Chapter 23 – Dark Omens

Ruby

Vir Nominis Umbra attacked without a second to spare.

He launched the swords he had conjured directly at Ruby, but she smashed them apart with the swing of Crescent Rose. Ruby's silver eye widened as Vir Nominis Umbra shot forward and formed an axe in his hand and slashed at her head. She dashed aside in a flurry of rose petals, and Vir Nominis Umbra slid across the courtyard past where she was standing. The monster splayed out, his wings formed from shadows and his eyes shone bright red as he roared with fury, darkening the sky with black smoke and crackling red lightning.

He blasted up into the air in a column of lightning, darting through the smog, before crashing back down in the middle of the three Huntresses. The impact was like an explosion, and he threw his axe at Blake, only being saved by her Shadow, which took the hit. She threw Gambol Shroud to Yang, who caught it and swung her partner towards the False God.

Umbra smirked and formed two more weapons, a long curved blade in one hand and a huge black hammer in the other. He raised the sword up, blocking and grinding the blade against Gambol Shroud. "Come now, I expected more." Vir Nominis Umbra challenged. He swung upwards, slicing up her aura protected body, and as she dropped to the ground, he jumped and spun through the air, bringing the massive hammer down towards her. Ruby launched herself at him and hooked the curved blade of Crescent Rose under his chin, and pulled him away from her.

Blake crashed against the floor, eyes widening as the Hammer slammed down to the left of her head, only narrowly missing her. Ruby dragged Umbra's face across the courtyard, smashing the smooth paving to pieces behind her. Umbra dug his hand into the ground and the sudden stop hurled Ruby overhead, but she fired her Scythe behind her, blasting herself towards Umbra once again.

She slashed at him, but he deflected the incoming blow with his sword he made before channelling more dark magic through his hand and firing a beam of red fire and lightning from his palm. She slid underneath his palm as the beam of magic cut through one of the statues, beheading Ironwood's Stone Memorial. Umbra then drove the sword down at where Ruby was just at, but she was still extremely nimble, cutting across his heel, then throwing herself high in the air, and unleashing the power of her Silver Eyes upon him.

Umbra growled in pain and anger, feeling his body succumb to that power weakening him. Ruby blasted down towards him, but he stared at her and slashed across her side, knocking her out of the sky. He jumped high in the air, black wings open wide before diving towards her with his sword pointed downwards.

She gasped, rolling aside just in time as he shattered the surrounding ground with the enormous blade. He drew it from the ground and swung at her once more, but Yang blasted into the side of his face. She punched him in the jaw, so hard that it created a shock wave. He grunted and stumbled to the side. She shot up at his face, making him recoil slightly, before shooting multiple explosive projectiles into his ribs. On the last shot, she let the recoil blow her back, and she pulled her arms back with a confident smirk.

Umbra glared at her, then down at his ribs as they detonated. His chest burst wide open, spraying black blood high into the sky, only for it to harden and form into a cloud of swords. His back snapped all the way back, and all they could hear was his dark and disturbing laugh, reconstructing the damage done to his body and standing tall once more. "Not bad." He admitted, before shooting all the swords towards Yang. She sprinted as fast as she could, dodging the incoming blades, but most of them clipped or directly hit her, shredding her aura down to the amber levels.

Yang tumbled across the ground as her golden aura flickered, looking up at Vir Nominis Umbra, slowly pacing back and forth. Blake sprinted towards him and flipped away, conjuring a Fire Dust Shadow, detonating it. The shadow's explosion set his wings aflame, but he had very little reaction to the flames that covered his wings.

Blake sprinted towards him once again and slashed Gambol Shroud at him, slicing across his body with the Katana and striking upwards with the Sheath. He hardly even flinched at the incoming blows, until he slashed a newly formed blast across hers, throwing sparks high in the air. Blake staggered back a few steps, then he launched towards the High Leader with a Spear of Darkness, thrusting at her stomach to skewer her, but she rolled aside, only for him to drive it down into the ground behind her.

The attack missed by mere inches. Blake jumped and landed on his back, ramming the blade of Gambol Shroud into his throat. He snarled in anger as she held on, and he staggered back as Ruby and Yang both sprinted towards him. Ruby aimed Crescent Rose in its Sniper Rifle form, and started firing on him, blowing holes in his demonic form, but even now nothing they did seemed to ever have any actual effect.

His eyes glowed blood red, and he roared to the sky, creating a howl that was so nightmarish that any who heard would be haunted by it for the rest of their days. He echoed across Atlas as he blasted darkness out from his body, impairing all their vision. They looked around, unable to see each other anymore.

"Yang? Blake?" Ruby called out.

The dark and demonic voice of Vir Nominis Umbra sounded like it was all around them as they stumbled through the darkness he created. "This world… just like all the others… stained by their sins. Such a sickness I cannot bear. Their part in this will never be forgiven!"

What the hell is he talking about?

Umbra suddenly shot through the darkness that obscured her vision and grabbed Ruby by the face and tossed her into the air. As she dropped back down, he swung around and his long tail smashed down into her stomach, pummelling her against the floor. Ruby groaned in pain as she struggled back to her feet, seeing him smack Blake across the courtyard and into the wall and throwing three blades towards Yang. Both of which were still under the influence of that darkness he clouded them in.

Umbra spun around and formed a hammer and sword, thrusting towards Ruby. She rolled backwards as he slashed at her, then dashed aside in a flurry of petals as he slammed the hammer down at where she was just stood. His wings opened, and he jumped high in the air, raising his hands, ripping massive chunks of rock from the ground with telekinesis and throwing them at her. She dodged and rolled the incoming boulders of concrete and stone. Then he launched down and punched the ground with substantial force.

The impact knocked Ruby back off her feet and she tumbled across the ground. He slowly stood tall, eyes shining bright red and slowly circling Ruby as she got back up. "You never stay down. I admire that about you. No matter what stands before you, here you stand… ready to fight to the end. Of all my foes, you are by far the bravest." Vir Nominis Umbra admitted as he stared at her.

Yang blasted up behind him and punched him in the back of his leg, dropping him to one knee, but he jumped up into the air and twirled to stare at her, firing multiple bolts of lightning from his hand. He landed a long way from the others, but they knew he could clear that distance in seconds to attack. Umbra ran his hand across a long sharp blade he conjured from thin air, coating it in Shadow Dust, and he launched forward, swinging upwards, only narrowly missing Yang, who dove out of his path.

She tumbled and as she returned to both feet; she fired Ember Celica at the side of his face, and he stared at her, smirking. All they could make out of his face were the teeth, with a mouth filled with glowing red light. He swung at her, then threw the sword at Blake, who jumped at him from behind. The blade shattered against her chest but badly wounded her aura and knocked her down. Ruby rushed round and went to blast her Silver Eyes at him, but he glared at her and his eyes shone brighter.

It brought back a memory… of Salem.

And she immediately fired a beam at him, just as he did the same. Beams of light and darkness collided against one another, blowing massive gusts of wind from the impact of the two beams, and Umbra stood tall, towering above her as they continuously gazed. Yang and Blake took their chances whilst Umbra was focused on Ruby, and they made their attacks. Blake slashed across his heels, then Yang jumped up to meet him, using the recoil of her guns to throw her high in the air, and buried her fist into the side of his face.

He roared with rage, carving that beam of darkness through one of the towers, cleaving it in two. He launched forward and slashed horizontally at Yang, only narrowly missing her and sliding across the courtyard. He opened his palm and conjured multiple blades, throwing them at her, before jumping extremely high in the air and forming a huge hammer which he smashed down at where she was standing.

The impact blew Yang away and nearly broke her already weakened aura.

She growled and her eyes shone bright red and her blonde hair ignited. She rocketed towards him and punched Umbra in the face so hard it knocked him off his feet. She stood on his chest and proceeded to ferally punch him repeatedly in the face, smashed the floor beneath him with every punch thrown. As she swung again, he caught her fist and snarled, kicking her in the ribs with one foot and as he stood back up, he threw her into the air above him. As she came crashing down, his tail wrapped around her waist and he flung her against the ground with immense force.

Her aura burst and she laid unconscious on the ground, bouncing across the floor.

"YANG!" Ruby screamed.

"Well fought, Miss Xiao Long." Vir Nominis Umbra congratulated as he approached her, holding his sword above her sternum. He smirked, knowing it would goad one of the team into attacking.

But it wasn't who he was expecting.

He turned but was surprised by Penny Polendina, who suddenly flew into him and stabbed all of her swords into his chest. She pushed him across the ground, but his feet dug into the pavement, slowing them down, and he stared at her, snarling as flames leaked through his sharp teeth of shadows. "Polendina… what a surprise." Vir Nominis Umbra chuckled.

"LEAVE HER ALONE!" she yelled, punching Umbra with all her might, before flying back a few inches and letting Floating Array rotate behind her. Vir Nominis Umbra looked to see his new enemies, just Ruby, Blake and Penny left.

"Very well…" He allowed, his wings splayed out, and he formed a long spear and held a long whip of flames in his other hand. He suddenly threw the spear towards Blake, who dodged, leaving a Shadow Clone behind to be skewered in her place.

He slashed the burning whip at Ruby, shattering the ground and melting the stone, only narrowly dodging her, then she rushed forward and cut the whip in two with her Scythe, transforming it into the War Scythe form and ramming it into his chest.

He staggered back from the impact but punched her in the cheek so hard it ripped the scythe from his chest and knocked her against the floor.

He dashed to the left before jumping and flying high in the air, and landing on the side of one of the smaller towers around the C.C.T Tower. His eyes shone once more, and the sky darkened, and suddenly a storm of swords came crashing down all around them, alongside sparks of red lightning, crashing down in so many places.

The blades divided the three of them into sections, and Penny kept her green eyes on Vir Nominis Umbra. He blasted off from the tower towards her and grabbed her by the throat, smashing her against the ground. Once the storm of swords ended, Ruby and Blake both joined Penny, and he turned, immediately swinging the long sword at her. Ruby slid under the blade and sliced across his leg, only for him to stamp down on the scythe with his other foot. She gasped and looked up to meet the fist of the False God, upper-cutting her in the face. She was thrown off across the courtyard, then Blake jumped and stabbed him directly in the eye.

He snarled in anger, but not from pain, but Blake kept pushing and twisting the blade, teeth gritted in anger as she forced him back. She jumped and flipped backwards, ripping the sword from his face just as Penny blasted a powerful laser towards him. He swiftly turned and raised his wing, using it to block the incoming beam. The impact forced him back and Ruby immediately launched herself above him and hooked Crescent Rose under his neck again. She knew it wouldn't hurt him, but it was enough to break his pose.

He staggered from the momentum that yanked him away, then Penny continuously scorched his body with her powerful beam of energy. He swung around and slashed the sword across Ruby's body, damaging her aura so badly in that hit that her red aura flickered. He then turned and swung a huge hammer diagonally towards Blake, smacking her in the chest. He jumped up and grappled onto Penny, the two of them flying in the air above the two remaining members of Team R.W.B.Y.

Penny strained as he dug his claws into her skin, her green aura being the only thing protecting her. His jaws suddenly opened, and he blasted fire at her, only for Penny to drive her swords into his wrists, slicing his hands off. The flames burned across her cheek, but her aura saved her from any actual damage. Umbra snarled, but she watched from below as black smoke formed bones and flesh, reconstructing the amputation in seconds.

He opened his wings, crackling with red lightning, before shooting down towards the three of them. The impact caused the smaller towers to explode and collapse around them, turning the once beautiful courtyard into a pile of tile fragments. Penny's aura flickered Green, whilst Ruby and Blake were now in the red from that attack.

Umbra turned and lunged towards Blake as she stumbled back to her feet. He slashed one sword across her chest before jumping and flipping through the air. He slashed her multiple times at shocking speed, before stamping down on her chest, shattering her aura. Ruby rushed in to protect her, only for Umbra to catch her by the throat and toss her against the wall.

Penny fired her swords into his shoulders and she slingshot herself towards him, kicking him in the face with both feet. As she hovered, she held out her hands as Gravity Dust channelled through her body and she forced Umbra down to his knees, bringing down the weight of a planet upon him. He snarled, glaring at her as she forced him down as hard as she could. Ruby held her side in pain, barely any aura left as she dragged Crescent Rose behind her. Then she saw Umbra's eyes glow bright red once again.

"Penny! Look out!" She screamed, but Ruby was too late, as Umbra fired his twisted reflection of the Silver Eyes at her, and the searing heat of the darkness burned away her aura and blew Penny out of the sky. She laid on the ground, black smoke trailing from her body and unconscious.

Leaving only Ruby Rose left, standing in front of the locked door. She could barely even lift Crescent Rose, but stood her ground.

Vir Nominis Umbra turned to her and walked away from her unconscious friends. "Step aside, Miss Rose. You all fought well… I actually had to put some effort into the fight there. More than what those arrogant Ace Ops will get." Vir Nominis Umbra admitted, and he gripped his sword tight.

"I'm… not letting you… go…" Ruby snarled.

Ruby rushed at him and yelled, only for Umbra to grab her by the face and smash her against the floor, breaking her aura and knocking her unconscious, like the others.

He stood above her, sword in hand.

He pointed the sword down at her neck to kill her, but he paused, just staring at the unconscious Huntress.

He sighed, then let the sword crumble away and walked to the locked door. He punched the door and dug his hands between them and forced it open with little effort, walking into the Academy.

All that stood in his way now… were the Ace Ops.

Jaune

The defence of Mantle was over, and the leader coughed as he stood back up. He reached for his scroll. It was damaged but still working, so he immediately called Robyn. "Robyn? The Wall's breached! The city is done for! Get those people into the mine now!" Jaune ordered.

"The evacuation is complete. We're making our way through the tundra! Get your asses out of there!" Robyn replied, knowing the evacuation had been complete, definitely filled him with a bit of relief… but then his eyes widened in horror.

"That's… gonna be hard… good luck Robyn." Jaune said, watching as the Oncoming Shadow poured over the wall, swarming their dying soldiers and ripping them limb from limb.

"Jaune! Pyrrha!" They heard Nora screaming, and they turned to see Nora trapped underneath rubble, with Ren desperately trying to lift it off her. They ran to her air and helped pull it off her, and Ren immediately helped her back up, wrapping his arms around and kissing her. Jaune turned to see Qrow pushing some of the rubble off him and dusting himself off, dragging Harbinger behind him.

"Where is he?" Qrow stammered, then they turned to see the black gauntleted hand of the Knight of Death erupt from the destruction. He stood tall, rising from the ruins with dust and smoke trailing from his body, and he glared at the five of them, Ferrum Arctus still in the grasp of his other hand. He walked out from the rubble and stared them down.

"Krekras! Enough of this! You know you're on the wrong side!" Jaune yelled, but he just stared at them silently. He then held out the blade of Ferrum Arctus, and they knew there was no point in using words. The curse still had such a firm grip on the old Knight, but his silence was enough to point out that deep down he was extremely conflicted. Pyrrha called Milo and Akoúo from her back and they landed in her hands, shield raised and sword pointed forward.

Jaune sheathed Crocea Mors and extended the blade, glyphs flickering across the blade and his eyes glowing blue. Nora held Magnhild tight in hammer form and Ren aimed Stormflower at the Knight. Qrow already had Harbinger at the ready, and they prepared to fight him.

They stood in the large open area of the junction, smoke and embers floating in the air as Death slowly paced back and forth, waiting for the first to strike. Nora and Ren sprinted towards the Knight and Ren opened fire. Death swiftly spun his sword through his fingers, deflecting the incoming bullets. Nora yelled, swinging the massive hammer over her head and down towards the Knight's head. Death caught the head of the hammer and threw her against the floor before punching Ren in the face. He grunted in pain, sent bouncing across the floor, groaning in pain. Death turned as Pyrrha launched Akoúo into the side of his head and she slashed Milo across his armour. Sparks flew, but as he swung the Isomacium Sword down towards her, she pushed it aside with her polarity.

Her eyes ignited with Greek Fire, and she blasted a beam of fire against Death's head. He jumped and spun through the air, flipping and when he landed, rolling across the ground. Fire burned across the armour plating, igniting the smouldering cape that trailed behind him. Smog and embers now mixed with fire, and Death hardly even seemed affected by the attack. Pyrrha called her shield back as Jaune sprinted past her, swinging his huge sword downwards at Death, who backed up just as Crocea Mors came down.

The impact created a powerful explosion of energy, knocking Death back a couple of steps, but he swung his sword forward with one hand. Jaune raised Crocea Mors, blocking Ferrum Arctus from hitting him, pressing his hand against the flat side of the sword, staring the Knight in the eyes. Death smashed his knee into his chest then punched him in the side of the head, before roundhouse kicking him against the wall.

Pyrrha jumped towards him but he channelled black and red lightning through the blade of his sword and shot it into her chest. Pyrrha grunted, getting blown through the window of a storefront. Death grunted as Nora shot grenades into his back, making him flinch and turn his head. Harbinger was the first thing he saw, as the Scythe slashed across the side of his helmet. Death snarled, stumbling as Qrow flew past and landed behind him. He transformed the Scythe into sword form and the pair collided their blades against each other.

Qrow held his ground, pushing himself against the Knight, forcing him backwards, before firing the shotgun into the eye socket. Death roared in fury and pain, grabbing his eye as he staggered away, before sprouting his Nevermore Wings and shooting Fatal Feathers at him. Qrow spiralled Harbinger, cutting the feathers to tiny pieces, before rushing forward. He sliced downwards, but Death deflected the blow, and drove Ferrum Arctus downwards into the floor, blasting lightning up from the road and blowing Qrow away.

Jaune smashed his shield against Death's face when he turned, giving Ren the chance to fire his grappling hooks at Death, hooking them onto the plates of his chest. He looked at the hooks in his chest, grabbing both cables with one hand and pulling them out, yanking Ren towards him. Ren gasped, his eyes widening as Death caught him by the throat. "Pathetic!" Death barked, throwing him against the wall.

Ren gasped, nearly having the wind knocked out of him from the impact. He looked forward and rolled aside just as Death's pronged gauntlet buried itself into the wall. Death yanked the fist from the brickwork and slashed at him relentlessly, cutting through the wall twice. Ren rolled away and turned, firing his two Machine Pistols at him. Death slashed downwards with both hands, only narrowly missing Ren, who got himself between two trees.

"Eyes up, UGLY!" Nora Valkyrie yelled. Death turned to see Nora swinging Magnhild directly into his face from the left. The Knight grunted, the sheer magnitude of her power sending him flying through two buildings. Nora rushed to his aid, helping him through. "You okay?"

"Yeah, was a close one, though." He assured, spinning Stormflower through his fingers.

Jaune and Pyrrha stood back to back, weapons at the ready and keeping their eyes on the sky. Their military was still holding, despite the destruction of the wall, keeping them out of the city for as long as they could, but soon they were going to need to mount a retreat.

But for now… they had to focus on Death.

"Where is he?" Jaune mumbled.

Qrow kept his eyes on the sky as well. It was hard to pinpoint where he was thanks to the sound of war all around them. But as Qrow listened, Death suddenly erupted through the roof of the building Nora blew him into. His Nevermore Wings were sprouted and feathers splayed out widely. It was a nightmarish sight, as the red lightning crackled above from the Tempests. He suddenly launched down towards them and drove his sword down towards Jaune, only missing him by an inch as Pyrrha shoved him out of the way.

The sword stabbed straight through the ground, and he swiftly stood tall and cut across Pyrrha's shield as she raised it up. Death forced her down but Jaune immediately retaliated, slashed Death across the chest with Crocea Mors. He staggered away from Pyrrha and she jumped, flipping backwards, and throwing Milo in Spear Form into Death's head. It stabbed all the way through the eye and he roared in furious pain, ripping it from his head and throwing it across the floor.

Pyrrha extended her hand, calling the spear back and resting it over her Discus Shield. A spine tingling, shrieking sound erupted as he formed an Obsidian Bow out of thin air, the same one he used to take Ruby's eye with, and he fired it at Jaune. He raised the shield, blocking the incoming arrows fired. As he lowered the shield, Death swiftly shot forward and punched him in the face.

Qrow launched Harbinger towards him, the curved blade hooking onto his neck and pinning him to the wall. He growled with anger as he slowly broke free, giving Nora the time to shoot forward and smash her hammer against his face again, crumbling the surrounding wall.

She caught Harbinger and threw it back to the Branwen Twin.

They all stood together, knowing Death was not done yet.

Unaware that Loss was watching from above, breaking away from the fight, and grabbing onto her hand, trying to stop herself from fighting as she watched Death fight. "Come… on Starla… figure it out… I need… to break this curse… I won't hurt anyone else!" Starla strained, fighting her own body from taking one more life.

And with every day she tries… the more she felt she could fight back.

She just needed to know how to break free from it completely.

There had to be a way…

There had to be…

Somehow…

Oscar

The weight of the rubble crushed his chest.

He gasped for air, trying to scream for help, but nothing came out. He frantically pushed against the rubble against his chest, unable to even see light beneath everything he was buried beneath.

Gods no… please…

… not like this!

Relief was the first thing he felt as air flooded back into his lungs and the light of fire nearly blinded him. Hazel and Sun both hauled the rubble from him, and Sun immediately pulled the young man out of there. "I gotcha!" Sun reassured, pulling him from the rubble.

Oscar hadn't even realised he was surrounded by dead, crushed soldiers. Seeing their bloodied mangled corpses in there where he was made him feel sick. He held his chest and panted, and Sun held his shoulders. "Hey! Oscar, buddy? You still with us?" He asked, and he coughed, nodding his head.

"Th-Thank you… both of you…" He sighed, looking around to see Team J.N.P.R and Qrow fighting Death across the street from them, and they could see Fury still circling the sky, whilst Team C.F.V.Y were still fighting him on the wall where it hadn't collapsed. "Gods… what the fuck was that?"

"Umbra, without a doubt. Went straight through the Kannix, the leader of the Colossi and the Wall. Bastard must have been waiting for the perfect moment." Hazel explained.

"Kassius… he was on that thing!" Oscar realised, his eyes widening.

"We haven't heard from him or Cinder since that happened… hell, we're still trying to figure out what the hell is happening now." Sun explained, swiftly gripping onto Ruyi Jingu Bang, when he heard the demonic laugh echoing from above. They all looked up, and Oscar sighed.

"Can't I just… get a break? Literally was just buried alive." Oscar panted, looking back with grief at the poor men and women who weren't as lucky. But he drew Traveller's Atrocity and looked at the sky as he saw another gunship come crashing down, spinning out of control before colliding into a building and exploding. Through the smoke and flames they could see the deep slash marks from talons, and they knew…

… he was back.

Hazel turned around and gasped as the massive Undead Bat flew towards him, spinning through the air as the wings folded around the body and a humanoid body formed as the bones snapped into their new positions. He kicked him in the chest, knocking Hazel across the floor, and drew Formido Falcem, smacking Sun in the face and slamming the long curved blade down towards Oscar's throat. He held the blade back with his sword and stared back at the deranged Cursed Knight.

"Miss me?" Fear asked.

"Yeah! Just beside myself after you left!" Oscar sarcastically jabbed, dashing through time to get away from Fear. The Knight fell forward with the boy now gone and he turned to see Sun jumping across chunks of rubble towards him, and smashing the Bo-Staff across Fear's decayed face. The impact made Fear gyrate on the spot before hooking his Scythe onto Sun's body and yanking him down, smacking his head against sharp chunks of concrete.

Sun grunted loudly in pain, his yellow aura flickering slightly from the hard hit. He tumbled down the rubble to where Oscar was, and Hazel walked over, fists raised and dagger inside one fist.

"Shall we continue where we left off, my dear friends?" Fear asked, grinning sadistically at them as he theatrically walked down the steps, spinning his Scythe through his fingers. His eyes shone bright gold, and he shot forward in a jarring zig-zag fashion, moving shockingly fast. He darted forward and slashed across Sun again, knocking him back and catching Hazel's fist, twisting his arm and kicking him in the leg to drop him down to one knee. He raised his hand and went to blast the fear toxin into his face.

Oscar blasted up behind him and detached the two blades from each other and drove them into Fear's back, pulling him away from Hazel. He sprayed the gas up into the air and he reached back to get Oscar. Oscar repeatedly stabbed at the decaying flesh, scraping through bone as well.

Fear swiftly spun around and extended his wings, unfolding them from around his body and tossing Oscar from his back. He gripped onto his Scythe with one hand and lunged forward, slashing at him and only narrowly missing. He slid across the road past him and charged forward once again, only for Sun to cast multiple Via Suns to hold him back and allow Hazel to punch him across the jaw so hard it snapped it, causing the jaw to dangle by sinewy flesh.

Fear suddenly ripped free from the grip of the Via Suns, causing Sun to drop to one knee. After grabbing Hazel by the throat, he smashed him against the road and threw him at Sun. He grabbed his jaw and reset it with a sickening crunch. He was about to attack again when bullets shot into his back and he turned with a snarl, seeing the soldiers aiming at me.

"Foolish souls…" He blasted fear into their faces with very little effort, and in a few seconds, after coughing, they all shrieked in terror as their worst fears manifested before them. One of them was trying to bat a swarm of spiders off his body whilst the other saw something they could only imagine was nightmarish.

He let them suffer on the ground as Grimm sprinted over and fed on them, indulging in the fear that seeped from their bodies. Fear walked away from the shrieking soldiers as the Grimm ripped into them, and he smirked at the three heroes.

Hazel gritted his teeth in anger, then drew his knife, ready to use it. Sun held Ruyi Jingu Bang tight, and Fear drew the Crossbow, firing it one handed at Sun, but he spun his Staff through his fingers, breaking the Fear Bolt before it could even touch him. He sprinted at the Knight with Hazel, jumping in the air and bringing his staff down against the top of his head. The impact cracked his skull, but that damage meant little to the Knight as he dropped to one knee, and Hazel rammed the knife into his throat and forced him against the wall.

Fear kicked him in the chest and ripped the knife out from his throat, not even reacting to it as he slashed Formido Falcem repeatedly at the warrior. The scythe cut across the aura, protecting his arms, until Sun kicked him in the side of the head, rolling past him. As he got back up, he spun his staff around, smashing it across the side of Fear's face again. He disconnected it and fired his Gunchucks at the Knight, and the Knight backed up, deflecting most of the shots with Formido Falcem. Sun connected the firearms together, and it straightened out into the Staff form, and he jumped up against the wall and kicked Fear in the face once again.

Oscar shot by, slicing his sword across the leg of Fear, dropping him down to one knee whilst his body slowly reconstructed the damage. He jumped upwards and rammed the sword down his spine and through Fear's open ribs. He snarled in anger and grabbed Oscar by the jaw and flung him over his shoulder and against the floor with significant force.

Oscar grunted in pain as fear pulled the sword out of his chest by grabbing the blade and pulling it out. He spun Traveller's Atrocity around and stabbed it down towards him, only narrowly missing when Oscar rolled aside. He stood up and performed a perfect backflip, kicking Fear up the jaw. As he landed and pulled the sword from the floor and aimed it at him with both hands.

Fear stood tall once more, still surrounded by the three of them, his leg fully repaired and Formido Falcem in hand.

But while they were fighting, they knew they were fighting on borrowed time.

Coco

Coco yelled with fury, firing every single bullet she had in Gianduja. Her face lit up by the constant muzzle flash of her machine gun. Down below, the Grimm were swarming like ants, climbing over the destroyed tanks and corpses of soldiers they had slain to clear the bridge. Velvet did the same, using a Hardlight Replica of her Minigun, firing at the Grimm to keep them at bay, but all they were doing was slowing the horde down from gaining too much height.

Behind them, Yatsuhashi and Fox were covering them from the Grimm as stragglers made their way up. Fox launched forward, slashing through two Thralls and spinning Sharp Retribution around to skewer an Ursa that got up there. The beast collapsed to the ground as he shoved it away. Yatsuhashi cut clean through three Beowulves and caught a Thrall by the top of its head and threw it against the floor, stamping on the skull to finish the beast.

But as they worked together, they realised something worse was here, and they all looked up to see Fury. "Damn it!" Coco yelled as he banked across the sky. The huge Burning Wyvern was headed directly for them once again. He spun through the air and shifted into his Knight Form, landing right in front of Yatsuhashi and Fox, axes in his grasp.

"We'll hold him off!" Fox called out to them, which made Fury laugh.

"Will you now?" Fury inquired, chuckling darkly as he tightened his grip. Yatsuhashi held Fulcrum tight, then Fury sprinted at them first. He launched the axe towards Coco to knock her off the edge and into the swarm, only for Yatsuhashi to cut the weapon down. The axe exploded against his sword and the shock wave blew him across the floor. Fury swung the other axe with berserk rage at Fox. He backed up, using his heightened senses to figure out where each swing was going to be. After ducking under the next one, he rolled past him and cut his tonfa across the back of his leg. He dropped and allowed Yatsuhashi to jump and go for the beheading swing.

Fury caught the sword in his hand and pulled him down, catching Yatsuhashi by the top of his head and throwing him onto the floor. The magma healed the wound immediately, and he roared, turning and punching Fox in the face. Coco and Velvet looked back, seeing the Grimm were just getting closer and closer, and now Fury was encroaching on them.

Until suddenly one of the four remaining Colossi arrived and shoulder charged the tower of Grimm, toppling them over and standing at that point, firing a constant beam of electrical dust through their forces to thin them out. "You've got bigger problems!" The pilot yelled to them, and they both turned. Coco immediately opened fire on him whilst Velvet shifted to Lash Equinox.

Velvet sprinted towards Fury and she launched one of the Hardlight Swords from her hand, and it stabbed into his chest, and she jumped up and drove her sword down into his chest. She jumped off and flipped backwards, now using a Hardlight Magnhild, firing the grenades at him. The explosions made him recoil back, then the bullets returns, shredding against his side as Coco opened fire on him.

He opened one of his wings and folded it over, shielding his body from the incoming bullets. He walked towards her and punched the gun from her hand and grabbed her by the throat, lifting her off the floor and above the edge. He snarled savagely until Yatsuhashi drove his sword straight through Fury's spine and out through his ribs. Fury released Coco, and she plummeted towards the Grimm, only to fly back up and activate her Maiden Powers, punching Fury up the jaw.

The punch was so hard and fast that it tossed him into the air, crashing back down against the ground. The sword pushed through his body and Yatsuhashi yanked Fulcrum from the huge armoured and molten body of Fury. Fox slashed repeatedly against his chest. Then Velvet rushed forward and cut across his body with Harbinger.

But as he stood tall, their eyes widened.

Magma started to burst from his body in multiple places and he held his arms together and made a hauntingly deep and constant growl, which just intensified more and more and time passed.

"The hell is he doing?" Fox gasped.

"Get back!" Coco yelled, and they saw the ground set alight or melt around him. His eyes glowed bright orange, then he bellowed to the sky, creating a massive explosion of fire that blew them all to the floor. Fury's wings splayed out, and they heard his savage snarling, and realised that Fury had just gone berserk.

And now they had an even harder fight ahead of them.

Clover

The Ace Ops sprinted as fast as they could through the Tower's halls, now in the underground sections of the enormous facility. "Come on! We're nearly there! They won't be able to hold those two off for long!" Clover ordered as they ran as fast as they could. They turned the next corner and saw the Acolytes of Lien equipment, meaning they were heading the right way.

Completely unaware of what was coming for them.

They turned the next corner to find the door to the vault.

But what they found was not what they were expecting. There were soldiers desperately banging on the sealed door to get inside. Some of them were curled up in the corner in terror, staring at the Ace Ops in terror. Harriet chuckled when she saw the sight of the Mercenaries cowering in the corner like this, and she stepped forward. "I like this… it's fitting… these bastards are the last and they're just a bunch of cowards. C'mon Ace Ops, let's sort these assholes out and do our jobs." Harriet said, and she walked towards them with Clover and the others.

The Mercenaries shrieked in terror, backing up against the corner and the walls. Harriet raised a brow and scoffed. "Wow… you're really making me enjoy this. We haven't even touched you yet."

Clover narrowed his eyes, realising it was too late. "Harriet wait!" Clover yelled.

Suddenly, a large cloud of shadow dust sprayed through the vents and they all coughed as they all inhaled it, and their auras all flickered away. "Damn it… should have expected a trap… our auras are down now…" Clover growled, looking around.

Yet… the soldiers still didn't shoot them.

They could easily kill us.

Why are they so afraid?

Pretty soon… Clover got his answer.

He heard Marrow gasp. He was not facing the soldiers anymore.

He turned around and so did the rest of the Ace Ops, and he felt sick with fear when he saw him stood down the end of the hall they just came from.

The Mercenaries were never trying to hide from the Ace Ops… they were hiding from him.

Vir Nominis Umbra.

In his Soothsayer form, and his eyes were not even glowing red. He had no weapons, just his Soothsayer body and hands. But the most terrifying part of all?

He was not smiling.

Just a terrifying scowl.

Suddenly he blasted towards them and swung his fist towards Clover's face, but Harriet was quick on her feet and shot into his side, pushing him out of the way and ducking down. Vir Nominis Umbra only missed by mere inches, and he stood where they were stood, surrounded by the Ace Ops.

"It's over, Umbra!" Elm yelled, but he didn't say a word. He just scowled at them. A soldier got up and continued to try to pry the doors open, but they wouldn't budge.

They didn't have the Access Key that Weiss had.

Neither did the Ace Ops…

He swung at Elm, but once again Harriet shoved her out of the way just in time to avoid his punch, and Umbra gritted his teeth. He turned to Marrow and jumped up in the air and slammed his fist down.

Missing once again because of Harriet.

His frustration grew and grew, pulling his fist from the marble floor. Harriet darted back and forth, punching him over and over, barely even making him flinch at her blows. "You're gonna regret ever challenging u-" She was silenced when Umbra effortlessly caught her fist and stared at her, grabbing Harriet by the head with both hands and lifting her off the floor. She started punching him as fast and as hard as she could.

She screamed in terror and then agony as she he plunged his thumbs into her eyes and squeezed his hands together slowly, his scowl never changing as she constantly punched his chest. "HEEEEEELP!" She shrieked, and the Ace Ops ran to her aid.

SPLAT!

Umbra collapsed her skull and brain in his hands, smothered in Harriet's blood, and her headless corpse crumpled, twitching on the floor. "HARRIET!" Clover howled. Elm smashed her massive Hammer across the side of Umbra's face and he stepped to the side from the impact and Vine wrapped his aura arms around his body whilst Clover punched him in the face as hard as he could.

"You're going to pay, you bastard!" Elm roared, smacking him in the face once again with her hammer, only to have no effect at all. As she swung again, Umbra ducked and punched her up the jaw, knocking her against the wall and ripping free from Vine's aura extensions.

Clover swung again at him with the Horseshoe, but Umbra roundhouse kicked him against the wall and head-butted Vine as he made an attack. Marrow sprinted past and rushed for the door to get it open, using his weapon. Until he heard Umbra stop behind him.

"Oh no…"

It all ended as Vir Nominis Umbra punched straight through the back of his skull and through the door, splattering his blood everywhere and over the screaming soldiers. His body slid to the floor, and he turned to them as Elm jumped and smashed the hammer down against the top of his head.

Umbra staggered as she went to transform the hammer into rocket mode, but he punched her again and that launched the hammer up into the air. Vine threw himself towards Umbra just as he caught the hammer in one hand and swung it so hard into Vine's head that it splattered his skull everywhere after the hammer crushed his head against the wall. Umbra let the hammer clatter against the floor, then he turned to the two remaining Ace Ops.

Clover sprinted at him and yelled, wrapping the fishing line around Umbra's throat, but he just grabbed it and ripped it from his Rod, before punching straight through his gut and disembowelling him. He groaned in agony, puking blood and falling to his knees.

Elm roared as she went to punch him again, only for him to grab her by the throat and suddenly rip her clean in half. Blood sprayed everywhere, and it killed her instantly, leaving blood everywhere.

Vir Nominis Umbra walked towards Clover, who coughed up blood.

"You're… gonna…"

He didn't even listen to him, just grabbing the top of his skull and squeezing, bursting his skull and ending him. His body crumpled to the floor, and he walked directly to the doors.

Like he had done nothing but swat some flies.

He turned to the terrified soldiers, and he just sighed, firing multiple blades at them all, impaling them all against the walls they cowered against.

He stood before the locked door, and punched his fist through them and forced them open, entering the Vault.

To face the Relic of Destruction.

Author Note - Shit... he's literally in the Vault now

That ending, was brutal. Although was kinda fun, they really shouldn't have just ditched Team RWBY and try and take all the responsibility themselves when they have no idea what they're up against though. But that's what arrogance can to do people right there.

That fight at the start was so much fun. Vir Nominis Umbra fighting is so epic for me to write with him using such a wide range of attacks and being able to switch weapons on command. Same reason I love writing the Higher Demons and... well... Velvet XD. The unpredictability of what he will do but also how seemingly merciless he is.

Question is - why the hell did he spare them? He could have killed Ruby there, he even considered it but chose not to.

Curious indeed...

And things in Mantle are just going from bad to worse with the Knights Grimm fighting in there as well. Let's just hope Kassius, Hyde and Cinder are okay out there.

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

Stay tuned for the next chapter - The Relic of Destruction

- Matt