Chapter 24 – The Relic of Destruction
Vir Nominis Umbra
His fists smashed effortlessly through the Vault Doors, and he pried them open, not even needing the Schnee Access Key that Weiss had taken from her father. That very key would have never slowed him down, it simply would have stopped Team R.W.B.Y from getting to it if Weiss hadn't got it from him. The False God stared at the Relic as it floated in the domain.
Surrounded by a flaming domain, the sword hovered above the ashes. He approached the domain door slowly, his hand clenching into a trembling fist. But he closed his eyes and exhaled, knowing that this must be done. He took another step forward…
… but suddenly a Hardlight Wall formed in front of him. Three more surrounded him and another landed atop his head. He barely even flinched at the trap, and he exhaled, raising his hand at the wall of dust. It blasted lightning against his fingertip, but he felt nothing at all. He chuckled sinisterly, turning around. "I wondered how long it would take for you to make your move… boy." Vir Nominis Umbra stated, turning to see Whitley.
With his last life left, he stood in his Atlesian Knight body.
"I'm not going to let you do this, Umbra. The world will not be destroyed by your hand. And I will keep you trapped here if I must." Whitley stated, fists clenched. Umbra smiled and chuckled, crossing his arms and one leg over the other as he looked at the boy, leaning against the Hardlight Dust Wall. It constantly sparked against him, but he never moved an inch, never felt a thing.
"Well… what are we gonna do now?" Umbra asked with a smile. "Want me to pose as your sister so you can imagine torturing her?" He suggested, his body transforming from the body of the Soothsayer into the form of Weiss Schnee. He glared at Umbra in his sister's body and he gasped, mimicking her voice perfectly. "Oh, no! Please no, Whitley! Be better than this!" He cried out, but even though he replicated her body to perfect detail, his mannerisms were always enough to prove that he was not who he was hiding as.
"I don't care about what happens to Weiss. I know she killed Father…" Whitley stated. The body of Weiss that Umbra controlled crumbled away into ashes and the Soothsayer stood before him in the box.
"Your tone… is curious. You do not sound saddened by this news." He stated.
"Why should I be? Do you really think I'm that blind? I may hate my sisters for leaving me alone with him… but I know what he was. He was an egotistical liar and a killer who hurt us all… I was just forced to play the part to survive. Of all the things I hate my sister for? Killing him is the one thing I have ever been proud of her for doing… now I don't have to lie anymore." Whitley stated, standing before Umbra.
He smirked at the boy. "Well… well… you have surprised me, Whitley. Congratulations… few people manage to do that. Count yourself amongst the few who have." Vir Nominis Umbra explained, then he approached the wall in front of him, staring Whitley down.
"But… pray tell me… what do you think is going to happen now? Do you really think these meagre walls of dust can hold the likes of me?" He asked him.
Whitley clenched his mechanical hands, unable to answer his question, which made the False God chuckle darkly once more. "Oooh… I can't tell because of the metal hide on you now… but I think you're sweating." He stated.
Whitley raised his hand and activated something on his wrist, making Umbra turn around. He saw the massive magical doors slowly close shut, magma forming and sealing it completely. Amongst all the white and chrome walls and high-tech machinery, this volcanic door to a place between realms was truly quite a chilling sight. "Ozpin truly was a mastermind, wasn't he? Able to create such stunning vaults to protect the Relics, but he went one step further with this one, didn't he? He truly made sure it was somewhere that I could not find… or… that would be more challenging for me to find." He stated.
"I will not let you get to the Relic… I don't care for what happens to my sister or so many others… but the one thing I never wanted was for our world to be burned down." Whitley explained.
"No… just like your father, you wanted it under your thumb. Handed to you on a silver platter just like everything else in your life. Perhaps you're not too different to him, then." He stayed.
Whitley growled in anger, but he knew this was all he could do. "So tell me this… do you honestly think… that a vault… within a vault… in another realm… is enough to stop me? Enough to slow me down?" Vir Nominis Umbra asked him, his eyes glowing red. Umbra tilted his head, and he smiled. "I can answer that one for you… it cannot."
Suddenly Umbra channelled incomprehensible levels of dark magic through his fists and he smashed the ground with all his might, creating a devastating explosion of black and white flames, shattering the Hardlight Dust like glass, leaving nothing behind. The explosion blew Whitley off his feet and he crashed across the floor. Umbra stood tall amongst the flames, eyes glowing blood red as he extended his arm and formed a long sword of black metal in his grasp.
Whitley yelled and suddenly drew his gun, the only thing he had left, and fired it at him. The False God didn't even move and the bullets just passed through his body, only making his image shimmer like a projection. Whitley continued to fire, then Umbra grabbed the gun in his other hand, crushing the barrel with little effort, and suddenly he pulled Whitley forward, spinning around and slicing straight through Whitley's stomach.
The Atlesian Mech dropped, the legs crumpled to the floor, sparks and oil leaked from the body and Whitley groaned in pain, his voice crackling as he crawled across the floor, reaching up at Umbra as he walked around him. Umba sighed, shaking his head. "Tsk, tsk, tsk… you know of all the lies you have had to tell in your life, Whitley? The saddest of them all is that deep down… you care for her, don't you? Part of you does and you just can't accept that you still love her." He said, crouching down and staring at him.
Whitley strained and suddenly extended a blade and stabbed him in the throat, but Umbra once again did not move. He grabbed the knife slowly, snapping it off and pulled it out, dropping it on the floor.
"We're the same, you and I… lost fools who lied in the faces of those we love… but deep down, the truth is still there. And the only time we ever truly realise that… is either in our last moments… or theirs." Vir Nominis Umbra said, standing tall, looming over Whitley. But he did not finish him.
He approached the Elemental Vault Door and exhaled through his nose, and pressed his hands against it. Flames billowed through his body and through his eyes, and he roared with rage, heating the obsidian which sealed it and turning it back into lava. He roared with great effort as he pulled the doors of magma apart, and soon… they were open again.
And before him was the Relic of Destruction.
A burning sword floating in place. He approached the sword slowly, walking through the flames and ashes, and he picked it up in his palm. "The Relic of Destruction… such a trivial casing they placed you within…" He sighed, pressing his other hand against the tip of the sword and pushing down as hard as he could. It burst into flames, crumbling into ashes as his hands clasped together. Whitley watched in terror as Vir Nominis Umbra opened his palm, revealing the burning pebble upon his palm.
He smiled as the firelight glimmered off his eyes. "Ah… I feel stronger already." He chuckled, before turning and walking out of the Vault. He stopped by Whitley and looked down at him.
"I hope you make it outside… so you can witness the grandeur… of your failure. To behold the End of Atlas…" He said, black and red lightning crackled around his body and he shot upwards through the ceiling, leaving Whitley behind.
He whimpered in terror…
… he failed…
Ruby
Slowly but surely, Ruby came to.
The darkness of her unconsciousness faded away, and all she felt was a horrific pounding headache after Umbra had beaten her near to death in that last fight… but then she felt sick to her stomach.
"W-Why am I alive? Why didn't he kill me?" That panicked her more than anything, more than death itself. She pressed her hands against her chest and stomach, waiting to feel a stab wound and that she was in fact dead and perhaps in the afterlife… but no… she was perfectly fine. She was not in the afterlife. She was still in Atlas, frozen to the bone in the icy cold temperatures and hearing death all around her.
The Tempests continued to darken the sky with their clouds of reddish black smoke, crackling the air with red lightning.
But the most terrifying thing of all?
The screaming of people in the city was so faint now…
How many people are left in there?
Ruby looked around, groaning in pain as she pressed her hand against her side, and gasped when she found Yang, Blake, and Penny. All of them looked like they were just waking up as well.
He didn't kill any of them either…
… the hell is with Umbra?
He'd slaughter so many people before us… but hesitates with us specifically?
He's merciless… gods, he must have a reason for this… why is he doing this?
Ruby got up and sprinted, despite the thoughts that lingered in her head, stumbling a couple of times from her wounds as she got closer to them. Ruby tumbled against the floor by Yang and shook her back to life. "Yang? Yang!" Ruby called out, and she groaned, pressing her hand against her head, feeling blood leaking from her scalp. "Oh, gods…" she whimpered, turning to see Blake getting back up too. She was not in as awful shape, neither was Penny. But Yang had suffered quite the blow to the head.
"Ruby? Oh gods, Yang!" Blake gasped, crawling over to her side to see if Yang was okay, holding her hand nervously. Penny stood back up, pressing her hand against her head after suffering that attack from Umbra. But she still approached them.
"Um… Umbra…" Yang groaned, barely able to open her eyes.
"Where is he?" Blake asked with fear.
"I think he's gone for the Relic… the Ace Ops… they don't stand a chance." Ruby gasped. Blake checked their aura, and she winced, shaking her head.
"Gods… neither will we, we're all spent. We've gotta get out of here. Umbra has probably already got the Relic." Blake explained.
"Weiss… Weiss found an airship. I think it was one Jacques planned on escaping here with. We can use it to escape…" And right on cue, Penny turned after she said that to see that exact airship headed directly for the Academy. Penny sighed with relief and she waved her hands to try to signal her to land at their position. Ruby looked at Yang in her arms and exhaled, closing her silver eyes before resting Yang in Blake's arms.
"Ruby?" Blake asked.
"I have to try. If he gets that Relic, then we're all done for." The Airship landed just as Ruby got up to get into the Academy. The back doors opened and Weiss ran out to see the state of them all, her blue eyes wide.
"Guys? What the hell happened?" She asked, fearful for their health primarily.
"Umbra. He's got the Relic… I… I have to stop him." Ruby limped towards the door, but Weiss ran after her, grabbing Ruby's hand.
"Stop, Ruby! Just stop… if… if he has the Relic, then we don't stand a chance against him… we have to get the hell out of here. We need to get down to Mantle and tell everyone to make a run for it." Weiss explained.
"He… he can't… we can't let him…" Ruby strained as she tried to keep moving, but Weiss spun her around and held Ruby's face, staring at her with tears in her blue eyes.
"I've already lost what's left of the Schnee Family… please… don't make me lose anyone else I care so much about. We need to go… all of us have to go." Weiss begged, pressing her head against Ruby's, exhaling shakily as tears streamed from her eyes. Ruby looked at her and back at the door, uncertain of what to do.
Until the black and red lightning erupted through the floor behind Weiss, throwing them both across the floor as Vir Nominis Umbra soared high in the air. Penny gasped, her eyes widening as she saw Vir Nominis Umbra flying directly for the city centre.
Penny did not hesitate.
She immediately blasted off the ground and made pursuit, chasing after him. "Penny!" Ruby screamed, reaching out for her. Weiss' eyes widened, then she got up and rushed to the Airship.
"Come on! She's gonna need help!" Weiss yelled. "Damn it, Penny, you're family too…"
Ruby sprinted in and held the door open whilst Blake carried Yang inside, closing it behind her. The Airship's thrusters blasted to life and lifted it off the ground to follow Penny, and Ruby sat beside Yang, checking to see how she was doing. She was barely conscious, and Blake pressed her hand against her head. Ruby turned and rushed to a first aid kit, opening it up and finding plenty of stuff for them to patch her up with. Blake took it and started working away, but first she looked at Ruby.
"You need to be ready, Ruby… you're the only person who can help Ruby here." Blake explained, and Ruby held Crescent Rose tight, exhaling.
"Get us in close, Weiss… I have an idea… if I know Penny, she's gonna try to buy time, try to talk to him. I don't know if he'll bite the bait, but… he likes the sound of his own voice. If you can get me close enough… I could do some damage… if I'm lucky… I may be able to take him down if I surprise him." Ruby explained. Blake's amber eyes widened at the possibility as Ruby's eye glowed faintly.
Ruby sat down and she closed her eye, meditating to get as much aura back as she possibly could.
The Airship roared across the skyline of the burning city, hearing only the faint screams of civilians down below.
Ruby knew that she only had one shot here…
… so she had better make it count.
Kassius
In the snow, Kassius groaned, his vision blurry after Umbra had blasted straight through the Eel Krastax. The plan had gone well at first, but unlike the Leviathan they weren't even able to thin out the Grimm numbers.
He pushed his hands against the snow as he saw the Grimm sprinting around him and the still crumbling body of the Krastax. "Hyde?" He stammered, then was relieved when he heard the voice in his head.
"Still here…"
"What the hell happened?"
"Vir Nominis Umbra. Last I saw was him going straight for Mantle… I think he went through the walls." Hyde explained that revelation made him feel ill. But then he heard something roar over his shoulder and he swiftly drew Lash Equinox and spun around, slashing through the throat of the Beowulf which had clambered over the dead body of the Krastax. It collapsed to the ground, but then he heard an Apathy shriek at him from behind.
Kassius yelled in pain, feeling his body weigh down from the power of the creepy humanoid Grimm. He dug his fingers into the icy cold snow and turned to see the lanky creature hobbling towards him. He suddenly found the strength to fight and threw his sword into the screeching mouth of the Apathy. "Shut the fuck up!" He yelled as he threw it, toppling the creature over. He walked to the corpse, ripping the sword from its crumbling face, and looked around for Cinder. But he couldn't see her.
"Cinder?" He panted.
"I didn't see her get hit… I don't know where she is." Hyde reassured. Kassius looked around as he saw more Grimm notice him through the horde, salivating as they saw a lonely, tasty meal. He smirked and spun his swords through his fingers, his dizziness fully faded and ready to fight.
"Guess it's just us then." Kassius said, glaring at the Grimm, his eyes glimmering a faint fiery orange with Hyde always ready to take over. The Grimm roared, and they sprinted towards him. Kassius jumped high in the air, spinning and slashing through the spine of a Sabyr, and as he landed he fired Vulcan Nox into the face of an Ursa that swung at him, punching it in the face at the same time. The Ursa smashed face first into the snow, allowing Kassius to leap off its spines and spin through the air, driving his sword through the back of a Creep's neck.
The Ursa snarled, black blood leaking from its eye after suffering that gunshot, but it kept fighting and dug its claws into the snow, throwing it at him, but he raised his arm and rolled underneath its paw as it swung at him once again. He pushed Lash Equinox upwards through the beast's armpit and sliced the arm open, making it dangle lifelessly. It turned so fast that he could hear the bones snapping yet it still did not falter, roaring and standing on its hind legs, swiping its only functional arm at him over and over, before hurtling itself, landing on its spiny back where he was standing. He rolled aside but jumped in the air, ramming both swords into its chest, killing the Ursine Grimm. Suddenly the long tail of a Teryx smacked into his chest and he tumbled across the ground. The Teryx roared viciously at him, and he smirked, standing tall as it blasted a beam of fire at him from its jaws. He rolled aside and fired Vulcan Nox on full auto, shredding through the flesh, and the beast snarled with anger, turning to glare at him.
It suddenly jumped and opened its wings, hovering in the air momentarily before slamming back down with dominant force. Kassius rolled out of the way and sliced the blade of his sword across its heel, opening the leg and making it limp. It hissed viciously before turning and biting at him, and swinging its tail around once more. Kassius ducked and rolled under the tail, and just as it went to swallow him whole, he thrusted up and drove Lash Equinox up through the roof of its mouth. The Teryx shrieked in immense pain, writhing around as black blood spewed from its head.
He pulled the sword out and just as its head came crashing down; he made sure it was dead by ramming the other sword down into its eye socket.
The Teryx crumbled away, and he turned to see a Hellhound now charging towards him, the fur on its body ignited and magma formed in its paw. The claws glowed orange as it blasted towards him, taking a fast and hard swipe at him. Kassius narrowly dodged but was bit on the arm by a Sabyr, pulling him to the side and allowing the Hellhound to jump at him, biting down on his other shoulder. Kassius roared in pain as the Hellhound dragged him across the floor, rearing on its hind legs to slam down on his chest. He wheezed in pain as the immense beast backed up, drooling lava from its jaws.
Kassius' amber aura flickered, and he struggled to get back up as the Hellhound prepared for another strike, and it sprinted at him at great speed, jumping high in the air. But then his eyes ignited as Hyde took control, and this time Hyde caught the beast by its jaws, roaring back at the monster. He twisted its head around and threw it against the floor, allowing Kassius to re-take control. He sprinted at the creature and slid underneath it, firing multiple explosive rounds into its belly, blowing it up from the inside behind him.
The Hound roared in agony as huge amounts of magma spilled out from its guts across the ground, yet even with its paw up it still tried to attack, breathing deep to blast fire at him, but he dodged it and rammed the sword through its face. As the Hellhound collapsed, he pulled the sword free, rolling away as it exploded behind him. The Sabyr rushed towards him again but he caught it by its oversized canine and threw it against the ground with all his might, before stamping on its skull.
He looked around as he saw a pack of Thralls sprinting towards him, and he snarled, connecting the two Lash Equinox Swords together, transforming them into his double-ended sword. He rolled to dodge the first, which jumped towards him, before stabbing through the mouth of another. He kicked one of them in the face then pulled the blade from the Thrall's mouth, spinning it around and cutting the downed one's head clean in two. He stabbed the sword into the ground and jumped, grabbing onto the weapon with both hands and spinning around on it, kicking another Thrall in the jaw so hard it snapped the jaw of the hinge.
As he landed, he yanked the blade out and spun it across his shoulders, beheading two more and, to finish off the last, he jumped and launched the spear through its head, pinning it against the floor. Kassius landed and rolled across the snow, firing a storm of missiles from Vulcan Nox, which flew high in the air before crashing back down into the ground, killing multiple Grimm in the process. He pulled his sword from the floor and looked around to see a Megoliath charging towards him.
It roared with rage as it reared back and slammed its heavy feet against the floor before charging once again. It swung its huge tusks back and forth repeatedly, scraping through the snow and ice, destroying the surrounding ground, but Kassius rolled forward and slid underneath the heavy beast. He slashed across its belly, spilling black blood, but it didn't seem to do even notice the damage. The Grimm Mammoth wrapped its truck around multiple Grimm and flung them towards Kassius. He rolled aside as they crashed and died on impact against the ground, then the Megoliath charged at him once again, swiping the tusks across the ground. It slowed as it turned, whilst Kassius shot multiple times at the titan.
It trampled over smaller Grimm as it made its attacks, rearing back once again to smash the ground, knocking Kassius across the ground. "Ah… shit…" Kassius groaned, knowing the enormous beast had him beat.
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning exploded against the side of the Megoliath's head, making it recoil to the side. He turned and smiled as he saw Cinder blasting towards it, two swords in hand. She clasped them together to form her Obsidian Bow and fired it towards the beast. One of the explosive arrows landed into one of the tusks and detonated, blowing the tusk clean off.
Kassius ran with it and caught the tusk with his Cybernetic Arm, and with all his might he launched it straight back at the Megoliath, impaling it through the shoulder. The huge Mammoth roared in furious pain before it reared back and smashed its tusks into the ground, then blasting a powerful gust from its trunk, blowing Kassius back and throwing sharp chunks of ice towards him.
Kassius raised his Cybernetic Arm to block the incoming shards of ice and the gigantic beast turned as Cinder went for another attack, but it wrapped its trunk around another Ursa and flung it towards her. She gasped and spun out of the way, before bringing down a storm of razor sharp shards of ice from the clouds above. The huge black ears of the Megoliath opened, and it forced itself towards her, grumbling deeply as it challenged her, then it blasted a deafening trumpeting roar from its trunk, which made Cinder cover her ears in pain.
Kassius sprinted towards the titan as fast as he could, cutting through the Grimm in his way, slicing down the middle of a Beowulf. He jumped onto the back of a boarbatusk and then jumped over to the shoulder of a Beringel before leaping and swinging off the arching tail of a Deathstalker. The Megoliath turned and growled as Kassius jumped directly at the giant's face. She drove both swords into its eyes, making it roar in fury, staggering around and smashing its huge tusks across the ground. It killed multiple Grimm under its feet and with its tusks as Kassius held on for dear life.
Cinder took that as her opportunity. With the giant blinded, she held her hands together and closed her eyes whilst they remained aflame, forming a massive burning spear in her hands, far longer than any conventional weapon. She flew high into the air, then dove with the spear, breaking the sound barrier. The spear plunged through its back and the Megoliath bellowed with fury as the spear detonated inside of its body. Kassius kicked off it and Cinder flew towards him, catching him before he fell into the Grimm and she flew him towards the remains of a destroyed Dreadnaught in the Tundra.
The Megoliath roared as explosions erupted from multiple areas of its body before the spear erupted in a mushroom cloud of fire, killing it and many Grimm around it. Cinder landed with Kassius and he kept her upright. "That was cool." Kassius complimented, making her chuckle.
"Thanks… always wanted to give that one a go… Yenna taught me that one… drains me though…" she panted. He patted her on the back and looked around with wide eyes.
"Ah shit… we ain't out of it yet." Kassius said as he saw the Oncoming Shadow swarming around the burning remains of the Dreadnaught to get to them, clambering up the hull one by one. Kassius spun Lash Equinox through his fingers and Cinder formed her two Obsidian Swords, back to back with her brother.
Mantle
The Oncoming Shadow continued their relentless rampage, swarming over their rapidly dropping numbers, destroying tanks and overwhelming the Juggernauts and Paladins, still holding the line for as long as they can. Even the few remaining Colossi were feeling the battle nearing its end as the Grimm just continue to flood through the walls faster than they could fight them off.
Inside, Jaune raised his shield, gritting his teeth as Death slammed Ferrum Arctus down against the flat surface of his trusted armament. He smashed back against the Knight and slashed Crocea Mors upwards, blasting an arc of blue energy upwards and he activated his semblance, forming his ancestors who all slash against Death one by one. Jaune rolled aside as Death fired a beam of black and red lightning at him from the tip of his sword. He flew high in the air, then dove with the sword plunging into the ground. As he landed, Nora smashed Magnhild across the side of Death's face, throwing him against the wall.
As he ripped his way out, Pyrrha launched Akoúo at him, bouncing it off his face and channelling lightning through her hand, blasting it into Death's chest. She threw her Discus Shield once again, then slashed up Death's chest and flipped backwards, kicking him up the jaw and hovering in the air, eyes ignited with green flames. She held out her hands and blasted a beam of fire down towards Death.
He raised his sword, refracting the fire and burning it across the wall, before slashing an arc of red energy up towards her. She deflected it with Akoúo before blasting downwards and knocking him backwards, directly into Harbinger as he hooked the scythe around Death's neck and threw him headfirst against the wall. Death rolled through the wall but launched back through, slashing his wings at Qrow, before swinging his sword hard and fast, pirouetting and driving the sword downwards. He transformed Harbinger into sword form and rested it over his shoulder, stopping Ferrum Arctus from hitting him.
Ren jumped overhead, firing his grappling hooks and wrapping them around Death's arm, pulling him away from Qrow. He growled in frustration as he stumbled and grabbed onto the cable to yank Ren his way, charging the sword up to kill him in a single shot like he did to Neptune.
But just as he was about to do it, Qrow swung the sword up Death's spine, causing him to spin around and swing horizontally at him. Death's eyes shone blood red as he slashed repeatedly at him, his helmet opening and the flaming skull inside roaring savagely at him. Jaune punched the Skull directly, causing Death to stumble around, and drive his sword into the ground with substantial force, blasting red lightning up from the road and knocking them all away.
Jaune turned and gasped to see Fury above, tossing Yatsuhashi down the side of the wall, and falling with him. Yatsuhashi flipped through the air and landed on both feet, sword rested on his shoulder whilst the rest of his team followed. Fury threw his arms back and bellowed to the sky with unending anger, magma leaking from his jagged teeth. He smashed his axe into the wall where Yatsuhashi was just stood, sprinting towards him. He dragged the axe across the wall behind him, melting the bricks and ripping it open, before thrusting forward, throwing the lava towards him.
Yatsuhashi rolled backwards and swung back at Fury, locking their eyes at each other with gritted teeth. With the axes, he flung Fulcrum from his grasp. Fury kicked him in the chest and pummelled the ground where he fell with mindless rage, blowing the floor to pieces with every strike made. Fury roared ferally at him, but he rolled backwards and just as he did, Velvet flew forward on Reese Chloris' Hoverboard, replicated with Hardlight Dust.
She raised the thrusters and burned Fury with the face, before spinning it and colliding the side of it against the same side. Fury grabbed her by the leg and threw the Bunny Faunus against the ground, and slammed the axe down at her. He snarled as she just rolled out of the way and switch to the Executioner Mace Cardin used.
As Fury sprinted towards her, she smacked it against the side of his face with a beautiful turn, smashing chunks of glowing hot magma off the side of his face. Fury crashed against the ground, snarling as Fox sprinted forward, slashing across the underside of his arm, then punched extremely quickly into his back before thrusting forward and stabbing through his back. He kicked off and flipped through the air as Fury sprouted lava coated wings from his back and flew up into the air, blasting fire from his jaws like a dragon. The fire swallowed the air beneath them as they avoided it, and he crashed back down, creating an enormous explosion.
He looked up to see Coco flying overhead, and she shot a storm of freezing cold icicles at him from above. Hissing resounded from Fury as they swiftly cooled the molten rock, but it still was not enough. She landed in front of him, making Fury roar with hatred at her, and he threw one of his axes at her, before he threw his arms back and his ribcage split open. He sprinted at her and she rolled out of the way just in time.
He smashed against the wall as lava bled from his chest and he twitched, grabbing at his own face with anger. Fury blasted flames from his mouth as he roared to the sky, then Yatsuhashi jumped from one of the collapsed buildings behind Fury and drove Fulcrum through his back. Fury reached back and grappled onto him, throwing him over his shoulder and against the floor. As Yatsuhashi landed, he crawled back as Fury bellowed again and sprinted at him at terrifying speeds.
Coco launched herself at full speed into Fury's side, and they crashed through a building. They both tumbled into a Fashion Store together, and Coco sighed, looking sad. "All these nice clothes! This is just gonna break my heart." The fashionista sighed, lowering her glasses judgingly at him.
He snarled like a wild animal, and his eyes erupted with fire again as he charged towards her, crushing the high-end model clothes beneath his feet and burning them. It killed her a bit on the inside, but she snapped out of her inner Fashionista and she rolled out of the way. Fury slid across the nice marble floor and opened his jaws, blasting fire at her, but she shot a beam of ice at him. The two opposing elements collided as they held their ends of the fight. Then Fury stopped and charged at her anyway, despite the icy cold frost extinguishing his flames on that shoulder. She rolled aside and as Fury spun around; she whacked Gianduja in Handbag Form across his jaw, then swinging down the top of his head and with an over the top twirl, she smashed him up the jaw.
He crashed against the ceiling and against the floor. As he stood up, he had a pretty dress burning on his shoulder. "OH COME ON!" she yelled, transforming Gianduja into Mini-Gun Mode and firing into his chest, blasting him across the room.
Velvet turned with a yelp as she saw Fury erupt out the side of the building, followed by a hellfire of bullets. "SHOW SOME RESPECT TO THE ART OF FASHION, ASSHOLE!" Coco yelled, making her team chuckle. But Velvet turned as Fear flew across the sky and headed back towards Oscar, Sun, and Hazel.
The Knight in Bat Form spun through the air, transforming back into his Humanoid Shape, kicking Hazel through the barriers and sliding across the ground. He swept Oscar off his feet with Formido Falcem and spiralled around to slam the scythe down towards Sun. The sudden and hard impact dropped him to one knee, and Fear grinned maniacally as he forced him down, pushing the blade closer and closer to his heart.
Hazel snarled and grabbed one of his Blood Vials, biting the cork out and drinking it. He started to sweat and snarled with rage as his veins turned black and eyes always blackened. He roared and sprinted at Fear, getting the Knight's attention. Fear rolled backwards and spun across the ground, slashing across Hazel's chest, but it had little effect when against him supercharged on his Blood Rage Semblance.
Hazel punched Fear in the face multiple times, blowing him against the wall, and grabbing him by the throat. He punched him so hard in the head that he saw cracks spread around the dome of his skull where the flesh had peeled away. The wall cracked as well with every punch, then Fear caught his fist, grinning maniacally. He threw Hazel against the wall and kicked him in the face. Hazel grunted and rolled aside as Fear buried Formido Falcem down where he was just stood, and aimed his crossbow at him. He fired and Hazel narrowly avoiding the incoming fear laced bolt, and he grabbed onto a car door and ripped it effortlessly from the car, throwing it at Fear.
It smashed against Fear, then Hazel jumped and smashed the ground with both fists, blowing him away. Fear opened his wings and flew high in the air, before shooting back down and grabbing Hazel by the throat, dragging him across the ground. He smashed him a couple times downwards before pressing his feet to the floor. He punched Hazel in the face a lot harder this time and he snarled back at the Knight.
Sun jumped onto Fear's back, pulling Ruyi Jingu Bang and flipping him backwards, throwing Fear across the ground, and he slid across the battlefield. Oscar sprinted through time and stabbed through Fear's ribs, pushing him across the floor with gritted teeth. Fear laughed maniacally down at him, before opening his wings once again and throwing himself up into the air. He grabbed Oscar, who was still hooked on via his sword, stabbed through Fear's torso. They both flew across the sky before Fear dove and smashed Oscar into the ground so hard his aura flickered green, entering the red now.
Fear grabbed him by the top of his head and tossed him into the air, swinging around with Formido Falcem, slashing across his chest and blowing him across the floor, breaking his aura. Fear grinned, but turned as Sun fired everything he had in Ruyi Jingu Bang at him, leaving countless spent casings behind with each shot. Fear deflected or blocked most of the shots, backing up, before blasting a cloud of fear toxin directly into Sun's face.
He coughed and shook his head as he felt his hairs stand on end. "Fuck… ah shit…" He stammered, looking around to see Fear disappear before his very eyes. He screamed in terror as he saw Neptune, Scarlet and Sage stood before him, all of them covered in blood and eyes clouded with no life in them.
Sun collapsed to the ground, screaming as he not only saw those he lost but also Blake laughing at him with a grin carved across her face, eyes also gone and clouded. He screamed in terror as he backed up into the corner. Hazel's eyes widened when he saw Sun screaming like that and sprinted in the way of him to protect him from Fear, who smirked at him. But then he turned to see Grimm taste the fear in the air and come sprinting towards him on the floor.
Fear did not attack. He wanted Hazel to choose.
Until suddenly, Militia and Melania attacked, slashing their claws across the bodies of the Grimm who lunged for Sun who screamed on the ground. "The hell's wrong with him?" Militia asked.
"Fear, he used his gas on him. I don't know what he's seeing… but… shit, just protect him!" Hazel begged, then turned to see that not only was Junior here to help, but so were Mazen and Kaa.
"Help the Twins. We've got this bastard." Mazen commanded, and Kaa nodded, running to their aid to protect Sun. Fear laughed maniacally at them and held out his arms.
"Finally… a real challenge." He said as he opened his wings, spinning Formido Falcem through his fingers.
From up above, Loss continued to watch the battle, fighting the curse in her soul for as long as she could. Seeing Emerald and Neo fighting together against the Grimm on the walls, killing them one by one. She gritted her teeth, feeling such a pain in her head as a strange black smoke surrounded her and she fell to one knee.
Flashing images burst into her vision of seeing… the Knight of Loss.
Not her, but… the actual Spectral Knight… like it was a separate entity…
And in front of her was her dead family. On the night she drowned herself and became this Knight. And every time… it brought her to tears… and she felt her lungs constrict again, just like that night.
Feeling the curse grip tighter onto her grief.
But as this happened, her eyes widened…
… as a blinding golden light shone above…
Vir Nominis Umbra
He continued to fly across the sky, surrounded by a crackling storm of black and red lightning, but Penny was directly behind him. He glanced back when he knew she was there and snarled, gaining height above Atlas. Beneath him, the Oncoming Shadow continued to lay siege.
Nothing but fire raged below now… the city was gone, and the few who were still alive could barely even be heard anymore.
Why do you persist?
"Stop Umbra! Just wait a minute!" Penny begged, screaming as loud as she could at him. He suddenly stopped and landed against the side of one of the skyscrapers, gripping one hand which had taken the form of his hand as the False God. She hadn't expected him to actually stop like that. It made her heart skip a beat… and for a moment, all she could hear was the wind.
Vir Nominis Umbra glared back at her. No smirk or sadistic comments… he was coldly silent and serious, and that?
That was somehow more frightening than seeing him say anything evil.
He was waiting to hear what she had to say, hearing the sound of that airship nearby the others were in.
Penny swallowed thickly and yelled as loud as she could. "It doesn't have to be this way! Let's just talk this over?" She yelled, which just made Vir Nominis Umbra chuckle, smile, and shake his head.
When will these children understand?
He inhaled and stared at her, eyes glowing blood red. "There is nothing left to talk about! I have already decided what needs to be done… it is all that needs to be done! And that is to erase this universe like all the others they made and continue!" Vir Nominis Umbra yelled. Penny's eyes widened, and she shakily gasped.
"But why? Why continue to do this?" Penny yelled.
"… for my purpose…" He sighed.
"What did you say?" She yelled back.
"IT IS MY PURPOSE! A PURPOSE I CHOSE! THAT ALL OF YOUR LIVES AND MEMORIES MUST END AND BE ERASED HERE AND NOW! ALL OF YOUR FATES HAVE BEEN DECIDED!" Vir Nominis Umbra roared, his voice echoing across the city, and hearing him yell like that was something she never expected…
… and his words… he sounded so different to how he usually was.
"But you don't! You have the power to do so much more than all this! You can help so many people! Save so many lives! If this is a purpose you chose, then why not choose something better?" Penny yelled back.
"For what? To prolong the inevitable? To allow the curse of their works to continue without consequence?" He suddenly blasted towards Penny and stopped right in front of her.
The two hovered and stared at each other, and Penny rattled with fear as he stared down at her.
But he didn't even raise a hand… he just stared down at her. "Why so afraid, Penny? Didn't you wanna talk?" Umbra questioned, eyes shining red.
He chuckled sinisterly at her. "You throw these questions at me just as Velvet Scarlatina did before. You sit there and assume that I chose to do the things that I do without attempting the opposite. Time and time again I tried to help people… but no matter what, you all end up destroying yourselves anyway. Such is the curse that they laid upon you." Vir Nominis Umbra explained.
He could continue to hear the Airship circling the building they were hovering beside as smoke and embers rose around them from beneath them and Tempests hovered across the sky. "I know what this is, Penny. You're just buying time, aren't you? I can hear your friends in the Airship getting closer, and you plan to distract me so they can try to take the Relic from me." He said, gripping the stone tightly in his palm. He stared at her hands, chuckling at her trepidation. "And I know I'm right… look at the way you're shaking. You're scared out of your mind, aren't you?"
Penny closed her eyes and sighed. "Well… you're wrong… I only chased you because I don't want you to keep making the same mistakes. Everyone can change… there's no such thing as pure evil. And if you really plan to use it, then why are you talking to me in the first place?" Penny questioned, and his eyes faltered, dancing around as he contemplated that question.
"Because I needed to know…" He answered. "… to know if this universe is different… if perhaps I can stop this cycle of annihilation that makes me what I am."
He exhaled and glared at her. "But… it seems that nothing has changed. As much as I respect you all… it will not matter in the end. And I will have to kill every last one of you…" Vir Nominis Umbra stated.
"But why? You still haven't told me why? Do you see all life as things to be destroyed? That we deserve it for existing?" Penny questioned, tears in her eyes.
"No…" He answered, her eyes widened. "None of you did anything wrong… and you don't deserve any of this. But you are part of something far greater… something that must and will be eradicated." Vir Nominis Umbra answered.
Suddenly Ruby shot upwards from the Airship beneath her in a flurry of red petals and her Silver Eye instantly blasted a blinding white light, making him vulnerable and she without hesitation swung Crescent Rose towards his neck to behead him. He formed a sword and stopped her, but she shot through his cheek and he barked in pain, spitting out black blood. She fired again and went again, only for him to grab her and throw her against the metal wall, shattering what little aura she had regained and sending her falling.
"RUBY!" Penny screamed, firing her swords into the building and using them to anchor her and catch Ruby. They both dangled as Penny held her close and Ruby held on tight, Crescent Rose in one hand whilst Weiss got closer.
"No… I was so close…" Ruby stammered, watching Umbra fly further into the centre of Atlas, gaining more and more height.
"Guys! We can't keep going after him! We need to get out of here!" Weiss yelled, and Penny detached the blades from the wall and flew to the Airship, landing inside. Ruby pressed her hands against her head, knowing she had failed to stop him.
"We need to make some distance. He's going to use the Relic of Destruction!" Blake yelled.
"I'm going as fast as I can!"
Penny, however, couldn't stop thinking about what she heard Umbra saying. "He… he keeps talking about his purpose… that he chose it… the way he's been speaking lately. He used to make so many jokes and jabs. But now? He's so serious… he's like an entirely different person…" Penny stammered.
"Yeah… I've noticed that too…" Ruby agreed.
Down below in Mantle, Jaune and Qrow sprinted towards Death, who stood tall, staring them down. "He's getting weaker! We just have to finish him!" But as they grew closer, Death looked to the sky and his Nevermore Wings erupted from his back and he flew upward into the sky. They all stopped with wide eyes.
"What the hell? What is he doing?" Jaune questioned.
Fury and Fear both did the same whilst Starla looked up at Atlas with wide eyes, not moving. And at Atlas Academy, the severed body of Whitley slowly crawled out of the broken doors, groaning as he stared up at the sky.
The Airship flew as fast as it could, all of their hearts pounding.
Vir Nominis Umbra flew across the sky, and his eyes glowed more and more.
As much as I hoped, this universe could finally be the one… it has proved me wrong once again.
I no longer have any reservations anymore…
… I will not hesitate any longer…
I will burn this Universe to embers until I have the Relics and erase it from existence if I must.
It hurts…
… but I know… that only they are the ones to blame here… them… and myself… not the ones who defy me…
Vir Nominis Umbra blasted higher into the sky.
They fought well to the end… but their fight is meaningless…
… I will erase Remnant.
For that… is my Cruel Purpose.
Vir Nominis Umbra held out his hand and the Relic of Destruction glowed bright gold with solar energy.
Jaune stared at the sky, and his eyes widened. "By the gods! It's Umbra! Don't tell me he's gonna…"
"EVERYONE GET OUT OF HERE!" Jaune screamed.
The blinding golden solar flare bright brighter and brighter as everyone stared at it. Even Kassius and Cinder in the Tundra could see it as the Grimm stared at the sky, roaring. Whitley stared at the glowing bright light, knowing it was the end…
And then…
… the loudest explosion they had ever heard erupted, completely decimating the entire landmass floating in the sky. Massive walls of fire flooded through the city streets, burning people and Grimm to ash, shattering entire skyscrapers and throwing them miles into the air. The flames wiped everything out, vaporising Whitley's body and shattering Atlas Academy. Schnee Manor exploded, and the hanging body of Jacques Schnee was completely eviscerated.
The wings of the Airship Team R.W.B.Y and Penny were in shattered and melted, causing it to spin out of control over the edge of Atlas, screaming in terror.
From the tundra, Kassius and Cinder held their arms up as the shock wave hit, watching as Atlas completely broke apart from the explosion and came plummeting down towards Mantle, eyes wide and mouths agape.
As the huge chunks of city and land crashed into the lower city, flattening everything beneath, everyone ran for their lives as hell rained upon them. Kassius stepped forward and pulled his scroll out, immediately calling Yang.
"Yang? YANG!" He screamed, then his eyes widened at what was coming.
From the powerful quakes of the impact… the Atlesian Ocean receded and sent a gigantic Tsunami towards Mantle. The massive tidal wave crashed across the southern side of Mantle and Atlas. They watched from the south in horror as the incomprehensible torrent of water crashed into the remains of Atlas and Mantle.
The enormous body of water flooded through the decimated streets, drowning the entire Kingdom in saltwater, and drowning the Oncoming Shadow that had invaded it as well.
Ortega watched with horrified eyes from above as the water completely flooded the city, going through the walls.
Unaware of the status of everyone down below.
Vir Nominis Umbra watched from above, with the Relic of Destruction in his grasp, and he blasted upwards into the sky in a flash of black and red lightning.
Without saying a word.
The Era of Atlas…
… was no more…
Stay tuned for the next chapter...
- Matt