The Arcangel dropped Cinder's lifeless body to the floor, turning to Hazel. The final of Salem's lieutenants he was all that stood between them and Ruby. The laconic man looked at the angel seeing into his soul through his eyes and slowly sank to his knees. "Enough" he said clearly without the will to keep fighting a war that had long since outlived its purpose.
Yang made sure to keep an eye on him as the rest of them moved to the doors of the chapel. The same room within which Ozma and Salem had been married was the room that would now decide the fate of the world.
Inside Ruby was locked in a battle of souls and wills against Salem's immortal might, and ancient knowledge. Almost three decades ago her mother Summer Rose had done the same and found the measure of her own wanting.
Ruby had been training herself for this moment for years. Now all that she had to do was win. Maria had trained her in the art of the magic intrinsic to her eyes. They were linked to her strength of certainty.
It was a power that could only be properly used if the wielder was certain that they were doing the right thing, even if only by their standard.
All those years ago a moment of doubt, if the price was worth the payoff, had been the death of Summer. All it took was a single errant thought that leaving Ruby, Yang, and Tai alone was wrong.
Now Ruby was in that same battle. A battle that would be unwinnable for most if not all. Without a word the Angel reached for the door, his hands clasping the wooden grips and slowly swinging the heavy slabs open.
His wings folded back as the blinding flow of light poured out. All three of the remaining women shielded their eyes until Weiss managed to raise a wall of debris laden ice to serve as a dampener.
Looking through it they saw shadows of all three of them. Ruby on one knee in focus, Salem arms spread wide casting dark power. And the Angel his arms out before his face as he pushed on against the very real force pushing him away.
They could see Salem recognize the form and function of the newcomer and from her tongues of onyx flame lashed out. Twisting and snaking on the ground to reach him. As the flames reached him he could be heard crying out in pain but still he moved. Step by step closing with the two of them.
Determined to end this here and now Salem gathered all her power forming a wave of the shadow flames that reached halfway to the roof of the chapel. Finally reaching Ruby the Angel reached down clasping his hands around her shoulders, his own power being fed into her's.
Weiss, Yang, and Blake flinched in fear as the wave of fire was sent forth. As it closed with the Rose and her Angel the wings from before open wrapping them both within as the fire passed them by, burning the wings from the Angel but nothing more.
All three of the observers hid behind the ice seeing it crack as Weiss spent her last bit of energy holding up. The cracks only grew in spite of her exertions and at once the wall shattered.
The three of them held each other close, determined to at least die together as Hazel stepped between them and the flames much like the Angel had done. And much like with the Angel his body was burned and after the flames passed he collapsed.
When they could see again Blake rushed to him, finding him already dead from his wounds while the others went to Ruby. She was alive, with her Angel. Both of them leaning against the other while they struggled to their feet.
Where Salem had once stood a charred stone of her form now stood, they had won. Salem had spent her last bit of power trying to stop them and been overwhelmed by her own magic.
It could be seen in her eyes that Ruby was now blind. A small price to pay for her world. Beside her the Angel stood his wings long since burned off and his power seemingly reduced to that of a normal man he looked at least a decade older than Jaune should have.
In the years to come he would adopt the name of Juniper. A famed warrior of a forgotten time back when magic ruled the land. Back then he had sacrificed himself to save the first warrior of silver. And now he had returned to fulfill his own destiny.
Ruby looked up through sightless eyes at her Angel feeling the memories of old flowing from him to her as she cupped his cheek asking. "Do you believe in destiny?"