[#] On youtube @hogfell made a 4 hour audiobook of 'Anthrostate VS Isekai Hero'.
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COMMENTS:
Bookeater[questionablequesting]:
Pyrrha... won? Pyrrha won! Please check outside if pigs are flying and chicken have teeth! This is a rare event.
Avip:
That almost broke the internet.
----------Chapter Cover-----------
[Professor Luna]
The Bullhead's engines roar, a deep, throbbing hum that echoes through the valley. The airship descends, its metallic belly glinting in the sunlight. Below, a vast field of wildflowers sway in the breeze, a vibrant carpet of red, yellow, and blue that stretches towards the distant tree line.
Beyond the field lies a small village, a cluster of timber houses surrounded by a palisade wall that on a good day might defend the local population from a small pack of beowolves.
The aircraft door opens and I leap from the Bullhead, I fall with the wind howling past my ears. My shield is up, my eyes scanning the horizon. The wildflowers below form a colorful blur, their sweet scent filling the air. I hit the ground, knees bent to absorb the impact, and I quickly straightened up.
Looking around I don't see any threats nearby. The valley is quiet, too quiet. No birdsong, no rustle of wildlife in the underbrush. Just the wind and the distant hum of the Bullhead's engines. I tense, my grip tightening on my shield.
"I have a bad feeling about this." I whisper to myself.
I raise my arm, hand slicing through the air in an exaggerated sign.
The pilot flickers the ship's landing lights as the Bullhead's engines shift from a roar to a steady hum. The airship descends and touches down slowly, petals swirling in the downdraft.
A moment later, the students of teams RWBY, JNPR, and CRDL emerge, their voices a chorus of laughter and excitement, except for Jaune Arc. My younger version is busy trying not to throw up.
"Get out of the way." He shouts pushing Cardin, running to puke next to a tree.
"For fuck's sake, Arc!" the ginger snaps, irritation clear in his voice. "Can't you keep your damn breakfast down?"
"Better than him puking on the bullhead." Weiss says with a tired sigh.
"Or in your shoes." adds Ruby trembling with a bad memory.
The students wrinkle their noses, a few retching at the sight of Jaune.
Pyrrha is next to him patting his back as Yang claps him on the shoulder, a broad grin on her face.
"Good job, vomit boy," she chuckles. "You didn't puke on my boots this time."
"Thanks, Yang. " Jaune says, wiping his mouth, straightening up. "I think..."
I need to teach Jaune how to meditate using Aura circulation to combat motion sickness. It'll save him a lot of embarrassment in the future.
"Alright, listen up," I call out, voice sharp.
The chatter dies down, as all eyes focus on me.
"Our mission," I begin, voice steady and serious, "is twofold: protection and extermination. We're here to keep the Grimm at bay and eliminate any that pose a threat." I pause, letting my words sink in. "Your primary objective is to stay alive. Civilian lives are secondary to your own."
Murmurs ripple through the group. Nora's hand shoots up, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Shouldn't civilian lives be our top priority? Isn't that what Huntsmen and Huntresses are supposed to do?"
All eyes turn back to me, awaiting my response.
"In a conventional mission, yes, you'd be correct, Nora," I acknowledge. "But this isn't a conventional mission. You're not Huntsmen and Huntresses, yet. You're students, and as your professor, nothing is more important to me than the lives of each and every one of you twelve.
Nora's eyebrows shoot up.
"Whoa.. even Cardin's life is important?" she asks, a sarcastic edge to her voice.
Cardin's face reddens, his irritation boiling over.
"Shut up, Valkyrie," he snaps, but I silence him with a sharp look.
"Every single one of you is valuable." I hold their gaze, my tone hard as stone. "You are the future of Remnant. If it's the last thing I do, I will keep you alive to see that future come to pass."
The intensity of my words catches them off guard. They stare at me, surprise etched on their faces.
"Today is different from what you are used to." I say approaching them with heavy steps. "This isn't a game. It's not just training or another class. This is real life, with real consequences. You'll get hurt or worse if you don't take this seriously."
"Hmph!" Cardin snorts, crossing his arms. "Drama queen much."
I turn around and locking eyes with CRDL leader, who widens his eyes as I approach.
"S-Sorry, I didnt-." He stutters but I cut him, raising my voice.
"No, you didn't!" I snap, glaring at him. "If you don't take me seriously you can die, or worse someone on your team could. Is that what you want, Cardin? Have the death of a teammate on your conscience for the rest of your LIFE!" I shout the last part without meaning to.
Cardin swallows hard, the cockiness draining from his face.
"No, sir. I don't want that."
I sigh, the weight of my past mistakes pressing down on me.
"Good." I say it in a gentler tone. "Because I carry the weight of a fallen partner, and I don't wish that burden on anyone."
The students shift uncomfortably, the gravity of my words sinking in. I scan their faces, seeing a mix of determination and apprehension. I simile noticing that they are starting to understand the stakes.
"Now, let's move out." I gesture towards the village, my voice brisk.
The teams nod, falling into formation as we make our way.
[Jaune Arc]
With the heavy and serious mood that Professor Luna established, we march towards the village, the crunch of dirt on the road under our boots the only sound breaking the tense silence. I glance at my team, their faces a mix of nervousness and determination. The other teams, RWBY and CRDL, mirror our expressions.
Whispers start to ripple through the group. Nora leans in, a mischievous grin tugging at her lips.
"I think Cardin pissed himself back there." She chuckles, eyes sparkling with amusement.
Ruby, walking beside her, nods.
"Not gonna lie, I was a bit scared too." Ruby admits, her voice soft. "There was something about Professor Luna just now. It was like seeing a completely different person."
Yang, overhearing, chimes in.
"I kind of like it," She smirks. "Seeing him all intense and imposing like that was… kinda a turn-on."
Ahead of us, Blake shakes her head, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Who would have thought," She teases. "Yang Xiao Long is a-."
"Don't say it, Blake." Yang warns, but it's too late.
"Sub." Blake finishes, a laugh escaping her.
Yang groans, rubbing a hand over her face.
"What's a sub?" Ruby asks, confused.
"It's like a fan." Yang snaps, trying to protect Ruby's innocence."
"So Blakes is saying…" Ruby starts making Yang sweat cold. "Yang is a fan aaaand… would be a subscriber of professor Luna?"
"Yes!" Yang cries out in despair. "You got one in, sis. Nice job."
Ruby lifts her chin proudly, while Blake smirks, shaking her head.
"Maybe a subscriber of his onlyf-."
"BLAKE!" Yang shouts furiously at her partner.
The rest of us can't help but join in, our laughter echoing through the valley. The tension from earlier begins to ease, our shoulders relaxing. It's a needed moment of levity before whatever awaits us in the village.
Our laughter fades, the echoes dying away as we continue our march. I clear my throat, my voice steady as I speak up.
"I've seen that side of Professor Luna before." I admit, glancing at the others. "He can be pretty intense when he wants to be."
Pyrrha turns to me, her eyes searching.
"Has he always been like this with you, Jaune?" She asks, her voice laced with concern. "In your private lessons?"
I shift uncomfortably, rubbing a hand along the back of my neck.
"Yeah, especially at the first lessons with him." I confess, offering her a small smile. "He was pretty tough on me. Said he needed to break me down to build me back up."
Pyrrha's expression darkens, her voice firm.
"That's not teaching, Jaune." She insists. "That's abuse."
I chuckle, the sound lacking any real humor.
"It was intense," I agree, my mind flashing back to those early days of training. "But it was what I needed. He changed my way of thinking about my life at Beacon, made me stronger. I'm almost grateful for it."
"Almost?" Pyrrha repeats, her brows furrow, disapproval clear in her eyes.
She opens her mouth to respond, but before she can, Professor Luna's voice cuts through our conversation.
"We're here." He announces.
We fall silent, our focus shifting to the village ahead. The houses are small, rundown, what once was vibrant colors are now faded and chipped. The streets are eerily quiet, not a soul in sight. A chill runs down my spine, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.
Professor Luna steps forward, he sweeps his gaze over the village, eyes sharp and alert. Cupping his hands around his mouth, he calls out, his voice booming like thunder.
"We are huntsmen from Beacon Academy." His words echo through the streets, hanging in the air. "We're here to exterminate the creatures of grimm threatening your homes."
At first, nothing happens. The village remains as still and silent as it was before. But then, slowly, things begin to change.
Curtains twitch in the windows, fingers pulling back the fabric just enough to peek out at us. Eyes, wide and frightened, stare at our group, taking in our weapons and our stance.
I shift, uncomfortable under their gazes. I want to say something, to reassure them that we are here to help, but before I can, a door creaks open. An old man steps out, his back hunched with age. His head is bald, but his beard, long and white, more than makes up for it, flowing down to his chest. He leans heavily on a cane, his steps slow but steady as he makes his way towards us.
"I am Vernon," he introduces, his voice raspy but strong. "The leader of this village. Who might you be?"
Professor Luna steps forward, offering his hand.
"Professor John Luna," he replies, his voice firm. "These are my students, here to assist in the mission."
Vernon's eyes narrow as he sweeps over our group again, a sneer tugging at his lips.
"Students, you say?" he scoffs, voice dripping with disdain. "Hmph. Are you sure this lot can handle Grimm?"
Vernon's words sting some of us, a harsh judgment that hangs heavy in the air.
I blink unaffected by his words, as I've heard worse, and sadly felt worse.
But around me, the atmosphere shifts, tensions rising like a thermometer in the summer heat. Yang's fists clench, knuckles white, her jaw set in a hard line. Beside her, Nora bristles, eyes flashing with indignation. Cardin is the worst of us, he looks ready to knock Vernon's teeth out.
I watch as Professor Luna steps forward, his movements calm, deliberate. He extends once again his hand to Vernon in silence, refusing to answer before the old man shakes his hand.
The old man finally recognizes the teacher's authority as he grasps Professor Luna's hand, his grip firm despite his aged appearance. A smug smile tugs at Vernon's lips, like he's already won some unspoken battle. But Professor Luna doesn't flinch, his expression steady as he introduces himself.
"AS I said before, I am Professor John Luna," he states, his tone respectful yet firm. "And you are correct. My students are young and inexperienced, they are still learning. But they are also some of the most promising huntsmen and huntresses in training from Beacon Academy. They are the future protectors of Vale, the guardians of humanity."
Vernon's smile fades, his eyes widening in surprise. He hadn't expected that, the pride in Professor Luna's voice, the unwavering belief in us. Beside me, Yang stands taller, her chest puffing out slightly. Nora grins, her eyes gleaming with renewed determination.
"They will treat you with respect," Professor Luna says, his voice low and unwavering. "And I expect nothing less from you in return. These students are risking their lives for this village, disregard that, and you will answer to me."
Vernon's mouth opens, closes, then opens again, like a fish out of water. He's at a loss for words, his earlier disdain replaced with a begrudging respect as he swallows hard. Vernon nods, his gaze sweeping over us, seeing us in a new light.
"Very well, Professor Luna," he says, his voice gruff but respectful. "Welcome to our village. We are grateful for your help."
Professor Luna nods, continuing to speak in a formal tone like a sales man closing a deal.
"As they are students, you are providing a service by offering them this opportunity to experience the real world. Your village will not need to pay protection tax to the Vale government for the next six months."
Vernon's face lights up with a smile.
"Six months?" he echoes, disbelief heavy in his voice.
Professor Luna nods, his expression serious.
"That's correct," he confirms. "But we will require food and lodging for the duration of our stay."
Vernon blinks, taken aback. He glances at our group, his gaze sweeping over the sheer number of us. A frown tugs at his lips, worry lines creasing his forehead.
"That's... a lot of mouths to feed," he mutters, more to himself than to us. He sighs, rubbing a hand over his face. "This is a small village, Professor. We don't have much in the way of extra supplies."
Professor Luna doesn't blink, his expression unyielding.
"I understand your concern," he says calmly. "But think about it: just one month of tax savings will be enough to feed a group bigger than ours for a whole week."
Vernon's eyebrows shoot up, surprise flashing in his eyes. He opens his mouth, closes it, then opens it again, struggling for words.
"A m-month?" he stammers, shock evident in his voice. "How would you know that?"
Professor Luna nods, his gaze unwavering.
"I used to live in a village a little bigger than this, so I have an idea," he confirms. "And that's just the first month. You'll be saving six months' worth of payments. Surely, you can find a way to accommodate us with that in mind."
Vernon sighs, defeated. He nods, resignation in his eyes.
"Very well, Professor," he concedes, his voice gruff. "We'll find a way to make it work. Follow me, I'll show you to your lodgings."
[Weiss Schnee]
Turns out that our 'lodging' is the communal wood storage that looms before us, a sprawling, rustic structure. The scent of dust and aging wood, a stark contrast to the comforts of my home.
"This is it?" Yang mutters, her voice laced with disbelief. She kicks at a stray log, sending it tumbling across the dirt floor. "It's a bit... rustic, isn't it?"
I cast her a sideways glance, a silent reprimand. I step inside, my boots echoing on the wooden floor. The interior is vast, filled with towering piles of lumber, the air thick with sawdust.
"It's not ideal," I admit, my voice steady. "But it's what we have. We'll make do."
Ruby, ever the optimist, grins, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"It's like camping!" she exclaims, her voice filled with wonder. "We can tell stories, roast marshmallows..."
Blake raises an eyebrow, a smirk playing at her lips.
"Lets not make a fire inside the house where they stock wood... please." she teases.
Ruby's grin vanishes.
"Sorry" she whisper ashamedly.
I sigh, brushing dust from my shoulders.
"This place is a mess. I can't believe we're supposed to sleep here."
Jaune gets our attention by clearing his throat, preparing to speak.
"While Professor Luna is out with team CRDL, we could take turns patrolling the village at night."
Yang raises an eyebrow.
"Why bother?"She questions curiously. "Luna said to wait for his return."
"He said to wait for him in the village," Jaune clarifies, his voice firm. "He didn't say we should sit around doing nothing."
Ruby jumps to her feet, eyes gleaming.
"I want to help too!"
"You wanna do anything that isn't staying put..." Yang chuckles. "You hate being still."
Lie Ren, who has been silently observing, speaks up.
"Jaune has a point. Most of the village is suspicious of a large group like ours. Their negative feelings it's bound to attract Grimm."
Blake nods, her expression thoughtful.
"A Grimm attack during the night is almost certain."
"So, what's the plan?" I ask looking at Jaune. "We walk around the village hoping to encounter Grimm before they attack civilians?"
Jaune shakes his head.
"Not just walk around. We patrol in pairs. If we encounter any Grimm, we take them out quietly, without drawing too much attention."
Yang cracks her knuckles, a wicked grin spreading across her face.
"Quietly, huh? Not sure I can promise that, but I'm game."
Ruby bounces on her toes, eager.
"Shall we go with our partners? Or shall we mix it up like one of Professor Luna's classes."
"No," I say, thoughtful. "Professor Luna does disruptive training with us so we can adapt to the worst on the field. But this isn't training; it's interesting to attack the problem with someone we're already most familiar with."
Ruby crashes into my side, hugging me, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Me and my bestie are first!"
I sigh, exhaustion seeping into my voice.
"Of course… fearless leader."
"Hey!" Shouts Nora, annoyed. "Thats my line."
"You can share it." Says Ren putting a hand on his partner's shoulder.
"Let's go Rose." I grumble pulling my partner out. "Surely no Grimm will be more challenging than spending a night in this dusty shed."
--------------------------------
E ai gurizada…
[#] You can join my discord server:discord.gg/52MmzuEQhR
[#] I hope you enjoyed this new serialization, if you are interested, my Ko-Fi[avipbr] subscriber has access up to this chapters posted there:
Chapter 14 - Ruby doesn't like cookies?
Chapter 15 - Hydra and the Knight
Chapter 16 - Let's go to the mall
Chapter 17 - Love Rivals
Chapter 18 - Worthy of love
[#] You can reach me on X/twitter, @AvipBr