Chapter 40

Everyone at the Encampment has gathered around at the keep to see this new person, or thing, that Team CFVY, Salem, and Ozma found. Everyone is at the roof of the keep (not exactly) as they see Church floating at the top of the wooden stairs.

Church clears his throat (even though he doesn't have one) before speaking, "Hello...anime characters?"

Jaune goes, "What?" as he looks at everyone.

Everyone else is just as confused as Jaune on what is he talking about.

"Okay, never mind that. My name is Leonard Church. Although some call me Alpha and I am an AI program."

Citri raises her right hand.

Church looks at her, "It means artificial intelligence."

Citri lowers her hand.

"And I am a bit of a volunteer scout who goes out to find other people. Which we did have a bit of an encounter back up north with these raider guys but they were using primitive weapons and magic. Along with all sorts of things. But any way, I'm glad I get to encounter people who aren't hostile, who aren't pain in the rears (can't swear due to children and threat to my existence) *almost everyone chuckle at that part* and no one is a big huge jerk."

General Ironwood asks, "What sort of place are you and your people are at?"

Church looks at Ironwood, "Mostly shipwrecks that would take three days to tread on foot from that other wreck area. Plus most of the people there are military."

Raven asks, "Just what exactly can you do? Obviously you can do more."

"Let's head outside."

Once outside in front of the keep, Church looks at everyone that has gathered and says, "Better get down."

"Why?" Taiyang asks.

"Just do it."

Everyone is unsure about it as they look at each other. Ruby just shrugs and ducks down with everyone else following her lead. Then Church spawns in a two-way teleporter and places it on the ground. What happens next was someone very familiar, and annoying, comes out of the teleporter.

"SURPRISE!" Caboose comes out screaming as he fires his assault rifle, but it fires confetti and makes a party sound.

"Ah, crap." Church says to himself.

Everyone got up from the ground and wonders who the heck is the guy in space power armor that just popped-up.

"CHURCH!" Caboose says when he sees Church. "Oh my god! You're okay."

Church then says in a sarcastic tone, "Yeah. Great to see you, too."

"Who is this guy?" Yang asks.

"Is he a retard or something?" Glynda asks.

"WHOA!" everyone says while looking at Glynda.

Ozpin goes, "Glynda!"

"Sorry!"

Simmons then pops in and looks at Church, "Church! Thank god you're okay! We're under attack, our new monitor passed out, and we're running low on ammo!"

Back at the Northern Gate, the Reds and Blues fire everything that they got at the dinosaur mounting barbarians that fire arrows, orbs, and spells at the defenders of the gate. Some of the reinforcements fire as many rounds as they can while trying to take out some of the enemy forces that managed to sneak in through one of the tunnel systems. Many of them are being overwhelmed by the numbers and super strong dinos that Nonan has unleashed. Not to mention that the mortar cannon got destroyed before the battle began. As for what happened to Locus, he is tied to a post out close to the fight right next to Nonan, who is sitting on his chair again.

Nonan takes a sip from his skull cup while enjoying the battle. He looks and smiles at Locus, "You have got to admit, war is a beautiful thing. I really love the sounds of slaughtering. For someone who was some special agent or some shit, you're not really good at preventing a tail from following you while tailing one of my fallen." He holds up his skull cup, "Thanks to your secret passage that you carelessly went through, we got the upper hand. Too bad about one of my assassins though."

Locus looks at Nonan with his fists tightening up.

"Silent type, are you?" Nonan throws his skull cup at Locus' helmet. "Well too bad!" he smiles before looking back at the battlefield,

Locus continues to look at Nonan. "Why are you doing this?"

Nonan looks at Locus with the corner of his eyes, "Ah, so you can speak." Then gives his full attention at Locus, "As for your question, why am I doing this? It is because it is to weed out the weak, the threats, and the dishonorable."

"Dishonorable?"

"Your pals with the weapons. Those weapons bring shame to the battlefield. Same that goes for those Caesar or Kaisar rejects from some wasteland." Nonan pulls out his sword, "True battles should be fought man to man. Putting their honor on the line, fight to survive, live and take on any challenge. Not only that, you should see your opponent's eyes as you lock in combat with them. Able to see the little windows into their soul."

"You are wrong." Locus disagrees.

Nonan glares at Locus.

"Wars are a means to an end. Weapons like those are meant for making battles come to a swift end and save more lives. You're version makes you more like barbaric trash. A monster. Especially on what you did to your men that failed you."

Nonan cracks his knuckles and about ready to beat the living hell out of Locus once he removes the helmet. But before he does that, a male Nordheimer dressed in Vanir armor showed up.

"SIR!" he says in a panic. "WE HAVE A SITUATION!"

Over back at the northern gate in the valley, Taiyang bulldoze a few barbaric troops down with Qrow using a combat shotgun with a quick eject drum and glow sights at some of the members before switching over to his cleaver. Not only that, he uses his semblance to cause many of them to stumble on their own feet. Coco uses her weapon to mow down the NPC troops down at the cave entrance. Team RWBY focus on the dinosaurs that were trying to come in. But Weiss is with her mother, sister, and brother back at the gate. All members of the Schnee Family use their summoning glyphs to unleash their white Grimm upon the troops at the gate. Vernal uses her weather manipulation semblance to strike down thunder along with the Schnees' summoned Grimm. (Everyone except for the kids, Aka, Disqui, Oscar, Jinn, Lisa, Leonardo, Henry, and the Malachite Twins are taking part in this battle.)

Nonan look at the gate and is not happy with it. His face turns red with anger while saying, "Get. Me. The avatars."

"Avatars? Plural?" the warrior questions.

Nonan furiously looks at the warrior, "ALL OF THEM!" Then he gets on his saber tiger and runs off with his other tiger at a safer distance.

Back at the gate, all the summoned Grimm disappear.

"Whew!" Whitley says as he wipes his forehead. "It's hot out here."

Winter looks at her brother with a smile, "You should try Vacuo."

Whitley looks back at his sister with a smile as well, "And be surrounded by hoodlums? Fat chance of that."

Willow takes a look out in the distance, "What are those?"

Winter, Willow, and Whitley take a look out in the desert and noticed something big approaching. Make that a few big things that are approaching. They see a bronze colossus, an immense eldritch horror, a super size frost giant wielding an axe, a giant half skeletal woman with purple skin, and a giant flying manticore.

Weiss pulled her new smartphone out, "Guys, we have a situation up here."

Everyone from the Remnant Encampment has gathered at the Northern Gate and see the avatars approaching them. The Reds and Blues join them as well.

Carolina looks at the people from Remnant, "Listen, I don't know who you are or where you guys came from but I'm glad you're here to help."

Ruby looks at Carolina, "You can thank us once we take care of those giants."

Tucker then says, "Before we do that." He looks at Velvet, "Are you an actual bunny girl? Because I got a carrot for you to nibble on. Bow-chika-bo-"

Tucker got interrupted when Coco smack him with her handbag. Then she grabs Velvet, "She's my bunny girl."

Washington then says, "Can we focus on the giant creatures approaching us and focus on the anime characters later? Or why that one girl there looks similar to Carolina?"

Everyone load up their weapons as they prepare to fight some impossible odds. However, the giant avatars disappear one by one. This is a bit of a surprise to everyone at the gate.

"What just happened?" Caboose, Epsilon, Washington, Weiss, Taiyang, and Qrow ask at the same time.

Tex looks at the ground and points, "Over there!"

They see someone in black and green armor riding a raptor approaching the gate yet barely alive since the guy starts to slouch from his mount.

"It's Locus!" Tucker says.

Locus managed to get free and took out the summoners that summoned all the avatars then stole a raptor mount then headed straight towards the gate. But after being subjected to abuse, torture, and didn't get any sleep last night, he is tired. So tired that he tries to stay awake until he makes it back home safe. However, he passes out at the foot of the gate as the raptor fled. Yet even worse news, Nonan sent out all his troops along with many beasts that he has under his command for one last final push.

"Uh-oh." Caboose says after he notices.

"That's not good." Tucker says.

"Quite the predicament." Oobleck says as he sees the avatars while adjusting his glasses.

Professor Port readies his weapon. "Finally. A real challenge."

Carolina says to Epsilon, "Church, I need armor enhancements!"

"What kind?" Epsilon says in voice only

"All of them!" Carolina activates all of her armor enhancements as she jumps down.

"No wait! Not a good ideeeaaaahhhh!"

Tex then goes, "Goddammit! Reckless idiot!" Tex then jumps down to join the fight.

Ruby pulls out her Crescent Rose in sniper mode and starts firing. Yang unleash a flurry of flares down onto the approaching army, Blake takes a few shots, Weiss launches a few fiery sparks along with her family, Salem uses a magic spell that she summons purple orbs above her that fire lasers like a laser sniper rifles, Ozma uses his magic to cause it to rain down spiked hailstorms, and the Reds and Blues (except for Caboose) fire sniper rounds at the enemy army. Vernal uses her semblance again yet used the shocks to electrify the hail for a more, as Yang says it, 'shocking' impact.

Carolina is on the ground as she charges at the opposing army despite all the chaos being rained down upon the battlefield. Carolina dashes at them with speed boost while punching everyone down with strength boost. Then activates her overshield to protect herself from the swords, axes, spears, arrows, and spells of the barbarians as everything gets thrown into chaos. It was a slaughter as the barbarian army gets destroyed by practically everything as Tex grabs the unconscious Locus into safety. The desert where the action is has been reduce to madness with many troops confused, scared, brutally beaten, and/or defecation as Carolina continues to beat them.

When Carolina continues to run up to the Northern Gate, everything froze with Epsilon going, "Iota! Eta! Keep up with the speed boosters!"

Epsilon-Iota appears at Carolina's left leg, "We're trying!"

Epsilon-Eta appears on the right leg, "Holding!"

Epsilon-Omega appeared next to Epsilon.

Epsilon looks at Epsilon-Omega, "Omega see what you can-"

Epsilon-Omega started to flicker and glitch.

"Omega?"

Epsilon-Omega's avatar started to bend in many unnatural ways as it spins with spikes protruding from it. Then he flickers and shatters.

"Oh no."

Epsilon-Eta then says, "I can't do this! I'm starting to-"

Epsilon-Eta and Epsilon-Iota started to do the same right before they disappear. Epsilon looks at everything all around him, helpless to do anything in this situation.

"Not again." then he disappears but without the body bending or spikes.

This cause Carolina to trips and roll on the sand when time returns to normal. Carolina's armor enhancements were shut down as he lands head first into a small sand pile close to the gate.

After Tex gets Locus inside she sees Carolina's predicament, "Oh for fuck's sake."

Almost far from the battlefield, Nonan looks over at the carnage left behind with many dead bodies, discarded equipment, and everything else along with other corpses from previous battles. However, Nonan smirks at the sight.

While looking at his handy work, the Nordheimer approach again. "Lord Nonan. We should head back. Tomorrow is the first of October and you know what happens when it becomes October."

Nonan chuckles while still looking at the carnage. "I know. But that is why I made this masterpiece." He takes a deep inhale through his nose to smell right before giving a satisfying breath. "I love a good mess. Even if it is my own troops that have fallen. But they'll be back." He turns away from the site. "After all, during the time of autumn, the boundries between the real world and the spirit world will be so thin that no one can stop it." He walks away while laughing maniacally.

Over at the site, you can see the blood soaking into the sands from where Nonan stands from. Many corpses that have bullet holes, scorch marks from explosions, seared flesh also from explosions and burnings, banners set a blaze, bones protruding from some of the dead bodies, and all sorts of gore scattered for acres with a few dead bodies buried under the sand. As for what Nonan was talking about, only time would tell.

It is around sunset at Salem's Fortress as the Albain brothers and Perry got back from their scouting with their hornet. They land on the bridge where they see Adam along with Tock waiting for them. They were all taken to Salem's Keep to her dining room or war room, whatever, to meet with the others. All of Salem's Inner Circle have taken their seat with Salem sitting at the end of the table. The three give a bow to their dark mistress before reporting.

"What do you have to report?" Salem asks.

Fennec steps up, "My lady, we have found a mystical city of some sort southwest from here."

Then Corsac says, "But it is in ruins and took 24 hours to arrive."

Hazel looks at the Nightingale outfits the three are wearing, "That explains the new outfits."

Tyrian yawns, "Booorrriiinnnggg!"

Salem gives Tyrian a threatening glare which he gives off the chair and ducks down under the table. Cowarding in Salem's presence.

"But there is more." Perry says. "The Schnees, the Belladonnas, and a few Huntsmen were there as well. They even establish a communications network."

"The Belladonnas are here too?!" Adam says in disbelief.

Perry looks at him, "Let us finish our report." Then looks back at Salem, "Yet there is a bit of a...confusion. The blonde hair one said your name over the scroll-like device about babysitting."

Tyrian pops up his head, "Babysitting?"

Salem's eyes widen when she heard that. It is hard to believe that her children are alive in this world. But she is also surprised to hear that there is another her in this world as well. In her head, a few questions pop-up, 'Another me? Is she human? Or something like me?' But then went, 'That may explain why a piece of me feels like it is missing.'

"But there is something else to report." Perry continues, "The other Salem says something about her husband, Ozma."

Hazel, Tyrian, and Arthur's eyes widen when they hear that name. When Salem hears that name, she scratches on the table leaving deep scratch marks on them. Her anger even caused the glass to break which Arthur notices.

"Who's Ozma?" Perry asks before he notices the glass windows starting to break and fracture.

Everyone looks at Salem who has a dark smoke emanating from her along with the furious look in her eyes.

She says furiously, "Leave..."

Tyrian approaches her, "Your Grace, perhaps I can..."

Salem glares at Tyrian who reels back when looking at her furious eyes.

Perry takes a gulp before Adam grabs his left shoulder, "We should go."

"Not...him..."

Adam lets go of Perry's shoulder and gets out of the room quickly with everyone else. Except for Perry, who is left to deal with Salem's wrath. The Albain brothers close the doors, leaving the scared Faunus behind. Salem flips over the table as she slowly marches towards the Faunus.

Outside the room, everyone can hear Perry screaming.

Perry screams for his life, "OH GODS NO! SOMEONE HELP ME!" Then there was a sound of flesh being ripped as Perry screams some more, "NOOO! PLEASE DON'T!" There is sounds of bones being broken, more flesh being rip apart, and blood gushing out. Perry continues to scream until his screams were reduced to silence. Everything sounds quiet after a few seconds, but all of a sudden, Salem yells out in rage and all the windows shatter violently. Everyone at the door ran off to avoid any more of Salem's wrath.

BICORN: Progression of Project: ARES Phase 2 - 97%

Progression of Project: PHOENIX - 75%

ADMIN: Good. Once Project: PHOENIX is complete, prepare for a party.

BICORN: As you wish, sir.

ADMIN: Also, make sure that there is plenty of alcohol of all types as well. Wine, beer, vodka, all that. Make sure that there is some Szechuan McNugget sauce as well.

BICORN: As you wish, sir.

ADMIN: As for party favors, add Kalaxian crystals, skooma, jet, med-x, penp juice, sleeping tree sap, Balmora blue, millaflower, and muon gold.

BICORN: Many of these substances are illegal.

ADMIN: Program override. Get the drugs.

BICORN: Program overwritten. Affirmative sir.