The assault on Sun's ears just refused to end today. Noise was everywhere.
The unending howls of hunger and hate from the Grimm horde and the hundred thousand different tones of violence happening all around his team. Plus the constant ringing in his ears as he went through nearly his entire supply of ammunition.
The Faunus jabbed out pushing away the monsters, smashing the bow staff down into legs. Up into the opening slavering maws of teeth. Shotgun blasts sending the monster down dead in puffs of darkness and shadow.
"On your left Sun!"
And the gun that went off directly next to his head which drowned out the whole noisy storm. Scarlet's warning proved unnecessary. After the red haired boy put one of his precious few bullets between the glowing red eyes of the Beowolf reaching for his leader.
The Grimm were spreading them thin. Too many bodies already lay on the steps of the stadium. And the giant Goliaths hadn't even shown their faces yet. To busy rampaging through the city north.
Sun hoped there was a plan.
Qrow was desperately trying to think of a plan.
After watching Kad rush to the south and doing a quick sweep around the destroyed police station Qrow got to work. With one eye on the sky and one on the streets around him.
Forty minutes and more broken fingernails then he cared to count later the scythe master had finally managed to drag a half conscious Professor Ozpin out from the pile of rubble. Moments before more Grimm arrived and gave chase.
Luckily the beasts had been drawn away before their short running battle could take any unfortunate turns. The creatures lost interest and rushed to the south, hunting for more tempting prey. Letting the ever calm Qrow carry Ozpin into an abandoned apartment complex to hide and take stock.
Doors were open everywhere leaving him carte blanche in picking shelter, but he was mindful of the spreading fires. So he set Ozpin down as gently as he could in a black leather recliner and began ransacking the drab painted rooms for supplies and bandages.
The headmaster's wheezing breath was giving him concern, but Qrow knew that the old man had worse in his life. He couldn't find any painkillers, or the thousand other drugs that a real doctor probably would have started giving Ozpin right now. So he settled for tearing a few sturdy linens into bandages and getting Ozpin to lean up so he could wrap his chest and set any broken bones right.
Once Ozpin was leaning back staring at the ceiling coming down from his borderline shock attack Qrow set to looking for any type of signal sticking his scroll next to windows looking on the city.
As well as making sure they weren't in immediate life threatening danger.
Ozpin had been slipping in and out of consciousness for some time. But the sound of hurried boots and the sight of Qrow rushing back through the living room finally snapped him out of the haze.
"What… Has… Happened…" Ozpin wheezed through clenched teeth.
Qrow ignored him. The old headmaster's eyebrows went up when sounds of breaking glass and general vandalism answered.
"No signal from the CCT," The younger man mused.
"Qrow…" Ozpin tried to raise his voice in demand.
"What was that law you told me?" Qrow asked him, "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong?"
The headmaster grumbled under his breath, suddenly struck by a coughing fit. Qrow walked in from an adjacent room and knelt beside him on the hardwood floor. Waiting for Ozpin to stop and look up.
"The Grimm are in the city. You got blown up, and now here we are," Qrow told him.
"Ironwood?" Ozpin gasped.
"I don't know. All the cruisers either went down or got outta dodge. Heard lot of chaos coming from some kind of fight."
Ozpin groaned in pain and sat back in the chair, on the verge of passing out again. Qrow shook his arm.
"Listen… Oz. There was something else."
He managed to look up at his old friend. Qrow continued.
"In the station, after it got destroyed. There… I don't know. There was some type of new Grimm."
"New?"
"Yeah…" Qrow replied, reaching behind his back for the familiar flask of alcohol. "But… Huh," He laughed once, "But you're never gonna believe me."
"What Qrow?"
"They had weapons… They talked."
Ozpin sat up, pushing through the pain looking at his friend and colleague.
"Yeah…" Qrow nodded taking a deep pull from the flask, "Spoke some cryptic doom crap and then disappeared in a fire ball after we killed em."
Ozpin was at a loss for words, Qrow sighed and stood again. Heading back to resume his attempt to find a good spot to call from.
"Anyway," He said back to Ozpin. "Nothing's looking up. And we need to find out what's going on. See who's fighting back."
Ozpin had his chin on the knuckles of his left hand deep in thought. Qrow walked back into the room, drawn by the silence.
"Hey!" He half shouted, concern plain on his face.
"Call Glynda," The headmaster told him, "We have to move quickly."
"Didn't you hear me?" Qrow asked, "No sig-"
"Use the short range radio," Ozpin said, "Let's just hope she's not too busy."
The streets burst again.
Concrete and asphalt flew into the sky, thrown up by the bone white heads of the King Taijitu's pushing up at all the major street junctions. Hunters were suddenly separated from the main group, caught between the advancing Grimm and the massive serpents twisting their sinewy necks high above the buildings. Tongues flicking out, scenting for prey while more Creeps, and Snakes pulled themselves out of these new holes.
"Forth route! To the right!"
Time, and time again Kad's deep roaring voice cut through the chaos guiding the stadiums defense. Shifting Huntsmen, and Huntresses, sending blades to the weakening zones. Directing fire and Dust to greater effect.
He had been dividing and mapping out key points of the battle in his mind. Everyone quickly learned what his calls meant for them.
Kad sensed the whole flow and weave of carnage and slaughter.
And his heart sank every time he heard the final cries of another student killed by the Daemons.
Ignis, still sharp as ever, slashed through the armored scales. But the moving snake was barely slowed. Crashing through another crumbling building, heading east to their weakening flank. Once again the chain around his waist sailed out and wrapped around its throat. Kad set his feet and pulled back with all his might both hands wrapped in a death grip around the chain and sword.
The head bent back, snapping and hissing precious air out from its mouth through its strangled throat. The rapid clicks of a Dust cylinder drew his eyes up and open. Kad saw his partner Alicia spinning Detergeo up shouting as she moved.
Her arm flicked forward, and three bolts of Dust burst to life and sped forward. Spinning and twirling together into one mass in the air. Out and down the Taijitu's throat.
Fire ran down its body. Burning smoke and flesh alike, Kad's chain fell to the ground the far end glowing orange and bright. Air hissed and split when he turned. Swinging down at the Gimm beyond, swarming two Hunter teams.
An Ursa reared and roared, its fur burning and steaming from the red hot chain wrapped around its' bulky form. The beast disappeared in a flash when Kad pulled back whipping his chain through the Grimm. More burst into smoke and died while others were merely cast to the ground.
But it was opening enough.
Cardin brought his hand up and whistled. Waving his mace to signal retreat.
One Ursa knocked down by Kad reached up from its prone position. Cardin's back hand strike shattered the paw, and the return swing pulped its head. His team easily made the jump over the new gap, as did two of the surviving students they had stood with.
But the third fell short.
His chest pushed against the broken edge, fingers desperately trying to find purchase. Cardin's teammate Dove slid close and stretched out his hand.
Their fingers almost met.
And then the boy was pulled down by a Creep. Its jaws closing on an ankle and ripping him into the mass of creatures.
His scream of surprise and terrified pain was muffled beneath the sounds of all the Grimm spilling up from the dark. Dove pointed his sword and fired into the black, but the small caliber rounds only annoyed the Daemons.
More leapt up,
And crashed into the red glyph Alicia Redstone had conjured in front of him.
The beasts were only stunned for a moment squirming around the barrier of hardened light. Dove looked back to his savior. Alicia curled her hand then called out to him,
"Jump!"
He saw her plan. And when the swirling barrier of light began to move Dove kicked his knees up to his chest and pushed off.
He flipped and soared through the air, landing directly in the shadow of the giant form of Kad.
The Primarch raised his boot and slammed it down on the broken road.
More cracks appeared. A massive slab broke off and crashed down on the black horde scrambling up, crushing a dozen monsters. Dust bolts and glowing tracers flew down, thinning the Grimm. And Kad raised up his right hand.
Holding the blue ice crystal he had looted from the store.
Powerful fingers crushed the elemental crystal, and his semblance flowed. Grimm were either frozen in place or sent flying from the force of the blast when the ball of ice struck in their midst and sealed the tunnel they poured out. The moans of more dying Taijitu hit their ears moments later. But Kad knew they had to move fast.
Out to the west another Snake burst from the ground. But this time nothing was between the giant Grimm and the almost unprotected stadium where they had been corralling the helpless citizens.
Virtually defenseless, or so Kad thought,
Purple bolts sailed up, cast by someone behind the curve of the stadium out of sight. The Daemon shook and hissed showered by sparks. Lunging down at its attacker.
Professor Goodwitch swept her crop up, a ripple of light burst on the snake's red eyes. Sending the head crashing into the stadium wall. Rocks crumbled and fell from the wall as the snake righted itself and roared at the teacher.
She was not afraid,
One commanding male voice shouted from behind her,
"First rank, Fire!"
Dozens of Dust carbines barked and spat their super-heated ammunition at the colossal Grimm. It shook and roared but the weapons had little effect on the Grimm. The teacher pushed her glasses back into place and rotated her arm.
Debris around her feet glowed and started to shake. She brought her arm back and then pointed with her empty hand. The aura touched splinters around her spun together into a javelin form.
The Grimm roared again,
And Professor Goodwitch sent the spike spiraling into its open maw and out the back of its neck.
Kad couldn't believe it,
Hundreds of armed civilians led by a cohort of Atlas soldiers were marching forward. Coming around both sides of the stadium. The lead officer followed Professor Goodwitch towards the little group of young Hunters.
Students parted around them, and the soldier spoke, "Who's in charge here?"
"Me."
Kad's boots thudded down on the concrete steps. The soldier took an involuntary step back. If the giant had ever been intimidating before, the time spent in the crush of battle had certainly given enhanced his character.
Covered in dirt and dust, dried blood on his head from a pressure cut on his scalp, and a bruise on his right cheek from when the Taijitu had tried to smash him down in the hole. Sweat cutting streaks through the grime. Plus the red sword in his right hand, and the sparking chain dragging on the ground in the other.
The Primarch loomed over the soldier, "Where'd you come from?"
The man swallowed quickly, "We rounded up what Atlas regulars we could. Then broke into the emergency weapons stash at the council chambers. Civilians started showing up, we armed those that wanted to fight and marched here double quick."
His faceless helmet turned to track the students pulling back in this unexpected lull of combat. Troopers and civilians walked out, heading to help some of those students struggling to walk up and away from the front lines.
Kad looked down again, turning to Professor Goodwitch,
"We sure could use your help..." He said with a tired smile.
The humbled and slightly intimidated Atlas soldier assumed he was being addressed, stepping forward and raising his rifle up to ready, "We await your orders… Lord…"
The students around them shifted, puzzled by the soldiers choice of words. None more so then Kad himself however. The giant spoke quickly, "Spread out."
He turned pointing with Ignis, "We've got them coming into bottle necks. Stop them from spreading any further south."
The soldier nodded. Turning and circling a hand above his head to signal his troops.
Kad didn't want to acknowledge the little spark of hope that took away some of the tightness from his chest with these unexpected reinforcements. This day was just getting started.
Cardin looked up, waiting for some form of direction. Kad again looked down at Professor Goodwitch,
"We need to get barricades set up before the Goliaths hit us," He told their teacher.
She nodded acknowledging his request. But Kad saw something in her eyes.
"I'll do what I can…" She said looking up, "Listen… You've done marvelously."
Almost as an after-thought she looked down to her students gathered close. The group growing larger, each more battered and dirty then the last. Co'Balt, and the young Huntsman Auburn Roland showed up next to Alicia, resting their axes on their shoulders. Sun and his team walked up followed by the weary team JNPR.
"All of you. You've done more than anyone could have hoped," Goodwitch said.
Many sensed the but coming.
She blinked once before breathing in, "But I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask for one more show of courage."
Everyone leaned close, no matter how tired they were, each was ready to hear what they might have to do.
"I need volunteers to go and rescue Professor Ozpin."
Ruby had a plan. She just wished her teammates would stop arguing for a moment to let her voice it. That along with a great many other things she wished that the dark girl Yang and Blake had collected would stop staring at her, like Ruby didn't notice the glances out of the corner of her red eyes while she was supposed to be on look out.
"We need to work our way around the Grimm," Blake said.
"But the shortest distance is right through the center," Yang countered.
"Which will most likely get us all killed!" Weiss told her, "You saw what's out there."
Yang turned to the Heiress, "We can get past em'."
Winter spoke up in support of her sister, "That's not going to be as easy as it sounds for some of us."
Raven cut in, "But we need to get to help as soon as possible."
Ruby groaned, they couldn't stay here in this alleyway forever.
Another Nevermore screeched as it swept low over the city. Seven heads whipped around to the direction the bird came from.
Blake tried to be the voice of reason, "We won't get far. We have time…"
"No we don't." Raven cut in, "We need teachers. Professional Huntresses, and Huntsmen."
Yang spoke again, "And they'll be where the fighting is thickest…"
Ruby rolled her eyes as the conversation seemed to start all over again. Excluding the one girl who so far hadn't said anything.
Penny was watching the sky, her eyes tracking unseen objects. Focusing in on things only she could see. Ruby walked over, tugging on Penny's left sleeve. "What's goin' on?"
Penny looked back at her, "Ruby, could you call your Uncle please?"
Silver eyes narrowed, "What? Why?" She leaned close to her ginger friend, "Do you…"
Penny didn't know the exact wording of the question that was about to come from her friend, but she sensed what Ruby might ask and whispered her explanation.
"I'm… hearing things. Short waves low transmissions. And I think I recognize some names from your file."
"I have a file?" Ruby asked, thoroughly confused.
"Qrow Branwen… Listed as your uncle correct?" Ruby nodded.
"Yeah, sure. But the tower isn't working," She tried to remind her, "Don't you?..."
Penny cut her off, "Yes, I know. Here, let me see your scroll."
"Well Glynda says sit tight…"
Qrow closed his scroll and took a seat on the edge of the apartment's kitchen counter. Gazing out the window into the distance.
Ozpin tried to talk "How soon… Till…"
But the headmaster was wracked by another violent fit of coughing. Plastering his closed fist in spit and blood. Scrunching his eyes shut in deep pain.
Qrow quickly came to his side, "Easy, you're gonna need those lungs when we run."
"You should leave me," Ozpin whispered out of breath.
"Woah… No way," Qrow said laying a hand on Ozpin's shoulder, "We need you. Now more than ever."
The headmaster choked and coughed again tying to laugh. "I'm not dead yet… But," He breathed deep again, "But there are things you and the others finally need to know my friend…"
Qrow shifted at the ominous undertone. Only to be snapped out of his focus by the sound of a scroll.
His scroll,
And the emergency radio link trying to form.
"Uncle Qrow?"
The previously occupied majority of the group simultaneously swiveled their heads towards their youngest member's voice.
"Ruby? How did you get this frequency?"
"A friend." Ruby said, "Where are you?"
"Where are you kid?" He demanded in return,
The group all gathered close around the scarlet girl. She looked up for a moment trying to get her bearings.
Qrow asked again, his voice low and dangerous, "Where are you? Are you safe?"
"For the moment," She replied.
"Ruby…" He growled getting impatient.
Yang leaned close to the scroll, "We're on the edge of the eastern quarter of Vale. Everybody's gone or hiding."
Qrow was shocked to hear his other niece's voice, "Yang? How?... What?..."
"We don't have time to explain old man…"
"Oh then you'd better make time to explain missy," He snarled, getting angry now, "What are you two doing away from school during the middle of a Grimm invasion?!"
The circling Nevermore flew close again, shrieking and trying to flush out more prey. Buffeting all the girls with the down draft of its wings. Ruby brought up her scroll staring at the portrait of the scythe master.
"Uncle Qrow we need to go,"
"Whoa, Whoa, Whoa you two," He answered, "You're not going anywhere. Find someplace quiet and keep your heads down. I'll come find you when I can. Keep-"
Ruby interrupted him, "Well where are you? We'll,"
"None of your concern. Wait…"
Qrow never got to finish his command, a voice called to him. To quiet to be heard and recognized through his scroll.
The girls stood glancing at each other waiting for him to start talking again.
"Ruby?" Her Uncle asked,
"Yeah," She answered immediately.
"What is your exact location?" Qrow paused trying to put an uncomfortable request into words. "I'm gonna need a favor…"
Kad would have given his right arm for a hundred more of those guns.
Grimm were ripped to pieces by the golden mini-gun in Coco Adel's hands, spent shells rained down around her designer boots. Cutting the last of this wave of monsters apart with unnerving accuracy and pure relish. Hundreds of rounds annihilated every black creature from this route up to the north. Stragglers and wounded creatures from the first Daemonic push.
Elsewhere the now armed civilians had spread out to the far flanks with multiple teams of trainees to support them. The professional Atlesians were setting up in the wreckage of the first confrontation. Climbing up onto the wreckage of destroyed buildings being piled high by Professor Goodwitch for the requested barricades.
Coco surveyed her own handy work, pushing back the stray strand of hair in her face, "Looks clear. You should get going."
Kad nodded, "Great work… See what you can do about some traps for later."
"You got it."
He had quite a selection of potential teammates for this crazy run into Grimm territory. Kad didn't want to find himself short-handed on the hunt for the headmaster. He could have asked Professor Goodwitch to accompany them. But while she was busy building barricades, the professor was also the only one teacher present at the moment. The students would listen to her while Kad was away. Team leaders stood close. Checking their weapons and their teammates in what calm they could get in this eye of the storm.
Kad made his selection, "Ali, come with me. Jaune, get your team."
When he failed to hear his name Co'Balt stood up and shouted, "Hey!" Outraged at being seemingly forgotten.
Kad looked to his teammate, "You've done more than enough already brother…" The Faunus had been almost side by side with Kad since the battle began, Kad knew he was tired even if Co'Balt would never admit it. While Alicia had held back directing the Dust users and avoiding physical confrontation.
"Take a break and don't worry," The giant said, "There'll be plenty Grimm to fight later."
The bull Faunus grumbled and returned to his seat on the stadium steps. Alicia stepped to the side and gently laid her hand on his shoulder. Which he merely brushed away before she could say anything, but Co'Balt looked up again after a moment up at her.
"Just get back quick alright?"
Kad was always looking down on people. A thing unavoidable with his titanic stature. But it gave him some perspective this time. While that one unavoidable quirk of his height was true, so was the opposite now. In more ways than one.
Everyone was looking up to him.
"Courage everyone…" Kad said, "Courage for our friends, and courage for our home."
Thousands of eyes looked to the Primarch, and he looked back to them.
"Stand Tall! We are Hunters today!"
Their ragged roar made him smile.
And that little annoying flutter of hope returned to his heart.
They could do this.
Kad looked down on his five chosen companions.
"Let's Hunt…"
Ten minutes later.
"Come on we're almost here!"
Almost through the maze of ruined homes and now unmarked streets that were once so familiar. But were now a glimpse of what was to come to the city after the Daemon horde passed through. Leaving only death and ashes in their wake.
Just like Mountain Glenn.
Just as everything on Remnant would be…
Ruby looked back to wave her teammates onward. All were keeping pace except for Winter, unconditioned to these situations. And Raven still slightly injured from her previous ordeals.
They were slowing them down.
And the Daemon's senses were closing in…
Winter breathed heavily, her pumping arms and running feet were steadily slowing and threatening to stop all together. Weiss dropped back to run next to her sister.
"You need to get out more…" She said.
Her twin tried to smile in response. "Isn't this… as out as, it gets?"
Everyone was moving far too fast to pay much attention to their surroundings. No one felt the ground tremble beneath their feet. None of them saw little random objects shaking in place. Couldn't hear the windows or the buildings quaking quietly. All from the subtle tremors made from something close by. Several big things…
All heading straight for them.
"Come on!" Yang shouted out, "We're almost there!"
Time seemed to slow.
The leading girls glanced up.
There was an intersection dead ahead. Clear of working cars. Lit by the burning buildings on all sides. Choked with thick black smoke.
A silhouette came through this cloud.
Ruby saw it first. Loosing a panicked warning scream.
"Grimm! Goliath!"
Her sister saw the beast. The Blonde stopped to grab their leader's hood and turn backwards. But froze when she recognized the monstrous identical shadow following in their footsteps.
They paused.
Swords were drawn weapons unfolded.
Eyes searched for a quick escape route.
But none could be found in time to escape the third roaring Goliath which smashed through the wall of packed houses behind them. Broken beams and shattered mason walls rained on the girls. Too stunned to do more than shriek and shout as the crushing debris and the howling Grimm smashed down.
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My reaction to the finale. (If you haven't seen it yet what the fuck are you doing here instead of RT's site? Go, go right now. You're warned I'm goin off the rails on this spoiler train in this note.)
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WHAT THE FUCK! Oh Ozpin couldn't beat Cinder, I know! I'll go take on this witch all by my hurbagerbadurgher…...
Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid. Did anyone else miss the characterization bitt where this made sense? GJ Pyrrha, GJ (Pyrrhic victory my ass, you didn't win shit.) My biggest complaint about the episode, Pyrrha died stupidly. No noble sacrifice. Not outplayed in an ambush, she died in a stupid fight she should not have picked. Shit be fucked! GTFO! Urrhhgggg…
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So grit and grind thy teeth to stubs and wait for volume four, (Gods of the Warp it feels weird thinking that.)
Any-who be doing my best to make the break bearable for those still interested in what I'm doin'.
And speaking of those mildly interested if any of you amazing people might happen to be a beta reader with a bit of free time to spellcheck and lend a hand, might we have a word?
So I can stop hating myself for little typos and stupid B.S overlooked since I still can't seem to edit my own work when in a rush, (and maybe go back through and make some minor checks with me on previous chapters?)
So share, if you care. Review, as you do.
Onwards and upwards