Chapter 6: The Training and the Hexenbiest
The early morning air in Portland was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and distant coffee. For Adam, it was the perfect backdrop for a brutal, exhilarating workout. He dodged a blur of a fist, pivoted, and countered with a low kick, forcing Kathleen, his new Grimm partner, to shift her weight. She was a whirlwind of controlled power, every movement precise, every strike carrying the weight of years of dedicated training.
"Faster, Adam," she commanded, her voice calm, almost detached, despite the sweat beading on her brow. "Anticipate. Don't just react. A Wesen won't wait for you to catch your breath."
Adam grunted, blocking a high jab with his forearm. "Easy for you to say, Wonder Woman. You've been doing this since you were in diapers. I'm still trying to figure out which end of a coffee mug goes in my mouth before 8 AM."
But even as he quipped, he felt the difference. Each session with Kathleen was like unlocking a new level in a video game. His reflexes were sharper, his movements more fluid, his strength steadily increasing. The Grimm bloodline, combined with the subtle enhancements from the alchemical vials he'd been collecting, was turning him into something more than just a guy who knew too much about a TV show. He was becoming a weapon. A very sarcastic, coffee-loving weapon.
"Good," Kathleen said, a rare, almost imperceptible nod of approval. "Your footwork is improving. You are learning to use your core."
"My core and my deep-seated fear of getting my teeth knocked out by a woman who could probably bench press a small car," Adam muttered, grinning. "Excellent motivation, really."
Their training was interrupted by the insistent buzz of Nick's phone. Adam answered, already knowing what it was. The Tarantella case. A Spinnetod, preying on young men, draining them of their life force.
"We're on our way," Adam said, hanging up. "Looks like our spider problem isn't quite done yet. Good thing we just had our morning cardio."
They met Nick and Hank at the crime scene, a dimly lit apartment reeking of something sickly sweet and faintly metallic. The victim was a young man, pale and lifeless.
"No visible wounds," Nick said, his voice grim. "Just… drained."
"Spinnetod," Adam confirmed, his eyes scanning the room, picking up faint traces of silk that even Nick's Grimm sight might miss in the poor lighting. "They leave their victims like this. And they're usually after something specific. Youth. Vitality. Or maybe just a really bad case of arachnophobia."
Hank, still trying to wrap his head around the daily dose of weird, rubbed his temples. "So, a giant spider-person. Great. Just when I thought I was getting used to the bear-men."
"Don't worry, Hank," Adam said, clapping him on the shoulder. "We've got this. And I've got a new toy I've been meaning to try out."
He led them back to his coffee shop, specifically to the hidden basement that housed his Grimm artifacts. Nick and Hank watched with wide eyes as Adam revealed a large, ornate chest, almost glowing with a faint, ancient energy.
"This, gentlemen," Adam announced, dramatically throwing open the lid, "is where the real fun begins. Behold! The Grimm family heirlooms! Passed down through generations of Grimms who clearly had a flair for the dramatic."
Inside, nestled on velvet, were various weapons and trinkets, each humming with a subtle power. Adam reached for a sword, its blade gleaming with an otherworldly light, its hilt intricately carved. It felt impossibly light in his hand, almost an extension of his will.
"This little beauty," Adam said, admiring the sword, "is called the 'Whisperwind Blade.' Not only is it sharp enough to cut through pretty much anything, but it can also… well, it can slash from a distance. Think of it as a very fancy, very deadly laser pointer."
Nick stared, dumbfounded. "A… magic sword?"
"Don't sound so surprised, Nick," Adam chided. "You're a Grimm. You see invisible monsters. A magic sword is practically mundane by comparison."
Kathleen, however, looked at the sword with a professional eye. "A powerful artifact. Your ancestors were truly formidable."
"Indeed," Adam agreed. "Now, let's go find our eight-legged friend."
They tracked the Spinnetod to an abandoned theater, the air thick with the scent of old dust and the faint, unsettling hum of a large, predatory insect. Adam and Kathleen moved silently through the shadows, the Whisperwind Blade held ready.
They found the Spinnetod in the main hall, its woged form a grotesque blend of human and spider, its multiple eyes gleaming in the gloom. It was in the process of ensnaring another victim in its sticky, shimmering web.
"Showtime," Adam whispered, and with a flick of his wrist, the Whisperwind Blade seemed to extend, a shimmering arc of energy shooting from its tip, slicing through the Spinnetod's web with ease.
The Spinnetod shrieked, startled, turning its attention to them. It lunged, spitting venomous silk. Kathleen moved first, a blur of motion, engaging the creature in close combat, her strikes precise and powerful. Adam, meanwhile, used the Whisperwind Blade, sending shimmering slashes of energy that kept the Spinnetod off balance, forcing it to dodge and weave.
The combination of Kathleen's raw Grimm strength and Adam's new artifact was devastating. The Spinnetod, overwhelmed, stumbled, its many legs flailing. Adam saw his opening. With a final, powerful swing, he sent a concentrated wave of energy from the Whisperwind Blade, striking the Spinnetod squarely in the chest. The creature cried out, its woged form flickering, and it collapsed, unconscious.
[System] Wesen Defeated. Wesen Type: Spinnetod. Extracting... Alchemical Vial Created: Spinnetod Potion.
[System] The Spinnetod Potion grants a minor increase in agility and web-slinging abilities.
A new vial, shimmering silver, materialized in Adam's hand. He pocketed it, a satisfied smirk on his face.
Nick and Hank, who had been providing backup, entered the hall, their eyes wide. Hank stared at the unconscious Spinnetod, then at the Whisperwind Blade in Adam's hand. "Did that… did that sword just shoot a laser?"
"It's more of a concentrated energy slash, Hank," Adam corrected, sheathing the sword. "But yeah, pretty much. Told you this basement was full of goodies."
Kathleen looked at Adam, a rare smile gracing her lips. "You wield it well. Your instincts are sharp."
"Thanks," Adam said, feeling a warmth spread through him at her praise. "You weren't so bad yourself. You know, for someone who doesn't have a magic sword."
As they secured the Spinnetod, Adam's phone buzzed again. It was Monroe, his voice laced with concern. "Adam, Nick, you need to hear this. Adalind. She's… she's still up to something. I overheard some whispers. She's trying to stir up trouble again, targeting Hank and Nick. Something about a new spell, a way to get back at you both."
Adam sighed. "Of course she is. That woman has more lives than a cat and more schemes than a Bond villain. Don't worry, Monroe. We'll handle it. Looks like our work is never truly done."
Adalind. She just doesn't know when to quit, does she? Well, that's fine. More opportunities for me to collect vials. And maybe, just maybe, I can finally put her in her place for good.