"-and now! The final event of the night. The reason why I am the KING." Hei grinned as he tore the curtain that hung from the ceiling revealing the thorn in his side.
From a length of chain, unconscious and breathing softly, was The Green Hornet.
Stripped of her coat, it having been searched for weapons and tools, finding a set of well worn lockpicks, a burner Scroll that they had smashed instantly, a folded up and weather worn map of Vale, and a series of hidden knives.
It was hateful that none of his men had even ever pushed the girl to the point that she'd had to rely on these backup weapons.
Still, Hei felt his heart roar with pride as the entirety of the biggest players of Vale's Underground screamed and shouted for the girl's death, some of the less civilized thugs throwing whatever in their arms reach at the girl, usually meaning the few small bowls of peanuts and other little snacks that had been available at this club.
Junior, named after his son that was looking down from the VIP floor with an uncomfortable expression.
And thanks to his men manually hijacking a feed at the VNN he'd be broadcasting the whole thing live for all of Vale to see. That what the people should fear was not the Spiders at their doorstep, but the King already living inside their home.
He was handed the girl's own spear as he took a heavy swing into her stomach, using the spear more like a bat.
Even unconscious, the girl being as well trained as she was, her dark gold aura flashed, making her cough into wakefulness.
"Good evening, Hornet."
"Ah…" The girl sighed, her voice catching a bit in pain, clearly delirious from Roman's betrayal. "I hate that moniker. Really… not heroic at all."
"A hero. You break the law and interfered with my business for such a dumb thing…" Hei narrowed his eyes as he swung the spear into her ribs, making her swing through the air like a sandbag. "FOR SUCH A STUPID SENTIMENT?!"
"KILL HER!"
"FUCKING KILL HER!"
"SQUASH THE BUG!"
There were other tasteless requests as well, but Hei was above such base things. He was a King. He had an image to uphold. Besides, nothing was as enjoyable as a ripe, mature woman. Preferably a young mother.
"It seems that you're not too surprised to find yourself here, Hornet." Hei spat on the girl, relishing in the fact that she disliked being referred as such. It made things easier for him. "Surprised that your little thief from Mistral betrayed you?"
"Surprised that he needed two tasers." The girl coughed as she swung from the chain. "I was kind of surprised that the first one didn't take me out with that much voltage. But after I tanked the first one, I was expecting that he'd have to at least taze me two more times. Sort of disappointed in myself there."
"Well." Hei smashed the shaft of the steel spear, fuck this was heavier than it looked, no wonder his men fucking crumpled against this bitch, against her left knee. He smiled as she cried out in pain. "You're Aura is still holding up. Which suits me just fine. That'll just put on a better show for all of our guests!"
The club roared in excitement and bloodlust.
"And thanks to you and Roman leaking the Spider's plan to the VPD, they're swamped. There is NO ONE that is coming to save you tonight!"
Hei sweat, his breath growing heavy, swinging again, and again.
FUCK.
For a teenage brat she had so much fucking Aura! It couldn't possibly be because he was weak or out of shape! He genuinely exercised regularly! Why the fuck was her spear so damn heavy?
"Well," He panted, finally shattering her Aura after ten minutes of wailing at the girl. He was sure that if a properly trained Huntsman had been doing it, she'd have crumpled a lot faster, but her weapon was heavy and even he needed to take small breaks and posture around to recover the stamina to beat at her again. "It seems that the 'legendary' Green Hornet was only worth so much in the end after all."
He let her spear clatter at her feet uselessly.
The girl was breathing heavily too, panting in pain as faint bruises formed on her body. Dumb Huntress brat wearing nothing more than a skirt over a pair of tight shorts and a crop top, despite being a fucking washboard.
Hei pulled his handgun from the inside of his coat as the whole of Junior's roared in excitement for the finale.
"Any last words?"
Her words were tired and soft, audible only to him.
"...Yeah. Activate SSR Rarity Evolved Ability: Immunity to Missiles (EX)."
Hei flinched, sensing some sort of intent from her words, turning around to look for any sign of any tomfoolery. Perhaps her 'sister' was nearby? With that sneaky bitch it wasn't impossible for her to be in the crowd somewhere. He had his suspicions that it was Jimmy's daughter, currently at Beacon under a false name, but he'd never had the opportunity to make certain.
Beacon held a tight net under normal circumstances. If maybe a Vytal Festival was happening he could confirm it, but that wouldn't happen while the girl was in school.
But nothing happened as the crowd cheered on for her death.
"...Whatever mind games you intend on playing won't work." Hei spat, driving the tip of his weapon, Queen, into her temple. "Die."
He pulled the trigger, the sound of the Dust round going off in his gun echoing through the club.
Hei's eyes widened.
"What the fuck are you?"
She'd caught it with her teeth.
And all the lights shut off.
"A blade in the night." Her eyes glowed green in the darkness, her voice hissed like death.
Roman roared as he tore the handle of the power breaker off.
"Fuck! With her fucking teeth! Good gods I am not fucking with that. Thank fucking gods that false betryals Cap herself planned don't count for that Geas bullshit of hers. Even the fucking small test burns sucked ass."
It was only a small burn, but it was never going to properly heal right without Cap's permission. A bit of a leash to remind him exactly why she wasn't to be fucked with.
He chafed under the idea of such a leash, but he was sure at this point that all Cap wanted was harder rules for the Underground. As long as he could give her that, he'd more or less have absolute freedom. Except when she'd need something. Eh.
There was no way she wouldn't lie a bit low after all this. He'd get plenty of free time to get over it.
Roman stepped forward in the darkness, his Faunus granted darkvision letting him step over the bodies of the King's Men, often also called the Red Axe Gang, without issues. He'd had to quickly knock a few of them unconscious to get at the mainline power grid.
Luckily they were only lowbies.
"Hey, Mint! You and your little friends are in charge of keeping the building locked down, right? Don't let any rats escape that don't look like me!"
Trivia hardened her expression as Roman's signal that Step: Kingmaker was now running from inside the club.
The whole of team CRXN maintained a perimeter around Junior's, lending Trivia a hand. She was actually surprised at how… willing they were to help without asking any questions. The Lovebirds claimed they were ride or die, but… she hadn't expected Cinder to come out and assist without a single question or word of complaint.
She hadn't even asked the taller girl for her help. Cinder had sort of just… tagged along.
"Hey, princess." Rakan spoke over the other earpiece, "Your family really owns this swanky club?"
Trivia typed on her Scroll and flashed it at Cinder next to her, the two were holding watch over the front door as the Faunus couple were overlooking the back.
"She says it belongs to a business partner of her dad's. Pretty much an uncle." Cinder replied for Trivia. "Good gifts, bad person."
Her father, according to Jaune who'd hacked into his office computer for Trivia, was apparently helping the Xiong Clan smuggle Dust. The actual moron.
Both her parents were criminals and they wanted Trivia to turn out normal and well adjusted. Jokes on them. She was going to bring everything they had down around them and confront them at the end of it all. She'd hear them out before a final decision. She owed them that much as their daughter.
But no matter what, at the end of the night, she was no longer going to be their daughter. She was going to be free.
Trivia Vanille would die tonight. To all but Jaune Arc.
To the world, only Neopolitan Rider would remain.
"Sweet gig. I'd ask if Xah and I could get some free drinks, but I get the feeling this isn't going to end happily tonight, huh?"
Trivia typed again on her Scroll.
"..." Cinder sighed, surprising Trivia with a somewhat surprisingly reassuring pat on the shoulder. "She says after she finishes up everything tonight, drinks are on her. Fuck it, I'll get us some good snacks to go with it. Like it or not, I'm your Partner, Neo. I wouldn't be here otherwise."
Trivia huffed as she looked away from Cinder who just chuckled at her.
Her Scroll just flashed at the girl to shut up and stop laughing.
Who does she think she is? Neo grumbled, but she was feeling a bit warm too. Jaune's our Partner.
…Maybe Cinder was still her Partner after all. She was Neo's Partner. Trivia could have Jaune.
Th-that's unfair! Wait a second! Trivia! Neo whined, making Trivia grin. Share! Time out! Time out!
Jaune twisted up the jittering chain, his eyes aglow in the dark.
Bullets whizzed through the air, flashes of colored Dust combustions filling the darkened club.
But none of that mattered as his heart raced.
After all…
SSR Rarity Evolved Ability: Immunity to Missiles (EX)
Origin: ERROR
Description: An evolution brought upon by a Seed of Evolution to the SSR Rarity Ability: Protection From Arrows (B). Though it has muddled the origin of the ability, due to repeated consumption of Seeds of Evolution, a miraculous occurrence has presented itself!
An ability of Astral Power that edges on a spark of Divinity, this ability grants the user with a mixture of both supernatural luck that causes all missiles of any form to miss and cause no harm to the user, as well as supernatural ability to block, deflect, or otherwise negate any such missiles. By these combined, the holder of this ability truly is Immune to all Missiles.
Unlike Protection From Arrows, however, this Ability does recognize shrapnel from explosives to be categorically accepted as a 'missile' even though it grants no protection from the ensuing shockwaves or explosion itself.
Unlike Huntsmen that required their weapons to be melee compatible because Grimm didn't have organs to puncture and pulverize like humans and Faunus, thus requiring more raw damaging force, gangsters didn't care for melee weapons. Not usually.
For them a bullet was superior. It leveled playing fields, helped quickly blast down targets. Let the weak fight the strong.
Unless they were a Huntsman dropout that never made it into one of the Four Colleges, they would carry knives or machetes at best.
Jaune quickly pulled out a bottle from his Inventory, popped open the cork and slammed it down as his heart hammered. It tasted disgusting.
He… he was scared. Even if they couldn't physically hit him, his heart raced without his Aura. Was he really this much of a coward, just because his Aura was gone? They couldn't HIT him, for heaven's sake.
But in a way, this strange sense of fear helped him focus. He had a goal. A mission. And he'd prepared everything he could for this moment. Selfishly forced a lot onto a lot of people. Been… really unfair, actually. It was pretty wrong of him. Sort of fucked up, actually. He saw why Trivia had been mad at him when he'd suggested it.
Strangely, Jaune felt somehow clear-headed. And he realized he had some apologies to make.
SSR Rarity Consumable: Potion of Storm Giant Strength (x2)
Origin: Sword Coast of The Forgotten Realms
Description: A legendary potion brewed with the fingernail of a Storm Giant. An entity whose very nature grants them physical strength a mere half step away from the lowest rank of Divinity.
For the length of a bell (an hour) the imbiber of this potion shall be granted the awe-inspiring strength of a Storm Giant, the most powerful of the titanic race. Though no storm nor wind shall answer your call, physical strength beyond human limits shall become yours.
This potion has no effect if your strength is already equal to or exceeds the level of strength granted by this potion.
Adrenaline then pumped through his veins, as it felt like liquid thunder was beating from his heart.
Ok. This potion might have been overkill.
Though his muscles did not expand, with a mere flex of his wrists and calves, his handcuffs snapped off so hard that the metal sparked, lighting up for a brief moment to reveal his form in the air.
He felt bullets whizz overhead as he dropped to the floor and picked up his steel spear.
And with a single swing he shattered Hei Xiong's Aura and split him in two.
The flash of Dust rounds discharging into the air gave brief flashes to the camera that had been recording the whole affair to the death of The King of Vale's Underground.
He was still a bit scared. He'd lived with Aura so long that it felt naked to not have it. Had enough control that it protected him unconsciously even as he slept.
But that didn't feel too bad when his spear blurred without him even having to think to deflect Dust rounds, the power of his magically enhanced physique making him feel invincible, despite this strange sense of discomfort due to his Auraless state.
"I am a blade in the dark!" He 'declared' again, leaping into a crowd of criminals.
Even in this state he felt nothing when he took a life. Honestly, Jaune wasn't sure how to feel about that.
They were all awful people who'd been calling out for his death (as well as more distasteful adult requests) mere moments ago, but while killing them didn't bother him… their begging for their lives did.
Even so, his spear spun, humming and thrumming through the air like the blades of a helicopter from Earth as it made contact with the thugs' weaker Auras, then tearing through their bodies immediately afterwards. He'd never get another chance like this. A way of wiping all of the biggest criminals in Vale away in a single night.
That discomfort was proof to Jaune that he still had a heart, though. That he wasn't just a killing machine, even if he was really good at it.
He saw Junior Xiong cowering under a table. Good. He'd need him alive as to minimize as much of the hassle of the takeover plan of Step: Kingmaker as possible. The Xiongs might never have been a Mistralian Crime Family, but they'd had the heritage of South East Mistral. Junior would probably understand that he'd have to obey him through Roman if he let him live.
The strangeness was the Malachite twins were here, though bound and gagged. Junior had rolled them under a sofa as Jaune had appeared in the darkness, his weapon shredding bodies like a living blender.
Huh. Maybe he could use that. They were raised by criminals all their lives, but they were adults now. If he gave them a choice to be something more than mere criminals, maybe they'd be better off for it? A thought for later.
Besides, even though Roman had clearly no real affection for the girls, the few times he'd mentioned them there was a faint fondness in the background that the thief himself wasn't super conscious of. He'd probably be a bit happier to learn that Jaune hadn't killed them when he'd the opportunity, even if he'd never admit it.
"If you stay exactly where you are, you three. You will get to live the night. That is my one grace." He swung his spear, the blade of the mundane steel weapon singing as it split the table that Junior was hiding under in two, despite only touching the edge.
The weapon (it was breaking apart under his grip) hovered by the tip of Junior's nose.
"Nod if you understand me."
Junior shook as he nodded rapidly as the twins stared with wide eyes in the darkness as bullets mysteriously whiffed at him, flashes of Dust rounds igniting behind him..
"Good." He turned, his spear spinning as he deflected a round without thinking, it seemed as if it would have struck him in the head had he not. "Now the rest."
His breath felt a bit heavy, despite his training, he'd always recovered from exercise with the assistance of Aura. Now that his Aura had shattered it would be a bit longer before it returned. It was uncomfortable. Both because he'd never realized how much braver he'd felt with it, but also how that sudden vulnerability gave him a perspective he'd never considered. Something that he'd never accounted for.
But he'd have to put up with it.
His heart raced in his chest as his eyes narrowed.
He leapt into another group of gangsters, ambushing the few with melee weapons, as they would be the only ones that stood a chance against his vulnerable state. Gunfire flashed like disco lights as they illuminated the form of him in short bursts, dashing from thug to thug, tearing through flesh and bone.
It was rare that any even Aura Awakened thugs would have the ability to tank more than a single blow, usually with his currently mind-numbing strength that made him feel as if he could fight anything, he'd shatter Aura instantly here. Weirdly he had the feeling that Yang might be able to tank a hit from him though. That was sort of terrifying.
Any face from the list of Vale's biggest players died without question. Any thug that valued their life more, threw down their weapons and asked forgiveness lived as long as they weren't part of the greater list of people he'd determined could not be forgiven for their crimes. Even in the darkness the cries of "Thank you" as he spared certain people could be heard over gunfire.
Others began to do so as well.
Jaune only killed those who kept continuing to fight him. Or those who'd committed unforgivable acts. He was making split second judgment calls in the heat of battle. He was rather just hoping he wasn't sparing anyone that deserved to die.
He'd feel awful if any of the people he killed were innocent, but these were all criminals. All people who tormented others and then picked up weapons to threaten them.
"If you wield a blade. You must be ready for a blade to be thrust into your heart in turn." He warned, now down to about half of the original remaining opponents. He could feel his Aura beginning to flicker and return.
A jolt rushed through him, his heart rate spiking. He could feel his pupils dilate.
This was inefficient. Kindness was slowing him down. Mercy was fine, no, it was necessary to be a hero, but he was putting a burden on Trivia's team outside. Her team that had come to help her without question. Ah. He was jealous. When would he be allowed to go to Beacon? To train to become a hero like his father? Like his Big Brother Juniper? He wanted to be just like them.
"Last chance! All those whom I have marked for death die tonight. But if you throw down your weapons, should you be but bugs beneath my notice, I SHALL LET YOU LIVE!"
His Aura flashed against his form.
"Fuck. Her Aura's already back?! That's fucking impossible!"
"I give!"
"Coward! Fucking kill her! There's only one of her!"
About a third of those who remained dropped their weapons.
Only three of those who did so were marked for death.
Acceptable. His spear would only last for approximately four fifths of those that did not lay down arms. The rest he would slay with his own hands. Right now with Storm Giant's Strength, he was confident that his blade hands would rend as well as any blade.
"Only three of you who have laid down arms are marked for death. Await your execution. The rest live. For all remaining criminals. Death."
Green streaked forward in the darkness.
"Vale has long been overdue for a clean slate."
Rakan was from Vacuo. He'd been picked up by a nomad tribe and had been taken in by his dear Xayah's family.
Perhaps it was odd then, that the girl he'd grown up calling sister all his life was now the love of his life, but Remnant was a cruel star. As long as they weren't blood related and he wasn't harming anyone, what did it matter?
"Let us out!"
"We're going to die!"
He'd smelt the scent of blood on the desert sands before. Had to be blooded to survive the harsh sands. He'd thought perhaps Vale would be different. That he and his love could soar to great heights and leave such things behind.
And for the most part it was. Vale was actually rather wonderful. Still a bit racist, but Vacuo had been as well, just less prominent in their lawmen. No matter where one went, things were hard for a Faunus.
Except Menagerie. He and Xayah had visited last summer and honestly? They were planning on doing so this summer as well.
Menagerie was the closest thing to paradise he'd ever seen.
Frankly he and his love had been trying to convince their leader (Team Mom) and their murder princess (Neopolitan) to come and see the budding lands with them. Thanks to Jaune Arc being raised in a human family, the whole of Menagerie was kind to humans as well, though a bit initially distrusting.
Once they graduated, he and Xayah wanted to work there full time. There was a kind of hope there that didn't exist anywhere else he'd seen.
"Sorry friends." Rakan grinned, though it didn't reach his eyes. "But our dear princess has declared no one is to leave the building."
His shield spun as it flung into a thug, slamming them back into the dark club were screams and the scent of blood ran like a waterfall.
Honestly he wasn't sure anymore if this was something that they could handle. But it was true that the princess had been allowed far more freedom than any student at Beacon thus far. Even taking advantage of it to help Xayah and Rakan get more scholarships and get out of trouble, despite never talking about it or claiming credit.
Of course they'd never SEEN her fill any forms by hand (princess probably had people to do that for her), but they'd seen her turn things in with their names on it.
"Wooo!" Xayah slammed the doors shut, reaching into her back waist pouch, pulling out a crimson Feather Blade. With a twist of her fingers one became five from her Semblance Echo before they embedded into the seam where the steel doors connected the Burn Dust igniting as the doors quickly soldered shut. "Everything Neo gets involved in gets crazy! Gods I love that girl!"
"Ah but what of me, love?"
Xayah laughed as she leaned in to give him a deep, passionate kiss as hands beat at the steel doors.
"She don't got this." She grinned as her hands gripped his nethers.
"Oh my." Rakan laughed, jerking his head to the side as a blood coated green spear thrust through one of the steel doors, slowly pulling back inside. "Huh?"
"Oh! Oh wait shit!" Xayah whipped out her scroll and began browsing the internet. "I've heard stories of a little vigilante girl in Vale. She's like, a tourist attraction or somethin'. They even made a comic about her, even if it's probably full of shit."
A blurry photo of a girl in a black coat, a green spear in her grasp, clothes flashing green from underneath.
"Oh I think I've heard of her. She'd have done well in Vacuo." Rakan nodded, his eyes gazing at the hole in the door again. "Terrifying, but strong."
"Easier to hide in a city than in the sands, though. Maybe not." Xayah just kissed his cheek, making him smile as he kissed her back on the nose. "Think she's actually the princess's superspy?"
Rakan, despite everything, was pretty sure that Neopolitan was a false name, but she wasn't actually the secret crown princess of Vale.
But honestly, his amour's pet theory about such was starting to make more sense than… well he'd just never really given it serious thought before. She was, frankly, too much of a warrior to be a princess, but weren't there books about that kind of thing?
Warrior Princess of Vale, Neapolitan Rider?
He'd read that. That would be an interesting novel.
"At this point, our favorite murder princess could tell us she had magic powers and I'd believe her." Rakan just laughed as he picked up his girlfriend in a bridal carry and spun her around. "I know it could just have been her playing tricks with her Semblance, but I once saw her training with Professor Branwen. She flung a bolt of lightning at him once."
"Like how she sometimes makes updrafts to float along with her parasol? Yeah. My Godmother once had a trick like that. She did it with fire though."