Chapter 10

Hey guys…sorry for the VERY late upload. I have just been buried on school work and all other kinds of bullshit. For now though, I believe I'm in the clear so expect regular updates once more. Thanks for being patient, and sorry if this chapter is kind of bad. I couldn't figure out exactly how to make it go the way I wanted. Without further adieu, enjoy.

"Very good!" exclaimed Ashura. "I had feared you had forgotten about me."

Alear growled and took a fighting stance. "What do you want?"

"Tsk, Tsk, always so impatient." Ashura snapped his fingers. "I brought you a gift." Two grunts stepped forward, escorting a man between them. They pushed him rather roughly into the dirt. Ashura knelt down and pulled the man's head up by his hair. "Say hi to dear old daddy!" The man's face was bloodied and bruised.

Alear squinted to get a better look. It was indeed his father. Nomant lay on the ground, muttering curses to himself. "What the hell is this?" asked the wolf Faunus.

Ashura grinned widely and released his hold on Nomant, resulting in the overseer's face hitting the ground with a thud. He stood up. "You want revenge, right? On him, on me, and on Adam? Well here's your chance. This pathetic excuse of a person's life is in your hands."

Nomant raised his head and glared with eyes full of hate at Alear. "Hello again, mutt. It's been a while. Your mother missed you."

"And whose fault is that?!" yelled Alear. "You are the one who separated us! You are the scum of humanity, and I hope, I really do hope, that you know that I truly do abhor you.

Nomant chuckled. "You should have seen her face when she heard Adam killed you. She looked like she might kill herself then and there."

Alear's face contorted with rage. He took a step forward before stopping himself, gripping surge with an iron grip. 'Relax,' he thought to himself. 'He's just trying to get under your skin.'

Ashura slammed his boot down on Nomant's head. Blood trickled out of the overseer's mouth. "Just give the word and POP. His brain will decorate the terrain," he said with a maniacal chuckle. He slowly started increasing the pressure, pushing more and more. Nomant yelled in agony as his skull started to fracture under the force. "Does he live or does he die? Does he live or does he die?" He sang wildly.

Alear stared menacingly into his father's eyes, honestly contemplating letting Ashura continue. He wanted nothing more than to butcher the bastard; he wanted to tear out the overseer's heart and crush it before his eyes. He almost did too, but he was better than this. He wasn't evil. "Stop!"

Ashura looked up from his prey, confused. "Why? Isn't this what you want?"

The wolf Faunus sighed. "Yes I want him dead. Hell, I want to skin him alive, but contrary to what others believe, I am NOT an animal." He pointed Surge at Ashura. "I won't have him killed in cold blood. I'm better than that."

Ashura's face became deadly serious. "That's the wrong choice." He used his full force to push down on the overseer's head, squashing it and splattering blood and brain matter across the ground. He laughed at the gory scene. "It was just like a watermelon!" He exclaimed, giddy from a fresh kill.

Alear grimaced at the corpse, disgusted by Ashura's brutality. He lowered Surge. "What the hell happened to you? What happened to the fun loving little boy that I remember?"

Ashura scoffed as if his question were the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. "What happened?" he reiterated. "I became strong is what happened. Do you not remember what it was like for me? Do you not remember how I was treated? I was weak, defenseless, and the object of everyone's pity. Add the fact that I'm a half-breed and you complete the misery that was my life!" He kicked Nomant's corpse repeatedly in anger, desperate to find some way to vent.

"I still don't understand," replied Alear. "I'm a half-breed too and I didn't turn into some homicidal maniac. The others and I were there for you, you know that."

The madman growled and lifted his great sword from the ground, resting it on his shoulder. "You didn't know what it was like! You were strong! You actually look like a Faunus!" He patted himself down. "I look more human than anything, and that alone made people look down on me. Where were my so called "friends" then?!"

Ashura's words cut deep into Alear's heart. His expression became somber. "I'm sorry…we tried, we really did. I'm sorry we couldn't be there when you needed us."

Ashura huffed. "Your apologies are nothing more than useless words. You've seen how powerful I've become. All of this was possible through Adam. He has made me unstoppable. Now I shall use his power to destroy ANYONE who stands in our way. The Faunus will be free!"

Alear shook his head sadly. Surge hung loosely in his hand. "Not like this. Not through fear and death." The wolf Faunus couldn't help but give the madman a sympathetic look. "You used to believe in people, believe in your friends. Now what do you have? Nothing but blood and misery to keep you company. Where is the hope you once placed in us? Did you discard it along with your humanity? Or did Adam strip you of it after he made you his bitch?"

Ashura snorted before shaking his head is disdain. "Hope? Don't make me laugh." His fiery, orange aura surrounded him, making it appear as if he was on fire. His eyes glowed like embers. "Hope makes you weak. It made the Faunus weak. It made the White Fang weak. It made our friends weak. IT MADE ME WEAK!" His grip tightened on his great sword. "Now I have cast aside such petty things. Now Dust pumps through my veins like fire! You can't even imagine the ecstasy it brings every time I use it."

Alear's mouth gaped open. "Dust?!" he said in disbelief. "Don't you know how dangerous that is? That could have killed you!"

"Shut up." Ashura pointed his massive sword at Alear. "It's time I proved who's stronger."

The wolf Faunus sighed with what could almost be described as regret. "So be it." He in turn flared his aura. Green lightning arced around his body. "I'll put you out of your misery, and avenge my friends."

Ashura charged without warning, swinging his great sword at Alear's head. Alear ducked and drove his heel into Ashura's ribs, pushing him backwards.

"Gotta get in close," thought Alear. "He won't be able to use his giant ass sword that way."

Ashura snarled and leapt forward, bringing his weapon in a downward arc. Alear rolled out of the way, shooting lightning from his hand. Ashura hid behind his sword, effectively blocking the strike. Alear took this momentary distraction to rush forward.

The madman pulled his arm back and jabbed forward with his sword. Alear readied Surge and dragged the blade down the great sword, changing its direction slightly. Ashura's weapon slammed harmlessly into the ground behind him.

Alear sprinted forward, bringing Surge down in a diagonal slash toward Ashura's chest. Ashura countered with by charging his clawed hand with fiery aura and smashing it into Alear's face.

The wolf Faunus was sent flying backwards from the impact, landing hard. He stumbled back to his feet, hissing at the pain coming from the left side of his face. It was probably burned to hell, but he didn't care. He had to stop his former friend, or at least keep him from Nix and his mother. "You have gotten stronger, I won't argue with that."

Ashura grinned menacingly. "Would you like to see what Perditor can really do?"

Alear scoffed at the name of Ashura's weapon. "Destroyer?" he translated. "I guess it's a fitting name for such a massive weapon, if not a little unoriginal."

Ashura ignored him and giggled mischievously as he split Perditor into two identical swords. Each was the same length as the original but half the width. Next, he pumped aura into them, activating his semblance. The two swords were soon aflame.

Ashura's semblance was very similar to Alear's. While Alear used his aura to supercharge molecules in the air to create lightning, Ashura used his aura to superheat molecules in the air in order to generate fire. Both were capable of great power.

Alear cursed to himself, now having to deal with a dual-wielder without Shimmer.

"Alear!" The wolf Faunus turned to the source of the voice. Nix stood in the doorway of the prison building, now conscious. "Catch!" The next thing he knew Shimmer was flying end over end through the air toward him.

He caught it with ease and spun around to face his opponent, prepared for a charge. The charge never came, however. Instead, Ashura threw one of his swords with great velocity. Alear barely managed to sidestep it.

The wolf Faunus grinned. "Looks like you need to work on your aim."

Ashura smiled back, wider. "Do I?"

Alear narrowed his eyes, seeing the chain, too late, connecting the sword to Ashura's hand. The madman swiftly pulled his arm back, yanking the sword back as well. Alear gasped as the sword cut a deep gash on his left arm. Blood trickled down his arm, dripping from his fingers. Alear knelt down, grasping the wound tightly.

"What's wrong? I thought I missed," Ashura said sarcastically.

Alear glared in response, rising from his feet. He focused a small amount of aura to his wound to stop the bleeding and resumed his fighting stance. He would use more to heal himself, but healing Nix left him feeling a little drained. He needed to conserve what aura he had left. Something told him he was going to need it.

The wolf Faunus braced himself as several more strikes were launched at him. The chains attached to the hilts of Perditor effectively doubled his already immense range. Alear dodged and deflected the weapons, developing a rhythm, and slowly started closing the distance between the two.

Ashura smiled to himself as his former friend got closer. He couldn't wait to see how Alear would react to what he was about to do.

Alear was becoming confident as he almost got within striking distance. All of this was dashed away as Perditor split into even more parts. The two swords now had split into four. Ashura wrapped the chains around the index and ring finger of his respective hands and swung them with increased fervor, a killer look in his eye.

Alear was forced to retreat, rapidly losing ground. He cursed as Shimmer was knocked from his hand. Ashura rotated his body, arcing his swords in one massive sweep. Alear slid under it, shoving Surge in between the links of the four chains. He focused aura into his weapon, causing lightning to dance down the blade. The chains of Perditor acted as great conductors, allowing the lightning to travel all the way back to Ashura.

The madman growled in pain, falling to his knees when the lightning connected. Smoke rose from his body. He unwrapped the chains from his fingers and ran at his former friend. The murderous glint in his eyes only seemed to grow. Alear in kind threw his weapons to the ground, meeting Ashura's charge.

Alear attacked with a roundhouse kick, enhancing the force behind it with a small amount of aura. Ashura blocked with his arm, placing a larger amount of his fiery orange aura in his limb, allowing him to easily deflect the kick. Ashura countered with a concentrated burst of fire directly into Alear's chest, burning away the material of his shirt, exposing his scar.

"That you're present from Adam?" Ashura ducked under a kick. "That's what happens when you're weak."

Alear shrugged off a punch. "Did it feel good when Adam made you his bitch?"

Ashura smirked and dodged another blow. "It certainly felt good when I slaughtered your pathetic friends." The wolf Faunus gave in to his anger and recklessly lunged forward. Ashura easily dodged and charged his clawed hand in aura before slamming it into Alear's chest, taking full advantage of the situation. Alear gasped as he felt a few ribs break. The madman followed up his punch with a head-butt, knocking Alear to the ground. Blood dribbled from the corner of his mouth. Ashura dragged the wolf Faunus back up by the collar of his burned shirt. "You're pathetic. Are you already out of aura? You must be. Otherwise you would have protected yourself."

Alear coughed up blood. "Someone needed my help. Unlike you, I take care of my friends," he said weakly.

Ashura shook his head. "This is why Adam cast you out, you know. You were always unwilling to cast aside others to gain power. He realized it made you vulnerable, a liability. It's your own fault you were betrayed. There are two types of people in this world. You're either weak or you are mean." He slowly stabbed one clawed finger through Alear's stomach, earning a gasp.

"Y-You're wrong," said Alear slowly, trying not to choke on the blood slowly filling his mouth.

"Am I? Do you not realize the situation we're in right now?" Ashura roughly threw Alear back to the ground. "Your compassion for others is nothing but a weakness." Ashura drew his hand back, preparing to strike. Fire formed brightly around his fist.

Nix readied herself to intervene, ready to block the blow even if it cost her her life, but there was no need. As Ashura unleashed his strike, a bright light shined in the sky above them. A small figure fell from it, landing between the two. A pink umbrella opened behind the figure, blocking the fiery blow. The flames bounced off harmlessly.

"What the-" started Ashura before being kicked in the chest, bouncing backwards a few feet. The figure turned and smiled innocently at the madman. Her eyes switched between pink and brown. Her matching hair blew gently in the wind. "What the hell are you doing here, Neo?"

Neo twirled her umbrella before folding it up and placing it in a loop on her belt. "I could ask you the same thing," she signed with her now free hands. Her face adopted a serious expression. "You were told to stay put. You disobeyed a direct order; there will be consequences."

"Ohhh im so scared-" He froze as a sudden paralysis spread throughout his body. Neo slowly approached him, her smile widening. She drew the sword from within her umbrella and jabbed it downward into Ashura's leg. His body couldn't even react. His eyes reflected his pain while his body remained stiff. She casually pulled her weapon out of his body, carefully sheathing it.

"You should learn to shut your mouth." She delivered a rapid kick to the side of his head, knocking him unconscious.

Nix ran over to Alear to check if he was okay, helping him up. He leaned on her for support and she wrapped her arm around him to steady the stance. Neo turned to Nix, her smile lessening a little. Nix returned her gaze. "Sister."

"Hello, Animula,"

"Still calling me that like nothing happened?" Nix scoffed. "Typical."

Neo, however, was no longer paying attention to Nix. She had turned her gaze to Alear; an unreadable expression was on her face. Alear glared back with a myriad of emotions. In truth, he wasn't sure what he was supposed to fell. Hatred? Happiness? Anxiety? All of these, and more, coursed throughout his body.

Alear swallowed hard before speaking, flinching from the pain of his crushed ribs. "You here to finish the job Adam started?"

Neo frowned. "I'm sorry, Amante. It wasn't supposed to be this way."

He smiled grimly. "Little late for apologies now, don't you think?"

"I suppose it is." Alear couldn't help but notice Neo's momentary sorrow after seeing the scar on his chest. It was quickly replaced by her blank expression.

"Will you answer something?"

"Of course."

"Why?" Neo looked confused at his question. He continued. "Why did you cast aside everything we had? Was it all for nothing? Did I ever mean anything?"

Neo cast her eyes downward. "We all have our orders. I must follow mine without question. My master demands it."

Alear let out a laugh full of melancholy. "Then you're nothing but Adam's puppet."

Neo shook her head. "You have no idea how wrong you are, but enough of this. You must leave. I will not give you another opportunity."

Nix was conflicted. While she would always somewhat despise her sister for what she did, but Neo was still her sister. "Sister, wait. Please, come back with us." Alear looked to his partner with disbelief. Nix ignored him. "Come to Beacon. You can start anew like we did. The headmaster, Ozpin, is a very understanding person, even for people in our situation. Alear and I are living proof of that."

Neo shook her head sadly before signing her response. "You know better than anyone why I can't do that, Nix. Be gone, I don't want to kill you."

"But-"

Alear raised his arm in front of Nix, cutting her off. "Don't waste your breath. She's made her choice. Nothing we can say now will make her come around to our way of thinking."

"Listen to him, Nix. He is a smart man. Stick close to his side, he will watch over you now. I can no longer."

Tears ran down Nix's face in a silent sob. Now Alear had to support her as well to prevent her from falling to her knees.

Alear rubbed her back comfortingly. "Come on little Sis. Let's get my mother and go. We've lingered here too long." She nodded sadly and allowed herself to be led back toward Lumina's hiding place, stopping shortly before reaching it. Alear had one final thing to say to his ex-lover. "We will meet again, Neo, and when we do I fear it will end with blood." He didn't turn to see if she responded, instead continuing his path to his mother. He was done with this place.