Chereads / Amplify (A RWBY Story) / Chapter 47 - First Stop, Vacuo

Chapter 47 - First Stop, Vacuo

Within the Kingdom of Vacuo, everything was wild. Ever since Beacon Fell, global Communications have been down. With the negativity generated by the Vytal Festival Attack, Grimm ran rampant across the globe. But for villages in Vacuo, it was worse. With the nation filled with Thieves and Scoundrels, there is a lot to worry about. But the Grimm made things worse. Within the sandy landscape is a village that was walled off. But this walled off village had been breached by a small group of bandits. There weren't many of them, only seven. But the leader was a Rogue Huntsmen. This group was taking advantage of the chaos and attempting to seize control of the village for their own selfish gain. The bandits all wielded swords while the leader had some kind of Brass knuckles. The Village Elder was brought before the Bandit Leader who didn't appear to be in a compromising mood. 

"Please we've already given you our valuables!" The Elder pleaded. 

"Oh, I'm aware, but I'm not exactly satisfied. There has to be something that's worth my while in this village." The Bandit Leader said. 

"Hey boss, look what I found." One of the Bandits said as he walked over with something in his hand. 

The Bandit Leader turned around and saw his fellow bandit was holding an orange ball with four stars in it. A Dragon Ball, but they had no idea what it was so the Bandit Leader assumed it was just some crystal ball.

"The hell is it?" The Bandit Leader asked in confusion. 

"I don't know, but maybe we can sell it for a high price." The Bandit said. 

"Sounds good to me." The Bandit Leader said. 

"I got a better idea. Drop the orb and leave these people alone." A voice said. 

The Bandit Leader looked past the Bandit who held the Dragon Ball and said Bandit turned around surprised to hear a voice behind him. The Bandits all see a guy walking towards them. It's Ryder Falcone. Ryder stops walking and stands across from the bandits at a safe distance. 

"Who the heck are you supposed to be?" The Bandit Leader asked. 

"The one that's going to stop you." Ryder said. 

The Bandits just look at him before busting out laughing. The villagers looked at Ryder with concerned eyes while the Elder looked at the floor believing that Ryder just signed his death wish. The Bandit Leader calms down from laughing and wipes away a tear. 

"Okay. That was a good joke." The Bandit Leader said. 

"I wasn't joking." Ryder countered. 

"I see. Well, it was a bad joke anyway. I hope you realize that I'm a Huntsmen, may not be a legal one anymore, but that still means I have more skill than you." The Bandit Leader declared arrogantly. 

"Twice the pride, double the fall." Ryder quoted. 

Internally Ryder was glad he was able to quote that. He loves quoting things whenever he gets a chance, especially from a series he likes. So getting the chance to quote from Star Wars is a win to him. 

"We'll see about that." The Bandit Leader argued. 

The Bandit Leader grabs the Dragon Ball from the bandit who held it before turning to his goons. 

"Boys, have your fun." The Bandit Leader ordered. 

The six Bandits smiled and readied their blades before charging forward at their full speed. Ryder merely sighed and closed his eyes. As the bandits get closer, the villagers close their eyes and look away. Ryder opens his eyes and they're green as a green aura appears around him with the activation of his Semblance. Ryder isn't wasting any time. Our hero, in the blink of an eye, charges the Bandits and takes them all out in a quick fashion. So fast that the Bandit Leader's eyes widened at how fast his goons were taken out. The Bandit Leader staggers as he steps backwards. He then grips his brass knuckles tightly and grits his teeth. Ryder locks his gaze onto the Bandit Leader. 

"Leave or feel a world of pain." Ryder ordered. 

"Make me." the Rogue Huntsmen said. 

"As you wish." Ryder mumbles. 

Ryder then charges the Rogue Huntsmen faster than the Bandit Leader can react. Ryder thrusts his fist into the gut of the Rogue Huntsmen and launches him into a building. The Bandit Leader crashes into a wall and breaks through it with his Aura shattering. Now unconscious from the punch and without aura, the Rogue Huntsmen just laid there in the rubble. The villagers looked on in awe as the Elder looked over his shoulder with wide eyes. The elder then turned his head and looked at Ryder who looked at his fist. 

"Huh, that was easier than I thought." Ryder comments. 

Our hero turned his semblance off and lowered his hand back to his side. The villagers then cheered out in glee, happy that they were saved. The Elder stands up and walks over to Ryder but not before seeing the Dragon Ball lying on the ground. He pays it no mind and heads toward Ryder. 

"Thank you. Thank you so much for taking care of them for us." The Elder thanked with all his heart. 

"No need for thanks. I was passing through looking for something and saw what was happening, so I acted." Ryder said before looking at the building that now had a damaged wall. "A-Also sorry about the wall." 

"It's fine. We can fix it." The Elder dismissed with a wave of the hand. "You said you were looking for something?" 

"Yeah I am." Ryder said. 

Ryder walks past him and towards the Dragon Ball. He bends over and picks it up before opening the satchel he had and putting it inside with the other two Dragon Balls. 

"You know what that is?" The Elder asked. 

"You could say that." Ryder said, turning to the elder. "Mind if I stay for a bit? Need to rest after all that traveling." 

"We won't mind. After all you saved our village. Our Inn will accept you graciously." the Elder stated. 

"Glad to hear." Ryder said, smiling at him. 

However, Ryder's smile was faked. He kind of knew why the bandits attacked. He figured they were exploiting the chaos caused by the Fall of Beacon to their advantage. It hurts him to see this and only fuels his desire to find the Dragon Balls even more. To prevent more suffering and end chaos.