-
An addendum to Rule 3 regarding fan-translated works of things such as Web Novels has been made. Please see here for details.
-
We've issued a clarification on our policy on AI-generated work.
-
Our mod selection process has completed. Please welcome our new moderators.
-
Due to issues with external spam filters, QQ is currently unable to send any mail to Microsoft E-mail addresses. This includes any account at live.com, hotmail.com or msn.com. Signing up to the forum with one of these addresses will result in your verification E-mail never arriving. For best results, please use a different E-mail provider for your QQ address.
-
The rules regarding NSFW links have been updated. See here for details.
Remnants of Madness
- Thread starter Jackson D. Holic
- Start date
-
- Tags
- combat fanfic madness rwby selfinsert
RoM ch 15
New
Jackson D. Holic
Making the rounds.
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2019
- Messages
- 43
- Likes received
- 283
Chapter 15 Pack hunting
"You know my boy, you are quite the individual." Port spoke up, the two of us moving through the forest as we actively hunted for the first pack.
My hand flipped a throwing knife between my fingers, it was one of the few knives I had hidden in my coat before I switched my clothes.
I chose not to really answer Port as my focus had been put forwards, my range was limited with the lack of guns so these throwing knives were my only distance.
"Hold my boy, seem's we have found our prey." Port subtly enthused, I paused my knife flipping and slowly moved over to the hefty teacher who had already dropped to a knee and gestured to a clearing between the trees. Looking between the trunks I saw the pitch black bodies that stood out in contrast to the bright afternoon.
"I count a good six, what about you?" Port whispered, it was almost hard to distinguish as he spoke so softly. "I can't see very well from here." I mumbled out, not trusting myself to really answer with my own whisper as I counted at the very least six as well.
"Then you best find yourself a new vantage then." Port spoke gesturing for me to move forwards.
I blinked before I let out a brief huff and slowly moved, not bothering to really stay down I instead decided to stand up fully and quickly darted from tree to tree, shoulder lightly thudding into the trunks until I finally got a better look at the clearing. It was definitely the pack we were looking for and there were at least six like Port said earlier but on top of the six there was an additional four more on top.
That was also not including the Alpha Beowolf that laid in the middle of the clearing, its pack acting as both sentries and a protective line for the head honcho… smart, never gonna say a Grimm can't be smart but this was really intelligent.
Hand still holding my knife I took a second to think about how to deal with this slowly, do I do my usual run in and go on a killing spree?
Pondering my dilemma, my mind returned back to a time where I had done exactly that in which I was immediately met with the full force of an abomination and psychotic orderly hell. That was a shit show, I barely got out of that contract, but fuck me. Doc had told me afterwards that it would've been better if I had died, instead I had to go through a week of rehab to get those drugs out of my system.
No, I need to play this like a stealth game.
Flipping my knife I threw it near full force at a tree straight across from me.
THUNK!
My body moved rapidly as I jumped up into the tree I had just been hiding behind, my hands securing myself onto the branches as I waited, another knife being unsheathed as I watched.
Three black blurs rushed by my tree, pausing as they looked around and paused, their attention now focused on the knife embedded in the trunk.
THUNK!
Another knife was thrown this time I aimed for a tree a good ten or so metres away, the Three snapped their heads in the direction of the new sound and quickly moved once more in the direction. While they moved my head poked out from around the tree I was in and I looked out at the clearing, more sentinels turned and slowly an additional two more moved to look along with the other three.
Grabbing my third knife I once more chucked it, this time right over the clearing.
Thunk!
I could barely make out the sound of my third knife hitting the tree on the other side of the clearing but it did it's job as the other two who stood on that side of the clearing looked and quickly moved to investigate.
"And that's four… I think I can get one more… but-" I mumbled to myself as I saw the Alpha suddenly start to move, its form slowly enlarging as it stood to its true towering height revealing that its body was covered in a bone-shaped armour covered in red markings. there also seemed to be a dry red(blood?) painting a good portion of its face."Yeah this is the best I'm going to get."
Quickly dropping down to the ground I had my second to last knife in my hand as I threw it one last time at another tree on another side of the clearing.
THUNK!
The Alpha's snapped to the direction of the sound with a low growl, the last of their pack rushing to answer their leader's command. As they crossed the clearing though I shot out from behind my tree cover, sprinting as fast as I could across the clearing. The Alpha's head seemed to move towards me, their eyes widening in shock as I could barely make out myself reflected in its red eyes. I saw myself reaching over my shoulder hand grasping my sword's handle, my face carrying a determined expression. my scrunched up eyebrows being the greatest indicator that I was absolutely focused.
Swinging my sword from my shoulder I watch the Alpha's body move backwards just far enough for it to avoid most of my initial strike. an inch of my sword cleaved into its chin. It must have thought that it got away from me but it was wrong. My free hand lashed out, my prosthesis not only digging into the Alpha's new chest wound but it grabbed hold onto the flesh and pulled.
"YIP!"
Ignoring its pain, my sword came back but instead of swinging, it thrusted in, stabbing up from the side of its chest guard deep, its eyes widening in shock, something that was almost human, if I really cared I would've given him a sympathetic look, a pitiful look. But it wasn't a human, it was a monster, I could smell it, the dry blood that was hidden underneath its fur, you could probably chuck it up to a Grimm's natural musk and scent. But I know better, God do I know better, I've had to deal with that scent the entire time I lived and breathed in Nevada. If it wasn't the smell of dry blood then it was the smoke of a freshly fired gun, there was a clear difference between the two.
I gave this thing one more second before I pulled my sword, retching it up and through its chest and with my hand still holding it I let go, its body dropping to the ground as I didn't give it another ounce of my time as I noticed myself now surrounded.
From the edges of the clearing I could see the bright red glow of their eyes underneath the shadows of the trees.
"Well, come get some!" I called out as I finally pushed out an emotion I had been holding back for a while now, impatience.
A line of black, white and red shot out from the treeline, and I let out a sigh of relief.
"Finally." I spoke out, as I grin painted my face and I grasped my sword. "Fucking kill me!"
Three Beowolves pounced at me and just as fast as their claws came down towards me I spun, pivoting on my foot I pushed my aura into my sword and swung. A dark blue arc of aura shot out and sliced right through the Grimm's arms and heads, the bodies turning into a dark mist of ash.
Ding!
I felt it no, I heard it! My body moved instinctively, side flipping to my left, my head moved and I saw a Beowolf swiping their claw and pausing it only to hit thin air before I lunged again, thrusting my sword up through the bottom of its jaw and ripping it out as I felt it once more.
Ding!
No, again I heard it.
Swinging my sword in an arc, the blade encountered another Beowolf claw swipe. stopping it with my sword as it lobbed off its arm causing it to let out a pain filled yell, I gripped my sword in both hands while it was distracted by its own pain and stabbed it through to the guard. Deep into its chest with a gut wrenching twist. The Beowolf turned to ash like the rest as I did a quick head count, five down another five to-
BANG!
My eyes widened and my body moved on its own, pausing as I realized my sixth sense didn't go off, tilting my head in confusion I turned to see Port branching their weapon, a blunderbuss with a double sided axe built into the hilt. He simply spun the large weapon in his hand, showing that despite his weapon being seemingly large and unruly, that in his hands it flowed like a bow across a violin… oof that was a bit wordy even for me.
"Quite the plan my boy! I'm impressed, instead of going in blindly you instead pulled the Alpha's pack away leaving it open for a quick death, it could've gone better but Alphas aren't as slow as their younger counterparts, you may need to train yourself in the differences. Overall I give you full marks once again, congratulations!" Port spoke, while he did I looked behind him to see another group of corpses turning to ash on the other side of the clearing, I didn't even see him let alone hear him move. My body immediately jumped as I felt a hand on my shoulder, I felt my spine shiver as I looked back and saw Port looking at me, instead of his big smile though he gave me a look that I could only describe as melancholy. "You have a bright future young man, never throw it away for a quick death, you are still needed, remember this."
I felt speechless and confused then remembered the middle of the fight.
"Fucking kill me!"
"Well no need to dwell on the past, come we have a pack of Ursa to hunt!" Port's loud voice pulled me out of my head as I remembered something.
"Uh hold on let me grab my knives first-" I moved to grab them but Port simply presented his palm and revealed all four knives. "-Uh well… when did you-?"
"I figured you wouldn't want to lose any more time, so I picked them up for you, these are of good make but I recommend finding a supplier in the future in case you lose your knives." Port suggested as I gingerly took the knives back.
"Got it." I said with a nod as I placed them back in my coat.
The two of us once again moved into the forest to our next area, this time being Ursa, bear versions of Grimm.
From what I've heard from Yang she hated the bear Grimm with a passion. I wanted to ask more but instead I figured this was one of those tell you later kind of conversations and I didn't need to know more unless she wanted to share.
Port and I made the decision for the two of us to work together instead of lone wolfing it like the Beowolves. As unlike the previous Grimm these Bears acted more independently rather than relying on pack tactics.
Something I was familiar with as Port seemed to push for me to take charge, even as we found the Ursa pack.
"There are four Ursa." Port spoke as the two of us sat in a tree and spied the four Grimm moving through the forest, unlike the Beowolves Ursa likes to sleep and move in between the trees, using their strength to push trees around that get in their way. "Tell me what do you suggest we do?" Port asked while I just looked at them and frowned in thought.
"I got an idea, but it can only work if I'm fast enough." I answered, forming a plan in my head.
"Oh do tell, what plan are you concocting in that mind of your's my boy?" Port asked as he seemed rather excited at what I had.
"Well we start from the back literally, we come in from the back I go low and either swing or stab my sword into the back of the first one's knee and you come in from the top and chop his head off before it moves to react to me." I hastily explained the first part, this seemed to make Port hum in approval. "There is a short window but I can make it work, what about the other three?" Hearing the question I let out a wince. "Yeah Parts three and four are still up in the air but part two eeeeeh… have you ever been to a rodeo?" I looked to Port as he seemed to stare before a large grin split his face. "My boy, I think I see where you are going with this and I am loving it."
WIth that the plan for the first kill was made, the two of us moved through the trees as we circled to the lagging Ursa, Port already jumped into a nearby tree and I hid, with one hand wrapped around the hilt of my sword and grabbed the blade with my other, I take a half sword stance and paused to mentally prepare myself.
Taking my chance I moved, darting around the tree I lean into a full sprint towards the last Ursa, my sword held up, braced as it was speared into the back of the Grimm's knee, it let out yell but was silenced as a red blur of the hefty Professor came down bringing his double axe blunderbuss with him, the blade of the axe just cut through the Grimm's neck like a hot knife through butter.
Pulling my sword out of the decomposing flesh I looked further ahead as the Ursa pack turned to look before they all let out a roar, the one closest to the back before the one we killed charged towards Port who just let out a brazen laugh at the sudden challenge and raised his weapon.
The Ursa charging was met head first with the blunt side of Port's axe as he blocked, feet digging into the dirt as he was moved a foot back before stopping it fully, my eyes wide as he simply laughed once more and push the Grimm away, seeing this I sprinted once more passing Port to get to this staggering Grimm and jumped, my body twisted mid air as I threw a back kick to the Grimm's head. Its body sent backwards into a nearby tree before collapsing onto the ground.
"Good show young man!" Port yelled out, my head turning over my shoulder to see the professor had quickly spun his weapon around, pointing the barrel end of his Blunderbuss at another rushing Ursa.
BOOM!
His Blunderbuss erupted as I saw a dust variation of Grape shot flew out of the barrel and slammed into the Ursa's body causing it to pause and use one of its paws to block their face as Port fired again.
Grrrr Ding!
Hearing the growl and that bell sound thing my body moved, rolling towards and spinning around to see the fourth and biggest of the Ursa pack slamming its large paw right where I was.
"Fuck me, you are a big one aren't ya?" I sarcastically quipped, standing up straight I moved my sword up but took pause, I still haven't truly tested my PRC yet… screw it what a better time to test it than now.
Lowing my sword I moved my left arm in front and held my sword behind me, immediately a familiar PRC appeared over my left wrist at the size of a shield.
"Aight, come get some!" I cried out as the Grimm just growled and stood on its hind legs and threw a flurry of slow moving but rather devastating swings.
Swings I just barely parrying by side stepping and deflecting with my PRC, the Glyph holding strong until I was forced to stop a full on paw haymaker, blocking the attack I felt my legs hold steady as I was forced more than ten feet backwards, feet skidding and kicking up dirt along with the ground until I felt my back hit something, looking over my shoulder I paused as I saw it was Port who looked back, his mustached mouth curled upwards in amusement.
"Back to back, no better place to be my boy." Port said as I turned to face my own Ursa and let out a grunt of approval.
"I'm starting to get some flashbacks here." I admit aloud, my mind running through the times it had just been myself and another team member in the middle of a gas station, defending the fuel pumps from bandits and the occasional Zombie horde. It was a simple time but frankly it was probably the most honest I'd ever been. "Is that so, tell me was it this harrowing!?" Port yelled out over another blast of his Blunderbuss, meanwhile my eyes had turned back to the larger Ursa as it was slowly joined by the third Ursa as it stumbled back onto its feet. "Nah, my partner wasn't as chatty." I admitted my mind going back to my PRC still on my arm.
If I could block physical attacks then maybe I could use it as a foot hold… maybe if I change the formula instead of Blocking I could repel attacks.
Suddenly a grin started to appear on my face as the ideas started popping out of my head.
"Professor, can you buy me a minute? I need to prepare something." I asked, as I deactivated my PRC and dropped to a knee as I formed a smaller Version, at least the size of my palm on the ground. "Of course! Leave this to me!" Port yelled out as another shot from his blunderbuss and the collapsing of a large body echoed throughout the forest.
Port shifted around to charge at the two Ursa who swung around to charge the hefty hunter together. Locking my gaze back to my PRC I physically touched the Glyph and tested how solid it was. I began to withdraw my aura as I watched the Glyph crack and brake under the force of my touch.
I noted that for foot holds it was absolutely possible but I needed to feed it more aura, in fact I could feel my aura draining while I had my PRC shield up, so these were definitely high consumption. With that at least partially solved I needed to change the formula in order to repel blows. Twisting my Pentagram lines around I made a brand new Glyph and with it I mentally applied a function, as most if not all of PRC's are imbued with not only aura but the mental intent that was needed to be made functional. It was the reason why my PRC was able to form a shield. However with this one, I drew an inverted Pentagram (or a five pointed star the right way up) and gave it the mental intent, to repel when touched.
Testing my work I tapped the new Repel Glyph and felt as if my hand was suddenly pushed back. The results were good but what happens when I put more Aura into-
"Jackson!"
Ding!
My head snapped up and instead of pushing myself away I positioned the palm sized Repel Glyph between myself and this Ursa. Feeding aura into it as the Ursa's paw came down. Instead of the expected impact as it hit the Glyph its arm snapped upwards with a force so great that it caused the Ursa to flip right onto its back.
Beaming at the Glyph, I chuckled, giddy that my Repel Glyph had worked. I darted forwards and plunged my sword into its chest, killing the large bear, and looking to Port as he seemed to be having a little trouble with the last Ursa.
Summoning Glyphs the size of stepping stones I used them to run to new heights. Once high enough in the air I summoned a Repel glyph above me and slammed my fist into it. The resulting force rocketed me towards the ground. "Port move!" I called out, raising my sword over my head. I poured what I felt was the last of my Aura into my sword's blade. "FUCK YOU!" I roared out as I came down on the Large Ursa.
CRACK!
My eyes closed as the sword finally met resistance. I took a second before I slowly opened my eyes, looking at my sword which was half way stuck in the ground before slowly raising my head to see the Ursa Pack leader standing on its hind legs still, its body shadowing my entire form leaving me unable to see the light of the sun.
I was left barely standing, dropping to my knees in this crater I had made with my under planned attack. I half expected it to move, to throw its maw down and take my auraless head off. Instead I just watched as a line slowly appeared through the Grimm's large body before the Bear Grimm split in twain, dropping unceremoniously down on either of me. The beast's shadow vanishes from overhead, replaced by the light of the afternoon sun.
"HAHAHA A FANTASTIC SHOW MY BOY!" I heard the shout, suddenly I felt a large hand clap down on my shoulder and instead of feeling my spine shiver at the sudden but firm contact I felt something else, looking over my shoulder I watched as Port's face looked at me with pure pride. "You've achieved a lot, I can say without a doubt you've passed."
"I…um… thank you." I speak up looking down, staring at my sword as it sat in the ground. "You are quite welcome, now it's time to go back, I must report to Ozpin on the success of this hunt." Port said as he directed us to move.
Grabbing my sword I stared at the blade stuck in the dirt, glancing up I looked and saw a familiar black and red image of a ghost standing just in front of me. Their black Aviator's stared into my soul before the image of them slowly faded away, taking the blade I pulled it out of the ground and giving it a quick swipe through the air, ridding any dirt I could from the blade's surface.
"Are you coming, my boy!?" Hearing the call out I gave Port a quick wave. "Yeah, I just thought I saw something!" I yelled back before turning to follow the hefty man.
While I moved though I thought I heard the light crackling of electricity in the air… ah well must be the forest or someshit.
Chapter 15 end
Amvmaster: Oh my some reflection/learning during a hunting trip, how interesting and was that a potential hint to some internal conflict I see there and oh that's lightning… that's a clear identification something is happening.
JackalHunter343: He has just now noticed the Mario reference I snuck in this chapter.
Amvmaster: This bitch seriously just did a mario on me.
Jericho: Hunting nice we finally get to see Jackson's skill. Wait I do I hear mario sounds wait did this motherfucker just groundpound.
Okay enough of that he can read, he can learn. Now STOP DUES EX MACHINING RWBYMARIOMAN
JackalHunter343/Amvmaster: No
"You know my boy, you are quite the individual." Port spoke up, the two of us moving through the forest as we actively hunted for the first pack.
My hand flipped a throwing knife between my fingers, it was one of the few knives I had hidden in my coat before I switched my clothes.
I chose not to really answer Port as my focus had been put forwards, my range was limited with the lack of guns so these throwing knives were my only distance.
"Hold my boy, seem's we have found our prey." Port subtly enthused, I paused my knife flipping and slowly moved over to the hefty teacher who had already dropped to a knee and gestured to a clearing between the trees. Looking between the trunks I saw the pitch black bodies that stood out in contrast to the bright afternoon.
"I count a good six, what about you?" Port whispered, it was almost hard to distinguish as he spoke so softly. "I can't see very well from here." I mumbled out, not trusting myself to really answer with my own whisper as I counted at the very least six as well.
"Then you best find yourself a new vantage then." Port spoke gesturing for me to move forwards.
I blinked before I let out a brief huff and slowly moved, not bothering to really stay down I instead decided to stand up fully and quickly darted from tree to tree, shoulder lightly thudding into the trunks until I finally got a better look at the clearing. It was definitely the pack we were looking for and there were at least six like Port said earlier but on top of the six there was an additional four more on top.
That was also not including the Alpha Beowolf that laid in the middle of the clearing, its pack acting as both sentries and a protective line for the head honcho… smart, never gonna say a Grimm can't be smart but this was really intelligent.
Hand still holding my knife I took a second to think about how to deal with this slowly, do I do my usual run in and go on a killing spree?
Pondering my dilemma, my mind returned back to a time where I had done exactly that in which I was immediately met with the full force of an abomination and psychotic orderly hell. That was a shit show, I barely got out of that contract, but fuck me. Doc had told me afterwards that it would've been better if I had died, instead I had to go through a week of rehab to get those drugs out of my system.
No, I need to play this like a stealth game.
Flipping my knife I threw it near full force at a tree straight across from me.
THUNK!
My body moved rapidly as I jumped up into the tree I had just been hiding behind, my hands securing myself onto the branches as I waited, another knife being unsheathed as I watched.
Three black blurs rushed by my tree, pausing as they looked around and paused, their attention now focused on the knife embedded in the trunk.
THUNK!
Another knife was thrown this time I aimed for a tree a good ten or so metres away, the Three snapped their heads in the direction of the new sound and quickly moved once more in the direction. While they moved my head poked out from around the tree I was in and I looked out at the clearing, more sentinels turned and slowly an additional two more moved to look along with the other three.
Grabbing my third knife I once more chucked it, this time right over the clearing.
Thunk!
I could barely make out the sound of my third knife hitting the tree on the other side of the clearing but it did it's job as the other two who stood on that side of the clearing looked and quickly moved to investigate.
"And that's four… I think I can get one more… but-" I mumbled to myself as I saw the Alpha suddenly start to move, its form slowly enlarging as it stood to its true towering height revealing that its body was covered in a bone-shaped armour covered in red markings. there also seemed to be a dry red(blood?) painting a good portion of its face."Yeah this is the best I'm going to get."
Quickly dropping down to the ground I had my second to last knife in my hand as I threw it one last time at another tree on another side of the clearing.
THUNK!
The Alpha's snapped to the direction of the sound with a low growl, the last of their pack rushing to answer their leader's command. As they crossed the clearing though I shot out from behind my tree cover, sprinting as fast as I could across the clearing. The Alpha's head seemed to move towards me, their eyes widening in shock as I could barely make out myself reflected in its red eyes. I saw myself reaching over my shoulder hand grasping my sword's handle, my face carrying a determined expression. my scrunched up eyebrows being the greatest indicator that I was absolutely focused.
Swinging my sword from my shoulder I watch the Alpha's body move backwards just far enough for it to avoid most of my initial strike. an inch of my sword cleaved into its chin. It must have thought that it got away from me but it was wrong. My free hand lashed out, my prosthesis not only digging into the Alpha's new chest wound but it grabbed hold onto the flesh and pulled.
"YIP!"
Ignoring its pain, my sword came back but instead of swinging, it thrusted in, stabbing up from the side of its chest guard deep, its eyes widening in shock, something that was almost human, if I really cared I would've given him a sympathetic look, a pitiful look. But it wasn't a human, it was a monster, I could smell it, the dry blood that was hidden underneath its fur, you could probably chuck it up to a Grimm's natural musk and scent. But I know better, God do I know better, I've had to deal with that scent the entire time I lived and breathed in Nevada. If it wasn't the smell of dry blood then it was the smoke of a freshly fired gun, there was a clear difference between the two.
I gave this thing one more second before I pulled my sword, retching it up and through its chest and with my hand still holding it I let go, its body dropping to the ground as I didn't give it another ounce of my time as I noticed myself now surrounded.
From the edges of the clearing I could see the bright red glow of their eyes underneath the shadows of the trees.
"Well, come get some!" I called out as I finally pushed out an emotion I had been holding back for a while now, impatience.
A line of black, white and red shot out from the treeline, and I let out a sigh of relief.
"Finally." I spoke out, as I grin painted my face and I grasped my sword. "Fucking kill me!"
Three Beowolves pounced at me and just as fast as their claws came down towards me I spun, pivoting on my foot I pushed my aura into my sword and swung. A dark blue arc of aura shot out and sliced right through the Grimm's arms and heads, the bodies turning into a dark mist of ash.
Ding!
I felt it no, I heard it! My body moved instinctively, side flipping to my left, my head moved and I saw a Beowolf swiping their claw and pausing it only to hit thin air before I lunged again, thrusting my sword up through the bottom of its jaw and ripping it out as I felt it once more.
Ding!
No, again I heard it.
Swinging my sword in an arc, the blade encountered another Beowolf claw swipe. stopping it with my sword as it lobbed off its arm causing it to let out a pain filled yell, I gripped my sword in both hands while it was distracted by its own pain and stabbed it through to the guard. Deep into its chest with a gut wrenching twist. The Beowolf turned to ash like the rest as I did a quick head count, five down another five to-
BANG!
My eyes widened and my body moved on its own, pausing as I realized my sixth sense didn't go off, tilting my head in confusion I turned to see Port branching their weapon, a blunderbuss with a double sided axe built into the hilt. He simply spun the large weapon in his hand, showing that despite his weapon being seemingly large and unruly, that in his hands it flowed like a bow across a violin… oof that was a bit wordy even for me.
"Quite the plan my boy! I'm impressed, instead of going in blindly you instead pulled the Alpha's pack away leaving it open for a quick death, it could've gone better but Alphas aren't as slow as their younger counterparts, you may need to train yourself in the differences. Overall I give you full marks once again, congratulations!" Port spoke, while he did I looked behind him to see another group of corpses turning to ash on the other side of the clearing, I didn't even see him let alone hear him move. My body immediately jumped as I felt a hand on my shoulder, I felt my spine shiver as I looked back and saw Port looking at me, instead of his big smile though he gave me a look that I could only describe as melancholy. "You have a bright future young man, never throw it away for a quick death, you are still needed, remember this."
I felt speechless and confused then remembered the middle of the fight.
"Fucking kill me!"
"Well no need to dwell on the past, come we have a pack of Ursa to hunt!" Port's loud voice pulled me out of my head as I remembered something.
"Uh hold on let me grab my knives first-" I moved to grab them but Port simply presented his palm and revealed all four knives. "-Uh well… when did you-?"
"I figured you wouldn't want to lose any more time, so I picked them up for you, these are of good make but I recommend finding a supplier in the future in case you lose your knives." Port suggested as I gingerly took the knives back.
"Got it." I said with a nod as I placed them back in my coat.
The two of us once again moved into the forest to our next area, this time being Ursa, bear versions of Grimm.
From what I've heard from Yang she hated the bear Grimm with a passion. I wanted to ask more but instead I figured this was one of those tell you later kind of conversations and I didn't need to know more unless she wanted to share.
Port and I made the decision for the two of us to work together instead of lone wolfing it like the Beowolves. As unlike the previous Grimm these Bears acted more independently rather than relying on pack tactics.
Something I was familiar with as Port seemed to push for me to take charge, even as we found the Ursa pack.
"There are four Ursa." Port spoke as the two of us sat in a tree and spied the four Grimm moving through the forest, unlike the Beowolves Ursa likes to sleep and move in between the trees, using their strength to push trees around that get in their way. "Tell me what do you suggest we do?" Port asked while I just looked at them and frowned in thought.
"I got an idea, but it can only work if I'm fast enough." I answered, forming a plan in my head.
"Oh do tell, what plan are you concocting in that mind of your's my boy?" Port asked as he seemed rather excited at what I had.
"Well we start from the back literally, we come in from the back I go low and either swing or stab my sword into the back of the first one's knee and you come in from the top and chop his head off before it moves to react to me." I hastily explained the first part, this seemed to make Port hum in approval. "There is a short window but I can make it work, what about the other three?" Hearing the question I let out a wince. "Yeah Parts three and four are still up in the air but part two eeeeeh… have you ever been to a rodeo?" I looked to Port as he seemed to stare before a large grin split his face. "My boy, I think I see where you are going with this and I am loving it."
WIth that the plan for the first kill was made, the two of us moved through the trees as we circled to the lagging Ursa, Port already jumped into a nearby tree and I hid, with one hand wrapped around the hilt of my sword and grabbed the blade with my other, I take a half sword stance and paused to mentally prepare myself.
Taking my chance I moved, darting around the tree I lean into a full sprint towards the last Ursa, my sword held up, braced as it was speared into the back of the Grimm's knee, it let out yell but was silenced as a red blur of the hefty Professor came down bringing his double axe blunderbuss with him, the blade of the axe just cut through the Grimm's neck like a hot knife through butter.
Pulling my sword out of the decomposing flesh I looked further ahead as the Ursa pack turned to look before they all let out a roar, the one closest to the back before the one we killed charged towards Port who just let out a brazen laugh at the sudden challenge and raised his weapon.
The Ursa charging was met head first with the blunt side of Port's axe as he blocked, feet digging into the dirt as he was moved a foot back before stopping it fully, my eyes wide as he simply laughed once more and push the Grimm away, seeing this I sprinted once more passing Port to get to this staggering Grimm and jumped, my body twisted mid air as I threw a back kick to the Grimm's head. Its body sent backwards into a nearby tree before collapsing onto the ground.
"Good show young man!" Port yelled out, my head turning over my shoulder to see the professor had quickly spun his weapon around, pointing the barrel end of his Blunderbuss at another rushing Ursa.
BOOM!
His Blunderbuss erupted as I saw a dust variation of Grape shot flew out of the barrel and slammed into the Ursa's body causing it to pause and use one of its paws to block their face as Port fired again.
Grrrr Ding!
Hearing the growl and that bell sound thing my body moved, rolling towards and spinning around to see the fourth and biggest of the Ursa pack slamming its large paw right where I was.
"Fuck me, you are a big one aren't ya?" I sarcastically quipped, standing up straight I moved my sword up but took pause, I still haven't truly tested my PRC yet… screw it what a better time to test it than now.
Lowing my sword I moved my left arm in front and held my sword behind me, immediately a familiar PRC appeared over my left wrist at the size of a shield.
"Aight, come get some!" I cried out as the Grimm just growled and stood on its hind legs and threw a flurry of slow moving but rather devastating swings.
Swings I just barely parrying by side stepping and deflecting with my PRC, the Glyph holding strong until I was forced to stop a full on paw haymaker, blocking the attack I felt my legs hold steady as I was forced more than ten feet backwards, feet skidding and kicking up dirt along with the ground until I felt my back hit something, looking over my shoulder I paused as I saw it was Port who looked back, his mustached mouth curled upwards in amusement.
"Back to back, no better place to be my boy." Port said as I turned to face my own Ursa and let out a grunt of approval.
"I'm starting to get some flashbacks here." I admit aloud, my mind running through the times it had just been myself and another team member in the middle of a gas station, defending the fuel pumps from bandits and the occasional Zombie horde. It was a simple time but frankly it was probably the most honest I'd ever been. "Is that so, tell me was it this harrowing!?" Port yelled out over another blast of his Blunderbuss, meanwhile my eyes had turned back to the larger Ursa as it was slowly joined by the third Ursa as it stumbled back onto its feet. "Nah, my partner wasn't as chatty." I admitted my mind going back to my PRC still on my arm.
If I could block physical attacks then maybe I could use it as a foot hold… maybe if I change the formula instead of Blocking I could repel attacks.
Suddenly a grin started to appear on my face as the ideas started popping out of my head.
"Professor, can you buy me a minute? I need to prepare something." I asked, as I deactivated my PRC and dropped to a knee as I formed a smaller Version, at least the size of my palm on the ground. "Of course! Leave this to me!" Port yelled out as another shot from his blunderbuss and the collapsing of a large body echoed throughout the forest.
Port shifted around to charge at the two Ursa who swung around to charge the hefty hunter together. Locking my gaze back to my PRC I physically touched the Glyph and tested how solid it was. I began to withdraw my aura as I watched the Glyph crack and brake under the force of my touch.
I noted that for foot holds it was absolutely possible but I needed to feed it more aura, in fact I could feel my aura draining while I had my PRC shield up, so these were definitely high consumption. With that at least partially solved I needed to change the formula in order to repel blows. Twisting my Pentagram lines around I made a brand new Glyph and with it I mentally applied a function, as most if not all of PRC's are imbued with not only aura but the mental intent that was needed to be made functional. It was the reason why my PRC was able to form a shield. However with this one, I drew an inverted Pentagram (or a five pointed star the right way up) and gave it the mental intent, to repel when touched.
Testing my work I tapped the new Repel Glyph and felt as if my hand was suddenly pushed back. The results were good but what happens when I put more Aura into-
"Jackson!"
Ding!
My head snapped up and instead of pushing myself away I positioned the palm sized Repel Glyph between myself and this Ursa. Feeding aura into it as the Ursa's paw came down. Instead of the expected impact as it hit the Glyph its arm snapped upwards with a force so great that it caused the Ursa to flip right onto its back.
Beaming at the Glyph, I chuckled, giddy that my Repel Glyph had worked. I darted forwards and plunged my sword into its chest, killing the large bear, and looking to Port as he seemed to be having a little trouble with the last Ursa.
Summoning Glyphs the size of stepping stones I used them to run to new heights. Once high enough in the air I summoned a Repel glyph above me and slammed my fist into it. The resulting force rocketed me towards the ground. "Port move!" I called out, raising my sword over my head. I poured what I felt was the last of my Aura into my sword's blade. "FUCK YOU!" I roared out as I came down on the Large Ursa.
CRACK!
My eyes closed as the sword finally met resistance. I took a second before I slowly opened my eyes, looking at my sword which was half way stuck in the ground before slowly raising my head to see the Ursa Pack leader standing on its hind legs still, its body shadowing my entire form leaving me unable to see the light of the sun.
I was left barely standing, dropping to my knees in this crater I had made with my under planned attack. I half expected it to move, to throw its maw down and take my auraless head off. Instead I just watched as a line slowly appeared through the Grimm's large body before the Bear Grimm split in twain, dropping unceremoniously down on either of me. The beast's shadow vanishes from overhead, replaced by the light of the afternoon sun.
"HAHAHA A FANTASTIC SHOW MY BOY!" I heard the shout, suddenly I felt a large hand clap down on my shoulder and instead of feeling my spine shiver at the sudden but firm contact I felt something else, looking over my shoulder I watched as Port's face looked at me with pure pride. "You've achieved a lot, I can say without a doubt you've passed."
"I…um… thank you." I speak up looking down, staring at my sword as it sat in the ground. "You are quite welcome, now it's time to go back, I must report to Ozpin on the success of this hunt." Port said as he directed us to move.
Grabbing my sword I stared at the blade stuck in the dirt, glancing up I looked and saw a familiar black and red image of a ghost standing just in front of me. Their black Aviator's stared into my soul before the image of them slowly faded away, taking the blade I pulled it out of the ground and giving it a quick swipe through the air, ridding any dirt I could from the blade's surface.
"Are you coming, my boy!?" Hearing the call out I gave Port a quick wave. "Yeah, I just thought I saw something!" I yelled back before turning to follow the hefty man.
While I moved though I thought I heard the light crackling of electricity in the air… ah well must be the forest or someshit.
Chapter 15 end
Amvmaster: Oh my some reflection/learning during a hunting trip, how interesting and was that a potential hint to some internal conflict I see there and oh that's lightning… that's a clear identification something is happening.
JackalHunter343: He has just now noticed the Mario reference I snuck in this chapter.
Amvmaster: This bitch seriously just did a mario on me.
Jericho: Hunting nice we finally get to see Jackson's skill. Wait I do I hear mario sounds wait did this motherfucker just groundpound.
Okay enough of that he can read, he can learn. Now STOP DUES EX MACHINING RWBYMARIOMAN
JackalHunter343/Amvmaster: No