# I'd like to start by thanking everyone who subscribed to my Ko-fi. This gave me a considerable boost of morale to continue writing, thanks a lot guys.
# This and a few of the next chapters will be interludes... but if you want to skip ahead you can go to my Ko-fi [Ko-fi (Dot) com / avipbr], subscribers have access to 5 chapters ahead.
COMMENTS:
Zech1994[wattpad]:
Yo, whatever happened with the renegade white fang faunus that caused that grimm horde and unleashed a leviathan class grimm?
Avip:
Soon...
THEslayerofdoom[wattpad]:
While Jaune cannot get the Megazord. he can get something smaller like an Armored Core?
Avip:
but aren't they similar to Atlas' mechs?
markusweiss[questionablequesting]:
So question, since Remnant has relied on dust for all the things like energy and whatnot, has anybody in Remnant ever thought about making sun in a can? I feel like dropping a few dozen 100 megaton (the theoretical maximum yield of the Tsar) cans into the land of darkness can really help in the fight against Salem. Even if she blocks the physical blast the resulting fallout should still at least fuck her up a bit.
Avip:
I think Ironwood would have thought of that.
But one of the reasons why this would not be a good idea, I elaborated in the 'chapter 42 - Evernight Castle Raid'
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[Adam Taurus]
I flee through the forest, stumbling over roots and shrubs. The smell of fresh blood taints the air, keeping me alert despite the weakness I feel in my flesh. My left arm, or what's left of it, throbs near my shoulder where it was cut off. The improvised tourniquet is tight, but the blood still drips, falling onto the ground.
"Damn humans!" I grumble, frustrated, remembering my humiliating defeat.
I'm being hunted like a rabid animal, they cut my arm, my men, and my pride… but they let me live.
'What do those women think they are?' I question internally, furious. 'Do they think they can humiliate me, break me?'
"THEY'RE WRONG!" I roar the words, rage boiling inside me. "I'll get my revenge, I'll exterminate the entire Arc family, no matter the cost."
"Music to my ears…" purrs a lustful voice.
I freeze instantly, every muscle tense. That voice… that melodic tone hiding a snake ready to strike.
"Cinder." I growl, turning to face her. "What do you want?"
She's alone, leaning against a tree, her posture relaxed, an enigmatic smile on her lips. Her amber eyes gleam in the dim forest light, reflecting the faint light filtering through the leaves.
"Adam, Adam…" the viper sings, shaking her head. "Always so suspicious. Believe it or not, I just want to help you."
My answer to her i a dry, humorless laugh.
"Help? From you?" I spit on the ground, the bitter taste of blood still in my mouth. "Highly doubt that."
Cinder steps away from the tree, approaching with slow, calculated steps. Her movements are fluid, almost hypnotic, but they don't fool me. I've seen what she can do, the chaos she can unleash.
"I'm surprised by your current state." She murmurs, her eyes scanning my body, pausing on the mutilated arm. "I thought Menagerie was your biggest problem right now. But I see I was mistaken."
Her voice is soft, but her mocking tone makes me grind my teeth.
"What's going on in Menagerie?" I ask, curious.
Cinder comes closer, her amber eyes fixed on mine, a satisfied smile on her lips.
"Menagerie is no longer what it was, Adam." She says, her voice gentle but firm. "Now it's a sovereign nation. Faunaria, as it's called, is already recognized by the kingdom of Atlas, its great ally."
"LIES!" I scream, rage exploding inside me. "You're lying, Cinder! A Faunus nation would never be recognized by Atlas!"
She laughs, a melodious sound that echoes through the forest, but there's no warmth in that laugh. It's cold, calculating, like it's pretending to be human.
"Why would I lie, Adam?" She asks, tilting her head. "I have nothing to gain from this. Faunaria is real, and you need to accept it."
"No… it can't be." I murmur, disbelief battling fury. "How… How did that happen?"
Cinder takes a step forward, her eyes shining with an intensity that makes me step back.
"All thanks to a young Huntsman." She says, her voice filled with admiration and something else… something I can't identify. "Jaune Arc. He planned everything, Adam. He changed the game."
"Jaune…" I repeat the name, the rage rising again with the surname. "ARC!?"
Cinder smiles, a smile that promises secrets and betrayal.
"That's right, Adam." She says, her voice low, almost a whisper. "While you were being hunted and humiliated, a human went to the sanctuary of the faunus and brought them the peace and prosperity you never could bring them… because you're too weak."
Something breaks inside me. I don't know if it's my pride, my faith, or my heart, but I feel dead.
Empty.
A hollow shell of who I used to be. The rage, the passion, the thirst for vengeance… all gone, leaving only a cold, dark void.
"What do you want, Cinder?" I ask, my voice emotionless, lifeless. "What do you want from me in exchange for the chance to kill the entire Arc family?"
Cinder smiles, a voracious and victorious smile. Her eyes gleam with a satisfaction that makes me feel even more hollow and she answers.
"Everything!"
[Sienna Khan]
The sandstorm lashes my face, each grain feels like a fine needle piercing my skin. The brown hood, chosen to camouflage me in the dunes, now serves as a flimsy shield against the relentless wind.
Every step is a struggle, the sand tries to swallow me, but I persist.
"This is suicide." I mutter, irritated, my voice muffled by the fabric.
But I know why I'm here. This isn't just a mission, it's not just my duty. It's my penance.
My pride, that insidious beast that blinded me, could have cost Menagerie and all faunus their best and only chance for peace and prosperity.
I stop abruptly, the sandstorm still punishing my face. There, between the dunes, an opening reveals itself.
"The start of a ravine." I murmur with certainty.
Cautiously, I approach each step calculated. On the rocky wall, I see the symbol of the White Fang, discreetly painted. It's here not as a warning, but to serve as a guide.
"Simpler times." I whisper, touching the symbol, my voice heavy with melancholy.
I remember when everything was black and white for me, when I knew exactly who were my allies and who were my enemies. Now, everything blends into shades of gray, and the certainty of before is lost like sands in the desert.
As I walk, I notice the ravine suddenly opens up, revealing a hidden cave. In the center, a fire crackles with several figures sitting silently around it. My heart is pounding in anticipation of what I'm about to do.
"Who's there?" I call out, my voice firm despite the turmoil inside.
A figure stands, their face hidden in shadows, drawing a bow and pointing it in my direction. Slowly and without showing aggression, I remove my hood, stepping forward, the firelight revealing me to everyone.
"Sienna." The voice is familiar, but I still don't recognize it.
The tension is palpable, but I recognize some of them. The Albain twins, always inseparable, now stare at me with a mixture of surprise and distrust. Trifa, with her piercing gaze, and Yuma, still with his bow aimed at me.
I step forward, hands raised in peace. My smile is weak, but sincere.
"I know my presence here is unexpected." My voice echoes through the cave, firm but filled with regret. "And I know my past actions brought us to this point."
Yuma's eyes narrow, the bow still firm in his hands.
"What are you doing here?" Trifa's voice cuts through the air, direct and without hesitation.
Taking a deep breath and looking at each of them, I start talking:
"I came because I need to talk to you. I need to apologize." I pause, letting the words settle. "If it weren't for my incompetence as a leader, your situation wouldn't be so dire."
The Albain twins exchange a glance, a silent communication only they understand. Trifa crosses her arms, her expression unreadable. Yuma finally lowers the bow but maintains a defensive posture.
Fennec stands up, his eyes glowing with an intensity I know all too well. He has always been passionate, always the first to defend our cause with tooth and nail.
"We understand, Sienna." His voice echoes through the cave, filled with conviction. "This human, Jaune Arc, is a sly demon in man skin. He bewitched Menagerie with his lies, but now that you've seen the truth, we can work together. We can dethrone Ghira and save our brothers from a terrible future."
Fennec's words hit me like a punch to the stomach. My eyes well up with tears, a deep pain of guilt twisting my heart.
"You... you all think this way?" My voice trembles, laden with emotion.
Fennec's eyes soften, and he nods slowly. I look around, finding the gazes of others who agree with what has been said. Every Faunus who agrees is an extra weight on my soul, a pain I intend to carry for the rest of my life.
With the cover my brown hood gives to my body, I pull out the strange communication device I 'borrowed' from Ghira. My fingers tremble slightly as I press the button, my voice firm, but laced with determination.
"Let's start Operation 'Clean House.'"
The ground trembles beneath my feet, a quake that starts gently but quickly intensifies. The Faunus around me exchange worried glances, but before they can react, stones begin falling from the ceiling.
CRASH! BANG! THUD!
Sound of impact is deafening, echoing through the cave like thunder. I watch as some Faunus, those I don't recognize, are crushed, some dying on the spot.
"What's happening?" Trifa's voice cuts through the chaos, but I don't have time to respond.
A massive hole forms above us. A large drill descends, spinning with relentless force, tearing through the rock. Dust and debris fill the air, making it hard to see, but I know what's coming.
Four figures emerge from the hole, descending with mechanical precision. They are the 'Arc Raiders', the robots under my control.
I argued with Arc about possible dangers in the desert, and he gave me these four, not knowing that I intended to purge Menagerie of the last extremist members of the White Fang.
"TRAITOR!" Screams one of the Faunus before being impaled by a giant drill.
'Despite Arc seeming like an incompetent fool, he created four perfect machines for desert combat.'
The red robot with drills for hands and head is called 'Drill Man.' Perfect for demolition. Its ability to drill into the ground allows it to open tunnels and create underground ambushes. In the desert, it digs hidden passages for surprise attacks and destroys rock formations to cause sand slides against the enemy.
"Stay still!" Exclaims Trifa, trying to hit the web with a yellow robot teleporting around her. "Argh!" She groans as the robot shoots fire into her back.
The robot that resembles a king from a distant land is Pharaoh Man. Designed to withstand the scorching heat and fight in ancient ruins, it excels in close combat and at range with its Pharaoh Shot, an energy sphere that can be charged for massive impact. Its heat resistance, speed, and teleportation ability make it a nightmare for enemies trying to maneuver through difficult terrain.
I see a group of Faunus trying to run towards the exit, desperate to escape the chaos. But a tornado appears out of nowhere, lifting them off the ground with unrelenting force. They spin in the air, screams of panic echoing through the cave.
The strange phenomenon was created by the robot with a red face and pointed nose called Tengu Man. In the desert, sandstorms can be lethal, and Tengu Man controls this element. With his wind manipulation abilities, he can create tornadoes to blind enemies, raise storms to conceal ally movements, and even glide above rough terrain, becoming nearly untouchable in combat.
TUMP! BOOM!
A projectile flies through the air, hitting the opening of the cave squarely. The impact makes massive rocks collapse, sealing the entrance with a thunderous roar that shakes the ground.
The culprit behind the shot is a strange two-headed robot with a large cannon instead of its right arm, its name is Search Man. With two brains operating simultaneously, it is an unrelenting strategist who uses its tracking skills to locate enemies even in the most intense sandstorms. Its Homing Sniper ensures that moving targets don't escape its aim.
I watch the scene with a mixture of satisfaction and sadness. The element of surprise was crucial, catching them off guard and without a chance to react, and the Arc Raiders, with their mechanical precision and incredible powers, quickly eliminated several enemies.
Now, only the Albain twins, Trifa, and Yuma remain.
"Traitor!" Fennec screams, his voice filled with hatred and contempt. His eyes shine with an intensity I've seen before, but never directed at me. "Human whore!"
I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of his words like a physical blow.
"I know this is my fault." My voice comes out firm but laced with regret. "I don't want to do this, but it's necessary for Faunaria."
I let my hood fall to the ground, revealing my face completely. The cold wind of the cave touches my skin, but I feel nothing but the cold determination that drives me. I pull out my metallic whip, the sound of the metal slicing through the air echoing through the cave like a deadly whisper.
"Arc Raiders!" I exclaim, getting the robots' attention for my next command.
[Image]
"Kill them all." I finish speaking, joining in the massacre.
[James Ironwood]
{Clover Ebi is here, General.} The feminine voice warns through the communicator.
"Thanks for the heads-up, have him come in." I respond while reviewing some documents on my desk.
Clover enters, his uniform impeccable and formal stance saluting.
"General Ironwood, sir!" He says without looking directly into my eyes.
I give a tired smile before releasing him from the formalities.
"Relax, Clover."
He relaxes, and a friendly smile spreads across his face.
"Thank you." He says, approaching to sit in front of me. "If I may speak frankly, General, I've been missing the member who was stolen from my team."
"I don't regret anything, Clover," I inform him in a playful tone. "Captain Marrow Amin brought exceptional results in his diplomatic mission to Faunaria."
"Faunaria?" The specialist questions.
"Exactly, Clover. Faunaria, the Faunus nation that has become a valuable ally. We are officially recognizing the nation and establishing trade treaties and agreements that will bring many resources and prosperity to both kingdoms."
Clover raises an eyebrow, curious.
"And Marrow was involved in this?" Clover asks, disbelieving. "The same Marrow who loses focus every time he sees a medium-rare steak?"
I nod, a subtle smile forming at the corners of my mouth.
"Not just involved, but he represented the army and the nation of Atlas as a whole."
Clover lets out a low whistle, impressed.
"That's unbelievable. And these treaties, what exactly are we negotiating?"
I lean forward, resting my elbows on the table.
"We're talking about agreements ranging from the trade of natural resources to advanced technology. Faunaria has access to materials that are running out in Atlas, and we have the technology they need to develop even further. It's a partnership that benefits both sides."
He crosses his arms, thoughtful.
"General, I don't want to sound racist, but from what I understand, Menagerie Island was just a desert infested with Grimms, with a small town that seemed more like a large refugee camp for Faunus."
I frown, sighing tiredly, but keep my voice calm.
"You'd have been right a few months ago, but Faunaria is no longer just a camp. With the help of the young genius Jaune Arc, they are transforming the island into a prosperous nation." The name seems to bring more questions than answers to Clover, but instead of responding, I continue the subject. "They have solid infrastructure, roads, hospitals, schools, large-scale agricultural production, robust defenses, and a population determined to work. It's no longer a place of despair, but of hope and opportunity."
Clover nods, but still seems skeptical.
"And how exactly did Jaune Arc manage to do that?"
I smile, bringing up holograms of the inventions Jaune Arc licensed to Atlas.
"The inventive mind behind all of this is Jaune Arc, from White Knight Incorporated," I explain, pointing to the holograms.
His eyes widened, surprised.
"White Knight Incorporated? The same company that got those million contracts with the Atlas army?"
I smile, confirming with a nod.
"Exactly. Jaune Arc is the brain behind all these revolutionary inventions. He seems to have a unique ability to create innovative solutions."
Clover whistles, impressed.
"This is... unbelievable!" Clover exclaims. "And he managed to turn Menagerie into a prosperous nation in such a short time?"
Smiling at Clover's reaction, I nod my head.
"This changes everything. And to think it all started with a young genius and his inventions."
I smile, satisfied with Clover's reaction.
"Yes, Jaune Arc is an extraordinary figure. And with White Knight Incorporated on our side, the future of Atlas and Faunaria looks brighter than ever."
[Amber Stone]
I sit at the table, with a plate of fruit and fresh bread in front of me. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the air, but my appetite disappears under Ilia's piercing gaze. She's leaning against the wall, arms crossed, chameleon marks pulsating in shades of red and orange. Her silence is sharper than any words.
"Are you just going to stare at me all day?" I ask, trying to keep my voice light.
"Until you explain what this means," she replies, pointing at me.
Confused, I look down, not understanding.
"Seriously, what's going on?" I ask, trying to understand her irritation.
She scoffs, her green eyes glowing with frustration.
"As soon as we entered the Black Bird, you pressed a button on your watch. Changing your appearance from a redhead with fair skin to a brunette."
As I realized the cause of her irritation I let out a mischievous laugh.
"Ah, Ilia… you don't like women with dark hair?" I ask teasingly.
Furious, the redheaded Faunus responds.
"Are you messing with me, bitch? I love brunettes-!" She cuts herself off as soon as she realizes what slipped out of her mouth. "That's not the point!" She exclaims, stamping her foot on the ground.
My laughter dies quickly when I see the seriousness in her eyes.
'I need to explain, she deserves to know,' I think, staring at the girl.
"There are people… powerful people looking for me. I don't want those people coming to Menagerie," I explain, trying not to give away too much information. "That's why the disguise."
She stares at me, her chameleon marks pulsing in softer tones now. She sees the sincerity in my eyes and, slowly, calms down.
"I think I get it," she mutters, looking away.
"I didn't want to worry you," I continued, my voice soft. "But I wanted to protect myself and Menagerie from those individuals."
She blinks, surprised. Then, with a sigh, she pulls out a chair and sits down at the table with me.
"Thanks…" she says quietly. "For being honest."
"No problem," I respond, finally beginning to eat.
We continue eating in silence for a few minutes until Ilia asks one more thing.
"Does Arc have a thing for redheads?"
PUFF!
I spit out in surprise at the question.
"Where did that come from?" I ask, shocked.
"Well, there's Audra, you with your disguise, and me…" Ilia responds, counting on her fingers. "I've only known the guy for a little while, but it could just be a coincidence."
"Yeah,but just three isn't enough to-." I cut myself off as I realize something. "Although, there's Pyrrha."
"Another redhead?" Ilia asks, her eyes widening. "That's not a preference anymore, it's a fetish."
"Hmmm," I grunt sadly, pushing my plate away now that I've lost my appetite again.
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E ai gurizada,
I've read MANY complaints that the time in Menagerie was too long and not many people's favorite part. But I promise I had a good reason for writing it, and when it's time to reap the fruits of what I planted there I'll announce it.