Disclaimer: RWBY is owned by Monty Oum and Rooster Teeth Productions, while God Eater is owned by Hiro Yoshimura, Shift and Bandai Namco Entertainment.
After getting back from Remnant ahead of Blood Special Forces, Soma Schicksal has opted to remain in his lab, going through his findings on the other world as well as going through several hypothesis about a possible Aragami incursion. He's still trying to wrap his head around how Summer Rose was suddenly transformed into the Psion Marduk ten years before they appeared on Earth, on the eve of the Red Rain situation. While the woman was able to come back with assistance from Elena Branwen, the Oracle Cells that scattered from her had dispersed on Remnant, along with the death of the Mukuro Kyuubi he took out.
He was even more aware of the truth behind the birth of Elena, having gone through the files salvaged from the facility he explored on the other side. Having a better look at the source of funding, as well as a personal interview he held with Weiss Schnee, he deducted that her father intended to fund the project for success behind the scenes, hoping that he could use those born with Silver Eyes as his personal private army. Along with theories from the girl, the man had ambitions of controlling the world through monopolization, though it will mean nothing if the Aragami were to appear.
Regardless, he had compiled all the information he salvaged along with those found from the other groups back then before submitting them over to Fenrir HQ, along with his personal notes on whether to use the tech for human repopulation. True to his word to Raven, he had put down a warning in the data packet that it is to not be used as a means to create an army, even threatening to hunt down any Fenrir Director with dark ambitions. Despite that, he knows it will be in good hands when it was reviewed by the Director of Fenrir Intelligence, a man he can trust by the name of Isaac Feldman.
Switching the displays on the terminals, the young man leaned forward as he observed the medical files of Summer Rose, both before and post-Aragami infection. The first set of files of files was handed over by Raven after investigating the abandoned facility on Remnant before comparing the files recently made here in the Far East Branch, mostly looked over by the young man himself. Even after his initial analysis on her at Beacon Academy, the young scientist went beyond and utilized the tech in the Den to fully give a diagnosis before sharing the news to Raven.
"Summer's no longer human," he remembers Raven asking out as the memory played in his head, when the woman sat on the sofa in his lab. "What do you mean, Soma?"
"What I mean is that while Summer had a normal human life, her time as an Aragami for ten years has changed her entire physiology," he answered her before bringing up several visuals before pointing at two human x-ray images. "Take a look at these. These two are what makes up the inner workings of the human body, with the one on the left having a minor inclusion of Oracle Cells. Those are the x-rays of a normal Human and a God Eater respectively."
"Okay."
"Now, have a look at this one." Typing into the computer, the visuals changed into another x-ray done on Summer, causing the woman to gasp as he explains. "This is the x-ray done on your friend after you came back to the Far East Branch. Where as a God Eater's physiology only have a minor amount of Oracle Cells, likely do to the armlets keeping them in check, Summer's body has been remade to the point where all of her systems, including the skeletal, nervous, digestive and reproductive systems contain a mass influx of those cells. While she can now live again among the human and faunas on both Remnant and the Fenrir Branches, she can no longer be classified as one or the other."
"Does this mean that… Summer is…"
"Reborn as an Aragami, you can say." Switching the visuals back, the young scientist typed on his terminal as he spoke to the Branwen. "The reason I say that is because the Core that once made up the Marduk is now mixed in to both her heart and the brain, meaning that should one or the other be destroyed, she'll still live." He then paused his work before leaning back on his chair, looking at the woman. "She'll still live like a human, enjoying food and other pleasantries that life has to offer. But because she's now reborn as an Aragami, she can no longer age as a normal human."
"You have a point," she relents, thinking back on her x-ray before sighing. "I guess that no matter what happens, she'll never have a normal life."
"Look at it this way," Raven looks over to Soma, who had his eyes closed as his arms crossed. "She won't ever worry about being hunted by that woman you wrote about in the report, heavily inciting that only Sakaki and I should know about."
"Salem… It's still a risk for me to share what I know about her, but I trust this Branch more than I do Ozpin. It was the least I can do after officially becoming a God Eater here."
"You know, you didn't have to do that," he solemnly stated. "She's not Fenrir's problem. If anything, she is Ozpin's, and yet after reading what you shared, Sakaki and I agree that he has done nothing to actively fight against her, instead having to rely on people to keep important people and objects away from her."
"One of these days, his machinations will fall apart, and he will have nothing." Sighing, she leans back on the sofa before narrowing her eyes. "But even we know that she's nothing against the likes of the Aragami. How much do you want to bet that she's upset her large Grimm Horde fell at Mountain Glenn?"
"I'm not betting. She's going to be fuming by now."
Chuckling, the young man sorted out his data on the computer as the memory ended, typing away on one of his research notes involving the Retro Oracle Cells harvested from the Kyuubi Aragami. He still couldn't believe that there is an individual on Remnant that commanded the creatures of Grimm, but then he had to agree that the monsters on Raven's world, despite being weak, were well organized beyond being feral. Staying true to his own thoughts, this Salem woman is not their problem, but Ozpin's, and from what Raven told him, he has only opted to play the defensive game.
"Dr. Schicksal, this is Aegis patrol 3," his thoughts were interrupted as he connected to the caller. "We have a situation."
"What sort of situation," he mused, getting up off his chair. "Did more Aragami infiltrate the island?"
"Not quite. Sir… it's escaped again."
"What?"
"It's gone, sir. The Fragments are not in stasis. It's escaped."
"Dammit. Did you have the surveillance network activated?"
"That's the thing. We're having the satellites go over the planet, yet we're not getting a reading from it anywhere."
Paling, the young man shut off the communicator before rushing out of the lab, making his way over to the Director's office where Sakaki was. From what the patrol has shared, Soma fears that the Aragami he had faced three years ago has resurfaced, coinciding with the reappearance of the Dark Emperor Dyaus Pita and the Arda Nova Aragami. However, it was only a one-time appearance, with its fragments collected and placed in suspended animation.
The only question in his mind is if it's not appearing on the sensors, then where did It go?
A woman's enraged screams echoed out in one of the unexplored regions of Remnant, and in one of the chambers of what appeared to be a dark castle, the individual in question lashed out as she blasted the assembled Grimm with what appears to be magic. The cause of her distress was due to the attack at Mountain Glenn, where all the Grimm she had control over had been caught in the power of the Silver Eyes, enhanced by the monster threatening her forces. Not only has she lost a faithful follower and an army to it, but another follower has gone off course, lying in wait to obtain power of her own.
Angered by this turn of events, the individual known only by a select few as Salem had closed herself off from her remaining two followers that are present in the castle, venting out her frustrations on the monsters that remained. She realized that something was off about the giant wolf monster that decimated the Kingdom of Vale's local Grimm nests, but she never anticipated the beast having the Silver Eyes' power. Reeling from her defeat, she blasts another Beowolf with her magic before settling down.
"Damn that foul beast," she curses out. "It has done the one thing that fool could never do... It decimated my army, killed Tyrian and humiliated me. Now it is gone, yet this stain of failure remained on me."
'If only Cinder had done her job, none of this would be happening,' she mentally thought to herself. 'She's become too absorbed with working on gaining the Fall Maiden's power, especially since failing to obtain it the first time by that Huntsmen.'
Shaking in rage, she was about to lash out once more before a pained whine entered her ears, causing her to turn to see another Beowolf disperse upon death. Looking closer, she saw what looks like a blob with a crystal orb slowly make its way to her, though it was completely unknown to her. Feeling disgusted, she channelled her magic in her hand before approaching it, planning on destroying it and leaving no trace of it.
However, it paused its movement as she got closer to it, surprising her with how intelligent it appears to be. Humming in thought, she dispelled her magic before leaning forward, seeing her reflection off of the orb as the blob remained static. She is unsure of the nature behind it, but she had to admit that the crystal had a smooth surface at first glance.
"Well, aren't you a peculiar thing," she comments on it. "I've never seen a Grimm such as you before. Unfortunately, you have caught me at a rather bad time, so I'm afraid to say that you had a short span."
Just as she channelled the magic necessary to eradicate it, the blob housing the orb suddenly raptures before leaping off of the ground before attaching itself onto her body, surprising her with its speed. Surprise eventually became pain as the unknown organism began to wrap around her form from her chest, slowly eating away as the crystal shined at the center. Groaning, the immortal witch regained her magic in her hand before striking above her upper breasts, intending to cut downwards to where the mass is.
However, just as she was about to push her strike down to the blob, it has surprised her yet again as the unknown unleashed a spike through her hand, cutting off her attack before speeding up the process. She had felt an uneasy feeling as the mass ate away on her form, replacing her body with more of itself while spreading. She had opted to move her hand to where the orb was, but as it was halfway, she lost control of it as it moved halfway back, almost breaking her arm in the process.
She screamed out in agony as the mass continued its invasion of body snatching, gritting her teeth as it has already moved halfway on her arms and legs before spreading up to her face. Salem couldn't believe that this was happening to her, suddenly having lost control over her own body as the crystal brightened its shine. Just as it was about to engulf her whole, she let out another pained scream as she thrashed her head around.
"Just… What are you…" She spat out as her eyes glowed ominous.
"NOVA," was all she heard in her mind before it has swallowed her whole, ending her existence before the room was engulfed in a powerful shock-wave, shaking the castle's foundation and surprising the two followers Salem had remaining. Fearing that something was wrong, the two men rushed over to the epicentre of the shock-wave, opening up the entrance before going in.
"Mistress, is everything alright," one of them, a mustached man spoke out before coughing out. "This smoke… it's too concentrated. Hazel, can you see anything?"
"No, I can't make anything out, Watts," the other shouted out, wincing out as the smoke got in his eyes. "I don't see her anywhere."
"Dammit, this is where the shock-wave came from. Could Salem have been that enraged over Mountain Glenn?"
"I don't know. Perhaps she—"
Before Hazel could finish, the both of them spotted what appears to be a humanoid figure within the smoke, ending their thoughts in an instant. At first, they were both ecstatic that their boss was OK, but as the clouds further dispersed, they realized that it was not Salem as the figure in question was more masculine than feminine. Once it had finally cleared, they were able to make out the individual's form, and he was a character neither had recognized.
The man in questioned wore what appears to be a white overcoat over what could be made out as a military uniform, with a scarf wrapped around his neck with a brioche over it, a pair of dark navy blue dress pants along with a set of work boots. On the back of the overcoat was an emblem depicting a monstrous wolf, a symbol they remember seeing on some of the people that fought in Mountain Glenn when viewing it with Salem. Lastly, the man had long dirty blonde hair that ended at the neck's base where the back starts, though the coat's collar obscures the length.
Tensing over the unfamiliarity of the man, both Watts and Hazel watched as the man, who's back is on them as the emblem stared back at them, opened his eyes before observing himself. Bringing his hand up, the individual carefully took in the sight of the appendage, unaware of the two followers of Salem approaching from behind. Humming in thought, the man brought up his other hand, satisfied before speaking up.
"I see…" his voice echoed out, stunning the two over how deep it sounded. "So this is the form I have taken on. Fitting that I would take the form of a man that nurtured my growth, keeping me hidden until it was time."
"What is he talking about," Watts whispered to Hazel, who shrugged as the man continued.
"Still, that woman was the perfect candidate to be my host, housing my Core in her being so I may regain my full strength." Chuckling, the man lowered his head as he spotted the remaining Creatures of Grimm before scoffing. "Pathetic… to think that woman was in command of such weak creatures. It was rather fortunate that I took over her body before making it my own."
"Who are you," the man paused as he heard Hazel call out to him, slightly tilting his head to face them. "You're not one of Salem's forces… who the hell are you, and what have you done to our mistress?"
(Cue Survive Said the Prophet – Let it Die)
Chuckling, the man turned to face them both as he revealed his eyes to them, shocking them as they held the pitch black schlera and glowing red irises while speaking out. "So you followed that woman. Interesting… even those who lead monsters would need a more… human element to their plans."
"ANSWER THE QUESTION!"
"Patience, I was getting to that," the man replied in a condescending tone. "I went by many names in my entire existence. The great Devourer, the Bringer of the Apocalypse, Arius Nova… but I am more than just that. I am the beginning of the end, one destined to devour the entire world. As for my human form… the form you see now… You may call me...
"Johannes… Von… Schicksal…"
A/N: Rather short, but because it is the Epilogue, it was better to end it with a short chapter.
Now this is where things are starting to turn: Raven learning what truly happened to Summer's body after spending a decade as the Marduk, Soma learning something had broken out of Containment at Aegis Island… and the reveal of the main antagonist for the next fic coming soon.
I had always wanted this fic to end with a reveal like this, and what better way than to get rid of RWBY's uninteresting Main Antagonist Salem? I've said it many times that I never liked how Salem operated, even though it sounded good on paper. Still, I could name a few characters who did the same as she did with better results. Plus, with this being a shorter chapter, I was able to get it done sooner.
Review Replies:
Nexusknight2: I'm actually surprised that the materials from both the Brutus (Elena's Aragami form) and Marduk-Rose merged together to make those new materials for Raven's new god arc.
Not only did Summer had a little chat with Her Marduk side but joining the fight with Elena and Raven against the Dyaus Pita, Elena unleashing blood rage to weaken it and Summer getting the spoils in the form of its core and absorbing it got stronger.
I'm guessing you forgot that the God Eaters hunted down Marduks before Summer's Aragami form, right?
The God Arc that Raven used is actually featured in God Eater 3, after harvesting the Warg type materials from the Ashwrought variant, the Melammu Marduk. After looking at it in game, I knew I had to come up with a way to make it Raven's own, so after a little thinking, I was able to come up with how she got it.
It was kind of a last-minute thinking for Summer joining in the fight, but she's the type of person that would join in and help out. Plus, revealing that Summer is behind the trait involving making crazy plans was fun. Lastly, I had to include Blood Rage in there somehow and when, so why not when fighting against Dyaus Pita?
Carre: 1. a) ...Plays "The Imperial March"(Darth Vader) from Star Wars movies (in mine head) through the chapter (blame the chapter- title, know its two separate Universes, but I dont care).
b) (Half-joking) ...Well, this was a interesting daughter-mothers-bonding... what's is it called in English? Event? Moment (it was kinda)?
...Well, I think you get what I mean...
2) Keep Up with the Good Work (Washed Thumbs Up!).
I may not have watched Star Wars, but I know what you mean by that, but no, Dyaus Pita is a beast, literally. I doubt Darth Vader can hold a candle towards the Deusphage.
Yeah, I think you're referring to 'session.' That's the word you were looking for.
And thank you for reading this fic, Carre.
Ether02: HA! If Lindow thinks the Dark Emperor is bad then he really does not want to meet an Ashborne nevermind an Ashstorm Aragami.
Don't forget about the Ashwroughts, Ether.
Knowing Lindow, he'll be able to survive against them, provided he have a hard time. But the reason why he says that is because before getting his Aragami infected arm, he lost his P-53 Bias Factor Armlet to a Dyaus Pita. He's going at it from personal experience.
Nyantalanta: I can certainly agree with you on Dyaus Pita being a fun challenge... whereas Arius Nova feels like bullshit on legs with teeth. Bit late, but looks like there will be some... interesting developments in Remnants near future. Not very welcome ones, sure, but interesting nonetheless.
Hmm... Suspicious figures being sus after Pita get's rekt by a combo of Blood Rage, Psion empowerment, and good old fashion stabbing, totally not foreshadowing anything. Looking forwards to future chapters.
Arius Nova is basically Dyaus Pita on a shit ton of drugs and steroids. Not only that, but even if you survive some of its attacks, you could get unlucky with being hit by poison.
Yeah, but they're pretty much a set up for a fic further down the line, not the one coming after this one. Kind of a cliffhanger where you are desperate on wanting to know more, but at the moment I haven't thought up of names for the three mysterious humanoids.
One final thing to say before I go: I want to wholeheartedly thank each and every one of you who have read this crossover fan fic. I started this with the simple idea of wanting a RWBY and God Eater crossover fic that's actually finished, whereas others ended up being forgotten after 5 chapters. I wasn't sure that it was going to be well like, so for each and every one of you who have left reviews, favorited and followed this, this wouldn't have been possible without each and every one of you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading this, and be sure to look forward to the sequel to this story.
With that out of the way, I'm BlazefireDrago, signing out.