RWBY: Bonds Between Hearts
Chapter 28: The Fall of Beacon
WARNING: I own none of these characters sides from my OC(s). All rights go to their respective owners and properties.
This is nothing more than, well a fanfic, a story made up by a fan for entertainment and knowledge.
Everything in this fic is not canon and is only meant to give the audience a new idea of the works of each of the franchises in this story.
So please support me, my work and have some fun. Now enjoy the story. ^w^
The snake that is Evol idly stared at the screens in his human form, eating popcorn while watching the broadcast of the ongoing tournament of the Vytal Festival. Was he bored? Nah, the humans of this planet had been providing him entertainment so he was not bored whatsoever. The alien lifeform had some success in his tasks now that he had all the Fullbottles, minus the three his little boyo and ex-commander still have. All that was needed was to take the next step.
Looking at his hand, he knew it was a matter of time before he can… pass over to his new host. When that occurs, so does the completion of phase 2. Alas his little serpents he sent out to spy on the potential party poopers who would ruin the fun. Salem's group for example. Last he heard through the snakes was the plan regarding the Fall of Beacon was about to commence on this day.
Of course watching the world burn from the conflict between those people is something he would watch with popcorn and all that. Eden was protected by his technology so no skin off his back. Though he had an inkling the plan for Beacon's fall would have some complications which he wasn't complaining about.
One example is Vernage. Knowing the dear saint, she would immediately act with haste and slaughter Grimm as the warrior with magic she is. Again, not complaining so he had a good guess one of Salem's people would try to stall her. Keyword try. In blunt terms, they would fail in getting in that woman's way.
He knew Vernage better than anyone on this planet. Once a little naive princess turned into a hardened yet noble and wise saint who he fought so many times for centuries, a soul older than Ozma. Ahh the memories. Good times. Good times.
He snapped his fingers, allowing a Guardian bot to approach. "Strengthen the barriers around Eden and the Sky Wall due to an upcoming rise of Grimm. I wanna have front row seats in watching what these people will do in this upcoming mess."
"Request: accepted." With a nod, the Guardian headed off to strengthen the barrier as requested.
This day was going to be an entertaining time, and he'll enjoy it before he commences to the next phase. At least with this, he knows he'll have a good show before the true end of this planet by his hands happens. He was starving, can't blame him.
An ethereal snake slithered onto his hand, allowing Evol to pet it. "Let's see how you humans and Faunus burn your own world to the ground before I show you my new form."
XXX
The final round of the Vytal Festival has now approached. The last set of students left remaining all were eager and ready to duke it out to win for their school. Of course, many people were cheering with delight and excitement as this year was one of the most popular in recent years, so many couldn't tell who was going to win for this year.
And within said seats, Cody, Team RWB, and JNR were all cheering for their beacon friends who made it, as Yang and the gray-haired teen were the last one of Beacon to be in this fight. Alongside them, Pyrrha and Penny also made it as the only last two were from Vacuo and Mantle, with the latter showing one of the odd members from one of the Mantle teams to be standing there, stoic and more ready to just end this day already.
"You got this, Yang!" Cody and Ruby shouted to the blonde brawler in unison. The said huntress waving to the two but gave a wink to the said rider who blushed yet smiled.
[Welcome back everyone to the second round of the Single Match!] Port announced.
[Todays match is these two close quarters fighters will be in a single ring. No stages, just skills and the arena. First one to knock the opponent out of the ring, or complete deplete their Aura wins.] Oobleck added on, surprising the crowd. [That's right. They must do one of those to win. No longer disqualification from the Aura in the Red Zone anymore.]
As the two fighters entered the center stage, the gravity dust underneath reacted as it lifted up the two into the air, leaving it to be a simple fight between huntsmen with only their prowess and skill facing off instead of any outside help or interference.
"You better not hold back." Yang smirked softly at her opponent.
"Please, you wish." Mercury smirked back from the blonde challenger.
Though deep down, he was truly thankful for Cinder and whatever she got to hide his face alongside Emerald's from detection. After all, they still were wanted, but with this disguise tech they were given? They can slip through and still work on their plan, and this was one of them. A pain in the ass but those two devilish twins still set him on edge given who those two work for and being psychopaths.
"Break his legs!" Nora shouted out, too into the fight to realize her words.
They exchange kicks after this attack until Mercury hits her backwards, and he rushes forward only to receive a fist to his chin, then his torso, knocking him on his stomach. He gets up right as Yang starts raining down fire again, causing him to somersault back until one explosion causes him to get knocked off of the stage. He saves himself by firing his boots downward and flying back in front of his enemy, unleashing a series of kicks that she deflects with her arms. She ducks under one attack only to receive another as Mercury jumps into the air to knock her back, and he follows it up with a shot from his boots. Yang avoids it effortlessly, not noticing it still hanging around behind her.
Switching tactics, Mercury starts shooting his foot out in every direction, each kick into the air accompanied by a silvery blast that are barely even aimed at Yang. She dodges each one coming her way and gets in close through the circling barrage of shots, fighting with their fists again until Mercury kicks her into the air and knocks her right back to the ground, followed by the dozens of swirling shots that now converge right onto Yang.
When the blasts stop coming down on his opponent, Mercury gets up from his crouch and grins to himself, dusting off his outfit and seeming as happy as can be until the smoke from behind him erupts into flames. His momentary shock turns into another smile as he turns around to see the red-eyed Yang slam her knuckles together and come at him.
Screaming, she lands a punch that sends him back, and she rushes up avoiding each kick and even taking one with no effect to pound at him with an unrelenting bombardment of left-right blows. He has enough time to let out a pained groan before she hits him in the stomach, his Aura sparkling up to try and defend him from the last hit to the face by the upset blonde. He lands on his back as the buzzer sounds over the roars of the audience.
[And with that amazing fight, Yang Xiao Long wins the match!] Port announced as the crowd erupted in applause.
"Way to go Yang!" Cody cheered with a large smile on his face.
"You did it sis!" Ruby added.
Yang panted turning to the now weakened Mercury, "Better luck next time." She said with a smile, ready to head off of the arena.
"That's not going to happen blondie!" Mercury shouted, murderously angry.
Yang froze as she turned around, only to see the silver haired Huntsmen get up and charge at her. Everything felt as if it was slowing down. Only for her to see him jump at her, leg extended as she saw he was planning to attack her. She frowned as she reeled back her fist and shot his leg but also the sound of something breaking, making everyone to gasp in shock.
"GGAUGH!" He wailed out in pain, looking up at her, "W-Why? Why would you do that?!"
"You attacked me, you little bastard!"
"Yang Xiao Long! Stand down!" Several Atlas soldiers rush into the arena, guns drawn at her.
"Wh-What?"
XXX
Lily abruptly stood on her feet upon the footage. She immediately dismissed the screen earning confusion from the children.
"Is something wrong?" One of them spoke up with worry.
Lily swiped her arm, projecting the outside and noticed the movement of the Grimm. The booing and fear that held the negativity the crowd was making was causing the Grimm to slowly converging where the festival took place. It was no coincidence.
"Vernage…. What should we do?"
"Find the proof."
"And then?"
"What must be done for humanity's sake."
Understanding the implications she grabbed her large coat. "Coral, Indigo, watch the children."
"Where… are you going?" Coral asked.
"Doing what Vernage would do." With it, she put the large jacket over her and the Virtuous Steel over her back.
"Be careful…" Indigo pleaded.
The bat and saint were now on the hunt.
XXX
"I'm telling you that you're wrong!" Cody shouted as he was with Team RWBY alongside Ironwood, just not too long after she was restrained and forced out of the Festival arena. He came to learn the team was disqualified by it.
"Please, calm down." Ironwood pleaded to the boy.
"Yang isn't the type to just attack someone down! I'm telling you, you're wrong and you should investigate that dude she fought! He had to have cheated!" Cody shook his head, unable to be convinced that what happened wasn't a set up.
"What if this was Evol's work?!"
Ironwood grimaced. Given Faust had the dreaded capability to make things look… accidental and the notoriety to create such damn well made doctored work, it was only fair for Cody to make such an accusation.
"Trust me, I too think it would be something, Faust would do. Yet, from his credentials, Mercury Blake was born and raised in Mistral. His bloodwork, family tree, even his fighting style are all backed up with proof. I'm sorry, but there is truly no evidence that he is with Faust. And given how openly Faust's agents can be, this isn't their MO." Ironwood informed the group, earning looks of defeat from the girls.
"I'm sorry… but with no evidence or anything to connect them to our enemies? We truly can only assume it was stress and adrenaline to have her attack Mercury."
"So that's it then? You are just going to do nothing?!"
"What would you do then? Ruffle the injured boy and find a hole in his leg?" Ironwood questioned the rider.
"Considering you guys locked me up previously!"
"And I personally thought you moved past that… Why else would I approve of Pietro Pollendina becoming your guardian?" The general frowned at that trivial outcry.
"Then I'll ask sis to look into it since you won't believe her or ke!" He marched to the door.
"Wouldn't that also be considered 'cheating'?" The general spoke up, "Asking her to dig into records illegally and find the same info we do? You're being too emotional, boy."
Ironwood clenched slightly when he saw the red hue in his eyes. Not like Xiao Long's but from his Hazard of the Nebula.
"I'm being emotional? You haven't seen me at my worst… I will prove Yang is being framed here… And if you're going to try and stop me? Then best understand that I will fight back…" The young rider declared before marching out of the room.
"Cody. Cody Aldrich!" The blonde ignored Ironwood. He was determined to get answers to show Yang did not attack that jerk.
Yang sat there with her friends, a soft smile on her face as the young rider was putting himself out there to prove that she was framed. Even if he's being reckless a bit, she was touched by his actions to defend her. The brawler can only hope he remains safe from this. Ironwood grunted and left the dorm room, pressing his fingers against an earpiece.
With him gone, Weiss exhaled, "You two are more alike than I thought."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Yang questioned the heiress.
"You're both headstrong, bold, reckless and always charging ahead like an angry child having a tantrum." Weiss pointed out to the blonde, "But… you're both true to your hearts. You will do whatever it takes to defend and help someone, even if everyone else is against you. It's honestly infuriating to me, but I can't deny that i don't envy that sort of conviction either."
"So you guys believe me right?" Yang asked softly, looking up at all of them. "He… attacked me... I was just defending myself…"
"Duh!" Ruby said, not questioning her sister and her innocence.
"You're hotheaded, not ruthless," Weiss shook her head.
"Blake?" Yang asked Blake next. Yet the Faunus girl sat there in silence, earning some worried looks from Ruby and Weiss, but a painful sad look from the brawler. "B-Blake…?"
"It's not like I don't trust you, Yang… It's just, this isn't the first time I've had an experience like this…" Blake confessed, "I know you're not the type to just attack someone who can't fight back. But… you can be reckless at times too… It's hard for me when this isn't the first time you did something reckless and almost got hurt from it. And you've never done anything like this before. So... I want to trust you. I will trust you. But first, I need you to look me in the eyes and tell me that he attacked you. I need you to promise me that you regret having to do what you did."
Yang wiped the tears away and nodded, "He did attack me… And of course I regret my actions." She responded with a soft smile.
Blake looked at Yang before she smiled. "Okay. Thank you."
"Well, I think we all had enough troubles today." Weiss stood up, "Why don't we at least head back and cheer for Pyrrha, Yang? Besides, your boyfriend is already going to find things out anyways, so let him handle it."
"You can all go on ahead… I wanna wait for his return." Yang smiled, as she rather greet him back with open arms.
XXX
As the experiment was heading out to where Lily would be at, his mind began to ponder about the whole predicament. It still made him confused as to why this happened, other than to frame Yang for supposedly injuring a student. He knew something was still wrong about this and he was processing what it could be.
As much as he desired to watch the next match, proving Yang's innocence was far more important to him. Because Yang is…
The girl he loves.
"Why Yang though? Out of everyone in Beacon, it makes more sense to target Pyrrha if they wanted to make Beacon look bad… So why her?" He muttered to himself. Pyrrha had that magnet or polarity, whatever it was that involved magnetism. He remembered the other contestants of the finals. There was Yang, that Mercury jerk, Pyrrha, and of course Penny-
Cody froze the second his foot touched the dirt.
Penny.
Pyrrha's magnetism. Penny's body being an android of metal.
Cody's mind raced in realization. They rigged the system for Pyrrha to fight Penny!
This was a rigged match from the very start! And with that realization he realized that Yang was just a scape goat, one for the people to grow their negativity to draw in Grimm!
He turned back around, ready to run back to Amity Colosseum, but before he could take another step, he was greeted with two familiar faces. Standing there now, were none other than Experiment 898 and 899, both weapons in hand.
"It seems, 931 has figured out Cinderella's plan, brother." 899 noted with a huff.
"Yeah! Guess we're going to have to put you in the dirt! Can't have you or the traitor from interfering!" 898 stated with a twirl of his Nebula Steam Gun.
"Out of my way… Unless you two want another humiliating defeat against me again?" Cody threatened the two. The two clenched slightly, recalling Cody's power boost that is Magma. "I know Evol isn't the type to order you two to stall me. Either he forgot to tug the leash or this 'Cinderella' asked you."
"I'm only doing this for my darling Cinder!" 898 said with delight, only to be slapped by his brother.
"You need serious help with your obsession issues…" 899 sighed. "Either way, we're making sure you don't get back to that place." The older brother said, before the two pulled the trigger, covering them in the Nebula Steam fog.
FUNKY!
ENGINE/REMOTE CONTROL GEAR
As the two gained their armors, they charged towards the rider as they plan to duel him and stall the boy from returning to the others. Cody hissed as he dodged the first swipe before blocking a punch from the other. He had to get back, so he held up his driver and strapped it on to deal with the pair. With the Magma Knuckle in hand, he striked 899 in the face and flung him far before turning and lifting up 898 before tossing him aside to give the rider some room.
BOTTLE BURN!
CROSS-Z MAGMA!
As the weapon was inserted into the driver, he then began to crank and churn the lever on it, as the large mechanical version of the fist weapon to appear behind him.
ARE YOU READY?!
"Henshin!" He shouted and soon the magma container was tilted towards the blonde, causing it to pour all of its contents all over the boy, even causing it to spill outward in front of him.
GOKUNETSU KINNIKU!
CROSS-Z MAGMA!
ACHACHACHACHACHACHA ACHA!
As the magma hardened and shattered, his fiery orange and obsidian armor was on him. He blocked both of their punches and returned it with his own magmatic swing to their torsos. The powerful blow made the two Gear Bros cough in pain before the dragon rider grabbed their heads and smashed them into the ground, only to rush ahead and drag them through the ground before tossing them into a bolder, shattering it to pieces from their impact.
As Cross-Z went after them, he found no sign of the brothers. Confused that they left, he was about to head off before a slash came and struck his back, making him gasp from the attack. But as he turned to where it was, he saw no sign of the attacker.
"Where are you?!" He demanded. "Are you two chickens after what happened in our last fight!?"
Another slash sparked off of his hide once more, only for him to be unable to hit them once again. The rider growled from it, he knew what this was. They were using the cloak tech to hide and wear him down.
"If that's how you jerks wanna play it, then let's turn up the heat!" He slammed his fists together before plunging it into the dirt. The magma colors of his armor glowed, creating a hot rise of steam to erupt. Steam began to form by the hot contact. Flickers of ember rose from a few blades of grass. His orange lenses stared and briefly noticed a flicker of the steamy air flowing by movement.
"There!" He swung his fiery fist to his right, creating a blast of sparks that erupted and the white-geared Rider belting out a yelp of pain and rolled across the hot grass.
"AHHH! HOTHOTHOTHOTHOT!" 898 cried out, trying to cool off from the heated blow. "My armored feet are burning like hell dammit!"
"Here, let me help!" Cross-Z said, reeling his fist back.
"Oh no…" The impact slammed into his helmet, sending the Engine Bro crashing into a tree and falling unconscious.
"And then there is one." He watched the steam of the hot ground carefully. He saw the brush of it swaying, allowing him to track the flow. He saw it stop before gunfire erupted from the spot it stopped.
The orange dragon Rider staggered but he saw the steam sway fast, displaying fast movement. Using his Semblance, Cross-Z manipulated the flames coursing through his arms and blasted a dragon of fire. The Remote Bro rolled but when he looked where Cross was, all he saw was the armored teen's back releasing his magma and flying where the Amity Arena was.
"Damn it." 899 cursed.
"Ooowww… why do I smell like I was being cooked…"
"Because you were…" 899 growled, "I thought I said to keep mind of his Semblance?"
"I did!"
The duo heard trampling and slowly looked back to hear growls of Grimm. Ah right, the negativity were to draw all the Grimm to Vale. That… they forgot.
"Oh." The duo immediately aimed their firearms at the horde of Grimm.
XXXX
Meanwhile….
[We now get to our next match! Pyrrha Nikos from Beacon vs Penny Polendina from Atlas!] Oobleck announced to the people watching.
The two fighters were now in the arena as Penny sees Pyrrha. "Sal-u-tations, Pyrrha Nikos!" She greeted. "It's an honor to finally meet you."
Pyrrha didn't respond due to her troubles from what happened earlier when she was requested by Ozpin. It was a difficult choice to make too… shaking that thought away, she looks at her hands as she clenches them in attempted determination.
Penny, however, did not notice Pyrrha's reluctance, "This is going to be so much fun!"
3…
2…
1…
BEGIN!
Penny began the attack, sending four of her blades at Pyrrha as she began to defend and deflect their attacks, before she sent off a few shots at her, only to see Penny blocking the attack.
The Atlas student sent a few more swords at the redhead but Pyrrha quickly twirled her javelin and blocked each attack as she winced from the amount of force that was used.
[My word! What a tremendous display by Miss Poledina!] Port commented.
[Agreed. Penny is doing her best at keeping her distance from Pyrrha, her weapon and Semblance. If this keeps going, Penny will tank over Pyrrha and win the match!" Oobleck added on.
"Gooo Pyrrha!" Nora cheered for her fellow teammate.
Despite the cheers, Pyrrha wasn't doing so well as she looks down to see her Semblance's black energy bend the weapons in her hand unnaturally for a split second. What they didn't know was that Emerald was focused on Pyrrha.
Pyrrha spins wildly as she deflects and dodges each sword, until she gets close enough to Penny to deliver a few slashes with the spear, sending her flying back as Pyrrha bats aside the blades called to their wielder's aid. Penny slides to a stop and makes a new series of motions, the weapons folding up until she's circled by several laser rifles, a few of which open fire on the approaching champion. Pyrrha avoids the blasts and fights off the remaining swords with her xiphos until she slides into position to charge at Penny and knock her back. Pyrrha straightens with a victorious grin that disappears into dizziness, just as she sees Penny rocketing forward, weapons firing behind her like a jetpack so she can leap into the air, then come down as an energized meteor on her opponent.
Rolling back to her feet, Pyrrha doesn't expect a sword to knock her shield off, then another to do the same for her blade. She tries to get the later back with her magnetism, but has to use the power to send a flying sword back at Penny's side. It disappears behind Penny, only for her to grin and raise her arms as several appear above her person, aimed to strike.
With Emerald still squinting down on the arena, the sharp sound of Emerald's Semblance is heard as Penny's eight swords double, then triple, multiplying into an unreal thicket of blades. At the sight of this, Pyrrha unsteadily steps back, both in reality where the eight swords are ready to go forth and in the hallucinated world, where the cloud of weapons thicken to even block the crowds around her.
Penny sends them all forward, few in reality and hundreds strong in Pyrrha's mind, who is left with no choice but to spread her arms and send out a magnetized shockwave. Each blade is sent reeling back to Penny, who is also unintentionally affected by the Semblance attack. Pyrrha only has a brief moment to understand what's happening before Penny's arms are spread wide as she gasps, the strings attached to her own weapons curling around her left arm and midsection, which are crumpled by the force with the ease of an aluminum can.
There is a moment of darkness, cut by the wire slicing through the electronics in Penny's torso to reveal a shocked Pyrrha, and the entire stadium watching the now unmoving swords drop to the ground. A piece of fabric flutters to the arena floor, only to be pinned by the point of a falling blade, away from the torn halves of Penny Polendina.
Pyrrha stares in abject horror, eyes wide and mouth agape.
XXX
Now…
Cody landed as he rushed towards the stadium as fast as he could, but soon the shrieks of shock and silence made him stop. He quickly turned to a screen as his eyes widened. There Penny was… dismembered for all to see. Not only revealing to the world that she was an android, but also to everyone that the famous Pyrrha had practically killed her. It brought confusion, fear, shock and terror to all within the colosseum.
They were not able to stop the broadcast as a new but a very familiar voice was heard in the broadcast. "This is not a tragedy. This was not an accident. This is what happens when you hand over your trust, your safety, your children, to men who claim to be our guardians but are, in reality, nothing more than men."
"Cinder…" Cody hissed.
"Our Academies' Headmasters wield more power than most armies, and one was audacious enough to control both." She continued. And what, I ask you, is Ozpin teaching his students? First an assault, now this? Huntsmen and Huntresses should carry themselves with honor and mercy, yet I have witnessed neither." She stated. "As someone who hails from Mistral, I can assure you the situation there is... equally undesirable. Our Kingdoms are on the brink of war, yet we, the citizens, are left in the dark. When the first shots are fired… who do you think you can trust?"
XXX
Lily stared at the screen she projected from her scroll and gritted her teeth. Her ears can pick up the faint sirens of a breach. Cinder Fall. That bitch. Raising her head she saw a brief sight of airships heading to Beacon.
Not of Atlas due to the symbols painted on them.
It was the White Fang.
"Vernage… I need to do this. And when we get to Cinder… you can give that damn bitch a lesson she will regret."
"… Okay."
Lily's eyes flared with magic and brandished Vernage's Virtuous Steel. She wasn't going to hold back. From the training in Faust. From Vernage herself and her memories.
Her lilac eyes briefly gleamed as the clouds gathered above her. "It's time for a slaughter these bastards won't forget."
XXX
Within the colosseum, the people hear the sirens as above was a large Nevermore above, attempting to break in as it caused many people to try and flee. Though Pyrrha just sat there in disbelief. She had killed Penny, she caused something she was meant to protect and work alongside with. Yet there the girl laid, void of any life like before.
Footsteps could be heard as she looked to see Cody walking onto the stage, his bangs covering his eyes from her as the redhead could only turn away from him.
"I know you're angry…. Angry with me…." Pyrrha said with her head lowered, "I… I killed Penny… you have every right to be upset and mad at me… Just please… don't take it out on my team…" She pleaded as if she was ready to accept an oncoming death.
But as the Nevermore broke through, the experiment simply set the Grimm ablaze, causing it to wail out in pain from his Semblance. Cody said nothing other than to grab Pyrrha by the arm and pulled her to her feet.
"Stop beating yourself up. Otherwise that'll be more in vain to her than what happened." Cody announced to her. "Right now we have… more important things to deal with."
"Did you find Lily…?"
"I haven't yet because I was attacked by the two psychos who were with Faust." He murmured. "But if I know Lily…" he glanced at the sky above. "I bet you anything she and Vernage are letting loose. I kinda feel sorry for anyone or any Grimm in their warpath."
As the Nevermore attempted to spear the two friends, several of the jet lockers flew out and slammed into its hide, forcing it to the ground as the fire erased the rest of it. Soon, the other students who came to fight in the festival grabbed their weapons, ready to fight as well alongside RWB.
"I believe you students should get going." Everyone looked to see both Oobleck and Port both entering the arena.
"But we can fight too!" Ruby spoke up with a sad look.
"Today is most likely going to be considered Vale's darkest moments. I would prefer if my students… and future students, to make it out in one piece." Oobleck pleaded to everyone with a soft expression.
Pyrrha and Cody nodded to each other in agreement.
Though as everyone began to board one of the ships, the blonde looked around with worry before he patted Ruby's shoulder.
"Where's Yang?" asked Cody.
"She… was waiting back at our dorm room for you." Ruby revealed, making the rider's eyes widen.
"I see… Then get going, I'll be right behind you." He patted her shoulder.
Ruby nodded but paused. "How will we get down?"
The Rider grinned.
XXX
Beacon had become a battleground as parts of it was in flames. The White Fang had attacked Beacon including the Atlas AKs that had now followed the command due to the virus implanted. Alas there was one part they did not foresee…
A Paladin fell in half upon the blade that is Virtuous Steel.
Lily's eyes flared with magic as her augmentations and Vernage's muscle memory of prowess and speed was the advantage.
"In the will of The Saint! I will not let you do as you please!" Lily announced with declaration. "Glory to Humanity!"
Her magic flared and dashed, impaling an AK before cutting a gun in half that belonged to a White Fang soldier. The Faunus staggered in horror before she cleanly dug her blade diagonally. The Aura did little to resist the strong blade that had belonged to Vernage for centuries. A metal claw manifested by her Semblance, gripping another and crushing their head, dropping the headless soldier dead.
With magic in her palm, she thrust her arm, creating a chain reaction to the would-be attackers.
Those who tried were trembling in fear. The human's virtue in Vernage's name and the magic she held was evidence no person could stop her. She was a former right hand of Evol. A girl who had so much power from magic she can do as she pleases. To protect the people the White Fang and Grimm were attacking.
Their form of a fairy tale that is a commitment of bloody massacre, for her.
The people, students and foreigner people who have come for the festival were in shock from the fighting in front of them by the young saint, yet they were feeling relief as well as some even began to cheer for her, mostly the children near by.
"Which one of you monsters is next?" Lily coldly inquired.
"F-For the White Fang!" One shouted out as several soldiers and Grimm charged at the girl.
The clouds rumbled, blades appearing behind the bluenette as each technoblade became infused with the elements of magic. She raised her sword and stabbed the earth.
All she did was watch each villainous soul become impaled.
"Fools you are to attack the defenseless." Lily mocked. Pulling her sword out of the dirt, her eyes glanced at the school. "Vernage, let us find Cinder… and kill her as you said."
"With pleasure."
No man, machine, or Grimm ever stood a chance against the Saint who rested within the body of a former Faust commander who was Mad Rogue in her path.
XXX
Blake was running just outside the dining hall. However, she stops when the Beowolf from earlier latches onto the side of the building above her. Her attention is then drawn away from the Beowolf when she hears a wounded scream inside the burning interior of the dining hall. She then gives a look of horror when she sees a familiar figure throw an Atlas soldier.
The figure in question is a tall man with red hair that spikes backwards in a windswept way. While most of his hair is red, a portion of it in the back is brown. A noticeable trait of his appearance is the mask he wears, which obscures his eyes and upper face. His Faunus heritage appears to be that of a bull, as two horns can be seen on either side of his head.
The mask is whitish-tan with red, Japanese style, flame-like symbols decorating the front, and two slits on each side, presumably to allow for vision. He also wears a long-sleeved black trench coat with slit sleeves and more red designs and a white symbol on the left side. His trench coat is red on the inside with red flame-like accents at the bottom and a large emblem on the back, with a white tulip design covered by a red rose design. He wears long black pants and black shoes that are red on the bottom, and black gloves with more red emblems on their forehand, appearing to be a variant of the Greek letter Ω (Omega), the last letter in the Greek alphabet. He was also wearing a black belt with white domino marks on it.
"No... Adam?" She uttered in horror.
"Hello, my darling," The now named man grinned creepily.
Seeing the image of her former partner before her, Blake backed up instinctively. She froze when Adam's voice rang out over the crackling fires and screaming people. "Running away again, my love? Is that what you've become? A coward?" Adam let out a sickening chuckle. "We were destined to change the world… to light the fires of a global revolution." Blake watched in horror as Adam pressed his boot down on the chest of an Atlesian student, drawing Wilt out of its sheath and preparing to stab down into the student. "Consider this the-"
Adam was cut off as Blake propelled herself forward, using her shadow as an accelerant. Gambol Shroud's blade connected with Wilt, sending sparks flying in all directions as the Dust-infused blade clashed with Blake's. Adam, while caught off guard, was easily able to hold back Blake's attempt to overpower him. He let out another spine-chilling laugh as the narrow slits of his mask seemed to glare directly through Blake's eyes. "You really should have run."
"I'm...not… running," she growled.
"You… will."
At that, Adam sent a powerful kick into Blake's stomach, knocking her off her feet. Blake quickly redirected herself as she fell, landing on her feet and staring Adam down. "I really wish you ran, sweetheart." Adam said, giving a predatory grin. "But since you're here… I'm going to make you pay for betraying our cause."
Adam quickly drew Wilt again, lunging at Blake and forcing her back. Blake held out against the superior strength of the Bull Faunus for a short time, but he eventually came to overpower her, knocking her to the ground with a quick series of jabs and feints, eventually culminating in her having her back slammed against a stone pillar, a few cracks forming in the marble. In a rather impressive display of dexterity, Adam slashed down with Wilt, severing the cable connecting Gambol Shroud's blade to the sheath. He casually kicked the severed blade aside, his grip going white-knuckled under his gloves. "This could've been our day, damnit! Can't you see that?!"
"This isn't what I wanted!" Blake shouted, her voice coming out with a slight waver. "I wanted equality, not this!" She attempted to fire a few rounds from Gambol Shroud's pistol at Adam, but he deftly intercepted the metal slugs with the flat of Wilt's blade, causing it to glow slightly brighter.
"What you want is impossible!" Adam shouted, kicking Blake right in the side of the head… hard. Blake gasped as the steel tip of Adam's boot connected with her right orbital bone, scattering stars across her vision. Adam's voice changed in a mood swing that would have given Blake whiplash, immediately going from hostile to an almost beckoning tone. "And what I want… is you, Blake."
In Blake's stunned and dazed state, she was unable to act against Adam's boot pressing down on her wrist, wrenching the pistol form of Gambol Shroud out of her grip, and kicking it aside. "All I wanted was for you to stand by me while we put a stop to the damned Humans-"
"What can you do to stop them?!" Blake shouted, catching Adam off guard. "Look out there!" Blake couldn't tell, but Adam's gaze flickered over to the shattered window for a moment. "What can you do to stop that?!"
Adam scoffed, looking down at the already-forming bruise on the upper cheek of his old partner. "While I'm out there, making those humans feel the pain our people have felt for centuries… I will make it my mission to destroy everything you love."
"Blake? Blake!"
Blake's eyes widened as she heard the all-too-familiar sound of the Blonde brawler shouting her name. From the window behind Adam, Blake could make out the long blonde mane rushing towards the cafeteria, batting a Knight aside with her sheer strength. Her eyes darted around the area, looking for Blake as she called her name. "Starting with her…" Adam finished, standing upright and smiling a broad, predatory, malicious smile. He twirled Wilt around in his hand, stabbing down directly through Blake's left side, eliciting a scream from the raven-haired Faunus girl.
Yang whipped around, spotting the coat-wearing White Fang leader, his blade running clean through Blake's side. She blinked once, not believing the sight before her. In that single blink, her eyes shifted from their normal lilac hue to a bright, menacing red.
"Get away from her!" Yang shouted, deploying Ember Celica and propelling herself towards the sword-bearer with a pair of fired rounds from her gauntlets. Blake was powerless to shout for her to stop, her body seized up from having the searing blade of Wilt stabbed through her.
Adam saw the numerous, blatant openings in the Blonde's careless attack, deciding to take the path of least resistance. He pulled Wilt out of Blake's side, slashing in a diagonal towards the lunging blonde. His small grin turned to a broad smile as he saw her right arm sever from her body. He caught a quick glimpse of the deep, seared cut that his blade left across her stomach and lower ribcage, letting out a chuckle as she thudded against the marble floor of Beacon's cafeteria. "Weak…" He muttered to himself, strolling over towards the blonde.
As he turned towards the blonde, whipping the blood from his blade, Blake threw herself between him and the brawler, glaring daggers at him through amber eyes filled with unshed tears. "Goodbye, Blake," Adam said before he swung his ninjato at her.
But then a blast of fire shot out, striking Adam and tossing him aside. The Faunus commander hissed from the pain as he looked over to the attacker as now standing above the unconscious brawler was another person to him, but a friend to Blake. As standing there was the young experiment, but in his Magma form.
"Cody…" Blake muttered out.
"Heh, another 'friend' of yours, Blake? You seem to have a knack for bringing in strays for the slaughter." Adam smirked.
"How about I melt you to damn ashes you piece of shit." Cross-Z Magma's body flared.
"Big talk from a filthy human."
Cody simply looked to the unconscious Yang, kneeling down to cauterize her arm so she wouldn't bleed out. He then stood back up before turning to Adam.
The air thickened while the flames of the cafeteria burst like a geyser. "Did you do this to her..?" He asked coldly.
"Yeah, I did. Shame you'll have to die before her. Besides, what was this worthless human to you?" Adam questioned the rider.
Cross-Z turned towards Adam as his visor turned blood red from his built up rage.
"She was my girlfriend!" He shouted out as with a blast of fire, he propelled himself right into Adam, punching the Faunus and sent him flying out of the cafeteria with the rider following suit. "I am going to make sure you are nothing but ashes for what you did!"
His lenses were blood red, his Hazard Level rising as is the heat around them. The Rider took a flaming leap, forcing Adam to raise his sword but what he got was a searing sensation traveling from his sword to his hands upon the magmatic heat.
"You attacked me friends! My home! And harmed the person I love the most!" Cross-Z howled in rage, "I will destroy you!" He shouted out, his voice darkening from his rage.
With another burst of fire, he began his assault on the Faunus commander, slamming his fist over and over into the blade as Adam blocked it. Though as he did, Adam began to realize he wasn't absorbing the power like usual. He could only feel the heat of the magma surging around the armor and the powerful hits that reverberated from the hit.
'This… kid… Who is he? How is he bypassing my Semblance?' Adam hissed in thought.
Adam backed off for a moment as she sheathed his blade, charging up for an Iai Slash against the rider. Cross-Z only seeing red and wanting to kill this person paid no attention to the attack as he lunged forward. Adam giving a soft smirk soon let out his attack, the world around them being dyed in red, black and white as the blade reached for Cross-Z's neck…. Only for him to grab the blade.
"W-What!?" Adam gasped.
The red blade glowed white hot and… melted. "I told you. You will be ashes when I am done with you."
With a harsh grip of the crank, he churned and spun it as the magma knuckle and bottle began to glow brighter and brighter as the sound of magma could be heard, changing the odd dyed world into a fiery hellscape for Adam's eyes to witness.
But then the fiery hellscape was now more blood red than before as the 'moon' that was there turned black, as if a black hole replaced it instead. This was something that the Faunus was in utter terror to see before he realized his situation.
'He's the snake's son!' He realized. The world knew from that woman's words about revealing the blonde was the bastard son of Evol.
READY? GO!
VOLCANIC FINISH!
With a howl of anger and rage, Cross-Z slammed his blood red fiery fist into Adam's chest, exploding on impact and sending the Faunus high into the air. The pain and heat made the Faunus Commander howl in pain as he looked up to see the rider now racing after him before he extended his leg into a kick.
"This is over for you!"
ACHACHACHACHACHA ACHAAAA~!
His kick connected and with a powerful explosion erupted from it, it sent the commander in flames and threw him far out of Beacon to who knows where, as the White Fang looked up to see their commander literally being shot out of the battlefield.
As the rider landed, he panted heavily, his armor fading as he laid there with tears in his eyes. He didn't have time to vent his frustration as he turned back to where Blake and Yang were and raced over to help them. Both of them needed medical help and to get out of Beacon as fast as they could.
XXX
Within the air carrier field, many students and people were slowly being boarded onto the airship. Most of Beacon's students were there, especially for a certain team as Cody sat there, holding Yang's hand with sadness on his face as Blake, now patched up simply laid there in silence alongside Weiss who was sitting near them.
"Guys!" Ruby called out as she soon came into view, only to stop and gasp as the scene of Blake's bandaged abdomen, and Yang's unconscious form with her limb also bandaged up.
"I… I'm so sorry…" Blake whimpered to the group, her cat ears folded down in shame.
Ruby wasn't able to say much to help the situation as she stayed silent. Though as she did, she noticed that two other people weren't here.
"Wait.. Where's Jaune and Pyrrha?" she asked, turning to Ren and Nora.
"They followed after Ozpin… We don't know where they went." Ren responded.
"We have to get them out of here quickly. There's too many Grimm." Nora pleaded as she was about to get up, but her injuries made her sit back down as she grunted in pain.
"Lily is most likely going there…" Cody spoke up as he looked to the others. "If I know her? Most likely she's going to get them out of there…"
A shadow stopped them, making everyone slowly look at the sky… only to witness a massive wyvern Grimm flying towards the tower that was Beacon.
"H-Holy…" Cody uttered. He had seen several types of Grimm but nothing like that.
"G-Go…"
Cody looked down to see Yang stir, grasping her only hand tighter, "But we need to get you and the others out of here first!" He said, not wanting to leave her side.
Weiss' scroll suddenly rang, making her double check and saw who was calling her. "It's Jaune." She pressed the key. "Jaune what's going on?"
[I-It's Pyrrha! She went after Cinder!] He answered, worry in his voice.
"She's what!?"
[She went to the top of Beacon's Tower. Please, she's going to get herself hurt!] He pleaded.
Before Cody would act, he saw Ruby moving ahead. "Ruby, wait!" He chased after her.
"I'm not going to let another friend get hurt. Stop me all you want, but I'm going to get them back." Ruby stated with determination.
"Damn it… you and Yang really are sisters. Stubborn."
"As are you. So you're coming, or what?" Ruby smirked softly, knowing that he too was stubborn like them.
"Alright… Let's go."
XXX
The two climbed the tower but given the elevator system was not working, Cody had to improvise by using Magma to ascend the elevator shaft with Ruby in his arms.
"Hang on tight. And don't worry, my flames won't hurt a friend." He reassured her.
"I know, I trust you." Ruby smiled.
Flames spewed from Cross-Z's back, soaring higher and higher before exiting the very top floor but rolled slightly. Ruby quickly got off of the Rider and saw Pyrrha in the midst of trying to fight Cinder Fall.
When Pyrrha threw the gear at Cinder, the corrupt Maiden shot and arrow as it melted through it, reforming it and launched it directly back at her. It was sent through Pyrrha's leg, forcing the redhead on her knees. The Invincible Girl tried to fight back but the next arrow hit her Achilles' heel.
"Pyrrha!" Ruby called out, about to help her only for a blast of fire from the Maiden forced the two back.
"Silence… you two are going to watch this…" Cinder declared.
"Leave her alone!" Cross-Z Magma's arm ignited in magma and threw it at the woman.
But soon the shadow of the Wyvern Grimm flew by, its jaws clamping down and dragging the rider out of the tower with it.
"Cody!" Ruby cried out with shock. The girl was too frozen in fear at the moment to move. She couldn't do anything as she was only able to look at Pyrrha with tears in her eyes. Cinder drew the next arrow and it impaled Pyrrha through the chest. With it, the new Maiden pressed her hand on the Mistralian's head, turning the girl to ashes.
Ruby gasped as she soon witnessed her friend turn to ash. Tears racing down the girl's face but then something new happened. As Ruby cried out to her friend, the silver eyes of the girl ignited as a gulf of white light erupted out of her, covering Beacon.
As the light faded, most, if not all of the Grimm around the academy had turned into stone. Cross-Z had his eyes covered too only to soon feel the rush of wind and gravity begin to pull him down as the Wyvern Grimm's jaws still had him trapped.
"As if I'll let you do this to me!" He shouted, igniting himself and broke through the jaws, destroying the head of the Wyvern Grimm as he was free. He looked to the tower before he began to race there as fast as he could.
Cinder covered her eyes as well, and when the light faded she heard the explosion as the maiden turned to see the body of the Wyvern Grimm's stone corpse drop to the ground, shattering into dust.
"No!" The Fall Maiden hissed, looking to Ruby. "This is your fault…" She said, summon a blade of fire to attack Ruby's unconscious body.
A metal shield suddenly stood between her and Ruby, startling her. The shield's design was one she dreadfully knew.
"I've come to fulfill that warning I gave you last time, Cinder." Shakingly, her eyes turned to see Vernage whose eyes flared with evidence of magic, her grip on the large katana tightening. "I gave you mercy before and you chose to ignore my warning. As Saint… death is your penalty. May your soul be damned by humanity."
Cinder's eyes ignited in flames as she was ready to duel, "I will not die by the likes of you! I've gotten too far with this and to get power to be killed by a bitch like you!"
"There is one disadvantage you hold." Cinder's eyes widened when Vernage was already in front of her. "Unlike Ozma, you are just an infant making her first crawl in experience." She dug her fist into the ravenette's stomach. Spit and blood left her and flung into the stone wall.
The Saint glanced, noticing Cross-Z. "Get the girl with silver eyes… protect her and take her home."
As the rider landed, he wanted to fight and punch this bitch for ruining everything here. Yet… He simply patted Vernage/Lily's shoulder before walking over to pick up Ruby in his arms as he turned to her.
"Make her suffer." He wished before taking flight to bring Ruby to a safer location.
The moonlight-haired woman approached Cinder who pried free but the woman gasped to Vernage kicking her. The impact drove her through the wall and crashing into the forest. Cinder looked to see Vernage soaring down in which magic danced around her and released a barrage of swords.
Vernage remained undisturbed as she countered with her own. The metal construct appeared behind Cinder and yanked her aside by Vernage's command. "How many innocent lives have been slaughtered by the plans your Queen set for this, Cinder?" Vernage questioned.
"A-As many as it'll take… Plus… Who said I'm in this for her?" Cinder stated, "After all, I'm also with Evol too."
"For power. For your selfishness." Vernage hissed. "You threw away your right to be human by your actions alone."
"Isn't that what you wanted as well? Power to make that little boy pay for making you lonely?" Cinder reminded.
"Lily isn't here to speak, Cinder. I am."
"Oh I know… But she can still hear me." Cinder snickered. "How pathetic were you, thinking he'll just accept you back? You think you're atoning by being with him and those children? But you're just as a monster as I am."
"Kill her."
That Vernage agreed on. The maiden swiftly punched Cinder in the face, loosening a few of her teeth. Cinder summoned a large sword made of magic and swung it in rage. Alas Vernage used her Virtuous Steel to block it with ease.
"Is this all, Cinder? Is your selfishness and anger driven you to such weakness?"
"SHUT UP!"
Again the maiden aimed to kill the Saint but was proven futile. "You don't know anything about me!"
"Lily told me all of it. You were a poor child who suffered and used that said suffering to hurt others. You chose to work with two people who wish to end humanity. What does it bring you when they succeed? You'll die by your own masters upon their succession of bringing the end to the world."
"I… Will not die by the likes of you! I will join Evol and keep getting power to the ends of times!" Cinder said, drawing out her Nebula Steam Gun.
"No." Cinder's eyes were filled with fear when Vernage raised two fingers. "You will have punishment."
*SNAP!*
Time froze once more. Vernage ignored the blood that left her lips. She swung her blade before snapping her fingers again.
Cinder suddenly screamed, finding her arm gone.
"Sending the White FangFang to slaughter students." She struck again, forcing Cinder to evade but the poor woman felt the searing agony across her left eye.
"Assisting the masters who wished to end humanity." Cinder crawled in fear, trying to run but felt her back against the tree.
Vernage raised her sword. "For the murder of Pyrrha Nikos, death is your last resort."
Yet right before she could deliver the killing blow, several shadows rushed out, striking and pushing Vernage away before it covered Cinder, dragging her within. Soon several Grimm clawed out of the shadows to surround Vernage, attempting to stop her.
"…" her eyes glanced and saw a frantic Emerald trying to nurse Cinder whereas the Mercury boy protected the duo. Though amongst the Grimm was a man who was muscular but his gaze was firm yet soft.
"I believe this is where we part… Child." A chilling voice rang out as the familiar jellyfish like Grimm floated over to Vernage. "As much as you want to kill her, I still need Cinder for my plans…"
"Salem… too long it has been. You were a child in my second reincarnation of my battle against Evol." The Saint frowned.
"It has. Sad we have to be on other sides of the fight…" Salem responded in kind.
"Ending the world will not grant you what you long for."
"Oh I'm aware… But I can make those gods regret for doing all of this."
"Of Evol? What can you do to a celestial organism who is near his full power?"
"I will find a way. I have all of the time in the world to figure him out and kill him as well."
Vernage's grip tightened. "So do I Salem."
"Maybe so…." Salem's voice was calm. Immortality and reincarnation were two different points. Vernage can die of old age but become reborn as an infant. A cycle of growth. Of experience. While Ozpin needs a host, Vernage simply is reborn from any couple who birthed a child. Vernage's own form of immortality. Vernage had put the spell on herself in her endeavors against Evol. To fight again and again.
The Saint pointed the sword at the group. "What's to stop me from killing your maiden the next time I see her?"
"Simple, we'll stop you." Emerald glared at the saint. The greenette shrank slightly by the glance. "I won't let you kill her…"
"If you cannot?"
Emerald furiously stood but the tall man stopped her.
"We don't have time for this… Fall back." The man ordered before looking to the Saint, "Pardon my allies rudeness to you, Saint of Eden. As much as I understand you, this is a matter for us to deal with. You can try what you like, but I too wouldn't like any unnecessary deaths tonight."
The Saint stared at them, her construct hovering close to her. Its singular optic immobile. She stabbed the sword into the earth. "Know this. If I see any of you. Any who work for young Salem again, I will not hesitate to put you to the sword." Her emerald eyes locked onto Cinder, her eye dilated upon the contact. "Especially you Cinder Fall. If we meet for the last time, no one will beg me for your mercy, you will be executed next time."
Cinder was too injured to speak, yet her eyes said it all. She would like nothing more than to kill the Saint as well, something both of them shared. Utter hatred for the other.
As the man picked up Cinder, the group made their way out as a large shadow appeared. Salem's power most likely, to bring them to wherever they laid their base at before it closed.
'Vernage… I-I…'
"I know my little flower…" Vernage's hold on her sword trembled. "I… know…" Her eyes were swelling with tears. Both her own emotions and Lily's own erupted together. The Saint fell to her knees and cried, their emotions being the same.
Even with their power, they couldn't save the innocents who fell during this. This Fall of Beacon was another tragedy for the Saint, to be plagued by the souls of the past and the mournful of the future people.
XXX
A few days later….
Ruby groaned as she opened her eyes, soon finding herself not in her dorm or even the nurse's office of Beacon… but one she recognized well. It was her room within Patch. She was home.
"I'm… home?" She got out as she stirred to more out of her bed.
As the door opens, walking in was an older man with short, dusty blonde hair, a soft beard, and an outfit that showed he was a hand to hand fighter. But in hand was a tray of food and water as it seemed the person was here to eat until the girl woke up.
"Ah! You're awake Ruby!" The man smiled with delight and relief, quickly placing the tray on the nearby table before hugging her.
"Dad? Where am I?" she asked him.
"You're back home. It's been a few days since Qrow brought you back home after the Fall of Beacon. I was worried when you wouldn't wake up, but I knew you would sometime." Taiyang sighed in relief.
"Qrow brought me back?"
"Yes, alongside Yang too."
Ruby gasped as she stood up, quickly racing out of her room and towards her sister's room, but as she entered she saw Yang there, alongside Cody who was holding her hand as the two turned to her sudden surprise.
"Oh, you're awake." Cody noted with some surprise as well. The red hooded girl zoomed to the two and hugged them.
"Ruby…?" Cody got out surprised from the hug.
"I'm… I'm so glad you're both safe…" Ruby said, her voice shivering from relief and worriedness.
"Am I though…?" Yang spoke up, her face deflated a bit as she held up her stump of a limb. "I lost… a part of me… Something I can't get back now…"
"What about Weiss? And Blake?"
"Weiss… was forced back into Atlas." Cody responded, "And… Blake? She… um…"
"She left us." Yang finished, a hint of anger in her voice. "She left us to who knows where?"
"Yang… I'm sure that-"
"That what? Everything we did together didn't mean anything? That she truly didn't see us as friends? To see me as anything but a friend…?" Yang had her head lowered, tears in her eyes a bit.
"Yang…" Ruby muttered softly with a frown of sadness on her face.
Cody held Yang's hand tightly once more as he looked to Ruby, "Everything has been… very tough for us all… Right now, we just want to rest and heal… Sorry but this is all we can do right now, Ruby."
Ruby held her head lowered before she gave a nod as she stood up, giving the too some room as she began to leave the room, only to stop for a moment as she turned to them, "Yang… I love you." She said to her before leaving the room and heading back to hers.
Yang sobbed, causing Cody to comfort her. "I should have done something…" He murmured. "I could have stopped it by staying with you at Beacon…"
"P-Please… don't leave me too…. Please Cody…" Yang pleaded as she leaned into him as the boy hugged her back.
"I promise I won't… Never again will I do so…" Cody promised to her.
He will do everything he can to help Yang and not leave her side. Even if Evol comes knocking, he'll make sure he doesn't even get past him. Yang is his home now, and he'll protect it to his dying breath.
XXX
The White Fang searched and searched for their commander. The Vale Splinter faction had heard of what happened to Adam and it has no doubt spread to the high chain especially Sienna Khan.
Yet this faction was only loyal to Adam. And they will find him even if they have to search all over Vale. The smell of ash and burnt wood reached their nostrils. They quickly jogged and saw their fallen prone leader. Half of his body seared, portions of his clothes melted against his burnt skin. His crimson hair seared with black streaks and his horns cracked by the heat that longed vanished.
He only survived due to a pond, now almost evaporated due to what happened to him, he was hanging on by a thread of life.
Slowly they checked for a pulse but they all jumped to the ragged breathing.
"Call an airship! We need to get him to our medical branch as quickly as possible!" One member spoke up as another held up a Scroll to dial in.
"How is he breathing from that heat?" One of the scouts inquired in astonishment.
The one who inspected Adam noticed something odd. There were some kind of scales around where the engraving of Cross-Z's boot was, preventing further bleeding. Wait, scales don't move.
Using the flashlight, the unnamed Faunus casted the light and saw the scales belonged to a serpentine body that hugged Adam's wound. Shakingly, the light shifted to notice a serpent's face resting on Adam's shoulder, staring with gleaming heterochromic eyes, one of red and the other gold.
"W-What… are you…?" The Faunus shivered in fear, unable to move.
"Care to pluck the apple from the tree? I am not one to be afraid of… mostly." The snake sneered.
"Apple…?" The Faunus questioned as he soon felt hungry for a moment.
The snake's eyes glowed before becoming a blood red orb and zipped right into the Faunus. They choked and shivered as if trying to deny what happened, only for them to go limp as scale markings formed on the Faunus's neck and cheeks before sighing with relief.
"Ahh, thank you for the meal… Let us start, shall we?" 'It' said before looking down at the injured Adam as it kneeled down. "You will be of good use to me… So I won't let you die just yet." The figure said as they held up a finger, letting a drop of blood drip into Adam's wound.
Adam soon gasped and coughed to get air, as his breathing became stable. The 'Faunus' then grinned before deciding to put on its act.
"He's breathing! Quick I need a first aid!" 'It' called out to the other White Fang members.
Hearing this made them relieved as they quickly rushed over to help Adam with his wounds as the others get ready to move him quickly.
Seems this was a new trouble in the works for Remnant, another snake out for blood. But this one's oath isn't fully tied to the other snake's oath. It simply just wants to eat, and this world was ripe for the picking.
XXX