Chapter 52 – Nikos Legacy
Pyrrha
The birds tweeted joyously in the trees that surrounded them, the bright sun shone down upon the Group as they approached the Nikos Hold. The name of this great Fortress was simply known as Olympus, it stood tall even now. The massive walls that were damaged from Grimm bombardment still stood alongside the watch towers. The Gates were broken open, yet the rust still did not rot them to the point of collapse.
Pyrrha stepped forward, her bronze plated boot pressed into the soil and crushed the grass beneath her, the wind blew against her cheek and her long tail of red hair danced with it. Her eyes were wide and bright, as she stared at the home of her Ancestors…the place her bloodline began. It gave her chills, and despite how much life had grown over it all, she could still see the scars of war. There were old spears that stuck up from the ground like bones from a great beast, and the wind whistled through the cracks and crevices in the fortress ahead of them. None of them could find words, Jaune approached Pyrrha and his hand found hers. She felt his warmth grasp her and she held him tight as she stared at the ancient ruins.
Ozpin walked forward with his cane at his side, and he exhaled through his nose, and finally spoke when he looked at Pyrrha. "Are you okay, Pyrrha Nikos?" He asked her, and she looked at him.
How could she answer this question?
She was staring at the birthplace of her bloodline and where it was almost wiped out, every body that was left behind…she could have been related to any one of them. And she never knew their names, nobody knew their names. She walked forward and she crouched down with Jaune next to her, she pressed her hand against the soil and she just took it all in. She could feel it, feel the energy that came off this place, in the ground itself. She blew out a breath and lifted her head up. She looked at the Professor who stood behind her. "Yes…Professor. I'm just, taking all of this in. This was where my family began…and I never even knew they were here." She said to him.
Ozpin nodded his head, and he chuckled. "Well I know it may not look like it, but this was not where Ares Nikos and his House actually fell." He revealed, they all looked at him with disbelief.
"Seriously? I mean…just look at the place. Looks like it was a massacre to me." Cinder said as she held out her hand with confusion. Ruby felt the same way, none of this place looked like there was a resounding victory.
"When I and the rest of the Knights of Grimm were corrupted, and we lead the first attack against Arkhonex, the Spartans of Nikos held the Fortress against them. With their Phalanx Strategy, the Grimm could not break through. Their Ballistas managed to take down airborne Grimm before they could even get close. They held the entire Fortress for three weeks, constantly. Most of them passed away afterwards…merely from malnutrition." Ozpin explained as he walked with Pyrrha across the field of dead.
They passed by some bodies that were left behind, and indeed…not one of them were Spartans. They all had different symbols, some of which they did not even recognise. "Then, who were these soldiers?" Nora asked as she walked past one of the skeletons clad in old armour.
"Wraiths, that possessed the bodies of those who were killed in the attack. Many of which were soldiers. But even they could not get through the Spartans' Blockade." Ozpin said, he sounded truly impressed by the skill and determination of these Spartans. They all could see where Pyrrha's skill came from, she would have fought just as hard as all of these men as well.
"Tough bastards." Qrow chuckled as he looked around at the location. It was incredible, and it would never stop amazing them, at how despite the terror and the destruction that happened here in Arkhonex…on the surface at least…life just goes on. The grass, the insects, the rabbits, the deer, just all forms of life surviving together in the bones of such an Advanced Civilisation. A civilisation now forgotten, and returned to the dirt of which it sprouted from, like the stem of a flower.
"Yes, they were." Ozpin agreed, Pyrrha knew though that the Nikos House did indeed fall, but not the whole house obviously…otherwise she would not be here.
"But they didn't win in the end, did they?" She asked.
"No, they did not. They fought valiantly here in Arkhonex, and they refused to back down or run. They stood tall, and stared death in the eyes…as they all fell. But not all of them, Ares' Daughter and Son survived, except for Cynthia Nikos of course. Her desire for revenge on those she lost, it brought her to Salem…and she never returned." Ozpin explained, and Oscar lowered his head sadly. He never really knew Cynthia Nikos well but she struck him to be a kind hearted soul, and she died just like the rest of her family.
"You said that the Nikos Family once had Silver Eyes, right?" Ruby inquired.
"That is correct." He answered.
"So…how? How did they consistently have them?" Ruby inquired curiously, and Ozpin chuckled.
"Well, the Silver Eyes is a Dominant Trait. The parent who had them would pass them on to their children, no matter the eyes of their partner. But…over time…with the knowledge of the power fading away and their children never learning to use their powers…out of fear…it lead to the Nikos Family losing the trait forever." Ozpin explained as they walked towards the broken open gate. Something massive slammed through these, and from the scars that were across the walls, it looked like they were the tusks of a Goliath. It must have managed to twist the gates and its steel, and ripped it straight from the mechanism to allow the army of Grimm through.
But since there were no Spartans here…
They must have tricked them.
"Man, how did they win this battle if the Grimm broke through?" Jaune asked as he walked through the archway with Pyrrha next to him, she still held his hand tight and longingly. The walls were very Nikos Inspired, that much was clear, the stone had bronze accents of steel and gold across them in beautifully artistic fashion.
"The Spartans managed to retreat back, and they tricked the Grimm into storming inside, this strategy allowed them to escort the civilians they saved to safety, and out of the city walls. You see, Ares Nikos was a ruthless combatant…and just as ruthless at leading, but if he had the chance to save civilians instead of slaughter them to bide time for other plans, he would take it…only if it was for the survival of Remnant though." He added, Pyrrha looked at Ozpin with worry.
"What do you mean?" She asked him, and he looked at her.
"Every Family has a dark secret, Miss Nikos. Yours was no exception, you see Ares Nikos became infamous for how unstoppable he was on the battlefield. His strategic genius and skill made him something to fear. He was even nicknamed The God of War to some people in Arkhonex. Nobody could defeat him." Ozpin explained, but as they entered the courtyard, they saw the destruction. And despite the fact there were no bodies, it was still abandoned, and Arkhonex was a massive Graveyard of souls.
"And yet…" Ren said sadly as he held out his hands to all of Arkhonex, as he heard the birds continue to chirp away, he listened to the wind, and the silence in the air. They all agreed with him on this, all of that sacrifice, all that skill…and Arkhonex was still lost and forgotten. All that knowledge, technology and resources…all lost.
"Yes…even the God of War could not stop Vir Nominis Umbra from destroying Arkhonex." Ozpin stated, and Raven shook her head with a scoff.
"Then what hope do we have?" Raven questioned, Ruby glanced at her and she just sighed and walked around.
"Was this the Courtyard?" Pyrrha asked, and Kragen nodded his head before Ozpin could answer.
"Yes, I remember visiting this place with Cynthia once. Good old Ares always trained his men down here…when they were only eight years old, man or woman it did not matter. He believed that strength was not just found in your body, but also in your heart. He believed that you had to steel it, and fear nothing. The method of training Spartans…well…it was brutal, but as you can see, it made them some of the greatest warriors to ever walk Remnant." Kragen explained, he walked over to one of the old weapons caches, that was overgrown and ruined, but even still, some of those weapons would be worth thousands.
Blake walked beside Ruby as they examined the walls of this small arena, or a large pit, that was built. Even now, after thousands of years, the stains of blood could be seen. The slash marks on the walls from where beasts would attack their enemies. Blake ran her finger down across the scars on the wall, and she looked back at Ozpin, Winter stepped aside so then he could see her. "Did they use Grimm against the kids?" Blake questioned, and Yenna nodded her head.
"You have to remember, the Arkhoni back then? We knew how to harness the power of the Grimm, we could tame them and turn them onto our side…at least we thought we could. Clearly Umbra let us get soft and feel all soft, then he flipped the script…then it was a damn massacre." Yenna explained as she gestured to the destroyed surroundings of Olympus. Winter walked around as well, and she already could picture how they fought.
As she touched the ground, she gasped from what she saw, what they all saw. There was an Echo of Time, this was another one of those mysterious things that happened a lot here in Arkhonex. Echoes of Time, Oscar could see them anywhere in the world, but here everyone could see them. They all saw a young woman, she battled against someone that they could not see with a long staff, she blocked some of the strikes but got hit in the face, hard, so hard it broke her nose and knocked her on the ground.
"Iterum." The voice demanded, it was Ares Nikos' voice.
"Was that him?" Pyrrha asked Ozpin.
"That was indeed his voice…he would train every Spartan himself. He wanted them to be strong, and he fought them hard…but as you can see…" Ozpin said as he held up his hand to the crumbling echo of time before them. The shards of Chronon Particles showed their bodies in full detail as they stood there. They then saw Ares crouch down and he wiped the blood from her nose and he spoke to her softly with his arm around her, she smiled and nodded her head with a smile. "He understood that they were still children, and they would fight for him if they respected him. So he cared for them, looked after them…and rewarded them every time they landed a hit on him. At first they were sweets, they tasted nice but were also made to strengthen their bodies and make them bigger and faster. Then it was new armour…finally it was their own personal weapons. At that point they were allowed to find a partner, and start a family. Then the cycle would continue." Ozpin explained to them.
The Training Style…it made a lot of sense.
People who fight for someone that they cared for, would always fight harder than someone who did not. It also would keep inspiring the kids to fight harder and improve.
"Did every Nikos Spartan have Silver Eyes?" Ruby asked curiously.
"No, only those who followed Ares' bloodline did. They were known as Spartan Polemarchs." Ozpin told her. "Pyrrha, you are from his bloodline, but as I explained, your family forbid the use of the silver eyes after Arkhonex fell…out of fear. There were no more Nikos' left after…and they did not want to lose everything. And eventually, your eyes became green instead of silver." Ozpin explained to her, she looked at a puddle inside of the pit and she stared at her bright green eyes.
Ruby looked at her own reflection too, and they looked at each other and shared a smile. It was crazy to imagine if Pyrrha also had Silver Eyes…she would have been nearly unstoppable.
"Come, follow me." Ozpin said to them as he pointed his cane down the path which entered the largest of the buildings, the main Building. He pushed the old doors open and the wind blew through. He held his hand up as the dust and old cobwebs blew right into him. He pulled them down and they walked in slowly and carefully. Jaune drew Crocea Mors as they walked in, and they turned to see the beautiful paintings.
Of Ares Nikos, and many other faces that they did not recognise…until they saw Cynthia. She was so young and beautiful, with her stunning bright silver eyes. "Professor Ozpin?" Oscar asked as he stared at the painting of her. Ozpin stopped and he looked back at him and then at the painting of Cynthia.
"Yes, Mr Pine?" He replied.
"About Cynthia…this painting of her looks almost royal, but when I found her she was barely getting by. Why was that?" He inquired, but to their surprise it was Pyrrha who knew.
"It was a test." Pyrrha answered, he turned and he looked at her.
"You know this?" Oscar asked her.
"Yeah…" Jaune agreed with curiosity.
"I guess it was a tradition my family kept, we trained the same way, maybe not as brutally…but my Mother and my Father were quite rich when I was born. We had a fancy estate and everything we ever wanted. But they never wanted me to be spoiled by it…so they had me go out into Mistral for a whole week without their help, to get by. I understood what it meant to be poor, to be hungry. It is why care so much for those who were not as fortunate as I was." Pyrrha explained, and it also explained her kindness and generosity even further.
"How did you do it?" Nora asked her.
"Well, I met this…" She paused and her eyes widened, and she clenched her fist.
"…this what?" Jaune asked her, and she sighed, because she never realised up until this moment.
"This Merchant."
It was all she needed to say, and they knew exactly who she was referring to. Even then, Vir Nominis Umbra was watching her, plotting her future, and planning whatever atrocities he would put her through when Cinder would eventually kill her at Beacon. "Vir Nominis Umbra…" Winter said, they all knew but one of them had to say the name.
"Yes…I just realised now that I was retelling the story." Pyrrha shuddered, and it made them all feel a bit anxious. Blake turned her head when she heard the caw of a Crow outside and she drew Gambol Shroud and aimed the pistol down the hallway. And there it was, a black crow with glowing red eyes and a crystal beak. It stared at her, but she shot it without hesitation, and it shattered into a burst of feathers, before fading away altogether.
"He really does like watching us…doesn't he?" She asked, and Ozpin sighed.
"I really keep thinking I know where he is…but he always manages to sneak up." Ozpin said with anger. It always frustrated him at how easily Umbra could spy on people and you would never even realise it.
Ozpin sighed, they did not have time to worry about Vir Nominis Umbra. He turned and he walked ahead of them, and Pyrrha followed him with a skip in her step. Jaune stayed close to her, whilst Ruby stared at the Crystal Beak that was left behind, which eventually crumbled away into nothing.
Ozpin approached the room that was before them, and it was a large and beautiful dining room. The dinner table was left there, completely clean. It had some cobwebs and dust, sure, but the silverware and the dishes were left where they were last placed. They all walked in and they looked around. The Architect stared at the fireplace before he lifted his head to stare at the painting of Ares with his wife and three children. He was so happy once, and now all of this was left behind…and forgotten.
But as they stood there, they saw Ozpin walk up the steps and he extended his cane into his Staff Form. He slammed it down and the cogs spun, and he manually formed an Echo of Time, one he needed them all to see. One that Pyrrha needed to see, the table showed the projections of multiple people. This was definitely set long after the events of the last Visionary Book they saw Vyrryk in. At this point, the Congregation of Dawn and Horridus Morbus was handled, and Arkhonex had already fallen, but the Nikos Generals and their soldiers still remained here at Olympus.
Ares was sat at the end of the table, they all watched as the Generals appeared…and then Jaune's eyes widened with disbelief of whom he saw stood at the very end of the table. He was much older than when he last saw him, his hair and beard still had some blonde in them but it was mostly grey. He held his arms behind his back…and Jaune approached his Echo. It was Vyrryk Arc, he did indeed survive the War against the Congregation of Dawn.
But why was he here?
They were about to get the answer.
"The design is ready, Ares. The time has come." Vyrryk told him, and Ares sighed with the nod of his head.
"Not many of us left, Gentlemen." He spoke, his voice was deep and gravelly which matched his body and face. His hair was no longer red like it was in his younger days, his hair was completely white and he must have been in his seventies at this point. Or the equivalent of that in terms of Arkhoni Years, due to the fact they lived double the lifespan of the Current Generation.
"What are you two talking about? We have not been informed on these plans." One of the Generals said where he sat, one of them looked like he was a Schnee too.
"Yes, Lord Commander Nikos, what is going on?" Another inquired, Ares looked at Vyrryk and he just nodded his head.
Everyone watched the Echo of Arkhonex with widened eyes.
"My Militia and I, we have been working hard to fight against what my father has done. There was an old Sword he had the designs for, and I managed to sneak into our old home and steal them back. The sword was said to be able to harness incredible power, to channel the power and semblance of every Arc who wields it…The Speaker I mentioned in our last meeting? It told me that there is a future after this…but Arkhonex must fall in order for it to happen. It simply said that there will be Four…and one will be able to end this once and for all. We are all a part of this, and we must bide our time…and I must build this sword to make sure that my descendant carries it." Vyrryk Arc explained.
And just then…Jaune just heard the truth about the very sword he was holding. He stared at it, and the Glyphs were shining bright. He stared at it and back at Vyrryk Arc with a gasp, he stepped back with disbelief. But the Generals did not seem as convinced as everyone else watching this memory. They all guffawed at Vyrryk at his explanation of his plan. "Are you serious, boy? Arkhonex is falling by the day! Every single settlement we ever built is being demolished, Queen's Cove had just fallen!" One of the Generals yelled in anger.
"I understand your frustration, but this sword may be our best chance." Vyrryk told them.
"What have you deigned to name it?" Ares asked him.
Vyrryk looked at him and he sighed.
"Crocea Mors – the Yellow Death." He answered, and they all looked at him as he named the sword, and Jaune held the same sword up and he sighed. He held it close to his chest and he closed his eyes. He never realised how important this sword would be, not just in strength…but to him…and his entire bloodline.
Pyrrha looked at Jaune and she just held his hand lovingly. "What is it you want us to do, Mr Arc?" A General inquires and Vyrryk sighs.
"I need time…our base in Vale is not sufficient and does not have the Forge we need. But the Old Forge…in Old Town…that Forge will be the one we need to make the sword. I can bring the weapon to the Witches and they can help me by enchanting the blade…except…" Vyrryk said, but Ares already knew what the issue with this plan was.
"Old Town is completely infested with Grimm." Ares stated, and all the Generals buried their heads in their hands.
"House Nikos…what I ask of you…it is a war crime…dishonourable…and I am sorry. But this sword, we need it. I know the word of an Oracle is not much, but after everything…we need every bit of help we can get." Vyrryk explained as he held out his hands, and they all fell silent. They knew what he was asking.
Ozpin paused the moment as he stood there. "You see…House Nikos…they made it their mission to save as many civilians as they could, they lost many Spartans along the way. And they knew of a Traitor among their ranks, one that was manipulating the Council, for what they believed was for Umbra's end goal. Ares was the only one who trusted and believed in Vyrryk…and he had to make…a hard call. But it was not the first." Ozpin explained to them all, then he tapped the staff against the ground once again. The memory repeated before their very eyes.
Ares stood up and he cleared his throat. "Thank you, Vyrryk. Please, you may take a seat." He said to him, which Vyrryk respectfully did, but the Generals were still trying to comprehend everything that was just shared.
"What? You're going to thank him? You do know what he is asking, don't you?" The General questioned.
"I do…and it must be done. It's not a nice decision, this I know. But Arkhonex and its future is soon going to be non-existent…Vyrryk will help us assure the possibility of there being life after this is over…a new civilisation, one that learns from our mistakes. Maybe…even a way to destroy Vir Nominis Umbra once and for all." Ares spoke truthfully to them all, it was strange to hear someone else in such a high place of authority to speak of Vir Nominis Umbra with certainty…especially with what they experienced with President Thaddeus Brimstone and Atlas.
"M-Maybe we should talk about this! You're talking about putting guns, swords and shields in civilians' hands! Against the Oncoming Shadow! They won't stand a chance." One of the Generals argued.
"The Oncoming Shadow cannot be stopped, General. I've seen them, they are endless, they just keep coming out of the darkness, they're like an ocean. He will not stop until our entire Empire is wiped off the face of the planet, all because of what those damned Scientists uncovered." He stated, and they all sighed.
"Damn Eggheads, never should have poked around in things they didn't understand." Another General growled.
"We were all fools…to think the Grimm were under our control. We laid the bomb and set the timer, Vir Nominis Umbra simply hit the detonator." Ares explained, and none of them argued with that description. "We will help Vyrryk accomplish his task no matter what, the Grimm cannot be anywhere near Old Town, Crocea Mors must be forged. If it is not, then there may not be a generation to protect." He explained to them all as he pushed his hands against the table.
"But the Schnees have money, we could use that money…I dunno…use machines…something?" A General begged.
"NO! The Economy collapsed as soon as Arkhonex fell, and it only got worse when Ephai was destroyed at the same time. Money will not buy Vyrryk and Constantine the time that they need…that can only be paid for in blood. And I know exactly where to pay it." He explained, and he opened his hand and formed the image of the Arc Fortress. Where Ezekiel Arc was hiding.
"My Father?" Vyrryk asked.
"He has been working against us, I have seen it, I know it in my bones. The bastard is a coward through and through, all he wants is a dynasty. We will send our forces there, every man and woman, and we will draw the Grimm in with us. Even if they wipe us out…the Grimm will destroy them too." Ares explained, his mission was suicide, and one of the men could tell.
"Lord Commander…I know…the way you lost your wife, I am sorry…but we cannot lose you." A General begged.
"You do not understand my meaning – Arkhonex is over, Generals. I have already spilled more blood than any of you combined, my judgement has been waiting for me for a very long time. House Nikos will fall in this fight, that much is certain, but if we can kill Ezekiel in the process, then it will be a victory. And Vyrryk will have the time he needs to forge Crocea Mors…mind you…the Oncoming Shadow will swamp us fast. You might not have much time to do it." Ares explained as he looked at Vyrryk, the Arc Knight stood tall.
"I will spend every second, as soon as the Grimm are gone I will light the forge, and get out of there…I just…I'm so sorry." He apologised, and Ares smiled.
"Do not apologise, Vyrryk. I am a Lord Commander, I know when I am on the losing side. But I will not change allegiances like your father…I will not go gently into that good night. Generals…if any of you choose to leave…now is the time. I will not judge you for your decision…but know that if you follow me…there is no turning back. You will not return." Ares explained, it gave them chills. They did not realise how dire the situation truly was, there were more Grimm signatures in Arkhonex than there were living things.
And yet…not one General stood up to leave.
They all remained there and nodded their heads. "We are Spartans, Lord Commander. And we shall fight by your side to the bitter end…even against odds…that will destroy us." One of the Generals spoke up, and Lord Commander Ares bowed his head, it made Pyrrha tear up with heartbreak.
They were so brave…they knew they would all die…and yet they would do it…all so then a single sword would be forged. Jaune held it, and suddenly it felt like he was holding glass, he did not ever want to let go of it. The amount of poor souls who lost their lives, all so then Vyrryk and Constantine Arc could get into Old Town to build it at a single Forge that was still burning.
Ares looked at Vyrryk, who felt such guilt. "Good luck to you, Vyrryk Arc. Get that sword forged…we are counting on you…the future is counting on your success." Ares said to him, and Vyrryk nodded his head.
"Good luck to you…Lord Commander." He said his goodbyes, and he turned to walk away. Ozpin lifted his staff and it collapsed back down into his cane, and the echo of time faded away before their very eyes. They were silent, it felt like there were stood there for hours trying to contemplate everything they just witnessed from Ares and Vyrryk's talk. All of that death, for a single sword.
A Sword…that could help destroy Vir Nominis Umbra.
And yet this Speaker said to Vyrryk that out of the four, only one will be the one to actually end this once and for all. If this Speaker was to be believed…
Whoever he was.
"By the gods…those brave soldiers…they went to face Ezekiel Arc, knowing that they would all be swarmed by the Oncoming Shadow?" Cinder asked with fear and Ozpin nodded his head sadly.
"Ezekiel…he betrayed Arkhonex?" Jaune asked.
"Ezekiel Arc is the most destructive traitor to ever walk the planet, Mr Arc. His children were not like him, and contrary to belief…both brothers had honour. An Honour that their father lacked." Ozpin explained, but Jaune still remembered what he heard about Constantine Arc.
"But…he broke his vow…he dishonoured himself." He said, and Ozpin stared at him.
"Did he? Did you see him commit the crime?" He asked curiously, and that simple question started to raise more in the back of his mind.
"Did…did they die with honour? My family?" Pyrrha tearfully asked Ozpin, and Kragen looked at her and then at Ozpin. They both nodded and he gave her the truth.
"They managed to hold the Oncoming Shadow…and Ezekiel's Forces off…for two whole days, before they fell. Not one of them fled, not even the civilians. Ares had to make many tough calls as the Lord Commander, but everyone trusted him. And if he said that their sacrifices would save the world…then they would fight to the bitter end." Kragen assured, and Pyrrha…well it still hurt. Ares sounded like he had honour, a fair amount of guilt very clearly had plagued his mind despite it all. But…they all died fighting…to the end.
There is no greater honour in the world, than that.
"Come with me, there is more you must see." Ozpin said to them, Blake turned and watched as Ozpin walked down the steps, and the three other surviving Arkhoni followed. She walked next to Ruby and she looked at her with fear. They had heard stories about the Oncoming Shadow, the Army of Grimm so massive that they would bring about an artificial night and kill all life around them.
They followed Ozpin, and they found a large room nearby. It looked like some sort of large Lecture Amphitheatre, cobwebs hung everywhere in the building and dust was everywhere. Some light bled through the cracks and holes in the ceiling, but in the centre…it opened up before their very eyes.
Yet another message…but this was no Echo of Time.
This was a Holographic Message that opened up, and they all saw the Nikos Symbol, exactly the same as it was now. The spear…and then they saw his Hologram appear before them. This must have been recorded before he left the home of his family, to face Ezekiel…and die fighting valiantly.
Pyrrha walked forward and she stared at him, she felt small in comparison to him, yet she did not feel intimidated by him. "Hello…my name is Lord Commander Ares Nikos, I was once the leader of Arkhonex's Military Force. I was in charge of maintaining order and destroying Grimm Threats…or other purposes." Ares explained with his arms held behind his back. Video footage appeared before them and they walked forward to see the footage.
Spartans, all of them fighting hard against their enemies, stabbing them with their spears and holding the huge forces of Darkness back with shields alone. Not one Grimm, not one soldier, could get past them. And he always fought with them on the front lines, he never cowered behind walls, he faced the enemies head on.
"And this…is a confession of my crimes against Remnant, and her people." He said to them all, and he bowed his head. "I have presided over the greatest loss of Human and Faunus life that has ever happened in History. No killers, no mass murderers, could ever match up to the things that I have done…to protect my Empire…to protect, my family." He explained, and then the ground opened up in front of him, Pyrrha was so close she had to step back so then it could rise out.
"If you have found this message…and you are of my bloodline…then please, place your hand upon the open page of this Visionary Book. The truth will be made clear to you…for that is all that matters in this world of ours." Ares explained to whomever was watching. Pyrrha stared at him and then at the Visionary Book that opened up before her, and there was the handprint. She gazed at it, before she turned back to Jaune. He nodded to her, and she smiled…
She looked at Ozpin and he nodded. "Thank you…" She kindly thanked, since she wanted to know about her family's history ever since she was a child.
"I owed you…for what I forced onto you…" Ozpin said, it still ate away at him, what he did to try and secure the very powers that Cinder had acquired.
Pyrrha looked back at the book, and she blew out a breath, as the whispering voices called out to her, to observe her family's history. She held her hand above the mark…and pushed down.
Ares
She was seeing through his eyes…
…he was a young man at this point, his hair was still red and his skin was fairer. He held his hands against the table as he stared down at the maps of which he managed to plan out the attack against the rebelling forces. This was during the Bloody Epoch, a War that surrounded the very idea of materialism, which sparked between two houses…both of which were now completely vanquished and forgotten, long before the events that brought Arkhonex down into the ashes.
He sighed as he pressed his hand to his head, when he turned to hear the voice of his wife behind him. "My love?" Aphrodite spoke, she walked up to him from behind. She had bronze skin and long locks of black hair and large brown eyes. She did not have the body of a warrior, unlike her husband, but she was very beautiful, and her skills were useful in other ways. Aphrodite Nikos worked at the Fertility Centre with Isabel Cox, she helped people have children there, or helped understand their afflictions.
"Aphrodite? I did not know you were awake…" He sighed, he wore his black gown, she still ached from his fierce love making earlier. This was the night of which that they first ever conceived a child, they were young and madly in love. The first of three children – their son. Cynthia Nikos was the youngest of the children.
"What are you doing, Ares? It's dark…" She softly said as she wrapped her arms around his large muscular body, he held her hand and kissed the back of her palm. She giggled and she rested her head on his shoulder. She stared at the plans of the Siege against the Claviki – one of the Aggressor Houses that rose up due to the Bloody Epoch.
"Just…looking over our plans…" He said to her as he checked their siege locations, the last thing they could ever have happen would be a mistake. The Spartans had no room for error, they needed this to be a clean sacking of their house. They gave them plenty of chances in the past, but now they were out of chances, and out of luck.
"Is…is it really too late to sue for peace?" She asked with worry.
"We've tried everything with them…" He said to her.
"War is your realm, husband, not mine. But…you are marching into this war, and you never sleep. How can you fight a war if you can barely keep your eyes open?" She asked him, and he chuckled as he held her.
"Your fears are unfounded. The Claviki will fall, and the Bloody Epoch will soon come to a decisive end. Then I will be by your side once more." He said as he turned to her, he held her round her back and she wrapped her arms around him, their lips were close together as she whispered.
"Promise me that." She softly said, and he smiled.
"I promise you." He said. "Nothing will stand between us." He assured, as he kissed her suddenly and she moaned with ecstasy and held onto him tight as he lifted her off the floor and carried her back to the bedroom.
The memories shifted, and suddenly Ares was in the middle of the war. Screams were everywhere as the Spartans battled together, they held their shields and they moved forward in unison, grunting with every step, and they pushed their spears forward with every single attack. The Claviki were being absolutely decimated, every single soldier who tried to attack got rammed through the chest or the throat – or the head in some occasions – but massive spears.
Nothing could stop them…
…nothing at all.
They battered, they bashed, they stabbed and they cut through the soldiers one by one. They burned the homes down and left their home completely destroyed. As Ares walked through the meadows where the ashes of a destroyed House flowed past him…Pyrrha could hear his own narration of his sins.
"My sins…cardinal but true…I massacred more lives than I can count, all for an Empire that was more corrupt on the inside than those I fought against. I laid entire Houses to waste that stood against us…but that…that was not the massacre that haunts me…only one did." Ares explained, and the memories shifted many years later, his hair had turned greyer in places and he had aged a bit. His three children were born at this point…and the Congregation of Dawn were on their knees.
Pyrrha stood there and she could see the ghostly apparition of Ares as he testified his sins. "The Congregation of Dawn were falling, we had withered them away to a mere few, burning everything they had made with nothing behind. But the Father had another trick up his sleeve…" He revealed, and he opened his hand. Pyrrha gasped when she saw the black smog blast out from his wrist and start infecting everything around Pyrrha. "Horridus Morbus, a disease that devoured Biomass, and converted it into dark matter. A pool of black sludge, after it had melted every inch of your body down…into nothing. This was his last resort, he wanted to wipe the Faunus off the face of the Earth and he first unleashed it upon Arkhonex. The Witches of the Restless Marshlands were working hard…"
"…but it was not enough. We tried to keep it contained…and then it advanced. It spread to Ephai but we managed to send cures there to stop people from being infected, but we never realised that someone also managed to sneak off…to hit Menagerie. The Varr Skaal Tribe were in charge there, a Bloodline long lost now…because of me." He revealed and her eyes widened, the vision formed around her and she saw the Airships gliding towards the large island.
There was no Desert back then…no desert at all…it was a lush tropical island.
He stood at the bridge and Pyrrha stood beside him as he watched over, she looked at the old recording of her Ancestor as he spoke. "My Mission? To contain the spread of the disease, no matter the cost. And if things had gotten too serious there…I would be left no choice…but to use the Relic of Destruction." He revealed, her eyes widened and she slowly turned to see the Relic contained inside of a cylinder behind him, floating thanks to a piece of Gravity Dust.
She turned back to the island and watched with fear. "Lord Commander." One of the Generals spoke, Pyrrha turned to hear his voice, and he was one of the very same Generals at the table they saw earlier. "We are in position before Menagerie, and have begun scanning."
"Show me." Ares commanded, and a large holographic map of the Island formed before him and he stared at the scans as it passed across it, searching for detections of Horridus Morbus. Most of the island appeared clean for now, most of the Varr Skaal seemed completely unphased by it.
"Population counting to over twenty seven thousand Faunus, Lord Commander. No signs of Horridus Morbus so far." He said to Ares, and Pyrrha felt hopeful as she watched the scan…it was nearly covering the entire island.
"Is it possible? Have we gotten ahead of it?" Ares pondered, then…suddenly…the eastern side of Menagerie suddenly shone bright red, a massive section…up to one thousand people had already been contracted with the disease and it was spreading fast.
"Horridus Morbus signature detected, Lord Commander!" The General called out with fear.
"NO!" Ares roared with anger and heartbreak, and he slammed his fist into his table so hard that the screen cracked.
"Lord Commander? The Plague has been detected in a locale that we could cleanse alone…perhaps if…we warn the Varr Skaal?" The General asked, but Ares had seen how fast that disease could spread.
It killed his wife.
Slowly and painfully.
"No…if we warn them, we give the disease time to spread." He said, and his eyes started to well up with tears. He squeezed them shut and turned to the Relic of Destruction. It was the last thing he wanted to do…but… "You know we have no choice." He said to them.
"Give me the Relic of Destruction…I will cleanse Menagerie." He told them, and Pyrrha's green eyes widened with horror.
"NO! Don't! Please no!" She screamed with horror, but there was nothing she could do. The events were written, and now they were going to play out as they happened. Ares took the Relic of Destruction and his Silver Eyes shone bright as he held the powerful Relic in his hand. It then floated as he opened an extending bridge from the glass, it opened and he stood before them.
He opened his palm…and the flaming pebble floated before him…and suddenly a bright solar light suddenly blasted out from the small rock, and it burned the plants, the houses, and the people. It all burned and disintegrated before him, in mere moments an entire island of twenty thousand people was completely extinguished…
…and left nothing behind…
…but sand.
Pyrrha
The Visionary Book pulsated and threw her back and she screamed with horror, right into Jaune's arms. She held onto him with heartbreak, and she turned to see Blake, who was on her knees with horror. She then saw that Ares was telling them all what he did as she was experiencing it for herself, she did not have to tell her about what he did to the Varr Skaal. And suddenly, the mystery of what happened to the Bloodline made a lot of sense. The Great Faunus Tribe that once ruled Menagerie…they were still there.
The Desert of Menagerie…is the Varr Skaal.
They were speechless to what they just heard Ares confess, but none of them hated him for it…because he had no choice. Didn't he? They had no time to warn them, they had to stop it right then and there. "Vyrryk promised the Varr Skaal he would protect them from the Congregation of Dawn…and in the end…it was I…who killed them all." He said and he looked down at his hands, it was like he only saw blood all over them.
He looked up at the screens changed from the footage of him destroying Menagerie to the annihilation of Arkhonex, flames that rose so high that they touched the clouds. "This is my sin…to be the man that would have to make the choice that nobody else would ever make…because it was cruel. But to face Vir Nominis Umbra you must play him against his own rules…and now I shall leave, to face my judgement once and for all." He explained, but he was not done.
"To those watching…survivors of Arkhonex who followed Vyrryk Arc, or the People Who Came After…this is my confession. Of the deeds I committed to protect my Empire from the Oncoming Shadow. From the Shivering Dominion. The Shadow will never stop, it is an endless wave of Grimm that will consume anything and everything that stands in its path until its leader – Identified as Vir Nominis Umbra – retrieves the Relics. If he gets all four…it's game over." He said to them all, luckily they already knew this information.
"This was the story I told the thousands of innocents who followed me. That they would be fighting for a better future, for a better tomorrow to save the people that came after us. But truly…it was all a lie. Everything I did…Operation Yellow Death…was the idea to inspire thousands of innocent people to fight a losing battle against death itself. Why?" He asked them.
They all listened to every word he said, and they knew who he was speaking to now.
"To buy time for you. To build Crocea Mors, and pass it down the line of Arcs to the one that must wield it when the time comes." Ares explained, Jaune and Pyrrha both stared at him, from different bloodlines…and yet their love bound them together.
Ares continued. "The Shivering Dominion – the final recorded day in Remnant's history and future…is coming fast. It cannot be stopped. But…there might be a future after it, it all depends on what comes after us. I pray…for Remnant…and for our descendants…that you do not make the same mistakes as we did." He said, and he held out his hand, it almost touched Pyrrha's cheek and a tear trickled down her cheek. "And to…whoever the beauty is…that follows me…follows my children…please…do not be…like me." Ares begged them, he began to cry in the end.
He stepped back and Pyrrha reached out for him as he stood there.
"Ares…signing off…one last time." He said…and then he disappeared from them all, and the dark silence was all that surrounded them.
Author Note - Ares Nikos...hero or villain?
I would call him a hero, he did what had to be done, despite how horrible it was, he made the hardest choices at the sacrifice of his own humanity. He may be one of my favourite Minor Characters in Knights of Grimm, because of his guilt and simply over his bravery. There is still more to come with his story and what happened, since there is so much awesome history here in Arkhonex. Schnee and Arc are my favourite ones personally. I also loved having Pyrrha learn all about this, alongside Jaune too. Got to learn about why that sword is so important too...thousands died, just so then that thing could be forged...be careful with it Jauney Boy XD
I hope you enjoyed! Just so everyone knows by the way, I will no longer be having a set schedule for updates now, it just kinda ruins my brain so I will simply write whenever I can. So that could mean earlier updates, or later. I can assure you though - it will not be over a month wait XD This way I can handle three stories at once with less stress.
Please review, follow and favourite! If you would like to join my discord you can find the spaced out link at the bottom of my Account Description, we hang out and chat about my stories, offer feedback and other stuff really. :)
Stay tuned for the next chapter!
- Matt
