Ever since they've arrived at the village and discovered that the guards were killed by a Grimm , that's not ordinary. They took cautious to keep an eye out for any Grimms they've come across while looking for civilians.

Ilia: Okay, so if there are any survivors by any chance, where would they be?

YN: They went this way.

Ilia: How do you know?

YN: Footprints. Judging by it, they were walking which means they headed to safety before the Grimms arrived. Doesn't seem like any Grimm followed. They were focusing on the guards so that they wouldn't get in the way.

Ilia: (Surprised.) All that from simple footsteps?

YN: You'd be surprised what'd you learn when you travel a lot. This way.

They follow the footsteps to where it leads until they've come across a few Grimms in the way. They fought them off easily until YN noticed one was about to ambush Ilia who was distracted by other Grimms. Just when he was about to shoot, out of nowhere, an arrow landed to the Grimms head before it fell from the roof. Once they finish off the Grimms in the area, they look and see it was a guard with a bow and arrow.

Guard: More will come. This way.

The duos follow the guards while staying eye sharp for any Grimms until the guard speaks.

Guard: It's a good thing you arrive here on time, though I wish it was a warm welcome.

YN: Don't worry, Grimms showed up before we cut them down. Where are we going?

Guards: Bunkers where people stay hidden and safe from the Grimms.

The guard then arrives at a secret bunker and opens it before knocking another door to signal the other guard to open and they all enter. Once they enter, they see civilians are hiding in the bunker.

Ilia: So many...

YN: (To Guard.) How long have you all been hiding here?

Guard: Quite some time ever since the Grimms arrive. I went outside to look for any survivors guards who were fighting the Grimms.

Ilia: I'm sorry, but we didn't come across anyone until you.

Guard: I see....

YN: How many were there when they left?

Guard: There were at least 30 of us. Ten of us stayed to defend while the rest went to fight off. Only two arrived. One of them was badly wounded and the other...well, let's just say he plans to leave this place for good and never comes back.

YN: Did they say anything when they got back?

Guard: Something that a Grimm that's unlike anything they've faced. Wiped out the guards within less than a minute.

Ilia: In minutes? How?

Guard: I don't know. It's as if it has its eyes everywhere in its surroundings.

YN sees the civilians and even the guards are frightened by the dangerous Grimms. Before he realized it, he noticed his hand was starting to shake a little, yet he gathered enough courage as he grabbed his hand before leaving.

Ilia: YN?

YN: (To Ilia.) Stay here with them, they could use some help again beowolves while I find the beast.

Ilia: (Shock.) You're going against that Grimm? Alone!?

YN: And I'm not gonna risk anyone else's lives against that Grimm. Humans or faunus.

Ilia: (Serious.) You're risking your life to fight that Grimm.

Guard: She's right, its suicide to go alone.

YN: What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?

YN leaves the bunker to go out and face the Grimms alone.

Guard: Does he always try to be heroic?

Ilia: I rarely know him well.

Riva: (Snort.)

Ilia: Oh, shut up.

YN POV

I knew Ilia wouldn't get along well with humans, but this is necessary. If I die while being out here, then Ilia is the last defense along with a handful of guards. It didn't take long before I've come across more of the Grimms. I start firing my gun before some of them charge at me. Luckily I reacted fast enough to pull out my sword.

After I've slain them, I continue to walk around the village in the hopes to find the Grimm the guards talked about while holding my gun out and my sword. But soon I've come across a fog where it begins to blind my surroundings. Keeping eye sharp and ready for any Grimms at least until I make my way out of the fog. Once I did, it didn't take long before I hear running footsteps and quickly turn around before unloading my gunshots until I was force to dodges its blade.

I quickly leap back to get a safe distance from the Grimm and aim my gun before I see its full appearance.

The Grimm growls as we both circle each other. Observing each other while I spotted the bloods on the Grimms blade.

YN: You're an ugly one. But no doubt you're a tough one.

Out of nowhere, the Grimms blade started to spin around him as if it was a doll and charged at the huntsman. I started firing rounds at it, but the Grimms blade deflected the shots before it charged at me and we both clashed our blades against each other's weapons.

3rd POV

Meanwhile at the bunker, Ilia is leaning against the wall as there are no signs of Grimms around. It was quiet until the guard spoke to Ilia.

Guard: Are you sure he can handle this alone against the Grimm?

Ilia: I don't know. Last I saw him go against a Grimm alone, it was a kraken.

Guard: (Surprise.) All by himself?

Ilia: Yeah. But...I was hesitant back then.

Ilia lied, knowing that they wouldn't trust her if she told them she was part of the WhiteFang.

Guard: I see...I don't blame you. It's not easy for us to go fighting the Grimms. Especially when we don't even have aura or semblances. But people like you have a chance to change something.

Ilia: What do you mean?

Guard: I'm saying that you have a choice, to help you or not. Faunus or human, it's best to rebuild what shattered.

Ilia thought of it as she looked back at the civilians who were afraid because of the Grimms. Back in the battle, YN is struggling to fight Grimm toe to toe as his  took a lot of damage. Believing that this Grimm is smart and powerful enough against a single huntsman as it swings its blade towards YN who blocks it. But the swing was powerful enough to knock YN towards the wall.

He gets back up and out of instant, dodges the blade coming towards him as it jams right to the ground. But before the Grimm would pull it out, YN jumps above the creature to deal damage on the creature by slicing its blade off and wounds it on its back.

The Grimm roars from the pain. YN was about to stab its back until it grabbed and slammed the huntsman down as it pulled its blade out from the ground enough to destroy his aura. Fortunately, he uses his hidden blade to stab its eye when its head gets closer to him. Forcing it to throw the huntsman away to recover from the pain. YN spits out the blood from his mouth before he charges at it and swings his sword towards the Grimms face until unexpectedly, it catches the sword. Forcing it out of the huntsman's grasp and shattered it to half.

YN eyes widen to see his brother's sword is shattered. But he quickly shakes it off and holds out his gun and hidden blade. Just when its about to kill YN with a swing of its other blade, its claw was pulled away by Ilia with her weapon.

Ilia: Run!

The Grimm sees her and grabs her weapon before pulling it as it swings her towards the wall. Knocking her out.

YN: Ilia!

The Grimm sees Ilia is down and is about to kill her until YN shoulder charges it to keep the creature away from hurting her. The creature back away roared at the huntsman as he fired a fire dust at its face. Blinding and burning its face while YN grabs Ilia and gets her to safety. Checking on her conditions and seeing that she's okay, just out cold by the impact. Regretting that he could've done more.

So he then leaves her and goes back to the fight to face the Grimm once again. Both are injured, but not out yet as YN made his last stand. The Grimm roars and charges at YN who uses his semblance after dodging its blade. Unable to see him well due to the burning, the Grimm looked around until it felt a sharp pain on its back. Striking every blind spot the huntsman can throw until it suddenly swings its blade at him. Fortunately his shoulder plate protected him but it knocked him back as his gun slipped out of his hand. 

He struggles to get back up, but the Grimm wasted no time to go for the kill until YN blocks it with his shoulder plate as it was his only defense he could use. The Grimm was about to chomp YN until it was interrupted by gunshots thanks to Ilia using YNs gun. She continued to fire bullets at the Grimm as it gave YN enough time to spot and grab another sword close to a fallen guard. Once he grabbed it, he swung it towards the Grimm with a powerful swing as it only knocked the beast out for the moment since the blade wasn't sharp enough. But enough to stun it for a moment.

Afterwards, YN to regroup with Ilia.

YN: What were you thinking!?

Ilia: I'm not gonna stand and do nothing while a friend is in a suicidal fight.

The Grimm then roars to summon what's left of the Grimms in the village as it is desperate to deny defeat.

YN: There's too many, but we're not out yet.

Ilia: You thinking what I'm thinking?

YN: Little bold, given to my semblance limit. but worth a try in this matter. Full stealth kills?

Ilia: Full stealth kill.

Ilia offers the gun back to YN who gladly accepts it back before the Grimm screeches to signal them to attack. Just as they were about to attack, the duos split up and went into stealth with their semblance. YN camouflages himself with his semblance while Ilia uses hers to turn her skin into dark night. Most of the Grimms couldn't spot them as they get slaughtered by the duos until they reveal themselves since all that's left is the leader. The Grimm glares at the huntsman who holds the sword tightly as he mutters.

YN: From darkness, bring light before the sun.

Both of them charge and clash their blades one last time as they both try to overpower each other until YN shoots its leg.

The Grimm roars and desperately swings its claw towards YN. But the huntsman dodges it and swings his blade to slice the Grimms head clean.

The head rolls as it disintegrated into dust. From all the exhaustion and the injuries, the huntsman fell on the ground as he reach his limit. Unable to move, all he can do is watch the night sky and closes his eyes for a moment until he felt someone is dragging his body. He open his eyes to see it was Ilia trying to drag him alone until he closes his eyes again only to have them open to reveal a ceiling above.

   He looks around and sees he's in a room where he got his wounds treated. He sat back up before he noticed Ilia was sleeping by the chair before the doctor arrived and noticed YN is awake.

Doctor: Ah, you're finally awake.

YN: Where am I? How long have I been out?

Doctor: You're still at the village and you've been out almost four days. While you were out cold, the village began rebuilding and your friend there stayed up all night until you woke up.

YN: I see.

YN got off the bed and stood up before the doctor protested.

Doctor: Whoa, take it easy. You took a lot of injuries against the Grimms.

YN: I'm still breathing, that'll be enough. Besides, four days is enough for me to recover to walk at least.

Doctor: Fair, but don't push yourself, huntsman.

YN: Thanks, doc.

YN puts his clothes back on and leaves the gear behind. Knowing that the village is safe now. However, he took the sword with him to return it since it's not his. He sees Ilia is still sleeping from staying up all night. The least he could do is leave a coat over her to keep her warm for the time being.

When he got outside for a walk, the first thing he did was to check up on Riva who seems to enjoy the stay. He continues to walk around and he sees the villagers are rebuilding their home until he comes across a spot where the fallen guards were buried days ago. He stood in front of one of the tombstones and kneel down to have a moment of silence for the dead. With respect, he placed the sword in front of the tombstone to return it to the fallen guards before he left.

Ilia POV

I woke up when I felt warm and noticed it was YNs coat before I realized he's gone. I quickly headed outside to look for him until I spotted him sitting at a rooftop with a journal. I got a little disappointed to see him on the rooftop since she could fall and hurt himself more. But I'm glad that he's fully awake. So I decided to join him on the rooftop before speaking.

Ilia: You know you could fall if you slip.

YN: I know, but at least no one would bother me when I'm up here.

Ilia: What are you doing?

YN shows me the drawing of the Grimm that we fought last night.

Ilia: Wow, that's the Grimm from last night. Pretty good drawing.

YN: Thanks. Thought to write what I know about it and draw it. You never know you might encounter another one like this.

Ilia: So sitting on a rooftop is peace and quiet for you? Not bad as Kong as you don't slip.

YN: Not exactly peace and quiet. Main reason is because it's a better view.

Ilia: Better view of what?

He just stays silent and I follow where he's looking. Only to see people are rebuilding and kids are having fun despite the Grimms attack a few days ago. It's amazing to see how these villagers are peaceful now after mourning the dead and continuing onwards.

YN: This is what I've been doing, Ilia. Making sure that people have a chance for a better tomorrow. They're frightened yeah, but in the end, they know someone would stand up and give them what they need. Hope.

I look down for a moment, still remembering how everything changed when my friends found out that I'm a faunus until my thoughts were interrupted when YN spoke again.

YN: I'm sorry that I wasn't there for you in your struggling times. I was struggling too to move forward alone. I don't know what'll take to earn your forgiveness. But if there's one thing I know, is that even if we make mistakes or even terrible things, we can try to make things right.

Ilia: (Sigh.) ...We all made mistakes. But what matters is that we come clean together and understand each other.

YN: Guess I owe you a thanks fro saving me. Twice.

Ilia: Oh, so we're keeping scores?

YN: Well who's counting?

They both chuckle until Ilia speaks with an apology.

Ilia: Sorry about your broken sword. I know it belongs to your brother and it means a lot to you.

YN: It's okay. I should've expected it sooner. Thankfully I have a blacksmith friend who can help. We'll stop by on the journey to meet him.

Ilia: Really? Where does he live?

YN: Kuo Kuana.