The Huntsman of Red V2

Chapter 27 The Pride of Vale: Part 9

Shirou grunted. Everything hurt.

His fingers felt like they were spasming and there was a burning pain in his chest with every breath he took, but regardless, bronze-coloured eyes began to assess the situation. A field of light was enveloping the Mt. Glenn settlement keeping the Grimm at bay, the Huntsman, Huntresses, and citizens all looking towards the lone figure of a boy straining to keep a single flag held up high. The boy's teeth were gritted, face flushed red, and knees wobbling. A large part of what kept from falling were his large Aura reserves. The boy was an untapped wellspring of energy of the soul.

The coddled baby of the Arc family was now the final lynch pin of the settlement, and his family members could only watch on as their naïve brother struggled alone.

Unseen to all, but keeping the flag active was a thread of divinity tied to Shirou's person. The flag called for purpose, unity, and protection from the God who would stand by the side of his people. There were no longer any Gods in Remnant, but that didn't mean that the faith of new ones couldn't take root.

The pain in Shirou's body had hardly dissipated, but basked in the glow of the banner of the Maid of Orleans, his wounds stopped bleeding. This was enough for him simply because he would no longer have to focus on his own injuries. He'd been careless.

Naturally, Heroic Spirits had resistance to modern weaponry and the like. Things such as guns and bullets would either just bounce off of him or phase through him in spiritual form. However, Dust based attacks were different as the only source of magic in Remnant stored in mineral cashes monopolized by the SDC.

His injuries were going to take a while to heal, but there was no more time to rest and recuperate. Right now, was when he was needed most.

He was just barely conscious. His body was in no state to pull off anything grand. To muster the concentration to synthesize his seven steps of creation would be to redirect his magical energy away from shielding his Spirit Origin. The wounds may have stopped bleeding, but just like any recently healed wound, strain would simply re-open it.

The focus and energy required to materialize and wield a Noble Phantasm of his own choosing would surely push his body back to a point of incapability. Was it a risk that he was really willing to take?

Grunting, he placed his hands beneath him and pushed off of them as leverage to flip himself onto his back where he stared up into the sky where a Dragon loomed over the city. From the Dragon spilled forth a countless number of Grimm blotting out the horizon like rain.

The situation had turned from bad to worse in the time he'd rested.

What was he to do when his options were limited? Unless...

Resolve formed over his features while a plan formed in mind.

His pupils darted back and forth, assessing the closest people near him. Of course, Jaune Arc was the closest in proximity, but he would be of much use preoccupied with wielding the Saint's war banner. Who did this leave?

His gaze scanned over to his right where he noticed a familiar group.

Lisa Lavender and her camera crew were groggily moaning while reorientating themselves. Some were still blinking back drowsiness while others like Lisa were rubbing at their temples. Like him, they'd probably just woken up as a result of Jaune actualizing the power of the banner in his hands. Moreover, there was the added durability of those that had awakened their Aura.

So, they were here too.

It was likely that they'd been found unconscious at the underground tunnels and brought near Jaune as a precaution to treat their injuries. When they noticed him, they likely thought he was brought along just like them.