Halo, it's time for the newes chapter. Enjoy the reading.
The situation wasn't looking good, since Qrow was already practically on the verge of death, the kids he was accompanying made him a stretcher on which they could carry him more easily but if he didn't receive medical treatment, he would surely die.
Although Raven didn't really see him as a family member anymore, she wanted to get a lot out of him, unfortunately, he didn't tell enough at the campfire last night and she can't know if Salem got the Beacon relic, so she followed them in her raven form to see if Qrow will tell them something.
Unfortunately, there's no way she'll ever get any answer out of him in this condition, the only thing that can help is to get him to a hospital in Mistral in time for these kids, including Summer's daughter. In the meantime, she thought it best to stay with them and take care of them.
- Look, - The short, red-haired girl with the hammer, her name was Nora, noticed the sign on the board. - Mistral! We're on the right track!
Raven wasn't sure that she could help them, since to get to Mistral they had to cross several miles of mountains full of Grimm, Qrow wouldn't survive the journey.
To her dismay, the team decided to split up, which was a terribly stupid decision, especially since one half of the team was taking Qrow to Kuroyuri, a town that had been destroyed by the Grimm and looted by bandits decades ago, while the other half of the team heads to Mistral to call for help.
"You won't get there in time.", Raven was sure that the two youths wouldn't make it to Mistral in time and if they did, help would come too late and she also knew that they wouldn't be able to find medicine in Kuroyuri either. But at least she knew that the team carrying Qrow would stay in Kuroyuri.
Raven spread her wings and began to fly with the wind, across the mountains, straight towards Mistral. She flew over Ren and Nora, who ignored her and continued on their way to the mountains.
"I'll be faster than you."
Fortunately, Mistral wasn't that far away as she approached the city limits, changing back into her human form and stepping out onto the road. Fortunately, her Scroll already had field strength in the city, so she was able to call for help.
- Hello, this is the Mistral Mountain Rescue and Traveler Protection Service. – A voice spoke on the dispatcher.
- A group of young people and a Hunter fell into a trap, they gathered at the ruins of Kuroyuri and one of them picked up a serious poisoning. It's very urgent, please, hurry to help them.
- We're sending out two patrol planes to check on them.
- Thank you.
With that, she put down the Scroll and looked towards the sky where Kuroyuri was.
"Be happy, little brother, I saved your life."
After several weeks of rehabilitation, Cinder grew stronger and more confident with her new Grimm arm, which she increasingly felt as her own. She spent most of the day in a round, candle-lit place where the Grimms kept pouring in but she, with the power of the Maiden, which she was able to use with her new arm, destroyed them one by one with the power of fire and glass.
Of course, she couldn't stand the indefinitely either and after several hours of intense training, she fell to her knees and panted but a gorilla Grimm took the opportunity to attack her but Cinder gathered all her strength and destroyed it with a large beam of fire.
She finally couldn't take it anymore and knelt on the ground panting.
- That's enough! – Salem stopped her but she was quite disappointed and Cinder felt it too. - I thought you wanted power! Maybe you lied?! - Cinder, still unable to speak, just shook her head. - Then don't hold back!
- Will you let us help out? – A self-satisfied and confident man voice spoke up. Roman, who was just twirling Melodic Cludgel on one finger and Neo was leaning on Hush with only one hand.
- What's in your mind, Roman? - Salem didn't look at Roman, she was still watching Cinder, who just stared at the man and his little girlfriend with contempt.
- Oh nothing, except, - Roman stopped twirling his wand and held it at Cinder. – a training partner could help you develop. - Salem just smiled and looked at her two newest servant.
- You mean yourself and Neopolitan, don't you?
- Come on, - Roman just stepped forward and pointed Melodic Cludgel at Cinder. – consider it as a game.
Bang
He pulled the trigger and a red firebomb went towards Cinder, who immediately jumped up to dodge the fireball but suddenly, a kick into her ribs from the side sent her to the ground. Neo walked up and down with Hush on her shoulder, smiling confidently.
Emerald, who was only watching from the background with Mercury, immediately wanted to rush to Cinder's aid but Salem just raised her hand, indicating that she's not allowed to interfere.
Furiously and panting, Cinder tried to get up but Neo jumped at her and gave another kick to her but she summoned a glass sword that blocked her attack and pushed her back into the air but Neo used Hush to float and fly around the round room. The floating girl was a perfect target for Cinder but she received a blast of fire in her back that sent her crashing back to the ground.
- What's up, Cinder? - Roman just smugly paced around the angrier and angrier Cinder, who was horribly humiliated that this incompetent thug without Semblance and his pipsqueak girlfriend would speak to him in such a tone. - You seemed much stronger in Vale. I thought you have unlimited powers, since you were able to scare me and Neo thoroughly. – Neo landed on the ground and in the opposite direction of Roman, they started circling around Cinder together. - Now look at you, - Roman stopped in front of her, holding Melodic Cludgel in front of him and leaning towards her. - you are a pathetic cripple who was mutilated by a little girl. - Cinder clenched her fists. - You're weak. – Her only remained eye started to glow yellow. - Powerless. A beaten dog who can't help anyone without help.
This was the breaking point, Cinder's mind was completely flooded with anger and hatred that she didn't care how exhausted she was, a huge wind storm arose in the place and she managed to stand up. Roman smiled and started backing away, while Neo just opened Hush and was lifted by the growing wind. Cinder began to rise without any aids, up into the air, her eyes still glowing and she concentrated a huge amount of power in her two hands, which she prepared to slam down on this scumbag. She didn't even care if it was the last thing she would do in her life.
Suddenly, a yellow flash appeared around Cinder, signifying that her aura had run out, the light in her eye went out, the power disappeared from her hands, the windstorm stopped and she fell to the ground in pain.
Neo, who turned off Hush, started to fall but spread her arms and after a short free fall, Roman caught her under both shoulder and held her a few inches off the ground in front of him. Roman just laughed but Neo just smirked at him with an 'I knew you'd catch me' look.
- Excellent work and presentation, Roman, Neo. - Salem just started clapping slowly as she walked contentedly towards Cinder, who was lying on the ground, completely exhausted and half-passed out. - How did you know that anger was the key for Cinder to master the power of the Maiden?
- Hm, - Roman put Neo down, who gave her a kiss on the cheek and then just spread his arms. - actually, it was just a good idea to release my anger towards her. – Salem's smile faded from her face, which made Roman and Neo take a step back, it was clear that she saw through Roman's lie.
- You are a clever man, Roman Torchwick.
- Oh, - Roman just waved and pretended to be confused. - I'm blushing at the end.
- Enough! - Salem looked angry. - You and Neopolitan…
Suddenly, a distant door could be heard slamming shut, and then they heard a painful and sad sob. A crouched, tailless and trembling Tyrion came into the room and collapsed to the floor, while he was shivering.
- I'm sorry... - He muttered. - She will forgive you. Please forgive me. - He knelt on the ground sadly and bowed his head. - Please.
- Tyrion? - He walked towards Salem, which made him cringe even more but he finally raised his head to look at Salem. - Your task, was it successful?
- I don't think Little Red is in your pocket. – Roman stood next to Salem but Tyrion, as if he didn't even hear Roman's words, just looked at Salem but remained silent for a while, then lowered his head again.
- No. - He suddenly raised his head again. - But... but hope isn't lost yet! My tail... with its stinger... - He nervously and confusedly tried to save himself and pointed to the end of his missing tail. - I poisoned him! - His smile was full of hope and madness at the same time. - I poisoned Qrow! - He laughed a little. - He won't cause you any more trouble! No, no more, I took care of that! - Then he looked at Salem like a small child at his mother. - Was… was I good? Are you satisfied with me?!
Salem just walked up and down in front of him, then turned his back on him and spoke.
- The last eye closed. - She turned back to Tyrion in a rather contemptuous style. - You disappointed me.
This affected Tyrion like a nervous shock, his mouth began to tremble, his body seemed to go limp and he began to cry and scream loudly but a Grimm monster could be heard sneaking up behind him.
- If you think... – Before Roman could say anything, he gathered so much strength from the anger he felt towards himself that he slammed the creature against the wall with a single punch.
He took out his blades and threw himself at the monster that had fallen to the ground and, crying and yelling, stabbed it at least a dozen times, causing the crying to turn into laughter and then into maniacal giggles.
Roman, Neo and Cinder, who had regained her consciousness, just stared at the scene in horror.
- Okay... - Roman just grabbed the shoulders of the two girls and began to slowly pull them out of the room. - let's give him some time. - Both Neo and Cinder just nodded silently but Roman took one last look at Tyrion's severed tail. - I didn't think Little Red would be so bloodthirsty.
Even after leaving the room, Tyrion's mad laughter and all the stabs that cut right into the Grimm's body kept echoing.
It was a long journey for Mike and an even bigger adventure for him to go against his mother's wishes but she knew he had to because his friends might need him and besides, he had just learned that his father was alive and deadly ill. Fortunately, he didn't have to walk, as his grandfather's legacy, an RV at least a hundred years old, full of antiques and all kinds of collectibles was at his disposal.
His outfit consisted of a pair of brown traveling boots, a pair of short, mid-thigh beige pants, a white t-shirt, a beige jacket with many pockets that matched his pants and an explorer's hat.
The RV, if it was a little old and dusty, was in very good condition and hid a complete apartment. The driver's seat was like a complete cockpit, it had a small kitchen and dining area, the bathroom had a toilet, tap, mirror and a double bathtub and in the back a bedroom with a double bed.
As soon as Mike started the engine, he headed out of town, stopping at a Burger Queen, a Taco Hell, a Mojito's, and a VFC to pack food, because the sandwiches his mom packed, they ran out after the first corner.
Fortunately, he had downloaded Anima's map into his Scroll, so he was able to easily navigate the forest roads and quickly approached Mistral in a few weeks. He came to a fork in the road where he got out to stretch his limbs, only to notice two signs pointing in two different directions. One pointed to the right, towards Mistral, while the other pointed to a possible village, Kuroyuri but it had long since been crossed with an X and also had "BANDITS" written on it in graffiti.
He heard the sound of an engine behind him, nervously turned around and remembered that What the Heck had stayed in the car. Fortunately, his fear was unfounded because an old friend came towards him on a pretty orange and black motorcycle.
- I expected everyone, - Yang stopped next to Mike and took off her sunglasses. - but not for you. - In a completely new outfit, he wore a pair of brown boots, tight black jeans, an orange top that left her stomach exposed, a brown leather jacket, a pair of brown wrist guards and a black, fingerless glove, but the latter only on her left hand.
- What are you doing here, Yang? - Mike was also surprised to see the blonde girl.
- I'm going to Mistral after Ruby. What about you?
- I'm going to Mistral after Lance. - Mike answered laughing. - Maybe we could go together? - Mike looked down at Yang's right arm and saw that she had replaced her lost limb with a robotic arm painted yellow and black. - Wow, that's cool.
- Thanks. - Yang clenched the mechanical arm and posed with it. – It feels more real than you think.
- Then, - Mike opened a latch on the back of the trailer. – put in your motorcycle and jump in.
- Her name is Bumblebee. - Yang and Mike started the engine together but she looked at the RV curiously. - Anyway, where is this RV from? You don't look like a camper, I thought you lived in your mom's basement? - Mike opened the front door for her and she went in and he followed the girl.
- I was like that but that's in the past! - Mike confidently put his hands on his hips. - I stood on my heels and told her that I am already an adult and capable of making independent decisions!
- Nice! - Yang punched his fist one more time with the robot's arm but Mike shook his hand painfully. - This still needs to be practiced.
- Yes. - Mike sat behind the wheel with his hand still hurting, started the engine and turned right but Yang intervened.
- No, go left!
- What?! - Mike pointed to the sign "BANDITS". - There are bandits on it, and besides, it's the wrong direction. We have to go to Mistral.
- And what if Ruby and Lance didn't make it to Mistral? - Yang warned, which unsettled the fat boy but before he could speak, she continued. - I know someone who can take you directly to her.
- Indeed? - Mike trusted Yang and turned left. - A friend of yours?
- Not quite. - Yang sat down on the first seat.
- A distant relative? Why don't you call her on Scroll?
- I don't know her number and I'm sure she wouldn't pick it up unless she wanted something.
- So, who is he?
- My mother.
- Who left you?
- Yes.
- Why would your mother be with bandits?
- Long story. - Yang just put one of her elbows on the windowsill and leaned her head and looked out the window at the forest.
- Well, - Mike just gripped the steering wheel. - a long way.
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Volume 4 is finished.