Author's note: So I was actually planning on advancing the plot a lot more, but the fight ended up being fairly lengthy and took longer to write than I thought. That being said, this chapter still has a meeting that some of you may have been looking forward to for a while.


Chapter 30: Legend vs. Legend

"So, uh… when do we stop for food?" asked Ruby.

"We just had breakfast an hour ago," said Blake.

"What about second breakfast? And lunch?" pressed Ruby.

"I see what you're trying," acknowledged the Faunus, but I don't think that's a good idea out here.

They were already miles from the Devil May Cry, and were well beyond the outskirts of civilization, and within the wilds. Evidence of that could be seen all around in the woods and vegetation, which had been getting both thicker and darker for a while now. Books in Beacon's library theorized that the passive influence of dark energies could reshape terrain, and Dante had confirmed that this was true. It was why places inhabited by demons warped quickly into a twisted shadow of what they once were.

The team leader of RWBY looked around. It was true that there was something creepy about this place. It wasn't her first time out in the wilds, but she didn't remember it being like this. It sounded incredible to say, even in her mind, but she would actually feel more at ease if Grimm were to reveal themselves and attack. After all, that would mean that the source of the danger was in plain sight. But this nameless dread, out-of-sight, hard to put one's finger on… it was unnerving. She glanced at Blake. Given her Faunus instincts, it must be even worse for her. Though she was scared, she was doing a good job of hiding it behind a poker face. However, Ruby could see that she had one hand on the hilt of her weapon. It was the same with all of them. Weiss and even Yang were silent, the latter uncharacteristically serious. The only one who seemed her usual self was Penny, who was as calm and stoic as ever.

"Wish there was some way to hurry this up," Ruby muttered.

"This is already a shortcut, remember?" said Weiss. "Which we picked because apparently, a few days' more walking would have been unbearable for all of you."

To get to Hoperow, one could follow the established road, which was safer, but longer. However, taking a straight path through the wilds could one there quicker… though it was a riskier route.

"We don't know how long we have," said Ruby. "We need to get before we run of time. That's why we picked this path."

Weiss was about to reply, but stopped herself when she noticed Penny holding up a hand in front of them, signalling them to be quiet. She was in a crouched stance, low, tense. It was the first time they had ever seen the demon girl so cautious, and it did nothing to put any of them at ease.

"What's wrong?" whispered Ruby.

"We are in danger," replied Penny, equally quietly. "Close your eyes, and spread out your senses."

Ruby did as she asked, focusing on the sense that allowed her to feel the Auras of other hunters, as well as the spirit and intentions of opponents during battle.

She felt it almost immediately.

Two different fighting spirits.

If each member of RWBY represented the flame of a burning torch, then the spirits she could sense right now were the equivalent of forest fires. They were still distant, too far away for her to sense them unless she focused like she was doing at the moment. By her estimation, they should be at least a mile away. Yet, now that she was aware of their presence, she couldn't stop sweating.

There was no doubt that what she was sensing was demonic power.

What kind of monster…

No, the word monster was not right here.

No monster could be capable of emitting the kind of energy those two demons were exuding.

She couldn't believe she hadn't felt it until Penny had pointed it out: Ruby felt as if she could run to the opposite side of the planet and still not be safe from them.

"Calm yourself," said Penny. "Focus on your breathing, and bring that under control first. Do not make any sudden movements. Their senses are sharper than you can imagine."

"Why haven't they sensed us yet?" Ruby asked.

"They may well have sensed us already," replied the demon girl. "But they are more occupied with each other at the moment. Consider yourselves fortunate: you came across them at the best possible time."

"You call this lucky?" whispered Yang. "That fucking energy… it's making my skin crawl all the way from here."

The blonde, always up for a good fight, was gripping her own arms hard to stop them from shaking. No one could blame her.

Blake was practically paralysed, and Weiss was staring in the direction of the energy signatures with horror on her face.

"Move slowly and silently. Do not let your fear overpower you," cautioned Penny. "Remember your training for facing the Grimm: your emotions can and will be sensed, and will draw your enemies to you. So stay calm. Our goal is not to fight here: but to escape."

Slowly, she backed away, and signalled the others to do the same.

"Just who the hell are those two?" whispered Yang.

"She's right… they have to be named demons… there's no way ordinary rank and file would have that kind of power…"

Penny remained silent.

A single bead of sweat rolled down her neck.

Thanks to ancestral memories she had inherited, as well as her connection to demon minds, she knew exactly who the two demons were.


Valkyrie dashed in, golden blade held by her side.

All four of her eyes glowed crimson as demonic energy emanated from her entire body. Stone cracked under her feet, even as the air around her burned from the heat of the energy she was passively emitting. She raised her zweihander high, and golden flames ran down the blade. Had any human been present at the scene, dared to look at her sword, they would have been blinded for life. Unimaginable demonic power was fusing the very particles that made up matter, releasing heat and light by doing so.

She was swinging a living sun in the form of a blade.

Yet, even as that weapon of absolute annihilation descended, it was knocked aside with ease by a scarlet spear. All the while, the grin on the face of its wielder threatened to split his face apart. Golden, slitted eyes glinted with insane battle lust.

Every time Valkyrie swung, the mere passage of the blade left its mark on the planet, entire chunks of the earth flash-evaporating from the super-heated air left behind in its wake. Up above, the clouds shifted and turned red, blasted apart from the force of the swings, even as they began to combust from the heat.

Yet not one single blow was able to touch the spear-wielder, who dodged each strike effortlessly, sidestepping, weaving, ducking and leaning out of the way, moving with such grace it was as if his enormous, muscular frame was completely weightless.

"Ah, the Warrior's Madness. I heard the Vikings made good use of your blessings. But what they inherited was but a fraction of furious rage that annihilated the hordes of hell, isn't it?"

As he dodged, he acknowledged his opponent's power, and the legend behind it.

Demonic power, which derived its might from the belief of the wielder, was bolstered by the legends and tales it spawned. With each story, each tall tale, the faith and fear of all those who heard the legend grew, and with it, the original power. And so it was with Valkyrie's blade, which was feared by trillions of demons.

Ignoring him, Valkyrie gripped her sword with both hands, swinging it in a vicious downward blow, aiming to leave her opponent in two burning halves.

The blade was halted by the tip of the scarlet spear, which its wielder was holding with only one hand.

Valkyrie snarled and pushed harder, seeking to overwhelm her opponent, but the splendid spearman held firm. To her absolute outrage, she began to be pushed back.

Cú Chulainn was walking forward while forcing the Ruler of Valhalla backwards. Valkyrie dug her feet in, but it was to no avail: the ground parted and gave way as she was pushed back, leaving a trail in the earth.

"How magnificent."

Cú Chulainn grinned.

With a sudden movement, he exploded forward.

The force of the thrust was beyond terrifying.

Valkyrie was blasted off her feet. Where she was being pushed back before, she was now being driven back at the end of the crimson spear as Cú Chulainn sprinted forward, mad smile still on his face. Valkyrie dared not adjust the angle of her sword even slightly: the edge of her blade was locked with the point of Cú Chulainn's spear, and even the smallest shift would cause it to slide past and impale her.

"Haha! How about this then?!"

As he sprinted, he pushed his spear forward. So flawless was his aim, his control, that Valkyrie was hurled backward without the spearpoint sliding off the edge of her sword. For good measure, Cú Chulainn smashed the back end of his spear with a palm thrust.

Valkyrie felt herself accelerate to the point where the air around her began to catch fire.

Her back smashed into a mountain.

A second later, she had cleared it, driven clean through the entire rock formation. Millions of tons of rock collapsed, shattered as easily thin plywood.

"Don't… underestimate me!"

Gripping her sword tightly, she flared out her upper wings, the demonic magic attached to them instantly giving her control over her path in the air, bringing her to a stop. She swung downward, her control as good as Cú Chulainn's had been. The spear was sent spinning backwards through the very mountain she had just been pushed through, completely obliterating what remained of it on its way through.

Out of the dust cloud caused by the levelling of the former rock formation, Cú Chulainn leapt spinning his crimson spear above his head with both hands.

As he descended, he transferred all of the momentum he had built up into a downward swing.

Valkyrie used her wings to propel herself backwards, avoiding the blow, which crashed into the ground.

For miles around, solid earth rippled as though it was water, waves passing through it, uprooting forests and shattering mountains as the force of the blow spread outward.

Before the Hound of War could could catch a breath after the missed attack, however, Valkyrie launched herself at him.

"Another direct confrontation? You should know by now that you cannot best me there, Maiden of War!"

In answer, Valkyrie held out her hands. Where she had been holding one zweihander before, she now held four, one in each hand.

Cú Chulainn's eyes barely had time to widen.

The fighting style she had created long ago to counter Odin himself, had been unleashed.

Four blades, each of them pulsing with the heat of a sun, wielded in perfect tandem.

Slash after slash rained down.

Cú Chulainn furiously spun his faithful spear even as he used footwork and body movement in an effort to weather the assault. Even so, there was no escaping Valkyrie, who had become war made flesh. The unstoppable blades carved into his flesh, searing heat cauterising each wound the moment it was inflicted, slowing down his demonic healing, even as the lingering pain of burning flesh racked his body.

After barely avoiding a series of brutal slashes, he slid backwards, relieved at having been able to win some space, and an opening.

For the one who had mastered the arts of the spear, and the feet, the slightest distance became a devastating advantage.

He charged forward, thrusting the crimson spear, Gae Bolg, at the opening in the four-sword stance.

It never reached its target.

Cú Chulainn's jaw dropped open.

"Surprised, aren't you?"

The point of the spear had been blocked. Valkyrie's two lower wings, which did not contribute in the slightest to her flight, were now curled around to her front. Heavy and hard, they were the shields she had been born with, a natural armour made of the stone of the Demon World… and thus, impenetrable, even to the Spear of Certain Death.

Before Cú Chulainn could react, Valkyrie's foot shot outward and caught him in the chest. He was sent sailing through the air, tumbling roughly over on the ground several times before he finally came to a stop. As he rose to his feet, he looked up at her. The Berserker Queen was armed with four living suns and two impenetrable shields, which she could wield all at once.

Released Form: Queen of Blades.

He could not possibly be any happier.

Now this was a worthy opponent.

Grabbing Gae Bolg, he planted it into the ground.

"Giving up already?" asked Valkyrie.

"Ah, you mistake my intention," answered Cú Chulainn. "It's funny, you know. Your warriors were quite famous for being Berserkers. But… they were not the only ones who learned to harness their rage in battle."

Valkyrie's eyes narrowed.

"Don't tell me…"

Cú Chulainn stretched a few times, then rolled his neck.

He took a deep breath, holding his hands by his sides, fists loose.

As he exhaled, he opened his eyes.

At once, every muscle in his body expanded, engorging massively. His flesh rippled, even as his very bones grew and rearranged themselves to accommodate the increased size of his muscles. Veins pulsed all over him.

Released form: Warp Spasm

Cú Chulainn looked at Valkyrie.

And he took a step forward.


Beacon:

"Sir! Sensors are picking up an earthquake. Magnitude is estimated between around 8. Impact Compensation Structures are holding up, but barely."

"There it is again! Another spike in vibrations! It's like… something's moving. But what in the hell kind of thing shakes an entire continent when it moves…"

Ozpin closed his eyes, tightening his grip on his cane.

Was the worst case scenario already beginning?

"Prepare evacuation measures," he said. "We should be safe in the sky. Also, tell Omega Team to get ready. They might need to drop a payload on the epicentre."

"Omega Team?! But sir, that's…"

"It is causing an earthquake with every step it takes. You know what it is, don't you?"

Ozpin didn't even need to spell it out.

Only one kind of creature was capable of such a thing.

A Demon.

The soldier nodded.

"Understood. I'll have them prepped and ready to go."


Valkyrie stared with wide eyes as Cú Chulainn walked towards her.

With each step he took, the entire ground shook.

What kind of strength…

She shook her head.

If he grabbed a hold of her, it would be bad. Moreover, he was a danger to all of Remnant like this.

She reached out telepathically.

"Snake."

Malevar's response was quick, though irritated.

"Yes?" Was all he said.

"You are seeing this, I presume?"

"I am out here with you, so yes, I am seeing this."

"Any suggestions?"

"Yes. Fly away."

"Now is not the time for jokes!" snapped Valkyrie.

"What makes you think I'm joking?" Malevar snapped back. "That is the Warp Sparm. I assume you're familiar with the legends? The Hound of War will break your back like a twig when he is in that form. He is not a foe either of us can hope to defeat in direct combat. Now if Atlas were here…"

"He is protecting the town, as you well know! Think! Cú Chulainn must have a weakness, even in this form."

"If you can make him break a promise-"

"What sort of convoluted win condition is that?!"

"You are up against The Child of Light! What makes you think the win condition won't be convoluted?!"

Valkyrie was about to argue, when Malevar's words properly sunk in.

"You're right."

"Yes, I know I'm right, thank you! Now fly-"

"No, I mean you're right! He is the son of Light. His father is a solar deity, remember?"

Up in the clouds, Malevar shifted slightly as he realised what she was getting at.

"You're not planning what I think you are, are you?"

"Can you pull it off or not?"

"Who do you think you're talking to?"

"Then on my signal."

She focused on Cú Chulainn.

Even from a glance she knew that his size didn't just give him more strength. His muscles were more capable in every way in this form. Meaning, they were faster too. He was walking right now, but at any moment, he could close the distance between them. Before that happened, she needed to take the initiative.

It'll only be for a few seconds. If I can match him for that long, it'll be enough.

She surged her own demonic energy to its fullest.

Holding nothing back, she flew towards him.

When he moved, it was much faster than before, but not so fast that she was unable to react to him.

Flying low under a clothesline, she got to his back and slashed twice. He was able to block attacks, knocking her blades roughly away the second time. Her posture broken, she realised she was open.

The worst situation was being grabbed.

She needed to prevent that above all.

She lashed out with a kick, smashing her heel into his face.

The blow didn't faze him in the slightest, but she was able to push herself backward off him to gaina foot of distance. He lunged forward, aiming to grapple her.

She knew she wouldn't be strong enough to fend off his assault directly.

But she wouldn't need to be.

She had one final trump card she had been saving up.

"Aid me, my warriors!"

From the ground, spears burst forth, as the loyal warriors of the Hall of the Dead answered their mistress' call, impaling Cú Chulainn and hoisting him off the ground on a bed of spikes.

Valkyrie shouted.

"NOW!"

Far above, the clouds began to move. The sun, whose light had been shining down on the battlefield all this time, was completely covered, as the field was shrouded in darkness.

Cú Chulainn's eyes widened.

Being a solar deity, the source of his power was the sun. Bereft of it, he could not sustain the Warp Spasm. He felt himself reverting back to his usual form.

Looking up, he snarled at Valkyrie.

"You… you trickster. You had the Snake help you?!"

"I never said I would fight you alone," replied Valkyrie. It was certainly true that once upon a time, she would have prioritised an honourable fight above all else, even if she had to die for it. But she had things to live for now. People she wanted to protect. And she couldn't do that if she was dead.

She walked towards him, raising her blades high. This was not how she would have preferred to end the life of a great warrior. But she had no choice. Though Cú Chulainn had his own kind of nobility, he was a danger to the mortals of Remnant.

A few feet away, Malevar appeared, having teleported down.

"Finish him quickly. He isssss too dangerous to keep around."

For once, Valkyrie did not argue with him. He was right.

Before she could do it, however, she felt something move behind her, and instinctively leapt aside.

Barely in time to avoid Gae Bolg, which flew into his its owner's hand.

"Treachery begets a treacherous end," he said.

Valkyrie, realising what was about to happen, raised both her stone wings up in front of herself.

Just in time, for the very next moment, a wave of pure energy crashed into her.

The spears holding Cú Chulainn in place disappeared, and he fell to the ground.

Groaning slightly, he got up.

"How the mighty have fallen. I expected better from you, Valkyrie. Damn it, I'll have to track her down and even the score."


A few seconds ago:

"Look out!"

Ruby used her Semblance, moving quickly to push all her teammates out of the way of falling trees. All around them, more and more continued to fall as the ground shook violently.

"What the hell is going on?" roared Yang.

"Warp Spasm," muttered Penny. "I can't believe he released it here on Remnant…"

"Warp Chasm? What?" asked Ruby.

"Warp Spasm," said Penny. "A demonic form that multiplies the user's physical strength hundreds of times over by dramatically enhancing their muscles."

"Wait," said Yang. "This earthquake is being caused by a demon?!"

"By a demon walking, yes," said Penny.

"WALKING?!"

"Okay," said Blake, doing her best to stay calm, though her Faunus instincts were on overdrive and she was sweating profusely. "Obviously, we're out of our league here. Can we please just get the hell out. Now?"

"Affirmative," said Penny. "Stealth is no longer of any use here. We must gain distance. One of you must contact Dante. He is the only one who can stop Cú Chulainn in this state."

It spoke volumes about how bad the situation was that Ruby didn't even ask who Cú Chulainn was.

The five of them broke into a full sprint, aiming to get as far away from the rampaging demon as possible. As they ran, Yang pulled out her scroll, preparing to dial Dante.

It was at this precise moment that another unthinkable occurrence happened.

The sun disappeared.

With no sunlight filtering in, the five of them were plunged into complete darkness. While Blake and Penny could still see, they stopped, aware that the others didn't share their night vision.

"Now what?" muttered Yang.

"The sun's gone," said Weiss, staring blankly at the sky, though all she saw was darkness.

Before any of them could say anything more, the darkness broke.

A light appeared in the distance, so intense that they had to shield their eyes.

At the same time, they felt the source of the light.

A blast of demonic energy so powerful, the four young huntresses felt their Auras take a hit, even from this distance.

"What in the actual hell…"

"Incredible," said Penny. "They blotted out the sun to force him out of the Warp Spasm…"

Ruby badly wanted to ask a million questions, but she heard a whistling sound coming from above.

Looking up, she saw…

"A giant woman?

Valkyrie crashed down through the trees, landing roughly on the ground, mere feet away from the huntresses.

"Unhh… Damn you, Hound of Chulainn…"

As RWBY looked on, the enormous, four-armed woman got to her feet, picking her sword up as well, a massive zweihander that looked like it weighed more than their entire team combined.

A second later, another figure came crashing down through the trees.

This one was caught by the massive woman before it could hit the ground, though she dropped it right away.

"Some gratitude would be nice," said Malevar.

"Indeed it would," replied Valkyrie. "I got us out of there alive, did I not?"

"You got us out alive? You?

RWBY looked on, collective jaws on the floor as a four-armed amazon argued with a giant talking snake, right in front of them.

"Whose idea was it to block the sun so we could force him to revert to normal?"

"And who actually did the blocking?"

"If you wish to fight him yourself next time, be my guest."

"Why would I wish to fight him? Isn't that the job of brutes such as yourself? It's the only thing you lot are good for."

"Big talk from a so-called wise snake who couldn't find his enemy's weakness."

Ruby, without looking at the others, whispered.

"Guys, I think this might be our chance to get the hell out of here."

The rest of the team nodded. Silently, they began to sideways walk out of there. Or they would have, had Penny not chosen that very moment to speak.

"Well met, Valkyrie, Ruler of the Hall of the Dead."

Moving with whiplash speed, the woman lifted up her sword so that its tip was right at Penny's throat. At the same time, snake began to glow, and several spectral blades appeared next to each member of RWBY.

"Humans…" said Valkyrie, relaxing slightly when she had ascertained that these new arrivals were not a threat. "Except for you…" She looked at Penny. She smelled oddly familiar. That, and her demonic energy felt reminiscent of…

"No, it can't be. You… you are the daughter of the Seer."

Penny nodded.

"It is as you say. I have come here to-"

"You have made a mistake," said Valkyrie. "This place is more dangerous than any of you can imagine. You must leave here at once."

"It is too late!" said Malevar, fear in his voice. "He is already here. The Hound… is tracking us."


Author's note: And there you have it. A desperate team-up between huntresses and demons. Let's hope they make it alive out of this. Now, some of you probably read the chapter and might have been a little confused, so here are some explanations.

Cú Chulainn is a famous Irish mythical hero and demi-god. His spear is the Gae Bolg, a weapon capable of killing pretty much anything. In the original myths, Cú Chulainn is known to be brave and ferocious in battle. During combat, there are times when he enters a rage-fuelled state called the Warp Spasm where his physical form changes and becomes monstrous. So yep, this is a hero who canonically had a Hulk form before the Hulk was even a thing.

Writing the fight between two demons was challenging and fun. This is actually the second version of this fight. Hopefully, it came out okay. In the next chapter, we'll see Cú Chulainn try to hunt down Valkyrie and Malevar, and unfortunately, RWBY and Penny are caught in the crossfire. Now I wonder how that's going to go down…