Chapter 26
Kagutsuchi Arena- Joint Tournament- Last Day
All of the Knights and Torchwick's Paladin took aimand fired. Ragna grabbed Ruby by the waist, and ran into a restaurant while dodging bullets.
"Get out the back door." Said Ragna. "And don't come back."
"But-"
"Highest bounty in history, remember?"
Ruby nodded "Don't die, okay, Mr. The Bloodedge?" And left.
"It's Ragna."
When the shooting stopped, Ragna jumped down from the restaurant's roof, but it was a trap, and the robots started firing again. But Ragna was faster, and unleashing three waves of darkness not only destroyed all of the robots but also knocked Torchwick's Paladin off balance. Torchwick tried to counter by firing missiles, but Ragna threw a downed knight at the first missile, and BOOM! The explosion destroyed the other missiles, but one escaped and landed in front of Ragna, and they exploded!
"Hahaha!" Laughed Torchwick. "I just annihilated the fucking reaper! Too bad I can't collect the bounty; I guess I'll just have to settle for telling that cow Adam that he can't have it either!"
PING! BANG!
Torchwick felt something on his mech and looked around to see Ragna alive on top of him!Torchwick tried to grab Ragna, but he moved from place to place all over the mech.
"Stand still, you monkey!"
Ragna jammed his sword into the back of the mech's knee, Torchwick lost his balance, Ragna then kicked it in the front, and the mech fell backward, hitting the ground. After a few more poundings, Ragna dragged Torchwick out, kicking and screaming, until he was drained of life.
"Ah, I remember now, Ugly Eyelashes." Ragna said, holding Torchwick by the front of his jacket. "So, I take it those Grimms running around is your doing?"
"You… have no idea… the power I serve…" Threatened Torchwick.
"Sure, have them call me." Ragna looked up. "Well, since you're the one who invited them, you should at least take responsibility and entertain them."
And with that, Ragna threw Torchwick into the sky, where threeGriffons werewaiting, and Ragna left, not even caringenough to see Torchwick's last moment.
NOL Headquarter R&D Section- inner chamber
As Glynda opened the door, Jaune and the others, saw two capsules inside, each one big enough to fit a person. One of the capsules lay a woman.
"Alright, we're here, now mind telling us what we're doing here?" Asked Jaune.
Pyrrha looked at Ozpin, seemingly looking for permission to tell them. Before they even left for Hierarchical City Kagutsuchi, Ozpin approached her, telling her about the Maiden, and how she was chosen to be the next Fall Maiden.
"If the NOL can't saveAmber, you will have to take her place."
Of course, it was an honor, even if it wasn't something she wanted, but it was what she needed to do.
"Miss Nikos here has been chosen, for a great destiny. The successor to the Fall Maiden."
Jaune was speechless, Maiden? From the fairy tales? He didn't even know it was real! But before he could ask anything more, Ozpin spoke first.
"Miss Nikoe, we don't have time, we need to do this now!"
"What's going to Happen?" Asked Pyrrha.
"You're going to enter this empty capsule, and we will handle the rest."
"Is that, the Fall Maiden?" Asked Pyrrha, looking at Amber.
"Yes, and we don't have time. NOL has failed."
"Is the process safe?" Asked Ren.
Ozpin didn't answer, and opened the empty capsule, suddenly, the chamber's door opened, and everyone was on high alert, a moment passed, and nothing happened, Glynda slowly moved towards the exit, and suddenly, three arrows, enhanced with magic, shot right at them, Glynda tried to stop them with her telekinesis, but the moment she stopped the first arrow, it exploded! Sending Glynda flying back!Ozpin, moving with superhuman speed, knocked the other two arrows to the opposite end of the room with his cane, but just then, a shadow, armedwith two red hot swords, flew past him, cutting him in the thigh and planting one of those fiery swords intothe comatose Amber!
"The capsule! Amber!" Screamed Glynda.
"So nice of you, to show me the way, and leave the door unlocked." Said the woman who just killed the Fall Maiden.
"Cin… Cinder?"
It was Cinder, from Haven Academy, team RWBY talked to her and her teammates a few times. Though surprised, Jaune, Pyrrha, Ren, and Nora all attacked Cinder at the same time, but with a single swing of her twin blazing swords, she sent all four of them flying back.
"Hot! Hot!" Said Nora.
With team JNPR back down, Cinder turned her attention back to the capsule, Glynda tried to stopped her, but it was too late, as a stream of energy, flowed out of Amber, and to Cinder!
"Finally! I am Whole!" Cinder exclaimed as streams of fire whirled around her!
"Arc, Valkyrie, Lie, Nikos, run! Glynda, protect them!"
"But, you need help!"
"And the students need you more!"
Whiteout a choice, Glynda lifted all four of members of team JNPR, and herself with her telekinesis, and flew out of the chamber. Once they were gone, Ozpin faced Cinder.
"Just so you know, I let them leave." Said Cinder.
"I know. You wanted to fight me, one on one, because even with all your power, you're still a coward."
"That's rich, coming from you."
"Young lady-"
"Please, I heard a lot about you, yes, that's right, straight from the Queen herself."
And with that, Cinder closed in, attacking Ozpin with rapid succession, which Ozpin easily dodged. What Ozpin didn't expect was that the temperature around Cinder kept rising, until he was forced to draw back, but that was what Cinder was waiting for. The moment Ozpin's feet left the ground, Cinder sent multiple streams of fire at him. without a choice, Ozpin created a barrier and blocked all of the fire, but out of the fire, two swords appeared, one cut opened his barrier, and the other cut opened both his knees!
"This weapon… it's an Armegis!" Ozpin was stunned, half-kneeling, and forced to stand up using his cane.
"Salem send her regards." And Cinder shot streams of fire into the ceiling. As the ceiling came crashing down, Cinder laughed, and flew out of the opening she had just made.
Outside of NOL Headquarter
Team JNPR escaped NOL headquarters, led by Glynda; as they ran, Jaune noticed Pyrrha had stopped and turned to look up at NOL headquarters.
"Pyrrha?" Jaune asked, concerned.
"I'm sorry, Jaune."
Jaune was suddenly lifted off the ground by an unseen force, and sent flying past the leading Glynda, when Glynda saw the flying Jaune, and immediately stopped him.
"What is this?" Asked Glynda. "What on earth are you doing?"
"It's Pyrrha…" Said Jaune, "She… I think she's going to do something reckless…"
On Top of NOL Headquarter
Using fire magic, Cinder flew through the air like a jet, while destroying more of the NOL building, until the whole building finally collapsed.
'Ultimate Power!' Thought Cinder. 'Now, all I need is, the ultimate Grimoire!'
Cinder hovering around in the sky, looking, searching…
'I'll search for five minutes. Then leave.'
While it was night, because of the fire, and luck, she found the white-haired man in the red jacket. With the speed of a jet, she flew towards Ragna, landed in front of him, and with the intent of displaying her power, melted the ground beneath her.
'My Grimoire is reacting to her even more.' Thought Ragna. "I guessing all of this Grimm and robot business is your doing?"
"Behold, My true power!" Said Cinder, staring at him with her blazing eyes. "You should have joined me, Bloodedge."
"True power, huh? Look, while I love to kick your ass, I really don't have time for this."
"It's not too late." Cinder held out her hand. "You can be my second in command. With your Azure Grimoire and my Maiden power, we-"
Ragna ignored the hand and walked past her.
"You are either with me, or against me." Said Cinder, looking at her outstretched hand, without turning to face Ragna.
'Don't be a fool!' Though Cinder, internally.
Ragna stopped. "With? Against? I don't even know you."
Cinder turned towards Ragna. "Fine then. Leave! But your right arm stays."
"Are you that crazy?"
"Leave it behind by choice, or I'll rip it out by force."
Both of them are now facing each other, Cinder drew her swords, ready to fight, but…
"Then it was never a choice at all." Ragna looked at her with disdain. "Since you gave me some useless pointers about how I should fight, I'll return the favor, with the same advice my teacher gave me: that power isn't yours, never make the mistake of thinking that whatever power you have belongs to you." And Ragna turned and left.
'NO! Joinme! Understand me! Help me! Look at me!'
"You dare turn your back at me?" Cinder said this as her eyes and hands lit up. "You Have No Idea! None! Of the power I now wield!"
Ragna ignored her and kept running. Cinder trembled with anger, but did nothing.
Alleyway- near the Cathedral
Found her, thought Emerald, amidst the chaos, the target was almost exactly where Kval said she would be.
'She's even smaller than I thought.' Thought Emerald. 'Sorry kid, but life's not fair, and the sooner you learn that the better.'
Emerald casually walked up behind her after she activated her semblance, but the moment she put her hand on the supposes Nox, the kid turned around and faced Emerald, unravelling the stuff on her back, revealing... what can only be described as an oversize magical girl show toy staff.
"What the hell, Sena! Why did you pull out Muchourin?" Said Platinum, talking to someone. But when Emerald gave a quick scan of her surroundings, she saw no one.
"Luna! What are you saying? That person just tried to grab Muchourin!"
"Huh? Have you finally gone insane? There's no one beside us!"
Emerald was confused, not only by Platinum's bizarre behavior, but more importantly, how she could, seemingly see her.
'Did I make a mistake? How? But I done it hundreds of times! Whatever, I'll just try again.'
"Wow!" Platinum reacted with surprise."Who the hell are you! And where the hell did you come from?"
"Huh? Where did that woman go?" And asked Platinum.
'Dose she have a split personality or something? Well I never used my power on someone with a split personality before, is that what will happen?'
"Fine, I was just going to steal it without resorting to violence, you know, like a true thief, but oh well, at least I can say I tried. The hard way it is." Said Emerald, drawing her weapons.
"What? Bitch! You want a piece of Luna?" Platinum threw off her hood and aimed her huge staff at Emerald. "Then bring it!"
'What a month on this girl.' Still, Emerald let out a laugh when she saw Platinum's magical girl outfit. 'Her demeanour does not match her appearance at all.'
"Listen, magical girl, just hand over that…" Emerald looked at Platinum's staff again. "Is thatoversizetoy looking thing really a Nox?'
"Just hand over the staff, okay, last chance, so I don't have to hurt you."
"No."
That surprised her. Suddenly, Platinum tone changed.
"I see, so he sent you. I am sorry, but I still have use of Muchourin."
NOL Military Hospital
Naoto was fighting for his life, crushing another Grimm's head, when he finally got a small breathing room, he looked over to Raquel, only to find she just effortlessly ripped two Grimms apart with a wave of her hand. Suddenly, he heard something, and on reflex, he formed a blood blade and cut a bullet out of the air!
"Not bad, Bloodadge." Said Mercury.
"You… Mercury? What? Be more careful, man."
And Mercury shot another air bullet at him! Naoto immediately dodged to the side!
The first time Naoto could write it off as a mistake, but the second time… Naoto went into his fighting stance.
"Dude! The hell are you doing? Have you gone insane? I'm not a Grimm, man!"
"Wow, not very bright are you?" Mercury smiled as he spoke.
"There's Grimm all around! Aren't you a huntsman?"
"Huntsman? No no no…" Said Mercury, wagging his index finger. "I, am an assassin."
"Ah shit." Naoto thought about how he really didn't need this right now. "So who's the target? And who hired you?"
"You are. And no one hired me, this is just a little payback."
"Really? For what? In case you haven't noticed, there's Grimm everywhere!"
"For humiliating me! I'm a professional killer! There's no way I could even lose to some fucking cadet!"
"That's the payback?" Naoto couldn't believe what he just heard. "We had a fair fight! And that's more than I could say about your victims! Assassin!"
"I don't give a fuck! You die in agony! I'm happy! So die!"
And with that, Mercury, lifted up his right leg, and began to shoot out projectiles like a machine gun.
Burning Building
Yang was bleeding on the ground, and Blake was burly standing with one knee on the ground, shielding her teammate from followed him here, she knew it was some kind of trap, but she chose to walk into it anyway. She was prepared to face him, and her death, but she wasn't prepared for Yang, protecting her, and was now, dying in her place.
"See what you did?" Adam said, blaming Blake. "What you made me do?"
"Did it feel good? Beating children?" A voice from behind him said.
Blake turned to the voice, and saw two people. 'That Major, and Weiss' sister?'
Winter immediately turned to Yang. She tore a piece of cloth off her jacket, and began to cover Yang's wound, while keeping an eye on Adam.
Adam turned toward Jin, and smirked. "Are you here to be humiliated again? Human?"
"If I were you, I wouldn't brag about beating an injured man. Oh wait, don't tell me you left that part out?"
"Major! We need to get out of here, this place is burning-"
Before Winter could finish, Jin drew his sword, Adam immediately put his hand on his own sword grip, but Jin target wasn't him, he stabbed the ground, and immediately froze the whole building!
Blake was in awe, just seconds ago, the place was on fire, and about to collapse, and now, it's like they're inside an ice cave.
"Specialist Schnee, take the huntresses outside, I have some business to take care of."
Winter lifted Yang over her shoulder, and signalled Blake to follow her, but Blake shook her head. Without a choice, Winter left without her. Jin and Adam two locked eyes for a second, and their sword crushed!
"This time, I will have your head as a trophy." Smiled Adam.
"A cow, want to have a human head as a trophy?" Jin laughed, pushed Adam away. "Do you not know the order of things? Cow?"
"NO!" Roared Adam. "It is human who twisted the order of nature! We are superior to humans in every way! The weak obey the strong! I will restore the natural order!"
Jin shot out an ice sword, but Adam destroyed it with a slash. "And just what about you is better than me, aside from those little cow horns."
Adam narrowed his eyes under his mask. "We have better eyes-"
"That myth again?" Jin slashed at his feet, but Adam blocked it easily. "Didn't you know? In actuality, very few Fanus actually have better eyesight than humans."
'Second time now. No impart.' Thought Jin.
"What are you talking abut? We have night-"
"You? A cow? Night vision?" And Jin let out a chuckle. "More than human, Fanus are a more diverse people, many not even the same specie. Not all Fanus can see in the dark. And even among those who can, many still have poorer eyesight than humans."
'he'strying to provoke him.' Thought Blake.
"Especially cows." Said Jin with a smirk.
"You think you're better than me, human?"
'And it's working.'
Even Blake was getting a little angry.
"Think? I am better."
Adam smirked. "That's a lot of talk for someone who defected in one hit."
"Yes, you seem to always forget about the injury part, but then again, that's what I should have expected, for a brain of a cow."
Adam roared, turned his sword into a shotgun, and fired at Jin, but Jin froze the bullet in midair! Jin took a few steps and then suddenly rushed towards Adam at full speed, and at the same time, drew his sword, Adam blocked, and then both of them disengaged.
'For such anaggressive character, he fought too defensively. He barely attacked, and spent most of the time blocking, with his blade… No… not only that, he seems to been too prioritized of on blocking, even when dodging and parrying should be the more effected method for katana user.'
"Is that all? In the end, humans are just lesser monkeys."
"Go back to plough the field, cow."
Adam's body glowed red, and he drew his sword, unleashing a wave of red energy, and Jin jumped over the wave and, at the same time, shot out an ice spear! Adam stood his ground, and blocked the ice spear head on, adsorbed it completely, but was still frozen solid, but just like last time, the ice glowed red and shattered, and Adam unleashed an even more powerful wave of red energy! But just as the red energy was about to hit Jin, time seemed to slow down, Jin sidestepped, dodged the attack at the last second, and then entered a drawing stance-
Empty Sky Blade: WINTER's REPOSE!
In a flash, Jin was already behind Adam, and sheathed his sword, and a cold air filled the room.
"What?" Adam turned around to face Jin."Was that supposed to impress me? Monkey?"
He felt a cool breeze, but other than that, Jin didn't do anything to him, he missed.
"Thank you." Said Jin suddenly.
For a moment, Adam was stunned, he didn't understand what Jin meant, but what came next, shocked him even more, he felt a chill, and looked down, and found his abdomen frozen, and the ice was spreading.
"Thank you for being a stepping stone," Jin said as he turned to face Adam, an evil smile on his face."And now, I am ready, for my real enemy."
Adam didn't even have the opportunity to respond before he was completely frozen.
"No more energy to break my ice? Yukianesa's ice does not melt. Enjoy your icy coffin."
"Adam… got defeated… by Iaido…" Once Blake got over the shock, she immediately turned to Jin.
"Did you mean what you said?" Asked Blake.
"What nonsense are you spilling?"
"About Fanus. Or were you only saying those things to provoke him?"
"Instead of wasting time, worrying about what I just said, worry more about your friend." And Jin just left.
Blake waited until Jin was out of sight, then walked over to Adam, and touched the ice.
'He said the ice will never melt. Adam will be dead of suffocation before the cold kills him.'
"Good bye, Adam."
And Blake left.
"Finally." Said Hazama, coming out of Phantom's portal. "I thought she'll never leave. Another minute of those sentimentality and her little ex boyfriend would have die for sure!"
Hazama looked over at Adam.
"Just because the ice doesn't melt, doesn't mean it can't shatter."
To be continued