And we're back! It has been a few months hasn't it! Well, welcome back to my Bloodborne x RWBY fanfiction. I have changed more of the story to fit the Great Ones influence on this remnant of a world. And yes, this chapter basically will be filler. No real action or anything. Anyways, let's get into it!
Chapter 5
The three humans awoke to a cold sting in the air. They looked to the sky to see an impossible sight. The moon was whole. Unshattered. It was also a pale red. The sight was so amazing to see for the three of them. Not one of them had seen the unfractured moon. Ozma had only seen an illusion of an unfractured moon. The god of light had told him this when he was reincarnated.
"Where are we?" Ironwood asked.
"You stand in the Hunter's Dream." A voice said from behind them.
Jason sat on a stone brick wall smiling. He rested his cane against his thigh and read a book. Glynda noticed the name of the book.
"Is it a coincidence that the name of that book has the same name as our current location?" She asked.
"You are as smart as ever Professor Goodwitch. It is no coincidence that this book is named after this place. Also, please be careful. My memory isn't the safest place to be." Jason answered.
"So this is your memory? Why does it feel so…real?" Ozma asked.
"You are feeling what I felt." Jason's breath was illuminated under the moonlight.
The group of three explored the Hunter's Dream as Jason answered and observed from afar. Jason wondered how another Great One was alive. It made no sense. He killed them all. Although he couldn't remember why, how or when he killed all of them. He just knew he did. One survived. If it was not slain, this world would never be free of the Age of Blood or the endless hunt. Jason couldn't help but frown as he thought about the past. When he did. He could feel his memory shape into a twisted reality. He heard the howls of beasts in the distance. Even in his memory, Yharnam called to him. The once proud city wanted him to continue the hunt. Jason's eyes glazed over as his mind went into a state of cold calculation. At that moment, all emotion left his being. He now stood up from the wall with a stoic expression.
"Come with me." Jason said in a cold monotone voice.
It was so unlike him that his companions barely recognized him. Ironwood walked forward and asked.
"Hey, are you alright?"
"Yes, I am. I will now show you an ancient era. One forgotten by all of humanity. An era where the Great Ones had reigned supreme. The Age of Blood." Jason said.
"Before you do, would you mind telling us exactly what these Great Ones are?" Ozma asked.
"The Great Ones are, for lack of a better description, eldritch gods. They were the creators of this universe and eventually there was an age where humanity became aware of the Great Ones and they learned the value of the blood of the Great Ones. Although this would also lead to the first downfall of humanity." Jason explained, still expressionless.
"Excuse me, the first downfall?" Ironwood asked.
"Yes, humanity has risen and fallen countless times. Salem caused the second known downfall of humanity, and I know why." Jason said.
"It is because of the betrayal of the gods right?" Ozma asked.
"No, the reason is something far more complex." Jason replied.
"Which would be?" The current headmaster asked again.
"She was corrupted by the darkness and she somehow awakened the blood of Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos that flowed within her veins. The blood further drove her to madness, and now she has made contact with a Great One. Somehow." Jason responded as approached a gravestone in front of all of them.
Ozpin was interested in the strange gravestone. Was it a relic? Was it a powerful container for Dust? Was it a grave of some powerful entity? His mind just couldn't come to a proper conclusion. So, he settled for a question.
"What is this gravestone?" Ozpin asked with curiosity.
"When I used it, I had no knowledge of what it was. I now know that it is simply a means of transportation between the Hunter's Dream and Yharnam." Jason said.
Ozma was very perplexed, the explanation only aroused more questions for his confused mind. Jason then motioned the three huntsmen to come closer to him. When they did, he knelt and then spoke.
"Prepare for backlash." He said.
The four of them then began to disappear in a glowing, pale blue mist. When they appeared at their next location the three huntsmen became nauseous from the unfamiliar feeling of teleportation. Jason was of course uneffected. He simply watched as the three of them regained their composure. He then glanced at the lamp as he sighed.
"What do any of you think you know of the past?" Jason asked.
"Why do you ask?" Ozma asked with a pale face.
"Because tonight, the truth shall be revealed to all of you." Jason said as he gestured towards the city in front of all of them.
The three humans were in awe at the city. They had never seen one so old yet majestic. However, the city gave them the feeling that it hid a great evil. This was true of course.
"Welcome to Yharnem, the great city of blood ministration. Below it resides the first civilization that had come into contact with the Great Ones. The Pthumerians. They were an unknown people, we have no idea if they were human or not. However, I know for a fact that the Faunus are somehow the descendents of the ancient Pthumerians. I also know where they hail from, but I will not reveal that to you." Jason said with a cold voice.
"And why is that?" Glynda asked.
"Because I do not wish for you to be driven to madness like I was. Some things are just best left unknown" Jason replied.
"Wait? You went insane?" Ironwood asked in a concerned tone.
"Madness is simply a mind that earned knowledge, yet they haven't come to any conclusions." Jason responded in his icey voice.
Ozma thought of Jason's words and then his eyes widened in shock.
"Are you saying that Salem has learned and come to a conclusion!? Do you mean that her mind has transcended human boundaries!?" Ozma asked.
"Yes and no." She was driven to madness partially because of her immortality. However, she did learn a sliver of the Eldridge Truth. That is why she is able to easily outsmart you at every turn, Ozpin." Jason replied vaguely
Ozma was very disturbed. All the information from this man in front of them was making his mind spin. How and why did the light god hide such important history from them? I didn't make any sense, based on what Jason said, it appeared that his mission here had no actual meaning. That was when Ozma realized it.
"The gods aren't coming back…they just wanted to give us hope…" Ozpin said out loud.
Ironwood and Glynda looked at Ozpin with wide eyes. They were now very concerned, everything they were fighting for, it was a lie.
"You are both correct and wrong once again Ozma." Jason said.
Ironwood looked at the Good Hunter and then asked, "How so?"
"You see, your two 'gods' are too afraid to be here, however, they knew that Hunter's had once hunted Beasts of Blood and Great Ones alike. They hoped that if they created Grimm and tried to recreate the Hunters, that eventually humanity would slay the Great One that they are so afraid of. They won't come back unless humanity kills it. They also never truly cared for humanity. If they did, they would have heard Salem's plea for your resurrection, Ozma." Jason spoke as he looked towards the moon.
The three huntsmen realized that they had all been played by the brothers. All they had done was fight an impossible war that could never be won by their strength alone.
"Why tell us this? What do you gain?" Glynda asked skeptically.
"I gain nothing Professor Goodwitch. I simply wish for you to know the true past of Remnant." Jason replied.
The three were silent and Jason spoke again.
"I also hope to turn you all into true Hunters. However, I do not want to use the Paleblood ever again." Jason said.
The three remained silent. The silence was interrupted by a growl. The three huntsmen turned to see two large beasts which could only be described as terrifying. The two monsters advanced and the three couldn't help but take a step back.
"Oh come now. These things aren't even dangerous when compared to a cleric beast. Do you really have the courage to call yourselves Hunters?" Jason asked with a scoff.
"Well we haven't exactly battled monsters of this caliber." Ironwood replied.
"Well then, fight them Hunters. After all, experience is the best teacher." Jason said as a sinister smile appeared on his previously cold face.
—
Ozpin, Glynda and Ironwood awoke with tired and terrified eyes. They laid their exhausted eyes on Jason who stood before them with a smile.
"Congratulations on surviving my memory. I must say you may have the grit to become Truebloods." Jason said.
Ozpin's expression looked to be one of regret as Ironwood's hardened. Glynda simply stared at him with a new look. It seemed to be, pity? No wait, sadness? Honestly, Jason could not tell by human standards, she was a very unreadable woman. So he simply read her mind.
"He went through that, and much more. He…my opinion of him has changed. I…I don't know what to say to him…sorry?" She thought.
Her mind was filled with sorrow and pity. What surprised Jason the most was that she had only seen a sliver of the horrors he had witnessed. She had seen a fraction of what a Trueblood could fight.
"Now, I do believe I have a class to teach. However, before I go, let me give you a piece of advice." Jason said.
The three looked at him, waiting for him to finish.
"Fear the Old Blood." With that Jason exited the room.
As soon as he left, Ironwood dropped his stoic expression and collapsed to the ground. He was terrified. He had never felt so…powerless before. Ozpin recounted his failure to the one he had loved. Oh how things could have been different had he just loved her more. And Glynda, she now had a new view on the term Hunter.
They all knew one thing though. And Glynda was the one to speak it.
"I'm glad we're not fighting him." She said with a pale face.
—
"So, that would conclude my lecture on strategy. However, I do believe I want to see if you can apply it. We will have the combat half of class right after I teach you one thing." Jason said.
"Ms. Scarlatina. I open with a Queen's Gambit, pawn to D4. What will you do?" Jason asked.
Velvet perked up and quickly replied. "I'll employ an Albin Counter gambit, pawn to E5."
"Excellent Ms. Scarlatina, your answer was quick and the correct counter to the method used. You have a bright future ahead, of that I am sure." Jason said to the Faunus.
Velvet felt very happy at this statement, but she still couldn't shake that eerie feeling she got whenever she was around the Good Hunter. However, she usually just paid it no mind.
"Now, about that combat." Jason said with a smile.
Everyone was excited for their first spar of this class. They couldn't wait to see what was so 'advanced' about Jason's techniques.
"Now, can someone please volunteer to try to hit me?" Jason asked as he stood in the small arena.
No one raised their hands. That is until Jaune Arc's hand flew up. Jason glanced at the student, but saw the expression on his face. He was determined.
"Very well Mr. Arc. Please attempt to land a blow on me. And I'll show you that Aura and Semblances don't have a place in the Hunt." Jason said to the young man.
Jaune began to swing at the seasoned Hunter. All of the swipes were easily avoided with minimal movements of both his feet and body. Jason knew that the Arc wasn't the best huntsman in the room. However, he had the heart and determination of a Trueblood. He didn't use a Semblance and only relied on Aura to take hits. Jason could work with this. The young Arc will be his first apprentice.
With a small shift in his weight, Jason appeared behind Jaune and lifted his hand. He brought it down on him and the teen's aura flared, nearly broken by the blow. Jaune felt the hit. And it hurt beyond anything he had ever felt.
"That was magnificently well done Mr. Arc, I would appreciate it if you could stay after class." He said with a warm smile.
Jaune nodded his head hesitantly before returning to his team.
"Now, who is next?" He asked the classroom.
—
"Who the hell is this man!?" Cinder Fall raged as she punched the wall of her dorm room.
"We have no information or records on him at all. Only his name and age. He seemed to have just appeared out of thin air." Mercury said with a scowl.
"Maybe we should contact her?" Emerald asked.
"If she finds a crux in her plans she'll pull us out! I'm not missing this opportunity! The power of the Fall Maiden will be mine!" Cinder replied angrily.
She would have to take care of this problem herself.
—
"Mr. Arc, while you lack strength and stamina as well as skill. You have the heart and charisma of a Hunter. You are also a smart, kind person. All of this is why you will be my first apprentice." Jason said calmly.
Jaune was stunned. He had expected to be lectured or reprimanded in some way. This was different from what he had expected.
"You actually want to teach me?" Jaune asked.
"Of course Mr. Arc. You will become a true Hunter. And you will become one very quickly." Jason said with a maniacal grin.
Jaune swallowed as he feared what he was getting into. He had a feeling that these next few months would be filled with pain.
—
Night had fallen over Beacon as Jason watched the moon with complacent eyes. He hadn't been this nostalgic since joining Cainhurst. It was a…bittersweet sentiment. As Jason stared at the broken celestial body, he began to smile as he thought of how he was now finally free. He was free to do as he pleased. And now that all the pieces were in place, he and his adversary could begin the game.
"Do you often look at the moon?" A feminine voice asked.
Jason turned to Glynda looking at him curiously.
"Sorry, I find it difficult to sleep tonight." Jason replied.
"That makes two of us." The professor responded as she began to observe the moon as well.
"It's beautiful despite being so broken." Glynda said quietly.
"Thank you for the compliment." Jason said happily.
Glynda turned to him with a confused expression.
"Ah never mind." Jason said as he continued to stare at the mysterious lunar body.
Glynda looked back at the moon and simply admired its grandeur.
"Just a bit longer." Glynda thought as her eyes became heavy.
Glynda's body soon leaned on Jason's as she slept.
"...what an interesting turn of events." Jason whispered.
Chapter End
Well? Did you enjoy? Hope you did! I'll be posting as many chapter as I can! Until the next chapter! The Elder Sprite Knight.