Not a lot to say this week. Was in the lab at work for a few days, so my writing time was greatly reduced. Didn't even get to start the chapter until yesterday and didn't get as much done as I wanted, so today was busy. Still, managed to get it done and covered everything I was aiming for, so it all worked out. Also, happy 40th chapter everyone! Still a long ways to go, but nice to celebrate milestones when you can.
Been binging MHA again recently since Hulu is releasing the sixth season on there. Love how they handle quirks and really helped me with OC design a while back to see all those ideas and how they're balanced (for the most part). Keep an eye out for a Midoriya moment from Adam this chapter.
Flanagan's words lingered in the air, hanging over Jean and Adam like some sort of oppressive cloud even as the truth rained down on them.
"G-gone?" Adam finally managed to squeak out. "What do you mean gone?"
"I mean gone, kid." Flanagan sighed as he picked up a glass and began to clean it, despite it not having a fleck of dust to see. The motion must've been a comforting familiarity to the man as he tried to explain. "We just got word two days ago. A few survivors stumbled out of the woods near the edge of town. Woman and her two kids." Flanagan nodded to a trio huddled together by the fire. "Well, two of her kids."
The purposeful distinction made Adam flinch.
"Fled here from Oniyuri. We've got a few people out looking for others, but I doubt we'll find much out there. Sounds like most of the town didn't make it."
Oniyuri. It wasn't that long ago Adam had walked its streets and seen the never-ending construction as they struggled to fit everyone. There were so many people there. For them to all be gone…it was impossible. Wasn't it? What could wipe out a place like that so easily?
The same question burned in Jean's mind, too. "What happened?"
Their world was a cruel one. Mankind inhabited only a fraction of the lands of Remnant, desperately clawing and fighting for each and every inch, even as their numbers continued to swell and the demand for space never stopped. And as the population pressure rose, some would feel crushed and trapped within the walls of the cities. Eventually, people would strike out and form new settlements with the promise of a bright future, free from the constraints and walls of society.
The thing about walls, though, is that they didn't just keep people in. Beyond those walls lurked all manner of evil, waiting in the shadows to destroy anything and everything it could sink its claws into. Monsters, both of Grimm and men, threatened everything decent in the world. Few were those that dared brave such horrors. Fewer still were those that succeeded. Either way, whether through new territory or fresh graves, the pressure of population would be lessened for the time being.
Adam had grown up knowing all about the dangers of the frontiers. For every Shizukana or Katai, there were dozens of forgotten ventures that had been swallowed by the darkness. But those had always seemed so distant. So disconnected. They were just empty names, as devoid of life as they were of meaning to those that had never been there. But to hear of one - no, two - that Adam had visited being brought low reminded Adam just how precariously humanity was perched on the edge of destruction. Even now, creatures of Grimm roamed the forbidden depths of the forests, eager to destroy any who crossed their path.
Which is why neither of them were shocked at Flanagan's answer. "Grimm."
"How many?"
Flanagan shrugged at Jean's question. "No clue, but neither of those towns would've fallen easily. Not with how much lien they'd spent on security."
That's right. Oniyuri had been filled with wealthy inhabitants, which tended to bring certain perks. A large retinue of trained guards. The finest weaponry. Even automated defenses. Soji had shown him some of the turrets they'd installed along the outer walls, insisting they were the finest any town could hope for. Tech straight from Atlas built to do one thing and one thing only.
Kill Grimm.
Yet even that hadn't been enough. "We got in contact with the capital. Let 'em know what happened so they could investigate. Word is that both towns had been overrun within days of each other. Only way no one would've heard 'bout it otherwise. They're sending some Huntsmen to clear the area, but no one knows how long that'll take. Just glad the school hadn't opened yet."
Adam's eyes widened at the reminder of another important part of Oniyuri's expansion. They were building a new Combat School there. There would've been at least dozens of potential Huntsman trainees gathering there soon. Had some arrived early and had an unfortunate lesson in what they really faced? But a school for Huntsman training meant more than just children. "What about the teachers? Couldn't they hold off the Grimm?"
"That's what has us worried," Flanagan replied. "Some of Oniyuri's faculty were already there. We're talkin' trained Huntsmen. The kind a town like ours would pay through the nose to afford. If there were enough Grimm to take them down…"
Then the threat was far worse than Adam imagined. Someone with aura and a little training could take on a Grimm with ease. Jean could probably take on a small pack of Beowolves by himself. But actual Huntsmen? They spent their whole lives training to fight Grimm. They were the ultimate weapon humanity had against the darkness. A single, trained Huntsman could carve a path through the Grimm with ease. A team of them could face down an army of the creatures.
So how many must there have been to take them and the other defenders down?
"Either way, it ain't safe out there right now. We ain't even huntin' in the east right now. Nobody fool enough to risk being the first thing them beasts encounter if they do come. Best steer clear until things are taken care of."
"Will do," Jean agreed. Adam didn't know how they'd avoid such important stops on their journey or how they'd cope with losing such big clients. He'd leave that to the professionals. "What about Higanbana? Oniyuri's not that far away, and if a couple survivors can make it, the Grimm won't be far behind."
Suddenly, any concern Adam felt for the citizens of the Yuris was replaced with fear for his own life. Thankfully, it seemed the town had already considered their predicament. "Guard's been doubled, and we've got a call out for Huntsmen to clear the area. Shouldn't be long."
"Isn't that expensive?" Adam asked. The bounty they'd put up for Shizukana had been a small fortune. At least, compared to what Adam could ever hope to pay. Higanbana didn't strike him as the wealthiest town. If there was so much demand around the Yuris - what remained of them - then Huntsmen costs would be at a premium right now.
"Normally, but we didn't have to foot the bill on this one," Flanagan assured him with a crooked smile. "A few Grimm poppin' up ain't worth much trouble to them big shots, but two major settlements vanishing so close to the capital? Soon as we put in the request, they promised us a pair of Huntsmen would be on the next flight out. Can't risk this spreading any further. Wouldn't be surprised if Haven sent a few upper year teams to help clear the ruins."
Ruins. It was hard to picture the bustling towns as nothing more than empty buildings and streets. Worse than empty. Even though Grimm hunted people exclusively, they tended to linger in sites of extreme negativity, according to the books Adam had read. No doubt the Yuris were now home to an army of Grimm, all roaming their recent battlefield with no real purpose, waiting for someone foolish enough to wander close. Some might break off from the main pack, either drawn by the fleeing survivors or just aimlessly heading into the unknown, which put the surrounding areas at risk.
Which meant riding straight through would be a death sentence.
"Thanks for the info, Flanagan." Jean tossed a pouch of lien on the bar. "And if any survivors make it here, tell them the drinks are on the house."
Flanagan pushed the pouch back to Jean. "Keep your money, Jean. I ain't chagrin' no survivors in their hour of need. And 'sides, Not a man here who wouldn't cover that tab if I did, right before they ran me out of town for being so heartless."
"Good man." Jean spared a sad smile for the bartender as he reclaimed his lien. "C'mon, Adam. We'd best go tell the brothers what happened." As Adam followed him outside, the air felt colder than before. Which is why Adam shivered. It definitely had nothing to do with the haunted look of the young boy who stared straight through him when he glanced back. "Oh, and I don't think I'll be able to fight you tonight. Maybe tomorrow."
Adam didn't really feel like fighting either.
/- - - - - - - - - -/
As it turned out, the rest of the caravan had already heard the news. The source of their sudden knowledge continued to squawk loudly as they entered the room.
"-still no word on the official death count, but many are already calling this the worst tragedy since Mountain Glenn," the woman on the television continued as aerial images and video played in the corner, showing the remains of the once prosperous towns. "The Mistralian Council released a statement earlier today, declaring a state of emergency and vowing to mobilize Huntsmen in the area to quell the Grimm threat. While some question the authority that the Council has over licensed Huntsmen, while others are questioning why the threat wasn't dealt with before it reached-"
"Horrible," Soji tutted as he muted the broadcast. "Simply dreadful. Such a waste of life."
And business. Thankfully, no one in the room was cold enough to say it, though Adam suspected he wasn't the only one thinking it. "What do we do now?"
"What can we do?" Soji responded with his own question.
"We can turn our butts around and head home."
"But Jean-"
"No buts." Jean shut his friend down instantly. "You heard the reports. The Yuris are crawling with Grimm right now. Going anywhere near them is insanity."
"And going back is bankruptcy," Soji countered. "We have an order due for the capital. If we fail to deliver, we will lose reputation among the elites of Mistral. And our cargo is not suited for sale in the outskirts. You would have us lose our cargo and our profit."
"And you would have us lose our heads!" Jean stomped to punctuate his booming voice. Despite the display, Soji hardly flinched against the mountain of a man that towered over him. Sensing Soji's stubbornness, Jean turned to his second target. "Rikyu, you know we can't risk it. If the Yuris couldn't last against the Grimm, what chance do Jesse and I have?"
"You're right," Rikyu answered calmly, "but so is Soji." Neither party interrupted as the elder brother thought for a moment. "We will not survive going east, and our business will not survive going west, which means we have but one option. South."
South? With Lake Matsu to the north, they obviously couldn't go that way. At least, not very far that way. Even skirting the shoreline would put them rather close to the Yuris. Close enough that Adam didn't fancy their chances of making it through unnoticed. But south meant…something. Adam didn't know what. They'd never gone south before, meaning Adam didn't really care about the south.
"South…" Soji chewed on the word for a few seconds. "It would add quite a few days to our journey. We'd need to rethink our cargo, too. I do not know if the Forest of Hinoki holds many tea drinkers." With how much tea they'd brought specifically for Oniyuri, that wouldn't bode well. Most of their profit came from careful planning and understanding of the next destination, so venturing away from their route meant they'd be starting from scratch.
"Better than trying to sneak past the Yuris right now," Jean reminded him, already warming to Rikyu's plan. "I don't like the idea much, but it's the best we've got. There's been talk of bandits in the south."
"Better bandits than Grimm."
"Quite," Jean accepted, nodding to Soji's input. "The sooner we make it through the forest, the better. We'll spend a day here and see what we can sell off. With any luck, they'll clear the Yuris soon and we can get back to normal."
Except it wouldn't be normal anymore, would it? They might travel through the Yuris again, but it wouldn't be the same. They'd camp out near the ruins rather than spend the night in a nice hotel. No one would be there to sell to, either. It would just be a depressing rest stop - a reminder of what had been there and all the lives lost.
"Or we could find new destinations in the forest," Soji pointed out, his mind already churning out ideas for profit. "Every stop was a new destination, once upon a time. Perhaps this is an opportunity to expand to new areas."
It felt sick referring to so many deaths as an opportunity, but Soji wasn't wrong. Adam didn't know much about the villages in the Forest of Hinoki, but at the end of the day, they were just normal people like everyone else. They needed to buy and sell like the rest of the world. Whether they'd be worth the extra distance or not would be something they'd have to find out. Then again, they wouldn't make any sales at the Yuris, so the shorter route meant much less trade. And once the initial surge was cleared out, the lack of major settlements would mean less guards to patrol the area and keep the Grimm in check. Even minor sales in the forest had to be better than a dangerous journey through a ghost town.
Maybe he'd been spending too much time around Soji. The rest of their group mostly nodded along as Rikyu, Soji, and Jean discussed their plan. As much as Soji wanted to keep their full load, Jean won his brother over and convinced him to sell off as much as they could, even if it meant cutting their prices a bit. Speed would be paramount in an unknown area. Better to rush through the forest and get to familiar grounds than risk a heavy load with no sales. Once they got a feel for the villages, they could figure out a proper load. Basically, this would be an exploratory trip.
Ideas were thrown about as they worked out the final details. "We should stock up on food. Higanbana has plenty of meat for sale."
Rikyu, ever the voice of reason, shot down Jesse's idea. "No village would last long in the forest without a steady supply of meat. I imagine they have hunters out there that could give our Jean a run for his money."
Adam had a sudden idea. "Vegetables, then? There might not be much room for farms." Not when you'd have to claim the land from the forest itself. Chopping down trees was one thing, but clearing the stumps and all the roots in an area large enough for an entire field would be a nightmare. As Rikyu turned to him, Adam suddenly realized that he might have overstepped a bit on their conversation. "Sorry."
Far from being upset, Rikyu hastily waved him closer to the circle with a smile. "No need to apologize, young man. Only a fool would exclude those with sincere thoughts." Adam timidly stepped forward between Jean and Jesse. Jesse stepped aside to make room, tacitly accepting him as an equal in their gathering as Adam breathed a sigh of relief. "Vegetables are an excellent idea. There may be demand among our new friends, and if not, we will simply eat them ourselves. Either way, they will not go to waste. Now, perhaps some ammunition?"
"I can ask the guards if we can trade for some," Jean offered, the group already moving on without a single person complaining of Adam's inclusion. "With everything going on, they might refuse, but maybe they'll make an exception for me."
And so the night wore on with all of them throwing ideas back and forth. Soji would see about selling off some of their tea to the mayor and his friends. They'd still need some for Mistral, but they were horribly overstocked on it at the moment without the Yuris' patronage. Jean would focus on weapons and ammo from the guards. Rikyu and the others would focus on splitting their remaining cargo and deciding what else should be sold. Even Adam had a job, following through on his own suggestion to purchase more produce in the morning.
All the while, the silent television continued to show images of the destruction to the east.
/- - - - - - - - - -/
The morning hadn't brought any better news. After completing his mission at the market, which turned out to be more of a handful of various shops, Adam came back to help Rikyu with unloading the extra wares. Most of the meat would have to go. Not only did they expect little demand for it, but even with their small dust-powered cooler, it would start going bad in time. Jean ended up trading a lot of it away for a trio of rifles and a healthy supply of ammo - all the guards were willing to part with given the potential threat. He'd also promised to help them on a short excursion to check the woods for survivors later, though making that a part of the agreement probably wasn't needed. Jesse planned to join, too. Even Adam offered, though Jean refused, saying the guards wouldn't feel comfortable having a kid tag along.
Either way, they kept only as much meat as Jean told them to, saying he'd rather not rely on his hunting until they were further from the area. With everything they managed to sell off and a few items they'd donated to help any survivors that came along, they soon had a light enough load that they could've ditched an entire wagon. They didn't, of course, since that would just make for fewer but heavier loads and defeat the whole purpose. Instead, Rikyu had them unload everything and reorganized it to his liking, balancing it out as evenly as possible before dismissing everyone for the afternoon.
Adam didn't really have anything to do, though. Watching the news quickly lost its appeal. He could only endure so many discussions about the fall of the Yuris. Experts who used too many words to say too little hypothesized about everything from the number of Grimm to the specific types, each coming to different conclusions despite using the same evidence. Adam found it all boring. What did it matter? Accurately guessing at random details wouldn't bring anyone back. It all sounded like a waste of time. Just assume the worst and send enough Huntsman to fight an army. If they asked Adam, he'd say to just bomb the place to heck, then come back later to clean up any remaining Grimm. The loss of the remaining buildings would be a small price to pay for revenge against those monsters.
With Jean and Jesse out looking for survivors, Adam didn't have much to do. Without really thinking, his feet carried him to Flanagan's. Some of the older men of the town lingered there. Most of the others were out searching still, hoping to find even a single ray of hope in the grim darkness that had already claimed so many lives. Instead of spreading out, everyone clustered in the center of the room, sharing stories of days long gone.
Adam lingered nearby, listening in until Flanagan brought him a drink and ushered him into the group. No one cared about the new addition, probably because he wasn't even the youngest one there. Adam hadn't seen them before, but two young children sat in the center of the group, following the animated tales with reddened eyes as they fought to smile. The strange reminiscing suddenly made more sense to Adam. They weren't just distracting themselves. They were distracting these two young survivors. They'd seen more than their fair share of horror, but for that brief moment, they could forget about reality and get caught up in the thrills of some old men's tall tales. School pranks. Hunting trips. Distant travels. Some of them sounded too fantastic to be true, but each and every one of them avoided one topic.
The Grimm.
They'd seen enough of that for now. Flanagan quietly explained that their mother was meeting with the mayor to give her account of what happened and make arrangements, but dragging the kids along to relive that fateful night sounded like a terrible plan, so she'd left them in a bar of all places - the only safety they'd known since losing their home.
Adam listened along, letting himself join the duo in getting lost in the latest story about trying to catch a chicken of all things. It sounded dumb. It sounded pointless. It sounded…nice. No Grimm. No death. No pain. Just a silly boy being outwitted by a rogue bird. Hardly had the tale ended before another piped up with his own story of a snowball fight from his childhood. Around and around the stories went with little rhyme or reason until even Adam joined in, making up stories of riding Eve and going on grand adventures to far off lands, most of them shamelessly stolen from fairytales he'd read years ago. Adam didn't think the authors would mind given the shaky smiles that managed to break through the children's gloom.
That evening, after the children had gone with their mother to rest, Jean returned to find Adam chatting and laughing with his new entourage of elders, only to outdo anything they could share by announcing they'd found a young man just north of town and brought him back. He couldn't have been more than twenty, but his face showed more wear than many of Adam's new friends. He'd practically been shoved into a seat near the fire before Flanagan forced a plate of warm food into his lap, leaving him no time to think as the room subtly ordered him about, which was probably the point.
One more survivor shouldn't have meant much, but Adam could feel the relief in the room. Jean looked over the moon at the small accomplishment. It was only one life saved, but it was something. Right now, with such little hope left in the town, even the tiniest glimmer of hope felt brighter than the summer sun. They'd made a difference. They'd saved someone. And every time they found one, it brought the hope there would be another.
Sadly, Adam wouldn't be around to see any more rescues. He'd have to ask when they got back, but morning found them riding south, eager to begin the long journey to Mistral. They rode faster than normal. Their breaks were shorter than ever. As the trees began to grow closer and closer together, signaling the beginning of the Forest of Hinoki, Adam began to wonder what the hurry was. The trail wasn't nearly as wide as the highway, but they still had plenty of space for their line of wagons. Instead of a designated clearing, they were forced to pull the wagons to the side of the road and camp in what little space lay between the trail and the trees.
Jean seemed off all evening, too. He'd completely ignored Adam, pacing nervously and watching the trees behind them with a keen eye before venturing out without warning. Instead of his bow, Jean had taken one of the rifles and his axe. Adam didn't hear any gunshots, though. He came back empty handed an hour later, much to Adam's surprise, looking equal parts worried and irritated.
The next morning carried on uneventfully, though Adam noticed both Jean and Jesse sporting rifles. He asked Soji, but the man was as in the dark as Adam. When they finally called a halt, Adam decided to stop guessing and get the answers he sought directly.
Jean's hesitant answer didn't exactly help him relax. "We're not alone."
"What?"
"Calm down," Jean instructed, eyes focused somewhere beyond Adam. "There's something out there. Probably the same thing that was stalking us before Higanbana."
"A Grimm?" But what kind of Grimm would just follow them without attacking?
"I'm not sure." Jean sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Was hoping I was wrong, but it's definitely following us at this point. Backed off when I went looking yesterday, though. Whatever it is, it doesn't seem to want a fight. Not a fair one, at least."
"How do you know it's still out there?" Adam turned to peer into the forest, but nothing looked unusual to him. Just a bunch of thick trees that could've hidden any number of threats. "Have you seen it?"
"No. I sensed it." Adam tilted his head in confusion. "My Semblance."
"You can see through trees?"
"I can sense animals," Jean explained. Where they are. What they are. I can see every animal around and track them, as long as they're close enough."
Compared to what Adam had always heard of Semblances, Jean's sounded a little underwhelming. He'd expected some sort of super strength or speed boost or something. But sensing animals? Sure, it would be great for hunting and helped explain how efficiently the man could secure dinner for them all, but what good was it in a fight?
"So we're being tracked by some kind of animal?" Didn't he say he could see what kind of animal it was, though? And why would he be so concerned. Even a bear wouldn't be too big of an issue for them. Certainly not enough to warrant all this mystery.
"Not an animal."
"Then how-"
"It's not the animals I'm sensing. It's where the animals aren't." Jean let that sink in for a moment. "Normally, there'd be all kinds of creatures around us in every direction, but there's a sizable gap somewhere behind us. A moving gap. That doesn't make sense, unless there's something else moving out there, scaring off all the wildlife."
Suddenly, Jean's Semblance sounded a lot more useful. No matter how sneaky someone could be, the animals of the forest would avoid them once they got close, leaving a strange gap that Jean could detect. Grimm didn't hunt animals, but that didn't mean the animals would just hang around if one came lumbering through. In other words, Jean's Semblance ended up acting like a radar, highlighting not just what was around them, but also what wasn't.
"I think I know what we're up against, and it won't be a problem," Jean assured him. "Well, not yet, at least. But it's keeping up for the most part and not going away, so I guess it's time to let the brothers know. Everyone gather around!" Jean called out. The rest of the caravan followed his orders without question. "We've got bandits on our tail."
The announcement had the predictable effect. "Bandits?!"
"Bandits," Jean confirmed, "but not very many of them. I'd guess two or three at most. They've been following us since before we reached Higanbana. Probably waiting for us to let our guard down." Which wouldn't happen as long as Jean knew they were there. Thankfully, they had no way of knowing what Jean knew.
But that left an obvious question. "What do we do?"
"You do nothing," Jean answered, staring at Adam to drive the point home. A few bandits won't be much of a problem for me, but they're not making it easy to catch them. Pretended to go hunting yesterday, but they kept their distance. I'll go hunting for real tonight and see what they do. Get them used to a pattern. Then, when the time is right, I'll catch them and take care of things."
"We're just gonna wait?" That sounded like an awful plan. "What if there's more of them nearby? What if they're just waiting for reinforcements?"
"Then the rest of them already know we're here," Jean shrugged, somehow unconcerned with the potential of facing a whole tribe of bandits. "Nothing we can do about that. Our best bet is to play dumb and do exactly what they're trying on us - wait for them to let their guard down."
Despite Jean's assurances, Adam couldn't help his nerves. For the rest of the day, he kept a sharp eye out, worried that they'd be attacked at any moment. Nothing happened, but that didn't mean it wouldn't eventually. Like Jean promised, he went hunting that evening, coming back with a fresh kill for dinner. They all tried to act natural, but Adam caught the glances from Soji every few minutes. Adam made sure to tuck his sword into his sleeping bag that night, just to be safe.
The next day dragged by much the same as the one before. Their uninvited guests still lingered somewhere out there, with Jean confirming at every stop. He couldn't track them constantly. Apparently, using his Semblance for too long wouldn't work. Still, each time he checked, they were still there.
That night, Jean changed their plans before venturing off on his hunt. "Jesse! You and Adam spar while I'm gone."
"You think they know about his training?"
Jean didn't even bother denying Jesse this time, all but admitting what all three of them had known for months. "No idea, but they'll notice if we change our habits."
"I thought you wanted us to keep up a routine. You know, to fool them."
"I want them to get used to me," Jean clarified. "But if something in the camp changes after I leave, they might be too busy watching you to even notice me sneaking up on them."
"So we're just a distraction?" Adam wanted to help, but he'd imagined something more than just being a flashy show.
"That, and to see if they back off when they see we have numbers." Jean held up three fingers. "Three on one is good odds. Even three on two might work out. But three on three? For all they know, we could all be stronger than them, too. They might decide to leave if we're too strong. If not, then I'll circle back and catch them from behind."
"I thought three on one was a bad idea," Adam interjected. Splitting their forces would just give the bandits an advantage, wouldn't it? Then again, they needed to do something. This constant game of being followed had gotten old already.
"I count as five, at least," Jean boasted. "Don't worry about me. They might be sleeping right now. They stopped an hour ago or so and haven't moved much since. Probably set up camp for the night and scared off more of the wildlife, but things seem to be settling down. Regardless, I can take on a few measly bandits if I need to, so you two put on a good show and I'll be back with good news soon."
"Got it," Jesse promised as Jean made a show of leaving. After a minute or two, Jesse spoke, loud enough for anyone close to the camp to hear. "Guess we should continue your training, Adam."
"Let me just grab my sword." They wouldn't be winning any acting awards with their over-the-top performance, but it would have to be good enough.
The two of them started with a spar, purposefully showing off in case of an audience. After another brief lesson about mobility, Jesse had him work on attacks, blocking each blow easily but making a show of having to exert himself with each clash. He wants you to look stronger than you really are. He's inflating your abilities to scare off the bandits. It might make him look weaker in comparison, but Adam was more of an unknown here. Plus, if they worried more about Adam, it might give Jesse an opening if an attack came.
Just as Adam was starting to feel winded, a gunshot tore through the night around them. He's found them. A second shot quickly followed. And a third. Guess there were more than one after all. Jean sure knew his stuff.
Then came a fourth and fifth shot in rapid succession before all went quiet. It should've been comforting. The bandits must've fought back, but Jean won. No simple bandits could take down someone like Jean. He'd finished them off and started back already. That was the reason for the silence. It had to be. No amount of reassurances helped ease Adam's growing tension.
And then, a sudden roar ruined any hope he had of relaxing.
"Grimm!" Jesse called out, as if they all hadn't heard it. The merchants ran for the wagons, jumping inside as if the flimsy things would somehow protect them. At least it got them all in one spot. Adam readied himself alongside Jesse, but his secondary mentor shoved him back. "Protect them."
"What about you?"
"Jean's not the only one who can fight," Jesse insisted. "But they can't. Someone needs to keep them safe."
Meaning Adam was on babysitting duty. Or were the merchants? No matter how Jesse worded it, he'd sent Adam to hide with the others. Still, he had a point. Jesse couldn't be everywhere at once. If something got by him, it would be Adam's job to stop it. Or just slow it down long enough for Jesse to come help.
Adam rushed back to the wagons, taking position in front of his own. The memory of the Alpha so many years ago came flooding back. He'd been sent to the wagons then, too. He'd been stuck watching the Grimm attack, trusting his life to a single person and hoping they proved enough. The fear from that night had nearly consumed him, leaving him desperately praying that they'd survive.
He wouldn't let the men behind him suffer like that.
"It'll be okay," Adam assured them. "Jean's on his way back, and Jesse can protect us until then." Simple words, but back then, Adam had wished there'd been someone to reassure him. The irony of the reversal of roles almost made him laugh. Back then, a bunch of merchants had guarded his wagon. Now, he was the one guarding them.
They'd be fine. Jesse could handle himself against a Grimm or two, right? And Jean had probably dealt with the bandits already and would be back any second. But why hadn't he made it back yet? And why didn't they hear any more gunshots? Adam tried to swallow his fear and push the rising doubts away, but the absence of their main protector didn't exactly fill him with courage at the moment.
Nor did the creature that smashed its way into their camp.
Adam had gotten so used to Beowolves over the years that it was easy to forget there were other kinds. What emerged from the trees was no Beowolf. The gargantuan figure stood on two thick legs, a trail of thick spikes running down its broad back as it took one look at their camp before letting loose another deep roar that nearly knocked Adam off his feet. The bear-like creature loomed high above them, red eyes glowing with malice as it studied its dinner and took a thunderous step toward the wagons.
Jesse hit the Ursa like a comet.
"I'm over here!" he called, slicing for the Ursa's face. His sword sparked off the bone plating around the monster's eyes, summoning its attention away from the merchants to the real threat. It swiped a massive paw through the air, nearly decapitating Jesse in a single blow. "That's 're fight's with me!"
Adam watched as Jesse nimbly danced just out of the beast's range, carefully avoiding the potentially fatal paws as he scored blow after blow against its legs and chest. Each carved a chunk of flesh from the Grimm but only seemed to enrage it more. Jesse rolled past the next attack, slicing for the back of the Ursa's knee and causing it to stumble with a pained growl. Before it could get back up, Jesse turned and shoved his sword into the monster's throat, yelling victoriously as he twisted the blade to ensure the monster's demise.
A second Ursa interrupted his party, charging out of the trees on all fours as Jesse wrenched his sword free. He just managed to bring it around as the Ursa struck, launching him back several feet with the back of its paw. Jesse tumbled across the road, keeping hold of his sword the whole time. Gritting his teeth, Jesse pushed himself back up to meet the Grimm's next attack, just managing to deflect its arm at the last second and scoring a shallow cut.
The merchants cheered him on, but Adam could tell Jesse was in trouble. Thankfully, he hadn't worn himself out too much during their training, but the first Ursa had taken a toll, not to mention his sudden flight and crash landing. Jesse's aura saved him from a glancing blow as he barely dodged, his movements slowing as sweat began to pour. Jesse's swings did less damage with each blow, holding less power as the fight wore on. Adam knew how dangerous things were becoming, but his feet remained planted in fear.
What could he do? This was no Beowolf foolishly climbing a tree after a couple of kids. This thing was huge and holding its own against someone with aura. It didn't have the speed of a Beowolf, but the sheer size and strength of its blows more than made up for that. As if to prove his point, Jesse dodged another swipe, but the tree beside him proved less fortunate. The Ursa's paw carved through it in an instant, sending a spray of splinters beyond as the rest of the tree crashed down behind the Ursa, nearly ending the fight for them.
The Ursa roared as it turned back to its prey, not slowing a bit as Jesse struggled. He tried to bring his sword up in an attempt to deflect again, but the blow sent his weapon sailing away, leaving him defenseless. The Ursa seemed to stand taller in triumph, knowing its victory was at hand. Jesse scrambled for his sword, only to be sent cartwheeling into a nearby tree by the Grimm's unforgiving paw. His aura flickered but held. He wouldn't survive another hit like that. Jesse managed to roll out of the way before the Ursa could stomp on him, but he couldn't keep it up forever.
Images of an Alpha and Mazarin mixed with the sight before him. He'd been forced to watch as a Grimm prepared to claim another life. Was he doomed to see it play out again, but with a different ending? Mazarin had only survived thanks to his dad intervening, but Father Bernard wasn't here to save the day this time. Jesse was alone, doomed to face an unstoppable foe. He'd die knowing he'd failed. Knowing he'd soon be joined by the same people that trusted him to protect them. Adam couldn't bear to watch.
So he acted instead.
Adam raced forward, sword clenched tightly as he charged recklessly into battle. Someone called his name, but he ignored it, focused on the monstrosity in front of him. It didn't notice his approach, but even with the element of surprise, how could Adam hope to kill it. He wouldn't survive a single hit. Worse, Jesse had already proven how hard it was to kill. The spikes and sporadic bone plating on its back made impaling it unlikely. He needed to hurt it bad enough in one hit to stop it. He needed to kill it, just like Jesse had the first one.
The neck! It might be as thick as a tree, but there was no armor there. Jesse had finished off the first one that way. But how could he do it? Running in front and piercing its throat would be suicide. Even if it didn't just splatter him the moment it saw him, its body would crush him as it died. If only he could get to the back of its throat. Standing on its hind legs, the Ursa was too tall for him to reach.
Unless…
Adam reversed his grip on his sword as he ran, lessons flooding into his mind in an instant. The world seemed to slow as he reached the downed tree and leapt. Not over it, though. Adam kicked off the tree, launching himself at an angle rather than his target. He shifted as best he could as his foot smashed into another, still-standing tree. His leg ached as he pushed with all his might, launching himself higher like Jesse had taught him. He raised both hands, clutching his sword in front of him as he rose above the Ursa and felt gravity finally win out.
"Get away from him!" Adam roared as he plummeted down, aiming the tip of his sword just above the bone plating on the Ursa's back. He thrust downward, his blade meeting fur and muscle before he crashed down atop it, driving his sword downward with his full weight until it was buried up to the pommel. The Ursa tried to roar back, but the sound could barely be heard against Adam's cry. Both of them fell forward, the Ursa's stomach crashing to the ground as Adam toppled over it and rolled past.
His sword! He needed his sword. Adam scrambled to his feet, ready to rush in and try to pry his sword loose from the monster's back, but the Ursa didn't move. It lay there motionless, the very world seeming to freeze before something shifted ominously. The Ursa seemed to begin to rise, even as Adam's spirit fell, but still the beast didn't stir. It took Adam a minute to realize what he was seeing.
Wisps of black smoke began to drift upwards from his foe. Flecks of flesh chipped off and danced upward on the dark breeze before shrinking and vanishing. Little by little, the Ursa began to dissolve, its body slowly fading into the dark sky.
Adam jumped as something hit his shoulder. "Good work, kid."
"Jesse!" Adam cried out as his mind finally started working again. "You're hurt!"
"Not as bad as him," Jesse laughed, though a fit of coughing ruined his humor for a moment. "Nice work." Nice work? That felt like a serious understatement right now.
Adam stood there, watching his foe slowly break apart before him. Even when Jesse retrieved his sword for him and pushed it into Adam's hand, he couldn't believe his eyes. He'd done it! He'd killed a Grimm before, but that was pure luck from a suicidal last stand. This…this one he'd killed properly. He'd made a plan, used his weapon, and brought the beast low. And not just a Beowolf, either. An Ursa. Something so far beyond him that he and everyone else should be nothing more than red smears on the trail.
Instead, he still stood there as the Ursa faded to nothingness.
It wasn't until Jean broke through the treeline and shouted his name that reality finally hit him, knocking his feet out from under him as he fell onto his butt and continued to stare at the dead eyes of the Ursa in front of him. He'd bested the monster. He'd saved his friends.
And best of all, he'd done it all on his own.
First a Beowolf. Now an Ursa. At this rate, we'll have him killing that Grimm wyvern in no time after he suddenly turns good and redeems himself by saving Beacon in a completely believable reversal of character.
Ha! Like I'd ever write something like that. No happy endings here!
Actually spent a good deal of time reviewing maps of Anima this week to plot out their new route. Don't know much about the Forest of Hinoki, other than a basic overview of the encounter with a village in the manga, I think. But don't worry. We aren't gonna have a ton of time with them wandering through this new territory. We've got bigger Grimm to fry! Still, the Yuris have fallen, Adam has a legitimate Grimm kill (that's two without aura), and things are on the move. Had Jean return at the very end to make sure it didn't end with everyone thinking I'd killed him off. More on his delay next week, but I figured we could end on a total triumph for once. Enjoy it while it lasts.
We also get to learn about Jean's Semblance. Debated ideas for a long time. Super strength was an obvious option. Maybe a little too obvious. Instead, I went with something hunting related, since Gaston was an avid hunter. Plus, giving characters a non-combat Semblance is always fun. So much more flexible than "he can hit things really hard" or "she can move really fast." And the characters learn to use them in unique ways, too. Always love reading unique powers like that and how they can be adapted.
Lastly, I may have pictured Adam in Deku's suit, brimming with energy as he floated in slow motion above the Ursa and yell a very Midoriya line. Had to fight the temptation to have Jean suddenly arrive and announce "I am here!" No cross-overs from me, but random references always give me a chuckle.
Next chapter: Adam's triumph means more than he realizes.