us..."
"He has to believe us!" protested Weiss.
"Yeah right! Like he'd believe a Beowulf turned into a demon!"
"Maybe, it wasn't a demon..."
"Blake... it had horns and it was red, if that's not the literal mark of a demon then I don't know what else it is. I shot it with Ember Celica, and it didn't feel anything... it wasn't until I hit it that it seemed to take damage."
"It's like... it was immune to ranged attacks." Ruby pointed out as she regretfully recalled that battle. "...And...that monster that appeared..."
That beast, that hellish thing that radiated pure hatred. Its skin so tough it was like super-tough metal chain mail. And its breath shot out plasma, the stuff that stars are made of.
"CRDL lost a member..." Weiss turned to see Cardin wrapping Sky Lark's corpse in a blanket the villagers had given them. The medics in the Bullhead lifted him as carefully as possible and loaded him onto the aircraft. Dove also boarded to accompany his fallen friend.
"At least it wasn't one of us..." Blake said, she crossed her arms and looked away.
"Blake!" protested Ruby, she didn't know much about Blake, little did she talk especially about his past. Especially that bow tie she wore on her head, it was barely noticeable, but she would swear this one was moving back on its own.
"What did you expect? I don't want any of us to die."
Weiss interjected "And talk like that? If it wasn't CRDL it could have been one of us."
"They're bullies, Weiss... look, I'm not saying they deserved it, but..."
"But what?! You saw what happened. That thing... his blood... Even if they were annoying no one deserves something like that!"
Blake fell silent, preferring to keep looking away.
Yang, who had been watching, merely took a bite of an apple one the villagers had gifted her. "... and... do you think they're safe here?"
Weiss sighed, "No... and I don't think they're going to risk it after what they saw. It's more likely that several people will start migrating into the city. And most likely this will get out, so more villages are going to start migrating to the capital... things are only going to get worse..."
"And to think that the Grimm could turn into that... they're going to have to rethink a lot of tactics and techniques. If people find out that a Grimm can turn into something that terrible..."
Weiss finished what their leader didn't want to continue. "The fear is simply going to escalate to the point of having hordes of Grimm coming in every day... even I'm terrified at the thought of having thousands of those things coming out of every Grimm... At least we're lucky the villagers weren't able to record what happened."
A new low Bullhead, this one, unlike the others, painted silver, had a blue color that marked it as the transport of someone important. And what was their surprise, or rather concern, to see Professor Goodwitch step off the aircraft.
They all rose to greet her, but she hushed them with a gesture. "No time, go get Cardin and Russel and get everyone up to the Bullhead."
Leaving no time for further questions, they obeyed and the Bullhead lifted into the air.
Once up, they could finally see how, on the horizon, something was falling from the sky, something huge. It seemed to be shaped, barely discernible, a cathedral hurtling to earth.
They couldn't help but feel that all this was just beginning, and that things were about to get worse.
[X]
When they left the immaterium, they had only one mission in mind.
Lord Gulliman had charged them with purging the minions of chaos, at any cost. And so they had done, even though they were lost, they had not failed in their mission.
But it was in this system, one of many lost or undiscovered, that they were put to the test.
After a fierce battle, the entire battle group had been repelled, having lost one capital ship and five escorts.
The Carnage class and Murder class cruisers had ambushed them, and it had cost them dearly. They had to leave the system, vowing revenge.
The Thunder Rain, suffered heavy damage, while her five escorts were easily destroyed. Her engines died and gravity spread its mantle over the Lunar-class cruiser. The planet would claim the ship for its own.
[X]
It's been months
Many things have happened, one of them being RWBY: Ice Queendom!
Damn, the anime is just phenomenal.
It Fixes almost every flaw the original had.
I already had told you, my relation with RWBY is one of love/hate.
I really hate what it has become, such potential wasted by incompetents who ruined a franchise that started with love. I have found writers here who have openly admitted they are disappointed with RWBY, some Lost Poets even abandoned their works. When any literal fanfiction is better written and build than your fully resourced series, there is a huge problem.
That is why I really expect Ice Queendom triumphs and, hopefully, impulse Warner/discovery to make RT just sell their IP or outsource it.
Anyway, In matters regarding this. I really took a long time to write it, writing block most responsible, and when I have writing block I usually start writing different things. I have written 4 crossover fanfics involving 40k with other universes:
One about Muv Luv earth being discovered by Imperium. 6000 words
One about Gundam Universal Century entering into the Grimm darkness. 1200 words
Other about Fate, with Shirou Emiya as one of the lost Primarchs. Personally, I'd love if it were written by Parcassius, he is the best Emiya writer I know. 700 words.
And finally another Overlord crossover with 40k. I know, I know… some who have read New World New Galaxy may remember such a trip. I have wanted to try again, and do it properly. This time I think I can balance things better. And take it seriously as last time I was pretty biased. I wanted to write principally because Overlord new season. So I may or may not post it, but it will be a low priority story. It has 5000 words.
Sure, I want to focus on finishing Above this killing ocean and Gate of false liberty. Also This Remnant of mine since I just feel even more motivated by Ice Queendom. Hell, I'm now considering Ice Queendom as the only cannon that exists!
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this. As you can see, things are escalating, and will escalate even more. Imperium just arrived… but help is not so easy to get. Remnant is gotta have to face Chaos by themselves. Now Grimm are starting to become a host for Daemons! Just remember I'm not fully taking certain elements of RWBY.
See you soon. Above this killing ocean comes next.