Chapter 59: A Long Day of Grief

Cross-over from various games, books, anime, manga, and movies.

The familiar characters you see here belong to their respected authors and owners.

'Thoughts'

"Active skill name or magic spell"

'Active skill name or magic spell in thought'

"Activation phrase"

'Activation Phrase in thoughts'

"Speech"

*action*

Time*

Noise*

(Location)

[Skill Name] - Passive or Active - AP cost: or none

Description: Info on skill

[Item Type]: [Type]

[Name]: [Item Name]

Durability: 100%/100%

Quality: Poor - Common - Uncommon - Epic - Legendary - Ascendant

Grade: E-/EX

Value: [System Point]/(Cannot be sold to [Persona System])

Description: Info on [Item Name]

[Extra Info]: [Extra Info]

Chapter 59: A Long Day of Grief

Days?: Trouble Everywhere You Go! Part 6

(Atlas: Atlas City: Central District: Schnee Family's Main Household: Courtyard)

I continue to look at the mental [2D Map] and notice a few red dots are moving. Quickly, I switched from [2D Map] to a [3D Map] of the Schnee family's Manor. To make the aura usage cost less, I filter out the color and made the whole place an outline shape.

Now, I could 'see' people entering the Manor and their appearance, along with what kind of weapons they bring to help them accomplish their mission.

I pull out my [Evoker], then shoot myself in the head to summon [Pyro Jack] and send him towards the other to retrieve my scroll or someone else. This way, both sides could still contact with each other.

I slam my forehead with my left hand at the tactless moment, where I should have gotten more than one scroll. At least I won't have to deal with a situation like this again.

I let out a sigh and wait for [Pyro Jack] to bring back a scroll for me. Which only took a few minutes for my [Persona] to return with my sister's scroll instead.

Raising an eyebrow at my [Persona], as he handed me the scroll, where I took the scroll and look at my [Persona]'s response to why Pyrrha's scroll instead of mine.

"Yeah. I rather not speak with people that could crack my head like nothing. You're lucky there another [Persona] user with the others, for me to speak to or else I would have to do a bunch of silly things to let the others know what I wanted."

With that said, [Pyro Jack] returns back to my Sea of Souls. I shook my head, as I continue to forget that no one, but another [Persona] user could hear what a [Persona] are saying. I don't know if there are hidden rules placed in by my [Persona System] or this world, but besides Yukiko and Momoyo so far, no one else could hear what my [Persona] are saying.

Turning on Pyrrha's scroll, and I already got a message from Pyrrha herself. Telling me how both Izaya and Ruby are trying to comfort Weiss, with Blake and Yang trying to help out by checking if there anything they should take with us from the Bedroom. So Weiss could have something to remind her of her Mother.

Team JNPR didn't have the chance to help out team RWBY, as Kirihime made them guard the area, because even if the route from Weiss' Mother's Bedroom to the Courtyard take around 10 minutes depending on the person's speed.

Those 10 minutes could have endless possible endings, and Kirihime not risking their lives just for a chance to make it back to the Courtyard, even then if they made it. The chance of escaping without any injured wasn't that high if the enemies attack us during the process of using the hidden passage, along with a high possibility of the enemy following us inside the hidden passage as well.

Sending a few texts back to Pyrrha before putting away Pyrrha's scroll, then switch my [Persona] to [Kiri Nanaya]; also, my very first [Persona] under the [Hunger Arcana] and the same level of danger as [Joukyuu Kunitoshi].

Who knew there were other [Arcana Curse] besides [The Fool's Curse], because there is [The Hunger's Curse].

[The Hunger's Curse]:

Passive Effect: A random [Curse], which are placed with any [Persona] that fall under the [Hunger Arcana]. The chosen [Curse] for this [Persona] is the [Nanaya's Bloodline]. Giving the user the murderous impulse against non-humans, which is used together with the [Nanaya Assassination Arts], to enhance its effect. Along with adapting the [Persona]'s fighting experience with the user's body. 100% effect applies to the user.

Type: Passive

Target: Self

Rank: Tier 10

Cost: None

Furthermore, [Kiri Nanaya]'s [The Hunger's Curse] wasn't at [Tier 1], but on [Tier 10] at the get-go. Much to my dismay, and one of the main reasons I don't use it whenever I'm near a faunus or anything non-human.

Lucky for me, due to my status as a [Demi-Fiend] or going to be one, for being a hybrid instead of the full version. My [Persona] doesn't kill me in sight and I don't have the urging to kill myself either. So that's a good thing in my book.

I still haven't gone through [Kiri Nanaya]'s life experience via dream walking, for a year yet. I still lack the experience to suppress the murderous impulse towards non-humans. And only thanks to [Unshaken Will] that I could walk among non-humans without lash out to kill them. For a few hours before I become overwhelmed by the [Nanaya's Bloodline].

That was not a fun experience for me, but at least I did a few experiments to discover what my limits are while equipping certain [Persona] would affect me in my daily life. While I leave those [Persona] that can't be equipped too long until I need them when the situation calls for their presence.

Out of the most combat-based [Persona]. [Kiri Nanaya] is among the best in long-term battles, but with the downside of losing my mind to the [Nanaya's Bloodline] as a result in the end.

Pulling out my [Ice Thorn] and activate [Shadowless Evasion Art], then [Incursion Fatal Tactics] next. Lucky for me, [Unarmed Strikes Mastery]'s effects could still with just one free hand after reaching the [Advanced Rank].

So [Shadowless Evasion Art] and [Incursion Fatal Tactics], along with [Kiri Nanaya]'s [Nanaya Assassination Arts]. Will bring out unimaginable effects.

[Nanaya Assassination Arts]:

Passive Effect: The ability to draw upon the limits of the human body. And gaining the knowledge to assassinate living being, especially towards non-human beings. 100% effect applies to the user

Type: Passive

Target: Self

Rank: 10

Cost: None

As I disappear in plain sight by blending with the surrounding. I leap off the rooftop and climb to the second floor. Where I found a few enemies already nearby. Then, with a brief moment to let the knowledge of the best way to kill the enemies without wasting any time.

Thanks to having [Grandmaster Detection Mastery], the effect belongs to the [Shadowless Evasion Art] increased further and giving me the ability to find all the blind spots around the enemies and use it as my advantage to assassinate them with ease.

3 enemies in my sight; 1 second to slice the enemy's throat that's closest to me, then with a spin to send a punch another enemy in their left chest while sending a burst of aura. Canceling out the enemy's aura shield with my own by matching the amount of [Aura Unit Level].

Then a quick palm strike to their life chest once more, to send another wave of aura to strike their heart. Rupturing it by crushing the heart with my aura, killing the enemy instantly.

With the last enemy standing not that far from the other two. Plus, with their back turned to the last one and couldn't tell that their fellow teammates are already dealt with. I throw my [Ice Thorn] straight at them, hitting the last enemy between their eyebrows.

Not even 5 seconds passed and 3 enemies are taken care of. I pull my [Ice Thorn] out of the last guy's forehead, then pull out a [Small Bottle] and pour a drop of [Corpse Decomposing Water] per body and the corpses are rotting away in a matter of seconds.

Putting away the [Small Bottle] of the deadly liquid. I run off to kill more enemies inside the Manor.

20 minutes later*

(Atlas: Atlas City: Central District: Schnee Family's Main Household: Weiss' Bedroom)

It took me 20 minutes to kill off a company enemies troops from what I counted. All kills in complete silence without leaving any evidence thanks to the [Corpse Decomposing Water] getting rid of the corpses, including their clothes and the gears I just looted them and place them in my [Inventory].

The steps I took to kill a single to a group of 2-14 enemies. Are a quick throat cut for single or an enemy farthest away from the rest of the group. Then, quickly pick off one by one in the group as fast as possible while trying to be very quiet to not cause any noise to alert the rest of them.

So far, none of these enemies could have a chance to catch up with my current speed and even then, they wouldn't be able to keep it much longer on trying to match my speed. When someone like Ruby couldn't see me fast enough in her blind spot when I just use [Moonlight Step] and appear before she could see me.

Making the enemies with any speed-based semblance killed off before they even have the chance to realize how they die. Furthermore, with [Kiri Nanaya] equipped, making things harder for the enemies. As they are facing a highly trained, experienced assassin. Including the [Fusion Skills] I'm using, increased the killing power of [Kiri Nanaya] further than his previous life.

Another enemy drops dead with a throat cut, then their body rots away after I pour a drop of [Corpse Decomposing Water] while I enter Weiss' Bedroom.

Pulling out Pyrrha's scroll and input the numbers to call someone. A few seconds of waiting, then the screen on the scroll shows Pyrrha's face.

"Em, are you in Weiss' Bedroom yet? Also, you didn't have any trouble on the way there, did you?" Pyrrha asks me with a bit of concern and look to her right to say something to the other, then return her attention back to me and wait for my reply.

"Yeah, how Weiss doing?" I replied, then look around the Bedroom and trying to find the stuff Weiss wanted me to grab for her before we leave here.

"She's not well, but at least she could give verbal responses and is willing to get back her inheritance more than ever. However, after we get on Luna's Airship. Weiss is going to spend time grieving over her Mother's death. Also, because we have no way of taking Weiss' Mother's corpse with us to be buried in the Schnee family's Graveyard. We had to bury her in the Courtyard instead." Pyrrha reported on Weiss' mental status and what they're doing as we speak.

"Isn't the Courtyard we used for the hidden passage or we're talking about a different Courtyard?" I ask Pyrrha while going through Weiss' stuff. Pausing for a moment and thinking this would make me a weird stalker going through my crush's Bedroom for collection.

I shiver at this thought, then shook my head and toss these thoughts back in my mind as I quickly search for Weiss' family photo album book she keeps hidden in her Bedroom, that contain pictures of her and her Mother, along with other pictures taken over the years.

"It's the same Courtyard, but Weiss is going to bury her Mother next to a big tree. I honestly don't know why that spot, but from what I could hear from Weiss' mumblings. I think it's her Mother 's favorite spot to enjoy herself resting there during the day or something." Pyrrha replied as she tries to come up with a good reason for Weiss to pick that exact spot to bury her Mother.

I didn't say anything, since I have no right to question about Weiss' choices of picking a grave to bury her Mother's corpse.

"What are you doing in my sister's Bedroom?" I heard a male voice coming from the door, without even thinking. I move at high speed and appear behind the person, with [Ice Thorn] just a few inches away from slicing the person's throat.

But, luckily I stop myself from doing something that could cause some problems later on as I pulled away [Ice Thorn] from the person's throat and hit the back of their neck instead. Knocking the person out instantly, before they realize how close to their death was.

Looking down at the person on the ground and realize it was Weiss' younger brother: Whitley Schnee. Also, the new heir to the Schnee family after Weiss' Father removed from Weiss and gave it to her younger brother, who is currently unconscious and lying in front of me.

I raise Pyrrha's scroll up and notice her looking at me with a confused look. "Did someone show up while you were searching for the photo album?" Pyrrha asked in a confused tone, when on her side; the screen shows a blur before returning back to normal, which was when her older brother stops from moving at high speed.

"Yeah, let Weiss know I got her little brother and if she wants me to bring him along or not." I replied, then resume searching for the photo album book. Until Weiss finally told Pyrrha, to tell me that she hid it underneath between her mattress and it took me a few minutes to get a good grip to lift the whole thing up before I could grab a light blue color book with the title: Schnee Family's Photos.

Pyrrha's face disappears from the screen with voices in the background rising for a few minutes before Weiss' appear at the other end, with puffy eyes due to crying almost half an hour.

"Bring him along." Weiss said in a dull voice, but there a hint of cold in her tone and then hand the scroll back to Pyrrha, who look back at Weiss with a sad look on her face.

"Em, we managed to take all the files from the Schnee family's database and uploaded into your scroll. Since Izaya doesn't have enough room and same with Kirihime. We could have used the others, but they don't have the program installed to remove all trackers and even if they do." Pyrrha look both left and right before continuing off, "Not all of us trust them to hold important files from the Schnee family. We could have used Weiss' scroll too, but her's doesn't have any enough space either as well."

"Alright then. I'll meet up with everyone back at the Courtyard. It's going to take me a bit of time to get there with me having to make sure Weiss' little brother stay unconscious. After all, we're literally kidnapping at this point." I shrug, then end the call as I pick up Whitley and carrying him like a stack of potato.

I frown when I notice Whitley's weight and discover he heavier than he looks and wonders why. Then, started running to the Courtyard as the others should be done by now in burying Weiss' Mother's body.

15 minutes later*

(Atlas: Atlas City: Central District: Schnee Family's Main Household: Courtyard)

Once I enter the Courtyard from the second-floor level and jump off the rail, then land right next to Jaune, who let out a shriek at seeing me appear next to him out of nowhere.

I raise an eyebrow at Jaune, then look at everyone else and found out that some of them placed their hand on their left chest like they about to have a heart attack or something.

"Yeah...awareness training is required for these people to go through if they want to last through the Second Great War." I said dryly, and can you blame me when I just appear next to some of them without making too any noise unless I wanted to.

Ruby pale right away at my comment, while the rest of those that never seen Pyrrha and Weiss did it during Beacon Academy were confused and wonder if it's just something easy like Ruby thought before she watched how the awareness training actually is done.

"And I'm happy to help them out." Kirihime said in a cheerful tone, causing those that actually know Kirihime to look at those with pity eyes, making those poor victims to shiver.

"Yeah, we'll do that later. Now, is the time for us to leave since things went south." I said to everyone, as we enter the hidden passage and kidnapping Weiss' little brother, who still unconscious. And any time he bound to wake up, Shigure would knock him out once more. Much to some of us not wanting to see this happen before our eyes.

Even Weiss finds herself wanting to allow Whitley to wake up, but stop herself when the time isn't right for her brother to be awake or else there a chance for a problem to occur.

(Atlas: Atlas City: Central District: Underground Passage)

After a while, some of us started to feel very tired, mentally, and can't wait for the day to be over. It's just too bad most of us knew this just the beginning and things will become worse, where deaths of countless lives will increase and the negative emotions will drive the grimm to invade even more than usual.

"Did you contact Luna for pickup?" I ask Pyrrha, who running next to me as I pass back her scroll.

"Yeah, she is going to meet up with us in the North District. Where there are fewer people from the military to show up. By the time we leave the area." Pyrrha replied as she put away her scroll while wondering how our lives going to change due to the Second Great War.

"That's good." I quickly switched back to [Amakusa Shirou Tokisada] to see what the next 'step' going to be. Blinking a few times, then frown, which was noticed by a few people.

"Something...wrong?" Shigure asks me with a worried tone before she glances around the area as her instincts scream at her that's something wrong going on.

"Yeah, we got enemies up ahead. So we're going to have to make a detour to meet up with Luna in the North District." I whisper to Shigure, and quiet enough for not everyone to overhear me, as team RWBY and JNPR are talking among themselves; well, not Weiss and Pyrrha, but the rest are. Even Yukiko and Narberal are speaking with Blake about the books they got Kirihime to sign for them. Just to distract themselves from a long day without much rest, mentally that is.

Shigure quietly nods at me, then begin to inform the other Arcana members about the incoming battle we're about to enter in a matter of minutes.

"So what's our next phase of the plan?" Ruby asks me, seeing how I'm the leader of this group in her eyes. "Because I don't know about everyone, but I think we may have to change our plan to regain back Weiss' inheritance some other ways."

"We're going to meet up with Luna first, then we see how things go." I didn't give away anything about our next step of the plan when even I don't know how many steps there are, but this time, I made sure to include a few additions to my goal.

Due to my mistake of not including more than a few additions to my goal: Getting Weiss' Inheritance Back, had led to Weiss' Mother's death and I'm not going to have that happen again.

And the new step, including the additions, was killing the enemies at the end of the passage from what my instinct is telling me, which is weird. Since it's a mixed of instinct and my [Persona] actually telling me, but without having to speak a single word about it.

Ruby frown at not getting the answer she was looking for, but wasn't going to push her luck with me and just nods at me in silence. Then, slow down her pace to her sister's speed to speak with her about a few things in a whisper tone of voice.

"Hey, Weiss." I call for Weiss' attention, who look at me with dull eyes. "Why do you want me to bring Whitley for? Unless we're planning to use him for ransom or something? Because if so, I'm all in for it." I grin at Weiss, with a Lien symbol in my eyes at the amount of Lien I could get from Weiss' Father.

"We're not going to try to bankrupt my family's Dust Company." Weiss said dryly, "If you must know. I'm planning to see if Whitley could return back my status as heiress to the Schnee Dust Company by getting him to say it in front of the world while signing some documents to prove this."

I look at Kirihime, "We can do that?" I wasn't the best in knowing the laws in this world and left it to the others while I continue off training my butt off like a madman. Pretty much made me a muscle head somewhat, but not to the same level as knuckleheads that don't know when things don't need violence in the first place.

Kirihime rolls her eyes at me, "Of course we can do that. In public, Weiss will get back her heiress status back, but in the background, we have to do lots of things to make it work. Like for example, we have to figure out how to make Whitley agree to do this without making it seem like we're threatening his life in public."

"And how are we going to do that?" Blake asks Kirihime, then flinch at how cold Kirihime's eyes are when they land on her, "If I may be bold to ask how it's done...please don't kill me." Blake said the last part in a quiet voice, that some of us have a hard time hearing her at the end.

"Oh, we got countless methods to make this possible." Kirihime smirk at Blake, causing the poor faunus to shiver and break in a cold sweat from the way Kirihime look at her like she could see all Blake's secrets.

"And we're not planning to tell you guys. Not that we don't trust you or anything." Izaya spoke up, "But, we don't trust you enough to not stop us from getting Weiss' little brother to help Weiss get back her inheritance." This caused some of us to glare at Izaya for not trusting the rest of us to know the methods to get Whitley to do what we say willingly.

"Aww. Why not?" Ruby pout at Izaya, who didn't look fazed at the sight of a pouty Ruby. If anything, Izaya had to stop himself from messing with Ruby to the point of causing her to react in a negative way. Just to amuse himself in a sadist way. But, with Ruby being his fiancee' partner and friend is a good enough excuse not to do so. Well, unless there a reason later to do so, then he will at one point in the future.

"Because...we...don't know...if one of...you guys...won't reveal...it to...others." Shigure was the one to explain to Ruby, but clearly Ruby couldn't understand Shigure's response enough to the way she pauses in her speech.

Pyrrha seeing this, decided to help her future in law and begin to answer Ruby's question, along with the others before some of the Arcana members get annoyed.

few minutes later*

(Atlas: Atlas City: South District: Entryway To Underground Passage)

I had to fight the urge to hurl Whitley in front of me, to be used as a meat shield and just stomp with my right feet. As I created an [Earth Wall] in front of everyone, where it blocked countless numbers of [Bullets].

Kirihime didn't want to waste any more time, as she leaps over the [Earth Wall] and throws a dozen of scissors at the enemies, where each scissors pierced through all the enemies' defense, then rushed over to slaughter the enemies with a swipe of the scissors she wields in her left hand.

Each swipe; another enemy is sliced to pieces. No matter how small the cut is, the wound would expand until the cut line reached the end of their body length. Making it look like they were cut with a large, sharp blade weapon.

This is one of Kirihime's [Aura Techniques] she created. She doesn't have a name for it, but it does the job. One small cut to turn into a large cut enough to split them apart.

All it took for the enemies to be killed by Kirihime was just 5 minutes or less, much to a third-fourth of team RWBY and JNPR's shock and surprises. Seeing how a single person, with scissors of all things as a weapon, to slaughter a patch of soldiers and Hunters single-handed.

"Okay, let's go to the North District. I rather not spend my whole day killing people when I could spend my time doing something worthwhile." Kirihime said to everyone, as she walks towards us while flipping her hair over her shoulder. Then, put her scissors back into her holster.

Yang stood in front of Ruby, showing everyone that she doesn't trust Kirihime near Ruby at all. And the only reason she allowed Pyrrha's older brother to go near Ruby in the first place an hour ago. Because she was out of it at the time and was thinking about Ruby's semblance and wonder if she could figure out what else she could do with her semblance.

Weiss rolls her eyes at Yang, then slap the back of Yang's head, causing the girl to yelp and growl at Weiss. "Enough. You tried putting up a brave front with Enma before and that didn't go well that time. What do you expect to happen by doing the same thing again? Furthermore, you're lucky Kirihime isn't annoyed by your actions and could have put you through a painful experience; well, not like she won't later in the future when we begin everyone's awareness training."

"Uh, does that include me as well?" Yukiko asks in a meek tone, afraid she may end up dead as an end result of the so-called awareness training.

"Kind of, but you would be trained under me later on when you're not training with the others." I said to Yukiko, who was surprised that I was the one to train her, then remember what I told her during our ride on way to Atlas in Luna's Airship. That I was planning to train her in using her [Persona] later.

Instead of just outright summoning her [Persona], she would also have to figure out how to access to her [Persona]'s [Skill/Magic] without summoning it. If it's possible for her that is.

Pyrrha and Shigure narrow their eyes at Yukiko, causing the poor girl to shiver at how cold their eyes and being targeted by those cold eyes made it worse for her.

Narberal would have demanded both Pyrrha and Shigure to not glare at her Mistress, but held her mouth shut due to knowing that one small mistake at her end, could lead her death in the future. Not by the two girls' hands in front of her, but by someone more dangerous nearby. Just waiting for her to screw to give them the reason to take her down. Winter Maiden or not, she wasn't strong enough to face a monster that puts grimm to shame.

"Okay, can we just go now? I rather not stick around near a bunch of...ugh..." Jaune couldn't even finish his sentence due to the heavy smell coming from the corpses nearby.

Nora was about to say something, but Ren place a hand over her mouth and whispers a few words near her left ear before releasing Nora, who just smile and give a silent nod at her childhood friend.

"Come on. I know a route to enter the North District within an hour." Weiss said to everyone, as she started running to our right. "Also, Yang could you please stop trying to mess with everyone? And I'm not trying to side with the other side just because they're my close friends. It's because you're treating Ruby like a fragile glass that bound to break if you so much as look away."

Yang pulls back her lip into a thin line while listening to Weiss, but couldn't argue with her when she knew Weiss is just trying to help her out by allowing Ruby experiences thing she is going to see often. Now that the Second Great War started today, much to her horror and misery.

"Don't worry, Yang. I'm grown up. I drink milk." Ruby said proudly, causing Yang to giggle at the way Ruby tries to cheer her up. Which is working when Ruby is mention that by drinking milk she is growing up, which wasn't wrong somewhat.

Even the others laugh quietly at Ruby's remark, much to her confusion at the reason why most of us are laughing and asked what's so funny.

"Well, I think I could speak for everyone. And say that we can understand your feeling, Yang. You just need to calm down and not be overprotected of Ruby too much. Sure, there is stuff that is very dangerous, but you can just be there to support Ruby in her time of needs. Trust me, I know how much I wanted to protect Em, but by the way, he trained himself. I have the half of mind to just grab him and tie him up in bubble wraps to protect him from the world or at least from himself." Pyrrha gives Yang a smile, which Yang returned with own.

"It has been a long day now and it's almost evening already. So we should pick up the pace if we want to meet up with Luna." Izaya said to everyone, as he follows with his fiancee and keeps on checking on my scroll, to control the [Scout Drone] to scout ahead of us.

Omake: Addiction

Enma Nikos: Lien

"Do you mind adding an extra few Lien? I mean, I did use my own materials to create these things." Enma said to the Buyer while leaning on the counter with glowing blue eyes that just cause the Buyer to shiver at how abnormal this is.

The Buyer gulp and quickly place a few extra stacks of Lien on top of the already big pile of Lien inside a suitcase.

"Thanks, pal. I'll see you next week. Make sure to contact me if you're looking for anything else you may want me to get for ya." Enma said to the Buyer, as he put the extra Lien in the suitcase, then close it and took off with a large amount of Lien waiting to be spent on more stuff, to make more Lien.

Pyrrha Nikos: Chocolate

Pyrrha happily eat another bite of her delicious [Chocolate Cake], where she notices a stray hand trying to grab a slice of her precious. So she did what she has always done whenever someone dares try to take her baby.

She stabs a [Knife] between their fingers, causing the person to pull back their hand right away as the [Knife] wiggle a little.

"Pyrrha!" Jaune cried out, who was shocked to almost getting stabbed by his own partner.

Shigure Kosaka: Blade Objects or Weapons In General

"Shigure. You need to give back the nice people back their weapons." Momoyo said to her friend, who literally just stole thousands or so of weapons from the Beacon Academy's students and staff members in a single day at that.

Shigure didn't say anything, and instead, started escaping the area with countless people hot on her tail, even when she goes at high speed.

"GIVE ME BACK [CRESCENT ROSE]!" Ruby let out a battle roar, which is more of a kitty screechings instead. As she, along with the others, chase after Shigure to get back their weapons.