Atonement III
When accepting the position of leader, one must always remember that they do not control everything. Not even the people they lead.
"Have you thought anymore to the proposal I gave you, Ansem?"
General James Ironwood was seated in front of a desk that part of the study of Ansem Schnee who was seated on a chair that was much like a throne with Ansem being the 'king'. The room was filled with bookshelves along with containers for Dust in various colors and a portrait of the Schnee family.
Ansem was holding a Sea-Salt ice cream cone as he calmly answered. "The answer remains the same. I'm sorry James but no, I will not ask Dilan or Aeleus to join your Ace-Ops group. Now please, can we focus on other matters?"
Ironwood sighed as he looked away. "Ansem, your two bodyguards are more skilled than most Huntsmen I have ever met but they remain as mere bodyguards to your family. I can respect that but times are changing and need for more capable men in the Atlas military is growing."
"And last I checked, Huntsmen and military are meant to remain separate. I have never supported this kind of thinking, even though I respected Winter's decision to enlist in the military. Besides, it's not like they are the only two Atlesian Huntsmen to turn down becoming Specialists. As I recall, Robyn Hill and her team are graduates from Atlas Academy yet they turned down joining the military." Ansem replied.
"That is because they chose to be stationed in Mantle and let us not forget that your two body guards are not from Atlas. In fact I cannot find any information on their supposed place of birth, other than your word that they were born outside the kingdoms which is a valid reason for the most part. But I am not keen on allowing two men of unknown origin work freelance in my kingdom." Ironwood sighed as he stood up from his chair and looked around the office. "You have worked singlehandedly to advance our society beyond anything I could have imagined, Ansem. Your Schnee R&D, your charities in the other kingdoms, medical research in your Schnee Medical Labs division, in addition to the Dust production and the other companies you have partnered with. You have much to be proud of."
"Thank you." Ansem nodded.
Ironwood folded his hands behind his back. "But that's not going to matter in the long run if this kingdom cannot be properly protected."
"And what would we be protecting the kingdom from, James?" Ansem asked calmly. "We are in peace times but you have continued in building up your military force. You have tried poaching every scientist I know of into creating more weapons. I thought Pietro would suffice enough after he presented his project to you."
"And you helped in that by combining his project with your Replica Project which I still find astounding. The problem is that the Grimm are not our only problem anymore. In fact, travel between the kingdoms is becoming difficult." Ironwood said as he faced Ansem. "We need more capable men on the ground."
"I said 'no' and I mean 'no'. I will not change my mind about this." Ansem shook his head. "Besides, Dilan and Aeleus both turned down your proposal. If that is not enough to convince you I am not sure what else can be said."
"Then perhaps we can dispense with words." Ironwood said, turning to face Ansem.
Ansem sighed. "What do you propose?"
Xxx
Winter Schnee had much to be proud of.
She was born into the lineage of a noble family, her grandfather having founded the most powerful Dust distributing company in the world which had flourished under the watchful eye of her father who took it to new heights with a wise approach while carrying on her grandfather's legacy in a respectful manner. The Schnee Dust Company did not just mine and export Dust as it did in the beginning as Winter could see from watching the gardeners tending to the Schnee Gardens outside the main SDC headquarters. The Schnee Dust Company had become perhaps the most ethical company in the world and that was how her father ran it, respecting the workers first and foremost.
That was to say nothing of the various charitable donations the SDC would make across Remnant.
Winter turned away from the window and walked down the hall, coming to the SDC R&D department and was pleased to see everyone working their best. The entire department was one huge laboratory, filled with engineers and scientists working many things that Winter could recall from the times she would come here with her parents.
Solar panels to use sunlight as an alternative source of power to Dust.
Wind turbines which actually helped to make power from the wind itself.
Hydroelectric energy that came from using water.
Sunlight, wind and water all be using together to help create new sources of energy that was being built all across Remnant.
And that wasn't even half of what they were working on here.
Advancements in medical technology, new and improved computer technology, and a few top secret projects.
Improved shielding along the train tracks of important routes, like the Argus Limited.
Winter was pleased to see Whitely at a station, wearing a hardhat and goggles over his eyes as he was working with several technicians and it seemed he was enjoying himself. Winter had once considered this her job, working in the SDC with her parents but she wanted something more personally meaningful out of life. That is why after graduating at the top of her class in Atlas Academy she joined the Atlas military, becoming a Specialist and was so skilled she caught the eye of General Ironwood himself.
"There you are, Winter."
Hearing her name, Winter turned and saw none other than Ansem approaching her with a somewhat irritated look on his face but he still managed to remain calm through it all. "Father. How did your talk with General Ironwood go?"
"About as well as you could have expected." Ansem said, stopping next to her and looking down at the R&D division, seeing the workers at their posts while keeping an eye on Whitley. "Have you spoken with Whitley?"
"Not yet. I had considered doing it after the official business of our visit was done." Winter glanced at her father. "You refused."
"As did your uncles…again." Ansem lightly shook his head. "Winter, I must say I am starting to become a little annoyed with your superior's persistence."
The two began walking through the hallway, careful not to bump into anyone with both of them having their hands folded behind their backs, maintaining an air of professionalism.
It was expected of a Schnee after all.
"He just wants to make sure that Atlas can pool of its manpower effectively." Winter stated calmly but not in a way to trigger an argument with her father. "Dilan and Aeleus are skilled, even by a Specialist's standards."
"And they have the option of saying 'no'." Ansem replied just as calmly as they walked outside of the headquarters which happened to resemble a giant castle.
A colossal castle at that.
The castle had the kind of windows one would see on a church with the Schnee symbol in the center. One might think it was pretentious but Mantle was technically a kingdom and besides, given the way Beacon was built it was not like anyone could argue that it was silly having a castle in the center of Mantle like this.
If anything it only showed people that not everyone in the world had left Mantle behind which the people were thankful for.
"I can understand that for General Ironwood it is important to have strong warriors to protect this kingdom but there is a limit to how many times we have to repeat ourselves." Ansem said as they walked down the steps and came upon Mantle Central Square.
The gardens were a beautiful sight, managed by the Schnee Gardens subsidiarity of the SDC.
"He's not wrong, Father. Think of how much help Dilan and Aeleus can be." Winter pointed out.
She disliked how she sounded, considering that she respected Dilan and Aeleus greatly. Weiss and Whitely even considered them honorary uncles and in her own way, Winter did too. However as a soldier of Atlas she also had to look at the big picture and unfortunately she could see the merit in recruiting them. It did not mean she had to like the pressure the general was putting on her father but she understood all the same.
"Choice should still be a factor, Winter. I had my reservations when you chose to enlist in the Atlas Military but I respected your decision nonetheless." Ansem glanced at the garden for a second before he continued walking with his eldest daughter following him. "Now it's come to the point where we have to settle our disagreements in a manner I find distasteful."
"Father?" Winter glanced at him in confusion. "What do you mean?"
The pair came upon the city's Fountain Court; a place Winter had never grown tired of seeing when she was a child. It was still as awe-inspiring as it was the first time she had seen. The artificially made waterfalls brought forth a form of serenity she never found elsewhere and as an added bonus the water was always clean.
"General Ironwood has issued a challenge for Aeleus and Dilan. He believes their skills would be better suited in the Ace-Ops and the challenge he has issued will pit them against the current members of the Ace-Ops." Ansem answered, causing Winter look at him with surprised eyes.
"I…I didn't know." Winter looked at the falling water, seeing her shimmering reflection. "I didn't believe he would want Aeleus and Dilan that badly."
Ansem looked at his daughter, seeing the look on her face. "You really didn't know."
Winter shook her head. "I swear, Father. I never suggested the idea nor would I have supported it if the General had told me."
"Well, I am glad to hear that, Winter." Ansem sighed in relief as he looked at the falling water. "Still, it's frustrating that it has come to this."
"Would they really join the Ace-Ops?" Winter asked curiously.
"Only if they lose."
Xxx
The Ace Operatives, also known as the Ace-Ops, are an elite group of Huntsmen and Huntresses from Atlas Academy that answer only to General Ironwood, led by Clover Ebi due to being the most skilled operative.
Clover was a man with short brown hair and teal-green eyes. He wore a sleeveless Atlesian Specialist uniform that consisted of a white sleeveless double breasted coat with red and blue accents with ornate detailing shaped to the form of wishbones, broad tail with red lining and a four-leaf clover pin on the lapel. His belt had a rabbit's foot keychain hanging off it. Clover also wore white pants and covered his hands with brown fingerless gloves. He also wore blue calf high boots with four dark blue straps and silver steel toe plating.
In addition to him, there was Elm Elderne, a tall young muscular woman with medium brown hair in a short ponytail, brown-tan skin, and brown eyes. She wore a customized Atlesian Specialist uniform that consists of an open white, one-sleeved crop jacket with dark blue accents, shoulder flaps and collar and a dark gray armor shirt. She has silver vambraces over her forearms. On her back, she has a magnet used to carry her weapon.
She had a red belt around her white pants and liked to go barefoot save for some martial arts footwraps alongside dark blue calf plates that covered the tops of her feet, the plates having three red straps tied around them, leaving the soles of her feet are appropriately dirty as a result. She also had a silver hoop earring on her right ear.
Next there was Vine Zeki, a tall man with short shaved gray hair, deathly pale skin and light blue eyes. He had several tattoos, including a third eye tattoo along the center of his forehead and chin. His Atlesian Specialist uniform consisted of a white double-breasted, partially unbuttoned coat with a broad tail, navy blue accents, collar and shoulder flaps, a red sash running diagonally over his left shoulder meeting a second red sash around his waist under a large blue belt, and navy blue fingerless gloves that go up to his brachium. He wore navy blue pants tucked into a pair of navy blue thigh-high boots with steel toe and heel plating, a small pouch on the sides and kneepad detailing.
He wore beaded necklaces around his neck and beaded bracelets around his right arm alongside two silver bands, one small, one large on his left forearm.
The fourth member was Harriet Bree, a dark-skinned young woman with platinum blonde and brown hair shaved on the sides and dark pink eyes. She wore a very short-sleeved Atlesian Specialist uniform that consists of a sleeveless white double-breasted vest with silver buttons and dark blue accents. It had a white and dark blue-collar, a dark blue short-sleeved t-shirt, a red tie and white shorts. She wore dark blue chaps that presumably connected to the tops of her shorts.
The chaps exposed the inner part of the thighs and the backs of her calves. She also wore blue fingerless gloves and dark gray trainers with black accents and a white stripe accompanied with red socks. She also had white calf pads and dark blue knee pads as well. There are also dark blue straps fastened around the top of her vest.
The blond portions of her hair were styled in a way that resembles a rabbit's ears.
And finally, there was the fifth member Tortuga Ejnare.
He was a Faunus, a turtle Faunus to be exact as shown from his light green skin and the turtle themed shield on his back that was actually his weapon and not a part of his body. Whereas Harriet was short(don't say it to her face) Tortuga was tall. Whereas Harriet was lean, Tortuga was broad-shouldered and muscular but not like Elm. If anything he was more like Clover but short by a few inches with emerald green hair with a black headband and eyes to match his scales.
Like the rest of his team, he wore the Atlesian Specialist uniform, consisting of a white double breasted jack that was open, revealing a tight green shirt underneath and dark blue pants. He wore grey shoulder, elbow and knee pads and blue boots like most of the team. Standing across from them in the training room were none other than Dilan and Aeleus, having both agreed to this spar. In the 'audience' was General Ironwood along with Winter, Ansem and Willow Schnee but they were only the first to arrive.
"Are we late?"
Ansem glanced over his shoulder to see none other than Robyn Hill arrive, followed by the rest of the Happy Huntresses. Robyn was a young woman with tanned skin and violet eyes. Her light-blond hair was tied in a ponytail. She had a beauty mark under her right eye and another one on the left side under her mouth.
Robyn wore a black sleeveless coat with gray accents over a red double-breasted sleeveless vest, a brown high neck shirt, and a light gray short-sleeved shirt with one right short sleeve that has a black cuff whilst the other sleeve is longer. She also wore a brown belted waist clincher with matching brown pants tucked into black knee-high boots with dark brown cuffs. Around her neck she wore an olive green scarf with tattered looking tails hanging behind her. She also wore a pair of black archery styled gloves with the index finger missing on both of them.
A crossbow was on her left arm, being her signature weapon. Next to her, May Marigold was a fair-skinned woman with medium blue hair, a long butt length ponytail wrapped in white bandage-like fabric, and yellow eyes. She wore a dusty brown coat with a small split in the rear, dark brown lapels with the Happy Huntress' brooch emblem on the right lapel over a gray waistcoat and dark brown top. She also wore dark brown shorts alongside matching forearm length gloves.
May wore gray armor padding over her forearms and the backs of her hands and alongside a pair of gray thigh socks and dark brown thigh-high boots and an orange scarf. Next was Fiona Thyme, a young woman with short and messy swept styled white hair and olive eyes. She had sheep ears as her Faunus trait with a small hoop earring on her left ear and a small bell earring on her right ear.
She wore an olive green sleeveless coat with dark brown lapels with the Happy Huntress' Brooch on the left lapel. She sported a green long-sleeved shirt with a white orange trimmed breastplate over it. She wore an orange belt, which holds her coat tightly around her waist. She also wore dark brown pants tucked into gray under the knee boots with the tops folded over revealing the white lining. The soles and toes of the boots were a darker gray.
She also wore dark fingerless gloves accompanied by white and gray forearm leather armored pads with the left arm covering up to her upper arm whilst the right only partially covers her forearm.
And lastly there was Joanna Greenleaf.
Joanna was a tall, tan skinned woman with masculine features and short dark green partially spiked hair, beige eyes and tattoos on her nose and forehead. She wore a cocoa brown coat with dark brown lapels and white trim and hem detail over a light beige long-sleeved top. She wore artichoke green and white armored pads with emerald green straps on her arms alongside brown gloves. She sported a pair of brown trousers tucked into black boots with emerald green cuffs.
She also wore a light gray and pale green breastplate that sports the Happy Huntress' brooch emblem in the center.
Formerly known as Team RJFM(RAJIFORM), they were an team of elite Huntresses who graduated from Atlas Academy much like the Ace-Ops but rejected Atlas and chose to side with Mantle. When Ansem had chosen Mantle as the main base of operations for the SDC there was indeed a sign of distrust from the majority of Mantle despite the good name the SDC had gained under the leadership of Nicholas Schnee and later Ansem.
When Ansem began expanding the SDC through the subsidiary companies that began helping improve Mantle by a fair it was only a matter of time before he came into contact with the Happy Huntresses after they had graduated from Atlas Academy. Initially met with suspicion the Happy Huntresses kept a close eye on Ansem's operations, even as his work improved the quality of living in Mantle, such as fixing the hole in the wall and updating Mantle's security system, Ansem had more than once had been on the receiving end of their suspicion and even having to deal with Robyn's attempt to coerce him into taking her hand so she could use her Semblance to see if he was not lying about anything he was possibly up to.
Unfortunately Willow had been with him during the first time that had happened and Ansem had spent over five minutes convincing his wife not to run her sword through Robyn's heart for attempting to use her Semblance on him.
The relationship between the Schnee family and the Happy Huntresses had remained tense since that day but Ansem had managed to convince Robyn he was not working to destroy their homes and he genuinely believed in improving the quality of life for everyone. Things had become much better with the Happy Huntresses even being hired from time to time by the SDC with the promise of funding being sent directly to Mantle but relations between the Happy Huntresses and the Schnee family remained tense.
Especially with Willow and Winter.
Willow disliked Robyn ever since she had tried using her Semblance on her husband, finding it galling he would have to explain himself to, in Willow's eyes, a hot-headed woman who would resort to get what she wanted no matter how dirty it might be, regardless of how righteous her cause supposedly was.
Winter disliked Robyn for the same reason but also because the Happy Huntresses liked to cause her and General Ironwood migraines. It wasn't bad by any standards but it was enough for Winter to dislike the woman as much as she disliked a certain other Huntsman.
"I am surprised you came." Ansem said as the Happy Huntress leader sat down next to his family, ignoring the glares directed at her by his wife and eldest daughter.
"And miss a chance to see this? Your top fighters outside of us fighting Ironwood's top dogs?" Robyn asked with a humored smile.
"They are not dogs." Winter said stoically, her eyes narrowing when she saw Robyn send a smile her way.
"Of course not." Robyn simply said, turning back to the training room. "Glad to see you could be here, Ice Princess."
Winter just narrowed her eyes, sending a glare at Robyn who simply ignored it, choosing to watch the upcoming fight.
Ansem simply sighed, sending a helpless look to his wife who replied back with a look of her own that basically said 'She's your friend, you deal with it.'
As much as he tried to help everyone, it was sometimes difficult between the stubbornness of his wife and daughter and Robyn's dry sense of humor and her habit of giving people she met rather…unique nicknames.
Meanwhile down in the arena, Harriet stretched her arms and legs and readied her weapon, Fast-Knuckles. "So, how are we doing this? We go at them one at a time or do we rush them all at once?"
"That wouldn't be wise." Clover answered, staring down their opponents. "We'll measure the limit of their strength first. Harriet, you and Tortuga go first. You two are the most effective in pairs next to Elm and Vine."
"Right." Tortuga took the shield which he had named off his back and placed on his right arm. "The usual strategy, Hare?"
"Fine by me." Harriet held up her hands as the exo-skeleton arms of her weapon covered her arms.
(Kingdom Hearts II OST A Fight to the Death)
Harriet's body was briefly engulfed in electricity; her eyes flashing gold before she shot straight at Aeleus and Dilan, the power of her Semblance allowing her to move faster than the human eye could track. Tortuga moved behind her at a slower pace but that was part of their team work. Aeleus stepped in front of Dilan, holding his glaive Centurion in front of him as a shield that blocked a punch from Harriet, creating a small shockwave. Aeleus then gave a might shove that knocked Harriet back but she somersaulted back and over Tortuga as he rushed Aeleus, his shield glowing bright green before projecting a green dome shield that slammed into Aeleus' glaive. Aeleus grunted as Tortuga tried pushing him back, using his own strength along with the power of his Semblance: Shelter, the ability to project a dome shield around himself and anyone close to him.
"I see," Ansem noted from above. "So, Miss Harriet uses her speed Semblance to distract their opponents while Mr. Tortuga is slower but stronger and uses that strength to attack while their opponents are distracted. A fine use of teamwork."
Winter glanced at her father, seeing him paying close attention to the match. "Harriet and Tortuga are the most effective teammates working together in the Ace-Ops."
Ansem merely nodded, continuing to watch. Tortuga grunted, believing his Semblance would have been enough to push Aeleus back and pretty take both him and Dilan down quickly but Aeleus was able to match the operative's shield with his own strength. He slammed his feet into the ground, shaking the entire arena to the surprise of the Ace-Ops and actually started pushing back. Harriet, seeing Tortuga may be in trouble dashed to attack Aeleus was from behind…
Only to be blindsided by a blast of wind that slammed into her and knocked her into a Hard-Light Dust wall.
Dilan stood behind Aeleus, watching his partner's back as he grappled with Tortuga who was sweating a bit now. Harriet grunted as she stood up, eyes flashing gold again as she shot at Dilan, rearing a fist back one second and sent it flying the next. However Dilan spun his lance, parrying Harriet's punch as he then ducked, allowing Harriet to sail over him and shot up, slamming his shoulder into Harriet. Aeleus ducked as Harriet flew over him with a scream and Tortuga's eyes widened as Harriet slammed into his shield, the momentum that his teammate had built up actually knocking him back and with his concentration gone his Semblance collapsed, allowing Harriet to slam into him at full force.
The two skidded across the ground over to the other Ace-Ops who had been watching and waiting, all of them surprised to see how quickly the most effective pairs of their team stopped so easily. Up in the stands, Ironwood looked surprised as well but knew the battle was far from over. Winter allowed a small smile to grace her face, pleased to see her uncles (she used to call them that when she was younger but refrained from doing so when on duty) easily taking on the first pair of the Ace-Ops.
It was what she had come to expect from them.
Tortuga groaned slightly as he got up. "Well, I didn't see that one coming. He's good…Or Harriet's the one who is slow now."
Harriet rolled her eyes as she stood up next. "Oh shut up."
Clover glanced over at Dilan and Aeleus who remained ready but did not move to attack. "They are waiting for us to come to them. We should try to wear them down. Elm."
"Right." Elm held up her weapon, a large hammer with two rockets on its back called Timber.
It then changed into a rocket launcher as literal roots made of Aura sprouted from Elm's feet and dug themselves into the floor. This was Elm's Semblance, Aura Roots. It allowed her to brace herself which fit perfectly with her fighting style. She aimed and fired two rockets right at the pair. Dilan spun his lance, releasing a gust of wind that altered the course of the rockets' trajectory, causing them to fly past him and Aeleus and slam into the Hard-Light shields behind them.
BOOM!
BOOM!
Vine made his move, having used his Semblance: Aura Vines to move right behind the rockets by creating the vines underneath his feet and propelling him right at the pair. He landed between them and summoned a vine from both hands that he then whipped at Aeleus and Dilan, pushing them away from each other to leave them open to attack from the rest of the Ace-Ops and prevent them from aiding each other. As Dilan jumped to left, he was suddenly attacked by Clover who swung his weapon, a fishing rod called Kingfisher right at Dilan's head.
Dilan quickly parried Clover's attack with his lance but Clover quickly let go of his rod with one hand and followed up with a punch that actually connected with Dilan's face. His Aura surged, preventing him feeling pain as he stepped and used his lance to block more punches from Clover as he immediately followed up with several more. Dilan stepped back and his back hit something but he knew it wasn't the edge of the arena. Looking forward, he could see Tortuga standing behind Clover, using his Semblance to project a dome shield around them to keep him from escaping or helping Aeleus.
Harriet was right behind him and she smiled as she dashed forward. Dilan moved out of the way just as Harriet tried to deliver a punch to his face. The metallic knuckle slammed into the dome, shaking it for a second.
"Careful, Hare." Tortuga called out, grunting slightly. "My shield has limits you know."
"Focus." Clover said before he and Harriet rushed at Dilan.
Meanwhile, Aeleus found himself having to contend with both Elm and Vine as they rushed at him. Vine jumped over him and lashed his Aura Vines out, grabbing onto Aeleus' glaive and pulling it up, leaving him vulnerable as Elm rushed to deliver a strike to his chest with her hammer. Aeleus grunted and actually let go of his glaive, allowing it to be pulled out of his hand but he followed up with a kick that sent it right at Vine like a rocket who didn't have time to react as it slammed into him. Aeleus then rolled out of the way of Elm's attack as she brought her hammer down.
Aeleus then jumped up and grabbed Elm, lifted her up and threw her into a nearby Hard-Light wall, earning a sharp cry as her Aura shimmered from the hit. He turned around and rushed to his discarded glaive but Vine shot out an Aura Vine and grabbed, trying to pull it away. Aeleus managed to reach out and grab it with one hand, grunting as he now having a tug-of-war with Vine who summoned another vine from his hand to grab his Centurion. Aeleus raised an eyebrow as he 'struggled' back and forth with Vine…
And then jumped off his feet.
Vine's eyes widened as Aeleus was literally flying at him thanks to the effort he had put in trying to pull his weapon out of his reach. Vine ducked and rolled out of the way in time. Turning around and watched as Aeleus rolled on the ground and jumped back on his feet before turning to face him. Zeke summoned Aura Vines around his arms again and at this time created fists at the end that he launched at Aeleus.
Using his Centurion, Aeleus blocked the aura fists from hitting him but he noticed Elm was getting up and knew he couldn't allow himself to be distracted by Vine for very long. Elm got up and charged with a battle cry, swinging her hammer at Aeleus who disengaged and spun out of the way, dodging Elm's strike and placed himself between her and Vine who was forced to stop his attack. Elm turned and swung her hammer again but Aeleus caught it with his glaive and shoved it towards the ground, overpowering her.
Elm was not using to fighting someone stronger than her and thus was caught by surprise as Aeleus kept her hammer down and then he lashed out with a punch that sent her flying back into Vine, knocking them both down. Aeleus then turned to the green energy dome, seeing Dilan was still fighting off two of the Ace-Ops while the third was remaining as far as he could from the fight.
Aeleus knew what to do.
Meanwhile Dilan was on the defense as Harriet shot back and forth, attacking him from all sides with her speed Semblance and Clover was on him as well, delivering his own attacks that were even stronger than Harriet's. Harriet was even resorting to a creative use of her Semblance, literally bouncing off the walls of the dome to attack him, forcing him to either block or dodge out of the way while struggling keep track of her movements and Clover at the same time.
Even for Dilan that was difficult.
Realizing he was not going to last long, Dilan slammed his lance into the ground and let loose a miniature tornado around himself that actually knocked Harriet back while she in mid-air, causing her to hit the wall she bounced off of while Clover was forced back. Dilan then shot at Clover who stepped back, barely dodging a slash and then threw his rod out, catching Dilan's Lindworm and pulled it and its owner forward. Knowing what Clover was about to do, Dilan pointed one hand forward and fired an 'air bullet' that hit Clover in the stomach area. Clover stumbled back but managed to remain on his feet as Harriet got back up and shot at Dilan again.
However now Dilan had a working idea of their fighting style and how to counter them.
He summoned an 'air shield' around himself just as Harriet was in striking distance and she was repelled before she even knew what happened. As she hit the wall again Dilan turned to Clover and aimed his lance at him, preparing to fire a wind blast at him. Clover threw his rod out and it latched onto Tortuga's shield and he was pulled off his feet and out of the way in time as Dilan fired his air bullet again. Tortuga grunted as he swung and spun Clover around the domed arena they were in.
Clover raised his feet as he was swung at Dilan who raised his lance in time to block the double kick to his face. Clover jumped up and over him, lancing behind and lashed the hook of his rod out at Dilan's foot. Once caught he pulled Dilan's feet out from under him, making him fall face first on the ground. Seeing his chance Clover moved to knock Dilan out before he could get back up but Dilan rolled and threw his lance at Clover who stepped out of the way in time. The lance hit the wall of the dome and actually caused cracks to appear.
Tortuga's eyes widened at seeing the cracks appear. "He's really strong to have done that."
Only it wasn't just his human strength.
Dilan had used his 'Semblance' accelerate the lance's speed and momentum, making it strong enough to deliver a strike strong enough to weaken Tortuga's Semblance. He smiled as his wind Semblance surrounded him like a shield as Clover and Harriet surrounded him but they didn't see what he saw.
"RRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Both Ace-Ops turned to see Aeleus charge at the dome and leap up as a red and black Aura surrounded him. He swung his glaive down on the top of the dome shield and delivered a hit so strong that the dome shattered. Tortuga's eyes widened in shock from seeing his dome shield shattered and had no time to react as Aeleus crashed into the ground, creating a massive shockwave that sent him, Harriet and Clover flying back across the arena while Dilan used his Semblance to propel him up and over the wave.
BOOM!
"Holy Dust!" Robyn gaped in complete shock with the rest of the Happy Huntresses matching her expression.
Willow and Winter both had matching smiles on their faces from seeing the dumbfounded looks on the Happy Huntresses while Ansem continued to watch the match. Ironwood looked shocked as well but kept himself composed. Meanwhile, Vine and Elm got back up in time for the shockwave to slam into them and knock them back with their teammates. Clover threw his rod into the ground, the hook embedding itself in the ground and while Clover held on for his life.
Vine crashed into Elm who activated her Semblance on instinct as her Aura Roots embedded themselves into the ground, managing to hold out. As for Vine, he had remained coherent enough to try and save Harriet and Tortuga with his Semblance but his Aura Vines only managed to grab Harriet while Tortuga flew back and hit the wall again, his Aura breaking on contact and he slid down, losing consciousness as he slumped and fell over. The tremors finally subsided and the dust cleared, revealing Aeleus standing in the center of a small crater while Dilan landed next to him and retrieved his lance.
"I knew these guys were strong…" May trailed off and gulped. "But I had no idea they were this strong."
"Of course they would be this strong. They are bodyguards of the Schnee family and even considered honorary uncles to my children." Willow said with a pleased smile, happy to see the two Huntresses look so intimidated.
Winter managed to keep herself from blushing from the 'uncle' title her mother had carelessly said in front of the Happy Huntresses. Yes, she, Weiss and Whitely looked up to Aeleus and Dilan and considered them family but that didn't mean everyone had to know, least of all Robyn Hill. As for Ansem, he knew Dilan and Aeleus would do well in this fight but it was too early to be celebrating just yet. Only one member of the Ace-Ops had been rendered unconscious while the other four were still active, no matter how stunned or wounded they might be at the moment.
Harriet groaned as Vine gently placed her on the ground and she looked up at their two adversaries with a frustrated face. "What is with these guys? I've seen my share of toughies but these guys are something else."
"Maybe." Clover retrieved the hook of his fishing rod. "But we had them on the ropes before so we know we can take them. We just need to keep them separate and keep pressuring them then they'll fall."
Only it was unlikely they would get the chance.
Deciding it was time to end this fight, Dilan and Aeleus shot forward before the Ace-Ops could try to reorganize themselves. Dilan's wind Semblance increased his speed and he landed in front of them, swinging his lance and creating a gust that slammed into all of them. Elm activated her Aura Roots again to brace herself while Vine used his Semblance to grab Harriet and Clover while bracing himself with Aura Vines sprouting from his leg in a similar manner to Elm's.
Which is what Dilan and Aeleus were counting on.
Aeleus rushed at Elm who raised her hammer and blocked his glaive, grunting as she tried to push him back. In the meantime, Vine had left himself open as Dilan gathered air around the palm of his hand and he slammed it into the Ace-Ops member's chest. The blast of wind literally knocked the air out of him and his Aura broke, causing his Semblance to fade before he could release Harriet and Clover. Vine fell to his knees and looked up in time to see the blunt end of Lindworm hit him on the head, knocking him out.
"Vine!" Harriet shouted before growling through her grit teeth.
She shot forward at Dilan who jumped back, spinning his lance to conjure another blast of wind. Harriet grunted as she tried to literally power through the wind blast with her Semblance but the process slowed her down greatly.
Only she was not the main target.
The wind blast flew at Aeleus and Elm as they grappled. Aeleus suddenly disengaged and jumped up into the air, leaving Elm to take the brunt of the wind attack. She grunted but her Semblance kept her rooted into the ground. She looked up and saw Aeleus falling towards her and raised her hammer, ready to take the attack.
Only she was not the target.
Aeleus let out a roar as he slammed his glaive down onto the ground in front of her.
SMASH!
The ground cracked open and exploded, causing Elm to stumble as the roots of her Semblance became useless and caused her to stumble. She looked up in time to see Aeleus swung the blunt end of his glaive at her…
POW!
With one hit, Elm was sent crashing into the wall next to Tortuga and her Aura immediately broke as she slid down, losing consciousness on impact. Harriet and Clover were stunned to see Vine and Elm taken down in a matter of moments while they had been distracted. Dilan and Aeleus had utilized Dilan's Semblance to distract them, force them on the defense and then took down Elm and Vine because they were the most stationary of the group when under pressure.
"Three down, two more to go." May commented from up in the stands. "These guys are making Ironwood's goons look like chumps."
Ironwood threw a look at the Huntress for that comment but could not dispute her statement.
The Ace-Ops were meant to be the most effective Huntsmen in Atlas and yet these two were slowly taking them down one by one. He looked to Winter who looked rather please with how the fight was going despite being a Specialist directly under his command, knowing that she had trained under the two and was perhaps the most skilled Huntress in all of Atlas next to her mother, even though neither were members of the Ace-Ops themselves. He had found it hard to believe this was happening, even though the point of this was because the two's skills would make them formidable if they joined the Atlas Military. He had been fully confident in the ability of the Ace-Ops to defeat the two in this duel he had proposed to Ansem.
And yet even if it was slow, both were slowly taking down each member of the Ace-Ops and they didn't look winded yet.
For Winter she was conflicted.
On the one hand, she was a member of the Atlas Military. A Specialist who answered directly to General Ironwood himself and was proud of the status that she had worked to achieve. She believed General Ironwood was only doing what he believed was best for Atlas despite the stakes of this duel.
On the other hand, she was also pleased that her 'uncles' were dominating this battle. She had made it her personal ambition to one day defeat them and she had actually hoped the Ace-Ops would lose this fight.
It didn't matter to her that five elite Huntsmen were losing.
It didn't matter that as a fellow Specialist she should be hoping the Ace-Ops were victorious.
It didn't intimidate her at all that two strong fighters were slowly turning this fight in her favor.
If anything it motivated her.
It motivated her to continue her training to grow even stronger and one day defeat her uncles in combat.
Harriet let out a roar as she shot at Dilan, her competitive spirit unable to take the fact that she and her team were losing to the pair.
"Harriet, wait!" Clover called out but his voice fell on deaf ears.
If it didn't, Harriet would have avoided making a fatal mistake.
Just as she charged at Dilan, Aeleus slammed his glaive into the ground as his aura exploded around him again.
SMASH!
As soon as his glaive hit the ground, an aura blast traveled along the ground in Harriet's path. Even as she stopped the ground beneath her exploded to which Dilan reacted to by firing an air blast that hit Harriet head on.
"GAH!" She slammed into the wall and like her teammates, her Aura broke on impact.
Clover watched as Harriet slid down and could tell she was knocked out like the others. Looking at the two, Clover knew he had the option of either surrendering or continuing the fight. He looked up at the audience, seeing General Ironwood staring down at him with an unreadable expression.
He knew what it meant.
It all boiled down to what he chose.
Surrender or continue to fight.
Clover faced Dilan who remain composed, waiting along with his comrade for him to make his choice.
He held his Kingfisher.
He chose to fight.
He charged at Dilan and their weapons met, causing sparks to fly. Aeleus hung back, choosing to let Dilan end this fight. Clover believed his Semblance: Good Fortune would allow him to gain a leg up in this fight and it had allowed him to remain standing throughout the fight. The two blocked and dodged each other's attacks, spinning and swinging their weapons at astounding speed.
Clover leapt up and swung his rod down which Dilan blocked but slid backwards. Clover followed up by throwing his horseshoe which Dilan blocked. Clover dashed forward, believing that Dilan's Semblance would be useless in close range. He caught the horseshoe and pushed Dilan's lance aside with his rod and jabbed him in the chest with the horseshoe.
Clover swung his rod at Dilan a few more times before it collided with a burst of wind, knocking him back. Dilan attempted to stab Clover but the Ace-Ops leader side-stepped and dodged. Clover crunched down and hooked his fishing rod Dilan's ankle and pulled but Dilan was ready as he jumped up, gathering air around him that propelled him up and actually pulled Clover up with him. Dilan somersaulted through the air, pulling Clover towards him and delivering a punch with wind gathering around his fist to his chest.
"GAH!" Clover grunted as his Aura broke and he fell to the ground.
(Kingdom Hearts II OST A Fight to the Death Ends)
Ansem stood up. "I believe this match is now over."
Dilan and Aeleus nodded as Clover grunted, sitting up and clutching his chest. Dilan stepped forward and offered a hand to the Ace Operative.
Clover stared at the hand for a second before accepting it. "Thank you…I must admit, I underestimated you both."
"You fought well." Dilan replied with a respectful nod. "All of you fought well."
Robyn and other Happy Huntresses were stunned to say the least. While they were all confident in their own skills, they had to admit this was most intense fight, sanctioned or not, they had ever seen in their lives.
They could admit that if had been them, those Ace-Ops would have given them a really tough time.
But these two…
"I am glad I wasn't fighting them." May said aloud.
Robyn and the other Huntresses silently agreed.
Xxx
"Well, James I believe this settles our little argument." Ansem said as he and Ironwood walked into his office. "The Ace-Ops were defeated and now you have to drop any further attempts to convince me to let you recruit Aeleus and Dilan."
Ironwood sighed as he sat down. "A deal is a deal, Ansem. I'm a man of my word."
"Good." Ansem nodded in satisfaction. "Now then, is there anything else you wish to ask of me?"
"Not at this time."
Xxx
Ironwood returned to his office in Atlas Academy, taking his seat and sighed as he looked out the window. It seemed, at least to him, that perhaps Ace-Ops had become a little too lax in their training if two fighters, no matter how skilled or strong they might, could easily defeat them in a sanctioned match.
He made a note to double or perhaps triple their training to ensure they would be more ready.
Right now, he had other matters to deal with, such as the reports from Vale.