Chapter 37
Pitiful. Cinder thought as she looked down on the red-headed girl currently bleeding to death on the floor. A smile crept into her face as the foolish blonde boy rushed to her side, desperately putting pressure on the wounds, hoping to stop the bleeding.
"Leonardo. Now is the time. Unlock the path to the Vault." The lion Faunus hurried to comply. "Adam be a dear and assist up here. Oh and if Rose survives that wound, don't kill her. I want my revenge."
Adam scoffed. "If she survives then we can discuss how to punish her later."
"Deal. Raven. Vernal. Let's go." Cinder sauntered over to the Headmaster as the statue lowered into the floor, creating a platform. Raven and Vernal joined Cinder, abandoning their fights to head down to the Vault.
As the elevator lowered Cinder smirked. Today she would not only claim a Relic, but become a full Maiden. Her arm itched in excitement.
"Ruby!" Jaune cried out, pulling her over onto her back and trying to hold her wound shut. "Stay with us! Don't you dare die, Ruby!"
Dark laughter filled the air, taking Jaune's attention. Adam Taurus stalked towards him, hand on the hilt of his sheathed blade and a cruel smile on his face. Jaune's eyes widened. Is this how I die? Trying to stop Ruby from bleeding out? Killed by a madman without even defending myself!?
Adam drew his crimson sword and raised it high. He struck down, filled with fury.
His blade screeched as it bounced off of Qrow's own. Adam snarled as he moved to block Qrow's counter-attacks. A flurry of slashes and stabs that pushed the mad Faunus back. Jaune turned his attention back to Ruby.
Please! You can't die now! Damn it! Stay with me! As his mind cried out, wishing for her to survive he felt something deep within click. His eyes widened as a bright white light poured from him and over Ruby. She whimpered for a moment and then calmed. It's… it's healing her! Her wound had begun to slowly close.
The sounds of battle filled the air but he remained focused on Ruby, focused on pouring his Aura into her and healing her wound. No not healing. I'm boosting her Aura! Recharging it and increasing its ability to heal!
His lips slightly turned up, a smile forming. He could save her!
"Hahahahahahahahahaha!" Adam cackled as he ducked, dodged, blocked and parried. Qrow grimaced as the madman avoided all of his attacks.
"Stay still!" He grumbled, slamming Harbinger down. Adam sidestepped the attack, causing the heavy blade to crash into the floor and throwing up dust. Adam laughed as he swung his own sword, trailing up the length of Qrow's weapon and angling for his neck.
Black feathers were torn apart by the crimson sword as Qrow transformed. He returned to human form after dodging out of the way of Adam's attack. He prepared to charge in when a blast of concentrated wind slammed into Adam's chest, throwing the Faunus into a pillar.
Pyrrha didn't take her eyes off of Adam as she moved beside Qrow. Between the two of us, we should be able to beat him. I'm worried though. We need to finish quickly and get Ruby to a hospital, but between Adam and that Hazel guy we're in for a long and tough battle. How do we finish this quickly?
"Red. How much support do you think you can provide?"
"Plenty," Pyrrha replied, lightning sparking between her fingers.
"Good. I'll fight, you throw him off." Qrow didn't wait for a response and charged forward, ripping his blade free of the stone floor as he passed.
Adam was waiting for him with a crazed grin and a blood-stained blade. Wilt and Harbinger met with a loud clang and scrape as they locked together. Adam twisted his sword, letting Qrow's lurch towards the ground. Adam laughed as he attempted to cut Qrow from hip to shoulder. Qrow pulled a trigger, causing Harbinger to shift into a scythe.
Adam scowled as his sword struck hardened air and failed to break through. Pyrrha coming through already! Qrow grinned as he swept his scythe up and to the side, the point stabbing into the back of Adam's shoulder. As the Faunus cried out Qrow stepped to the side and pushed, forcing the point deeper and throwing Adam forward.
The White Fang commander growled as he hit the floor and rolled only to get a face full of fire, throwing him back to the floor. Qrow slashed down, trying to take the other man's head. He rolled to the side however and jumped back to his feet. Adam roared and charged at Qrow, slashing wildly. It was a diversion, however, creating an opening for Adam to pull the trigger on his sheath to unleash a hail of buckshot at the older man.
Qrow spun his scythe, blocking most of the projectiles. His Aura tanked the rest. Adam lunged forward and down, slashing at Qrow's knees. Qrow hopped up, transforming into a crow for a second before shifting back and stomping down onto the sword as it passed below him.
Adam yelped as the force pulled the weapon from his hands. Qrow smiled as he lifted one leg up and kicked the Faunus in the face. His mask let out a crack as he went flying backwards to roll along the floor. Qrow kicked Wilt behind him, furthering the distance between Adam and his weapon.
"Surrender. You're outmatched."
"I'm not going to stop! I'll never stop! I'll kill you all!"
Qrow sighed and clicked his tongue. Disappointing. He started to move forward when a gust of wind pushed him to the side, narrowly avoiding a glowing yellow metal whip. It retracted, leading Qrow's eyes to a young woman who looked to have just entered. The bone-white mask on her face tipped him off to her allegiance. She flicked her whip again and Qrow made to dodge only to realise too late she wasn't aiming for him.
The crimson blade sailed through the air, pulled by the metal now wrapped around it. The newcomer grabbed it from the air and passed it back to Adam, who nodded his appreciation. "Thank you, Ilia. I assume the bombs are all ready?"
"They are. You looked to be in trouble so I came to assist." The woman, Ilia, responded in a much younger voice than Qrow expected. They really do seem to recruit some strong teenagers, don't they?
"Then let us finish this together! For my beloved!"
"Right. For Blake!"
Aaaand she's crazy too. Great. Qrow sighed and hefted his weapon up. Pyrrha ran to join his side.
They really didn't have time for this.
Air and spittle flew from his mouth as Tai was slammed against a pillar, his Aura flickered slightly as absorbed the impact.
"Tai!" Oscar yelled, his voice full of horror.
"Ozpin! Hiding behind a child! Come out already!" Hazel roared and let Tai go, dropping the man to the cold floor.
"No, I can take him! I can do this!" Oscar said to himself. "No do-" He shuddered slightly, eyes drifting closed for a moment. When they opened they held a new light, small and barely noticeable but there all the same. The way he wielded his cane and held himself changed. No longer in the hands of an inexperienced boy but now in the hands of a master.
Oscar, no it's Ozpin now, rushed forward and lept over Hazel's attack. The Long Memory let out a series of meaty slaps as Ozpin poked at Hazel, attacking dozens of times in a matter or seconds. He landed on the other side and turned to face his opponent. Like a fencer, he stabbed with his cane, as if it was a rapier, and smacked into Hazel's sides doing little more than irritating the man.
Tai growled and stumbled to his feet. He'd lost all of his built up strength. Hazel's blows were so strong now that the moment he landed a strike Tai would lose any power he'd gained. A fearsome foe. He spat to the side and swallowed.
Gotta get back in there. He thought as he rushed in. Hazel turned to face Ozpin and, with a bloodcurdling roar, threw out a lightning charged fist. Tai jumped in the way and screamed as he took the lightning blast into his system. Tai coughed as he crumpled to the floor. Hazel sighed.
"Ozpin! Letting another take a blow for you? Despicable!" Hazel stomped around Tai and stalked towards Ozpin, who backed up slowly.
"Yaaaahhhh!" Nora yelled as she launched herself at Hazel, slamming her hammer down onto the giant. He reached up and grabbed the end, halting it before it hit. Nora smiled and pushed the trigger, detonating a grenade and causing Hazel to grunt and stumble back. "Ruby's dad! Can you go help, Ren? I'll deal with ugly!"
Tai stumbled to his feet again and nodded. With her Semblance and Hazel using lightning, she's our best bet against him. He rushed off to aid the black and pink haired boy.
Ren was keeping the remaining pair behind the stairs with suppressing fire. Tai rushed around him and ran right at the hiding pair. Ren cut off his fire just before Tai arrived, using the chance to reload both of his weapons. Mercury poked his head out to check what was happening only to curse as Tai drop kicked him in the face.
They both hit the ground and rolled smoothly back to their feet. Emerald opened fire on Tai. The blonde ducked under the hail of bullets and charged once more. Emerald yelped as he tackled her to the floor. Her eyes were wide as he slammed fist after fist into her face. The bark of Stormflower told Tai that Ren was keeping Mercury occupied.
As his unrelenting attack continued embers began to fall from him. He pulled back for a heavy haymaker and punched. "Aaaargh! Shit!" He yelled as he hit stone. His hand pounded. Emerald was gone from beneath him.
An illusion? Somehow escaped while I was pulling back? She's got good control, I'll give her that much. He stood but ducked right after, avoiding a heavy boot as it tried to break his nose. Mercury scowled at his miss.
Tai backed up. He glanced to the side and saw Emerald and Ren locked in a duel. They swapped huh? Good for me. Mercury didn't waste any time and went on the offensive. Tai ducked and dodged, avoiding the boy's numerous kicks. Huh. He relies almost entirely on his legs. Like the opposite of Yang. He smiled.
Too easy.
Mercury was tricky to figure out, he'd obviously been trained well. However, it was apparent he was trained to finish his opponent quickly. He didn't change up his style anywhere near enough. And for someone like Taiyang Xiao-long that was easy enough to counter.
Mercury's eyes widened as his attacks began to miss more and more. He scowled in frustration. He knew he'd been figured out. Tai smiled and unleashed his punishment. Mercury went for a high kick, trying for Tai's neck. It struck nothing but air as Tai slid to the side and struck.
Mercury roared in pain as Tai struck a few times, right into the back of Mercury's knee. Is that… metal? I see. Metal legs from the knee down. Good to know. Tai thought as he grabbed Mercury's ankle. Tai twisted and heaved Mercury from his feet and threw the wide-eyed boy.
Wood shattered as he flew through a bannister and crashed onto the upper level. Leonardo stood horrified, trying to keep from fighting by staying above. Tai darted up the stairs, causing Leo to flinch away. Tai ignored him.
Mercury pulled himself to his feet while he panted heavily. He was running low on energy. Tai fell into his stance, arms up almost like a boxer.
Mercury followed suit with a sigh.
Consciousness came back slowly but as Ruby's eyes peeled open she was greeted by the sight of Jaune, tears streaming down his face where they passed a smile.
"J-jaune?"
"Ruby! Oh, thank the gods! I was so worried!"
"W-what… what happened?"
"Adam attacked you. He got you from behind. My… my Semblance I can use it. Properly this time. I replenished your Aura. You're all better now."
Ruby groaned as she sat up. "W-where's Cinder?" She asked as she surveyed the battle. She noted that Qrow and Adam were drawing closer, seemingly unintended.
"She went down to the Vault with Raven and Vernal. Good thing too. If they'd stayed we'd probably have died." Jaune said, pointing to the hole in the ground.
"Their goal is the Relic. Whether we survive or not pales when compared to that." Ruby said, wiping her mouth and standing, stumbling slightly. "We have to stop them from getting it."
"How?" Jaune asked, standing up beside her and clutching her shoulder to keep her from falling.
"I'll go down there."
"Ruby you can't! There's three of them! Two of them are Maidens!"
"One Maiden and a half Maiden. I can handle it." She grabbed Crescent Rose and loaded a new magazine.
"Ruby I can't let you-"
"Look out!" Qrow yelled, drawing their attention as Adam launched himself at them. Jaune stepped in between Adam and Ruby, arms outstretched. Ruby's eyes widened.
Clang!
The sound reverberated through the hall, followed by a sound of surprise mixed with exertion. Jaune stood perfectly unharmed. Ruby looked around him to see what had occurred.
Adam grunted as he was pushed further back by a tall, ripped dark-skinned man and his massive greatsword. A ball of bright blue energy flew between them from the doorway and slammed into Adam's chest, knocking the Faunus back. Ruby turned.
Neptune waved from the ruins of the door. Outside numerous airships circled, casting their searchlights down on the courtyard. Sun and Scarlet were fighting the White Fang grunts out there. Sage hefted his blade up, ready to fight.
Ruby smiled. "Jaune, help them." He looked back at her, worry plain on his face. "Trust me. I'll be okay." He nodded solemnly.
Ruby's form resolved into petals and zipped through the room, around the fights that continued. Qrow and Pyrrha closed in on Adam, while Neptune went to help Oscar and Nora. Sage kept Ilia from helping Adam and Taiyang battled Mercury on the second floor. Ren held his own against Emerald near the Vaults hole. She tried to stop Ruby, but she couldn't stop a cloud of rose petals.
The long pit welcomed Ruby as she flew down it, to face the woman she hates most and the woman who let her sister die.
Cinder! I'm going to kill you!
A/N: The cavalry is here with team SSSN to the rescue! Oh and Adam gets reinforced by Ilia, who's evil. Damn. Guess that happens when nobody is there to tell her terrorism is dumb. Next Chapter: The Vault. How well will Cinder fare as only half a Maiden? Probably not well but hey, maybe Raven will underestimate her! Maybe she'll just open the door and leave too! Or maybe she's suicidal and will let Cinder kill her! That would be completely in character, right?
I hope you all enjoyed and I'll see you next time!