At first, when you told the mayor that bandits were going to attack the village, the Huntsman was hesitant to believe you. As a matter of fact, he believed it to be a pathetic ploy to rob the village without effort while the residents hid in the safe houses. Yet you insisted, saying some crap about you being on the hunt for these bandits for weeks. The Huntsman, obviously, didn't believe a single word you said. The mayor was starting to agree with him until you started to describe the leader of the bandit tribe. The distinct characteristics of Raven Branwen.

In short, whether it was mayor Midori thinking long and hard about it, your sharp tongue explanation on the severity of this possibility, or a combination of your subtle threats and the mayor's brittle spine, Rida agreed to let your people set up a trap within the village. In exchange, however, the Huntsman has to assist in this endeavor. An insurance that this is a trap, and you're not just pulling a fast one.

Well, color the Grimm-killer surprised when, during his hiding in the inn, he heard an explosion followed by gunfire and shouts in the distance. Thus, the rest is history. The bandits arrived, got their shit pushed in, and ran away with their tails between their legs. It would have been a perfect night.

That is until a fucking Nuckelavee appeared because of the fighting and is currently stomping around Shion.

Its shrieking pierces the night air, almost vibrating the bones in your body. The Huntsman and you rush down the moonlit street and soon round the corner of a building. As you catch up to the beast, what you see certainly leaves you perplexed. A gaint of a black horse just trots in place with hooves in the back and claws in the front. Its mane billows out black smoke as its skull-like face simply stares out into the distance. The exposed ribs heaving in and out with every breath. Overall, a very demonic looking horse.

The real attention grabber, however, is the humanoid torso fused to its back, which is where the horrid screams are coming from. Attached to said torso are two extremely long and extremely noodley arms ending in two-clawed fingers. On top of the malnourished body is a black head with a bone-white face. A pair of long curved horns rest on top of its head as its demented maw is stretched out into a smile with what looks like sinew attached to its upper and lower jaw. To top it all off, embedded into its back are several swords, spears, and arrows from previous battles.

So far, this is hands down the freakiest looking Grimm you've ever seen..... You want to kill it now.

It lets out a guttural yelp as it swings its arms around, both of which stretch out to impossible lengths to smash one into a building and another into one of your trucks. In the meantime, your gang is busy either running for dear life, shooting at it, or both. Welp, better start helping before somebody dies. You turn to the Huntsman, who is currently busy looking like he's either A. Thinking of a strategy on how to fight this demented should-be-headless-horseman. Or B. Trying not to soil himself. You decide to do both for him and smack him in the shoulder to get his attention.

(Y/n): My men won't stand a chance against that thing head-on. We need to draw its attention!

Before he could utter a word, you rush towards the Nuckelavee with a gauntlet raised as you fire at it. Now, with its screeching attention focused on the two of you, the Huntsman is forced to play the world's deadliest game of tag.

Elsewhere, Johnny runs for dear fucking life as a torso-sized hand slams right behind him, just barely turning him into a flattened red smear in the road. He rushes towards a nearby building and slams his body through the door, wasting no time in opening it normally. As flesh proves mightier than wood, the door slams open, barely being held by the hinges, as the newest Xiong member falls flat on his face as he collapses on the hard wood floor.

Besides the throbbing pain in his shoulder, his lungs burn with every breath after all the dodging and running, so it takes him a minute to get back up. As he does, his mind rushes with thoughts of how the hell he got here... Left his home village to move to the city and work in a car dealership, trusted that girl who said it was her first time and get robbed the day after, put dreams on hold and got a job in a gas station, get terrorized for almost a year, survived a Grimm invasion, got borderline kidnapped, forced to join a gang he's barely heard of, and now possibly dying in a foreign kingdom by something straight out of a nightmare.... Yeah, that all checks out.

(Y/n): GET INSIDE! TAKE COVER AND DON'T SHOOT UNLESS IT'S NOT LOOKING YOUR WAY!

Screaming almost as loud as the Nuckelavee, your voice can be heard outside as Johnny finally gets to his feet. He scurries over to a window and peaks out. Half a block away is the Grimm, trotting in place as it flails its arms around like one of those inflatable tube men. Not far behind it are two individuals. One is the Huntsman, who is keeping his distance while taking precise aim at the beast, and the other is the boss... Who is currently charging at the fused monster while unloading both gauntlets into it.

As the Xiongs finally start taking pot shots at the Nuckelavee from within the surrounding buildings, earning one or two annoyed screeches, the Grimm spots (y/n) shooting at its ass while charging and launches a claw at him. This proves futile as he leaps over the appendage and keeps running. Now, Johnny isn't a betting man, that's how he ended up in a gas station, but he has seen what the boss is capable of back in Vale. If he can single handedly fend off a swarm of Grimm while on the back of a moving truck, then maybe he can be able to--and he just grabbed mid jump.

The Nuckelavee is now flailing the boss in the air like a toddler with a sock monkey. With its elastic arms, it swings him up and over and slams him through the roof of a nearby building. With a thunderous crash, the Xiong leader disappears in an explosion of smoke and debris as the beast moves on.

Johnny: We're all gonna die.

Over to you, you crash through the roof and slam ass first on the hard wood floor, creating a sizable crater from the landing. Your aura goes sporadic across your whole body before slowly fading. Whether because it has completed its task or given up, you do not know. Or even care for that matter because you're too busy trying to inhale air back into your lungs. A surprisingly difficult task considering you got slammed dunked like a basketball.

After finally restarting your respiratory system, you slowly get back to your feet. Your process takes pause as a bit of 2x4 fell from above and hit you in the head.

(Y/n):... Ow.

Ignoring the lump forming on your head, you stand tall as the sound of screeching and gunfire booms from outside. All that sound is overlapped by a voice from behind.

Melanie: Well, nice of you to drop by.

You spin around and spot the Malachite sisters sitting in a corner, surprisingly not too worried about helping out the gang.

(Y/n): The hell are you sitting around for? Help, dammit!

Miltia: And do what? We don't have guns, and we're not going to risk getting close to that thing.

You let out an annoyed grunt as you walk over to a window. Once you arrive, the scene you witness is as follows; The Nuckelavee is still smashing its claws into buildings, flashes of gunfire appear from dark windows, the Huntsman is doing his best, and you spot your chainaxe laying on the ground after that damn thing Slam Jam'd your shit in. Speaking of the Huntsman, he seems to be holding out better than you against the large Grimm.

He fires a burst of rounds at the Nuckelavee's head, getting its ear piercing attention as it swivels its torso around to face him. Without hesitation, it launches both arms towards him in hopes of giving him a loving hug. And by loving, I mean deadly. And by hug, I mean squeeze that will snap his ribs into his lungs. The Huntsman, however, proves to have haphephobia and dodges that shit by flipping over one hand, transforms his rifle into a staff, and bashes the other into the ground.

Shifting his weapon back to its previous mode, he aims his rifle and shoots off a few more rounds at its head again, unaware of the hand he dodged coming back at him from behind. Realizing too late, he is grabbed by the leg and pulled towards the Nuckelavee through the air. Before he could free himself from this nightmarish bad touch, he is let go and is now flying towards the horse half's ass. Suddenly, both legs come up and kick him in his entire body. The force of the kick sends him flying back and crashes into a build across the other end of the street at high speed. The wall he smashes into practically explodes into stone and splinter, resulting in the rest of the house collapsing in on itself.

(Y/n):........

Melanie: So, what now, boss?

You resist the urge to smack the sass out of a twin as you watch the Nuckelavee continue to stomp around like a rugrat in a cardboard city. As it slams a two fingered fist into another building, you begin to think of a plan. To the twins, you look to be tweaking on the spot while mumbling to yourself. Phrases like 'what if', 'how about', 'that didn't work' and 'damn it, Johnny' can be heard under your breath. Neither one of them having a sense of deja vu as you continue using your semblance. This all comes to an end as you suddenly clap your hands together and turn to face the twins, startling both of them from the action.

(Y/n): Okay! How 'bout this?

Over in another building, Pen and another Xiong duck away from the window as the horse head faces their direction. With gun in hand, he removes the empty rifle and realizes he only has one magazine left. With a sigh, he reloads the weapon and peaks out the window. The Nuckelavee is still looking in his direction, but the Xiongs in other buildings are taking the opportunity to shoot its blind spots. So far, this all seems to only piss it off rather than hurt it.

Although it has caused damage to some of the surrounding buildings, the Xiongs have managed to keep it in place until... something happens. If they don't kill this Grimm before they all run out of ammo, then the gang is done for. Speaking of done for, he turns towards where that Huntsman got sent flying..... Yep, still buried. Moving on, he looks over to the building that you got slammed into. Although difficult to see, he spots you at the window fiddling with what he assumes is a scroll. Not long after, the speakers that you had set up around the village suddenly come back to life with your voice.

(Y/n): *AHEM* TESTING. ALRIGHT! I WANT TWO OF YOU TO GET IN THE TRUCKS, DRIVE TO OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE STREET, AND BE READY TO SPITROAST THIS FUCKER. ON MY MARK, I WANT THE REST OF YOU TO UNLOAD IN ITS FACE... ES. WITH THE DRIVERS A SECOND AFTER. GET READY!

Pen is taken aback by the straightforward plan. He shakes the surprised look from his face and remembers there's a truck in an alley right outside. He turns to his fellow gangster, who apparently had the same idea.

Pen: I got the truck! You stay here and wait for his signal!

He pulls the magazine out and tosses it to his fellow gang member, dropping the rifle as he makes a beeline for the backdoor. He is greeted by the not-so-silent night air as he rushes out the door and around the building. Not long after, he arrives at the alley and spots the box truck. It'll be a squeeze, but he'll manage to get in. Sprinting towards the vehicle, he quickly gets in and starts the truck. He drives back to where he came from and makes his way down some back streets until he arrives at one end of the main road.

Just ahead of him is the Nuckelavee, still screeching and flailing in displeasure from being shot. Further ahead is another truck, pulling up not long after Pen. Suddenly, he spots a blur of red and white dashing across both corners of his vision. He would have mentally questioned what the twins are up to, but his attention soon snaps to the Grimm that has spotted him. It brings back both arms, preparing to launch them towards his truck.

(Y/n): NOW!

Just as the beast prepares whip its limbs, a hailstorm of bullets pelts both its faces. This stuns the Nuckelavee as the top half tries blocking the rounds with its arms, while the bottom half whinnies and lurch its head around in shock and pain. Pen soon slams his foot down on the accelerator, his body being pushed into the seat from the sudden speed as the engine roars out. If timed right, both the other driver and himself should arrive at the same time. From what he can see, the other truck looks like it's aiming for its ass. Thinking quick, Pen steers for the front half so he doesn't hit the Xiong head on.

It takes a few seconds, but Pen is now a dozen feet away from collision. At the last second, the horse half lets out a demonic neigh as it raises its front legs. It cuts its noise-making short as it snaps its head towards the oncoming truck. Although in the air, its front legs get smashed in by the vehicle. With the other truck ramming its hind legs at the same time, the Grimm is violently spun around, forcing it off balance and falling over on its side.

As the Nuckelavee is busy being discombobulated, Pen loses control of the truck, doing his damndest wrenching the steering wheel back and forth. This only causes enough momentum to turn the truck over on its side and slide down the road. Meanwhile, the other truck loses control as well. Only this time, it crashes into a building, coming to a complete stop.

As all that goes on, the Grimm is having a not-so-fun time flailing its limbs on the ground. As the bottom half tries desperately to get its legs under it, the top half is throwing a monster tantrum and being useless. A clear indication that these are two separate entities that somehow got stuck together. As horsie managed to get its front legs to cooperate, it fails to spot the white and red blurs rushing towards it.

From either side of the black horse's head, Melanie and Miltia rush towards it at high speed. With the grace and elegance of highly dangerous twin ballerinas, the Malachite sisters brandish their respective blades and prepare to strike. With the red one going high and the white one going low, the twins strike its neck. Their blades slice into its pitch black flesh, cutting deep as its head is forcefully rotated from the attack. This causes the wounds to rip and expand until it meets in the middle. Then, with what little flesh is left, the head snaps off and falls to the ground, causing the rest of the horse bits to go limp. Thus killing one-half of the Grimm.

Meanwhile, you make a mad dash towards the top half of the screaming and flailing Nuckelavee, grabbing your chainaxe off the ground along the way. The remaining half Grimm spots you approaching and launches a stretchy claw at you. This proves very fucking stupid as you see it coming. You duck beneath the strike and swing the axe over your head. The teeth from your revving weapon bite through the Nuckelavee's arm, slicing it off with ease. This causes the noisy Grimm to let out a high(er) pitch scream. In retaliation to your retaliation, it swings its other arm down towards you.

You quickly stop in your tracks just as its claw comes down, crashing into the dirt right in front of you. You waste no time and jump on the Grimm's remaining claw before it rips it from the ground. The force of this action, along with you jumping, causes you to be launched into the air above the Fuckelcocksleeve. Immediately after, gravity takes offense to your aerial position and brings you back down. The creature sees you coming down and swings its arm at you again.

With no means of dodging, you think fast and swing your axe down. Your weapon soon trikes the claw between its freaky looking fingers, tearing through the flesh and down the rest of the arm. Although not as loud as the Grimm being mutilated, you let out a battle cry as you finish cutting through the arm and hurtle towards the creature's head. It tries to let out another bone rattling scream, only to get a mouthful of chainaxe. With the wait of your body, your axe manages to easily cleave the Grimm's head clean off.

You land feet first back to the ground, your knees hurting like a bitch as you hold your axe tightly. Immediately after, the Grimm's horned head falls to the dirt next to you. As you look down to the now desolving head, you turn off your chainaxe and appreciate the silence that now dominates the night air. That, however, is soon spoiled with the sound of cheering as several members of your gang rush out of the buildings and surround you and the evaporating body.

You look upon your gang, noticing that, along with the twins and yourself, you only count nineteen. With a rev of your chainaxe, you quiet everyone down as you put on a serious face.

(Y/n): Alright, pipe down! The big one might be dead, but we don't know if it came alone. Mel and Mil, I want you and thirteen others to patrol the village for any more Grimm. The rest of you I want helping with finding survivors. Now, hustle!

The Xiongs scuttle about before they go and do as they're told. You turn around and spot the overturn truck. Wasting no time, you rush over and make your way to the front window. Pen can be spotted laying motionless against the shattered window. You quickly use your axe and smash the front window in. With that out of the way, you carefully pull Pen out and drag him away from the truck. As you do, he suddenly stirs in your arms, causing you to set him down.

(Y/n): Pen? Pen, can you hear me?

Pen: *grooaann* Y-yeah. Just... Just give me a minute.

He rubs his now hatless head as you place a hand on his shoulder. As that goes on, you notice something out of the corner of your eye. Snapping towards it, you spot some debris of a destroyed building shift. Followed by the sound of grunting. Then yelling.

???: Hey! Anybody out there? I'm stuck!

You let out an annoyed sigh as you get up and head to the Huntsman's direction. You know, you never really did get that guy's name.... And you really couldn't care less for that matter.

??? Hellooo?

(Y/n): Yeah, yeah, keep your breastplate on.

You soon arrive and spot a leg in the rubble. It taps on some plywood in impatience as you carefully navigate through the debris of the destroyed building. It takes some cautious footing, but you arrive at where the Huntsman is. You spot his head looking up at you as his torso is buried in large chunks of wood beams and roof shingles.

(Y/n): Well, look at you! Still alive and shit. You kinda remind me of my old boss.

???: Oh, cut the crap and help me!

You begrudgingly do that and start digging him out. Some shingles are tossed here, two beams shoved there, and the Huntsman is finally able to pull himself out from the rubble. Dusting himself off, he looks around and sees the state the village is in.

???: What happened to the Nuckelavee? Did we win?

You point a thumb back towards where the Grimm was. All that remained of the creature is a pile of forgotten weapons as they are now free from the Nuckelavee.

(Y/n): Yeah, we won. Right now, I've got some of my guys patrolling in case there are more Grimm. The rest are looking for survivors.

???: Ah. Good idea... I'll help with that first one.

(Y/n): You sure? You did get your shit rocked a minute ago.

He raises a hand up between you both, a white glow shimmers across his arm as he does so.

???: I'm running on fumes, but I'll be fine. Just need to not push myself, and all I need to worry about are bruises.

You let out an acknowledging grunt as you both take your leave. As you return back to Pen, you spot him sitting up against the overturned truck, using the hat he found to fan himself. Relieved that he probably doesn't need medical attention immediately, you walk to locate any other injured Xiongs. You are interrupted, though. From an alleyway, you spot another Xiong waving you down. Curious, you jog over and follow him further in.

Soon after, you witness a handful of Xiongs against one wall as they aim their guns towards the other wall. Sitting towards said wall with their hands behind their heads are four bandits.

Xiong1: We found some stragglers that couldn't escape.

Bandit1: The Branwens won't stand for this! You bastards won't be so lucky nex--

The bandit's little tirade is interrupted as the Xiog that brought you here pistol whips them upside the head. They fall over as your goon steps back and aims the gun at them.

Xiong1: What do we do with'em, boss?

You look towards the bandit survivors and say nothing for a few seconds..... You walk over to the Xiong, grab his gun, and lower his arm.

(Y/n): We've wasted enough bullets... Keep it quiet.

You glance down at his waste, eying the red sword holstered to his belt. Taking the hint, he puts his pistol away and unsheathes the blade, the other Xiongs following suit. The bandits realize too late and try to panic. Only to be suddenly grabbed and either stabbed in the back or have their hair pulled as their throats are slit, blood now oozing out of their wounds. It doesn't take long for them to bleed out, merely a minute at best.

As the execution is finished, the bandits' bodies are shoved to the ground as the Xiongs clean the unwanted crimson color from their red swords.

(Y/n): Well, that was fun. Now, get back to the sesrch and rescue. If you find any more of these guys, kill them.

The Xiong members acknowledge your command and walk past you and out of the alley. As you get a moment to yourself, you let out a sigh and look up. The stars are now twinkling across the night sky. Curious, you pull out your scroll and check the time.

(Y/n):.... Only 9:08... Huh.

Satisfied with that, you put your scroll away and look across the buildings. Specifically, the more ruined ones. You pick one at random and rush over to find any Xiong survivors. All the while.... you enjoy the silence for the first time.

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