Chapter 10, The Beast of Asben Hallow
Asben Hallow
The Grimm troopers dragged the Faunus people from their homes into the cold autumn night. Their screams of peril and pleads of mercy broke the silence. However, their captors would not adhere to them or show them mercy. They forced them along by the point of their blasters to one of the transport vehicles. Overseeing the operation, the commanding Officer stood at attention before one of the transports, watching as the faunus were loaded up into the back.
He smirked as he observed the supposed candidates for his superior's experiments. One of his troopers approached him.
"Report," the Officer said.
"We have nearly finished clearing the Faunus from this area, sir. We are now beginning to load the final transport," the trooper insisted.
"Good, let's make haste. I want to be underway as soon as possible," The Officer insisted.
Emerging from one of the houses, a family of four with their hands behind their heads. From behind, the Grimm trooper pushed them forward with the side of their blaster. They glanced back at the Grimm troopers, who pointed their blaster at them.
"(Keep moving!)" The Grimm growled.
The father turned toward his family, gesturing his head forward. They walked into the street, where they were met with the Grimm's further subjugation of their people. The Grimm had already forced the other Faunus that lived within this part of Asben Hallow from their homes. They were already being loaded into the back of the last transport truck. They were undoubtedly being shipped to the old castle just outside the town.
The town considered this to be the Grimm's base of operation since they took over many days ago. Rumors said it was the new laboratory of Salem's mad doctor and his inhuman experiments. He also liked experimenting on the Faunus, seeing them as his test subjects. However, what happened to the ones he performed his experiments on was never known or seen by anyone from the outside. Though whatever horrors that may now transpire there, they would soon learn.
The father received another shove forward by one of the troopers behind him.
"Move it, Freak!" The Trooper exclaimed to him.
The Trooper's words sparked some anger within the father. He suddenly turned back to the Trooper before delivering a punch to the helmeted trooper, who sauntered backward a couple of steps. Though it lacked the strength to knock him from his feet. After straightening out his jawline, the Trooper gave a slight chuckle.
"That's some right hook you got there. Well, if that's how it will be," The Trooper commented.
The trooper dropped his blaster before delivering a punch into the Faunus's gut, causing the air to be sucked out of his body. He gasped, dropping to his knees before the Grimm Trooper, who only smirked at them. Both his children and Wife were left to watch on in contempt.
"Daddy!" His children cried.
The father struggled to stand up from the ground, only to receive a kick to the face from the Grimm Trooper.
"Get up! You dumb animal!" The Trooper taunted, continuing to beat the Faunus.
His wife quickly shields their children's eyes, turning them around as she holds them in her arms. Though his exclamations of pain continue to be heard, they are not the only audience for the display of cruelty. The other troopers gather around to watch in amusement of their fellow troopers. From outside the crowd, another trooper watches a sudden sound from the ally off to his left. He turns back, where he notices a shadow in the light of the streetlight.
The trooper squinted his eyes. It was probably a faunus trying to hide from them. He then grinned. With his blaster ready, he slowly approached the ally, hoping to have some fun of his own.
The commanding Officer approached the folly that was taking place. He raised his hand to the troopers.
"That's enough! The Doctor requires live subjects," He insisted to them.
"They are no use to us dead."
The Trooper only scoffed at his commanding Officer before throwing the now mutilated faunus to the ground. His family quickly rushed to his aid, helping him return to his feet. They were both relieved and terrified. However, as the Grimm Troopers approached them with their blasters, they would not have long to dwell upon it.
"Get moving!" The Trooper said.
The family did not resist their captors' demands. They abided by them and began walking toward the transports. The Officer turned back to the other troopers.
"Finish loading the rest; we move out in five!" He proclaimed.
The trooper walked into the Alleyway, pointing his blaster. He scanned the alley. There was nothing more than some discarded matter littering the pathway. Though there looked to be no sign of anyone there. Especially no faunus hiding from them.
There was a sudden pattering sound from off to his left. He turned with his blaster pointed at the black alleyway. The trooper squinted his eyes. From within the shadow, he noticed there was a movement within the shadows. Something was hiding behind several large boxed-shaped crates. He raised his blaster and pointed it toward the hidden assailant.
"You there, show yourself!" The trooper said.
Though not heard by the trooper, there was a low growl sound by the mysterious figure.
"Did you hear me?! Stand up!" The trooper ordered.
"I said-"
The Trooper's eyes suddenly lit up in fear as they saw the assailant rise from behind the crates. They found it was not a faunus or some random citizen—it was not even a person.
The rest of the squad had already loaded the last prisoners into the transport when they were suddenly alerted by the screams of their fellow troopers. Turning back, they saw the trooper's shadow and the purple flashes of their blasters. Only to then see what looked like the shadow of some creature's claws rising into view. It then swiped down over the trooper, ceasing both his scream and blaster fire.
Then nothing...
The other troopers held their blasters toward the ally. The commanding Officer stepped forward, pressing his commlink.
"Trooper 424, report! What is happening?" He asked.
Suddenly, what looked to be a large crate was thrown from it. The Crate struck the street light, knocking out the light and causing the alley to go completely black. They held their gazes toward the ally for a moment. The commanding Officer gestured for two of the troopers to investigate. Slowly, the two troopers crept toward the hallway, their blasters pointed forward, ready for whatever was to come.
Or so they thought...
Something scurried swiftly past the two troopers before they could see the creature. One of the troopers turned back and attempted to fire their blaster at the creature, only for it to disappear into the darkness behind her. They then heard the small gasps of breath from their fellow trooper. He turned to look at them, where he saw them staring forward in shock and awe. Upon glancing down, he saw what appeared to be a large gash mark resembling claw marks. The trooper gawked in pain, spitting blood from his mouth before then falling to his knees and the ground below.
By then, the other Grimm troopers felt uneasy. The commander drew his pistol from his side.
"Fan out, keep your eyes on the shadows!" He ordered them.
The other troopers heeded the orders of their commanding Officer, facing toward the dark of the Night with their blasters in hand. They huddled around the carriers to protect the cargo. One of the troopers, shuddering from his fear, slowly stepped back toward one of the carriers. Unaware of what lay behind him, he perched atop the top of one of the transports without notice. The trooper heard its small, low growling from behind, freezing him in place. His body trembled with fear as his eyes glanced back to what he could only assume was this mysterious assailant.
The moment that followed saw the trooper turn back to blast them. Only for the creature to pounce upon them before even getting a chance to do so. With a loud bellow before being followed by the trooper's gasps and screams of pain. The commander and other troopers quickly turned back to see their fellow trooper being mutilated by what appeared to be their assailant. But it was too horrifying to describe by words alone.
"Kill it!" The commander said before firing his pistol.
From inside the transports, the Faunus heard blaster fire from the outside, along with the exclamations of the Grimm troopers, sounding as if they were locked in combat. The question was, who? Who was brave enough to have taken arms against the Grimm? Had other citizens come to their rescue?
The faunus people suddenly heard the inhumanly snarling growls, followed by the trooper's screams of peril, as if some creature was mauling them. The faunus moved to the back of the transport, staring forward at the closed hatch, the only thing that stood between them and whatever was out there. They could only assume it would come for them after they were done with the troops outside.
However, as it became quieter from the outside, that may be sooner than they feared.
The commander staggered into an alleyway, turning back the way he came as he held up his pistol. There was shock and terror over his expression. The squad he had commanded had been completely wiped out before his eyes. Torn apart and mutilated before his very eyes by whatever abomination that thing was. Their blaster all but proved to be utterly useless by how swift it moved despite its very size.
He was the only one that remained. He needed to call the castle for reinforcements.
The commanding Officer stepped back, keeping his gaze toward the street. He reached up and pressed his commlink.
"This is Officer 1753 to Castle Hallow; we have a situation here! Requesting reinforcements immediately!" The Officer said.
The commanding suddenly paused. He glanced back, wearing, tightening his grip over his pistol. The draws of its breath and low growls all but signified the creature was towing behind him. The commander only grinned furiously before turning to face the creature. Only to be met by its claw, which swiped the Officer, his blood splattering over the wall.
It was quiet—too quiet. The Faunus shifted their glances from one side of the transport to another. However, no sound could be heard to indicate whether the troopers or that creature was still out there. Regardless, they were still at the mercy of whoever remained. From behind, a few children were brought to tears despite their mother's attempt to quiet them down to now draw the attention of whatever was outside.
But it was far too late.
There was a sudden metallic screeching sound coming from the transport hatchway. Upon turning back, they saw it was being pried open, no doubt by the creature. This could only mean it had already disposed of the Grimm Troopers who had imprisoned them.
Now it comes for them.
The Faunus quickly huddled in the back of the transport, watching in horror as it ripped open the hatch. The mothers embraced their children in their arms, holding them close. They knew that once it gave way, they would be at the creature's mercy. They would suffer the same as their captors.
With one final metallic screech, the doorway finally gave in and was ripped from the transport before being thrown to the side by the creature. It stood before the entrance for them to see, its looming shadow cast upon them. The sight itself was horrifying, to say the least. Not even their imagination could ever create such a monster as this.
The father, along with three of the men, came to stand between it and the women and children, unwilling to allow whatever it was to harm them. The women embraced their tearful children from behind, fearing it may be their last time. The creature continued to peer into the transport momentarily, only to have them leap onto its rooftop. The transport shook as the creature landed above them, only to leap again, which shook the transport once more.
Then silence.
There then came another metallic sound coming from the transport ahead of them. It was no doubt going after the other transport. With a single gesture to stay back to his family, the father and two others slowly made their way to the now open hatchway. They came out into the street. Only to pause in shock and awe at the sight of slaughter that now lies before them. The bodies of their captors littered the street, torn and mutilated by that creature.
The father cupped his hand over his mouth.
"Oh god!" he said.
They suddenly heard the sound of screaming from overhead. Along with another metallic tearing along with the doorway being thrown across the street to their right. Quickly, they picked up some of the Grimm's blasters lying over the ground and came around the corner of the transport. Only to find that the creature was gone and the other Faunus disembarking from the transports. But the creature had vanished.
They lowered their blasters, sharing a curious glance at one another. Suddenly, they heard the creature's bellow from off to off to their left. They gazed at one of the houses to see the creature perched high above the roof as it exclaimed a loud bellow before disappearing into the night.
Castle Hallow
The doors to the laboratory slid open as a commanding officer escorted by two Grimm troopers stepped inside. There, they found Dr. Arthur Watts tending to one of his experiments. The Officer stepped forward.
"Dr. Watts, we have received a transmission from one of the convoys," The officer said.
Dr. Watts looked up from the lab table and turned to face them. The officer pulled the scroll from his pocket and opened it, revealing the transmission they had received from the Convoy.
"This is Officer 1753 to Castle Hallow; we have a situation here! Requesting reinforcements immediately!"
His screams of peril followed the Officer's words, along with the inhuman bellows, before the transmission became silent. This left Auther to squint his eyes, ponder, and seem to recognize what it was.
"It would appear our missing experiment has finally resurfaced. And it would seem he's going after our convoys," The officer insisted.
Arthor narrowed his eyes.
"He remembers. It would seem he still possesses his intelligence," Watts insisted, stroking his mustache.
"And now he looks to free our test subjects."
"Shall we have all sectors on high alert, Dr?" The officer questioned.
Dr. Watts nodded his head.
"Yes, I would hate to lose anymore. But I want him alive," Dr. Watts insisted.
"If he possesses intelligence, I must know how. It will go a long way in furthering my plans."
The officer nodded his head.
"Yes, Dr," He said.
Qrow woke up the next morning lying against one of the fallen logs, wrapped in one of the cloaks they had taken from the village. He leaned from off the log, moaning as he shook his head. He glanced up at the fire only to see ash and smoke. From its looks, it had only gone out recently.
After a long night of driving, they were finally far from the sight of the battle, though now they were deep inside the Grimm's controlled territory. Whether or not the Liberian forces had managed to push them back was uncertain. Regardless, they needed to get to Havan. Only then would they be safe and continue with Pyrrha's training.
He glanced over to where Pyrrha was sleeping, only to find that the sleeping bag he had given her was empty.
"Red?" He said.
He then heard her voice coming from the forest off to his right. It sounded as though she was locked in combat. But there was no sound of blaster fire or anything indicating an opponent. Squinting his eyes, he got to his feet quickly, grabbing his sword next to him as he raced to aid her.
"Red?!" He called out to her.
Qrow raced through the forest before coming to the river shortly. There, he found Pyrrha, though she was not locked in combat. Instead, he found her swiping her sword about, seeming to be practicing her sword skills. Over a nearby rock stood the lamp, which pulsed its bright blue essence. Which could only mean she was in the middle of one of her lessons with Akara.
Qrow sheaved his sword behind him, leaning against one of the trees as he watched her train with her true mentor.
Pyrrha swung her Milo, currently in its sword form, first upward and then down. Pyrrha then turned and swung Milo from around before leaping into the air and landing with a massive swipe.
"Your skills are coming along quite nicely. Well done," Akara voice said.
Pyrrha nodded her head. She then stood up, twirling the sword in her hand
"Thank you, Akara. I've been practicing some of the skills Qrow has shown me," she said.
Akara gave a slight chuckle.
"Yes, I am familiar with your teacher's skills. I can already see his training has had quite the effect," Akara commented.
Pyrrha narrowed her eyes, smiling.
"I'll be sure to tell him you said that," Pyrrha insisted to her.
"Well, you will need your skills for this first trial," Akara said.
Pyrrha squinted her eyes curiously.
"First Trial, you still haven't told me what it is," She said.
"I cannot tell you what is in store for you both. But heed these words, my Prodigy," Akara said.
"You must look deep inside and see the good in another. Despite what it is, you see."
Pyrrha squinted her eyes curiously.
"Wait... Akara, what does that mean?" She asked curiously.
Her mentor would not answer Pyrrha. Her voice had gone silent, and the lamp had ceased pulsing. Leaving the young prodigy with the lingering question of the words of her mentor. Qrow then emerged from the forest as he walked up to her.
"Nice moves, Kid. Love to meet your teacher," Qrow said jokingly.
Pyrrha turned to him, startled by his sudden appearance.
"Oh, Qrow! I'm sorry, I was training with... Akara," Pyrrha insisted, shifting her glance back at the lamp.
Qrow shook his head to her.
"It's alright, Kid. I get it," He insisted.
"Next time, give me a heads up before you run off like that. We can't take risks now that we're in Grimm-controlled territory."
Pyrrha nodded her head.
"Right, of course," She said.
"So, did Akara tell you anything about your first trial?" Qrow asked.
Pyrrha glanced back over at the Lamp with an inquisitive glance. Akara's words were still relatively fresh in her mind.
"I... I'm not entirely sure," Pyrrha insisted to her.
"What do you mean?" Qrow asked.
"Akara told me to look deep within despite what I see. What does that mean?" She asked, glancing back at him curiously.
Qrow squinted his eyes. The words were a mystery to him as much as to her. He was not familiar with the training of the Knight of Martanus. Whatever they meant, they must be of great importance to Pyrrha's training, and they will soon find out.
"I'm not sure, Red. But whatever she meant, I'm sure we'll find out soon enough," He insisted to her.
"Right now, we should probably get a move on. If the Grimm are anywhere nearby, we don't want to stay here for long."
Pyrrha nodded her head.
"Right, where to now?" She asked curiously.
"Last I checked, the nearest town around here is Asben Hallow. We should head there and see what we find," Qrow insisted.
"Of course," Pyrrha agreed before returning to retrieve the lamp.
After quickly packing up camp, Pyrrha and Qrow made their way to Asben Hallow. They soon found themselves in an encounter as they continued to drive down the narrow road through the woods. Though it was not by the Grimm troops, they expected to be in the region. Instead, it appeared to be a large supply truck parked along the side of the road.
Two men stood at the front of the truck, seeming to be checking on the engine under the hood. Pyrrha squinted her eyes, tapping Qrow's shoulder.
"Qrow?" she said.
"I see it, Red," He insisted.
Qrow pulled the bike up to the truck before coming to a complete stop. He then got off the bike as he approached the two men.
"Hey, everything alright?" He said.
The two men turned back to face them. There, they were met with their animal-like features. One possessed the horns of a buck, while the other had the ears of a bear—a clear indication that they were faunus, and the people in the back were as well. One of the men drew what appeared to be a pistol from his side.
"Hold it right there!" He said, holding Qrow at Gunpoint.
Qrow raised his hands.
"Wow, easy. We don't mean you any harm," Qrow insisted to them.
The two men were not convinced by Qrows reassurance, continuing to hold him at gunpoint. Pyrrha got off the bike and rushed to Qrows' side.
"Please, we only want to help," She told them.
The two men, once displaying hostility, suddenly widened their eyes. Under her cloak, they saw the armor she wore. Slowly, they lowered their guns, losing all sense of fear of the two strangers.
"That armor... you're a Knight of Nikos!" The Faunus said.
Pyrrha glanced down at her armor curiously. While she knew Nikos as her second name, she was unfamiliar with such a title. Could they be referring to her father?
"I..." she said.
Qrow suddenly stepped in.
"Not just yet. She's still in training," Qrow insisted to them.
Pyrrha squinted her eyes at Qrow, raising an eyebrow at him inquisitively. More so as he was quick to change the subject.
"Anyway, what's going on here?" Qrow asked, gesturing to the open hood of the truck.
The two men turned back to the open hood.
"We've been having trouble with the radiator. We're trying to get working again," They said.
"Here, let me look," Qrow said, walking up to the open hood.
As Qrow tended the truck, Pyrrha heard something coming from the back. She walked around to the tailgate, pushing aside the hanging drape. It was there in the back; she found what appeared to be more Faunus packed inside. Upon seeing her, she appeared scared and uneased at the stranger, only for Pyrrha to raise her hand.
"It's alright, I am a friend," she reassured them.
Now it made sense why those two men were acting suspiciously. They must be smuggling these two out of here. They were undoubtedly trying to escape the war the Grimm had brought to this realm. Pyrrha shifted her gaze to the road ahead. The road that leads to Asben Hallow, where they must have come from. She squinted her eyes worryingly. It could only mean that the Grimm must be there as well.
Pyrrha returned to the front of the truck as the engine started up. Qrow closed the hood.
"There, that should get you far." Qrow insisted.
"As long as it gets us to the capital, that's all that matters. It's not safe for us Faunus out here," The Bear Faunus insisted.
"Not anymore."
Qrow cocked his head to him curiously.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
Pyrrha came up from around the truck, looking back at the back of the truck. She then turned back to the truck's tailgate. She turned back to the Buck and Bear Faunus, who turned back to her. Seeing the worried look on her face, it was clear that she saw what was in the back of the truck.
Or whom that is.
With a sigh, the Bear Faunus turned back to Qrow.
"The Grimm have taken control of our town. They've been rounding us up and taking us to Castle Asben," He proclaimed.
Pyrrha squinted her eyes inquisitively.
"But why?" Pyrrha asked.
The Bear faunus shook his head.
"We don't know. The ones taken there were never seen again," He insisted.
"We heard rumors that it's the new staging grounds for Dr. Watts's experiments."
Qrow paused.
"Watts? Arther Watts?" Qrow exclaimed.
The Bear Faunus nodded his head.
"Yeah, rumor is he uses Faunus as his test subjects," He said.
The Buck Faunus stepped out of the truck.
"We're trying to get our families to the capital. Word is they are evacuating civilians to the core realms," He insisted.
"If you have any sense, you will do the same."
Pyrrha turned back down the road with a stern glance. She then shifted it down to Shrouded Gambol, taking hold of the handle and remembering her promise to Blake. Whatever was happening to those Faunus in Asben Hallow, whatever the Grimm have done to them, she will stop it.
"Well, we won't hold you up anymore. Red, come on, we need to move." Qrow insisted.
Pyrrha turned back to him with a look of determination. She nodded her head, rushing over to the bike. Qrow climbed up onto the bike as Pyrrha came up behind him. He then revved the handlebar, starting the engine.
"If you go the Asben Hallow, you will never return," The Bear Faunus insisted.
"We can handle the Grimm," Qrow insisted.
"The Grimm will be the least of your worries. There's something else there," He insisted to them.
"Something far worse... The Beast of Asben Hallow."
Both Pyrrha and Qrow exchanged a curious glance at one another. Though despite his warning, the two remained undeterred. With another revve of the engine, Qrow circled the truck and drove off down the road...
To Asben Hallow.