AN: Hey everyone, I have the next chapter here. Thank you for all the support this series has gotten here and on Tv Tropes. This chapter sees many truths starting to get unveiled as learn about the one of the kings, which was a character that was mentioned in reviews a long time ago. After that, more revelations come to Clockwork Academy. And at the end, we get the set up to a big battle. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.
Chapter 57 – Panic
In air docks, Weiss held her scroll to her ear, "Damnit, she isn't answering." She said while looking down at a profile of who she was calling, seeing the red hooded girl with a goofy smile on her face, "You dolt." The white heiress spoke in worry. She then looked over to see Achilles walking over with Blake, "Anything?"
"Atalanta is not answering either, that's not like her," Achilles added on as he closed his scroll.
"They must be jamming our signal to the Academy." Blake spoke, "Maybe we could-"
Suddenly, the three heard a thud. They turned to discover it was Yang who punched the wall, "My mother can't use her portals to take us there." The blond brawler spoke as eyes flared red, "While she has been there before, something is preventing her semblance from going back." she said with her fist trembling, "Which means, Ruby is in real trouble."
"Yang, we'll save her." Blake spoke in a calming voice, then turned to Achilles, "Your chariot can take us there, right?"
"Of course, I can get us there faster than any airship could." Achilles responded with a smile.
"Good, then we do that and-" Weiss spoke, but was interrupted.
"I can't let all of you leave." Reines said as she ran up to four, "We have an emergency here as well."
"Now what!?" Yang exclaimed, "We took out all the killers and there bombing the mountain plan was a dud."
"No, it wasn't," Reines responded, flipping through the papers, taking out a pen. "The mountain wasn't encasing something; it was burying it." She said before showing an image of the sonar scan, tracing an outline, "What does this look like to you?"
"Well," Weiss responded, seeing what resembled a massive mammoth, "Is that a Grimm Goliath?"
"So? We see those things all over the place in Vale." Yang added, "They're big, but they mostly stay out of our way."
"In comparison to those Goliath's, this one would be over twice as big," Reines responded, "Yet, that's not the thing I am most afraid of."
"What are you talking about?" Blake asked.
"Are any of familiar with the story of the three kings," Reines asked. While the three girls remained silent, the swift hero spoke up.
"Actually, I remember Chiron telling me about them once. It was during a moment of peace over Remnant many years ago." Achilles responded, then crossed his arms. "He mentioned one was a Rider unlike any other, able to subjugate all Grimm out of sheer fear of his presence."
"And tales mentioned him conquering the strongest Goliath on the planet to be his mount." Reines added, looking back at the outline with a line of sweat running down her face, "If this is his mount laying dormant, then he is still alive as well."
"Wait, why are you worried then?" Yang asked, "These Kings sound like the good guys, wouldn't we want to walk then up to fight by our side?"
"That isn't something we should assume." Blake answered, "When I was in that cave, I noticed the wall were made of the same mud that was used to make alters like my own." She said while cupping her own hand, "The same mud that makes me what I am now."
"That means this King might be an Alter of his former self?" Achilles asked.
"It is a high likelihood, that would explain why the Woman in Black wants to recruit him." Reines responded, "If one of the Kings could save the world."
"Than an Alter of a king could end it." Weiss finished, "These Kings were that powerful?"
"Yas and this one was known to be to Grimm what Grimm are to humans, a force of nightmares that broke people's will upon gazing at him. For that, they called this King," Reines responded as she lowered the papers, a line of sweat running down her face, "Ivan the Terrible."
"Yikes," Yang responded, "Sounds like a scary dude," she said before noticing Blake shuttering, "What is it?"
"That ability you described." Blake said with the others looking towards her, "It's like what the Headless Huntsman did. He shattered my aura by just focusing on me."
"Yeah, that sounds overpowered." Yang said with an uneasy giggle, "But it could just be a coincidence, right?"
"No, If you're saying there is a connection, then we cannot take the risk and leave this place unguarded." Reines spoke, "I'm sorry, but our forces are spread thin with the next phase of the operations."
"But what about Ruby!?" Yang angrily asked, "She is in as much danger as any of us just were and none of us can reach her!"
"Then let me go there myself," Achilles offered, "I can ride the chariot a lot faster if I'm the only one on it." He said before looking back to Reines, "You'll have plenty of people here to keep things under control and I can rush back if needed."
"That might be our best option." Reines commented, "Okay, I'll approve your leave."
"Achilles," Blake said in concern, "You don't know what you'll be heading into."
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Achilles responded, "Your friends need you here in case that thing comes back."
"He's right," Weiss responded, "You're the only one who has experience fighting this Headless Huntsman."
"…Okay," Blake nodded before turning back to Achilles, "Please, be safe."
"Appreciate it." Achilles said before looking to Yang, "Don't worry, I'll keep your little sister safe."
"Thank you," Yang responded, her eyes changing back to normal.
"Well, I won't waste any time." Achilles said before rushing down the airstrip at high speed. He then whistled causing his chariot to spawn before hopping on it. The swift hero then ascended into the sky with his ride, dashing past the clouds into the horizon.
Weiss looked back to Reines, "What do we do now?"
"We need to create a new seal to prevent Ivan from emerging." Reines responded, looking back to Weiss, "A powerful Glyph would do the trick."
"Winter's book might have something like that I could learn," Weiss responded, "But the power needed might be more than I have."
"Hey, you already know you can use my energy to help lessen the burden." Yang offered, "And the sooner we get this made."
"The sooner we can help Ruby and the others." Blake added, "We need to work fast." She said with all three nodding before leaving to start the next phase of operations.
Qrow.
In the library, Qrow turned the final page of a book before slamming it shut, then groaned as his head hit the table. Sitting across the table was Scathach, who looked on with crossed arms, "Well, you seem to have read every book in this library." She said while he remained unmoving, "Did you find what you were looking for?"
"No, which is just my luck." Qrow responded with a groan in his voice, "What am I going to do?"
"You could ask me what it was you are really looking for?" Scathach spoke with him lifting his head, "I know you don't wish to tell me for some reason, but I can help you more than just watching you read."
"I appreciate that, but it's better this way," Qrow responded with a soft smile, "When this all blows over, I can tell you over a drink?"
"… I see," Scathach said before standing up, "Then I will just leave you to collect your thoughts." She said before walking away, "There is someone who wishes to talk to me now anyway."
"Oh, okay, see you around." Qrow said as he watched her leave before sighing, "Great, now she's mad at me again." He said before noticing someone entering the library, seeing it was Hinako, "Hey, who are you?"
Hinako turned to the unlucky huntsman, "Apologies, I thought I was alone in here." She spoke before bowing, "I am Hinako Akuta, the new Librarian to this Academy."
"Oh, you could have helped me before I read every book here," Qrow said with a slight chuckle.
"You read every book?" Hinako spoke in slight shock.
"Well, I skimmed the boring one." Qrow responded as he stood up, taking a few steps towards the librarian, "But I couldn't find what I was looking for."
"Pity," Hinako responded, "Maybe you can help me?" she said before showing him a book, "There was a bit of damage to this copy, do you know who did it?"
"That book of fairytales? Yeah, I saw the person rip a page." Qrow answered, "I don't think she meant to do it. It was an accident?"
"I see," Hinako said before adjusting her glasses, "Can you take me to her? I don't wish to punish the girl, just to introduce myself."
"Sure," Qrow said with her walking past him, but he then scowled "You know, you do remind me of someone." He said scowling, "But that person was not a friend." He said with her stopping, "Why do you care so much about who was reading that book?"
"…" Hinako turned back to him with a scowl, "It's a special edition." She said before walking, "There are only a few copies in the world."
"Oh, I see," Qrow said before following her, "Yeah, let me take you to her." He said as the two exited the library. However, they walked past Scathach, who went the opposite way. Qrow's eyes focused on her, seeing a scowl as she moved down the halls, "Hey, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Scathach said before stopping a moment, "It's better this way."
"Huh?" Qrow said as she walked away from him. He then looked over to witness Hinako walking in the other direction, "Oh on." He said as he stood in the center, "This feels like one of those times where either decision is the wrong one." The unlucky huntsman spoke as he stood still, clutching his fists. He turned to Scathach, about to speak, but then closed his mouth before following Hinako. As he caught up the librarian, the unlucky huntsman noticed Kiara standing in the halls, a slight smile on her face as she passed by them.
Cinder.
"It's so good to have an actual nurse here." Irisviel said as she led TV down the halls, "She has been in a weakened state for a while now."
"Don't worry, I'll take a look at her." TV responded, "Who is she again, a student?"
"No, an old friend." Irisviel responded as she opened the door to the infirmary, walking over to a bed, "Her name is Cinder." She said to towards the unconscious black-haired woman.
"Oh," TV responded, then smirked, "I see, she does look like she has been through a lot." The pink-haired nurse then looked back to the pale-skinned woman, "Would you leave us alone for a second for me to run an examination?"
"Sure, I'll be outside the door," Irisviel said before leaving, but TV was focused on Cinder.
After hearing the door closed, TV chuckled, "So, this is where you went." She said before caressing Cinder's cheek with her left hand, "Look at you, so weak, so powerless." she said with the black-haired woman's eyes slowly opening, then going wide at the individual.
"Vit-" Cinder was saying before her mouth was grabbed by TV.
"Shhh, no yelling." TV spoke as Cinder flailed, looking into her eyes, "As I thought, you aren't a maiden." She said before her own eyes glowed with a pink aura, "Unlike me."
"MMMM!" Cinder tried to scream, but Vitch press a hunting knife against her neck.
"Don't move around too much, my hand might slip." Vitch responded, causing Cinder to glare as her body stopped failing, "Now, I don't care how you got here. Nor do I care how you are alive? I only need to know one thing from you?" the spring maiden said as she leaned in close, "Who is the Fall Maiden?"
"…" Cinder scowled as Vitch remained unflinching.
"…Fine, don't talk." Vitch said as she raised the knife, "Just stay dead this time!" She said before plunging the knife down. Suddenly, the curtain behind Vitch fell on here, "What!?" the Spring Maiden said before she thrashed to get the curtain off. Once she did so, she discovered the bed was empty, "Damnit!"
Running down the halls, Irisviel held Cinder's hand as fled the infirmary, "Iri, how did you-"
"Please, that girl radiated an evil aura. I knew I couldn't' trust her alone with you." Irisviel answered with a smile, "I need to get you out of here." She said as they were about to turn the corner, "We need to find-"
Suddenly, a gunshot was heard as Cinder watched blood erupt from Irisviel's stomach, "IRI!" Cinder screamed as the pale-skinned woman fell to the ground, coughing blood. The black-haired woman turned to witness TV walking up with a sniper rifle.
"Well, you two didn't get far." TV said before sighed, "And I wanted to keep this disguise for longer." She said before pulling off her nurse's attire, revealing a black latex suit underneath, her bushy tail and fox ears now showing, but her glasses and cleavage remained, "Then again, this is my best look. I guess I can kill you two and hide the bodies." She said with Cinder standing between her and Irisviel, "Please, you can't beat me." Vitch said before aiming, "You're nothing now."
As Cinder gritted her teeth, a set of short swords flew past her head and towards Vitch. The Spring Maiden evaded them but had to lower her weapon to dodge. The two then looked towards the one who tossed the blades, discovering it was Archer, "Stay away from them." He spoke before spawning two more blades.
"Shirou." Cinder spoke before he passed by her.
"I'll deal with this one," Archer responded, "Please take care of Irisviel."
"I…Okay," Cinder said with a nod before picking up the pale-skinned woman.
"You think I will let you get away?" Vitch said as she aimed, "I'll just see how many of you I can line up with one shot." She said before Archer rushed in to parry her weapon.
"Then we will fight somewhere else." Archer responded as his body glowed in a flash of blue lightning, "I am the bone of my sword." He chanted with the lightning expanding.
"You bast-" Vitch said in rage before she and Archer were teleported away.
Cinder watched on before looking to Irisviel. Who was already healing her own wound, "He took her to his reality marble, right?" Irisviel said with Cinder nodded, "You met her before, what are his odds of winning?"
"It is not going to be easy," Cinder responded, then smiled, "But I have faith in Shirou." She said with Irisviel smiling back. She then looked forward, hearing someone approaching. It was Abigail, who was slightly out of breath, "I need to take her to Salem, she needs her help."
"You can't," Abigail responded, a look of panic in her eyes, "Salem is in a battle with Professor Scathach."
"What!?" Cinder responded.
A few minutes earlier.
Abigail and Lavinia walked down the hall, each with a smile on their faces. However, they stopped as Scathach stood in their path. Both little girls stood in confusion before the shadow lancer, but then gasped as a red spear was spawned. Scathach rushed in as the weapon was reeled back, aimed for the foreigner class girl. As Lavinia tried to shield Abigail, the bandage on Abigail's forehead fell off.
Suddenly, the shadow lancer was transported to a void of darkness. Her momentum had stopped as her targets vanished. She looked around the void before jumping back, dodging a sword swing from Arturia Alter. The two enemies scowled at one another before a voice called out to Scathach.
Attacking a child with intent to kill.
Scathach glanced over to discover it was the Queen of Grimm speaking.
But you were just forcing her hand, weren't you?
"You must be Salem." Scathach asked.
You know who I am, but how?
"The curse on Qrow, you're one who is making him do your dirty work." Scathach responded, reposing her lance, "I'm here to kill you." She said with Salem sighing.
I should have known not to ally with someone prone to bad luck. Some of it was bound to affect me outside of this void.
Salem said before glaring at Scathach.
Still, he could not have told you about me. So, who was it?
Scathach tightened her grip on the lance before it radiated a red aura.
You do not wish to talk? Heh, very well.
Salem spoke before having a slight smile, her body radiating a black and crimson aura.
You will be screaming in agony soon enough.
AN: There you go, we got to learn of the final of the three kings' identity, Ivan the Terrible. Hopefully, the group can keep him seal away. Back at Clockwork, the identity of the traitors are falling through as Vitch tries to kill Cinder. Thankfully, Iri came to the rescues, followed by Archer. The two are fighting it out in the UBW. However, the other battle in a reality marble will the shadow lancer taking on the Queen of Grimm. That has been a battle I waited a while to write and am excited to have it next chapter. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.
