A cold sweat filled his essence as he heard her hollowed, tortured scream like no other…
Something snapped and awoke within her…
And it terrified him.
Adam bit his tongue as he was still restrained to his bedding, his wounds near healing. The burns would never heal but some grafting was done to make them look more pleasant. However, the blackness seeped through and showed the monster that he had become.
Sienna did not seem to deem him worthy to let loose just yet he was forced to stay chained down, dealing with her torment day in and day out. Adding new wounds for him to deal with daily as he would not bow. He would not yield. He refused to! He would make her pay. He was not some animal like he was before.
He was done just being pushed around!
He was Adam Taurus!
He was the beast!
He would take his throne!
She came in, the same as always, and made sure he knew his place. Knew she was above him and he was beneath her. That he was dirt in her eyes…
She wounded him every day, treated him, and rinsed and repeated the cycle. She wanted him to know who was on top!
And he hated every second of it.
It seemed like it was something she could sense and for once she wasn't willing to play along and let him go free. This new alteration in his body… Made him a risk apparently despite the agony he caused him! And she refused to medicate him for this pain!
"Wake up." A voice he had never heard before approached him as he felt the pain in his chest and body sear with such intensity as if something alive was coming out of him, trying to claw its way out of him and towards the voice that had spoken.
Opening his lone eye, he saw a lone woman standing before him, pale… No, it was white. It was whiter than even freshly fallen snow. Her hair was the same despite it being elegantly combed and braided to the sides of her head. She wore a pitch black dress with red trimmings and stood gracefully and elegantly, poised but seemingly posing no threat.
But those red eyes surrounded engulfed in a void of blackness told him of the horrors that he knew this woman was capable of.
This was the goddess of the Grimm that stood before him… The woman who blessed him with abominable pain in his left chest and arm.
And that terrified him as she stood calmly with a simple smile.
"Listen and listen well," Salem spoke with elegance as she looked into Adam's lone blue eye. "Fate has begun her move and while Light idly stands by… I will not."
"Adam Taurus, you are by which whom I shall move through," Salem commanded and the pain surged through his right torso that made him growl. "But I do not ask this of you unconditionally… I will set you free. I have dealt with enough foolish betrayals of those who think that I do not know or those that are too weak to follow my commands."
"But it matters not in the end, my goal with be accomplished." She spoke once more as she walked to his left side and grasped his left arm, snapping it free from its binding and pulling forth as the pain surge tenfold. "This power will help you take control of your fate once more. No more will she be allowed to control you!"
His eye snapped to the dark witch's as she looked calmly into his and let him go. "I know too well of her controlling methods… I've watched this world for a long time and know everything that goes on and I know what she did and how she took advantage of your very own nature… Helping turn you into the beast that you are now. How she turned you against your master and even convinced you to tear apart what you loved most."
"Isn't it a shame?" Salem spoke with cruel mirth in her voice as she elegantly walked through the darkness of the room and looked out at the shattered moon in the night sky. "That while I may have only turned your outside to reflect the monster within… That she and that man's petty ambitions and hatred is what turned you into what you are now and denied you a chance of happiness?"
Salem stood silently as she let her words sink in as Adam rose slightly from his bed, now somewhat free from his restraints thanks to the dark witch, reflecting on everything she had said. It was everything he knew in his heart to be true as images as if magically, were pulled to his mind's eye.
Growing up poor and wanting to prove he could provide for his broken father and mother and his ill sister…
Working in the Schnee mines for practically no pay…
Standing in the rain on that day, hiding his tears as he mourned his sister's fateful passing from her illness…
Staying strong as his family floundered to rise above and become something more…
Only to be brought down by Jacques and branded for standing out…
The girl screams and tears for her father to stop as he showed her a lesson on how to be a true heiress, unlike her grandfather…
Running for his freedom and finding salvation in the White Fang…
Ghira's acceptance and kindness taking him in but his toughness on accepting anything less than peace and moderation from him despite all the harshness the world had put him through…
Meeting Blake for the first time and seeing the world through her eyes…
Bonding with her over the years and mentoring her and it slowly becoming something more…
The moment he made the mistake and used his blade end instead of the blunt end to protect Ghira….
Sienna praised his actions and her gentle manipulations from that moment forward…
Finding his own acceptance that shedding the blood was a necessity and finding that it was easier and easier to kill and he felt less guilty each time.
Her use of him to slowly tear down the peaceful work Ghira worked so hard to achieve, slowly tearing down his own sanity in the process as she used her charms, feminine wilds, and even deceitful threats to break him to do what she wished…
The guilt he felt the day Ghira step down and Sienna took control…
That he just let her destroy what the White Fang stood for and slowly watch himself into madness...
And the day Blake arrived to join the White Fang and she forced him to break her as she had done him…
"And… Are you not the same? Just using people for your own ends?" Adam growled as he looked at the back of the dark witch, finally turning to him with her smile not fading.
"I never said I wasn't," Salem answered honestly. "But I am fair to those who do as I ask and vicious to those that fail me. I tell the truth when I say I will set you free. I do not lie as I see no need when my goal simply is for everything to come to an end. What point is there for deceit when life is all meaningless?"
"All I ask is that you do what I command here and now and I will grant your heart's desire… Your true heart's desire." Salem spoke as her wicked gaze bored deep into Adam's eye and stared directly into his soul, knowing exactly what it was he desired. "We are quite alike in that aspect and such is why I am drawn to your plight and am willing to help you. And you have more than enough strength to do what I require needs to be done."
"So are you ready to fight for me… To help me break the chains of Fate and set the one I desire free?"
"Ozpin… How did this happen on your watch? Beacon's students are supposed to be protected from shit like this on this campus at the very least." Qrow growled as everyone gathered into his office, his eyes aglow with rage at seeing the video before him.
Naruto was here as expected as he was personally involved and rightfully furious. He had never seen the blonde faunus so silent before, to be honest, his eyes glinting with a calm but focused fury.
It suited him well.
His partner Blake Belladonna stood at his side, her eyes glowing with fury as she clutched two scrolls. One belonging to one Weiss Schnee and…
One Ruby Rose…
As they were kidnapped by the White Fang… On Beacon property!
Glynda stood beside Oz, her head hung in shame as two of her students were taken on her watch and she was not able to do anything about it. Naruto was right to criticize her all this time... She was slow to act.
No more... She couldn't be any longer. This was unacceptable.
Winter, Weiss' sister and subordinate to Ironwood, wasn't fair much better than he was in this situation he could imagine but from seeing the deep breaths she was taking in and the glint in her eyes. Otherwise, she had the look of a calm and composed soldier.
And there was Ironwood, whom he despised was here, looking a little too smug for his liking as he seemed like he was ready to take advantage of this situation. And he probably was given what just happened was just reported to the Vale Council…
Ozpin was going to lose massive favor if he couldn't protect two of his own students. How would he be able to guarantee the safety of the Vytal Festival?
How he hated Atlas and Ironwood. But in this circumstance... His hatred was more focused on what he thought was a friend...
"My friend… Despite my elaborate network and camera feeds… We can only react so fast." Ozpin answered honestly as he looked defeated as the camera feeds showed Ruby and Weiss being kidnapped by the Fang. "They came in prepared, knowing whom to target, when and what our reaction time would be… If it wasn't for Naruto himself sensing something was wrong no one would have known anything was wrong until the morning."
"Which is precisely why the rest of the Vale Council is giving me authority from this point on defending Vale for festival… I'm sorry friend but this cannot go unchecked." Ironwood responded and Qrow growled at hearing that knowing it was a possibility but seeing what happened here he could hardly blame the general.
When you knew there was a threat, a modicum of defense was necessary. There was only so much monitoring was capable of doing.
Yang, who was in the room, was livid and uncaring if she was still in her prom dress, grabbed Ozpin's desk and threw it to the side of the room, and splintered it against the wall as she looked the headmaster in the eyes. "What the fuck kind of place is this?! Aren't you adults suppose to be doing your job better?! Why is left up to us fucking teenage learning the ropes as we're still figuring out this shit to defend ourselves?!"
"Why did this have to happen to my sister?! Huh?! I know that we have done some things and brought this of this upon ourselves but I thought this was a safe place… We all did!" Yang screamed as tears streamed down her face Oz couldn't even look the huntress in training in the eyes.
He had made a mistake. Ozpin realized it the moment when he realized just what Naruto was… And was more than just an off-worlder. And the wheel of Fate had begun to change everything and her strings had begun to intertwine with everyone…
"No… In the end, this comes down to me as this is a security breach and I failed my job. You are my students and I know what you were doing as… I am to blame for I placed you in such a position knowing full well what choices could be made." Ozpin sighed as Naruto glared daggers at him, having expected as much as everything seemed too much of a coincidence early.
He made sure RWBY was nearby him… Ozpin wanted something to be gained from their interaction.
"And despite everything I am… Everything has turned out all right until this moment where something happened I was blinded to and failed to see… The strings of Fate caught me off guard and I realized I've been pulled in as well. " Ozpin sighed as he pulled up the information on the faunus. "That man has been wanted quite some time and the fact he joined the White Fang…"
"Bron Bruin joined a little after I did… Even if his loyalty was always a little questionable he always listened to Adam, more out of fear than respect, and he moved up the ranks faster than I did, becoming Second Lieutenant of the Bull Commander due to his sheer ferocity, power, and the fact that every job he was sent on… Was always successful." Blake growled at the sight of the man, knowing him all too well.
"Former Atlas operative," Ironwood commented, narrowing his eyes as he knew the man too. "Dishonorably discharged due to his reckless violence… A troublesome adversary if he is one to be involved. Can wreck almost everything in front of him because almost nothing can penetrate his semblance's Ironskin defenses which earned him the nickname the Ironwall. It also gives him amazing offensive potential as well... Unfortunately he became rather unstable after a run-in with serial killer Tyrian Callows left him with nothing, clutching his dead wife and son... And ever since then he's been the monster he is, wanting nothing more to kill and destroy whatever is in front of him."
"Yeah, I know of him… He went on the bounty board and many Huntsman and Huntresses came back half dead or dead trying to bring him back… Rumor has it his semblance allows him to control the density of skin molecules allowing them to harden to the point it could be theorized he could make his skin as tough as diamonds even though as Buckethead put he should only be as tough as steel." Qrow growled as he looked at the footage and saw Ruby's heading smashing into the ground, his heart sank but he kept his composure as there were a few audible gasps and a very distinct growl from the sight. "In all reports, he was hardly even hurt in any scrap, and sometimes… It's even said he eats his victims but that could just be heresy."
Looking at the man in the feed, Winter kept her composure despite her intense glare she focused it upon both Ozpin and Ironwood. "So we are most likely dealing with Adam Taurus as the kidnapper, correct?"
"No, he specifically mentioned it was Sienna." It was Naruto that finally broke his silence as he listened to everything. "That being said, depending on what… A certain somebody may have done… We can't rule out his involvement. His wounds should still be recovering and he should still be out of commission. Now it is possible something happened to accelerate his healing process but I have a suspicion he isn't the one involved behind this."
"This also isn't what Adam would do," Blake responded, knowing the man too well. "While he isn't below sneaking in the dark to get what he wants to be done or bidding his time until he needs to, he's straight to the point. The only point of a hostage for him is for interrogation and to send a message… Bron specifically stated they were being used as a lure."
"Which leads us back to Sienna as he said," Naruto growled as he let his implication be known to everyone in the room. "They've been wanting to recruit me for a while… What better way to lure me in than using two of the Huntresses I've been training as bait?"
"Sienna Khan…" Glynda spoke as she pulled up the woman onto her scroll pad. "High Commander of the White Fang… That is a strong accusation but one I would not disagree with after a bold action… A statement has already been put out from them and we haven't even reported the incident."
"What the fuck?" Qrow pulled his scroll out as did everyone in the room and searched for the statement. "They're admitting they've taken Weiss Schnee hostage and calling for a ransom… What the fuck is this? Do they want Naruto that badly? And there are no mentions at all about Ruby! They took my fucking daughter and don't even mention her!"
No one questioned Qrow's wording in the heat of the moment. Ruby was his family and he had helped raise her and Yang since they were young... Even if he was at a distance for a chunk of the time.
He was present when needed.
"This… Is my fault again." Ozpin narrowed his eyes at the news. "By announcing Naruto was a calling card to Salem have her take the bait… But I never expected others would take the invitation and to go this far… She has to know."
Naruto growled as he heard that. So that was the plan from the start. He wanted Salem to make a move? He expected he to come out and do something seeing there now a third player involved while historically she had always been the more patient of the two. There was some logical rationale as a new player did change the game but...
"That I'm Fate's Champion like you are the Champion of Light and she is the Champion of the Darkness." Naruto bore daggers at Ozpin and the man looked over at him and sighed.
"So you've had the revelation… Yes, there are now three players in this game and unfortunately, the balance is severely offset by your arrival and Fate's intervention." Ozpin replied simply while the room quieted only for Yang to scream.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?! HOW IS THIS RELEVANT?!"
"Unfortunately… This is entirely relevant." Qrow growled as he looked between Naruto and then straight at Ozpin, his anger bubbling over into a rage. "You… You have put my daughters in that much danger?! And I fucking trusting you! You put them right in front of Salem's target! And you just announced it to the world? What could possibly go wrong? Information leaks? Nah, not in this day in age where media is accessed with a swipe of a finger!"
"Qrow… This was never my attention. I don't know how Sienna knew what Naruto is for that is the only reason why she can be so desperate to gain him at her side… To gain the power of Fate and challenge the world itself." Ozpin frowned as while he knew letting Naruto's identity go public was a risk it was supposed to be a calling card for Salem to answer…
It was not planned for this.
"That means someone on Salem's side leaked the information to her then," Naruto replied as if it was obvious, no longer caring about keeping her identity hidden any longer now his identity had been revealed to him. "She has supporters and none of them are trustworthy and have their own contacts. Why wouldn't they? They each have their goals and visions and do not align with what she seeks. It only makes sense."
"He has a point," Ironwood replied as thought on it for a moment and rubbed his chin. "Her motives have always been clear and no one truly supports her unless they just want to see everything burn…"
"She has someone that fits that description, unfortunately…" Glynda sighed as she brought forth a known member of her group to her pad, a slender but muscular man that had a scorpion tail. "Tyrian Callows is known to be erratic and make decisions on a whim so I wouldn't put it past him to betray her as it could be very possible he wants to watch her burn too… All life to him is meaningless. Rationally that would mean hers as well but that is expecting rationality from someone irrational. That is a hard sell."
"It's the only one we have though. We know it couldn't be Cinder or Mercury right now either as they are both here in Beacon so all signs point to it being him if someone leaked it from her side… That is saying one of us, didn't give her the information." Qrow growled and his eyes locked straight onto Ironwood as he said those words.
"Bold accusation Qrow. I will only allow it as I have substantial proof to prove otherwise my friend… If anything I would point at the other headmasters that are not here today." Ironwood dangerously glanced back at the disgruntled drunkard that he once saw as one of the finest Huntsman in the world. "Perhaps our dear friend Leo maybe? They do after all have Haven in-training licenses. I might have to do so a little digging myself as he has been a little dodgy recently and I would hate to think that one of the relics is not in safe hands... Especially that one."
Life had its way of tearing down the best.
Qrow growled but looked away, knowing better than to challenge and knowing that the possibility was likely. As much as he didn't trust Ironwood, he trusted the others less. And now that mentioned that...
"With all these accusations and understanding who is calling the shots behind the scenes… It doesn't leave us closer to where they are keeping my sister and her teammate hostage." Winter responded as she understood everything had a point, she was focused on the mission. "We need to figure out where they are being held and we need a plan of action."
"I know of a few bases but that could take days to narrow down and we'd have to silently infiltrate each one… The risks would just keep getting higher and higher and they said they're only giving us a week." Blake growled as she scanned the information on her scroll once more.
"Naruto…" Ozpin noticed something peculiar about the boy's face as he looked off in the distance. "Do you have something?"
"I know where they are," Naruto said as he could feel her presence as for once it wasn't in the void. "Salem sending me a signal as clear as day… Why I don't know… But she has left the void and moved from where she was to this spot I'm sensing thrice now and I can map it with Blake to see if there is a base there…"
"But I think she's sending a calling card and wanting us to answer." Naruto frowned as this was a development he wasn't sure he liked but at the same time, he was forced to respond as he tapped on his scroll and pulled up his map. "Is there a base here?"
"Yes…" Blake's eyes widened as the pit in her stomach began to fall, only recently learning of the dark witch as Naruto had told her over the last two weeks.
"Well… This is fantastic…" Qrow sarcastically stated seeing the map location. "The White Fang, Salem, a new higher power! What else do we need to be added to the mix? Got anything for me Oz? My day has been royalty fucked as is!"
Ozpin wisely said nothing to incite the Branwen further. Glynda simply put up her pad. "We have our location, now we just need our plan of action… A big unit would only cause a stir so a small team is best."
"Well, I'm fucking go!" Yang growled as seeing her sister's head smashed into the concrete and being left near lifeless was still fresh on her mind. "They have both my sister and Weiss, there is no way in hell that I am being left behind!"
"Yang, I'm afraid this is out of your league…" Qrow sighed, understanding her conviction…
"I don't care! I am going whether you like it or not! I will find my way there one way or another!" Yang's aura burned to life as she stood toe to toe with Qrow, not backing down in the slightest.
"Yang… Don't worry, you're coming with me." Naruto calmly responded and she turned towards him, her aura still flaring as he walked over to her and put his hand on her shoulder. "They want me, they're going to get me... Just not in the way they wanted it."
Breathing heavily, Yang gave only a nod as her aura died down as at least someone was listening to her pleas. Qrow however growled as he was not in the mood after seeing the footage of what happened to Ruby. "Naruto… This is not…"
"I know and you should know too… Glynda is correct. A small cell is what is best for this operation. A team to go in, and infiltrate that has various sets of skills for a variety of situations. Yang is perfect for this scenario as a heavy hitter or bruiser if things break down but can also act as the mule when things are quiet. While I count as that role too, I am a jack of all trades and the field commander. We will also need someone with the layout and someone who specializes in stealth." Naruto countered and silenced Qrow, was not appreciative but understood the point.
He wasn't happy that both of his nieces and his claimed daughters would be in danger… But he had to live with it. Naruto was very combat oriented and knew what he was talking about better than most when it came to this. It was an unfortunate part of his upbringing but it also probably made him the most equipped to handle the situation...
"Fine… I've got something else I need to take care of… Family business unsettled... Going to fucking bar first." Qrow left the room, slamming the door open before turning to Naruto. "Whatever you do… Keep my family safe… Or I will do whatever it takes to kill you myself, understood?"
"Crystal," Naruto responded before turning to Blake as he continued to formulate his plan while the elder Branwen left the room entirely. "How well do you know this base?"
"Well enough… I can navigate us through it if we keep the team small. It's… Where I was initiated." Blake answered honestly as she remembered the base well enough.
"And Neo makes four… We now need transport to get us there quickly." Naruto finished as the team was made.
"I can provide that… If that is okay with you General." Winter started before she turned to Ironwood and asked for permission to assist in the mission.
"Granted. You can provide backup as well in case anything goes awry." Ironwood found it satisfactory and if Salem was somehow involved in this…
It was an important mission to undertake.
"Thank you, sir!" Winter bowed to the General before turning to Naruto. "I will have the airship prepared and ready to take off by morning."
"Good, that gives us time to prepare and get a moment of rest before the coming dawn… Because we're going to need that." Naruto looked out into the night sky and scowled.
Tomorrow was going to be a long day…
Coming into the room as he had done for the last few weeks, an elderly wolf faunus of the White Fang that was treating the wounds of one Adam Taurus sighed. He wasn't sure what Sienna's game was and he truthfully didn't care. This was getting old.
If he hadn't been around for years he would have left by now. Unfortunately leaving at this time was a death sentence and gave him even less reason to leave.
"Should have been my cue to leave when Ghira stepped down…" The wolf muttered to himself as he looked at all the IVs and found them curiously detached. "Odd…"
"Allow me to give you that sweet freedom of release then old man!" Adam growled as his left and a new black hand grabbed and pulled the man's head towards him, transforming into a claw-like form that and growing as it engulfed his entire head until it was near twice the size of his head.
He tried to scream but a crunch was heard and a small splatter of blood onto Adam's face. Then a sickening noise of what sounded like more crunches and fluids draining was heard as his arm grew in size, the black hand devouring the flesh and blood of the wolf faunus before him.
And Adam felt the muscles of his body ease and began to refresh. The crawling pain relaxed in his arm and chest. Old wounds and scars on his body started to heal over except for his eye.
He felt more whole and oddly…
Stronger than before.
"Huh, so the witch wasn't lying." Adam tossed the man's body aside to show his head chewed upon as his black arm reverted to a normal hand-like state. "But I have truly become the monster that I feared…"
"And that is perfectly fine!" Adam growled as he found his clothes Sienna set out for him when he was ready to dutifully obey her once more along with Wilt and Blush.
"Now it's time to reap their reward to see the beast they have unleashed!"
"Ruby… Ruby please…" Weiss pleaded from the other side of the cell, being blocked from reaching her friend and teammate who just laid there limply in the cell. "Please wake up… Tell me you are alive! Please!"
Blood was pouring from the girl's mouth as they left her untreated since they brought them here last night. She didn't know what happened after she was hit but her head was throbbing painfully and she was quite sure she was going to have some lasting damage herself she could not wipe the blood off the left side of her face.
"No… Please get up…" Weiss had tears building as she couldn't even see her move and her eyes were open, her silver eyes slightly open and showing no signs of movement. "Ruby… I can't… I'm so sorry for everything…"
"I never meant any of it. I was just so wrapped up in my own issues, my troubles…" Weiss slid to her knees as she looked at Ruby's limp form. "You've always tried so hard for all of us… To be the best you could whenever it mattered. Even when you felt like everything was being taken from you… You were always so kind and accepting toward all of us… And always so strong…"
"So please get up! Don't stop fighting now!" Weiss screamed at Ruby's unconscious form, trying desperately to will her friend awake.
But it wasn't meant to be.
She was all alone in these cells… And the only possible person with her was her friend and she had to face the possibility that she was staring at her corpse.
Hearing the door open, Weiss' tearful eyes snapped in the direction of two White Fang entering the cell areas. Weiss backed off fearful, unsure of what was going to happen but they pulled the keys and one sighed as he fiddled with the lock of Ruby's cell. "Looks like Bron went overboard again… First Lieutenant Shade isn't very happy about this and is causing a scene about right now it seems."
"Like he can do anything about." The other faunus grinned showing off a shark tooth-like row of teeth in the process. "Sienna only cared about bringing her and we got her. She was an extra from the start."
"Whatever… Grab her and let's dispose of the body. Not like she is much longer for the world after what Braun did to her. No way the doctors can fix that up." The White Fang faunus with spotted claws sighed annoyingly.
Weiss gasped as tears streamed down her face freely, her worst fears confirmed. "No… no… no!"
The more compassionate of the two Fang members sighed as he looked over at the Schnee heiress and shook his head. "It is unfortunate… We were only meant to grab you and she was just there so we took her… Bron…"
"Did what he needed to do, don't sugar coat it!" The other grinned wildly as he partly picked up Ruby's body. "He… You know it'd be a shame to waste such a young… Delicate flower while it's still warm you know?"
"Are you fucking sick?" The other Fang member growled as he took a harsh stance, not liking what his partner said. "I will report you in a heartbeat if you try anything of the sort so get your… Sir, what are you doing here?"
Weiss gasped as she recognized this man as he who they ran into before... The animal! But...
She knew who this was as he slowly snapped on his mask. She knew that mark on his missing eye.
But that look…
That look of disdain he had for what was just said was nearly identical to the one he had given her father so long ago…
This was the same faunus she saw branded that day…
"Wait… You aren't supposed to be… AHK!" The shark tooth faunus spoke before he was lifted by the throat and slammed into the back of the cell, cracking the wall as Adam looked him in the eye through their masks.
"I do believe you said you were going to defile her, we you not!" Adam growled as he flicked Wilt out of Blush with his other hand. "That is one thing I will not tolerate!"
Letting the faunus go and slightly fall, his head was separated from his body in an instant as Adam clicked Wilt back into Blush's sheath form a scream was heard from the other cell before he dangerously glared at the other Fang member. "Take the girl to the medical facility and get her what treatment we have left! Keep her alive at all costs and prepare her for transport! We will be moving her shortly!"
"Yes sir!" The still-living faunus picked Ruby's near lifeless body up as carefully as possible before heading to the doors, not challenging the bull commander.
He'd deal with consequences later. Life first.
Adam simply growled as his black hand growled alongside him. "Silence… That is our next move… Sienna will be cut down next."
"And you girl." Adam looked over Weiss, his mask eyes turning in direction as he bored his gaze deep into her tearful blues. "Do cooperate with me on this. I know the Schnee blood in you will despise every last part of working with White Fang… But in this instance, it will be to both of our benefits."
"You will get your freedom and I will get what I desire the most in this life."
Walking onto the Winter's airship with Blake, Yang, and Neo in tow, it didn't take long for Naruto to find the bridge by the layout and sensed her emotional distress from within.
While Winter was calm and composed as she gave every soldier on her airship commands, within she was a raging tempest that was one breeze from being let loose upon the world.
"Good, you've arrived on schedule." Winter saw Naruto and his unit as they walked onto her deck. "Preparations have been made and we are just about ready to lift off. Are you sure airdrop is going to be the call for infiltration?"
"They won't see it coming, I wouldn't," Naruto commented as he grinned lightly trying to breathe a bit of levity into the situation. "And if we land just outside and go in they won't expect a thing… And if they do we have two wall breakers in the lineup with both Yang and me so Blake and Neo can go undetected and get to Ruby and Weiss."
"And it's the fastest way we got… They might be expecting a quick response but something this fast is something might not be prepared for." Blake followed as she and Naruto talked a bit throughout the night, as she and Yang had difficulty sleeping and stayed over the night in his dorm room.
Little sleep happened but some was forced upon them as Naruto made them take some sleeping pills to calm their nerves and get some rest.
"It is possible… Despite how quickly they put that statement out they might not have planned for such a quick counter strike even with knowledge on where some of their bases are in our hands." Winter summarized. "It may have been figured that we would have to narrow down the location…"
"Which is why it worries me why we're getting help from an unexpected source… An enemy at that… What is she after?" Naruto frowned as he couldn't comprehend what was Salem's plan in this as Ozpin never really explain what her objective was other than she wanted to watch the world burn.
It wouldn't make so sense why she was interested in him in the first place. Why she wanted him to join her side or to move out of the way? Why did she just send this calling card and let him know exactly where to strike?
What was her end game?
Or was there something more to all of this that Oz didn't even know?
Or was he yet again not telling the full truth?
"All right, everything is ready! Our course is set… Launch!" Winter commanded her soldiers seeing everything was prepared and gave the order.
And the airship, now unbraced with the dock, slowly began to lift, the movement swaying everyone a bit as they lifted into the sky. Winter looked forward as they turned and her eyes gazed directly ahead, focused on the goal ahead. "Weiss… I'm coming for you, don't you worry… I will not leave you all alone again."
Seeing Neo looking around and wandering aimlessly, Naruto frowned for a moment. This was a behavior he noticed before when he first met and it was a little odd but quirk but now that he thought about it, he just wanted to check in with her as she seemed a little off. "Neo, are you okay?"
Snapping her attention to Naruto, her eyes went wide for a second. That question... She brightly smiled and nodded her head before spinning Hush in her hand.
She was happy. Someone was looking out for her concerns. That's all that mattered.
Blinking as now she was just happily flitting around everywhere, Naruto really just didn't entirely understand the ice cream woman but he didn't think he ever would. He knew there were some issues there but, he accepted them. Everyone had them.
"Blake… A word." Naruto motioned for them to move away from everyone as he needed a moment to talk to her as they moved into a hallway.
As he turned into the hallway, he caught a glance of what seemed to be a whiff of something orange as it ducked into the vents of the airship and he frowned. Sensing out as Blake followed him, Naruto sighed and ignored what he just saw, knowing what it was and there was no stopping it now.
Not seeing this, Blake gazed into her boyfriend's steely eyes. "What do you need of me?"
"This is going to be hard to ask… As I've only asked for your side of the story… But I need you to tell me everything you can about Adam… It might become useful today as I have a feeling something is going to happen and my gut isn't usually far off the mark." Naruto explained, giving a small look of comfort knowing it wasn't the easiest thing but kept his gaze stern as to let her know that it needed to be done.
"Oh…" Blake's bow flattened and her look became downcast at the thought of having to relive these memories, but taking a deep breath, she looked Naruto in the eyes and began. "It started in Menagerie… Having run from Atlas after being branded by Jacques and forced to work for him like a dog despite all the hardships he had to endure earlier in his life…"
"And he could no longer stand it."
"This is completely unacceptable!" A lizard faunus with black scaly skin hissed as he glared at Sienna as she stood beside Bron, who had a grin on his face. "He should have never been sent! If someone needed to go it should have been me! The consequences are too dire…"
"I hear your concerns but it is of little matter, Shade," Sienna responded in an attempt to placate the angry First Lieutenant, who she was quite annoyed was questioning her command at the moment and that defiant glare he was giving was reminding her all too much why she didn't like Adam's style.
He was too soft overall. He let his soldiers have more reign and freedom.
Adam may have turned into a monster but he wasn't entirely willing to enforce it onto others. He let his aura intimidate others into doing what he commanded but nothing more. He was more like Ghira in that fashion that he was willing to be a presence instead of enforcing every last aspect of his will onto everyone. It's why she pushed harder on him to turn Blake… She wanted her to break. To trot her before Ghira and show him what they had done to his precious baby girl…
To let him know he was powerless.
"Bron did his job and brought back the target, the other girl was simply a bonus that did not matter in the grand scheme. The Schnee girl that he is supposed to be wedded to soon if my contacts are correct." Sienna spoke with little concern. "The other girl's life while tragic does not matter. Naruto will give himself to us willingly for the release of the Schnee and that will be that. The other girl will be disposed of…"
"Excuse me?!" Shade hissed as his yellow eyes pierced through as he interrupted the high commander. "With all due respect, we should try everything we can to keep her alive, High Commander! I know this faunus as I was specifically assigned to track him and his movements by Adam… And I've learned a lot about his character."
"You are questioning my decision?" Sienna looked down at Shade and spoke with a slight agitation in his voice, Bron looking a little giddy at hearing her tone. "If I didn't know better I think you know better than I?"
"With all due respect in this matter, yes I do." Shade hissed back with venom in his voice as he spat on the ground before Sienna, making the tigress narrow her eyes. "While Adam may have had to change the context of the hunt my mission did not change, either way, I was reconnaissance and I learned everything I could."
"He is a man of the people and he values his friend's lives more than anything… He cleaned up the streets of Vale during his time as a Huntsman and made it a better place not only for faunus but for humans too. He lives to serve his fellow man, no matter the race and his comrades are the one thing he cherishes most as he willingly gave himself up for police interrogation to protect them."
"And what happens if he hears you were so casual in discarding the girl?" Shade's eyes glimmered with fury. "He'll…"
"Tear the entire White Fang to shreds and leave nothing left." Adam's voice spoke as the doors to the chamber were kicked open, having heard enough as he made his entrance, dragging a carcass of a White Fang member in his blacked, clawed hand behind him. "Stand aside Shade… This ends now."
"Adam!" Sienna's growled as her eyes widened at the sight before her, watching the monstrous left hand and hearing the crunching noises it made as red veins of liquid surged from it and into Adam's body. "What has happened… What is the meaning of this?! You were still in the recovery ward!"
"All because of you." Adam simply ignored her before he tossed aside the dismembered corpse of the Fang his monstrous hand had been devouring, straight before Sienna, Shade, and Bron. "As for what has happened to me... I've become the beast you've always seen me as, Sienna… That's what happened."
"As for the meaning, it's simple. I'm saving the White Fang from the incompetence that has led it down this tragic path for so long. That I allowed it get this far before realizing the damage you have done is neglect on my part and it ends here!" Adam growled as his hand reverted to its normal state, becoming a simple black void arm. "I am reclaiming the White Fang's honor again and will stand as its High Commander!"
Seeing the eaten corpse of one of his comrades and the look on his commander's face, Shade simply moved out of Adam's way. There was only one way this was ending and it was not going to be a sight he wanted to watch…
He was going to but it was not one he wanted to…
"Bron… Take him!" Sienna cried as she tried to take a few steps back as Adam marched towards her, his goal set.
Adam stopped and he looked up and into the grizzly faunus mask, his face promising a swift and unyielding pain. "Please, try and stop me as all her loyalists did. A few little deflects and I will show you how useless your ultimate defense is as I cut off your head and then feast on your corpse."
For one of the few times in his life, Bron felt a cold shiver in his back. The bull commander was one of the few people he knew could kill him on any given day but to hear that level of threat… One he levied against so many others…
And to see the mangled corpse of another that was eaten raw.
Bron stepped out of Adam's path.
The victor had been decided this day.
"Coward! Guards! Where are my guards!" Sienna cried as she looked all around her, terror starting to fill her as Adam approached.
"In my stomach, Sienna, where else?" Adam said coldly as he stood before her, his right hand clutching Wilt's handle. "I told you I've become what you always saw me as... A beast!"
Sienna's eyes widened in horror as she had nowhere left to run. It was just her and Adam and his two witnesses to witness the ascension to the throne.
It was as if this was planned!
"Sienna Khan! You have been hereby charged with treason against the White Fang!" Adam declared for both Bron and Shade to hear him. "Your judgment has been clouded and no longer your own. You allowed another to choose for you it has brought doom to the White Fang's doorstep. I will rectify this by taking your life but I wish to hear your plea."
"Can you prove your innocence or have you been manipulated and controlled by the Goddess of Fate?!" Adam growled as he withdrew Wilt and held it at the ready, prepared to end Sienna's life.
"How dare you!" Sienna growled out as she slashed the air in front of her, rejecting the very idea. "I have never done anything other than for the benefit of the White Fang! Your conjecture is heresy of the highest order!"
"Then you are sentenced to death for treason!" Adam tightened his grip on the hilt of Wilt.
And at that very moment, particles of light began to rise from the ground, filling the room with light as Sienna, Shade, and Bron all looked in shock at what they were seeing. Adam was not amused at the light's presence as it grew as a female, angelic yet robotic voice spoke.
No… Course Correction.
His left arm transformed and he held it upwards as a pulse of darkness covered the room as Adam roared out, his hatred filling the room. "BEGONE FOUL TEMPTRESS! YOUR POWER HOLDS NO MEANING HERE!"
The darkness pulsed and particles of light faded to nothingness as the room was swept clean till none remained, the presence of Fate cleansed of the area.
And Adam's arm reverted as his face grimaced in pain but he stood strong as he continued facing Sienna. "It seems Fate has decided to prove your guilt herself."
"But… My actions… Were mine…" Sienna looked around, visibly shaken as Adam began to walk towards her with his hand transformed and Wilt drawn.
"You may have thought so but you were indeed controlled by something that has no care for any lives and you have brought us to the brink of destruction because of your careless actions and mistakes. That is treason and by the laws you have set into place… The punishment is death." Adam spoke with no remorse as looked down upon the tigress.
"Wait… Adam! Please give me…" Sienna's words were cut short as red slashed through her neck.
Her head rolled from her body and landed on the ground before Adam's monstrous clawed hand, gripped the rest of her body and began to crunch it, slowly devouring its flesh and consuming it into his own.
Every drop of blood. Every strip of meat. Every dust particle of bone. Even clothes were swallowed until nothing remained but her head.
He left that for display as he mounted it where she once sat.
"Change of plans!" Adam called out to Shade as his hand returned to normal and he sheathed Wilt. "There is a train just north of here we are going to commandeer! Naruto is coming right now and we need to send a message we have the hostages there and have them come after us there!"
"Gather the Schnee, make sure she is unharmed! Bring every medical person you can and every piece of equipment we need to keep that other girl up and stable! Bron, you are coming whether you like it or not! A blood tribute could be useful to keep them off our back for a second!" Adam growled as he looked at the grizzly with venom.
"Wait… We're not giving them back willingly?" Shade questioned this decision as he looked at his commander.
"At this point, they know where we are and where our base is… They are coming here so that means the White Fang as a whole is in jeopardy… We are going to be the diversion and the bait so everyone can get out safely and head to our operational headquarters in Menagerie!" Adam growled as he made his intentions known. "Send a call to any remaining members in Vale as well, we need the CTT tower as I plan on sending a message to the whole world to hear. They will hear me on this."
"This is our last stand here on the Vale side of Sanus! The White Fang must survive, no matter the cost!"
No…
This wasn't supposed to happen…
Course Correction…
'…'
Leave my domain!
You have caused enough damage!
I'm coming through whether you like it or not!
And if there is one thing I've learned it's to…
TO NEVER BACK DOWN AND NEVER RUN AWAY!
LLEEAAVVEE!