The Shadow of Fire
Chapter 57: Primal Rage
A/N: Hey all! Next chapter is in the works at the moment. It's gonna get intense! Yay!
Enjoy!
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Kryata
Xalveris groaned in pain as he appeared in his spire, thousands of dimensions away from Yveltal and his infernal followers.
Coughing up golden blood, the Elder God stumbled up the medieval stairwell to his chambers, the ancient liquid pooling down the steps as he nearly fell. Collecting his thoughts, the deity grabbed at his chest and took several deep breaths through the pain, calming himself down to think.
"Rook..." Xalveris groaned as a projection of the War God spread out before him, his black hair stained in sweat.
"My lord!" Rook took a step back, going into a kneeling position in his armor. "Are you well?"
"Yveltal still holds too much power. This accursed seal is holding me back in this reality..." Xalveris violently coughed. "We need to speed the plan to its final stage."
"I have received word that Vex has been killed above Vale. I am heading there now to assist Dagonus." Rook bowed his head as he explained his role, the Elder God nodded.
"Good... I foresee Orion and the girl will be preparing for battle..." Xalveris pat his suit down, tossing the top of the tux off in a fit of rage. "They will be exterminated!"
"Indeed, my lord." Rook agreed.
"I want you to prepare the device. At the center of Vale for all to see..." The God put a new suit on quickly, adjusting the cuff links as he sat down in his throne. "Has it accumulated enough to power to rift?"
"Not yet, my master." Rook looked to his side at a large spherical orb suspended upon an ancient looking pillar. "We nearly had enough Godly energy to function the device, but we are still missing a good amount."
"This is troubling..." Xalveris thought. "I shall send aid as I can. And I shall have Dagonus tend to the device. If we can't amass quantity, we shall take quality instead."
Mountain Glenn Forrest
With Ozpin and the rest of the Beacon prisoners safe and sound, the small army made their way back towards their temporary home. Orion knew it would only be a matter of days until they would take to the city and march on the throne of his brother. This civil war was coming to a close, and frankly, it worried him.
What would become of the Gods once this situation was taken care of? Sure, they could always sink back into obscurity and vanish from history once another century passes, but that thought worried the God of Fate. Is that really what he wanted? Desperation for interaction once more? He would never admit it to his father, but he had grown attached more to humanity than his brothers and sisters, and that was a dangerous thing to feel.
"We will cross that road when we reach it..." Orion muttered aloud to himself as the group of warriors reached Glenn by foot. Coco and a few others who had been injured were taken by the stealth ship, as they required more assistance than present.
Ozpin walked along with his cane. "I had feared you all lost." The elder spoke as he placed a comforting hand upon Ruby's shoulder. "You have proven yourselves time and time again, especially yourself, miss Rose."
"Thank you, Headmaster." Ruby nodded happily.
"Oz." Orion waved his hand forward, drawing the man forward. "Where were we?"
"Ah yes, you mentioned the main force."
"Right, right." Orion cracked his neck. "I'm thinking the mortals engage the ground troops in the city. We push our way up to Beacon while I lead the Gods in the aerial assault."
"All mortals?" Ozpin raised a brow.
"I will need all the power I can get to take out the airships. If we can't get that done, the bombardment will tear apart the ground force." Orion countered. "What are you suggesting?"
"If we bring our entire force through Forever Fall, tear through Beacon, we can retake the city faster. Concentrate the enemy in one location rather than the whole city." Ozpin clicked his cane as he limped along.
"And you're sure that would work?" Orion asked.
"Well if you feel your plan has merit, be my guest. I only just escaped from prison." Ozpin shrugged.
"We have time to decide the final plan. All we need to do now is get home, and get some rest." Orion explained as he sighed in relief.
The peaceful moment was counter-acted by the sudden cry by Ruby.
"Ship!" Ruby squeaked out as a massive carrier tore through the clouds above, right over their position. The military-class airship flew with ease through the violent turbulence above, sounding a low air raid siren from the deck.
"Incoming!" Lucas shouted as he pushed Morris aside, the ground exploding as a blast of a projectile slammed into the ground below, sending rubble everywhere. Various airships began to depart from the deck of the craft, flying in a descending formation towards the group as they struggled to gain cover.
"Move! Quickly!" Orion shouted as he helped Ozpin and Morris behind a large stone, protecting them from the line of fire as the carrier began to circle the ground, trying to get an angle on the group as they fled.
"Orion!" Ruby called out with Aphrodite at her side, shouting over an explosion. "Do you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Orion voiced back, ducking as a mini-gun began to tear into the rock.
"That-" Ruby began before she suddenly disappeared in a flash of white, Orion blinking in confusion before a sharp, primal roar tore across the sky.
"Grimmlock...!" Orion took a panicked step back, recalling their last meeting as he watched as the dragon held Ruby in his mouth.
"Let go of me!" Ruby thrashed about as Grimmlock let out a mighty roar, flying straight upwards as Ruby disappeared into the maw of the beast.
Grimmlock barrel rolled in the sky, breaking the sound barrier as he let out an inferno of flame, scorching the trees covering the group as he landed behind Orion.
The God of Fate shoved Ozpin aside with Morris, leaping in the air before glowing bright gold. The deity landed on the back of the dragon as a massive wolf, roaring as the dark creature slashed deeply into the depths of Grimmlock's thick skin, drawing forth a cornucopia of Ichor from the wound.
Grimmlock thrashed about, crash landing in the woods once again as he tore up trees and brush, a roar shattering sound itself physically tearing up turf. Orion bit into the beast's neck only to be flung across the grassy landscape with a thud. The beastly God shook off his wounds, growling as he stood over Orion defiantly. His maw widened to send forth a hellish inferno before it shut suddenly.
Confusion manifested itself on Grimmlock's dragon face, scrunched eyes twitching in pain as a flash of red threw itself through the right side of Grimmlock's stomach, landing in the field.
"Ew!" Ruby shivered as golden Ichor dropped off of her being once free from the beast. "Bad Grimmlock!"
Ruby spun her hands as massive halberds came to aid, slashing widely as Grimmlock tried to swat at her with his tail to no avail. The two danced in a dangerous game, both fighters not wishing to back down.
Orion leapt back onto his brother's back, biting into one of his wings as Ruby struck at his neck, managing to get contact. The God fluttered his massive wings and sent Orion flying across the landscape, colliding with Ruby into a tree.
"Ugh..." Ruby groaned, rubbing her head.
Orion shifted his form, clutching his stomach. "Ruby, you're up."
"But-"
"No buts, we need to end this now." Orion grunted. "I'll cover you, hurry!"
Ruby nodded as Orion charged forward as the wolf, entering into violent combat as Ruby began to concentrate with shut eyes.
Aphrodite tossed her shield up into the air, destroying a transport ship as it flew across the skyline. The Goddess was really starting to hate combat, evident by her ruined makeup and torn hot pink dress. She snapped her fingers and procured a bow from thin air, firing off heart shaped arrows into the sky.
"Anyone got any ideas?!" Jacob shouted as Cheshire perked her ears up.
"Idea time!" The girl smirked as she stood in the clearing, weaving in and out from gunfire.
"Sis! Need an anchor!" Cheshire shouted as Aphrodite nodded, notching an arrow equipped with a silver and gold chain. The Goddess of Love fired off the tipped steel across the sky, managing to reach the hull of the distant carrier.
"Ready!" She called, gripping the chain tight.
"Give her a pull!"
Aphrodite yanked down with all her strength, groaning as all effort exerted through her being. The Goddess reeled the distant craft closer with one swift motion, pulling the airship through the clouds much closer to the group.
Chunks of metal and airships fell from the craft along with a grey ball of matter, slamming into the forest below as Cheshire felt her eyes begin to flow with power. The girl spread her hands outward and focused, her tail wiggling rapidly.
Two giant ghostly purple hands gripped the craft by both ends, holding the ship firm as the engines began to cycle down from damages. With a fearsome cry Cheshire slammed her own hands together and smashed the ship into a massive ball of metal and plasma. A shining light of icy blue began to glow beneath the cracks in the sphere before it imploded, leaving nothing behind but dust and bits of sparkling glass.
Cheshire fell to the ground, unconscious as all her power was used up. She wasn't even able to feel the searing pain of her Seal in her chest as her senses had been overloaded. Jacob rushed forward and saved her from hitting her head.
"Nap time." Jacob commented as Morris shrugged, assisting the freelancer.
Saturn shook his head as his vision cleared. Having had just commandeered an airship from the now broken fleet, the former crime lord hovered around the battlefield that was Grimmlock versus Orion in the clearing. A steady finger rested over the missile controls, ready to jam down at a moments notice.
A blinding flash of red and silver took Saturn's vision once more, struggling to maintain composure as his hand slipped on the throttle, sending the craft plummeting into the ground. The man stumbled from the ship with wobbling legs, placing a hand against the door frame of the ship.
Where the blast of light had originated stood a massive creature of epic proportions. Glowing a dark crimson red with trails of thick black veins flowing a strange blue and silver liquid, a gigantic beast towered over even that of Grimmlock in height. Nearly equal in size, the prehistoric looking creatures roared angrily towards one another as Orion leapt off Grimmlock and landed along side the new arrival, growling fiercely as a ball of turquoise Aura generated power floated before him.
The beast, only described as a massive sauropod, was fitted with hellish body armor. The head of the beast was shaped with an elongated skull, covered completely with the black protection. A pair of red and silvers slits at the eyes glowed with determination and anger.
Grimmlock actually took a step back, letting out a weak warning cry as he tested his wings to no avail. He was far too weak to achieve flight anytime soon, resorting to his fierce-some breath.
The sauropod let out a ferocious battle cry and charged forward, spinning before slamming its tail into the side of Grimmlock's face. The crack of the strike practically broke the God's neck, twisting the join to the head in an unnatural manner before his body followed the motion.
Suspended in the air as his body contorted at the sheer impact of the strike, a blast of aqua colored energy collided with Grimmlock's chest, blasting him violently through dozens upon dozens of trees which have stood defiant for generations. The dragon landed yards away with a weak hissing emerging from its throat before slumping over.
Grimmlock melted into nothing but a skeletal frame as Ruby and Orion arrived on scene, reverted back in normal form. Nudging the skull of the beast, Orion slumped over against the bone to rest.
"I'm exhausted." Orion took a deep breath of fresh air, ignoring the smoldering metallic smell rising from the south. "Good work kid."
"Thanks~!" Ruby chirped as she sat beside the man, equally tired.
Saturn and Co moved in on the group, thinking carefully about what had just occurred.
"Well... That was a thing." Saturn noted as Ozpin corralled the group together, resting for but a moment before moving on to their destination.
Vale City Center
Kingdom of Vale
The charred form of Rook dragged his smoldering body across the streets and checkpoints of Vale. Ignoring the salutes by the demon men, the God of War pulled along the vessel of energy behind him with a thick ebony chain, tearing up the sidewalk as he made his way along. The power radiating off of the odd device was raw divine essence, such so that thousands of suns couldn't even rival its sheer magnitude. Regardless of its potential for power, Rook honestly could care less about the object that currently was nothing but a dumbbell. His patience had worn through with those blasted followers of Yveltal and especially of the Mortals.
Rook, oddly enough, smirked distantly under his helm. The ebony warrior was intrigued by the groups sheer power. It was quite obvious when Grimmlock was destroyed. His essence had rivaled that even of Dagonus in a dormant state, and with it gone, a significant sense of power and control. Even the Mortals seemed to notice the lack of pressure over time and space. Rook glanced towards a nearby playground to see children casually playing while their parents watched on, nervously glancing around as if they were almost suspicious of impending attack.
Pathetic, thought Rook. These Mortals had nothing to worry about. Besides, once the device was activated, they wouldn't be worrying about anything else ever again.
The final war... The War. No need for adjectives or descriptions. The grand battle he had been dreaming of for millennia was approaching. Perhaps hours or mere days from now would he finally fight his final battle.
And it excited him.
"Rook." A sharp familiar voice came from nearby, the knight turning his head to the source.
Dagonus stood nearby, arms crossed over a suit of black body armor. His red-gold hair blew in the air, eyes narrowed in confusion.
"Lord Dagonus." Rook nodded, a frown forming on his face.
Dagonus simply stared at the war God across the street for a minute, shaking his head before looking to the orb.
"What do you carry? Wait... Rook?!" The death God asked, tilting his head before snapping to full attention.
"My influence is... faltering." A deeper, ancient tone exerted itself from the depths of Dagonus. Xalveris spoke through the God, influencing his actions. "We have little time."
"I will make preparations." Rook began before a hand cut him still.
"I will take the orb. City center. Defend it with your essence, Rook. We are finally at the end." Xalveris left the man's body, leaving Dagonus shaken for a moment.
"I will take the package. Formulate our troop. We must secure this city." Dagonus ordered as Rook tossed the stone to the God, who caught it with practically no reaction at all.
Dagonus walked with his butler, Eze, off towards the main focal of the city, ready for the final play of the game they were playing. Rook dragged himself off to rest at a nearby fort, preparing himself for the bloodbath to come.
Two days later...
Mountain Glenn
"And one! Two! Three!" Melody called out as Weiss took a deep breath, pressing two fingers to her throat. Generating a minor Glyph beneath her windpipe, Weiss practically mirrored Melody's unique fighting style perfectly.
A blast of vibrations ripped apart straw men across the walkway, leaving but torn wooden posts in their vacancy. Mild applause echoed from the sidelines as Ruby bolted towards her girlfriend, tackling her to the floor as Weiss squeaked out in pain and shock.
"Good work!" Melody chuckled as Orion pat her back.
Orion laughed. "Very much so."
Blake and Yang passed the group nearby, watching as Weiss chewed Ruby out for being herself as usual.
"Man, lil sis sure has grown up on me." Yang commented, earning a blink from the cat Faunus.
"S-seriously?" Blake nearly choked on her words. What?
"What?"
"She is literally immortal, Yang. She is clearly grown up!" Blake fought back an aneurysm with clear determination not to let Yang's idiocies under her skin.
"So?"
"S-so?!" Blake sighed. "Nevermind... Ugh."
"So Blake-y... How you feeling about all this going down?" Yang asked, arms crossed behind her head.
"Meaning?"
"Like..." Yang began. "We are about to go to war in a few hours. Like... FULL-on war. No more little battling here and there." Yang explained.
"Well, given we weren't there for half of it, sure, what's your point?" Blake asked.
"I'm saying if something happens to us.. any of us... what then?" Yang looked to Blake seriously.
"Nothing, because nothing bad will happen. Right always wins, right?" Blake nudged her shoulder, the blonde laughing nervously.
"True. True." Blake laughed together with the yellow haired girl, not noticing the odd volcanic gleam in her eyes.
"So." Orion cracked his neck as Ruby and Weiss managed to spread out. "Ready?"
"Not really..." Ruby muttered.
"I think we are the best we are going to get. Regardless, we need to put an end to this while we have the chance." Weiss expressed as Melody agreed.
"I agree with the twerp." Saturn spoke up, falling from the piping above the room, landing with a cloud of dust. "If they managed to seal your powers once, it's only a matter of time before they do it again."
"Agreed." Orion nodded his head as he glanced outside at the setting sun. "We leave first thing in the morning. Everyone get some rest."
Weiss settled down next to Ruby at night, a wall of pillows blocking the two off as Weiss still valued "some" decency. Ruby was already fast asleep even when she didn't need it in the first place, but it didn't bother Weiss too much. She looked so cute and peaceful when she was still, and it was hard to hate that.
"One more battle..." Weiss muttered as she yawned, nuzzling her pillow before drifting off to sleep.