Illithid behind the Curtain: The Fall of Beacon (Patreon)

"HOLD THEM BACK! HOLD THEM BACK!"

Cardin Winchester roared, the boy carrying a shield emblazoned with the emblem of a blue dragon as he deflected shots from the approaching Atlas-controlled troops. Behind him, the rest of his team would be dragging away the wounded, as fresh forces marched forward, snarling in challenge as the scent of ozone filled the air from the discharge of lightning gauntlets.

When the invasion began, the Lightning Horde had emerged from the skies and struck hard, providing enough of a breathing space for the younger students and noncombatants to get to safety within the halls of the school. But then came the Grimm and the White Fang, as the robot troops turned on them and while they were reinforced, there were far too many.

In the midst of the fight, Cardin had seen several of his classmates dragged down by the Grimm, screaming as they were torn to pieces and more than a few of the knights, many of whom went out on their own terms. As another knight fell, he reached for his gauntlet and tapped the gems on it. His helm was gone, his pauldrons torn as more Grimm moved to swarm him... And then like the others, he exploded.

At the sight, the knights let out battle cries, raising their weapons above their head as the one closest to Cardin said grimly. "A good death, in service of others!"

"But let's try not to die just yet, eh?"

A rapier flashed and pierced the throat of a screaming, masked white fang member as Jarlaxle made a tsk'ing noise and grinned, the Drow smiling despite the violence as he added. "We'll leave that to the enemy."

Bregan D'aerthe made their play, dark clad Drow emerging from the shadows, followed by what looked honest-to-god ninja. Cardin blinked, watching as they began to fight. The Drow fought with grace and speed, daggers and short swords, hand crossbows and in one case, a hooked chain wielded with disconcerting expertise ripping and tearing flesh. As Cardin watched, even glancing blows seemed dangerous as the White Fang nicked by their weapons suddenly keeled over, screaming or vomiting as the poisons of the Underdark did their work, Jarlaxle making a disappointed noise.

"Fanatics. Lured in by honeyed words and sent to die, poor bastards. Hell or the Abyss, never trust a fiend. Its all the same in the end."

Snow began to fall. Cardin shivered, the knight beside him making not a sound as he suddenly came to attention as frost formed and was expelled out, in a buffeting cone of what seemed like compressed winter, as Grimm, robot and White Fang alike perished frozen.

The crack of ice underfoot was an oddity on the field, as the beautiful features of a pale, blue woman in the white kimono was seen. Cardin wondered briefly if this was the Winter Maiden returned from the stories, only to chide himself for his mind drifting. This was no time for stories and both the Lightning Horde and Jarlaxle seemed to know her.

Around her, the ninja who had participated in the fight would form in a bodyguard square, as she waved her open fan and spoke, mist pouring from her lips.

"As expected of the Master. Beacon does indeed, appear to be a target." Cardin felt his blood run cold, overhearing this as the knight spoke.

"Lady Misako. Your assistance is much appreciated. Any word from our Lord?"

"Your master is well. He escorts the spelljammers carrying the refugees to orbit, drawing attention away from them by dint of his very being." She then narrowed her eyes, peering around as she added.

"I am however, here for another reason entirely. Closed instructions to prevent scrying, now released." Her hand extended and in the brief lull of the combat, she produced an image of several students.

"Cinder Fall. Mercury Black. Emerald Sustri. All of these are targets, to be captured or killed. While our master wants them alive, she understands if we cannot. Their leader is apparently fire empowered, while the girl holds some illusion trickery. The boy is their muscle."

"Hence, your presence here." Said Jarlaxle with a grin as Misako flicked her fan out, obscuring her lower features. "Just so. Now-wait." She looked around, as did the others as they all tensed.

"What is it?" Cardin asked and they stared at him with surprise as if forgetting he was here. Misako, frowning would remark. "The Grimm have stopped attacking. As have everything else. Is that normal?"

Cardin blinked and peered out beyond.

Out there in the shadows, the Grimm and the drone soldiers stood together, unmoving and unflinching-as were the White Fang, those who could be seen. All of them, parting away from the three walking their direction. Cardin recognized one of them immediately.

Adam Taurus. Cardin immediately felt an odd mix of empathy and frustration. But the chief emotion present was to his surprise, shame. His household was a military one, his grandfather a veteran in the wars and incredibly angry at Faunus as a whole. Those views, passed on to the rest of them and for Cardin, a fact of life. Faunus were traitors, faunus were animals, faunus were just a few steps short of tearing your throat out and while he had no qualms about the kind of person he could be, when the broadcast happened and he saw what lay under the mask, he felt sick.

Too little, too late now here. In his peripheral vision, he saw team CFVY rush forward, that annoying bitch Coco in particular as she raised her weapon and aimed it at him. The sight of rabbit ears made him look away, as his own team rushed to back him up in turn.

Adam Taurus smirked, looking at them all and then from the skies, a storm crashed upon the earth.

Syxorath growled, electricity crackling about his scales as the ancient blue dragon snarled in the face of the three.

"Pick a god and pray. It might amuse me enough to make it quick."

At that point, the other spoke-Cinder Fall, Cardin recalled who seemed frustrated as she addressed the center, hooded figure. "Is THIS your grand strategy?! I should have never listened to you. Our entire plan is known!"

Cardin focused on the unknown person. As he stirred, his breath caught as he saw a glimpse of their arm. That black void, the armored plates... A Grimm? Coco saw it too, as she glanced at him in shock before the figure spoke aloud, in a voice that seemed distorted and twisted.

"That is the beauty of the plan. They know but can do nothing but obey it. First, to deal with the Master of the Lightning Horde. O' ancient dragon." The hooded figure spoke, casually as if this was an everyday thing.

"As of this moment, the ships we have taken under control are heading to Patch. In about an hour, they will crash into your city and render it to ashes. Perhaps you feel your defenses can take care of one of them. Well and good. But can it deal with all three? Or this?"

He snapped his fingers.

And the mountains exploded, Syxorath's head snapping towards it in utter surprise and then fury at what emerged.

A Grimm Dragon, larger than even the ancient blue, flying towards Patch and dropping Grimm in its wake. Like a living monolith of destruction, filled with hatred for all life and possessed of the desire to extinguish it.

"Make your choice. Fight us? Or risk losing not only your new place of power, but also the children you've striven to rescue."

Syxorath's rage was almost tangible and both Jarlaxle and Misako took a step back. In contrast, the knight cried out in fury.

"My liege! Go!" The dragons attention focused on the knight and Cardin almost whimpered, the knight fearless as he cried out.

"Trust in us, your followers! The Herald's school shall not fall!"

"I shall hold you to that." Syxorath growled, roaring in the face of the hooded figure as he took off, chasing after the Grimm Dragon with all the speed he could muster and was soon gone. Jarlaxle looked intrigued and then let out a sigh.

"Well, let's get this over with."

And once more, Cardin was fighting for his life as the wave of enemies slammed into their defenses.

====

"You didn't say you were going to use the Wyvern! That Grimm was mine to-"

"-To what? To attack the school? To engage the dragon in single combat most glorious?" Drawled the hooded Grimm and Adam grew more suspicious. The creature kept walking, ignoring the defenders attempting to stop them with casual backhands or strikes as they went through the hallways, where less people were.

"Attacking him here would create a fight we're unsure as to a victor. But as it stands, we've gained more this way. Sending the Atlas ships to Patch not only invokes a time limit, but he'll also have to deal with our new friend. Add in the Grimm emerging from the Wyvern's wake, and we'll have seeded more chaos and potentially remove our rival's home all in one blow. More importantly, mighty as the dragon is... It is only a single beast. When it makes its stand, it will be fighting tired. As far as this night is concerned, we've removed it from the board."

"And the other forces?! Someone talked! Maybe one of yours?" She snarled, turning on Adam who only scoffed at the humans' hysterics.

"My people have a cause. Perhaps you should be looking closer to home for treachery?"

"It matters not." The Grimm dismissed in the face of Cinder's rage. "It is done now, and we've more important things to do. Mr. Taurus? Your time is now." Adam nodded, diverting from the pair without wishing them well and neither of them doing the same. Why should they? This was only ever a matter of convenience.

Besides, this was an event long since coming, ever since he discovered the whereabouts of the traitor. Bittersweet agony flickered over his heart at the thought of her, as he scowled to himself. Dammit Blake.

Leaving the White Fang had never been an issue. It was done all the time and usually, with their blessing. They had no room in their ranks for those who couldn't handle it, not everyone could be a freedom fighter. But to sabotage a mission, to run in the midst of it and to betray them all without a word? Without talking to him? It set a horrible precedent and not even her status could protect her from it.

Also, there was an incredible urge to take his own personal revenge, to show her a hint of what her cowardice had done to him. He was only Faunus after all. But where before he might had run headfirst into that and damn the consequences, now? He needed a clear head. The Grimm had brought knowledge and power that he had opted to take for the Cause. Another weapon to turn against humanity, but a double-edged sword. He had people relying on him, his fellow White Fang who even now, sold their lives to strike a blow to the filthy pigs that were Humanity. If he were to stray but a little, they would find themselves in the grasp of different masters.

Not so long as he drew breath and he growled, his old scars burning as they acted up.

"Fight now." He said to himself. He opened the doors, entering the dining hall as he paused.

Civilians. Human, Faunus all gathered together, all looking at him with fear as he felt a sudden hatred renewed. Did these humans think that they could hide behind faunus meat shields?

His blade flicked out of the sheath and then a calm voice spoke.

"Put that away son. You'll hurt someone who doesn't deserve it." Adam glanced over. Out of all the people here, this one looked at him without fear. A scruffy, tanned blonde human without a weapon in hand as he stepped up and in between Adam and the people. For a moment, Adam felt conflicted before he pushed those feelings down, hardened his heart as he sneered.

"Everyone here is a traitor or complicit. There's not a single innocent among them. Though I suppose I can cut you down first."

The man shrugged, speaking back in a mild tone. "Maybe. Maybe. But you know... Heroic stands are kind of my thing. So, I'll give you a chance to walk back through that door, right now. Or I'll knock in your teeth."

He slammed his fists together, a ripple of air rattling the hall as Adam mentally assessed the man a few notches up, as he grinned broadly.

"And that's the Xiao-Long promise."