Chapter 4: The Emerald Forest
Today was initiation day for the students of Beacon Academy. Everyone woke up bright and early to eat breakfast and retrieve their equipment from their lockers. The initiation was held at Beacon Clift, where Headmaster Ozpin and professor Goodwitch seemed to be waiting. For Warren's armor he transformed his hair into his Umbran Combat suit and attached Scarborough Fair on the back of his boots, and the other two in his back holsters.
The students were all lined up on platforms in a single straight row as professor Goodwitch began to speak. "I'm sure most of you are aware of the rumors of teams floating around. Allow me to put those rumors to rest. Each of you shall receive your teams today!" Warren couldn't help but try to stifle his laughter at Ruby's reaction.
"In fact, the first person you make eye contact with once you land will be your partner for the next four years." Ruby's world practically shattered after hearing those words. She was completely socially awkward and the only people she knows are Jaune, Yang, Blake, and of course Warren. "Your mission is to enter the Emerald Forest and head towards an abandoned temple. Your objective is to collect a relic and report back to Beacon Clift."
"Are staff will be watching but will not intervene. Do whatever it takes, destroy what ever is in your path. Or you will die." Headmaster Ozpin said this in the most straight face deadpan ever conceived. "Team up and destroy. Not a bad plan after all. I like the way you think Ozpin." Soon after the Headmaster's words the platforms began catapulting students into the air at two second intervals. "Any questions?" Ozpin asked with a hint of sarcasm.
Jaune Arc however was not able to detect the sarcasm due to the density of his brain. "So this landing strategy are you like dropping us off or what?" He asked with much confusion evident in his tone. " No, you will be falling." Ozpin replied while taking another sip of his coffee. Another set of platforms were released. One of them being Warren's. "So your handing us out parachutes or something?" Jaune asked still not getting a clear picture of what's going on.
But the blonde Hunter in training didn't get to ask another question as he was launched into the air and began screaming like a horrified schoolgirl. Glynda and Ozpin just watched as the students flew through the air. Some with fluid grace, while others…were like crying flailing banshee's. For Warren's landing strategy he simply flew straight towards the forest until he was a decent height above the canopy to summon his Madama wings.
Warren gently floated to the ground and he made his Madama wings disappear. As Warren landed he quickly brushed himself off and started walking. "If my memory serves me correctly while I was floating the temple should be in this direction." As Warren sauntered through the forest he stopped as he heard gunfire. Firing that seemed to belong to a shotgun. As Warren peered above the canopy he saw a flash of gold and more gunshots. But not before he activated Witch Time and saw that it was yang. Firing her Ember Cecilia.
As Witch Time deactivated Warren suddenly realized that the shotgun gauntlets on her hands were the yellow bracelets she wore when they first met. "Clever." Was all Warren said as he took out a Cherry Witch Supreme lollipop and began to slowly devour the delicious treat. As Warren was only able to get in a few more steps before suddenly both Creatures of Grimm and angel's of Paradiso have arrived. Because the angel's were in Purgatorio, to the human eye Warren was just surrounded by Grimm.
Warren continued to lick his lollipop as he drew Scarborough Fair from its holsters. "Let's dance baby." Warren shouted as he charged into the Frey. Upon closer inspection Warren figured out that the Creatures of Grimm he was fighting were the same ones as before. They were Beowulf's. And for the angel's they were all the crimson armored Accolade. Except for two. They were the twin paired Grace and Glory. "You have got to be kidding me" Warren said as he gave a his body a spin and avoiding the lunging attack of a Beowulf.
Using Scarborough Fair Warren fired a few shots at the Beowulf in the back and killed it before it's carcass hits the ground. "I should probably get rid of the Grimm. And then I'll deal with the celestial trash of Paradiso." The next attack came from a trio of Beowulf's as they attacked from all three sides with sharp claws and teeth exposed. Ready to tear the Umbra Witch limb from limb. But then again, what creature of Grimm could ever actually hurt Warren.
Warren decided to test out another set of swords known as Shinigami. Warren summoned two sets of the swords and attached then to his feet. Warren gave a malicious and cocky smile as he get an to spin with the force of a hurricane as the blades began ripping through the body parts of the Beowulf's. Slicing off their legs and arms, and decapitating their heads.
After the dealings with the three Beowulf's Warren deemed that he had finished off the remained Beowulf's with his foot slicing technique. Taking off the swords from his feet he was wondering were the angel's were. Just as he continued to ponder were his angelic feathered foes are Warren was stabbed in the back with a golden spear. The impact knocked the Umbra into a tree, and caused him to start bleeding monochrome roses.
Warren managed to prop himself up and looked at the translucent forms of the Accolade angel's. Warren bit down on his lollipop and finished it off. Warren replaced all four of his beloved Scarborough Fair for his new shotguns: Quartz Roses. Firmly grasping the shotguns in his hands he mentally opened a gateway to Purgatorio and stepped into the realm of limbo.
Their Warren was able to clearly see the angel's that slowly descended to the ground. Warren looked at them and did a spit take of blood at their feet. "So you finally shows yourself. Instruments of God." Warren aimed his Quartz Roses and let the Accolades come at him. The first one that came at him, brandishing it's spear lunged it at Warren to which Warren jumped up in the air and grabbed onto it and aimed his foot directly aligned with the Accolade's face.
Warren activated his Bullet Art magic and fired a shotgun shell right into the angel's face, completely blowing the head off in a flying splatter of crimson blood. Before they dispersed into flakes of light. For the remaining four Accolades Warren charged at them and gave one of them several bullet punches and a few Wicked Weave kicks. The next Accolade that came towards Warren tried to side sweep Warren with its spear.
Warren jumped over it and activated Witch Time. Whipping out Quartz Roses Warren began firing multiple barrages of bullets that took aim circling around all the Accolade angel's that were unfortunate enough to live. After Warren deactivated Witch Time once time frozen bullets crashed into the remaining Accolades. All that was heard through the forest was gunshots, cries of pain, and a whole lot of malicious laughter.
Where Warren now stands is a scorching field with broken trees. The destroyed tree bits and the ground itself was riddled with bullet holes. Warren looked at his surrounds and whistled. "I think I just broke my record for angelic body count and destruction of public property!" A portal from Inferno appeared, and out came the hand of Madama Kephri, draped in Warren's hair. Warren and Kephri gave each other a pound before her hand retreated back into Inferno. "I should probably meet up with Ruby and Blondie." Warren thought as he transformed using the Beast Within.
Warren became a sleek black and blue spotted jaguar. Warren zoomed through the Emerald Forest at top speed, leaving behind an array of decaying Infernal flowers. Racing through the lush greenery Warren was heading into the direction of the abandoned forest temple, panting with exhaustion. Warren transformed back into his human form. Warren wiped the sweat of his forehead.
Holding the animalistic form over extremely long distances can be exhausting. As Warren looked beyond a cluster of trees he saw the abandoned temple. Along with his friends Yang, Ruby, and Blake. "Well. I may be close to last. But at least I made it. Plus I guess I had some fun along the way." As Warren was in his realm of thoughts he suddenly took out a gun of Scarborough Fair and fired in the air behind him. The clang of guns making contact with something hard rang through the air as Warren turned around. "Your skills are as sharp as ever, Umbra Witch." An ancient echoing voice called out in the supernatural language known as Enochian.
Warren looked up and saw one of the angel's that was an all time pain in the ass for him. The one who destroyed the Umbran Clock Tower, the one that help instigate the Clan War's. The Cardinal Virtue of Fortitude and Courage. The Bringer of Flame. Auditio Fortitudo. The red and blue headed dragon like angel was hovering over the Emerald Forest in Purgatorio remaining unseen by human eyes.
But even though he was translucent, Warren didn't need to be in Purgatorio to see the monstrous dragon angel. "Look here Fortitudo me and my sister has more than enough stalkers as it is. But I am curious. How the hell did you get to this dimension? An Auditio like yourself normally doesn't get involved in human affairs!?"
Fortitudo remained quiet as another person had arrived in a flash of golden angelic light. Warren shielded his eyes until the brightness of the light died out. Once the light disappeared Warren removed his hands and saw someone he'd never thought he'd see again. Standing on the porcelain upside down humane face was the Lumen Sage that he fought that fateful day.
It was if she hadn't changed over the past few hundred years. She still wore her white hooded dress with a veil obscuring her face. Her dress had splits on the side for her dress and the golden accents of her holy robes glimmered in the light of the sun. Her piercing green eyes stared down at Warren and she two spoke in Enochian in a soft but menacing tone. "How long have I waited for this moment. To see you again, you filthy Overseer. It is my holy mission to exterminate the remaining Umbra so the world be once again enveloped in light and the radiance of the one true God Jubileus."
Warren rolled his eyes and scoffed. "Great. Another one who monologs. Guess I'll just have to kill you so fast you won't be able to say another word." The female Lumen Sage laughed haughtily while summoning her angelic bow, pulling back the bow string and conjuring an arrow of light. "Come at me Witch!" the Lumen Sage taunted. Warren's eyes peeled and he licked his lips sadistically as he magically pulled out Scarborough Fair and bathed himself In an purple aura of Dark Magic.
Warren's hair was freed from his Umbran Combat Suit and let down to its full flowing length. Warren's entire body hummed with Infernal magic. This was him in his serious mode. And he was determined to whoop ass. "Let's rock!" Warren jumped into the air, summoning multiple rings of Umbra Witch symbols to fully augment his speed. Fortitudo decided to get involved and opened both of its massive maws and fired twirling meteorite fireballs. Warren fired a barrage of bullets from Scarborough Fair that erupted the fireballs causing an explosion of flames and debris. But the temporary smokescreen did not faze Warren as he flew through it and was flying directly above Fortitudo and the Lumen Sage. The Lumen Sage raised her bow and fired an arrow of light followed by a couple of more. Warren activated Witch Time and effectively dodged all the arrows though it was a close call. The call was so close that Warren could actually feel the heat of the arrows hovering over his skin.
This gave the Lumen Sage the time to get a few inches away from the Umbra Witch. The Lumen began delivering a flurry of kicks bathed in angelic energy of Paradiso. Warren countered every kick with a punch and kick of his own. His attacks bathed in the crimson red demonic energy of Inferno. The two Overseers of Light and Darkness fought an epic battle as they used Fortitudo as a battlefield.
Decided to get serious Warren summoned the fist of Madama Kephri and rocket launched it at the Lumen Sage. The Sage looked shocked at first but gave a wicked smile as she summoned the hands of Temperantia: The Manipulator of Wind. The Lumen Sage used the enormous tentacle hands to block the Wicked Weave attack.
"So I guess you want to play ruff, well then so can I!" The Lumen Sage laughed again as she used the power of Temperantia to summon a humongous cyclone that seeped up Warren and kept him locked away within the heart of the storm. The Lumen Sage at this point looked disappointed. "Hmph. I expected more from one of the three Umbra Witches that survived the Witch Hunts."
"Come Fortitudo. It seems the Witch Hunts are finally over. Though I must say it was such a disappointing finish." Fortitudo nodded it's draconic heads in agreement. "Are ancestral mission is complete." The titan spoke in Enochian. As the Auditio and Lumen Sage were about to retreat to Paradiso the great tornado that the Lumen had conjured had dispersed and left an angered Umbra riding the wings of Malphas: The Wandering Ravager.
"I'm not done yet you assholes…" Warren aimed Scarborough Fair at Fortitudo and the Lumen Sage. The Lumen Sage just smirked at the Umbra which got Warren agitated. "And just what do you find funny exactly" Warren snapped angrily as Malphas' demonic avian wings flapped in the air to keep Warren in the air. "Last time I checked. Your initiation mission was to grab a relic and report to Beacon Clift. Yet you're the only one who hasn't reported back in. Are you sure you'd fight me rather then figure out the mystery to why you're here and just what is the dark force that threatens this world from the shadows!?"
Warren bit his lip and put away his guns. "This is far from over Sage. I will get to the bottom of this and you best believe that when I find you again. I will beat the living shirt out of you." The Lumen Sage showed no distinct changes in her face about Warren's threat. Said Umbra Witch took off in the direction of the temple and Beacon Clift. As The Lumen Sage continued to stare at Warren's slowly decreasing form in the distance. "That was quite the show you put on Desdemona" a Feminine low voice called out. The Lumen Sage named Desdemona turned around to see the lurking form of Cinder Fall standing atop the head of the red dragon head of Fortitudo. "My time to get revenge is close at hand. And I shall purge the remaining Witches from the Trinity of Realities."
Desdemona's partner Cinder Fall gracefully jumped down from the dragon head and landed next to Desdemona. "Though you have your own mission you are to remember your place. The only reason you are able to fight your little Umbra Witch is because the mistress gave you knowledge and the power to travel to this realm-." "There is no need to worry Cinder. All is under control and I have not forgotten the blessing that Lady Salem has given me."
"The chance to exact my revenge on Warren BlackRose." Saying those words gave Desdemona an aura of hatred towards the midnight haired Umbra. "The time to commence the next phase will come soon. For now we wait and observe. It is the will of the mistress." Desdemona looked out at Vale and all around her. "The time for the purification is almost upon us. And Jubileus must be reborn once more. Or another apocalypse shall taint this world in more carnage and chaos."
A/N: And that concludes chapter four. Tell me what guys think. And also that you for the review SilentXD7. And yes we now added Desdemona the first female Lumen Sage. She is another OC I had created specifically for this story. She won't have that bow forever because Cinder has swords and a bow so she's probably gonna get her own special guns crafted by an angel smith that skills rival Rodin himself. Anyway on another note thanks for all the views so you all get a huge thank you and an imaginary plate of cookies in the shape of RWBY and Bayonetta characters.
Also another thing I want to say for those who even read the authors note is I want to pair my OC Warren with someone but I don't know who. I've compiled a list of who the girls are. To leave your votes just put your vote in the reviews and I'll tally them up. But of course it would help if you put 'I vote for' at the beginning so I don't get confused. The girls are:
Weiss
Blake
Jeanne
Neo
Personally I'll add my own tally so please put full thought into who you want so it'll go with something like that. The reason I put Jeanne is because they've been friends for a while and feelings could develop. Plus Jeanne is barely in Bayonetta fanfictions so it would be nice to give her a major role. Weiss and Blake because they need love to and they aren't mostly paired in fanfictions. And Neo because who doesn't love Neo she's everything a man could ask for. She's smart, pretty, a skilled fighter, based off of ice cream, and a complete deranged psychopath. So give your votes, continue to read and review. Thank you all for your feedback.
P.S. what do you think about the Lumen Sage Desdemona. Why do you think she has it out for Warren.