Vermillion, it was the very representation of what all Faunus had always been fighting for, a place to call home. It was a free land governed by Faunus that treated all residents without discrimination. Equal pay wages, rights, and freedoms were the basis of all interactions within the Nightless Kingdom. Furthermore, commerce and economics were prospering due to the many investments from the other Kingdoms seeking to discover the secrets of the object of Sword of the Sun imbedded within the bedrock of a sturdy stone. It was an object of Divine Faith that garnered the following of many new believers day by day.
The religion was soon called the Cult of the Sun God due to the sheer fanaticism that many converted believers possessed. They believed that the strength of the Sun God shone within the sacred sword and that only the worthy may draw upon its power of light.
A line stretched from almost the entrance of Vermillion, all the way towards Excalibur Galatine filled with individuals who wished to pull forth the sword from the stone. Many failed, but it didn't stop others from trying, and it soon developed into a tradition that all travellers and guests should at least try to pull forth the sword. Apparently, one could be blessed by good karma just by placing one's hands around the hilt.
One of the largest contributors to Vermillion's economic growth was Atlas. A research institute had been built near the miniature sun Excalibur Galatine produced and it was said that Altesian scientists worked day and night to replicate the effects of Galatine's light. It was a natural Grimm deterrent, and not something that could be so easily given up on. Thoughts of stealing the Sacred Sword had arisen in recent years, but it was because of this that security around the sword was always maintained. Inadvertently, the increased security could in turn be included within Vermillion's military power.
Vermillion was growing stronger day by day, and the vision that all Faunus activist groups had to better the lives of their fellow brothers and sisters was finally fulfilled.
Menagerie was different in that it was primarily inhospitable, and was a home forced upon Faunus after the end of the War. It was seen more as an isolation camp than anything else, and that was why most Faunus didn't always go to Menagerie.
Vermillion opened up the path to a better future for Faunus.
In which case, what the hell were they doing?
A Faunus wearing the mask of a Grimm grunted as she lifted up a heavy crate of Dust and loaded it with the rest of the cargo to be shipped away. She was part of the earlier group that had had a run in with the intruders that were able to get away on one of her friend's motorbike.
Her name was Charlotte, a Faunus who's most defining characteristic was the small bushy tail sprouting over her tailbone. To be frank, it made it easier for her to blend into human society as she only needed to wear a pair of baggier pants or looser skirts to hide her Faunus feature.
If she was being truthful, then her life before joining an activist group known as the White Fang was actually pretty decent. Blending in wasn't too difficult and she had been getting by while working part-time in a local grocery store as a clerk. She had been intent on saving up money and taking all her belongings to migrate to Vermillion, but she had been convinced by a friend to join the White Fang before her plans came to fruition.
She had been told that although Vermillion's creation was a revolutionary milestone in the history of Faunus in Remnant, it didn't mean that everyone could be so lucky to go there.
The problem had to do with the Schnee Dust Company and others profiting from the cheap labour of Faunus. They made it harder for Faunus to migrate to Vermillion by implementing stricter protocols that forced Faunus to comply by means of contract.
Vermillion was fully acknowledged as an official Kingdom at this point, and that meant legal entry was required.
Charlotte had all the necessary paperwork filled out and was just awaiting the fast approval of the Faunus board-members in Vermillion, but the same couldn't be said for others.
The strict protocols in the form of contracts prevented Faunus already working as cheap labour from officially leaving their jobs. Should they leave, their official documentations would be branded with the title of 'Run Aways,' something of which would close their official access into Vermillion.
It wasn't that the Chief of Directors in Vermillion were heartless to bar fellow Faunus entry, but because they simply had no choice in the matter. Vermillion was an upstart Kingdom and the only reason it was developing so fast was due to the interests of the other Kingdoms who invested and protected it. The only downside to this set-up, was that Vermillion had to follow common Law.
The other Kingdoms would not unjustly interfere in Vermillion's matters in apprehension of the Huntsman of Red making another appearance, but that only meant that there were other methods.
Vermillion was protected by the other Kingdoms taking interest in it, but the common law still had to be followed. Kingdoms could not just allow criminals or questionable individuals through their borders. Doing so would only foster the likely hood of civil strife and increased crime rates.
The 'Run Away' status of Faunus disregarding their contracts would hamper efforts to legally migrate into Vermillion and that was why groups like the White Fang were still operating. Of course, they were fewer in number now, but all the same.
Charlotte's current goal along with the other Faunus around her was to sabotage the Schnee Family's Dust supplies by raiding their train shipments.
Charlotte pursed her lips and glanced once more towards the guns and weapons that the other Faunus around her carried. She inwardly shivered.
This wasn't what she thought the situation was going to be like. She signed up to help only because she'd been told that all that she had to do was load crates of stolen Dust to be taken away by an unknown employer. By the looks of things now, it wasn't just about raiding the Schnee family trains anymore.
"I don't like this, Jed," she whispered to her friend. He was the one who convinced her to help, and for the most part, Jed looked guilty.
Jed was a Faunus that had the tail and ears of a wolf. He was currently frowning while looking at the other members around him. "It wasn't supposed to be like this," he muttered back under his breath. "Apparently the new Employer isn't a woman to be lightly messed with, and she doesn't take too well to deserters."
Charlotte bit down on her lips, but didn't say anything back. The left-over ashes that she'd seen of a past colleague entered the forefront of her mind and caused her to shiver. "That woman isn't human."
Jed silently nodded in agreement.
The rest of the Faunus around the warehouse were clearly agitated, and it wasn't without reason.
The current employer had strictly forbidden any news of the operation to be leaked, and would not hesitate to execute everyone for failure of compliance.
"The rest of the Faunus here are forming search parties to find the two intruders. You've been put along with group A while I was placed in group B." Jed moved towards the rack of guns placed just a short distance away from him. He picked one up and offered a small hand gun to Charlotte.
"For defence," Jed explained. "I'm not sure how strong the two were pursuing are, but keep weary alright? Neither of us were any good at fighting to begin with."
Charlotte slowly nodded, turning her head to the entrance of the warehouse where several groups of Faunus were already beginning their search.
Why was she here? The question kept playing in her mind. Jed was probably thinking the same thing as the man sighed and wandered off.
Elsewhere, perched atop a black lamp post, a lone raven unfurled its black wings before it silently flew off into a dim-lit night, pinioned feathers stretching towards the sky
Signal Academy was a primary combat school which sought to teach the newer generation of Huntsman and Huntresses the fundamentals of combat necessary to survive in their field. It sported many combat rings and the structure of the building made it so that there many vantage-points that one could take in live combat practice.
One of the many training fields in Signal Academy consisted of a dense forest that when fully crossed, led to a main street in Patch after crossing over a tall gate.
Students were warned not to go there, but it didn't mean that everyone would listen, and most certainly not Yang who was trying to avoid her Father and Uncle's attention.
"C-Can I come with you?"
Yang's brow twitched as she snuck quietly within the underbrush of the training zone. The dense line of trees made it difficult to be spotted, but she didn't want to take her chances against her Uncle and Father's perception skills. Trailing along behind her was her little sister, Ruby.
Out of everyone who could have had noticed Yang trying to skip out on school, it had to have had been Ruby who instantly decided to follow along.
There was no way that Yang could allow Ruby to come with her. She didn't say it before, but a part of Yang had become traumatized after Ruby's disappearance in their childhood. Not only had she brought Ruby out and exposed her to danger, the following day, Ruby had disappeared as well.
Even if Yang felt that she was stronger now, there was an irrational fear within her that constantly warned her that she may endanger Ruby's life again.
She had to go alone.
She had to.
"Not this time Rubes," Yang turned around and ruffled Ruby's hair.
The two paused just beside a large tree and Ruby was frowning heavily. "W-Why?" She all but demanded, her arms placed by her side.
"I'm doing big girl stuff, big girl stuff, okay? So, stop making that face. You're in an important part of the school year where you're making your personal weapon. Don't distract yourself over me." Yang grinned, but Ruby wasn't buying it.
"Are you doing dangerous things again?" Ruby questioned. "I can handle it too, and didn't I tell you? Shirou is with me, so nothing bad will happen. He's the Huntsman of Red you know!"
Yang looked at Ruby and gradually curved her lip into a small smile. "Imagination is healthy and all Ruby, but when are you going to grow out of this phase?"
Ruby's lip twitched. "H-He's real!" She insisted. "He's nice, and he's warm, and he listens to me. Plus, he's really strong!"
Yang just nodded her head absently. "Sounds like your ideal man, but maybe you should start by talking to more people in your class."
Ruby shut her mouth and looked away. She had always been socially awkward, and it was even harder for her to approach others now that she'd grown older. "If I feel like it," she said. "But right now, I want to go with you."
Yang furrowed her brows before moving away from Ruby.
"Next time Rubes, I promise next time, alright? So, don't tell dad and Uncle Qrow and just play with a few friends for the time being." Yang made a shushing gesture with her finger.
Ruby stared at Yang and gradually lowered her head, a foot kicking at the dirt beneath her as Yang promptly left.
"…I don't have friends." Ruby muttered softly.
No one seemed to be around to hear her, but Ruby could feel a warm hand place itself over her head. Her loneliness slowly began to vanish. At the very least she wasn't alone. Mr. Hero wouldn't leave her, and she supposed that was all that mattered.
She looked up, but saw no one. Still, it was alright.
Shirou had explained that she wouldn't be able to see him in Spiritual Form, but she was content just knowing that he was around. After all, she could feel his presence if she focused hard enough.
"Get going Ruby," A voice spoke from the air. "Didn't you want to make a scythe like your uncle?"
Ruby's eye brightened at the reminder. She indeed wanted to make a scythe, but she wasn't sure how to go about going at it yet. Therefore, she'd been pestering Qrow to let her examine his scythe in detail.
Qrow was a teacher in Signal Academy so it shouldn't be that difficult to find him. With that in mind, Ruby's feet began to carry her away as she lost herself int thought.
"Thanks, Shirou!" She called out before finally dashing away.
In the spot that Ruby had just left from, Shirou soon materialized with Summer floating near him. His brow was twitching and Summer had a hand to her forehead. The both of them were looking in the direction that Yang had left towards and reacting in different ways.
Shirou's duty was to his Master, Ruby, but Summer as a mother cared for both of her children. The way she was looking at Shirou with a piercing gaze was enough indication of what she wanted him to do again.
He sighed before dematerializing and making his way after of Yang. He just had to make sure that Ruby didn't notice that he was leaving without her. He had become something of a final support for her, and he didn't want her to worry.
He poured magical power into the connection he felt with Ruby's two remaining Command Seals and then focused on his current task. The burst of magical power should make it feel as if he was always nearby to Ruby.
Travelling on his own, it didn't take long to catch up to Yang when he could simply just bypass solid buildings and objects.
Now the question was, what was Yang doing?
He'd warned her the previous time not to come back, and now here she was doing it again.
At least this time she was being more subtle and not trying to draw attention to herself.
Oddly enough, she seemed to be going in a familiar direction. It was the last place he had dropped her off when the two had gotten away on a yellow motorbike. He'd left the bike hidden beneath a tarp near a narrow alley, and now that he thought about it, he probably didn't hide it well enough as Yang soon found it.
Her brows scrunched up as she moved around the vehicle while searching for something. She seemed to take particular interest in a pair of foot print inadvertently left behind due to oil stains left everywhere around the alley.
Now that he thought about it, weren't those his foot prints before he dematerialized?
Behind him he could suddenly feel a flat stare on his back.
Summer did not seem too amused.
She'd tried to get him to write a letter to Tai explaining Yang's activities, but he had believed that his past warning was suitable enough. After all, the only one who Yang could blame for being discovered by Tai was Ruby, and he didn't want his Master to be considered a snitch by her elder sister.
Clearly though, he was being too hopeful that Yang would actually listen to him.
His brow twitched, but it didn't stop the way Summer was staring at him flatly.
"You know," Summer said cryptically. "No matter how I see this, it seems like Yang's looking for you."
He frowned only because he knew that Summer was right.
Yang was indeed looking for him. She seemed hopeful when she found remnants of his foot prints, but she quickly deflated when the trail just suddenly stopped as if he'd disappeared into thin air.
She almost looked like an infatuated school girl, and that was why he was suddenly getting ominous chills travelling down his back.
"…"
He was trying his best to ignore the way Summer was smiling at him. The dimples of her cheeks just didn't quite reach her eyes, and there was a pressure about her that was different from normal.
He coughed into his hand and ignored her.
Besides, given the choice to stay in hiding or to confront Yang, he was more inclined to lean towards the latter to stop Summer from glaring at him.
He materialized in a place Yang couldn't see him, and put on the same attire from earlier which he had stowed away behind a few abandoned storage crates.
Almost as soon as he came within sight of Yang, her eyes brightened visibly, and there was a notable skip in her steps almost as if she was being shy or bashful. The small red tint on her cheeks was not helping his case.
Stop. Stop it. Don't look at me like that.
There was a veritable demon hanging over his back, one whose arms were already circling around his neck and whispering lowly into his ears.
"Go back," he told Yang bluntly when she arrived near him. "This isn't a place for young women to dwell within."
He crossed his arms and took a hard stance. It was only then that he felt Summer's grip on him lighten somewhat.
"Yeah? Well I'll have you know that I'm pretty damn strong." Yang remained stubborn, and the object of Summer's attention soon shifted.
"This girl," Summer said exasperatedly. "Since when did she grow so rebellious? Where did Tai go wrong?"
Shirou allowed Summer to vent on the side while he shook his head in consternation.
He had no doubts that Yang was strong in her own way because he'd seen her in part grow up, but that wasn't exactly the issue that was being dealt with. Strong as Yang was, he did not want to promote her behaviour of going to such questionable locations on her own.
His action of shaking his head caused Yang to puff her chest out.
"What? You don't believe me?" She completely misinterpreted his intentions and readied herself for battle.
"I can take you on right here and now to prove it." She raised her arms in front of her, the two yellow bracelets she had on her forearms manifesting into large gauntlets. "You're in for a world of pain if you underestimate me."
He glanced at her, before sighing. Why did teenage girls have to be so difficult to reason with?
He looked at the way Yang was staring at him in confrontation before he simply raised a hand and flicked her on the forehead. The action itself was done so fast that she hadn't even been able to react to it in time to do anything other than gawk at the stinging pain near the middle of her brows.
"You wouldn't be able to hurt me even if you tried," he reasoned ruefully. "But I don't suppose my words or actions are going stop you, are they?"
"Yeah, No," Yang rubbed at her forehead and glowered. "L-Lucky shot."
She flinched when he raised his hand again. For some reason, the Aura that naturally protected Yang from physical pain was having little effect against Shirou's attack and it was annoying her.
She huffed and turned her head to the side.
She was aware that she was being silently stared at but she didn't dare to confront that gaze.
She had the decency to understand what Shirou was trying to convey with that stare and it inwardly frustrated her. Had Shirou been using a weapon rather than his finger to flick her, then she would have had been taken down almost instantly without her even knowing how. It kind of reminded her of how weak she was in comparison to her Father and Uncle, but she refused to believe that Shirou was on the same level as them given how young he appeared.
"I won't lose next time," she muttered under her breath.
He didn't end up taking her words to heart. Instead, he crossed his arms and turned Yang to face him. "Why are you hear again?" He questioned her.
Yang hesitated for a moment before taking out the same image of a woman that she'd shown in the bar the last time that she came to Vale's Underground District. Summer fell silent upon seeing the image of the woman, and suddenly didn't stare at Yang as reprimandingly as she had been before.
"I'm looking for this woman," Yang explained. "I was told by someone I know that she was in the area around here. I couldn't just sit still after that."
Shirou saw the sincerity in Yang's face and understood that he was telling her the truth. Yet there was still something that he didn't understand.
He looked towards Yang, and then back towards the motorbike and the area around them. "Why were you searching for me?"
His question was blunt and it caught Yang off guard, a flush making its way onto her face. "W-Who said I was looking for you? M-Maybe we just met here by coincidence." She huffed while crossing her arms, unwilling to admit anything. "Besides, I'm not very familiar with this place and just thought that you could help show me around and help look for the woman in the picture."
"And why would you think that?" He suddenly felt a pair of hands coiling around his throat again.
Yang fiddled with her fingers and refused to meet his gaze. Still, there was confidence in her tone. "You seemed like the kind of person who'd help if asked," she whispered.
He took in a breath, she got him there.
Scratching the back of his head, he relented. "Fine."
Almost as soon as he spoke the words, Yang straightened her back and grinned broadly. She really did look beautiful when she smiled.
The noose around his neck suddenly grew tighter.
Still, it wasn't the time to just placate Summer.
Yang hadn't noticed it yet, but both he and Summer certainly had.
They were being surrounded.
Summer let go of the grip that she had on him and began helping him determine the exact number of assailants that were present. Summer was a spirit, making it impossible for her to be seen, so she easily gave him accurate feedback.
There were almost a hundred enemies surrounding them.
From the description that Summer detailed about their appearance, most of the attackers were probably related to the group that Yang had intruded on previously. They all wore form-fitting white and black attire, and were armed with knives, daggers, swords, and firearms.
Judging from their activity, it was evident that they were laying in wait to attack.
It was most likely that the operation that he and Yang had walked in on inside a particular warehouse was not supposed to be made known to outsiders. In which case, it only made sense to silence the leak.
By the looks of things, the attackers had long since discovered the location of the stolen motorbike and were simply just laying in wait in case someone turned up. And low and behold, there came Yang.
If she'd just listened to his earlier warning to stay away from the area in the first place, then nothing like this would have had happened. Still, no use dwelling over it now. The enemy was already beginning to move.
"Be careful," he called out to Yang who raised her brow in response.
Soon after, five individuals wearing Grimm like masks made their appearance.
Yang looked to him, then to the five newcomers, then back to him before smirking. "No biggie, I can take'em. Just you watch."
"Wait, hold on that's not all of-" His words fell on deaf ears as Yang charged forward.
The weapons that Yang had equipped onto her arms were known as Ember Celica, her personal weapon which contained a twelve-shell shot-gun holster magazine within the inner chambers.
When Yang punched, she punched hard.
Her arms cocked back, and upon impact with the enemy, Ember Celica's high-calibre rounds exploded on contact.
Two of the five enemies who were caught off guard by Yang's sudden attack were instantly blown away and sent tumbling through the alley where they fell unconscious over a trash bin.
Not to lose her advantage in gaining the upper hand, Yang twisted her feet and used the kinetic energy left from her earlier attack to sweep in at the other three who soon shared a similar fate to the first two.
Yang clapped her hands together in a dismissive gesture and smirked at him.
"Easy," she said gloatingly.
He merely pointed a finger at the next five enemies that came.
Yang's brows furrowed for a moment, but she didn't seem too phased. "I can still take'em," she huffed.
He pointed again.
Yang followed the direction of his finger and saw another ten appear to surround her.
Her lip twitched, but she still felt it was manageable. "Just a little workout."
She didn't wait for him to point again before directly jumping into the fray.
Yang was as much a brawler as she was a Huntress. In fact, brawling probably suited her fighting style more as she weaved in and under the enemy's attacks.
There were spare occasions where she was forced to block, but she deflected the bullets using Ember Celica's armour casing and rolled to keep clear of piercing rounds.
She could feel her blood pumping vigorously through her chest, her muscle starting to slow in exhaustion, but for some reason she didn't want to appear weak. Not in front of Archer.
Her knees buckled after shifting her weight to swerve to the side, yet she hardly allowed her concern to show on her face. She could feel her Aura levels dropping, and she knew that eventually she'd run out, but still she held strong. She still had her dust rounds to rely on.
One, two, three. She only counted three enemies left in her line of sight, and it was enough of a motivation to get her to charge forward.
She grunted while pushing off the ground with her feet.
Aura infused itself with the body, bolstering one's physical capabilities and providing an extra layer of defence that all living being possessed. It was why Yang had never experienced the sight of drawing blood from an enemy. To be frank, she didn't think that she'd want to anyway. Fighting the Grimm would be more than enough.
Using a sudden burst of strength, she struck forward three times with Ember Celica and incapacitated the last enemies before her.
She was panting, a flush on her face from the workout.
Live action was always more exhausting than practical spars, but she did it all the same.
"Well, how's that," she turned to stare at him, her seeking approval. "I told you I was pretty strong."
Yang was strong indeed, but she was still not fully grown yet. There was no way that she'd be able to keep up her current fighting capability while growing tired.
Rather than respond to Yang, his sights were focused elsewhere. Following the direction of his eyes, Yang suddenly stiffened as an ill premonition assailed her.
"Oh, fuck this shit," she cussed, raising her arms back into a fighting stance as the rest of the attackers appeared in full and completely surrounded the area.
They were in an alley way, so the only exits were either up or down, both of which were now fully blocked.
Yang's complexion was not looking good. There was a reason why they had run away from the warehouse last time, and that was numbers. At her current age, Yang did not have the confidence nor physical ability to contend with so many opponents consecutively.
She slowly began to back away while feeling a sense of danger. Up until now, she'd never really had anyone to rely on other than her father and uncle, and neither of them were around.
It was then that she felt a palm place itself over her head and a voice whisper into her ears. "You've done enough." The deep baritone sent shivers down her neck, and she couldn't help but recall the various romance stories that her friends at Signal gossiped to her about.
And then, when the heroine falls into danger, the Hero sweeps in and carries her away.
To say that a part of her wasn't just a little expectant about the scenario would be a lie, but she quickly shook her head. She was Yang Xiaolong, and she would solve her own problems.
She pushed her chest out, but quickly deflated it when she remembered how tired she was and how many enemies were actually around her. "T-This is kind of a bad isn't it?"
Shirou didn't answer.
Experience told him of the best method to resolve the situation.
And that answer born from the wisdom from a past life as a Nameless Hero was undoubtably Fear.
Intimidation, the horrors of the unknown.
To make things appear not as they are or should be, but what you 'want' them to be.
He had to frighten them, not because it was his only option, but because it was the only method that would prevent needless death. He glanced to Yang's pale face near his side, and then towards the number of enemies that she'd incapacitated.
He wasn't certain of the rules of the world or Remnant at large towards the eradication of enemies that weren't Grimm, but he could tell what Yang's bottom line was.
None of the attackers had died under Yang's assault and were instead just knocked unconscious to be sent to confinement later.
It was a soft sort of mentality, one that he found admirable in certain situations but foolish in others.
Regardless, what would his master have had done?
Knowing Ruby, there was no use thinking any further. Through a matter of fate, his and her ideals were eerily similar.
Therefore, it was time to act.
He could not expose his identify as the Huntsman of Red lest he risk a manhunt, and therefore he could not do anything too over the top. Still, it didn't mean that he was out of options.
"Get behind me, Yang." His voice changed to take on a more serious tone, startling Yang who looked in his direction.
It wasn't just Yang, but everyone else present as well.
Magic, at least for him was created through the conversion of mana in the air by utilizing the inborn converters known as Magic Circuits found within the soul. Even as a Heroic Spirit, it didn't mean that he'd lost his Magic Circuits, but rather he now had a new source of power to rely on due to the connection he had with his Master.
In terms of quality, the energy Ruby was supplying him with was exceptional. Blue interface patterns shone as they travelled down his skin in a manor different from how Aura should have acted.
This was the power of mystery and the unknown.
Something sealed away by the Founders of the World of Remnant for their own reasons.
The power of magic.
"No more playing around."
He started walking forward, leaving Yang behind him while directly entering the fray.
Fear could be based on misconception.
He didn't need to be a Hero in this moment.
He needed to be the Villain.
One whose presence alone would inhibit any signs of resistance.
"Kill him!" The order was swiftly carried out.
The sound of gun shots and high-powered Dust rounds echoed through the air, accompanied by the clatter of empty calibre bullet cases falling against the floor.
For her part, Yang was stunned.
Dodge! Why aren't you dodging you idiot!
"Archer!" Yang's scream was drowned out by the noise. No matter how confident she was in herself, there was no way that she had the Aura reserves necessary to cope against a full onslaught of attacks by an entire group let alone just Archer. It was why she'd maneuvered to dodge and block as many times as was possible, but Archer was being stupid.
She pursed her lips in her agitation and recalled the type of person that Archer seemed to be despite being a mercenary. Sure, he'd chastised her for going into the less savoury parts of Vale on her own, but rather than leave her, he accompanied her to prevent her from getting into trouble. Admittedly, it was her fault that they were being targeted, and now it was Archer who was suffering the consequences of her actions.
H-He didn't deserve this.
Her eyes steadily grew bloodshot.
If not for the fact that he was still looked okay, then she would have had dashed forward to aid him, but she simply didn't have to. Looking closely, it was not Archer showing signs of trepidation, but the enemies instead, and for one fundamental reason alone.
They weren't on the same level to begin with.
How could a mortal compare to the supernatural?
Shirou opened and closed his hands, the glare in his eyes growing more ominous.
Bullets and Dust, they passed through him as if he were never there.
An untouchable phantom.
The difference between a Human and a Spirit.
"Is that all?" His tone was flat, utterly devoid of emotion. He was currently in a semi-formed state in which he constantly willed certain parts of his material body to shift back into spiritual form.
Humans or Faunus weren't Grimm. They didn't possess the type of spiritual essence or energy required to harm him as a spirit, or at the very least they just didn't know how to use it.
Regardless, to the naked eye, his spiritual form could not be seen, leaving behind glaring holes and empty spaces in wake of the 'wounds' that he sustained. One well aimed shot pierced through his entire torso, but he didn't so much as flinch while walking.
It was the stuff of nightmares.
His body appeared ephemeral in the way it resembled the wisp-like swaying of smoke.
One second he was there; in another he was gone, only to reappear again.
The downside of taking spiritual form was that he could not carry or interact with anything, but that hardly mattered. Right now, he was giving the impression that he was unkillable.
A neutral gaze leveled itself on the attackers in front of him who soon stopped firing in general.
"M-Monster."
"I-Is that a Semblance?"
"H-He can't be killed."
"I'm out of bullets!"
Many were trembling or were just in sheer disbelief of what they were seeing, none more so than the Raven watching from atop the distant building. Yang wasn't any better. Her mouth was slightly left open and she seemed entirely transfixed as if in a daze.
"You wouldn't be able to hurt me even if you tried."
She recalled the words that he'd spoken to her earlier and her mouth suddenly dried.
At the center of attention, Shirou stood alone.
Despite overcoming the enemies attacks unscathed, the root of the problem still needed to be dealt with. They wouldn't just surrender because they couldn't kill him.
Right now, they were apprehensive, bordering on panicked.
Nothing they did or could do seemed to have any sort of effect on him.
He was an enemy that couldn't be defeated. That was the impression that he was giving off.
What he needed to do now was imprint on them a sense of danger and crisis.
Despair to lay down their weapons.
At this moment, he was not the Nameless Hero, nor an Ally of Justice. He needed to become a symbol of fear not only to settle the impending dilemma, but to prevent any future troubles as well.
Yang would come back to the Underground District, and he was certain of this. Therefore, trouble would eventually find her again. Might as well give her an extra layer of protection known as influence.
Right now, he was relatively unknown within the Underground District. A Nobody that had appeared from nowhere with no reputation or standing to back him at all. He would change that.
"I do not prefer to kill. I never have, but that doesn't mean that I won't."
Something shifted in the air. Ominous shadows that seemed to sprout out from the ether of nothingness.
They were swords. A countless number of them that gradually filled every space within the narrow alley.
Some shone with a brilliant luster, while others had an eerie darkness within them that sent chills down one's spine.
It was like the aura of Death seemed to come to life, and he the harbinger who stood at the center.
To be able to control the fate of one's life on a whim.
All of the swords were pointed directly in front or around the attackers.
Shirou no longer said anything, but it was clear that he was giving the attackers a choice.
Surrender or Die.
"Give up and explain what's going on."
He wasn't being tactful in the least.
It was a veritable wall of steel.
From the perspective of the Faunus of the White Fang, there simply wasn't any compromising.