A quick update, shocking!
Also, sick as a dog so all I have is writing...
Might be over my writer's block, but we shall see.
Taking turns between writing chapters of Hushed Dreams and Fox.
So I'll write one chapter of Hushed and then get back to this.
So let's see if that system works considering how far ahead I'm on it.
"What is this? This can't be possible. This has to be impossible…"
"This, James, is only the beginning. What you only hoped to emulate with your technology yet can be unleashed in a matter of seconds by a single person in the blink of an eye. This is what happens when the Gods descend into the mortal realm. Just look at the moon and realize he may be capable of the same."
"That's impossible! That level of power is…"
"Is well within the realms of probability. This is why I asked you to turn yourself in. He's always been restricted and restrained by Fate. And now he is untethered, showing us what he's capable of as he's learning to control this power welled within."
"Control? Do you mean he still doesn't have full control of his powers? Then he just put all these lives in jeopardy…"
"Because his hand was forced, and he did what he must. And he was frighteningly accurate with his intent, as I dare say he struck only the base with minimum collateral. Given what you were planning, I'll take this outcome every time. After all, I know you very well…"
"You would do the same if given the same opportunity, James."
"I'm worried about her. She hasn't let anyone in to see her since she's woken up." Nora lightly kicked the air in front of her in frustration, having been released but unable to do anything. "She needs someone in there with her, but she won't let us in to be with her."
"She wants to be left alone." Ren grimaced, glancing at the door before focusing on those who arrived. "As much as I desire to go in there and help, she won't accept our help. And I think you are the last person she will want to see given the circumstances…"
"Naruto."
"Yo, what the fuck? Uncle Qrow! Are you seeing what is on the holo-news?"
"I see it, and I dislike it! That explains the quake earlier! By the Brothers, what was that idiot thinking?"
"That idiot? Wait, you can't be serious! No, no, no! That can't be caused by him. He wouldn't do such a…"
"Where do you think that was, Yang? That was where you nearly had your skull bashed in! That was one of the bases! He just wiped it off the map!"
"But, what about…"
"You do not believe he didn't think about that? I'm sure the kid thought it through. Look. They're reporting about it right now. Seems like the blast only caused injuries to those outside the radius of the blast zone, and everyone at the site has long since been moved."
"But that's so many people…"
"Yang, I understand, but you have to realize the decision we were forced into and what was about to happen. This, by all means, was the cleanest it would be, and he put it all on himself… The bastard put all those lives in his hands so no one else had to deal with them."
"I, uh…"
"Just understand. He did what he did to protect what he deemed precious to him. To keep everyone safe. And I can only hope they surrender after this because I dare not want to see what will happen next."
"What did you mean by Naruto was the last person Pyrrha would want to see?" Blake narrowed her eyes as the door clicked, and she frowned, glancing over at Ren, upset that she was waiting outside and not next to her mate.
She was upset that he had disappeared on her and Weiss after they took a moment to rest and wasn't there when they awoke! Not to mention there was this flux of people coming into the hospital! What was going on outside?
Despite what happened last night and knowing something had to be done, his presence was needed here! The problem wasn't going away or being solved by something he could have easily accomplished!
"Blake, think about what happened last night and give it context." Ren exhaled as he leaned back against the wall, giving Blake a pitying look while understanding her concern and attitude at the moment, but he wasn't appreciative of it. "Jaune was… More than close to Pyrrha. I don't know how to describe their relationship. There was an innate connection between them, even when she idolized and crushed Naruto. It was more than training, more than just being teammates. But I wasn't sure if they were…"
"What happened devastated her." Nora bit her lip as she continued to sit and kicked the air in front of her absently, her head lowered while trying her best not to burst into tears. "Seeing Naruto come back like that, she must have imagined he could have brought back Jaune. Performed a miracle to bring back Jaune as he brought back Ruby. And he performed one, but it wasn't the one she wasn't hoping for. And I don't think she can accept that."
Feeling her ears droop on her head as the expression on her face became sullen, Blake turned to Weiss, whose eyes were startled at the realization she had made. "Weiss, what's wrong?"
"I know what's wrong." Weiss shivered, biting her lip as her eyes traced the door before looking straight into Blake's eyes. "It is something we are intimately familiar with."
Blake's eyes snapped to the door, tears welling. Clenching her hands a few times, she took a deep breath and glanced back at Weiss in confirmation.
Weiss was confident. And if that was the case…
"I understand that feeling more than anyone else." Blake's eyes trailed to the door, slowly walking toward it. "If anyone can relate to the pain she is feeling…"
"It's us." Weiss stepped beside Blake, slipping her hand into hers and softly smiling as her eyes closed. "Shall we? I don't have a problem telling Naruto to step back on this one."
"Right," Blake nodded as she reached out and prepared to open the door. "Let's do this."
"Guys, you might want to look at the holo-news."
"Oh, yes, tell the blind guy to watch the news! Real clever!"
"You know what he meant, Fox! We're all on edge, but don't take it out on Yatsu! He was only getting our attention!"
"Oh, by the Brothers, is that where the other base was? What happened? It's nothing but a crater. We just felt that nearly knocked our van off the road. Did that have something to do with it?"
"I suspect it might be Velvet. I had a weird feeling tingling throughout right before it happened, so I think the two are related."
"Wait, you felt that? Wouldn't that mean it was a high concentration of aura? There aren't many things I can think of that could do that, and I don't like where that leads me to…"
"Naruto…"
"No! Doing such a thing would be…"
"Exactly the kind of thing to keep the rest of us safe and away from the fight, Velvet. It's right up his alley, and with this new expansion of his powers, I can't say this is something he isn't capable of."
"I fear you are right, Fox. Wait, I'm getting a call? Naruto! I have some questions for you! Wait, what do you mean by head for the northern sector of Vale for clean up?"
"What do you mean Grimm are going to be coming from the sewers?"
"Get out!" Emerald eyes consumed with despair stained with dried tears pierced into ceruleans. "I don't want you in here! Get out!"
Flinching at the anguish in her voice, Naruto closed his eyes. He expected that. The hatred…
Was more than he could take.
"Pyrrha…"
"No!" Pyrrha's voice resonated and shook him more than any blow had ever struck him. "Get away from me! Don't you understand? I don't want to see you!"
"Pyrrha…" Naruto let her name roll off his tongue solemnly, tears welling as he stepped toward her. "Your sadness, anger… It is completely justified. No amount of words I say can change that. Jaune…"
"Don't you dare say it!" Pyrrha shrieked violently, picking up a nearby food tray and tossing it at Naruto. "All I asked was to save him, not me! It was supposed to be me! He wasn't ready yet!"
"Are any of us truly ready when the time comes?" Naruto whispered as he let the tray smack against his face, not even guarding against it as it bashed and dented against him, bouncing to the floor as various dishes scattered across the room.
Pyrrha stiffened upon hearing those words before turning away, tears burning her eyes, refusing to stare at him anymore. Her chest heaved in and out, struggling for breath as she shuddered.
Naruto took a deep breath and clothed his eyes. "It never gets easier. Death is something you can't account for. The pain it causes…"
"Go away…" Pyrrha sniffled, her voice weakening as she shivered and bit her lip, her emerald eyes shimmering. "I don't want you here. Seeing you here while Jaune…"
"Naruto, step out." Weiss' voice echoed as the door clicked behind him. "If there is anyone that understands what she's suffering through better than anyone else…"
"It would be us." Blake finished as her golden eyes peered over and looked at the shivering redhead. "I think you are doing more harm than good here."
"We'll take it from here."
"You've been sitting alone for quite some time here, little Rose? Something bothering you?"
"Oh, ah, I'm fine. Just thinking to myself!"
"Girl, you are obviously not fine. One of your friends was killed before your eyes. One has come back to life, healed your brain injury, and then told you he met your mother in the afterlife. You are not okay. I can relate to at least one of those things. You can talk to me."
"Is it that obvious?"
"Extremely. So much so that I came here of all people to say something."
"Okay, fair point. Um, I…. Trying to think about what Naruto told me…"
"Still rejecting the harem idea, despite looking more chummy with that Schnee girl? Well, I can fix that one…"
"No, please don't! That's not the issue! Honestly, it's not! His answer was even kind of sweet, saying he might be open to it in a few years, just not now as he was never one for polygamy, so it's taking a lot for him to change his mindset…"
"That's more open than most of Remnant. Knew I liked the boy. So then, what's the problem?"
"It's what he said to me after, and it's making me question what I want to do. What have I done all my life? Questioning if I want to keep doing what I'm doing or change?"
"What? Ruby, what did he say?"
"You knew my mom well, right?"
"What kind of question is that? Of course, I did. But where is this coming from?"
"You were partners since joining Beacon. You got to know her better than almost anyone other than Dad. What was she like? Am I like her?"
"Wait, Ruby… Is this what this is about?"
"Am I? Am I just following my mother's shadow? Unable to make my own path?"
"Ruby…"
"Um, you two might want to check out the holo-news! This is critical! I think something major has just happened!"
"Tai! Can this wait for a moment?"
"Raven, look at the news! I'm pretty sure it didn't exist in Vale before…"
"By the Brothers, what is that? What caused that? Did a meteor strike in the middle of Vale? No, there would be far more destruction! What even is this?"
"Naruto… Is this what you meant by this was something only you could do? Was this what you meant by giving us time?"
"Why would you burden yourself with this?"
"Why won't everyone leave me alone…"
"We're your friends," Blake sat beside the tearful Pyrrha's bed, trembling as she gripped the bedsheets above her thighs. "And I think we might understand the pain you're feeling better than anyone else…"
"You fell in love with Jaune, didn't you?" Weiss joined Blake, placing her hands in her lap as her eyes shimmered, looking at Pyrrha. "And it feels like everything is shattering around you."
"That your world is so bleak and cold. Nothing can bring you happiness. That others only bring anger, bitterness, and despair." Blake continued Weiss' sentence without breaking, watching Pyrrha stiffen, her emerald eyes shifting toward them. "That all you feel when you're alone is a hallowed emptiness where your heart once used to be. A void where the joy and delight you once experienced thrived."
"All you wish is to be left alone. To let the darkness consume you. Swallow you whole and take you with it so you may be reunited again." Weiss lowered her head, her icy blue eyes filled with tears. "And no one will let you as they keep coming, acting like they know what is best for you when they don't understand your heart is torn to pieces! That the world isn't right! That nothing matters!"
"Yet, they kept coming to pull us out of the darkness. Not to heal us but to let us know they were there for us. To comfort and keep us from succumbing to our darkest inhibitions as the pain you're feeling is natural." Blake's ears flattened, and her golden eyes lost their luster. "No matter how dark it is, we will be there for you as we understand all too well that feeling."
Pyrrha turned and faced Blake and Weiss, her face marred with tears as they streamed down. Her eyes flickered as her eyes flickered between the two as her entire body shuddered. Finally, her cries echoed through the hospital as she collapsed forward.
"Why? Why did it have to be him? Why couldn't it have been me? It should have been! It was meant to be!"
Catching and embracing Pyrrha, Blake and Weiss held her together. No words were spoken as they let Pyrrha say what she needed to say and cry. It was a burden they took as they had experienced what she had.
And could help her through it.
In a business suite at the top of a modest skyscraper, a businessman with graying-golden hair and vivid gold eyes growled in frustration as he looked upon the holo-news with several men surrounding him and a few people on Holo-call.
Other businessmen. Other obvious bodyguards armed to the teeth. One even seemed like a young Huntsman.
"What? This is impossible!"
"Vester, this would be the time to pull our forces." One of the people on the holo-call spoke, worried about what was unfolding before them. "If one man caused this, we cannot risk an attack! We need to cut our losses and admit…"
"Silence! We are still in control of the situation!" Vester Gold hissed at his fellow Mistral council member, refusing to relinquish control. "Without Leo, I will take command! Get in contact with the second base and order the attack now! We are spread thin, but we can still take Vale! We can atone for the mistakes of…"
The room's windows shattered, spewing shards of glass and cutting everyone in the room as an invisible force welled and knocked everyone to the floor below.
As panic filled those in the room as everyone tried to gain their bearings and get back to their feet, a haunting voice spoke chillingly.
"Are you really that arrogant?"
On his knees, struggling for breath from the blast that knocked the wind out of him, Vester's eyes grew immensely. He recognized that voice. As he struggled to his feet and saw all the rest of his guard, weapon drawn and trained, and lackeys standing, all were focused on a single point outside.
A glowing golden figure was floating in the sky just outside the room with ten floating black orbs behind him. His arms crossed as he glared into the room directly at him.
Gold did not hesitate.
"What are you waiting for? Fire!"
"An unwise decision if you wish to live." Naruto flatly responded, his golden eyes glimmering with animalist intent. "I've already taken half of your army. Do you think a few measly guards will stand in my way?"
A shot rang out, and several others followed.
"Seriously?" Naruto was surprised as the first shots rang out and didn't bother dodging, the bullets unable to pierce his chakra cloak in this state as he took what he learned from aura control in this world and applied it as a shield.
It would take something far more substantial to make him make an effort as he counter-attacked. The bodies hit the floor in the blink of an eye as a single Gudōdama burst into the room, piercing through each guard's chest. It returned behind Naruto in the same spot as they collapsed, with a fist-sized hole in their chest.
"Now that mockery is taken care of," Naruto growled in annoyance as his ears twitched, focusing his intent on Vester as he descended upon the room, landing before Gold, the lone Huntsman, and his associates as they looked on, stunned as they didn't even see what had happened. "I will take this moment to offer the olive branch as I would like to accomplish this with as little bloodshed as possible."
"Surrender," Naruto stated as he stepped toward Vester, his eyes emblazoned with raw fury. "Come out and admit to all you have done to the public. They will learn about it regardless after I am done, so save face now while you are still alive and have dignity remaining. Or die here and lose the rest of your forces and become the greatest disgrace in Mistral's history."
"Your choice." Naruto coldly announced as he stared straight at Gold, knowing the holo-call lines were still open so the other council members were well aware of the terms and what was happening.
He wanted to send a message.
"Under what authority do you have to tell me to surrender?" Gold snapped, glaring at Naruto's golden form despite being unnerved at what he witnessed, refusing to relent as his eyes glistened with unrepentant fury. "I have lived for this moment all my life! For the glory of Mistral! Fuck off, kid!"
"For Brother's sake! Gold, listen!" One of the council members shouted from the other end. "We already lost enough! We cannot afford to lose anymore. Otherwise, we'll be worse off than Vacuo…"
"We will not lose to one single pissant vermin, his little posey of friends, and a drunk of his own power headmaster that has no standing force to use against us!" Gold announced as he glared directly into Naruto's eyes. "With Atlas at our side…"
"James is ordering the retreat as we speak," Naruto replied, pulling out his scroll playing a recorder, and Ironwood's voice played, making Vester's eyes widen as he listened. "You are all alone. Want to reconsider your options? He knows he cannot win. You should quit while you're ahead."
"James, you traitorous ingrate!" Gold roared before turning to the bald young Huntsman. "Get me to the base! This ends now!"
"Sir, maybe we should listen…"
"Bole, do as I command!"
With a simple movement, Bole placed his hand on Gold's shoulder, and in a shimmer of light, Naruto looked at Gold one last time as he began to transmit. "You will regret this. I told you when we last met. Push me far enough, and I will destroy you."
With a flicker of blue light, Gold disappeared, and Naruto knew precisely where he had disappeared to. He didn't need to do much to scare off the associates. They fled with a simple snarl and a push of his intent. Unfortunately, the holo-call ended, so he couldn't talk further with Mistral's council, but there was something else he needed to do.
Finding the number on his scroll, he called the number. "Coco… Okay, I'll explain later. You need to get to the northern section of Vale, where we know the base roughly is. Things proceeded as expected, and it won't be pretty as what they don't know is that we have a standing force."
"Grimm are going to run rampant through the sewers, and if any of them breach, you need to be there to take them out."
"Naruto?"
"Are you okay, Weiss?" Naruto glanced up from his seat upon her approaching and seeing Nora and Ren entering Pyrrha's hospital room once more. "You look a little…"
"I'm not doing very well," Weiss admitted as she bit her lip, one arm crossing her body and holding her other limply. "Blake won't be either once she comes out. Pyrrha's going through what we were when you were gone… And it's worse as she never got a chance to admit it…"
Without hesitating, he wrapped Weiss into his embrace, gently combing his hand through her hair. She melted into his touch, and while that was something he still was getting accustomed to, he would have done this for anyone. "No wonder why I was only making it worse…"
"You got through to her, but it would have been much harder given the circumstances." Weiss curled into Naruto's chest, letting his warmth fill her. "I think you opened her up just enough for us to reach her easily, so thank you…"
"Well, job me then." Naruto chuckled, trying to put on a strong face while gazing down at the white-haired heiress in his grasp before noticing she flinched at his laughter. "Weiss, is something still bothering you?"
"I had a question for you, but I'm afraid to ask," Weiss muttered as she lowered her head and shook her head. "Blake doesn't care as she's more concerned about you being present, but I need to know…"
"What did you do while we were resting?" Weiss looked up, her icy blue eyes glistening as she gazed into his cerulean hues. "Why is everyone so off right now? The hospital is on alert, taking in people at an alarming rate?"
"What happened, Naruto?"
(Forces by Susumu Hirasawa)
"What is happening?"
"What is this thing?"
"Why are Grimm following its wake? Is it creating them?"
"By the Brothers, run! It's unstoppable! Nothing we do can stop…"
The man's words were cut short as a black blur tore past him. A heave of metal ripped through him, severing the top half of his body from the lower. The others were not spared as the same blade cut through them in the same stroke, being so absurdly massive that in a single swing, it cleaved their bodies asunder.
Blood and guts splattered onto the black armored mass. It kept moving forward, red eyes glowing from the hefty man within as he moved faster than anyone that size should. Roaring as he leapt into the mass of humans that stood in the filthy water, his blade swinging with such inhuman force that the water parted and the ground beneath cratered.
And blood mixed with the sewer water.
Roars followed behind as creatures of black and white followed behind, sprinting in and tearing into any survivors the man in armor left for them.
Beowolves ripped into their throats, ripping and tearing them out.
Ursa used their formidable strength to crush their foes beneath their paws and slam them into the walls, leaving them in a bloody pulp.
Baby Nevermores flew in packs, swarming and pecking away, tearing out the eyes and tongues of anyone before them.
And more just kept coming. No one knew where they were coming from.
But they were coming, and their numbers increased as the man in black armor slaughtered their forces.
Ever since Gold gave them orders to attack the city, this onslaught began, and now they were pushed back into their own base! This inhuman man that could take as many bullets and laser fire and not care kept moving forward and cutting through their forces like it was nothing!
If they could even hit him! He was faster than most Huntsman they had ever seen!
With a hallowed roar, the man in black stood in a pile of corpses, ready to move forward once more as his sword glistened with the guts of dozens of men. Blood sheened off his armor, clicking in place to fix an issue with his body.
The purge must continue. More blood must be spilt.
Death must continue…
Yet a sliver of humanity was still shown, pausing now and then, looking back at two figures shrouded in darkness far behind him.
The darkness urged him to consume them. To purge them. And beasts of darkness all around him! But a tingling sensation surged, and a voice filled his mind.
"You are doing well. Continue forth, Guts. Your daughter's body is safe in my possession. My spell should be enough to keep the darkness at bay."
Snarling at the intruder in his mind, the darkness tried to overwhelm it. But a sliver of the helm opened, revealing his eyes, and Guts gasped.
The spell worked? He was in control of the Berserk armor? The witch had the capacity just like…
Wait, what was that?
"Oh, my intruders." Salem's voice echoed through his mind. "Former allies of mine are here to welcome me. Guts if you be so kind. Deal with them. The Grimm can handle the rest of what you've started."
He did not hesitate. He may detest the witch, but she possessed his daughter's body. Until he found a way for her to separate from Tealle, he would not rest. And if the worst were to happen…
Guts clenched Dragonslayer as he landed in a crouch in front of Salem and Leonardo, separating a thin mustache man and a hulk of a man on par with his size. His eyes burned as he looked at the two interlopers, as he heard Salem's voice coming from his daughter's lips. "Well, as pleasant as this was. Arthur, my dear, you betrayed me and helped that lunatic forge that device that trapped me within the girl and likely led to my kidnapping."
"And my dearest Hazel," Salem continued looking at the massive mountain of a man. "This is where our path ends together. I dare say you won't want to work with me anymore, so I shall give you your freedom. I am working with my lovely Oz again for a new cause! And we stand opposed!"
"You work with him!" Hazel screamed at the top of his lungs, pulling forth shards of Dust and injecting them into his arms. "Then I have no problem erasing you! As the good doctor said, you aren't as invincible like this!"
"Oh, you mean to attack me still?" Salem voiced her sadness and lowered her head before her red eyes shifted to Guts. "Pity. I once respected you and the way you worked. Give him a quick death. It's the least he deserves."
"You will not stop me!" Hazel roared as he rushed straight for Salem, Guts intercepting, seeing the sword swing, moving his fist to punch the blade with a Dust-enhanced blow. "That's a big sword I don't feel…"
Hazel's words ended as the sword cleaved straight through his arm, severing it with a single strike, his limb flying in the air helplessly as Guts followed faster than he could react.
And Hazel was dissipated with the next swing of Dragonslayer, dropping to his knees as his head fell into the water.
"Impossible!" Arthur stumbled backward, preparing to use the exit plan he had formulated, when he found it entirely inoperable as he was knocked to the side as Leonardo stood next to them, delivering a mighty blow. "Ugh, Leo! You filthy coward…"
"Say the one trying to run away." Leonardo looked coldly at the man as black hands surged from the ground, causing Watts to look terrified as they clung around him. "I know my worth and pledge myself back to our mistress willingly. Besides, that felt quite pleasant to me after all the manipulation you have done to me these last few years. Time to reap what you sow."
"No, wait! I can…" Arthur turned his attention to Salm as the black hands clutched and gripped him, pulling and tearing into him.
"Silence!" Salem's voice echoed through the sewers, her eyes glimmering with bloodlust as she stared straight into Watts' eyes. "Leo said quite succinctly. Goodbye, my dear Arthur!"
Blood splattered as Arthur was torn and ripped into dozens of pieces as the black hands stretched and dug into him, tossing him over the sewers like a plaything.
Leo was queasy at the scene as Salem's eyes gleamed in satisfaction. Guts turned his focus back as the Grimm were starting to become a problem as their numbers were too much for the Mistral forces to handle.
"Yes, handle that. I'm sure he wouldn't want them breaching into the city." Salem looked upon the bloody mess with vindictive pleasure before turning to Guts and grinned.
"Wouldn't want his image to be tarnished knowing he was siding with the Grimm."
"No, no! This can't be!" Vester looked on in horror at the cameras, seeing what was taking place as Grimm tore through his men along with a man in black armor.
"You should have listened." A voice caused Gold to freeze.
No, it couldn't be…
"What, how did you get in here?"
Naruto, glowing in his golden form, now with ringed eyes, sat in a chair with Bole knocked unconscious beside him, flexing his hand. "Quite easily, given that the base is being destroyed by Grimm and that I could sense you from where you left me. So I just followed you here and walked on in."
"What, that's impossible…" Vester stumbled at the sight, looking for an escape realizing his only means of escape was now taken care of.
"You are still hung on that? You've lost, Vester. I gave you the chance to try and go peacefully. Now it has come to this. We had to do this the difficult way. So many damn lives wasted! All because you couldn't fucking give anything else about your damn pride and ego!" Naruto hissed, glowering at the man before him.
With a mental command, the Gudōdama behind him pierced his arms and legs, tearing through him with alarming ease but purposefully not hitting him with enough force to kill.
He did not want him to die. Not here.
Not like this.
"Ah, please stop!" Vester pleaded as he looked up at Naruto, his golden eyes shivering in terror at the golden hue before him.
"Should I? How many people have died because of you? How many, Gold? Answer me!" Naruto roared as he sent another Gudōdama and severed the man's right hand, his eyes shining in fury, his hands clenching.
"Ah!"
"That's right. You don't even know! You are the vilest kind of person there is! Unfortunately for you, I know how to deal with your kind of people…" Naruto stated, looking down at the man with no remorse as he spat out, thinking of what to do with him.
Then he remembered something very specific and took a deep breath.
It would work.
"Wait, please…" Vested begged, hoping the faunus would listen to him.
Spare his life despite all he had done.
"I'm not giving you the luxury of heading to Pure World. You will suffer. And as I know you can't be truthful, this is the appropriate punishment for you." Naruto whispered before lifting his hand, and a horrifying image rose from the ground next to Gold.
One that he would never forget as the same ringed eyes looked deep into his soul.
And he lost his forever.
"Meifu no Ō(King of Hell)!"
Hope you have been enjoying Aftermath so far.
Know Volume IV will be coming soon enough.
But know when it does...
Death will follow.
So be prepared to lose someone you care for.
And this time...
It will be one of RWBY.
It has been discussed and planned from the beginning.
One of the four will die.
Blake.
Weiss.
Ruby.
Yang.
One will not make it to the end of the story.
So, just prepare for that as I said it from the very beginning.
This is a darker story meant to push you and make you uncomfortable.
It was a warning of intent.
I'll see you next chapter.
