Bloody Evolution Chapter 8 (Patreon)

Five thousand people were going into the Emerald Forrest so it was taking a good while for everyone to get loaded up. But regardless we had Velvet unlock New Jersey's aura real quick so by the time we got dropped off it would be regenerated.

Our ships soon took to the air as the Anti-Air batteries and mages took apart any Grimm in the area, and as I looked through the small port holes in the bullhead I took in the surroundings past Vale's massive walls that would put the Attack on Titan walls to shame.

And I could see that in the distance was the castle fortress that was Beacon that we were going to fly past. And then from there, we would be dropped north of Beacon in the supposedly somewhat cleared-out Emerald Forrest.

"We will want a defensible position. So we want to have a cliff or something to our backs and a strong fortification that can allow us to escape from it if needed." I mused as I took in the deep ever green forestry beneath the dozens of Bullheads carrying the prospects into hell.

I felt Prinz lean against me before she said calmly. "I believe in you. Just pick a point and we will make our way there."

I gave a slight hum before I blinked as I saw in the far distance a massive gorge. Built into the center of the gorge was a massive tower that was in the center of the gorge that had two large stone bridges leading across both sides of the gorges.

'Is that where the canon cast fought their stronger Grimm in their easy mode invitation?' I mused before pointing at the structure I saw with Prinz and New Jersey nodding in agreement.

With only Alice having the advice of. "If we do get overrun. It will be hard to escape you know." 

But with the emplaced weapons I could summon up. I wasn't worried about being overrun by any casual grimm so I nodded in respect to her advice that did have merit and we kept flying a little longer before Glynda Goodwitchs voice cut in through the intercom as the ships dipped forward to bring us closer to the ground.

[All prospective students of Beacon. You will need to jump out of the Bullhead within the next five minutes after the doors open. If you are unable to jump from the Bullhead and ride back to Beacon after the allotted time. You will be considered a failure and will thus be sent back to Vale in another shuttle.]

The doors to the back of the bullhead opened and I took a breath as I saw the people in the back move away from the opening doors... But seeing them moving away I pushed forward with the girls following me.

"Hold hands or something! We are going to try to fall as close as possible!" I spoke loudly over the holding winds as I felt Prinz and New Jersey's hands grab my wrists and then I felt hands grab the back straps of my armor.

And knowing that hesitating would only make this harder I just powerwalked out of the large bullhead with New Jersey making a loud cheer as we free fell out of the air...

For all of like five seconds as the Bullheads were flying really fucking low and I felt the girls let go as we hit the tree line and I brought up my aura to protect me as I grabbed at several branches to slow my fall with my armored gauntlets allowing me to off load the weight of my grabs into my shoulders and whole body.

A series of soft thumps rang out as we hit the ground just a few seconds off and then as soon as I stood up I heard the sound of the ground being torn up.

I looked to my side and I instantly backhanded a Beowulf in the face with my gauntlet pushing it aside. Making sure it didn't bowl me over and seeing a dozen more of the Beowulf's I finally took advantage of my arm cannons.

Heavy booming noises rang out as my cannons rang out powerfully as the larger caliber pellets in the shot tore through the air and their forms blossomed like bloody black flowers as the shot tore their bodies apart.

"Everyone lands alright?" I asked loudly over the sound of a sharp snarl that turned into a gurgling whine as Prinz's draconic-headed rigging tore a Beowulf in half.

"I am fine." Prinz and New Jersey said in unison with Velvet nodding while Alice hefted her large battleaxe over her shoulder and spoke with a small smile.

"Yup! Me and Velvet landed just fine." 

'Good... Would be terrible if someone literally tore their ankle or something.' I shuddered at the thought.

"Alright, let's make our way to the gorge. It can act as the perfect choke point which will fit my magic." I ordered and quickly continued towards the gorge that was likely going to be a good... Five or six miles to the north.

But quickly I realized something... Why the hell were we walking?

I held up my hand for everyone to stop as I was taking point and I spoke. "Wait a second." I pointed my hand outwards and I marshaled up my Aura and with its mundane nature it only took ten percent of my aura to create what I wished as bright light formed in front of me that quickly broke apart.

As in front of me as the light faded away was the AA7 amphibious vehicle that had been modified to switch out the mounted 50cal on top of the turret with a 950 RDJ machine gun. 

"Well, its a good thing I know how to shoot that turret Jake." New Jersey spoke excitedly while Prinz hopped onto the tank I said.

"Velvet, Alice get inside the tank, it will allow us to cover a lot more ground!" I spoke as I jumped atop it as well and I thanked all the gods that I was able to somewhat control certain aspects of the machine during its creation.

As it had a large cockpit for me to drive in while the back wasn't as large.

"Alright... This steel should be strong and thick enough to ignore anything that hasn't eaten any souls or has Grimm acid." Velvet spoke as she climbed into the back of the amphibious tank as I brought it online.

A loud rumble rang out and I saw in the systems as Grimm came out of the tree line all directions the sound of our tank revving up was loud as shit and was a bigger draw than the sounds of the other prospects.

"Well, this is a good time to open up." Prinz spoke and I watched in awe as her large battle cannons fired for the first time in the cameras as the massive rounds that belonged on a naval ship tore through the surroundings with her anti-air guns tearing through the chaff as her main cannons brought down tree's like they were nothing.

The amphibious tank however was rolling now. And with this tank not having for example as much armor as an Abram's, it could get to a good bit of speed.

Though... The sounds of New Jersey showing Velvet how to use the turret was getting to me with the sounds of Prinz Eugen and New Jersey's heavy cannons tearing through the surrounding forest.

But I had one funny thought that wouldn't escape me. 'I wonder what the staff of Beacon is going to think seeing me summon or create a literal tank on demand.' I mused as I pushed down the throttle with a roar ringing out as the tank smashed into a charging Boarbatusk only for the Grimm...

To be splattered and ground up by several tons of mechanical steel running the bitch over.

With the thick forestry, it took my tank a good half an hour to drive over to the gorge itself... And it wasn't even night and I realized how dangerous this initiation was as I ran over several dozen lesser Grimm with my tank with New Jersey using her larger cannons to blow up any larger Grimm like Taijutu that came for my tank at the noise.

"Hmm, I am down ten percent of my ammo. Jake keep driving, this stone bridge is like a solid thirty or forty feet thick so it can hold the tank!" New Jersey spoke excitedly before she spoke again.

"Prinz Eugen, we should switch to lower calibers. We don't wanna damage the bridge should we miss our targets." 

The center of the large structure in the gorge was a large flat platform that was forty meters wide with the main platform being supported by the structure that went all the wall to the base of the massive gorge that I couldn't even see the bottom of due to how dark it got.

"Alright, so a quick run down... I can make weapons, emplacements, ammo, and resources that have to do with a naval theme." I spoke as I took in the gorge and considered things.

'Two main points of entry, no major way of escape except...' I then summoned a larger rocket cannon onto my shoulders and I turned towards the edge of the gorge where the far tree line was.

I then pull the trigger on the rocket launcher I had and with a loud thumping noise a thick rope got shot outwards flying hundreds of meters before with a soft thumping noise the spiked hook on the end caught on the tree's on the other side.

I then tied the line to one a pillar a good ways up and Alice spoke with some excitement. "Ah! You made a zipline to get over the gorge!"

But just as I went to respond with some pride at using a simple tow line as a zipline I was cut off as the heavy sounds of Alice using the heavy machine gun atop the amphibious tank drowned out any noise I could make.

'My heavy machine guns are loud as fuck... Lets go even further beyond!' I cackled as I realized now was my fucking time to shine!

The surrounding area glowed as I fully immersed myself into my Essence of the Admiral, and I could almost smell the sea as the stone beneath our feet were replaced with thick steel, and the matter below us was transformed as I used my ability to turn the massive platform we were atop into the top and lower section of a large nuclear-powered battleship.

"You truly are royal blooded..." Alice spoke in a hushed voice as my will filled the surrounding machinery of the partly manifested battleship.

I smiled as I held up my and like a maestro I felt my will connect with the dozen Phalanx CIWS anti-air guns along with the four mounted GAU-8 Avenger cannons mounted pointing at the two bridges.

But manifesting all this, wasn't actually that bad on my aura. As it only took half my aura to do so seeing as I was able to use the thick... Maybe even slightly enchanted stone that made up the platform.

"Alright, girls! Let's go into the ship, we can control the guns and be safe from any Grimm acid under several meters of steel." I spoke quickly with the girls nodding as they followed into the manifested section of the ship I made to head into the control tower.

And by the time we got up to the top, already the sounds of the Avenger Cannon's and their beautiful 'Brrrrt' noises were filling our ears with a dull hymn due to the thick glass that separated the outside world from ourselves.

"So... You are from Vacou's royal family?" Velvet asked unsurely as I stared past the heavily tinted glass to keep the Grimm from possibly seeing us inside the tower and focusing on it.

I was silent for a minute before I slowly shook my head.

As much as possibly using the name of the Vacuo's royal family as an aegis to claw my way quickly up the ranks of the world would be easy... That could also be very dangerous when said royal family demands blood tests to find out whose bastard I am.

"No. The Vacuo royal family has the ability to make anything they want on a large scale... But their manifestations are hollow, the castles they throw up with a wave of their hands break down after mere months when such castles could last for centuries if cared for and made with mortal hands." 

I gently touched the control panel of the ship I manifested before I spoke. "I on the other hand... Can only manifest things that are tied to a naval theme but in exchange my manifestations are permanent and no different from a hand-crafted project." 

"Wait... Does that mean these two are?" Alice spoke and I smiled as I turned around to face the rabbit faunus's as I wrapped an arm around Prinz's waist and my other arm around New Jersey's shoulder as I responded.

"Yes... They are also constructs I made. And as you are well aware, they even have their own souls." I spoke proudly as Prinz summed it up perfectly.

"We are his ships and he is our Admiral. Do you have any issues with that?" 

To that, Alice and Velvet shared a look before Alice gingerly pulled at the leather collar around her neck and said plainly. "No, we are your retainers Jake. We will carry your burdens and in turn, you will elevate our status. Your follower's status as constructs doesn't matter... Especially when I have seen one of the necromancy lords be a woman who collects handsome Huntsmen after they die in the field." 

My lips twitched hearing that... And honestly, how could I blame her? New Jersey and Prinz were all but human in all the ways that mattered.

But any further discussion was cut off as I tilted my head to the side as I felt in my connection with the ship I was on... A procession of a dozen massive cargo plane sized Deathstalker Grimm scorpions lining up to cross over the bridge to head towards us.

I looked over to that particular bridge and Alice whistled with a hint of some fear in her voice as she spoke. "Those are five-decade-old Deathstalkers at least... Do we need to go outside to deal with them or even leave our position?"

In response, I flexed my will and the ship beneath me hummed with power as the two Avenger Cannon spun to life along with all the Phalanx screaming to life as a curtain of alternating armor penetrating and explosive rounds painted the scene.

"Those small circular towers over there are automated anti-air turrets shooting 4500 rounds of 20 MM depleted uranium sabot... While those large cannons are shooting 30MM of alternating explosive and armor penetrating variety at 4000 rounds per minute." Even as I spoke.

I watched in utter amusement as the emplaced guns utterly obliterated the line of powerful Grimm that tried to bum rush in the worst kind of kilbox they could face.

"What about ammo?" Velvet asked quietly and I held up a hand to form the 30mm round the Avenger was using in my hand with a small smile.

"So long as the item I am trying to make isn't enchanted or otherwise has supernatural properties, making thousands of these rounds in literal moments won't even take a full percentage of my aura." I explained with a smile with the girls nodding as they glanced at the ammo crate on my armored back in understanding.

And now... It was just a waiting game. See if I ran out of aura to manifest more ammunition. Or the Grimm ran out of bodies to throw at me.

"I am going to relax and meditate to keep my aura regeneration at its best." I spoke as I settled down into the captain's chair of the ship with my eyes closing as I relaxed and dropped my mind into the ship and its systems.

With Prinz laying a comforting hand on my knee as she sat on the arm of my chair to lean against me slightly.

-

"Move out of the way... He is a dead man." A male voice spoke tired and coldly as Cardin Winchester hefted his large spell mace in his hands as he watched his peer Russel Thrush choking and drowning on his blood.

As a Lancedevil had snuck up and slammed one of its stupidly sharp spikes it carried through Russel's throat.

Lancedevils were extremely fast wasp shaped Grimm that typically were the size of a large dog and they held three large spikes as they flew upright and with their almost mono-molecular point at the end, even Aura had a hard time protecting from a head-on blow.

Cardin took a deep breath and he met the gaze of his peer he had grown up with and as he looked into the panicking eyes of his friend and he said. "In death, may you find peace brother." And his spell mace filled with power before he smashed it down with all his might into Russel Thrush's head splattering it into nothingness and ending his suffering instantly.

"There... He isn't suffering for the next few minutes. And those fucking necromancers won't insult his line by using his body as chaff or be used by some freak." Cardin spoke tiredly as he looked at his two surviving friends and then he glanced at their retainers before shaking his head.

The three older teenagers looked at the headless remains of their friend before Dove slowly spoke. "Cardin, take his earrings. We can give it to his family after we get out of here." 

Cardin nodded seeing the enchanted earrings that were unharmed and he spoke softly. "Alright, let's take these and we can hold up in a cave that my family has noted down. We just gotta hold out for the next few days while that dumbass using a tank and those cannons get all the Grimm's attention."

With Sky was wearing a wry smile as he said with a sad smile. "He will for sure run out of ammo by tonight when the Grimm come out in force. So let's take the easy day while we can."

And so the surviving three teens and their two surviving retainers continued to the hidden cave that Cardin's family had noted down for a safe place to bunker down over the years.

-

A great field of frozen ice stood as a stark reminder of nature and standing formally on a wall of ice that used hundreds of Grimm as foundational blocks was two young women with almost matching winter-themed outfits and white hair.

One was dressed in a formal dress with ice crystal-like gems embossed into her dress that was the highest quality of dust that had been cut into perfectly formed gems to enhance her magic.

The other was clad in a shorter blue dress with their eyes covered in a blindfold that had an upside down half moon embossed over the front of it.

"A Vacuo Royal seems to be in this initiation as well... Probably a bastard as none of the one's I know of are in the right age group nor of the desire to put themselves on the front line like this." The blue dress-wearing woman spoke as she gazed with some interest towards the sight of a fresh fortress that had popped up out of nowhere.

And Weiss Schnee the wizard who was wearing the magical gem encrusted gem gave a slight hum before she spoke blandly. "They are certainly a bastard, as they didn't bother to network with the other students. If they had, they would have gotten a great amount of political favor in making such a fortress for all to defend together."

They remained silent for a moment until they saw a line of explosive munitions being shot into a line of Grimm with the Grimm being torn apart without any resistance being able to be put up.

"It is odd, however. The Abizar's Manifestation Semblance doesn't do... Chemical or magical reactions. Where is he getting the ammo is the question?" Weiss mused with an upraised eyebrow at seeing thousands of rounds be used with impunity by several turrets on the oddly shaped metal-topped platform.

There was a moment of silence before the other girl spoke bluntly. "We can account for that section as being a possible safe haven Weiss. But for now... More are coming for ourselves." 

Weiss turned away from her partner and guardian Jingliu to look down with a frown as all the new souls in the Emerald Forrest had finally dragged the real Grimm population from the surroundings into a feeding frenzy.

Already she could see... Literal thousands of black shadows running through the deep forest line in various directions as the Grimm ran towards various gunfire and feeling the magic used by the prospective students.

And with Weiss having made her own massive wall and frozen domain out of ice dust and magic. Plenty of Grimm was naturally running towards her.

Today... Was going to be a very long day for her and the prospective students of Beacon. Even if that fool was dragging many Grimm over to himself with his heavy cannon's drowning out the sounds of the student's much smaller weapons.