Halo, it's time for the newest chapter. Enjoy the reading.
Clover's once bright clover pin, which he was so proud of and rubbed before every deployment, was now faded and covered in dried blood, tarnished both the pin's purity and meaning.
Qrow, sitting in a cell, was still in shock clutching the pin in his hands, the only memento he had left of his best friend, who he had barely known each other for a few months, but in that short time he had considered him as his brother.
He thought a lot about whether he could have done something, but he knew the answer well, he tried to blame himself, but Clover was the one who made the decision that caused his loss.
- It's your fault. - Robyn's angry words hit his ears, she had a bandage on her forehead due to her head injury. - You get it, right? - She started pacing up and down. - I just wanted to bring people together in Mantle. To give them a chance for a better life. - She stopped and thought for a moment why she started fighting, then she stared contemptuously at the resident of the neighboring cell. - But you...
- Me?! - Jacques, with whom he was imprisoned, put his hand on his chest, offended and innocent. - I am a victim as well. - Robyn wanted to spit at the man's hypocritical lies. - I admit that I was tricked and used! And maybe I'm not entirely innocent, - He looked at Qrow disdainfully. - at least I'm not a murderer!
Qrow didn't react, still just looking at the pin in his hand. Robyn turned to the man to examine him closely. She was knocked out during Qrow and Clover's fight, but when she regained consciousness, she saw that she was handcuffed and was on an ambulance plane and lied on a stretcher and her injuries were treated.
Based on what she heard from the conversation of the Ace Ops, she learned that Qrow had also been captured and was accused of murdering Clover.
Robyn didn't know Qrow that well, but she knew how much the two men loved and respected each other, and seeing Qrow's shocked and sorrowful look, she thought it's impossible that he would have killed a defenseless man who was his friend.
- He didn't kill anyone. - Robyn saw through Qrow's rough nature and knew well how much he cared about the people around him, especially his friends. She was absolutely certain of his innocence. - And I'm not going to hang around here, - She angrily turned to Jacques. - to be educated by a moustached *sshole who helped that moustached *sshole ruin everything! - She finally looked at Watts, who seemed to be making himself comfortable in his cell.
- Yes, well... - Watts, lying proudly but tiredly on the bench of the cell, raised his hand. - Now we are all in the same boat and we are all stuck here.
- Speak for yourself. - Jacques was still confident and smug. - I have my people. I'm sure Whitley has already informed my team of lawyers who will get me out of here before you can say...
- SHUT UP! - Robyn had had enough of Jacques' pitiful ramblings and hit the cell's energy shield with all her strength, which silenced Jacques.
Immediately after this, they heard a noise, which indicated the opening of the entrance to the cell row. Qrow quickly put the pin away so it wouldn't be taken from him, then looked like the others at the three armed soldiers who entered the door and opened Watts' cell.
- Do you know that you already caught me and I didn't resist at all? - Watts sat up from the bench and looked a little worried at the armed soldiers, whose leader honored the remark with a blow to the face from a rifle.
The other two soldiers grabbed him and dragged him out of the prison, leaving the other three prisoners behind.
- I hate that I can't do anything. - Robyn was forced to realize that there was nothing she could do in the cell. She felt like a caged bird and, losing hope, sat down on her bench.
- We can still do something. - Qrow clenched his hands into fists, anger flooding his heart as he raised his head. - We can kill the bastard who locked us up.
- I told you, - Jacques added. - it's all Ironwood's fault.
- Even now we haven't heard from General Ironwood and the citizens of Mantle were terrified and confused by the sudden withdrawal of the military, - The news station Atlas was still operating everywhere and a reporter in Mantle was interviewing the civilians marching in the streets towards the Crater. - especially considering the massive horde of Grimm surrounding the kingdom. I've never seen anything like it. It really feels like the end of the world. But Atlas Eye is committed to informing the public until the... - Suddenly, Joanna took the microphone from the reporter's hand. - Hey, wait... - He hopelessly tried to get it back, before Joanna just stuck her combat staff into the ground threateningly.
- Citizens of Mantle! - She took the word. - General Ironwood left you alone, but not us! If you heard this, gather enough food, Dust and resources to keep you warm and head for Mantle Crater. The Grimm will be back in town soon, they'll be here by sundown, but we can hold out if we stick together. And if not...well...you've seen what awaits us out there in the storm. Time to show what you're capable of, Mantle.
She handed the microphone back to the reporter and continued the evacuation.
The team that's protecting Mantle, Yang, Jaune, Ren, Oscar, Roman and Neo, after eliminating several Grimm and robots, successfully reached Pietro's pharmacy and in the warehouse where the doc directed them, they discovered something amazing.
- Sweet! - Roman just smiled.
- The others are gonna regret that they missed this oppurtunity. - Yang's eyes also lit up, just like Neo's.
There were four hover motorbikes made by high technology that Pietro had planned for the team as a surprise, but now they were definitely of great use in the defense of the city. Yang and Oscar took the first, Ren and Roman took the second, and Neo and Jaune took one each.
They didn't even have to wait long to try out their new hover bikes, which they cruised through the streets of Mantle.
Yang enjoyed it the most, for a long time she didn't even remember her bike, Bumblebee, which she had left in Argus with Jaune's sister, but now she realized how much she missed speeding. She remembered when she got Bumblebee for her 18th birthday after being accepted into Beacon.
She spent long hours on that motorcycle, she traveled the roads of the surrounding villages, sometimes she even roamed with it in the forest, then it remained her faithful companion on the streets of Beacon, while they were searching for Roman and the White Fang, and then it helped her through Mistral to find her mother, Raven, who delivered her to Ruby.
She was taken all the way to Argus by her old friend, who wasn't allowed to bring it to Atlas, so she was forced to leave it with Jaune's sister's family. She might come back to it one day.
Now she was enjoying this bike that she could race again and when she saw an overturned car that she could use as a ramp, she didn't hesitate.
- Yang! - Oscar, who already regretted sitting with the speed-obsessed blonde, begged the girl in terror to slow down. - Yang don't!
Yang didn't even hear the boy's shout, she just jumped on the overturned car, turned to the side, and then shot with Ember Celica to make them spin completely before they hit the ground.
Jaune was impressed by the stunt, but it caused him to become careless, driving over a pothole that almost caused him to fall off.
- Listen, - Ren looked back at Roman curiously. - why don't you go with Neo?
- Just because of that. - Roman pointed to Neo, who was moving ahead of them, who, encouraged by Yang's stunt, aimed at a ruined Paladin.
Neo used the Paladin's arm and then its head as a ramp from which she jumped higher than Yang before and when she was high enough, she opened Hush and pulled the machine back, causing it to do a backflip in the air with the engine before jumping next to Yang hit the ground.
- You were awesome! - Yang offered her fist to the short girl, who returned the gesture.
- I love Neo, - Roman continued. - but not the way she drives.
The team continued on their way, killing Grimm and robots, including the surveillance system cameras and gathering as many civilians as they could to guide and escort them to safety.
Roman and Jaune were doing very well as they were known around town. Jaune, who accompanied their children to school and Roman, who helped the Happy Huntress a lot.
- Take only what is absolutely necessary. - Jaune reminded everyone.
- You know, foods, clothes and Dusts. - Roman made it clear. - And of course, any self-defense weapon, if you have one.
- Does a snow shovel count? - One of the moms Jaune was escorting her child to asked.
- As long as you can use it, I guess so. - Jaune answered.
- Just go to the Mantle Crater as soon as possible. - Yang instructed them.
- To the Crater? - The woman shook her head in confusion. - Are you sure is it safe there?
- Absolutely, ma'am. - Yang assured, as a terrified army of civilians ran towards them on the street, fleeing from Grimms.
Jaune didn't hesitate, pressing a button on a small round metal disc and throwing it at the Grimm.
- Watch out!
As soon as the disk charged and the Grimm were in the right place, a force field appeared in front of them that they couldn't break through, then Ren jumped at them to finish them off with a single blow. As soon as the disk turned off the force field, Ren kicked it back at Jaune.
- Much cooler than the bikes. - Jaune put the puck away.
- Are the Grimms already intruding that deep? - Oscar was worried about those two Grimm.
- I don't think so, - Yang not so much yet. - I think these were still here from yesterday. Even then... - She was worried that more and more Grimm would appear due to people's fear. - Ren! - She shouted at the boy from a distance. - If Jaune boosts your aura, could you cover everyone?!
- We can try, - Ren was in. - but it's a long way through Mantle!
Unfortunately, there weren't only adults, but also children who didn't understand the situation, why they had to leave their homes, why Atlas doesn't help and why the Grimms attack them so suddenly. They were the source of the greatest fear.
- Don't worry! - Jaune tried to instill courage in the people. - That's a good idea! We provide you with a Grimm-free journey, all the way to the Crater!
- Do we really have to share a place with those animals in the slum? - A grumpy old woman stepped forward from the crowd, who clearly didn't like faunus. - I would feel much safer up there in Atlas.
Before Yang could scold the old woman, Roman stopped her.
- Good, then send a postcard if you somehow get up there. - Roman answered. - The Crater is the only safe place where you can stay alive, don't complain about with who and where. You can either come and stay alive or stay here and die.
- The people above you decided that you're not worth the trouble. - Yang added. - The faunus, on the other hand, do their best to help you. Regardless of who deserves it.
- Then... - The woman with the snow shovel spoke awkwardly. - I'm packing our things now.
Within half an hour, the civilians had packed up their most important belongings, leaving most of their chattels and homes behind, then Ren, after strengthened by Jaune, used his Semblance to hide everyone from the Grimm's eyes.
They had to move slowly, because there were old people and children among them, and besides, Ren had to concentrate with all his strength so that his disguise wouldn't break.
- I don't want to go to the slum. - Despite Ren's disguise, the majority of people remained fearful and outraged.
- Mom!
- General Ironwood said we can go to Atlas.
- You are setting a bad example.
Roman, who had transferred to Neo in the meantime, trusting that while the civilians were being escorted, she wouldn't do another crazy stunt.
- Hey Neo, how are you? - Roman was happy that they finally had some time to be together. Neo just glared back at Roman. - What's wrong? Don't like the bike? - Neo let go of the steering wheel with one hand and signaled. - What do you mean why? If the city falls, we die too. - Neo narrowed her eyes angrily and signed again. - You mean the Little Red? Look, what the general did, no one could have foreseen and I'm afraid it's too late to return to Salem.
- Yes, - Roman was still arguing with his girlfriend. - but you also know that Salem doesn't want to rule the world, but to destroy it. Even if we survived everything she entrusted us with, our survival wouldn't be guaranteed. - Neo softened a bit, but still wasn't sure that Roman had made the right decision, so she signaled again. - Where and how? There's no way we'd be able to get a plane, besides, we wouldn't be able to get through Salem's Grimm army, plus the unbearably cold climate of Solitas would seal our fate. - Neo finally ran out of arguments and then signaled one more. - Yes, I believe her. Since traveling with them I have had the chance of getting to know them and I'm sure they are the only ones who can stop Salem. - Neo lowered her head, grabbed the steering wheel of the motorcycle with her other hand and looked ahead. - Don't worry, there will be nothing wrong, - Roman hugged the girl from behind, who looked back with a pleasant smile. - we won't be caught for sure.
This was one thing that reassured Neo in the current situation. No one will catch them.
Oscar, who traveled alone, behind the group, making sure that no one was left behind. He still couldn't believe that his traveling companion had returned.
- Cooperation shouldn't be so difficult. - Oscar looked over the angry, outraged crowd, most of whom were offended that they had to leave their homes so suddenly and go to the slums.
"And yet," Ozpin replied, "it's something that's becoming more and more of a concern."
- You know, - Oscar spoke quietly, he didn't want anyone to think he was crazy that he was talking to himself. - I really don't need your comments right now.
"You have every right to be angry, especially you Oscar. I'm sorry for leaving you."
- I'm not angry because you left, - Oscar still didn't like the idea of having to share his mind with another person. - but because you came back. I was finally starting to be myself. Not the same person I was before, but the person I always wanted to become. I felt like I was finally part of the team.
"I see. But even though it didn't seem like I was with you, I never really disappeared. My remaining magic is slowly coming under your control, recalling my oldest memories.", As Ozpin explained, Oscar took out his cane, which always filled him with relief. , "Which means that the merging of our souls is getting closer."
- But... - In spite of the cane, even it couldn't completely calm Oscar because of his seemingly inevitable fate. - I don't want this.
"Me neither. But we have to find a way to work together and not just for the two of us, but for all of us."
The crowd's feeling camouflage started to falter a little.
- Hey, how are you? - Jaune looked worriedly at Ren who was holding his shoulder.
- I just need to concentrate. - Ren concentrated with his eyes closed.
- It will work, Ren. - Jaune tried to reassure him. - We're almost there, the Crater...
- No need to talk! - That's all he motioned for silence. - I just need to concentrate!
- Okay.
The infiltration team, Ruby, Penny, Weiss, Blake, Penny, Nora, Lance, and May headed towards Mantle's factory district to get up to Atlas, but it was inevitable that they wouldn't encounter the hordes of refugees who had to leave their homes. .
- Okay, come on. - May showed the way, through the fence of one of the buildings.
- Thanks again for coming. - Nora was grateful to May.
- Don't mention, - May waved. - as soon as Robyn and Roman found out about the Amity Tower, they couldn't stop talking about it. Wherever Robyn is, I'm sure she'd want us to do everything we can to get the world up and running again. - As soon as everyone crossed the gate of the fence, she closed it behind them. - Anyway, Fiona will help your friends for me.
- Yes. - At this moment, Nora was thinking about Ren, with whom she had recently become a couple.
- Are you sure this is safe? - Ruby was a little worried as they got closer and closer to the entrance of the building.
Inside the building was a large hall with all kinds of containers, pipes that led to Atlas and several terminals that controlled them. These robots were different from those used by the military. They were older models and didn't attack the Hunters.
- Snowshoe Delivery is a subsidiary of SDC, - Weiss explained. - which means that the robots here report to the Company and not to the general. - They looked through the tubes in which the robots packed packages and sent them up to the city with the help of the terminals, and it was pretty much what Weiss wanted to achieve. - Pneumatic tubes allow refined Dust to be transported from the Crater directly to Atlas. We just need to find the one that goes to the military base.
- Is there a building in Atlas that isn't owned by your family? - Blake just laughed when she found out how much Weiss' family owned.
- That's... - Weiss was a bit embarrassed. - not important now.
- I understand, - May just shrugged. - my family was also only interested in money and fame.
- Really? - Lance found it surprising that May, who tried her best to help the residents of the lower town, actually came from a rich Atlas family.
- Which family? - Weiss also joined.
- The Marigold family. - May rolled her eyes. - I swear, if I had to sit through one more fancy dinner or endure one more celebration while wearing a tight evening dress and high heels, I would stab myself with a broken wine bottle! - As she thought about her old life, only nervousness and annoyance came to mind. - I would die, slowly and painfully!
- Wow... - Blake was a little worried about her outburst.
- You remind me of a friend of mine who was always quiet, but her outbursts were always scary. - Lance, as he looked at May, realized how similar she was to Mandy, both of them are quiet but often express their opinions sarcastically and it's impossible to tell when they're serious and when they're joking.
While the others were talking, Penny went to one of the tubes whose terminal made it clear that it would take her to the academy.
- Hey. - It was Ruby who stood next to her.
- I don't like it when friends fight. - Penny looked at the terminal sadly and didn't know what to do.
- I know. - Ruby sighed. - Yang and I might not quite agree on how to save Mantle...
- No. - Penny interrupted her. - I was thinking of Winter and the general. They were our friends. But then the Ace Ops attacked you and the general said people were going to die. - She turned around and started wringing her fingers in her nervousness. - Because of me.
- That was a lie! - Ruby turned the girl towards her. - And he said it just to manipulate!
- I was Mantle's Protector, - Penny spoke after a short silence. - but now I am much more than that. And I wish I wasn't.
- But... - Ruby took Penny's hands. - you're still yourself, Penny. By becoming the Winter Maiden, you saved Mantle.
- Thank you, Ruby. - Penny was grateful for her friend's words and hug.
Until now, she wasn't sure that he deserved the power that was originally intended for Winter, but she already realized that if everything had gone as planned by the general, then Atlas would already be in the atmosphere and Mantle would be completely alone, without any chance to defend themselves.
- I found it! - Weiss said with Nora at her side next to one of the pipes.
- Then, - Blake was the one who spoke the painful truth. - is there no way back from here?
- With our secret weapon, - May looked at Penny and then disappeared. - and with my Semblance, - She reappeared. - you couldn't be in better hands.
- Then, - Nora looked at Weiss curiously. - how does this thing work?
- It should be simple. - Weiss approached him and sat in the tube. - If you lay down in the tube and press the start button... Aargh! - Nora didn't wait, she pressed it and sent Weiss up through the tube to the base.
Nora was excited and she was the next to lie down in the tube.
More and more refugees came to the Crater, hoping to survive, but clashes between the faunus living in the slum and the humans living in the Mantle became more and more frequent.
- No, Crimson, - Fiona, in the absence of Robyn and Roman, took control, not only among the Happy Huntresses, but even the control of the entire city was placed on her shoulders. - you and your team are needed in sector 11. - She had been leaning over Mantle's map for hours, giving out orders and instructions non-stop and almost drowning in the many damage reports and requests for help. - The police are helping to evacuate the hospital, but they need reinforcements. - Today she was able to put her Scroll down for the first time, without exploding from the many calls, and her whole body was grateful that she could finally sit down.
- You're doing well, Fi. - Joanna, while heating her with a dose of Fire Dust, looked proudly at the sheep faunus girl, who stood her ground perfectly as a leader. - Robyn would be proud of you.
- I feel like you should be doing this, - Fiona obliterated the map with her Semblance. - especially after your big appearance in the news.
- How else should people have been informed about what was happening? - Laughing, Joanna put the remaining Fire Dust on the table. - Anyway, - She looked out of the tent at the ever gathering refugees who bring food and Dust with them. - looks like it's starting to work. - Together with Fiona, they went out of the tent, among the new arrivals. - Where did this group come from?
- That would be sector 7. - Yang and the others returned proudly.
- Have you already emptied compartment 7?! - Fiona was surprised, but delighted by the news. - That's great! Honestly, I wasn't sure if you could make it without your teammates. Roman must have helped you a lot. - Although Fiona didn't intend to hurt Yang and the boys, Yang took it quite a bit.
- As you can see, - Yang said, offended. - we could solve it perfectly, even without Roman.
- What's wrong with you now? - Fiona didn't understand Yang's outburst.
- Where are you sending them? - Oscar, to avoid an argument, changed the subject.
Fiona and Joanna looked at each other and Fiona started.
- We want most of them to hide in houses or other hiding places. - She looked around the slum, where the old, torn-down houses were already standing and other, improvised places were built, but they were also on the verge of overcrowding. - Most of the community is still trying to convert the old, exhausted mine shafts into a habitable state, but...
- We have to keep a lot of people warm and fed. - Joanna finished as people delivered Dust containers and packages full of food. - Fortunately, looting SDC refineries and shops is the best source of Dust and food. - She looked up at Atlas angrily. - Fortunately, no one gets arrested during the apocalypse. But the fact that the Grimm are just circling around us isn't a very good feeling. - The fact that the giant Grimm whales hadn't attacked just filled her and the others with worry. - What are they waiting for?
- Fi! - The old, mole-handed old man who helped Oscar quickly ran to them. - Another fight is about to break out!
- Sh*t! - Fiona sighed tiredly. - Thanks, uncle. - She didn't know how many times she had to stop the fights between the faunus of the slum and the people of Mantle. The humans who looked down on the faunus felt they had a right to demand shelter and food from them, while the faunus only saw the humans who looked down on them as intruders and came here hoping for protection. - We'll take care of it.
- I'll take care of it. - Joanna saw how exhausted Fiona was, she rather took some of the burden off her shoulders. - You still have enough to worry about.
- Fiona, - The radio spoke in Fiona's ear. - this is Crimson. We spotted a larger group of Grimm from the east. - Fiona took out the map with her Semblance. - We can't repel them and protect civilians at the same time.
- Oh, that son of a... - Fiona is going crazy that not a minute goes by without someone reporting bad news or an emergency.
- Did he say east? - Yang and the team were ready for another mission.
They all got on their hover bikes and were already on their way to the east, where after hunting several smaller Grimms, two Razorwings remained at the end, which are the main problem.
Yang, Oscar, Jaune, and Ren targeted one. Clearly, Yang was the decoy that the Razorwing chased out of the air. She slithered through the empty streets of Mantle, luring the Grimm away from the civilians while the boys prepared the trap.
- Ready?! - Oscar was holding a grenade while riding on Ren's motorcycle.
- Now! - Yang signaled, shooting a few with Ember Celica.
Yang went full throttle, passed under a bridge, the Grimm followed, breaking the bridge with its body and unable to see that Oscar and Ren appeared, he threw the grenade at Oscar, which contained gravity dust and hit the Grimm, the remained parts of bridge. As soon as its regained consciousness, it had no time to react against Jaune, who put his bike on autopilot as he stood up, his shield as he activated his energy shield, pointed forward and charged at it full throttle. Accompanied by a jump, he struck his head with a single, strong cut, which caused the Grimm's body to vaporize, and then disappear within a short time.
Jaune then almost lost his balance and quickly got back on the bike.
Roman and Neo were enough to take care of the other Razorwing. This time, Roman drove the bike and attracted the Grimm's attention by shooting Melodic Cludgel at it, then quickly accelerating to lure the beast into the right spot.
Neo waited for Roman on a roof with the monster in his tail, then jumped down, straight onto the Grimm's back, before turning on Hush's blade and slashing at it several times as she strode gracefully and measuredly across its back.
To shake off its unwanted passenger, the Grimm flipped upside down in the air, then Neo fell, but wasn't scared as she opened Hush, causing her to slowly parachute through the air. Seeing that she was defenseless, the Grimm started towards her, only to be hit by a fireball shot by Roman, who turned back on his bike.
Neo folded Hush and fell onto the bike, behind Roman.
- I didn't think I'd catch a falling angel. - Roman joked, while Neo just playfully rolled her eyes.
Roman knew exactly where to lure the Grimm, which had already been sufficiently enraged by the previous attacks. He targeted a parking house where it was dark due to the power outage, but even the Razorwing was unable to fly and still followed the duo.
Roman knew that the Grimm, as much as they were driven by people's negative emotions, weren't immune to them either. The Grimm was angry enough to forget to think and didn't notice that it had been lured to a place where it would be in extreme disadvantage.
The Grimm definitely wanted to catch Roman and Neo who were standing in front of it, Neo was leaning on Hush and Roman was just waving at it. It went on, they were just a few steps away, but the two criminals didn't move, Neo kept her mocking smile and Roman was still waving.
Finally, it reached them and decapitated Neo with it's wing and bit off Roman's head, but they both shattered into pieces like they were made of glass.
The Grimm looked confused and from the right Roman fired a fireball at it with Melodic Cludgel, then before it could do anything Neo jumped out of the darkness and slashed it with Hush.
Before the Grimm could counterattack, Neo jumped onto its back and cut off its two wings, then Roman blasted the creature's head off with a fireball and before its remaining body evaporated, Neo jumped down with a backflip, but didn't open Hush because she was absolutely certain that Roman would catch her.
That's how it happened, Roman caught and held his girlfriend under her shoulders, who smiled sweetly and proudly at him, and then he laughed too.
- If there was an audience, it would cheer now. - Roman laughed, then put Neo down.
They got on the motorbike, this time with Neo driving and left the parking house where the rest of the team was waiting for them.
- Did it work? - Yang asked.
- You should have seen it. - Roman patted Neo's shoulder proudly.
- Okay, Fiona. - Yang turned on his radio. - One less problem.
- Good, because we received reports of more Grimm from the west. - Fiona broke the team's newfound enthusiasm with this one sentence. - The Hunters there really need help.
- Never a quiet moment. - Roman shook his head and Neo also looked annoyed.
- Okay, - Yang replied. - we are on our way.
- A lot of negativity. - Oscar knew what was causing the Grimms to appear more and more often. - Salem's main forces aren't moving, but enough to lure the defectors here.
- Guys, - Ren looked tiredly at the end of the street. - it's not over yet.
A small group of Sabyr Grimm headed towards them.
- Nice. - Accompanied by a sigh, Yang ignited her motorcycle. - Let's sort it out quickly and...
Suddenly, the Sabyrs stopped, looked to the side and ran away in terror.
- What... - Ren was worried about what had happened. - was it?
- Did they run away? - Jaune didn't understand either. - They have never been done before.
- Should we be worried? - Roman, as much as he tried to remain positive, his internal alarm signaled that trouble was brewing.
- What are they running from? - Oscar didn't understand either.
Right after that, a Grimm jumped down from one of the roofs and caught Oscar by the arm with it's mouth and began to drag him, with such force that it was able to lift him and slam him to the ground.
- Oscar! - Ren was alarmed to note that the boy was in trouble.
The Hound attacked Oscar again and ran over him, who desperately tried to kick it with his legs, but to no avail, it was too massive and all he managed to do was bite his leg, lift him up and knock him to the ground again. A flash of green and Oscar's aura ran out and he passed out, then the Hound roared in triumph.
- What the f... - Roman, Neo and the others could hardly believe their eyes when the Hound transformed, its dog-like front legs lengthened and became human-like hands, then stood on the two back legs like a human. It lifted the unconscious Oscar with its right hand.
- Oscar! - Yang didn't think and rushed to the boy's aid, but the creature held Oscar in front of her like a shield, so Yang didn't dare to attack, which caused the Hound to catch her and slam her against the wall.
Ren opened fire on it and shot the blades of his submachine gun into the monster's chest, then swung towards it with the help of the wires, but the Hound easily knocked it aside.
Jaune took out his sword and was about to go at him with the bike and cut the Hound down, but it held Oscar in front of him again.
- Wait! - Yang stopped him. - It uses Oscar as a shield!
- But the Grimms aren't that smart! - Jaune and the others could hardly believe their eyes.
Ren stood up, picked up his submachine guns and took aim, but this time the Hound was aiming at the boy, preventing him from firing.
- Show that ugly face of yours! - Roman yelled and pointed Melodic Cludgel at it, but because of this, the Hound held Oscar towards him.
- Why is it using him?! - Roman knew that Oscar was the weakest member of the team, any of them could have been caught by this Grimm, but it still wanted Oscar. - It needs him for something. - Roman stepped closer to the monster.
- What do you want... - Yang was worried that Roman didn't lower his weapon.
Bang
He didn't even wait for her to finish and Roman shot a fireball at Oscar.
- OSCAR! - Everyone froze in fear, but it surprised everyone even more when the Hound pulled Oscar back and protected him with its body, then Neo got to its side and stabbed with Hush, but it quickly reacted and attacked back, but Neo with her Semblance avoided the blow.
- As I guessed. - Roman realized something very important. - It needs him for something and it doesn't dare risk him dying.
- How did you know it would protect him? - Yang looked at Roman curiously.
- I didn't know, - Roman refilled Melodic Cludgel. - it was more of a gamble.
- Are you out of your mind?! - Jaune yelled at him.
- Oh, come on, how many times have you done this?! - Roman just waved and aimed his weapon again, Neo appeared next to him and she also pointed Hush at the creature.
- Give him back! - Ren yelled at the Grimm.
The Grimm growled for a while, turning its eyeless face towards Ren and opening its mouth.
- No. - To everyone's surprise, the Grimm answered, but its voice was deep, dark and terrifying.
- Is this... - Jaune and the others were more frightened by the Grimm's voice than its strength or appearance.
The Hound turned around, walked slowly down the street, then got down on all fours and something came out of its back as if it was trying to break out. Everyone stared in silence and shock at the strange, never-before-seen horror as its back ripped open and black Grimm liquid splattered everywhere as its wings grew. It became two huge wings, the inside of which glowed a dull red and the black Grimm fluid was still dripping from it.
The monster took Oscar in its mouth and started running and then flying with it.
- Guys, what's up?- Fiona's voice over the radio shook them out of their shock. - The western side is starting to weaken.
- What should we do?! - Ren asked.
- Guys, what's up?! - Fiona started to worry.
They didn't care about Fiona or what might have happened, they just got on their motorbikes and went after Hound.
- An emergency has occurred! - Yang reported. - We can't go there!
- What? What kind of emergency? - Fiona was worried.
- You wouldn't believe it if I told you. - Yang was sure of this one.
- You don't see that every day. - Roman and the others also looked worriedly towards the flying Hound, who they followed.
Unfortunately, they had no idea that someone else was already on their trail.
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