Through the Cliffs of Morytha
"This isn't fair." Complained a young Gormotti boy named Milton in an inn room that was reserved for him and his friend. "After everything we've been through, how can they just ditch us?"
"Because we would just get in their way." said a young blonde boy in an emotionless tone that had a tiny mix of annoyance. Sitting on one of the beds of the room, "You saw what that Malos did. Do you really think we could be of any use against something like that?"
"But… We've faced worse." Milton protested.
"That's because they always made sure to have at least one of them to protect us. They can't afford that with Malos… Besides, they don't want to see us hurt." Mikhail looked a little down on the last part.
Milton looked pouty before letting out a defeated sigh. At that moment, someone knocked on their door.
"Yes?" Mikhail called out loudly.
The door opened, revealing Thauron with some kind of metal box in his hand, "Hey you two. How are you?" The Driver of the Firestorm asked.
"Fine." Milton said without meeting the brown-haired man's gaze.
The said man gave a quirked eyebrow to Mikhail. "Milton was complaining about not going with you." Mikhail sold the Gormotti out.
"Hey!"
"Still?" Thauron gave the Gormotti boy a look of disbelief. Then he stepped forward and got down on the child's level, "Milton. We've been over this, we're not sure we can keep you safe this time. With you guys here at the capital, we can focus on kicking Malos' ass."
"I know… but… what if you guys don't come back?" Milton asked now in worry.
Thauron chuckled at this, "Hey. I'm not planning to die here, and neither is Addam, Lora, or Hugo. We're gonna beat Malos, save the world, and then come back." The Tornan Driver placed a hand on Milton's shoulder. "That being said, I'd like you two to have this." Thauron then offered the metal box in his unoccupied hand to Milton who accepted it.
"What is it?" Milton asked while looking the box over.
"Something I hold precious." Thauron said as he stood back up, "Should I… not come back, you two can have it to yourselves."
"Don't say that!" Milton protested. Mikhail too frowned deeply.
Thauron didn't relent, "Buut, should I come back, I expect you two to give that back to me." As Thauron smiled, Mikhail then got off the bed and walked next to Milton.
"So, you want us to keep this thing safe?" Mikhail asked as he pointed to the box in Milton's hands.
"See? Mikkey here gets it." Thauron said before ruffling the blonde kid's hair. The said kid tried to look unamused, although the corners of his lips did quirk upwards. He just didn't understand why Thauron doing that felt so… nice.
But then Thauron took a more serious expression, "You can't lose it, or break it. Remember, that's my treasure you're holding, and I don't want you to go through it unless I'm gone."
Mikhail looked a little suspicious of why the guy would word it like that.
But Milton had other ideas, "We promise."
"Good." Thauron nodded in approval before turning to Mikhail, "Mikhail, please make sure Milton stays to his word."
"I promise." Mikhail nodded while Milton gave an annoyed look to his friend.
"I'm counting on you." Thauron said with a smile before turning to leave, "I'm not gonna say bye here, since we're only moving out tomorrow. So I'll just say, good night Mik and Mil." The young man had a cheeky grin at the last part.
"Good night Thauron," Milton said with a small smile
"Good night… Thauron." Mikhail said hesitantly and with a pink dusting on his cheeks. With those words, Thauron left the room.
"But as you can guess, he never came back. And to top it all off, we did lose it to a tiny breach that opened when we were about to take it with us when the evacuation started." Mikhail finished his story to Patroka, "And somehow that thing found its way to Dragunov and his current Driver."
"So… you were with Addam 500 years ago." Patroka said with a look of amazement. The black-haired Flesh Eater woman had asked Mikhail about his connection with Dragunov and Thauron and wouldn't take any excuses.
"Yeah…" Mikhail said while looking a little down, "I still sometimes have dreams about the time that could've been without Indol."
"Oh? And what are those dreams?" Patroka asked with a genuinely curious look.
"…Promise me you won't laugh." Mikhail said with an unusually serious look.
Patroka actually looked taken back by the expression before considering it. "…I promise."
Mikhail took a deep breath and let it out before getting to it, "Okay, the dreams were about me living with Lora and Thauron… Except…in the dream…I called them mom and dad." Mikhail looked away in embarrassment.
Patroka was speechless. She never imagined that Mikhail, their resident womanizer had ever dreamt of being part of a family. "It's not laughable," Patroka said as she crossed her arms, "It's kind of what Akhos and I once hoped for."
"Really?"
"Yes… Well except we just wanted to live with our Drivers and see them go about their lives. But shit happened and… here we are." Patroka then shrugged.
"You know… I would love to be part of your family." Mikhail then said suavely as he got closer to Patroka. He was rewarded with a fist in the face.
As Mikhail reeled in pain, Patroka gave him a disappointed look, "And you were actually doing so well for a change." And then she walked off, not angrily, but almost dejectedly.
"…I really blew it this time." Mikhail muttered as he rubbed his abused face.
Thanks to Roc flying ahead with a letter from Mòrag, the gang was able to get on an Ardainian military ship without problems in Harhaigh Palace. Though several things needed to be done first, namely Yang chose to leave Bumblebee with Gyro and Pierce. Although the bombshell Driver did threaten to murder the brothers if anything happened to her bike. Gyro accepted nervously, while Theory moved in front of her Driver protectively. Pierce was lucky to be on duty when Bumblebee was dropped off and therefore didn't get threatened.
Tora was a little miffed, he said he had finally gotten concrete ideas on how to upgrade both Poppi and Penny, but to do those they would've had to go to Tora's house in Gormott. And that was too much out of their way. Not to mention that applying the upgrades might take several days. Time which they didn't have. This made both Poppi and Penny disappointed.
Finally, Mòrag went to visit Niall just to see how he was. The young emperor wished his sister good luck and they shared a hug briefly, in private of course.
Now, the gang had reached the rotting Titan at the edge of the Great Void.
"So this is Cliffs of Morytha." Mòrag commented on the sight of the strangely green mountain path that led from the shore they had docked to.
"I expected this place to be a little more…ominous." Oscar said, as he looked to the slightly dreary cliffs around the area.
"At least Ophion didn't attack us here." Nia added in, being in her Blade form again. Again, because when they docked to Mor Ardain, Nia assumed her Driver form because she didn't feel like explaining anything. Everyone accepted that.
"Owowow." Rex suddenly winced, earning everyone's attention.
"Rex, are you okay?" Ruby asked in concern. Nia also moved closer.
"I'm fine…It's not me." Rex said as he looked up the pathway, "It's Pyra. She's in pain."
"What?" Blake was the first to ask, "Then we don't have time to waste."
"You said it." Yang added with a determined look, "Let's go!"
"Yeah!" Everyone let out in unison before moving forward.
In the terrace that overlooked the great void, Pyra was writhing in agony as there were purple lines surging around her.
Jin glanced at Salem who, true to her word, just sat and waited, aside from creating a breach back to Marsanes so that Jin could inform the rest of Torna about the change in situation earlier. Although right now she did look a little curious about both the situation and this area.
"Shouldn't this Ophion have tried to attack us by now?" Salem suddenly asked.
"Why would you say that?" Jin returned the question.
"Because if it's supposed to keep anyone from approaching the World Tree, then it doesn't seem to be doing a good job." Salem said as she looked towards the infinite abyss below that separated them from the giant tree.
"...According to Malos, this Titan is off-limits to it. But if you were to try and cross, then it will attack." Jin explained.
"I see." Salem said with an intrigued look.
"Something bothers me about your story." Jin then said, earning a quirked eyebrow from the witch, "You said that you want the power that is in the World Tree that can destroy your gods."
"Yes, what of it?" Salem didn't like where this was going.
"What makes you think there is any kind of power to be gained up there?" Jin then looked up the massive tree with its many branches of vegetation.
"…Let's just say that I have had…visions of what is up there." Salem didn't want to reveal too much.
"…What makes you think this power can destroy your gods?" Jin then asked.
"What kind of question is that?" Salem asked with an annoyed look.
"You sound so certain. What do you have to back this up?" Jin then gave his attention back to the ashen faced witch, "Did these…visions of yours show this power destroying your gods?"
Salem opened her mouth to answer, but only kept it open for a few seconds that felt like minutes. "…I don't know." Salem said, now looking confused. She had been so certain that whatever might be up there could help her in her revenge, but now she wasn't so sure why she thought that.
"You seem confused. Did you never stop to think?" Jin now had an imperious look, "Perhaps whatever you seek may not be up there."
"Shut up!" Salem shouted angrily as she got up, "Everything is their fault, not mine!"
Jin looked a little suspicious of Salem, "I never said anything that would imply you being at fault of anything?"
Salem looked enraged as she raised a palm.
"What do you think you're doing?" Came the voice of Malos who had stopped whatever he was now doing. Pyra was now limp and looked less unconscious and more lifeless.
Salem turned a hateful glare at the dark Aegis whose Core Crystal was now a perfect Amethyst Cross in a golden frame. Salem took a calming breath, "Stop questioning my goals and we will not have any more problems."
Malos quirked an eyebrow at this, "Are you sure, woman?" This question befuddled Salem. "Are you sure, that your goals are your own?"
"What did you say to me?" Salem looked offended to hear that.
"It sounds to me like you don't want to acknowledge something. Or maybe…you can't acknowledge something. Which makes me wonder…is it because of your own delusions. Or perhaps…you're not really you?" Malos looked almost smug at the look on Salem's face.
It seemed like the witch didn't know if she should get angry, confused or panic. Salem then shook her head and slapped her cheeks to forget such baseless claims, "Just get me to the World Tree, please."
Malos shrugged. "Sure." And then he walked to the end of the terrace past Pyra. Then the dark Aegis took out the Omega Fetter before holding it out to the heavens. "Come, Ophion!" Malos called out as the glowing blue cube glowed just a little brighter than usual.
It didn't take long until from the depths, a dark purple serpentine body emerged, flying some ways away from the terrace Malos was standing on.
However, Salem's eyes widened in surprise as there was something about Ophion she didn't expect, "By the accursed Brothers, it's a machine!"
Although the Omega Fetter was called Ophion's "control core", the appearance of the thing didn't exactly say it was part of a machine. But there was Ophion itself, a mechanical serpent with a long-pointed head and mostly dark purple body with parts of it being dark yellow. It's tube like body had multipled ring-like structures placed periodically around it. Its pointed head had a single green light at the center, and it was surrounded by six protrusions that were placed in a hexagonal pattern. Then Salem looked confused as a golden halo appeared suddenly above its head. Squinting her eyes a little, Salem saw that on top of the head was a humanoid torso with a single glowing red eye. The torso's shoulders had extensions behind them that looked like blue fanged maws. Its arms had four claw-like fingers.
"Is this something you didn't expect?" Jin asked Salem.
"No…I didn't expect to be facing a machine." Salem admitted. Appearance-wise this puts anything Atlas has made to shame. Watts would probably love to study this. Such thoughts were interrupted when the maw-like extensions on the shoulders shifted to point towards them before opening and charging energy.
"What's that?" Malos questioned at what the Artifice was doing. Then Ophion opened fire. Luckily for Malos, he was able to put up a dark sphere-like barrier to block the blast. Despite that, the force shook the whole place slightly.
"Why did it just attack?" Salem asked more out of curiosity than anything else.
Malos dropped the barrier with a small smirk, "Clever girl." This earned the dark Aegis curious looks, "It has it's own attack instinct, which makes it capable of autonomous action. She knew this." Malos then turned to the lifeless looking Pyra, "That's why she came quietly."
"Is that a problem?" Salem didn't look worried at all.
"No." Malos said as he backed away a little before taking a running start, "All it needs is a little reprogramming!" And then Malos leaped towards the Artifice that was preparing to fire again.
From Jin's and Salem's perspective, a burst of dark energy shot out of the point Malos contacted Ophion's torso.
With the Alrestians and Remnans, the ground shook, causing everyone to stumble a little.
"An earthquake?" Zeke questioned.
"Yes." Wulfric said, "Though unnatural."
"It's not far from here." Mòrag said.
"Let's go, everyone." Rex said with a determined look and the gang picked up their pace.
Although," Sorry if I'm asking stupid questions, but how can there be earthquakes on Titans?" Nora asked, "I mean…aren't they always moving gently?"
Azurda chuckled in Rex's helmet, "Sometimes even Titans have bouts of dizziness. Although those very few and far between."
That did not sit well with any Remnan who then got a mental image of drunken Mor Ardain Titan.
"There are drugs that can dull a Titan's motor functions, but for those to work on a Great Titan. It would take years to manufacture in large enough quantities." Mòrag added in.
"And that isn't taking into account the fact that it would need to be administered directly into the Titan's ether stream." Aegaeon added in, "Which in itself is a challenge to reach. Not to mention that those drugs are very hard to manufacture, much less mass produce."
"Wait, what about that huge hole in Mor Ardain?" Blake asked in worry.
"You wouldn't suggest we haven't taken every conceivable counter-measure to prevent such misuse?" Brighid said almost challengingly.
"…I suppose you would have." Blake said, feeling grateful that they dealt with the White Fang when they did. If they ever found their way here, they would definitely use that kind of strategy to destroy all nations that look like Remnan humans.
As the gang moved in further, Pyrrha demonstrated that along with Talos' element, she had gained his ability to leap great distances. Something that surprised the red-haired Blade herself. Not that anyone was complaining when there was a jump that no one could make. And no one felt like they should use their Aura or semblance for this.
"I wonder who put these walkways here." Electra asked as they were now moving across sturdy looking planks that were tied to poles stuck onto the cliffside. Of course, everyone was moving on single file, with Dragunov and Wulfric holding the rear. Just in case these things aren't sturdy enough to hold their weight. But it looks like the planks are sturdy enough to carry those two.
"Perhaps this place once had people in it." Otohime suggested as she pointed a little ahead at a structure that looked like a gate.
"It's also possible that Jin and the others placed these here earlier." Azurda added in.
That was when Nia seemed to realize something, "Now that you mention it, Malos called this place a shortcut to the World Tree. Maybe they had been here before."
"Well, it's convenient for us." Jaune commented as everyone then had to make a small jump off to the floor slightly beneath the makeshift walkway. Then they walked through the gate like structure that Otohime pointed out earlier.
And standing there in a large hall with parts of walls on the right side missing, was Malos. "I've been expecting all of you." Malos said with a small smirk.
"Where's Pyra?" Rex immediately asked the dark Aegis.
"Hell if I know." Malos shrugged, "She could be dead by now."
"I'm alive, she's alive." Rex said as he pointed to the Core Crystal piece on his chest with his thumb.
"Believe what you want, boy." Malos said uncaringly, "But don't be mad at me. All I'm doing is recovering what was stolen from me. You're never going to see her again." This statement made Rex grit his teeth. "You make me laugh, you know that? Look at you now. That little salvager brat that I picked up back in Argentum. Now standing here, with a gall to challenge me?"
"You would be surprised how much trouble 'brats' make." Qrow said with a smirk, earning a small glare from Malos.
"No one asked you." Malos shot back.
"Besides, someone's gotta challenge you." Ruby said as she brandished Roze's scythe.
"We're not gonna lose to the likes of you." Rex added in.
Malos smiled at the challenge before raising his sword. A single edged curved sword with golden trimmings. Between the blade and the handle was a wide circular part with an Amethyst Cross inside of it. However, portions of the blade and the outermost parts of the circle opened, letting out a curved blade of dark energy out with a symbol lighting up on the circular part. All the while Malos' Core Crystal shined with power, "You did well to make it this far. But you will end here, boy." Then Malos was covered in a dark aura, which was followed by the floor the gang was standing on being covered by darkness.
Everyone quickly leaped away from the spot on the floor which soon exploded in dark energies, creating a hole on where they once stood. Everyone then landed on different sides of the new hole. Although Tora landed on the very edge of the hole which gave way under the Nopon.
"Tora!" Rex called out.
"Friend Tora!" Penny also called out in concern.
"Masterpon!" Poppi then fired her jets and flew to pick up her Driver.
"What the hell is this?!" Zeke exclaimed as he charged Malos with Big Bang Edge poised to strike. Qrow not far behind as he brandished Kasandra's hammer.
The two attacks collided with Malos' spherical barrier of dark energy. And to the two's horror, their weapons started disintegrating on contact. The two Drivers quickly backed off.
"Watch it, you two! Malos' power will destroy anything it touches." Nia said with a glare at Malos. "It'll take your arm or head right off."
"What?!" Zeke let out in disbelief as he held the partially disintegrated Big Bang Edge that now had glowing purple edges on disintegrated parts.
Qrow also looked at Kasandra's destroyed hammer in worry. This thing is supposed to be super defensive, so that didn't exactly bode well.
"So what're we gonna do now?" Rex asked Nia.
Malos meanwhile chuckled, "You hopeless little maggots!" And then the barrier expanded, but Zeke and Qrow were covered by an aquatic looking barrier.
"Huh?" Qrow and Zeke let out in unison.
Malos glared to Nia who had her hands forward. "I should've used this power earlier." Nia said and then Zeke's and Qrow's weapons regenerated. "So many lives could've been saved. But I was too afraid to return to those days."
"Nia, are you looking for a place to belong to? Or are you just a fickle child who doesn't know what she wants?" Malos asked mockingly.
Nia scoffed at that, "Someone taught me that I don't have to be afraid. Malos, your power may destroy, but my power restores. There is no wound you can inflict that I can't heal. Blade weapons too. As long as my friends have the will to live, then that's all I need. Rex, everyone, let's end this." Nia finished as she offered her weapon to Rex.
(Play Xenoblade Chronicles 2 OST: Incoming!)
"Yeah." Rex agreed and took the Catalyst Scimitar. Roc and Wulfric moving to Rex's sides.
"Let's do this, everyone!" Ruby joined in as the Remnans prepared their own Blade weapons.
"Let's do this!" Nora and Yang called out in unison as they charged ahead.
"Hmpf. No matter how many times you try, it won't matter!" Malos said as he moved away from Nora's swing before counter-attacking, "Striker Edge!" And then he gave Nora strong enough slash to knock her away. Then he started avoiding Yang's punches before blasting her with his power.
"Yang!" Ruby cried out as it looked like Yang's body was about to disintegrate. Only for the purple spots on her body to soon fade away.
"What?!" Malos didn't like the sight of that.
Weiss quickly checked her scroll and noted that Yang's Aura was gone." Yang, you're out of Aura."
"What?" Yang questioned as she backed away while Zeke and Qrow re-engaged Malos alongside Mòrag.
"I guess your Aura acts as a one-shot block against Malos' power." Dragunov said with a glare to the dark Aegis who was fighting off the three Drivers at the same time. Either weaving through Mòrag's Whipswords, blocking Zeke's Big Bang Edge, or avoiding Kasandra's hammer. But then he leaned his head to the side to avoid Prostateva's tip.
"You're a new one." Malos commented on Pyrrha who had a determined look as she went to pull Prostateva back and used Thiarko to slam Malos.
"Striker Edge!" Malos countered with a powerful slash that actually knocked Pyrrha back. Malos then put up a barrier that blocked shots from Oscar, Ren and Penny before then blocking Jaune who was wielding Joana's Catalyst Scimitar.
"It's cute that you think you can actually harm me." Malos said before smacking Jaune's weapon away and slashed at him. Dealing heavy damage to his Aura, despite also using Crocea Mors' shield.
Malos noticed a single rose petal falling to his field of vision from behind.
"Crescent Spinner!" Was the only warning he got before feeling a myriad of slashes on his back.
"You, brat!" Malos shouted as he slashed behind him, only for his sword to go through some leftover petals. Turning to follow the trail, the dark Aegis saw Ruby and Roze exiting the flurry of rose petals a safe distance away. "You really are annoying." Malos said before realizing that this time he had to block an attack from Rex himself.
"Now!" Rex called out as Wulfric, Roc and Blake wielding Nox's scythes came from the sides and back to attack Malos.
"Tch." Malos let out in annoyance as he ducked under while Weiss also fired Icicle Cannon on Malos to a big enough gap the three had.
Everyone else with close combat Blades took this as their chance to gang up on Malos.
"Monado Cyclone!" Malos then jumped high, creating a vortex of dark energy that tossed Rex, Roc, Wulfric and Blake away. Everyone else managed to stop in time.
"My lady!" Nox called out in distress as he caught his Driver who had purple glowy bits along her arms. She was still holding onto the now largely disintegrated scythes. Blake was also gritting her teeth, no doubt in pain. "I…will…tear you apart!" Nox threatened even as he was moving his Driver to a safer distance. His pupil being in the X-shape of course.
Roc and Wulfric landed several ways opposite of Malos and each other, both of them having their weapons and parts of their bodies disintegrating.
Rex was also in the same situation as Blake, but then an aquatic wave washed over him, restoring him and his weapon. The same thing happened to Roc, Wulfric and Blake.
"Thanks Nia." Rex thanked the Flesh Eater as he got back up.
"I…I didn't think I used that much power." Nia said in slight confusion.
"You can thank Joana for that." Jaune called back as Joana had her hands in a prayer with small holographic angel wings coming out of her back.
"Right, Divine Presence." Nia commented with a small smile. The healing amp was always a welcome addition.
"This is really getting bothersome," Malos said with a sigh, "You can't hurt me and I can't seem to keep you down."
"Keep this down." Ren called out as he fired Zen Barrage at Malos.
"That won't work." Malos said smugly before creating a dark barrier to block the blasts, only to get surprised when purple chains appeared around him. "What?!"
Otohime kept her hands together with and almost smug look. "You have been very naughty boy."
"You…You can't do this to me!" Malos cried out as the chains were now restraining him.
"I can. And I will." Otohime replied matter of factly. "At least, until the others tear you asunder."
This caused various eager looks among the group.
"Get him." Yang said, and with that, everyone charged at the now helpless dark Aegis.
"No. No. Noooo!" Malos cried out as Jaune and Rex unleashed their respective close-range Arts on the dark Aegis. Only for Malos' sword arm to break free and catch both Catalyst Scimitars at the same time, smirking as he did. "Just kidding." Malos said as he unleashed his power to disintegrate Otohime's bindings before getting away from everyone else before they reached him.
"But... how?" Nia questioned, seeing as Otohime's bindings held down Dragunov. And yet Malos broke free with seemingly no real effort.
"Did you really think that you could seal me that easily?" Malos asked as he raised his sword with his Core Crystal shining with power. "Let me show you how it's done, Monado Jail!"
"What the-?!" Were the various shouts from all Blades as they were now bound by the same chains that previously tried to restrain Malos.
"Guys!" Ruby called out as the blade of Roze's scythe shut down.
"Nia!" Rex let out in concern. As the Flesh Eater was also restrained.
"Pyrrha!" And so was Pyrrha who Jaune was now holding.
"This is how you seal your enemies," Malos said smugly as every single Blade weapon shut down.
"You are not the only one... who can break free." Otohime ground out as her Core Crystal shined brighter in her forehead. Then the chains binding her dissolved.
Malos smirked, "Of course, you would know how to get out. Otohime, one of, if not the greatest sealing Blade in existence."
"Not good enough, if I cannot contain you." Otohime shot back as her cannon whirred back to life in Ren's hands.
"Modest too." Malos said as he looked towards the Remnans who dropped the Blade weapons and took out their huntsman weapons. "Do you really think you can beat me?"
"What other choice do we have?" Yang said as she charged in to punch Malos straight in the face. But the dark Aegis replied by smacking the incoming fist away and kneeing Yang in the stomach. Then he turned around to slice at Blake who tried to come in with Gambol Shroud.
As Malos was now fighting the Remnans who still had their huntsman weapons, Otohime placed her hands together in what looked like a hand seal.
"Otohime?" Ren asked as he couldn't get a clear shot due to his friends and two team mates trying to hit Malos at close range.
"Malos is mistaken if he thinks saving myself is the only thing I can do." Otohime said as her Core Crystal once again shined with power and her tendrils curled into wider arcs.
"Is this really the best you can do?" Malos asked with a smirk before getting hit by a pink explosive. Turning to the source, Malos saw Nora using Magnhild's grenade launcher mode firing at him. The dark Aegis quickly put up a barrier to block the explosive.
"How dare you do that to my baby!" Nora screamed with a furious look as she kept firing grenades, despite none of them doing anything against the dark Aegis' barrier.
"Baby?" Malos parroted before laughing, "You must be either delusional or incredibly desperate to go and think of your Blade as such. It's pathetic."
Nora switched Magnhild back into a hammer and charged Malos with a battlecry.
"Nora no!" Ren called out.
But the enraged carrot top wouldn't listen as she jumped up and planned to bring the hammer down on Malos.
Malos stepped to the side to avoid Nora's smash. "Monado Eater!" Malos then thrust the sword at Nora.
"Nora!" Ren cried out as he looked to Otohime in desperation.
"It is finished." Otohime said before spreading her arms, spreading an aquatic wave across the allied Blades. The chains that sealed them washed away, releasing them from Malos' bindings.
"What?!" And now Malos noticed this, which gave Rex an opening to strike now that Nia was back in action.
"Saber Slash!" Rex called out as he gave a powerful slash to the dark Aegis.
"You bug!" Malos shouted as he clashed with Rex who was able to keep up while the Remnans used this to quickly get their Blade weapons.
Except...
"You shall pay for treating us like this!" Joana called out as she went for her level one Special.
"Joana wait!" Pyrrha called out when she noticed Malos smirking
"Holy Sword!" But it was too late as the long blade of light descended upon Malos who raised his own sword.
"Monado Buster!" And Malos countered with a similar move. Except his sword's dark energy Blade extended.
The two attacks clashed... and Malos' disintegrated through Joana's.
"Impossible!" Joana cried out just before Malos' weapon came down with the crusader moving to the side.
"Joana!" Jaune cried out as Malos' attack still managed to take out a portion of her arm.
"I got this." Nia called out as she restored Joana's arm.
"My thanks." Joana thanked as she summoned her restored weapon back that went down along with the arm.
"Rex, we can't waste time here. We need to finish Malos now." Nia said with a determined look.
"Your ability is really annoying me." Malos then said with a glare. Then the dark Aegis spotted something yellow coming from his peripheral and attacked it on instinct.
"Damage Armor!" Dragunov's voice rang out, which allowed Yang to tank a blast of dark energy that would've done critical damage otherwise.
Malos raised his sword, but suddenly his arm was wrapped by Gambol's kama mode and ribbon. Courtesy of Nox who was allowed to use Blake's weapon.
"Black Maw!" Followed by Blake herself slashing with both Scythes at Malos' back.
Malos didn't get to reel in pain for too long, because Yang then gave a strong punch to his abdomen, which was followed by a short combo. Finished with.
"Heatblast!" And Malos was sent flying.
But then Nox used the still attached Gambol to manipulate Malos' trajectory straight towards Nora who was now brandishing Electra's hammer.
"Nora Smash!" And then Nora got some sweet revenge.
Which was followed by Tora and Mòrag unleashing Steady drill and Azure II: Blaze respectively.
"Out of my way!" Zeke called out as he jumped high in the air. "ULFS Max!" And then unleashed his strongest Art on their downed enemy.
As soon as Zeke got away, Malos struggled a little to get back up.
"Super Laser!" "Thousand Years of Pain!" "Blossom Burst!" Penny, Oscar and Ren fired their respective Arts.
"Herald/Otohime!" Oscar and Ren then handed their weapons back to their Blades.
Otohime charged her cannon, while Herald did the same with hers. Except Herald also lifted her mech's two tails that had effigies of bound women at the tips. The maws that cover their faces also charging energy.
"Water Garden!"
"Empyrean Salvo!"
The two Cannon Blades fired their respective attacks to a very pissed off looking Malos.
"Monado Armor!" And then he made what looked like a more tight-knit Blade barrier dome around himself.
The two Special Arts hit with a watery and electric explosions, but neither broke through.
"How?!" Was the universal reaction among everyone.
"Ruby, let me try." Roze called out to his Driver.
"Okay." Ruby tossed the scythe to her Blade who pulled his hood over his head. Then he disappeared in a flurry of petals. Ruby looked with anticipation as she expected Roze to appear inside the dome and unleash Ravaging Rose. But suddenly a part of the dome rippled before Roze was tossed out of that spot in a burst of rose petals.
Ruby just stood and looked uncomprehending of Roze not getting through.
"What the heck happened?!" Roze questioned with a look of utter confusion under his hood.
Malos dropped the barrier, but he was still covered by a purple aura, "Well, well. To be honest, I didn't know I could stop that." Malos smirked maliciously as he turned towards Roze who still looked uncomprehending.
"Malos!" Rex called out as he and Nia were both holding the Flesh Eater's weapon while focusing in preparation for what they were going to do next, "It ends now."
"Really?" Malos laughed, "You may be able to restore yourselves, but you can never even put a scratch on me." It was true, Malos didn't look worse for wear despite the beatdown he took. "Actually, now that I think about it, why haven't you unleashed the Sun Dragon yet? That was the only thing outside of Mythra that could harm me."
Dragunov grit his teeth as the cracks on his body glowed with orange fury.
"Drag." Yang sounded out as she could feel her Blade's anger through the affinity link.
"Or is the mighty Dragunov so cowardly that he can't even use his own power." Malos mocked the dragon.
Dragunov's cracks glowed gold in response. "Shut... up." Dragunov sounded like he was straining for some reason.
Malos opened his mouth to say more, until he noticed Rex now charging at him, Nia's Catalyst Scimitar at the ready and both of them covered in golden glow.
Rex then swung the sword, sending a crescent arc of water ether at Malos.
"Are you serious?" Malos asked before countering the attack with a powerful slash that destroyed the attack into water bubbles. "What? Is that it?" Malos questioned as the bubbles started entering him. "I hardly even felt-Urgh?!" Malos then doubled over in pain as parts of his body began to swell.
(End song)
"What's happening?" Weiss questioned as Malos' body glowed purple as his body started swelling in places.
"Nia! What have you done to me?!" Malos demanded as he cried in pain.
"I altered the replication rate of your body's cells. Even an immortal Blade is made of the same stuff as any other being." Nia explained as she glared at Malos. "I used that to my advantage.
"This…" Malos said as his swollen body not only made it hard for him to move, but caused great pain, "This is why… Jin recruited you. He saw that power."
"Who knows," Nia shrugged, "Why don't you ask him yourself?"
As soon as Nia finished that sentence, Malos' body started bursting from different areas with purple liquid. Each burst made him involuntarily back up towards the edge of the part of the room with no wall.
"I got just one thing to say to you." Nia then said before giving the entire gang a smile, "The place I belong is right here."
Everyone especially Blake smiled at this. Although Ruby was hiding her face in Roze's chest because she didn't like seeing Malos' body bursting like that.
"Burn in hell, Malos." Dragunov said, still angry looking but his cracks weren't glowing.
Malos didn't have time to even glare at either Nia or Dragunov before a large burst from his chest made him scream in pain and push him over the edge.
The gang quickly moved towards the edge to see how far Malos had fallen. As it turned out, Malos didn't fall far. There was a small ledge beneath where the black-haired Aegis had landed on. On his stomach and wasn't moving, even as the purple stuff was bleeding out of him.
Weiss gave Nia a disturbed look, "Nia…did you just weaponize cancer?"
"I guess I did." Nia shrugged uncaringly.
"A terrible way to go." Aizen commented with a shake of his head, earning several weird looks.
"Well he wasn't exactly nice." Nia shot back.
"You are under the illusion that I actually feel sorry for him." Aizen replied with a small smile.
"We should go. There's still Jin." Rex said with a determined look as he gave Nia a glance.
The Flesh Eater nodded and the two already moved off. Everyone followed shortly after.
Except Dragunov who still peered over the edge at Malos with a scowl.
"Drag, you coming?" Yang said, earning the dragon's attention.
"…Yes." Dragunov said as he followed, but he kept glancing over his shoulder
"Malos isn't gonna come back from that, you know." Yang said, earning a look of disbelief.
"Oh, so you think it was really that easy?" Dragunov asked in annoyance.
"Maybe we got lucky." Yang shrugged.
"Yang, Malos wreaked havoc on Alrest 500 years ago. Do you really think that a single opposing Flesh Eater was enough to end him?" Dragunov argued.
Yang opened her mouth to retort, only to then have a look of horrified realization, "…Dammit. Let's hope you're wrong." Yang wouldn't be so worried if Eulogimenos hadn't said something similar about Jin beating Mythra.
The two then caught up with others, just when Oscar suddenly stopped, "Huh?"
"Something up, kid?" Qrow asked with a curious look.
Oscar looked unsure for a moment until he visibly brightened up, "Hey! Ozpin is awake."
That got every Remnan to huddle around the farmboy, which confused Herald.
"Professor? Are you okay in there?" Ruby was the first to ask.
"…Ozpin says that he's too weak right now to gain control." Oscar said after a moment.
"Can he say what happened to him?" Qrow then asked, pushing through the kids.
Oscar was silent for a moment before speaking for the former headmaster, "He said that the last thing he remembers was when I grabbed the Crystal in Tantal."
"So, it was him that was rejected," Mòrag noted with an intrigued look, "I still have a hard time wrapping my head around it."
"You're not alone there." Zeke added in.
Then Oscar's eyes fell on Pyrrha. "That's…Pyrrha." Oscar said, probably answering Ozpin. "…Well, we think she somehow took over Talos' body…I don't know…Well we're in a place called Cliffs of Morytha…Rex said that Pyra is here." Oscar kept explaining what everyone else can only assume is Ozpin asking questions. Then the farmboy chuckled.
"What? What was funny?" Nora asked the farmboy.
"Nothing, Ozpin just said, 'What on Remnant happened while I was gone'." Oscar replied, doing his best imitation of Ozpin.
That earned small chuckles from everyone. It was a fair question all things considered.
"We'll explain later, let's just go." Rex said as he placed a hand over the Core Crystal fragment in his chest.
"Professor, I promise we'll fill you in later, but right now, we're about to save Pyra and Mythra." Ruby promised the headmaster who couldn't answer them directly right now.
"Yeah…We'll fill you in later." Oscar also added in.
No one noticed Herald looking utterly clueless the whole time. But she decided to just ignore it and follow everyone as they moved forward.
It didn't take long for the gang to reach a closed stone gate.
"So…how do we get past this?" Electra asked as she stared at the huge gate with her hands on her hips.
"We blow it up." Nora said, while preparing Magnhild.
"Nora, no." Ren said simply, "There's no telling if using explosives would trigger a landslide."
Roc shook his head, "Rex, be right back." And then he flew over the gate and onto the other side without even waiting for Rex's reply.
"…What if Jin is standing right behind this gate?" Blake had to ask.
"Blake, don't jinx this." Jaune pleaded.
"I'm just saying we should be careful." Blake said with an annoyed look.
Then Azurda peeked out from Rex's helmet, "Rex…I'm not sure if this is something to be worried about, but I sense a Grimm not too far."
"A Grimm?" Came from the Remnans.
"How many, gramps?" Rex asked the tiny Titan.
"I just said that I sense 'a' Grimm." Azurda said in a tone old people use when someone doesn't listen to them, "But it feels…strange."
"Strange how?" Qrow questioned with a frown.
"…I don't know if it's strong or weak…it just feels…different." Azurda said while scratching the side of his head, "It's not like the other Grimm I have sensed during our time on Remnant."
As soon as Azurda finished that sentence, the gate started opening, revealing Roc waiting for them.
"How did you do that?"
"There's a switch." Roc said while pointing to his right.
With those words, everyone started pouring through the gate and then to the walkway that followed on the right of the gate.
The gang kept running to the end of the walkway to see Jin watching over the motionless Pyra.
"Pyra!" Rex called out as they reached the steps, while Jin stepped out of the way.
"P-Pyra-" Rex said unsurely as everyone stopped.
"Poor boy. You're too late." Said a feminine voice from the right. Which caused everyone to turn to see ashen skinned woman with red lines across her face and arms. Similarly colored hair and black sclleraed eyes with blood red irises. "We already have all that is needed from her.
Ruby glared at the woman, "Are you…Salem?"
"Oh, that's right." Salem said as if remembering something, "We haven't actually met until today." Salem's eyes floated towards Oscar and the Relic of Knowledge dangling at his side. "How considerate of you to bring the relic to me."
"Don't joke around." Yang said threateningly while brandishing Dragunov's talons.
"Jin! What did you do to her!" Rex demanded from the silver haired Blade.
"I already told you." Everyone turned back to see Malos walking towards them, looking no worse for wear now, "I just recovered what I lost five centuries ago."
"Malos! You live?" Nia said in disbelief.
Malos chuckled at this, "You didn't think you could put me down that easily did you? I am an Aegis. Don't underestimate me." Malos then turned his gaze to Dragunov who looked more annoyed than anything, "You don't look surprised."
"I thought it was too easy." Dragunov growled out as he followed Malos moving past them.
"And yet you still didn't make sure." Malos said with a chuckle before looking to everyone else, "And I can't believe the rest of you fell for it."
As everyone glared with varying expression of fury at Malos, Rex glared at the dark Aegis, "You did this to her." Rex accused.
"She betrayed herself as an Aegis, forming a bond with a piece of human trash." Malos explained as he walked towards Pyra, "She tried so pathetically hard to hold onto her memories of you. But in the end, I got them all." Rex actually growled at this. " She put up a brave little fight. 'Please don't steal my memories'! Malos said in a poor imitation of Pyra's voice, making everyone angrier. Jin wasn't reacting, and Salem rolled her eyes. "Cute stuff like that."
"I have seen people do very stupid things for love and memories." Salem added in, "And let me tell you, they always end in misery."
Malos actually chuckled before returning his attention to Rex who looked like he was ready to kill someone. "Sorry, boy. You came to this desolate place for nothing. Do you really want this useless husk?" Malos then said as he grabbed Pyra by the back of her outfit. "Go ahead and take it!" Malos then tossed the unresponsive red head to them.
Poor Pyra skidded a little across the floor until Rex got her. "Pyra. Pyra!" Rex called out to the red-haired Aegis, hoping to get a response. He received none. "I'm so sorry…Pyra…Mythra. We made it this far, but…" Rex hugged the unresponsive Aegis."
"Rex." Nia said sadly.
"Rex-Rex." Tora said too.
Ruby gave a moist-eyed glare to the three villains. "How could you do this Pyra." Ruby questioned as she gripped Roze's scythe tightly.
"Huh?" Malos questioned, "It was her fault for stealing what was mine. What's wrong with me taking it back?"
"Taking it back… Taking it back?!" Ruby said as she pointed to Pyra, "How can you call your-" "I'm not listening to prattlings of an outsider brat." Malos interrupted Ruby, "If you lost something that belongs to you, wouldn't you want it back? Besides, I should be asking you, why did you come to this world?"
"We didn't come here." Roze butted in, "We were pulled here by a breach. We think it was the Architect who brought us here."
Malos and Salem quirked an eyebrow at this.
"Interesting," Salem said as she placed a finger on her chin, "I did wonder how you all came to be here."
"Why would our old man waste his time on insects that have nothing to do with us?" Malos questioned.
"Don't change the-!" Ruby tried shouting until Rex raised his hand in front of Ruby. "Rex?"
"Just stop, Ruby. Nothing you say will mean anything." Rex said as he lowered Pyra and looked to Nia, "Nia."
"Right." Nia replied as she stepped forward.
"Dromarch, please take care of Pyra." Rex said to Nia's Blade.
"Understood." The white tiger replied.
Rex's actions made Malos chuckle. "What's this? I seriously thought you would start bawling and charge at me. What a big boy." Malos mocked.
"…Stupid." Rex said.
"Eh?" Malos sounded out.
"I was stupid." Rex clarified. "I never understood Pyra's and Mythra's feelings. Though we were destined to follow different paths, I tried to walk together." Rex looked up to the World Tree as he spoke. "I walked in the shadow of the Aegis' light. Blindly walking my own path. While she walked alone."
"What're you blathering about?" Malos asked.
"So, I might be stupid…but I've made a decision." Rex then lowered his eyes to stare into Malos' gray ones.
"Oho. What have you decided?" Malos asked, now sounding interested. "You've gotten this far. I'll hear you out."
"It's obvious. I'll crush you both to oblivion. And then take Pyra and Mythra to Elysium." Rex said with a determined look.
"You? Crush us? Me and Jin?!" Malos laughed. "You couldn't even best Jin by yourself. Only the Sun Dragon and that Talos Blade could do anything against him. Besides, I have regained all my Aegis powers, so even if Dragunov did turn into the Sun Dragon, it won't make a difference anymore!" This part of Malos' speech earned a growl from Dragunov.
"And don't forget." Salem chimed in with a pitying look. "I am here too. You have no hope of winning, little boy." This declaration earned several glares from the Remnans. But what none of them knew, not even Oscar, was that Ozpin was terrified.
"This has to be a nightmare." The former headmaster thought in despair inside Oscar's head.
"Yes I do." Rex said defiantly.
"That thing is just a used-up shell." Malos said as he pointed towards the motionless Pyra who Dromarch was tending to. "You can't rely on it to save you, boy."
"I now understand what Pyra and Mythra wanted. And what I have to do to make it happen. What it means to be a Driver and Blade." The last part of Rex's speech earned a startled reaction from Jin. "Everyone! Stand with me one more time." Rex said and the entire gang stepped forward beside Rex.
Rex then drew the Nia's weapon, "Let's get Pyra back, and go to Elysium!"
"You got it, Rex!" Ruby said as she brandished Roze's scythe happily. Judging by how Weiss wielded Aizen's swords, Yang Dragunov's Talons and Blake Nox's Scythes, they all agreed.
"Let's do this, team!" Jaune joined in and team JNPR prepared for battle, including Pyrrha who brandished Prostateva and Thiarko. Although the sight of her did make Salem quirk an eyebrow ever so slightly.
Oscar and Penny lifted up their respective Ether Cannons while Qrow brandished Kasandra's hammer. The veteran's red eyes glaring at the greatest evil on Remnant.
"Salem, we expect you to pull your own weight here." Malos said as he reactivated his Aegis Sword.
"Don't worry…I intend to." Salem said as the red veins around her body started glowing with power along with her irises.
AN: Oh boy... Even with the reinforcements, Malos wasn't exactly an easy opponent. And now the gang has to face the Dark Aegis, the Paragon of Torna and the Wicked Witch of Remnant. That last one much to the horror of Ozpin.
