So, it appears some weird update has apeard that you only get email notifications if you "opt-in" for it on your profile's settings, and it only lasts 90 days before you have to opt-in again. Why? I have no freaking clue and it makes no sense. Thought I should let you all know though in case you haven't heard already. I apologize for the late entries. I have recently started college and am learning game design. Not only that, but I also have given this story a full editing, meaning I went through every single chapter and revised a few things. For those of you who don't want to go back through all the chapters, the most noteworthy change I amde is Julius didn't know he and Cinder were related until Jyn showed it. She still took care of him when he was little, but neither had any idea they were related. I'll get chapters out as soon as I can!

Anyways, on to the story.

A short time earlier...

King Novik gazed up at the sky from a high ledge of his fortress. He knew they were about ready to attack, but he just couldn't help but gaze up at the stars.

A voice broke him out of his thoughts. "Your majesty, is something wrong?"

Novik glanced behind him to see the Ranger, who continued. "We are ready to move."

Novik only nodded, returning his gaze to the sky. "Captain, may I ask you something?"

"Of course, sir."

"Did you ever miss it? Seeing the sky in all its vastness without a barrier hindering your view?"

This question seemed to confuse the Ranger, but he responded. "Well...I will admit, I did miss it at times. The stars didn't look the same when there was a red wall of magic in the way."

"Mm. Yes. But now the sky we knew is back, and soon those who were trapped outside will be reunited with their families."

"Yes."

A few moments of silence passed between the two before Novik asked. "Is my grandson ready?"

The Ranger chuckled. "Knowing Aaron, he's probably trying to get in with a battalion...again."

Novik chuckled as well. "Perhaps it's time he does join. After all, he is of age, is he not?"

The Ranger had to ponder this. "I believe so."

"Good. If he's armored, then put him with any of the battalions for now. I'll lead the first wave out. What of the Slayer?"

"He is about to undergo the Armoring, but he wants me to tell you to begin the assault. He'll be along shortly."

Novik unclipped a hilt from his belt, igniting his weapon's blue blade. "Very well. Today, we strike. Open the portals. Let her know we are here."

...

Back in Atlas, things had just begun to heat up as the defenders began taking their positions. Down on the ground, Atlesian soldiers and AK units were leading the people taking refuge in Mantle through the newly created gateways. Ironwood watched it all from the highest balcony of Atlas Academy. Eekaj had left for the front lines, leaving the General alone on the balcony, or so he thought. A voice behind him proved otherwise.

"I'm glad to see you listened to us."

It was Kaa. He had somehow arrived, appearing behind Ironwood, who turned to face him as the serpent continued. "The last time someone didn't take such advice, well, you see what she has become.'

Ironwood knew he was referring to Salem. "I'm just doing what I feel is right for the good of everyone. Mantle, Atlas, hell all of Remnant even."

Kaa shook his head, "Your intentions are in the right place, but that is too much of a burden for one man to bear when he has so many to lighten his load."

Ironwood looked down to the amassing army as Kaa added, "You should learn to trust others to aid you...like young Rose has. Look where it's gotten her."

"She's just a huntress." Ironwood argued.

"But you are both leaders, are you not?"

Ironwood couldn't deny he had a point there. Suddenly, the two heard a bellow as the Monstra descended from the clouds. As it landed, it spewed the black liquid from its mouth, spawning hundreds of Grimm. Watts's cyber demons also began emerging. It seemed as if they were about to charge when a single portal opened behind the defenders.

"This is it" Kaa said, "The fate of Atlas is decided now."

...

Back on the field in front of the city, the united armies readied their weapons. The Atlesian soldiers lined up at the front of the group, with the Huntsmen in the back ready to charge at any moment. As for the Fang, Sienna and Adam rallied them into their own position, taking the form of a spearhead ready to dart out from behind the wall of Atlas soldiers. Robyn was at the front, still riding her dragon, and shouting to the Champions and Happy Huntresses, though with the champions, Ruby noticed she shouted orders to them in a language she had never heard before yet could still somehow understand.

"It's Sentinel language." Khione explained as she stood next to her, sensing her curiosity, "I'm not fully sure how it works, but it has some kind of magical property to it. Anyone of Sentinel descent can understand it."

Nora overheard this and lit up. "For real? Awesome..."

Team RWBY readied their weapons, prepared to face the amassing army, as did JRHD and the other Huntsmen teams. Just then, Ruby heard a shaky breath come from Julius, and looked over to see him, while looking determined with his sword up, she could see in his eyes that he was nervous.

"You ok?" she asked.

Julius took another deep breath. "She's in there. I can feel her gaze."

"Hey" Yang said, "Don't worry about her. We've got your back."

"We all do" Hector added, the other JRHD members nodding in agreement. It seemed to lift the Huntsman's spirits.

Don't forget me Summer reminded him, Yeah, she's there, but you got me now. It's time Salem learned that you take down a Rose, you get the thorns.

Julius smirked at the comment. Nice saying. Family thing?

Eh, kinda.

"They're right." Sandra added, "I can sense Salem too, but I doubt she'll personally come out to fight."

"Yeah" Spring agreed, "It would take something CRAZY to lure her out."

This sparked Weiss's curiosity. "Like what?"

Spring was about to answer when a massive blue portal suddenly opened. "Like that."

The armies could hear the shouts coming from the portal: "Rip and Tear! Rip and Tear!"

Just then, an armored figure emerged, his head decorated by a silver, spiky crown and carrying a blue crucible sword. Robyn guided the dragon to him, nodding in greeting, but it was clear she was very happy to see his arrival. Julius recognized the newcomer from Jyn's vision: King Novik.

Novik smiled at Robyn. "It has been too long."

"Likewise. You won't believe how long I've waited for this."

Novik chuckled. "No, I think I can. We've all been waiting for this."

With that, Novik raised his sword in the air just as a line of portals opened, flanking the one he emerged from. Valen and the Ranger emerged from behind Novik, flanking him just as the Night Sentinel army began walking out form the portals. The Huntsmen could see that the carried all manner of weapons with them: shotguns, plasma axes, a few more heavily armored ones even carried massive chainguns. The vehicles followed right after: hovertanks and small fighter craft, the latter of which appeared from portals higher off the ground. Khione and the maiden sisters flew up to Valen and Novik.

"Father," Spring asked, "It's time?"

Valen smiled, "Yes. It is time."

"You four have done well, in spite of the obstacles" Novik added, "Now, it's time to end this."

Sandra cracked her knuckles. "I couldn't agree more."

Khione nodded, but then tensed up. She could sense Salem, and it was clear she was very mad, but below that...was that a twinge of fear?

Robyn asked the question before Khione could as she turned her dragon around to face the monsters. "Will he be here?"

Valen answered, "He is proceeding with his preparations. We just need to keep her busy until he gets here."

Robyn pulled a crucible hilt from her belt, igniting its blade. "Then that's what we do."

Valen then shouted commands to the Sentinels, who then ran up to form a line in front of the Atlesian army, forming a wall of argent shields. The demons and Grimm roared in anger, seeing their mortal enemies on the battlefield. Enraged, the Cyberdemon raised an arm and roared as well, commanding the army to surge forward and begin the charge.

"This is it!" Julius said to the others, "Get ready!"

"Come brothers!" Valen shouted, raising his hammer, "Let them tremble before our might!"

The Huntsmen and Sentinels braced for the oncoming monsters. Suddenly, Novik shouted. "SILVER WALL!"

("Immora-Heavy Fighting or Super Heavy Fighting", you can use whichever and at whatever bass boost level you desire)

The first Grimm and demons reached the wall of argent shields just as a massive burst of silver light flared out from the Sentinel lines. Ruby recognized it immediately; they had used their silver eyes, only theirs seemed much more powerful than hers. The monsters caught in the blast were evaporated on the spot, with the ones further back blinded and disoriented.

One of the Sentinels at the shield wall shouted something in the Sentinel language, and the knights immediately drew argent tipped spears before rushing forward, skewering any monster that got too close.

Julius hefted his sword. "Well, let's not let them get all the kills. ATTACK!"

That was enough to send the Huntsmen charging forward, with JRHD, RWBY, and JNPR at the head. As Jaune charged, he glanced over to see Pyrrha's spirit charging right along her team, spear and shield ready. She looked over at him and smirked before both of the refocused their attention on the fight. And just in time two as the armies then clashed in a flurry of blades, bullets, and claws.

...

The dark chamber back in Sentinel Prime was empty, save for the Slayer kneeling before an altar to the god brothers. His helmet was gone, though he still wore the rest of his armor. The oath he muttered was one had had made before; his commitment to the cause they entrusted him to and his proclamation of loyalty. After a few moments, he stood up, his oath finished, before turning to face the waiting servants, who immediately came to him, one carrying his helmet. He promptly took his, placing it over his head, with the heads-up display inside activating and powering up. Making sure his blade and shoulder cannon were ready, another servant carried over his super shotgun, with a third holding two shells. The servants seemed to carry these weapons gingerly, as if they were handling a nuclear weapon instead of a gun. The Slayer took the weapon before grabbing the shells. With their job complete, the servants retreated back just as a squad of heavily armored Night Sentinels walked in, each one carrying a massive shield in one hand and a heavy weapon in the other.

The squad knelt before the Slayer as the lead one spoke. "We are at your command. Your time is now."

Nodding in acknowledgement to the Sentinels, the Slayer stepped down from the altar, loading the shells into the Super Shotgun as he led the squad to the portal chamber, which immediately flared with blue light once they walked in. Even there, the Slayer could feel the battle raging on the other side and could sense Salem as well. He remembered vividly what she had done during their conflict. Almost killing him was one thing but forcing him to be separated from both the woman he loved as well as his own son for almost twenty long years, not to mention what happened to Daisy...it was all the final nail in her coffin. He was not going to hold anything back. He clicked the Super Shotgun's barrels closed as he approached the portal, his squad following behind.

It was time for some much-needed payback.

...

The skies above Atlas were just as chaotic as the ground fighting, if not more. Robyn spurned her dragon into the skies, leading a squadron of dragon riders as they charged the flocks of Nevermore, Dactyls, and other airborne monsters in the skies.

"Fire!" Robyn shouted, and the dragons all spouted bursts of different colored flames, each having a different effect, much like dust. Some Grimm hit by the red flames were incinerated, those hit by blue flames were frozen solid before careening to the ground and shattering into pieces upon impact, and so on. Needless to say, the Grimm were not doing so well in the air. Suddenly, Robyn felt a jolt and looked behind her to see a Gargoyle demon land on her dragon's back, its orange eyes glaring right at her before it rose to attack, only for a white blade to cut it down, knocking it off the dragon's back. Robyn looked to see Khione, her white wings extended in flight as she flew alongside the dragons, using her magic to freeze parts of the larger Grimm before smashing it with her fists or sword. Bursts of green and orange light from some distance away told Robyn that Sandra and Penny had teamed up, fighting back-to-back in the air as they fired beams of energy at the enemy.

Down on the ground, the sounds of fighting were everywhere, though were dominated by the crazed laughter of Ekaj, who was firing wildly into the monster horde with the chaingun on his tail, cutting them down like a lawn mower cuts down grass, and all with a devilish grin on his serpentine face. Roman was right next to him, firing shots from his cane that blew most of the smaller creatures apart.

Ekaj's laughter wasn't the only one heard. Nearby, Nora was cackling with wild glee as she bashed head after head alongside Anton.

"Nothing like a good ol' monster beating alongside your old man, am I right?" she shouted.

Anton laughed as he smacked another Imp out of the way with his hammer. "Of course, us Valkyries wouldn't have it any other way!"

"YEAH!"

Elsewhere, Ruby used her Semblance to dart among the hordes slashing here, firing there, all just try to kill as many as she could. Suddenly, as she made another speeding pass, something caught her mid-run, sending her sprawling to the ground. Dazed, she looked up to see a Pinky had charged her, catching her right in the stomach with its face and knocking the air out of her, though her Semblance thankfully held up. The demon prepared to charge again, only for another Sentinel, this one in silver armor with a more regal looking design and cape, to jump in between them, driving his sword in between the Pinky's eyes. Ruby managed to sit back up, regaining her breath as she watched the Sentinel pull his weapon out of the demon's already dissolving corpse before walking over to her and holding a hand out to her.

"Are you ok?" he asked, his voice giving away the fact he was a young man, maybe around Yang's age or even her own, "You took quite a hit."

Ruby managed a groan as she took his hand and standing up thank to his help. "I'm fine...ow..."

The Sentinel chuckled before parrying away and cutting down an ambushing Imp. He then turned back to her and pulled out a small box with a red medical cross sign on it. "Here, this should help."

He opened the box and pulled out a small injector, putting the needle right into her arm. Almost immediately, Ruby felt a surge of renewed energy.

"Woah!" she gasped, "What was that?"

"Stimpack" the Sentinel explained, "Great for in-fight treatments, though our medpacks are more effective."

Just then, a roar was heard as a Hell Knight crashed into the ground, having been strangled by Hector's tail before being thrown to the ground by Novus, who finished it off with a chainsword in between the eyes. Hector fired a few rounds into a nearby Grimm before noticing Ruby and the Sentinel. "Hey, get your heads in the game!"

The Sentinel turned to see them and heard Hector's shout. "Right. Let's stick together, fight them as a pair."

Ruby nodded before the two ran into the mass of creatures. Not too far from them, Julius, Ren, and Jaune had also formed a team, their swords swinging in deadly arcs around them. Ren twirled his weapons in circles, cutting through the smaller creatures relatively quickly. Suddenly, a Revenant dropped from the sky, ambushing Ren and pinning him to the ground. Alerted by Ren's shout of surprise, both Julius and Jaune turned to try and help him, but we're both interrupted.

"Don't worry, boys." Summer said, her voice heard by both Julius and Jaune before Pyrrha also spoke. "We'll handle this."

No sooner did they say this as the Revenant grabbed Ren's head, attempting to crush it. Suddenly, a flash of silver light appeared above Ren, causing the Revenant to let go, stumbling back and blinded as the ghostly forms of both Pyrrha, and Summer appeared, Pyrrha brandishing her spear and shield, throwing the former at the demon and catching it in the chest, which sparked and bled form the attack. Summer then dashed with remarkable speed, flipping over the demon as she pulled out a chain-like wepaon with a spear on the tip, which she sent right into the Revenant's back, causing its jetpack to sputter and die.

The demon roared in frustration and fired its rockets wildly; Julius threw up a magic shield to protect him and Jaune from the rockets. Summer landed on the ground, pulling the chain tight to hold the Revenant back. "Now!"

Pyrrha raised her hand, summoning the spear to fly out of the Revenant's chest and into her hand before running up, shield bashing the demon's face. As the Revenant shrieked in pain, two flashes of light appeared before the demon's arms fell to the ground, quickly followed by its head. As the Revenant's body disintegrated, Julius, Jaune, and Ren could see Summer standing there, a cutlass in her free hand since the other still clutched the chain.

Julius just looked confused. "How many weapons do you have?!"

Summer gave a smirk. "Oh, I collected a lot on my travels. Why else do you think Ruby fangirls over every weapon in sight?"

"Fair point."

Ren simply stared at the two Spirit Guardians in utter disbelief, something Jaune noticed. "Wait, Ren, you can see them too now?"

"Now?!" Ren demanded, "How...Pyrrha...?"

He struggled to get the words out before Pyrrha put a hand on his shoulder. "It's a lot to explain, I only decided to show myself to you now. Even Jaune didn't know I was here until recently."

A gunshot interrupted their conversation as Julius put a round through a charging Sabyr's head. "I'll explain later. Now FOCU-"

A blast of red lightning interrupted him as it caught the huntsman in the chest, sending him backwards. Summer seemed to vanish from sight, having immediately gone back to Julius to help him. She sent a surge of energy through him, bringing him back to his senses just in time to see a glowing red scythe coming right towards his face.

"Shit!" he yelled before teleporting back. As the crimson argent blade landed, he could see its owner: a very enraged Salem. The witch glared at him, her breathing heavy with anger and her red irises glowing.

"You..." she growled, "You did this!"

Julius readied his own sword. "Yeah, I broke the barrier. Maybe you shouldn't have been such a raging bitch!"

Salem raised her scythe again. "I will not let my own creation ruin everything I've worked for!"

This caused Julius to become angrier as well, his good eye flashing a mix of red and silver. "You...do not...own me...ANYMORE!"

The two combatants charged before their blades collided, sending a shockwave of red energy through the field. From the sky, Robyn noticed the burst of energy, and immediately recognized it for what it was. Immediately, she communicated to the others on coms.

"Heads up!" she ordered, "Salem's on the field! I repeat, Salem's on the field. Looks like she's fighting someone."

"It's not me or my sisters!" Khione said.

"It's Julius!" Raven said, "It has to be. No way she wouldn't turn down the opportunity to destroy him. He's avoided her and humiliated her for so long..."

"We've gotta help!" Yang said.

"No, you keep fighting these monsters. We'll handle it." came a final voice, this time it was Hector. Just then, he and Novus sprinted across the battlefield, heading to Julius's location. Raven followed close behind. Roman however, realized he was gonna need something more to have a chance. Looking around, he spotted an abandoned Paladin nearby and immediately rushed to it.

Meanwhile, Salem and Julius continued to trade blows. Thanks to Summer sharing her skills and speed, he was able to match her blow for blow, with neither seeming to get an advantage over the other at the time. Seeing an opportunity, Julius suddenly teleported behind Salem, pulling out a revolver and firing in the back of Salem's head and then driving his sword through her back. Salem cried out in pain and rage before swatting Julius back, sending him sprawling.

"Julius, get up!" Summer told him, she tried to give him another burst of energy, but she was running low. Julius sat up, dazed as he saw Salem stalk toward her, pulling the sword out of her body and throwing it aside and igniting her scythe again.

"I will admit, you've given me quite a challenge" she said, pressing a foot on his chest and forcing him back down, "but unfortunately, neither your healing nor your guardian friend won't be able to save you this time. Argent is jsut too powerful. Farewell, Julius."

She raised her sword for a final blow, only for a new blade to suddenly appear through her chest as Hector materialized behind her, throwing her aside with his tail. Salem went several feet through the air before colliding with a metal foot of a Paladin, with sent her sprawling. This time, she was the one who was dazed as Novus ran up, his Heavy Battle Torch in stream mode as he unleashed a column of flame right at her.

Salem's screams of agony helped Julius recover his senses as he saw his teammates in front of him. Hector held out a hand to him to help him stand up.

"You ok?" he asked as he helped his team leader stand.

"I'm fine" Julius replied, "But you shouldn't be here! This is my fight."

"Yeah" Roman's voice came from the Paladin as he swatted an Imp away. "You looked like you were doing pretty good just now."

"Besides" Novus said, "This isn't something you can face alone. We're a team. The four horseman of the Slayer, right?"

Julius couldn't help but chuckle. "There's no stopping you guys, is there?"

Hector laughed. "Nope."

"Not just them either" said a voice as Raven approached, "Unlike Salem, you are not alone."

Julius smiled and nodded at Raven before another angered scream brought his attention back to Salem, who was making her way out of the inferno Novus had trapped her in; the team could already see her wounds healing, and she looked very angry. Julius and his team readied themselves as Salem let out a piercing cry of rage, her arms wreathing in electricity. Almost immediately, the Monstra let out another wave of black liquid, this one much larger and spawning a horde of Grimm. The Cyberdemon also began to approach (it had been firing from the back this whole time), as did many other newly spawning demons as Salem hovered above them.

"Make them suffer!" Salem commanded, "Make them all suffer!"

The monsters rushed forward in a new wave...but suddenly stopped in their tracks. In fact, all the monsters seemed to stop fighting and straighten up, as if listening, leaving the Hunstmen, White Fang, and Atlas soldiers all very confused.

"What is this?" Adam asked, "Some kind of trick?"

Selina only shrugged. Seconds later, in other parts of the field, Ruby, Oscar, and Julius felt something in their heads, as if a great power suddenly made itself known. Both stumbled back, clutching their heads.

The Sentinel Ruby was with caught her as she fell back. "Woah, you ok?"

"Julius, what is it?" Hector asked, "Salem hit you a bit too hard."

"N-no" Julius stuttered, "This is something else."

From under his helmet, Novus's eyes widened. "Oh boy..."

"What, what is it?" Roman asked.

Khione and her sisters also felt it. Spring grew increasingly nervous. "Oh man..."

Back with Team RWBY, Yang was trying to get her sister to say anything as Ruby suddenly looked terrified.

"Oz" Oscar whispered, "What is this?"

Ozpin's voice came out grim and with a twinge of fear as well, "Oh no..."

The battlefield suddenly began to quake as the skies above them slowly turned into a deep, blood red. The Grimm suddenly cried out in terror and ran.

("The Only Thing They Fear is You" plays)

As the sky grew red, Ruby finally managed to speak. "It's...it's HIM!"

Suddenly another flash of red appeared as another red portal appeared in the center of the battlefield. The demons looked at the new portal and seemed on edge. Eventually, one Imp decided to charge at the portal, screeching. Before it reached it, a blast from the portal blew the demon's head clean off. The other monsters looked to see the one they feared most appear from the portal. It was indeed him. The Hell Razer. The Destroyer. Salem could feel the terror rising up in her gut as she recognized her mortal enemy.

Ironwood and Kaa sensed it all from where they watched in the academy.

Ironwood's eyes widened. "It it..."

Kaa simply nodded. "He's here. The Slayer's time...is now."

Back on the ground, the armies had only a second to watch before the Slayer raised a shotgun and loaded it before moving with a burst of speed into the horde that rushed to meet him. The Slayer dove into the mass, disappearing for a second before a blast of argent energy erupted from his body, incinerating the monsters around him before he pulled out his chainsaw. To saw he was like a butcher with meat was a mere understatement compared to the carnage that was brought about upon any demon unlucky enough to be on the receiving end of the chainsaw. After a few moments, he switched to his signature weapon: the Super Shotgun. Aiming at a cacodemon, he fired the meathook, catching the creature in the eye as he was hoisted into the air. Landing on the cacodemon, the Slayer retracted the hook before driving a fist through its eye and then leaping off as the demon exploded. He quickly switched to his Rocket Launcher and fired a volley into the monsters below him, killing them instantly. Within a matter of seconds, he made it to JRHD's location, standing between them and Salem. Novus could see red electricity sparking around him; a sign of his anger being unleashed.

"Father?" he asked. The Slayer turned back to face them. Julius could feel his gaze and admittedly grew much more afraid of him than he did of Salem in that one moment.

Just then, he spoke, his anger seeming to dial down a bit. "Damian...so you are the four."

Novus nodded before patting Julius on the shoulder. "All thanks to him. He's the one that broke the barrier."

Julius was only able to give the Slayer a nervous smile, worried of how he would react to Julius's still pale skin. Thankfully the Slayer only nodded. "Thank you."

Julius breathed a sigh of relief but was still a tad nervous. Suddenly, a massive roar was heard as the Cyberdemon charged, bringing its fist down to crush them. The Slayer whipped back around, catching the fist with his bare hands before suddenly hauling the Cyberdemon up, spinning it around, and then tossing it away, sending it careening into the Monstra's face. The demon managed to stand back up and glared at the Slayer.

However, Hayden and Neo were still watching the fight from Hayden's personal ship.

"Time to spring the trap" Hayden told Neo, who grinned and pressed a few buttons on the control pad. Just as she hit the final button, all of Watts's cybernetic demons began to writhe and spark as VEGA, whom Neo uploaded into the systems of Watts's laboratory, overrode all of their programming. Even the Cyberdemon found itself in pain before turning to face the Monstra as VEGA finished taking control. Salem watched, wide-eyed as the Cyberdemon began attacking the Monstra with its fists. Meanwhile, the other cyber-monsters began turning on the other demons, attacking them instead!

Hayden watched from his ship, feeling a twinge of satisfaction. "Now you know how it feels to have your own army turned against you."

Salem returned her attention to the Slayer, igniting her scythe as she glared at him.

The Slayer turned back to JRHD. "My Elites will help you clear out the last of the demons. Salem is mine."

Julius nodded before turning to his team. "Let's go, JRHD!" The group ran off, Raven taking one last look at the Slayer before following them.

The Slayer returned his gaze to Salem. "You knew this was coming."

Salem gritted her teeth as the two circled around like wolves about to tear into each other. "I will rule here once again."

The Slayer continued. "You have been nothing but a pest to this world. Fortunately for them, I'm the exterminator."

Salem noticed he was empty-handed and chuckled. "Without a weapon?"

The Slayer simply cracked his knuckles. "For what I have planned for you? I don't need one."

Salem raised her scythe. "Let's end this!"

The two shot towards each other, and all the armies saw of their collision was a massive explosion that illuminated the entire place in a searing white light...

Don't worry, this fight's not over yet.

Let me know what you think so far!