" And if you do not believe this lie that is true ask the blind man for he saw it too."
" Energy spike!"
The heavy waiting stillness of the Fist of Iron's bridge snapped like an overdrawn bow string at the call of the auspex watchman. For days the fleet had been waiting for some form of action, but were instead frozen in place by the orders their one true master had left them under.
The Primarch of the Iron Hand's mind began moving faster than his mouth could issue orders.
"Raise Void shields. Where is it?" Ferrus Manus called out over the bustling bridge.
A space marine bridge officer called, examining the data feeds over the mortal watchman's shoulder. "From the planet my lord. Central kingdom…"
Ferrus sensed the warrior's pause, "What is it Captain?"
"Exotic particles my lord, we can't identify them. Rogue energy readings are off the charts."
"Is it a weapon? Are we under attack?"
Their scans had not revealed anything to suggest this backwater had space capability of any kind left. Let alone defenses reaching into orbit. As were they certain the natives had no idea the fleet was present. Busy as they were.
The black armored astartes called again, tapping controls and adjusting the Fist of Iron's sensors with his bionic right arm, "Negative my lord. The energy is powerful, but concentrated close to the surface. I don't believe it will breach the atmosphere, sire."
The gorgon grumbled an acknowledgement, squeezing the hilt of Forgebreaker planted at his side out of newly formed habit. Pondering what this phenomena could be.
But his musing was interrupted by the hiss of the main bridge doors sliding apart. The Primarch turned to see who approached. Falling to one knee once recognizing the regal outline of his father, garbed in traveling robes accompanied by his gold armored bodyguards.
"My lord," Ferrus said, bowing his head and raising his silver coated left fist up to his breastplate in salute.
The Emperor entered and made his way to the command throne while he gave out instructions.
"Stand down the ship. There is no threat," The Emperor explained,
Ferrus rose, choosing not to ponder how his father had returned. Or why he had not been informed of said return, "My lord there has been an unexplained energy plume from the surface. I recommend…"
His father interrupted him, "I am aware. There is no threat."
"Then may I ask, what was this energy spike sire?" The gorgon said,
A rare smile crossed the face of the Master of Mankind,
"That," He said, "Is your brother."
The pack moved silently.
The only sounds the small horde of Grimm made was when their bone white claws scrapped against cobblestone and concrete as they ran, loping through empty streets below empty buildings. Hushed panting and red tongues rolled from their mouths. Rain water made their pelts and scales slick and shiny in what light there was.
The dragon was temporarily incapacitated, so they had to run fast to reach their prey. Heading for the origin of the elemental explosion that had shaken the city. Moving to claim both relic and Primarch for their masters.
A trio of Beowolves were leading this pack, their keen senses searching for any hidden Humans that might remain. The lead wolf stopped in its tracks, the rest of the creatures followed suit. The creature sniffed the air, drinking in the scent of another of its kind.
Its hackles rose with a warning snarl.
Which did nothing to intimidate the giant reptilian Creep that lunged out of the shadows with a guttural howl straight from the deepest pits of the Warp.
And like a striking snake swallowed the little wolf whole.
The two legged Daemon raised and shook its head back and forth until the creature had broken every bone in the Beowolf's body. Shadows slid down its throat as another pack of wolves and reptiles in the blackness behind this brute charged into melee and a slaughter began.
Fangs crunched through masks that did nothing to shield wide betrayed eyes. Claws ripped through guts and shattered spikes. One attacking wolf grabbed another by the neck with both claws then bit down through its prey's head, ivory incisors passing bloodlessly through and through. Ursas bowled each other over then began to disembowel their kindred with powerful back legs. At the rear of this column of nightmares under assault a Death Stalker scuttled forward chittering in rage. The great yellow stinger stabbed down nailing through one of the monstrous bears with claws flying about itself with wild sweeping blows.
The scorpion flicked its kill up into the air spilling darker shadows across the black storming sky. Its giant rampaging claws caught and cut Grimm in half.
But from the flanks more Grimm surged forward to surround their Master's enemies. A towering Goliath smashed straight through an abandoned shop. Jagged debris flee like missiles and the Goliath dipped its tusks and speared the belly of the Death Stalker. Snapping it like a twig when it swung its black trunk up from beneath.
Grimm killed Grimm for the first time in millennia. The manifestation of two wills behind the veil driving against each other.
Surprise, numbers, and superior creatures carried the fight for the attackers holding every advantage. Overwhelming what pitiful vessels could be drawn away from overrunning the rest of the city. Each twisted will inside the fleshy vessels knew what their fate would be, their Lords of Change would know of this treachery very soon. But they were merely pawns playing their part in this little piece of the great game.
Ensuring their own Mistress's will was done, and the Primarch left alone.
The thunder did not wake him.
Kad remained face down where he fell. His heart still as stone. Rain water pooling around him turned everything to grey mud which threatened to rise above his head very soon.
The crystal still glowed, filled with raw power not diminished in the slightest from its use bending the laws of nature. Sparks ran across the puddle it lay in conducting some of its awesome power, mirroring the lightning bolts clashing in the clouds.
And as the water levels rose, the many started to become one. And the instant the water surrounding the crystal overflowed and linked with the one the giant's fingers laid in, that power reached him again.
With a zap of blue static. Feeling like needles were driven under his fingernails Kad jolted back to consciousness.
His primary heart restarted,
His eyes shot open and the giant threw himself as far as he could up the crater with his left hand. Rolling through the small crumbling rim until he stopped himself with both hands. Safely out of reach of the shard. However that action alerted him to the state of his right hand.
Pain radiated from that palm flayed bare and pressed against the rough shattered rocks. Kad fell again and rolled onto his back clutching his right wrist. Crying out once before he managed to swallow down the pain. Hissing heavy breaths in and out as quickly as he could. Kad looked to the limb giving him such torment.
It was as if he was wearing a black glove, the skin cracked and burned leaking pus and oozing blood. He clenched it into a familiar fist, but every pull of muscle was agony renewed.
Teeth bared, Kad slammed that hand down against the ground shattering rocks and sending up a puff of mundane dust. It helped somewhat, that hand joining the rest of his body in numbness. He fought through the painful haze over his recent memories in silence. Thinking back on the fight that had just been fought.
And just how it ended.
His breathing quickened, and his hands came up in trembling fists. Matching the bubbling misery coming up from the back of his throat
Kad screamed up into the uncaring storm. A long howl of sorrow and rage from the soles of his feet through every inch of his super human lungs.
" Is this what you wanted!?"
Only the storm rumbled in response to his question, rain splashing his up turned face.
"Huh!?" He roared again, "Answer me you fucking bastard! Make a choice! That wasn't a choice at all!"
Again there was only silence. No voice in his head, no distant memory of a memory. No stranger appeared from the shadows. Kad could only scream his loss up at the sky again and again until he began to lose his voice.
A part of him still didn't believe that this all was happening. That he was trapped in some nightmare. That he would wake up soon and everything would be as it was. As he believed things were. Nurturing an impossible hope that there was some way to turn back time.
That he hadn't just killed the people he had known for all of his short life outside of that pod lost in hellspace so long ago.
" It didn't have to be this way…"
"… Maybe."
Still the sky told him nothing. Kad abandoned his snarling visage and sighed, looking back at his burnt hand. The red hot hand of anger across his throat slipped away.
Knowing what was done was done.
"…Or maybe I'm just, talking to myself," He spoke quietly.
His heart hurt, with more than just his close brush with cardiac arrest and death.
He loved Cinder, more than he had ever admitted while she was alive. A child's love, hero worship for the one who took him in and cared for a young impossibly lost boy from who knew where. Who taught him what strength meant, how their world was flawed and what they might do about it.
And Cinder tried to kill him.
To kill him to keep him away from this power he didn't even want for himself.
He followed Cinder to hopefully help people one day. Cinder led them for her own ends.
So many truths shifted into lies. Or the opposite. Kad did not know. He did not want to know...
His leg had started to repair itself, clotting blood and knitting the flesh back together. Yet still caused him a great deal of pain when Kad tried to stand on it. So the giant groaned and turned back onto his hands and his knees. Only to be overcome by a sudden wave of dizziness.
Kad collapsed undignified into the mud. Air leaving his lungs as his bare chest crashed into the ground. Groaning, he closed his eyes to focus. Centering his mind back on the present. He wondered where his sword went. The giant thought he could feel its familiar warmth at his left within arms-reach.
Eyes still closed, he rose as high as he could and reached out for the blade.
Ignis leapt into his hand all on its own,
From the other side of the destroyed lot.
The flat smacked into his palm. Three hand lengths down the great sword's blade. Kad was not so bewildered that he did not notice this peculiar little event. And the new way the world seemed to shine.
While he was starting to control onto his aura sense, this was something else entirely.
Seeing without sight the link that had been forged between the world and his soul.
But Kad ignored the winds calling to him. Threads of nature shining for him to pull on to his whim if he reached out like his semblance allowed. He crawled back up the rim of the crater and sat down on the edge looking in. Ignis balanced back on his left shoulder with its tip between his feet.
Kad was tired.
Moving any muscle felt like it was taking three times the effort, hours of violence and now the after effects of his exposure the crystal taking their toll. Too tired to stay angry anymore Kad just wanted to sit for a moment there in the rain. The crystal cast colorful rays of light across its dirty pond. Ever changing, never the same twice that he could see spiraling away into infinity.
Casting its glow over Amaranth's knife.
The old steel blade miraculously still where he had dropped it, now floating on its side next to the crystal.
Kad stayed there looking at both for what felt like hours letting the rain wash over him. Thinking on abandoning both in this pit along with the raw memories attached. Until the giant's eyes were drawn far away, beyond the broken wall in the Emerald forest the dragon roared. Kad saw its flaming breath rise above the cliffs and burn a hole in the storm. Heralding its return to the fight.
The Primarch thought back on why he had done this… And found himself lost when he considered of what the few remaining friends he thought he had would think.
Deep down he truly believed they would hate him, no one would understand.
But he could save them.
Have them live, and possibly learn.
And Kad decided that he could live with that .
So he went and knelt down on his right leg next to the shining shard. Picking up his knife and sheathing it on his side, the weapon heavier than it had ever been. Kad took one last steadying breath. Bracing himself for what he knew was about to happen.
When he took the crystal back, raised it up over his head and called the storm.
Some of Yang's strength started to return.
Which was good as the blonde girl found herself in the thick of fighting once again.
The Grimm's red eyes seemed all the more malevolent trailing out of the short distance she could see into this storm that had come out of nowhere. Following the strange explosion of light that felt like it was going to shake the world apart. Then disappeared just as quickly with as little explanation.
Hunter's weapons and the Grimm's white claws parted the curtains of water when they swung at each other.
Everyone was running now, the wounded had been evacuated along with all the civilians they could find or pry out of the holes they hid in. The Hunters and soldiers were pulling back to defend the docks until everyone could leave. Firing point blank into the horde that drew closer and closer with each fallen fighter.
Yang brushed away more soaked locks of hair out of her eyes after blasting a plate sized hole in the stomach of a Beowolf. Her team was arrayed on her right, Blake, Weiss and Ruby, along with the other girl Penny at the side of her sister who had put up her red hood. Each covering the others when weariness threatened to make them slip. Raven and Winter had been sent to the boats already. All of them soaked to the bone, the cold seeping into their skin.
The girls had backed down this alleyway strewn with trash and some stray rubble from the buildings that enclosed it.
The rest of their friends had scattered across half of Vale. Their withdrawal was faltering, though none of the girls fully knew it. Any strategy Goodwitch had tried devolving into broad suggestions to just get to the docks before the Grimm.
Above them, the frequency and intensity of the lightning bolts seemed to be increasing by the minute. Constant ear splitting cracks of thunder attacked their hearing, especially the sensitive Faunus. The lightning strikes almost made it seem like daylight had finally broken through the black clouds and this long night. Though none knew how far away the actual dawn was. Too busy surviving to look at the time just yet.
Winds howled through Vale whipping everything with stinging force. Lightning was drawn to what tall buildings remained. Clouds of sparks exploded from the points of impact, but the little fires they started were quickly snuffed out in the storm.
Yang peered back out into the street, holding up her left arm to shield her face from the hurricane force weather when she came out from the cover of the building.
Blake had to shout to be heard now, "We won't even be able to walk in this soon!"
Penny suddenly turned her head back over her left shoulder, her green eyes opening in panic.
"Get down!" She screamed,
She stepped forward, pushing down on the shoulders of Ruby and Weiss. Her web of swords came up in a shield, which also pushed Blake onto her knees.
They only saw the Dragon's shadow as it swooped low over the city. Hearing the rush of wind and the thunderous beat of its wings as it headed towards another target. The beast's roar buried the sounds of the storm for a moment in its horrid screech. Pained by the flurry of lightning bolts striking its body scorching off scales that healed seconds later.
Penny stood but kept her hands and blades on the other girl's shoulders, keeping them down. Trying to cast her artificial senses out through the weather.
Yang watched the darker shade in the clouds indicating the Dragon swing back wide from the east. Through the abandoned streets speckled with Grimm of all forms Yang could almost see the back of their abandoned haven that was the Vytal stadium.
Which seemed to be caught in the eye of the storm.
Broken ruins were swept up and shattered in this storms brutal winds, hurled like spears or boulders shot from ancient catapults through the streets. Crushing Grimm like tin cans and impaling creatures by the dozen. Sweeping their death clouds away like mist. Goliaths stood resolute in the maelstrom too heavy to move, but easy targets for everything else battering against their hides. Many monsters began to flee towards the edges of the city looking for shelter from the storm that was now attacking them.
Yang could picture the Dragon about to circle back. She saw a distant glow spring from its gullet, the beast preparing to incinerate something.
But from the city, the brightest bolt of lightning yet sailed up and struck the Dragon full in the chest. This single bolt seemed to act as a designator for the entire storm. Bolt after bolt of energy hotter than the surface of a star cascaded down on the back of the giant Grimm nearly setting it ablaze.
The blast still stunned the flying daemon, making it go limp and fall from the sky like a mountain from orbit. It landed nose first, rolled and crushed a whole row of houses that Yang did not see. There was still one street between them, where one of the atlas battleships had gone down in flames.
The giant Grimm flipped and twisted like a snake getting its feet back on solid ground. Snapping and snarling, the claws on its wing joints gouging more pieces from buildings when it tried to grip.
Penny moved up next to the blonde, holding up a hand over her eyes to block the rain. Ruby Weiss and Blake joined them trying to pierce the storm. The Dragon rose up over the roofs cracking open its mouth. Bare muscle tendrils stretched to breaking point while it readied another breath of flame.
Its target a tall silhouette approaching, wreathed in light and fire. A great sword in the giant's left hand, and the heart of a star held up in his right.
All three Ruby recognized with a gasp.
The Warp blast parted around his aura. Draining his strength but not faster than Kad could replenish it by drawing power from the crystal.
The purple pink jet of fire persisted for almost ten seconds turning ground behind Kad red hot with residual heat. The Dragon blinked its six eyes and screeched in surprise when the Primarch materialized unharmed.
Kad swung his sword, slashing down left to right. Too far away to strike the Grimm, instead from the sky briefly linking with the Dust fused blade. A wave of crackling light rocked the Grimm's head to the side, then back again when Kad swung the other way. The Grimm roared in annoyance.
The lone Huntsman brought his sword straight back, pulsed his semblance drawing power from the crystal. The blade gouged a molten trail through the ground where he dragged it forward, stepped and swung up at the daemon.
Energy leapt forward smashing into its broad armored front. The mere motion of the sword shearing through the wind with another thunderclap. The Dragon let loose a mighty pained roar. A deep gash cut into its chest, which began to slowly close even as it dripped glowing ichor from the furnace that had lit on its armor. The colossal daemon sensed the power arrayed against it, brought its wings back up bunching cords of muscles like bridge cables and prepared to take to the air.
Kad snarled, he couldn't kill this thing if he couldn't pin it down.
Another saw this problem.
Jaune spied four familiar outlines in the last flash of lightning. Coming down another street he waved his team up the alleyway behind team RWBY, calling out to alert the four girls and their friend Penny.
"Hey!"
The girls almost turned around, before both groups of young Hunters were blinded by twin blasts of lightning. And the third that soon followed burning against the darkness.
The black dragon spread its massive wings.
Ruby unleashed her scythe, turned it backfired at the ground launching herself at the beast. JNPR crowded behind the rest of RWBY watching the young girl almost fly.
Yang shouted at her sister, "Ruby! Get back here!"
The red hooded girl heard but couldn't respond, too focused on timing her first strike. Penny ran a quick calculation, surmised what was most likely happening and jumped after Ruby. Simply springing off the ground and flipping away.
"What are they doing?!" Yang yelled in question, and added in fear, "They're gonna get killed!"
Ruby was a blur, jumping from beam to beam on the gutted buildings firing behind her and pulsing her semblance to boost her to new heights.
She struck at the bottom of the right wing then spun like a red buzzsaw shearing the thin membrane away from its body. Spiraling up until Crescent Rose cracked against bone and stopped. Ruby flipped and balanced on the edge of the wing.
Penny jumped up into the air from a rooftop, hands held out while her swords began to spin. Tips down gathering emerald light.
"We've got to stop it…"
Jaune whispered under his breath as he surveyed the situation. Blake heard and looked back over her shoulder tilting her head in confusion. Her action drew the attention of the others crowded close.
"What was that?" The Faunus asked, half annoyed with the swordsman for his supposed statement of the obvious.
"We've got to keep that thing from getting away so Kad can kill it!" Jaune elaborated, pointing up to the two Huntresses attacking the wing.
Pyrrha grabbed onto Jaune's shoulder dragging him close to be better heard,
"How?" She asked her leader.
"Weiss, Blake, Yang can you fight?" Jaune asked,
"You want us to help Kad?" Yang shot back, almost indignant.
"We don't have a choice," Jaune said, feeling the wild pressure which was building in the air. The errant giant come back with some untold power and seemed to be coming to their aid. More importantly they had nothing else. It was a matter of survival now.
Jaune pointed up to the Dragon, "Go with them at least, keep that wing down."
They nodded, some more reluctant than others and leapt into motion, sprinting to the center of the street where Weiss laid a glyph down which they all crouched on to brace then the Heiress shot them in the air. They were definitely going to have an easier time, there was only one Grimm dominating the skies right now.
"Guys, we're back up," Jaune continued, "We've gotta take out its leg. Nora, get up high. Do your thing."
Nora grinned in excitement and nodded her understanding.
"Pyrrha, Ren with me," Jaune finished and drew his family sword expanding the shield, Pyrrha and Ren took their weapons in hands.
Their gunslinger spoke, "Then what after this?" Ren asked,
Pyrrha carried on that line of thought, "Do you really think Kad can finish it?"
"He'd better," Jaune told them.
She cast her silver eyes down at him,
Kad lowered his sword. Nodding thanks to Ruby as Penny fired down at the beast. Scorching away the black skin at the joint where the Grimm's wing connected to the rest of its massive bulk.
The giant curled his arms up, gritting his teeth and bracing his aura to take in the unchecked power of the crystal once more. Blazing heat ran up his arms and into his heart as the light of his aura rose again.
Four points of cold pierced that shield, Kad shouted once in shock as a Beowolf leapt onto his back. Its claws digging for grip onto his skin. Jaws open wide to bite down on his neck. Kad swung his sword high, the cross guard fangs stabbed into the wolf's red eye. Kad shook like a dog and threw the clinging creature away.
It did not get far before Kad spun and backhanded Ignis through its chest.
More Grimm found their courage and leapt from the darkness, claws and fangs and flailing limbs set to violent purpose again. And the Primarch resumed the blade dance, stepping and spinning Ignis trailing fire. Taking a dangerous test of how much energy he could still store in his aura while he kept fighting, and the energy escaped through his bright sword.
The Dragon turned its head back snapping at Ruby still on its wing. She flipped out of the way, and a barrage of fiery shotgun blasts battered the white mask. The cracks made were healed before the impact smoke even faded. Yang dove from the height of her launch and spun down aiming for the same scorched target Penny had fired on. The blonde linked her fingers and hammered down on the monster's joint. An audible crack shooting out, accentuated by another lightning flash in the hurricane.
Weiss drew another glyph and flicked her rapier down at the wing, Myrtenaster launched bolt after bolt of blue Dust down. Columns of ice exploded into existence on the wing, freezing it in place. The bitter chill interfering with its unparalleled healing factor.
The Heiress landed on the second joint behind the fearsome claw, stabbing the narrow point of her weapon deep into the black muscles.
Blake followed her leader's first example, dragging her katana up the Dragon's side. Slicing through the regrowing membrane. And when she reached the end where Yang had almost crash landed the Faunus turned back focused her aura and sent two purple energy waves back down tearing the skin apart again.
Penny's feet hit close to the Dragon's tail at the base of its spine. She lingered for only a moment in the flashing storm light before springing forward. She flipped once and sent her array of swords down into the Dragon head. The wires connecting the blades to her went taught and she set her own incredible strength to pulling back its gruesome head like a troublesome bull. The creature twisted and tried to turn its serpentine neck back and burn the meddlesome Humans of its back.
Its six yellow eyes full of hate rolled backwards like a chameleon spying its prey.
Before they all shut in pain at the cannon snap of bone from below.
None of the three team JNPR members this low had to fight particularly hard to see four steps in front of themselves anymore beneath the looming wing. Jumping off the broken walls closing into melee.
The giant leg took a balancing step and almost crushed Jaune, who skidded to a halt then swung his blade up over head. Crocea Mors chipped one scale off which vanished into smoke and was immediately replaced.
Jaune cursed then turned to his friends, going down on one knee and tapping his sword against his shield. Ren and Pyrrha got the message.
One after the other they jumped onto this slab of metal and its crescent emblem and jumped with Jaune throwing his strength behind them. Slashing their blades against the thick skin. Ren added a barrage of bullets to no effect. Jaune jumped and cut across the same place the others had, finally parting the thick skin for a brief moment.
In the bare rafters Nora readied her hammer and raised it to the open sky. Lightning crashed high above then a bolt of singular power came to Magnhild.
One split off from the tempest centering down onto the Primarch.
Nora gasped in shock. But then started to laugh, hair whipping in the wind giddy with strength. All the times she had used her semblance so far combined might have added up to what she was feeling now.
Sparks ran up her body, then she turned and let herself fall backwards. Grimm had attacked her teammates within seconds of them actually striking the great Dragon. Ren ducked and Jaune swung his shield up to guard over him while back to back with Pyrrha firing at the creatures with her rifle and own round bronze shield raised.
Putting all her strength, weight, and supercharged aura power behind the blow and hammered into the Grimm's bending knee.
The creature lurched to the left, unleashing an ear splitting scream of pain across the city and drowning the echoes of bone breaking.
Kad decided it was now or never.
The giant planted his feet and summoned all his strength, no longer bothering to swallow down on the scream coming from the bottom of his lungs. The light emanating from his body increased tenfold.
The two teams had done their job, and their leaders signaled for them to fall back sensing the great pressure rising from Kad. The Dragon arched its back and tried to catch some of the girls with its tail spikes, taking the roof of another building instead.
The daemon raised its wings up, the right still heavy with ice, then flapped them down. With a sound like a cannon beating the windstorm back for a moment with one of its own as the Dragon opened its gaping mouth. Gripped its bat like wing claws onto ruins and launched itself forward aiming to swallow the Primarch whole.
Kad brought his sword before him, placing the crystal right against the blade above the cross guard fangs.
The light shifted,
Coming down from the inferno that was his aura into the great sword.
Thunder burst again when Kad swung the blade down to the left then back over his head ready to swing. All the power of the storm and crystal flowing into Ignis. Stretching a coil of plasma fire back block after block like the sword had grown far beyond reason or need in just a moment. Searing into the retinas of all those who looked upon it.
Fire streaming from his eyes and rage roaring from his throat, Kad stepped and swung down. The Dragon's mouth full of ivory teeth closing on him. In the blink of an eye the white wave flashed up against the sky. And the ground shook twice.
First beneath the giant's most devastating blow. Power rippled deep down into the mantle of Dust that was their planet. Power gathered from the world and released through weapons of steel, Dust and geneforged flesh. Ignis cut into the cobblestones beneath Kad's feet, small Grimm were thrown back like an artillery shell had landed in their midst.
Then the earth shook for the second time, reverberating from the two halves of the bisected Dragon Grimm fell to the ground.
The cutting line burned crimson as it cooled, the monster struck almost clean in half.
Its dead carcass flattened the abandoned homes on both sides of the street, limply crumbling to where it would rest until the dead thing had disappeared and left this world.
At the moment the monster was slain the storm began to fade. Kad had pulled all the potential energy it had left down into himself choking away the rain. The grey clouds remained blocking out the sky hiding distant thunder cracks. The torrents of water ceased, leaving only the drops from the rooftops and overflowing gutters to trickle down as the streets began to steam.
Ignis struck the ground and Kad fell after it on his hands and knees. The crystal and his blade clattered out of his grip while he fought for breath and struggled to compose himself again. Out of the corner of his eye Kad saw the others gathering in the ruins.
Ruby immediately attempted to approach the giant but Yang grabbed onto her sister's shoulder. No one else made to welcome him back, they all stared at him with naked fear and hostility.
After a moment when his heart stopped racing Kad stood slowly and painfully. Then moved to the other side of the street, favoring his wounded right leg.
He approached what once was a clothing shop, but garments were not the only thing this place had once sold. In the front display there was a grey black messenger bag. Kad clenched his burnt right hand in pain, cracking the joints and bones. Using his left hand to collect the bag and a filthy blue shirt through the shattered front window. Then slowly walked back to the crystal, draped the shirt over it then placed the shard inside the bag.
Kad looked up to the others, saying nothing and throwing the bag across the street to Penny. She caught it with both of her hands, the loose zippers and buckles rattling. She glanced at it once but then back to Kad.
He took up the red greatsword again in his left hand, pointed the tip down towards the docks and simply broke into as fast a walk as he could manage. The others looked amongst themselves and decided to follow Kad. Spreading themselves out to screen behind him.
The Grimm were running.
Against every instinct in their nature the monsters were fleeing to the outskirts of the city. Running to regroup or escaping back through the breach in the wall to the safety of the wilds beyond.
Hoping their fell masters would be forgiving.
Giving the Hunters the first respite they had for a very long time. Some sat down, or fell on their backs in exhaustion. Others remained standing just in case this was some sort of ruse. No matter how much their bones ached or their eyelids threatened to close.
But everyone stood and moved to the street running along the bay front when word reached them that Kad had come back. They gathered by the dozen. Coming up the wooden docks, on the street by the water and crowding the gunwales. The more prominent and powerful Hunters reached the front.
Team CFVY, steadfast watching for trouble. The boys of team SSSN, and team CRDL. One eager to greet the returning giant. The other warily awaiting some answers.
The giant's own teammates pushed forward, Co'Balt leaning his axe back against his shoulder. Alicia with her red brown braid and right hand on the hilt of her Dust knife the other loose at her side.
And Professor Goodwitch, flanked by the girls Raven and Winter along with a host of Atlesian officers with energy carbines ready. The teams RWBY and JNPR along with Penny took up a position on Kad's left as the pseudo mob closed in.
The giant's face was an image of pure dread and weariness as he leaned back against the sharp white corner of a blue painted customs post and dock office. Taking his red greatsword up, right hand snug against the guard and his left further down. He ran a critical gaze down both chipping edges.
Kad stayed in that pose for sometime, yet to meet any of his once comrades face to face and eye to eye. The uncomfortable shifts and rustles of weapons, clothes and armor filled the silence along with the constant low sound of the little waves splashing against boats all round them.
Kad raised his titian eyes up and finally spoke, "I owe you all the truth."
Co'Balt stepped forward, "Ah, what…" He swallowed nervously, "What truth is that… Kad?"
"What did she tell you?" The giant asked, looking over to the dark Huntress at their Professor's side.
Dozens of eyes went to Raven, the girl straightened up, "Who you were really working for. How you came in to deceive them all. To make yourself their leader so you could steal the next generation of Hunters to follow your master's plan. You aren't their friend. You aren't anyone's brother, you're just a liar out for chaos and death."
There were whispers, quiet mutterings still of disbelief and fear.
Co'Balt shook his horned head again at these accusations, "It's not true. It's crazy,"
"No," Kad said before sighing, "No that about sums it up."
A gasp ran through their ranks, some of the youths began to back away.
Jaune managed to find his voice, "Really?"
"...More or less," Kad told him, "That was the plan… But never, ever was completely letting the Grimm into the city a part of it."
"You still were going to attack Ozpin, Beacon? Make chaos all over?"
"I didn't want this much… I didn't know..."
"But…" Jaune struggled gathering the right words and only asked, "Why?"
Kad tried to gather his thoughts, "…Because,"
Raven snapped, "Are you really going to justify yourself? All that,"
She pointed back over his head to the city, "That was your fault. You and that bitch…"
But she stopped her own furious tirade when a question came to mind, "Where is she? Where's your master?"
"She's dead… I killed her," Kad said, the weight on his soul breaking up his words, "Some of you may have known her or the others. Mercury Black, Emerald Sustrai, Cinder Fall… Cinder… She was the one I followed. She never said anything about letting the Grimm into Vale, until they were here… I know, I fucking know… I know what I was a part of… Violence and plots for more… But, I was alone before I met her. I had nothing, just... She took me in. Gave me purpose and meaning that, I didn't see anywhere else in this world… There were things that needed to be changed with Remnant. I know some of you know that as well... Nothing else had worked. No wishful thinking. No words from any council were going to change the fact that the Kingdoms were stagnant. Mired in racism, and pettiness with no plan to fight the Girmm then to just throw people at them for the rest of time. Ozpin… Ozpin had power that could help. And what did he do with it?"
He took a deep painful breath. "But there was a line I thought we'd never cross… A line I hadn't even thought existed… That people would see before it was too late, and we could finally have the strength that was denied us for so long… But, Cinder ordered an attack on the Atlas fleet… To run a distraction for me, as I was summoned to Vale's marshal Huntsman this morning. For what, I don't think I'll ever know… Then when the Grimm invaded our home and started killing… Cinder didn't bat an eye... And when I tried to stop her from running off leaving us all to the monsters... She tried to kill me. Gave me that crystal Ozpin had hidden in Beacon hoping it would do the job."
He held up his charred right hand, letting his presence fill in the rest of an answer.
Raven scowled, "And just what the fuck are you expecting us to do with this, Revelation."
Kad turned his head aside, "I don't know… But you needed to… I needed to tell my... To try and explain myself… What I dreamed, what I did… Back when the world made sense to me..."
He fell silent.
"So…" Raven asked, "Are you here to take everything for yourself now?"
Kad stared her down, Raven steeled herself, taking all of her will not to flinch away. A bead of sweat trickled down her forehead.
"No," The giant said, "Penny has the crystal. You need to get that and yourselves as far away from here as you can."
The whispers returned, voices quietly commenting on the existence of Beacon's greatest secret, and just how far his evil plans had gone. Thoughts on the treasure Ozpin had hidden for years. How it had wounded and weakened the strongest of them. Others silenced the curious, wondering what Kad could possibly mean by his last words.
Kad stood, "I'll draw the rest of the Grimm away, buy you all as much time as I can."
His teammate Co'Balt stuttered out, "Wha, you… Kad, just like that?"
The giant nodded and turned aside, his right leg almost buckled but Kad sucked in a breath and steadied himself. Still Co'Balt tried to get him to stop, his voice cracking into pieces, "Kad it doesn't matter…"
"No it does matter," Kad said, "Raven's right, I wasn't honest with any of you. I can't stay here anymore."
Again, Jaune Arc spoke. Trying to wrap his mind around these revelations, trying to get the reason that Kad seemed so reluctant to give, "Kad, just why?"
"Because… Look and see what we did today. We stared hell itself in the face and it blinked . Do you think that any of that would have been possible with the old ways of stagnant complacency, burying our heads in the dirt hoping all will be well? I fought for what I thought was right, for our survival. And so did all of you."
Raven spoke, "They all fought to stop what you started, this wasn't progress,"
Kad cut her off, "It was extinction. I know..."
"You should have seen it a lot sooner, if you really think we're buying,"
Co'Balt snarled and swung his axe down, turning left at Raven with a threatening storm on his face,
"Let him speak bitch!" He demanded. Certain that his team leader had a good explanation. That he was still the warrior Co'Balt and many others would have followed anywhere.
Raven held up her hands in a surrendering motion, taking a dramatic step back.
Kad lowered his head, "It wasn't supposed to be like this… I thought we were going to change things."
Raven ignored the other Faunus' threat, half mumbling in vitreous sarcasm, "Plotting to sack Vale, becoming a sleeper agent in the Hunter academy yeah sure, that'll make a difference."
Kad replied before anyone else could, "If there is anything that this war can teach us. It's that Beacon, the Kingdoms were never safe. All of their complacency was torn asunder, the instant one person or the Grimm became driven enough to do it."
Cardin Winchester tried to speak up, on the same path as Co'Balt, "But… That doesn't matter now."
"It does matter," Kad said, "I've killed people for her, for Cinder. For this plan… And I let a lot more die because… Because I thought I was doing the right thing."
" You thought?"
The crowd and Kad turned their eyes upon Yang, the latest to give their voice in this moment, "How could you think any of this would help people? You got my Uncle killed!"
Kad shook his head, his tone becoming almost wistful as he talked, "I don't know anymore. I'm beyond sorry for your Uncle, for everything that happened… I know what I did… What happened because... I just wanted things to be different, for us to grow into all that we could be. Things Ozpin, the councils would never let happen. They'd just keep throwing us at the Grimm, hiding power that could help us turn the tide. Because they didn't have any trust or courage in their blood. And preparing the next generation to do it all over again like every other headmaster, marshal and king have done. No more wasting our potential. No longer cowed and constantly afraid just waiting for death…"
He let out one last deep breath, the burden on his shoulders no less for all he tried to reason with it, "I hope you all realize that someday."
Kad began to walk away,
Holding out his left hand and the sword within to steady himself on the wall, no destination in mind but towards the creatures that waited for him. Just leaving, abandoning the last hopes his life had centered on and embracing this dark regret set in his bones. All for the greater good he told himself, though it did nothing for his soul. Knowing the Grimm would come for him. But that might be enough to let the others escape.
No one moved to stop him, stilled in fear or in shock the gathered Hunters were going to let him have his wish for exile.
Except for one,
Before her sister could react, Ruby slid like quicksilver and caught Kad by his right wrist. Totally eclipsed by his shadow she looked up to the giant.
"You aren't going to even make it back to the stadium, the shape you are in," Ruby told him,
Kad could have easily torn his arm free, but chose instead to simply ask, "Let me go."
"Would you do it all again if you knew how things would end?" Ruby asked,
Kad closed his eyes and let out a deep breath, "The world doesn't work like that Ruby."
"Then how are you going to make up for it? Without running off and killing yourself?"
"I can't stay here."
"Kad… I can understand you thought you had some good ideas… Maybe you did, but Kad you were working for some very bad people… And I feel sorry for you… You feel sorry don't you?"
"Take the crystal and go," The giat said, "You don't need me."
"Kad…"
Ruby looked back over her left shoulder. It was like a spell had been broken, Hunters and even some of the Atlas soldiers looked ready to march forward to stand by the two of them.
"You made a mistake," Ruby continued, "A lot of mistakes… People were hurt… People I care," She froze for more than a moment. "People I cared about… Who aren't coming back, because of what happened today. Are you sorry?"
Kad hung his head low, "Yes."
" Ruby get away from him!"
Yang screamed and rushed forward aiming to drag her sister back by the hood. Her eyes flashed red and she bared her teeth like a wolf guarding its cub. But Ruby quickly spun and smacked her sister's hands away.
The little Huntress jabbed a finger back into Yang, "Stop it! I'm not a baby."
"He's working with the Grimm!"
Whatever discourse still floated between the Hunters died at Yang's most desperate accusation.
"No!" Ruby said as she stepped back. "Now that's just the most bold faced lie I think I've heard."
Yang spoke in defense of her enigmatic half sister, "Ruby please listen,"
The younger girl did not, "The first thing I saw Kad do today was fight the Girmm… All I saw him do today was fight the Grimm… I know Kad hasn't been honest about why he was doing what he was doing. But you can't just ignore just what he was doing… The Grimm speak for the first time ever and say they are coming for him and you're just going to ignore that?"
Raven spoke, silencing her protest, "Ruby he's a liar, you can't…"
But a voice yet to be heard echoed out, Blake's quiet tone bolstered with what conviction she could muster, "Raven, don't you remember?"
The other Huntress chewed on her teeth, dead words falling from her tongue,
Blake continued, "The tunnels, your hideout. The bombs? Ruby's right. The Grimm let the Grimm into Vale."
Further down the line of youths, Nora called out to her classmate, "What are you talking about?"
Blake looked back to Yang and Raven, despite their pointed looks she began to elaborate on how the three of them had begun the day, "Raven took us to an old White Fang Hideout, said she had proof that there was a conspiracy in Beacon. The hideout wasn't as abandoned as she remembered. But the Faunus there had been massacred... By…" She swallowed down nothing but fear, "One of those big talking Grimm… It said… We would be the first, sacrificed. Raven managed to portal us away and then that thing blew up the wall…"
Blake paused and took in a deep breath, as shivers ran down her spine. "I'm not sure I even want to know… What that thing was, or what the Grimm really want with us… The world's been thrown on its head, and I don't think we can ignore that… Any of it… And I've been where Kad is, finding out my friends were not who I thought they were."
Raven huffed again, "You were just another pawn in the White Fang. He was in with everything. Everything!"
"And I wouldn't point that finger if I were you Raven." The black haired Faunus looked back up to the giant, "Doubting someone so desperate to be believed by the people he cares about... Someone looking for redemption." She inhaled a deep breath then let it go slowly, "Running doesn't solve anything."
Raven yelled in outrage, "And just let him get away with this?!"
Murmurs began to float, discussing this quandary. Though many chose to remain silent in trepidation. This was beyond anything anyone had ever thought to deal with.
Until the owner of another usually silent voice made himself heard. Ren stepped away from his team, hands clasped on the opposite green sleeves and the bladed pistols within, "He is not getting away with anything, Kad came to us, laid his heart out on his sleeves… And I believe Kad is truly genuine in remorse with his... confession… But for this, if he needs to be punished… Have there not been sentences of service before? Service to the Kingdom and the people?"
"If he wants to leave, let him leave. None of you seem to understand this bastard probably destroyed the world!" Raven called, eyes flitting back and forth amongst all the threats she saw around her.
Someone shouted out from the anonymity of the sea of Hunters, "Don't make him go!"
Weapons were raised and many shouted in affirmation with the unseen Hunter.
Ruby looked to the older Huntress, "I'm not blind Raven… I am going to be sad for the rest of my life about Uncle Qrow… The most important thing in the world that a Hunter can do is keep moving forward. Uncle Qrow told me that"
Sun decided to give his own consideration on the matter, "He caused a lot of damage sure… I know how that sounds. But we shouldn't let him run off and kill himself, or anyone on any day. And really now when we still may need him, you know for the thingie that flash fried the Dragon. I don't want to touch some rock Ozpin was hiding if it almost took down the toughest dude I know…"
Sun raised a hand up in solidarity, "I'm with Ruby on this. Kad says he's sorry... We'll start from there."
His team eventually chose to nod in agreement. Each knew it wasn't perfect at all, but they also began to realize there was a lot more to these events than they knew. They felt strength within them they had never felt before. Strength blown on like embers by the events of that day.
Actions spoke louder than words, and the giant's had spoken loud enough during the battle to still be heard now.
Ruby smiled hesitantly at Kad, now offering up her hand, "It's not about what went wrong, it's about how you move forward. Like a real hero."
A faint hope flickered inside him, bringing a corner of Kad's mouth up. And a small bead of water ran down his left eye for what he knew could not be, "…I don't deserve this."
Weiss spoke now, coming in on the side of her partner and friend. Her own wish for absolution coming to mind, "We will be the judge of that."
Trepidation still ran in the hearts of many.
Nothing yet forgotten, but possibly beginning to be understood. A thing more reluctant than it wasn't, but it was there. For Kad, it was a possibility he hadn't thought to exist. Of a thing he did not expect to receive. A different chance at redemption. That the truth behind whatever lies had fogged was still there after all. And that held some hope.
He took a deep breath, banishing his fear before laying his soul bare, "I can't take back what I did. And I know many of you still don't understand, nor will ever believe me."
The giant slowly looked down across the many faces looking back, "But I swear to you. On my honor, the only thing I have left. I swear by that trust we once had in each other. By all the lives lost today and all the promise I saw in you that no one else would… I swear I will atone for my crimes. Whatever that will take, even my life."
He gripped Ignis by its silver wrapped handle with his right hand, and with a swift jerk slid the cutting edge through his left palm. Creating a red bleeding mark of his oath that Kad held up for all to see,
"Blood for blood… I swear."
"…Little dramatic there."
Some began to chuckle at the ax man Auburn's joke attempt. But Kad turned to the shirtless Hunter who developed a sudden interest in his boots under those burning eyes. The others bit their tongues as well.
Kad spoke to the crowd, "I can't ask anyone to keep fighting. But I will ask, should we abandon Vale?"
The most supportive voices took up a chorus of agreement. Calls of no and half shouts of denial rose.
Sun looked around himself then said, "Something tells me we can really win."
Co'Balt agreed, "I've never seen the Grimm run before. Let's keep em running."
This sudden confidence spread like a wave. Infectious fire reminding those gathered of the feeling of victory so close that could be theirs again, whatever their feelings on the giant. The students began to disembark from the boats. Finding places to rest on the docks or close by in the houses not yet decimated by the battle. Taking the time to talk about these revelations that had come upon them. Just what they entailed still a touchy subject, none one for certain come to grips with them yet.
More were willing. But there was still doubt.
Alicia hadn't spoken during Kad's confession, letting him explain to the world what he could. But she took this quiet moment to walk up to her partner and leader, shadowed by the Faunus Co'Balt leading a large pack of Kad's defenders.
"Ali," Kad tried to begin,
"I'm still confused Kad," She said, rising out of a whisper.
The tall girl clenched her hands tight, then punched Kad right in the guts. A straight jab that had the same result of striking a brick wall for all the power behind it. Though Kad's heart beat skyrocketed. This second jolt of shock making the youths behind her pause and wait.
"Just promise you'll never lie to me again," Alicia asked, "Please?"
"Of course," Kad told her without hesitation, "Never again."
There were two more Huntresses awaiting an audience with him. Mirror images side by side cast in light and shadow behind the others. Both Yang and Raven shrouded with common caution against the giant they had little reason to believe.
Raven approached him, mustering all of her courage to make each step, "Don't think all of us are going to be so easily…"
"You think any of that was easy?" Kad growled, centered inside enough to be irritated again.
The dark Huntress froze when he cut her off, "…I'm watching you," She warned.
"…Good."
Rest was their first priority.
This long night had taken its toll on all of them, and there was still a rough road ahead. Medics kept up their treatment of the wounded with scavenged supplies. Soldiers stood sentry watching for Grimm, while most of the young Hunters sat down with their backs against walls or flat down where ever they could manage. All with weapons still in easy reach.
A dozen or so team leaders were busy holding a small war council at the foot of one dock where the little wooden platform started out over the water. Discussing how long they could possibly give their comrades to recover and what things they would head out for first when they started their forays into the city.
Kad stood close by, keeping to himself mostly letting others take the lead. Raven and Yang glared daggers at him from the shadows while they stood behind the little council and Yang's teammates. But the giant paid them no mind, running his blackened index and thumb up and down the rigid grip of Ignis calming himself down.
"Mister Amaranth,"
Only one person would address him like that, Kad would have known who it was even if Professor Goodwitch hadn't come directly at him
"May I speak with you… In private." The Professor requested,
Some other eyes came up in curiosity but Kad waved them down and followed Goodwitch out of their safely out of the earshot of all.
"Mister Amaranth," Goodwitch spoke quietly, "I don't suppose I can implore you to reconsider going back in there?"
"You can plead with me all you like Professor," Kad said, trying to keep his voice neutral, "It was their choice. Everything is going to be decided by them now."
Goodwitch let out a displeased huff of air, looking back at her students planning for another battle.
Kad sensed a reason behind her silence, "Professor?"
"You are the future," She mused, "It's the nature of time. The old ways give in."
She looked back to Kad, "But you must realize there will be consequences for this."
"Yes," Kad said,
"I don't mean just for them. I see, they are all warriors now. And I suppose they have seen the price of that. But for you Mister Amaranth. People will hear of you. And I don't think they will be as understanding as these young ones who fought with you will."
Neither did Kad.
"Professor. I know I've never shown this, but I have more respect for you than any other teacher at Beacon. Believe me, I understand that too... I'm going to surrender myself to the justice council once this is all over."
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A/N Yo yinz who suddenly favorite follow both me and this story. Don't be afraid to leave some words in a review too. Or consider this my, Bot check. (Don't know why there'd be bots on this site, or who sent them my way. Fifty fifty on whether or not I'd want them around.)
The rest of y'all to if you'd be so kind. 3
So… Also not sure how I feel about this chapter. For one I kept considering whether or not to just end it after that last Kad and Raven exchange. Two, I'm back to wondering how well I conveyed this flow of plot. Or if it's been forced right now. Never to be named guys may still be cautious. But I think a lot of the cannon characters have some logic behind trying to be forgiving.
Anyway, might go write the next 375-13 chapter. You can check that out if you like.
Or gotta go get my certification in this other thing I'm looking at to supplement my bachelor's degree. Which I am starting to question the value of. Well at least I have a degree to show for this debt, unlike a bunch of my friends.
Later, Bois and Grils