The Huntsman of Red V2

Chapter 16 Yellow and Black: Part 6

Wind whipped across the air, zephyrs creating storms that lifted up dust and burnt ashes of trees and shrubbery in the affected disaster zone. It reeked of death and ruin; however, none of that mattered in the face of the figure standing amidst it all. For a moment, hanging in the air above the figure was a stone gate lined with the statues of hounds and frozen icicles. It was a gate leading to another world that encaptured all. Every Grimm that had perished had not simply faded away without a trace. Instead, much to the shock of all, chain-like arms had pulled their very essence towards the other side never to be seen again.

The hollow reverberations of a spear echoed before a streak of red whizzed through the horizon and returned to Shirou's outstretched arm.

Nothing but a crater was left in front of him. It was difficult to imagine, but the Noble Phantasm that he'd just unleashed was a feat that the Hero Cu Chulainn could do far more than once without magical strain. His magical energy on the other hand had taken a noticeable dip.

It wasn't enough to hamper him, but it was enough to inconvenience him. At this point, Ruby may start to become suspicious. He was doomed if she tried to call out to him and he wasn't actually there to answer. He feared that she may actually waste a Command Seal for something as silly as ordering him to stay near her at all times. Knowing Ruby's personality however, she may not even count that kind of command as a waste which was his largest reason for concern.

Thinking of Ruby caused him to sigh. When he'd explained the concept of the Command Seals to her when she was old enough to understand that it was akin to the bond between them, she'd summed it up to a single phrase. 'So,' she'd began by beating around the bush and fidgeting. 'I only need one then?'

Technically yes, but each Command Seal was precious. They could be used in decisive moments to considerably boost the parameters of a Servant based on the type of command, but he digressed. Ruby was just too giddy with the idea that the two were connected with each other on a spiritual level. That, and she quickly realized from Yang's influence that her extra Command Seals were basically black-mail material. Not that she'd ever forced him to do anything aside from constantly pleading for him to constantly bake chocolate-chip cookies.

He digressed. He was losing himself in the memories of the past years and was only brought back to reality after Summer manifested in front of him with a hurried expression.

"What are you waiting for? Act winded, they're all staring," Summer's reminder filtered into his mind, prompting him into action.

He fell onto a knee and clutched a hand over his chest, holding his breath so that the blood would rush up to his face and turn it blue. Meanwhile, he allowed his body to sway back and forth while shaking his head as if to remain conscious.

"Archer!" Yang's voice reverberated out before the hobbling of feet echoed the sound of Yang's approach.

He felt conflicted that he was deceiving Yang and everyone else, but it was the price that he'd decided that he had to pay. He'd learned his lesson at Vermillion. A performance that was too outstanding in a world in need of Heroes would only garner him unnecessary publicity. He glanced behind him towards the Faunus led by Ghira, and low and behold, he spotted the outline of Scrolls pointed in his direction from a few of them already.

As he had expected. Scrolls were as common as cellphones in his previous world. He had been right to ask Summer to remind him about his intentional act.

Without a doubt, he was the Huntsman of Red that everyone in Vermillion often prayed to as a symbol of Faith for a new religion of the Sun. On one hand, the Faith Energy increased his supply of magical reserves, but on the other, it was doing weird shit to him. Every now and then, he was getting the sudden impulse to bestow blessing and display his magnanimity to couples in the form of giving them a randomly traced sword that was said to pin their fates together.