Chapter 77 – The Aphax Violet
Penny
Penny slid across the road, thrown from an Acolytes of Lien Paladin, the warzone was raging endlessly between the battling sides. The Paladin aimed its powerful cannons at the Android and opened fire on her, shredding through the terrain, but she flipped backwards, jumping high in the air as she launched her Floating Array of swords towards the mechanised vehicle. They stabbed into the armour plating and she yanked the cables as hard as she could, toppling it over to the ground.
The Paladin slammed against the tarmac, punching its metal fist into the ground as it stood back up. Penny leapt towards the Paladin with her swords, slashing them with great speed and force, green energy coursed through her blades as she cut clean through the armour plating that covered its body. But the Paladin grabbed her and threw her across the battlefield. She crashed through the burning vehicles that surrounded their street, destroyed from the constant barrage of gunfire. The vehicle that she collided into exploded, shattering like glass as her metal body crashed into it.
Penny rolled across the ground, groaning in pain as she felt her aura crackle – it was not broken but she had taken a beating from this long battle. Where they had better skills and weaponry than individual soldiers, they had far more soldiers and ammunition – meaning that they could take them all down by attrition alone. Penny pushed herself back up to her feet, staring at the Paladin as it's shoulders opened up and the missiles blasted out from the silos. Penny's eyes widened, until the missiles all exploded out of the sky.
Penny gasped and she turned, wide eyed as she saw both Yenna and Cinder flying through the air, launching frozen leaves towards the swarmer missiles. The flames erupted in the sky and Penny smiled, standing back up as the two Maidens flew overhead. Cinder dove down and she launched her Glass Sword down towards one of the soldiers who was sneaking up behind Penny. The sword pinned her to the floor, killing her instantly, saving Penny's life from the soldier. She saw the Paladin spin round and start firing its powerful machine guns up at the two Maidens. Yenna launched herself down towards the heavy M.E.C.H.
The Paladin swung its fist towards her but Yenna slammed her fist into it with all her might, the sheer power of the Spring Maiden's Power buckled and snapped the pistons in the arm of the Paladin. It staggered back, the entire arm broke apart and Yenna slid across the ground, blasting lightning from her hand which staggered the Paladin backwards. Cinder banked around one of the buildings and she shot through the street where the smouldering wreckages of Mercenary Vehicles, and she drove both her swords into the chest of the huge vehicle. She channelled flames into them, and caused the swords to explode, just as Cinder jumped off the Paladin.
The entire vehicle shattered in the flames, and Cinder landed on the ground, looking at the collapsing remnants of the vehicle. Yenna landed beside the Fall Maiden and she gently punched her shoulder, glad to see her alive. "Good to see you still kicking, Cinder." Yenna greeted as she nodded her head. Cinder smiled and stood tall, looking back at Penny and she walked over to the Android.
"Penny… gods we thought we lost you." Cinder said, helping her back up to her feet.
"Cinder, what happened? We saw from nearby, the Drift of Wandering Star opened fire on you." Penny explained and Cinder nodded her head, looking at Yenna.
"I'll explain what happened when all this is over… but trust me when I say this – if you see Raven… kill her on sight." Cinder warned, Yenna and Penny's eyes widened, and the Spring Maiden stopped Cinder from walking away.
"Wait, what the hell does that mean?" Yenna questioned and Cinder looked at her. It hurt… because she knew that only she, the four and Kassius' team knew about Raven's betrayal… and Winter's death.
"She was the mole – and she killed Winter, and is the reason Salem captured Ruby, Oscar, Jaune and Pyrrha. I nearly died because of her, until Kassius found me." Cinder explained… this truth was shocking to Yenna, and then she looked away as she stood there, clenching her hands into fists.
"You're right… we can't tell Qrow, not until we've finished this. We need to focus on the mission." Yenna agreed, staring past Penny to see Ortega, Junior and the Malachite Twins. Her eyes widened and she drew her sword and pointed it at the Former Admiral of the Acolytes of Lien. "What the shit?"
Cinder spun around and she formed her Bow and Arrow formed from glass, and Ortega aimed his Revolver at the Fall Maiden, merely in self defence if she tried anything. "Whoa! Stop!" Penny begged, holding out her hands to both sides, standing between them.
"What the hell is he doing here? You know he's Ortega, right?" Cinder questioned.
"He was betrayed by Kelham and the others!" Penny defended.
"Does that forgive everything he did? All the times he sent his soldiers to attack us?" Cinder questioned, and Penny stared at Cinder.
"We forgave you." Penny reminded… Cinder paused, and she stared at Ortega who kept his Revolver aimed at her.
"I am not helping them anymore, and I will not be fighting against you anymore either. I understand which side I should be on now." Ortega assured as he stood there, ready to shoot though if Cinder released her bowstring. Yenna gently held Cinder's shoulder, and the Fall Maiden glanced at her.
"He's fighting the Acolytes, Cinder. Look around… he's the telling the truth." Yenna said, and Cinder sighed, lowering her bow but keeping her flaming amber eye on the Admiral.
"I know what you're here for, and I am here to help. You want the Aphax Violet, don't you? For the people infected with the Horridus Morbus plague?" Ortega asked them and Cinder nodded her head. "I have reinforcements inbound, half of my original army stayed loyal and I called them in roughly an hour and a half ago. They should be here soon, hell maybe in a few moments now." Ortega explained.
"Reinforcements? Damn… with the White Fang's help already helping us turn the tide that will give us the win without a doubt." Yenna chuckled as they walked towards the centre of the base, where the rest of their allies and friends were still battling against the Acolytes of Lien… and very nearby were the Grimm flooding in. They could hear the Grimm Threat growing larger and larger as they continued to charge through, unaware that Ruby and her team were at the front lines of that attack.
"Not with that in the sky." Ortega said, pointing up at the Drift of Wandering Star. "If Kelham uses the Broadside Cannons on us like he did to you in that Spire? He could kill us all in an instant. If I can get up there, and regain control of my ship? We win, because the Acolytes will stand down – and I will use the guns to take care of the Grimm from up there." Ortega explained as he looked at them.
"Hell of a plan… but you know that the Drift of Wandering Star will be filled with Acolytes, right?" Yenna asked him.
"I know, Penny will come with me. Once I get to the bridge, I can get them back under my command, alongside the machines." He assured. "But first my reinforcements need to get here so we can fly up there."
"Well, let's hope they get here soon. I have a feeling Kelham has a lot more up his sleeve." Cinder said as they ran through the empty destroyed streets of the base.
"They're retreating… and normally that would be a good thing… if they weren't retreating towards the Embered Grove. They're gonna make a last-ditch effort to hold the entrance, it will be hard to get through there." Ortega explained to them as they turned the corner, and they all slowed down, eyes wide as they saw the battle raging ahead.
"You know what? I should really stop being so surprised when the enemy keep getting the advantage." Cinder sighed.
It was exactly what Ortega was explaining, the Acolytes of Lien were retreating but they were indeed holding the only way into the Embered Grove. Getting past them and to the Aphax Violet was not going to be easy. Ortega looked up and heard the sound of the deafening cannons of the Drift of Wandering Star and the other Dreadnaughts under Kelham's Command, battling against the ones that Mazen had under his command. Explosions erupted in the sky as they fired on each other. But the Drift of Wandering Star had a major advantage over them, and it was the Hardlight Dust shielding around its hull. The others had the same, but its size and many cannons made it far more dangerous than the others.
There was a reason why it was the most dangerous threat in Arkhonex right now, more than the army of Grimm flooding inside Arcturus Base.
Cinder and Yenna both ignited their eyes, channelling the Maidens' power through their bodies and they looked back at Penny and Ortega. "Be ready to get up there, then. We need to keep pushing the Acolytes back as best we can!" Cinder said to them, before she blasted up into the air with Yenna, and she flew high in the air.
Ensemble Battle
The Fall Maiden blasted towards the Acolytes of Lien, spinning through the air as she avoided the incoming bullets and missiles that whistled past her. She stopped above them, and she held her hand up to the sky, closing her amber eye, and the flames built up… and so did the clouds. The sky darkened as the black clouds swirled above her, and she brought the heavens crashing down upon the Acolytes of Lien, powerful bolts of lightning exploded some of the trucks that roared through the roads, blowing them into a hundred pieces and killing the soldiers inside.
Cinder gasped, turning as she saw the Grimm flying towards her. She formed her swords and flew towards them as a Sphinx snapped its jaws right at her. She dodged the giant monster's attack and threw her sword into the large wing of the beast. It roared in agony as the blade cut deep into its shoulder. The Sphinx came crashing down to the ground nearby, but that was not the only one coming for Cinder. She turned and her eyes widened as a Lesser Wyvern flew straight towards her, breathing a beam of fire that nearly engulfed her. Cinder blasted a blizzard of ice right back, stopping the flames, giving her enough time to drop out of the path of the huge Creature of Grimm.
The Lesser Wyvern stretched its wings outwards, using the wind to slow itself down, banking through the sky and headed straight for her once more. Cinder smirked as the titan came for her, and she forged her Glass Bow and Arrow, drawing an arrow and firing it into its chest. She still knew how to use the powers that Salem taught her how to use, and the swirling screeching eye of Salem formed inside the beast – and erupted into flames. The Wyvern roared in agony as it exploded, crumbling and disintegrating away into thin air.
Cinder continued to fly overhead with Yenna alongside her, whilst down on the ground, Qrow launched himself towards the Acolytes of Lien. He slashed Harbinger in its Scythe form through multiple Acolytes of Lien machines, mostly Atlesian Knights that had been modified for their own purposes. His scythe annihilated the machines as he swung towards them, spinning the large weapon over his back and slashing it across the side of an incoming Armoured Car, taking out one of the wheels. The vehicle flipped onto its side as it tried to drift, the balance ruined by losing half of its tyres. The car flipped and crashed into one of the buildings, trapped in the rubble nearby.
Qrow turned as he saw more soldiers sprint towards him, alongside a Seeker. He spun Harbinger through his fingers and sprinted towards them. He slid under the Seeker's incoming sword as he shot towards him, then Qrow rose up into the air and swung the Scythe hard and fast. The large curved blade beheaded a Mercenary, and then he shifted the Scythe's form back into its Sword Shape, firing the cannon into the chest of a second soldier. The Mercenary grunted, thrown backwards from the initial impact of the shotgun round. Qrow turned as the Seeker blasted towards him, blocking the incoming red blade the soldier had. The Seeker stared straight into his eyes, pushing the sword up against him, until Qrow pushed harder against the Seeker. The Soldier staggered backwards and Qrow stabbed at the soldier, only for the Seeker to vanish into thin air, using the Enhanced Speed Pack they use to his advantage.
Qrow turned and saw the zigzagging reddish orange trail that the backpack created whenever it was used, suddenly launching towards him. Qrow deflected the incoming attack and he yelled with all his might, driving the sword straight through the Seeker as he shot past. The Seeker tumbled to the ground, killed instantly by the sudden attack. Qrow turned and saw the rest of his team all battling together against the Acolytes of Lien.
Kragen blasted the blinding light of the Silver Eyed Warriors towards the Acolytes of Lien, impairing their vision for a few moments. It gave the Architect the chance he needed, sprinting towards the Acolytes and firing his rifle into the head of a single soldier. He vaulted over the burning wreckage of a White Fang vehicle and he kicked the Acolyte in the helmet, knocking his helmet off his head. The Mercenary staggered backwards and tried to fire his shotgun at his enemy, only for the Architect to stop the shells with his titanium hand, blocking the shotgun barrel completely. He chuckled at the soldier, ripping the shotgun from his grasp, and whacking it into the side of his head.
The Silver Eyed Master turned as he saw the Acolytes rushing towards him, he ducked under their incoming attacks, dodging their swords and he kicked one of them in the back of his leg, bringing him down to one knee. The soldier grunted in pain as he fell to that knee, only for Kragen to swing round a full three hundred and sixty degrees with Ebony Duchess, slamming his long Isomacium Staff across the soldier's jaw, knocking him down to the ground. He turned and blocked the sword of the second soldier, whilst kicking the third in the head to keep him back. Kragen rolled across the back of the second soldier and hooked Ebony Duchess under his jaw, throwing him over his head and slamming him into the ground. The final soldier fired his machine gun at the Leader of the Silver Eyed Warriors, but he spun his staff through his fingers, deflecting every single bullet – and his Silver Eyes ignited, freezing the soldier to stone where he stood, finishing him off with one strike with the staff.
Blake sprinted alongside Nora and the Valkyrie launched the Feline Huntress high in the air with Magnhild, and as she soared up into the air, she saw Yenna battling with the White Fang Air Force against the Acolytes of Lien airships that flew across the sky. The White Fang Fighter Jets roared, performing impressive evasive manoeuvres to avoid the heat seeking missiles launched from the Acolytes of Lien jets. Flares ejected from the underside of the jet, and Yenna launched her whole body into the wing of the enemy Fighter Jet, using her powerful Maiden Aura to protect her from the sheer force of the impact.
The wing of the Jet exploded and crumbled, causing the Jet to plummet down towards the ground in a fiery explosion, continuing to blast fire and lightning at the many enemy jets in the sky. Luckily the White Fang ones were easy to tell the difference between thanks to the symbol on their hull. Blake, still up in the air, dove down towards the base and she launched the Grappling Hook of Gambol Shroud down towards one of the street lights. It connected and latched on, giving her the speed she needed to launch towards one of the Marksmen up in the higher buildings of Arcturus Base. The soldier staggered backwards and drew his Electrified Baton, swinging it at her head but she ducked under the incoming weapon.
Down below, Nora and Ren both rushed forward with their weapons in hand, and Nora blasted towards the incoming truck that fired its powerful machine gun at her. She slammed the huge Hammer down onto its bonnet, flipping it over her head and throwing the soldiers through the glass or from the Gunner Position. It crashed down behind her and she grinned, firing her Grenades from the Grenade Launcher towards the soldiers that fired their rifles from the buildings, and the whole room exploded.
Ren ran past her, running across the walls before he jumped off and threw Stormflower towards one of the Mercenaries. It dug deep into the chest of the soldier, killing him instantly but there were still others. He landed and roundhouse kicked the other that was next to him, knocking him out and he shot the third in the head, stood side by side with his Girlfriend. They looked up and saw Blake kick the Marksman from the roof of the building she was fighting him on.
"They're retreating! We can't stop now!" Blake called out, then her eyes widened when she saw a large explosion from round the corner, causing the retreating soldiers to accelerate. Lash Equinox came flying through the street and stabbed straight through the chest of a Modified Atlesian Knight, destroying it instantly. Kassius came sprinting round the corner, grabbing the hilt of his sword, pointing forward as his team charged with him.
Team C.F.V.Y reunited, Cardin Winchester and Emerald Sustrai.
Blake's eyes widened… it had been a long time since they had seen Kassius in person – it was good to see their friend again. Kassius looked at her as she jumped down and he nodded with a smile, tipping his stetson to her. "Long time no see!" Kassius called out to her as he stood there, turning when he heard the sound of more Acolytes of Lien coming their way. He stood with Team C.F.V.Y, Cardin and Emerald, and the Mercenaries were throwing everything they've got at them.
Armoured Trucks, A. , machines and countless soldiers, all armed to the teeth. Kassius rolled his shoulder and Coco smirked as she pulled Gianduja out, transforming it into its huge Chaingun form. "Oh… I've missed having ammo." Coco grinned, and Velvet formed her Hardlight Replica of Wilt and Blush, ready to battle against their foes, Yatsuhashi stood tall with Fulcrum rested on his shoulder and Fox slashed Sharp Retribution together, sharpening the Tonfa Blades.
Cardin spun his Mace – Executioner – through his fingers, ready to battle alongside them all, and Emerald spun Silent Judgement by its chain. Kassius pulled Lash Equinox from the remnants of the machine. "Come on, Misfits – lets go kick some ass." Kassius said with a grin.
"Team Misfits… I like it." Cardin chuckled as he charged forward with them all. Cardin jumped high in the air towards the Acolytes of Lien, slamming Executioner down with all his might. The Crystal of Fire Dust forged inside of his Mace blasted a powerful fiery explosion which shattered the road around him, throwing some of the soldiers across the battlefield. He backed up, blocking and deflecting the incoming soldiers. He looked ahead and saw more of Donovan Gele's creations, the few that remained were the ones still under his code's command… and of course the ones that were feasting on his remains underground.
A Mutated Creep burrowed through the ground towards him, and exploded up through the tarmac, bringing its huge armoured head down towards where he was stood. Cardin instead swung Executioner into the skull of the beast so hard that it sent it flying back into the enemies. The Creep exploded violently, killing a couple of the soldiers, but the Armoured Truck roared through the smoke, firing the machine gun rounds at them over and over again. Kassius jumped upwards and he stabbed his sword into the side of the armour plating. He was carried off by the truck, leaving his team to battle with the rest of their friends, Coco charged forward and she unleashed hellfire upon their enemies, raining hundreds of powerful bullets at them. The rounds shredded some of their bodies and blew their mechanical chassis to smithereens.
Velvet blasted forward, slashing the Hardlight Replica of Wilt and Blush clean through the armour plating of the Armoured Personnel Carrier that was charging towards her. The huge vehicle drifted round and fired the tank shell at her, until Yatsuhashi blocked the explosive shot with Fulcrum. He gritted his teeth and growled, sprinting towards the massive vehicle as it charged at him, firing its cannon and machine guns over and over again at him. He dodged all of them and deflected over round with the huge sword, before he jumped upwards and stabbed the massive sword straight through the truck, piercing it through the cannon. He twisted the blade so hard that the Cannon snapped from the top of the vehicle, he jumped off the massive truck as it drifted towards Fox, who turned.
He may have been blind, but that did not mean he could not fight. He spun round, hearing the sound of the drifting armoured tank and he slashed the curved blades of Sharp Retribution across the tyres, flipping it over onto its side. Yatsuhashi landed and pointed Fulcrum at the faces of the soldiers inside, but they held their hands up in surrender… and he let them live. The soldiers ran to safety, and Team C.F.V.Y continued to battle side-by-side, after all this time. "Oh-Ho! I have missed this!" Fox laughed, rolling across the back of one of the Atlesian Knights and slashing the Tonfas up the spine of the machine. It exploded into a thousand pieces from the impact and Yatsuhashi gritted his teeth and he launched Fulcrum like a Javelin towards one of the Juggernauts that was blasting constant firepower down upon them, pinning the soldier to the wall.
"Yeah… so have I." He agreed with a smile, stood beside Coco and Velvet. Emerald ducked under the fist of a Tremor Trooper behind them, jumping upwards and throwing Silent Judgement down towards the armoured soldier, wrapping the chains around his arms and slamming him down to the ground. Emerald landed back onto the ground and she lunged forward, slashing her sickles through the body of the soldier. She looked back at Yatsuhashi… who still remembered that she did kinda help kick his arse back in the Vytal Festival. "If times were different, I'd say we'd have a score to settle."
Emerald chuckled. "Maybe some other time." She replied, she turned her gaze and her eyes widened when she saw Kassius still hanging onto the Armoured Truck that roared through the streets of Arcturus Base.
The truck was moving around the entire battlefield, passing in front of the Embered Grove at one point, and in that moment? Kassius saw the defences that they were up against… it was everything they had left. And there were a lot of Hellfire Tanks in position, meaning it was not going to be very easy to get to them. Alongside the hundreds of soldiers stood at the ready as well. Kassius gritted his teeth and used Lash Equinox like climbing axes on ice, moving up the huge truck. The turret on top spun round and started to fire straight at him, high calibre bullets rained down over his head, but he held on for dear life as the truck roared around the place.
Kassius fired Vulcan Nox up at the soldier in the gunner seat, nailing him between the eyes, but just as he went to hijack the vehicle, the Armoured Truck purposefully smashed itself into a barricade. Kassius grunted, thrown from the armour of the truck and crashing down into some of the old ruins that Arcturus Base was built into. He turned around and his eyes widened as he fled, the huge truck was now coming after him, roaring through the ancient streets of Arkhonex, smashing through buildings and crushing the skeletons of the people who died here thousands of years ago.
"Gods! Where the hell did you get your driver's licence?" Kassius yelled as he ran as fast as he could from the Armoured Truck, smashing through the buildings with no sign of stopping. Kassius jumped and threw his body straight through the old rotten wall of a building, and he tumbled down the stairs from the monster. It nearly went down the stairs with him, the tyres shrieked at him and the engine roared loud, until the truck reversed backwards, causing the ceiling to come crashing down behind Kassius.
"OH YOU GOTTA BE SHITTING ME! WHAT'S NEXT? A SPHINX?" Kassius screamed, turning the corner and his eyes widened. "OH COME ON!"
The very Sphinx that Cinder just knocked out of the sky was stood there, roaring viciously at him as the Armoured Truck erupted through the building behind him. "Oh screw it…" Kassius groaned, sprinting directly towards the massive Sphinx that charged towards him with fire leaking from its jaws, and the Armoured Truck charged after both him and towards the Sphinx. It turned and bellowed at the Acolytes of Lien truck, and the vehicle slammed into the side of the monster, toppling it over onto its side, and grinding its wheels through its skull, killing it instantly.
"Thank you!" Kassius called back to the truck, until it started to chase him again. "Fuck you!" He replied in the same thankful tone, sarcasm dripping with every syllable. Kassius climbed up the building as quickly as he could, and the Acolytes of Lien Truck slammed into the building, sending cracks up the side of the building. "HA! Can't get me up here!" Kassius taunted, until he noticed the building started to collapse around him. "Fucking hell, give me a break!" Kassius yelled as he jumped off the building and landed into the aqueducts, sliding down the gallons of water, looking back at the truck that was still chasing after him. "What the hell did I do to you, truck?" He screamed, jumping out from the shallows of the aqueducts before they went deeper.
He rolled across the ground and the truck blasted through one of the old buildings again, rushing towards him again and again. "I hate these trucks so much!" Kassius screamed, he turned the corner and his eyes widened when he saw that he had run right into a dead end. "Great…" Kassius panted, looking back at the truck that panted like a bull about to charge. But just as it accelerated, a missile suddenly flew in right past his head and exploded against the wheel.
"Kassius!" Jaune called, he turned, and his eyes widened with relief, seeing Jaune holding a Rocket Launcher that one of the thankful Mercenaries gave him.
"JAUNE?" Kassius called with joy in his voice. He also saw Ruby, Pyrrha and Oscar there.
"Here!" Jaune called to him, throwing the Rocket Launcher to him. Kassius caught it and he smirked.
"Oh… hell yeah." Kassius grinned, spinning around and aiming the missile launcher at the burning but not destroyed Armoured Truck. "YOU FAILED YOUR DRIVING TEST, ASSHOLE!" Kassius sneered with a smirk, firing the missile into the truck, blowing it to pieces in a massive explosion. Kassius groaned at his own joke, dropping the Rocket Launcher on the ground. "Ugh… that sounded better in my head."
Jaune and Ruby both reached down to Kassius. "Take our hands! We'll get you out of there!" Ruby said to him, Kassius sheathed Lash Equinox and he ran to them, jumping up to their hands and they pulled him up the destroyed building that they were on top of. Kassius smiled at them.
"Gods have I missed your faces." Kassius said as he looked at them.
Kassius looked at Jaune and Pyrrha… and he remembered what he did to them back at Beacon… when both he and Hyde lost their composure and he nearly killed them. "Hey… guys… about what happened… back at Beacon?" He was immediately ready to apologise to them about what happened. But Jaune shook his head and gently squeezed his shoulder.
"It's alright… neither of you were… in a great place." Jaune chuckled, making Kassius chuckle too, and he smiled at them. Jaune immediately wrapped his arms around his friend in a strong hug, and Kassius patted his back. "Good to have you back, Kas." Jaune said to him, they both stepped back and Kassius immediately hugged Pyrrha, Ruby and then Oscar.
"Come on, we're close to where the fight is." Pyrrha said as they ran ahead. The Four and Kassius ran through the remnants of this battlefield.
"How far are the Grimm from where we are?" Kassius asked them. "I mean I kinda ran into a Sphinx."
"They're not far, but the Acolytes of Lien are holding them off, alongside some of Mazen's soldiers." Jaune explained.
"Wait… Mazen? You mean Mazen Ursus? Big angry Bear Dude?" Kassius asked, making them chuckle.
"Yeah, looks like he's seen reason and is now on our side." Oscar agreed as they turned the corner, seeing Mazen driving his Chainsword through the body of an Acolyte of Lien, killing him instantly. He panted and turned to see the five of them stood there.
"You're alive… good to see." Mazen nodded to them.
But as they stood there…
… their eyes widened with fear as they heard the rhythmic pounding from above. Ruby stared at the Drift of Wandering Star, and from where he was in the battlefield, Ortega stared at the same place. Flashes sparked from the Dreadnaught… and the shells came crashing down. "Oh shit… GET DOWN!" Ortega yelled, and everyone dove to the ground as the Drift of Wandering Star did the very thing that Ortega was terrified of. It started to unleash a terrifying barrage of shells from its Broadside Cannons upon them, just missing his forces that were defending the Embered Grove.
The shells decimated the base that his forces had evacuated from, blowing buildings apart and annihilating anything in their path. Explosions spread flames and killed many White Fang and Mercenaries that had turned to the side of the heroes. The roaring explosions was utterly deafening…
Kelham
He stood at the bridge with a grin on his face, safe atop the world in his stolen ship, and none of the Operators looked like they wanted to answer to him. He watched as the bombardment constantly exploded against their forces, but as he stood there, he turned his gaze to one of the screens with a flashing red message.
WARNING: INCOMING
WARNING: INCOMING
WARNING: INCOMING
Kelham turned and his eyes widened as he suddenly saw hundreds of shells suddenly explode against the side of the Hardlight Shields across the Drift of Wandering Star and blow apart one of the other Dreadnaughts under his command. The entire Dreadnaught beside him came apart like glass, exploding into massive plumes of smoke and fire, dropping down out of the sky and crashing into Old Town, spreading flames and causing some serious seismic activity.
"The hell just happened?" Kelham questioned with disbelief and fear, he looked into the distance where those shells came from… and through the clouds?
He saw multiple – maybe up to twenty – Dreadnaughts.
Acolytes of Lien Dreadnaughts.
Ortega's Reinforcements had finally arrived, and he was not lying when he said he had an army inbound. Airships came pouring out from the Dreadnaughts as they approached, and he heard the Communications Relay ping next to him. He turned and saw who was speaking… she was short and elderly but was not here to stop anyone anymore. "Hmph… I never did really like working for Ortega after Ironwood's death – but this new path he has chosen? It's more my liking than the one you are dragging us down, Kelham. I will give you one last chance to stand down, or we will burn you to ash." Cordovin warned, her arms behind her back.
Kelham gritted his razor-sharp teeth, staring at her. "Never! We have not come this far to bow to your sovereignty!" He yelled, making her scoff.
"Coming from the man who denied others a choice?" Cordovin scoffed. "This message goes to every single Mercenary down there – if you do not wish to fight for a man like Kelham… then you will be welcomed back into our arms. Any who do not, will fall with the rest." Cordovin warned, and his eyes widened, and he saw the lead Dreadnaught's Hanger Bay open up, and a massive Mechanised Robot dropped down from the ship, slamming one fist against the ground.
The Colossus of Argus.
It stood tall as the other half of the Acolytes of Lien Military came charging and flying to the heroes' rescue. He gritted his teeth with anger, knowing that the forces holding the Embered Grove will never be able to take that on, especially with the Grimm attacking one side of the base already.
He clenched one hand into a fist.
"So that's how it's gonna be, huh Ortega?" Kelham sighed, turning to his Communications Relay. "Prometheus Team. Burn the Embered Grove to ashes, they will never get their hands on those Violets they so desperately desire." Kelham said with a sinister smirk.
This was it.
They had no time left.
They needed to get into the Embered Grove right now.
Ruby
Ruby stood back up, groaning as the dust and rubble fell from her body after the Broadside Assault from the Drift of Wandering Star. She limped over and turned as the Acolytes of Lien reinforcements came rushing to their help. The Colossus charged forward and a Lesser Wyvern flew straight at her, but she knocked it out of the sky with her fist. She stopped before Ruby, her Cannon opening to battle against the Grimm.
The Colossus opened up, revealing Cordovin inside with her arms behind her back. "Cordovin… I… didn't expect to see you here." Ruby admitted.
"Ortega gave me quite the convincing message, seems he has seen the light now. It feels good to do something right for a change, like when Ironwood once lead us." She said, the massive fist of the Colossus closed tight. "My forces will help as best we can, but I and most of my men will be tasked with holding the Grimm back for as long as we can. I am detecting unusual Seismic Activity, something big is coming and we need to be ready. Get to the Embered Grove as fast as you can, before I hung up from Kelham he called in the Prometheus Team. They will use flames to burn the Grove out, and all this will be for nothing." Cordovin explained, and Kassius scoffed.
"He forgot to turn the damn thing off? Always knew that piece of shit was a dumbass." Kassius scoffed.
"I don't think so – he wants you all to make a mistake. Even with all my reinforcements, the defences he has put in place at the entrance of the Embered Grove will be damn near impenetrable. He has all his Hellfire Tanks and remaining Forces there. It will not be a simple task to take all of them down." Cordovin explained.
"Can't you just destroy them in that thing?" Jaune asked her.
"I can't risk it, not only could it destroy the entrance, but it could even spread a fire into the Embered Grove anyway. Same with my ships, I can lend you most of my ground troops and vehicles to break through. But you need to do it quick." Cordovin advised, closing up her cockpit and turning to where the Grimm were surging through with her air force.
"Never thought I would be happy to see those colours." Kassius chuckled as he watched the Acolytes of Lien Airforce roar overhead, dropping bombs down where they could into the Acolytes' defences. And they could tell the difference between them – because unlike the original symbol? Which was initially just a coin? These new Acolytes had a brand-new symbol… the Rose.
They were not the Acolytes of Lien anymore.
They were the Acolytes of the Rose.
"They… they came here for us?" Ruby gasped, and Jaune gently held her shoulder.
"For you." He corrected, and she closed her silver eye, and a tear leaked out. Even after everything that had happened… everything she had done… all these people came to help her. Because she had the spark to fight against the darkness.
"Come on, we need to get into that damned Embered Grove." Ruby said, sprinting through the destruction left behind from the Broadside Assault. Most of the buildings had caved in and were on fire, craters everywhere and smoke in the air. They turned the corner and saw Mazen stood tall, he used his semblance – Crystallising his Aura – to survive a direct hit from those shells. Ruby looked around and she gasped with joy and relief.
Everyone was still standing, Blake gasped and sprinted to Ruby, hugging her hard and affectionately to see her friend again. Qrow did the same as he ran to her, whilst Nora and Ren sprinted to Jaune and Pyrrha, lovingly hugging them tight. All of them embraced each other now that they were back, and Ozpin stood tall with his cane in his hand, looking at the destruction.
"I… I thought we lost you up there." Blake softly said to her friend, smiling at her, and Ruby smiled back.
"It was close." Ruby said, she wanted to tell them… and when she saw Ozpin that nearly made her do it. To tell them about Salem, Raven… the truth… but she couldn't. Not yet, they had a battle to win, they needed to get past that massive Blockade of Soldiers still loyal to Kelham and Jacques Schnee. "But we made it out…" Ruby said, looking at Blake with a smile. Blake looked around but she could not see Winter anywhere.
"W-Where's…"
Ruby's eye said it all, and Blake squeezed her eyes shut with grief. "After… we mourn after this is done." Blake said as she drew Gambol Shroud again, staring at the army that stood in their way. Ortega stood back up, coughing from all the dust but he looked up and saw the Reinforcements that finally arrived.
"Admiral Ortega! We have answered your call!" One of the pilots called out, and they could hear and see the fiery explosions of the Acolytes of the Rose Bombers as they dropped their firebombs down on the Grimm charging in. Cordovin battled against the monsters, blasting countless rounds of dust down into them.
Ortega looked to the sky as the Acolytes of Lien started to open fire on them, firing tank shells, hundreds of thousands bullets their way. Everyone took cover and he looked at Penny. She was battered and scratched up from the Broadside Barrage, but still alive. "We need to get up there. We can't survive a second attack from the Drift of Wandering Star, we were lucky we survived that one." Ortega explained as he winced, holding his side. "Acolytes of the Rose, we need a pickup. To the Drift of Wandering Star." He commanded.
"Roger that, Admiral." One of the Pilots responded, he turned and saw the Airship landing behind him. Penny stood back up but before they left, Mazen turned to Arkaas.
"Arkaas! Go with them! Help them take control of the Drift of Wandering Star!" He ordered, Arkaas stared at him and then at the Admiral of the Acolytes of Lien… he clenched his hand into a fist with anger and hate but he stifled it. He stood tall atop his cybernetic legs that were shaped like a Bird of Prey's. His large Eagle Wings opened, and he nodded his head, flying up in the air, getting ahead of them.
"Good luck up there, Admiral." Mazen said to him, and Ortega smiled with a nod.
"Once the ship is under our command, the battle will be ours." He assured, running with Penny to the Airship. They were not the only ones flying up there, because they all knew that Kelham was not about to let them board the ship without a fight.
"Are you sure sending Arkaas up there with him was a good idea? The bastard hates the Acolytes of Lien with a passion." Kaa asked Mazen as she took cover from the incoming bullets.
"I hope that will give him good reason to get them to take control of that ship. Hopefully he won't try anything though." Mazen said, he turned and saw Ruby firing her Sniper Rifle at the Hellfire Tanks, trying to compromise one of its legs. The White Fang and Acolytes of the Rose advanced by the Hellfire Tanks were keeping them back. Firing not only shells from their powerful cannons but launching multiple mortars into the warzone, destroying most of their Quadbikes and Cars before they could even get close.
Mazen stayed low and he ran over to where Ruby was. She yelped in pain as a bullet collided into her shoulder, sending her sliding back down the rubble she clambered up. "If those Hellfire Tanks keep hammering us, the Embered Grove will be a pile of ash in no time." Mazen said to her.
"I know… but my rifle can't do a thing against those legs, even my fire dust rounds aren't enough to break them. We can move up, but they'll keep pushing us back. A few of us can get close… but it's not enough to make a dent." Ruby explained, she turned and saw some of the Acolytes of the Rose Hellfire Tanks getting into position, but due to where Kelham had his soldiers set up their defences? Even they could not land a good hit on them. "Gods… even our Hellfire Tanks can't get a good lock on them."
The Architect sprinted over to them, taking cover behind the same piece of rubble. "Then maybe we don't keep trying to take down those tanks yet. The Embered Grove is most important… I can make a run for it from here." The Architect said, they all looked at him with shock in their eyes.
"It's too long a run to make a charge like that on your own." Mazen stated, Ruby looked at the Architect as he stared at the entrance.
"If Cordovin wasn't mistaken then we have probably ten minutes, max, until the Prometheus Team gets in there." The Architect stated.
"Do you think you can make it?" Kragen asked him.
"If we give him the cover he needs, he can. We will all have to keep you covered, every single one of us." Ruby said as she gently touched the Architect's shoulder.
"I may not have an aura like you, but I'm made of metal. I can take a hit, just keep the majority off me, and I will get in there. I will get as many of those Aphax Violets as I can and Portal back to Vale. Once I am out, burn the bastards to dust." The Architect said, they were all in agreement.
This was it.
All or Nothing.
The Architect
It was all on his shoulders…
… the lives of everyone back at Vale… it all counted on him.
And he was not about to fail.
The Architect sprinted over the hill with Ruby and Mazen by his side, deflecting the incoming bullets. He slid down the hill with them still by his side. Ruby shot past him in a swirl of petals, firing her Rifle at the Acolytes of Lien stood in their path. She nailed one of them in the shoulder, causing him to tumble backwards, but the Juggernauts and Paladins were still firing everything that they had down on them. But the Architect was not stopping for anything, running past one of the Acolytes of the Rose Hellfire Tanks that was in position, firing a deafening shot towards them. The shell exploded through one of the buildings, taking out some of the soldiers, blasting the dust and ash across the road. It fired again and again, also launching mortars towards their position.
Mazen ran alongside him after Ruby became pinned down by more gunfire, with Kragen stood alongside her and Blake swinging through the street, slamming down into one of the soldiers. He crashed down to the ground and she cut his throat open, rolling off his body as she blocked and deflected the incoming bullets from hitting him as he sprinted as fast as he could. Everyone ran alongside him, Jaune and Pyrrha both used their shields to stop the bullets from getting any closer to him.
Some of the bullets hit the Architect but they just bounced off his metal body, it was the more dangerous artillery and explosives that had them all worried. "Team C.F.V.Y! The Architect's headed your way to get to the Embered Grove! Make sure he gets there!" Ruby called out through their link through the scrolls.
Coco looked back and saw him sprinting through the battlefield, slamming one of the Acolytes of Lien through a tree. "We've lost a lot of ground, but we'll do what we can!" Coco replied, igniting the fire in her eyes, and she flew up into the air, slamming her fist straight through the underside of a Glider that was flying above her, shooting bullets and launching missiles at her and her team. The Glider spun out of control and Ruby gasped with disbelief.
"Whoa… what?" Ruby gasped, now knowing who the Winter Maiden was.
The Architect kept going, running towards the bridge where Ozpin was stood, deflecting the incoming bullets and channelling the power of both Time and Vengeance through his body, launching himself towards the Acolytes of Lien, smashing straight through them to clear a path for the Architect. Jaune and Pyrrha both stayed close with him, the Spartan launched Akoúo up towards the Gunship that hovered overhead, firing machine guns and missiles down at him. They were desperately trying to stop the Architect from getting any closer, but Jaune stood in front of the Architect, opening his shield to stop the bullets from hitting him, whilst Pyrrha used her Polarity and sent the missiles flying off in any other direction. Ozpin suddenly shot up from where he was stood, using his body to knock the Gunship out of the way, punching the tail off with his cane. Flames erupted from the Gunship as it spiralled out of control, jumping off and transforming his Cane into its Sceptre form, throwing it straight through one of the Juggernauts, killing him instantly.
He kept advancing, inching closer and closer towards the entrance, which also meant that he was getting even closer to the Hellfire Tanks. But that was not the only threat, one of the Dreadnaughts started to fire shells down towards him. But the Acolytes of the Rose Dreadnaught started to fire at the enemy. It faced its broadsides at the Acolytes of Lien ship, blowing burning holes through the Airship, dropping burning rubble down from the sky and all around them. The Architect staggered as the shells exploded around him, and more Acolytes of the Rose and White Fang soldiers ran alongside the Ancient Machine that kept charging forward. One of the soldiers ripped a machine gun turret off its tripod, blasting bullets towards the enemy to protect him.
The Architect turned the corner and he saw one of the buildings opening, and two Paladins emerged, firing all their cannons at him. But one of the Acolytes of the Rose Shield Weavers stood with him, dropping a shield that blocked the incoming missiles. Cinder and Yenna flew overhead, battling against the Paladins to keep him safe. But as the Architect continued to advance, the Research Building opened up, and they saw something very chilling. It was the Advanced Paladin that Whitley said he was going to use. "Stop that Machine!" Whitley roared from inside of the Paladin.
It was probably triple the size of a usual Paladin, armed to the teeth and more agile, more humanoid in shape. It sprinted towards the Architect, until Kassius suddenly ripped Hyde from his aura and launched the Higher Demon towards Whitley. Hyde was not trying to kill him, merely pull Whitley away from the Architect, before he immediately returned back to Kassius. He fired Vulcan Nox at the huge Paladin that stood beside the Hellfire Tanks, launching missiles and blasting powerful lasers at them all.
The Acolytes of the Rose that ran alongside the Architect bravely gave their heroic lives, shot down by the sheer number of enemies that were around them now.
The Entrance was right in front of him, and the Architect was sprinting as fast as he could now. He turned and saw one of the Hellfire Tanks turning to face him but behind the Hellfire Tank was Ruby, launching herself towards it, and her eye glowed a blinding white. The Silver Eyes obscured the aim of the Hellfire Tank and it launched a shell that missed the Architect by an inch. Whitley snarled and swung his huge mechanical fist into her, launching her back across the battlefield, breaking her aura and sending her tumbling across the ground.
But… it was all worth it.
Because he made it, sprinting into the entrance, passing through the barrier that allegedly even the Grimm could not follow him through. He looked back but kept moving forward, he was dinged and beaten from the charge, but he now had to find the Prometheus Team and stop them before they could burn the Grove down.
"We have not come this far for our only hope to be burned to dust!" The Architect yelled with anger, sprinting round the corner and grabbing his Rifle on his back, and he entered the Embered Grove. He did not have much time to admire it's beauty… the glowing plants and how alien it looked to the rest of Remnant. Because the Prometheus Squad were inside and had their Flamethrowers at the ready.
The Prometheus Team lived up to their name, they wore black armour and had flaming grins painted on their helmets. Their flamethrowers aimed at the Aphax Violets, they looked so normal and beautiful and they glowed so bright. And they were about to burn them to dust, the Architect snarled with anger as he sprinted towards them. "Incoming!" One of the Prometheans yelled, they turned, and the leader immediately blasted the cloud of fire towards the Architect. He pushed through the flames, burning his poncho away in the process but he kicked the soldier in the chest. The Soldier staggered back but one of them drew a sword that was coated in fire dust, igniting it immediately.
"Not one more soul will die from this plague!" The Architect yelled with anger, aiming his rifle at one of the soldiers and firing it at him. The soldier rolled out of the way and fired his rifle back at him. The impact sent the Architect rolling backwards but he rushed forward, transforming his Rifle into its Sword form. He jumped towards the Swordsman, clashing his Electrified Sword against the Burning Blade of the Prometheus Commando. They grinded their blades together, and the Architect punched the soldier in the helmet with all his might, cracking the glowing red visor. He staggered backwards but immediately rushed forward, jumping and stabbing the sword down into the ground with all his might.
The leader blasted more flames towards the Architect from his backpack, but the Architect was purposefully luring the soldiers away from the Aphax Violets to prevent their conflict from damaging them. The Architect blocked and parried the Commando's incoming attacks, dodging them and kicking him in the knee with all his might. The Commando fell to that knee but one of the soldiers sprinted towards him and kicked the machine in the chest with both feet, before twisting round and slamming his Tremor Trooper fists into his chest. The impact threw the Architect through the trees, and the Commando launched towards the Architect with his burning sword.
All of them were the Elite of the Acolytes of Lien.
The Leader was wearing a Juggernaut Suit, the Commander was a Seeker with a burning sword, the Tremor Trooper had fire dust coursing into the pistons. And the fourth was atop a Glider and had the same ability as the Quartet Troopers, creating three other replicas of himself and the Glider. All four of them flew towards the Architect, but he fired his rifle up at them, knocking one of the illusions out of the sky. The Architect yelled in pain as the Promethean Seeker drove his burning sword into the shoulder of the Architect, burning some of the circuits. The Architect growled with anger and he rolled across the soldier's back, snapping the blade of his sword in the process. He ripped the burning half still inside of his shoulder out and threw it straight through the skull of the Seeker before he could avoid it. The soldier staggered backwards with a groan, collapsing to the ground, lifeless.
One down, three more to go.
The Juggernaut blasted his flamethrower at the Architect and the flames burned across his titanium body, but he was made of metal, so he could take the heat. He sprinted at the Juggernaut, until the Promethean Tremor Trooper slammed his fist into the Architect's flank, creating an explosion in the process. The Juggernaut grabbed the soldier and launched him towards the Architect, and he rolled out of the Tremor Trooper's path, just missing his fist as he smashed it down into the glowing ground. He immediately rushed towards the Architect, but this time he dodged the incoming fists of the Elite Soldier, rolling backwards and drawing his sword, slashing it across the piston. He turned just as the Glider fired its missiles at him, and he slid across the ground, throwing his sword straight into the thrusters of the Glider.
The Glider spun out of control and exploded into the ground, but the Glider Jockey survived but jumping off it at the last second. The Architect turned and he gasped, taking yet another punch to the face from the Tremor Trooper. He flew towards the Juggernaut who punched him down into the ground. He groaned in pain, sparks bled from his damaged circuits, but he kept getting back up, turning to see his sword stuck in the ground where that Glider Jockey was stood, engaging the Quartet Hologram Ability they created from studying Flynt Coal's Semblance.
He turned and saw the Tremor Trooper sprinting at him to punch him again, but the Architect rolled out of the way and he jumped up in the air, swinging round and kicking the soldier in the side of the head. He staggered back and the Architect ran past the Juggernaut, and he shoulder charged the Glider Jockey, nailing the one he wanted to hit. He grabbed his sword and he slashed it across the Jockey's head, killing him instantly. He turned and saw the Tremor Trooper sprinting at him yet again.
But this time, the Trooper missed his blow, and the Architect rammed the sword straight through the Tremor Trooper's skull, killing him instantly. He pushed the sword by the hilt directly upwards, splitting the Tremor Trooper's skull in half. He then took his rifle and fired it at the Juggernaut, hitting him every single time. The Promethean Juggernaut blasted flames towards him, but he ducked down and avoided the cloud of fire, sliding underneath his back and he shot the pack filled with fire dust. He immediately shielded the Aphax Violets as the soldier erupted into flames.
The fire splattered everywhere, and he turned, grabbing one of the ice dust crystals that was loaded onto his belt and he threw it towards the flames, firing his rifle to spread ice everywhere. The ice instantly extinguished the flames, preventing the fire from destroying this beautiful place.
The Promethean Squad was eliminated.
The Architect wasted no time, and he grabbed the Aphax Violets and carefully pulled them out from the ground, root and stem – just as the Witches insisted. But he took more than one, just in case if they needed more to help everyone. He held them tight and he lifted his arm, wincing from the damage he suffered from that fight and he opened the portal. It crackled open, glowing blue and he sprinted straight through it.
And in an instant, he was in front of the Hospital of Vale.
He staggered inside of the Hospital, walking past the many surgeons and doctors, and all their eyes widened as they saw him hold the glowing violets. He passed by everyone, Saphron and Yang both gasped with hope as they saw him. Everyone followed him, and Hazel helped the Mechanical Man walk through the hospital to get to the Isolation Ward. It did not matter anymore, he had the cure in his hand to save them all, and they opened the door for him, walking through the doors to see Weiss still only able to breathe through a tube… but she saw it and she teared up with hope… at long last. "YES!" Neptune cheered as he stood tall, Glynda turned and she smiled.
Everyone could feel the smiles in the room, especially after what they had to suffer through merely hours before. And finally… the Witches stood before him, turning with gladdened looks on their faces. "You found them…" The Sorceress gasped.
"I got you… some flowers." He joked, making the three of them laugh.
"It will definitely be enough to save them all… even the people across the world." The Sorceress assured, quickly taking the Aphax Violets. She stared at the glowing blue flowers… how could such a simple flower become so important to so many lives?
She approached the Cauldron where they swirled the ingredients of the cure together. "This cure will not just save you… it will also give you the strength and power to get right back into the fight. Something I know all you Huntsmen and Huntresses would like very much. Just remember to get a good night's sleep afterwards?" The Sorceress asked them with a chuckle in her voice, Neptune walked down the stairs with Weiss carried in his arms.
She dropped the Aphax Violets into the mixture and the three Witches closed their eyes, chanting in Ancient.
"Antiqua partum matrumque, exaudi nos causa. Haec animarum debet aeger, salvus erit: donum nobis salutis et virtutis: et lux in tenebris luceat!" The Three Witches all chanted in Unison.
The Cauldron began to glow brighter and brighter.
And for the first time in a long time…
… there was Hope.
Ruby
The Architect's Charge may have gotten him to get the Aphax Violets to Vale, but the Acolytes of Lien were still bombarding them all with firepower. Ruby groaned as she held her stomach, wincing from the pain as her aura slowly started to regenerate. She turned and saw everyone taking cover from all the bullets, but as she pushed Crescent Rose against the ground, Whitley walked across the destroyed Battlefield towards her in the Advanced Paladin, aiming his powerful cannon straight at her.
"Brave of you… but even you should know you cannot challenge the intellect of those far greater." Whitley stated as he kept the gun trained on her.
"Well… I guess old habits die hard, huh?" She scoffed, staring straight at the machine. Whitley charged the cannon up, channelling the dust through the long barrel of the Railgun, ready to eviscerate Ruby from existence, not even noticing the Portal that opened behind her.
Suddenly someone shot in front of Ruby and blocked the powerful blast of dust that exploded right in front of her. She suddenly took the explosion with the weapon and launched it straight back at Whitley. The arc of fire exploded against the side of the Paladin, causing Whitley to yell with shock, staggering backwards and landing against one of the destroyed buildings. Ruby looked up slowly and gasped, and so did Blake as she stood tall.
Stood before Ruby was Weiss Schnee, her long white hair tied back into her off-centred tail of hair, and her aura was glowing beautifully, strengthened by the Cure of the Horridus Morbus Plague. She could breathe on her own again, and no more black veins plagued her beautiful body. And they were all back in their outfits that they wore back in Vacuo before they were infected, ready to battle once more.
Weiss spun Myrtenaster through her fingers as she looked at her B.F.F. "Weiss…" Ruby gasped with utter relief and joy in her voice.
"Thank me later!" Weiss squeaked, Ruby turned to see the open portal behind her, as the three Witches sprinted out with the Undertaker by their side – going above and beyond on their promise that they made. But then there was an explosive flash behind them, and the golden beauty that was Yang Xiao Long flipped overhead, laughing with joy to feel this strong again.
"BACK WITH A YANG! BOOYAH!" Yang cheered, slamming her fist down into the ground where the Acolytes of Lien Machines were stood, shattering them like glass. Sun leapt through the flames of Yang Xiao Long, firing Ruyi Jingu Bang in their Gunchucks Form repeatedly at the Acolytes of Lien soldiers that tried to advance, with Neptune jumping up in the air with him, igniting the Lightning Semblance he had, blasting electricity from his hands towards the Acolytes. The two of them stood side by side, smirks on their faces as Glynda and Hazel sprinted out from the portal together as well, and Glynda held her hand out to Ruby.
"Not dead yet?" Glynda asked her, and Ruby smiled with such joy, tears leaking from her eye.
Kelham watched from the Drift of Wandering Star with shocked and defeated eyes.
And after all this time – the four of them stood beside each other.
Ruby Rose.
Weiss Schnee.
Blake Belladonna.
And Yang Xiao Long.
Team R.W.B.Y was finally back together.
And now it was time for the Acolytes of Lien, to meet their end… once and for all.
Author Note - TEAM R.W.B.Y IS BACK TOGETHER!
God it has been a long road to this point, to finally cure that goddamn plague, but my god was that ending part so goddamn satisfying to finally write. I think that and the Architect's Charge may be some of my favourite moments in the whole series, and this chapter in general may be one of my favourites because of the teamwork everyone had with each other. The Acolytes of the Roses finally arriving with Cordovin as well, I mean it is so satisfying to write the final stand of a villainous group that have been around from the start of a series I have been writing. Sure you still got the ones in Atlas with Jacques but this is pretty much their final stand.
Also the Ensemble Battle part? I 100% imagine that being one of those one-shot scenes you see in something like the avengers, to show everyone fighting at once. I love scenes like that.
This was definitely one of my favourite moments, the gang is finally back together. Now they just need Ortega and Penny to regain control of the Drift of Wandering Star.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter (I sure as hell did! XD) Please review, follow and favourite!
Stay tuned for the next chapter - The Drift of Wandering Star
- Matt
P.S - The Architect was so the MVP of this chapter XD
