Authors Note:
Sorry about missing my release date, it's been rough lately. To put it short, all my free time for the last two months has been consumed by family drama, a replay of the Mass Effect Trilogy (this was purely lazy on my part), and sickness. Not to mention my internet has been crap lately too.
I'm sorry, I'll try to keep to schedule, but as always, I can't promise anything.
Reviews:
The Guest: I'm sorry for not being a time this time, and to your questions:
1. Yes, but it will be a while.
2. Not Team RWBY.
3. There's a lot of antagonists in this story, that is all I'll say.
4. This story's length is really a unknown to me, from what I have planned, it's probably going to be long.
And I don't mind, I love reviews.
Fatswordsman: You picked a good time to find this story, here's you a new chapter.
If you don't want to be spoiled, don't translate the Grimm.
"I don't own any of the series I write FF of. I only own my OC's and my unique aspects added to the story. I don't own any music or songs possibly mentioned, they are just recommendations. All credit of Rwby goes to RoosterTeeth."
Chapter 8: Feuer und Blut.
His heartbeat thundered as they rode down the road like a bolt of lightning. There was a storm raging just above their heads, rain poured down from an overcast night sky. They could see a glowing blaze through the trees ahead, their destination was close. The horrible stench of smoke had transformed into the rancid smell of death. There were screams in the distance, and the sounds of battle. Roars of Grimm reverberated through the night. It reminded him of his childhood, of Einsam. A chill went down his spine at those memories of Fire and Blood. He hated it when they came back to haunt him, he hated seeing those scenes replay again and again in his head.
The scene before them right when they exited the forest and halted their steeds was hardly any different. The scene before them was one straight out of Hell; Fridarheim was ignited in flame, Grimm were everywhere. They swarmed the skies, they filled the streets. Various types, but the most common he noticed were two in particular. Daemons, a bat winged and horned humanoid Grimm that swooped down upon its victims. And, the Draugar.
"It's much worse than I feared..." Duncan spoke, his eyes glued to the horror in front of them, "This is no regular horde..." There was too many Draugar for it be considered a simple, natural horde. Too many Daemons without a Lord. Too many present for a town to be caused by a negative event, there had to be thousands here for a town of about a thousand or less people. They would choose a city in flames like Thórsteinn before a town like Fridarheim.
Siegfried shook his head as he spoke, "This means..."
"An Eldritch Grimm," His Master finished his sentence, "Considering the Draugar, most likely a Attergangar or Wiedergänger."
"The reason we didn't see no Grimm at Thórsteinn..." It hit him, "They were all here."
The Town blazed in front of them, they could hear and even see some of the people being slaughtered down below. He noticed in particular a Daemon swooping down and grabbing a woman into the air, flying up into the sky and tossing her. Other Daemons flew up and knocked her around the sky like a pinball, punching and slashing her back and forth like a volleyball. Finally, one of its brethren grabbed her by the legs, as it flew down and grabbed her arms. They laughed while she screamed, and pulled her apart.
The flying Grimm flew below them to catch her falling guts, others swarmed her body and began to feast. Siegfried gripped his reigns and he glanced down to the town, before then looking to his Mentor.
"We need to help these people!" He couldn't just sit by and watch, he couldn't abandon them to this hellish fate.
Duncan glanced at the town, then back to the Redhead. He slowly said, "I don't think that's a wise idea..."
"What?!" He bursted out in a snarl, giving his Mentor a hateful look, "They need our help!"
"There's thousands of Grimm, and a Eldritch Grimm is among them." The Old Huntsman explained tactfully, "There's only two of us."
He closed his eyes and shook his head, opening them and saying, "We're honor bound to save them." Siegfried stated, "Slaying Grimm, and protecting the innocent and weak was the duty of Knights, and is the duty of Huntsmen." His hand shot out and he pointed at the town, "They need us!"
"It is," Duncan nodded, conceding to that, "But we would need to face the Eldritch Grimm to have a chance to dispel this horde." Looking back to his apprentice, he asked, "Have you read the books I've given you? They normally require multiple, S or A ranked Huntsmen to defeat them." Putting his hand upon his own chest, he clarified, "I'm an B-Ranked Defender, your just a Huntsman-in-training. It'd be suicide!"
"It doesn't matter!" He was undeterred, "I'm not leaving these people to die!"
"I understand, but-"
"Enough!" He shouted, "If you are so inclined to be a coward, then go on without me. I will not abandon this town to these monsters!"
Duncan took a deep breath, and sighed, "Okay, okay, we'll do it your way..." Raising a finger, he added, "But don't say I didn't warn you when we're swept up and destroyed by the power of Chaos-"
"HELP!" A Male voice shouted loudly, they looked down to see a bearded middle aged Man running out the gate, "SOMEBODY HELP ME!!!" Behind him, came five Draugar chasing after him. "Help-gah!" An arrow shot through the back of his head, and out his eye.
[ Play 'Chapter IV~On the Ground' -Drakengard OST]
As the man fell to the ground, a Draugar covered in blood with a bow in its hand, raised it into the air and shouted, "Einn í viðbót í kvöldmatinn!" It's brethren cheered and roared, like friends that were playing some stupid game. They took pleasure in the suffering they caused, the lives they took. It made him sick.
"Yah!" He kicked Grane forward and drew Balmung before Duncan could stop him. Siegfried galloped down the hill towards the Draugar who approached their kill. Hearing him coming, they looked up in panic.
"Mannfólk-" One shouted too late, his sword sang the song of black blood, and it's skeletal head flew into the air as he rode by.
"Veiðimenn!!!" Another with a spear shouted, raising it defensively. He quickly pulled Grane to the right as he passed, and slashed down upon the Grimm. Cutting lethally deep into its shoulder. As it whined and fell, he moved onto the next.
A Draugar with a longsword came at him as he rode forward, their blades met in a clash as he passed. It slowed down his momentum, but did not halt his advance. Riding past it, he turned his horse around and charged once more. His sword swung down upon the Grimm, it raised its blade to block, but his sword struck true into its neck. Slicing through it's right carotid artery, and cleaving through the muscles of its neck. It's head snapped back, attached only by the remaining left side of its neck. As it fell, he rode towards the last two.
Another archer, and one with a horned helmet, armed with a one handed axe and a round shield. It threw up its shield with its left hand, bracing for an attack, while readying its axe to strike. He let go of his reigns, and grabbed his sword with his other hand. Quickly, he shifted it into its two handed form, and slung with all his might. It was thrown through the air by the impact, landing on its back in the mud.
The Archer readied it's arrow, and let loose a shot at him. He tanked it as it hit his shoulder, but bounced off from protection of aura and steel plate. Then, he raised Balmung into the air over his head with both hands, and as he rode past the Draugar archer, who stepped back and raised an arm to defend itself, swung down with his right hand. Nearly thrown off his horse by his greatsword's weight, he cleaved through the Grimm diagonally. From its right shoulder, and out its left armpit, it fell in a squeal.
The Draugar that was thrown into the mud got up snarling, it raised its axe-only for Duncan's warhammer to smash into it's torso, sending it flying into a splattering mess of gore. Halting Grane, they met eye to eye, and nodded.
Duncan spoke first, "If we're going to help these people, we need to hurry then."
Nodding his head, Siegfried said, "I'll follow your lead." His Mentor then kicked Obsidian forward and rode into the town through the gate, he followed. Immediately, they encountered six more Draugar moving towards them. While they attacked on sight, the Huntsmen pushed on. Only striking at them as they passed, Duncan smashing one's head, while he severed two. Galloping down the street, they bared witness to the savagery of the Grimm.
Beowolves tore people apart in the street, and Draugar slaughtered people in their homes. Daemons ruled the skies, while lesser Grimm ruled the alleyways. It didn't take long to catch some of their attention, nor to find those in need.
In front of one building, six Hill Clansmen and Women put up a valiant defense against a pack of Doglike Grimm called Canis Minors lead by a Canis Major. Large and muscular with glowing red eyes behind a white bone plate mask covering their bestial faces. Drooling mouths filled with dozens of sharp, jagged teeth. Their black skin covered in black fur, spikes jutting out of their spines. The Canis Major was all those traits intensified. (A/N: The closet visual reference are basically Death Hounds from the Dawnguard DLC for Skyrim.)
The Clansmen by contrast were just regular people, only four of them, three men and one woman, seemed to be professional Warriors. Dressed in chain mail and leather armor, armed with sharp weapons in hand. The other two looked like a poor couple that grabbed weapons to defend themselves, but with the martial culture they were raised in, knew at least how to handle them. Behind them were children and other adults lacking fitness, skill and courage, huddled together, frozen in fear. Seven in total.
Quickly, as the Clansmen fought to protect their kin, Siegfried turned the dial on Balmung to yellow and revved it. Electricity crackled along the azure blade as he threw his arm back, and slung forward. A golden slash of lightning shot out in a wave in front of the Knights on horseback, and slammed into several of the Doglike Grimm before they could lunge or dodge. Some of them sequeled and disintegrated, others reeled back from their burns.
Taking advantage of his attack, the Warriors pressed their own. The Woman and one of the Men struck out with their sword and axe respectively, and dispatched a few Canis while Draugar came running in. The other two Men stood their ground with the couple, defending the helpless as the enemy came.
The Canis Major, however, was not to be denied. It charged at them, and the lesser Canis flanked their sides, supported by Draugar with swords and axes. One of the Warriors met his demise when a Canis Minor bit into the back of his leg, tearing out his calf while a Draugar slashed with his sword, cleaving through his throat, through the carotid arteries and the trachea. His Brother-in-arms avenged his death by returning a strike to the Draugar, while the Canis lunged at his leg.
It did not connect, because streaks of Lightning flew by them, striking the Grimm. Many of them fell, the Canis Major was not one of them. After it swerved out of the way of the dust waves, it bared its teeth and went for the Female Warrior's gut. She hastily took a step back and swung her sword defensively, the Grimm ducked under it and leaped. It's terrible maw sunk its razor teeth into her abdomen, tearing through chain mail and flesh, and with one motion, ripped out her intestines. As she screamed, more of its brethren flocked to its side while her comrade fell back to his other with the couple.
Siegfried watched with gritted teeth as the pack began to tear her apart, while the Draugar laughed and the people screamed in terror. Those Grimm's small victory would be short lived, for they broke them out of their ecstasy with their sudden mounted attack. Hammer and sword swung down upon surprised Draugar, who had let the fear of the people in front of them, distract them from the fury from behind. By the time they had turned to face the Knights, several of their kindred lay dead and dying.
The Young Knight slashed downwards as he passed another Draugar, it's skeletal head went flying as Grane rode. Balmung's blue metal gleamed from the light of the fires and the black blood spraying in the wind. The Canis Major barked and turned tail, it's Pack retreated with it as the Draugar were attacked by the Warriors and the Couple from behind. It was a reverse slaughter, a contrasting scene from the state of the town around them. As the last Draugar fell, the Knights rode to the front of the people.
[ Stop 'Chapter IV~On the Ground' -Drakengard OST]
Siegfried said as he pulled his horse to the side, "Do not be alarmed, we are here to protect you." The Clansmen looked at him like he was insane.
One of the remaining Warriors looked to his sides before striding forward and contorted his face into a grimace, "We don't need some Kingdomers help, especially Huntsmen, we'll defend ourselves." His voice was full of a pride that was not to be taken lightly.
Siegfried's anger rose to a point where he could not contain it, the absolute stupidity alone was enough to make a vein bulge on his forehead, "You are right, you really do not need our help. You are free to defend yourselves." He responded sarcastically, gesturing to the town around them, "Might as well repeal the Horde of Grimm yourselves."
"Well, that's not very nice of either of you," Duncan spoke, interrupting his apprentice and the Warrior, then addressing the crowd, "We don't want to fight, we just want to help." He added, "Please don't be offended, but we are the only ones who can help you right now."
"I don't care if you're the 'only ones', we don't need your help." The Warrior replied, pointing his sword at them.
Siegfried's voice was like a whip, "Stop being foolish! The Grimm don't care if we're Kingdomers or Clansmen. This is a dangerous waste of time!" He yelled, "We are here to help you!"
"Why should we believe you?" The Warrior asked, his voice full of suspicion, "For all we know this could be some grand ploy with your Kingdomer Technology to conquer us under the guise of salvation!"
"I promise you by my honor," Siegfried said with a hand upon his chest, "We are not here to take your land, we are here to stop the Grimm."
"Honor?" The Warrior turned to the crowd behind him, "What do these treacherous Kingdomers know about Honor? They are Liars! Remember what the High King said-"
"The High King is dead!" The Warrior went silent, the crowd's eyes went wide. "I killed him in personal combat, hours ago."
"You, you, your the reason this is happening!" The Warrior shouted with a shaky voice, his body trembling.
"This is not because my duel! If it was, this horde would be at Thórsteinn." Siegfried shouted, "Forget your pride, this is about survival, the Grimm could attack at any moment!"
"Fuck you," The Warrior bared his teeth, "Fuck you Kingdomer–" It had happened so fast that everyone blinked, the Warrior was standing there a moment ago, now he was being flown into the sky by a laughing Daemon.
[ Play 'Chapter XI~On the Ground' -Drakengard OST]
"Shit!" Duncan cursed as the Daemons began to circle around them in the sky as their brethren tore the Warrior apart.
The crowd began to panic as he spurred Grane forward. The Knight spoke again, loud and resolute. "If you follow us, we will protect you from the Grimm."
The last professional Warrior shouted, "We have to get to the Longhouse, it's the most defensible location in town! We were supposed to evacuate people there!" Quickly, he looked over everyone of the civilians, there were five children of various ages ranging from five to twelve, there were eight adults, a third of which were elderly.
"Then let's head there," Siegfried said with a nod, then looking to his Mentor, "Duncan, lead from the front, I'll be rearguard and keep the Grimm off your backs."
Duncan nodded, "Very well, but we will be fighting the Grimm all the way." He stretched his shoulders as he raised his hammer.
"What about the rest of the town?" One of the Clansmen asked, shaking as the Daemons circled overhead.
Siegfried's voice was like a thunderous boom, "The sooner you all evacuate to the Longhouse, the sooner we can end this threat! We can't do anything for the town if we're dead!"
"Blóð!" A demonic voice screeched overhead, swooping down upon the humans below. With reflexes like lightning itself, the Young Knight slashed out his sword, and a golden arc of electricity slammed into the Grimm as it readied to grab and carry off a victim. Instead, it squealed and crashed into the roof of building behind the people.
"We need to move, now!" He pointed his sword down the road, "Duncan, take point!" Then fanning it, "The rest of you, follow him!"
His Mentor smiled and nodded, kicking Obsidian into action, the Clansman didn't argue. They moved fast, even the elderly kicked their old bones into gear as Siegfried flicked his eyes in all four cardinal directions. Above, the Daemons began to screech like the harpies in the mountains and sirens at sea.
Three swooped down as he began to kick Grane into motion, "Bráð okkar flýr!" One of them shouted in their ancient tongue, he rebuked them with more slashes of lightning dust. One tanked a hit with resolve, only to die to the next hit, the other flailed and lost control of its wings. The last dodged and weaved out of the slashed ways, it's claws were long and sharp, it had two horns upon its head twisted into knots, the one on the left being exponentially longer then it's right horn. It's face was long, it's head was encased in white bone around its face, leading to two long spikes down the side of its chin. It's face was midnight, it's eyes were crimson on a field of black, it's horrendous teeth were long and sharp. (A/N: Basically it's head is the same as a Imp from Doom 2016, just with horns and different colors.)
As it came down, it swiped its right claw down diagonally, he deflected it with Balmung. The Daemon would not be deterred, it slashed its left claw into his back, clashing into his azure aura. He bucked forward, and gritted his teeth. The Grimm flew back up into the sky with a hiss, "Þú munt ekki komast svona auðveldlega burt…"
He kept his head on a swivel as he continued to ride, looking out for the Daemon's next attack, and new challengers. It didn't take long to spot some as they turned down a street. Draugar came running, their weapons in hand, blood caking their faces. A Wight, their leader, shouted with his sword raised high, "Ferskt kjöt!"
Seven of them charged with it towards the crowd, baring evil skeletal grins. One with an axe, and spiral painted on its forehead with fresh blood, screamed "Þú komast ekki burt!" as it ran forward. It had no sooner said that, as it was hit by a beam of electricity. It squealed and fell back, it's flesh smoking and burning
"Gazkog!" The Wight shouted as its Brethren died, "Hefna okkar Ættingja!"
He kept slashing his blade, sending waves of electricity at the Monsters as they charged. The first fell to the ground flailing, it burned alive in golden flames. The second fell, its skull popped open from the heat, like. A fountain of black blood and brains. The third fell, it's skin burned, and it's red eyes melted and dripped down its face.
The Last three changed targets, and ran at him. "Fyrir helvíti!" One shouted, it had a three foot long spear in its hand, which it thrusted into the air.
"Oh," Siegfried said as he deflected the spear with his sword, "This is going to be fun." He riposted into the Grimm's neck, and pulled his sword free, it's eyes went wide as it fell to the ground.
The crowd of Clansmen kept moving ahead as the last two Grimm came at him, the Wight and its last Draugar underling. The last Draugar twirled a mace around in its hand, shouting "Bein þín munu smella eins og kvistur!" As it closed the distance, he halted Grane and swung down Balmung. The Azure blade clashed against the rusty mace the Grimm wielded, sending sparks flying. The Draugar howled, and tried to bring the mace up, but Siegfried slammed his sword's pommel onto its head, and then beheaded it with one stroke.
"Veiðimann," His eyes flicked over to the Wight, standing with its mouth salivating as it grinned, "Baráttan okkar verðu þjóðsaga!"
"You want a fight, you vile demon?" He asked rhetorically as he subtly turned the dial on Balmung to black, all the while he fell behind the Crowd down the road, "Well, I don't have the time!" And swung out with his blade, a purple shockwave blasted out, and the Wight was sent flying, crashing into a house, shattering the windows and knocking down the roof. Siegfried then pushed Grane into a sprint, the clatter of hooves on the road was deafening.
He could still hear the howling of the Daemons in the sky, the sounds of battle, and the screams of the dying. The buildings flanking both sides of the road were aflame, some even collapsed. The smell of smoke, the smell of blood and flesh was heavy in the air. Ahead, the Clansmen followed his Mentor, moving as fast as possible.
Out of a Alleyway, the Canis Pack came running. The Canis Major that had retreated earlier, had returned with a vengeance. Nine Canis Minors followed its charge towards the crowd from behind. He revved Blamung again, the runes glowed purple as he slung the blade upwards. Several of the Canis were ripped from their feet, and pulled towards him through the air barking. He swiped his sword back and forth as they came, and their Canine bodies were divided in two, as they landed in the mud of the road behind him with splashes.
Five Remained with their Alpha, but three of them were then slammed into their left side with the force of a semi truck, thrown into a random building as a pile of black, misty gore. Then swiping up once again, he brought the last two towards him, they bared their teeth as he cut them in two. The Canis Major then turned around, charging him with a snarl, foam flowing out its mouth like a shook up can of soda.
Letting the glow of the runes on his blade fade, he focused. The Grimm leaped up into the air, it's razor sharp maw open and ready to rip and tear. Pulling Grane to the right with his right hand, and raising back his sword with his left, he swung. The Canis Major didn not taste flesh and blood, but azure steel as Balmung cut into its mouth, and through the rest of its body.
Siegfried did not look back to confirm his kill, he keep his eyes forward and on the Clansmen. It was a mistake.
[Stop 'Chapter XI~On the Ground' -Drakengard OST]
[ Play 'Chapter XI~In the Sky (Unpublished)' -Drakengard OST]
The Daemon flew down behind him, it's hands and arms wide. The Young Knight heard the flap of wings too late, "Núna!" He kicked Grane into motion, but the Grimm flew too fast. It's two scaly black hands with long, sharp claws, slammed onto his shoulders and clamped down tight. "RYIIII!" It screeched as it pulled, making his ears ring as he let go of his reigns with his left hand to pry the claws from his shoulders. Unfortunately, two more swooped down in front of him.
"Þinn okkar!" One of them growled, it had white horns and spikes around its head like hair and a beard, "Ég er svangur!" Siegfried swung his sword up and cut the other in two, but this one slammed into him from in front, and pulled him off Grane along with the one latched onto his shoulders from behind.
He found himself behind flown high into the sky to the laughter of Grimm, he flailed until he was then leg go by the one in front, only to be thrown in a twirl by the other. His hand hurt from the amount of pressure he kept on Balmung, to make sure it wouldn't be flung from his grip as he soared through the sky.
They came at him from all angles, the Daemons laughing as they flocked to tear him apart. First it was quick strikes, slashes with claws and punches with fists as they zoomed by. Azure aura sparking as he was knocked around the sky like a ball being passed around the court several times.
Gritting his teeth, he revved his sword once again, and pulled two Daemons towards him with the use of Gravity Dust, cleaving them as he twirled in the air. As they, and he began to fall, he heard more Daemons swooping down upon him.
"Ég hungra í hold og blóð!" Immediately, he turned with a swing, silencing one, it's head and it's headless body falling with him, until something smashed into him from behind and below. Arms wrapped around his chest under his, and a scaly hand grabbed his throat.
"Gefast upp!" It said with hatred as he began to struggle, it's hand started to choke and squeeze his neck. "Þitt lokið!" His aura shined as it strained to protect him, the Daemon's other arm began to crush his torso. "Ég skal veisla, á þitt hold-"
It interrupted it with a strained shout, "Shut up!" He brought his blade up behind him, and it connected with the Daemon's skull, cracking it open like a hammer against stone. As blood poured from its wound, and it's body trembled, he broke free. With a swing, his blade came as he turned while he fell.
"Aftur," It said, "Til Helvítis-" And then it fell with him, headless like the last. He did not stop his momentum, and turned towards the ground below. More Daemons were swooping up towards him, their claws ready, their mouths wide. With Blamung in his hand, he swung down as he fell, once, twice and thrice upon the first. It died without incident.
With his quadruple, and quintupled strikes, he cut through the next two like butter, their hisses and whines hurt his ears along from the wind as he fell. In particular, he was falling towards the town fast, rapidly approaching a roof at speeds strong enough to shatter aura, and splatter bodies. Quickly, Siegfried revved Balmung, the runes lit purple yet again.
Then, he wrapped his left hand around the blade, and put his will into the dust. A purple glow enveloped his body, and his descent slowed as he floated onto the roof like a paper plane. Slow enough to not crash into it like a meteor, but fast enough to hit it with a thud, and then rolled down the sloped roof onto the alley below, his sword flung from his hands.
[Stop 'Chapter XI~In the Sky (Unpublished)' -Drakengard OST]
Landing on the muddy ground, he push himself onto his knees. Breathing heavily, he looked around, only to find himself locking eyes with Grimm. Around him were strewn bodies of the dead, Men, Women and Children too. Above them were small Grimm, about as tall as a coffee table, their beady eyes were the color of blood, their pointed ears were floppy, and their noses were large and pointed. Their sweat drenched skin was black as midnight, around their body bone spikes white as snow jutted out. Around their eyes and above their nose was the signature white mask of Grimm, and their bloody mouths bared small tusks from their underbite. They were Goblins.
They all stopped with their meals, and looked at him. Some of them even dropped the pieces of fresh meat in their hands. It was then that he noticed that Balmung was about seven feet away from him, with two of them in between him and it. "Scheisse…"
One of them screeched in a raspy but high pitched voice, "Mannlegur!" With a collective hiss, the dropped their food, and picked up crudely made and stolen arms like knives, spears and hammers. They jumped to their feet, and readied themselves for battle. "Það er mannleg!" (A/N: A good example for their voice is the voice for the Vorcha in Mass Effect 2)
"Shit, scheisse…" Siegfried looked at his sword, and then at the goblins in his way to it. The only way to get there was through them. So Siegfried stood up as they started to frenzy, and charged. The goblin closest to him raised their knife to stab him, but he kicked his right leg forward and stomped into the goblin's face. The goblin fell on its back, their hands covering where the heel of his boot had smashed against their nose, and whined.
Quickly, he finished it off with a curb stomp to the face. It's demonic head busted open like a watermelon, and black blood and brains poured upon the ground. He had no time to move on, as the other Goblin jumped on his back. "Þú deyja!" It screeched as it began to stab him in the chest, it's rusty knife causing his aura to spark. Reaching behind himself, he grabbed it by head, and ripped the goblin off his back, and tossed it.
But already, it's kindred had descended upon him. Two grabbed him by the leg, and when he looked down, they made him fall on his back. He was now surrounded. "Scheisse!" His sword lay several feet away, but the Goblins had rushed to his side, several of them grabbed his arms and legs to hold him down. He tried to break free from their grasp, he was stronger than these creatures, and they knew he was. But he couldn't shake them loose. They began to stab, puncture, gouge and carve all over his torso, his Aura flaring in response. The goblins seemed to enjoy this, laughing at the pathetic human struggling to win against them. They laughed and laughed, until Siegfried finally let out an exhausted cry as his Aura sparked like a match.
They were thrown off him, the miniature azure explosion burning some of them in blue flame. Some of the Goblins screamed as their flesh melted, and black blood sprayed everywhere. One of them tried to stand but collapsed as soon as they did, their skin bubbling like water in a pot over a fire. As the other Grimm screamed and stumbled away from him, he rose to his knees, breathing heavily. He didn't have time to rest, he needed his sword.
Slowly, he got to his feet, and walked toward Balmung. Once there, he picked up his sword and turned to the remaining cowering Goblins. One had crawled away and was trying to scramble backwards towards another goblin that sat against the wall, its long claws dug deep into the ground, its body shivering. Siegfried slowly walked over to it and raised his sword. When the goblin lifted its head, he swung it to the side with one motion, sending it sprawling to the ground.
The others cried in panic, he didn't care how much of an anomaly this was, in his mind, he only could see the innocents the demons had slain.
"Miskunn, miskunn!" The one against the wall shouted with its hands up, it's body shivering. He took another step towards it, "Miskunn-gah!" And grabbed it by the throat, lifting it up into the air, and impaling it with Balmung through the stomach.
"Go back to Hell." Siegfried said, his voice cold as ice yet filled with fiery hatred. The Goblin groaned, and began to mist in his hand. Ripping the blade free, he dropped it and turned to the last four. Three of which could barely stand, the fourth tried to crawl away with no legs. The standing ones held their weapons in their hands, but they were clearly shaken.
They hadn't lived long by the standards of some of their kindred, but they had lived long enough to know when something wasn't right. The Human in front of them was not like the rest of his kind, there was a bright poison in him. A spark that threatened to burn them, a suffering that would make the everyday life of their homeland seem like paradise to his kind.
He began to approach them, his blade held at his side. His blue eyes pierced them like arrows, and held nothing but scorn for them. It was time to finish this distraction. The first Goblin gritted it's fangs, and lunged with its short spear. The Young Knight casually parried it to the side, and retaliated with a single strike. The Grimm grasped its own throat as black ichor poured out from a single slash, collapsing as he walked passed it.
The next two charged with their knife and short sword respectively, he divided them both into two with a single two-handed slash each. As those three started to mist and evaporate, the last crawled with all its might, it's legs already gone from the explosion, leaving only a trail of its black blood. He stabbed his sword into the ground as he strode over to the Goblin, grabbing it by the head.
It flailed in his arms as he carried it over to a wall, it tried scratching, biting and screaming, but it's attacks were nothing to both his aura and armor. And it's screams were deafened by the cacophony of sounds echoing in the town. Siegfried didn't waste anytime with deliberation, he began to bash the Goblin's head into a wall. It's pointed nose instantly breaking, and it's bone plate mask cracking. It screamed as he did this for the first two times, but after the third it went silent as black blood splattered against the wall. It was only after the seventh time, did he stop and drop the Grimm's carcass.
Turning around, the Young Knight took a deep breath, and exhaled. Then, he walked over and pulled his sword out of the ground and began to walk down the alley. He wistled, hoping that Grane would answer his call.
He was at a loss at what to do next, he was lost in a town being razed by Grimm. He needed to regroup with Duncan, and help the survivors. But who knows where they where. The longhouse was the destination, but he didn't know where it was. The only way he could learn is if he climbed a building at the risk of attracting the attention of Daemons or other flying Grimm.
It had been a long day. Hell, a long journey. He just wanted to get home, he wanted to see his friends, he wanted to see his Sister. Walking Down the alleyway, he stepped over more corpses of deceased Hill Clansmen. Their eyes wide, their bodies torn asunder, blood pooled the ground he walked on. In his mind, he could see them. Mr. Arbeit's cold, dead grey eyes staring up into his. One of his playground friends, Gerben, losing his head to a Ursa. His Mom and Dad, their faces robbed from him, their corpses unwhole. All of them were watching him, all his friends, all his neighbors. They were in the alleyway with him, they were behind him, they were standing against the walls. Watching him as he walked by, judging him.
He knew, deep down, that he still failed them. He failed them everyday that Dragon doesn't taste his blade. He failed them with every new person he failed to save. In the end, he was still a failure. There was much to improve upon.
Walking down the alleyway, he turned down another, and heard the sound of battle nearby. He didn't wait, he ran down the alley at a thundering speeed. If there were survivors, he must help them.
[ Play 'Hungry Leonard~On the Ground' -Drakengard OST]
Running out into a open area, he encountered a slaughter. A Beowolf pushed a Guard of Fridarheim onto the ground, and swiped its claws down upon him. Blood and guts splattered the groundas it drooled in delight. Another bit the face of another Guard, clamping down into his skull, and crushing it like an apple with its teeth.
There were three guards left, while around ten littered the ground. In contrast, there were seven Beowolves standing, with only four in his vision evaporating. One slammed his axe into a Beowolf's skull mask, but the beast retaliated by swinging its left arm up, knocking the axe and him back, while slashing up diagonally with its right claw. The Guard was fatally struck, his torso torn open by one strike.
"No!" Another Guard with a familiar voice shouted, in rage he ducked up a Beowolf's swing, and decapitated it.
Siegfried charged into the fight, shifting Balmung into its two handed form, he spun around as a Beowolf turned to him and cleaved it in two in a diagonal overhead slash. Two more turned to him as he continued, he slashed forward with all his might, and cut the next down. It's Brother tried to circle around him, but with a twirl, he bisected it at the waist.
As he turned to face the last three Grimm, one of the Guards lunged at one with his spear, the Beowolf sidestepped and thrusted it's claw through the Man's back, and out his chest. Before it could revel in another victory over another victim, the last Guard slashed up its back. It yelped, and turned with a snarl, and slashed him across the midsection, throwing him against a wall.
"Damn it!" Siegfried shouted, as he kept into the air. The Grimm all turned, and they rushed towards him on all fours. The Beowolves were fast, ready for another kill. But he stopped one as he landed, his runesword slicing through it's torso. The Grimm stood up, and one slung it's claws at him in a overhead strike. Siegfried leapt out of the way, and sliced upwards, cutting its demonic hands off. Then, he swung his sword in a sweeping arch, cutting it in half. Its remains scattered across the ground before it dissolved into a burst of black smoke.
The Last Beowolf snarled, and charged at him, with its claws drawn. Siegfried leapt back, and sliced at the creature's legs. With an enraged roar, it fell to the ground, kicking its head back, snapping at the air. Siegfried jumped up, and kicked it in the snout, then he stabbed it in the side, and severed its spine. A sharp intake of breath, followed by a pained yowl, told him his enemy had fallen. The Beowolf began to dissolve and mist, disintegrating into a cloud of black particles and smoke.
[Stop 'Hungry Leonard~On the Ground' -Drakengard OST]
Lowering his greatsword, he let out a heavy sigh. Shifting it into its one handed form, he turned to check over the dead when he heard coughing. Over against a wall, one of the guards was still alive, barely.
"By Odin, It-It's you…" He said with a weak voice, he had a long blonde beard stained with blood, "Y-You're that Kingdomer from yesterday…the Huntsman…"
"Yeah, it's me." Siegfried answered honestly, walking over to him. "You're that gate guard."
"Wh-cuh-cuh, What are you doing here?" He asked after he coughed up some blood, "I thought you said you were going to Vacuo?"
"We lied," Remembering the guard's demeanor, he opted to tell him what they did, "The truth is, we were after your High King."
"Did you get him?" The Gate Guard asked, he raised an eyebrow before answering.
"I defeated him in single combat today."
"HeheheHAHAHA!" The Clansman bursted out laughing, until a coughing fit broke him out of his mirth, "I'm glad to hear that…maybe someone better will lead my people…" His arms writhed against his stomach as he gritted his teeth and moaned.
"Can you walk?" Siegfried asked as he knelt down by him, "Or do you need sort of immediate medical attention?"
"I'm a dead man Kingdomer," The Guard answered him, lifting one of his arms to reveal a lacerated stomach, his guts spilled open, "You can't just shove in guts, and drink that miracle potion your people get addicted to…and I won't make it to a doctor to stictch me up for it…"
The Young Knight closed his eyes and shook his head, before opening them and asking, "How much time do you have?"
"E-nough to talk, could be minutes, could be an hour…" Nodding, the Huntsman took this chance to get some proper answers.
"What happened?" He asked the dying man, "How did this many Grimm show up out of nowhere?"
"They arrived two or three hours ago," The Man answered, "I was on the wall talking with my Captain when we heard it, that horrid horn." Looking up into the overcast sky, he said, "We didn't know what to expect when we looked to the east, but it definitely was not an army of Grimm, marching orderly over the hill…"
Narrowing his eyes, he asked, "What do you mean by 'orderly'?"
"They were in ranks, grouped up together like in units in a army." The Man looked to him as he spoke, "They had these black riders leading them."
"Black Riders?" This wasn't right.
"Yes, I don't remember much, but I remember one." His eyes went wide as he recounted, "It was a Grimm unlike any other I've ever seen, a King." That word made a chill go up Siegfried's back, "It had a cruel Crown of Iron, and a sword of midnight that gleamed with the power of Hel itself." The Guard lifted one finger, "One second, was all it took. It raised that sword, and then the eastern gate was turned to glass…"
"Have you seen it since?"
"No, no, I've been fighting until now…"
Scratching his chin, he asked, "Can you tell me the directions to the Longhouse? I heard that's where everyone has flocked to, I'm going there to regroup with my Master."
"Yes-" He was interrupted by an symphony of booms, familiar, yet foreign to the Young Knight. Loud pops, echoing across the city from one single direction.
"Where those Gunshots?" He asked aloud, his mind puzzled.
"Heh, yeah, they are." The Guard explained, "They've resorted to those antiques we had stored in the armory, that means we're screwed…they're muskets, not even something modern like your people have."
"We aren't screwed, me and my master can stop this." Siegfried deflected, "I just need to know the way."
Lifting one hand, he pointed down an alley behind the Young Knight, "Go down that alley, and take a right onto the street. All you have to do is take a left down road, and a right, then you should be basically there…"
"Thank you." He stood up, and began to turn around, when a hand grabbed his wrist.
"Wait!" The Guard stopped him, "I need to ask you a favor…"
"What is it?" He asked, with a tinge of impatience.
"I may be damned to die this day, but if I must, I'd rather go out on my terms." These words snapped the Huntsman out of his focus, "I might die in minutes, or in hours. If the Grimm find me like this, I'll die terribly." The Guard looked up into his eyes, "I'd rather die by the swift hand of a Man, then the cruel maw of a Grimm."
"What do you want me to do?" Siegfried had a feeling where this was going.
"Can you hand me my sword?" He asked, pointing over to the side, to the sword laying in the mud. The Young Knight strode over and picked it up, then went over and handed it to him, "Thanks," The Man took his arms off his stomach, and grabbed the handle and the blade of his sword, "I humbly ask you, as both a man and a warrior, to strike me down." He asked with sincerity, "I want to enter Valhalla as a true warrior, not a mangled pile of meat."
Thinking it over, he nodded, "I will honor your request." He readied Balmung, lifting it up.
"Thank you, Kingdomer…" The Man closed his eyes.
"But first," Siegfried asked, delaying the deed, "What's your name, Clansman?"
Opening his eyes, the Man answered, "Vragi, So-Son of Rolf." Then he asked his own question,"Wh-What's your name, Kingdomer?"
"Siegfried Walsung, Son of Siegmund Walsung."
"It…was an honor to meet you…Kingdomer…" The Man said closing his eyes, blood pooling underneath him.
"Same to you," He raised the blade into the air with both hands, "Now go to your Gods with pride." And separated the Man's head from his body.
Looking at the body of the Gate Guard who greeted him with mirth and kindness yesterday, Siegfried flipped his sword in his hands, kneeled. "Lord of Light, I ask humbly of you, forgive this Man his Sins, and guide him upon the path of Heaven through the lands of Annwyn." He prayed with closed eyes, "Or let him join Gwyn, and be a Knight at his side against the endless battle against Donn. Spare him the turmoil of Hell…" Opening them, he finished, "Amen."
He looked over his shoulders when he heard the clopping of hooves, and saw his loyal steed approaching him.
"Grane," He smiled, "I knew you'd find me, Boy." Standing up, he went over to the horse and patted its side. Looking back to the Man, he narrowed his brow. "I won't be able to save everyone today, but I will end this nightmare."
Author's Note:
I hope this was a good chapter in your opinion, my audience. Because god, I hit a wall several times writing it.
This was supposed to be a one and done event in a single chapter, but the next (should) be the end of the climax of this volume. Then, nothing but a few chapters of dialogue, with one (or two) potential fight.
Also, screw Autocorrect. More like Automistake.
Next Update: Hopefully, next Friday, or the one after it.
I'm open to all criticism (I'm writing Fanfiction to improve my writing after all), So please review and give me your honest opinions. If you like it, please be sure to favorite or follow.
