"Should darkness, be my fate,"
"Then let me fall among the brave,"
XIth legion, litany of courage. Verses 1 and 2
Telepathy was delicate work.
The link between their minds could not be pulled upon to harshly in this moment, lest His son notice the intrusion and be grievously distracted from this battle.
He sensed the flow of memories which had passed between them. Drawn through the bond that had formed after He comforted the barely newborn Primarch back on distant Terra. He examined His son's mind further. This was not a seer's sight, nor any plague of borderline madness.
Yet still He could not abide this sharing,
Memories of the others, the woman in red, the legions of trans-human warriors crusading across the stars. Momentous events abroad and on Remnant being writ upon the pages history by His people's hands.
The barbed staff flashing up again at his head.
The ice cold spiked tips on the nine pointed circle scratched along his ruined black shirt once again.
Kad was forced to dodge back before the warp forged metal split his face in two. The looming Daemon took another step forward on the slope it had backed him down. Shadows covered the street beneath its unfurled wings.
The giant aimed another lunge at the wide open gap in its guard, but before he could strike and tear through its stomach the Grimm pushed its empty left hand up.
It would have struck if the beast had been a few steps closer. But it didn't only need its manifest form to fight.
The Lord of Change bent its will.
Kad felt like he had head butted a freight train. His close cropped hair flew back in the wind as Kad's feet left the ground and he was thrown high into the air. Thinking quickly he dropped his knife and grabbed onto the chain looped around the hilt of his sword.
The Primarch flipped himself over and threw the black steel down, around an outstretched beam jutting from one of the ruins.
Splinters flew when the giant ripped backwards, killing his skyward momentum to let gravity take its hold. Kad gripped the chain tight and began his fall.
The Grimm roared and tracked its staff on him.
Fireballs flew into the night. Kad fell to the earth, skimming along the ground as he swung. Smashing his black boots into the Daemon lord's legs.
The great Grimm fell forward, snarling in pain as it struck the street. Digging its white claws into the ground and leaning heavily on its staff. The beam ripped in two, Kad's chain fell. The young Primarch skidded across the ground, his black boots gouged into the pavement when he rolled over to a crouch, little rocks and stones rolling against the palm of his left hand.
He felt the death of his momentum, and the Primarch lunged up screaming.
The red tip of Ignis crunched through a joint in the beast's armor low on its back. The Grimm howled and dropped its weapon, clutching the hand-span of red steel jutting out its stomach. Its body began to shimmer, preparing to fade back into smoke and shadow. The hated Dust burned even more through this incorporeal cloud.
The funnel of darkness swirled around, bringing the narrow red slits back to bear on the Primarch, who was reaching up his empty hand.
Shining light coming out from his palm.
The Daemon's thoughts turned to ones of panic.
Kad closed his fist in the middle of the fading beast. Pushing as much strength as he could into his semblance. Anchoring the retreating monster to Remnant. Long black limbs and bone white spikes re-materialized, with the giant's fingers crushing down its breast plate. And a fearful display across the Daemon's Nevermore face.
It hissed and growled in pain when Kad threw it to the ground. Roaring defiance and hate at the Primarch.
As he stomped down his right boot on its pelvis. Raised Ignis back behind him in both hands,
And cut its head off in a single flaming flash.
The darkened arena was littered with debris from the flying Grimm that had been trying to break through the overhead dome. Many had succeeded and nearly run loose through the stalwart defenders home base.
Before being put down by His own hands.
Still the bleachers shook from the violence of the raging battle. Grimm ramming against the walls, distant explosions and monstrous footfalls.
And suddenly the shocked cries of team RWBY and Doctor Geppetto as they fell through the swirling vortex conjured by Raven far away in Ozpin's tower at Beacon. Wisps of Warp fire flickered through the air above them as they fell towards the floor. The more aware and agile among them trying to adjust their fall.
Muffled thuds of boots and bodies followed by explosive huffs of air echoed out across the giant room. Either the girls landed on their hands and knees or fell to them when they touched down. All of them panting and trying to catch their bearings.
Ruby's head was spinning from the unexpected teleportation. She staggered to her feet and tried to speak.
"What… Wha, how?" She tried to ask,
Yang looked up from her bent over position, "Raven can make portals."
Shock and rattling beams shook the stadium again,
The beast had crushed through the civilian's ranks like tissue paper. Ragged as they were from the volley of black feathers and swooping talons.
Doctor Geppetto rose up on shaking legs and moved over to Penny, lying flat on her back on her many swords and staring blankly up to the holes in the ceiling. As he knelt and gently began to raise his daughter's head. Penny suddenly jolted and regained consciousness, shouting to finish the sentence she had been cut off in the middle of.
"…eeeeeaaaaaady!" Her hands sprang up to a guard position milliseconds before she seemed to realize where they were and settled down.
Across from the two of them, Ruby turned on Raven. Knifing her left hand through the air from her side to emphasis her words.
"Take us back!" The young leader commanded.
Yang shook her head as she stood, "Ruby…"
"We've gotta go back!" Ruby shouted, "Ozpin… The thing."
Raven interjected, "That Dragon…"
"We'll get help," Ruby said, "Take us back, we'll get Goodwitch and Kad, then…"
The dark haired Huntress bristled at the last name, and Ruby stopped herself, tilting her head in curiosity. She was about to ask what was wrong when Blake spoke.
"Beacon's lost Ruby…" The Faunus said sitting back on her heels.
"No," She countered, "No not yet."
Weiss looked to Blake, running the last minutes over in her mind.
"You saw something didn't you?" The heiress asked, keeping her friends heightened senses in mind.
Blake looked down to the floor, then back up to her team, "Ozpin, behind the Grimm I saw… I saw…"
"Saw what?" Weiss asked, with a hint of icy anger on her tongue.
But before Blake could answer, on the opposite edge of the stadium behind the girls bleachers suddenly tore free from their anchors. Concrete cracked and crumbled to pieces. The top of one giant bone white skull mask pushed up through the grand stands, followed by the Goliath's long black trunk sweeping towards the sky. An earthshaking howl crashed against the young Huntresses sensitive ears when the Daemon began to step into the stadium.
Hands leapt for weapons as all those capable spun to face the beast.
Its confident steps however soon turned to desperate slides pushing deep into the ground seeking grip. The beast tried to stand as if its back legs were sinking down into quick sand. Its eyes grew wide, and the deep growls pitched into a higher range of panic when just as quickly as it had appeared the Goliath vanished back down the hole.
Moments before a blinding flash and the sound of thunder rolled out from where the beast once stood.
With the sounds of battle now louder than ever the girls looked back to their black haired teammate. Yang spoke first, "Blake?"
"Not here," Blake said, "Not now, let's go…"
One of the last Beowolves roared and jumped at their lines. Cardin ducked down beneath its reaching claws and jabbed the black head of his mace into one of its knees. Pushing and throwing his shoulder into its stomach to flip the wolf up over his head and onto its back.
It was still snarling when Cardin spun and slammed his weapon down on its face. The flanged head tore free of the disappearing smoke. The tall ginger as well as every other fighter left standing looked up over the chaos to the north when a new howl fell on the battlefield.
Many began to take nervous steps back when they saw these new creatures approaching. Long bounding strides on bulky arms covered in white armor, the Grimm seeming to throw themselves forward. Their broad shoulders rolled and their small round heads split open when they howled.
His shortest teammate called out the question on Cardin's mind.
"What the hell are those?" Russell shouted.
Off to his right, the ax man Auburn shrugged off another set of fangs snapping on his bare arm before swiftly decapitating the Creep. He looked up, casually spinning his one remaining ax.
"What is that?" Russel repeated.
Auburn started to answer. ""It's a Berin-"
But was shocked into silence beneath the deafening whoosh of air parting around them, as the lead ape-beast's steady advance turned into a shrieking tumble when the black lamppost Kad hurled from the left flank nailed the Grimm to the ground.
The boys blinked in surprise, Auburn half whispered, "Dead, that's what it is…"
The pack kept charging forward. The Grimm's massive hands reached down into the straggling creatures swarming around their stout legs. A pause ran over the Hunter's lines. The new Beringels lifted up Beowolves single handedly and hurled them into the air and at the stunned youngsters.
From back behind the frontline fighters, streams of golden tracer rounds swiftly followed by purple bolts darted through the air. Intercepting many of the flying wolves before they could crash down. Many, but not all.
Black furred bodies tackled trainees to the ground, ripping and tearing at their faces and arms. The bulky behemoths still down the road beat their closed fists against their broad chests and ran forward as the Hunters right wing swept in to join the battle.
Bullets and Dust bolts stung against their hide and armor, but not nearly enough to do more then bring down a handful of the lead creatures.
Students screamed in either defiance or terror. Raising their weapon high or planting their longer shafts to the ground. Razor sharp tips gouged out eyes and pierced through unholy flesh. Massive fists battered down on the brave defenders breaking auras and bones.
Air whistled and split once again, Beowolves tore spikes off their own armor and hurled them forward into the melee. Raining bone white javelins on the Hunter's line.
And at the running giant finally returning to the fray.
The stink of smoke was heavy in the air. The ragged ruins of the once proud city were all that lay before team RWBY and the rest of those that had accompanied them to Beacon. The battle lines had all piled into the main lane that they had already shed so much blood to defend.
But now that struggle seemed to be turning into a race just to kill one last Grimm,
Arcs of yellow lighting leapt from Kad's Dust covered hand surrounded by his glowing aura. The Beowolves hurling spikes at the Hunters disappeared. Swept away in a swirling plume of dark shadow, shattered rocks accompanied by a clap of thunder. Hunters dodged around the swinging fists. Stabbing into the massive Grimm, teams working together to lay them low.
Ruby held up Crescent Rose in rifle form, "Let's go!"
Ignis sliced through the Beringels' lightly armored middles, those gorilla Grimm that weren't killed outright were quickly slaughtered by the frenzied youths following the Primarch's wake as he walked along the frontline methodically hacking down every Grimm in sight.
Until two of the beasts were left.
One turned to face the giant, the monster just as tall as Kad. The other just beyond it lowered its head and butted through the young Hunters, now galloping to fast to be caught by any of them. Roaring and charging right towards team RWBY.
All four girls raised the weapons with their mechanical symphony and took a ready stance. The Grimm's massive carnivorous teeth flashed one last time.
Before Kad's flaming sword spun through the air and cut the beast in two from head to groin.
As the blade crunched into the road he turned back to the last Grimm standing.
Seeing Its hateful gaze turn to cold fury cutting through the wild red irises.
White knuckle plates swung for Kad's head.
Which were effortlessly intercepted by his own giant palms as he caught the daemon's fists. Kad's super human strength easily surmounted the beast's own. Spit covered his face from the Grimm's defiant roar.
Its right hand pulled back for another swing.
The giant let it go, in the blink of an eye Kad's left jabbed out and snapped the Beringel's neck in a single blow. Hanging its round head between its shoulders open mouthed and shocked before the bulky creature shimmered and vanished.
And it seemed as soon as it had begun the battle was over.
Eerie stillness settled in the air. The only remaining sounds the deep gasps from out of breath youngsters and the distant cries of the wounded.
Kad's teammate Co'Balt was the first to break the spell. Stepping up to rush past the giant, gripping his shotgun-ax tight.
"Let's get em'!" He half snarled with a wild look in his eyes. Others took half steps to follow the Faunus. But Kad swung his left hand down into Co'Balt's path.
"No."
His whispered command still stretched over the assembled Hunters stopping them in their tracks. Co'Balt looked up to the giant along with all of their comrades.
"We did what we needed to," Kad said, raising his voice, "I don't want that thing…"
He pointed up to Beacon, ablaze far away on the cliffs as he turned. Hearing the dragon roar as it raged through the campus plowing buildings down to their foundations.
Preparing to build its new nest…
"Catching us out in the open."
Kad gazed around him while he thought, catching a thousand different gazes as he moved and spoke commands, "Go see if anyone still needs help on the west lane then get back to the steps. Rest but watch the sky."
Atlas soldiers walked up as if in a trance, their rifles held loose and their blank helmets sweeping across the carnage. The giant pointed to one red trimmed officer.
"Send squads out across the safe side. Make sure we aren't being flanked and search for any useful supplies."
Kad turned as he spoke and walked, tugging his sword free of the concrete when he passed and nodded once to the girls of team RWBY, flicking his free left hand back signaling them to follow him.
The wind picked up for a moment, pushing against the tattered remains of his black shirt. Kad frowned once in annoyance before gripping the loose edge and tearing the ruined cloth from his body. His muscled arms flexed as he threw it to the ground, letting all the Hunters drink in his perfect form and physique all too often hidden from view.
"And somebody get me a shirt…"
Kad sighed just a little as he sat down on the wide steps and laid Ignis across his lap. Co'Balt and Alicia stood to the right of team RWBY directly in front of him. The Faunus rolling his shoulders, and Kad's partner looking up to the burning school. Professor Goodwitch slowly approached them from the east lane, carefully picking her way path through the wreckage scattered around.
Yang glanced up at Raven a few rows back behind the giant, watching them all. Winter Schnee stepped a little bit past the older Huntress, nodding to her sister.
"How did you get back?" The giant asked leaning forward, "I didn't hear a bullhead?"
Ruby answered, "That's not important…"
Professor Goodwitch arrived and stood off to the side. But she immediately noticed one who was absent from their group,
"Where is the Headmaster?" She asked.
None of the girls could meet her emerald eyes…
"I think we're in trouble," Yang said quietly.
"Specifically?" Kad asked.
Yang looked right, to her sister. But the young scythe wielder was adamant.
"Not yet," She said. "Kad we need…"
Blake cut her off, "No Ruby,"
"Blake come on!" Ruby began to retort.
"Ozpin's dead."
Silence.
A dozen eyes looked to the cat Faunus all staring in unbelief. Her team and the remains of APRC. And they all broke the spell of quiet at the same moment with one voice.
"What?!"
Blake merely nodded, looking to the ground with tears in her eyes. Goodwitch took a step forward, laying her right hand on Blake's shoulder.
"Miss Belladonna?"
"I saw him fall," Blake said with a quiet stutter of emotion. "The dragon was burning the tower. But before we escaped… I…"
She drew in a deep breath looking up to the professor eyes beginning to wet, "There was another flash and… And I saw him fall."
The silence returned to their little meeting in a heavy cloud. Students within earshot looked to each other and whispered trying to find out if their companions had heard what they did. Kad scratched his chin taking in this new information.
Glynda wrapped her white knuckled fists around her riding crop, shutting her eyes as her head bowed with the weight of Blake's words. When she finally spoke her tone was the closest to emotional any had ever heard from her.
"Damnit… First Qrow and now this…"
She looked over to the giant, "I told you we should have evacuated."
He glared back at the teacher, but before he could speak Co'Balt stepped over to his side.
"What killed him?" The Faunus asked team RWBY.
Weiss quickly gave him an answer, "We were attacked,"
"Grimm?" Co'Balt interjected as the Heiress paused for breath.
"No," Weiss shook her head, "A woman. And her two partners. Raven…"
Shot the Heiress a look that would have frozen a Goliath in its tracks. Her narrowed red eyes locked onto the light blue orbs of Weiss who left the thought unfinished much to the confusion of those around her.
But a small voice drew all their attention back in.
"What happened to Qrow?"
The two sisters were looking to Professor Goodwitch, disbelief and fear plainly writ across their faces. Goodwitch said nothing, Kad stood pointing to Co'Balt.
"Show them," He said simply.
"Why me?" The Faunus objected.
"Because we don't have time for words Co'Balt."
Kad sighed and ran his hand back over his sweat coated hair, "I need to think…"
Raven tried not to show how tense she was when he walked past. Convinced at any moment the giant would finally recognize her. But once again Kad did nothing, moving past the red clad girl and heading into the stadium dragging his sword along behind him.
The bull Faunus grunted and slung his ax back across his shoulders, tilting his head and taking the first steps out to the western lane. The four girls looked amongst themselves for a brief moment.
Yang and Ruby began to follow Co'Balt, and Professor Goodwitch stepped along after them. Weiss gave a nod up to her sister and a curious look to Raven before turning to Blake.
Her black bow was bent slightly back, and her amber eyes flicked wildly at random things.
Blake was afraid.
"What's wrong?" Weiss asked her friend. But the Faunus gave no answer.
But someone else did.
Alicia was watching the door her team leader and partner had vanished through moments ago. And the red haired girl spoke a single word in answer to the Heiress
"Everything."
Co'Balt came to a stop on the edge of the western lane. With a wordless grunt and a small twist of his shoulders he pointed out the line of the dead.
Far more students and soldiers had fallen on this front than any other point or moment in the day. But it would have been far worse elsewhere if not for the brave sacrifices that had been made that night.
None of those thoughts provided an ounce of comfort, or even entered the minds of Ruby and Yang,
All they could see was their Uncle.
Lying flat on his back where he had been dragged to, his head turned back almost to the place where the Daemon had killed him. His custom blade nowhere to be seen. The man who was practically a surrogate father to the both of them.
Now gone from this world.
They approached him slowly, neither daring to say a word and shatter the tension choking the air. Professor Goodwitch stopped back next to Co'Balt, watching the two young girls.
Blood had long stopped pumping from the wounds that had nearly torn the Huntsman in half. Ruby fell to her knees in numb shock, reaching out her slender trembling hand to the red stains covering Qrow's body.
Yang went to one knee fighting back the same sobs that Ruby was slowly letting consume her. The blonde gently placed her left hand on Ruby's shoulder. No words seemed adequate to Yang, as she tried to speak in a trembling voice to calm her sister.
"Ruby…"
At the mention of her name, the young girl threw herself backwards into Yang's waiting arms, burying her face and hands against Yang's chest and letting her grief stricken tears fill the cold night air.
The great beast lifted its head back up and over one of its white spiked shoulders. Growling as it drew in deep shaking breaths like it was scenting the night air.
It could smell the raw fear and despair.
Stronger and more tempting than ever.
"Merely a taste."
The Dragon growled in near rage as it sensed her intent.
But all forces bowed to greater will.
"Soon… More, very soon…"
Try as Yang might Ruby was inconsolable. Her pitiful cries muffled against her chest as the blond stroked her hair. Co'Balt and Goodwitch's shades were replaced by familiar silhouettes falling over both of them. Blake knelt down next to her partner while Weiss stood a respectful distance away, hands clasped in front of her.
And another shape slowly crept up behind them. Yang's own quiet sobs ceased as she saw the shadow of her doppelganger draw near
Raven called out softly just above a whisper, "Yang?"
But she was ignored. And Raven was done staying silent.
"Yang," She called again in a slightly more forceful tone. Yang blinked as her eyes started to shift. Ruby twisted around in her arms to slide on her knees closer to Qrow's body. Yang stayed at her side with her hand on Ruby's back.
"Yang."
When the brawler opened her eyes again they were wholly red and burning. Yang forced herself to shaky feet.
She spoke to her twin in deep snarl as she clenched her fists, "Leave me alone Raven…"
"We…"
Fast as a striking snake Yang turned and struck. An open palm blow directly on Raven's collarbone sending her stumbling backwards. Weiss turned with her eyes wide as the moon, Blake half looked keeping her left hand firmly on Ruby's back while their leader kept on crying.
Yang tried to control her voice through clenched teeth.
"I said leave me alone!"
Raven had her left palm on the place where she had been struck. Whatever thoughts were running through her mind her face remained a picture of stoicism.
"No time for your crap right now, my real sister needs me."
Yang spread her feet out almost like she was going to take a fighting stance, daring the dark Huntress to do anything. But Raven didn't dare. Locked in place by an all too familiar feeling.
Despair.
Her voice had an almost imperceptible tremble in it when she finally broke the silent stalemate, "I wish you'd believe me… I wish you'd listen…"
RWBY's boxer turned away, back to Ruby and her dead uncle. She never heard the other girls whisper.
"But, that's fine…" That moment, Raven made a silent promise to her sister, "I can make this right… I will make this right…"
Honed was a good way to describe Kad's shirtless body.
Not toned, although his muscles were all that and more. As if he spent all the considerable time he wasn't with them in the gym. The giant had a physicality like no one she had ever seen. Radiating the built up energy and vast power untapped within. Honed like a blade.
On any other day Alicia may have let her thoughts wander, but she had far more pressing concerns now.
The second member of team APRC found her leader silently staring out of the broken entrance to the stadium where the Goliath had punched through not long ago. His great red sword leaning against the debris to his right.
Feeling the weariness deep in her bones Alicia stepped up a small slab of rubble and sat down. She still had Jaxon's rifle spear Uzipho with her, she balanced the sharp point down between her legs. She leaned forward brushing the wet sweaty strands of hair from her forehead waiting for Kad to speak.
He stood completely still staring out on the city. Arms crossed over his broad chest.
Alicia finally spoke, "Hell of a day right?"
Even though he heard his partner Kad said nothing. Her attempt at light heartedness wasn't the only thing he was hearing.
Whispered voices.
Their spreading tone.
The tone of fear.
"Kad…" Alicia almost voiced her own thoughts, but the weight of what she knew she had to say stopped her.
The giant shifted a little looking to his partner, "We'll take as much time as we can to rest."
Alicia drew in a breath to try and stop him, only to be completely ignored.
"We're gonna have to find a place to draw in the Dragon."
She couldn't believe her ears. After all that had happened Kad still wanted to fight.
"Without the tower…"
Again Kad cut her off, "We have Geppetto still. He can rig something up after we win."
"Kad!"
Alicia stared him dead in the eyes, she didn't want to believe what she was hearing.
His bravery was only turning into madness…
She spoke his name much softly this time. "Kad… We're all hurt. We're all tired… We're running out of Dust, ammunition... And the Grimm are going to come back."
The giant shook his head, "No. We can do this. We can win."
"But what about Ozpin?"
"What about him?"
It was far too easy to steal a sizeable Dust crystal from one unperceptive student. Purple gravity Dust, not part of her usual arsenal. But suitable now.
Even if she succeeded Raven would have to run. No one would believe why she did it. But that was fine, as long as the giant wasn't around to work his master's scheme.
But if she failed… That would be, acceptable.
Alicia was almost horrified by his tone. Hazel eyes wide in shock.
"What about Ozpin?" Kad said, "Look."
He stretched out his left hand to the battlefield they had just come from. Pointing at the scene of their victory.
Alicia didn't see it that way.
"Have you seen what we've done!?"
He stabbed his index finger down to the ground. "That was us! All of us, here, today. Not some fucking old man scheming in a tower. We fought the Grimm. We pushed them back."
"But how long can we keep doing this Kad?" Alicia asked in a cracking voice.
"…As long as it takes." The giant replied.
"With who's left? With what we still have? We can't last forever."
"No. We still have what they stole."
Alicia's concern was swallowed by confusion, "What?"
He realized what he said after a split second.
He thought faster, "They. Them. The ones team RWBY fought."
His partner still didn't understand. But she held her tongue and waited for him to elaborate.
"It doesn't make sense that Ozpin or the school was their target. Not now. An attack like that. That was a heist. Killing Ozpin was probably just a bonus. They were looking for something, something hidden... Something we can use if we find them."
He could see Alicia trying to process his logic. But before she could ask any other questions Kad began to walk away. Leaving Ignis propped up against the rubble on his right.
"Find Co'Balt, Goodwitch, and whoever is in charge of the Atlesians," The giant ordered, "Meet me in the planning room."
He quickly disappeared down a shadowed hallway. Which was absolutely not the way to the war room. Alicia was too confused to even leave her makeshift seat. But after a moment's contemplation she stepped down, silently going after Kad.
The girls couldn't spare any more time for their Uncle. So with the silent comforting presence of their partners and teammates Ruby, Weiss, Blake and Yang walked away from the line of dead and slowly approached the stadium.
Yang had her right arm draped over Ruby's shoulders, the little scythe wielder dabbing at her watery eyes. Blake stood to their left, Weiss on their right.
None of the fighters spared them a second glance walking up the steps. Aside from their teacher Professor Goodwitch as she surveyed her charges. Their collective mood was blacker than the midnight sky. And none of the whispers they heard held any positive thoughts.
The four girls turned back around when they reached the main entrance. Blake was the first to break their silent vigil.
"Running is looking like a good option…" The Faunus mused. And none of her teammates saw fit to argue with her this time.
He was alone now.
As far as the Primarch had bothered to check around this shadowed corner in this grey side hall before pulling out his scroll.
Alicia had no idea what he was doing.
Raven was thankful there appeared to be no one around.
Kad didn't understand this, how this dark mood had so quickly overcome his fighters. He knew some would rally to his side to fight once again. But he didn't know if it would be enough to turn the tide.
Yes Alicia was right, the Grimm were going to come back. Stronger than ever.
And there was only one hope of stopping them now.
Somehow his scroll had survived being stuck on his person while Kad went toe to toe with the giant Grimm. He slid the little plastic device open and began cycling through programs. Keying into the secure frequency.
Cinder answered almost immediately.
His sensitive hearing picked up the hum of a jet engine in the background. The dull ruffles of clothing as Mercury and Emerald shifted somewhere close to their teacher.
Alicia heard the little voice filtered through a scroll.
"Kad…" Cinder said, knowing exactly who was attempting to contact her.
The giant tried to keep his voice down.
Raven cut her odachi into the Dust crystal, coating the blade in elemental power.
"Where are you?" He asked.
She spoke without hesitation, "On our way to the alpha site."
Kad could picture the smile on her face during the short pause he heard, "We've got it."
A part of him rejoiced at her success, years of plotting and planning and finally it was all coming together. The pyromancer addressed him again moments later.
"What's your status?"
"Not good," He replied before sighing, "We've fought the Grimm off again. But no one thinks we can win…"
"Of course you can."
"I know that." Kad said with a bite of anger. He decided to avoid his most pressing issue first. "…Why did you let those girls go?"
He had no idea team RWBY would come into contact with Cinder. He thought she would be stealthier even in the abandoned campus. And it didn't matter now either way what he might have done if he had known
"They weren't a threat," Cinder told him.,"And the world needed to know."
"Know what?"
"How the old guard had failed them. That their leaders were powerless, as they have always been."
"That doesn't help me now Cinder…"
"You're wrong there."
She paused, Kad patiently held his tongue. She mused a little in her answer. "The call to greatness, not all can hear. This is your time. You need to remind them Kad…"
"Cinder," He hissed, "Come back. Use the crystal… I… I need help."
The old familiar touch of doubt crept back to the edge of his mind. He straightened his back, swallowing down his pride, "Wasn't this the plan? Reshape the world order? Cinder, please. We won't last."
"No."
Time seemed to freeze...
Kad stared in disbelief at the scroll in his hand. The shock he felt slowly began to simmer, buried beneath a sea of a thousand different feelings.
Her heart hammered in her chest, choking her throat with adrenaline.
Her red sword glowed with a crystalized shine and a touch of her aura. And Raven steeled herself to do what she had to do.
A female voice screamed in exertion and rage.
Alicia snapped out of her haze, and heedless of whatever her partner's reaction would be to her eavesdropping rushed out of the doorway she had been sneaking up to.
And time began to creep again.
Kad looked left towards the shout, battle instincts blazing away his clouded thoughts. His superhuman muscles tensed to fight. Crushing the scroll in his hands without thinking before he had even shifted an inch.
As Raven seemed to fly at him out of another doorway as she leapt screaming into the air.
Stabbing the tip of her Dust coated sword low into the Primarch's left side.
His shouted snarl of super-human rage cut through the air. The narrow point pierced his thick flesh aided by the purple touch.
And his curled right fist was flying with a roar before the first shock of pain even hit his brain.
Kad didn't see exactly where his right hook struck the blurry outline of his attacker. But in a single blow he shattered her aura and knocked the swordswoman back even faster than she attacked. Straight through the hallway wall and into the big circling space.
The giant shut his eyes and growled low in more annoyance than pain. The red blade was sticking from his side, a good hand's length of steel jammed into where any other person's kidneys would be.
His left hand reached down and wrapped around the blade, unharmed by the razor edge as Kad jerked it free along with a single drop of blood.
Every set of eyes among the defenders snapped up, open and over in the stadium to the loud crash of Raven bursting through the wall. Dozens of trainees grabbed their weapons and began to swarm towards the noise.
Team RWBY were closest to the commotion, walking back slowly to the war room. Always the first to hit fight or flight Yang broke into a run. Ready lay the hurt down on whatever had dared return to this place.
The blonde easily outpaced her more cautious teammates, heading straight for the source of potential battle. Following the long curving hall only to be frozen in her tracks by what she saw.
Kad flipped the sword up by its point and caught the long handle in his callused palm. Pinching and testing its edge in two fingers as he stalked toward the instant door he made.
Her soul shield hadn't been the only thing that saved her life. As even now His son managed to restrain himself.
Raven blinked, trying to clear the blur out of her red eyes and see through the haze of terrible pain that permeated through every cell in her body. She coughed and rolled onto her stomach across the splinters of debris that had been torn firm the wall with her body.
She tried to raise herself up on strength-less elbows, only managing to bring her head up slightly to see her death about to come down in the form of her own sword held back up behind the giant's head.
All the unanswered questions finally forced Yang into motion.
No clear reasoning guided Kad's hands in this moment. Animal instincts of retaliation walked him forward until he towered above the helpless young girl. But as he raised the assassin's sword back to cleave her head free a yellow streak and another high scream, cut through the rage cloud making him pause.
"WAIT!"
The streak of Yang Xaio Long dashing in front of him and throwing up her hands…