MercenaryGrok – A fair assessment of Marn, I wanted to make a general just decent guy to be our main character because I was somewhat tired of seeing many SI-OC stories across many fandoms abusing the power given to them. In the case of his/my choices for powers? I'll be honest, they are basic. But I started writing this story because I simply wanted to do so. I just chose some things I considered to be cool and somewhat easy to write about for his powers. I do hope in the future to better characterize him as the story progresses as he gets used to no longer being on Earth. With hindsight however I do believe I could have done better at characterizing him in the first chapter.

AN: So, something I realized is that Marn is doing FAR too much damage at his current level, I crunched some numbers while watching some of the fighting scenes from the show and came to the conclusion of having base weapon damage now be (Main Stat)/2 and unarmed by (Main Stat)/4, this takes the base damage of Marn's Silver Guardians from a whopping 81.12 to a much more reasonable 40.52 (both with just percent bonuses no additional addons. (52/2 x 1.2 (from BWP) x 1.3 (SSP)) with his previous number he could reach upwards of 150 or so damage without even all his boosts enough to 5 shot Yang which just doesn't make sense for his current level of power. Of course, that is ignoring other characters and Grimm besides Marn will get resistance-esque skills along with blocking, dodging, and armor but the previous numbers were far too large for my liking.

Also, I made a small error in Marn's leveling, he should be level 5 with 214 EXP to Level 6 so he should have had 3 more stat points and 5 more system points than he did this has been fixed.

And finally, thank you to those who have Followed and Favorited!

Besides that, enjoy!

I do not own RWBY

"Hello" - Speech

"Hello" - Thoughts

[Hello] - System

-o-o-o-o-o-

While Yang was busy sending some of Juniors goons flying, I was with the twins as they went to make sure Junior was ok, I knew he would be but even if he was a mob boss the whole squeezing the private's part is something I could sympathize for, as I'm sure many men could.

As he stood up from the pillar he was launched into as he waved off the twins, "I'm fine deal with the brat." The two Malachite's nod and head off to face Yang. As I continue to stand to the side. Not wanting to interfere just yet.

"And what are you doing?!" Junior would yell at me, "Go help them!" He would gesture at the twins now dancing around and battling Yang.

I raise a brow as I look at him, "What am I supposed to do? I'm just the janitor." I grin a bit, he knows what I want.

He growls a bit and opens his mouth again, "Fine, I'm calling in one of my favors. Now go deal with her!"

[Quest Gained! Defeat Yang Xiao-Long]

[Junior has tasked you to take care of Yang using one of the favors you owe. Regardless of victory you will be rewarded if you choose to fight her.]

[On Success: 500 EXP]

[On Failure: 250 EXP]

[On Refusal: Make an enemy of Junior]

Now, was pissing off a mob boss the best idea? Probably not, but one of the three favors down and some rewards was a decent trade in my opinion and as far as I had seen Junior was one of those honorable criminals so he shouldn't go back on the debt he owed Mr. Shane.

Heading forward, I stood to the side of the three girls' fight, I knew that the Malachite's were much better off fighting as a duo. As I would just get in their way and interrupt their flow.

I take a step to the side a minute later as Miltia is launched past me into another of the club's glass pillars, I wince slightly now that I was closer to one of the impacts and heard it, that had to hurt.

Watching closely as Melane and Yang duel, I take note of Yangs movements, I was faster than her if I had my Silver Guardians, she was clearly far stronger than me however and more durable but had taken some damage from blocking the twins strikes and some glancing shots from the grunts.

[Yang Xiao-Long]

[HP: 300/300]

[AP: 361/500]

I wait for Melanie to also be laid out, Yang now clearly a bit tired turns to regard me. "So, you next foxy?" She says as she grins and reloads her gauntlets.

I raise a brow at the nickname but ignore it for now, "I will be, but before that may I ask you something?"

It was her turn to look puzzled, "Why trying to buy some time for your friends?"

I shake my head and cross my arms, "Nothing like that, simply curious about something. And they aren't really my friends, I just owe Junior."

She would nod and relax a bit, "Alright then ask away."

I was a bit surprised she just agreed to stop the fight, but I could think about it later. And while it may have been a bad idea to stop the fight like this, as Yang would get some time to regenerate Aura, I was curious about something. But first, "What can I call you Ms.?" I wasn't about to start a conversation without knowing a person, even if I did know her but she didn't need to know that.

"Ah, trying to get on a first name basis already foxy?" She would tease, and at my unamused expression she would continue with a pout, "Fine then, the names Yang, Yang Xiao-Long." She replies. "Now what about yours?"

"I am Marn Belmont Ms. Xiao-Long, but I must ask. Why the sudden attack on Junior?" I say uncrossing my arms to go into a more relaxed standing position.

"Well, I came here looking for someone, I did my research, and Junior is supposed to be the best information broker in Vale." She answers, "But he didn't know who I was looking for and this is a den of criminals so what if I was a bit pent up and wanted to let off some steam not like the police would punish a huntress in training doing some community work."

"I see." I say simply, so that's why she attacked the club in the trailer. Resting my hands on my blade's hilts, now on some back of the waist sheathes I had them stored in. "That is all I really wanted to know. Shall we begin or are you going to leave now Ms. Xiao-Long?"

"I'm not satisfied just yet foxy, I'm going to take you out for a dance first, what do you say?" She says as she readies her gauntlets grinning.

I take the chance to look back at her health before deciding my action. "Then let us dance Ms. Xiao-Long." I say as I unsheathe my two kopis and take up my fighting stance.

[Yang Xiao-Long]

[HP: 300/300]

[AP: 377/500]

With an unspoken start we both move forward, she opens with a few blasts of Ember Celica that I move out of the path of, I retaliate with a few shots from Silver Guardian which Yang takes the chance to block a few instead of dodging.

[AP: 359/500]

After realizing that my revolvers had a bit more punch than she probably expected Yang takes the chance to weave the rest of my shots as I reload both. She takes the small gap in my movement as I reload to launch a shotgun blast at me, taking the chance to switch one of my Silver Guardians back I block the shot which explodes off the blade.

[AP: 233/260]

My eyes widened a bit at that damage, 27 on a single blocked shot. Concerning but I can't lose my focus just yet, but with those numbers I suppose I had to close the gap in power somehow, so taking a few seconds to create some distance between us I pull at the power sitting just below my skin as I feel the bone white form of my mask flow into place.

[AP: 183/260]

Yangs eyes widen a bit at the sudden appearance of the Grimm-like mask, "Woah, that your semblance?"

"It is." I confirm, taking the moment she took to ask to close the distance with a powered-up flash-step, my revolver's barrel under her chin.

Her eyes widened further at the danger, but it was too late. I pull the trigger landing a direct hit.

[CRITICAL HIT!]

[AP: 301/500]

I grin a bit under my mask, a solid hit but we were not-

My train of thought is cutoff as Ember Celica lands directly into my stomach impacting me into a nearby wall cratering it.

[CRITICAL HIT!]

[AP: 93/260]

[Skill Unlocked! Bludgeoning Resistance (Common)]

[You and your Aura are 10% more resistant to Bludgeoning damage.]

[Skill Unlocked! Fire Resistance (Rare)]

[You and your Aura are 10% more resistant to Fire damage.]

I attempt to suck in a gulp of air as it was just blasted out of my lungs, coughing I stand up and out of the rubble of the wall around me, looking at the system notification. "You don't say huh?"

I look back to Yang who was still grinning like a maniac.

"Good hit." I groaned out.

I wouldn't be able to stand up to another direct hit without breaking my Aura, but I wasn't going to throw in the towel just yet. I breathed in and steadied myself as I sheathed my blades, there was something I wanted to try.

"What giving up after one solid hit foxy?" Yang taunts as she begins walking the distance.

"Not yet. Just switching up my strategy." I begin to focus on a Cero, but not a full one. I cut out some of the power, something I'm only capable of right now in my Masked form due to the control granted to me. A full Cero boosted by Grimmafication could very well kill Yang outright and destroy the club, but I didn't need its full power. I needed something faster.

I close the distance with two flash-steps, taking a second to stay in front of Yang, her gauntlet already moving, I then use something I learned while fighting the Malachite's. Flash-step was high speed movement but only in a directly straight line, but I wasn't restricted to a single plane.

I appear above Yang as Ember Celia fires off a shell at nothing, a ball of pure red Aura in my hand, I twist downwards with assistance from Enhanced Balance and release my newly made Bala. A resounding boom blasts my ears as I look at Yang's Aura as I then see a few strands of gold hair float out of the dust cloud.

[AP: 61/500]

"Well, shi-"

Is the last thing that goes through my head as another far more powerful punch rockets me into the ceiling breaking my Aura and probably a few bones.

-o-o-o-o-o-

The first thing I see upon waking up is a few screens.

[Stat Up! Endurance: (14 to 15)]

[Skill Unlocked: Bala (Legendary)]

[A variant of the Cero, trading power for speed. Damage = Wis x 1.5 (Costs 20 AP)]

[Rank Up! Bludgeoning Resistance: (1 to 2)]

[You and your Aura are 20% more resistant to Bludgeoning damage.]

[Rank Up! Fire Resistance (1 to 2)]

[You and your Aura are 20% more resistant to Fire damage.]

[Quest Failed: Defeat Yang Xiao-Long]

[250 EXP Rewarded]

[Level Up! (5 to 6)]

[264 EXP to Level 7]

[+3 Stat Points, +5 System Points]

I mentally swat away the updates and looked around the room I was in. It was clearly a hospital of some sort of hospital that I was in. Currently I wasn't hooked up to anything, throwing off my sheets I sit up looking over my stats, my Aura was still way too low for my liking based off that fight with Yang. I was however now back at sitting at 12 stat points, so I spend a few on my wisdom.

[Stat Up! Wisdom: (16 to 21)

I hold my head slightly at the headache from the influx of power, afterwards flexing my Aura, now sitting at a nice 320, officially putting me over the Malachite's at a 10 AP regen per minute meaning I could now keep up my Masked form without consuming any Aura, does also mean I don't regenerate any, but I'll take the small victory.

I then begin to mentally go over last night's events and the weeks before that, and now simply sitting down and having the time to go over everything I realize something was off. "Ars, since when was I such an adrenaline junky?"

[I do not know Marn, I do not have the ability to see your memories.]

I lay back on the bed, bouncing the question to myself, I never was a fighter, I never even knew how to fight in the first place. And more than that I wasn't one to actively put myself in danger at any point in my last life, but since dying and coming here all I have really cared about was getting stronger. I fought those Grimm when I first got here when I could have easily run away from them, I somewhat attempted to deescalate the fight with Yang, but I also wanted to fight her not just for the rewards but because I felt like I wanted to. Why?

Of course I wanted the power to change things, despite this world being only fiction on Earth it was real now, and I wasn't bothered by that. But the want to help other people? I have always had that. I still had the want to save people back on Earth, it was why I was going through graduate school to be a doctor.

There also was the fact that it was one of the favors I owed Junior, but that didn't explain why I felt the want to fight.

So, my main question was why was I being so aggressive? Grimmafication said that the forms allow for less control of my own emotions, but that was only in its forms and didn't explain my actions with the first Grimm I encountered. The only real change between my two lives was the system, perhaps it was affecting me in more ways than I thought...

A few seconds later I am interrupted from my musings as one of Juniors grunts would open the rooms door peaking in, "Ah, good you're up. The boss wants to see you." I look at the man and nod, popping my back as I stretch and stand, moving to follow him.

"So how long was I out?" I question the man.

"Only a few hours, it's about 7am."

I do the quick math, only 6 hours unconscious. Not terrible, I think so anyways.

It takes a few minutes, but I am eventually led to a private room and let in, Junior already sat down and the twins behind him. "Hm, good looks like your Aura fixed you up." He would take a sip from what looked to be straight whiskey. "Take a seat."

I do so, not wanting to anger him more than he clearly was.

Junior then sighs and rubs his forehead setting the glass down on the desk but still holding it. "Alright here's the deal. The club is trashed. Meaning you won't have a place of work for at least a few months, not too big of a problem though Beacon opens in just a few days. Now don't get me wrong the destruction of the club is a setback for me, but more importantly I was one shown up by some a brat on my own turf." His words growing in anger gripping the glass with more force.

"So, I'm using another favor." He says finally releasing his grasp on the drink. "While at Beacon, I want you to keep me updated on the girl, she already admitted to being let in so just keep tabs on her, that's it."

I suck in a breath; this was why it was bad to owe Junior. There was no real way to refuse his request as to Junior I didn't know Yang, so I couldn't say no without being suspicious. "Alright then I can do that."

[Quest Gained! Keep Tabs on the Huntress]

[In exchange for another favor you accepted Junior's job to keep tabs on Yang while at Beacon.]

[On Success: ?]

[On Failure: ?]

"Wonderful, now I don't go back on my own favors I owe, but without the club I have no official, or clean, jobs you can do. So, in exchange I'll be giving you the amount you would get for your next two paychecks, and I'll even include a bonus for you losing your other benefits, so consider my debt paid."

I frown a bit at that, I would be losing my safe way to increase my skills, but not having to hold a job or be under Junior's thumb would allow me plenty of freedom to do as I wish. And as he said it was only a few days until Beacon opened and I had already gotten my acceptance letter to attend the opening ceremony.

"Ok then, I assume you just want me to keep in contact over scroll?" I asked Junior.

"Yes. It would be best for both of us if you did. I have one of my men waiting for you when you leave, he'll have your cash." He says with finality.

I nod and leave the room, heading down the hospital's stairs in back thought. So, the system was most likely influencing me in some way, do I ask Ars about it? And did I want to still interfere with Dust till Dawn? Honestly, I didn't need to. Now that I was already accepted to Beacon and only had to pass initiation, so that left the question. What did I want to do with the time I had?

Breaking from my mind I hear two people come up behind me, turning I see the twins.

"Don't be a stranger Marn." Says Miltia handing me a piece of paper with two scroll numbers.

"Yeah, you were just getting fun to tease fox." Melanie says huffing and crossing her arms.

I roll my eyes but accept the paper, "I'll try to, and thank you both for what you have done for me." While they were criminals, I was still grateful for their training regardless.

"Enough sappy stuff, get going." Melanie would say as she turns and goes back presumably to Junior, Miltia following her and waving me goodbye.

I wave back and exit the hospital, taking the envelope given to me on the way out and going back to thinking about previous train of thought. "Hey Ars, is there any way the system can affect me mentally besides Grimmafication?"

[It is possible, some perks and abilities could affect your rationality or other mental states, but you aren't currently under anything like that, why do you ask?]

"Well, its just. . . I am being far more violent than I ever was before I came here, so I just wanted to know." I think back, so far Ars has been a good ally to me, so I did trust them.

[That is certainly strange. There may be something I am unaware of. But you must remember you are also the first ever player I did not exist before connecting to you so there are things we will both be experiencing for the first time. If you wish however, I can investigate to see if I can find anything may be the cause of it.]

"Yeah, that'll be appreciated Ars, thanks." I think back gratefully.

[No problem Marn.]

Now, about a week and a half of free time ahead of me before I head off to Beacon. Based off my duel with Yang I should have been sitting somewhere just below a huntsman-in-training with the stats that I had, my now boosted wisdom should push me up quite a bit though, and with the ability to now use my 1st form without bleeding Aura should completely close the physicality gap to the average student.

As for my skills I was seemingly good there, sure not one of them alone was that powerful yet, but together I could operate as a decent all-rounder with a grab bag of tricks.

Now for actual combat experience? I was currently still below the average, sure the system gave me the knowledge of how to wield my weapons, but that was just the how. Not the why or when I should, I still needed practice there.

So, with a current lack of actual combat experience the obvious answer is to head out the forests around Vale and try to hunt any minor Grimm out there. . . But did I really want to do that or was it the system pushing me to it? Was Ars lying to me?

I shake my head to focus myself. No, I can't start second guessing myself or getting paranoid now, even if it was the system I still needed the training if I truly wanted to change things.

But if I did want to leave the city for a few days I had some things to prepare first.

-o-o-o-o-o-

Checking over my pack one last time I closed it up and headed away from the walls of Vale. What I had packed was mostly nonperishable food and some water, a few blankets, and some other miscellaneous items. Ars could keep me covered with both the time passed and direction Vale was in, so I wasn't worried about that, and I could easily sleep up in the trees as I did on my way here so I should be fine without a tent.

As for getting out of the city? They just let me through after proving I was a huntsman-in-training with my admittance letter to Beacon. So, nothing too difficult.

Currently I was rushing across the forest floor, not heading too far away from Vale, just circling the city a few miles out looking for a nice clearing to fight in. It takes a bit to find what I was looking for but after I get there I hang up my bag from a tree and head to the center of the clearing, making sure both Silver Guardians were ready, looking over myself I was now in what I considered my Huntsman garb, I was in a set of black steel toed boots, and my legs were covered by a slightly baggy pair of black pants with some maroon lines running down them with small spot of gold, my torso was covered by a form fitted long sleeved shirt with a similar patter to my pants, on top of it being a breastplate in a dull silver color. Finally, I had a pair of maroon gloves over my hands.

Overall, my gear was alright. It allowed me to freely move without much restriction, and the breastplate aided in the protection of my vital areas, and I knew my Aura went over it, but if I ever did have my Aura break, I would rather have the extra protection offered by some light armor.

With that out of the way I finally begin to flex my Aura, sending out a lure for any nearby Grimm.

I hear them before I see them, growling and moving towards me, taking a turn, I see several bars appear.

[Alpha Beowolf]

[HP: 250/250]

[Beowolf]

[HP: 125/125]

[Juvenile Beowolf]

[HP: 75/75]

One alpha, three adults, and three juveniles. Alright then I could handle this.

I boost forward under my own speed, Silver Guardian sings as its freed from its sheath with a Swift Strike, a moment before cutting into the juvenile I targeted I infuse the blade and strike.

[Juvenile Beowolf Defeated!]

[62 EXP Gained]

The blade cleanly passes through the Grimms head, severing it in two.

Hm, both swift and infusion were a bit overkill for the juveniles then. I move back with a burst of speed avoiding the adult who jumped for my throat. As I do so, the Alpha roars at the rest of the pack, they heed its command as the two living Juveniles step back and the adults move forward.

I slide out my other kopis, moving my feet into a now familiar position, beginning to enter my blade dance.

The first adult rushed forward on all fours, its speed far surpassing the juvenile. I take a step past its first slash and block its other clawed paw.

[AP: 298/320]

Taking the opening my kopis blurs forward once again covered in red light, slashing a deep wound into the chest of the beowolf.

[HP: 7/100]

Flash-stepping back the kopis I used to block already shifting into its revolver state as I fire off a round into the beowolf's center mass, not wanting to miss.

[Beowolf Defeated!]

[125 EXP Gained]

I use the distance I still had and fire off a few more shots into the other adults, the alpha being smart enough to get out of the way of my volley.

[Beowolf]

[HP: 42/100]

[Beowolf]

[HP: 71/100]

I only landed three more shots before the adults also began to move outwards, following the alpha. That is when I finally hear the bush behind me be disturbed, turning and shifting one Silver Guardian, I duck and only get slashed on the side of my face by a juvenile's claws.

[AP: 287/320]

A single aura filled swift strike to the chest puts it down as I flash-step upwards and do the same to the other ambushing juvenile as it attacks land where I just was.

[Juvenile Beowolf x2 Defeated!]

[124 EXP Gained!]

[Level Up! (6 to 7)]

[453 EXP to Next Level]

[+3 Stat Points, +5 System Points]

That's the juveniles dealt with. I look back to the remaining adults and alpha now splitting apart to circle me. I switch both of my weapons back to blade form and ready myself again as we both watch for each other's next moves.

The Alpha barks and the two adults rush forward, as they close in, I flash step upwards, reading my strike when the alpha rushes forward and punts me into a nearby tree.

[AP: 234/320]

Alright, the alphas smarter than I thought, I recover from the tree quickly blocking the follow-up attack from one of the adults and land a double powered up cut backed by my dance.

[Beowolf Defeated!]

[125 EXP Gained]

And then there were two. The alpha and adult size me up once more, the alpha most definitely cautious now that the numbers were so low. With a bark both are off towards me.

With them both putting the pressure on at once and being guided by the alpha they were now moving around me as we three exchanged blows all of which were weaved or blocked.

For a few seconds the three of us danced in a tide of blade and claw in the empty grove, but I knew I needed to end this quickly before even more Grimm showed up, taking the chance, I move back with a flash-step, exiting the dance and opening fire with my revolvers.

The alpha reacts faster to the change in flow, but the last adult is put down by just two more shots.

[Beowolf Defeated!]

[125 EXP Gained]

I stared down the alpha as we both circled the glade, I still haven't been able to hit it solidly yet, but our little scuffle had chipped away some of its health.

[Alpha Beowolf]

[HP: 234/250]

We both move covering the distance in a fraction of a second, meeting at the center in a flash of sparks as we push against one another. The alpha is clearly the stronger one out of the little contest, but I knew that.

I use a flash-step directly upward the alpha following the move as it had learned to do, what it doesn't expect is me to be there only a fraction of a second before I'm behind the beast with another flash-step. My two blades blur forward landing cleanly into the alphas back.

[Alpha Beowolf]

[HP: 49/250]

It yelps out in pain as I leap from its back, while distracted my blades shift while I am in the air and a barrage of bullets finish the fight.

[Alpha Beowolf Defeated!]

[250 EXP Gained]

[Level Up! (7 to 8)]

[453 EXP to Next Level]

[+3 Stat Points, +5 System Points]

As the alpha falls I immediately climb up the tree my pack is in and take a seat on a branch. Wiping my brow and looking at my condition. Overall, everything was still sitting at a decent level besides my Aura, which had fallen below 150. So, solo hunting, not my best idea I will admit, but the levels were kind of worth it. Looking at my stats now I was sitting at 13 Stat points and a pretty big 35 System points, I again have surplus of stat points, so I throw a few more into dexterity and wisdom.

[Stat Up! Dexterity: (21 to 25)]

[Stat Up! Wisdom: (21 to 25)]

That brought me up to 305 stamina and a clean 400 Aura, this time I did learn my lesson to space out the time in between each point so no headaches here.

Now, looking at the system points I was tempted. I know I said I was going to save at least 40 to 50 before looking at Perks, but I was still struggling with my combat experience, so more tricks up my sleeve could close that gap. One perk I had seen before for 30 points was to gain a Kitsune Bloodline, and that required me to be a Faunus in the first place, so it was very tempting.

Looking through some other options I saw a few that popped out to me, one that allowed me to no longer be bound by gods, but the brothers sure weren't on Remnant anymore. One that allowed me to do some general magic modification, but I don't have that much magic currently so it wouldn't be useful to me.

Now, I know I had said that using any magic could be dangerous to me, but the appeal of having it as a last resort option was also there. Yang already knew about my semblance, and I could only hold one of those. The rest of my skills were the work of training. But no one would expect magic, because to nearly everyone it was just a fantasy. There were other magic based perks too, but nothing I was as drawn to as the Kitsune perk, so I ended up sealing the deal.

[Perk Gained!]

[Blood of the Fox Demon (30 SP)]

[Requires: Faunus, Fox]

[You have gained the physiology of a mythical faunus, the Kitsune, commonly known as a Fox Demon or Fox Spirit. As such, the older you get, the stronger you become, and the more tails you gain, increasing your powers further. You begin with only one tail; this bestows upon you the essential abilities common to all your kind. This includes the ability to generate Foxfire, a unique form of flame magic only gained by your race, you also access two other magic affinities, curses and illusions and have a high level of understanding of them. All of this on top of a supernatural intelligence that grows with age. Finally, your lifespan is increased by your (END x 10) years.]

[Base INT 5]

[Base Mana Pool 50]

[Skills Unlocked: Foxfire (Unique), Illusion Magic (Legendary), Curse Magic (Legendary)]

[50% Growth to Illusion and Curse Magic Skills]

[INT increased by (Age/10)]

All I really had to do was keep my magic out of the prying eyes of Ozpin and the Grimm unless I truly needed it.

With the perk acquired I feel a shift within my body, a sort of heat rising from the same place I could 'feel' where my Aura is within my body and looking back, I see the patch of colored fur on my tail's tip expand outward slightly as it becomes swirly in pattern, finalized with a small red flame appearing above the tip. I shake my tail slightly before focusing for a second and the flame wisps out without any smoke, good no obvious indicators of what I am now then.

Looking over my new skills my eyes widen in understanding, now as to why the Perk was 30 points.

[Foxfire (Unique)]

[The ability to generate different amounts of a soul burning fire. Damage dealt by Foxfire ignores all resistances and bypasses Aura. (Damage = INT x (MP Used/4))]

That was downright insane, a skill that could bypass Aura would be a massive force multiplier in any of the future fights I could be going into against Salem's forces, If I caught anyone of her inner circle off guard? Even with my current intelligence that was still slightly over 1000 damage if I put all my mana into it. Compared to a mask boosted cero it was weaker damage wise, but a cero still had to break through an opponent's Aura.

Looking back to my overview my Aura was fully regenerated now, with 25 wisdom setting me at a 12 per minute regeneration I could now use Mask with other Aura skills as long as I didn't spam them too quickly. My other stats were a bit low though, strength was sitting as 14 and endurance and intelligence were both at 15.

Well, if I was to head back to Vale once I reached level 10, I could afford to spend my stat points on a bit more safety.

[Stat Up! Endurance: (15 to 20)]

That took all my stat points away, but a had a few more days to train up out here. I did have to make sure not to run into anything too big. And with Ars looking into whatever the system is doing to me I just have to make sure not to get carried away, alright then let's begin.

-o-o-o-o-o-

I stand atop the trees, enjoying the wind of the early day and watching the sunrise. I stand there for a few minutes before climbing back down the tree and looking over my new status. I was now sitting at the lower end of EXP for level 10, with some unspent points. I also got some skills to grow a small bit in the few days I have been out here.

[Rank Up! Swift Strike: (2 to 3)]

[A single fast paced strike that can catch an opponent off guard. (Damage = Dex x 1.4) (Cost 10 SP)]

[Rank Up! Tracking: (1 to 2)]

[You know how to follow tracks. (20% more success to Tracking)]

[Rank Up! Handgun Proficiency: (1 to 2)]

[Base damage with Handguns raised by 20%.]

[Rank Up! Slashing Resistance: (1 to 2)]

You and your Aura are 20% more resistant to slashing damage.

[Rank Up! Block: (1 to 2)]

[Block an attack to reduce damage, Damage reduced by END x 1.5. (Cost 10 SP)]

Mostly just my lower ranked combat skills, I also got slightly better at tracking from following and taking down independent Grimm. I had learned my lesson the first day, while I could take out a small pack of beowolfs by myself it was still stupid to just flex my Aura and try to lure anything that was close by.

But, my main goal of level 10 had been hit, so I was now heading back to Vale, a full week out here should put me at the time I needed to be at before Ruby's fight at From Dust till Dawn. While I wasn't going to interfere with the fight, I still wanted to observe it regardless, to make sure my actions so far haven't affected anything.

Speaking of influencing things, "Ars, any luck on the system?"

[Little so far, but I have found a lead. Whenever you were in combat or growing in power a found a few sets of out of place data that were active only then, I have begun to trace and decode them but there are quite a few and each will take me a few days.]

Through the empathic bond I could tell Ars was being truthful, "Alright then, it's a good as a start as any."

I make my way down to the ground level of the forest, and with a marker from Ars begin my trek back to Vale, well time to go see our little dust shop vigilante.

-o-o-o-o-o-

A day before Beacon opened to the new students, that was when Torchwick struck. I of course was currently sitting a few buildings away on a roof and out of view with a little illusion magic. I wait for a few minutes after he enters the store when the front window is blasted outward by one of Juniors goons and followed shortly by the little red reaper herself.

I am far enough away from the action that even with my Enhanced Senses all I can hear is the gunshots and explosions, it did make me feel bad for anyone who lived on this street, it was late.

A moment later the grunts and Torchwick step out of the shop, and like the show the fight is decidedly one-sided. As the last grunt falls Torchwick says his quip and raises his cane to fire, Ruby dodges of course as Torchwick climbs to the top of a nearby building, a bullhead flying in.

As Torchwick throws the fire dust crystal I see from further down the street an amazingly fast purple and while blur as Goodwitch arrives. A quick attempt to take the bullhead down and a fight with Cinder later and Ruby is escorted away by Goodwitch.

Well, looks like nothing has changed, good. I waited a few more minutes as the Vale police began to arrive and then decided to take my leave. Hopping down the building and getting to an alley before my illusion is dropped, time I headed back to my apartment. Only a day before Beacon.

-o-o-o-o-o-

I never actually got to ride on any sort of plane in my last life. I was still finishing college after all, and my family never had the money or time to travel overseas or even far enough to require a plane. So, riding in on one of Beacons airships was a novel experience to say the least.

Ars also started to get more leads on whatever data he found that was affecting me, nothing solid so far but progress was what mattered right now. I didn't like the fact the system was still messing with my brain.

Ignoring that for now I begin looking around the airships common area. There were a few people I recognized from the series, Blake was sitting and appeared to be reading, I saw Jaune having trouble holding in his lunch, and Pyrrha was seemingly trying her best to blend into everyone else. I then spotted Yang and Ruby on the other side of the area we were all in, seems Yang didn't see me though so that was good. She would probably recognize me even in my huntsman garb and make a scene, which I wished to avoid. And thinking about it, it made sense there were many people I didn't recognize as well. There should be eight new teams that join Beacon per year if the chess pieces are used every time.

Walking up to one of the windows I look out to the city flying past below us as we approach closer to the actual campus, the holograms covering Torchwicks robberies and the White Fang flick out and Goodwitch appears on them.

"Hello and welcome to Beacon." She takes a pause. "My name is Glynda Goodwitch. You are among a privileged few who have received the honor of being selected to attend this prestigious academy, our world is experiencing an incredible time of peace." Among the 5 nations perhaps. "And as future Huntsman and Huntresses it is your duty to uphold it. You have demonstrated the courage needed for such a task-"

I stop listening to the speech, already knowing its basic message. Turning back to my view, I focus on the horizon and Beacon, waiting for us to land.

I feel the shift of the airships weight as we begin to turn, pulling into the cliffside of the academy, being at the back I was one of the last off, and looking around in person Beacon was truly a sight to behold, like a castle straight from a fantasy book.

Well, it's time I began my career as a huntsman.

-o-o-o-o-o-

Name: Marn Belmont

Race: Faunus (Fox Tail)

Level: 10 (547 EXP to Next Level)

Title: None

Age: 17

HP: (250/250) (100, 5 per END 1-10, 10 per END 11-20) (Regen END/4 per minute (5))

SP: (305/305) (100, 5 per STR & DEX 1-20, 10 per STR & DEX 21-40) (Regen (STR & DEX)/2 per minute (19))

AP: (400/400) (150, 5 per WIS 1-10, 10 per WIS 11-20, 20 per WIS 21-30) (Regen WIS/2 per minute (12))

MP: (275/275) (175, 5 per INT 1-10, 10 per INT 11-20) (Regen INT/2 per minute (7))

Strength: 14

Dexterity: 25 (30) 5 From Equipment

Endurance: 20

Intelligence: 15

Wisdom: 25

Unspent Stat Points: 6

Unspent System Points: 15

Semblance: Grimmafication

Perks: Belmont Bloodline, Aura Prodigy, Silver-Eyed Warrior, Blood of the Fox Demon

Fusion Perks: Bane of Darkness, Forbidden Hybrid

Talents:

Night Vision (Unique): You can see in low light conditions.

Enhanced Senses (Unique): You have better hearing and sight

Enhanced Balance (Unique): You can never lose your balance unless on purpose and are harder to knock over.

Beginner Weapon Proficiency (Common) (4/10): Knowledge of how to wield a wide variety of weapons. All weapon damage increased by 20%.

Beginner Martial Arts (Common) (3/10): Knowledge of basic hand-to-hand combat. All unarmed damage increased by 15%.

Beginner Acrobat (Common) (3/10): Knowledge of basic acrobatics and parkour. (You are 30% better at acrobatics)

Darkness Resistance (Rare) (1/5): 10% Resistance to Dark Damage.

Curse Resistance (Rare) (1/5): 15% greater chance to resist Curses.

Grimm Lore (Rare) (1/5): You have encyclopedic knowledge on Grimm and their types.

Aura Shaping (Rare) (3/5): You can shape your aura into constructs, these cannot exist beyond your own grip. (Costs 3 AP per Minute)

Aura Enhancement (Rare) (2/5): Channel your aura into a physical stat and increase it by 2. (Cost 4 AP per Minute)

Grimmafication (Unique): Your semblance. Increase all physical stats by 5/10/20 per form. (Cost 50 AP on Activation and form switching, 10/20/30 AP per Minute based on form)

Cero (Legendary) (1/3): An extension of your semblances power, condenses aura into a destructive beam for massive damage. Boosted while under a Grimmafication form. (Damage = (WIS x 10)) (Cost 50 AP)

Flash-Step (Legendary) (1/3): A short-range high speed movement ability due to your Grimm nature. Boosted while under a Grimmafication form. (Move = DEX in Feet) (Cost 10 AP)

The Silver Eyes (Unique): When you feel a strong desire to protect life you will emit a large radius of silver light or a condensed beam, every Grimm in the area going from closest to farthest will have their HP put up to your (HP x 5), if it is lower, they turn to stone. That amount of HP will be taken off the effective use of The Silver Eyes and move on to the next Grimm. (Cost N/A)

Light Magic (Legendary) (2/3): Allows for the manipulation of light, can be fired off in blasts, infused into your weapons for a short time, or make solid objects made of light. (Damage = (INT Cost (10))

Perfect Hybrid Grimm (Unique): When in any Grimm form double your stat bonus and weaknesses to Light damage negated.

Basic Construction (Common) (2/10): Basic knowledge on how to build things. The quality of your constructions is raised by 10%

Swift Strike (Rare) (3/5): A single fast paced strike that can catch an opponent off guard. (Damage = Dex x 1.4) (Cost 10 SP)

Aura Infusion (Rare) (2/5): A crude but effective use of one's Aura, focusing it into a weapon to increase striking force. (Damage = WIS x 1.5) (Cost 9 AP)

Dodge (Rare) (2/5): A chance to automatically dodge a seen attack. (% = DEX/3)

Tracking (Common) (2/10): You know how to follow tracks. (20% more success to Tracking)

Cooking (Common) (3/10): You know the basics of preparing a meal. (Your cooking is 30% better)

Dagger Proficiency (Common) (1/10): Base damage with Daggers raised by 10%.

Shortsword Proficiency (Common) (3/10): Base damage with Shortswords raised by 30%.

Handgun Proficiency (Common) (2/10): Base damage with Handguns raised by 20%.

Slashing Resistance (Common) (2/10): You and your Aura are 20% more resistant to slashing damage.

Piercing Resistance (Common) (1/10): You and your Aura are 10% more resistant to piercing damage.

Block (Rare) (2/5): Block an attack to reduce damage, Damage reduced by END x 1.5. (Cost 10 SP)

Blade Dance (Rare) (1/5): A rhythmic and dance-like style of combat can only be used by dual daggers or shortswords. Base damage with daggers and shortswords increased by 5 (Cost 20 SP per minute.)

Foxfire (Unique): The ability to generate different amounts of a soul burning fire. When used, damage dealt by Foxfire ignores all resistances and bypasses Aura. (Damage = INT x (MP Used/4))

Illusion Magic (Legendary) (1/3): The magic art of confusion and insanity. There are no real limits to the illusions you can make expert for size, however currently you can only make either a sound or image at once. Not both. (Costs 10 MP)

Curse Magic (Legendary) (1/3): The magic art of debuffs and downfalls. Curses come in many forms, such as blindness or deafness, sickness or sleep and many more. The chance of a curse working depends on your target's HP in comparison to your INT. (Costs 20 MP)

Misc Bonuses:

[25% Bonus EXP when defeating Evil aligned Creatures]

[25% Bonus Growth in Combat Skills]

[50% Bonus Growth to Aura Skills]

[25% Bonus Growth in Light Magic]

[25% Damage to Grimm when dealing Light Damage]

[50% Growth to Illusion and Curse Magic Skills]

[INT increased by (Age/10)]

Equipment:

Silver Guardians (Legendary)

A set of dual blades and revolvers, the first creation of Marn Belmont. Made to honor those he left behind and the future he wishes to change.

Base Damage = DEX x 2

Increases users DEX by 5 when both are wielded.

Soul Bound: This item will grow as the user does.