Hello all Storm here with a new chapter! And here we'll be seeing things really shaken up with canon as we get some big changes happening as a result of Naruto's presence. While also seeing Naruto's presence and actions getting some unexpected attention. So, without further ado.
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'Where…am I…? What's…what's happening?' Cinder thought, not sure what was happening or why she couldn't wake up, feeling like she was trapped inside her own body.
The last thing she remembered was fighting those annoying brats that ruined her plans, that girl with Silver Eyes that her mistress would've wanted to know about. And then that boy, just thinking about him filled her with rage at his interference and taunting. But also his abilities, which seemed to exceed any regular Dust.
Which only made her wonder how that boy could have had magic, since as far she knows the only ones who should have magic are Salem, Ozpin and the Maidens. Though it only angered the ravenette further when she saw how skilled he was at using magic, far outclassing her own limited abilities. Making Cinder wish even more to reclaim the rest of the Fall Maiden's powers and crush him.
Only for Cinder to be shocked and horrified when she started feeling a tugging sensation at her Aura and Fall Maiden powers. Reminding her of when she first took it from Amber, the feeling of having to pull and rip it away from her. Her horror grew when the sensation grew from tugging, to feeling her magic being drained away along with half her Aura.
'No…NO! NO! This can't be happening! I have to get out of here!' Cinder thought, desperately trying to move her body, but no matter how hard she fought it remained unresponsive.
Cinder mentally screamed as she could feel herself getting weaker, weak just like she used to be before Salem found her. No…it was even worse, she felt herself growing weaker as her Aura was taken away from her!
The feeling filled the ravenette with horror and despair, that she's not only growing weaker, but she'll be even weaker than she was before. Remembering the comatose state Amber had been left in, after taking half the Fall Maiden powers from her.
'No, no, no, no, no, NO! NO PLEASE! Don't…don't take it from me, it's my power! I need it! I need to be strong, I need to be something! I'll be nothing without it!' Cinder thought as her worst fear was happening and there's nothing she could do to stop it.
But no matter how much she struggled or screamed in her mind, Cinder was helpless as she felt the Maiden powers and her Aura being drained away. Before she mentally screamed in agony feeling like the left side of her face was on fire.
'Why?! Why?! Why?! WHY?! WHY?! It's my power, mine! I deserved it, it should be mine by right! I earned it! Why…why can't I be strong?!' Cinder mentally screamed, her fear growing as she could feel herself becoming weaker, weaker than she's ever felt before.
Unable to help but remember what her life was like before Salem found her, the orphanage she lived in, in Mistral, being forced to clean and starved when she didn't do enough. The other children that always bullied and pushed her around, with her being unable to do anything about it. And then what became one of the worst days of her life, remembering the exact words that sentenced her to years of pain and abuse.
"I'll take her."
She would laugh if she was able to, that she had been so stupid and naïve at the time, not realizing what the Madame had meant when she said that. Cinder now knew the Madame hadn't adopted a child, she was simply getting free labor.
But she didn't care to understand it at the time, only that she was finally free of the orphanage, only to realize she was only trading one prison for another. Folding laundry, delivering food to guests, cleaning dishes, making sure the floor was clean enough to eat off of. The ravenette remembered the never-ending sound of scrubbing the floor, the sound being burned into her brain from how often she heard it.
Cinder would sometimes even find herself dragging her nails along any surface, mimicking the sound, whenever she was feeling anxious. It gave her a sense of familiarity and security, hearing something she could easily recognize it.
…And she hated it so much!
That wasn't even the worst of it, though. Cinder could have accepted being used like that; it was nothing that she wasn't already used to, from the orphanage. But she wasn't just free labor for the Madame and her daughters, she was their personal slave. Her "step-sisters" never missed a chance to make her life miserable, giving her scraps to eat, tracking mud through the hotel, tripping her when she was carrying dishes, they did everything they could and laughed at her misery.
And her dear "step-mother", if she set so much as a toe out of line she'd use that damn shock collar on her, leaving her screaming in agony for the smallest of inconveniences. Yet that wasn't the worst of it, what Cinder truly hated was how the Madame would treat it all as a "lesson", that she wasn't acting "ladylike". Making her feel weak, that she was worthless and pathetic, that she had everything she could want because of her.
"Without you, I am nothing."
Part of Cinder even began believing it, that she truly was nothing without someone to make her into something, that she needed validation of her own importance and existence.
There had been a time when she nearly reached her breaking point, until she was given a chance, the chance to hope there was a light at the end of the tunnel for her. After she stole a sword from a frequent visitor of the hotel, Rhodes, a Huntsman.
He found her in her "room" with his sword she stole, having fully intended to use it on her "family", to have them feel some of the pain she felt for years. But he stopped her, giving her hope that she'd be able to escape by becoming a Huntress. That she could be like him, to do whatever she wants and go wherever she wants.
They trained for five years together, Rhodes taught her how to use his swords, even giving the one she stole to her as a gift. It made her happy, believing she finally had someone that cared about her, to help her be freed from her personal hell. Even when the treatment from the Madame and her daughters didn't stop, she held onto the hope of escaping when she turned seventeen.
Only…she never got her chance, when her "step-sisters" discovered the sword Rhodes gave her and told the Madame about it. It had been the worst night of her life, not remembering any other time the shock collar hurt as much as it did then.
But it hadn't just been the electrocution, but hearing the Madame and her daughters insulting her, talking down to her, ripping apart the hope she had of escaping by being a Huntress. That she would still be nothing no matter what, that eventually she would come crawling back begging them to take her in and they'd throw her out.
Cinder knew that's when she finally broke as when the Madame turned the collar off and tried making her say those damn words, she killed her "step-sisters". She didn't even hesitate when she grabbed her sword and killed one of them, then killing the other.
The Madame had turned the collar back on, but Cinder didn't care having forced herself to move and wrap her hand around her neck. She kept shocking her, trying to get free, but Cinder refused to let her escape now, not when she finally had her.
"You're right. Without you I am nothing. But because of you, I am everything."
That was the last thing Madame heard before Cinder snapped her neck, but even with her "family" now dead, that she was finally free, she didn't feel any satisfaction. She only felt broken and empty.
Though she felt hope when she saw Rhodes there, that he'd still come for her and could get her away from the hotel and Atlas. That he would understand they forced her to do it and he'd still protect her, to see she didn't need to run away now.
Instead he betrayed her, attacking her with his maces, forcing Cinder to fight back to defend herself. Managing to counter his Semblance with her own and steal his other sword, but even with his training and two weapons, Cinder still couldn't beat him, aside from breaking his Aura while he broke hers.
But even then she didn't give up, refusing to be taken to another prison when she did nothing wrong and only wanted to be free. So, when he tried grabbing her, she stabbed both swords through his chest, killing him before he could capture her.
It had been the best and worst night of her life, she finally had the freedom she desired after so many years, but was also truly alone with no one that she could trust.
Until she met Salem, having been found by the Grimm Queen after running away from Atlas, being taken in and offered the chance to get real power. Learning of the existence of the Maidens, the power she could get by taking their magic. Salem told her how she deserved the power, that all the torment and suffering she experienced showed how strong she was. That she was the only one who could truly use the power to its full potential.
And Cinder believed her, she believed everything Salem told her, that the power of the Maidens was hers by right for how much she suffered under those that thought she was nothing. She would take the power from those who never deserved it and use it in ways they could never even dream of.
'But now….now it'll all be for nothing! They're going to take the power I have and I'll be nothing! I'll…I'll be…nothing…' Cinder thought in horror that her greatest fear will soon come to pass and there's nothing she can do to prevent it.
'WHY?! Why is this happening?! Everything was going so well! I had Torchwick and the White Fang, I was going to destroy Beacon and Ozpin, myself! I was going to claim the rest of my power! How did it all fail?!' Cinder mentally screamed, completely distraught while wondering how all her planning could be ruined in just a single night.
Before her despair and anguish began turning to anger and hatred as her mind turned to the ones responsible this.
'Those…those WORTHLESS BRAT! They did this to me! They ruined everything! That bastard for interfering in my escape! Exposing me and insulting me! And then that stupid little girl getting in the way! They ruined everything! They should've never been born!' Cinder thought, swearing if she could, she would make both of them suffer unimaginable pain and torment for what they've done to her.
The memories of her past and remembering how she ended up in her current predicament only further fueled Cinder's anger and hate. Feeling the Beetle Grimm inside of her, she used to take half the Fall Maidens power, reacting to the powerful negative emotions within her. Cinder could feel the darkness and negative emotions she's always felt growing stronger, feeling them pulsing within her Heart.
'I…I'm going…g-going…to…' Cinder thought, only to soon feel the last of the Fall Maiden powers and her Aura be drained away, before she slumped forward in her pod, left in the same comatose and vegetated state she once left Amber in.
Outside the pod, Ozpin, Glynda and Qrow checked on Amber once she left her pod, wanting to make sure she's alright and still herself. Leaving them unaware as wisps of darkness began emitting off of Cinder's body. With more soon appearing as it the dark aura slowly began engulfing the former half-Maiden's body.
The others soon noticing when they saw Cinder's body being completely engulfed by the dark aura, much to their shock and horror.
'No…no, no, no, no…no!' Ozpin thought at the sight of Cinder's body being engulfed by darkness.
"Oz, what the hell's going on now?!" Qrow asked, drawing Harbinger with one hand while pushing Amber back with the other, with Glynda pulling out The Disciplinarian.
"Is it because of that Grimm?!" Said Amber, freaking out if this is because of that Beetle Grimm Cinder used on her.
"What do you mean Amber?" Said Glynda, glancing at the brunette for a moment before looking back at Cinder's body.
"Sh-she had some glove with a Grimm coming out of it, that's what she used to take half of the Fall Maiden powers from me." Amber replied, making them tense if this is some kind of failsafe if Cinder ever lost her Maiden powers, that she'd be turned into a Grimm.
Only for their eyes to widen when Cinder's body suddenly vanished, leaving behind a typical, cartoon-looking, red Heart in its place before the dark aura began wrapping around the Heart and imbuing into it. Turning the Heart pitch-black, much to Ozpin's horror at the sight, seeing it was what he thought it was.
His horror only growing when he saw arms, legs, a head, tail and wings sprouting from the Heart, with other features soon taking shape around it. Knowing they didn't have much time before the Heartless was fully formed.
"Qrow! Glynda! Quickly! Destroy it, destroy it now, before it fully forms!" Ozpin said, shocking them at the urgency and panic in his tone, but quickly nodded as they aimed their weapons at the Heart.
But before they could, they were all thrown back from a wave darkness released from the Heart as soon the Heartless had fully formed around it. The sight of it shocking the others, along with horrifying Ozpin when he saw what it was.
"A Dark…Inferno." Ozpin muttered, not believing that Cinder's Heart had been strong enough and possessed enough darkness to form one of the most powerful Pure-Blooded Heartless in existence.
The Dark Inferno is a large, muscular, humanoid figure with a large, heart-shaped hole in its chest. Raised portions and ridges on its purple-tinted black skin give it an armored appearance. It has large, spiked horns on the sides of its head, and two more rising from its forehead which form the shape of a heart; all four horns fade from black to red to yellow, giving them the appearance of heated metal. Its tail ends in a bladed fin with a diamond-shaped hole through it. Its two-toed, clawed feet stand upon swirling vortexes of white energy. It has undersized, purple bat-like wings on its shoulders and dull purple tendrils wrapped around its throat like a scarf, which drape down on either side of its "heart." It also has tendrils wrapped around each wrist, which fade to the same burning yellow color as its horns. In each hand it holds a large blue sword with hook-like extensions near the tip and an exaggerated gold hilt with a knuckle bow.
"Oz?! Mind sharing with the rest of us, what kind of Grimm this is?!" Qrow asked, having never seen a Grimm like this before, feeling on edge just from the sight of it.
"It's no Grimm, it's something far worse. It's a Heartless, a creature born from those who've lost their Hearts to Darkness. They're driven only by instinct to attack all those with Hearts to consume them and create more Heartless. The power of a Heartless depends on the depth of darkness within the person that created it, and a Dark Inferno…it's one of the most powerful Heartless I've heard of." Ozpin explained, much to their shock and fear that such a creature exists.
Before Glynda quickly got in front of them, holding The Disciplinarian up forming a shield when the Dark Inferno rushed them swinging its swords. Gritting her teeth when the Heartless' swords hit her shield, feeling it nearly shatter from the force of the blow. With her then breaking her shield down into multiple projectiles she launched at the Dark Inferno forcing it back.
While Qrow then jumped into air, extending Harbinger and brought down on the Dark Inferno to slice it in half, only for it to raise its sword blocking the strike. Though the Huntsman didn't stop there, aiming the shotgun barrels on the hilt at the Heartless and fired, knocking it further back.
"Ozpin, how do we stop it?!" Questioned Glynda while waving her riding crop, using some Ice Dust to create several icicles she launched at the Dark Inferno, which it destroyed rapidly by swinging its swords at the icicles once they were close enough.
"Just hold it off for as long as you can! We need to get Amber out of here, quickly, we can't risk it getting her Heart and creating a Heartless out of it!" Said Ozpin, knowing a Heartless born from a Maiden's Heart would be disastrous for all of Remnant and every other world.
"Then go! Get her out of here!" Qrow said, rushing the Heartless only to be forced to turn his sword to block the Dark Inferno's strikes, being pushed back with each hit.
Nodding in response, Ozpin put Amber's arm around his neck while holding her up to get to the exit, moving close to the wall to avoid getting caught in the fight.
"They're going to need your help. I can get out of here on my own." Amber said, given if Heartless are even worse than Grimm and a Dark Inferno is one of the strongest, then she doubted Qrow and Glynda would be enough to hold it off.
She'd try and help fight, but with how long she was in that pod, not to mention how weak she'd been left from her fight, Amber knew she'd be more of a hindrance than anything.
"I know, but right now my main concern is making sure you survive and don't become a Heartless. That's a risk none of us can afford to take." Said Ozpin, aware that Qrow and Glynda likely won't be enough to defeat the Dark Inferno, but he first needed to make sure Amber was safe.
Meanwhile, Qrow gritted his teeth as the Dark Inferno kept swinging its blade, before it suddenly jumped back only to rush forward spinning around like a drill surrounded by black and red energy. Getting a chance to dodge when it moved back, Qrow quickly rolled to the side avoiding the Dark Inferno's attack as it moved past him.
Not wasting a second Qrow charged the Heartless from behind firing several shots at it, only for the Dark Inferno to turn around blocking the shots with its swords. Though Qrow didn't stop charging it, swinging Harbinger up at it in an upward swing. With the Heartless blocking the attack again, before Qrow grunted in pain when the Dark Inferno smacked Harbinger aside. Followed by its own upward swing, causing Qrow's Aura to flash around him as he was knocked into the air.
Before the Dark Inferno quickly turned around, swinging its swords rapidly at the projectiles Glynda launched at it. With it then slamming its swords hilts together and creating a dark field underneath it, surprising the Hunters as the swords and Heartless sank into the ground.
Only for several white fireballs to appear where it once was, which then flew towards Qrow and Glynda, with Qrow transforming into his crow form to fly away from them. While Glynda was able to grab hold of the fireballs with her Semblance and launch them away from her.
Though the Dark Inferno then emerged from the ground, separating its swords before it began absorbing a black/red energy. Until it then began spinning around at high-speeds straight towards the Huntress, forcing Glynda to jump out of the way to avoid being hit.
Watching the Dark Inferno slicing through the pillars in the chamber, Glynda swung The Disciplinarian grabbing hold of the pillars and slammed them down on top of the Heartless. Only for her eyes to widen when the Dark Inferno burst out from the pillars, sending rubble flying everywhere.
With it then rushing towards Glynda while spinning like a drill, only for Qrow to transform back above the Heartless. Turning Harbinger into its scythe form and swinging it down at the Dark Inferno, but was stopped when the Dark Inferno raised its swords, blocking the strike.
Not letting this stop him, Qrow twirled his scythe around, quickly switching back to its sword form which he swung at the Dark Inferno. Before his eyes widened when the Dark Inferno absorbed black/red energy and spun around, leaving the Huntsman no time to dodge as he was hit by the attack and knocked out of the air.
Luckily, Glynda managed to catch him with her Semblance before he hit the ground, setting him down before she immediately grabbed the surrounding rubble and launched it at the Dark Inferno.
"Okay, the bastards a lot stronger than I thought he'd be." Qrow stated before he began firing multiple shots at the Heartless, hoping they can slow it down by bombarding it.
"Just keep hitting it!" Said Glynda, knowing they need to keep it distracted for as long as they could so Ozpin could get away with Amber.
Though the two grunted when the Dark Inferno spun around again, deflecting all the rubble Glynda was launching at it back at them. With the Huntress creating a barrier to block it from hitting them, before the Dark Inferno charged forward at them.
Jumping over the barrier, Qrow switched to his scythe bringing the blade down on the Heartless, which it blocked with one sword before batting it to the side. Only for the ravenette to then fire a shot away from the Heartless, propelling Harbinger back at it, managing slice it across the chest. But Qrow was shocked when it seemed like his attack barely did anything to the Heartless.
Before he gritted his teeth in pain when the Dark Inferno spun around like a drill and slammed right into him, his Aura flashing repeatedly from the attack, until he was sent crashing into the wall. Grunting at the impact, Qrow turned into his bird form before he fell to the ground and flew up.
While Glynda waved her riding crop through the air, creating dark storm clouds around the Dark Inferno followed by using Lightning Dust and firing multiple lightning bolts at it. Waving The Disciplinarian again, Glynda used Ice Dust forming a mini blizzard around the Dark Inferno to freeze it.
Keeping it up for a few moments, Glynda looked to one of the pillars before aiming her riding crop at it, ripping it away. Before sending it flying at the Heartless, hoping it'll be enough to end it, only for her eyes to widen when the pillar was cut right in half.
Followed by the Dark Inferno throwing its combined swords at the ground, flying down at them as they both sunk into the darkness, while more white fireballs appeared. Though the blonde Huntress stopped them again, the Dark Inferno reappeared much faster, grabbing its sword and rushed her. The sight making Glynda's eyes widen as she quickly formed a barrier.
Only for the Dark Inferno to swing its swords, causing the barrier to shatter into the pieces, with it then raising them and bringing them down onto Glynda. Making her cry out as her Aura flared around her and thrown back from the blow.
Seeing this, Qrow flew down and transformed back, grabbing Glynda before she could hit the ground, only to then see the Dark Inferno absorbing energy and spinning around towards them. But before it could reach them, a large fireball was thrown at the Heartless, stopping it for a moment.
Looking at where the fireball came from, Qrow and Glynda saw Ozpin and Amber behind a pillar, the latter having a fiery glow around her eyes. With it soon fading as she panted heavily, feeling exhausted just from creating a fireball.
"Yeah…that's about everything I've got at the moment." Said Amber, not sure if she'd be able to even do that again.
"Honestly, I don't think we've got anything left. No matter what we throw at it, nothing we do seems to hurt this thing." Qrow said, not sure what else they could try when everything's already failed.
"Agreed. It doesn't even look like our attacks have so much as scratched it." Said Glynda before grunting as she aimed her riding crop at the Heartless launching a barrage of debris at it, when it moved to attack again.
Looking at the three and the Dark Inferno, Ozpin closed his eyes while taking a breath in preparation for what he needs to do.
"We can't fight it, the only thing we can do is for someone to stay behind and hold it off, long enough for the rest to escape." Ozpin said, making the group tense but also knew he was right, if they wanted to get away someone would need to stay behind, with Qrow sighing before stepping forward.
"Well if I had to pick a way to go out." Stated Qrow, willing to stay behind and hold the Heartless off as long as he could for the others.
Only to be stopped by Ozpin, with the Headmaster passing Amber to him before stepping forward, much to their shock.
"No, Qrow, Glynda, both of you take Amber and get out of here. And Glynda, as of this moment you are now Headmaster of Beacon, I know you'll help guide the students and train them all to be the best Huntsmen and Huntresses they can be." Ozpin said, fully intending to be the one to stay and fight, shocking the others that he would stay, even knowing what it could mean.
"Ozpin, you can't be serious?! I have to insist, let me or Qrow be the one who stays to fight! We still need you, everyone still needs you to fight Salem!" Glynda said, knowing they couldn't risk Ozpin dying when they still needed him.
"She's right, Oz! Let me stay and fight, while the rest of you go! You can't die here, especially since if what you told us is true, that this thing eats Hearts to make more of its kind, then if it kills you…then…" Said Qrow, with Ozpin nodding at he meant, already knowing of the potential consequences.
"I'm aware Qrow, should I die and my Heart is consumed…then this will likely be my last life. Even so…I have faith that the rest of you will be perfectly fine, without me." Said Ozpin, confident they'll be able to continue the fight, even if he's gone, especially since there's a Keyblade Wielder on Remnant.
And even with Naruto's presence having changed things, like it did, they were only in this situation because of his mistakes so many lifetimes ago. And if this is truly meant to be his last life, then Ozpin wanted to do at least one right thing in this exceedingly long life he's been burdened with.
With Qrow and Glynda seeing he wasn't going to change his mind, before they nodded with heavy hearts, as the Huntress helped carry Amber.
"It's been an honor working with you, Headmaster." Glynda said solemnly, with Qrow nodding in agreement.
"We'll make sure Salem and that thing joins you, soon enough." Said Qrow, swearing to make sure they take Salem down and the Dark Inferno if Ozpin doesn't take it down with him.
"I know you will. I consider it an honor and a privilege to have met all of you. Take care and…farewell." Ozpin said, nodding at them, which they returned before Qrow and Glynda made their way to the elevator with Amber.
"Ozpin! Despite everything…thanks for giving me my life back." Said Amber, believing that's the least she could do if he's willing to give his last life to save them.
Glancing back at them as they got to the elevator, Ozpin turned back to the Dark Inferno once they were out of sight. Seeing how the Heartless hasn't moved, as if knowing what was happening and wanted to fight without anyone getting in the way. The sight made Ozpin grip The Long Memory tightly, giving a few practice swings as he approached the Heartless.
Only to chuckle solemnly, knowing he's walking to his death. That if his magic was as strong as it once was, before passing most of his power to the Maidens and all his reincarnations, he would've been able to defeat the Heartless, himself. But now…Ozpin knew it was his final battle.
But even so…he certainly intended to go down fighting.
"If you can understand me, then allow me to apologize for what you're about to witness. You see, I'm not quite what I used to be. Too many lives over the centuries, it's taken a toll on my power, and it has been quite a while since I last personally battled someone. Even longer since I had to battle a Heartless, so I'm afraid I might be rather rusty. Even so, I don't intend to make this easy for you." Ozpin said, stopping a few feet from the Dark Inferno before holding his cane up at it.
"So, shall we." Said Ozpin, with the Heartless gripping its swords tightly before immediately lunging forward.
Swinging its swords rapidly at Ozpin, with the former Headmaster moving his cane just as fast deflecting each of the Dark Inferno's strikes. Before he saw it skate back before lunging forward again, spinning around as it did so with its swords held out.
Though Ozpin vanished in a burst of speed, leaving behind a trail of green afterimages in his path, moving around the Dark Inferno as he did so. Waiting until it stopped spinning, Ozpin rushed forward, striking the Heartless across the back and sending it stumbling forward. Not stopping there, the Huntsman began quickly thrusting The Long Memory forward. Each impact knocking the Dark Inferno further away.
Pulling his cane back to deliver a final jab, only for the Heartless to turn around, catching it between its swords. Before throwing its arms out, knocking the cane away followed by swinging its sword upwards at Ozpin, who quickly leaned back to avoid being hit. Grunting as his Aura flared, when the Dark Inferno's blade cut him across his forehead. Before backflipping away from the Heartless, with it rushing right after him as he did so. With Ozpin landing on one knee, slamming his cane down and forming a magical barrier around himself. Doing so just in time as the Dark Inferno slashed the barrier rapidly, finishing it by bringing both its swords down on top of the barrier.
The force of the blow being strong enough to shatter the barrier, forcing Ozpin to jump back again while skidding back once he hit the ground. Only to just as quickly rush forward again, with the Dark Inferno doing the same raising its blades before bringing them down on top of Ozpin. Who blocked them with The Long Memory, grunting from the impact as the Heartless pushed down to cut him. Though the Huntsman grabbed the handle on his cane, causing it to collapse into the handle.
Ozpin then sped around the Dark Inferno to strike it in the back, only for it to be ready this time as it immediately began spinning around with its swords held out. With the former Headmaster dropping to his knees, avoiding being slashed. Followed by him getting into a crouch and moving closer to the Dark Inferno, extending his cane out as he thrusted it up, slamming the end into the Heartless' chin stopping it's attack.
Not stopping there, Ozpin swung his cane, striking the Dark Inferno across its face and sending it stumbling back before delivering a second strike to the other side of its face. Finishing by thrusting The Long Memory right into the Heartless' face, aiming at its eye as he did so. Something that finally got a reaction from the Dark Inferno as it held a hand up to its eye.
Seeing his chance, Ozpin lunged at the Dark Inferno holding his cane back before swinging it, only for the Heartless to block it with its sword. Before the Huntsman grunted in pain as it swung its other sword at his stomach, causing his Aura to flare around him as it nearly broke from the slash.
Jumping back to avoid another hit, with the Dark Inferno taking the chance to slam its swords together before sinking into the ground along with them. Knowing what was coming, Ozpin sped around the vault, leaving several green afterimages behind him as the white fireballs appeared and zeroed in on him.
Though as he avoided the fireballs, Ozpin kept his eyes on where the Dark Inferno sunk into the ground, having noticed that when it did this before it always emerged from the same spot it entered.
'And it should be emerging right…now!' Ozpin thought, running to the spot with his cane held at the ready to strike the Heartless.
What the Huntsman wasn't expecting was the Dark Inferno bursting up from the ground, spinning around like a drill as it did so. Forcing Ozpin to jump back to avoid getting hit, with the Dark Inferno lunging at him once more.
Blocking the Heartless' swords, Ozpin was surprised when it began absorb black/red energy before it began spinning around at high-speed. Jumping high up into the air, Ozpin pulled his cane back as he dived down towards the Dark Inferno, thrusting The Long Memory at it once he was close enough. With the Heartless quickly raising its swords blocking the cane, something Ozpin expected.
Pulling the handle the again, The Long Memory's gears glowed a bright gold as Ozpin released a small, concentrated blast of energy at the Dark Inferno. The blast being powerful enough to send the Heartless crashing into the ground with a crater forming beneath it.
"You are certainly a durable one, aren't you." Ozpin stated upon seeing the Dark Inferno was still in one piece, knowing any lesser Heartless would've been destroyed, even from such a small blast.
Not expecting a response, Ozpin quickly sped backwards when the Dark Inferno shot up and rushed at him swinging its swords rapidly. Only for the former Headmaster to be shocked when the Dark Inferno began absorbing black/red energy. But rather than spinning around with its swords held out, it lunged at him while spiraling around as a large drill.
With Ozpin only having a moment to slam his cane down in front of him, forming a magical barrier which the Heartless collided again. Gritting his teeth as he tried keeping his barrier up, Ozpin gasped in pain when the Dark Inferno managed to break through the barrier and slammed right into him.
His Aura flashed brightly from the attack, until the Heartless suddenly stopped its attack only to then immediately raise its blades and bring them down on top of Ozpin. The Huntsman gasping as his Aura finally shattered as the Dark Inferno's blades slashed him across his chest.
Falling to one knee while using The Long Memory to support himself, Ozpin panted heavily as he looked down, unable to help but chuckle somberly at the sight of his blood pouring out onto the floor.
"It seems…my time has finally come. So many lifetimes of regrets, failures and mistakes…and it seems now, I've failed in my mission." Said Ozpin, grunted as he tried getting back up, having never been one to stay down if he could keep fighting, his sense of duty always pushing him to keep going
"It's…rather funny…there was a time in my life when…I would always…say…I am just a man, and not even a very good one…believing I was a failure for so long, fighting an endless battle I could never win…but perhaps now…the battle will soon be ending. If it is…then I believe my life…is a small price to pay." Ozpin said, managing to force himself back to his feet, looking up at the Dark Inferno as it raised its sword to finish him.
"But…now…there's one thing I realize has always been true…I'm not a man…" Ozpin said, taking a deep breath as he gathered what strength he had left.
Just as the Heartless brought its swords down onto him, Ozpin lunged forward stabbing The Long Memory right into the Dark Inferno with all his strength. Much to its shock as the former Headmaster grunted as he charged forward pushing the Heartless back until they hit a wall.
"…I'm a wizard…and we always have one last trick up our sleeves." Stated Ozpin, grabbing the handle of his cane as the gears glowed a bright golden color.
"Now disappear."
Unleashing enough of the kinetic energy stored within The Long Memory to hopefully destroy the Heartless, Ozpin focused the blast straight into the Dark Inferno. Not wanting to risk destroying all of Beacon by simply letting it explode outwards or using too much. Releasing a massive beam of energy blasting a gigantic hole through the wall, and engulfing the Heartless.
Only for the blast to suddenly end as Ozpin dropped The Long Memory and looked down seeing one of the Dark Inferno's swords slashed him deeply across his chest. Looking up, Ozpin smiled faintly at seeing he had at least completely destroyed nearly half of the Heartless' body.
'One…good…thing…' Ozpin thought as he fell backwards closing his eyes for the final time.
Looking at the humans body, the Dark Inferno watched as his Heart soon appeared out of his body before reaching out and grabbing it, devouring the Heart to heal and restore itself. Only to feel overwhelming power flowing through it as it devoured the Heart.
Grunting from the unexpected rush of power, the Dark Inferno felt its body trembling before it began regenerating the missing half of its body. Though it didn't stop there as its body began changing along with its power growing.
Its body gained a dark golden hue rather than purple, while its horns, wing membranes, bladed tail, interior of its heart hole, wrist tendrils and swords all turned a dark gold color as well.
Before its face began splitting open until the Heartless let out a loud roar/screech as it felt itself transform into a much stronger form, no longer being just a Dark Inferno. But risen higher into a Dark Inferno X from the power of the Heart it devoured.
Turning to the hole behind it created from the humans blast, the Dark Inferno X saw it lead all the way out of the vault before flying through it, outside. Intent to find more Hearts to devour, more Heartless to create. And then…find the World's Heart so it could be devoured, to let this world fall into darkness as so many others have.
*With Qrow, Glynda and Amber*
Meanwhile, after escaping the vault Qrow, Glynda and Amber went up to Ozpin's office to wait and see what happens. With Qrow and Glynda both being ready in case the Dark Inferno came after them, while Amber tried gathering her strength to do something, just in case.
But after a few moments of nothing happening, the three tensed when they felt all of Beacon shaking before it stopped. Only relaxing after a few moments of nothing happening, with all of them collapsing to the ground as the realization sunk in.
"He's…gone…isn't he." Amber stated, having a hard time believing Ozpin is really dead, for good this time if the Heartless devoured his Heart.
"Yeah…he is. Damnit." Said Qrow, punching the ground in frustration and sadness, wishing Ozpin had just let him stay to fight.
Glynda released a shuttering breath before getting up, looking around Oz…her office now, knowing his loss will be a serious blow to their group. But she also knew they had work to do and prepare for what's to come. Knowing with the loss of her Maiden Host and Ozpin's death, they needed to be ready for anything Salem had planned.
"We…we can't stop now…even if Professor Ozpin is gone, we're still here, Salem is still here. We need to be ready for when she learns of what happened to her Maiden Host and Ozpin." Said Glynda, moving over behind the desk, hesitating for a moment before sitting down, with Qrow helping Amber stand up as they sat down in front of her.
"Okay. What's first?" Qrow asked, knowing she's right and they still had a lot of work to do.
"The first thing is we need a cover story for Ozpin's death, we can't tell anyone the truth as it would only cause a mass panic with the fear it'll instill. Which will draw the Grimm something we can't afford to deal with on top of the Dark Inferno likely escaping." Glynda said, with Qrow and Amber nodding in agreement.
"A stroke…or a heart attack, maybe an illness. It's something believable and a natural cause, I doubt many would be suspicious about it." Suggested Amber, figuring the best cover story would be a natural death.
"Those could work. However, we must tell the others, Theodore, Leonardo and…James. It's important they know of the threat of the Heartless should the Dark Inferno go to one of the other Kingdoms." Glynda said, knowing they needed to tell the others about Ozpin's death and the Heartless.
"Great…I don't like it, but yeah, they need to know the truth. As long as Jimmy doesn't start sending his ships and tin can soldiers everywhere. trying to find it." Qrow said, knowing Ironwood would do something stupid to try and take out the Dark Inferno.
Especially now that Ozpin is no longer here to keep him in check.
"I understand your concerns, Qrow, but we need to make sure they know of this threat and prepare for it." Said Glynda, with the ravenette grunting but nodded in agreement, the threat the Heartless posed wasn't one they could take lightly.
"Maybe we'll get lucky and Salem and the Heartless will take each other out for us." Amber stated, making Qrow snort in amusement.
"I don't think we're that lucky, kid. But it's a nice thought." Said Qrow with a smirk, knowing that'd solve their problems really quick.
"Quite. However there is one other issue to address. As I am now Headmaster of Beacon, that means the position of Combat Instructor is now…vacant." Glynda said, giving Qrow a pointed look, much to his and Amber's disbelief.
"Him?!" Amber said, pointing at Qrow, not believing she'd want him to teach at Beacon.
"Me?! No, no, no, no, no! N-O, no! I am not a teacher anymore, I can't even be one!" Said Qrow as he shook his head, knowing with his Semblance he'd do more harm than good.
"You are also one of the most skilled and experienced Huntsman in all of Remnant, experience you could pass on to the students. And with the current situation, you would be far more useful here than out in the field, given Beacon is now severely weakened with Ozpin gone. We need to make sure the students and the school remain safe. Not only that, but we need you to help Amber with her training, since none of the other teachers know about the Maidens, leaving only you and I to continue helping Amber master her powers." Explained Glynda, aware that Qrow's Semblance could cause problems but she believed the benefits of having him at Beacon outweighed it, before turning her attention to the aforementioned Fall Maiden.
"Speaking of which, Amber, starting this upcoming semester you'll be attending Beacon as a student to help explain your presence, here. When you can find time away from your team, you will meet with us for your training." Glynda stated, knowing that they won't be able to keep Amber a secret without the risk of the students eventually stumbling upon her, with the Fall Maiden nodding in understanding.
Honestly, Amber was just glad that she won't be locked up somewhere for her protection until she was deemed strong enough to defend herself from those that'll be after her. Plus, Amber can't deny that she does feel rather excited at the idea of attending a Huntsman Academy as famous as Beacon, despite the circumstances behind it.
"What about Tai, then? He knows all that stuff, too. And besides, Yang and Ruby will be attending, so I'm sure he'd happily teach here to look after them." Qrow said, only for the Headmaster to shake her head.
"And that's why I can't choose Taiyang. While he's talented and strong, he would also worry too much about his daughters to focus on anything else, especially if he learned about the Heartless. You can at least treat them the same as any other student, ensuring they're prepared just like everyone else." Glynda replied before sighing as she leaned back, while Qrow dragged a hand down his face.
"Is there really no one else?" Questioned Qrow, hoping she had someone else to choose.
Honestly, he'd even be on board with Glynda contacting Ironwood to have the Ice Queen serve as the new combat instructor.
"There is, but I doubt she'd agree to teaching children, even if one of them is her daughter." Said Glynda, making Qrow groan, knowing exactly who she meant and wasn't sure what's more concerning, that Glynda would even consider her or the idea that Raven might actually consider taking the job.
"…Alright, fine." Qrow said in acceptance.
"Don't be too upset, I'm stuck here too." Stated Amber, smirking slightly as she imagined the Huntsman having to teach a class.
*Timeskip-One Day*
*Xiao Long Cabin*
"Sad news today from Beacon Academy. Last night, Headmaster Ozpin tragically passed away. We learned this from his successor, Beacon Academy's former Combat Instructor and now new Headmaster, Glynda Goodwitch, that Professor Ozpin had been fighting a terminal illness for the last few years. The new Headmaster revealed that Professor Ozpin kept his condition hidden so that he may continue helping to guide the students of Beacon. We remember Professor Ozpin as a prodigy Huntsman, the youngest Headmaster of Beacon since its founding…"
"Professor Ozpin is…dead?" Ruby said, looking at the newscast with wide eyes, not believing the Headmaster was actually dead.
"Oh man…that's…man." Said Yang, just as shocked as her sister, not expecting to learn this had happened.
While Taiyang sighed sadly at learning Ozpin had died, he was also worried about what really could've happened, doubting Ozpin was actually sick. Making a note to called Qrow or Glynda to see if they knew anything, but for the time being he'd play along.
"That's how things are sometimes, something unexpected can come along and get you when you least expect it. I just never thought Ozpin would go like that." Taiyang said while looking at his daughters, only for him and Yang to notice Ruby's downcast look.
"You okay, Ruby?" Yang asked, looking at her sister in concern.
"Y-yeah…I'm fine. I mean…I didn't really know Professor Ozpin and only met him once, but…he was super nice and let me enter Beacon two years early. I…really wanted to show he wasn't wrong in letting me join, that I had what it takes to be a Huntress." Ruby muttered while looking down sadly, having wanted to show Ozpin he didn't make a mistake in letting her enter Beacon early.
"Hey, trust me, sis, you do have what it takes. I bet even more than most of the people that are entering it with us. You're strong, and Ozpin saw that when he let you enter." Yang assured, wrapping an arm around her sister, with Taiyang nodding in agreement.
"Yang's right. If there's one thing Ozpin could see in anyone, it's the potential they had to do great things. Trust me, Rubes, he knew you have what it takes." Added Taiyang, making Ruby smile slightly at them.
"Thanks Yang, dad. But I still want to do my best and show he didn't make a mistake." Ruby said, intending to show what she can do at Beacon.
*With Weiss*
Within her hotel room, Weiss Schnee Heiress to the Schnee Dust Company, was also watching the broadcast of Ozpin's death. A hand over her mouth in horror to learn the youngest Headmaster Beacon ever had is now dead.
Weiss is a pale-skinned young woman with pale blue eyes and long white hair that is often pulled back into an off-center ponytail or braid on the right side and pinned with a silver, icicle-shaped tiara. Weiss also has a scar which runs vertically down her left eye and face, which she got fighting an Arma Gigas.
She was wearing a thigh-length strapless dress with a faint color gradation from white to pale blue at the hem. A small piece of black lace sits in the front of her neckline and the hem of the dress is scalloped and stitched to resemble snowflakes, with layers of white tulle under the skirt. Over this, she wears a bell-sleeved bolero with the same color gradation as her dress from shoulder to wrist, lined in red and with a ruffled collar. On the back of the bolero is the Schnee Crest. She also wears a small apple pendant on a silver chain and thin, rectangular silver earrings. Her boots are white, wedged heeled, and higher at the back than the front. They have a small silver decoration across the top of the foot and are lined in red. A thin white sash is tied around her waist with a pouch attached to the back.
Weiss couldn't believe it when she turned on the news, having arrived in Vale early to familiarize herself with the city before going to Beacon for the Initiation Ceremony. Only to be shocked to learn Ozpin had died last night.
It was the last thing she expected, let alone just how he died. Showing that despite being considered a prodigy, Ozpin was still only human, making the heiress wonder just what will happen now that someone like that is gone.
*With Blake*
In an abandoned White Fang base just outside of the City of Vale, Blake Belladonna was listening to the broadcast of Ozpin's death over the radio.
Blake is a fair-skinned young woman with long wavy black hair and amber eyes. She also had a pair of black cat ears on top of her head, showing she's a Faunus, but were hidden by a black bow. Along with purple eyeshadow in a cats eye style.
Her attire consisted of a black, buttoned vest with coattails and a single silver button on the front. Underneath this is a white, sleeveless, high necked, crop undershirt and white shorts with a zipper on the front of each leg. She also wears black low-heeled boots and full stockings with a color gradation of black to purple at her ankles. Her emblem is visible on the outside of both thighs just below her shorts in white. On her left arm is a black detached sleeve with a silver cuff around her bicep, and black ribbons are wrapped around both forearms. A small, loose, black scarf is wrapped around her neck, and a gray magnetic backpack is strapped to her back, hidden by her hair.
It stunned Blake to learn Ozpin had died so suddenly, along with being saddened given how he never discriminated against the Faunus. Which is why she picked Beacon to enroll in, hoping Ozpin wouldn't hold it against her if he ever learned she used to be part of the White Fang.
'I guess that means I need to keep it a secret now, more than ever.' Blake thought while sighing, not sure what Glynda Goodwitch will be like as Headmaster, but would rather be safe than sorry.
*With Roman and Neo*
"Shit." Roman muttered as he and Neo were in one of their hideouts, laying low from the authorities until the heat died down.
Only for them to be shocked when they got the alert on their Scrolls of Ozpin's death, as despite being on opposite sides and having been helping with a plan to attack Beacon and kill him, it was still shocking to learn that he was actually dead and the way he died.
"You think it was Cinder and this is just a coverup?" Neo "asked" as she made a sign, with Roman shaking his head.
"Doubt it. If it was Cinder she'd probably already be back by now. I don't know what happened, but my guts telling me however Ozzie died, it sure as hell wasn't natural." Said Roman, feeling that there were just too many coincidences.
Cinder being captured and taken to Beacon, and then the next day Ozpin suddenly drops dead, he wasn't buying it. Knowing something must've happened at Beacon that the teachers there want to be kept hidden. He just wasn't sure what, only that it had to be something big if it ended in Ozpin dying.
*With Raven*
Standing on a roof in Mountain Glenn, Raven Branwen frowned as she looked at her Scroll reading the news of Ozpin's death.
Raven had pale skin, long jet black hair tied by a red bandanna and loosely done up in a ponytail with the ends resembling curved black feathers, along with dark crimson eyes. Her attire consisted of a shallow cut black and red dress with black shorts underneath, with series of beaded necklaces and a belt that wraps around her waist and carries her weapon's sheath. Attached also is a long black object that is either fur or feathers, with a red and white bandana material like hanging from behind her. Her forearms bare red armored gauntlets that protrude outwards and solid black gloves, along with black mid-thigh high leggings and black heels with red soles.
'It's a good cover story, one that most people will accept at face value.' Raven thought, fully knowing it was a lie and Ozpin's death wasn't natural.
After she checked in on Yang to make sure she wasn't getting into any trouble, only for her to get into a fight at a club, Raven had intended to return to the tribe. Only for the person who beat her daughter, a kid younger than even Summer's daughter, had looked straight her while she was a raven and then vanished in a portal of darkness similar to her own Semblance.
That had been enough to get Raven to stick around a little longer, wanting to find out just who this kid was and how he was able to sense her. With her intrigue only growing when he and Summer's daughter took out Salem's wannabe Fall Maiden. The ravenette knowing what would happen to her once she was taken to Beacon.
What she hadn't been expecting was everything she overheard in Ozpin's office, about creatures called Heartless, with the one that killed Ozpin being called Dark Inferno. Raven didn't have all the details, only that whatever this Heartless was, it's concerning if it's strong enough to kill Ozpin, even in his weakened condition.
'And something tells me that kid is involved.' Raven thought pocketing her Scroll before stepping off the roof, transforming as she fell through the air and made her way to Vale, intent to gather more information and get some answers.
*Shade Academy-With Theodore*
While in his office in Shade Academy, Professor Theodore couldn't help but sigh tiredly over the news he'd gotten from Glynda and Qrow.
Theodore is described as "putting everything out there," having worked hard to get his body into peak physical condition and wanting to show it off. He has dark, close cut hair, which is almost shaved off, and a checkered vest shows off his wiry frame, thin but with sharp lines of muscle, like he had been chiseled from stone. He was wearing an ankle length, grey-blue cape likened to the color of a storm sky which is clasped onto his shoulders with a silver chain, a silver belt with a round buckle, matching boots, and bright white slacks with deep side pockets. Theodore also wears red gloves which are decorated in Dust crystals, his weapon of choice.
'First Salem and the Grimm, now something that eats Hearts to make more of itself. Brothers, this is turning into one giant mess.' Theodore thought while rubbing his temples, wondering how they were supposed to fight something none of them have even heard of before, let alone consider something like it existed.
And despite believing Ozpin could be rather reckless with his decisions, it did sadden Theodore to learn he was truly gone. Having still respected Beacon's Headmaster for keeping up the fight against the Salem for so long, and even fighting to the end to try and stop another threat from endangering Remnant.
Before he leaned back to try and think over to do, knowing his first priority is making sure his students and Shade Academy is safe.
'Okay, Ozpin knew about these…Heartless things. And from how he described them to Qrow and Goodwitch, they're like Grimm, acting only on instinct to seek out other Hearts to devour and make more Heartless. So, if they're like Grimm…then there must be those that know how to kill them. The problem is…who would those people be?' Thought Theodore, knowing if they wanted a chance to defeat these Heartless, they'll need someone that's familiar with them and knows how to kill them.
*Atlas Academy-With James*
'Like we didn't have enough problems to worry about.' Thought James Ironwood, General of the Atlesian Military and Headmaster of Atlas Academy.
Ironwood is a tall, well-built man with fair skin, black hair that was greying on the sides and blue eyes, along with a strip of metal over his left eye. He wore a white overcoat, with a gray undercoat, black sweater, a red necktie and a white glove on his right hand. His suit pants shared the same color as his overcoat and were tucked into silver boots accented in gray.
It had shocked and saddened the general to learn Ozpin had died, truly died with no way to reincarnate again. Even more concerning was the existence of these Heartless creatures, capable of devouring Hearts to create more of their kind. It potentially made them even more dangerous than the Grimm with power like that.
Knowing if the Dark Inferno wasn't stopped soon, then the Heartless could likely overwhelm all of Remnant, even the Grimm wouldn't stand a chance.
'Oz, I swear your sacrifice won't be in vain. No matter what it takes, we will stop Salem and the Heartless, we will make sure Remnant is protected. Vale, Vacuo, Mistral and Atlas, I'll do everything in my power to protect this world with everything I've got.' Ironwood thought, more determined than ever to honor his friend's sacrifice and protect all of Remnant from any that'd dare to threaten it.
But for now he needed to make plans, he had intended to bring a fleet of airships and the new Atlesian Knights to Vale in preparation for the Vytal Festival. Seeing he made the right call with what Glynda and Qrow told him regarding what Salem and her followers were planning. Knowing having a robotic army around would ensure Vale's and Beacon's safety.
'But now with the Heartless threat, I need to make sure we're prepared to handle anything that comes our way.' Thought James, knowing even if the Atlesian Knights don't have Hearts to be consumed, he wasn't sure they'd be able to so much as scratch this Dark Inferno.
The only positive thing he's learned is that the Aura Transfer Machine worked. Amber's power having been restored to her, with the process even fully healing her from the attack. And hopefully soon she'll be in fighting shape again, and even stronger once she's finished her training.
'But one Maiden isn't enough. We have no idea where the Spring and Summer Maidens are, and the Winter Maiden…Fria's getting worse.' James thought while sighing, knowing it won't be long before Fria's age catches up and she can't remember anyone, which will cause her powers to go to a random candidate.
Though knowing this, James had been trying to find someone to pass her powers onto and believes he's found the perfect candidate. He'd just hoped to wait a few more years until he was sure she could handle the responsibility that came with the knowledge. But now he knew they didn't have time and they needed all the help they could get.
"Get me Specialist Schnee." James said through the intercom, knowing it's time for a new Winter Maiden.
*Haven Academy-With Leonardo*
'Ozpin is…dead…for good.' Leonardo Lionheart thought in despair that Ozpin was truly dead.
Lionheart is a middle-aged man with a mane of tan/gray hair and a beard. He had a tanned complexion with brown eyebrows and dark brown eyes. He's also a lion Faunus, having a lion's tail the same color as his hair and beard. He wore a brown greatcoat with a matching mantle, which had cross emblems on each side. He also wore a white dress shirt under his coat, a western necktie and carried a pocket watch with a lion head on it as an emblem. Lionheart also wore dark brown slacks and dress shoes.
It devastated Lionheart when Qrow and Glynda contacted him, informing him of Ozpin's death, only for it to soon be replaced by fear when they told him about the Heartless and what they could do. Finding the existence of such creatures terrifying, far more than the Grimm.
As at least with the Grimm if they kill you then you simply die, but these Heartless…being able to devour Hearts was truly horrifying as there's no telling what would happen once they did so. If you simply died or ceased to exist entirely. Even worse that the Hearts they devour lead to more Heartless being created.
'There…there really is no hope…is there? Salem and the Grimm, now these Heartless, there's no way out. I…I have to tell Salem about this.' Lionheart thought in despair and self-loathing that even now he's betraying Ozpin and his allies by informing Salem that Beacon is basically defenseless with him gone.
*Later-Evernight Castle*
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh what wonderful news! Ozpin, dead! For good this time! And killed by such an amazing creature! Do you think it truly devoured his Heart after ripping it from his chest?!" Said Tyrian Callows, smiling madly at his goddess's enemy was dead, only regretting he wasn't the one to kill Ozpin in her honor.
Tyrian is a pale young man with gold eyes and a brown ponytail braided to resemble a scorpion's tail. Tyrian is also a Faunus, having a large scorpion tail emerging from his tailbone, which he usually disguises by wrapping it around his waist like a belt. He wears a white sleeveless jacket with leather belts strapped to it, along with white pants. His jacket is left open, exposing his bare chest, which is crisscrossed with prominent scars. His arms are covered with cream-colored bandages and leather vambraces. He also wears leather boots covering his entire shin with knee guards. On each earlobe is a silver, ring-shaped earring, and near the top of his left ear is another matching earring.
"You laugh like this is all a game. It's not. Ozpin might be dead, but this thing, this Heartless is now running loose and will attack anyone it can find. And unlike the Grimm, this isn't under anyone's control." Hazel Rainart stated with a frown, not finding any amusement in this, unable to even feel pleased that Ozpin is dead and Gretchen is avenged.
Hazel is a tall and muscular middle-aged man, being unusually large and broad letting him tower over nearly everyone, He has short dark brown hair, a beard and hazel eyes. His hairy arms also had large scars running up them, a result of using Dust infusions. He wore a two-tone olive green coat over a black 3/4 sleeve shirt, and a large belt. His pants were black, with a pouch strapped to each pants leg, and his boots are brown with white fronts.
"I personally find it rather fascinating. The way these Heartless are described, they sound similar to Grimm, acting on pure instinct with only a single goal. But rather than just destruction, they seek to create more of themselves, doing so by devouring Hearts. And isn't that interesting, is it our actual, physical Hearts they eat, or some form of inner power found in all living things that takes the form of a Heart when they remove it. Perhaps we'll be able to find one of these Heartless and detain it for study." Said Arthur Watts, feeling curious to learn more about these Heartless and what they're capable of.
Watts is a tall middle-aged man with a slim build and slightly tanned skin. He has short black and gray hair as well as a thick mustache and eyebrows, and green eyes. Arthur wore a grey overcoat with yellow linings, a yellow dress shirt, and a black necktie. His pants were the same color as his overcoat. His yellow-buttoned undercoat and fingerless gloves matched his cordovan shoes, under which he wore yellow socks.
"And what exactly is it, you'd wish to find out about these creatures?" Questioned Hazel while looking at Arthur, who shrugged in response.
"Something, anything, it doesn't really matter what I learn as long as I learn something. But I'm sure anything I can learn by studying a Heartless would prove useful to Salem's plans, perhaps even helping create a new form of Grimm." Arthur said before the three turned to their leader, Salem, to see what she had to say of Ozpin's death or any new orders.
'…I can't believe that Ozma would sacrifice himself for such meaningless creatures…I thought he was more intelligent than that, but I guess I was dead wrong in my assessment of that fool…' Salem thought to herself as she was still coming to terms with the fact that he was really gone…for good this time.
Salem is a woman with deathly pale skin, dark purple veins lining her face and arms, a black diamond-shaped marking in the center of her forehead, with glowing crimson eyes and jet black sclerae in her eyes. With her hair being a bleached, pale white color, styled into a larger bun with six offshoots wrapped together that also suspends several obsidian-colored ornaments.
Her attire consisted of a very long, short-sleeved black robe that obscures her feet and partially drags across the ground, with its distinctive feature being a curved high collar with dark red trim bordering the outer edge of a narrow window exposing her bust in a vertical ellipsis resembling an eye, and completed with a long shawl emblazoned with three interconnected, maroon-colored vertical elliptic sigils resembling a trio of overseeing eyes above a series of maroon-colored diamond emblems. She also wears a ring resembling a beetle on her right middle finger, which have long fingernails with jet-black nail polish.
"Your Grace, shall we attack Beacon?! It would be so easy now with Ozpin dead!" Tyrian said, eager for the chance to attack Beacon and begin the slaughter.
Only for them to frown when they saw Salem simply sitting there looking straight ahead, though it seemed like she wasn't even really looking at anything.
"Salem…there's also the…matter of Cinder." Hazel hesitantly said, not doubting she was enraged that they'd also lost the Fall Maiden power that Cinder stole, as well as Cinder herself.
But Salem still didn't respond and kept looking ahead, making Hazel and Arthur worried she would suddenly lash out and simply keeping her anger bottled up at the moment.
"Uh…My Lady…are you upset you lost the chance to kill Ozpin, yourself?" Arthur asked, with the Grimm Queen once again remaining silent.
Though after a few moments Salem stood up and headed for the doors, stopping for a moment and glanced over her shoulder at her followers.
"…Do whatever you want…just…leave me alone until I need you…" Said Salem before exiting the meeting hall, much to Tyrian's confusion while Hazel and Arthur soon realized what's going on.
"What's going on? Her Grace should be celebrating now, her great enemy is dead! There's no one left to stand against her!" Said Tyrian, confused at why Salem isn't overjoyed at Ozpin's death and wasn't already planning to attack Beacon.
"And that's the problem, you lunatic. Use your head for once and think, Ozpin is the only person that's been around as long as Salem has, they've been enemies for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. But now the one person she's fought against for so long is dead and in such a sudden, unexpected way. Salem is now truly alone." Arthur said, now understanding what's wrong.
They all knew Salem has been fighting against Ozpin and all his reincarnations for centuries, even millennia, it's likely she's begun depending on it, to have someone around like her who'd never truly die. Now for her lifelong nemesis to suddenly die, this time for good, it's likely she's not even sure how to process it, that now she's truly the last of her own kind, losing her purpose for fighting.
"The sudden loss of an eternal rival can be discomforting, especially when you also lose the chance to kill them for good with your own hands." Stated Hazel, honestly feeling pretty lost himself at the knowledge Ozpin is really gone.
Having joined Salem only because he believed fighting her was pointless and to get revenge on Ozpin for getting Gretchen killed. But now, he no longer has the chance to avenge his sister, himself, making Hazel wonder what he was supposed to do now. Knowing Salem's likely feeling the same, only much worse, to lose the person she's hated for nearly her entire life.
Not to mention one other thing Arthur and Hazel both suspected Salem was feeling at losing Ozpin, but were smart enough to stay silent on the matter.
*With Naruto*
Meanwhile, Naruto sat on a roof in Vale frowning as he looked at his Scroll, reading the news of Ozpin's death.
Despite only having met him briefly, the Seeker of Darkness was still caught off-guard to learn that Ozpin had just suddenly died last night.
'It honestly seems too sudden with everything else that happened, that girl who had magic, inviting me and Ruby to join Beacon. Something just doesn't seem right.' Naruto thought, feeling that something else was going on
'Not just that, but Ozpin was Headmaster of Beacon Academy, and from what I sensed from him he was no ordinary Huntsman. Someone that important…there's going to be some major fallout from someone like that dying.' Thought Naruto before his frowned deepened as he looked around, sensing…something as he got up and summoned Void Gear as he got in a stance.
Only to soon hear clapping as a figure emerged from the shadows, cladded in an all-black coat with a matching set of pants, boots and gloves. With the main coat being ankle-length while also having long-sleeves and a large hood that the figure currently has up, obscuring their face. Also having two silver drawstrings for the hood, each with a large silver bead hanging from the end along with a silver chain ornament with lobster claw clasps on each end that fasten to loops on either side of the collarbone region.
"My, my, your senses are definitely sharp to notice little ole me, lurking about. Though I hope that you understand that this is the reason why we can't go about, interfering in a world's affair's willy-nilly." The Figure said as he stopped clapping, before putting a hand on his hip as he wagged his finger at Naruto scoldingly manner, despite his tone sounding the contrary.
Much to Naruto's annoyance that this guy just comes out of nowhere, only to start scolding him like some misbehaving child. Though despite it, Naruto didn't drop his stance as he restrained himself from letting the banter get to him as he could tell that this man was far stronger than he was letting on.
"Though I guess it couldn't be helped, since the fact that you're standing here right now is a paradox in of itself. Honestly, it's quite fascinating." The figure said with a shrug as he developed slightly more serious tone and stance, while bringing a hand to his chin as he looked at Naruto with great intrigue.
"What, are you saying I wasn't supposed to exist? And who the hell are you, anyway?" Naruto asked as he got out of his stance, but kept Void Gear out and his guard up on the chance he turns hostile if what he just said is anything to go off of.
"Oh, don't worry. If I planned to kill you, I would've already done so. As for who I am, I've long since cast aside my true name, but you can refer to me as The Master of Masters or The Master for short." The Master of Masters stated as Naruto looked at him, completely stunned at learning who's standing before him.
*With Cinder*
Meanwhile, Cinder stumbled through the Emerald Forest, leaning against a tree as she looked around, tiredly.
"What am I…doing here? How…how did I even get here? Who…am…I?" Cinder muttered, not sure how she ended up in a forest.
"Why do I…feel so empty too?" Said Cinder while looking down at herself, having been feeling an emptiness inside of her as if she's missing something important.
Not only that, but…she couldn't even feel anything. She could recall things like feeling anger, sadness, pain, satisfaction, but that's it. She couldn't feel any emotions, barely remembering the feeling of them.
"Because you have lost your Heart." Someone said, getting Cinder's attention as she looked to see someone stepping out from a tree.
She couldn't see any features from due to their attire, which consisted of a black coat with a hood pulled up over their face, with it being plainly adorned with a silver zipper and seemingly decorative silver beaded pull strings for the hood that form a semi-circle in the middle. Underneath their coat, they wore hakama-esque black pants and knee-high silver trimmed black boots. In addition to this, they wore lengthy black gloves.
The only thing Cinder could tell about the person was they were male given their deep, baritone voice.
"My…Heart?" Questioned Cinder, with the stranger nodding in response.
"Yes, your Heart has left you, reborn as a Heartless. While you remained, your body and soul, showing the strength of your will to not fade away with the loss of your Heart. But now you are no longer human…you are a Nobody." Said the stranger, with Cinder only tilting her head while feeling like she should be angry at being called a "nobody".
"A…Nobody? Is that…someone that's lost their Heart? Can they…get it back?" Cinder asked, wondering if there's a way to get her Heart back, to get rid of this emptiness inside her.
"Join me and find out for yourself. My Organization is made of those like us, Nobodies who have lost their Hearts and seek to understand them, to become complete beings. Join us, and you will have your chance to become complete once more." Said the stranger while holding out his hand, with Cinder looking at it before grabbing it.
"I accept. I want to be complete." Said Cinder, making the stranger nod.
"Then you must take a new name, to show you have abandoned who you once were and become someone else." The stranger said as Cinder's name appeared in front of her as glowing letters, before an X soon appeared over her face as the letters began rearranging themselves
"Welcome to Organization XIII…Necixrd."
So, what did you think, good. Yep we see things from Cinder's perspective in the Aura Transfer Machine, as she feels her Aura and Maiden powers being drained away. Much to her shock and horror at her greatest fear coming true, that soon she'll be weak, weaker than she even was before. Leading to Cinder recalling her life before Salem, her time at the orphanage, being treated as a slave by the Madame and her daughters, believing she found a light with Rhodes only for him to betray her.
Then being found by Salem who groomed and trained her to take the Maiden powers for herself, making Cinder believe she was entitled to them, that they were hers. Before Cinder also remembers how she ended up in this situation, filling her with anger and hate. With this leading to her Heart being consumed by darkness, being reborn as a Dark Inferno Heartless.
We then see Qrow and Glynda fighting the Dark Inferno while Ozpin gets Amber to safety, knowing they couldn't let a Heartless be created from her Heart. Only for the Dark Inferno to prove too powerful, making them realize someone needs to stay behind and hold it off. With Ozpin being the one to stay, naming Glynda as the new Headmaster, while being confident they can carry on without him.
But despite Ozpin's best efforts, he's soon overwhelmed by the Dark Inferno and killed, with his Heart being consumed allowing it to grow into a stronger Dark Inferno X before escaping to create more Heartless. While Qrow, Glynda and Amber now know Ozpin's gone before planning what to do next.
While we then see the different reactions of several characters to the new of Ozpin's death, both the cover story and those who know the truth, seeing how things are changing or accelerating as a result of his death.
Finally we also see Naruto's reaction and knowing the death of someone as important as Ozpin will have severe repercussion. Before he's then approached by The Master of Masters who's been intrigued at these new changes happening even he hasn't predicted. Along with seeing Cinder stumbling around somewhere in the Emerald Forest, before she's approached by a stranger who recruits her into a new Organization and gives her a new name, Necixrd. So, for those that like the story, thanks for your support. For those that don't or at least don't like the direction taken, you're more than welcomed to drop the story.
Storm out