Chapter Text
The team we're on a trail far from the village they came from as they walked carefully on it, watching their surroundings for any kind of markings or tracks. Ruby was covering the left side and was bored out of her mind...if it was her just scouting ahead or far from them, she'd quickly fly up and notify them of where the demons were. But no, she has to do it their way, and for all they know the people that they're trying to save are all dead. That is until she did see something.
Reaper Ruby: Guys, over here!
Ruby was already running ahead of them, with the rest reluctantly following behind hoping she spot something helpful. Thankfully, they found what seemed to be a severed arm. It had dried up blood, with maggots and bugs all over it as well. behind it, led a faint trail of footsteps. They seemed to have been different sets as one was walking alone with others coming from both sides and then...well whoever made the first set wasn't nowhere nearby. And safe to say wasn't alive anymore.
The team looked at the trail as it led to an opening in view, but they were still concerned about what happened.
Paladin Jaune: ...Let's follow the footsteps and be ready.
The team and Ruby prepared for an attack; their weapons held tightly in their hands as they took their steps carefully. The only sounds heard we're they muffled footsteps as they slowly loved their legs on the dirt path, and the soft breathing of some. As they crept closer to the opening, they heard the sound of wood breaking and a masculine scream, followed by more screaming before they saw figures rushing past them. They could only imagine what those sounds were indicating towards, but Jaune quickly ran out, followed by Pyrrha. Nora, Ren, and Ruby ran behind.
They've reached their destination, with some people running away or trying to while others held off some demons. They could see the carnage in full force as some demons we're tearing apart some unlucky people while some injured knights or folks we're busy working together to slay some demons at a time. Jaune was stunned at first, before seeing both Pyrrha and Ruby take a charge at their foes. The Paladin swallowed his fear down and ran forward as well.
Paladin Jaune: Remember the goal!
Dwarf Nora: Hell yeah, action time finally!
Monk Ren: Be vigilant Nora, please.
Nora and Ren were about to rush alongside him, before a couple of demons jumped them, licking their claws or sharpening some iron blades on them. Ren ducked a swing and stabbed a demon in its neck, continuing the slash as he dragged the blade down to its chest. Nora swung her hammer directly into one's head, being tackled by another trying to lift her up. It however, underestimated it's 'prey' and was quickly lifted up into the air, and thrown away from her as she let out a mighty war cry.
With Jaune, he was protecting fleeing civilians as they made it back to their shelter that was broken into by said demons. He used his shield to bash one in the head, then brought his sword upwards, stabbing it through the head again. He quickly pulled it out and slashed at another charging at him with a blade of their own. Jaune cut of one of its hands but was kicked into a nearby log that he tripped over. Thankfully, he landed safely on his feet and charged back at the one-handed demon as Jaune, and it clashed their swords together.
Ruby was, to say the least, having a ball. She twirled her scythe over her head and dodged three demons trying to lodge their claws in her stomach or anywhere with ease. After she was done toying with them, she sliced one of their heads clean off, then another in half with its entrails still intact. The last one tried to flee but was quickly eating a spear through its mouth from Pyrrha, who nodded at Ruby with a smile. Ruby was confused but nodded back at the Champion before continuing her fun.
As for Pyrrha, she had already killed five plus the one she helped Ruby take care of and was looking around for anymore around them. She looked towards where Jaune was, as he was done killing the demon with the sword, and was preparing to dispatch another, making it three so far. Nora and Ren each killed two, so seven. And she saw Ruby proceed to slay another, kicking one back from her as she protected the injured civilians.
Three, they we're missing three. Where could the other three be-
Monk Ren: PYRRHA!
Pyrrha broke from her concentration and turned around as quickly as she heard Ren shout out to her, seeing a bulkier demon take a swing at her. She blocked its punch with her shield, and took a swing at it back, landing the punch and hurting her hand as she shook it. That didn't stun it for that long as it grabbed her arm and threw her behind it, as it began charging towards Jaune. He braced for it as it landed a punch to his gut, but he tanked it and took a swing directly to its head with his sword. His sword made contact, but it was stuck through its thick-skinned neck. Just then, two other demons of the ones they slain appeared and surrounded Jaune. He kicked one, as the other tried to chew past his armor. Not to mention the bigger of the two trying to break his shield and him in two.
Paladin Jaune: H-Help me out here!
Ruby looked onwards with a slight smirk but wasn't going to just enjoy the show. She of course, came to her Paladin's aid. She jumped into the air and aimed her scythe to pierce the bulkier demon through its back and chest. As it made contact, the momentum stopped her as her scythe was inserted into its back, but slowly stopped. Ruby tried to pull it out, but was merely tugging at it, annoying the demon as it tried reaching for her.
Thankfully, Pyrrha was able to recover from her initail hit from the beast, grabbing her spear out of the demon she killed and took a charge at one of the ones trying to maul Jaune. She pierced one of their heads and tore it off violently, with it still being held by her spear as it slid off slowly. And with the bulky demon being distracted with the small reaper on its back, Jaune took the chance to bash the other with his shield, and use it slowly yet efficiently decapitate its head.
Nora and Ren we're already running towards the bulky demon at this point, with Ren talking one side and Nora going in like she always does. She gripped her hammer's handle tightly and took a wild swing straight at its chest, making it stumble and groan in pain while Ruby successfully, and finally, got her scythe from its back.
Ren threw his set of knives at the demon's eyes, with them barely sticking in as it screamed in pain. It waved its hands and arms in random directions, with the team stepping back from it, trying to figure out on when to strike. Ruby looked towards Jaune and his shield and got an idea. She sneakily got behind him, and once she was behind him, she hugged him tightly while the others we're preoccupied with the big demon.
Reaper Ruby: Hey, daddy~.
Paladin Jaune: Ruby....
Reaper Ruby: Sorry, should I say 'father' instead?
Paladin Jaune: We're on a mission first off! This better be good so help me!
Reaper Ruby: I do actually, give me a boost.
Paladin Jaune: Like, with my hands? Throw you??
Reaper Ruby: Hehe~.
Paladin Jaune: ...Ruby?
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Dwarf Nora: So...any bright ideas?
Monk Ren: I can't really get my knives back, nor punch it.
Dwarf Nora: Remind me to buy you some more kni-VES! IIIF, we make it out.
Champion Pyrrha: Maybe we can draw it one way, and if I can measure it right...
Reaper Ruby: WEEEEEEE!
Before Pyrrha could think about her plan anymore, they saw Ruby high in the air, diving down with her Scythe in hand, aiming directly for the demon's head. Pyrrha then ran up to the demon in question, stabbing her spear into one of its knees, making it kneel down before whistling for Nora. Nora then got the memo and swung her hammer with all her might at its other knee, breaking the bone as it screamed in pain. It was slanted while the beast continued to swing wildly, with Ruby gaining the advantage to stab it directly into its head. The beast roared in agony as Ruby pulled her scythe from it's head, before digging it deeper into the wound. The bulky beast let out one final roar, before it fell on its side, dying finally.
Ruby hopped off it, twirling the blood of her scythe as she looked at her team, who were focused on her. She let out an innocent smile in return.
Paladin Jaune: Woah...
Monk Ren: Hm, nice job.
Dwarf Nora: Nice job? NICE JOB?! THAT WAS AWESOME IS WHAT IT WAS!
Champion Pyrrha: A bit reckless but...you did well.
Reaper Ruby: Hehe thanks, but all the credit goes to our leader. He gave me a boost of course!
Paladin Jaune: W-Wait wha-
Dwarf Nora: Yeah! That's our leader alright! *Already clapping loudly*
Monk Ren: Amazing ideas as always, no matter how rambunctious of course.
Paladin Jaune: W-Well, thank you guys but honestly, it was all Ru-
???: H-Hey! You five...
The team quickly stopped their celebration as they heard a weak voice call out to them. They also forgot why they were here in the first place, to save anyone who were in the attack.
They all ran to the damaged hut to see a blue haired individual leaning on another, with yellow hair, brighter than Jaune's with some animalistic features included.
???: That was nice moves you guys did there! Of course, we could've handled it- Ow!
The yellow haired fellow was elbowed by the one with blue hair, giving him a stern look.
???: Uh...sorry. We thank you for your help, we couldn't risk losing anyone on our way to your town.
Dwarf Nora: It's what we do, no biggie!
Champion Pyrrha: Uhm, if I may ask; who are you two?
Neptune: Sorry, where are my manners? I'm Neptune. And this is my partner Sun. We were tasked with bringing these people to some rich snob's gala as servants before...well you know the rest. We're fighters ourselves but the sheer number of those, 'things', caught us off guard so we couldn't save some of them...
Jaune walked up to the wounded fighter, planting his hand on his shoulder before it began to glow as he closed his eyes.
Paladin Jaune: It's not your fault. You were merely tasked with protecting them and was dealt with a misfortune of meeting a swarm of these damned creatures. You did your duty and what was right and risked your lives to protect them either way. Even if it was your job at first, something tells me you would've done it either way.
Neptune just looked at the Paladin in shock before feeling a warm sensation around his body, like his aches and pains were numbed. he took his arm from around Sun's neck and was able to move freely again. The duo looked at Jaune in astonishment afterwards.
Sun: H-How did you-
Paladin Jaune: Don't question a good thing. The path is clear up ahead, we have doctors and clerics awaiting at the Cathedral to nurse anyone injured. Can you guys gather them all so we can make haste?
Neptune: Y-Yea. We'll get everyone packed up and ready to go. Cmon Sun.
Sun: I'm still wondering how he did it though...
Neptune: We'll ask him again later man, cmon!
As Jaune inhaled and exhaled some breath, he felt the slight tapping on his armor from behind, already knowing who it belonged to.
Paladin Jaune: What do you need now Ru- Oh, Pyrrha.
Champion Pyrrha: Hello, it's me. Are we going to accompany them?
Paladin Jaune: Of course, but what that Neptune guy said...they're here as servants to a Gala? During this time when demon sightings are on the rise?
Champion Pyrrha: I agree with you on this, it's...confusing. Could it be a trick from someone?
Paladin Jaune: No, the Priestess would've sniffed out a high-ranking demon for miles. I do have a theory that the Gala is real, and more infuriating on who's hosting it.
Champion Pyrrha: You don't mean...
Paladin Jaune: The Schnees. They always go all out with them, so why couldn't it be them?
Champion Pyrrha: I thought the Cathedral ruled out public outings and parties from others from afar since the warning was issued?
Paladin Jaune: And apparently, they either didn't get the obvious memo, or don't give a damn about human life like they always do!
With that being said, Jaune ushered the crowd of people to follow him, with Pyrrha sighing and jogging over to his side, with the rest of their team looking out of the sides, with Ruby sticking to the back. Once they are close to home, Jaune would have to pay a visit to a certain wealthy residence...
