Mission Survive! Part 2

Back in the woods

Jade, or rather, Logan had just gotten off the phone with his father. He had a look of annoyance on his face. Soon he started grumbling to himself.

Logan: 'I can't believe that trick, that stupid trick of changing your voice came in handy. I know that it was mandatory to learn, but I never used it once until now. *sigh* Might as well start picking them off for now, as soon as I find a good place. This branch is too thin to shoot from.' Logan grumbled to himself while he pinched the bridge of his nose. The branch he was on could only just hold his weight and rifle. Firing a shot could cause the branch to break.

Logan then started to look for a suitable place for him to start. As he quickly searched around, Logan found a cliff not far off from where he was that had a better overlook of the planes. Logan flew down gently and slowly as to not hurt his wings from the multitude of branches. Once on the ground, Logan folded his wings back and rushed as fast he could to the cliff. Once he arrived, Logan quickly summoned his [Black Jade] and got into a sniping position with his wings covering him like a blanket. With his keen eyesight, Logan began to identify his targets and in what order to engage them.

Logan: 'First, the Nevermores, 20 total. Next the Griffins, 30 in total, after them are the Manticores, 10 in number. Now for the land-based ones; Deathstalkers, 10 in total, Sabyrs in total 15, Beringels 5, Ursas 10. The rest are Beowolfs and Boarbatusks.' Logan hastily thought to himself. As he looked again, he could make out what caused him to yell with confusion. On the back of a Deathstalker, was a small pitch black glob of... slime? Ooze? As it sat on top of a Deathstalker leading the horde. Logan wasn't sure what it was, and on top of it was a reaper-like mask with glowing blood red lines. But thanks to his system, it was identified as the 'Imitator' Grimm. Shaking his head to clear himself of useless thoughts and took aim. Then fired. Within a minute, All the Nevermores and half of the Griffins were falling and disintegrating as they fell. The System keep sending notification after notification as Logan shot. Very nearly breaking his concentration.

[Ding! Nevermore Killed! 20 Store Points!] [Ding! Nevermore Killed! 20 Store Points!] [Ding! Nevermore Killed! 20 Store Points!] [Ding! Nevermore Killed! 20 Store Points!]....

Logan: 'System have any and all notifications begin after the fight is finished!' Logan screamed at the system, then hastily add. 'Also, make sure to put any and all multiple notifications of the same type in a list!'

System: {Acknowledged. Changing settings.}

Logan disregarded the System as he continued shooting down Grimm after Grimm. Having already lost 15% of his aura due to shooting, Logan knew that a missed shot could spell his death. Shot after shot, and refill after refill, Logan could feel his aura wain as time when on. Each shot carried the weight of what he had to protect with his life. Before he started, Logan had weighed the pros and cons and he knew that without his semblance he could very well die with no do-over.

Logan: 'System, give me reading on my aura and how long before my position is over run.'

{Request acknowledged. Aura: 70% Time till enemy arrives: 3 minutes}

Logan sighed as he finished off the last of the of the flyers, he took a second to take a breather. After checking his remaining aura, the thought ahead to what he had to do now. Looking through [Black Jade]'s scope, Logan started to weigh his options once again.

Logan: 'The flyers are gone and all that's left is the ground units. I can't take any risks, my best chance is to take care of the Deathstalkers first as I don't believe that [Grimm Reaper] will tear through their armor. The Beringels maybe strong, but their slow enough that I should take them easily. The rest don't have heavy armor plates that could stop [Grimm Reaper]'s 7.62mm rounds. But my biggest concern is that of the 'Imitator', that... Thing... has no set form. If the name has any meaning. I could very well be walking into a trap...' Logan contemplated as he watched what was left of the horde through his scope. Once he started to fire, the horde became disorganized as they were trying to evade the falling bodies of the Grimm.

As Logan gazed at the lead Deathstalker with the Grimm Lord on top. What he saw next shocked him, as the Grimm slime started to rapidly change as he watched. It started to grow in size and shape. As fast as it started, it ended. The Grimm Lord now looked completely different from what it was before. If asked what it looked like, the best that it could be described was that of a child's stick figure that they drew as it stood at least 2 meters tall. One thing did stand out, that is its mask. What looked at first like a simple white and red Grim Reaper mask, now looked demonic and animated with a constant grin on its visage. As if it was saying that there were no equals to it. As it gazed at the confusion in the horde's ranks, the grin turned into a scowl. Placing one of it's stick-like arms and hands on, what Logan could only describe, it's sternum; a long black handle protruded out. The Grimm Lord grabbed it and pull with all it's strength, as the handle broke free, a black mist formed around an end of it. Slowly, the mist formed into an large, single-edged broadsword that was as tall as it. With a tremendous roar that Logan could clearly hear from where he was, brought order the the horde. Logan watched as the once disorganized horde become a rank-and-file army. What was left were soldiers, and the Grimm Lord was the commander.

Logan: 'What the hell? It's like I'm looking at an experienced general! That thing has to go now.' Logan thought as he watched. Lining up his shot, as Logan was about to pull the trigger. The Lord looked directly at him.

Fear.

Pure fear invaded Logan's very being with no hope of salvation. His mind went blank, no thoughts were in his head and all that were disappeared as if they were never there in the first place. Logan was overcame, he dare not move, not breath; for he felt that if he did, the flame of his life would be snuffed out in an instant.

With a second tremendous roar, The Grimm Lord had the horde march in Logan's direction. Once given the direction, the horde rushed as fast as they could. Logan panicked, firing nonstop, he started shooting just to keep the horde away. Not caring if the shots hit or missed, fear and panic raced each other through his mind.

{WARNING! WARNING! HOST AURA DANGEROUSLY LOW! HOST IN A PANICKED STATE, FORCIBLY CALMING HOST!}

Logan: "ha...ha...ha...ha what? What happened? System?"

{Host aura was dangerously low and was in a panicked state keeping host from making rational decisions. Host's aura is currently at 5% and the mission objective is rapidly closing in on host's position.}

Once Logan realized what had happened, he swiftly found how far the horde was from him. In his panic, he had eliminated close to half of what was left of the land based Grimm. What was left were the Deathstalker that Grimm lord was riding,10 Sabyrs, 2 beringels, 5 Ursas, 20 Beowolfs, and 38 Boarbatusks. The Lord looked as if it was pissed that it's troops were killed like cattle in front of it. Anger shown clearly on its mask-like face, it's eyes, unlike the normal red, glowed with an unearthly ethereal blue hue like sulfur and brimstone ignited. Logan started to weigh his now limited options now that he was in a calm state. As he thought, Logan felt heat radiating from in front of him. Breaking his train of thoughts, Logan started to curse.

Logan: 'FUCK! I didn't think that aura could heat the barrel of [Black Jade] that fast! And with my aura so low, I don't have many options left. First i have to regain my aura, then worry about what happens next. System, open the shop and show me if there is anything I can get to help me regain my aura faster!'

{Acknowledged. Showing results.

Aura Recovery Pill (Weak): restores 15% of depleted aura. 50 SP

Aura Recovery Pill (Medium): restores 25% of depleted aura. 100 SP

Aura Recovery Pill (Strong): restores 40% of depleted aura. 200 SP

Aura Recovery Pill (Perfect): restores all depleted aura. 500 SP

Current Store Points: 1780}

Logan: 'Damn... At least I have enough for some full aura recovery pills. Now that's one less worry, I can't have a prolonged fight. With what I have and my skills and endurance, I can fight for at most 30 minutes. Mmm.... If I had grenades, this could be over sooner then it would be. I could fly above them and just drop them, but there are no grenades that can harm Grimm currently even with dust.' *sigh* "I'm thinking too much. All I can do now is just go and fight." Logan thought before finally coming to a conclusion.

Getting up and storing the now broke [Blake Jade], Logan backed up and got a running start and flew off after buy and using a full aura recovery pill. As Logan approached the remaining horde, the air started to become heavier. As if the air was pressing down on him; pulling back slightly, Logan started to fly in a circle around the horde. After debating for a bit, Logan just thought 'Screw it' and rushed in head first as he took out [Grimm Reaper] for his storage.

As Logan descended, he opened fire on the horde as if her were a fighter-plane attacking infantry. Strafe after strafe, Logan continued to riddle down the horde one after another with volleys of machine gun fire. Oddly the Grimm Lord just watched with a expression that looked as if it was studying Logan. His skills, his style of fighting, watching everything he does with a look of learning something new. Once again Logan flew up into the sky as he finished off all the Grimm except of the Grimm Lord and the Deathstalker it was riding. Logan then landed in front of the last remaining Grimm, his weapon in hand and determination in his eyes.

The Grimm Lord merely nodded it's head at Logan before hopping off of the DeathStalker. With a mere gesture of it's hand, the Grimm Lord ordered the Deathstalker to attack. Logan jumped back as the giant scorpion Grimm lunged at him with its pincers and slamming its massive tail into the ground as Logan continued to jump back. Slam after slam, Logan continued to dodge as fast as he could with his wings folded tightly on his back like a backpack as he studied the Grimm's attack pattern. Without warning, as the Deathstalker slammed it tail into the ground, Logan unfolded his weapon, transforming it into a monstrous sized scythe. With a single cleave of his scythe, the scorpion Grimm lost its golden colored stinger and with a second lost one of its pincers. As he went to make a third swing, Logan jumped back to avoid its remaining pincer. As Logan flipped backwards and landed, he quickly planted his weapon in the dirt and opened fired upon the Deathstalker. It hurriedly tried to protect itself with its remaining pincer. Logan watched as his rounds were bouncing off its bone-like armor. Switching to a more concentrated fire, Logan targeted its legs, blasting half of its legs clean off with relative ease. As the Grimm fell, Logan rushed and removed its remaining pincer with a single strike before quickly finishing it off. All this time as the Grimm Lord just watched, as if it wasn't worried at all.

The Grimm Lord watched as Logan had just finished off it last subordinate, as if it wasn't worried about Logan at all. A bored expression donned its mask. It watched as Logan approached it breathing somewhat labored. The Lord walked up to him with long strides, and stared to inquisitively examine Logan's form. Taking a few steps back, the Grim Lord lived up to its name as it started to shrink down to Logan's size as black mist covered it. Soon, Logan was looking at a dark colored replica of him with his weapon in hand but the mask it had still covered its face. Logan readied himself for a fight, buy what happened next shocked him somewhat. The Grimm Lord sat down and gestured for him to do so as well.

Logan: 'Okay, this is weird. I can almost tell what it wants by the way it acts. I guess that after whatever causes a Grimm like this to appear, they have some sort of personality and complex thought process.' Logan thought as he sat down and rested. Mimicking the posture of the Grimm Lord opposite of him. Some time passed before ether of them moved. Logan, with the help of the system, recovered quickly. 'Let's hope that it didn't realize I have wings. If it all goes according to the plan, it will be a quick fight.'

As if on cue, both Logan and the Grimm Lord stood and opened their scythes and swung at each other. The first clash ended is a stalemate, both of them ended up locking their scythes together, with neither giving ground. To end the stalemate, Logan thrown his weapon aside with the Grimm Lord's and started a fist-fight. They punched, kicked, elbowed, grappled, and throwing each other around like rag-dolls. Finally getting a lucky break, Logan landed a right hook to the Lord's mask, his fist covered in aura. Getting a rhythm going, Logan started to land aura covered blows one after another. Left straight, Right straight, Left jab, Left jab, Right hook, Low kick to the leg, grabbing its head and a jumping knee to the head. Finally picking the Grimm Lord up and slamming it as hard as he could into the ground. Taking the chance to grab his weapon, Logan rushed as fast as he could.

Logan" AHHHHHHHHH!!!!" Logan's blood curdling scream echoed throughout the vast empty planes. Blood flowed down his back in a wave. Forcing himself to focus, Logan gathered his aura into his back where he felt the most pain. Looking back, Logan saw that the Grimm Lord had a smirk on his face while he held Logan's torn off and bloody wings in its claws. A crooked smile plastered on its mask. Backpedaling, Logan managed to reach his weapon. As he picked it up and went to fire, the sound of metal cutting through metal resounded. Logan looked down, [Grimm Reaper] was cut in half horizontally with the scythe head missing. Looking back up, the Grimm Lord held in one hand the replica of [Grimm Reaper] and in the other was the missing half of Logan's.

Fear started to swell up inside of Logan once again. He started to imagine his death, but not peaceful this time and full of acceptance. But one of regret and sorrow, one where he failed to protect himself. The Grimm Lord watched as Logan's face showed despair, and started to laugh, a deep throat-ed one that more resembled a grunting laugh. The Grimm then through Logan's wings aside thinking nothing of them anymore.

The Grim Lord had lived up to its name as the 'Imitator', it could change into the person it was fighting with ease and could imitate damaged done. In short, a true imitation. As it slowly walked towards Logan whose face was hanging down, as if he has accepted his fate. The Grimm began to kick Logan around like a ball. By the time the Grimm was finished playing around, Logan was a finger's length away from his wings with one hand out, seemingly to reach for them, his body beaten and bloody. Unbeknownst to the Grimm Lord, whose attention was solely on Logan's body, Logan's wings were smoldering.

As the Grimm Lord brought down its final strike, Logan's body and wings erupted in flaming ash. The Grimm jumped back as the ash started to form a vortex around Logan's body. As the vortex calmed and slowed, Logan could be seem inside standing tall. In his hands was Ebony and Ivory. On his back were wings made from ash. His hair went from a scarlet red to a ash white and on his face was a dark grey mask that covered his eyes, mouth, and nose with three horizontal lines so he could see. His shirt, or rather the remains, were flapping in the vortex as it burned, with one disappearing hand the shirt dis appeared.

Faster then the Grimm Lord could perceive, Logan seemingly flashed in front of it and let loose a torrent of bullets in the Grimm's torso. The torrent of bullets hit hard, hard enough to forcibly throw the Grimm back several meters with ease. As it flew, it flipped backwards and landed on its hands and feet as it tried to find Logan. Logan had followed behind the Grimm as it flew and once it landed, delivered a heel-drop to the back of the Grimm's head, forcing it into the ground. As Logan went to finish the Grimm off, he suddenly jumped and dodged left and right while moving backwards. The Grimm went berserk and lashed out in every direction, trying its best to deal a blow to Logan. Its form reverted to the two meter tall, stick figure-like form and had regained its massive broadsword. In addition, its mask now grew two large horns .

Logan not giving it the chance to attack, rushed head long at it. Without giving it a chance to lift the massive broadsword up, Logan unleashed a hail of pinpoint accurate bullets at its hand. As the sword pierced the ground, Logan used it as a ramp to fly above the Grimm. Landing on its shoulders, Logan unleashed hell. By the time Logan stopped firing, the head of the Grimm and a good chunk of its torso was missing.

Logan: "Ha...Ha.... That... was... tiring... ha..." Logan said before promptly passing out as he jumped off the Grimm Lord's disappearing body.