Chapter 35 – Battle on the Peaks
Killian
Numbness, that was all he felt.
He sat at the outpost he landed his Wasp at, waiting to activate his beacon to call in the Shadow of Broken Promises. The sand blew in the air and he just stared at the blood that stained his hand, unable to wipe it away. He scratched at the blood with his grave dust hand, but only scratching away at his calloused hands so bad that actual blood ran from his open wounds. He buried his head in his hands, shaking as tears streamed from his eyes.
What have I done?
You fucking idiot! Why did you do that? You could have arrested her! Kept her in hiding!
He suddenly swung around with a furious roar, punching the wall repeatedly, leaving bloody stains on the sandy rock. He didn't even feel the pain of battering his raw knuckles into the rock, screaming with fury as he kept on punching, nearly breaking his hand. Until he finally swung his Grave Dust fist forward, and the punch shattered the boulder into tiny pieces, leaving the panting and broken Nathaniel Killian standing over the remains.
He dropped to one knee, shaking, blood dripping from his splattered knuckles and slashed open hand. He then raised his hands, seeing the blood leaking from his lacerated hand, and then at his Grave Dust hand.
What have I become?
Who am I any more?
He looked at his reflection in the glass of his Wasp parked before him, seeing his pale skin, the bags under his teary bloodshot eyes. He couldn't even recognise himself anymore, and he just slumped against the hull of the ship, staring up at the night sky. The lunar light glistened off his tears, and he reached up to them.
And he remembered…
Remembered when he was younger, when Terra was still a kid and he was still in training. A time before he became the monster he was, a time before he had to wear a magnetic respirator to keep the Grave Dust from killing him. The two of them laid on the grass in the back garden. Even though he was much older than his Foster Sister, he always cared for her.
"Do you know what that constellation is?" Little Terra asked, pointing up at the stars. He smiled.
"No, I don't." He answered. His voice was once so full of life and love.
Terra glanced at him. Even as a kid she always had bite. "You did actually go to school, right?" She teased, giggling.
"Hah-hah." Killian sarcastically replied, lightning bumping her shoulder.
"It's Ceratotherium!" she answered.
He scoffed. "Wow, I would've never guessed that one in a million years." Terra giggled as she stared up at the endless night sky.
"Apparently, it represents one of the Old Gods. A Snake who gave his life, gave up everything he had, so that we all could live. His blood became the oceans and his scales made the land, while his soul lives in all of us." Terra explained, he furrowed his brow.
"Never heard of this one. I know there were a bunch of dead religions and mythologies, but I never heard of that one." Killian said to her.
"My teacher says there's all these long-lost legends about gods, thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of years ago. Some archaeologists are still finding these now." Terra answered.
"That what you wanna be? An Archaeologist?" He asked her.
"Eh, nah… too much dirt. But I'd love to be a detective. They were always so cool." Terra giggled, and he smiled at her.
"It's a tough line of work. Scary too." He told her, but she bounced up to her feet and raised her fists.
"Look at me! Do I look like a scaredy cat?" She challenged, making him chuckle as he stood up. Even though he towered over her, she always seemed to make him feel small in comparison.
"No, you're one of the most fearless girls I've ever met. But… there are some scary things out there in the world. And very scary people… believe me…" Killian stammered, closing his eyes as he remembered seeing what Jackdaw did to his parents. There was so much blood… even after all those years, it haunted him.
"I know… I just… I wanna make a difference, y'know? To help the good people and stop the bad ones." Terra admitted with a smile, and Killian smiled, and he gently squeezed her shoulder.
"You will… I know it. You've got a fire in ya, Terra. And I'll always look up to you." Killian said to her, and Terra suddenly wrapped her arms around him. His eyes widened, and he smiled, gently wrapping his arms around her.
"You're the best big brother a girl could ask for." Terra gleefully squeaked.
Killian closed his eyes as he warmly embraced her.
When they opened, he found himself back in the present day. He looked down at the floor where his gun was sitting, and he picked it up. The very weapon that he killed that little girl with a few moments ago. As tears streamed from his eyes, he pressed the barrel against his head.
He went to pull the trigger until he felt the gun be suddenly yanked from his grasp. He jolted and gasped, looking up at who had taken the gun from him.
It was Salem.
He looked past her and saw the portal closing behind her; she had arrived at the perfect time, because he was about to do it. She did not say a word, but the look on her face was showing the signs of… understanding. She set the gun down on the rock beside her and she sat down beside him, resting one arm on her knee.
He glanced at her and just lowered his head as the tears dripped off the end of his chin. Neither said a word for a few seconds. Salem was especially quiet. She just waited for him to speak, otherwise she was staying beside him.
"Why?" He finally asked her. "What more can you make me take away from myself? I've turned myself into a monster to serve you… and now you all forced me to kill the one thing that ever mattered to me… why can't you just let me have this one thing?"
"Because I know what you're feeling, Nathan." She answered.
"Don't call me that." Killian growled.
"I know… I know how it feels to lose everything. For the one person in your life you ever held dear, the one person you believed would always believe in you… to betray you. For you to be forced to kill them." Salem explained.
Killian looked at her, and she sighed, exhaling through her nose. "And I tried to do the same thing you tried to do just them. I tried it so many times… but I never died. I always kept coming back." She explained. He could hear the pain in her voice. She closed her red eyes as she relived those moments that she was forced to experience all over again, then she exhaled.
She looked at him, and she cradled his shoulder. "But what you want to do? Taking your life? It changes nothing, it doesn't change that she betrayed you." Salem explained, and he sighed, looking down at the sand.
"Everyone betrays me… the U.G.R… Vero-Robyn… Terra… Dutch…" Killian growled, and that got her attention.
"Your second in command?" She asked him.
"It was him… the whole time. It all makes sense now… the man with that X-Shaped Visor, the one who freed Ruby Rose from my custody. The one who helped Robyn the night we slaughtered the U.G.R. And the same one who has been hassling us. It was him… he was the only one who could have known of our operations. And now he has turned two of the Ace Ops against us as well." Killian explained, clenching his Grave Dust hand into a fist.
"The end draws near, Killian. I have sent Jaune Arc to acquire the Relics of Creation and Knowledge from Team C.P.P.R. But I understand that specific team refuses to go down without a fight, and the chance is very high that they may still escape with one of the Relics. If this becomes a reality… I need you to be prepared." She explained, looking at him. He looked back at her and his eyes widened.
"I… is it really that dire?" Killian asked her.
"We must have all the Relics… and if they continue to fight against the inevitable. Then we must be ready to do whatever it takes to make sure they bring them to us. I already have a plan to draw them here, but I know they will have no other choice if you have your finger on the trigger. To finish the Inhumane Necessity once and for all." Salem explained.
Killian looked at his Grave Dust hand and held the grains of sand in it, letting them fall through the gaps in the dust. He exhales and closed his eyes, feeling the cold air brush across his cheek. Then he opened his eyes, the light gone, and he turned back to Salem. "You can count on me. I will do whatever you ask of me." He promised.
Salem smiled softly, and she stood tall, still gently caressing his shoulder. "I have commanded the rest of your brothers to return to the Sanctum. But… take as long as you need. And know that I appreciate the sacrifice you made for our cause. I will not forget it." Salem promised, as she walked away towards her opening portal. She disappeared into it, leaving Killian alone.
He stared at his Chrome Pistol, then his face hardened, and he stood up, holstering it, glaring at the mountain he had just left, and he activated his beacon. "There is nothing left you can take from me."
Eryka
Her scarred fists were tightly clenched, glaring down at the lifeless bodies of Terra and Robyn, both with fatal gunshot wounds.
The sound of Saphron and Adrien's cries echoed faintly in the back of her mind, but something darker flows back into her mind. A feeling she had not felt since her days in the pits. She felt every muscle in her body tense as she stared at their bodies. Every moment she heard Saphron and Adrien cry over the body of Terra… it made that rage build and build and build. Her eye twitched with anger, glancing over at Fiona, who held onto Robyn as she cried.
Joanna had a similar look of fury in her eyes, like she wanted to rip Killian apart, limb from limb. Listen to him scream after what he had just taken from them. But then Eryka felt the hand of Winter, gently squeezing hers. She turned and looked at her. Winter was very good at concealing her emotions, but Eryka could see the telling signs of her grief over the loss of their friends.
They hadn't known either of them for very long, but in that short time, they grew to care. And then that friendship was snatched away by the very man they should have killed ten years ago.
"Hey… are you…" She didn't finish that question. The answer was obvious on Eryka's face. The anger, the hatred.
"Ten years ago, we could have killed that son of a bitch. We should have killed him when we had the chance, but we didn't. If we had… maybe… maybe they'd still be alive. Maybe so many people would still be alive." Eryka stated, still clenching her fists tight, so tight that the skin on her knuckles paled.
Winter noticed and gently soothed her, opening her hands so she wouldn't end up hurting herself from her rage. Then Dulcis landed on Eryka's shoulder, affectionately nuzzling his head against her cheek as he softly chirped.
Saphron calmed her grief down slowly, still hiccuping breaths as she stood over Terra's lifeless body. She caressed her cheek, her hand stroking across the cheek where it was clean of blood. She then lovingly kissed her wife's forehead, tears dripping down onto her cheek, and she shakily breathed. "Goodbye my love… I will always love you…" She sniffled, pressing her forehead against hers.
They turned as Lavinia walked over to the two bodies, after making sure the area was secure. Marrow and Vine were both sat down with Dutch sat down as well, still healing from his injuries. "The area is secure, the Ace Ops and Killian are gone." Lavinia stated, then she turned to the grieving friends of the fallen. She sighed and walked around the gurneys that their bodies were on, and she cushioned Saphron's shoulder. "I'm so sorry this happened… this place should have been safe."
"It's… not your fault… nowhere is safe…" Saphron cried. Even on the worst day of her life, Saphron could still think clearly despite everything. She then hugged her little boy, who cried into her shoulder. Lavinia stood before the two bodies of those they lost, and she looked at the Happy Huntresses. Both May and Joanna filled with fury whilst Fiona cried over the loss of someone she looked up to.
Marrow stood up and cradled her shoulder, but she spun around and wrapped her arms around him. His eyes widened momentarily, but he shared a warm embrace with her.
"More and more we find monsters wherever we go…" Lavinia sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. Roland approached from round the corner as well, looking at his daughter. Eryka just nodded at him and he sighed, nodding back. "… we promised we would help you fight against Salem. And we will honour that promise… if not just for my daughter, but also for them. I didn't know them for long, but they struck me as brave and driven women. I wish I could have gotten to know them." Lavinia spoke.
"They were some of the best people I had ever known." Dutch spoke up, standing up, rolling his shoulder with a soft growl. "Robyn Hill had a drive that both intimidated and impressed me. Whenever she set her mind on something, the only thing that would stop her would be someone having to kill her. And yet… even now… even after what Killian has done… she hasn't stopped pushing forward to achieve her goal. Neither has Terra. We can keep fighting to make sure that the world they believed in, a world free from Salem – from Killian – could be made possible once again." Dutch explained, standing beside Robyn, and he fought back his own tears as he looked at her lifeless body.
Why did I not tell her?
Six years… six years I kept her and her friends safe… and when I felt that way, I hid it…
… I never knew she felt the same way until later…
… and my cowardly ass just kept it quiet.
No more… I'm done looking the other way.
"Robyn saved me… saved me from the Mines." Fiona softly said, fighting back her tears so she could speak as she walked over to the side of her body. "She helped me, fed me… made me stronger than I thought I could be. I owe everything to Robyn. And to Terra… she showed me you don't even have to be a Huntress to do amazing things. She never took part in our level of training. She was a detective. Yet if it weren't for her? We would have never made it this far." Fiona added.
Eryka stayed quiet, but she relaxed her fury for a few moments, then turned to see Cardin weakly stumbling over, leaning against the wall. He held his stump and winced, and he sat down.
It was easy to forget that literally a few moments ago he gave them the hope that they needed, knowing that Neptune was still alive? Sun? All of them? They were all still alive and being held at Salem's Sanctum?
It made that desperate rush to get there that bit more desperate.
But losing both Robyn and Terra so suddenly… that was a stab in the gut. He looked at where Robyn was and he sighed, shaking his head sadly. He literally had just met her and now she was dead. He never even got to know who she was.
Dutch bowed his head, then looked over to Eryka. "We will do better… for them." Dutch promised.
"For them." Eryka finally spoke, and they all repeated the same words. What Killian had just done was make two martyrs, something he would not become after they were done with him.
Lavinia looked over at Eryka. "I'll begin preparations. I hope your friends are ready."
"Me too…" Eryka sighed.
She turned and walked away from them, and she paced down the halls, approaching a stone barrier that overlooked the desert. When she arrived there, Dulcis bounced off her shoulder and onto the railing. He looked up at her, inquisitively tilting his head up at her. He affectionately bumped his head against her chest, making her make a soft chuckle. She turned when Winter arrived beside her, and she leant across the wall with her.
"I know it's a stupid question… but… how are you feeling?" Winter asked.
"Like you, probably. I'm fucking pissed." She growled.
"Yeah, you're right… that's exactly how I feel." Winter agreed, also tightly clenching her fists. Then they heard another set of footsteps approach… and it was Dutch. He stood beside them and leant across the railing with them.
"I didn't mention it to the others…" He revealed, and he showed them Robyn's scroll. Winter took it and saw what was on there, and her eyes widened.
"When was this updated?" She asked.
"A few minutes ago… Robyn planted a tracer on Killian during our fight. That thing is still pinging, and I don't think Killian has spotted it yet. We can track him down and kill the bastard once and for all. The man is too dangerous to keep alive." Dutch explained.
Eryka raised her brow at him. "Guess you're done wanting to keep him alive then, huh?" Eryka asked him.
"Yeah… guess you could say that." He agreed. "The son of a bitch needs to die."
Winter nodded her head, and she exhaled. "Yeah… he does." They both agreed.
"I was going to go alone, but… well… I have a feeling you would have tried tracking him down on your own, anyway. At least this way we both have better chances." Dutch explained, holding out his hand.
Winter gave Robyn's Scroll back to him. "Yeah." Eryka bluntly replied.
"But I need you to understand… if we do this? It's a suicide mission. Killian could be expecting us for all we know, and he is going to have Black Gallows with him." Dutch explained.
"I don't care. We have to stop him. Nobody else dies by that bastard's hand…" Eryka explained, and Winter nodded her head in total agreement.
"And killing him will severely destabilise the Black Gallows. It will give us a better shot at attacking Salem, so if we're going to go after him. We need to do it soon." He stated.
"Then we better get ready. Because I'm done sitting around and waiting." Eryka explained, but Dutch stopped, feeling Robyn's scroll vibrate suddenly. He pulled it out and saw who was calling her…
… Pietro Polendina.
"Pietro?" Dutch sounded surprised, but Eryka gasped and quickly grabbed the scroll and answered.
"Pietro?" She gasped.
"Hello? Who is this? Why are you answering Robyn's Scroll?" Pietro questioned. Winter's eyes widened, but then Eryka's heart sank as she sat on the stone wall. They saw Lavinia and Saphron both walking over alongside the Happy Huntresses.
"We were with her team… I'm Eryka Vasillias. And… I'm sorry… Robyn's… gone." She replied.
There was silence for a few moments. "G-Gone?"
"An hour ago… yeah… Killian murdered her." Eryka confirmed.
On the other end of the call, Pietro took off his glasses, and he sighed, shaking his head. "Damn it… she would have been over the moon with the news I have."
"What news? What's going on?" Lavinia asked.
"What are you talking about?" Eryka asked.
"Well… those friends of yours she told me to wait for? My daughter? They arrived, and we managed to do what we hoped to achieve. We extracted the Black Queen Virus from Penny's head, and extracted the footage… but I did more than just that." Pietro explained. Eryka glanced over at everyone.
"Care to elaborate?" Eryka inquired.
"I have reverse engineered the Virus to target only Black Gallows technology. Once uploaded into the main server aboard the Shadow of Broken Promises, it will cause all of their technology to self destruct. It will wipe out the Black Gallows in a single shot, including their fleet, weapons and vehicles. We could free the world from their rule all thanks to their uncrackable network."
Eryka's eyes widened with disbelief. "Pietro… this is exactly what we needed. You have just made the weapon that will give us the advantage against Salem."
"The weapon is ready, and I am ready. I will need transport though so you can easily get the weapon up into the control centre of that ship." Pietro explained.
"No problem. My men in Vale will find him in no time. They'll get him to us." Lavinia assured.
"Alright, when some Vasillias Cartel guys knock on your door, it's not a bad thing. They're gonna help get you to where we will be. Just be safe, okay?" Eryka asked him.
"Always am… and… I'm so sorry, Miss Vasillias. And to all of you… Robyn Hill… she was a magnificent woman. The world is a lesser place without her now." Pietro apologised.
"Don't worry about it, Doctor… you just handed us the very thing we needed to make her proud." Eryka concluded the call and gave the scroll back to Dutch. He sat there and chuckled.
"A long time ago, that would have been the worst news possible… but now? Now that's a dream come true." Dutch said.
"But… we still need to take down Killian. Not just for Robyn and Terra, but like you said – it will cause chaos in the Black Gallows. It will give us a better chance of uploading the virus." Eryka explained.
Winter then looked at Saphron, but she just nodded her head.
"Kill that bastard… do whatever it takes…" Saphron begged them.
"We'll kill him, or we'll die trying." Eryka promised, giving her a gentle hug. But it was short-lived.
"EVERYONE!" Marrow yelled.
Then they all felt their scrolls vibrate at the same time.
Everyone did…
… something big was happening.
Because the C.C.T Emergency Broadcast System had just activated.
Blake
"You…" Blake gasped, immediately recognising his outline of aura, and Yang stood firm with Ember Celica, locked and loaded.
The White Fang Lieutenant, who kept his right arm shrouded in a red cloak, but it was definitely him. His mask gave it away the second they saw him, and his voice was the last check on the list. "The Runaway herself… I always had a feeling we'd meet again." He chuckled sinisterly, then he turned his gaze to Weiss. "And the Schnee Girl… I think you and I have some unfinished business."
Yang gritted her teeth, and she pumped her fists, blasting towards him, but he swung his massive leg around and smashed Yang across the area, sending her tumbling across the path. She bounced across the floor, then flicked her head up, gritting her teeth. Blake suddenly jumped forward, slashing Gambol Shroud at him, but he ducked and dodged her incoming blows, then he caught her by the face and threw her up in the air, drawing his One-Handed shotgun, firing up at her.
But she vanished as the incoming shotgun shell fragments flew her way, then Gambol Shroud shot down and wrapped around his arm and she slammed both feet into the side of his head, and he staggered into Yang as she shot forward, punching him in the side of the face. He tumbled across the floor, then Yang punched him in the face once again, and jumped upwards, ploughing her knee up his jaw.
He was thrown up into the air and crashed to the floor. That was when she grabbed him and forced his face against the wall. His helmet scraped against the stone and he growled savagely, glaring back at her as she pushed his head into the stone. But then she felt heat grow, and something ground against her metal hand. Suddenly he kicked her in the gut and swung his head backwards into her face to knock her backwards.
Yang flicked her hair out of her eyes and she gasped, watching as the White Fang Lieutenant spun around, grabbed his cloak and threw it off, revealing his right arm. It was a massive, bulky and mechanical cybernetic arm. The cogs and pistons shifted, the plates of armour transformed, forcing his hand to open up, and a long chainsaw blade extended from his hand. He had one hell of an upgrade, adding his old chainsaw to his arm itself, and he raised his organic hand and challenged her.
Yang smashed her fists together, then blasted two missiles towards him.
Outside of this fight, Nora rolled aside as a Feral One fired a missile at her, but the rocket shrieked up into the air and exploded. She then called Stormur Skeggox into her palm and threw Magni into the soldier's face. He grunted in pain as the hard yet small hammer collided into his chest, throwing him across the floor. Then a second Feral One jumped at her from above with a sword. Her viper eyes glowed brightly. But she stopped the blade just as it nearly touched her neck with the blade of her axe.
Nora hooked the blade of her axe over the sword, then with all her might, she twisted, snapping the sword, and she kicked her in the crotch. The Feral One staggered back, giving Nora the chance to throw Stormur Skeggox directly into the Feral One's chest. She screamed in pain as it pinned her to the wall.
Nora then ducked out of the path of a Feral One's Minigun who opened fire on her, a hail of bullets broke the rocks apart, and she opened her hand, calling Magni back to her, and her other hand held her small bump protectively. She then jumped up in the air, channelling lightning through her body and scars, lighting them up pink. She then charged up her hammer and threw it towards the Minigun User. It acted like a lightning bolt, exploding into his chest and throwing the soldier down the side of the mountain, into the traps beneath, impaled on a spike.
She then held out her hand and called Stormur Skeggox from the corpse of the Feral One she killed, and rammed it down into the neck of another who stabbed towards her chest, only for her to nearly cut them clean in two. The soldier choked on his own blood before Nora kicked him down onto the floor, cracking her neck effortlessly.
Ren, on the other hand, sprinted across the terrain, dodging the incoming bullets, and he shot his bladed pistols forward. The grappling hooks lodged into the wall behind the Feral One and he flew feet first towards him. The soldier gasped, eyes wide, as Ren smashed both boots into his chest, bashing him into the wall. That impact dazed the soldier, but he swung his leg around in a single roundhouse kick that knocked him out instantaneously.
He spun around and slid across the floor as a Feral One wearing an Ebony Sabre Exo-Suit swung his fist at him. Ren jumped off the side of the wall then fired his pistols into the spine of the suit, sparks flew from the impact of the bullets, but he spun around and blasted a hail of bullets towards him, extending an electrical blade from the other arm. The Ebony Sabre swung repeatedly at Ren, but he easily dodged the Feral One's attacks, effortlessly overcoming the lesser combat skills of the soldier.
He then jumped up and over him, firing a grappling hook which wrapped around the arm of the soldier, using the momentum of his landing to throw the Ebony Sabre across the floor. Sparks flew as he smashed against the ground, then Ren landed on top of the soldier's back, grabbing the release mechanism and ripping him out, throwing him across the floor. The Sabre Pilot swiftly drew his pistol, firing it at Ren. "Die Human!" He yelled, but Ren threw Stormflower towards him, and it slashed across the barrel of his gun, then Ren jumped up, and slammed both feet into the side of the soldier's jaw, taking him out, whilst Stormflower flew back into his hand.
Ilia sprinted across the terrain with ease, bouncing from broken rock to sharp stone, and she jumped off the edge with a smirk before she landed in front of three Feral Ones. She spun Lightning Lash through her fingers and pressed one hand on her hip. "Really wanna play this game, pals?" She challenged, then they all sprinted towards her with their swords. "Guess so."
She flipped backwards, dodging the incoming slash of a fire blade, and as she landed, she slashed her whip across the face of one Feral One. Electricity coursed through her body and she screamed in pain, but Ilia jumped off the side of a wall, roundhouse kicking the Feral One in the face, smashing her down against the floor. She then jumped onto another soldier, wrapping her legs around her head and she smashed both her elbows into the top of her head.
The large woman grabbed Ilia by her thighs and threw her onto the ground with dominant force, but Ilia easily rolled the impact off and deflected the incoming bullets with Lightning Lash. The bullets ricocheted off in different directions, then as the large Faunus sprinted forward at Ilia, she jumped into the air, spinning around and slammed the heel of her boot down onto the top of her head. She crashed into the ground with significant force, sliding on her face until she came to a stop.
The other Faunus rushed Ilia from behind, but she swiftly turned and dropped, wrapping her legs around the man's arm, twisting so hard it made him drop the machete. As it fell, she caught it and threw him downwards, impaling him head first on his own blade. The massive Faunus rushed her once again with nasty scuffs across the side of her face, and she roared as she charged at the Chameleon Faunus. She turned and flicked Lightning Lash, extending the whip into Blade Form, and sending a single powerful shock of electricity into the Rhino Faunus' body.
She roared in agony as the lightning burned her aura away, and finally knocked her unconscious. Ilia cracked her neck and walked away from the Feral Ones she took down, running back up to join the others.
Oscar launched Thunderous Deception forward, the chained hammer extended and the head of the hammer collided into the chest of the Faunus, blasting him off the edge of the cliff and tumbling down the mountain. He turned as four more Faunus sprinted towards him, and he jumped, and wrapped the chain around the throat of the Faunus he avoided. As he descended, with all his strength, he swung that Faunus over his head and threw him into the rocks so hard it killed him instantly.
Oscar charged forward, smashing the Hammer across one Feral One's face, then he twisted around and smashed the Long Memory across another's jaw. He staggered to the side and then Oscar dashed forward, repeatedly striking, at a speed so fast he was moving like a blur, then he ended the tapping spree with a single powerful strike. The impact blew the Faunus down the slope, and then he used the Cane to block an incoming sword. In front of him, a soldier aimed his shotgun at him, but he launched Thunderous Deception directly into his face.
The Gunner grunted, tumbling down the slope with his teeth bouncing next to him. He then swiped the attacking Faunus he held back off his feet with his leg, then swung the chained hammer downwards with all his might, directly into the soldier's stomach. He gasped in immense agony, winded from that strike, then he turned to the last two soldiers who sprinted towards him.
He charged forward, and he smashed the cane across the face of the first, then deflected the incoming shotgun blast with the cane. He launched the chains of Thunderous Deception around the neck of the soldier he deflected the shot from, and swung him into the other. The force of the collision sent the two crashing to the floor, and as they both looked up, he knocked them both out with one strike with the Long Memory.
Whilst the others handled the Feral Ones, Weiss, Blake and Yang fought off the Former White Fang Lieutenant, but he was still just as dangerous as he was back on that train. If not, even deadlier than before, thanks to his new arm. He sprinted at Weiss who shot forward off her Glyph but he caught her by the throat and smashed her down against the floor, and rammed his chainsaw blade down at her chest, but Yang punched him in the side of the head, and then was kicked in the other side by Blake. He looked at them both and swiftly stepped aside as they both lunged for him, and he grabbed Yang by her long hair, throwing her into Blake's fist. Yang tumbled to the floor and groaned, but Blake immediately checked if she was okay.
"By the gods I'm so sorry!" She cried out. Yang gasped, eyes widening.
"Look out!" She screamed. She shoved Blake out of the way as she caught the Chainsaw in her cybernetic hand, staring up at the Lieutenant. He forced it down towards her throat, laughing sadistically behind his mask. Sparks flew as the teeth of the chainsaw ground against her metal palm, but Weiss launched herself off a glyph and slashed across his back. The Lieutenant roared in anger as Weiss slid past. Then she raised her fingers and blasted four glyphs of fire towards him.
He raised his cybernetic arm, forming a Hardlight Dust Shield, taking the fire for him, and he laughed at her. "Think I didn't learn your little tricks, Princess?" He questioned, and the second the fire stopped, he shot his shotgun at her, knocking her onto the floor. He turned as Blake slashed Gambol Shroud at him, grinding the teeth of his chainsaw against her Katana, but he kneed her in the chest then slashed across her neck, beheading her shadow. He looked around and turned as Blake wrapped her grappling hook around his throat and pulled downwards as Yang blasted up into the air, then did the same again, but firing herself downwards.
She threw her metal fist into the side of his head, cracking his mask on impact, and he growled in pain, crashing onto the ground. He punched the floor and turned as Blake went to do the same thing, but this time, he raised his metal arm and let the ribbon wrap around his metal arm. He tugged her towards him and as she flew forward; he punched up her stomach, then caught her by the leg and threw her against the floor with substantial force.
So hard her purple aura flickered.
He stamped down on her throat and growled with a grin behind his mask, forcing down so hard she couldn't breathe.
Yang blasted towards him, and she tackled him across the floor, and she threw punch after punch into his face. But he kicked her in the stomach and rolled backwards. Yang dodged his incoming shotgun blasts, then she launched shrieking missiles towards him. They exploded against his armour, burning some of the fabric away and destroying the shotgun he was using. She rushed towards him, but as she swung at his face, he caught her arm and threw her into the wall, and then punched her in the gut so hard it made her golden aura flicker, and it momentarily winded her.
Yang ducked down, though, catching her breath as he swung the blade of his arm-attached chainsaw at her head, cutting through the stone and throwing orange sparks everywhere. He then kneed Yang in the face and grabbed her by the throat with his hand as the chainsaw shifted, becoming like a mantis arm, opening out of his arm and allowing him to use his other fist. She gasped for air as the Lieutenant lifted her off the floor, swung her around and smashed her down against the ground with dominant force.
He then lifted her back up and pushed her face against the wall, the spinning teeth of his chainsaw slicing against her aura. "First, I'll mess up your pretty face, then I'll butcher the Schnee… and I'll make sure Adam gets to finish the job with your little girlfriend." He threatens.
Suddenly, a knee flew into his face, but it wasn't Blake's.
The impact cracked the red visor of the mask he wore, revealing his amber eye behind it, and it widened with disbelief of her survival. "Khan?" The Lieutenant gasped, and Sienna walked towards him, Cerberus Chain wrapped around one arm, and fury on her face. She dodged his incoming punch and immediately parried with another to the face. She then grabbed his arm and twisted it around, and forced him against the wall, whispering in his ear with hate.
"You fucking traitor." She hissed.
"The White Fang had its chance!" He swung his head back into hers, getting her off him, and he jumped and swung the blade down towards her. She rolled backwards, then the other three Huntresses got back up. "I thought you were dead. Guess I can at least keep that idea alive."
Sienna let the Whip drop, and she launched the explosive dust barbs towards him, but he ducked under them as he charged towards her. Weiss stabbed Myrtenaster into the ground, forming multiple glyphs for Yang to run up. She jumped off them and brought both her fists down over his head, and as he dropped, Sienna performed a perfect backflip up his jaw, knocking him into the air, then Blake threw Gambol Shroud, wrapping it around his waist and throwing him back down against the ground.
Yang rushed forward, fists raised, and he swung at her, but she ducked and stepped aside, throwing two punches into his side and once across his face. One that Sienna took pleasure in throwing. As he stumbled, he became more and more dazed from the furious onslaught of blows he was suffering, but he refused to back down. Sienna jumped and punched him in the face, breaking the mask so badly they could now see part of his face, revealing a beard and scars across his face.
She grabbed him by the head and smashed her knee up into his nose, and as he stumbled back, she threw multiple links from her chain at him, some explosive and others packing ice. The explosive ones made his aura flicker, and then the ice pinned his arm against the wall. He forcefully tried to get free, but then Sienna began to beat the holy hell out of him.
Punch after punch, and she forced her arm against his throat, staring into his eyes with hatred. Blake stepped forward, and she panted. "Sienna… stop… he's had enough… he knows he's beaten… we don't need to kill him." Blake said.
"He betrayed us, Blake… you weren't there. I saw him with Adam… butchering our people…" she snarled, glaring at him, and he laughed chillingly at her.
"He's goading you… if you kill him… he wins." Blake stated.
"That kind of thinking is what caused this in the first place!" Sienna argued.
"And is that what you want the White Fang to be? A brutal group who shows no mercy? Because wanna know what that sounds a lot like? The Feral Ones." Blake stated, and that made Sienna pause. "What makes us different to them is that if we don't have to kill them… if we are given the choice to spare their lives… we take that choice. Otherwise we're no better than them." Blake explained, and Sienna snarled with anger, having the blade against his throat.
Then she yelled with fury, storming away from the Lieutenant. "What? You don't have it in you? Come on!" He roared, only for Yang to shut him up with one hard punch to the face, knocking him unconscious.
"We oughta get that arm off him. Guess that explains what happened to him after the crash… bastard went crazy." Yang scoffed.
"He was hardly sane to begin with… but he was useful when we could control him. Like Adam… that was my biggest mistake. I kept employing Faunus who were too dangerous for our cause… I should've seen it coming." She sighed, sitting down on a rock, then Blake walked over and crouched down.
Ilia, Oscar, Ren and Nora approached after seeing the conclusion of the battle.
"Then we will learn from this, right? Because I don't intend to run away this time… I ran from Adam… and what the White Fang was becoming with him becoming more powerful. But we can make the White Fang better… a real image for our people. Throw away the Grimm Masks and have a better symbol. Not one of fear… I know you realised that after the Battle of Beacon ten years ago, Sienna. You knew it was possible."
Sienna looked at her as she sat there. "I live perfectly fine out here for years… and the second you all come back into my life… things always get complicated." She sighed, then a smile appeared. "Kinda missed that…"
That made Blake chuckle. "Do you… really think it can be done? That this won't be like the attempted Rebellions? Because I do not want people dying for nothing… and people will die. You realise that, right?" Sienna asked her, and Blake nodded her head.
"We know the risks are there, but we wouldn't be doing this if we weren't sure. And if anyone can work miracles… it's Ruby Rose." Blake assured.
"Even after everything that happened six years ago?" Sienna asked.
"A lot has changed… especially them. We all have. And we have all accepted those mistakes. We can't keep dwelling on the past… we have to keep." Blake said to Sienna with a smile, holding her hand.
"You heard him… the world… and, most importantly, the White Fang? They all think you're dead. Imagine the morale boost the White Fang will get when they see your face? Blake too? And Ilia? People will rally to join us." Yang stated.
"It's worth a try, isn't it?" Ilia asked her.
Sienna looked at Cerberus Whip around her arm, and she sighed. "I spent a while thinking about this… I didn't want to believe there was a chance the world could change because I didn't think the world deserved it. But… I'm starting to remember how many people are suffering under her rule… and there are still a great many people we could help. I know there are lots of bad people now… people who think Salem is right. And the world after Salem will not be a peaceful one at first with all the believers… but you're right. It's a world worth fighting for… to stop giving people like him power." She stated, pointing at the Lieutenant.
She turned to Blake, and she held out her hand.
"I'm in."
And Blake accepted her handshake.
Then their scrolls started vibrating, they all drew them out, and saw the same thing…
… the C.C.T Emergency Broadcast System…
Salem
Moments earlier…
Salem returned through her portal and approached her Throne Room, passing by the still empty chairs, awaiting the return of the Children of Salem. The only one of them here was Adam, who still looked afraid of Salem, as he should be. He was sat at his chair as the Dark Queen walked by him, towards the Seer which was floating atop her table. "Are you ready, Adam?" She asked him.
He jolted when she spoke. "Y-Yes… your grace…"
"Good… because soon, the end draws near… and everything we have been fighting for will be worth it. One way or another… those Relics will be mine. I have faith Jaune Arc will acquire one of my Relics at the very least… but I fear those children will still keep their hands on one… and if that happens… we will be ready." Salem chuckled sinisterly, pondering the Seer as she stared through the eyes of an Abductor.
It was at the Summit's Claim… watching Amber.
"Take her." Salem commanded, and the Abductor attacked, grabbing onto the little girl who had just wandered off for a moment to explore… but not even the Summit's Claim was safe from Salem.
She shrieked in terror, and just as the Abductor vanished through the portal, she spotted Li sprint round the corner to save her, only to be too late.
The Abductor appeared in her throne room, and it dropped Amber onto the floor. She whimpered in fear as she looked around. Then looked up slowly to see Salem approach, looking down at the child with a smile.
"Ah… Cinder's prodigy…" Salem chuckled, leaning forward to look her in the eyes. "… we finally meet."
Author Note - FUCK
Salem now has captured Amber... things are about to be scary, and the question is what the hell are they planning? Salem is always one step ahead, and we all know that whatever she has planned, it is not going to be good.
This was a cool chapter to write, starting with Killian's grief and madness... and a surprisingly tender moment from Salem but also kinda manipulative as always. I really enjoyed that part with Killian and Salem, showing her in a more human and understanding light with Killian. But that bastard does not deserve any pity, and he now has Eryka, Winter and Dutch coming for him.
And the fight against the White Fang Lieutenant was great fun, always love writing that dude. Just love his design XD And now they have Sienna on their side, let's hope the White Fang will come back together now that their High Leader is indeed alive.
Things are coming together...
And next chapter we shall return to Team C.P.P.R... very excited for next chapter
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Please review, follow and favourite!
Stay tuned for the next chapter - Arcadian Secrets
(Merry Christmas everyone! Hope you all have a great time!)
- Matt