Chapter 10: Dance with Grimm


A/N: Sorry for the long update. Real-life work issue prevented me from doing anything even cutting into my gacha games schedule.

These next few chapters can best be described as every major players trying to manipulate and outsmart one another that it will end up looking like a free for all bar fight with the lights turned off.


"Is this the location?" I reported.

I stared at the massive pillar reaching the Grimm filled skies. The pillar is a living spiral of small nevermore's moving in perfect sync. Without a doubt, The Grimms are far more persistent, organized, and dangerous compared to a Danger Beast.

"This is definitely something for Grimmology," She shuddered," You're providing never before seen footage into the behavior of these creatures."

"How can I enter it?" I look at the pillar.

"I wouldn't recommend it," She explains," We don't know what will happen if you get close to the pillar. You could be torn to pieces. For now, I want you to carry on with the objectives. We already mark the location for light bombardment when Atlas arrives."

"How far out is Atlas?"

"Three hours for Ironwood forces and four hours for reinforcement," She answered," Now go kill."

Kill.

Kill.

I understood why I chose this mission.

Why did Malachite send me here?

She wants me out of her way and expects me to die first before Salem could claim me.

Why would Raven and Qrow still be alive?

They have valuable intel that needs to be extracted first. Raven is useful if Salem could offer her an ultimatum.

What is Salem's goal?

She could be planning to destroy Mistral but I didn't believe it. There is always another plan in motion. An ulterior motive that isn't accounted for.

I look behind me to see a large manticore bearing its massive fangs. An inhuman minion of the unkillable Grimm Queen of Remnant.

I scanned everything in the area to see an endless sea of black bodies, white bone plates, and red eyes.

I slowly pulled the sword out of its scabbard.

The manticore leaps and ripped me in half.

My body got crushed underneath the arms of a Beringel.

Stabbed by the feathers of a Nevermore.

An Alpha Beowulf ripped my throat out.

Snapped in half by a Deathstalker.

Impaled on the scythe of a Mantis.

Evisceration from a Boarbatusk.

Swallowed whole by a Griffin.

A Nian reduces me to ash.

Stomped on by a Goliath.

Melted by a Hydralisk.

Mawed by an Ursus.

Riddled with spikes.

Electrocuted.

Procession.

Suffocated.

Poisoned.

Drowned.

Insanity.

Skewed.

Apathy.

Death.

I imagine how I will die. Then I plan against it.

Yang.

Father.

Please forgive me.

Even if I die here. I hope the next life or the afterlife can finally grant me peace.

But I have friends back in Mistral that I don't want to lose.

Please stay safe Vernal, Militia, and Melanie. If you're still alive Umber, I'll come to save you too.

"Understood," I raised my sword and took a step forward," Eliminate!"


A thousand years of evolution and adaptability wasted. All because a 10-year-old girl really wants to see her daddy.

Ms. Malachite watches alongside a handful of underlings from a command hub onboard a leased Atlesian mobile bunker. Akame has been slaughtering Grimm at a rate only rivaled by the legendary silver-eyed warriors of fairy tales. She targeted the higher ranking Grimm with extreme proficiency and precision. It's hard to believe she killed her first Grimm four days ago. But finding an Alpha isn't difficult when they're the only creatures that would notice her. By the time the Alpha Grimm's comprehend an attack, They have already died.

Ms. Malachite wiped her forehead as sweat rolled down.

Akame with her semblance active is frightening. It's almost an instant win button. There has to be more to Akame besides being a mere prodigy. The headmaster of Beacon is a prodigy himself. That isn't a secret, but what is a secret is the headmaster being an immortal wizard that lived countless past lives.

"Akame," She spoke under her breath," What are you?"

Malachite observes and gathers all the information from all the years Akame stayed at her home and before. She carries herself with a maturity unbefitting of her age. She fights with experiences that haven't been taught to her. Akame doesn't act like a typical child. It is almost as if she is forcing herself to act younger. There is always a moment of discomfort when she has to do something childish.

"Could it be?" Ms. Malachites slowly piece together the clues. The idea that Akame is similar to the literal embodiment of evil or a manipulative mastermind would seem far-fetched if one of her underlings revealed the wild tale to her four years ago. But with irrefutable proof that there is more going on with the world, She has been open-minded to the idea of magic and the abstract.

One of these is the possibility of Akame being reincarnated and Raven is too blinded by pride to notice it.

Thus far, If Malachite could guess her past life, Akame is without a doubt a weary killer. The crime boss dealt with those kinds of people before and knows that either you give them peace or have them Rest In Peace.

And if you plan to kill them.

You better do it right the first time.

She isn't arrogant. Malachite knows that kindness or the illusion of one could get you further in life instead of being a cartoon villain that gets ganked by a bunch of Huntsmen-in-Training.

She saw it many times before and during the war on crime. Crime bosses and bandit leaders that rule openly with fear and intimidation find themselves to be the first to be wiped out once competent forces arrive. Raven is an exception because she simply teleports away. While those that portray themselves like the Robyn Hills, minor nuisances, honorable criminals, or community leaders are harder to catch and prosecute.

She watches as Akame drops a house-size boulder onto the head of a Goliath.

An elder Nevermore screeched at Akame only to find itself wingless and headless in an instant.

Its Grimm brethren are uncaring of its death.

A pack of Beowulf's lost its Alpha and could only look around in confusion as more of its leadership were snuffed out.

The mighty Nian Grimm, capable of turning a village into a fiery hellscape, has fear in its eyes as it is sliced open by an unstoppable force.

Ms. Malachite makes a mental note to never deal with Akame when her semblance is active.

She expects Akame to die and that is a good thing. Her health examination has revealed that the 'child' will either die of shock or become comatose as her mind and body would overload from pain and exhaustion. At the rate she's slaughtering Grimm, Akame is on the way to killing herself.

A potential but dangerous thorn would be removed.

'It's perfect!' Malachite congratulated herself. People love martyrs. Especially those that are villainous but selflessly sacrificed their lives for the good of humanity.

She wishes Akame could swear loyalty to her. That girl or woman, if the reincarnation theory is true, could bring her syndicate to becoming an empire. Only if there weren't the annoying attraction of forces beyond her reach wanting the same.

Letting her go is the best option.

Now the problem would be Raven. Luckily, She knows how to keep the bird on a lease. Besides, She is aware of the bandit queen contingency plan.

"Malachite," Akame spoke through the comms," How long has it been?"

"Two hours since landing," She reported," You're doing great, child."

"How do you know I'm making a difference? No matter how many Alpha's I kill, I see hundreds more take it place," She spoke with well-concealed despair," Are they attacking the defenses, yet?"

Malachite is at a loss of words as to why the creature of Grimm hasn't come after the encirclement yet. Even veteran Huntsmen and Military advisors are scratching their heads at the lack of activity.

"Keep killing, Akame. Your vitals are stable," She lied. Her heart rate was consistently above 200 beats per minute. Her body temperature is sitting at 46 degrees Celsius. Just the body temperature alone is enough to kill most people.

While she hasn't completely recovered from major internal injuries four days ago. That not even getting into any unseen injuries accumulated throughout the mission.

'How is this young lady not dead, yet?' She grimaced, At this rate, she's going to meet Salem first if that thing is somewhere in the horde.'

Shinigami.

Man Slayer.

Those are names given to Akame over the years as propaganda. Malachite finds it distasteful that Akame killed very few people herself, but if her theory is true. The Branwen daughter might be the most dangerous woman she ever worked with.

'Which brings up another question,' Malachite theorized,' What is her motive for throwing herself into an unwinnable situation. Akame never struck me as an idealistic hero. Even the most starry-eyed kid from the academies would never throw themselves at a horde of Grimm like this. But this young lady is too pessimistic. Could it be because she is looking for death? A fitting punishment for a killer like her? Maybe she plans to use this opportunity to kill her mother?'

The Councilwoman continues her speculation as she watches the nonstop slaughter. Then one of her men approaches her.

"Lady Malachite!" He saluted," We have received words that a small contingent of reinforcements from Beacon are arriving in 30 minutes."

"Beacon? Huh? The headmaster sending in more kids? I doubt they could make a difference," She downplayed.

"One of them is the headmaster, himself," He reported.

Malachite's body went rigid and she snapped at the poor man.

"TELL ME THE IMPORTANT PART FIRST!" She yelled, gaining the whole hub attention," Amateur! What do you think this is?! A soap opera?! Get back to your post."

She used both hands to massage her head as she whispered under her breath.

"Why can't this young lady die already."


Arthur Watts can't help but chuckle at the firewall of the command room and the easily intercepted radio signal.

"I should give Mistral some credit for choosing a trustworthy OS. The firewalls are sophisticated if I do say so myself," He watched from a Mistral passenger ship. The ship only has one passenger as it left the battlefield in a hurry," It's unfortunate that I happen to be my creations."

Watts was glad it wasn't Atlas' own system since his Black Queen virus is reserved for the Vytal Festival, seven years from now.

His queen wasn't expecting a domino effect from 'the girl with the strange soul'. When he pressed for more clarity, The Grimm Queen simply repeated the same description but reworded," She's an oddity I want investigated. That's all you need to know."

Shoving the stray thoughts aside, the decay of Mistral isn't something that was planned but can't be wasted. He made sure the connection was still strong while the ship was left on autopilot.

"Watts," A cold voice came through an earpiece," What is your progress?"

"My liege," He spoke respectfully," Everything has gone according to plan. Would you like to speak to Ms. Branwen directly?"

"Not yet," Salem answers," I would like to observe my prime recruit first. I want to see if she is deemed worthy of serving me."

"Of course my liege," He nodded," I have reserved some interesting intel that could help her join our side. I have already edited the sound bites to incriminate them."

"Go on."

"She loved a woman by the name of Martha Black more so than her own mother. Let just say, Qrow Branwen was originally using her as bait to reach our target. Love did blossom between the two but our target doesn't need to know that. And my little bug inside the armor confirms that child's murderous intent toward her mother. We already have a complacent informant. We don't need to waste resources breaking two more."

Silences bath the other end of the earpiece. Until Salem spoke with a dry tone.

"The Branwen twins will die but it will not be by our hands. Make sure to send the video of the Branwen execution to Ozpin," Salem continues," I want to continue observing her until further notice. Only a silver-eyed warrior could hope to defeat a horde this size. She is merely a gnat against my Grimm. Even then, they will never suspect what can't be seen."


Akame PoV


Kill.

Kill.

Eliminate.

Eliminate them all.

The sword that I yet to name sliced through the ranks of the Grimm.

Every single breath is another dead Grimm.

Every single blink is a Grimm fading away.

Every step is accompanied by the sound of Grimm hitting the unforgiving earth.

I look at my unnamed sword.

It buries itself into the neck of a manticore. But not before it desperately launched a fireball lighting the forest around me on fire.

The sword has markings along with its length like those on my arms.

Interesting.

Is it because I consider this sword beautiful while the rest weren't my preference? I would think this is a Teigu if I found it in my old world. The craftsmanship is near perfection.

I leaped over a Griffin and cut down an Ursus Major in mid-air.

I need to keep killing.

As long as my semblance keeps me alive.

I must kill.

"Oz, I'm telling you. If I could sweet talk this woman. We could have an informant inside the camp," A familiar voice came through the comms.

Uncle Qrow?

"Fine, I'll approve of it. I want weekly progress on your mission, Qrow," A man ordered," you must bring her to me."

"No problem, Oz."

Oz...Ozpin.

Qrow is talking to the Headmaster.

"MALACHITE!? What is this!?" I snapped. I didn't get a response.

More soundbites play in my ears. I wanted to remove my Grimm mask but I couldn't. I want to hear everything.

A wyvern the size of a small fishing boat stomp toward me.

"I made a deal with the authorities…," the soundbites skipped," I'll...turn her in…"

I cracked the wyvern skull open like a walnut.

A Grimm praying mantis stood as tall as a man. It struck at lightning speed and I countered. I ripped an entire arm off at the socket. Then I impaled it.

Sloppy.

I mentally chastised myself as I saw a small cut on my left wrist.

"...She's a criminal...That deserves...no...mercy."

My vision became black and white. It was no longer the green tint night vision from the mask. I only saw the world in black and white.

I kill.

Everything turned red.

I kill again.

Red flash before my eyes.

It got to the point that it became the only thing I see.

"Martha means...nothing...to me."

I cleaved a Beringel in half.

Uncle Qrow.

My hands shook uncontrollably.

But then clarity hit me.

These sound bites have no business being played at this moment. I still need to hear Qrow's perspective myself. Besides, No matter how I look at it, He has a hand in her death.

"Malachite? Why are you playing this?"

No responses. It was just more of the incriminating sound bites.

Is that how you want to play it? It doesn't make sense for Ozpin or Ironwood to turn against their own. Malachite specifically told me to rescue him. I doubt the tribe has the resources to hack into official government comms.

I sense more Alpha Grimm stampeding toward me.

Whoever it is, They need to try harder to get under my skin. If they want me to be angry, I'll put on a show.

"ELIMINATE!" My voice cracked.

Then my legs betrayed me.

I try moving my sword to catch myself only to find it has fallen out of my hand.

I watched helplessly as the ground raced toward me.


The timing was unfortunate for the coalition of Remnant as reports of countless settlements falling under attack. The majority of the Kingdom is besieged by wild Grimm.

But the situation started to get even worse.

The Mistral communication system shut off without warning.

Then the ground underneath them shook and parted.

In the command hub, All their computers are going haywire as countless error messages pop up.

In the confusion, Malachite stood in the command hub with a bothered expression.

"We're locked out of our computers. Someone's hacking us!"A technician reported.

"That is a minor problem," She calmly ordered," Switch to Analog Comms and shut off all digital devices."

"Why? We will no longer be able to connect to the towers or track the child," A technician questions.

"She's done for," Malachite watches as Akame collapses to her knees. Only an elbow kept her face from touching the ground," This mission was doomed to fail, but she racked up an impressive kill count. So has anyone been keeping track?"

"We don't have the exact number," a man with a white lab count nodded," But around 20,000 with most being Alphas-type Grimm in two hours with a few hundred or so in the margin of error."

Malachite internally shuddered at the numbers. She ran the math in her head.

Two hours is 120 minutes.

120 minutes is 7,200 seconds.

20,000 divided by 7,200 is...2.77 dead Grimm per second.

'Of course, her mission is suicidal. There are still a million Grimm left of lesser qualities. But by the gods, Is that girl's semblance nightmarish under the right conditions. At the very least, the Grimm aren't going to be forming coherent tactics and strategies.'

"That should buy us some time," She nodded as the real battle began outside," Retreat now and cut off all digital devices."

"But the others," the same technician quivered. As the first wave of Grimm borrowed out of the ground. The answer to why the Grimm hasn't attacked sooner was because they were busy drilling underneath them at a rate that wouldn't create any seismic activity.

"Never question my decision," She explained," I'm not going to repeat myself, Shut everything off, and get this landship moving before we become Grimm food."

'Arthur Watts, I knew you're still alive,' She schemed,' If you really died in that explosion, Why is Ironwood still alive? You were both near one another, yet, the tin man only lost half his body. While your body hasn't been found?'

There are very few people capable of breaking into a sophisticated security system that has been praised as being far better than even the Atlas military.

It has been tested time and time again as being nearly unhackable without the use of a backdoor.

'Congratulations, I just baited you with your own product,' She thought to herself as her prey had fallen into her web.

She now has knowledge that could be used against the main threats to her rule.


A musical symphony of cannons and rockets light up the night skies like fireworks but it isn't a celebration. The people of the capital city of Mistral wished it was a holiday. Instead, it's an unprecedented uprising of Grimm as it sweeps through the countryside. The worst part is that the vast majority of their Huntsmen are sent South to deal with both the Branwen tribe and recently, the Grimm Cluster. Mistral defenses are undermanned and struggling to hold off the wave of wild Grimm.

"Fall back to the inner defenses!" A city guard captain commanded," We're too spread out!"

"What about the civilians and those at Malachite residences?!" A Huntsman yelled," We can't leave them behind."

"There's nothing we can do but evacuate the outer districts," The guard captain sighed," The Councilwomen can have my head afterward. The Councilwoman huntsmen and her private security have to hold out on their own until we thin the herd."

In the skies above, A Nevermore suicide dive into a Militia airship. Meanwhile, a Geist possesses junk metal rampage through the slums. In another part of Mistral, Huntsmen are holding off all forms of reptilian and aquatic Grimm in the sewers.

Overall, It appears as if the world is ending.

At Malachite castle, a pair of twins are escorted to a panic room in the lower levels. While the Spring Maiden stares regretfully at the horizon from a balcony at the highest floor.

Nearby, A man with an old revolver watches over the puffer eyed girl.

"No sign of black feathers?...I'll just assume the worst," The man answers his disposable flip scroll," Yep, She is still here."

The man hung up and dialed another number. He then spoke in a tone similar to a telemarketer.

"Hello, Is this Ms. Reed? I'm calling to-"

"Cut the lingo, Shay," Flaxen answers from the other line," Type Caster Iri Caster."

Type Caster Iri Caster.

The Coast is Clear.

"Good, How're the White Fangs treating you?"

"Like a queen," She answered joyfully," They surely love having a serial human-killer around. Now, what are you calling about?"

"We need you to help us convince Vernal. Raven hasn't come back yet and we could assume she's died," He asked," Aoi and the top lieutenants have given the green light for the boss' contingency mission. We're about to deal a blow to our enemies while the academy is vacant."

"I see?" She questions," We're stealing that lamp now? Alright, Just make such Vernal arrive here safely. Big sis misses her."

"As her uncle, I got this," Shady Man grinned proudly.

"No, You don't. Bring your ass separately and let trained pros handle it," Flaxen deadpanned," Hand her the scroll. I'll try to convince her."

Vernal averted her eyes from the battle.

Shay D. Mann. The self-proclaimed uncle is far from a proper role model when he isn't pretending to be suave and professional in Malachite castle. He approaches her with a box, his flip scroll, and presents them to her.

"You're big sis would like to speak to you," He smiles and walks back," It's about one more favor."

The Spring Maiden formed a sharp shard made of ice on her index finger and cut open the box. She looked inside and was stunned by what she found.

"Is this…"

"Yup," Shay placed a Grimm mask over his face.

Vernal put the scroll to her ear. She gulped as she waited for Flax to speak first.

"Listen, I'm on a secure line. People are dying right and left, Little sis. Malachite has betrayed us. She sends Akame to her death and uses Raven as bait. She has been using us to gain more power," Flaxen listed out," The Tribe is being recalled to strengthen our Southern domain. While our enemies are busy, We'll build our defenses and worm our way into their ranks. But we won't survive once the Grimm is defeated. Vernal, I'm asking you to help us fight."

"W-what?" Vernal paled.

The spring maiden couldn't process the request.

" You're a good kid, but the world doesn't care unless you could stand your ground," Flax announces.

" I don't want to fight," the spring maiden voice shooked," I would rather die on my own terms!"

"Vernal! Never speak like that again!" Flax explains," I know you want none of this, but you will have no one left to protect you. Akame and Umber may as well be dead while the twins would listen to their mother. And if I recall, Malachite always hated you. I doubt the Academies would welcome a rogue maiden, and the Grimm Queen would love to tear your powers away. Help the tribe, and they will do the same for you. At the very least, do it for me. Your odds of survival in this world is low if you stand alone."

Vernal recalled her actions onboard the Atlesian airship. She abandoned Akame and Umber because she didn't want to commit any bad deeds. But She regrets it now. She learns the truth of her purpose and wants none of it. Vernal wants to live a mundane life, but it won't be long until either Ozpin or Salem finds her.

" Will the tribe really protect me?" Verbal questions. She has been lied to before. Raven tricked her into thinking Akame and Umber had been executed by Atlas.

Now they may be dead this time. Vernal closest friends are the farthest away for her to save. It made it all the more difficult as the creature of Grimm swarmed the countryside.

"If you are willing to do the same for them," She responds, " You're literally a force of nature. Might means right to them and pure power is what you have."

"My powers," Vernal flexed a hand as fire appeared at her fingertips.

"You have to become the wrath of nature," Flaxen proclaimed," If you want to live life the way you like, You must fight against the world itself."

"What do you want me to do first?"

"We have Tribe members in Mistral," She planned," Do everything you can to get to the entrance Haven. We will steal the relic of Knowledge and use it to turn the tide."

Vernal hands trembled as she looked at the mask until it finally stopped.

" I will get the peace I deserve," She spoke with determination," I'll do it."


A/N: I certainly had fun mapping out all my OC's and their flaws. For example, If Martha has lived she would be the best-case outcome. She would take the motherly role of Akame, Ruby, Yang, and MERCURY while healing Qrow own heart. Ruby would've been an unstoppable sniper and Akame would have gone to Beacon. Killing her off was the best choice.

The next story beats would best be described as the Remnant version of China's civil war or Hinowa ga Crush, the AgK Sequel, with a dash of Far Cry.

I will admit I need to work on my fights scene more. I plan for certain future fights to be emotionally impactful And I need to get it right.

Read Review because it just turn midnight and I can't wait to post this already.