Chapter 2

Adam's POV

Mom: "An explosion in the mine!"

Me: "Oh, no..."

I almost forget about the mine explosion incident! Come on, Adam, think! How do I avoid mom's death? How...? I look around my environment to see what is available. Scraps of rusted metal, planks of wood and broken sticks, and different elements of tiny dust shards. I should be able to make a decent short sword. I run after the materials and use a fire dust shard to melt the scraps of metal together. Using some pieces of rope, its friction is usable as a grip. I'm ready....

Mom: "Adam, hurry!"

Adam: "Coming!" I run back to mom.

Mom: "Someone sabotaged by placing fire dusts in the mine's bottom."

Adam: "Where are Ilia's parents?"

Mom: "They're in the east of our location. Come on, follow me!"

As we run around helping whom we see and directing them to the safe-area, Grimms infiltrate violently when they sense the fear and panic of the slaves. Mom uses her semblance to spread aura over the helpless and defenceless.

When the Beowolves touches mom's aura, they burn to ashes. Out of nowhere, a Beowolf tries to lunge at my mom while it's in mid-air, however, my reaction time doesn't allow it and my slice turns the Beowolf into black dusts.

Adam: "Phew, that was close."

Mom: "Since when did you learn Kenjutsu?"

Adam: "Uh, self-taught?"

－＝≡卍－＝≡卍－＝≡卍

As we continue on helping, someone informs us about the trapped faunus in the mine. With no hesitation, we quickly look for the sealed mine. After a few metres of running, my mom spots it. The screams of desperation fill the blocked entrance. With mom's aura running out, she tries to look for someone strong enough to tank the debris out of the way. But the one decent for the job injures his leg.

Tanker: "Sorry, boss. I can't run full on with this leg of mine."

Mom: "No worries, I'll find another way."

While mom searches for a machine that will fit for the situation, I try to calm the trapped, but to no avail. So, I look around my surroundings and gather any information that will help. We can find nothing, save the debris scatter all over the rocky floor. Then I realise if I'm able to aura control, I can activate my semblance without the need of awakening it. Although no energy enters my blade, with no other options, I replace the missing energy with my aura.

Me: "Everyone behind the rubbles stay back!"

Once charging completes, I blast the debris and rubbles into tiny dust-like particles. As the smoke and dust disappear, survivors rush out of desperation like they haven't seen the sun in years. When most of my aura drains, my legs give out their last energy as I slump beside the piles of debris. As Mom chases me after the incident, she carries me on her back.

Mom: "Don't worry, Mommy has your back. We can now evacuate safely together since the trapped has been free."

Mom continues to run with remarkable speed as she uses her remaining aura to boost her legs and feet. In just a few minutes, we see our escape. We can finally live a life free! We might even try to look for my dad. I can finally live the peaceful life with no humans that'll interfere.

In a distance, Ilia's parents wave their hands to signal their location. Mom heads for their way, but then a bullet breaks through her weak aura, causing her to fall and dropping the process. After the hefty trip, mom quickly regains her stance; however, the bleeding near above her hips makes her groan in pain. Trying to get up to help mom, an SDC officer steps on my face. I fight back, but it's useless because of the lack of strength left in me.

Me: "Mom...!"

I'm weak and pathetic. I can't even protect the one most precious to me. Why does it have to be this way? Once again, Ilia's parents help us. However, their backup will arrive soon, as I can see from the distance. Ilia's Father then activates his semblance and summons 3 invisible clones.

Ilia's Father: "Hon, join with the Taurus family. I'll take it from here."

Ilia's Mother: "But—!"

Ilia's Father: "Hurry! I can't keep them busy for long. My aura is running low!"

Ilia's Mother: "We will stick together till death do us part...."

Me: "But don't you want to see your daughter again?"

Ilia's Mother: "Of course, we do. We want to see at least one more time before we die."

Ilia's Father: "But there are things like this that take priority. Helping each other till our last breath. I'm sure Ilia will understand one day. So, please look after her, Adam."

Me: "I... will."

Ilia's Mother: "Here, take this." She hands me a vial of green herb extracts. "This will help your mom recover her aura, but it won't cure the state that she is in. So, hurry."

I bow and take the vial as I run after Mom to help her walk. She leans on my back while I speed as fast as I can. Looking back, Ilia's parents fulfils their duty. I hope someone will at least give them a proper burial.

My legs finally give up as I fall flat towards the freezing snow. I look around, but nothing. I give my mom the vial, but she refuses.

Mom: "Use it for your own, Adam. Just let me rest here."

Me: "Come on, mom. Just drink it, and I'll find a doctor that'll help you recover. Please. You've helped me since I was born. At least, let me repay you back."

So, she drinks the vial and her temperature returns to normal. Her bleeding reduces and skin complexion returns. Now, to find the help we need.

▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

After several hours of shouting for help, my throat dries up. I keep ongoing and carrying mom in this frozen wasteland. Then, I see people from a distance. Finally, I rush and shout one more time. However, I realise these people are humans. Suddenly, this thug-looking humans look at my direction and suddenly chases me. I run back to my mom.

Me: "Oh, no. Why did I bring humans with me, stupid?! Oh, wait. I guess, I can use them as test subjects for my next trick."

Raven's POV

When our scouts inform us about the incident at the mine, our set tribe set off to raid and take whatever supplies left. According to our data, we should arrive eventually.

Me: "Move your butts, ladies! We don't have all day here!"

Suddenly, two of my men approach me with bruises and cuts.

Me: "What did you two run into this time?"

Shay: "We kinda saw a kid with horns, so we chase after him. Turns out he has an injured woman with him. We about to rob them, but in a blink of an eye we were in this condition."

Me: "So, you're telling me. A kid beat you up?"

Shay: "Uh... yeah?"

I punch Shay's face, crashing him to the pile of snow.

Me: "You! Bring me to this kid with horns...."

Adam's POV

I drive the two idiots away by throwing snow at their eyes and use the skills I know against them. My sword skills aren't perfect, but enough to make them run.

Me: "Mom, come on. Let's escape before their backups—"

???: "Arrive?"

A woman with a Grimm mask speaks behind me. I jump back and ready my sword. However, the aura she's giving is too intense for me, I never feel in my entire life. I know I can't beat her. These humans really push me off.

Me: "Tch..., stay away from us, humans!"

???: "You expect me to stay away after what you've done to my subordinates?"

In a blink of an eye, she kicks my face, causing me to fly to the rocky, cold floor. However, I'm able to gain my stance again, just like how my mom did it. I dash after her and try to slice her legs. But she dodges each of my attacks flawlessly. When it's her turn to attack, I use the snow as my smoke bomb to lessen her vision of me making dodging easier.

Raven's POV

The kid impresses me as he shows me his capability to use his surroundings to his advantage. But he is still far too weak.

Me: "Is this the best you can do?"

He runs around me in a circle as he scatters the snow, blinding every angle of my vision. A bunch of rocks and pebbles then fly sharply at me. I dodge and block every one of them. Suddenly, a remarkable amount of murderous intent appears behind me.

Kid: "Shinu (Die)!"

In a nick of time, I unsheathe Omen, parrying his attack and slice him back. Despite my perfect hit, he vanishes.

Me: "An afterimage?!"

The kid then aims to slice my head from above. I move away from his attack but I slip, making me fall and hit the ground. Quickly moving my head to the left, his blade nearly slices my face in half. However, he makes a cut on my cheek. I grab him and choke him, trying to put him to sleep.

Kid: "Let me go! A human 'll never beat me...!"

Me: "You think you can beat me?"

Kid: "What choice do I have?"

I whisper in the kid's ear.

Me: "Because I can kill you anytime now." I let go of the kid as he gasps for air.

Adam's POV

Is this human lady mocking me? But what choice do I have? She's clearly stronger than me and mom doesn't have any time left. She needs treatment quick. Family comes first.... I bow down as low as I can to the ground.

Me: "Please, help my mom. I'll even be a slave. Just please, help my mom!"

???: "What's your name, kid?"

Me: "Adam, Ma'am."

Raven: "From now on, you'll call me Master Raven? Are you really sure you want yourself to become my slave?"

Me: "For the sake of my mom...."

Raven: "Then it's settled."

Raven's POV

I call my men to help pick the kid's mom. Adam then falls asleep in my arms. He must've striven hard to reach this far. While carrying the kid on my back, I sheathe back Omen and order my men to return to base.

Vernal: "What about the mine? We could have obtained something precious."

Me: "We already did."

Vernal: "We did?"

Me: "Are you questioning me, Vernal?"

Vernal: "No, Ma'am."

Me: "Good."

In fact, we have found something more precious than any other gems or dusts. This kid has great potential and uses him for my use. There is something suspicious about her mom, though. It's like great power is stored inside her, waiting for her release.

I'll worry about them later. For now, we need them to get treated. I activate my semblance to open a portal back to base. Me and my team enter and reach home.