Winds to the Wire
"Stand firm, men! Archers and crossbowmen, get a bead! Lay into them when they get in range! Fire at my signal!" Kenshi roared as the men drew their bows and crossbows behind the wall of iron thorns that stood before them.
An entire minute passed before the Grimm finally reached the range to fire. The winds whipped and howled as the great Xiangyang closed in, its eyes searching for the best prey. Steadying themselves, they began to put aura into their weapons, determined to make every arrow and bolt count. Ruby could feel the intensity of it being put into each shot, as if concentrated thunder had been put into it. Then her thoughts were broken by the roar of Kenshi's voice.
"Fire!" Kenshi roared, swinging his arm forward to order the fire.
Soon a hail of steel shot forth with the force of a crashing tide. The aura powered projectiles scythed through the wind force produced by the monstrous flying titan and impacted upon the Grimm hordes numbers. Little protection the lesser Grimm before them had could stop them, as they were cut down like wheat before the scythe in harvest. It bought them a bit of time, but it did little to avert Kenshi's fears.
"The wind's picking up. We have to wait until they're closer. At most, we will get one more volley before that giant wind monger makes it impossible to fire." Kenshi said to Azura, who nodded.
"Then make the next one count and get them back to the walls as a final line. We will have to deal with them with spears and swords then." Azura sternly said, which Kenshi then nodded in agreement with.
"Ready to fire again on my mark!" Kenshi ordered as the ranged warriors began to reload.
"Ruby, Yang. Get back behind the walls!" Tai ordered, turning to look at his daughters.
"But dad, I can…" Ruby tried to say, but Tai forcefully cut her off.
"You are not using Balam right now. We can handle this." Tai ordered.
Ruby stood and looked at her father, before looking at the horde with her silver eyes. She thought about what she did to the Leo at the ruins. She thought about all the times in the past she was forced to run away from her problems. Now she had the strength to fight and protect her home. Ruby clenched her fist, and gripped her makeshift scythe, the clear aura blade glistening in the pale sunlight. Digging her heels in, she then disappeared in the blind of everyone's eye, rushing towards the horde.
"RUBY!!!" Tai and Yang cried in horror, before Tai made a break for it after her.
"Yang! Stay there! I'll get her!" Tai yelled as he barreled through the soldiers' line, pushing past them before rushing off to get his daughter.
"You're going to get yourself killed, dad!" Yang called out, torn on what she should, or even could do. Then she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Azura looking at her, his eyes filled with resolve and determination.
"Do not worry, Lady Yang. I will go in personally. You stay here." Azura told her, walking past her with his hand on the hilt of his katana.
"Please… make sure they come back alive." Yang said, trying to hold back her feelings.
Turning back, Azura gave her a reassuring smile and a nod. Turning to face the horde, he snapped his fingers, signaling one of his men. Soon, one of his soldiers tossed him his naginata. Catching and spinning the polearm weapon a bit, he dropped into a stance, activated his Semblance, and rushed in as the lightning-like energy field surrounding him quickly turned a sapphire blue as Taiyang and Ruby made their way deep into the horde. Taking off at high speed, he rushed into the horde of Grimm after the father-daughter duo. As soon as he contacted the line of demonic beasts, he slammed through it, sending lesser Grimm flying with the force.
Sickening impacts were heard as Grimm were being sent flying left and right. Soon, Azura came to a stop ducking under a claw swipe from a Beowolf before kicking it in the face, sending it flying back fast first into the dirt, digging a trench into the ground as it stuck. Kicking a Creep in the face hard enough to cave in with his attack, he used his blow to kick off the face of the rhino-like theropod Grimm, faulting up into the air. Slamming down onto another lesser Grimm, Azura kicked one aside before dodging a blow from one, grabbing it with one hand, and swinging it by the limb to use it as a blunt force weapon to mow down other Grimm. Eventually, the Grimm was sent flying as its arm was torn off. Using the arm as a piercing weapon, Azura impaled another Grimm on it before kicking it aside.
Further up into the horde, Taiyang and Ruby had to fight hard against the unholy tsunami of teeth and claws before them. Ruby looked back for a moment to see the utter savagery on display from Azura. However, her body was pulled hard out of the way of a swinging arm of an Ursa by Balam's energies. Staggering back and catching her footing, she smiled a bit.
"Thank you, Balam." Ruby said aloud.
'Think nothing of it, Lady Ruby. This one was merely offering a small measure of assistance to thee as thine partner in battle.' Balam's voice mentally replied to her.
Ruby then took a deep breath, and closed her eyes, reaching herself for the Elemental's power. Tai was nearly blown off his feet as a sudden blast of force emanated off Ruby. The ground began to quake around them and splintered pebbles from boulders. At this, much of the Grimm horde, in a sudden shift that Tai and Azura had never seen before… stopped. The outer layers of the horde continued their mad dash towards Patch, but soon every blood red orb in the rest of the horde was focused squarely on Ruby.
However, soon the horde began to recover as inky black tongues slipped from their maws and licked white, bone covered lips and teeth. Sensing the power coming off the tiny human morsel and realizing that the host of a Nature Deity was within their midst. Upon this realization, the horde all roared and howled as they rushed into the fray, eager to attempt to overwhelm and devour their newly found prey.
Taking off at high speed, Ruby slashed with her scythe as the ground beneath her feet exploded with each step. Slashing and hacking away, she easily carved a path through the horde of demonic beasts as black smoke emitted from the corpses of her monstrous victims. Like carving through wheat, Ruby easily hacked and slashed her way through line upon line of Grimm, carving a path through the horde. Soon, her blade was met by a large, pitch-black blade opposite to it as Ruby beheld a strange Grimm.
Riding upon the back of a Horse Grimm, this one was vaguely humanoid. Its head, bone white and skeletal, was detached from its torso and held aloft by a hand as the hilt of a sword was clenched tightly between the bone-white teeth. In its other hand, the strange Grimm held onto the mane of the Horse Grimm like reins. Covering its body was bone white and inky black plate mail-like armor that resembled the armor worn by some kind of undead warrior, complete with an inky black and blood red cape. Planting its head onto its shoulders, the Grimm used its now free hand to take the hilt of its massive blade and grip it tightly. Pulling on the mane of the Horse Grimm, the creature caused its steed to rear back with a demonic neigh as it held its blade aloft.
With a gulp, Ruby realized what kind of Grimm this was. "D… D… Dullahan…" She muttered nervously.
'The Grimm before us is no more than a creature of habit. It may be able to tame a Knightmare to its will, but they are prideful, sinful creatures. Press your superior strength, and it will crumble before your martial superiority.' Balam said, the firmness in his voice redoubling her resolve.
Ruby nodded and readied her scythe. "R…right… let's do this, Balam…!" she replied to her partner, a look of fierce determination on her face.
Spinning her scythe blade, Ruby slashed at the leg of the Knightmare that the Dullahan had mounted. Raising its hooves and front legs, the Knightmare tried to stop on her only for Ruby to roll aside and dodge. Swinging her polearm blade, Ruby slashed at one of the horse Grimm's back ankles. The beast neighed in pain and fury as its back left hoof was sliced off, reducing its mobility, and rendering it unable to rear itself up. Thrusting forward, the Dullahan tried to stab Ruby from atop its mount with its massive double-edged blade. Blocking, Ruby easily deflected the heavy blade and slashed at the Dullahan, forcing it to bring its blade up to defend as the Knightmare was nearly brought down from the force of Ruby's blocked swing.
Looking forward, Taiyang caught sight of Ruby dueling with the Dullahan and its Knightmarish mount. Immediately, Taiyang became concerned and rushed forward. "Ruby! Be careful!" he called out, rushing to aid her.
Hearing her father, turned to look at him. "Dad…?" she asked in surprise before letting out a yelp as Balam's energy pulled her aside to avoid a slash from the Dullahan's massive blade.
'Focus, Lady Ruby! A warrior must not let themselves become distracted on the battlefield!' Balam chided his partner.
"Right! Come at me, you overgrown poss peddler!" Ruby yelled, pointing her scythe at the Dullahan in question.
Tugging on the mane of the Knightmare, the Dullahan kicked its mount in the sides to make it charge. Neighing in a demonic tone, the horse Grimm rushed forward as its rider readied its massive blade. Raising the pitch blade sword high, the Dullahan prepared to strike as Ruby rushed forward, her crystalline scythe blade aglow with Balam's power. The two combatants crossed blades as they pushed against each other for dominance. However, Ruby soon won the clash and, with a roar, swung her scythe with enough force to unbalance the Dullahan as her blade carved through the Knightmare, slaying the horse Grimm. Spinning with the force of her blow, Ruby then swung her scythe blade upwards as the Dullahan came down, cleaving it clean in two.
As Ruby kept the attention of the bulk of the horde, the outer edges of it had made it within range to strike Kenshi and his forces. With another volley at close range, there was nothing the lesser Grimm to do but charge ever forward, regardless of losses. Kenshi then, as the spears and polearms got into position, noticed a Dullahan, riding a great black Grimm stead, reaching the front of this lesser horde. Reaching onto his back for his crossbow, he lined up a shot.
To hit a moving Dullahan, especially one moving full tilt, was a nearly impossible task. However, Kenshi knew that the one way to stop a cavalry charge was to shoot the stead, not the rider. Pouring more aura into the shot than he ever had in his life, the crossbow bolt shone like it was made of sunlight. Then, upon pulling the trigger, the bolt shot forth like a ballista, arcing across the field in a dazzling display. By the time the rider Grimm realized it, it was far too late to even turn the maddened beast underneath it.
The bolt punched through the horse Grimm's chest, and soon unleashed the aura inside it, blowing out its chest cavity in a spray of aura and black ooze. In one last, maddened act, the Knightmare bucked its rider with its last dying breath, before it began to tumble and crush itself under its spiraling and spinning form. The humanoid Grimm, in a panicked frenzy, tried to right itself. However, Kenshi gripped his Katana's hit firmly and began pouring aura into his blade. Then, as the armored Grimm neared him in its arcing fall, he finally struck.
The blade moved faster than the human eye, creating a crescent of air pressure as it passed. The force of the slash, clashing against the sheer momentum the flying Grimm had, rent the armor in twain. The Grimm's form could not handle the conflicting forces pressed upon it, and it was forced apart, cut in two by the swift blade. As the halves disappeared into black smoke, Kenshi then stood firm against the remnant horde.
"Stand firm, men! Honor and might will prevail!" Kenshi roared as the Grimm were upon them.
Digging their heels into the alpine soil, the Grimm ran themselves against the spears and blades, trying to force their way through with sheer bulk and power. If the full horde before them had attempted this, then the humans would have stood no chance, swept aside by an unholy tide of monsters. However, now it was a struggle. Spears pierced demonic flesh, blades danced and cut, armor was damaged. Yet, despite the Grimms' numbers, the men held firm as Kenshi cut through the center of the horde with discipline and skill. Each slash cut down multiple of the monsters in its wake.
It was only a few minutes before the situation was left under control, as Kenshi stabbed his sword through the skull of the last Beowolf left standing. Despite its short length, the sheer exertion the men had to endure to not break had exhausted them. Some simply collapsed, while others put their hands on their knees. However, as Kenshi swept sweat from his brow, he noticed the great Xiangyang above them. It had not moved on their position. Instead, it was… circling. Looking at where it was circling, he realized just what it was after. It was after Azura, Ruby, and Taiyang…
Clenching his gauntlet-covered hands, Taiyang punched and smashed his way through Grimm after Grimm. Punching a Beowolf in the throat, he snapped its head off and sent its skull flying. Punching down into a creep, he caved in his skull. Catching a swing from an Ursa, he ripped off its arm and shoved its severed arm through its mouth and out the back of its skull claws first. On and on he pushed, killing Grimm as he tried to make his way towards Ruby.
Coming across a King Taijitu, he leapt over a lunge from the first head of the massive, two-headed snake Grimm and onto its back, sliding down its back as he punched holes in it. Leaping over a lunge from the Second head, he came down and punched hard down onto its skull. The resulting blow caved its head in as the snake Grimm fell over dead, beginning to dissolve into inky black smoke.
Looking up, Taiyang was left shocked as he saw the Xianyiang circling overhead like a vulture. It seemed to be circling right over them. But mostly, its attention was focused on…
"Ruby!" Taiyang called out in concern as he began to bulldoze his way through Grimm, trying desperately to reach the younger of his two daughters.
"Lady Rose!" Azura cried out, fighting back terror at seeing the massive creature of wind, before rushing after Taiyang.
Confused, Ruby looked down and saw a quickly growing shadow below her. Looking up, she saw the massive talons of the Xianyiang coming down towards her. Acting quickly, she dived out of the way as its claws dug into the earth beneath her. Swinging her scythe with all her strength, she slashed deep into the massive flying raptor Grimm's taloned foot. However, to her surprise, the blow did not cut deep enough to slice off even the toe. She could not yet draw on enough of Balam's strength to take this thing down. At least, the amount she could currently safely draw on was not enough…
'Balam! I need more power!' Ruby called into her subconscious, the words echoing through every fiber of her being.
'This is all thou can safely draw upon, Lady Ruby! Anymore and thou shalt shorten thine life!' The Elemental called out to her in concern.
'I will not allow this thing to hurt my family and my people! Give it to me Balam, or I will take it!' Ruby roared into her mind, rattling the Elemental with its force.
Before Ruby could do good on her threat, the beak of the massive predatory bird Grimm came down to try to impale her. Closing her eyes, Ruby prepared to forcefully draw upon more of Balam's strength. However, before she could, a loud clang was heard as the beak of the raptorlike Grimm impacted against something metal. Looking, she saw Taiyang standing above her, having caught the beak between his gauntlet-covered hands and holding it back with all his strength.
"D-Dad!?" Ruby yelled in shock.
"G-go, Ruby! Attack it now…!" Taiyang called out to his younger of his two daughters, struggling to hold the monstrous beak of the massive avian demon back.
"Right!" Ruby yelled as she gripped her scythe and kipped up to her feet.
Kicking off the ground with all her strength, Ruby spun with her scythe blade and slashed up into the feathered hide of the avian monstrosity. It let out a muffled shriek of agony as it tried to rear back, barely held in place by Taiyang. Coming back down, Ruby spun again and slashed down its back and along its pine, running down the length of its back like a bladed top. Struggling, the beast tried to throw Taiyang off only to have its leg cut deep into by a red, energy field-covered blur. His naginata in hand, Azura leapt up and spun himself, slashing across its torso with the blade of his polearm. With a swing of its wings, the beast swatted Ruby and Azura aside before trying to snatch up and swallow Taiyang.
However, the two polearm-using combatants landed on the ground and kicked off to leap at it, Slashing, they cut it across the brow, drawing black, ichor-like blood. Spinning, Ruby slashed down and cut it across one eye. Shrieking in pain and fury, it threw Taiyang aside and swatted Ruby down with a flap of its wing.
Glaring down at the three, it flapped its wings and blew them back with a blast of pressurized wind. Taking off, it left our heroes with a parting gift as it flapped its wings with all its might. The force of its flapping wings swept up hurricane level winds, blowing away any Grimm, rock, and tree in its path as a massive tornado ball was whipped up in the space between. With a massive flap of its wings, it launched the orb of wind down and caused a massive tornado to erupt where the orb landed.
The windstorm plucked up anything in its path as Azura, Taiyang, and Ruby sought cover from the storm. As the tornado raged, the Xianyiang covered itself in wind and flew off back towards the peak. The wind covering its body cut down on air resistance as it headed back up, looking to recuperate in its nest.
"That's right! You better run, you giant windbag!" Ruby screamed over the roar of the winds, shaking her fists at the monstrous Grimm as it flew away.
"Lady Rose, please do not antagonize it!" Azura called out as they took shelter in a small nearby cave.
"Then we will kick its butt again…" Ruby tried to say, before being cut off.
"We got lucky this time, Ruby. Next time, it'll be back. And it'll be out for blood when it does…" Taiyang chided his daughter.
"If I got the full power of Balam, then we could have…" Ruby tried to say, before Tai firmly cut her off.
"'We could have' what? Shortened your life taking that thing down?" Taiyang asked sternly.
"What is the big deal about that!? If I am putting my life to a good cause of saving people, then what is the problem!" Ruby yelled back.
"Because I've already lost your mother! I can't lose you too!! I will not lose you too!!!" Taiyang yelled back at her, visibly trying to hold back tears.
Ruby's expression softened as she then took her dads hand on her own. "Dad. I'm not a little kid anymore. I'm tired of running from my problems, from these threats. I have the power now to help people. Even if it means my life, I would give it for all of you." Ruby said to him.
Taiyang shook his head. "You don't understand, Ruby. I'm your father. It's my job to protect you. Not the other way around…" he said, trying to make her understand.
"Then let's work together, then. To protect others." Ruby replied, looking up into his eyes as she said it.
Taiyang dried his tears and gave her a small smile. "You're so much like your mother…" he told her.
"... Not to interrupt the heartwarming bonding moment between you two, but the winds are dying down now." Azura nervously said, trying his best not to offend either of them.
"Dad, please let me fight. Let me help." Ruby begged, her eyes looking like a puppy dog's in the moment.
Taiyang took a deep breath and looked at the eastern warrior lord. "Lord Azura. When we get back to the village, I want you to step up Ruby's training. If she's going to fight too, I don't want her going in unprepared." he told the young man before him, much to Ruby's surprise and joy.
"I will not fail you, Sir Taiyang." Azura answered with determination.
"Alright, then let's get out there and get training!" Ruby yelled as she jumped to her feet.
The three slowly left the cave, with new resolve and purpose in their step. While it did not fully abate Tai's fears for his daughter, he knew that she was reaching the age where he would have to let her go and forge her own path. He just wished it were easier than what it was turning out to be…