Battle at the Nest
"Put me down, you giant chicken!!" Ruby screamed, trying her best to hit the giant Grimm with her free arm, but to no avail.
Completely unfazed by the resistance of its prey, the Xianyiang flew higher and higher on its colossal wings. Ruby began to pant as the air began to thin even thinner, and the cold began to set in. Her massive captor then leveled off its climb, beginning to circle an ancient, hollowed out ruin. Ruby looked down to see trees and other pieces of masonry made into a crude nest of truly insane proportions, easily the size of Patch. Yet as they began to descend, she saw the nest was at its dip covered in a great black pool, and it was filled to the brim with hordes of Grimm.
"Balam! Help!" Ruby yelled in a panic, trying to wiggle her way free from the Grimm's grip.
'This one cannot risk it, Lady Ruby! A fall from this height would kill thee.' Balam warned.
"We are about to be Grimm chow!" Ruby shrieked.
'Wouldst thou prefer to be a bloody stain upon the ground?!' Balam pointed out, trying to make her see sense.
Before Ruby could argue further, she suddenly felt the grip from the taloned hand loosen, and she soon began to plummet towards the ground. The Xianyiang then went back to circling as Ruby screamed during the descent.
"Now! Do something now!!" Ruby screamed in panic.
'As thou doth wish, so it shall be!' Balam called out before lending her as much of his power as she could withstand.
Reaching out with her green aura coated hand, Ruby conjured as large of a tree as she could. Before she grew a corkscrew and crooked cedar tree, warped by the panic Ruby felt. She soon hit the thick mass of needles and branches, blunting her fall enough to allow her to tumble down the tree onto a fallen stone pillar. She groaned in pain as she slowly picked herself up. Bruises formed on her sides and arms from the horrible fall, and she wiped a small bit of blood off her lips.
"Ow…" Ruby groaned, as she leaned against a tree trunk to catch her bearings.
'Art thou well, Lady Ruby?' Balam asked in concern.
"I'll… I'll be fine." Ruby groaned. "At least we're alive…"
'For the moment, aye. But methinks that may be about to change…' Balam warned cautiously.
Ruby slowly turned to look at her surroundings. Before her lay a chaotic maze of stone, wood, and skeletons of all sizes. Steep, near vertical walls packed in by dried mud made any climb exceedingly difficult out, even for someone who was used to climbing like herself. And, as the wind changed direction to hit her in the face, she smelt the stench of death. Making her spine shudder.
"This isn't a nest. It's a Grimm death chamber. They get born from that pool and any of them that are strong enough climb out to haunt the peak. And those that remain… look like they get well fed." Ruby said to herself as she slowly and cautiously began walking.
'We must destroy this place, Lady Ruby. Thine peak shalt never be safe so long as this horrid nest still stands.' Balam explained.
"Maybe Azura was right… maybe I wasn't ready. Maybe I'm just a menace and a waste of everyone's time." Ruby said glumly as she stalked around a standing pillar.
'That is not true, Lady Ruby. Thou doth know that Lord Azura meant no such thing by his words. He simply wished to protect thee until thou had the strength needed to be ready.' Balam tried to tell her.
"And now look where I got myself." Ruby sighed.
'We shall find a way out of this, Lady Ruby. But only by refusing to yield in the face of adversity.' Balam encouragingly told her.
Ruby got a bit of a smile from that. "Thanks, Balam." She answered.
Before she could step beyond the pillar, she felt a rush of warm, moist air hit her back. Jumping a bit in surprise, she slowly turned around to see what caused it. Right behind her was the unmistakable horned face of a Creep, staring at her.
"Uh oh…" Ruby nervously muttered.
Meanwhile: On the Ropeway
Tai grit his teeth as the frigid wind bit into his face as his hands equally stung from wrangling the old ropes. His muscles ached as he climbed at a truly terrifying rate, looking more like a monkey than a man climbing up it. All while his face remained contorted with determination. His pace only slowed when he heard Kenshi below him speak up.
"Do you think Lady Ruby is okay!?" Kenshi called up.
"I'm trying not to think about that! I'm focusing on getting there! I'm going to turn that stupid bird into a stain on the peak!!" Taiyang roared, his voice echoing in vain into the howling wind.
"Right! Then we'll need to focus to make sure we make it in time!" Kenshi called back up before focusing back on climbing.
"Does your clan fight the Xianyiang much?! Anything useful to know!?" Tai called down to him as he leapt across a gap in the ropes to reach a new set.
"We've fought Elemental Grimm before! They're one of the trickier ones to handle! The key is to be cautious of their elemental attacks and wait for an opening to attack the core!" Kenshi called up to him.
"The core?!" Taiyang asked.
"Yes! All Elemental Grimm have a core, their equivalent to a heart, that acts as the source of their elemental powers and their true body! Destroy or destabilize that and they die in an elemental explosion! But be careful since it's also the most well-protected part of their body!" Kenshi called up.
"Right! Got it!" Tai called down, before muttering to himself. "Hang in there, Ruby. Daddy's coming."
Back in the Grimm Nest
"Run!" Ruby yelled as she dodged a bite from the Creep, causing it to bite the pillar.
'To where, Lady Ruby? There is nowhere to go!' Balam pointed out as Ruby had to duck behind a pillar that was soon also brought down by the Creep.
"I'm figuring that out!" Ruby yelled as she vaulted over another fallen pillar, narrowly avoiding a stirring Ursa.
'There is no other option, milady! Thou must do battle!' Balam pointed out to his partner as Ruby dodged a lunge from a Beowolf.
"I hate it when you're right!" Ruby yelled as out of the corner of her eye she saw an uncurling King Taijitu.
'This one shall lend thee the strength thou need!' Balam told her before as Ruby tried to get some distance from the Grimm.
Ruby leapt atop a pillar to try and get some distance to get her bearings. As she caught her breath briefly, she saw hordes of Grimm of many shapes and sizes beginning to converge on her position. She gulped nervously as she felt a surge of power course through her, consuming her in an emerald-green glow. Clenching her fists, Ruby realized she had no other choice but to fight as she flexed her hands and popped out her claws from Balam's power. The black head of a King Taijitu rose up, ready to strike at her, but its eyes widened as Ruby lunged claws first at it.
"Rrrrargh!" Ruby roared as she spun forward like a buzzsaw.
Her spin increased the power behind her claw slash as she carved through the head and body of the first half of the King Taijitu like a hot blade through butter. Ending up in the air as the other head lunged at her, Ruby spun in midair as she swung her leg down onto its head in a spinning heel kick.
"Eat snot, sucker!" Ruby called out as her spinning heel kick slammed down onto the head of the remaining half of the King Taijitu, killing it as it hissed in pain.
As the King Taijitu began to disappear, Ruby heard a sound and looked to see a Beowolf rushing at her on all fours. Rising, it unleashed a barrage of claw slashes at Ruby that she easily dodged. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left again. Ruby kept dodging until the Beowolf's stamina gave out, forcing it to stop to recover its energy. Seeing her opening, Ruby grabbed it by the neck with one hand while digging her claws into its throat before twisting with all her might, snapping the Beowolf's neck and killing it.
Seeing an Ursa rushing in at her, Ruby vaulted over the Ursa before kicking off it to cave in its skull as she launched herself upwards. Eyeing a Creep, she spun like a buzz saw to bring a spinning heel drop down onto its head, caving its skull in. Hearing something approaching behind her, she dodged the stinger of a Death Stalker before grabbing it by its tail. As the Death Stalker struggled to pull its tail free, Ruby flexed her claws and sliced off the stinger.
The massive scorpion Grimm hissed in pain as Ruby lifted and hefted the stinger before leaping up high. Tossing the stinger up with some spin, Ruby kicked it like a soccer ball with all her might. The stinger spun like a drill as it was launched point first into the Death Stalker, its impact piercing through its armor and impaling straight through the Death Stalker's carapace-covered skull, killing it instantly.
Hearing a bellowing roar, Ruby looked to see a Beringel begin squaring up to her, its knuckles dragging against the ground. Rising up on its hind legs, it beat on its armored chest with its massive hands, each impact booming like thunder as it roared in challenge at the silver-eyed young Rose. Roaring back, Ruby dropped down to all fours like a leopard on pure instinct. Charging up her Semblance, she became enshrouded in green and red rose petals as she took off in a high-speed run.
The Beringel tried to lunge at her only to be slashed across its cheek faster than it could react. Landing feet first on the wall, Ruby kicked off to launch herself at the back of the Beringel as she kicked it hard in the back of the head to plant it face first into the ground. Growing thick vines from the ground, Ruby grabbed onto them and pulled to propel herself down feet first into the gorilla Grimm's back, making it roar in pain. Leaping up high again, she grabbed more vines and slingshots herself back down with her fists forward in a Superman punch, slamming them into the back of the Beringel and severing its spine on impact.
"This isn't doing anything! Any suggestions, Balam!?" Ruby yelled, panting a bit as more Grimm came from every direction.
'This one has one! Plant thine hands upon the ground and begin channeling my power into the ground! Then imagine large tree roots growing from the ground beneath thee!' Balam called out to Ruby mentally.
"Okay…" Ruby said nervously, planting her hands on the ground as instructed.
Soon, the ground began to shake and rumble like an earthquake as it began to crack. Soon, massive tree roots erupted from the ground, writhing and twisting like snakes in response to Ruby's will. Grinning a bit, Ruby felt her connection to the tree roots. Acting on instinct, she let out a roar as she threw her hands outwards as the roots sharpened and impaled themselves through a massive amount of surrounding Grimm. The targeted Grimm hissed, howled, and roared in agony as they died from being impaled, beginning to disappear. Yet, as soon as Ruby was about to ramp up this assault, her concentration was broken by a blood curdling cry.
The nest began to dark, consumed by a great shadow as the entire realm before her began to shake. Trembling for several seconds, Ruby looked up to the gargantuan red orbs of the Xianyiang staring at her. Its talons crested over the edge of the nest, with the toes attached to them being the same size as the pillars that surrounded her. Its twin pair of wings receded and folded into its black body, practically disappearing into its colossal-featured frame. The other Grimm cowered under its baleful gaze, as if they had failed in some way to serve a vengeful god. It opened its great beak wide and lunged forward. Ruby barely got out of the way as it caught a stone pillar in the curved beak and crushed it contemptuously into gravel.
"Give me more power, Balam! We have to take out the big one if we are going to survive!" Ruby yelled as it turned its head for another strike.
'This is all this one can safely give thee, Lady Ruby! Any more shall violate the pact I made with Lord Taiyang! And promises sworn upon the Throne of Heaven are not broken without heavy consequences!' Balam reluctantly warned her.
"So, you're just going to let me die to keep a promise!" Ruby shrieked as she barely dodged another strike from the Xianyiang's head, one that sent two Ursa tumbling from the impact.
'Thou know not the consequences, Lady Ruby! A broken promise upon the Throne of Heaven would have worse consequences than simple death!' Balam explained as best he could.
However, as Ruby listened to Balam, she failed to watch her footing. Stepping into a small hole, she fell face first into the uneven ground before her. The great bird Grimm loomed over her, as if grinning with glee. It then opened its monstrous beak and lunged forward at lightning speeds. Ruby shut her eyes for the end, yet, as a few moments passed, it did not happen. As she heard the Xianyiang shriek in pain and rage. Opening her eyes, they soon widened greatly to see Taiyang grappling with the Grimm's feathered head and, using his other hand, began to punch it square in the face repeatedly.
"DADDY!!!" Ruby cried in sheer joy and relief.
"Don't worry, sweetie! Papa's here!" Taiyang called out as he kept raining down hammer blow after hammer blow down onto the Xianyiang's feathered face.
Ruby got on her hands and knees and was about to get up until she saw a group of Beowolves charging towards her. Before they could reach her, a blade flew past, cutting them into disappearing ribbons. Looking to where it came from as the blade boomeranged back around, she saw Kenshi with a big smile on his face, and his free hand offered to her as he caught the blade in his other hand. Quickly grabbing it, Ruby stood up and hugged him.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!" Ruby cried out joyfully.
"Thank me when we get out of here, Ruby!" Kenshi replied as he held out Ruby's scythe to her.
"Momma missed you so much!" Ruby happily said as she kissed the scythe's blade.
"Would you two stop standing around and start killing things already! I'll handle the bird! You two destroy the Grimm pool!" Taiyang roared, before socking the Xianyiang square in the eye.
Nodding, Kenshi began to focus as he became surrounded with a green-tinted silver aura. Soon, a towering samurai made of aura exploded out from where Kenshi stood as it rose up high into the air, its tiger-like oni mask glaring down at them as its eyes glowed an almost demonic green. Slowly, the aura giant gripped the hilt of its sword at its hip and slowly drew its blade. Dragging the edged tip of the blade against the ground, the aura giant's blade became coated in green-tinted silver flames as any Grimm caught up in the slash were either cut to pieces, crushed, or burned to ashes.
Grinning, Ruby dashed through the crowds of Grimm, slashing and hacking through them in a whirlwind of green and red rose petals. Avoiding Kenshi's giant aura blade with her great speed, Ruby became a hurricane of motion as she carved and slashed through Grimm. The Grimm began dropping like flies as the two made their way closer and closer to the Grimm Pool at the center of the nest.
Meanwhile, Taiyang held on for dear life as he continued raining down hammer blows onto the Xianyiang's face. The giant bird Grimm shrieked as it tried to throw him off, its pained cries echoing like thunder as it shook its head. Hanging on for dear life, Taiyang refused to let go as he continued slamming his fist into its face and eye.
"You! Are! Not! Eating! My! Daughter!" Taiyang roared in fury, enunciating each word with a hammer blow to the creature's face and eye.
Shrieking in fury, the giant bird Grimm shook hard as it began slamming its head into the sides of the nest. Trying desperately to knock Taiyang off its face, it slammed him into the rocky sides of the nest. However, Taiyang refused to let go, determined to take this thing down if it was the last thing he did.
Back with Ruby and Kenshi, the two had finally cleared out enough Grimm to make it to the Grimm pool. Looking around, the two saw the Grimm slowly beginning to spawn again from the pool. Knowing that they had to act quickly, the two got to work. Placing her hands on the ground, Ruby began drawing them up as tree roots began growing from the ground before taking the shapes of large torches. Picking them up, Kenshi dissipated his Semblance as he pulled out a large jug of animal fat. Drenching the tips of the torches in the fat, Kenshi and Ruby began lighting them ablaze. Once a torch was lit, they threw it into the Grimm pool.
As soon as the torches made contact with the vile, writhing liquid, it quickly lit ablaze. Spreading across the surface as if it were made of oil, it quickly began to belch thick black and foul-smelling smoke. The liquid began to react as misshapen forms rose and began to howl in pain and agony as the fire consumed them. The forming Grimm tried to scramble ashore to escape the fire, only to be drowned in its growing inferno. The two turned away from a cacophony of horrors howling balefully in unceasing torment. However, their attention soon turned elsewhere as they heard the Xianyiang let out a titanic cry.
With a thunderous impact, the avian Grimm slammed its head into the side of the nest, finally dislodging Taiyang. The Sun Dragon of a man collapsed to the ground in a heap from the impact, dazed and unable to move. Seeing its opening, The Xianyiang raised its head and opened its beak, preparing to strike. A wicked gleam shined into its crimson orbs as it prepared to devour the annoying, interfering human.
"DAD!!" Ruby cried as she watched in horror.
"Sir Taiyang!" Kenshi called out in concern, quickly trying to manifest his Semblance again. However, it was obvious he would not make it in time.
Ruby stood there in horror. Powerless to stop her father's seeming demise. After everything he had done for her… only to come to this. Tears began to form in her eyes. But then the words Balam told her earlier rang in her head. Only by refusing to yield would they make it out alive. Closing her tear-filled eyes, she went back into her body. She needed something, anything. Yet, as she searched, her visage floating among the many strings that connected to Balam's power, he suddenly spoke to her.
"Lady Ruby, thou mustn't! There must be another way! Thou shall shorten thine-" Balam called out, already seeing what Ruby intended to do.
"I will not let my father die because of my own stupid actions! If you're not going to give me the power I need, then I will take it!!" Ruby screamed, grabbing as many strings as she could in her hands.
With a roar, Ruby pulled the strings into herself with all her might. Meanwhile, on the outside, time seemed to slow to a crawl as Ruby began to glow with intense green light, shining like a beacon. The Xianyiang shrieked in pain from the light blinding it as it stopped its lunge before it could devour Taiyang. Before it could react, a pillar of green mystical energy erupted from Ruby's position as plant life sprung up everywhere the light touched.
Her body was writhed in blazing green energy as her eyes grew wider and more feral. Her teeth partially grew out into sharp points like a predator. Muscles and bones grew and twisted somewhat into a more suitable state to lunge and strike at prey. Then, before Kenshi could fully comprehend what was going on, she disappeared from his view as the ground exploded beneath her feet. Before anyone could react, the Xianyiang found its head thrown backwards by a claw-handed uppercut from Ruby.
Landing on the ground, she kicked off as the ground exploded beneath her feet again. In a split second, her fist sunk deep into the Xianyiang's torso with a thunderous impact, the shockwave rattling the mountaintop. Rearing back her other fist, Ruby landed another punch that slammed into the Grimm's stomach, doubling it over. Grabbing onto its head, Ruby slammed it beak first into the top of the mountain, trapping it. Then, digging her claws into the beast's neck, she began to pull with all her might.
With a roar and a sickening ripping sound, Ruby tore off the titanic avian Grimm's head and ripped the beak up from the ground. Looking closely with her sharpened vision, Ruby saw a spot of glowing green wind energy in the chest of its body, right where its heart would be if it were an animal. Aiming with one hand while hefting the head with the other, Ruby threw the head beak first with all her might at the spot. The beaked head soared and impaled the glowing green spot as a cracking sound was heard. Soon, a massive amount of wind picked up as the mountaintop nest began to rumble like a volcano.
"It's gonna blow!!!" Kenshi called out before picking up Ruby and Taiyang, taking them into the giant avatar of his Semblance.
Scrambling over debris and leaping up the side of the wall, Kenshi's avatar scrambled as the rumbling intensified rapidly. Finally, just as it scrambled over the edge came a colossal hurricane of wind exploding out towards them. The fire from the Grimm pool met with the wind to create a massive flaming explosion, sending a pillar of flame and black smoke into the sky to be seen for miles around. The three let out a unified sigh of relief as Ruby finally let the power of Balam recede, before rushing over to hug her father.
"Daddy…" Ruby panted into the hug, holding him close and snuggling into him.
"It's… it's okay, Ruby… you did great…" Taiyang panted out, rubbing his daughter's back gently.
"I know I used more of Balam's power… but… but…" Ruby said, before she began to break down crying in his arms.
Shushing his daughter, Taiyang hugged her back. "It's okay, Ruby. I understand. And thank you for saving me…" He told her as he looked down at her with a proud smile.
Ruby smiled up at him through her exhaustion. "Thank you…" She answered tearfully.
"As touching as this is… we should go. That explosion is going to attract a lot of attention, so our enemies will likely be coming to check it out." Kenshi told them, clearly hating to have to break up the moment between father and daughter.
Both father and daughter nodded at that assessment. Kenshi gave a nod as his avatar began to make the descent down the peak. Content on the knowledge that, this time, Azura could not possibly get angry at them.