Chapter 56
Adam launched Wilt hilt first towards Mercury. The assassin kicked the sword upwards with a smirk. That quickly shifted into a grimace when Blush barked, unleashing a blast into his torso. It was followed by Yang slamming her fist right into his collarbone and then using the silver-haired teen as a stepping stone to jump up and grab the flying sword.
Yang let out a roar as she came back down and stabbed the blade into Mercury. The sword skittered off his Aura, causing him to cry out in pain. She then flung the blade back to Adam. He caught it with ease and twisted around, bringing the crimson sword down on Emerald.
She blocked the attack with her sickles, however that left her open for a bullet to the stomach followed by a kick. Emerald hit the ground and rolled back to her feet, only to be struck by a wave of red and black as Adam quickly unleashed his Semblance. She screamed as her body was thrown against the statue.
"Em!" Mercury yelled, ducking under Yang's fist only to be kneed in the face. Mercury stumbled, clutching his face as blood dripped from his nose. Yang jumped forward, keeping the pressure up as Adam charged another strike. Colour drained from around him, leaving everything in shades of black and red, with a blue glow coming from his free eye.
Yang ducked to the side, giving Adam the opening he needed to dash forward. Wilt was a streak of crimson as it was drawn, a deluge of fire being produced from the Dust-infused blade. Mercury's eyes went wide and he threw up his arms to protect himself. It felt familiar…
But unlike last time Adam wanted to take Mercury down.
With a roar, both from the flames and Adam himself, he struck. His momentum carried him past Mercury, whose scream could curdle blood. The silver-haired boy was swallowed by fire for but a moment. It was enough however to shatter his Aura and send him to the floor.
Adam panted as he clicked Wilt back into his sheath. I put a lot into that. I can't check my scroll right now, but I can tell I used most of my Aura. If he'd had a chance to gather energy from a prolonged fight that would have helped immensely. However, he had been forced to expend Aura to generate the energy his Semblance devoured. With how strong the attack was, and the number of times he'd been using it, he was likely getting close to empty.
But with Mercury out of the fight… he glanced around quickly. Mercury's scream had caused the surrounding fights to pause for a moment. Thankfully it seemed Mercury's quick defeat had badly damaged his allies morale. We need to capitalise on this.
"Yang! Go help Pyrrha! I can deal with greenie." He ordered. Emerald was pulling herself to her feet, her eyes filled with worry. She and him both were low. Yang was better suited to join Pyrrha. Yang hesitated for just a moment but nodded and raced off.
Adam turned to Emerald and charged. He could keep her busy, even low on Aura as he was.
Vernal was pissed. This wasn't supposed to be a difficult battle. They were supposed to come in, kill Qrow, open the Vault and run away with the Relic before Cinder could stop them.
Instead, they were losing.
They'd started with the advantage, coming in with a surprise attack. That advantage quickly fell apart, however. Her foe, some blonde knight, was better than she had expected. His defence was strong and while his attack wasn't on the same level, he didn't shy away from using his size and weight to his advantage. Add that to some regeneration Semblance and he was a tough nut to crack.
Now that he was reinforced by a proper attacker in the form of a scythe-wielding girl Vernal was on the backfoot.
Her blades carved into the boy's shield. She tried to push it to the side and create an opening but he held firm, forcing her to retreat lest she be cut open by the girl's scythe. Shit! She's quick too. Some kind of speed Semblance. Shit shit shit!
Vernal cried out to herself. For once she wished she wasn't just a decoy but was actually the Spring Maiden. She wouldn't be forced back like this if she was. That feeling wasn't helped by Cinder yelling at her.
"Vernal! Use your powers now!" The bitch screamed as her foe came in, spear singing as it tried to part the woman's head from her shoulders. Vernal let out a sound of annoyance and fired upon the pair in front of her. The girl burst into petals and flew to the side, quickly and easily dodging the attack, while the boy took it on his shield. He tilted the metal plate slightly, redirecting the attack right towards the hulking mass of muscle known as Hazel.
The man cried out in pain as it hit his back. His opponents jumped on the opportunity. The boy cut into the back of Hazel's knees, causing him to lurch forward. The ginger slammed her hammer into his chin, throwing him into the air. The Schnee then used her glimmering knight to slam dunk him back into the floor.
Fuck! Vernal screamed to herself. These weren't some dumb kids playing at being Huntsmen. They had some skill and intelligence to back it up too. Even if they were relying more on numbers. Can't fault that. She thought, dodging the pairs attacks and throwing out more beams. More people makes everything easier. Nothing beats a town more than overwhelming numbers.
It didn't matter if she or Raven could take on a town by themselves. If they went alone they would be outnumbered and subsequently defeated. And here they were, being outnumbered.
A scream pierced the air as Mercury was defeated by the Faunus who had just barged in. Well fuck. We're even more outnumbered now! The blonde chick was running off to battle Cinder too. Shit.
Vernal glanced at Raven. She was watching the battle unfold, almost lazily fighting Qrow. The two had fallen into old, familiar patterns. Neither had the strength to win alone. Raven could only win there if Vernal helped or she revealed she was the Maiden.
Vernal continued to curse and swear to herself as she battled Jaune and Ruby.
Everything was falling apart.
Cinder knew that to be the case. But what could she do? How could she know that Qrow had more allies? Or that the White Fang would have leaked information to Taurus? Salem would have their heads if they weren't careful. They had to win. Had to claim the Relic.
But how?
Cinder flew upwards, unleashing a wave of fire down onto Pyrrha and Yang. We don't have enough of an advantage for Raven, Vernal and I to head to the Vault. If we tried the battle here would be lost within moments. If we even managed to get onto the elevator.
Watts words popped into her mind, reminding her that he'd predicted this outcome. That angered her more. He was just some weak scientist with a grudge against Ironwood. He was another elite who looked down on others. He didn't deserve to work alongside her.
But it wasn't up to her and after today, whether she made it back or not, she may lose all the power she'd built up working under Salem. If I lose here then Watts will lord it over me for the rest of time! I'll be further from my goal! I have to succeed!
With a roar, she threw more and more and more fire at the two in front of her. It wasn't effective, however. They kept managing to dodge around her blasts. She roared again and slapped a hand against the floor, combining her Semblance and magic to melt the tiles ahead of her.
They jumped up and away, trying to avoid being caught in the middle of her attack. With a manic grin, she sent a blast of flame at Yang and threw out her left hand towards Pyrrha. The arm extended and latched onto the girl's face. The appendage glowed as her Aura began to be drained from her body.
Just a bit more! She cackled within her mind.
However, her desperation cost her as daggers flew from Pyrrha's armoured skirt and impaled the arm. Cinder felt its pain and loosened her grip accidentally. That was enough for Pyrrha to bring her sword up and sever the arm.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHGGG!" Cinder screamed, clutching her stump of an arm. As it grew back Yang rushed her, slamming her fists into Cinder's stomach whilst the pain kept her from acting quick enough to ward the brawler back. Her gauntlets fired multiple times, burning through Cinder's Aura.
Cinder enveloped herself in flame, causing the girl to jump back. The arm finished growing back while Cinder cursed her foolishness. The two in front of her were some of the strongest opponents in the room, only truly outmatched by Qrow and Taurus. Ozpin would be too weak from reincarnating to be the biggest threat.
This battle was nearing its end. Cinder knew that with Mercury down it wouldn't be long before Emerald fell as well. Taurus could then go anywhere and crush his foes. They were about to lose. The shock of that realisation sent Cinder's mind into a downward spiral.
I have to win. I have to win. I have to win! But no matter how much she thought she couldn't see a way to victory. She couldn't kill Vernal and claim the Spring Maiden. She couldn't beat the two in front of her before Adam defeated Emerald. Hazel and Raven were against equal foes and Leonardo was useless.
We… lost!? Cinder swallowed, watching through her fire barrier as Pyrrha and Yang prepared to try and finish this. Cinder knew the weaknesses of a Maiden well enough. She'd capitalized on them herself after all. Numbers. That was the most important facet. You needed a team of warriors to defeat a Maiden.
And what was around her? A team of warriors, larger than her own and with far better coordination. In short, she'd already lost. I can't believe this! That girl is at fault! I will make Belladonna and the White Fang pay for allowing Taurus to interfere! If he wasn't here I could win this!
Cinder sent her barrier outwards like a wave of fire and began blasting once more. A sword formed in her hand again as Pyrrha closed. If only we had gotten Taurus onto our side. We could have crushed them all. Damn it.
"Emerald!" Cinder shouted, parrying Pyrrha's spear and sending a tight beam of fire at her chest like a lance. The redhead used her Semblance on her armour to pull her out of the way, sending the beam to pierce the wall.
A moment later the entire battlefield stalled as Emerald used her power like never before. Cinder didn't know what she forced the others to see but didn't wait around.
For the first time in her life, she ran from a battle in progress.
Hazel growled but grabbed the unconscious Mercury and Emerald and dashed after her. Raven swore, but Emerald had thrown the illusion at her and Vernal as well.
She's an opportunist. She'd kill us on our way out and claim my power. That bitch can wallow her with the others for allowing her pawn to keep her power back. Cinder growled to herself.
The battle outside was coming to a close as well. The White Fang was breaking apart against a Faunus army. Cinder pulled on her power and sent a wave of fire at them all. A team of Huntsmen jumped in the way, protecting their weaker allies by taking the brunt of the attack. Some of the White Fang used the chance to retreat.
Cinder begrudgingly did the same. Salem will not forgive us. Perhaps she'll be lenient. Tyrian has failed against Rose as well after all.
She hoped this wouldn't be her death.
"Fuck!" Raven exclaimed as a massive, distorted form of a pale-skinned, white-haired woman consumed the room. She knew it had to be Salem. Cinder ran, leaving her behind and escaped with her allies.
Qrow sighed and turned Harbinger on her as the vision faded. A glance showed that Vernal and Leo had been shown the vision just like she and Qrow's brats had.
Now what do I do? She bit her lower lip. "Well then. Brother, it appears this battle is at an end. I would like to discuss a resolution." She said through gritted teeth.
"Oh so now you want to talk." Qrow spat at her.
"Obviously. I have lost any chance of victory. So how about we discuss a deal?"
"Well, how about you go to prison!" Qrow yelled.
"Qrow." A boy said. His mannerisms instantly pissed Raven off. Fuck. It's him. "Raven we can discuss things." The boy who would be the next Oz spoke exactly as Ozpin had.
"I want you to never talk to me again. Leave me out of your war." Raven snarled.
"Then I would like you to open the Vault and give us the Relic. If that happens you will be free from us. Salem may come for the Maiden, but that will be up to you to deal with." Ozpin said.
"Fine." She replied with a growl.
The three looked over to Leonardo, who was currently being crushed against the floor by the ginger with a hammer. The coward looked over to them with fear in his eyes.
Raven sighed. Ozpin smiled at her. "Just remember Raven. This is only regarding the war with Salem. Do not cause too much trouble as a bandit."
"Yeah yeah. Let's just get this over with."
Adam was confused. Emerald had thrown out a monstrous illusion of some strange woman. It was terrifying. And then they'd run away. A part of him felt like a failure. He'd allowed Blake to escape and now Cinder had fled as well. But the other part felt like he'd done his best. The academy still stood after all.
What weirded him out the most was the child taking charge of their remaining foes. He couldn't be any older than Ruby and yet he was dealing with them with ease. Well, that and their use of words like 'relic' and 'vault'. What did those have to do with anything? He didn't know. Those questions can wait, however.
"JNPR, please accompany Qrow and I to the Vault. RSTY please enjoy your reunion." The boy said, a nostalgic smile on his face. He then had Lionheart use a necklace on the statue, causing it to lower and turn into an elevator. He then left, taking Qrow, JNPR, Lionheart and the two remaining women with him.
His friends seemed concerned about them all going down, but before he could say anything a ball of red slammed into him.
"Adam!" Ruby exclaimed, wrapping her arms around him. "It's so good to see you!" Adam hesitated for a moment before, with a hesitant smile, he pulled Ruby into a hug.
"It's good to see you too." He replied.
Weiss came in as well with her own smile. "You had us worried you know."
"Sorry."
"Just don't do it again." She then joined the hug. He could feel their warmth right down to his core, but something was missing.
He held out a hand towards Yang. She hesitated, a variety of emotions playing across her face. Eventually, however, she caved and joined in.
Team RSTY hugged like there was no tomorrow. His questions could wait.
He wanted to enjoy this feeling while he could.
A/N: And so the battle of Haven is over. The aftermath and proper reunion is up next. I do find it mildly funny that everyone is putting so much weight on words like 'Relic' and 'Vault' but to Adam, it's just 'relic' and 'vault'. Normal words to him because he doesn't understand the context. A fun way to use capitalization. As for the ending, it's a stark contrast to the show. Not only does Vernal survive, but Cinder chose to escape with everyone else. Meanwhile Raven makes a deal to stay out of the war for good and Ozpin accommodates such a deal.
In other news, we have some cover art! Made and sent in by lokifestif. I quite like it. Simple but effective. So big thanks to them!
I hope you all enjoyed and I'll see you next time!