A Fool's Grimm Parade (A RWBY X FEAR AND HUNGER FANFIC)

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A dimension of green hue, the artificial paradise of the Machine God's creation. I floated in its… her embrace, it seems here the struggles I went through were melted by the warm comfort of this fake heaven. But I know better, I defeated Logic and took her hand in order to kill the traces of Rher. And, also guide the remaining contestants that survive the days of the festival.

I floated here, with a blank face; my consciousness is not compatible with the collective in her domain. The lingering divinity I have, from gazing at my divine reflection, prevented that is why I'm able to think here.

"Could you please stop staring at me like that," I nonchalantly said at the gazing goddess of the machine.

Her silver hair floated as if it was submerged in water, and her cold yet accepting eyes glowed in understanding, "Are you trying to charm me?" I chuckled.

The Steel Deity mimicked the action, her echoing voice held warmth that betrayed her stone cold gaze, "From a man that went through that, you're strangely full of humor," She said.

"Eh, what do you want me to do? Cursed the heavens for my tragedies?" I said, looking at her, "That's a waste of time, nothing to do but laugh at it."

"I find rationale with that answer, you are right not to waste your breath cursing a non-existent source of your problem," She robotically said, "But, I do wish for you to tell me of your problems. It is not good to bottle them up."

"Haha, you a therapist now?" I shouted, shifting my body to face the sky, " But, that's another waste of time and you know it. You know me, know of my many lives."

"I guess so, " she replied, her face not changing at all, "But are you truly okay not to join the greater whole? It is unfair you are not able to indulge in its benefits."

"Not possible, come on Logic you already know why I can't join."

Her expression finally shifted, a small smile formed on her face, "You are truly strong Markus, to not crumble to the struggles you endured. And not even be tempted to join paradise, I know it was the right decision to choose you for aid.'

"Yeah, yeah, don't start glazing me now my ego could only get so big," I weakly laugh at her words, she reminds of the Little Girl; their ascension kinda overlaps, "So what's your big plan now? Want to assure a new age? You won't be the first."

"No," She plainly answered, "I wish to… Follow in your footsteps…"

My eyebrow raised.

"Both you, the enlightened one, and the Fear and hunger, " She continued, "To let humanity be, to let the world be, to let its people find their own answers. While helping them along the way, I feel like my sister would like that."

I laughed, "Really? With your powers you could rival the old gods you wish to remain in the shadows of the world? Now that's quite funny!" I know full damn well that that beheaded wizard will laugh at her words.

 Hearing my words, her smile returned to the straight line and her face once again became emotionless, " Do you find my wish to be foolish?"

"No, of course not, why would I?" I said, slowly suppressing my laughter, "It's a good goal to have, I just find it funny such a human wish coming from a goddess."

"I was once human, in case you have forgotten."

"Indeed, and that's good, another deity who understands mortals will always be good, " I said, "But not all humans will accept you, Logic. They will always find something to hate about you, it is in our nature…"

" They will always fear the unknown, and you're an unknown," I said, "So while at it, don't hate them too much, don't let the words of monkeys cause you to despise them."

"I will not," She said, the small smile returning.

"And yes, your sister, Olivia. Will like that," I said grinning at the memories of the crippled botanist.

Logic nodded, she continued to look at me, "So do you plan to remain here, and float around?" She said.

"Yeah, probably." 

"You know, I could just let you go if you so wish. But I feel like you would not like me throwing you just like that." 

"Damn right, I'll curse for eternity if you do that," I replied with a grin.

"But with your offer, I don't really know," I weakly said, "I'm tired you know, living three lives, with the two being absolutely hellish will make even the strongest men devolved into a sobbing mess."

"I feel like going out will just tire me more, I'm old as hell. At least older than a God born 3 hours ago," I said.

"You are tired. Yet you wish to retain your thoughts," She said confusingly, "You are a strange man."

I shrugged.

"But my offer still stands, you'll be in a different world however." She said.

"Eh, not that wild." I said, I ain't a first timer, "Send me to my little pony, if you can." I chuckled 

"I don't know what that is, but yes I can do that if you want to. At least once you die, you'll actually go on to a proper afterlife." 

"Really?" I said, full of interest.

"Really."

"Sure, I don't think I'll last with this body anyway~" My body is already failing due to constant abuse of Sylvian's blessing; constant invocation of her sigil. 

What's more, a few years in the land of the living? And hey, if the world has internet in actually good tech then I'll think of it as a vacation

I don't if it is just me, or is it my exhaustion making me see things. But Logic's lit up in warmth, an indescribable yet familiar feeling that makes my chest tight. Her smile widened, not in a creepy way, and she nodded gently.

"I'm glad you agree," She softly said, "You of all mortals, deserve this…"

"He- I don't about that," the flashing memories of the contestants, and my companions in the dungeon. Hell, even she is deserving of rest.

Out of the green hue, the blue moths that guide us since the first day blooms. The crack in the artificial reality opens up, and where the moths leak is a cluster of stars.

"An imitation of galaxies?" I snarked, looking at her.

"I don't know if I should feel offended, after what you said, " She replied, in her ever monotone voice.

Being tsun-tsun doesn't fit a literal eldritch God, you know. But no matter, I looked at the space like a cluster of childish feelings swelling up inside me. Before all this, I wanted to be an astronaut so seeing this – even if it's a fake makes me a bit happy.

As I floated inside the space, the figure of Logic became blurry by the second, and her voice all so faded, "You are transitioning Markus, it is best that you're unconscious; even with your fortitude you cannot endure the overload this will bring."

I closed my eyes, and breathed calmly. I felt the warm embrace of Logic's green hue become colder, until it is no more but the numbness of my body. But before I let my consciousness descend to slumber, I say my parting words to Logic.

"Hey," She met my gaze, " Take care of them, will you."

.

..

…

My body feels again.

I feel a prickling sensation on my back, I can feel warmness in my face, I can feel a cold breeze swaying across me. The sensation of the real world reminded me, and my eyes opened to the blue sky.

"Hmm, normal sky nice~" I jokingly muttered, first word of a new world, and it's the most lamest thing.

But before I fully processed my surroundings, I tried to feel my body first. I know that may be foolish, but with my experience the first thing I should do waking up in a new place is to feel any change of my body. 

"No injuries, no new scars, no weird symbols, hmm… " The scars on my arm are faded, the slash scars are now muted, and the bullet holes are also the same. My body has changed.

I frowned. If the scars are gone, then the carvings on my face may also be healed. I grabbed a rectangular object in my coat pocket, I opened it up and revealed the cracked mirror inside. 

I was right, looking at my YOUTHFUL face the carvings done by Marina are gone, and also everything inflicted to me is gone. The dark bags under my eyes are now nowhere to be seen, my destroyed left eye was also healed; however their color does not match with the other eye, having this cloudy silver color. 

"Hehehe…"My mouth gradually opened to a laugh, "HAHAHA!"

I slapped my free hand on my face, chuckling like a mad man, "Stupid, you are a stupid god you know that!"

My youth is back, I feel it, the vitality that was snuffed out by the curses and magik that devastated my body, is now rejuvenated. The mental weight however is still there, I still feel the consequences of my abusive usage of sorcery; Enki's words, I did internalize if he sees me like this he'll probably spit on me. 

"Hey, the air at least doesn't have the stench of chemical weapons, and charred flesh," Earthy smell is everywhere, makes sense as beyond the horizon – trees carpeted the ground a collage of green that stretches miles away.

This abundant nature is not natural, at least in the case of Prehevil where nature is muted and regulated to a few corners of the countryside. Vinushka, both the offspring of Creation and destruction and the Great regret of Humanity will be overjoyed to see the dominance nature have in this area.

I stood up and dusted off my clothes, the handy and trusty Combat Coat, cargo pants and a t-shirt! Never fail me I tell you! Well, there was that one time where a moonscorched townsfolk ripped my coat off and stabbed me, but nothings perfect of course.

This place I awoke to, is an open place where the Sun's could easily settle; and is circled by trees. Founding nothing of interest in this place anymore, I entered the curtain of leaves and into the gloomy forest. The trees are relatively big, compared to Prehevil and of course there's a lot of pesky bugs.

"Could you please leave me alone," I shouted at the swarm of mosquitos swarming me .

[MASTERY OVER VERMIN]

{I'm sorry master! We thought you cannot hear us! We deeply apologize for our mistake, please let us slide this time,} The swarm said in unison. It works thank God! Literally!

"Yeah, Yeah just scram y'all" The swarm created a buzzing sound, and then disbanded in the air leaving thankfully in my lonesome.

Now where was I? Oh yeah, this forest is big as shit bigger than Prehevil.

"Tch!" My face distorted in immense annoyance, as I felt killing intent exploding and coming towards me. There's only one thing, that could rival a human's bloodlust – A beast.

With instinct honed throughout my journey, My body jumped to the side as the bushes rattled profusely, and of course a bear-like monstrosity with a bone-like mask with red marking across it, jumped out to where I was. 

I force a grin at the dark bear? Or beast, "Warm welcome body, got any friends?" 

It of course rudely ignored my introduction, and un-gentlemanly tried to rip me apart with its claws. Couldn't be left alone huh? The two circled each other, as I analyzed the monster it growled like a starved animal looking at raw meat.

[REVEAL AURA]

The invocation did not react to the creature, a radio silent is the only response. It only means one thing, it has no soul… That doesn't sound right, the thing is breathing clearly, and is expressing bloodlust like any living being.

I stupidly compare it to one of Valtiel creations, those pregnant automata are not a good comparison, Lord of the Flies maybe, though I could tell that the artificial monster was only programmed to do what it does. This thing is unlike one of the New God's creations, it breathes yet it doesn't have a soul.

In conclusion,

"An abomination." In response to my word, the soulless beast leapt towards with murderous intent. 

I simply dodge to the side, while airborn the beast swept its claws hitting the tree behind me. My eyes widened as it easily cleaved through the tree, but my body did not just stand there; I closed the distance, and tried to punch the side of the beast, where the liver hopeful resides.

[BARE-FISTED PROFICIENCY]

My fist collided with it jet-black skin, avoiding spiky protrusions that littered it back. It created a flesh-like sound, but the thing did not seem fazed with my attack. I jumped back to create our previous distance.

"Tough shit!" I said, I took out the dagger on my side and cut my wrist. The blood flowed down my arm and I muttered.

"[BLOOD SWORD]" A hum rippled the air, and with my blood came one of the only useful blessings of All-mer.

The monster started a barrage of attacks, slashes, bites, and tackling all I dodge. I see in the thing's eyes annoyance building up; this thing is getting stranger.

With the annoyance reaching its peak, the monster committed to a full sweep with its two clawed arms – standing on its hind legs in the process. I grinned cruelly.

"Big mistake, big guy," With the sword's edge pointed at its unprotected neck, I breathed in and slashed with strength and ease.

The sword sings a quiet song as it slices the air to the thing's neck. I smiled as it reached its skin, and teared through it like smooth butter, it did not create a single sound. And the beast's masked head flew through the air followed by no blood.

"Fall."

The thing's bear-like body pathetically falls down the ground, creating a 'stud' sound.

"One down…" I muttered as I turned my head out of the disintegrating body, to my new guest, "More to go."

Smaller creatures of soulless black lurked at the shade of the tree, with the red-glowing eyes penetrating the darkness. A cacophony of growls and screeches echoed as I smiled.

"Warm welcome indeed," I said, my grin splitting my face,I wiped the blood sword in instinct "Same old same old."