Geez, it's been a while, hasn't it? Sorry to keep you waiting. Things, as you can probably tell, have been rather chaotic. Luckily, we've got action and exposition alike lined up. Anyway, let's go!
Super hero time!
Zelda: The power of the cosmos within our grasp... If only.
Izuku: I can't think of any greater heroes! Fight on!
Zelda: Heroes we may be, it's whether we are enough to face the Calamity that's the issue.
Izuku: You did it before, right? then you can do it again!
Z + I: The hero has come! Plus Ultra!
When Amber awoke, it was to a world she didn't recognise. Well, 'world' wasn't exactly the best way to phrase it. After all, could an endless void of darkness be called a world? The only material object that seemed to exist beyond herself was the shattered ground beneath her. Stretching, the brunette almost rolled over by nature, only to be met with a jagged edge that had her scrambling back. The platform looked as if some giant had torn a huge chunk of a cobbled street and chucked it into space. Rising from the broken cobble, Amber instinctively rushed to the edge, only to find her initial thoughts confirmed. Save for the pillar she stood on that stretched down near infinitely, there was nothing to meet her save for empty air.
"…Hey! Where the hell am I!? Anyone there!?" Amber began to call out, only to immediately hesitate. The only thing surrounding her for what seemed like an eternity was an inky black abyss; who the hell was going to answer? Did she really want something from a place that looked like this to answer in the first place? "If the world was going to end, I would've thought Ozpin would wake me up first…"
"I'm sure he would. After all, he is waiting to awaken you now."
Amber paused. It was as if the voice had come from nowhere and everywhere at the very same time - less a tangible sound and more something that resounded from within her. The sudden remark forced Amber into a defensive position, the vulnerability of her current situation made disturbingly obvious to her. The darkness left Amber exposed on all sides, the rather tiny platform less than ideal when most of her attacks were based around brute force.
"My, what a threatening stance. We mean no harm to you, Amber." A second voice interjected, in a manner far easier for Amber to pinpoint. Disturbingly easy in fact – it was coming from right behind her.
Barely a second had passed before Amber's hand was slicing through the air, a strike powerful enough to cause serious, if not fatal, damage to the speaker. It was a good thing then, that Amber's attack hit nought but thin air, the Maiden's eyes widening when she failed to see anyone at all. The ability to throw your voice was one thing, but to sound so close while remaining in whatever their hiding place was? Whoever these people were had skills. Whether those skills translated into combat ability was yet to be seen.
"You're not exactly the most convincing, you know?" Amber remarked in return, her eye beginning to twitch when the sound of two women giggling pervaded the area. she couldn't even use it to figure out where they were, much to Amber's further irritation. "Least you could do is reveal yourself."
"Very well. I do not object, do you Nayru?"
"I suppose not Farore. After all, I do not enjoy teasing her as much as you seem to do."
With voices like that, Amber had been expecting women. That wasn't to say she was sexist, far from it. It was less that she was expecting women exactly and more that she was expecting humanoids. That assumption meant that when she was faced with a pair of glowing orbs suddenly descending from what seemed like the heavens, Amber wasn't entirely sure how to react. All Amber managed to do was lower her hands; it wasn't exactly likely for her to be attacked when the orbs didn't have limbs to attack with.
"Hm… these forms do not exactly inspire fear or awe. Both a blessing and a curse." Farore remarked, the forest glow around her pulsing with a playful rhythm. It was something almost familiar to Amber, yet disturbingly alien. Nothing close to a Maiden's power, or even all four Maidens' powers combined. Even if she wished to continue fighting, Amber wasn't exactly certain that the tide was in her favour… despite their lack of viable appendages to fight with. "As a temporary measure, they will be sufficient, however. Nayru, would you care to begin the explanations?"
"Farore… though I am the goddess of wisdom, you should not be so quick to dump such duties onto me." The other orb muttered with a weary sigh, floating before Amber in what the girl could only interpret as an apologetic bow. With the far more calming nature of her azure light, Amber wasn't as unsettled by the sight as she should've been. "I apologise for this abrupt change of scenery. You must be woefully confused, Amber."
"…I'm talking to a pair of floating orbs in the middle of nowhere, standing on what looks like a piece of broken road." Was the reply, her tone somehow remaining even through the insanity that passed Amber's lips. "I'm not confused, I'm pretty sure I'm insane right now."
"If you were any other, then that would be the case. A human's body wasn't designed to hold the power of a goddess." Nayru said, pointedly ignoring the splutter that escaped her conversation partner. "We have little time for small talk though. The longer we remain as foreign entities within your body, the higher the chance of you meeting your death."
"Must you phrase it in such a way? It's rather harsh on the ears, do you not think?"
"It is the truth. We gain no benefits from keeping it from her, especially with what is to come."
"Wait, inside my body? No – death!?" Amber cried out, the orbs flinching back as the maiden's eyes gained a fire to them. Quite literally; it made for a rather spooky impression, such that even goddesses could be momentarily put out. "Urgh, this is ridiculous! Just tell me what's happening already!"
"…My apologies. I shall give it to you straight." Nayru replied, her form dipping slightly. "We are currently inside your soul, your heart. As you can see, it has been fractured beyond repair. Without constant life support, you will die. By accepting our power into your body, we can allow you to live unrestrained. Though we will be able to exert our presence, momentarily take over your body, you will be the dominant personality. In return, we shall lend you our powers, as much as your body can withstand."
Amber's retort was drowned out by the sudden tremor that passed through the platform beneath her, the two orbs flying higher as the brunette struggled to stay standing. With the stone slowly being chipped away by the earthquakes however, the task was made monumentally more difficult.
"Wh-what's going on!?"
"It is as Nayru said before! Your body isn't able to withstand a goddess' powers for long, let alone two. The only reason you have survived this long is your nature as a Maiden. Your soul is shattering." Farore explained, the green orb somehow managing to grasp onto Amber's hand. "You must accept us now! Your friend Ozpin will be able to explain further, but you must survive first!"
"Th-that isn't much of a choice!" Amber growled in frustration, but there wasn't any time to debate. With the ground breaking beneath her feet, it was either listen to the orb-things or fall into the depths of the abyss. Honestly, neither sounded too pleasant, but only one appeared to have the potential for survival. "Fine, do what you have to do! But I need a proper explanation!"
Neither Nayru nor Farore answered, mostly because the second that Amber voiced her compliance, the two orbs sank directly into her hands. Having ethereal beings become one with her body; it was a chilling experience for Amber. At least, for a few moments. Seconds later, however, having so much raw power flowing through her veins meant there was an agonising flame within every inch of Amber's flesh.
Falling to the ground with a horrified scream, Amber was left blissfully unaware of how the platform's tremors suddenly stopped. The darkness surrounding, piece by piece, began to shatter into an innumerable amount of lights. Soon, the endless void had been replaced by what could only be described as a heavenly glow, one that Amber only had a second to acknowledge before it swallowed her whole.
"Ozpin, what the hell have you done? We're recording a power surge that has blown out the majority of Vale! There should be nothing in the Kingdom that could result in that much electricity!"
Ozpin failed to immediately reply. After all, it was rather difficult to when an unprecedented explosion knocked the air out of you. To be frank, the headmaster was rather surprised that he had been able to answer his Scroll at all. Considering the ringing in his ears and the metal that had impacted his head, it was to be commended that he was standing up in the first place. Had it been an ordinary explosion, Ozpin wouldn't have been so messed up. This? The power had been on a completely different level.
"Ironwood. What a pleasant greeting. I personally would've preferred 'hello'." He muttered, with all the geniality Ozpin could muster at that moment. Needless to say, the irritation dripping from his words was just as clear on the general's end.
"There's a time and a place. Vale's defences are dependant on their power supplies, supplies that have been compromised by whatever caused that surge. I don't have the time or the manpower to spare helping out Vale. The Grimm are somehow growing stronger. I need to know if this is something I need to deal with." Ironwood spat down through the Scroll, a tone that had Ozpin raising an eyebrow. Even if he was one of Ozpin's more vocal opposers at times, there was a clear hierarchy. Ironwood was well aware of the difference in their experience and age. For the general to demonstrate such heated opposition was rare. Perhaps his work was taking far more of a toll than Ozpin had initially expected.
"The possibility of such an occurrence happening again appears to be… minimal." Was the first response that came to mind. Faced with a mountain of warped and shattered metal, it would take a miracle to get anywhere close to replicating the technology that once stood there. "More importantly, I do believe that in momentarily weakening our defences, we have brought back one of our strongest guardians."
"…No, you're kidding. I thought you said without the other half of her-!"
"I'm aware of what I said then, General. Contrary to my age, I have yet to grow senile." Ozpin quipped, the Scroll in his hands quickly flipped around. "Nor have my eyes yet failed me. Do you question my veracity now?"
"Dear god, you actually did it."
Though the explosion had knocked near everyone off the feet, only one figure remained standing. That was probably thanks to the swirling vortex of fire that protected them, slowly dying down until Amber's form was revealed. For one so frail before, the energy in her stance was incredible. Even she seemed rather surprised by her lack of damage.
"I… I haven't felt this great in ages!" the girl exuberantly declared, admiring a body completely unmarred. Reaching up to her face, Amber revelled as she traced scars no longer present. It was a level of healing even Ozpin's abilities had been unable to achieve. That was why it took several moments before Amber gazed down and realised one rather poignant detail. "And I'm also naked. Why am I naked!?"
"Your garments did appear to be rather flimsy," Zelda remarked, her eyes averted. Though they were of the same gender, the sight of someone baring their skin was still rather foreign to the princess. It had been the source of endless amusement for Urbosa and Mipha. "I suppose they were unable to withstand the strength of your flames. I shall gather you a set immediately!"
"That will be unnecessary." Though the response came from Amber's lips, the tone was far too mature for Amber to naturally assume. Regardless, Amber wouldn't have so rapidly covered her mouth in shock if those words had been her own.
Yet somehow, that was not the most surprising occurrence. No, the water and wind that began swirling around Amber were far more unexpected, especially for one who preferred flame over all else. When the elements clung onto her flesh, forming fabric and metal at an incredible rate, no one knew exactly how to react. In a matter of seconds, a white shirt and brown corset paired with dark trousers and boots had materialised on Amber, a stream of water off her back solidifying into a cape. Watching in awe as familiar golden armour mounted itself upon her body, Amber was left without words. Somehow, she managed to speak anyway.
"Apologies for the rather inappropriate display. We would've used fire befitting your typical style, but that falls within our sister's domain." Nayru spoke once more through Amber, the brunette finding her arms feeling her body of their own volition. She would've called out in alarm, had the goddess not continued to speak. "I must admit, this body isn't quite what I'm used to. We shall adapt soon enough though. So long have we been without physical form."
"I assume you are one of the goddesses then," Salem muttered as she approached, caution painted across her features. Though Amber appeared to be unharmed, she had been awake for a matter of seconds. It would take far longer for the disdain upon Salem's heart to corrode. "How is Amber's body affected? What good does this serve our purpose?"
"Hmph. I would have thought that our previous display had demonstrated that quite nicely." A completely different voice replied, Amber having long since given up trying to control her own being. It was clear that Farore's more mischievous tone didn't exactly sit well with Salem, but a goddess' attitude was not to be so easily swayed. "As you can see, our presence within Amber allows us to channel our abilities without the need for the Sheikah Slate. Though a shared physical vessel means those powers are limited, they should surely be of use. Though we have demonstrated our ability to possess Amber out of necessity, rest assured that she will be able to use our powers of her own volition. When not speaking, we shall refrain from taking such drastic control."
"You honour us with your presence. To think we could ever be graced by the Goddesses themselves, it is a reward beyond all else." Zelda immediately recited, falling to a single knee. Naturally, Link was no slower in following suit. Anything less would be to spit in the face of all they had done for Hyrule. Considering the more than sizable power they had demonstrated, that was something to be avoided at any costs. "Your assistance thus far is beyond recompense. Though there is no way for mortal hands to forge a reward worthy of a goddess… let it be known that I, Princess Zelda of Hyrule, shall do all I can to show myself worthy of your help!"
If it had not been for the Goddesses' intervention, then the Princess would not have her life. Their gifts had prevented an immeasurable number of people from being slaughtered on the streets, in multiple worlds. That wasn't even to say anything of what Goddess Hylia had done to assist the initial defeat of the Calamity. So long as the Master Sword remained in Link's hands, then it would forever stay aimed at the Goddesses' enemies.
"How adorable. Stand, Princess, Hero of Light." Farore commanded. Though the words couldn't have been spoken more gently, both Hylians immediately leapt to their feet. How much of it was their volition however, neither could be sure. Though no magic could be felt, a divine being could not be measured by human systems. It was something to be tested further; with permission and once the Calamity had been slain for good. No matter how much Zelda's curiosity was peaked, treating a goddess as some sort of test subject was a dishonour she would never recover from. "We goddesses are selfish beings at heart. We seek the preservation of the world, a world that Ganondorf threatens. So long as you stand to oppose him, then you have our assistance. It certainly helps that you're so cute though."
Link didn't flinch as a finger reached towards her cheek, only for an eyebrow to rise when it was pulled away. A moment passed as Amber seemingly fought with herself, an internal conflict passing in a breath before her form became more dignified.
"I apologise for Farore's attitude. I shall endeavour to ensure she behaves herself." Nayru remarked with a bowed head. "Her sentiments are true, however. We shall provide Amber with our strength without hesitation so long as it is necessary. As soon as our sister awakens, I do not doubt that she will assist too. Stand tall, for you must bear the burden of two worlds. Hero of Light, Princess – the fate of Hyrule and Remnant sits upon your backs. Do not let it crush you."
Those words, they were the type to be said before the speaker left dramatically. Indeed, that had been Nayru's initial intention. After all, the teasing of the Hero of Light at Farore's hands was not to be left unpunished. Physical punishments were an impossibility so long as they resided within Amber, so Nayru would have to draw Farore to the subconscious before she could scold her. Knowing that, Salem couldn't stop herself from reaching out and grabbing Amber's arm.
"Wait! First, your powers. Could they possibly heal me?" the blonde questioned, her face falling. "A difficult task will soon be at hand. I need all the strength I can possibly muster."
If the resulting smile on Amber's face wasn't answer enough, then the invigorating light that engulfed Salem surely was.
Atlas city was a unique existence, to say the least. Born out of a desperate desire to survive, the technology of Atlas evolved without restraint until it had surpassed every peer. With so much devoted to research, the progress the Atlesians had made was awe-inspiring. There was a reason why no other continent dared raise their cities into the sky as Atlas did, least of all their capitals. It was a shame that the whole thing was dyed the unbearable grey that it was though. It remained as a remnant of the days where expression and emotions were controlled, a poor measure intended to deter the Grimm.
That wasn't to say that efforts weren't being made to reverse that, however. Though the uniform of Atlas Academy remained enforced during special occasions, the students had greater freedom with their outfits than ever before. Once the populace saw the Huntsmen throughout Atlas, their resistance to bringing a splash of colour to the city would erode rapidly. A day where the oft rejected bill to bring a rehaul to Atlas found success seemed closer than ever. Regardless of the many, many pressing issues that needed his attention, the thought of such a day coming to pass brought a smile to James' face.
"If we're going to need maidens, then maybe it's time…" the general muttered absently to himself, reaching out to the coffee sitting upon his desk. Few were the times he actually drank the stuff, but the energy boost had been a lifesaver. Despite the bitterness, James had found himself consuming greater amounts by the day. Ozpin's recent mishap and the concerns that had already appeared as a result didn't seem like they would buck the trend. "Winter's training should be sufficient. Slightly rushed, but still within acceptable bounds."
"A shame the same couldn't be said for your guards." If the venomous voice didn't grab the generals attention, then Marrow Amin's body hitting the ground certainly did. When it was followed by the rest of the Ace Operatives, the general was already reaching for his pistol. The speed of his enemy wasn't to be underestimated however, a shield drenched in darkness raised with inhumane speed. The bullets never stood a chance of hitting their target. "There's no need to be rash, General. I have all the time in the world."
"Yeah? Well, I don't. How the hell did you manage to get through the security?" James growled in return. The smug smile Dark Link gave in response was the ugliest thing James had seen in his life. Considering some of the horrors he had faced during his career, that was nothing to scoff at.
"Does the fox explain his plans to the sheep? The lion to the deer?" came Dark Link's taunting reply, a distorted imitation of an ancient sword appearing in his hands. James liked to believe he managed to hide his apprehension well. From the way the dark clone's smirk increased, James wasn't too sure how accurate those thoughts were. "All you need to know, General, is that I have found you lacking. This is your last chance to convince me otherwise."
"Of course you wouldn't make this easy. Why do they never make it easy?"
Though the General typically saw less action than he used to, that didn't mean his skills were any rustier. Nothing would be more embarrassing for the man in charge of the army and huntsmen academy than to fight less adequately than the ones he led. That was why, regardless of Clover's body being thrown in his direction, James didn't hesitate in launching himself backwards with a pair of shots from his black revolver.
It was only natural for Dark Link to raise his shield again. He undoubtedly had the advantage in terms of speed, for sure, but that didn't make him faster than a bullet. It didn't even matter in the long run, for neither deluded themselves into believing the first shot would do any damage. Therefore, when Dark Link found his arm being tugged skyward by an unseen force, it came as a pleasant surprise.
"Ah yes, I suppose that makes sense. After all, that's the fable you tell your people, is it not?" Dark Link mused aloud, a sickening noise as the shield separated from inhumane flesh. Released from its owner's grasp, the shield was free to float to the rooftop. From the momentary smirk that came to the general's face, it wasn't coming down any time soon. "The city of Atlas, held aloft by gravity dust. A revolutionary concept… in your people's eyes at least."
"Nice to see you've done your research." James spat, several more shots fired in Dark Link's directions. "Then you know what comes next!"
Without a shield to protect him, the clone could only dodge to the side. By a miracle alone, the first flurry of shots completely missed their mark, the second blocked by an ancient short sword. When that too decided to ignore the force of gravity, however, Dark Link was left momentarily impressed. Not that it stopped him from pulling a nearby chair out, splinters of wood soon floating harmlessly through the air.
Giving a small scowl, James allowed the black revolved to fall by his side, Due Process still smoking as it was reloaded. Though his office was indeed spacious, it was only that – an office. Never had the architects intended the room to face combat. While there was… adequate room to dodge and evade, there were only so many places he could hope to move toward. With Dark Link blocking the doorway, the general's options were severely limited.
It was why, when an ancient bow was drawn in his direction, James didn't hesitate in firing the black revolver towards the ground. Empowered by the dust-strengthened recoil, it took no more than two seconds before he was essentially standing on the roof, watching the arrow completely shatter the window behind where he once was. Considering the amount of effort and funds that went into reinforcing those windows, James wasn't exactly quick to allow another to meet the same fate.
Grabbing onto the ancient shield floating beside him, the general growled as he launched himself downward. The shield may not have been the largest of platforms, but it seemed to do well in blocking the arrows that Dark Link fired in James' direction. It meant that when James hit the ground, and he certainly did with the way the floor trembled after, James only needed to kick his feet to have the shield in his hands. His style may not have typically featured one, but it was damn handy in stopping the ancient short sword that threatened to slice him in two.
That didn't mean the fight would be easy. If it was, then James would have to put his so-called 'Ace Operatives' through the wringer again. Dark Link's close combat was far superior to his long-range, the speed of his sword rivalled only by the true Link. In trying his best to block every attack, James was still forced to obey the basic laws of physics. That meant several slashes cutting deep into his aura before James could ever hope to fight back. By the time the general was able to back out slightly, Dark Link had already managed to deal a sizable amount of damage.
Not that it was his first time fighting with a fair chunk of his aura missing. One thing that Dark Link failed to realise was that revolvers were just as viable in close range, if not even more so. If Dark Link would've been inconvenienced by getting shot from a distance, then the bullets directly to his face were definitely an annoying move. Watching as his opponent's head snapped backwards, James stance changed rapidly, several target points calculated in a manner of seconds. If it had taken any longer, than landing every one of his shots wouldn't have been possible. Though Dark Link was thrown to the floor with the force, James' stance refused to soften.
"Do you not recall your previous encounters with my kind?" Dark Link mused aloud, rising from the ground with nary a scratch. Rolling his neck with a wicked grin, the clone looked down to the wounds James caused. Wounds being used very loosely, for the holes produced by the bullets were sealing at an incredible rate. In but a single minute, there wasn't a scratch in sight. "We aren't so easily wounded by your weapons. So long as the hero isn't by your side, you are playing right into my hands."
"I could easily say the same." James retorted, twisting his body away from the blade that tried to pierce his heart. He would've tackled Dark Link in return, but there wasn't a need. Not when the clone's body began to gradually rise into the air. The way in which the smug expression on Dark Link faltered couldn't help but bring an internal sigh of relief to James. "After all, I already showed you that my bullets worked off gravity dust. Someone with a better plan would've tried their best to keep dodging. Someone with an ego problem would've decided against sealing them into their body before gloating rather than kill their opponent while they still could."
"Who said I couldn't kill?" it was far more difficult, but it certainly wasn't impossible. Dark Link's strength was nothing to be scoffed at; fighting the effects of gravity dust was manageable, if difficult. The issue came with how it threw off his aim. With arrows flying far from their intended target, it was far easier for James to defend himself. Dark Link's only saving grace was the sheer volume of arrows he could release.
Diving behind the seat as his desk, James inwardly cursed as he heard several arrows pierce its materials. A brief moment of respite allowed James to see his floor, now peppered with blue glowing arrows. Though his face remained cold, he mentally cursed. The repair bills were definitely going to be hell now. Maybe once he explained this to the council, he could get some compensation. Hell, he was responsible for most of the council's anyway – he'd just process the compensation himself.
"You cannot hide forever!" the taunting voice called out, just in time for James' chair to give out. Rather than flee to a new hiding position, however, James remained on the ground. His resolute expression would've brought fear to another man. For Dark link, it was nought but a mildly amusing detail. "An immortal enemy you cannot flee from. What will you do now, General? Your robots couldn't save you, nor your students. Trying to kill me will only get yourself killed."
"…You talk too much." James sighed, a barely audible remark. Paired with his resolution being replaced by an indescribable fire, it was a sight that would stir even the weakest heart. "And who the hell said I had to kill you? All I have to do… is stall!"
People always expected a button for emergencies. Either a big red one sitting in a glass cage or some tiny mechanism on the bottom of the desk. The issue with that was, if the enemy somehow managed to break the desk, that button was broken right alongside it. A pressure pad on the floor, however? Far easier to disguise and far easier to activate discretely when sitting at the desk. If someone managed to break it, they'd have to blow up the floor. It was pretty clear that there wouldn't be any need for a warning by that point.
Despite Dark Link completely blowing up the desk, James was still completely free to hit the pressure pad with his foot as he rose. As soon as the green light pulsed a single time, the only option left was to fight for his life. Something told him that would be easier said than done.
"Urgh… I can't believe all of this crazy stuffed happened while I wasn't around to see it." Amber moaned as she rubbed her forehead. At first, the novelty of being awake once more had been exhilarating. With all the exposition being dumped on her, however, returning to sleep was looking to be more of a viable option. "So, you're telling me that ordinary weapons can't hurt this 'Calamity' guy?"
"Only the tools of our world seem capable of harming him. Fortunately, we've been given the ability to replicate them. Not only will this allow us to create a personal armoury, it means we can create copies for the scientists of Remnant to dissect. We should be able to start work on combining our technologies." Zelda answered, her confidence faltering slightly as she continued. "Whether we have the time to implement such a process is an entirely different matter. As we are, we can only produce a limited number of weapons. Beyond that, no other tools are suitable."
"That is why we thought it prudent to awaken you. Even if we fail to gather the other remaining maidens, the power of one alone is still miles higher than the average huntsmen." Interrupted Ozpin. "With the divine beings resting within you, you are now one of few who could end this blight upon two worlds. We shall do our best to fend off the Grimm he now commands. It will be up to you, Link and any who bear his weapons to bring an end to the Calamity. I understand this is a task beyond any other I've given you. I won't ask for your forgiveness."
"The idea of facing a god-like being doesn't exactly sound nice…" Amber muttered, her face falling slightly. Zelda's was about to do the same, only for Amber's fist punching her palm to throw the princess. "But letting that same god-like being mess up Remnant sounds even worse! Sitting around doing nothing isn't my kind of thing!"
"You will have to train yourself for the coming fight. Your flames have weakened, while foreign powers now lay at your fingertips." Nayru warned. "As you are now, you may only be a burden until you become accustomed to our abilities."
"Oh, so you don't have to take over my body to talk?" was Amber's bemused response before shaking her head. "Guess that makes sense though. Even without al of this talk of goddesses and demons, I've been sleeping for a while. I would've been training myself back up to huntress levels anyway."
Link's offer of assistance never left his mouth. The alarm blaring through Ozpin's scroll was to thank for that. The headmaster didn't even pick it up before a grim expression came across his face, eyes staring towards an unseen target in the distance.
"General Ironwood is in danger. The entirety of Atlas is in danger." Ozpin muttered, his cane held in an iron grip as he began to walk. "That alarm is only reserved for the worst emergencies. It could be a matter of moments before his life is taken. We must move immediately."
He barely had time to take another step, however, before a second alarm blared. Though it lacked the same frenzied noise that had accompanied the first, Ozpin answer it with the same severe expression. When it was mirrored by Glynda through the screen, it was immediately clear how dire the situation is.
"According to border patrol, there has been a build-up of Grimm in numerous areas. Their numbers would've been at a level our security measures could handle, but whatever caused that blackout has completely fried their systems." The blonde dutifully reported. Ozpin tried his best to hide the surge of guilt that passed through him. "I've sent some students to patrol the area as part of their combat studies, but they would've only just arrived. Their numbers are insufficient considering the number of places being attacked anyway. What should we do?"
"I hereby authorise the deploy of as many students as necessary. Spread the message as far as possible, we need to cull as many possible before they reach the walls." The headmaster immediately ordered, his glance turning to the side. "We shall move towards the battlefield. Have recon try and figure out the densest Grimm populations. Then, deploy licensed huntsmen and the staff as necessary. No need to put the students through undue pressure. Am I understood?"
"Yes. I shall implement the measures immediately." Glynda stated before hanging up the call herself. It meant that she didn't see the weary sigh that passed Ozpin's lips.
"Zelda, you still have that copy of Miss Adel's Gianduja, correct?"
"Indeed. Though I can't say that I'm the most proficient in its use, I was able to hold my own." She quickly replied.
"Very well. You and Amber shall deploy to whichever area Goodwitch deems the worst. Your powers lay in widespread damage; you should be able to control large groups better than others." The headmaster ordered, receiving nods of acknowledgement from both. It took less than a tilt of his head before both were running to the exit. Well, Amber was running at least. The rather cumbersome weight of the Gianduja copy didn't exactly make such a task easy for one as delicate as the princess. "Link. Salem, you and I shall go to face whatever ails General Ironwood. James is a strong man; he would only use that signal if there was no other choice. Something tells me that we're going to need your unique existence here."
Of course. There was no way a sudden attack of Ironwood and a random increase of Grimm would be unconnected. Not with the Calamity holding sway over them.
"Indeed. I trust you're of the same mind, Salem?" yet when Ozpin turned to her, Salem's face was conflicted. When her eyes reopened, however, a determined fire had taken root within them. "Salem?"
"I will not be able to go with you. There is something else I must do." She muttered, turning around with nought but a glance back. "Once I return, I will either bring greater power or none at all. Either way, our tasks for the future will be far easier."
With her form gone in less than a second, there wasn't much time for either man to refute.
The group has split and battle arrives on all sides! There's going to be some intense action coming up, so please look forward to that when it comes out. After seeing how season seven turned out, I really was inspired. I think that comes across in this chapter as well as the next one hopefully.
Super hero time! See you next time!
