Chapter 54 – Clash For The Truth – Pt. 1
Ruby
The odds were stacked against them, but that had never scared them off before.
They needed to get into the Embered Grove, no matter the cost. Ruby charged ahead first, with everyone running beside her. Ahead of them, Vir Nominis Umbra walked across the ruins towards them, holding his conjured blades in his hands, staring them down with a sinister smirk on his face, eyes glowing bright red. Ruby launched herself forward, then burst through the petals, firing Crescent Rose at Death's helmeted head. The bullet scraped off the Isomacium, sparks flying, and his head barely even recoiling from the impact. All of their foes sprinted together at once.
Kannix blasted up into the air, raining fire down upon them, lighting the surrounding area on fire. He landed and punched Jaune in the face with his mechanical fist. It then transformed into its Hook mode and he drove it onto Jaune's shoulder and smashed his face against the wall with all his might, breaking the bricks and sending the Relic of Choice tumbling away from his grasp.
The Silver Eyed Betrayer watched it bounce away from him, then he smirked, stamping on Jaune's face before he rushed after the ancient relic as it tumbled down the broken road, the cane being stuck between chunks of tarmac. He reached out for it with his metal hand, only for Weiss to suddenly skewer him through the gut with the long barbed tail of her Summoned Lancer, yanking him away from it and tossing him aside.
She launched towards the Relic and scooped it into her hand until she was caught by the throat by the Knight of Death. He glared at her and lifted her off the floor with ease; she grabbed desperately at his heavy metal hand, only for him to slam her into the ground with all his might, causing her blue aura to flicker, and then he dragged her across the ground, and held her against the wall, spinning Ferrum Arctus through his fingers. He aimed it at her face, and just as he went to drive it straight through, the Architect sprung to Weiss' rescue.
He slammed his mechanical fist directly into Death's armoured helmet, knocking him away, then Weiss drove Myrtenaster into the ground, summoning the Arma Gigas, which locked blades with Death, holding him back. "Get back! We can't risk them getting a hold of the Relics!" The Architect yelled, then they turned with wide eyes as they saw Vir Nominis Umbra walking on top of a destroyed Hellfire Tank, resting a conjured hammer on his shoulder. "Oh, shit… RUN!" The Architect yelled.
Weiss did exactly that, knowing what Vir Nominis Umbra was capable of. The False God jumped into the air, and twisted his posture, smashing the hammer into the ground between where Weiss and the Architect were standing. The impact created a devastating shockwave, causing an Acolytes of Lien building to collapse next to them. The shockwave sent the Architect tumbling down the destroyed road, catching onto the edge before he could fall any further.
As Weiss ran with the Relic of Choice, she summoned the Nevermore they killed in the Emerald Forest, and she jumped on top of it, grappling onto its feathers as it flew ahead of Vir Nominis Umbra. "Foolish girl." He sighed, launching one of the blades he formed straight through the Nevermore and rending her helpless as she fell.
"Weiss!" Yang called out, blasting up towards her and catching her, landing on the ground with style. Weiss rolled her eyes.
"Why is everyone always catching me?" She groaned, jolting as Neo shot past them, sprinting towards the Hound which leapt off the destroyed remains of a Paladin, slashing its claws at her, only for her to break apart and suddenly appear behind it. She stabbed it through the neck, holding it in place so that Sun could rush forward and fire shotgun shells relentlessly into its black flesh. The Hound snarled, then suddenly fired razor sharp spikes from its body, knocking the two of them away. Then the Hound jumped into the air, catching onto a flagpole and swinging itself around.
It released and dove towards Oscar, slamming its claws at his feet, but Oscar stopped time, rolling backwards, then punching a chunk of rock multiple times. Once time resumed, the combined force of those punches sent the rock flying towards the Hound, shattering against its face. Oscar panted, spinning his sword through his fingers, turning with wide eyes as the Knight of Death swung his sword downwards at him.
Oscar backed away, stopping time once again, but Death continued to move unhindered. The two clashed as everything was frozen in place, Death blocking his incoming swings with little effort. Death suddenly swung his fist into Oscar's face, punching him backwards, causing time to resume. Death walked down the rubble, then opened his black wings, which formed from his smouldering cape, flying into the air, careening down with significant force.
Oscar rolled aside, firing his pistols at the Knight, the bullets merely bouncing off the Isomacium Armour. Rose petals swirled around Death as he approached, then Ruby landed beside Oscar, nodding at him. They both launched towards Death and the Knight snarled, swinging Ferrum Arctus horizontally.
Ruby's rose petals twisted around the blade whilst Oscar slid underneath it, driving Traveller's Atrocity into the back of Death's leg, dropping him to one knee, then Ruby hooked Crescent Rose underneath Death's chin and smashed him into the floor. Both Ruby and Oscar ran ahead, trying to reach the Embered Grove, only for Vir Nominis Umbra to stand in their path.
He smirked at them, then immediately launched five blades from thin air at them. "Crap!" She yelled, spinning Crescent Rose swiftly, cutting the blades down before they could reach her. Umbra's eyes glowed bright red as he approached them, the sky darkening and turning red as the Charred Forest continued to merge with their universe.
"Look around you, Ruby. The universe, as you know it is over. Remnant is on its knees. Give me the Relic and cease this folly." He commanded, but Ruby glared at him, and her eye shone bright. His eyes widened as he felt his body turn vulnerable once more. Oscar launched forward as Ruby weakened him, driving his sword straight through Umbra's throat. He pushed Umbra backwards across the rubble, but Umbra growled in anger, furious at their constant, unbearable defiance. He grabbed Oscar by the top of his head and tossed him aside like he was nothing.
Ruby jumped towards Umbra and smashed her knee into his face, knocking him backwards. He stumbled a few steps away from her, then she slashed Umbra relentlessly with her Scythe, throwing streaks of black blood high in the air. Umbra suddenly formed a massive scythe of his own, formed from black metal, glaring at her with a sinister laugh. He scraped it across Crescent Rose's sharpened edge, spilling golden sparks across the floor. Umbra jumped backwards, throwing more blades towards her, but Ruby dashed aside as they came her way.
Vir Nominis Umbra's eyes shone bright red, and he launched towards her with impossible speed, spinning around and cutting across her chest. Ruby grunted, bouncing backwards across the floor. He spun his blade around towards her throat, only for Oscar to appear suddenly, blocking the scythe with Traveller's Atrocity, glaring back at the False God as the scythe pushed him away from Ruby, the two rotating around each other. Oscar suddenly disconnected Traveller's Atrocity, catching the second dagger and transforming it into Revolver Form, firing a bullet into Umbra's face.
He grunted, recoiling backwards from the couple, then Ruby took her shot, flying up behind Umbra and swinging towards his throat, only for him to smirk, and to become Ethereal once more, her blade passing through him like he was a ghost. She gasped, and suddenly he spun around with a conjured hammer, smashing it in her face, causing her red aura to flicker as she bounced across the shattered road.
Oscar slowed time around Umbra as he fired, but Umbra stared at him as time stopped, and he ignited flames across his body, using the power of the Relic of Destruction. Oscar gasped, rolling out of the way as Vir Nominis Umbra fired a beam of fire at him, only narrowly missing. The flames burned the roof of a nearby building to embers. Oscar continued to fire at him with his pistols, but Umbra just continued to be unaffected by his efforts.
White light erupted from behind him once more, making Umbra snarl and turn to see Ruby getting back up, using Crescent Rose as a support. Umbra turned back to Oscar, suddenly surprised to see Kassius jumping at him with a furious roar, throwing Lash Equinox into Umbra's ribcage. As Kassius came crashing down, he caught the blade and dragged it through his torso, rolling past him, turning and firing Vulcan Nox at him. Umbra spun around, throwing a conjured spear in his direction, then forming a bolt of red lightning in his other hand, and throwing it onto the floor.
The electrical explosion launched Oscar backwards, but Kassius jumped through, and his eyes flooded with fiery orange hatred as Mr Hyde took control. He smashed his fist into Umbra's face, but he hardly even moved, and when he took a second swing, Umbra caught his metal fist, slowly twisting it. "Ah… the Prodigal Son returns." He laughed mockingly, glaring at Hyde's eyes.
He suddenly yanked Hyde towards him, catching Hyde by his throat and throwing him onto the floor just as Ruby and Oscar attacked at the same time. Umbra tore a chunk of earth from the ground, shielding himself from Oscar's bullets, then blasted a fireball through it, blowing it to pieces and throwing burning soil at his face. Oscar grunted, then Umbra turned and caught Ruby by her leg as she went to behead him, and threw her towards Oscar, sending the pair tumbling across the broken roads.
Nearby, Blake swung across the air, being caught by Penny, who threw her towards the Knight of Fear who slashed at her shadow, cutting it down, and her appearing behind him. She wrapped Gambol Shroud's ribbon around his throat and yanked him backwards, allowing Penny to launch forward and drive Floating Array into his chest. He grunted as the blades lodged into him, then Penny started charging up her laser. Fear's eyes shone bright gold, and he suddenly extended his rotten wings, and launched high in the air.
Blake and Penny held on for dear life, eventually being torn away from his body, falling together. Penny activated her thrusters and dove to Blake, catching her and hovering for a safe landing. As she descended, they both heard the screeching in the wind from above, seeing Fear diving towards them, coming crashing down like a meteor. The impact knocked them both backwards, and he jumped towards Blake, grabbing her by her ponytail and burying her face into the ground.
Penny fired multiple green bolts of energy into his back, making him turn and use her as a shield, stopping Penny from firing at him. He threw Blake ahead and jumped at Penny, stamping on her chest, pinning her to the floor. As he pushed her against the ground, Cinder flew in from the side, ramming her Obsidian Spear through his chest, pushing him away from them both, before forming a long sword forged from ice, slicing across his face.
The rotten skin tore away from his cheek, causing his jaw to dangle from maggot filled sinew. He growled, resetting his jaw as he glared at the Fall Maiden. Cinder floated into the air, her eyes burning brightly as the sky crackled with lightning. Hairs stood on end, and she brought down huge bolts from the clouds, exploding chunks of concrete and tarmac around them, the shrapnel damaging Fear's body.
He darted to the side, then jumped at her, slashing at her relentlessly with his Scythe, then opening his wings and flapping them, throwing himself backwards and firing his crossbow multiple times at Cinder. The Fall Maiden flew high above into the air, and she slung multiple balls of fire from her hands down at the Knight. They exploded in the surrounding air, disorienting him, and allowing her to go for a heavy attack, punching him in the face with a burning fist, sending him crashing into the ground.
As he impacted, Kannix threw Jaune backwards, who laughed sinisterly as he approached the young knight, aiming his cannon at his head, but Ren fired his grappling hooks and coiled them around that arm. Kannix turned with a furious glare, then yanked Ren towards him, slashing his face with his Hook Blade. He kicked Ren in the chest, but Ren stood tall, closing his eyes and channelling his aura into his fists, using his Martial Arts training to his advantage.
Ren parried his incoming blows, pushing the cannon aside and throwing multiple punches into Kannix's chest, then concluding his barrage with a hard roundhouse kick. Kannix grunted, taking a hefty tumble, and once he was stood back up, Pyrrha launched Nora towards him. "EAT THIS!" Nora yelled, swinging Magnhild at his face with all her might. The impact created a brilliant metallic bang, breaking his jaw and sending him sky high.
Green flames ignited across her eyes, and Pyrrha flew into the air after Kannix, punching him relentlessly in the face, then calling Milo back into her hand, smashing him across the face with Akoúo and skewering him through his ribs with her spear. She dove with him and crashed into the ground, pinning him to the floor.
Jaune got back up, rolling his shoulder with gritted teeth and sheathing Crocea Mors into his shield, transforming it into its Longsword form. He charged towards Kannix whilst pinned down. Kannix's eyes lit up with silver light as he roared with fury, blinding Pyrrha and forcing her to yank Milo from his chest. He stood back up and turned to see Jaune jumping towards him and driving Crocea Mors down through his shoulder, nearly splitting him in two. Kannix dropped to one knee as blood burst from his body.
Surely this must kill him…
There was so much blood coming out of him that if this was many years ago, Jaune would have passed out on the spot. But to his disbelief, he saw the flesh and bone binding itself back together, sealing over where his sword was now stabbed through. Kannix grinned at him as he stood back up, suddenly punching him in the gun with his cannon and firing it. The explosion sent Jaune flying, and he tore Crocea Mors from his chest with his metal hand, turning to Ren as he slashed Stormflower across the enormous blade. Kannix cut across Ren's chest, then kicked him aside.
He spun around, blocking Nora's hammer, and she smashed it from his hand, sending it bouncing away from Kannix. She twirled around as Kannix recovered and went to smash his head like a hammer, only for Kannix to catch the hammer with his cybernetic hand. He pulled her down and fired three cannon shots into her chest, sending her flying backwards.
Nora bounced across the floor, rolling towards the Flames of Destruction. "NORA!" Ren screamed, and he sprinted after her and fired Stormflower's grappling hook towards her. She caught it and then used the other to anchor himself, preventing her from tumbling any further. He retracted the hook, and she was thrown into his embrace.
They both turned as they held each other to see Kannix, covered in his own blood, still standing as he laughed maniacally. Team J.N.P.R all stood together, and attacked him at once, Jaune blasting Kannix back with his Gravity Dust, and Pyrrha jumping ahead, cutting him across the stomach and dropping to her knees to dodge the incoming flamethrower from his cannon. She tossed Akoúo into his face, then threw Milo after transforming it back into Spear form through his shoulder, pinning him to the wall.
Pyrrha looked at Nora and nodded, blasting lightning into Milo, conducting it, and Jaune held his shield up for Nora, blasting her into the air after she jumped onto it. She yelled as she flew towards him, crushing a lightning dust crystal in her hand, activating her semblance and supercharging her.
"Oh, fuck, this is gonna sting." Kannix groaned, and Nora collided Magnhild into Milo, triggering an enormous explosion, sending Kannix flying past the Hound which battled against Weiss, Yang, Neo and the Architect. Yang slid across the floor, firing multiple shotgun rounds into the beast's chest, making it growl in anger, before it extended its arms and spun around, knocking everyone backwards.
Neo flipped back and opened her umbrella, blocking the fireball it just launched from its jaws at her. She smirked playfully as the Hound lunged towards her, vanishing into shards of glass. As it rolled past where she was standing, Weiss hovered in the air, elegantly holding Myrtenaster to the sky, summoning the Nevermore's Wings in an angelic display, shooting Fatal Feathers at the Hound.
The beast dodged the incoming feathers, digging its claws into the rubble and tossing them towards her, but she bounced from glyph to glyph, before shooting towards it, slashing through the beast's side. The Hound snarled, blasting more fire from its jaws like a furnace, setting the vegetation ablaze. Weiss skated across the area, jumping on top of one of the Arcturus Base Structures. She looked across to see the Architect sprinting towards the edge of the bridge, firing his rifle at the Hound.
She cast multiple glyphs, allowing him to jump across each, then slamming his fist with a supercharged blast, sending arcs of electricity across the Hound's body, burning the black flesh. Neo jumped up and jabbed Hush's pointed blade into the chest of the Hound, then retracted the blade and smacked it across the jaw, recoiling it into Yang's fist.
As the beast tumbled, Vir Nominis Umbra watched as the creature passed by. Sun joined Ruby, Oscar, and Kassius, who faced off against the villain. Sun raised his scroll when he stood with them, seeing a message from Emerald pop up.
Keep your eye on the sky, monkey boy.
He turned and in the distance could see the smoking Bullhead she was piloting headed directly for Vir Nominis Umbra. He stared at Umbra and gritted his teeth, and slammed his hands together, activating his semblance.
Vir Nominis Umbra continued to battle against the others, blasting red flames from his hand, then slashing a sword at them, igniting it in the process. Ruby deflected the sword as best as she could, only for Umbra to rip rocks from the ground with his telekinesis and launched it into her chest, turning and catching Kassius by the throat and throwing him into the ground.
The Via Suns all surrounded Vir Nominis Umbra, and they started grabbing onto his arms and legs. Ruby, Oscar, and Kassius caught on, their eyes widening as they got out of the way. Umbra didn't struggle, he just looked confused, until he heard the afterburners roaring and getting louder and louder.
He looked over his shoulder as the Bullhead flew directly into him, exploding in a huge fireball, sending Umbra tumbling across the rubble, flames crackling off his body. As he got back up, Emerald soared through the air and kicked him in the face, Silent Judgement held in her grasp.
Vir Nominis Umbra chuckled as he stood tall. "Well, well…"
"Miss me, asshole?" She questioned.
"Oh, quite the contrary, my dear." Vir Nominis Umbra responded, and Emerald yelled, firing her revolvers at him and slashing her blades across his body. He grunted, then as she flipped over his head, she wrapped the chains around his throat. He snarled in anger as she yanked him forward, and Oscar appeared directly in front, driving his sword through Umbra's eye.
Vir Nominis Umbra gasped from the pain, growling as Oscar held him there, until his other eye glowed bright red. Suddenly, an enormous explosion of black and red fire burst from him, and he levitated above them. Black and red wings forged from fire sprouted from his back.
"Try as you might, you will never get inside the Embered Grove." Umbra warned, until he suddenly transformed into a flock of Crows and Ravens, vanishing into thin air.
They all looked around to find him. They knew he was not retreating… he was up to something.
Ozpin
Beyond the Wall of Fire…
Ozpin, Glynda and Maria continued to battle against the Higher Demons. Ozpin soared above with the Onyx Phantom, grinding his Sceptre against the Onyx Phantom, which had taken the form of Ozpin back when he was the Knight of Vengeance, glaring back at him with eyes crackling with blue and gold electricity. The Phantom smashed its head against Ozpin's face, then launched forward, tackling him in a bolt of lightning, crashing through one of the nearby Arkhoni Towers, causing it to explode from within.
The two collided into the ground, electricity rippling through the rocks, and the Onyx Phantom stood atop Ozpin, stamping on his face with a maniacal laugh. He gritted his teeth, grabbing onto the Demon's ankle, then twisting it, and punching free from the Demon's position. He rolled backwards and spun Mihi Vindicta through his fingers, transforming it into Mace Form. The Onyx Phantom blasted towards him, electrical wings splayed wide as it went to tackle him again, only for Ozpin to swing the Mace into the face of the Higher Demon.
The Onyx Phantom grunted, flying up into the air from the hard impact until it steadied itself, wings flapping and hovering above. The sky darkened even more as its eyes burned, and using the stolen Maiden Power, the Onyx Phantom brought down another tornado which tore through the landscape, throwing chunks of debris like they were made of plastic. Ozpin slowed time and sprinted, dodging the chunks of rubble before they could touch him, then jumping across them, opening his wings and flying between chunks of building. Time resumed, and he punched the Onyx Phantom directly in the face, transforming Mihi Vindicta back into Sceptre form, firing a concentrated beam of green energy into the Phantom's chest.
The Onyx Phantom snarled as Ozpin forced it back to the ground with explosive force. The Onyx Phantom looked up at Ozpin as he cast his spells, creating mirrors of himself, and then they all fired the same beam down at the Onyx Phantom at the same time, eventually building up to a cataclysmic green explosion. Ozpin panted as each of his copies crumbled into dust around him, staring down at where the Onyx Phantom just was, hoping it to see its embers fading away.
Suddenly, the Onyx Phantom erupted from the smoke, roaring with fury, grabbing him by the face and smashing him into the ground. He dragged Ozpin through the rubble, scraping across his clockwork armour, then lifting him off the floor and throwing him into a rusted Arkhoni Truck. The Onyx Phantom landed on his chest, its razor-sharp claws dug into the metal by the side of his head.
"Everything you've been fighting for has been for naught, Ozpin. Do you know how many are dead already? How many souls are screaming in agony in the Charred Forest right now?" The Onyx Phantom asked with a disturbing grin on its face. Ozpin gritted his teeth as he glared at the Higher Demon. "More than you could possibly count… and soon? There will be so many dead that even should you win, there will be no coming back for Remnant!" The Onyx Phantom laughed.
Opzin yelled with anger, forming a sign above his head which sprouted a glowing green hand forged by the surrounding debris. "You have already lost!" The Onyx Phantom yelled, until the hand above punched the Demon in the chest, sending it flying backwards. It dug its clawed hands into the ground to slow itself down, wings spread wide as it stared back. Ozpin pulled himself free from the truck as he glared at the Higher Demon, spinning his Sceptre through his fingers.
Ozpin was done sharing words with this demon. He just wanted to see it break apart, piece by piece.
Maria nearby was still battling against the Whisperer, which had now shifted its body and taken Coco's shape. The very girl which Maria had saved all those years ago. The Whisperer fired Gianduja at Maria but she was much faster, darting across the destroyed landscape, then throwing Life at the Demon. The Scythe dug into its shoulder, and it glared back at Maria, only for the Silver Eyed Warrior to activate the Gravitational Bond of her scythes, yanking the Demon towards her. She slashed the other scythe across the Demon's neck and tore her other scythe free.
She jumped away from the Demon and fired her dual revolvers at the Headless Whisperer. It stood tall, catching Coco's head and setting it back on its shoulders, grinning uncharacteristically for Coco Adel. It turned and triggered Coco's Semblance, firing Gianduja at her, the dust carried in the bullets amplified and turned explosive. They shattered the ruins as they carved across the area towards her. Then the Whisperer formed a wall of shattered glass in front of Maria, stopping her dead in her tracks, and nailing Maria in the chest with the hail of bullets.
Maria bounced backwards across the ground, smoke trailing from her body, but she just glared ahead at the Whisperer through her Skull Mask. She took both her scythes and connected them together, spinning the double-ended weapon through her fingers. She jumped across a crater in the ground, and as she soared towards the Whisperer, white light bled through the eye sockets of her Skull Mask. The light blasted out as a pair of white beams, burning across the land and colliding into the centre of the Whisperer's chest.
The Higher Demon grunted, thrown backwards by the sudden impact as the Silver Eyes burned across its body. The Whisperer effortlessly lifted an ancient car up, using it as a shield to block Maria's gaze. The heat of the silver eyed light melted the steel, until suddenly it stopped, and Maria's scythe cut clean through the glowing orange car. She immediately jumped and spun through the air, roundhouse kicking the Demon across the jaw, then hooking her scythe behind its neck, yanking it towards her.
As the Demon stumbled forward, she jumped and brought her heel down with all her might, burying it into the back of its head. The Whisperer suddenly looked up at her with Coco's fearful eyes, causing Maria to freeze as she stared at the little girl she rescued that day. Then that fearful face changed into a grin, eyes igniting and suddenly blasting into the air, catching a bolt of lightning in its hand and throwing it to the ground in front of Maria.
The electrical explosion launched shards of hot rubble in Maria's face, shattering her skull mask. Maria fell backwards, looking up at the Whisperer as it floated above her. The winds picked up around her, and the clouds moved faster and faster above. The Whisperer suddenly came crashing down as it caught two bolts of lightning, smashing them both into the ground at the same time. Waves of lightning sprinted across the rubble towards her, but Maria jumped into the air, only narrowly avoiding it.
As she landed, she sprinted towards the Demon, sliding across the rocks, and cutting through its leg, then kicking it in the spine. She stood her ground as she stared it down, and it stood tall, the leg reconstructing itself.
Unlike the Onyx Phantom, the Whisperer did not seem to need to use many words, its actions spoke enough.
But neither matched the Lord of the Wood when it came down to the silent game. The Leshen wrapped its roots into one of the trucks and launched it towards Glynda, who rolled out of the way, using the Gravity Dust built into the Disciplinarian to throw the same truck right back at it. The truck shattered upon contact, but the Lord of the Wood hardly even flinched. Crows and Ravens swarmed behind it, and it created a terrifying growling sound which made Glynda's hair stand on end.
Suddenly there was an explosive bang, and the Lord of the Wood suddenly shot through the swarm towards her, razor-sharp claws extended. It took a heavy swing at her, only narrowly missing as it slid across the ground. Roots pushed the Lord of the Wood high above her, until it jumped off the platform towards her, driving a long blade it had just grown across its right arm into the ground. The wood snapped, and it turned to where she was now standing, pushing her glasses back up.
She flicked the Disciplinarian, throwing bolts of purple energy at the Leshen, blowing chunks of bark from its body. The Lord of the Wood swung its arm towards her, firing shards of wood at her, but Glynda ducked, only narrowly avoiding the projectiles. The Lord jumped towards her and punched its heavy fist into the floor where she was just standing, tearing chunks from the ground, wrapping roots around it and turning it into a flail. The Lord of the Wood snarled, spinning the flail of roots and rubble over its head. The Morning Star smashed into Glynda's face, breaking her glasses and throwing her a few feet away.
Her aura flickered, and she groaned in pain, dazed from the sudden dull strike to her head. He she stumbled back to her feet, turning around to see the Lord of the Wood breaking the flail as it charged towards her. She gritted her teeth and stood tall, suddenly levitating hundreds of pieces of rubble with the Disciplinarian, staring the Leshen down, then launching all of them at it with a defiant roar. The chunks battered against the Leshen's body, smashing chunks of wood away and breaking one of its legs. It dropped to one knee, and then a sharp shard cut across its skull.
The Lord of the Wood shrieked with the howl of an elk, grabbing its face.
Then… Glynda watched in fear as the bark smoked, cracking with embers bleeding through. The Lord of the Wood suddenly threw its arms out, and the skull bellowed to the sky, igniting itself. The head snapped and glared at her, eyes glowing bright red, before it sprinted on all fours towards her, leaping across the broken buildings and tackling Glynda down the slope of destruction.
It grabbed her by the chest, pummelling her over and over against the ground. She grunted in pain from every single attack it delt, before throwing her ahead. The now enraged Lord of the Wood paced back and forth, that calm patience a distant memory. Flames suddenly erupted from its jaws as it roared at her, and she rolled out of the way, launching more shards of rubble in its direction. But it just smashed the chunks of rubble out of the way with its burning arms. It leapt into the air, forming wings of Crow and Ravens, all set ablaze as they cried out in agony.
It flew towards it and slashed its claws at her, nailing the attack and sliding past her, blasting more flames from its jaws, burning everything around it. Glynda stumbled back to her feet, staring back at the Lord of the Wood as it roared, stood amidst the flames, filled with undying fury.
Weiss
Together, everyone battled against their enemies, and Weiss darted above them all, using her glyphs to help anyone as best as she could. Blocking Kannix's cannon from hitting Yang and locking the Hound in place so that the Architect could fire a powerful shot from his rifle into its back. Weiss looked around, seeing Death and Fear battling against Ruby, Blake and Jaune.
But there was one foe she lost track of…
Vir Nominis Umbra himself.
And that terrified her. She kept searching for him. She last saw him fighting against Emerald, Ruby, Oscar and Kassius… and then he vanished. She looked around for him until she heard the caw of a crow from behind. Her blue eyes widened with fear, realising too late. She spun around and saw Vir Nominis Umbra suddenly erupting through a tear in reality behind her. He grabbed her and the two soared across the battlefield, far away from everyone else.
"WEISS!" Ruby screamed, trying to get to her, only for Death to catch her and toss her into the ground.
Vir Nominis Umbra stared at her with a sinister smirk on her face. "The Last of the Schnees…" He chuckled as she tried to break free from his grasp. He suddenly came crashing down and threw Weiss through the wall of one of the buildings. She cried out in pain as she fell through the crumbling wall. She scrambled to her feet, seeing Vir Nominis Umbra walking through the building towards her. She spun Myrtenaster through her fingers and thrusted towards him, only for Umbra to stamp on the blade, and grab her by the throat, tossing her back outside.
"Your father and your brother were useful tools for my goals… did you know your brother actually tried to stop me in the end?" Vir Nominis Umbra asked her curiously. Weiss coughed, her aura breaking with blood leaking from her forehead. Her blue eyes widened, and she slowly looked up at him.
"What are you talking about?" She questioned.
"Dear Whitley… such a poor boy. Manipulated by his abusive father, neglected by the rest of his family. He hated you so much… and yet in his final moments? He tried to stop me." Vir Nominis Umbra chuckled as he walked towards her. Weiss gritted her teeth and still stabbed at him, only for him to catch Myrtenaster's blade and throw her to the floor again, walking around her.
Weiss looked ahead to see Myrtenaster clatter to the floor. "He thought he could trap me, like how he was trapped in that mechanical body on his last life. He hated his father nearly as much as he hated you, so he wasn't even remotely saddened by you killing Jacques. And yet… he wanted to stop me from destroying the world. The boy who lost his mind, a dead boy walking… wanted to save the world. I wonder… if maybe you had more influence on him than you thought." Vir Nominis Umbra pondered as he looked down at her.
Weiss reached out for Myrtenaster, only for him to kick it out of reach and then kick her in the face. Blood rushed from her nose and she coughed in pain. He tilted his head and crouched down, grabbing her by the throat and lifting her above his head. He suddenly threw her against the wall, holding her there with his Telekinesis. She felt like her entire body was frozen, terrified, as she stared at Umbra approaching her, staring right into her eyes.
"I wonder… who else have you swayed to goodness with your kind words?" He said as he stared into her eyes.
"Please…" she begged.
"Oh, darling… you've fought so hard and for so long…" He cooed, gently caressing her cheek. "Like every single one of your friends. I admire you all… in truth I take no pleasure in seeing any of you die. You're all so brave… and deserve so much better. But such a better future is not possible in their universe. All that you will find is pain… and I will free you from it." He assured.
Weiss' lip trembled. "Don't you want to see Neptune again?" He asked her, but she scowled at him.
"Don't you dare say his name." She hissed, making him smirk.
"He was strong too… brave… but like everything else in their universes… you expire. Suffer… fall. Just like everyone else… and like all of them… you will… end." He promised, his face changing into a cold glare. Weiss watched in fear as he pulled Myrtenaster into his hand and pointed it at her heart.
"Please… I don't want to die…" she begged, making him chuckle.
"Incredible… considering how much you thought about it after you lost him." He stated. Weiss trembled in fear as he tightened his grip, hearing the sound of a Mourning Dove flapping overhead.
Vir Nominis Umbra suddenly thrusted towards her heart, and Weiss closed her eyes in fear.
Umbra's eyes widened, and he yelped, feeling his body be pulled back by a powerful gravitational force, yanked far away from Weiss. Myrtenaster clattered to the floor and Weiss dropped in front of it, gasping with relief. Vir Nominis Umbra suddenly came to a stop in the air… held in place by a large… Black Glyph.
Vir Nominis Umbra's eyes were wide with confusion, darting around as his arms were held out, feeling helpless as the sound of heels could be heard clacking behind him. Weiss grabbed Myrtenaster and looked up, and her big blue eyes widened with disbelief.
Starla Schnee…
She was walking behind Vir Nominis Umbra, holding him in place with that Black Glyph, not even needing to raise her weapons or even her hand to keep him there. Her clothes were different. She wore a beautiful white Schnee Dress, just like she used to, and her skin was no longer blue, and her hair was a gorgeous white once more. He growled as he looked around, trying to see her. Weiss smiled proudly at her as Starla scowled at him.
"Face me." She commanded, and the glyph slowly rotated. Vir Nominis Umbra's body slowly turned around, and he looked down at her. His eyes glowed a piercing red as he saw Starla stood beneath him, and he gritted his teeth.
"Loss…" He snarled.
Starla stared up at him, and she summoned her armour. White embers surrounded her body, forming her ancient Schnee Vanguard Armour, clad with brilliant white armour and with the familiar Snowflake Crest on the chest. It had a long white shoulder cape, and sharp vambraces, and over her forehead formed her circlet.
Her long white hair flowed in the wind as she stared up at him with only one thing to say to him.
"My name is Starla Schnee." She stated, forming a white glyph behind her, which blasted her towards Vir Nominis Umbra, and she smashed her fist into the side of his face. The impact was so powerful that windows shattered, and the black glyph broke apart. Umbra yelled in pain, thrown away from her and Weiss, crashing straight through the building and into the Wall of Fire, vanishing beyond it.
Starla landed before Weiss, turning and immediately helping her up. "Starla! You… You're free?" She gasped in awe.
"All thanks to you, little one." Starla said, giving her a tight and warm hug, which made her smile. "I forgot how warm a hug can feel." She said with a smile. She then held Weiss by her shoulders, looking at her.
"I can hold him off for now. Get back to your friends, but don't overwork yourself. Get your aura back and focus on supporting them." Starla explained, and she nodded her head. Starla summoned a Lesser Wyvern for Weiss to use to return to the others, then turned as she heard Vir Nominis Umbra's roars of fury.
"Go." Starla told her, spinning her Tonfas through her fingers. Once cursed weapons… now completely under her control.
Weiss looked back as the Wyvern took off, seeing the fire part, and Vir Nominis Umbra revealing himself. His Soothsayer body burned away, and he transformed into the False God, enormous with black wings, eyes glowing bright red as he scowled down at Starla.
"You've done what I thought to be impossible." Vir Nominis Umbra stated as he scowled at her.
"Better get used to it. Like Oz… I now know how much power I'm truly capable of. And there's nothing you can do to control me anymore." Starla stated as she stared back.
"Control? No… but I can destroy you… there's no Charred Forest to revive you now." He reminded.
"Heh…" she scoffed. "I've been waiting for the end for a long time. And unlike you… I'm not afraid of it." Starla stated, rising into the air with large white wings spreading from her back like a true Archangel.
The two faced each other.
And all Starla could think was one thing…
I've been waiting to kick your ass for a long time.
Author Note - GOD I HAVE BEEN WAITING TO WRITE THAT PUNCH FOR SO GODDAMN LONG YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW CATHARTIC THAT WAS XD
*takes a breath* Okay... I'm so happy I finally can write Starla Vs Umbra now, and I love that now she is free and looks like she did before she was cursed, with her gorgeous and elegant Schnee outfit and armour. Plus Umbra 100% deserved that and more for wanting to kill Best Girl Weiss XD
This was a fun chapter to write, I love writing the ensemble fights when everyone is fighting bad guys at the same time. Also glad that I've decided to stop bloating the fights and make them more focused, makes shit more intense lol
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Please review, follow and favourite!
Stay tuned for the next chapter!
- Matt
