Chapter 6
AN: Well my good readers, the story continues once more. Thank you all for the support you have shown so far. This chapter focuses on a team mission and building up the members of Winters team. As for the reviews:
SolSparda: Winter will experiment with her powers more in future, she is still getting the hang of them.
Willywonka3234: Thanks man, I will be waiting.
EndriRings: Sorry mate, Jaune will not be getting Dantes powers. This story will be focusing on Winter and her path to saving Remnant.
Winter and her team were trudging through a snow-covered path that had led from a nearby village into the woodlands north of it. Her team and two others were sent to aid the villages that had been under frequent Grimm attacks for the past several weeks. The Atleasian forces in the area were able to hold back the tide but the number of Grimm was great and Ironwood decided to send reinforcements in the shape of senior-year students of the academy. When they first arrived, the village assigned to them had already been under attack by the dark monsters with the soldiers managing to hold them off but barely. Winters's team joined the fight quickly and aided in the defense of the settlement. Winters's new enhanced abilities made short work of any Grimm that had the misfortune of catching her attention. Once the Grimm assault was pushed back, the team spoke with the commanding officer of the village garrison to ascertain more information about the situation. What they found out was that the Grimm were coming from the forest but that the garrisoned soldiers knew not the exact place within the forest from where the Grimm were coming. The forest around the settlement was large, logging being the chief source of income in the area. After a quick word with the locals, they came up with the best course of action, well Virgil did, saying that waiting for the Grimm to strike again was pointless and that they should take the fight to them. Louis wasn't too keen on the idea but was outvoted by the rest of his team. The team will go into the forest, find the Grimm hoard and deal with them once and for all. Some Grimm will remain in the area but with a lesser number of them, the village will have an easier time defending itself.
They walked along a snow-covered trail as they looked for their intended target. After a while of searching, Asher complained about the cold, and Louis said that he didn't like the looks of things they finally found something, prints, sabertooth Grimm paw prints in the snow. It was a cluster of them, indicating a pack, leading further into the woods.
"Grimm prints, saber-tooth," Asher said as he looked at where the prints led.
"Thank you captain obvious, we didn't know that," Valentina said sarcastically.
"I guess Grimm class does come in handy after all," Louis said, grinning at Asher.
"At least a dozen or so grimm," Winter said as she looked at the trail, her eyes carefully going over every detail in the snow. "The tracks are fresh, few hours at most. They lead eastward."
"Didn't the sarge say that there is some kind of a cave in the eastern part of the woods?" asked Asher.
"He did," Winter replied, nodding. "That could be where the Grimm are coming from."
"So, now we are looking for a grimm-filled cave, great, just great. Like potential hypothermia wasn't enough," Asher said sarcastically, a frown on his face, his body shivering slightly.
"Stop complaining you sissy, like a little cold is enough to stop us," Valentina said mockingly. "You always complain about stuff like this."
"No, I don't!" Asher retorted, half shouting. "I just don't like the cold, it's all."
"We live in Soletas, it's always cold," Winter pointed out.
"Yes you do," Louis said told his faunus teammate.
"You also don't like forests, caves, rivers, Grimm, or hamsters for whatever reason," Valentina pointed out.
"Slopes, uneven ground, the dark, pretty much all kinds of weather..." Louis continued.
"Vale cafes, restaurants that are too tidy, slopes greater than ten degrees..." Winter threw her two cents.
"Also quiet, rain, snow, water in general..." Valentina continued.
"And everything that isn't hearing himself talk," Winter concluded.
"Look, I have to complain or you will simply forget that I'm here," Asher said, trying to defend himself.
"Trust me, we aren't that lucky," Winter said. "Besides it's your own fault that you didn't bring a thicker jacket, we told you how harsh the temperature is in these parts."
Asher glared at his teammates. "Let's just get this over with so we can return to the safe and warm confines of the village."
Winter could not help but smirk. "Thank you for volunteering to lead us through the rest of the woods."
"Hey! I didn't.,.."Asher started to complain but was not let to finish.
"The sooner you start walking the sooner we will be able to return to someplace warm, your choice," Winter said. Asher stared at her for a moment before relenting and taking the lead, grumbling something under his breath.
"You went too easy on him, I would have thrown him into the woods and let him fend for himself. Let him see how good he truly had it," Vergil said in his typical emotionless tone.
"Then it's good I'm not as harsh as you," Winter said. "Not to mention, its Asher, he will complain about stuff like this, well actually about a lot of stuff during missions but in the end he will always go above and beyond to get the job done."
"I hope your faith isn't misplaced, so far I'm not impressed," Vergil said.
"Is it just him or because he reminds you of your brother?" Winter asked, knowing the answer already.
"Both," Vergil growled out, his voice laced with signs of irritation.
The group continued to trudge through the snow, Asher leading them as he carefully followed the Grimm tracks. After a while, they finally found what they were looking for. Just like they thought, the Grimm were coming from a large cave and there were a lot of them.
"That's a lot of cats," Valentina said eyeing all of the saber-tooth grimm. Sabyrs or saber-tooths have large canines with which they can deliver a powerful bite. They possess small bone plates on their shoulders and hips, ribs on their sides, and spines coming from their backs. Sabryrs aren't the most durable of Grimm but what they lack in durability they make up with speed and shier numbers as they always travel in large packs.
"Not to mention the manticores and teryxes," Louis added. Teryx are a reptile-like Grimm that possess large, translucent red wings with visible veins. Teryxes have bone-like spines on their necks and tails, resembling feather quills. Manticores, on the other hand, have the body and head of a lion, the wings of a predatory bird, and the tail of a scorpion. They also have black fur and feathers, with white bone-like spines on their bodies, including a white lion skull and a large, crown-like mane of bone. A pair of bull horns also protrude from their skulls. Not to mention that they can breathe fire and sting their prey with their venomous tails.
"This is not going to be easy," Asher said. "So what's the plan chief? Charge in guns blazing or…?"
Winter carefully surveyed the Grimm horde, it was risky but they had dealt with similar situations before. The Grimm have yet to notice them, so they have the element of surprise. Taking out the fliers is the main priority, airiel Grimm will cause issues if not dealt with quickly. "Alright, listen up, Valentina and Louis will draw the attention of the ones on the ground while Asher and I will take out the flying Grimm."
"Sounds good to me," Valentina said.
"A sound plan as always," Louis said, nodding to Winter.
"Let's just survive this," Asher said, and the group split. Once everyone was in their place, Winter started off the assault by summoning a manticore Grimm using her glyphs and jumping on it. Asher joined her after giving her an uncertain look. "Did I mention that I also do not like highs very much?"
"Just hop on," she said, slightly annoyed at Asher's antics now.
"Pathetic," Vergil said in a condescending tone.
After a moment of hesitation, Asher jumped on the white and blue grimm, and not a moment too soon as just a second later the other half of their team launched their attack, gaining the attention of the Grimm horde. Winter commanded her Grimm forward toward the group of manticores that have taken to the air and were about to attack her two teammates. The white Grimm bit into its dark counterpart allowing Winter to plant her saber into the beast's neck while Asher focused on covering their back, using his weapon in gun mode to shoot at incoming Grimm. The fight on the ground was playing out similarly as Valentina used her shield to knock the beasts away while slashing at them with her blade at the same time. Louis was supporting her, using his own blade to slash at any Grimm who came from the sides or the back. Winter's team was working like a well-oiled machine, their teamwork during battle was one of their greatest straights.
Winter was using her glyphs to summon projectiles made out of ice and hurled them at the two manticores that were about to breathe fire at her and her partner. The ice shards pierced the sides and underbellies of the Grimm, ending them. Winter repeated the action with an incoming group of teryx that looked particularly angry even by Grimm standards.
"They don't look too happy to see us!" Asher shouted as he fired another round at an incoming Grimm. Out of nowhere, a large manticore slammed itself head-first into Winters manifestation. Winter managed to take hold of her beast's horns as it flew through the air but Asher wasn't so lucky, he was sent flying off the white manticore. "OH HELL NOOOOO!" he shouted as he flew through the air, somehow managing to grab a hold of a passing teryx, which was not happy to have a passenger on board at all. It was desperately trying to shake Asher off but he continue to cling to it as the only other option at the moment was falling in the middle of a pack of sabertooth.
Winter manifested a cluster of Mirage blades and launched them at the flying Grimm. All of the blades hit their mark, cutting the foul beasts down, black carcasses falling down to earth. The only flying Grimm that remained was the terax Asher was dangling from.
"Asher!" Winter shouted, getting her teammates attention. A mirage blade manifested itself behind Winter, its sharp tip aimed straight at the last teryx and Asher. For a brief moment, panic flashed in Asher's eyes as he saw the large blue blade made out of light but he quickly realized what Winter intended to do and he jumped off the Grimm, giving Winter the opportunity she needed. With one final Mirage blade, it too met its end, Asher jumping off of it and landing on Winters white manticore, his breathing slightly heavier.
"T-Thats was a nice move boss, you got to teach me," he said jokingly as he got up, his legs a bit unsteady.
"That's the last of them, lets's help Val and Louis," Winter said, eyeing the Grimm down below. Well, there was still one manticore on the ground but that one seemed unable to fly due to its broken wing.
"Right behind you Ice Queen," Asher said, changing the magazine of his weapon and cocking it, ready for action. Winter ordered her manticore to fly them down to aid their teammates. They jumped off of it as it swooped down before it continued to attack the remaining Grimm on the ground. The four huntsmen charged at the tide of Grimm that surrounded them. Winter used her newly acquired superhuman speed, strength, agility, stamina, and durability to its fullest, easily avoiding any strike that the Grimm threw at her, returning the attack with as much if not greater force, and not feeling any signs of fatigue while doing it. Fighting grimm was much easier now than it used to be.
"This is easy, I was honestly expecting more," she thought.
"In want of a challenge?" Vergil asked.
"One wouldn't hurt, after all the training you put me through and the power boosts I got so far, something to truly test my skill and abilities would be welcome," Winter replied.
"Perhaps the opportunity for you to test yourself will show itself on its own," Vergil answered in a tone of a mentor addressing a student.
Winter continued her assault, summoning both ice shards and mirage blades to pierce her opponents while stabbing and slashing at them with her saber at the same time. Before she knew it she had managed to fight her way to the mouth of the cave, a large Sabyr alfa growling at her. It leaped at her, its claws extended in an attempt to gut her but Winter simply slid beneath it and plunged her saber into its belly, the blade cutting the Grimm open from one end to the other. The cat landed on its feet before it finally collapsed due to its wound, starting to dissipate into black ash moments later. Just as she was about to join her teammates her eyes caught the sight of a fireball hurdling straight at her. Winter leaped back to avoid it, landing at the entrance of the cave once more. Several more fireballs came her way, she expertly avoided each one until she caught sight of the one responsible, the last manticore was glaring at her with those hate-filled eyes, her death his soul intent. Faster than a person could blink Winter moved towards the beast, appearing in front of it and stabbing it in the left eye, the blade piercing the manticore's brain. The moment she removed her blade from the grimm's head, it collapsed onto the snow-covered ground, taking its last breath before starting to dissipate like its counterparts. Giving the area one quick look around, Winter found no other hostiles in sight. That fact brought some relief to the Schnee heiress but she knew that their task was not yet done.
"Status?" she asked.
"Unscathed, as expected," Louis replied sheathing his blade and slicked back his hair.
"Same here," Valentina replied, pulling her weapon out of a saber grimm and walking towards Winter.
"I'm fine too, although I think I don't want to ever repeat that ever again," Asher said, reloading his weapon.
"What, scared of highs now?" Louis asked with a smirk. Louis and Asher moved towards their two teammates, regrouping.
"Highs no, bull riding a teryx yes!" Asher replied glaring at his teammate. "I never want to do that again."
"Alright, the area is clear but we still have the cave to check out just in case there are any stragglers left inside, understood?"
"Yes mam," all three of Winter's teammates replied in unison.
"At least they are capable of following orders," Vergil said in a cold tone. Winter wanted to defend her friends but knew that now was not the time to have an argument with Vergil. Her mentor was wise and experienced but his cold condescending dismissiveness of others he saw as beneath him just made him seem like an asshole sometimes. He wasn't anywhere near as bad as her father, just more on the arrogant side, and considering how powerful Vergil once was, she could understand why he acted that way.
"By the way, nice job back there team leader, if I didn't know any better, I would have thought that you have been holding out on us all these years," Valentina said, looking at Winter. Their team leader was always one of the best in their class but she seemed to have reached new heights recently. She knew how determined Winter could be, her determination sometimes bordering on stubbornness but she always knew the weight Winter carried on her shoulders. Louis and Asher are their friends and both Winter and Valentina trust them with their lives but sometimes a girl needs to have a talk with another girl and Valentina was there when Winter needed someone to listen, so went about her issues.
"The sooner we end this, the sooner we can go somewhere warm," Asher added. Winter took point and proceeded to lead her team into the cave. As they ventured further into the cave, it became harder to see, so the team used lights on their scrolls to illuminate the place so they could see better, well all but Asher who could see in the dark without issue due to his natural night vision all Faunus possessed. Well technically Winter didn't need the light either now seeing as Vergil's power had affected her eyesight as well, but she still did it for her teammates. They ventured further and further with no signs of any more Grimm.
"Huh, so far so good," Asher said and not a moment later the ground and walls around them started to shake before dozens of Centinels erupted from all sides, screeching at the huntsmen.
"BUGSSSS!" Valentina let out a frightened scream as she jumped up, Louis managing to catch her on instinct before collapsing due to the heaviness of the warrior woman's armor and weapons. Winter and Asher reacted quickly, Winter using her saber to cut off the heads of the centipede-like Grimm while avoiding the acidic green blood that gushed out of the decapitated bodies. Asher on his part had not been idle, with his weapons in gun form he blasted the Grimm into pieces while avoiding any that tried to crawl onto him. He spotted two centinels that started spiraling around each other heading straight towards Winter whose back was turned, unaware of the danger heading towards her. Asher was about to shout when a mirage blade appeared and pierced the two centinels, cutting them in half, Winter only spared them a quick glance before returning her attention to the number of Grimm that were bursting out in front of her.
Asher could only stare in astonishment, he knew plenty of huntsmen who had a good awareness of their surroundings but Winter did not even look behind her and somehow she knew that the centinels were coming for her. "Someone has been holding out on us," he said before getting his head back into the game. He unloaded several more shoots at the Grimm, their numbers dwindling as no more came out of the floor and the walls of the cave. Soon he was standing right next to Winter, finishing off the few remaining Grimm.
"Everyone alright?" Winter asked after the final Grimm had been slayed.
"Yeah, we are fine," Louis was heard saying. Winter and Asher looked at their two teammates who were getting themselves to their feat. Louis was fine as he had said, Valentina did not look any worse for wear but she was frantically looking around all over the place.
"I hate bugs, why does it have to be bugs," the female warrior said in a low tone, standing behind Louis, gripping his arm. That was one interesting thing about the other female member of their team, Valentina has entomophobia, a general fear of insects. Her case is not as bad as some Winter had read about but that does not mean Valentina won't freak out if she sees a bug and if the bug is a Grimm, that makes it all the harder to deal with.
"Don't worry, Winter and Asher have dealt with them, they are all gone now," Louis said in a soothing tone. Valentina released his arm and sighed in relief.
"I still find it funny that Miss I can one punch a Megoliath instantly turns scaredy-cat at first sight of a cockroach," Asher said jokingly.
"Hey! I can't help it!" Valentina said defensively. "And I don't get scared of a cockroach...not anymore," she added pouting.
"Easy Val, don't get mad," Asher said apologetically.
"It's fine," Valentina said. "Let's just finish this and get out of here."
Just as she said that the cave started to shake again. All members of the team had their weapons on the ready, thinking it would be another wave of Grimm but when the first rock fell from the ceiling they knew that this was not the case. The cave has started crumbling due to all the burrowing the Grimm have done.
"We need to move! Now!" Winter shouted.
"Way ahead of you Ice Queen!" Asher said as he darted the way they came in, the rest of the team following after him. The cave had started crumbling all around them, and dirt and rocks were falling, making it harder to make their way out. They ran as fast as their legs could carry them while avoiding the rubble. Asher was first, Val was second, Louis was third and Winter was in the final place. As they ran, a rock fell on the ground and made Louis trip and fall. Winter stopped to help him and just as she was about to, she noticed the large chunk of the ceiling coming down right on top of them. She grabbed Louis by the arm and flung him towards Asher and Val while jumping back to avoid being crushed by the boulder.
"WINTER!" Louis shouted.
"Where is she?" Val stopped and asked.
"Behind that!" Louis responded quickly. Val looked at the large boulder, they could probably clear the path if the damn cave wasn't about to fall on their heads. She looked at Louis, at Asher then at the large rock enabling them to reach Winter. "We got to do something!"
"The whole thing is falling apart, you need to get out of here!" Winter's voice was heard from behind the rock.
"What? NO!" Val shouted.
"Listen to me, I will be fine, just get yourselves out of here," Winter said.
"Winter..." Louis started but Winter did not let him finish.
"As your team leader I order you to get out of here, I will find my own way out of here," Winter said in a commanding tone. "Trust me!"
The three huntsmen looked at each other for a moment as debris continued to fall around them, they needed to make a decision and fast. A small rock fell next to Asher, he gave it a quick glance before returning his attention to his teammates.
"She is right, we need to trust her, as for us, we need to make ourselves scarce. The mouth of the cave is close," Asher said, his voice loud. The other two members of his team gave each other an uncertain look. "Come on!
"We are not leaving you behind Winter!" Val shouted and helped Louis up. "You better make it out or I will beat you to death!"
Winter could not help but chuckle. "Believe me, I will make it."
The three huntsmen continued to run for it as the cave crumbled around them, that little moment had cost them time so they had to double their efforts to escape certain death. Louis gave one last look at the boulder which was blocking Winter's path before he lost sight of it.
"Please stay safe," he mumbled, more of a prayer to whatever god would listen than a plead to Winter.
Once Winter was certain that her teammates obeyed her, she turned her back to the obstacle blocking her path. She could destroy it but the effort would certainly cause the collapse to quicken and she does not want to endanger her friends. Using her new speed she dashed passed the falling ruble in the opposite direction, going further into the cave. After a while, the shaking and crumbling stopped and Winter found herself slowing down. She turned her attention from surviving to finding a way out of this blasted hole in the ground. She walked along the tunnels in silence, Vergil being quiet for the time being. That was until she spotted a small amount of light coming from in front of her. Walking towards it, she found herself in a large chamber. Looking up she found the source of the light, there among the stalactites that dangled from the ceiling was an opening.
"Looks like you found your way out," Vergil said. Winter was glad to have been able to find a second entrance, it was high up but reaching it would not be a problem. Just as she was thinking about the best way to get up to it, her senses flared, and she saw some kind of movement among the shadows. Turning around she looked for any sign of more Grimm.
It was then that Winter spotted a single yellow orb glowing in the dark and a moment later rock and boulders around the cavern started to move toward each other. Soon they formed a giant body made of stone, it consisted of gray boulders, which form a central body and four levitating limbs. These boulders gain red vein-like markings on them. Winter knew instantly what type of an enemy she was about to face, a Geist Grimm.
"Well, it seems your wish has been granted my student," Vergil said while looking at the new Grimm through Winter's eyes.
Winter pulled out her saber and aimed it at the Geist Grimm, a small smile of satisfaction adorning her lips. "Finally, a challenge."
"Don't forget what I asked of you, I want to get better luck at it," Vergil said in a reprimanding tone. "So don't immediately kill it."
"Don't worry, this is just its made body, once I break it, its real form will show up and then you will have your test subject," Winter told her mentor. The Geist Grimm roared at her and charged, Winter, charging to meet it.