Hunting or Bust

Dust 76: When It Rises

I did a lot of editing this chapter.

((((((((Hunting))))))))

Fear wasn't anything new him.

Naruto had felt fear numerous times in his life. A distant memory of crying and screaming when confronted with a Grimm as a child. Watching Danzō take his mother away. Facing Sasuke's brother and slowly realizing that he was outmatched. And countless times in-between those moments that stood out in his life.

But this man made him feel a different kind of fear. Not the fear of facing monsters or watching cherished people being threatened. This was...

Dread.

Genuine concern that he was in serious trouble. That maybe being dead would be the better alternative to whatever this man had to offer.

"Lord Orochimaru," Kimimaro spoke, "This boy is more skilled than expected. I can still bring him in but I can't promise he won't sustain damage."

"Don't worry. If what I understand about his abilities are correct, anything short of maiming should be covered by his Manipulation's healing. Just like his mother." Naruto's eyes widened and his fingers tightly grasped Stormer. The pale man noticed as his serpent tongue slithered out of his mouth, "Oh, did that grab your attention? Would you like to come with us now?"

They knew his mom? We're they working with the White Fang? They were part of this invasion. His mom was part of this invasion. That should have been obvious but it hadn't really hit him until now. Was she here? Did they know where she was? Would they know how to lead him to her?

...

They were going to answer him.

Tossing his kodachi up and snatching it with his glowing hand, Naruto sprinted at his new enemies. Kimimaro stepped forward and started to form another bone blade from his palm. He intercepted Naruto's short sword before another bone formed and he stabbed for the blond's eye.

Naruto parried the first blade before dodging aside of the next thrust, feeling the blade catch his headband and tear it off. They slipped past each other and Naruto twisted around to kick Kimimaro's back. But the white-haired man had already anticipated his attack, jumping up and whipping out with a kick that caught Naruto across the cheek.

The fox Faunus tumbled into the ground. He laid on his back and groaned before he spotted Kimimaro dropping down on him from above. Naruto twisted aside as the young man's bone blades pierced the stone beneath him. Before he could slip away Naruto grabbed the side of his head and slammed his knee into his ear.

Although he shuffled back and gave Naruto room to get up, he looked unaffected by the knee to the head. Naruto was annoyed by how easily he shook that off, and he could tell his opponent's head was hard from how his knee throbbed even through his Aura. This guy was unnaturally tough and extremely skilled in fighting. As much as he hated to admit it, he wasn't going to win this fight with his skills alone.

He needed to outsmart his opponent.

Naruto's arm whipped forward, his Aura and short sword stretching out to attack Kimimaro. The white-haired man easily knocked the blade aside and caused the orange arm to twist off course. But with a stomp of his feet Naruto reeled his arm back in and around Kimimaro's body. He struggled and thrashed around in the orange Aura that bound him together as Naruto captured his foe-

Until a quick, powerful strike under his ribs lifted him off his feet. Naruto gagged as his trap faltered and Kimimaro escaped. He dropped to his knees and gagged on his spit.

It was a fist attached to a long, gangly arm that quickly pulled back into Orochimaru's side. The snake had stretched his arm out to attack him. It was just like his Manipulation, but instead of making his Aura change on command, the pale man did it with his flesh and bone.

"It's fascinating, don't you think? How you've trained your Manipulation Semblance is now so similar to my Elongation." Orochimaru said with a giggle, "Don't you want to see what else you could do? What lengths and limits it could reach? Wouldn't you like to see others share your abilities so you won't be so alone?" The pale snake looked at him and must have been disappointed in the cold, unfaltering glare he was given, "Well that's disappointing." Orochimaru looked over and smiled softly as Minato's unconscious body, "Is it because you still have connections? In that case-"

"BASTARD!"

Naruto spiked Stormer the moment the pale man took a step towards his father. His blade was knocked into the air as Kimimaro stepped in front of it. Already on his feet and running, Naruto reached out with his Aura and pulled his sword back in as he engaged them in battle. Orochimaru easily stepped away from Naruto's dropping slash before Kimimaro stepped in and started swinging. The white-haired man was fast and agile, attacking from angles Naruto couldn't anticipate. He raised his arms and guarded against the worst of it before he pushed his way through to attack.

Bone fragments and spurs jutted out of nearly every inch of Kimimaro's body and stabbed into Naruto. He spun around and sent the blond Faunus flying back and over the ground. The blond quickly caught himself and got up, looking over to see he was closer to his father now. He scrambled over to Minato's side and prepared to lift him up-

"Don't." Orochiamaru's single warning stopped him. He looked over to see them silhouetted by the flames of the ships and corpses they had destroyed, "If you run, we'll chase you. And if anyone gets in our way, we'll kill them. Do you really want to be the cause of more of their deaths?"

Sweat dripped down his forehead before he looked down at his suffering father. He reached out and stretched his Aura out like a hand around Minato. Gently lifting him up, Naruto stretched it over to lay Minato down in the grass and bushes.

Naruto spun around and slammed an enlarged fist down against the platform. Orochimaru and Kimimaro watched in confusion as he slammed his fist down again and again, using his Aura to increase the size and damage it caused.

There was a crack that echoed across the platform.

Burning debris shifted uncertainly.

Orochimaru and Kimimaro braced themselves as they felt the ground tilt underneath them.

Before Naruto could land the final blow, Orochimaru's hand stretched out and clamped around Naruto's throat viciously. The blond gasped and struggled for breath as the snake kept him still and Kimimaro dashed in.

"RRRAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

A giant orange fist slammed down on the stressed point of the platform and toppled over. Instead of pulling back, Naruto charged forward. His Aura entangled Kimimaro as the fox tackled Orochimaru in the chest.

They fell off Beacon's cliff along with the platform and a dozen burning ships.

((((((((Hunting))))))))

Ruby always wanted to be like the heroes from movies and stories.

The hero that stood tall in front of evil even when the rest of the world nearly tumbled away.

Right now…all of that romanticism was lost in the harsh reality of the situation.

Vale was falling apart. There were more Grimm swarming in every second. And she was terrified of what Torchwick and Neo would do next.

Torchwick, "Why am I not surprised to see you here after I finally flew the coop?"

Ruby kept her scythe aimed at Neo and warily looked over to the master crook, "Did you really turn the robots against everyone?"

"Did you like that? Can't you just imagine me hacking into a secure Atlas mainframe and turning everything they worked so hard for back on them?" He chuckled to himself, "Man if I was ever a hacker I would change the whole industry with my style."

"What is wrong with you?!" She yelled as her fingers tightened around Crescent Rose, "Do you know what's going on down there?! The robots you turned are gunning people down! The Grimm are tearing Vale down!"

"You mean the robots Atlas let kill people and all the Grimm your sister and friend led here? Why should I-"

"Stop! Don't just wave it off like that!" Ruby's voice nearly cracked in desperation, "Don't you care at all about what is happening down there?! That you had a part in it!"

Torchwick stared at her silently before reaching into his breast pocket. His hand patted around for a few seconds before he realized he didn't have his cigars.

"No. Not in the slightest."

He wasn't mocking her but the cold, callous way he admitted that made Ruby freeze. And it was in that moment that Neo wrapped her legs around her neck and yanked her off her feet. Ruby rolled over the top of the Flagship and knocked into the rocket locker she had used to get up here.

"If we weren't up here causing trouble, we'd be down there dying in it." She looked up and stared in shock as the multi-colored criminal had changed her appearance to look like the black-haired, pigtailed girl that had fought in the tournament just a few days earlier, "This didn't happen just because of us. We just made it easier. Attacking Beacon. Bringing the Grimm. Stealing the Dust. Infiltrating your school to set the whole thing up." The disguise broke off of Neo as the mute girl smiled, "This was always going to end like this."

Neo has been a part of the tournament. Mercury had been there to attack her and Emerald had been the one to make people see things. Which only left...

"Cinder," Ruby whispered, "What's her part in all this?"

Their jovial expressions faded at the mention of her name. They looked at each other silently before Torchwick pointed his cane at Ruby, preparing to end it.

Ruby slammed her hand on locker's controls as jets suddenly ignited. The large hunk of metal rocketed forward, forcing Neo and Roman to move aside as the locker sailed through the door behind them and into the bridge.

"If this is what you've chosen to do," Ruby cocked her rifle and put them in her sights, "Then I've chosen to stop you no matter what."

((((((((Hunting))))))))

"How many of these robots are there?!"

Sun's anger was shared among all the students fighting off the horde of enemies. The Grimm numbers had thinned out, but now the Knights were picking up the slack.

Lee's feet blurred through the metal bodies like paper. Kankuro's wires slipped between their joints as Temari rolled a gust of wind over them so powerful the metal peeled off. ABRN and FNKI quickly joined their side to help clear them out.

Team SSSN stayed close together, Neptune and Scarlet handling the robots at range as Sage and Sun decimated anything that came close to them.

Nora knocked the robots aside like dolls with every swing of her hammer. Ren slid through them like a shadow, craving them to pieces along the way. As his teammates obliterated their enemies, Jaune guarded himself against gunfire and sliced up the androids as he got close. And the sound of crunching metal behind him made him aware that Pyrrha had his back.

Despite their circumstances, he smiled and nudged her with his elbow.

She smiled and nudged him back.

Tenten hooked her sticks together into a staff and knocked every robot over. Fire, ice, wind, and lightning danced around the bun-haired girl as she destroyed her foes. She looked around-

"WRRRAAAAAHHHHHH!" Kiba barreled through several robots and carried them in front of him. He slid to a stop and lifted them up before tearing them apart with a roar, "How you holding up?"

"I'm alright." Tenten shrugged, "Frightened out of my mind but alright. Have you seen Naruto?"

"He ran after his dad."

"So where is he?"

"I don't know. That was awhile ago and he said he'd come back when he was done."

"I'm worried. I don't want us separated anymore than we already-"

Kiba and Tenten turned to face another wave of incoming robots. But before they could act, the robots were launched up with a series of Glyphs. Team NKTS turned and saw the approaching Schnee heiress.

"Wonderful," Weiss sighed, "I guess I'm not the only one dealing with these things."

"Weiss!" Tenten laughed with relief, "I'm so glad to see you!"

"What took you so long Princess?" Kiba smirked as she frowned at him, "We didn't think it'd take this long to find you."

"Blake and I were working our way through the hordes from the fairgrounds. Things there were...uncontrollable." She shook her head, "We made our way here before spotting some powerful Grimm. I killed the Ursa and found all of you."

"So...where's Blake?"

((((((((Hunting))))))))

Fear had a grip on her entire body.

The way he stood in the fire. The way his hands never left Wilt and Blush as he turned to her. The way he confidently smiled despite the bodies and destruction around him.

The man in front of her…filled her with pure terror.

There was no sign of the Adam she pictured in her head that fought against inequality and struggled against Danzō's cruelty. Now there was only a dark, cold figure amidst the carnage.

"The last time you saw me was that day on the train, wasn't it?" Adam spoke up, casually striking a conversation with her as if the world around them wasn't toppling over, "But I've seen you many, many times since then. I've been made acutely aware of the hindrance you've been." He took a step forward-

Blake dashed to the side, standing on top of some rubble and aiming her pistol at his head.

He stood still within her sights before lowering his head. The chuckle he let out unnerved her, "You know…I've only really noticed since you left…but you run away quite a bit."

He drew his sword and Blake immediately dove aside. The rubble she had stood upon exploded in a cloud of dirt and rock. Her gun shifted into her katana in time to block Adam's sword. Its weight and speed were leagues higher than the force he used when they trained.

"Our brothers you attacked on the docks." He started to swing and Blake had to parry, sparks flying between them as she was forced back, "The rally you invaded." He attacked from above and Blake dropped to her knee, "The Guard you took from our side." His knee lashed out and Blake's Shadow took the hit while she jumped back. Adam's shotgun turned to her face and she knocked it aside only for him to slip in and strike her with a sidekick, "And finally you betrayed us at the Breach."

Blake flew back but started to somersault until she recovered. She landed on her feet, both swords in front of her, and shook her head towards her former mentor, "What are you doing, Adam? Attacking Beacon! Bringing in Grimm! Killing students! How can you hope to help Faunus when you're killing them too?!"

"This is all for a greater purpose. And those that lose their lives today will lose them in pursuit of a better world."

"How is this better?!"

"The world will see what the White Fang has done today - the fortress it has so easily conquered - and they will come to fear our flag and recognize our strength."

"People around the world will be scared!" Blake yelled, "They'll attack Faunus in the streets in retaliation!"

"Of course they will. That's how they'll respond at first. But in time the shadow of the White Fang will demoralize all who approach Faunus." Adam said with certainty before he shook his head, "This is why you lost your nerve, Blake. You only had hopes of plans that would succeed where everyone was happy and made peace immediately. Your dreams were nothing but delusions."

"And this! This is the right way?! Attacking children! Destroying the peace of the whole world!" She stared at him and saw no reaction, "Adam, you have to see how this is wrong. You have to see that the White Fang - the fights they've chosen and the people they've hurt - are losing their way. You don't have to follow Danzō's-"

"Danzō doesn't make plans anymore. The dead have little say over our choices."

Blake paused and stared at him in shock, "W...What?"

"I took his position from him days after you left and ended his life in the process." Adam's cavalier attitude faltered for a moment, "I felt a relief when he was gone, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss him. I suppose...no matter how they may hurt us..." He stared at her, "We can't help but keep those we love close to our hearts."

He...he killed Danzō and took his position?

Was it...could she have stopped him before he did it?

Could she have stopped this if she hadn't run?

"I told you what I've been up to since we separated." Adam hummed, "Now Blake, there are some things you need to answer for."

((((((((Hunting))))))))

After being launched off a cliff his first day at Beacon, Naruto didn't believe he could be afraid of heights.

Turns out falling over a raging sea and jagged rocks rekindled that fear quite effectively.

He quickly let go of Orochimaru and Kimimaro in order to gain some distance from them. He drew out his kodachi and stabbed it into the side of the cliff to slow himself down. And with his Aura he dug into the rock until he finally came to a stop.

It was only then that he realized that Orochimaru's outstretched arm was still coiled around his neck. And the sudden pressure on his throat before the feeling weakened left him realizing that he wasn't the only one clinging to the surface.

With a strangled gasp Naruto looked down to see Orochimaru was pressed into the rocky cliff and unbothered by what had happened. Just a little lower was Kimimaro, who had stabbed his bone weapon into the rock to slow down and then multiple bone spires to halt his movement entirely.

"Fuck," Naruto swore in a rasp. He grabbed the hand and arm around his neck and yanked it off him. With a scowl he looked down as he watched it shrink back to normal by Orochimaru's side, "Of course being thrown off a cliff doesn't bother them."

Kimimaro climbed up by stabbing bone spikes from his hands and feet into the rock. The rest of his spikes retreated back into his body before he launched himself up and scaled the sheer incline with ease. As he drew closer his fingers bulged and he whipped his hand up.

Bone digits launched from his fingers and pelted everything around Naruto. The whiskered blond curled up as bone bullets shattered the rock and impacted over his body. He hissed in pain before he felt what little purchase he had on the cliff start to slip away.

The rock cracked and fell away as Naruto suddenly found himself falling. His Aura reached out and snagged on a rock before he could plummet. In the middle of his swing back into place, he realized his hold and launched himself at his incoming foe.

Kimimaro braced himself as Naruto's blade stabbed into his side, cutting against the bone armor he formed over his ribs. The force was enough to send them both flying off the cliff and towards the water.

Naruto's body was suddenly yanked up before he could fall any further. Orochimaru pulled him in and pinned him into the rock, "Come now young man, is this resistance really necessary?" The snake Faunus whispered as his other hand stretched out and caught Kimimaro, "The fact you keep throwing your life away is making me think you don't wish to unlock the secrets of your full potential."

"Yeah, I'm good." Naruto struggled to push back but the pressure on his back kept him pinned. The blond fox continued to struggle in vain as he groaned, "W-Who are you people? Why are you doing this?!"

"You don't need to know the specifics. But you and your cohorts have had some run-ins with my pupils over the last few months." Orochimaru answered, "In fact your little adventures have left some of them taking their own lives, which I find both impressive and annoying."

The boy that killed himself at the White Fang rally. The girl that let herself be consumed by the Grimm. This bastard was the one in charge of those people helping the White Fang prepare for all of this.

"W-Why?"

"I told you that the specifics aren't necessary at the moment. Just know that we have been watching you for quite a while. And as for the people we've lost, their loss was always acceptable..." A small snicker filled Naruto's ear, "But we hope to honor them with a few friends of yours instead."

He snapped.

It didn't matter that they were hanging on the side of a cliff. Or that Grimm were filling the air around them. Or even that he was outnumbered and outmatched.

He needed to make these people pay.

Naruto slammed his hand into the rock and channeled his Aura. He forced the orange outline to grow a dozen times in size and crumble the rock he was pinned against. In that moment where he lurched forward and Orochimaru's pin weakened, the young Huntsman slipped away.

"Ha!" Firing a Dust arrow into his palm, he channeled electricity to his Aura. His fist launched out and stretched at blistering speeds towards the snake Faunus. Orochimaru let go of the cliff and dropped down before his fist could smash his head. The snake twisted and threw Kimimaro at Naruto as the young Faunus grabbed the wall to stop his descent.

As Kimimaro flew closer, Naruto raised Stormer in a shower of sparks. Naruto looked back to see Kimimaro dig into the rock and stop his fall. He followed up by extending a bone through his feet like spikes and burying them into the stone until he could run up like it was solid ground.

Naruto jumped and used his Aura to help him maneuver around the determined fighter. He heard the sound of something whizzing through the air and shatter Fock behind him. With a twist in the air he deflected some of the bones being fired at him and shot several arrows in return. Kimimaro made to deflect them but when he did he was hit with an explosion and rush of ice.

Naruto's moment of victory was short lived as his ears perked up. He looked back and then leapt off the cliff when Orochimaru swung himself over. The young fox resorted to reaching out with his Aura and swinging over the cliff's surface to evade the persistent old man. Spinning around and firing some Dust arrows, he could only watch in shock as the strange pale man moved with unnatural ease and grace around his projectiles.

Even though he wanted to make them pay, Naruto found himself keeping his distance. Orochimaru chased him like a man possessed. His arms lashing out like whips as he chased the young blond. With an outstretched arm he snapped up over the rock and flew by Naruto before he could get away.

The snake Faunus turned around and brought his fists down like a hammer. Naruto dodged aside when he attacked and stabbed for his flank. But the older man caught his wrist and knocked his head back with a fist.

The whiskered student slipped out of his grip and slashed at the older man. But Orochimaru bent backwards and whipped back in with a head-butt. The blond saw stars for a moment and shuffled over the rocks to escape Orochimaru's pursuit.

The snake's fists and elbows struck every spot Naruto's head was a moment earlier. Naruto desperately escaped, jumping back and climbing around before Orchimaru kicked so hard rock folded like paper around his foot. The older man's face was pinched and the leg let out a mechanical hiss-

"GAH!"

While Naruto was distracted, Kimimaro rushed in and slammed into his back. He was sent flying forward into Orochimaru's grip as the older Faunus smirked. Like a blur, Naruto was slammed into the cliff's side. He let out a pained gasp before he was slammed again, cracking the stone until it finally came to a stop.

Naruto was panting and struggling for air, Orochimaru's grip around his throat tightening with every second. Even with his Aura up he felt an aching pain through his body. But he kept a grip on his kodachi in his hand and his Semblance around his other. He opened his eyes to see Orochimaru smiling down at him, "There, your rebellion was admirable but has tired itself out." Orochimaru leaned in closer, "This school will fall. That is inevitable. Instead of fighting that unchangeable fate, why not join me-"

Naruto tried to stab him in the eye but a quick shot from Kimimaro's finger knocked it off course. Orochimaru sighed and slammed his head back again, tightening his grip on the young Huntsman's throat before turning and pulling Naruto out.

Suddenly without the cliff at his back, Naruto looked down to see Orochimaru was holding him over the water. At any moment the snake could drop him and doom him to a watery death, "Your resilience is starting to shift from impressive to irritating. I don't wish to damage you anymore than I have to. So stop fighting...and submit."

Naruto looked up with clouded eyes as he hung precariously over the water, Orochimaru's grip keeping him alive. He looked up at the edge of the cliff, where his father was resting in the grass. Some distance from that, his friends and teammates were holding the line. And nearly a mile above, Grimm of all kinds filled the sky's black expanse.

So...many...Grimm.

"I hate you." Naruto whispered, earning Orochimaru and Kimimaro's attention, "I hate you so much. I wanted to fight with my friends. Fight with my father. Do good. And instead I'm here, fighting you assholes. I hate this. And I hate you!" Naruto gripped the hand around his neck and started kicking wildly, "I HATE THE PEOPLE WHO DID THIS! I HATE THAT MY FRIENDS WERE HURT BECAUSE OF YOUR PLANS! AND I! HATE! YOU!"

Orochimaru's eyes widened in realization.

Naruto smiled in victory.

"CAAAAWWWWWWWW!"

Suddenly Grimm dove down through the air and swarmed the side of the cliff. Orochimaru and Kimimaro looked around in shock. Naruto, at the center of the negativity and their prime target, started to pry the hand off his neck as a Griffon flew for his head.

He put Orochimaru's stretching limb between himself and the bloodthirsty beast.

Its beak snapped down on the snake's wrist and freed him from its grip. As Orochimaru howled in pain and tried to pull his arm back, Naruto extended his Aura and pulled himself back into the cliff. When he was beside struggling man, he drew Stormer to his side and stabbed it into the old man's leg.

He wasn't sure if it was a mechanical brace or an artificial limb, but it spewed sparks and fire all the same.

"MASTER!"

Kimimaro tried to help, but Naruto grabbed him by the collar and pulled him along as he scaled the cliff. The bone-wielding killer cried out as Orochimaru cursed while being swarmed with Grimm. Naruto left it all behind as he grabbed hold of the cliff's edge and pulled them over.

"MASTER OROCHIMARU!"

"No you don't!" Naruto pinned Kimimaro to the ground, "I don't know who you are but you're fucking paying for what you've done tonight!"

"Let me go! I have to help him!"

"It's too late now!"

"No! It's not!" Bone spires jutted off his body and knocked Naruto off. Before he could get back up, Kimimaro scrambled to his feet and dove off the cliff and into the Grimm horde below.

"Fine. Die. See if I care." As Naruto spat in derision, he quickly jumped to his feet. He ran over to the patch of grass by Beacon's wall, "Dad! Dad?"

Minato was still unconscious, eyes closed with raspy breath. Now that he wasn't panicking, Naruto noticed the burns around his collarbone and neck. He reached out and gently touched his father's head, feeling a modicum of relief when he felt him turn into his palm.

"It's okay. It's okay. I won't let anything hurt you."

((((((((Hunting))))))))

They were doing well to take back the courtyard. Teams were taking roles in handling the hordes of robots and Grimm; either rounding them up or decimating them when they were grouped together. Everyone was amazing and doing such a good job.

Velvet in particular. If someone had told him that nice, shy rabbit girl was a total badass with a plethora of hologram weapons at her disposal, he never would have believe it.

"Jaune! Watch out!"

A Paladin aimed at him and he quickly raised his shield. Before it attacked its leges were knocked off balance with a black Glyph. It lashed out with a fist but Kiba caught it, taking the brunt of its force with his Feral as the others reduced it to scrap.

Pyrrha quickly ran over, "Jaune, you can't get distracted like that!"

"Sorry," He apologized, "I didn't mean to lose focus. I was just-"

"I just want to make sure you're okay. It was bad enough with the Grimm but these mechs are pushing us. I can hold them back for a few seconds-"

"But there's too much for your Polarity to handle at once." He understood his best friend's frustration. He looked around and tried to make a plan before he heard frightened screaming and a familiar shotgun blast, "Wait, what's that?"

"This way! Stay together!"

Jaune and Pyrrha looked over, spotting a group of civilians being led by Yang. The blonde killed anything that approached as she led the group into Beacon's entrance.

"Yang!" They called out, "Thank god you're okay! No one has heard from you!"

"I found a bunch of people still in Beacon that were pinned down." The brawler seemed winded and wiped her cheek, "I've been making a round over the campus. There was this huge group from one of the landing zones that said someone blew up the ships."

"What?! So then we've gotta clear out this landing zone to get any ships to Beacon?! Things are going from bad to worse."

"We'll manage." Yang looked between them, "Have you guys seen my team?"

"Weiss is over there." Pyrrha pointed back to where Kiba was holding onto a Paladin's fist as Weiss and the others destroyed it, "And Ruby..."

"What about Ruby?" Yang panicked.

"She said she was going to take care of something but disappeared on Amity. We tried reaching her but she didn't have her Scroll." That news left Yang reeling as she looked to the floating colosseum, "She can handle herself Yang."

"I don't think any of us can handle this." She snapped back, "And Blake?"

"Weiss said they separated while chasing after Grimm. She went towards the cafeteria - Yang!"

"I'm going to look for her!" The young brawler was already sprinting and making her way around the school.

Pyrrha looked at him with concern as he huffed and turned to the civilians, "Everyone, please stay calm! I-I know this is scary but we are clearing the court. Once we do, Airships and Bullheads will arrive-"

"But what about that Grimm flying through the sky?!"

"I think the pilots will look for the best opportunity when that thing is away-"

"T-That's not good enough!"

"I'm sorry, I don't know their plan-"

"Can't you do what that man and Faunus boy were going to do? Fight that thing off!"

"W-What?" The frightened people were too busy panicking to give him a proper explanation. His eyes turned to his one hope, the girl who looked to still have some composure as she gently squeezed Zwei to her chest, "Do you know what they're talking about?"

"I've only got bits and pieces. I think Naruto and Mr. Minato were going to try and handle that monster up there." Sakura said, "But before they could something happened to the ships."

Jaune felt his stomach churn in horror. He swallowed the lump in his throat and tried to focus, "Pyrrha, what should we do? I think they'll be safe in the entryway while everyone's outside, and Naruto might need our...Pyrrha?"

He turned in time to see his partner walk away from the group. Standing in front of her was Ozpin, the headmaster wearing a somber expression as he led her towards the elevators.

Ordering everyone to stay together, Jaune chased after his headmaster and partner before it was too late. As they stepped into the elevator and while the doors closed, he slipped in, "Pyrrha!"

"Jaune?"

"What are you doing? You can't just walk away like that! And Professor, we need your help! We don't know what to do and the people are freaking out and..." The young Huntsman paused as he realized they weren't going up the tower to his office but downwards instead, "Where are we going?"

"Mr. Arc," Ozpin spoke softly, "I know how bad the situation is, but I believe something far worse is coming. And right now in order to have a hope in stopping this...we need to put our focus elsewhere."

"What are you-"

"Jaune."

Everything else faded away when he heard Pyrrha's voice. The uncertainty and tremble in it reminded him of the way she had been acting before. When she was scared and terrified and he had no idea how to help her. He turned to see watery eyes and a complicated expression looking up at him. Pyrrha stepped up to him...

And hid her face in her chest.

"Pyrr-"

"Please," She whispered, almost pleaded, so softly he almost didn't hear her, "Please stay with me."

Frightened by how she was acting, he turned to Ozpin for answers. But all he saw was the older Huntsman's head turned aside as he gripped his cane tightly. Was that...shame?

As their elevator traveled down, Jaune raised his arm and cradled the girl close to his body. He didn't know where they were going but the fact these two seemed so worried frightened him more than any Grimm invasion.

((((((((Hunting))))))))

Fighting people was a completely different beast to fighting mindless monsters.

Neo charged at her while dragging her thin blade along the ship's surface. Ruby dashed to meet her and swept at her legs. And again, with startling dexterity, the lithe girl leapt and spun through the air to perfectly dodge her attack while thrusting her blade into Ruby's shoulder.

Her Aura flared and she snapped back up to catch the criminal in her descent. Crescent Rose twirled around her body and attacked, only for Neo to slip away, flipping over the low swings and then dropping into a split to avoid the high ones. She thrusted her parasol up and knocked her scythe away.

Ruby felt a swell of frustration before anchoring her scythe and firing her rifle. Again Neo deftly dodged her shots, twirling around the bullets path before she sheathed her blade and opened her parasol to deflect the rest.

She shorter girl twirled her umbrella on her shoulder before spinning around to face Ruby. She stood still and blew a raspberry.

Was she daring her to take a shot?

Failing to suppress the growl through her teeth, Ruby cocked her weapon and decided to oblige her. She cocked the bolt and fired a shot that sailed through the air and pierced through Neo's head.

The little killer was reduced to shards of glass. And as the illusion was shattered, the reveal that Torchwick stood behind it with his weapon pointed at Ruby shocked the young Huntress.

A ball of fire flew through the air and exploded against Crescent Rose. She was blown off her feet and rolled along the ground before finally skidding to a stop. Her body ached through her Aura and she lifted herself up with her weapon in hand, but froze when the sound of metal clicked behind her.

Neo's blade was pointed at Ruby's head. It thrusted forward and snagged on Ruby's hood, cutting the red fabric as Ruby made a frenzied dash to the side. The young student tried to catch her breath and prepared to fire at them again while she had the distance.

But she felt a sharp, powerful tug on her wrist that yanked her off her feet. She looked down to see Melodic Cudgel's hook had snagged her arm while she was retreating. Before she could pry the hook off she was pulled off her feet. Flying through the air, Ruby could only look up in time to see Torchwick's arm raised to catch her neck with a clothesline.

"Y'know Red," Torchwick spoke as she gagged and gasped for air, "I'm kinda sad to see this come to an end. It's sobering to think after all this is over I won't be dealing with you anymore. I'll miss you Red. Not like something I care about or even give a second thought to, but more like a nasty growth you can't believe was finally taken off." Neo silently giggled to herself they slowly strolled towards the struggling young Huntress, "So long Red."

"D-Don't come any closer." Ruby mumbled, struggling to pull herself up as she reached for a new magazine. She unloaded her rifle and tried to load the next mag but before she could clip it in, Neo's boot swung into her cheek and knocked her across the ground in a bodily heap, "Agh!"

"Aww, poor Red, this is just sad." Torchwick said pitifully, "Neo, I think we're done playing around. Finish it quick, okay?"

Neo smiled and slowly drew her sword as she stalked towards Ruby. The hooded girl panted and reached for another magazine. She pulled one out, loaded it, and aimed. Torchwick just laughed as Neo continued forward, ready to dodge or block whatever came her way. Silver eyes narrowed as she fired, only to miss both criminals.

It did however hit the gravity magazine she dropped earlier.

A violent explosion of energy erupted between the two criminals. Torchwick was knocked over as a wave of gravity kept him grounded. And Neo was blown off her feet, sent flying off the top of the Flagship and flailing through the sky without purchase.

Torchwick growled and fought against the force pushing him down before it finally dissipated. He reached out, "NEEOOOOOOOOO!"

He saw his loyal companion fall from the Dust's side effects and drop through the air.

...

"You..." Torchwick turned around with a snarl, "YOU BITCH!" The orange-haired criminal roared as Ruby stood back up, "I'LL KILL YOU!"

"That terrible feeling in your gut that you can't believe? That's what everyone down there is feeling right now. What you chose to make them feel." Ruby growled back, squaring off with the homicidal crook, "Just stop now so I can put an end to this-"

"Shut up! Shut your goddamn mouth!" Torchwick sprinted forward with a yell. Ruby's eyes narrowed as she rushed forward and spun her scythe around her body. Her bladed edge slashed against the side of Torchwick's cane in rapid succession in an attempt to push him back. The orange-haired crook strained against her assault as he yelled, "You'll pay for this!"

His cane caught her scythe before he slammed the end of it down between her feet, releasing a massive blast of fire that knocked Ruby away. The hook caught around her neck and pulled her back into his fist. Torchwick didn't hesitate for even an instant and beat her viciously while she was in reach.

"I'm sick of you constantly getting in my way!" His fist knocked her head back and finally out of his hold, "You and your little friends always intervene, trying to play storybook heroes!" Ruby tried to sit up but his boot swung into her chest and caused her to double over, "Well do you wanna know a secret about what it really means to be a Huntress, Red? They fight, they lose, and then they die!"

"W-What's wrong, Torchwick?" Ruby mocked with a pained expression, "You sound scared."

"Oh, don't worry about me kid." She struggled to look up as the master crook clapped his cane against his palm, "Because unlike you and all your friends with death wishes, I aim for survival." He slowly approached her, casting a large shadow over her, "No matter what I'm up against, I'll come out on top. No matter who we face, I'll escape. And no matter what it is that comes for me, I'll survive."

Ruby stared up at the crook that overshadowed her. And then quickly realized it wasn't him that was casting the shadow.

Ruby grabbed her scythe and dove to the side. She looked back in time to see Torchwick's confused expression turn to horror as a massive Nevermore collided into his back and tackled him into the ship's bridge.

The young Huntress watched as the center of the ship went up in flames and exploded. Whatever the Grimm had destroyed was now causing the Flagship to shift out of the sky. Ruby watched as the level surface of the ship started to tilt on its axis until it was falling down at an angle.

"No no no!" Running to the edge and leaping off the ship, Ruby dropped down towards Beacon. She struggled to grab hold of the bolt for her rifle before she fired downwards, countered the downward force with the sheer recoil of her gun.

Ruby dropped slower through the air with a spare shot fired every few seconds to stop herself from reaching terminal velocity. Her fingers nervously twitched and pulled the trigger of her rifle as her landing strategy came closer and closer to completion.

Her legs hit the ground and nearly broke under the force of the drop. Falling into a roll and losing the grip of her weapon, Ruby bounced off the ground once. She laid on the pavement gasping for air as she heard Crescent Rose clatter to the side. She raised her head and looked up as the Flagship she had stood on not two minutes earlier fell from the sky.

Would...would this help anyone?

"Hey. Guessing that's your mess, right?"

Ruby flinched and turned around ready to fight. Her body relaxed as she realized it was Naruto and not another enemy that had found her.

She paused when she saw how tired he was and that he was piggybacking an unconscious Minato.

"What happened to you?"

"My mess."

((((((((Hunting))))))))

With every robot that came into view, he destroyed it with a shot. With each one that got close he destroyed it under his fist.

He should be annoyed by how easily they were broken, but considering the circumstances he couldn't be happier.

The general's attention shifted to across the city block to see Qrow, Glynda, and other familiar faces clearing the streets of robots and Grimm. And on the far side he could see Deidara and Guren doing their part keeping up with all of them.

A loud explosion echoed up above followed by the ominous creak of metal. He looked up and watched as the only remaining Flagship in his armada fell from the sky with a flaming plume behind it.

It was a harrowing sight to see another of his ships crash before he could reclaim it and hope to mitigate some of the danger.

But when all the corrupted Atlesian Knights on the street stopped and powered down, he considering counting his blessings.

"I guess someone already had the idea of storming the ship." Jiraiya noted, looking down to see his outdated prosthetic sparking and acting up, "We aren't gonna be even worse off with that thing down, are we?"

"Now we have no central hub to deploy ships and engage in aerial combat. Which means that Wyvern is still an issue." Ironwood reloaded his gun, "But all things considered, I'm glad that shanghaied ship is out of the air."

Qrow cracked his neck, "I'm glad to see all the little toy soldiers down for the count. And we're sure they aren't gonna pop up again?"

"The Knights and Paladins were being controlled from terminals on the Flagships where they could be monitored and updated. Whatever it was that turned them came from one of those terminals. And now that the ship is down - hopefully with Torchwick still inside it - they're worthless."

"No time to sound bitter, James," Once again Glynda helped him focus on the task at hand, "The robots are deactivated but we still have the Grimm to deal with."

"Right. Guren! Deidara! Report!

"Yes sir!" Guren came running over at attention as Deidara took his time, "We were patrolling the city limits with our team when the incident occurred. I raised a defensive line of Crystal before I had to retreat and make a wall of it instead. It held them off temporarily but they forced their way through."

"We tried to deter them but they just weren't stopping." Deidara continued, "When it was clear we weren't going to stop the stampede we moved on to warning the immediate district. While we were doing that we caught sight of some Bullheads collecting Grimm and transporting them around. Along with White Fang members."

"White Fang?"

"That's right." The former vigilante nodded. Ironwood looked around and saw the expressions on his comrades' faces, especially Jiraiya and Tsunade, at the distressing news, "Which means shit's only gonna getting worse if we don't find those fucks and take them out quick."

"Deidara."

"Heh, your new recruits have attitude, Jimmy." Qrow snickered, "I kinda like it."

Ironwood groaned and was about to rebuke his comrade before he spotted Glynda. The blonde Huntress was staring at him intensely behind her glasses, "Glynda, is something the matter?"

"I'm...finding myself extremely disappointed."

"At what?"

"Really James?" His old friend responded indignantly while fixing her glasses up, "You're not even going to admit it? You're going to treat me like a blind, dumb fool unless I come out and ask?"

"Glynda-"

"Why are they here, James?" Her riding crop swung out to point at Deidara and Guren, "Why are they wearing your army's uniform? Why are you treating these criminals that assaulted and kidnapped my students like your subordinates?!"

He didn't need to look to see Qrow, Jiraiya, and Tsunade's eyes turn to the two soldiers. Qrow disbelief carried in his voice, "That was...these two were a part of that?"

"We aren't criminals." Deidara stated unhelpfully as he took a stand, "We were fighting against the White Fang while everyone else was on their asses. What we did was necessary-"

"That's rich!" Qrow stomped his way over with murder in his eyes, "You use that excuse every time you endanger children!"

"Stop please!" Guren stood between them and had a hand on Deidara's chest before things could escalate, "I know what we did in the past in unforgivable, but we're trying-"

"Don't apologize for anything Guren! What we did may not sit well with them but we're the reason so many White Fang attacks didn't turn into massacres!"

"It was them. They're the ones Minato fought at the Dust rig." The old toad raised his hand ready to release a Shockwave.

"No!" Ironwood slid in just as Deidara leveled his hand in retaliation, "Everybody stand down!"

"What the hell were you thinking, James?!" Qrow snapped.

"I was thinking that letting a group of specially trained, powerful, and capable fighters on the wrong path rot in jail would be a waste! I thought I could give them a chance to put their abilities to better use for the fight ahead! All of our fights ahead!"

He said that while staring deliberately at Glynda and Qrow. Knowing what they did about the danger they faced, he hoped they understood why he did what he did. That when faced with a threat as terrible as the Queen of Grimm, any alternative - no matter how troubling - was preferable.

Judging by their eyes, they didn't feel the same.

"James, these people shouldn't be parading around in your colors, toting any grand plans you have to save people. They should be in prison, serving time for what they've done and the people they hurt." Glynda said resolutely, leaving no room for him to argue.

Guren however didn't share that sentiment, "We were only trying to help how we could! We're doing that now! I know we have a lot to make up for but this is our way of doing that!"

"Making it right?!" Qrow scoffed, "You don't get to make your rounds and just say sorry. You made your choices and now you live with them! They don't just disappear!"

"ENOUGH!" Ironwood's echoing command silenced all of them in an instant. They would really waste their time arguing about this? He shook his head, "I will not hear another word of it! I know this might not sit well with all of you! I know you might question me! But I don't care! I made a choice I thought would work for the better and it has! These 'criminals' you so readily condemn have fought by our side and stood their ground in this crisis! That tells me more than anything that this was the right choice to make!"

"James-"

"No! In the fight ahead we will need any and every advantage we can take! Even the ones that make us uncomfortable! Sometimes the best choices - the right choices - are the ones we have to stomach!"

"BAAAAARRRHHHUUUUUUUUU!"

The powerful trumpeting of the Goliath's trunk shook the ground around them. They all turned to see the giant Grimm cresting over the top of buildings as it barreled through. One building was knocked off its foundation and sent dropping towards them-

"MOVE!"

Ironwood and the others were blown off their feet by a powerful Explosion as the debris came down. The general slammed into the street and immediately rolled into a crouching stance. He looked over-

"Oh no."

"DEIDARA!" Guren cried out as she slid to the bomber's side. He was pinned under a massive slab of stone and rebar that covered most of his body, "J-Just hold on!"

"Just wait." Glynda raised her crop, "I'll move the rubble off him-"

The instant the rocks shifted he started coughing blood.

"Stop!" They froze in shock as Tsunade knelt by Deidara's side and looked him over. She leaned in close to hear his wet, uneven breathing and pressed her fingers to his neck.

Guren gasped in horror when the doctor shook her head.

"Hey, we got Grimm incoming!" Qrow called out as he fired at the approaching beasts. Ironwood quickly drew his pistol and assisted him, "Whatever we need to do, do it quick!"

"T-There has to be something, right?" Guren asked desperately as she focused on her wheezing partner, "We have to help him!"

"I'm sorry, but there isn't anything we can do like this. If we weren't in the middle of an attack it would be risky, but right now-"

"No, that isn't good enough! Whatever I need-"

"Oh god, shut the fuck up."

Deidara's wheezing curse was followed by a bloody cough. The blond hissed, "Fuck that stings. Look, you can't do anything Guren. Leave it be. Get out of here and go do some good."

"I'm not leaving you!"

"Well that's just stupid." He chuckled, letting a little more blood come down his lips. Whatever was left of his Aura was straining and the moment it did the damage would only get worse. He raised his hand and let some fire pop off his palms, "General?"

"Yes solider?"

"Fuck I hate that." Deidara looked up at him with fading eyes, "Take her away. I can clear out a good chunk and give you some time."

"T-That's not happening!" Guren denied with tears rolling down her cheeks, "W-We don't leave soldiers behind! Right General?! Right!"

"..."

Guren looked up at him and silently pleaded but he gave her no answer. She shook her head, "I'm not leaving him."

Deidara sighed, "God you're a stubborn bitch sometimes. You really wanna help me?"

"Yes!"

"Then find some other crazy stubborn bitch that can put up with you and live well. Okay?"

While Guren was shocked by his request, Ironwood stepped in and scooped her under his arm, "We're retreating!"

"No! NOOO!"

Pink crystals shot up from the street in an effort to stop him from falling back and leaving their dying comrade. As Jiraiya called them over and Guren cried out for her partner, Deidara held his hand out towards the oncoming Grimm horde.

He laughed, yelled something about art, and-

((((((((Hunting))))))))

There was a massive explosion that erupted several city blocks away from them.

The giant Flagship crashed into the ground in his periphery.

CRDL handled the White Fang members that filled the street. They were outnumbered but the team was adamant to show their hard-earned skills from Beacon.

Gaara held off the old Faunus as he created lava off to the side.

The red-haired woman forced the fire-wielder on her back foot with a preemptive strike.

And Sasuke stood silently across from Han. As he copied the horse Faunus' Semblance and coated his body in purple Aura, the Noble Guard seethed in anger and took a stance.

Sasuke felt a need to once more call out and plead to the man to lay his weapons down. But the mind-numbing pain of his mangled hand under his armpit reminded him that Han had made his choice.

The Uchiha slowly raised his sword with the blade pointed out. Han responded in kind, putting up his fists and dropping his stance. The two Aura-cloaked men stood in silence as battles raged around them and destruction reined in the city.

The street erupted in a hail of pavement as they launched towards each other.

Sasuke's blade clashed with Han's gauntlets hard enough that a shockwave reverberated around them. Han pressed against his sword with ludicrous power and speed.

Power and speed Sasuke felt swell up in every inch of his body.

He slid aside and let the large Faunus trip past him. As he stumbled forward, Sasuke spun and struck him with a spinning back kick.

Han was sent flying across the street and into the side of a car, denting it with his body. Sasuke immediately rushed the horse Faunus before he could recover.

The power of this Semblance was unlike anything he had felt before. The strength welling up as he tensed his body was several times more than anything he could reach at his peak. It was similar to the rush Yang's Burn and Kiba's Feral gave, but it was constant and overwhelming. And unlike Naruto's Semblance, he didn't lose control when he had this power.

Unfortunately he quickly realized he still didn't have enough control.

Sasuke went sailing towards Han with just a jump. The Noble Guard pulled himself out of the car and avoided his rush, grabbing his ankle as he passed by and slamming him into the street. Sasuke was dragged along the street before being violently tossed into the side of a building.

Aura shielded him from injury, but he felt his reserves take a hit.

"Sasuke!" The young swordsman looked up as Han was blocked by a wall of sand. Sasuke looked over as Gaara ran to his side while holding up the wall, "I told you to retreat!"

"I'm not standing down!"

"You're hurt! You'll only make it worse-"

A prideful roar interrupted as Rōshi dove into the wall of sand and melted through it. Sasuke and Gaara quickly separated as the ape landed besides them and pressed his hands into the building. The stone and mortar holding it up quickly overheated until it became molten rock.

As the shadow of the tilted building loomed over him, Sasuke dropped into a squat and braced himself. Purple steam rushed off his body before he jumped like a rocket. The remains of the building cracked and shattered as he barreled through it completely.

Han had leapt up as well to meet him in the air. The giant man cupped his hands together and brought them down on Sasuke. The blow landed and he was sent flying back into the street, cratering the ground when he landed on his feet.

Feel the power behind every movement. Be aware that every move was now several times more powerful. While Han dropped back out of the air, Sasuke took the chance to acclimate and understand the Semblance he was using.

A rush of heat came swarming towards his side. Before the blue flames could reach him, a red hand stretched out in front of him and shielded him from the fire. The red fox woman jogged over to his side as she kept the flames at bay.

Her other hand shot out behind him. He looked back in time to see her Aura ensnare Han before he could get any closer. The large horse thrashed and cursed before he was lifted up thrown into the buildings across the block. As she held off the most violent of the group, Sasuke took a deep breath and gripped his sword tightly.

Sasuke slipped out from behind her protection and charged the blue woman throwing fire. The young cat panicked and turned her torrent of flames on him. He slid aside and avoided the path of her streams, slipping in closer and closer until the hilt of his sword hit her stomach. As she doubled over for air, he struck her in the side of the chest and sent her dropping into the street.

"RAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" Han's bellowing roar echoed over the street as he charged, "UCHIHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

"COME ON!"

While Han crossed the distance between them in one powerful bound, Sasuke twisted his katana around and readied his stance for battle. He leapt away, leaving Han to slam into the street and splinter it. As white steam rushed off his body with a buildup of power, Sasuke did the same with a rush of purple steam.

He watched the Faunus' every movement.

The way he tensed his shoulders and braced his arms as power filled them up.

The way his legs shifted to change his center of gravity before a charge.

The way the steam focused and shot out more narrowly when the strength was at its peak.

Sasuke noticed all of these little changes in Han's movement…and matched them.

Both men charged at each other, crossing blades and fists this time instead of colliding together. Sparks flew during their cross and they slid to a stop before diving back in. Sasuke ducked beneath Han's destructive fist and struck up into his chin when he had the chance. The White Fang leader roared and attempted to stomp him into a paste. Sasuke kicked off the ground and escaped as Han's foot broke the blacktop.

Slabs of pavement jutted up and Han smacked them towards Sasuke. The young Huntsman sliced them apart until they exploded into rubble. Han rushed in during that opportunity and kicked for his head. As the foot sailed for his head, Sasuke instinctually knew the path it was going to take.

He dropped to the ground as the leg swung over his head. And when Han's path was complete, Sasuke snapped back up and barreled into the larger man's chest. With a primal scream the young Uchiha rushed forward and slammed his enemy through sand and fire until they hit a wall.

Not bothered by the wall that crumbled around them, Han slammed his fists down into Sasuke's back before tossing him aside. Sasuke quickly planted his feet and slid to a stop before looking back up with narrowed eyes.

Han roared and lunged at him with his fist reeled back.

Sasuke rushed in with his sword chambered by his side.

The two men met and attacked simultaneously. The devastating punch slammed into the side of Sasuke's head as he felt his brain shake through his enhanced Aura. And his sword lunged out with a thrust, digging into Han's throat while he was open.

Another shockwave reverberated through the air as they were blown away from each other. The katana slipped from Sasuke's hand as he bounced against the ground and slammed into the sidewalk's curb. He felt a sharp throbbing through his skull and the pain in his hand flared up as the purple layer around his body broke and fluttered away.

As he struggled for air and his body became heavy he looked over. Han was picking himself up as his white Aura disappeared as well. The giant horse was left winded and struggling for balance. It was probably rare for his Aura to ever be fully depleted.

Despite his lack of Aura and the fatigue he must have felt, Han's eyes focused on him and narrowed. He lowered his fists and activated the blades on his gauntlets. Sasuke picked himself up slowly, "Please stop. We're both done. We don't need to go any farther."

Han shook his head, "I've come this far. I'm so close to helping Faunus move a little further ahead. Stopping now would be worse than anything else."

"Going forward like this is the worse thing you could do."

"I. Won't. Stop!"

Han sprinted across the street and rushed towards Sasuke. The exhausted Huntsman walked up and stood his ground as he tried to think what he could do. Han grew closer every second and he had no idea how to escape. He prepared to move-

"UCHIHA!"

The voice from his side drew his attention as his katana spun through the air and back towards him. As it approached, Han drew closer and raised his fist. The massive man came down upon him and threw his fist at Sasuke's head.

The Uchiha fell to the side, partly dodging and partly collapsing from exhaustion. But as he passed by Han's open flank, he held out his hand.

His katana landed in his palm and he twisted his whole body around.

A silver flash dug into Han's arm and neck.

((((((((Hunting))))))))

They had all been left silent after watching the clash between the Uchiha and the Noble Guard. The battle had started with three monsters fighting three more monsters while young Huntsmen fought a wave of foolish volunteers in too deep.

But as she fought Yugito and the other boy held back Rōshi, the Uchiha and Han laid waste to everything around them. Their fights had been interrupted and tossed aside as they had to avoid the two powerhouses' duel.

They were beaten and depleted of Aura. Han no doubt shocked he had been pushed this far in battle. And the Uchiha no longer able to hide just how much pain he was in. But even so Han prepared to finish the fight in his emptied state.

The boy spoke up and asked him to stop.

Han ignored him and rushed in for the kill.

That's when she threw his sword.

Kushina knew what was going to happen the moment she gave that desperate young man his weapon back.

And it came to pass the very next instant.

The sword swung down, unimpeded by the obstacles in its path as everyone watched in silent.

Han's arm plopped to the ground a second later.

His head bounced off the pavement after that.

The massive man's body dropped to the street as the Uchiha kept standing. His sword hung by his side, blood running off the end of it as he caught his breath.

"M-Mr. Han?"

"Oh god, h-he actually killed him."

"He killed one of the Noble Guards!"

The Noble Guards had been a staple of Remnant's existence for ages, even if they never lived up to the stories or in the public eye. Even after all these years there was always some version of the nine great Faunus heroes who stood up for the downtrodden and hopeless.

But unless Han had a secret child or a relative he didn't know about, one of them had been erased from the world.

This boy had killed the mountain breaker.

He turned and raised his blade out to the remaining forces. They all watched with baited breath as his sword glistening with their leader's blood.

"Leave."

Tired. Beaten. Broken. Depleted. This boy who probably couldn't even throw another punch ordered a vanguard force of White Fang to run and never come back.

It took them a few seconds to follow his command.

Yugito looked at the fallen form of her comrade once more before Rōshi grabbed her shoulder and pulled her along.

It was only a few more seconds until they were gone from sight. They probably should have chased after them. Kushina felt like she had to capture them properly. But she felt, along with the rest of them most likely, that they should just be happy they were finished with the fight.

"AGH!"

"Sasuke!"

"Uchiha!" The Huntsmen team came rushing over to join the Faunus as they checked their injured comrade, "What the hell?! I thought the plan was to distract them and get him out of here!"

The red-haired raccoon grimaced, "We were cut off. I tried to pull him away from it but he was adamant!"

"Cardin, his hand is seriously-"

"I can see that!" The biggest boy bark before lifting the Uchiha up, "Help me move! There's gotta be a medical center somewhere!"

Kushina watched them from the side as they fretted about their friend and tried to help him. She turned and looked around the immediate area to see all that damage it had sustained in their battle. The further she looked out, the more smoke and fire she saw until she spotted the Wyvern circling Beacon.

She was finally free. She had finally found the courage to pull herself away from the White Fang, damned be the consequences. But now...

This horror. This evil. Because she was complicit. Because she let it happen.

She closed her eyes and walked away-

"He never stopped looking for you!"

"..."

"F-Finding you! Getting you back! Bringing you home! It drove him! It drove them both! They never stopped thinking about you!"

...

Kushina looked back at the Uchiha as he was propped on the large Huntsmen's back while they retreated to a safe point. He stared at her unflinching, refusing to buckle or show any sign that what he said was a lie.

That was enough for tears of relief to come to her eyes.

She wiped them away only for more to come welling back up. Kushina nodded to the injured boy, "Please...keep watching over him. For just a little longer."

She turned and walked into the city. Into the mess she made.

((((((((Hunting))))))))

"You ever think you'd see anything like this?"

"When I decided to follow Cinder I had prepared myself for anything. Even this. But still...it's a lot."

"Yeah, kinda make me glad I didn't eat anything." Mercury and Emerald agreed on that as they stood on a vantage point and filmed everything they could find. What they captured was being streamed for the rest of the world to see, and what they were seeing would truly leave people terrified.

It was sobering to think they had a hand in turning the world upside down...but at least they were on the side that kept its balance.

"Hey look," Mercury's Scroll zoomed in as he caught a load of students fighting off the last Grimm that covered the court, "I guess the courageous little good guys won after all."

"Cinder isn't going to be happy they made it." Wherever she was, they were gonna have to deal with her annoyance when she came back, "Should we go down there and-"

"No need." Mercury chuckled as he zoomed in on the approaching figures, "The stars have arrived."

((((((((Hunting))))))))

"HAAA!" Weiss gave one more yell as she swung her rapier and pierced the last Grimm in front of her. As the beast faded to nothing in front of her, the heiress allowed herself to sag as she caught her breath, "This. Is. Exhausting!"

"I-It's okay." Tenten panted by her side as she kept a firm grip on her sticks, "I think that's the last of them."

"Hey you two, take a break!" Kiba called to them against the side of a fallen Paladin, "Catch your breath and I'll-"

"No!" Tenten sternly barked as Weiss nodded beside her, "Have you even recovered any of your Aura yet?"

The tattooed boy proved instrumental in picking off the last of the Paladin units before they suddenly became inert. However in fighting the giant mechs and catching their attacks his Aura slowly depleted until it broke entirely. Now he was left to sit on the sidelines and keeping a lookout for them.

But Weiss shrugged, unbothered by how annoyed he might be when his life was in danger getting directly involved, "I take your silence as her being right?" The tattooed boy opened his mouth to argue before growling instead, "Thought so." The young heiress felt a weariness in her body as she walked over and called out, "Is everyone okay?"

"We're all good!" Neon of Team FNKI called back.

"We're tired but alive!" Sun yelled back.

Coco and her team whistled.

Rock Lee's energetic war cry hinted that they were doing well.

"Me and Ren are here!" Nora called out, somehow still so full of energy despite the gauntlet they had just pushed through, "But I'm out of ammo and Ren's weapons are broken." The green-clad boy tiredly raised his weapons to show the blades had snapped off, "I think we're gonna need a little time."

Weiss nodded and Tenten ran past her and towards the entrance to Beacon. The stick-wielder called out as she approached, "Is everyone okay?"

Sakura walked around the corner with Zwei in her arms, "Y-Yeah, we're all here. Everyone's a little shaken up but alright. Thank you for holding the line. I'm not sure what happened to Pyrrha Nikos and that Jaune boy but I'm glad we have all of you."

It shocked Weiss that those two would leave the fight for anything. That along with the fact Yang had run off, Blake hadn't come back, Ruby was nowhere to be found, and whatever situation Naruto was in that worried all the civilians...

She feared for the worst.

"Anyway, do we have a plan?" Sakura asked, "These people won't stop worrying and..."

She froze and stared off behind them. Weiss and Tenten turned around to see what had gotten her attention.

Standing atop a broken Paladin, in the middle of all the recovering teams, were Suigetsu and Ruby's friend Jūgo. The droopy white-haired boy looked disheartened by everything he was seeing as Jūgo just stood tall and taciturn as usual.

Where had these two been the whole time?

"Hey, welcome back!" Sun waved to them, "You know we coulda used some help with all these guys, right?"

"I'm sorry."

Suigetsu apologized and reached up to Jūgo's neck. He slowly drew the zipper down on the baggy clothes the large boy wore until they slipped off his body. When they did, Weiss and everyone else present were given the sight of the elaborate locks and braces that covered his body.

Suigetsu turned his hand into water and shoved it into the locks until they opened, "I wish this didn't have to happen...but he's been waiting to let loose."

The metal braces covering his body slipped from his body and clattered over the broken heap of the Paladin.

Weiss' stomach turned and went cold when she saw the monstrosity in front of her.

Jūgo puffed out his chest, stretching the large patches of black skin and bone armor that covered his body as he opened his mouth of jagged, pointy teeth.

"RRRRAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

He leapt off the Paladin and flew straight down at Sun. The monkey Faunus had raised his guard and jumped back, but the hybrid's foot slammed into his arms and sending him crashing into a pile of robot pieces.

The civilians screamed in horror as she and the other students quickly drew their weapons. They didn't know what they were looking at but whatever Jūgo was, he was a threat. The group of Hunters-in-training swarmed around Jūgo as he stood prone.

But in an instant he rushed aside, barreling through the perimeter they made until he found another person. Jūgo singled out Nora as he attacked her. She spun her hammer around and slammed it into his chest before he could get close. The impact landed and the ground shook but Jūgo barely moved. His knee flew up, bending the long handle of Nora's hammer before grabbing her head and head-butting her.

"NORA-"

He spun and tossed her into Ren's chest hard enough to send them flying. With another primal roar he leapt across the battlefield to attack someone else. Everyone tried to stop him, Weiss included with her Glyphs, but he evaded and slipped by their attacks if he didn't just barrel through them.

He crushed Flynt's trumpet in his hand and knocked the young Atlas student away. Neon swung into his back and created a layer of ice over his spine, but his arm shot back and caught her neck before she could slip away. Jūgo raised her into the air before spiking her into the ground hard enough so she bounced.

"BASTARD!"

Kiba started firing on the monstrosity and this was the chance others took to take their shots as well. It culminated in Coco leveling her minigun at the anomaly and pelting every inch of his body with ammunition.

But despite the assault of bullets, Jūgo persevered and pressed on. He covered the remaining distance between them and reached out. His warped claws clamped down on the massive barrel of Coco's chaingun and stopped it from firing another shot. The fashionable upperclassman tried to pry her weapon away but Jūgo's grip tightened until it broke in his hand.

Jūgo backhanded Coco across the face and raised his arms to block Yatsuhashi and Fox's simultaneous strikes. They pressed forward and started attacking, Jūgo blocking their fast jabs and mighty swings with his forearms. Their attacks simply struck the bone plates that covered him before he pushed them back. His hand snapped up and caught Velvet's leg before she could drop it on his head. The rabbit Faunus was struck in the stomach and then spiked into Fox's chest before he could get any closer. And just as Yatsuhashi tried to cleave him in half, the hybrid spun around and punched his sword so hard it dented under his fist and collided with the massive Huntsman's sternum.

A wire wrapped around his arm and caught in his bone plates before yanking him to the ground, "GET HIM!" Weiss saw Kankuro maneuver his wires around in order to keep Jūgo stationary. The Schnee heiress rushed in with Tenten at her side as Temari ran at the hybrid. She drew out her fans and formed a gale of wind that rushed over Jūgo's body while he was stuck in place. If he had any Aura, it no doubt stressed under the powerful gust while scratches covered the plates around his body.

Lee looked ready to pounce on the opponent his teammates had captured until the hulking man violently twisted his body. Kankuro was nearly yanked off his feet but quickly found his balance again. However that moment of struggle offered Jūgo the chance to grab the wires, pull them in and drag Kankuro towards him. Temari and Lee quickly acted and cut the wires, but had to quickly escape before Jūgo crushed them.

This was the worst possible scenario.

This kind of enemy would be difficult to handle normally, but everyone here was exhausted and nearly drained of Aura. At their weakest this unprecedented enemy appeared to break them down.

Jūgo's head leaned back as he avoided the knife flying towards his ear. He turned to see her and Tenten stood together, the older girl's hand still outstretched from throwing her weapon. She picked up her sticks and sprinted ahead as Weiss weaved her Glyphs around her comrade.

One appeared between her and Jūgo and allowed the bun-haired girl to vault over the hybrid and land a glancing blow on the back of his head. Tenten landed behind Jūgo and started landing quick strikes on his exposed back. The hulking brute swiped behind him and forced the more agile fighter to jump back. She retreated into a spinning Glyph and activated the Dust in her weapons.

Weiss summoned a series of Glyphs surrounding Jūgo that launched Tenten from one into another. Each time she bounced between them she landed a passing blow on the monster, leaving a burst of fire, ice, or lighting in her path. Jūgo's malformed, uneven body jerked aside violently with each blow they landed as he couldn't keep up with them.

He opened his arms wide and took Tenten's enhanced charge straight to the chest. But his arms closed down and encircled the bun-haired Huntress while she was close. Tenten tried to slip out but Jūgo's hold was too strong and refused to release her. The larger man reeled his head back and Tenten covered her forehead in steel as his head shot forward and slammed into hers. The hybrid was left stunned by the pain aching through his skull as Tenten gave a shaky smirk.

It faded a second later when Jūgo instead grabbed her head and slammed it into the ground before repeating the action over and over.

"Stop it!" Weiss cried out as she launching icicles that shattered against the behemoth's body. He looked her way, dropping Tenten as the older girl groaned on the ground before stalking towards Weiss. The heiress felt a chill run through her body as she quickly jumped back and weaved a series of Glyphs between her and Jūgo. The hybrid quickly proved that despite his current state he wasn't mindless as he slipped around her Semblance and charged her.

Any fireballs and icicles she summoned pelted his body but failed to stop him. The focused blast of wind she pressed on him failed to push him back. With her offensive attacks failing and him avoiding her defenses, the young heiress started to panic.

She needed to fight more!

She needed to help her friends!

She need more! More! Something more!

A giant blade slammed down on Jūgo when he was close enough to her. Weiss was startled by the sudden attack and stared down at the flattened hybrid under the icy white blade. She slowly looked up over her shoulder and saw a Glyph she had tried to use time and time again formed by her side with a giant sword and arm protruding from it.

Was...was this-

A terrible crack and shatter drew her attention back. She looked back to see Jūgo standing back up, the remains of the broken sword she summoned in his claws before they blurred forward. One clamped around her throat and lifted her up as the other grabbed her rapier. The young Huntress gasped for air as her sword failed to move a single inch under his grasp.

With him this close Weiss finally had a chance to see Jūgo's face closely. The crazed, vague presence in his eyes. The blotches of black skin as it grew closer to his mouth. The jagged, uneven rows of teeth that alternated between a normal human's and a vicious beast's. It was that mouth that slowly drew open and leaned forward, salivating and blowing hot air over her face as his tongue reached out.

She felt it run along her cheek-

Jūgo's head jerked forward after it took several gunshots directly.

"HEY FUCKER!" Weiss struggled for breath but looked over to see Kiba standing a few yards away with his tonfa smoking, "YOU DONE PLAYING AROUND?! BECAUSE I'LL GIVE YOU A REAL FIGHT!"

Weiss dropped to the ground and desperately sucked in air as Jūgo rushed towards Kiba. The heiress rubbed her throat gently as she heard rapid gunfire mixed with primal yelling. The young Huntress looked over to see Kiba jumping away and weaving under Jūgo's slashes while shooting at him between each dodge. Kiba stayed on the defensive while his Aura was depleted and waited for someone to come help him. Weiss grabbed her rapier and pulled herself up-

Jūgo slammed his shoulder in Kiba's chest and sent him chasing back into a Paladin. He yelled and tried to guard himself before Jūgo's claws flashed forward and pierced his throat.

There were gasps around them as blood seeped from Kiba's mouth and dripped through the claws in his neck. Jūgo drew in closer and roared in his victim's face.

Until the end of Kiba's tonfa pressed against the bottom of his jaw.

The jet on the other side flared up and lifted Jūgo off his feet, turning him in the air until Kiba slammed him into the ground. As he was pinned Kiba pulled the trigger again, releasing another wave of gunfire at point blank range into the hybrid's face while the claws were still in his throat.

A powerful rush of water knocked him off Jūgo and sent him tumbling into the ground. Suigetsu ran over and picked his comrade up before dragging him away. Weiss tried to follow-

"KIBA!"

She paused and looked back as Tenten dropped by her teammate's side. Some of the others started giving chase to the two traitors while Weiss ran back over to check on her friend. When she reached him she looked down in horror to see him struggle for air as blood spilled from his neck and mouth. Tenten reached for his hand and tried to keep him still as he convulsed on the ground.

Neon was quick to come over as well, tears in her eyes and crying out his name. A few others looked on in horror as Weiss shook her head, "H-Help!" She yelled, "Help! Someone! We need help! Medic!"

She called out hopelessly but was surprised when Sakura came running over with a first aid kit. She knelt down and ordered the others away as she paled at the sight of his injury, "O-Oh"

"Can you help him?" Nora asked sadly.

"I don't know. T-This is bad. He needs more help than I-" The pink-haired girl paused and shook her head, "No, I can do this. You did your part. Let me do mine."

She started going to work as Weiss and the others could only watch helplessly as their friend's life hung in the balance.

((((((((Hunting))))))))

"Why did you turn your back on our people? Did you gain some kind of pleasure being a traitor?"

"Of course not!" Blake blocked his sword and the slashes that followed before jumping back up with Shadow, "I want to help Faunus! But how the White Fang is doing it is wrong!"

"So quick to lose your stomach?" He sheathed his sword and drew it again, releasing a massive wave of energy that left a cut over the entire cafeteria she only barely dodged, "Not that long ago you had steeled yourself to do whatever it took! But then you suddenly lost your nerve and ran away!"

"I was tired of how we were hurting people! I was tired of sacrificing my conscience and soul just to terrorize others! I told you that time after time but you brushed it off! Said it was just a necessary sacrifice for the cause!"

"We have to give a piece of ourselves away in order to see our dream through!"

"A dream of peace and equality can't be built on a foundation of suffering and revenge!"

"You're right Blake! The dream of equality was always impossible!" Adam slowly walked towards her as his blade dragged along the ground, "We protested for the idea that we weren't a lower class. We fought to show them that we were so much more. We thought all of this would change their minds, but as long as these people have an idea set in their heads they'll refuse to ever budge. As long as they're convinced we're beneath them then that's all we'll ever be." His smile twisted, "So why not put them at the bottom and let that become they're new reality?"

Blake looked at him in horror, "Adam, subjugating humans like that isn't the answer."

"You forfeited any right to decide the betterment of our people when you abandoned us and stood with the humans instead."

"I became a Huntress." Blake argued, "I wanted to help people. Not just Faunus. I wanted to prove that Faunus were strong enough to help everyone."

"You ran away Blake. Don't try to make an excuse when you got scared." Adam shook his head, "You ran and hid here. With Kushina son, another traitor. With the Schnee girl, the daughter of the SDC of all things." He said that with particular venom, and her face pinched as she knew he was glaring at her with his broken eye, "And the Uchiha survivor. You've made friends with traitors, enemies, and monsters here in your little hideaway. You've changed since you abandoned us. Abandoned me."

"Adam-"

"But you can still come back. I know that warrior I fought besides is still somewhere inside. I just have to peel away the cowardice and foolishness. I have to get rid of everything that makes you weak." He stepped forward, "I have to get rid of everyone that turned you into this."

Blake's eyes hardened her grip tightened. In a state of rage she rushed forward and flipped over his head. She tried to attack his blind spot but his sword swung up to parry her attacks. When she landed she tried to attack again but had to block the shotgun blast he fired blindly behind him. He followed with a sidekick that sent her flying back into a wall.

And then she was pinned to it with a blade that tore through her Aura and pierced into her abdomen.

"AHHHHHHHH!"

"This is the first step." He whispered to her, soft and gentle like a lover as he kept her pinned, "You just need to power through it. It might seem tough but I promise it's freeing to be rid of the ones that keep you chained. You'll feel freedom when I separate Kushina's son's head from his body. You'll see the light when I cut the Schnee girl in half. You'll feel at home when we're tearing the Uchiha boy limb from limb."

"A-Adam," Blake whimpered, "Stop."

"I can't." He shook his head, "I said I'd bring you back after I remove your weakness. And I'm a man of my word."

"Blake! Blake where are you?!"

Yang!

Blake nearly cried out her partner's name but kept her lips shut. She didn't want to drag her into Adam's path. Into this mess. But her former partner seemed to realize what was happening as he snickered, "Your new partner. The scapegoat. Wonderful. I can start right away."

Blake nearly begged him not to do anything but he dragged his sword out of her and she let out an involuntary cry of pain in response. That cry was loud enough to echo through the cafeteria.

To lead Yang straight to them.

"BLAKE!" Yang called out as she saw her huddled on the ground. Her purple eyes turned to the red-haired bull and burned a flaming crimson, "What did you do to her?!"

"Just bringing her back to the light."

"You're helping her by hurting her?!" Flames rushed off Yang's hair as she cocked her gauntlets in anger, "I'LL KILL YOU!"

"N-No! Yang!" Blake called out, "He's-"

"HYYYYAAAAHHHHH!"

Yang launched herself forward and swung for Adam's head with a haymaker. The Faunus ducked aside as she landed and turned to him again. She fired shot after shot to keep him on edge before rushing to attack. She threw a flurry of punches and Adam blocked each one with his sword.

With a ballistic roar Yang turned her fist down and sent a shockwave across the ground that threw her into the air and nearly knocked Adam down. She dropped down on him from above, ready to crack his skull open with her fist.

His blade struck first.

One second her partner was descending with the kind of power that destroyed Atlas mechs and obliterated Grimm. The next she hit the ground, knocked out from the pain as color left her cheeks. And not a second later her arm plopped on the floor behind her.

After a moment Blake realized what happened and gasped in horror.

She dragged herself to her partner's side. Her stab wound screamed in pain with each movement but she forced herself forward until she was by Yang's side. Her partner was unconscious and her expression twisted in discomfort. There were no other wounds on her body but her arm...

Her arm.

It ended in a stump. And the blood coming out of it flowed with the remains of her Aura, the wound trying to understand how it could have been hurt through her natural protection. She immediately pulled out her bow and tied it in an effort to stem the blood flow.

"Time to move, Blake. I haven't finished up yet." The cat Faunus looked up as Adam slowly drew closer. She picked Yang up and hugged her closely to her chest as she tried to stand back up. The act put too much stress on her wound. She nearly toppled over, "Are you serious? You'd go this far for a human? For some girl you barely know?"

"Shut up." Blake cried, "Damn you."

"Don't blame me, Blake. You used this girl as a crutch. As a shield to protect yourself form your own cowardice. You dragged her into this. Into all of this." Adam raised his sword, "If you want someone to blame, blame yourself."

She wasn't going to run. She wasn't going to abandon Yang. Even as Adam's sword rose, she cradled her partner's head to her chest and didn't let go.

A red blade descended down.

A red blade intercepted it.

The clash of swords rung out through the cafeteria as Adam was knocked back. Blake looked up in shock at the sudden appearance of the stranger between them and their assailant. The woman had long black hair that covered her back, with a red sword and a large sheath that appeared to have some kind of revolver on it. The mysterious woman was clad in black clothes and red plate armor over her body. And the most striking feature was the Grimm mask that covered her entire face.

The woman looked back at her, "Run."

Even with the questions running through her head Blake didn't waste another second. She cradled Yang closely, pushed through the pain in her side that begged she sit down, and rushed out the cafeteria.

Adam's sword flashed forward again and was blocked by the mysterious assailant's sword. They struggled against each other before separating again. Adam looked over and saw Blake had disappeared along with his prey. He stared at the woman across from him, "They won't be safe for long."

"Perhaps."

"I'll find that girl again. Some day we'll come across each other. And when we do I'll finish what I started here."

"Maybe you will." The woman said, detached from the situation as she swung her sword down and created a portal in the air, "And when that day comes either she'll be strong enough to face you or not. That'll be up to her."

She walked through the portal and disappeared, leaving Adam standing alone in the flames and rubble of Beacon's cafeteria. The bull Faunus took a deep breath and sheathed his weapon. He had done enough today.

With the revolution, revelations, and reunions...it was time for a break. Time to let Cinder finish things up.

((((((((Hunting))))))))

"Jaune, promise me that whatever happens when I come out, you'll stay by my side." Pyrrha begged quietly as they walked behind Ozpin, "No matter how I act or what might happen, please don't leave me."

He looked so confused by her request. She wished she had the time to explain what was happening. She wished she had time to talk with him about everything. But now...now she was drawing ever closer to possibly vanishing.

The moment arrived as they reached the end of the vault. And all the fear Pyrrha had been ignoring suddenly rushed into her.

"W-What is this?" Jaune asked as he stared at the unconscious body of the scarred woman in the machine. He looked between them for answer, "Who is that?"

"Mr. Arc, I need you to stand back. Ms. Nikos," Ozpin worked on the controls before looking back at her, "Please step in."

"P-Pyrrha?"

She looked back at him one last time and memorized his face.

Not him.

Please don't forget him.

She stepped into the machine and waited silently as it closed around her. She looked through the window and out into the vault. To Jaune staring at this all in confusion. To Ozpin asking her if she was ready.

She took a breath, remembered everything that hoped would be waiting for her, and nodded.

The pain followed.

It was terrible. Excruciating. Like all the heat from her body was being pull out from her blood until it was ice only to be replaced by fire. It was as if every portion of her body was crying out and fighting itself.

This was what it meant to have someone's Aura - their very soul - forced to merge with another.

As she thrashed around and screamed she forced her eyes open to look through the window. When she did she saw Jaune crying out for her and shaking Ozpin. The headmaster knocked his hand away and yelled something back as they argued.

But they froze as something appeared that grabbed their attention. Jaune drew his weapon and Ozpin turned his cane around in his hand.

Through the pain Pyrrha looked over to the shadows and saw her emerge.

The woman from Mistral, Cinder.

She drew a handful of arrows and started firing them. When they impacted they exploded violently in bursts of flames. Jaune tried to push through it all as Ozpin broke every arrow that came his way.

Cinder drew another arrow and released her hold on it. The projectile sailed through the air at incredible speeds as it started to glow orange and burn. Jaune saw the arrow coming and raised his shield up to block it.

The burning, speeding arrow pierced through the top corner of his shield and sailed forward unfettered. Ozpin saw the arrow fly and tried to swing his cane out to break it.

But it shattered through the glass window of the pod.

And embedded itself in Amber's eye.

Time seemed to freeze as everything came crashing down. The transfer machine started to malfunction. Pyrrha's screams of pain faded in the thrashing metal. The light gathering around the machine shone brighter than ever before.

And Cinder's eyes glowed with a fluttering golden flame.

((((((((Hunting))))))))

Done

So close to being done. When I do I'll take a break. So. Close!

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