Chapter 197: RWBY (3)

Chapter 197: RWBY (3)

~Mash B. POV~

[Hours Later, Vale Kingdom, Lower Cairn]

We finally arrived at the first village near Vale City called the Lower Cairn. Using my [TOOS] I immediately knew that the Lower Cairn is a well-established village with a population of more than two hundred residents. It had natural barriers in the form of mountains, narrow passages, and rocky terrain.

But despite Lower Cairn's defensible terrain, at some point before the Grimm attack on Vale, the village will be overrun by a large number of the creatures. The villagers sent out a distress call, seeking assistance from Huntsmen.

After its destruction, the few survivors found their way into the caves in the surrounding mountains and successfully hid from the Grimm for days before Team CFVY tracked them down for rescue.

By the time of the team's arrival, the village had been flattened. All but a couple of stone buildings near the edge of the settlement had been demolished by a Goliath while Ursai and Beowolves inhabited the settlement, pantomiming a dark parody of the residents they had removed in their attack.

The remaining survivors from the settlement were killed by the Grimm before CFVY could successfully evacuate them from the area. Fortunately, I allowed some of my Golems and Demon Beasts to take care of that issue laying down a foundation of sorts.

We arrived at the first village, sightseeing the people we headed towards inside the inn with our hoods hiding our appearance and holding our weapons. I lean on the counter and the bartender comes over asking in a neutral tone, "Can I help you?"

Clearing my throat I asked in a neutral tone searching for a person keeping eye contact with the bartender, "Have you seen a girl with a green cloak? Short brown hair, brown eyes, light brown complexion? Green as their favorite color?"

*Pew*

Shooting my Authority of Envy, [Jealous Possession] into the man unnoticed he spoke with eyes widening alarmed in a calm tone, "Now that I think about it, the woman did come here around two weeks ago. She never said anything about where she's going, but I believe she's headed down the road. You can catch up to her."

Perfect. I smiled as I spoke in a neutral tone with his eyes turning blank at my command as my phantom hand controlling him dissolved, "Good forget everything in the last few moments and hand over 25% of your currency."

He absently minded nodded with Ryuko giving me a questionable gaze as she asked in a whisper about my actions, "Couldn't have asked any other way than… you know?"

She gestures to the head twirling her finger around. I sighed understanding her point, but I also had a reason in a neutral tone whispering, "Could've sure. But we didn't have any money they call Lien here which is the currency in this world. Unless you want me to pay in gold bars…"

She sweated a bit considering I can just do that but that's just a whole can of trouble if I did that. But soon the bartender returned handing us Lien in the form of credit cards or literal coins somewhat surprising the duo.

Senketsu took a closer examination of the currency in an intrigued tone as we grabbed them with people eyeing us warily taking the Lien, "Interesting? So, in this world, they take the currency as plastic cards or coins? Not that similar in Japan huh? Even the Lien symbol is an L crossed with two horizontal lines (Ⱡ), like some real-world currencies such as Yen and Euros."

I grinned nodding at Senketsu's analysis. We soon stood turning around to leave as some unsavory characters thought they were feeling lucky Ryuko sighed in an annoyed tone placing her hand over her forehead, "Nope. Not dealing with a bar fight. Think you could work your magic?"

I nodded. When one of the unsavory people came, I knocked or installed fear into them using my [Bloodlust] skill frightening those that had unsavory intentions paled in fear, and some wetting themselves.

We only laughed lightly as we took our cue to leave. If the descriptions of Emerald are accurate then we came just in the nick of time for that to happen.

/////

~Amber M. POV~

[Vale Kingdom, Pathway]

I should've known. I really should've known.

It was so obvious. Why the hell would there be a lost child in the middle of the road crying? Any child, no matter the age, will know to follow the road back to civilization.

It's not Dust science, Amber. What is wrong with me?

But… it looked so real though. And if there was a chance that it was real, then I can't just leave her alone. I'm never gonna hear the end of it from Qrow, or even Glynda… if I even survive this.

They're skilled and I was ambushed. This makes it harder to even defend myself. Also, with my Maiden Powers, 3 against 1 is still a disadvantage. I just needed to go back to my village after years of tutelage under Ozpin.

But here I was being overpowered by the three… and I hardly had any more stamina. I tried to search for an escape an opening, but thanks to my arrogance I was overconfident in my Maiden abilities.

Soon my attacker a raven-haired woman chuckled as I was panting from my exhaustion in an arrogant tone, "It's futile. The maiden's powers will be mine."

I really should've taken Ozpin's offer for that escort. [Wind Magic] and [Ice Magic] filled my hands sparking around me as I began to float. Well, no point in regrets now, Maber. You can do this, "AHHH!!!"

*BOOOM*

With a yell, I blasted the enemy with magic, but it turned out to be a mirage by the other girl – ah!!!

*Splat*

I felt pain course through me as an arrow hit my shoulder. I soon fell losing concentration, grasping the plunged arrow, and with a scream pulling it out, blood pouring down from my wound, "Ahhhh!!!"

Great… there goes my Aura. Fantastic…

I grimaced as the younger two, the boy and green-haired girl grabbed me by the arms and forced me to stare at my assailant. She had a proud expression chuckling at my pain, "Haha… See? I'm destined for this."

I gasped seeing a small Grimm parasite that came out of the woman's sleeve, dread filling me as it screeched pleading in whispers, "No… please…"

Ignoring my words I saw the parasite lunge at me, I closed my eyes anticipating the worst to come… only for nothing to happen. Suddenly, I felt a wave of comfortable warmth wash over me as I heard the dying screech, and pained scream of her assailant, "Ahhh!! Who the hell are – "

An unfamiliar voice soon echoed the dead silence in an arrogant tone, "Just in time… ha. Get it Gear Eyes?"

An unfamiliar voice allowed me to open my eyes to see two figures wearing hoods hiding their face. But the noticeable blue and golden eyes gleamed as the one called Gear Eyes spoke in a bored tone rolling her eyes, "Geez it wasn't that funny idiot. Just because you know what didn't affect me, we came to save this sorry chick's ass. Anyway, you, okay?"

I slightly nodded asking in a tired tone, "Who are you?"

This time the man with golden eyes laughed seemingly amused as he retorted in a bemused tone, "What, no thank you? So much for saving your life…"

I blushed realizing my mistake quickly apologizing to them, "T-Thank you- "

But my words were shot-lived as the raven-haired woman growled in contempt at them, "You… You'll pay for that."

Both merely smirked with the one called Gear Eyes raising the middle finger in a mocking tone and speaking, "Go ahead and make me you bitch!"

They were offended. They all charged at them, but then with a wave of his hand he muttered out loud, "[Huma]."

*Splash*

I gasped in shock when he made a wall of water around them. That wasn't the user of dust nor a Semblance… that was pure magic. How – "What are you doing? Go! Get away from here! We'll hold them off for you."

My thoughts were interrupted by the man's voice as I yelled out loud in a stunned tone, "What?! I'm not leaving you here! We can take care of them together."

But soon he replied as I then felt a sudden overwhelming presence fall on me in a stoic tone looking down on me, "You seem to be misunderstanding something. I wasn't asking."

I shivered when I noticed his pupils shined intently gazing at my very soul naked in front of him as his eyes glowed. Even with his intimidating presence, I stood my ground getting up on my feet in a determined tone, "N-No… I'm not going."

He narrowed his eyes for a second before scoffing at me drawing his weapon in a stoic tone, "Suit yourself. Just don't get in our way."

*PEW*

*PEW*

Two arrows came from the walls which he tilted his head to avoid. But he retaliated swiping his blade covered in [Wind Magic] and cutting through their next attack with ease. But his partner quickly rushed leaving a small crater in her place she lunged at them.

Soon he lunged between the two both drawing blades covering each other backs. Keeping my distance, I used my Maiden Powers to keep myself afloat and launch elemental attacks while keeping a fair distance away.

The trio noticed me and tried to impede or attack me. But they were halted in place by two of my allies drawing attention to them. However, I was impressed how the two with their eyes closed dodged each attack with relative ease. As if they were dancing.

*Pew*

An arrow soared through at him, but I raised my hand summoning a wall of ice blocking the shot. The man with grey hair backflipped after he got struck by the smug golden-eyed man in the stomach.

*Bang*

*Bang*

I dodged to the side and blocked bullets from the green-haired girl's weapon. Another arrow made its way to her ally's face, but thankfully, Qrow finally arrived as he got in time to deflect it.

I heard my ally sigh in disappointment as Qrow asked, his eyes on the three, "Are you three good?"

Referring to us the man simply nodded as I spoke in a neutral tone, "Yeah. Just a little sore."

Qrow replied seeing me land down noticing my shoulder, "I noticed."

The three tried to escape, and just as Qrow went to go after them, the man stopped him in a stern tone, "Don't."

Gear Eyes seemed to raise an eyebrow at this course of action as Qrow growled questioning him, "You want me to let them leave? Are you out of your mind?"

However, he kept a calm aura as he spoke in a stoic tone eyes glaring intently at Qrow unwavering, "No, I want us to fall back. We can't leave the Fall Maiden injured and defenseless, especially since there could be more rats crawling at the chance. Her safety takes priority fool."

Qrow stared at him for a minute, his hand still tightly grasping his weapon. He glanced at me and I nodded since I was not at my best, making him sigh in a defeated tone, "You have a lot of explaining to do."

The man merely stayed silent till a mocking grin was expressed as he spoke, "Lead the way, old man."

He clicked his tongue as I sighed seeing them. I have a bad feeling about this.