A/N: Patrick's got himself into a bit of a situation with his whole team out of commission and he has to figure out the cause of this strange effect on his own in this ghostly town.
Chapter 36: Enthusiasm
The bottom of the elevator is quiet and empty. The air becomes filled with a fainted scream, growing louder as the elevator falls until it crashes to the bottom. Patrick coughs as the dust fills the air. "Okay...I had that one coming." The dust clears up and Patrick takes a look at the mine shift he's fallen into. "At least I made it down." Slowly, he starts walking down the tunnel, a weapon at hand and ready.
Back in the van, everyone is still past out. Selena is only slightly moving her head, continuously muttering in her sleep.
In her dream, her mother Elizabeth takes the stage of a big roaring audience. Selena, as an 8-year-old girl, is watching her perform on stage, cheering. When Elizabeth ends her song, she makes an announcement. "I am happy to have you all here. For a special treat to you all, I shall sing you a special song with my Semblance."
The crowd falls silent. The spotlight focuses on Elizabeth as she takes a deep breath, and then exhales with a beautiful Siren Song. A song that sounds similar to the song that tames the Grimm, but it sounds different, as it is being sung backward. As Elizabeth sings, everyone's Aura glows and they all cheer loud and proud for her.
Patrick searches carefully on the walls for any cave-ins. He would use his X-ray vision if he could see without his Night Vision. Patrick finds another tunnel and looks down it, it's nothing but a dead end. In another tunnel, he finds two more bodies carrying weapons, most likely the huntsman that were sent to investigate the cause of the town outbreak.
Patrick continues down the main shift until he makes a turn into another tunnel. Until he comes to a sealed tunnel. Patrick feels the caved-in wall, patting his hand on it. "Hmm..." Patrick puts an ear on it, and he detects a faint noise. "What the?" Patrick takes a step back, bracing himself. "Well, what's back here, it'll probably be ugly." Patrick sets his Dust Bracers to be filled with Combust Dust.
In Selena's Dream, the show is over and both she and Elizabeth are in the dressing room. "Selena? Do you know why it is I sing that Siren Song to my fans?" Elizabeth asks. Selena shook her head. "As you know, when I was taken by the Agency, the place was dark and bereft of hope. During that time, I can only imagine the hardships everyone goes through in life, losing their will or motivation to go on." Elizabeth kneels down and puts her hands on Selena's shoulders. "Our Siren has two powers: One is to tame the Grimm and the other...Is to boost Aura."
With a shout, Patrick gives an explosive kick onto the blocked tunnel. When the dust clears and Patrick steps in, he gets a clear vision and is surprised by the sight.
Grimm. Everywhere. All of them are very skinny and extremely creepy Skeleton-Like creatures.
The Apathy.
"Grimm!?" The Apathy, every single one, turns their attention toward Patrick. They all slowly shift their bodies to face him and let out a deafening screech. Patrick groans in agony as he covers his ears from the noise. Once the noise passes, he faces the Apathy. "Loud little buggers!" Patrick takes out his Bowblades in Bow mode, loading it with arrows and fires. The Arrows pierce and destroy the Apathy they hit. The Apathy slowly moves toward Patrick as he shoots more arrows. As the fight goes on, the Apathy continuously screeches. Their cries do not affect to the young Shadow Hunter other than staggering him from hearing damage.
The Apathy gets awfully close to the staggered Patrick. Patrick readies his wrists. He aims his hands at the Apathy in front of him and unleashes a Flamethrower from both wrists. Patrick spreads his fire far and wide, burning the Grimm caught within. Several Grimm has dissolved at the end of the Flamethrower Attack while others are just burning.
As Patrick fights, the remaining team is still dead asleep in the van. Selena makes a slight moment as the effects of the Apathy begin to loosen. She's still muttering in her sleep. "Ap...A...Apa..."
In her dream, Selena is 11 years old and she is practicing her Siren Singing. Selena is struggling as her voice starts breaking as she tries to sing the Aura Siren. Finally, she falls to her knees, panting.
"I can't do it," Selena says.
"Don't be like that, my daughter." Elizabeth says. "Unlocking another level in a semblance isn't easy. I had tried for years to unlock Aura Siren. When I was a slave, I saw how all the other people were hurting, and in that lost hope I felt, the spirit within me shined through my Semblance. When I sing that song for my fans, I do it with the thought and feeling of wanting to return that spirit that they have given me over the years. Try thinking about the people who cared about you, those who you love. Use that feeling to find the spirit within your soul."
Selena thinks hard about what her mother said and concentrates on channeling her spirit, while her body in the real world starts to copy her dream movements, but only slowly.
Then starts singing with Siren. Selena's real voice is slow and quiet but catches up as it pierces through the Apathetic overwhelming her body. As she sings, Selena's Aura starts to glow, shining brighter until it completely covers her body.
Selena awakes with a gasp of shock. She sits right up with a sudden jolt of energy. "The Apathy!" Selena takes a moment to become aware of her surroundings. She steps outside to find the Van has stopped, and it's in front of the entrance to the mines. She goes back into the van to find the rest of her team is still out cold...except for one, and she has taken notice of his disappearance. "Where's Pat-" Selena realizes something. The last thing she remembers of is the van moving, and now it's in place in front of a mine. "Oh no." Selena is about to rush to Patrick's aid but realizes she must do something first.
Selena performs her Aura Siren song. As she sings, Akira and Marlene's Auras start to glow, and then like from a flick of a switch, they awake with a gasp. Selena's power reaches Marina and she has the same reaction. "What happened!?" Marina says, alerted. Marina looks in the back. "Is everyone all right?" But takes notice of someone missing. "Where's Patrick?"
Patrick still fights the Apathy. He starts to show signs of wearing down. Every time the Apathy screeches, Patrick still covers his ears and groans in pain. "I'm getting damn sick of this!" Patrick activates the Lightning Dust in his bracers. With his superspeed, he cuts down the Apathy with his blades. Patrick finishes off the Apathy in this area, when he does Patrick falls on one knee using his blade for support. "What... were those things?"
"Patrick!" Patrick turns to see Marina, Selena, and Akira approaching. "Thank goodness, you're alive."
"Guys? You're finally awake." But he notices somebody is missing. "Wait. Where's Marlene?"
"In the back, fixing that Elevator you broke." Akira kneels beside him to check his body. "You appear to be exhausted and slightly wounded." Akira uses her Chi to begin the healing procedure.
"I'm no worse for the wear. Just what kind of Grimm were they?" Patrick asks.
"The Apathy," Selena explains. "They're not like the other Grimm. Not strong or fast, but they are incredibly dangerous. They drain your will, leaving you powerless and exhausted."
"Wait. Is that what that screeching they do was?" Patrick asks, and Selena nods. "I didn't feel anything off when they were doing it to me, it only hurt my ears."
"To resist Apathetic from an army that size? That's impossible." Marina says.
Akira finishes her healing treatment on Patrick. "Let's not wonder about how Patrick is somehow immune to the Apathy. We should keep moving."
"Akira's right. Given how deep these mines are and how far their ability manages to spread, I don't think the Apathy is the only threat here. There must be something else." Selena turns her attention to the entrance of the tunnel. "And it must be deeper."
"I'll update Marlene on the situation." Marina says.
After Maina informs Marlene, Team PASM splits up. Patrick and Selena take one tunnel and Akira and Marina take another path. Each tunnel is filled with Apathy, and the young students fight them. Selena lights a dust crystal to conjure a flame and light their way while Marina has to rely on Akira's Night Vision. As they travel, Patrick and Akira mark the walls. Knowing how many tunnels there are they decided to mark them with an arrow that would point them in the right direction of the exit.
"Tell me, how did you guys manage to overcome the Apathy effect?" Patrick asks.
"It's my Semblance. Not only does it charm the Grimm, but it also enhances our Aura. Keeps our spirits high and protects us from the effects of the Apathy." Selena says.
"Yeah, that makes perfect sense," Patrick says.
Akira cuts down the Apathy Grimm she and Marina come across. Marina can do nothing but stand back and watch as she observes Akira's fighting style. With the Apathy defeated, Akira takes a deep breath and sheathes her Katana. Marina applauds. "Amazing. I expect nothing less from the daughter of the Rhysenshi Family."
"I appreciate your commentary. But I still have a long way to go." Akira and Marina walk down the tunnel until they come across a cave-in dead end. Akira grabs hold of the hilt of her weapon and it loads with Water Dust. She draws out her Katana. "Eighth Sword Form: Watercut!" Akira swings her Katana sending waves of water at the blockage. In the third wave, the water cuts the rocks, clearing the way.
While the two teams are exploring the tunnels, Marlene is working on the repairs of the elevator. Tinkering with the control panel. During the repair, she creates a shock that electrocutes her. After a moment of recovery, Marlene gets back up. "Okay, don't touch the yellow wire. Got it." Then resumes her work.
More of the Apathy falls at the hands of Team PASM. Over half an hour has passed and the tunnels have become more clear. Patrick and Selena are walking down the tunnels, but Patrick notices that Selena is walking slowly, even starting to use her staff for support.
"You feeling okay?" Patrick asks her.
"Yeah, I'm just feeling..." Selena pauses, looking tired, her body loses a little balance but she still regains it. "The Apathy. I think...my Semblance is...wearing off."
"Well, that can't be good." then Patrick realizes something. "Wait...Marina and Akira are on their own. Without you and your..." Patrick thinks quickly, trying to figure out how it is that he can find their two party members in this mess underground maze. Patrick uses his Semblance to activate heat vision. He searches around in a circle until he detects faint heat signatures in one direction. "I think I found them. Come on." Patrick carries Selena on his back, and activating his bracers with Lightning Dust, he sprints for it.
Akira and Marina are tiresomely walking down the tunnel. They have taken notice that the Apathetic in the air is beginning to affect them. Akira collapses to her knees while Marina leans against a wall for support. Patrick comes in and sets Selena down, only her apathy causes her to collapse on her hands and knees.
"Looks like I made it in time." Patrick says, seeing the condition Akira and Marina are in. "Hurry, use your energy boost or whatever song." Patrick helps Selena stand up.
Selena groans in response, and as she's on her feet with Patrick's support, Selena begins her Aura Siren Song. After a moment, the Aura's of hers, Akira, and Marina glow, and they all feel their energy returning. Patrick looks down at his hands while everyone else's Aura's are glowing. His isn't. For some unknown reason, her song doesn't work on his.
"What about Marlene? Should we go back and boost her Aura?" Marina asks.
"There's no time. By the time we reach her and make it back here, it'll wear off as well." Patrick says.
"Patrick's right. Let's focus on the mission. We take out the source, we'll save Marlene from the Apathetic Infection." Akira says.
Team PASM and Marina follow down the path, cutting down any Apathy that stands in their way. When they reach to the end of the tunnel, it's a large sealed tunnel. Patrick and Akira worked together and cut down the boulders and open the path. Everyone coughs from the earthly dust that fills the air. When it's all clear, they see a large room, it appears to be a Mining Base. But that isn't the only thing they see.
Apathy. Everyone. All of them turn their attentions to their intruders. What's more, there's something large among that Apathy, and it frightens Team PASM and Marina. A large floating creature and long skeletal arms and large claws, a massive torso with partially exposed ribs, and on that body are four heads, three Skeleton skulls and an Imp head.
"What...by the Gods...is that?!" Selena asks, shocked.
"A...A..." Marina is trampling in fear at the sight of the beast. "A Willless One!"
The Willless One faces the intruders. All four of its heads inhale deeply and let out a sonic screech that shakes the whole underground base. Everyone, even Patrick covers their ears and winces in agony. Akira, Selena, and Marina's Auras flicker. When the monster's scream ends, the three of them find themselves in a weakened state. This surprises Patrick.
He turns his attention to the monster. "That thing...Its power can break through Selena's Semblance?"
Selena and Akira take out their weapons, only it's hard for them to stand and wield them effectively. "My body...and weapon...feels heavy." Akira says.
"This...This must...be...The monster...that wiped...the village." Selena says, who collapses.
Patrick is the only one unaffected by that blast, but he doesn't stand around wondering how it's possible. All he knows how is to defeat that beast to free his team from the Apathetic Infliction. Patrick draws out his swords. "Guess it all comes down to me!" Patrick leaps into the army of the Apathy. He jumps from the heads of the Apathy towards the Willless One. Patrick shifts his weapon into a bow and shoots arrows right at it. The arrows pierce the body but do little effect on it.
Patrick sheathes his weapon and launches himself towards the Willless One. He takes out a fire and ice Dust Crystals and throws them on the monster's chest. As he falls, Patrick loads his Dust Bracers with Combust Dust and delivers an explosive kick right on the crystals that causes a destructive blast onto the Willless One, which cries out in agony.
The blast weakened the Willless One's power and Selena and Akira regained most of their energy. They draw out their weapons, but before they leap into action they have taken notice of how close the Apathy is approaching them and decided to focus on protecting Marina.
Patrick continues shooting arrows at the Willless One, ignoring the Apathy that surrounds him, slowly approaching as they screech right at him. The Willless One slams its arms at Patrick with great speed and force. Patrick dodges the first two blows and gets caught on the last one. The Willless One grabs Patrick and then holds him in front of its Imp Head and that head roars right into Patrick's face.
"Let's see how you like a hot mouth!" Patrick sets one of his Wrist Flamethrowers and shoots fire right into the Imp Head's mouth. The Willless One screams in agony as it loosens its grip on Patrick. Patrick jabs his blades into the Willless One's body, hanging on.
Marina sees the predicament Patrick is in. "Mr. Aki needs assistance."
Akira sees the Willless One and takes notice of the exposed wound on its torso. "I have an idea." Akira charges up her Katana, with Wind Dust and some Chi Energy. "Sixth Sword Form: Whirlwind!" With a swing of her blade, Akira launches a whirlwind of Chi Energy towards the army of Apathy, clearing a path towards the Willless One. "Selena, give me your staff, with Combust Dust."
Selena does as told and hands Akira her staff, equipped with a Combust Dust. Akira takes the staff and runs down the clear path, ignoring the Apathy she passes by. Patrick hangs on as the Willless One tries to shake him off. When Akira is close enough, she draws the staff back and focuses her attention. With the weak point locked on, Akira charges the staff with some Chi Energy and throws it. The staff flies through the air aimed towards the Willless One and then jabs right into the exposed wound.
The staff explosives in massive combust energy upon impact and the Willless One screech in agony. Patrick loses his grip on his blades and crashes to the ground. The Willless One collapses and begins dissolving. The Apathy watches their leader fade away, once it's gone they turn their attention to the intruders, only to get a beatdown.
With all the Grimm defeated, the trio of students finally takes the moment to rest and catch their breath. "Damn. That was harsh." Patrick says.
"Agreed, this mission has proven to be difficult. If it weren't for Selena's Semblance we would have ended up like the village." Akira says.
"Just what was that thing?" Selena asks.
"I've heard of it." Everyone turns their attention to Marina. "My father used to talk about it, The Willless One. A Grimm that unleashes Apathetic so powerful that it alone can wipe out entire cities. It's one of the very few Grimms he can't defeat."
"Yeah, I believe I've heard of it back home. They say facing it even in an army is nothing more than a Suicide Mission." Akira says. "With it defeated, the Apathetic Infection should be prevented from reaching the surface."
After a brief moment of rest, everyone started heading back to the elevator. The path is clear and after Selena's Semblance has worn off, the girls start to feel tired and lethargic, meaning that there are still Apathy's roaming around these tunnels, but the threat level is critically low to worry about. When they returned to Marlene, she had finished working on the repairs, claiming that the overwhelming Apathetic slowed her down.
When they returned to the surface, they felt normal once again, loaded up into the van, and took off. Patrick explains to his team what he has learned from the village notes he had discovered.
"I see, so it was the explosion in the mines that caused the Apathy to roam around." Marlene turns to Patrick. "Patrick, did you see anything on the Mining Map?"
Patrick thinks for a moment. "I didn't get a good look at it, so I can't say for certain I've noticed anything unusual."
"I see. Well, this is just a theory then, but I suppose the explosion in the mines might have blasted an opening to a hidden cave or tunnel that was swarming with Apathy. After the mines became closed, they started wandering the tunnels, filling them until their power became thick enough to reach the surface."
"That does sound accurate. But there's still one thing that leaves me stumped." Selena turns her attention to Patrick. "Patrick, how were you able to withstand the Apathetic?"
Patrick is silent, then takes notice of all other eyes focusing on him. "Yeah. I've been wondering about that too. You even remain unaffected against the Willless One." Akira says.
"I've heard some people having strong resistance against the Apathy, but never immune to a whole army, let alone a Willless One." Marlene says.
Even Marina is looking puzzled as she listens in on the conversation. Patrick looks back and forth on his team as they wait for answers. "To be honest, I have no idea as well. I don't even know anything about the Apathy, so I have no idea how I could be protected from their power." The girls have no other choice but to accept his answer. But even Patrick doesn't believe it. Patrick looks down at his hands, thinking when his mind is lost. 'How is this possible...Could be that...' Patrick shook his head. 'No. There's no way the Agency had anything to do with this.'
By the second morning, Team PASM has returned to Beacon. Marina reports the mission to Professor Ozpin. What's more, Marina requested Mashika to be present for this. Ozpin and Mashika wonder why she has to be present until she explains the part of the mission that sounds surprising to them all.
"Mr. Aki immune to the Apathy?" Ozpin asks.
"That's right. We have no idea how that's possible. Even Patrick is completely clueless." Marina says.
"Hmm..." Ozpin folds his hands and reaches his chin on them.
The room is awkwardly silent. Even Mashika and Marina are feeling uncomfortable. "Uh, if that is all, Professor Ozpin, Sir, I'll be taking my leave." Marina says as she retreats to the elevator, and Mashika follows.
As they are in the elevator, Marina asks if Patrick may have gone through anything during their time as slaves that caused Patrick this power of immunity. Mashika doesn't know much about what Patrick has experienced but she's positive nothing intense or experimental has ever happened. She's just as clueless about Patrick's sudden immunity as well.
Ozpin and Glndya are now discussing Marina's report. "It appears that Young Aki here has once again failed the test. But still, what concerns me is how he was able to be unaffected by the Apathy, let alone against the Willless One itself." Ozpin is silent the whole time, and this concerns Glynda. "Professor Ozpin?"
"Forgive me, I was just thinking." Ozpin says. "Still, this unusual protection he possesses is unexpected. It would appear we need to keep a close watchful eye on him."
And Glynda nods in agreement.