If I had a word to describe Adam's emotional state as he fought, that word would be 'playful'.

His blade came crashing down faster than I could reasonably see, and yet I blocked it through sheer memory alone; he always did use a downwards cut after a slash and jab. He knew what he did, and that I would counter it. He knew I fought on recollection of his training, and I saw just how excited it made him.

At any point he could have switched it up, but he chose not to.

"You've gotten faster." He pushed out through clenched teeth. "And you're more certain in your grip." I pushed back and shoved him away, to which he took a small hop and stood with his smirk still present. "Something's changed, and it's made you stronger."

"Yeah." I said, and within a moment I ran towards him. He readied himself, and as I got close I fell into a low crouch, my blade tearing through the dirt below as I dragged it into an upwards slash. He blocked it, as I expected him too, and yet from my angle I could see him stumble a bit, which helped to confirm my suspicions.

He may be able to block me, but with my armor I was the physically stronger one.

Adam's leg flew and caught the side of my head, and while not very damaging it was still mildly painful, with that pain being the instant he used to step back and send one of his faster series of slashes. The first two clinked off my chest as I quickly stood, at which point I would block each subsequent strike. I hadn't quite matched his reflexes, but I had proved capable enough that he went for another kick, with this one aimed at my shin.

It was my turn to smirk, although he wouldn't see it under my face-plate; only my eyes served as any indication of amusement.

My leg twisted just as his connected, and with that it shot up and caught his in a backwards grip with the ankle stuck in the back joint of my knee. Clearly he wasn't expecting that, however in that moment of surprise I grabbed his leg with my free hand and twisted. With the force of the spin on top of it I flung him over my shoulder, which sent him flying. However rather than tumble like most others would he landed right on his feet, and as he skidded across the dirt spun.

A sharp pain flared across my chest, and I was forced back. Still standing I came to a stop, and through the burning pain I saw how a small flicker of red faded from Adam. Looking down I cringed at the deep cut across my multiple chest plates. No blood was drawn luckily, however the cut was deep enough to remind me that using my armor disabled my aura; even though I didn't know why.

"However you're still not quite powerful enough to stand against me yet."

"I'm not so sure." I offered as I took my stance again. "You seem far to happy to be taking this fight seriously." I dashed in again with a heavy overhand swing.

Rather than block Adam stepped to the side and shot out a heavy slice from below. I caught it with my returning blade, and for a moment we eyed each other down.

"On the contrary." He started. "Actually I'm taking this far more serious than anything I've done since Beacon." With a hop back his blade disconnected, only to come rushing back in a constant stream of heavy horizontal slashes; easily blocked, but taxing on my stamina. "Nobody's challenged me this hard before... it's exhilarating!" He finished off with a low swipe that forced me to jump, only for him to double up and rocket upwards.

I caught his blade with my own at the apex of the leap, however rather than cripple under my weight he kept pushing and flung me away. Before I could even land he was there with his sword primed and ready. From my current angle the hopes of landing easily were scattered to dust, and even if I blocked him the direction of his swing would force me into the dirt and leave me vulnerable. I was, for all intents and purposes, a flying target.

That was until he was shot away.

He tumbled for a second before gaining his footing, however I felt something stop me before I could see his expression. I found myself floating in the air, and with a black glyph above me. As I looked to where Adam stood once before I could see Weiss sigh with Blake beside her.

"You forgot about us, didn't you?" Weiss asked, and to my embarrassment I couldn't quite deny it.

"You were dealing with the others."

"Well clearly we're done, unless you see any more White Fang lying around." She stated, and as I took a good gander at the field I could confirm that it was indeed empty.

"Adam!" Blake's call drew our attention. "Stop this, please!"

"Blake..." He chuckled. "It's been quite some time hasn't it. Sorry, but I can't back out now. There's too much on the line now."

"You don't have to do this." She echoed. "There has to be another way, and you know that as well as I do!"

"Yeah, well unlike you I know much more about the state of things happening, or did you think I suddenly went on the attack without reason?" He spoke, his voice commanding a more even tone as it took on a grumble. "This goes deeper than you know, and I won't risk it all simply on your words alone."

"Adam, please." Blake tried one more time, with her pity leaking free. "There's nothing left to fight for anymore. The Fang's reputation is tanked, Sienna is dead, and above all everyone is split on what they believe. The group is in shambles, and with it fighting itself there's no hope of whatever war you have planned. So please, just lay down your sword and surrender; end this madness."

"Madness, surrender?" His smile left; practically dashed away as I saw his shoulders tense. "You think this is just for appearances, for my own pride? You think that all these men, all the lives we've sacrificed, and all the risk and attention we've drawn was just for some form of self-centered ego?!"

"No, that's-"

"Enough!" He shouted, hate seeping above reason. "Unlike you Blake I don't run when things look grim. I have, and always will, face any and all outcomes with a blade in hand! Have you ever once, just once thought about why I've done what I had? Or have you merely just assumed it was out of spite?"

Adam stood silent for a moment, seemingly waiting for Blake to give an answer. I looked to her, ready for the woman to speak, and yet she remained silent; apparently proving everything he accused her of being true, at least in his eyes anyway. I wanted to speak up, yet he beat me to it.

"That's what I thought." His tone was lower now, as though he'd been let down by one of his closest comrades; the irony was not lost on me, as with that realization a small shard of shame wedged itself into my spine. However it looked like he wasn't finished, with his head casting one last glance, this time aimed at Weiss. His voice was glazed in an ill-stricken desperation. "And you. Did you also assume I wanted to simply war with the Humans Weiss?"

Weiss though had something to say. "I did, but why shouldn't I? The White Fang is infamous for their murderous tactics, and rightfully so. How many innocent people have you killed in the name of 'equality'?"

"Innocent?" Humor echoed throughout his tone. "Really..." He stilled. "Where where these innocent when families were torn apart? Where where they when we called out and suffered? Time and time again Humans have stood and watched their own mutilate and kill us at every turn. They've watched us be beaten, chained, and thrown into pens like cattle; heck, even cattle is treated better than us. Tell me Weiss: if someone is given the chance to stop such a display, but chooses not to, are they innocent?"

It was a heavy question, and in my opinion a little manipulative, but the smirk on Weiss's lips proved she had seen that as well. "Maybe, but if I were to see another person trapped in a cage being burned alive, and the building we were in was collapsing on us, would I be guilty if I ran? Would I be guilty if I had a baby in my arms and chose to save it instead of the trapped stranger?" She crossed her arms. "The world is complex, and not everyone has the power to make such a choice, especially a dangerous one like that. If we are all equal then why would it make me better to risk my life for someone else's? Is my own life worth less than any others?"

Adam smirked, and yet that smirk slowly stretched into a smile. "Well played."

Weiss looked to nod at the compliment. "I won't lie, there are plenty who see Faunus as less than dirt; perhaps too many." She steadied her breathing and faced him fully. "But even so that doesn't justify the torture of all Humanity."

"I know that, believe me I know." Adam's voice went warm for a moment, but soon enough it was ice cold. "But people, Humans and Faunus alike, only react to violence. A war may not be justified, but what I have in store is just as powerful as the threat of mass chaos that we call 'war'."

"And just what is this threat?" Weiss asked, only for Adam to lower his blade slightly.

"Now that's something I can't quite talk about, not yet at least." He seemed... 'frightened' wasn't quite the word for it, but I could tell he was uneasy. "The world is dangerous, and believe it or not I have some friends of my own; though not entirely by choice."

"What do you mean?" Weiss asked, only for Adam to shake his head.

"That's not important right now."

Blake was next to speak, and from the way she readied her weapon I could see that all traces of apprehension and worry were gone. "No, it's not important." She held her blade out, pointed directly at him. "But stopping you, here and now, that is important. This is your last chance, surrender."

I didn't quite know where her sudden bout of confidence came from, but I followed it up by taking my readied stance alongside them just as the glyph above shattered.

"No." I watched as Adam strengthened his guard.

"Then I'm sorry, Adam."

After that Blake looked about ready to leap, however it was put on hold as the very earth we stood on shook with a massive force, with several windows above shattering from the force as everyone was nearly knocked over.

"What was that?!" I heard Weiss say, and yet my eyes shot back to Adam. I could see he was shocked as well, meaning whatever caused that explosion wasn't part of his plan.

I suddenly got a bad feeling in my gut.

.

.

Her entire body felt drained, but even so Pyrrha knew exactly what she had to do.

The very moment she could move her fingers she drew her blade, and though she was in an awkward position the tip still found it's target. Pyrrha felt as the remains of Lapis, the now entirely Grimm monstrosity in her grasp, let loose a series of coughs and heaves. It's entire body shook, and though she heard her friends cry out something she couldn't quite make it out.

With her emotions back she could now fully feel again, and the one emotion that screamed above all others was empathy. Pyrrha knew well the pain of having to let people go, and she knew precisely what it was like to die given her clash with Cinder.

A sharp pain rocked through her side, and for a second or so she felt weightless.

Suddenly the feeling stopped, and was replaced with another one, that being an immense pressure as she felt her body slam into something hard. Pyrrha clattered around for a bit as she fell from whatever she hit, and soon discovered her place on the floor, as well as the cracks in the wall. She had been bashed aside and thrown into the wall, at least that's how she viewed it in her limited perspective, though soon enough she was being helped up by what looked like Jaune and Ruby.

"You okay?" The little goth asked, and Pyrrha replied with a nod as she tried to sit up. She stumbled a bit as her head flared up again, but that pain was nothing considering the previous few moments.

"I'm fine, what hit me?" She asked, only for Ruby to look over. Pyrrha followed the girl's gaze and saw Gold knelt over his once friend's quickly fading body. The man was surrounded by the others, though they had yet to make any solid moves against him. They were cautious of him, and for just cause if his explosions were anything to go by.

"DAMN YOU!" He screamed as his fists beat hatefully against the floor, denting the metal with each hit. "DAMN YOU BASTARDS! DAMN YOU MERLOT! DAMN EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING IN THIS WORTHLESS CITY!"

He was quickly losing his mind to grief, anyone with eyes could see that, and yet Pyrrha saw fit to stand. Her side hurt, but she pushed that small grievance aside as she slowly made her way towards the man. An arm obstructed her path, and she felt a hand take hers from behind. Yang shook her head as the outstretched arm stood before Pyrrha and her destination. Pyrrha turned back, and saw the look of worry shimmering in Jaune's eyes.

"He's not in control at the moment." Jaune spoke as his gaze looked pitifully towards the weeping yet furious man. "Heck, I'd be too if I was in his position. I know you want to do something, but if you get close he might go on the attack."

"I know that." She did, but that wouldn't stop her. Pyrrha wasn't afraid. "But I need to speak with him, even if he want's to kill me."

She raised her hand as her eyes locked with Jaune's, begging for him to let go. Reluctantly he did so, and as she turned back she faced Yang. The girl stared, seemingly stiff in her decision to keep Pyrrha away, but after a few seconds the blond woman grunted and bit her lip. A look of irritation crossed Yang's face as her eyes clenched shut, and with a small bit of indecision and shaking her arm dropped, allowing a clear path towards Gold.

"Thank you." Pyrrha continued on. "No matter what, do not interfere. I must deal with Gold alone, so please, no matter how things may seem or what may happen I ask that you leave this to me. Trust me."

Soon enough she stood before Gold, and as her boots clacked on the metallic panels the boy shot his gaze to her. Anger didn't even come close as an adequate description for the look he'd etched into his face, even as his body hovered above hers, raining down fist after fist across her cheeks. He was fast, but that didn't mean anything to her; her aura blocked the damage anyway.

True to their word the others remained in place, backed away from her as Gold unleased his beat-down. Pyrrha could hear their panic and ire, as well as their shock at what they saw. Pyrrha had asked them to stay back, and she knew they would assume she'd defend herself in some way if Gold attacked. Internally she chuckled at what must have been a great surprise to them. Here she was, the invincible girl Pyrrha Nikos, the one who died and lived to tell the tale; pinned to the ground as a terrorist lay waste to her.

The pain was nothing.

"YOU KILLED HIM!" His knuckles crunched against her left cheek. "MY FRIEND!" Another buried into her right. "WE MISSED HIM!" Her left again. "WE LOVED HIM!" Her right, just under the eye. "YOU TOOK-" Above the left brow. "HIM FROM-" Lower right jaw. "US!" Harder this time as it scraped against her nose. "YOU AND MERLOT!" Both his fist raised up, and came down across the whole of her face.

Pyrrha opened her eyes as she gazed up at him, seeing his heavy breathing and tear soaked face. The beating hurt, but she made sure not to show it, rather she eased her breathing as he screamed down at her.

"MURDERER!" His fist found her left side again. "MONSTER!" He hit the right this time, though it was a tad weaker. "KILLER!" Once more to the left, but the hand did not raise this time, and instead it lay there seemingly without the strength to move.

"I am." Pyrrha answered.

"WHY?!" Gold yelled out, his torn and worn vocal chords making the shout rash. "WHY DID YOU TAKE MY FRIEND FROM ME?!" His teeth grit. "TELL ME WHY?!"

Her hand found it's way to the one lodged on her cheek. Gently she caressed it, and watched as he stared down with a vengeful sorrow in his glistening eyes. At this point it was unlikely any of his vision was clear, but even so she would not make any moves against him, rather she spoke in a soft tone; one similar to that which her mother often used to calm her with when she was a child.

"You and Magenta meant so much to him."

"W-what?" His tone was quieter this time, almost like that of a whisper.

"Sorry for how weird it sounds, but he asked me to let you know. He wanted his last goodbye to be told, but he couldn't do it himself." Pyrrha focused on him, and her eyes eased as they invited him in. "He fought for so long, so isn't it only right to grant him his last wish?"

"What are you talking about?!" Gold asked as the panic in his voice rose a bit.

She sat up, and with a hairs width of distance between them she spoke. "You don't know much about me, but believe it or not I can control Grimm to an extent."

"Control... Grimm." Gold muttered; his eyes wide in shock. "You... you tried to control him? L-like that... that of a slaver..." His eyes went hollow.

"I did, however it didn't work." She gripped his hand which lay at their sides, and with her other wiped a fresh tear from his cheek. " He took hold of me instead. He spoke with me, told me how all of this was to help both you and Magenta, and how he couldn't fight it anymore. He was dying, and revealed that when he did his body would be in full control of the Grimm."

"Full control." Gold whispered, and Pyrrha lowered her hand, pulling away as she stood and looked down on him.

"He told me that our only chance was to strike just as his soul left; right as he died."

"To... kill the Grimm, right?" Gold tried, and Pyrrha nodded. The boy weakly chuckled as his head fell. "Figures. He always had a way of getting things done." A hand took Gold's chin, and once more his eyes were locked with Pyrrha's.

With his sights on her again she let go and stood tall again. "I know it hurts-"

"You're damn right it does." Gold interrupted, although his tone was lifeless, and any anger that might have lay within was buried in the ghostly words. "He was still my friend, and even if you did what needed to be done it still doesn't justify this whole thing. He never should have ended up the way he did, and he sure as fuck shouldn't have died." His expression somehow fell even lower as he kept his sights on her. "But... but there's nothing to be done now." His head dropped completely. "Lapis, he's now dead and gone like so many others."

"Yes." Pyrrha let out, and while Gold's shoulders slumped she hardened her voice. "Hey, Gold, you still have that hatred welled up inside right, that rage you showed earlier?"

"More than anything." His even tone grew lightly with spite.

"The one responsible is still out there, scheming and skulking." Pyrrha knew it was a bad idea, but considering what Merlot had done she felt as though it was somewhat justified.

If not, then it was just another mistake to add to the list.

"Why not join us in taking him down?" Pyrrha knew it would end with Gold probably killing the man, but a sick part of her reveled at the thought.

"With you?" He scoffed. "And what, just accept that the ones who've caused us so much trouble are the only chance at any justice left?" A small growl seeped into his voice. "You killed him, and that bastard of a man over there-" His head tilted ever so slightly to look at Dr. Oobleck. "He's just as guilty as you."

"I'm not asking for forgiveness, and I'm not asking for friendship. Merlot has wronged not only you, but us as well. All I want is to see him gone; think of it as my own selfish wish. It just so happens that you want at him too, and from the way you fight I believe you may be better at dishing out justice better than I, or any of my companions." Pyrrha spoke with a small, yet noticeably seething ire.

His form stilled, and slowly his head lifted. She reached down, her hand extended as a branch for him to take, a branch which would guarantee a new vision of justice, and one she had never truly experienced before; that of vengeance.

He took her hand, and the pact was sealed.

Author's note

...

Here we are, with the chapter you've been waiting for, or dreading knowing my lack of combat writing skill. Still don't like writing action, but I've managed to keep it fun with the back and forth. I'm certain many of you wanted to see an all out beatdown, and while it hasn't been all that physical I still hope I've given a decent enough verbal one to compensate.

Adam is locked in a battle of wits with Weiss, and Pyrrha has found a side of justice brand new to her. However it seems the fight between White and Red is now on hold as a distraction is unbound. What could this change be? You'll just have to wait and see.

Until next chapter.