Fangs of the Exiles
Rated M
Rwby
Summary:
Life is not about what happens to you, but what you make of it... At least that's what everyone says. Two faunus will answer whose way is right, carrying the will of a titanic kingdom while the other, the spirit of one who shouldn't exist. Forgotten, their paths will cross, for better or worse.
A/N:
Chapter 7: Baring Our Fangs-2
"Ugh... What happened?" a hoarse and raspy tone echoed within a dark room. The speaker clutched their head, plagued by a dull yet, debilitating headache. As the fog began to lift, the boy's eyes began to glow slightly, illuminating the area around him. Even still, there was no answer to his inquiry. "Where the hell am I?"
"My, you're a heavy sleeper..." a low voice, deep and sophisticated, broke the silence.
The boy jumped at the voice overhead, reaching for his weapon... except, there was nothing to grab hold to. Realizing this, he'd had to settle for a snarl before a high pitch whine tore into his ears. As he pulled on his ears to muffle the sound, he would find that he wasn't alone. The whine soon gave way to the horrific growls all around him, stirring up a sensation inside his heart. However, it was only when several lights began to turn on that the boy finally confirmed his suspicions.
"Grimm..."
"I do apologize for the lack of bedding for your stay but, I haven't had much company lately."
The young man was not amused at the poorly executed joke.
"Who are you? Tell me, where am I?"
"I must say, you're a rather rude guest..." the man replied in a sad tone. "After all the trouble I went through to get you here for study. Tsk tsk... I guess it's to be expected of an animal."
"Come down here and say that to my face, coward!" the faunus roared, no longer caring about the monsters scattered around him.
In truth, there was nothing to truly worry about at the moment as they were trapped within cages that kept them from doing much aside from growling and lying down to rest. That was all the fox needed to continue his threats, while interestingly, the Grimm remained till now.
An elderly man with disheveled gray hair, a matching mustache and beard, and prominent eyebrows tapped away his findings on the keyboard. His left eye was robotic glowing bright red as he turned his head back to the screen watching as the more his 'subject' expressed his furious threats, the more docile the creatures were, noticing how some of them would begin to cower in their prisons.
This is truly fascinating...! he marveled to himself, recording more of his findings with an almost fetishistic adoration. I can see why that fool wanted him so badly. He's truly the perfect specimen to center my next experiments around.
"Hey! Are you listening to me?!"
The scientist was broken out of his musings by the boy. Now, he was banging against the massive door, a futile escape attempt.
"I do apologize, young man. I haven't even introduced myself..." the old man chuckled over the P.A. system. "My name is Dr. Merlot, and you are here to help me complete my studies..."
"Studies?" the faunus ceased his actions, staring at a video camera overhead.
"Yes. You see, I'm the owner and founder of Merlot Industries, a leading organization in the study of Grimm. As for you, Aganju Umbrae... You may be the key to finding the solution to all of the problems with mankind's vendetta with the beasts."
Aganju bore his canines at the recording device. He wasn't sure if the man was currently watching him, but he didn't care either. All he could think about was what he'd do if he ever caught the madman in person.
"What makes you think that I would ever agree to help you?!"
The voice broke out into a boisterous, almost maniacal laugh.
"My dear boy... You don't have much of a choice."
How long have I been here?
He'd been missing; Being kidnapped shortly after his team encountered the Grimm on Mountain Glenn.
It was difficult to tell when there was nothing to determine time as Aganju sat in the large room, surrounded by the now-empty cages. Most of his dress clothes had been ripped to shreds as he leaned against the cold wall, sliding down gingerly as he struggled to take deep breaths. This was painful in and of itself as his lungs burned with every inhale he'd taken.
Around him, several spots of black ash began to fade away from existence; the sign of a Grimm's destruction. All that remained were the various puddles of a glowing green substance left behind from the creature's defeat.
What's next?
The main door opened to his holding chamber, causing his dark grey ears to twitch. Whatever was about to enter, it drew the attention of the vulpine who growled at having his rest disturbed.
"I'm impressed...!" the voice of Doctor Merlot pierced the foxes' ears. "You managed to take out a dozen modified Beowolf without succumbing to my inhibitor collar. That deserves a reward..."
Aganju opened his eyes, slowly letting in the blinding light along with the cursed image of the older man. This would've been the perfect time to attack him; rip his throat out and leave the demented scientist gurgling as he drowned in his blood. But, he couldn't commit to such a task as he sat exhausted from his earlier ordeal.
His upper body was bruised and battered, decorated with scars and open wounds that bled out slowly. His hair was matted after days of no care as was his tail. His Torso appeared sunken slightly due to malnourishment, most likely a punishment inflicted upon him by the doctor. All of these visuals paled in comparison to the most notable change in the faunus.
The eyes that glared at the arrogant demon across from him were devoid of light, replaced with a searing hatred. Gone were the bright violet gems of the Beacon student. Now, all that stared back were two sanguine orbs surrounded by the inky black ooze that resembled the birthplace of his beloved pet projects. Merlot, smirked darkly at the youth, not at all intimidated by the look of death behind the boy's eyes.
"Is that any way to greet someone bearing gifts?" he taunted, earning himself a menacing snarl. Only once it died down did Merlot choose to speak again. "As a thank you for all of your... assistance, I'm here to tell you that some of your classmates are here on the island. How they managed to find it is beyond me, but, rest assured, they are receiving a warm welcome."
Aganju said nothing.
This was rather unusual as Merlot took a few more steps inside, avoiding the puddles of green ooze that lay haphazardly on the otherwise pristine floor. Was his precious test subject already beginning to outlive his usefulness? As a soft frown settled on his face, he observed the darkness lurking behind the boy's tired vision.
"What's the matter? Out of steam already?"
Aganju replied by spitting in his face, a small comeback that brought a weak grin to the faunus' face. Merlot raised his hand to slap the faunus only to stop mid-stride. Instead, he merely wiped the glob of phlegm and plasma from his cybernetic eye, sneering in delight, much to the boy's confusion.
"Good. You still have some fire left in you..." he remarked calmly. He turned and began his departure. "It would be a shame to have you miss what's to come."
"What are you talking about, you lunatic? You gonna send a dozen Death Stalkers here to finish me off?"
Merlot shook his head.
"Nonsense... Based on my data, you'd barely survived five of my altered Death Stalkers. Though, you've given me an idea of how to greet your classmates. Imagine their screams when they fall to my superior creations, courtesy of your brilliant idea."
"No! Wait!" Aganju scampered to his feet only to blunder backward due to a sudden case of nausea and lightheadedness overtaking him.
"Don't bother. That inhibitor collar has been doing wonders to seal your aura which means, you'll be fortunate to regain a quarter of your strength within a week. I suggest that you rest and savor the thought of your peer's lifeless faces after my children have ripped them limb from limb."
Aganju could only watch helplessly as he wrestled with his heavy body, trying to get to the insane doctor but, to no avail. He was too weak from his 'test' and he was starving at this point. Plus, what could he do with his aura sealed? Merlot noticed the look of failure and assuredly took his leave. However, as the sliding door began to close, he was left with a parting gift from the faunus who roared out with every last ounce of his strength.
Truly, a delicious result awaits.
[Merlot's Laboratory/Main Floor]
The team's RWBY, JNPR, and ASRE had rushed into the facility without a moment's notice. After receiving news of the sudden disappearance of the latter team's leader, Sango was given the command to join them as a chaperone and field leader. At first, the panther tried to opt out of the assignment, citing his position as a mental aid for the fledglings. That was until he found out about Ozpin's suspicions of the culprit.
Did Merlot come all the way here?
His suspicions would soon be confirmed after a short investigation that revealed the boy's broken weapon. From there, a week-long search brought them all to the island lair of the madman. Once inside, they decided to split up as their journey brought them to a crossroads.
"We'll go after Merlot!" Ruby, the fearless leader of her team announced. "Professor Ozpin said that if we take him down, we can prevent him from bringing his plot back to the mainland."
While this was a good idea, in theory, Esu raised a hand.
"Um... Ruby? How would you know which path leads to Merlot?" the dragon faunus inquired, earning himself a blank stare from the scythe-wielder. "It would appear to be more efficient to balance ourselves into two groups. One to find Merlot and the other to shut down the facility. That way, we can knock out two birds with one stone."
"Plus, there may be clues to Aganju's whereabouts here as well," Pyrrha added.
"It would be prudent for you all to investigate every possible path," Sango interrupted, his eyes carefully scanning the multiple paths. Merlot had done his homework since he last hunted him down in the tundra, that much was certain. Three paths. "Can I trust you all to handle yourselves?"
When the students bowed their heads in confirmation, he hustled down the center path without another word. Whether they figured it out or not, Sango knew this was the path to his desired target. Aganju was their target, after all. While he cared for the vulpine faunus, he couldn't pass up the chance to correct his past mistake and rid the world of this monster, once and for all.
Though Ruby wasn't happy with having her thunder stolen by the Atlesian, she wouldn't dwell on it too long.
"Alright! Yang, Blake, Pyrrha, Roxie, and Esu can take the right path while the rest of us will head down the left!" she announced with vigor.
Ruby proudly took Weiss and the others down their designated pathway, leaving the Spartan to lead the way for her team. The fivesome managed to avoid many of the mutated monstrosities along the way as most of them were locked away in various rooms scattered throughout the building. Though they were tired, it was clear what their goal was:
Rescue Aganju.
That was all that mattered to Pyrrha at the moment as she rushed through the many corridors of the lab. Being the last one to interact with Aganju before his disappearance, Pyrrha couldn't shake off the feeling of guilt that ate away at her heart, even after being informed by the headmaster to remove such thoughts. Nobody suspected this to happen, thus there was no blame to be given except to the one responsible.
With Yang and the others following close behind, their trek brought them to a massive room where they were greeted by a mob of androids and mutated creeps. Each of them readied their weapons to rush through the swarm. Given their semblances and training, they managed to make quick work of the enemies with minimum effort.
"Ah! Children, I must admit that you've been a thorn in my side for far too long," Dr. Merlot's voice chimed in over the loudspeakers around them. "That being said, I must commend you all for making it so far with so little training. Ozpin's training you well..."
"I take it that you didn't just contact us to congratulate us?" Pyrrha frowned at the screen showcasing the man's smirk.
"Correct. Not only do I congratulate you on your progress, but I also want to reward you for your efforts by giving you a direct path to your goal."
The group exchanged looks, uncertain if what he was saying was true. From their journey to realign communication towers back in the emerald forest to coming to this uncharted island, nothing was simple when it came to the insane scientist. Even the professor believed that the world would be better off without Merlot's existence.
"Why should we believe you?" Yang yelled out, her eyes glowing red, a detail that Merlot took notice of.
"It is merely the truth. Why else would I have set up such security measures to stop you from going further?"
"Well, you did a piss-poor job of that!" Yang countered, crossing her arms under her breasts. "These were barely appetizers!"
Merlot was not deterred by this though, instead, he released a sinister chuckle from behind the screen.
"Then I hope you get your fill from the main course!" He called out with a sickeningly maniacal tone. The gang would find some truth to his words as there was only one massive way aside from the way they came. Unfortunately, that way was now blocked by a Death Stalker, genetically forced to do the bidding of its master. "Perhaps my Death Stalker will satisfy your hunger?!"
It was twice as large as its natural counterpart, glowing a sickly pale green glow throughout its anatomy. Even its stinger took on the vomit-green hue. Everyone there was forced to dodge when it lunged at them, its pincer, destroying a large chunk of the wall as a result.
"Go, my creation! Show these pathetic mortals the power of your God!"
The scorpion responded to its masters' orders by launching its tail at the scrambling group. Blake used her semblance to dodge the attack with ease while the others weren't so fortunate, having to use their skills and training to either avoid or block the limb. Yang and Roxanne slid under the beast while Esu and Pyrrha used their greatsword and shield respectively to weaken the blow.
An upside came when the monster began to turn around, the two brawlers rushed over to punch the Death Stalker square in its many eyes. The fiery blond and auburn blaze continued their assault as the Grimm let out a shriek of agony.
"Hope you're hungry!" Yang growled, her eye full of anger.
"'Cuz we're serving it up hot!" Roxanne finished.
The scorpion was wobbled from the assault, but it was evident that there was plenty of fight in it. As it slammed into several large canisters of the ooze, its tail began to glow, unbeknownst to the pair. By the time they looked up, it was too late for them to react fast enough as poisonous acid shot out of the stinger. Its efforts were only thwarted when the feline appeared in between the two only to vanish just as fast, causing the projectile to burn it instead.
Pyrrha and Esu joined up with the trio.
"Are you guys alright?" the dragon faunus asked, keeping his eye on their injured enemy.
They each nodded but, they would all begin to question that sentiment when the monster began to suddenly rip the metal floor beneath it, submerging itself within the earth and soil. While this alone was nothing new for such a species, it was surprising when several rocky pillars began to emerge from the ground below. This forced the group to scramble around to avoid the newly formed obstacles.
Add to that the fact that the Grimm was still lurking beneath them, they all needed to be on their guard. Anything less than their best efforts would result in a fate far worse than demerits.
[Lower level]
Aganju sat, still too weak to move. He needed to escape this torture chamber but, he couldn't do that without his aura to strengthen him. With closed eyes, the fox would direct his ire to the choker around his neck. Without this infernal device sealing his aura, he would've healed by now and be on his way to help whoever it was that was sent here.
Pathetic...
Not now... he groaned through grit teeth.
No wonder I left you behind. You turned out to be a weakling, as expected.
Aganju's eyes shot clenched in confusion as he couldn't place the voice this time. Normally, it was the childish, high-pitch tone of his ex-childhood friend. However, this was a fully grown woman's voice speaking to him, one that was unrecognizable to the faunus.
It would appear that you're not cut out for this world. You'd be better off never existing! You can't even figure out a way to escape this situation. Pitiful.
A sudden wave of energy began to flow, triggering the collar but, no consequential shock or sedative was being forced into him. It was weird and yet, he wasn't complaining. His focus was solely on the words of this new 'visitor' within his mind. From what he'd experienced before, the device was designed to dissuade him from flaring his aura, yet it wasn't reacting with the usual penalty.
"What... What's going on?"
Tears began to pierce his lids as he shakily tried to force himself to his feet. It was as if the taunts were fueling his drive, stoking the flames. He ignored the pain shooting through his body, defying the hefty gravity shoving down on him. Once more, that infernal taunting angered the fox, pushing him to keep going.
"Im. Not. Weak!" he forced out while reaching for a blurry canister to prop himself up.
Then prove it, child. This third voice was also foreign but, unlike this one, there was a gentleness and motherly energy from this woman. It was a welcome change from the usual bite and edge of the previous two. Unlike the previous voices that plagued his mind, he could feel this warmth in his core pushing him to continue. Will you continue to live your life on the wishes of others? Will you continue to fear this part of you that was gifted for your survival?
Aganju finally lifted his head slowly at these questions. Realization crossed his features though he kept his eyes, trying to channel the mysterious force speaking to him. How could she speak so freely as if she knew him?
"Who are...?"
I imparted you this gift... Why won't you use it?
"I... don't know... how" he exhaled sharply, shaking off the dizziness. "I just need to..."
You need to stop relying on strength alone and allow your instincts if you're to survive. Strength alone will not bring you victory!
Aganju took those words to heart, mentally reciting them. Even though he didn't understand the meaning of this statement, it would serve a valuable purpose for now. He felt the power in his core stirring, an oddly familiar feeling for the vulpine. Normally, he would try to ignore it in favor of powering through with his willpower. But, with his power drained and his physical well-being in question, he felt that he had no choice. So, Aganju didn't resist the sensation welling up inside of himself. He could feel it spread throughout him, infusing him with newfound determination.
His ears rang with a melody, similar to what would play on a music box. It was eerie and yet, it soothed the boy enough to allow the energy to meld with his soul. With only a moment of hesitation, Aganju find that this power wasn't trying to overtake him but it was also struggling to fully synchronize. What did manage to mesh with the faunus appeared to be enough as his inhibitions seemed to fade away. He'd use this to press forward, slow and unsteady legs still feeling like noodles.
Yet, there was no pain to be felt.
He dared to permit a twinge of a smirk to stretch his face when he noticed footsteps. His glare deepened, scarlet pools burning with hatred and bloodlust for one he figured had found him. To his confusion, it wasn't the demented scientist approaching him, but an equally surprised Atlesian with radiant silver eyes. It was Professor Sango!
"Aganju!"
The boy's ears and tail twitched gently before he felt every ounce of strength leave his body. As he tipped over, he was grateful that he didn't crash onto the dirty lab floor. Finally, Aganju could rest.
Meanwhile, Sango frowned at the unconscious form leaning against him. No, he wasn't upset at the boy, far from it. It was enough for everyone to know that he was found alive. However, this would prove to be disadvantageous for the panther. He couldn't leave the boy here, but every fiber of his being screamed for him to do so; It was for the good of the mission.
"I knew I should've taken the right corridor..." he bitterly spat.
"Spare me..." his eyes darted down to the now shifting faunus. The convulsions gave way to the rumbling of the youth now staring back at him with conviction; bloody evolution daring him to utter another word. "...Where is he...?"
Back with the five, Merlot watched as his 'guests' were handily defeated. Even with their combined abilities and training, the doctor's experiments proved to be far more durable than they anticipated. Esu and Roxanne were knocked out cold, suppressed under the many barrels of the madman's serum. Pyrrha and Yang were trapped in the pincers of the Grimm, who was steadily torturing them by squeezing tightly without outright killing them. Blake tried desperately to make it release her friends but, it was to no avail.
"Let. Them. GO!"
The only thing that Blake gained for her efforts was a lashing as the tail struck the feline away as if she was a fly, knocking her into one of the jagged pillars erected nearby.
As her body fell limply to the damaged floor, the maniacal doctor cackled from behind the screen at the scene before him. His feelings of opulence couldn't have been any higher as he marveled at the creature's triumph; his triumph.
"Even Ozpin's whelps fall before my genius!" he bellowed. "If this is the best his pathetic school can produce, then there's no doubt that my way was right! This is the future! The Grimm are the future of Remnant and I am their GOD!"
Yang and Pyrrha struggled weakly under the pressure, much to Merlot's delight.
"And now, children... It is time I finish this experiment. I am truly grateful for your contribution. DeathStalker, destroy the pests, slowly."
The monster complied with its master's order, beginning to crush both Pyrrha and Yang. Their cries fell on deaf ears as their allies were all knocked out, leaving them all at the mercy of the demented scientist and his twisted design. While they had their aura, it was beginning to shatter, flickering repeatedly under the monster's grip. Soon enough, the last protective barrier gave way to the agonizing pressure of the Death Stalker.
Yang began to blackout first, slumping over, due to semi-consciousness. Pyrrha's vision began to fade as well, her resolve doing only so much at this point. As darkness began to claim hold of her senses, the Amazon felt no pain.
Is it over? She wondered, feeling nothing at all.
A hideous shriek pierced the void, signaling that the girl's transition was not to be. This was trailed by a ferocious roar that pulled the warrior back to the realm of the living. Her eyes began to flutter open noticing that something was blocking most of the harsh lights.
"What?!" she heard the now irate voice of Dr. Merlot. "What are you doing here?! How are you using your aura?!"
Confused, Pyrrha began to stir more, finding herself in a seated position while the mysterious figure remained silent. She couldn't tell the person's identity, mostly due to her being groggy, but whoever it was, they had saved her and Yang. A dark tail swung loosely behind the figure. Then, a second one began to grow next to it, surrounded by a dark purple haze, surprising her.
A-Aganju?
The boy rushed at the staggering Grimm, his eyes full of darkness. As he cleared the space between himself and the beast, Aganju stuck out his hand allowing the mist to form a massive clawed hand before slashing at the monster and taking its left pincer.
It cried out and swung with its right pincer. Aganju ducked easily. With the opening, the fox created another shrouded arm, much to Merlot's shock and dismay. As he watched the dismantling of his beautiful creation, he couldn't comprehend what was happening. Nothing in his data and research could explain how this faunus was ripping apart the Death Stalker limb from limb.
By the time it was over, the Grimm was without any means of defending itself. Even its stinger had been severed by the slumped over, now with a third tail swinging.
"YOU CURR!" he cursed, no longer hiding his true feelings about everything that happened. "That was the product of years of scientific genius, and you destroyed all of that hard work in minutes! How are you doing this?!"
Crimson portals of destruction cut to the screen, causing the man to visibly flinch. The faunus simply walked over to where the stinger lay as the mist morphed into tendrils. He picked up the oozing stinger and slammed it down on the monster's head, watching it begin to dissolve into a puddle of ooze.
Merlot immediately cut the feed, no doubt preparing to leave.
"Aganju?" Pyrrha whispered, struggling to pull herself up.
The vulpine just stood calmly as the black limbs reached for the choker, tugging violently until the accursed device finally shattered. This allowed his aura to begin flowing once again. As a result, the tendrils began fading, containing their impact as well. As he turned toward the girl, the phantom tails were the last to go, leaving violet gems looking at the girl. He flashed an exhausted grin before his legs gave out on him, forcing him to pass out.
Pyrrha immediately rushed to his side, taking a close observation of his ravaged form. Grotesque lacerations and bruises greeted the girl, painting a portrait that could barely spell out a portion of what he had to deal with. Scylla did her best to address the shallow injuries, they would be foolish to believe that this was enough to fix her friend. Her worried gaze matched the human girl's, showing just how close they truly were.
Though his aura was beginning to heal the wounds, it was clear that he'd sustained a lot of trauma that would need mental assistance. Even still, his grin never fell as Pyrrha held him. The others would soon join her after coming to. It was a feel-good moment until the ground began to rumble. Soon, the entire building began to do the same.
"System Update! Laboratory self-destruct sequence engaged."
Hearing this, the small group tried to find a way out. With only one usable exit, they took their chances as Esu assisted his leader through the crumbling corridors. Their journey took them to a loading dock where interestingly, there was a bullhead carrying the ecstatic Ruby's group and a moderately annoyed Sango pulling in to meet them. The others were loaded and flown off as the facility began to come down on itself.
Several explosions riddled the island but, for one student, all that mattered was that Aganju was alright. While the others watched the scene unfold behind them, Pyrrha was busy with the fox's head resting on her lap. She couldn't help but smile a how peaceful he looked, but, she also wondered what she'd witnessed as well. That dark presence radiating from him was like watching a demon toying with its prey.
Is this his semblance?
For now, she'd be content with knowing that he was safe, but, curiosity wouldn't allow her to forget what she'd witnessed back on that island.
As for the others, while they managed to stop the plans of the madman from ever reaching the four kingdoms, there was still the elephant in the room. Sango was the main soul wondering about this as he observed the completion of the explosion. He listened to the students chatter about their success, he couldn't shake the lone question that drew more ire than comfort.
Where are you?
Dr. Merlot had managed to remain hidden, emerging from an underground bunker he had built within his main office. He'd hoped to never have to use it, yet here he was. His good eye looked around at the wreckage, taking in months, if not years of work, completely eradicating thanks in part to Ozpin's children. The only upside to this whole fiasco was that he narrowly managed to avoid capture from the same faunus who thwarted his scheme back at Atlas.
Still, he wouldn't give in completely to his rage.
"That damned agent!" he seethed, clutching his bloodied side for dear life. "How did he find me?! There's no way that Ironwood could've known my whereabouts! At least I was able to back up the data before everything was destroyed... Such a setback could take me years to recover from."
"I don't think that would be necessary." a voice called out from behind, drawing the man's attention.
"Who's there?!"
The figure didn't respond, instead choosing to simply eye the unnerved Merlot. Dark eyes flashed from the shadows, not with a dangerous intent, but with a snobbish arrogance that only a fellow scientist could identify. That energy of pride in the downfall of a fellow scholar made Merlot sick to his stomach, forcing him to draw what appeared to be a gun from his lab coat.
"Come out before I-"
"Before you what? Wear me down with your empty threats?" the calm tone broke through the tense air. "I think I'll pass..."
"Do you know who I am?!"
Merlot began to march toward the shrouded male, only to stop dead in his tracks when a crackling noise filled his ears. From the blackness, a jellyfish-like Grimm emerged. Its head was like that of a crystal ball with sanguine fog within itself. The defenseless doctor stared at the creature, awe adorning his face as it floated toward him.
"Doctor Merlot. I've heard much about you from my reports. Your reputation and expertise have impressed me, I must be honest."
"Yes... Well, I am truly remarkable-"
"That being said," the man cut him off. "While I've admired your drive and intensity against Ozpin, I must say that your research is what's truly what I'm after. I couldn't care less about a man too overconfident in their capacities to see that they're nothing more than a particle of dust in the wafts of time, even if that man is a fellow intellectual."
"What?!" he asked incredulously, stomping toward the figure until a tendril shot from the Grimm directly through his chest, piercing the man's heart. "Ack!"
"Translation: You're nothing more than a simple human with a twisted and, dare I say, gifted mind," The man noted, further stoking the anger of the choking Merlot. "A man who thinks himself a god simply because he was able to manipulate these creatures with science compared to one who has created new species with her hand? Preposterous, if you ask me."
"H-How dare you...?!" Merlot clutched at the thin limb, watching his blood pour out like a leaky faucet.
This still didn't convince him to practice modesty so he opened his mouth again to spit curses. The entity thrust more of its tendrils around the man's throat, brutally strangling him, silencing any further rebuttal Merlot may have had. His arms were bound further cementing his fate as he was forced to kneel before the Grimm and the male, hacking and gasping from lack of oxygen.
"I do wish we could have a rousing exchange, but we're on a bit of a tight schedule so you'll have to forgive me if I skip to the part where I take some of your research notes."
The man tried to object only for a spiked tendril to drive directly through his cybernetic eye, forever silencing the demented scientist. The mysterious male cared little for this, walking past the now lethargic form of the Valerian. He spent about ten minutes down in the underground bunker before coming back with a tiny device that he stuffed into the pocket of his slacks.
"Did you get what we needed?" a feminine voice spoke from the vapors within the being's dome.
"Of course, the defense bypass program that Merlot planned to use is here as well as all blueprints to the grounds for the White Fang to utilize. These should be beneficial with finding what you seek."
"Very well..." she acknowledged before releasing the body, letting it fall in a crumpled heap. "Have them transferred to her as soon as possible and we-"
"However, I also found something that may interest you."
"Oh?"
"While searching through the ocean of information, I was able to discover that Merlot had been running tests on manipulating the Grimm with this... serum he'd been concocting."
"I have no use for such trivial methods of mankind."
"Yes, but... It's what he was most recently working on that caught my eye." The seer clicked a few times, turning toward the man. "A faunus boy, fox, with two traits was used as a means to test the creature's stability. Long story short, after putting an aura suppressor on him, it seems that he unearthed an unexpected revelation."
"What 'revelation' would that be?" the woman asked, a ghost of intrigue lacing her inquiry.
"His eyes look exactly like yours, ma'am... Even more, when he flared his power, the natural Grimm would cower before him."
The air grew still as the man waited for his contacts' reply. The silence made him rather uncomfortable but, he maintained his outward composure as best he could until finally, the fog began to stir.
"Bring the information to me once you return, Arthur. I'd like to know more about this; as much as you can gather."
"It's already done, your grace," the man smirked behind his thick mustache. "I'll have every document deciphered for you."
The Grimm said nothing more as it turned to leave.
The man tarried behind it to a nearby ship that was well hidden behind the smog and debris. In his mind swam the many bits of information he'd acquired from what remained of the computers underground. While his notes on the vulpine were all true, he was more than fascinated by the files on other faunus and human subjects and opponents, namely those from the kingdom in the sky.
Once he was inside, there was no other sign of life. Only the mangled corpse of Dr. Merlot, a relentless and corrupt man who allowed his ego to convince himself that he was a god. This mindset would only end in his exile, ruin, and death.
'Tis the fate of a mortal trying to play god.
[Beacon Academy]
After what felt like forever, a pair of violet eyes fluttered open only to immediately clench shut when a sudden brightness stung his eyes. He moved to shield his sore optics only to regret that decision when a violent sting from his right side forced him to lower his limb.
"Thank Oum," a familiar voice caught his ear. "You're awake."
Aganju turned his head, slowly over to the direction of the voice. Beside him sat an older gentleman with silver hair and green eyes that rested behind a pair of glasses. He wore an unzipped black suit over a green vest and shirt.
"Professor Ozpin?" he groaned, trying his best to sit up.
"I'd advise you to remain as still as possible, Aganju. You were hurt pretty badly and you haven't recovered from your horrendous ordeal."
The mention of that location spurred a sudden jolt in the faunus. As a result, Aganju quickly sat up, instantly regretting the pain that shot through his ribs. This didn't deter him though as the shock of what had occurred began to resurface in his mind. The small yet unmistakable sound of something approaching. That chilling sensation of fear mixed with familiarity soon overshadowed the dulling ache.
"My team! Where are...?!"
"They are safe and sound. You needn't worry about them," the headmaster smiled warmly. "From what I've heard about your exploits, it's no wonder that maniac targeted you. Luckily, we were able to locate you and put a stop to his scheme before anyone else could be harmed."
Aganju finally allowed himself to lie back down, though his face still told a story that was discernable to the older man. A tale that shook the boy to his very core unfolded in front of Ozpin, feelings of apprehension conducting the charge.
"I'm sorry..." he heard the fox whisper. "I screwed up and failed my team... I... I should've been better! If I were stronger, I-"
"You're wrong."
"How? I got knocked unconscious for several days because I rushed in without confirming with my team and I paid the price..." the fox spoke through grit teeth. Ozpin chose not to cut in just yet as he observed just how far this was going to go. "I rushed in and I wound up being caught off guard. No real leader would've done that. I wasn't strong enough... I failed just like before."
"Before...?"
Aganju shook his head gingerly. His eyes began to water as his mind started to replay a scene only he could remember. He felt himself begin to crumble inside as that moment began to haunt him once more, his mind tearing itself apart as he tried fruitlessly to bury the past.
"I.. should just..."
"Before you start making rash decisions, I would like to say a few words, if you'd allow," the headmaster placed a hand on his non-injured shoulder before being given a nod. "Contrary to what you may think, your team has never once believed you to be reckless, let alone challenge your leadership. While it is true that your approach was flawed, it doesn't mean that you failed... From what I was told by your proctor, the group wasn't able to follow due to the Grimm mysteriously emerging right after being destroyed. On top of that, there was a signal jammer already within the facility, a strange occurrence to be sure. This was discovered by Professor Peach after your disappearance."
"Wait... You're telling me that Merlot guy was still using that building?"
"Judging by the events that occurred, it would be safe to believe this to be so. Professor Sango was kind enough to mention that he had disappeared during a previous mission in the continent of Solitas. If Atlas' elite couldn't find him, how could I expect a student with no knowledge of him to be prepared? It's just bad practice, if I do say so myself."
While the old man's words carried weight, Aganju still found it hard not to judge himself harshly. It was a flaw that Ozpin recognized when he first met the lad and it seemed that this only exacerbated the negative trait.
"However, what's important is that your teammates do not blame you for what happened. One can hardly be accountable for sabotage and an ambush. Whoever was using that facility, must not have wanted to be discovered. That would explain the jammers. For now, your friends wait anxiously for your awakening."
Aganju bowed his head, not in shame, but in embarrassment. Ozpin could see this and wondered what else could be plaguing the young man.
"But... what about-?"
"Strength alone will not bring victory."
"Huh?"
"It is something I was told long ago... The raw strength of one's body will never bring victory without a powerful heart and relentless spirit. You, Aganju, must find your purpose and drive. Use that to fuel your fire and blaze a trail toward your destiny. I can tell that you've struggled with this, your path. You've lived with the burden of other's lives just as you do now with your role as a leader and while it is important to protect others, you must not neglect your own needs and wants, or else you risk becoming a tool for others to use; a pawn."
Aganju sat on the infirmary bed, digesting the man's words. Meanwhile, the professor began to take his leave.
"Remember what I told you when you first arrived?" The faunus nodded." I meant it. "Those eyes of yours are... special. There's a purpose for your abilities... You must take fate into your own hands, Aganju. Forge your path and you'll never go wrong."
With that, the professor took his leave, a grim smile crossing his features as he left the fox alone to ponder his words.