7 The First Dungeon
After Yin's departure, the days passed by relatively smoothly within the Branwen tribe. Her daily quests had increased in difficulty and began adding in a little more stat points. But the more exciting parts for her were the aquisition of skills. Even though a year quickly passed by, she was a kid and thus couldn't wield more than a bokken for practice. It's in the unarmed skill where she truly shone. Having upgraded it during the spars she had with Vernal and getting beaten up by Gray when she taught her.
But while things had been progressing in a good direction for Yin, things hadn't quite been so well with Yang.
-Signal, Beacon-
Tai Xiaolong was grading tests in his classroom when he recieved a knock on the door. Looking over, he found the Headmaster of the school entering with a rather angry looking Yang, who had a few scratches on her face. Tai sighed, as if expecting this.
"It happened again, Tai. I can't keep the parent's uninvolved this time either. The kids' were beaten bloody. I think some were missing teeth.." The Headmaster shook his head and sighed.
"I'll talk to them. I'm sorry about this, Cyrus. I'll see to it she fixes her behavior." Tai apologized with a stoic expression.
"I'll leave her in your care." The Headmaster noddes before shutting the door.
"Sit. Down." Tai ordered.
Yang looked down and sat in the desk in front of her Father. Seeing the frustration and resentment on Yang's face, Tai took a deep sigh and dragged his calloused hands down his face.
"Yang... You can't resort to violence.." Tai said, folding his hands with a concerned face.
"They insulted her.." Yang muttered back, balling her fists.
"You know Yin never cared.. She was the one who told you not to get into fights on her behalf. She didn't want.. this, to happen to you, Little Dragon." Tai gently took her hand and looked at her bloody knuckles.
"I know.. I know! But they don't know anything! They called her a freak! A criminal, a loner, a-.." Yang's words caught in her throat as she sniffed and fought back tears of anger.
"Don't let their words get to you. You're right. They don't know anything. You need to direct that anger into something more constructive. And not just.. copying what Yin did. Running, Push ups, Squats and Sit ups.. Honestly, I had no idea she was exercising so young.." Tai muttered.
"She's ahead.. She went with.. her.. to get stronger. Because I failed. Because I was stupid.. When are you gonna teach me how to fight, Dad?" Yang asked, an eager expression written on her face.
"Haaah.. You know combat lessons don't start until you're ten-" Tai replied but stopped himself when he felt Yang's grip on the table start to crack the wood.
"..But I suppose we can start with some of the less physically intense martial arts. But only after school." Tai relented, seeing Yang's eyes light up in joy.
"But first. Give a convincing apology to the kids you beat up and their parents.. How many were there this time?" Tai asked.
"..Five..." Muttered Yang while looking away.
"Okay, don't tell your Mom but.. Nice." Tai smirked and bumped fists with his daughter.
-Later-
After his girls went to bed, Tai sat at the back porch and enjoyed a beer. As it neared ten at night, he heard the front door open and whistled loud enough for Summer to hear him.
"Tai? You're still up? On a weekday? Either you're horny or.." Summer walked over to the back porch, poking her head out and looking at her husband inquisitively.
"Well I'm not certainly not saying no to sex but I had to tell you something. It's about Yang." Tai said, earning a groan from Summer as she sat next to him.
"Tell me the kids aren't hospitalized.." Summer pleaded.
"No, thankfully. But she took five of them and got off with just a bruise or two. I took care of the apologies and everything, don't worry. What I'm more concerned about.." Tai heard Summer cut in with a sigh.
"It's her strength. Which isn't helped by the fact that she took up her sister's exercise routine. She asked again, didn't she?" Summer sent a small accusatory glare her husband's way.
"Yeah. I agreed. But we're starting off light. Something I'm sure Raven... isn't doing." Tai mumbled as he took another swig of his beer.
"I don't like the idea of Yin tussling with bandits either, mature or not.. she's a kid. On that subject, did you hear from Qrow yet?" Summer asked hopefully.
Tai shook his head and grunted before setting his empty can on the armrest beside him.
"He's still looking. Mistral's a big place and if any more of us go looking, Raven's likely to move her tribe again." Tai responded with a solemn expression.
"Hopefully he talks some sense into her.." Summer muttered.
-Mistral-
"I keep telling you, Brother. She's fine with me." Raven sat across from her twin with arms crossed.
"Livin' as a bandit? Don't kid yourself, Raven. You're exposing her to murderers and thieves. Shit, who's looking after her right now?" Qrow asked, a hint of venom within his slurred words.
"They're not as terrible as you think. I changed things since our 'parents' were killed. She's made friends, mentors. None of them being the weak city folk Yang's associated with. She's growing in skill, fast. She can already lay grown men flat on their backs. The only ones in the tribe able to knock her around are the senior members. And she's in bed right now." Raven retorted, ignoring the angry look on her brother's face.
"Well then you should have no issues with me checking in on her, right?" Qrow asked, seeing Raven frown.
"Do you trust me so little? And what happened to 'never coming back'? You left Gray, Phestus and Eiz like they didn't grow up with us." Raven glared at her twin accusingly.
"I asked them to leave with us multiple times. But they, like you, refused. With their skills, they could actually be something. Instead, they chose to be-" Raven stood up with a huff, shutting Qrow up.
"Yes. Filthy bandits, I know. You want to see Yin? Fine. But after you confirm she's fine, you leave." Raven spoke quickly but Qrow could see hear the clear resentment in her voice.
Finishing his drink, he set lien down on the table and stood up.
"Fine. After you."
Raven snorted and opened a rift with Omen, stepping through, to the surprise of the nearby patrons in the bar. Qrow silently followed after her, his hand on Harbinger, in case things got out of hand.
As soon as they walked through, they saw Vernal fist fighting Yin while a large circle of bandits surrounded them and cheered. Upon seeing Raven and Qrow though, they all went silent. Only the sounds of Vernal struggling could be heard.
"Shit! Ow! Why are you so slip-" THUD
Vernal's words were cut off with a right hook hitting her jaw, courtesy of Yin. Who then took advantage of her pain and hopped off one foot, bringing her other leg's knee into Vernal's face, then planting her feet on Vernal's stomach and jumping back.
"I'm not gettin' beat up by an eight year old again..!" Vernal then ran at Yin and threw jabs, hooks and crosses at her, luckily her aura protected her from much of the pain Yin would have otherwise inflicted.
Yin raised her arms and quickly blocked the jabs with her arms. Then weaved around her crossed before ducking two hooks, rising up and punching Vernal in the chin. Taking a half-step back, she raised her leg and finished with a kick to her stomach, laying her flat on the ground as her aura broke.
"Auugh..." Vernal groaned, surprised she wasn't hearing any cheering or booing at the bets everyone had set up before the fight.
"What's goin'- Oh." Vernal turned around, seeing the Branwen twins looking down at them.
Yin raised her brow as she saw her Uncle with her Mother, looking surprised at the display but also uncomfortable. Raven shook her head and waved off the crowd dosmissively.
"It's late. Go collect your bets, quietly. Yin, come to the tent. Vernal, see Gray tomorrow to improve your hand-to-hand skills." Raven ordered, making the crowd of bandits disperse, though the older ones glared at Qrow before leaving.
"She's gonna make me hit rocks again.. Tch! I'll win next time, Yin!" Vernal declared before pouting and running back to her tent.
"Hey Drunkle Qrow." Yin casually greeted as they walked into Raven's tent.
"Heh.. Hey kid. Helluva mean uppercut you got. I see your Mom wasn't exaggerating when she said you fought grown ass men and.. uh.." "Vernal" Yin cut in.
"Yeah, her. I was worried, kiddo. So is Summer, your Dad, Ruby, Yang.." Qrow saw Yin close her eyes and sigh.
"I know. But you can tell them I'm okay. That I'll see them again. But right now, this is my home." Yin replied resolutely.
"But kid.. The life of a Bandit.... It's just not-" Raven cut in with a scoff.
"Don't disregard her words, Brother. I've explained what it means. What'll be asked of her in the future. You've seen she's fine. Now go." Raven demanded, opening a rift once more.
Qrow silently scowled at his sister before looking at his niece. He deliberated taking her and going through the portal. But even if he could, she would just return back here when they weren't watching her. On top of that, he knew she'd resent him and actively avoid him. Qrow could only accept it and hope his niece wouldn't turn into a remorseless killer.
"Fine.. I'm going. But Yin? Don't lose yourself, okay? You're a good kid." Qrow ruffled the top of her head with a small smile and left through the rift without saying a word to Raven.
'Sorry, Qrow. I can't guarantee I'll be exactly the same when I'm ready to return. It's time I finally get some past level one..' Yin told herself, thinking back to the system message she recieved earlier when helping Gray hunt some game.
[D-Rank Dungeon discovered! Number of times cleared: 0 Rewards: Malorian Arms 3516 pistol, Stat point crystal: C rank, Onikiri and Ubadachi]
The rewards alone kept her excited. The pistol being one of the most stylish-looking ones in gaming only fueled her enthusiasm. Yin waited until it was late and she heard her Mother's deep, relaxed breaths to sneak out of her tent. Being small had its advantages, especially when one is sneaking out of a bandit camp with a dust pistol, machete and several dust rounds packed into their bag. Along with food rations and water in case she was there long.
Getting past the guard was easy too, being that she chose the day Shay D. Mann was on duty. Yin passed by the sleeping blond before stopping and looking at his snoring face. He was completely passed out while standing up, which was actually kind of impressive. Still, this didn't save him from Yin. Taking out a permanent marker, she drew large, veiny penises on his face, all nearing his mouth. Yin nodded at her accomplishment before continuing on her way.
Luckily, the dungeon was nearby and Yin took a small dust-powered flashlight with her. There, in the midst of a forest was a stone staircase going down to a double door made of steel.
"Alright, let's see what we're working with here.." Yin muttered as she pushed the doors open slowly, stepping into a vastly different space.
It was a city. A modern one you would see on Earth. Only, it was in ruins. The stench of rot and death hung heavy in the air, making Yin nearly gag. The area where the doors were seemed to be an old metro train entrance. Or, it used to be anyway. The doors closed behind her as she stepped onto the street.
[D-rank Dungeon: Undead City entered
Boss killed 0/2
Zombies slain 0/1000]
The system curtly informed. Though Yin could already tell what kind of scenario she was in from the amount of decaying bodies shuffling the street before her. Putting her dust pistol at her side, she readied her machete and waited until a zombie shuffled close to the metro entry she was outside.
'Good. They're the slow Romero type ones. I'd be fucked if the Left for Dead types were here. Let's see the stats first..' Yin thought before using her Observe skill on the passing zombie.
[Observe- Zombie Lv: 5 Age 29
------------
HP: 15/15 MP: 0 Skills: 0
Strength: 15 Vitality: 10 Agility: 5 Perception: 5 Intelligence: 0]
Seeing the low stats, Yin grew confident. Zombies were generally really weak, rotting carcasses. Only ever a danger if the plot demanded someone to die, if they were unexpected or if they were in a horde. Yin looked out onto the street, finding a few other stragglers but none in the immediate vicinity to her. So she took the chance, running out from the metro entry and swinging the machete straight at the zombie's head.
SHLICK
And immediately bifurcating its head. The congealed blood and brain splattering against the street unceremoniously as Yin pulled the machete back. A smile etched onto her face as she recieved another system message.
[Level up!]
"Finally.. Alrighty then. Time to start my grind"
[A/N: Here be another chappy. Sovereign up next]
