Sorry this is a day late everyone. I had to take my two summer finals this week and work was a bit busier than normal due to me being put in charge of a few of the new workers.
With one of my shortest author notes out of the way let's get onto the main event most of you have been waiting for. That's right everyone, in the home corner we have Blake Belladonna and Yang Xiao Long. In the other corner we have the raging bull himself, Adam Taurus. Tonight is when we settle the score and see just who will come out on top from this battle of the ages.
"Come on, we have to hurry." Ruby yelled back to the others.
"The sooner we find whoever is ringing that bell the sooner Yang can rejoin us," Dunstan said as they ran up the staircase.
"How many more floors does this place even have?" Blake asked.
"Signal tower has four floors in total. Each one holding an arena and stands for an audience," Ruby told Blake.
"So I guess I'm next." Blake gave a soft smile reassuring Ruby.
"Blake, we're not going to leave you behind. As long as we work together we can beat that Bell Ringer and have Yang help us beat the one who started all this."
"Ruby, Dunstan and you both have something to do with all this. Whether it's some cosmic force, fate, or chance, the both of you are connected to tonight's events. If it comes down to me or you just keep going and don't look back."
"I won't sacrifice you just so I can keep going."
"I'm not asking you to make a choice between me or you, Ruby. I'm asking you to choose the city of Vale, no, the entirety of Remnant over me. If it ever comes down to it I know you'll make the right choice." Blake just looked forward as Ruby tried to look into her eyes.
Opening the door to the third floor they could see a man in a black trench coat standing in front of the fourth floor entrance on the other side of the audience stands. He raised his head at the sudden intrusion and took a step away from the door. Giving them a smile he jumped into the arena.
"So nice of you to show up Blake." Adam stood up, keeping his weapon's sheath in hand.
"Adam," Blake put herself between her former teacher and Ruby. "let us through and no one has to get hurt."
"Is that what they've reduced you to Blake? Some pet to own."
"I'm trying to find a way to give our people the rights they deserve. I know people who can help push those laws through. I just need time for them to come into power and this war is only serving to stop any political actions that might help us." Blake jumped into the arena knowing exactly what her ex-partner was after.
"Is that what they promised you if you came to heel, Blake? We were already making progress through our own methods. Shop keeps no longer refuse services to our kind, faunas are beginning to hold positions of power within political fields. We are the ones making progress no thanks to the humans who continue to try and impeded us." Adam motioned his hand towards Ruby and Dunstan.
"Not every human is out to get us. My teammates accepted me for who I am, faunas and all."
"Do you think a few choice fruits among the pile of rotting filth can save the entire batch? The task of verifying every human's intention is insurmountable in itself and we could never be sure if they were truly on our side. I will not risk faunas lives for the possibility of saving a few good humans." He took a step forward causing Blake to raise her weapon. "1they even have you trained to defend them."
"I'm protecting my friends," Blake said defiantly at her old mentor.
"Then they won't mind if I catch up with my ex-partner." Adam dashed at Blake meeting her blade with his own. The attack shook Blake's arm from the impact alone and numbed her hand slightly.
"You need to keep going," Blake told Ruby as her blade continued to be pushed back.
"Blake, we can't." Ruby unfurled her scythe in preparation of joining the fight.
"Listen to your betters, Human. If you're fast enough you might get back in time to see me finish off this traitor," Adam mocked, kicking Blake in the gut.
"I have to agree with Ruby on this one." Dunstan drew his cane and gave it a quick twirl in his hand. "Your opponent isn't someone to take lightly."
Blake charged at Adam to grab his attention. The moment she was in front of him she saw Ruby off to his side poised to strike. Brining her weapon down Blake felt her swing some to a complete halt as her weapon hit his sheath. Looking over she could see Ruby's scythe was caught with Adam's blade, bringing the two Huntresses to a halt. Ruby began putting more force behind her scythe and to Blake's amazement his arm began to falter slightly. Using her semblance Blake switched out with a clone. The sheath easily passed through her copy, but it bought Blake just enough time to land a strike against Adam's side. To Blake it felt like witnessing a miracle. Landing a blow against Adam. The excitement was short lived however when Adam drew his sword back forcing Ruby to fall forward thanks to all the strength she placed behind her swing.
Ramming his shoulder into Blake, Adam tossed her back and gathered enough space to attack Ruby with his katana. Ruby barely managed to block the first two swipes of the blade, but the next three landed square hits on her extremities. The strikes ate away at her aura reserves and only stopped due to Dunstan getting between them.
"I don't take kindly to people who harm my students." Dunstan performed a swipe of his cane letting the whip launch outwards towards Adam.
Raising his katana, the whip cut across the surface to little effect. "Clearly you didn't teach them well enough then."
The whip began to swing wildly at Adam. Each little movement on Dunstan's end translating to huge flourishes on the other. Each segment of the blade seemed poised to tear into flesh, but the strikes came out to slow giving Adam enough time to block them. Dunstan couldn't move during the assault due to the weapon needing a stable user as to not cause any backlash or slack in the thread. No amount of force put behind the whip seemed to even budge the bull who continued to block each swing. Once the attack began to slow Adam swatted the whip away and rushed Dunstan while sheathing his katana. Dropping the cane Dunstan reached for his sword just as he heard a bullet go off along and something tearing across his entire right arm.
Ruby and Blake stood still as a sudden spray of blood erupted between the two fighters. Dunstan's arm was blow back from the impact giving them a clear view of the cut that ran from his forearm to his shoulder. They watched him quickly grab his black sword in his left hand to parry the second strike just as his right arm fell back down limply. A smirk could be seen on Adam's mouth at the successful strike and with a flick of his hand the katana was clean of blood.
"Still think you stand a chance against your betters?" Adam sheathed his blade enjoying the moment of victory over a teacher at Beacon,
"Just give me a minute and I'll be sure to pay you back in spades." Dunstan kept his sword up threatening while trying to move his right arm towards his pockets.
Blake and Ruby ran at Adam both knowing that what Dunstan needed was a moment out of combat. With Crescent Rose trailing behind her Ruby had the Crescent Rose's blade align itself with its barrel. Brining the weapon across Adam's like a curved spear until the blade was pointed behind him before firing. With a gunshot going off next to his head Adam failed to notice Blake leaping at him from behind until her cleaver slammed into his back. Using his sheath to swat Blake away Adam turned his attention back to the red Huntress just as something serrated began to chew away at his shoulder. Tilting his head Adam saw a series of blades being pulled back towards Ruby's weapon rapidly. Raising the sheath, he brought the blades off his shoulder while striking Ruby across her chest. The constant back and forth between Ruby and Blake seemed to only serve as an annoyance as Adam continue to fight them off even with a 2 on 1 advantage. The few attacks they did land seemed to be doing nothing against the man.
With Ruby and Blake keeping Adam occupied, Dunstan was free to pull a blood vial from his pocket. Pressing the vial to his arm Dunstan let out a soft hiss as the needle pierced his skin and the blood began to knit his muscles and flesh back into working order. Given his distance from the battle he could see how the entire fight unfolding. Dunstan wasn't sure whether it was instinct of training, but Adam was narrowly avoiding each attacks full force while giving enough of a reaction to fool his opponents into thinking the strikes connected. It became clear he knew what he was doing and had figured out their weapons' appropriate reach. Dunstan let out a gasp as he felt his bones begin to grow back together.
Feeling the rush of adrenaline begin to rush through his body Dunstan separated his blades and rushed forward. Adam was quickly put on the defensive by a series of blindingly quick slashes from Dunstan's swords. Each attack leaving behind a faint trail of light as the black steel caught the arena's lights. Adam began to take a few steps back with each flurry of blows he blocked. Every step forward Dunston took was accompanied by an array of strikes from the duel swords to keep Adam from retaliating. Suddenly the sound of a chime being rung quickly began to build above them forcing Dunstan and Ruby's eyes upwards towards the source.
Dunstan turned his gaze back towards his opponent realizing no fighter would let such an opportunity go unused. Before he could bring his sword down on the encroaching blur something leaped in front of him and the sound of swords scrapping against each other could be heard.
"Both of you leave, now!" Blake ordered as the sparks from the clash of weapons briefly raced across he arm
"Blake we,"—Ruby began.
— "If you don't do something about what is going on above us there won't be a home to return to. Now get out of here and end this." Blake tried to push Adam back to show them she could manage on her own only for her blade to not budge an inch further.
Ruby was about to say something when Dunstan picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. Running out of the arena Ruby looked back at the clash seeing the strain on Blake's face. As Ruby was hauled towards the exit she began trying to struggle free. Her struggle only serving to cause Dunstan to swerve slightly as they went through the bleachers.
"Let me down. I have to help her." Ruby continued to thrash around.
"We can't afford to spend any more time fighting here." Dunstan kicked the stairway door open to continue the original mission.
"Blake!" Ruby's voice grew distant until vanishing completely.
"With those pests out of the way I wonder if this truly what you want." Adam leaped back and sheathed his weapon. "It isn't too late to come back and join us, Blake."
"I will never help you destroy Vale." Blake nearly cried thinking about the atrocities that currently blanketed the city.
"I'm not destroying Vale, Blake. I'm saving it from humans that wanted this city devoured by the Grimm. They would have killed everyone and pinned it on the faunas at the end of their grand plan. I saw an opportunity to save a valuable resource and expose humanity for the monsters they truly are. Every kingdom across Remnant is experiencing an outbreak currently. Borders will be closed, entire sections of the kingdoms quarantined, and the people even further divided. This is the opportunity we've needed to turn the tide in our favor."
"I won't let you. If the kingdoms are divided, then everyone will be put in danger from the Grimm. It would only be a matter of time before something in their defenses gave."
"Which is why this turnover has to happen as quickly as possible. The council members of each kingdom will know that continuing to fight us will only result in mutual destruction. If they wish to survive they'll give in to our demands. This will push Faunas rights ahead by decades, Blake. Can't you see what I'm doing?"
"All I see is a man who refuses to see the good in people."
"What have you done to help our people Blake? I've poured blood and tears into every operation the White Fang has taken and every life we've lost due to my choices rests on me alone. What have you accomplished by playing around with humans all this time?"
"I've been making progress towards a peaceful resolution. One that doesn't end in human and faunas spilling each other's blood to survive. Do you think that after all this is over they won't try to retaliate? The scars left after tonight will run so deep the other kingdoms' councils won't have any choice, but to take action against you."
"They won't be able to after tonight. Once we're given true equality we'll never let them take it away. Every Faunas, White Fang or not, will stand up to keep their freedoms." Adam took another step forward as Blake held her ground.
"Then you've left me with no choice." Blake lowered her stance while bring her weapons up.
"You can't beat me, Blake. I taught you everything you know about fighting. You had the potential to become a leader alongside me, but you threw it away for some childish sense of right and wrong. Desertion is punishable by death and I have to carry it out as the head of the White Fang."
"Then you better get started." Blake ran at Adam using a clone to take the first strike and her cleaver to block the second.
"You can't even face me without relying on that semblance of yours." Pushing her cleaver away he stabbed Blake with his sheath knocking the wind out of her. She quickly brought up her sword and stabbed it into the ground to hold herself up.
"I let you go so you could live a life outside of battle. You refused to take others' lives directly at the time and would only prove a liability in future operations.
"The White Fang is only a shell of its former self now thanks to you. Why wouldn't I try and get rid of it before you could set faunas back even further?" Blake yelled in frustration.
"You never even gave them any information on us, Blake. None of our warehouses or camps that couldn't be moved were raided after you left. No White Fang informants were brought in and no one was killed under mysterious circumstances. Admit it, deep down you knew that our methods were the best solution to inequality."
"Do you think I could out myself like that to the headmaster of Beacon academy. That I would be brave enough to put hurting the White Fang over living a normal life." Blake's hand clenched into a fist at the thought of her own choices. "I wanted to put that entire life behind me, to live like anyone else and not have to worry about looking over my shoulder every day in fear of what I might see."
"So you ran away from it like everything else in your life."
Before Blake could give an answer the doors leading up to the arena were busted open by a familiar teammate. A feeling of dreed entered her mind seeing just how much damaged Yang had took before arriving. Blake could see the sudden spark of anger getting ready to ignite her teammate as Yang surveyed the field. Blake was ready to try and intervene should her teammate charge in foolhardy. Any thought of Yang rushing in was brushed aside when Adam began to talk to them.
"Another one of your human friends, Blake? I was right about you. Your time in their society has made you go soft." The man said turning to face his new opponent while ignoring Blake.
"Leave her out of this Adam. This fight is between you and me," Blake said, getting back up and holding her blade out.
"She became a part of this the moment you decided to befriend her. It was always us or them Blake and you chose your side. I'd say I'm disappointed, but you were free to make your own choices in life. Unfortunately, you chose poorly and now your friend has to pay the price." Adam drew his blade and began to walk forward towards Yang.
With the stakes on her gauntlets extended Yang had some much needed extra reach on her weapons. Bringing both her arms up to form a guard she cautiously advanced on the unknown adversary. Before she could get into rang a series of quick slashes began to test her defenses. Probing them for a possible opening or weakness. Through those attacks Yang continued to advance getting closer with each step until Adam was nearly within her reach. Pushing off with her left foot Yang Launched herself taking one last hit to her guard before she was too close for the katana to be used effectively. Striking out with a right jab Yang saw her fist narrowly be avoided as the butt of the sword nailed her in the gut. Instead of keeling over Yang swung her extended arm sideways, using the stake like a spear tip and striking Adam across the chest.
Adam knew he shouldn't have underestimated the human after she managed to land a blow on him. Even in her weakened state her technique still remained. Nearly no one still practiced such a short reaching form of combat, most taking to weapons that had some reach over the usual Grimm. The style reminding him of the spars held back at base to prevent the newer recruits from injuring themselves. As Adam stepped back Yang stepped forward keeping him from getting to his weapons ideal distance momentarily. As another series of jabs flew his way Adam gripped his sheath half way down its length and swung it upwards striking Yang's jaw and causing her head to snap upwards from the impact. Pointing the weapon at Yang he pulled the trigger on the sheath launching the blade out at blinding speeds.
Yang had no idea what had just happened. One moment she was pushing back the man who hurt Blake, the next thing she knew she was looking at the ceiling and something had tried to crush her throat. Her blood felt like it was burning as she tried to gasp for air. She felt her legs lose what strength they had and collapse underneath her. Falling to the ground she saw Adam raising his sword ready to strike her. The swing never came though as he turned around to block a hail of bullets from Blake.
"Stay away from her." Blake could see Adam's sword beginning to glow a red in a hue. At this point it didn't matter as long as she kept him away from Yang.
The diversion worked in getting Adam away from her partner with him now walking towards her. Blake continued to fire away with her weapon until her clip ran empty. Adam unsheathing his sword just enough to catch the bullets before returning the sword back to it. Looking past Adam Blake could see Yang was at least breathing again and trying to stand back up. She knew that everything would catch up with her at some point in life, she just hoped it would be after becoming a huntress capable of dealing with it. Raising both her blades up Blake saw the katana being drawn accompanied by the sound of shattering steel. She felt something warm beginning to pour across her chest. Her hands locking up as they tightened around her weapons handles. Something gripped her by neck and suddenly she was flying through the air. She felt the arena tile slowly cooling her down. Oddly enough she didn't remember falling to the ground after being thrown.
Leaning her head, Blake could see the blurry sight of Yang standing in front of her. Blake brought her weapon across her belt letting the magnet grab it as she loosened her grip. Her arms continued to feel heavy even with the excess weight removed. She could see a red figure approaching them slowly. Noise filled her ears, but she couldn't understand it.
"Trying to defend your pet, Human? If you leave her behind I'm sure you'll managed to sneak away and live another day," Adam spat at her.
"I will not leave my friend behind." Yang shakily kept her arms up trying to give an appearance of someone still capable of fighting.
Adam laughed as he began picking away at Yang with each swipe of his katana. Scraps of her weapon began to chip away from the bout. Every strike shaking her arms as they tried to stay up. With a powerful strike Adam's blade lodged itself halfway through the Stake Drivers. Before her could pull his weapon out the stakes tried to pull back into the weapon, taking Adam's katana and locked in place. With so much pressure pulling the blade against the gauntlets nothing short of the death of the one holding the trigger would free it.
Adam could see the smirk growing on Yang's face from the predicament and sued his free hand to pummel away at her. In his focus on the brawler he failed to see the dark figure rising behind her with a katana in hand. His attention was drawn to the figure when the sound of something bursting came from her weapon and the crimson blade pierced his chest. Adam stumbled back from the injury and felt the wound burn from whatever was coating the odd weapon. Just as quickly as it appeared the red katana's blade dispersed in a burst of blood revealing the metal that sat beneath.
"I'm through with running." Blake dropped the Chikage, letting it fall to the floor with a clatter.
Adam reached for his sword instinctive in preparation of his counter attack when the arena began to violently shake. The sound of glass shattering accompanied the arena being blanketed in darkness save for the few emergency lights in the stands presenting a path towards the exit. As the floor shook they had to actively adjust their footing or fall to the floor from the sudden shifting of ground. Rubble began to fall from above forcing Yang to grab Blake and haul her away from the falling stones.
Adam was about to pursue them across the arena when a large chunk of the ceiling fell between them cutting the field in half. Yang was carrying Blake through the bleachers when the tower shook once again. This time they were able to hear the floor above them being torn asunder by some force. As Yang pressed her arm against the wall it gave way revealing the warzone that that laid beneath them. The knight esque individuals were still fighting, but the cultists appeared to be gone or dead. In their place an army of soldiers that glowed white had flooded the battlefield.
"Yang," Black managed to weakly say wondering what had happened.
"Everything is going to be alright Blake. I'll have us out of here in no time." Yang believed everything she was saying in fear of what the alternative would give them.
Looking over the edge Yang knew she could take the fall easy or slow her decent, but with Blake so injured she couldn't risk any sudden stops that could harm her teammate even more. Luckily once they landed it seemed like most the fighting had been pushed away from the tower. With nothing in her arsenal to help them descend the tower Yang looked over her partner finding the shattered handles of Gambol Shroud. The ribbon Blake used was still wrapped around it.
Tying it to a piece of rebar sticking out of the wall Yang tightened her grip on the ribbon and slowly inched over the edge. Clutching Blake in her free hand Yang began her slow decent of the tower. As she slid down the structure's side Blake's ribbon was only able to get them about hallway down.
"Blake, I need you to hold on to me. Can you do that for me?" When Yang got no response from her partner she brought Blake in closer and made sure to keep an arm around her. "This is going to be a bit rough."
Letting go of the ribbon Yang slammed her fist into the wall to stop her fall. Every time she let go she'd fall several feet before spearing the wall and coming to a stop. The process was tiring and her arm felt like it was being torn out of its socket, but with each attempt she got Blake and herself closer to the ground. Once she was only 18 feet from the ground she let go undid the strap on the gauntlet and fell to the ground using her body to cushion Blake's fall.
Yang stared up at the remains of the tower and saw the shattered sky. It looked like a black sheet of glass had formed above the tower with the remains of the top floor being slowly sucked into the darkness. The moon was hidden behind the anomaly and blocked any light it would have provided. A group of the glowing soldiers surrounded them. Yang couldn't even find the strength to stand up and try to fight them off. With no other choice she did the one thing that might save her teammate.
"Please help her," Yang begged them to help Blake.
The soldiers looked between one another in a form of deliberation. With a nod of understanding they turned away from them and walked back into the battlefield. Yang could feel tears beginning to swell up from her eyes at the realization they were abandoned. The sound of footsteps crushing grass stirred Yang from her thoughts. Finding the source Yang hardly recognized the familiar suit now bathed in blood.
"Yang Xiao Long, it appears you've fallen short on your assigned task." Weiss looked down on the duo.
"Blake needs medical attention. Please help her."
"It would look bad to not hold up my end of the bargain." With a wave of her hand four glyphs appeared around them. The glyphs began to spin as a hooded figure rose out of each one. "I'll have my most skilled physicians look after her. For now, let's clear a path for them."
Three soldiers carefully picked Blake up with the fourth supporting Yang so she could follow. Bodies now littered the once peaceful school and have stained the grounds red. As they walked across the field a few of the soldiers retreated to allow Weiss to enter at the forefront of the battle. She wasn't using Myrtenaster and instead had summoned a rapier with a glyph.
Rushing into a contingent of knights Yang could only watch in shock as Weiss went to town on them. The first one she ran across tried to swipe her with its sword. Ducking under the blade Weiss tried to pierce its unarmored shoulder joint. As her blade came to a stop thanks to the knight's aura the blade snapped back providing a clear path from the barrel it was built upon. In a flash of light and smoke the bullet tore through the man's vitals with the bullet being caught by the armor as it exited the knight. Brining her rapier up she parried an incoming spear and pushed it into the earth. Weiss stepped on the shaft shattering the pole beneath her heels as three of her soldiers impaled the attacker on their blades.
The knights were sorely outnumbered by this point and were fighting a losing battle. What should have been an easy battle had turned into a battle for mere survival. After pushing the cultist further into the school they came under attack from behind. Their escape route cut off when the mysterious third force swarmed out of the tower. They had no means of retreating back to their landing crafts without treading through the forests or the town if they managed to break through the glowing hunters. Looking around a few screams erupted around the knights as swords were repeatedly stabbed into the downed to finish them off. Some struggling to get back up and reaching for salvation only to meet the end of a sword.
Approaching the entrance to the medical wing they saw a hunter holding the door open for them. Walking into the building they were led to the nearest operating room. Blake was set on the table and the suit stripped away to better see the wound in question. Before the doctors went any further Weiss pulled Yang out of the room.
"I'm going to need you to stay out here and let them do their job." Weiss kept an arm over Yang in case she tried to barge into the room.
"Weiss, what happened to you?" Yang could understand not interfering with the doctors' work, but even the Heiress usual mannerisms had changed. Weiss seemed to be even more stuck up then when they first met and was even looking down on them.
"Weiss made a deal with us to protect all of you. The only thing of value we sought was form and her body made for a perfect host." Before she could continue Yang grabbed her by the collar.
"Give me pack my teammate, now."
"Sadly that isn't an option at the moment. Weiss has yet to fulfill the entirety of the contract."
"Then how to I end your stupid deal and get Weiss back?"
"Either help fulfill her end of the bargain or have us break our end of it."
"What would have to happen?"
"Our kingdom restored to its former glory and power or the permanent death of a member of team RWBY. Be warned, should Weiss complete this contract her soul will remained scarred from what it has already taken on to accommodate us. So are you willing to join Weiss?" The woman held out her hand.
Yang stared at the hand realizing everything Weiss must have sacrificed for the team. Just to better protect them through the night she had sold her very being to some spirits. The fact that Weiss had willing made the choice for the team sent a pain through Yang's heart. Yang took the spirit's hand and felt a sudden chill rush over her body. Soon the chilling grip began to burn Yang's hand before it was released.
I know this isn't the same Adam you've all seen from V3, but this is what I had originally imagined him to be ever since the Black trailer. A man who has gained an absolute hate for humanity after experiencing the worst they have to offer and a want to shield his kind from the same fate. Adam was always going to be a villain who could never team up with the others due to his willingness to kill humans simply because they were in the way. In all honesty, if this is what Adam was like in the show I could understand his reasoning behind turning the White Fang to violence. Sadly, that's not the case and instead we have an abusive edgelord whose ability to run a terrorist organization is now incredibly questionable.
With that done Rwby V4 is scheduled to release in 2 months and I feel it is time to showcase my concerns for this and future volumes.
First and foremost is Lancaster becoming cannon just to shit on Pyrrha fans on top of Ruby gaining deus ex powers from Pyrrha's death and Ruby now leading Pyrrha's team. It would be just such a boring and generic romance and push Jaune further into the area of the Main character, which he shouldn't be. The show is called RWBY folks, not JNPR or Jaune Arc and these four chicks who sometimes matter. Second is giving Jaune a OP semblance and then later in the series having him kill Cinder despite there being no logical way for him to accomplish it, as a form of fan service. Teamwork and strategic themes will be thrown out the window and Ruby will be toted as the only one that can defeat Salem. Basically making her the chosen one cliché. More characters dying pointlessly too further Ruby/Jaune/whoever's development. When Black Sun inevitably becomes canon, there will still be hints/jabs at Bumblebee. We all know that despite how well bumblebee could be used in the series to show Yang and Blake healing together to overcome their shortcomings, we also know it will be looked over just to pair up the two faunas in the series who've interacted with each other. All of team RWBY become maidens. Leading to no other character being able to keep up with them. In laymen terms, everyone is besides the main cast and villain is now Krillin. Their new purpose is to showcase just how strong the villain is before the heroes arrive and save the day. Ren and Nora still living in their own bubble and rarely if ever interact with other characters meaningfully. I mean, come one, these two have some of the best possible development out of the cast and an interesting past that we have already been alluded to. The fact that it has so much potential makes me think that we'll never get any real development with them due to how the team seems to usually handle such opportunities.