Shards Of Reminisce

It turns out that Blake lost her memory because of a terrible 'accident'. As for the lack of her cat ears… they got amputated or severed, something horrific like that.

Who could have guessed?

I learned this from Ozpin after Jeanne's entire team left with Blake towards the infirmary once the whole situation calmed down and Blake regained consciousness briefly before passing out again.

He didn't give me details. Said he knew what happened "to a degree" but it wasn't his story to tell. Then he requested… no, practically ordered that I cannot speak about Blake's past with anyone. Said it could cause "complications" for her recovery and her team dynamics. So essentially, everyone thinks she's human now.

I accepted. Not because I give a shit about protecting Ozpin's secrets or Blake's feelings, but because honestly?

I don't care anymore.

That Blake who I knew back in Menagerie is apparently gone. Locked away behind amnesia or trauma or whatever the fuck happened to her. And this new Blake? She's just a stranger wearing a familiar face.

A human stranger at that.

I can't confront her about the shit she pulled. Can't demand answers about why she lied to me. Can't get closure or an apology or even just a fucking explanation.

Because she doesn't remember.

How fucking convenient.

I felt a little bad that she lost her cat ears, though. That whole thing must have been terrible. So perhaps a little bit of sympathy is warranted for her shitty situation.

But whatever. I wrote Blake off after the whole thing with Levi, anyway.

So I won't get my answers probably ever.

But that's fine. Levi is my woman now… my girlfriend, as she put it. Things turned out okay despite everything that happened.

So Blake can keep her secrets and her amnesia and her new human identity. I'm done with her.

Eventually Jeanne comes back with her team, minus one member obviously.

"So what did you actually need me for?" I finally break the silence, crossing my arms and looking directly at the old man. "Why did you have to use Jeanne to bring me here?"

I notice Jeanne looks away when I say that, her hand fidgeting with her ponytail.

Ozpin settles back into his chair, steepling his fingers in that infuriating way of his. "Our last meeting was cut short before I could address other matters. And due to some recent developments, there is now a formal request that requires your... unique expertise. Team RWNR explained a couple of things involving you."

"Okay? Like what?"

I think I know exactly what he's referring to. That Weiss girl snitched on me. Shouldn't come as a surprise; she seemed the type with how she was acting and treating me, all high and mighty.

"It's nothing dangerous or wrong," Ozpin says smoothly, as if reading my thoughts. "Just for research purposes, I can guarantee you that. Team JPYR will take part in this short investigation, along with Doctor Oobleck."

"Wait, really?" Yang suddenly speaks up, her whole demeanor shifting. She pumps her fist in the air. "Ha! Didn't expect an adventure so soon! This is gonna be awesome!"

I just roll my eyes.

"So you want me to investigate what exactly?" I ask, though I already have a sinking feeling I know the answer.

"The strange tunnels or caverns that you explored," Ozpin says calmly, his eyes fixed on me over his spectacles. "The ones that somehow connect and shorten the distance between the Emerald Forest and Forever Fall Forest."

Yeah. I should have seen that one coming, especially after Qrow caught me leaving that dungeon and then escorted me all the way to this office where the old man for some reason asked me about fairy tales and then gave me a lecture.

Fuck my life.

"Wait, Ma'iq is coming too?" Jeanne asks.

That earns her confused looks from everyone in the room because Ozpin kind of made it obvious already.

"Well, yes, Miss d'Arc," Ozpin says patiently, a hint of amusement in his voice. "We attempted to locate and enter these strange entrances multiple times over the past week with no success whatsoever. The locations seem to only be visible under certain conditions we haven't yet identified. We need Mr. Rak'han's assistance to actually find and access them."

Well... it was already open when me and Neo stumbled upon it and found the shard I unlocked dungeon duties which then allowed me to open that place again because it sealed itself when I cleared it. But not really important to mention.

There are some questions after that, mostly coming from Pyrrha and Yang but nothing really that important.

Finally, I cut through the chatter. "What's in it for me?"

Silence.

Complete, dead silence falls over the office like a heavy blanket.

Even the gears on the walls seem to stop turning for a moment.

"Ma'iq?" Jeanne's tone is full of surprise. She's staring at me with wide blue eyes. "What do you mean?"

Pyrrha is looking at me too, her expression neutral but I can see the surprise in her green eyes. Even Yang seems caught off guard, her lilac eyes studying me.

But Jeanne's expression actually makes me feel uncomfortable. Like I've said something wrong.

Ozpin just sighs and leans back in his chair, a small knowing smile playing at his lips. "Well, simply put, I will forgive your little... borrowing of books from the Academy library, Mr. Rak'han. Consider your debt cleared."

Oh, you asshole...

"Wait, WHAT?!" Jeanne exclaims, her voice cracking slightly. She whirls to face me fully, her armor clanking loudly with the sudden movement. "You stole books?! From Beacon?! When I wasn't looking?!"

And much to my dismay, she doesn't look angry.

She looks… disappointed.

'Don't look at me like that Jeanne.'

I've seen Jeanne frustrated, seen her embarrassed, seen her happy or sad or worried. I've seen so many expressions cross her face over the months we've known each other. But I've never seen her look at me like this.

And I never wanted to see that expression on her face. Especially not directed at me.

I would rather have her screaming angry at me, hitting me, anything but this disappointment.

"I-It's a misunderstanding!" I stammer, much to my own surprise, my ears flattening completely against my head. "It's not like I-I mean, they were just reference books that I needed for…"

"Ma'iq." Jeanne's voice is quiet but firm, cutting through my rambling. "Did you steal books from Beacon Academy? Yes or no?"

I open my mouth. Close it. Try to think of a way to spin this that doesn't make me look like a complete asshole who took advantage of her trust.

I can't even pretend Ozpin is lying because obviously they'll believe the headmaster over me. And if I bring the books out to prove I'm returning them, that's just confirming that I stole them in the first place.

There's no way out of this.

"...Yes," I finally admit. My tail curls around my leg. "But I was going to return them! Eventually! I just needed them for training and I didn't think—"

"That's still stealing," Jeanne says, and the disappointment in her voice is like a knife twisting in my gut. "You could have just asked me to check them out for you. Or asked me to get copies made."

Shit.

"I know, but..." I trail off, not knowing how to finish that sentence.

"But you didn't." She finishes quietly, her blue eyes searching my face.

I flinch.

Fuck.

Yang shifts uncomfortably against the wall, looking like she wants to say something but doesn't know what. Pyrrha's expression has softened with sympathy, though I'm not sure if it's for me or for Jeanne.

I sigh heavily, my shoulders sagging in defeat. "Fine, I'll help you investigate your stupid tunnels."

Ozpin actually chuckles; the manipulative bastard actually chuckles, and nods approvingly. "Excellent. I'm glad we could come to an agreement, Mr. Rak'han." He stands up, walking around his desk with that cane of his tapping against the floor. "And regarding the books, consider them a small gift from the Academy to a promising youngster. You may keep them with my blessing."

Asshole...

He knew. He knew exactly how to manipulate this entire situation in his favor. Used Jeanne's trust in me as leverage, knowing I couldn't stand to disappoint her, played me like a fucking fiddle.

But it wouldn't have happened if I hadn't tried to be a smartass about demanding payment. He even warned me about this in our last meeting.

"The expedition will depart tomorrow morning at 0800 hours," Ozpin continues, addressing the entire room now. "Doctor Oobleck will be accompanying you as faculty supervisor. I expect everyone to be prepared and equipped appropriately." His eyes land on me with pointed emphasis. "That includes you, Mr. Rak'han. I trust you'll bring whatever... equipment you deem necessary."

"Yeah, sure," I mutter, still not meeting Jeanne's eyes because I can't stand to see that disappointment again.

"Wonderful!" Yang pumps her fist in the air, clearly trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere. "Finally, some action! I was getting bored with all the classroom stuff. No offense, Pyr."

"Some taken," Pyrrha replies dryly.

"This is meant to be an investigation, Miss Xiao Long," Ozpin says mildly, though there's a hint of amusement in his voice. "Not a combat mission. We're there to observe and document, not to engage in unnecessary conflict."

"Yeah, yeah, investigation, got it." Yang's grin suggests otherwise. "But if some Grimm happen to get in our way, we're allowed to defend ourselves, right?"

"Of course. I would never send students into danger."

Pyrrha steps forward. "Professor Ozpin, what exactly are we investigating? What do you hope to find in these tunnels?"

"That, Miss Nikos, is precisely what we're hoping to discover," Ozpin says cryptically, which is basically his default mode of communication. "Mr. Rak'han has already explored them to some degree. Perhaps he can shed some light on what you might encounter."

All eyes turn to me expectantly.

Great. Just great.

"They're... just earth tunnels," I say flatly, crossing my arms defensively. "Pretty dark and it has some Grimm in them. Nothing too crazy, just Centinels mostly. And there was a small Deathstalker on the second level. I killed them all, but they seem to come back by the next time I go back."

I stated that but only went there two times.

"Centinels?They shouldn't be in the Emerald Forest at all; their natural habitat is deep underground, or in Vacue." Pyrrha's tone sharpens as she comments.

I shrug. "Well, they are. So bring a flashlight or something. It's really dark down there."

"And you said they connect the Emerald Forest to Forever Fall?" Yang leans forward, genuinely interested now. "That's like, what, miles and miles of distance? How is that even possible?"

"Something like that," I confirm vaguely. "The tunnels make it way shorter. Like, way, way shorter. What should take hours of walking takes maybe twenty minutes through the tunnels."

Ozpin nods slowly, his expression thoughtful. "Fascinating. Natural formations don't typically behave that way; space doesn't simply compress without cause. There may be something more at play here. Something... unusual."

"Like what?" I ask, immediately suspicious of where this is going.

"That's what we're going to find out," Ozpin says simply, maddeningly vague as always. He claps his hands together once, the sound sharp in the quiet office. "Well then, I believe we're finished here for now. You're all dismissed. Get some rest and prepare yourself, tomorrow will be a long day."

Yang immediately perks up. "Sweet! Come on, team, let's go check on Blake and then hit the cafeteria. I'm starving."

"You're always starving," Pyrrha says with a small smile.

"That's because I burn calories like a furnace, Pyr." Yang throws an arm around Pyrrha's shoulders. "Come on, I'll race you there."

"That hardly seems fair given-"

"Scared you'll lose?" Yang grins.

"I didn't say that."

They head toward the elevator and descend first, their voices fading as they go, leaving me alone with Jeanne and Ozpin.

Ozpin gives me one last knowing look before returning to his desk. "Oh, and Mr. Rak'han? Do try to be on time tomorrow. Doctor Oobleck is... particular about punctuality."

I don't respond, just head toward the elevator where Jeanne is now waiting for me, still giving me that look as we wait for its arrival.

The ride down is silent and uncomfortable. Jeanne won't look at me, her eyes fixed on the elevator doors, her hand gripping the strap of her sword tightly.

"I'm sorry." I finally apologize.

She doesn't turn her head. "Sorry for what? For stealing?"

"Yeah. I thought it was a smart thing to do, you know? I'm always looking for stuff to learn, and those books had information I needed."

[Affection with Jeanne d'Arc decreased by 4, 50/100]

FUCK!

"How is that smart?" Jeanne's voice is quiet but there's an edge to it I've never heard before. "Ma'iq, stealing is wrong. You know that." She finally turns to look at me, and her expression makes my chest tighten. "I could... tolerate that to some degree back when you were struggling. But you did this by taking advantage of me."

I open my mouth to protest but she continues.

"I left you there in the library thinking you were just exploring the place, maybe reading. I didn't even think I needed to worry about you because I was certain nothing bad would happen. I trusted you without even thinking about it." Her voice cracks slightly. "And yet you did that, anyway?"

That hits different than I expected. Way different.

Neo would have congratulated me for successfully stealing, she loves when I mug gangsters and take their money after a good beating. Or how happy she was when I stole Yang's bike and. Hell, even give me advice on how to do it better. But Jeanne... Jeanne looks at me like I kicked a puppy.

And for the first time in my life, I actually feel bad about stealing something.

What the fuck is this feeling?

"Look, I..." I run a hand through my hair, trying to find the right words. "I steal things because it's easy. Convenient. I see something I need, I take it. That's just... that's how I've always done things."

That… sounded way better in my head.

Jeanne's expression softens slightly, but the disappointment is still there.

"I never intended to hurt anybody," I continue, my tail curling around my leg. "Well, except bad people. I don't feel bad about taking from gangsters or assholes who deserve it. But you're not like that, Jeanne. You're..." I struggle to articulate this weird feeling in my chest. "You're good. And I didn't think about how it would look to you. I just saw books I needed and took them."

Also because I was resentful about Ozpin.

"But you were with me," she says quietly. "I brought you there. I vouched for you being there. And then you stole from the Academy while I wasn't looking."

"I know. I should have thought about that." I meet her eyes. "I'm sorry, Jeanne. Really. I didn't mean to make you look bad or take advantage of your trust. I just... I didn't think it through."

The elevator reaches the ground floor and the doors open, but neither of us moves.

Jeanne lets out a long sigh, her shoulders sagging slightly. "Ma'iq, I understand that you grew up differently than I did. I know you've had to do… not nice things. And I'm not saying I don't understand why you did it."

"But?" I prompt, hearing the unspoken word.

"But you can't keep doing things like that," she says, turning to face me fully. "Especially not when it involves me. If you need something, you ask. If you can't get it the right way, then you go without or you find another solution. You don't just... take things."

"Even if I really need it?"

Why did I say that?

"Even then." Her voice is firm. "Because stealing isn't just about the thing you take. It's about breaking trust. And trust is... it's important, Ma'iq. Especially between us."

But I will steal… no I don't steal it's just borrow or claim.

But I really don't want to see that face again.

"Okay," I finally say. "I'll try. No more stealing. At least not from places you bring me or people you know."

"Ma'iq..."

"What? I'm being honest here." I cross my arms. "I can't promise I'll never steal anything ever again. That's not realistic. But I can promise I won't do it when it'll reflect badly on you or hurt people who don't deserve it."

Jeanne studies me for a long moment, chewing on her lower lip. Finally, she lets out another sigh.

"I guess that's... better than nothing," she concedes. "And at least you're being honest about it instead of making promises jut to make me happy."

"Exactly. I'm not going to lie to you, Jeanne."

"I know." She agrees, and some of the tension leaves her shoulders. "Okay. I forgive you. But seriously, Ma'iq. Next time you need something, especially from Beacon, you ask me first. Deal?"

"Deal." I pull her into a quick hug, relieved when she doesn't pull away. "I really am sorry. I didn't mean to disappoint you."

"I know." She hugs me back, her voice muffled against my chest. "Just... think before you do things like that, okay? Think about how it might affect other people."

"I-I'll try," I promise.

[Affection with Jeanne d'Arc increased by 2, 52/100]

---

We're in Forever Fall Forest, the red and orange leaves creating a dense canopy overhead that filters the sunlight into warm amber tones. The entire team JPYR is here, along with Doctor Oobleck, who Ozpin assigned as our faculty supervisor.

According to Jeanne, he's usually very messy-looking; coffee-stained shirts, disheveled hair, loose tie hanging at odd angles but today he looks tidy and organized, which apparently shocked everyone when they first saw him this morning. For this mission he wears a long brown greatcoat that reaches his knees, a khaki buttoned shirt, and a pith helmet sitting neatly on his head. He also carries a rather large backpack that looks packed to bursting with equipment and his weapon; a strange-looking thermos-staff thing.

But most importantly, the man is really tall. Like, really fucking tall to the point I have to crane my neck just to look at his face properly.

Also, because of Blake and her whole panic-attack situation yesterday, I'm wearing my Proto-Allagan Mask from the get-go. With a mask she won't recognize me and freak out again, which should keep things running smoothly. Though it's weird because I was wearing this exact same mask when we ran into each other back in Vale for the whole White Fang meeting.

But whatever. Maybe she didn't get a good look at me then, or whatever trauma scrambled her memories even more than Ozpin let on.

"Fascinating!" Oobleck suddenly exclaims, moving at superhuman speed to examine a nearby tree. "The pigmentation in these leaves is vastly different than the other trees in the vicinity, the same could be said for the soil and—"

"Doctor." Pyrrha gently interrupts, her voice patient but firm. "Perhaps we should focus on the mission?"

"Yes, yes, quite right, Miss Nikos! Quite right indeed!" He zips back to the group in a blur of motion, adjusting his glasses with one hand while somehow still holding his notebook with the other. "Apologies, I do tend to get carried away when confronted with such fascinating phenomena! The pursuit of knowledge is a passion that often overrides practical considerations! Though I suppose that's precisely why I'm here as a supervisor rather than letting you young students venture into unknown territory unsupervised!"

Yang snorts. "You can say that again, Doc."

"It's Doctor Oobleck, Miss Xiao Long!" he corrects sharply, though there's no real heat in it. "I recall telling you this plenty of times back in my classes."

"Right, right, sorry Doctor Oobleck," Yang says with a grin.

We continue walking deeper into the forest, following my lead since I'm the only one who actually knows where we're going.

Blake hasn't said a word since we started. She keeps to the back of the group.. Every time I glance back, she quickly looks away.

I don't care.

Jeanne walks beside me, her armor clinking softly with each step, occasionally reaching out to touch my arm.

Eventually, we reached the clearing where I'd opened the dungeon before.

I stop walking, scanning the area to make sure I have the right spot.

"Is everything okay?" Jeanne asks, stepping up beside me, her hand finding mine.

"Yeah. This is the place."

Doctor Oobleck immediately springs into action, moving around the clearing at that ridiculous speed of his, examining and taking samples from everything and everywhere. "Everything must be tested! Nothing will be left behind or unturned!"

"Doc," Yang calls out, her arms crossed as she looks around skeptically. "I don't see any tunnel entrance. You sure this is the right place, whiskers?"

I roll my eyes behind my mask at the nickname. "It's here. Just wait."

I focus my thoughts on the dungeon system and immediately the notification appears in my vision.

[Dungeon Duty: The Scarlet Sink - Level 1]

[Start] [Cancel]

I mentally click on [Start].

And suddenly, the ground begins to tremble beneath our feet.

"Whoa!"

A circular section of earth simply opens like a trapdoor, revealing a dark hole descending into the ground. Dirt and leaves tumble into the opening.

A little over dramatic appearance.

Everyone except Doctor Oobleck jumps back in surprise.

"Extraordinary!" The doctor practically vibrates with excitement, rushing to the edge of the hole and peering down into the darkness without any sense of self-preservation. "A spontaneous geological formation with no discernible trigger mechanism beyond Mr. Rak'han's presence!" He spins around to look at me, his eyes gleaming behind his glasses. "Mr. Rak'han! What exactly did you do just now? Some form of semblance activation?Was there a mental component? A physical gesture?"

I blink, caught off guard by the rapid-fire questions. "I... uh... I don't know? I just... I knew it would open here. It always does. I just kind of... think about it opening, and it does."

No way in hell I will mention that my system is at play here.

"I see, I see! Fascinating!" He strokes his chin thoughtfully. "A location-based phenomenon with consistent reproducibility but no apparent external stimulus beyond mental intent! This suggests a possible connection to your Semblance, though storage-type Semblances don't typically manifest environmental alterations of this magnitude! Unless of course this isn't related to your Semblance at all but rather some form of ancient technology or perhaps-"

"Or it could be something way weirder," Yang mutters, peering cautiously into the hole while keeping a safe distance from the edge. "Like, Grimm-related weird."

Pyrrha moves closer as well, her shield already in hand. "How deep does it go, Ma'iq?"

"Not that far to the first level," I answer, walking to the edge and looking down. "Maybe twenty feet to the bottom. Easy drop."

The older man pulls out a small leather-bound notebook and begins scribbling frantically. "Depth... check! No visible ladder or steps.... Check! Before we enter, Mr. Rak'han, is there anything else you might want to add? Any observations from your previous expeditions that could be relevant to our safety or research objectives?"

"Yeah. There's no scroll signal down there," I say, ticking off points on my fingers as I remember. "The walls are mostly packed earth and stones. Plenty of walking and its just a single tunnel. Some Grimm, mostly Centinels like I mentioned before. The air is breathable but smells kinda metallic. Besides that? Nothing really..."

I suddenly stop as a memory hits me. Something I completely forgot about until just now.

"Is something wrong?" Jeanne asks immediately.

"Yeah... yeah, damn." I run a hand over my hair, annoyed at myself. "I totally forgot, but there was this strange cactus thing down there."

"A... cactus?" The professor's pen hovers over his notebook. "In an underground tunnel system? That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever! Cacti are not natural in this region."

"Yeah. It rolled around like a wheel," I interrupt, gesturing with my hands. "About this big, round, covered in spines. And then a Grimm attacked it and the thing just exploded." I mime an explosion with my hands. "Just boom; shower of needles everywhere, killing Grimm around it."

Oobleck's expression shifts. "That's... that's certainly peculiar! A cactus creature with apparent motility and defensive mechanisms? I've never heard of or read anything matching that description in any botanical journal or Grimm studies text and I've read quite literally thousands of both! Are you absolutely certain it wasn't some form of animal mimicry? Perhaps a Grimm variant we haven't documented?"

"Pretty sure it was a plant," I say firmly. "It looked exactly like a cactus. Green, round, covered in spines. Moved by rolling. Didn't have any eyes or obvious Grimm features."

Well, besides looking hollowed out.

"Remarkable!" More frantic scribbling, his notebook filling with diagrams and notes. "This could be an entirely undocumented species! Though as I mentioned cacti are not native to this region's climate and the complete absence of sunlight underground makes photosynthesis impossible unless there's some form of Dust-based energy substitution or perhaps bioluminescence or-"

"Yeah, but that wasn't the real problem," I interrupt, and something in my tone makes everyone's attention snap to me immediately. "The problem was that one of its needles hit me, and it went straight through my aura like it wasn't even there."

"What?!" The question comes from everyone simultaneously, even Blake.

"Are you serious?" Yang asks.

"Yeah." I gesture to my thigh. "Went pretty deep into my leg. I had to pull it out myself. There was blood and everything, but it healed up relatively fast afterward."

The professor's expression has gone from excited to deadly serious in an instant, all trace of his usual hyperactivity vanishing. "Mr. Rak'han, that is extremely concerning information. If there's something down there capable of bypassing aura entirely, that presents a serious danger to everyone on this team." He adjusts his glasses with a sharp movement. "Aura is our primary defense against Grimm and environmental hazards. Without it, we're vulnerable to injuries that could prove fatal in a combat situation. Thank you for sharing this; at least now we're prepared and forewarned. Knowledge is our first line of defense!"

"Yeah, sorry for not mentioning it earlier," I apologize to the group. "It kinda slipped my mind because I only saw one, and I never saw it again after that. I think it died when the Grimm exploded it."

"A little unfortunate that we cannot study a specimen directly, but better safe than sorry as the saying goes!" The doctor taps his pen against his notebook thoughtfully. "We'll proceed with extreme caution. Everyone keep your guard up at all times, maintain visual contact with at least one other team member, and watch for any suspicious plant life or unusual biological phenomena. If you see anything even remotely resembling what Mr. Rak'han described, call it out immediately and do not approach! Am I understood?"

"Yes, Doctor Oobleck," Pyrrha responds immediately.

"Crystal clear, Doc," Yang adds, though she's grinning. "Don't touch the spiky death plants. Got it."

Jeanne nods seriously, her hand tightening on her sword hilt.

Blake just gives a small nod, still silent.

"Excellent! Then let's…"

"Finally!" Yang suddenly yells out, pumping both fists in the air. "Can we stop talking and actually go already? All this standing around is boring! I came here to punch Grimm, not listen to plant lectures!"

Pyrrha chuckles softly, shaking her head. "Patience, Yang."

Jeanne lets out a small giggle despite the tense situation. "She has a point though. We should probably get started."

I just shrug and walk to the edge of the hole. Without hesitation, I jump inside.

I land in a crouch, my tail flicking out for balance, and immediately move to the side to make room for the others.

Moments later, the rest of the team drops down one by one. Pyrrha lands gracefully, shield already up. Yang hits the ground with a heavy thud that kicks up dust. Jeanne's armor clanks loudly as she lands, stumbling slightly but catching herself against the wall. Blake lands completely silently. The doctor is the last, somehow managing to land perfectly while still holding both his notebook and pen without dropping either.

With everyone safely inside, I activate the flashlight on my Mask, the bright beam cutting through the darkness ahead and illuminating the dark tunnel.

Moments later, the opening above us grinds shut with the grinding sound of stone on earth, sealing us in completely and cutting off the natural light.

"Well..." Oobleck says, looking up at where the entrance was with academic interest, "that certainly complicates our exit strategy! So the entrance closes automatically upon entry; a one-way system! That means no tactical retreat but rather we must push forward to completion, correct Mr. Rak'han?"

"Yeah, pretty much." I start walking toward where I know the first chamber is, my mask's light showing the way. "Now we just walk until we reach a large chamber, kill whatever Grimm are there, and the exit opens. Simple as that."

"Simple," Yang echoes with a grin, cracking her knuckles eagerly. "I like simple."

"Very well then!" The hyperactive man pulls out his weapon. "Let us proceed!"

Here we go again.