Here we are at Chapter 135. Velvet and the gang finally make their way to Laphicet, hoping to find who and what they're missing, and then reach home. I do not own RWBY or Tales of Berseria. They belong to their respective owners. I only own my OCs. Here's chapter 135. Enjoy.
Chapter 135: Mists and Meetings
After making sure they weren't being followed, the gang slows down and stop to catch their breath. Weiss looks back one last time.
"Well, we should be fine for now. But, they may send a search party after us," Weiss notes.
"Then we'd best get moving. Eizen, you lead the way to those mountains," Velvet turns to her old friend.
"We'd best get moving then. Follow me," Eizen points behind him and moves on ahead.
They take the dirt road for a period, but after walking a while, they veer off the dirt path as they follow Eizen. As they walk, Blake notices Ruby looking around with a worried expression.
"Ruby, is something wrong?" Blake asks.
"I'm just worried, is all. Will we find Jaune and Crescent Rose before we reach Laphicet, or not?" Ruby says.
Velvet places a hand on her shoulder, "We'll find them, and even if we don't before we reach Laphicet, we're not going back without them. Not without our friend, or without your sweetheart. Besides, Laphicet may have a way of tracking them, so that's something to be hopeful about as well,"
Ruby sighs but nods. They continue through the wilderness, passing through a forest and entering a meadow. However, what awaits them in the meadow are a small herd of boars. They turn upon sensing the group's approach. It doesn't take long before they charge at them.
"These things are everywhere, huh," Yang cocks her gauntlets.
Yang and Weiss are the first to move, with the latter throwing an uppercut into one boar's snout, sending it flying back, while the latter summons a pair of Nevermore wings to launch some feathers, skewering two more. Blake dodges one boar's charge, throwing her chain-scythe at its back; the blade sticking into it. Blake pulls hard, spinning the boar around towards Velvet who slices its in half with her arm blade. To the rear, Ruby fires off two shots from Eizen's gun, taking out two more, while Zaveid provides cover with some wind artes. Ruby zips around with her semblance, taking Yang with her up into the air. She throws Yang, who reels back her right fist and smashes it into the ground, sending out a shockwave that sends a few boars flying back. Eizen throws a few punches at one boar, and then creates some rock pillars underneath a second, impaling it on the stone. Velvet fires off a few shots from her gauntlet at one charging boar, the shots making it stumble. She activates her claw and launches a fire arte, burning it alive. Ruby ends up taking out the last one with a well-placed shot from her gun. The battle ends as the daemon bodies dissipate. Velvet watches a moment as the malevolence that comprised them floats away.
"Not gonna have a snack, Velvet?" Zaveid jokes.
Velvet frowns, "No. I don't want to absorb any more malevolence into me. That stuff is like negativity, and that would attract grimm back on Remnant. Plus, I don't want to lose myself to it. Summer Rose took out the malevolence I had already accumulated when she summoned me to her world. I'm not about to let her efforts go to waste,"
Zaveid shrugs his shoulders, "Eh, works for me,"
"That reminds me. Eizen, what have the others been up to? Eleanor, Magilou, and Rokurou?" Velvet asks.
"Hmmm, I haven't heard from Eleanor in a while, especially since when we came back, she couldn't see me anymore. Magilou flew off to who knows where, and Rokurou, last time I heard, was somewhere way down south training. Doubt any of them are up here, or anywhere near Laphicet," Eizen explains.
"I see At least they're still doing okay," Velvet notes.
"Everyone else okay?" Ruby looks around, receiving nods and smiles from the rest of them. "Okay, we'd better get moving before more daemons show up."
The group continue on their way, eventually exiting the meadow and entering another forest. However, as they move deeper in, Yang notices that a few trees off to the side look off. That might be because they look like they were ripped or blown off their roots.
"What happened over there?" Yang points to them.
"Stay sharp now. There could be more daemons around," Eizen says.
Cautiously, they reach the damaged trees, only to gaze in shock at the scene before them. They find a large crater in the ground, and anything that used to be there reduced to ashes now.
"This looks like it happened a while ago," Velvet mutters.
Ruby and Blake branch off and look around, stopping when Ruby almost tripped and fell, only to be caught by Blake.
"You okay?" Blake asks.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks," Ruby looks down at what tripped her and freezes for a moment.
The group reach them and see what she sees. A large footprint left in the ground. Easily the size of a carriage, if not bigger. And one with claws apparently.
"What made this? Do daemon's get big?" Ruby asks.
"Some do, but... I don't think this was the work of an ordinary daemon. This looks like the work... of a dragon, though it doesn't seem fresh," Velvet says.
"Dragons? Aren't those like... really bad news in your world?" Weiss asks.
"Very. When a malak accumulates a lot of malevolence, they turn into a dragon. Dragons are basically the top of the food chain for daemons. It's a fate that will happen to me one day," Eizen says, flipping his coin.
"Why you?" Ruby asks.
"Because I've got a lot of malevolence in me. There's no way to get rid of it either. It's a long story, and one I don't feel like talking about," he glances at Zaveid, who frowns at the sad memory. "I don't know when I'll turn, but when I do, you guys better be back home safe and sound. That's why I left the ship to come with you. I couldn't place them in danger anymore. Not because of me,"
"I'm sorry, Eizen. I wish I could help," Velvet apologizes.
"It's not your fault. Besides, we've got bigger concerns right now. Come on, let's keep moving. It'll get dark soon and you don't want to travel through daemon infested territory at night. We need to find a place to camp," Eizen says.
They travel for a little bit longer, the sun dipping lower with every several steps they take. As luck would have it, when ut gets dark out, they find a small set of old abandoned ruins nearby. Deciding that would be the best place to rest for the night, they move and inspect the ruins. Their caution climbs though when they find a campsite within, a lit campfire burning and a tent closed up.
"We're not alone out here," Velvet mutters.
The group look around seeing if anyone is nearby. However, they find the place empty. They know it is't abandoned, but whoever made the campsite may come back.
"We'd better leave before whoever owns this stuff comes back," Zaveid suggests.
"Right, let's just-," Ruby begins, but then something drops in from above.
Velvet gets in front of her and blocks a strike from a sword with her arm blade. The figure is shrouded in a tattered, brown cloak. Velvet pushes them back. They land away and pull out a shield.
"I don't know who you are, but anyone who threatens Ruby gets no mercy from me," Velvet engages her claw, conjuring a fire arte in it.
The figure bolts up a bit, "Wait... Velvet?" a male voice sounds out.
"Huh?" Velvet stutters. The figure removes the cloak and steps into the light of the fire, revealing themselves as none other than Jaune. "..Jaune?"
Jane looks around at the rest of the group, "Guys... you're all here. Is it... Is it really you? I thought that I wouldn't be able to..."
"Jaune... It's us," Ruby says, and the girls all walk up to give Jaune a group hug.
He tears up a little at finally reuniting with his friends, "It's so good to see you all again, alive. I'm sorry for attacking you earlier, Ruby. I didn't see you in the shadows, and I've been so busy fighting all these weird monsters lately that I've been on edge," Jaune explains after they separate.
"You've been fighting daemons here? Why?" Weiss asks.
Jaune sighs, "I guess we have a few things to discuss. Come on, I was about to prepare dinner. I don't have enough for everyone though, so I hope you have other stuff with you,"
They all sit around his fire and compare details about their journeys. They find out he got all the camp supplies from a destroyed carriage he found along one road. It was attacked by monsters, and the owners had already been killed. Jaune had killed the daemons, then buried the victims. He felt that he should at least do that for them. After that, he gathered what supplies he could and continued on his journey. Jaune is surprised to find out that he's actually been in Velvet's old world since he fell. However, he wasn't surprised to find out that Velvet and Yang were wanted fugitives.
Jaune gives them a flat stare, "Um, you are trying NOT to get into trouble with the law, right?"
"Shut up, it wasn't our fault! Those morons started it!" Yang crosses her arms with a pout.
"Anyway, we're on our way to Laphicet. We firmly believe he'll have a way for us to get home. The mountains not too far from here are our next destination," Velvet says.
Jaune rubs his neck, "Uh, yeah, that... might be a problem,"
"Why's that?" Ruby asks.
"I've been trying to get to those same mountains for a while now, but I always end up right back where I started whenever it appears," Jaune says.
"When what appears?" Blake asks.
"The mist. Every time I head for the mountains, a weird mist suddenly appears and I can't find my way there. Even if I just keep heading straight, somehow, I end up right back where I started. I've tried multiple times now, trying to figure out what's going on, to solve the problem, but... well, you see where I am. Sometimes, daemons appear in the mists and I have to fight them. It's been... well, it's been rough," Jaune sags.
Velvet turns to Eizen, "Eizen, does that normally happen around here?"
"Actually... no, that's never happened before. I admit that I haven't been here in a while, but this is definitely new. I can't say whether or not this is Laphicet's doing either. Guess that begs the question: if this mist is preventing people from reaching the mountains, then who's behind it?" Eizen says.
"And how do we break through it to reach them?" Ruby says.
"I remember, during our fight against the Abbey, one of their higher-ups, Melchior, had a malak that could cast powerful illusions. It almost trapped us at one point. Thankfully, it made a fatal flaw in the illusion and we were able to break free. Never actually fought that malak though. Just Melchior. Maybe it's something like that," Velvet thinks.
"Perhaps, but a lot of malakhim, once they were freed from the Abbey's control, fled from areas with large human populations. They couldn't trust humans after that, and they feared the malevolence turning them into daemons. Remember, the malakhim were unthinking, uncomplaining tools when the Abbey controlled them," Zaveid says.
"So, it might be something else then. Perhaps a daemon?" Velvet asks.
"Possibly, but I think the most important question is..." Eizen trails off.
"How do we make it past the mist towards the mountains? Maybe there's a key to it, or something we have to do to get through, or at least make the mists dissipate," Ruby suggests.
"I've tried a few things, but nothing's worked so far," Jaune notes.
"Well, that was before you had us. I'm sure if we all put our heads together, we'll figure it out. It's our only way back home after all," Weiss says.
Jaune sighs, but nods, "You're right. I want to go home too,"
"I think we should head in for the night. It's late. Eizen, Zaveid, can you guys take the first watch?" Ruby asks.
"Yeah, go ahead. Get some rest," Eizen nods.
"Hold on, one second," Jaune stands and goes into his tent. He comes back out carrying something wrapped in cloth. "I've been holding onto this. It was the first thing I saw fall," he hands it to Ruby.
Ruby unwraps it and gasps to find Crescent Rose underneath. She runs her hands across the familiar weapon that had been right by her side in so many battles.
"Jaune... thank you," Ruby hugs the weapon close, while the others smile for her.
"Don't mention it. I know how much it means to you," Jaune waves it off. "Come on, let's get some sleep."
The group clean up, put out the fire, and set up camp for the night. They all take turns taking watch while the rest sleep.
…
The next morning, the gang pack up and get ready to head to where the mysterious mist begins.
"Are we sure this is such a good idea?" Blake looks hesitant.
"I tried going at other angles, seeing if the mist doesn't go all around mountains... No such luck. I hate to admit it, but the best way to get there is through the mist," Jaune replies.
"Then we move forward. Whatever it takes to get home," Ruby says.
Her team noticed that her mood got a little better after getting her beloved scythe back.
"Better not waste time then. If we keep heading this way, we'll eventually see the base of the mountains, and then the mist will appear," Jaune points ahead.
The weather isn't at its best, but they see the mountains. They're not too far now. The group move on ahead, the forest growing less dense as they progress, and tall grass appears before them. As they move, Blake's cat ears move around and she looks behind them.
"Blake, what's wrong?" Yang notices her partner's change.
"Do... do you hear that?" Blake asks, on edge.
"I don't hear anything," Eizen says.
"Me neither, but we we don't have your ears, Blake," Weiss notes.
"No, that's just it. I don't hear anything either. No birds, no bugs, no frogs... no anything. There's nothing around us," Blake says, getting anxious.
"That... that wasn't like that before you guys show up," Jaune's eyes widen as he remembers.
The group take out their weapons. Usually when the local fauna suddenly grow quiet, it's because something is going on. Often, because there's something really dangerous around. They form a circle, looking for any signs of potential danger. They look around, but find nothing. However, none of them notice a figure slowly rise up from the center of their circle. Blake turns, only to get socked to the side and sent flying. The rest of thr group scatter as Weiss and Yang check on Blake while the rest spot their foe. It's a gibbon.
"When did that thing appear behind us?!" Jaune asks.
"Who cares. It's just one daemon, so kill it," Velvet charges at it with her arm blade.
Ruby fires her weapons behind her, flying past Velvet. She flies up with her semblance, coming around the daemon. The gibbon's attention turns to her, giving Velvet the chance to slide under its legs, slicing one off with her arm blade. Ruby then twirls her scythe and finishes it off with a downward swing. However, they suddenly notice that the daemon doesn't disappear like a normal one. Instead it shatters into glass. A method they are familiar with.
"Isn't that... Neo?" Blake gasps.
"What? But-," Yang stops when she notices several more gibbons and then some Lycanthropes and even Force Hounds appear all around them. "What the Hell is going on?!"
"Talk later, fight now!" Zaveid says, firing off a shot from his gun, which Ruby gave back to him the night before.
The shot takes out one Lycanthrope, but the rest of the daemons charge at them. Weiss summons her Armas Gigas for aid, the armor swinging its massive blade around. Yang runs up behind it, and the armor swings its sword around. Yang lands on the side of the blade and it swings hard, launching Yang into the mess of them. She smashes her fist into the ground, sending a few daemons flying. The Armas Gigas swings its blade, slicing through two hounds and then stabbing through a Gibbon. Meanwhile, Jaune blocks one Lycanthrope with his shield, pushing it back with a hard-light pulse. A blade stabs its back, and Blake swings around, pulling on her ribbon to slice the werewolf's head off with her sheathe blade. Jaune blocks a punch from a gibbon and then does the same move as Blake with his sword. Eizen comes in, ducking under a swing from one Gibbon's arm, throwing a series of punches before sending it flying into a second. Velvet grabs Ruby's hand and swings her up into the air, the latter aiming her scythe behind her and pulling the trigger. She flies down, making a diagonal slash through one Force Hound, and then firing off a few shots into two more. One Force Hound attacks her rear, but Velvet grabs it in her claw and burns it to death with a fire arte. She takes out and absorbs an ice Dust crystal. Swinging her claw around, she sends out several ice shards to skewer a few Lycanthropes.
Yang punches one Force Hound's light out, then ducks under the swing of a gibbon. She punches its chest several times, leaving timed charges, and then spin back kicks it into another and explodes, killing both of them. Weiss and her summon take out two more daemons with their blade, but then Weiss sees one gibbon attempt to pounce on her, only to get punched to the side by Yang.
"I'm not letting some silent psychopath with a few new tricks touch MY girlfriend. Only I get to do that," Yang mutters, firing off a few shots from her gauntlets.
"Now is hardly the time for that!" Weiss yells with a blush.
Velvet jumps into the air, ice claw reeled back. Falling, she smashes her claw into the ground, sending out a sheet of ice and freezing a few gibbons to the ground Ruby zips around them, slicing each one with her scythe. Eizen and Zaveid stand back-to-back, firing off artes or bullets from the latter's gun at any daemon that get too close. Blake throws her chain-scythe towards Yang, who catches it. Blake swings her around as Yang kicks her legs out at any daemons near her. Blake then throws her up, and Yang lands on one glyph curtesy of Weiss. Yang engages her semblance and fires off the glyph, smashing her fist in the ground and sending several daemons up into the air. Velvet finishes them off by freezing them to death with her ice claw and the daemons fall to the ground and shatter into pieces. The group look around, finding all of their opponents dead, only to see the bodies shatter like glass. However, one changes into Neo, more dark energy coursing around her body. She points a finger gun at Ruby with a sick smile before she shatters too.
"That was Neo. But, all of these things were illusions," Weiss notes.
"Those things weren't her usual bag of tricks. How'd she get so powerful?" Yang wonders.
"Probably best not to stick around and find out," Velvet says and looks back, seeing the mist slowly appear behind them. "Quickly, into the mist, now!"
They all run forth, disappearing into the mist. From the forest, the real Neo approaches, more malevolence flowing around her body. She narrows her eyes at the mist before her, hell bent on getting her revenge, even if she must become a monster for it.
And that's the chapter. The gang finally reunite with Jaune, get Crescent Rose back for Ruby, and get closer to their goal. However, Neo is hot on their tails, and her power is growing, as does her malevolence too. Will the gang survive what lurks in the mists? How will they deal with a stronger Neo? Until then, please Read and review.
