Sorry for the wait guys! I barely had any time to work on this chapter between being swamped with work and Fathers Day, thankfully I was able to use some time today to stamp out the last of this chapter and a good portion of the next one. Once I have it refined a bit I will publish it, I would expect the next chapter within the next few days. To anyone still wondering (Even though I answered this particular question already in a previous chapter) I will be ending this story in the next few chapters, I wouldn't expect anymore than three or four more chapters at this point. Thank you all for your continued support and patience, hope you all like it!
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Speech
Thoughts
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Remnant
Ironwood's personal airship arrived in Vacuo over the city with the rest of the Atlesian transports close behind.
"Welcome to Vacuo!" Sun yelled gesturing to the vast desert wasteland surrounding the city.
"Not the most welcoming sight I've ever seen before" Raven shrugged at his glare.
"Yeah? Well no one asked you!" he called back.
"Ignore her" Blake pulled on his arm.
"Looks like Slade's plan came through after all" Roman pointed out gesturing to the parked airships surrounding the city.
"Those ships are from Mistral, and Vale!" Ruby shouted excitedly "People actually came!"
"Did you think they wouldn't?" Weiss asked.
"I'll be honest, I was skeptical" Yang answered.
"We need to get straight to business, we have less than two hours until dawn" Ironwood reminded the group.
"Then let's get right too it. James, I want you to start organizing the local militia with the ground troops. Qrow and Glynda, you'll both be handling the Huntsmen and Huntresses from the kingdoms. Slade, take Sun, Nora, and Pyrrha with you to Shade Academy and secure the relic before the attack starts. The rest of you fall in with Qrow, I will be assisting James" Ozpin ordered pointing between everyone.
"Yes, sir!" most of them replied immediately.
"Be careful" Ruby warned kissing Slade on the cheek "You better stay safe during the fight"
"Don't get captured this time" Slade smirked turning away from her, following Sun, Pyrrha and Nora toward the academy.
"That happened one time!" she protested as he grabbed them by the shoulders vanishing from the airship, appearing atop a nearby rooftop.
"We need to be quick, I've called Neptune to meet us at the entrance. He'll take us right to the headmaster so we can grab the relic" Sun explained.
"Good, Salem's not going to wait around forever before she attacks" Slade noted aloud.
"We'll be ready for her!" Nora said enthusiastically.
"You certainly will be" Sun laughed.
"There's no doubt about that" Pyrrha agreed chuckling.
"Let's get a move on" Slade ordered leading them toward the school overlooking the city from a nearby cliff.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah" Sun waved off.
They silently climbed the path to the top of the cliff finding several armed soldiers guarding the entrance, one of them stood on a higher level above the others overlooking the courtyard.
"Think they're ready for something like this?" Nora asked uncharacteristically serious.
"No one is truly ready for this, we can only do our best" Slade answered sighing.
"Hey! Guys!" Neptune's voice called from the doorway "Over here!" he waved as they approached.
"Neptune!" Sun called excitedly grabbing him into a hug "How've you been!"
"Better than you've been" Neptune laughed as they separated "I hear you were involved in repelling the attacks on Atlas and Mistral"
"Maybe I was, maybe I wasn't" he shrugged.
"Slade" Neptune greeted.
"Good to see you, Neptune" Slade replied in turn.
"We all thought you were dead"
"I'm aware" Slade replied "I'd love to be able to explain the miraculous story of my survival, but we're pressed for time"
"So I've heard, we should get right to business. The Headmaster has requested your presence in the amphitheater" Neptune explained turning around leading them inside the school.
"When did the other kingdoms forces arrive?" Pyrrha asked curiously.
"They arrived shortly before you did" Neptune answered.
"The headmaster is waiting for us in the amphitheater, I assume this is where the entrance to the vault resides?" Slade asked.
"I only know that it exists, not it's location, but I understand she's impatient for you to arrive" he replied.
"We should hurry up then" Nora pointed out.
Slade gripped his forehead in pain "Slade, what's wrong?" Pyrrha asked.
"Something is wrong" Slade groaned "I can feel-" the walls around them suddenly exploded violently throwing them to the ground.
"What the hell was that?" Neptune asked standing back up quickly.
"The attack has started!" Nora yelled "What's going on!? The attack wasn't supposed to start for at least another hour!"
"Looks like Salem's a bit overeager" Slade sighed standing up "We need to secure the relic, now" he rushed ahead.
"Take a right at the end of the hall!" Neptune called following behind him. Upon reaching the amphitheater they were met by pure destruction with bodies littering the floor, several impaled by Nevermore feathers.
"What happened here? Where's the Headmaster?" Neptune asked grabbing one of the disoriented soldiers.
"I don't know what happened, one minute we're preparing and the next Nevermore feathers pierced the roof killing several good men, including the Headmaster" she answered.
"She's dead?" Nora asked in shock.
"Look out!" Sun yelled noticing several Grimm charging into the hallway, an explosion tore Neptune from the soldier throwing them both to the ground nearby.
"They're coming from both sides!" Pyrrha yelled pointing the opposite direction, Nora charged ahead meeting them head on.
"Those aren't just Grimm" Slade pointed out, referring to the White Fang insignia on soldiers charging with the Grimm.
Sun walked past Neptune as he got to his knees checking the soldier next to him, only finding she was dead. Dust charged rounds soared past Sun as he walked removing his nunchucks from their holsters firing with deadly accuracy, he spun around a round headed for his chest firing off several more shots dropping the White Fang troops rushing toward him, two Ursa made their way toward him. Neptune stood removing his weapon from his back standing next to Sun both of them firing for the Ursa's quickly killing them.
"Just like old times!" Sun laughed.
"I'd be alright if we never have to do this again" Neptune pointed out with a shrug.
Nora and Pyrrha easily cut through the soldiers and Grimm attacking them, Slade firing his rifle keeping any strays from harming them. Sun and Neptune entered the room with them sealing it off from the hallway and breaking the door controls.
"That should hold them for now" Pyrrha noted "We need to contact Professor Ozpin and find out what's going on"
"Agreed, without the Headmaster all we can do is defend the entrance to the relic-" Slade stopped midsentence at who he witnessed in front of him.
"Is everything in place?" Watts asked approaching Cinder.
"Yes, the White Fang and the Grimm are prepared to destroy Vacuo for us. We simply need to do our part"
"How did you convince them to fight with us? Slade's speech certainly didn't do us any favors" Watts asked curiously.
"I simply promised them what they wanted, the Faunus would survive and the humans wouldn't"
"You know Salem won't uphold that deal"
"I do" Cinder grinned back at him.
"Do not fail me again" Salem warned startling them both.
"O-of course, Master" Cinder stuttered out fearfully.
"Begin your attack" Salem ordered turning away from them.
"Now?" Watts asked "What about Hazel?"
"Hazel shall join you shortly... Slade has recruited the majority of the kingdoms forces to assist in the defense of Vacuo" Salem answered "The longer you wait, the harder it will be to destroy them"
"We'll begin right away. Come, Arthur" Cinder motioned for him to follow "Tyrian shall lead the charge against their defenses. We're going straight for the relic" Cinder explained as a dark portal opened in front of her.
"As you say, Cinder" he followed her through the portal arriving outside Shade Academy.
"Hold it right there!" yelled one of the guards, they were quickly surrounded.
"I know who you are, you're not getting past us" another growled. Cinder held her hands up in surrender with a smirk gracing her features.
Cinder's right hand suddenly had a blade of flame held in it's grasp, she easily cut through the two guards in front of her, turning she unleashed a powerful gust of wind throwing the guards to her right against a wall cracking their skulls, she turned throwing the blade into the overlooking guard before he could call for help. The blade vanished as she continued to walk inside the building.
"Impressive" Watts chuckled "Perhaps this will be easy after all"
"Don't underestimate our enemy, I've made that mistake far too many times" Cinder warned. Looking up she nodded before entering the building completely. Mercury nodded back from his vantage point, turning around he leapt up to an opening sneaking inside the school's upper level. Once inside he found two guards on his left and one to his right. Mercury spun kicking his legs firing rounds into their backs before they had the chance to react.
"I'm in position" Mercury spoke through his earpiece.
"Excellent, proceed when you're ready" Cinder ordered.
"Understood"
"Tyrian, you ready?" Mercury asked.
"Standing by" he answered.
"Begin your assault"
"On it, starting up the war machine now. The Grimm and Fang shall lead the charge" he replied.
The school was suddenly surrounded by a small army of Grimm and White Fang troops exiting from dark portals created by Mercury, Nevermore flooded the sky around them launching feathers through the building. Cinder killed anyone standing in their way as they approached the amphitheater, knowing the vault to be housed there.
"Look who it is" Cinder laughed entering the room watching as Neptune destroyed the door controls for the opposite entrance "Ozpin's little helpers"
"Cinder" Slade growled "You started the attack early"
"Emerald gave you far too much time to act, we saw your speech. Uplifting, really... but they're gonna be disappointed when you fail"
"Arrogant as always, you'd think after all the times you've failed Salem you'd have learned by now to be humble"
"What're we gonna do?" Sun asked.
"Contact, Ozpin. Now" Slade answered "Pyrrha, you and I are going to handle these two for now. Nora keep Sun and Neptune safe while they call for reinforcements" he ordered.
"You've got it" Nora replied.
"Let's get to it then" Cinder smirked forming a blade in her hand as Watts equipped a staff. They charged each other both prepared for battle.
Slade flipped forward dodging Watts's strike for his legs while Pyrrha slid under Cinder as she flipped overhead. Cinder struck for Pyrrha only to meet her shield instead. Pyrrha blocked several more strikes as Slade went on the offensive with Watts. Watts turned mid-strike clashing with Pyrrha's blade as Cinder switched to strike Slade at that moment, forcing him to twist to block the strike. Slade pushed Cinder's blade to the side turning away from her, she spun around to strike Pyrrha once more as Watts flipped between them striking low, Slade spun through the air over his staff. Once firmly planted on the ground he blocked the opposite side of the staff from striking his face, Slade spun his blade under his arm striking for Watts's left side forcing him to arc his staff to block.
Watts spun his staff around from it's position, causing Slade to duck as he slid forward under the staff. Rising to his feet he turned only to lean back away from the staff as Watts attempted to impale him, spinning his blade once he struck down on the staff forcing Watts to his knees then again to the right as Watts deflected the strike with the opposite end.
Mercury dropped in front of Nora smirking at her "Long time no see, psycho" he chuckled.
"I'll take that as a compliment" Nora shrugged leaping toward him slamming her hammer into the ground as he leapt over her head.
"Stupid as always" he laughed rushing toward Sun and Neptune.
"Look out!" Nora called barely fast enough.
Neptune turned around as Mercury struck toward Sun swiftly blocking his kick with his own weapon "Nice try, punk"
"Two on one?" Mercury asked looking back at Nora charging toward him "That's not fair for you both. Sun should help out, you know, to make it fair" he smirked.
"I'm gonna wipe that smirk right of your ugly face!" Nora yelled swinging Magnhild violently. Mercury back flipped over her strike kicking her in the chest, causing her to slide backward.
"Bring it" he gestured for them to try again confidently.
Cinder struck low meeting Pyrrha's blade, grabbing her shoulder with her free hand she slammed her knee into Pyrrha's abdomen dropping her onto her knees painfully. Slade twisted around throwing his blade over Watts as he ducked under the blade, Obsidian collided with Cinder's blade as she struck down toward Pyrrha causing her to miss the strike as her blade swung behind her back, Pyrrha stood quickly jumping up to kick Cinder in the chest throwing her onto her back. Obsidian clattered to the floor as Slade blocked Watts staff with his gauntlets, spinning his staff around Slade created an opening elbowing him in the face stumbling him back. Watts turned unleashing lightning from his hands as Pyrrha leapt toward him prepared to strike, Slade back handsprung under his staff as he turned back toward him using his aura he slammed his palm into Watt's abdomen throwing him through the air, Watts collided with the ground rolling to his knees.
So that's his Semblance? How ironic Slade thought to himself.
Mercury struggled to keep up with Nora and Neptune as they worked perfectly in synch. Neptune's weapon changed into it's rifle form as Nora leapt toward Mercury, he smirked up at her confident in his ability to defeat her, Neptune fired his weapon for his legs forcing him back to avoid it. Mercury fired his boot toward Neptune only for Nora to slam her hammer down firing Magnhild breaking his metal leg in half with the force.
"Augh! You bitch!" Mercury yelled dropping onto his back in pain "Do you have any idea how expensive those things are!?" he asked.
"Don't really care" Nora shrugged swinging her hammer around expertly as she prepared to strike him again.
"No, no, wait-!" Mercury attempted to stop her as she smashed him into the ground, Mercury's bones could be heard shattering from the violent strike.
"Well... that's one more out of the way" Neptune said chuckling at Nora's carefree expression.
"You alright, Pyrrha?" Slade asked standing between her and their enemies.
"I'm okay" she groaned getting to her feet.
"Sun! What's going on out there!" Slade yelled back toward him.
"Ozpin said they're fighting off an army of Grimm and White Fang. Some giant machine is barreling toward the city" Sun answered.
"Machine..." Slade pondered momentarily.
"Mercury is dead!" Nora called excitedly.
"What?!" Cinder shouted in anger.
"It appears we're on our own in here now" Watts sighed.
"Pyrrha, you need to go. They need you out there"
"But-"
"Your Semblance can stop their war machine. I'll handle this" Slade assured.
"Are you sure?" she asked concerned.
"Go, you're needed elsewhere" he replied "Nora! Take Sun and Neptune to the fight, your team needs you!" he ordered.
"What about you?" Nora asked.
"I'll be fine, go help them out then send someone back here once things have turned our way" Slade smiled comfortingly back at them. Slade charged toward Cinder and Watts.
"You better stay alive long enough for help to get here!" Nora yelled rushing toward the exit with Sun and Neptune.
"Slade!" Pyrrha called throwing her blade toward him, Slade twisted catching it in his free hand then continued his charge.
"Yet I'm the arrogant one?" Cinder asked looking over to Watts, he shrugged in response. Slade expertly spun the blades in his hands blocking all attacks from them as Pyrrha quickly exited. Slade flipped forward over Watts's staff as Cinder rolled forward under his blade, extending Pyrrha's into a javelin he blocked Cinder's blade and Watts's staff with opposite ends, then used his blade to block the opposite side of Watts's staff.
"I'm not arrogant, I don't believe I have a chance at winning this fight. I fight because I know I need to, to protect my friends!" Slade forced them back using his strength, he shortened the javelin into a blade crossing it with his own to block Watts's lightning. Cinder struck for his face only for the lightning to be redirected for her throwing her back. Cinder's blade swung as she fell toward Watt's face forcing him to stop his attack stepping aside to avoid the attack. Slade spun on the back of his heels toward Watt's striking with his blade slashing across his face, leaving a scar over his right eye.
"You son of a bitch!" Watts groaned turning back to face him.
"Oops" Slade shrugged.
Slade displayed his blade mastery as he easily deflected the attacks from both his assailants flipping through the air over their strikes as he blocked several more. Slamming his hand into the ground using his aura he created a shockwave catching Cinder off balance. Watts spun his staff striking down on Slade as he stood back up, his attacks were easily redirected using both of the weapons at his command. Slade spun under a strike for his head, arcing Obsidian over his head he stopped the staff from retuning to his proper side as the sword in his right hand switched to a javelin stabbing Watts in the abdomen. Watts slumped onto the floor gasping painfully as Slade removed the Javelin, using his Semblance, he transported the weapon back to Pyrrha.
"How's it feel to know everything you've worked for, all the power you've stolen, means nothing" he chuckled.
Cinder growled in response "You're starting to get on my nerves"
Slade shrugged "I tend to have that effect on people" he prepared for her ensuing attack "Let's see what you've got"
Hurry up, guys. I can't keep this up forever
Cinder approached the injured Watts as he dragged himself to his feet "You've failed, Arthur"
"Apologies... I'm a spy not a warrior" Watts gasped struggling to keep himself upright, succumbing to the pain he dropped onto his knees in agony.
"Don't worry, Arthur. You won't be feeling pain for much longer" Cinder grinned "Rest now" she sliced her blade through his chest from behind killing him instantly.
"You... he was your partner. How could you-" Slade asked in surprise.
"Kill him? Arthur was injured, he became a liability. I simply removed him from the equation" Cinder explained as if it were simple.
"Guess I shouldn't be surprised by your callousness" Slade sighed.
"You're compassion for others is your greatest weakness, an easily exploitable one at that"
"Say's the one always losing" Slade taunted with a small smirk.
"What's the situation?" Ozpin asked watching as the armies of the four kingdoms prepared for battle in the field.
"We've already handled the battle plan, Professor" answered Ghira smiling at him.
"Mr. Belladonna?" Ozpin asked in surprise.
"Slade called for everyone, not just humans" he replied with a confident smirk "My followers can help"
"I'll never turn down good help. Give me the rundown" he smiled back.
"We've set the Huntsmen and soldiers to be in the front, they're the ones with the most experience, volunteers shall form in the back as a support group. We know they're attacking soon, and my scouts have reported a large amount of Grimm to the northwest. That's where we'll be waiting for them." Ghira explained.
"Excellent work. Now, we're going to need the-" Ozpin stopped when he heard his scroll ringing, removing it from his pocket he found it to be from Sun "Mr. Wukong-" he attempted to ask.
"The school is under attack!" Sun interrupted "Grimm and White Fang have entered the building!"
"What? How... nevermind. Secure the relic!" he ordered.
"We can't, the Headmaster is dead and Cinder is already here with Watts. Slade and Pyrrha are fighting them off as we speak, and Neptune and Nora are fighting Mercury. We need help!"
"We're on it, as soon as-"
"Oz!" Qrow called urgently grabbing his attention.
"Not now! I'm-" Ozpin stopped upon noticing the army of Grimm from the northwest was in view from their position "Damn it"
"What is it?" Sun asked over the device.
"I don't think you'll be getting that help you wanted anytime soon, the Grimm army just showed up. They have a really big war machine" he sighed "Can you hold them off?"
"Slade and Pyrrha seem to be doing a pretty good job but I don't know-"
"Hold them for as long as you can, we can't send anyone until that war machine is taken out of the field" Ozpin replied.
"Do it quickly then!" Sun yelled hanging up.
"Let's go" Qrow led the group quickly regrouping with the army waiting for the Grimm slowly making their way toward them.
"What's going on, the school is being attacked and we're out here?" Yang asked concerned.
"Slade's group can handle the school for now, we need to take down the war machine before we can assist them. Once it's out of play we'll send help"
"Then let's do it fast" Ruby said readying Crescent Rose.
"What's the plan then?" Qrow asked looking to Ozpin.
"We're not waiting here for them to come to us, they've already brought the fight to us. I say let's bring the fight to them!" Ozpin yelled charging forward.
"I'm all for that plan!" Raven smirked following behind him.
"Charge!" Ghira yelled leading the Faunus forward, followed by the rest of the army yelling as they did.
Yang overtook Raven and Ozpin leaping into the army of Grimm, followed shortly by Ruby using he Semblance to cut through their ranks with ease. The rest of the army quickly caught up, Huntsmen and Huntresses easily cut through their ranks while the soldiers had slightly more difficulty.
"Come on!" Ironwood yelled "Move, move, move!" he directed the soldiers around the field.
Tyrian leapt through the Grimm killing any who stood in his way easily "Come on, give me a challenge!" he laughed dropping two more Huntsmen.
"I'll give you more than that!" Coco yelled firing her minigun forcing Tyrian to use his tail to deflect the oncoming rounds, his tail opened firing toward her forcing Coco to dodge the blast rolling out of the way.
"Come on, keep them pinned!" Raven yelled slicing her way through each Grimm toward Tyrian. Yang was currently locked in battle with Tyrian along with Jaune both barely keeping up with his attacks.
"You're much better than I remember, perhaps my interest in you wasn't unfounded" he laughed, the momentary opening he left allowed Ruby to slam into his side with her Semblance throwing Tyrian through the air. a dark portal opened in font of him with Hazel stepping out from it brushing himself off.
"Hazel!" Roman yelled in surprise.
"You didn't honestly think that tiny prison could hold me did you?" he asked with a smirk "Where's Ozpin?" he asked searching through the field.
"Nice of you to drop on by, Hazel" Tyrian stood up brushing off the sand on his clothes.
"Don't you think it's about time you stopped playing around with them?" Hazel asked.
"You're no fun" he whined "I suppose you're right, I've had my fill of fun" he removed a device from his jacket pocket pressing a few buttons on it. Suddenly the war machine's speed increased tremendously.
"Fall back! Fall back, now!" Qrow yelled.
Pyrrha leapt between the army and the war machine extending both her hands toward it as the machine sliced through the Grimm in front of it, lifting the machine into the air she forced it down splitting it apart around her killing dozens of Grimm as the pieces slid to a stop, the blades still slicing violently.
"Where's she been all this time!?" Ghira asked.
"Here I come!" Nora yelled leaping through the air slamming Magnhild into the ground impaling several Grimm with the ground spearing out around her.
"Why are all the heavy hitters hiding in the back?" Ghira asked with a laugh "I like her!"
"Guy's we've got a Slade problem here" Sun said forcing his way though the Grimm with Neptune.
"Somebody get to Slade!" Ozpin ordered "The war machine is out of play!" he said just before an Death Stalker knocked him over.
"I've got him!" Ironwood yelled rushing back toward the school.
"I'm coming too!" Jaune yelled.
"On my way-" Raven said just before Tyrian punched her in the face, knocking her onto her back rolling as she did.
"So weak, you should be ashamed of yourself-" Tyrian began Pyrrha stepped between him and Raven just as her weapon appeared in her hand.
"Well that's convenient" she stared in surprise. Tyrian flipped forward striking for Pyrrha only meeting her shield instead. Pyrrha stepped back with each strike she blocked. Neo leapt around Tyrian spinning her umbrella expertly.
Hazel and Ghira locked in battle, neither of them getting an advantage over the other.
"You're strong, for a beast" Hazel taunted.
"Enough" Ghira growled leaping over his head he used his claws to cut deep into Hazel's arms. Hazel turned striking Ghira in the chest throwing him onto his back.
"You cannot hope to defeat me, I'm invincible" he laughed.
"Oh no you're not!" Yang yelled slamming her fist into his face throwing him to the ground.
"Excellent work, Ms. Xiao Long!" Ghira laughed from his place on the ground as Hazel stood up.
"You really think a light tap like that is going to have any affect on me?" Hazel asked standing up with a small groan.
"No, not really" she shrugged "But he might" Yang pointed to Ozpin behind him. Hazel turned around facing Ozpin patiently waiting for him to notice his presence.
"Hello" Ozpin waved lightly.
"Ozpin!" Hazel screamed in anger, Ozpin slammed his hand onto his chest before he could react.
"Sorry about this" he smirked, Hazel suddenly imploded from a massive force of energy from Ozpin's hand "You've had plenty of chances already" he added walking over to Ghira extending his hand toward him.
"Thanks"
"Don't thank me yet, battle isn't over"
Tyrian's arm blades were caught in Neo's umbrella handle she flipped backward forcing them off his hands. Tyrian's tail smacked her across the face throwing her backward. Turning back to Pyrrha he began wildly striking her shield forcing her back onto her knees, punching her again she dropped onto her back with a pained groan. Raven grabbed Tyrian from behind by his tail slamming him into the ground, Tyrian quickly recovered slamming into her chest dropping her onto her back again. Tyrian's tail stabbed toward her face, Raven used her blade to move it just out of range into the ground beside her.
"Nothing is going to stop me from killing you, Branwen" he chuckled.
"I might" Pyrrha said using her Semblance to throw him upward by his tail, with her other hand she launched half of the war machine toward him, Tyrian was shredded by the blades.
"You couldn't have done that earlier?" Raven asked exhaustedly from her back.
Pyrrha remained silently on her back "I hate you"
Cinder launched herself forward using flames from her hands toward Slade clashing blades with him in the air. Slade twisted kicking her in the chest, throwing Cinder backward as a wall of ice formed behind her. Cinder planted her heels on the ice wall, stopping herself from falling to the ground. Slade leapt away from a bolt of lightning Cinder launched from her hands, pushing off from the wall she soared toward him as he slid to a stop. Holding his blade up he blocked her strike, their blades clashing against each other.
"You're better than I remember" Slade admitted.
"I've took your advice" she replied with a smirk.
Cinder pulled her blade back and struck again meeting his blade then twisted it down toward his legs only to be blocked once more. Swinging for his head, Slade ducked back away from the strike, planting his free hand on the ground lifting his legs up as she struck for them. Slade returned to his feet leaning back under her blade once more, she twisted kicking him in the chest throwing Slade backward.
Slade flipped through the air sliding to a stop as he landed. Two White Fang soldiers attacked from behind with their blades. Slade swung Obsidian back dropping the first one before he rose to his feet, blocking the second's strike he twisted around him slicing his blade through his back. Turning just in time to see the blade thrown at him, Slade leapt up, his body held flat under Cinder's swinging blade. Cinder slammed a powerful gust of wind into him throwing Slade through the air crashing through the large wall of ice, he landed on his stomach groaning in pain.
"Aaaahhh!" Cinder yelled forming a blade in her hand as she soared through the air toward him impaling the ground he once laid upon. Slade appeared behind Cinder spinning his weapon around readying for attack.
Slade charged forward, spiraling in the air to avoid her strike he clashed blades with her once more. Slade managed to push her blade to the ground stumbling her, he stuck for her head only for her to block the blade then lean back under a second strike as he flipped the blade in his hand, he blocked her attack holding the blade across his back. Twisting it back around his front their blades clashed again, shifting his blade forced Cinder to block holding her blade over her shoulder. Slade elbowed her in the face then swung for her chest, spinning around with his strike as Cinder backed away she turned toward him with her blade held out toward him impaling Slade through the right side of his abdomen.
"You were deceived by Ozpin" she smirked "Now, your kingdoms shall fall" she finished removing her blade from him. Slade dropped onto his knees in exhaustion. The door behind him was blown open by White Fang soldiers followed shortly by Grimm entering the room.
"Do you see how you've failed to stop anything? You're just sacrificing yourself needlessly, we've already won" Cinder laughed.
"You'd never understand sacrifice" Slade glared up at her.
"Really now?" Cinder asked "I'd think you'd know better-"
"Attack!" Ironwood yelled firing a cannon into the Grimm entering the room followed by several Atlas soldiers. They charged into the room rolling behind the nearby broken pillars for cover. One soldier threw a grenade onto the face of a Grimm as he ducked behind cover obliterating several of them. White Fang troops charged to meet them. Slade used this moment to get away, vanishing from his place by Cinder, he appeared behind a nearby pillar slumping down against it painfully.
"I've got you" Jaune said sliding beside him "I'll go as quick as I can"
"Good, Ironwood's going to need some help" Slade groaned as Jaune began healing him.
"Let's go, let's go! Move up!" Ironwood yelled running forward, stopping to fire his cannon dropping several White Fang members "Flank em!" he yelled pointing behind the Grimm charging them.
"General! How nice of you to stop by!" Cinder called "I've been expecting you-"
Ironwood turned firing his cannon three times, Cinder deflected two of them but took the final blast head on singing her face slightly, it healed immediately showing her grin. Ironwood dropped the cannon in his hands charging toward Cinder, he easily knocked the White Fang attempting to stop him out of the way. Cinder struck Ironwood with a powerful blast of lightning, he resisted taking several steps toward her through the pain. Ironwood was thrown onto his back, his soldiers being killed all around him.
"Hurry up" Slade said as his wound started to heal.
"I'm going as fast as I can" Jaune replied concerned for the General.
White Fang troops dragged Ironwood to his knees as one of them prepared to execute him. Cinder turned away from him.
"You were always weak, General"
Suddenly the White Fang holding Ironwood were thrown into the sky by a powerful blast of aura through the ground, they were cut apart as they dropped to the ground. Cinder turned in surprise to find Ruby standing across from her with Crescent Rose held horizontally in front of her.
"Ruby" Cinder growled. Three White Fang and a Beringel stood between them as Ruby charged forward.
Ruby leapt up toward the Beringel kicking the White Fang soldier in the face as Crescent Rose decapitated the Grimm. She sliced through the solider flipping forward to the remaining two, hooking one's leg with her scythe she used the hilt to deflect a blade strike from the second pulling forward she knocked the first one over only to easily slice through the two of them flipping toward Cinder.
Ruby struck for Cinder's face meeting her blade instead, she traded strikes with Cinder momentarily on the offensive. Cinder spun around backhanding Ruby. Turing with the strike, Ruby kicked Cinder's face. Ruby continued backing away from Cinder as she had taken the offensive striking violently for Ruby. Dropping onto one knee she spun her scythe around blocking a strike down for her face, Ruby struggled against her strength. Crescent Rose fired breaking what was left of a nearby pillar dropping it onto them, they both pushed back away from them to avoid the pillar.
Ruby and Cinder leapt atop the fallen pillar continuing their fight, Ruby deflected three strikes successfully. Leaping back away from a fourth strike she cartwheeled around Cinder as she struck again, jumping up over her blade as it swung around. Ruby slammed Crescent Rose down onto Salem's blade, Cinder threw her back against a wall using the air around her. Cinder leapt forward stabbing her blade into the wall as Ruby flipped over her, spinning around with a smirk she struck the center of Crescent Rose throwing it aside, stabbing her blade toward Ruby. Ruby successfully blocked the strike with her hands using her aura expertly.
"Augh!" Slade yelled charging Cinder slamming into her chest forcing her blade out of her grip, Slade lifted his head up forcefully knocking Cinder's back painfully. Slade struck for her face with his left hand then his right as she caught his arms in her own hands.
"Enough of this! I am a god you dull creature! I won't be defeated by-" Cinder stopped upon seeing Slade's smirk, he opened his right hand showing a red dust crystal in his grip. Cinder threw herself backward with a powerful gust of wind as he smashed it in his hand attempting to avoid the explosion involuntarily fanning the explosion in her direction, Slade was thrown onto his back painfully rolling to his feet.
"Not very impressive for a god" Slade taunted as Cinder struggled to stand.
"You win this time, but don't think it'll go so well next time. Salem won't be as merciful" Cinder warned using the darkness to vanish.
"You weren't merciful to begin with" Ruby sighed shaking her head. Slade dropped onto his knees exhausted, then slumped to the ground unconscious "Slade!" Ruby called again rushing to his side. Jaune joined Ruby by his side.
"Is he alright?" she asked concerned. Jaune was silent, quickly checking over him for more injuries.
"He looks like he just passed out from exhaustion" he answered, Ruby sighed in relief.
"Thank goodness"
"We still have a battle to fight" Ironwood reminded them.
"How's the fight going out there?" Jaune asked through his earpiece.
"We've won!" Yang answered "We're cleaning up the last of the Grimm, what about you? Is Slade alight?" she asked concerned.
"Slade's tired, but alright. Cinder is the only one working for Salem now, things are looking up for us" Ruby answered.
"I think it's too early to celebrate" Qrow said "We've got a problem out here"
"What kind of problem?" Ironwood asked.
"Salem" Roman replied shocking the group.
"We have to go!" Ironwood ordered rushing outside. Ruby picked up Slade carrying him to safety.
"I'll be right back, I promise" Ruby kissed him on the forehead "Don't go anywhere" she giggled at her own joke, then followed Jaune outside.
