Forward patrols had detected the Grimm horde coming, a storm of creatures born from the wave of negative emotions pouring out of Vale. The sheer size of the herd was enough to make even the most battle-hardened soldier feel a chill run down their spine.
A brigade-sized force. Three thousand to five thousand Grimm were coming their way.
"That can't be right," Jaune muttered to himself as the Paladin's systems powered up. "That's… way too many."
Brown's voice crackled over the comms, sharp and commanding as always. "You're not wrong, Arc. This isn't just another hit-and-run. We're looking at a full-scale invasion. They're probably heading to Vale as we speak."
By 1100 hours, the Grimm had surged southward, sweeping across the wasteland like a tidal wave of darkness. The Atlas warships of the 34th, 55th, and 56th Aerial Squadrons had held the line for a time, but the 56th Squadron had been obliterated in the initial assault. The Grimm didn't stop. They never stopped. And now they were pushing further, threatening everything in their path.
It was only a matter of time before they hit the Atlas base Jaune and company were stationed.
Jaune's hands tightened on the controls as he felt the Paladin hum to life beneath him. The machine was repaired and although there were some patches needed to be done; it was operational enough to be useful in the upcoming battle. The chain guns on the arms had been fixed, and the main cannon was back online. The jump units were back in commission.
"Status report," Brown barked over the comms. "How's the Paladin holding up, Arc?"
"Operational, Sir," Jaune replied, his voice steadier than he felt. "Chain guns and main cannon are ready to go. Jump units are functional. There's strain on the actuators, so I have to abandon the lighting whips, but I'll make do."
"Good enough," Brown grunted. "We don't have the luxury of waiting for more repairs. We've got a Grimm horde bearing down on us, and we're not going to let them tear this place apart if we can."
Jaune could hear the tension in Brown's voice, the weight of the situation pressing down on him just as hard as it was on everyone else. The forward bases were already under attack, and the reports coming in from the surrounding areas were grim. The Atlas 12th Division had thrown everything they had at the Grimm in the north, but it hadn't been enough. Squadrons were being wiped out, one after another.
At 1800 hours, the Grimm had surfaced on the shores of a nameless town, three concurrent hordes crashing into Atlas forces like a black wave. The 15th Division had fought valiantly, but the 104th, 189th, 195th, and 231st Squadrons had been annihilated in the chaos. Reinforcements from the 16th Division had arrived too late, and by the time they'd engaged, the Grimm had already scattered into the surrounding region.
By nightfall, the Grimm had regrouped, pushing southeast toward the City of Vacuo. Contact with the city had been lost soon after, and the 14th Division had been unable to pursue the Grimm through the shifting sands. The horde was relentless, changing direction, splitting apart, and reforming like a living storm of claws and teeth.
And now, at 0300 hours, the Grimm was barreling straight toward their base. The Atlas's Armor 5th and 7th Armored Divisions had managed to hold the line at the edge of the desert and the mountains, but the situation was dire.
"All units, prepare for engagement!" came the call over the comms. The officers were shouting, coordinating the defense with the precision that only Atlas soldiers could manage. "Grimm herd approaching from the southeast! Thousands inbound! Hold the line!"
Jaune could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he settled into the cockpit. He'd faced Grimm before but never like this.
Never on this scale.
"Arc, you're with us," Brown said, his voice steady over the radio. "Anvil Team is moving to reinforce the eastern front. We've got Ironwood Company on the southern flank, and Cedar's leading the defense on the western ridge. We'll hold the line at the base of the mountains. Don't let them through."
"Copy that," Jaune replied, gripping the controls as the Paladin began to move. The heavy machine lumbered forward, its repaired systems responding sluggishly but effectively.
As Jaune made his way toward the defensive line, he could see the other soldiers preparing for the battle ahead. Artillery teams were setting up along the ridge, while infantry units took up defensive positions, their weapons trained on the horizon. The air was thick with tension, the knowledge that thousands of Grimm were about to crash into them like a tidal wave of death hanging over everyone.
Mint was already in position with Humpty and Rumple, manning one of the heavy dust cannons near the front. They looked up as Jaune's Paladin approached, their faces grim but determined.
"VB, you ready for this?" Rumple called over the comms, his voice tinged with the usual mix of sarcasm and anxiety.
Jaune didn't bother with a joke. "As ready as I'll ever be."
Humpty snorted. "That's the spirit."
The ground rumbled beneath them as the first hints of the Grimm herd became visible on the horizon — a dark, seething mass of creatures moving with terrifying speed and coordination. Jaune's heart clenched as he saw the sheer number of them. Beowolves, Ursai, Death Stalkers, and even larger, more monstrous Grimm that he couldn't quite identify yet. The herd stretched as far as the eye could see, a black ocean of destruction.
"Here they come," Brown said, his voice cold and steady. "Stay sharp, everyone."
The first wave of Beowolves hit the front line like a battering ram, claws and teeth flashing in the darkness. The soldiers opened fire, the roar of dust rounds and artillery shells filling the air as the Grimm crashed into the defenses. The earth shook with the impact, the Paladin's sensors lighting up with alerts as the creatures began to overwhelm the eastern flank.
Jaune gritted his teeth, opening fire with the Paladin's chain guns. The rapid bursts of fire tore through the front lines of the Grimm, sending Beowolves and Ursai flying as the rounds ripped into their blackened flesh. He swung the Paladin's massive arms, smashing through any creatures that got too close.
"Keep them back!" Brown shouted over the comms, his rifle firing in quick, controlled bursts. "We can't let them break the line!"
Jaune fired again, sweeping the chain guns across the horde as they continued to advance. The Grimm seemed endless, pouring out of the desert like a nightmare brought to life. No matter how many they killed, more took their place, snarling and clawing at the defensive positions.
"VB, on your left!" Humpty called out, and Jaune swung the Paladin's arm just in time to crush a Beowolf that had broken through the line, its nasty black claws lashing out in a final, desperate attack.
"Got it," Jaune muttered, his heart racing.
The battle raged on, the soldiers fighting tooth and nail to hold the Grimm at bay. Every time they seemed to gain ground, the horde would shift, attacking from a new angle or sending in larger, more dangerous creatures. The artillery teams fired round after round, the explosions lighting up the night as the Grimm was torn apart by the blasts. But it wasn't enough. It was never enough.
"Arc, how's the Paladin holding up?" Brown asked, his voice tense.
Jaune scanned the systems. "Still operational, but I'm running low on ammo for the chain guns. Main cannon's still good, though."
"Use it," Brown ordered. "We need to thin them out."
Jaune nodded, flipping the switch to arm the Paladin's main cannon. The heavy weapon hummed to life, and Jaune took aim at the densest part of the horde. He fired, the recoil shaking the entire machine as the massive shell exploded in the middle of the Grimm, sending dozens of creatures flying in every direction.
"Direct hit!" Mint cheered over the comms. "Nice shot, VB!"
But the celebration was short-lived. The Grimm was relentless, surging forward even as their numbers were cut down. Jaune could feel the pressure building, the weight of the battle pressing down on him as the horde continued to push closer to the base.
"Shit, we're not going to be able to hold them," Rumple muttered, his voice strained. "There's too many…"
"We hold," Brown snapped. "No retreat."
Jaune gritted his teeth, swinging the Paladin's arms to crush another wave of Beowolves. The horde was closing in, and he could see the soldiers on the ground struggling to keep the Grimm from breaking through.
And then, in the chaos of the battle, something slammed into the Paladin from the side.
Jaune's world spun as the Paladin was thrown off balance, the force of the impact sending him crashing to the ground. Alarms blared in the cockpit as Jaune struggled to regain control, his vision blurring from the shock of the hit.
"What the—?" Jaune tried to move, but the Paladin's systems were sluggish, damaged by the sudden attack. The armor held however.
Jaune's vision finally cleared, and as he struggled to get the Paladin upright, his eyes locked onto what had hit him. Towering above him was a Beringel, a hulking, gorilla-like Grimm covered in black, bone-like armor that gleamed in the low light. It stood almost twice the height of a man, even on all fours, its powerful arms ending in massive fists that could tear through steel. Its glowing red eyes narrowed, fixated on the Paladin.
Jaune didn't waste a second. With a grimace, he forced the Paladin to back up, its systems groaning as he engaged the rear thrusters. The Beringel lunged at him, its fists crashing into the ground where the Paladin had been moments before. Dust and debris exploded upward, momentarily blinding Jaune as he fired the Paladin's 120mm cannons. The powerful rounds slammed into the Beringel's chest, staggering the creature but not stopping it.
"Dammit," Jaune growled as he pivoted the Paladin's arm, aiming for the creature's side. With a loud whirr, the Paladin's massive fist crashed into the Beringel, sending it stumbling to the side.
"Arc! You good down there?" Brown's voice crackled over the comms, a mixture of concern and urgency.
"I've got a big one here!" Jaune shouted back. "A Beringel, twice the size of anything I've seen before!"
The Beringel roared, regaining its balance and charging again. Jaune gritted his teeth and fired the Paladin's 36mm dust cannons, the rapid bursts of energy-infused rounds lighting up the night. The rounds tore into the Beringel's flesh, shredding through its bone plates and sending chunks of its body flying. But the Grimm didn't stop. It lunged at the Paladin, one massive fist smashing into the side of the machine, sending Jaune's world spinning again.
Jaune quickly reoriented himself and slammed the Paladin's arm into the Beringel's ribs with a sickening crunch. The Grimm bellowed in pain, but Jaune didn't give it a chance to recover. He folded the Paladin's arm and fired point-blank with the 36mm dust cannons, unleashing a barrage of rounds that ripped through the Beringel's body, tearing it in two.
The Grimm collapsed with a final, agonizing roar, its blackened remains dissolving into the wind.
"Got it," Jaune breathed, wiping the sweat from his brow. But as he looked up, his relief quickly vanished.
The skies above were a nightmare.
Ravagers, the bat-like Grimm with bone masks, red markings, and grotesque spikes protruding from their backs — swarmed the air and blocked the light. They screeched and dove toward the Atlas airships, overwhelming the aerial fleet with sheer numbers. Hundreds of them, their pitch-black fur blending with the night sky, blotted out the stars. They looked like living shadows, their interlocking fangs gleaming as they shredded through the defenses.
"Brown," Jaune called, his voice tense. "We're losing air superiority. The Ravagers are tearing our ships apart!"
"I see it, Arc," Brown responded, his voice grim. "We're getting swarmed down here too. Keep your eyes on the skies, but don't let the ground forces break through. Everyone light the flares! We need visibility here!"
The flares lit up in the dim light.
Every anti-air and artillery emplacement was firing non-stop, the sound of explosions rocking the battlefield as Atlas warships and Mantas unleashed their ordinance in a desperate attempt to stem the tide. Bomb after bomb dropped on the advancing Grimm below, creating a landscape of craters and destruction. The ground shook with the force of the blasts, but even that wasn't enough. The Grimm kept coming, undeterred, driven by some dark force beyond the soldiers' understanding.
Jaune's Paladin groaned as he pushed it forward, firing into the advancing Grimm while trying to keep an eye on the sky. The Ravagers above were a nightmare. Every time one was shot down, another two seemed to take its place. They moved in packs, diving toward the airships and clawing at their armor with feral intensity. One of the Mantas in the sky sputtered and spiraled out of control as several Ravagers latched onto it, tearing through its engines. The ship exploded in mid-air, sending flaming debris raining down onto the battlefield.
"Arc, move your position!" Brown's voice cut through the chaos. "We need you to hold the southern ridge. We're getting overwhelmed here!"
"Copy that!" Jaune replied, pivoting the Paladin and sprinting toward the ridge. The machine's heavy footfalls echoed across the battlefield as he charged through the waves of Grimm, firing his chain guns and cannon whenever a large enough group got too close.
As Jaune reached the ridge, the sight that greeted him made his stomach churn. Atlas soldiers were fighting tooth and nail against the onslaught of Grimm, but they were being pushed back. Beowolves and Ursai tore through the front lines, ripping through armor and flesh alike. The bodies of fallen comrades littered the ground, their blood mixing with the black, inky remains of the slain Grimm.
Jaune ground his teeth and opened fire, the Paladin's cannons lighting up as he tried to give the soldiers some breathing room. The chain guns tore through the advancing Beowolves, shredding them before they could reach the remaining troops. Several Ursai fell under the concentrated fire, their massive forms crashing into the earth.
But it wasn't enough. The Grimm were too many.
"Arc! We've got a Death Stalker pushing through!" Humpty's panicked voice came through the comms. "If it gets past the line, we're screwed!"
Jaune whipped the Paladin's sensors toward the western flank and spotted it — an enormous Death Stalker, its massive scorpion-like body towering over the battlefield. Its bone-plated tail glinted ominously in the low light as it barreled toward the weakened line of defense. The Atlas soldiers scrambled to hold their position, but the Death Stalker was too large, too powerful. One sweep of its tail sent half a squad flying, their screams lost in the chaos.
"Hold on!" Jaune shouted, charging forward. He aimed the Paladin's cannon and fired, the shell slamming into the Death Stalker's side and causing it to stumble. But the creature recovered quickly, its tail lashing out with deadly precision.
Jaune rolled the Paladin to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike, and fired again. The round hit the Death Stalker's leg, blowing off part of its armor and causing it to screech in rage. The creature turned its attention toward the Paladin, its red eyes burning with malevolent fury.
"Come on," Jaune muttered, bracing himself for the impact.
The Death Stalker lunged, its massive claws slashing at the Paladin. Jaune blocked with the machine's arm, but the force of the blow rattled the cockpit. He retaliated with a heavy punch, the Paladin's fist slamming into the creature's armored face. The Death Stalker staggered back, but it wasn't done yet.
Jaune fired the dust cannons at point-blank range, the dust rounds slamming into the Death Stalker's exposed side. The creature screeched in agony, its body convulsing as the rounds tore through its flesh. But before Jaune could deliver the final blow, something massive slammed into the Paladin's back.
Jaune's world spun again as the Paladin was sent crashing into the ground, alarms blaring in his ears. He coughed, his vision blurring as he struggled to regain control. Through the haze, he saw the cause of the impact — a Ravager, larger than the others, had latched onto the Paladin's back, its claws digging into the armor as it screeched in fury.
Jaune gritted his teeth and slammed the Paladin's arm into the Ravager, trying to dislodge it. The Grimm shrieked, its wings beating furiously as it tried to tear through the Paladin's armor. Jaune fired the dust cannons again, this time upward, and the rounds ripped through the Ravager's body, sending it tumbling to the ground in a heap of blackened flesh. Then he turned the Paladin around, finishing off the Death Stalker.
Breathing heavily, Jaune forced the Paladin back to its feet, but the damage was done. The systems were flickering, the machine struggling to stay operational.
"Arc, get out of there!" Brown's voice crackled over the comms. "We're falling back! The Grimm are too many!"
Jaune looked around, his heart sinking as he saw the battlefield. The lines were breaking. Atlas soldiers were being pushed back, their defenses crumbling under the relentless onslaught. The Grimm was winning.
And they weren't stopping.
The battlefield had turned into a nightmare.
Jaune gritted his teeth, adrenaline surging through his veins as the Paladin roared to life. The Grimm were endless, pouring over the horizon in waves, and the Ravagers were overwhelming the skies, tearing apart the Atlas warships that had once provided cover. The defensive line was breaking, and he could feel the weight of the entire situation pressing down on him.
But there was no time to stop. No time to think. Just fight.
His radio crackled to life, cutting through the chaos.
"GET SOME! GET SOME!" the voice of Cedar boomed over the comms, followed by the unmistakable shouting of Misfit and Manor squads. They were rushing in with their armored trucks, gunners blazing, trying to stem the tide of the Grimm that had broken through. The cacophony of their assault rifles and mounted turrets was deafening, and for a brief moment, it seemed like they might turn the tide.
Jaune's chest tightened. "Come on, come on…" he muttered under his breath, watching as Cedar led the charge with his squad.
But it wasn't enough. The Beowolves were too fast, too vicious. They tore through Manor Squad with terrifying ease, their claws ripping through steel and flesh alike. One by one, the trucks were overturned, their occupants dragged out and shredded before they could even scream. Misfit Squad, while managing to avoid the initial charge, wasn't so lucky either. Their armored truck swerved to avoid the onslaught but ended up crashing into a ditch. The Grimm were on them in seconds, and Jaune watched in horror as limbs, bodies, and blood were pulled apart in a frenzy of violence.
"Cedar, come on, retreat!" Jaune shouted into the comms, but his voice was drowned out by the chaos around him.
Cedar bought them a few precious seconds. He managed to down a Beowolf, his rifle tearing into the creature's hide, but before he could finish the kill, another Beowolf came from behind, swatting him like a fly. Cedar's body was ripped apart, torn into ribbons in front of Jaune's eyes.
The radio was filled with screams, the final, desperate sounds of Misfit Squad as they were overwhelmed, their bodies disappearing into the mass of black and glowing red eyes.
Jaune's lips trembled as he finished off the Grimm surrounding him, anger boiling in his chest. He couldn't save them. He was too far, too late. The weight of his failures pressed down on him, but he couldn't afford to stop. Not now.
"Arc, get the hell out of there!" Brown's voice barked over the comms, urgent and unrelenting. "Fall back and regroup!"
But Jaune wasn't listening anymore. His mind had gone numb, focused only on the Grimm in front of him. He engaged the Paladin's jump units, propelling the massive machine into the air before slamming it down in the center of the Beowolf horde. The impact created a shockwave, sending the creatures flying in all directions. He swung the Paladin's arms with precision, its massive fists crushing the Beowolves one after another.
He fired the 120mm cannons, the explosions tearing through the Grimm, their bodies disintegrating into black smoke. The 36mm dust cannons followed, unleashing a storm of energy rounds that ripped apart the charging Beowolves, leaving nothing but shredded carcasses in their wake.
But even as he fired, as he swung and smashed and killed, the Grimm kept coming. For every one he destroyed, two more took its place.
And then, the ground beneath him began to tremble.
At first, it was subtle — a low rumble that Jaune almost dismissed as an aftershock of the battle. But as the tremor grew stronger, more violent, he realized something far worse was coming.
A Blind Worm.
Jaune's eyes widened as he spotted the creature emerging from the sands. The enormous worm-like Grimm, covered in black scales and bone-like plates, shot out of the ground with terrifying speed. Its singular red eye gleamed in the darkness, and its massive, fanged mouth opened wide, letting out a deafening screech.
The creature was easily over a hundred feet long, dwarfing the Paladin and everything around it. Its bone plates gleamed in the low light, and its two heads snapped at the air as it barreled toward the Atlas forces, crushing anything in its path.
"Shit!" Jaune shouted, pulling the Paladin back as the Blind Worm surged forward. He could see the soldiers on the ground scrambling, their artillery and anti-air guns swiveling to target the massive Grimm. But it was too fast, too powerful. It crashed through the walls of the base, tearing them down with its spiked teeth and acidic blood. The defense line collapsed as the Grimm poured through the breach, overwhelming the soldiers with their sheer numbers.
Jaune fired the Paladin's cannons, the 36mm rounds slamming into the Blind Worm's armored body. But the creature didn't even flinch. It plowed through the defenses, allowing more Beowolves and Death Stalkers to swarm through the breach.
"We've lost the wall!" Brown's voice rang out over the comms, panic creeping into his usually steady tone. "Fall back to the inner perimeter! Arc, we need you to cover the retreat!"
"Copy that," Jaune muttered, his hands shaking as he engaged the Paladin's jump units. He propelled the machine forward, positioning it in front of the breach. The Beowolves were pouring in, their claws and teeth gleaming as they charged toward the remaining soldiers.
Jaune gritted his teeth and fired the 120mm cannons again, the explosions tearing through the advancing Grimm. The 36mm dust cannons followed, shredding the Beowolves before they could reach the base. He swung the Paladin's arms, smashing through the creatures with brutal efficiency.
But it wasn't enough.
The Blind Worm continued its assault, burrowing through the ground and reemerging closer to the base. The artillery brought down two smaller worms, their bodies collapsing into the sand with deafening roars, but the larger one that was twice the size of the others was still coming. It plowed through the remaining walls, its massive body crushing everything in its path.
Jaune's heart raced as he fired again, trying to slow the creature's advance. But the Blind Worm was relentless. It let out another ear-splitting screech and surged forward, its massive mouth opening wide as it prepared to swallow the Paladin whole.
"Come on!" Jaune shouted, engaging the jump units again. He propelled the Paladin into the air, dodging the creature's attack and landing behind it. He fired the 120mm cannons directly into the creature's side, the rounds exploding on impact. The Blind Worm let out a roar of pain, but it didn't stop. It spun around, its two heads snapping at Jaune as it burrowed underground again, preparing for another strike.
Jaune's mind raced as he tried to figure out a plan. The Paladin was running low on ammo, and the Grimm were closing in on all sides. He couldn't hold them off forever.
"Arc, you need to pull back!" Brown's voice was urgent over the comms. "We're regrouping at the inner perimeter now! You can't fight that thing alone!"
Jaune hesitated, his hands trembling on the controls. He wanted to stay, to fight, to protect the soldiers who were still on the ground. But he knew Brown was right. If he stayed, he would be overwhelmed, and the Grimm would tear through the base without resistance.
"Copy that," Jaune muttered, reluctantly pulling the Paladin back. He fired one last volley at the Grimm, the explosions lighting up the battlefield, before turning and retreating toward the inner perimeter.
As he moved, his sensors picked up more Grimm closing in. Beowolves, Death Stalkers, Ravagers — they were everywhere. The ground trembled as more Blind Worms burrowed beneath the surface, their massive forms shaking the earth with every movement.
Jaune's heart pounded in his chest as he rearmed the Paladin, loading the last of the 36mm and 120mm rounds. He had to make every shot count.
The Paladin rumbled as Jaune pulled back into the inner perimeter, his machine groaning under the weight of the battle. The Grimm were everywhere, pouring over the walls like a flood of black death. His sensors lit up with warnings as more of the creatures closed in, but he couldn't focus on all of them at once. There were too many.
The world was chaos.
Jaune's breathing was heavy inside the cockpit. The familiar hum of the Paladin his only comfort in the madness. The air was thick with the sound of gunfire, the thunderous explosions of artillery, and the unrelenting roar of the Grimm. His ears rang, and his arms ached from the constant fighting, but there was no time to stop. No time to rest.
Ahead of him, the battlefield grew even darker as a new threat joined the fray — Lancers. The insect-like Grimm swarmed in from the horizon, their black, segmented bodies glistening in the dim light. Their jagged pincers snapped hungrily, and their four transparent red wings beat furiously as they closed in on the Atlas defenses. The Lancers rained down their stingers in a deadly barrage, sharp and fast, piercing through anything in their path.
One of the nearby artillery emplacements went silent as the Lancers overwhelmed it, their stingers punching through steel and bone alike. The soldiers manning the guns barely had time to scream before they were ripped apart.
Jaune cursed under his breath, swinging the Paladin's arms to take out the nearest Grimm. He fired the 36mm dust cannons, tearing through the Lancers in front of him, but it was a losing battle. More of the insect-like Grimm were descending, their numbers increasing by the second.
And then, from above, an Atlas warship dove down into the fray, its massive cannons lighting up the sky as it engaged the Lancers. The warship unleashed a storm of firepower, tearing through the Grimm with brutal efficiency. The Lancers shrieked as they were blown apart, their blackened remains raining down like ash.
Jaune took the opportunity to pull back further, retreating toward the inner perimeter where the last of the Atlas forces were regrouping. The escape pods were lined up, ready for a last-ditch evacuation if it came to that, but Jaune could hear the desperation in the soldiers' voices as they fought to hold the line.
"FUCK THAT!" a voice rang out, cutting through the chaos.
Jaune's eyes flicked toward the source, spotting one of the officers — clearly high command shouting at a comms operator near the escape pods. The officer's face was red with fury, his hands clenched into fists as he barked orders.
"I'M NOT FUCKING LEAVING MY COMPANY BEHIND, YOU FUCK! GET THAT DOWN THERE AND FUCKING FIGHT! WE'LL USE THAT EVACUATE THEM."
The officer's rage was palpable, his words laced with a mixture of fear and defiance. It was clear that some of the command staff had been considering an evacuation, but faced with the onslaught of the Grimm, the officer refused to abandon his men. The sentiment spread like wildfire through the ranks.
Humpty, who had been fighting near Jaune, let out a wild laugh, his voice carrying over the battlefield.
"HAHAHA! LOOK AT THOSE PIECES OF SHIT! I GUESS THEY'RE STILL OUR BROTHERS AFTER ALL!" he shouted, his laughter filled with both insanity and pride.
For a moment, Jaune felt something stir deep within him. These men, faced with certain death at the hands of the Grimm, could have run. They could have escaped. But instead, they stood their ground. Faced with the horrors of the Grimm, their true colors showed. And those colors were that of loyalty, of brotherhood. They would fight, not because it was the smart choice, but because it was the right one.
Jaune's grip on the Paladin's controls tightened. He wasn't afraid anymore. Not with men like this by his side.
"Anvil, regroup!" Brown's voice came over the comms, steady despite the chaos. "We're pushing back to the last defensive line. Hold your positions and give 'em hell!"
Jaune pulled the Paladin forward, smashing through the Beowolves that had broken through the line. His 120mm cannons fired in quick succession, each round sending explosions rippling across the battlefield as he tore through the advancing Grimm.
The last remnants of Ironwood Company were fighting alongside them now. Soldiers, battered and bruised but still standing, were holding the line with everything they had. Dust rifles fired in quick, disciplined bursts, cutting down the Grimm as they advanced. The ground shook as more artillery shells landed, sending plumes of smoke and debris into the air.
"Arc! Over here!" Rumple called out, his voice barely audible over the roar of battle.
Jaune turned the Paladin toward him, spotting Rumple, Humpty, and Brown huddled near one of the last remaining armored trucks. They were laying down suppressive fire, trying to hold back the Grimm long enough for the artillery to land a decisive blow.
Jaune's heart pounded in his chest as he brought the Paladin forward, positioning it in front of the Beowolves that were charging toward his squad. He swung the machine's massive arms, smashing the creatures into the ground with brutal force. The 36mm dust cannons tore through their ranks, reducing the Grimm to ash as Jaune held the line.
"Keep firing!" Brown shouted, his rifle barking as he shot down a Lancer that had gotten too close. "We hold this line or we die trying!"
The soldiers around him nodded grimly, their faces set in determination. There were thousands of Grimm out there, but none of them backed down. Not now. Not with their backs against the wall.
And strangely, Jaune felt no fear, either.
His movements were automatic, honed by months of battle and desperation. He fired the Paladin's cannons, crushing and tearing through the Grimm with a calm precision. The chaos of the battlefield swirled around him, but Jaune felt an eerie sense of clarity.
For the first time in a long while, he wasn't scared.
Not with brothers like these fighting by his side.
Up above, the Ravagers continued their relentless assault, blotting out the sky as they swarmed the Atlas warships. The air was thick with the sound of screeching, metal tearing, and the explosive thud of artillery rounds detonating in mid-air. The warships were doing their best to hold the skies, but the sheer number of Grimm was overwhelming.
"VB, we're running out of time here!" Humpty shouted over the comms. "We need to hold until reinforcements arrive!"
Jaune nodded, his focus unshaken. He watched as more Lancers joined the fray, their stingers raining down from above. Another one of the nearby AA emplacements went silent as the Grimm overwhelmed it, the soldiers manning it disappearing beneath a swarm of black bodies.
A loud, metallic groan echoed through the battlefield as one of the Atlas warships dove below the clouds, its auto-cannons lighting up the sky as it engaged the Lancers head-on and giving them some breathing space from the enemies above. The warship's guns roared, tearing through the Grimm with precision fire, but it was clear the ship was taking heavy damage. Black smoke billowed from its engines as the Lancers latched onto its hull, their pincers tearing through the armor like it was paper.
"Hold on!" Jaune growled as he slammed the Paladin into another Beowolf, the machine's massive fists crushing the Grimm into the ground. He pivoted, firing the 120mm cannons at a group of Death Stalkers that had broken through the northern flank. The explosions ripped through the advancing Grimm, buying the soldiers a few more precious seconds.
"Arc! We need you here at the inner perimeter!" Brown's voice cut through the comms. "They're regrouping for another push! We need everyone!"
Jaune didn't hesitate. He turned the Paladin toward the place, its systems groaning as he pushed the machine to its limits. The ground shook beneath him as more Grimm swarmed from the breach, their snarls and growls filling the air.
Jaune caught sight of the command officers huddled near the escape pods. The same officer who had refused to abandon his men was still there, his face twisted in fury as he barked orders at the remaining command staff.
"HOLD THE LINE!" the officer screamed. "WE DON'T LEAVE UNTIL EVERY LAST SOLDIER WE CAN GET IS SAFE!"
The words sent a ripple through the ranks. Soldiers who had been ready to retreat stood a little taller, their grips on their rifles tightening as they prepared for the final stand.
Jaune allowed himself a small smile as he brought the Paladin to a halt beside the last remaining armored trucks. The soldiers around him were battered, bloodied, but unbroken.
Despite everything, they stood together, ready to face whatever came next.
With brothers like these, Jaune knew they would keep fighting until the very end.
The Paladin's controls vibrated in Jaune's hands as the situation around him reached a fever pitch. The retreat toward the inner perimeter felt like a race against time. He knew the soldiers were running out of ammo, out of options, and now, out of time. The Grimm were everywhere — more than any of them had prepared for. But the worst was yet to come.
Up above, the Atlas warship they had been relying on for evacuation was engaged in a brutal fight with the Ravagers. Its cannons lit up the sky, but the relentless assault of the flying Grimm was taking its toll. For a moment, it seemed like the warship was holding, managing to shake off the Ravagers as it tried to maneuver for another pass.
But then, the ground trembled.
Jaune's eyes widened as he saw the Blind Worm — larger than any of the previous ones, a massive, grotesque force of destruction erupting from the sands. Its armored body gleamed with bone plates, its twin heads snapping at the air as it surged toward the warship. It moved with terrifying speed, its massive form barreling straight toward the ship, as if sensing its importance in the battle.
"NO!" Jaune yelled, his voice hoarse, as he forced the Paladin forward, desperately trying to intercept the creature.
The Blind Worm slammed into the warship, its spiked teeth and acid-laden blood tearing through the hull like paper. The ship groaned under the impact, its engines sputtering and failing as the Grimm burrowed into it. In an instant, the massive airship was split in half, the burning wreckage tumbling from the sky like a dying star.
"Fuck…," Jaune muttered, the sight of the warship's destruction sending a wave of despair through him. That was their way out. Their chance at survival.
Gone.
His comms crackled to life with frantic voices. "Sir, the warship is down! We've lost air support!"
"We're done for!" another voice shouted.
But even as the panic spread, Jaune knew there was no time to let it consume him. He had to fight. They all had to fight.
The Blind Worm, having completed its devastating attack, shifted its attention toward their position. Jaune could see it, see the direction it was heading — straight toward the escape pods and the inner defenses. If it broke through, the Grimm would flood the entire perimeter, and there would be nothing left to stop them.
"Arc! Get in position!" Brown's voice boomed over the comms. "That thing's coming in fast!"
"I'm on it!" Jaune responded, gritting his teeth. He pushed the Paladin's thrusters to their limits, forcing the massive machine to sprint toward the oncoming creature. His sensors screamed at him as he lined up his last 120mm rounds.
Jaune fired.
The rounds hit the Blind Worm's exposed underbelly, tearing through its flesh in a cloud of blood and acidic gore. The creature let out a deafening screech, but it didn't stop. It swerved, its massive body coiling like a snake as it redirected its momentum, slamming into Jaune's Paladin with brutal force.
The impact was catastrophic.
Jaune felt the entire machine bend and crumple under the blow. Metal screamed as the Paladin's frame twisted, the left side collapsing in on itself as Jaune was thrown violently against the controls. His vision blurred, pain shooting through his entire body as he was slammed into the cockpit wall. The world spun, and for a moment, everything went black.
When he came to, all he could hear was the sound of distant gunfire and the deafening roars of the Grimm. His ears rang, his head throbbed, and blood trickled down his face. He tried to move, but his body refused to respond. The Paladin was wrecked, the controls sparking uselessly in front of him. His limbs felt like they were made of lead, too heavy to lift.
Through the cracked visor of his cockpit, Jaune could see the Blind Worm moving away, still tearing through the base's defenses. Around him, the land and sky were filled with Grimm. They were everywhere and too many for anyone to fight.
It was a nightmare brought to life.
But Jaune's focus shifted when he saw movement at the edge of his vision.
Humpty.
The soldier was at the side of the Paladin, tearing at the emergency release hatch with desperate strength. His face was a mix of panic and determination, his voice barely audible over the chaos.
"Get him out of there!" Rumple shouted, covering Humpty's back as he fired his rifle at the encroaching Grimm. "We need him out before it lights up in flames!"
Brown was there too, his rifle barking as he kept the Beowolves at bay, his face a mask of calm amidst the storm. Mint, though clearly terrified, was reloading his gun with shaking hands, firing at any Grimm that got too close.
Finally, with a sharp pop, the emergency release hatch gave way. Humpty and Rumple grabbed Jaune, dragging him from the cockpit and pulling him behind cover. Jaune could barely move, his body screaming in protest as they dragged him to safety. His ears were ringing, his head spinning, but he could still see the carnage around them.
The soldiers of Ironwood Company were holding the line, even as the Grimm threatened to tear them apart. Command officers, those same men who had made life hell for Jaune and his squad were now fighting side by side with them. There was no rank here, no distinction. They were all brothers-in-arms, fighting for survival. Even as soldiers fell, they fought on, defying the inevitable.
Jaune's breath hitched as he watched Brown calmly reloading his rifle, firing off precise shots with cold efficiency. Humpty and Rumple were grinning, despite the fear etched into their eyes. And Mint who was visibly shaking kept reloading, kept firing, even as the odds stacked higher and higher against them.
They were holding. Against all odds, they were holding.
Jaune could only watch, helpless, as the Grimm continued to press in. His mind screamed at him to get up, to fight, to do something. But his body wouldn't listen. He was trapped, his limbs useless, his strength gone. All he could do was watch as the world seemed to collapse around him.
And then, in a moment of pure instinct, Jaune's hand brushed against something.
A rifle.
It was lying next to him, fallen from a soldier who had been hit by one of the Lancers' stingers. The weapon was still warm, still loaded. Without thinking, Jaune grabbed it, his fingers wrapping around the trigger as if it were a lifeline.
He forced his body to move, forced his muscles to respond. Pain shot through him with every motion, but he didn't care. He couldn't let his brothers die.
Jaune raised the rifle, aiming at the nearest Grimm.
And he fired.
The sound of the gunshot was like a jolt to his system, snapping him back into the fight. His arms shook, his vision blurred, but he kept firing. Round after round, he poured everything he had into the Grimm, trying to keep them at bay. His mind was on fire, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Come on… MOVE!" he willed his body to respond, but the strain was unbearable. He saw something glow on his skin, but was too focused on holding the rifle.
Humpty looked over at him, a wild grin spreading across his face. "THERE HE IS! THAT'S MY BOY!"
Jaune didn't respond. He couldn't. He just kept firing, kept fighting. His world had narrowed down to the rifle in his hands and the Grimm in his sights. He couldn't stop. Not now. Not when they still had a chance.
But the Grimm was relentless. No matter how many he shot down, more took their place. The Blind Worm was still tearing through the base, its massive form crushing walls and soldiers alike. The air was thick with smoke and blood, and the screams of the dying filled the night.
Jaune's heart clenched as he realized just how desperate their situation had become. They were losing.
And yet, he kept fighting. Because if there was one thing Jaune Arc had learned in this hellish wasteland, it was that you didn't stop. Not until the very end.
"Hold the line, boys!" Brown shouted, his voice filled with a mixture of fury and resolve. "No fear!"
Everything had slowed down for Jaune. Every motion, every sound, every breath was dragged out as if time itself was reluctant to march forward. He could see everything in perfect clarity — the flashes of gunfire, the snarls of Grimm, the blood that stained the battlefield. His comrades, his brothers-in-arms, fought with a ferocity he hadn't truly understood until now.
They were surrounded by a black mass of death. Beowolves, Lancers, and the towering Blind Worms continued their relentless assault. The airships that once dominated the skies were being pulled from the air, shredded by the claws and wings of the Ravagers. Their Mantas were plucked out of the air like flies. All around him, his brothers were bleeding, dying, yet they stood their ground.
Amidst the chaos, someone raised the Company standard. The banner flew high, flapping in the wind beside the Atlas flag. It was a symbol of defiance, of courage, and of indomitable will. Ironwood Company, despite the overwhelming odds, still held the line.
Jaune watched as these ordinary men fought with a strength that went beyond aura. He had always thought that Huntsmen were the pinnacle of strength and bravery, but now, seeing these soldiers, he realized that courage came in many forms. These men without aura, without special training, fought just as fiercely, if not more so, than any Huntsman he'd known.
They fought because it was all they could do.
They fought because they had to.
"Aim, fire, reload!" Jaune heard the rhythm of battle, each step blending into the next as if it were a well-rehearsed drill. But this was no drill. This was the end.
His heart clenched as he saw Mint take a bad hit to the head, his helmet shattering. Blood poured from his mouth as he spat it out. But even then, Mint stood up, refusing to die on his knees. With a battle cry, he charged a Beowolf, shoving a grenade into its maw. The Grimm tore Mint's body in half, but not before the explosion took the creature with him.
Brown was a whirlwind of motion, dodging a swipe from another Beowolf and rolling to his feet. His collapsible sword hissed open, and in one smooth motion, he sliced through the Beowolf's throat. Not stopping, Brown leaped from the dying creature to deliver an executioner's strike to the next, his face calm and focused.
Jaune saw Rumple next, being lifted by a Queen Lancer, its massive pincers crushing him. But even as it lifted him, Rumple didn't go down without a fight. He slashed at the creature, cutting deep into its armor, but the Lancer retaliated, ripping Rumple in half. His upper body fell limply to the ground, blood pooling around him.
And then there was Humpty. The giant of a man, always laughing, always grinning. He stood like a wall, unyielding as the Lancers riddled him with holes. One after another, their stingers pierced his armor, but Humpty didn't fall. Not immediately. He stood, a monument of defiance, before finally collapsing, his body torn apart. The man who could take anything finally had a great fall.
No one could put Humpty together again.
Jaune's breath caught in his throat as he watched. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat heavy with the weight of loss. These were his brothers, and they were being torn apart in front of him.
Then he saw Brown standing over Humpty's fallen form. For a moment, the sergeant froze, looking at the bodies of his men, his face set in a grim, silent rage. He turned, locking eyes with Jaune.
"Arc," Brown's voice was low, but commanding. "You get to one of the escape pods."
"FUCK THAT!" Jaune roared, his voice hoarse with desperation. "I ain't leaving you all, Sarge!"
"It's not a request, it's an order," Brown snapped, his face stern but filled with something else — something deeper, something Jaune had never seen from him before. "You're in bad shape. I'll take the turret and give you some space. Once you escape, contact any man or woman from Atlas and tell them that we fought fucking hard here."
"SARGE, I'M NOT FUCKING LEAVING YOU ALL BEHIND!" Jaune shouted, his voice breaking with emotion. "I'M A SOLDIER OF ANVIL, OF IRONWOOD FUCKING COMPANY! IF I'M GOING DOWN, IT'S GOING TO BE WITH Y'ALL!"
"Hoorah!" one of the soldiers grinned, despite the blood on his face. "You fucking did, VB. But now make sure one of us stays alive. Come on, bro, you're fucked. Leave it to us, alright? The best of us will help you make your escape."
Jaune shook his head, tears streaming down his face. "But Sarge—"
Before he could finish, Brown struck him hard in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Jaune gasped, doubling over in pain as Brown grabbed him by the collar and dragged him toward one of the escape pods.
"You don't get a say in this, Arc," Brown growled as he threw Jaune into the pod. The door slammed shut before Jaune could react, locking him inside. Jaune pounded on the door, his fists bleeding as he tried to break free.
"Let me out!" Jaune screamed. "Sarge, please! Don't do this!"
Brown's face appeared on the other side of the glass. His eyes were hard, but there was a flicker of something softer behind them—something Jaune had never seen before. Without a word, Brown input the coordinates into the pod's control panel, sealing Jaune's fate.
"Tell them Anvil, Manor, Cedar, and Misfit held the line," Brown said, his voice steady. "No — tell them that Ironwood Company fought hard."
Brown saluted him, standing tall as the pod began to power up.
Jaune's heart broke as he slammed his fists against the glass, his voice cracking with desperation. "Stop, please! Don't do this, Sarge! Don't leave me behind!"
But it was too late. The pod's rockets ignited, lifting it off the ground and carrying Jaune away from the battlefield. He watched through the glass, his vision blurred with tears as the distance between him and his brothers grew.
The last thing he saw was Brown, standing tall with his rifle raised, shouting to the remaining men.
"There he goes. Well, if anyone's about to boast about us. Gotta be VB. He was too fucked to fight, anyway."
"Yeah, sorry boys, we gotta clear the air for him."
"Fuck it, let's do this, Sarge."
Brown grinned.
"ALRIGHT, MAGGOTS! WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER!?"
And then, the roar of Ironwood Company echoed through the battlefield, their voices filled with defiance and pride.
Jaune's tears fell freely as the pod flew higher and higher, the battlefield below growing smaller and smaller until it was nothing more than a distant memory. He pressed his bloody hands against the glass, his heart aching with every beat.
"Damn it," he whispered to the wind, his voice broken. "God-fucking-damn it… let me fucking fight with you."
Ironwood Company fought on.
Even as the Grimm overwhelmed them, even as their brothers fell one by one.
They fought.