Let's go!
Arc 2: Chapter 19
The streets steadily became more populated the further they travelled and the more the sun rose.
That very population was quick to disperse as Shion and his group marched through the streets.
There was no opposition, and strangely, no Garrison patrols. It must have been a testament to how safe the inside of the city was that there were no active patrols. Well, either that or they just hadn't happened to chance upon one yet.
That was about to change very quickly however as in the distance, past several blocks of buildings and streets vendors, the government district loomed.
It was separated by a massive stone wall, though one not nearly as tall as the great walls surrounding the entire city. Several fortified battlements and built in watch towers poked up along the top.
The wall itself was situated half-way up a hill, though that was only discernible by the obvious slope leading up to it.
Numerous inns, homes, shops and market stalls littered the winding road that coiled in an s-like pattern to the numerous fortified gates in the wall. The buildings were much more well-kept, and the crowds well-dressed and much more colourful and vibrant in their clothing.
Clearly the closer one got to the city's heart, the wealthier the people became. That wealth meant nothing however.
People easily caved in to fear, no matter their status. This time was no different.
People took one glance at the dark robes, bloodied weapons and skull masks and instantly started to find interest in going elsewhere.
Well, most people anyways. There were some peasants and merchants alike, the ones dressed in the finer clothes with clearly no street-smarts and sense of entitlement that kept walking and sent them strange looks.
A pudgy man in a red coat clearly intended to showcase wealth was walking down the road in their direction, accompanied by two women dressed in plain dresses and carrying a large sack of vegetables each. They looked worn and haggard and clearly had lived a hard life. It was debatable if the man had.
He sent Shion a dirty look as he approached, arms folded behind his back and just as he was about to reach him, he spat out scathingly.
"Thugs off the street, or barbarians from outside the walls. Which are you?"
Shion tilted his ahead, almost amused.
"Very brazen of you to approach a group of warriors armed to the teeth and hurl insults."
The man scoffed derisively, almost upon them and intent on walking through them in the naïve thought that they would part for him.
"And very stupid of you to come up to the cleaner end of the city. Go back to where you came from and keep your stench away from honest, hard-working people."
He must have thought that would be the end of it as he strolled right next to Shion without a care in the world, nose upturned.
"Hmm. I suppose we'll start with you," commented Shion, suddenly reaching inside his cloak as the man's back passed him.
The khopesh sailed in an arc with Shion as he spun around and swung with such strength the blade cleaved right through the man's neck, separating muscle and fat from bone, and in turn his head from his shoulders.
The head went sailing in a bloody arc while the body took one faltering step before collapsing under its own weight with no motor-neuron connection to hold it upright.
The two women following him went wide-eyed and stopped, one of them dropping their bag, dozens of potatoes and carrots tumbling out.
She gasped loudly and the crowd of people watching with bated breath began shuffle away nervously. Others continued to watch with morbid curiosity.
Shion's followers came to a stop immediately and brandished their weapons patiently.
All he did was flick his wrist to shake the majority of the blood staining his sword off before facing the two women who started to tremble.
With a majestic flair, he hoisted the blade so it was pointed parallel to the nearest one's throat.
"You may begin," he called out coolly, and without any words, the robed strangers sprang into action, pouncing upon the crowd. Well, most of them did. Several stood stock still and continued to hold their weapons as if on guard.
The effect was instantaneous.
People screamed and began to run, dropping whatever valuables they were carrying and running in any which way they could. There was no order; only chaos.
All that meant was that they were easier pickings, and the screams of terror started to become diluted with screams of agony as swords disembowled guts, cleavers separated limbs, and axes cut people in two or more.
Ruby knew she had to act, but upon seeing such wholesale violence she couldn't help but freeze.
It was only until she heard the sound of the two women screaming that she turned her head back to Shion, eyes wide.
He had leapt forward and slashed the first woman's throat open and nearly taken her head off. She barely had time to fall to the ground, already dead before the second tried to step back, only to have her stomach slashed open.
Blood and guts spilled out into her trembling hands and she fell to her knees, eyes wide with shock. The pain didn't register as she was too surprised and confused upon seeing herself hold her own innards.
She let out a quiet whimper before she slowly craned her head to look up at her killer, tears forming in her eyes.
Shion didn't even bother to finish her off, content to just let her kneel there with her own intestines in hands while he walked off towards the wall. The cloaked figures initially standing stationary began to move in step with him, following him as some sort of escort.
Ruby felt numb at the sight. One of those strangers gripped her shoulder and shoved her forward, forcing her to stumble forwards.
The screaming got worse.
Do something! Her heart screamed.
Her mind roared back.
I can't! I'm afraid!
They're dying!
We'll die too!
If we don't do something, then Hei and the others will die too!
It was then her brain threw her for loop.
They wouldn't care if we did.
Her heart felt like it stopped.
She didn't want it to be true, but she had heard the way Melanie and Hei had argued about her while they were on the road. She pretended to be asleep, but there was no denying some of the people in the group, people she had begun to care about, were non-too-pleased with her presence.
She pretended it didn't bother her, and she had pushed it aside, too beset by grief from her mom dying and her friends being murdered by that psycho and the Grimm at Saint.
But that was when her heart snapped.
But we care about them! I care about them!
Hei care about her. Roman cared about her. Neo cared about her… she hoped.
The others had been nice to her, even if a little distant at times.
Besides, even if they didn't care about her, she had made a promise to herself.
A promise that she would stop being afraid and quite being weak. That the next time the people she cared about were being hurt, she would act.
She had failed time and time again, but she promised this time would be different.
Her heart pounded as she walked forward, the cloaked figure behind her staying so close she could feel his robes brush against the back of her legs.
She was afraid. So deathly afraid that she was beginning to feel nauseous. But there were no tears. No breakdown. She had cried so much in the past weeks that there were no more tears to muster.
These people might not be her family that she had promised to be strong for, but they were people with families too. Right?
If she cried, she wasn't brave. And how could she be strong and save these people if she wasn't brave?
It was right then and there something within her snapped.
She wasn't afraid anymore. She was angry. Angry that these evil monsters were happy to just kill and hurt innocent people without any care in the world.
Oh she was still afraid, but now she was also angry.
And so, for the first time since her mom had died, she fought. Not as a reflexive mechanism, but because she wanted to. Because she needed to.
So, mustering her courage and her anger, she stopped dead in her tracks and spun, aiming the strongest punch she could muster right into the figure behind her.
It wasn't a strong blow, and her hand bent and struck at chest height with the top instead of the knuckles.
It hurt and she let out a scream, partially because of the pain, but mostly because she was so angry and scared at the same time.
The figure behind her doubled over with a muffled cry, clutching his nether regions in agony.
Her punch, if it counted as one, didn't need to be strong.
At her height, the blow happened to coincide with the figures groin, and stoic warrior or not, pain was pain. Especially pain as intense as that.
Shion came to a stop, turning around to see what the commotion was.
"Oh, well, we can't be having that now," came his distorted voice.
Closing the distance to her with tremendous speed, he swung his free hand out, backhanding her across the face with his fist.
The blow was a hell of a lot stronger than her measly punch, and her head exploded with pain as she was lifted off her feet and sent tumbling to the side. It was as if she were a fly being swatted.
She cried out in pain and tumbled into a heap.
"I gave you a warning earlier. I think that is very fair. Now, I have to punish you."
She felt nauseous as her head swam, barely registering the words as she tried to think clearly.
She couldn't, and the tears automatically burst down her face.
"Crying isn't going to make it better child," he intoned, slowly stalking her, like a lion stalking a lamb.
She struggled to stand upright.
"And you're too weak to stop me."
She refused to let him beat her. And she refused to let him kill any more people.
With a mighty scream, she flung herself forward into him, calling on her inner magic.
It responded all-too readily.
Her colliding into Shion didn't even make him budge, and he made little effort to stop her.
The Grimm Beringel rapidly materialising from her hand did.
The Grimm roared, charging forth as it was forming. It barrelled straight into and through Shion, carrying him forward as the wind was knocked clean from him.
The Westenders all dropped into defensive stances, feet wide apart and cores tight as they brandished their weapons. They were clearly trained fighters.
Their eyes darted around, taking in the growing threat as Grimm started to materialise everywhere.
The Grimm Beringel slammed Shion into the wall of an inn, sending splintering cracks outward from the impact.
Shion grunted, but didn't react overly phased.
His free hand shot up and wrapped under the Grimm's open jaw as it roared into his face, revealing rows of sharp teeth.
That sound was the last it would ever make as its glowing silver eyes started to widen in surprise before its head suddenly swelled up and exploded violently. Chunks of bone and black fur went flying everywhere.
The Grimm went slack and collapsed, instantly releasing Shion before it started to slowly disintegrate into black dust.
Shion massaged his throat gently, clearing his throat before directing an ominous gaze towards Ruby.
"As much as I appreciate you doing this for me, I would have preferred if you waited until we at least crossed the gates up ahead."
Ruby only screamed, and her summoned Grimm reacted in kind. Monstrous howls echoed throughout the streets before turning into vicious snarls.
It was mostly beowolves that had been summoned, and they ranged in size from small, only slightly bigger than Ruby, to massive. The largest was easily twice Shion's size in both height and weight.
"Hmppf. Very well then," acknowledged Shion with only the faintest incline of his head.
"Proceed as planned. Ignore the girl and the Grimm. Don't kill her. I'll make use of her for now."
The masked fighters all silently inclined their heads in unison before promptly hurrying away from Ruby and the Grimm.
"NO! I WON'T LET YOU RUN AWAY TO HURT MORE PEOPLE!"
Shion couldn't help but chuckle as he approached her.
"You foolish child. I won't need to hurt them. You're going to."
Before she could even comprehend what he meant, the clatter of numerous armoured people suddenly could be heard racing down the street from the gate towards them.
Around the bend, running full sprint and clad in polished steel armour, came the Hunters.
The local garrison had arrived.
"I was beginning to wonder when you boys would show up. I'll admit, I was a bit disappointed. I didn't encounter a single patrol through the city this morning. Normally, the place is bustling with you fools."
His head was facing away from her, and instinctively she knew this was her chance while he was distracted.
With an anguished cry, she threw herself towards his sword, hoisting it up in single motion before running full-speed towards him. She held the majority of the weight close, with the tip pointed out horizontally.
It was heavy, insanely so for her who had never really lifted anything remotely heavy at all. Yet somehow, she found the inner strength to do so. Or maybe it was simply just the adrenaline coursing through her veins at the moment.
Unfortunately, she hadn't been given the memo that screaming while running loudly towards a person you intend on surprise stabbing still counted as major telegraphing.
He barely acknowledged her charge, yet what was even more insulting was the way he slightly shifted his weight so the blade went past him before reaching out and grabbing both of her wrists with a single hand, and then hoisting her up high into the air where she dangled helplessly.
The Garrison didn't shout out a warning for a cease and desist or a declaration of arrest. They charged forth en-masse, weapons drawn. Claymores and spears were the main weapons, and they made sure to quickly space themselves out to avoid entangling themselves. They were professionals, and trained as such.
The Grimm responded in kind, while the majority of the Westenders didn't even have a clue about what was going on, only to realise too late.
What started as a one-sided massacre suddenly escalated into a three-way battle-royale, with Westenders butchering peasants, Hunters propelling themselves upon Westenders and Grimm, and the Grimm attacking anything on sight that moved.
It was huge, as twenty Hunters demonstrated their skills against over fifty Westender thugs, and it quickly became apparent that most of them were just that. They were quick to cave and be felled by the much better trained and equipped Garrison.
"I hate conscripts," Shion sighed as he plucked his khopesh from her hands. She struggled in his grip, swinging her legs and grunting furiously.
"And I'd rather not waste my actual followers on doing their job," he referred to the gang-members that had joined his group and been initiated.
He brought her close to his face, the bone plate almost touching her face.
"But that's why I have you," he continued sweetly, and if he didn't have a mask to hide his face, Ruby was almost certain he would have been smiling. Who knew? Maybe he actually was.
"Grimm will do a near perfect job, don't you think?"
The sound of a bell tower ringing near the gate bellowed out. It was likely an alarm of sorts.
"I won't let you!"
"Hmm? Let me what?" he mocked.
Two Hunters charged him together, claymores brandished, the Vale Emblem gleaming proudly on their breast-plates.
"If you want to save them, you'll have to kill me."
And with that, he threw her away and spun his sword around to block an incoming strike before riposting the second Hunter.
She landed on her buttocks with a slight skid, but was instantly back up.
"Then I'll kill you!" She screamed. Anger, fear and anxiety swirled within her.
Shion inhaled slowly before exhaling sharply.
"Good."
All of a sudden the recently riposted Hunter exploded in flash of fire and gore.
Chunks of smouldering armour went flying, while balls of bloody meat rained down.
All that was left was a pair of charred legs that quickly collapsed.
The other Hunter immediately jumped back with a scream.
"ARCANIST! WE HAVE A ROGUE ARCANIST!"
"Quickly, send word!" called out another Hunter to another of his comrades.
The man nodded and instantly bolted off back to the gates.
Shion watched the man run but otherwise showed no interest in stopping him.
The other Hunters instantly began to finish their engagements so they could regroup and encircle Shion.
Ruby faltered.
Shion was an… Arcanist? Was that a type of Huntsman? All of a sudden she didn't feel so confident about her chances.
As if sensing her thoughts, Shion called out mockingly.
"What? Are you getting cold feet already? I thought you said you were going to kill me? Don't go and disappoint me now."
For a second, time seemed to slow to a crawl for her as she stood there.
He was a huntsman. What could she even do?
The answer was simple. Drown him in her summons.
The Grimm suddenly became more numerous, and they became more furious.
She felt exhausted, but she didn't stop letting the feeling of her special magic pour out of her.
It felt draining, and suddenly she felt she could do no more. She had to stop it!
She had to cut the connection, and as she did so she collapsed to her hands knees. She sobbed in pain as fatigue enveloped her, and the scar Tyrian gave her throbbed.
That didn't stop her from feeling angry with Shion, nor did it stop the silver-accented Grimm from spreading out and attacking indiscriminately.
However, for every Grimm that wandered off to rampage, there was another that felt their master's anger directed at Shion, and as such they raced forward to rip and tear apart the source of Ruby's anguish.
Any normal person should have felt fear as over a dozen Grimm rampaged towards them, but Shion was not just a normal person.
"Well done, Ruby," he grinned underneath his mask.
The central administrative complex for Vale was a combination of several key buildings arranged in a walled off semi-circle and surrounded by various botanic gardens and elaborate and decorated paths complete with benches and statues big and small. The Academy's administrative tower with the Hunter barracks and fort underneath lay to the right of the path, a newly built docking platform protruding off a cliff overlooking the city, while the Royal Palace, a large fortified structure that climbed the sky with its highest of many towers, inhabited the central most location and was set further back. This allowed it to overlook the cliffs of the Emerald Forest, the gulley in which the majority of the city and its populace sat, and left it as the most protected section of the entire walled city.
Finally on the left of the entrance sat the Council Administrative Complex, a large pillared multi-storied building raised upon many marble steps, and surrounded by several statues of notable historical figures crucial to the Kingdom's founding.
It was in this building that Ozpin was accompanying Henry Winchester down an empty marbled hall with a cup of coffee in his hand and cane in another. The high-ceilinged roof gave plenty of room for the enormous paintings of historical figures, and even more for the equally high pulegoso-esque windows to allow light in.
The two walked side-by-side at a leisurely pace.
"Have you given my proposal consideration?" asked Ozpin.
Henry regarded the younger man out the corner of his eye before flicking his eyes back ahead.
"You are very ambitious, Headmaster. You are also very forward in your intentions."
Ozpin didn't speak in the silence that followed, more than content to await Henry's answer. And if Henry didn't answer? Well, that silence would be an answer in and of itself.
Finally, he spoke.
"I have considered it. And while I most certainly can see and appreciate the potential boons, I also do have some questions."
"Please, go ahead," said Ozpin.
"You are offering your political backing and support as not just Councilmember, but also Headmaster to expand my Hunter Garrison, including the necessary financial and legal support to field and support such an expanse over the next decade."
"It is in Vale's best interest to field more Huntsmen that can act autonomously and place the safety of Vale above political interests and rivalries," nodded Ozpin.
Henry turned his head slowly to face Ozpin, his stern face levelling cold disposition to him.
"You are essentially asking me to go against current Crown doctrine and field an unregulated army of Huntsmen and Hunters beyond what the Council and Crown has authorised."
"I have already spoken to His Majesty and appropriate legislation and discussions are already underway to authorise and legitimise this. And this wouldn't be applicable to just you. As a whole, Vale needs more Hunters and Huntsmen."
Henry scoffed under his breath.
"That is not how Alexander will see. Nor his backers."
"The dear General is a traditionalist and is set in his ways. Both he and his allies represent the Noble Caste system and would see us remain rife with discourse and instability. Any form of advancement is a threat in their eyes."
Henry raised an eyebrow, somewhat miffed.
"Need I remind you that I am a member of that very Caste." He exhaled deeply before speaking.
"I would argue the main issue is less the progression, and moreso rendering their authority, and by extension, them, obsolete."
"And yet they refuse to progress with the times, and as such they render themselves obsolete," countered Ozpin.
"This past decade has seen significant leaps in technology, economics and sociology. Atlas is pushing ahead with their Research and Development and entering uncharted territory. Territory that was once considered only possible in the realms of fiction," continued Ozpin, holding a hand up to stop Henry from cutting him off.
"And we have been adapting," argued Henry.
"But not all of us," returned Ozpin.
Henry pursed his lips.
"Our duty as Huntsmen is first and foremost to Humanity. Our second duty is to protect this Kingdom. These traditions hold us back. And they also actively harm us."
"These traditions have existed for a reason, Ozpin, and they have served us well over the generations."
"I will not deny their past benefits. But this is the future we are talking about," Ozpin shook his head.
"I am not asking for much."
"What you are asking would lead to the dissolution of the Noble Castes in their entirety in the future. Not only you are asking me to throw away my Houses' stature and denigrate myself to that of a pauper, if it were to come out that I aided you in your endeavours my House would be under threat from not just the Crown, but from nearly every Noble family and their sycophants."
Henry sighed.
"Why approach my family for this. You have the Adels, the Arcs. Even the Goodwitch's are more potent allies for you right now?"
"They are loyal to the Crown," explained Ozpin, before adding. "Which is a good thing,
"But it is well known that the Winchesters hold many connections outside of the Noble Castes. Connections that would absolve you and your family of suspicion."
Henry leaned back slowly.
"House Winchester is an honest and chivalrous House," he began, only for Ozpin to cut him off.
"Your sons have connections with numerous crime syndicates, Henry. Connections you are more than aware of and have legitimised."
Henry's eyes narrowed.
"You would accuse me of enablism?"
Ozpin shook his head gently.
"I do not accuse. I know. And while I have my reservations and growing concern over such matters, my priority remains the Grimm."
Henry regarded his words carefully before speaking.
"Even if that were true," he began slowly, "you are already contentious within the political arena. I would be sticking my neck, and my Households neck out, for you. If the other families got wind of my association, of my collaboration, I would be open to risk."
"I am not asking you to interfere. All I am asking is to keep closer tabs on the goings on of these families. You need not obstruct them."
"Hmmpf. So a crusade to obtain evidence."
"Document any and all passage in and out of the city by the families, their associates, and their Hunters. Find the paper trails. Identify the caches of money and weapons. Provide me names. But do not feel pressured into acting on it. If anything, I would prefer you do not at this stage."
Henry bit back a bark of laughter.
"Ha. Alexander will not take too kindly to having his army being policed by mine."
"The Kingdom's borders are his responsibility. The city is yours."
"And the safety of humanity is yours," parroted the older man. "Yes yes," he sighed.
Ozpin watched him carefully.
"If I agree to this, I have some conditions."
"I cannot guarantee they will be met, but I can hear you out."
"Then listen well."
Ozpin came to a stop, and so did Henry.
"My sons are Huntsmen. Gordon, Jack, and Artemis. My grandchildren will become Huntsmen, and so will their children, and any children they have."
Ozpin frowned.
"I cannot guarantee their place in the academies by showing nepotism. They must display the necessary traits and characteristics that a Huntsman must embody."
Henry's eyes narrowed.
"If you want me to help you tear down the very system that I benefit from, then I need some form of assurance for my Household's future. Securing my lineage as Huntsmen will do that."
"While I certainly can allocate a few additional Huntsmen and Huntresses to your household after they graduate, any bloodlines of yours that apply must be able to back their efforts with the appropriate skill and traits necessary."
"I will see to their preparations for your academy. They would be the best Huntsmen this Kingdom would have to offer. But you will see to their acceptance and enrolment."
Ozpin frowned.
"I can certainly view their application with higher priority, but whether they are accepted would be entirely dependent on them."
Henry's lips tightened.
"As a former Hunter yourself, you must certainly understand why I must uphold these standards."
The man relented, peeling his stern gaze from Ozpin.
"They will be ready when of age. I assure you."
"Then I will eagerly await Beacon's future applicants."
Henry didn't reveal any acknowledgement.
"My second condition," he began, only for the sounds of bells chiming aggressively echoed out throughout the city.
Both men's gaze shifted.
"Is that the alarm…?" queried Ozpin, more to himself.
Both men ventured to the end of the hall to inspect for themselves outside.
They barely reached the door when it burst open and a scrawny kid in squire robes flew through in a hurry.
"Sirs!" He panted.
"What is the meaning of this!" snarled Henry, glaring down at the exhausted boy.
He gulped before mustering the nerve to speak.
"T-the Inner Wall is under siege!"
"Explain. Who is attacking?" Ozpins words were much harsher and strictly business.
"I-I don't know," the kid shook his head, the feathered beret resting atop his head struggling to stay resting atop.
"All I know is the other missives are saying there's a rogue Huntsman."
Henry shot Ozpin a wary look.
Ozpin ignored it, focusing on the squire.
"Are you certain."
"I-it's what I've been told!"
Ozpin's brow furrowed while Henry cursed.
"We'll need Huntsmen teams to respond," stated Ozpin.
"I'll round up a contingent and send them down."
Henry nodded resolutely.
"Aye. I'll do the same. Boy! Fetch me my sons!"
The squire shrunk under Henry's strong presence.
"Sir, t-they were already headed down to the gate as we speak. They may be there already."
Ozpin shared a worried glance with Henry.
"Then we have no time waste. Send word to the Garrisons to mobilise any Hunters they have available."
The boy looked frozen.
"Quickly now!" he snapped.
The boy snapped out of his stupor.
"R-right. On it!"
Ozpin was already gone out the doors.
Hei, Roman and Neo raced with the utmost haste down the winding streets and alleys, slowly but steadily getting closer to the source of the smoke.
As they got nearer, the streets started to slowly transform from derelict slums to more maintained middle-class suburbia, even if the locale were clearly not brimming with wealth and hygiene.
Dust-run lamp posts became more common, though they were all switched off, and the roads became more well-maintained and aesthetically pleasing, albeit well worn.
Traders, merchants and regular citizens became more prominent, and a few animals were observed. Most were horses drawing wagons full of goods for merchants as import from outside the city.
There were a few armoured city guards patrolling in groups ranging from three to as many as ten, but they were far and few in-between.
The city was a literal maze of buildings, and while there were certainly many guards and Hunters, they weren't as omnipresent as one would assume.
There was plenty of dead-space between patrols.
The trio came to a stop in the middle of the street as it branched into five separate directions.
The inner walls separating the administrative district from the masses were evident up above a sloping hill. They were but a thin white line. Even the gates themselves were not visible. That was simply how large the city was.
"OH – ha -my god!" panted Roman as they stopped, hunching over his hands and knees to catch his breath. Sweat was running down his face, and Neo was no better.
Even Hei would admit he felt absolutely gassed.
People swarmed around the trio, otherwise ignoring them. A few did send worried glances towards the smoke near in the distance however.
"We can't – engh – keep this up. Hei!"
"I know," he breathed heavily in response.
They weren't anywhere nearer their destination, and time was of the essence right now. Even if they did get there, they would be so tired and winded they would practically be crawling into a losing fight. And that was if Ruby was even there.
He cursed aloud.
What to do. What to do….
He glanced around, wiping a hand across the sweat dripping from his hair.
At least the winter air was helping to cool him down, though he could already feel it begin to freeze the sweat soaking his chest and armpits.
They needed to rest, and they needed speed.
A nearby merchant parked near a stall with a covered wagon of goods and two horses to draw it caught his eye.
"Follow me and get ready to mount those horses," he pointed.
Roman nodded, only half-paying attention as he tried to combat the burning in his lungs.
Neo started to follow him, but even she was fatigued.
The owner of the horse, a smaller man with a mild beer-belly and balding hair and massive black bushy moustache was leaned against a stall, chatting to the owner, a warmly bundled woman. No doubt trying to sell her his goods.
Roman and Neo went around the wagon and behind the horses. One of them loudly whinnied in surprise, but otherwise didn't act out. The other was content to ignore the two of them
Hei just walked right pas the man and up to the horses.
The merchant's gaze absently followed them, not overly interested. That was until he caught Hei starting to undo the straps to his horses holding the wagon.
"H-hey! What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
He pushed off of the fruit-stall and stomped over to him, arms flying frantically and a look of anger and shock plastered across his face.
"I need the horses. Now. No time to explain!"
He chucked the last of the straps to the ground, as did Neo and Roman before the two climbed atop the horse on their side.
"The hell there is! Those are my fucking horses you thieving bastard!"
The man swung a wide fist out in an arc towards Hei.
Tired or not, a blind man couldn't have missed the wildly telegraphed throw, and neither did Hei.
He dodged the clumsy strike before returning with a vicious haymaker of his own.
His fist violently collided with the man's nose, breaking it and sending him crashing to the ground with a nasally 'oomph'.
He fell on to his back, blood pouring out his nose while the woman at the stall covered her face with her hands in shock, letting out a scream. The merchant was out cold.
He didn't waste any time, jumping up onto the horse. The animal bucked in surprise and let loose a surprised cry of its own.
With a loud 'hiyah', he cracked the reins of his mount and the horse bolted.
He steered it down the streets as it ran, Roman and Neo following him on their own startled mount. All the while people screamed in panic as the two horses charged down the crowded streets. People screamed and cursed in surprise and indignation, but everyone had the sense to get out of their way lest they risk being trampled.
The walls and smoke started to get closer now.
Hei could only pray that he was going the right way and that Ruby would be alright.
Shion slashed his khopesh into an unfortunate fleeing peasant. They screamed as they were cut down, but he pushed on.
All around him bodies lay strewn about in pools of their own blood.
Peasants, guards and Hunters alike. They all bled red. All except the Grimm. He smiled as he listened to the beasts roar.
Half of them were under his control now, and all he had to do was just give them a little nudge to command them to be more… liberal… with their wanton destructive tendencies.
Not that they needed much guidance. They were practically untamed as they materialised. The girl clearly hadn't been at summoning for long, nor did she bother to learn control. Only just throwing them around like a child having a temper tantrum.
It was to be expected of course, however. The girl was still a child.
He kept up his run towards the gate. He could hear his followers in the surrounding vicinity cutting down civilians and soldiers alike.
The chaos was perfect, and the excessive violence and cruelty on display would forever be scarred into people's hearts.
The summoned Grimm, while overall unnecessary in the grand scheme of things, had been an exceptionally helpful experiment that yielded massive success.
Their added chaos would go to great steps towards his goals and drive home the idea of bureaucratic incompetency.
Speaking of the girl, she had lost him in the chaos. It didn't bother him. She was only a passing curiosity for him. A tool which he found an interesting use for. But one that he didn't need anymore.
It didn't matter if she lived or died at this point. If she survived all of this? Then good on her. Otherwise, he had more pressing matters to attend to. Namely, proceeding with the next part of the plan to bring chaos in to Vale. Specifically, the other side of the wall now looming ahead of him. The wall with now locked iron-bar gates and scores of Hunters materialising to defned it and push out into the lower districts.
Crossbow-men raced across the ramparts on the wall, readying bolts and other defences.
They didn't push towards him nor attack. None of the guards did. They just watched him cautiously.
All around, slaughtered guards could be seen, and in an oppressive wall, the twenty loyal followers of his stood, weapons drawn. Just waiting.
It was a tense standoff, but they didn't push. The guards didn't attack.
Both sides sized each other up, clearly realising their opponents were not to be underestimated.
Three figures loomed over the wall, adorned in fine armour bearing the emblem of House Winchester.
They climbed over the rampart walls and jumped down amongst their forces on the ground.
Such a fall would have crippled the legs of an ordinary man, let alone one wearing such heavy armour.
The fact it did nothing to them except leave a cloud of dust spoke volume of just who these three men were.
They all sported rustic brown hair. One, Gordon, had a bushy beard and moustache, while the centremost one leading the trio, Artemis, was clean shaven with a basic crewcut.
The last held an ugly scar over a misted eye, the ugly gash travelling down his upper lip and cleaving a gap between his less impressive moustache. This was Jack Winchester.
All three would have been in their mid to late twenties, yet the hardened lines on their faces, as well as bulging muscles constrained by heavy armour aged them much more.
"So you're the fuckers responsible I hear," boomed the foremost of the three.
"I would normally ask that you part for me so I can enter, and then I might consider sparing your lives. But it works just as well for me if you try to obstruct me. If anything, I would prefer to kill you as it will help send my message."
Artemis scoffed, unsheathing his greatsword as he approached.
"What message? The one that you are a bunchy of uncivilised cowards?" he jeered, and the two behind him revealed their weapons.
The scarred one produced a massive battleaxe, while the bushy-bearded one revealed a mighty war-hammer.
Shion tilted his head.
"That the mighty Huntsmen everyone conceive as infallible are nothing more than abominations born of fear and hypocrisy."
The warhammer wielder scoffed.
"We are House Winchester. We don't bend to anyone."
"Except dearest daddy. The Crown. The Council. And Ozpin?" Shion goaded.
All three narrowed their eyes as they took battle-ready stances.
"You made a mistake coming to Vale, you inbred cunt," snarled Jack, his misted eye opening in full.
With that, the three charged.
The Huntsmen of Vale had arrived.
Next chapter: Monday 12th August