Illithid behind the Curtain: The Breach; Part 2 (Patreon)

Vale was burning and Ruby could see it from here.

On the ship, the other students would be murmuring, eyes wide or grimly narrowed and preparing themselves in various ways. It would be the new Academies trial by fire, as the first generation of Quadling Hunters and Huntresses prepared to help however they could. And with them, Ruby and her friends would help as they could.

Blake seemed quietly uneasy, her bow twitching oddly in the wind as her partner seemed to meditate quietly with others doing the same. Jaune would be kneeling, for once not airsick as he quietly spoke to his sword, Yang beside him bouncing on her heels as she boxed the air.

Weiss would be hugging Einzbern, looking as if she was having an actual conversation with the corgi even as Nora to all intents and purposes, looked cheery as ever. Pyrrha approached at that point, Icarus on her shoulder as the dragon took a sniff of the air and let out a defiant screech towards the city as the champion nodded.

"Grimm. How could they have gotten in?"

"No one's telling us anything." Ruby said back, adjusting her baby as she added. "We all just got the call and here we are."

"Here we are." Pyrrha said ominously, the city and its current state laid before them. There were fires in the city of Vale now, dark smoke billowing as the sight of two spelljammers, the capital battleship and more swarmed around. And then as they stared, there was a sharp whistle and Icarus hissed, as the visage of Jarlaxle Baenre frowned and called out.

"Gather round my darling little ducklings! Gather round." He clasped his hands behind his back, peering at them all before he spoke. "If I had my way, we'd deal with this ourselves. But, this is apparently what you are trained for and so we're going to use you. Brave adventurers...."

For whatever reason, he smiled at that and continued. "Your task is two-fold. You move in teams of three, twelve of you to a single group! You clear out the Grimm and most importantly, you rescue those who need it. If you cannot, you ping us on line four! And we come and take care of it. Each of you get a particular district and you will stay there, so help me! Do you understand?"

He stared and then finally nodded. "Good. Now on all your scrolls, you should have your assignments now." There was a ping, as one by one, they checked and then Jaune raised his hand.

"What about the square?"

Jarlaxle began to laugh at that. "Oh, don't you worry boy."

Icarus let out a screech.

A shadow loomed and flew, with the wind behind it. A gleam of blue scales and a roar that hurt Ruby's eardrums echoed long after it was done, as the Drow laughed and spoke with relish.

"Your teachers and peers have an idea or two how to deal with it."

====

Syxorath felt as if he should be more insulted about this.

That someone of his power and majesty, should be used as a weapon, a dog to come and go at its master's call. He was ancient and long before C'gorath had cast his first cantrip, he had been dominating and secure, with none daring to face him and... It had been utterly boring. It had been a stagnant time, an era in which he had thought himself mighty, yet couldn't differentiate himself between any other chromatic dragon upon the world. He was nothing and when he perished, there would be nothing to remember him aside from his collection plundered by lesser races and lesser kin.

When he had realized this, his fury had been beyond belief and mountains had shattered before his wrath, but he knew what he had to do. His collection had been invested, his portfolio had grown and his followers likewise. As draconic as his rule had been, it had worked and it had been safer, which in turn drew people to his banner. He had thought it a joke at first and then when more pledged themselves, suddenly it became a game.

Logistics, payments rendered, social games and the market in which he had to account for were all things needed to be scrutinized. There had been cutthroat humanoids, almost dragon like in their base natures, economics, war and profit combining into something he knew would stick with him forever. How could he ever go back to scrounging about in a cavern, sleeping upon useless trinkets without worth if there was no market in which to unleash them?

His wings drove the storm before him, electricity crackling over his scales and as he approached the square, it was to the sight of the following.

The dead had risen, ghosts and specters fighting back as Clan Blackstone began to retreat. The hole in the square had been expanded, the spell prior no longer effective as the Grimm simply slid out of the way.

Syxorath had eyes only for the giant grimm that seemed to be directing the rest, an Elder variant of Beringel if he was not mistaken. It was huge, surrounded by the various corpses of Blackstone hunters as well as its own kind, as it smashed with no regard for friend or foe. It was a feral being, completely unworthy and yet... There was something familiar.

Syxorath decided he'd discern all its secrets after as he roared and unleashed his lightning, as night turned briefly into day. The Beringel howled and leaped, getting out of the way of the beam as it seemed to cough and roar, the dragon landing to engage in combat as he charged and slammed into the Grimm which came to meet him.

The dragon laughed.

"What a day."

As the ape tried to punch him into the side, Syoxrath swift as a snake snapped his jaws and clamped it on its wrists, biting down hard and twisting as he took its hand and swallowed it whole.

"WHAT A LOVELY DAY!"

=====

"This is Lisa Lavender on the scene here, as Vale finds itself under attack by the Grimm!"

Lisa spoke rapidly, her cameraman running to catch up as static electricity crackled and she ducked, cursing the fact this wouldn't be live footage as the station had been abandoned. "Simultaneous blasts, all over the city has unleashed a number of Grimm which appear to have used the tunnels of Mt. Glenn to infiltrate. Despite this, morale is high as unknown forces have joined in to fight them alongside our defenders and Atlas, our main ally! Viewers, old and new let me assure you this is not a trick. This is no illusion, nor fabrication. Because here I am, and with my own eyes I am seeing what you are seeing."

Even then, she almost didn't believe it.

Actual knights, charging in formation and supported by rounded, strange aliens with many eyes as they blasted the Grimm back.

VPD officers, utilizing heavy weaponry as elements rained down from robed figures, green skinned warriors roaring, what looked like three giant elephant men with tower shields storming and smashing as they protected a bus, and in the distance an actual dragon fighting an elder berengil as flying ships akin to Mistral design released more forces and creatures, alien to behold as Atlas, not willing to hold back disgorged its own troops, led by what looked like one of their Specialists, as she swung her sword and white summons, akin to the Grimm leaped upon their darker counterparts as they harried and tore them to shreds.

Lisa grinned broadly.

This was the video that would earn her, her Pulitzer.