Chapter 54
It's been a while since Ruby and those who stayed in Beacon had gotten their training. Training that was, well, rather tough she admitted. The teachers, including the new ones like Mr. EMIYA, making them give it their all and extra. Ensuring nobody slacked off on these troublesome days. Ruby has never felt so tired. More so when that purple headed little girl-who was actually a Huntress-decided to teach some of her tricks to Ruby before she left with Uncle Qrow to go to Vacuo.
"Owie." Her entire body hurt.
Sitting up on a chair, Ruby grabbed a water bottle and chugged it down. Today's training was rough, but manageable. Overall, it was neat to learn some new moves. Ruby's only problem was that she was forced to learn hand-to-hand combat, which wasn't fun. She'd rather just rely on Crescent Rose, but Mr. EMIYA forced her to fight him. At first she assumed he was like her, since she's seen him only use weapons.
How wrong she was.
Ruby touched the side of her face, where Aura has long since healed the nasty big bruise that Mr. EMIYA left on her after he punched her so hard, she felt her teeth were about to jump off. It appeared that while the new teacher did prefer weapons mainly, he knew basic but strong hand-to-hand combat and used it against her.
'I bet Yang would have liked that.' Ruby happily thought as she then looked up toward her right, where she could see a building which was the medic ward. Yang, who had lost her arm, was still healing. But the doctors stated after a few more days, she'll be good to go where she can rejoin the classes and start training again.
Made Ruby happy that Yang was still here along with Jaune who was also training. Unlike.."Weiss. Blake."
Ruby then looked at the sky, remembering her other two teammates. Both who were now gone, the former dragged back to Atlas, and the latter who just...vanished. Some students said she went away with Sun and those with him following after. Ruby, wishing she could have said good-bye, but now never could.
Still, she couldn't give up. Not yet.
Right now, once Yang got better, Ruby along with Jaune would then leave Beacon to go to Mistral. Where they needed to find Cinder, and see what her plans were. To ensure she and whatever group she was with didn't cause this again to any other place in the world. So to do that, Ruby had to get stronger. Especially in these darker times, as Remnant has been growing more dangerous with these new monsters appearing all over.
Some that were like the Grimm, others that were rouge machines, and all colorful. Those of the internet have decided then and there to call these new threats one thing. The colored Grimm.
"Yeah." Ruby giggled. "Some people give the weirdest names to stuff." Naturally, most people refused to call the new threats that. Atlas especially denied the involvement of the machines, and claimed they had no involvement with them. Regardless, the new teachers like Mr. Blackbeard, who gave Ruby the shivers, trained them in dealing with the monsters that have come.
Anyway, Ruby decided it was time for lunch. Lunch she will enjoy, as Mr. EMIYA was making it. Lots of the students enjoyed his meals including Ruby. So as Ruby then went to get a delightful lunch, she then stopped when she heard something.
BOOM!
A loud something, as Ruby then turned to see some smoke at a large distance away.
"What the-what's happening?" She then said, wondering just what was going on.
The command deck was a wreck. While the new Argo wasn't going to fall anytime soon, and most of the controls still functioned, the command deck was now covered in soot, misplaced ruined metal, and some broken circuity. As for everyone who had been inside the command deck, well-
"Good job Medea (Lily)." Atalanta states as she and everybody else were behind a barrier. "You did well."
-they had all been protected by Medea (Lily's) magic. Having quickly raised her staff and spoke the words to create a strong and durable shield to deflect most of the explosion away. Thus why the command deck wasn't a ruined wreck like it should have been.
"Alright Jason," Asclepius then starts to say to Jason. "What shall we-!"He then stopped when he saw the furious gaze of Jason. Quite frankly, he looked more than just a little p!$$ed, and far from happy. The change in expression made the doctor falter, as he rarely saw this type of look from his leader, even back in their days of travel when they were alive.
As for Jason, he just looked at the controls of his new ship now covered in soot. The command deck, while not outright destroyed, a huge mess. His new Argo, just as it began soaring, attacked by this piece of metallic crap. Jason, in his normal mood, would just whine and complain. Here and now, not so much.
"Atalanta." The Archer stood a little straighter, with the others also listening well. The voice Jason used being the type that showed he was serious here and now. No games, no jokes, just ready to use his strategic mind to destroy the enemy. They actually felt bad for the machine now.
"Yes Jason."
"I want you and Hercules to start shooting at that piece of junk. But, don't aim for it, aim for the missiles it fires. We don't want our new ship to be shot down, do we?" Jason told her, not wanting the new Argo to be destroyed just hours after they got it.
"Understood." Atalanta then went out to move with Hercules following her, while carrying some metal debris with him. While Hercules would have liked a bow, he was just as good at throwing things with his bare hands. Both him and Atalanta jumping off the command deck and began climbing up until they got onto the top of the ship.
This Atlas aircraft was a military designated use. It is massive and slow-moving, and is capable of being a control center for the Atlesian androids and mechs. The outside of the ship being an arrow-shaped hull, with two nacelles coming off its sides, most likely its engines. It also has several spines protruding from the engine supports. There are also several nozzles in between the spines, as well as on the bottom of the engine supports, most likely its main source of propulsion. Given its size, slow speed and lack of wings, it most likely uses Dust to stay aloft.
The Atlesian airship is armed with forward-facing laser batteries that are powerful enough to easily shoot down other airships of its class.
However, this ship, while still functional, had fallen at a great height during the destruction of Vale. While it's Hard-Light Dust shielding protected most of it and even kept many functions from failing, the damage has caused it to no longer use it's weapons as it used to. Not to mention against the Mass Produced Mecha Eli-chan, which was far faster and actually had weapons, meaning the new Argon was flying without teeth and a weakened defense.
Something Jason was about to change.
"Medea (Lily)!" Jason called out to his younger ex-wife. "I want you to enchant this thing to make it tougher. Particularly on the engines so that stupid bot won't blow it up."
"Got it Jason!" Medea (Lily) then began floating and flew out of the command deck where she would then go to the right side of the propulsion engine and start doing her enhancement. It would take a while however, and no doubt the Eli-Chan bot would see this and attempt to take her down.
"Castor, Pollux!" Which is why Jason had a plan for that. The two pay attention to hear their commands. "I want you to go on top of the new Argo and aid Hercules and Atalanta. While they shoot down it's misiles, you ensure it doesn't get any ideas to go after Medea (Lily) while attacking her to put her off."
"Understood." Pollux answered.
"Whatever." Castor replied.
The two then got out of the command deck and climbed up until they got onto the surface of the ship where the other two teammates were at and already taking out missiles that would seek to cause the new Argo to fall. This now left Caenis and Asclepius, who both waited for Jason's orders.
"Asclepius." Jason began pushing some buttons on the ship, having it move forward and head for the forest. In the worst case scenario, best to have it above the trees and not Vale where the remaining Grimm and other demonic beasts were at, the forests being mostly clear. "Question, how big can you make your pet snake?"
"The size of a truck now, thanks to the Dust we found onboard." The Caster answers truthfully.
"Good. When that robot tries getting closer, have your pet see if it can take a bite out of her." Jason tells him with the Caster obeying and then going near the broken glass. Instead of leaving the command deck however, what Asclepius instead did was summon his mechanical snake and drop it out from the sky.
The mechanical construct then enlarged itself until it was the size of a truck, and stayed close to the new Argo. If the robotic duplicate of Eli-Chan came close, it would attack with deadly precision. Asclepius himself then going to one of the remaining controls in the command deck and looked through a monitor that showed the outside of the ship keeping an eye out for more enemies just in case while his snake did it's job.
"Alright, what about me?" Caenis looked ready to fight.
"For now, stay here." Jason told her.
"Eh?"
"On the off chance a missile gets through, or maybe more enemies come, I want you here to defend this place. If the command deck is utterly destroyed, we're going to crash big and hard." Jason tells her his reasons, with the Lancer-Class Servant far from happy. But, she had her orders, and while grumbling she accepted it and took a stance to get ready, just in case. Jason on his part, focusing on piloting the vessel and doing what he could to ensure it didn't fall. Though he did frown when he saw more dots appearing on the radar.
"I hate it when I'm right."
Back on the top of the new Argo, the four Servants up top were doing admirably in dealing with the Eli-Chan bot above them.
"Must destroy all Servants." The machine spoke as from it's 'dress', countless missiles burst out and all aimed at different directions of the ship. The deadly robot deciding to bring the ship down and have it explode in a fiery mess to destroy it's targets.
"No you don't!" Atalanta spoke as she used her new bow to shoot arrow after arrow at the missiles aimed at the ship. Each shot had a Dust crystal on it giving the impact a bigger oomph! As such, when the missile and arrows collided, both exploded while ensuring the missile didn't get close to it's target. Hercules did much the same by throwing metal debris at missiles that also got close and making them go boom.
The Eli-Chan bot began to grow 'frustrated', as it's programming told it. Realizing the missiles weren't entirely working, it's analytical program told it another way for victory. Deciding to follow that, it shot more missiles, this time however, aimed at the two interceptors.
Hercules and Atalanta began destroying them down, but little did they know, it was a distraction. The Eli-Chan bot leaning it's head back where one could then see a glowing blue light coming from its mouth. It was about to shoot a concentrated fire beam!
Atalanta and Hercules however were to busy dealing with the missiles, meaning they could do nothing as the bot then shot it's focused fore beam at the back of the new Argo. No doubt hoping it would burn through the thrusters and make the vessel fall out of the sky.
"Pah!" Too bad some trusty help arrived. "Like some stupid machine can get through us." Throwing his weapon, a powerful Hard-Light shield came out and blocked the attack that would have destroyed the thrusters. Eli-Chan, just kept up the fire beam in hopes to break through it. However, it's sensors then detected a high-speed target coming at her.
"Go down you piece of junk!" It was Pollux, who had jumped up from the hull and ready to swing down her sword. The duplicate robot attempted to protect itself by stopping it's beam attack and raised one of its arms to defend itself. Pollux clicked a button hidden on her sword and the steel, much like Jason's own newly acquired blade, began emitting a strong and powerful Fire Dust that turned her weapon orange. The Dust increasing the blades' heat which then sliced through the bot's own arm.
"Danger detected!" Realizing it had just lost a limb, the bot then changed it's only remaining hand into a drill, and then thrust it at Pollux at her head. Instead, an arrow embedded itself into the arm, Atalanta, having already dealt with the missiles, smirked.
"Boom." She said.
Suddenly, the arrow shone and the drill and her arm was encased in ice. Pollux took this chance to twist herself and slice off the head, easily ending the threat. Of course, she still fell down thanks to gravity, but thankfully, Asclepius's mechanical snake then came at her and she landed on its head.
"Well, that takes care of that." Castor says, thinking they won.
"No." Atalanta then answered. Eyes narrowed at a distance away. "Not just yet."
Hercules then roared, and from there Castor turned and saw none other than a swarm of Eli-Chan bots flying at them.
"Damn!" Jason cursed. It seems there were quite a bit of leftovers remaining here in Vale. Not to mention, some Grimm were among them along with other flying machines that didn't take the form of that stupid dragon-girl Servant. While a few of them fought, it seemed most of the enemies coming at them were more focused on them. Focused to tear this ship apart, something even Jason noticed as he growled.
"Medea (Lily)." he then called out, and while it seemed strange since she wasn't here, instantly he heard her voice in his head. A small spell she placed on him allowing him to speak with her even at set distances.
"Yes husband?"
"You see what's coming, correct?" He asked. Outside of the ship, Medea (Lily) turned her head and saw the horde coming. All of them hell-bent on making their lives worse. The small Caster looking at the enchantment she placed on this side of the propulsion engine, but far from done. Not even including how she hasn't even started on the other side yet.
Back to Jason, he heard, "I do. That's a lot of them."
Jason then began thinking for a moment. While he had confidence in Atalanta and Hercules to take a bunch of them down, a lot of the enemies were Eli-Chan bots. Meaning if they shot their missiles, the two would have to focus on them due to their destructive firepower. This was a tough call to make, but, "Medea (Lily). For now, stop the enchantment to the engine and help out."
"Are you sure?" His ex-wife asked. "That means I won't be able to finish increasing the durability of the propulsions, engines, thrusters, and so on."
"It won't matter against this many enemies." Jason replies back. "So start shooting them down."
"Got it!" The mental talk stopped and moments later, from the command deck, Jason saw shiny beams of light hit many of the enemies. Medea (Lily) undoubtedly uses her magecraft to summon multiple glyphs and runes and then shoot them down with it. Still, it wouldn't be enough as while the shots killed some of them, most endured the attack and still kept going.
"Damn it." Jason then quickly pushed some buttons and then stood up.
"Oy." Caenis then saw him leaving. "Where are you going?"
"To the weapons area." Jason said as he left. "I'll try to see if I can fix it. I ensured the new Argo won't crash for the time being, and is flying forward toward the horde. You just ensure nothing destroys this place." He was then gone as he ran to the weapons area to get the vessel's weapon system working again. Caenis grumbled but took attention to ensure nothing got past her.
Not that it'd be easy, as back in the air the many enemies flying were getting ready to strike. Particularly, the many Eli-Chan produced models that armed themselves and began firing countless missiles at the ship. Most were concentrated to be aimed at the sides of the new Argo's engines, the rest on the surface where Hercules, Atalanta, Pollux, and Castor were at.
Instantly the Berserker and Archer began firing what they could at the missiles. Atalanta easily dealing with at least over a dozen of them in the span of a few seconds and more. The real problem came when suddenly, her hand could feel no more arrows. Turning her head, she then saw the quiver was empty, and unlike a fully powered Servant she normally was, she couldn't produce more. The missiles she didn't hit now heading for her.
"Damn." She said as the closest ones were fixated on her direction. That is until a roar came and Hercules jumped in front of her. Using his body as a shield, the great hero endured as the missiles aimed at them and then impacted on him. Atalanta felt the heat and shockwave from the missiles that exploded, but knew it must have been worse for Hercules as while he could withstand the explosions, Hercules felt his own back burn and melt.
Meanwhile, Castor tried to defend himself when the first few Grimm landed and tried assaulting him. He easily dealt with the first few, but even he had to stop fighting and start dodging as claws and teeth tried to rip him apart. Then felt a tail slam into his side as he felt one of the Eli-Chan bots land and hit him with it. The Avenger sent flying but quickly adjusted himself and landed carefully just inches before he could have fallen off the ship.
"Brother!" Pollux then came in and with her new mount, it began spewing deadly mist that killed the Grimm, Atlas (of their world) bots, and the Mass Produced Eli-Chan to muck. Using her own sword to cut down those that dared to even get close to her brother.
"Shra!" Only for a rainbow colored Wyvern to strike it's claws down onto the mechanical snake's side and bring it down. Pollux jumping off from it with Castor catching her. As for the snake, it brought down many that tried to attack it. Grimm were melted down to goop. Eli-Chan bots were crushed under the might of its tail. As for the Wyvern, the snake wrapped it up and ensured it couldn't even struggle, the Wyvern desperately trying to bite the snake only to break it's teeth.
Then, the mechanical being brought the Wyvern's rainbow colored face to its own maw, and spat out acidic poison that disturbingly melted through the Wyvern's scales, face, then skull revealing a rather gruesome sight of melted brain matter and skull before it dissipated into golden light. Of course, sadly, that would be its last act to do.
Griffons and Nevermores swarmed the mechanical familiar, and began ripping apart the snake piece by piece until after several minutes, nothing but an inanimate corpse remained before it vanished. Inside the command deck, Asclepius swore and slammed a fist on the console.
As for Medea (Lily), she wasn't any better. While she protected the rear part of the airship, it was difficult using her magecraft to shoot down the many enemies coming. Using whatever spell she had to blast them down, and even summoning massive pancakes to slam them into those mean machines.
Yet it was becoming clear the new Argo was becoming surrounded.
"Come on. Come on. Where is it?" Jason ran and ran as he went down into the depths of his new Argo. Doing his best to find the room where the control area for the weapons were at. After several agonizing minutes, he finally found the right room. Though not until he heard many loud noises that shook his ship.
At this rate, his new vessel was going to fall from the sky.
"Not on my watch." Jason kicked down the door, and when he entered, saw the systems that oversaw the new Argo's weapons. It was a damn mess of circrity and ruined chips that were all exposed. Well that sucked.
Still, having little choice, Jason went to see what he could do. Praying his Riding skill might help out, but unfortunately, it only aided in 'riding' vessels, not actually fixing them Especially weapons that were far more advanced than he's seen in his Greek times. So, Jason had to do one thing.
"Hya!" Punching and kicking the machines. It was a desperate, pathetic, no-good move that was more liable to fail than succeed. Yet just maybe, maybe, it will work.
PHH!
Or not, as clearly he just got exceedingly lucky with the engine somehow. This time, the entire systems burst into flames and an alarm went off and began showering the room with water once it detected the flames. This of course caused the exposed circuity to spark up and explode, sending Jason out of the room and hitting a wall.
"Well…" Jason sat up as he saw the weapons system now utterly beyond repair. "This is bad."
Bad indeed, as the remaining enemies of Vale that could fly now converged to the new Argo. While the Argonauts were taking them out by the dozens, that still left the dozens that weren't fighting them to instead attack the ship itself. Thankfully, Caenis easily defended the command deck alongside the good doctor to ensure the controls weren't damaged.
But the ship's surface, the bottom, the sides, and even parts of the back were under siege. It was becoming clear that at this rate, nothing would stop them from destroying the ship and them with it.
"What are we going to do?" Atalanta yelled as she kicked a medium sized Nevermore away. Hercules strangling an Eli-Chan bot until it's head popped. "There's to many of them."
"Like we have that answer for that!" Castor replied as he used his weapon to slice off a few heads and limbs. His wonderful sister punching an Eli-Chan bot until it became scrap heap. Medea (Lily) herself was also getting tired, and worse, running out of mana. Soon, the Argonauts will be unable to do anything but fall.
"Hold it!" Of course, not if Jason had anything to say about it. Having climbed onto the ladder that led to the roof, Jason ran toward Hercules and Atalanta, in his hand, a box full of Dust. His eyes met Atalanta's, and in that one moment, a message was sent. Both understanding what the other meant. Without word, Atalanta ran at Jason while Hercules, who also understood, protected her and used his might strength to punch anything that came at her to oblivion.
As for Jason, while he couldn't fight as he carried Dust, like an expert dancer, he avoided any strike that came at him. Jumping, ducking, side-stepping, even twisting and spinning. It made him look goofy, but it got the job done. Then, once she got close enough, he threw the box at Atalanta who caught it, her hand dunking into the box full of magical ore.
The power of the Dust filled into Atalanta, and with it, the attention of the horde. Each and every single one of them then realized one thing. They had to kill her. Now!
But it was too late. Even as they rushed at her, spat acid, fire, missiles, whatever they had, Atalanta raised her bow and with her power, created two arrows. Two special arrows that didn't mind if it was used by the bow or even arrows, but just in the technique itself. One that held the power to wipe an army as Atalanta called out to two Gods not of Remnant, but of another world yelling, "With my bow and arrows, I respectfully ask for the divine protection of the sun god Apollo and the moon goddess Artemis. I offer thee this calamity — Phoebus Catastrophe!"
She nocked the arrows as high as she could, and sent them flying. A burst of beautiful green light seen by all being launched from the ship...and then, as if the weather itself changed, a rain of deadly death came upon the new Argo. One that then became a storm of a rain of arrows of light falling onto the enemies like a downpour.
The Grimm, bots, Wyverns, and other beings that had tried to latch themselves onto the ship were then pierced by this rain of light. Heads, bodies, wings, all pierced into and soon dissipating after they burst into gore, shadows, or machinery parts. Not a single enemy remained, and the leftovers of the creatures after the destruction of Vale had been reduced to the point of nothing. In the span of a few minutes, the new Argo was clear of all foes, and not a single foe remained.
"Hehehe." Jason smiled as he saw the clear sky. "Guess we won."
Hercules agreed and roared in victory. The rest also cheering as they had won. Medea (Lily) flying and hugging Jason to his displeasure while Pollux and Castor hugged each other. Caenis herself howling and Asclepius chuckling.
In Beacon, Ozpin began mobilizing to see what had happened with EMIYA going with the Huntsmen that were being sent. Where they would soon find out that Vale was now at last nearly clear of the threat that remained. It was a victory. One that benefited not just the crew of the Argonauts, but also Vale, who could easily deal with the tiny remaining creatures in the ruins that had threatened them as they had been severely weakened. In that regard, everyone was happy.
"Hehehehe." Including Merlot, as his spy drone watched it all. "Incredible!" He yelled. "Such power! Such an achievement!" He cackled loudly. "And ye," He then looked behind him. "Nothing compared to my own."
Inside the room he was in, all sorts of Grimm were caged up. Not just normal ones, but those he mutated with his formula, those he converted with another formula, and of course, strange machines he reprogramed like that Christine machine as he finally managed to make it serve him. As for the other unique automaton, well…
"Master." The girl in the bridal dress, Eve, bowed to Merlot. "It is almost done. The latest batch of the Eli-Chan bots we captured are nearly reprogrammed."
"Excellent!" Merlot shouted with a smile. "Then we are nearly done!"
"Indeed." Eve smiled, as if freed from a great burden. A burden that Merlot actually helped lift. As during his study of this girl, he learned she had some kind of split-personality disorder, with her and some male personality in charge that talked nonsense about being a man, making Eve, and being a genius. Well, thanks to a little special tech he made, now placed on Eve's forehead, it suppressed this other personality. Eve mentioning she can still hear him complaining and whining, she's more or less in command of her body.
One that served him, as apparently she was very grateful and even proved her loyalty by even injecting herself with the Grimm formula conversion he made. Now she had red eyes, black veins on her face, and Grimmified arms with her wedding dress blotched with black goo. Something she didn't mind, stating it made her feel more distant from her bastard father as she called him.
;A shame I can't meet him.' Merlot thought cooly. 'To make a living automata sounds impressive. Though then again, he sounds like an asshole.' Regardless, he now had Eve's loyalty and an army that was soon ready. Turning back, he saw many video feeds.
Of the flying Atlasion ship full of Valian criminals.
Of the ruined city of Vale itself.
Of Beacon full of students and Huntsmen.
Of Ozpin himself, and his little lackeys.
Just two more days. Two more days...and war will start.
Next chapter will be a bit of aftermath of the Argonauts battle, as they fly to Beacon for reasons that will get Jason hurt again, but not without reward. Plus, Beacon will need the help anyway. Because after the next chapter, the battle with Merlot will finally begin. A group of Beacon's misfit students, the Argonauts, full power Ozpin, vs the horrors Merlot has whipped up and ready to go.
I'm going to enjoy this.
Out of all the chaos happening throughout Remnant, oddly, Mistral seemed to be reasons that nobody could understand. Well, except for one.
"W-what was that?" Standing against the wall, the Headmaster of the Haven Academy and traitor of Ozpin shaked in his boots, quivering in fear. Standing in front of him, a person he didn't know, but knew was from Salem. A woman hidden in dark clothing, and behind her, none other than disgraced scientist Watts who smirked behind her.
"I said, you are to aid us in taking over this cesspool of crime." No Name Assassin tells Lionheart in a threatening manner. Watts getting some tea served and then drinking a cup of good earl with satisfaction.
"I-I see." Lionheart stuttered. "S-so Salem wishes to somehow r-rule Mistral?"
"You shouldn't answer like it's a question." Watts told Lionheart with his trademark grin. "Our queen will be taking over Mistral. Both to set up shop and get the Relic of Knowledge. Which reminds me, where is the Spring Maiden."
"G-gone." Lionheart says, but quickly adds, "But not of my own doing, I swear. She just ran off, and hasn't been seen since."
"So you have, no knowledge of where she is?" As Watts said this, No Name got closer to Lionheart, the lion faunus now feeling very threatened.
"I-i do! I do!" He speaks. "It was tough getting it, but word has it that the Branwen Tribe is capable of attacking even when the weather changes for the worst. Capable of attacking despite the strange changes in the sky."
"I see. So the Spring Maiden is with that rag-tag lot." Watts rubs his chin as No Name backs off. "Well, it'll take time, but I'm certain our good Assassin here can find them. Can you No Name?"
"With ease." The Servant responded. "However, we must act according to your Mistress's plans."
"And...and those plans are?" Lionheart asks.
"Why," Watts then answered. His mouth grew ever wider. "To 'save' Mistral."
Far away from the academy, the creature known as Nue laughed as he snapped the neck of a Huntress. Eager to start the slaughter.