I swear I named that last chapter when I sent it out, some warp fuckery… Fixed now.
Shamelessly timing with the next RWBY episode, or in other words I might have gotten this out sooner if Lord Nurgle did not see fit to make me his emissary on my return to college,
Never mind… any who
Well, I do like to think that this story got better as it went along, but the same could always be said of being boiled alive. (I think might be the quote, thanks Yahtzee.)
So I'm gonna go back and re-write the initiation chapters soon. And one other thing (not a redo) that I just figure must be a must since I can never seem to remember to really check these chapters for typos when I get into the flow.
If any of you amazing people here might happen to be a beta reader and have mildly enjoyed this so far I would like to have a word with you about acquiring some assistance.
Well… I wouldn't say don't despair as you haven't seen what I've left you with in this latest bit. Hang in there I need time to plan anyway.
And I'll just sit here chuckling waiting reactions.
It was dark out,
But it always seemed to be dark out during the season of storms in Mistral Cinder admitted to herself.
However the lack of light was also due to the plain old spin of Remnant sending the sun retreating behind the horizon.
It had been a long day any way. Long but productive. The local police would be finding the bodies of several known petty hate mongers very soon. Suitably arranged not to link any forensic evidence back to her people. And have the deed simple enough not to leave any lasting impression on the memories of the city.
But she would remember it certainly. One more step on the road to revolution and securing the support of the White Fang. Plus a chance for her trainees to prove their mettle. And ultimately be outshone by their latest member. A recurring trend.
Cinder noted she was spending a lot of time in warehouses like this. Gone were the days of expensive log cabins in Atlas, and high class hotels in Vale. She had a very strong suspicion they were finally being hunted. So their already low profile had to sink even lower.
Luckily her other allies had plenty of experience moving beneath the radar, as did she. And this location proved adequate enough.
Her high heels clinked on the woven metal grating of the stairs as the red dressed pyromancer stepped up to the little office she had been using here. Taking a moment to look one last time at her three pupils.
Kad was the easiest to see with his jacket almost glowing in the dark. Leaning back in a corner sleeping soundly with his chin tucked to his chest. Quite a rare sight,
As she was sure the growing boy hadn't slept here in almost two weeks. Or at all for that matter. Spending the days and nights when he wasn't directly needed or expected, scrambling over the roof tops of downtown.
Emerald was curled up with her back on his right arm, sound asleep as was Mercury who was a few meters away flat on his side up on a window ledge facing out.
"It's almost cute…"
Cinder turned in the direction of the male voice in the shadows. Her contact was leaning back in an old wooden chair close to the desk. She smiled at the man.
He wore a cheap black suit beneath his long grey coat disguising his build but not his almost towering height. The man removed his pointed wide brimmed hat as well, exposing his bald head. He set the article down next to the brown wrapped package on the desk to his left.
"Everything is relative," Cinder said.
He laughed quietly, "Here it is."
Cinder took a seat behind the old metal furnishing slid the heavy parcel close then began to untie the cords.
"I trust your funds arrived?" She asked him.
"Yes…" He nodded, "And you're lucky that I still owed your dearly departed cousin one. These high end thefts usually…"
"Thank you Alev," Cinder interrupted, her tone absolute. This was worth any price, "I assume you've read this?"
"I took a peek," He replied.
"And…" Cinder asked.
"I assume even if I do get an answer, it's only going to be in more half-truths and whispers?"
"You know me all too well…"
"Ain't that the truth."
Finally she smoothed down the last of the packaging and took a look at the blank tooled leather cover of the book.
"Interesting subject," Alev said.
Cinder nodded, "Crazy people usually are."
He chuckled and Cinder opened up to the first few pages. Taking in the writings of a scientist five hundred years in the grave. Ranting about something that finally came into his possession after a lifetime of searching.
She could sympathize.
Alev looked out the window, "I wouldn't have bet you'd start collecting strays like this."
"They have their uses," Cinder told him, "Some more than others."
"Where'd you find this last one?"
"He fell out of the sky…"
That made the dark man blink a little bit, "…Come on, really?"
"Yes," Cinder confirmed without even looking up from her book.
Still Alev wasn't convinced, "And that's supposed to mean?"
"A great many things," She said flipping through more pages.
"Oh right I get it… You're pulling my leg," He threw up his hands in halfhearted exasperation. "No that's fine. Always knew that no one…"
Cinder closed the book and looked straight into his eyes, "You should know better, I never joke."
She took a deep breath, "Do you like fables?"
"Not particularly," Alev answered after a second, "All those legends and fairy tales… Really unbelievable crap."
Cinder smiled, "Yes, but I deal in legends and the unbelievable. So it pays to keep an open mind."
She slid the book closer to him, "I sent you to look for evidence of the unbelievable… I'm sure you've heard a few tales of… certain things."
"I hear a lot of things. You're going to have to be specific."
"The two brothers… The girl in the tower… The shallow sea…"
"Aye," He nodded.
"I'm talking about older."
"Older?"
"The myths in the legends of those… Fairy tales."
Cinder continued, "The star born… Old Night…"
He narrowed his eyes just a little while trying to think, "I don't understand?"
"Tales that point to a different origin… Things in our not really history that say we weren't born from Dust, we came from the sky."
Alev frowned, "From… The sky…"
Cinder nodded again, "Soaring on waves of fire… The ancient giants rode the heavens and fell to the Dust from which we came… Just like Kad…"
Curious now Alev sat up and forward, folding his hands on top of the desk.
"Two years ago," Cinder began, "I was negotiating with key people in the Atlas highlands. It was night and I saw a borealis shoot a flaming meteor down to Remnant."
She shifted looking out the window, "Low and behold a few days later my apprentices brought someone with them out of the wild."
"Right…" Alev nodded, still suspicious.
"I didn't know what to think… He was clueless. Like a baby, couldn't talk barely knew anything but damn he was quick. Spoke almost fluently in less than a day… Then he told me what he did know."
"Which was?"
Cinder paused to think, "Very hard to believe…"
"You're telling me…" Alev huffed,
"A pod, somethings that sounded like scientists. A fire… Falling from the sky…"
"Still could mean anything…" He said, "I heard rumors about Atlas experimenting with growing soldiers… Maybe he escaped from them, and is just a little crazy. Air transport went down and-"
"He showed me the pod Alev."
The man stopped and blinked, waiting for Cinder to continue.
She sighed, "Believe me when I say… That was not built on Remnant."
Alev took a deep breath and ran a hand over his scalp as he leaned back digesting this story.
"One person's story doesn't make any of whatever you're saying true…" He said. "There are enough secrets on Remnant as it is without looking up."
"Indeed…" Cinder agreed, "I've spent a life time looking for power in the past. I know what I'm saying. And I've thought about this… Quite a lot."
"So how did you hook your claws into him anyway?"
"He wanted to help."
"He... wanted to help?" Alev repeated, like he just couldn't believe her.
Cinder nodded, "He has a noble streak in him. Very useful… And rather charming." She added with half a smile.
"But you told him everything?" Alev asked.
She nodded again, and the man continued shaking his head. "Doesn't make sense for the good hearted sort."
"It doesn't matter." Cinder said, "He understands what needs to be done to change the world. I have plans for a hero."
"Not you?" He replied cocking an eyebrow.
"No…"
"How hopelessly noble."
The two sat looking at each other for another moment. Listening to the wind on the dirty window panes. And the muffled sound of the city just behind their walls.
Finally Alev spoke, "And why are you telling me this?"
Cinder shrugged slightly, "Maybe just to see your reaction old friend. Maybe just to hear myself explain it, and besides," She added, "You're going to drop off the face of the planet soon, so what does it matter?"
"Suppose so," He said standing up and taking back his hat. "Healthy choice, considering what I know you're up to…"
"You've always been pragmatic," Cinder told him.
He nodded, "I'll take that as a compliment. Old age and rebels don't mix well."
"You've earned your retirement at least," She said before turning back to her book.
As Alev walked over to the door he turned back one last time, "Well… As one of the few old and wise people in a dangerous trade Cinder a little word if you still care."
She looked up. And Alev met her piercing gaze one last time, "Just remember what they say about playing with fire."
Vale was burning.
The Grimm past the wall didn't seem to mind, rushing through the empty streets silhouetted by the tongues of fire heading south. Killing everyone they came across. Forcing the fleeing people into choke points and painting the narrow walls red with blood.
But no one was helplessly baring their necks and accepting their doom. Many fought to the dark and bitter end.
They had been so close, this group huddled in some old dark space between buildings. Fifty men, women and children had some-how coalesced together in their rush for the south and safety. But there was nothing they could do now.
Another Ursa Major squeezed its broad frame into the alley way. The spikes on its arms almost scraping the brickwork on either side, sealing the civilians into this dead end.
Parents shielded their children's eyes clutching them close. Arms were raised out front with screams of either terror or bloody defiance at their cruel fate.
A shadow crossed the sun.
The Grimm was too focused on its prey to look up, and the cloaked figure fell on the beast.
His hands went for the neck, gripping close to its jaw bone. The Ursa staggered brought down by the sudden weight. Its moan of surprise died swiftly as the stranger twisted and snapped the Grimm's thick spine as he landed.
More Grimm behind the twisted bear shuffled and snarled in confusion before rushing forward once again in hateful realization. The stranger stood tall effortlessly shrugging the dead carcass aside.
His bare hands came up and met the Grimm, howling and snapping jagged teeth once again. Left hand closing on a wrist as he stepped and ducked forward pushing the Grimm with its own force into the brick wall up over his head to the right. Cracking both white spikes and masonry.
The beasts tripped over themselves trying to close the distance. Desperate to wet their fangs and claws with blood.
The tall stranger raised his right hand and spoke.
+ Be Gone! +
Light flashed from his palm. The air and walls trembled at his touch. All the people behind him ducked and shielded their eyes. Those who had ever felt an aura even in passing were now pained by that very sense in this presence.
When they lowered their arms and blinked away the spots from their eyes. Nothing remained for the monsters. Just wisps of vapor trailing up from the heated concrete.
The stranger turned. Settling his long grey cloak back down over his loose tan clothing.
Even the people closest to him could barely make out his features. Just the thick flowing black hair running down on his head and pale skin. But none could tell whether he was young, old or ageless.
He spoke in a deep commanding baritone, "Come now, there is no time to waste."
Taking quick steps towards them and reaching down to start hauling them to their feet, "You must move quickly. Keep moving south and you will find sanctuary."
His words were calm and collected. The rag tag group spurred to their purpose quickly moved around the tall stranger. Laggards being pulled to their feet and dragged along as they stepped back out into the streets.
As the last rounded the corner the man threw his hood back up. Cloaked once again he disappeared across the empty road looking for a way up to the roofs.
If the bodies of the Grimm actually stuck around they would have blocked off the streets with walls of corpses by now. There was a constant thick cloud of smoke floating up into the air as the battle raged on in front of the stadium.
Grimm were pulled down by dozens of strong arms. Blades of every imaginable variety hacked, cut, stabbed and bit deep into the monsters. Flashes of light followed the edged metal from aura flowing through weapons.
The Hunters at the back sending a constant stream of lead and energy beams into the horde. The better shots keeping the flying Grimm at bay, showing how easy a target a dive bombing Griffon or Lancer could be.
Shots either superbly aimed or extremely lucky struck the larger Grimm and managed to do more than annoy them. Eyes burst, and bullets tore through thin skin and fur effectively crippling the demi giants.
Rare flashes of ethereal light burst in their line. Trainees making use of some of their more offensive semblances. Tearing Grimm into shreds with pulses of light and energy. Blinking away from the jagged claws and returning to strike again.
Whirlwinds of Dust horded for the extreme swallowed many creatures. Precision bolts flew out at the bigger monsters. But they couldn't stop all in the Daemons mad berserker rush at the defenders.
Rather than try and brute force stop a charging Grimm some trainees would side step and open a hole in their line. The beasts passed harmlessly through. And now surrounded on all sides they were quickly swarmed and hacked down.
Jaune almost tripped over his own feet doing this, backing away and under the murderous swipe of an Alpha Beowolf. Leaving him completely off balance and a likely target for one of the pack following its leader into the fray.
It leapt at his shield and left side. Jaune was halfway into position to raise his sword and let the Grimm impale itself. But the steel point met only smoke when another gunshot rang out and the wolf disappeared as Pyrrha's rifle bullet tore through an eye and out the back of its skull.
It was barely even half a second, but Jaune managed to meet her emerald eyes and smile in thanks before spinning around looking over the top of his shield.
The usefulness of which he was suddenly reconsidering as he saw a giant Nevermore dive below the buildings and race seemingly straight for him.
Its black wings shattered windows with each beat of thunder at the head of another wave. The great bird blurred towards him, screaming and opening its beak to swallow him whole.
The Daemon's scream turned to a squawk when a length of black chain flashed and wrapped around its neck. Pulling the Grimm down into the black road.
Hard.
Thick feathers and corded muscles plowed up a furrow in the asphalt pockmarked by ten thousand claws already. The Grimm flipped and rolled with a rocky debris shower. The white head beat against the ground while the Grimm tried to stand. Red eyes looked up once to see its doom coming down. A young Huntsman rushed forward and buried his twin axes into its eyes.
More Grimm poured around the yet to dissolve bird.
Crocea Mors swung up digging into the ribs of a Creep. The little Grimm jumped and bit at the steel. Jaune stepped punching his shield already looking for another target.
The whole line was falling apart. Over eager students pushing forward moving to meet the Daemons, howling and thirsting for blood.
His sword was a wave of fire cutting through air and monster with equal ease.
Smoke from the Daemons and the extra Dust poured on the blade filled the air as he fought. The red sword slicing down Grimm after Grimm, after Grimm. Three, six, more and more with every pass it barely slowed.
Kad's clear tone cut through the chaos and noise, "Form ranks! Hold them back!"
The Nevermore reared back howling in pain, blinded and angry its wings started to flail. One sweep beat down and knocked over Grimm and hunters alike. Its unchecked spasms causing more harm than anything else on the field so far.
Kad moved closer, turning to look at those behind him. His vibrant gaze singled out his partner Alicia. Standing with the majority of Dust users that had merged together.
The giant pointed back to her with Ignis and then up to the Nevermore still struggling.
"Bring it down! Now!"
His sword swung up then down cleaving the bird's stomach wide open as a shower of Dust bolts flew and burst upon the white bone mask. It died in an instant, and Kad pushed through the smoke towards the Grimm red blade at the ready.
Slashing up through the forest of legs and shorter Grimm. Up past his shoulder, casually cutting a Griffon in two.
Down on his other side, cutting across at his shoulders, never wanting for a target. Never pausing in his wrath.
He spun the black wrapped hilt on his palm and around his fingers. Ignis never slowed for more than the millisecond it took to slice through a body. Or snag in the many, many spikes that adorned the bodies of his enemy before they shimmered and vaporized, dead.
The light of his sword reflected off his coat and in the shimmering flames gathered around the Huntsman's blazing aura. His shouts and roars of challenge lost in the maelstrom of sound.
Chopping down, striking forward every movement lethally made with a fluid and brutal economy of strength. Killing with every step. The world in slow motion as he danced to song of slaughter and battle like some ancient god of war.
"Kad! Get back here maniac!"
He spared one glance over his shoulder at the familiar voice.
Co'Balt grunted and blocked another Ursa paw with the shaft of Keila his ax. The shotgun was empty already, and the barrel scorched his fingertips as he swung wide. Cutting the legs out from under another Beowolf.
The Grimm were already spreading trying to work around the flanks of the young fighters massed at the stadium steps.
The bull Faunus fought back to back with the shirtless Hunter who had taken the Nevermore's eyes swinging two short black axes. Calling out and mocking the beasts as they reached for him to. Swinging in quick short motions, cutting with the round blades and bashing on the backswings with the blocky ends.
Igins came up again.
Letting an Ursa Major barrel forwards under his guard and tackled the young Primarch back.
Kad's head cracked against the sidewalk running the right side of this choke point street. His aura dropped and the paved edge crumbled. But he was luckier not to have been impaled by the white spikes.
Time seemed to slow.
He bucked his hips and bent his knees back. The Ursa's own momentum helped Kad send the Grimm rolling back into a store front behind them. Shattering the massive glass façade.
Blood rushed to his ears when he stood. But the red mist over his senses cleared. Letting the giant build a mental picture again of the mayhem.
Hunters clustered together. More hindered then helpful. This was not how they fought, packed together with no room to maneuver.
Counting the thrusts through the streets by the Grimm.
Voices.
Kad frowned focusing his super human hearing… Voices not from the fighting behind him. Farther, to the north.
All in a panic.
Grimm turned to the voices. Hungry howls filled the air.
People…
Kad saw them. Up the street, trying to double back but realizing too late they were surrounded. The only thing stopping the Grimm from devouring them all were their kindred already feasting, refusing to move out of the way.
It was closer then he realized back to the massed students. His voice easily reached all ears listening. First he swung Ignis to those in dire need ahead of them. Looking straight at Co'Balt and the scarred boy beside him.
The two took one glance and nodded in understanding reloading their weapons on the run.
Kad swept over all the faces. Picking out those he recognized while shouting out again.
"Spread out! Block them off! Spread out!"
Cardin locked eyes with him. Kad pointed to the east, knifing the fingers of his empty hand in emphasis. The tall ginger nodded, calling to his teammates and heading out at the front of this pack gathered behind them.
The giant could see others heading in the opposite direction, he looked down to a handful out of those still standing at the stadium front.
"Follow me!"
The stranger had lied. There was no sanctuary…
There were only more monsters and death to the south.
And they were trapped.
People reached down for bits of rock, wood and other broken things. Throwing them at the monsters devouring their neighbors, friends and family. The weak projectiles only bounced off their hides. Drawing the Grimm's attention down on them.
One scorpion Deathstalker brutally smashed an Ursa and the red mass in its mouth aside. Twitching its mandibles and reaching for prey.
A different roar washed over the scene.
From the wild screaming rush of young students charging in.
The shirtless axe wielder Roland slid to his knees. Clapping the hilts of his weapons together, half a second later after a twist of his wrists the young hunter was holding a grenade launcher. Explosives burst against the wall of Grimm. Shaking and blowing dark creatures to bits.
To his right, another slid bringing his unusual weapon up to his lips. One gloved hand on the tubes of Dust pushing buttons.
An ear shattering blast of high brassy noise filled the air. Waves of sonic energy crashed on the Grimm. Even the giants staggered and shook their heads at the painful noise. Fire and flame were swept up, the sticky bits of fire clung to fur and spread through the horde.
Co'Balt pulsed his speed semblance and jumped up at an Ursa Major. Breaking teeth and stunning the bear with one swift kick. The Faunus planted his boots on one thick arm, shifting and twisting looking for balance. Until he jumped again and swung his ax down splitting the beast's skull in two.
Hunters moved, striking low drawing attention away from the civilians. The Deathstalker reached out. Its intended target crouched cowering and screamed waiting for the crushing claws to envelope him.
A giant hand fell on his shoulder pushing him back.
Kad almost dislocated the man's shoulder but he would live. And forever remember this day when he saw the giant and his flaming sword jump and twist himself over the Grimm's right claw. Swing and bury the red blade deep in the back of the Deathstalker.
It hissed and tried to turn and face the Primarch. Kad's boots hit the ground and he gripped Ignis tight in both hands. The sword slid through the corporeal shadow until the razor edge pressed up against an armored plate that it could not slice through.
Still the giant moved. The Deatstalker began to rise. First its' many front legs, before long the beast was bent backwards about to snap in half. With Kad screaming in exertion, the scorpion left the ground, flipped over Kad's head by his titanic strength and smahsed into one of its kin pushing forward. The body burst into smoke on impact stunning the other Grimm.
The giant turned to the remaining civilians.
"Go!" He shouted pointing to the stadium.
The last of the civilians finally broke contact running for safety. Again the thuds and clash of metal on bone and black flesh echoed through the buildings, punctuated by blasts of gunfire.
Ignis cut through the thick skull of the Deathstalker in one upward swing.
Keila bit down on outstretched limbs. Bullets shredded the smaller Beowolves and Creeps. Kad only glimpsed the colorful blur of some other Faunus skating through the beasts and leaving frozen arms, legs, tails and wings in her wake. More explosive grenades arched over the fighter's heads. And the other dark skinned Atlesian youth walked up preparing his weapon.
The battle clamor died in the deafening crack beneath their feet. The five of them felt the ground shift, and rise the sink down in a small earthquake. Grimm backed away growling at the cracks like veins shooting beneath them all.
A single rift split the middle of the street with a skull shaking crunch, the dawning realization hit all the Hunters present a moment too late.
Kad could hear hundreds of claws scraping against the rock below them. And the deep hiss floating up from the void with the haze of dirt and dust. The ground shook. And the road collapsed into the dark below.
The Hunters fell.
One giant snake shot up from the ground. Rearing up into the blue sky above them. Dozens and dozens of Creeps and other smaller Taijitu swarmed out of the broken pipes and tunnels in a writhing black mass right towards the group coming to their feet in the shallow jagged trench.
Flynt raised his weapon to try and save Neon, who was shrieking and being dragged down into the deep by a dozen Creeps and snakes. One sonic blast rang out before a Taijitu lunged and swallowed his trumpet and forearms, fangs biting through his aura and skin making the poor boy yell in pain.
Kad reached for his knife. Batting the little two legged reptiles away. Ignis was pinned on his right side, awkwardly trapped between both his leg and slabs of ruined concrete. Grimm on the surface began to jump down.
A Beowolf fell howling sank its claws through Flynt's black vest and chest around the snake twisting and ripping through flesh with ivory fangs.
Kad gutted a wolf with a backhand slash. Moving to try and rescue Flynt. Co'Balt and Auburn backed away shooting at the looming creatures. Climbing back up the rocky slope that had formed behind them.
The light disappeared from the trench.
The King Taijitu swung its serpent body back down, crushing Kad and Flynt against the rocky walls along with all the creatures surrounding them.
Kad no longer felt the warmth of his soul shielding being crushed against the unyielding rock cutting into his face and chest. The giant filled his lungs back up in one deep gasp when the snake pulled up to strike again.
He roared raising the flaming sword. The giant snake balked recognizing the ploy. Tongue flicking out scenting the air and adjusting its strategy.
A whistle sang out down the road. Quickly followed by a single grenade right at the snake's white bone head.
The blast wasn't fatal merely angering. But it made an opening.
Kad stepped and sent his chain sailing up out of the pit. Rings of steel curled around the scaly neck and the giant reeled the Grimm down one handed like a fish on a line.
Choked gurgles spilled from its mouth. Kad dropped his sword and when it finally came close enough Kad sank his thumbs into the burning red eyes, gripping the Grimm's skull tight. The mask cracked and began to break under his unyielding grip. Flexing, pushing, and finally ripping the car sized head in two.
High above the scene, a single man nodded slightly at the raw display of courage. Standing in the shadows, cloaked in more ways than mere concealment to the bare mortal eye.
He had arrived.
And the stranger wished to know of the great champion he found.
And so devised a plan to test a measure of the giant.
Kad had abandoned a superior position and sound strategy to try and keep a few more lives from being snuffed out by the darkness. Heedless of his own life he charged headlong against the monsters.
Several blocks away He watched the Primarch climb from the pit, pushing himself up with his great sword. Grimm hot on his heels the giant smashed open a little store front and retrieved a handful of small crystals from its showcase. His semblance spat fire from his palms and pulverized Dust when he turned. Immolating the Daemon's charge,
The stranger was pleased, and He couldn't help but smile to himself.
"Well done my son."