Chapter 10

Sorry for the delay. Windows update broke my computer.

Warning: This chapter is basically episode 1 and the first half of episode 2 of BlazBlue's anime Alter Memory, or the final chapter of the true ending of Calamity Trigger. It has ZERO to do with RWBY. I kinda have to write this. You can skip it if you want.

Cathedral Main Hall- Night

Empty, the whole place is deserted. It was bizarre. A bad sign, thought Ragna, and it was proven right when he saw the person before him.

"Welcome, brother."

"Jin."

Ragna had heard rumors, the great "The Hero of Ikaruga", or the "Hero of the Ice Blade", Jin kisaragi.

'Somehow, I thought it would be you.' Thought Ragna.

"How's that arm of yours? The one I cut off."

"Oh yeah, that reminds me, I got a score to settle with you."

"Oh come on, you got a new one, didn't you? The famed Azure Grimoire. Hope this one is more sturdy than the last one. May not be so easy for me to slice it off this time." Said Jin as he materialized his sword, Mucro Algesco: Yukianesa.

"Jin…"

'His eyes… full of madness.' Ragna knew, his master had already told him that it was the Nox Nyctores, Yukianesa that made him crazy, and it was Terumi who manipulated Jin into attacking him, but… his brother was really starting to piss him off.

"I don't have time for you."

"But I have time for you!" And Jin widened his eyes. "Let's us kill each other! Brother!"

"FINE! I'll just beat you to a pulp first!"

Ragna swung his fist at him, and Jin side stepped, and then immediately drew his sword, cutting Ragna's outstretched fist, but instead of cutting the hand off, Jin was only able to push it back.

"It is tougher than your last arm!" Laughed Jin.

Enraged, Ragna drew his sword from his back, and swung it at Jin with one hand in a reverse grip, Jin blocked it with his Yukianesa, and froze Ragna's sword, locking both their weapons together, and soon, the ice moved to Ragna's hands. Ragna roared, and with brute force, twisted his sword and the ice shattered, but Jin in turn kicked him right in the face, sending his back.

"I'm disappointed, brother. This is the "Grim Reaper"? The man with the highest bounty ever known to man?"

DEATH SPIKE!

Ragna unleashed a wave of dark energy, but it was immediately frozen by Jin.

"Come on! You can do better than that! And I waited so long for this reunion!"

"Shut Up!"

Ragna swung his sword again, this time with both hands, Jin put up a barrier and defended with his sheath, but it still sent him flying towards the wall. Ragna gave chase, but stopped, and looked down at his stomach, and found that not only was he wounded, but the wound was covered in ice, and spreading fast.

'What the… he stabbed my stomach while I was sending him flying! And the ice, it numbed my nerves, that's why I didn't feel any pain!'

Ragna grabbed the ice, and gripped his teeths, and then pulled the ice, along with the skin and flesh out!

"Impressive, brother. Not many, no… no sane human can do what you just did. Have you finally lost it?" Said Jin, walking towards him.

"Speak for yourself." Said Ragna, as he crushed the bloodstained ice in his hand.

'I'm done with this.'

With a burst of speed, Ragna dashed in front of him. Jin was surprised for a split second, and immediately drew his sword, Ragna stopped right before his sword reached, and jumped, while upside down in the air, he created a Ars platform above him, when his foot touched the platform, he used it to launched him down at full speed!

BELIAL EDGE!

Ragna sword, imbued in darkness, came charging down at full speed. Jin smiled, and held his sheath in front of him, and a spear of ice formed in his left hand.

MOONSONG!

"You're so stupid. Now freeze."

The giant ice arrow clashed with the tip of Ragna's sword head on, shards of ice and dark energy flying everywhere, forcing Jin to open a barrier and close his eyes for a second, however, when he opened his eyes, Ragna was in front of him, his right hand now a giant claw of darkness, grabbed Jin, and lifting him off the ground!

'How? Even if the Moonsong didn't hit him directly, just making contact should completely freeze him! Is his Aura that powerful?'

"It's over. Now, Devoured by Darkness."

…

Jin, lying on the ground, drained of life, looking up at Ragna. "Why, why didn't you finish me off?"

"I still have a lot of questions for you. So just lie there and wait for me to return."

And then he just walked off.

"Still too soft… brother." Said Jin as he lost consciousness.

Ragna walked towards the old elevator, while the life force he took from Jin was enough to close the wound on his stomach, it didn't fully heal him.

'Jin… should have taken more life from him. But I needed him alive, I need to know what happened to Saya.'

? "I have finally found you, Dark One…"

Ragna froze, and turned around. Before him stood a man in white armor, on his face, a featureless white mask.

'A white mask… What… No… it can't be…' Thought Ragna in disbelieve.

Jubei looked up. "Listen Ragna, I saw him. He's looking for ya."

"Him?" Ragna's eyes lit up. "Tarumi?"

"No. But in some way, he's more dangerous. In fact, he's the most powerful foe you could face right now. You'll know when you see him."

The air itself was trembling. Fear… for the first time in ages, Ragna felt fear. For some reason, Ragna knew, this… "thing" was far more dangerous than any foe he has ever faced.

"And who the hell are you supposed to be?" Asked Ragna, trying to act tough.

The white knight unsheathed the grearsword behind him, and pointed the weapon at him.

"I am the white void. I am the cold steel. I am the just sword. With blade in hand I shall reap the sins of this world and cleanse it in the fires of destruction! I am Hakumen! The end has come!"

Hakumen! The leader of the Six! Then that greatsword was Nox Nyctores: Ookami! His master, Jubei was the greatest swordsm- sword wielder in the world, Hakuman's power was at least his equal!

'Damn! I was hoping he was just a huge Hakuman fan, but no, this pressure…'

"If it's a fight you want, then it's a fight you'll get! Blazblue, Activate! Full power! BLOODCAIN!"

Ragna activated the Azure Grimoire, and dark energy poured out of his right hand and surrounded and empowered him. He then immediately drew his weapon and with all his might, met Hakumen head on!

CLANK!

The two swords clashed! And the energy, unleashed by the swords shattered the ground beneath them! And they fell to the flood below.

Cathedral Front Hall

"What was that shaking just now?" Asked Noel.

"Who knows. But it's coming from the main hall." Said Hazama.

"Why is there no one here?" Asked Noel, looking around.

"A series of unfortunate coincidences. With the sudden influx of visitors, I guess sometimes a gap like this is bound to happen." Said Hazama.

"That's not possible! NOL is a highly disciplined organization." Said Noel as they opened the door and entered the main hall.

"Yes, but we are also undermanned. The chances are a hundred thousand to one(maybe), but so is the probability of drawing four aces, and that happened more frequently than you think." Said Hazama, and then he pointed to a body ahead. "Oh, and by the way, there's our good Major."

"Major Kisaragi!"

Noel immediately ran towards him. She checked Jin's pulse, and let out a sigh of relief. She looked around, and saw a huge hole on the ground!

"He's unconscious, his Aura is low, but aside from some small cuts on his face, there's no visible wound on his body." Said Noel.

'It's like someone drained the Aura right out of him…'

"Yay, mission complete. That was easy." Said Hazama.

"But whoever that did this to the Major could still be nearby! They might even be the one who made that hole!"

"So… are you saying you want to do something about it? What can you do, against an enemy, or enemies that even defeated Mr hero here?" Said Hazama, gesturing to the unconscious Jin on the ground.

"I…"

"It's probably Ragna the Bloodedge."

Noel's eyes widened. 'The Grim Reaper? And he's stronger than Jin?'

"Our mission is to find Major Jin Kisaragi. Not engage Ragna the Bloodedge. I mean I'm just an intelligence officer, and you… well, do you think you can defeat the Grim Reaper?"

"Captain Hazama. I will check the Cathedral. Ragna the Bloodedge is a wanted criminal, and I am an officer of Novus Orbis Librarium, I will fulfill my duty. Please look after the Major and call for backup."

'Ragna the Bloodedge has already destroyed several NOL branches, killing hundreds. He even destroyed the weather control system in Akitsu-Kou. Ignoring him isn't even an option!'

As she turned and left, Hazama looked at Noel's back with his yellow snake like eyes.

"Such determination. So unlike her, and yet…" And Hazama laughed, and his demeanor changed. "Ha ha ha. All is according to my plan! Ah hahaha!"

Cathedral lowest level- The Altar

"Dispatched, in mankind's darkest hour, we are knights of the blue flame. Dispatched, in mankind's darkest hour, we are knights of the blue flame." Repeated Noel, over and over again, like a mantra.

'The elevator wasn't on the first floor. Someone is already down here.' Thought Noel. 'What was I thinking? I can't beat Ragna the Bloodedge!'

The old elevator stopped at the lower floor with a huge clanging noise. When the elevator door opened, the scene in front of her was… unbelievable.

'What is this?'

Before her, was a sphere, formed by what looked like stone bird wings. As she walked towards the sphere, she could see, underneath the sphere, was a cauldron, filled with what seemed to be lava.

'What is this place? And why… does it look so familiar?'

The stone wings began to move and opened a hole in front of the sphere, and a one-eyed, white hair girl floated out of the hole.

"Loading, Loading…" Said the one-eyed girl, in a monotone voice. She then looked up to Noel. "Murakumo Unit is now online. Verifying subject… subject identified as an identical unit. Identify yourself."

"I am Dimensional Boundary interface Prime Field Unit No. 12, Anti-Sankishin Core Unit, Mu. Identify yourself." Replied Noel, with the same monotone voice.

'Huh? What's going on? What am I saying? Who is she? Why do we have the same face and voice?'

"Unit description, Dimensional Boundary interface Prime Field Unit No. 13, Anti-Sankishin Core Unit, Nu." Said Nu-13 as she walked towards Noel.

When Nu stopped in front of Noel, both of them raised their hands and reached forward, and both their palms touched each other.

'Why? Why can't I control my body?'

"Your existence is a violation. Immediate self-destruction is advised."

'What? Self-destruction? What are you talking about?'

"Negative. Self-preservation prioritized."

'What am I talking about!?'

"Searching for secondary protocol. Contact with unauthorized identical unit, appropriate measure, termination."

Nu: "Confirmed, commencing termination of subject."

Noel: "Confirmed, commencing termination of subject."

Lower Chamber

HELL'S FANG!

Ragna focus his power into his fist and charged at Hakumen, but Hakumen hopped back, dodged the punch, and then immediately moved back in, but Ragna suddenly jumped, turned in the air, and attacked Hakumen with his scythe, but Hakumen sidestepped, dodged the scythe, and hit Ranga in the ribs with Ookami's pommel. Ragna dropped to the floor, griped his teeth and ignored the pain, and immediately swung his sword at Hakumen's right feet, but Hakumen just lifted his foot, dodged the slash, stepped on Ragna's sword, and then kicked Ragna in the face with his left foot, sending him spinning back.

'What the hell? No matter what angle I attacked him from, he just effortlessly parried and repulsed my attacks! He's making that person I fought in the sewers look like an amateur! His Mikiri is on par with master's. No, he might be better… it's like he has eyes everywhere, when he has none!'

"What's wrong, Dark One. Is this pitiful display truly the best you got?"

Enraged, also driven by fear, Ragna bet everything on a perilous attack!

CARNAGE SCISSORS!

Ragna charged at Hakumen, but instead of dodging or blocking, Hakumen parried with perfect timing, and shoved Ragna's sword away-

'Oh Shit!' Thought Ragna.

Empty Sky Form: SNOWSTORM!

The world slowed down, Ragna looked as Hakumen pulled his sword back, and Ragna knew he was dead, but just before the blade made contact with his body, Hakumen stopped. Ragna was confused, and saw Hakumen, paralyzed, and restrained by a barrier.

"Damn you, Grimakin!"

?: "Hey you! Now's your chance, run!"

A female voice! Speaking inside his ears!

'How is that even possible?'

?: "Tager! Can you move at all?"

Tager: "Sorry, Kokonoe! I'm kind of tied up right now! Like I'm still on the aircraft."

'Tager? Iron Tager? The Red Devil?'

Kokonoe: "You still not there yet?"

Tager: "Be reasonable, I only left half an hour ago."

Ragna: "Who the hell-"

Kokonoe: "Shit! He's breaking free!"

Ragna turned his attention back to Hakumen, and saw him raising his sword, and cut opened the barrier, destroying it.

Kokonoe: "Damn! Even with only one third of his power, he's still more powerful then I thought."

But it looked like breaking free from the barrier took a lot out of him, as he stabbed his sword into the ground and used it as a crutch.

Kokonoe: "But he's tired. Now's your chance! Attack and disrupt him! I only need a minute to boot up the system to try and restrain him again!"

"Stop talking in my head!" Said Ragna as he transformed his sword into a scythe, and with all his might, swung his scythe at Hakumen, but Hakumen formed a barrier in front of him and blocked the attack! But Ragna, undiscouraged, hit the barrier again and again!

'I need to keep attacking! If I leave even the smallest gap in my onslaught, he will see it and I'm dead!'

Ragna attacked faster and faster, and with each strike, stronger and stronger, but still, Hakumen's barrier held.

"Yes, Dark One. Let us put an end to our ever intertwining fate."

'I need more power! Azure Grimoire! I only need ten more seconds, give me everything!'

SHATTER!

With all the power output that the Azure Grimoire was capable of, Ragna shattered the barrier, forcing Hakumen to parry his scythe with his sword. Ragna didn't stop, and kept swinging his scythe. Both weapons clashed and clashed, until Hakumen suddenly stopped.

"Grimakin!" Screamed Hakumen.

Ragna didn't let the chance slip and with all the power of the Azure Grimoire, thrust his sword right into Hakumen, sending him flying to the wall! Ragna chased after him, but when he got there to the wall, Hakumen disappeared.

Kokonoe: "Nice work. I'll take it from here. I already teleported him. Thanks a lot pal."

"What!? I could have just killed him!"

"I don't think so. His armor is indestructible. You only got lucky because you had me, the greatest mind in the world."

"What? Who are you."

"Well, I guess I could tell you, as thanks. I'm Kokonoe. Professor Kokonoe. Genius scientist of Sector Seven."

'Sector Seven. Of course. The same organization the Red Devil belongs to. Something about proving the power of science can beat magic or some crap like that.'

"I checked your bio signs. You don't look so hot, pal. The Azure Grimoire caused more damage to you than even Hakumen. Wait there for a moment, my underling should be there in an hour."

Ragna ignored her, and walked back to the elevator.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going? Seithr have corroded your body! You are literally falling apart! Hey! Listen!"

Ragna wished he could just rupture his eardrums right now.

As Ragna dragged himself to the elevator, Rachel appeared before him with her two familiars.

"Rachel? Look, I don't have energy for you right now-"

And he was punched, right in the cheek, by the vampire princess.

"Prin... Princess?" Said Nago, in shock.

Gii: "You just hit him with your fist..."

"What the hell?" Said Ragna, rubbing his cheek in disbelief. It didn't really hurt, and it didn't really piss him off, he's just... confused.

"You still don't understand? Even after so many repeats? So eager to die. Don't you see that your lack of conviction will condemn this world to oblivion?" Said Rachel in an angry but also sad tone.

'I'm the one who got punched, why are you the one who's angry?'

"What the f-"

"Why are you fighting? Why are you living? Are you just here to destroy? Destroy everything? Even yourself?"

Suddenly, the ground began to shake.

"We are out of time." Sighed Rachel. "Kneel down for a moment."

"What? I don't have time for your-"

"Please."

Ragna was speechless, this was the first time he saw her like this. And he did what she asked, and lowered his body.

"Wh-what's gotten into you? You're creeping me out, Rabb-"

"Not now. Listen to me." Said Rachel as she put her hand on his cheek. "Never give up. Endure whatever pain you may face, and fight until your last breath, as a human being. Live, even if you are ugly, pathetic, and broken..."

Ragna didn't understand, to him, she was just talking nonsense, but why did she look so sad?

'Why? Why do you look like you are about to cry?'

"Don't ever give up." Said Rachel as she touched his right hand.

And then she disappeared, and Ragna felt a surge of life energy, and his wounds began to heal.

'She gave some of her lifeforce to me. What is she talking about anyway. Acting like I was trying to kill myself, like I was giving up.'

"Don't ever give up."

"Like I would do that."

The Altar

Swords, both physical and ethereal, flying towards her from all directions, but Noel dodged, rolled and danced around the flying blades and then shot them all down calmly, with pinpoint accuracy, that surpassed Noel's normal abilities.

'Why am I fighting this girl?'

Noel was terrified. While Noel always has a high Aura level and the highest Ars aptitude ever, her combat abilities were pitiful. However, when she summoned her Nox Nyctores- Arcus Diabolus: Bolverk, her combat capability increased tenfold. Nox Nyctores always had a mind of their own, and Bolverk can actually guide Noel's actions during combat situations, but this was the first time Noel completely lost control of her own body.

'It's not Bolverk… Inside of me… there's someone other than me, and they are taking over…'

Noel's body jumped, dodging swords rising from the ground, which Noel didn't even know was coming. While in the air, Noel fired numerous shots, Nu's floating swords moved in front of her to block the attack, but Bolverk's shots shifted space and bypassed the swords and destroyed Nu's armor and eyepiece directly. But suddenly, instead of landing on the ground, Noel's body floated, no, more like trapped in midair.

'A gravity Ars! But it also affected the area around me, I can't move!'

CALAMITY SWORD

A huge sword declined from the sky, Noel immediately deployed her barrier, the giant sword fell on the barrier and sent Noel crushing towards the ground, her body hit the stone flood hard, and then she saw it, countless swords flying towards her.

'So This is it. Goodbye… world…'

CLANG!

Noel looked up, and saw a huge back in front of her. Someone just saved her, and for some reason, looking back at this person's back, she felt a sense of nostalgia.

To Be Continued

The fight with Hakumen in this chapter was inspired by Sekiro: Shadow Die Twice.