"… Aeska Brokenlip told me that the accounts that entertain the Rout most are the ones that scare them."
"True enough."
"So what scares you?"
"You want to know?"
"I want to know."
"What scares us most," said Heoroth Longfang, "Are the things that even we can't kill."
"Back! Run!"
"I can't see!"
"Weiss! Help!"
"Where's Yang!"
"Look out!"
"Scatter!"
"Where's Yang!"
"Go for the legs! The legs!"
"I need room!"
"Where's Yang!"
"Where's Yang!"
Blackness…
Ringing and echoed noise…Slowly cleared out of Yang's head as she pried opened her eyes and looked to the smoke filled sky. Nevermores and Griffons flew across shrieking and circling like vultures.
She couldn't move. Stunned and locked in place by the fading blanket of white noise clouding her senses and the dull ache from her beaten down aura over her body.
Again she heard the high voice of her sister Ruby calling out, "Where's Yang?"
"I'm right here…" She thought to herself, thoroughly confused. The blond raised her head from her position flat on her back to get a sense of the situation. Taking in the upside down view of the Grimm above her.
Goliaths were huge. But that was also one of their greatest weaknesses. Slow to react, and slow to move. The giant Grimm turned to the right swinging its ivory tusks up to try and catch one of the girls rushing around it.
Penny moved away up the street looking for distance and a little more time, spreading her web of swords behind her. Arms held up and focusing on the power building in her chest and flowing to her weapon.
Winter had taken cover behind the ginger girl. Nowhere near as nimble as any of the others jumping off the Goliath's legs, the buildings around them and pulsing their semblances to reach higher and strike. Racing around the debris strewn street trying to distract the monster.
Penny's swords began to circle. Their razor points folding down, exposing the laser barrels.
The Grimm turned, a massive foot crashed down almost on top of Yang. Pressing down on the slab her right arm was trapped beneath.
She screamed in pain. Her aura flickered and sparked just above her right elbow where the limb disappeared under the concrete. Fingers curling against the immovable slab as the pressure built. Ruby heard her sister's cry back up the street. A cold hand of fear gripped her heart.
Penny curled her fists down. An emerald ball of energy slowly formed in the metal ring, as she stepped forward punched her fists and fired.
The beam crashed into the Grimm's black chest. Steam and smoke curled up from the burning streak her weapon left. Penny shifted her aim, raising the laser beam higher and higher. The right tusk fell away and disintegrated instantly.
Its jaw split and flapped as the beast howled in agony shaking its head in vain. The cutting energy scoured up over one hateful red eye. Bone and flesh from a large portion of its head vaporized instantly.
The Goliath stepped back. Bumping into the building behind it. The whole house shifted and broke from its foundation. The old style front crumpled against the weight of the Grimm spilling more rubble down into the street.
Right on top of Ruby and Raven.
The older Huntress dove out of the way, rolling against the pavement and turning back. Spinning her sword to focus her mind.
Ruby ducked and jumped. Her semblance carpeting the street with petals as she spun. Which stopped abruptly as she was yanked backwards by a falling slab landing on her red hood. Crescent Rose flew from her hands, and Ruby landed hard on her back.
"No! No! Not now!" The only panicked thoughts that passed through Ruby's mind. Before drowning under the realization that the Goliath in front of her wasn't dead.
Most of its facemask had been burned away. Smoke poured from the deep ragged chest wound.
And it wasn't dead.
Penny couldn't believe it. Slowly the black smoke began to stop. The Grimm shuddered and raised its head to the sky moaning in pain. Shivers shot down spines at the horrible wet sucking sound of the Grimm's flesh starting to knit back together.
The Goliath that had been following in the road behind them roared with impatience. Raven's head whipped between that monster and her companions beneath the regenerating Grimm.
Blake found Yang first, nestled in an impromptu bed of wooden beams and rebar studded concrete trying to pull her hand free. The limb miraculously not squashed completely flat in a lucky little dip beneath the slab.
"Yang!"
The Faunus crouched close trying dig her fingers underneath the concrete slab. Yang pulled and pulled, but her arm could not move. She looked over to Blake.
The Goliath would be healed before Penny could fire her weapon again.
Yang tracked the sideways gaze of its burning red stare.
Down,
On the girl in red and black trapped in front of it.
Finding her footing Ruby pulled on her cape squirming and trying to free herself from the garment. Yang reached with her free hand and gripped Blake's right wrist.
"Save her!"
The Faunus girl was frozen in place with fear.
Of course she heard the blonde's desperate plea. But a hundred different excuses and half thought out plans running in her mind froze her dead. Eyes locked on the Grimm about to sweep its single tusk down into their leader.
Yang tightened her grip.
"Save her! Blake! Save Ruby!"
The Grimm swung down, Ruby started to duck.
Breath flew from her body as something struck her back.
Not the shattering force of the Goliath tusk. But still strong enough to sweep her off her feet.
As she tackled the other girl Raven wrapped her left arm around the girl's stomach. Twisting and shielding Ruby from the tusk which nearly struck the top of her head, grazing along her side.
The two tumbled and rolled away unharmed, still bound in place by the red hood. Raven twisted and lashed out with her long red sword. Cutting away Ruby's cape from where the end disappeared under the rock.
The Grimm swung up into the air. It's healing eye staring down in annoyance. Raven crouched angling her sword up and pulling Ruby tight to her chest backing away. Blake's hand finally made its way to the katana on her back. Which she started to slide from the cleaver sheathe in preparation.
Her bow twitched with her hidden ears.
Drawn backwards.
Through the shattered building behind her.
Towards the heavy footsteps, quickly coming closer.
The top floors of the building behind Blake had been torn away sometime in the day. Pushing the roof and lower floors, along with those who had sought to shelter inside, down into a pile on the far side.
He had seen the Grimm's bulky white head through the hole in the house. And was fully intent on dodging the monstrous beast. Shortly before the high voices of some people he had not expected to find hit his own enhanced hearing.
Smoke framed the broken building.
Yang saw the bright glow of Dust through the haze. Her mind slowly putting a name to the shape of the familiar sword as it emerged in its maker's hand.
Kad Amaranth, holding his great sword down in a backwards grip. Poised for maximum striking power as his boots hit the jagged edge of ruins and he leapt through the air.
Gene forged muscles in his powerful legs propelled the giant up. The Goliath roared in recognition. The black trunk and white curled tusk swept up to try and catch the young Primarch at the zenith of his leap.
To slow by half to catch him.
The Dust fused blade came down, sinking up to the hilt in the Daemon's eye. The tips of his boots dug deep in its skin along with his free left hand which latched on the Goliath's head.
The Grimm stumbled backwards. The elephantine limbs tripping on the shattered walls, pushed down and back by the force of Kad's impact.
It roared in vain trying to roll and stand pinned by the giant who shifted his grip, planted his feet and tore the red blade free. Ignis spun in his hands, then swung back down in the headman's swing.
Bone and brains split and its cursed blood hissed away at the touch of steel and fire. The Daemon moaned and died. Powerless to mend its vessel from the burning Dust
Its death cloud of smoke floated away as Kad surveyed the situation. The scattered girls gawking at his arrival. Team JNPR and his red haired partner Alicia jumping down to the street floor by floor.
The ground shook again.
And the giant moved quickly. He pointed west at the first advancing Goliath, shouting commands.
"That one! Quick!"
Kad stepped to the east, towards the Goliath that had been following the girls. Hooking one foot under Ruby's scythe as he passed. Kicking the weapon up through the air to the young Huntress.
As one, the Goliaths roared and broke into a run. Ruby and Raven locked eyes with the giant, who merely pointed one hand and one finger to the west. His message unspoken but simple.
Go help them.
Get out of my way.
Ren rolled on the ground breaking his momentum as he fell to street level. His team close behind him shifting their weapons and their grips on them. Blake had turned back to try and free her partner once again. The quiet green clad gunslinger grabbed onto her shoulder when she started to dig.
"First things first Blake," He said flicking his head up the road.
Her amber eyes darted between her friends. Yang spoke, "Go on Blake. Don't let them just squish me here… That would be just too embarrassing."
The blond tried to smile, hoping she hid her terror well enough.
Ruby paused next to the three of them. Long enough to see her sister flash a shaky thumbs up in recognition and reassurance.
Jaune, Pyrrha, Nora, and Alicia sprinted through the field of knee high debris walls towards the Goliath. Weiss flicked her rapier, blue bolts streaked away and smacked into the Grimm's giant head. The Daemon merely blinked and roared in annoyance.
Alicia spun the chamber on her knife Detergeo. Scraping the curve blade along the ground by her knees as she slid on the pavement. Blue Dust shimmered and flowed. Directed by her will up into a giant spike of ice, aimed directly at the Grimm's chest.
Slow to turn,
Slow to react, to slow to stop its rush or dodge the elemental spear which crunched deep into the beast.
Kad's left hand reached for his chain. Looping the black steel links around his sword's hilt. Tugging on the impromptu knot work to test its strength. Links fell to the ground by his running boots as he charged, scraping and sparking along the road as he neared the shadow of the dark monster nearing.
Ignis fell from his right hand. Kad spun and so did his blade, backwards pulling on the little steel links clinking together. Half a step from the ground almost floating forward.
The bonded weapons' wake hissed with cloven air as Kad shouted and swung the sword back, and forward out to the limit of his new reach,
Slashing straight through the fore legs of the running Goliath.
The Grimm howled and pushed, trying to pull its bulk off the spike. Helpless to defend itself.
Pyrrha hurled her spear into its right eye. More colorful Dust bolts flew up sparking against its mask. Bullets left miniscule cracks across the bone and shredded the other eyeball. Jaune and Raven rushed close, hacking their swords down into the thick muscled legs. Pink explosions rocked the Daemon's head.
Further behind them Ruby pulsed her semblance again.
The young leader jumped up along the second story of the buildings to their left, closing the gap as fast as she could. Firing Crescent Rose behind her building momentum, timing her leap for just the right moment.
The Goliath threw back its head as Milo' shimmered black and slid free, flying back to Pyrrha's hand. Ruby leapt again, her scythe bending in motion.
The curved steel cut through flesh and corded muscle as it hooked on. Ruby only a red blur circling around its neck as the little team leader held tight on her weapon and rode the momentum.
The legless Goliath fell face forward. Skidding and plowing up the street.
Kad swung back, latching both his hands onto the chain. The rocky pile in front of its mouth muffled the Grimm's moans of pain and hate.
Ignis spun up, as the giant pulled in slack on the chain and swung the sword down again. Black hissing blood flew into the sky as he split the white skull in one blow.
Its flesh would never mend from that strike, the body slowly began to smoke away.
The cloud remained.
Curling… Coalescing…
Ruby hung from the exposed spine, dangling on her scythe as the Goliath's flesh shimmered and started to heal.
Her hand closed on the sniper rifle's trigger.
The others blinked at the sudden thunder crack, the sound of her sniper rifle, and the just as loud snap of breaking bones as the Grimm's head was separated from its neck.
The Grimm from above dove in. Two Lancer drones flew at Kad.
Ignis flashed. The first monster shattered and turned to smoke in the blink of an eye. His sword swung back and down. The second Daemon seizing the moment.
Kad drew his knife and buried it in the creature's chest. As the little bronze cross guard pushed against its armor the Lancer burst into smoke, too slow to try and sting him. Its dead remains swept past the Primarch in a stinging cloud.
The others circled together back to back. Guns pointed to the sky.
Ruby quickly reloaded, "Back up! We've got to get Yang."
More Grimm circled overhead.
The dead smoke clouds still condensed to the east.
Slowly rebuilding Its form.
Ruby, Blake and Penny crouched close to the Yang's right as Kad drew near. Ruby was debating whether or not to ask Penny to use her strength and free her sister, even knowing how her friend could be exposed.
That concern slowly losing to the age old argument of desperate times and desperate measures.
Kad could hear more Goliaths smashing through buildings trying to reach them. Yang's lilac eyes looked up when his shadow passed over them.
They had to leave.
Right now.
Kad knelt down. Laying his sword at Yang's side.
Aiming his knife.
The trapped Huntresses' heart raced. None of the others said anything, but Yang started to shout seeing the razor edge draw near.
"Hey! Kad! Hold-!" She desperately objected.
The point carved deep in a gap between the fallen walls. The fighting knife bent as Kad slightly levered up the stone, digging the fingers of his right hand into the space. He looked to the girls standing on the slab.
"Move."
Yang blinked as they backed away. She had no idea how much that slab weighed. More than even a giant could-
Kad's face twisted in exertion. Muscles bunched and his fingers curled. They all felt the rumble through the ground as the giant pushed. Letting go of his knife to roll the shocked blond free as he pushed the slab up. Making a final grunt of effort the giant shrugged the grey stone aside in one motion as he stood. Fighting knife again in his left hand, sword still on the ground but chained to his right hand.
Ruby and Blake backed away as the broken wall almost landed on their toes. Penny stood still and stared at the giant.
Yang rolled onto her hands and knees. Ruby quickly jumped to her side helping Yang up.
Slowly, spectral crimson eyes opened in the black cloud hanging in the street behind the Primarch and his companions.
Will and form taking shape on this plane.
Winter was the first to notice it. The tall shape outlined in immaterial smoke.
Wings of shadow. White bone spikes and claws contrasting the bulk of black armor and black flesh the smoke was forming into.
Hateful red, met pale blue. Lips curling in unmasked relish.
Time seemed to slow.
Only panic ran through Winter's thoughts as she pointed and screamed in pure terror. Kad watched the shock pass through the group. Their faces beginning to mimic the younger Schnee's.
Warning chills shot down his spine. His hands gripped the weapons in them even tighter.
The Daemon bent its will and stretched out one hand.
Invisible fingers wrapped around Kad's chest.
Grinding his bones, tearing at his bulk. Now twice in almost as many minutes Kad was flying through the air. Ripped away and closer to the Daemon lord. He struck the ground head first. Kad rolled and tumbled past the Grimm, all the while trying to stop himself.
It turned back to his companions. White lips cracking open to expose rows of jagged teeth, the beast drew in a breath it didn't need. A glow built deep in its throat.
Warp fire spat from its howling maw with an accompanying roar. Melting the pavement and filling the street racing straight towards the other Hunters. Auras shimmered and drained simply from the rise in temperature.
Weiss didn't even consciously think about moving her hands. Myrtenaster rose, and sunk down into a glyph merely on its wielder's instincts. The explosive sound of expanding ice drowned out the blazing wave. A blue wall rose up and stopped the inferno mere inches away from incinerating them all.
The Daemon laughed to itself in satisfaction.
Kad stabbed his knife down into the ground, stopped his roll then pulled himself up in crouch.
It was back.
He had killed it only hours ago.
And it was back.
His own lip curled up in rage for a moment. Then Kad spun low and whipped his chain out at the beast.
Its chuckles turned to chokes of surprise as the steel wrapped around its neck and Kad nearly pulled its head from its shoulders turning and tearing away with all his strength.
The Grimm shimmered in place.
Kad suddenly felt no resistance on the chain as the Grimm willingly turned to smoke. Its cloud flew past him, the giant turned to where he thought the creature was. Another flash of fire drew his focus back. The again manifested Grimm raised a hand and conjured a ball of Warp fire. Kad swung from right to left. Ignis slashed through the blaze.
The Grimm hissed, curling its hands, summoning its twin scimitars. Harsh light shimmered around the hilts and ran down the blades as they emerged in reality. Kad spun again. Ignis, still chained to his hand sailed out at its head.
The Grimm smacked the red blade down. Kad pulled back on the chain, and jumped forward. Aiming to bury his knife to the hilt in its head. The Grimm crossed its swords, catching Kad's arm.
Warp forged steel slid through his jacket, aura and flesh as it uncrossed its blades. Kad only hissed in annoyance and gave a short tug on his chain. The hilt of his Dust sword returned to his palm.
He lunged up. The Grimm swept up its left sword. Catching Ignis and spinning it off target. Its other blade mirrored the red sword's move.
Kad threw himself right. The curved sword only grazed his stomach but stabbed straight through the swinging back of his jacket splitting the thick leather down the middle.
Kad raised his right leg and kicked out straight at the Grimm.
His boot crunched into its warped metal breast plate. Wings flapped for balance as it slid backwards claws raking the pavement for purchase. Kad pressed forward again. Ignis swung up and down, again and again and again.
The Grimm crossed its swords blocking Ignis in an equal blur of speed as Kad hammered on its guard.
Their swords danced in blurring speed.
Up.
Blocked.
Side to side. Dodged and riposted. Each move they made countered and struck in mirror form.
Kad's knife flashed out for its fingers. Its flapping wings smacked at his weapons.
But the giant refused to give it even an inch of breathing room, driving the Daemon down the street.
Away from his friends.
Deeper into the infested north.
Pyrrha shook her head in disbelief, "What was that!" She asked, looking around the circle of faces locked in shock.
All except for one.
Alicia quickly scrambled up the blue barrier. Squinting through the waves of heat looking for her partner.
Ignis hammered down low on the flat of one scimitar. Knocking it free from the Grimm's hand. Kad leaned forward stabbing with his knife. The Grimm turned on his left side. Spun and raked its claws into his broad chest and gripped tight. Throwing Kad out of sight around a street corner.
It screeched again and flew after the giant. The sound of their continued battle slowly being muffled by distance.
Alicia turned back, "Kad can beat it. He fought one before…" She paused, letting out a quick low growl of frustration.
Jaune stepped forward, "Should we help?"
The dark haired Huntress Raven spoke, "We should keep heading for the Professor."
"And just leave him?" Penny asked.
Raven practically snarled but held her tongue. Turning away to make sure they weren't being surrounded.
Alicia stretched out her right hand. One of her red glyphs shimmered into existence over the slowly dying flame. She bunched her leg muscles and leapt out to the little circle of light. Ignoring the calls of shock and surprise that followed her down the street.
She landed and rolled once just beyond the fire. Took the yellow Mistral spear off her back and expanding it to the rifle form as she chased after her leader.
The two of them were locked in a shoving match. Cross guards locked together in a shower of red sparks. Each knowing one slip could lead to their death in this little forgotten square.
The returned scimitar pressed down with its twin on Kad's blazing sword. He watched their blades slowly carve into the opposite edges. The giant had no idea how much more punishment Ignis could take.
The Grimm hissed and leaned in closer. The words it spoke hissing into existence, pure malevolence given shape.
"You still defy our glory? Your ruin?"
Kad pushed back even harder. Blinking and flinching when its hot breath bathed his face once again.
"I killed you once…" He growled over the sound of grinding metal.
The beast seemed to laugh, "You cannot kill us, we live in every Human heart!"
The giant started to shift. Slinging the twin swords down to his right as he ducked under its black wing out of their melee. The curved scimitar tips sparked against the cobblestone.
It hissed and turned, seeing the giant come up and cut backhanded at the Grimm as he spun half crouched. The red Dust burned through its skinny bent leg in a superficial cut.
Kad caught onto the tail end of his chain still looped on Ignis.
Goliaths plowed through entire houses racing towards the battle.
Beowolfs, Ursa, and a dozen other Grimm forms followed in their wake.
Kad could hear them. Only one monstrous creature sounded remotely close.
The Daemon crossed its swords again when Kad swung up his chain. But he wasn't aiming at the curved swords.
The steel rings spun around it feathery right wing.
Kad roared and yanked left bones crunched in its extremity. And the Daemon screamed in pain as he tore the wing free.
The chain slammed into another building. Kad jumped forward, knife stabbing down at its white face. The Grimm reeled backwards. Pushing out its swords to catch the raging Primarch. He swung Ignis up. Smashing his sword against the black wrapped handles. Cutting the Warped blades away along with half its hands.
The beast tripped backwards. Kad swung down again. Scouring a deep cut across its chest. The Dust burned away at its manifest form. One giant fist smashed into its head, digits curled around the smooth wooden knife grip.
Broken teeth flew away. Kad stood tall raising his red sword high. Yelling in wordless hate, stabbed down and nailed the Daemon to the ground. Nearly the whole blade was lost in the rock below. The Grimm squealed and shuddered as its essence was erased. But Kad wasn't done yet.
Fists glowing with his aura and semblance cracked against the hated mask. Splinters ran across its surface. The Daemon raised its arms in a futile guard, helpless beneath a Primarch's wrath.
And the last thing its saw this time was Kad snarling visage as he dug into its skull mask and tore its head away.
Borrowed eyes blinked after crushing through the old Vale house. Eyeing its tiny prey standing in the square clutching his ally's last vessel's slowly disintegrating head.
Footsteps of thunder shook the earth below as it charged the beast. Dipping its great head and swinging low with long white tusks.
The young Primarch leapt aside. Clearing the entire courtyard in a single bound. Cursed sword once gripped close.
Another voice reached its ears.
Young and fearful calling to the giant, who swiveled in surprise to see his friend near to where he once stood.
"Now! Crush! Trample and kill!"
The hated Dust burned against its hide, the blade thrown and lodged into the Goliath's massive shoulder. The Huntsman swung down, free hand stretching out to the girls waiting hand sweeping her up. The two disappearing from sight as they swung to the Goliath's back.
It bucked and twisted. Looking for the Primarch.
But all vision faded with the flaming spike of pain that shot through the back of the mammoth creature's head.
Twin howls of frustration and failure rang through the waves of the immaterial sea.
"Again!"
"Cursed whelp!"
"Grow… Hunt… Feast!"
They called to their lesser kin. Eager to take form and run loose upon the world called to the brink by the song of panic and despair.
Haunting mocking Daemon laughter stung at their true forms clashing at the veil. Laughter from a feminine voice long since absent from their council.
"You only push him to the purpose of his father, instead of fated web."
"Sssssilence! Meddling corruptor!"
"Enough words, and words witch! Commit! Everything is owed… And all is demanded!"
"Not quite…"
"It forgetssss its nature… Thinks above the honored Lords of change. Forgets debt of enlightenment."
"It's too late to corrupt him now. Let him fall much more spectacularly later when his nature betrays..."
"One thread amongst many. We shall have his soul shall scream for favor in the great weaver's hall!"
"Commit!"
"Force and fear shall not serve now. Your time has passed. Patience and the boy shall…"
The Daemon's warped claws curled and grasped. Circling and slowly peeling tendrils of Her gifted power away.
"So it remembers painful lesson…"
"And proper place…"
"Commit…"
"None shall claim him but the Changer of Ways!"
Her pained laughter cut through the boiling ocean, and their iron grip. Bright and full of malevolent mirth. Drawing strength from her plots, despite their piercing hold.
"Oh lords, you rage and contest. But he is already mine..."
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A/n Oh ho, what is he on about now. Writing about things in the warp is kind of hard. Being a realm that is literally a migraine incarnate.
Urrrghhghgh... Dubious about this twist right now. But hey points for guesses. And even more for general thoughts right now. No I didn't just pull this out of my ass.
Well okay I sort of did. But RT did it first!