Chapter 78
Liam
Midnight
Liam slowly sat upright in bed. Making sure not to wake Weiss, who was sound asleep beside him, Liam slipped out of bed. Getting dressed, Liam began making his way towards Winter's room.
He had already made a whole plan inside his head while everyone was focused on the box of explosives yesterday.
Turning the doorknob as to not wake Winter, Liam entered her room and spotted the crate of C4 sitting atop the dresser. Before he could even take a step towards it, the lamp on the far side of the room suddenly turned on.
Caught off guard, Winter stared at Liam. She sat on the chair beside the bedside table, her legs crossed.
"I figured you'd come for them." Winter stated.
Liam barely even acknowledged Winter as he turned his gaze back to the crate.
"I need them." He told her.
"Then take them."
Liam was caught completely off guard as he turned to her.
"Seriously?"
Winter stood up from the chair, approaching Liam.
"I know you have a plan to use them." She said. "You could hardly take your eyes off of them since they got here."
Liam nodded his head.
"Yeah. I have an idea. But Weiss can't know. Not until it's too late to stop me."
Winter let out a deep breath.
"I don't want Weiss to hurt." Winter said. "But I know you have a plan to possibly stop Salem. Or, at the very least, cripple her. Just tell me what you need."
"Just the C4 and the Staff." Liam replied. "I have a few things I need Ambrosius to make for me."
Winter nodded her head.
"I'll get you the Staff. Just meet me outside."
A few minutes later
With the Staff in hand, and the crate of C4 at his disposal, Liam's plan slowly began to fall into place.
"Give this to Weiss, would you?" Liam handed Winter a folded piece of paper. "I might not be coming back."
Winter took the paper.
"I'll hand it over. Don't worry."
"Thanks, Winter."
Turning his back to her, Liam extended his wings from his back.
"I'll bring the Staff back."
In one swift motion, he began to ascend into the sky.
Once high enough, Liam began to fly in place. Looking to the Staff, Liam spoke the resident's name.
"Ambrosius."
Time slowed to a stop as the massive, blue figure emerged in a cloud of blue smoke.
"Mmm." He moaned as he stretched his arms. "And what can I do for you?"
Liam took a breath before speaking.
"I need a device that'll let me broadcast to all of Remnant." Liam replied. "One that can fit in the palm of my hand. Here's the blueprint."
Liam handed over a sketch Winter had made for him.
"Ah. I see." Ambrosius smirked. "Very well."
With a few waves of his hand, Ambrosius made the device and handed it over.
"There you are."
With that, he returned to the inside of the Staff.
Liam gripped the device tightly before placing it in his pocket and retrieving his scroll, beginning the livestream.
"I'll make this quick." Liam began. "This broadcast goes out to Salem and Cinder fall. You two better be fuckin' watching. Me and my friends, we killed your pet Hound, Salem. And we know what it really was. You want a replacement? Come and fuckin' get me. I'll be waiting atop Beacon Tower. And, to make sure you come, I'll be bringing this." Liam brought the Relic into frame. "Don't keep me waiting. And Cinder." Liam's voice grew dark as he spoke her name. "I'm going to make you fucking pay this time. Count on it. You'll have twenty-four hours to get to Beacon before your chance to get the Relic will be gone. Don't disappoint me."
With that, Liam ended the livestream.
Once the broadcast ended, Liam let out a massive exhale of breath, a look of uncertainty and worry on his face.
"Fuck."
He knew what he was getting himself into. But he had to go through with it. He had to kill Cinder.
Heading back down to Winter, who was still waiting outside, he saw her close her scroll and put it away.
"That was quite the speech." She told him.
"Yeah. I still need the Staff for one more thing." Liam stated.
"I can't let you take it with you." Winter told him.
"That's not what I meant." Liam looked to the Staff. "Ambrosius."
Emerging from the Staff once more, Ambrosius let out a deep sigh.
"Heya. What can I make you this time?"
"Another portal." Liam told him. "One that connects Vacuo to the top of Beacon Tower. Only one person is allowed through. Me."
"Consider it done."
With a couple waves of his hand, a portal, similar to the one they used to get to Vacuo, appeared before Liam.
"Well, if that's all you need of me, then-"
"One more thing." Liam added before Ambrosius returned to the Staff. "Close the portal once I make it to Beacon, will ya?"
"Yeah, yeah, sure thing." Ambrosius waved his hand back and forth.
Just before Liam could step into the portal, Winter called his name.
"Liam." Liam stopped to look back at Winter. "Once Salem finds out you don't have the Relic, she's going to kill you."
"I know."
"Also." Winter knelt down and picked up the crate of C4. "You're forgetting this."
Handing it to Liam, he said a quick "thank you" before entering the portal.
Once through, Liam saw that there was only one path towards the exit instead of the countless paths there were last time.
"Alright. No going back now." Liam said softly as he began to head for the exit. "Let's get this shit going."
A few hours later
Weiss
Waking up alone, Weiss looked around for Liam. Noticing a note on the bedside table, Weiss picked it up, unfolded it and began reading.
"Weiss. By the time you wake up, I'm going to be gone." She read. "Don't try to find me. No one knows where I am currently and if you knew, you'd rush over immediately to try and help me. But this is something I have to do myself. I tried to just leave it be. To focus on helping the people of Atlas that have been rendered homeless because of Salem. But I can't. I can't get my mind off of them. Ruby, Yang, Chrome, Blake, Jaune. Everyone we lost that day. Cinder is inside my head, living rent free. I see her face every time I close my eyes. I tried to force myself not to think about it, but that only made me think about it more. I'm sorry, Weiss. I have to face Salem and Cinder alone. I've left to do just that. Will I make it back? Well, the odds are against me pretty damn heavily. But if I can kill Cinder, that would be enough to damage Salem. Hopefully. Please, don't try and come after me. You know, as well as I, that your powers absolutely cannot fall into Salem's hands. Please, Weiss. Stay in Vacuo and help prepare them for what's to come. I love you. Goodbye. Liam."
Weiss blinked multiple times as she reread the letter.
"No!" Rushing out of the room in her pajamas, Weiss nearly ran into her sister.
"What's wrong?" Winter asked.
"Liam, he's-"
"I know." Winter interrupted. "And I cannot allow you to try and follow him."
"But-"
"He has to do this alone, Weiss." Winter told her. "He has a plan. Don't worry. I'm sure he'll be back soon."
Winter knew she was lying to her sister. But she had to keep her calm.
"Trust me."
Liam
Hours later
As the sun slowly began to rise on the horizon, Liam, sitting atop one of the few walls that were still standing, awaited his guests. Taking a glance at the dragon Grimm that was frozen by Ruby, Liam had flashes of his little sister run through his head. That was cut short, however, as he heard Cinder's arrival.
"This is how you wanna die, huh?" Cinder mocked.
"I'm not the only one who'll be buried." Liam shot back.
Jumping down, Liam and Cinder glared at one another, their hands firmly gripping the hilts of their weapons. Cinder; holding twin blades made of glass. And Liam; wielding his own sword and Blake's Gambol Shroud.
"Another rematch, hm?" Cinder chuckled.
Liam looked down at Blake's weapon. Cinder noticed this and only chuckled more.
"Missing your friends?" She mocked.
Liam tightened his hold on Gambol Shroud. Without a word, he began to storm towards Cinder.
Swinging her blades at him, they went right through him, causing his image to distort before fading.
Above Cinder, standing on the ruined wall, was Liam. Jumping down towards Cinder, Liam kicked her in the back upon landing, causing her to fall forward. Pouncing before she had a chance to recover, Liam aimed Gambol Shroud at the back at Cinder's head.
Just ad he squeezed the trigger, Cinder, using her maiden powers, shot out from under Liam. His gunshot rang out as he fell on his back.
Getting back on his feet, Liam raised his swords as did Cinder.
"No matter what happens, Cinder, this time you're gonna die." Liam growled. "I promise you that."
Cinder chuckled.
"Isn't that what you said last time?"
Liam didn't reply as he rushed Cinder.
Clashing blades, each time their weapons connected, Liam shattered Cinder's swords. Making more each time, the two continued to block, strike and slash at one another.
After getting hit in the face by the butt of Gambol Shroud, Cinder pushed Liam back.
"Y'know, Salem allowed me to fetch the Staff and retrieve you myself." Cinder spoke. "She's still planning our attack on Vacuo next."
"I'll be sure to send back your corpse." Liam spat.
Continuing their battle, Liam used a flash of his Silver eye to hurt Cinder's Grimm arm. Using it to his advantage, Liam kicked Cinder into the wall.
Following up by slashing her back, Cinder let out a yell. Spinning around, Cinder back handed Liam with her Grimm arm, sending him into the damaged wall.
Hitting his back hard, the air in his lungs was knocked out of him. Coughing, Liam did his best to quickly recover and get back on his feet.
Walking over, Cinder wrapped her hand around Liam's neck, squeezing. Using his Silver eye once more, Cinder recoiled in pain.
Without giving her time to recover, Liam cut off her arm before kicking Cinder onto the ground. Slashing both of his weapons across her chest, Cinder's aura flashed.
"I'm done fucking around." Liam growled as he kicked Cinder onto her back.
Winding up for another attack, Cinder's Grimm arm regrew. Grabbing Liam by the throat, she pushed him away far enough to get back up.
Attacking Cinder once more, Cinder blocked Liam's attack, grabbed him by the throat and threw him to the floor. Launching herself off the ground a few feet, Cinder crashed into Liam, breaking through the floor and ending up on the floor beneath them.
Getting back to their feet, Liam couldn't help but chuckle slightly.
"Why're you laughing?" Cinder growled.
"Because no matter the outcome of this fight, you're still gonna die." Liam replied. "I've already made sure this encounter ends in your death. I'm going to avenge everyone you've killed."
"Big talk coming from a guy that still shakes when he sees me." Cinder barked as she gestured to Liam's shaking hand.
"I'm shaking with excitement." Liam shot back. "Now."
Storming towards Cinder, she went to strike but Liam ducked and kicked her knee. Stumbling, Liam followed it up by slashing his swords up her torso. Continuing his assault, Liam aimed Gambol Shroud at Cinder and shot her multiple times, point blank in the chest, shattering her aura.
"Rrgh!" Cinder growled before summoning the full potential of her maiden powers.
Hitting Liam in the chest with fireball after fireball sent him into the wall. Falling to his knees, Cinder stormed over and kicked Liam in the chin, sending him onto his stomach.
Laughter bounced off the walls as Liam pushed himself up.
Angered, Cinder began lashing out. Punching, kicking, slashing, burning. But whatever she did, Liam continued to laugh. Even after Cinder broke his aura, Liam didn't stop.
"Won't you shut up?!" Cinder shouted.
Bloody and bruised, Liam slowly pushed himself onto his knees.
"It's as I said." Liam told her as he reached for something in his back pocket. "I have contingencies."
Pulling out a detonator behind his back, Liam pressed the switch. Instantly, countless explosions at the base, and lower levels of the tower, rang out. The ceiling above them broke apart with a large piece of debris landing on Cinder, trapping her on the floor.
The tower began collapsing in on itself. Liam closed his eyes, embracing what was about to happen whilst Cinder continued to struggle in vain.
After a moment passed, the floor beneath the two of them gave way.
End of chapter 78
