Arc IV - Linked Horizons
Chapter 36 - Infernal Catharsis
If you listened closely, the sound of the wind whistling sharply would ring through the air. My body started to form a sharp cone around my face, arms flat against my sides with the blades drawn. It took only a minute or so but I had reached the tower, three eyes leered, pupils dilating. With an unhinged roar that vibrating through the air, the Wyvern craned its body and flew off with a massive beat of its wings.
With the speed I've gained from the flight toward Beacon, I'll just bulldoze through it! Drawing my right arm out, I braced with a war cry of my own, feeling the pressure slide against my blade, but like a hot knife to butter I slit a large line from the Wyvern's jaw, down to the tail, the two of us flying past one another. My feet slammed against the glass of Ozpin's office, seeing a woman with fire-like abilities fighting Pyrrha. The two took the time to acknowledge me, so with a single nod toward Pyrrha, I pushed off, shattering the window entirely.
The second I faced the Grimm the sky was cast in oranges and yellows, fire consuming my body as the blast slammed me against the tower's neck. The heat was intense, yet again, if it was my semblance or aura doing it, I felt better, sure, that still hurt like hell but I did feel much more energized. Through the flames still stuck to me, the Wyvern reeled its neck back again, so with a flip I pushed off the tower, blades drawn as I spiraled around the next torrent of flames, narrowly avoiding another hot shower to slice one of its eyes, interrupting its fire breath.
Gliding along the side of the neck, my hands crackled with fire and ice, using Brilliant Flame to send my own massive hurdle of elements crashing against the Wyvern, forcing it to fly back, body arcing backward, my eyes dilated, flipping backward myself to avoid the tail from swiping me into the exosphere. I didn't account for it to curve around in a diagonal circle, bod folded while the tail swept around, slamming against my torso, the flames immediately died from the speed I gained, my body's insides felt like jelly as I was embedded in the path, carving a line all the way to the transport docks.
Managing to flip myself back on my hands and knees I dug my fingers into the pavement, stopping inches from the dozens of students and armed personal watching, I had no time to check if anyone I knew was here as I flew off the ground, doing my best to regain my former momentum. Using wings was new, and fighting in the air meant I had to use momentum to actually do anything punishing so that put me at a huge disadvantage.
From the bowels of the Wyvern sprung a torrent of orange flames again, passing over my head with searing heat, crashing into the ground behind me. I divided, avoiding the lumbering body from slamming into me, but seeing my opportunity I flew up, latching a blade between the flesh and ribs. Now locked in place I sliced into the underbelly, pulling away to tear a large gash through the abdomen with a satisfying cry. Spinning mid-air I flew up again, firing several ice shards against the Wyvern's head, disorientating it very little, so instead I snapped my fingers, a capsule popping out from my back, containing expensive, finely condensed ice dust.
Tossing toward the open jaws that ascended after me, I raised my left palm, firing a single shot of flames, the second contact was made the two of us were consumed in a gargantuan explosion of ice, my armor slightly frozen over with my arms guarding my face, between my forearms I could see the Wyvern strain to stay airborne, the entire right side of its head and neck carrying a chunk of ice, while some of the spines broke off alongside some teeth.
Pushing back quickly to avoid a swipe from its talons I flew around and under a wing, said wing slamming down in an attempt to swat me. Being at a distance wasn't working, so I had to be greedy. Flying closer while steering clear of those clawed wings I struck across the Wyvern's head with a slant, spinning around with a rick hook to the jaw, then a backflip to clip its mandible sharply. Planting my hands against the snout I rolled up and over the head, latching onto a spine.
From here I plunged my blades into its scales, tearing through the leathery hide and scales with ease. My momentum was met with a sharp gasp as I pulled away, a new spine shot through its back, nearly slicing me in two as I grabbed hold of one of them, the Wyvern then ascended vertically all of a sudden. It didn't take long for it to sweep above the clouds, my grip slipping to fly beside, it, the massive beat of the wings parting the air of any cover I had. With eyes narrowed, flames licked its tongue while I braced with my arms crossed.
"We got this," What's that, Iota? "Let the attack strike us, trust me." You are aware it's very uncomfortable wearing this armor when it's hot, right?
Relying on Iota I let the jaws release a concentrated stream of flames atop me, the force making it hard for me to stay aloft while my body started to heat up slowly. Each second passed and the temperature rose - Okay, any time now, guys!
System Software Updated
Consume | Convert | Enhance
With no time for questions, the heat was suddenly dropping again considerably. The flames were now drawn into my palms, expelling from vents located under my wings, this extra heat and fire started to boost my overall system's functionality, I felt great of course but now Cognitum was copying me, it was starting to improve from the exhaled fire and heat, converting it all into energy.
"Let's call this little trick... Augendae." Iota announced darkly, clearing his throat. "Now, send it back to oblivion."
"You got it... hyyah!" Raising my stance, my highlights glowed brighter, the vents in my back expelling heat as purple energy to increase my acceleration further
"Come on! Is that the best you can do!?" I challenged, flying up and through the snapping jaws, roundhouse kicking the Wyvern back, followed by a blade skewering an eye, my right arm burning the next, blinding it completely on the right. It shook me off though, a wing flapping closer to pluck me from the air, throwing me downwards
Recovering the Wyvern took the time to twist and turn irregularly, splashing walls of fire through the air in streams I couldn't avoid, so instead I guarded with both arms and flew straight through the waves, my new fire absorption having already hit its limit. The second I came into view I could only see white and black, my feet slipping on the tongue while my hands held the upper row of teeth from devouring me whole. Now I was really stuck.
Now I no longer held the advantage, my hands struggling to hold the pressure of the jaws attempting to crush me, my enhanced augments slowly depleting as I screamed, trying not to slip with my feet wedged between its teeth, I was losing, the bite force was far greater than what I could accumulate. I was so close, I can't stop now because of a limit!
~Relax, you have everything you need to win~ Summer! Thank God... are you alright? ~I don't think it's me that's in need of worry. I'm currently helping people down in Vale, whatever you're planning I hope it works... for everyone here~
"Y-Yeah... c-can't stop... have to b-b-beat Cinder..." I struggled to breathe, my legs bent with my arms now, sparks flying as my joints begged me to stop. "Mars... communication cut..."
~It was him, the downside of being an intelligent Grimm... but Sky... good luck~ After that, our coms cut off, and the roaring continued to shake my bones
"I have to beat Cinder... so then... down the rabbit hole!" I let my grip slip, my body sliding down into the Wyvern's throat as all light was shut out for a glimpse, say for the red glow resonating from a canister in my left hand, I had no time to throw it, there was little room to do so, and my body was going to slip past the back of its throat soon so this was all I got let, a final gamble. "Tick-Tick-Boom."
I crushed it, the red particles flashing in the darkness before igniting immediately to the air, the ball of flames threw me up, shattering the irregular teeth on my way out, while the Wyvern wheezed from the counteracting flames inside its maw, hacking up embers while my body folded, arms whipping back around with chains wrapped around my forearms. With a lunge both blades soared passed the head, sinking into the gashes I've made previously, anchoring us while we plummeted toward the ground.
I may feel weak now, all that pressure and impacts have shattered my aura... but I've absorbed all that fire to the absolute limit of this 'Augendae' ability of mine. I pulled back, wings flapping in single, forcefully strokes, the excess energy expelled from my back as I strained in agony to use the weight of the Wyvern and gravity against it. Since it weighed more, it flew right past me, just as we soared around one hundred meters above the CC tower.
With any semblance of my aura that remained, I threw all I had into my arms, seeing my semblance distort my arms with sporadic flashes, my eyes doing the same, I could see eyes of Iron Regalia reflect white, purple, and red in the same sort of fashion.
"We'll pour our auras into yours!"
"Take as much as you want!" Thanks, guys, you bought me the power I needed. With a burst my aura and semblance came to life, armor radiating a force of white and red
Turning in the air, I swung my arms with a burst of light that coursed through the chains, with darkness that overshadowed me I felt the weight of his claws swipe against my legs, making my voice catch in my throat from the angle they were pushed toward. Pulling diagonally across the air, I saw the hooks curving a solid arch through the Wyvern's flesh, snagging on something else while still stretching the gashes farther, tearing through its stomach and neck just as the tower below came into my view again. So with my wings fanned quickly I glided backward in a loop, skating across the Grimm's side, pressing my feet to its tail and then flipping back into the air, disconnecting the chains while my acceleration fell behind that of its own.
With the weight and speed finally against the Wyvern it let out a final roar and collided with the CC tower, which in turn, cut communications but at that cost, the Grimm's maw lay wide open, a large portion of the tower piercing its throat and out the back of the nape. It capsized the top of the tower, crumbling to the school behind it in a massive cloud of dust, myself flying through the cloud, sprawling onto the remains of Ozpin's office, connecting with a wall to end my tumble with a few bricks atop me.
Coughing at the abrupt landing I felt Iron Regalia retract, giving me a chance to finally breathe in air not on fire. "T-Talk about a strike... although I think Vale's cell reception is going to be crappy for a while."
"Sky!?" Looking up while I dusted myself off I waved to Pyrrha, while the woman standing flabberghasted stared back at me
"Hey, Pyrrha, sorry for the rough landing..." Standing back up I cracked my knuckles, both Iota and Eric's aura coursing around me. "Ready for a team-up?"
"Sky, you need to leave, she's already taken the rest of the Maiden's power," Pyrrha warned me, as my attention finally landed on the woman in a red dress, eyes glowing orangy-yellow with flames dancing around her eyes
"So, you're Cinder I presume?" I motioned toward her lazily while taking a stand next to Pyrrha as she recovered herself
"I am, and you are someone who's very special... although did you have to rough up Mercury like that, he was only meant to distract you?" Cinder sounded completely devoid of anything relating to compassion
"For someone to rival the Ice Queen for her title that's rather kind given how I really did want to kill him, my fault for not deciding to follow through," That made her smile wickedly, hands burning while I helped Pyrrha up. "It's over, even if that Wyvern isn't dead I'm sure a few hits will do the job, and I already know how to take care of the remaining Grimm in Vale anyway, you've lost, Cinder."
"Hmm, hardly, while you mask around playing the knight in shining armor I have already obtained the power I deserved, while you rely on a suit my power never fades," Cinder proclaimed, arms out wide. "If anything you should be begging me to spare you both, even if I won't, for that is the place of weak-minded people like you."
"Oh God, you sound just like Rika..." I pinched the bridge of my nose, shaking my head while drawing Penny's blade. "Say whatever phycological bull you want, I'm only here for three things. One, to slay a dragon. Two, to send the Grimm packing. And three... to kill the scumbag that took the life of an innocent girl."
"A girl manufactured by people greedily abusing power beyond their control." Again she apposed my point strongly, but I didn't care, everything she said meant nothing to me. Her smile still didn't falter, even as Pyrrha raised her shield and I raised Penny's sword, I needed to give Cognitum time to recharge, those two enhances and a Wyvern did leave it a little worn out. Her hands reignited, Pyrrha standing close to me.
"I'll be the sword and you the shield..." I whispered, seeing her nod, although I did jab her side. "No-one else... no-one else needs to die tonight... so don't for your friends."
"I won't... and thank you." With that last bit of sentiment, a beam of fire had us dive to either side, sprinting directly for Cinder herself
Thrusting high my blade struck her palm, flames splitting between the blade so I ducked, allowing a gold shield to slam into her face, followed by two feet pressing against the back of it, throwing Cinder backward. Pyrrha landed, bracing with the shield against the flames, I made a B-line for her, sliding under another beam of fire, swiping at her legs, but a heel clamped down, while the other struck my chin, followed by a blast for searing flames to slam me against a wall.
Coughing slightly, Cinder focused on Pyrrha now, using flames to keep her at bay, this Maiden power was intense magic. I couldn't use Cognitum right now, every ounce of energy I can store for it will pay off, but facing down Cinder wasn't what I expected, neither was magic since this world is devoid of it, well, partially that is.
Scrambling to my feet, I felt the weight of metal under me sway. To my far left, Pyrrha used her semblance with great strain, lifting up almost every metal cog that once made up Ozpin's strange clockwork ceiling. She threw a large arch atop Cinder, grabbing her shield in the process, Cinder, of course, blasted her way out, firing two balls of flame to separate us again, yet Pyrrha remained vigilant, concentrating on lifting up all she could.
First came Pyrrha's shield, knocking Cinder off-balance mid-air, followed by a gear slamming into her stomach, pinning her down alongside the screech of metal twisting and turning onto the magnetized pile smothering Cinder. While a great display of her control, the ominous glow of orange hummed within the gears, in seconds, the metal flew past me, a piece throwing Pyrrha into a wall, her aura finally drained while Cinder looked exhausted but unharmed.
From there, she raised a bow and arrow, with Pyrrha throwing her shield to counter it, and as I ran I felt my eyes widen with horror at the sight of the arrow deconstructing itself around the disk, reconstructing on the other end with the same momentum, aimed directly for Pyrrha's ankle. With a small twirl, I flung Penny's sword ahead, shattering the arrow centimeters from her leg. With a roll I hooked my hand around the sword, dashing straight for Cinder who was disorientated by the shield swiping her side.
"Don't forget there's two of us!" Bellowing the obvious I finally saw her smile fade to aggravation, the flames growing intensely around us as I made my move, Cinder forming a blade of her own
With a scowl Cinder lunged downward, jus the sheer heat of the blade making the air hotter, with a yell I slide the blade up, pushing her back with ease. Charing toward her I swung upright, clashing with her slanted guard, We rotated, I swung from my left arm horizontally, while she swiped upward from her right hip, our blades clashed again, followed by another simultaneous strike that locked our swords, both of us pushing closer, glaring daggers at one another.
I stepped back, kicking back to lunge over Cinder, slicing down in an 'X' but she parried both overhead swings, turning around herself to thrust forward, so with an inverted grip I skating her blade off to the side, slamming the pommel into her chin, followed by a sharp kick to her abdomen, sending her tumbling into some smoldering gears, which she promptly absorbed the flames, firing a concentrated beam immediately.
"Sky!" I jumped at the voice, seeing Pyrrha's shield block the blast, despite the gasp from Pyrrha as some embers burnt her hand, but she remained at the vanguard. Once the flames died out, Cinder struck closer than I thought, her sword grazing Pyrrha's cheek, tossing her aside, so I swung from my right to the left, my sword clanging off Cinder's, but I followed through with a slant from my left hip to the right, bending my arm I prodded forward, slicing Cinder's shoulder while her free hand glowed
"You should learn when you're beaten." A cold, cynical reply is all I got once the torrent of fire wrapped around me, slamming through my aura and burying me in concrete and metal. My body was beyond heated, every conceivable inch of my body was on fire, the heat felt as though it dug into my bone marrow, I couldn't even breathe through the roaring flames
"NO!"
The agony across my body was only brief, I... couldn't feel anything... as if the flames burned my skin, my hair, my eyes, every breath burned, yet I didn't cry out, again, the heat was unbearable, but I wasn't burning, I didn't smell hair or skin burning, I just felt... better, my aura was down alongside Iota and Eric's, but my fatigue faded away, my injuries softened too. Through crackling embers my vision became clearer, seeing Cinder and Pyrrha stare back at me with again, shock, though Cinder looked furious, the very flames around her eyes burning brighter.
"How is this possible? Your aura is gone!" That brief moment of fury slowly morphed into apathy, a frown clearly filled will nothing.
"Heh... you think I understand what's going on?" I stood up, wiping my face clear of some ash, flaming wrapping around me uncontrollably, each breath was rejuvenating to feel. "I know less about myself than ever before, nothing about me makes any sense... but whatever the case may be," I balled up my fists, grabbing Penny's sword now caked in flames while I wore a toothy grin. "I'll borrow this strength to beat all of yours."
"Take all that you want, you cannot win now, Beacon has fallen." She emphasized with her arms out wide, the area around us cast in an orange glow by the flames that continued to rage on because of us. With a single wink to Pyrrha, I cracked my neck
"I'll decide when this ends, not you!" Without warning, Cinder gasped from the point of a shield bouncing off her nape, bringing her closer to me. In a fit of anger her foot sent a web of cracks through the ground under me, causing them to erupt and send me sprawling into another wall, but this time I planted my feet, springing into the air to avoid another funnel of flames
Above, Pyrrha raised her shield to brace her face, I turned, planting my feet down with a burst of fire, my sword poised ahead of me. In a large wave of fire, the sword and Cinder's palm directed the flames, creating a vacuum of fire around us, the fire dancing into the air and splashing outward in a fountain. Stomping down I slugged her with a hard blow to the side, my sword finally slicing her face and some of her hair, followed by a spin to slam my shin against her forearm, both of us directing the flames in turn like two dragons, mine was less stable but if I could direct them that was enough.
Cinder pushed me away, constructing something small in her fingers to flick my way, despite the heat I felt something hard push me back, the dome of fire falling apart, revealing the small inner circle of flames we had created, thankfully Pyrrha was still okay, though she looked tired from the heat, so with a final ditch effort I tightened my grip on Penny's sword, only to grunt at a fist striking me down, the blade lodged in the ground behind me while Cinder stumbled toward me, arms webbed with fire.
I stood up myself, both of us locking hands while fire pushed against both our palms, mine were weak in comparison, proving that they only aided in keeping me energized but that was still enough. With a strain I slammed my head against hers, dropping her guard, with a twist I plucked out the sword, swiping once to lock with her palms again, fire splitting between the blade while I applied all the pressure I could, fire continuously devoured by the sword.
Between us both trying to gain the upperhand, I hadn't noticed it, but cracks started to form on the sword, it was hitting its melting point now!? No... just a little more, come on Penny! I didn't let up, some embers turning a flicker of purple, far less wild a more precise as Pyrrha took cover behind a small pile of rubble. The cracks grew wider and yet even as I trickled every ounce of strength into the strike Cinder still managed to keep up, even while her hands started to bleed profusely.
*CLANG-SHATTER*
The fires finally smothered themselves, dying out with each clap of heels against burnt objects, crunching them beneath each step. As quickly as that power came it all turned to dust. I could barely move, my body drained completely while I struggled to reach out to Pyrrha, herself trying to pull herself off her knees, back turned to Cinder.
Cinder herself looked beaten and worn but she managed to form another bow and arrow, scowling toward her opponent, even as I tried to reach out, if I could just get to her I could help! Stop... give me more time! Please! Even with my fingers digging into the ash I could barely reach out to Pyrrha, just as the string was drawn back, but she realized Cinder was there, simply smiling at me, eyes filled with warmth even while mine teared up.
"Pyrrha... no..." Make this stop, I can't let end here! Cognitum, please, help me!
"It's unfortunate you were promised a power that was never truly yours." Cinder began, even while I tried to move, and Pyrrha simply took her gaze toward Cinder herself now, not afraid of what was to come. "But take comfort in knowing that I will use it in ways you could never have imagined." That smile held truer than anything she's said thus far...
"Do you believe in destiny?" Pyrrha said with a stern, cold look while Cinder was taken back by the question until she glared right back
From that point, the ground under me trembled, a great shadow looming over all of us as my eyes broadened larger than plates at the sight of the near-dead Wyvern, the maw snarling weakly down at me, but its remaining eyes turned to look between Cinder and Pyrrha, mist continued to rise from its back, wings torn and claws broken, but it was still alive, dammit.
"Yes." With that, Cinder released the arrow, lodging deep into Pyrrha's lower back, while it didn't kill her, she let out a shriek of agony while Cinder turned to me, smiling wickedly. "You can have her soon, along with this one..."
"Go to hell, you bitch!" I snarled, pushing myself up with my elbows, only to have her heel stomp on my chest, drawing an arrow without hesitation or monologuing before I felt the arrowhead pierce my right hand, pinning it to the ground. I bit my tongue and screamed myself, trying not to move my now twitching hand too much, even as the arrow fell apart, allowing me to lift the now bleeding limb. "A-A-Ah you... a-are a pain in... the ass!"
She didn't like that, simply summoning a sword and with an inverted swing I watched as red and black filled my left eye, blood sent flying against the wall as I finally let out a cry of pain, reaching up with my left hand to cover my now blinded left side, even using my right to painfully lifting a middle finger to my soon to be killer.
"I am trying to kill you and yet to insist on being my little plaything, why?" Cinder wasn't enjoying the fact I was still managing to mock her, even with one eye now gone forever and a hand currently pierced
"B-Because... if I'm going to die," I grinned, tears falling down my face, both for myself and for Pyrrha. I'm sorry... "The least I can do is make sure you don't get to enjoy it."
Letting out a sigh, she raised her sword, while I felt my eye growing heavy, my hand was numb too. I hope... this was enough... everyone...
...
"ＳＫＹ， ＰＹＲＲＨＡ！" From beyond my vision I heard Ruby let out a horrified cry, and in that instance a blinding white light overtook the sky, the Wyvern screamed painfully at the light, while Cinder yelled herself, the light consuming us all for only a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity of nothingness
. . .
. . . . . .
Spots danced in my vision, the whole words was hazy but I could make out the tower still, large, black dust particles flew through the air while the sounds of distant screams faded away. Cinder was gone but her scroll... I... needed to get it... I had to... keep going...
"Ruby... what did you...?" I hoarsely asked, while using my left hand to drag myself forward, seeing the blue screen still flash brightly, it was working. I could make out Pyrrha, her body wasn't moving though, and Ruby was in my blindspot
Struggling I reached out for the scroll, my fingers scratching the ground in vain to reach it, with a small nudge of my knees I finally pressed a finger to the screen, seeing it was broadcasting all across Vale, which meant if I... hit this button. It worked, now, thanks to Cinder's scroll, I could broadcast anything across Vale and Amity. I was beaten and weak, my vision kept fading in and out of consciousness, but I only needed an arm
"...E-Echo..." Comforting my injured right hand I saw the silver metal ensnare my arm, the sound amp pulsating on my palm. The visor formed on my right eye, giving me time to select a certain frequency, even if the screen's glare made this headache worse I wasn't going to stop now
"I'm sorry, Pyrrha, but I swear... I'm not done just yet." I spat out, coughing painfully as the frequency adjusted to Cognitum itself, with that, I raised my arm to the sky, fingers bending in agony, my thumb to my middle finger I held it as high as I could. My head was starting to spin, and I saw the dots start to overtake my sight, even if most of the sky was filled with Grimm particles. "... And destiny... can... stick it."
*CLICK-RIIIIIIING*
To Be Continued...
A finale full of fights, emotions, and alot of close calls! But unlike many times before, the heroes finally prevail but at what cost? I hope you enjoyed, seeya in the next chapter!
Next Chapter: Horizons
The Battle is over, and Sky awakes back in Patch to both fortunate news, life-changing circumstances, and choices he wasn't ready to make. All that's left to do is move forward.