Authors Note:
Here it is, right on time for once. Nothing more to say on that.
Also, spoiler for V9, Ep5: They really took a lot of inspiration from Relic of the Future didn't they? LOL.
Review:
RonaldM: My favorite Grimm…well, in the show it's a tie between the Wyvern, the Nuckelavee, and the Hound. In my story, it's not made a appearance yet…
The story is going to be dark, but also light hearted sometimes.
TheBlackKnight: Funny you mention the Shadow of Mordor series, that's where I got Skoth's name from some random Uruk Captain.
About Draugar and Orcs…well, you'll have to wait and see.
And that's basically what Siegfried's and Duncan's relationship is supposed to be like, so I'm glad I nail that. And with that similarity to Celebrimbor, it's close is all I'll say. More like Ozpin with a different method.
And your ideas are pretty close to the plan.
And on RWBY's current state, honestly I'm afraid this might be the last Volume after all the poor decisions made over the years. And thanks, I'm glad someone is enjoying this story, but if anyone on the site should be on the writing team at RT, it should be Couer. I haven't completed a story yet lol.
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 11: Asche und Rauch.
There was a solemn atmosphere all across the courtyard, all the guards who fought on the front line about an hour ago watched as their captain cried over the fate of his twin brother. The Hill Clansmen looked at him with both disgust, yet understanding. It didn't befit a warrior to cry, yet no one could blame someone for doing so after seeing their close Kin die in such a horrid way.
Siegfried sympathized with him, the fate that befell his parents, and the one that about did his Sister, it tore him up for a long time. He could only imagine how much worse it would be to lose a twin sibling, it must be like losing a part of yourself. But now was not the time for tears, three minutes had passed out of the thirty they were given. He about began his approach to him, but Duncan beat him to it.
His mentor walked up to the crying man, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder before speaking up, "Rurik." His tone was calm and collected, though there was steel beneath his words, "Please, listen to me and heed my advice. You cannot give in now. We're fighting for our lives here, and the lives of all the people of your town. Every last Man, Woman and Child in that building is depending on you to survive." He continued on, "I understand what it's like to loose friends and family, especially to the vile creatures of Grimm. I understand the despair and tragedy of it all." The man nodded his head slowly. "But this is more than that Rurik. Your comrades need you, they need their Captain, and they'll need you to keep going no matter what. No matter what happens today, or tomorrow, or ever, do not stop fighting. Do not surrender to those monsters, do not let them win the battle for your soul." The Captain looked up at the Old Huntsman, "Your Brother would want you to keep fighting, to defy that monster until the end. Not to waste this valuable time crying over what cannot be reversed."
After a moment or two, Rurik managed to say something coherent, despite being unable to wipe the tears from his face, "Yes..." He replied, "I won't yield...until the bitter end."
Duncan nodded in approval before he added, "Now then, we have a job to do." He offered the guard Captain his hand, Rurik took it, Duncan pulled him to his feet.
When Rurik stood up, one of his men approached them. "Sir." The guard spoke, his voice echoing throughout the area, "What orders shall we carry out?"
"Get the dust cannons ready." He ordered, then looking around at all the Men idling by, "We're going to fight."
There was a cheer from the Men, they looked determined, ready to defend their friends and families. Siegfried admired their courage. If only the SPS had some, then his hometown might still be standing.
Rurik waved him, and the two Highlanders over. When he approached him, the Captain detailed his plan. "We're going to hold back the Grimm while our people evacuate through the tunnels underneath the Longhouse." He explained, "The problem is I need two of you to help us fight whatever that Níðingr bastard sends in, and to defend our cannons while they get ready to clear the sky of whatever flys in it. And the other two need to check the tunnels and see if the men I sent returned or not. If so, then they need to begin the evacuation." Rurik looked between them all, and then said, "I think the Princess and the Boy should check out the tunnels and you two warriors should stand with me."
Siegfried didn't like the idea of being given a job devoid of much glory, but someone had to do it, and Duncan and Fergus were battle hardened veterans while he and Boudicca were much younger. "I'll do it." He answered, nodding affirmatively.
"So will I." The Princess spoke, her eyes like blue steel. She looked to Fergus, and asked, "Are you ok with splitting up?"
"I am, my strength and size is best suited here than some tunnel." He said boisterously, "Keep safe Princess."
She nodded. "I will."
Duncan then spoke to Siegfried, "You keep safe too Sieg, we don't know if those tunnels are safe." He advised.
He smiled faintly at his mentor, "I will, you keep safe too." Duncan gave him a proud look before nodding to his apprentice, who bowed respectfully in acknowledgement, before walking away with Boudicca.
Inside the Longhouse...
As Siegfried followed the Princess into the Longhouse, they were greated by a mass of curious eyes. Men stood and sat with weapons in hand, women held their children or spouses close, a few had weapons themselves. The Elderly sat with resigned, stoic faces, while the young trembled with tear stained eyes. They made their way through the crowd, towards the stairs leading downwards on the other end of the room. There were many people gathered in the hall, most of them looked nervous and fearful, but a few others wore cold expressions and hostile eyes, while few appeared excited, which seemed odd considering the circumstances.
Some looked at them with curiosity, others with suspicion. As they got closer to the stairs, the crowd parted as they walked by as if they themselves were a repellent to them. When they reached the stairs down to the deeper levels, there was a collective atmosphere of relief behind them as they began to descend.
It was a simple walk down some stairs to reach the first basement level. The people below watched them with wide-eyed looks as they came down. "Why is everywhere I go in these lands do I end up being gawked at?" He rhetorically asked himself.
"It's simple," Boudicca answered him without even looking his way, "You're a Kingdomer."
Looking down at his own outfit, he said with a sarcastic tone, "Gee, I wonder what gave it away?"
"Maybe it's the arrogant demeanor and attitude?" She looked back at him with a smirk.
"Have you looked in a mirror?" He bited back.
"The fact that you confuse my behavior for yours is testament to the fact of how bigoted you really are." She shook her head as they walked.
"Then tell me, Highlander, what separates the Moutain Clans from the Hill Clans?" He asked, "Both raid and pillage into the lands of Vale-" She stopped and turned around, her icey gaze like a blizzard personified.
"Do you even know our proper names?" She asked, getting into his face, "We are not just some 'clans'. My people, the Tuatha, are the true natives of eastern Sanus. Your ancestors, the Avalonians, came from that vile island and took all that we called home. These Goths are no different, they just took what was left of any decent land."
"What about the Gaians? Wasn't this their land before the crusades?" He asked.
"The Gaians were nothing but lost Danann." She shook her head as she turned around, "We don't have the time to confront your ignorance." He followed her through the first basment level until they reached the second set of stairs, and descended.
The next level was vastly different, there were rooms on both sides that presumably were storage chambers of some kind. But the people down here were different as well, healers attended to wounded people who laid across the ground on furs. There were Men, Women and Children. Some lacked arms or legs, some had disfigured faces either ripped or bit off. Some just had bandages wrapped around their wounded areas. But the telltale sign of black veins and necrotic flesh showed that they were already dead without modern medicine.
Siegfried stopped and looked at them with pity, Boudicca stopped and looked at him with curiosity. A boy squirmed as his arm turned black, and his brown eyes bled crimson tears as they slowly but surely will turn red. His frail body trembled, his face one of agony. Siegfried approached the boy, reaching into his satchel on his side, when one of the healers stopped him.
"What do you think your doing Kingdomer?" An old balding man with green eyes asked him, "My patients need space."
"Your patients are suffering from Grimmfäul," He said it's name in his native tongue, looking at the raised eyebrow of the Healer, he said, "Grimmrot. They're suffering from Grimmrot."
The Man looked around and got close to the young Knight, "I know that." He whispered.
"Do you have anything to treat it with? Any Red Elixir, or have you any tools for amputation?" Siegfried asked quietly.
"No, I do not." The Healer answered, "All my tools were in my home, and any red elixir I had was there as well. I only had one on me, and I've burned though it with my first couple of patients." He explained, "All I've been doing is giving herbs that help with pain and prevent other infections."
"Doesn't this place have a storeroom? Why don't they have red elixir?" Siegfried gestured to the doors around the large room.
"I'm sorry to say that our absent Jarl is not a fan of anything Kingdom produced." The Healer shook his head, "I'm the only one that tried to keep stock of that stuff."
Siegfried dug into his satchel and pulled out two decanters full of red liquid, he had grabbed some out of his saddle bags before he first entered the longhouse, "Look, I have two bottles of red elixir I can spare that should be able to hold back the infection of all your patients if you ration it correctly." As the healer took them from him, he leaned in, and asked, "But what are you going to do if any of them go berserk?"
"We've got some guards down here in case that happens," He explained, pointing out the few guards in the room, "Though I think that we hopefully don't have to worry about an infection progressing that far-"
"Rrrrrrrrraaaaaaaahhhhh!!!!" Everyone in the room looked to see some woman standing up, her body convulsing as she shrieked.
"Scheisse!" The Young Knight shouted as the Woman leaped at one of the Healers apprentices. The poor man fell with her on top of him, she burried her teeth into his neck, and ripped out his throat in a instant. Two guards scrambled to dispatch her, she raised up, blood covering her mouth as her eyes bled, her irises now red and her sclerae black. Her body was covered with black veins and blackened flesh, her nails had been replaced by snow-white razor-sharp claws. She had become a Zombie.
She leapt up, and charged the two guards. One swung his axe, only for her to sidestep and slash his throat with her claws. The other lunged with his sword, it pierced her gut as she turned around, but this was a fatal mistake when dealing with one of them. She leaned forward and sunk her teeth into his throat, all the while tearing into his back and sides with her claws.
Siegfried moved forward to stop the Zombie's rampage, but people panicked and those fit and well enough to run jumped up and did so, blocking his way. But with amazing grace, and swift speed, Boudicca moved past the crowd like flowing water. As the Zombie turned around, it found only a spear coming for its face. She stabbed it through under its chin, and deep into its brain did her spear hit true. The undead went limp, and she ripped her spear out in a flash.
As suddenly as hell broke loose, it was chained up yet again. People who moved to the stairs on the other side of the room stopped, and many breathed a sign of relief. Siegfried turned to the healer and grabbed him by the collar, "Go make sure that no one else is as badly infected, now!" He ordered, the Healer shook his head in a frenzy.
"Yes! I'll get right on it!" He let go of the man, and watched him hurry to the other healers, and give out orders of treatment with the elixirs. Meanwhile, Boudicca approached him with curiosity.
"One thing I can commend is that you seem to not care about someone's origins when it comes to helping them like some would." She noted, her expression stoic, "I saw how you went to help that boy."
"Just because someone is born a heathen, or as heirs of some despicable group, doesn't mean they're inherently evil." Siegfried elaborated, "Children are innocent of the sins of their fathers. It's what choices they make as adults that truly count." Putting his fist against his chest plate, he then said, "I swore a oath to the Lord of Light to help anyone in need and to fight against the darkness for all my life." Looking to her, he stated, "A oath is not something one should easily break, if not at all."
"That is a rare worldview," She commented, tilting her head, "Some would call it weak, or delusional."
"True strength is not caring what others think." He looked around at the room, before moving on and saying, "We need to hurry, I don't know how much more time we have."
"Agreed," She said, turning around with spear in hand, "Let's go."
Once they were in the lowest level, they were met with some guards standing with their weapons at the ready. He assumed it was because of the commotion above them, they let them pass as they quickly explained what happened. They were told that the tunnel entrance was on the other side of the room. And sure enough, it was. It was hard not to see it.
The room was full mostly of people and guards, standing around all the barrels of storage. Some he assumed was dust. On the other side of the room, there was a large iron gated tunnel, which was currently open as two guards stood staring into the darkness.
They both approached the tunnel, the guards standing guard turned around as they came. "Halt!" One ordered, "Why are you two here?"
"Your Captain ordered us to see if the men he sent to check out the tunnels returned or not." Siegfried explained, "We need to evacuate the people soon."
The guards faces turned grim, "We've not heard anything from Aenar or his group." One of them explained.
"So they're still down there, then." Boudicca pointed down the tunnel with her spear. They glanced at her, before nodding.
"It appears so." The guard said, looking away.
"Is it possible they may not come back?" The young Knight asked.
"Aenar is a loyal man," One of them explained, "He wouldn't leave this town without confirming for the rest of us that these tunnels are safe." He looked down the tunnel again, "It's possible-" He was silenced as an arrow pierced his forehead. He dropped down dead on the ground as the remaining guard drew his weapon in surprise.
[ Play 'Chapter I~Castle Interior' -Drakengard OST]
"Árás, árás!" A raspy and high pitched voice shouted down the dark tunnel as a mass of running footsteps came forward.
"Goblins!" Siegfried shouted drawing his sword and holding it at the ready. The entire room behind them became chaotic, as some people turned to run out of it through the stairs, and the guards came running towards them with weapons in hand to fight the Grimm.
In a instant, Goblins came flooding out of the tunnel. Some with axes, some with spears, some with short swords and others with shortbows. The whole hall erupted in fighting as they leapt at the two aura clad warriors. Boudicca slashed through the necks of any Grimm that ran near her in movements like lightning, using the tip of her spear like a whip. While Siegfried slashed the heads off any Goblin that came at him, his Balmung slicing cleanly through the creatures' skulls and torsos.
But some Goblins made it passed them, and swarmed the auraless guards. The battle went from intense and deadly to bloody and gruesome within seconds. One Guard was swarmed as one Goblin flanked around him, and slashed the back of his heels. As he fell forward, three goblins, one armed with a wooden club, and two with rusty old knives, swarmed him. The one with a club cudgeled in his head, while the two with knives shanked him in the torso.
Siegfried sliced through the neck of another goblin, before leaping and kicking the corpse with such force, that he propelled it several feet away, the goblin's head was left spinning in midair. Five more came at him with spears, clubs and a knife. He twisted his sword's handle as he swung it horizontally, and it shifted into a greatsword as soon as they got close, bisecting all five in a instant.
All the while Boudicca lunged forward and impaled one of the Grimm, and with a twirl launched it at its brethren. With another twirl, she cut through another score. Behind them, a few of the guards struck down some Goblins, but others were either being overwhelmed, being torn apart, or being sniped by archers deep in the tunnel.
It was at this point when new roars echoed from the tunnel, drawing the Huntsman-in-training's eyes. Out swarmed a different type of Grimm, similar to Goblin's in height and tactics, but different in appearance. They were scaly with black skin, with white bone plate patches around their shoulders. Their legs were sinewy and digitigrade, they had lizard like tails. Their hand were long with sharp claws, their arms full of muscle. Finally, their heads were shaped like a dragon's, with jaws like a crocodile. The top of their head was solid white bone plate, with two long horns on top, with smaller ones jutting out towards the back on the sides. Their eyes were crimson, filled with hatred.
"Kobolds!" Siegfried shouted as they came rushing out with more Goblins. He leaped forward as the monsters charged, slashing across them with his blade. One of the Kobolds was knocked out with a slash to the face, another was decapitated, but the third managed to slash his side with a crude knife, causing his blue aura to spark.
"Fyrir Skoth og Mantus!" It roared, in a high pitched, yet rough voice. In rage, the Knight pommel-striked it's skeletal face with his greatsword, causing the Kobold to stumble back with a cracked faceplate. He kept the momentum, and swung around in a twirl, cleaving through five more goblins and kobolds coming at him, and the one that he knocked back as well. Their bisected corpses fell to the ground, emitting black smoke and mist.
Though they carved through the ones that came at them, a few had slipped by and attacked the guards behind them. One lifted his shield to block a stab from a spear, whilst a Kobold and Goblin flanked from opposite sides. He swung his blade at the Goblin, but it parried it as the Kobold slammed its axe into his lower spine, paralyzing him. That Guard fell into a Kobold's spear. Another hammered the heads of any Grimm that came closed, cracking their skulls open and splattered black blood all over him. What he didn't expect, was an arrow to pierce his right shoulder, wounding his sword arm, and delaying him long enough for a Kobold to leap at him. It wrapped its arms around him as it bit into his throat, he screamed as it tore into his veins, and clawed his whole backside.
"This is bad!" Boudicca yelled as she slashed her way towards the closest Goblin, who she sliced across the face with her spear. She took advantage of the fact it was distracted by the wound, and slashed through the stomach of a another Goblin, then she stabbed through the first one to finish it off. "We're not going to be able to hold against them!"
Boudicca spun around, and thrust the shaft of her spear into the skull of one Kobold, it went limp as she jerked her spear out, and twirled through a few more Grimm. Siegfried swung Balmung through Grimm after Grimm, yet the horde never let up. More and more Goblins and Kobolds came, and arrows flew over their heads. They bounced off their aura, but were real concerns to the men behind them. To make things worse, a new roar echoed from the tunnel. It's voice was much thicker.
"Þið maðkar, brjótið þá!" Out came a taller creature, standing at 5'6, it was clad in white bone plate armor. It had pointed floppy ears, a large and pointed nose. Skin black as midnight, around its body bone spikes white as snow jutted out. Around its eyes and above its pointed nose was the signature white mask of Grimm, small tusks rose out of its mouth from its underbite. It was a Hobgoblin.
[ Stop 'Chapter I~Castle Interior' -Drakengard OST]
Siegfried shook his head, and said, "You've got to be kidding me."
[ Play 'Chapter III~On The Ground' -Drakengard OST]
The Hobgoblin came at them with a battle axe in hand, like some raider ready to pillage a village. It swung at him vertically with surprising strength, forcing him to jump backwards to dodge it's blade. He countered by swinging horizontally for its waist, but met the haft of its axe instead as it pushed him back, shouting, "Ég mun veislu yfir húðina þína!" Siegfried pushed back with his own strength, and kneed the Grimm in the stomach. It didn't even register it, as it snarled.
Instead, the Hobgoblin reared its head back, and head butted the Mantlean with all its might. He stumbled back, his left hand instinctively reached for his own face as it raised its axe high. Then it swung down towards Siegfried, hitting him in the shoulder, causing his aura to spark from the impact. The Huntsman-in-Training gritted his teeth, and then head butted the Grimm back, as it stumbled doing the same motion he just did, he reached down and turned a hidden ring just under his greatsword's cross guard, it shifted from a U shape to the classic T. He flipped the sword in his hands, and grabbed it by the blade, and swung it like a pick axe.
"Fick dich!" He cursed in old Mantlean while half swording, his cross guard slamming into the Hobgoblin several times, puncturing it's armor and piercing through its skin as it snarled. "Du Stück Scheiße!"
The Grimm then shoved him back with its axe's haft, then swung at him. Sidestepping, he swung his sword's cross guard at it again, his handle and pommel slammed into the Hobgoblin's head. As it reeled back, he continued his swing in a complete turn, and came at it again with a half sword thrust. Balmung struck true through its side, the Hobgoblin squealed. Freeing his right hand, he grabbed the handle of his sword, and let go of his left hand as he thrusted even more, until the cross guard was touching its armor. Then, he grabbed Balmung with his left hand, and cleaved through the Hobgoblin's torso leftwards, and then diagonally swung rightwards through its neck.
As it's body fell into three parts, he saw that Boudicca was single handedly holding the Goblins and Kobolds back. She was stabbing, slashing, slicing, and cutting through them with her silver spear. Her movements were fluid and quick, and she moved swiftly. Every blow brought an Grimm screaming and howling to the ground, where it died and began to evaporate. But despite her skill with her weapon, her arms and legs were becoming weaker by the second; she was losing aura as they whittled her down through attrition.
Meanwhile, all the Guards left were either dead, wounded, or standing in a shield wall at the back of the room. Standing guard for the stairs that lead above.
He then heard the roar of another group of Grimm coming from the tunnels. Siegfried looked away from the battle, towards the barrels. An idea rushed to his head, a dangerous and risky one. One that could possibly doom everyone–but there was no other reasonable choice.
Rushing over to them, he smashed one open, only to find ale. Turning quickly, he moved to another section, smashing through one, he found salt. He heard more Grimm coming out from the tunnel, so he moved again, and smashed through a barrel.
Seeing blue dust pour out of it, he had all the confirmation he needed. It didn't matter what particular barrels had what dust, his reckless idea wasn't exact. He revved Balmung, the runes turned purple as he focused on them all, and lifted them all up with what remained of his gravity dust. In a swing, he directed them towards their target.
The Princess dispatched another Kobold as wooden barrels flew over her head, and into the dark tunnels from whence the hordes came. Both she and the Grimm were surprised, "Get down Princess!" He shouted as he swung his sword, a arc of electricity shot out towards the tunnel. Her eyes went wide as she jumped behind a stone support beam.
[ Stop 'Chapter III~On The Ground' -Drakengard OST]
The Grimm in the room looked back just in time to see the dust's reaction. Multiple explosions of red, orange, blue and dark orange chained together to erupt through the tunnel. He turned and ran when the blast ripped out of the tunnel, flames mixed with steam and stones like shrapnel flew into the room. The Grimm outside it directly was either burnt or ripped apart by stones. He however was thrown off his feet by the sheer power of the blast, and into a stone support beam.
Siegfried gasped as he opened his eyes, his ears ringed like metal and his Aura flared as the pain surged through him. There was only about 40% left from what he felt. Boudicca knelt down before him and shook his shoulder, "Get up!" She ordered him, "That Grimm apparently decided to cut our time short."
He pushed himself up, and laid against the cracked beam. "I-I need a minute..." He said reaching into his satchel on his side, pulling out a decanter full of blue liquid. Pulling out the cork, he took a small drink. He felt his aura start to regenerate instantly, and the feeling of dopamine flooding his head made him close his eyes. Blue Elixir was far more powerful than Red Elixir, but far more rare and expensive. Not to mention it was ten times more addictive than Red Elixir, which made drinking it far more riskier.
Opening his eyes, he put the cork back in the decanter, and it back in his satchel as he stood up. He felt much better, but it didn't alleviate his worry. Grabbing Balmung from the floor, he stood up and looked at the Highlander Princess, he said, "Let's go."
She nodded and turned, they both ran out of the basement, he noticed the tunnel had caved in as they left. Floor by floor, they were met with the panic masses as gunshots echoed from outside. Guards stood ready as families huddled together with tears of fear. Meanwhile, Siegfried couldn't help but remember what happened that night once again.
Outside…
[ Play 'Chapter V~On The Ground (Part 1)' -Drakengard OST]
It was a war zone outside, Guards with swords and other weapons were holding off Draugar on the wall, while men with Muskets in the courtyard shot into the air at the Daemons who swarmed the skies. Then there were men in the courtyard fighting Goblins and Beowolves who somehow made it pass the defenses. They could easily find the three left behind, Rurik lead his men on the walls with sword and shield, Fergus defended the Musketeers with his claymore, and Duncan fought off the Goblins and Beowolves with Vulcan in its flamethrower mode.
Siegfried turned to Boudicca, "Go help Fergus, I'll help Duncan!" She nodded as they parted, rushing to aid their older partners.
Duncan sprayed Vulcan's nozzle, it's flames shot out and covered some Goblins and Beowolves. They fell and flailed in pain as their flesh bubbled, but one Beowolf pushed through the pain as it swiped at him. It's hand flew in the flash of azure steel, then it's head followed suit. The Old Huntsman looked to his right to see his apprentice beside him.
"Sieg, what are you doing here?!" He asked aloud as he sprayed his flamethrower some more, "What about the evacuation?!"
"The Grimm were in the tunnels, that Eldritch bastard already knew we had a escape route." The Young Knight explained as he cut through any Grimm that came close to them, "The negotiation and time he gave us was nothing but a ploy!"
"Figures," Duncan spat with spite, "Sieg, we're all occupied with our defenses. The Cannon crews need help, I'm certain the Guards defending them are about overwhelmed." He explained as he continued to turn Grimm into ash, "They're on both sides of the longhouse, go alleviate them so they have enough time to fire!" His Mentor ordered.
"Got it!" He moved, particularly in the direction of the stables, anything that got in his way was cut down. Goblins, Beowolves and even a few Draugar, all fell before Balmung's blade. As he approached the stables, he could hear and see the horses neighing. He reached the door leading to them, he kicked the heavy oak doors open, and charged inside the stable towards Grane.
The White Stallion looked at him as he moved over to it, and grabbed his winged helmet that was hooked on it's side. Fastening it, he unhitched Grane, and climbed onto his steed. Closing his visor, he took hold of the reins, "Let's go, boy." He ordered to his horse, who nodded and galloped ahead, leaving the stables mounted, they headed for the cannon on the left side of the longhouse.
A Beowolf tried to stop them as they rode out, but Siegfried swung up his sword. The Beast was divided in two as he twisted his sword's handle, and shifted it back to a regular one. The white stallion continued to gallop as they approached one of the cannons. A dozen guards did their best to defend the crew as they tried to carry crates of ammunition to the Cannon itself. They were being flanked on multiple sides by Goblins, Beowolves and Draugar. Their swords and shields barely held against their numbers as their bodies were slashed and torn.
He revved Balmung, and swung the blade at the Grimm. Waves of electricity came at the monsters from the side and from behind. Several of them cried out as they fell, being electrocuted. Some disintegrated and burned into ashes, others exploded from the impact, their bodies busting like a crushed bug.
When he got to the cannon, he swung his sword down upon what Grimm remained. First through a Draugar's shoulder, then through a Beowolf's head. He skitted Grane to a stop before the last Goblin, and the Horse reared back, and trampled the last Grimm. Siegfried then turned to the Cannon crew, "Is that thing loaded yet?!" He asked.
One of them rushed to the gun, and started to begin the loading process by shoving the wad screw down the cannon, "Clear!" The Man shouted, while another held his thumb over the touch hole. The crewman with the wad screw dropped it and grabbed the sponge while another crewman grabbed a charge of combustion dust, and carried down to the cannon hole. Where the loader shoved it down with his stick.
The Young Knight looked away when a few Daemons began to fly down upon them. He revved Balmung, and sent out more arcs of electricity at them. They flailed as they fell to the ground, but then the cannon erupted with an ear deafening bang that shook everything around. He winced along with Grane as the cannon shot into the Daemon filled skies, then the projectile exploded like a orange firework.
As it exploded into a ball of orange, it covered the Daemons flying in the air and they began to burn. They fell to the ground burning, and screamed as their flesh melted. The skies on this side of the Longhouse quickly became clear as the Grimm either fell, or retreated. The guards there cheered as Siegfried turned to look at them and the Crew.
"Keep firing," He ordered swiftly, then looking to the Guards, he added, "And you lot, hold your ground!" Then he turned Grane around, "I've gotta go help the other crew." Afterwards he rode off, heading across the battlefield to the other side of the Longhouse. As he rode through the courtyard in front of the building, he saw that Duncan, Fergus and Rurik still were fighting at the places they were when he first got out. Boudicca was nowhere to be seen. 'Her bodyguard must've told her to do the same thing Duncan told me.' He deduced as he rode past dying Grimm, their bloodied bodies slowly evaporating away into black smoke and mist.
[ Stop 'Chapter V~On The Ground (Part 1)' -Drakengard OST]
[ Play 'Chapter V~On The Ground (Part 2)' -Drakengard OST]
When he turned into the area of the last cannon, he was met with a desperate sight. The Guards along with the Princess were fighting off a few dozen Grimm. She decapitated a Beowolf as it lunged at her with its maw, and then stabbed a Draugar as it swung a axe at her. One by one, she killed each one that tried to get close. She was worth a dozen of the guards behind her.
Siegfried couldn't help but admire her strength and her beauty. She was a warrior Princess, much like the legendary Hellen of Minoa. He admired how brave she was, how she didn't give in to fear and let it control her. In fact, he could tell she wasn't afraid of any challenge, whether it was battle or even being trapped underground. He could see it in her cold eyes, and he saw it in how she handled herself. There was no hesitation from her, only courage.
Then he spurred Grane forward, charging into back ranks of the Grimm too focused on their objective. With a swift swipe of the sword, he took the head of a distracted Draugar. Then, Siegfried leaped from his horse with his sword in hand. As he flew through the air, he started swinging wildly around his blade, slashing through many standing enemies before he landed on his feet, skirting through mud.
He raised his sword high in triumph, "Come! Let us send these filthy beasts back to Hell!" He bellowed out as he rushed forward to attack, rallying the Guards behind the Princess. They let out a mighty war cry, and charged forward to meet the Grimm with the two Aura clad warriors. The Knight leapt forward and stabbed another Beowolf in its belly with Balmung. As he ripped it out through its side, the Grimm collapsed, it's intestines spilled, it's death rattle filling the courtyard with its gurgling screams.
He kept moving forward, slicing through two more Beowolves, and brought his sword down to cleave through a third diagonally from shoulder to waist. Then, a Draugar clad in midnight black armor came at him. He ducked as the monster swung at him with its bone mace, then jumped up and sliced the creature's arm off with a slash from the sword. Before it could retaliate with its left arm, Siegfried swung down his sword again, severing its head from its torso.
In that moment, a blast echoed across the courtyard, the cannon behind them, and the one on the other side of the Longhouse, fire into the sky. The projectiles exploded like fireworks yet again, and the Daemons fell from the sky burning. The ones out of rang from the blast turned and flew away. Then, a horn blew, it's sound dreadful and ominous. The Grimm hissed and growled, before they turned tail and tried to flee.
Arrows and spears brought down many Draugar and Goblins as they ran, while some shots from the Musketeers tagged some Beowolves. But some survived by latching on to the backs of the Beowolves as the quickly leapt and climb up ontop the wall, and then jumped over to the other side. The battle was over-for now.
[ Stop 'Chapter V~On The Ground (Part 2)' -Drakengard OST]
Siegfried looked over at the Princess, her face red, with sweat coating her skin, her arms shaking and her chest heaving as she struggled to stand upright. It appeared that she was running out of aura. He watched her take a deep breath, and then she looked at him, "Are you alright?" he asked her, concern in his voice.
"I'm fine Kingdomer." She denied, he could tell from the glint in her proud eyes.
"You're on the last bit of your aura," He approached her, reaching into his satchel, "You need some Blue Elixir or rest." He said as he pulled out a blue decanter.
"I'll be alright," She brushed his hand aside as he held it towards her. "I don't need some drink to fight on."
He smiled, "I know, it's just..." He stopped himself, and then sighed deeply and nodded, "Alright, but don't push yourself."
She smirked, "I won't."
He gave a nod to her, he really disliked the feeling stirring in his stomach like a whirlpool. It was strange for him. He had never felt such an emotion in all his years. Siegfried wanted to smile and laugh and enjoy the time with her, but he had no idea why. Looking away, he tried to distract his mind from such thoughts. There was so many dead and dying Grimm and Men, bodies laid across the battlefield, black and red blood mixed with mud and rain to produce a nightmarish ground.
It was a sight that seemed to follow him around all his life, Siegfried thought as he observed the aftermath of this skirmish. Lifting up his visor, he glanced back up at the sky, where the shattered moon shone brightly through some parted clouds, its cracked white surface incandescent. Then, without warning, his vision blurred.
He could see it whole, a full moon, unscarred and unbroken. It hung there, shining down upon the carnage below. His eyes burned as he stared up at it, but it never stopped from doing so. He could hear his companions yelling for him, calling his name, but all sound was muffled. Siegfried would not let the darkspawn nor comrades take away his serenity, he was a Prince of the Most High, and he would enjoy the beauty of nature within his realm.
"SNAP OUT OF IT YOU IDIOT!" He was jolted out of his stupor by Boudicca.
He shook his head and opened his eyes. He came to as something fast moved over head. Something big. A ear piercing screech echoed throughout the town, and probably even the area beyond. Siegfried readied Balmung, and moved into the courtyard as it flew over again.
They ran over to Duncan and Fergus, the Young Knight asked in a yell, "What is it?!"
As if to answer his question, it landed on top of the eastern wall, where it made an unholy shriek. Its six white talons digging into the stone as it perched itself atop the wall with its dark grey legs, cracking it with its strength. It's scaly tail draped over the edge, sharp pincers on its tip moving back and forth, eager to snatch a snack. It spread its wings, revealing feathers as black as coal, two pairs of two white claws atop like thumbs. Along the back of its long and serpentine neck was random spikes of various sizes.
It's head was draconic, it's maw had relatively small razor sharp teeth. The top of it was covered in bone plate, long and thin. Five spiky horns grew out the back, while it's snout was pointy out the front like a beak. Red markings covered it around its four eyes, two huge inner ones and two small outer ones. All four was filled with hatred and hunger.
Rearing back it's head, it let out another ear ringing screech that made nearly everyone reach for their ears in pain. Siegfried dreaded the fight to come, because as Duncan shouted, "It's a Cockatrice!"
Authors Note:
I've got nothing, I hope you all loved this chapter, and especially the next two.
Next Update: Hopefully, next Friday, or the one after that.
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.
