Second day of posting 5 chapters in a weak.
If you want to support my work, on my Ko-fi I have 8 chapters ahead of this one for subscribers: ko-fi(dot)com/avipbr
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Is 'Pride' the collective term for lion in English?
Because if not... this title doesn't make any sense.
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[Audra Taurus]
I stand still as I look around at the crowd surrounding me, barely believing what I see. Faunus men and women, all with a determination and will to fight that I hadn't seen in years.
'You did this, Gira... While I stood frozen.' I thought silently, remembering my disgrace.
"Commander Taurus!" Shouts Kou, my second-in-command with a marmoset tail and holding binoculars in his hand, the young man's face marked with concern. "Dread Shadow and most of the flying grimm stopped advancing when they got near the human's plane, but the ground ones are still coming in great numbers!"
"Jaune...!" I murmur, grateful for his help, but no time to think about the young human—I focus on the battle ahead. "How many?"
"Tens of thousands, commander." Kou replies, breathing heavily, trying to catch his breath. "They're coming fast, what do we do?"
"Damn!" I curse, frustrated. "Get back to your post, Kou. I'll join the front line."
The young faunus nods, his tail swaying nervously.
"Yes, commander!" He turns and runs back, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I walk quickly to where the faunus armed with dust rifles and spears had set up a defensive line. Among them was a group of 20 of my best fighters, equipped with the light armor and lasguns Jaune gave us.
The laser weapon is light, powerful, and never jams. If we had a hundred more of them, I wouldn't be this nervous.
I stop before my warriors, the front line raised, weapons in hand. In the distance, the horde of grimm advances, a black sea of claws and teeth. I take a deep breath, the cold air filling my lungs. It's time to remind everyone why I'm the commander.
"Faunus of Faunaria!" my voice cut through the storm like thunder itself. "Look around you! Those beside you are not just soldiers.… they are your countrymen! For today, here, on this land that will be soaked with our sweat and the enemy blood, we will raise the foundation of our nation!"
A murmur of agreement spreads through the line.
"They want fear? We'll give them rage! They want our lives? We'll give them a fight!" I raise my black axe, the weapon I got as a gift from Jaune. "For the Faunus! For our future! FAUNARIA STANDS!"
The war cries echo around me, a symphony of courage and fury. The grimm are close, but it doesn't matter. We're ready, we're united, and we will fight to the end.
The grimm approach, now close enough to be identified with the naked eye.
In the front, the small but ferocious dinosaur grimm known as Terror Raptors. Their black scales glisten under the faint light, red eyes locked on us. They charge at a frantic pace, sharp claws tearing the ground.
[Image]
Behind them, at a slower but still fast pace, come the giant Terror Rex. Their massive jaws open and close, anticipating the feast. Among them, I spot the most dangerous variant, the Twin Terror Rex. Two heads on a single body even larger and more muscular than the normal Terror.
[Image]
"Hold the line!" I shout, my voice cutting through the air. "Fire at will!"
The Dust rifles fire, the sound echoing like thunder. The smaller raptors fall, one by one, but the bigger Terror Rex… those bastards keep advancing, barely feeling the impacts.
"Lasguns focus fire on the big ones!" I yell, my voice rising above the chaos.
The lasers cut through the air, bright red lines slicing through the Terror Raptors like paper, reaching the larger grimm in the back. The Terror Rex roar, finally feeling pain. They slow down, giving us a moment of relief.
"Reload!" The command echoes through the line. The faunus obey with quick and precise movements.
The Dust rifles are reloaded, while the laser weapons keep firing. The Terror Rex keep getting closer at a slower pace, but still not close enough to reach us.
"Fire!" I shout again, and the front line fires in unison. More Raptors fall while those with lasers focus on the bigger ones.
I pass the command to Kou, who was on my left, trusting that he will keep the line strong, for a Terror Rex is now too close for me to afford giving orders.
I grip the handle of my axe tightly. The weapon, a gift from Jaune, is unlike anything I've ever used. Its black blade seemed magically sharp and it emits a pale glow like moonlight.
"Let's see what you can do." I murmur to the axe, stepping forward to meet the creature.
The Terror Rex roars, the sound making the ground around it vibrate.
"ROOOAR!"
It lowers its head, jaws open, ready to strike. I wait, every muscle tense, ready for action. When it's just a few meters away, I move.
I leap to the side, dodging the jaws that snap at the air. I swing the axe, using the momentum from my jump to add force to the blow.
"Shit!" I curse, frustrated.
I miscalculated my jump, so my blade hits the creature's bone armor instead of a vulnerable black flesh part of its neck.
CRECK!
"Hem?" I murmur, confused by the monster's bone cracking.
Luckily for me, Jaune's axe breaks through the carapace with ease. That allowed me to continue my strike.
FWAP!
"EEAAOWW!" Screeched the creature as my axe buried into its flesh.
The blade slices through the Terror Rex's neck, cutting deep. Black blood gushes from the wound, as the creature roars in pain.
But it's not enough to bring it down. The monster turns toward me, red eyes glowing with fury. But before it can strike again, I activate my semblance, increasing the axe's weight to finish the cut.
CHOP!
The creature's head falls before me, allowing me to breathe for a second… which was a mistake.
"AUDRA!" Kou shouts draws my attention. "RUN!"
As I turn, I see a Twin Terror Rex got close to me.
"Oh shit!"
Its two monstrous heads hurl acid, a green and steaming torrent headed straight for me. No time to think, I just react by raising my arms, a useless gesture of defense.
But then, something unexpected happens.
A small silver blade, glowing with shades of green and brown, falls to the ground in front of me.
THUCK!
The impact shakes the ground, and suddenly, a pillar of earth and vines bursts out of the sand, forming a natural barrier that shields me from the acid flood.
"What...?" I murmur, stunned.
The barrier of earth and vines trembles with the impact of the acid, but holds strong. The acrid smell of the acid burns my nose, but I'm safe for now.
"It's been a while since we fought side by side, master." Comments a familiar voice in an ironic tone.
"Sienna?" I ask, turning toward her.
She's there, wielding her Cerberus Whip, the metallic tip still glowing with rock and plant dust. Her gaze is firm, determined.
"What are you doing here?" I ask, the surprise giving way to suspicion.
"Saving your life, apparently." She replies, glancing toward the Twin Terror Rex roaring behind me. "But we can talk about that later. We've got a war to win."
I nod, recognizing the truth in her words.
'Now's not the time for arguments. We need to survive first.'
I run toward the acid-spitting monster with Sienna at my side. The creature, noticing our approach, lifts one of its massive paws, ready to stomp it down.
"I'll try to stop it!" Sienna yells, her voice cutting through the air.
Before I can react, she throws another metal tip with rock Dust. The sharp point digs into the ground, causing a stone pillar to erupt straight up under the Terror Rex's foot.
The impact makes the creature stumble, losing its balance. I take the opportunity, using my semblance to become lighter and leap between the heads, axe in hand.
"Let's finish this!" I shout, adrenaline rushing through my veins.
I activate my semblance once more to exponentially increase my weight. Like a meteor, I drop between the heads, adding the impact force to mine and easily slice the grimmm in half.
FWAP!
"Impressive." Sienna comments, surprised. "Where did you get that weapon?"
With a cheeky grin, I turn and wink at her. Sienna stares at me confused for a second, until realization hits her.
"Miracle-working human bastard." Sienna mutters, annoyed. "Aren't you a little too old to have a sugar daddy?"
A vein of pure rage throbs on my forehead, inspiring me to respond in kind.
"Aren't you a little too old to act like a jealous bitch?"
…
"Fair… I guess we better focus on this apocalyptic event." Says Sienna, turning toward the monster horde.
"Agreed." I replied, getting ready for the three grimm approaching.
[Ilia Amitola]
"Say what you will about Jaune Arc." I murmured, making an arc with my new whip, preparing to strike. "But no one can say he doesn't know how to give presents."
At the top of the Black Bird, the wind cut across my face as I swung the whip, cracking it against the vulture grimm trying to get close. Every strike was precise, every move calculated.
Half of the Arc Knight were providing cover, their precise shots taking down the monsters that got to close. The other half was firing at Dread Shadow's body, interfering with his flight path.
"More to the left!" I shouted, pointing at a group of vultures trying to flank the plane.
The Arc Knights adjusted their aim, and a burst of lasers cut through the air, bringing the grimm down in a shower of dark feathers.
The whip cracked again, wrapping around the neck of a diving vulture. With a firm yank, the monster evaporated the moment the weapon touched it.
"Where does he even find these weapons?" I asked, astonished.
{{Less talk, more fight.}} Complained Church, his voice coming from inside one of the robots.
"I know what I'm doing, machine." I replied, preparing for another strike. "Why aren't you firing lasers or missiles from this plane?"
{{'This is a diplomatic mission, not a conquest. We don't need that on our plane.'}} Complained Church, mimicking Jaunes voice.
"Goddamn it, Jaune!" I complain frustrated. "You could be a little more like the violent colonizer I thought you were."
Half of the Arc Knights kept laying down cover fire while the other half shot at the Dread Shadow, trying to draw its attention, each shot landing with deadly precision. But the swarm of vultures didn't lessen, there were still too many in the air.
"Church, why don't you leave the defensive and go full on the attack with the drones?" I ask curiously. "I think you could clear a good chunk with your coordination."
{{I'd love to help more, but I'm a bit busy at the moment.}} Church's voice echoed calm and controlled, but with a hint of tension.
"Busy? With what?" I shot back, dodging a vulture diving at me. The whip cracked, cutting the air and taking down the grimm.
{{Besides controlling the Arc Knights and piloting the ship, I'm currently performing brain, heart, and full nervous system surgery on Jaune. So forgive me if I can't give my full attention to the grimm.}}
"Surgery?" I asked, confused. "Mid-flight-." I tried to get more information, but was cut off by an ear-shattering screech.
"SKRYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAK!"
The black smoke around the Dread Shadow began to expand, engulfing the ship and the entire sky. My heart raced, but I stayed focused, bringing the whip back to me and preparing for the worst.
Suddenly, the darkness thickened, and more red eyes sprouted from the mist.
"No way…" I murmured, blood turning cold. "The Dread Shadow is generating even more grimm?"
The smaller vultures, now even greater in number, surged toward me. My stomach twisted with nerves as the swarm of black wings and red eyes closed in. The sound of their shrill cries filled the air, a chorus of death that chilled my blood.
The Arc Knights quickly surrounded me, providing cover.
"Church, we need reinforcements!" I shouted, my voice nearly lost in the chaos.
{{I'm doing the best I can, Ilia.}} Church's voice sounded tense, but composed. {{But Jaune's surgery is at a critical point. I can't divert resources now.}}
Refusing to be useless, I started spinning the whip and cracking it at the enemies, but every hit felt pointless against the endless horde.
{{Don't worry that pretty little red head of yours!}} Yelled a voice with a thick hillbilly accent through the communicator. {{The cavalry's here.}}
"Who?"
As if answering my question, I was cut off by gunshots and explosions.
RATATATA-BOOM-RATATATA! RATATATA-BOOM-RATATATA!
{{BY THE ANCESTORS OF MY ANCESTORS!}} Shouted the red hillbilly robot, firing from the ground. {{ATTACK!}}
RATATATA-BOOM-RATATATA! RATATATA-BOOM-RATATATA!
My eyes widened, and my jaw dropped. The big red Arc security robot, the same one I once fought against alongside the White Fang, was now unleashing an unimaginable amount of firepower.
'The day we fought him, there wasn't even a hint of this devastating power.' I thought, sweating cold. 'It was like he was playing with us back then, and now… seeing him in all his violent glory, I realized just how the fang had underestimated Jaune Arc.'
RATATATA-BOOM-RATATATA! RATATATA-BOOM-RATATATA!
The ground shook and dust rose under the giant's feet. The cannons on its back spewed fire and death, while the machine guns mounted on its arms shredded the grimm like they were made of wet paper.
"This is…" I murmured, still in disbelief.
{{FAUNARIA WILL BE BORN OF VIOLENCE AND GUNPOWDER!}} The robot's voice echoed, dripping with a country drawl that, somehow, seemed even louder than the gunfire. {{MY KIND OF NATION!}}
The robot kept advancing slowly through the desert, each step firmer and more determined than the last. The black mist of grimm began to dissipate, the once dark and threatening sky now lit up with explosions, each one bringing a little more hope.
"Where did Jaune get this?" I ask, still unable to take my eyes off the spectacle in front of me.
{{Texas countryside.}} Church replied.
"SKRYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAK!"
The creature screeched once more, but now the Dread Shadow looked down toward the lone robot in the desert, perceiving it as its greatest threat.
The black clouds expelled from the body of the gigantic vulture began to thin, as if they were entering the creature's body, then the monster opened its beak. The titanic-sized vulture regurgitated a torrent of smoke and black pitch from its mouth.
"BLAAAAARGH!"
Midway, the liquid and smoke began to solidify into more grimm, red eyes sprouting from their bodies.
{{BRING IT ON, YOU BOTTOM-FEEDERS!}} Shouted the robot, aiming its cannons and machine guns at the deluge of monsters falling upon it. {{I HAVE A BONER FOR MURDER!}}
RATATATA-BOOM-RATATATA! RATATATA-BOOM-RATATATA!
The machine guns on its arms spun, cutting through the grimm as if they were made of paper, while the cannons on its back spewed fire, each explosion tearing a hole in the wave of grimm. holes that were quickly filled, like an endless plague. It was as if the black smoke that produced grimm had concentrated to pour out from the Dread Shadow's mouth.
As much as it unloaded everything it had onto the Dread Shadow, it could only slow the advance of the grimm being regurgitated by the leviathan-class monster.
{{HAHAHA!}} The robot laughed loudly like a madman, its voice echoing across the desert.
Even with its laughter, my heart tightened when the deluge of grimm slammed into the robot's body.
Despite the grimmm piling on it, the robot kept firing, trying to hit the Dread Shadow's body. The sound of the machine guns echoed through the desert, blending with the piercing screeches of the monsters.
My heart was racing as I watched the scene, the whip still firm in my hands. The robot, even damaged, kept fighting with great ferocity. It was as if it was possessed by a supernatural force, an unbreakable will to protect and destroy.
CREEEEK!
Suddenly, a metallic creak cut through the air, followed by a deafening crash. My eyes widened as I saw the robot's leg give out, the metal folding under the weight of the grimm. The metal giant staggered, falling to its knees. But instead of surrendering, it redoubled its efforts, the cannons on its back firing with even more intensity.
My stomach twisted into a knot. The robot kept fighting, but it was clear it wouldn't last much longer.
CREEEEE-CLANG!
OOne of its arms falls to the ground, making the red robot stop laughing. The grimm, unable to pierce its armor, kept throwing themselves at it, making the great red robot fall to the ground.
Even on the ground, the grimm kept piling on top of it until it was buried, and the sound of metal creaking once again echoed across the desert from the sheer weight of the monsters.
"We need to help him."
I tried to take a step forward, but one of the Arc Knights held me by the shoulder.
"Let me go!" I protested, unable to break free from the robot. "You're just going to do nothing?"
Despite my question, my only response was silence.
The sound of an engine began revving inside the red robot, a deep hum that grew louder, as if something inside was coming to life. Red lights started leaking between the openings of the grimm, slivers of light cutting through the darkness covering the metal giant. The sound intensified, a mechanical roar that echoed through the desert, drowning out even the grimm' screeches.
{{TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO DIE!}} Shouted the robot whose name I didn't even know.
The red lights intensified, becoming almost blinding. The engine's hum turned into a deafening roar that only stopped when it suddenly exploded!
BOOOM!
Fire vaporized the nearby grimm as a shockwave spread through the desert. The remains of the red mechanical body scattered across the desert sands.
"No…" I murmured, holding back tears.
As if in response to my grief, the jet began pulling away from the Dread Shadow.
"Now you're gonna run?" I said furiously.
My anger is cut by a guitar riff echoing from inside the Black Bird, accompanied by a song I had never heard before, its vocals growing louder and clearer.
{Ooh, are you ready girls?
Ooh, are you ready now?}
"What the hell is this?" I asked furiously, suspecting that we were about to retreat.
{{I'm preparing an entrance.}} The blue robot replied in an irritated tone.
{Whoa, yeah
Kickstart my heart, give it a start
Whoa, yeah
Baby}
A blond figure surrounded by two tornadoes shoots out of the jet towards Dread Shadow.
"Is that Jaune?"
{Whoa, yeah
Kickstart my heart, hope it never stops
Ooh, yeah
Baby, yeah}
{{That idiot.}} Church grumbled irritably. {{I thought undergoing such a drastic and life-threatening procedure would make him grow up a bit.}}
"LEEROY JENKIS!" Jaune shouts, laughing loudly.
{{I guess I'm the true idiot here!}}
[Audra Taurus]
Sweat runs down my face, mixing with the dust and pulverized rock shards from the battle. The metallic smell of faunus blood hangs in the air. I looked at my forces, desperate silhouettes against the red sunset sky.
"Listen up, soldiers!" I shouted, taking a confident stance despite the pain. "Fatigue is for the weak! Defend our families! Let those soulless monsters feel our fury!"
My eyes turned to the horizon, spotting a black jet circling the titan grimm vulture, where Jaune was facing the Dread Shadow. The grotesque creature that could destroy our city with its abyssal presence alone.
On our battlefield, the grimm kept coming like an endless horde, draining our strength and resources.
"They're too many! And we're out of Dust ammo already!" Shouted a faunus from my team, pointing to the ground-based grimm advancing toward the city center. "We'll have to retreat!"
'She's right.' I thought, worried. 'I can buy them some time, but to do that I need someone to take command. But I don't have anyone in the militia experienced enough to lead them in a retreat.'
At that moment, my eyes turned to the leader of the White Fang wielding her chain whip.
"SIENNA!" I yelled, and the tiger faunus turned to me, revealing a still-fresh scar on her left eye. "Fall back with our forces and organize them into a defensive line."
"And leave you alone?" She asked incredulously. "No way, you crazy cow."
"Sienna…" I murmur pleadingly. "Please."
Swallowing hard, Sienna turned to the militia, who had heard our conversation, and began guiding them to defense points in the city.
Turning toward the horde of monsters approaching, I let out a threat to hype myself up rather than intimidate them.
"Come get me, you syphilitic leftovers of leviathan grimm!"
With a swing, I cleaved three Raptors in half as they leapt toward me.
"ROOOOR!" Roared a Rex stomping nearby.
"You! I already know how to deal with you easily." I murmured with a smile.
I ran low to the ground, dodging the creature's bite. When I reached between its legs, I used my axe to separate the monster's foot from the rest of its body.
"GYAAAAAH" Wailed the creature as it fell to the ground, only to then have its head easily severed.
CHOP!
As time passed, more sweat streamed down my face, mixing with the sand and irritating my skin. Each strike made my axe heavier, even without using my Semblance. But I couldn't stop. Not while those monsters kept invading our city, not while my people were in danger.
My rage began consuming me, giving me more brute strength to fuel each move.
I had already lost count of how many I had taken down, but there were always more to face. They came in a constant wave, a tide of black flesh and white bone armor. The small Raptors were starting to get more annoying thanks to my sluggishness. Proof of that was that I dropped my guard, and one took advantage of it.
CHOMP!
"Argh." I growled in pain, feeling the bite at my heel break my Aura.
I quickly crushed the grimm with a punch, but the damage was done. I'm out of Aura and my foot is injured.
"ROAAAAAAAAR!"
And to make things worse, a Twin Terror Rex was approaching.
"Come on, Audra." I said to myself. "Get up, dammit!"
Even with pain and blood dripping, I managed to stand, gripping my axe. But the moment I looked at the creature, I saw its two mouths open, glowing green, ready to regurgitate acid.
I tried to jump away from the attack.
"Shit!" Only to remember my heel had been chomped, making me fall face-first into the ground. "I'm such an idiot."
The acrid smell of acid filled my nostrils, making it clear my end was near. As despair took over my being, I could only think of one thing.
"Forgive me, Minos…" I lamented with tears in my eyes. "I failed you and our son."
With one last effort, I threw my axe at the two-headed grimmm.
"GYAR!" It struck where the necks met, making it recoil a step.
"Heh!" I laughed sarcastically. "If I had a bit of Aura left to use my Semblance, I could've cut you in half."
Shaking off the pain to focus back on me, the creature took a step forward, its mouths open, already drooling corrosive green liquid.
"ROOAAR!" Roared the monster, acid bubbling in its throat.
But before it could attack, a voice echoed above us, shouting something unintelligible.
"HAKUNA MATATA!" Shouts a strange purple-and-gold blur falling from the sky onto the grimm.
POFF!
"CAIM!" Whimpered the monster as one of its skulls was smashed by the impact.
After the blow, the grimm, now with only one head, staggered and collapsed to the side.
"PUMBA!" Shouted another voice falling from the sky.
This figure descended more slowly, so I was able to examine it.
It was wearing armor like I had never seen before. Heavy and shaped like a humanoid vault, predominantly purple with yellow details. At its back, it seemed to carry a Dust rifle, while in its hands it wielded a… 'rocket hammer?'
[Image Armor]
[Image Weapon]
The armored individual fell beside the grimm's head, and with a swing of his weapon, propelled by a blue rocket flame, he smashed the skull with one blow.
"Are you crazy, Pumba?" Yelled the being standing in purple armor, helping the other who had landed on top of the grimm. "Why did you throw yourself like that?"
"But it was the boss lady who told us to jump." Said the figure getting up, with a deeper voice than his ally.
"Not belly-first, you idiot." Explained his frustrated ally with an irritating voice, turning his back. "You were supposed to use the jetpack to land, remember?"
"Aaaaah."
Happy to have been saved, I tried to get up and greet those two, but I tripped and fell again.
"Damn!" I muttered once more, frustrated.
"Hold on, commander!" Said the warrior with an squeak voice, pulling a green seed from a holster. "I think you know what this is, right?"
It was one of Jaune's miraculous healing seeds. I quickly ate the seed, already feeling the pain leave my body, replaced by relief and energy.
"Thank you men, but who are you?" I asked, curious.
"Timon and Pumba reporting for duty." Said the taller one with a deep voice, saluting with his left hand.
I stood up, cracking my shoulders and stretching my legs. The shorter one with the irritating voice handed me my axe as I finish stretching.
"Thanks again, but I doubt just two of you in armor will make much of a difference."
My comment made the two glance at each other and chuckle before the shorter one explained why.
"Let's just say there's more than just two of us."
Looking around, I saw what he said was true.
Several pairs of fighters in armor similar to theirs were engaging with grimm, thinning out our enemies before they could reach the defensive line.
"Who are you?" I ask stunned.
The shorter one stepped forward and with his chest puffed out, proclaimed:
"We are the Pride of Steel, we are Knight Shade."