Chapter 22 – Ashes and Embers…

Glynda

"Ozpin? OZPIN!" She screamed as the massive explosion erupted, swallowing the attacking Krastax she saw in the distance. She felt her eyes burn when that massive explosion erupted, only noticing buildings being blown apart by its shock wave for a millisecond before that blinding white light was all she could behold.

She covered her ears like everyone else, ducking down and closing her eyes. The survivors of Argus screamed in terror as the explosion roared, mothers and fathers clutching their children close as they saw their home be completely wiped out. The roar of the deafening explosion continued for a few seconds, before the blinding light slowly faded away, and revealed to them all the amount of devastation. Glynda opened her eyes. They stung from the brightness of the magical explosion, but she gasped at what she saw.

The entire city of Argus had been blown apart, the buildings were nothing more than rubble now, and the three Krastax that they saw jumping towards Ozpin in the centre of the city were killed instantly. She saw their bodies floating away in the air, crumbling away into a thick cloud of smoke and ash.

"By the gods…" Cordovin gasped from inside of her damaged Colossus. The huge M.E.C.H walked forward to stand beside Glynda at the edge of the cliff, seeing the flames that coated the landscape. The two stared at the devastation, seeing the waves crashing back into Argus in a massive tidal wave, swallowing the entire city. Booms and crashes echoed as huge amounts of seawater flooded into the city. Submerging the districts of rubble and flame.

"Oz…" Glynda stammered, still tightly clutching her scroll in her hand, hanging her head in grief.

"Do you think… they're alive?" Cordovin asked.

"Ozpin is… he has to be… he used the spell… but the others? I… I don't know… they had the entire Oncoming Shadow focus on them to give us time." Glynda explained.

"At what cost?" The sound of awe was ever present in Cordovin's voice. "Decades of civilisation… of history here… completely laid to ruin. To buy us time." Cordovin asked.

Glynda turned when she heard the nervous voice of a little girl. "I-Is mommy okay?" She tugged at her father's arm, but he just collapsed to his knees.

Many people never saw their loved ones or friends die to the Grimm, and believed that their loved ones were still alive in the city.

But now?

Now there was a certainty… that the people on this ridge were all that remained of Argus.

A few thousand people…

… a fraction of its population.

"What will we have left at the end of this, Glynda? Even if we do kill Vir Nominis Umbra… so many have died already… entire cities are being destroyed as we speak… what will we have left?" Cordovin asked, looking down at Glynda, who stared at the devastation.

Her eyes were closed. She wasn't ignorant of that question. She had been asking herself the same thing. Perhaps every single person across the planet was.

Maybe even Ozpin.

But she knew what she believed in and looked up at the Colossus. "A chance, Caroline. That's all we'll need. Even after all this? We can ensure we have a future, a new world to build." Glynda explained. She looked back at the destruction and sighed. "Sometimes a chance is all we need."

She turned and walked back to the people, and Cordovin looked at the destruction of her city that she swore to protect.

She exhaled, wiping the tear from her eye, before turning and joining her. "Come on, people! We've got a long and hard walk ahead to get to Dragonspire Keep. It's in the mountains, but it's a fortress. Let's get out of here before the Grimm come back." Cordovin commanded, and the people picked up what little they had, and continued to move, using the many vehicles they saved, including Tanks and Paladins, and continued the trek south.

Towards the Mistraalian Mountains.

Maria

The air was laden with the aftermath of destruction…

… Ashes and Embers…

Maria lifted her head when the roaring of the explosion ceases, even after covering their ears it took them some time before their hearing had fully returned. They also saw the ashes of the Grimm surround them all, vaporised by the blast front of that massive explosion. There was a strange feeling in the air. It made the hair on their bodies stand on end as they stood tall, looking around. It wasn't just the shock of seeing an entire city be completely decimated by a single magical spell… they could feel the magical residue still in the air.

Like the air was full of electricity…

Carmine gasped as she looked up, seeing the Grimm ashes floating away and the giant Krastax crumbling apart in the air around Ozpin. That was when they saw him, stood atop the rubble of Argus, surrounded by fire and grasping the cane in his hand, the glowing green Relic of Knowledge descending back down into the Cane. It closed up, and he set it down, palm atop the handle, and he looked down at them, eyes glowing green for a few moments.

They did not know what to feel… but fear was one of the things that they felt. Seeing the power that the Relic of Knowledge was capable of? Not even the Relic of Destruction either, this was merely the power of knowledge.

Ozpin's mechanical wings folded away, and he walked down the rubble. Maria looked at his expression, and it was a hard one to identify. Ozpin was always a master at hiding how he truly felt, but she could see the pain in his eyes at what he was forced to do at that moment. He approached them and looked around. "Where's Bertilak?" He asked, his eyes widening.

Carmine broke down, falling to her knees, and quietly sobbed. "He gave his life to save us. His aura broke, and he was badly injured by a Spiker. He blocked the Grimm from chasing us down an alleyway and let them kill him… so we could make it." Maria answered, and Ozpin closed his eyes in grief.

He looked down at Carmine and gently touched her shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Carmine." She recoiled off him and stormed off, standing amongst the ashes of Argus, wringing her fingers as she thought about the death of her old friend.

"I barely even got to know him." Maria sighed, shaking her head. Ozpin tapped his fingers on the handle of his cane, looking at Carmine but also looking at the destruction this weapon did to the city. An entire city wiped out… by his hand.

"I once helped build this city up from where it fell… once an Arkhoni City I helped destroy… and now I have done it again." He sighed, the guilt flowed through his words. All of that still went over Maria's head despite the teachings she received on the way here, it was still a lot of information to digest… but the thing she saw most of all was not the reborn Knight of Vengeance, but a man wracked with guilt.

"It worked, Oz. Look around… the Oncoming Shadow are dead and the people made it. Your plan worked." Maria explained.

Ozpin was quiet for a few moments before he spoke again. "Yes." Was all he said, walking ahead, not holding onto Carmine, knowing that she wanted nothing from him. Bertilak could still be alive if they had chosen to not follow him, her best friend… he wouldn't blame her if she hated him right now.

Maria watched Ozpin as he quietly walked away from them both. "Where are you going?" Maria asked.

"Mistral." He answered. "We need an Airship to get to Arkhonex, and maybe we can help more people there…" Ozpin answered.

Maria could hear the doubts in his voice at the end there. "Ozpin… just wait a second." She said, catching up to him and holding onto his shoulder. He stopped and turned, and they both looked at Carmine stood there. "Look… we lost Bertilak… morale's dropping a lot. Let's just take a second, okay?" She asked.

"You can. It was foolish of me to ask you to join me. I dragged you all into this. So I am asking you to go. I will carry it on from here on out." Ozpin promised as he walked away from her again.

"Are you serious right now?" She questioned, and he stopped, looking back at her. "You really think you can just ditch us here?"

"I am giving you both a choice. I can't stay here. Vir Nominis Umbra and the Higher Demons know that I was here and soon will send more to attack. And their attacks will only get worse… what we just went through? That will be nothing compared to what he will throw at us next. He will stop at nothing to get this Relic." Ozpin explained. "I do not blame either of you for hating me right now for dragging you all into this. Bertilak is dead because of my choices, choices that I own, and thus I will go on my own to give you both a better chance." Ozpin explained.

"No." Carmine spoke up at long last. The two of them turned to see her approach. "You're not leaving us here. We're coming with you…"

"But…"

"But nothing." Carmine swiftly answered. "We all knew the risks coming with you and you gave us many chances to cut and run before we came here. But you offered Bertilak and me a chance to make things right, to do some good. Bertilak died saving our lives… he changed… and so have I." Carmine explained.

"The Grimm would have come for me eventually, or Umbra would have taken the Relics and I'd be dead, anyway. I'd rather go down fighting. I didn't know Bertilak very well… but I know for a fact that he wouldn't have wanted his end to be any other way." Maria explained, and Carmine smiled, nodding her head.

"We have to keep going. For him. Even if it kills me, I will honour his sacrifice by helping you." Carmine promised, looking around at the devastation. It was all still a lot to take in, but the fact she still had faith that in the end this would all be a distant memory? It was enough… even if she wouldn't live to see that future, it would still be worth knowing that others would live on to remember them by.

A chance to be remembered by deeds done.

Maria nodded. "We're not walking away." Maria promised, and Ozpin smiled, nodding his head.

"And for that… I thank you." Ozpin said, and they started to leave, but as they did, Ozpin noticed something that surprised him. They stopped with him and looked around, for the thick layer of ash had cleared just enough for them to see what Ozpin had just noticed.

"The Reality Splits… they're gone…" Ozpin realised.

"Why's that so strange?" Carmine asked.

"Vir Nominis Umbra would not have closed them, not even after this, that was simply to buy some time. But… I think the explosion caused them to become unstable and collapse in on themselves." Ozpin theorised.

"Like the Knights' Bannermen…" Maria agreed.

"Exactly." He said, turning to them.

"So we can close the Reality Splits with explosives powerful enough? Could slow Umbra's efforts down." Carmine agreed.

Piece by piece, they were learning the weaknesses of their enemy.

Perhaps the key to slowing these attacks down was not in retreat, but by throwing enough firepower into the portals.

To stop them from pouring through…

It wasn't enough to stop the Oncoming Shadow, but it was something they could use.

Atlas Academy

Kannix and the Hound walked towards them.

Yang stared at the monster that was once her mother, prowling towards the Ace Ops whilst Kannix focused his attention on Ruby, Blake and Yang. "We'll handle the creature, you fight that asshole." Harriet said, raising her fists with a confident smirk on her face.

"That's no ordinary Grimm. Don't underestimate it." Blake warned, explaining it was Yang's mother would take far too long, especially with the monster right there.

Ruby focused on Kannix as he strolled towards them, weapons at the ready, then he smirked. He suddenly fired at Ruby, but she spiralled Crescent Rose through her fingers, blocking the explosive shot. But she wasn't expecting him to suddenly launch towards her in that moment, and he hooked the blade of his other arm under her chin and lifted her off the ground and throwing her downwards. The ground cracked beneath her. Then he extended his blade with a smirk, glowing with Shadow Dust.

He stabbed down towards her chest, but Yang punched Kannix across the jaw, throwing him aside. He flipped through the air and dragged his Hook Blade into the ground to steady himself, then aiming his arm cannon at Yang. He swiftly fired a triple shot of explosive rounds towards the Brawler, and the explosive shells detonated into her arms as she crossed them over. The explosion pushed Yang across the floor, but she stood her ground. Blake and Ruby both charged towards Kannix and he sprinted towards them as well.

His eyes shone bright white, and he blasted a beam of Silver Energy towards the two of them. They both rolled aside, then Blake threw Gambol Shroud towards him, the ribbon and blade wrapping around his arm. She yanked him forward, then she jumped and kicked him in the face with both feel. He stumbled around but still slashed at her with his blade. It cut clean through her Shadow Clone, allowing her to thrust forward, stabbing through his weak aura and impaling him through the chest.

She pushed him back a few steps, but he grabbed her by the throat with his hand after transforming the hook. He choked her and raised the blade of his cannon arm up to stab her through the stomach until Ruby launched forward and went for the beheading blow with her Scythe. His eyes widened, and he tossed Blake aside and caught the blade of Crescent Rose. He ripped Gambol Shroud from his chest and kicked Ruby in the chest, knocking her away.

Yang blasted towards him, shattering the ground behind her, and she punched Kannix in the face. She ducked under his swing that would have slit her throat, and returned with three hard punches to the torso, and one hard uppercut into his jaw.

He staggered back, and in that time Yang jumped towards the wall and jumped off that as well, punching downwards into his face. He dropped to his knee and his eyes shone bright once again and he gritted his teeth in anger, firing down at Yang's feet, blowing her into the air and catching onto her foot, throwing her against the ground with substantial force. Yang grunted in pain, then rolled aside as he stabbed down at where her face just was.

On the other side of the fight, the Ace Ops faced off against the Hound.

Harriet cracked her neck and shot forward, filled with confidence as she attacked the beast. The Hound effortlessly caught her by the face and threw her against the wall. Harriet grunted in pain, then looked back ahead to see the Hound lunging directly towards her. Its muscular jaws filled with jagged teeth open wide to devour her, but she shot aside, leaving a trail of orange electricity crackling in her wake. She rushed forward, punching it over and over as she dashed past it, then Clover wrapped his Fishing Line around the throat of the creature, pulling back all the way and pulling it away from her and into his fist. He punched the Hound in the face with his Horseshoe in his grasp.

The Hound spun around after the punch, then unexpectedly sprouted a long spiked tail which it whipped across Clover's chest, knocking him away. Harriet shot forward once again to land a punch, but the Hound smashed her across the face once again, like batting a fly away.

Marrow stood up and reached for his gun. "No! Get the door open, Marrow! We'll hold this thing off!" Clover ordered. Marrow nodded and returned to the doors, feeling his heart in his chest pounding more and more.

Clover flipped backwards and dodged the Hound as it jumped towards him, slashing its claws repeatedly at where he was standing. The Hound punched down into the ground, ripping a huge chunk of rubble from the floor and hurling it towards him. He rolled aside just in time as the boulder of rock exploded behind him.

Vine and Elm both sprinted towards the Creature and Elm roared, slamming her Hammer into the side of the creature. The impact blew it against the wall of the Academy Tower, but it suddenly formed wings and flew up into the air, and launched towards Elm, slashing her across the face with its claws. As it banked around, Vine extended his arms with his aura, and grabbed onto the wings of the beast, pulling it downwards onto the floor. The Hound crashed, but the second it got back up; it caught Elm's Hammer as she swung down towards the Hound's head.

The Hound rolled across the ground, causing Elm to stumble forward, and the large beast suddenly transformed. Its limbs shortened, and it sprinted like a dog, and it made great distance as it ran around them.

It jumped towards Elm but was punched in the face by Vine as it went for her. It tumbled across the courtyard, transforming back into its upright form. Vine flung chunks of rubble towards the Hound with his elongates Aura Arms, but thick bony armour grew within seconds in the right places in its shoulder and back, allowing it to tank the incoming damage effortlessly.

Elm rooted herself in position and launched rockets from her Missile Launcher towards the Hound, and they exploded into its chest. Her eyes widened for a second when she saw Raven screaming in immense agony inside, like she was trying to climb away, only for the black tar hands of the Hound to trap her inside once more.

"What the fuck?" Elm stammered in horror.

The head of the Hound folded back over the shoulders and the sound of bones snapping made Elm feel sick. Especially after seeing that there was a living human being in there. The Hound howled to the sky, then massive Nevermore Wings sprouted from its back and it flew high in the air, launching Fatal Feathers towards Elm. She spun her Hammer through her fingers, deflecting a few of them, but one still hit her in the chest, blowing her across the floor, even her rooted aura was not enough to hold her there.

The Hound soared overhead, blasting fire from its mouth as well, burning the surrounding area. Clover tossed his Horseshoe upwards, and it smacked against the side of the Hound's head, and it returned to his hand. However, it wasn't enough to knock the beast out of the sky. "Vine!" Harriet called out, sprinting to him and he used his Aura Extensions to form a slingshot, and he launched Harriet up like a missile. She flew into the side of the Hound, and the impact knocked the creature down. It crashed into the ground, then they saw spidery bony legs form out from its body, allowing it to scuttle swiftly towards them.

"Gods!" Harriet yelped as it formed long blades where its arms should be, slashing repeatedly at the Huntress. Harriet rolled aside and channelled kinetic energy through her fists, blasting powerful volts of energy into the Hound's side. It growled in anger and jumped, getting some distance across the courtyard before steadying itself.

Ruby, Blake, and Yang continued to battle against Kannix.

Kannix charged up his arm cannon, and it fired at a fully automatic rate, spraying a line of explosive shells towards Ruby. She dashed aside in a flurry of rose petals before firing herself towards him. She slashed across his arm, sparks flying in a bright and brilliant golden display. He fired a beam of his Silver Eyes at her but she rolled underneath his gaze and stabbed him in the leg with her knife before hooking her blade under his jaw. She went to fire in the hope she could cut his head off, but he quickly grabbed onto the handle of her Scythe and ripped it from her grasp. He jumped away and spun around, throwing the scythe towards her.

Ruby burst into Rose Petals and swirled over the incoming weapon, catching it as it passed underneath her. She spun it around and rested it across her back, stood low and one hand held to the floor, eye glowing silver. Kannix thrusted his cannon arm, and it reloaded, now with a large payload of fire dust.

Blake sprinted with Yang towards him, and he bashed Yang across the cheek with the barrel of his cannon, and as she tumbled away, he blasted a cloud of flames across the ground at Blake. She jumped up in the air and loaded an Ice Dust Magazine into her pistol, firing it into the ground. The flames melted the ice and created fog. Kannix looked around in the fog for her, then spun around as Blake swung towards him.

She spun through the air, slashing both blade and sheath, and when she landed, she smacked down the top of his head with the Sheath and slashed across his chest with her sword. Kannix drove his cannon downwards into the ground, blasting multiple shells downwards, causing the floor to explode. Blake flew up into the air and he aimed up at her, nailing her with a single shot.

The explosion blew her upwards, and she crashed against the ground, groaning in pain as her purple aura flickered. Kannix kicked Blake across the face, flipping her onto her back, and he extended his blade and went to drive it down into her throat. Yang suddenly jumped onto his back and wrapped her Cybernetic Arm around his throat, pulling him away from Blake.

She kicked off his back, performing a perfect backflip, and landing onto the floor. She raised Ember Celica and fired repeatedly at him, firing shell after shell in his direction. He deflected the incoming bullets with his blade, then showed off his newest addition – a hardlight shield attachment in his arm. As she fired missiles at him, he raised it and rushed towards her. He swung at her legs, but she jumped over the blade and punched him in the face. He transformed his hand into its Hook Blade form, and brought it down into her shoulder, her golden aura still protecting her.

The hook went underneath her armpit and he flung her across the floor, stamping down on her chest. She gasped in pain as he stood above her and aimed the cannon down at her face. "Don't worry, I'll tell Kassius all about how you died… when I kill him myself." Kannix chuckled sinisterly, but Yang's eyes flushed red and she immediately reacted by firing missiles into his face.

Ruby flew forward and stabbed him in the throat with her knife, making him grunt in agony. He gasped in pain, grabbing onto the knife as he choked on his own blood. He dropped to one knee and stared at them with gritted teeth.

But he ripped the blade from his throat and spat out the blood, and his aura still returned, swiftly healing his wound.

That goddamn semblance… how are we even supposed to kill him?

"I got it!" They all heard Marrow call out, getting the door open and running in first. Elm smashed the Hound across the face with her Hammer and the Ace Ops sprinted for the door. One by one the Specialists got inside, then Ruby, Blake and Yang followed…

… only for Clover to kick Ruby in the chest and close the door, locking it behind him.

"CLOVER!" Ruby screamed, getting back up and banging on the door in anger. "What the hell are you doing?"

"It's our job to save Atlas. You can do what you do best and continue to fight suicidal battles." Clover responded, and Ruby gritted her teeth.

"Damn it Clover! We need that Relic! Don't do this!" Ruby screamed.

Kannix chuckled sinisterly behind them, with the Hound pacing back and forth beside him. "Ah… you clearly didn't catch onto the arrogance of the Ace Ops. Believing only they can be the heroes of Atlas. Only thinking of their reputations even now…"

Blake and Yang stood with Ruby, suddenly at much worse odds now.

Now they had to fight Kannix and the Hound at the same time… without backup…

Weiss

Ashes and Embers…

They floated past her face as she sat on the old bench her mother once drank her alcohol every single day on, but now it was just a seat for Weiss to tend to her injured leg. She wrapped cloth from her sleeve around the open wound in her leg where that piece of shrapnel stabbed into her thigh. She winced in pain as she pulled it tight to stop the bleeding and let her recharging aura do the rest.

Weiss rested Myrtenaster on her lap after finding it and looked at the destroyed remnants of the Schnee Manor. Her father was most likely burnt to a crisp where he was hanging. She didn't know what she'd feel when she killed him, but she knew it would never be a good feeling. But the one thing she didn't feel, though, was guilt. She gave him every chance to survive, to do the right thing. But he refused and chose to do the same thing he always did, to run away.

He did when Ironwood escaped his cell after they got Ruby out of Salem's custody, and he did it once again to escape Weiss.

But not this time.

He was dead for certain now, and she sat outside of her smouldering home, closing her eyes. She still felt grief though, not for her father… but more for the Schnee Family itself. She was the Last of the Schnees now, every last one had been killed in one way or another. Willow was murdered by Jacques. Klein may not have been a Schnee by blood, but he was more of a father to Weiss and Winter than Jacques ever was, and was also murdered by Jacques. Whitley was shot in the face by Ortega, and Donavan turned him into a machine. And Winter was stabbed in the back by Winter.

All she really had left… was Starla… and even then, she was the Knight of Loss, bound by a curse and already long dead.

Weiss was the last in a long and legendary line.

Should I even care about the Schnee name now? What's left? My father took our name and turned it into the most hated family known to Remnant. He tormented the Faunus and Humanity alike… and betrayed everything we stood for.

What would William Schnee have thought back in Arkhonex if he saw what we would become?

What would Nicholas have done if he knew what his Son in Law would do?

Weiss sighed, shaking her head. "Why am I asking myself these questions? What does it matter?" She stood up and walked away from the building, but she had to take one last look at the building.

An enormous cloud of smoke filled with embers burst from the roof as it collapsed inwards, and all she could hear was the sound of so many walls and structures inside collapsing. She rested the blade of Myrtenaster on her shoulder and she pulled her purse out from her bag and opened it, pulling the old Schnee Snowflake Badge she had in there after all these years out. She stared at it and tossed it into the flames.

The Schnees were no more…

… and Weiss wanted to have nothing to do with such a name.

She walked away from the ruins of the Schnee Legacy and approached the road that directed her towards the City of Atlas. She could see the carnage from here, as buildings were collapsing everywhere and the screams of innocents dying in agony could be heard from here. The bushes were rustling with more and more Grimm. The howling roars of the Monstra Whales surrounding the floating city echoed endlessly, and she squeezed her eyes shut, knowing she would never make it through that city.

Not with the state her leg was in.

But she was going to head into that hell anyway, because that was her duty. She took one step forward until a familiar voice made her turn. "Weiss!" Penny called out. She turned with wide blue eyes to see the trail of green behind her flying overhead. She dove and carved through multiple hidden Grimm in the bushes, killing them instantly. Immediately after landing, she wrapped her arms around Weiss. "I'm so glad you're okay!" Penny cried out with joy, and Weiss could see the scuffs and bruises on the poor girl.

It was bad down in Mantle, she could tell.

"You too, Penny." Weiss whispered, her voice cracking momentarily, and returning the hug with equal warmth. Penny's eyes widened, and she looked around, still holding Weiss' shoulders.

"Where're the others? Ruby? Blake? Yang?"

"They went ahead… into the city to get into Atlas Academy. I… I don't know…" Weiss answered, her concern not being hidden at all.

"They made it. They must have." Penny's hope remained as strong as ever. "Wait, why did you stay here?"

"I… stayed to stop my father." Weiss answered, Penny's eyes widened. Weiss didn't have to explain what she did, Penny could tell from her face.

"I'm so sorry, Weiss."

"Don't apologise… I don't care about killing my father… I gave him plenty of chances, more than he deserved. And even then, he still tried to kill me. He left me no choice." Penny still gave her a hug despite Weiss explaining. Weiss buried her face into Penny's shoulder, gripping her tight. Weiss sniffled, and they broke the embrace so they could focus on the task at hand.

"What… what are you doing up here?" Weiss asked.

"Jaune told me to get up here and help you. They're holding the Wall right now, but he knows you need more help than they do right now." Penny explained.

"How bad is it down there?" Weiss asked.

"It's bad… but we're still fighting. Kassius and Hyde possessed one of the Krastax." Penny informed.

"The Krastax are here too?" Weiss questioned. Penny nodded. Weiss couldn't help but chuckle, shaking her head. "Sounds like those two. Doing the craziest things to get the advantage."

Penny then noticed her leg. "Are you okay? Your leg…"

"Y-Yeah… I have to be… when my father was trying to escape, the Manor was attacked by Shriekers. One hit the roof at the end. We were both badly injured." Weiss recounted.

"Weiss, I know you're strong but… you won't make it through the city with your leg like that. Your aura needs time to replenish." Penny explained.

"We don't have time to wait, Penny. The shields are down, and Umbra could come any second now." Weiss explained.

Penny looked around and she was lost until Weiss had an idea. "Unless…"

"What is it?" Penny asked.

"That's it!" She gasped and laughed lightly. "Maybe Father is finally useful after all."

"What are you talking about?" Penny asked.

"When I was talking to my father, he mentioned where his Personal Airship is. I did some basic training on flying Airships in those five years of peace we had. I can get to the Docking Bay it's in and fly it to the Academy to get the others out of there when they have the Relic." Weiss explained.

"How far is it?" Penny asked.

"Over there." Weiss pointed at a structure across the street and away from the city, but it was also toward one of the Monstra Whales. "The Grimm are focusing on the city right now. It may be enough for me to make it."

"Okay, I'll help you." Penny said.

"No, get to the Academy. They're gonna need your help more than I do. If there are Grimm in there, I'll handle them." Weiss explained.

"Bu-"

Their conversation was cut short when a blinding bolt of black and red lightning shot up from mantle and across the sky, darkening everything for a moment before they saw it crash straight through a skyscraper, severing it in half. The building toppled down into the street, shattering into thousands of massive pieces.

And the bolt landed at Atlas Academy.

They both felt their blood chill and their eyes widened. "Penny, go… if that's who I think that is, then they need your help. Go!" Weiss yelled, and Penny was not arguing anymore. She blasted off and headed directly for Atlas Academy whilst Weiss ran to Docking Bay D-76 to get the Airship.

Praying… that she wasn't too late.

The Battle of Mantle

The Grimm continued to lay siege against Mantle down below, clambering their way up the walls like colonies of ants trying to reach food.

Out in the Tundra, Hyde continued to battle against the Shark Krastax with everything he had, slashing its massive claws across the beast's body. The two Kaiju clashed hard, the Shark smashing its head into the Eel's, causing it to stagger back. The Shark grappled onto it and bit down onto the neck of the creature, forcing it back a few steps. Only missing Kassius by an inch. Suddenly the head of the Eel split open and the long slithering serpent head emerged and bit down on the neck of the Shark in return. The deep wound made the Shark release and allow the Eel to make a second attack.

It thrusted forward and drove both bladed arms through the ribs of the beast and they both crashed to the ground. The Eel roared furiously down at the creature. Up above, Cinder flew across the sky, bringing down lightning and massive tornados of ice into the Oncoming Shadow beneath her, and firing her bow at the airborne creatures that tried to take her down. She effortlessly dodged the incoming beasts and dove downwards, forming her two swords, slashing through the ground forces around the two Krastax.

Up above, the Atlesian Airforce continued to battle against the Grimm. Two fighter jets roared across the sky and fired missiles into a Tempest, blowing it apart and sending the simple organism crashing down into the snow with significant force. The Drift of Wandering Star fired all of its Broadside Cannons down into the Oncoming Shadow, decimating thousands of Grimm, killing multiple Megoliaths as well.

Atop the Wall, Fear slashed Formido Falcem at Oscar, who dashed aside and cut across the back of his knee and Sun jumped up, smashing Ruyi Jingu Bang downwards into the top of Fear's head. The impact dropped him to one knee, and he growled in anger until Hazel punched him in the face extremely hard. He staggered back, then Oscar shot forward, ramming his sword through the Knight's ribs. Fear grabbed onto Oscar and threw him against the wall with all his might, shattering the concrete.

Oscar grunted in pain and had to quickly roll aside as Fear slammed the blade of his Scythe down where he just was. Sun held his hands together, his aura glowing gold and unleashing his Via Suns. They all sprinted and struck Fear from all sides, hitting him repeatedly with their glowing Bo-Staffs. Fear spun around on the spot, slicing clean through the three Via Sun replicants, cutting them in half. He then blasted a cloud of his toxin from his hand towards Sun, which he narrowly avoided being affected by through rolling out of its path.

Sun detached the Staff into its Gunchucks Form, firing shot after shot into Fear. The Knight backed up slowly, effortlessly blocking and deflecting the incoming rounds with his Scythe, spinning and cutting the bullets down. His backhand smacked Sun across the face, but he spun on the spit and shot Fear in the face. The Knight recoiled back from the hard impact to the eye, and he ripped his crossbow from his arm, firing the bolt at him.

Sun back flipped, dodging the incoming bolt as it became lodged in the wall behind him. Oscar launched past Sun and jumped up in the air, slashing through the Knight and sliding past. Fear growled and swung his Scythe downwards towards him, only narrowly missing. Fear's wings opened, and he flew up in the air, and soared incredibly fast at the Traveller, slashing through the wall itself, breaking pieces of concrete apart in one hard swing.

Oscar dove to the floor, then Hazel sprinted towards Fear as he flew towards them. He jumped and grabbed onto the wing, smashing him against the side of the wall. He transformed into Bat Form and flew up into the air. As he soared overhead, he attacked the Jets above, slashing his claws against the rear fuel cells, blowing one jet to pieces.

"There! Take him out!" Another pilot yelled, firing a missile at the giant Undead Bat, only for him to dodge the rocket and transform back into Knight Form with his wings still splayed out, and cutting clean through the wing with his Scythe. The jet spun out of control and crashed into the ground.

Fury flew directly at the walls, blasting a column of fire down into it, damaging it in multiple places, before landing and cutting three soldiers in half with his axes. He spun around and threw another axe into a soldier, pinning him to the wall and grabbing the nearest soldier with his hands. Fury roared in berserk anger, ripping him clean in half, setting the corpse aflame as blood sprayed everywhere.

Suddenly Fulcrum stabbed straight through his side and he turned, seeing Team C.F.V.Y sprinting towards him. Fury grabbed the sword at his side, ripping it out effortlessly and throwing it at Yatsuhashi. He ducked and slid underneath it, and jumped up to knee Fury in the jaw. Fox sprinted at the Burning Knight and slashed Sharp Retribution repeatedly against his chest before dodging his incoming axe. He slammed down onto the floor where he was standing.

Coco flew in the air, still firing Gianduja whilst also using her Maiden Powers to keep herself in flight. Fury formed his wings and used them to shield the bullets which rained down on him. Yatsuhashi turned as Velvet dragged the sword with her and tossed it to him. He caught it and brought it down into Fury's neck, dropping him to his knee. Fury roared so loud it made Yatsuhashi's ears ring and he blasted lava from his jaws.

Yatsuhashi rolled away, pulling the sword out with him. Velvet blasted up in the air towards Fury and formed Replicants of Ember Celica, punching the Knight in the face as hard as she could. She slid underneath him, then switched to Magnhild, blasting pink grenades into his spine. He snarled and slashed his axes at her, smashing through parts of the wall, burning and melting everything around him. He sprinted after her as she retreated, but Coco was following, and blasted more bullets into Fury's side.

She then closed her hand into a fist, forming a cloud of frost, and above her was a massive spear of ice that she threw into Fury. The spike punctured through the magma and pumice. The Knight's ambient temperature, however, still melted the ice extremely quickly.

Team C.F.V.Y continued to clash against the Knight of Fury, but Fear and Fury weren't the only Knights making their attacks.

Despite her efforts in fighting against the curse controlling her physical form, Loss landed and slashed through two soldiers, covering the tearful warrior in their blood. And Death flew across the sky, launching Fatal Feathers down into the soldiers below, before diving like a peregrine falcon and transforming into Knight Form, landing on top of a soldier, crushing her under his metal boots.

A soldier rushed towards him, shooting his rifle with rage at the Knight, but the bullets were merely bouncing off the thick Isomacium Plating. He didn't even use the sword, he just punched the soldier's head into the wall so hard his head burst like a grape.

Loss stood there and stared at the blood on her blades, and she tried to fight back against her curse.

She knew deep down the others were trying as well… but she was the only one so far who was holding her body back. She turned to see Emerald Sustrai and Neopolitan stood to her left, ready to fight. "Please… stop… me…" Starla begged.

"I'm sorry…" Emerald said, and Loss nodded in agreement.

Death walked across the wall and stopped. Seeing Qrow Branwen stood there waiting for him, Harbinger in his grip. "Qrow Branwen…" Death spoke, and the Corvid Huntsman gritted his teeth in anger to see the Summer's Killer stood before him once again. "How many times shall we repeat this dance?"

"However, many times we have to… until you get your head straight… Krekras Blackridge." Qrow answered. He saw the twitch in his head when he said that. But the Curse still had a hold over him even now.

But that twitch was enough of a sign.

Out in the tundra, Kassius and Hyde continued to battle against the Shark Krastax, slashing through the Shark's armour plating with its massive claws. The Eel jumped and slid across the ground, ripping up the snow and soil beneath its claws, and spraying acidic venom towards the beast. The Shark roared and jumped towards the Eel, only for Hyde to swiftly drive the claws up the jaws of the Shark, and right through the roof of its skull. He roared and slashed the claws through the neck as hard as he could, cutting the Shark's head from its shoulders.

Cinder and Kassius smiled.

"HELL YEAH HYDE!"

The joy was short-lived, as that massive and powerful bolt of black and red lightning tore straight through the chest of the Eel Krastax, killing it and sending Hyde back into Kassius. Unit 1 of the Colossi's eyes widened in shock as that lightning came directly at him and went straight through the shields and armour, killing him instantly and blowing the Colossus apart.

The lightning crashed through the wall where Qrow and Death were standing, completely exploding that part of the wall, blowing Qrow and Death off the edge with everyone else. Jaune fell as well, but Pyrrha flew after him and caught him. They watched in terror as the entire wall collapsed, sending screaming soldiers falling to their deaths. They could not see where Qrow fell until they saw a Corvid Bird flying in the air.

That was some relief.

"What the hell was that?" Pyrrha gasped. Jaune's eyes widened, watching that lightning bolt.

"It came from where…" He realised, watching it go up at a sharp angle, directly for Atlas.

"… oh no… it's him…"

Ruby

Ruby, Blake, and Yang stood together as the two lethal enemies approached them, a grin on Kannix's face.

Despite the Ace Ops leaving them here, they were still ready to fight if they had to. But then the sky darkened, and they saw that same black and red lightning bolt rise and suddenly shoot downwards through the skyscraper. The bolt landed in front of them as the skyscraper collapsed, cut clean in two. The impact created a powerful shock wave which made both Kannix and the Hound turn Kannix with wide silver eyes.

He stood tall, his eyes glowing bright red, after the smoke cleared.

"Umbra…" Ruby stammered in fear as she saw him emerge from the smoke and walk towards them.

Vir Nominis Umbra slowly clapped his hands as he made his approach up the steps, leaving all that destruction and death in his wake. "Well done, my proxies. You accomplished your tasks marvellously. But now it is time for you both to leave." Vir Nominis Umbra commanded.

"Bu-" Kannix attempted, but all Vir Nominis Umbra had to do was glare at him, eyes still burning red. Kannix shrunk, and before he could say another word, the Hound formed its wings and grabbed onto him, flying away.

Vir Nominis Umbra looked back at the three of them. His scowl faded away and his unnervingly calm and kind expression returned as he walked into the centre of the courtyard.

"Ruby Rose – Hero of Remnant." He said as he looked at her, then his eyes turned to Blake. "Blake Belladonna – Champion of the Faunus." And finally, to Yang. "Yang Xiao Long – Angel of the Sun."

He stood before them.

"And of course… Weiss Schnee – Last of the Schnees. Who sadly could not be here for this day." Vir Nominis Umbra said.

"What did you do?" Ruby questioned.

"Nothing, I may have sent some Shriekers to help her kill that… conniving little worm that was her father. I truly am proud of her for finally finishing the job." Vir Nominis Umbra explained. "No… this… is between us… and us alone." He said as he closed his eyes.

Black smoke formed around him as he stood there. "Thy kind are all nothing more than pieces to their game. A game that I shall burn away." Vir Nominis Umbra stated. His eyes opened and glowed bright red as the smoke formed around him. He suddenly grew in height, by another six feet, towering above the three of them, and they realised… he was transforming into his true form.

The False God.

Sharp Draconic Wings arched out from his back, and his long arms hung by his side, forming a pair of long black blades conjured from thin air. His face was constructed of dark matter, forming only the red eyes that they could see, and the rest was shrouded in darkness, only forming a shape.

"Step aside… this is the one chance I will offer." Vir Nominis Umbra stated, his voice sounding far darker and demonic than before.

But none of them stood aside.

He sighed. "As you wish… then if you place your faith in anything… thy ought to pray now."

Author Note - Fuuuuuck...

Next chapter is gonna be so intense and epic to write. Gonna see why I have been so excited for this Act, because now I get to write Umbra fighting more often, and his style of fighting is so epic and terrifying because of just how deadly he is. Cannot wait for the next chapters.

Mantle is done for as well, let's hope that Robyn got the people out, because now the wall is down, and they're down another Colossus and the Krastax is dead. Hopefully Kassius and Hyde are okay. And the Knights are in the middle of all of this as well.

The only bright light is that thanks to Ozpin, we know that enough ordinance can close the Reality Splits XD

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Please review, follow and favourite!

Stay tuned for the next chapter - Dark Omens

- Matt