Chapter 16 – The Burning Angel of Remnant
Jaune
Walking across the snowy fields of Mantle, beyond the walls and their army, was terrifying.
Yes, there was the Shield Wall keeping the Oncoming Shadow at bay, and yes, the Oncoming Shadow were now still as statues. But the most frightening part of all was simply how Vir Nominis Umbra was just standing there, hands held together, and a menacing grin on his face, waiting for them to approach.
Jaune walked with Pyrrha and Oscar by his side.
It felt like they had always kept their weapons at the ready these days, never knowing if something was going to suddenly explode out of the ground in front of them. Luckily, the thick ice is making that incredibly difficult for the burrowing Grimm to get underneath the shields. One very thankful thing about this climate is the cold. It even slows the Grimm down. And even past that permafrost, there was bedrock, far too hard for any Grimm to break through. So the shield was clearly their only way of getting to Vale right now.
That fact had set their minds at some sort of ease, knowing they had time to prepare.
Now they had to simply pray… pray that they had enough time.
The trio finally reached the face of the shield, where Vír Nominis Umbra stood mere inches away, divided by Hardlight Dust. Somehow, that didn't even feel like it was enough to hold him back. "The towers of corruption, yet despite the illness of all the politics, and everything these people have done… you still stand to protect them. It's admirable." Vir Nominis Umbra chuckled, tapping his fingers together.
"There are innocents in this city, and up there. They are not all the same." Oscar explained.
"Innocence is a strong word to use for the people of Atlas, boy. Ask any Faunus, they all will say the same thing about the people of Atlas. Ironic… come to think of it… the Atlesians tortured them out of fear, and in turn the same is returned back at them by the White Fang. It's all a circle." Vir Nominis Umbra explained as he paced back and forth.
"Why are you speaking with us? Why waste all this time?" Jaune questioned.
"Time… now that right there my boy… is precisely why we are speaking." He answered, still smirking. It made Jaune sick to his stomach.
How could someone be smirking at a time like this? After slaughtering millions in under a day?
I know he isn't mortal, not like any of us… and I know he is a monster… but how can he possibly stand there and feel nothing for the things he has done?
How can something so cruel exist?
"The truth of the matter is, this shield wall will only hold my forces back for a short amount of time. Maybe a few more hours, but soon… it will come down. And when it does, I will unleash my horde on you. Your defences will hold me back for a while, but eventually you will fall as well. Thousands of brave warriors will die agonising deaths…" Vir Nominis Umbra explained, standing right in front of Jaune Arc now.
His faintly shimmering red eyes staring back at his blue ones.
"I know who you are, Jaune Arc. I have studied you, followed you… I know everything there is to know about you. And I know this – your heart is too kind to lead these forces to their deaths. It is not in your nature to sacrifice people like this. I admire the effort, I admire the bravery… but we both know it will not stop me. Only slow me down." Vir Nominis Umbra explained, looking past him at the city.
"And once you are all nothing more than bloody bones on the cold snow… my beasts will feast on the very people you intend to save." He promised.
Yet his words did not sway them. They stood behind him as he looked away, looking at his patient monsters, waiting. Then he snapped his fingers and raised his finger up to the sky. "Unless…"
Pyrrha looked up at the sky and back at him, noticing that he was pointing directly at the Floating City overhead. "Relinquish the Relic of Destruction to me, and nobody has to suffer. Not like Vale. Once I acquire what I am looking for, I will pull my forces back. Give the Relic to me now, and nobody has to suffer."
"But everyone will still die." Pyrrha corrected.
"Yes, but a painless death. Nobody will even notice it. They will all go on in peace. They needn't be in pain. Needn't watch the people they love scream as my nightmares rip them apart. Simply a peaceful end… is that not preferable?" Vir Nominis Umbra asked.
"You offered Ozpin and Ruby the same choice back at Vale. You think asking us will lead to a different outcome, Umbra?" Jaune questioned, he turned his gaze to the Arc, then stared him directly in the eyes, the setting sun and rising Shattered Moon's Lunar Light shining across the scars which Salem gave him, still fresh since they were only a few days ago.
"Your bravery to stand and defy me has always been admirable… especially now. But you fail to understand that my days of playing games with you all is over. I will cut you all down if I must. That is not something I wish to do. You can spare all these people so much pain, if you simply give up the Relic. You know what I am – I am a Man of My Word."
"I know you are, but so are we. And we swore to protect the People of Remnant until the day we die from monsters like you. And we are not going to back down now. Not ever." Jaune promised, staring right back at the entity.
Vir Nominis Umbra smiled. "Even in times of crisis you stand firm and hold true to your beliefs… no wonder she fell in love with you." He said, looking at Pyrrha, who glared at him, fists clenched. "I will offer this chance again… and when that time comes I pray you come to your senses."
"Why are you doing this?" Oscar questioned, making Umbra stop. "You feed off suffering… I'd have thought you'd be ruthless and give no chances. But you are, and have been… why?"
Vir Nominis Umbra stared ahead and exhaled. "All life has a purpose… and they should cling to it. No matter how cruel." Vir Nominis Umbra answered as he walked away, disappearing into the darkness.
Then his voice spoke inside of their heads. "If I were you, I'd retreat to your forces. While you still can."
This one time, they took Vir Nominis Umbra's advice, and they turned and walked back to where they came from. Soon after they turned, they heard the impact of the Oncoming Shadow continuing to slash and throw their mass into the shields, continuing to weaken its strength. Part of them wanted to run, but they didn't, and neither did Vir Nominis Umbra.
Two sides of the same coin.
When they arrived back with the army, Jaune stood beside Qrow who stood with Harbinger held down against the floor in Scythe Form. "Lemme guess… he didn't surrender?"
"Not exactly."
Ozpin
Their Airship drew closer to Argus.
The darkness was setting across the land, and the more they explored, they saw the effects of the Oncoming Shadow all around them. Bertilak was not one to be shocked, but what he was seeing was unlike anything the world had ever seen. They flew over towns that were destroyed and consumed by the Charred Forest. Their buildings being swallowed by the burnt roots of the dark realm, and ash fell across the landscape.
The sky was darkening everywhere as well; it was not instantaneous, there were some places that still looked untouched. But soon… the entire world will look exactly like the Charred Forest unless they stopped Vir Nominis Umbra. "It's… it's everywhere… by the Gods…" Bertilak gasped.
I guess their old plan to just take their chances had now been thrown out the window, seeing how even the smaller towns were being hit by the Grimm as well.
Nowhere is safe anymore…
"And… you said that the Fall of Arkhonex… it wasn't even close to this?" Glynda asked him with fear in her eyes, and he just shook his head.
"Only a fraction of what the Oncoming Shadow is capable of." Ozpin confirmed, sitting down on one of the chairs, grasping Mihi Vindicta in his hands, rolling it back and forth over his legs as he closed his eyes. Trying not to think about how much pain and suffering was in the world right now. Carmine and Bertilak sat down as well. He had filled them in briefly on what he was as well, his past… Arkhonex's existence and fate… all of it… and clearly, they were still trying to comprehend it all.
"So… Arkhonex? There was a people that came before us?" Carmine asked.
"Yes." Ozpin answered. "My people, my home… we were a highly advanced people, but far from perfect. Corruption ran deep in our government, and in the rest of the people itself. We thought we conquered the Grimm, to control them. And for a long time we did. We used them like they were tools. Helping us with construction, or using them as weapons. But… we never realised that Vir Nominis Umbra was simply allowing us to control them all so that he had a horde at the ready to slaughter us from within." Ozpin explained.
"By the gods…" Carmine asked.
"Your people never thought of that possibility?" Bertilak questioned.
"We never knew of Vir Nominis Umbra's existence, not until it was too late." Ozpin clarified, looking at the palm of his hand. "We only learned of his existence when we were stranded on the Volcanic Chain Isles…"
"We… you mean the Knights of Grimm?" Carmine asked.
"Precisely. We were weak, dying, and needed help. When a lone merchant and soothsayer revealed himself to us… we simply assumed he was there to help. And he gave us weapons to fight our way back to the ship so we could get home. But… we never realised those weapons… were cursed. And the curses latched to us, and turned us into monsters when the time was right. Even now… I am still bound to have mine with me… but it controls me no longer." Ozpin explained, tapping Mihi Vindicta in its Cane Form onto his open palm.
He exhaled, then looked at the two of them. "Vir Nominis Umbra is a master of manipulation. Speechcraft has always been one of his greatest weapons. Combine that with his ability to change appearance to anyone he wants, change his voice, his gender… everything about him on the surface level? Makes him extremely unpredictable and dangerous. And that isn't even talking about what he is capable of in combat. When he drops the act completely." Ozpin explained. There was a distant look in his eyes, like he was reliving those moments right now.
Wishing he had done things differently.
Wishing they could have looked through the manipulation…
Then he sighed, shaking his head, knowing there was no point in wishing the past could be changed. It was a fact he knew all too well… the past had already been written… and it cannot be rewritten.
"If… if the most advanced civilisation that ever existed couldn't stop a fraction of what we're up against… what hope do we have?" Bertilak questioned.
"It's not a matter of strength. Yes, Arkhonex had advanced further than this civilisation, and yes, we were more powerful. Yet we were destroyed in a single night… don't you see? Defeating the Oncoming Shadow is impossible by conventional means. No army can win, because the Grimm are emotionless. They do not react to pain, it just makes them angrier, more dangerous. Doing this is simply about taking down the correct enemy."
"I know… Umbra is the target… but how do you even know that killing him will stop this? What if… what if we manage to kill Umbra but, nothing changes? The Grimm just stay and keep killing?" Carmine questioned.
"Remember – I was a Knight of Grimm. I was the Knight of Vengeance, to be specific. I was one of Vir Nominis Umbra's warriors. I still remember how it felt, the feeling of my soul, latched onto the curse which he controlled. When I broke free from it, I was surrounded by a black smoke for a few seconds. Like when a Grimm dies, and I felt the connection fade. All Grimm are connected in the same way, but instead of severing individual connections, we need to kill what they are all connected to. The Oncoming Shadow act as his body, but Vir Nominis Umbra is the heart. And we – are the dagger." Ozpin explained, grabbing Carmine's Sai that she was levitating with her telekinesis, and he tapped it against the side of his head as he said those last words.
His confidence, his certainty that they could do it? They did not share it completely, but they'd be lying if that didn't motivate them. He spun the Sai through his fingers and held the blade, offering the hilt to her. She accepted it and nodded with a smile.
"By the Gods… we're approaching Argus." Maria called out. Ozpin quickly stood up and walked to the back of her chair.
"How bad is it?" Glynda asked. There was no real point in asking if there was any good news.
"They're still in the fight, but… it's bad." Maria confirmed, they saw the smoke which filled the sky, and from here they could actually feel the heat from the flames that burned in the city. It was once such a beautiful place, but now it was nothing more than a death trap. Entire buildings were aflame or collapsing, but gunfire was everywhere, a better sign than Queen's Cove.
Suddenly, a powerful beam of glowing gold energy carved across the sky, cutting clean through six Sphinxes and through the body of a Reaper. The massive beast came crashing down into the burning city, crushing the decimated buildings beneath it. Luckily, that region looked like it was clear of people. Either everyone was dead or people escaped… sadly, it was most likely the former.
Ozpin followed where that beam came from, and to his disbelief, it was Cordovin. She was still in her massive Colossus M.E.C.H, and was killing hundreds of Grimm at a time, and by the looks of it, the Argus Military had saved many people. In fact, it looked like it was the most survivors they had ever seen so far, more than Vale, by a long way. The Military Base had also got its turrets online, which were still holding the Airborne Grimm back for a while longer, but soon their ammo reserves were going to run out.
They saved many people, but now they needed to get them out.
"Land us as close as you can. We need to get to Cordovin." Ozpin explained. Maria looked around for a safe location to land, but they had no choice. Because a Shrieker suddenly flew directly into the wing of their airship, blowing it apart and causing it to spin out of control.
"Damn it! We're hit! I can't control it any longer!" Maria yelled as she strained, pulling on the sticks as hard as she could to control the descent, but it was falling fast.
Ozpin thought fast, and he snapped his fingers together, and the surrounding land fragmented with glass-like fragments of matter as he froze time. Just like Oscar, the glass-like shards bounced off the hull, and he swiftly moved, shoving them all out of the Airship, then time resumed once more. As they all fell, they quickly snapped back to reality despite how disorienting it was to suddenly be out of the ship and falling. The Airship spun out of control and crashed into the ground with an almighty explosion. Ozpin slammed his fist down to the ground as he landed, staring ahead as some Grimm came charging towards them.
Carmine elegantly floated down, using her Telekinesis to descend to the ground, whilst Maria aimed for a building and launched one of her Scythes into it. It dug deep, and she activated the Gravity Dust link with her other and she slingshot herself towards the Grimm, and she drove both blades down into the ribs of an Ursa Major, sliding across the destroyed road on its chest.
Bertilak roared, launching the chained mace forward, wrapping it around a traffic light and swinging off it, and he flew feet forward into a Beowulf, kicking it in the face. He flipped through the air and brought the mace down onto a Thrall's skull, burying the tremendous weapon down into its head, killing it instantly. Glynda bounced off the walls, and as she landed, she lifted a destroyed car behind her with the power of the Disciplinarian, and she launched it into the last few Grimm that tried to rush them, flattening them beneath the heavy vehicle, leaving black stains across the road.
Ozpin walked towards the last few Beowulves, and he shot forward, striking straight through the Beowulf's body, cutting it clean in two, then he rolled aside and caught a Thrall by the head and smashed it down into the road so hard it was killed instantly. Finally he slammed his cane down onto the floor, slowing time and he sprinted forward, smashing through Grimm after Grimm, until the area was clear of monsters.
He panted, and time resumed back to normal speeds.
He looked up and his eyes widened at what he saw. "Damn it… things are more complicated than I feared…" Ozpin sighed.
"What? What are you talking about?" Carmine asked, coughing as she accidentally breathed in smoke that lingered in the air. He pointed up at the sky with his cane, still dripping with Grimm Blood. He spotted the sign of a familiar foe – Diamond Beaked Crows and Ravens.
"Shit… the Lord of the Wood is here." Glynda sighed.
"And maybe not just him. Vir Nominis Umbra knows I have the Relic and probably has figured out that I am trying to divide his forces. Looks like he is playing into the game, just as I suspected he would. He never could turn down a challenge." Ozpin explained, chuckling as he shook his head.
"So the Whisperer and the Onyx Phantom could be here as well?" Glynda asked.
"Most likely." Ozpin confirmed. He turned and saw another beam of electrical dust cut down another Reaper, and then one of the King Wyverns.
"Cordovin's definitely got the sky secured." Maria commented, wiping the black blood off her scythes as she joined them.
"We need to reach Cordovin, figure out what's going on and how to get them out of here. Using the sea is suicide, and I know Cordovin knows that. She knows this city like the back of her hand, she'll have a route planned." Ozpin confirmed.
He turned to them all, and they all readied their weapons. "Well then, let's not keep her waiting then." Bertilak shrugged.
They all sprinted ahead into the city, keeping their eyes on the sky for any Grimm, but for the Higher Demons.
They knew they were here… they were watching.
Unaware that the Lord of the Wood, the Whisperer, and the Onyx Phantom were all watching. "When do we attack?" The Onyx Phantom chortled sinisterly as it watched them, but the Whisperer spoke softly as it answered.
"When we lure them into our trap…"
Ruby
Schnee Manor…
It hadn't sunk in for Ruby yet, to actually be where she was standing. All the years she had known her best friend, she had never realised she had never even visited the very place that friend came from. She couldn't help but wonder what Weiss was thinking right now.
But they had no time to take in the beautiful architecture of her home, or the stunning front garden or the all too familiar Schnee Snowflake Symbol of their family. Because the Acolytes of Lien were already setting up their last stand here. As they all dove behind cover, bullets hailed overhead, then a large glowing blue hologram formed in the centre of the Garden.
It was Jacques, crossing his arms and smirking down at Weiss. "Oh Weiss… you have impressed me with how far you have come. You are stronger than I ever expected, but I'm afraid it is time to give it up now. You cannot win this war." Jacques stated.
"Says the man hiding in the Manor!" Weiss yelled back.
Blake turned to Ruby.
"What's the plan?" Blake asked her.
"I'm not sure… if we had reinforcements, this would be easy, but we don't… and sneaking around isn't an option. They've fortified the entire area." Ruby explained. Yang nodded her head, then pumped her fists, locking fresh shells in the chambers of Ember Celica.
"So the head-first approach? I like it." Yang chuckled.
"I thought you would." Ruby winked, then she spun Crescent Rose around and transformed her Scythe into its Sniper Rifle form. She jumped up from cover, swirling high in the air in a flurry of rose petals, then she aimed down the scope of her rifle and fired directly at the Projector that formed that Hologram of Jacques Schnee, shooting it directly in the lens.
But they could still hear his voice, and he sounded angry. "Damn it! Kill them! Kill Weiss and her little family of warriors!" Jacques roared. Ruby landed back down with them, and a rose petal fell onto Weiss' head. She blew it off and sighed.
"Always like being dramatic, don't you?"
"Always." Ruby giggled, then Weiss drove Myrtenaster down into the ground, forming multiple Summoning Glyphs which conjured up a swarm of small Lancers. The Mercenaries all opened fire on the swarm. Each bullet knocked them out of the sky, but that was what Weiss was hoping for. Ruby jumped into the air with yang, catching her older sister and spiralling around, launching her towards the soldiers.
Yang yelled with fury as she arched her arm back and then slammed her fist down into the ground with all her might. The force of her fist created a powerful explosion, blowing the soldiers up into the air. Yang stood stall amongst the embers, raising her fists with a smirk as they all drew their weapons on her. They all fired, but she ducked down and launched towards one soldier, punching him square in the face. His visor shattered instantly, then she ducked under the incoming sword from another.
She twisted around and uppercut him, blowing him up into the air. He groaned, then his eyes widened as he saw the grappling hook of Gambol Shroud wrap around his waist. Blake flipped overhead, then she swung him down with significant force, sending the soldier head first into the cobblestone. She landed behind Yang, and the two nodded at each other.
Ruby sprinted forward, ducking and dodging the incoming bullets with Weiss skating across her glyphs towards the enemy Acolytes. "Take them down!" A Captain roared, firing his rocket launcher at Ruby. She spiralled through the air in a flurry of crimson petals, then she slashed through the rocket with Crescent Rose, blowing it up behind her. Weiss slid on her knees, gracefully passing underneath the explosion. Weiss formed another powerful glyph beneath her which created a pulse of air, throwing her up in the air, then she pulled her sword back and gritted her teeth.
Three Glyphs formed above her head, and they fired icicles down towards them. An Acolytes of Lien Mercenary raised his Hardlight Shield, blocking the incoming icicles, firing his shotgun round the side of it at Weiss. She jumped off her glyphs towards the soldier, then shot forward, pressing both boots into the shield. She then blasted off against it, breaking his defence, then she formed another, and shot back towards him, driving her sword straight through his sternum, dragging him across the floor.
Ruby threw her knife forward, the light reflecting off the sharp blade, and it stabbed into the leg of an Acolyte. He grunted in pain, then stared ahead to see Ruby blast forward, and she punched him in the face so hard that his helmet shattered upon contact.
Ruby slid past him, then she spun her Scythe around as she skated across the icy floor, and slashed Crescent Rose through the torsos of three Atlesian Knights, breaking them apart like they were fragile toys. She then got caught by the hand of a Juggernaut who caught her by the chest with its huge mechanical hand and threw her against the floor. Ruby bounced across the floor, then turned to see Weiss skate forward. She jumped up and formed another glyph for Ruby to use. She sent Ruby high into the air, then Ruby aimed down the scope of her rifle, firing three bullets down at the Juggernaut.
It barely reacted to her incoming rounds, then the huge machine gun barrels extended from the armoured limb and swiftly aimed up at her. The three barrels spun around, then opened fire at them. Ruby wrapped her arms around Weiss and the two of them shot down in a flurry of red and white petals.
Yang kept her gauntlets raised, then she smirked at Blake, and the two sprinted at their enemies. A Seeker shot towards Yang but she caught her by the fists, twisting her around and smashing her down against the ground. Yang punched down at where she fell, but the Seeker darted away in a flash of orange lightning. The Seeker then punched her in the side of the head, then fired her machine gun repeatedly at Yang. Yang raised her cybernetic arm up, watching the Seeker through locks of golden hair.
Then the Seeker rushed forward, only for Blake to appear in front, and the Seeker swung, only at a Shadow. Her eyes widened behind her visor, then Yang punched the Seeker in the head so hard her helmet broke apart. She staggered back, then Yang threw a combination of hard punches into the chest of the soldier, before grabbing her arm and tugging her down, and rolling across her shoulder. As Yang landed behind her, she fired a single shotgun shell into the backpack.
It exploded as the Seeker screamed as the forks of golden lightning burst out and burned across the terrain. And she fell to the floor, unconscious. Yang raised her arm to block an incoming Marksman's Bullet. Sparks flew from her arm and she glared at the glint of his scope as he went to take a second shot. Blake threw her ribbon to Yang and she caught it, and Blake started to run around her whilst Yang spun her, building up more and more momentum. Then Yang launched her partner towards the Sniper, and she slashed straight through his body.
Red sprayed past, and he screamed in pain, throwing his body off the top of the building. As Blake dropped, she threw her grappling hook and swung back towards the garden, and sent both feet into the back of a soldier's head. Smashing him down against the floor, breaking his helmet on the cold hard stones.
She ducked down as a Zealot slashed her Double-Ended Crimson Sword at her, then she flipped backwards, kicking the Former-Huntress up the jaw. She staggered back whilst Blake perfectly landed, then the High Leader threw her Grappling Hook ahead, wrapping it around the Zealot's neck, and she yanked her forward. Blake then wrapped her legs around the Zealot's head, twisting her body around and slamming her down onto the ground. The Zealot tumbled, then aimed her secondary weapon, a wrist-attached grenade launcher. It fired, and she jumped, spinning through the air and elegantly dodging the incoming projectiles.
The Zealot rushed towards her with the sword, slashing repeatedly, but Blake quickly backed up, deflecting each incoming blow with her Katana, sparks flew from every single incoming attack made. Blake crossed her blade and sheath over, catching the blade and staring right back at the Zealot with fire in her amber eyes. Blake twisted and yanked the weapon from the Zealot's hands, then she roundhouse kicked her in the side of the face, shattering the helmet instantly with her leg. The Zealot tumbled through the bushes, and as she jumped up, she went to shoot her grenade launcher, only to find a burning Blake in front of her.
She gasped, and then it detonated, breaking her gold aura immediately and throwing the soldier across the floor. She groaned before falling unconscious. Then Blake sprinted back to Yang. But she was clearly in no hurry to help, since Yang looked like she had things covered already. She punched a soldier up through the window of the Manor, shattering it instantly. She ducked down, then triple punched the next thug in the stomach before grabbing him by the heel and smashing him into the next soldier.
Yang then turned, suddenly getting punched in the face by a Tremor Trooper. The sudden impact blew Yang across the garden, then she pressed her legs against the wall and fired. The wall broke apart and Yang roared with fury, pulling one fist back and throwing it into the Tremor Trooper's gauntlet. The impact created a powerful shock wave, blowing the snow off the bushes and making the Schnee Snowflake rattle.
Yang landed, then punched across the helmeted head of the soldier, then blocked the incoming punches thrown by the Tremor Trooper. She parried the next punch by the Tremor Trooper, then ducked under the next punch and threw two more punches into his side, before punching him in the side of the face so hard it knocked his helmet off. Blake swung up behind him and kicked him in the back with both feet, then Yang blasted up and punched him in the face with her metal fist. He crashed to the ground, unconscious.
The two partners stood side by side, and Yang raised her fist. Blake smiled and returned the fist bump.
Weiss slid across the floor, shooting multiple fire balls at the Juggernaut, who fired at her repeatedly. He raised his thick metal shield with his other arm, blocking the incoming fire. He then launched a swarm of shrieking missiles towards her, and her eyes widened. She rolled out of the way just in time as the missiles exploded behind her. She jumped up and blasted herself off a tree, slashing across the armour plating off the Juggernaut.
Nearby, Ruby fired a bullet into the back of the Juggernaut's leg, only for her attention to be drawn away as a Glider Jockey flew towards her. She narrowed her silver eye as the mercenary flew towards her. Bullets carved a swath towards Ruby, also launching rockets at her as well. Ruby launched forward, slowing time around her, her cyclone of petals swirling around them as she flew closer. She burst out from her petals and slid on her knees, whilst cutting clean through the middle of the Glider.
It broke in half and the engines sent the two ends flying off in two different directions. One exploded into the ground nearby, whilst the other flew up into the sky and burst against the side of the shield wall. The Glider Jokey tumbled across the floor but quickly aimed his Assault Rifle at Ruby. But she spun Crescent Rose around and deflected the incoming bullets. She sprinted towards him and went to slash straight through his throat, but stopped when he dropped his gun and looked away in fear.
The cold steel blade of Crescent Rose just touched his neck, but she glared down at him and she exhaled. She gestured at him with a simple flick of her head to tell him to leave. He took the chance and ran to save his skin. The Juggernaut, however, was not going down without a fight, and he punched Weiss out of the air as she went to slash him.
Ruby's silver eye shimmered, and she put her Scythe away, then sprinted forward. The Juggernaut turned and saw a bright white flash erupt from her eye, then she transformed into her Beast Form. The Big Bad Wolf landed and charged towards the Juggernaut. She clamped her jaws down at the soldier. He held up his arms and tried to hold her back, but Ruby smashed him against the wall.
Jacques watched from his office with wide eyes. "By the gods…"
Weiss jumped up onto the Wolf's back, and Ruby roared at the Juggernaut, only for the huge mechanical suit of armour to pull itself free from the concrete wall. It shed the shield and suddenly extended a burning blade. The Juggernaut sprinted forward, constantly firing its machine gun at Ruby's Wolf form. She could not be harmed, but the form could be destroyed. The Wolf snarled and charged forward, then Weiss jumped high in the air, forming a Summoned Nevermore variant of the one they killed in the Emerald Forest all those years ago.
The Juggernaut slashed across the legs of the Big Bad Wolf, but she spun around and bit down over the torso of the heavy soldier and threw him across the garden. He smashed through the floor, then looked up to see the glowing white Nevermore swing its wings forward, launching Fatal Feathers towards him. The feathers stabbed into the ground and one cut deep into the shoulder of the soldier. The Big Bad Wolf howled up to the shattered moon, then sprinted forward, but the Juggernaut blasted all its remaining missiles at the Wolf, destroying the form.
But through the crumbling body, Ruby launched forward and spun through the air, slashing straight through the mechanical leg, bringing the Juggernaut down to one knee with a grunt. The Nevermore circled above him, then Weiss jumped off, flipping through the air. She formed another glyph, and blasted herself off it, and she stabbed straight through the right arm, cutting straight through the machine gun. The soldier roared with immense pain, but still fought, slashing his burning blade at Ruby, who quickly deflected the blow. Then she hooked her scythe onto the blade and jumped overhead, snapping it off.
She landed behind and drove the scythe into the armour plating, ripping it off and grabbing the soldier, yanking him out from the suit. The Juggernaut Suit toppled over, then Weiss slid over and kicked the soldier in the side of the head, knocking him unconscious.
The two stood next to each other, and Weiss held out her hand, and Ruby took the opportunity to give her a high-five. Weiss looked up at the office. Seeing her father staring down at her, she immediately blasted fireballs up at the glass. But he did not flinch, realising that glass was protected by Hardlight Shields.
The speakers, sadly, were still working, and they heard his snide remarks. "Please… you didn't think it would be that easy, did you?" Jacques questioned, but she stood before the building, gripping her sword tight.
"Enough, father. It's over." She warned.
"Oh, no… did you really think that's all I have at my disposal, girls?" He asked, smirking, and taking a sip of his whiskey.
They looked up and gasped, spotting even more Acolytes of Lien Airships arriving with reinforcements. The fight was not done yet, but Weiss went for the front door.
Until…
… something suddenly landed right in front of her. The impact blew Weiss back across the floor, and she stared ahead with shock.
It was Deimos.
The Replica of the Arma Gigas, but in a mechanical form, loaded with all forms of dust needed. And they heard the voice of Whitley laughing inside of it, extending a blade and forming Hardlight Dust Glyphs behind him.
"Whitley?" Weiss gasped, horrified at what he had become.
"Oh, my dear sister Weiss… is that how you greet your baby brother when you finally return home?" Whitley chuckled sinisterly. Hardlight Dust shielding activated around the armour as well.
"Shit…" Yang sighed.
Weiss glared up at her father, who smirked down at her.
It doesn't matter what you throw at us.
I will stop you.
Ozpin
Ozpin sprinted with his team as the Oncoming Shadow continued to lay siege to the Sleeping Angel of Remnant. He looked up as a Reaper soared overhead, blasting beams of fire down into the city nearby, destroying apartment buildings.
Ozpin couldn't help but let the thoughts creep in to his mind.
So many years of civilisation… achievements of the entire world… being wiped out in a day…
As they ran ahead, they saw a swarm of Grimm crash through a building, tackling a person who was fleeing to the ground. He shrieked in indescribable agony as they ripped him apart, blood spraying everywhere. The creatures that fed on him turned as a King Wyvern flew towards them, blasting fire down into the streets, melting the tarmac beneath it. "This way!" Bertilak yelled, and as he ran that way, a Thrall jumped at him and tried to sink its teeth into his throat. But he threw it against the floor and stomped onto its head with all his might, rolling his shoulder, snarling with anger.
They all kept on running, watching as the beasts kept on coming, swarms of flying monsters descending from the Charred Forest. Above them, an airship shot a missile into the neck of a Lesser Wyvern, sending the beast crashing down into the city nearby with a heavy thud. But as it flew overhead, a tower of Sulphur Fish all clambered up one another like a swarm of ants, slashing their pincers into the wing of the Airship.
It spun out of control and crashed into a car pack, creating a large fireball upon impact. In the sizeable area, they found they were being surrounded by a large gang of Grimm. Including a Therapod Grimm. The huge dinosaur roared with fury and charged towards Ozpin. He jumped up, forming his Clockwork Armour. He transformed Mihi Vindicta into its Sceptre form, ramming the blade down into the crest of the monster, smashing it into the floor with all his might. The Theropod roared in agony and fury as it slashed its toe claws at him to get free. He ripped it out but as it lunged for him; he swung across its neck with one fast slash.
The head of the beast flew off and the giant creature stumbled past him and collapsed. A pack of Beowulves sprinted towards Carmine, who just raised her brow at them, looking unimpressed. Her telekinesis spun the ash and dust on the surrounding ground, forming a dust devil that she let her Sai spin around her. The Beowulves all attacked, but she launched the Sai through the mouth of one of the roaring beasts, and as one swung at her leg, she dropped and grabbed the beast by the throat and called her Sai back.
The blade shot straight through its throat and landed in her hand, and she pulled it through the rest of its neck. The Beowulf collapsed, then she slid across the floor and threw it up the stomach of another, calling it back with her telekinesis, pinning a Beowulf to the wall by the Sai. She flicked her long red hair back with a smile before yanking the Sai back to her, letting it rotate around her hips.
Maria looked around as she was surrounded by Knights' Bannermen who arrived, and they all held their swords tight, speaking in a language she could not comprehend. But that didn't matter to her. All she needed to know was how to kill them. The Bannermen charged towards her, but she deflected their incoming blows with her Scythes, and she threw one into the shoulder of one Knight and then threw the other directly into the chest plate of another.
She then activated the remote dust controls on her bracelet, and the gravity dust pulled the two scythes and Bannermen together. They both crashed together, and she jumped, flipping over the two that tried to slice her with their axes. She caught her axes in the air and landed. Maria fired shot after shot at them from the head of her Scythes, jumping and cartwheeling through the air.
A Bannerman slammed his axe down at her, but she hooked her scythes onto his axe and twisted them, yanking the weapon from its gauntleted hands. She threw that axe into the head of another Bannerman, causing it to howl and collapse into itself. She dashed aside, dodging the incoming fist from that Bannerman and she cut the arm clean off, before taking its head off with the other Scythe.
She turned as another Bannerman sprinted towards her, but she threw her Scythe into the chest of the Spectre, then she clicked the button of her other Scythe, and she spun around, beheading the Knight and pulling the other Scythe free. As it collapsed into itself behind her, she aimed both and blasted multiple bullets into the next Knight's face, breaking the armour off and blowing the skull inside apart.
The last Knights Bannerman sprinted towards her, but she sprinted forward as well, connecting both Scythes together into its Double-Ended Scythe form. She blocked the incoming sword, then smashed it in the face, stumbling the enemy. She cut across the leg of the warrior, then cut the hand holding the sword clean off.
She finished the entity off by jumping up in the air and cutting clean through the torso of the Knight, destroying it.
Bertilak sprinted towards the Ursa that rushed him, and he punched it in the face with all his might, teeth gritted tight. The single punch cracked the bony armour around its head and it tumbled across the floor. A Creep erupted from the ground behind him and went to charge him, only for Bertilak to roll aside and he shot his chain forward, and he wrapped it around the beast's throat, choking it.
The Creep screeched in pain and he swung the chain around and threw it towards Maria, who jumped up in the air and sliced the creature in half. He turned as the Ursa charged him again, swiping its paw towards his face, but he stopped it dead in its tracks with his muscular arm, glaring the beast down. He then twisted the arm and snapped it with all his might before smashing it in the face with his mace. The creature flew up in the air, and then he launched the chains up, wrapping them around its body, and he impaled it onto a broken lamppost, killing it instantly.
He turned as a pack of Thralls sprinted at him, screaming horrifically with black blood pouring from their skeletal mouths. He activated his semblance, igniting the surrounding air, and the Thralls all lunged for him. He ducked, avoiding the first which fell onto the floor behind him, then caught the second by the throat. The flesh of the Thrall burned away, and he punched the next in the face, before throwing the one he choked to the floor and curb stomped the monster.
He caught the next by the head and ripped the skull in half with frightening ease, before shooting the last through the eye socket.
Glynda faced down a large pack of Sabyrs that sprinted towards her, but she effortlessly levitated the rubble behind her and blasted it all towards the Big Cats, crushing and shredding their fragile bodies with the rubble. But then something more her size attacked, a Teryx. The enormous creature landed right in front of her, roaring with fury, splaying out its red wings. The Draconid blasted a fireball at her, but she lifted a panel of road up from the ground which took the incoming fireball for her.
She sprinted towards the creature and used rubble she was levitating with the Disciplinarian to run up towards it, and she kicked it in the side of the head, smashing its head against the building. The Teryx shook its dazed head, hissing savagely as it turned and lunged towards her, but she jumped and slammed her boot down onto the top of its head. The Teryx crashed into the floor, then she ripped the rebar from the destroyed buildings and fired them into the wings, grounding it as it tried to take off.
The Teryx shrieked in pain, crashing to the ground, then Glynda sprinted at the monster, which turned and snapped its jaws at her. She rolled aside, then cast a blast of purple energy, which smashed the beast against the wall once more. It growled deeply in pain, then it blasted a powerful cloud of fire towards her, but she sprinted around it and leapt over its neck, forming a stormy cloud of lightning dust above it.
The lightning burned the flesh away, causing the Teryx to shriek, and she finished it by impaling it with a massive chunk of rubble, killing it instantly. As she landed, she pushed her glasses back up her nose, looking uninterested, like always.
Everyone looked around as a massive force of Grimm charged towards them, but Ozpin spun his Sceptre through his fingers, then he suddenly sprinted at great speeds. And he cast a spell. Five more variants of himself all burst from his body, and they all started slashing across the bodies of the Grimm with the Sceptre he carried. They ran together, and then, as the vast horde of Grimm surrounded them, they all held the Sceptre up and closed their eyes.
The real Ozpin's eyes opened, glowing bright green, and then all spun around as he called out, "DUCK!". They all dropped to the floor, and all the copies did the same thing he did, blasting powerful beams of green energy around them, creating a terrifying display of magic, shredding the hundreds of Grimm in seconds.
Ozpin's copies vanished, and he stumbled, using his Sceptre as a support, exhausted from the energy that spell required. "Ozpin… you okay?" Glynda asked, concerned.
"Yes, just shaking it off. I could feel those Grimm coming, knew I needed to time that spell just right to get them all." He explained.
"That magic's terrifying, y'know. I'm glad you're on our side." Carmine commented, chuckling.
As they all stood there, they all looked at each other, hearing the same sound.
Cawing… the cawing of Crows and Ravens.
"The Lord of the Wood…" Ozpin confirmed, and they all stared at the centre of the large open area of the district.
The Corvid Birds all descended together like a tornado, forming into the Leshen. The huge entity stood tall, and then they saw two more figures. Ozpin's eyes widened, because he knew their chances had suddenly become a lot less confident.
The Whisperer and the Onyx Phantom were here as well.
"Professor Ozpin… relinquish that Relic, would you kindly? Would make things a lot easier." The Onyx Phantom requested.
"Let's think about that… hmm… nah." Carmine answered charmingly as she continued to rotate the Sai around her hips.
"So you would allow so many to suffer instead of a fast and painless end?" The Whisperer questioned, taking the form of Salem as it spoke to him.
"Nothing is ending. It is not your choice to make." Ozpin snarled, spinning his Sceptre through his fingers, then holding it in both hands and aiming it at the trio of Higher Demons.
Everyone drew their weapons, whilst the Higher Demons glared at them down.
"So if you want it? Come and take it." Ozpin challenged.
The Onyx Phantom chuckled. "We were hoping you would say that."
Jaune
They stood below, shivering in the cold…
Jaune's eyes widened though, before he even heard the sirens begin to blare… he saw snowflakes… falling from the sky. It made him feel sick to his stomach to see the snowflakes descend from the sky. The howling alarms echoed across Mantle, and he stared up at the sky with Pyrrha stood close to him.
"We're out of time…" Jaune stammered, his jaw rattling both from fear and from the cold.
The Hardlight Dust flickered all around the city as the Oncoming Shadow relentlessly threw themselves into it. Slashing, biting and blasting the shield repeatedly. "Hardlight Reserves are critical! It's shutting down!" The technician screamed through the whole local network.
"Robyn! Get the civilians out of here now! You're out of time!" Ortega commanded from the Drift of Wandering Star.
Jaune stared ahead as the shields flickered more and more, and for a moment, he saw Vir Nominis Umbra amongst the horde. He slowly held out his hands and smirked sinisterly at them all, and then… he snapped his fingers.
"Now… the fun begins…" Vir Nominis Umbra chortled quietly, and then the whole shield dome crumbled away, leaving nothing to slow the Legion of Darkness. They all charged forward, headed straight for them.
And gunfire erupted.
The Battle of Mantle had begun.
Author Note - Let the Battle for Mantle begin...
The coming chapters are gonna be so epic, can't wait to write these massive scale battles. These are always some of my favourites to write because I get to write so many characters all fighting together against overwhelming odds.
This was a very enjoyable chapter to write (sorry it took a while, combination of things slowed me down lol), the tense conversation between Jaune, Pyrrha, Oscar and Umbra, Ozpin and his team in Argus, the battle at the Manor, and of course that ending. I love that ending, with the way the shield starting to shut down and the snowflakes fall through, that being enough for Jaune to realise that they are out of time.
Let's hope they can hold out long enough, for both Robyn and the civilians, and for RWBY and the Ace Ops up top on Atlas.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review, follow and favourite!
Stay tuned for the next chapter - Battle for Mantle
- Matt