#shift-isms

“Hello there.”

*Having spoken on reflex, Shift stood silently to assess the situation. Simple as it was, he wasn’t accustomed to being greeted - especially with such energy*

Month’s end was drawing near.

Having spent many years in the wild, and mastering the means to survive it, Shift had the luxury of indulging in training over foraging for supplies. This convenience was only furthered by the fact that he’d cleared out every Grimm within the land, allowing much of the wildlife to reclaim lost territory, in which he readily found them.

Unfortunately, this simple paradise was not to last.

Ever since exterminating the Grimm, the land was plagued by earthquakes. Each one worse than the last. As these earthly terrors drove the animals back into hiding, Shift turned towards its source - the mountaintop.

Cloaking his arms in ebony armor, Shift set about scaling the mountain. As he approached its peak, another earthquake began - this time, overturning much of the land below. But amidst the chaos and cracks in the earth, it was the noise within the mountain that filled Shift with dread. Driven by instinct, it was all he could manage to reform full armor before being thrust skyward with the mountaintop.

Sailing through the air without any bearings, or a single trace of armor, Shift struggled to find what was responsible...and once he did, he’d almost wished he hadn’t.

There, asserting dominion through sheer presence, flew the Grimm Dragon.

Despite plummeting downward, Shift never took his eyes off the beast. It was unlike any Grimm he’d ever seen. And if his training to hoard Grimm energy had only stirred its sleep, then...this was something far out of his league.

As if sensing the shift in energy, the Dragon began circling its kingdom - unleashing a viscous black rain in its wake.

By the time Shift worked out a landing strategy, everything from Ursas to Nevermores had started rising from the earth. But while the Dragon paid him no mind, the newly born Nevermores flocked towards him – racing to claim his life as if it were their birthright…because it was their birthright.

Having just lost his armor, Shift turned to dust; the final batch he had. Calling forth and crushing the yellow crystals, Shift summoned a storm, stretching far across the forest. Within moments, lightning crashed down, bringing silence to the skies and fire to the trees below.

Gathering those flames, Shift propelled himself toward the mountaintop. It wasn’t in his interest to provoke the Dragon, but he had little choice. With the amount of Grimm he’d just killed, and the ones he was about to, it was only a matter of time until he caught its eye. As the opened peak was in reach, Shift transformed the trailing flames into a great fireball, hurtling it toward his landing zone.

With that brazen display echoing in the distance, the Dragon finally peered back at its resting spot. As the smoke cleared, it saw a being cloaked in deep black – the energy of its Grimm swarming towards it rather than returning to the Abyss. This could not be overlooked. This was an affront to its rule, and an insult to its nature.

Swiftly changing course, and charging straight for him, the Dragon unleashed a bloodcurdling screech, scattering Shift’s flames to the wind.

Holding his ground, Shift glanced into the crater, confirming what he needed. As the absurdity of his situation settled in, he started to laugh, “Guess I always took a lot for myself. It’s about time I share the wealth.”

With nothing left but the kill, he stares the Dragon down, right to the point when it began to bite down. Gathering every shred of courage, Shift leapt into its mouth and readied all his darkness in one hand; one blade.

Now freeing a scream of his own, he drove the sword straight through its lower jaw. As the Dragon writhed in pain, flailing into the pit, Shift slid through its wound for the final phase. Banishing his weapon, he focused solely on the crater walls, channeling a sea of earth dust into where he’d cut.

Once the Dragon had Shift in focus again, it was too late. With a last swing of the arms, pillars of earth erupted through its body - finally returning it to rest.

After watching its corpse for what seemed like days, a wave of fatigue and relief rushed over Shift. As the Dragon’s body began to fade, it was all he could do to lie back and breathe.

The Grimm weren’t just an energy source; they were an enemy - and a powerful one at that. He wouldn’t forget it again.

Slowly reaching to his feet, Shift borrowed what remained of the Dragon and climbed out of the pit.

Taking a seat at the top, he looked out across the battlefield and sighed. As his feelings settled, Shift thought on what was needed to face this enemy. Experience had taught him much, and today’s had shown there was much left to learn. The next time he faced such a monster, he might not be so lucky.

Turning toward the city, memories began to buzz about the warriors who battled Grimm and protected the people. The defenders of the Kingdoms. If anyone could help him grow stronger, it would be them. 

It’d been weeks since Violet and Shift parted ways by the mountainside. In that time, he’d come to discover some intriguing beings. One was the warrior named Void, whose power and posturing had turned out to hold more truth than fantasy. In their brief time together, Shift came to view fighting in a brand new light - sparking simple, yet revolutionary, breakthroughs for the tame fighter.

The first of them being the benefits of willingly attracting Grimm. Once their bodies began to fade, harvesting their energy was a simple feat. And rather than cast his whole body in armor, he could choose to concentrate it in key parts, effectively multiplying its strength.

For days on end, Shift worked to hone these thoughts into usable weapons. Taking a seat in the great plains, he continued to channel and refine his hostility, drawing in waves of nearby Grimm.

After seeing the last of them join the charge, he’d rise to meet their challenge - forging every ounce of dark energy into clawed gauntlets. Despite how terrifying it felt bearing only his soul outward, the prospect of growth was exhilarating. Effectively high on fear and desire, Shift danced across the battlefield, slaying and claiming each Grimm as they passed.

When the world grew quiet once more, he took a seat to rest, waiting as the collective Grimm energy beckoned ever more distant Grimm.

*After walking for what felt like months, Shift finally spotted another village in the distance. As he drew closer though, it became clear that this village was a step up from the last. Not only were its gates well structured, but its guards kept vigilant watch of their surroundings*

*As usual, Shift banished his dark armor to prevent panic, and approached the front gates with a calm air*

Shift: Greetings, guardsmen. I seek passage to sell my wares.

Guard 1: And what wares might that be?

Guard 2: You’ve got nothing but the clothes on your back! Lost your mind on the journey here?

Shift: Well, the clothes are what I’m selling. What’s inside them anyway.

Guard 1: Uhh? *starts to lose his composure* Th-That’s not legal here.

Guard 2: You sick bastard! Shove off before I jail your sorry ass!

Shift: Huh? You haven’t even seen what I’m offering. Allow me a quick demonstratio-

Guard 2: *cocks his rifle* Last warning, punk!

Guard 1: *averting Shift’s gaze and blushing furiously* You really should get going...sir.

*Though confounded by their reactions, Shift resigns himself to his fate - returning to the road and pressing on*

*As the distance between him and the village grows, Shift reflects on what could’ve gone wrong*

Shift: A direct approach failed last time, and now so has a subtle one.

*While different theories race in his head to make sense of it, Shift’s clothing begins to glow. Drawing out fragments of dust, he forms proper crystals, and looks them over with wondering eyes*