Hi everyone! Really, but really sorry about not updating often I was busy with work and then writing a new story, it left me with little time. But don't worry, now I am going to fully focus on the story and the next chapter will be the one to close this Arc. Thank you all for reading, it really makes me happy that there are people that enjoy this story. Well, see you guys next time.

A Shattered Life

Chapter 41: The Power of a God

More explosions erupted across the airship and the fire was spreading fast but Geo kept staring at the dark hallway completely ignoring everything around him. There was now only one concern for him and that was his mother, an evil being that seeks to use him as a weapon to fight her battles just like his father did before her. "...It's cold, even with all this fire surrounding me, all I feel is cold." He whispered to himself as he clenched his hand into a fist. Within moments the Queen of Darkness arrived and she had quite the smile spread across her lips. "Mother."

"Well, hello there my sweet child. I'm happy to know that you managed to defeat that old fool but you also disappointed me by not killing him." She said. "That man served me well for many years it's a shame that he decided to cross my path and try to take power for himself. Nevertheless, all I care about now is you my son the rest means nothing to me." Salem began to slowly move towards the young man. "Stop resisting me and come home, you are the heir to my throne, the Prince of Grimm."

Geo didn't took a single step back as he saw Salem approaching. "Is that what we are? A different kind of Grimm?" He asked. "Enough with these half truths I grow tired of them, I want answers mother! For far too long I have been in doubt about who I am or what I am. Tell me, who are we?" The boy demanded the truth.

"Hahaha! Alright then." Salem laughed. "Unlike you, I am a direct descendent of the Dark God that forged this world alongside his brother the God of Light. Although mankind was their greatest creation in the Light God's eyes, his brother had another creation in mind, one that would show who was the superior God. Me, a being of pure darkness just like the Grimm but with a soul." She said. "It's my purpose to destroy everything that is light and enslave mankind. Even though those two are not around anymore, I am going to become more powerful than them by taking the power of the Maiden's artifacts. I will become the strongest being in the world!"

After hearing this it all made sense for Geo. It explained why he had so much hate inside him, he never gained it when he watched his brother and mother dying at the hands of Tyrian that night, as it was with him since the day he was born. "Now do you understand Caedos? We are gods and we can do whatever we want because there's no one to stop us. Ozpin is an old fool who will die a horrible death alongside those who follow him blindly." Said Salem as she gently touched Geo's cheek with her hand. "I'm sorry for what I did before but you can still join me my son and together we will create a new world where everyone will be at peace. The humans and Faunus will worship us and thank us for saving them from themselves."

The young warrior look into his mother's red eyes. "I am sick and tired of hearing about the world!" He shouted. "I keep hearing that from everyone, specially Ozpin. If he truly wants to save the world then instead of talking about it and plotting behind everyone's back he should take arms fight!" Geo squeezed his hand into a fist. "I do not know how to save Remnant but that is not my responsibility, my task and my alone is to put an end to this cursed bloodline of ours!" The King removed Salem's hand from his face. "And Remnant doesn't need a god like you, a Goddess of Death!"

Salem was furious. "Why? Just why? You can have everything and still you deny me, you said it yourself you don't care about this world or its people, you don't fight for it, then why do you keep standing against me?" She asked. "There's nothing to gain for you, even if by any chance you managed to defeat me, Ozpin and the others will never accept you, to them you are nothing but a freak of nature, a monster. I can save you from death by those who will betray you, all you have to do is bow before me and pray for salvation."

"I don't fight for the world and I am no hero or Huntsman, I'm just a warrior that wishes to protect the woman that will one day save this world from the darkness. But you are right about one thing mother, I am a monster but I am your monster no longer." Replied Geo with a smile. "So spare me your speeches about saving the world, I am tired of listening to them, Remnant is no concern of mine, but those I love are." His sclera turned black and his body was quickly surrounded by a purple Aura. "And you forgot one thing, I PRAY TO NO ONE! AND I WILL NEVER BE PRAYED TO!" A large wave of wind was unleashed from the boy's power, cracking the ground beneath him and putting out the fire in the room.

"...I don't understand, I really don't understand you son I have offered you the power of a God and yet you continue to refuse me child." She was disappointed. "All these years watching you and trying to save you and this is how you treat me?" Salem asked but the boy said nothing. "So be it! Geo Casterwill, after I am done with you I am going to destroy everyone you love, starting with that Silver Eyes slut!" Her black Aura expanded and overwhelmed the entire airship. "This is only a fraction of my power, if you want to give up right now no one will blame you."

Geo felt the intense darkness emanating from his mother and it was almost unbearable to stay in the room but the young man clenched his fist and smirked. "You are going to have to try a little harder than that!" He disappeared from sight causing Salem to widen her eyes lightly. She briefly wondered where he had disappeared to when a sword appeared at her throat coming from behind her.

Then an explosion took place and threw the boy against the wall, Salem knew what he was trying to do and she quickly resolved the situation. "Just so you know those little surprise attacks won't work on me." Salem said with a smile, she then snapped her fingers and a wave of black fire completely overwhelmed her opponent. Hearing him scream in agony didn't brought any joy to her only pain. "You brought this upon yourself."

"Ahhh! Ahh!" Geo pulled himself up and showed no signs of surrendering. The blade he had in his hand was what remained from Stormcaller Malice, which wasn't much. "I-If you think you can beat me with just that you are wrong." The warrior moved straight towards the Queen of Darkness. Another wave of black fire came to engulf him again but this time Geo jumped into the air to avoid the attack. While he was above her, the body spun around launching a kick down aimed at her head but she took hold of the foot with her hand and then she spun him in the air before slamming him down upon the ground causing the area to rattle around them.

"What a waste of potential." Salem grabbed her son by the hair and forced him on his knees. "Let's see if you can still move after this." A red shockwave went through Geo's body and spread like wild fire to every muscle, causing him to yell in pain. "This is your punishment for standing against me!" Salem increased her power and watched the young boy trying to break free from her hold. "It's of no use, unless you beg me to save you."

A few tears fell to the floor but Geo refused to beg, his pride would never allow him to do such a thing. He is a Casterwill and Casterwills are proud warriors that never surrender no matter the odds. "G-Go...to hell!" The moment those words left his mouth, a burst of rage filled Salem's heart. She removed her hand from his hair and delivered a fiery punch on the warrior's stomach, then she opened the same hand and created a dark reddish orb. The surge of her Aura was like a suffocating blackness there was no limit to her power.

"Dark Cannon!" The beam was a perfect hit and it made Geo fly for a few moments before he crashed on the ground and a large dark blast was unleashed. Several more explosions erupted across the airship and because of that some of the engines were beginning to shut down. "There isn't much time left but I believe we are done here." She turned her back on him. "You could have become a God with me my son but you decided to be...human. Well trash will be trash." Salem was about to move until she heard footsteps. "That can't be."

Blood dripped from the boy's head as he hissed in pain coughing. He glanced upward toward the Queen of Darkness who was now approaching him with menacing expression. "I'm...not...done y-yet." Geo's Aura surged through his figure as he gathered what power he had left. The ground around him was darkening thanks to the unbearable darkness that was emanating from Salem. Dammit...my Aura...It's completely at it's limit. He thought to himself. She's too powerful and yet...my soul keeps yelling to not give up! Hit her with everything I got!

"What incredible determination you have, but that's normal I suppose you are my son after all."

Geo's purple eyes were fixed upon his enemy, then he dashed forward in a flash of purple fire causing the young man to widen his eyes lightly at the higher level of speed that he had used. The fist came toward her with great speed but she still managed to block it with her hand, releasing a shockwave to dance around them as his clothes rippled with the sudden rise in wind. "Interesting, it's like you got a little stronger than before." She was intrigued. "But this changes nothing brat!" She pulled her fist back and then she launched it forward.

Both fists collided, the power from Salem's attack pushed him backward but Geo refused to give in. "Hahaha! You are out of Aura my child. It's over!" She used her other hand and fired a small dark beam that scratched her son's left eye, leaving him blind on that side. In that precise moment she aimed her fist at his chest and said. "Chaos Spear!" A powerful wave of wind hit Geo's chest and destroyed the wall behind him that was a few meters away. "I have to be honest of everyone I have faced you are the only one who survived this far."

"..." Geo couldn't breathe and within a few seconds his black sclera returned to normal. His body gave up and he slowly began to fall, the battle was over...until he managed to catch himself. Geo was in pain, then he coughed blood and yelled in rage. "Ahhhhhhh!" His eye showed the incredible determination he had. My body is falling apart but I can't give up now! Even if I don't have Aura or an eye, that's no excuse to stop fighting!

"Why the hell won't you die?! It's because of her isn't it?!" She asked. "All of this power is coming from your feelings towards that bitch!"

The King clenched his hand into a fist one more time, and with a face full of rage he delivered a fierce punch against his mother's stomach. Unfortunately, it didn't even made her move, she in fact didn't felt a thing. "Hahaha! You truly are pathetic. Hahaha!" She laughed, but the boy kept going forcing his fist deeper and deeper. At one point he felt his bones breaking. "This is fun, but really just stop this is pathe...what?" Salem felt something for the first time.

"Ahhhhh!" Geo increased his strength even though the bones on his arm were shattering and the gaping wound he had at his left eye was hurting like hell, he still kept going further. Salem quickly placed her hands on him to pull him back but it was of no use. Remember little brother, power comes in response to a need not a desire. "AhhAHHHHHHH!" He managed to lift Salem off the floor causing her eyes to widen in surprise, then he smashed her against the wall with all his strength, shattering the same wall. Both of them flew for a couple of moments before landing on the floor violently and rolling across the ground like ragged dolls.

Salem quickly got up, she was furious. "You little shit! How dare you!" She cleaned the dust off her clothes. But before she made another move she felt something wet on her lips, when she wiped it with her hand she saw a little blood. "...I am going to kill you!"

"Ha ha! N-Not a Goddess after all huh?" Geo couldn't get up, not to mention half of his left arm was missing. "Y-You are just...a beast."

"This ends now!"

"GET AWAY FROM HIM!" A young red haired girl landed between them with red petals flying around her. "I won't allow you to hurt him any further!" Ruby pointed her scythe at Salem but when she saw the condition of her boyfriend, her heart almost broke. "G-Geo..."