Chapter 44 – Perfect Game

Kragen

Strangely… his heart rate was steady.

Knowing that at long last this life he had lead, all the way from the days of Arkhonex at the height of its strength… to its destruction… the time in between generations, a world where the fate of Humanity and Faunuskind alike was held in the balance. So much knowledge lost, memories of great heroes and terrible foes… all of it forgotten from the annals of history… only for new history books and timelines to be written to educate a whole new generation of people?

He remembered how much that hurt, feeling like the lives of so many loved ones he lost were all for nothing. But every day, he saw the life blossoming; he saw that the world did not end after Arkhonex fell, and this new world was still just as beautiful as before, and just as ugly at the same time.

And now it's happening once again, an entire culture destroyed, millions of people dead… and the world facing annihilation. But this time… they knew who they were up against, his long endless life that he and Yenna shared together? That they prepared the Silver Eyed Warriors for, that the Architect stored endless archives of knowledge for?

The time was here… and despite how hopeless the soldiers inside felt? He felt more hope than ever before.

Because this time… there was a chance to make a difference.

History won't repeat itself this time.

And history will not be forgotten.

He stood before the statues of so many great Silver Eyed Warriors who fought for Dragonspire Keep, closing his eyes as he thought of them all. He could remember all of their names, every single life that was lost. Every single student who trained here.

Summer Rose especially.

He smiled at her statue that stood in front of him.

I pray… that my gamble will pay off…

… that the Relic of Creation did exactly what I needed it to do…

… maybe then this will be worth it.

Maybe this time things will be different.

Then the warm grasp of Yenna's hand made him turn to her. She rested her head on her husband's shoulder. "It's been one hell of a long road…" Yenna said to him.

"It has…" He agreed with a soft exhale of breath. "… even after all these years, all the lives I've had to sacrifice for us to reach this point… I still feel sick whenever it comes to sending them to their deaths. I don't fear death, and I know you don't either. We've both been waiting for an end for a very long time… but sending so many others… so many young beautiful souls to the same fate…" Kragen sighed, his hand shaking, but Yenna gently held his hand in hers.

"There is no good option here, Kragen… this is our only choice. Ruby and Jaune will never be able to get the Relics out of here if Vir Nominis Umbra is not distracted, and even then… the Higher Demons are in the castle. We may keep the majority of the Grimm off them, but the Demons are still an issue. But no other option gives them a better shot of escaping." Yenna explained.

Kragen closed his silver eyes, nodding. "I know… it's just… never easy." He sighed sadly. Yenna caressed his cheek with her hand, softly smiling at him.

They wrapped their arms around each other tenderly, pressing their foreheads together, gazing into each other's eyes. "I'm so glad we found each other again…" Yenna sighed with a smile.

"I'm so happy you found me with the other Maidens… and that you wanted to stay with me in that cabin. If it weren't for you… I would have still been there." He said with adoration in his voice.

"No, you wouldn't… you've always fought for what's right, for Remnant. You never would have been able to stay there." She said with a smile, so confidant in who he is as a person. He smiled back at her and gave her a warm and loving kiss. They shared this moment for a while, until they both turned to see the Architect walking towards the two of them, his hands trembling as he held them together.

"Old friend…" Kragen softly began with a smile as he approached him.

"I'm okay… I understand why it has to be this way. I… I just…" The Architect trembled, unable to lift his head. Kragen and Yenna approached him, and Kragen gently wrapped his arms around the mechanical man, as did Yenna. The Architect froze and his mechanical brow lowered. If he had tears to shed, they would be falling. "I'm going to miss you both." The Architect said to them.

"You'll be okay." Yenna assured.

"I… I hope so… I was alone for so long in the ruins of Arkhonex, but you found me… brought me back and gave me a new purpose. I wasn't alone again…" The Architect stammered.

"You won't ever be alone again." Kragen assured, holding the Architect's shoulders. If we win this? There's gonna be a whole world to be built, and you're going to be surrounded by your friends. Everyone will be there by your side… just as we always have been." Kragen promised, his smile never wavering.

The Architect stammered, then chuckled. "This feeling… I imagine this is what people feel when they're upset… when they want to cry… I wish I knew how." The Architect sighed, shaking his head.

"It's okay. We'll always be keeping an eye on you all. When we fall… you will see us again… marching across the horizon with the Squires of Light." Yenna promised. Hearing her sound so confidant brought a hopeful smile onto Kragen's face.

"I'll hold you two to that…" The Architect said.

"C'mon… let's get ready." Kragen said as he walked with his Staff, using it like a cane, the tap echoing down the halls. As he walked, he felt like he could see the ghostly apparitions of everyone who ever came here. It was like the Silver Eyed Warriors were part of Dragonspire Keep now.

As he walked, he just smiled as he looked upon its architecture.

"Thank you… for everything." He said to Dragonspire Keep… his home.

As he walked towards the entrance of his castle, he passed by everyone, saying their goodbyes. Kassius and Emerald both stood before Coco and Velvet, who waited with Yatsuhashi and Fox for what was coming. "It's okay guys… we can help buy you all time. You have to get those Relics out of here, otherwise all of this would have been for nothing." Coco explained.

"You're going to die… I promised you all I would…" Kassius stammered.

"You're not our leader, Kassius. And this is not on you. This is our choice." Coco stated, pressing her finger against his shoulder. Velvet smiled as she walked towards the two of them. Emerald closed her teary eyes, then wiped them away.

"When you and Cardin found me out there, I wanted to run the second I could… but neither of you turned me away. And both of you… even after everything I've done… you gave me a second chance." Emerald said to them with tears in her eyes. "It's not fair…"

"You helped us reunite with our team… now we get to go down together. Believe me… I wish there was another way. But Kragen's gonna need help out there… I have my Maiden Powers. I can help Yenna. And we all have our abilities to help." Coco explained to them.

Kassius looked at Velvet you looked up at him. "You've always been such a good man, Kassius. Complicated… but always good. Even when I felt… confused… about you." Velvet softly said with a smile, but Kassius closed his eyes sadly as she spoke. "You've always been such a good friend. You've always had our backs. Now let us have yours."

Kassius wanted to beg them to stop, but he couldn't… this was their choice, just as they said. So he knew he had to respect it. He immediately wrapped his arms around them both in a warm hug, which Emerald joined in on. "Stay alive, ya big dummy. You and Yang better have the best wedding ever, you hear me?" Velvet asked, and he chuckled.

"We'll see to it." He promised, choking up as he spoke.

Kragen continued to walk past them, passing by Qrow and Hazel, speaking with Ozpin and Glynda. "The two of you have come so far… I wish it hadn't come to this." Ozpin closed his eyes sadly.

"C'mon old man. You should've known that I was always gonna go out with a bang. Getting the opportunity to make Umbra scream like a little baby out there from what I'm gonna do to him? If I get to hear that sound, then I'll die content." Qrow assured with a smirk, more than ready to go out there.

"I've done everything I can to honour Amber's memory… but this may finally help me right the sins of my past." Hazel explained.

"You still don't feel you have?" Glynda asked.

"No… not yet. The amount of Silver Eyed people I've slain… Sun's mother… so many more… all for Salem? Dying in the final fight with them? To buy you all time so you can bring the Relics to the Embered Grove and find the truth to Umbra's weakness? That's more than enough for me to do this." Hazel answered with so much certainty in his voice. Ozpin stared at Hazel and he bowed his head with grief, thinking of what happened to Amber.

"It's okay, Ozpin." Hazel assured, getting his attention. "I don't blame you for what happened to her anymore… I know who was responsible for it all. That's another reason why I'm going out there… to take out every last bit of rage I have left in me on that monster who took away so many people we love." Hazel growled, clenching his huge hand into a fist. "So long as I can get a few good hits in… I will die a happy man." Hazel promised. "Just make sure… that you keep the Relics away from him… and you finish this."

Ozpin nodded his head. "I give you my word… we will see this through." Ozpin wasn't sure if even he believed his own words… but he wanted to. Hazel turned and walked away, but just as he walked towards the door, he saw Sun and Oscar both leant against the wall, and Cinder walked over to him as well.

Qrow looked at him as he walked away, then back at Ozpin. "It's been a long ol' ride… it wasn't perfect, but… I wouldn't trade it for anything." Qrow said with a smile.

"I'm proud of you, Qrow. You've come a long way from those days when you were just a rowdy student at my school." Ozpin replied. Ozpin extended his hand to Qrow, and the old Huntsman smiled and grabbed onto him, pulling him in for a hug, patting him on the back. He shared the same sentiment with Glynda as they parted ways.

Hazel exhaled as he looked at Sun and Oscar. "You saved me…" Oscar began. "You didn't have to… you just did. You saved me back when Salem captured me and Ruby… and you tried to save her, but Fear and the Whisperer got to her first."

"I couldn't stand watching that monster torturing the two of you any longer… honestly I don't think Salem could either after a while." Hazel chuckled, shaking his head. "I was lost… I didn't know what I was doing, or what I was thinking back then. Every day I just… question myself… about why I stuck around with Salem for so long." Hazel sighed.

"You made things right, Hazel…" Cinder said.

"I tried…" Hazel sighed.

"We both did. I regret my past too… I wish I could go back and stop the old me… but the truth is… we earned our place here." Cinder explained. "You don't have to do this…"

"I know… but this is what I want. A chance to die on my terms, fighting against the very monster responsible for all this. And buying all of you enough time so you can finish this once and for all. Because that's why we're doing this. So that this nightmare… will just be a bad memory. A spooky bed-time story for children centuries from now, a story of heroes who fought for what was right." Hazel explained.

Sun remained quiet as he looked at the floor, then Hazel looked at him. "Sun…"

Sun closed his eyes.

For so long, he hated Hazel for what he did to his mother and father. The blood that ran from her body always felt like it was on his hands. He always made people laugh because that made him feel good, even after he lost them… but now?

He didn't want Hazel to go.

He had come so far, improved so much… like Cinder said he earned his place with them all… he forgave the man for his past mistakes…

But at the same time…

… he could not help but respect his choice. Sun exhaled and looked up at Hazel, then extended his hand to him. Hazel smiled and held onto his arm. "Good luck… Hazel. Despite everything that happened… everything that you did… and everything I failed to do…" Sun said, with tears welling up in his eyes. "… You're a good man. Hazel Rainart. And no matter what happens after this… that is what I'm gonna choose to remember."

Hazel smiled at Sun and bowed his head. "Thank you, Sun… I needed that."

Kragen continued to walk closer to the main doors with Yenna and the Architect, passing by Carmine, who was sitting on a crate with her Sai floating above her palm. As she sat there, Maria walked over to her side. "Y'know… I pegged the others to do this… but I didn't think you would. Is it because of Bertilak?" Maria asked her.

Carmine stared at the Sai as it rotated on the spot. "Did I ever mention that Bertilak and I have been friends since we were kids? We first met playing in the dunes… and we've been friends ever since." She said, letting the Sai drop, and she caught it effortlessly. "And yeah… we fell in with the wrong crowd… became selfish thieves and mercenaries who'd do anything for money. But we always had each other's backs…" Carmine explained.

Maria leant against the pillar, crossing her arms. "But I've never seen him do something like that. I didn't get it for a while… but once we got here? And I saw the way you all are with each other… I get it now." She stated.

"Get what?" Maria asked.

"They all treated each other like family… it was only a feeling that he and I really had. But the second we joined you, you never gave either of us judgemental looks. Never assumed we'd turn on you despite everything we did. You actually trusted us… for so long, the only people we could ever trust was each other. And suddenly here's all these people who trusted us the second they saw us. Even Team C.F.V.Y didn't seem to hold a grudge." Carmine explained, spinning her Sai through her fingers, before gripping it again.

She flicked her long red hair out of her eyes. "And that felt fucking good… having people you could actually rely on. It's barely been a few days, and that's something I realise now that is something worth dying for." Carmine stated.

Carmine scoffed. "Gods, I sound ridiculous."

"No… no I get it. I let myself be alone for so long. Trusted nobody… and I had so much hatred for Ozpin for the things that went down. Yet here I am… their love for each other is fucking contagious." Maria chuckled, making Carmine chuckle as well.

"That's a good way of putting it, I like that." Carmine agreed.

Kragen walked past them and approached the main doors where the Witches were still holding them shut with their magic, and the Undertaker stood tall with its razor sharp shovel in its grasp, ready to kill any Grimm it saw. Neo was leaning against the pillar with Hush rested on her shoulder, just waiting for the call. Team R.W.B.Y and J.N.P.R were down here as well.

Ruby carried the Relic of Creation in her hands whilst Jaune held the Relic of Choice in his. Whilst Jaune held the Relic of Choice in his. They both knew that whoever held the Relics would become the Grimm's prime targets, so they'd rather that risk rest on their shoulders. Kragen approached the door and pressed his hand against it, knowing what was about to happen.

He exhaled, then opened his eyes, showing great resolve.

Then he turned to all the soldiers. Many of them were crying and terrified, and some of them were too injured to fight. But luckily, Kragen already had a plan for where they could go to help them.

"ALL FORCES! ON YOUR FEET! I'm about to announce our final mission, so line up!" Kragen ordered, switching to his Military Commander voice like it was a switch. The soldiers were reluctant, but hearing Kragen sound so certain gave them some hope. They all stood up and did as he said whilst the wounded were with a couple of also injured Silver Eyed Warriors, who were strong enough to stand despite their wounds.

Kragen stood before the few who were left. Maybe only a hundred people…

Their numbers were slim, but it was something. "I'm not going to lie to you, or sugar coat this… what we are going to do… is going to be suicide." He began. Kragen never believed in beating around the bush. "We are all going to charge Vir Nominis Umbra directly, using everything we have left at our disposal to do as much damage to him as we possibly can. Using our Silver Eyed will make him vulnerable to damage, so we will use our eyes as much as we can to weaken him. With Yenna and Coco with us, we will have the power of two Maidens helping us as well, alongside all of these brave and incredible Huntsmen and Huntresses." Kragen said as he held his arms out to everyone stood with him.

But the soldiers looked terrified, more now than ever.

"While we're attacking Vir Nominis Umbra, Qrow Branwen will use the smoke in the sky to get behind Umbra and deal massive damage when the time is right. All of this is to act as a distraction, so then Ruby Rose and Jaune Arc's teams can extract the Relics from Dragonspire Keep and to the Airships on the other side of the tunnel outside. If they get the Relics to Arkhonex and the Embered Grove, Vir Nominis Umbra will not be able to complete his mission, and they will find the answer to killing him once and for all. Our mission here… may be fatal… and we will never see the fruits of our sacrifice… but we all have a very important role to play now." Kragen explained to them all.

But he was still only met with silence from all the soldiers.

No cheers, nothing.

The fear was in the air, and it felt like the Grimm outside were getting more aggressive by the second.

A soldier suddenly gagged and dropped to her knees, vomiting onto the floor from the fear that welled in her heart. Everyone was shaking in terror, knowing that nothing but death was waiting for them out there.

"He expects us to fight that monster?" A soldier mumbled.

"We don't stand a chance…"

"We should run…"

And others were just crying in fear.

"There's no use in just standing around. The Witches' magic can only hold the Grimm back for so long. Everyone, get your weapons and be ready. My wounded forces will take the wounded soldiers up to the main tower and you will use the Flak Cannons to fight off as many Grimm as you can with covering fire." Kragen explained, turning to walk towards the doors.

"Wait…" A tearful soldier sniffled, and Kragen stopped to listen to what he had to say. The poor guy was roughly around seventeen years old, he was just a kid. "Are we really just going to… charge out there? To our deaths?" He sniffled.

"Yes, we are." Kragen answered.

All the brave Silver Eyed Warriors looked at the terrified soldiers, and some of them were not even soldiers. Just people who picked up weapons to help.

"And you're saying that it's better… if we just… die fighting? To the very end?" He trembled.

"I am." Kragen answered.

"… then what's stopping us from just running? From just making a break for it? Try our luck out there on our own? Not like you're gonna be around to punish us for running away." The kid questioned with anger in his voice.

"Nothing is stopping you." His answer made the kid gasp.

"Because you're right. I know I am going to die tonight. I've known that from the second I used the Relic of Creation in my gamble. I knew it would draw Vir Nominis Umbra here and most likely bring our lives to a brutal end. But that's because I know we can win, and that Vir Nominis Umbra… is afraid. We are not like the many Universes he has destroyed before us. This one is different." Kragen explained, walking back to the centre of the room where he spoke to them all.

"I do not know why our universe is different… but time and time again we have proven his destinies he set in stone to be false and meaningless. He may be powerful, yes… but he is not infallible."

"So yes… we are going to die tonight. Everything that we thought had meaning? Every dream we wanted to achieve? Every goal we put in front of ourselves? Every single moment of our lives that we thought made us untouchable? None of that matters when you're bleeding out on the battlefield." Kragen explained.

"It doesn't change what the teeth and claws of Grimm do to us. We all die. But does that mean that our lives have been meaningless? Does that mean we had no reason to be born at all? Would you say the same of everyone you've loved who's died? What about their lives? Were they meaningless?" Kragen questioned, his voice turning into an angered growl at the mere thought.

He felt the eyes of so many lost loved ones watching him, Vyrryk's, Claudia's even Cynthia's before she became Salem.

His silver eyes narrowed with anger and the silver irises shimmered bright. "THEY WERE NOT!" He roared. "EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEIR SACRIFICES BRINGS HONOUR TO US ALL!"

"THE COURAGEOUS FALLEN! THE ANGUISHED FALLEN! THE FORGOTTEN FALLEN! EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEIR LIVES HAVE GIVEN MEANING TO OURS, AND IT IS UP TO US TO REMEMBER THEM!"

His words stung as he thought of every single Arkhoni life lost that was forgotten…

… their memory only carried by him and the few Arkhoni left standing.

"AND AS WE ENTRUST THE RELICS TO THE OTHERS, WE TRUST IN THEM TO BRING VIR NOMINIS UMBRA'S REIGN OF TERROR TO A DECISIVE END, AND THE NEW WORLD WILL BE TRUSTED TO CARRY OUR SONGS ON INTO THE ANNALS OF HISTORY TO BE REMEMBERED FOREVER!"

The soldiers were silent, and some of them started picking up their weapons, feeling encouragement from Kragen's words. One by one, they followed him to the door.

"FOR THE WARRIORS OF REMNANT WILL NOT BOW DOWN TO A MONSTER WHO WOULD ERASE US AND ALL OUR MEMORIES FROM EXISTENCE!" Kragen roared.

Ruby and Jaune stood by his side at the door and the Witches prepared to release their spells.

"THE HEROES OF REMNANT PUSH FORWARD!"

They pressed their hands against the doors.

"THE HEROES OF REMNANT SCREAM OUT!"

They blasted the doors open, and both Ruby and Kragen unleashed the power of their Silver Eyes on the Grimm on the other side.

"THE HEROES OF REMNANT WILL LIGHT UP THE NIGHT!"

Ruby

Vir Nominis Umbra stood upon the ruined land just outside of the broken walls, looking down at the corpses beneath his feet, pressing his foot into a burning skull and crushing it with very little effort.

Suddenly, the bright white flash from Dragonspire Keep yanked his attention back to the castle. "Huh?" He grunted, shielding his eyes with his hand for a second, then he saw them all charging out of the castle doors towards him, with Kragen at the very front, his voice bellowing so loud that Umbra could hear him over everyone else roaring.

"CHAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGE!" Kragen howled, roaring with fury as he sprinted at the front of their forces with Yenna and Coco behind him. Qrow transformed into his Corvid Form and flew upwards, vanishing into the thick layer of smoke above. Vir Nominis Umbra raised his eyebrow at the strategy.

"Really?" He scoffed with disappointment in his tone. "That was the best plan you could come up with? A suicide charge?" He sighed, shaking his head. "For some reason, I expected you to do something smarter than that." He said, his voice filled with arrogance and overconfidence.

Yenna and Coco both ignited their eyes and flew up into the air, blasting Grimm away from their forces, and the Flak Cannons inside of the main tower started opening fire on any Grimm they could see. Loud explosions cracked in the air as they knocked Grimm out of the sky, the wounded all working together to fire all the cannons until the Grimm would inevitably overwhelm them.

"EVERYONE! GIVE IT EVERYTHING YOU HAVE! MAKE THAT MONSTER SCREAM!" Kragen roared.

Ruby shot away from the brave heroes who charged towards Vir Nominis Umbra. Seeing the level of Grimm in their way was still a massive amount to overcome. But she narrowed her silver eye with fury and she launched herself towards them, cleaving three Beowulves in half before they could even notice them. "C'mon! We can't let this be for nothing!" Ruby yelled to the others. She gasped and turned as the Whisperer suddenly appeared behind her, transforming into Tyrian's body, and his scorpion tail above to impale her, only for Oscar to suddenly launch towards the Higher Demon and punch it directly in the side of its head.

The Whisperer grunted, thrown away from Ruby and sent crashing across the ground, driving its blades into the ground, staring at them and crooking its neck. Ruby fired Crescent Rose at the Demon's face, shattering half of Tyrian's face, then everyone rushed forward. Nora jumped overhead and slammed Magnhild into the ground as hard as she could, creating an almighty pink explosion, throwing the Higher Demon away, only for its body to shatter against the wall.

The Whisperer was not done, but they had no time to waste fighting it. They needed to reach that tunnel. Ruby sprinted ahead, but it was getting harder and harder to make their way through the courtyard due to how destroyed it was. Ruby shot forward and dodged incoming quills from a Spiker that was standing upon the walls, screeching as it flung the quills at them relentlessly, saliva drooling from its mouth.

Jaune raised his shield, blocking an incoming quill, then Kassius vaulted over his shoulder and fired Vulcan Nox up at the creature, hitting it through the head. "Keep moving!" Jaune yelled, and Kassius sprinted towards the Ursa Major, which stood on its hind legs, roaring viciously at him. He launched Lash Equinox up towards its jaw, impaling it through the mouth and jumping onto its chest as it slowly toppled backwards.

He tore the blade from the black flesh then connected both swords together, transforming it into its Twinblade form, slamming it down with all his might and creating a powerful explosion. He turned and gasped as a Manticore flew towards him, only for Neo to shoot it out of the sky with Hush's cannon. The beast crashed past him and rolled across the ground, easy prey for Maria to launch forward and slice it to pieces. Suddenly, the wall exploded, sending an enormous surge of Grimm their way.

"HERE THEY COME!" The Architect yelled, firing his rifle at them relentlessly, until suddenly dark purple energy surrounded the chunks of wall, forcing the Grimm backwards. Glynda held them back, gritting her teeth with the Witches helping her. The Sorceress held her hands up, casting ancient magic into the walls to reinforce them for just a bit longer. As they held it back, Ruby looked up and her eye widened with relief.

Penny blasted a powerful beam of green energy into the Grimm, effortlessly burning them to embers, and she flew overhead, landing beside Ruby and launching Floating Array into the wings of a Sphinx, yanking it out of the sky. As it came crashing towards the ground, both Pyrrha and Cinder ignited their eyes and flew upwards. Cinder forming an Obsidian Spear and Pyrrha, transforming Milo into its spear form, impaling the creature in a single hard attack. The Sphinx screeched in agony, crumbling into ashes before it could even hit the ground.

Nora continued to provide covering fire with her Grenade Launcher, blowing Grimm to smithereens with every single shot. But then she felt her skin crawl… her hairs stand on end… and her chest began to burn.

"No…" she whimpered, turning around to see the Lord of the Wood staring directly at her from the Civilian Sector. Flames rose high from the buildings, and the Grimm from that sector were coming straight for them. The Lord of the Wood slowly raised its wooden arm, pointing directly at her, and the Grimm poured over the buildings behind it. They were about to be completely surrounded. "Guys… GUYS THEY'RE COMING FROM BEHIND US!" Nora yelled.

The Three Witches looked at each other and without hesitation, they sprinted to where Nora was, and all three at the same time slammed their hands against the ground. An enormous field of magical energy formed, containing arrays of so many beautiful colours, and the Grimm collided into the force field before they could reach them.

"GO!" The Witches commanded at the same time. "WE CAN BUY YOU MORE TIME! GO!" they all yelled as they held the Grimm back with the massive force field.

Glynda and Ozpin stared at them with wide eyes.

"You all gave us a chance to do something better with our endless lives… allow us to give back to you… SO GO!" The Sorceress yelled.

But just as they were about to go, Ruby stared ahead to see the Onyx Phantom jumping down from above onto the crumbling wall, grinning as it took the form of Ruby, a mouth grinning inhumanly wide with razor sharp glowing orange teeth. Emerald gasped as well as she looked up at the tower to see the Whisperer above, taking Salem's form as it stared down at them. And the Hound was here as well, howling from the side of the mountain as it glared down at them.

Yang and Weiss both clenched their hands into fists.

And worse yet… Nora couldn't see the Lord of the Wood anymore, meaning it was coming.

"Ruby? What do we do? We'll never make it to the tunnel like this…" Blake stammered with fear in her voice. Ruby scowled as she glared at the tunnel.

She could see it.

It was right there.

But there was no way to get there. They would be wiped out before any of them got close. "Then we fight as long as we can, and hope the others can hurt Umbra enough to get the attention off us." Ruby answered.

Ortega

The Drift of Wandering Star's final day was upon her.

Flames erupted from the hull, smoke trailing from the wings and chunks of burning debris came crashing down as the Grimm continued to bombard the old beautiful Dreadnaught. Aboard the bridge, Ortega pressed his hands against the railing as he stared ahead at the mountaintop that the Reality Tears were still bleeding with Grimm. Pumping rock music was blaring through their speakers as they prepared for the charge.

"It's been an honour serving with you Admiral!" An Operative called out, not even flinching as sparks burst from the ceiling above her. Ortega chuckled with a smile, ready to meet his maker now, knowing that his daughter would survive.

"The honour is all mine." Ortega replied. "Now… ALL THRUSTERS GO!" Ortega ordered. The Operatives all did exactly as he commanded, and the powerful thrusters of the Drift of Wandering Star bellowed with fire, pushing the old ship towards the mountains. Grimm continued to attack, alongside a Reaper blasting a beam of fire into the hull in the ship's rear.

"HA! The fuckers think they can stop us?" An Operative laughed.

"Let them try." Ortega chuckled, firing all the remaining shells in the cannons all around them, blowing the skull of the Reaper apart. Enormous chunks of armour plating and oceans of black blood spewed across the snowcapped mountains as it crashed into the ground. "A little moooore…" Ortega said as the Dreadnaught got closer and closer.

It was now perfectly on course.

Nothing more they needed to do.

"Aaaaaaand."

Ortega threw his hands off the railing.

"HANDS OOOFFFF!" He cheered with a big smile and all his Operatives did the same, cheering as the Drift of Wandering Star collided into the peak of the mountain. The Drift of Wandering Star crashed directly into the Reality Tears, and the Fusion Core of the ship went critical, detonating and creating an incredibly bright explosion, killing them all instantly and painlessly inside. The explosion was so powerful that the entire peak of the mountain shattered, triggering an enormous Avalanch beneath that swallowed thousands of Grimm, burying them under tonnes of snow and ice.

All the Reality Tears howled as they collapsed into themselves, cutting off Grimm reinforcements just as Ortega hoped.

Penny turned as she hovered above the battlefield, seeing the bright explosion, and tears streamed down from her eyes.

"Goodbye… dad." She sniffled.

But she was proud of him.

For there is no more honourable death for a Captain…

… than going down with their ship.

Kragen

Vir Nominis Umbra stared them all down as they grew closer and closer, despite them knowing that they stood no chance against him… they just kept running.

Why were they still trying?

He clenched his hands into fists, feeling sick as he sensed the hope coming from them all. "So that's what this is? A desperate, vain attempt of hope? Well, then… come brave warriors. See where that hope gets you." Vir Nominis Umbra snarled, his eyes glowing red and conjuring a pair of black blades into his hands.

Kragen gritted his teeth, jumping off a chunk of rubble and leaping towards a motionless Vir Nominis Umbra. "ALL FORCES! ATTACK!" Kragen yelled, then his eyes lit up bright silver, blasting the molten white light across Umbra's body. He growled in pain as he felt his body become physical, bound to their wound. And Kragen slammed Ebony Duchess down into the top of his head.

Umbra growled with anger as he recoiled back, and was immediately struck relentlessly, but Kragen's sudden and fast swings with his staff. He whacked him in the back of his leg and then smashed the staff up against Umbra's nose, throwing him backwards. He slid across the ground, then cracked his neck with a sinister smirk. "Well played, Kragen. You took your shot." He chuckled, suddenly launching one sword towards him, but Kragen deflected it then pointed Ebony Duchess at the False God.

"ADVAAAANCE!" Kragen commanded, gritting his teeth.

The Silver Eyed Warriors all made their attacked and blasted their silver eyes towards Umbra, burning at his skin, keeping his body physical so that he could not be made impervious to any of their attacks. Through the brilliant white light, Carmine's Sai shot towards Umbra, burying itself directly into his eye. He grunted and recoiled backwards, grabbing at the blade lodged in his skull, but it was suddenly yanked back and he turned to see her jumping and roundhouse kicking him across the jaw.

He tumbled across the snow, then he clenched his hands into fists. He suddenly blasted high above them, catching a bolt of red lightning from the Tempest Storm above, and launched it down into the ground. The explosion blew Carmine off her feet and she rolled across the snow, only just avoiding Umbra as he came crashing down. Suddenly he formed a massive hammer and rested it on his shoulder, swinging it downwards with terrifying force at Carmine, only missing her by mere inches.

Soldiers fired their rifles at Umbra, screaming defiantly as they sprinted at him. He turned and launched a blade from thin air through one of the soldiers' throat, leaving him choking on his own blood on the ground. He shot across the snow at terrifying speeds, easily dodging the incoming bullets and slashing his hands through the bodies of the soldiers, coating the once white sand blood red. He hit some of them so hard with his fists that they were torn apart by the impact alone.

He grabbed another soldier by the face and lifted him off the floor, flying high above and throwing him into the ground. "What good does your hope do you against me?" Vir Nominis Umbra questioned, forming a huge spike of metal in his hand which he called red lightning down into, conducting it. He dropped and buried it into the ground, then jumped away, throwing a fireball into it, causing it to overload and explode, launching shards of metal into multiple soldiers, shredding them.

He hovered above them all with a smirk, until he turned to see Yenna flying towards him, punching him in the face with significant force. He flipped through the air, then formed his False God wings, and flew back at her, slashing a huge conjured axe at her, only just missing her body. He then formed a dark ball of energy in his hand, crackling with red lightning inside, then he launched it towards her. It crackled more and more the closer it got to her, until it exploded near where she was, knocking her out of the sky.

She fell and crashed into the snow, groaning, and as she looked up, she saw Umbra hovering above, ready to come crashing down. Until Coco suddenly tackled him and they both crashed into the walls of the Castle. She grabbed him by the side of the head and pushed his face into the rocks, before forming a blade of lightning and stabbing him through his throat. He snarled as he felt the electricity course through his body.

"Oh Coco Adel… you foolish yet courageous girl…" He sighed. Suddenly, his eyes shone bright red, and he formed a red corrupted glyph that shot a bolt of energy into her, blowing her away from him. He hovered away from the wall, then formed his own mockery of Floating Array, multiple blades hovering behind him. He shot back down towards the brave warriors, crushing a screaming soldier beneath his feet, then shot the blades forward, impaling six more soldiers instantly.

A Silver Eyed Warrior roared as he jumped with his Cross-Spear, aiming to skewer Umbra into the floor, but the False God slid aside, and formed a blade in his hand. But the Silver Eyed Knight withdrew his helmet and blasted a beam of white light into Umbra's chest. He grunted and staggered backwards, directly into Hazel, who grabbed Umbra from behind and threw him to the ground.

"YOU TOOK EVERYTHING FROM US!" Hazel bellowed, drinking what was left of his Blood Vials, activating his Blood Rage one last time. He bellowed with anger and began beating Vir Nominis Umbra to a pulp, smashing his fists relentlessly into his face, sending cracks spreading out all around them. But Umbra suddenly caught his fist, and he chuckled.

"Not yet." He reminded, kicking him in the chest, then effortlessly throwing the gigantic man away from him. Hazel tumbled across the snow and battered landscape, immediately punching his fist into the snow and throwing a boulder at Umbra just as he blasted towards the brawler. The boulder exploded against Umbra's face, stopping him dead in his tracks, followed by Kragen, who transformed into his Spirit Beast form, the Old Wise Panther. He bit into Umbra's neck and then tore a chunk of black blood from him.

Umbra grabbed onto the scruff of the Panther's neck and threw him ahead, but Kragen returned back to his Human Form, rolling across the ground and staring back, firing another beam of Silver Light from his eyes. Umbra growled with fury at how many times the Silver Gaze was burning him, actually feeling the pain. Coco landed, with her entire team at her side. Velvet formed the Executioner in her hand, spinning Cardin's Mace through her fingers, and she sprinted towards Umbra with Yatsuhashi and Fox.

Yatsuhashi lowered Fulcrum and Velvet jumped onto the blade, then he launched her towards Umbra, smashing the Hardlight Mace into Umbra's face, breaking part of his skull apart. Umbra gasped from the sudden pain, then snarled with anger, turning and catching Velvet by the throat, smashing her into the ground and stamping at where her head just was. Thankfully, she rolled aside, and Fox suddenly appeared behind him.

"Boo!" Fox sent directly into Umbra's head, and slashed across his back with Sharp Retribution, and Yatsuhashi drove Fulcrum down into Umbra's shoulder so hard it nearly cleaved him in two.

"GET HIM!" the soldiers screamed.

Yatsuhashi yanked Fulcrum from the wound as black blood poured from the injury and the soldiers started jumping and stabbing at him. At his throat, his skull, his heart. They literally piled on top of him as they brutally tried to kill him.

"No… GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Kragen screamed, realising what was about to happen. He could see the black smoke forming around Umbra just as they piled on him. And his shadow looked completely different… he looked like… his true form… not the Soothsayer.

Then… everything went silent… impossibly silent.

Suddenly the soldiers shrieked for a single moment of intense pain, their skin flesh and organs burned away as Umbra's Soothsayer form exploded out into the form of the False God, towering above his old height with a pair of huge black wings stretched out. He held out his clawed hands, showering in the blood of all those soldiers, smiling as he enjoyed their suffering for that brief moment. His long spined tail flicked and his glowing red eyes glared at them, his jaws filled with razor-sharp teeth grinned, and he suddenly jumped to the side, wings spread wide, and hand stretched out with an even bigger blade forming into it.

He swung his wings and launched towards the soldiers, slicing three of them in half in a single swing, before crushing a Silver Eyed Knight underneath his enormous foot.

"I would recommend praying to your Gods… but I promise you… they will not hear your pleas." Vir Nominis Umbra snarled as their blood coated his body.

Kragen stared at him… but he just scowled.

Fearless.

They knew who they were up against.

And they would fight until the very end.

Starla

The Knight of Loss watched the bloodshed from the wall, her hands on her bow, fighting the curse that was trying to make her spill even more.

She gritted her teeth, and the effort she was putting into this was forcing her onto one knee. "No… Get out of me… GET OUT!" Starla screamed, punching the floor. She closed her eyes, feeling the tears streaming from her eyes.

"Momma?" she heard the voice of her child mumble from behind her. She turned and saw her family, staring at her, covered in blood. She whimpered at the sight, but then she looked away.

"Come on Starla… think about it… what is this curse tied to? I will not… kill any more innocents… any more heroes. I won't." She snarled as she stared down at the battlefield in the courtyard, watching Nora, Weiss, and so many others she wanted to save.

But she still felt her family watching her.

"I will not let you down." She promised.

Looking directly at Weiss.

Author Note - Rest in Peace Admiral Darren Ortega, you went out like an absolute legend

I hope y'all are ready because things are gonna get so bloody soon, get those tissues ready. Plus writing Umbra fight is always a pleasure, the dude is a monster but god is he also awesome XD

Also gotta give it to Kragen he is such a beast, man still has no fear even against such an unwinnable battle.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Please review, follow and favourite!

Stay tuned for the next chapter!

- Matt