Authors Note:
Well, it's been a while. Sorry for the wait, the last month and a half has been chaotic to say the least. I basically went on a vacation that I didn't plan on going, and then, my best friend and his girlfriend just decided to get married. I was his best man, so I had to prepare for all that, and then attend the wedding itself. After that, well, I got lost playing XCOM.
Besides that, I've been stuck between three endings for this chapter. One that reveals too much, one that reveals too little, and one that's in the middle. Read and guess which one I chose.
Reviews:
RonaldM: Very likely.
Rangda: Thanks for the review. I agree, this arc got dragged out far too long. I don't know how I do it. Thankfully, this is the last chapter of this arc. (Honestly, I should've cut the Cockatrice fight) After this, the plot should progress at a rapid pace the next few chapters.
Raphley: Thanks for the review. It was hard to write. I'm glad I achieved the chaotic feel, that was planned for how random the Cockatrice's appearance was supposed to be.
That's the point of this arc, the Grimm are a threat in this version of Remnant. I hated how in the show, they just boring canon fodder 99% of the time. This story aims to make even the most basic of Grimm dangerous, not to be underestimated, at least to most people excluding Huntsmen.
On the end of the chapter, do you mean on what Siegfried did?
And on the language side, yeah, I'd imagine there's a lot of grammar mistakes. DeepL and Google Translate are nice enough, but they can't interpret language like someone versed in it can. Ironically, I tried to learn the main languages planned to be used in this story a year ago, but my phone is so crap, the best free app constantly drained the battery like a vampire. 'Sigh' The price I pay to try to make Remnant have some semblance of culture.
The Black Knight: Glad you loved the chapter. Ironically, that fight was inspired by the battles with the Cockatrices in The Witcher 3, and in Dragons Dogma.
And on Balmung, I wanted him to have a weapon that is old, like Crocea Mors, but with more versatility. Everything a sword fighter that has no shield nor gun could want in a weapon in a world like Remnant. The Cross guard that can shift into either a U & T form is basically the weapon's secret trump card (besides one other thing), it's something people that would fight him wouldn't even think about until he shifts it. Siegfried's fighting style is a mix of HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) with more fantastical moves, like completely turning with a swing (which is/was stupid in real life), or using his blades weight sometimes to move him, instead of the other way around.
And that was my intention, this version of Remnant is drastically different from the one in canon. There is only a meager peace, and Grimm are far more dangerous-even to huntsmen.
Yeah, it's sad, because you can see the sparkling embers of what could be in RWBY. They set up so many interesting scenarios, and often choose to go the path of least resistance, or no sense. The Grimm in the show have always been interesting to me, but they've always been a pathetic threat for the most part. The Breach and the Fall of Beacon should've been far more horrendous than what they presented it as, they never show the Grimm actually doing anything. Despite wanting their show to be dark. I want the Grimm in ODRD, and in other potential stories I might write to actually be scary, something that even veteran hunters have to be wary of.
I mean, they even forgot about Salem's flying monkeys.
And the length is fine. (Also, that was an idea, but ultimately Balmung's pommel has something else…)
If you don't want to be spoiled, don't translate the Grimm.
Just a disclaimer: Any real world language used in this story will probably be a grammatical nightmare to any one who speaks any of them. As much as I would love to know every language perfectly like Saint Germain, I am just an American.
"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. I don't own the Dragon/Dovahzul Language, all credit goes to Bethesda Softworks. All credit of Rwby goes to RoosterTeeth."
Chapter 13: Der Ritter des Azurschwert.
The Knight and his Stallion landed safely, onto the ground roughly several yards away from Skoth and his bodyguards. "Are you insane?!" Cried Fergus from atop the wall, Siegfried ignored his concern.
"Protect the Longhouse!" He shouted in response, before he kicked Grane, and chased after the fleeing Atterganger.
[ Play 'Chapter V~In The Sky (Part 1)' -Drakengard OST]
They galloped past the disorganized ranks of Draugar, Skoth and his two Bodyguards that flanked his sides forced any Grimm in their path away. While Siegfried didn't hesitate to strike at the Grimm he rode by, slashing through them with Balmung as they stood in the way. He had only one goal, and nothing would get in his way to accomplish it.
It was a good thing he had managed to shatter their ranks, though it costed him the rest of his lightning dust. For the Draugar were still too disoriented to rally, and defend their fleeing leader. Some within their back ranks were still competent, but Grane weaved through them like a dance. Their spears and arrows missed, as they both focused only on their fleeting prey.
As they turned down the street, more riders came out of the alleyways, turning the three into nine. Draugar clad in obsidian black armor riding ontop Equus Grimm, each carried swords. They all collectively looked back at him, their sideway glances a silent challenge.
"Haltu honum frá mér!" Skoth ordered in the forgotten tongue, his voice loud and authoritative. "Taktu hann út!"
"Eins og þú skipar!" They shouted collectively, two of the ones in the very back of the line slowed down to let him catch up. And they turned to face him with their swords, he deflected the first strike from one of them, and countered with a slash to its throat. The Grimm gurgled as it reached for its leathal wound, before it fell off its Equus Grimm. The Horse Grimm then opened its jaws, and tried to bite Grane, which he responded with a crunching kick to the side, knocking it over into a tumble.
"Þú skalt ekki skaða yfirmann okkar!" The second one yelled, as it stabbed at him from his right. He parried the blow, and countered with a pommel strike to the back of its head. Stunned, the Grimm couldn't stop him from slashing the throat of its demonic steed, causing it to collapse with its rider.
'Two down,' He thought, racing through the bloodstained and gory streets after the Atterganger, 'Seven more to go.' The seventh Rider slowed down, and raised its bone bladed sword. As he approached, it suddenly rammed into him and Grane.
"Fyrir Skoth!" It screamed as it brought its blade towards him, he brought Balmung up as they clashed, "Fyrir Dökkir! Fyrir Grímföður!" Siegfried pushed the Grimm back, before stabbing it through the armpit in a clean strike, and pulling out before its newly dead body took his blade.
He turned the dial on his sword to dark blue, and slung a wave of water forward as they all neared a turn, Skoth and his two guards barely dodged it as it dowse the ground ahead. Then, he turned the dial to light blue, and swung again, turning the giant puddle of both rain and dust water, into a thick sheet of ice. The Atterganger and four of its minions managed to avoid slipping up as they turned, but the sixth rider wasn't so lucky. It and the Horse Grimm it rode sliding head first into the window of a building, it's steed breaking its neck against the window frame as it was launched inside the structure.
"Deyja Mannleg!" The fifth Grimrider roared, it slowed its steed as it swung its blade, the Young Knight slashed upwards and sent its sword arm flying as he rode by. The Draugar screamed in agony as it then collided with some animal pen, and was thrown from its steed, face-first into the mud.
"Umkringdu hann!" The Bannergrimm shouted, "Þessi mannleg getur ekki tekið okkur öll niður í einu!" It, and the other two slowed down, letting Skoth ride ahead, and Siegfried catch up to them. He then found himself flanked by the three remaining Draugars, one to his right, one to his left, and one ahead.
The riders that flanked him swung their swords at him, he blocked each blow gracefully, moving his blade back and forth to the left and right. He reared back to dodge the stab from the rider to his right. Flipping Balmung in his hands, grabbing it by the blade, he swung it across the back of the Draugar's helmet. It dinged as his cross guard made contact, it lurched over, he rode pass it a bit, before swinging it again. Just as it looked up, his cross guard pierced its eye. The Grimm screamed as he ripped it out, it's hand letting go of it's reigns as it clutched its gouged out socket. Flipping his sword into the air, he caught it by the handle, and with one clean swing, decapitated it from behind.
Immediately, he parried a sword strike from one of Skoth's personal bodyguards, the rider to his left. As its sword arm was thrown back, he grabbed Balmung's blade again, and slammed his cross guard into the head of its Equus Steed, making it nearly lose control as the Horse Grimm about lost balance from the hit. Siegfried let go of Balmung, then caught its blade right above the cross guard, and stabbed his sword into the Draugar's gut. Blood splattered out of both its wound, and its mouth. Then, he stabbed it again through the chest, the azure sword piercing its black armor like paper. Ripping it free, the Grimm fell out of its saddle, holding on to its reigns, its body beginning to mist.
The last Draugar, the one that carried the black banner with the red circle and strange symbols, looked back with hatred. There was still it, and the two Equines that flanked him, their dead riders slowly evaporating. Revving his sword, he slung ice onto the paths in front of them, causing the Horse Grimm to slide and tumble away.
The Grimmrider ahead dropped its banner in front of him, causing him to jerk Grane's reigns to the side to avoid it. All the while, the Grimm slowed down, and swiped at him with its own drawn blade. Siegfried tried to parry it, but missed as the blade sparked against his aura, causing him to wince. Swinging his sword horizontally, he slashed at the creature in retaliation, but it managed to block the blow with ease.
With a flick of it's wrist, it struck Siegfried in the stomach, making him lurch over in his saddle. It then struck him on his helmet covered head with a pommel strike. The force of it sent him stumbling backwards, and he almost lost his grip on the reins. "Af hverju deyrðu ekki bara?!" It shouted, "Fjandinn Ljósfæddur!"
"Halt's Maul!" He roared in Mantlean as he and Grane slammed into it and its steed's side. The Draugar grunted at the impact. It struck out with its pommel yet again, and slammed him in the chest. Siegfried gritted his teeth, and pulled back on his reigns, letting the Grimm get ahead. It looked back too late.
Siegfried twisted Balmung's handle as he lunged forward, and his sword shifted into its great sword form as it impaled the last Draugar through its back and out its chest. With all his strength, he pulled up, and ripped the Grimm from its saddle, and threw it over his head as he raised his mighty blade with both hands overhead. The Horse Grimm had no time to move out of the way as he cleaved down through it while he rode by, its body tumbled to the ground in two.
[ Stop 'Chapter V~In The Sky (Part 1)' -Drakengard OST]
Looking straight ahead, all that was left was the Atterganger and his steed. Siegfried spurred Grane into gear, and intensified his chase after the Eldritch Grimm. He followed it down the street, and as it turned a corner, all the way until it reached a clearing. It was a corner of the town, nothing but a few buildings against the tall walls made out of wooden stakes. The Eldritch Grimm slowed down as it came to a dead end.
"There's nowhere left to run Monster!" He shouted as he rode into the clearing.
The Attergangar turned to him, and its eyes were like the eyes of a serpent, piercing and cold. "Brave, you are, Mannleg." It chuckled, "Not many would dare to face one of my kind such as I alone."
"You're a coward, who only attacks when it is forced." Siegfried replied with bravado, "I have no reason to fear you!"
The Atterganger broke out laughing, "Is that what you think?" It asked in a mocking tone, "That I was running away from you?" It shook its head with a smirk, "No, no Mannleg, I was leading you away from your last ally with Aura. Leading you to a place where I can isolate, and eliminate you." Its voice suddenly lowered, and became much more sinister as it growled. "I can smell the foul blood in your veins, the blood of the bright tyrant." It raised a fist, "For the sake of our victory, I must extinguish your repulsive flame here and now Volsung."
"Volsung?" Siegfried asked puzzled, "What do you mean by that? Is that some sort of warped version of my last name?"
The Eldritch Grimm just grinned as it drew its jagged sword, "The fact you do not yet know, is a boon." It chuckled, "You will never know Volsung. You will die here, by my hand."
"You can try, foul Spawn of Donn." He replied as he readied Balmung, "Tod vor Entehren!" Shouting an old Mantlean Reichsritter battle cry, he spurred Grane forward into a sprint.
[ Play 'Bellum (Beyond Fear)-Extended' -Code Vein OST]
"Dýrð sé Hel!" It shouted as it did the same, they both charged each other atop their steeds. Their blades clanged against one another as they rode by, creating a cacophony of metallic ringing and screeching. They both attacked and blocked each other's strikes, niether gaining a true hit as they passed. After the first strike, they rode to opposite sides of the clearing.
Turning their mounts around, they raced towards each other once more. As they neared the center, Siegfried feinted a overhead strike, drawing the Grimm's blade into a horizontal block, so he could deliver a quick horizontal slash. Skoth jerked back its head at the last moment, Balmung only scratching its cheek as it passed.
In rage, the Atterganger turned its demonic steed around, and chased after the Knight. Reining Grane hard to the left, Siegfried narrowly evaded a slash to the back of his helmeted head. Skoth's blade only cut air, as he switched hands. Grabbing his reigns with his right, and catching his sword with his left, the Young Knight countered with a slash of his own, forcing it to block.
"Tík!" Skoth cursed, as he retaliated with a pommel strike to his side. He gritted his teeth, while it pressed the attack, striking two times against his side, causing his blue aura to spark like cinders. Siegfried then reined Grane into the Equus' side, the Atterganger stumbled from the impact as he grabbed Balmung's blade, and struck Skoth in the chin with his pommel.
It staggered back from his attack, raising it's sword defensively. Taking advantage of his opponent's imbalance, Siegfried kicked the side of its demonic horse, and elbowed its side. The Atterganger hissed as it reined its steed into Grane's side, his White Stallion neighed angrily.
The Knight then pulled hard on the reigns, and his steed came to a sliding halt, the Grimm riding by, surprised. Then, Siegfried kicked Grane forward into a sprint, and chased after the Grimm yet again. Raising the azure sword, he revved Balmung, summoning ice along his blade. He lashed out, and sent a wave of icy slush towards its Grimm Steed's legs, the Atterganger did something, and made the Equus jump into the air.
When it landed into a skirt, Skoth glared angrily at the younger knight. Turning its horse around to face him once more, it raised it's blade high above its head, as it spurred forth. Feeling reckless, he pulled his legs up from his stirrups, and planted them both on the saddle. With a battle cry, Siegfried jumped into the air above it, shifting Balmung as he did so.
[ Stop 'Bellum (Beyond Fear)-Extended' -Code Vein OST]
It raised its sword defensively as he slammed into it, knocking Skoth off the Equus. They both fell and rolled in the mud. Quickly, they rose onto their feet, still facing off one another. Siegfried glanced over to Grane, and shouted "Go! Get out of here boy!"
The Grimm looked at the galloping Stallion with a evil glare, and raised its hand towards it. Immediately, the Young Knight dashed forward, and made it raise its blade in defense. "Focus on your real opponent, you dimwitted Grimm!" He shouted as Balmung clanged against its jagged blade, making it leap back. Siegfried noticed as Grane retreated, the Equus took chase after it. They both galloped away into the alleyways.
"Shut your disrespectful mouth, Mannleg!" Its words echoed across the area, it's voice deep and harsh with menace. The Eldritch Grimm then took a step forward, and swung its blade downwards. He parried, and then riposted, swinging for its throat. It avoided the stroke with ease, but he didn't stop there, he kept up his momentum, and then swept his great sword low, forcing the Eldritch Grimm to fall back.
The Knight began to spin and twirl, around and around, he let the mass and kinetic energy of Balmung carry him as he came at the Grimm like a twister of death. The sword sliced through the air, over and over again, Skoth was back stepping from his mighty leftward swings. As he turned yet again, Siegfried changed his direction with his sword, letting it dip downwards before he then brought it upward.
The Atterganger ducked back, but still fell for his trap nonetheless. With a final spin, he brought the sword down while revving it, and it slammed into the ground. Mud was flung up, but ice shot out towards the Grimm like a phalanx of spears lunging forward. In panic, it raised its left hand, and shouted, "Spaan Zu'u, Fus Frod!"
In a instant, the spikes of ice then clashed against a black, translucent bubble that formed around the Grimm. The tips shattering, and deflecting bits of ice towards him, he raised his left arm over his face to protect himself. "Riik Do Ven!" He heard Skoth say, before he was lifted off the ground by a powerful gust of wind, and thrown back through the mud.
[ Play 'Bellum (Beyond Fear) DLC-Extended' -Code Vein OST]
"You've done well so far, Mannleg." It said as he pushed himself up, "But you cannot win this fight. I must not allow it." Raising its left arm in front of itself, its hand balled into a fist, it threw it to the side as it then shouted with fervor, "Zu'u Uth Fin Ven, Ruth Kest, Rahgol!" With a boom, the wind began to howl and move violently, "Bo Strun Do Khaos, Bo!" The storm clouds above began to swirl, and turn black like coal. Red lightning began to crackle, and the rain transformed from water to black sludge.
Siegfried stood against the ravenous winds, his right hand holding tight to Balmung as he used it to stand, and his right shielding his face. His blue cape fluttering chaotically behind him as a cold gust of wind whipped past his face, trying its damnedest to knock him from his feet. Under the visor on his helmet, his light blue eyes shone with determination. "I am not afraid of your magic tricks."
The Atterganger gritted it's teeth as its red eyes widened in fury, "Ven Fonaar!" It said as it zoomed across the battlefield, he raised his great sword to parry its strong strike. Using his strength, he forced it back, his sword coming to his right side as he freed his left hand, he came forward and threw out a haymaker towards its face.
His fist clashed against the force field, knocked back with his own force reflected at him. The Grimm smirked as it raised its own left hand, and closed its fist. The Young Knight felt a invisible force clamp down all around him, as he was lifted into the air, and was thrown like a baseball as it turned and pitched a throw.
Siegfried flew through the air like a bullet, and crashed through the wall of a building. He rolled onto the wooden floor, and into a small table, splintering it as well. He lay stunned in pain, his blue aura flaring as it healed him. Rising up, he grabbed Balmung, and shifted it into its smaller form. All the while, the building he was in started to shake and crumble. The wooden boards splintered, and began to fall around him, and the walls were shaking like a earthquake was occurring.
The Knight jumped to his feet, and sprinted towards the hole he made, and leapt out of the building. The Grimm was laughing hysterically as the relatively primitive building collapsed behind him. Siegfried payed it no mind, instead he rushed the Atterganger, and unleashed a frenzy of swords swings upon it. Surprised for just a moment, it met his challenge with equal speed. Their blades clashed against one another again as fast as lightning, sparks flying into the sky.
"Grímfaðir! Verið vitni að mér!" It shouted with fanatical fervor, striking at him repeatedly. Siegfried blocked its attacks, with little effect to his aura. Sweat dripped from his brow and onto his face as he tried to maintain some balance with Balmung as each hit impacted. The Grimm was ruthless, violent and savage with its attacks.
The Young Knight continued blocking and parrying it's strikes, until finally, he saw an opening, and threw out his right leg into its side as a kick. It buckled back as its force field shimmered, while he flipped Balmung in his hands, grabbing it by the blade, began half-swording. The Atterganger was took off guard as he began to hammer its force field with all his might. The golden cross guard of his blade cracking it as he picked away.
It countered with a wild swipe, but he ducked low, and with a turn, swung into its force field with a great blow. It shattered like glass as his handle and pommel slammed right into its face. It stumbled back, while he twirled his sword in his hands, and grabbed it by the handle.
When he moved forward to finish the Grimm, it threw its hand up and shouted, "Ag Lot!" A current of flame shot out towards him, making him roll to the right, out of its way. "Ven Vey!" It added as it swung its sword at him from a distance, a gust of wind mixing with its flames as it came at him. He revved Balmung, and stabbed it into the ground to shield himself in ice.
He had to use extra ice dust to keep the barrier up around him as it instantly began to melt, depleting even more of the small amount of dust he had left. When the fire ceased, he heard it say, "Golz Bo Het!" And the ground beneath him shot up into spikes of rock, hitting him and shattering his icy bulwark.
Thrown into the air, he felt as he was caught by a invisible force, and was pulled towards Skoth in a blink. The Grimm's jagged blade slammed into his left side, "Fyrir Mantus lávarð!" It roared as he was batted away from the impact. Rolling through a puddle of black sludge, it continued as it pulled him back to it, "Fyrir bræður okkar!" Its sword smashed into him again, knocking him down into the ground. "Fyrir Helheim!" Skoth shouted, raising its blade for another strike, "Fyrir hina Myrku Einn!"
Siegfried rolled out of the way, it only hit the sludge covered mud. Springing to his feet, the Young Knight slashed upwards. The Grimm blocked the strike, he locked his blade with the Grimm's. For a moment, both were still, neither giving an inch in their fight as they faced each other face to face. "Hrokafullur maður," It spoke in its ancient tongue it as it pushed forward, forcing its face towards his, "I shall devour your heart, and offer up your head to Lord Mantus."
A smirk spread across his face, "Try harder."
[ Stop 'Bellum (Beyond Fear) DLC-Extended' -Code Vein OST]
"Iiz Alok!" Below him, from the muddy and wet ground, spikes of ice shot up. The Knight only had enough time to look down, before it came up and hit him with a force of a truck from below, knocking him into the air. And, once again, he was held in its telekinetic grasp. It flung him into the side of another building, embedding him into the wooden wall as it stalked forward.
As it closed its hand into a tight fist, he felt the grip tightening around him. His aura flared around him as it gritted his teeth, "Why won't it break?!?!" Skoth shouted, a frustration rising within the Grimm. It ripped Siegfried from the wall, and began to throw him through and against every building around the clearing. All the while, his hand would not let go of his sword, he refused to. "You are pathetic and weak!" It growled as it hurled him at a wall, smashing it into several pieces. "Where is the bright poison you are known for?" It demanded as it lifted him up, and tore him out through the roof. "Where is your strength, your thunder, Morgunprins?!"
It pulled him from the sky, and into the ground, then back up, and hurled him against a strong stone house, his helmet was knocked off as its straps came undone. The wall was cracked as he fell to the ground, released from its spell. He coughed heavily, as his aura slowly healed him, blood oozing out of his mouth and nose. Drinking the blue elixir had overcharged his aura, but he could feel that most of it had been beaten out of him. Siegfried was dazed, and his red hair a tangled mess. The Grimm watched as he lay unmoving on the ground, and raised it's hand.
He was lifted off the ground again, floating up in front of Skoth as he approached, "Why won't you just give up Mannleg?" It asked, "I am tired of playing this game."
"I-I can't…" He said, holding onto Balmung as tight as he could.
"You can't?" In a instant, he was pulled into its left hand's iron grip, "You must be kidding me." Balmung fell from his hands as its skeletal one closed around his neck, his hands grabbing its arm, "You Mortals always think you have a chance. Your delusional views of the world clouding your preception, that because you exist, that there must be some innate purpose to everything. But let me tell you Volsung, reality doesn't revolve around you." It said with scorn.
"You lesser races, Mannfòlk and Dýramenn, are nothing but cattle." It pulled his face closer, "The failed co-experiment of our Grimfather and the Bright-Tyrant."
"C-Co-Experiment?" He asked as he stuttered, his hands struggling against his choking grasp, "Foul Donn deceived the first Man and Woman into sin. He created you Demons to torment us, to destroy us!"
"Yes." It said with a aggressive hiss, "We are his true Masterpiece!" Skoth then bellowed, before throwing him back against the wall with its telekinesis, "You are just Prey!" The wall cracked some more as it applied more pressure, his arms and legs spread out like a human diagram.
"It's over Mannleg," Skoth began as he strode forward, "Your world is cracked, a crumbling shit-ball of despair and hatred. A Remnant of what it once was, just a ruin of lesser beings trying to pick up the pieces of a golden age long forgotten." It monologued with a mocking tone, "Your too divided to defeat us, too focused on your ancient feuds against one another to be able to stop the one that matters most. The fate of this Skítt Town shall befall every city in this world. The sky will darken, and your precious sun shall be eclipsed!"
"You, you want to bring about the end times?" That Dream came back to him, "Is that why this horde is formed?!"
"I'm flattered Volsung, but I alone am not the whirlwind your Kind has reaped." It answered as it stopped, "This world is damned, wretched Mannleg." Spreading it's left hand out to the side, it continued, "There is no hope, no salvation. You Light-Born are doomed, doomed to fall under our might." Raising its sword, with a voice full of joyous pride, it stated, "For we Grímur are Legion, for we are many. The misery of the world made manifest, the Race of Darkness, the Sons of the Netherworld!" It began to walk towards him again, raising its hand, "And we will have our great feast, we will have our oceans of blood! Our Gods have returned, reborn by the power of the Void. Yours cower upon the nest atop the Tree." As it closed its fist, he felt it began to crush him with its power, "This time there will be no defeat Volsung, no final stand, no triumph of Light. Only Darkness, only Hel!!" Finishing with a shout, Skoth began to try and crush him with all its might.
The Knight let out a scream of agony and struggled against it. It did nothing but tighten it grip further, causing Siegfried to gasp for breath. "Why won't you die Volsung?!" Its voice was loud, and piercing. Siegfried could feel it starting to strain his aura, it was trying to break it like someone crushing a glass in their hand. His sword was out of reach, and his arms and legs were under so much pressure, he hardly could move.
Was this really the true end of it all? He had overcome so much this day, only for it to end here? The delusions, the triumphs, the discovery of his semblance-'Of course!' It had already saved him twice that day, it gave him the edge needed to defeat Hunding and the Cockatrice. Siegfried didn't understand it, and he wasn't used to it. But it has the power to break Hexes, so perhaps-"AGH!!"
"Why can't I break you?!" Skoth roared as it raised its fist, and squeezed it as closed as possible, its skeletal claws making its plated palm bleed black blood. "JUST DI-" The sound of glass shattering echoed through the open area, and bright azure light flashed for just a second. As Skoth opened its eyes, it saw him on his knees. A flaming aura engulfed him as he eagerly breathed in air.
Siegfried looked at his hand, and observed the flames emitting from his body. He could feel the immediate loss of some aura, a sacrifice to break free of its hold. And he could feel it slowly drain as this flaming shield covered him use it as fuel. Looking up towards Skoth, he saw a completely different expression than the one it showed a minute ago.
The Grimm had took a step back, and raised its left hand in front of its face defensively. It's red eyes narrowed, and it gritted its teeth. "That…power…" It spoke, fear and hate oozing from its voice, "You must die!" It threw its hand out, and raised it up into a fist, "Zu'u Bel Zeymah!"
He got to his feet and braced himself for whatever spell the Eldritch Grimm had cast. But instead of a attack, some of its lesser brethren began to rise out of the black puddles formed by the falling sludge, Beowolves were the ones it had summoned. The Knight watched as they crawled out of the pools from Hell, eager to fight and feast.
Siegfried assessed the situation. He had just about half of his aura left, it would've been around 30% if he hadn't drunk all of that blue elixir to overcharge his aura. His semblance can dispel hexes and chaos magic if he…does whatever he's doing. Now, the Atterganger was spawning reinforcements.
He took a deep breath, and quickly concocted a plan. It was all or nothing. There was no way he couldn't win. The noble blood of Imperial Knights, Emperors and Huntsmen ran through his veins. He was a proud son of Mantle, devout servant of the Lord. Turning the dial on Balmung's handle to cyan, he was going to use the Dust that was by far, the most expensive type of dust. The one he always reserved for a trump card, and conserved to save money.
[ Play 'The Roar of the Spark' -Guilty Gear Strive OST]
Revving the blade, its runes glowed cyan, as energy of the same color ignited around it. The blade extended at the edges, becoming wider and longer, as Hard-Light Dust projected from it. (A/N: It's basically just like the Holy Moolight Greatsword from Bloodborne.) Siegfried took the initiative as the Grimm gawked at him, and swung his sword to the right horizontally as he moved forward. A cyan wave of of energy shot out, and sliced through two Beowolves with ease.
Three more rushed to meet his charge. The first swiped down diagonally with its right claw, he ducked as he disemboweled it with one slash. It fell just in time for him to sidestep the next. Using his momentum to let Balmung fly out of his right hand to his left, he stabbed it in the back of its head. Quickly, he ripped it free as it went limp, and swung his sword two times at another Beowolf that charged at him on all fours, two cyan arcs making it fall into pieces instantly.
With a turn, he stabbed his sword into the ground. Two other Beowolves were thrown back as a bubble formed around him made of Hard-Light Dust. Pulling it out, he opened his left hand, using the flaming aura around him, and casted it onto his sword. The Grimm recovered as Balmung began to blaze, and they received a slash of azure fire before they could move again. They fell and squealed as he turned towards the rest of his foes.
The Atterganger yelled at the five final Beowolves, "Fáðu hann, skítugir hundar!" They moved at his command, rushing at him on all fours.
Using the aura in his legs, he launched himself at them at top speed. Leaping up into the air, he grabbed his sword's handle with both hands, and brought it down upon one Grimm, cleaving it half as he landed. Bringing up his sword, he summoned a hard-light shield to deflect the next one's lunge. It was knocked back as its claws hit it, and he countered with a cutting stroke across its neck.
As black blood spurted from its slashed throat, it fell in a beastly gurgle. Siegfried turned to meet a left claw slammed into his chest, knocking him back into a roll. Landing on his knee, he noticed a good chunk of his aura was took out by its one hit. '39% left.' He thought as he stood back up, and moved again.
Only three Beowolves were left, all the while Skoth was channeling some sort of energy. They rushed him all at once, driven purely by instinct and bloodlust. Violent and savage, they lacked the intelligence and wisdom of older Grimm. Going on the defensive, be raised Balmung, and activated the shield once again. Parrying the one in the front, he threw out his left leg into its side, his sabaton stabbing deep into its stomach, making it lurch over. Ripping his foot out, he took a step back, and brought his blade to his left into a stance called the tail guard.
Then, Siegfried slashed through the Beowolf, and moved pass it in a twirl, bisecting the second. Only one remained, and he backstepped away from its attempted grab, and riposted. Balmung struck its black heart, it whelped as it went limp. Pulling his sword free, and his eyes met the Atterganger's.
Raising his sword, he issued a silent challenge. It growled, and said a spell, "Ven Fonaar!" Siegfried leapt forward, and their blades clashed against one another again as it crashed into him, sparks flying into the sky. Once more, they met face to face, their countenances fierce with hatred, and their blades locked together within a struggle for dominance. "Fus Dah!"
The Knight rebounded back, the Eldritch Grimm raised its hand, "Qo Bel!" It shouted as red lighting shot forth from its skeletal fingertips. He braved himself for its impact, but the spell fizzled out at contact of the flaming aura around him. It was the final confirmation he needed of his semblance's ability. Azure fire coated his sword again, and with a step, he swiped forward again.
As a gust of blue flame swept towards Skoth, he zoomed out of the way as he repeated one of his spells. He swung again as the Grimm reappeared, this time sending out a arc of Hard-Light. It spun out of the way, but the slash clipped its left shoulder. It hissed as he rushed towards it, Skoth parried his lunge, countering with a hit of his own.
Siegfried grunted, as a decent amount of aura was knocked out of him. '33%!' He thought with panic, confirming his concern about this anti-chaos-fire-aura he had activated around him now. It made him nearly invulnerable to Chaos Magic, at the cost of his aura's durability. With this knowledge, he took a step back, going on the defensive.
It came at him again, this time with full force, and Siegfried barely evaded its swipe. The Knight then lunged at its opening, only for it to be effortless blocked, "Is that the best you've got?" It asked mockingly, he growled as he took the bait, and attacked it with fury. It swung its blade, and deflected each of Siegfried's attacks with ease. Then, the Eldritch Grimm made a sudden turn, maneuvering behind him. Siegfried whipped his head over his shoulder, and saw the tip of the sword just inches away from his face. He quickly ducked, but it brought its left hand forward. "Dinok Yolos!"
Black flames shot out from its hand with the force of a power washer, it hit him hard, pushing him away. His azure fire clashed against its dark, it warded him good enough, but he could still feel pain throughout his body. But he gritted his teeth, and pushed pass the pain. Leaping at the Grimm, he brought Balmung down upon it.
It blocked the attack, and locked blades with him, "Do you have any self preservation at all?" It asked, its face close to his, "You're throwing yourself at me like some young Pit-Born, mindless and savage."
"I don't care what happens to me as long as I stop you!" He shouted, before head butting Skoth, catching it by surprise. Turning into a twirl, he poured the fire along the edges of his sword, and swiped out an gust of flame.
It threw up its hand in panic, "Spaan Zu'u!" The blue fire smashed against its translucent shield, causing it to visibly crack, "Ven Daal!" Skoth then zoomed back away as the magic shield shattered. Siegfried twisted Balmung's handle, shifting it into its greatsword form. As it's metal blade elongated, so did the Hard-Light edge. Becoming as wide as a slab of iron, he poured more of the fire along it. There was almost a magic glow radiating off the blade, as the light from the azure fire shone brighter and brighter and brighter, it seemed to illuminate the entire battlefield.
"Spaan Zu'u, Fus Frod!" It casted that defensive spell again, a translucent force field formed around it as the Young Knight went forth. "Ag Sahrot!!" It sent out a ball of red fire at him, he evaded it as he dashed towards it. It impacted a house behind him, sending its roof to the sky as it erupted.
"AG ZOK!" It screamed, a explosion erupted from its hand towards him, he dodged to the right as it flew and smashed into the wall. "AG AL!!!" This time, everything in front of it was bathed in a firestorm, incinerating the building and the very wall it faced. Combusting outwards, making a narrow opening, and new exit out of the town.
But not its opponent. Blue bursted forth from red, and the Atterganger saw Balmung coming down upon it. His mighty blade thwacked against its magic bubble, making the Grimm wince.
Swinging it down three times in succession, he shouted, "Für meinen Vater, für meine Mutter und für meine Schwester!" The Eldritch Grimm was panicking as he struck its force field, causing it to crack from his might. It couldn't strike back, he gave it no opening nor time. Stabbing Balmung into the ground, he threw his legs forward into a kick, causing it to stumble back, "Für Mantel! Für Gott!" Landing on his feet and ripping his sword out from the ground, he spun his greatsword in his hands, and held it horizontally, as it glowed faintly with holy light, it began to grow larger and brighter. His armor glowed blue, and with a loud war cry, Siegfried shattered its protective shield, "Für Ehre und Ruhm!"
"Ómögulegt!" Skoth roared, taking a step back, and lunging forward with its sword.
"Für alle, die du verletzt hast!" Siegfried said with zeal as he sidestepped to left with a twirl, "Fahr zur Hölle, du Dämon!" As Skoth passed, he raised Balmung over his left shoulder as he twirled, the Grimm looked back too late. "ES IST AUS!"
Siegfried brought Balmung around in front of him, then swung it across Skoth's back diagonally, slicing through the armor, and cutting deep into its flesh, and hit the mud with a splash.
[ Stop 'The Roar of the Spark' -Guilty Gear Strive OST]
The Grimm's mouth went agape as it stumbled forward, it's sword fell from its hand, and from the right shoulder down to underneath its left arm pit, it's torso fell apart in two as it fell forward. He took deep breaths as he deactivated the Hard-Light dust, and turned to face the felled Eldritch Grimm.
Its two halves were faintly misting, the part that had its head and right arm moved still, it's hand clawing into the mud as the rain finally let up. It's eyes looked back at him as the left side of its face was buried in mud. "Y-You've think you've won?" It said with black blood leaking from its mouth, he was amazed that it wasn't dead already, "Listen well, Volsung, my Kindred will avenge me." It stated with absolute faith, "You may have won this battle, but you shall not win the war."
"No, you listen here, vile Devil." Siegfried took a step towards the dying Atterganger, "If your kind thinks it can win, it is greatly mistaken." He declared boldly, "We may be divided, but it is the will of the Lord that all who dwell in the light shall triumph over the darkness!"
"Hehehehe," Skoth began to chuckle, building up to a hysterical laugh, "HeheHAHAHAHAHA!!!"It looked back at him with a smirk, "What a fool, your false faith has deceived you." It said with laughter, "You can't stop The Reaping!" It declared with a fanatical shout, before easing into a smug, let dying tone, "The Dark Ones have been reborn, the Dark One will come, and the Dark Age will begin…" The Atterganger spoke cryptically, "The gate of Qliphoth will be opened, and Hel shall be set free…" It pushed itself up by its one arm, "We shall have our paradise-guhk!"
He pressed his right foot against the side of its skeletal face,"I have had enough of your bullshit." Siegfried said with cold fury, lifting his leg up,"Begone!" The Knight shouted as he curb stomped the Grimm's head in, its head busting open like a squished bug. Ripping his foot free, he took a deep breath. The sound of cracking like ice echoed before he found his aura shattered from the passive use of his semblance.
It hit him like a punch to the gut, he used Balmung like a staff to keep himself on his feet. His breathing became even more ragged as his closed his eyes, and leaned his head back. Letting the cold, early morning breeze flow through his hair, and over his body. Everything should be over now. His eyes opened at the sound of rushing feet and clanking armor, and turned to see a squad of around nine Draugar coming onto the scene.
They stopped when they saw the evaporating corpse of the Atterganger. Siegfried smirked attheir grim expressions. The Grimm had shock, anger and fear upon their inhuman faces. He stood up straight with pride at his victory, waiting to see them and the rest of the Grimm flee.
They just stood there, unsure of what to do. One of them growled, pointing its sword at him, "Hefnd!" Its word rang out, "Hefna fyrir Drottinn vor!" The others by it snarled in affirmation, before they all started to approach him. Quickly, with strained strength, he pulled Balmung from the ground, and lifted it before him. They were supposed to flee, why weren't they fleeing?
Suddenly, they stopped.
They lowered their weapons, and looked up to his right. Siegfried kept his up, but he felt a feeling run through his body, a cold chill that bit right into his bones. It was like some powerful, and invisible spotlight was being shone upon him right now. From his right. Turning and and looking in that direction, he saw it beyond the annihilated section of the town's wall, up upon a elevated position…
There was a King of Midnight.
Upon the hill, there was eleven Grimm upon horse Grimm, nine of them were either Attergangers or Wiedergängers, but the two in the middle was anything but. The one that was to the right of the 'King' was taller and bulkier than it, it was encased in bone plate armor that looked identical to steel plate armor. Spikes jutted out from its large pauldrons, red markings and lines decorated its armored body. It's head was like a helmet, only it's skeletal mouth exposed, and many red glowing eyes could lit up the holes of the plate covering its face. (A/N: Basically combine the look of the Tormented Arbiter armor for the lawbringer class in For Honor with Champion Gundyr from Dark Souls3) In its right hand, it held a mighty halberd of the blackest steel, and in its right, it held the reigns to its giant and bulky Unicorn Grimm steed.
To the right of it, there was the King. There was no other way to describe it. It had white bone rip cage armor like Draugar, but everything else was complex, and entirely unique. It had two pauldrons on its shoulders with three sets of spikes jutting out each, two on the top and bottom, and one row in the middle. Bone plate armor encased most of its body, and four strips of of black tattered cloth grew out of its back. The most striking thing about its appearance was its head. It was unlike any Draugar, Atterganger or Wiedergänger.
It was almost like a helmet, solid bone plate encased around its face. From its chin, to its cheeks, and all around its head was sloped outward. Like a bowl turned upside down. Its encased face resembled a Draugar's, skeletal with two dark sockets with deep red glowing eyes, but with six small holes by them on both sides, on its cheekbones. Small studs jutted out along the sides and the back of its head, like one would see on some leather jackets. And atop its head was the thing that truly showed that it was a King.
It had a crown unlike the others, a Crown of Black Steel. It didn't grow out of its head, it looked to have been welded into it. It too was spiky, the points of the crown looked like the old spiked fences you'd see around old estates. And around the Crown's base, small stud-like spikes jutted out in every direction. (A/N: He basically looks like the Unused Eredin model for The Witcher 3, just as a Grimm. Search up 'witcher 3 eredin early concept')
Siegfried looked up at the hill with dread, he had accomplished nothing. He hadn't saved the town. He didn't cut the head off the Snake, he only cut one off the Hydra. They looked back at him, all their gazes piercing into his soul, but the two unusual ones had a complete different energy to them.
Like a human looking down upon an ant.
He saw the mouth of the King move, and he heard it's regal, but vile voice whisper in his ears. "Enjoy your victory, for it will be short lived." He shuddered and took a step back, it continued. "I am Mantus Mortus, The Lord of Death." It declared, "Remember my name, for we will meet again Volsung, and I shall kill you." He watched as it unsheathed a black blade that gleamed with red runes and energy. It was a sword fit for a King.
Fear welled up from within him, and he trembled. This was not an ordinary Grimm, it had the same familiar presence he felt long ago. The same as that Dragon.
He watched as it raised that cursed sword into the air, and winced as that demonic horn blew from one of the riders by it. Swinging it, it gave a command, and the riders began to turn. And much to Siegfried's surprised, the Grimm in the city began to withdraw. The Draugar that had been ready to avenge their leader before, had turned ran away from him.
The Young Knight fell to his knees, completely exhausted. He watched as the Grimm King rode out of view, and realized something again that he had once before a long time ago. After today, his life would never be the same again.
Authors Note:
Finally, after so much delay, and so much struggle, I have finished this chapter, and this long arc. The ending was a hard decision, I chose the middle path of revealing somethings, instead of barely anything, or a lot at once.
I hope the fight was enjoyable, I had it planned since Chapter 2. This basically was Siegfried's equivalent to the RWBY Trailers. I don't know how I do it, but what was supposed to be completed by Chapter 10, ended up being three chapters over. But I digress, the next couple of chapters are supposed to be the falling action after this climax, so things should be relatively calm, and the plot should progress.
Next Update: Maybe next Friday, or the one after that. Depends on what Randomly Generated Events happen in my life.
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.
