Chapter 4: Despair
"Salem can't be killed! You all heard her too, right?" Yang Xiao Long demanded.
The teenagers of Remnant all glared at Ozpin in rage. Qrow simply looked away, unable to look his boss in the eye. Ozpin was in tears at being forced to relive it all again. The Travelers, however, had nothing but sympathy in their eyes for Ozpin. They knew that this was not Ozpin's fault. The man made his mistakes, but who had not in their lives?
"I…" Ozpin began.
"There was so much you hadn't told us! How could you think that was okay?!" Yang interrupted, her eyes strangely red with rage.
Sojiro looked at Yang. They're not taking this well, none of them are. He thought. I understand their frustration...but how can any of them experience all that and not feel a shred of sympathy? They must've truly been through hell recently.
"I can't believe you...she can't be killed! Are you telling me that you were going to drag Pyrrha into a fight where the enemy can't be killed!" Jaune screamed.
Ruby then stepped forward. She seemed calmer than the rest. "Professor?"
Ozpin looked up at Ruby. "What is your plan to defeat Salem?"
Ozpin wept. "I...don't have one." He revealed.
Everyone looked at Ozpin in disbelief. All of this time...and he had no plan. No plan? No plan?! "Damn you!" Jaune screamed, stepping forward and drawing Crocea Mors.
Sojiro's eyes widened. He gave Shogo one look and the man nodded. He then noticed that Qrow was also stepping forward, cocking his fist back. I need to fix this! Sojiro thought frantically.
"Jaune!" Ruby yelled out a warning before he did something he regretted.
However, Qrow seemed to be able to get their first, throwing a punch at Ozpin. Then, in a split second, someone stood between Qrow and his boss, catching the punch with ease. Meanwhile, Jaune was suddenly forced to the ground. Shogo had tackled him in a split second.
As soon as Jaune was brought down, Ren, Nora, Weiss, Blake and Yang all trained their weapons on Shogo. "Shogo!" Noriko and Shuya yelled out in warning for their comrade.
"Get out of my way!" Qrow ignored the situation behind him and glared at Sojiro.
"I'm afraid I can't do that." Sojiro shook his head. "As a teacher, my responsibility is not just to train the bodies of my students, but also their hearts and minds. And right now, you are all about to fail a very crucial test."
Shogo gazed down at Jaune. "Please, calm down." He calmly requested of Jaune, surprisingly talking normal at the moment. "Your anger will not get you what you want."
"I disagree." Jaune growled.
"As for the rest of you," Shogo continued in that calm tone, addressing the five students who had trained their weapons on him, "please lower your weapons. You five are not helping your situation at all."
"Take your hands off our friend, and we'll do just that." Ren glared at Shogo.
"Hey, hey, hey, everyone just calm down!" Shuya screamed frantically. "Look at yourselves, you people are insane!"
Noriko stepped up and gave the students a hard glare. "If you want Shogo to let go of your friend, you need to lower your weapons first." She ordered. "Please, we want to help you people as much as possible, but you're not making this easy for any of us."
"Guys, just lower your weapons." Ruby ordered, horrified at what was happening around her. "Please, just listen to them."
Weiss and the others looked at Ruby before Weiss made the call. "Everyone, lower your weapons." She said before turning her attention to Shogo. "And you, you better keep your word and let Jaune go, got it?"
"Just as long as Sir Jaune promises not to charge Professor Ozpin, I'll do just that." Shogo promised.
"...Fine." Jaune growled.
Shogo nodded and let Jaune up. Jaune was still glaring at Ozpin, however, but at least he was not trying to kill him now. Qrow, however, still needed to be talked down. "I told you to let go, old man!" He demanded of Sojiro.
"I cannot do that, you're still clearly going to strike Professor Ozpin." Sojiro pointed out to Qrow. "As long as you're emotions run wild like this, I'm afraid I can't allow you to just do what you want. Especially when all you're going to do is hurt the young boy who Professor Ozpin currently inhabits."
Qrow realized that Sojiro was right and lowered his fist. However, he was still glaring at Ozpin. "No one wanted me…" The man was close to tears. "I was cursed... I gave my life to you because you gave me a place in this world... I thought I was finally doing some good…"
Ozpin was still in tears. Even moreso at Qrow's statement. "But you are." He insisted.
Qrow looked away, no longer able to look Ozpin in the eye. "Meeting you...was the worst luck of my life." He said simply.
Ozpin looked down dejectedly. "You're probably right…"
Sojiro sensed something that Ozpin was about to do. "Professor Ozpin, I advise you to remain in control for the time being." He said. "You cannot run away from this."
Ozpin froze in place. "...Very well." He said.
Jaune remained in place, but he was still glaring at Ozpin. "How could you?" He demanded. "Did Pyrrha know that Salem was unkillable? Did she even know about Salem? Answer me, Ozpin, did you really plan to send Pyrrha against an unkillable monster?"
"I had every intention of telling Pyrrha about Salem after she took the Fall Maiden's powers. But only if she did so." Ozpin promised. "Jaune, I can assure you, that is not a lie."
"And why should I believe that, when you're clearly incapable of telling us the whole truth!" Jaune screamed.
Sojiro gazed at Ozpin. He could see it in his eyes. That was the truth. "Jaune," Ozpin said softly, "you need to believe that because it's the truth."
"Shut up!" Jaune yelled as he began to cry freely. "You dragged us all into an unwinnable war! You dragged us all to our deaths! Our deaths, Ozpin! Pyrrha died for nothing, and it's all your fault! You're as big a monster as Salem is!"
"That's quite enough, boy!" Sojiro yelled with such force that everyone froze in place.
Ruby's eyes widened at the force of Sojiro's yell. The sheer magnitude behind it actually blew all of the falling snow away. "I understand your rage, I understand your sadness, but you go too far, you all do." Sojiro claimed, now calmer than his last outburst.
"I go too far?!" Jaune yelled angrily. "Don't talk like you understand what we've all been through you bastard!"
"You're right, I don't understand what you've all been through. This world and its events are completely foreign to myself, and to my associates. But, I do understand your emotions, and I certainly know what monsters look like." Sojiro claimed.
"In my long life, I have met monsters in the form of men and women, and I can assure you all, Professor Ozpin is no monster. He is just a man with flaws and mistakes, like everyone else."
"And those mistakes cost a wonderful girl her life!" Jaune screamed at Sojiro now. "She was our friend! Like you could ever understand our sadness! Our rage! Everything! Like you could understand how we feel! You know nothing!"
Noriko, Shuya and Shogo all went pale at that statement. "Oh dear...he shouldn't have said that." Noriko muttered.
Ruby went pale. Why did the air suddenly just get colder? She wondered.
Sojiro then marched right up to Jaune. Jaune's eyes went wide with fear as he gazed at Sojiro. The old man had a look of unbridled fury on his face. Raising his hand, Sojiro backhanded Jaune with incredible force. "Jaune!" Nora and Ren yelled as their former leader stumbled backwards from the force of the strike.
Sojiro narrowed his eyes. "I don't understand those feelings, boy? You dare speak such ignorant words to me?!" He demanded.
Impressive, Sojiro still could not help but think, I meant to put enough force into that strike to knock him over, and yet he managed to remain standing. His Aura...it must be stronger than I first thought it was.
"I shouldn't have lost my temper like that." Sojiro then sighed, managing to calm himself. "I apologize, but you shouldn't speak of things you know nothing about, boy."
Sojiro helped Jaune regain his balance. The boy felt no anger at Sojiro, just utter shock. "I have spent thousands of years, burying loved one after loved one. My little brothers...my best friend...my wife...my daughter...all of them lost to me. And you dare tell me that I don't understand your feelings, your pain? It is you who knows nothing, boy. When you've lived as long as I have, pain and loss are practically old friends. I don't deny that your experiences are a tragedy...but do not act as though you are the only one who's suffered in life."
Maria Calavera froze at that statement. She had almost stepped forward to stop all of this arguing before it attracted the Grimm, but now…
"Thousands of years?" Ozpin managed to speak up in spite of his grief. "You've been alive for thousands of years? Just what are you?"
"I'll explain everything once we're somewhere safe." Sojiro promised. "But know this, all of you. I understand quite a bit. Though I have not experienced any of the events you've experienced, but I can assure you, I've definitely experienced the pain you've all experienced."
"And that pain...is why I'm able to sympathize with Professor Ozpin, and why you all need to listen, right here and now." Sojiro told them.
"Is the professor flawed? Yes, I will not deny that." Sojiro admitted. "He should not have promised truth when he knew he could not keep that promise. Instead, he should've admitted his inability to trust you on the grounds he explained out of respect for you all."
"That being said, the way you are reacting to the truth you've all seen is absolutely despicable." Sojiro revealed. "You all saw the truth, you all saw what happened to the man known as Ozma and the woman known as Salem, and this is how you all react? Shameful, absolutely shameful."
"How is that shameful?" Yang demanded. "He lied to us! You even admitted he screwed up! So why are you taking his side?"
"Because you have allowed your rage to take command of your actions, and what's more, you haven't even stopped to consider why he's made the decisions he's made." Sojiro explained. "Do you really think he meant anything malicious when he lied to you?"
That made everyone think at least. "Why does it matter what he meant?" Yang still demanded. "He still lied to us!"
"And did you ever once stop and consider why he felt like he had to lie in the first place?" Sojiro grimly inquired.
Everyone fell silent at that statement. Sojiro sighed. "People spend so much time getting angry when someone tells a lie, but they never stop to consider why someone feels like they have to lie." He explained.
Sojiro gazed at Ozpin with tremendous sympathy. "This Leo, whoever he was, was not the first to betray him to Salem. That means, he has been betrayed numerous times throughout his many different lives." He pointed out. "Do any of you even realize how hard it is to open up to and trust anyone after being betrayed once, let alone the numerous times this man has been betrayed?"
Oh...none of them had thought of that. Sojiro heaved a sigh. "I guess not." He mused. "And what's more. As frustrating as it is that he has no plan to defeat Salem...I do understand why. Professor Ozpin has had multiple lifetimes to try and fight Salem and win. However...something tells me that wasn't the case with a lot of your previous lives. Isn't that right, Professor?"
Ozpin's face fell. "That is correct." He said softly. "I've had so many lives and chances to defeat Salem. I've tried so many different things. I've tried fighting directly. I've tried assassinations by turning her own forces against her. I've tried sealings and traps. I've tried everything I could think of. And every single thing failed. How am I supposed to have a plan to defeat her...when nothing I've tried in the past has worked?"
Ruby found herself close to tears, now nothing but sympathetic for Ozpin and the tragedy that was his very existence. "I see," Sojiro patted Ozpin on the head, "you've been driven to despair. To the brink of giving up yourself. But you find yourself trying again and again, regardless, because you cannot forget your duty to the gods and to humanity."
Ozpin nodded. Sojiro smiled. "The fact that you kept trying is something to be admired." He assured the headmaster. "You may have your flaws, but you are still a good man, Professor."
"Now, do you children understand?" Sojiro turned back to them. "Your rage is understandable...but you cannot hope to progress further if you allow it to rule you. Not only that, but it drives you down a dark path. How long before your rage towards Ozpin turns to rage against the rest of the world? Hatred consumes you because you cannot stand the fact that the people live happily in ignorance while you suffer with the truth. Or worse, how long before your rage turns to apathy, due to your struggles seeming useless?"
"But isn't it useless though?" Blake asked. "Salem can't be killed...wouldn't it be better to just give up and try to live as long as we can. We could live a full life in peace…"
"But you can't bring yourself to do that, right?" Sojiro interrupted.
This made Blake fall silent. "Perhaps you do want to run away, but at the same time, you also know that deep down, you cannot abandon the fight, because that fight was part of why you took on this life." Sojiro noted.
"We signed up to fight monsters! Not some unkillable woman!" Yang yelled.
"Perhaps the job has changed," Sojiro acknowledged, "I certainly do wish that children such as yourself were not pulled into such a life. However, you didn't just sign up to fight monsters. There was something else, deep in your hearts that drew you into the fight."
Those words touched Ruby greatly. He's right...it wasn't just to fight monsters...I became a Huntress because I wanted to make a difference. She remembered.
"Regardless of what it was that drew you into this life." Sojiro told them. "You cannot turn away from that same thing. Because I know people like you. Much like those who give their all in service to my kingdom, you all chose to give your all in service to something dear to you all. Never forget that."
"Also, the minute you back out of that life, you lose the ability to fight for what's in your heart." Sojiro further explained. "And this Salem...I may not understand the kind of being she is now, but if she's truly driven you all to this point while not even being present, then she won't stop until she's reached her own goals, and she'll destroy anything that gets in her way. And I am quite familiar with people like her, they will never stop until they've won.."
"And that means, whatever it is you hold close to you. That thing that drove you to this life. It is in danger just from her existence." Sojiro grimly told them. "There is no going back, not because Professor Ozpin got you all involved in this life...but because she is absolutely determined to reach her goals, by any means necessary. Regardless of whatever decisions you may make, you will be on her path one day, and she will sweep you aside without hesitation."
"So tell me, do you really think getting angry at the professor will solve anything?"
"Or better yet, do you really think you can just give up and back out of this life?" Sojiro concluded. "I think you already know the answer to that."
The children of the bunch could only remain silent. Their anger towards Ozpin was still there, but also shame. Because they knew Sojiro was absolutely right. At that moment, Maria stepped forward. "Not that I don't appreciate the wisdom," she said to Sojiro, "but we really need to get out of here."
"I'm just as shocked by all of these revelations as you are. But we need to find somewhere to stay for the rest of the day." Maria pointed out. "And we need to keep our emotions under control. The fact that the Grimm haven't come yet is a miracle, one we shouldn't take for granted."
Sojiro nodded. "She's right," he turned his attention to Ruby, "Ruby, out of curiosity, did you have a destination for the relic in mind?"
"We were going to deliver the relic to General James Ironwood, of Atlas." Ruby responded.
"A military leader." Sojiro nodded. "Good, I need to discuss matters with him as well, about the people who attacked us."
"Who were they anyway?" Weiss asked. "Did they work for Salem?"
"I will answer your questions if you really want me to." Sojiro promised. "But fair warning, the minute you know of them...I fear you may be involved in my fight as well. But considering their plans for this world...you may already be."
"Wh-what are they planning?" Blake asked curiously.
Sojiro took a deep breath. "What they're planning…" Sojiro trailed off as he suddenly sensed a very malicious presence arrive.
He immediately spun to the source and realized what it was going after. "RUBY, WATCH OUT!" He warned.
Ruby looked at Sojiro in confusion as a young man with peach-colored hair appeared behind her, seemingly out of nowhere, with his hand out as though he were holding some sort of weapon. "Gotcha!" Momoku yelled gleefully.
Ruby looked over her shoulder, pale with fright from the man's presence. "Ruby!" Yang and Weiss yelled.
Qrow and Ozpin almost sprang into action to try and save Ruby. However, someone else made it first. Shogo glared at Momoku as he kicked the man in the stomach, pushing him away from Ruby.
Momoku barely seemed fazed by the kick and instead looked disappointed at the fact his sneak attack on the girl who had the relic failed. "Aww, I was really hoping that would work." He lamented.
Shogo glared at Momoku. "To strike a fair maiden from behind without warning. You are the epitome of evil!" He declared.
Momoku laughed. "I guess I am evil. I mean, we do want to destroy everything in the universe! That does make us evil! Oh well!"
"What is up with this guy?" Yang looked at the new arrival fearfully.
"And I thought Tyrian was insane." Jaune muttered. "I think he might give him a run for his money."
Sojiro narrowed his eyes. Damn it, I thought we would've had more time before another cultist showed up. And what's more, Sojiro noticed Momoku's familiar outfit, he's a much higher ranked fighter than the others. He's a Bishop!
"Shogo, be on your guard! This one's a Bishop! He's much stronger than the ones from the train!" Sojiro warned his subordinate.
"Sounds like a perfect test for a hero of justice such as myself." Shogo smirked.
"Ooh, I like you." Momoku grinned as he reached for something invisible. "I'm gonna have fun killing you."
Momoku then tossed the invisible object forward. Shogo narrowed his eyes and waved his arms about, blocking the invisible projectiles. Ruby watched Shogo's speedy hands in disbelief. Someone as fast as her just could not comprehend how fast Shogo could move.
Then, the snow parted around Shogo as though the objects were landing. Suddenly, the objects became visible, revealing that they were actually throwing knives. "What the...daggers?" Ren gasped. "Where did those even come from?"
"So that's your Art, huh?" Shogo accused.
"Yep, it's called Invisibility." Momoku revealed. "I can make myself and anything I touch invisible. I can't believe you actually managed to block my throwing knives even though you couldn't see them. Been awhile since I met someone like that."
"Oh, by the way," Momoku's face contorted into a look of sadistic glee, "you missed one."
Shogo grimaced as a dagger revealed itself, embedded into his shoulder. "Mr. Shogo!" Ruby yelled in worry.
Momoku laughed. "Well, hey, nine out of ten ain't bad." He taunted.
Sojiro was suddenly in front of Momoku. "Take this!" Sojiro yelled, throwing a punch at Momoku.
Momoku's mouth dropped open in surprise as his other invisible weapon blocked Sojiro's blow. The invisibility-user was pushed back by Sojiro's blow. "Nice try!" He taunted.
Sojiro turned to Shogo. "Are you alright?" He asked.
Shogo quickly removed the knife in his shoulder and tossed it away. "I'm fine, it'll take more than that to kill the Lightbringer!"
Sojiro nodded and turned his attention back to Momoku. "I told you to be on your guard you fool. The Bishop is one of the higher-ranked officers of the Cult. There are only five other ranks higher than Bishop."
"Right, you mentioned as much when you explained these people." Shogo noted.
"We can't afford to waste time fighting him. You're not strong enough yet to fight Bishops, and I'm nowhere near my full strength. We'll have to fight together to subdue this one. And after we're done, we need to retreat to our headquarters."
Momoku frowned slightly. Interesting, the old man appears to know an awful lot about us and our ranking system. I guess he's a lot older than he looks, because the last time we had the numbers to carry out our mission...that was a couple thousand years ago. Just who is this old geezer?
Shogo's eyes widened with glee. "I get to fight by the side of a living legend like Grandmaster Sojiro! This is a dream come true! The hero of old fighting with the hero of...new! It's like the stars themselves wrote this tale!"
"Shogo, focus on the enemy." Sojiro said sternly, wanting to facepalm at the young man's behavior. "If you let your guard down against someone who can turn invisible, he'll…"
"SO COOL!" Shogo and Sojiro looked at Momoku in disbelief. The Bishop now had stars in his eyes.
"So cool! So cool! So cool! I'm actually about to fight the legendary Grandmaster Sojiro! A legendary Watcher!" Momoku could not contain himself. "I can't believe my luck!"
Momoku's face contorted back into that look of sadism from before. "If it's against you, I can really cut loose! Killing you will really make me happy!"
Momoku vanished for a brief moment with Vanishing Walk, only to appear in front of Sojiro in an instant. Before Sojiro could react, Momoku swung the invisible object he was holding. Sojiro's eyes widened as blood spurted from his body, as though he had just been slashed. "Grandmaster!" Shuya and Noriko yelled in concern.
Momoku looked disappointed. "Huh, I caught the grandmaster off guard that easily? Don't tell me he's gotten weaker since the last Crusade of the End. Then again, that punch did seem a bit too weak to be from a living legend."
Then, without looking, Momoku caught a punch from Yang Xiao Long. Yang's eyes widened. You've gotta be kidding me, how strong is this guy?
"Yang get away!" Came Weiss's voice.
Yang was quick to rocket herself away with a blast from Ember Celica. Then, before Momoku could react, he was sent flying by a giant ice sword. Weiss glared at Momoku while her summoned Arma Gigas stood out in front of her with its sword extended outwards. "I don't know who you are and what you want, but if you think I'm going to let you kill my friends, you're sorely mistaken!" Weiss declared.
Momoku seemed more amused than in pain as he continued to fly backwards. "Take this!" Nora fired a grenade from Magnhild's grenade launcher form. The grenade exploded as soon as it neared Momoku.
"What are you children doing?" Sojiro demanded as the former students of Beacon Academy stood in front of him. "You cannot fight this monster!"
"Listen, Mr. Sojiro, I don't know what's going on here, but you helped us out before. So let us help you now." Ruby told him, already having drawn Crescent Rose to fight. "We're gonna return the favor, no matter how many times you tell us not to!"
"Ruby…" Sojiro said softly.
"Oh just shut up. I don't want you to get the wrong idea, old man, I'm super pissed right now. We all are." Yang entered the conversation, glaring at the cloud of smoke where Momoku was with bright red eyes. "I'm pissed at Ozpin for keeping so many damn secrets. I'm pissed at Salem for wanting to kill everyone on Remnant. I'm pissed at whoever these guys are because they keep attacking us. And I'm pissed at you because of everything you said."
"But most of all, I'm pissed at myself because everything you said was right. I didn't sign up to fight monsters. I didn't sign up to fight Salem. I didn't even sign up to have a crap ton of adventures and find my stupid, selfish mom."
"I signed up because my baby sister has always wanted to do this, fight to protect others. And someone needs to keep an eye out on her. That's what's dear in my heart that I want to protect." Yang declared.
"Yang…" Ruby said softly.
"Aww, that's so cute." Momoku taunted. "It's just too bad you're all gonna die now."
The smoke suddenly cleared, revealing that Momoku was nowhere in sight. "Where the hell is that nutcase?" Qrow demanded.
"It's his power!" Ozpin realized. "He turned invisible again as soon as he was under the cover of the smoke."
"That's a smart little boy right there." Momoku's voice giggled. "Oh, wait a minute, you're not just a boy. I can sense two souls inside that body. So neat! I wonder if killing you and using all the negativity in your soul to feed my lord would be doubled if that were the case!"
"Can anyone get a read on his presence?" Sojiro demanded.
"Not a thing." Noriko admitted. "He must be suppressing his Reiki."
"What is he even talking about?" Nora wondered with fright.
"Aww...you're scared," Momoku teased, "but that's okay. When you're dealing with something unfamiliar, of course you're gonna be a little scared. Just like wittle babies who are new to the world."
"Who is your 'lord'?" Ruby demanded. "Aren't you working for Salem?"
"Working for Salem? Nah, I'm actually working with her. See, Ms. Salem wants that relic you're carrying, and Cardinal Higeki wants us to get it for her. We just want to do something nice for our new ally. Try to understand." Momoku revealed.
Sojiro's eyes widened. The Cult has teamed up with Salem? That's not good. And there's a Cardinal here as well? Damn, have they recovered more of their strength than we realized?
"Now then," Momoku suddenly appeared in between the Beacon students prepared to strike down Ruby, "I'll be taking that relic if you don't mind."
"Watch out!" Sojiro yelled.
"NO!" Ozpin yelled, firing a burst of pure magic energy at Momoku.
Momoku let out a yelp as he was struck by the magic and pushed away by Ozpin. "Bastard!" Yang yelled, furious at him for trying to strike her baby sister again.
"You'll pay!" Weiss and Blake added as WBY attempted to strike Momoku simultaneously.
Momoku recovered and laughed as he leapt over their attacks and gracefully landed like an acrobat. "Whoa now, looks like Mr. Two-Souls is actually pretty strong too...but your power is also a lot weaker than it should be, just like Grandmaster Sojiro's."
Momoku pouted. "Man, talk about a buzz-kill, here I was, super stoked to fight a living legend, and he's declined big time. I almost want to cry because of how bad my luck his."
Ruby turned her attention to Ozpin. "Professor, I…" Ruby began.
"Don't say anything, all of you." Ozpin said lowly. "I have a lot I'd like to say to you right now. But let's save it for when we get away from this monster."
Ozpin glared at Momoku. "Right now, I really don't care about Salem. Right now, what matters to me is that I almost gave into my own despair. But seeing a man like Grandmaster Sojiro...well, I can't afford to fall behind and I certainly can't despair. Right now, what matters most is that I do my duty as headmaster, and protect my students!"
"You almost gave into despair, huh?" Momoku was surprised before smiling. "Well that's no good, almost isn't good enough. I guess I'll just have to really make you give up hope."
Before Momoku could resume his assault on the group, a new voice spoke up. "Zero Air."
At that moment, all of Momoku's enemies started gasping for air. "Wh-what is this?" Blake wondered fearfully. "Why is it suddenly so hard to breath?"
"Air...air…" Nora choked out.
Momoku pouted. "Aww," he said, "why'd you have to go and ruin my fun, Uba?"
Bishop Ubawa sighed as he joined Momoku's side. "We are here to take the relic, Momoku, not play with our food." He claimed. "It is far more thorough if we simply suffocated them and took the relic off the girl's corpse."
"Poo," Momoku stuck his tongue out, "no fun, no fun, no fun."
Sojiro gritted his teeth. Damn, another Bishop...and this one seems to be manipulating the atmosphere around us. He stole the oxygen in the area.
"Nice moves, Ubawa." Kinjo suddenly leapt into view and joined his fellow Bishops, grinning with glee. "You got 'em all in one shot."
A third Bishop now! Sojiro was visibly concerned at the sight of Kinjo's arrival. Damn it, the situation just got even worse!
"Kin, you're on my side, right?" Momoku whined. "Tell Uba to let up so we can kill 'em properly!"
Kinjo sighed. "Sorry, Momo, but Ubawa's right. Cardinal Higeki's not gonna be happy if we're screwing around and they somehow get away. Honestly, I'm surprised they're still alive. I thought you'd have killed them by the time we got here."
"Well, I thought so too; but guess what, there's actually some strong guys here that got in my way. Check it out, some Watchers are here in Remnant. And one of 'em is Grandmaster Sojiro."
This caught Kinjo's interest. He gazed at the old man in front of him and laugh. "Whoa!" Kinjo grinned. "No way, that's awesome. The legendary Grandmaster of the Menou Army all the way out here."
"Oh wait," Kinjo chuckled, "you can't respond. You can't breath."
Suddenly, Nora collapsed as she was suddenly pumped full of electricity, courtesy of Weiss Schnee and Myrtenaster. "Okay, what the hell is that all about?" Kinjo looked at Nora and Weiss in confusion.
Then, much to Kinjo's further confusion, Jaune placed his hands on Nora. Both Jaune and Nora lit up in a gold aura, courtesy of Jaune. "What is happening, Kinjo, I sense something very different." Ubawa pointed out.
"I don't know, Ubawa, the brats are doing something weird." Kinjo shrugged.
"It looks pretty cool if you ask me." Momoku grinned.
Nora then glared at them all. While she could not let out any sort of roar, her mouth opened as she produced a tremendous amount of electrical energy, aided by Jaune's Aura Amplification Semblance.
"Oh crap…" Kinjo muttered as the trio of Bishops were struck by electricity.
Suddenly the group found themselves able to breath again. "That was too close." Weiss muttered. "Good plan, Jaune."
"No kidding, good call, Jauney." Nora grinned.
"Yeah, I'm just glad you knew what to do as soon as I started amplifying your Aura." Jaune panted, trying to catching his breath.
"Very impressive, Sir Jaune." Shogo complimented. "That power of yours is quite useful."
Ruby then noticed something off. It was like...she was suddenly sensing three life forces inside of the smoke. "W-wait...it's too early to celebrate!" She declared. "I think...they're still alive in there!"
"She's right," Sojiro nodded, "everyone be on your guard. It's probably best we separate, so that one who can manipulate the atmosphere doesn't catch us in that technique of his again."
Impressive, Sojiro thought to himself, she's only been fighting Watchers a day and her senses have already developed to the point where she can actually sense their energy. Ruby's growth rate is quite impressive. I'll have to tell her of this new power so that she doesn't worry there's something wrong with her.
The smoke settled and it was revealed that all three Bishops were indeed still alive. Ubawa had erected some sort of barrier. "Aerial Sphere." Ubawa revealed the name of his barrier. "That was a bit too close."
"No kidding, an attack amplified to that point...it might've actually scratched us a little. This world is so weak, too, compared to the ones that those Acts are from. We'd have never heard the end of it if we actually got hurt a little." Kinjo noted, sweating a bit from that last attack. "Thanks Ubawa, guess we let our guard down."
"Cool…" Momoku just grinned.
Ubawa frowned. "I keep reminding you fools to take this seriously. The least you can do is listen for a change." He told them. "Need I remind you that we have superiors counting on us?"
"Yeah, yeah, I know." Kinjo sighed.
Kinjo then laughed in amusement as the barrier came down. He stepped forward, hefting his Zanbato over his back, pointing it threateningly at the group. "Still, I can't get over how full of surprises these other worlds are." He admitted. "I think I'm now starting to realize how Deacon Fuma and his squad lost to you people. You guys are crafty."
Kinjo surveyed them with his superior sensory abilities. "Yeah, I can tell...you guys aren't much right now...most of you aren't anyway, but give it time...and you could actually be...something of a nuisance in the future."
Kinjo then noticed Ruby for the first time. "Wait a minute…" he trailed off.
Kinjo saw the color of Ruby's eyes and his eyes widened with glee. "Silver eyes!" He exclaimed. "Well I'll be damned, you must be little Ruby Rose!"
Sojiro narrowed his eyes. Why are her eyes so important? It appears there are more things about this world I don't yet understand.
Maria gazed at Ruby in disbelief. Her eyes are silver? Damn, I couldn't tell because of my defective eyes!
Ruby narrowed her eyes in anger. "So, Salem told you guys about me?" She demanded.
"Hey, hey, hey, what's with that look, kiddo?" Kinjo taunted. "This is your lucky day. You get a stay of execution, because Ms. Salem wants you brought to her alive. Apparently, you've been a bit of a thorn in her side. Not a big one...but she's not really happy about what you did to her...Fall Maiden, apparently."
"Take it up with someone who cares!" Ruby spat. "I'm not going to forgive her, or her people for what they've done!"
"Ooh, now that's a good look. I love it. Man, you've definitely got some bad blood with Ms. Salem. I wonder why that is." Kinjo grinned. "Well, Ms. Salem did say she wanted you brought to her alive...but I don't think she'll mind if I bring you twisted, mangled and broken."
"That's not going to happen!" Yang yelled.
"Shut up, Future Corpse." Kinjo brushed her off. "The living are talking. So what do you say, Ruby? I'm sure you'd love to meet your archenemy."
"Not yet," Ruby growled, "I'm staying right here with my friends."
Kinjo chuckled. "Good," he said eagerly, "that's going to make this a hell of a lot more fun. I really shouldn't be messing around...but frankly breaking wide-eyed folks like you is a damn hobby for me!"
Kinjo leapt towards Ruby, covering the distance between them in a split second. "Get away from my niece you jackass!" Qrow yelled, blocking Kinjo's zanbato with the sword version of Harbinger. Both hands on the hilt of his weapon.
"Hmm, and I recognize you too, Ms. Salem also mentioned you." Kinjo noted, casually pushing back against Qrow with one hand on his zanbato. "The name's Qrow Branwen, right?"
Qrow growled. "And what does it matter if it is?"
"Well, out of everyone here, we were told we could take initiative and kill you." Kinjo pointed out. "But first, a little torment as I weigh you down with despair!"
Kinjo tapped Qrow's shoulder with his free hand. Qrow's eyes widened as his body suddenly felt heavier. The veteran Huntsmen dropped to his knees, his body no longer able to support his own weight. "What...what is this?" He demanded.
"That would be my Art: Weight." Kinjo grinned cockily. "I can increase and decrease the weight of anything I touch. I just made you too heavy for your own limbs to support."
"Uncle Qrow!" Ruby quickly trained Crescent Roses rifle attachment on Kinjo and fired.
Kinjo casually blocked the bullets with the flat end of his blade. "Gonna have to do better than that." He taunted.
"Hyah!" Nora swung Magnhild at Kinjo, only for him to catch the hammer.
Nora let out a shriek as she found herself no longer able to lift her hammer. "Hang on, Nora!" Ren yelled in concern, firing bullets from Stormflower at Kinjo.
Kinjo sighed and raised his arm, letting the bullets bounce off of his body. He then noticed the Arma Gigas coming towards him and leapt away before the giant could try and crush him with his blade.
"Spread out but stay close to each other!" Ruby yelled. "We can't get separated. They'll just pick us off more easily that way."
Ruby then remembered that Qrow was immobilized. Ozpin noticed what Ruby was thinking and immediately stepped in front of Qrow protectively. "Don't worry, I'll keep him safe." He assured her.
Ruby nodded. This was not the time to distrust Ozpin. Not when everyone's lives were on the line. "Oz," Qrow muttered, "my Semblance...it'll…"
"Qrow, I know you're worried about bad luck, but with all due respect, the fact that these three are even here is probably the worst luck possible." Ozpin pointed out.
"...Fair enough."
Ubawa listened as his opponents began to spread out. "Impressive...now I can't trap them in Zero Air, or we'd get caught in the attack." He noted. "These humans are craftier than we gave them credit for."
"Which means we need to get rid of 'em all the old fashioned way." Kinjo pointed out.
"Kinjo, don't kill Ruby Rose." Ubawa reminded him. "Lady Salem…"
"I know, I know." Kinjo grinned. "Again, that doesn't mean we can't rough her up a little."
Kinjo charged into the fray first, going after Ruby and Weiss first. "I'm coming for you!" He yelled, raising his Zanbato over his head.
"Ruby, get behind me!" Weiss ordered, creating a defensive glyph with her Semblance.
However, much to the horror of the ex-Schnee Heiress, Kinjo shattered the glyph with a single swing. Ruby and Weiss were forced to back away as Weiss created more glyphs to defend themselves from Kinjo. Kinjo just laughed and broke each glyph with his frighteningly high physical strength and zanbato.
Ruby gritted her teeth and drew Crescent Rose. She quickly shot Kinjo point blank. "Direct hit!" Ruby declared as Kinjo's head whipped back from the force of the shot.
Then, Weiss and Ruby watched in horror as a small object fell from Kinjo's head to the snow. It was the bullet. It had caved in from the impact. "No way…" Weiss muttered.
Kinjo leaned forward and gave the two girls a cocky grin. "Nice try, girls. Still too weak though." He taunted them.
"What is this guy? Who just shrugs off a bullet to the head?" Weiss thought in fear as the two Huntresses leapt away from Kinjo.
"Aww, don't run!" Kinjo yelled. "The fun's just getting started!"
"Who said anything about running?" Weiss yelled angrily. "Now leave us alone!"
Weiss created another glyph, this time summoning a Queen Lancer that flew towards Kinjo. "Oh no, not the bees!" Kinjo said sarcastically.
"Is it just a requirement for these people to be insane?" Weiss wondered as the Queen Lancer trained its stinger on Kinjo.
The Bishop heaved a sigh. "Come on, do you really think I'm going to be scared of sword fighting a damn insect? Don't make me laugh!"
Kinjo swung his Zanbato and shattered the stinger with ease. "You stupid brats have no idea how large the universe really is! And you're never going to learn it, because by the time this is over, one of you is going to be dead, and the other Ms. Salem's captive."
Kinjo then bifurcated the the Queen Lancer summon with ease. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me." Weiss muttered in fear.
Kinjo then grinned wildly before preparing to leap at the two girls once more. However, Shogo suddenly leapt in, kicking at Kinjo. Kinjo quickly blocked with his zanbato but was pushed back from the force of the blow. "Are you two alright?" He asked.
"Ruby, Weiss!" Yang called out in concern as her and Blake joined their two teammates.
As Kinjo recovered from the force of the kick, Shogo looked over at Nora and Ren, who were being overwhelmed by Momoku. "Can you four hold that guy back for awhile, I think your friends need help." Shogo said.
"We'll take care of this guy." Blake promised.
"Fight on, brave warrior maidens." Shogo grinned before rocketing away.
Team RWBY watched as Shogo sped over to Momoku and tried to kick him in the head, only for Momoku to duck with ease. "Nice try!" Momoku said with glee as he swung at Shogo with his invisible weapon.
"Okay, I guess we'll just have to hold back this guy until Shogo manages to take the heat off Nora and Ren." Blake noted as Kinjo casually strode towards them, swinging his zanbato about without care.
"Do you have a plan, Ruby?" Weiss asked.
"I...think I do." Ruby admitted. "But I'm not sure, this guy...I think he might be stronger than Cinder. I don't know how to plan for this guy."
"Well hey," Kinjo heard that, "maybe you can come up with a plan? Just don't give up. Fight on! You've got a reason to hope, don't you?"
"After all, I love watching hope crumble. Nothing better than watching hope crushed by the weight of despair." Kinjo taunted.
"One of your people said that you wanted to kill people just because you wanted to, is it really that simple for you?" Ruby demanded.
Kinjo shrugged. "Some people have complex reasons, some people have simple reasons, some people have no reason. It really doesn't matter. The fact is, we just want to make the universe burn. Whatever reason we have...we're all united by this desire."
"You know," Ruby growled, "I can sympathize with Salem at least. Her life was a tragedy...but the fact that you people want to do it just because...I can't sympathize with that, nor can I understand it!"
Kinjo shrugged. "No need to overcomplicate things, Ruby." He told her. "Think of it this way, regardless of our motivations, or lack thereof, at the end of the day, we're enemies."
"Now that, I can agree with." Ruby admitted. "Team RWBY, we're taking this guy down. Don't let him touch you or your weapons."
Team RWBY trained their weapons on Kinjo, who just laughed. "Such feisty little children." He mused. "I'm going to enjoy this so much, it should be illegal. Well, it kinda is."
While Kinjo clashed with Team RWBY and Momoku continued to assault Nora, Ren and Shogo, Ubawa stared down Ozpin, Sojiro and the downed Qrow. "Are you good to fight, Professor Ozpin? Your Aura seems to be declining." Sojiro noted.
"I could ask the same of you." Ozpin admitted. "My sensory abilities aren't what they used to be, but thanks to my magic, I can at least get an idea of what your energy is like. And your power is declining too."
"Well, when you get to my age, that's just unavoidable." Sojiro admitted. "But, I am confident if we combine our power, we have a chance at beating this man."
Ubawa seemed interested in his two opponents. "Professor Ozpin and Grandmaster Sojiro...very interesting...very interesting. Professor Ozpin, Lady Salem was under the impression that you are dead...and would remain such for awhile."
"Rumors of me staying dead for 'awhile' were greatly exaggerated." Said Ozpin.
"So it would seem...the air tells me that you are inhabiting the body of a child now. How very interesting." Ubawa mused.
"Indeed, and I owe him an apology, just as I owe so many others." Ozpin admitted before turning to Sojiro. "Grandmaster, before we face this man, allow me to say one thing."
"Thank you," Ozpin gave Sojiro a small smile, "I was truly about to fall into despair and hide from their righteous anger like a coward. But...your words inspired me to try again. I think it was what we all needed to hear at that moment."
"I'm a teacher, Professor, much like you." Sojiro said to him. "I consider anyone I see who needs guidance my student. This world may be foreign to me, and you all may be strangers. But after the things we've already been through together, as far as I'm concerned, that makes you both friends and students."
"Well, I definitely appreciated it." Ozpin admitted. "And when this is over...I'm going to properly apologize to my students. They deserve it after all of my failures. And then...I'm going to do everything I can to find a new plan to defeat Salem."
"It appears you've recovered your fighting spirit, please combine it with mine." Sojiro requested.
"Gladly," Ozpin nodded as a visible aura of green energy appeared around him.
"Reinforcement!" Sojiro yelled.
This won't be enough to do any lasting damage to this man, but if I combine my strength with Ozpin's, we can at least push him back. And if the others can just push back everyone else, then Noriko and Shuya can open our path into the Void. Then we can escape and come up with a new plan.
"Out of respect for your statuses, I have given you time to think and converse." Ubawa claimed. "Furthermore, I shall allow you the opportunity to pray. Unless you wish to fight now?"
"I think we will fight!" Ozpin and Sojiro said in unison as the two rushed Ubawa.
Ubawa nodded. "Very well then," he said as he condensed the air in front of him into a single sphere, "then fall to that which gives life. Aerial Detonation!"
The sphere then expanded into a massive explosion that blew the snow off the ground, kicking up a small snow tornado. Ozpin quickly erected a barrier while Sojiro simply tanked the blast with ease. "Such strength!" Ozpin was surprised.
"This is the might of a Bishop." Sojiro claimed. "They are among the six most elite ranks of the organization he is a part of."
"And just what organization is that?" Ozpin asked.
"As I'm sure you've figured out by now, not one from Remnant." Sojiro responded. "Once we escape, I promise, I will tell you all about it! All of you!"
"Escape, you fools. You're not going anywhere." Ubawa calmly claimed, holding his hand out like he was about to karate chop the air in front of him. "Aerial Slicer!"
Ozpin moved in front of Sojiro and swung his cane about, blocking the air blades that were being fired towards them as Ubawa swung his hand about. "This Art reminds me of that Deacon from the train." Sojiro noted.
"I did teach Fuma for awhile. His wind art was similar to my air art." Ubawa admitted.
"Tell me, is he dead?" Ubawa calmly inquired.
"I think you know the answer to that." Sojiro growled. "I executed them while they were unconscious. I wasn't going to let them kill themselves. Putting them out of their misery was a kindness. One they did not deserve, considering the amount of people they probably have already killed in your brand new crusade.."
"How he died doesn't matter. His misery as a failure will feed our god." Ubawa claimed.
"By the gods, he'd brush off the death of one of his own like that?" Ozpin was shocked.
"You'll get used to men like this." Sojiro responded. "Trust me, people like him are quite common across the universe."
"Love is a weakness." Ubawa claimed. "Friendship, happiness, it's all a crutch. Those emotions are no nourishment to our god. As such, I have no need for them either."
Ubawa then stopped swinging and pointed his index finger at Ozpin. "Aerial Point."
There was a brief whistling sound before Ozpin found the very air itself piercing through his shoulder. "Gah!" Ozpin yelled in pain.
"Are you alright?" Sojiro stepped in front of Ozpin protectively.
"I'm fine, it's just a flesh wound." Ozpin claimed. "Still, Oscar, I'm sorry your body had to get hurt like this."
Don't worry about it, just try to keep us both alive! Oscar frantically told him.
"Kinjo views despair as that which crushes hope. Momoku views despair as something that should not be seen coming. It's arrival without warning is what drives people into grief. To me...despair is gasping for your life as pain and agony wrack your body. Despair is that...and there is no way to escape it." Ubawa revealed as multiple small spheres of air solidified around him.
"I see a few thousand years of almost being wiped out hasn't caused your faith to reexamine any of its tenets." Sojiro sarcastically noted. "Still obsessed with despair. And what are the others again? Death, destruction and denial, right?"
"That is correct. I'd expect nothing less from one of the veterans from our last crusade." Ubawa noted. "All four tenets feed the universe with negative energy...paving the way for our Lord's return."
"Now die, Aerial Shower!"
Ozpin and Sojiro were forced on the defensive as the small spheres of solid air were launched towards them. Ozpin swung his cane about, destroying as many spheres as he could while Sojiro karate-chopped them all into oblivion. However, a few spheres managed to get through their defenses and strike them in multiple non-vital areas.
Ubawa let a small smirk grace his lips. "You've both avoided mortal damage...but I wonder how long you can hold out."
Sojiro grit his teeth. "Professor Ozpin," he addressed the man next to him as a new plan came to mind.
"Come now, Grandmaster." Ozpin smiled slightly. "After all this...I feel like you can just call me Ozpin if you wish."
Sojiro smiled back. "Only if you stop referring to me as 'Grandmaster', since technically we're both around the same age." He joked before adding seriously. "I need you to gather as much magic in your free hand and hold it near me."
Ozpin did as asked, but was very confused. He gazed at the green orb of magic. "What exactly are you planning, Sojiro?" He inquired.
"If two warriors have their energies on the same wavelength," Sojiro explained, "they can combine their power into an even greater technique. This is obviously known as a Combined Attack. I'm not entirely certain I could do this with your students and Qrow yet, due to my uncertainties of how Aura works."
"However, with you," Sojiro continued as he began to fuse visible Reiki with Ozpin's magic, "I can combine my Reiki into an even greater attack."
Ubawa narrowed his sightless eyes, sensing the sudden spike in power. "What?" He said flatly.
"Apologies, Bishop," Sojiro said sarcastically, "but we have no intent to break just yet!"
Sojiro charged forward with an emerald-colored orb in the palm of his hand. A look of worry crossed over Ubawa's face. "This is not good." He muttered, holding his palm out. "Aerial Cannon!"
"Combined Attack: Emerald Star!" Sojiro countered, thrusting the emerald orb forward as it suddenly expanded and then fired like a rocket's engine.
Ubawa's sightless eyes widened as the Emerald Star pushed through his Aerial Cannon before being enveloped in an explosion of energy that made everyone stop in their tracks. "Whoa…" Ruby muttered, gazing at the destruction.
Jaune was gazing at the results while hanging back from the fight. The snow that had been in the Emerald Star's path had melted away almost instantly...along with the trees. "As expected of our Grandmaster." Noriko muttered while Shuya hid behind her. "He managed to get his power on the same wavelength as Professor Ozpin's for a Combined Attack."
"I've seen quite a bit in my time...but you people are unlike anything I've seen before." Maria admitted.
Noriko chuckled sheepishly. "That's the thing though, we're not exactly what you call the A-listers of our kingdom. I mean, the Grandmaster was once...but, well, that was a long time ago."
Maria wanted to be stunned at that revelation, only to turn her attention to Jaune, as she had her own plan. "You, boy," she said, "listen to me, I need you to bring me over to that girl, Ruby."
"What?" Jaune looked at Maria in disbelief. "How am I supposed to keep you three safe if you're trying to drag yourselves into the fight?"
"Hey, don't lump us in with the old lady!" Shuya freaked at that statement, much to Noriko's annoyance. "Believe me, I'd rather just stay right here."
"Listen, young man," Maria said, "that girl has powers that could very well be the key to getting us out of here alive. I don't know if they'll actually work, but I have to try at least."
"A-alright," Jaune honestly still did not understand what was going on, but he was willing to try if Maria was.
He was the strategist. Another reason he was hanging back was to try and come up with a plan to beat these guys. And he just could not figure it out. All three were just too strong for him to actually have a full-proof plan for. Strategizing for Grimm was one thing...this was quite another. These people were monsters. So if Maria had a plan, you better believe he was going to listen.
Meanwhile, Kinjo seemed distracted, as he frantically looked for Ubawa among the smoke. "Where's Ubawa?" He demanded.
"Oh no!" Momoku seemed genuinely freaked at the thought of Ubawa being injured.
Kinjo was then pushed back by a summoned Boarbatusk. "Why you…" he growled, furious at being taken advantage of while he had been distracted. He grappled with the summon, trying to crush it with his bare hand.
Blake then leapt above the Boarbatusk and at Kinjo. "A little too obvious, kitty cat!" Kinjo yelled, impaling Blake on his zanbato.
"Blake" then gave Kinjo a triumphant smirk and exploded, destroying the summon and making Kinjo stumble back from the force. "Damn it!" He cursed in frustration.
A red and yellow meteor then came out of the smoke. The meteor then split into two as Yang Xiao Long revealed herself, glaring at Kinjo. Caught off guard by the explosion, Kinjo was left wide open as Yang punched him with the full force of her strength and the added momentum, emptying a shotgun shell into the man as well for added damage.
Kinjo was once again pushed back. He then looked up to see a red meteor form into Ruby Rose, who was glaring down at him. "Team RWBY's full-force team smash attack." She revealed, firing Crescent Rose behind her to increase her momentum as she spun down towards Kinjo.
Letting out a powerful yell, Ruby swung Crescent Rose with another force to generate a red razor wind that tore towards Kinjo. "Yeah right!" Kinjo yelled, preparing to swing his zanbato horizontally to block the razor wind.
However, Kinjo suddenly found his sword arm slowing down. "What?" He looked off to the side to see that his zanbato was caught in a glyph that was slowing his sword down.
"Ice dust combined with normal glyphs." Weiss Schnee revealed herself, smirking triumphantly. "Normally, when I use lightning dust, I get a time dilation field. Put these two together, and you've got…"
"A glyph that slows down time?" Kinjo was stunned by the sight as he was struck in the chest by the razor winds from Crescent Rose.
As this happened, Shogo took advantage of Momoku's own distracted state and kicked him into the air. "A hero such as myself needs to take inspiration from other great heroes." Shogo noted. "So, here we go!"
Shogo rocketed into the air with his speedy Art, kicking Momoku multiple times. "Brilliantly Shining Meteor Barrage!" He yelled before flipping above the invisibility user and kicking him in the face, sending him crashing downwards.
"Alright!" Nora cheered for Shogo's actions while Ren simply breathed a sigh of relief.
Shogo landed gracefully. "So, what did you think of the finishing move of a hero?" Shogo grinned.
"It was awesome!" Nora cheered. "You were all like: 'Brilliantly Shining Meteor Barrage'! And he was like 'AGH!' Does naming your attacks make them stronger or something?"
"Do you...not name your special techniques?" Shogo gazed at Nora and Ren in surprise.
"Not...really." Ren admitted.
"Techniques? Without names?" Shogo seemed scandalized by the very thought of it. Scandalized, I tell you!
Sojiro looked over his shoulder and smiled with relief. "Alone, they stand no chance, but as a team, they're actually holding their own quite well." He noted.
"They are amazing." Ozpin smiled before noticing that Sojiro was bleeding from the mouth. "Sojiro…"
"It's fine...just something I have to live with. Like I've been saying...I've really gotten old over these past few years." Sojiro brushed the matter off.
But enough of that. This might be our chance at escaping while our enemies are stunned. Sojiro noted inwardly.
"Noriko, Shuya!" Sojiro called out to the two Travelers before a blast of air suddenly blew away the smoke from the Emerald Star attack. His eyes widened in disbelief. "No…"
Ubawa was standing in the dead center of where the cloud of smoke had been. His arm was somewhat mangled from the blast, but other than that, he was still alive and well. "How loathsome...to think the Bishop Triad of Despair could be taken off guard like this."
Kinjo, who had briefly been forced to his knees by Team RWBY's combined attack, rolled his eyes in frustration as he got to his feet. Blood dripped from the small slash wound from Ruby's last attack. "No kidding. I hate to admit it, but we really underestimated these brats...that just pisses me off." He admitted before smirking. "But hey, not bad, Ruby, you get points for trying."
"Oh you've got to be kidding!" Yang could not believe what she was seeing as Team RWBY formed up.
"We hit him as hard as we could and he's just walking it off like it's nothing?" Blake was now visibly frightened by Kinjo.
"You poor, miserable kids." Kinjo grinned. "You have no idea what power really is. Here, let me give you a thought to stew over. My boss, the Cardinal in charge of our Triad? He's ten times stronger than all three of us!"
Ruby went pale with fright. There was someone who was that much stronger than Kinjo? But Kinjo himself was a monster!
Meanwhile, Momoku rose to his feet, much to the surprise and concern of Shogo, Nora and Ren. "Did I not give my technique a strong enough name?" Shogo wondered.
"Nah, it was just a little too predictable." Momoku grinned. "Still, not bad. You could actually be our strongest Deacon with that level of power. But, too bad for you, now we're serious."
"Sorry about that Ubawa," Kinjo apologized, "you're at least fighting Ozpin and the Grandmaster, we don't exactly have a good excuse for what just happened. I'm honestly not too proud of how this has played out."
"It's fine...just kill them and get the relic." Ubawa told them.
Kinjo smirked as he hefted his zanbato over his shoulder. "You heard the man, Momoku, let's end this."
"Time for my favorite part of the game." Momoku giggled giddily as he pointed his invisible weapon at Nora, Ren and Shogo. "Sudden death."
With that, Ubawa, Momoku and Kinjo were all enveloped in auras of visible Reiki as they exerted every ounce of their power. The people of Remnant all froze in disbelief at the power they were letting out.
Oh God, they were holding back all along. Weiss thought to herself.
"I'm coming for you!" Kinjo yelled.
"Time to die!" Momoku added.
In a split second, Kinjo and Momoku were right in front of their respective groups of opponents, ready to deal the killing blow. Maria and Jaune could only watch in horror, thinking they would not make it to Ruby in time. Not again! Jaune thought in fear and grief.
"That's enough you three." An authoritative voice spoke up.
Kinjo, Momoku and Ubawa all froze in place because of that simple order. Whoever said that...they clearly were loyal enough to listen him.
Everyone turned to the source of the voice and watched as a thuggish, rough yet regal looking, dark-haired man, dressed in black robes reminiscent of a high-ranking holy man in a church, casually strode into view.
"I assigned you three to take the Relic of Knowledge when it became clear that one of our Acolyte Squads had failed to do so." The man noted. "Why have I not received that relic yet?"
"My apologies, sir." Ubawa dropped to one knee in reverence. "We were...caught off guard by the resourcefulness of our opponents."
"You three are Bishops." The man pointed out. "That is no excuse."
"...I understand, Cardinal."
Ruby's eyes widened at that single word as she stared at the regal-looking thug. She felt sweat roll down her face just from looking at him. The man then trained his gaze on her and Ruby almost felt her limbs turn to jelly.
What is this? Ruby wondered. This insane pressure I'm feeling just from his presence? It's like I'm being crushed by the weight of the ocean. Is this his power? His intent to kill?
Oh God...this power is on a completely different level!
Sojiro was also frightened, but for very different reasons. Damn it, of all times, one of these people has to show up now?
"All three of you, come here." Cardinal Higeki ordered.
In a split second, all three Bishops had returned to the Cardinal's side. Everyone else was frozen in place, too frightened of this man's mere presence. Higeki heaved a sigh. "I'm not even angry at your failure to retrieve the relic on your own. What irritates me...is that you three have gone about this mission completely the wrong way."
At that moment, a small tornado of sand appeared in the palm of Higeki's hand. Sojiro's eyes widened. "Ozpin!" He shouted.
Ozpin immediately understood what he must do and sped towards the four defenseless members of the group. Sojiro, meanwhile, ran towards the closest person he could protect. "Now, Sandstorm!" Higeki commanded.
Elsewhere, the engineer of the Argus Limited, who had taken over driving the train after the conductor's death, noticed something odd from his side mirror. He took a closer look at it, and much to his shock, he saw what appeared to be a sandstorm in the distance.
"Wh-what the hell is that?" He wondered. "That shouldn't be possible."
As the sandstorm began to die down, the carnage was revealed. Snow had been replaced by sand. Trees had been uprooted and tossed about. Even parts of the nearby mountain had been completely destroyed. Bumblebee had been utterly wrecked. That single attack created a miniature desert in the snowy forest.
Nora Valkyrie and Lie Ren were lying close together, both bleeding and unconscious from the attack. Shogo was barely conscious, trying to force himself to his feet. Ozpin had erected a barrier in front of Jaune Arc, Maria Calavera, Noriko and Shuya to try and protect them. However, the attack had blown through and forced the protected off their feet...and had heavily injured Ozpin. Jaune looked at his former headmaster in disbelief. He had said all those things...even tried to kill the man, and Ozpin still protected him without hesitation.
And finally, Team RWBY was strewn about, conscious, but immobile from pain and fear. Yang Xiao Long's eyes were wide and was hyperventilating as she laid on her stomach. Blake Belladonna was in tears from fear and pain as she clutched her injured arm. Weiss Schnee looked like she was about to vomit as she tried to stop the bleeding in her side.
And Ruby Rose was being held onto by Sojiro, who had taken the brunt of the attack to protect her. She was now staring at Higeki with utter fright.
"What is hope?" Higeki began. "To me, hope is the belief that no matter how bleak things may seem, it will all work out in the end."
There was no time to fight. No time to run and escape.
"With that in mind, what is despair?" Higeki continued. "Is it merely the opposite of hope? The idea that things won't work out, no matter how much you want it to?"
When Ruby looked out at the area now, she saw no battlefield, only a graveyard in the making.
"No, that is not despair." Higeki revealed. "How can someone possibly despair when they were allowed to believe there was a chance in the first place? When someone is allowed to hope...they cannot possibly despair because they can return to that feeling of hope and press on."
The Grim Reaper himself was standing tall now. The shadow of death was looming over the fallen.
"But what if you were to take away that hope? To make it clear that there is none to begin with?" Higeki questioned.
Ruby then found herself remembering something Kinjo had said earlier.
"To truly drive someone to despair, you must not allow them to have hope in the first place. You must make it clear that nothing will turn out well, no matter how hard they try." Higeki revealed. "That means, you cannot hold back. You must crush your enemies instantly. No playing, no honor, just death."
"My boss, the Cardinal in charge of our Triad? He's ten times stronger than all three of us!" Kinjo had said.
"True despair is not the opposite of hope. It is the very denial of hope." Higeki concluded.
It's not true...it can't be true. Ruby thought in fear, wanting to bury herself in Sojiro's protective embrace like a frightened child. Don't tell me...this is a Cardinal's power?
"So tell me," Higeki addressed those he had just destroyed in the span of a second, "do any of you have any hope left in your hearts?"
This is Cardinal Higeki.
And this is despair.
A.N: Holy shit. Cardinal Higeki. My take on the "No-Nonsense Nemesis" antagonist. Seriously, this dude marches right into the field and just one-shots almost everyone because he doesn't want to give anyone any chance at hope. The message is clear, don't screw with a Cardinal, or the Bishop Triad under his command for that matter. I'd like to point out, there are three other Cardinals in this group, and three other Triads that serve directly under them. Yeah, these guys are not folks you want to mess with.