Chapter 74

Marek

Seeing Ruby and her team, minus Weiss, fighting Cinder, Marek paused as he looked down at his hands. His aura was still regenerating, which meant he would be more of a burden than he would be useful.

Before he could decide whether to join the fight or help Oscar and the others in Vacuo, Mist flew through one of the portals. Hovering in the air with her wings, she scanned the area before making a beeline for the portal into Vacuo.

Marek quickly followed.

Liam

Seeing Cinder sent countless emotions through Liam. Much like in Haven, Liam froze as the others fought her. The images of Beacon flooded his mind.

His breathing intensed. An overwhelming rage ignited as the memories of losing his arm surfaced. The burning sensation he felt when his bones shattered like dust only fueled his rage.

Liam gripped his weapon tight.

Seeing Cinder push everyone away with a column of fire, she rose into the air.

"I knew your plan would be bold, but I never could have predicted this." Cinder smirked. "At least, not without a little help from Jinn."

As everyone stared at her, Cinder chuckled.

Chrome, Ruby, Yang, Blake and Liam held their weapons at the ready. Liam was aching to attack. He could barely keep himself from just lashing out blindly.

"I suppose I have all of you to thank for one last lesson." Cinder looked to Ruby. "Sometimes, if you want to win... you simply can't do it alone."

Liam heard the metal scrape of a weapon being drawn. Looking back, Neopolitan rushed Ruby from behind.

"Ruby!"

Yang shot herself towards Ruby, pushing her out of the way as she took the slash instead. The attack shattered Yang's aura, sending her over the edge of the platform.

A blast from Cinder sent Chrome and Liam onto their backs.

It all seemed to happen in slow motion.

Running to the edge, Blake threw her weapon in an attempt to wrap it around Yang. However, the weapon missed her by just an inch.

Getting to his feet, Liam ran over to the edge, immediately jumping off and plummeting straight down, his right arm outstretched.

"Come on!" Liam yelled at himself as he grew closer to Yang.

Needing to change to his avian form to save himself, Liam refused to do so. His only thought was to save his cousin.

Passing by lower platforms, Liam knew a timed shot from his weapon would be able to send both of them to safety. He just needed an extra push to reach Yang in time.

Suddenly, a large pair of wings shot out from his back. Pushing himself downwards, Liam's hand was about to wrap around her wrist when Yang suddenly vanished into nothingness.

Stopping in place and flying just a few feet higher, Liam stared at the void of darkness below him. Yang had vanished before his eyes. Gone, as if never had existed.

As what happened processed in Liam's mind, he clenched his fists as he looked up at the platform above. Blake was looking over the edge, meeting Liam's eyes.

"YANG!" Blake shouted as she moved back onto her knees.

Looking down once more, as if part of him was hoping to see Yang, Liam's eyes began to tear up with both rage and sorrow.

"Cinder!" Liam growled, his rage boiling over.

With a burst from his wings, Liam flew back up.

Reaching the top, Liam immediately rushed Cinder, who was still in the air with fire swirling below her. Tackling her to the ground, Liam pulled his arm back and threw a punch, only for Cinder to move her head to the side and dodge it. Grabbing his shirt, Cinder slammed her forehead into the bridge of Liam's nose.

Reeling back, Cinder proceeded to kick Liam off her.

Rolling next to his sword, which he dropped in his attempt to save Yang, Liam picked it up as Chrome created a line of glyphs leading up to one of the higher platforms. Liam's wings folded behind him before vanishing entirely.

Without a word, Chrome began heading for the platform while Liam rushed Cinder once more.

Going in for a slash, Cinder leaned back, creating two swords of glass. Going in for a counter, Liam's silver eye suddenly shined, causing Cinder to stumble away as she screamed, her Grimm arm writhing in agony.

Slashing his sword across her chest, Liam spun and kicked Cinder onto her back. Twirling his sword into a reverse grip, Liam went to stab her while she was on the ground.

Rolling, Cinder launched countless glass spikes at Liam. Jumping back, Liam deflected quite a few but still got hit by many. The ones on the floor glowed red before exploding, sending Liam off the platform.

Flapping his wings, Liam flew back up. Transforming his weapon, Liam aimed at Cinder and began shooting. Creating a wall of fire, Cinder stood behind it with a smirk as the bullets melted before even reaching her.

Suddenly, Cinder was hit from behind. Turning around with a glare, she saw Chrome launch a series of icicles at her.

Blocking them with ease, she countered with more of her glass spikes, forcing Chrome to summon a wall of ice in front of himself to block the attack. The explosion sent shards of ice into Chrome and a few nearby civilians.

Knocked through the portal behind him by the blast, Chrome got back up, his aura flickering.

"Chrome?"

He glanced over to see Jaune with his shield raised.

Without a word, Chrome ran back through the portal.

Liam, still fighting Cinder, blocked her attacks. Cinder's sword shattered on impact with Liam's blade. Creating sword after sword, she continued to fight Liam.

Trading slashes, Liam was knocked back. Sliding across the ground on his feet, Liam stabbed his sword into the ground, leaning against it as he breathed heavily.

"Tired?" Cinder taunted.

Liam winced, shutting his right eye as he fell to one knee.

"Guess so."

Raising her right hand, Cinder shot a fireball at Liam.

Too tired to dodge the attack, Liam was knocked onto his back, his aura shattering as he slid a few feet away. Groaning as he sat up, Cinder walked over to Liam, scraping one of her swords across the ground as she approached.

Getting to his feet, Liam raised his sword as he took a defensive stance. Chrome, rushed in from behind to strike Cinder. Hearing him approach, Cinder's Grimm arm extended as she wrapped her fingers around his throat.

Extending her arm more, Cinder held Chrome over the edge of the platform. Turning to smirk at Liam, she suddenly yelled out in pain as Chrome stabbed her arm with his sword.

Dropping him, Chrome used his glyphs to push himself towards one of the lower platforms. Grabbing the edge with one hand, Chrome looked down at the void before beginning to pull himself back up.

On the higher platform, Cinder held her Grimm arm as it writhed. Taking slow deep breaths to calm herself, she instinctively raised her Grimm arm to protect herself from an attack from Liam.

Cutting right through her arm, Cinder fell onto one knee as she screamed, her voice echoing in the empty space they were in.

Liam gripped his weapon tight as he slashed his blade across her face, shattering her aura and sending her reeling back.

Breathing heavily, Liam and Cinder glared at each other. Cinder's eye was glowing with the maiden power whilst Liam's silver eye was shining slightly. His eye was seemingly nothing but silver, ready to use his ability at any given time.

"That the only way you can fight me?" Cinder taunted.

Liam's face was emotionless as he glared at Cinder. His left eye continued to shine as Liam gripped his sword.

"I'm going to make sure you die here." Liam told her, his voice monotone.

Cinder flew into the air, another tornado of fire forming under her.

"You sure about that?"

Liam's wings sprung from his back once more. Lifting himself up, the two were at eye level with one another. Reloading his weapon after changing it to its rifle form, Liam aimed his weapon at Cinder, his finger resting on the trigger.

"Bet on it."

Liam squeezed the trigger.

End of chapter 74